Cheetah The First Year

Dear Cheetah,
Congratulations on making it through an entire year of the crazy life we live here in the Jungle.
It's amazing to think how much you've grown in such a short amount of time. (I'm your mother, expect me to say that a lot.)
Because you won't remember when you were only 8lbs 5ozs, and 21" long:

But I do.
And to see you now, 27lbs and 32" long, starting to walk and talk, expressing your opinion:

Is a major accomplishment. You're working so hard to grow up and I'm proud and sad at the same time. I've loved this last year. I'll miss the time we spent and the places we went. I look forward to new times and places.
And then there is your head.
That has always been big. Off the charts big.
Nana says it's all your brains. I hope so because goodness knows we've asked a lot of you already; Daddy being bishop and all, shifting schedules, sudden appointments, insane neighbors, tiny house, no heat or air conditioning. But you deal with it all cheerfully and willing to submit to whatever we dish out:

And there will be more to do and adjust to as you grow up and go out into the world. Be strong and continue to be happy:

We are here to help you, teach you, serve you, challenge you, encourage you, comfort you, love you.
It is a joy and a privilege to be here on your journey little baby. (Yes, you'll keep growing, you'll get bigger than me, and it'll exasperate you to no end, but you'll always be my little baby.)
Happy 1st Birthday Cheetah!

I love you.

This is me, your mom.

One Of Those Days

After a day of church where the Primary President doesn't show up, meaning I have to do her job as well as mine and Singing Time, then speak in sacrament, manage the almost-1 year old (!!!), get home, pack the car and get on the road for the two hour drive to my parent's house for Cheetah's day-before-his-birthday party (!!!) guess whose car blows a tire 15 minutes before we exit the freeway to Nana's?
That would be ours.
After my sister came, from my parent's house, to fetch Cheetah and I from the car while Tarzan waited for the AAA guy to come we sat down two hours late to dinner and waited for Tarzan to return from the (finally) profitable hunt for a tire store somewhere in the middle of nowhere to have cake and open presents we left for home with barely enough time to make the two hour return trip, unpack the car and a totally zonked Cheetah, brush our teeth, type this post and fall into bed, barely making the deadline for it to still count for Sunday.

This is me and we have some crazy adventures.

Ode To A Flexible Woman

So, yes, this post is nearly two weeks late. It wasn't done on purpose but being late does serve to illustrate the point of the ode.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Rocketgirl!
Who is one of the most flexible women I know.
Rocketgirl drops to the floor or the couch in an instant to help a child with homework and reading, write a post, clean something or take a picture and then she's up again like a shot to cook, teach violin, piano, hold a family dance party, call a friend, serve in her calling at church, go to the library, shop or any one of a zillion things she does.
She welcomes new members of the family with open arms and nothing held back, be they her own children, nieces and nephews or in-laws.
She's had to move many times in her life - alone or with her family - states, countries and/or weather patterns away from her comfort zone. (One time she had a baby far away from everyone and everything she knew.)
She deals well - much better than she thinks - with changes and new situations. Even on short notice.
And she does it with a good attitude, plenty of humor and charm.
Every time.
I admire that and have tried to emulate her.
This is me hoping her birthday was all she deserves and wishing her a very happy year!

Plus Nine

Aaaand boom, we're back to my life going by in a flash.
Eight days late for my birthday post...This has never happened.
(And what's worse, I am an entire week late with Rocketgirl's ode. I am ashamed.)
To begin, I laugh in the face of my last year self, promising to keep this blog current and all that. Some days I can't keep current with a shower, but really, it's because I'm lazy and it's much easier to watch this all day:

Than think of witty things to say on a blog. But I will try.
To sum up the last year, I turn to a quote from Rocketgirl, "yeah, it was a good year. No biggie, we just brought a human into this world and he's doing awesome stuff. Also, I made pesto."
And there you have it.
But of course, that's not entirely true.
In addition to bringing this human into the world my last year was spent thusly:

• Feeding said human.
• Changing the diaper of said human
• And getting said human to sleep.
• Tarzan and I took Cheetah on a plane for the first time for the wedding of a family friend.
• ATL got married!!!! (There's a post I need to get written)
• Tarzan and I celebrated 14 years of marriage. Which sounds like a lot but hasn't felt long at all.
• I celebrated eight years writing this blog - celebrated it with a massive headache and little else apparently.
• Helped PIT and MOY move into their apartment in Provo. (Another post I need to get on, hopefully before he graduates...)

