Tell You [a] Little Story

Travel: Portland, Utah twice, New York, Philadelphia, Sedona, Southern Cal twice Highlights: Norah, Neil and Diana's wedding, Ryan and Jessica's wedding, Milo, Owen, Truman, Sophia, paid off student loan, Steve's big case settled, home improvements, pottytraining of Isaac, Norah sleeping through the night, excellent babysitting/grandmothering service from Nana, new blogging friends, in-laws home from mission Lowlights: dilatation and curretage, bad trip on Stadol, throwing away life documents, tithing check bounced (not our fault), pottytraining of Isaac Elliot: getting good on piano; a zillion questions about Harry Potter; newfound independence Aaron: learning to read; "I can't believe my mom doesn't let us have guns and we have a gun." Isaac: "Do you like Norah? I like you. You're my best friend. Does this back massage make you happy?" Books I read: Girl With a Pearl Earring, 1776, The Prize Winner of Defiance Ohio, A Heart Like His, Twilig

be on time*never have call waiting*understand the scriptures *visit every temple in the world*not be ethnocentric*not yell at my kids*cook well*teach people to manage money*avoid debt*be a reader*know how to do my hair*take a risk with my hair*have a clean house*laugh*attend the temple frequently*be good at Scrabble*not be jealous*have a good relationship with my family*have a good relationship with Steve's family*not be offended easily*not offend*organize my life*document my children's lives*stay abreast of current affairs and world events and politics*establish confidence in my children*support my husband's ambitions*not get mad at my husband when the house is a mess and there are no groceries and he invites someone to dinner with 30 minutes notice*travel everywhere*exercise*eat healthily*play the piano*be productive*vote*know current music*have a fuel-efficient vehicle*not criticize*not be taken advantage of*love people who are difficult to love*share the gospel*serve se

Norah Looking rather irresistible, in vintage Gymboree. {Stylist, D. T. Godfrey.}

Elliot, age 7, has been changing his "s" sounds to "sh" or "zh" sounds: baby talk. It is going to drive me to the loony bin!

DECEMBER DONE-IT LIST: -- Holiday Shop at school -- Present for football coaches -- PTSA meeting minutes and signature card at bank -- Cub scouts -- Book club gifts put together and book read -- Birthday gifts for Steve -- Gifts purchased (I'm finally done! Not another trip to the store for me) -- Christmas cards out, better late than never -- Host baby shower -- Resurrect pink maternity bridesmaid dress for firm party (and no one was the wiser) -- Spend rest of medical flexible spending money, so as not to lose it -- Miserable trip to the pediatrician for flu shots for the boys and 2-month shots for the girl -- Attendance at: Primary activity day, tithing settlement, football games, football team party, piano recital in the mall (Go Frosty!), PTSA meeting, friend's birthday luncheon, book club, ward Christmas party, very nice birthday dinner with a man who arranged for the babysitter and made reservations (lots of points for that, Steve), Christmas party of some friends, Enric

fru·gal [froo-guhl] –adjective 1. economical in use or expenditure; prudently saving or sparing; not wasteful: a frugal manager. gen·er·ous [jen-er-uhs] –adjective 1. liberal in giving or sharing; unselfish: a generous patron of the arts; a generous gift. 2. free from meanness or smallness of mind or character; magnanimous. Is it possible to be both ? (In my vision of an ideal world, the answer is a resounding YES.) Please weigh in.

Nutty Norse whaling allusions continue to haunt my every waking thought. Never mind that my brother called it bullcrap. It doesn't matter that some might say, "Henspig Trace? Crap gent, he is." I know you must know what you're talking about. I think you are a phat yap hybrid. When my husband wanted to know the origins of a word--voile!--you delivered. I was intrigued by your vivid analysis of the battle between Germanic barbarians and Roman legionaries. I've actually studied that battle a bit, and it is fascinating--even, flabbergasting, if you will--that the bitter north won. Bring gassy, moldering whale carcasses into the equation, and we have one fine bit of etymology on our hands. So thank you for your input, for livening up my humble, run-of-the-mill blog. Of you a father could surely say, "You are a damn dear son." I can confidently presume that you are a cool gamer, icily answering the perplexing questions of bloggers the world over. Dr. Trace, yo

Y'all are invited to my pie party on Tuesday, May 15 at 7:30:57 PM. I'm turning 3.141592653589793... decades. This program has been brought to you by The Clever Older Brother Society, where it has always been cool to stay in school. (Except when you don't.)

Look at my cute sister . Not only does she make heavenly baby quilts, but she also designed a fabulous Christmas card/baby announcement for me. Because I asked her to. Because I didn't want to do it. And because she's really good at everything design. Thank you, Sarah! I have another cute sister, too. She lives in Utah, and I don't see her nearly enough. I am very much looking forward to seeing her and her plays-with-my-kids wonderful husband and her walking-already! adorable son Milo when they come in a few weeks. Two very beautescent sisters-in-law, a very young looking, attractive mom , two cuter-than-cute nieces and a babe-alicious daughter round out the female contingency on my side of the fam. Watch for us on Family Feud. It's a little dream of mine. Oh yes.

1. Rotate doing something fun one-on-one with one child a week. Leave other children and nursing babies at home, even if you have to get a babysitter. 2. Start at age 3. 3. Give child options of possible activities to choose from, but be flexible if he has his own suggestion. 4. Turn off the car radio and talk. 5. No criticizing or nagging during this time. 6. Don't cancel if it's a busy day. Make time, even if it's short. 7. Do not threaten to cancel Special Mommy Day for bad behavior. It is not to become a tool for punishment/reward. 8. Special Daddy Day is cool, too. 9. Once in a while, include the entire family and do something fun you would not ordinarily do.

Today I was angry and hurt because somebody overstepped her bounds and micromanaged a project I was in charge of at my kids' school, all the while criticizing me in front of a group of people. It took a lot of energy and made me tired. Being angry and hurt, that is. (But also the project.) She called and apologized and I felt a little better. I decided to forgive her and let it go, but apparently I haven't achieved such, because I am blogging (whining) about it, so everyone can know that I was (am) right, and she should trust my capability. (Because I'm fairly capable.) I think when I wake up in the morning, I will have let it go.