Fan Mail

I received my first fan mail this week (besides the comments all of you leave at the end of my blogs...that's close to fan mail, right?). Funny I just posted about the whole Katie Smith basketball player thing and now...fan mail. This guy made a college of her basketball career.

Too funny!

Tradition. Tradition. Tradition.

I've always considered Christmas to be somewhat of a romantic holiday...more so before I had kids. There's something about a flickering fireplace (though we've never had one in our married lives) and strolling hand in hand to look at lights or window shop. Maybe it's just the cold weather that requires a little snuggling, I'm not quite sure.

I was so looking forward to our first Christmas that Spencer and I shared just 7 months after our wedding. We decided to spend it alone rather than with our families...adding to the romance of the holiday. We talked about our traditions and the big ones with both of our families took place on Christmas Eve. So we decided to scrap both of our traditions and start fresh...since neither of us liked the other's well enough to give up our own, we might as well both give them up. So we started a formal dinner on Christmas Eve. As far as we knew, that was the only Christmas compromise necessary.

(The picture is Spencer and I on our first Christmas...Can you believe how skinny we were? It's disgusting.)

We enjoyed our Christmas dinner, stayed up late putting a desk together which we bought with Christmas cash from my Grandma, and went to bed. We could hardly sleep that night. Although our newlywed/student budget only allowed us $5 dollars per person for gifts, we couldn't even wait to see what we got each other. I pictured this perfect little Christmas...like I said, I imagined it to be a little bit romantic. Like straight out of a Hallmark commercial.

Our first Christmas Eve...notice we're still happy.

Sometime around 4:00am, Spencer had had enough. We got up to open presents, and proceeded to have the first fight of our marriage. In fact, it maybe the only fight of our marriage...Spencer really isn't a fighter. We sat down under the tree and Spencer started passing out all the presents. That's not how you're supposed to do it. You pass out one present at a time, that person opens it, then pass out the next and so on. Spencer passed out all the presents ahead of time. I had never even considered that there would be more than one way to pass out presents. Or that how we passed out presents was so important to me. After about an hour of arguing over how to pass out presents, Spencer finally conceded. It was far from the romantic Christmas I had been anticipating.

It turns out there are several Christmas morning traditions that I never really considered traditions. I assumed everyone did these things the same way my family did. It took us the entire year following that Christmas to come to an agreement on these things. I think it was the following Christmas Eve (we weren't going to ruin Christmas morning again) when we finally decided that since there was no way to combine them, we split the list in half. He chose half and I chose half. Several years have passed now and they've become our traditions. I've even found joy in doing some of the things Spencer's way.

We've started a new family tradition, too. It is something my college room mate did with her family and I've always liked the idea. She always referred to it as her Eve of Christmas Eve Party. Spencer and I combined our childhood Christmas Eve traditions and celebrate them on the 23rd. We buy a new game for the family to open that night (this year...Hungry, Hungry Hippos) and stay up all night playing games, eating snacks and watching movies...followed by a slumber party under the Christmas tree. Added bonus: the crazies are tired from a late night, helping them sleep better on Christmas Eve.

Anticipation

This is what happens when I get a new camera. I publish three posts in one day.

Here are the much anticipated pictures of Grayden. And one of Reid. I kept telling Gray to smile (as though he understands) and Reid kept showing me that he, too, knows how to smile. He wanted in on the action. Grayden rarely stops smiling, but it seemed impossible to get a picture of him with a smile. I managed to catch one or two. Notice the head tilt? That's the torticollis.

Mini Martha

Not mini in a physical sense. It would be hard to describe me as mini compared to most things. Mini in the fact that I've been busy with just a small amount of Martha Stewart like homemaking.

I had my visiting teaching sisters over for a luncheon on Monday. The whole event was a disaster, but the food was delicious. I don't normally consider myself an amazing cook. I cook well enough that my kids will be able to have their friends over for dinner without being embarrassed and my husband doesn't make fun of my cooking to his co-workers. My meals are all good enough. Simple and easy and good enough. Every once in a while I put forth the effort to make something great. Monday was such an occasion. And because this recipe has a lot of my own touches, I thought I'd share it.


