The GDP and me

A few months ago, I read a book called "The Price of Motherhood" by Ann Crittenden. I've been meaning to do a blog post on it, but every time I sit down to do it, it turns into a more time-consuming task than I think it should be. I had the hardest time figuring out exactly what I wanted to say about it, but I didn't want to just drop it, either.

I don't know that I'd necessarily recommend the book. It started off really good. I loved the first three chapters. Very interesting and informative. Made me look at motherhood and the history of our economy in ways I hadn't before. But then it jumped the shark and was a grueling chore for me to finish. Lots of recommendations about socialized health care and day care and why all women need to work to protect their financial well-being in case of a divorce. Just rubbed me the wrong way.

Even though I didn't love the book, there are points that have lingered in my mind since I finished it. I guess in that respect it was pretty powerful. One of the main points is about the value of the work of stay-at-home-moms. (SAHM's) I'd heard of "studies" that try to put a value on all of the tasks we do and come up with some astronomical six-figure income that would be necessary to pay us, but I hadn't really thought about the monetary investment that we're making through raising our kids. Crittenden talks about how human capital is THE most valuable resource in our economy. And I'm the one producing it! How's that for important?

My investment portfolio

Here's one of the quotes that drove that point home to me: "In a static, agrarian economy people cannot, and need not, make huge investments of time or emotion in their children. Early in life, with little or no schooling, children are able to become valuable assets, who work in the fields and the kitchen, tend the babies, care for the animals, and help in the family enterprise. An Indian baby in Guatemala can be safely tucked in a hammock all day with no harm done to his future as a subsistence farmer. But these practices provide poor preparation for success in a fluid and meritocratic society. It takes years of hard, patient work to mold infants into individuals who have the imagination to find a place for themselves in a competitive, mobile world, the self-confidence to strive, and the self-discipline to plan for an uncertain future."

See? All that time spent reading to my kids and putting them in time out when they've broken the rules IS valuable.

B, please go stand in the corner.
It's for the future of the American economy.
Trust me.

It's preparing them to be independent and intelligent contributors to our society. Ever thought of it that way? Most people don't. In my own little circle of interaction, I associate with so many other SAHM's, that I feel very confident in my choice to stay home and I don't feel looked down upon because I don't get paid for my work. But that isn't always the case.

I remember going to my 10 year high school reunion. I grew up in a small town and was voted "Most Likely to Succeed" our senior year. Yikes--that's a lot to live up to! In my eyes, I WAS very successful. I had finished my schooling, dabbled a little with working as a hygienist, and had made the conscious choice to stay home. I have an amazing husband, two adorable kids, and I am TRULY HAPPY. Isn't that the definition of success? Yet when asked by my former classmates, "What do you do now?" I found myself saying, "Oh, I just stay home with my kids."

Just???

I didn't catch it until the weekend was over and it was too late, but I was so mad at myself for describing my job that way. I wish I would've said something more along the lines of, "I have the best job in the world--I stay home with my kids!"

Ok, maybe something a little cheesy would suffice. Maybe I should've just typed up this quote from the book and passed it out: "The dominant culture of which I had been a part[the working world] considered child-rearing unskilled labor, if it considered child-rearing at all. And no one was stating the obvious: if human abilities are the ultimate fount of economic progress, as many economists now agree, and if those abilities are nurtured (or stunted) in the early years, then mothers...are the most important producers in the economy. They do have, literally, the most important job in the world."

Yea, I'm sure that would've gone over really well. My friends probably would've written me off as a psycho crazy defensive obsessed mom.

Anyway, one of the other major points I got out of the book is that even though many economists agree that human capital is one of the most valuable assets in the economy, the hard work that I do every day doesn't figure into the Gross Domestic Product. Isn't that interesting? Here's how the author put it:

"Thus the great part of women's work does not figure. Nothing counts unless it is bought and sold. This produces absurd perversities: a nurse feeding formula to a baby counts as productive activity, but a mother's breast-feeding doesn't; care for an aging relative in a nursing home counts, while at-home care by an unpaid family member doesn't; paying bills and taxes and planning family investments counts when done by an accountant, but not when done by a spouse; charitable contributions of money are tax-deductible, but volunteer donations of time are not; teaching twenty children in a classroom counts, while home schooling one's own children doesn't."

Taking my daughter on an educational field trip to
the beach doesn't count toward the GDP??
What's up with that?

I'm not an economist. I have no idea how we could keep track of all the unpaid work that we do and somehow count it toward the GDP. Any suggestions?

Next time we're having a rough day with the kids, let's remember the monetary value of the job we're doing. And see if we can talk our husbands in to giving us some vacation time or quarterly bonuses. It's worth a try, isn't it?

Love notes

My friend Laurie posted on her blog about these cute little mailboxes available in the dollar section at Target. Last time we were there, we picked up a few. I decorated them with the a few scrapbooking stickers from the stash that just seems to keep growing and...Tada!

The perfect place for love notes.

I set these on the kitchen counter along with a few little printed note cards and a pen and told everyone that we could write little notes of appreciation to each other. And make sure you put up the flag when you leave one, so we're sure to check our mail. It has been such a fun experience! Brandon has yet to get it on the action--at least not on the writing end of it. But Whitney loves to draw little pictures or W's(one of the few letters she can write so far) or else she'll ask me to write little notes like, "Dear Dad, Thanks for all your hugs and kisses."

Andrew is the best. I love his sense of humor and he'll write the silliest notes to me that are good for a belly laugh every time.

