I need to know. I need to know. Tell me, blogger girls, because I need to know.

Who's going to CBC?

Are you going to the Mocktail?

Are you wearing a dress/skirt?
(I wasn't planning on it, but what if everyone else is?)

Should I bring Miss Marvel?
(She'd probably be okay at home, but Superman would be much happier if she came with me. Are you dying to see her in person and hold a little baby? Am I being totally vain to think everyone will want to hold her? (Kristina, I know you won't. Don't worry. I will not thrust her upon you.))


For those of you not going, sorry. This is totally throwing it in your face. I feel like at this point I know more bloggers who aren't going. (Which sucks, because I'd love to see you in person.) So I need to know who IS going!!!!

May the force be........with me?

You know, there was a time that I didn't know what I lightsaber was. I had never heard of Hoth, Tatooine, or Dagobah. I thought the "Death Star" was what preceeded a black hole, and Obi-Wan Kenobi was the Korean word for "dog meat sandwich."

Sadly, that is no longer the case.

I now know the entire Star Wars mythology, thanks to my sons. (And a husband who was quite willing to teach me the ways of the force.)

I have gone from vowing to never watch anything with the word "star" in it to now planning a Star Wars birthday party.

Yup. I can't figure out whether we've fully embraced pop-culture, or nerd-dom.

(This will probably be me in a few years. Or months.)

The Hulk's birthday is coming soon, and he wants a Star Wars party. Superman and I have been trying to come up with party games for 4 year olds, but aren't having much luck. So I'm turning to my bloggy friends for help/advice, like I do with most of my problems.

Do you have any ideas for games? I am almost positive I saw a Star Wars party that a mom on MMB did not long ago, but for the life of me I can't find it again.

We're probably going to have it at a park, so I'm thinking outdoor games. I'm willing to spend a *little* bit of money. We'll have kids there that are 3 and probably a few that are 6 or 7. I'm trying to come up with stuff about storm troopers and Jedi that doesn't include me buying a light saber for each child or renting a Darth Vader costume.

Any tips? Ideas? Sarcastic remarks? I'll take whatever you got.

"Do, or do not. There is no try."
Yoda

Things I'm too lazy to ask Google

Why do some countries have "the" in front of them, and others don't? I'm going to THE Ukraine. She's from THE Netherlands. THE United States. THE Czech Republic.

Is it still called The Czech Republic?

Why do people do bad things to children? Ethan Stacey.

Why don't we have more talented female rockers? Evanescence. Alanis Morissette. Pink.

Why hasn't teleportation been developed yet? My family lives in Kansas.

How is it that days pass slowly but years pass quickly? The quandary of motherhood.

Why are the soldiers who are now "peace keeping" in Iraq in the same amount of danger as before, but getting paid less because it's not "combat"? Actually, I probably know the answer to that one.

How is LOST going to end? It'd better not all be a dream.

What do you do when your child says that you making them go to bed means you don't like them? I hope the answer is laugh, because that's what I did.

Why do those stupid girls on "Pretty Wild" have a TV show? I thought we were over idolizing the likes of Britney and Lindsey after they went CA-RAZY.


And finally,

Why do we not see Matthew Morrison
shirtless on gLee?

I may be buying Vogue for the first time in my life.

Any burning questions you want share?

Mommy Channel Moment of the Week

A few days ago on MMB, Serene wrote about a "Mommy Channel" moment. (The Mommy Channel is what all the hosts of heaven watch after a hard day's work to get a good laugh. They sit and enjoy their forbidden fruit ice cream while watching the moms in the trenches motherhood down below.)

My most recent mommy moment includes crying children and dinner prep. I was making tacos, both boys were in the kitchen waiting patiently (of COURSE this is the only time that ever happens), and Miss Marvel was in her little portable swing. The Hulk decided to be a good big brother and push his sister in the swing. Except he pushed a bit too hard and she fell forward, smacking her 2 mo. old head on the tile floor. (Note: even if your child isn't mobile, BUCKLE THEM IN.)

