Clone Wars

Not that there was any doubt, but it is pretty obvious whose kids Max and Mae are.

Max Steven

Mae Maureen

Emily Jeanne

Sons and Sisters

Sometimes having a son is way better then having a sister. As the youngest of three, when I was allowed to play with Suzanne and Krista, I was usually relegated to to role of Boy or Villian. Never was I allowed to be the princess, (Suzanne)or even Sidekick (Krista.) Well, that has all changed. With Max I am number one! Max informed me this morning that he was Obi Won Kenobi. I asked if Mae was Princess Leia, and he said no. I then asked if Claudia, (his main squeeze,) was Leia. He thought about it and quickly decided that No she wasn't either. "You Mama, you are Princess Leia!" VICTORY AT LAST! Sons are great.

Also it should be noted that Jeff is Anakin Skywalker and Mae is R2D2.

Spiritual Block

I am suffering from a spiritual block. It is like a writers block but instead of not being able to write, I am not able to compose a talk for next Sunday. I have never had such a hard time with giving a talk. For the past week and a half I have been struggling with absolutely no success or inspiration. Giving talks is not my favorite thing to do, but I have always found the experience to be deep and rewarding in the end. This time I am stressed to almost collapse. I am not sure why I am having such a difficult time. I have tried everything, (including not worrying about it,) and it almost feels like something is physically blocking my brain from working. So...any thoughts on 2 Nephi 31:20. Yeah, I know right? It's like the whole purpose of life and the Gospel in one scripture. What more is there to say. Maybe I should just get up there and read the scripture and bear my testimony (It may come to that!) So everyone in my ward who reads my blog can now look forward to this Sunday in a "Lets see what kind of train wreck Emily's talk will be," way. Special shout out to Katie G. who reads my blog and whose husband gave me the assignment in the first place (Not that I blame him, not at all, and I am so not going to start my talk with an ultra lame story of how "I avoided his call" or one of the other moronic things so many people say to make themselves feel witty in a cheap attempt to pander to the audience's dislike of giving talks. Those so Must Go!) But shout out none the less in a maybe they should prepare and add a really long rest hymn.

Help Me Obi-Won-Kenobi, You're My Only Hope!

Max has been a bit obsessed with Star Wars Clone Wars lately. As with all his obsessions, they start strong, last for a few weeks or months and then begin to fade into another obsession. We are deep in the middle of the Star Wars obsession. He has Star Wars jammies, toys, and loves to watch the cartoons and play Lego Star Wars. I think the cutest part of this current obsession is that for the first time he is pretending to be one of the characters. Often Max will inform us that he is, "Obi-Won Kabobie." It is so stinking cute. This has also helped in his potty training. Star Wars merchandise has been useful for bribes. But the key to our success has really been firm sticking him on the toilet and not letting him move. He finally caved, and ladies and gentlemen....MAX IS POTTY TRAINED!!!! Our prayers have been answered after over a year of training. He has seen the light. Two days now of no accidents and life is grand.

Mmmmm....Rice Cereal!

Cause nothing says yum like bland rice mush. But hey, at least she's taking something since she is not a fan of the bottle. Notice how her hands are fully grasping mine, she would not let me move to reload the spoon. Finally I had to relinquish the spoon to her.

Things That Must Go X

In honor of my 10th edition I have a special twist- words and phrases That Must Go!

1. "We're Trying": as in people are trying to procreate. Really? Do you need me to leave the room? How about we are "hoping" to start a family instead.

2. "Strip your membranes": I am not exactly sure what this involves (not looking for an explanation so don't post one,) but it is something that can be done to a pregnant woman to hasten the arrival of a baby. But it sure does sound graphic and nasty. Things down there shouldn't be scraped.

3. "Take out your endowment": This one is for my mom, she hates it when people say this. "Where are you taking it?" Is her go to response. Receive your endowment is the proper term.

4. "Opportunities": Jeff wanted me to post this one, lately at work they have been calling things "opportunities" when what they really meant was mistake.

5. "Tender": In the 10th grade I had a classmate who described everything as tender. Everything! Totally ruined the word for me for no good reason.

I know there are so many more, so I will be adding to this but here is the list for now. Please feel free to add.


*No meaning behind the picture just more Max goodness.

Fatty McThunder Thighs

Just more of her to love and squeeze!

FAIL!