I'm thinking of getting little boxes of conversation hearts and slipping them in there, too. What a fun way to make the Valentine's love last a little longer than just that one day.

Out of the mouths of babes--January

I was kind of disappointed in the LOST premiere. Anyone with me on this? 1. They advertised it as a "two hour" event, but the first was just another recap. Come on already. I stressed over getting home from B's practice on time for no good reason! 2. There were WAYYY too many commercials. I felt like there was a break in the action every five minutes. What's up with that??? 3. They hardly covered any ground in the story. We didn't even see the supposed "rescuers" until 15 seconds before the show ended.

I'm a little let down.

Hope you don't get the same feeling from this month's OOMB post. :)

1/1--Sometimes it isn't so much what your kids SAY as what they do. And this picture says more about Brandon's adventurous, crazy personality than any commentary I could make:

Presenting: Tape and glue stick boy!
The newest and stickiest super hero.

1/4--Brandon is such a tricky salesman! Tonight we were all driving together in the car and B asked Andrew, "Dad, do you work with anyone who is really nice and likes to help people?
Andrew replied, "Yes, I work with a lot of people like that."
B went on to say, "Good. I need their addresses because I want to send them a letter for my school fundraiser." Holy cow! Sneaky boy, I tell ya.

1/5--Whit is really into playing doctor. Go figure. She sees enough of them in real life that I thought she'd fulfilled that inner desire. Guess not. Anyway, Andrew was giving her a "check up", listening to her heart, giving her shots, etc. Then she said, "OK. It's my turn to be the doctor and you're the patient, Daddy." They switched roles and the first thing out of Whit's mouth when she was in the role of doctor: "First you have to pay me. Do you have any money?" Cracked me up! She knows that we're definitely paying for all those visits she has to see her boyfriends.

1/9--At the dinner table tonight...
B: Today when we were on our way back from the playground, we saw some people in the gym and they were Pokemon Masters that you could play against.
Me: [in disbelief] Really?
B: Well, that's what Jonah [a classmate] said....or else maybe they were Cub Scouts.

1/10--On the way to Whitney's preschool this morning....
W: I hope I'm the coolest girl there!
Me: [After trying to convince her that maybe she should try to be the nicest girl instead] What IS the coolest girl? What makes you a cool girl?
W: Well, it's kind of like a cougar, except it's a cool girl.

1/12--When she finished brushing her teeth tonight, this is the face Whit made:

In Chile, they call this "la boca chueca" (crooked mouth)

I had Andrew tell the kids all about how Chileans answer the door with their mouths covered so the hot air in their mouths won't collide with the cold air outside. If they don't take this precautionary measure, they believe their mouth will go crooked. "Don't laugh," they say, "It happened to my Uncle Chuey!" The kids got a kick out of this story and now every night when Whit goes to bed, instead of getting my usual cute little kiss, I get a "boca chueca" kiss.

1/15--One of the toys that I keep out of reach is our Mr. Potato Head. Love to build with it, hate to clean up a hundred little pieces. So, it's somewhat of a privilege when we get it down. Today was Whit's lucky day because she asked to play with it and I agreed. And, as an added bonus, she even cleaned it up when I asked her to. Woo hoo. Ours came in a bucket and as she was carrying it up the stairs to put it away, she said, "Time to milk the cows!" Where did THAT come from?

It's 4:30. Time for milking

1/16--Brandon was playing with one of the floor vents for the heater and I asked him to leave it alone because I don't want him to forget that it's closed and leave this room freezing cold. His reply?
"Mom, it's winter. I would NOT forget about getting warm. The only things I think about during winter are Jesus, keeping warm, and getting presents from Santa."
At least Jesus came first...

And Whit wants you to leave the vents
open so the warm air can blow through her
long, flowing hair.

1/17--So I mentioned a few months ago how Brandon is in the "Boys Club," right? Well, now he is not only a card-carrying member, but he has informed us that he is the KING of clubs. (Because now there are specific clubs instead of just one for all boys--Pokemon club, football club, star wars club, etc.) So, he is basically the leader of ALL these little clubs. This honor was bestowed upon him when the former king of clubs moved to Germany. His duties, from what we have gathered so far, are to trade boys from his football team for better players so that they always win and to be the fastest runner in the class. BUT he informed us that he is only the fastest in short races and there is another boy who can beat him in long races. His secret to winning?
"When the fast kids are running, they always have one leg in the air at a time, so if you just give them a little tap, they fall down."
Us: "So, you push them down?"
Him: "No, I just barely tap them...and they fall."
Us: "That's called cheating."
Him: "Not if you just tap them lightly."

Brandon's self-portrait

1/20--OK, this wasn't something my kids said, but it still deserves an entry here. At church today, a woman made a comment to me about how I'm finally starting to look pregnant. (even though I've been claiming to look pregnant for the last, oh, 16 weeks.) She's right, though. Check out the 23 wk pregnant belly:
I said, "Yep. The belly's starting to get big, isn't it?"
Her reply? "Yea. And your backside, too."
What??? Even if it's true, you're not supposed to say it!

