i hate people

You know, sometimes I really hate people. Please keep in mind I am 36 weeks and 3 days pregnant, but still...

Yesterday I was on my way to the bank. I was driving in the right hand lane of Sproul Road just as a light turned green. One of the two cars in the left lane travelling the same direction, a white pick-up actually, must not have seen me and started drifiting into my lane without signalling or anything. He saw me and pulled back into his own lane but not until he layed on his horn at me for a solid 5 seconds at least. Annoying, but whatever. Anyway, I passed the pick-up and the car in front of them and then pulled into the left lane. As I checked in my rear view mirrow I saw the pick-up trying to pass the car between us via the turning lane. A car was stopped in front of them so they veered over two lanes and was flooring it trying to catch up with me. What the heck? We were coming up on another stop light where some other cars were stopped. The pick-up driver pulled up on the shoulder on the far right and started yelling his head off at me. I ignored him but was wondering what in the world I had done to annoy him so much. I didn't even do anything wrong.

So today I went grocery shopping at BJ's. I pulled into a spot but it was a tight fit as the car on the right was parked illegally in a not-quite-big-enough spot. Anyway, at the end of my shopping with kids fighting all the time and after lifting cases of water and juice pouches and everything, I walk out to my van. The car which had been parked illegally was gone but apparently I had annoyed them and they decided to throw a half-empty soda all over the right side of my van as a parting gift. I got the kids in the van withou them getting all sticky and rearranged the bikes and scooters we had left in the back of the van the other night so I could fit the groceries in. All the while pausing for painful braxton-hicks contractions (which happen every time I bend over or change position of any sort) and fighting tears over how mean people are these days without the slightest provocation. I cried the entire way home, unloaded my groceries, and dragged the hose out of the back yard to spray off the side of my van before the soda dried completely.

You know, there are some days when I just really hate people.

Happy Fourth

Every year we Americans drag ourselves and our kids down to some bug infested park to subject ourselves to half an hour of damagingly loud explosions and bright lights the combination of which causes terror and trauma in our youngest children. And we like it! Maybe it is just me but it seems like a strange way to celebrate the Independence of our country.
This year we went down to the Ridley Park lake (or pond - as I call it) to watch the fireworks. They do a decent fireworks display but there is no patriotic music accompanying the show. I missed the music. A fireworks diesplay without the patriotic music is really just a lot of noise and light with no purpose, in my personal opinion. Samuel, however, was completely enthralled. James, who hates the noise and is terrified of the whole concept, buried himself in our blanket, covered his ears, curled up in my lap and ...fell asleep. Typical James.

Myrtle Beach Update

Due to all the craziness going on around here lately, I forgot to post any pictures from our Myrtle Beach vacation. This year we finally convinced John's entire family along with some family friends to join us. We had 17 people and it was a blast! We will be going next year (the week leading up to Father's Day) and anyone is welcome to join us!
The picture above is from a bridge at Broadway at the Beach. It is a collection of fun little shops (including Build a Dino) and some awesome restaraunts.

The next three pictures are us having fun at the waterpark located on the resort where we stay.

On the other side of the water park is the beach! We usually spent mornings at the waterpark and the afternoon at the beach.

After the beach we cleaned up and went out to dinner. Every night we went somewhere different. I think we had a few too many all-you-can-eat places on the list this year- including an all-you-can-eat pizza buffet that has chocolate chip cookie dough pizza. They all tasted soooooo good.

Of course what is a family vacation without James falling asleep in the middle of everything?!

After dinner we went to the Family Kingdom to take the kids on rides. This picture is James and John after they won the first annual Traverso go-kart rally.

Other nights we would do a little shopping. This is a picture of the whole group at Broadway at the Beach. Along with the stores they usually have street performers making balloon animals or juggling or doing magic trips. I love Myrtle Beach!

Obie's Quilt

Here are a couple of pictures of my latest project: a baby quilt for my little Obie. We still don't have a name so we have shortened Obi-Won Tissue Box Stephen Anthony Hungry down to Obie. I think it is a vast improvement but we still have a way to go.

The pictures aren't great. All those little green specks are frogs. That is what the entire back is made of. It also has little light orange ties on it. I'll have to get a better picture of it.

Anyway, I am so glad I am done. Now all we have to do is paint the boys' room and stain the bunk beds and hang the wall paper border and... sigh.

Emily

I came home from Myrtle Beach to some sad news. Emily Davis, a dear sister, surrogate mother, and friend from the Philadelphia 1st ward passed away on Saturday. Emily has struggled with health problems for many years and has always managed to stay ahead of the game. I think all of us expected her to pull through this time as well.
I met Emily when John and I moved into the ward in 2001. She was a sweet African American sister with kids about my age. She had a warmth and kindness to her that radiated from her to everyone around. She also gave the best hugs ever!
Emily passionately loved to read. She was the force of nature behind organizing our book club and keeping it going all of these years. Although mystery novels were her favorites, she was willing to read every book we sent her way and was not abashed at sharing her opinion. She shared her own favorites which were eye opening to a group of white girls from Utah. We were able to have many open and honest discussions on race and poverty with Emily. She had overcome so much in her life and was willing to share her experiences and reach out to help others with their own difficulties.
Emily was the most faithful member of the ward choir when I was ward choir director. She loved to sing! She was there and ready to sing every single week- which is saying something since we had practice at 8:30 on Sunday mornings. In fact, frequently she asked me to pick her up so she wouldn't be late. During our drives into church we talked a little about everything. She didn't know it but those little talks helped me through some of the most difficult times in my life. She talked me through parenting, being kind to myself when I was overwhelmed and she offered her support when I became a church widow (John was called into the bishopric) and had to struggle with the kids on my own. Her understanding meant the world to me!
Emily had a smile and a laugh that were contagious. You couldn't help but want to be around her. I miss her already and although I know her kids, Brandy and Jared, have got to be devastated, at least they know that their mom loved them more than life itself. She was incredibly proud of them; she would practically burst with pride when she talked about them. And she will be waiting for them- and us- on the other side with arms wide open. I for one am looking forward to that hug!

Dad's Day

Happy belated Father's Day to all you dads out there. I don't feel like the dads get as celebrated as the moms do. In the case of my husband I think he deserves to be MORE celebrated than I do. He is an incredible father!! He plays with the kids all the time- even when he is completely exhausted and all he wants to do is sleep. He reads to them, coaches them, encourages them and finds creative ways to get them to do things... usually after I have asked them 20 million times to do the same thing and have given up in frustration. =) He just exemplifies everything a father should be. We are so lucky to have him!

hmmm...

Do you ever wonder if our doctors have any idea what they are talking about or if they are just guessing? No offense to doctors- especially John- but sometimes I just get this feeling that we are all undergoing a giant science experiment at their hands, OBs in particular...
Maybe I have been watching too many episodes of House!