I never seem to have any luck while going to the temple on vacation. About 5 years ago when we graduated from BYU Jeff and I went to Hawaii and then Los Angeles. While in LA we went to a session in the LA temple. Unbeknown to us we were shoved in a Spanish session and had to head phone it. As if that weren't bad enough, there was a hold up of some sorts that had us paused for a half hour, someone came in to explain what was going on- in Spanish! It was not a happy experience. (Yes, say what you will about how the Spirit should over come language, or I should be happy to just sit in there, whatever it was stressful.) So fast forward five years to last month. While in Utah I decided to attend the 8 p.m. Friday night session at the Provo Temple. I have always liked the Provo temple. I was able to leave the kids with my Mother In Law, (thanks Carol!) and had a lovely session. It was nice to be in a full sized temple again, (not there is anything wrong with mini's, but I really like sitting in the chapel cause it gives me time to relax and refocus with the pretty music.) there were so many people there that they had us divide in to two sessions and I went at 8:20. It was great. I was feeling that good spiritual high and then on my way out BAM! Reason number 327 why Emily is going to Hell!

While placing a name on the prayer roll a lady comes up to me,
Lady: "Hi, can you give me a ride home?"
Me: "Um, I am sorry I am from out of town."
Lady: BLINK, BLINK, "I can give you directions."

I am feeling really weird at this point. I mean I feel bad for her and want to help, but seriously have you driven in Utah lately the place has changed so much in the last five years, and I am not a big fan of night driving, and it wasn't my car (and I am not one of those people who is used to driving strange cars.)

Me: "Um, where do you live?"
Lady: "By the Walmart in Orem."

What? Seriously? Way opposite direction of my in-laws. Oh, hey yeah my in-laws who are watching my most likely screaming infant at this point....

Me: "Um, I am staying with my In-laws who are watching my kids and my 4 month old daughter is probably crying as we speak." (and she was)
Lady: BLINK, BLINK, BLINK
ME: "I am sorry I can't give you a ride."
END SCENE

So here is the question;
Was this just a harmless interaction between an out of town young mom, and a socially inept stranger,
or was I just given a direct follow up test for the temple, entitled, "You Just Spent 2+ Hours Learning the Mysteries of God, Prove It?"

How can I have just spent all that time in the celestial room feeling the Love of the Lord and not help a fellow Child of God. Should I have just had faith that I would find my way back to my in-law? (which by the way I did take one wrong turn and had to back track a little on the way home.) If I had had enough faith would Mae have been contented until I got back? Would I have received the blessing of a potty trained son or sold house for my great service? Did I fail a test as obvious as that, "new testament class that passes all the "needy people on the way to the test, thus failing to grasp the true meaning of the Gospel test."

Or do I get a pass cause it wasn't my car, and my kid was screaming, and something was a bit sketchy about the lady with no ability to pick up on social cues?

Either way, I am not going to the temple on vacation again. It's just you and me Oklahoma City.


by the way the amazing photo was taken by my friend Jenn's hubby, Andrew Morrill who is an amazing photographer whose work and be viewed and purchased at www.celestiallightphotography.com

Sunshine January

My friend Lara is amazing. Everyone should be lucky enough to be her friend. We first got to know each other serving upon a severely dysfunctional activities committee. We instantly bonded like comrades in arms fighting the good fight. She makes me laugh with her frank observations and witty remarks. She is strong and loyal. Any of her friends can tell you that they take comfort in knowing that she will always have their backs. This beautiful lady is my inspiration, in the past year she has made and surpassed impressive weight loss goals, and she wasn't even one of those people who needed to lose weight in the first place. (She is so buff and tone now which is only an added benefit since she is my support.) A running goddess, she has started running 5k's 10k's and even half marathons! What has impressed me even more then her fitness, is her parenting. One look at her blog (linked under the Scheele Family) and you will be blown away at the amazing job she does teaching her kids. She takes great care to introduce her three kids to reading, math and science. Lara has created science experiments not because she had to but because she wants her children to learn and spend their days not watching tv, but enriching their minds. We could all learn from Lara, and I am glad that I get to close up.

Scatter Sunshine

So I have decided to name my spotlight posts sunshine. Yes, it has a bit of warm fuzz to it, but it also evokes a chuckle from me. Here's why; at my Grandpa Tobler's funeral, a family member told the story of how whenever he and my grandpa were alone my grandpa would call him sunshine. He thought it was a special nick name just for him and he loved my grandpa more for their special bond. Turned out that Sunshine was just something my Grandpa called anyone whose name he couldn't remember. So with a bit of tongue in cheek I will call my monthly salute to my friends and family Sunshine.

BFF

Mae and I have a funny thing in common. We both have a cousin named Lindsey who is just a few months younger then us. Mae got to meet her new BFF and they hit it off both crying together.

Larkins

It is so funny cause I think my children look so much like me. They have my eyes and my nose and Max even has my mouth. But as you can see, they are totally Larkins.

Rock and Roll All Night!

Went to Utah and Max got a chance to play with a real rock star, his Uncle Mark. Max just may be ready to move beyond Rock Band for the real thing now.