Williams - 2010 Halloween

Pumpkin Patch - we actually went on a day that didn't rain. The pumpkin crop this year was rather bad. Most pumpkins were rotten or green. The kids love the train and boat ride to the pumpkins though.

Anna and Sage at their school party

My little butterfly!

Don't you just love Herbie's face in this one.

Going Goth!

Heading out for the ward Halloween party.

In the midst of the chaos, I can't go without posting our Halloween pics. So I am taking an itty bitty break from homework to share our Halloween spirit.

The Proper Method

Emmet's School Carnival

Vote for Pedro

Of all the quarter machines at Albertsons filled with toys and candy, what does my child choose? Well, the fake mustache machine, of course. I had to ask her politely to take it off before we went to the primary program practice at the church this afternoon.

She must have been channeling Pedro to achieve the identical, vacant look.

My head feels hot.

Holy Pregnant Dreams

So I was in the women's clothing department in Target. There were desks set up and I was instructing students how to be court reporters and use stenograph machines.

I was falsely posing as a naval officer, wearing a blue blazer and white pants. When someone questioned my identity and authority, my exact words were, "What? Are you blind?! I'm a naval officer!" (Pretty sure I thought I was the fleet admiral.)

That's when I realized I had better run and fast... before they looked closely at my impostor uniform. I gazed down to realize I was wearing a cheap Publishers Clearing House Prize Patrol blazer, complete with badge.

Long Day for a Housewife

What do you do if you've already done the laundry and gone grocery shopping? I keep wanting to leave the house to Snow Canyon or the park but don't want to suddenly be rained upon. Anika helped me make my favorite muffins, (they're orange!) which takes 65X longer than doing it myself but at least it kills part of the day and keeps her entertained. Which is nice...

... especially when I just cannot bear the thought of another round of the fishing game. I think I've played it 40 times already today.

Guess it's time to break out the crayons. It's really going to suck when Anika learns to read. Brandon and I wont be able to spell things in conversation we don't want Anika to hear. Things like P-I-R-A-T-E-S-P-I-Z-Z-A or B-A-T-H-T-I-M-E or S-H-I-T.

Also, I wont be able to write things like this inside Brandon's card while I color with Anika. Mommy, what is DO ME?

Don't worry, I don't usually sit around and color dorky cards for Brandon. But Anika likes me to color with her so there you go.

Remember how I mentioned I leave things for Brandon in his underwear drawer to discover? I have left some purely hilarious surprises that still have me laughing... a banana wearing a condom, a falsified pregnancy test, etc. And normal stuff too. Like a card or his favorite tic tacs. He will find this artistic creation in his drawer when he goes for new drawers tonight.

Ever wonder what it's like living with a total weirdo? Brandon could tell you.

Have You Met Me?

... was one line in a conversation I had with Brandon recently. Let us examine the entire conversation, shall we? Brandon has been to Boulder Mountain three times in the last few months and he was showing me some gorgeous pictures. I got really jealous and it went something like this...

Dang, Brandon. What does that feel like to just have peace for four days? Don't you realize I haven't spent one single day away from Anika since she was born? You're such a B, rhymes with astard. (The astard was friendly and light and I really did say B, rhymes with)

Well, why don't you go somewhere then? I'll watch Anika anytime you want to go away for the weekend. Just plan something.

Well, what would I even do?

You love to fly fish. Why don't you go fishing?

But you're the only one to go fishing with. I don't exactly have a lot of girlfriends that would like to go on a fishing trip.

What you need is a new hobby to keep you happy. Why don't you learn to knit? Or play the piano?

Those three sentences rocked me to the core. Was I just now discovering my husband doesn't know me at all? This rift, this fault could wreck all that is good. And I replied...

Have you met me?
I was thinking of something a little more exciting. Like calling the plumber...

Enter: The Plumber. Calling him is my euphemism for extramarital affair. Brandon has this plumber friend, Lael. Brandon always told me that when I met him, he knew I'd want him. This made me feel good. (So Brandon knows my type?) I finally met Lael and B was right... I guess he does know me. Janna wants Lael too and we joke openly with our husbands about calling the plumber. I'm sorry, The Plumber.

