They Just Don't Make Them Like They Used To....

We watched this last night.  It is one of my all time favorites.  I watched it over and over as a kid.  I wanted to be stranded on an island and live in a tree house.  It still makes me sad that they changed the tree house at Disneyland into Tarzan's house, but oh well.  I think my kids loved the movie as much as me.  Tyler wants to get a boat, go to the island, live in a tree house, and make coconut bombs to ward off the bad guys.  Sounds pretty good to me.

Cheap Tricks

Every year the elementary school takes "spring" pictures.  This is in addition to regular school pictures.  And they are pretty tricky about it.  You don't get a chance to pick a package or pay ahead of time.  They just send home a packet of pictures that they have already taken of your child.  Should you choose to keep any of the pictures it is $15 a sheet and it goes down to about $10 a sheet if you buy more.  I never buy these because they are so expensive.  If I were to buy 1 sheet of each of my children, I would be out $45.  In my opinion, that is a lot for unprofessional pictures that we were totally unprepared for.  Anyways, we just sent ours back to the school so we wouldn't have to pay for them.  Seems like such a waste, all those cute pictures will be thrown away.  I did scan them into my computer first.  Please don't turn me in.

Humidity

This is what humidity did to Kirk's hair in Japan.  I hope it does not do the same to mine!  We were planning our trip to Japan with some friends who are familiar with Japan.  Kirk dug out his mission photos and I couldn't stop thinking about this one.  I love it!  I have such fond memories of my mission and I look forward to re-visiting a little bit of Kirk's with him.  I know he loved his mission as much as I loved mine.  

Lessons in Deprivation

My mom's comment on my last post reminded me about my"deprived" childhood:)  After finishing high school, I was off to the big city of Provo to attend BYU.  I was so excited!  I had always wanted to go to BYU and I was excited to be leaving the small town where I grew up.  I loved it there, but I was ready for a change.  

My parents both went to BYU.  They both had fond memories of the university.  I even lived in the exact same dorm building as my mom.  I am sure they thought my experience would be like theirs.  In trying to mimmick their experience they thought I did not need a car.  Now this is probably true.  You do not need a car.  Everything you need, you can find by foot or a bus.  However, I had a car in high school.  That same car was going to sit at my house.  No one needed it.  It just sat there.  It seemed so silly to me to have my car sitting there, when I could have been using it in Provo.  I really wanted my car.  And I wanted my car for good reason.  I wanted to go to Food 4 Less where groceries were half as much as the on campus store.  And I wanted to be able to come home once in awhile.  Just so you know, my car was really nothing to get excited about.  It was an old Dodge Colt.  And it was also a stick shift.  And it also broke down less than a year later.  

A few months later when the family was up for a football game, they brought my car.  I was so excited!  And I also couldn't believe they hadn't done it sooner.    I am still not sure if this lesson in deprivation really taught me anything.  But at least my parents were trying.  

And now for some updates-Ethan was climbing up on the fence and "found" his bike.  He was very excited.  He proudly moved his bike to the middle of the backyard and it has been there ever since.  At least he was excited.  I went back to weight watchers and I had gained .4 lbs.  I was down 9.2 lbs, but not any more.  I need some motivation for this week.  My husband was out of town all last week and I am so glad that he is home!  Alfredo came and worked on the garage door last week.  When he stopped by, I couldn't remember his name.  He is the nicest guy and I knew it was an Italian, food related name.  As he was leaving, I called him Linguini.  I am such an idiot.  But I gave myself a really good laugh!  And I said it as he was driving away in the car, I really hope he didn't hear me.  

Spoiled Rotten

My kids are spoiled and I know it is my fault.  Now I am paying for it.  I am ready for change and I need some help.  I don't know how to teach my kids to appreciate and take care of their things.  They don't understand the value of things or the importance of taking care of things.  Yesterday as we were getting ready for school, the phone rang.  It was the mother of a friend of one of my boys.  She was concerned because my son had given her son (at school) $5 for 2 Pokemon Cards.  I hate those blasted Pokemon cards.  I swore my kids would never have them.  However they started acquiring them on their own.  I was so grateful for her phone call.  I had no idea.  My boys are not supposed to take money to school.  And obviously they don't really understand the value of it.  I told her to keep the money and let my son learn from his mistake and then we had a nice talk about things.  It was a good lesson for him and all of my boys.  

