Road Trip Recap

We loaded up the car at 4:45am on Monday morning, Ben dropped off his pager at the hospital and we were heading south by 5am.

Drive through blizzard. Stop in Portland, get chains for car (just what I wanted for Christmas!) Delays us by 2 hrs trying to find an auto parts store that wasn't sold out.

Weather eases up and we continue our trip through Oregon. The kids finally wake up at 1pm (really), we stop somewhere for lunch. The kids watch a movie then take a nap.

They wake up at 7pm, we spot our first In-N-Out in Sacramento we stop for dinner. I take a nap, the kids watch a movie. We switch at 11pm. The kids are still up and keep me company till about 1am.

We pull into Ben's parents drive at 4:36 am, nearly 24 hours later.

Total mileage - 1200.
Tanks of gas - 3.5

Road Trip

Our flight is cancelled. Christmas, however, is not, so we will be driving. Pray for us.

Destination: Southern California.

Dear Santa...

Miles has a wish list somewhere, I will post it when I find it. Basically it is a bunch of circles drawn on succession - Avery has translate that to mean he wants a ball for Christmas. She's probably right.

Christmas Comes Early

If I could have after-hours access and an unlimited shopping spree my store of choice would hands down be Sephora. I'm not even a real makeup person but I'm a sucker for serums and salves and creams and free samples. Before I go on, I have to back up to the not being a makeup person bit - I used to not be a makeup person - I always considered myself a mascara and lipgloss for special occasions type of girl. I look terrible in lipstick by the way. Terrible. Every shade.

But I'm quickly becoming a primer, concealer, creme blush, liquid eyeliner, mascara, set with powder every day type of girl. It's not that I love makeup all the sudden, it's more that it's what my face requires to look normal these days. Since turning thirty I'd say I have acne more days than not (I read recently that Kate Winslet has the same problem so phew I'm not alone) and in general things are rapidly deteriorating (hopefully I'll find that my apartment just has bad lighting...). So due to these issues I recently made a trip to Sephora to find a glycolic acid product that might solve some of my woes. After consulting with the salesgal I scored some samples and settled on the PTR Unwrinkle Peel Pads (despite the name, I wanted them mostly for the zit issue anything else is just a bonus*). I got home and after doing the dinner and bedtime routine with the kids I was excited to go have some alone time with Peter Thomas Roth. I unwrap the product and ta-da! The silver "try-me" sticker is staring right at me. I had made it home with the half empty and most certainly bacteria ridden sample container!!!!!

I thought for sure I had grabbed from the back of the aisle and couldn't believe that the gal who rang me up didn't notice that she was wrapping up an item without it's safety seal intact. Sephora is not so close so I called and told them of the mistake. They said they would send a new one right away and I could do whatever I wanted with the tester. I couldn't wait to try it so I discarded the top few pads, said a prayer that I wouldn't get infected with anything incurable and started my treatment. A few days later my new one arrived - in a box FULL of samples - some deluxe. I love Sephora and I love the guy who packed my box o' beauty up. Merry Christmas to me.


*Product update 1/08 - The PTR pads are pretty good - they burn but that just tells me it's working on something. I think it's having more of an effect on any scarring/redness I have more than the active eruptions and I've decided I prefer the DDF Glycolic Toner as an exfoliant. As for the acne. Two days of using McKay's leftover Proactive while in CA and it was all clear - my eyebrows were a shade lighter (beware - it will also bleach colored towels) but I'm sold. Proactive worked for me.

Short Cut

Time for my bi-annual hair cut and attempt at redoubling my efforts regarding appearance. Instead of continuing the constant creep toward a short-cut I just went for it this time. I had originally planned to either go darker and keep it long or blonder and shorter but I ended up with the above.

Considering that sunny days are supposedly few and far between here (I haven't felt that way...yet) and with the chance that a ray of light would actually catch my glowing streaks growing more slim - I also said aloha to highlights and opted to return to a darker hue. As hapened when I had "gone dark" once before, and despite my requests not to have it turn out red - it is very reddish at times - think Eastern-Bloc affinity for reddish dye red. In the picture it doesn't appear so and even though this was taken at the salon on the day it was cut, I think it is shorter than the picture shows also. Probably because my hair bends and shrinks in the moisture. Speaking of moisture, although I am not known for fabulous hair styles, the before picture is particularly hideous because a) it was raining outside and b) the owner or the salon gave my head a good ruffle to make it look even worse.

