Princess completes her first trip around the sun

Princess recently celebrated her first birthday! She enjoyed ripping the shiny paper off the presents, chewing on the bows, and being the center of attention. Of course, we had to have a cake that was fitting for the occasion... a crown! (A great recipe I discovered here on the Family Fun website.) Personally, I think she is growing up way too fast and I wish she would slow it down!

Beach Bums

We just returned from our summer vacation to Florida, where we spent a wonderful week with the kids' grand- parents and great- grand mother. I even tried parasailing (I had to... my grandmother was doing it and I had to keep up with her!) It was AMAZING.

This was Princess's first trip to a beach, and she loved it. She did frequently eat sand, though, which makes for very interesting diaper changes.

Long Live The Geeks!

Lately, thanks to Warren (a kindred spirit), I've been thinking about how our family celebrates its "geekiness". I love geeks! I am one and I married one. (Actually, I think Russ is officially a nerd, which is a geek with bigger brains.)

We do very "geeky" stuff as a family and, from the way our oldest son tells it, you'd think we were the envy of all the kids in his class. One of our favorite "geek" activities is Geocaching. This is heaven for anybody who enjoys both techno-gadgets and the outdoors! I wrote an article explaining Geocaching, which can be read here. Then go to Geocaching.com and find out more.

As you can see, we have discovered some really interesting places thanks to Geocaching... I promise, true geeks will love it!

Baby and Bebax Bootie

Princess had her cast cut off, which completely terrified her. The doctor decided that her foot had improved enough to try wearing a "Bebax Bootie" instead of a cast. Hooray!

The Bebax Bootie is a torture device as well, but at least it can be removed so she can have a bath. Also, she only has to wear it at night - for the moment, anyway. We hope this will continue to help correct her foot so we don't have to do any more leg casts.

It's an interesting little device, with hardware on the bottom that adjusts to hold the curve at a certain angle. There are two velcro straps to hold it on... now, what child is going to leave velcro straps alone? As you can see here, she already tries to push it off with her other foot! It's only a matter of time `til she figures out how to remove it.

Memorial Day: Rant of a Patriot

Anyone who knows me can tell you that I'm a bit of a die-hard patriot. I suppose I can't help it; it's in my blood. I come from a long line of patriots, not "in name only", but those who truly meant it. My grandfather and his brothers had a combined 119 years of active duty (and another 31 years of reserve) between the 5 of them! As I said, it's in my blood.

As my brother so aptly stated, "My family has always grasped the fact that somebody's loved one has to put it all on the line. Our mothers do not shrink at the thought that it could be their boy who does not come home, so long as it is either ‘return with honor' or ‘die with valor.'"

Some people spout nonsense about patriotism, calling it "a form of pride", "brainwashing", and "mind-numbing, unquestioning loyalty". Have they ever actually looked up a definition for patriotism?

Others say we are intolerant and "people in other countries are just as precious as people here". That was never the issue! No one is saying that Americans are better PEOPLE. We're saying that America is one of the greatest nations ever. It's not one-upmanship, it's gratitude.

Why is it that celebrities who spout anti-American drivel continue to reside here, work here, and enjoy the freedoms provided here? If they hate it so much, why don't they move elsewhere? (Sean Penn, Alec Baldwin, I'm talking to you! Jane Fonda, I will continue to boycott your films for the rest of my life!) Why do they think that their so-called acting skills qualify them to be political analysts? Of course they're entitled to their opinion, but can any of them even name a Constitutional amendment, or the Secretary of State? I doubt it. In a true debate, these folks would be smeared mightily from one end of the room to the other, because they don't have a grasp of reality.

And if this country is so awful, why are there so many immigrants desperately trying to come here? But I digress...