Last night I was tired.  I wasn't a very pleasant mother as I made my rounds tucking everyone in.  When I walked into Ethan's room, I looked out his window and noticed his bike laying on the grass.  We have left bikes out before and have been fortunate enough to find them there in the morning.  Well, last night I told Ethan, "Go get your bike and put it behind the fence."  And his reply was, "No, I don't want to get dirty." (He had taken his bath already)  I asked him several times and warned him that it would probably get stolen.  He just got his bike for Christmas, he hasn't had it very long.   He still would not move his bike.  After talking to my husband, I decided to go ahead and "hide" it myself so that he would think it got stolen.  

So this morning I said something about his bike being gone.  His reply was, "Well I still have my scooter."  He has no idea that his bike was not really stolen.  But I was so mad at his reaction.  Maybe by the time school is out it will have sunk in a little more and hopefully he will be sad.  

Also last night the boys all had piles of laundry to put away.  David and Jacob always shove their clothes in their dressers without re-arranging stuff.  It results in the drawers not being able to even close.  It looks awful.  Their dressers are trashed.  I told them I was going to take them away and they could just put their clothes on the floor since that is where they always end up.  

How in the world to I teach my kids to take care of things?!?!    

Here Comes the Sun, and....

Dandelions-When the sun came out yesterday, so did the weeds.  It was like they appeared out of nowhere overnight.  I spent a little time removing them from the grass and I know I will be doing it again.

Lack of clothing-If you didn't know better, you might think it was a sweltering 100° outside.  When I went to pick up the kids from school I passed all the middle school kids walking home from school.  There were boys with out shirts, girls with their shirts off, proudly displaying camis, and people laying out.  And my boys are begging me to get out the water slide.  "Not yet," I say.  "It's not that warm!"

Eating outside-My boys have been begging me to do this since Sunday.  Lucky for them, they got to eat outside last night with their cousins.  I think they all had a good time.

Grass stains-I am not talking about grass stains on clothes (although those can be messy too) but I am talking about grass stains on knees and bare feet.  As I was bathing my baby last night, I had to make sure the green got washed away.  

I love the sun and I am so glad it is finally here!  Here comes the sun and here comes the fun, I say.  I told the boys I was going to check them out of school for some fun this week.  Any good ideas?  

"Broken Foot"

I returned from the gym this morning to find tragedy.  Kirk had been up working out (LOVES his bowflex) and Tyler hurt himself on the treadmill.  Kirk was upset because Tyler was hurt and because he had told him again and again to get off of the treadmill, Tyler was sad, and the other boys had combined all of their money to pay for Tyler's stitches.  Thinking back on it now, it was kind of funny.  

So I got showered, got the other boys off to school, and Tyler and I headed to the doctor.  Tyler insisted that his foot was broken.  He was looking forward to getting a "cast like Ethan."  It was obvious that his foot was not broken, but that he would need stitches.  He cut himself in between his 3rd and 4th toe.  I don't know exactly how he did that.  He got a total of 3 stitches.  He was very pleased when they wrapped it up with all that blue tape because now it looks like a cast.  

Jacob is the only one in our family who has not been stitched up.  I hope it stays that way.  

