Alien arms

During my first semester of college, I was in the dorm computer lab working on a group project for Biology 100. It seems like all I ever did my first semester of college was study for Biology 100 tests and work on group projects for Biology 100. My group members had each written part of the final paper, and we were meeting to combine all the parts into a finished whole paper.

I happened to be sitting at the computer doing the actual typing. As I sat with my hands on the keyboard, ready to type the next transition sentence, a boy in my group said, "You have alien arms." The group project quickly digressed into a discussion of alien films, and whether or not my arms did indeed resemble alien arms. I'm pretty sure I wrote about it all in my journal.

Jack said something to me about my skinny arms once, and I told him the alien arm story. He thought it was hilarious, and has since warned me to be careful carrying my kids, pushing strollers, and opening doors and jars lest I injure or break my alien arms.

In an effort to reverse some minor wrist pain and strengthen my arms, which get very little working out other than carrying my heavy kids, pushing strollers, and opening doors and jars (which apparently has been working fine, since I won an arm wrestling contest on New Year's Eve) I recently started the hundred push ups training program.

The claim is that by following the training program, you can go from being able to do zero push ups to one hundred push ups in six weeks. I'm already on week two. I still have to do girl push ups because I'm not called alien arms for nothing. But I am definitely seeing progress. I'll let you know how it goes.

Professional

It won't be long before Ellen launches her new career as a professional photographer.

She has unique perspective,

composition,

ability to capture the subject,

And a smart Daddy who taught her the first rule of taking pictures: Keep the camera strap on your wrist at all times. This makes me just a little less nervous about handing expensive equipment over to a child. Nice pictures, Ellen!

Thump

I heard a huge crash and went to investigate.

This is what I found:

Rose, still in her pajamas, in the bathtub.

Trying to figure out where all the water was.

Did I mention this girl luuuuurves bath time, bath toys, splashing, kicking, swimming on her back, swimming on her tummy, and using the bath tub as a Slip N' Slide?

She can't walk yet, but she can get into the bathtub all by herself.

The high is 28 degrees today.

Lovely.

The eyes

What color are those eyes? They stump me every time. The hair? Now that's a different story.

Some good lookin' folks

Every year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, Jack's Starks grandparents have a family reunion. This is Jack's dad with his parents and his four living siblings. We love you!

Believe it or not . . .

This was what I was doing on New Year's Eve 2009:

Yep, that's me and my "alien arm*" crushing my sister-in-law in an arm wrestling match to win two spaces in the game of Dicescapades. Believe me, no one was more shocked than me. Except maybe Jack. He was absolutely blown away. It's a wonder he had the presence of mind to snap a quick photo documenting the event.

*More to come on this topic.

A month ago . . .

The requisite Christmas Eve re-enactment: This is what I remember from my childhood, with photographic evidence.

The cast: The Herald Angel, Wise Woman, Wise Man, Shepherd

Donkey, Mary, Joseph (declined costume), Shepherdess

Mary pondering things in her heart, holding the baby, accompanied by the donkey. Joseph was having a meltdown at this point.

The Herald Angel singing glory to God

Joseph is back in the picture and Mary smiles that knowing smile. I love Mary's smile. I love Joseph's casual parenting style.

You may be getting Christmas throughout the year. This is coming from the family whose permanent ring tone on the house phone is "Jingle Bells." It makes us feel happy all year long every time the phone rings.

Waiting for the last leaf to fall . . .

Actually, they were enthralled with Uncle Matt's mad tree-climbing skilz

And the next day they helped transport this gigantic pile of leaves to Grandma's back yard compost pile. It took about a hundred trips.

In other news, I was recently accused of being a trendy mom because of these very baby leg warmers:

Which my awesome sister-in-law taught me how to make from a pair of women's knee socks. Rose has several pairs that she wears under dresses, skirts, pants, and anytime its too cold for bare legs or feet.

Despite my best efforts to protect her toesies, I often (as in always) arrive at our destination, open the door to get Rose out of the car, and find shoes, socks, and leggings on the floor of the van. Sigh. And you wonder why she's never wearing a cute headband so you'll know she's a girl.

And now, a word from our sponsors. . .

Before my brother-in-law introduced me to Magic Erasers, cleaning the bathroom was my least favorite chore. My bathtub went from pitiful neglect to sparking shine. And it's true, Magic Erasers take permanent marker off of almost any surface, and are simple enough for my two-year-old and four-year-old to use. When I don't know what to use, I try a Magic Eraser first. I love you, Magic Erasers.

My favorite childhood science experiment, baking soda and vinegar, have worked wonders on my aluminum kitchen sink. They are especially safe and effective when I'm pregnant and can smell things no other human being can smell. No, I'm not pregnant. I love you, baking soda and vinegar.

I love my vacuum cleaner. I devoted a previous post to it. The vacuum cleaner has not been assigned a gender or a name, but our relationship may warrant that soon. I love you, vacuum cleaner.

I do not love cleaning, but I love a clean house. I love things that make cleaning fun. I love things that make cleaning fun for my kids.

*Mr. Clean, Arm&Hammer, Heinz, and Kenmore did not sponsor this post. They have no idea I exist.

Little Red Riding Hood(s)

Rose, almost a year old

Ellen, almost a year old

Who's who?

My mom

For a girl who has been half way across the country to college, half way across the world on a mission, and now married for over five years with a husband and three children of my own, you'd think I'd be done being homesick. Thank goodness for email, blogs, and cell phones. I have visited with my parents regularly, especially my mom, on the phone and in person since I "left home" more years ago than I can believe.

Since my mom was diagnosed with cancer last summer, I've talked to her several times a week. I can and do talk to my mom about everything. I especially love how mom always shares her testimony with me through her experiences with prayer, scripture study, being a mom, working, serving in her ward, and helping others.

This Christmas we went to my parent's house. Some of my siblings were there also. We visited, played games, quilted, watched movies, baked, ate, shopped, wrapped gifts, talked, took care of children, and did all the things I remember doing and loving as we were growing up. As I have thought about Christmas and what it means to me, I have also wanted to help my children learn about loving and serving others during the Christmas season. I'd like that to be part of our gift-giving to each other and to the Savior.

My sister-in-law suggested visiting a retirement home and playing games or visiting with the residents after having a very positive experience with her family last year. When I talked to my mom about going Christmas morning before opening any presents to sing at a local facility (i.e. doing something completely different than we have ever done before) she immediately said, "Oh, that's a wonderful idea. Dad and I and the boys will come with you."

I made arrangements to carol in the halls of a place just down the street from my parents' house. My newly married sister and her husband decided to join us. Christmas morning the twelve of us walked up and down the halls singing everything from Frosty and Rudolph to Silent Night. We spent less than an hour doing something that I will remember forever and plan to continue doing every year as long as I can.

That activity alone made this the best Christmas I have ever had. I had forgotten how much I love singing with my family and serving with my family, and being able to do both of those things at the same time was the best Christmas gift I have ever received. Thank you for singing with me, and thank you, Mom, for the gift of immediate support. That is what I love best about my mom.