Ode to being 29

When I was about 16 I or so-ish I came across this song. Love it.
Now you must listen to it now that I am 29.


"There's no intention worthy of mention if you never try."

Thank you. That is all.

How it's Made

How it's Made (http://science.discovery.com/tv/how-its-made/)
is one of the kids' favorite shows, it's cool, we all like it. If you don't know what it is, seriously, go watch an episode. It is fascinating and mesmerizing. I mean seriously, who hasn't wondered how a shovel is made, or why the old fashioned chewing gum is pink?

There is one drawback...
VERY long explanations from my kids on anything from what a conveyer belt is to why she wants to be covered up at night.

While driving home one day I heard Olea and Zurich talking in the back seat. Olea was telling Zurich something and he was interjecting with his ideas about robot arms (there was an episode on such a thing). Olea was trying to get him to be quiet so she could hear herself and finally she gets around to saying that "it goes from one conveyer belt to another WITHOUT a robot arm." Stupidly, I pipe up, "Do you know what a conveyer belt is?"

For the next 7 minutes I am lectured by my 7 year old on what a conveyer belt is and the many ways it can be used. If I had wanted to interject, I couldn't have; I don't think she even stopped to breathe.

I hear them often playing, "how it's made" and I delight in it because the cogs are turning.

So the other day on the way back from the library I should not have been surprised to hear Zurich shout at me from the back of the van, "Hey, Mom, look! It's How it's Made guys!" But I was, and I still think him clever.

And it makes me laugh as I reminisce that 4 years ago when we moved to our first house my oldest, who was 3 at the time, used the word "builders" the same way Zurich uses "how it's made guys." They use it like "builders" was used in the movie City of Ember. Like an unknown entity, but also an unstoppable force.

Iris

This morning I sent Olea off to school with an Iris. While this may seem insignificant to most this was reminiscent for me. Last Friday Olea came home from school saying something about it being her teacher's last day of school and that she graduated that day. Olea was very excited about it and wanted to bring something for her teacher when we got to our house she saw that the white iris's were blooming and asked if she could take one to her teacher. I told her that if she remembered and was early enough (this is a problem) she could give one to her teacher on Monday.

This morning Olea was wasting time shutting her brother in the coat closet instead of getting her coat and shoes on. So again she was pushing it to the late end.

When she finally sat down to put her shoes on she started freaking out, "My flower! You know those white flowers that grow in our garden, you know the little garden out front, not the really little one but the bigger little one? Well the white flowers that are alive, I like those ones, the white ones with the lelow inside and you said I could give one to my teacher for her last day of school this day. So can I pick one?"

I lie not. This is how she talks. It takes FOREVER to get to the point and with other little ones and a husband that needs attention too, it gets quite exhausting and quite frankly I often tune her out. If that little quote is in anyway misrepresented, it is that I left something out.

I was irritated by this point because she was going to be late and if I took the time to cut off a flower and package it like I know.... she would certainly be late.

However, as annoyed as I was, I couldn't deny her this.
Why?
Because I remember in elementary school, when the end of the school year came around and the iris's started to bloom I remember my mother cutting off an iris or two, wrapping the stems in a wet paper towel and putting it in a plastic bag tied off with a rubber band. I remember walking to school in jacket weather with the sun just peeking over Flat Top carrying my precious irises to my teacher.

So this morning I took the time to cut off an iris, package it and send it off to school with Olea.

15 year old models

No.
not people.
You know, the models you put together when you are a 10 year old boy.
Gary had a bunch.
Many of them died in storage.
Some of them survived.
Gary's parents brought them down on one of their visits in the last few months.
Some of them I harvested things off of (like wheels and mini airplanes) I have plans for those.
Gary was going to let Zurich play with them all but I had an idea so I nixed that (besides Models aren't exactly safe toys, as evidenced by a nice scratch on Nev's face and a gnash in my own hand from catching one that dropped).

Zurich especially likes helicopters and there was a large one that was only partially finished. At the time we just put it back in the box with the ones I elected to save.

They were in a box in the storage area off of my studio so Zurich would get bored of "paintin'" and start whining for one of the objects in the box. It was really beginning to be a problem. So I was thrilled when Gary just brought up the box and decided to finish putting together the Apache helicopter that has been unfinished for at least 15 years. I got out my thread and some hooks that I had Gary pick up a few weeks ago. The kids used paintbrushes to dust off the old models while Gary put the last pieces on the Apache.

Gary joked while he put the Apache together that, "I don't have the patience to do this anymore. I'd rather mindlessly watch TV."

Then we hung them all up on the hooks I'd installed. It looks pretty cool... aside from the flying coyote. But Zurich likes his "dog" so it stays. His room, not mine. And for the record, all I did was make the bed for the picture. Zurich is a very careful boy with his beloved toys. They take turns in the place of honor on top of his bed. Zurich loves it and it's fun to watch them fly as the air moves them just enough.

Zurich is actually a very clean (so far) little boy and takes really good care of his toys.
But also for the record, Nev is not so clean. Here's what real life looks like.

Writer Rabbit

There was a game, it was probably old even when I was little, called Writer Rabbit. It made me
laugh. It was all sorts of writing exercises one was mad lib type. I find myself using or thinking a
phrase that the game put together out of one of the mad libs I filled out, "Out of the dark past." So,
out of the dark past I am looking for my game.... thankfully my little brother is the best resource
for things like this and he has located it. Can I contain my joy? Silly, I know. Now its just a matter
of him sending me an EXE file.