Tortilla Soup
(serves 8)

1 onion chopped
1 tbs olive oil
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 tsp crushed red pepper
1/2 tsp chili powder (more or less to taste)
1 tsp salt
2 cans (15 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can whole kernel corn, undrained
8 cups chicken broth
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked and shredded

Saute onion in olive oil about 2 minutes.
Add garlic, crushed red pepper, and chili powder. Cook 2-3 minutes.
Stir in tomatoes, corn, broth, and salt.
Bring to a boil.
Cover and simmer 15 minutes.
Add chicken.

Garnish with any or all of the following:
shredded cheese
avocado slice
chopped fresh cilantro
lime wedge
tortilla strips

Tortilla Strips

about 20 corn tortillas
1 envelope taco seasoning
cooking spray

Cut tortillas into thin strips with pizza cutter.
Coat with cooking spray.
Sprinkle with envelope of taco seasoning. You might not use the whole envelope.
Bake at 400 for about 30 min until crisp.

Delicious!

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care...


We actually don't have a chimney so really, they're just sitting out. I finished up Grayden's stocking today. I bought fabric for stockings back when Spencer and I were celebrating our first Christmas married. I was working at a quilt shop. I have managed to stretch that fabric out into making 5 stockings with it. I am now out of coordinating fabric. That means either I can't have any more kids, or I have to make all new stockings when another comes along. I'll probably get all new stockings anyway. What I liked 6 Christmas' ago, I don't care for anymore. I'm a little tired of these stockings. I let someone at the quilt shop talk me into appliqueing the front of them. It's just not my thing, but I did freehand all the appliques. Despite the fact that they're no longer my taste, I think I did a pretty good job.

I'm working on some super hero capes for my boys for Christmas, too. Pictures to come...after Christmas.

Kudos

I am pretty pleased with my self today. I managed to get all the boys bathed and ready and on time to a 9:00am doctors appointment. I even jogged this morning. And from there, I continued to finish up Christmas shopping for Spencer with all three crazies in tote and I didn't loose a single one of them. We even squeezed in a little playground time for the boys.

It's always funny to watch how kids react to Reid at the playground. They are so different than grown ups. Kids will always stare at his prosthetic, touch the lock, knock on it to make sure his leg is really plastic. A kid today was trying to ask Reid about it. Reid really didn't get what this kid was talking about (he's not even 2 yet). So this 4 year old kid hunted down Parker, asked if he was Reid's brother and proceeded to ask Parker all about it. My kids are so young, they have no idea it's not normal. Parker answered the boy's questions, but really didn't know why he was so curious. It's just a plastic leg. Reid really doesn't mind. He just likes that other kids are paying attention to him.

Parker and this boy decided to become friends and declared the platform at the top of the playground a big boys club. They roared at the girls sitting up there until they ran away screaming. It's amazing how easy it is for kids to make friends. A simple question...Do you want to be my friend?...is all it takes. No caring about their age or how their dressed or even how nice they are to you. I need to take a lesson.

Jolly Old St. Nicholas

Parker and Reid enjoying Santa's lap at the ward Christmas Party.
Thanks, Kelly for taking the pictures.

Santa had one of his elves drop off an early Christmas present...I am now the proud owner of a brand new Canon Power Shot Camera. A big thank you to my mom. (Although, I think this gift was partly for her...she's missed seeing pictures of my kids the past 2 months.) I will now be able to take my own pictures with my own camera. It's amazing that 2 months without one was driving me mad. How did people survive on memories alone? I need pictures!

Genetics

As a youth when told I better behave because I'll have a child that turns out just like me, my thought was always, I hope so. I quite like myself. I would consider myself lucky.

When those thoughts ran through my head, I certainly wasn't thinking about the time I pulled the fire alarm during tithing settlement. I don't remember how old I was when I did this, but I know Bishop McKee was the bishop and he always gave us those sugar coated gummy Sunkist candies at tithing settlement. I think it was a week night. I know my parents were embarrassed. I remember just being curious about what it was. Those are the only details I can recall.