1/21--Tonight we had our annual goal-setting FHE and I just had to share a few of goals the kids set for themselves. We set goals in six areas, including:
Home and Family
B: Invent some things
Interests and Hobbies
W: Learn to dance better, especially ballet
B: Read as much as I can
Physical
W: Eat good foods like bananas and apples and crackers and granola bars and ice cream
Friends
B: Play more football with my friends
School
B: Learn more times tables

Talented kids with aspirations

1/24--While trying to keep Whit entertained during B's b-ball practice, we decided to play "Animal" where one of us thinks of an animal and the other has to guess it. We went through some of our favorites: elephant, giraffe, monkey, etc. Then Whitney had a turn and I couldn't figure out what she was thinking of. She said it was really small and wiggly. Her tricky animal? Germs! Darn, this former microbiology major should've gotten that one!

Are you ready????

Is everyone as excited about the
LOST premiere as Andrew and I are?

Biggest TV night in months.

Can't wait.

B-train has basketball practice at 6:45, so it's going to be a rushed bedtime routine to make it by 8, but I think we'll find a way. I watched the entire finale last night, even though we'd already seen it and I was still excited and scared, especially when I knew Walt was going to show up at the edge of that cliff and tell Locke to get up. Why does that creep me out so much?

Enjoyed the little commentary running at the bottom of the screen. I had heard the terms "Jater" and "Skater" before and never understood what they meant. (If you're a fan of Jack and Kate, you're a Jater. Sawer and Kate, you're a Skater.) I'm a total Jater, but don't see it working out my way. Who knows.

I'm excited about the move to Thursday nights because now it doesn't interfere with bishopric and Andrew won't come home as exhausted. So, hopefully he'll be able to stay awake with me, which didn't always happen last season.

Can't wait for the ride and hope the writer's strike ends before we run out of episodes!

P.S. I just got my grade back from my Physical Science midterm and got a B. I'll take it. :)

Words of Wisdom

As most of you already know, the prophet and president of our church, Gordon B. Hinckley passed away earlier this week. I know I'm kind of slow to do a post about it, but didn't want to let the opportunity pass.

I LOVE President Hinckley,

but truly am excited for him that he will be reunited with his sweet wife and free from the challenges of old age. He just seemed lonely since she passed away. I will miss seeing his smiling face and hearing his quick wit and inspired counsel at General Conference. I have had the following quote saved as a draft for the past few weeks. I read it in the Ensign magazine and loved it. It was printed in the program for Sister Hinckley's funeral.

He said, “It isn’t as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out. Don’t worry. I say that to myself every morning. It will all work out. Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us. If we will put our trust in Him, if we will pray to Him, if we will live worthy of His blessings, He will hear our prayers."

I'm not even a worry wart, generally. But there are days when I start to stress out about having Caroline.... and Andrew being gone a lot.... and can I really handle this? This was a great reminder. With the Lord's help, YES, I can handle this.

Snowball etiquette

After my last mocking post on Carolina Snow, Mother Nature decided to show me who's boss and actually gave us a "real" snow storm. We got just over an inch which is pretty good for us. (I know, I know, my Utah and Wyoming readers are belly laughing right now.)

I learned my lesson after my major faux pax last storm. We weren't about to wait until it all melted or turned into icy slush. As soon as there was an accumulation, we were outside. This made the photographing process difficult because the flakes were still falling! So, with my apologies for the poor pics, B and Whit want to share their version of how to have a successful snowball fight.

1. Check out the snow. Feel the consistency and
give it a little taste, too.

2. Shape the first snowball and smile for your mom.

3. Whit preferred to take it from the patio.
Maybe because she's closest to the ground.
Good plan, honey.

4. Aim at Dad and let 'er rip!

5. Laugh, mock, and taunt your victim after
making contact. Use caution with this step
if your victim is more than 3 feet taller than you.

6. For the older child, snowball-making is more of an
art form and is to be taken seriously. Table snow
is favored over that dirty patio snow.

7. Don't forget to follow through when you
throw your at your intended target.

8. A bullseye hits your victim
smack dab in the face!
(Bonus points are awarded if he/she is wearing glasses.)

9. If time permits, use leftover snow to make a snowman.
(Size can be proportionate to the builder.)

Note: Can you tell that "write more blog posts" was not one of my New Year's resolutions? I feel like a blog slacker, but I HAVE been keeping up with the rest of my goals. I have my first midterm for my science class tomorrow. Wish me luck!

Carolina Blizzard

Wow, it was a rough day out here. Did you hear about all the snow we got? Enough to cancel school! I took a few pictures. They're pretty graphic, so brace yourselves:

Can you see the little white pile at the base
of the trees? Look closely.

The top of the hot tub was BURIED.
And look at the limbs of those evergreens.
It was near white out conditions!

Ok, seriously, this IS what it looks like when they
cancel school in Carolina. I got to have a snow day
with the kids today and there wasn't even any
snow to play in! What's up with that?

Whitney REALLY missed going to Utah to get her
fix of snow this winter. So as soon as she finished
breakfast, she ran upstairs, got dressed, and was
ready to go outside and "play in the snow."
Only it was still raining. And there wasn't any
appreciable snow to do anything with.
She threw a complete tantrum. And we're
not really a tantrum family.
I felt so bad for her.

The cool thing about winter storms out here?

Ice.
(At least it looks cool, but can be a pain in the neck, too.)
I love how the trees get covered in a thin layer.
Totally how I envision a winter wonderland.

I had to put something out in the mailbox and it made
me smile when I put the flag up and the icicles stuck
straight out.

I wasn't sure if our "huge storm" made national news or not, but wanted all of our out-of-state loved ones to know that we survived the Great Blizzard of '08.

Name change?

For anyone who watched the American Idol premiere last night, you'll appreciate this.

