p-o-t-a-t-o-p-i-e.

Today I'm packing bags, baking muffins(I hate gas station snack foods), cleaning out the fridge, running to the bank, vacuuming the floors, and everything else involved with loading three little kids, one husband, and myself into the car to make the 14 hour drive up to Idaho. Have I ever mentioned how much I despise packing. Despise!!! I love taking trips, I used to love packing, kind of exciting, you know. But it's not fun to pack 5 people. It's exhausting and stressful, and alot. of. work...

But I am happy to be going up to visit both of our families, and also to escape the heat for 10 days. It's been hot, really hot. The kids are bursting to get out of here, but daddy doesn't get off work for a few more hours. I hope I can nap in the car. Wish me luck on the drive.

Blogging again from the land of endless potatoes...

image found on visitidaho.org

spontaneity

I'm going to see this lady tomorrow morning. And that makes me (and my kids) very very happy.

Something I've always appreciated about my parents is there sense of spontaneity. They're the kind of people who talk themselves into life instead of out of it. Not too many people are like that. Most people don't get online and order a plane ticket for 3 days later to fly down and love up on their grandkids and daughter, even though they are going to see them in 2 weeks. My mom is awesome. So is my dad, he always encourages her to come.

heartbreak.

I've been thinking alot about this family today. They were in our old stake back in Utah. My heart is broken, I've seriously been sobbing most of the afternoon. Sobbing, and clinging to my kids. Keep them in your prayers.

unplug.

Besides the normal mommy business, I've spent most of my day in front of my laptop emailing my husband and realtor back and forth as we figured out how we want to write up a contract on (yet another) house. I did research, weighed pro's and con's, discussed with my better half, all via the web. I also spent some time editing a little project I've been working on for a while now, also in front of the screen. My eyes feel like they are about to pop out of my head. I think I need to unplug. Excuse me, I'm taking my children to the pool now.

safe.

My cousin posted this picture on her blog, and when I saw it, I started crying. Maybe it's because I am tired, and feel a little alone down here. Maybe because it's hard to keep waiting for one of these houses to work out. Maybe because I miss my family a bit today. Maybe it's because my daughter is in her room this very minute playing with a cradle that my Grandpa Brownie built with his own two hands. The same one I played with as a child.

Have you ever had a place where you felt completely loved and accepted? Where you felt safe? Mine was in their home, sitting on their lap, getting wet toothless kisses. I still go back there, in my head, and wish I could hug them, just one more time.

grateful

Today I feel grateful for this guy. It took me a while to get past my, "I think I know everything" stage, and as soon as I did, I realized just exactly how wonderful my dad is. And then I felt amazed at everything he's done, and how he handled raising 5 girls, and how good he is to my brother, and how much he loves my kids, and how much he taught me that I took for granted. Not every dad explains certain things to their daughters, I know that now. Not every dad cares as much as he does. I really wish I could give him a hug today. I love my dad.

And this guy. Who taught my husband how to be tough, and ride horses, and work hard, and rope things, and ride motorcycles, and be a man. Not every dad does that. There are ALOT of wimpy guys out there, and my husband isn't one. Thanks for that Rand. PS. You're a great father-in-law too.

And for this guy. I don't know how I ended up with this man, but I thank the Lord that I did. That at 20 years old I stumbled into him, and somehow managed to understand (even if only fractionally) what an amazing person he is. I'm grateful that I've been able to watch him change from a guy who had never really changed a diaper, into an incredible hands-on father. I'm glad that he made me a mother, and I'm glad that my children look like him.

the state of things.

#3 has spent the week rolling around and whining. Snot everywhere, clingy, grumpy, whiny, agitated, whiny, screamy, did I mention whiny? 5 molars in one week, yikes. Not a happy baby.

#2 has spent the week a beast. I think my second child is possessed. Temper tantrums, growling, spitting, biting, overall naughtiness. Where is this coming from? Seriously pushing me to the limits of my patience, which anyone who knows me, will tell you is not far.



#1 All I can say is, THANK HEAVEN FOR LITTLE GIRLS. This child is perfection. I try really hard not to play favorites, but right now I just want to give this little girl anything she wants. I'm in love.

When I'm 64...

I had alot of preconceived notions about Arizona before I came down here. For one thing, that it was this ugly barren HOT desert. It is the desert, not going to dispute that part, but it's anything but ugly or barren. In fact I was genuinely surprised by how beautiful it was, and am more delighted each day I discover something new about my new home. It's not barren at all. There is grass, there are palm trees, and bushes and flowers... lots of green. And even the desert blooms around the city with the most interesting array of prickly vegetation that I've ever seen, which upon closer inspection, is actually quite beautiful. Secondly, the heat. It is hot. But it's also quite balmy many days, and coupled with swimming and palm trees, it's almost tropical. Also we've been getting a break this year. It's been in the mid-90's for the past week and a half, which, I guess is unheard of in Arizona. Of course, it's been freezing cold and raining everywhere else. Which brings me to rain. It never rains in Arizona, at least that's what I thought. It does however, rain in Arizona- it's rained at least 5 times since we've been here.

And finally, the last preconceived notion: there are A LOT of old people in Arizona. Sunbirds, snowbirds, whatever you want to call them, this is actually true. This place is crawling with the elderly. It's kind of fun. They are always so nice to me, these ladies I run into at the fabric/ grocery/clothing store. And they talk to my kids and tell me all about how they had 3/4/5 kids and how they all grew up 40 years ago and their Grandkids grew up 20 years ago and now their oldest grandchild just had their first baby, and so on and so forth. It's been interesting to observe these geriatrics, and to discover that there are some stereotypes about old people that are, in fact true. Not true of everyone, but for some.

Here are a few of my observations:

All old women have their hair cut super short and get it permed. Seriously, I haven't seen one old woman down here with hair past her chin.

Old men like to where socks halfway up their calves and comfortable tennis shoes (which are by the way bleach white) with shorts on, and yes even when it's 108 degrees. They won't wear sandals.

Old people love those clip on sunglasses that attach to the front of their glasses. Then all they have to do it flip them up while they are inside (so convenient!) and they have a little mini visor over their eyes.

Which brings me to Visors. Old women love to wear those things. Seriously, I haven't seen this many visors since 1989.

And finally, cars. Old people love to drive big- boat like cars. I don't understand this. Maybe it gives them more room, I don't know. But they all have these cars that look like they could double as watercraft.

It got me to thinking about what I am going to drive when I am old? And then what I am going to look like when I am old? And what I'm going to act like? Hmmm.

When I am old, I think I will drive a VW Beetle, or else a mini. That, I think would do just fine for me, especially since I fully intend to be a crazy old lady.

People apparently shrink as they grow older, so I'm banking on the fact that I'm probably going to end up about 4 feet 5 inches tall, but I'll be so old and crinkled at least people won't keep asking me if I am a teenager. Which they, by the way, ask me all the time. I can't go out in public without at least one person exclaiming that I look seventeen. Seventeen. Seriously.

Also, I love to tell Craig the back story on every movie/ Beatles' song/ random thing I see on the street, so I'm betting that's only going to get worse as I grow older. I'll be one of those old women who tells everyone in their vicinity the entire story of their life back to birth while they are standing in the grocery store line, and my great-grandkids will sit through it too, probably smiling because GG Cori is awesome and drives a mini.

Also, the Beatles' will still be my favorite band.

That's all I've got for now, I've got to get a little older to know the rest.

in the shade of the temple.

Today I made a little trip out to the LDS distribution center. It's location only a stones throw away from the center of Mesa, right there in the shadow of the temple. I pulled my three little children out of the car and explained to them that this was kind of like a church building we were going into, and they needed to behave, code word for be reverent. (Hey, it's a church operated building)

They sat very quietly reading the Friend issues piled on the waiting table while I purchased the goods my husband was desperately needing. A woman walked in and told me that my children were so well behaved. I smiled, thinking about how Carter blew a raspberry at me yesterday, and then screamed that I was a "MEAN SKUNK!" I thanked the woman, winked at the kids and then grabbed my bag and skedaddled out of there before they started running a-muck around the small quiet room. Blessings.


We walked out into the mild Arizona heat, and I opened the door for my angels (today) to climb into the car. There was a reflection of the temple on the car window, and it warmed me. I looked at my watch. It was only 3:15 and we didn't really have anywhere else we needed to be at that moment. I buckled the baby in his seat, and watched the older two slip their restraints into place.

"You guys," I said after they turned to see why mom was still staring at them instead of in the car starting the air conditioner, "how would you like to go over and walk around the temple?"

They brightened, and so did I, so I climbed in and drove across the street to the temple parking lot. I grabbed our two water bottles (a must have for every errand in Arizona) the Ensign and Friend that I had just purchased, and pulled my little sweaty darlings out of the car.

And we spent the rest of the afternoon meandering along the walkways, putting our fingers in the spray from the sprinklers, looking at the carvings on the side, watching the water shoot back and forth in the fountain, the birds dance on the ground, reading articles from the friend and sitting in the shade of the temple. I took photos. We were all happy. And my children were slightly subdued. It was peaceful, reverent. It made me a better mom. Thursday afternoon is peaceful at the temple. Just a few old ladies carrying their bags in for a session, and one old man with a cane who told me my family was beautiful.

And we talked about why we go to the temple, and whose house it is, and why we need to live the right way so we can go inside. And we talked about how our family started in the temple. How, being married there meant we get to be a family forever. That no matter what happens we are a family.

And Hannah looked up at me and said, "And we don't ever have to be afraid, because no matter what happens, we'll always be a family."

And she was right. There is nothing to fear if we stay close to our covenants, if we stay close to the temple.

We are safe in the shade of the temple.

all you need is, LOVE.

Have you ever had a perfect weekend? I just did. With my dad and two of my sisters. In Vegas. We ate delicious food, lounged by the pool, laughed, ate some more, got all dolled up, saw The Beatles' LOVE, lounged by the pool some more, and then hugged goodbye and went our separate ways again. Yes, I shed a few tears. It was perfect. There wasn't an ounce of contention, not a bit of drama. Just a whole lotta Love. Kinda fit, I thought.

My dad, is the bomb. Can I just say this. And if you are a Meaker girl you will get the joke behind this. If not, sorry.

But he is the bomb. He flew us all to Las Vegas, rented a convertable, put us up in the beautiful Mirage, took us to eat at AMAZING restaurants, bought us seats on the 2nd row to see Cirque du Soleil perform unbelievable acrobatics to Beatles' music. My dad knows how to treat his girls. We all felt like princesses. And he's a good sport too, totally patient while we took hours to get ready...

here's a little taste of our perfect weekend.



together again. i've missed my sisters.

we had to ride down the strip with the top down, but this also meant that we had to pile the suitcases in the back and Meghan sat on my lap. A little claustrophobic, and a numb leg. Totally worth it.

This was the most amazing straw in the world. It's like triple the normal side, you can totally sip a milkshake through it. Why has no one thought of this before? Mmmm.

Breakfast buffets, best things about Vegas. All the pastries I could eat. Ah, yeah!
Lounging by the pool. The Mirage seriously has the biggest pool I've ever seen, and acres and acres of lounge chairs, waterfalls, and palm trees surrounding it.

Outside the Beatles' shop, all dressed up for the show.
My dad found this fantastic vintage Beatles shirt. He's so hip and wore it with his sport coat and slacks to the show. My dad is a stud. He kept joking that people either thought he was our dad or really really rich. (it's Vegas after all). Ha ha, right. Well we're waiting for the show to start and the photographer comes over and asks to take our picture. My dad tells her all four of us were together, so she goes, "And who's the couple here?" HAHAHA! "He's our dad!" We laughed so hard. I think she was a little embarrassed. We should have told her we were ALL with him, wink wink.

Dinner at the fabulously delicious, Stack.

This place was so luxurious. The food was amazing, two waiters per table, a bathroom attendant to open your door and hand you a towel/mints/hairspray/or whatever else you might need, someone who comes and folds your napkin whenever you get up from your table... I could go on and on. I told you my dad knows how to treat his girls. I am spoiled.


Hanging out after dinner, waiting for the show to start.
In front of the hotel. You can see the sign for the show above our heads.

Walking on the strip, trying to get all the soda through us so we wouldn't have to go during the show. The Beatles are serious business for us.
What a stud, no wonder people thought we were with him. he he he. (Volcano at the Mirage)More moments on the strip.

Meghan is a fox.
Me in front of the hotel, check out the silk shirt Craig bought be for my trip... (i'm in love with it)

the end.