Cambrie's First

It's hard to believe that this sweet little baby is already a year old. What a fun 12 months it has been! We celebrated her birthday on Saturday (yes, I am slow posting) with cake, pizza and the movie "UP." (She didn't stay up for the movie but we enjoyed family time with Grandma Kerr on Cambrie's behalf.) We sure love this little girl and cannot even imagine our world without her in it!

Master, the tempest is raging

I just realized I never posted about our adventurous trip to Washington DC a week(+) ago. We went for the sealing of Greg's sister's family. We also happened to go the weekend of a monumental and historical blizzard which almost shut down the temple and literally crippled the city for days. (Who knew DC normally gets as much snow in a SEASON as they got in 24 hours on December 18-19th?)
All-in-all, miracles truly did happen and the Beard family was sealed for Time and All Eternity on December 19, 2009. We were grateful to be a part of it.

Thank you

Merry Christmas

Yeah, Yeah...I know, it's a day late. The cards still sitting on my counter are a constant reminder. But, I am out of stamps...and excuses. It is what it is. We hope you had a great day and that you are enjoying the holidays.

Losing a tooth

Tower City

Visiting Tower City in downtown Cleveland during the holidays is a hit-and-miss tradition for us. (Is there such a thing as a hit-and-miss tradition?) The first time I went was when Greg and I were newly married and living in Utah. We'd come out for Thanksgiving and went down to see the lights and the soldier with his family.
We missed a few years living on the East side, but have tried to get down there these past few years -- mostly thanks to Jennie and Ted who plan it and then invite us to tag along.
That is what happened yesterday. Greg was at a meeting all day and I just wasn't sure I was up for taking the kids down to the crowds and chaos after Addysen's soccer game. The kids talked me into it however, and we survived thanks to Jennie and Ted's willingness to help keep track of everyone. It was fun -- although disappointing that Tower City didn't have many of their usual decorations (including Bruce the Talking Spruce) on display.

*This post will be more interesting when I can get blogger to accept my pictures. LAME*

I shouldn't have.

Greg is out of town. It's been a busy week and I haven't been home with my kids at bedtime for three days in a row.

So, tonight, I decided to forgo "me" time and stopped at the redbox after a lovely 1.5 hour adventure with Kenzie and Brynnley at Walmart.

Time for a chick flick. I invited Addysen and Cannon to watch with me if they wanted.

Granted, I'm way behind the times. "Marley & Me" came out quite a while ago (was it one year or two?) But, in my defense, I was warned that I shouldn't see it. You see, our yellow lab, Kerrdog, looked an awful lot like Marley. We got him as a puppy - from a farm -- probably to fill some void when having children wasn't happening on our timetable.

It was a love/hate relationship from the beginning. Mostly love...but there were moments...
Sadly, I distinctly remember attempting to take him for a walk one day -- only to end up giving him a kick. He was so excited about the walk, I couldn't get the leash on, he jumped up and scratched me -- and in the process knocked over and broke a planter on the front porch. So what did I do in my frustration? I gave him a little kick. I then bawled my eyes out wondering, "What kind of mom will I ever be if I can't even control a dog? If I get this mad at a dog...how will I ever make it as a mom?" It was a sobering thought.

Oh...the memories.

I'll spare you... most of them.

It's not like the movie is even THAT great. But it sure seemed to parallel my life in many ways. The job changes, the moves, the miscarriage (***IF you haven't seen the movie and don't want it spoiled - stop reading NOW.), the love of journalism and writing, the snowball fights, the "clean-up," chasing the dog down the street (in my case, I was 8 months pregnant when he escaped the fence and roamed the neighborhood--oh the name-calling.) the highs and lows of marriage and parenting...all with the beloved, obnoxious dog along the way.

So much like my life.

And even the death. Kerrdog died a traumatic death -- his stomach flipped and there was nothing to be done. Even if we'd caught it earlier - he was too old for surgery. He died in the car on the way to the hospital.

Sigh...