Andrew was gone on a business trip and called me during a commercial break. He said, "How set are you on the name Caroline?"

Me....pause....

Andrew, "Because Temptress is another option. What do you think?"

Cracked me up. Can you imagine? I mean Temptress was a super sweet girl, but how can you hold your beautiful baby girl in your arms and have THAT name come to mind?


I slept on it and think we'll stick with Caroline.

What's for dinner?

You asked for it and here it is: what we eat for dinner every night. Here's the way it works for me: I'm not a big believer in a set menu. I never know what the day will be like, what time Andrew will be getting home, etc, so I don't want to be stuck with a meal that I don't feel like making. Instead, I have a list of 12-13 meals that lasts us about three weeks or so. (The rest of the nights are filled with leftovers or eating out.) I only go big grocery shopping about every three weeks and buy the ingredients for all those meals, and then have to go back in between for more produce, milk, and bread. When I make a dinner, I just cross that off the list and choose something else for the next night. Here are our recipes at the moment. I usually add/remove a recipe or two every couple of months.

Fill my plate!

Chili and Cornbread
Fast and easy. Andrew and I love it. Whit eats it. Brandon usually takes a couple bites.

Two 15.5 oz cans red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
8 oz can tomato sauce
14.5 oz can diced tomatoes, undrained
1/2 Tbs chili powder
1/2 tsp ground cumin

Throw all ingredients together in a pot for at least 7 minutes, or until Andrew gets home from work. I use the Krusteaz Fat Free Honey Cornbread mix in a box and everyone in the fam loves that.

DiGiornio frozen pizza
Ah, this is one of the dinners to fall back on when it has been a crazy day or I just don't feel like cooking. I either get the half pepperoni/half cheese combo or the Spicy Chicken Supreme, which everyone in the family will eat. I serve with a salad or carrot sticks.

Chicken Penne
This is the favorite meal for the kids and Andrew.

Bake a breaded chicken breast in the oven. (I buy the big bag at Sam's club and it lasts us for months.) Meanwhile, boil penne pasta. Top the pasta with heated Ragu sauce, the baked chicken breast, and some mozzarella cheese. If we're lucky I'll bake some frozen rolls. If not we'll have bread and butter. Also served with a salad or some microwaved Green Giant veggies.

Magic Spaghetti
Another option when time is short. Boil spaghetti according to directions on pkg. Heat Ragu in the microwave. Top noodles with Ragu, but before serving, ask one or two children to help make it "magic" by waving hands above plates and saying, "Magic Spaghetti, Magic Spaghetti, Magic Spaghetti." (I have to give Andrew the credit for that one. For some reason, the kids like Magic Spaghetti more than regular spaghetti.) Serve with a salad or veggie.

Cheese Ravioli with tomato and artichoke sauce
This is my personal favorite recipe and often what I serve when company comes over because it makes enough for more than the four of us. Although my kids must be growing, because the amount of leftovers keeps shrinking.

1 bag frozen cheese ravioli(25 oz)[we've tried several brands and the generic Wal-Mart one is my favorite]
1 TBSP olive oil
1 can of Italian Style Diced Tomatoes
1 (6.5 ounce) jar marinated artichoke hearts
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
2 TBSP grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

1. Cook ravioli according to package directions. (The friend that gave me this recipe said to never use sausage ravioli)

2. While the pasta is cooking, prepare the sauce. In a large nonstick skillet, heat 1 TBSP oil over a medium high flame. Add tomatoes, artichokes (drained and chopped), and salt and pepper. Cook 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are warmed through. Remove from heat.

3. Drain pasta well. Transfer to a large serving platter. Add half of the sauce to the ravioli; toss gently but thoroughly to mix. Pour remaining vegetable sauce over ravioli. Garnish with Parmesan cheese.

Chili Cheese Fries
I think this is my version of comfort food. Mmmmm.

1 can chili beans
Frozen french fries
Shredded cheddar

Cook fries in the oven until nice and crispy. Heat beans in the microwave when fries are almost done. Place fries on the individual dinner plates. Top with beans and cheddar.

Three Cheese Pasta Bake
The kids love this one. Usually served with a frozen broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots mixture with cheese sauce--also their favorite veggie combo.

1 can 98% fat free cream of mushroom soup
1 pkg (8 oz) shredded two-cheese blend
1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 cup milk
1/4 tsp. pepper
4 cups cooked rotini pasta

Mix soup, cheeses, milk, and pepper in 2 qt. casserole. Stir in pasta.
Bake at 400 for 20 min or until hot.

Bow-tie skillet

Yes, we are pasta lovers and we eat it just about every way possible.

3 cups farfalle (bow-tie) pasta, cooked and drained
1 jar (14 oz) spaghetti sauce
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella, divided
1/4 cup parmesan cheese, divided

Combine pasta, spaghetti sauce, ricotta cheese, 1/2 cup of the mozzarella and 2 Tbsp of parmesan in large skillet or saucepan. (I usually use the pan I cooked the pasta in.)

Cook on medium heat for 10 min or until heated through, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat.

Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella and parmesan. Let stand about 5 min or until mozzarella is melted.

Pasta Primavera
Yea, that's just a fancy way of saying mac and cheese with veggies. :) Another hit with the kids.

