Another good marriage book

You all know my love of reading books about marriage and how to improve that important relationship, thanks mainly to Marshall's sister who keeps passing along good books. "His Needs, Her Needs" by Willard F. Harley was a golden book. I learned more about myself and my needs and also about my husband. I love it when I read a book and learn more about how to be a better wife.

I love the simple way Harley explains thing. He doesn't talk down to his readers, but he speaks in a way that can be easily understood and makes sense. There were a few times while reading the book that I felt kind of an "aha!" moment, where there should have been a light bulb glowing above my head. "Now I get it! Now I understand why certain things are so important to me and totally different things mean so much to my husband." It was a great eye opener.

I recommend this book to anyone wanting a good read on how to improve their marriage. All of us could use a refresher. After all, if it's going to be eternal, why not make it as amazing a relationship as possible?!

I love this girl

I love this girl and her ability to be herself. This week she was invited to a birthday party where the guests can dress up as their favorite Disney character. Her friends are all going as girlie characters, like Minnie Mouse and various princesses. But not Rachel. She is going as Flynn Rider, whom she has loved since the movie "Rapunzel" came out. We've been working on gathering pieces for her costume and have it all set for the big party tonight. I love that Rachel can be who she is and not apologize for or be afraid of herself.

I remember once I posted on Facebook about Rachel's tomboy side and I had a lesbian acquintance comment on how Rachel might be gay. I didn't really respond to that, but laughed to myself as my child is only 7. I think too often in our "open minded" society, we are quick to label people. Kind of a big contradiction if you ask me. We're supposed to love people for who they are, but we need to label them as well. Or at least our children when they show certain tendencies. Wow. Imagine how much different Rachel's life would turn out if I immediately thought she was gay and favored her supposed "lesbian tendencies".  Thankfully, I am smarter than that.

Right now I see Rachel as a 7 year old tom boy and will treat her as such. I am in no way worried about her. When I was her age I avoided taking showers at all costs, barely brushed my hair, and was often found playing soccer with the neighborhood boys, when I wasn't beating them up. I did not care about how my clothes or hair looked. If I was dressed, I was good to go. And I think I turned out okay. I am sure we all know that I am not a lesbian. I love my husband, who is a man, and find him irresistibly adorable. But how different and confused would I have turned out if my mom immediately started treating me different and shaped me into thinking I was gay.

I think we label people too early in life, with children "coming out" when they are just being children with their various personalities and tendencies. By labeling our children, we cut short their normal development, hindering them to become who they are. Then we wonder why they turn out as depressed teens or adults.

Guess what? I love to wear big dangling earrings and a nice skirt, but I still enjoy getting dirty and banging things with a hammer. That is just who I am and I love it. And I love Rachel for being Rachel, exactly who she is supposed to be.

Happy 6th Birthday Jimmy!

                                                 The Trios Hotwheels set he has been asking for

                                              His very own real tool set

                                              The Trios track set up

                                                           Hiding from the camera

  Frozen white cake with Funfetti frosting, just like Daddy likes!

When did my little man become six?! I can't believe his birthday has come and gone and now Jimmy is six! We had a great time celebrating his birthday. I think he had a good day, which included doughnuts for breakfasts, doughnuts to take to school to share, lunch at McDonald's with Darci, and then Cafe Rio for dinner. Plus Gramby, my mom, was here to celebrate as well. Jimmy was so excited to get his own tool set (me too because now he won't use mine) and his beloved Trios Hot Wheels set he has been asking for.

I love Jimmy and am so glad he is a part of our family. He is so tender and loving and, yet, such a complete boy. He loves nature, science, dinosaurs, and taking things a part. He always wants to create something and loves to read with me. He is such a joy to have in our lives. Happy Birthday Bud!

Busy

Ten days later I am writing another blog. Wow. I am just not good at this anymore. I think it is partly because my typing time has gone down immensely since Jacob stopped taking naps. (Amazing how that correlates.) Sometimes I wonder if anyone reads what I say on a regular basis. But I do have thoughts and ideas I would love to share. Sadly, I usually get the chance to sit down and type at night, when my brain has already gone to sleep and my "great ideas" have drifted off to some far away land where my memory now resides. So here we are.

Life has been interesting the past few weeks. Is there ever a time when it's not? Doesn't it seem like there is always something happening? When you have kids, that tends to be the case. And things always seem to get busy. Wha?

Right now my mom is visiting and we are enjoying having her here. So far she has deep cleaned my bathrooms, stove, babysat the kids, and done a sewing project with all four kids. I am being spoiled and I love it. So who wants to blog then, right?