Texting

I don't really text much.  I realize this means I am like an old dinosaur.  My kids don't have cell phones, everyone I want to talk to has a phone or I can just talk to them, and it takes me forever to text something on my phone.  I understand that there are some benefits to texting, it can be very sly way of getting ahold of someone (i.e. interrupting something that you probably shouldn't), no one has to hear what you are saying (i.e. a great way to talk about people behind their backs, even while you are with them), and most people seem to be able to text and continue on with whatever they were doing in the first place (i.e. driving, or listening to someone else).  Anyway, I just don't get it.  I sure hope we don't lose the spoken language.  I like it a lot better.  I like getting a phone call from a friend, I like giving my full attention to the subject at hand, and I like that I am not so attached to my cell phone.  I know I am getting old, I know lots of people who say things like, "If I didn't text, I would never communicate with my teenagers!"  If there is so much communication going on, it sure seems like there would be a lot fewer problems.  And why is it so difficult to call?  Maybe someday I will eat my words, but for now, I don't think texting is so wonderful.  And don't even get me started on the grammatical and spelling errors, and the texting language!

Yesterday I went to the gym later in the morning after I dropped Tyler off for preschool.  I usually go early (5:00am) in the morning.  There are some real die-hard gym rats who go this early.  Well the class I took yesterday wasn't as die-hard as the early morning classes.  A lady to my side caught my eye.  She was texting during her workout.  Really.  I couldn't believe it, right in the middle of crunches.

What Made Me

When I was 13, almost 14, my mom was in the stake young women's presidency.  That particular year our stake did a pioneer trek.  I grew up near the mountains and therefore we literally started our trek from the Lion's Park (I think).  I really didn't want to go, none of my friends were going.  Most of them were too young, but because I was turning 14 that year, I was eligible.  And my mom was making me go.  We had to wear the long skirts and bonnets.  The only thing we were allowed to take was a sleeping bag.  We really were roughing it.  We were divided into families and given a deer cart to haul our sleeping bags and allotted water.  After a grueling day of hiking, we arrived and had chicken broth for dinner.  I was so hungry and tired!  It was not fun.  Later that night Indians raided our camp.  They were painted, dressed up, and may have even rode bareback on their horses.  They tipped over our things and made threats.  Of course the whole thing was staged, but no one knew it was coming and it was a little scary.  

The next day we had boiled wheat for breakfast.  I don't remember much else we did that day except the part where they put us all in a big circle and let loose a bunch of chickens.  Each family was responsible to catch one, slaughter it, pluck it, and cook it.  Those chickens were fast.  But eventually there was a lot of blood.  This excited most of the guys.  Especially the part where they took the ax and chopped off the heads.  I did some of the plucking.  We later cooked our chickens and ate them.  

We also returned home that day.  Since the first day was mostly uphill, it didn't take us too long to get home.  And I think we were all anxious for a shower, toothbrush, toilet, and food.  Up to that point in my life it was the hardest thing that I have ever done.  

At this point in my life I had never thought about going on a mission.  My mom didn't go and I just never really thought about going myself.  When I was 19 years old, I met Nicole.  She had always wanted to go on a mission and had life all planned out, she's really organized like that.  We had an experience together where I felt the spirit so strong.  I was 20 years old and my testimony was burning inside me.  I knew that I knew the church was true.  I wanted to shout it out and I thought, "How can I not go on a mission?"  From that point on, it was decided, I was going on a mission.  

My mission later replaced the pioneer trek as the hardest thing I have ever done.  And later having 1 year old twins and a newborn replaced my mission as the hardest thing.  And sometimes Ethan alone can replace them all as the hardest thing I have had to deal with.  Leading the music in Sacrament Meeting is right up there too, but that has gotten easier.  But they are all so precious to my heart and I would never change those experiences for anything.  

They have shaped me into who I really am.  I remember how devastated I was when my mission ended.  The last day I had in my area, my companion finally got after me.  "Sister, you have got to stop crying, your eyes will be swollen shut!"  I can't wait for the day in heaven when I will be reunited with the people of Brazil.  I love them so much.  It brings tears to my eyes as I write about them now.  I can't wait.  I am so grateful for my mission.  

