So, I Think I Can't Dance

When I was younger, like 9 or something, my mom put my sisters in dance class. I was excluded. Then she felt guilty and put me in dance too. I started dancing with my sisters and we took ballet and jazz. We learned the Running Man and the Roger Rabbit. Man, I'm getting old. I loved my pretty pink slippers. Let me tell you, I was an awesome, I mean awful dancer. Really. I was bad. Looking back I'm pretty sure that is why my mom opted not to put me in dance. She must have seen me dancing in the living room to Janet Jackson's "Black Cat" and just known that dancing wasn't my destiny. I mean, if you think of it that way, she tried to spare me. I'm pretty sure everyone else in the class knew I was a bad dancer too.

From that point on I pretty much gave up all hopes of being a dancer. My little sisters began taking dance lessons when I was in high school. They started at ages 7 and 4 and have been dancing since (now 18 and 21). Those girls can shake some boo-tay! I used to go to their performances and wish it was me up there dancing like a maniac.

(Flash forward to my current life.)

I still can't dance. I tried doing a dance work out the other night and giggled the whole way through. Mike was trying not to laugh. I looked like a retard. I just can't get my hips and arms to do what they should.

Oh well. I can still have hopes can't I? I can still dream that I'm a star.

So, in anticipation for one of our favorite shows, So You Think You Can Dance, we had a dance-off in our living room.

You heard that right. A dance-off. We couldn't crown a winner because if you know Will, you know that would create some major issues. But, we did all choose a song and shook our tail-feathers.
Shake it, baby! Shake it!








Whoops, how did this one get put on here?
They all had to be tossed in the air a few hundred times by both of us.
The boys made a very wise choice, "I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas"


Whoa, it takes a lot of energy to be a dancer, which is why Mike and I collapsed on the ground after the dance-off.
And now we are off to watch some real dancers do what we can't--DANCE!!

Some perfectly random things

Our internet is giving us grief.

All my pictures of our Thanksgiving festivities are on the computer that is having internet issues. So, no pictures today.

Instead, I leave you with some other goodies:

I am a new owner of a bread maker which means I'm on my way to becoming a Monica Woods bread-making apprentice. I am an amature. She is the real thing. I've never tasted better bread than hers. Best thing about my new bread maker? It was free!

I was so close to hiding Eli in a suitcase and stuffing him in my brother's van as a wonderful surprise for my brother and his family. They want a sixth boy, right? Since I didn't do that, I'm wondering if anyone else wants him?

I have piles and piles of laundry to fold.

My Christmas tree is cuter than yours. It has fish and shells on it. It has a polka dot blow fish. It has a dancing reindeer and Mexican peppers. It has a doggy with a Santa hat and stockings. It also has a ginormous dinosaur on it. Beat that. (pictures to come).

It's cold.

To end this very random, not very interesting post, I leave you with this video and this blog post. Ammon's a celebrity! Check it out. He's wonderful.

A visit from the heart elf

What I love about kids is that no matter what you do to show them love, they return your love a hundred fold.

I decided to do something fun for the boys on Saturday. I cut out hearts and put little phrases on them like, "I love you," "you are handsome" etc. Then I hid them around the house in places they were sure to find them. It was so much fun! It was like Christmas a month early. They ran around the house looking for hearts and shouting when they found another one and asking me to read the words.

Later, I saw Will with some red paper and some scissors. Will really loves to trace things and cut them out so I assumed that is what he was doing. Then I saw him go to the kitchen and get the tape out of the junk drawer. He hollered from the kitchen, "I'm hiding hearts and when I tell you and Dad to find them you can find them but don't until then."

He ran around hiding these little hearts in random places. Of course we went around the house looking for his hidden hearts and exclaiming in joy each time we found one of his hearts. He was so excited.

Since then, we continue to find hearts. We find them and he recycles them. We find them in the most random places each day. Some times they are under our sheets and some times they are on the milk jugs. He puts them on the bathroom counters and above our bed on the wall.

I just love it. I love my William and his gentle heart. I love how excited his whole being gets when he sees we are happy. It really seems some times that his goal in life it to make us happy and I love it.

What I needed to hear

I had an experience this week that reminded me of the importance of sharing when you have felt the Spirit. This experience was just for me and will always be treasured. I was reminded that Heavenly Father knows me personally. I was also reminded of another time I felt the Spirit speak to me.