She of course started screaming. I started to yell at the Hulk, then realized it was an honest mistake and stopped. I scooped up Miss Marvel as the Hulk began to bawl, too. I assured him that he wasn't trouble; I knew it was an accident. But he won't stop crying. So I'm on the floor, trying to soothe both Miss Marvel and the Hulk. Then Spiderman starts to tear up, covering his ears and saying that he "doesn't want to hear that sound."


The sound of everyone crying.




Yeah....................I don't really want to hear it, either.





By he time everyone was calmed down, Superman was home, wondering how my day had been.

Not too bad.
Just giving the heavenly hosts
a good laugh.
You?



Have you had a mommy channel moment this week? I wanna hear it!

A {REAL} Love Story

Steph @ Diapers & Divinity posted a video that made her laugh till she cried and challenged her readers to find more laugh till you cry videos. This spoof of Taylor Swift's "Love Story" was posted and I ABSOLUTELY ADORE IT!!!!!!




This is the one teenagers need to see!! (I sound so old when I talk about "teenagers." Sheesh.)

(Crawling into bed last night)

Wonder Woman: Holy Cow, Superman. Your butt's like..........in California it's so far over here!

Superman: Uhh.......A) I don't have a butt. And B) I'm curled up as small as I can be in a little ball over here, thankyouverymuch.

