In Which I Tell One Story, So I Can Tell You Another Tomorrow (or whenever I get around to it next...)

I have an app on my phone that keeps track of my periods.  I don't really care if you think that is more information than you needed.  If you think that is bad, you should stop reading immediately because it's going to get worse.  This blog post is full of information about me you never cared about before (and probably won't after you finished reading if you choose to continue down this path with me).  With this app, all I have to do is type in the day my period started and ended.  Then, over time it can calculate for me when the next one will start and I don't have to keep track on paper.  It's nice. I love it.

My periods are very regular.  Very. Regular.  The app tells me my period is going to start on a certain day, and it does.  Or the day before.  Or it starts the day after that, no big deal.  I can handle that much inconsistency.  Even two days late is tolerable.

On February 5th, as I went to bed, Kurtis and I were talking about something sort of related.  I gasped, picked up my phone, opened up the app and realized with horror that I was three days late!  My heart fell into my stomach and started to dissolve.  I absolutely did not want to be pregnant.  I mean, I'm 34.  Kaleb is nine years old.  I've been done for nine years.  Pregnancy is not something that my body deals with well.  All my babies were small and all of them had to be monitored closely toward the end of my pregnancies, they didn't like labor.  It truly is a miracle they are all here and all healthy.  So many things could have gone wrong way back then and now I'm old!  I figure I am pretty much guaranteed that all the things that didn't go wrong back then, will go wrong ten years later.  I don't think I really got to sleep that night.

But I tired not to panic.  I tried to go about my day like nothing was wrong.  Kurtis said he would try not to get excited and he didn't want me to take a pregnancy test until I waited longer.  I told him that if I hadn't gotten my period  by Saturday when we went grocery shopping, I would be buying a pregnancy test then.  He still didn't want me to get one then either.  He's weird.  I wanted to know then.  I wanted to get out of bed, get dressed, and run to the drug store.  Granted it was probably like one in the morning, but still.

Friday, I went out with my bestest friend Nicole and she wanted me to go buy a pregnancy test and take it while we were out together.  By now, I was entertaining the idea of having another baby.  What if it's a girl?  That would be really cool.  But we'd have to buy a new car and we have no baby stuff, so it would be like having my first baby ever.  There was a lot of waffling.  I was trying to be positive.  I've never been more than five days late before, so it had to be true.  I was telling myself this would be a new adventure.

Saturday, I got my period.  So no baby.  The mixture of relief and sorrow was pretty confusing.  On the one hand, I had to grieve all over again for the little girl I never had and never will have.  On the other, I was relieved.  I really don't want another baby.  I really enjoy the stage of life we are in right now.  It's beautiful to get to sleep.  It's beautiful to watch Zach go off to Scout camp, and to see Riley loving being one of the smartest kids in his class.  I love hearing Kaleb's jokes.  Sure babies are adorable and I really love them.  Babies are my favorite actually.  It's really easy to make them happy.  And I get to see a lot of pictures of my friends' babies on the internet, but my kids do awesome things, too.  Life is full of phases or seasons and I am ready to be in this season.  This is where I belong.  And it's finally my turn to do some things for myself and not only be focused on the wonderful children God has blessed me with.

There's Blood In the Water

It's Sacrament Meeting Art Day!  Here is my latest crayon drawing, and the reactions of my children as this one is a little graphic.  Have a wonderful and spiritual day! ;)

Sacrament Meeting Art #9:  February 23, 2014

This is a depiction of Ammon cutting off the arms of the Lamanites.  I'm not very good at drawing people.  Kaleb thinks this piece is cool because "It has blood in it."  But he didn't know the story, so I had to tell it to him after church.

Riley thought it was a blood sacrifice until I told him it was Ammon.  Then he said, "Ooooh.  It's cool."

Zach said, "It weirded me out!"  When I asked why he said, "It's just not something I thought you would ever draw."

Kurtis thinks it is hilarious because it is a pretty graphic children's drawing.

It's my favorite story in the Book of Mormon.

In Which I Reveal Something My Mother Will Think Most Unacceptable

So it has occurred to me that there is a photo album on my facebook page that not all of my family have access to.  That's not fair.  So I'm also going to post it here, too.  My grandmother reads this blog and she loves seeing the things I do, too.  So Grandma, Mom, and Abby, this is for you.  You will have to check back each Sunday as it is my goal for the year to make one each week.
If you are my facebook friend, you have already seen these and I would like to thank you for bearing with me on this.  Oh, and also for being my friend.  Hugs!

