And one more thing.....

I forgot to mention I'm grateful that the Primary Program is finally over! It turned out wonderful of course despite all the crazy practices. And thank heavens the stomach flu waited to make an appearance until the primary program was over. 6 hours after it was over to be exact. (Enter sarcastic voice here)

Katrina asked me what I wanted for Christmas today and I told her "Peace on Earth".

And I meant it....

Grateful for Lysol

Yup; The stomach flu has hit the Huhtala household in full force. Since Sunday afternoon I have been cleaning barf, butts, bowls, tubs, toilets, and done about 10 loads of laundry. The big kids are great...except for a few accidents they keep it in the bowls. The baby however...he starts to barf, and then he freaks out, and he starts crawling around, and tossing his head back and forth when you try to direct him into a bowl and there is just barf flyin everywhere! Poor baby :( He hasn't eaten in over 2 days and finally was able to hold down 3 crackers for dinner tonight. It's going to take me 2 months to get the weight back onto him.

Bella and I are the only ones who it hasn't hit yet. I count my blessings that Bella was not sick the same time as Tyson cuz she is just as "bowl challenged" as a 1 year old. Usually she doesn't bother to get up but rather just turns her head to the side and barfs all over her hair and bed.

I'm so grateful to be healthy and strong so that I can spend every waking hour cleaning contagious, infectious, intestinal viruses. Usually I get sick when all the kids are better and no longer nap for 4 hours out of exhaustion but rather can't sleep because of all their new found energy! And since my husband has stayed home sick to take care of his weak immune system, there will be too much work to make-up to stay home when I get sick! (Can you tell I'm in that cranky/sarcastic mood?!)

Truly, although I want someone to baby and take care of me for awhile, I in no way desire to visit the porcelain facility face first. I'm going to hope that my trusty iron-clad immune system holds true. (That comes from being raised in a family of 9 kids...just you try and introduce a new strain into this body! It's had em' all!)

Kudos to my mother who I remember at one time had I think 8 throwing up children and was sick herself....now THAT is something to complain about!

Warning: Not a gratitude post

No Bake Cookies SUCK! (Sorry for the profanities but see below)

I was CRAVING them today, and since I was sick and had sent Jay and the 3 oldest to stake conference...(Payback for my many sacrament meetings of complete horror while he sits smiling up on the stand.....muwaaahahaha), I decided to whip up a batch to feed my cravings. I wasn't feeling well and hence deserved to eat whatever sounded good. Stupid cookies....At the end of the day when I realized there were 2 left I asked Jay how many he had eaten:

Jay: Like 1 and a half
Me: How many did the kids eat? Besides Payton? (He hates PB due to his allergy as a baby and thinks it "burns")
Jay: Katrina had 3 total, Bella had 3 and Tyson had 2.
Me: (Doing the math in my head) Are you sure???
Jay: Yup
Me: (Hiding my head in shame) I am sooooo bad
Jay: How many did you eat?
Me: Are you sure you didn't eat more than 1.5?
Jay: Yup
Me: Positive??
Jay: How many....
Me: I believe approximately......11

Yes, that's right. 11 No Bake cookies. HEY! THEY HAVE OATMEAL IN THEM AND I CALCULATED THAT EACH COOKIE HAD 1 GRAM OF FIBER AND 1 GRAM OF PROTEIN EACH...AND THAT'S NOT INCLUDING WHAT I GOT FROM THE PEANUT BUTTER!!!

I have decided that No-Bake cookies need to be on my ban list. Anything that my family eats that little of and I eat that much of has no place in my home (or stomach). I've never felt so badly like I needed to go for a jog and if I wasn't completely certain that it would cause me to black out by the time I got to the corner due to my illness, I would wake up the dog and go right now. Probably all that sugar keeping me awake tonight. In my prayers tonight I had to ask forgiveness for being so glutenous...gluttenous? K, google confirms it's gluttonous. I didn't mean to say that I was a sticky plant protein. But if I was I'm SURE I would have more self-control!

Politics

I have never been involved much in politics. I know it's bad but most of the time I just mark the "republicans" and rarely research who or what I am voting for. This year it has been different. Since the church is actively campaigning to get Proposition 8 passed, I have been actively involved, studying facts, reading the issues and talking to people about it. You can read about why I support Prop. 8 here at my family blog.

