t.y.

I am reading over my left handed journal entry, 2 pages long, listing people who reached out to me when I was inhibited by my injury. Just in case the angels in heaven didn't record it in the book of life, all my selfless friends/ family out there should know that I DID :)

Chauffers, chefs, hair stylists, maids... no wonder Caroline says I was lucky I broke my arm. I have heard of more than one person say they used to wish it would happen to them when they were young.

Now that I can type again- and do most other things, I look back and say that it really was neat to feel increased love/ support from so many people and to see the capabilities of my chilren necessarily increase. My family all took on new roles...

Caroline the cook- She made mac and cheese, popcorn, etc. She also wiped the table and swept the floor. She can now even spread butter on toast and slice her own cheese.

Desi- Diaper Duty- Who ever thought that a 5 year old could change messy pants?!? She was so willing. More than once she undressed Nathan, bathed him including washing hair, got him out, dressed him in an outfit they chose together, and even combed his hair. No wonder he is going through withdrawls now that she is gone to school every morn.

Will- Mr. Whatever I Need- Often opening cans, bottles, sippie cups, and any other screwed on lid was his role. Using the hand held can opener was a good new skill for him. He also took out the trash and emptied the dishwasher multiple times.

My Hubbie- Home Health and Hairdresser- I thought it was so funny that several times people who hadn't seen me for a week or so would look right past my cast and say "You cut your hair!" I am sure that John would have continued washing and "styling" my hair for me in a nice, plain pony tail had I not decided it had to go! I do think he is better at cutting Will's hair now than I am, and he does the majority of his own cutting with me just touching up the sides. One word that has always described John very well is CAPABLE. After he basically served as my home health nurse for the first bit, I would have to add a few more fitting adjectives: compassionate and caring.

To all of you out there who lent a hand (when I really didn't have one) a big T. Y.!

Summer of Change

June 25, 2010


August 1, 2010

That's what happens when a game of kick-the-can gets too intense. My "first aid certified-super scouty" husband made the sling for me out of a tablecloth embriodered on by my Grandma Young. The instacare doc. called it cute.

I don't think I've missed 13 days worth of sweaty exercise since like age 15- even before/after having given birth. Okay- so maybe the serious sweat was more like 4-6 weeks after labor. Had to try & follow Dr.'s recc. This just feels like a long and major lifestyle change. Much more time online, and much less on the road. I can no longer bike. I can no longer swim, I can't even really run either. Obviously no aerobics :( I can't even drive myself to the Legacy Center to get on the stationary bikes with back rests. So what's a girl to do for her broken down 32 year old body...?

I've decided to enjoy the extra Zzz's, and dramatically increase my daily dose of bone- building CALCIUM!!

P.S. Please go straight to my fractured radial head, and not to my hips!

I pledge...

My head to clearer thinking.
My heart to greater loyalty.
My hands to larger service.
and My health to better living.
For my club, My Community, My Country, and My world.
(4-H Pledge)

And the summer "Happy Helpers" 4-H Club was a success!

-List of projects for our " Happy Science Afternoon."

A skewer through a balloon. WOW!

After each experiment, a chosen participant wore the "wonder why" sign while explaining how it all worked. The other happy scientists listened up while enjoying their W&W candies.

We've got "spear-it!" Pencils through bags of water, and no leaks- until the water fight afterwards.

Homemade ice cream, the perfect summer dessert.

And now...

The best thing we did as a club was took our show on the road to perform for an elderly neighbor. Then it was time to raise some funds at our neighborhood matinee. We received a good luck balloon boquet the day of our "big" show. (Thanks fam)
The knight is kissing the dragons good night. His princess is at the left in her cardboard castle.

This turned out to be a great new use for the swing set. Our last 4-H activity was a swim party, and now, it's on to the county fair!

Ditch the workout...

…Join the Party!

It was on a Saturday morning a few years ago that I went to the Legacy center ready for my step interval class. Little did I know that the schedule had changed, the new class was called Zumba! I had never heard of it, but as the music started pumping and the instructor got moving I COULD HARDLY CONTAIN MYSELF!!!!!!!! I was hooting, hollering, jumping, dancing- and I’ve been doing it every week since. While living in Mexico for a summer I developed a major love for the culture, including the music and dance. I was once told by a dance partner (and I took it as a compliment) que tengo el ritmo latino en la sangre! (I have the latin rythym in my blood )
I am so lucky to have an instructor who keeps the moves clean and tame, but still full of energy. We always leave feeling better than when we arrive. I guess that's partly because we are barely awake at 6am. She started teaching last June, so we are celebrating her 1 year anniversary. I made and distributed matching pink zebra headbands for the occasion. Pictured here are some of the women with whom “Me gusta mueve mueve!” (The Madagascar theme song in Spanish, love it!)

In case you are still wondering whether or not you should give it a whirl, here is explanation from their website:
The Zumba® program fuses hypnotic Latin rhythms and easy-to-follow moves to create a one-of-a-kind fitness program that will blow you away. Our goal is simple: We want you to want to work out, to love working out, to get hooked. Zumba® Fanatics achieve long-term benefits while experiencing an absolute blast in one exciting hour of calorie-burning, body-energizing, awe-inspiring movements meant to engage and captivate for life!
As of May 2010, the Zumba® program is being taught at over 60,000 locations in 105 countries, has sold millions of DVDs, and has changed the lives of Zumba® Fanatics worldwide with an astonishing 7.5 million participants taking Zumba classes every week.
Why? Because it's the best party around.

