Knowing Your Talents

I bought these pancake molds from Williams Sonoma on clearance. The boys love them. I curse them.

Because when I make them, mine never look like this.

Dan does better at making them, since he liberally coats everything within a three foot radius with cooking spray.

On Thursday of spring break, I endeavored to make the boys something more spectacular for breakfast than cereal or Eggos. After some choice words, I finally scraped together the tops of these blankity-blanks and served them on top of regular pancakes. I apologized to the boys for not being as good as Daddy at making the shaped pancakes.

Jacob said, "But you're really good a making circle pancakes Mommy."

Thank you.

Tagged!

Here are my answers to Kristin's tag:

1. ROCK STAR NAME (first pet, current car): CASEY YUKON

2. GANGSTA NAME (favorite ice cream flavor, favorite type of shoe): CHOCOLATE KEEN

3. NATIVE AMERICAN NAME (favorite color, favorite animal): PINK HORSE

4. SOAP OPERA NAME (middle name, city where you were born): MARIE CARSON

5. STAR WARS NAME (first three letters of your last name, first two letters of your first name): CROLA

6. SUPERHERO NAME (2nd favorite color, favorite drink): BLUE DR. PEPPER (or should it be DR. BLUE PEPPER?)

7. NASCAR NAME (names of your grandfathers): OTIS RAY

8. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME (your 5th grade teacher's last name, a major city that starts with the same letter): BARKER BIRMINGHAM

9. SPY NAME (favorite season/holiday, favorite flower): SUMMER ROSE

10. CARTOON NAME (favorite fruit, article of clothing you are wearing right now): PINEAPPLE SOCKS (not the only thing I am wearing!).

11. HIPPIE NAME (what you ate for breakfast, favorite tree): RAISIN BRAN SEQUOIA

My favorites are numbers 2 and 5. Now I tag Sara, Kate, Lauren and Jessica (because she seemed to really enjoy it, and she just doesn't have enough going on in her life already). Is that enough people? Kristin tagged seven, but I didn't want to be pushy. I mean, it's not like my readership is in the double digits.

Easter Fun

We got new ties and vests. Big thanks to both Nanas.

Nate's tie is on, I swear.

Jake was more interesting in tree-climbing than picture taking.

Gabe is showing off the automoblox mini the Easter Bunny brought him (and the other boys, who were overheard to exclaim, "wow, the Easter Bunny has automoblox too, just like Santa.").

Doesn't everyone take their Easter family picture in a tree?

The really nice thing about 9 am church is having all afternoon to relax before the family party. We had an Easter egg hunt, dinner, and fun before getting the kids to bed pretty early considering the sugar high.

Nate enjoyed hunting, once I finally got him away from Anne's princess phone. What's up with this kid and pink?

Cousin Sam

Cousin Anne

Sydney

We had fun and the weather was beautiful (sorry Val and Kristin!).

Quick Quote

Jacob: "I'm sure glad we live on Earth, because if we lived on any other planet, we'd be all alone."

And the winner is. . .

KATE!!

Apparently, she's the only thinking gambler in the bunch. Meet me in Vegas, girlie. As you know, the quilt still needs some finishing touches. As you have likely guessed, we are adding another boy to our crew. This time, I actually saw the proof before the tech pointed it out (obviously, it didn't need too much pointing).

Here's the rest of the good news:

1. Despite being of a certain maternal age, baby has no indications of chromosomal abnormalities.

2. My due date got moved up 10 days!

3. The perinatologist actually thanked me for "being skinny, it's so much easier to get a good picture of the baby." Huh? I don't believe I have ever in my life been referred to as "skinny." Well-endowed, volumptuious, curvy, healthy, yes. "Skinny?" I could have kissed the man. Maybe I can have him around when I deliver. With that sort of positive feedback, I might be able to forgo the epidural.

And now for the bad news. I must endeavor to name another son when I have already used up my earmarked names. Don't remind me, I already know there were twelve apostles. But I have to find a name that speaks to me, and nothing is talking. Feel free to make suggestions. We are sticking to biblical names (we've gone this far, we'll see it through). Just don't be offended if yours isn't the winner.

Oh yeah, I am placing no time limitations upon myself to reach a decision. As Deann in my book club said, it doesn't matter if it's a boy, since she's already decided I should dress him as a girl the first year. She says no one will know. :)

I'm also sending Kate a prize, so email me your mailing address. It is tempting to ship off all the dresses I bought years ago waiting for my girl, but I'm afraid they'll be too small for Paige. I'll think of something good, promise.

FYI

The quilt remains unfinished. I've made a lot of progress (it is all machine quilted except for 1 1/2 seams and the border), despite a week with three days of sick kids and four nights of church meetings and an activity. After that, I'll just have to bind it. And it really shouldn't take that long. I just didn't have the heart to bring it out after wrestling Jacob today. (That's sounds biblical, but no one broke a leg.)