Snow Day

For those of you who live here you will notice that these were taken when the snow first started falling a week ago. There is much much more snow now and we are staying inside - except for when we are doing do-nuts in the parking lot.

Farewell to Fall

Leaves Leaves Falling Down

Dancing in the Wind

Falling to the Ground

The Wind Blows

Then the Children will Catch You

You will Grow Again

When Spring Comes

-Avery G. Westbrook

Age 4

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Although we have five or six days until the first official day of winter, the Northwest welcomed in the new season early with snow and frigid temps today. Up until now it has been a blissful fall, offering reccession-proof fun and inspiration at every turn.

Photos from 10/28/2008

Santa Shuffle -10 oops 5K

I signed up for the Santa Shuffle 10K even though I have yet to even re-lace my sneakers after washing them from the last race. I waited till the last minute to decide if I was actually going to participate since the weather was supposed to be cold and nasty. That morning I awoke to chilly but clear conditions, perfect for a couple laps around the golf course. Make that one lap around the golf course. I wimped out at the 5K mark and called it a day. I saw more than one person wipe out in the mud and just in general wasn't feeling up to it. After kicking it in at a disappointing on any other day 27 minutes (four minutes more than my last, planned 5K in Honolulu) I went home and helped Ben work on our fence.

Bonus - the hot chocolate and post race snacks
Bummer - They were giving out long-sleeved shirts (my favorite) and I got there too late to get one :(

G-Y-Z...

I had cut up some soda cans into small squares of aluminum for an activity I did with my primary boys (having them try to engrave words with a nail into the metal to show how difficult it would be to keep a record in this manner - bits of raw-edged aluminum, nails and 10 year old boys...yeah, safe I know). I had a few pieces left over and Avery wanted to use it to make a mini Book of Mormon. She folded it in half and cut out some pieces of paper that would fit inside (she's lucky I let her use scissors considering that she has trimmed both her own bangs and her brothers cowlicks in recent weeks with less than stellar results but that's beside the point) she called me in because she needed some help writing her cover page.

She said, "Mom, can you help me spell 'Jesus'? I only got the first letters: G-Y-Z...

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This reminds me of my favorite card that Miles got for his birthday. It was a handmade gem from Aubrey A., it reads To Miols. Which is exactly how it sounds. English might be a really hard language to learn considering what little sense our alphabet makes phonetically.

Since the people have spoken, I have allowed Ben to post his first entry - as seen below. As for those of you who gave him glowing reviews, you may one day find that in a jealous rage I have blocked your access to the site. Leaving John Emmit as my sole reader. And yes, I can block access at will, in four keystrokes to be exact.

So we'll see how many more he decides to offer up, I guess that will give me a clearer indicator of how busy he really is at work. If he gets up to more than two per month, we might just have to start a new site. I've reserved lynjamin.blogspot.com just in case.

My only problem is how to distinguish between authors. I would like to change the color of the title for each but can't figure out how and altering the font color for the body of the post just doesn't look right. I know that it has our name at the bottom but it doesn't give enough warning. I'll keep working on a solution but am taking suggestions.

The Highs and Lows of Parenting

My 2 year old son Miles continues to give us fits with his refusal to eat anything off of his short dietary list which includes Dora yogurt, cheese sticks, fruit snacks and cinnamon toast. He causes his father further consternation with his consistent refusal of all things meat leading me to question my stance on the controversial subject of whether someone is born vegetarian or if is it a conscious decision they make later in life. I was elated tonight when a shirtless boy, standing on his chair at the dinner table yells, “look Mom!” as he ferociously tears into a barbeque pork rib using his incisors for their God-intended purpose. I was further delighted as he threw it down, asked for more while wiping barbeque sauce across his bare chest and letting out a valiant primal roar. As a reward I let him drink long and hard from my Safeway brand root beer that he and his sister only get when they eat until Lynn and I think they have had enough. As he tilted his head back and two-fisted the brew, in my minds eye I saw him sprouting hair from his chest like the amazing, true clinical trial testing the manliness of Old Spice deodorant as depicted HERE.

