The Windy City

It's taken me a while to get my act together to report on our trip to Chicago. It's been nearly 2 weeks since we went. Unfortunately we didn't take many pictures, but here goes.

Here are a few highlights from our trip-

*4 whole days without the kids!

*Seeing Wicked. Yes, it was wicked awesome. I'd see it again tomorrow.

*Chicago stuffed pizza. Oh, my, gosh. Someone needs to open a franchise here called Giordano's- thanks Megan, I am still thinking about that heavenly sausage and cheese inside a warm, soft crust!

*Hanging out with my old college roommate (am I allowed to say "old college roommate" since it's been almost 8 years since I went to Utah State, even though it feels like last week?) Megan, her husband Wes and her 2 adorable kids Courtney and Matthew. Sorry I don't have pictures of Megan's cute family- we kept forgetting to take pictures with them.

*Reading an entire 600 page book without interruptions.

Since we were in Chicago partly to check out the city and see if it's at all a possibility for relocation, we kept our eyes and ears out for reasons to, or not to, move there. I was only turned off by 2 things. The cold and the traffic. Walking around the city in the middle of the day required hats, scarves and mittens and we were still freezing. And it was only November! Also, we were stuck in crappy traffic at 9:30 at night on a Saturday. Other than those 2 things, we loved the city. The architecture is amazing. The city is humongous and there is so much to do. We loved the little town where Meg and Wes live. We'd definitely try to move to that area if we ever decided to move. The people were really nice and the food is awesome! All in all, I was impressed.

Our trip didn't have the best start since 5 minutes before we were supposed to leave we woke Colby up only to find him with a crusted- over eye and him complaining that it hurt. We weren't sure what to do, but thank goodness we have an awesome friend who said she'd take him anyway. Tons of thanks to Rachel for being such a good sport about watching my sick kids, to Katrina and my mom for arranging and carrying out a trip to the doctor's office, to my dad for missing the nutcracker to hang with the kids all night and all morning and to Cameron's mom, dad and sisters for watching the kids for 3 whole days. Dang we have great friends and family!

Right after seeing Wicked

This is inside the Oriental Theatre. The ornate finishes were incredible.

Nursery is bliss

A few weeks ago, our little Kara turned 18 months. The Mormons out there will appreciate the significance of this milestone for toddlers. At 18 months, we are relieved of our parenting duties for a sweet and precious hour and 45 minutes which is then delegated to our beloved nursery "volunteers." No longer do we have to entertain, feed, or fight with our toddler while still trying get some sort edification from our teachers, which is nearly impossible.

Last Sunday Kara went to nursery for the first time. I wondered if she'd comply with this new idea and hoped she'd handle it like her brother who couldn't push us out his nursery door fast enough. We brought her to the room and put her down. She looked at her new surroundings and hesitated for a moment, lifting her arms toward me. I turned her around long enough to disappear from her sight and before we knew it, she was distracted by the room full of toys. I quickly left, but felt a return was needed to see how she was adapting. I peeked in the little door window only to find her sitting on a chair at the mini table with all the other little kids doing a puzzle. Not missing me at all. Tears instantly welled up in my eyes. I hurried back to Sunday school trying to distract myself. I took one look at Cameron and started crying. What?! I am not one of those mothers who blubbers as her kids grow up! Well, it appears as though I most certainly am. I just couldn't believe that my baby was old enough to be sitting with "friends" doing a puzzle! And when we went to pick her up, she was happy as could be. I'm sure the snacks were the factor that sealed the deal. Though I anticipated the nursery day to come, I am sad that the time is actually here, just as I'm sure there will be a mix of bitter-sweet emotions as my children continue to reach significant and not-so-significant milestones in their lives.

And as more evidence that Kara is certainly growing up, she said her first 2 word utterance yesterday, clear as a bell and has repeated it over and over since. She said, "Hi Colby!" Lately, everything as been Colby this, and Colby that. There's no doubt she loves her brother.

A child's perspective

Oh how I wish I had my child's perspective. How is it that Colby is able to see what's important, better than I can? I thought we were supposed to get better at this as we age, not worse, right?

Cameron called me today stuck at the Salt Lake airport waiting for a plane that was nowhere near. This plane he is supposed to fly to San Francisco was already an hour delayed which meant that he'd miss our Thanksgiving dinner. He was scheduled to fly back to Salt Lake around 3:30 so we planned our dinner a little later than usual. Upon learning he'd miss it anyway, I was ticked. I tried not to get mad at Cameron since he obviously has no control over delayed flights but failed miserably as I voiced my complaint. I hung up the phone and started muttering under my breath as I rolled out pie crust dough. Colby, who was helping me with the dough said, "Mom, why are you mad?" I replied, "Because dad is going to be late and miss our Thanksgiving dinner." "Oh. I'm not mad because I'm going to be happy!" he exclaimed, putting me in my place in a matter of seconds.