Inevitably, most of the things that I did this year were baby centered. And my posts reflect that; sitting up, rolling over, "talking," playing, doctor's visits etc. Awesome though it was, it leaves me with a shorter list of items then in years past. Of course it's been a shorter number of posts this year too.
It's good to have goals.
But I did make this:

So I consider it a year well spent.

This is me with my own belated birthday.

Over/Re-View

I know, how much more excited can we get about my birthday?
But a lot of things occurred post birthday post, so a summation is required I think.
First, how did this happen?:

It has my name on it. I understand they can program it to say anything they want, but how do they do it so it only shows up on my computer?
Next, Tarzan bought me a lovely present:

So I can make pesto with all the lovely basil in the front yard without having to scrape extra bits off the ceiling. (Our current food processor is a tad ancient and doesn't lock closed anymore, so ingredients can take a walk during rotation if they like.)
And then another present last night:

For my feet which do not like shoes or socks and so often get dry and cracked and he has found the only lotion in the world that does not cause him to break out in hives to touch it, so we are both happy when he rubs my feet. Then, a friend from high school sent me this:

Tarzan ALSO took me out for dinner. We had hoped to find the only restaurant in the universe that served dim sum after 4pm, but it wasn't to be. The food was "a feast for the eyes" as my mother-in-law likes to tell us is a big deal in Chinese cuisine: 

And it also tasted really good:

Tarzan tried valiantly for a few minutes and then decided he was too hungry to manage the chopsticks and asked for a fork:

One day we will make it to a dim sum establishment.
While it is still serving the dim sum.
And of course there was the ego stroking that is Facebook's reminding people it was my birthday. Even if some of those people only chat or leave a message once a year, it still makes a person feel special.

This is me and all in all, it was a very lovely birthday. Thanks peeps.

Ode To An Incredible Woman

Rocketgirl,
You've had a birthday,
Shout HOORAY!
We - and I - want to sing to you today,
One year older and wiser too,
Haaaa-ppy Birthday!!!!
To. You!!

As per usual this time of year, I am happy to discuss the amazing-ness of my very first sister-in-law. We've discussed her beauty, musical, brains, humor and mothering skills in the past (and she is still way talented in all those departments) but this year she has been my practical go-to person when it comes to pregnancy and birthing. What to do first, where to go for what, what's true on the internet and what's not, what to do with children after the 'squeeee' factor wears off, all the good stuff.
She's my guru.
And I love her.

This is me wishing her a very Happy Birthday!

Plus Eight

Well, I take it all back.
Last year I said time goes faster the older one gets.
It's all about perspective.
This birthday has taken forever to come and it's not because we haven't been busy. In fact, we've been VERY busy in The Jungle this year.
Very busy with miracles and then the usual stuff. Not as busy with the blog - which has been handy in the past for helping me keep track of what went on which year.
Hopefully I'll keep it all current. A summation of my last year.

• Tarzan is doing well as bishop. He has settled into the role a little more and does not put on his suit everytime someone calls. (I won't tell you what I caught him wearing Monday night when the phone rang. You'll never get the image out of your brain and it's not what we should imagine our bishops wearing when we call them.) 
• I'm in the Primary and it goes as usual. Teachers sometimes do or do not show up, kids do or do not be reverent. We carry on.
• I have been blogging at this here site for seven years! One would think I'd get better at it over time.
• We saw a few movies this year. Most notably, Ender's Game and Les Miserables.
• Tarzan and I visited his family for the annual Thanksgiving parties. And they were good.
• I got a haircut I really like. I must remember to go back and get them to update it again.
• Tarzan and I celebrated 13 years of marriage and figured after this long, we probably weren't going to have children before the millennium...
• And oh yeah - I'm PREGNANT!! which is so weird and out of the park for any birthday wish I have ever wished that 8 months in I am still having a time processing the fact.
• ATL got a full time job - which she loves and which loves her - and moved out to her own apartment, her own car, her own life, just in time for the baby to move in.
• And apparently I dropped out of blogging too. I haven't finished half of ATL's Admiration posts. All this sleeping takes up a lot of time.
• Previous to growing a human, we upped our garden growing ambitions this year and though I haven't posted about it yet, it has been good. The basil continues to grow well, we got a bumper crop of sage this year, I'm really anxious to see if the winter chills the blueberries enough because the bushes got BIG this summer.
• We welcomed Ted to the family.
• Plus the usual church, work, family stuff.

