Good gravy ... it's been so long since I've blogged.
I don't even remember what I've blogged about last. ... Let's go take a look .... Oh, okay.

So, since Michael's become a REAL Engineer (as opposed to an Engineer-in-Training), life has picked up a bit.
Now, just to make it until Friday (payday ... and when we find out if the kids passed this bout of swim lessons ... but I'm getting ahead of myself).

Let's see ...

• We went to OMSI and saw the new Narnia exhibit (you've got until September to see it).
  It was cool to see a lot of the props and costumes from the movies. And there was a bit about climate control (since that's what the White Witch was doing, really. Pretty overtly).
  We also tried to do a tour of the submarine, but they said we were too late.
  When I got home, it SAID on the website that the tours actually went late enough that we were in time for the last one. Oh well. It was a long enough day.
  Only made longer by the WONDERFUL Portland rush-hour traffic. *gags*
• The kids started swimming lessons. They're having a lot of fun with them. And they're doing a WHOLE lot better than last year.
  I don't know HOW MUCH, EXACTLY, is due to the fact that they aren't rotating through teachers like last time (and we were warned that this would happen when we had signed up last year) and how much is due to their current teacher, Bob, and the fact that he's AMAZING.
  (The man is an EXCELLENT teacher. That was obvious from just a few minutes into the first class. He's got it all down pat -- he knows how to listen to them ... and how to get THEM to listen to HIM.)
  And I've enjoyed chatting with the other two moms of the other two kids in the class.
• We went down to visit family this last weekend. FINALLY saw Nana (it's been a couple months, iirc. Eeps). And we went to "Art in the Park" as we like to refer to it. I bought a pair of earrings (which broke this morning. Oops. They were only $6, so it's not TERRIBLE. And I'm pretty sure I can fix them easily). ... Then we stayed with Mom and my stepdad. Then we swung by for a visit with Dad and L. And made it home to play our Lego Harry Potter board game. (Bruise LOVES it. We've played it at least 4 times in two days.)
• Got the Savior of the World audition results. I'm one of Mary's (many) aunts. No real lines, if I recall. Just "SHHHHHHHHH!!!!!" a couple of times. And some songs. No solos. Nothing too crazy.
  My Bri-Bri is Mary, so that's really cool. ^_^ And there are tons of great people in the cast, so it'll be fun to do. The summer vocal rehersal schedule given, though ... may be a little problematic. Since it conflicts a LOT for Bri and my summers. (She works. We've got some family obligations ... all on my side. ... So .... yeah. Hopefully things will all work out. ... But I was upset enough about it that a load of dishes is in the dishwasher and all the crap's cleaned out of the car.)
• Got some new tires on the van. Not ALL of them. Just replaced the bald ones. Which is important, since, y'know, I've got those family obligations to be at.
  (And really, I'd be P.O.'ed to miss my cousin's wedding because a tire blew.)
• Michael and I celebrated his birthday by using our movie theater gift cards (and Mom C watched the kiddos) and watched X-Me: First Class. And we liked it. (And I liked that we got a Cherry Coke. Yum. ... I also snagged us free popcorn. And the balance on my gift card (from last year) was enough to get us a box of candy). Good times.
• Mom and I took the kiddos to a Summer Reading Program --- a Chamber Music quartet performance. About Aesop's fables.
• I ordered books yesterday ... and thanks to the gift card from Mom and Dad C for my birthday (yeah, I am bad at using gift cards right away. But I do use them! And love them!), I got three books shipped for only $0.23 out of pocket. I was pretty darn happy! Now Michael and I will be able to finish reading the Uglies series (Scott Westerfeld).

In other news, Bucket snuggled up to me as we were playing the board game yesterday, and sweetly told me, "Mom, I love you. ... Even when you're stinky."
"What?" I gasped. "Are you telling me that I smell bad??"
"But I still love you," she simpered.

GEE. THANKS.

But, today, we had a good time hanging out at Costco while they put new tires on the van (and rotated the back [old, but good] tires to the front).
For what it's worth, the cheese pasta with lobster is REALLY GOOD. ... But I still don't know what lobster tastes like, really. But THAT was yummy.
And Bruise has learned that he DOES like salsa (even though he wouldn't even try the orange chicken. But he DID have a tiny bite of the pasta. So that's progress).

