Back in a Week...

Scout still thinks we are going to Disneyland in three weeks.
We actually leave tomorrow.
Hooray for a vacation!

Curling Iron Brush Combo and The Biggest Pancake

I'm pretty sure they emerged in the early nineties when "they" thought they were smarter, wiser and ready to find the future in style and "the new you." Come on, they just wanted to save you time. But what "they" (the people in fashion world who we all blame for our fashion mistakes...the ones who failed us with blue eye shadow in the eighties) didn't realize was that the CURLING IRON BRUSH COMBO was a REALLY BAD idea.

It is almost par with my invention convention first prize winner of the second grade: THE TOTALLY TUBULAR TOOTHBRUSH! Just the great idea that hooking your toothpaste to a specially designed toothbrush with a hollow center would be much cleaner and efficient. Simply squeeze the tube and the toothpaste flows through the middle of the brush up into the bristles and you are ready to brush your teeth. No worries about losing the cap and having to find BOTH the toothpaste AND the toothbrush. Everyone knows that these two things are really difficult and time consuming. Ridiculous. Hilarious. But a great memory. Hey, it's the only trophy I have ever won in my life.

Anyway...today is my sister Mckell's 22nd BiRTHdAy, and as I was thinking about her, I remembered that fateful day we shared as we had a memorable encounter with the AWESOME curling iron brush combo our family of four girls had purchased.

As the older sister, I felt it my duty to take advantage of my experienced and wiser position and "help" my younger sisters "have fun." Usually it was just an excuse to do something a much older Merry Miss (as they called us in primary) or Beehive wouldn't do...like play HOUSE.

So I told Mckell that I would make a miniature house in her room for her. When it came time to set up the bathroom, which was put in the closet, I consulted my Mom on what I could actually borrow from the bathroom to accomplish my design. None of the "good" curling irons were to be used, but I could definitely use the hand held mirror and the curling iron brush combo because the uselessness had probably been proved in the first day of procuring it.

The house was set. Okay. Let's play. I started doing Mckell's hair with that prickly curling iron. Once I started rolling toward the scalp, the curling iron gave me no option to "unfurl" so I just kept going until. . . I actually DID reach the SCALP. Just a minute. If any of you know Mckell, you will know that if judged by our hair we WOULD NOT look like sisters. She has BEAUTIFUL dark brown hair and it is THICK.

So...what do I do as she starts yelling and crying? I say what I always said in those situations, "Don't cry! (as I yank on the curling iron that is DEFINITELY stuck) Don't cry! I will get it out. Don't tell Mom." Desperate for a lesser punishment for tightening one whole side of my sister's head in a prickly, poorly invented styling tool, I yanked as HARD as I could and successfully pulled out the curling iron and an entire WAD of Mckell's hair. She had little floater hairs on top forever. They were all trying to grow back after being pulled out one inch from the root. If only I had a picture of this.

I love you Mckell. Thank you for letting me push you down the driveway in a rickety wooden wagon with plastic chairs in it for a CAR. You definitely crashed. All I remember was yelling, "Turn! Turn!" as you approached the end of the driveway.

Thank you for letting me put you in our play stroller and zoom you down the hall as fast as I could. Thank you for dressing up for my circus and actually wearing the black leotard, stripped socks, and baseball cap I put you in. You gave a great show. I wish we still had that keyboard. Then I could play "The circus comes to town" for your birthday.

Thank you for yelling every night, "Don't turn off the lights! Don't turn off the lights!" All because you saw Arachnophobia and could never sleep again.

Most of all, thank you for answering my five-year-old prayers that you would live at two months premature. Thank you for reminding me that we should all sing once-in-a-while. Happy Birthday Kell.

We had breakfast and went mini-golfing for Kell's little celebration.

Birthday Girl

AND NOW FOR THE BIGGEST PANCAKE:

It was probably a Saturday morning when I was about six or seven years old. Everyone had finished their breakfast and it was just Dad and me in the kitchen. There was still pancake batter left over, and my Dad asked me if I wanted to make a HUGE pancake with him and then share it.

I still remember thinking I was SO cool standing up there on that chair helping my Dad dump ALL the pancake batter onto the pan. We created a pancake just a little bit bigger in diameter than a pie plate, and decided to put apricot jam on one half and peanut butter on the other. My Dad gave me a fork and we shared the plate.

I don't remember what we talked about, but I do remember that I loved being with my Dad. Just us. We were in our pajamas. Talking. I remember the sounds the radiators in our kitchen made, and I remember wondering if anyone had ever really eaten a pancake that size without their Dad to help them. To a little girl it seemed GARGANTUAN.

Such a simple thing.

A cherished memory.

All the details are fuzzy, but the feeling is clear. My Dad loved me, and I knew it.

I knew it every day of my life.

And I know it now.

This is what my Dad has taught me-

Life is created by single moments.

Moments that don't always merit a graceful entry or a red curtain curtsy.

Moments that present themselves in blue jeans and tennis shoes, but mean the most in the story of our lives.

You do it because you're ready.

You help because you can.

You laugh because you need to.

You love because it's all that matters.

Happy Birthday Dad-

Even though your birthday was last week and we already celebrated-

(If I had the picture to post right here, I would post the picture of me, my sister, and my Dad all washing dishes together when I was two and my sister was four.)

29 December 2004 and all that has followed..

Journal 17 October 2004:

"The birth and discovery of eternal love is a union of hearts that proves indestructible through life and death. It is the joy of our existence- And I found that in Ben."

