Lesson Learned

Grandma, you left just in time.  It's COLD out there!
My car battery is giving me so many problems that it's just ridiculous!
It's SOOOOOOO cold!
My car won't start!!
SOOOOOO COLD!!!!!
Brenten comes to help me boost the car!
SOOOO COLD!!!!
The kids have stolen my mits and gloves (can't really blame them they had to spend the day at school).
SOOOOO COLD!!!!!
Frostbite.
LESSON LEARNED. . . . HIDE A SPARE PAIR OF GLOVES.

Amazing

That's all I can really say about it.
I am a spiritual person, but I rarely put that out in the open.  I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and although I live my life in accordance to my beliefs, I rarely talk about my feelings and convictions with other people.  Sometimes I think it makes me forget how strongly I DO believe in what I am taught at church.
Yesterday it hit me.  As I watched that beautiful golden statue of the Angel Moroni playing his trumpet being hoisted onto the beautiful temple that is being constructed the overwhelming spiritual convictions that I felt amazed me.  I couldn't believe how powerful it was to me to be standing in the freezing cold with my three youngest babies watching a statue being put on the temple and how important and life changing that felt to me.
It was amazing.
It was an experience I will never forget.
Seeing that beautiful statue reiterated to me that I DO believe in the teachings of my church and I AM a spiritual person and I LOVE that temple that is going to be located 3 blocks from my new house.
Amazing.

Happy Birthday Big Guy

Yep, he's definitely older!  Can you believe it?  13 years ago I married this 21 year old stud muffin and now look and what happens. . . . we crank out a bunch of kids, he gets a REAL job, we build houses.
MAN life is crazy!
So, on this snowy winter morning, I can't help but be grateful that I have such a wonderful big guy!
Happy Birthday!!!
I LOVE YOU!

Birthday Party for the Monkey

Ok, so we FINALLY had Caroline's birthday party yesterday.  Her birthday was in September, but MAN that month flew by too quickly!  I was EXCITED!!!  I actually splurged and spent a LOT of money to have her birthday party at a place called "Color me Mine".   I have NEVER spent this much money on a birthday party, but my Caroline LOVES to do art and this place lets you paint pottery and then they fire it in their ovens and you get to keep your creation forever (or until a sibling breaks it).
The big day arrives and Caroline is on cloud nine ALL DAY.  From the moment she wakes up, the count-down to the big party begins. . . . . and then it is FINALLY time!  Otto and Lee went to Abby's basketball game, so it is going to be just me, 8 kids and Suzanne.
So, I arrive at Color me Mine with 3 of my kids and 1 of the other party-goers at the same time that Caroline's other friend arrives.  We are all smiles as we walk into the store with great anticipation of what is to come.  We are greeted by a staff member who asks us if we were here with the birthday party.  With eager smiles we all reply that we are. . . . . and then. . . . I am berated in front of the kids for arriving at the place TOO early.  After promptly sending the kids to the van to watch a movie so that this staff member doesn't completely ruin my daughter's day I proceed to explain to the staff member that I was actually asked to come 15 minutes early to help with the set up.  After not being able to calm this woman down I tell her that I will simply wait in the vehicle with the 6 eager children awaiting the begining of what is about to be the funnest birthday party EVER!!!
So at 4:00 ON THE DOT, we walk in (I am now nervous that I am going to be yelled at again) and we see ourselves to the birthday party spot.  A very nice girl takes the kids' names and then we go and pick out our pieces that we are going to paint.  By now it is 4:10 and we are still missing a girl and Suzanne.  I am kind of worried about Suzanne because I knew that she had a long way to drive, but I decide to suggest to the girl that we get started. . . . only. . . . where was she?  She had simply disappeared.  Don't worry, I have amazing tracking skills and I track her down and suggest that we get this party started.
Our hostess starts putting colors on the kids' painting palletts and then leaves.  Yep, that's it.  No explaination of what to do;  no explaination of how to layer the paints;  no explaination of how you need to paint lots of layers in the darker colors. . . . . what do you do when your little dot of paint runs out?  Good question, right?  So, I take over. . . . . since she is off helping any and all customers that are in the store, I figure she wouldn't mind.  There are lots of staff members in the store but they all seem to want to hang out in the back . . . . I mean why should they be on the floor?  There is only a birthday party (which is supposed to have it's own exclusive staff member) going on as well as a full store.
Wait. . . . .where the heck is Suzanne?
Also, I paid for 8 kids to come and one didn't show up. . . . .Abby didn't get to come, can I maybe take something for her to paint when she can come in at a different time?  So, I ask our hostess (who has graced us with her presence) and after making her do some investigations and me arguing that I have already paid for it, I am given permission to take a piece for Abby to paint.  (She is going to love it!!!)
Suzanne?  Where ARE you????  Wait. . . . is that my phone ringing?  YES!!!!  It's Suzanne!!!  What?  Suzanne had called the store and they denied that Caroline was having a birthday party there?  Huh?  They told you that they weren't just off of Beddington Trail?  What the *!@#&^%?????
YOU ARE A TROOPER SUZANNE FOR PERSAVERING AND COMING ANYWAYS!!!!!!
Ok, so the kids are done painting, Suzanne and the girlies are here and the pizza man is standing around for someone to talk to.  Excuse me two randomly standing around staff members who are visiting with each other. . . . . can one of you please take care of the pizza since it is included in my party and I really don't want to pay for it twice?  Are you REALLY asking me if I want to serve the pizza or if I want you to?  Doesn't it clearly state on your website (where I booked the party) that YOU will serve the pizza that I bought?  Ummmm don't the kids get juice boxes, as well?  Oh they do?  Why didn't YOU think of that????
Geee. . . . . it's sure taking a long time for us to get our gourmet (and very expensive) cupcakes that I had ordered. . . . wait . . . . what's that I hear????  The two of you who are standing around talking in the back room are eyeballing some beautiful gourmet cupcakes?  NOW WHO COULD THOSE BE FOR, I WONDER??????  Oh. . . . wait. . . . WE ordered those cupcakes.   YES we would like to have them.   Hmmmmm there seems to be an extra cupcake because one of our kids didn't show up. . . . . maybe SUZANNE and I can have it instead of you guys getting it!  I mean, I only paid THROUGH THE NOSE for it.
What's that???  You want me to take care of the bill now?  Ok, not a problem!   Caroline can open her presents while I do it.  Whoa. . . . what do you mean the $100 deposit that it clearly states you charged me at the time of the booking hasn't been charged?  Ummmm. . . . it clearly states on you website that I am charged the deposit at the time of the booking. . . . NO, I don't want to talk to the owner, but you guys should definitely get that fixed. . . . What???  The phone is for me????  Who is it?  The OWNER????  Ummmmm ok, I guess I WILL talk to him.  Oh what's that?  You have the perogitive to charge me the deposit if I don't show up but you don't charge me it at the time of booking?  Maybe you should state THAT on your website.
I also thought that it said that the staff members would make Caroline a present. . . . maybe I just made that up. . . . I DO sometimes do that.  I will check on that when I get home.
FINALLY we are all packed up and ready to go!!!  I only have to drive 2 extra kids home.  What the . . . . ?  The van won't start????  ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME????????  DUSTIN QUIT THROWING BATTERIES AT THE GIRLS!!!!  Otto, can you PLEASE come boost me?
 . . .
10 minutes later and many choruses of Purple People Eater later the red headed staff member comes out. . . . what's that?  You forgot to get Caroline's handprint for her present????  BOY are you LUCKY that I am still stranded here.  She will have to climb out the front door though as my sliding doors are power doors and will not open with a dead battery.
And then HE arrives.  We are SAVED!
Driving home I ask Caroline, so what did you think of your birthday party. . . . her response????
IT WAS THE BEST BIRTHDAY PARTY EVER!!!
So worth it.
(I will NEVER do another birthday party at Color Me Mine though)

Fitness

I'm mad.  I can't hide it.  I am fuming right now!!!!
I have worked my butt off for the last month!!!!
It hasn't been easy.  It has made my life really busy, but I have persevered and kept on going to the gym 3 times a week during the mornings and 5 nights a week. . . . . has it paid off?????
NO!
I just had my fitness test today and I am either the same or worse on almost every aspect of my physical fitness.
I am FURIOUS!!!!
I have worked my butt off and the results are ZERO!!!!
Well, that's not true. . . . I am more hydrated and I burn more calories without doing anything. . . . . which, honestly, is what I feel like doing. . . . NOTHING!!
So, yeah, that's my life right now.
I'm mad
I plan to stay mad for the rest of the day.
I then plan to drag my butt to the gym tomorrow.
Something WILL change though.

