In the running

So, I've been nominated for the Meanest Mom in the World. By my son, no less! Here's the story.

The other day Sterling asked for something and I told him no. He asked me why I always say no when he asks for something and I jokingly responded because I like being mean. He thought about that for a while, obviously, because yesterday we were at Costco having pizza and smoothies (something mean moms always feed their kids) when he asked me for something again. My response was no and so he followed up with, "Mom, why do you like being mean so much?"

Yes!! My ultimate goal as a mother has been reached!! I now feel secure in my parenting.

Funny automotive story, by Brandon

So, I'm not the brightest crayon in the box when it comes to automotive technology. That's because growing up, my dad, who is a car genius, did everything on the family cars. I could barely tell you the difference between a gas cap and dip stick.

So, as you could imagine, after just having taken the plunge with the new Suburban, when I started hearing a whining noise on Tuesday when I left work, I was experiencing some sort of nervous diarrhea!

Every time I accelerated, it would make the noise, but would stop upon deceleration or coasting. I didn't want to be stranded in Lacey, so I figured if I could hit the highway and be on cruise control, I might be fine. The noise was pretty bad until I got up to 60, and then 70 (when the limit changed). So bad that while I was on the phone with my good friend Ed, he could hear it on his end.

What did it sound like? Well, it was something in between a mule and the noise Jim Carrey makes on Dumb & Dumber ("Wanna hear the most annoying noise in the world?"). It sounded like it was coming through my speakers, though my radio was turned completely off. Truly, it was like aliens had overtaken my car.

Sure enough, while cruising, it was fine. I made it home. I was thankful for that.

On the internet, I was reading possible issues, by Googling things like "honda accord whining" and "honda whining acceleration." The number of responses I found were like the sands in the sea: cool air intake, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, wheel bearing, improperly tightened belts, water pump... the list goes on and on. But I didn't really trust any of it since all these guys are your typical "resident tech" types.

When my father-in-law came over, I asked him to take a ride with me and see what he thought. We drove all over and had a problem hearing anything. And since it's impossible to fix what you can't identify as the problem, I was getting a little frustrated. I was about to give up and head home and... **WHINE** There it was! And this time, it was while I was slowing down! So I stopped the car right in the middle of the 50 mph road, since nobody was behind me and it continued. My father-in-law was about to get out when about 300 yards behind me, a car started approaching, so I started again and hit a side road. Of course, nothing! We drove around a little more and when I was about to give up, it hit again, and luckily, it was in a small parking lot. It was loud. Lloyd thought it was coming from the back. He got out. He listened at the side of the car as he moved toward the back. He asked me to pop the trunk. I did. And the noise - STOPPED AGAIN!

Baffled, Lloyd got back in and asked if he was dreaming or if it really stopped right when he opened the trunk. And was it really coming from the back? I told him I thought it might be.

We got going again and finally heard it. We were on a 35 mph road with nobody behind me. I quickly slowed down, popping the trunk and the same time I was stopping. Lloyd, risking life and limb, jumped out when I was almost stopped, and ran to the back. He figured out the problem.

So, at this point, to explain the issue, I think it prudent to give some background. The Friday before all this went down, I was in charge of a church activity. It was a BBQ with games and fun stuff (including a wiffleball home run derby). I had this megaphone. Well, apparently, the megaphone button was turned on and it was in the back of my car. And I think when certain frequencies were reached by certain car components, maybe in conjunction with some of the different towers around, there was a high-pitched squealing that was emitted from this stupid electronic megaphone.

I was thankful it wasn't major car issues; embarrassed it was something so stupid; and glad I would have a funny story to tell.

It's tough...

being a baby.

Especially after a hard day of playing at the park.

Brothers.

So, you say you'd like to play in the mud with your big brother, huh? Be forewarned, you may not enjoy it as much as you think.

See what I mean?

Love

(Warning: no pictures included. Feel free to turn back now!)

Do you ever have an awakening moment? Like you're just going along and suddenly you remember something or feel something out of the blue? I did this morning. We just got back from a camping trip in southern Oregon. It was a lot of fun, but it wasn't until we were all working to get things put away and cleaned up this morning that I really felt a closeness as a family. The boys were all out helping clean up the truck my parents let us borrow so we could go and they were getting along so nicely. I was inside and tuned into the Mormon Tabernacle Choir channel on Pandora. The first song that came on was about our Father's love and I was just overwhelmed.