Journal 29 December 2004:

"Today was the greatest day of my life. At 6:25 am I was in the temple waiting to be married. I was sealed to Benjamin Keahi Kamalu at 7:40 am by Elder Dunn. Off to pictures, brunch, reception, and ....THEY LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER."

Journal 12 January 2004:

"When you posess true love and the responsibility of someone's heart, you have the highest joy afforded to mankind- Even if you are eating peanut butter sandwiches and praying for sunshine."

HaPPy AnNiverSAry BeN. I lOve You.

And Then We Said, "What Now?"

All we knew was that HE was DONE!

He did it! Benjamin Keahi Kamalu is done with his undergrad degree! Wherever you are, take a moment to stand and do a little cheer for this ECONOMICS-on-his-way-to-being-an-actuary college graduate. :)
I might add that he finished his WHOLE (except one test) Biology class in one WEEK. He was forced of course, but he did it all the same.
Anyway, today was a great day at our house with A LOT to celebrate. We aren't really sure what to do with ourselves. Any ideas?
Well, I think we will figure it out.

So, here is a quick recap-

In the four years and six months of his college degree:
- We got married
- Brooke graduated
- Scout born 2006
-Boston born 2007
- Moved three times
- Six different Jobs
-Three college major changes
- Two knee surgeries
- And more blessings, stress, happiness, worry, grattitude, mercy, fun, tears, laughter, learning, Prayer, books, late nights, family, friends, and wonderful life than can be bottled up right here.

Thank you to all of you who were supportive every minute. You celebrated our success, and minimized our stress.

At any rate, there was celebration indeed in our simple little world today.

The SiX Tag

Mary Jane,

I am taking to heart that you meant me when you tagged the sixes a while ago. :)
I have never answered a tag, but I love to read other people's answers.

Here I go:

6 TV shows that I watch:
1. I don't watch TV unless I am at someones house other than mine.
We don't have our TV hooked up, and we actually like it. I do have some
favorites though and my girls watch all the normal shows by video.
2. American Idol (I know I know...)
3. Word World (This is a favorite at our house too. The girls love it)
4. I watch the news on the internet every so often, but every time I do, I get outraged by most of what is going on.
5. Currently we are watching all the seasonal Christmas movies, and I LOVE it.
6. Nothing else...

6 Favorite Restaurants: (not in order)
1. Cafe Rio
2. Noodles and Company
3. Benihana
4. Good Wood
5. Cheesecake Factory
6. Olive Garden
7. California Pizza Kitchen (oops...I could just keep going)

6 Things that happened yesterday:
1. I wrapped Christmas presents.
2. I ran errands all by myself. The girls were napping and Ben was studying for finals. It was weird to go shopping alone. I kept wondering if my girls were okay and what they were wrecking in the stores, and then I would remind myself they weren't with me.
3. Read stories with my girls by the lighted Christmas tree. This is one of my favorite things to do with them. Scout has almost memorized How the Grinch Stole Christmas. She loves lines like, "Pooh Pooh to the Whos." AND "Every Who down in Whoville liked Christmas A LOT!"
4. Cleaned up at least 5 messes, and ended up with at least 8 more.
5. Listed and talked about my blessings in my journal, and with Ben.
6. Mailed Christmas cards.

6 Things I look forward to:
1. My husband being done with school. Only two more tests!!!
2. Christmas Eve and Christmas MORNING. It is so much fun with little ones.
3. Regular Sleep.
4. Seeing how happy my husband is that he doesn't have any homework.
5. Watching my children grow and learn new things. Just seeing who they are going to be and what their talents and interests are.
6. Seeing my Grandma who is on a mission in Nauvoo right now. She will be home in January!!

6 Things on my wish list:
1. No more child abuse in the world.
2. A full and well-used library in my house.
3. More patience.
4. Knowledge.
5. A good dog. (Someday)
6. To cook something that my husband doesn't need to add sauce to.

The Loss, Fun in St. George, and Turkey Day

It all started with the cookies and cake. Go BIU! Go BIU! This is what Scout shouted as we got ready for the game and baked BYU cookies and a BYU cake.

We all gathered at Toni and Scott's for a game day party, and it turns out that was the only fun thing about the game- being together.

Oh well. Still BYU fans to the bitter end.

After the game we headed to St. George to visit family. What a great weekend it was. Grandma Karen had planned and early Thanksgiving dinner with family. It was great to see Tutus Kamalu and Kyle, Kim, and Kalel as well.

In a nutshell: Went to the festival of trees, pizza dinner (thanks again Grandma K!), played at Grandma Karen's work, had a ukulele concert by Scout, played racquetball with Grandpa Kyle (Well, Ben did. He had a great time and has a goal to beat Dad in three months. Wishful thinking?), and most of all we enjoyed family.

We got home on Tuesday night and headed to Ogden on Thursday afternoon for Thanksgiving dinner with the Reeves/Barker families. Uncle Brad and Aunt Lori prepared a wonderful dinner and kickball field. We all played Kickball after dinner.
What a great way to work off some of that dinner. I'm not sure if we worked it off playing kickball or laughing, but it was a fabulous time I must say.

What great family we have.

P.S. As tradition demands, we got up before all living things and went shopping the day after Thanksgiving. The money we save (or don't save) is nothing compared to the sights we see. Wow.
As in past years, we didn't see two ladies fight over a radio and one break her arm, and a shirt didn't get stolen right out of my hands, but there was plenty to laugh about. Was it just me or did it seem that the men outnumbered the ladies this year shopping?

Saggy in the middle. It was a sign of things to come.