Local Eateries

When I lived in an apartment complex in Provo, where I met John, you needed a parking sticker in order to avoid towing. Parking is pretty tight in Provo and this is a constant problem, trying to find parking when visiting friends. However, I was parked in my own parking lot with a valid parking sticker.

I woke up one snowy morning, got ready for the day and went outside to start my snowy journey up to Salt Lake, an hour long drive. I was testifying at court for an adoption finalization so it wasn't a day to be late.

However, when I went down to the parking lot, I couldn't find my car. Most of the cars had frost and some had snow covering them, so I kept looking. I looked on the other side of the building. I looked some more. And some more. How embarrassing, I couldn't find my own car.

I went back up to my apartment and asked my sleepy roommate to go out and see if I was overlooking my parked car. She couldn't find it either, so I had to face the possibility that it had been stolen. I called the main office first and they told me to call the towing company that patrols the area. Like parasites. Or Somali pirates. (Are those pirates Somali, or just hanging out close to Somalia.)

I called the towing company. I gave them the make, model, color and license plate number. They went out and looked, and indeed, they had my car imprisoned in their sinister lot. WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!

They informed me that the cost to release my car was $80.

I then summoned my NY attitude and began my tirade.

In an articulate, firm manner I reminded them that I had a valid parking sticker, even if it was obscured by the ice and snow and tinted windows, that if they were in any doubt whatsoever, they were foolish to tow the car, they were reckless, their actions were illegal and the action amounted to theft. I forcefully told them that I was required in Salt Lake for official court business and this delay could cause me to miss this engagement, for which they would be held responsible and that not only was I not, under any circumstances, not going to pay $80.....

Interruption: Now, imagine standing before me in all my righteous indignation and glory. I am a strong, independent woman who is not to be trifled with. I speak with power and I demand respect. My roommate is beholding me in wonder.

And then...

So let us return. Not only was I not, under any circumstances, not going to pay $80, but I demanded compensation, or at the very least (CRINGE AND HUMILIATION COMING) certificates to local eateries.

Certificates to local eateries.

That's what I actually said. It was seconds before my roommate had fallen to the floor laughing. she had tears in her eyes as I struggled to keep any of the 'tude that I had previously had, but it was not to be. I hung up as soon as they offered me $40 cash and could barely look anyone in the eye when I went to retrieve my car.
Later, I took my roommate out to eat at a local eatery.

Funny things she says

"Annika, are you poopy or just wet?"
"I'm not poopy. I'm just fine."

Annika, sitting on the couch without a diaper because she'd gone several times in the potty and I was giving her a few minutes to come back:

"Annika, do you want to go back to the potty or should we put on a diaper?"
"No, I have my hand." She showed me that she had her hand either close or on her bum. She didn't explain the dynamics of how this would work, but she seemed pretty confidant that she had everything under control.

I was trying to take a nap and told her that she could stay in my bed and be quiet or she could go in her room and play quietly.
Whispering, "I'll go play. Sweet dreams, mom."

Munching on whatever or sucking on a candy cane: "Deee-wicious!!!"

Deciding on what song I should sing to her before she sleeps: "Uhhhhhh, shirt song." "No, Annika's shirt song." "Good job, mom."
"Uhhhhh, curly hair song." "No, mommy's curly hair song." "Sanks, mom."

"I need a bath. My bum hurts." (When she used to get diaper rash really bad, we'd give her a baking powder bath. If she wants a bath at all, she'll say, "My bum hurts.")

"Annika, Dawson can't come over, he is feeling sick."
"Dawson's sick. His bum hurts."

"No, Annika, not right now, I don't feel well."
"Mommy, you're sick. Your bum hurts."
etc.

"I want it be Christmas again."
"I miss Christmas. You miss Christmas too."

Armoire

I ordered an entertainment armoire on November 16th. Its coming on Thursday. It's been such a painful experience that I've gotten an extra $50 taken off. Ask me sometime about my "gift certificates to local eateries" experience and you'll see what a great bargainer I am.

