Day 13 Alone

Today I didn't:

keep it together church

1) Saving grace Captain E...he kept it together, colored nice, and was quiet the two times I had to take the girls who were both horrible out.  When one of them wants to be evil I swear they feed off each other.  I swear the hardest part about going to church alone is the stress of "When are the kids going to misbehave?"  "What are they going to do?"  That stress just builds and builds.  Missionaries sitting behind me with the investigators, I know you are just doing your job but you were not helping.  Every time Gigi screamed out I thought, "People can't hear, be quiet girl." 

2) I cried today in Relief Society when I was making a comment...I mean ugly cry.  Oh it was horrible.  

Dr J is my rock, seriously.  I was the worst moody teenager.  Dr. J steadied me.  I miss him!!! 

Today I:

vacuumed, did dishes, finished washing clothes, picked up the floor  in general I'm not a pick up on Sunday kind of girl.  Alright if I'm honest I'm not a pick up on the weekend kind of girl, which usually explains why Monday is like the day my house threw up day.  Totally wrapped up in Magic thoughts.  It's almost as if I've convinced myself that as long as the floor is vacuumed I'll be fine.  I might be crazy.

had Captain E pass out the Halloween candy, he had a blast!!!!

gave my hair a coconut oil rinse.  AWESOME!!!  It hasn't been that shiny and dark in years and it smelled good enough to eat

ate some of that Live Granola I made...ick, the pain with recipes is finding the ones that work for you

Day 12 Alone-My Love to Mother Tara

Today I didn't:

go crazy :)

Today I did:
take the kids trick or treating

have dishes going

have clothes in the wash

Family lore, you have to love it.  There are family stories, who knows who started them, what brought them on, but they become so interwoven that before you know it they are the truth, the history of your family.  In our family that is the Native American Ancestry.  In my father's family this would be no big deal.  He's Mexican and while it is obvious he has European (lovely facial hair and balding head prove that one) there is also a good chance he has some indigenous blood.  I also suspect he might have some Arab or Moorish blood as well, but that is just a hypothetical.  Anyway the Native American story is on my mom's, the whitie, side.  One of her oldest relatives that we have a pictures of is this very serious looking dark haired, dark eyed, exceptionally straight nosed woman.  The family rumor is that she was Native American.  There was no way we would ever know for sure...well that is until today.  I have this totally awesome little sister (Jo) living in Peru right working on mummies and DNA with her professor Haagen D. Klaus.  This is her second time down there and I guess as a little perk for all her hard work he had his lab do a mitochondrial DNA test on her.  Guess what, we are not NATIVE AMERICAN....INSTEAD WE ARE SYRIAN OR TURKISH!!!!  We belong to Haplogroup T.  The hypothesis is that 10,000 years ago this group came out of the fertile crescent, moving out toward Europe and India as agriculturalists and pastoralists.  They call the originator of the group Tara.  Thank you DNA, you are amazing :)  You know it would have been totally cool to find out we were Native American on my mom's side, I would have been ecstatic, but this is pretty cool as well.  My sister says we need to plan a trip to Syria and Turkey, I agree.  The irony on all this information is that while I look Hispanic, Jo totally looks Mediterranean.  Our whole lives I suspected it must have been some crazy throw back gene from my father.  Now we know the truth.  Seriously cool.  I think everyone should buddy up to a biological anthropologist :)

Day 11 Alone

Today I didn't:

mind spending $124...ok I minded a little but I needed my washer back

snap my daughter in half when she threw a royal fit at the Halloween Party...I was amazingly calm...for once :)

Today I:

got the washer fixed

vacuumed the floor

washed dishes and clothes

messed with my guitar...messed is the word ;)

walked the girls to the playground...it was so cute watching GiGi run around and Peach get distracted by every little thing

took the kids to my city Halloween Party, all by myself, I rock!!!

Captain E is so old.  He comes up to my chest now.  The kiddo is tall.  He is losing his second tooth.  He would have lost it already if daddy was home.  For two weeks he's been asking me to pull it with pliers.  I'm not going to lie, I'm to much of a nancy to do it.  Reason 517 "I'm So Glad When Daddy Comes Home".  One of my favorite things about Captain E is what a sweetie he is.  When I make a dinner he likes, something like cheese crisp or meaty spaghetti he will say, "Oh mom, thank you, this is my faaaavorite."

