So we always know the current state of affairs in Carly Town…
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This is a picture of my dusty night stand, my fake flowers and the books I'm currently reading.
Jesus The Christ by James E. Talmage — At the beginning of the year I decided to start an in-depth study of the life of Jesus Christ and this book seemed like a pretty good place to start. While it’s not exactly pool-side reading for me, I’m pushing through it and am slowly gaining a new and expanded perspective on Jesus Christ.
Raising Your Child, Not By Force But By Love By Sidney D Craig — If you were to ask my mom, who is Montessori Certified and has run a pre-school for 10 + years, not to mention raised a large brood herself, which child rearing book she recommends, she would tell you to read this one. I’m finally doing it.
Teaching Your Children Responsibility by Linda and Richard Eyre — Similar to their Value of the month, the Eyeres give ideas in this book for teaching your children a responsibility each month.
How To Talk To Your Child About Sex by Linda and Richard Eyre – Gives word for word dialogue for “build up talks,” the big talk at age 8 and follow up talks through their teen years. I have come away feeling very empowered with the realization that I can have a huge influence on how sex is perceived by my children.
The Sacred and the Profane by Mircea Eliade – I ordered this book after reading this. So interesting how ancient religious practices so closely correlate with our modern LDS Temple rituals.
I think when I am old, I shall wear purple and read for 8 hours per day.
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Every morning, except Wednesdays when my dad works at the temple, we get to have “Dwampa” at our house. He and Duane are business partners and carpool to their Orem office together. Because of this, we’re the luckiest kids in the world. At 8:30am the dog barks, Braxton runs naked to greet DWAMPA! Duane says “Hey man! Grab some breakfast.” Then Dwampa and Braxton read, play horsie or fiddle with the ipad while I serve up some breakfast. Some days the baby is up and he gets Dwampa time too. Then we eat a little breakfast together and talk about the news, religion or the latest family happenings.
We all look forward to this morning routine. It has become my favorite part of the day.
Sorry Dad, we’re never letting you get a real job.
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Me: Do you like the new pillows?
Duane: Those are grandma pillows.
Me: Ya, they were my great-grandmas pillows.
Duane: Exactly.
Me: So…do you like them?
Duane: Uhhhh…..
Me: These are heirlooms! My great-grandma made these by hand. They’re probably 50 years old. Do you know how cool and hip it is to have antique decor?
Duane: Not gonna get excited about 50-year old disgusting rainbow pillows sitting my living room, insulting my manhood.
Me: You’re as sentimental as a hedge hog.
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My sister Katelyn, who has a really cute blog, shared 15 things about herself and then tagged me to do the same. It was harder than I thought to come up with 15 things about me, but here they are. Please still be my friend.
1. I got married when I was 18 years old. I had never grocery shopped, set up a dentist appointment or been away from my mommy for more than a week. Nine years later I can proudly say I have done all three successfully. A big thank you to my husband for raising me. I know at first I required a lot of this: “Okay babe, take the little rent check over to the nice landlord. People do it ALL THE TIME. Promise.” You’ve been patient, and now I’m all LOOK AT ME! I can totally put gas in the car all by myself!
Honey, you’re the best. Seriously.
2. I love to read, but can rarely stay interested in a fiction book. Admittedly, I loved reading the Twilight and Hunger Games series, but aside from those, I read only non-fiction. I read at least an hour a day — usually in the morning when Carly is at school, Braxton is brooming his cars on the rug and Danny is snoozing in his crib. The best non-fiction book I have ever read is the Book of Mormon. Never gets old.
3. One of my most embarrassing moments involves a bee, my shoulder, snot shooting out of my nose and eight people watching. In that order.
4. I rarely show my legs because I have big, red, itchy splotches of dry skin covering them. Eczema is not our friend.
5. I recently started “taking the paper.” I did, so that I could say “I take the paper” and so that I could contribute to conversations involving politics. The latter is going to require a lot of work.
6. I have a small mole on my left cheek that I really like.
7. I have a sketchbook where I draw ideas for clothing items I’d like to make for myself once I learn to sew. I rarely find just the right thing while shopping.
