Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Keepin' it Real

Had a long (and somewhat hard) day. In the evening I sat down to post about Eva's birthday and her birth--only 12 months after the fact. This is still hard for me to think and write about which means that I had better do just that! I came across this article tonight and it made me laugh. Enjoy! You can find it here.
When life with kids isn't perfect, don't forget to laugh
April 27th, 2011 @ 4:53pm
By Lindsay Ferguson, ksl.com contributor

SALT LAKE COUNTY — We are all in need of a reality check once in a while. In some way or another, kids tend to facilitate this. Take, for example, when a semi-naughty word loudly escapes your child’s mouth in front of a less-than-amused stranger at the grocery store. It's a particularly good lesson when you guiltily realize your little one's radar ears must have picked up on what you mumbled under your breath a few hours earlier.

"Reality check: I'm not perfect. My kid isn't perfect. ... Life goes on, and, in the end, the only thing to do about it is laugh (after first correcting the misdemeanor, of course)."

Reality check: I’m not perfect. My kid isn’t perfect. Life isn’t filled with perfect situations all the time. But that’s OK! Life goes on, and, in the end, the only thing to do about it is laugh (after first correcting the misdemeanor, of course), move on and learn from the experience.

These little reality checks sometimes turn into humbling experiences, and I’ve come to realize this isn’t always necessarily a bad thing. But as some will relate, in certain instances, a humbling experience can sometimes translate into an awkward and even embarrassing one.

My husband and I and our two young children moved into a new house a few months back. Since then, we have been busy working at getting the house situated and put together. Like most have probably experienced, when moving into a new home there’s a certain level of excitement that comes along with getting to show your new residence to family and friends.

A few weeks ago, some members of my husband’s extended family visited us at our house for the first time. We were excited to have guests and made sure toys were picked up off the ground and everything was presentable before they arrived.

After we gave the tour, everyone gathered in the family room to play games. My husband's cousin and his wife sat down on one of our couches. After a short time, I noticed they looked a bit uncomfortable and were sitting more stiffly than I would think necessary on our comfy, overstuffed couch. I observed them subtly exchange sideways glances, and a hint of awkwardness lingered in the air.

I wasn’t sure what was going on, but they were obviously uncomfortable for some reason. I wanted to say something but wasn’t sure what. As I was about to ask if they needed something, my husband’s cousin spoke up.

"We tried explaining, but there really wasn't much to say other than 'sorry' and 'we're so embarrassed.' You can't really give excuses in that type of circumstance. It is what it is."

“Ummmm,” he said as he pointed his finger downward to the couch cushion between him and his wife, “I think there is … a … well, small ball of poop on this couch."

My eyes almost popped out of their sockets. “A what?” I exclaimed.

“It’s kind of stinky too,” he added.

Surely he must be mistaken! I thought. I jumped up from my spot on the ground to take a look at the evidence.

Sure enough, a ball of poop about the size of a marble sat between my husband’s cousin and his wife. At that moment I was desperately wishing we had a dog on which I could blame the misdeed.

My mind flashed back to earlier that day when I had changed my son’s diaper on the couch while he was watching a TV show, something my husband has said we should never do or something just might “escape.” But I took the easy route, changing him on the couch, and it resulted in a rolling, stinky escapee. Of course, the one time this happened was when we had family visitors.

We were mortified and, of course, quickly removed the specimen. We tried explaining, but there really wasn’t much to say other than “sorry” and “we’re so embarrassed.” You can’t really give excuses in that type of circumstance. It is what it is.

Again, this experience brought us down to reality: the one in which we are those people that have little balls of their children’s poop unexpectedly rolling around on their furniture. Just kidding! No, reality is that life isn’t always perfect. Showing off your new home doesn’t always go the way you anticipate.

But if life were full of only “perfect” experiences it would get pretty boring, right? I’ve had more and more of these types of experiences since being a mom. At the time it can be a little awkward, but I’ve learned to grit my teeth and get through the moment, and, most importantly, jot the experience down in my journal because there is nothing that will get me laughing more than reading back on these funny little memories.

----- Lindsay Ferguson is a full-time mother of two and works from home as a part-time PR writer. In her spare time she enjoys writing about everyday life and the humor found in it. She keeps up a blog at www.lifeasamomuncut.blogspot.com.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Dry Erase Marker Hair Dye

Rebekah was excited about watching the movie Sky High rented from the library. In the movie a character is a "shape shifter" and shifts into a guinea pig and so she is put in classes for "hero Support" also called side kicks. She is Asian looking with locks of purple hair on both sides of her face. Today, Rebekah dyed a lock of her hair her with an Expo marker. We found out that copious amounts of mineral oil, paper towels, rubbing alcohol, shampoo, conditioner, patience, and time are required but that it is not permanent hair color. Her comment, "at least I didn't dye it green (like Anne Shirley in Anne of Green Gables!)."

