Seeing Rings

Late last night my sister in law texted Mark and I, that we should go check out the moon because there was a huge ring around it. It looked like a planet was behind it. So out we went...

The ring was very distinct, and very large. With the camera flat on it's back, on the ground, I still couldn't fit the whole thing into the frame. I think I need a wide angle lens... Mark agreed. But the adapter and that lens for this camera together is around $300+! For anyone with a camera with manual settings (Steph, that book goes over stuff like this...) go play with them! I used an ISO of 80, f-stop 2.7, and a 6 second shutter. So my lense was open very wide, for a long time, but not taking in too much light so the moon wouldn't be quite so bright in the photo, hopefully allowing me to get the ring to show.

My screen is quite bright, so I can see the ring clearly. I printed out a copy and I can see the ring in mine. Hopefully all of you can see it in yours, because it was so awesome!

It was gone 30 minutes later....

Oh, what a beautiful day!

Nothing like a gorgeous golden sunrise to start your day!

Thanksgiving Pictures

Wow! I am not only at home, but I even have a little free time! (I really should be working on my lesson plans for today, more about that later, but I just need a little veg time...) And blogger is cooperating, so I am finally getting our Thanksgiving pictures posted.

Every year, Mindy - the cute blond there to the left snapping a picture of Nathan - makes a pinata. She has gotten really creative, and they hold up really well under all the kids banging on it. So these are the pictures I got this weekend!


Nathan appears to be a little on the short side, but enjoyed swinging the stick around. His cousin was holding the pinata a bit too high.

Just look at those eyes though! He was a little sad that he didn't get as much candy as some of the others, but he's not really much of a scrambler.

When there is a tree, there Oren will be also! One of the great truths of (my) life. I really don't mind having such busy and active boys, they keep me on my toes. Hopefully none of them will break both arms at the same time being all crazy though!

Open your eyes, kiddo!

William just enjoyed running around the backyard, getting hugs from everyone. It was a gorgeous day, and we didn't even need our jackets with the sun shining. It's freezing now, so I am so glad that we had such a nice weekend.



An update on the last few weeks.... where to start...? We had a pretty busy week before leaving for Mark's folks. I prefer not leaving clothes in the washer and dishes in the sink, so when I was actually at home I was busy cleaning. Then last week was spent trying to get the kids back on track as far as our routine goes!

It's amazing how a week can be so busy, and I not remember hardly any of it. A sister in the ward called the week before Thanksgiving, asking about piano lessons. Her husband is one of the pediatricians on base and they have 9 kids. The oldest is taking lessons from a more advanced teacher, and the two youngest are 3 and 1. But the other 6.... She asked if I could teach them. I agreed, a little scared, but excited. I have missed teaching and was wanting to start putting up flyers next year anyway. my new students range from 5 to 15, from brand new beginner to late elementary/early intermediate. 6 different personalities, playing abilities, schedules... We're breaking them up over a couple days. 3 on Tuesday after school, the youngest on Wednesday morning, and the last 2 on Thursday after school. Amanda is watching the kids in the afternoons until Mark gets off work and grabs them, in exchange for free lessons for her oldest daughter. We were going to start her in January anyway, this just works out nice money wise for her and gives me a chance to focus on the students without worrying about the kids.

It meant spending several hours at their house last week, though, doing initial evaluations to make sure where they were all at. I need to know what basics they know and remember, what pieces they have been working on, what sort of goals they have and pieces they want to learn. And they need to know what I expect from them as far as practice and our lessons go. So we got that out of the way last week and are starting our actual lessons today! They are all very excited, which bodes well for how this will all go. The nice thing is that they insist on paying after each day's lessons, or at least every week, so I won't have to deal with late payments and fees, or trying to say they paid when they didn't. I keep track of all the time I spend, and I write out reciepts when I get paid so we both have proof. Especially when the parents pay with cash. Just good business, and protects both parties...

