"take a good look around boys, because your future is about to change"

Meet the Robinsons came to theaters in the Spring of 2007. (I remember, because it was the first movie we saw in the theaters with Anderson.) The release date alone tells you that Disney didn't think it would go down in history as one of it's classics. But, in my opinion, it is one of Disney's best. My kids love it and I find it so sentimental that I cry at the end EVERYTIME I see it. If you haven't seen it--rent it this weekend! Better yet, go buy it! I don't think you'll regret it!

Oven Shoyu Chicken

Way back when Marc and I were first married, the Relief Society in our married student ward put together a cookbook. During one of our moves, I decided I needed to consolidate my recipe books, so I only kept the gems out of some of them and while the rest of that particular cookbook is decomposing in some dump, this recipe from it is a family favorite! I love how easy it is!

Oven Shoyu Chicken

2 lbs chicken thighs
1/4 c. soy sauce
1/4 c. corn oil
1/4 c. brown sugar
1/2 t. salt
1 clove garlic, crushed
1/2 t. grated ginger

Place chicken in aluminum foil lined 9x13 pan. Mix the rest of the ingredients together and pour over chicken. Bake at 325 for one hour, turning twice. To thicken sauce, add cornstarch. Serve over rice with stir fried broccoli, and pineapple on the side.

**The last two times I've made this, I used chicken breasts instead of thighs--it's a little dryer, but you can slice up the chicken and serve in your favorite Asian Salad. Here's mine: spinach, mandarin oranges (bottled taste better than fresh) slivered almonds and Newman's Own Low Fat Sesame Ginger dressing.

Hello, My Name is Trouble

This afternoon I was in a sugar induced coma--I ate LOTS of a Maggie Moo's chocolate turtle ice cream cake which was totally worth it by the way--so I took a short nap. Would you believe it if I told you that while I was sleeping Anderson raided my purse and chewed the remaining 12 pieces (sharing only one with Carter) of the package of Positively Pomegranate Orbit gum I bought at Walmart this morning? The wrappers are at the bottom of my purse. The package is in the trash. I have no evidence that the 11 pieces of gum are anywhere but the pit of his stomach. Oh yeah, he's trouble!

PS. He's mad at me right now because I'm telling you this story and ignoring his need for food so he just spit at me. It's okay, you can laugh. I want to.

"Relax!"

Marc tells me all the time to "Relax." Somehow, I'm not really sure how to relax. I stress about everything and it's REALLY hard for me to go with the flow. The tension in my shoulders is proof enough. A friend of mine, who teaches yoga, says she can spot "type A" personalities everywhere because she is one and that yoga really does help. I've tried yoga three times and haven't been able to get past it's hoakiness--you know the spiritual side, because I have a time and place for that on my own and it doesn't fit into my exercise, usually, but she convinced me to try again--a class she was subbing yesterday.

I went with a totally open mind and I really did enjoy it. At the end of the class, we were laying (I'm sorry Mr. Grammar 329 prof. I can't remember the laying/lying rule) on our back, palms open to the sky, breathing and all I could do was think about:

• calling Cindy to collaborate for our first two Primary activities
• cleaning the bathrooms including shower and tub, possibly while talking to Cindy
• baking my Asian chicken and making some soup so I don't have to cook for a few days.
• finding a way to be happy in my own skin

So much for relaxing! I'll try again next week.

tie a string around my finger, maybe then i will remember

A few years ago I had to stop watching crime dramas. The episodes that depicted children hurting or parents losing a child were simply too heart wrenching--after an episode would end, my arms would ache to hold my boys, who were always sleeping in their beds by then. It always took everything I had not to sneak in their rooms and lift them out of their beds and rock them. I would have horrible nightmares those nights, too so I quit watching. But it's not just crime dramas that make me feel like that. I remember sobbing when Izzy lay in bed with Denny who had just died (Greys Anatomy) and just yesterday, while watching last weeks epi of Private Practice I could hardly hold back the tears when a dad had to decide to either expose himself to a fatal bacterial infection so he could be with his 9 year old daughter while she died or to let her die by herself so he could be alive for his 2 year old son. Excruciating.

