Off to School

One of my local friends is a teacher and just started back to school last week so they are taking their boys to the Learning Center with Austin.  It’s 17 miles from our town, so I offered to drive them to school with Austin since I drive out there for work myself.  It’s going really well so far.

Transformations

It never ceases to amaze me when I watch my little man transform from a baby to boy. There really is not anything baby about him other than that I put him in a diaper at night, and for the last two days he has awakened dry so that will be short lived.

Until now he has always been a total Mama's boy, but more and more I see him wanting to be with and like Dad.  Today was our Mommy Monday and all day he kept asking was "where Dad?", "where Daddy?", "where Papa? (Grandpa Steve who visited last weekend)", "where Dad".  This weekend we went shopping in the big city and went to the Home Depot to get supplies to replace the gutters on our house.  He was so eager to get right in there with Dad and pick the stuff out.  After putting back several things he grabbed and threw in the cart I suggested that he help Dad, so Dustin would pick out the parts he needed and hand them to Austin who would go and put them in the cart.  When we checked out Austin climbed up on the side of the cart and handed the parts to the checker guy.  Last week Dustin cut up his forearm on some barbed wire and we have been bandaging it, so of course Austin has been all about having a band aid, or bandage on his arm too.  Tonight he even got a hold of a pen and drew scratch lines down his arms like Dad's scratches.

He is speaking really well now and it is such a blessing for him to be able to communicate exactly what is on his mind.  He is so good at cognitive tasks too, my nieces and nephew gave him a hand held video game when they were here a few weeks ago and I noticed he was playing a Memory game on there and able to clear a 16 square puzzle.  We bought him a real Memory game this weekend and he totally loves it, other than he doesn't have the whole concept of taking turns with other people.  He loves to match the cards and really does have a phenomenal memory for such a young age.  I have also been going through his toys and clearing out the ones he no longer is interested in and as I was digging through the stuffed animals he spotted his Scout dog that has been buried for a while now.  He has been playing with it all weekend, and the great thing about it is you can plug it into your computer and enter in the child's name, then Scout says their name and sings songs that incorporate it and the spelling.  Austin has totally been spelling his name all weekend.  It's also encouraging him to practice pronouncing "Austin" since he seems to struggle with the s-t transition.  He says it more like "Ausin", but it has been improving all weekend.

5QF

 

1. Did you make any fun purchases this week?

I really live in the middle of nowhere so I don't go shopping much, especially not on a weekly basis.  I mean I go to the grocery store every Saturday, but that definitely does not bring to mind the word "fun"!  We are going to the big city tomorrow, so I see some fun purchases in my future.  I'm thinking I need to finally break down and buy a juicer.  I have a bag of black grapes in my fridge from Bountiful Baskets and I just don't see myself popping them in my mouth as a snack, but if I had a juicer I could make them into jelly, and that would be wonderful.  I also bought a watermelon last weekend and it is SO GOOD, but I have eaten watermelon for lunch and dinner the last three days and there is still half a watermelon in my fridge.

2. If you could go to any musical concert, what would it be?

This one is tough for me for some reason, maybe because I don't go out much anymore so I just don't think about concerts.  A couple of years ago, ok almost three now-man does time fly, the New Kids on the Block, who were my first ever concert in 1990, reunited and my sweet husband was going to get me tickets to see them in Las Vegas.  The holdup for me was that I was about 6 months pregnant at the time and just could not fathom being there in all my whale-ness and still have a great time, so I declined his generous offer.  So now that I am not preggo, it might be more fun, but now they are touring with the Backstreet Boys who were after my boy band phase, so I'm not so interested in them.

3. What is your least fav/ most fav house chore?

Right now my least fav chore is cleaning out the bathtub after Austin has an accident, yuck I hate cleaning poo!  Is there such a thing as a favorite house chore?  Does cooking count, because I love cooking!

4. Would you prefer new appliances or clothes?

I'm not really a fashion diva so as long as I have plenty of clothes in my rotation I am not big on buying new clothes.  I would love a new fridge, but I want to wait until we move, and then I want to invest and get a super nice fridge with all the accessories that I have always dreamed about.  A new drier would be nice too since our old one pooped out this summer and I have been line drying our clothes for the last month and a half.  I don't mind it so much other than I dislike the crunchiness of line dried clothes, especially the towels.

5. Miracle Whip or Mayo?

I really go both ways depending on the application.  On lunch meat sandwiches I like Miracle Whip.  I put either in potato salad depending on what mood I am in and which kind of pickles I am adding, B&B pickles=Miracle Whip, dill pickles=Mayo.  On hamburgers I usually do Miracle Whip if its got lettuce and tomato, but if I have a mushroom and Swiss I like Mayo.

Cowboys and Indians

For the first time in the seven years we have been here the Western Legends Roundup and Kaibab Paiute Heritage Celebration Powwow were in the same weekend.  Legends is a celebration of all the western films that were shot around this area and it started Wednesday and went through Saturday and the Powwow was Saturday and Sunday.  It was a crazy busy weekend, but also a lot of fun.  My father-in-law drove out from Iowa to be here for both events too.  Here are some photos from both events:

The new Kaibab Paiute Princess

Tribal Council

Grand Entry for the Sunday session

5QF

1. Do you close the bathroom door when you are home alone?

I am rarely home alone, but no, I don't.  I also don't close the bedroom door when I shower so I walk out of the bathroom and to the room to get my clothes.  I would be in trouble if someone came home with company. 

2. You have to walk around with a word on your forehead. That word describes you. One word. What is it?

My husband says "SWEET" aww, he is sweet!  I don't know maybe today is should be "TIRED", LOL!

3. What store do you refuse to shop at and why?

I can't really think of a store that out outright "refuse" to shop at.  There are two mom n' pop grocery stores locally and I can not stand to shop at one of them.  It is super small so you are always getting stuck in the isles if there is someone else there, and their layout is odd.  It takes me forever to figure out where to find stuff.  They do however carry a certain type of juice that we love so occasionally I go in there to stock up on the juice.

4. If you participated in arranged marriages for your child(ren), who would you choose for your child(ren)?

I don't know, it just doesn't seem right for me to pick someone for him.  We know a lot of little girls and many of them are head over heels infatuated with Austin, but I can't say I would really pick any of them, not because of the girls, just because I don't know what they would be like when they are older.

5. If you could pick how and when you would die, would you?

Yep!   I think I've mentioned it on here before (is that morbid or what?), but my Mom has a friend who was in her late 70's and she went out dancing with her husband.  They came home, went to bed together and she just did not wake up in the morning.  It doesn't get any better than that!

Aloha Friday

Aloha Friday is the day that they take it easy over at An Island Life and look forward to the weekend. So I thought that on Fridays I would take it easy on posting, too.   So I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response. If you’d like to participate, just post your own question on your blog and head over to An Island Life to link up. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends.

My question:

Do you have a song(s) that takes you back and reminds you of something from your past?

I have a lot of songs like this, but today I was driving around for work and Whitesnake's "Here I go again" came on the radio.  It made me think of a group of friends I had in high school who actually went to the high school just east of mine, but we became acquainted through extracurricular activities.  For their class song they picked "Here I go again" which was even funny at the time because we graduated in 1997, and that song was released in 1982.  It seems like high school was eons ago, but that song brought back a lot of memories!



Pieces 8 and 9

One plus side to being sick last week is I did get some more work done on Austin's quilt pieces.  Here are pieces 8 and 9:

I also re-did the cow a little bit since I thought his original  tail looked funny and his face wasn't detailed enough.  I am not using any patterns, I have been taking coloring book pages and photocopy them to enlarge/reduce them to the size I want and then cut them out to trace them.  Sometimes it takes a little trial and error with this process.



Perspective

Today was a challenging day since I was returning to work after taking three sick days last week.  Regardless of how things are I am very blessed and thank God for all the wonderful things in my life.

• I am thankful for getting up at 4:50am this morning because it means I am Mom to a wonderful two year old who was wide awake and I am the one who got to hold him, rock him, and eventually let him come out and watch cartoons on my lap while I caught a few zzz's on the couch before work.
• I am thankful that my cold from last week is coming to an end and that it made me remember how wonderful good health really is and how I should not take it for granted and to also be compassionate to those who suffer from chronic illness.
• I am thankful for my PMS/cramps as it means I am a woman and was able to carry a child in my womb and will again hopefully soon.
• I am thankful that I have clean water at the turn of a faucet and will immensly enjoy my shower in the morning that I did without this morning.  It is easy to take for granted that we have access to good, clean, and safe water.
• I am thankful to return to work today because I have a job that I enjoy and so does Dustin, and we live comfortably and are able to provide our son with many things that Dustin and I didn't have.
• I am thankful to have filled my gas tank at $3.45 a gallon because I have the luxury of a good working, reliable vehicle to transport myself and my family safely.
• I am thankful for the 10 extra pounds I carry (even though I should lose them) because I live in a country where good food is plentiful and I waste too much even though there are thousands of people in the world starving to death. 
• I am thankful that I get to kiss my best friend every day.  There is no perspective to that, it is truely wonderful in every way!

One other thing weighing heavy on my mind that I have been unable to put in a favorable perspective is that the eldest of my brothers got into a big fight with my Mom and sister two weeks ago and it seems to be getting worse instead of better.  I want to make it all better, but some things just take time.  I am praying that it resolves itself in a favorable way and does not tear our family apart. 

(Added 8/17) I thought of another one, I am thankful for my bed that is located in a country whose government it busy tearing each other apart and people are having hard times because I know that when I lay down at night I can rest peacefully since I am relatively safe and secure because there are brave men and women out there who are not safe and secure protecting me. 

My new doo

I got a hair cut on Saturday.  I would have posted a picture sooner, but wanted my sicko-puffy face, red nose to get a little better before taking a picture.  Here are a couple I snapped with the web-cam.

I'm really trying to get used to having bangs again, they keep falling in my eyes.  I may end up taking them a bit shorter so they sit above my eye brow.  I was just feeling the need to do something a little different and fun.  I found a picture of Reese Witherspoon that I really liked with side-swept bangs, but the stylist said I couldn't do as dramatic of and effect as in the picture because I have a cowlic up front.  I never knew that, but she said they would fall and split just right of center, so that is what we did.  I also had the bigger sweep go to the left because I have a scar over there that the bangs cover.  Maybe next time I'll have to do highlights too.

Motivations for Marriage

So this post is going to be more on the philosophical side.  Earlier in the evening in an attempt to get back to the world of the living I got out of the house and went an got a haircut.  I got there at my appointment time, and like always the stylist said she was running late and I could leave and come back in 15 minutes.  Around here if you are talking to the Mormons they will say they are on "Mormon time" and if you are talking to the Indians they will say they are on "Indian time" which basically means no one around here adheres to a schedule.  So I seized the opportunity and ran to the grocery store and got a dollar bottle of nail polish and painted my toe nails in the car.

Then I mosied back to the salon and went inside.  The stylist was working on a woman's hair doing a big fancy up-do.  They were chit-chatting as she was working and I found out the woman was getting married tonight.  In the salon was also a young lady who was maybe 12-13 and found out that she was the woman's daughter.  When the stylist finished her up, after about another 15 minutes, she was getting ready to pay and the woman said to the stylist that she really wanted her to come to the wedding, not to worry about eating because they would have plenty of food.  The stylist was like yeah, I'll be there even though I'm wearing my jeans. 

After the bride left and the stylist was washing my hair, her daughter came in and we were all talking about the bride and wedding because they both had known the woman for some time.  They said she actually had been in and gotten her hair done for another wedding about a year ago.  I of course don't know the woman, or her story, but I know she was getting married tonight, had gotten married to someone else a year ago, and presumably might have been married at least one other time to the daughter's father.

So that all got me thinking about marriage and what motivates someone to get married so many times when it seems they are aren't in it so long as they both shall live.  For me marriage is a sacrament of my religion that makes a permanent bond for our relationship and validates the children that we are given.  I take it so very seriously and I know that Dustin does as well.  I have no doubt that this is the one and only marriage for both of us provided one of us does not die prematurely. 

For some I know religion is not a factor.  It is obvious in our society that marriage is not essential to validate children.  It seems to me that since cohabitation is readily accepted in most places today, I don't understand why people bother to take the step and enter into marriage, especially if they have no intention of seeing it through.  It's a shame to me that we can't figure out a way to limit the people who carelessly marry over and over.  Can you imagine if there were a law that if you had been married X number of times and could not marry until those people had died, that people might actually try to make that happen.  I would have to think that divorce is not cheap, financially or emotionally, and that this should be a motivation to not get married unless you are serious about it, unless of course someone is out to take advantage of a sugar daddy situation.

So what would be the motivation for a 50 something woman who has been married at least twice previously to tie the knot one more time?  Is it just a string of lousy partners and now she has found "the one", the fear of being alone, wanting to provide her child(ren) with a father figure, wanting to have a party and be the center of attention (wondering this after she was so intent on inviting her hair stylist who obviously had not planned on attending the wedding)?  I guess I'll never understand.

Finally...

Oh man this has been a miserable week for me.  I have been really sick with what seems to be just a nasty summer cold.  I think Austin had it two weeks ago and we thought it was allergies, but now we know he was sicker than we thought.  I ended up taking three days off of work this week, which usually I only take one if even that.  I worked on Tuesday, but when I got home I crashed fast.  I had the chills and then developed a mild fever.  I have had laryngitis, coughing and runny nose.  Today I still have the cough and runny nose, but my voice is back and my energy levels are returning to normal.  I had plenty of time to blog all week, but nothing going on to talk about really, and it would have all probably had a negative tone, so I just chose not too. 

Here is a quick list of what is going on with me:

• We listed our house with a realtor.  We haven't gotten a new job yet, but the housing market around here is slow even in good economic times so we thought it would be wise to go ahead and list it now and move into a rental here if we do sell it instead of getting a job, moving into a rental there and having to maintain this house until we sell it.  Cross your fingers for us that we get a buyer! 
• My father-in-law might be coming for a visit next week.  The town to the north of us has a festival to commemorate all the old western movies that were filmed around here, then on the weekend the tribe I work for is hosting their annual powwow.  It's like a total cowboys and Indians week which he loves. 
• Yesterday Austin started calling me "Mommy".  Until now it has always been some other form like "Ma", "Mom", or "Mama", but yesterday he added the "ee" to the end. 
• My brother brought us a huge bag of clothes that my nephew out-grew.  We now have a ton of clothes when he gets to size 4.  There were also a lot of shoes and even a pair of super cute cowboy boots when he gets to size 10. 

Family visit

My Aunt Sue came into town this weekend with her husband, Uncle Vick, granddaughters Kelly and Kimmy and Uncle Vick's brother Bob and his wife Joan.  They have a motorhome and go touring during the summer, then return home during the school year where they drive school busses.  They traveled to Colorado in July for my cousin's wedding, then passed through here to see the National Parks.  We went to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon on Sunday. We had great weather and they enjoyed hiking.



Here is the group except for Dustin and Austin who were in the truck for Austin's nap



Austin wasn't cooperating with the photo



Monday we went to Pipe Spring National Monument and went to Hilldale, Utah where we ate lunch at the Merry Wives Cafe.  The Merry Wives Cafe is owned and operated by polygamists, so it gave them a view of that culture. 



Here the girls are taking their oath to become Junior Rangers at Pipespring National Monument.

We were supposed to go out to dinner with them last night, but I came down really sick.  I hope that they will not have my illness on the last part of their trip.  They were heading out today to go through Salt Lake City on their way home.

Oops!

