Memory Monday

I'm starting a new thing. It is called Memory Monday. I have not been a faithful journal-er at any point in my life (big regret). I am going to try and post a random memory, old or new, every MOnday.

One sunny, peaceful Sunday, Lex (younger brother) and I were driving home. I may have been a moody teenager and had a temper that was crazier than a fruit fly. Lex was quiet and mischevious. He was a button-pusher.

As we turned the corner for home, Lex backfired louder than the car we were in. I told him to knock it off or he was walking home. Less than 1/8 of a mile down the road and another rumble was heard from the passenger side. The white boat (which looked a lot like the car below) came to a screeching halt in front of our nearest neighbors house, who also happened to be our Bishop at the time.

I screamed at Lex to get out of the car. No budge. I put the car in park and started pushing him out. Without the slightest indication that he was getting out, Lex started laughing, knowing only as a brother does, that this will send me into a fiery rampage. A blur of long hair and church attire jumped out of the car and began to drag Lex out of the passenger side. I was 15 or 16 at the time and physically could still hold my own with Lex who was 3 years younger. As soon as he was on the ground, I ran back to the driver's side and tried to drive off, but Lex easily slid back into the passenger seat with time to spare.

My pride was injured. I can still feel the anger bubbling up in my chest, my jaw muscles clenching, and tears swelling in my eyes. And there sat Lex, smug and victorious.

A game of cat and mouse quickly pursued. I would chase Lex around and around the white boat, through the white boat and, yes, even up and over the white boat. If we ever met up in the middle, a cross between a wrestling match and a chicken fight would start.

I wish I could say that I admitted my defeat only because our neighbors had gathered at the front window to watch the spectacle, but he won, fair and square.

It's good to know that some things change.

And some things don't. :)

GoodnightLoveYaSeeYaInTheMorningSorry

Charlotte and I shared a room growing up and even shared a bed for close to 11 years. I would like to believe this made us all the more close. Although at times it didn't seem that way. Charlotte would draw an imaginary line down the middle of the bed each night and insisted that I stay on my side. Now, I couldn't control that I sleep heavy and wild and my feet are always cold. And I definitely couldn't control that when I pee'd the bed she was heavier than me and it always ran to her side.

Last night, as Marcus and I were lying in bed, I remembered something. "Goodnight, Love Ya, See Ya In The Morning, Sorry." This is what I would say to Charlotte each and every night. I would say it really fast so it sounded more like this: "goodnightloveyaseeyainthemorningsorry."
The sorry was all inclusive I would tell her, it covered anything I had done to her that day and what I might do during the night.

And she would always reply, "Mm-Hmm".

It was a good tradition and I decided to start it again last night. Although it took Marcus 3 attempts at getting the "Mm-Hmm" right, he'll learn.

Mission Accomplished

Eat Dog Food. Check.


Dump dog-water bowl all over kitchen floor. Check.


Find open bathroom, climb on counter-top, leave signature hand-marks on clean mirror. Check.


Dump newly opened bag of pretzels on newly vacuumed carpet. Check.


Climb on computer desk and throw anything off you can find. Check.


Empty cooking bowls out of kitchen cabinet. Check.


Increase the likelihood of never getting invited to play-group again. Check.


Fall asleep on drive home. Check.


Mission Accomplished Little Z.

FUNNY MOMENT (I have to remember funny moments, so I don't cry as I am remembering the aforementioned moments..)

While in Wisconsin, I was shopping at a Goodwill (by the way, the discount stores there rock compared to here), and I had this conversation with the check-out lady.

Check-Out Lady: Where are you from?

Me: I live in Texas.

Lady: Wow, you speak really fluent English.

I smile and nod, because I am confused.

Lady: You don't even have an accent. Don't you speak Spanish?

I nod my head no while trying not to laugh. Maybe in Wisconsin they think Texas is their own Spanish speaking country?? Not that some Texans don't believe we are our own country, just minus the Spanish speaking.

17 Hours Later...

We were in Wisconsin. Marcus had a work thing there. So, I had the brilliant idea of making it a family road-trip. The night before we left, I was sick with the reality of my brilliant idea. 17 hours with an 18 month old in a car. BUT, it turned out great. Z is a trooper, and so is Marcus-- he drove 90% of the way.

Luckily Zannah got a hold of the camera, which is the reason we have hardly ANY pictures at all! We got to spend time with Marcus's parents, which is always great. Grandma
Self-portrait.

What Wisconsin looked like from the hotel room. Wisconsin was really pretty, take my word for it.

A Big Thanks

To Marcos.

You see, I got home at 4 AM from the hospital (where I take call one night a week) and you know how I like to eat candy on the way to and from in order to stay awake. I was trying to be quiet and not wake you and my toothbrush was missing. Yours was conveniently there and remember how you were just bragging to me the other day about how fabulous your new bristles were. So, I gave it a go.

And you are right, it is fabulously soft!

And I may have used it again this morning after you left for work. But don't worry, I have a pretty good idea of where mine went.

We can talk about the floss later.

Love ya!

Dear Elder

Thank you for this:

It will make a lovely decoration in our house.

Love,

Your sister

This Is

A Sneaky Little One. She knows how to lock me out of the bathroom by opening the drawer. This leaves just enough crack for me to watch her climb from the toilet to the counter top, where she shreds toilet paper and empties the garbage can (which are obviously no longer safe on the counter).