I was silently gleaming as I finished my delicious meal only to have my thoughts interrupted as he put his leg high on the back of the chair, bracing himself with his hands on the table and proclaimed, “Look Dad, I’m a ballerina!”

Ben wants to join in the fun.

Maybe because of the contributions on the house build blog that I have forced him to be a part of, Ben has come to realize the theraputic nature of blogging. I know he enjoys lurking around the blog rolls. Often times he gets important info before I do. For instance when dear friends and MD neighbors the Jones' found out they were expecting another little boy, Ben read about it first and failed to tell me. When I went to break the news to him he just said, "I know". When I challenged him as to why he didn't let me know something so important he said "You didn't tell me about the water feature that Jones built".

So anyway, yesterday he presents me with his thoughts that he had jotted down and tells me to post them. Not on the house build site but on my blog. My blog.

I had noticed that his yearnings to publicly journal ran deeper than just house stuff, when he ventured off about his feelings with his brother leaving on a 2-yr misssion when he was supposed to be writing about foundations and backfill. Not so much the fact that it is public but I think that we have all found how great a tool the blog is for keeping track and keeping in touch. With each other, with ourselves.

I am thrilled to have him jot down anything at anytime. The chance to have his take on lifes happenings, especially when we don't get a chance to talk that much, is priceless. That our kids might one day have a two-sided memoir is awesome. But do I want his musings on my turf? I already have to compete with him in person for jokes. Do I willingly let someone smarter, funnier, nicer and better looking to post a thought here and there? Or do I make him get his own URL?

I think it's time for a poll.

November Recap

Just four and a half weeks till 2009. Can it be so?

Ben - Started his block of research rotations. I was really looking forward to these. So far his schedule has been worse than previous non-research rotations. I thought research meant more regular hours and a little autonomy. It's turning out to be research and writing on top of clinic, call and academics. I'm not complaining, just a little disappointed.

And it was bound to happen. Or not. But Ben was the doc for one of his former high school classmates. I can't say who or what for because I don't know (him telling me and me telling you would be a major HIPAA violation).

He did have Thanksgiving weekend off which was good, and which we spent the actual day with the Nelson's who we first met back east and who took it upon themselves to make the majority of what was a very very delicious meal.

The last few days of November were spent leveling ground and hefting brick for our retaining wall. I thought this might be a good time to chat and catch up but this type of work is not compatible with conversing.


Avery - Decided that she would like to learn to play the violin. Of all the horrible sounding instruments while you're learning to play, this could be the worst. She will not be learning how to play the violin. At least not at my house.

Update - turns out she actually doesn't need to take lessons because she says she already knows how to play. She just needs a violin. This is her answer to most things I ask her about. Avery, Would you like to take gymnastics? I already know how. Dance ?- same. Karate ?- Black belt.

Obviously confidence is not an issue.

What is an issue however, are her never ending thoughts. On multiple occasions recently she has expressed near physical pain over her brain not "turning off". Mostly at night, she has a problem with churning thoughts and wants to know how to stop thinking.


Miles - Likes skateboarding, pumpkin pie and "tractor-trucks pushing trees".


Me - I am enjoying fall and the Christmas music station with no commercial interruption, cinnamon pinecones and chocolate-peppermint soymilk (I'm not vegan and not lactose intolerant, just love this stuff. With real whipped cream on top of course). I never felt that I missed out on the holiday feeling in Hawaii but it's feeling kinds cozy here in the Northwest (not permanent, just cozy).

November brought happy news and sad news.

The sad news is the loss of a friend who many of us knew, loved and served during our time together in Maryland. Holly Schrader battled quickly degenerative MS. A former college soccer player, wife and mother, when we met 5 years ago she was just recently wheelchair bound and determined to walk again. Many of us watched helplessly, but while trying to help, as the disease took over a very spunky, athletic young lady who tried very hard to have a normal life in a very unfair, debilitating situation. I can't believe that her life is over so quickly, yet for her relief and that of her family I am grateful that she didn't have to continue on with life as she recently knew it. Many times I tried to put myself in the place of Holly or of her spouse, coming up bitterly short of their pain I'm sure, but it sure does make my challenges seem insignificant.

The good news is that two of my cousins (on different sides of the family) had baby girls this month so I would like to welcome Paiton and Mollee Sue to the world!


And we got to see old friends and fellow TU Tiger swimmers Kyle and Lisa and their four cuties when they visited Seattle.

Oh yes - And Tarah and Amy joined the ranks of bloggers. Yay.

Black Friday 2008

I have only done the Black Friday shopping thing one other time. In 2005 Walmart had hooded Jerzees sweatshirts for $6.99 and I went to get one for Ben. It wasn't so bad and no one got trampled to death that year but I'm pretty sure there was an altercation in electronics and the cops came.

Now that I have two kids, getting up early to go shopping alone seems like a pretty fair trade-off. Plus I needed to check out some of the the big-ticket items (appliances) for our house in person.

So fueled by a piece of chocolate chip pecan pie (and a sliver of pumpkin) I decided to brave the crowds and see if I could find any deals.

I left my house at 4:47am, realizing that venturing out in to the dark of morning is a rare occurrence for me but a daily obligation for Ben. I am overcome with appreciation. But I must focus on my mission. First stop - Sporting Goods store. Why? Because they are giving out gift certificates to the first 200 customers. I wait in line and score some free frosted gingerbread from Starbucks employees that are out spreading cheer. I am guest 199. I get a $5 gift card. I realize that there is nothing at that store that I want besides something for free (although next year I want a generator). I leave.

I head straight for the mall. Specifically Sears. I want to check out the Kenmore HE front-loading washer/dryer combo for $599. Why is everyone trying to find a close parking spot in a packed parking lot where people obviously just got there. You got up at 4:30 to go shopping people, what's so painful about walking across a parking lot? Enter Sears, decide I don't really want a front loader. I want a HE top loader with no agitator. They are not on sale. I get sucked into a special presentation and "free" gift. I waste 15 minutes listening to a spiel on the Euro-Cleaner (made in the USA). I leave with a free microfiber cloth for cleaning camera lenses or glasses.

Next stop Ann Taylor Loft. I was here two days ago to check out their 40% all sale items. The salesgal told me that they might have another 20% of the 40% off items on Friday and to bring back my unwashed, unworn items and they would give me the difference. I do so and pick up another shirt as well. I get .97 back. While trying on the shirt I see myself in the mirror for the first time that day. Black Friday does not look good on me. I head straight to the Benefit counter at Macy's for some Erase Paste. I look a little better. Maybe good enough to step foot in a Nordstrom.

I head to Nordstrom, on my way out of Macy's I get a free Cranergy drink that Ocean Spray is handing out. I was getting thirsty. I get to Nordstrom at the other end of the mall. They don't open until 8am. They don't want us "door-busting" kind to enter their halls scavenging for deals. This is why my sister is sleeping in. I head back to Macy's for another Cranergy drink.

It's 6:50. I leave the mall and head for Circuit City. I need to replace the kids DVD player for the 5th time in two years. Thank goodness grandpa had the wisdom to get the protection plan on that item. I wait in line for 15 minutes while the lady in front of me tells me all about the movie Water Horse and asks multiple salespeople if they have that movie in stock. They direct her to the bulk bins. She doesn't want to lose her place in line. I can't guarantee her that I can hold her place so I say nothing. The exchange costs me $3.48 (darn that high WA state tax). I go next door to Toys R Us. Water Horse lady told me that they had some good deals. They do. But they are not worth standing in the very very extremely long line that winds through the entire store.

7:20am - I am done shopping. Total damage: $2.51

It's a miracle.

My eldest child actually wore shoes. Not only did she wear shoes but she wore jeans and let me put her hair in a ponytail. Okay, I forced her and she only obeyed humored me until we got home from the park when she immediately ripped the rubberband from her hair and put on her plaid dress/uniform.


She prefers to dress like every day is Easter Sunday...in the tropics (as evidenced below - the picture was taken November 10th - 50 F). It is a struggle we have daily.


