Beloved President Hinckley

Isn't this a great photo? I found it online --always such a joyful and happy man!

I can remember the passing of only four prophets in my lifetime---each are very vivid because each has meant so much to me. President Hinckley was the prophet for 12 of my 13 married-years and he always had unique, specific, and special counsel that has touched me, influenced me, and shaped me to choose the path that I am on today.

When my mom called me last night with the news of President Hinckley's passing I had a swell in my heart for this amazing man of God. I have no doubt that another will be called to be Prophet that is meant for this day and time, but what fond memories I will carry with me of our beloved Prophet, President Hinckley.

My first thoughts were shame on me for not braving Sunday session of stake conference with 6 kids (1/2 of them sick) a few weeks ago to hear our dear prophet address us in the satellite feed! My friend, Erin Uda, specifically said she was going to 'brave' it with her 3 because she didn't want to miss out on an opportunity to hear our prophet address us. Maybe I should follow Erin's example more often! I guess we're all human.

He will be missed for his wonderful sense of humor that could engage anyone whether 8 years old or 80! I will always remember the stories my Mom and Grandma & Grandpa Brower related of their friendship with President Hinckley and his visits to my Grandparent's home in Venezuela & Columbia while they were serving as Mission Presidents. My mom was just a teenager then. On one of these visits President Hinckley came out of his room and asked my Grandma if he could borrow her iron so he could press his shirt at the foot of his bed. She said she'd do it for him and he insisted on doing it himself. A tug-of war over the shirt ensued! Well, for those that knew my Grandma Brower and her spunk...enough said! President Hinckley finally gave in for fear that his shirt would be ripped in half by my Grandma's insistance and strength.

On another occassion, my mom came down to the kitchen and found President Hinckley by my Grandma's side helping her make breakfast. He was getting detailed lessons on how to correctly fry bacon! He told my Grandma that "Sister Hinckley doesn't know how to make bacon lay flat so I'm going to teach her!" What an incredible example of a servant of the Lord that does not expect to be waited on or served by others. I love him because, although he is mightier in spirit than most, he is so very humble and incredibly approachable and real.

His legacy of temple-building will go on to affect and influence generations of members and non-members alike. I especially enjoyed watching our church become 'public' in that President Hinckely was never afraid to lend a voice to the national media so many more have been exposed to the 'word' and to the face of this amazing man and peculiar people we call 'Mormons.'

He reached out to the members of the church by writing books specifically for our youth like "Standing for Something", "Stand a Little Taller" and "Way to Be" among others. I will always remember him for his "9 Be's" that are hanging in my kitchen. And I believe I will always try to be a little bit better of a person because of his challenges and example. I could go on and on....How wonderful that he can reunite with his dear Marjorie. He will be greatly missed and fondly remembered!

Trade Vivie for a dog or cat?

These pictures are from July '06 --Lexie's grown SO much since then! (It makes me sad!) But she still won't let me forget...

For the last 3 days Lexie and I have had this same conversation:

L- "Mom, why do we have to have a baby?"
me- What do you mean, Lexie, you don't want Viviana???
L- "No, I mean why can't we have a dog and a cat instead?"
me- And what do you want to do with Vivie?
L- "Well, I guess we can keep her and then get a dog and a cat too."
me- Lexie, we already had a dog in Utah and it ruined our yard and the big kids didn't take care of him.
L- "Well, then let's get a cat."
me- Cat's are smelly and leave hair all over.
L- "Oh. Well, I really want a dog or a cat. We're supposed to give loves to animals. Jesus said."

day 2
same as day 1 pretty much

day 3
She obviously has been thinking about this non-stop. Maybe they read a book at school about pets or something and poor Lex was the only little pre-schooler with no pet??? Just a hunch.

L- "Mom, okay, let's keep Viviana and get a dog. We can build a house for the dog inside the family room so it doesn't mess up the yard. "(me, laughing inside at her simple ingenuity). She thought a little longer..."or, let's take the trampoline out and build a dog house there so it has a place to sleep and stay. How 'bout that, mom? And then it won't mess up our yard!"

me- Lexie, how about a rabbit instead, with a cage?
L- "Well, can we love and hold the rabbit?
me- Yes, Lex, we can hold the rabbit and give it loves. I thought some more...Lexie, how about a fish?
L- "And can I hold and pet the fish?"
me- No, can't do that or it will die.
L- "I really just want a dog and a cat."

This little 3 year old REALLY wants a dog...or a cat. This mommie REALLY doesn't. I don't like indoor pets and the cat/dog hair is too much for me with Vivie. There's coyotes here too so a cat can't exactly live outside...what do you all think???? I'm thinking a rabbit would be better...or a fish. Or how about we call it good with Vivie! And they can visit dogs and cats at other people's homes. I know, I know, I just can't bear the thought of taking care of yet another living creature!

Patience Is A Virtue...and apparently I stink at it!

McKenzie left her rolling backpack and jacket on the floor in the hallway yesterday (I had just paid to have my house cleaned a few hours earlier and like to keep it that way for more than an hour...ya know???). I reminded her to put it away---twice. It found its way from the downstairs hallway, upstairs to my bedroom--in the middle of the room.

So I reminded her again. Then I walked past it for the umpteenth time, only to stub my pinky toe on the wheel. So I yelled and screamed this time--"Put your darn backpack away!"(except I said a bad word--one of my new years resolutions just broken--but pinky toe stubbing is ouchy and I'm a single mom this whole week so there's no one to run interference!!) Excuses, excuses. note..I really don't have a potty-mouth...I just swear occasionally & I'm trying to turn the occasionally into NEVER.

Then as I sat frustrated with myself and Kenz...head in my hands, here comes my 2-year-old Izzie. She softly lifted my head and with her finger pointing to me she gently whispered, "Have to be patient, mom... OK? Have to be patient. Then as she walked out of the room she yelled to me without looking back, "Can't yell at my sister, mom!!!$@^#***!!!!!"

My kids all do this--they have each others' backs when either Curt or I discipline or yell at one of them...it's like they gang up on us and remind us how to be calm parents...even though they're the ones doing all the things that make our blood boil in the first place. We'll just wait and see how it goes when they get to raise their packs of monkeys! I really am grateful they protect one another because when they're attacking each other I really know it's an 'attack of love' because they really do love each other. Or so I'll keep telling myself.

But I'm grateful for my Izzie who brought to light something I wouldn't have thought more about. I WAS being more than patient by my expectations, but Izzie's reminder made me understand how she sees it. I think she is a child of deep understanding and is definitely MY daughter for a reason. A two-year-old telling me to be patient? The fact that she even knows the meaning of the word is amazing. Yup, patience is a virtue and apparently that's something I still need some work at. Luckily, I have six kids who are constantly pushing my buttons and giving me the opportunity to develop that virtue...so I'm just sure I'll be a pro one day soon! Yup, that's right. A PRO, dang-it!

