A+

 Last night we went to the high school to see a basketball game and see my daughter dance at the half.  While there we ran into a boy with autism whom my son had had the opportunity of working with last year.  He speaks minimally and often only speaks using lines from Disney movies.  He was at the game with his mom and we were fortunate to sit next to them.

 I introduced myself as Alex's mom.  When I did, she said how much her son liked Alex and how her son would love the opportunity to say hello to him.  I quickly ran into the student section and fished my son out from among the crowd.  He followed me up to the top bench where we were sitting.  When this darling young man saw my son coming up the stands he threw his arms in the air as if he were signaling "touchdown."  His excitement was clear as Alex asked him Disney related questions.  His mom then confided that her son had said that Alex was his best friend.  Kinda like Buzz and Woody I guess.

My husband and I have always told our children that treating others with kindness at school is just as important as getting good grades, maybe even more important.  Last night I was more proud of my son for getting an A+ in kindness than I was of his straight A report card.

And, I might add, my daughter got an A+ (from me) for her funky hip hop dance!

Free Time

 

I've had this past week off work.  The elementary school is having parent teacher conferences this week, which means the kids get out of school right after lunch.  Seeing as I don't come to work until lunch, the half-day deal gave me some much needed time off.

I had big plans.  I planned on cleaning out closets, drawers, possibly even the garage.  Heck, with a whole week off I could probably solve the world's hunger problems.  Only thing is, it's Thursday now and the closets still bulge with clothes the kids don't fit in anymore.  My junk drawer just so happens to still be full of junk.  The clean clothes in my room from last week are still waiting to be put away for pete's sake!  As a matter of fact, I'll be lucky if the garbage can gets to the curb later on tonight.

I decided to have lunch with my high school kids at Jimmy Johns instead of doing the housekeeping that lies in wait.  I ran some errands and picked up items to make my daughter's diorama look cool.  I dropped off a Subway sandwich to my younger son at his school because he has basketball practice before school and I knew he'd be starving.  Oh, and I spent a morning getting new tires since I could actually see the steel belt coming out of the old ones.

I've got a picture in my kitchen that my mom cross-stitched many years ago.  It reads:

 I concur.

Lessons in Communication

Everything I need to know in life I learned from The Simpsons.  Just kidding.  But I did learn a great lesson in communication from a scene where Marge is going out of town and she's giving Homer some instructions.

Marge:  Now the cat needs his medication. . .
Homer:  No problem.
Marge:  Every morning.  And the furnace. . .
Homer:  Can do.
Marge:  has been putting off. . .
Homer:  Right.
Marge:  a lot of carbon monoxide.
Homer:  Uh-huh.
Marge:  So keep the window open.
Homer:  Gotcha - cat in the furnace!

I learned that very often certain people, like my husband and kids for example, cannot absorb the amount of information I feel it is necessary to give.  Since we're all familiar with this Simpson episode (which happens to be called Bart After Dark from Season 8 if you're interested) I now preface my instructions to the family by saying:  "I'm about to give you a lot of "cat in the furnace" information - so listen up."  This cue helps them pay close attention to detail as I outline further direction.  I've also found it helpful to have them repeat back to me important parts of the instruction.  The most important lesson I learned from this Simpson scene is that I should only give pertinent information, as all else will most likely be forgotten. 

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

I had the opportunity to home school my kids, twice.  The first time was when we moved to Danville, CA where there are class size restrictions.  My choice was to bus my kids to the next city for school, or home school.  We chose home school and had a blast.  The second time was last year when my youngest child was in third grade.  She came home each afternoon with new information regarding the male and female anatomy, as well as tips on procreation.  That definitely called for home school!  I respect parents who home school.

Thankfully all my kids are currently in public school.  I say "thankfully" because quite honestly I'm just not capable of teaching them all they need to know, especially when it comes to numbers.  I would love to home school my kids if I felt I were up to the task, but alas it's just not in the cards.  I respect good teachers who encourage my children and give them information they need to be successful in life.  But here's the thing, some teachers are not so good.

We're lucky to have only had a handful of teachers who seriously should be removed from their profession.  One was a math teacher who told my daughter he didn't make enough money to give her the information she needed so she would have to find it on her own.  Another is a teacher who felt it necessary to call the kids "donkeys" and yell at them to "shut up." When my son transferred out of this class he said to me, "It feels great to be respected again."  And isn't that what we all want (and deserve), a little respect?

