All Good Things Must Come To An End

Well, our Jazz are done for this season. Mike and I realized that we will have to get the next season of 24 on DVD because soon there will be no more Jazz games, Survivor, Biggest Loser and Modern Family (my favorite.) I have to have something to watch while doing laundry and exercising in the torture chamber and vegging after the kids are in bed.

Back to our dear Jazz.

Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Jones, Mike and the kids get the chance to go to the games. Mike and Andrew went Saturday night (what a heartbreaker!) and Bev went with Aunt Karen tonight. Jessi has no interest in attending. When asked if she wanted to go, she responded that she would rather go to Cafe Rio with Mom. Christian also recently announced that instead of Jazz games, he wanted to go fishing on his dates with Dad. Andrew and Bev, however, love going.

They always go see Grandma at the game, and then they get a treat. They come home with loud clappers and face tatoos. They also come home with fun stories of drunk fans, old crazy guys on Trax and a replay of the half-time show.

Fun stories...and some pretty great memories.

Minivan Love

We just returned from our first (and longest) road trip of the year. We drove to Seattle to visit my sister Melanie and her family. It was a great trip. Being in the car for the 14-hour drive, I got to thinking about our van.

As the kids get older, I seem to spend more and more time in the van, In fact, sometimes I feel like I spend more time in the van than I do at home. Stay-at-home mom--ya right!

For as much as I love the van, we never really named her. (At one point Christian decided to start calling her "The Tank," but that didn't really stick.)

But, love her I do!


When I got pregnant with Christian we got to thinking about getting a van. Andrew was four and Bev was two. I loved our Explorer, but going from two children to three was going to make car seats a challenge. I don't know why, but I was hesitant to get a van. I think it had something to do with accepting the fact that I was becoming one of them. You know, one in the force of minivan-driving Mormon moms.

We bought it new in August 2003 from Karl Malone Toyota. I immediately loved it--the automatic sliding passenger side door, the DVD player, cup holders galore, a big bucket trunk area that fit everything including a monstrous double stroller.

My love for this vehicle has not waned. As the kids get bigger, it is nice to have all of that space. We love all of the plugs for charging various electronic devices. I love that I can run a day of errands (including Costco) and fit it all of the purchases in the back. I love that I can fit all of the kids, their stuff, and even a few friends and not feel squished. I love that it is paid off.

We have some great memories associated with the van.

We brought Christian home from the hospital in the van. We brought Jessi home from the airport in the van. We have had some great times going places. We have had some great conversations in the van (and only a few fights.)

I have memories of Delores and Roberta in my van that first year. Of trips to Social Security, doctors appointments and the Bishop's storehouse.

Nowadays, she and I frequent the school, Costco, Harmons and Target. You can also find us parked at the Rec Center, tumbing, karate, the soccer field. We also frequent Rio and 7-Eleven.

She is not the cleanest vehicle around. On an average day, you will find pretzel crumbs under the carseats, plant soil in the trunk and lots of half-empty water bottles in the cup holders.

She now has 90,000 miles. She has taken us on many roadtrips--Seattle (three times now,) Moab, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Fish Lake (almost every year,) Yellowstone, San Diego.

She has taken us on camping trips, fishing, to the Uintah's and up the canyon for hikes and picnics.

She has taken many carpools, gotten us to many a soccer game, many doctor's appointments and many, many errands.

She has taken me and my friends to dinner and consignment shopping and to Smart Cookie.

She was in an accident about a year after we got her. Mike had Katie, Courney and Tyler in the car with him and Andrew and Bev when somebody ran a red light on Redwood Road and hit them. Andrew was five and as they were waiting for the police to come he exclaimed, "Everyone get in your seatbelts or they'll take Dad to jail." (They were in their seatbelts when they were hit.) The van was repaired and worked as good as new.

She has been puked in, peed in (Hey Randy, remember that trip to Seattle?) and has experienced more spills than I can remember.

We have had very few repairs/issues with her. She is a low-maintenance sort of gal.

I think back to my resisting her introduction into my life, and I think what a silly younger me I was. I now have plans to drive her forever (at least until all the kids are out of the house and I get me a red convertible Mustang.) If I had to get a new car right now, I would buy her all over again.