...Or a girls' trip out of town. Or shopping and pedicures. Or fishing. Or a booze cruise, hell, I don't care. As long as I can sleep in and not watch cartoons when I wake up or sit and tie knots to nothing but the sound of a babbling brook. But knitting? You really think knitting will fill the empty space? And you can visualize that... me? knitting? How does your brain even conjure up that image?

Well, I don't know...


And that was the gist of it, my friends.

One thing that really has surprised me about motherhood is how much I need something of my own. I didn't see that one coming and thought I would be totally content making dinner, nesting, etc. And I mostly am. But I feel so much better when I have something going on that is totally mine. It surprises me how much I need this. I'm thinking after I have this baby and the grenade wounds down there heal and my milk regulates and my nipples scab over and the baby is sleeping well and The Nothing is gone and my hair has all fallen out and then grown back in and when things mellow out... I think then I would like to start teaching ballet again. I need it. I need something to call my own, to escape to.

Is this why women read romance novels? Escape? Should I forget hobbies or employment and just pick up some good ol' fashioned cliterature?

It's my own fault I have not made time for myself to get AWAY.

Is this so not the essence of nearly every Oprah episode you have ever watched since the time you were fifteen? Moms need to make time for themselves. For the good of everybody.

Like I always say... If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!

Williams - Graduation Pending!

Just wanted to let you know that this might be the last post for awhile. I starte school full time last Monday and that means double the homework load. It also means that I stay up late, later than I used to so I can complete homework assignments. Why do I do this to myself? Herb says that I am a masochist since I inflict this pain upon myself. I graduate December 18th and it will be a happy day. I don't know what I am going to do with my free time in the evenings. I will be a new women or I will be hibernating for the winter to catch up on all the lost sleep.

Williams - Herbie Preschool

Herbie's started preschool. This is him on his first day. The backpack is a little big. Finally found a small one that I ordered online and it came today. He also had to go to the bathroom right when I wanted to take the pic of him in front of the school door. He attends preschool at a local high school and the students are the teachers. He loves it.

Williams - Sage's Jogathon

Cheerleaders
The Runners - It is also crazy hair day!

Williams - Baby Food Recipes

Per Nicole's request for information:

I checked out a book from the library called "Top 100 Baby Food Purees" by Annabel Karmel. Here is the link to the book on amazon. Although some of the reviews say to be careful because the author introduces some foods too early. I kind of follow the chart of food introduction suggested in Secrets of the Baby Whisperer (page 124) and then find those recipes in the Puree book. I like the book because it is just basic recipes and very easy to follow. Now that I have done it for 3 months, I hardly use the book so I haven't even bought it, I keep renewing it at the library. I have also gone to the following website but have never used any recipes from there. I have not successfully made any meat baby food which is why I went to this website but I still don't like the consistency and taste of the meat. I am still trying to figure that out. I also purchased ice cube trays with lids at Bed Bath and Beyond. I use a Cuisinart to puree the foods. Good luck if you try this route. I don't know why I didn't even think of doing it with my other kids but I wish I would have.

Williams - Baby Food

Did I mention that I make my own baby food? I never did with Herbie and Sage but I began with Nora about 3 months ago and it is awesome. The food tastes good and it is so easy to puree.

This photo is pre-Prince Valium hair.

When I just can't play Bingo or Candy Land one more time I tell Anika that her animals might like to play. She set this whole thing up one morning and drew the cards for Billie dog and Shaggy.

Did you enjoy Conference weekend? It's the weirdest thing when you're watching one guy speak and magically he changes into another guy. Even when I don't let myself get horizontal, I still manage to doze a talk or two.

Yesterday afternoon I turned on Conference and Anika sat herself down on the couch, peacefully watching what she calls 'TV Church'. A little while later I looked over and she was asleep! I should have taken a picture. It was so funny because she hasn't taken a nap for months and months. And not once in her life has she ever just fallen asleep upstairs. She must have found it very soothing.