All Grown Up

Early last week my oldest son got an email from BYU informing him that he would soon know his fate regarding his admission.  He was warned in the same email that they would be turning down a record number of applicants this year.  We waited eagerly.  Mid week he got another email instructing him to click on an attached link where he would find out if he would be heading 300 miles north this Fall.

Drum roll please.  Accepted!  Alex will now call Cougar Town home once again.  We are thrilled.  I even thought about doing a couple of cartwheels, but since I'll be 40 in just a few months, I opted for a fist pump and a few tears.

The next day he turned 18 just to seal the whole grown up deal.  In order to congratulate him we drove the family south to Sin City.  You'll be relived to know we returned with honor later that same night, only much more satisfied.  We thoroughly enjoyed dinner at Planet Hollywood's Spice Market Buffet and loved warm weather while watching the Bellagio fountains.  Alex returned home with these Nike shoes and a sweet Nike warm up jacket.   

Normally my sentimentality would be oozing out my eyes right about now.  I guess I already mourned the loss of my son when his senior year started.  I know the hourglass has been turned over, I've come to terms with it.  As I watched him tie his own tie yesterday, I realized the reason I'll miss him so much is because I'll miss sharing his life experiences with him.  I'll also miss the opportunity to care for him, i.e. blowing on his Quaker oats and starting his car for him on cold mornings.  Good news is, I also realized that he's just on loan to me from a loving Heavenly Father who is able to care for him constantly in all situations better than I ever could.  This gives great comfort to a mother whose son is all grown up, but she still feels like he is her little boy.

Just a post script. . .Alex has started a blog of his own.  You're welcome to see just how witty my boy is by clicking here.

Olympic Athletes

Even Olympic athletes have to negotiate life.  See here.

Ugly

Have you ever had an ugly day?  I had one yesterday.  It started out ugly because I'm feeling lousy.  Some sort of nausea with abdominal pain has settled in and no, I'm not pregnant.  Because of the abdominal discomfort I chose not to squeeze into my Seven jeans, but to wear comfortable jeans that are not very flattering.  And I wanted to wear flip flops but it's not THAT warm yet so I put on my brown winter shoes.  My hair was frizzy. Also, my face is sunburned and looks like I'm still wearing my sunglasses because I spent three straight days watching baseball in the sun this past weekend.

Half way through the day I decided to fight back.  I felt I could negotiate with ugly.  I changed from my comfortable jeans into Sevens.  I figured counter pressure on my abdomen might be helpful?  I dug out my flip flops and kicked my brown winter shoes back into the closet.  I had a Coke gosh darn it.  I told myself the cola would be good for my stomach, but mostly knew I was looking for an emotional fix.  It didn't disappoint.

I put my smile on because if you have a Coke, you have to have a smile too.  I reached out to others at work and tried to be more helpful than I felt I wanted to be.  I came home and did what needed to be done without complaint.  Well, with few complaints as possible.  Then suddenly, ugly was gone . . . and it had left a pretty good day in it's place.      

Tis The Season

Tis the season for cold and flu.  Here's something you might find helpful to negotiate the phlegm, NielMed sinus rinse.

NielMed is something we were introduced to when my oldest daughter had sinus surgery last June to correct a deviated septum and small sinuses which were constantly inflamed from the 35 items she's allergic to.  NielMed is much like a Neti Pot, only it's a squeeze bottle.  The bottle is filled with a saline solution mixed with water and if you're thinking you squeeze the bottle into your nose, thus rinsing it out, you're exactly right.

The first time I tried the rinse I felt much like I'd just been knocked over by a wave in the ocean - salty water up my nose and possibly coming out my ears.  Once you become familiar with the feeling, you'll love how your nose feels after it's rinsed.  Your nose will feel the same way your teeth do after you've come from the dentist, so clean and good.  

Last week I started getting a cold with some chest congestion.  I started using NielMed and it was gone in three days, I kid you not.  I'm not employed by NielMed, so there's nothin in it for me.  I'm just sharing what works for me in hopes it might work for you too.  I found you can watch an awesome video of how NielMed works at www.NielMed.com If nothing else, it's good for a laugh.

Oh, and I get my NielMed at WalMart, much like everything else in my life.  I'm sure there's a NielMed in fine stores near you!