Also, also, my allergies seem to be back again. Crap. I'll have to start taking my fake-Zyrtec again. Since my nose is itching like CRAZY.

I'm sure that I've left out stuff. Oh well. But I think that I've gotten MOSTLY caught up now.

I can haz naptime, plz???

(Answer: NO. U can haz making-fudz-time, slacker.)
*sigh*

Bruise's Career Goals

I was chatting with Bruise, who came in while I was getting a shower.

Me: Hey, Bruise?
Him: Yeah?
Me: What do you want to do when you're a grown-up?
Him: ... Um ... Be a policeman.
Me: Okay. Cool. That'll be good. ... Are you going to go on a mission first?
Him: Yeah.
Me: Where do you want to go?
Him: To the desert.
Me: Cool! So, just like Daddy, then, huh?
Him: Yup.
Me: What are you going to do on your mission?
Him: Feed the lizards.
Me: Oh ... okay. What are you going to feed them?
Him: About Jesus.

Then I realize that I've misheard my son ... TEACH the lizards, not FEED the lizards.

Me: ... Really? Okay. Do you think that the lizards already believe in Jesus, though?
Him: Just a little.
Me: Okay.

So, I've got a little St. Francis wanna-be on my hands. *lol* Nice.
Can't say that I really blame him, though.
When I was around his age, I remember being QUITE. PUT. OUT. that I couldn't bring my cats to church. It seemed a little species-ist to only allow HUMANS to worship.
Though, some people do have allergies ... so I guess that animals just get to meditate on their own. :P
(That and animals are here to fulfill their measure of creation ... so they don't NEED all the teaching that we do. That's nice. I mean, even J. Golden Kimball testified that there's no reason why animals shouldn't be in Heaven. ^_^ ... "Since there are enough horses' [bottoms] going, why not your horse?" is rather the sentiment he expressed. :P)

So, time to finish getting ready for church.
Obviously, Freyja can use this quiet time for reflection. ... And, if she's so inclined, I have my scriptures on my nightstand for study. ^_^


**********Edited to add: The teaching the lizards is actually from Michael. When we told the kids about his mission, he had joked that he taught the lizards in the desert. ... And the kids thought that was HILARIOUS.
And it's now their lives' goal. :P

So, like as it's said in Into the Woods, "Be careful what you say, children will listen."

Why I love my husband

As I was about to start reading a story to the kids before bed, I was left waiting for Bucket ... So, I started to act like I was reading ... in hopes she would hear me and hurry back.

Once upon a time, I started, there was a baker and his wife. They yearned for a child ... More than anything in the world...

And Michael deadpans, Because they didn't know any better.

Bruise laughed. Because we were laughing. And Bucket, as she returned to the room wanted to know what we were laughing about.

My husband rocks my socks, y'all.

Mah kiddos

My children make me laugh.

We've talked about how Miss Bucket has cute buns. She does. (And terrific running form! She didn't get that from me, either!)

She comes back down the hall, interrupting my reading to adamantly declare that Bruise does NOT agree that she has a cute butt.

I told her, "Hey, he's your brother. He's not SUPPOSED to think that you have a cute butt. It's cool."

Later, Bruise is looking out the window.
I ask him, "[Bruise], when did you get to be so handsome??"

"I'm not handsome. I'm CUTE."

"But when you're older, you'll rather be handsome."

"Then I'll be handsome AND cute." He replied.

Bucket, not to be outdone, surmised, "Handsome, cute, and CRAZY."

Yeah, I do love those kiddos.
They're my crazy-heads.

And they got to go to HomeDepot this morning to do their first free kid's craft there.
So they now each have their own HomeDepot apron. ... Which they got to wear as they helped Michael and I mud the seams of the walls in the bathroom.
Happy birthday, Michael!
(He's gotten a passing score, to cut the grass, to mud the walls ... and I bought him an air compressor as an early b-day present. Mom and Dad C got him a gift card for the movie theater and a nice shirt. Mom's present will arrive in a few days. ... And we need to get him to ColdStone Creamery for his birthday ice cream. Yum. ^_^)

Now I start to LIVE again!