No More Wadded-Up Diapers

Don't you hate it when you have diapers in your purse that get juggled around like tennis balls and when you finally take them out to use them, it looks like they were thrown around, run over by a car, used a few times over, stomped on...hardly resembling a diaper anymore?

Maybe it's just me. Hmmmm....just maybe that's why we're supposed to use those massive and unattractive diaper bags that have specific pockets to store these needful things! Well, the 'bag tag' and subsequent purse cleaning pushed me to finally do this project. It has been on my radar and wait list for 6 months now and I finally got around to it. Of course, the laundry went un-folded and I had to go blind to the tornado that ensued around me, but I can cross this off my list...finally.

It's a diaper/wipe/desitin holder and changing mat. I stole the idea from my cute sis-in-law, Tallie, but with a different design. Now I can grab my clutch and head to wherever to change a poo-poo bottom and still have an new & intact diaper and actually find my wipes! My kids like to kype those and use them for random things like wiping down their bikes. Izzie gets into cleaning mode and takes them around the house to clean pretty much everything in sight--which I love about her--she's a great cleaner-upper. But I don't like my wipes missing-in action.

One side is lovely Amy Butler Lotus, the other is polka dot minkie. I had to improvise a little---ran out of my Amy Butler fabric because I designed this as I went along...so for you perfectionists, don't laugh--it works.

Daddy Dress-Up

Lexie & Izzie attacked Curt who was staying home from work sick...
They climbed up on him, styled his hair, pretended to put lipstick on him, fake-curled his eyelashes, put rubber bands on his wrists for bracelets and around his ears for earrings (every 'princess' needs jewelry).

Curt: "Why are you doing this to me?"

Lexie" "Because you are OUR girl--We have to feed you tea. I'm taking your temperature, Daddy. Here, drink more tea, you're sick."

Izzie runs in with a bigger comb and more rubberband bracelets & earrings to dress up Daddy.

I don't think we'll ever have to worry who will be the ones to take care of us when we're old and senile! What cute little Mommies and a patient Daddy to play along.

IT'S TIME!!!!

Having my sixth and LAST baby comes with so many wonderful up-sides....and a few downers. There's going to be a lot of 'lasts' with Viviana. I hope I can cherish her. I mean, I have had baby baby stage like forever now it seems. Some people plop out 3 month-ers at birth (Pam & Becky!!!) But it's an amazing feeling to know we're done...finally! The end! Two sets of children really...the first three are less than three years apart...and because Vivie decided to be a micro-preemie the last 3 are also less than three years apart. I've done my time. No more pregnancies! I've never enjoyed being preggers--really, I don't know who does. It rings in a new fresh feeling that we're done with the child-bearing phase of our lives. Now we just have to raise all these monkeys with gospel principles, values, lots of love & smarts in today's world. NO PROBLEMO! yeah right...and try to have some fun and a sense of humor along the way--quite an endeavor, I'd say.

But a big thing for me about having six kids in 10 years is that IT HAS REEKED HAVOC ON THIS poor, Poor, POOR 'OLE BODY OF MINE. I'm going to have to 2nd what my dearest friend, Marla said about being 30-something. (You have to go read her blog...she's a VERY funny writer---it's her coping mechanism I think).

So it's MY TURN! I've always managed to get back into shape with each child---it took much longer after Monson (he nursed the longest and apparently I become a chub when I nurse unlike most people--it's my curse). Now it appears as though the same thing happened with Vivie. I pumped for 7 long months for her until I just gave out. My body really likes this crazy fat and it doesn't want it to go away! It's not like I'm a little piggy though. I really do watch what goes in my mouth. I really do watch with glee every chocolate chip! hehehe

I try to exercise (okay...confession time...I haven't been back to the gym since bedrest almost a year ago)...OUCH. But there's a reason for that! I can't stand the thought of leaving Vivie in that daycare. Izzie and Lexie are fine, but I just know Vivie will get super sick if I leave her! But I do go through phases of walking my rear end off. Sure, come with me, try it...I dare you. I about killed Curt with the walk work out and I know Karyn and Malisa both think I rock (right, girls, you do, don't you?!)

I put Vivie in my trusty peanut shell sling and then strap the girls in the double Bob Revolution stroller with all their loot and off we go up and down the hills of San Elijo. I burn 500 cals every time and then I do weights when I come home. Okay, so I haven't really done it since Thanksgiving. But it feels so much better just talking about it! Today I strapped the girls in and walked Lexie to her dance class. I thought I was going to die and just couldn't bear the thought of pushing 100 +lbs plus wearing Vivie up those hills to come home. I pooped out and sweet Tammi who was there offered to take Lex home so I could stick Vivs in the stroller instead of WEARING her. (Thanks, Tammi!!!)

So this brings me to what this post is about (yeah, I know, get to the point already). IT'S TIME! It's time to do something more about my unwanted little friends and neighbors hiding out in my thighs, rear, love handles, belly and arms. When my kids tell me they want to see "my burrito" (you know, my belly) it pretty much means IT'S TIME. Seriously. I tried Jenny Craig and lost a few, but the holidays & peppermint bark got in the way! I'm telling you, my body likes where it's at and wants to keep the hiding friends it made over the last year.

The funny part is that obviously Vivie was born at 26 weeks so I didn't have the chance to get nice and round. I weighed 4 pounds more at her birth than I do now...EIGHT months later! Actually, it's not funny--it's downright wrong. There's a thinner, newer, spunkier Shay inside that needs to be let out! I just know what I'm comfortable with. And I'm not knocking or judging anyone else--everyone has her mojo and can be just fine and dandy in a different place. It's really not a vain thing. I just want to be my physical best that I can be for myself, Curt, and all the kids. I want to feel great in my own skin. I want to feel confident and fabulous. And I simply don't.

So I started this 'diet' called Dr. Cohen's 1st Personal Diet. This Doctor helps to restore hormone imbalances. This will also help my IBS and my kids will soon forget that mom toots. It's a plan geared just for me based on my metabolic panel I had drawn last week. And it's a very stringent, simple and a DIFFICULT deal. I saw the portions and what was 'prescribed' just for me and just about died. It couldn't be right! I'm certain this is what 'the stars' all do to slim down, besides the help from their personal trainers. At least it's all fruits, veggies, & proteins. No, seriously. I have to measure everything on a scale and for each meal it's spelled out. There are several options for each meal but for example for breakfast I can have 1 egg OR 2 egg whites and 45 grams of veggies.
So I can't photograph food. The blue plastic kids' IKEA plate doesn't help much to make it look appetizing either! It can be eaten in like 3 bites flat. That's how small the portion was. But I didn't feel hungry after I ate it either!