I don't even consider myself an animal lover. An animal-liker, maybe...but I'm not extreme.

I haven't bawled during a movie for a really, long time. But bawl I did tonight. As did Addysen and Cannon. (Addysen's friends that are spending the night got a little choked up as well - but they likely thought we had lost it altogether.) I quickly shooed the girls downstairs after the movie as I could tell Cannon was really struggling to keep his composure.

Whew -- that movie hit a little too close too home. I should have heeded the warning of our friend...but I certainly didn't expect that much emotion after 2.5 years.

I guess life's just like that...suprises all along the way.

Giving Thanks

*Pilgrims by Brynnley - age 6

Chain of events

THIS...

LED TO THIS...

WHICH LED TO THIS....

THE STYLIST DIDN'T AGREE WITH MY DECISION TO NOT CUT IT ALL OFF...BUT I JUST WASN'T READY TO SEE IT ALL GO.

Here's My Why

Strange body parts

Kenzie: "Oohh...what is that on the back of my arm?"
Me: "Where? What are you talking about?"
Kenzie: "That thing.What is that on my arm?" (Twisting and turning her arm, trying to get a better view.)
Kenzie: "Oh, Maybe it's my elbow. Yeah, it's just my elbow."

FIVE

That is how many times I have swept the floor already today.

Today's debate

Today's debate was a tough one.
I was pretty sure Cambrie might be developing an ear infection.
Granted, my medical degree is self-imposed, but some of the sure signs were there. (I'll spare you the details, unless, of course, you are my sister who is expecting baby #1. Then, I'll fill you in...should you so inquire.)

Cambrie is normally an angelic child. Seriously. If I could trademark her personality, we could retire. And we'd be wealthy. She's that good....and happy. (Yeah, yeah, I know that one day she'll be THREE and I will be eating these words. But for now, she's pretty close to perfect. And since I'm her mother, I am allowed to think that.)

That's a really long way of getting to the point. But, given that she's cried more in the past two days than she has in the past two weeks...well, it was a good indicator that she wasn't feeling so hot.

Enter: THE DEBATE.

Do I take a possibly sick child, and two healthy children, to the doctor's office where I expose them to heaven-only-knows-how-many-germs-including-but-not-limited-to-H1N1?? I don't want to live my life paranoid (which is why I find myself avoiding most media outlets these days. And this -- from a journalism major. Go figure.), but I don't want to be stupid either.

The sad, crying child won out...so we hit the Urgent Care while Cannon was at scouts.

Turns out, all magazines and toys have been removed from the waiting room. Purell lurks on every countertop. Signs are posted on every wall warning that sick patients should notify medical personnel immediately if they are exhibiting or have experienced flu symptoms.

Kenzie dropped Cambrie's blanket on the floor and I jumped to grab it as if someone was about to scald the poor child. Ok, not really. I was going for dramatic effect in my story-telling. But, I did feel more on edge than normal. Like there was something there just waiting to attack or hurt my kids. I really wanted them to be in a bubble.

Lucky for us...we had the room nearly to ourselves AND we were in and out...with ear-infection diagnosis and prescription in 40 minutes. A record to be sure.

We picked up Cannon and stopped to get something to eat. I told the girls not to share the same straw. (I'm too cheap to buy everyone their own drinks so we always share. Sorry if that is gross -- but it's way more economical than 4 separate and wasted drinks. We are a large family and we come into contact with each quite a bit.)

Then we went to Giant Eagle to fill the prescription. While there, we grabbed some much needed items (Hot chocolate and toilet paper. We can do without many things...but not these). On more than one occasion, Kenzie ended up or sat down upon the floor. (Tripped once, sat down and pouted once, picked up a penny, dropped her sweater...) Gross. Yes...at any time, it's gross to come into contact with the floor of the grocery store. But, in the midst of the H1N1 paranoia and flu season? C'mon...work with me child. Have we not discussed germs ad nauseum?