Wonder Woman: I'll let you in on a little secret. When you're curled up in a ball, you actually take up more room. Your legs are in North Dakota, but your butt's still in California.

~~~~

Did anyone else see this on Yahoo! a few weeks ago? What position do you sleep in?

(Found all this here.)

Professor Chris Idzikowski, director of the UK Sleep Assessment and Advisory Service analyzed 6 common sleeping positions among 1,000 people, and found that each is linked to personality traits.

Foetus or Fetus: This is the most common sleeping position - 41% of people sleep like this. These people are tough on the outside but sensitive at heart. They may be shy when they first meet somebody, but soon relax and open up. More than twice as many women as men tend to sleep like this.

Log: 15% of people sleep lying on their side with both arms down by their body. These sleepers are easy going, social people who like being part of the in-crowd. They may be trusting of strangers and gullible.

Yearner: 13% of people sleep on their side with both arms out in front. They are described as having an open nature, but can be suspicious and cynical. They can be indecisive, but once they have made a decision, they are unlikely ever to change it.

Soldier: If you sleep on your back, you are among the 8%. People who sleep in this position are generally quiet and reserved. They don't like drama, and set high standards for themselves and others.

Freefall: 7% of people sleep on their belly with their hands around a pillow, and their head turned to one side. Often friendly, warm and self-confident people, they can be nervy and thin-skinned underneath. They don't take criticism very well, and don't like extreme situations.

Starfish: Sleeping on your back with both arms around a pillow is the least popular - only 5% of people choose this position. These sleepers make good friends because they are always ready to listen to others, and offer help when needed. They generally don't like to be the center of attention.

I am a log sleeper. Used to be fetal, but now I stretch my legs out. One leg might be slightly curled, but I'm pretty straight. And that personality profile is me to a T. (Where did that expression come from? What does it mean?)

Superman switches between the yearning position and the freefall. Parts of those profiles describe him pretty well, too.

So what are you?

Does this study match your personality?

Please tell me this could happen to you

My mother-in-law's birthday was last week. I almost always forget it. Birthdays at the beginning of the month always throw me. (Which bodes well for 2 of my children, born on the 3rd and 1st.) But I remembered this year. I bought her card TWO WEEKS early. Plenty of time, right?

Ha.

I left the card on the coffee table for Superman to sign. But a friend spilled his glass of water on it. I didn't throw it away because..........well, let's face it. I never throw anything away. I function just fine in controlled clutter. (That's probably what all hoarders say at first. Look for me on TLC in a few years.) So I didn't throw it away, but found that once it dried, it actually wasn't that bad. I put it up so that nothing else would happen to it.

A week later, I realized that I needed to send her card that day or it won't get there on time. But it was no where to be found. Maybe I had thrown it away. So I bought another one. I was going to take it to Superman at work for him to sign, then I'd stick it in the mailbox. But after buying the card at Target, I realized I didn't have any stamps. (Honestly, who uses stamps anymore?) No matter -- I had to go to Walmart anyway. I'd pick up stamps there.

So I went to Walmart. (No small task with 3 children.) I got diapers, bagels, milk and a few other essentials. It was only as I was driving to Superman's office that I realized I DIDN'T BUY STAMPS.

Seriously.

So we just went home. I had accepted the fact that the Fates wanted the card to be late. Whatever.

The next day as I was searching for my in-laws' address, you'll never guess what I found.

The original card.

Seriously.

I got the card addressed, but still didn't have stamps. I went to 6 different stores that day (couponing) and STILL forgot to buy stamps. (Probably because they weren't on sale). I got home that evening and was straightening up the desk when what did I find?

A stamp.

I put the card in the mailbox for the next day, which was her birthday. Whatever.

The next day, the kids were playing outside when the mailman came. He handed them the mail, which they in turn brought to me. About 30 minutes later, Spiderman came back in saying that we had more mail. Guess what he handed me.

The birthday card.

Seriously.

The mailman hadn't seen it since he didn't put the mail in the mailbox.

So even though I bought the birthday card TWO WEEKS EARLY, it didn't get sent till the day after my mother-in-law's birthday.

Tell me you've done something like this. Please. Tell me.

I've been watching

Watching TLC's Say Yes to the Dress makes me thankful my mom isn't controlling.

Watching Everybody Loves Raymond makes me thankful my mother-in-law likes me. I daresay she loves me.

Watching Hope Floats makes me thankful my mom isn't eccentric or brutally honest. (She's the nice kind of honest.)

Watching Spanglish makes me thankful my mom never made me feel fat.

Watching Grey's Anatomy makes me thankful my mom has never cheated on my dad. And that she actually likes me.

Watching The Biggest Loser makes me thankful my mom isn't selfish. (Remember Helen and and how she let her daughter go home before her? Not cool.)

Watching Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood makes me thankful my mom isn't an alcoholic.

Watching Pride and Prejudice makes me thankful my mom isn't crazy and annoying.



Watching my mom serve others has been the greatest example of service in my life. Watching my mom as a friend has taught me what true friendship is. My mother-in-law has always been a great example of unconditional love and acceptance. My grandmother has taught me the value of family. She has always been involved in her grandchildren's lives, and has taught my own mother how to be an excellent grandmother.

My mom, me, Miss Marvel, and my grandma

My mother-in-law, Miss Marvel, and my mother

