Musings

As I mentioned in a previous post, Masterpiece on PBS is showing Jane Austen movies. This past weeks was Mansfield Park. So I would be better prepared to enjoy the movie, I decided to reread the book and watch another version of the movie. Why all this work just to watch a movie? Well the other two movies that have been shown so far, Persuasion and Northanger Abbey, were both very well done, but I didn't feel like I had enough knowledge to really appreciate them. This time, things were different. Because I had recently read the book, I knew what portions were included, and what portions were left out. The version of the movie I watched during the week seemed to get bogged down with too many of the small details in the book, whereas the PBS version had the important parts and were able to focus on those. It was great! They also included a much more fulfilling ending. In the book, the two lovers get together of course (it is Jane Austen, after all), but the details are glossed over. In the movie, I enjoyed watching Edmund come to the realization that he really does love Fanny and then watch him try to pursue her. This is turning out to be a wonderful way to spend my winter!!

On a more somber note, learning that President Gordon B Hinckley passed away on Sunday has certainly been cause for some reflection. As I've read some other blogs, I can tell I'm not the only one who has had the same response. One of the things I find myself pondering at this time is how the leadership of the church changes hands. Instead of politicking and stuggling to gain footing and "win" the position of leader, the members of the Quorum of the Twelve pray and meditate and fast to learn the Lord's will. Isn't that the only opinion that matters? It is, after all, the Lord's church. The love that these men have for each other is truly evident, and it is my opinion that although the tradition currently holds that the most senior apostle is the next president, if the Lord revealed to them that the president should be someone else, they would comply. They don't look for earthly glory, and in today's world with people who are so willing to lose their morals and really themselves to have their "10 minutes of fame," their humility is a striking contrast. If and when Thomas S Monson is called as the next president of the church, I'm sure it will be because he is chosen of the Lord. I am so blessed to be a member of this, the "only true and living church on the face of the earth."

Happy Birthday Stephanie, Anthony & Melanie!

Today is the birthday of three, yes count them THREE, of my favorite people! I have only known them for about nine years, but I feel like we are brother and sisters. Well fine, we are - at least by marriage.

I am going in birth order, from oldest to youngest, so as not to show any favoritism. This is a picture of Stephanie and Tegan, when he was a baby. I have always loved Stephanie's sense of humor and sense of adventure. Whatever the activity may be, Stephanie is usually game. She is also expecting her third son in June. Way to go!!

Here is Anthony, the second of the three, also holding Tegan. In case you can't tell, any picture including Tegan is going to be a favorite picture of mine. However, this isn't about Tegan, so back to Anthony. Anthony is always the life of the party. He tells the best stories and is quick with a joke. He is expecting his first child, a girl, in the spring. Congratulations!

The youngest of the three is Melanie. In case you haven't guessed, the baby she is holding in this picture is again Tegan. Who is cuter? I'll let you decide, although my vote is Tegan. I have always appreciated Melanie's warm and loving heart. She is always there with a kind word and offer to help. She is the only one out of the three who is not currently expecting a baby, but we'll try not to hold that against her ;)

So maybe I wasn't thinking what I would be in for by honoring people in my blog, but you know, it is kinda fun. It helps me think about them and what wonderful people they are. To all three, happy birthday and here is to many more!!

Happy Birthday Keturah!!

Today is my sister Keturah's birthday, so in her honor, I am blogging about her. I think she is 7 or 8 in the above picture.


This is a picture of Keturah, Cortney and Malauna back behind the shed smoking. Well, pretending to smoke cigarettes which were actually pieces of paper rolled up and the ends colored black. I still love these pictures!



What would a birthday celebration be without a birthday picture? Here is the birthday girl on her 3rd birthday.



Here is our family with Keturah in it. I know that I am looking off into the distance. I can't help but think that I am watching my status as the "baby" vanish.

I don't know how old she is in this picture. She is a little cutie. If I were to venture a guess, I would say she is 2 years old.

I agree. There have been too many pictures put here without me. What do you expect? It is my blog after all!!

