My strong Mama!

My mom had both her knees replaced today. It was a decision that was not reached lightly. She has been in pain for so long that we have encouraged her for a while to take the plunge. We just hoped it would change her quality of life, and of course it was hard for all of us to see her in pain.

The surgery went well, better than expected even, but I cried all day. I cried thinking of my dad and sisters there in the waiting room without me. I cried thinking of my mom under the knife. I cried most of the way through the boys at gymnastics, and having Landon there in the big boy preschool gymnastics for the first time did not help my already emotional state.I tried to be discreet with my tears, but I am sure the other moms were thinking, ‘Seriously? Girl you need to get out more!’

Carter’s coach awarded him with a trophy for how hard he worked today. He was given special instructions to ‘Spit shine it every day and put it by your bed to remember how hard you worked to get this.’ Now, that really got that tears flowing. Just kidding. I was dry by then.

As a minuscule tribute to my mom on her surgery day and in an attempt to feel closer to her, I went to 4 different nurseries looking for geraniums. My mom always plants the most beautiful pots of mixed flowers, but she always has geraniums somewhere. I finally found some, and my hunt was worth it. They were a beautiful fall coral color. I knew my mom would approve. My hunt with 3 kids lasted until dusk, but I couldn’t wait to pot them. I planted by porch light while my kids made oatmeal for dinner. (Oatmeal would have been a better choice, but I went with a chocolate bar for my dinner instead…in honor of my mom, of course!)

Something that I have always admired about my mom and dad is that they ALWAYS leave things better than they found them. They are always up for a project and one of the first questions they ask when I pick them up from the airport is always, “So, what can we do to help you while we’re here?” They are both extremely talented at playing extreme makeover home edition, and I love being the recipient.

When my parents visited last February, they decided to make my back porch a little retreat that I could enjoy. We went and picked out some beautiful glazed pots, flowers to fill them with, and two super comfy swivel rockers and a table for my back porch. My dad also put together the new grill that I had gotten Damian for Christmas that had been waiting for some love while it sat in the garage for a couple of months. Voile! A beautiful cozy retreat and back entrance for our family to enjoy. I have the best mom and dad! Please keep them in your prayers!

Election Day!

Last week when I was cuddling with Eden before bed, she told me about the mock election they had held at school that day. They were given the presidential candidates and each got a turn at the computer to cast their vote. She told me she voted for “the boy and the girl one.”

Eden had forgotten their names, but asked me if her vote would really pick our president. When I told her she had to be at least eighteen to really vote, she was disappointed. In our discussion that followed, I realized that she was much more interested in the political process than I thought given her boy/girl response. She wanted to know what the candidates names were, their differences, and how they could be so different and both believe they could make our country a better place to live. I was really surprised as she kept firing questions. I don’t know if the curiosity was spurred by not wanting to go to bed or genuine interest, but either way I was impressed.

When she had heard enough, I told her I was proud of her interest in the world going on around her. She responded that she really wished she could vote now that she knew more.

I recently read an article in Family Fun magazine (love that!) about a mom who held an election day at their house to help her kids better understand the process. I presented the idea to Eden and her eyes lit up. She started listing things we could vote for and wanted to run for president of our house for a day. After a week in the making, election day at the Vest house finally arrived.

Carter was also game for running for president. This morning we had a mock presidential debate. I was laughing my head off when Carter came down in his slippery shorts and a t-shirt with a clip on tie carrying a Book of Mormon. Eden was panicked she couldn’t find her glasses like Sarah Palin’s to go with her outfit, but I think Sarah would have approved of her chosen professional attire.

I so wish our video camera wasn’t fried. It was so cute to listen to them get into our questions.

As president, what is the first thing you will do?

Eden: “Well, making sure everyone goes to High School Musical 3 doesn’t

count, does it? No, I would go out and help people. I want to get to know people.”

Carter: “I would spank Landon’s bum if he got candy without asking, and then I would let everyone vote first. Then I would be a missionary and teach everyone about Jesus.”

As president of our house, what rules would you have?

Eden: “You have to ask before you get something out, be nice to each other, and share.”

Carter: “You shouldn’t steal money, and you can’t take your pants off at other people’s houses.”