1 (12 oz) pkg Shells and cheese dinner made with 2% milk
2 Tbsp Italian dressing
1 cup broccoli florets
1 cup red or green pepper strips
1 cup frozen baby peas
1/4 tsp dried basil leaves
2 Tbsp parmesan cheese

Prepare shells and cheese as directed on pkg

Meanwhile, heat dressing in large skillet on medium heat. Add broccoli and peppers; cook and stir 5 min or until crisp-tender. Stir in peas; cook until heated through.

Add prepared dinner and basil, mix lightly. Top with Parmesan cheese.

(Ok, I have a confession to make here. This is the recipe I started with and I really like it, but the kids wouldn't eat the peas and didn't care for the peppers, either. So I've altered it. I now use the shells and cheese dinner and while the pasta is boiling, I dump in about 1/2 a bag of frozen california mix veggies and let them cook right along with the pasta. Drain them all and then add the cheese packet.)

Italian salad
Already shared this recipe, so click on the link if you didn't see it before.

Pasta and Broccoli
Andrew's mom shared this recipe in a blog comment somewhere along the way and we love it!

1 pkg penne or ziti pasta cooked and drained
1 bunch broccoli steamed (I actually use 2 bunches--we're broccoli fans)
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
3/4 c shredded mozzarella
1/2 c parmesan
2 Tbsp butter
1/2 c chicken broth

Chop broccoli and set aside. Heat oil in lg skillet on med-high. Add garlic. Cook and stir until lightly browned. Add broccoli; cook and stir 3-4 minutes. Stir in both cheese, butter and broth. Reduce heat to low. Simmer until mixture is thoroughly heated and cheese is melted, stirring occasionally. Pour sauce over hot pasta in lg bowl. Toss to coat.

Southwest Pasta
I got this recipe from some vegetarian website when I was looking for new recipes a while back. I really like it, but it makes a very large batch and the rest of the family only tolerates it.

1 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 onion, chopped (I usually only use 1/2)
1/2 green bell pepper, diced
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 Tbsp chili powder (I found I have to add a little less for the kids)
1 tsp ground cumin
1 (28 oz) can diced tomatoes with juice
1 (15 oz) can chickpeas
1 (10 oz) pkg frozen corn kernels, thawed
1 (12 oz) pkg uncooked elbow macaroni
1/2 c shredded cheese (recipe called for Monterey Jack, but I use a two-cheese blend)

Heat oil in large, deep skillet. Saute onion, green pepper, garlic, chili powder and cumin. Stir in tomatoes, chickpeas and corn. Reduce heat to low and simmer 15 to 20 minutes or until thickened and heated through.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add macaroni and cook for 8-10 min; drain.

Combine pasta and sauce. Sprinkle each serving with cheese.


Phew. There you have it. That's how our family subsists. I think Boca tacos will make the rotation. And every once in a while we'll throw in something random like Navajo tacos or broccoli cheddar soup with rolls. Feel free to share your favorite recipe that could fit into the menu of the anti-red-meat girl.

Ch..Ch..Ch..Ch..Changes

So, with the New Year, I've decided it's time to make some changes. A great time to get my priorities back in line. Last year at this time I made some resolutions and they lasted for a good five months. Then we put the house on the market....and went on our cruise....and moved....and I got pregnant....and all of those great habits went down the drain. Boo on that.

I've decided to focus on three main goals. We need to have our semi-annual goal-setting FHE, but it hasn't been my turn yet, so I have to wait two more Mondays for that. I figure I better get these babies down in writing somewhere before my motivation flees and I'm back to just playing the piano, blogging, and reading in all my spare time.

1. Have thirty minutes of personal gospel study every day. We're good at reading the scriptures as a family and as a couple, but I'm not so good on my own. And I've decided my personal study doesn't just have to be the scriptures, it can be church magazines or preparing my Sunday lessons for YW. I just need to spend some time every day working on my own spirituality.

2. Work on my BYU continuing ed class for AT LEAST four hours a week. I am in trouble with that thing. I'm still working on Physical Science 100--the class I started last March. I didn't touch it between May 15 and Jan 1st. Yikes! It has to be completed by mid-March, so I'm cracking the whip on myself and hoping I can beat the deadline.

3. Exercise for at least 30 minutes a day, at least 3 times a week. This is actually a lifelong goal of mine and sometimes I keep it and sometimes I don't. But winter time is the hardest for me. (Can you even call it winter out here right now?) My favorite form of exercise is walking and I'm way too wimpy to walk in the cold, so I sometimes have to come up with alternate forms of exercise. Like *gasp* Billy Blanks. I can't handle Billy's Boot Camp with my preggo belly, but a little Tae Bo once or twice a week is do-able.

There. I got it off my chest. Now I feel like I'm a little more accountable because the goals are not just floating around in the recesses of my mind.

In other random updates:

*BYU's basketball team played Wake Forest this week and we were able to get group tickets with other BYU fans for the game.

Go Cougars!

It was actually our first college b-ball game since we moved here. Kinda crazy since this is ACC country. But tickets are usually outrageously expensive and hard to get your hands on. (The group tickets on the very top row of the coliseum were not so bad.) Anyway, we had a fun time, but the Cougars got killed. They were ranked in the top 25 when I bought the tickets, but have since fallen out. (With the way they looked at Wake, I'm not surprised.)

Despite, the loss, it was fun to cheer for our alma mater.

*Andrew's back is still killing him. I feel so bad for him. He has been toughing it out and going to work every day, but he comes home in so much pain. He finally got in to see the chiropractor yesterday and has another appt with him this afternoon. Hoping he'll get some relief SOON.

