The Fairbanks Creativity

Izzy has never enjoyed sports so much!

Beautiful Slideshow and Izzy commentary

I was forwarded an email with a link to this beautiful slideshow about Christ. It takes about 5 minutes to watch. My kids and I watched it together last night. Izzy sat very quietly on my lap as I told her what was going on in each picture. She wanted to watch it a second time and as the picture came up with Christ and the little boy I told her that Jesus loves little children. She said, "but he doesn't love you." I responded, "Yes, he love me too." She was prepared to argue the point and after I again assured her that Jesus loves me too she said, "Only a little."

Top of my Senior Class? Gratuated BYU Cum Laude? Who Me?

I was just reminded (thanks Mel) of a funny story.

When I get uncomfortable or intimidated I usually respond in one of two ways. I either talk nonstop (loudly) or I can't think of anything intelligent to say so I say something truly not intelligent (sigh).

So, if you think I'm a little clown-like (which you might if you serve in the primary with me or the stake dance festival for that matter) or not very intelligent, I'm here to tell you it's just a quirk of my nature.

I often leave parties thinking either "did I really just say that?" or "did I close my mouth once?"

For example, I sure did broadcast to the Stake Presidency and their wives at a dinner that when we move we'll have to move our food storage under cover of darkness. I wasn't sure about the funny looks I was getting until someone said jokingly (ish) "You don't want to share?"

I think I laughed and then sat quietly for the rest of the dinner thinking to myself that somehow they'd got it all wrong - I just didn't want anyone to know how much food we have because I'm embarrassed that I still can't figure out what to cook for dinner!

Maybe someday I'll learn to close my mouth when I'm uncomfortable.

Anyway, to the story:

A few years ago Scott and I attended his nephew's wedding reception with his mother. We were waiting in the long line when who should breeze past us but Pres. Monson and his wife. He actually stopped to talk to a few people and saw my mother-in-law who he knew from playing the organ at the MTC for years. I can't remember exactly how the next part happened, all I know is that when the moment came for me to introduce myself or say something intelligent all I could say was, "I'm the wife." as I pointed at Scott. (Oh brother!)

If you have a story that can top this (please) feel free to share! It would make me feel so much less...well, you know.

Mom! Bad news! Follow me!

These are the words I heard from Ryan as he walked in the door from school today. Thoughts flew through my head, varying from trouble at school to a dead bird in the yard.

I grabbed my shoes and an umbrella (still raining) and followed him into the yard. He stopped first by the flower bed to dramatically tell me that the tulips are dying.
Next he lead me to the Irises which I have been so proud to show my children (I told Ryan I think they looked like girls in pretty dresses, he was less imaginative) to show me that the tallest flower had fallen over because it was top-heavy.

I'm thinking, "We haven't gotten to the bad news part yet, what could it be?"

Then we followed the trail of the water flowing down the gutter toward the drain. This is the gist of the conversation: Doesn't it look like a flood? This is going to be so dangerous...(pause)so dangerous for the bugs. (What?)

We did manage to save one worm from a certain death, but I'm not sure about the rest of the unlucky bugs.

We truly have differing ideas of bad news.

Indy Fever

Even though my children will not be seeing the movie, apparently they have the Indiana Jones bug. Izzy just said to me as she was clearing her dishes, "Does Indiana Jones really clear his dishes?" (Did I use him as an example of hard work, I don't remember!) Then after I assured her that he does in fact clear his own dishes she said (clearly impressed), "He really eats!?!" Then, "Does he like tea parties?"

I continually laugh as I try to follow my children's thought patterns.

A couple of weeks ago as we were reading morning scriptures Ryan pipes up, "If Davy Jones claw got cut off would it grow back?" Huh? I redirected attention back to the scriptures after assuring him that I would find out the answer to the question. If you're wondering - considering that he is immortal, I guess he would either be able to reattach it or it would in fact grow back.

Needless to say, we're still working on paying attention during family scriptures.

Late Night Thoughts

You'd think I'd learn. I can't watch something intense on tv before bed or my mind won't shut down. What did I watch?