But Amy reminded me in a comment that it may merely be a case of "like mother, like daughter", in which I might just have to let her be who she is. An extremely warm-blooded creature with a penchant for flip-flops. I'm sure my choice of footwear (and wearing shorts when it snowed) was disappointing at times to my parents - although I don't recall it being a big deal. I know it displeased my grandmother (right gma?). But really, I wasn't cold. And maybe, just maybe, Abes isn't either.

Turkey Trot 10K

I entered the base's Turkey Trot and during a momentary lapse of judgement or perhaps overconfidence in my current level of fitness I checked the box next to the 10K instead of my usual 5K preference. I think I may have only ever done one other 10K, and now I remember why I don't usually run that far. It hurts. And although 6.2 miles doesn't sound all that long, it is. Especially if you are more of the sprinter variety and don't know a thing about pacing yourself. At about mile two I was regretting my decision. Instead of just kicking in that last mile, I had a whole nother 5K to run. :(

Like a real runner I was trying not to use my iPod but had it safely tucked into my sportsbra, along with my car key, in case I needed it. I eventually put it on but I was already so tired that I couldn't find a song that could pump me up (not even Eminem - who has helped me through the pain of two labors - could help me), but I had to leave it on because the alternative was to listen to myself sucking wind.

This was nothing like the turkey trots in middle school. Or maybe I'm just not the turkey trotter I once was.

On a positive note - the weather was a gorgeous 42 degrees - see Mt. Rainer below. And even though the race was free, they used the ChampionChip timing system, they had great finish line treats (thanks to REI and some other local sponsors), a goody bag with a t-shirt, cd, a koozie (you know - a can-insulator) with a caveman on it and some weird white towel thing that you might find in a hospital surgery room.

And thank you Melissa for watching my kids so I could punish myself.

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-Time: 54:... (haven't seen an official time yet and was too tired to make note of the large clock at the finish line.

Friends.

One of the great things about the military sending you all over is making new friends and meeting up with old friends in new places. We really hit the old friends made new again jackpot with our latest move. It's fun to meet new additions to families and amazing to see those we knew as toddlers and itty bitty babies all grown up! Some of you may recongnize some of our friends below:

From Hawaii we were lucky to have Eden (left), Kinley and Mya (right) join us in the Pacific Northwest.

Those we last knew on the East Coast include:

Aubrey, Lincoln(left) and Baby Jace (below)

Olivia (right) and the twins - Tenison and Henry (below)

Addyson and Kaitlin.

Zoe, Fischer and Bronwyn (as a mummy, a very cute mummy).

I'm kicking myself for not getting a better picture of the Spackman kids - Lila (pink jacket) and Jude (red striped polo).

(Above) Damaris and Baby Sam.

Some of the gals - April, Sarah and Melissa.

Talking Points

As is generally the case when moving into (or out of) a ward, we were asked to speak in church this Sunday*. Most of the time the bishopric has a topic in mind for the meeting. This time we were given free reign. Considering they don't know us that well, that was pretty...surprising, foolish, kind? Armed with a litany of talks from the previous General Conference we searched for inspiration. Ben found his quickly and settled on exploring the virtue of charity - as in giving of what we have to others charity. He had his thoughts arranged and ready to be delivered in a matter of hours. Meanwhile I had worked all week to pull something together and for hours the night before and still had nothing cohesive. I set my alarm for 5am and thought I could use the peace and quiet of the morning (translation - my kids would be asleep) to focus. With a racing mind I couldn't sleep when it came to me - I could give a talk I had given before. I jumped up and searched for a file on the computer that might give me rest. Sure enough, I had two to choose from. I settled on a version of the final talk given in our ward in Maryland - I updated it with a few new quotes, tweaked it here and there and it was good to go.

We gave our talks and after church someone gave the obligatory "thanks for your talk today" compliment. She followed it up with a "as often as you move you should file that one away to give again"

(Smile, laugh)

I'll think about it.


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*Avery gave a talk in Primary last week. Her topic - We are all children of our Heavenly Father. She drew a picture of the Earth, complete with outer-space, she sang "Jesus Loves the Little Children" (you know - the probably politically incorrect - "red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight"), and said a few words about how He wants us to be happy because he made us and that we should be kind to each other. It was a brilliant 45 seconds.