Why do you think we should vote for YOU for president?

Eden: “Because I think I would make a good president. I would help people be good and I would be a good example. I really want to see what it would be like to be in charge for a day.”

Carter: “I am cool. It would be fun.”

Here is the ballot that Eden and I created to use after their debate:

The results are in! With a 3- 2 vote, Eden was elected president of our house for the day. Here are the rest of the votes that she tallied:

Breakfast- hootenannies and smoothie, Chore- put clothes away, Craft- beads, Exercise- jump on the trampoline, Lunch- pizza and oranges, Activity- High School Musical 3

Dinner- taco salad, Dessert- Ice cream, Bedtime story- When I Serve a Mission, Song- I am a Child of God, Bedtime prayer- Carter

As president, Eden was in charge of making all these things happen. She did a great job creating an order and giving the boys the incentive of going to the movie when we got our other things done. She got a little frustrated when the boys wouldn’t listen to her, and I found it humorous how often she played the “But I am president!” card. It was a fun day for the kids and I enjoyed NOT being president of our house for the day.

Oh, and I have 2 things to add to my list of confessions posted yesterday.

6. I really liked High School Musical 3, despite all it’s expected cheesiness.

7. For some reason Landon has some infatuation lately with touching my 'girls'. This has really bothered me, and I wonder if it is just me or he’s copping a feel on any lady he can. Tonight I fear I learned the answer.

I had a hard time getting Landon to come out of the restroom at the theatre. He was distraught that there were no paper towels (only air dryers) to dry his independently washed hands. He started to cry, and a nice lady trying to distract him told him to wipe his hands on her. I thought she was joking, but apparently Landon didn’t. He ran to her and wiped his hands up and down her legs. No words...I couldn’t make my tongue form a syllable. I was just caught off guard and it was over before I could stop him from feeling up a stranger. It’s just a good thing he’s not very tall. All you can do is laugh, right? At least this time I am pretty sure his intentions were innocent.

ConfeSSionS...

1. We have a detatched garage. I have unsuccessfully attempted, ahem, several times to unlock the back door with my minivan remote. Word to the wise, deadbolts will not unlock with a wireless remote…no matter how many times you push the &*^%*)^ little button. However, it will most likely make you laugh out loud at yourself…again.

2. I enjoy Hannah Montana’s music. Sorry to disappoint you, Jen.

3. The kids and I have a dance party almost every day. See #2. However, Damian is usually NOT invited. I don’t like dancing in front of anyone over the age of 12, including my husband. Side note: I bust out my best moves when I am in the car or home alone.

4. I write things on my to do lists even after I have done them, just so I can cross them off.

5. I have never downloaded any music! Nope, never ever. But I do have a running list of songs when that day arrives. My taste in music varies from classical to love songs to country to R&B. When I am alone, my dial always finds non-kid friendly stations (or Jen’s CD mix) that bring out the ‘thug in my white girl body,” to quote my thug twin Becky. It also causes my ‘I am so cool’ facial distortions that come only when busting out my best moves. See #3.

pinkalicious...

I am the homeroom parent for Eden’s first grade class this year. My first assignment for the year was to collect donations for the theme Pinkalicious (based on the children’s book). The parents were asked to donate anything related to the theme, basically anything pink.

Thankfully, the parents came through sending donations in, and then I put them together in the basket that will be auctioned off at the school’s fall festival. Each class has a different themed basket, and all the profits go directly to the school. Last year the baskets brought in almost $3,000 for the school. Here is the finished perfectly pink Pinkalicious basket.

Houston's International Quilt Festival

Damian’s mom and Aunt Vicki came to stay with us again this week during their yearly rendezvous to Houston’s largest convention. Really, at over 60,000 attendees it is THE largest and I can attest that it's international as we sat with ladies from Australia and New Zealand for lunch. Kris and Vicki were at the George R. Brown Convention Center taking classes all week, and Eden and I decided to tag along with them on their last day. (That is, after Damian got home from his 12.8 mile run. Just because I typed that doesn't mean I am encouraging. Impressed, maybe a little. Encouraging? Most definitely not.)

