Mom, What Do You Know About Tigers?

Today I learned something new about tigers. Benjamin, who is forever asking questions, asked me how old tigers were this morning. In an effort to answer his scientific question, I searched the web and found this fact page about tigers. We learned that tigers in the wild live between 10 to 15 years and tigers that live in zoos can live between 16 to 20 years. I also learned that the gestation period of tigers is 16 weeks and litters are usually 3 or 4 cubs. Additionally, tigers way an average of 660 pounds with the female being smaller than the male and they can get up to 13 feet long. Hmmm . . . . you learn something new every day.

Random Picture with Random Updates

I hate spiders! However, there were a lot of them around this summer when I was trying to learn how to take Macro pictures. The jumping spiders, like the one in the pictures, are harmless but they can jump pretty far. Anyway, this was a picture I took during my photography class that didn't get put in my portfolio.

Now, on to the random updates.

1. I got over my fine issues with the library. They have relaxed a bit, or become more regulated, on how they apply fines. I have been more aware of the condition of the materials I check out, and we are now checking out twice as many books as we did before. If I only bring home 10 books at a time, the kids have me read them all the same day we get home and want to go to the library to get more books.
2. Benjamin and Bekah ask to be read books all day long. They often don't want to be read the same book twice, unless they really like it, and that is why we check out so many books. This has also helped increase Benjamin's reading capabilities. He can recognize about half the alphabet by sight whether the letter is upper or lower case, and he recognizes all of his numbers 0 through 10 and is starting to recognize and understand higher numbers. Bekah's vocabulary is booming! It is fun to be reading her a book and hear her say a new word that was just read to her. It is great that we are starting to develop two way communication more fully.
3. My root canal went well. My mouth is still sore, but not in near as much pain as it was beforehand. I will have my permanent crown put on in about 10 days or so. Thank goodness for insurance that helps pay for expensive procedures!
4. My elbow is getting closer and closer to being back to normal. I still can't straighten my arm or throw like I used to but it is getting closer. I can lift and sew and knead bread again without my whole arm hurting. My scar is even healing nicely, which is really good since the doctor had to open up my arm at least 1/3 of the way. The major downer part is that the metal in my elbow makes my elbow doubly sensitive. Hitting my funny bony is REALLY painful! That part is getting better with time as well and I am hoping that I won't need another surgery in the coming months to remove it.
5. I am looking forward to planting a garden this summer and not having to deal with moving during harvest time. I am hoping that the snow will melt a little bit more so I can finish putting my flower beds and garden box in before I need to plant some things. I didn't get that project finished because I broke my elbow and didn't get released from the doctor until after the snow covered the yard.
6. Speaking of finishing projects, I have 3 stars left on Mary and Gary's quilt. Considering I started that on January 9th of this year, I would say that is quite a feat to finish it in just under a month. (I am planning on doing the last three stars today and I will post pictures of it later). Usually, I start a project, focus on it, and get about 75% of the way done before I let it just sit there for a while before I go back and finish it. I am semi out of projects at the moment, but I need to get caught up on my scrapbooking and I have enough of every day life to keep me busy.
7. While I was working on quilts the last few months I listened to some good books on CD. After we came home from the wedding I realized it had been a while since I had actually sat down to read a book, even though I checked out a bunch from the library. I decided that one of my new priorities is taking time each day to read a good book. I read "Magyk" by Angie Sage over the last few days and it reminded me how fun it is to read books and let your mind create the voices of the characters and picture what is going on. (By the way, this was a fun book! I really enjoyed and am now reading the second book in the series, "Flyte." I highly recommend them to anyone who likes to read about magic.) I LOVE to read books and am always looking for books with a good, clean story line. I am really disappointed when I check out a book that sounds good and find it talks about sex graphically, uses foul language, or has other graphic descriptions about the disgusting things in this world. I am thankful for the GoodReads.com website that has allowed me to connect with my friends and see what they are reading. I have found a number of books I don't think I would have found otherwise and it has given me a little more direction on looking for books when I go to the library.
8. The vampires called me again to ask me to donate blood. That is, the Red Cross called to invite me to a local blood drive. I don't even have to remember when it has been more than 60 days between donations because they usually call me when I am elgible to donate again.
9. Bekah has finally reached the Terrific Twos and is an expert on scolding her brother and throwing tantrums. Benjamin has reached a new stage of independence that consists of doing what he wants, when he wants, and talking back to his parents. We are working hard on being kind, patient, and understanding. I have to admit that I do better on some days, but not most days. Oh the lessons children will teach you!

