See Derek Dance. Dance, Derek, Dance.

This week I took Michael to the optometrist. While I was completing the medical forms, I was asking him the questions.

"Do you have high blood pressure?"

"No."

"Arthritis?"

"No." 

"Are you pregnant."

(In the same bored voice.) "Yep. Sorry you had to find out this way."

And the Winner is...

For the last couple of years we have given awards to the kids each week at family council. I like how it makes me look for good things they are doing and then come up with names for the awards like, "Be Your Own Boss" or "The Obedience Award." When we present the award, we tell about what the person has been doing and cite specific examples if we can. The kids like to guess who we are talking about. I like that after we present the award we all clap and cheer for them. It brings a smile every ones face. Yesterday, Nathan snuck in an award for me. It feels good, no matter how old you are. I love to watch Norah smile proudly as she holds her piece of paper and we clap for her. Even though I'm not sure she knows exactly going on, she still enjoys it. Last night she walked around with her little award certificate for a long time and got angry when she put it down and saw someone else with one, thinking they had hers. I've sometimes seen the awards hanging in the kids bedrooms. When we started this, I never thought a little piece of paper could mean so much.

bits and pieces

There has been so many things I've been neglecting to write about and I'm beginning to forget them.

Here's a few odds and ends so I can stop thinking about them.

*Me: Michael, you get more handsome everyday. I didn't think it was possible...
Mike: (shaking his in mock sadness) unbeliever

*Norah has a bobble head. When she nods, it is a very big affair. Her favorite words: again! whee! juice and no.  She says a lot more, but these are her signature words.

Even if I need to work on remembering our blessings, Merian has a natural gift for looking on the bright side and being grateful. Her prayers are always full of thankfulness. I've been saving a list she made at Thanksgiving time so that I could record some of the things she is thankful for. Some of the leaves on her chain are missing but here is what is left:

the world

M.C.P.

Art

P.E.

science

music

history

writing

teachers

my house

my family

instruments

books

food

toys/glasses

school

"evryfing" (everything)

animals

pets

Repenting - Or Why I Love NPR/PBS

If I could win one award, it would be for whining. I am a world class whiner. I try not to, mainly because I know my Mom and Dad will do what ever it takes to make my life easier and make me happy. Still, I'm ashamed to say I'm pretty darn good at it.

This morning I whined about having to go grocery shopping. I hate grocery shopping. Especially if I don't have a complete menu planned. If I don't have everything written down I know I will forget several items and end up back at the store too soon. (Please see a fore mentioned loathing of shopping.)

I've been very uninspired as of late when it comes to dinner. I'm beginning to see why growing up, dinner in my house was often a rotation of spaghetti, tacos, pizza and hamburgers.  I'm tired of making and eating the few things most my kids will eat, even though they are quick and easy. Even more, I hate spending a considerable amount of time on a meal only to see it dumped down the sink and find my kids sneaking snacks in the pantry later. (At least they now know better than to verbally whine about not liking the food. Where did they get that whining habit from?) When the kids were little they would eat what ever I made. How have they all became so picky?

I put off shopping for as long as I can, but today I had to go. Shopping in December? I was not looking forward to it. I usually start stocking up in November so I don't have to enter the crowded stores. I couldn't come up with a menu that I was excited about and that I felt reassured that the majority of my family would eat. I also knew I would be getting tons of food to stock up throughout the holidays and I had no idea where I was going to put it when I got home.

So I whined about it. So much so that my awesome Big Edna (aka milk and banana fairy) offered to take care of Eliza so that I would only have to take care of one kid while managing two shopping carts. Yep, I whine; people help. It always makes me feel guilty, but apparently not enough to stop the whining.

On my way to Winco I was listening to a story about the living conditions of orphaned children (sometimes as early as the age of six or younger) working on cotton plantations in third world countries. I crumpled inside of myself. I was driving in my climate controlled vehicle to store filled to the brim of every kind of food imaginable. We are blessed for Nathan to have a good job so I can afford to buy food for our family. I thought of my little six year old and how he was comfortable learning about gingerbread men in his kindergarten class instead of begging for food or being beaten by the farming supervisors.

Not a day can go by that I listen to NPR that I do not realize how lucky I am to live in this country. My children are healthy. They are receiving an education. Nathan has a job that he finds rewarding. We have a home. After my shopping trip I had a kitchen stocked full of food and was so excited I couldn't decide which dinner to make first. What could I ever have to complain about?

When I walked into the produce section, Cyrus O'Leary pies were on sale. I'm still trying to decide if I regret not buying one. It doesn't matter. I didn't see any labeled "humble" and after recognizing my attitude this morning, a huge slice of that is what needs to be on my menu.