Aiming High

After church we were sitting around our table eating dinner. Somehow the conversation turned to what the kids wanted to be when they grow up. I was talking to Kennedy about how she needed to do really well in school and get good grades so that she could get a scholarship or she would have to work.

I turned to ask Louis a question...

"Dude, what do you want to be when you grow up?"

"I'm going to make my living selling cups."

Wow. I'm glad I have instilled a desire in my children to want an education and be happy.

I guess everyone needs cups.

A New Day

Well, Grandma has moved on to the better place, the other side of the veil. I am certain she was welcomed with open arms and a tearful, joyous reunion with my Grandpa Gale. They love each other so much. I know he has been waiting for her. My grandma has been married to the most wonderful man, Robert, for the last 11 years. He has made her so happy and has blessed her life in so many ways. She has had the chance to experience so many wonderful things these last few years. Truly living life to it's fullest. I know that she is no longer in pain and her body had just had enough. I know she is happy. I saw the smile and look of relief on her body after she passed. She was through. It's us I feel sorry for. She was a great lady. So many wonderful qualities. Always able to laugh at herself. Something I need to work on :). It's a hard day, but also a happy day. Poor Robert has had to bury two wives. He is having the hardest time!! I am thankful to know that my grandma is happy and free of pain and with her eternal companion. I am thankful to know that I will see her again and that we are all sealed together for eternity. It brings such peace.

Whew.

I am trying to gather my thoughts and make this even slightly coherent.

My grandma is dying. She is in the hospital and she is on life-support.

I know for some people this may not seem huge. I count myself among the lucky few who have had their grand parents well into their adult lives. I am blessed. My Grandpa Gale passed away two months before I got married (11.5 yrs ago) but other than that.... they're all still kickin'. I have the best grandparents ever. Period. All of them very different. But all fabulous.

My Grandma Gale (Lee) is quite the lady. She has had quite the life. She is a spunky, full spirited, sassy lady. I like to think that is where my "sass" came from!! (and I don't mean shoes ;)) She has always been the strong one. She helped my grandpa through some of the hardest times. He was always sick and weak (as long as I could remember) with heart problems and such. She was the rock. She was kickin' butt and takin' names!! She has always been a whipper snapper. You get my drift.

Until this last year. Rheumatoid Arthritis has officially kicked her trash. I don't mean that disrespectfully, but it has. Apparently the medication that she takes for the arthritis lowers your immune system to the point that she catches everything in the world and can't fight it off. She has had a rough year. In and out of the hospital, fighting everything off. She has, until now, beaten the odds. Unfortunately, I think this one might get the best of her.

It is with a very heavy heart and a crying headache that I am writing this, my tribute to my Grandma.

Grandpa Gale

Robert
aqua net
The Beaver Trap
RUMMY
gad-damnit
rust colored Chevette
black garbage sack Christmas presents
tongue clicking when she's disappointed
"Well, hello there Em-lee"
the hotel in Vegas, slapping the ceiling
the king sized pill case
the best home made anything (bread/rolls especially !!)

the smell of coffee

the smell of her perfume

I could go on and on. I won't bore you with the details. Let's just say, she is a great lady and I hope she can make it through. Grandma I love you. You're an awesome example of overcoming adversity and being a strong woman. Grandpa is missing you. I love you.

Why?

Why do the people who "regularly" shop at Good Earth look like they haven't showered in a week?

Why do these same people always smell like a combination of sweat and mayonnaise?

Why did I almost cry in "overwhelm"-ment at the thought of picking fabric colors for a quilt?

Why am I making a quilt?

Why is it that people don't call when they're going to miss a hair appointment? Please call. It makes me want to shave the side of your hair off.

Why so I still wear uncomfortable shoes to work?

Why do I LOVE not working Saturdays so much?

Why do I think of all of these random questions to ask myself??

I'm kind of like a three year old.

Why, why, why?

But, I think they are legitimate questions.

Especially the "good earth" shopper ones.

People. You can shower and be healthy. I know, it's a hard concept. But, it does work and it isn't wasteful to be clean. I swear. I checked. What makes Birkenstocks environmentally friendly, healthy or vegan? Is it something I should know?

The Time Of My Life!!!

As I'm sure you all know, yesterday Patrick Swayze passed away.