Uncle Brant

Tonight around 10:25 pm, my dear Uncle Brant was greeted by the other side.  He, no doubt, has been enveloped into the arms of his Mother and Father-in-law, my Great Grandma and Grandpa Bennion and my Nana. . . . I am also hoping that not too long after those joyous reunions, he will be seeking out and holding my little Robin for me.
Today has made me reflect.
I have spent all day at the hospital with my family and extended family and my Aunt Marilyn's family. 
Isn't this the way it should be?
Shouldn't we all be able to bid farewell at the closing of our lives (whether it be due to old age or something sudden as my Uncle's untimely passing) to all of our loved ones?
This is it.
This is part of the plan.
Reflecting on the relationship I have had with my Uncle throughout the years, I have been so blessed to be able to count myself lucky that I have known my Uncle Brant.  I have always thought of him as my sweet, super nerdy, Uncle with a will of iron.  You wouldn't know it by looking at him, but this man is a fighter.  From enduring and beating cancer on his mission, to enduring life with a weak heart, and then surviving being run over and dragged by a boat launcher and then having blood clots perforate his intestines and never complaining. . . . . this man had a will of iron.  He silently endured and fought to the bitter end.  He LOVED to tell jokes and could come up with a joke at the drop of a hat.
His pants may have been too high, and his shirt may have stayed perpetually untucked, but that's what made him so unique.  I loved listening to Uncle Brant's stories and listen to him tease people.  I admired that he was able to get his PhD in Engineering and travel all over the world to do consulting.  He had a brilliant engineering mind and I love that he was such good friends with my Otto.
My Uncle was there for everything that I would invite him to.  He stood in the circle as I blessed my first baby.  He played with all of my children and gave them piggy back rides and did Rocky Road with them.  He would always tell me how good my food was that I made for family gatherings.  I loved how he often spilled his drink at dinner or how he would light up whenever he talked about the cabin.
This year, the year after his big accident, Otto and I had the priviledge of playing with my Uncle Brant and Aunt Marilyn and Alex for a day at the cabin the first day they went out.  It was so much fun to tease Uncle Brant about his boat docking skills with the new boat and to watch him as he showed us all of the cool compartments in his new boat.  It was so much fun to be screaming for my lfe as my Uncle Brant took my cousin, Alex and I on one of the most scary tube rides of my life so that we could officially christen the boat.  I loved listening to Uncle Brant's grand plans for his projects at the cabin.  He would look almost giddy as he talked about all of the projects he wanted to complete on the cabin.    He loved that cabin so much and he loved being there with his friends and his family.  I can't think of a more perfect way for my Uncle Brant to spend his last month of his life than at the one place he loved most in this world. . . . the cabin.
I think that one of the best things that I have learned from my Uncle Brant was how a marriage should work.  Watching his relationship with my Aunt has taught me that soulmates really do exist.  She absolutely adores my Uncle and she is his best friend.  I know that the hardest part for him when he was passing away would have been leaving my Aunt Marilyn, but I also know that he will always be close by for her.  I truly believe that my Uncle Brant will be near to my Aunt Marilyn until the time that it is her turn to join him on the other side.  I think of what a joyous reunion it will be and it brings me comfort at this time.
So today, as I reflect on my sweet Uncle Brant (he would hate that I am calling him sweet) I think about how lucky I am to have had such a man in my life.  What better thing can you say about someone than that your life has improved because you knew them?  That is exactly what I think about my Uncle.
I do not mourn for my Uncle Brant.
I mourn for myself and for his family.
I know that my Uncle will no longer feel pain.
I cannot wait until I get to see him again.
I love you Uncle Brant.  I will do my best to make you proud of me.  Take care of my little Angel Baby until I get there ok?

Summer

Here you go Jenna!  I'm back and am writing on my blog again!!!
I have been thinking of the same question for a couple of days now and I just had to write it down!
WHERE THE HECK DID THE SUMMER GO????????
Why does it always feel that as soon as school is out, the kids have to go back again???  I CAN'T believe that it's time to start getting them ready to go back to school!!!  We have had a fun summer playing in the sun (and rain) and it just depresses me that in a couple of weeks we are back to schedules and. . . . . brrrrrrr. . . . . COLD!!!
ITS JUST NOT FAIR THAT MY FAVORITE SEASON IS SOOOOOOO SHORT!!!!
We have been cabining and boating pretty much the entire summer!  It drilled home to me that I am definitely a sun baby and that I need to find a way to make the sun and the heat last a little longer. . . . . hmmmmm. . . . . I wonder how I can do that?
Otto, get out your wallet!!!