Lunch is 105 grams fish (I did tuna) and 120 grams of veggies. I chose tomato and my fav, cukes. Balsamic vinegar is my best friend right now. Don't you wish you could dine with me at lunchtime???

Dinner tonight was 115 grams of chicken, 105 grams of veggies. I made asparagus soup by liquifying the cooked chicken, asparagus, onions, garlic and homemade broth. My beloved crackers--it's such a random part of this plan! Have you ever noticed the different odor of your pee after eating asparagus? It's pretty potent and gross. I can't believe I just said that! It's true though. I know you're going to rush out and eat asparagus tomorrow.


I can have 3 fruits a day and 12 low-sodium saltine crackers. Random, I know. No oils, butters, no breads, no milk. Just fill up with plain water or herbal teas--diet coke, diet pepsi and diet sprite in moderation. Surprisingly it's do-able and I haven't felt hungry on it. I feel vibrant and hopeful. We'll see how cranky I am come the weekend! I just don't know how I'm going to EVER eat out on this. Sack dinner, here we go! We'll just have to be more creative for our Friday dates.

It's so drastic, but my body needs to be shocked into figuring out that it really doesn't want to keep these little friends hiding around my waist and all. SO, when I don't come hang out for dinner or take you up on your invitation to go out to lunch for the next few months--this is why. I'm dead serious about getting rid of my baby & nursing friends once and for all--never to return again! The kids need a healthy, happy momma and I'm sure Curt won't mind sleeping next to the former Shay! Wow, that was a long post. I need to chill out on being so verbose.

Dump Your Bag Tag?

Who would've thunk it----dump your bag because of a tag! My Beantown sis-in-law tagged me, so now you can all see which little trinkets, odds and ends call my purse 'home.'..if you cared in the first place!

I haven't cleaned it out since before Christmas and found some 'treasures'...so thanks for the tag so I could make my way to the bottom of my cute black toile & polka dot bag! I don't like traditional diaper-bags so I searched to find something neutral that fit me on a budget. It's a no-namer, by the way, homemade by a stay-at-home mom that I found on etsy...gotta love that marketplace! Maybe someday I'll open a store on etsy. But for now...here's what finds its home in my darling bag of tricks:

Are you sure you want to take a peak???

Yeah, I know you wonder how the heck all that could be shoved inside this bag?!

• 3 diapers for my Vivs and Iz (oh when will my 2-year-old potty-train???)!

• formula dispenser
• (wipes are missing,by the way-probably on the floor of my car, which is WAY worse than my purse!!!!)
  

• sunglasses

tampon/pad cause I know you wanted to know.

wallet with zero cash, planner stuffed to the hilt, pouch with insurance cards and 'club' cards

• Costco receipt and coupon book

• UPS receipt from sending back Vivs's defective swing

• Receipt from Dr. appt.

• French Pastry cafe menu--from a Kenz/mom brunch outing--YUM fruit tarts!

• nifty brush/mirror..random blue comb

• fruit leather and nutri-grain bar (trusty snacks on-the-go)

• trident gum

• my favorite verbena lemon Bath&BW lotion-so fresh

• baby tylenol

• baby magic lotion

• Vivie's rattle/teether

• bulb snot catcher

• paci-holder

• socks that belong to one of the girls

• sweet crocheted mary janes my mom made

• Ricola

• misc. hair clippies & rubberbands

• ocean spray

• assorted MAC lipglass & liner--yeah! found one I thought was missing!

• eyelash curler and mascara

• schedule to read the standard works in a year (which hasn't made it out of my purse since church...uh..2 weeks ago)--I think last year's reading was plenty! I'll stick to the BofM
  

I'm out of breath! That was a lot of stuff in one bag!

..and the bottom of the barrel...which I haven't seen for a few months...lots of Ricola wrappers, heart nail file, crumbs and change.

Thanks for the tag so my bag got a swift cleaning!

...and now I tag Brooke Baker, Amy Timmerman, & Rachel Hazen!

Happy Vivie

Vivs has been jabbering like McKenzie used to (and still does). Curt swears she's saying 'dada' --I still haven't heard it but we we'll let him think that's her first word...

She likes to knaw on her fingers until they're raw and grabs me and tries to eat my face or grabs my hand and attempts to shove my fingers in her mouth. She won't hold onto a teething ring for too long and doesn't yet roll over to get it when she loses it.

The doc wanted me to wait until her 9-month check up to start solids. But we decided to give it a whirl today--she just turned 8 months last week so her adjusted age is 5 months.

I attempted to give her rice cereal while she was in her exersaucer...and she just discovered she can bounce and twirl in it. I gave her a bite and she bounced with excitement. Another and she squealed with glee...I don't know if she enjoyed her rice cereal or bouncing in her exersaucer more! Vivie has her next liver ultrasound on the 25th and her GI appt on Feb. 5th so stay tuned for her progress report!

The House That Somebody Else Built

I have to remind myself why we bought this home....often. Don't get me wrong...I'm grateful to be here in dreamy-weather-land, AKA San Diego (we PAY for it though-I could buy a new car with the taxes we pay every year--or just pay off our current one in less than a year). I'm thankful that Curt is employed and that his income pays most the bills, but I still miss SOOO many things about our Utah home that I have to remind myself WHY we bought this particular home. It may sound like a snotty statement, especially to those who have never owned their own homes. This is #4 for us, and it's the only one we didn't build and choose options in. It's a resale and it has just never felt like ours. (Although, I've always dreamed of buying an old home, renovating, and discovering vintage fireplaces, staircases, etc). But this is different.

Curt had been working in San Diego for 3 long months before we moved the family in April '06. It was a race against time and I was done being a single mom. It was the only one on the market at the time that had the wide-plank hand-scraped hickory wood floors I so desperately wanted and it doesn't hurt that the there's a peek ocean view from the master balcony....and it wasn't a million gazillion dollars like the rest of them--well, almost. The turret has great entry style not to mention the 20 foot ceilings (not so great though when painting them). Curt's office is away from the main part of the house so he has a retreat of his own when he needs to put himself in time-out (just kidding--but not really). Mice only live in the garage some of the time, and we're not infested with termites or mold...yet. None of the kids have been killed or injured living on the corner (it's a cul-de-sac street on both ends) and the hotel-grade Vegas-style carpeting on the stairs has really grown on me....plus it will last 25 years. We have five bathrooms, so almost all potty-trained McLaughlins can go in-sync without a huge line (I don't have to sit on the boys disgusting toilet seat--they're not straight-shooters)...but the toilets do get plugged quite often...we'll blame that one on the boys. We have a huge outdoor fireplace and courtyard off the formal dining room (again, which we use twice a year) with a fountain for ambiance with soooo much potential (that we hardly ever use), double ovens (that we use once a year), and an extra large bedroom with a dreamy Juliette balcony for the little girls to take over and play mommie to their babies, pollies, and barbies...and make 'denna' in their pbk kitchen for all their guests. We really do have a lot of reasons to rejoice...