And this will be my last birthday with just Tarzan and I. In a little over 4 weeks we start a new adventure. Next year's post should be a doozy!

This is me on the edge.

A Portrait of Perfection

One of my most memorable high school experiences was a humanities class. The teacher was quite zany and interesting. I particularly enjoyed viewing the famous portraits she introduced us to.  One of them, Flaming June, was a painting by Sir Frederic Leighton. The flowing waves of the fabric and innocence of the sleeper caught my attention.

Recently we had hardwood floors installed in our house which required us to move everything we owned around the installation. I tried to do as much as possible to spare Jane, but there was a lot of work and Jane worked like a Trojan. She eventually got tired and took a nap which gave me the opportunity to snap this priceless photo. My own personalized version of Flaming June without all the Romantic period imagery that I've never had time for. This image is much more pragmatic and much more beautiful. Jane always works so hard and makes my life much easier and enjoyable because of her dedicated service. When I first met her I was initially attracted to her by her confidence and the many good things I watched her do. I knew I wanted to marry her the first time I saw her, it just took me a few years to figure out how to make that happen. Now our home is heaven on earth because of her and rapidly growing too! How I adore this woman. 

Happy Birthday Jane!

(in 10 days)

Ode To A-Mazing

It's Rocketgirl's birthday...and despite my not being skilled with the rhyming odes like she is; a tradition is a tradition dangit.
Rocketgirl is an amazing person.
She has three fantastic children and that's not by accident. She is an amazing mother.
She has played with two renowned bands - still plays in fact - and rocks it every time! She is an amazing musician.
She grew up with three brothers - amazing accomplishment right there - and welcomed all the girls they married with open arms and big smiles. (Even though we're all a little nuts.) She is an amazing sister.
(I can't swear by this 100% but there are those who say she is an amazing daughter.)
Don't be taken in by her 'I'm-not-talented' and 'I'm-not-pretty' lines.
She lies.
She is both talented and gorgeous:

She is an amazing woman.

This is me wishing a very, very Happy Birthday to Rocketgirl!!!

Plus Seven

It would seem that my parents were correct. The older one gets, the faster time goes. I'm not sure if it's because there is more to do or that there's less of my life left and my mortality is sneaking up on me, or what it is but if you can believe it, it's been a whole year and it's my birthday again.
On the one hand it's been a heck of a year, with a lot of things coming and going. And on the other hand, it has passed so quick I can't believe it.
Some of the major events, in no particular order:

• Tarzan accepted the assignment to be bishop(!) of our ward (local congregation) and has been alternately flustered, frustrated, absent and elated at the events and responsibilities of the calling.
• Because of Tarzan's reassignment, I was released from being Relief Society President and was placed back in Primary - NOT the President - so I am happy.
• Another faction was added to the odd list of things I do in the day; in the form of drafting for an architect. Both better and worse than before.
• My hands are refusing to cooperate and I have perpetual trigger fingers it seems.
• Celebrated six years of this blog.
• Based on the title of a post, Tarzan bought me an iPad Mini for Christmas. I find it really fun - books and games and things - but I still wonder at the necessity of it. I feel spoiled.
• Celebrated 12 years married to Tarzan. TWELVE years. That's a long time people.
• Tarzan and I took a road trip in a really fancy RV with Stingy, her daughter and a hired guide through the southwestern states.
• Got to go to the theater to see Jekyll & Hyde.
• We pulled out the apricot tree in the front yard and the weird, termite infested tree in the back yard and replaced them with an avocado and lime tree respectively.
• Watched Les Miserables in the theater with mixed feelings. Our only trip to the movie theater this year.
• Caught some possums in the back yard.
• Welcomed a new nephew and two new nieces. (Not all from the same parents.)
• Visited Rocketgirl for 10 days! Met the Condor and partied hard even though it was freezing rain outside in APRIL!!

It has been a very busy year and this blogging in feasts and famines is kind of challenging. I think I need to work out a schedule.

This is me and I hope I'm getting wiser.