Yesterday was tithing settlement for us. It was a long day at church. We were there from 7:30am to 2:00pm because of meetings, tithing settlement and a song rehearsal. Tithing settlement was at the very end of this long block of time. My crazies were hungry, tired and restless, as was I. When it was finally our turn to be next, we decided to wait right outside the bishops office as not to waste even a second of time. That did not prove to be the case you see, because the fire alarm is also right outside the bishop's office. Before we knew what was happening, Parker pulled the fire alarm and sirens were sounding, only making us even later as the Bishop was taking care of things.

Can pulling the fire alarm during tithing settlement possibly be genetic? The difference between when I did this, and Parker doing this is that two other wards were in the building at this point...one in the middle of sacrament meeting. Whoops!

There have been several instances in my life since my dad died that I have felt his presence. Yesterday was one of those times. Only this was a first for me...I could almost hear him laughing.

I Love The Winter Weather

OK, so I don't really love the winter weather. It's the line from a song (on my Squirrel Nut Zippers Christmas Cd, Jeff....not all my music is embarrassing.) But this post is about winter weather. Jeanine's post about the ice storms out in Oklahoma reminded me about Parker's first Christmas.

It was our first Christmas with a kid around. Although he was only five months and way too young to think anything about Christmas, I was over excited about playing Santa for the little squirt. I just wanted everything to be picture perfect. That was far from the case. We had one of those major ice storms on December 23. Our power was out for five days.

The first two days and one night we braved it in the house. We just stayed bundled. We kept holding out in hopes our power would come back on so I could have that picture perfect Christmas I was hoping for. By the time we got home from our Donatos pizza dinner on Christmas Eve, we decided it was time to check into a hotel.

So Spencer and I took turns packing our suitcases (which was a major ordeal considering I was in the middle of laundry when the power went out so all our clothes were either wet or dirty) and searching the house for hidden Christmas presents by flashlight while the other stayed in the warm car with Parker. Spencer of course had not wrapped presents yet, so I had to search for wrapping paper, tape and scissors, too. Then we started driving to hotels. They were all booked due to the power outage. We felt like Mary and Joseph with no room at the Inn. Only I'm pretty sure Bethlehem never gets down to -9 degrees...I also wasn't riding a donkey. We finally found somewhere to spend Christmas on the other side of town, leaving behind our dog to spend Christmas alone in a cold dark house.

We had a fun Christmas morning despite the fact that there was no Christmas tree. Spencer and I decided we would check out of the hotel at checkout time in hopes, once again, that our power would come back on. Lots of homes had power at this point, so why not ours?

Our house was now colder than 20 degrees inside so we couldn't hang out there. We spent the day trying to find a warm place to sit and anywhere with warm water. Parker was bottle fed and only took warm milk. On Christmas, it was hard to find a gas station, a grocery store, anything open. The movie theatres open in the afternoon. So we spent the whole afternoon and evening there. At least there was warm water. And food. We had movie theatre hot dogs for Christmas dinner. YUM! Our power never came back on and we had to check back into the hotel where we could have stayed all day.

I have a very vivid memory of sitting in the dark in my car in front of my driveway a couple days after Christmas when we still had no power. Spencer was inside packing for another night at the hotel. Parker, who had been so patient and good through the whole ordeal, was bawling. He was hungry and had no hot water for a bottle. I finally broke down and started sobbing. And right then, the lights in our house flipped on. I couldn't have been happier.

We had some major warming up (and defrosting) to do. Our house was so cold, our food was all frozen. Our milk was a solid block of ice. But we braved it back in our own house that night. Finally. The power went back out the next morning. But was back on by 8:00pm that night. Thank Heaven!

I remember feeling like it was the worst thing ever, but even now, just three years later, it hardly seems like it could have been that big of deal. And it certainly didn't ruin Parker's Christmas. He still believes in Santa and has no recollection of the whole thing. No harm done. At least it was a Christmas to remember. So many of my Christmas memories just blur together. But this one will forever stand out.

Spencer and I were talking about it this morning. It was seriously one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen. The whole world seemed to be covered with four inches of ice. It just looked like crystal. It was incredible. Not even I have words to describe the beauty of it. My sympathies go out to all those experiencing power outages right now, but I am envious of their amazing view. (I took the picture at the top four days after the storm so the ice had already melted quite a bit. It does nothing for the beauty of that storm.)