I've been trying to be more informed. I've been trying to watch the debates, follow the news, and all I see is a few very good liars...I mean politicians...who twist the others words so that they look good and the other person looks bad. I know who I need to vote for but I am not very happy with my only choice. Just sort of choosing the lesser of two evils...or was it weevils? (Ha ha, Jay will get that won't you sweetie?)

I get so sick of the bickering and finger pointing at the running mates. Don't they get that this annoys the crap out of people? The tactic must be proven to work or else I can't imagine that they would all submit to it. I swear though, if just 1 politician would stick to the issues and not stoop to slandering his opponent he would have a lot of votes.

Food from scratch

I remember when the penny gumball machines disappeared from the local drugstore. I also remember when that drugstores ice cream was no longer sold for $.35/scoop. I remember when beef noticeably began to rise in cost due to the fad diets that promoted lots of red meat. However, I have never seen so many items rise in costs all at the same time as I have in this economic crisis. Maybe it's because I've always been a stickler about food costs. I'm the girl who reads the fine print, calculates the cost/oz. and never let's the supermarket pull one over my eyes with their "deals". So with my knowledge of what I pay for almost every item in my cart, it sickens me to see how much the cost of food is rising.

I'm grateful that before it turned bad, I had felt impressed to start learning to make a lot of things from scratch. From my bread, to my potstickers, I prefer to make the real deal instead of buying artificial nastiness. It doesn't save me a THAT much money since flour and fresh foods rises in costs with everything else, however, I feel good in knowing that I am feeding my family healthy, better for you food. It also feels good to know that I am making a stand against those companies that create "cancer in a box". K, there's no proof in that I just thought it had a cool ring to it.

I can't make everything from scratch, but I am resolved to keep trying. Lunchmeat is one I HATE, but have to have. Maybe I'll raise my own chickens and slaughter, pluck, and roast them for my kids sandwiches! Would you put it past me?

I'm Back

Sorry about the long absence. I don't seem to have a lot of time anymore to sit and "play" on the computer. Kind of a good thing and a bad thing. Let's get the gratitude rolling again.

#1 I am grateful that school has started again
#2 I am grateful for the school bus that drops my children off a block away 10 minutes after they get out. In the time they get off the bus, I would still be trying to get out of the school parking lot! It's fabulous and they don't have enough time to get the "bad bus experience". (My first kiss was on a bus and let me tell you it is NOT a good memory. Ewwwwwww)
#3 I am grateful for a husband who works his buns off to provide for his family. He's the biggest, strongest provider I know (the smartest and cutest too).
#4 I am grateful for Mothers who give listening ears and offer their years of wisdom.
#5 Did I mention I'm grateful that school has started again?

K, of course there's a lot more but I have a lesson to prepare for and just wanted to recommit to my blog. I solemnly swear to do better.

Grateful for Yoga, NOT grateful for Yoga+Children

For the past year I have been dabbling in Yoga. It all started with Priscilla Patrick on PBS. Her little 15 minute stretches every morning got me hooked! Then I started doing the Yoga that's on BYU channel in the mornings and began studying yoga and meditation on my own. I used to try to do it after I went jogging or walking but it was taking up too much of my day. I started to do it twice a week but my kids were making it near impossible. Can you imagine me in some weird contorted pose with a 3 year old directly next to (or underneath me) trying to do the same thing, and a 1 year old trying to sit on my head at the same time? Now imagine me trying to do 5 minutes of relaxation after my practice with someone crying in my ear, a high energy 8 year old yelling throughout the house while he chases his screaming sister, and a baby in his high chair making obvious sounds that he is done by the clattering sounds of his bowl on the floor. It usually involves me taking a deep cleansing breath and then yelling so hard my face hurts DO YOU MIND??!! I AM TRYING TO RELAX!!! Let's just say it's not pretty.