High school tag...

I read Amber's and considered myself tagged since she said, "everyone." I enjoyed the fact that she went to the trouble to post our "friends picture."

Senior Year vs. Now

IN YOUR SENIOR YEAR DID YOU...
1. Did you date someone from your school? Yes
2. Did you marry someone from your high school? NO, thank goodness no
3. Did you car pool to school? does a bus count? I also walked a lot too
4. What kind of car did you have? I don't claim a car. I borrowed my parent's so rarely... and can't remember if it was the Volvo or the Saab or which one of them, the silver, or the tan or the red or the blue... so I don't claim, because it wasn't constant enough to remember.
5. What kind of car do you have now? Mazda Protege and a Mazda MPV (2006)
6. Its Saturday night...where are you now? hanging out with hubby and the kids, playing games with friends while our kids play together
7. It is Saturday night...where were you then? hanging out with then boyfriend probably watching Iron Chef with his fam
8. What kind of job did you have in high school? I worked in a Screen Print and Embroidery Shop I did screen printing and quality control, shipping and receiving
9. What kind of job do you do now? I am a professional Mom. eheheh I play games,
make crafts and treats, cook and clean, teach and build block towers for the kids
to knock down. I also do Graphic Design and Photo Editing.
10. Were you a party animal? No
11. Were you considered a flirt? I doubt it.
12. Were you in band, orchestra, or choir? nope
13. Were you a nerd? I prefer artist
14. Did you get suspended or expelled? no
15. Can you sing the fight song? don't even know where to begin
16. Who was/were your favorite teacher(s)? Mrs. Burningham, Mrs. Johnson, Mr. Cottle, Mrs. Millecam... come to mind
17. Where did you sit during lunch? lunch room I imagine I can't honestly remember
18. What was your school's full name? Sky View High School
19. When did you graduate? 2001
20. What was your school mascot? Bobcat
21. If you could go back and do it again, would you? no
22. Did you have fun at Prom? whatever
23. Do you still talk to the person you went to Prom with? no, don't even know what they are up to...
24. Are you planning on going to your next reunion? maybe, my hubby enjoyed his...
25. Do you still talk to people from school? Yes
26. School Colors? blue and white, or gold
27. What celebrities came from your high school? ?

Where has my life gone?

Title here has a twofer meaning... Happy belated birthday to myself. Which is funny because we actually celebrated my birthday days before my birthday, due to the fact that Gary would be hunting the week of my big day. So, now it's over and I'm 26 ladeda. Did I think I would have two kids at this age? In some imaginings yes, and in some I didn't think I'd even be married. Where has my life gone? I wonder it more as I look at my daughter who is 4 and I see all the progress she has made and I think where has the time gone? It didn't slip past me, I think I have done a good job enjoying it with her but still life just keeps going and things keep changing. This is good, but it's also amazing.

Gary complained that I never let him surprise me for my birthday. Case in point: Last year I told him I wanted a cordless persimmon electrolux vacuum and if he didn't get it I was going to buy it anyway. So duh he got me the vacuum, he did thow in some surprise items from the kids. So this year I didn't have anything on my mind in particuar so he got to have his wish. He did a great job. He bought me a t-shirt that makes me laugh. I typically don't like shirts with attitude but this was just funny. You can see it on Snorg Tees. It's the light blue shirt with the lamp on it. If you don't get it you probably haven't seen the movie it is from and that's okay. The kids "got" me a gift card to Old Navy for clothes. Much needed. We had a little cake and ice cream while we were at his parents house. I got a puzzle and a puzzle storage roll from them. I like puzzels. I really do, so the storage roll was GREAT. I have wanted one, his parents know me pretty well. It was a good time and then the next day we had more cake at my friend's house in Orem. It was super cute she is a great cook but had never made Angel Food cake and she had one flop before a perfect cake, I guess that was like 24 eggs later or something. :) She really loves me. She also spent the week making me a quilt. It's super cute, purple with butterflies. I also like butterflies. Are these things news? Anyway I got a bunch of fun cards as well. Gina specifically, I laughed out loud, thanks. Olea also enjoyed it and carried it arround pressed to her ear while I steam cleaned the carpets (so she could hear it). She laughed because she also thought it said, Mustard where it says, " a lesson you must learn."I feel loved and now I'm over the crest of 25 officially. woot.

Since Gary's family had not seen the movie that my shirt quoted he and his brother decided to go rent it. But of course they had to go in style.... er something, they got all nerded out. Karate pants wigs, etc and rode thier mom's scooter into town to get the movie. They pulled it off, I couldn't have, I would have been laughing but they really had people thinking they were serious. It kills me Gary's bandana says MEXICAN. We were all laughing so hard. This is a side of Gary people who don't know him very well never see... One of the things I love so much. He really doesn't care what people think, he knows how to have fun.And for fun here is my little Lynus with his piano. Riding the train with Zurich. Olea in the train she put her chin on the burning barrel (not hot at the time) and got soot all over her chin. Grandpa was driving the train like a crazed lunatic, the kids LOVED it. of course.And the awesome Southeastern Idaho sunset.