Reason #491 why Mindi should not be up before the sun or More proof that God really likes me in spite of myself

Yesterday started for me at 4 am. Not a pretty sight. Baby woke up, which is rare, and I was determined to get to my 5:30 spin class where Kevin Bacon’s twin brother teaches so I forced myself to stay awake knowing if I went back to dreamland I may never come back.

Later that morning I took my eldest to the doctor because I was sure she had strep throat(test was negative) and by the time we were done with that it was 10:30 and I realized I had already been up for over 6 hours and was starting to feel a little funky. I was in need of an emergency (it’s always an emergency) 44ouncer and my eldest was in need of an emergency ice cream cone (you know, cuz of the whole sore throat thing. Ice cream and Sprite are both cure all’s in my children’s eyes. They’re so silly. Don’t they know that’s Diet Coke??) so we pulled into Maverick, my home away from home. The kids get out, I lock up the car and we go walking in.

I suddenly have the thought, where did I put my keys? I’m checking pockets, purse, bra no where. It starts dawning on me that they may be in the car but I’m really hoping I dropped them on my way in.

**Sidenote**I have this strange ability to almost always think everything is alright. I rarely panic (unless there’s a pile of dirty dishes in my sink or I’m being asked one more ridiculous question or I find out my stash of Diet Coke has been depleted). For some reasons in big deal moments, I figure everything will work out ok. I always pray the the Holy Ghost will tell me when something is really bad and I should panic. **endsidenote**

Anyway, we get our accoutrements and head back outside. All this time I am thinking the keys are probably on the ground or one of the doors didn’t lock, which happens often but not when I want it to.. That’s whenI realize my car is running.

Yes, the stupid thing is running (please note, it’s the car’s fault. Certainly not mine.). You know what that means, the keys are not on the ground. And yes, every door locked. Even the trunk. Curse you locking mechanism for actually working this one time!!

Even though we do not have  a spare key because a child threw away our other set and he was up in Heber working, I did the only thing I could think to do: I called my husband. This was his helpful response: Uh oh.

That’s when I remembered that one of our back wing windows was broken and I can pull it open from the outside…I wonder if I could fit a kid in there…

**Anothersidenote**We happen to buy something and use it till it has died. This includes clothes, appliances, toothbrushes and cars. Yes, our window is broken, a part that Ford no longer makes is epoxied to stop a leak for who knows how long, and one of our rear view mirrors is super glued on. I think our engine might be held in place with bungee chord or duct tape. **endsidenote**

Well, look at that! Four year old fits perfectly!! And she’s willing! Yay!! I open up the window as far as it will go and shove her in there as she shimmies in. We are all laughing our faces off! She climbs over seats and junk and after a tutorial on how to unlock the door we are in!

I am in awe of yet another tender mercy making up for my stupidity and we are all just laughing in nervousness and glee and continually telling four year old she’s our hero of the day. Well, she get so mad!

“No I’m not!!” she says.

“But, baby,” I reply, “You saved the day, you are our hero!”

“I am not a hewo! I am wittwe and I’m not even weawing a cape!!”

Moral of the story? If you’re gonna be a hero, you better bring a cape.

And an extra set of keys.

One of these things is not like the other…

Have you ever thought of yourself one way but realize that’s not how you are at all? Like thinking you look great with that hair cut or in those Daisy Duke shorts and that tank top 3 sizes too small and then you see a picture of you with it and realize oh that’s bad, that’s very very bad..

I seem to be having a problem with this. And not just my Daisy Duke’s riding up into the nether regions but (hehe pun) marrying the image I have of myself in my head and what is reality. It can be very discouraging at times. Let me give you some examples.

What I see in my head:                              Reality:

 

 

My vision of myself:    Reality:

 

Ready for a hot date in “Mindiland”: 

What ElRey is really taking out on the town: 

How our family moments play out in my head:  True joy in motion:

Let me share one of these moments with you. The other day I had a few minutes for a run on my treadmill before I had to pick up my preschooler. I did my business, kicked some treadmill trash and finished just in time to go pick her up. The only problem is I was wearing some tighter shorts and a tank top that was a lot little too small. I only wear this if I’m working out at home but had no time to maneuver my super sweaty self into something more appropriate for preschool pickup. Now keep in mind, I’ve finished a good run so I’m thinking I look like this:

As I get out of my car to wait with the other moms I catch a glimpse of my reality on the side of my car in all my girthy goodness and go stand with the other waiting moms. Not too close because I suddenly have several bugs flying around me apparently enjoying my musk. Suddenly the black spots start moving into my vision…So help me if I pass out in all my ridiculous glory in front of all these showered and ready mom’s I’ll pack up and move to Nantucket!! After envisioning what they might do with my corpse, my child finally comes running out and we got into the car before the lights went out in Georgia.

Phew. That could have been embarrassing…er..

Autocorrect is a Dillhole.

I think autocorrect is out to destroy me.

It’s like that BFF you had in high school or junior high that acted like they wanted good things for you but secretly hope you’ll fall flat on your face in a skirt in front of the football players. And laugh when it happens.

Not that I have personally experienced that…

It helps me when I just can’t remember a spelling so I look smart or at the very least semi-coherent. But suddenly it will turn on me and just put in pure ridiculousness. I’ll even share some examples.