Although I was saddened to hear he had passed, it didn't really don on my how much I loved this guy until later last night.

He was a HUGE part of my growing up years. How you ask?

When my older sister, Merilee was in 7th grade, they had one of those "sell stuff for us and we'll give you some stupid prize that's not worth anything" things at good old Canyon View Jr. High.

They were selling magazines and tapes. (You know, those things that had music on them before cd's...) So, I saved up all of my babysitting money (Thank you Garrett family :) ) and decided to buy the "Dirty Dancing" sound track. Now, I had no idea what that movie was because we weren't allowed to watch it. But, it was all the rage at school. (Truth be told, the first time I saw that show was on my honeymoon. Weird, but true) I listened to that tape every waking moment. I had every word memorized. It was like the sound track to my tween years. Seriously, they were playing some of the music this morning on the early show and I am quite certain I broke out into song. I couldn't hear me, because I had headphones on. Poor lady next to me. Sorry!!!

The sounds just bring back happy memories for me!! Innocence of childhood growing up in the "outskirts" of Orem, playing in the orchard, being chased out by "Crandall", riding bikes and playing with barbies. Don't judge the barbie thing, I was a little girl for a long time! I wish Kennedy still was :(.


After the Dirty Dancing clips, they started mentioning "Ghost".

What?

I had completely forgotten he was in that show. That is one of my all time favorites. You don't get better than that. Whoopie Goldberg was freakin' hilarious in that show!! Seriously. If you didn't watch it every weekend (thank you good time video) and have it memorized, you should go back and watch it. Unchained melody still makes me cry. And pottery....I'm a mess!!!

Ditto.

Seriously people.

Red Dawn. A flick that is close to my heart. Not because I loved the movie. Actually, I don't even really know what it's about, I just know that that's the movie that way playing the first time Ross kissed me. Ew. I know, don't worry. It was innocent. :)

Thank you Patrick Swayze for being such an integral part in my growing up years. Even though you didn't know it. May you rest in peace.

Once Again...

Sorry guys. I am on a rant and rave kick!! If you don't like to hear me complain, move on... haha just kidding!! But seriously. I have been thinking about this one for a while now!!

Where is the humility, the accountability and the respect, the good sportsmanship?

What am I talking about?

Do these names ring a bell?

Kanye

Serena

every celebrity under the age of 35 (and some over)

Now, I know that is a gross generalization, but come on!!!

These people are so entitled. It kills me. Why do they think that what they have to say is so important? Where are your manners? If I ever talked to anyone the way Serena talked to that judge.....my dad would have kicked my butt clear to next Wednesday! Seriously. I wonder if her parents are embarrassed or proud? I hope they are humiliated. I hope she is humiliated. Doubtful. We worship celebrities these days. They can do whatever they want with no regard for anyone else. All they have to do is enter rehab or go on Jay Leno and offer an apology.

And Kanye.....don't even get me started. I am SO NOT A FAN! Never have been. This started many years ago and had progressively gotten worse. Remember his comments about President Bush. If someone did that about President Obama, the world would have a come apart!!!! But, it's our fault. If we stopped buying his music or booed him when he came on stage. Boycotted his concerts....it might change things. But, nope. He gets invited back to every awards show and every celebrity event. His name makes my skin crawl....ick!

Oh well. I don't really even know where I am going with this, I was just thinking about it this morning at the gym when on every new channel they were showing all of these disrespectful people.

All I can do is hope that my children learn from this and NEVER, I MEAN NEVER think they are better than other people or think what they have to say is so important that they can treat people like that.

That is all.

My Observations

Just a few observations I made today, while in Orem doing a few things.

1. Every fish tank MUST include a "nemo" and "dori" look-a-like.

2. People buy the most random crap at Costco (me included). If they sell it there, it must be a good deal!!!

3. I hate driving in Orem.

4. I hate the dentist (not personally, just the smell, the sounds and that gritty junk they smear all over your teeth)

5. Babies always fall asleep in the car just long enough to not need a nap when they get home.

6. It's embarrassing when you're pretending to be on your cell phone (to avoid the mall kiosk people who want to buff my nails) and it rings. oops.

7. It's always fun and a little weird when someone you don't know compliments you on your outfit. (Is she just that nice, or is my skirt tucked into my undies ;) )

8. I have entirely too much time on my hands if while in Orem, I am thinking, I am going to make a blog post about my observations in Orem.