Amdist my reprimands and voiced frustrations, we discovered the Clorox wipes were on sale - 4 for $10. I instructed Cannon to grab two in lemon scent and two in lavender scent. His response? "Since when are you a clean freak?"

Deep breath. I tried not to be offended by the fact that apparently, prior to now, my 9-year-old son had no knowledge that I care about things being clean and sanitary. Has he not noticed that I don't step foot inside his room any more than necessary? Does he not wonder why he is told EVERY SINGLE DAY that he MUST change his socks and underwear? Does he think I insist they do their chores because I like the sound of my own voice repeating the same instructions day after day after day....?

Clearly, I've dropped the ball somewhere.

Sigh.

The kids are now in bed. Cambrie started her medicine and is sleeping like the little angel she is. I just scoured the kitchen counters with Clorox wipes and bleach. Cambrie's blanket and Kenzie's sweater are in the wash. I'm too tired to mop the floors. They'll have to wait until tomorrow...at least. The microwave has been signaling that my hot chocolate is ready for about 20 minutes now.

Drink up. It could be a long winter.

Random thoughts during my self-inflicted torture

In no particular order, here are some random thoughts from my self-inflicted torture...AKA: Spinning With The Crazy Lady.

*My face is probably as red, if not more so, than that lady's bandana.

*She obviously is not an accountant because she certainly can't count very well. Every time she says, "just one more minute," or "we've only got one more song," she continues on and on and on -- well past one more of anything.

*I wonder if they make goggles for spinning? I certainly could use something to keep the sweat out of my eyes.

*I wonder if this sweat could count for precipitation? or condensation? It's certainly not evaporation...I guess it's just simply perspiration. (I had helped Cannon review for his science test prior to going to the gym.)

*Since my hair is soaking wet, I should have just brought shampoo with me. It would save me time at home.

*We all know money doesn't grow on trees. But, what was I thinking when I ate those three 100 Grand bars last night? Do I think 'If I eat it, it will come?" (I really could use S100,000) Greg would call that 'low-calorie' logic. Unfortunately for me, those candy bars probably weren't low-calorie....and eating three of them (mini or not) was certainly not logical.

*How can she say, "It's time to get in the game," when I am already exhausted? Perhaps I should inform her that I seemed to have lost the game about 15 minutes ago. Get in the game?

*Looking up, I see her raising both arms to the sky and pumping her fists in the air -- all while I am thinking, "Does someone need to spray their bike? Seriously, make that squealing stop. Oh wait, Is that ME wheezing? Or is the guy next to me?"

*As she yells out, yet again, "Get in the game...you've only got one more left," I think, "Maybe she's on drugs."

Flashforward to this morning:
In honor of the day, we dressed as Gluttons for Punishment and went back today for the Halloween Special. It was a 90 minute spinning adventure full of jumps, endurance, speedwork, intervals, hills and not one, not two, not three, but four fun-filled sprints.

It was a pre-emptive move. Knowing that four out of our five kids would be coming home tonight with sacks full of candy, it only made sense that we try to do something to combat the potential weight gain. So, we went back. For more sweat. More wheezing. More quad burning and more random thoughts.

At one point, I must have been hallucinating. As the instructor talked about "feel that mud underneath your tires. It's thick, it's mucky and you've got to get through it," I started thinking about our Mormon ancestors. The Pioneers who crossed the plains in 3 feet of snow with no shoes on. Seriously. Don't get me wrong...I certainly wasn't comparing my spinning adventure to what they went through. No way. Just crazy random thoughts. I'm pretty sure that thought was followed by, "good thing Greg knows CPR."

And, "I wonder if there is a way to recycle sweat?"

At some point during Bon Jovi's "Livin' On A Prayer," that is exactly what I was doing: Living on a prayer. As Jon and the boys belted out, "OHHH, We're half-way there, OHHH, LIVIN' ON A PRAYER," I was thinking, "Yeah, and my prayer is that I won't fall off the bike and that I won't choke on my water or spit it out while gasping for breath."

The fun (?) continued. For a good hour and a half.
And then....it was done.
Just like that.
We were sweaty (drenched is more like it), and smelly and a little shaky, but overall...good.

So, we did what anyone would do after a highly energizing and heart-pounding workout.

We went home and took a nap.

Talk about a thriller

Greg was in his element -- as you can see. Unfortunately, he had Jennie's kids so terrified they may never want to come to our house again. I didn't post a picture, but he had a giant speaker in the front yard - blasting Halloween music. If I never hear "Thriller" again, it will be too soon. We heard it all the way down our street and well into the next neighborhood.


Although she'll never admit to it, the title I gave Addysen's costume is quite fitting. She is a DRAMA QUEEN.

Let me show you a thing or two...

Two parties down, school parties to go...and then Halloween. Good thing we all went to the dentist last week.

What to do?

Apparently, we have a HUGE spider lurking in the basement.
At least, that is the info. I gathered from the three screaming children who were so terrified of the CREATURE that they nearly tripped all over themselves and each other in their effort to get out of the danger zone.

I have seen hand gestures indicating the size is somewhere between that of a tennis ball and softball.

Grrrrreat!

Being the good mom that I am, I didn't run downstairs to check it out.
Nope, not even with the Raid and 15 foot vacuum hose.
If the reports are to be believed...that bad-boy inhabiting our basement is WAY out of my league.

Nope. I didn't go down.
Instead, I texted Greg at work and said, "Time to exterminate inside and out. The kids are terrified and refuse to go downstairs. Of course that means I'm not going down either. :D"

Smart man that he is....he responded back with, "OK."

Yet, herein lies my dilema...I NEED to go down to the basement. Our food storage and separate pantry are down there. Our extra refrigerator and freezer are down there. We made cookies earlier and I ran out of brown sugar. No luck thinking the kids would have forgotten about "IT." Even Kenzie refused. (We made due with just a little less brown sugar than the recipe called for.)

I am making pizza for dinner and need some cheese. If I want that smart man to come home and take care of the spider -- wouldn't it be nice to greet him with steaming hot pizza right from the oven?

Probably.

And yet, in order to accomplish that goal...I need the extra cheese that is downstairs.

See what I mean? A true dilema.

Michael Fatali - Eat your heart out.

Our little piece of Heaven on Earth.

Helllloooo Laundry.

The best cheerleader of all...can't you just see excitement oozing from those baby blues?

Everyone had VERY strict instructions that under no circumstances were they to walk across my freshly mopped floor with their shoes or socks on.

This was taken prior to them all stripping down to their underwear in the garage. What can I say? I didn't spend 4 hours cleaning yesterday only to have it all undone in one mud-filled morning!

Showing off the oh-so-lovely dust collectors...I mean, trophy's.

Today was the last day of Fall soccer. In the Spring, the league tiptoes around the soccer fields. They cancel games for a drop of rain...or so it seems sometimes. (Which, is actually fine by me because I don't love sitting out in the rain trying to watch while holding an umbrella and a baby.)

Come Fall, however...it's rain, snow, sleet, sun...or any combination. (And, during any given day in Ohio - all of the elements are possible.) Unless there is lightening -- the kids play. We've had more than our share of cold and rain during the past 8 weeks...and more than our share of hot chocolate while we sit and watch.

Today was no different. Attending the games is truly a family affair - -one that I am always more than happy to share with Greg when he is not working. Cambrie did NOT love wearing her snowsuit and hat. Kenzie DID love running through the puddles of rain and mud. Brynnley just always seems to enjoy it all - -unless it is pouring and she's freezing. (That was the case 2 weeks ago when she swore off soccer forever.) Addysen and Cannon love most aspects of soccer -- except when it is TOO sunny and they get too hot.

As for me...I like the sunshine and blue skies kind of days.

I certainly could pass on the laundry that results when playing after days of rain.

Which reminds me, it's time to start another load of wash.

Round two for Cannon's pants...coming right up.

Sis. Lowry

It was with sadness in our hearts that we attended Sis. Jean Lowry's funeral tonight. She died suddenly of a heart attack last Saturday at the age of 64. She had served in the Primary for many years and was currently serving as both Addysen's and Cannon's teacher. Needless to say, her passing came as quite a shock.

Just last month, the kids came home from a primary activity with a bunch of clothes, games and other items that Sis. Lowry had given them. My last conversation with her before she died was in the bathroom (since I spend a good majority of my time in the bathroom at church, this seems to be where some of most heartfelt conversations take place!) She thanked me for the thank you card the kids had written and decorated. She said it really meant a lot to her and she appreciated their efforts sending it. How glad I was that we didn't procrastinate that card...unlike so many others.

Recently, I passed around a volunteer sign-up sheet asking for help with our December Enrichment (or whatever we're supposed to call it now.) Not to take anything away from the many, many, women who signed up and offered their help and services...it was interesting to note that Sis. Lowry was the only person who volunteered specifically to help clean-up. I appreciate everyone's willingness to help and her example has been a good topic of conversation with my kids this week.

Tonight on the way home, a teary-eyed Addysen said, "I didn't think I would cry so much. And, I would like to grow up to be like Sis. Lowry. People said some really nice things about her."

We didn't know her well, but she touched our lives for good...and for that, we'll always be grateful.

We've got ourselves a president

Addysen and Cannon were thrilled to report that Addysen won the election. She will now serve as the Student Body President for the 2009-2010 school year. It was an exciting day around here -- topped off with not one, but two trips for ice cream to celebrate. (Greg got home earlier than we anticipated - and didn't want to miss the celebration. So, even though I had already treated the kids to ice cream, Greg grabbed his mom and treated again. We firmly believe in loading our kids with sugar just prior to bedtime!)

If you've got some good ideas for activities, services projects, spirit days, etc....feel free to send them our way.

A new record

For the first time in conscience memory....

I turned the HEAT on in September.
Granted, it's the last day -- but in my mind...that is only a minor detail.

Ridiculous...YES. I KNOW.

HEAT in SEPTEMBER....has the world gone completely mad?

Are the BOLD LETTERS letting you know just how strongly I am opposed to this idea?!?
It was truly painful. (I think the fact that feeling returned to my numb hands contributed to the pain.)
With the wind, rain and high of 50 degrees today...I just couldn't stand it. Trying to work was challenging, given that my work requires typing and my fingers were at stiff as popsicles.

And of course, the rudolph-like noses that the girls and I had also contributed to the decision.

Turning the oven on and setting the dinner rolls on top -- just to try to get them to rise -- also a contributing factor to the decision.

Seriously though...Mother Nature...let's go back to the weather we had a week ago. (Remember when I said, "if the weather would stay like this...I would tell EVERYONE to move to Ohio? I promise, bring back the 70's, sunshine and blue skies and I will spread the word that Ohio is THE.PLACE.TO.LIVE.)

Greg assures me it's going to warm up a bit. I sure hope he's right. I dug out my slippers today (yes, my slippers - a permanent accessory for me from November - May) but it was painful. I'm not ready to trade in my flip-flops and shorts.

For those Westerner's reading this...I don't want to hear that you are still running your air conditioning or swimming in your pools.

I really don't.

On the campaign trail...

Addysen is running for Student Council president. She (we) spent the weekend decorating posters and t-shirts. Tonight was Speech Writing 101. (I have to say (and yes, I am biased) that even though only in 5th grade, her presentation skills are already better than some of my former SUU Comm 101 students).

I've been having flashbacks to many years of poster-making and speech writing. It's kind of strange doing the same things with my daughter. Hello, 18 wasn't that long ago, was it?

Cannon ran for class representative and unfortunately lost by one vote. He was pretty bummed about it -- but is already talking about, "next year." I'm just proud of them for trying.

The speeches are Thursday morning, with the election to immediately follow. Keep a happy thought for us.