Aren't they lovely?

So I can't figure out how to flip them. . . sorry! Turn your head, I guess :p







Thanks for shooting them, Chelsea!

Where is everyone?

Y'all need to update your blogs!

Today I'll show you a video that makes Matt and I laugh hysterically every time we watch it.

http://www.youtube.com/v/VCwSz1jwumU&NR/1

The case of the missing pacifiers.

I wouldn't say that Alora is addicted to pacifiers. But she sleeps better when she has one, and she copes better with stressful situations or overtiring days when I pop one in her mouth.

Two nights ago, she was having a particularly tough time. It was late. She and Matt and I were all very tired. She wasn't settling down. And I couldn't find a single, solitary paci in the whole house.

Understand this: she has six of them. Six! Our house is lived-in, but decently clean; at least clean enough that we can generally find what we're looking for. There are a few places that we can usually find a paci in a pinch: under our bed for instance, or just under the skirt of the couch in the den. But this time, nothing. We took turns. We searched and searched. Left no toy unturned, and found nothing.

She got through that night, eventually. And last night. Not great, but okay. Today I was grocery shopping, and she started to fuss. We passed through the baby aisle, and I saw that lovely, colorful, gleaming display of nuks. "But self," I said, "this baby already has six pacifiers. Does she really need more? Surely the others will turn up. . ." And then my little redheaded Irish lass turned up the fussing, and I immediately grabbed and opened another package (boil? No. I stopped doing that when Abby was an infant, and they've all lived to tell the story). She immediately calmed down and slept through the rest of the shopping trip.

So we headed home, now owners of- count them- eight, size one, pastel, Nuk brand pacifiers.

Just a little while ago, she was acting sleepy. I went to find one of the new pacifiers. I found an empty package. I looked in all of the usual places. I looked in her carseat. Nothing! What black hole is taking all of the baby's pacifiers?!

Then genius struck. The older sisters were still awake. I went into their room and asked them if they had seen the baby's new pacifiers. Abby said no, Anna jumped up. I should note that Anna was suspiciously excited about the new ones; but she's really excited about a lot of things, so it was off my radar earlier in the day. But when she jumped, it came together. I asked Anna where they were. "The toy room!" She exclaimed in a joyous way that only Anna can. I asked her to show me.

She ran into the toy room with absolute purpose and direction. She lifted up one toy among many, and revealed not two, but FIVE pacifiers. Two pink, two white, and one of the new ones: green. Why were they there? Alora doesn't go in that room. Anna does have a funny habit of collecting like things together to play quiet little games that she never lets us in on. Apparently she's been playing something for the last two days. I guess she's done now.




But where are the other three . . . ?

SIX!

Abby is six. It's hard to believe! Her birthday was last Friday. Matt had the day off (every other Friday is his day off) so we did chores, went to Costco, then came home and had a nice dinner of her choice. She wanted spaghetti and meatballs with garlic bread.

Saturday she had 6 neighbor girls over (there are SO many kids in our neighborhood) for a princess party. They had fun. I only scheduled 1 1/2 hours for the party, but some of the parents stayed over 2 hours after that. It was fine, we like their company anyway, and we've been meaning to have them over.

Sunday brought a little bit of drama. I have a calling that means dealing with a really difficult person, and things came to a head. The bishop called me in (I felt like I was being called into the principal's office) and apologized for the stress. He didn't realize that I have more than one calling, and said with small kids one is enough, so he'd release me from the other. I've been wanting that for months, so it was a relief.

That evening we had the Seely's from our ward over. I love them! They're the kind of people that are just so easy to be around. Totally unpretentious, no expectations, relaxed and nice. We had a really nice dinner and hung out until bedtime. My mom and dad dropped by with a gift for Abby and some people might have been a little put-off or whatever, but the Seely's were fine and got to know my parents a little. We need to do more things with them.

Yesterday one of my dearest, dearest friends, Michelle, and her kids came over for the afternoon. Michelle was assigned as my VT when we first moved here. It was completely inspired. We were very fast friends. I really love her. I relate to her in a way that I don't with a lot of people. We always have the best talks and go away from our time together lightened and lifted. Did I mention that I love her? Allie and her little girl, Mikaela, are 10 days apart. It was so cute watching them touch each others' faces and coo at each other. Her 4-year-old, Deven, is a favorite of the other 2 girls and they all had a good time, too.

Today my friend Heirani is coming for lunch. She's from Tahiti, and ended up all the way over here in Idaho. She married a guy from Eagle that was in my stake growing up, and knows my sisters, but I don't remember him. His parents are friends with Kathy though, and Melody interviewed him for a job once. Small world. Heirani brings Tahitian sunshine with her, I swear. She is such a fun, loving, spiritual person. She's my VT now and I'm so glad that happened, because I'm so grateful to have her as a friend. Her little buy Brandon is Anna's age and loves to play with Anna.

I'm grateful to have so many good people in my life. I've been so focused on the ones that bring me grief and weigh me down. Last week I decided to focus more on the good, uplifting people around me, and man can I feel the difference!

Introspection

How's that for a cringe-worthy word?

introspection

noun

the contemplation of your own thoughts and desires and conduct

I've realized that I'm in the same position I was almost exactly two years ago. The cast and characters have changed a bit, but the scenery and storyline are too close to the same. It was an ugly place then, and it's uglier now, because I clearly didn't learn what I needed to last time around, so here I am again.

It occurs to me that when one keeps coming across the same problems and issues, it's time for a good, honest look in the mirror. Introspection. Sometimes what you see isn't pretty, and sometimes it's more simple than you thought.

So here I am, back where I was then. What, or rather WHO, is the common denominator? ME.

Introspection.

The tricky thing is to look at onesself from a purely honest, accurate viewpoint. It's hard to be objective about your own issues! Writing things down helps me to process and follow through, so I'll write my thoughts on how to do that here.

Introspection is effective when it is:

*Without blame.

The point is not to look at what everyone else's part is in the situation, except maybe to learn from them. The point is seeing what my part is, and what I could have done differently, and what I can do from now on.

*Without guilt.

This is a tough one. Guilt and I are close friends. But guilt is not constructive, it's destructive, so there's no place for it.

*Without comparison.

Thinking that someone else might handle the problem better (or worse) is irrelevant. Someone else having more difficult (or easier) trials is only perception. Our strengths and weaknesses are unique to each of us.

*Without rose-colored glasses.

If we can't see things for what they are, we can't identify the patterns that we need to change.

*With optimism.

If we can't see things for what they are, we can't identify the patterns that we need to change. If we don't have hope that change can happen and that it can make a difference, the change won't happen, or won't last

*With forgiveness.

for ourselves, and others.

That's just some of the stuff that's been on my mind lately. More later. . .