Thoughts

Random Thoughts from the Week -

*Is there a secret intercom, built within children,  alerting them that their mother has picked up the phone?  I imagine it relaying something like this:

"Okay, you know the drill. Everyone get in their places. Just like we practiced."

Little C and Gadashio's last assignment, I believe, was fulfilled successfully.

The telephone rang while I was cooking dinner, I answered it while getting back to my kitchen duties. The kids HAD been playing quietly in the other room. All of a sudden they're both at my feet.

Little C: Mom, what's for dinner?

Chicken Noodle Soup.

When will it be ready?

In a few minutes (shewing him away, pointing at the phone).

Mom, what's in chicken noodle soup?

Ummm, chicken and noodles.

Doesn't look like it.

(mouthing) - I am on the phone. (followed by my finger point with snap.)

It doesn't look like any chicken noodle soup I've had before.

(this results in him receiving "the look")

Little C runs off and comes back chasing Gadashio. Which leads me to my next thought.

*When did I become a human shield?

There is only so much room between my body and the front of the oven. But apparently it's just enough space for a two year old to protect himself from his older brother. Little C begins coming at his brother from left to right and Gadashio is dodging him as quickly as possible. That "quickly as possible" just happens to involve leaping from one side of my hip to the other. All of these actions  are of course accompanied by screaming and loud laughter.

Me to person on the phone: I am sorry, I am going to have to let you go. My kids really don't usually act like this.

And as soon as I hang up the phone,

they disperse -

and resume to playing quietly in the other room.

Very peculiar.

But this peculiarity doesn't upset me very often -usually it just kind of makes me laugh. I enjoy being a human shield  - watching my children giggle around me. And I am serious about the secret intercom. Someone must get to the bottom of this.

Other quesions:

*Do other people have to convince their two year old that there is no fish in their glass of water before they'll drink it?

*Is visiting teaching successful when the lady I am teaching has been adorned with a pink minnie mouse hat (with ears) and I with toddler sunglasses? -both of us having been decorated by Gadashio- staring at each other while I give the message of the month.

*(Sometime in the afternoon) Do I take a shower or a nap? I opted for the nap.

*Do I have to spurt out exactly what is on my mind when conversing with others?

Ex - (of course there's an example :))  -

During another teaching appointment today, the sweet sister I was visiting lead me upstairs to show me a perfect little robins nest sitting outside their office window.

The nest reminded me of a special I saw on the History Channel the night before about chickens.

As I am headed out the door I say to this lady and her husband (the previous Bishop) how wonderful it would be to be a bird. I mentioned the TV show I had watched and how lovely I thought the birthing process was. They're only prego for a day. As I am waving goodbye I end with, "The egg is practically painless to release because the shell hardens at the last moment. I would just love to go home and lay an egg."

The door closes.

I would love to go home and lay an egg?

What a visual to leave a person with.

Me, squatting, laying an egg. Great.

My last few thoughts:

*Why did all of my teams thus far in the NBA lose their games?

Heat - Bulls - Nuggets - The Thunder

*Why do I hate the Jazz so much? Why did Daron Williams get a tattoo of a birthmark on his arm? Isn't that what it looks like? And Boozer... yuck... screams diva to me.

Sorry, one more b-ball vent and I'll be done.

*Is it naughty that I'm a tiny bit happy that LeBron is hurt? I hate that he is so good. So utterly cocky I can't stand it. I love that Michael Jordan doesn't react to his silly little gestures. No matter how good you are - Michael will always be better in the history books.

Thanks for listening. It's been fun.

Oreo Cookies/Hair Club

First Oreo Cookie -

and it appears as if it won't be his last -

licking the fingers...

finishing it off perfectly with a long sip of milk.

He's a natural.

His Excellent Teachers:

And take a close look at this one

BECAUSE....

He is now an official member of our

Family Hair Club -

well, the boy part of the fam anyway :)

 I felt left out so they took a picture of my hair too. Thanks guys.

Turkey Virgins

The Beloved and I journeyed down a new path this past Easter Sunday.

The Goal:

Cook a Turkey -Sometimes you should just stick with the basics - ex: being content devouring these wonderful homemade cinnamon rolls The Beloved made earlier in the day.
But no...
our domesticated turkey desire had to overrule.

But - "someone" forgot to thaw out the turkey. And that "someone", who let's face it - was me, decided that instead of simply cooking the turkey for a few more hours, would thaw it out in the bath tub.

In warm water.

Which we later found out causes bacteria to form.

Sweet.

I love bacteria. Especially on Easter.



Did you know that soaking a turkey in a bathtub for four hours erases the weight right off the packaging?

Neither did we.


Around two we decided that the turkey was thaw enough and I proceeded to call my little mother to get directions.
Preparedness is my middle name.
Right...
So - Question:
Do turkey farmers have a personal vendetta against all turkey eating mankind?
I believe the answer must be yes. My theory -one day, unhappy with their chosen career path, turkey farmers decided to get back at all happily employed turkey lovin' folk by leaving the
NECK, HEART, AND GIZZARD in the bird.
Now, someone very close to my heart, who birthed me - is very fond of the gizzard. But, I find this attraction to be rare... very rare.
Side note: I have not researched the specifics re: this vendetta - so no facts please. I am perfectly happy living in my "no neck, heart, and gizzard world".
Plus, sometimes innocent victims, who are completely unfamiliar with how long a turkey neck is - think they've removed everything successfully - only to find the cooked neck while carving the turkey.
Ewwww.


In the meantime, around 9 p.m. the egg coloring begins.
Gadashio managed to sip down a little vinegar and then tried to lick every egg he came into contact with.
You can see the joy on his egg coloring partners faces.

At 10:00 p.m. we pull the turkey out of the oven. (we had Mac N' Cheese @ 6 :))

We call my mom and ask if she thinks the turkey is done.

She replies in her nicest, most patient voice,

"If you have been cooking it since the last time you called me - I am sure it is done."

We knew that.

We did.

Elementary my Dear Watson.

You'd think the photo below would encourage me to forget about the turkey feast and just put my poor little children to bed.

But all of my logical senses had long since vanished.

Everybody was going to eat this Easter meal -

AND THEY WERE GOING TO LOVE IT!

The turkey ended up tasting great.

Unfortunately, although we have a family of five, only 3 out of those 5 mouths can truly eat a regular poultry portion.

So the turkey celebration will continue for the next few weeks.

Good thing we're mormon, because we need all of the casserole recipes we can get.

I am still having nightmares of cooked turkey neck.

I think I just threw up in my mouth a little bit.

As for the bacteria - we haven't felt any effects yet. Maybe that's what happens when you cook a turkey for eight hoursl

Next year we are supporting these three beautiful words:

pre-cooked turkey breast.

And We're Back!

But we had so so so much fun!

The Beloved flew with The Baby

and my flight crew is pictured below -

Upon Arrival -

The Bowling/Arcade Experience:

My little parentals drove down to be part of the action -

Loooovvvve IT!

Such a serious bowler -too bad she got beat by almost everyone, including Gadashio.

Eating Mexican (YUM YUM):

In Illinois there are no, I repeat no good Mexican Restaurants. So The Beloved and I were so very excited to engorge ourselves.

Any of you delightful Mexican chefs out there should move this direction - we need you.... PLEASE!

At my sister-in-law's house:

The Beloved's two delightful sisters -

who feel more like my own.

We traveled to Utah for such a special event. The Beloved's youngest brother is leaving on his mission the end of April and we were able to attend his farewell and also accompany him to the temple.

I am not quite sure why he hasn't been translated yet... he's a remarkable young man and will be such an incredible missionary.

You'd think that with all of the celebration, and so many different photo taking opportunities, that I'd have some super beautiful pictures -

but this is what you're stuck with ladies and gentleman -

Head measurements! :)

The family thought they'd finally find out for themselves how truly big their heads are -

turns out... they're pretty comparable.

Doctors - get off our backs! :) We know the truth!

Then of course we had to measure the bellies.

All of these little grandchildren flock after their grandpa.

Maybe two year olds shouldn't sleep in the playroom.

These toys were put away before he went to bed. Hmmm...

Swimming with Papa and Buckabu:

Isn't she beautiful?!

Watch out for the Papa!

Little C and his cousin from the big CA-

Watch guard -

Afterward a trip to McDonalds:

Wheeler Farm:

Now, is this a wonder-mom or what?

Our travels went well - the boys did amazing on the plane.

Although next time we may opt to travel like this: