Pie

I am thankful for PIE!

We had PIE MORNING (instead of traditional Pie Night) after daily seminary on Friday.

TOYS

I am thankful for toys.
Lincoln Logs & Legos (we used these at the last combined seminary activity). Teenagers still like toys...Instructions were to design a temple and build Peter Whitmer's log cabin-so it related to the activity and was a good filler before the next group moved on.

ALERT: "Toy Story 3" spoiler.

Friday was family movie night at the health club. Free film, open to the public. Our children had seen it in the theatre with cousins, but it was all new for John and me. Sort of like a date, surrounded by camp chairs, our two youngest children, blankets spread out from the center line forward towards the giant blow up screen, chairs starting behind the line, all over the indoor soccer field. Flashing/running Buzz Lightyear costumes and pajamas on short people.

I loved it!

It is so well done. Much better than I expected. I laughed, I cried. We ALWAYS stay through the credits of films, and this one is a good one to wait and watch the end stories. Don't leave early!

Spanish dancing, anyone?!

Seventeen year old Max had told me that it was the best film he has ever seen. He loved it.

We thanked the projectionist-tech guy and he said his 17 year old son loved the film and he felt like he had grown up with Andy. When the first "Toy Story" came out, these boys were the same age, and now they are going away to college, like Andy. They relate, because this is their story, too.

I've been trying to figure out why it triggered my teary response. Nostalgia? Love? Growing up pains? Was it for Andy's selflessness, his sacrifice? Was it the spiritual recognition that sacrifice and sharing are Christ-like qualities, something good and right? Can I have a testimony building experience watching "Toy Story 3" and explain it well?

John said he was really worried at the fire pit moment. And we talked about what it meant, holding hands there at the end. Meeting the end together. United. Family. Were you ready for it? Did you believe it could be the end of all of them?

What would I do without my toys? Could I give them all up, put behind me my childish things forever?

I have a collection of future grandma toys. Things I loved growing up, or collected after our children were tired of playing with them. Among the collection are Mr. Potato Head accessories. No Barbies (although I really liked that she is smart in this film!).

So many clever visual jokes and use of vintage toys! My best friend-across the street in San Jose, Shelly, had the Barbie/Ken dream house.

I could expand more, but time for bed.

Long live good toys! And creative play and respect and care and love and family!

Hi Ho Hi Ho ...Work WORK

I promised Emmalyn last week a better description of what work I am doing (besides the painting, and babysitting HAZEL DOES NOT DRINK SODA AS A FAMILY RULE! YIKES! DID NOT KNOW WHEN I LET HER TAKE A SIP OF MY *SPRINGLE! BAD BABYSITTER!): I met Ms. Joan while working for the Census. I watched her learn how to fingerprint while I was training as a crew leader. Later, she ended up training me for another phase, and then was my direct supervisor at the end. She is very talented, Renaissance Woman galore, and designs and creates baskets, gifts, amazing things. And I am her underling. Assistant. Grunt. I make things pretty, packaging, wrapping things ready to gift and give.
I told Ms. Joan about my bungee cord ribbon holder in my sewing room, so she bought one for her ribbon. MUCH FASTER and organized! Sometimes I bring home homework, before a big craft show.

I've got a little assembly line going here to make things faster. Time flies by--I never believe her when she says it is time for lunch. Talking, brainstorming, sharing recipes and folklore and love stories. Great work environment with Penny's scratch-her-head breaks.

Sometimes it is all in the presentation!

*SPRINGLE recipe, created by John. Fill glass with crushed ice. Splash 1/4 cup Pomegranite juice over ice. Fill with Black Cherry diet Fresca. Color is layered in glass-beautifully! Very refreshing.

Wrinkles & Dimples

Last week when I was subbing for health class at the high school, a student asked, "Do you have dimples?" I demonstrated with a smile. She was very nice, said she loved dimples and wanted to know what causes them....couldn't help her there, but said I thought they must be a dominate trait. We got back to work on the dittos about illicit drugs.

When I downloaded this picture I was a little shocked at the crow's feet. Must be the lighting...but they are real. They show you where I smile with my eyes! I've earned them. My body isn't perfect, but it tells a story. I am thankful for wrinkles & dimples, stretch marks and scars.