Really, it's just that we KICK ourselves for not thinking of renting for a while before the market declared itself. I couldn't bear the thought of moving then five children and all the goods TWICE and to be in limbo for an unknown period of time...as renters. It's not that renting is a bad omen, it's just that we've owned a home since 1997 and our thought process was that it would be like going backwards...so we just didn't consider it. Egg on our face now! And so yes, we bought at the peak of the 2006 market here in San Diego and have watched in horror as home values dropped at least 11% in the last year - probably a tad more in our area. It's a sore subject for me, no doubt. Bye, bye equity and really large down payment down the toilet for now.

I guess the real issue is that we recently found 'OUR HOME' ...at least the one we were originally looking for two years ago that didn't exist on the market. You know, the one that fits our family's needs, desires, and tastes perfectly and would have been financially do-able if we still had that great equity and down payment. We're talking 1/3 acre (you just don't find acreage like that in SD North County in a planned development), fantastic neighborhood, privacy, huge backyard, 4100 square feet of NEW greatness, main floor master suite, laundry room that's NOT an entrance from the garage, bonus room for the kids that we can lock them IN along with the xbox, karaoke, guitar, piano, etc; a huge gourmet kitchen complete with GE monogram top-of-the-line appliances, 3rd car garage---along with all the great features we currently have (minus the ocean view). So, because there's no way for us to swing it currently being SUNK in our home, dreaming a little never hurt anyone!

So I'm beginning 2008 focusing on completing the vision I had of this most wonderful home at 1497 Glencrest in the beginning--the house with a lot of panache and style...and make it OURS. Knowing there's no pregnancies in the wings...knowing that I NEED projects to be a sane person, and knowing that OUR HOME with everything we wanted 2 years ago really isn't an option now unless I win the lottery tomorrow which would be a miracle since I've never played the lottery. Maybe I'll start tomorrow. SIGH.... So I'm going to rejoice in this place on Glencrest...you know, the house that somebody else built, but the house in which we call home.

This will be the year of sewing drapes, installing more closet organizers, doing finish-work, decorating the kids rooms and putting my spin on this house like I did our Utah home. I will attempt to spiff-up our home and make it OURS...take ownership and complete the vision of the Glencrest home with a lot of panache and potential. The list is drawn and it's LONG. Now I just need some moolah and fairy dust to make it happen. Stay tuned. Only time will tell how ambitious I will be.

A Birthday Comedy

While making the perfect birthday dinner for Curt, Izzie comes home with a foreign object (polly pocket shoe) shoved up her nostril. She's not too alarmed...still dancing around wondering why she's sneezing every 2 seconds. Dr. Mommie puts down the large serving fork and performs surgery (that same fork just about made it into her nose instead of the tweezers----yum). ER averted..wheeew!

Curt came home from running one of our kids somewhere and went across the street to gather the kids...then UNgracefully tumbles down the Parry's porch stairs, twists his shoulder, gouches his leg, and bonks his head, then limps home with his pride in his back pocket. Happy Birthday, honey. Try watching where you walk next time.

After Curt stumbles home he walks in and the little girls greet him with, "You want some cake?" Before he can answer, they both reach up to the island and just dig their little hands into the cake and pull out a handful...for their daddy to try. YUM. Who needed a pretty cake anyhow? Nothing that a little frosting can't fix.

Curt looks bewildered and outloud wonders 'WHY' when he opens an electric air pump. "Why would I need that when there's Sean across the street who can pump up the kids' balls & tires?" I just gave him an evil stare and said "You're welcome for the useful and very thoughtful gift." (and then jokingly told Bray to go hide the 'big gifts'--the ipod and digital frame, because he didn't deserve them)!

Izzie & Lexie fight over the gifts and who is going to open the next one, (They think it's theirs because it's wrapped in purple), and WHY, when they open it up and it's a dress shirt they look so puzzled that "this is not mine, where's my present, mom!" "No, sweetheart, we don't have Christmas every month."

I labor over a nice dinner and get it all on the table and a quarrel ensues over who sits where and "that's not my job" is the only thing I hear from my monkeys when asked to set the table. Curt is so upset at the kids' attitudes that he has to walk out to avoid saying something he doesn't mean...on his birthday. (The ONLY thing he told the kids he wanted for his birthday was for everyone to get along and there to be NO arguing!) Apparently we got him gifts instead. Then the kids remind me that I said I wasn't doing another big homemade dinner again--just a few short weeks ago (see Christmas Eve post). I should have been the one to walk out.

I place all 39 candles in the yummy homemade cake (with a to-die-for ganache) and just as I light the last one with a quick puff Curt blows them out forgetting that on birthdays we first sing and then get the camera ready. Oh well, no pictures to prove he's actually 39. Maybe he wanted it that way. Guess birthday routines are hard to remember when they happen EIGHT TIMES A YEAR AT OUR HOUSE! Next year, I'll remember to remind him how it goes. (Good thing Curt has a sense of humor and can laugh at himself as I poke fun).

Lexie & Izzie attack Brayden, who is more than 3x their age and wrestle him to the ground...Izzie at the back end has his pants pulled down to his knees, therefore, MOONING all of us in the family room, while Lexie is sitting on his head pinning him to the ground. What a sight! And this boy plays football? My girls are much, much stronger than my boys. No, the camera wasn't ready to go for the bribery pictures..darnit! I want a do-over! We were all rolling laughing so hard.

After being tucked-in for the night, Lexie commissioned Izzie to do her dirty work and beckon Dad (they know I won't oblige) from the top of the stairs for something for them to eat and drink. Didn't I just make a yummy huge meal? See, what's the point when oatmeal and a sippy with chocolate milk is what they want anyway. Lesson learned...again. BTW, she was wearing a Roman hat, and had a sword...really. I guess maybe she thought mommie was going to come instead...smiles....

And as I'm writing this the morning after, I have 4 kids who are screaming at each other--Mons is crying on the ground at the bottom of the stairs having just been pushed down from the top by McKenzie (I guess Monson's related to his Dad). I'm getting yelled at by Iz and Lex to help them get dressed while Iz is pulling my hair trying to style it in her 2-year-old way. Izzie has chocolate frosting and ice-cream all over her body and cake crumbs are strewn from one end of the house to the other. (What's wrong with cake & ice cream for breakfast?) Yes, I'm trying to ignore my children and have tunnel vision so I can finish this post instead. Where are my priorities!!! And WHY do the kids have 3 weeks off school for Christmas??? Obviously the person who designed that certainly doesn't have children. And it's only 9 am...I can tell it's going to be a L O N G day. Gotta go figure out a plan to keep six monkeys busy before one mommie goes insane. I LOVE my children...no really, I do.