Birthday - Part 2

Poor Tarzan. His birthday was a conglomeration of a bit here and a bit there. On the actual day we had cake.
Last Saturday we went to his favorite restaurant, Zankou Chicken. It's a Mediterranean/Organic fusion type place and everything is delicious. But the best part is this crazy good garlic paste butter thing that goes on top and it's just amazing.
Tarzan LOVES it. You will notice in this picture:

There are already two empty containers in front of him.
Both of those were full of the creamy, garlicky condiment. I like the stuff, no question but no one inhales it like Tarzan does.
Even spread out over several days, I think it was a good birthday.

This is me and yes, more is forthcoming. It's a lot of information to process to coherency.

Ode To My Honey

I seem to have been derelict in my duties last year and did not do an ode to Tarzan. Which puts on the pressure to make this a good one.

Dear Tarzan,
Once again - or rather, still - we are busy with full schedules and places to be after the work day is over. But you keep working, keep trying, keep growing, keep serving, keep teaching. You are smart, funny, cute, tall, charming and willing to share. Greying with style, random and adorable. I wish you all the best of everything, always!

This is me and HAPPY BIRTHDAY Tarzan!

Ode To A Girl

This is more a tribute than an ode I would say but it's a tradition to call it an ode. And one shouldn't mess with tradition.
This ode is for Tarzan's sister, Rocketgirl, whose birthday is the day after mine. She is a lovely person, so talented and funny. And so very devoted to doing what she should be doing, even if she doesn't want to.
That is one of the traits I admire most about her. She does what is right and what is kind and what is truly important. Even if it isn't convenient for her and her place in life. I need to cultivate that skill more.
Thanks for the example Rocketgirl! I love you.

This is me wishing a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! to my first sister-in-law.

Plus Six

It is that time of year again, if you can believe it, because I sure can't.
My birthday.
At dinner, Tarzan asked me what my birthday means to me and I had to think...One year closer to renewing my driver's license I guess. It's not like I have goals to achieve by reaching a certain age anymore. I can vote, buy cigarettes, drink and rent a car. I've hit all the milestones.
Taking stock of the last year, in no particular order, let's see what went down:

• I was called to be Relief Society President in our congregation.
• I got an iPhone! Now I can't imagine living without it
• Saw my baby brother graduate from high school, enter college and now he doesn't call me back because he's so grown up.
• Tarzan and I celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary.
• And went to the Rockies for Thanksgiving because Tarzan's parents will be out of the country for this year's celebration.
• Celebrated 5 years of this here blogging thing
• Was part of the entourage to watch the Endeavour shuttle being moved to it's new home.
• Saw BHB and Seth through engagement and wedding and into bliss
• Helped Tarzan coach his Academic Decathlon team to three medals and a "most improved" certificate.
• Took a hiatus from blogging while the world went insane and then came back with a vengeance.
• Saw Wicked for the zillionth time and loved it just as much as the first.
• Built a hay shed in the Desert
• Redid the front yard
• Took some mini-vacations with Tarzan including the Best Family Reunion EVER and a train ride home.

This is me and I am amused at how many people think I'm still in my 20's. That's a nice compliment every time it comes out.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Sunshine!

Very mathematical date this year: 10/11/12

This is me wishing my first born niece a very happy birthday!

Happy Birthday Tarzan!

It has been a mighty long day. And I feel that I don't deserve the wife button today.
We are scheduled for a lot of thing, all the time - no excuses, we just are - but I REALLY need to get organized. Somehow I am always one step behind and usually, it doesn't matter that much. I skip a shower, fail to switch a load of clothes to the dryer (dangit!), or just run around like a chicken with my head cut off trying to squeeze 5lbs of sand into a 3lb sack.
But, today is Tarzan's birthday.
I had such plans. You know what they say about good intentions. I put shopping off because of other things until here it was - his birthday - and I didn't have his present, ingredients for dinner or for his pie. I actually ducked out of work early - not like it's hard, working for family does have it's advantages - to try and recover some of the time and goods.
But traffic hates me. Construction EVERYwhere. While I did manage to find part of the present I wanted it wasn't how I wanted it to turn out and I didn't make it home in time to find a store that sold blue cheese so I could make the dinner I had planned for him. He had to go to an audit meeting tonight - that one is not my fault - and the pie took me several attempts to get the crust to work. Grr, I will defeat you yet, my piecrust arch-nemesis.
Of course, Tarzan is all sweet and forgiving which does not make me feel better about the whole thing. I do mean it when I say: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TARZAN! and I only make a big deal out of your birthday because I love you so much.