Sisters

Sisters teach me things. They listen. Share. Giggle with me (even past 40, yes!). Eat treats with me. Support one another. Talk about real things. Cry with me.
I have 3 Landbeck sisters...Sara, Amy, LisaEight Babcock sisters: Deborah, Jen, Julie, Laura, Luanna,Rebecca, Sare, Alysa. I don't have a picture of Heather Eagle-Pipe (Indian Placement Student). Cousin Wendy lived with us like a sister...Deb and Wendy. Yes, that is a real badge. She's got my back, when I'm in SLC!
We come from all over the states. Provo, Iowa, Kentucky, Iowa, Provo. (Do I have that right?)

VA Beach. Johnny brought us out ice cream sandwiches.
Sare & Michael's wedding.
Sare & Michael.

My little sister got married before I did. Hard at the time, but great now to have our children be similarly aged cousins!
Steven Alysa, soon-to-be-parents.
David & Julie!

Happy Birthday TODAY to sister Jen! (photo from her blog, link with figtreefarm on the right sidebar)

Passing Things Sideways-Lovebags

I was looking for a picture of a pillow, and found some picture treasures, things I did before I was blogging. This is a headboard I made for a teenager's room, using an old door, trim, and white on white wallpaper. One of the pro-bono projects, before my financial advisor helped me gain the confidence to charge for the decorating work I do for others...

Which is still a tender point. I have felt complete freedom to arrange/decorate as I please. Red RED tomato red bedroom walls...loved this room of ours for 7 years! I feel that the years of freedom to practice decorating in our home has been a great way to learn. And then friends/acquaintances have started to ask me for help...


I paint. I paint everything. The joke is, "if it holds still, I will paint it!"

I am thankful for lovebags and furniture passed sideways. For example: the crib that I couldn't pass along....

I had gotten rid of ALL my baby paraphernalia after Suzanna's birth--I was so sick with Crohn's Disease, and didn't think we were going to have any more children. Pregnant with baby #5 who was going to have to sleep in a laundry basket (not the antique bassinet inherited from my dad-they all sleep in that at birth, but it doesn't last long with my long-legged babies!)

A friend from Church gave us their old crib before Sam was born. The older four children helped me paint it with crazy colors to welcome their new brother. You can see one of the end pieces behind the bench, on the right of the glass doors.
I have hung the rails together as an art piece.
Today one of the rails holds family history hearts. It is no longer a crib with all the parts, or maybe it could be reconstructed to give away or future grandma service (when our children come home with their children to visit, no announcement).

Sideways Lovebag requirements:
1. someone gives you something with no expectation for re numeration and they are decluttering and serving you.
2. the gift isn't their livelihood, what they do professionally, in which case when you ask them for help and they give it you should ASK and offer to pay them for materials/service, or the artist/decorator should have the confidence to bill them accordingly.
3. if it is family or a good GOOD friend, it is different. There is an understanding of reciprocity, sustaining one another, serving because you love them.

I can tell I am talking about more than one thing, and I still need to forgive and let go of some resentment for work done for free...art work, not babysitting.

We've been talking about Zion in daily seminary--one heart, one mind, and no poor among them.

We aren't near to that. The inequality, and the combination of lazy/won't work verses sick/can't work and the worker bees/service-oriented and the worker bees/take advantage-of-other's-service is complicated.

I am not saying this well.

So I should stop and embrace the stupor of tongue/typing fingers. EDIT

Children/Mothering

I am thankful for my children. I am thankful to be a mom. I wouldn't want to do it alone, without a spouse.

This is one of my favorite pictures of my husband as a baby-still gestating!
Growing up as the oldest of many siblings, I felt like I was plenty prepared to be a mom. WRONG! Babysitting is not the same as having the responsibility for a tiny baby all the time. Parents learn as they do it. And you do the best you can. You make mistakes and hope your children will forgive you and be better parents for your grandchildren.
Watching Emmalyn grow up has been a great blessing. She is holding a cousin here! I am thankful for our children. Thankful for their talents, their developing senses of humor, their willingness to work hard and play often!

Family photo from January 3rd, 2010. We will get a new picture taken when the two oldest are home from college!

We tried a white on white one the year before. Last time was brown/black/dark. This time: ?

Suggestions? There is an embarrassing website of horrible family photos, awkward poses, silly mathching outfits. We are trying to avoid being nominated for that honor.