*Whit had her last appt with the orthopedist yesterday and they said her arm looks great. You can hardly tell it was ever broken, other than some strong new bone that has formed. I told them, "Thanks for the great care. I hope we never have to see you again." :)

*Brandon's basketball team this season is really struggling. They lose terribly every game. Brandon was SO frustrated after the first game, but I think he has come to terms with the fact that they are a young, developing team and is trying to make the best of it.

Here he is shooting a free throw.
His team lost this one 4-15. Ouch.

*I've reached the halfway point of my pregnancy. Woo hoo! I am feeling great and can feel our little girl move every day now. She's especially active from about 10-11:30 pm every night. I guess her daddy will have a night owl to keep him company when she's born. Right now we're pretty sure we'll name her Caroline Rose. Andrew actually wanted to name Whitney "Caroline," and I didn't like it then, but I've come around now.

I'm now getting to the point where even
strangers can tell I'm pregnant.
Love that belly!

*My next-door neighbor is a somewhat vegetarian and shared the best tip with me:

Meatless Ground Burger.
I'd never even thought of trying it.

So last time I went grocery shopping I picked some up and made tacos out of it. Oh.... my.... gosh. Can I just tell you that the whole family loved it? With the taco seasonings in it, Andrew couldn't even tell it wasn't ground beef. (Of course he hasn't eaten ground beef in years, so that might've had something to do with it.) It's kind of pricey, so it won't be something we'll eat every night, but definitely a viable option once in a while. (To be fair, I don't know how the price compares to real ground beef because I never purchase it.) And the nutrition facts on it are awesome--half a gram of fat, three grams of fiber, and 13 grams of protein per serving. And NO grizzle. Yum!

And the winners are...

Drum roll, please.

In third place, we have the entry from almost exactly a year ago, Jan 8th: Brandon's "marriage is bondage" social commentary.

In second place, from Oct 25th, we have the glimpse into the stimulating conversations between three- and six-year-old children with the crops/corn tutorial.

And the WINNER is the entry from March 23rd: Whitney's empty threat against her six foot six inch father, "Do you wanna piece of me?" Classic.

Apparently this size difference doesn't intimidate Whit.

We'll see what happens when she faces her first school bully.

How does the old saying go? Laughter is the best medicine? Thanks to Brandon and Whitney for giving us a healthy dose every month.

Thanks for your votes. Let's do this again next year.

The Best of OOMB 2007

Since every reputable publication comes out with some sort of "Best of" list at the end of the year, I wanted to get on the action. So, I read through all twelve of the Out of the Mouths of Babes(OOMB) posts from last year and picked my favorites.

Your job, should you choose to accept, is to read through these goodies and vote for your three favorites. We'll pick a winner--the best wisdom or humor my munchkins have to offer--based on your votes. Enjoy!

Jan 8th--While reading the scriptures together tonight, we came across the word "bondage." Andrew asked Brandon, "Do you know what bondage is?" Brandon thought for a minute and replied, "Is it like being married?"


Feb 15th--I just finished reading a book to Whitney and this is how it ended:
Whatever the weather,
come snow, rain or sun,
Bear always knows
how to have lots of fun!
Brandon was in the next room and called out, "Even in a tornado???"

Feb 20th--While eating lunch, I mentioned to Whitney that her daddy takes a ham sandwich to work for lunch every day.
She said, "When I grow up, I'm going to take an apple to work every day."
Me: "What are you going to be when you grow up?"
W: "I'll be bigger."
Me: "Yes, but are you going to be a business woman, or a teacher, or a scientist, or a doctor, or a mailman?" (those were the first examples that came to mind.)
W: "I'm going to be a doctor AND a mailman."
after a few moments to think about it
W: "I'm going to be a stepmother when I grow up."

March 9th--I overheard a conversation between Andrew and Brandon in the backyard this evening. Andrew was throwing away a piece of candy and Brandon didn't understand why.
A: Because I dropped it on the ground, so now it's trash
B: No it's not. I eat stuff off the floor of my bus all the time!

March 23rd--Drew: "Whit, you need to stop playing at the sink and just finish washing your hands."
Whitney turned around from the sink with a dirty look on her face and honestly said, "Do you wanna piece of me?"

Don't mess with this!

May 14th--We were sitting around the dinner table and asking Brandon about his day at school. One of the best parts is hearing what he did out on the playground. Tonight he told us that he and his friends played "Superbabies."
Drew: "How do you play that?"
B: "We just pretend we're babies with super powers."
Drew: "What super powers did you have?"
B: "Just plain Milk Force and Electric Force."
Drew: "What do you do with your powers?"
B: "Hurt bad guys and stuff. Shock them with the Electric Milk Force."

May 27th--Whitney was looking super-fly in a new church outfit today. I overheard her get several compliments. After church I asked, "Did lots of people tell you that you looked pretty today?" She quickly replied, "Yea." Then got a sad look on her face and said, "But nobody said I looked beautiful."

June 20th--This was the first night in our new house and we had the most humorous family scripture study. In Whitney's scripture stories, we're reading the Old Testament right now. We're on the part where Moses is leading the children of Israel through the wilderness. They have the tabernacle which has either fire or a cloud above it, depending on whether it is night or day. The illustration in her book looks like this:

Whit's question:

"Did they roast marshmallows there?"

