A tribute to my parents

To my wonderful and loving parents:

Happy 40th Anniversary! I really am proud of both of you. As I've gotten older, and especially since I've been married, I've really come to appreciate all of the work that goes maintaining a marriage - let alone a happy one!

Regardless of how you feel about yourselves as parents or even as people, I think you have been hugely successful. All nine of your children were born to you in the Covenant. Seven of your children are either serving now or have served LDS missions. Four children have been sealed in the temple. All of your grandchildren attend church regularly and all but one that are old enough to have been baptized have been, but that is one is on the way. We have stayed close to our musical roots by participating in choirs, bands, orchestras and sharing our talents at home and at church. Many times I wish you both were by my side when people compliment my singing so I could be sure the praise was going to the right people. Thank you for all of that.

I know you aren't perfect. You raised me, remember? I also know that you keep trying and I love and admire you for that. I hold you up as examples for my children because I would love it if any of them turned out like either one of you.

Thank you for everything. Thank you for the sacrifices, the many lessons taught, the work ethic you've shown and most of all thank you for sharing your testimonies. You both have accomplished something really great and you deserve to be commended, which is why I put this on the internet for the world to see.

So as an anniversary gift, I have put together this video tribute for you. It is a retrospective in pictures of the last 40 years.

I love you!!

I'm so excited!

Oh yes, you read that right. We have an upcoming trip to Disneyworld and it is almost here! Since I now work for an airline and get flight benefits, Jason and I have been wondering what kind of big and fun trip to take this year. We looked at many different places, New York, Peurto Rico, Washington DC and even Disneyland. In fact we were leaning towards Disneyland because it is closer than Florida and we have friends going there this October. I looked at the prices, and for fun, decided to compare the rates for Disneyland and Disneyworld. Well believe it or not, Disneyworld was actually less money so that helped make our decision.

We are staying on Disney property at the All-Star Sports resort and because we are going at the right time and know the right promo code, all the food will be free. While I've been to Disneyworld twice before, I've never stayed on property before and I've certainly never been able to pick and choose where we eat, knowing it all is free. I keep telling Jason that perhaps I've gone a little overboard, because 90% of our meals are already reserved and at restaurants with character dining, but this is a once in a lifetime trip for us! Well maybe not once in a lifetime as we are planning on going again this time next year for the Christensen Family reunion, and possibly the year after that for the Bateman Family reunion, but still, a great opportunity!

So stay tuned dear reader because in just a few weeks, you had better believe that there will be at least one post, possibly more detailing our trip.

Have I mentioned that I am excited?

A claim to fame...

My cousin Alex recently tried out for "American Idol" when the auditions were held in Salt Lake last month and I guess didn't make it far enough to sing for the celebrity judges. He was close enough to want to try again, so he flew to another city where they were having auditions to try again. His family hasn't mentioned any more about it, so my guess is that he made it to sing for Randy, Simon and Paula, was sent through to Las Vegas, and had to sign a non-disclosure agreement. Hey, I prefer to think positively about it. After all, he is one of my relatives and I do come from a very musical family. If I can have a sister in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, surely I can have a cousin who wins "American Idol," right?

So I got to thinking. What if he does win? Then I would have a very famous cousin. Even if he made it to the top 20, he would be famous. He would then be my claim to fame. I have seen him from time to time at various family gatherings and we do share grandparents on one side. It would make a great story to tell people when I have to introduce myself and tell something interesting about me. It would sure beat my current response, which is that I can speak Romanian without showing my teeth. Hey, not everyone can do that!

It could also potentially beat my current famous person story. Right now the most famous person I've seen in person is Chris Rock. He is more famous than Orrin Hatch, right? Anyway, Jason and I were on our honeymoon in Orlando and we got into the elevator at the hotel, and there was Chris Rock! With a body guard of course. We smiled and said hi. He smiled and said hi in return. Very normal. Just so you know, he is very small. Petite might be a better word to describe him. He looked like I could fold him up and put him in my purse. His body guard looked to be about four times his size. Small, small, small.

So that is my famous person story - at least for now. Alex, just so you know, I am rooting for you. Not just because it would fulfill one of your dreams to win and you are a talented singer, but because my famous person story is almost ten years old and I really need a new one. Good luck!

Will I ever learn? I guess not

My beautiful and amazingly talented daughter Janica has a very selective memory. She must have inherited that from her mother, because I sure seem to have the same problem!

Two years ago, Janica cut off her beautiful hair. It had grown almost all the way down her back, and she cut it. She said she didn't want it any more. NO!!! A horrible loss, but I found a way to survive. She did promise not to cut it again.

She must have meant she wouldn't cut it again that year, because sure enough, she cut it last year too. Why?? I could very well have been like Sleeping Beauty's father and banned all scissors from the house, but it didn't seem very practical. I instead chose to very strongly let Janica know that scissors aren't toys and that she can't use them. At all. For any reason. If there was a reason that would be okay for her to use them, it WASN'T to cut her hair. I actually thought I got the point across when she was talking to my mom last weekend and told her very seriously and with all earnestness that she wasn't allowed to use scissors or anything sharp.

Oh that selective memory. Janica uses her to pick and choose which rules she remembers to follow. I use mine to not remember which rules Janica struggles with. So yes, the hair cutter strikes again, and this time she added another part to her repertoire: a new victim.

I think you can see where I am going with this. Janica cut her hair again and then because she was apparently getting tired of the same old results and punishment, she decided to cut her sister's hair too! I only noticed because when I was changing Kierra's diaper, there was hair all over her. I couldn't believe it! It was right before bedtime, so there was nothing to be done until the next day (today). I took them to Wal-mart as soon as the salon opened. Of course there are pictures. There have to be pictures.





So here is the culprit, as the hairdresser assesses the damage and what can be saved. You can see on the right how much Janica cut off.













Look at all that beautiful hair! Now gone.










Here is a shot of how much hair she hacked off of Kierra. Even the hairdresser commented on how much hair Kierra had for a two year old. Had. As in used to have. As in doesn't have any more because her sister cut it off because her mom hasn't learned to hide the scissors.





Here is the final product for Janica. It is very cute and looks great with barrettes or with a headband. I'm sure it is very cool for her in the hot summer months and brushing her hair is sure easier. That isn't the point! She cut her own hair! Again!








Well I guess I'm glad someone is enjoying this experience. Me? I would be fine to never experience it again!






Here is Kierra's final result. Again, very cute, just not as long as I would have liked. Sigh. When will I learn? For the record, I still haven't hidden the scissors!