I call this photo album:

"Sacrament Meeting Art (2014):  A Weekly Series"

And this is the description I posted about the album:

"It's pretty hard to pay attention to the speakers in Sacrament Meeting sometimes (your mind can wander), so to help myself I've decided to use my crayons and draw a picture each week. I have crayons in my church bag because I teach the 4 and 5 year olds in Primary before Sacrament Meeting. I usually finish each picture before the closing song. But not always."

And so I have begun an art series.  The medium is crayons.  I hope that makes you giggle.  

 Sacrament Meeting Art #1:  December 29, 2013.  A cat in a tree.

 Sacrament Meeting Art #2:  January 5, 2014.  This piece was not completed until January 12, 2014.  It's called "Jesus' Baptism".

 Sacrament Meeting Art #3:  January 12, 2014.  The Nephites sail to the promised land.

Kaleb said I should put people in the boat so I did.

 Sacrament Meeting Art #4:  January 19, 2014.

This is the tree in Lehi's Dream.  Kaleb said it is the tree of knowledge.  Riley said it is the tree of life.

 Sacrament Meeting Art #5:  January 26, 2014.

"Noah's Ark" or "Stormy Waters".

 Sacrament Meeting Art #6:  February 2, 2014.

This week's piece is titled "There Is a Green Hill Far Away".  Yep.  After the hymn.  We sang it in church today and I imagined what the hill might look like today (I have no idea and think googling it during Sacrament meeting is inappropriate).  The city wall and road to the right.  The wind blows the grass and a tree has grown where the cross once stood.  A reminder of life after death.

 Sacrament Meeting Art #7:  February 9, 2014.

I asked Kaleb what I should draw today.  He said, "Daniel in the Lions' Den."  So I did.  I don't really like the way his beard turned out, but crayons can be difficult to work with.

Sacrament Meeting Art #8:  February 16, 2014.

This is just a sun set.  But you can try to analyse it all you want.  ;)

In Which I Find Romance Elusive On The Most Romantic Day Of the Year

Well, my mom likes my hair, so I can finally say I did something that made her happy.  Hee hee.
Last night, Kurtis and I decided to go out for Valentine's Day.  We were supposed to go try a new place, but he was afraid it was too far away from the movie theater we had tickets for (it wasn't).  Instead we went to a burger place called The Habit Burger Grill.  It was insanely busy, and we were pretty lucky to get a booth and not have to sit at the tall communal table.  Kurtis hates the tall tables.  I think eating with people I don't know is weird.  The burgers were good, but I would not say the place has a romantic atmosphere.  After we were done eating we had an  hour to kill before the movie, so we wandered around Farmington Station.  We stopped in a store called It' Sugar.  It has huge candy in it.  Then we stopped in at Claire's and I tried to see if there was something I could get my niece for her birthday.  Kurtis did not really help much, or offer his opinion.  He just acted like he didn't want me to spend any money.
Then we went to the movie.  We saw Winter's Tale.  It is a beautiful film and I enjoyed it quite a bit.  It wasn't perfect though.  The ending felt strange - rushed a bit.  Like it could have ended sooner, or just wrapped up differently.  I don't know how to explain it or how to fix it, so I'll just say I want to read the book now!  I'm actually excited to read the book.  I bet there is so much more to be revealed in it.
When we got home, the kids had eaten quite a bit of their cookie.  But that's okay.  I still got a piece and there was plenty left over.  Kurtis and I exchanged gifts, too.
I picked out my present.  Kurtis ordered it for me.  It was a case for my Kindle (that I got for Christmas - spoiler for when we time travel back to Christmas, sorry).  I hate it.  We'll be sending it back.  It's an ugly red and I don't like the way it fits in the case, and then I can't open it after I close it.
I got him the Daft Punk album and a new white shirt for church.  He also told me he really wanted me to get him new underwear, so I did.  I just put the Daft Punk album at the bottom.  I told him there was more in the bag.  Then he found his card with a caramel heart attached (I gave one to the kids, too).  He thought that was all, so I said, "No, there's still more in there."  "What?  There's more?  Where?"  "Keep looking.  It's at the bottom."  He was very excited, and wasn't expecting that part.  He knew about the other stuff (which I hate), so I had to throw in something unexpected.
Daft Punk is Kurtis' new obsession right now.  He really likes them.  It's not my favorite genre of music, so I'm being pretty supportive.  ;)  And that Get Lucky song really gets stuck in my head and I hate that.  I don't hate the song, really.  Well, I kind of do.  But I do hate it being in my head.  There are better songs out there.
I showed him the video of the Russians singing it at the Olympics and he's been way into the band ever since.  It's fine.  He doesn't get all excited about things very often, so when he does, it's weird.  I guess I love him though.  It's pretty cute.