Gigi loves art.  She holds her pencil like a champ and really enjoys writing and drawing.  Yesterday we carved a pumpkin, giving it two faces.  Captain E designed the one side, grouchy, Gigi did the other side happy.  I was getting a knife while they designed their faces.  When I turned around I said, "Wait who drew that smiley face?"  Turns out it was Gigi, and for three years old it was pretty darn good.  I thought her brother drew it.  She also likes to see how things work.  When the washer repair man was here she sat on the table watching every little move he made.  I wanted her to get out of the way but she just said, "Mom I'm trying to learn how to fix the washer."

Peach walked herself over to the playground today.  She was so proud of every little step she took.  I can't believe how old she is getting.  Gigi and her had so much fun, especially on the swings and the rocking horse, they are both dare devils.  She also is the cutest little talker.  When ever I open the van door and the van lights goes on she says, "What's that?"  She also cracks us up all the time with her "Knock, knock."  My only complaint is she wants to be held all the time.  If I try to put her down for a nap she cry, cry, cries until someone (me) picks her back up.  I've been pretty grouchy about it and then today I stuck my finger in her mouth...tuns out she has four molars cutting as well as one of her bottom front teeth.  No wonder she is miserable. 

On the whole food/ raw food kick I'm in the process of making some Robyn Openshaw Live Granola.  I tried the ice cream I started yesterday, it was DELICIOUS!  My girlies loved it as well.  So today I'm trying the granola.

Live Granola -Robyn Openshaw-12 Steps to Whole Foods

Put in a very large bowl, cover with water and soak for 24 hours

1 1/2 c sunflower seeds

1 1/2 c oat groats

1 1/2 c pumpkin seeds

1 1/2 c raw almonds

1 1/2 c raw walnuts

6 c rolled oats

Add to the bowl for the last few hours of soaking:

1 c flax seeds

1 c sesame seeds

rinse, drain, and grind the mixture with a nut chopper or food processor

Next puree in your blender

1 c coconut oil (liquid, container warmed in a sink of hot tap water)

1 c raw honey

2 tbsp. vanilla extract

Stir this into the seed, nut, and oat mixture.  Spread on dehydrator trays and dry for 24 hours, then stir in any dried fruit you like (raisins, etc.).  Store in the fridge if this batch will last you longer than a week.

I'm hoping it is good.

Dr. J had an awesome first day in the ER yesterday.  I'm trying to remember all the stories...maybe I'll have a medical Monday :)

Day 10 Alone

Today I didn't:

get Peach to nap...I mean seriously what more can I do? I just barely got her into bed just now, please let her sleep!!!

Today I:

mopped the floor, hurray it has been days!!!!

picked up the living room

did the dish

cleaned the bathroom

actually cleared the table after dinner, I was very busy today.

got clearenced out PJ's at Children's Place for the kids.  I'm one of those mom's who think kids need new PJs for Christmas.  This just helps the bottom line :)

fed my sourdough starter

started soaking almonds for ice cream

started soaking seeds for live granola

So I haven't mentioned this before but I've been following a lot of food advice from the GreenSmoothieGirl.. 
I can't buy everything that she does but I am into a lot of it.  It helped me lose the ten pounds I gained at my mom's house.  I hope in the long run it will help me be a little more healthy.  The things I hold to, green smoothie in the morning for breakfast, salad with most of my dinners, whole grains, a lot less animal products and the big kick for me no sugar.  Ok, I occasionally have a little agava syrup or maple syrup but for the most part none.  Some of her recipes are great, some haven't work.  It is still fun.  Here is a sugar dish I'm trying out this week.

Butter Pecan Ice Cream

4 cups water

1 cup raw almonds (soaked overnight and drained)

2 1/2 C young Thai coconut meat

2/3 C chopped dates

1 Tbsp. vanilla

2/3 C peanut butter (no sugar added)

1/2 cup plus 1 Tbsp maple syrup 

1/4 tsp. sea salt

1 cup pecans, chopped

Blend water and almonds in a high power blender until very smooth.  Pour out 2 1/2 c into a jar and refrigerate, leaving the remainder still in the blender.  Add coconut, dates, vanilla, peanut butter, maple syrup, and salt to the blender, and blend on high speed until smooth.  Freeze this mixture in ice cube trays.  