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Easter Sunday Resurrection Cookies

Happy Easter!
Our supplies for Resurrection (Meringue) Cookies.
This morning, this is how the cookies looked in the oven. They tasted delicious! (Our eldest decided that we could make these cookies during the rest of the year too!).

Our second and third child were asked to give talks in Junior and Senior Primary today. because they would be speaking to different groups of children, they both contributed ideas and I typed it up. Here is their talk:

I Know Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer

Last night my family made Resurrection Cookies to help us remember why we celebrate Easter.

First, we smashed pecans to bits using big spoons.

After Jesus was arrested they beat him until he bled.

Next, we smelled vinegar. When Jesus hung on the cross, he was thirsty. He was given vinegar on a sponge to drink. We added one teaspoon to a bowl.

Next we added three egg whites. They were symbolic of life. Jesus gave his life so that we might live again.

Then, we tasted salt.

The salt was a symbol of Jesus dying and his great sadness and salty tears in the garden of Gethsemane. We shook the rest of the salt from our hands into the mix.

At this point, we added one cup of sugar to the batter. This was sweet--sweet because Jesus loves us, wants us to know and belong to Him.

We then set the mixer on high and got ready for bed. The ingredients turned snowy white. We read about how if we repent "though our sins be as scarlet--they will be as white as snow."

Later, we folded the pecans into the sticky meringue and formed mounds with two spoons. Jesus was buried in a mound-like tomb.

We shut the oven door. A stone was rolled in front of Jesus's tomb sealing it shut.

We then taped the door shut and waited overnight.

In the morning, the tape was gone and the oven was open.

We bit into the cookies and they were hollow. They are called Resurrection cookies because they are empty like Jesus' tomb...He was not there, He had risen.

We celebrate Easter because of the life, Atonement, death, and resurrection of Jesus. This is the gift he gave us.

I know Jesus Christ was our Savior and Redeemer. He loved us enough to give his life for us that we might live again. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Edith Wooley Jex Clayton Obituary

Edith Woolley Jex Clayton Edith Woolley Jex Clayton

1919 ~ 2011

Edith Woolley Jex Clayton was born on June 22, 1919 in Duchesne Utah. She is the third of six children born to Mark Stringham and Kate Pyper Woolley. She passed away on Monday, April 18, 2011.

On July 3, 1939 she married Richard Thomas Jex in the Manti LDS Temple. They are the parents of five children - Richard (Lana), Gordon (Maryann), Marilyn (Chris) Bird, Lorraine (Dave) Barlow and Keith (Lianne). Mom provided us with a loving and comfortable home where she taught us the value of hard work and determination. She was an example of service to her extended family. Her life was spent in the service of loving and caring for her family, they always came first. She will be known for her selfless service to her family and to the Church.

In 1976, Mom lost her eternal companion. Over the next sixteen years she spent her time loving and serving others. After many years in Santa Monica, Mom moved to Orem Utah in 1981. She was active in the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers and served a temple mission in the Provo Temple. In 1986 Mom served a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Virginia Roanoke Mission. In 1992 she married Vaughn Miner Clayton and they enjoyed 15 years together traveling the world and visiting family. He passed away in 2007.

Above all Mom's testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and her Savior is her greatest legacy. She was active in the LDS Church her entire life and served faithfully in many callings. Her greatest desire was for her children, grandchildren and all her posterity to live and be guided by the teachings of our ancient and modern-day prophets.

Mom is survived by her five children & their spouses; 24 grandchildren and 54 great-grandchildren; her sister Kathryn (Clark) Wager; sister-in-law Louisa Jex Ahlgrim and many nieces and nephews. She is also survived by Vaughn's three children, Will Day, John (Roberta), Keith (Connie) & Christine Springman and their grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husbands Richard & Vaughn; her grandson, Ryan Thomas Jex; her great-grandson Samuel Mark Keiser; her step-daughter Yvonne Clayton Day; her step-son-in-law Rob Springman; her parents; three brothers (Henry, Allen & Briant) and her youngest sister, Merle Griffin.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 23rd at 11:00 am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day-Saints, 1945 W. 9000 S., West Jordan. There will be a viewing Friday, April 22nd from 6:00 - 8:00 pm and Saturday prior to services - 9:00 - 10:30 am. A service will be held on Friday, May 6th at 11:00 am at the Santa Monica 1st Ward Building, 2301 2nd Street. Interment will be at Woodlawn Cemetery in Santa Monica California. In lieu of flowers the family suggests a donation to be made to Primary Children's Hospital.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Lost Tooth Trauma