Here's to many more years with my precious travel companion!

The Birthday Girl

My girl turned nine. Where did the time go?


She made a paper chain to countdown the days to the big day. We celebrated all weekend.

She asked for rollerblades and couldn't wait to get them on. Cousin Tyler gave her some great tips. She is getting pretty good on them.

She also loves to go shopping at Justice for a birthday outfit (or two.) I am not a huge fan, so I bite my tongue and we go and she picks out what my sister Camille has aptly named "Punky Brewster" outfits. This year the shopping trip wasn't too bad. She picked out some cute things.

One of her favorite gifts was her cat pillow pet. She is also enjoying new art supplies, earrings, knitting stuff and pool toys.


I just love the person that she is becoming, so I can't be too sad that she is growing up.


Here are a few things about my girl, also known as Bev, BevyGwen, BG, Pinkie Pie:


She is creative. Everyday she makes something. She is such a talented little artist. She draws, writes, paints, does cross-stitch, knits (thanks Grandma,) crochets, sews and scrapbooks.

She still loves to help--cook, fold laundry, plant and weed the garden.

She is nurturing and loving to the babies (also known as Christian and Jessi.) She plays school with them, she plays church with them, she does projects with them and reads to them. She loves them and plays with them (and only occasionally yells at them.)

She takes good care of her older brother--you know, only when he really needs it.

She is spunky and at times can be a bit fiesty. (I wonder where she got that from?) We have no shortage of sass around here.

She is smart. She is a wiz at reading.

I love that she can be girly girl one minute and then filthy from playing in the field the next.

I love her freckles and her wild hair.

I love that she is not a follower. She is her own person. (Please stay that way!)

I love her love notes to us, and her poems and her stories.

I love that she feels safe to ask me anything--even though answering her questions is not always easy.

I love the presence she is in our home. I miss her when she is not here. The babies miss her when she is not here. Andrew doesn't necessarily pull his attention away from his DS or Wii to notice when she is not here, but I'm sure he misses her too.

She is a lot like me. We both make messes and piles. We both hate the mornings. (Mike gets a kick out of the two of us hissing at each other as I am helping her get ready for school.) We both like to dabble in lots of projects and activities. We both struggle with math, or as I like to positively frame it, we both have strengths outside the math realm. We both are passionate about our causes--animals, the earth, crafts.

I love her to bits.

Birthdays always remind me to really enjoy these kids while I have them under my control, I mean while I have them under my roof.

crisis averted and project complete

Andrew was assigned a report for school. It was on an animal found in Utah--the beaver.

A few nights ago, he decided to get a head start on the project (aka: not leaving it until the night before it is due.) We were just finishing up dinner and he asked if he could go do research on the computer. I said, "Yeah, sure--start by Googling beavers."

Mike instantly shot me "the look" and then I realized...well, um...I think you probably know what I realized. (And if you don't, I am happy for you that you don't.)

So I told Andrew to wait--that I would come and help him.

So glad I did. That was an explanation I was glad not to have to give.

The report and poster turned out great. We learned a lot about beavers. We learned that they are monogamous, they are actually rodents and they are second only to humans in their ability to manipulate and change their environment.

I am happy that his report is done. I am even happier that his report was completed while retaining a bit of his innocence.

the ninety-percenters club

I hung out with some of my besties this weekend and we got to talking about projects. Why is it, we asked, that the first 90% of our projects get done fairly quickly, but the last 10% is the hardest?

I don't know the answer. I just know that it is a recurring theme in my life and affects so many areas of my life--it always has. Papers and projects in college, home improvement projects, decorating projects, cleaning projects.

Right now our garden is about 90% planted. My craft room is about 90% done. Laundry was about 90% done--then the kids put their laundry down the chute. Now it is about 75% complete.
I know I will not ever have laundry completely done--because we must get dressed in clean clothes every day. But, I am trying to incorporate the rule that I must finish one thing before starting the next. I am making progress, but it's still a challenge.

I started this birthday banner in August--for Andrew's birthday. It is on my list to complete for Bev's birthday this weekend. I finished it and Bev helped me tie it together with ribbon.