June 30th--I don't know where this came from, but we were out running errands as a family today and Brandon said, "I know what I'm gonna do when I grow up. I'm gonna sell lemonade and other stuff on the side of the road so I can get more money and be rich." (Yikes--he's a little too interested in money right now, if you ask me.) Andrew asked, "What 'other stuff' will you sell?" Brandon said, "Toys....video games...pillows for beds." Sounds like we have a future entrepreneur on our hands. I mean, who doesn't need pillows for beds from a roadside stand?

July 21st--To help pass the time on the road trip, I had downloaded a Q&A game from cranium.com. Here are a couple of examples of the responses my kids gave.
Q: If you had a car that could go anywhere on earth, where would you drive to?
B: I would drive all around the world in sixty seconds and stop at Hershey Park and the Ultimate Lego Store.
W: To Wal-Mart.

Q: If you could eat only one thing the whole trip, what would it be?
W: A peanut butter sandwich.
B: Cotton candy.

Q: If you could pick anyone to be your personal chauffeur, who would it be?
W: Hello Kitty
B: Jeff Gordon

Aug 22nd--We have a CD of VeggieTales songs and one of them talks about how the promised land is "flowing with milk and honey." B-train must've had that song in his head because in the car today, he randomly said, "Wouldn't that be cool if the promised land was flowing with milk and COOKIES?" During that same drive Whitney made this observation about the differences between boys and girls: "Mom, we like flowers and boys like football practice." Being a female athlete, I informed her that some girls like football practice, too. She wasn't convinced.

Sept 7th--I started teaching Whit about opposites yesterday. She caught on really quickly and enjoys being "quizzed" on them. So, today at the lunch table, I started off by asking her some opposites: hot and cold, open and closed, fast and slow, etc. Then it was her turn to put me in the hot seat.

W: What's the opposite of picnic?
Me: Having dinner at the table?
W: No. It's something slippery and slidey.
Me: A water slide?
W: Yes. What's the opposite of mad?
Me: Happy.
W: No. Surprised.

Sept 25th--More creative money-making schemes from B. When he found out his Grandma and Grandpa were going to be at the airport tomorrow, he said, "Grandma, when you see one of those empty carts, turn it in and collect all the quarters and bring them back and we'll split them."

Money, money, money, money

Sept 26th--This morning Andrew and Whit were having a debate about the title of the movie she wanted to watch. She INSISTED it was called "Alison and Wonderland." He tried to correct her and tell her is was "Alice in Wonderland." He tried to end the debate by saying, "It's Alice in Wonderland, Whit. I'm positive." She responded, "No you're not. You're handsome."

Oct 25th--It has been raining ALL DAY here today. It is a huge blessing for our drought-stricken state. Whitney and Brandon were sitting at the table doing a puzzle and Whit started singing, "Rain, rain, go away. Come again another day."
B: Stop singing that song.
W: Why?
B: Don't you want to live?
W: What?
B: We need the rain for the crops to grow, so if you tell it to go away, we can't live.
W: What are crops?
B: That's a fancy word for....corn and stuff.
W: Corn is delicious!

(Major props to Jackie for the cute photos of the kids. Thanks!)

Out of the mouths of babes--December

Happy New Year! Andrew's back is out again, so while I have a pity party for myself about missing out on our friends' party, enjoy these blurbs and hopefully you'll get a chuckle or two.

12/3--Tonight at the dinner table, Brandon announced that he has written two songs. I had no idea. They are titled, "You're In the Traffic of America" and "Yo, Dude! You're Part of My Galaxy!" Sound like future hits to me.

Musician AND songwriter
(Love that concentrating face!)

12/4--Andrew read the scriptures with Whit tonight and they were talking about how Jesus wants us to help others. Whit's comment, "Yes, He wants us to help others....like if someone's house is on fire...or they're stuck in a cage." You know, the types of things we're always helping people out with.

12/12--Now Whitney has started rewriting well-known songs with her own lyrics. (I guess she couldn't let Brandon be the only songwriter in the family.)
Examples:
*She is convinced that the classic children's song, "The Farmer in the Dell" ACTUALLY says, "The Farmer and the GIRL." Sounds pretty scandalous to me.

*At the end of Rudolph, he doesn't go down in history. He'll "go down and kiss DI-ary."

*And at the end of "Up on the Housetop," it's not down through the chimney with GOOD St. Nick. Nope. It's "down through the chimney I bit Saint Nick." Uh oh. Not the smoothest way to make it on Santa's good list.

*This one sounds kind of sacrilegious....I wish she wouldn't have been walking around the store singing it at the top of her lungs. In the song "Angels We Have Heard on High," there is the beautiful Gloria in the chorus followed by the words "in excelsis Deo." Nope. Whit's version says, "Jesus shelf is de-ad." Oh my gosh. Again, tried to get it her sing the right words. Why do they have to be in Latin? She decided my words were gibberish and hers were correct.

12/14--We had a Christmas party at church tonight and Santa was there. Both kids took a turn telling Santa their deepest desires for Christmas. B wished for a Nintendo Wii. Thankfully, we had a witty Santa who replied, "I think all of our wii-eaters destroyed the wii's, but I'll see what I can do..." W's only wish was for a unicorn. Are you kidding me? Alas, both children are going to wake up very disappointed on Christmas morning.

"When I'm right, I'm right."

12/17--I have to give a quick sidenote before the real story here. In her prayers right now, Whitney doesn't ask for anything. They are all prayers of gratitude. Thank thee for this and that and this and that. Amen.