I think that is all the updates I have. I didn't feel like each one needed their own post.

Food Storage

Food storage. Is it important? Yes. Does it take time, effort, and planning? Yes. Is it do-able? Yes.

Over and over again, we are encouraged, and commanded, to have food storage. I don't know about anyone else, but the concept of having a one year supply of food is financially, emotionally, and spacially overwhelming. Especially when we lived in a small apartment with limited storage and financial resources and a small child who got into everything.

Then as we moved to larger living spaces we still had the financial restraints. How were we suppose to build up our food storage if we didn't have the money to do so? I'll tell you how, by having faith and acting on that faith.

In one of the main lectures and presentations we have heard about food storage, I finally heard soemthing useful that applied to use in our situation. What was that advice? Buy a little more each time you go to the store.

Wow! What a concept! I didn't have to go buy a year's supply of food tomorrow. I could do it a little bit at a time. I could start with small goals like enough food to last for one month since I usually bought enough food to last two weeks. This made an amazing difference for us.

Instead of buying one bottle of jam, I would buy two. Instead of two or three boxes of cereal, I would buy four or five. I would watch for case lot sales, save for them, and buy cases of things we use on a regular basis. Instead of buying cans of things we don't eat or know how to use just to store because we needed to have 'food storage' I buy things that store well for long periods of time that we actually eat. I look for ways to use food storage items like powdered milk, learned how to can fruits, and planted a garden. We also bought a freezer so we could keep more meats and frozen vegetables on hand. I have also practiced rotating food and using food before the expiration dates so that the money spent on the food does not go wasted.

What did I do about limited space to store food? I got creative. I bought inexpensive wire shelves that can be rearranged into different configurations instead of expensive metal shelves, and put them in a storage closet or a corner of my kitchen. I used my 18 gallon Rubbermaid totes to store flour, sugar, and other such items, in because they were air tight and stack nicely and look neat when stacked in a corner. I used rooms that company does not go into to stack and store food. If you are the only one who sees it, who cares what it looks like? I also used less visible corners in other rooms to store the canned goods. Like under a built in desk that was behind a shelf or entertainment center.

Do we have our 1 year food storage? No, not yet. Are we closer? Yes. Have we learned a lot about food storage, planning ahead, and budgeting? Yes.

I started building up our food storage about 4 years ago. It has been a slow process due to some financial set backs and changes, but it is still a process. We are moving forward and we continue to have faith that we can do it a little bit at a time. It is amazing to me to look at where we are now and reflect on where we were even a few months ago. We have truly been able to accomplish the goal of building up our food storage. The Lord will truly bless those who move forward in faith even if they do not know if what they set out to is possible. With the Lord's help, anything is possible.

To sum this post up, buy a little extra of what you get at the store each time you go and you will be surprised at how fast your food storage can build up and grow. It is possible!

Super Bowl Sunday

Yes, we went to a SuperBowl party. No, I don't particularly like football or follow the NFL. The part I like is the tradition of getting together with friends and eating really yummy food. We have gone to Jeff and Shara's house for three years now for Superbowl Sunday. (I have to admit that I was excited when there was a rumor about it becoming Superbowl Saturday, but oh well.) It is a fun tradition that we look forward to every year. Thanks for having us!

Winter Zoo Trip

Drinking hot chocolate after making pine cone bird feeders.

Proof that you can learn something new every time you go to the zoo:

Benjamin & Bekah seeing how they measure up to the size of a gorilla.

The monkeys liked their indoor habitats to keep them out of the cold snow. They were very active jumping all around the branches.

Look! Bears really do live at the zoo!

Snow Leopard snoozing

Checking out the Lynx through the viewing window at "Grandma's House"

The Leopard was prowling at the viewing window.

The cats are definitely more active during the winter.

A couple of Saturdays ago, between our anniversary and Mary's wedding, we went to a Winter with the Cats activity at the zoo. It was a rainy day, but the cloud cover made the temperature warmer than usual. The zoo was also less busy than usual, so it was a relaxing family activity.