For so many years, Keturah was just my annoying little sister. She is two years younger than me and I remember complaining to Mom about her. Mom laughed and told me that Milaka had the same complaints about me! Somehow that didn't help me feel better. The passage of time helped me feel much better. Keturah no longer annoys me so much, which is why I suppose I am willing to devote this post to her. Hmmm, something to think about

So there you go. Happy Birthday Keturah!! Many happy returns!

Why I love being a Mom

Here are a couple of really cute things that happened yesterday with my children. I'm writing these memories down so on the days I'm really frustrated with them, I can remember the good times too!

Yesterday, Tegan and Janica were fighting. They had made a 'tent' together and while playing, Janica accidently ruined the tent and Tegan got mad. They were both crying when they came to Jason and me for help. We questioned both of them and determined that neither was to blame and that they just needed a distraction. Jason sat them both down and started playing "A Button, A Button, Who Has A Button" with them. This entire time, Kierra was sitting in her high chair, enjoying her late dinner. I didn't realize how closely she was watching what was going on around her until she got down and ran over to where the game had been going on. Even though her older siblings were no longer playing and had moved on to something else, she stayed right where she was and refused to move until her Dad sat back down and play the same game with her. And why not? Why should she be left out just because she wasn't fighting?

Another really cute thing happened last night. Jason was trying to settle down the girls to put them to sleep. Tegan was already sleeping and we really wanted the girls to follow his example. Jason decided to ask Janica a series of questions to distract her and calm her down.

He started by asking her "Who is Mommy's Mom?" Janica immediately answered "Grandma!"
Then it got a little harder. "Where does Grandma live?" Janica thought for a minute before telling him "I don't know." Jason told her "Utah." Then the next question. "Who is Mommy's Dad?" "Um, Grandpa." "Good. And where does Grandpa live?" She thought about this question and then gave the answer. "I don't know." So Jason gave her a hint. "He lives with Grandma." Her answer? "I don't know." "They live in Utah," he told her. "Oh, Utah. Okay." Not sure if it sunk in, he moved on to the next question. "Who is Daddy's Mom?" This one required more thought. "Uhhhh, Nanna!" "Great job. And where does Nanna live?" She really had no idea so Jason supplied the answer. "Arizona." Well the ploy seemed to be working. Janica was lying still and staying in bed. Now the last questions. "Who is Daddy's Dad?" That one seemed easy. "Pappa!" "Yes and where does Pappa live?" This time, with no hesitation, she answered "Camp!"

Jason and I laughed so hard!! I think she may have answered camp because that was the last place she saw him and he goes with his rv, which seems like a portable house. Well whatever the reason, it certainly made my night.

I had already published this post when I realized I had left out Tegan's cute thing. Well he lost another tooth today. He won't really wiggle or play with his teeth when they are just a little loose. They need to be "dead," as he puts it. That means they are hanging by a thread, on the verge of falling out on their own. When he pulled the tooth out all the way, he told me "Now I have another tooth in heaven." Since he figures they are dead, I guess heaven is as good a place for them as any other!

I'll tell you. Being a mother is very challenging and rewarding. I really need to sit back and enjoy the little things so I don't get caught up in the mundane.

Family Memories

As I previously posted, I am currently working on a photo project where I am scanning old family pictures. It is fun looking at the pictures and remembering things. Of course part of the fun is that not all of the pictures have been labeled very well - if at all. I have found that this project also requires a bit of detective work. For the most part I can recognize the people in the picture, but I can't always tell when it was taken.

Look at this picture for example. I'm pretty sure that the cute blond is me, but the rest of the picture is a mystery. Who is the person next to me? I think this little buggy thing was at my grandparent's house, but I'm not sure. Then there is the all-consuming question of when the picture was taken. Any ideas? Right now I'm going for 1981, but I can't be sure. If any of you have any information, please let me know.