8. I used to have a soprano singing voice. Music was a big part of my life growing up and singing was sort of that one thing I knew I was good at. I knew because from the time I was a little girl singing solos in church to when I grew up and sang in front of large audiences at school and at youth conferences I was complimented a lot. The highlight of my Junior year was when a professional vocalist, after having heard me sing at a Christmas concert, offered to train me.
While pregnant with Carly, what started out as a cold, (or at least that’s what I thought it was at the time) turned into a bizarre 14-year-old boy going through puberty change in my voice and ended with me answering the phone one day and the person on the other line saying “hey Duane, what’s up buddy?”
Long story short: Got pregnant, hormones went bizzerk, I apparently went through puberty at 21, my voice got progressively lower until I eventually sounded like batman. I thought it would go away after I gave birth. It didn’t. I cried a lot. I went to a specialist and they stuck a thingy down my nose and into my throat. Still no answers.
Wow, this is getting long. Guess I’m not over it yet. Anyway, my voice has gone up some and I’m now trying to learn to sing an octave lower than I used to.
9. I love candy, particularly M&Ms and Licorice, and will probably have diabetes when I’m 35.
10. I am one of those stuffy people who thinks we’re losing our interpersonal relationship skills because, while in a group, we’re surfing the web and texting on our phones instead of talking and relating.
11. My husband calls me “Boondie.” Pronounced boon/dee. This started back when I taught preschool. Duane was at the school with me and one little boy, who had a hard time saying “Miss Brittney,” came up to me and called me “Muhboondie.” (muh/boon/dee). Duane laughed and my new nickname was born.
12. I have a degree in Graphic Design and would most certainly be designing full-time if not for the three pairs of eyeballs that greet me first thing in the morning.
13. Pears and anything pear flavored makes me gag.
14. I require alone time. I need space to think, to plan and to recharge my batteries. I suppose this is why I took up running. Being alone on the road helps me remember who I am, independent from my family.
15. I like to have things just so, and LOVE planning events down to the last little detail. Even if it is just a small dinner for two.
I am tagging all my seestas and in-laws who have a blog: Hannah, Lizzy, Aubrey, Danika, Jenna, Kimberly, Cyndie and Kaylee.
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While on a rare date with Duane involving zero children, he and I stopped at a little antique shop for a casual perusal of the wares. I had never been to one of these little nooks and thought it high time we see what all the fuss was about. While I thoroughly enjoyed the 1920’s kitsch — the old mickey mouse clocks, the original cocoa cola bottles, the carnival glass water tumblers, and the old flapper girl feather hats, what really caught my attention, and what I ended up talking Duane into buying for me, were these beautiful, bright blue swarovski crystal stud earrings.
I spend half my life in a mom uniform – sweat pants with hand print crusties on them and a t-shirt with boogers on the shoulder. But If I pop these little babies into each ear, BAM! Instant glam.
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In honor of the late Provo Tabernacle building, which was gutted in a fire in December, I present for your viewing pleasure a video my little mama took of my graduation held there in 2007. In her usual way of documenting all event details, she got some pretty neato footage of the tabernacle while still in its prime.
My favorite part of the entire video is in the first two seconds when Dallins facial expression perfectly epitomizes how we all feel while attending a graduation ceremony.
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Carly Sue, my little dolly, one who has gone and gotten herself all beautiful and grown up. Because things are changing so quickly these days, (ie. I gave birth to you yesterday and this morning I woke up and you were six years old) I am going to document a few important things I want to remember about you.
You are the tallest one in your Kindergarten class.
You’re favorite breakfast is “flat pancakes” with a shake.
In order to express how very serious you are being you will say “I’M SERIOUS ONE HUNDRED!”
You love to build what you call “machines” which often involves the use of your mattress, various toys, pillows and pieces of furniture. Each piece is placed precariously on top of another until the masterpiece is complete.
Your little brother has recently moved into your room which you have had all to yourself for almost six years. I have been very impressed to see you sharing your space with him — even though he often wrecks your machines.
Your school papers are covered in stick figures you’ve drawn of our family, your cousins and hearts.
Last night in your prayer you said “If I need to die to see Jesus then that’s ok, but if you want me to wait for him to come down then that would be much more better.”
I have yet to find the secret to keeping shoes on your feet.