Wow, it's amazing how good my two and a half year old is at using the computer!  If you saw the last two posts called "next" that was all Austin.  Apparently Dustin must have been looking at some Wyoming real estate since we may or may not be moving there, and when he left the computer Austin some how linked that house to my blog.  Go figure, I am not even sure how to do that!!!

Last night Dustin said he thought it looked like Austin posted to my blog when he got back to the computer, but I was so sick that I couldn't even get off the couch and told him I would look at it later.  I thought I was having allergy issues, but when I got home from work last night I crashed fast and went from a little laryngitis to completely blocked nasal passages, sore throat, and mild fever with chills.  I was MISERABLE.  I called in sick to work today and am resting at home.  I'm trying to make myself drink more fluids, but my throat hurts when I drink juices.  I am guessing this is what Austin had last week when we thought he was having allergies, so it only lasted a couple of days. 

5QF

 
1. Do you have siblings and are you close with them?


I have three brothers and a sister.  My oldest brother died in a car accident when he was 19.  I was born a year and a half later, so I never got to meet him.  I am close with the other three and miss living closer to them.  I also have a half sister who I just met a couple of years ago, and I am getting to know her better. 

 

2. Would you rather be slightly UNDER weight or slightly OVER weight?

I am slightly over weight now, and other than being self conscious about it, no one ever comments on it.  After I had Austin though I lost a ton of weight while breast feeding, I know it's not typical, please don't hate me, and I had more people telling me how skinny I looked and how I needed to gain weight.  It was to the point that it was annoying, so I guess of the two I'm happiest now.

3. What's your favorite State Fair food to splurge on?

Funnel cake, nuff said!

4. What are your thoughts on your kid(s) going to school in a few weeks?

My kid goes to a learning center everyday instead of daycare.  He loves it there and they are getting more kids, up to 8 now so it is really great.  He is always doing fun activities and making artwork to bring home.  I am so happy to have the opportunity to have him there instead of regular daycare.

5. Pool or Ocean?

Well, since I am land locked at the moment we only ever go to the pool.  Funny question though, when I was in high school I spent a month in Florida with my Aunt.  For one of the weeks my cousins came in from Georgia and we went to Cocoa Beach for a week.  When we arrrived at the time share I saw they had a pool and I thought "who in the heck goes to the pool when the ocean is right there?"  I had never been to the ocean before this trip so I was still in love with it.  After a day or two though I came to appreciate the pool.  It's calm and relaxing versus being tossed around by the waves, and the cleanliness is pretty nice versus being all salty and sandy.  One day at the beach I even got coated by tar, yuck.  So they both have their pros and cons, it depends on what mood you are in.

Rockin’ weekend!

My brother who lives in Phoenix stopped by with his three kids this weekend on their way to Grandma’s house in Denver.  They got here Friday afternoon and left first thing Sunday morning.  It was a super nice visit.  It’s funny how hard it is to have good quality time together now that we live so far away from each other.  When I was in college, all three of my siblings lived within an hour of each other and my Mom, so we got together all the time.  Since we saw each other so often it was not a big deal and we got down to quality time.  Now that we all live far away, this brother is about a 5.5 hour drive, my other brother is 7.5, my sister is 11 hours and my Mom is 10.5 hours, when we get together 1- we are exhausted from the traveling, and 2- it’s like we spend the time catching up and often don’t really get down to quality time.  You know what I mean, where you can be with each other and do something fun together and enjoy each others presence. 

We spent most of the weekend jammin’ to Rock Band and Guitar Hero.  I would have never thought to suggest that we play our game, these guys are big time country fans and also Broadway musical type music.  But my younger niece heard the kids talking about it at school so she wanted to give it a try.  They loved it and by the end of their visit one niece was singing “Black Hole Sun'” and the other was singing “Creep”.  Heck even my brother got in on the fun and his favorite song to play ended up being “Enter Sandman”, hardcore!  My nephew wasn’t really into it, but he is often hard to interest in things. I have a feeling my brother will be ordering a band kit when they get home!

We also went to the park and played with water guns and went to the pool.  I did not take too many pictures because I was thoroughly enjoying our quality time and often forgot to pick up the camera.