But enough of that. Looking at the pictures also reminded me of a very fond memory I have from growing up. Every morning, it was my Dad's job to wake us up. He would accomplish this by calling our names until we answered and then went upstairs for family prayer. Every morning that is except for Saturday. That was our morning to sleep in. Dad still woke us up, but in a much better way. You see on Saturday morning, Dad would get up and make pancakes for breakfast. I remember being awakened by the wonderful smell of fresh pancakes and syrup. It is still a memory that makes me smile. Jason helped carry on that tradtion by making pancakes for breakfast this morning. Of course the kids were already awake and Jason likes to put peanut butter on pancakes so it isn't exactly the same, but it is still making memories for our children.

I'm still scanning pictures while blogging. I'm trying to separate the pictures into years and right now I'm on 1988, or as I like to call it "The Year of Colter." Why would I name it such a thing? Well, I have 131 pictures so far for that year and 76 of them are of Colter. That is over 50% of the pictures of one child out of eight. To give it a little perspective, that is the same year I was in England and that Milaka graduated from high school. There was more going on that year than Colter being born, but the pictures don't tell that story.

That said, he sure was a cutie, wasn't he?

Clarification

I apologize for the confusion of my earlier post. It has been brought to my attention that there is some uncertainty as to the actual airline where I will soon be gainfully employed. Well let me clear it up now. The airline in question is JetBlue. That is the one which thoughtfully will allow me to work from home.

Sorry again for any difficulties that may have arisen from my previous ambiguity. Please keep reading my blog and thank you for your support.

A New Job!

I got the best news this morning that I got hired at the airline I applied for!! I start January 31st and will be in training the whole month of February. I have really enjoyed staying at home, so it will be tough getting up in the morning (I forget, is there a 6 in the morning too?), and commuting to Salt Lake again, but it will only be for a month or so and then I can work from home. Jason went back to work yesterday, so just like that, we are going from both staying home to both working.

So my new favorite website is www.singsnap.com. It is a karaoke site and has thousands of songs to sing! If you have a microphone for your computer (which I happen to have), you can record yourself singing all kinds of songs. Then you can either let everyone hear you sing, or you can keep it private and for your own enjoyment. I love it! My sister Keturah turned me on to it, and now I can't stop!!

Janica and Kierra got some batons for Christmas and love to put on 'shows.' They will sing and dance and then leave, only to come back a do it again. Very cute. I wish I had a picture or two to post, but for some reason, they only seem to do their shows when I don't have a camera. It's very odd too because they both love the camera. I think the first word Kierra learned was "cheese!" from being told to say cheese so much! Anyway, my new goal is to have a camera the next time they start to perform so I can record them properly.

And finally, if you are a Jane Austen fan, and I don't know why you wouldn't be, Masterpiece, which used to be Masterpiece Theater, is showing movies made of Jane Austen books for the next few months. This past Sunday was "Persuasion," which was wonderful and one of my new favorites. Next Sunday is "Northanger Abbey." Do yourselves a favor and either watch them or set your tv to record them. Believe me, you'll thank me.

A new year, a new post

When my sister Malauna came down to Utah for New Year's Day, she urged us over and over to "blog" like she does. I presume it is so she'll have more to do while on the internet. It didn't sound like a horrible idea, and I seemed to remember having signed up for a blog. Obviously I found it, since I am writing a post now.

For those of you keeping track at home, I have recently applied for a job with an airline. While I am waiting to find out if they'll hire me, I'm enjoying the time at home with my children.

Kierra has just learned to blow kisses and her latest game is putting on her dress-up gloves and purse, blowing me a kiss, and going off to "work," which is her leaving the room and then coming right back in. It is very cute.

Janica has been telling me that she is "having a bad day." When I ask her why, it is because I won't let her wear her Snow White dress while she eats and because we aren't having a tea party today. Oh the trials of being 4!

Tegan is doing great being at school all day. I am amazed with how much information he learns every day. His reading is constantly improving and fortunately for me, his incessant questions have slowed down a bit. I hope it is because he is having his thirst for knowlege quenched. Well who knows.

In addition to updating my blog, I have also decided to scan all the many pictures I have taken over the years onto our hard drive. As with all new goals and resolutions, we'll see how long this one lasts, although I have high hopes.