Every night, without fail, you ask me to turn on scripture scouts and to heat up a “warm.” (warm = a fleece bag filled with whole corn)
I was holding a crying Danny in one arm and trying to take pictures using the other--I'll catch a more flattering picture of you on your next birthday.
Birthday breakfast: heart waffles with strawberry syrup, cheesey eggs, milk and a shake.
You love to help me in the kitchen and always insist we wear our aprons.
We watched a youtube video together on”how to apply Cinderella eyeshadow” and since then, on more than one occasion, we have left the house with you wearing laser blue eyeshadow from your lashes to your eyebrows. I’m sure some parents think I’m one of those crazy pageant moms. I say Who am I to stifle creativity!
- If you were to show up at our house on any given day at about 7 am, you would invariably see a small, naked boy running around the house. Don’t question the routine of a 2 year old.
Your school recently had an art competition with the theme being “What If…” Inspired by the song “If all the raindrops were lemon drops and gumdrops oh what a rain that would be…” You created 3D artwork using paper, fabric and candy to depict your idea which was: What if we look outside the window and EVERYTHING was made of candy! You won second place for your age group of K-2 grade.
The tooth fairy visited our house after you lost your first tooth! You bled a little bit after your dad yanked it out holding a piece of tissue. I cried.
When you are very angry with me you will run to your room, scrawl angrily on a piece of paper, then with as much fanfare as you can muster you will deposit it in an obvious location for me to discover. Your notes usually read something like this: Dear Mom, I dot lik you rite now. I onle lik you wen you let me hav iscreem. Love Carly.
If I were to write a note back it would say something like this:
Dear Carly,
Words fail to describe my love for you. I’m sorry I can’t give you ice cream for breakfast, lunch and dinner. If that were acceptable, I would. It would certainly make things a lot easier. But you see, this is my shot at raising you, making sure you have everything you need to grow up properly, and while I like ice cream just as much as you do, It wouldn’t be prudent to indulge every time you and I get a hankering for some — which is at least 4 times per day.
You bring joy to my life. You are sensitive and obedient, curious and brave. I learn from your questions and you inspire me be more. I love you doll. I’m so glad you’re mine.
Love, Mama
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Only five months in and I’ve written my “About Me” page. Wow I’m really getting into the swing of this blogging thing. Read all about it by clicking “About” at the top of the page.
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There seem to be a lot of really great life lessons that come from gardening. I’ve been thinking a lot about an experience my Dad told me about while he was growing fruit trees last summer.
He and the boys had taken several spindly little sticks, planted them in prepared soil and cared for them for several months hoping that within a couple years they would grow into thriving fruit trees. Well, as often happens in an orchard, deers wandered in and damaged some of the trees. Dad noticed the mangled trees where the deers had scraped off much of the bark with their teeth and antlers — A couple of them looked so damaged he thought they would probably die. In an attempt to protect the delicate trees, dad put metal netting around them, hoping to ward off further damage by the deers. Dad and the boys continued to care for the trees, giving them plenty of water and regularly inspecting for deer damage.
Finally, the trees now more mature and strong, were ready to produce fruit. The boys would pick a peach or two from the trees and bring them to the house for us all to enjoy. Soon they were bringing up bowls full. That’s when my dad made an observation: The trees that had taken the brunt of the beatings from the deer — the ones my dad thought might even die — ended up producing 3 times more fruit than all the rest of the trees!
Disclaimer: This is not an actual picture of my Dad’s fruit trees. Dad’s peaches were just as juicy looking though.
So there I was, feeling so inspired by these little fruit trees in my parents back yard. I had such a clear picture in my mind of those vulnerable little trees suffering through the cold winter months, their tender young trunk and limbs mangled and ripped apart. The damage so severe they would most likely never grow to their full potential.
But, just like a muscle that tears from tremendous weight and exertion, then rebuilds, coming back bigger and stronger than before — the little trees, in their struggle to overcome the damage, grew to be bigger and stronger with a larger capacity to produce fruit than they ever would have without the resistance.
How interesting that nature often echos our human experience. Makes me want to step away from the noise and grow a garden. Somehow, I think there are more lessons to be learned outside than at the computer.
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