In the winter, the cougars, leopards, tigers, etc. tend to be more active. This Saturday there was free hot chocolate, bird feeder making (I don't know what that had to do with the cats. Maybe it was because cats chase birds?), and information presentations about the cats. Benjamin and Bekah were able to touch real leopard and tiger furs, the safe kind of samples not the kind bought at the store or alive. We also saw the other animals that were in their winter habitats.

The Northern Reception

Oh! How nice!

Bekah was helping play the background music with one of Mary's old roommates.

Posing for pictures just like Mommy

(I'll have to get those pictures from the bride later.)

The Bride's Parents

(I was trying to take pictures while Bekah was sitting on my lap. Not the best shot. Oh well.)

All the pretty nieces in matching dresses.

Joy made all of the dresses from the fabric and pattern Mary picked out at Christmas time.

We had a busy week last week. On Wednesday, everyone was at our house for Mary's bridal shower and as a stopping point before continuing north for the wedding. On Thursday, we all traveled north for Mary to go through the temple and receive her endowment. On Friday, Michael and I (along with other family and friends) attended Mary and Gary's temple sealing where they were married for time and all eternity. After which we had a barbeque luncheon.

We took a break between the luncheon and the reception, and checked into a hotel with an indoor swimming pool. Our little family went swimming with Joy and Kristina while my Grandma and Mom watched. The kids loved it! It was a great way for them to use some of their energy doing something they enjoyed.

That evening we went to the reception in a beautifully decorated cultural hall in Gary's hometown. We ate yummy food and visited with friends and family. My children discovered that if they smiled and said please and thank you to the ladies in the kitchen they could get food handed to them without Mom and Dad knowing. The ladies said our children were too cute and polite to resist. Stinkers!

Thank you, Mary and Gary, for letting us share your special day with you. Good luck on this new step in your life!

P.S. Thank you, Mom, Dad, Grandma, Joy & Kristina, for taking our kids so we could have a night off. Love you!

Congratulations, Mary & Gary!

Bridal Shower Pictures

We had an Oasis themed shower. Why? What do you do when it is cold outside? Think about having fun, someplace warm.

Marriette & Jennilee

We played "Pin the Tie on the Groom"

(we just used tape though, no damage to the wall or the groom)

Mandy, Ellie, and Marque

Lyndee and Dawnee

Benjamin dancing with Bekah in her dress for the wedding.

Bekah playing games with the 'girls'

Tyler & Benjamin wanted to play the tie game.

It was fun to have so many friends together to help Mary prepare for this new stage in her life. Thanks to everyone who came!

Dental Work

I am not a big fan of having my teeth worked on. Maybe that is because my first dental appointment was when I was seven and the dentist had to pull out my baby tooth, root and all, because my other tooth was coming in behind it. Then when I was in the 2nd or 3rd grade I had crooked teeth and found out I could straighten them by myself using my tongue, no need for braces. The next time I remember going to the dentist was when I was 16 or 17 and it felt so gross to have my teeth cleaned. All that gunk going down your throat, yuck! So I'm not very good about seeing a dentist regularly.

I would have to say that I am very lucky to have experienced minimal tooth problems in my life. I have only been to the dentist about half a dozen times in my life time. The last time I went to the dentist, until yesterday, was right around the time I graduated from high school. I haven't felt the need to because I don't have cavities and we haven't been able to afford having my wisdom teeth pulled.

Unfortunately, all of this lack of desire to take the time to address preventative care has left me with a very big problem. I am having a root canal done and a crown put on this week because I have a tooth that has rotted out and a nerve that has died.

It has been a painful experience the last week or so with the constant tooth and jaw pain. I finally did some research online to see what could be going on and determined that I would probably need a root canal. When I called to make my appointment I told the doctor that I would probably need a root canal and he asked me how I knew that. I responded that according the research I had done and where and what the pain was I believed that is what needed to happen. He said that he could get me in for a diagnostic examination in the afternoon.

When it was my turn to meet with the doctor, he looked at me and looked at my X-ray and said that I was right about needing a root canal. He then asked me if I went to some weird website online to do my research. I responded with, "No. I looked it up on Wikipedia.com. I have found that they have the most accurate and reliable information." To which, my dentist's expression said, "Oh." I guess it is not every day that you have a patient with very limited dental experience diagnose themselves accurately without exaggeration.

