Seven Random Things

I was tagged to post 7 interesting things about myself, but since I'm not sure they qualify as "interesting," I'll leave it at "random."

1. I never thought I would "live" in Utah. I was born and raised in Alexandria, Louisiana... and although Tyler's family thinks of me as "the yellow rose of Texas," I only lived there for a couple of years before we met. When we were in college, there was a commercial on T.V. about "livin' in Utah." Tyler would tease me and I would say, "I don't live here, I'm just visiting." I've been here now for about 16 years, but although there are some things I enjoy about this crazy state, it will never be "home."

2. I started having panic attacks when I was in 5th grade, but wasn't able to stop them until I was about 31 years old. The way I learned to stop them is through running and learning how to get to that "smooth" place. This has enabled me to run 2 marathons (and I will run a 3rd after I wean "Tucker"... yep, that's his name). I later found out that those techniques are also often called "hypnotherapy" and you can use them for other things like a pain-free childbirth, meditation, and a myriad of others. It's the best skill I know how to do!

3. I regret that I never learned to play the piano. Mama always told me I would when she let me quit, but I didn't believe her. I went on to learn a little violin, guitar, voice... you name it, but I never got good at anything. I'm working a bit now with my girls since there is often no one to play in our ward for things like Primary and Relief Society, but it's slow going!

4. One of the hardest things for me to do is work with money. I HATE making a budget (that puts me into a state closer to panic than anything else), filling out payroll reports, accounting sheets... anything to do with money is difficult for me. In the past year, I have worked on this a LOT and I'm doing much better (thank you, Dave Ramsey), but it is still a struggle.

5. I grew up without a T.V. We had one until I was about three, I think, but Mama was worried about the effect it was having on the boys. After praying about it, lightning struck the antenna and burned up the T.V. (how's that for an answer) and we didn't get another one until I was in high school. As a result, I think, I still read several books a week. I don't retain much, though, because I read them so quickly. In fact, sometimes I will get half-way through a book before I realize I've read it before. The only reason I am willing to admit this is because several other of my "reading buddies" have the same problem =)

6. I can remember the location of random objects. In fact, for "New Beginnings", when I went into Young Women, Mama listed "knows where it's at" as my talent. I always thought it was funny that she would consider this my best talent, but I guess when you are the mother of seven, it is a necessity. In fact, even after I left for college, she would call with questions like, "Do you remember where I put that book....etc." It's weird, I don't even remember that I have seen objects, but if I close my eyes and think... I know where they are. This has been put to use many times with the absentminded in my family, although I'm not as good at it as I once was. Savannah seems to have some of the "gift" as well.

7. And last, but not least... I am a neat freak. I now, you're all shocked by that one. I am constantly telling myself not to clean certain things (particularly in my current condition)... because I could literally spend all of my time cleaning up (especially with 4 other particularly messy people). It's not that I love cleaning, I just love the way things look when they are clean. The rest of my family thinks this is a real pain when we go on a trip because the whole house must be clean before we leave, and everything (including the car) has to be cleaned-up when we get back home. I think this also might be why my kids almost never get sick. In fact, about the only time the kids ever see the doctor is for their annual flu shots. Maybe I'm just trying to rationalize it. My two "best friends" of cleaning are Odo-Ban (if you've never used it... make a trip to Sam's Club, today) and my "Roomba" (who knew I spent so much time vacuuming... yes, I do it every day). The only "homemaking skills" I don't like are ironing and patching torn clothes.

Ode to Megan- our "Nanny" dog

(on her silk pillows- her favorite spot to relax)

So I woke up this morning to a screech and Megan's loud scrambling to get out of Oliver's room. She knows how to get out through the closet and the "secret door," but it does cause quite a commotion. I quickly realized that one of the smoke detectors needed a new battery (why is it that those things always run out in the middle of the night?). I knew the offending detector was not in Oliver's room, so I put Megan back in, and started my search. For some odd reason the red light on the detectors only turn red when the battery is dead... not dying, so it was no small task. I finally found the problem, it was in the room that will "someday" be my craft room, right next to the girl's room. I could hear the girl's talking, so I went in to reassure them that everything was okay. Guess who else was in there? Megan! She hadn't been trying to get away from the sound, as I initially thought. She was trying to make sure that her girls were okay. She was lying in bed with them, shaking like crazy, but "protecting" them, nonetheless.

It made me think of all the other crazy things about this dog. Like how she "chose" me. When I called Wasatch Humane, they told me that they didn't have any female Aussie's available, but they wanted me to come down and meet them, with my kids, so they could match me with a dog when one came. I went to the lady's house, but as I approached the fence, a scraggly dog came up to the gate. She didn't jump up or try to lick me, she just came up and looked at me. The lady came out and said, "I think you just met your dog." She told me that Megan had been promised to another family, but she hadn't responded to anyone in the couple of weeks that she had been at the shelter. That was the most response she had given to anyone... so she was mine. She looked so awful, but I couldn't leave her there, and I've never been sorry.

The day after I found out Mama was sick and I laid in bed all day crying, Megan laid in bed beside me. Every time she hears me throw up, she scratches on the door to get into the bathroom (even though she HATES bathrooms) and if she can get in, she nuzzles her head under my arm.