This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for kids. For their resilience, their carefree spirits and their perspective.

No Second Chances

I was watching the news this morning and happened to catch a report on this guy in Florida who's execution for molesting and murdering a 9 year old boy was halted by the supreme court. While I know this is far from the first time this sort of thing has happened, for some reason it has struck a chord in me this morning, big time. I've always been in favor of the death penalty and hearing this has made me so angry. If you have not seen the news report, the supreme court has issued him a "stay" because they think it's unconstitutional that this man should receive such a cruel, inhumane and unusual punishment. Oh. Never mind that this sick creep completed an act so beyond cruel and inhumane and sadly, not all that unusual anymore. Not so unusual anymore precisely because we're so good at not following through with what an appropriate punishment (or at least as close to appropriate as we're allowed to be- my idea would definitely be more on the cruel side...) should be. I don't know the details about this type of lethal injection that is done in Florida, and frankly, I don't really care. As long as it does the job, it's fine with me. And I know in the very end that everything will be just. But I just can't help but want them to suffer here just as they have made so many others suffer. Does that make me a heartless, inhumane person?

Why is it that these scum bags should be given any kind of second chance? I think, one kind of sexual or murderous offence and sorry, you're done. There are just some choices that I believe do not deserve a second chance. We all know the percentage of sexual predators that offend not just a second time, but over and over again, is insanely high. Airline companies (and I'm sure many others) have adopted a zero percent tolerance for drug and alcohol usage when on the clock. One offense and your done. Why can't our nation adopt a zero percent policy for sexual offenders? I know, I know, this is assuming, of course, that the offender is fairly tried and convicted. That is a whole different argument. And don't even get me started on the death penalty actually occurring decades after the crime was committed. I know this topic tends to be somewhat controversial, but I'm obviously quite passionate about it. Anyone else?

I hope there are buffets in heaven...

Every once in a while I like to write about random topics that occupy my thoughts and I think it's time for another one. Much like a previous post of mine about the desocialization of our technologically dependent generation, I am interested in hearing the opinions of my fellow bloggers. Now last time, I didn't get quite the response I was looking for so my expectations are pretty low. But for the 3 (maybe 4 now?) of you reading, I'd love to hear what you have to say. Caution: this post is a little on the lengthy side.

Isn't if funny how you think you have yourself figured out and then you're placed in a new and different situation and you find that there's a whole different side of you, or a theory that you once maintained about yourself is proven false? Well, one thing that seems to remain constant in my life is my ever-increasing need for change and variety. Though this has been a trait of mine for a long time, it is just in the last few years that I have identified it. It explains a lot about my behavior in the last 29 years. First of all, since 15 years old, I have had around 30 jobs. This is no exaggeration. Since I started working, I've had usually 2, sometimes 3, jobs at a time, hence my need for variety. There were very few times I had one job at a time, even after I finished grad school. And I usually stayed with a job for about 3-4 months before I was tired of it and ready to try something new, hence my need for change. I was very proud of myself for keeping my last job for 4 entire years.

Also, I love buffets. I must have variety in almost everything in my life. Anyone who knows me well knows that I have a very hard time making decisions. Even ordering food at a restaurant is a challenge for me. I find it extremely hard to commit to just one food item. And it's not that I just need options. Restaurant menus that have too many options are a nightmare for me. If I have to commit to just one, I'm better off with fewer options so I don't have to stew over the 30 things I might be missing out on as opposed to 10 or so. Ordering a meal can be so tough for me that I actually have to narrow my choices down to 2 finalists and then proceed to close my eyes and imagine tasting both items and deciding which one is more satisfying to my appetite. I know- be glad that you aren't married to me. If you decide to read on, believe me, you will have a whole new respect for Cameron. Anyways, this is why I love buffets. I love that I have tons of options and that I don't have to commit to just one. Who really cares if it tastes good- I get to try it all! Well, as a result of our last buffet experience (either Bountiful's Chuck-a-Rama or Layton's Golden Corral), I have decided that the food shouldn't taste like dirty feet, even if it is a buffet. But let me add that the St. George Chuck-a-Rama is kickin, contrary to what you might imagine. Not kickin as in there's lots of people scarfing down food, but kickin as in the food kicks. I ate it for Thanksgiving a few years ago and it rivaled my mom's food. Sorry mom, it was some GOOD EATS. And cruises. Holy cow. The best food ever combined with the fact that if you want to try more than one gourmet soup, then just order it! Want more than one entree? No problem! Seriously, if you like to eat, get yourself on a cruise tomorrow. And a midnight buffet. On a cruise, there are actually 4 sometimes 5 full meals a day. Okay, sorry about the food tangent. Back to the main topic.