When She Dances....

When Isabella dances it turns my world into a more joyful place. I can just see it now... In 60 years when I'm senile & fragile on my deathbed I will say, "Dance for me, Izzie!" to get one last smile in & to be in MY happy place. (Of course, I'm forgetting, that she'll also be a ripe 62!) Seriously, she just makes me laugh and has the ability to turn a sour day into a sweet one--when she dances! Part of our nighttime routine now is to watch Izzie dance so we can all smile. She even manages to sneak in an 'Elaine' (from Seinfeld) move here and there sometimes--you've gotta see her in person au natural without the camera rolling...Miss Joyful Izzie. Love it! (In this video she takes a minute to warm up...after she ditches her cheerleader baby doll and it's not her best work, but still my ever-spunky Isabella!) My girls just all are attracted to that darn bedpost! Time for a new bed. This is an innocent post.

2007 Revelations

• My leather sofa isn't that comfy...and now there's a 'Shay indent' in one side of it from lying on it while on bedrest for 3 long months. Hint, hint...I need a new sectional, please.

• We are not human beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having a human experience.
  

• It's harder to be on the receiving end than the giving end.

• When family is not around, friends pick up the pieces and fill in the gaps.

• FAITH, FAITH FAITH.
  

• The hardest day in my life was letting go of my Izzie & Lexie (then 1 and 2) as I watched them drive away to Utah for six long weeks during a portion of my bedrest...with the unknown ahead of me. They were with the next best thing to mom....beloved 'Ama', but still the toughest six weeks of my life.
  

• I am amazingly blessed and loved.

• Simple pleasures are great...like peeing in the toilet, not in a bedside commode.

• Say hello to Dr. Pepper! Caffeine isn't all bad, apparently. Vivie had high doses of it while just days old for about a month (to help with apnea episodes).
  

• Hospital food, well...just plain sucks.
  

• Miracles happen, but sometimes they require sacrifice.

• Proverbs 3:-5-6. Go read it.
  

• Life is so very precious.
  

• C-sections are for the birds. But narcotics are yummy.
  

• Heavenly Father sustains and is merciful.
  

• The power of the priesthood is real...not a revelation to me, but to the nurses who watched

• The kangaroo hold is magical.

• How to develop even more faith.
  

• Curt is capable of being a single mom.

• When life deals you lemons...make lemonade.

• Narcotics are yummy--oh, did I already say that?
  

• Curt is a VERY patient man...
  

• I could run in circles with Neonatologists, RN's & PA's...and understand & speak the medical jargon.
  

• Learned how to crochet.

• Laptop computers are the worlds greatest convenience...next to comfy mattresses.

• Ab muscles are over-rated anyway.

• NICU nurses are angels on earth, well, most of them.

• Figured out how to handle a home & six kids while driving 1 1/2 hours RT to the hospital to be with Vivie for 100 days. Or maybe I handled it the best way I knew how.
  

• How great it is to pray while lying down. Haven't kicked that method yet.

• Music speaks to me.

• Soduku is kind of fun.

• Foot-rubs are even more fun.
  

• Being a mom is the best calling there is. It's also the most demanding, nail-biting, hair-pulling, most frustrating and under-appreciated calling there is.
  

• How to juggle in a circus...I mean six kids.

• Not a good idea to fly with three girls under 3 years old...solo...while engorged...without a pump.

• Cuddles & loves are NOT over-rated.
  

• Walking is an amazing privilege.

• Eyesight is a beautiful gift.

• Learned how not to flinch at million-dollar hospital bills. Yes, that is plural.

• Laughter is the best medicine...unless it makes you hemorrhage more.
  

• I love photography.

• Blogging is the best form of journaling...and I'm kind of addicted.
  

Happy 2008...here's to NO more pregnancies (yay! Our family has all arrived!), no more hospital stays, MANY more reasons to laugh, moving on to the next phase in life in '08. Looking back, it seems I had a very large share of spiritual things to experience in '07. What a journey it's been!

Vivie's 7 month old photo shoot

I'm a little obsessed with my Nikon D40x camera. Best investment for my kids, handsdown! At least for Vivs. 'Picture Day' is a little insane....I transform whatever room has the best natural lighting at the time and go to town creating my backdrop. Curt was laughing as I hung the black fabric from a lamp and draped it over a chair then shoved her car seat underneath it all for the set. Beats paying a couple hundred to achieve nearly the same results. I need more 'setting' ideas though..any thoughts, my photographer family/friend gurus?

I spend WAY too much time with photoshop and my camera. Case & point...today Lex & Iz came in from playing outside wearing spring tank dresses and flip flops. They think that just because it's sunny outside, it means dress for spring/summer. (It's 55 degrees outside, folks--yes, that's cold for us San Diegans)! They're whole faces extending up to their hair was sticky with candy residue and peanut butter (nice concoction). And then the dirt and whatever else their little hands touch sticks to that residue...and their little arms and faces were freezing cold! I didn't even feed them lunch...they helped themselves to breakfast leftovers and whatever they could find in the snack bin. They really looked like nobody loved them...this is what happens when I get in my 'zone' and put my nose into my computer! Good thing I have an understanding hubby with a sense of humor and neighbors who don't judge me....I guess we'll know for sure if CPS ever gets a phone call:)

ENJOY VIVIE'S LATEST PHOTOS!

Chronicals of Christmas 2007

The Reason for the Season...

Merry Christmas from The McLaughlin Clan

...And on the Santa note...

It was a scale-back, sit-back and relax kind of Christmas...the gifts the monkeys received meant a little more and didn't get thrown to the wayside. It's hard to do that sometimes with all the commercialization not to mention the kids want-lists. Usually they're small and simple, but as the kids are getting older their want-lists are becoming longer and more expensive. Monson went across the street this year to get some help composing his from his 14-year-old friend, Mackynzie. I saw it for the first time today when Santa put it back in his stocking and I laughed out loud so I thought I'd journal it on my blog. It went like this:

Dear Santa,
This year I have been a good boy! For Christmas, I would like a guitar. I would also like a BYU basketball and a sweet sweat band. I would also like it if I could get an ipod nano. I know I sound greedy, but I am only 7. And lastly, I would like it if you could bring me an ipod nano case for the ipod I want.
Love,
Monson McLaughlin

p.s. But don't forget this. I want a Shadow Hawk. I would also want a board sharks surfer. The very last thing I want is a journal. The two very last things I want is world wrestling entertainment. The very last thing I want is a transformer ultimate bumblebee. Thank you Santa for all of the toys you gave me through my hole life.