Okay, I'm not sick anymore.

So You Think You Can Dance is back on TV. YAY!

Michael bought me those Popsicles that I was CRAVING (What a GOOD husband!!!)!

... And, after I worked out on the Wii Fit (Third time this week! I skipped yesterday, since I gave blood), I took a shower (I NEEDED IT, y'all. It was a NEED). I got out, put on lotion ... I was still in a towel when Michael came barreling in and swung me in a hug (which, to be honest, is [1] not quite in his everyday character ... he's my Stoic and [2] is not the easiest feat, since I NEED to work out. Just sayin'.) ...

And that excitement is because ......


MY HUSBAND PASSED THE TEST!!!!!!
MICHAEL IS A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I CANNOT USE MORE PARENTHESES, BUT THEY ARE IMPLIED!
*SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!*
*HAPPY DANCE!!!!!!!*


No, really, after I got into my underoos ... after I called my mom as Michael called his boss with the good news, then I posted it on Facebook while he called his folks, and I said a very fervent and not-so-coherent-with-an-overbundance-of-ecstatic-joy prayer, I did partake in some jumping up and down in joy.
(Thank goodness for a supportive bra. :P)

We have been PRAYING and FASTING and PRAYING and PRAYING some more ... and, oh, our prayers have been answered!!!!
Really, in some of my latest prayers, I've been all, "Heavenly Father, I just want you to know that after all the prayer and fasting we've done, if he doesn't pass the test this time, my testimony will be a little shaken. And I DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN. So, please, please, please, please, please, PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE let him PASS THE TEST. ... Please? ... Because I really, really, really, really, REALLY want him to pass this time. Please? Okay."

So, I don't have to deal with a crisis of faith.
I get to enjoy the wonderful knowledge that God hears and answers our prayers (sometimes not in our preferred time frame ... but it happens. Eventually. Thank goodness.) AND to have a stronger testimony of the power of prayer and fasting. Because I'm (FINALLY) getting better at fasting.
Phew!!!

(Now to get GOOD at making a habit of studying my scriptures. And praying in whatever time I can make for it. Always good to have a few goals, right???)

But YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is such a huge relief ... after waiting for TWO MONTHS for the results. And it's good news this time!!!!!
He did it.

I mean, really, since he took the test (the day before my birthday), this NOT KNOWING has been LOOMING OVER us. EVERYDAY. And we've been checking the mailbox ... hoping for good news, DREADING bad news.
But that is ALL OVER!!!!!!!!!!
THANK GOODNESS!!!!!

I mean, really, I'm all " Praise the LORD!!! Let's burn some incense! Break out some Gregorian chants!"
I mean, I know that I'm thankful ... and dang it, I want EVERYONE to know, too! Because this is a GOOD day. This is an AWESOME day!

• MICHAEL PASSED HIS TEST!
• I worked out. Again!
• I'm not sick anymore!
• I have Popsicles!
• SYTYCD!!
• Did I mention that I got Taco Pizza?
  Well, I did. And it was good. Yum!
• The kids are healthy!
• My mom's healthy ... well, with a relapse last weekend. Stupid Bronchitis. But she's doing better. Phew!
• I got to snuggle with my newest niece for, like, an HOUR on Monday.
  And I did AWESOME, if I might be so bold, in calming her poor little self down.
  (Really, Happiest Baby on the Block techniques are a good thing. BELIEVE ME. As a mother to twins, I used them. A LOT.)

This is GOOD! This is WONDERFUL!

Oh ... as a bonus, I got compliments on my latest (self-given) manicure TWICE when I donate blood yesterday.
I have a base of China Glaze "Treehugger" (metallic lime green) topped with a couple coats of "Fairy Dust" (fine iridescent glitter). In case you REALLY wanted to know.
(I finally changed the flaking-off pedicure from a few weeks ago. Now my toes are sporting "Lemon Fizz." It's such a fun, sunshine yellow. It makes me happy. ... And I did three coats. Just to make sure it didn't look like I had weird, stained toenails. :P)

Life is really, really, really good right now.
Yay.