Aren’t you so glad?

What was written: I'm about ready to recapitulated and by new sofas!!

What I thought I wrote: I’m about to recarpet and buy new sofas!!

What was written: Elrey just Caesar home from the doc

What I thought I wrote: ElRey just got home from the doc

What was written:  she wanted to play but it sounds like you haemoglobin a houseful

What I thought I wrote: she wanted to play but it sounds like you have a houseful

What was written: I hate colds. They’re better than barking but they still totally suck

What I thought I wrote: I hate colds. They’re better than barfing but they still totally suck

What was written: what's going on Ithaca carpool?

What I thought I wrote: what’s going on with carpool?

I promise, Mr. Autocorrect, I can look like an idiot all on my own. I certainly don’t need your help.  Ask anyone.

Where did she go?

I’m not feeling on my A game today. Seems a perfect time to blog, right?

I seem to thrive on chaos and spontaneity but I am starting to realize that just might not be working so great as the caretaker of this house and my children and my soul. So since the kids are now in school, I have been attempting to actually grow up, grab chaos by his…throat and conquer it once and for all. I’m talking about tackle my house, my kids (figuratively of course), and my own personal temple. Apparently this is an all day, everyday endeavor and sometimes I wonder if I will ever actually conquer it at all. But I am trying, one step at a time.

I’m weeks into the school year and I thought it would be so different. I thought it would be more of a break, kinda like last year where Lily and I snuggled all day and I just tried not to vomit or fall over. But with a new baby and a very busy 4 year old, I seem to barely have a chance to stop and eat an uninterrupted lunch! If  I have a moment where I am not holding a baby or catering to 4 year old or holding a baby, I’m cleaning. I’ve never been known for my housekeeping skills so it may kill me.

I will say that the funnest part is dejunking.

I am a dejunking whore.

If my kids aren’t careful, they may get thrown away or donated.

Unfortunately, I may have thrown out my mojo in the process.

One of the things I’ve been working on is getting rid of all these old papers. So I bought a shredder and I’ve gone crazy on 11 years worth of papers. I even have a little helper:

Ain’t I lucky??

I know, you want my life.

Sweet, Sweet Sunday

I come from a family full of boys. Yes, they were typical boys in most ways. But they also have something special about them since they were young. It’s a gentle, kind and sensitive soul. Each of them, including my dad, have had numerous spiritual experiences with God because of their gentle spirits. They are also the kind of people that took on friends that maybe weren’t the most popular with other groups. In fact, my eldest brother and his friends in high school became known as “The Unwanteds” or more affectionately, “The Dicks”. That “unwanted” group became the group to be in. They have always been a friend to anyone who needed one.

Then came ElRey. And he is as gentle as the men I grew up with. In fact, he reminds me a lot of my dad and his goodness. He too was a friend to anyone who needed one, adults in his growing up ward loved him and anyone who meets him can see his willingness to do what is right and show kindness to all around. You can see it when he conveys his testimony of the Gospel and God’s love that he is someone gentle and kind and giving. Unless football is on. It’s good to just walk away when football is on.

Anyway, what I had to say tonight isn’t about the men I grew up with or the man I am lucky enough to be married to, it’s about a young man in my ward who is also one of these gentle and yet powerful spirits.

He is the oldest of a large family and in his later teen years. This tends to be the time when a selfish, sullen and defiant side of a teenage boy comes out, if it ever does. Friends are the most important thing at this age and they would sacrifice anytime with the family to be with those friends (okay, I’m really talking about me at that age but stay with me). Not him. He is always a willing, and helping hand. Now, obviously I am not a fly on the wall in their house so I’m sure he’s not always perfect in every way. But this young man has touched my heart and needs to be applauded for his goodness.

In this day and age, the big tough guy is always celebrated. The quarterback, the captain of the basketball/baseball team, the guy that can guzzle a beer, the guy that doesn’t really think about anyone else but what will make him happy. For some reason we as a society think this is the cool guy.

I beg to differ.

A couple of weeks ago we went on our annual ward (church congregation) campout. This young man was there with his father and all his younger siblings (mom was at home with a new baby). Not once did he complain when asked to do anything, he was as kind and gentle to his younger siblings as a father would (should) be and every kid in our neighborhood loves this guy! There was one point where I think he had at least six kids all trying to tackle him to the ground. My daughters light up when they see him come around.

I watched him with the kids and others around him and knew that this is what our world needs: more men like him, like my husband and my brothers. We need men that are gentle and kind but willing to stand up for what is right.

He is every mother’s dream come true.

And that is the real cool guy.

Aww the things kids do..

It’s always good to unplug and get out. My eldest told my husband and I that we are on our phones way too much.

Of course, when I told her she was right and we should probably get rid of The Disney Channel, too, she didn’t seem quite as concerned about our phone usage.

But anyway, it’s always good to get out in nature. You’d be amazed what you can find in nature! Even on a simple nature walk.

My 7 year old found her own iPad:

And it’s charger:

She’s playing Angry Birds on it as we speak.

My 4 year old brought her own cart to the store and that’s just cute:

But what I am most impressed with is who my eldest has in her address book: