Grocery Store Etiquette

I just returned home from Wal-Mart not long ago and have to vent about my experience.

As I walked the aisles, it seemed that I could not get away from a family with three of the loudest, most obnoxious kids. Not toddlers. These were older, grade school kids. I mean, Wal-Mart is huge and if you can hear kids screaming from across the store, you know they are being loud. I tried to ignore them and focus on my shopping, but much to my dismay, I ended up having a slight run-in with them and their mother.

I was in the dairy section, trying to get to the sour cream. These kids were jumping around all over the place between the yogurt and other dairy products. I tried to wait patiently until they moved, but they and their mom were oblivious to the fact that other people may actually want to get to the products they were so rudely blocking.

Finally, I made my way around them to the sour cream. As I was reaching for my last pint, their mother pushed around me, stepped on my toe and reached up to grab some cottage cheese. I seriously thought I was going to blow a gasket! I mean, here I am 9+ months pregnant, trying to be polite, and she has the nerve to basically push me out of the way! She gave me a quick apology, but at this point I was furious. I grabbed my cart and headed for the bacon.

As I was walking to the meat section, I could see out of the corner of my eye that they were behind me and gaining on me. I decided that I needed to do something to inconvenience them just as they had been inconveniencing other shoppers all night. So I waited until they were fairly close, swerved my cart over and cut them off! They didn't say anything and probably were oblivious to this just as they were to everything else in the store tonight. But, I have to say that it made me feel better. It may not have been the boldest move ever made, but I was satisfied.

Maybe next time they will think twice about coming between a woman and her dairy products.

Ten Years

Today it has been ten years since my mom passed away.

My mom was a little giant. She went through more trials in her life than most people I know, yet she had the strongest faith and really believed that things would always work out...even in the worst of circumstances. She was so kind and gentle, yet tough when she had to be. She made everyone around her feel special and loved. She loved to laugh. She swore when she stubbed her toe and always blamed it on being raised in a logging camp. She would have fought to the death for any one of her children or grandchildren. She loved near beer. She loved church. She had friends from all walks of life and loved them all dearly. She loved to dance in the kitchen when good news came her way. When I wasn't accepted into a girl scout troop in the 4th grade, she held a grudge against the troop leader for the rest of her life. When my high school boyfriend dumped me, she took me shopping that night to get a cute new outfit to wear the next day so that he would regret his decision. I could go on forever about my mom.

I was telling Jeff today that I normally don't get very sentimental on this particular day of the year. It's not this day or her birthday or Christmas that cause me to miss her as much as all of the days in between. It's the days like Lizette's first day of preschool, or moving into our house, or feeling the baby kick non stop for hours, or completely ruining another dinner, or Jeff getting a promotion, or when I completely embarrass myself in front of someone (which happens all too often), or when I wonder why being a mom can be so hard...gosh, I could go on forever.

I loved sharing all of these types of things with my mom. My heart still aches to be able to just call her and talk. In fact, a lot of times, I do talk to her. Yes, I might be a little crazy, but I like to tell her about the events of my life. It makes me feel better. I think she would want it that way.

Wow, ten years...After she first passed away, I really didn't think I could survive. She was my best friend and I missed her so much. I still miss her and think about her every day, but I've learned that I'm stronger than I thought I was. She raised me to be strong and independent, and she definitely wouldn't want me sitting around feeling sorry for myself.

So, life has gone on. I married a wonderful man who is my best friend and whom I know my mom would just love. We are raising our family the best way we know how and she would be proud of that. She would be proud of all of her kids and grand kids and so happy about all of the fun things happening in our lives.

I know that I will get to see her once again when this life ends for me and what a fun reunion that will be. I imagine lots of laughter and tears and lots and lots of hugs.

Mom, I miss you dearly. You will be part of my heart forever and ever. Thank you for raising me the way you did and teaching me how to survive in this tough world.

I love you!
Snickelfritz

Pre-school

Our little sweetie started pre-school last week and she LOVES it. I wondered how she would do, being the shy little thing that she is. I stayed the first day to observe and I was amazed at how much she enjoyed it. It almost made me cry to watch the excitement in her face. This will be so good for her and I am beyond thrilled that she is enjoying it so much.

There are six families who have formed a co-op, so we each take a turn teaching at our homes for a couple of weeks at a time. I think it is going to work out great. Being sort of new to the whole pre-school thing, it's nice to be in a group with other moms who know what they are doing!

First Day of School!

Showing off her new backpack. (Possibly the most important thing she owns now.)

Lizette's Favorite Songs

(Before you hit play, scroll to the bottom of the page to turn off my playlist music)

"I Am a Child of God"

"Do As I'm Doing"




"Popcorn Popping"

Pudding Love

Homemade vanilla pudding. Oh, how I love you. You are scrumptious. I realize that I might be going overboard making 4 batches in 4 days and eating every last, yummy bite. But I cannot help myself. You are the last thing I think about before I go to bed and the first thing I think about when I wake up in the morning. (Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating, but not much!)

A pregnant woman is entitled to at least one craving, right? With Lizette it was bacon. With this baby it is homemade vanilla pudding. Who knows where these cravings come from, but should we really deny ourselves and our babies of these delectable treats? I think not. Batch #5 is chilling in the fridge as I write.

Looking forward to more pudding...

Doesn't look like much, but Yum-O!

Gone in about 1 minute...

So sad that there is no more pudding...

Time to make more!

In case you would like to try this delicious sweetness, the recipe can be found on page 132 of the Better Homes and Gardens cookbook. This is the version I use...I have it memorized:

3/4 cup sugar
3 Tablespoons cornstartch
3 cups milk
2 beaten eggs
1 Tbsp. butter
1-1/2 tsp. vanilla

Mix sugar, cornstarch and milk in medium saucepan. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly, then cook for two more minutes. Remove from heat. Gradually add about a cup of the milk mixture to the beaten eggs. Add egg mixture back into saucepan. Cook and stir again over medium heat until almost bubbly, then turn down heat and cook and stir for two more minutes. Remove from heat. Add butter and vanilla and stir. Pour into serving cups. Cover the surface with plastic wrap and chill. (Whatever is leftover after pouring into serving cups can be easily devoured in about 30 seconds by taking a large spoon and shoveling it into your mouth as fast as possible.)

Nienie

I think in most people's lifetime, they come across a handful of people who truly touch their hearts. Besides parents, siblings, spouses, and dear friends, there are those we meet who in some special way make a difference in our lives. I have come across one of these special people in the past year and I have never even met her.

Her name is Stephanie Nielson.

I was introduced to her blog last year while visiting my family in Tennessee. My sister-in-law, Cara, relayed the tragic story of a plane crash that Stephanie and her husband were in last year. Stephanie suffered burns to over 80% of her body. Her husband also sustained burns (I think 20-30% of his body), and both could have easily perished in the accident.

Upon realizing that she was still in the burning plane, he went back for her and pulled her out, saving her life. After months and months of being in a coma and undergoing multiple surgeries, she woke up. She woke up to pain; to a completely different body and face; to hearing that she had a very long road of recovery ahead of her; to children who didn't recognize her. I can't even imagine...

She has taken on this trial with a strength that seems unattainable to me. She is now blogging again and continues to inspire so many with her courage, grace and beauty. She understands that our Heavenly Father loves each of us more than we can imagine and has a plan for all of us. She understands that this life is just a short moment in eternity. She understands that we should enjoy the simple things.

Yesterday, she hiked Y mountain in Provo, UT to commemorate the 1 year anniversary of her accident. Unbelievable.

Stephanie, I will probably never meet you. If I ever had the pleasure of meeting you, I would tell you that you have inspired and humbled me like no one else. Thank you for your words, your faith, your example, and for the beautiful person that you are.

The Saturday Morning Sleep In

Saturday mornings. Aren't they the best? I don't have as much of an appreciation for them now as when I was working, but I still love them. Usually there is no where in particular we have to be at any particular time. The entire day can be spent doing nothing or lots of things. As long as we're together, it really doesn't matter.

On those days when Lizette wakes up earlier than the typical Saturday morning wake up time, I'll let her come and sleep with us. (It's the only way she will go back to sleep!) She usually snuggles right up to Jeff's back and pushes him over so that he has like 6 inches of space left to sleep on. Poor guy. He needs the Saturday morning sleep in more than any of us, but he ends up literally getting pushed out of bed by our almost 3 year old.

These will be good memories someday.

Have a great Saturday!