Tree Guy

Born and bred in the wilds of Alaska (okay, I'm not sure exactly where in Alaska, but it's all wild right?), this guy is about as rugged as they come. With nothing but spurs and a cable anchoring him to the tree, he cuts off substantial limbs and throws them down like nothing. Referring to his men on the ground as 'girls', he cut our trees down in thirds and as the top portion would come down he would be left swaying on what was remaining. Yikes.

I'm sorry, but I'm going to have a crush on anyone who can do what he does (you should see his forearms, really). No, you're not going to come to find one day that I've run off with the tree guy, but my respect runs deep. If you had seen him up in those giant 100ft+ fir trees working his chainsaw magic yours would too. As it turns out, he is afraid of heights.

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Video posted here.

44th

October Recap.

Ben - Without a doubt the highlight of the month/year for him was a well-deserved trip to Aspen (which in my head is pronounced with a whisper and a dramatic wave of the hand As-pen - since it's such a fancy place. (I'm sure that aside doesn't go over very well in print...as is frequently a problem when trying to communicate my thoughts into written word. Bear with me.)) Back to As-pen. I don't think they ever made it into the actual town, but Carbondale just doesn't have the same ring to it. He met up with his dad and brother Kit for five days of fly-fishing. I guess it was fun.

I know this isn't the greatest picture, but I just noticed that the same sweater that Ben wears to church every week is the same one he was wearing while fishing. You gotta love that guy. Excuse me, while I go put that one through the wash.

I know some of you are still waiting for more info on his tanning escapades. I am still searching for an important piece of evidence regarding that, and he's not helping. In fact, he has erased some of what I had prepared. However, he was flattered that pictures were requested.

Miles - Spent most of the month singing Happy Birthday to himself and blowing out pretend candles. Since I realized he was really getting a kick out of the whole birthday party concept- presents, cake etc., I felt like I couldn't deny him the chance to have a party, even though I hadn't been planning on giving him one. I also realize how unfair this is considering his sister had quite a bash for her 1st and 3rd bdays. So some last minute scrambling and an awesome cake idea from here resulted in a fun gathering with a group of friends who had been East-coasters with us for a time. The best part is that now Miles has boy toys all his own. Hooray!

As for the discussion about when the terrible twos actually start, I would like to weigh in with them starting at 18 months. How long they last is another conversation altogether.


Avery - Is continuing her motivational speaking tour. Next stop - a playground near you. Taking a giant step toward televangelist missionary, A. has been overheard preaching the Gospel to misfits at the park. After a recent altercation where a little girl had slapped another girl and threatened to kick another in the stomach, she led the girl to a spot under the slide and proceeded to tell her about the great plan of happiness, including excerpts of the creation story and the good news of the birth of the Savior. I had to climb some playground equipment to try to get a good listen but I heard her telling her followers that Jesus was born as a tiny baby in a place like this (under the slide among the woodchips?) and that we are all God's children. After that they emerged as friends.

In the car I told A. how nice that was of her to work things out instead of retaliating. She told me, "well at first I told her I was going to punch her in the face, but then I had to show her love". Oh.

Me - I enjoyed my week alone with the kids while Ben was gone - it was pretty much like any other week except that I don't have to make dinner or do as much laundry. This left me time to watch a movie. It's been a long time since I've watched a movie and an even longer time since I have actually enjoyed one. But I really liked Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day with Amy Adams (who plays a naughty version of her Enchanted character in this film). Two thumbs up. The rest of my month was spent fretting about the state of the economy, reading up on politics and making lists. I don't suppose anyone is interested in my current stock picks, but I've identified some that I would snatch up if I had some discretionary funds.

In more interesting news, WE STARTED ON OUR HOUSE! Well, we started clearing trees anyhow. We had hoped to start in October and we were thinking early October but the 31st is October just the same. I have been trying to compile our experiences and am making a separate blog so that we can have a record of our adventure. Anyone is welcome to check it out but I'm going to make it private so that we don't have to spare any detail. Let me know if you want access, I'll just need your email address if I don't already have it. If you are a regular lurker on this blog and don't want to be left out of the fun, reveal yourself and once I perform a background check you can have access too ;) (as a part-time lurker myself, I know nothing is worse than being locked out of a blog).