I went a couple of years ago (to the quilt show not running...well, yep at least that long), but I forgot the magnitude of the show. The best word I can come up with to describe it is overwhelming. Anything and everything that has to do with sewing or crafting can be found at the show. Well, I guess things not so related like the hair removal thingamajig I got can be found there too.

I bought a couple of products that I was really impressed with. One was the Bonash 007 (bonding agent), another was Lickety Grip (conditions fingers for better grip & control), and my very favorite is…unmentionable because it just might end up under a Christmas tree near you. There were a couple that I wanted to buy, Fabric Organizers II & Art Glitter, but showed a little restraint. Definitely worth a look if you are into sewing or glittering though.

Last summer, Kris helped Eden make a quilt. Eden picked out all the fabric, did all of the cutting and sewing (with lots of patient supervision that I can NOT fathom…it must be a grandma thing), and even used a long arm machine to quilt it herself! Pretty impressive for a six year old! They wanted to bring the quilt to show it to one of the ladies at the Festival. Well, one turned into about ten different opportunities for different people to sing Eden praises.

Eden couldn’t keep the smile from her face as people told her over and over what a brilliant job she did. One thread manufacturer told her she deserved an award and gave her 4 spools of glow in the dark thread, another asked if we would let her put her picture on her website, another gave her a package of crystals.

The most impressive encounter we had was when someone insisted that she show the famous-in-the-quilting-world and has her own tv show, Alex Anderson. She didn’t disappoint. She followed suit making such a fuss over Eden’s quilt. She told her she would be famous someday and to stick with it. Of course Eden had no idea who these people were, but she felt so S.P.E.C.I.A.L. nonetheless.

We quickly covered aisle by aisle of the convention center and made our way to the actual quilt display. It is hard to understand all the thought, preparation and time that go into these quilts. Some of them I sat in awe of how they were created. $10,000 was awarded for the Best of Show quilt, which looked like it could sell for more than that. My favorite was the quilt made by three sisters of themselves. (You can click to enlarge.) It was a great day, and I am so glad I left my to do list, piles of laundry, and stacks of clutter at home and took a day just being inspired by the creativity of others.

hAppY hAllOwEeN!.!.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Dad's Night

Wait. But those are pictures of Mom, Brother and Sister. Yep. I get to add Dad’s Night to my list of life with a husband in school and working full time, along with being totally outnumbered during dinner and bedtime at least 200 nights, being the lone chaperone at birthday parties, and cleaning up at least 3 toilet and 1 sink floods, among other things.... At least he will be home tomorrow night for Halloween! Last year he had school.

Having Dad gone so much makes us appreciate him and all he does for us that much more. He is such a wonderful husband and father! It is because he IS so helpful and fun when he is home that we miss him so terribly. At the same time, those are the same reasons that even though the past year and a half has been nothing short of craziness bordering insanity, I have no problem supporting him going back to school to get his MBA. Babe, just promise me that you are not toying with the idea of furthering your education with any additional degrees. I don’t think I would be able to be as supportive. Scratch the think part. I am actually pretty sure it would push me over the edge and make you way too educated to hang out with me anyways.

Damian really hated to miss spending the one on one time with Carter tonight, but he had a dinner program in Port Arthur for work. Carter was NOT happy about it either. He was totally bummed, and he made it known that he didn’t want me to take him. It is times like these that I just wish so badly that we lived close to family! Damian called and talked to Carter into letting me take him, as long as he promised that on Mom’s night Dad would attend. My husband, the salesman.

So, the whole family, minus the dad, went to Dad’s night. It was a little weird to be there with all the dads and grandpas, but refreshing to see so many solid families supporting their kiddos. It was fun for me to be able to see what Carter does a couple days a week. When we got there he had to ‘sign in.’ They teach them to write their name correctly by having them trace a laminated copy. Then, he has to wash his hands and find his name stick on the counter and put it in the cup when he’s all clean. Clever!

This was the picture that was on the bulletin board when we came in.

Carter told me that he drew him and Daddy at the movie theater

watching a really cool boy movie.

The first station of choice was the snack table. Boy loves his food! They made ‘Cowboy Cookies’ (graham cracker they put chocolate frosting and peanut butter on). Then Carter showed us the centers. I was really impressed with all of the different kinds of activities they had set out for the kids to rotate through: listening, science, art, reading, sensory, along with the typical preschool playthings. One of the boys’ favorite centers was pounding golf tees into a pumpkin, and of course Eden liked the art.

