Losing My Voice

So I had been in choir since I can remember probably starting in Kindergarten or 1st grade. Then I was in the elite choir at Shasta High School called Madrigals and for the choir lover in a person it is a dream come true and a once in a lifetime experience! Then I tried out for the elite choir at Shasta College and got in but I wasn't crazy about being a lower alto part. I'm usually a higher alto. Anyway, it was kind of immature of me but quit and carried on my life with out choir. I continued to enjoy singing at home and hymns at church. When I was pregnant with Grant I was in my 7th month, teaching preschool during my undergrad degree. About 2 weeks before Christmas my voice just disappeared as far as singing went. I had no range. I could sing about 3 notes before my voice would crack and refuse to go higher. So this was quite devastating because I had a decent voice before and no voice now, and quite the humbling experience I might add. I could sing well effortlessly before and now struggled to sing on pitch at all knowing I couldn't make my voice do what it used to, It was so frustrating and now I could relate to those people who can't sing well and maybe understand how they feel.  After 2 and a half years since then my voice has slowly worked its way back to my original range and it has gotten easier to sing like I used to sing well with ease. I'm not completely there yet though. I have now made a big decision that I never thought would feel like a big decision but I joined our ward's choir. I went last week and it was so fun when I went! I have hopes that going to choir every week will help strengthen my vocal chords back to my original voice. It made me happy to sing and harmonize and I felt the joy of singing that I have missed for these years since I quit choir. I love to sing!

Freezing a Wart

So after working for a dermatologist when I was in college I learned that to get rid of a wart all you need is some "dust off", a funnel, and a bandaid. So you just turn the dust off upside down, center the funnel over the wart and spray the liquid nitrogin on it and let that effect it for 10 seconds. Then you cover with a bandaid until the blister heals. So we did this for Perry's wart he has been annoyed with since he had some scar tissue that turned into a wart on his face. So it didn't go as clean and easy as I planned lol. Perry numbed the area first, then held the funnel to his face while lying his head on the ottomon. Then I put the dust off (upside down) on the wart and I assumed it would all dissipate quickly like its supposed to. Well I guess there's not as much oxygen in the funnel and the liquid didn't dissipate. So the liquid was on his skin way longer than 10 seconds. Not knowing what to do I spilled some on my hand and Perry's from coming out of the  funnel, then I decided to go grab a towel and then I poured it out on the towel and it evaporated immediately. But then the funnel was stuck to his face lol. I put my fingers close to where the face met the funnel and eventually it warmed up enough to come off his face. He had the funnel sized lump on that spot and put a bandaid on it. Within a day it had become a blister and we will see in about a week if the wart is gone. If not round two and hopefully by then it will be gone. Anyway, lovely story huh? I found it quite entertaining. It makes me laugh when I think about it.

Halloween Party and Day Festivities

    So the toddler party was a hit I think. The children immediately started jumping from square to square for the cake walk so we did that one first. Then we did some pumpkin bowling into different monster faced bottles. Then the kids pinned the face on the pumpkin, ate food, decorated a cupcake, and then ran around like crazy high on sugar. They were bouncing off the walls. It was great. I think they really enjoyed themselves. They played with bubbles and glow sticks, which were prizes for the game. I got some dry ice at smiths and that was fun, had spooky hands (carrots) poking out of the dip, and hot dog mummies. My sister in law brought some pumpkin shaped cheese slices and my other friend brought the little juice boxes of punch. I love halloween and themed parties! Next year it will be even spookier.
    This year Perry and I rented Dark Shadow as our Halloween themed movie to watch. Then on Halloween day my sister in law came over and we made hand and footed painted bats and played out side a lot. I also made the kids some apple marshmallow mouths. Then in the evening we went to our ward Halloween party and chili/cornbread dinner and met up with Gator and her family to trick or treat a bit. It was fun! Then on Friday I hit up the clearance at Wal-mart and got a couple things for next year. It was definitely a fun month! Here are some pictures of trick'r'treating:

If you can't tell we are Little Mario, Big Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach.

