Waking up early

Ok, so it wasn't that early. 7:30am. But Sterling wasn't home last night and the kids are really tired...still sleeping. So I had the house to myself for a while. I approached the front door, thinking I would go get the newspaper when I noticed the computer humming. I must not have turned it off before bed last night. Oops. Then I noticed the window was still open. Double Oops. Then I noticed the faint glow peeking under each layer of the blind. And I remembered...

I remember loving mornings...before kids, that is. When I was in my teen years, I loved morning. Atypical? Yes, but so was I. But now, with four kids running the house, I'm just too tired to wake up any earlier than is absolutely necessary. Call it my anemia, staying-up-too-late-reading, white blood cell mystery or just plain motherhood, or a combination of them all -- I find it very difficult to wake up before 7:30. Sterling always wakes up first and stumbles into the bathroom where he is soon joined by Parker and Camille, who are fascinated with him shaving. (I remember that). Soon enough, Rachel is crying and Sydney is rolling around. But when Sterling is away, for some unknown reason, the kids don't wake up nearly as early.

Anyway, the thing I loved most about mornings back then was being the ONLY ONE up. I was the only one awake in my house who would witness the sun coming up. If they didn't witness it happening, how could they know if the sun came up striped that day or not. What if it came up backwards or oblong or blinking? How could they really know if they never really saw it happen? What actually happens is far more spectacular than that.

The blinds were glowing, trying to hold back something amazing that was happening behind them and a vague sense of the familiar started to tickle forgotton places in my brain. So I peeked, anticipation, renewal of a lost self seemed to be found somewhere in that action. I peeked and found something I hadn't seen in a very long time. Flames of orange, red, yellow and the blendings of those colors, fired out of the mountains, burning the sky until they almost touched my house. When my breath came back, I left my house and entered this brilliant morning just before the sun itself, made its entrance. I knew this was a place I belonged but had not been for a while. But the morning did not care and welcomed me with all her vibrancy.

picture taken from my front porch

Morning's entrance had faded by 8:00 and it was business as usual. The color, private tranquility and vibrant, pure aliveness had faded to grays and blues, shrouded in a haze of pollution and cold weather. The kids were up and, after a hug, kiss and loving validation, turned to Curious George on the TV. Next its breakfast, chores, making ourselves presentable and off to school and errands, hoping we have enough candy for trick-or-treaters tonight.

front porch

Don't go political...BUT!

I don't mean to offend or flaunt my political leanings BUT...I thought this cartoon was HILLARIOUS! (Thanks Michelle :D )

Her Mother's Daughter

A girl after my own heart!

One Mormon Dance

Funny thing happened today. I was peeling apples over the sink so I could dehydrate them. I had to do it because I forgot about the last batch and let's just say...ashes to ashes... Anyway, I was listening to Michael Buble and the song Moondance came on. Now, I KNOW that that is the title and he says it very plainly in the first line. HOWEVER, later on in the song, as I was singing and swaying along, with the paring knife in hand, I found myself singing (and I quote)
"Can I just have one MORMON dance with you, my love"
No kidding. It was so funny! Do YOU ever do that? Sterling does. haha. He is notorious for making up words to songs. In fact, he used to get in BIG trouble with his cousin, Brandt, for doing this. When we met, he said Brandt would really like me when he finally got to meet me because I ragged on him about lyrics the same way Brandt used to. Anyway...one of my favorites of Sterling's is to the opening song of "The Lion King" to which he sings (and I quote)
"AIE, carumba, chimmichanga, enchillada" and then off into a whole other song.
So, if you DO do this and want to share, I'm sure we would all get a nice chuckle out of it. I've placed my two songs on my playlist. If you tell me yours, I'll put it on my playlist as well, for everyone's listening pleasure.

Halloween Limerick

Here is Sydney's hand.

She died from a storm with sand.

She was at the beach

Giving a very hard speech.

It happened at Disneyland.

I wish it were that easy...

I found this story that Sydney wrote, lying around the house soon after Rachel was born. Its about a Mommy duck having a baby. I recently found it again and thought it was cute enough to share. I only wish having a baby was as easy as it is in this story.

The words: "Mama duck sat on her nest. She herd a plop. She got off her nest. Oh said Mama duck. I had a baby and they went off in the river, the river, the river."

Primary Program

(Disclaimer: Some of you may not be as interested in this post as my parents. The video is looong.)