We also rotated through music, and ‘Enrichment.’ Carter and Wyatt had a great time building Landon into a box with the waffle blocks. We headed out right before chapel, but Carter wanted to stay. That’s a good sign too. After watching Carter tonight, it was obvious that he has lots of friends, teachers who like him, and that he really enjoys being at school. That is just what a Dad, I mean mom/brother/sister, needed to see!

Sad, but true.

You know you are a worn out mother of 3 little munchkins when you roll out of bed, brush and floss your teeth like crazy mad, rush to the dentist’s office to get to your appointment five minutes late, and sigh with relief as you realize that you are ALONE. It doesn’t matter that you are about to be drilled and poked. (Insert add above. Hmmm...looks like somebody needs a new marketing supervisor. ;) ) The solitude is refreshing. One hour with no one asking where something is, yelling ‘mom’, and one morning of not being in charge of the rush to make the school bus. Fantastic.

Before they call me back, I think of my Sara’s trip to the dentist and find myself laughing out loud. I hope she doesn’t mind me sharing, but I literally almost wet my pants when I read it. (It doesn’t take much after having 3 kids OR when you are 19 and in Paris on Valentine’s day. Long, too embarrassing to tell story, but I know Sandra and Carrie are laughing.) Even if you haven’t checked the child-birthing box off your list yet, you just might find yourself wetting your own pants. So, back in the waiting room, I take a moment to relish in my memories and enjoy the tranquility.

After she calls me in, the hygienist lays my chair back and asks me if I would like a magazine. What? Someone making ME comfortable and offering ME brainless reading material that I thoroughly enjoy? I’ll take it. As I am reading about J.Lo surprising her husband with a fancy 40^th bash and being relaxed by the easy listening music faintly playing in the background, I had to stop myself when I actually wished I did have a cavity so that I could have another ‘appointment’ with Dr. Crouch.

Wait. What? I have always hated the dentist, and honestly would much prefer a trip to the gynecologist, which wasn’t much higher on my list but it beat out a trip to the dentist if I had my choice. The drilling and scraping inside my head is what created my previous dentist hatred, but that’s all gone now. The dentist brings serenity to my life as a busy mother, and score one more point for me when I actually ended up with one cavity. Ah, I must go back.

Now that I managed to cover peeing, child birth and the gynecologist in two paragraphs, I will move on. I am wearing a sweater today…ta da! What makes that even better is that it is super cute, if I do say so myself. Think ivory, chunky, and classic yet funky with three big buttons. It was originally $80 on clearance at the Talbots outlet for $15. It just got cuter after you read the last part, huh?

The chill in the air every year causes me to mourn for the loss of sweaters past. After living in Wisconsin for 2 years and going to college in Utah I had had it with the cold. In an attempt to rid myself of the days where I had to don long underwear and two pairs of pants or find myself covered in hives from head to toe, I gave all my toasty warm sweaters away.

Good riddance until I moved to Houston. Here I don’t have to wear them for their practical reasons, just to sport something besides my black sweats when the weather cools. (a.k.a. My ‘Triple Threat’ sweats. My sister informed me that the three pieces of my black sweats are not appropriate to be worn all at the same time due to the nature of all three pieces being a little too blinged out.) I wish I still had some of my cute sweaters, but I will suck it up in my cute new one and

welcome fall...ya'll!

my new habit...

When Eden got home from school today, I braved Costco with all of my ‘helpers.’ This is after we had been to Party City, Children’s Place, Garden Ridge, and the park. I knew I was pushing my luck, but they were great. It was in the middle of the store that I realized I had picked up a habit. Good or bad is yet to be decided.

Of course all the kids wanted to walk, which I knew would be a trial of my patience, but I said a little prayer and told myself I asked for this. I went about my shopping as quickly as possible. When I stopped the cart they all scrambled in different directions so they could make sure that their fingerprints canvassed the entire warehouse before we moved on. It didn’t matter if they were checking something ‘cool’ out (their current adjective of choice), having walking backwards races, or trying to get me to look at one of the hundreds of ‘cool’ toys they think they needed, when I was ready to go, I would just whistle and they would follow me to the next stop on our Costco list.