The studly Marios. 

The whole trick or treating gang minus the cousin's parents.

Baby Girl is 3 Months

My little darling is 3 months old and her eyes are as blue as ever still. High hopes there! She is battling infant eczema and I have now discovered through on line research that maybe I should bathe her every day rather than every 3 days. We are lotioning her up twice a day and her cradle cap is still there. I learned that cradle cap is also a form of eczema however the methods I have heard and used for it are not things I would do to normal skin eczema. Anyway, she still consistently sleeps at least 6 hours a night and then some after nursing. She also only takes about 30 min naps like 5-6 times a day. I wish  she would sleep longer. My efforts to extend her naps have been futile and NEVER work. So I give up. She will figure it out eventually and then once she is 6 months I will do more intense sleep training and she will be more developmentally able to fall asleep after the 30 minute wake up cycle during naps.  She should be able to sleep 1.5 to 2 hours per nap.  I really hope she figures it out soon. She is a joy in our home, smiling, cooing, almost laughing, focusing intently on her delightful toys. It is great fun.

 I recently reinjured my back so things are a bit more challenging and I don't have as much stamina with helping Carly fall asleep in her bed but I just need to figure out a good exercise that will strengthen and not strain my back. I strained it while running and I'm pretty sure the first time around I strained it while running too. Lame. Maybe yoga would be better. I will have to see what other people think.

But anyway, I have made it through the newborn phase and she is officially just a normal little infant lol. Love her!

Pictures courtesy of Grant and I:
Oh and a little tidbit about Grant, he is getting really good at taking pictures. It is really funny. He can point and shoot well and he takes pictures of everything. He got really excited and showed me all his pictures like of the refrigerator and stuff lol. Also its probably the only time there are going to be pictures of me ever doing my day to day life during my years of having kids, you know because I'm the only one who is usually taking pictures.

Just got a haircut!

His airplanes and helicopters.

His Halloween foot/hand bat craft.

Grant taking pictures of Grandma.

And me.

And Carly.

And the blender. 

My 2nd carrot harvest.

The Elections I Remember

   This is my second voting season in which I am eligible to vote. It is kind of empowering, because back when I was in school friends and other students would debate and argue which presidential candidate was better and I thought it was really dumb because none of them could vote anyway. Plus both candidates are usually not all bad and they each have great points. That is why the nation is so divided in half when it comes to the race.
    I remember a couple distinct times when it was voting season.  I don't remember the first two youngest numbers. But I do remember when I was 8 there was a fun little craft on a cereal box that you used a plate, some crayons, and string to hang your own propaganda sign to "Vote for Clinton". I wonder what my parents thought. I don't know which one they voted for. I find it interesting though that children can be exploited through cereal boxes during a presidential campaign. I really enjoyed my craft.
   Then I remember when I was 12 and I was actually in the middle of performing Annie Jr. at Harmony Middle School. It was the end of voting day and I was doing a quick costume change and the  television was on to see where the polls stood. It was all very confusing at that time who I should want to win because everyone seemed so concerned about that.
 When I was 16 is when I remember the above memory when my friends were all debating over which candidate was better and me not caring because we couldn't vote anyway and the issues were somewhat confusing to me anyway.
    When I was 18 I registered to vote, then when I was 20 it was my first year to vote and I lived in Idaho and I was a newlywed. I remember shamefully not really knowing much about each candidate. This year I have made a point to watch all the debates and to be an informed voter. It has been a great feeling to be political yet never overbearing on anyone.  I am excited to go on a little walk with my children to Orem High School to vote and to show my son that it is fun and exciting to Vote when you are able. I hope my children will learn the significance of voting for who and what you believe in to help better our country! I will encourage my children to be more informed than me. I hope all of you prayerfully consider the candidates and to VOTE! Yay!