Dear Mom & Dad,

I regret to inform you that you missed the ward primary program. This was a dreadful oversight on my part. Looking back, it would have been nice to have a family member sit with my youngest two while I was on-stage manning my CTR5-C class and Sterling was in his designated seat on the stand. But alas, Camille followed me on-stage and Rachel was ushered out of the chapel by a friend, mid-scream.

The chapel was full to capacity with bunches of other grandparents who had attended to watch one or several of the 175 children in our primary recite their lines and sing their songs. Sorry Mom and Dad, that you were not one of those treasured visitors. All I have to offer is a brief recap. Parker did great holding a picture of Brigham Young and clearly saying, "Brigham Young is a prophet of God." Sydney said, "I show my faith in Jesus Christ by being baptized and confirmed." And Sydney knew almost every word of every song they sang. But the most touching part of the program for both Sterling and I was when the primary sang, "If the Savior Stood Beside Me", written by Sally DeFord.

So touched were we that I recorded Sydney singing it later that week. The words aren't perfect but the spirit is. I've posted it here in hopes to assuage your disappointment in missing the program altogether. Again, please accept my sincerest apologies.
Love,
Karin and the kids
P.S. Can we still come for Sunday dinner?

Picture Tag

How it works: go into your picture file, choose 4th file, open it, choose 4th picture, post it and explain it, tag 4 people.

This is from January 12, 2008. Camille is on a stool trying to get a bag of candy down from the shelf in my bedroom closet. She doesn't know she has been caught RED HANDED at this point.

I am not usually very fond of tagging but this one was fun and easy. So...

Diahan S.

Tina S.

Katrina R.

Sara S.

And I'd love to tag:

Bronwyn

Wendy

Mitzi

Just so I could see a post on your blogs. Are you still out there???

Conference Packet

Here is a link to a fun conference packet to help keep children occupied and even paying attention a little during the conference sessions:
Conference Packet
I know its a little late because conference is half over - call me a day late and a dollar short - or maybe just half late and fifty cents short. At least it will help for Sunday morning, if you read this in time.

Great Ride, Dad

I was really excited last Friday to go on a bike ride as a family. The weather has been beautiful lately and we didn't have any other plans for the evening so I thought it would be the perfect time. I have actually been wanting to do this for a long time and my expectations were high. So...I informed Sterling that as soon as he got home, we would load up the bikes, along with a picnic dinner, in the back of the truck and be off. He was happy to oblige and soon after 6:00, we were on our way.
The Jordan River Parkway was our choice of trail and it was BEAUTIFUL. Its a quiet, paved path along the Jordan River and winds through beautiful farm land. Not too far into the ride, Parker started complaining that his eyes hurt and he was tired. But everyone else seemed to be fine, Sydney on her bike and Rachel & Camille behind Sterling in a bike trailer. So we continued on.
Finally we reached an old bridge (which Ster informs me is a favorite among high school kids and other such brave risk-taking type of people for launching off and jumping into the river.) This is where we stopped for dinner.

Now remember, my expectations were high and I was starting to get a little irritated that Parker had complained much of the way thus far. When we got off our bikes, he collapsed in my lap and wanted to rest instead of eat his sandwich. That was fine with me. I'll never refuse a little cuddle with my munchkins. Only he wasn't interested in munching at all. In fact, he started to feel worse and worse. Not just his eyes anymore. It was his legs, his head, his tummy.
Oh no, you can see where this is headed. About 15 minutes after we stopped, Parker was puking over the side of the bridge. Poor guy. At that point we decided it was probably time to go home, only how to do that was up in the air. He was in no condition to ride and the trailer was kind of small for 3 kids. And frankly, I wasn't interested in him puking all over the girls, in the trailer, on the way. I was starting to get quite worked up over this predicament but Sterling, in his manly, eagle scout way, kept reassuring me that he was strong in stature and his shoulders were broad! He alone would pull the trailer with 3 children, additionally beset by a bike tied on top and a backpack on his strong and sturdy back.
Parker made it back to the truck but immediately jumped out of the trailer and hurled over a guardrail. He returned saying, "I don't want to go on that bike ride again until I'm 11 or something." We assured him, it wasn't the ride that was the problem. He was just sick. Sometime during the ride home, Parker said, "Great ride, Dad."
I'm not sure Parker understands what sarcasm or irony is. He might have really meant what he said on some level. No matter. It really diffused the stress level for me anyway. Laughter really is the best medicine.

ps - he woke the next morning just fine - hungry and happy as a lark AND the last picture is obviously a reconstruction of the actual scene.