Made in China

One of my favorite recent events is Ellie coming barreling down the stairs, rushing into the kitchen and exclaiming, "mom, guess WHAT?!" Imagine excitement in her voice equal to none other than a real live fairy in her bedroom and, as the same time, the urgency of a major emergency. This is BIG news she has to share.

"FIVE of my Webkinz were made in CHINA!!!" I can't even make those words big enough or do enough exclamation marks to portray the magnitude of her statement. In fact, she was so over-the-top exhuberant that I wondered for a minute whether she was excited or not about her stuffed animals' birth place. So I casually asked, "Is that a good thing?"

"YES!!!" Breathlessly, she ran back upstairs to revel in her new knowledge. And so began her love affair with all imported toys. Some are even HANDMADE in China. What I'd love is to get inside her 5 year-old head and see what China looks like to her. A veritable elf's toy shop, I'm sure! I've kept my cynical adult mouth shut. Soon enough she can worry about the political implications of international manufacturing. For now, Ellie feels rich. After all, she has her very own exotic toy collection.

my highly-sought after, classified notes

Last night I went to a fireside given by Sister Julie Beck, Relief Society General President. I'm not sure why she was in the area, but it was worth the long drive up to north Seattle to hear her speak. The Stake President up there started by reading a letter from the First Presidency back in 2004 about not quoting or sharing notes from firesides like this one. I won't disobey, but I did want to share a couple favorite things - in my own words and from my own perspective. Nothing "classified," I promise. :)

She talked about how she talks to sisters around the world and gets the sense that we all have this DREAM. And we're feeling like we're never going to get there. For some of us it's children or marriage or a successful career or a prettier house or whatever. She said that the Lord never promised us the Dream in this life. He promised an EXPERIENCE. And it's going to be difficult, but that's what makes it so wonderful. I liked that perspective.

I really enjoyed seeing her as a real person. Her husband was there, too - it was nice to hear from him for a minute. Sister Beck talked about her thoughts after being called to be the RS General Pres and how her first thoughts/prayer was, "this is going to be hard. I need happy counselors!" She said she isn't always happy, that she worries about things and Sister Allred will tell her, "don't worry about it! It's all going to work out." She said she makes a list of 25 things to do, does 24 and kicks herself about that last one. :) I could definitely relate to that!

She taught that Rebecca's courage and persistence made it possible for the House of Israel to come about. Jacob had the keys of the priesthood to lead, but it was his mother that helped ensure he received the birth-order blessing. I'd never thought of it that way. She talked a lot about our unique and important role as women in the Church.

And probably my favorite part of the night was when she asked us to get our scriptures out and I cringed - no scriptures, what was I THINKING? She had everyone hold theirs up and I wanted to crawl under the bench. She kind of laughed and teased the rest of us for beating ourselves up about it. "You came tonight! You drove all this way to come on a Saturday night and you're feeling like a failure because you didn't bring your scriptures? Be grateful others brought them for you to share!" Great lesson.

It was a wonderful evening - we carpooled and got to visit all the way up there, had awesome seats reserved for us by a friend who came earlier. I saw old friends, sat by current friends, heard Sister Beck - what could be better? Thanks to Derek for watching the kids from oh, 3:00 pm til 8:30 so I could go. I conveniently made it home just as the kids were tucked into bed - sweet! :)

the words right out of my mouth

My goal for 2009 is to BE NICE. No more yelling, grumpy nagging, etc... Okay, how 'bout just LESS of those things. I know I'll never get rid of them all together. (I am an oldest child, after all. I was born to nag!) Maybe I'll even try to be fun once in a while. I found this wonderful article you've GOT TO READ if you've ever felt so frustrated with your kids you thought you might explode. Not that any of you have that problem... :)

She says it just like it is. I love the part about being a good parent 80% of the time and not worrying about the 20% of the time when you're not. Just what I needed to hear.

our most prolific writer

I wish it was me. If I blogged more, if I could only write that fabulous piece of fiction I dream of. Sigh. Maybe someday.... Until then, Lydia takes the cake around here. The first one is in the style of a newspaper ad, she told me. Inspired by Kit, the American Girl, I do believe. I found it taped to the fridge one day.



I was so worried I immediately began the search. Crying for a WHOLE day! That would be sad. After a good 10 minutes of search and rescue, I found her German shepherd webkinz in a laundry basket I'd used to accumulate all the things downstairs that belong upstairs. Did she throw a party? Did she dance and sing? NO. I forgot. I'm just the mom. She said, "where did you find it?" and didn't even get up from her movie. At least she's just got the flare for writing with feeling, right?

This next piece is from last Friday, I think. She watched the sunrise on my bed when she woke up and told me at breakfast she wanted to write a poem about it. So she did! And gave one to her teacher, too. I was so proud of her.



AND she's writing her blessings in her journal every night, like Elder Eyring taught. I sure love this girl. Maybe I'll be a writer when I grow up, too.

For the Love

My real-life and blogging friend, Merideth, does these great "For the LOVE of Friday" blogs. I'm stealing her idea even though it's NOT Friday at all.

I LOVE the way my painting project in Carver and Grace's room turned out, how wonderful it felt to patch the dents in the wall created by countless rambunctious rides on the rocking chair, how clean it looked after I painted over Carver's MANY cave drawings on the wall (some by harmonica, some by a mysterious red toy). Obviously, his bed needs some work. Making a duvet cover is next on the list for "someday."



Carver and Grace LOVE their yum-yums. Yes, the pacifier has returned in full force. It's a long story, but the bottom line is that sometimes moms are wrong. Not very often, but it happens time to time. :) And Carver LOVES his "nest" for naptime on my bed. He loves his yum-yum so much sometimes he tries two at a time.





We all LOVED our 2008 awards on New Year's Eve. I tried SO hard to keep them "equal" in number and significance. Oh, how the kiddos beam when you put a paper award around their neck! It's so much fun.





I never blogged about how much we LOVED having my parents come before Christmas. Grandma and Grandpa make everything special. My sister came, too, so guess what? There was 1 adult to every child around here! Now that is a ratio that makes EVERYTHING possible. It was so much fun. Cookies, sewing, crafts, stories, fudge - we packed it all in 2 of the BEST days in December.







And I LOVE that school starts on TUESDAY! Hip, hip, HURRAY!