I am also test reading a manuscript for my sister-in-law. Amazing. If I had my way I would "pause" my children and read all day until I had the book finished. I am completely sucked into the story. So good!

Marshall got a black eye from racquetball. Well, he got a cut on his eyebrow that required three stitches and also have a lovely black eye as well. Nice. One of our more flighty youth at church today thought Marshall was sporting a make-up job by one of our kids. No, it's not dark purple and pink eye shadow, but really a black eye. It was so fascinating to our Young Women. So much so that during a spiritual part of my lesson I had a girl raise her hand, and thinking she would add a good comment, I let her speak. But all she wanted to talk about was Marshall's black eye. Youth are so random.

But then, again, so is this blog.

No Jagger Here

I know I am beyond being hip. I drive a mini-van, have four kids, and prefer to weat comfortable shoes while chasing my kids at the playground instead of stilettos. I can't name the popular artists of now, but, for the most part, I don't think I am missing out on much. I do catch some songs here and there and can still have a good chuckle over their senseless lyrics. 

 Kesha's song "Tic Toc" says ,"Now, the dudes are lining up cause they hear we got swagger, but we kick ‘em to the curb unless they look like Mick Jagger". Everytime I hear it I want to laugh. Talk about lyrics that don't make sense. I know swagger is a hard word to rhyme, but does she really want someone that looks like Mick Jagger? Has she seen what he looks like? Was she sober when she wrote the song? (most likely not) Let's check out a recent photo of him.

When I see this picture, all I can think of is Gru, from "Despicable Me", saying to Dr. Nefario, "Why are you so . . . old?" Seriously, scary crypt creeper old. Nothing attractive there. I am sorry, but he is really old and kind of goofy looking. I do not want a guy that looks like Jagger.

In his younger days, Mick Jagger was a bit easier on the eyes. He didn't have all the scary traces of a rock star life all over his face. But he still looks funny to me.

I admit, he is a legend and wrote some pretty awesome music, but that doesn't make him any more prettier than he is. So I am unhip and will continue to want my good old fashioned normal looking hubby. I will chuckle every time I hear "Tic Toc" and think of how completely unhot Mick Jagger is. Of course, I laughed out loud in the previews of "Breaking Dawn" when Edward and Bella were having their first romantic interlude, so I guess I am already hopeless.



Just so you know, I am here

I haven't written in ages and that has everything to do with the holidays, lack of motivation to write, and the force of Jacob. And I am going to cop out and do a lame list blog so you all can suffer further, or, if not a fan, take delight in my continued laziness.

-Christmas was a blast. It was nice to have a few days with the children totally engaged by their new toys. Such peaceful bliss!

- Jacob is now 3. What really geeks me out is that his feet have grown two sizes in the past month. When and from whom did he get permission to grow? Too fast!

-Easy Bake Ovens are a rip off. Anna got one for Christmas, which is cool. But the mix packets are a few dollars a pack and only make a tiny portion of treats. Seriously, if I am going to make cookies, I want more than three. But Anna is happy to bake and do it ALL by herself. Me too.

- We truly are cat lovers. We went away to Phoenix for a week and we all missed Penelope. I showed some pictures of her to our Phoenix cousins and found our kids actually petting the computer screen. Of course, I am equally guilty, missing my little kitty to hold and snuggle.

- Our trip to Phoenix rocked. We had Marshall home for over a week, were completely lazy, and ate lots of yummy food. Not to mention picking fresh citrus and going to see two new movies without having to pay a babysitter. A lifestyle I could totally get used to!

-Marshall's sister got us interested in the new "Dr. Who" series. Totally a campy show, but fun.

-Jacob is currently carrying around a stick taller than me. How fast until someone gets hurt?

-Jacob keeps telling me that I am "small" and Daddy is "big". Not quite sure what he means, but I'll take a compliment any way I can get it!

-My dad was in the ER this past week due to fluctuating blood pressure. Not cool. Doctors got it under control, but still are doing test to figure out why this keeps happening to him. Doesn't my dad know he is not allowed to have health problems of any sort? I strictly forbid him to age any more. He is Superman and, therefore, must remain healthy.

- I got an amazing amount of dark chocolate in my stocking this year. Marshall knows me so well.

- Marshall and I are really wishing we were going to Disneyland this winter. It's bad to have that kind of tradition because if you can't do it one year, you get totally bummed. But what a tradition to have!

-Part of the reason why I am not writing much is because I am reading another fascinating book on marriage. Love learning more about the human pysche and why and how my husband and I differ. Then I can learn how to make things even better in our awesome marriage.

- I am totally addicted to the word "awesome-sauce". Thanks Parks & Rec!