The other funny part about today's appointment was that the dentist explained to me that while he is very sorry to have to do a root canal on me, he is kind of excited because it is one of his favorite procedures. I guess that is why he is a dentist, and I am not. There is nothing about someone else's teeth that excites me beyond seeing them stay in the other person's mouth far away from me.

So I will be having oral surgery and repairs done on my tooth this week. I am not overly thrilled, but I am excited to be done with the pain and be able to use all of my mouth again. This will be my first experience of being in the dental chair for longer than 20 minutes and real pain. Wish me luck!

Giving and Receiving Service

Over the last few months I have had the opportunity to not only give service, but be on the receiving end as well. I think sometimes we forget that it is almost as beneficial to others to have the opportunity to serve as it is for them to receive service.

When a sign-up sheet is sent around asking for help I sign up as often as I am able. It is very gratifying and inspiring to give to those who are in need. The more I look for and provide service to others the more I find myself wanting to serve others. Sometimes when I am looking for someone to serve I forget that the best service I can do someone is allow them to serve me.

A couple of weeks ago I had an appointment that Michael needed to go with me and I needed someone to stay with my children while they took naps. The hard part was that most people I know had kids taking naps at the same time as my children take theirs. The thougth occurred to me to ask one of the older ladies in our ward who I have had the opportunity to get to know to come over. Since this particular sister is in her eighties she does not have the physically capacity to do as much as she used. However, she is very sweet and thoughtful and is fully active and capable mentally and emotionally. After consulting with her husband, she was very willing to come over and sit in our home while my children took their naps. I was so grateful for her willingness to serve and for her friendship.

When we arrived home from our appointment I was filled with a feeling of strength, gratitude, and peace. And, I became more aware of the importance of allowing others to serve us instead of just serving others all of the time.

Tagged on Facebook

Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you. (I am tagging anyone who has a blog and reads this)

1. I love warm, fuzzy socks but majorly dislike wearing regular socks. I love to wear sandals!
2. I have been trying to grow my hair out forever and usually cut it off when it gets just past my shoulders.
3. I have discovered I have 'groups' of friends on facebook. People I knew from Ramah, LDS Business College, Wymount, and Family.
4. I am an organizer. I am always sifting and sorting to find better ways to organize things to make things quicker and easier and more useful.
5. I find myself doing what I am told by authority figures and hating doing it.
6. I wanted 10 children before I became pregnant with Benjamin. Now I am more than happy just to have 2.
7. I have 3 degrees, none of which are graduate degrees. (2 associates and 1 bachelor's degree)
8. I love the closeness of small towns and being close to nature, but I hate being more than 15 minutes from a wide variety of stores. Thus, where we live is prefect for me.
9. Our house has 4 flights of stairs with a maximum of 10 steps in each flight.
10. I love to blog and found it is easier to do than scrapbooking or journaling.
11. I have broken my left arm (11 years old) and my left elbow (25 years old), but no other bones in my body.
12. I use my credit card every month and pay it off before it accumulates interest. I am into earning rewards but not paying interest.
13. I bought my first pair of snow boots in nearly 15 years last week.
14. I watch more TV online than I do on my television set.
15. I love to quilt and crochet, and I give most of my projects away.
16. I am totally deaf in my left ear and people often look at me funny when i don't hear or understand what they say.
17. Michael makes all of the money in our household and I spend 95% of it. Michael says that is okay because we discuss how we spend our money and I pay the bills and do the grocery shopping.
18. I miss having family close by when we have emergencies, want to go on dates, or need extra help.
19. I love deserts. Any kind that does not include nuts, I am allergic.
20. I have a strong desire to exercise, but rarely act on that desire.
21. I strongly dislike and avoid scary movies. I hate the yucky feeling that I have after I watch them.
22. I have a furniture fetish. I love the browse at furniture stores more than any other store, except maybe a fabric store.
23. If I won a million dollars, I would pay tithing, pay off all of our debts, go on an awesome vacation, and invest in retirement, food storage, and several years worth of clothing for my children.
24. I have had the same cell phone number for 7 years and refuse to change it to the local area. Yep, it's long distance for most people to call me. Good thing a lot of people have cell phones.
25. I am always watching out for others. I feel like if I see I need, I need to do what I can to help fill that need or help the person. It is one of my quirks.