Legacy of Literacy

When I count the blessings in my life, literacy is among the things for which I am most grateful. I don’t necessarily consider myself to be “well read”, (unless you count childrens’ lit). There is so much more out there for me to learn. But thankfully both John and I, largely because of our parents’ examples, love to learn through reading and the arts. Their homes include libraries of learning and their minds are full from years of vast study and exposure.

I remember laughing at my own Mom’s recitation of “Yertel the Turtle”, and enjoying together the homophones in Amelia Bedilia books. I remember my Dad reciting “ ’Twas the Night Before Christmas” with much expression each Christmas Eve, and I still have the worn out copy of “Danny and the Dinosaur” I begged him to read and re-read throughout my toddler years. My Dad loves short stories, as is evidenced today by the perpetual copy of the Bathroom Reader found in their commode. My Mom chuckled not too long ago when she saw in our suburban at the foot of the passenger seat a bag stuffed with magazines, cookbooks, a novel, etc. It was one of those striking moments when you realize Mom and Daughter are becoming more and more alike with the passing of time.

Thanks to a tradition set by his Father, one of John’s roles in our home is “before bedtime story teller.” He has also recently joined the world of wizardry because of all of the Harry Potter audio books lent to him by his parents. Good timing, as William is currently engulfed book 4 of that magical series. Being able to discuss a book together is good for any relationship.

The love for theatre that was passed to John was one thing that attracted me to him while we were dating- quite literally! Among the list of plays we saw together while courting are: “The Foreigner,” “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,”, and even, “LeMis!”. I have a suspicion that his Dad footed the bill on more than one of these extravagant evenings. (Thanks Alden )

I hope it is gratifying to them to know that at our house, the LOVE FOR LIT lives on!!


• Desiree is my little memorizer of the poems passed out at story time.

*Quick side note: For all you locals who haven’t taken advantage of the reading incentive program offered by Lehi Lib. For ages 6-12- Do it! My kids have had fun checking out new things like magazines and CDs to cross off more squares on their paper. And they have repeatedly won the prize drawing due to low participation numbers. It makes them happy, but they need some competition!

• Caroline was selected this year to represent her class in the school wide storytelling festival…

• And a sure highlight of Will’s year was getting to finally talk to Brandon Mull at a recent book signing.

• As for Nathan, just this afternoon he said another 2 word phrase that melted me right down into the recliner… “BOOK TIME!”

PLEASE RETURN

IF FOUND

1. Size 7 Blue & Black double layer coat, boys
2. Size 4 gray Dora jacket, girls
3. Size 6 dark green jacket, boys
4. size 7 lime green coat, girls
5. size 6 yellow soft zip hoodie, girls
6. size 9 Black winter coat, boys

The above list includes a few of the outerwear items lost by my children over the past year or so. Thank goodness that, besides the size 9 coat which was “lifted” at a community event, all have been found- and returned. (A shout out of thanks to scout leaders, friends, and neighbors involved in the “keep the Whitehead kids from freezing” effort)

My high school English teacher taught us that in order for a piece of literature to be considered “classic”, it must have stood the test of time. As seasons have passed and my children advanced in coat size, I have come to understand why one particular nursery rhyme has stood the test of time…

“The three little kittens have lost their mittens.”

I am obviously not the only one out there who can identify with Mother Kitten. Observe this comforting (or should I say disheartening) exhibit…

“Oh mother dear see here see here, our mittens we have lost…”

This phrase undoubtedly fills another requirement of classic lit. It speaks to a universal audience. Anyone who has sent a child to school with layers, or lunchboxes for that matter, has likely experienced something similar to the kittens’ apologetic refrain. I would wager that I could walk into any elementary school in the U. S. of A. and find a stack similar to the one pictured here. If your children are past 3rd grade and their belongings have never ended up in the coat mound, you could probably write a book on “Teaching Young Children Responsibility” that would give the Eyres a run for their money. And I would be the first to check it out.

I conclude with a request to my readers. I have moved to purchasing replacement outerwear at thrift stores so as to decrease the economic impact of the loss factor. If I had to pay 35 bucks every time we lost a coat, my kids really would have to go without their pie. My son is currently sporting a dark/ light blue retro style 7 dollar “Savers” special. I am hoping that it doesn’t get tossed somewhere and forgotten. But just in case I must request, PLEASE RETURN IF FOUND.

I dare you.

In case you missed my facebook plug a few weeks ago...

Watch this movie!

John Alden and I found it worthwhile. We love movies with a message, and anything faith promoting.

Michael Catt, senior pastor of Sherwood Baptist Church and executive producer, said: "We believe good stories can have a good effect. This film was made by a small army of people who poured into something bigger than themselves - into not just a movie, but a movement to restore and uplift marriages across the country."
Go to http://www.fireproofmymarriage.com/ for more info.