A Long Weekend

So I guess we have the day off today to celebrate George Washington's birthday.  Only Washington's birthday was February 22nd and today is the 15th.  It seems someone in power deemed "President's Day" to be the 3rd Monday in February.  I think George was a great guy and I like holidays so it's all good with me.  In fact, my husband just read a great book about old George: To Try Men's Souls: A Novel of George Washington and the Fight for American Freedom.  Nonetheless, it's a long weekend and we've spent it at the ballpark watching the Red Dirt Boys (my boy's baseball team) dominate.  Today they're playing in the semi finals, and hopefully the final championship game.

We did have a moment Saturday night to watch the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics.  I fell asleep watching the parade of athletes but my kids tell me it was entertaining.  When I think of the Olympics, I think of Jerry Seinfeld.  He really sums it up.  See if you don't agree by clicking here.

Happy Valentines Day!

Hope you have a wonderful Valentine's weekend!  And that someone is willing to sing for you like this.

Hearty Nachos

Occasionally I like to share a recipe that is fast and good. It just so happens that "fast and good" is my motto in life. I don't know about you, but cooking dinner is often difficult when you've got to pick up from baseball practice, drop off at basketball tryouts, and attend a half-time show to see your daughter dance. So here's what I do on those crazy days:

*Brown ground beef and drain.
*Stir in one envelope onion soup mix, one can black beans (rinsed and drained), one cup salsa.
*Bring to boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer five minutes.
*Instructions call for one cup cheddar cheese to be sprinkled on top, but I like to add my cheese (and lots of it) while it is simmering so the cheese melts in.
*Top with other items you might enjoy like olives, tomatoes, sour cream, guacamole, green onions, or cilantro.
*Serve with chips (and fruit to make it a balanced meal).
*Vegetarians might like to omit the beef and double the beans? Never tried it, just a suggestion.

Life Lessons

Funny how you learn life lessons in the darnedest ways. I learned one just yesterday, and here's how it happened. . .

You see each morning I give thanks for a new day. I also give thanks for a peaceful nights rest. Though my children are growing up, memories of waking up in the night to soothe small children are not too far in the rear view mirror. But night before last, my 12 year old son woke up at 3:16 AM with growing pains in his legs. The pain seemed so severe I wondered if his back brace was cutting off circulation to his legs or perhaps pinching a nerve.

I made him comfortable on the couch next to my bed, administered children's Motrin, heated up rice bags for his legs, then snuggled him and stroked his face til he was comfortable enough to fall back to sleep. In doing so, my heart was swollen with love for the little guy I am privileged to call son. I felt a sense of gladness that I could be there to comfort him, and not working the midnight shift at Del Taco. I felt lucky to be a mother. I felt blessed with health and strength, his and mine. And while these emotions surged through me, I thought how funny it was that I gave thanks each morning for NOT having these kind of experiences. I realized how experiences that are difficult are the ones that help us grow the most.

The life lesson I learned yesterday? Embrace life no matter the situation or hour of the day.

Super Sunday

Sunday we had bacon cheeseburgers, six kinds of chips and soda in glass bottles. When our digestive tracks could handle more food, we had banana splits. The occasion for such indulgence? A football game.

We also made the Superbowl more interesting by taking family bets on whether the Star Spangled Banner would be sung in "over" or "under" one minute 45 seconds. It was 1:47. On what color Gatorade would be poured on the winning coach. Orange. On who the MVP would thank first, God, team, family, or no one. God.

The Saints won, which is good for New Orleans because they deserve something good. But I was kinda pulling for the Colts because I think Peyton Manning is funny in a lot of commercials.

And speaking of commercials, this was our favorite one.

One Simple Act

My mom gave me a book for Christmas. I'm finally making time to read it. It's called "One Simple Act - Discovering the Power of Generosity" by Debbie Macomber. I like it.

It's about how little things we do, the key word being "little" or "simple" can make big differences in other people's lives. And how when we do these little things, we somehow feel better ourselves. Luke 6:38 is referenced, it says, "Give, and it will be given to you. . ." I looked up "give" in the Bible dictionary and there were a page and a half of references, so it's gotta be a good thing.

Recently my 9 year old daughter, Muckus, decided to perform one simple act for me. Laundry. I didn't ask her to, she just started doing it. She'll throw a load in when she wakes up, move it to the dryer before she leaves for school, then fold it and put it away when she gets home from school. It's a small act that's a huge life saver for me. We now have socks, towels and baseball uniforms when we need them.