Or the funny things, like when she stole Dan's piece of pumpkin pie that he left on the coffee table, but left a half-eaten miniature Snickers bar she found in the girls' trick-or-treat bag. Or the brownie she took from Georgia's plate and left a piece of dog food.

As I remembered all of these things this morning, it made me feel almost guilty as I had to drag her in to the groomers. Almost... but she was stinky and I'm not up to bathing her! Even though Ollie says he's "gone get a cat when Megan dies".... we love you, you silly dog.

Check this out!

I never thought it would happen... but following in the footsteps of his other family members, Tyler has started a blog. Check it out!

If you only knew!

Since I'm on a roll now... after not posting for a while, I'll keep up the momentum. Two funny little things. Last night I was making a mad dash to my car since I had forgotten the milk in the car and I had dinner cooking on the stove and my neighbor said,
"Oh, looks like you are feeling much better." I just smiled and thought, "If you only knew!"

Oliver sat down at the piano, and, looking at the music, said,
"Let's see what we have to play. Hmmm... Larry had a Little Sheep."

I just want to squeeze him most of the time!

The most creative person I know.

Tyler said this about Emmaline the other day and I thought, coming from him, that says a LOT! So here is what she is working on these days. I still didn't get them perfect with the macro-lens, but it was either post them as-is or not at all. I think I have to go back to my old manual... I'm never going to be any good with a digital.

Don't you love the "noses?"

This "reindeer" is my absolute favorite.

The whole "collection." She says she is getting ready for a show. I'll update you on the details =)

Here is an excerpt from her latest school paper. One of the great results of her new medical regime is that she can actually spell most of the words. Her teacher has always really praised and encouraged her writing (even allowing her to write papers on subjects instead of taking a traditional test), but until recently, we had to have her "read" them to us to know what they said. When I asked her where she got the idea for the beginning line, she said, "I had to have something to get everyone's attention."

Snowy Owl

The snowy owl looks as if it is dead.

Unexpectedly it went gliding over to some dry leaves. It was prey. This behavior was very interesting. I wish I was an owl, but I am glad I do not have to eat rodents. Owls think rodents are a treat.

My links are getting bigger!

Check out all the Huntzingers that have jumped on the blog bandwagon. Now where are the rest of the Horns?

What did we do before Magic Erasers?

Last night, while I was cooking dinner, Oliver came to show me the "rocket ship" that he drew on his hand. Although it did look amazingly like a rocket, I was quickly concerned by the fact that it was drawn with a Sharpie. When I asked where he got the Sharpie, he said,
"I found it and come look... here's a rocket ship, and here and here...." and he proceeded to show me around the hallway where he had drawn rocket ships on the wall! Some of the squares on the wall were completely filled in with Sharpie. Luckily, it all came off with a lot of elbow grease and a Magic Eraser, but it made me wonder what we did before those ingenious little things!

What's in a name?

I realize I STILL haven't posted my kid's Halloween pictures, but it turns out I made a real mess of them and haven't felt well enough (big surprise, I know) to load PhotoShop on this computer (and Tyler is still in New York), so it will be a while.
Today I've been thinking a lot about this baby's name. It's a weird thing, with my other kids, by this point, I've "known" what they would look like and easily chosen a name that I thought "fit"... although Tyler usually tweaks them a little. I don't have a clue what this baby looks like and not a clue what he would "like" to be named. It's a real dilemma. Tyler feels like he can't feel like it's "real" until we name it... so I'm in a little bit of a crunch (although the big event is still 4 1/2 months away. He and Oliver want to name him "Tucker." I have always loved that name (it's my middle name), but I'm just not sure it's THE name. Especially since the name Tucker has also been given to one of his older first cousins (although there is a 20+ age gap). And since none of my other kids have been named "after" people (excluding Oliver's middle name)... I'm not sure I should start now.
I still love the names Harrison, and Fielding (but what would you nickname him?), and Quinton (although all of these are also "family" names). So one last time... what do you think? (And not Grundy... come up with something else, Matthew!)

Happy Birthday!

I'm late posting, as usual... but I couldn't miss this one. Saturday was Tyler's birthday! Here's our "prom picture" (from the 10th anniversary cruise).

Tyler is the absolute smartest person I know. I always tease that he is the trivia king... but he knows not only silly trivia, but something about just about anything! He is very romantic and looks for any reason at all to bring me flowers or write me notes. He is incredibly talented and has turned our home from a dump to a showcase with his own two hands! He is an accomplished artist (pics from his show in Seattle) and a shrewd businessman (who knew he was such a salesperson... I think he took secret lessons from Mama). Our kids adore him and I'm just glad he's mine! We miss you!

Mark your calendar!

We got a phone call a couple of weeks ago, and I think our house will be on T.V. this Sunday! The show is called "What You Get for the Money" on HGTV and I think it will air at 9:30 p.m. our time (Mountain Standard). We were hoping to get a DVD to preview it first (before telling anyone about it)... but it still hasn't come. Anyway, if you have a minute to watch it, it might be fun. In the meantime (for viewing pleasure... a few before and after pictures (that you won't see on the show).

Dining Room... After and Before

Kitchen... After and Before

Entryway.... Before and After

Hard to photograph the bathroom... but Before and After

Don't you all wish your husband was as talented as mine!!