Part of my problem is that I may just be a bit of a perfectionist/over-achiever with the projects. I figure if I am going to spend the time and money on something, I want it done right. After I put it up Mike pointed out that no one would really care that I sewed the paper or made the embellishments by hand. No, but I care. I did it for me--you know, to be creative.

Bev decided to be creative herself. She made Tiger a little necklace with the leftover ribbon. Tiger lets her put it on and she even leaves it on.

Next project--clean that window so poor baby Tiger can see out it.

I got injured...injured bad.

Before I begin my tale of woe I will share with you one of my old favorites from youtube. Enjoy!





I had big plans this week. I was going to get so many things checked off my list. Then, I decided to make fajitas.


I was slicing three beautiful peppers--a yellow, a red and a green--with my favorite santoku knife. It is the knife I use several times a day.

I realized that the knife was a little dull, but I decided to just finish the peppers and then sharpen it. Bad idea. I was on the last pepper when the knife slipped off the skin of the pepper and sliced off a quarter of my index fingernail (along with a big chunk of flesh.)

I howled and called for Mike. The kids all came running and I heard Andrew say, "Let me guess, she cut herself again?"

Again? It's not like I do this that often--at least not this badly.

There was blood. There was whining. I think at one point I actually called out for my mommy.

I got bandaged up and went back work on the fajitas--with only one hand. I suppose I should mention that I did discard the peppers I was working on when the incident occured.

The fajitas were good, but my finger is not doing so well.

I can't get it wet, so I am doing dishes with one hand. Everytime I do a task, I tend to bump it. I have to wear stretchy pants (now I want to watch Nacho Libre) because I can't zip and button.

Hopefully it will heal quickly so I can get back to my chores. First thing I will be doing--sharpening my knife.

reality bites...and hopefully, so will my kids

I bought this DVD several years ago when the kids kept seeing it advertised on TV. It is produced by John Walsh and Julie Clark (of Baby Einstein fame.) I highly recommend it. (Let me know if anyone wants to borrow it.)

I love the DVD, but I hate that perverts and abduction and child-killers are part of the world my kids have to live in. I hate that part of their innocence has to be destroyed to keep them safe.

Okay, I have stepped away from the soapbox--back to the story.

Every few months the kids pull out the DVD and we watch it. It isn't scary, but really teaches kids about staying safe.

The problem is that every time we watch it, every time we discuss stranger safety, Christian says something to the effect of: "I will just punch them and kick them in the ___." (The blank stands for all the various names I have heard him use for that part of the anatomy--another discussion for another day.)

We constantly teach him that should he ever be in that situation, he should run and yell first. He continues to talk about beating up the bad guy.

Last night at dinner, the topic came up once again. Once again Mike reiterated the importance of running and yelling. He reminded him that even though Christian is tough, adults are bigger and stronger. Once again Christian insisted that he would "kick the bad guy's trash."

Next thing we know Mike and Christian are in the family room. The rest of us sat at the kitchen table and watched as Mike gave the little guy a reality check. Mike taught the kids another important fact in fighting off a bad guy--when he covers your mouth, bite him.

The kids went to bed and I went downstairs to the death chamber (aka the home gym) to exercise. I watched yesterday's Oprah. It was about child sexual predators. I ended up exercising a little longer than usual because my blood was a boilin'.

But, after ruminating on the special place in Hell that will be theirs, I focused on the message of the show. The information the predators shared was disgusting, but helpful. They all talked about the type of child they sought out--vulnerable, at-risk kids. Kids that didn't get a lot of attention, affection and supervision. They also talked about how they won the trust of the parents.

The most important part for me was that several of them talked about potential victims that didn't become victims because they fought back, were difficult, and were big-mouths.

I think manners are important, but after shows like that, I am reminded to teach my kids that there are times they need to be difficult.

I am reminded to build their self-confidence.

I am reminded to teach them to listen to the still small voice.

I am reminded to give them the attention and affection they need.

I am reminded to talk to them about the evil that exists in the world.

We will be watching the DVD tonight. We will practice yelling together: "This is not my mom. This is not my dad." I will be giving them lot of snuggles.

Hopefully, we will not need to have another abduction reinactment in the family room--that gave me anxiety.