The reason this topic has occupied my thoughts lately is that I am in need of a major change in my life right now. And I'm finding this need for change is chronic and it's serious. My intuition is telling me that moving should be our next big change. We have lived in our current house now for 2 years. I love my neighborhood, I have fixed most my house up to just the way I like it and yet I am itching to move. I love to move. I love getting rid of all my junk and I love starting out in a brand new place, meeting new people and being unfamiliar with my surroundings. Well, because we love it here (minus the mosquitoes) I have tried satisfying my need for change by doing little things like getting my haircut or repainting my living room. This is only temporary gratification and only delays my need for something more drastic. One might suggest that I have another baby. While this is definitely a dramatic change, I feel like our decision to increase our family should be based off more than my psychogenic need to experience something new. Cameron has often asked, "Why are you not content with your life?" This has made me really think and wonder if I am just one of those people who will never be content. It is true that I have everything anybody could ever possibly need. Why should I be looking for a change from that? As I've thought about this, I think that while I do often wish for things I don't necessarily need, I also just crave something different, not necessarily better. I don't necessarily want a better house, just a house in a different location (and maybe a house in a different location with an actual laundry room wouldn't be so bad either...).

But here's the flip side. There are things in my life that I do not wish to change, and actually, are quite the opposite. For example. I LOVE my OBGYN (Dr. Neil Spencer in Farmington for anyone who's looking). I would have to hear that he was a serial killer before I would get a new doctor. And Cafe Rio sweet pork salad. That was the first thing I tried at Cafe Rio and I will never try anything else. When I find something I love, I stick to it. So, is it that I really don't love my neighborhood? And if I did happen to find my Dr. Spencer neighborhood, would I be content with it and look for another way to make a big change? At some point is this crazy craving of mine going to stop? Is always needing a big change just my way of including variety in my life? I don't want to be one of those people who is always looking towards the future and not enjoying all the amazing things I have and do in my life now. Has anyone noticed how often I have changed my blog header and template? Again, I cannot commit to just one, and I get extremely board of seeing the same thing. It's a miracle I actually made it through 2 years of undergrad and 2 years of graduate school without changing my major. I guess I did go to 4 colleges during my 6 years of school...

So my fellow bloggers. I come to you for your insight. I trust you only because you too participate in the blog world, or as my sister calls it, the blogosphere. Am I the only freak out there that not only enjoys change, but needs it like, um, something that really needs something bad or it will die? If you share this with me, please let me know! Also, any ideas on how I can satisfy my need for change without selling my house, getting pregnant or going back to school? To look on the bright side, it could be worse. At least I don't require little changes all the time, like having to change my clothes 3 times a day or making myself a buffet of food for every meal. It's just big, dramatic changes that I seek. Or maybe that's worse. I don't know anymore. Can anyone recommend a therapist? Just kidding, I want you all to be my therapist.

Halloween Festivus for the Rest of Us

I just had to put up another picture of my goateed devil. He did not pose for this picture. His expression matched precisely how we he felt about his 45 minute bout with facial hair.

I'd have to say Halloween was a blast this year. Aside from the fact that Cameron was in a strange city (I have no idea where) on Halloween day and had to miss out on all the excitement, we ended up having a great time without much accompanying stress. I can only hope I will say the same thing about Christmas this year.

In addition to Colby's preschool program and our playgroup outing, we also had a ward party on Saturday with all kinds of kid games and activities. I was thrilled that the kids got to wear their costumes more than once this year. Definitely worth the money! On Halloween night, my 2 brothers, their kids and my parents came to eat dinner and go trick or treating. Most of our kids are little so our goal was to get to the "scary house" and back. The "scary house" is a house in my neighborhood that goes all out for Halloween- and I mean ALL OUT. I've never seen anything like it. People actually drive to go to this house, partly for it's awesome decorations and props and mostly because they do a little spooky skit and give out whole candybars. There's usually a line to get in and you have to donate an item to the Utah Food Bank before you are allowed to enter. It's really cute and worth the wait.