I realized that Yoga is scarily bringing more stress to my life. When I am trying to concentrate so hard for these poses and get distracted by these little buggers it raises my stress to levels I didn't know existed! I then decided if I wanted to continue my new hobby I needed to make sacrifices. So....on Tuesdays and Thursdays I have decided to get up at 5:45am to practice Yoga in peace. Wouldn't you know it, at least 2 of them have been getting up at 5:50am since I started this. They pitter patter out, say in loud non-morning voices "Doing your Yoga Mom?!" And then proceed to open all the squeakiest cupboards, or slurp cereal, or dump out legos. If I try to make them stay in their rooms they play which usually ends up in playful screaming (or not so playful) waking up the other half of the kids. Whatever....So much for R&R. I tell you they have some sort of Yoga radar! Anyways, I guess there is a time and a season for everything...I just really wanted this to be my season for Yoga! *Sigh* I'm not giving up yet. I may have to sacrifice some precious evening adult time for Yoga (sorry bout that Jay).

Namaste

The Lucky One

Listen, my life just isn't that exciting but I can still be grateful right??

Right now I'm grateful for Allison Krauss. I could listen to her for hours.... I'm also grateful for the Leinwebers. They made me laugh today when they shouted the words to "who let the dogs out" at me while sitting and waiting for Payton to come out of his class. I'm grateful for good friends who let me hang out at their homes and eat their food when my house is full of boring stuff. I'm grateful for Anne Wadman, she made me good soup yesterday :) I'm grateful for a good book, and sleeping children.

I'm grateful for my husband who blasts the Beastie Boys while doing robotic dances making us all laugh. I'm grateful for Bella who said to me at least 5 times today, "I love you mom, do you love me?" I'm grateful for Tyson who seems to be the only person in this house I never raise my voice to (unless I'm saying, "The Dude!" in my high baby talk voice). He's not just "A" Dude. He's "The" Dude. I'm grateful for Katrina and her beautiful art she makes for me at least twice a day. I'm grateful for Payton and his willingness to help all day long. I'm even grateful for Cody when he cleans the food off my floors so I don't have to sweep so much.

Guess I had a lot more to be grateful for than I thought :)

Proud to be an American

K, sorry for the long absence. I solemnly swear to do better. Payton came home today from school and said "Mom, have you heard of the song, 'Proud to be an American?'" I said, "Ummm.....let me think...YEAH." Apparently they are practicing the song for a Spring Concert they are performing. So I start singing dramatically, and he joins in with me. But let me tell you when I heard that high little, non-pubescent voice sing
"There ain't no doubt I love this land, God bless the USA"
it brought tears to my eyes. I told him about how I quoted that song in a talk I gave the weekend after 9-11 in Stake Conference (my talk was on the effects of music), and how my favorite line in the song was "The flag still stands for freedom, and they can't take that away." and what it means. He said, "Yeah, I like that line too. They think Betsy Ross made the flag." (Always Mr. Facts just like his Dad.)

Then we talked a little about 9-11 and why these men would want to kill themselves while killing others. Things I truly wish my son did not have to contemplate.

I love this land. I love my freedoms. I love that my son is singing "GOD bless the USA" in a public school performance. This country definitely has flaws but there is no other place I would rather be. Tonight I am giving thanks to my Father in Heaven for this country and all that it represents. I'm definitely proud to be an American.

Jack of all Trades, Master of None

Thanks to some encouraging words from my mother it's my new motto. Aren't we all like this in some things? I have to say that being a mother, although I don't have time to perfect any one subject, I study many different things that interest me, or in order to educate myself about something. I am a pianist, a guitarist, a singer, a parenting expert (I know the skills, however I don't always use them), a baker, a dog trainer, a nurse, a counselor, a financial expert, a gardener, an organizer, a chef, a personal trainer, definitely a maid, most certainly a servant, unfortunately for my husband a comedian, a nutritionist, a beautician, a coach, a martial arts student (that's right...I've got a yellow belt!) a chauffeur, a decorator, a story teller, a writer, a yogi, a teacher, a mediator, an advocate, a scriptorian, a disciple, and best of all a daughter of god.

There is no time (for now) to become a master of any one of these things, and for now I am content with just "dabbling" and learning about anything that interests me. I love being a mom. I may not work in the "working world" but it gives me all the more time to study and refine talents and skills that benefit myself as well as my family. Lucky me!

What are your skills? I was surprised I could come up with so many. Make a post on your blog...I want some new skills! (You know like nunchuck skills....computer hacking skills)

Thoughtful Friends

I'm so grateful for thoughtful friends who make me desire to be better. My friend Kristi Brausch asked me one day for the birthdays of all of our family members and since then has never failed to send a card. Not only to send a card but a card that arrives on TIME! My kids always get so excited to get mail (I have to admit so do I). My Dad and his wife are also very good about this.