See, Dan had to attend a ward conference and left at 6 am this morning. I managed to get all three boys and myself fed and dressed and in the chapel by 9 am. (Did I mention it snowed and Dan's car had the only ice scraper? By the time I settled for a spatula, the defroster had melted most of it.) We only had a few dashes by Nate, but made it through the entire meeting. The boys were well on their way to earning their rewards (pennies in their jars). I didn't have sharing time, all classes had teachers (except for an assistant in nursery, but I found one quickly), and we were getting ready for the last 20 minutes of church.

Jake got out of his seat and tried to get his coloring paper from sharing time. I told him to sit back down and sing; we'd get it when we got home. He threw a fit. No way was I giving in now. So what ensued was a power struggle of epic proportions. I'd taken him into the hallway with several stern lectures and warnings. He became psychotic, screaming "I hate you," flailing his arms around, giving snarls. I put him in the chair for a time out. He took off his shoe and threw it at me. I hauled him outside, fully intending to give him a serious spanking, but I saw the entire foyer packed with members from the other ward. I really didn't want them to hear me beating him, because I realize some opinionated people have strong feelings about corporal punishment. Dang. So he's lectured and in time out in the nearby classroom. He throws his shoes at the walls.

Finally, church ends and Jake wants to go see the bishop to get candy (which is a practice I hate anyway). He's firmly told he cannot get candy because he behaved so badly. He waits until I am packing up my stuff, then sneaks off. Now I'm really mad. A young couple helped me round up the other two boys, while I dragged a kicking and screaming "I WANT CANDY!!!!!!" at the top of his lungs Jacob to the car. Did I mention the other ward was in sacrament meeting? He screamed the entire way home, and for the next 45 minutes in his room until Dan got home. Then he screamed some more and was pretty much awful all day.

As a result, I realize it doesn't matter if I finish the quilt before tomorrow. I'm going to get another boy, with glaucoma, because I obviously haven't figured out how to do this yet. So, I'll have until August to finish it for him.

Random Thoughts by Gabe

Gabe has had some interesting thoughts lately. For instance,

***"I like the mall in Reno much better than the one in Carson. And I really like pooping, because you get to sit and rest."

***"Resting" in the church bathroom, "It's a good thing the church has a fan in here."

***In his prayers, "Please bless the baby to be a boy or to be a girl." At least he's giving Heavenly Father options.

***After watching a proactive commercial: "Mom, that's what you and Dad should buy. It's for pimples. It makes them disappear. You put on just a little at night, and they are gone in the morning. It gives you bea-ut-iful skin." Does he realize it won't make me look like Jessica Simpson?

***After watch a medical alert necklace commercial: "Mom, that's what we need. You can call for help when you fall down." Is this kid a sucker or what?

Also, I'd like to introduce you all to "Licky." This is the dog that Gabe made and named at a birthday party on Saturday. Apparently, Licky requires several naps a day, but only in Gabe's bed, and several feedings, and several baths each day (but only with pretend water). Gabe has enlisted Mom and Dad numerous times over the past two days to help take care of Licky. He even prays for the whole family to be blessed by helping him take good care of Licky.

On Saturday night, Mom was assigned to bath Licky (but only with pretend water) while Gabe was having his own bath. The dishes and laundry prevented me from doing the bath before Gabe was out of the tub.

First question, "Mom, did you remember to give Licky a bath?"

Forgive me, but I lied. "Umm," pausing for a moment of reflection and inner dialogue, then confidently responding, "Yes Gabe, I gave Licky a bath."

"Did you take off his collar?"

"Yes, and I put it back on. See?"

"Did you only use pretend water?"

"Of course."

"That's good."

"Yes, he's a good doggy." And I'm a horrible mother. On Sunday night when it was Dad's assignment, he went so far as to wrap Licky in a dish towel. Show-off.

But before you find me lacking in all maternal skills, please notice Gabe's clean blue shirt. Thanks to Clorox 2, it no longer looks like this.

A Friendly Wager

Today is already March 6th (how did that happen?) and a horrifying thought just occurred to me. I only have 11 days until the all-telling ultrasound.

Thus arises the big money question:

Will I manage, in the next 10 days, to complete the quilt I started 6 1/2 years ago and by doing so change the course of history?

(Remember my crazy theory?)

Place your bets below. I'm afraid I cannot offer a prize (other than your own self-satisfaction for being right, which is awfully nice) since there are likely to be multiple winners. May the luck of the Irish be with us all.

I'll Huff and I'll Puff

Friday night we had a windstorm. Like, wake you up in the middle of the night and hope the roof stays on. We woke up Saturday morning to discover:

Two large sections of our back fence blown down.

Thankfully, the girls came home after visiting the neighbor.

Dan has serious skills, so within 3 hours we had a fix.
Now our pups won't be the tramps of the neighborhood.

We're just glad we didn't have any big trees like our neighbors.

P.S. Here's a shout-out to Christie for recommending My Big Redneck Wedding. We thoroughly enjoyed it Saturday night and Dan was impressed that I found it. Though, to be honest, I couldn't take another minute of Master Blasters.