It was such a scary thing to do.  I was all on my own, no family, no phone calls, no friends, no familiarity.  But it was there that I really learned to depend on the Lord.  It was there that I gained confidence in myself and learned to make personal covenants with the Lord.  I would do it again in a heartbeat!  It is like that feeling you get when you finish a 1/2 marathon (or any other big accomplishment), you feel so empowered, like you can do anything in the world.  Only better because the work you do is for eternity.  It amazes me how much strength a mission can give you throughout your life.  It was the perfect spring board for the life ahead of me then and now.     

Our Wicked Weekend

It all started about a year ago when we bought our tickets.  I thought it would never come, but it did and we had a great time.  We had dinner at Franck's.  And it was good!  I recommend the meatloaf, even though the berry sauce turned my teeth blue.  We didn't have time for dessert, but they looked amazing and I am planning on going back some time.  That is my meatloaf in the picture, isn't it pretty?

Next was the musical and it was wonderful!  I wish tickets were easier to come by and not so expensive.  I would love to go again and I would love to take my kids.  I think they might enjoy it too.  Maybe someday.  

(Sorry Chad, your eyes were closed in both of my picutres)

When I was little, my parents took me to see "The Sound of Music" at Sundance or somewhere (it was outdoors).  I fell in love with it then and have loved it ever since.  When I was in high school, my parents took me to see "Les Miserables" in Salt Lake City at the Capitol Theater.  I loved it!  Kirk and I saw it together a couple of years ago and it was just as amazing as I remembered it (I still think it is my all time favorite).  Kirk has also gone with me to see "The Phantom of the Opera."  He is such a good sport to go to these things with me.  I love him. 

I guess the point is, these musicals have created such fond memories for me.  I love music, a lot, it is so powerful.  I love to hear beautiful voices like I did last night.  Good music can really transport you anywhere.  I hope to take my kids to these things someday and create some good memories.  I am also grateful to my parents for taking me to these musicals.  I grew up in a small town with 7 siblings and I am sure it was a sacrifice on their part.  Go see "Wicked" if you get the chance and eat at Franck's too, they were both excellent.  

Sunday Smiles

Jacob sporting his best Crystal Light mustache!

Dang That Easter Candy!

Last night we had a little Easter egg hunt.  The kids had flashlights and looked for candy filled plastic eggs in the dark.  It was a good time.  I actually put forth the effort to bring my camera, but only managed one shot.  The weather was a little more reminiscent of October, not April.  But it was fun and the kids didn't seem to notice.  After the hunt, Tyler said to his dad, "Now you cook me a marshmallow while I play."  I thought it was hilarious.  There were too many kids and too many things to do besides standing by the fire waiting for a marshmallow to roast.  Now my counter is covered with little bite size pieces of sugar and chocolate.  I can't help from popping them in my mouth.  So far I have lost 7 pounds.  Not looking so good this week...

Just Observing

Today we went to visit my grandma.  She lives in an area where the majority of the population is closer to her age than mine.  We used to live there.  We lived with my grandma for awhile and then we lived in a little house just around the corner from her.  Whenever we visit, we like to drive past that "white house" where we used to live.  Today was no exception.  As we drove past, Ethan said, "Wow, that is little."  I loved living there and we have great memories.  

I also love living where I am now.  I love that my kids can go out to play basketball at my house or that neighbors, or that neighbors.  And the kids just gather in the street, someone's yard, or a driveway.  They all have lots of great friends.  Everyone has lots of kids, we are surrounded by families and it is wonderful.  

Having four growing boys means that I occasionally shop at Costco.  And I usually have at least one of my boys, if not all four, with me when I go.  As we look at all the fantastic things there are to buy and sample the yummy food, I notice that everyone around me has a couple of kids in their baskets or hanging on the side.  No one ever says things like, "Wow!  Four boys!"  or "Are they all yours?" or "What cute kids you have."  And that is fine with me, I would rather not attract any attention.  But I have found my experience to be very different at other Costcos.