9. I am definitely in the minority.

10. Cole flirts with the ladies. He's quite the ladies man. I'm just saying.

11. People don't know how to drive, merge, go when the light is green....

12. I STILL get the urge to drive past McDonald's to see whose working (just kidding!!)

13. But I do still crane my neck when driving by Ross' old house. My poor little sister went on a kagillion "drive-by's" with me. That house will always be special to me.

14. I love that you could drop me in the middle of Orem and I could get anywhere I needed to go. I used to be so impressed that my mom "always knew where to go and how to get there". Weird, but didn't you? It's odd when you're little to wonder how the person driving just knows how to get wherever they are going. I know, I didn't say they all made sense.

So, there you have it. My day and the things I think about when I am alone (with Cole who doesn't talk back) and it's quiet ALL DAY LONG!!

Overheard

As the kids and I were on our return trip from the dentist this afternoon, sitting WAY TOO CLOSE TO EACH OTHER this is what I overheard.


Kennedy: (teasing like crazy)

Louis: Kennedy, you always think you're better than I am. You always win, you always have to be right, you never let me do anything. You are always smarter, better and your fingers are always longer.

After I wiped up the Diet Coke that came spurting out of my nose, I could not stop laughing.

Apparently to a seven year old, long fingers are where it's at....

Side note. Leasing vehicles is for the birds. At least for the birds who live closer than 30 miles to civilization. Nothing quite like stuffing 3 kiddos and a carpool buddy into a car, paying alltoomuch of a monthly payment on a van you "can't drive" because you're too close on the mileage. Seriously people. Give me some space. I NEED HEADPHONES AND A MOVIE SO I CAN THINK AGAIN!!!! My children have never been slapped so much in their short little lives. They should never be within arms length of me in the car.....don't judge me. It's a small car and their voices are loud.

Cole's Words

Cole has just recently started to speak. He's been a mute for the first 2 and a half years of his life. All of the sudden he's discovered how to speak and that it's pretty cool when people know what you are talking about and what you want!! He can finally count to 5. I'm pretty sure Kennedy could do that when she was 7 months old, but who is comparing?? NOT I!! ha ha

So, not that you care, but I do.....so here are some of the things that he says.

He says "bye bye" to EVERYTHING!! He says it to his food, the water in his bathtub, the diaper when we are changing his bum. He says it to the car when we go inside, his blanket when he wakes up in the morning. It's actually the cutest thing, ever!!

He loves cars. Period. The end. He loves cars. Any car, any size, shape, color etc. He loves them. I have never had an "obsessed" child. He loves anything to do with cars. He knows people by their cars. If we see a green truck he says "papa car" for grandpa's truck. It's darling. The closest thing we got to obsessed before this was Louis with his "I have to watch Toy Story 2 500 times a day for 2 months". But, then we moved on. This, I have a feeling is here for a while! I think it's cute. We were walking in to WalMart today (I KNOW, IT'S MY ONLY OPTION!!!) when I get him out of his seat and he says "bye bye car. wow. cool car mom!" as a jeep drives by!! I'm pretty sure I'm the only one that's amused by that. But, it's my blog, so you have to read about it!! Mostly it's just for journaling purposes. I love to remember the cute things they do and say. I forget so quickly. So, sorry!!!

Good thing he's cute, right???

We Are Now Accepting Donations

It's official. Central Utah Stars Dance Studio now has sole ownership of our car, home, 401k, children's college funds and obviously our first born.....
Seriously people. I am contemplating selling my "unnecessary" organs on eBay. So, if you know anyone who is in the market for one healthy kidney and maybe a gallbladder (what do those do anyway??), I could probably spare a lung, and for the right price I'm considering my xyphoid process. I'm healthy, I take vitamins and I exercise daily. All good qualities in organ donor world.

I've already tried auctioning off my children but eBay found that to be "unethical". Whatever.

So, don't be alarmed if you see me "greeting" at the local Wally world or pumping your gasoline. I have also considered those "My daughter is on a dance team. Any money would help. God bless you" signs and hanging out around the walmart parking lot.

All jokes aside, I am wondering if maybe next year she could take up chess. I could afford a chess set. Even a really nice chess set.

I wonder if she'll go for it.

Nah, you have to be quiet for too long.