Random Musings

• The term "salad" means a green salad. Lettuce, veggies, dressing, etc. Apparently this is not common knowledge. To some, the term "salad" encompasses dishes of many ingredients, that can include, but are not limited to: pasta, potatoes, jello, even cookies. I like a nice jello salad as much as the next girl. But it throws off the balance of a meal when, instead of some green veggies, we have an interesting concoction of Snickers, apples, cream cheese, and Cool Whip. Snicker salad? Really?
• I need to pay better attention to what day it is before I decide to return something to Walmart. A certain group of folks around here gets paid on the first and third Fridays of the month. And if you go shopping on one of those days, or the three days immediately following, you're in for extra crowded stores. And a very slow moving line at customer service. Where they do MoneyGrams. Which take approximately 5 hours each to process.
• I have morphed into a desert girl, who needs a sweatshirt at soccer practice after the sun goes down. Even though it's still 78 degrees.
• At some point in the last six months, I have stopped asking myself, "What should Lincoln be doing at this age?" I have no clue what an 18-month-old should be doing. I have become blissfully forgetful. But I do know that Lincoln is hitting his own milestones like a champ.
• I'm trying to find out what the going rate for a tooth is these days. Bree has her very first loose tooth, and is excited about the Tooth Fairy's impending visit. This is important information, which involves a little math on my part. I'm calculating: ((number of teeth per child)*(number of children in household))/total years devoted to said tradition. And I almost forgot to factor in peer influence (though home-schooling my prove an advantage there). I can't remember how much I received as a kid. I just remember sometimes getting little plastic baggies full of random change (possibly a sign that the Tooth Fairy was unprepared and/or unconcerned with being consistent). 
• Is parenting theory changing? I have just recently become aware of a movement towards not punishing children or putting them in time-outs. Which, of course, I immediately scoffed at. Then seriously considered a second later. Because, while Bree has always had a desire to do the right thing regardless of our parenting mistakes, Mason has been quite a bit trickier. He is so clearly needing something we aren't giving him. So, as difficult as it has been to turn our backs on time-outs, we are instead giving him more positive attention, and using his behavioral infractions as an opportunity to reinforce our love for him, and acknowledge his feelings. It is taking some time to get used to. It may be too soon to tell if it's working, but I think the overall atmosphere in our home has changed for the better.

Recently

• Lincoln started signing "food" three weeks ago, accompanied by a "bfvvv" sound. 

•  He's also a very messy eater.

• Bree got her hair cut. It's a bob. She loves it. It makes her look older. And taller somehow. 

Mason took about 40 pictures at Bree's last soccer game. It kept him entertained. Here's a sample. I'm sure Mason focused on Lincoln's face on purpose.

• I'm participating in our community's biggest loser again. To lose the 10 pounds that I gained since the last session ended in May. It might be closer to 15 pounds. My pants are really tight.

• My allergy injections are just once a week now. I have yet to notice any improvement, but I'm not at maintenance dose yet, so I'm still hopeful. I take Allegra and Sudafed daily, but I still suffer constantly (especially now that soccer season takes me outside more). I have, however, discovered migraine headache pills. They are the only thing that get rid of my sinus headaches. I am very thankful for caffeine in pill form.
• We have occasional showings on our house. The market is pretty dead.
• I loved General Conference. I appreciate it more and more as I get older. I must need more guidance these days. I printed off activity packets and pictures of the General Authorities for the kids, and armed myself with M&Ms and stickers to reward them for listening and identifying who was speaking. Bree got really into it, listening for key words like "love" and "Jesus," and had made herself sick after the first hour. Mason did okay. It's still a long time to sit and listen.
• Book club has been going strong for over a year and a half. I love it, and am so happy that we have a great group of women who are committed to such a good thing. Here's what we've read so far:

Portrait of a 4-year-old (continued)

Scene III

Scene begins with Mom watching the first 2012 presidential debate.

MASON: What movie are you watching?

MOM: It's the presidential debate. This guy (pointing) is the President of the United States, and he wants to be the president again. But he didn't do a very good job. So this other guy wants to be the new president. And I want to vote for him.

MASON: I want to vote for that guy, with the blue tie.

MOM: (aside) I wonder if Romney knew he was losing Mason's vote when he put on that red tie.

End Scene.

Scene IV

Mason monologues.

MASON: I hadded a nightmare. Well, I didn't have a nightmare, I hadded a bad dream. I just keep my eyes open when I sleep so I don't have a nightmare. Bree, she closes her eyes, so she has nightmares.

End Scene.

Portrait of a 4-Year-old (a skit)

SCENE I

Scene begins with Mason running in from the other room, screaming.

MASON: Mom, Bree pushed me and I hit my head on the wall!

MOM: Is there a reason why she did that?

MASON: I wasn't doing anything--I was just hurting her!

End Scene

SCENE II

Open on Mom, walking too close to the TV.

MASON: Mom, be careful. You'll get blind.

MOM: I'll get what?

MASON: You'll get blind. Daddy told me.

End Scene