Okay, so what is a 'sweet sweat band' Didn't know they came in flavors. Or maybe he's just describing the sweat band. I have no clue what anything is in that last paragraph. Can you tell that his 'p.s' was done on his own and not with the help of his 14-year-old friend?! He sure has a lot of very last things. I'm happy to say that Monson received a guitar, basketball and journal...that's pretty much it from Santa, Mom & Dad. All a 7 year old needs!

And I'd like to add, that while the kids are generally good, this last month they've been pushing all the wrong buttons and Santa could have brought a few of them coal once again---This momma isn't a push-over and a few of them came really close at times to experiencing a stocking full of coal for the 2nd time as Mom & Dad checked in with Santa & his elves!

It was nice to be with just our family, but I have to say, I did miss being with extended family members as in years past. Not living in Utah anymore means our home is no longer Grand Central Station and there is an element to that that I miss.

The kids came downstairs one by one, youngest to oldest and this is sheer anticipation-torture to the older ones (I speak from experience-we used to do the same thing). We took turns opening and we were done doing gifts in like 1/2 hour flat. The tornado that whipped through this house just stayed all day while I attempted to nap (yeah right) and the kids came and went as they played with their neighbor friends.

• Bray snapped photos all day with his handy new digital camera--I deleted some pretty nasty ones of me. I really should get out of my pj's more often.
  
• Kenz listened to my ipod all day with her boyfriend i-pillow (crazy name for her pbkids pillow that has ipod speakers).
  
• Mons fiddled with his guitar and managed to break a string already.
  
• The little girls took orders for making fake-baked meals in their new kitchen and talked on fake phones and received pedicures from big idol-sis, McKenzie.
  
• I finally did Viviana's 7-month-old photo shoot....update soon to come.
  
• We all gorged on pastries, hoot-nanny pancakes, muffins, OJ, egg nog, english toffee, peppermint bark, pecan bars and so much more.
  
• I'm adopting Allison's puzzle tradition---so it's gracing our table and keeping McKenzie, Izzie & me busy tonight.
• The boys are watching movies after eating pizza...more like a normal McLaughlin dinner! Sad, but true. It is the #1 staple in our home next to chicken dinosaurs. Yes, I'm 'that' kind of mom.

Merry Christmas to all! Can't wait for the clean up tomorrow!

The Sounds of Christmas Eve

I felt like it was a scene out of "The Best Christmas Pagaent Ever" starring our children. We're not formal dining people. I don't know a family with six little ones that really is. But once a year we attempt it and once I year I get really ticked off when after spending all day preparing a beautiful and lavish meal for my family, I hear the belch, the toot...heck, in unison...it's a regular bodily function choir at my house. If me and my five brothers were to act that way as little ones our fannies would have been kicked to high-heaven for sure! And I know Curt's would have too. Are we creating little monkeys that just don't have manners? Some would think so. We should have dressed up for Christmas Eve--that would have probably made a difference in their manners.

At one point, Izzie was dancing around the table (not on the table, yeah, I know, surprise) while Monson had his feet up on his chair stuffing a roll into his pocket (they're REALLY yummy), but hey, we don't ration things around here, so what gives? And Bray was letting out a belch so loud (thanks to the sparkling grape cider) I think we woke up the mice in the garage while my sweet McKenzie was tooting, yes, tooting!! I think for me it's just spending so much time on a meal that gets partially picked at in like 2 minutes flat and goes appreciated only by Curt...which is why I miss cooking for my extended adult family on holidays like this. It's the shouts of "we want chicken dinos and pb& j!" that are the worst! Or, "Mommie, can we be done yet?!"

Everyone wanted to move on to the 'good part.' That is, the Christmas Program: The Nativity Puppets and Scripture account of the birth of our Savior along with the hymns we sing. Then of course Curt reading Twas The Night Before Christmas, and opening Christmas Eve jammies and our gift exchange with each other. It's all the anticipation, and eating was a mere formality at that point. They could have skipped it and gone with cereal and life would have been just dandy...for all of us! Maybe that will be our new tradition...breakfast on Christmas Eve. Doesn't take 3 hours to prepare!

We sang together out of tune and off pitch, but I love it that our kids love our Christmas Eve program and that they really get what it's all about. How grateful I am for the humble beginnings of our dear Savior, for the simplicity of the story and message. Oh, and on a commercialized note, for NASA's Santa tracker...my kids were all over that! He had already visited the cousins in Palm Bay, Florida and Boston, Mass by the time the kids went to bed. What fun technology brings!

On a side note, I was actually proud of my kids Sunday night when we had the opportunity to be Santa's Elves and deliver good cheer and bring a sense of happiness & hope to several women on bedrest at Mary Birch Hospital, where I was 8 months ago. They were really well-behaved and so excited to cheer up these women that were in a difficult place on Christmas. That's what Christmas is about and I'm grateful that we can do simple things to get everyone involved and serve as a family. I hope they each remember what that feels like and that we can do big projects more often than just in this season.

This Little Piggy

Last night Izzie and Lexie took turns telling their version of The Little Piggies to Curt with his fingers. It went like this:

This little piggy went shopping to da store
This little piggy played in da mud
This little piggy took a bath cause he was smelly
This little piggy went to da hospital
And this little piggy went all da way ta home...waaaawaaaawaaaa (in Izzie's hillarious fake cry voice) -had to be there I guess. My girls are so funny-they keep this house a-hoppin'!

...In hopes that St. Nicholas soon will be here...

They're finally done...well almost. I've been putting off this project for 3 years now--since Lexie's 1st Christmas. Only personalized stockings for Mom, Dad, and the three oldest have adorned the fireplace --poor Lexie & Izzie! I wanted antique- looking stockings with the traditional red velvet...so 7 years ago I purchased enough fabric for 8 stockings knowing that #'s 4, 5, and 6 would come someday. I drew out the design and figured out how to put them together--lined and all. I mis-calculated and had to hunt for more fabric, trim, and ribbon this year. Each one is a little different, but not on purpose--only because I am not a perfectionist, and because I'm just not as intelligent as I used to be. Not that I ever was a genius or anything.

The bigger part is that I just feel DUMB. I'm serious. Pregnancy does something to the brain and you never regain those cells again. I've been pregnant seven times so I figure that's a lot of lost brain cells. Am I alone in this feeling of dumbness? Is that even a word??? I need to read some more books! Hopefully my lost 'smarts' transferred in-utero to my kids. I just couldn't figure out how I once-upon-a-time had put these stockings together with the fold-over cuff, the lining, etc. I literally had to take mine apart in order to put the little girls' together. It's not like they're a difficult needle-point or anything! After two days laboring on them, they're done...and I swear they weren't this difficult the first time around!