Now me? I remember that I should have sent a card the day before their birthday, I then either throw my hands up and say "Oh, well! There's always next year!", I make excuses about how I've already done my weekly WalMart shopping (yeah, I don't get out much) and don't have a card, or I give them a lame phone call. So here's my plan of action:

1. Gather a few birthdays starting with your own children (I mean I need to start small or I'm going to fail..I know myself too well)

2. Buy your first real "your a grown-up now" planner to record such dates. I like this one from Franklin Covey

3. Quit being a scrooge and buy cards ahead of time so you already have them on hand (Note here: I personally am a little "anti-cards". I hate paying $3-$5 for something that someone will probably throw away within a week. HOWEVER, I have a Mother-in-law who LOVES receiving cards and always gushes over them. Point is: It's the thought that counts!)

4. Eventually become world famous for sending cards for the birthdays, weddings, graduations, losses, new jobs, new babies, new puppies, great haircuts and blemish free days of my family, friends, and that one really nice lady at the library. (Ask Kimberly Cardon why she'll stand in her line and wait for 10 minutes even though that OTHER librarian is totally available)

Wish me luck!

Ok, so lately I've just been kinda a party pooper about life in general. This cold, miserable weather just makes me want to curl up in bed and never do anything. When I do have to do something I'm cranky and whiny about it. No more! I have decided that I am changing my thoughts and that I am going to try to have a positive outlook on whatever I am doing. Going to Wal-Mart to grocery shop for 2 hours? Woo-hoo! Changing my 4th diaper at 10am? Suh-weet! Going to the dentist? Can hardly WAIT!

Boyd K. Packer says that "our thoughts are the switchboard, the control panel governing our actions".

"I think therefore I am"

"Every thought is a seed. If you plant crab apples don't count on harvesting golden Delicious."

The thoughts that I think effect DRAMATICALLY my outlook on life and the way my day goes. There are enough people in this world that think negative thoughts. I for one am going to contribute more often to the ones who think positively.

Sushi

I'm not a hard core sushi eater or anything but today I dusted off the old sushi maker we bought 10 years ago and made some rolls. Just avocado, cucumber and crab but man it hit the spot and filled the craving for a few days. If you like sushi you know what I'm talking about. Next I'm going to make some with tempura shrimp made w/panko. Mmmmmmm

It's funny how when I was a kid sushi just meant slimy raw fish. In todays world kids LOVE sushi. Payton devours it. My nephew brings his mom's leftover sushi in his lunch! Puh-leeze!

Interrupt this blog for a "back in my day" moment. Besides walking 3 miles home from the bus stop I had two sandwich choices: PB&J or Bologna (yack). What was in your brown bag?

Dot Com

So grateful for the Internet. I know that everyone is already aware of it’s benefits and how fortunate we are to have this vast, unlimited river of information, but this is my gratitude blog so you have to read why I’m grateful for it. :)

I was talking to a friend today about how we, as Mothers with Internet access, have no excuse to be ignorant about how to care for a child. When I have a question as to whether or not my baby can eat yogurt yet, I type in a few words online and can search through thousands of pages where people have asked the same question. If my hand goes numb after I eat tuna salad…or I burp a lot when I’m pregnant, I can probably find a reason why on the Internet. Sometimes it’s a challenge to see if I can type in the right search terms to get the results I am seeking, and when I succeed it is like…..EUREKA!

When I realized that my baby kept his thumbs tucked into his palms I immediately, of course, turned to the Internet to see if there was a “condition” or something associated with this. After much “play” with search terms I found that he had what was called “adducted thumbs” and that it was often present in certain genetic disorders. Of course I did what any good Mother would do. I FREAKED out! However, the Internet eased my fears as I read more about the rarity of the disorders and the many other obvious symptoms usually present, that he was lacking. All this study, though, prepared me for the genetic counseling and testing we had to go through “just to be safe”.

I’m grateful to live in an age where I can grow in knowledge indefinitely. We have been given this gift and must use it to further our knowledge, our talents, (and try not to waste too much time on it). It saddens me that some choose to use it to the detriment of themselves and others. If you are reading this blog, thank you for taking up some of your Internet time to read my ramble. (Don’t you have anything better to read about?)