During Christmas I was shopping at a different one.  Tyler was asleep in the basket.  There were a couple of people (complete strangers) who would stop and say things like, "I can't believe he is sleeping!" or "What a sweet little thing."  My sister was with me that particular day and while I was waiting for our cheese pizza, I returned to find another stranger talking to her about Tyler.  This is the exact same Tyler who accompanies me all the time to my "regular" Costco.  And no one ever says anything about him there.    

Just today I had all four boys with me.  We were at my grandma's Costco.  As Ethan snuck away to gather another sample, I looked up to see an older gentleman discussing BYU with him (because he wears his BYU hoodie wherever he goes).  And then he later comments to me.  A sales associate kept asking about them and their ages and commented how handsome they all were.  Another time a lady grabbed one of their faces and wanted to see their eyes.  "The girls are going to like that one," she says.  

Now I am not saying all of this because I think my boys need all of this reinforcement or even deserve it for that matter.  I am just saying it because I can't believe the difference.  We are a novelty as we travel a few miles to another part of the valley.  And you know what?  Sometimes it is good to know that people think your kids are pretty great.  I could get used to that.  

Another thing that I notice repeatedly about my grandma's area of the valley are the number of Subarus.  Honestly, what is so great about a Subaru?  I just don't get it.    

One Dream Realized

Ever since I have been married to Kirk (10 years), he has been talking about getting a "bowflex".  He always talks about how great it would be.  Lucky for him our neighbors were getting rid of theirs and sold it to us.  We are now the proud owners of that giant beast which now resides in our basement.  And it is a beast.  Kirk is beside himself with joy!  Last night he brought a pen and notepad to bed so that he could "plan" his workouts.  "What do you want me to work on?"  he asks excitedly.  I am glad he is so happy!  And he did get up and work out this morning.  

Missionary Memories

Me with President and Sister Wallace. This was taken just after I arrived. It was the longest flight of my life!

When I grow up I to be like Sister Wallace.  She is the wife of my mission president and one of my most very favorite people in the world.  I don't think there could be a better role model or example.  She is humble, sincere, spiritual, kind, and loving.  Last night as I hugged her goodbye, she held my arms, looked me in the eye and said, "I love you Lara, do you know that?  I really love you."  And I know she really means it.  And she really feels that way about everyone.  Last year I went to Women's Conference with her downtown.  We passed a homeless person on our way.  It was raining and it was cold.  I remember how difficult it was for her to continue driving, and not do anything to help.  You could tell how desprately she wanted to offer a ride or do something.  That is just the way she is.  If my mission did nothing else for me, it allowed me to know and love someone like Sister Wallace.  And just for that reason alone, I could count it as a blessing, but it was a blessing for that reason and many, many others.  

My mission president and his wife are leaving on their 6th mission to serve in the temple at Palmyra, New York.  So they held a missionary reunion at their house last night.  I honestly didn't really know the elders from my mission and my companions most likely wouldn't be there.  But like I said, I love President and Sister Wallace and wanted to at least go and see them.  So we went and it was great.  I got to see my very first companion and it was a happy reunion.  She married an American and lives in Utah County.  I recognized a few of the elders and even some of the sisters.  It was late when we got home, but first thing this morning I got out my missionary scrapbook and went through it.  It has been fun and it was such a great prelude to conference.  What an amazing day of inspiration!  And I was so excited that they sang "Consider the Lilies."  Don't you just love that song?  I do.  My good friend Tiffany sang it at my missionary farewell, it is one of my all time favorites.  

I get so busy and consumed being a mom that I literally do forget who I am.  Going through all of my missionary stuff reminded me how strong I used to be.  I know I am strong now, but it is easy to forget.  I have to be and do so much for so many different people, but back then it was just me who I had to worry about.  After listening to all of the great messages this morning, hearing Sister Wallace and President Wallace speak last night, and remembering my mission, I am ready to be a better me.  I want to be as strong as I used to be.   

Sister Peireira and I.  She was one of my favorite companions!

Sister Stephens (the other American and also my MTC companion) and I met up at the bus stop in Florianopolis.

Sister Batista and I taught and baptized this family. They later went on a mission to Africa and are now serving in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Sister Ribeiro (my first companion) and I.