Once I put them up I just stood back in amazement. I don't know why it doesn't just sink in--I have SIX beautiful children! (and we need a new portrait, Katie!) Six plus Mom & Dad makes eight. Eight stockings on our fireplace---not room for even one more. At least I know simple math. Maybe I'm not so dumb. But I am tired. Eternally tired...or so it seems. But that's a pretty grand picture of a complete family of 8 stockings. At least it is to me. Santa has been REALLY busy this year. Hope he makes it to the McLaughlin home to fill those little labors of love!

Harbor Parade of Lights

Sunday eve we joined the SD crowds to experience the parade of lights on the boats cruising the harbor. The kids had a blast playing around with the Searles, but the lights weren't at all fantastic... Next year we'll head to Newport Beach's parade of lights for a real show! We were in good company and the kids were happy, so parents were happy...the end. And since we're not sending out a lovely Christmas card this year, this photo in front of the massive tree made of poinsettias will have to suffice. Wow, they're really all ours!

Christmas Stories

Curt has always been the 'story-teller' in the family. I have memories of him reading to Brayden while rocking him when he was a little bean at 3 days old! Most nights in December Curt will read a Christmas story to the kids. Our favorite one is "I Believe in Santa Claus." It compares Santa Claus to Christ and just gets one to think about Santa in a different light...after that, how can one NOT believe!!??!! On another note, Isabella always finds something to dance about and does her thing--- merrily. LOVE HER!

Little Christmas Treasures???

Now that half our kids are literate (that sounded bad...like they ever were illiterate?!) Let me start again. Now that most of our kids are old enough to express themselves by writing/drawing, etc. we started a new tradition this year that I HOPE will be a treasure.

Every Family Home Evening in December (starting last night) we will set aside time to write notes/thoughts to each other and place in one another's stockings. We all started writing a note/thought to Brayden. Next will be McKenzie. The kids can stick little random notes in each other's stockings throughout the week, but everyone is to receive one from each family member. No one is to peak at them or read them until Christmas morning. The main idea is that along with Santa's loot, we will all have special notes from each other to read when we open our stockings!

This way, Christmas day is filled with treasures and special thoughts...along with all the gifts. My hope is that this will help our children to think about serving and helping each other and to look outside of themselves during this 'all I want for Christmas' commercialized season. My aim is for this to bring an extra feeling of happiness, togetherness, and peace to this household that I typically refer to as organized chaos!

It will be nice to have these little treasures for years to come...if they can be civilized enough to write thoughtful notes to each other instead of expluratives that often come out of their mouths to each other! Why is it that during November & December the kids seem to test the boundaries and Mom & Dad's tolerance? Every year! Last year McKenzie & Monson got COAL in their stockings...no kidding. We'll see if we can avert that craziness this year!

Last week I HAD it with the things they were saying to each other and how they were treating one another. So, for FHE we made a LONG list of words and phrases that were being banned from our home. I won't share them on my blog because you might just think we're terrible parents (no, they weren't swear words, but when you read them all at once in a row they're pretty offensive and made me laugh out loud in bewilderment because it's amazing the things they learn to say).

Anyway, the incentive was that if they could get to Christmas Eve with only 5 offenses then they would earn a 'prized gift' that they each picked out and really wanted. Bribery? Yup. Sometimes it works. By day THREE two of the kids were out already. Any guesses? Our neighbor brought over his cool air hockey table for the kids to use and that caused 1/2 the problem. We know now that Santa isn't bringing air hockey anytime soon! I tried. Any other ideas? It's hard to be a parent to so many age groups! My fear is that my three sweet little girls will turn out demented by listening to and watching their older siblings much of the time. They're all growing up MUCH TOO FAST! Help!

Peppermint Bark, Anyone?

Peppermint bark, anyone? This has become one of my favorite Christmas treat specialties and traditions over the last few years. It's simple to make, but there are a few key things you have to do for it to set up correctly. I think it rivals Williams Sonoma's version and even comes out on top...just ask Curt & the kids who got to be my tasters tonight! And it has a better price tag for sure! A big key is to let the kids stir the chocolate, unwrap and crush the candy canes with a mallet, and the best part, lick the bowls...otherwise I will! For those that didn't come to my cookie exchange last year or the year before (my Utah buddies), here's the trusty recipe. You may just be one of the lucky recipients of a special tin full of Shay's peppermint bark this year. The assembly line has begun and this is my way of spreading some cheer this year (since I'm breaking my SIX YEAR tradition of hosting my annual Cookie Exchange (weep, weep--kind of sad for me...gotta know when to say WHEN though!) Chocolate & peppermint don't have calories or fat, right? Just checking.

Peppermint Bark

1 1/2 lbs. semi-sweet chocolate (high-quality like Ghiradelli)
1 1/4 lbs. white chocolate
1 1/2 cups crushed candy canes or peppermint candy
2 drops peppermint extract or to taste
parchment paper

Cut parchment paper to fit 12x17 jelly roll pan, place inside. Slowly melt semi-sweet chocolate in double broiler or microwave, at 30 second intervals--stir and repeat until melted and smooth. Add a few drops (to taste) of peppermint extract to the chocolate and stir until well distributed. Chill for about an hour--(very important step). Crush the candy until there's a mixture of chunky and finely crushed pieces. Once the dark chocolate is chilled, melt the white chocolate in the same manner. Add about 1 cup of peppermint candy to the mixture and combine well. Let the white chocolate cool to almost room temperature, but still fluid enough to work with. Spread evenly over the dark chocolate layer, then dust the top with the remaining candy. Chill to set. Use the blunt tip of a table knife to cut the bark into desired pieces. Store in an airtight container--in the fridge or a cool place and spread some holiday cheer!!!! Yield: lots!

Helpful Tips: I recommend Trader Joe’s Ghiradelli chocolate. For the white chocolate try the Trader Joe's white chocolate chips. All these amounts are really approximate. Sometimes I use a bit more semi-sweet chocolate, sometimes less. Do what works for you! The dark chocolate comes in ½-¾ lb. chunks...shave them with a sharp knife before placing in the microwave. The key to the layers not separating is chilling the layers completely before adding the next, and before cutting. My best batches have a mixture of regular bittersweet chocolate (Ghiradelli) and semi sweet chocolate mint wafers made by Wiltons found at Michaels Stores. I still add a few drops of peppermint extract for that extra umphhh! The mint chocolate UFO's once found at Trader Joes are the best, but no longer available--I think I cried when I learned that this year:) And don't forget to bring me some too:) Ours will run out all too soon.