So I'm trying to negotiate that one simple act I can do each day that will help to lighten someone's load. And if along the way I inspire my other three kids to do simple acts like washing dishes and cleaning bathrooms, well that will just be a bonus now won't it!

Robertos

Recently a quaint little taco shop opened up in our town. Roberto's. We love tacos as much as the next guy so we love to frequent Roberto's. And the bonus of eating at Roberto's is pellet ice. Nothing like a Coke over pellet ice, not that I've had one recently mind you, but I speak from experience when I say the soda was awesome! I believed it was Roberto who was serving me up my bean and cheese burrito, drink and churro, all for only $2.99.

Then suddenly I realized that there were Roberto's Taco Shops everywhere. The Weinerschnitzel on the Boulevard was turned into a Roberto's, which is a crying shame because I love a good mustard dog as much as I love tacos. Sonic was turned into a Roberto's, which could be a blessing so I am not tempted to indulge in soda flavored with syrup. Roberto's everywhere! In fact, there's probably a Roberto's near you and now I'm thinking that is not Roberto at all who greets me regularly.

And just the other day when I was driving by, I happened to notice a big banner on one of the local Roberto's which read: UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP, NOW FRESH FOOD DAILY. This gave me pause for consideration as to whether I'd like to continue to frequent Roberto's. My negotiations made me realize, food that is fast and cheap is probably not even worth $2.99.

Tradition

Lots of comments have been made about “The Clark Family” and what a great family it is. Well I’m here to say - that’s exactly right and I’ll tell you why. . .TRADITION. Tradition just so happens to be one of the reasons why the Clark family is happy bunch. Let me expound.
A few of my favorite Clark Family traditions are the water fight after the 4th of July parade (though I like to avoid the water myself) and the 4th of July Gala where all adults gather together for a lovely meal and celebrate our freedom. Awards are given to family members who showed extreme courage throughout the year. I think I know which Clark family member will be getting the award next year.
There’s also the Labor Day river run where we rent rafts and make our way down Provo river - the kids LOVE it!
A “turkey bowl” on Thanksgiving morning where every man becomes a kid again throwing the pigskin around and a few kids end up in tears, followed by-bowling that evening (to make up for the tears) after a fantastic turkey dinner.
Grandpa’s tailgate parties on Cougar game days are unmatched when it comes to food and fun. Each pre-game meal includes a to-die-for roast along with cold soda, chips, cottage cheese and pickles. Everyone wears Cougar blue - eats to their hearts content - then walks to and from the games together talking about life and sharing in the excitement of the game.
Halloween night is another favorite where we all end up at Umi and Grandpa’s house after trick-or-treat and show off costumes to each other.
I could go on and on about late night lift rides at Sundance, weekly Monday family nights, pumpkin patch parties at Lucy and Rics, Christmas gifts of service to one another, Clark Family ski day, and on and on and on.
The pattern I’ve noticed is: family togetherness (and maybe really good food). When you’re making memories together during the good times, it’s easy to jump in and help each other out during the rough times. I just so happened to be at Umi’s house when we got word of Stephanie's accident. It wasn’t long before each brother and sister came offering love and support to one another. Prayers were offered and hope for the future was found - no matter the outcome. Because we have often gathered together to celebrate the joy in life, it is second nature to gather together when one of our own faces a challenge. We are there for the moves, the illnesses, the heartache and disappointment. We help carry each other’s burdens and celebrate each other’s triumphs. I guess when I think about it, tradition is just another word for love.

Muckus

We have a nickname for my baby girl. It's Muckus. It all came from the time she was just a wee little baby and we talked to her in high pitched voices with nonsense words. For example, "How's my little shmucky moo moo?" And somehow "shmucky moo" turned into "mucky lucky" which eventually turned into Muckus.

One time when Muckus was in first grade we went to her school carnival for fun and games. She happened to be bowling for soda which involves rolling the ball to knock over empty soda cans and if successful, you win a soda. She rolled her ball and when it was so close, but no cigar, I shouted "Oh Muck, you were so close!" It was immediately clear that several people around me had heard me incorrectly and thought I was shouting obscenities at the school carnival. Misunderstandings are sometimes difficult to negotiate.

C Jane happens to call my baby girl "muggles." Not sure if it was Harry Potter influenced or if it's taken from the root word Muckus. And recently "muggles" was reduced to "mugs" which is what I'm calling her these days. And I think that's appropriate seeing as mug is what I like to do with her.