President Hinckley's Legacy

President Hinckley passed away last night around 7 p.m. He was 97 years old. His death didn't come as a big surprise to me. But, I'm still sad--I miss him already. We'll never have another prophet like President Hinckley. He was unique, personable, witty, darling, and fabulous with public relations. He had such a strong testimony of the gospel that you could feel it just by looking into his eyes. Every time I heard him speak, he brought tears to my eyes with his testimony and knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

As I watched the local news run the many reels of film on his life, it was evident that not only had he brought his testimony to the LDS faithful - but he had also brought it to the world. His positive interactions with people not of the Mormon faith (political figures, news reporters, etc.) have created a wonderful legacy for us.

I'll remember him for the twinkle he always seemed to have in his eye, his great example and his love of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I'll also remember him for his fun personality, his testimony, his love and drive for building temples, & his start of the perpetual education fund. I'm grateful he's been reunited at last with his dear wife--but I'm still going to miss him. Well done thou good and faithful servant, well done.

The Sunday Funnies

Last Wednesday, as we carpooled to swim team -- Savvy asked - "If Jay's a Beehive then what are the boys called that are her age?" I told her they are Deacons. Then she said, "I know after Jay's a Beehive she'll be a Mermaid - but what are the boys?" I tried not to laugh - as I explained to her that those lovely 14 year old Mermaids were actually Miamaids.

Speaking of little mermaids...
Last Saturday, after we got home from swim team, I dropped the twins off so they could have their showers and get ready for the day (I had to run a quick errand). Savvy and Aussie had their showers and couldn't find a brush (forget the fact that we have 3 brushes roaming somewhere in the house). When I returned, Savvy informed me that she couldn't find a brush. Her hair looked as if it had been combed--so I said, "Well, your hair looks great - what did you use?"
"A fork," she replied.

The Dentist Diet...It's the Rage!

My DH and I are going to Hawaii in 3 weeks. I have known about it for 10 weeks - and have been dieting to no avail. Admittedly - no one should start a diet Thanksgiving weekend - it's bound to fail. Needless to say - the thought of me in any sort of swimwear has been giving me nightmares filled with beached whales and wild laughter.

Thankfully, a new diet has been imposed on me - whether I like it or not. I call it the "Dentist Diet". It's really quite easy to follow. First, you go to the dentist (unassumingly) to get a gum tissue graft. Second, because you have asked no questions about the procedure and done absolutely zilch research - you will be somewhat surprised when the dentist informs you (AFTER the 2 hour procedure) that the recovery is three weeks. This is where the diet begins 3) Recovery includes: within the first week pretty much liquids (since chewing hurts terribly because of the pokey stitches plus the side of your face is so swollen it hurts to open your mouth) - after that 2 more weeks of very soft foods - and remember no chewing on the graft side.

I've been on "The Dentist Diet" since Tuesday - and I'm already down 2 lbs. If I can average 2lbs every 3 days - then according to my higher education math skills (umm...Math 101) that equivilates to approximately 14 lbs by Hawaii. Not bad for a last minute diet.

Snow Banked Recap

Drivin' in a Winter Wonderland

We got a ton of snow last night and today (my DH says we got 15 inches & there were other towns near us that got 18 inches!). So this afternoon, I needed to go pick up Savvy at my dear sister Jilly's house (a Martin Luther King day slumber party - what's not to love?) As I was getting ready to go pick her up, my DH kept saying how it was really snowy and bad weather - and I needed to be careful. After about the 3rd or 4th time he said that, I rolled my eyes and said - "I'm not the village idiot - I've driven in snow before." (I will admit - this was not a wise statement to make considering that we are in our 13th unlucky year of marriage).

Now, I pride myself on my driving skills. I don't speed (which drives my DH and others crazy if we are in a hurry). But, I know all the secret short cuts to get me to my destination faster. I'm also a pretty decent driver in the snow. Truth be told, we usually only get 3-4 inches at most - so really it's not that much of a challenge. But, I have seen other jokers stranded on the sides of the streets in snowbanks - so I must be doing something right (that is, until today, when I became the joker in the snowbank).

