Can Laundry Be Sexy?

Have you seen the recent ads for the Downy Simple Pleasures fragrance line? There is one ad, that I couldn't find a picture of, with a woman in a strapless dress and a man behind her kissing her neck with the following quote: "Staying in is no reason your alluring side shouldn't come out. . . from alluring to serene, daring and beyond, you can feel more."

Seriously? Where is the cute little fuzzy Snuggle bear? Give me him over this junk any day of the week. Please! Using sex to sell laundry soa? I'm sorry, I really am, but your love life must be pretty pathetic if you start using Downy Simple Pleasures to spice things up and "feel more". Well, to be honest, when I do laundry I simply have to fight my husband off. The smell of our detergent just drives him wild with passion. It's amazing the laundry ever gets done! Sometimes we hire a sitter so we can bust out the laundry soap and have a real good time! Because, you know, good smelling fabric softener and detergent is so sexy.

Um, I think the advertisers have gone a little too far with this one. I don't care how good their product smells, Downy is not going to get me to buy it in the hopes of seducing my husband. Instead, they're just going to make me laugh really hard. There isn't anything sexy about laundry, period.

Summer Fun

It's summer, which means life is random and busy. Mostly busy keeping the kids from beating each other up or driving me insane. Rachel and Jimmy are great at slugging the crud out of each other all in the name of friendly wrestling. They also have a hard time leaving Jacob alone, who does not enjoy being mauled or carried around. Anna is the typical picked on older sibling, who no one wants to play with. Mostly because her favorite hobbies involve creating Miis on the Wii, some recent ones including her teacher, school friends, and grandparents, and playing beauty shop. I was treated to a make-over today and ended up looking like a street walker from Las Vegas. Jacob does his best to find destructive dangerous purposes for everything in our house, with the latest favorites including climbing into the cold oven and emptying dishes on to the tile floor. But he also is very cute and gotten quite good at giving kisses. In my free moments I have found time to keep up on family history, reading, home improvement projects, and yard work. So far the summer has been good. Lots of swimming, playing, and having fun. Plus I cannot wait to have some fresh zucchini from our garden. Life is good!

To My Hero

When I was a little girl, I thought the world revolved around my dad. Even though I didn't live with him, I knew he was just that amazing. Nothing could stop my dad. Strong, gentle, and able to hit a baseball further than the eye could see. Only his inability to fly kept him short of super hero status. He was and still is one of my heroes. I never thought I would meet a man who could even begin to come close to the awesomeness of my dad.

A little over ten years ago I was proven wrong. Of course, I didn't think of his fathering capabilities when I first saw my husband. I was more focused on how amazingly adorable he looked in his three-piece suit and how I wanted to find out more about this witty, charming man. I had no idea he would turn out to be the humble father he is. Oh sure, I had some inklings of his quality, but never imagined how great he would be.

I love watching him care for our children, scaring away bad dreams, blessing sick children, or cuddling a sad face. He teaches by his example and is never afraid to use any opportunity to help our children further understand the Gospel. He shows by his dedication to his calling as bishop his testimony and devotion to the Lord. He goes to work every day, missing out on all sorts of fun, to provide a good life for his family. Our kids know that hard work brings great rewards and blessings. And he is so much fun to be around because he is so happy. The kids can always find him playing the piano or singing at the top of his lungs in the shower. He's always game for dancing and makes each child feel special as he whirls them around the room. And his unmatched excitement for Disneyland keeps the magic and child in him alive. He is strong, gentle, and caring. He is one of my heroes.

I think the only thing keeping my husband back from superhero status is his inability to fly. But according to Jimmy he can lift heavy objects with a single hand so maybe he's already there. At least in the eyes of our children he is and that is what matters most.

Jacob and Anna's Duet

How and why do they do it?

Every summer I see moms in bikinis, which just blows my mind. I have always wanted, but never had the daring, to go up and study their bellies. Some women look like they have had children, with the residual pouch remaining, while others appear as if their offspring came out of thin air. I just want to see if they have stretch marks and, if not, where did they go? Did they use cosmetic surgery, a secret home remedy, or have all their marks escaped to my body?