When you are ready to serve, put the reserved refrigerated almond milk in a high power blender and blend on high speed while gradually adding the frozen mixture cubes.  Blend until the mixtures is thick like ice cream.  Sprinkle pecans on top right before serving.  There is a link to Robyn Openshaw making this here. I've wanted to try it out since I saw this.  I'll let you know how it goes. 

Day 9 Alone

Today I didn't:

wash dishes after dinner, they are on the counter...GROSS!

pick up the living room floor, I'm just getting tired of picking up Gigi's stuffed animals.

Today I:

made spaghetti for dinner, homemade sauce people, homemade sauce

washed the sheets

cleaned the bathrooms

helped Captain E with homework and Tae Kwon Do

went grocery shopping, got some Millet to try making Ethiopian Flat Bread

took Peach to the library where she played for two hours

Speaking of Peach the girl is word phenom.  All my friends have had these early talkers and my kids took their time, that is until Peach.  Her new words today alone are apple, bath, bag, and down.  She also loves to go mummmm and yum when she is eating stuff she loves.  Adorable!!!  Captain E still tells me he hate Tae Kwon Do and then he laughs through the whole class.  What can you do.  Gigi is growing so much.  In the car yesterday we were listening to some music and she said, "Mom can you turn the radio off so we can talk."  So funny.  On the interview front it is time to start cancelling on some of them.  With the scheduling of an interview with UNC today Dr. J now has 24 scheduled interviews.  I'm grateful and irritated all at the same time.  I wish I could wikipedia, "Where would be best for my family and my hubby for the next four years?"  Wow that would be awesome :)  On a positive note I figured out there is no way that Dr. J can drive from a San Diego interview that ends early evening on Nov 30th to Columbus, Ohio on the 2nd...which means my hubby who was going to be staying in Utah for Thanksgiving is now coming home for thanksgiving!!!!!!!!  YES!!!!!!  The negative is that San Diego ticket is going to cost 600 bucks....400 for that Sunday after Thanksgiving ticket.  Oh well...trade offs ;)

I've been really behind on pictures.  One night I made Indian Fry Bread for the kids.  I had a friend in college who used to make some great Fry Bread.  I haven't had any since than...18.  So at 29 I made some of my own.  I actually made Navajo tacos for dinner but after we put powdered sugar on them...Captain E said to me, "Why have you never made this before, it is the best thing I've ever eaten."  So there you go!

Who does Peach look like here...it is driving me crazy trying to figure out!

Day 8 Alone

Today I didn't:

feel bad about not doing more PTA stuff.  You know those clicky girls from grade school, junior high, and high school?  Well apparently they grow up and are still clicky as PTA moms.  Thanks ladies for kicking me off the table because you needed it for PTA volunteers.  I noticed that you only had you friends sit there and that my friend who was volunteering came and sat over by me.  Thanks.  You've made it easy for me.  Now instead of feeling guilt for not doing my PTA duties I can just think, "Uh those women are ick.  I'd rather not go."  For a guilt ridden person like me that is actually a relief.

do the dishes...things are getting desperate on that front

run right upstairs to stop my crying baby.  She's started this thing where she wakes up at eleven or so every night.  She will not self comfort.  I don't know what to do.

Today I:

Ran Captain E to school, ran Gigi to preschool, took Peach to my friend Erika to be babysat, ran back to E's school to do my volunteer work, ran back to Erika's to pick up Peach, went back to Preschool to get Gigi picking up subs on the way, ran back to Captain E's school for "special friend lunch", went home for a brief rest, ran Gigi to speech, then raced back to E's school to pick him up from school.  Luckily my bad night ended then.  My friend Linda invited us over for dinner.  She cooked tacos for me and then kids and after dinner our kids decorated Halloween Spooky Houses, while we talked politics and conference talks.  She is one of the few people who knows my true feelings about politics, both governmental and church.  It is always refreshing to spend time with her and I was definitely grateful for the company and the dinner!  Now I have to run because Peach is still crying.

Day 7 Alone

I'm not going to lie, if I never had to ask my kids to get ready for anything or if I never had to get anything done my life as a mother would be 100% easier.  I'm thinking the foreign service and a live in child helper would make my life so much happier, maybe one of those Mormon girls waiting for a missionary.  I can be a fun mom, and then we have to go somewhere.  It took Captain E twenty minutes to put his Tae Kwon Do uniform today, 18 of those minutes GiGi was screaming her head off because she didn't want to put shoes on.  Peach was clinging to my legs.  Seriously children give mom a break.  If you don't want to drive me nuts that is.  Dr. J did his first day at ED.  Looks like he was having a good time.  They got a refresher on stitching and splinting.  Tomorrow he has the day off and then he has three 3-11 pm shifts in a row.  Should be a blast!