Anyway - as I was getting into my van, my DH saw how deep the snow was in our driveway and said, "Wait, let me shovel the driveway - you'll never make it." Again, I rolled my eyes and humored him for a minute -- till I discovered it took him like 10 minutes to do one strip 1/2 way across the driveway -- it was deep, wet and still coming down! I said, "Look - I've got a plan, I'll be fine. I'll just go straight back - won't stop for anything and I'll be on my way."

Famous last words. I did attempt to go straight back, but was pretty much fishtailing the whole way back. Then, instead of clearing the mountainous snowbank the courteous snowplow had made at the end of the drive - I backed and swerved right back into it. Talk about awkward. It took about 45 minutes to dig out - and then we still had to have assistance from our great neighbor - who ran home and grabbed his ice melt to make the whole pushing thing - a whole lot easier.

So, the new and improved (albeit humbled) Nicole, headed to my sisters at a careful pace. Happily, no other snowy issues--and we made it to Costco and then home safely.

The Sunday Funnies

**Last month, I was talking to the kids about something and I said, "Well, that's ironic." Savvy replied, "kinda like the ironic priesthood?"

**My oldest daughter, Jay, has just started wearing nylons. This morning, on the way to church she propped her stocking footed feet up on the seat in front of her. The twins were completely grossed out - "oooh, yuck, get em' away". She tried to explain that her feet were completely covered and that they weren't gross. At that point, Aussie said - she's a frog! she's a frog! She's got webbed feet.

**First let me explain - Savvy has a great love for VW slug-bugs. Daily, we play the "slug bug what color?" game whenever we are in the car. She has such a love for these cars - that she is totally planning on driving a cute lime green bug, with a black sunroof, when she hits high school (oh, the surprise she'll have when she ends up with a sweet avocado green station wagon).

So, last night, on our way to Walmart - we had passed many a slug bug - red ones, silver, and my personal fav - baby blue with a black sunroof. As we're pulling into Walmart - she says - "Mom! Look! A medieval slug bug!" "A what?" I asked. "Mom" she says, "That slug bug is totally medieval - it has a mask and everything." Then I saw the infamous bug - and she was right - it did have on a black mask.

Look What the Cat Dragged In

Santa brought our family a cat for Christmas this year. He is a cute little white kitten with blue eyes. Santa named him Elvis - he even left a note informing the kids of this (which is good because Savvy said she'd rather name him Snowball, Jay wanted to name him Edward and Aussie wanted to name him Meoweth). Needless to say, the kids were very excited, surprised, thrilled beyond belief!

Unfortunately, the mother wasn't so excited, surprised or thrilled beyond belief. Everyone knows I am not much of a pet lover - and especially not a cat lover. Everyone that is - except for my DH. Apparently, he thought I loved cats. Where he got this idea I'll never know.

But, quite honestly, my kids have wanted a pet for a very long time (and DH has been adamantly against having a pet). So, when he told me a couple of weeks before Christmas that he had been on the hunt for a kitten--I was actually excited for the kids. I decided then and there that I could make the ultimate sacrifice-- and become a reformed cat hater.

When I was growing up, we always had a few dogs. But, these weren't really pets you nurtured, cuddled with or even loved. They were more annoying than lovable--always jumping up on you with muddy feet and such. So, I suppose I do come by my dislike of pets honestly. Living in a small town, with brothers and a dad who prefered "hunting dogs" over any other kind of pet--didn't leave much room for fostering a love for kittens. That and the fact that my brothers used the cats for target practice - or a good dog chase - didn't help matters either.


Obviously, Elvis adores me (he's actually curled up at my feet sleeping as I type-I know--it's embarrassing). But seriously, cats can totally sense when a person is not a cat lover - then it spends the rest of its days making it up to you. I mean, I am in my basement and my feet are kinda cold - and here's cute Elvis asleep on my feet. Oh great - I'm going to become one of those people who constantly tell stories about their cats. I wonder if there's a support group I could join--FCHA (former cat haters anonymous)?