Look.  I took some pictures on my phone:

 Our dinner.  It was yummy.

 The fountain is really pretty.

 And romantic.

The theater.  I like Station Park.  We should go there more often.

In Which Love Is Mentioned More Than Once or Twice

Do I hate Valentine's Day?  Um... No.  I've seen a few haters out there today, though.  So here's my two cents about why Valentine's Day is awesome.
February is the worst month ever.  Seriously.  It's still winter and we are all sick of it by now.  Snow is keeping us from being able to run outside and live with abandon.  Or, if you live here, it's been a pretty rainy month so far.  I love the rain.  I do, but I'm so tired of the horribleness of February.  We are desperate for spring to grace us with its presence.  A person can only take so much cold and darkness.
So why not celebrate a day all about loving others.  That's right.  I say Valentine's Day not just for couples.  It's for everyone!  Everyone loves someone.  I love my family and I love my friends.
Riley came home from school just now.  He gave me a white carnation that was left over from some science experiments he was doing today.  He told me to put it in water that we dyed red so it will turn pink in a few days.  Now he's sharing his Valentine's candy with me.  That's love.  I'm serious.  I don;t remember sharing my Valentine's candy with anybody.  I ate most of it before I even got it home.
Valentine's day is about candy and chocolate and cards and parties.  We focus too much on the need for a lover on this day.
I know, it's easy for me.  I have a lover and three kids.  All the things that make Valentine's Day fun.  If you don't have those, Skype your mom, or your nieces and nephews.  Or even just go out with a bunch of your single friends.  Today is about having fun and bonus!  It's on a Friday this year!  Woo hoo!  And if none of those things are possible for you today, then do something for someone else.  Donate to charity.  Volunteer at a boys and girls club, or just give that homeless guy $5.  Everybody wants to be acknowledged.  But sometimes acknowledging others is all it will take for you to feel amazing.  Let's all try to spread a little love.

 The carnation from Riley.

 We got a good deal on a GIANT cookie for the boys.

I'm excited.  They're excited.

This is the box it came in.  It made me smile.

 Kaleb got this valentine from one of his classmates.  He said as he laughed out loud, "It's creepy! The smile with all those teeth is creepy!"

 Oh and this happened, too.  It's darker than I wanted it.  I wanted to go back to my real hair color.

Maybe it will fade.

Riley's reaction when he walked in the door:  "You died your hair!"

Me:  "Yep. Are you upset?"

Riley:  "No, you just didn't say you were going to dye your hair, so I wasn't expecting it."

Me:  "Do you like it?"

Riley (shrugs):  "It's alright."

Kaleb didn't say anything and so I asked him if he noticed anything different about me today.

Kaleb:  "Yes.  You died your hair black"  It isn't black, it's supposed to be a medium brown.

Me:  "Do you like it?"

Kaleb:  "No.  I like your hair red better."

Zachary (when he walked in the door):  "You dyed your hair black!?"  And slammed the front door shut.  

I don't know what that means.  So I asked him:  "Zaaach!  Do you like my hair?"

Zach:  "Yeah.  It's black."

Kaleb:  "I don't."

So I texted Kurtis.  "Do you want to see how my hair turned out or do you want the surprise?"

Kurtis:  "Sure, let me see. :)"

I sent him the picture above.

Kurtis:  "Hey, you're gorgeous. :)"

Me:  "You like it?  All the boys have been shocked and Kaleb says he hates it."

Kurtis:  "Yeah."

I'm still not sure how I feel about it yet.

 These are the valentines I made for my family and grandmas.  If you haven't gotten yours yet, you will.  It's in the mail.

And last night, was a Stampin' Up! workshop and we made these!  I designed this card.  I found the directions for how to make the box on Pinterest, but the way it is decorated is my design as well.