Mark has been a really good sport so far. He has had to take the kids a lot, and I haven't been doing well as far as getting good meals on the table this last week. That should settle down this week though. Amanda watched the kids Friday so he and I could go out for my birthday. We really needed the time together! Our stake does an annual Creche exhibit every Christmas, so we got to walk around and see all these amazing nativities from all over the world. People donate them for the exhibit, and then collect them afterward. Members and nonmembers alike, and it's open to the public. They do musical numbers periodically, the different wards, and they even have a live nativity. Joseph, and Mary holding baby Jesus. Who occasionally is a real live baby. Not when we went, but it's still really neat.

We also rearranged the living room this weekend. I had picked up a large computer desk several weeks ago, that could fit all our computer stuff on it instead of having a bunch of different surfaces all cluttered together. Mark was clearing out the garage so he could fit the car in there, and dragged the desk inside. Because it is one large piece, it wouldn't fit in the same space as all the little pieces, and a switch was called for. Everything got shuffled around, and the result is a nice open living room, with the piano on an interior wall far away from windows, doors, and heating vents. There is an office wall, and plenty of room for kids to run around. I had been itching to rearrange anyway, because I didn't really love how it was before, so I was glad of an excuse. I think Mark would have preferred it not have been at 10 at night... ;-)

I think that's about it, we are usually pretty busy anyway, but it's just routine appointments and errands. This week will be crazy too... gotta love the holidays! :-)

A Black and Blue Birthday

I broke my toe.

I did not know I broke my toe until the ER did 7 x-rays.

I did not go in to the ER until this evening, although I broke it last night, because I didn't have time and because it didn't bruise until this morning.

I broke it kicking Oren's dresser. On accident.

I kicked Oren's dresser on accident because I was angrily pushing my carpet cleaner into his room at 9 pm.

I was angrily pushing my carpet cleaner into his room, and therefore not watching where my toe was going, at 9 pm, because I kneeled on a wet spot on his floor.

Oren had peed on the floor.

Oren broke my toe.

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As to the seven x-rays... my left pinkie toe touches the floor while standing. My right one does not now. And I have a gorgeous black and blue bruise all the way around the poor toe. Amanda said it was broken and I should have it checked out to make sure it didn't need set or something. I got in there and explained about my toe, which is quite an embarrasing thing to request an x-ray for, and they called in the radiologist. He was at home, and they called him in for a toe. He took 3 views and sent them to the doc.

My little toes are a little odd. They sort of grew sideways. Not all the way sideways, just a little. Just enough to make the bones crooked. The poor doc thought I had banged it really good to get the bones to look that bent in the joints, so he had the radiologist do the same three views on my left foot for comparison. Too funny...

Now, because my toe is a little sideways and the bones are slightly crooked, you have to turn it funny to get a good x-ray for one of the angles. So I had to do another one so they could see the profile of the underside.

That's 7. 7 x-rays. And sure enough, it's broken. When I kicked the dresser, it buckled the joint and knocked a small chip off the back of the bone. The very smallest toe bone where it connects to the next bone. Absolutely nothing they can do, I don't need to tape it, please don't stub my toe again for a while. Have a great night.

What a birthday!


Mom Willford got the camera sent off for me, and I got it Saturday. I have just been unable to find any time at all to post the pictures from our Thanksgiving pinata, and I would post them now except I seem to be having issues uploading pictures. So I will attempt them later.

I saw this on Steph's blog, and tagged myself. YAY!
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? If the gift I am wrapping is really wierd shaped and it is going to someone that doesn't live in my own little house, then I do a gift bag. I'll either buy them on after-Christmas clearance, or reuse a bag I have been given. I love to use wrapping paper though, so many different ones!

2. Real tree or Artificial? We are using an artificial tree right now, but sometime I will do a real one. We finally got a fake tree taller than I am!