Ok, with that in mind...When she and I down for lunch today, there was a squirrel out on one of our trees. It was in a position as if it had been climbing down the trunk, but it was just stuck in that position. It stayed there the whole time we were eating lunch and I was asking Whit, "Do you think that squirrel is dead?" What a curious place to die. We debated about whether or not it was actually just sleeping and decided to go investigate after W's nap. (But when she woke up, we actually forgot to go outside and check it out.) Well, she said the blessing on dinner and included, "Thank thee that the squirrel on our tree isn't dead. Thank thee that it is just sleeping." Andrew and I can usually keep our composure during her prayers, but we both lost it, busting up laughing, which of course made B laugh...and W laugh. FYI, when we woke up the next morning, the squirrel was gone, so I'm thinking he really WAS alive....or a scavenger found him.

12/19--So I've shared stories over and over about how self-confident both of my kids are, right? Well, this morning after Whitney got dressed in a t-shirt and denim skirt with leggings, she did a little twirl and said, "I am SO pretty." Brandon was standing nearby and said, "Whitney, not everyone things you're pretty....but I do." How's that for a little stab in the back followed by a spoonful of sugar?

"I think you're pretty....even if no one else does."

12/20--Shelley watched my kids today while I went visiting teaching. As usual, they were a good source of entertainment for her. Here are a couple of the gems they shared.

Shelley was telling Whitney how she's looking so big, like she has grown lately. Then she said, "Brandon, you look pretty much the same." He replied, "I grew six inches this year! I grew two inches playing basketball and I grew four inches at Safety Town!" I don't know where that last comment came from, but it's not the first time he has said it. Safety Town lasted for two weeks, friends, and he thinks he grew a whopping 4 inches.

Whit has been obsessed with the fact that when she grows up and gets married, she's going to have a baby in HER tummy. We talk about it almost every day. So, she was telling Shelley all about it and said, "And when I have my baby, my mom will...."
Shelley tried to fill in the blank, "Be a grandma?"
Whit: "No. She'll have OLD skin!"
She's probably got a point there.

12/20--Andrew is the official bath-giver in our family. Thanks, honey! Tonight he gave Whit her bath in our big bathtub. While he was filling it, she was digging in the bathroom cupboards and found my "sanitary supplies." She pulled one out.
W: "What's this daddy?"
D: "That's for mom."
W: "Is it a diaper?"
D: "It's kind of like a diaper."
W: "Mommies don't wear diapers! Why does she need it?"
D: "Uh....you need to talk to your mom about that."
I haven't heard any follow-up questions yet.

12/21--This afternoon from the backseat of the van, this is what I heard from B, "Mom, wouldn't it be cool if it was your birthday...AND your mom was having a baby....AND you were flying on a plane all by yourself to see your aunt...AND you had a bunch of treats to eat on the plane...AND it was Christmas...AND you got a Wii?" Wow, buddy. I'd have to say YES, that would be cool.

12/24--When the munchkins were SUPPOSED to be cleaning up their rooms (which really means go upstairs and play for a few minutes until mom and dad get impatient and come up there to be the enforcers), W found a bell. She walked around up there ringing the bell and asking for money. Hmmmm...think she's seen a few Sal Army workers this season? (It didn't work. She didn't tell us she would do the MOST good with it.)

12/24--Brandon left these cookies and milk along with a letter for Santa:

It says, "Dear Santa, Can I please have a MP3 player or a wii?
Lego too. Certainly, Brandon.
P.S. Wit wants a toy unicorn and a hair set."

12/30--Andrew's back is out again, so I ended up giving W her bath tonight. She was pretending to make me a cake. She said, "Now, what kind do you want, sweetie pie?" It was such a Southern thing to say! It totally took me by surprise.

Christmas 2007 recap

Here's what has kept us busy for the last week or so:

Whit's Christmas program at school.
She was an angel. Her class sang
such Christmas classics as "This Is the Way
the Donkey Rides" and "The Angel Told Mary Good News."
(Oh, wait. I'd never heard of those songs. How 'bout you?)

The Annual Family Gingerbread House Making Night

The latest innovation: using a hot glue gun to
build the foundation. I stole this idea for W's
preschool teachers. It ROCKS!

Building houses with candy makes W HAPPY!

This is Andrew's interpretation of our house,
complete with the hot tub (that little box to the right)
with four of us soaking our cares away.

The finished products: W, B, Me, and Drew

For Christmas Eve Dinner, Andrew requested
artichokes. They were just a side dish, but I
think the size I got could've been a meal on it's
own. SOOOO good.

After dinner, we made our annual
ornaments to add to the tree.
I bought plain glass balls.

We added paint,

swirled,

and voila!

We each made two and I love the way they turned out.

The kids enjoyed dressing up for the Nativity.
So did the parents--Andrew doubled as the donkey
and a wise man. I played the angel.

We had a VERY fun gift-a-rama on
Christmas morning. The kids got SO
much stuff. I found myself wondering
why I buy them anything fun. I think
the grandmas, grandpas, aunts, uncles,
and cousins give them PLENTY.
I think next year "Santa" might bring
them clothes and school supplies.
We spent most of the day just playing
with our new toys.

Whitney loved her new princess dress-up.

Brandon and Andrew had a blast with his new
race track, complete with Jeff Gordon's car.

When we were finally tuckered out,
the kids got dressed in their new pj's.

Aren't they cute? They look like they
could be medical assistants at a Pediatric office.

They both got sleeping bags, so they camped
on the bonus room floor to try them out.
Apparently they're kind of slick because
the kids have a tendency to end up asleep on
the floor across the room from their bag. :)