Memorial Day has had me on this line of thought, and I have always been determined to instill the same sense of pride and responsibility for our nation in the hearts of my children. (Which is why I subject them to these things on days like Memorial Day: "Our Troops" and "If I Die Before You Wake". Also check out fabulous quotes about freedom and America from LDS prophets and a great article by Gordon B. Hinckley "War and Peace"). Support our troops... wherever they are.

Recently, a friend of mine mentioned the book "How To Raise an American: 1776 Fun and Easy Tools, Tips, and Activities to Help Your Child Love This Country". (Thank you, Tricia!) I bought a copy and, though I haven't finished it yet, I'm hooked!! It even mentions one of my favorite orgs, "Soldiers' Angels".

I tried to recall my history classes and, sad to say, most of them were just garbage -- regurgitated for tests and promptly forgotten. I always thought history was BORING... because I didn't know real history. I knew useless dates, faceless names, taught in a confusing context that I couldn't comprehend. I began thinking about powerful historical events that have occurred just in my lifetime – not only 9/11, but even back to the Challenger explosion, the end of the Cold War, the fall of the Berlin wall. Remembering how I felt at those moments made me realize THAT is what history is about - connecting emotions to an event to help us realize why it occurred and what it means.

Most schools aren't going to do that for our children (if they bother to teach history at all). Some even label America "the enemy". Ah, the devil's a sly one! But this book is inspiring me with the ways and means to teach my children the TRUTH.

Princess and the Pea

Princess got her first foot cast a few days ago, and it has been a hard transition for all of us. She cried the entire first day. Much like "The Princess and the Pea", she just can't get comfortable.

She has since figured out how to get around with the cast, but she tires quickly and then gets very frustrated. She had been pulling herself up on things and is now unable to do so because the foot isn't set in a flat position that can sustain her balance. That doesn't really improve her mood either.

I thought the docs would start slowly, but they really twisted that foot significantly. See how it looks upside down or backwards? I'd be grumpy too!

Mother's Day Musings

I was very amused by the card that Monkey #2 presented to me for Mother's Day. His teacher had created a list and he was supposed to fill in the blanks about me.
I couldn't help but crack up when I got to the 4th line down:


I think that's a compliment??
Then came the part that reminds me why I put up with him...

(For those who need a translation, it says: "Dear mom, I love you so much. I wish I lived with you forever.")

Okay, everybody say it with me... Awwwww!

A Smokin' Birthday Party

Yesterday was Monkey #2's 7th birthday, and he had requested a Volcano Cake. He envisioned strawberry syrup erupting from the center. I spent days agonizing over the science of it all, and although I could certainly make it "erupt", it was not with any ingredients that I would want flowing over my chocolate cake. (Mmmm, baking soda and vinegar cake, anyone? How about sugar and sulfuric acid? No? Perhaps yeast and hydrogen peroxide? Yum!)

Finally, I decided that if the volcano just emitted "smoke", that would hopefully appease him. I worried that he would be terribly disappointed.

Making the cake was fun! As I stacked each layer (two 9-inch rounds and a Bundt), I poked holes all over with a fork and drizzled caramel syrup to soak in, then frosted each layer with caramel frosting. I cut down into the center until I could fit in a small plastic cup at the bottom, out of sight. Warm chocolate frosting was poured over the cake so that it dripped down the sides and coated them. Add some red and orange decorating gel "lava", green-tinted coconut for grass, and a package of dollar store dinos, and the mood was set!

We put dry ice into the hidden cup and lit the candles. As we carried it to the table singing "Happy Birthday", we poured some water into the cup and POOF! Beautiful billowing plumes erupted from the center.

Birthday Boy's eyes became huge and his jaw fell open. He was so transfixed that we had to remind him - twice - to blow out his candles. Then he and his brothers wouldn't let me cut the cake -- they wanted to do it all again!

As he went to bed, Birthday Boy declared it "the best birthday ever". Monkey #1 chimed in with, "Yeah, that was way cool. I can't wait to see what you come up with for MY birthday!"

(Mom groans and smacks her forehead)