This is me and I could have done it better.

Plus Five

Gah, now I sound old even in the fake terms I use to describe it on this blog. Having to explain to a 10-year old I was "two times fifteen plus five" didn't improve my mood about it either.
I begin to see why adults say birthdays don't matter. When I was younger I thought they were being modest or dwelling too much on the age thing. It's more a matter of time. Who has enough to spare? I was running around all day with errands and getting stuff ready for church tomorrow and returning mail to and collecting mail from neighbors since our postman can't seem to get it right. I nearly forgot what day it was. Besides, I'll always be 24 in my head.
Still it can be a good time to reflect on one's life and accomplishments.
These are the highlights of my last twelve months:

• Opened a business with my parents. THAT's been an adventure.


• Learned to drive a fork lift.


• Celebrated 10 YEARS of marriage with a romantic get-away.


• Got my thumb cut open to fix the tendonitis. It appears to have worked. I can bend my thumb with no problems anymore AND I don't have a scar at all which I had not expected.


• Had three, 3! new nephews born into the family. There's going to be some testosterone flying when they all reach teenager-dome at the same time.


• Traded in my Saturn for a convertible!


• Improved my skills with my new knives so I don't cut my fingers anymore.


• My blackberry vines blossomed, got cut by accident and grew out again. We actually harvested some.


• Saw Celtic Thunder live in concert.


• We had our house tented for termites and didn't lose a single cat to the process.


• Learned the importance of proper attire when leaving the house.


• I found the swimsuit I thought I had lost four years ago.


• My second youngest brother left on his mission.


• Tarzan's father came for a very memorable week.


• Celebrated four years of blogging. I can't tell if I'm getting better or worse.


• Had and am still having formatting issues with the blog engine.


• I totally flaked on the second contest of the blog. Maybe we can make that up in the coming weeks. There was only two entries so they'll likely both win. I'm easy like that.


• Canned a few dozen bottles of applesauce and pie filling.


• Spent a lot of time commuting back and forth between my house and my parents' house.


• Replaced our water heater, right before it broke and flooded the laundry room.


• Almost got called to serve on the jury for a death penalty case.


• Started working for Tarzan's Aunt Richie.


• Attended QC's college graduation in Salt Lake City.


• Walked on the bottom of the ocean.


• Attended the county fair.


• Of the class I was helping teach for the Academic Decathlon team at Tarzan's high school, one of the kids won a medal at the regional competition. It was a proud moment for her, for me and for the school.

Is that a longer list than I've made for other birthdays? I forgot I did most of that in the last year. I suppose it could explain why I can't remember April.

This is me, 35.

Ode To The Sunshine

Not that Sunshine has a lot of spare time to read my blog, but her mother sometimes does and I just wanted to say how happy I was when she was born because I only had nephews at that point and so a girl was super cool. She is sweet and happy and always excited for everything and as a fellow Libra I totally get her desire that things be fair. I truly do.

This is me wishing Sunshine a super duper HUGE Happy 5th Birthday!

Ode To Another Sister-In-Law

She's been in the family longer than a year, but last September she snuck her birthday in under the ode radar so this is my first one for Liezel! Such a sweet, genuine person she is. When she asks a question, she really wants to know the answer and she listens to you tell it. It's odd to write this in the same sentence as her name because Liezel is not the jealous kind, but I am so jealous of her hair. I've always wanted red hair and she has the best shade. Enough red so that you're sure it is, but enough brown that she can wear pink and yellow without looking weird. And it curls too:She is kind, never a sour word have I heard leave her lips and so very devoted to PhatFiddle. We should all be that kind of a wife.All that and pretty too:

This is me wishing Liezel a huge HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Ode For A Busy Man's Birthday

Dear Tarzan,
This year I'm very glad I do these 'odes' which some think are silly - maybe they are - because you are so stressed and preoccupied right now you haven't got the time to spend but one day you can come back and reread my birthday wishes for you.
I wish you a job that you love, with none of the bureaucratic silliness that gets in the way of doing a good job.
I wish you time. TIme to spend on all the things you want to learn and share and find and be.
I wish you the desire to grow and progress but contentment with our place right now.
I wish you joy in the work that is life, happiness in the journey and laughter together.



This is me and Happy Birthday honey!