Mormon Monastery

Here's a link to a new website that is a wonderful resource for studying the Gospel, Mormon Monastery. I am really looking forward to studying the temple pages. Check it out! I have added a permanent link on the sidebar.

If the cup fits...

My life is better thanks to Nordstrom. Yesterday, I visited a Certified Fit Specialist in the lingerie department and got fitted for a bra. Like 80% of women (according to Nordstrom), I was wearing the wrong size. The WAY wrong size. My new size is down two band sizes and up a cup. I feel comfortable, I look great, and I'm happy.

I think this was my first visit to Nordstrom. I was awed that it was just a Tuesday and there was live piano music floating up from the first floor near the escalator. They even piped it in to the dressing rooms.

My Specialist was friendly, professional, didn't bat an eye about the "t-shirt" under my bra, and didn't push any merchandise on me. I did, however, shell out the price of a week's worth of groceries for one bra - $62 with tax. But, I'm worth it! We all are!

Thank you, Nordstrom, and thank you to my MIL who gave me the idea in the first place!

Treasures in Heaven

Tonight for family scripture study, Michael was reading 3 Nephi 13. After the bit about laying up treasures in heaven, I interrupted the reading to ask, "Ethan, how do you think we get treasures in heaven?"

His immediate answer was, "You walk to heaven and then you get the pirate map and then you find the treasure. In the sky and not in the ground."

Orange wagon wheels

Ethan decided that he wanted to cook today. Fortunately, Ethan is into pretend food so we can encourage his culinary talents without having messes to clean up. After rummaging through the pot cupboard, he found an old alumninum pot. He told me the piano bench was a pretend oven and proceeded to cook. Actually, most of our furniture became a pretend oven at some point since Ethan kept moving the pot away from Scott's curious little hands.

All afternoon he served me pretend quesadillas and pretend ham pizza. Of course, I had to praise his excellent cooking skills and commend him on the flavor. After our family dinner (the real one) Ethan decided make us dessert: "pretend orange candies that look like wagon wheels." We had to take his word on it because they were invisible to us.

I told him that I thought they tasted really great... umm... like creamsicles, I guessed.

"Oh," said Mrs. M, "I thought they tasted a little sour."

What are orange candies that look like wagon wheels supposed taste like? We decided to ask the chef.

"Ethan, what does your candy taste like?"

Looking around, he answered thoughtfully, "Hmmm ... mine tastes like ... chicken."

Yum!

You know you've been a grouch when...

My early morning meeting got me home around 9 am. Ethan had a little tantrum when I arrived, but I was ready, thanks to some late night counseling with Mr Moo. I ignored the whining and screaming and picked up the smiling Scottmarshmallow who was toddling around after me: "Hi! Hi! Hi!" It's his word of choice.

Ethan calmed down pretty quickly and came out to the table. Meanwhile, I had written BREATHE on the whiteboard. I offered him a granola bar, since the babysitter mentioned that he had refused breakfast. Low blood sugar is a bad thing at our house. He accepted and asked, "Mom, why are you staying happy today?"

Yikes. 9 am and he is surprised that I haven't flown off the handle by now. I have been really edgy lately. Mr Moo suggested that it could be because I just weaned Scott - maybe that puts hormones in flux. That makes me a weaner and Scott a weanee, I suppose. Bring on the energy! But, back to my point. I knelt down next to Ethan's chair and told him, "Ethan, I need your help today. If you see me getting angry, please pat me on the arm and tell me to breathe."

"Mom, what happens if I tell you to seethe?" he asked.

I explained that seething was being really angry inside and I wanted to be calm and happy. "What happens if I tell you to breathe?" he asked. "Then I breathe like this - in through my nose, out through my mouth - and I feel better." "What happens if you're angry and I tell you to breathe?" "I breathe like this and I feel better."

So far, I haven't needed it. And on my side I've got me, Mr Moo, my prayers, the whiteboard, and Ethan. At the end of the day, I hope to say: "Indeed I have conquered!"