I'm so grateful for the mothers in my life. I'm thankful in particular to my own mother, who is my best friend. As I've grown into a woman, our friendship has become one of equals. I see my mom as a real person, as well as my mother.

Happy Mother's Day to the moms in my life.
I love you.

You know you've got young kids when.....

...... you're spelling your name for someone over the phone and they say, "T? Like Tom?" and you reply, "No, P. Like........potty." (10 points for not saying the thing that popped into your head first: poop.)

...... you say "because" about a BILLION times a day.

...... you think Phineas and Ferb is top-notch day-time TV.

...... you know better than to take a whiff potentially dirty laundry, but do anyway (because your brain's been fried by children) and nearly pass out from the odor.

...... you mop the floor for the first time in weeks and AREN'T surprised when juice is spilled on it an hour later.

...... you have to help your child throw up. Is it still bulimia if you're sticking your finger down someone else's throat?

...... you wonder if you're manic depressive because you can go from ripping your hair out at your kids' shenanigans to laughing your head off and smothering them in kisses in about 28 seconds.

...... you can't wait to get out of the house ALONE.

...... you come home and realize you actually missed the little stinkers.

Happy Mother's Day to you wonderful women out there.

Thankful Thursday

I think I scared some people with my post yesterday. I had a ROUGH couple of days, but yesterday was much better. I no longer think I'm in the throws of PPD. For which I'm thankful.


I'm also thankful for SUNSHINE. And spring weather. Being trapped inside with the kids all day is a recipe for disaster. When the weather's nice, they can play with friends and the change in routine doesn't take a lot of work on my part.

I'm thankful for FRIENDS. I got to have a girl's night for my friend's birthday and it was so great. A welcome and healthy break. Then we had a park playdate yesterday and it was fun to get to talk with lots of other moms.

I'm thankful for BLOGGY friends. Your words of encourage really helped the other day. I had several reach out to me on Facebook, as well. Love you guys.

I'm thankful for Hulu. Without a DVR, it's a TV addict's best friend. Along with that, I'm grateful for Glee. Loved this week's episode. Word to your mother.

I'm thankful for Miss Marvel. She's a grinnin' fool now and it melts my heart.


Finally, I'm thankful for the temple. I was able to go last night and it was just what I needed. So peaceful. You young moms who feel like a session is too long -- don't forget about initiatories. It was wonderful to be reminded of those promises. It was also nice to be done in an hour.

What are you thankful for today?

The truth is....

...going from 2 to 3 has not been easy for me.

...I don't leave the house unless I have a legitimate reason to, because it is SO much work.

...I don't leave the house unless I have a legitimate reason to, and it's slowly driving me insane.

...no matter how much money I save, it's never enough.

...no matter how often or well I clean the house, I'll have to do it again. And again, and again....

...I think I was skinnier a month ago than I am now.

...I don't have much patience with kids who whine all day.

...my brain function isn't what it used to be. I have felt STUPID more than once in the past few days.

....I'm wondering if this is all normal, or if it's more.

....it might just be related to the fact that I'm on hormonal birth control for the first time ever. (The Mirena.)

And finally, the truth is........there is a LOT of chocolate in my house right now.


I hope it's enough.


Grab the button and play along!

Out of the mouth of babes

(One in particular: the Hulk. Some memorable ones from yesterday.)

Whining: "My shirt is on-slide out."

"I wanna be with someone with yellow hair. That's YOU, mom!"

Crying in time out: "I'm scaaaaaaared!!"
Trying-to-be-patient me: "Turn on the light."
Crying in time out: "I DON'T WANT TOOOOOOOO!"

"I'm starving. I want a crabby patty. My tummy's starving. I want carrots and wanch. And candy. Can I have ice cream? Is that Docta Peppa? Does your head hurt, mommy? Look, it's my fixed gleen light sabah! My tummy's still starving, mommy. I want sour cweam with a spoon!"

Whining: "I have to go potty!"
Helpful me: "Great! Go ahead!"
Whining: "I can't get my pants off!!"
Helpful me: "Take your shoes off first."
Whining: "I DON'T WANT TO!!!!!"

"Mom, I'm tired. That's why I'm laying on the couch. But if there's a monster I'll punch him in 'a head."

One HECK of a deal, and for a fantastic cause

You've probably seen this painting before.


Would you like to own a print? I know where you can get it for only TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS. And all proceeds benefit the family of a man who has been left a paraplegic by a recent ATV accident. Win-win situation.

Go to Trapped Between a Scream and a Hug. My friend Rachel Sue has organized a fundraiser for the Ashby family. She and I were in the same ward as this family, as well as the ward of the artist who created that masterpiece up there. His name is Ben McPherson.

Ben McPherson's classical realist oil paintings celebrate faith by exploring religion in a style reminiscent of the Renaissance painters. Finding the models for his historically accurate scenarios, McPherson chooses his models from local homeless shelters, which gives the work a distinct authenticity. His paintings investigate the spiritual journey and how religion affects mankind on an individual basis, concentrating mainly on portraits and figurative studies.

His work has been featured at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival, and the Springville Museum of Fine Art. He was one of three artists awarded the 2006 Viewers Choice Award at the 7th International Art Competition. He was also featured on Showtime’s This American Life, for which he was followed and had his painting process filmed.

These prints are not normally so cheap. But Ben McPherson has generously donated 200 of them to raise money for the Ashby family. So click on over to Rachel Sue's place and buy one. It's a HECK of a deal, and you're blessing the lives of a family in need.