3. When do you put up the tree? Ever since I can remember, the tree hasn't gone up until after Dec. 8, my birthday. We continued this into my own little family until this year. The boys really wanted to put up the tree, and so we did. For the first time in 25 years, the tree is up before my birthday. It feels a little wierd actually... :-)

4. When do you take the tree down? Generally a few days after Christmas, definitely before New Years Eve.

5. Do you like eggnog? I love eggnog, and always get soooo excited to see it on the shelf!

6. Favorite gift received as a child? I don't really have a favorite per se, but Dad made us cradles for our dolls one year and Mom made matching sheets. I would love to pass mine down to a daughter some day.

7. Hardest person to buy for? Mark. The man needs to write up an extensive wish list of stuff he needs all the way up to his dream toys.

8. Easiest person to buy for? Depends. Oren is very into anything outer space and science, and I am finding all sorts of neat things. I keep having to tell myself no because if I get him this thing I have to get one more thing for each of the other boys to keep it even!

9. Do you have a nativity scene? We own a cheap one that I would love to get rid of but Mark likes that we got from a "family dollar" type place in England. It has the most horrible electronic sound thingy that plays part of "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing". And fake spanish moss too. I picked up a small ceramic set that's missing one of the kings, very simple and unpainted, for 25 cents at the thrift store. I like it, even without the 3rd king. I would love to get more though!


10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Generally mail them, but I haven't even started on them this year. I think I forgot last year's too. Oops...

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I got a "scented" candle that didn't smell very good?


12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Those old Kris Kringle and Rudolf ones! And Charlie Browns Christmas.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Depends on the year. I start thinking usually about the beginning of November, unless I see something clearance that I already know the person would love. This year nearly everything was purchased by mid November, with just Mark's stuff left. He was done Black Friday, so there's a few stocking things and the candy to go.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I recycled a wedding present into a Christmas present... They actually like the style of object, and I would have just wanted to break it to have an excuse to get rid of it. Don't remember what it was, just that I didn't exactly love it.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Chocolate covered pretzles, pistachios (Santa leaves them on the table on Christmas Eve.) and our breakfast casserole. I only make it once a year, and it drives Mark batty because he loves it.

16. Lights on the tree? Who doesn't!?!? We are using white cluster lights this year that don't blink. For some reason, the busy blinking iritates me, kind of without me knowing it. Too much stimulation.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Oh, Holy Night

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? I'd rather stay at home. Too cold, bad roads, and who wants to lug gifts all the way over there and all the way back? Did it once, and won't every do it again if I can help it. And we have our little traditions, that I can't do very well at someone else's house.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Yes.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? I purchased a rusty metal star on clearance at Joanns last year. We used to use a thread/yarn angel ornament that Mom made years ago and gave me 3 of, kind of hung it on the top. I like it both ways!

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning. Except for the new pajamas. We used to open our sibling presents Christmas Eve, but we haven't started the boys on getting gifts for each other yet, so I don't know if we'll do that with them or not. Probably...


23. Favorite ornament theme or color? I really like red. Red and gold. Throw some white in there to keep it clean looking. I love simple decor, not really big overdone. Every year the boys get a new special ornament, and I buy a gorgeous breakable one for me. I got brave and did red and gold glass balls on there too this year. We'll see how they hold up. (Steph, I think we have very similar tastes.... who's copying who?)

24. Favorite sense of the season (sight, hearing, smell, touch, taste)? I love the sights. Going house gazing, candles glowing, dim lights as we put all the gifts out Christmas Eve. (We don't dare put stuff out before hand, especially with William. I had a bunch of stuff wrapped and sitting on the bed, and he decided to play. I went in and he was jumping up and down amid a huge pile of wrapping paper and torn boxes shouting "YAY")

Rip-off!

Note to self:

Next time I am at the mall, I will not purchase sheets from a kiosk.