Music has always been a huge part of my life. From the time I was little I remember sitting around the piano with my parents and siblings singing songs together. We often sang as a family at church. I devoted my energy to developing my talent in singing while in high school rather than band or art.

Music has soothed my soul almost more than anything else, perhaps only second to prayer…well, and scripture study, so maybe third.

I tried out for Women’s Chorus on a whim; my other roommates were trying out and we decided to try out together. I was lucky enough to make it. I fully admit that Women’s Chorus is no Concert Choir or BYU Singers but still, it was an honor to be accepted.

Occasionally the choir’s at BYU combined for a concert. One concert in particular stands out in my mind. Each choir was assigned to sing one or two songs on their own and then we sang a few songs together. The Women’s Chorus had already practiced their songs and we were sent to the balcony to wait to practice one of the final songs (we were one of the lessor choirs and therefore, not the star of the show and banished to the balcony).

I was feeling particularly overwhelmed that day. My mind was heavy with concerns about grades and finances and boys. I worked all the hours I was allowed at BYU while taking a full schedule and the day had been long and hard. I sat in the balcony tired, dreading doing homework, yet ready to be home.

It was while in this state of mind that the wildly popular BYU Men’s Chorus walked onto the stage to practice their numbers. I always enjoyed listening to the Men’s Chorus but this time my mind was clouded and I was not paying attention to them or all the chattering girls around me in the balcony.

Their singing was quiet and the chatter around me was loud and my thoughts just as loud so I found it difficult to listen. However, their singing got louder and louder until I could not focus on anything else. I cannot remember the name of the song they sung or any of the words except one part where they sang at the top of their lungs, “Oh how I love my Savior! Oh how I love my Savior! Oh how I love my Savior, because he first loved me!”

At that moment I was struck. My body surged with feeling. I felt my being shaken. The music spoke so strongly to me. My Savior loved me! He loved me long before I loved Him. I could rejoice because of His everlasting love and sacrifice he made for me.

I looked around me, looking to see if anyone else heard what I heard, if anyone else was moved the way I had been moved. But the chattering continued as did the singing as if nothing was different about the world. Yet, the world was different for me. Things were brighter and my heart was lighter. The Spirit had communicated to my mind and heart words the secret chambers of my heart needed to hear. My Savior loved me.

My cake

We have been busy the past few months. Part of the reason we've been so busy is because I've been taking cake classes. Here is the final cake of the second course. Should I keep going? It's a bit pricey so I'm not sure...next is fondant and then two-tiered cakes. What do you think? Is it worth it?

The Chicago Way

Mike was in charge of our ward Hymns and Harvest Social which was also moonlighting as a Chili/Dessert Cook-off.

I really didn't want to bring anything because the first chili cook-off I went to was in our Oklahoma ward. It was our first chili cook-off ever and I had just learned how to make this amazing Creamy White Chili from my friend Marcy. I am not a huge fan of Chili but when I discovered this recipe my eyes were opened. I decided to bring my chili, knowing that it is very different from normal chili recipes. We were about five minutes late and I came to put my chili on the table and one of the sweet ladies in charge said, "Oh, I'm not sure we have anymore room for that." Seriously? We made room and went on to enjoy the rest of the activity but when we went to get food, another well-meaning lady said, "What is this? This isn't Chili." Nice welcoming to our new ward. Those Oklahomans.... :)

So, I was not going to bring Chili to this ward Chili Cook-off. I decided to just bring Mike's favorite cookies. It took me about five minutes to put together.

This time I went armed with my cookies.

When they announce the winners, I wasn't paying attention to what was going on. I heard, "The winner of the dessert cook-off is number 6." No answer. "Uh, number 6. I think it was called Seven Layer Cookies or something."

Sweet mother.

How the crap did cookies win the contest?

I'll tell you how...

Little does anyone know, I slipped some nice, crisp dollar bills under the table to Elder Tanner as a last favor before he goes home on Thursday.

I was redeemed.

What it's like having a Nuclear Engineer as a dad

Will asked me, "How does the key start the car?" I gave some lame answer about igniting a spark or something and then added what I always add after one of Will's questions, "That's the best I've got so if you really want to know, ask your dad." This was how Mike answered Will. I hope they understood because I still don't.