It's not just fictional TV shows that make me stop and think about how blessed I am to have my husband and my children with me. Back in July, when I heard of Randy Pausch's passing I spent a day or two being intensely grateful for them and our days together. But then, as it always happens, life's daily struggles and stresses took over and I went back to taking them for granted, forgetting to give them their extra squeezes, a softer scold, a wink to say 'I love you.' It just happens, I suppose and I'm not the only mother who is guilty of this, I am sure. But today, I return to introspection. This morning we got news that Marc's cousin lost one of her 4 year old twin boys to a very sudden illness. I don't know if this hits harder because 1. I know Mindy and her husband and 2. I have a four year old but regardless, I ache. Life is so. so. so. fragile. For everyone. We simply can not afford to take it for granted. We can not take any one in our life for granted. I am reminded of something that Howard W. Hunter, (14th President of my Church) said in his Christmas devotional fourteen years ago. I was fourteen; it was profound and touching to me then and it is profound and touching to me now:

". . .mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a letter. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Forgo a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Apologize. Try to understand. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Be kind. Be gentle. Laugh a little more. Express your gratitude. Welcome a stranger. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love and then speak it again. . ."

I don't want to forget this lesson again--I always seem to forget so if you see me with a string around my finger, I am simply trying to remember it this time.

I heart. . .

• Sonic Happy Hour 1/2 price drinks!
• Girl Scout cookie season (just ordered 7 boxes. I don't think that's going to be enough!)
• that the nurses were all loving on Anderson this morning when he got tubes in his ears. (It's always nice when someone else adores your child almost as much as you do.)

patience. . .apparently it's a virtue very few possess

Eight years ago, I spent some time in China. I rode the subway a lot. There were many times that I'd be buying my ticket and hear the rushing wind and screeching wheels of the approaching train. At that point the 25 Chinese men and women behind me would basically shove me forward with their bodies and I'd see in my peripheral view lots and lots of brown hands waving Chinese bills at the ticket person. I'd elbow and shove my way through to catch the train followed by all the other lucky people who were able to shove their way forward to the ticket booth and retrieve their ticket. It was not unusual to feel a little battered after buying a subway ticket. It was shocking to me, a very rule and order oriented person, to experience this lack of civil behavior for the first time, but at some point I became accustomed to it, even participated in it. Not waiting your turn seemed as Chinese as waiting in the drive thru is American, after all we wait in an awful lot of lines here is the USA. We wait in line at Panera Bread for lunch, at the grocery store (for 30 minutes with one person ahead of you at Walmart because one particular checker is s-l-o-w!), at the bank, for rides at Disneyland. It's American and civil and respectful.

So, yesterday I was at the gym. A lady and her daughter walked in the door right behind me. They walked in to child watch right behind me. I placed Anderson's back pack on the counter, opened a pocket, grabbed my iPod and gym cards out to sign him into child watch. It took no longer than 30 seconds and within that time, the lady had grabbed the binder from in front of me and began signing her daughter in which caused me to wait the minute for her to finish. I just looked at her. I wanted to say, "Excuse me, you don't have a minute to spare apparently!" but I didn't want to cause a scene; eww I was miffed because there is something to be said for being first in line. We do live in America after all.

Random Thoughts by Diana Phillips

1. Yesterday was a ruined day--the surgery Marc was supposed to observe at 3:00 pm was delayed about 3 hours. He stuck around only to walk in the O R (yes, I watch Grey's) and realize they started the surgery without him. The surgeon pretty much ignored Marc, even though he's buddy buddy with his boss. So, what was supposed to be a day when Marc got home 2 hours early turned into a later than usual day. To top it off, because of the delay the boys went to bed without seeing their dad. My heart aches for them when that happens.

2. Thank you McDonalds for keeping my boys fed, exercised and happy for two hours to make up for those crappy crappy crappy circumstances yesterday.

3. I've been dreaming about babies for over a week now. Is someone sending me a message because I'm still not really ready to go there.

4. I love green salad in its many forms.

5. Thank you bishopric for listening to and solving our Primary budget struggle. I'm still giddy.

6. I'm getting tired of looking at my nicely-painted but dull-nonetheless walls. Will someone come over and tell me where to put all of my pictures/wall decor and which ones I need to go buy?

7. Is there something wrong with me that for the last two days all I've wanted to do is sit on the couch and snuggle my boys and sleep?

8. I think I need new running socks--3 out of my four pair have holes in them.