Today I didn't:

clean the living room

clean the bathroom

not yell

Today I:

made dinner

got Captain E to Tae Kwon Do on time

read personal scriptures and family scripts

talked to my hubby three times...yeah!!!

bought some guitar picks

took my van to the car wash....

yup while I was waiting in the pick up line at school a lady pulled up next to me.  She motioned for me to roll my window down.  Then she asked me, "Is that your son running around your van?"  "Um, no," I said.  "Oh," the lady said, "well he's peeing on your van."  Yup fabulous.  Thank you kid.  And thank you mother who was sitting in the van behind me watching the kid do it.  I yelped out my window at him, and the kid yelped back at me and then ran away.  An actual thanks to the lady who stopped.  I mean seriously the kid shouldn't have been running around in the first place, peeing on the car, wow that is just ridiculous. 

I think I need a vacation.  I'm going to start planning one even though we are way, way to broke to ever take one.  Maybe I can visualize myself onto one :)

Day 6 Alone

Times when I miss Dr. J the most...at night when I have no one to talk to.  I mean really just how much TV can a person watch?  Sure I could be cleaning or transcribing but sometimes you just want to veg..and have someone to talk to.  I've been compensating by calling one of my sisters three times a day.  I'm pretty sure she does not appreciate it.  What can I do though, my other sister is in Peru and my third sister refuses to answer the phone.  Hello Flo, we have T-mobile so the minutes are free...and you don't have a job.  Yes you have school but seriously girl that is twice a week.  Throw your older sister a bone.  ANSWER THE PHONE!  The other time I really miss Dr. J is when I'm cooking.  Alright most nights he isn't even here for that but Sunday nights he usually is and let me just say today I could have used his help.  Golly gee Peach was a pill.  She alternated between wanting to be held, wanting to be put down.  The intermediate was clinging to my legs and screaming.  It made getting dinner together difficult.  I'm seriously contemplating just doing green smoothies from here on out until my husband makes an appearance.  It would certainly be easier!!!

Today I didn't:

do any transcription...I'm really on a funk on this

read my scripture yet, I'll try to get that done before I go to bed

wash dishes

feel any sympathy for my husband over his Step 2 score, he did great, the fact that he isn't satisfied just proves perfectionism is a curse and not a blessing

Today I:

continued reading the Dopple Ganger Chronicles to the kids, they are loving it

made salmon for dinner

talked to my husband five times on the phone, he rotation doesn't start until tomorrow and he is bored, plus he wanted to keep telling me what a pain Portland was...thanks Sweetie

did my first guitar lesson today, need to get some picks in the morning

managed to get three kids through church all by myself, it was a miracle!

put away all the clothes I had to rewash, captain E got a weird rash all over his chest and back after we got home, I suspect it might be the new laundry detergent I was trying, but who knows

Day 5 Alone

All alone, I took the kids to a Halloween Party at my church.  I'm not going to say this is the only time I've done this.  I have this crazy perfectionist hubby who much prefers study to actual human contact.  Can I just say I love that man!  Anyway we were on are own today.  It was fun to see how into excited the kids were about their costumes.  Captain E was a black ninja.  He asked me in the car, "Mom is a black ninja good or bad?"  I told him, "Well it is up to you kiddo."  He thought about if for a second and said, "Well today I'm going to be good."  Gigi had an adorable little Bee dress.  She loved pretending she was going to give me a sting.  My kids love putting their bum on people, what can I say.  Peach was a unicorn and I wore my pjs so she could be my stuffed animal.  She was adorable.  I thought she wouldn't leaver her cap on but it turns out she loved being dressed up.  She also love trunk or treating.  She would even say thank you when prompted.  What a cutie.  I love these kiddos!!!!