Yes, it’s true. Apparently I have resorted to whistling at my children. Whether this is so I don’t get confused trying to match the right kid with the right name, so I can sound so ‘cool’ that all the other parents around look at me like I have gone mad, or because I feel somewhat like a sheepherder at times, I now whistle and they know they have been summoned. I don’t know when I started this, but it must have been a while ago since they are now trained and know there will be consequences if they don’t come when they’re called.

Obviously, I’m not sure how this all started, but I think I have a good thing going. It makes for less yelling on my part and more brain for me to try to focus on what I am doing. The downside, some might say, is that I treat my children like animals. Although that might seem accurate, I would have to argue that they kind of act like animals. And since we are going with that analogy they are house-broken, immunized, and well-nourished little pups that I love the snot out of. Ew. Shouldn't that count for something?

I guess it’s better that I’ve developed a whistle instead of some other animal call. Ha! Imagine me pushing my cart down the aisle at Costco screeching like a monkey. Oh, better yet, barking like a seal. Now, that would really give people something to look at. Is my whistle really that bad?

My Carter...

Carter and I snuggled up during quiet time today. We had just finished reading When I Became a Pirate, one of Carter’s favorite stories. I think I have documented several times how much I adore my 4 year old son’s big heart and soft chubby cheeks. I will be so sad when the day comes that he gets whiskers. Such a shame! I intend to get my fill now. So, I put the book down and found my favorite place to nuzzle my head next to his.

After a minute, he looked at me and said, “This is my most favoritest part!” I thought he was talking about the book, but when I asked him what he meant he said, “When I get to cuddle with you during quiet time!” Well, melt my heart and call me swooned! I wrapped my arms a little tighter around him and drifted off to sleep with a big smile spread across the expanse of my face.

I woke up with a kind of grossed out feeling when I realized that I was laying in drool. One of the blessings of motherhood is the assurance of the daily encounter with some kind of body fluid. As I sat up I was even more grossed out when I realized that I was the one that had been drooling. Nice one, mom. Hopefully, the big spot I left on his shoulder will dry before he wakes up. Sorry, Bud. At least I am the one who does your laundry.

As a mom, I sometimes feel guilty for always saying “No.” “Put that back.” And the classic, “Maybe you can ask for it for Christmas!” When we were checking out at the store after a string of these reprimands, they asked for a box of “Hot Mama’s” (Hot Tamales). They had been good. Translation: we only had to stop once to use the bathroom and we hadn't broken anything that I was aware of, so I caved. It helped their cause slightly that I am somewhat fond of the spicy chewies, and hearing them say "Hot Mama" until the movie sized box has been devoured is an added bonus.

On the way out to the car, they did something naughty. Not so naughty that I can even remember what it was, but naughty enough to make me mad. Once they were buckled in, they wanted some Hot Mama’s. I told them they already had one. (My joke every time they ask for this particular candy. Hilarious, aren’t I?) Of course, they weren’t thwarted by my humor. Being the good mother that I am, I stood firm in my decision that they would have to wait. Being naughty means you have to miss out on treats for awhile, right? So they waited…a whole ten seconds to ask me again…and again…and again…and again. For the love! By this point I was flustered with the stupid hot mama’s and their impatient naughty fans.

Me: “If you ask me one more time, I will throw them out the window!”

Carter: “You know you won’t throw them out the window mom, because a police man would come and pull you over, write you a ticket and take you to jail for throwing trash out the window. Dad would be mad at you.”

(Busted.)

Me: “Then I will just give them to someone else.”

Carter: “No you wouldn’t because they probably don’t want them or even like candy. Maybe they would even be allergic to them, and if it was a stranger they wouldn’t take candy from you.”

Me: “Well fine, maybe I will just eat them all myself!”

(Ha!)

Carter: “No you won’t because if you did your body would be full of sugar and you wouldn’t have room in your tummy for healthy things. Then you wouldn’t have any energy and you would get a fat tummy.”

Darn cute smart kid.

WHITE FLAG!!! WHITE FLAG!!!