Merry Christmas! We'll try to remember to take pictures!!!

Tomorrow

Its the Sunday before Christmas.

I am: 1. Singing in the choir.
2. Speaking
3. Teaching / planning and coordinating the Christmas program for the Young Women.
4. Getting us ready by ourselves because John has meetings in the morning.
5. Having a single man in our ward over for dinner.
6. Maybe cleaning a little before he comes over. I hope.
7. Stressing about the amount of cleaning and prep and presents and wrapping and grocery shopping and STUFF I still have to do!!!

Obviously, I'm still writing my talk now, but I've been doing this all day, so I'm taking a short break. Aaaah! (At least my kids went down well tonight!)

Dang it!! I forgot about the cookies I still have to make for the girls tomorrow!!!

Retraction

Two days ago I wrote that Annika outgrew her 18 month clothes. While this may be mostly true, today, after getting herself dressed in pants that I didn't recognize, I realized that she is wearing Jacob's 12 month pants. She'll be 3 in March.

Did I mention that I love Christmas?

And by "later today", I meant...

Ok, so here are the highlights of the last two months:

Thanksgiving was yummy and Annika was in heaven surrounded by cousins and Aunt Michelle. She'd been asking for weeks to get in the car and go to Aunt Michelle's. Especially when she wasn't happy with me. When she's bored, she wants to "talk to somebody." This means that she wants me to call someone on the phone so she can "talk" to them, but she generally sticks her face in the couch and hides, or she nods when the other person asks them questions. She was asking to talk to Jake's mom for a whole day, probably because she wanted me to call and ask if Jake could play. Annika and I spend a lot of time in the dragon cave, which is whatever blanket is handy and we lay in wait for unsuspecting Daddy's to come and try to relax on the couch with the cozy "blanket." Ha! While inside the dragon cave, our conversation goes pretty much like this: "I love you princess." "I love you dragon." "Now, I'm dragon. You're princess." "Ok. I love you dragon." "No, Jacob's dragon." "Ok. I love you... wait, who are you?"
Annika has also developed the "endearing" habit of shushing us and saying "Jacob's sleeping" when we're saying something she doesn't want to hear.
We're still no closer to potty training and I'm not sure what to do about the binky, but she's otherwise learning and talking and articulating and sassing at a fast pace. Physically, she is growing a little. For instance, she doesn't fit into her 18 month clothes anymore!
Lastly, my little girl who will not eat ANYTHING, and this is only a slight exaggeration, likes "triceratops leaves." With ranch dressing. My kid, over whom I agonize about her meals, likes salad. And green pepper mustaches. And RADISHES!
(Triceratops are herbivores.)

Jacob is pretty close to walking, smiles with his WHOLE face, tries to bite my toe when it hangs off the couch and is very sweet, very patient and very lovable. He likes to be tickled, to ride horsey with Daddy, loves bananas and will eat anything I give him. He sleeps well, he travels well, he imitates sounds and singing, he can clap if you say "clap" even if you don't do the action, and he is very patient with an overbearing and mildly abusive sister.

We got a big, beautiful christmas tree for only $20 because we live in the christmas tree capital of the world. We've (I've) decorated the house and it feels cheery and festive and I'm inordinately proud of myself, because I'm not generally very good at decorating. (Its hard to go wrong with Christmas.)

I joined the gym so that I won't wallow in the Oregon winter pit of despair and so far, so good. We paid for the Kidscare package, 2 for 1, so the kids go to the "playplace" while I work out. Its a herculean task just to get us to the gym, so I'm feeling pretty proud.

John continues to be wonderful, if a little stressed. (Too much work, not his fault.)

Here are some of our recent pictures. See if you can pick out which ones Annika took. You'd be surprised.

I'm coming!

I'm writing something later today, with pictures. I promise.