I've been singing that Squirrel Nut Zippers song to myself throughout the post. It is probably my favorite seasonal song. So here are the lyrics just for fun:

I love the winter weather
So the two of us can get together
There's nothing sweeter, finer
When it's nice and cold I can hold
Baby closer to me
Collecting all the kisses that are due me
I love the winter weather
Because I've got my love to keep me warm.

So warm!

We Are Living In A Material World And I Am A Material Girl

OK, I'm getting around to it. Another blogging game...list my top 15 favorite things. Materialistic, sure, but we all have our favorite things right? This is a tough one for me. At first I couldn't come up with 15 things, and then I came up with way more than 15 things. I'm sure the day after I post this, I'll think of five more things I should have listed. My list probably changes from day to day. Being a mom, a good portion of my list comes straight out of my diaper bag. If it's important enough to carry around with me every where I go, it's got to be one of my favorite things.

1. I'll start with my diaper bag itself. I have tested out many diaper bags over the past few years. Only one designed for that purpose. Most have been leather. One (thanks to Marshall's) was even an expensive designer brand. None have lasted long....none until my Timbuk2 bag. This thing is virtually indestructible. And it fits a ton of stuff. It's not as pretty and really doesn't look good with my church clothes, but the nice thing is when I'm out with the fam, Spencer carries it.

2. Disposable diapers. I recently had a conversation with my mother-in-law about the days before disposable diapers. Yuck! It's strange to think that they used to be considered a luxury for the rich and famous. And before that they were nonexistent.

3. Wipes. How did I ever get along without these? I find I need them for everything...not just the kids.

4. Along the same lines...Shout Wipes. I received some in a baby shower gift. I have cleaned many a spit-up stains with these. Not to mention the millions of other stains that come with motherhood. These will forever remain stocked in my diaper bag.

5. Baby formula separator. So convenient.

6. Germ-X. I'm really not any sort of a germaphobe, but my kids have put their hands on some pretty disgusting things. Not to mention the gross places I've had to change diapers. Or the times I've been thrown-up on. It's nice to have clean hands on occasion.

7. My dishes...all of them. I couldn't write a list of my favorite things without including my dishes.

8. Gain laundry detergent. I am too cheap (or too poor) to use Gain. But one time, I lent some maternity clothes to a friend during my off season, and they came back smelling like Gain. I avoided washing them for as long as possible just so I could smell them. One day, when Spencer and I are rolling in the dough, I plan to buy my own Gain Laundry detergent. But for now, I have to sniff my friends dryer exhaust.

9. The J. Crew catalog. I'll take one of everything please. Very few of my clothes actually come from here. If I had my choice, my entire wardrobe would come from J. Crew. For now I just drool over the catalog. A girl can dream, right? Did anyone know J. Crew sells kids clothes? To die for!

10. My sewing machine. I have a Bernina. A sweet electronic one with a little screen and all these awesome stitches and features. I love this machine.

11. Pictures. Pictures are so important to me. I think it's amazing how a moment in time can be captured and printed on to a shiny little piece of paper. Or sent to friends via the internet. I would be devastated if anything ever happened to my pictures.

12. Garnier Fructis Surf Hair. I know it's not some fancy expensive hair product. But I'm glad there's a cheap brand that makes something that works. Without it, my hair (and my boys hair) wouldn't stand up just right.

13. My dish scrubber. This is a recent find, but my kitchen will never be without one from here on out. Thanks RubyAnn!

14. My wedding ring. I love, love, love it. Good job Spence!

15. My computer...or Spencer's really. He got an imac for graduation. If a piece of machinery could ever be beautiful, this is. That's the entire computer by the way. No tower or anything. And without it, I wouldn't be able to blog. And I (obviously) love to blog.

This is a game so I have to pass on the challenge. This time, I pass it on to all my relations. I come from a pretty witty family and I always like what they have to say. So this one is for you.
Some of you like these games and some don't. So anyone else who wants to play, go for it. I'm sure I'll be checking your blogs as well.

The Real Me

I've always loved personality tests, so when Traci posted one and said she was interested in finding out about her friends, I was all over that. I found it mostly accurate...except the part about how I view myself. I've never considered myself compassionate. And unselfish? Come on! I've been accused more than once of being self-absorbed.

I'd love to see where everyone else stands. Take the test and post your personality type...I dare you! (Click on the link "What's Your Personality Type?")

You Are An ENFP

The Inspirer You love being around people, and you are deeply committed to your friends. You are also unconventional, irreverent, and unimpressed by authority and rules. Incredibly perceptive, you can usually sense if someone has hidden motives. You use lots of colorful language and expressions. You're quite the storyteller! In love, you are quite the charmer. And you are definitely willing to risk your heart. You often don't follow through with your flirting or professed feelings. And you do break a lot of hearts. At work, you are driven but not a workaholic. You just always seem to enjoy what you do. You would make an excellent entrepreneur, politician, or journalist. How you see yourself: compassionate, unselfish, and understanding When other people don't get you, they see you as: gushy, emotional, and unfocused

What's Your Personality Type?

Secret Life

I've mentioned before that Ohioans are fanatics about Buckeye football, but really they're fanatic about anything to do with Ohio State and athletics. There was a girl who played on the OSU basketball team that went on to play in the WNBA named Katie Smith that people out here adore.

I got a phone call a few days ago that went something like this:

Me: Hello?
Psycho Stalker: Is this Katie Smith?
Me: Yes.
Psycho Stalker: Is this the Katie Smith from Logan, Ohio?
Me: Nope. Not me.
Psycho Stalker: You're not Katie Smith the basketball player?
Me: Afraid not.
Psycho Stalker: I bet you get phone calls like this all the time.
Me: Not really. (You're the only psycho stalker who calls every Katie Smith in the phone book until you find the Katie Smith.)
Psycho Stalker: You don't happen to have her phone number do you?
Me: Seriously? No. I don't. (Logical...because my name is Katie Smith I have a direct line to all other Katie Smith's in the world and I give out the phone numbers of all the famous ones to any random psycho stalker who asks for it.)
Psycho Stalker: Well thanks any way. (At least he was polite.)

I have been asked by lots of random people on the phone if I was the Katie Smith... telemarketers, people from Kidney Foundation, policemen trying to get donations for charity...you name it. But they typically have a purpose for calling other than to ask if I'm Katie Smith the basketball player.

I've even get asked in person all the time. Places like the bank, the pharmacy, Pizza Hut...any where I give out my full name. Right. Like anyone could see my 5 ft 8in frame and my lumpy build (lumpy in a way that only a mother of three can achieve) and confuse me for a WNBA star. Did you see the size of her arms? My arms may be that big around, but it's certainly not because they're toned.

In conclusion...Yes I am the Katie Smith. The Katie Smith, Wife of Spencer, Mother of three, Domestic Goddess Extraordinaire. But not Katie Smith the basketball player. So for any random psycho stalker who reads this blog in hopes I am her, you may now cease reading this blog. I am not now, nor have I ever been a basketball player. (Except one brief season when I warmed the bench on my high school freshman basketball team.)

Deep In The Heart Of Texas

Some of you have heard the rumors. Others wondered why we traveled for four days over Thanksgiving to spend one day in Texas. I've been putting off sharing this information in hopes that it wouldn't go through. Spencer has been applying for PhD programs and has decided on a school in Texas. Yes, Texas. Unfortunately Texas.

My husband is basically a genius and could have gone anywhere. He had the opportunity attend George Washington University in DC, but Texas it is. I can think of a million reasons to attend GW, and only a small handful of reasons to go to Texas. But they are all irrelevant considering Texas is where the Lord wants us to be.

Parker has a habit of asking me the same question over and over and over again in hopes that my answer will change. I find it annoying. The other day I found myself telling him that I gave him my answer the first time. I haven't changed my mind. I just realized I've been doing the same thing. I think we knew we needed to go to Texas long before Spencer even applied to schools. Yet I was still praying about it in hopes the Lord would change His mind. When I said this to Parker, I got my answer. I needed to stop asking. And, for the most part, I have.

I had succumbed to the fact that we needed to go, so we took a trip down there to see the school and look for a place to live. And I again found myself spending a lot of time on my knees afterward to make sure that's what He really wanted. I absolutely HATED it there. Texas is really not my kind of place. And again, I was assured we need to be there. Every once in a while I run into someone who once lived in Texas and hated it, and again, I have to ask. And again, I'm reassured. So to Texas we go.

I am looking forward to change. Spencer and I have no ties to Ohio. We have no family here. We didn't grow up here. I know some of you born and raised Ohioans love it, but it's just never felt like home to me. So besides the few friends we'll miss, we're happy to move on. Don't worry Kelly, we'll ALWAYS be Buckeyes fans.

School starts for Spencer the middle of January so we have a few more weeks here before packing up and moving out. That is if our house ever sells. Rotten time to get out of a house. But we figure if it's truly what we're supposed to be doing, things will have to fall into place for us one of these days. Wish us luck.

Under Where?

Does anything good ever happen at Walmart? I somehow managed to come home with a three pack of Hanes granny-panties in pastel. I would blame it on my kids. They've put things in the cart without my knowledge before. But I know the woman behind me was buying these. I'll blame it on the cashier. I was too preoccupied with my kids to notice I was paying for that woman's underwear. If it was something useful I'd rather keep it than brave the return line at Walmart during the holidays. But I have no need...I have my own granny-panties thank you very much. That would have knocked $8 off my grocery bill.

Out Standing In The Snow, Take II

I just have to add...We played in the snow again tonight. I was just going to send Park out by himself, but Reid was very insistent on going, too. So I bundled them both and I couldn't resist it either. I completely lost track of time and we played way past dark. Reid loved it this time. I would ask who's ready for a snowball? and Reid would squeal MEEEEEEE! Then stand with his feet apart and arms spread wide just waiting for it to hit him. Parker and Reid are the cutest little snowmen I've ever seen. Now THAT was the magic I was hoping for.

The New Leg

A little early Christmas present for Reid...he got a new leg today. Yippee! His last one was getting so small. We were squeezing his chubby little thighs into it everyday. He used to beg us to put it on, now he was begging us to take it off. He was developing sores all around the top of it. Most insurance companies only cover one prosthetic leg per year. Are you kidding me? Babies grow so incredibly fast. When he got that, he weighed something like 25 pounds and wore a size 5 shoe. Now, he weighs more like 37 pounds and wears a size 8 shoe. Sounds like someone needs a new leg. Thanks to a combination of great insurance and an amazing prostheticist, we got a new one just 6 months after the first. Reid's doctor, Dr. Fowler, personally called our insurance explaining our need for a new one. Awesome! And they said OK. Even more awesome! So we brought the new leg home today.

I have never experienced another doctor's office quite like this one. It's like stepping back in time. It's a family run practice. Dr. Fowler's wife runs the front desk and his son manages the lab where they make the legs and whatever else. It was snowing when we got there and had been for some time. While I was at the appointment, the son shoveled a path for me from the door to my car and along both sides of my car for when I put my kids in. The appointment was running long and I had to feed Grayden (it always seems to work that way). Someone from the office noticed and came in to feed him while I was taking care of Reid. And the appointment was over before he was finished eating so they let me occupy the room even longer to finish feeding him. Everyone acts excited when my boys show them the cars or whatever other toys they brought. Dr. Fowler will listen to Reid jabber on and on to him. He talks right to Reid even though he's not even two yet. When I was leaving, the son was watching for me and came running out to help me carry my kids and extra bag of prosthetic leg accessories to the car. They gave my kids suckers and 2 stickers each. Everyone at this office is out of control nice and accommodating. It is unreal and a breath of fresh air. Costumer service is just not that good these days.

Besides that, Dr. Fowler is amazing at what he does. He said he was an auto mechanic for years before he went to school. He got interested in prosthetics because of the mechanics involved. He has had to design special legs for Reid because they are so little. It's very rare to fit a kid so young for a prosthetic. So Dr. Fowler has had to come up with special locks and things to fit inside such a small leg. It's awesome. I have learned more about prosthetics than I ever imagined I would have to. I find it completely fascinating.

While my camera is still out of service, I remembered I have that sweet camera feature on my computer. So I do have pictures of the new leg and a couple other pictures of my two oldest crazies. It's too bad I can't bring the computer outside for a snow picture.

Oh Christmas Tree!

Do a Little Dance...

Get Down Tonight!