Scott and I finally found a show that we both enjoy watching enough that we find the time to sit down together. It's NCIS! If any of you out there are fans, you'll know what I'm talking about! Wow! That was some season finale! (We watched it on Comcast On Demand - love it!) Needless to say, I can't wait for the new season! By the way, Annie if you read this, I really think this could replace the hole that Jag left when it ended. (Surely you still need an ironing show!?!)

Anyway, I finally wound down (after composing numerous blog posts in my head - don't ask me why, apparently now I talk to myself via the blog) and fell asleep just as Isabelle woke to use the potty.

The second set of blog posts in my head were interrupted by Ryan needing to go potty. So, I may just as well jot down a few thoughts and then try again.

Thought one:

I've been thinking about ways that I know Scott loves me and I think randomly I should share a few.
I know Scott loves me because he's willing to drop me off in St. George on the way home from Disneyland so I can spend a day with my sisters and my mom.

Another way I know he loves me, he watches cheesy movies with me on occasion. We watched a good chunk of HSM 2 last week and I think he even laughed a little as I giggled through Zac Efron's solo "Bet On It". I told him that I hadn't watched it with anyone but the kids and they were very bothered by the fact that I would want to laugh during such a serious song. I had to control myself, because I really don't want my kids to think that I think it's silly for a boy to dance. I don't, I just think this particular dance is a bit fruity and I think it's hilarious!

I think I'm starting to ramble which might mean I'm ready to fall asleep, so, good night!

Izzy's pictures

Here is a little sample of the beautiful pictures that my friend Jeneen (Shail Photography) took of Isabelle. Jeneen caught a lot of what she calls, "the many faces of Izzy".
I may be biased, but I think my daughter is beautiful!!!

ps - Congrats to my sister Jenn who survived the incredibly fast (and therefore a bit scary) delivery of her little son Anchor James (family names) early yesterday morning. Love you Jenn, he is adorable!!

Sunbeams

Have you heard the story of the lady who goes to the doctor and complains about how rowdy the sunbeams are, how they won't sit still and they make too much noise. Only when she noticed the doctor looking at her with serious concern did she realize that he wasn't LDS.

I'm sure none of you will think I'm insane if I tell you that we have noisy and wiggly sunbeams and I need some ideas!!

We just recently split our one sunbeam class into two which I think has helped considerably, but we still are dealing with similar issues and I'm wondering if any of you have grand ideas about how to help a group of 3-4 year olds survive sitting still during singing/sharing time.

Thanks in advance for the help! (In other words, please help!)

Clogging Stress?

Last night I dreamt that I had a clogging performance. I got to the performance only to realize that I had not brought my costume. I raced home (after the show had begun) and got dressed, went to head out the door and noticed I was only wearing an undershirt and not my costume top. After making sure I was fully clothed I got to the car and found that my tires had been slashed. I woke up and wondered if I had my clogging shoes with me or if I would've needed to go back again.

We have a competition this weekend, apparently I am stressed about forgetting something.

My celebrity look-alikes

I'll admit, I was a bit surprised by the Tina Turner, but hey, I suppose it opens up all sorts of halloween possibilities!

Bedtime Chats

Have you ever noticed that your children get really creative when it comes to avoiding bedtime?
Ryan has a favorite way of extending his awake time. During the day he is much more interested in his friends and his toys than he is in me, however, at bedtime he suddenly has incredibly interesting things that he MUST tell me at once. Most of this stuff I would love to hear if I could get him to talk to me during the day. Unfortunately, because of his timing, I'm not always as responsive as he would like. For example, often as I lay with him when he's falling asleep he will tell me about dreams, or stories he wants to write, etc. Gradually he will realize I'm not paying attention and he'll poke me until I wake up and react to whatever he is telling me.
We really have to get the bugs worked out of this system.

Different ways of thinking

I have discovered a distinct difference between Ryan and me. I remember being in school and racing to class many times because I was nearly late. Ryan is the exact opposite. If we are running late to school he saunters in to the building. On the other hand, if he is early to school, he runs in so that he can have the maximum time on the playground. I guess it's nice that clocks don't give him the same stress that they give me.