Being Graceful is Overrated Anyway

It must be a rite of passage in the McLaughlin family that at some point our children MUST bang their heads so hard that they actually have an indent from whatever table, chair, stool, bed, floor, etc they hit that immediately swells to a goose egg. And there's a requirement...it HAS to be in the middle of the forehead--you know, a place that hair doesn't typically cover. It doesn't quite draw blood, but I'm sure it shakes that brain of theirs to either make them smarter and wiser or maybe lose a few brain cells? Jury is still out on that one...

Sometimes the war wound stays...forever, as in McKenzie's shiner - right smack in the middle of her otherwise beautiful forehead. I don't remember how she even got that one...probably as clumsy as her mom (aka ME) and ran into the corner of a wall or something when she was a toddler.

Brayden took a dive when he was not quite big enough to sit on his own. I decided to be the cute mom and got excited to take an Easter picture of my first baby...he was 7 months old and capable of sitting, well, sort of. I got him posed all cute on a chair, stepped away to snap the photo, and waalaa...wasn't as balanced as I thought...PLOP..head first onto the hard floor without anything to break his fall but yup, you guessed it, the middle of his noggin. Curt never forgave me for that one--GREAT Easter Pics we got that year. Luckily his wasn't as bad and went away. Now it's just comical and expected when it happens to the younger ones.

Mons spilled out of so many cars, off skateboards, playsets, tumbled down so many stairs over the years that I can't even remember where his war wounds are--I'm sure he takes the cake. In fact, if you feel the back of his head there's a bump so big you'd think it's part of his skull...nope, goose-egg that never went away.

Just the other day Mons pushed Lex (he says it was a 'hug' push..whatever that means!) and she fell smack dab into the edge of the coffee table. When she came up from the fall everyone in unison went "aaahhhhhhhh" because it was that bad. Total indent on the forehead and as we stared we could see the goose-egg form and turn colors. Pretty cool. Nothing a little motrin & DMSO can't help! Just a tidbit...growing up my gma & mom always had this handy dandy supplement called DMSO on hand. It's what is used on racing horses to help with their bruising and sore muscles...it's a little miracle thing you rub onto a bruise or a closed wound and it just heals faster and doesn't bruise as much.

And then two nights ago...Izzie decides she needed a stool for something so she began to pick up this stool that's as big as her (have I told you how strong all my girls are? they have their mommie's genes:). So she trips while carrying it and goes tumbling HARD onto the stool and yup, big 'ole shiner on the forehead! OUCH!

Luckily, we're still waiting for Vivie to declare herself!

Update: We're carryng that clutz theme over to arms, etc. Bray was playing hoops across the street yesterday...tripped over a skateboard, and landed on his wrist in the gutter. I just thought he was being a wuss when he ran home screaming and continued complaining ALL NIGHT! Curt took him to the ER thinking it could be a fracture with the throbbing pain he had still this morning. He sprained it...it's his right hand so no more violin, no writing that book report due Friday (he's boo-hooing about that one!) And no more baseball at recess & P.E.!

It's An Apron...It's A Smock...

This is what I've been up to lately...besides saving a baby mouse and making our home look festive for Christmas. I borrowed Bailey Searle's little apron and made a pattern for it...then went to work! How cute are these little apron smocks?! Of course, the lovely Isabella is modeling hers for me. And they're completely reversible so if one side gets too stained, flip it! I figure all my girls can wear them for art projects, helping in the kitchen (which they LOVE to do), and eating sloppy foods (since they won't wear bibs)

Although, they're so cute, I don't know that I want to see them get stained!!! Sometimes we just have to let things go... They're actually cute enough to wear with a tee underneath with jeans... maybe I'm on to something! I have to say though, it wasn't my idea---saw how darling and practical it was on Bailey and I also saw a similar one on mayfly.com. I kind of went all crazy with the pockets all embellished and cutesy. Now, I just have to figure out how to adapt the pattern for big people! I want one!

Meet our new live-in named MICKEY

update: I came home today & the mouse had already died...maybe it was the glass shards from the fall, or a broken rib----or a broken heart! Just kidding, but now at least I don't have to look at it and wonder what in the world we're going to do with the baby rodent!

It's no secret that with the beauty and comfort of So. Cal. also comes residents of the rodent variety aka mice. They've lived here even long before we moved in and apparently find it quite nice. We have set out traps (yes, the inhumane kind) and recently we put out bait. The whole idea is that they're supposed to nibble at the poison food and then go off to die. So the trick is finding dead mice in nooks and crannies they call home and I call MY STUFF!

Right before Vivie came home we pulled her cradle, stroller and bouncy chair out of the garage only to find that a mouse had eaten through each of these items, leaving months worth of poop along the way--embedded in my fabric. We found the culprit crushed at the bottom of the cradle. GROSS! I had to ditch these baby items and scrounge to get replacements.

Through the summer the battle of the mice not only cost me those baby items, it cost me a handbag (it was left in the garage with diapers, etc. to grab & go.) And I'm sure we've yet to find other goods the mice have adopted as their own.

This morning Curt walked outside and found a mouse scurrying about the kids toys strewn on the garage floor and chucked it into the trash just in time for the garbage truck to take him to his new home at the dump. Apparently the more humane poison doesn't work fast enough because the boogers are multiplying like rabbits and then leaving their babies to fend for themselves.

I must be a very compassionate person. This afternoon as I walked outside to take Lexie to preschool, I was stunned to see a baby mouse huddled on the driveway slowly turning in circles, but still brand new (I'm certain it was a preemie like Vivie!!!) enough that it could not open his eyes or move much. I grabbed my camera, and as I slouched to shoot the pic little Mickey cried! I do not have the heart to send this baby away to the dump so I grabbed a mason jar and he has found a new home. The only problem is Izzie & Lexie are INTENT on petting this creature.

UPS came with a huge delivery so I had them deposit the goods in the garage. The brown-uniformed guy accidentally knocked my baby mouse jar and it went splattering to the ground! I'm sure they thought I'm just a little weird housing a critter like that in a jar. I'm just sure the poor thing now has a broken rib or something--I feel SO bad! As I scooped him back off the ground, he let out more cries--I couldn't bear it! It's now in a new jar-home with little slivers of glass on its furry back and a few cheerios to nibble at.

Curt thinks I'm demented because no matter how much destruction those dumb little mice have caused, I can't bring myself to hurt this one anymore and chuck it. You'll see...when Curt gets home and sees this refugee he will take pity on it too. I know the other kids will love to see it to. And I guess I already know what mice eat---pretty much anything in my garage!

I don't know what's worse--watching the baby mouse die while trying to save it or letting it die at my own hands by leaving it in the trash can!!! Can't do it! Maybe the green poison food will find its way into the jar this afternoon---at least then it will die with a full tummy!