A lot of pretty lousy things have happened since January. First my brother and all that was involved there, then my best friend moving, dealing with mandatory unpaid work days to try to make up for the gigantic state budget deficit, and my van exploding. I decided today that if I really wanted to, I could be very depressed right now. Just one of those events might have pushed me over the edge. Not to mention the pretty lousy weather we're having this year. In years past, having no sunshine for so long would really knock me out, but not this year. This year Someone Else is pulling me along. Someone Else is lifting me above the fog. Someone Else is blessing me with love I'll never understand.

How could Father love me so much? I've made some stupid choices, done some ridiculous things. Why would He still have hope for me?

I can only understand minutely from being a parent myself. I'll love them until they don't let me love them anymore. And I'll still love them. Just like He'll always love me.

Crazy!

Here's some rambling for you. I hope it makes sense, because I'm pretty tired.

Wednesday morning I was thinking in the shower (best place to think) that pretty soon we were going to need to figure out how to add a car payment into the budget. Who knows why I start thinking about crazy things like that.

Ok, I know. Small promptings. Maybe you don't believe me, but I get forewarnings. I need them. Too many surprises make for a crazy Sarah. Now here's why. On our way home from the library Thursday I pulled off the freeway and stopped at the light when my van started shaking like you wouldn't believe. I was scared. Terrified. Petrified. You get the picture? All out panic. Good thing it was only about a mile to my house! I got it to the driveway and did what any good thinking woman does. I called my dad.

HELP!!

We tried to figure out what was wrong over the phone with my best description. We were hoping for a stuck thermometer. That would have been best case scenario. I took the van to the church (4 miles up the road) for a presidency meeting that night and it shot up into hot, hot, overheating, hot as soon as I pulled onto the state highway. I made it to church, and barely home. It stalled on the way home. Yikes!

Brandon took it to a repair shop just a little further down the road from the church and it took him an hour and a half to get there. Five miles. One and a half hours. That's good time, right? Oh, well, he did sit on the side of the road 500 feet from the shop for half and hour waiting for good old dad to help get the van the rest of the way...

So, a quick diagnosis later reveals a blown head gasket. That's engine, folks. He said he could fix it for $3000. Uh, let's think. '98 Chevy worth maybe $2000. Sure! Let's pour $3k into it! Why not?

The lowest quote we got was $1000, and that's from my father-in-law who wouldn't charge us for labor. Plus we needed new tires, plus a tune up. That math just doesn't work in my head.

So, the hunt for a new vehicle we can afford begins! Going from not having a car payment to having to add one in is not fun! Who wants to do that? But we're looking.

Honestly, we're looking for one of these:

Does that make me overly Mormon? No comments, Paige. We're tall folks! We need a comparatively sized vehicle. What do you want from me?!?

I talked a guy down on one today. It was kind of fun. My husband was cracking up. We'll see what happens. Maybe I'll be posting about my new car soon. Hopefully sooner than later. I can't stand shopping and car shopping is about a thousand times worse. Wouldn't it be nice if we could custom order exactly what we want it our exact price range? Oh, the dreams.

Girl fix

This is my neice. Isn't she cute? I stole a pic from her mom's blog... thanks!

She is such a fun cutie pie! I get to watch her about three times a month for a few hours in the morning and it is such a pleasure. She and Hyrum get along so well, and while school was in I had to be careful not to mention she was coming over because Sterling wanted to stay home to play with her. She loves "Baby Jonah" and can't wait to see him when she gets here.

Aren't her curls divine? I usually get to fix her hair when she gets here. I love it!

Having her here is just enough for my girl fix right now. I get to have a girl and a baby at my house at the same time! How perfect is that?! And, having four kids here feels like just the perfect amount as well.

I was watching the season finale of Glee the other day (yup, I'm a Gleek) and seeing the adoptive mom get her baby made me really think about it again. I'm open to being pregnant again (until I start vomiting, and then I will totally change my mind) but I know there are so many wonderful, sweet kids out there that need a family. I want to be one.

Plus, how else am I going to be sure I get a girl? Really.

We've always felt like we need to be open to adoption, just like we've always felt like a girl is part of our family. So, the two just seem to work. We'll see what happens. Right now I'm just trusting Heavenly Father will let Brandon know the when and where and how. Cause I know it's going to happen somehow or other. Just like everything else He's planned for us. If we're trying, He shows us the way.

Oh, a baby girl. It just sounds too wonderful.