Translation: "I am so sorry Tooth Fairy! I lost my tooth. I found it with Dad. Look in the egg." One little man lost his tooth tonight. Then he lost it. Dad helped him find it. Creatively, he wrote all about it to the Tooth Fairy and then hid it in an egg for the Tooth Fairy to find.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Easter Resurrection (Meringue) Cookies

We are looking forward to making these Resurrection Cookies (Meringue) together to put the reason back into the season. Hope you all have a Happy Easter! (I got the idea from The Idea Room Blog and have posted the picture of the cookies from the original source, Squidoo).

Easter Story Cookies (from http://www.squidoo.com/resurrectioncookies)

We have done this activity for Easter for the past two years and my kids look forward to it each year. It has been a good way for our family to make Easter a bit more religious and focus on the Resurrection more than the Easter Bunny. This has been around for a long time and many of you may have already seen or done this, but I decided to post it anyways just in case you may not have seen it.

To be made the evening before Easter.

You need:

1 cup whole pecans 1 tsp. vinegar 3 egg whites pinch salt 1 cup sugar

zipper baggie heavy wooden spoon tape A Bible

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. This is important! Don’t wait until you’re half done with the recipe!

Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers.

Read John 19:1-3.

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink.

Read John 19:28-30.

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us eternal life.

Read John 10:10-11.

Sprinkle a little salt into each child’s hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus’ followers, and the bitterness of our own sin.

Read Luke 23:27.

So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him.

Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God’s eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.

Read Isa. 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus’ body was laid.

Read Matt. 27:57-60.

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus’ tomb was sealed.

Read Matt. 27:65-66.

NOW GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus’ followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.

Read John 16:20 and 22.

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter, Jesus’ followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.

Read Matt. 28:1-9

Resurrection Morning in Scripture

Matthew 28:1-8

Easter Sunrise!

Read this scripture for some background before you get started. 1 Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb. 2 Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. 3 His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. 4 The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint. 5 Then the angel spoke to the women. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He isn't here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. 7 And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you." 8 The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel's message. (Scripture from the New Living Translation, © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. From Bible Gateway.com)

Resurrection Cookies Recipe and Devotional

To be prepared with your children the night before Easter Sunday morning.

Meringue Cookies
Your finished cookies should look similar to these. And yes, they actually are delicious! Photo courtesy stuart_spivack via a Creative Commons license

Easter Art

Every bedroom needs it's own Easter Basket (offering hidden goodies) outside the door --so inviting!
Little Guy and his older sister have been busy making Easter Art for our house. I love the egg in the grass.

Monday, April 18, 2011

Who am I?

Question : Who Am I?

"I am your constant companion. I am your greatest helper or heaviest burden. I will push you onward or drag you down to failure. I am completely at your command. Half the things you do might just as well be turned over to me, and I will be able to do them quickly and correctly. I am easily managed – you must merely be firm with me. Show me exactly how you want something done and after a few lessons I will do it automatically. I am the servant of all great people; and, alas, of all failures as well. Those who are great, I have made great. Those who are failures, I have made failures. I am not a machine, though I work with all the precision of a machine plus the intelligence of a human being. You may run me for profit or for ruin – it makes no difference to me. Take me, train me, be firm with me and I will place the world at your feet. Be easy with me and I will destroy you. Who am I?"

Answer : I am Habit

Home Again and Looking Forward to Easter

It is so good to be home from our Spring Break Vacation. We are looking forward to Easter Weekend and getting unpacked and getting into the groove. I will post pics of our vacation adventures soon.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Bipolar Weather

My oldest daughter was murmuring about the weather. I finally caught on that she was talking about Spring Weather being Bipolar and it has been! Sun, wind, rain, snow, and then more sunshine all on the same day and sometimes within the same hour. Family update: Joe is doing better day by day. This was a quite severe illness. Perhaps, the most severe of his life. He is still "managing" day by day. yesterday was hard--he was haunted by nausea all day. Today, he was somewhat better but had a headache in the evening. Little Eva is not feeling well and last night was a Campbell Circus Magurgus. I may have a touch of illness too as it feels as though a giant has me by the neck and is slowly transporting me over the ocean and up a large beanstalk. I have been running to catch up on the laundry and other household chores that were ignored for a couple of weeks. Hope you all are well and I will catch up on your blogs and life soon.

Friday, April 1, 2011

Little Man's note to his Second Sister for helping him. How creative and sweet. (Yes, those are quarters for eyes)