Today I didn't:

ever get out of pjs; I finally took a shower at 2:00 but then I got back in new pjs for my halloween costume

clean the living room

exercise

Today I:

took my kids to the trunk or treat alone

made dinner

held down the fort with six kids at home

washed the clothes

put together the residency list for Dr. J

saw my good friend Erika, now that she is in the other ward it feels like that never happens

Day 4 Alone

Today I didn't:

wash the dishes

clean the floor

clean the bathrooms

see my husband :(

didn't make sourdough bread...I tried but it just ended up being a brick

Today I did:

made homemade pizzas

vacuumed, had to get all the popcorn off my floor...my kids love to do pizza, popcorn, and a movie on Friday Night. We watched Secret of the Dells.  Really interesting.  Made me wish I had another son to give a cool Irish name to :) 

read my scriptures...I always tell the kids a scripture story although I'm running out of baby stories...that is all they want to hear right now.

Day 3 Alone

Target Steal-I almost hate to mention this because it seems like Target has no hard and fast rules but today when I was there they were practically giving there towels away.  $1.24 for a full sized towel, $.98 for hand towels.  It was a steal of a deal.  I snagged two different colors for our future guest bathroom, lets hope they match, and four new white towels.  I love white towels, I can't help it.  Peach continues to gain more words.  "Up, hot, and Grace."  Captain E had a much better day at school today.  Thank you cold lunch.  Gigi was a happy girl at preschool today.  We did have one small fight tonight.  Gigi is hording baby dolls.  She had something like ten stuffed animals on her bed and eight baby dolls.  I requested that she give a tiny little doll back to Peach and it was a major battle.  Shesh!

Today I Didn't:

vacuum the living room

exercise

read my scripture

find young Tai coconuts, I've decided no one sells them in my town

Today I:

talked to my hubby on the phone three times, I LOVE the end of rotations!

washed dishes

cleaned the kitchen including the floor

cleared the kitchen table...FINALLY!

read with the kids

fed my sourdough starter

played outside

bought three pounds of spinach

made really great spaghetti for dinner and was very sneaky with the veggies: I baked spaghetti squash at 325 for an hour, then I cooked half the amount of regular noodles.  I mixed squash and noodles dependent on how much veggies each kid likes.  For the sauce I sauteed garlic in olive oil.  Then I added a can of diced tomatoes with petite onions.  I blended the concoction so Captain E wouldn't know there were onions in it.  Then I added sauce and Italian seasoning to taste.  The kids ate and were none the wiser!!!!

Day 2 Alone

It amazes me how aware Peach is.  She likes to scrunch her eyes up during prayer and has recently started saying "Amen" at the end of prayers, this is both at home and at church.  This morning Captain E was going particularly long on his prayer, "Please bless that I have a good day and get extra Wii time on the way.  Please bless me to get more Wii games.  Please bless me to get to watch more movies."  At a certain point it was just getting ridiculous.  All the sudden we heard "AMEN!"  I looked up and Peach was laughing.  Knock, knock jokes are a favorite pass time for my children.  Peach must be hearing a lot of them because she has started saying "Knock, knock."  "Knock, knock."  Cracks me up every time.  Dr. J has his second interview yesterday.  He was told by more than one of his interviewers that if he wanted them they would have him, that if he wanted to he wouldn't have to interview anywhere else.  This after his second interview...it is great to know it is there :)  Gigi went back to preschool today.  Considering she's been gone for three weeks I guess she did OK, that's what the teachers said.  I'm assuming she was stubborn.  Big surprise.  Captain E apparently cried twice at school today.  Rough day I guess.

Today I didn't:

wash clothes

make dinner, we went to subway after Tae Kwon Do, I had a veggie sub...yum!

clean out my car

Today I:

got the kids off to school

took Peach to the library 

cleaned up the living room

got the dishes done

helped Captain E with his homework

feel asleep on the couch and woke up when Peach hit me in the head with a shoe

took Captain E to Tae Kwon Do

ate mushroom brown rice with cold spinach, cucumbers, and sliced almonds drizzled with olive oil and balsamic vinegar for lunch, yum

I made yogurt today with a recipe off my sister's friend's blog (thanks Kami)

crockpot yogurt

8 cups whole milk

1/2 cup yogurt culture

(this is either plain yogurt from the store with live active cultures or yogurt saved from a previously cultured batch)

Pour 8 cups of milk into your crockpot. Turn the crockpot on low and let sit for 2 1/2 hours. Turn the crockpot off and let sit for 3 hours.  Stir in the 1/2 cup yogurt culture into the milk gently with a wooden spoon.  Replace the lid on the crockpot, wrap it all in a couple of heavy towels, and let sit for 8-12 hours. the yogurt is done when it smells like yogurt and tastes like yogurt. Transfer to fridge. You can strain it with a cheesecloth if you want it thicker.  Eat it plain or add honey, maple syrup or stevia.