Washing clothes on p-day. As you can tell by the scowl on my face, this was my least favorite part of the mission!

Good News

I wanted to listen to my playlist while I wrote on my blog.  So I had to open a separate tab because whenever I want to write a new post, I can't listen to my music.  Is there an easier way?  I am really enjoying Brooke White's new song.  I heard it on American Idol and thought it was ok, but the next time I heard it I really liked it.  If you haven't heard it, check it out on my playlist.  

So last night I went to weight watchers and I lost 4.6 pounds!  I was even wearing jeans, which apparently is a big no, no.  The ladies there were all commenting about it.  But I was wearing jeans the first time I went, so I figured no big deal.  I need to really be good this week.  The second week is never as exciting as the first.  

There really isn't much else going on around here.  We are looking forward to a lazy conference weekend.  However I am dreading the soccer games tomorrow, it is just soooo cold!  I have a missionary reunion this weekend.  I will probably go to see my mission president and his wife, but since all of my companions were Brazilians, I don't really know anyone else.  I don't plan on hanging out for very long.  But I am hoping to get a dinner at either Los Hermanos or Brick Oven out of the trip;)  Let's just hope I can find a babysitter, should of done that sooner.   

Weekend Update and then some...

On Saturday we had the twins' baptisms.  It was a great day.  We had lots of family who traveled to be here.  It made the day even better.  Everything went smoothly.  It was perfect.  Except that I forgot to take pictures.  I snapped a few before the baptism, but that was it.  I totally forgot, oh well.  The day reminded me of the day that they got blessed.  I don't know why.  I think it is because it literally seems like we did that yesterday.  And seeing Kirk bless one after another reminded me of that.  He is such a good dad and did a great job.  

A couple of weeks before the baptism the twins mentioned something about all of the presents they got for their birthday and how they were going to get even more for their baptism.  We immediately reminded them that their baptism was not a birthday and they would not be receiving any more gifts.  We did not want them to expect anything.  But everyone was so generous and they did receive a lot.  But they were genuinely surprised and equally grateful.  They are such sweet boys.  It was a beautiful day.  

Monday night we went to dinner and the Jazz game with Kirk's boss.  I have met him and his wife a Christmas parties, but that is it.  I am not very good at these kinds of social situations.  And I don't feel very comfortable either.  Kirk does so good in social situations, I am glad I married him.  And he obviously knows these people way more than I do.  So they all chatted about politics, sports, and stuff that I know nothing about.  His boss's wife recently ran for mayor of slc and is very intelligent and involved.  Being with all of them was a good reminder to me that I am totally out of "it" by being a stay at home mom.  Oh well.  I love being at home.  This other couple has 2 young boys who are cared for by a nanny.  I couldn't help but feel bad for those kids and for their parents for missing out on so much.  Another person I felt bad for was the 3 WEEK old baby who was next to me at the Jazz game.  To make it worse, it was the grandma who was holding him.  You would think at least she would know better, but I guess not.  He slept through most of the game, but you could see him start to cry when it got real noisy.  

Yesterday I was talking on the phone with one of my good friends.  We were talking about none other than all of the yummy Easter candy out there, when all of the sudden my doorbell rang.  It was the neighbor boy with a brand new bad of Reese's Pieces Peanut butter eggs.  You know the ones that I couldn't stop eating the other day?  Obviously Janice is trying to sabotage my diet.  It doesn't take much though.  With all the yummy food on Saturday (baptism), strawberry shortcake on Sunday, out to dinner on Monday (luckily it was sushi), strawberry spinach salad with fried won tons and brownies (I had to make a salad and dessert to take to a family) last night, and tonight?  Well I am making salad and dessert again to take to another family.  It has been a rough week.  I weigh in tomorrow.  Tune back in and I will let you know how it went. 

I did take one picture on Saturday after we left for the baptism.  I like it a lot.  It is Ethan and Tyler with their uncles, who they also resemble, don't you think?