Yesterday I saw a mom at the pool who had on a bikini, at least I am pretty sure she did. She kept herself so well covered in her sundress and in the next moment was in the pool. When she got out she had her towel around her body faster than the speed of Jacob. I was impressed and confused. What's the point of wearing a bikini if you don't want anyone else to see you in it? Wouldn't it be far better to buy a swimsuit that flattered your figure and made you feel confident in it? Crazy!

But not as crazy as the six month old baby I also saw yesterday in a bikini. It was disturbing to see a cute little chubby baby in something so sexual. Cover up her belly for crying out loud! It's not cute and is just another area to protect from the sun. She's a baby. Let her be one, all cute and innocent. Throw on one of those one piece suits with the ruffles on the bum.

What is wrong with people? Sexualizing children is just plain wrong. And showing off your assets is not a confidence or self esteem booster. I'm not a fan of binkinis. I teach my children to respect their bodies and that their value is worth more than physical appearances. As for me, I respect my body and no one aside from my hubby is seeing this belly!

Some one has a big head

You all know how much a fan I am of the "Twilight" movie series. I am dying with anticipation for "Eclipse" to come out at the end of the month. Will I make it? Only time will tell!

The bar has been raised for actors world wide by the quality of the acting in the "Twilight" movies. So high it's almost off the ground . . . almost. Which is why I got a good chuckle when I read the following tidbit on-line about Ashley Greene and Kellan Lutz, two of the actors who play Cullen "siblings". (Yes, they were so memorable that I cannot even recount the names of their characters.):

Greene and Lutz had reportedly been holding out for a bigger payday in the range of $2 million to $4 million depending on different sources, and while they didn't receive quite that much moolah, the Hollywood Reporter claims the duo will earn in the neighborhood of $1.25 million for each of the final films -- a major raise from what they were paid for the first three.

Really? Are you serious? Wow. Who do they think they are? Hollywood superstars? Ha! Far from it. Just because the movie is a hit with audiences, namely women who have come for some eye candy in the form of Edward Cullen and shirtless Jacob Black and not for movie quality, doesn't mean the show is actually good. They should be paying the franchise for the publicity for their careers, not the other way around.

The only comforting thought is that the curly haired actor in the movies who plays the bug-eyed drug entranced vampire Jasper did not get the same kind of pay raise. Um, I don't know who his acting coach is, but he needs to get a new one. Creepy and goofy are not the same thing.

Rachel's New Glasses!

What a beautiful girl and now thanks to a trip to the eye doctor, my sweetie can see!

Anna's Baptism

Two weeks ago Anna turned eight. Since then she has been so excited to get baptized. Today was the big day and it seemed as though the time would never come. But it did and all went well. Her McConkie grandparents, St. George aunt, uncle, and cousins, and friends from the ward were in attendance. It was a beautiful experience. And I even made it through bearing my testimony without sobbing hysterically. I am so proud of my sweet girl. She is such a good kid and loves the Gospel. I feel so honored to be her mom and raise her. The greatest gift is watching my children grow up in a happy loving Gospel centered family. I am a blessed woman. Yeah Anna!

My beautiful 8 year old Anna on her special today

Anna and her dad

Anna and her proud mom

The three buds: Rachel, Anna, and Jimmy

Anna and Grandma and Granddad McConkie

Fluoride: It's a good thing

I wish there was a way for me to put fluoride into my family's drinking water, like sneaking in capsules each time I fill up the Britta pitcher. Mind you, my family wouldn't mind, but the state of Utah might.

Utah refuses to fluoridate their water. I don't know what the big scare is about. Are they afraid kids will start growing extra arms or legs? I could use a few more hands to help out around the house. Not to mention the fact that almost all other states in the country fluoridate water. No one else has turned out freakishly misshapen or stunted intellectually. No, only Utah seems to be the "freak" in this situation.

During most of my married life (a.k.a. poor student family lifestyle)I have not gone to the dentist. I think I went once in seven years. And yet I never had a cavity. Now that we have this cool thing known as a "job" that comes along with something even neater called "insurance", I actually visit the dentist on a semi-regular basis. "Semi" because I just plain forget to go unless they call me and then drag me in. But not a cavity in all that time. Not one! Can't say the same for my husband who grew up in Utah. Why? Because I grew up in one of those crazy radical states that dared to put fluoride in the water. It's been hard hiding my third arm from my husband, but the strong healthy teeth have been worth it.

Come on Utah! Just put the fluroide in the water! Trust me, there are far worse things to worry and obsess about.