Day 1

My first day home alone.  Mom 0 - Peach 1!  I've been trying to teach my youngest daughter to go to sleep on her own.  After an hour scream fit my other two children begged me to get her out of the room.  Apparently they just couldn't fall asleep with her screaming.  Go figure.  Now she's dancing to the credit song on Independent Lens.  Fab!  I lost!!!!  I wish she'd go to sleep.  Really, I'd appreciate some down time.  Yesterday was a crazy day.  How do you get three kids, three car seats, two bags, and a guitar 1500 miles in a day?  A plane and a prayer.  My mother-in-law got me to the gate, my son got my guitar on the plane, my quick thinking and wit kept my kids entertained for three hours, my exhaustion made me chill while I was getting the luggage and rental car, my husband's voice kept me calm while I tried to find the key to drive the Prius (turns out there isn't one and hello best gas mileage I've ever seen!!!!), my mother and sister kept me entertained while I drove three hours home, my neighbor helped me return the car this morning.  All and all it was a miracle.

Today I Didn't:

get the kids to school

take the trash out

put the kid's clothes away

do personal scripture study

keep my cool and not yell
eat the kid's donuts

Today I:

went to the grocery store and restocked the fridge

cleaned the living room and vacuumed

remembered to take GG to speech

made roasted chicken, brown rice, and mushrooms

ate a salad

set my guitar up

unpacked most of the bags

had scripture study with the kids, they wanted stories about babies so we did King Solomon and the baby cutting as well as Abraham and Sarah

finally got Peach to sleep

We also watched "Where the Wild Things Are."  Can I just say YUCK!  That was completely not a kid movie.  As an adult movie...well I felt horrible after it was over.

Birthday

Goodbye 20s, bring on the 30s!

No Coffee and Tea...Something Strange

Before Dr. J can get his PhD he needs to finish his dissertation.  Before he can finish his dissertation something like 30 audio files still need to be transcribed.  Dr. J and I have already done quit a few.  Then I quit working on them.  It isn't that I mind his research.  I actually find it quit interesting.  What I hate is the monotony of typing and trying to tease out garbled heavily accented words.  After doing a huge chunk of interviews I felt I was going to go insane.  The work needs to be finished though and so I recently picked up the work again.  I figure if I just do ten or fifteen minutes of interview a night I'll make some progress.  Tonight  as I was typing I heard a funny interaction. In the Middle East, good manners dictate that coffee and tea be offered at all social sit downs.  As Dr. J is conducting the interview a secretary comes in and drops off the tray of good manners.  The interviewee offers up tea and coffee.  My husband tell him, "No I don't drink coffee or tea."  The interviewee says, "Really?"  My husband says, "No it is against my religion."  The interviewee says in a disbelieving tone, "Something strange."  When I heard that I just had to laugh.  He is right.  It is something strange, as do a  lot of the practices he performs as a Muslim appear to the rest of the world.  Human beings, we are so funny.  We are normalized into things as a child, religion, culture, mores, politics, nationality, city identity.  It all makes sense to us.  Then we enter the rest of the World and they are foreign.  They are something strange :)

30 Years Old and a New Favorite

I only have a few more days in my 20s.  Crazy.  Thirty years old, I am moving into a new decade.  What can you do?  Time moves on.  I'm excited for this next phase in my life...school is coming to a close, a real job is looming, a house, a dog, maybe one more kid is in the future.  I'll miss the good skin of my twenties.  I've noticed as I get closer to thirty the wrinkles don't disappear as fast but I'm still excited for the future.  To celebrate I'm having a little get together.  If you are in Utah and want to stop by to wish me good luck on the beginning of 30 I'll be having a get together:

October 17, 2010

5-8pm

4555 Windsor Circle, Cedar Hills, Utah 84062

Stop by, it should be fun.  On an unrelated note I am loving Law and Order: UK.  Thank you BBC America and in laws who pay for cable.  I saw my first episode when I was ten years old (thank you grandpa) and thought the concept was brilliant.  Twenty years later I still love it.  The last ten years or so I've really gotten in to all things European (Elizabeth George, Ian Rankin, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Dr. Who, MI5, etc.) I love the stuff.  Law & Order:UK combines my two loves...I mean of course after my hubby and children :)