*Update:  Riley just whispered in my ear that he does like my hair.*

In Which We Time Travel To October 31, 2013

I need to go back in time and relive the past.  Not far.  Just to HALLOWEEN!  What the what!?  I did not blog about my favorite holiday peeps!  Nor did I blog about Kaleb's birthday, or Christmas.
So these next few posts, I'm going to do just that.  We'll see how good my memory is, or if I am prematurely going senile.
So, Halloween was on October 31st.  As usual.  The kids had their costume parade as school.  Kurtis took the day off, and came to watch it.  I have it on video, but let's face it.  You don't care.  I know you don't.  Don't even try to lie.  That vlog thing I was doing?  I haven't vlogged in awhile.  I plan to do it some more, but it's haaaard.
Any way.
Kurtis kind of ruined Halloween for me this year.  He told the kids they had to come up with their own costumes and that I could help, but I shouldn't be expected to make their costumes for them.  So the kids did nothing!  Duh!  They would do nothing unless I did it for them!  That's what moms are for!  Right?
Not really.  But Kaleb wanted to be Naruto and Riley wanted to be Saske.  I was totally all about helping them with these costumes, but then Kurtis said that and I really think they thought he meant they had to put their costumes together themselves and that I couldn't help.
Then my mom showed up in September with a couple of race cars my uncle made for his kids probably about ten years ago.  They were awesome and in pretty amazing condition.  Now that they've been in my house for less than a year, they are not in such great condition.  Kaleb decided that he wanted to be one of the race cars.  Great.  Kaleb's costume was done!  Mic drop.
Riley decided he wanted to be a creeper and use Zach's creeper costume from a few years back.  Riley's costume - BAM! Done!
Zach said he wanted to just be a wizard and use the King Arthur cape I made him when he was in sixth grade and had to do a wax museum for school.  But he wasn't allowed to wear his costume to school.  Jr. High sucks rocks.
Halloween arrives and the two younger ones wear their costumes to the parade.  I take them home so they don't get ruined.  Halloween night arrives.  Kurtis takes Kaleb out.  Five minutes later, he is back again.  The costume wasn't working, and Kaleb was having trouble with it.  He was in tears.  I dressed him up like the devil in one of  Zach's old costumes from a few years ago.
Riley, Zach, and their friend Chris take off together to hunt for candy.  Fifteen minutes later, Riley comes back home.  His costume is also not working.  The back keeps coming off.  Kill me now, please.  I throw him in a black robe and put black face paint over his eyes.  He's Death.  Now get out of the house, so the trick-or-treaters can get their candy.
They had a really awesome and successful Halloween, though.  I love that day.  It's the best.

 My front porch.  I think I finally took down the Tardis door in November.  No, it was early December.  When I decorated for Christmas.  Mostly because it was falling down.  But Kurtis was also all like, "So when are you going to take that down?" or "Don't you think it's time to take that down?"  The party pooper.  I wanted to put a wreath on the door and take a picture, but the magnet I usually use to hang my wreaths wouldn't hold the weight of the wreath through the plastic table cloth.  I was bummed.

 Kaleb's pumpkin.  The boys all decided to do pumpkins from the book series called Warriors by Erin Hunter.  They love those books.  This one is from the Shadow Clan.

 My pumpkin is hypnotized by my good looks.

 Zach's pumpkin is the Thunder Clan.

 Kurtis likes to keep it simple due to his carpel tunnel.

 Riley's is the River Clan.

 Kaleb's first costume.

 Aaaand his second costume.

 Riley's second costume.  The hood is his white hoodie.  Zachary wouldn't let me take his picture (the jerk).  Wait.  Maybe I forgot to take them before they left.  Whatever.  I wouldn't do that.  But I don't have Riley in his other costume.  Hmmmm.  Yep.  I forgot.

 Front porch in the dark.  Wooooooo!  Creepy!

I hope every body had an awesome Halloween!

In Which I Give You Another Reason To Hate Me

So I never told you this, but I have started another blog.  I've been really good about letting my Facebook friends know when I have posted on it, but I have never mentioned it here.  Maybe I should have.  Oh geesh.  I'm sorry.  But don't feel obligated to read it either.  It's just for fun.
I used to write a lot.  Then I don't know.  Life happened.  I'd rather not get into it.  But all those years I worked to become a proficient writer have been wasted because I am no longer that proficient of a writer.  At least, I really don't consider myself to be.  So I was lamenting this fact one day, on Facebook - I think.  I'm not really sure anymore.  Anyway, not important.  My sister suggested I start a poetry blog.  She meant that I should start writing again, but I didn't have any new material.  I decided that it could be fun if I shared all the poetry I wrote when I was fourteen, fifteen and all the way up into my (two) college years.  Then I could remember what I wrote about before and transition into writing again.  I figured it would help me to start over - in a way.  Because let's face it.  Most of the time when I sit down to write, I'm like:

So go check it out.  Here's the link to the first post which explains the purpose of the blog a little better.  I posted it on November 25, 2013.  I'm also considering changing the title of the blog.  You can leave suggestions in the comments if you want. I was thinking "Crappy Poetry."  But Kurtis said that wasn't very nice.  You'll be able to get to it on the sidebar once I put up a link.  Which will be a couple hours after I finish posting this.  I want to make a cute button to go with it, and I'm not sure what I want yet.