Those sheets may be 600 thread count, but those must be seriously small threads! Those things are alike sleeping on smooth, opaque sheer curtains! Umm, very thin. They are smooth, but they are just so flimsy. The pillows keep slipping out of the pillowcases, and even thought the sheets are seriously thin, somehow they are too hot. It says something about microfiber threads on the package, which would explain it. I think I just like a little more oomph to my bedding, and had expected something with a little more quality. Darn.


Good news though. I called Mom Willford, who is awesome, and she'll try popping my camera in the mail today. YAY! There was the most gorgeous sunset the other day, and I was kicking myself for not having the camera!

And I was kicking myself yesterday when Mark had huge fish-face lips. He had a reaction to something - don't have the slightest clue what - and had a massive case of hives. Not just any hives, enormous ones that look like 50 mosquito bites crowded in together. From head to toe, hands and feet swollen, huge lips. Very itchy. He went in Monday night to the ER, and was sent home with Claritin and Zantac. He hadn't shown them all the hives, the worst ones were covered by his "clothing", so they didn't know how bad it really was. I made him go back last night when his lips and cheeks started to swell... for something a little stronger. And I threatened that if he wasn't assertive in asking for good stuff, I'd make him go again this morning and that this time I would be going too.

He came home with Prednisone. A pretty hefty steroid. He took a good dose last night and this morning almost all the hives were gone. His hands were still swollen, but they looked better. And his lips were still quite puffy. But better!

And now, I am off to call Tricare, because they sent the payment to me that I have to send to Nathan's doctor. They wrote the check out to Nathan William. Great.... They keep sending things, claims and such, with that name on it and I didn't really care as long as everything got paid. But, I can't exactly deposit this check, now can I?

Back at Home

Well, we survived the weekend. Everyone had lots of fun, the kids enjoyed hanging out with all the cousins, and I think we all gained a few pounds.... good times!

I even braved the Black Friday crowds and dragged the ladies out shopping. I don't know that I will do that again, we didn't go at 5am with all the crazies, but we did wander down at about 7:00. I had to hit Toys R Us first, for William. They had a 27" soft talking Elmo that I wanted for William for Christmas. I panicked a little when I couldn't spot them, but a nice store employee tracked them down for me. I think the 20 minute line was worth it, he'll love it. It's almost as big as he is! (And for only $11, what a steal!)

Old Navy was running jeans on sale, so we stopped there for a bit, another nearly 20 minute line. Not too bad. Nathan needed new pants badly, his all had holes and theirs are pretty sturdy. So I got those for $9, and some in my size for $14. Mine had holes too... :-) Walmart was supposed to have 500 thread count sheets for $20 a set, which is cheaper than the cheap sets usually run! But walking through the mall we noticed a kiosk that was selling 600 thread count sheets for $20! We got those instead...

Kohls was a little crazy. I wanted some towels they had for $2.5o each, because a lot of ours are ready for the rag drawers. I wouldn't have bothered because of the line, but I'm glad the other ladies had stuff they wanted too, because I ended up finding awesome slippers for Mark while waiting in line. Is it cheating to have one person save a spot for everyone in line? His sister and her fiance got in line first with a couple small things, and I came to join them. A lady behind them gave me the dirtiest look I have gotten in quite some time and remarked nastily to her companion "Is she seriously going to just join in with them?!" Yes I am... We took my car, so nobody could leave until I had checked out anyway, but I stood in front of Karen so the lady wouldn't spit on me or something. I did let Karen go first since she was technically there before I was. Good grief...

Unless there is something that I really need or something, I probably won't be doing that again next year. Fun, but my feet were quite tired by the end of the shopping trip!

The only problem with this whole weekend was what I didn't take home from Mom Willford's. We were about an hour from home when I realized that I didn't remember packing the camera into the car. Mark didn't recall doing it either. So my nice, expensive, new camera is sitting in it's case on top of her piano. Bummer! I'll have to call and ask them to mail it to me this week, insured of course, because I have some pictures of the boys that I have to take soon for Christmas cards. And I just can't be without my camera for very long. I really don't know how I forgot it!!! ARGH!!!