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.