Home Slice

So we've been living at home with my mom for nine days.  Some things are the same.  Teenagers and parents equal drama.  My mom still drags me to her classroom when she has work to do.  For some reason being at home makes me not want to make the bed.  Some things are different.  My mom barely cooks anymore.  I've made 3/4 of the meals and we went out once.  Now my sister would say this is my own fault.  She claims I have a tendency to take control of all things kitchen but I swear to you that has been out of simple necessity and not greed.  My mom is really busy trying to get caught up for parent teacher conference.  For the most part we are on our own during the day.  I've got a sister in Peru and one in Denver.  My sister in Salt Lake comes over occasionally but she's been busy with school and a trip to Denver.  My baby brother is in school and my other baby brother was in Arizona but since he got back has been sleeping until noon.  The nice thing about my mom's house though is there is a fenced in back yard and when the kids get nuts I just send them out there.  (Note to self: When looking for houses next year a fenced in back yard is a must).  In family news:
Dr. J: Is on 30 hour call every third day.  Every sixth day he gets off.  That means he spends the night every fifth day and goes back up to Salt Lake on the sixth day.  It has been nice :) 
Captain E: Loving the uncles and their toys.  Still in love with tag!!!
G bear: Yesterday nana put makeup on her and painted her nails.  They were twins.  I have to say that while I think teal eyeshadow can get a little crazy on my mom it looked so good on G.  I know, crazy mom :)  Anyway she was so proud of being Nana's twin and had to show everyone including my mom's gentleman caller. 
Peach: Every time we pass a mirror she says, "Who's that?"  So cute.

Residency

This year we are moving.  We have no choice.  In July, Dr. J will be starting a med/peds residency somewhere.  We know the what.  We know the when.  We just don't know the where.  It is enough to drive you just a little bit crazy!  Here are just a few of the possibilities, with some of the pluses and minuses.

Salt Lake, Utah - Positives: FAMILY! Our families would be so close and after eight years of living away this is very tempting.   We know the area.  Our kids could do at school seminary.  They would have a ton of member friends.  Negatives: The growth here is a little much for both of us.  All over they are redoing the freeways and building on all the farmland.  Family, living close you are much more likely to get into the family fights.  So many of the woman look the same.  I'm just not ready for that type of pressure.  I'm not even sure I like members ;)
Ann Arbor, Michigan Positives: Pretty.  Good school.  Good football.  Very affordable.  Negatives: COLD!  An area of the country that is is serious trouble, something like 25% unemployment.
Rochester, New York Positives: Oldest Med/Peds program.  Beautiful area.  Very affordable.  The dean of the program personally called Dr. J to invite him out.  A nice touch really.  Close to lots of stuff on the east coast.  Negatives: So far from family.  Very chilly winters.  TONS OF SNOW!
New Orleans, Louisiana Positives: Warm.  I've always wanted to visit New Orleans.  Negatives: Wanting to visit a place doesn't mean you actually want to live there.  That whole thing called Katrina. 
Nashville, Tennessee Positives: Warmer.  Green.  Affordable.  I actually have friends who live in the area.  Negatives: That whole fold thing this year.  1) lots of houses in the area need flood work.  2) Apparently no one in the country even cares you exist.
Houston, Texas Positives: Warm.  Very green.  Good Mexican food.  Closer to the family than the east.  Negatives: Still very far from family.  Humid.  Hot.
Phoenix, Arizona Positives: No snow.  Closer to family.  Negatives: Huge.  Hot!
Chicago, Illinois Positives: Close to airport, Costco, temple.  Move close so cheaper.  Three different programs he is interviewing at.  Negatives: Huge city.  Houses are expensive.  Bad commutes.  COLD!
St. Louis, Missouri Positives: Trader Joe's.  Warmer than Illinois.  Green.  Temple.  Free Zoo.  Negatives: Program seems a little off.
Columbus, Ohio Positives: Very affordable.  A big program.  They pay for your move.  A really nice new peds hospital.  A temple  Good football.  Negatives: Football is a little over the top :)  Further from home.

There are a few other programs but off the top of my head I just can't think who they are.  Wow this will be a crazy year!