The world according to Merf

is it just me?

2012-02-11T10:28:00.001-06:00

does everyone talk to their children---non-homebound children----everyday---um---even multiple times per day---for random trivial one minute blurbs up to hour-long deep serious conversations on how to save the world.....and when you have multiple children that means multiple multiple conversations.+------or is it just me?

does everyone feel a sense of goneness when they dont talk to their children---everyday---multiple times per day---including fb chats, skype-ing, email, texting AND voice calls?---or is it just me?

would anyone else have DIED if they had lived BEFORE said technology allowed such interaction---or is it just me?

just thinking out loud....well....on paper

2012-01-27T14:53:00.001-06:00

if you have followed me for long (and really---who among us hasnt?)---then you know i have the need to be clever---if i cant be clever---i dont write it----and i am DARN clever in my mind as i drive down the freeway---so when there is a lull in what you have to follow (a clever way of saying "i havent posted in a while)---it usually means i'm not feeling clever.

you also know i dont send out christmas letters---altho i LOVE getting them---i always feel the need to be ---hmmm---how to say it cleverly----BLATANTLY honest about what is going on in my life....

lull...

milo is back in florida after 3 weeks with us---david & i shared custody---i had him everyday---then i'd hand him off to david so i could go to rehearsal everynight.

rehearsal---i'm in Big River---musical about Huck Finn by Roger Miller (old country singer from the 60's)...beautiful and CLEVER music...based on ---duh---mark twain's book.....i get to play 2 parts---act 1 i play a bible-thumping slave owner that takes in Huck Finn to civilize him----act 2 i play a backwoods slave owner that wants to take in Huck Finn to civilize him.....hmmm...see a pattern?...maybe the director knows i am a book of mormon thumper who took in children and made them do chores....if you are in the area---come see me.

dancing moose---yes--we continue to do our ethics shows---the guys are in the process of writing another show---yes---still the best job EVER----and no---i dont get tired of travelling.

blackberry vs iphone4s....not even a discussion

jasmine is carrying my 9---COUNT THEM---9th grandchild---the oldest is 3---i watch hoarders and worry----

i'm in the primary presidency at church now----i'm always surprised how much i like little kids---which is good since i have 9 grandkids 3 and under

i have 2 kids i dont talk much about---no way to be clever about this---but they are adults and get to make their own lives---and so do i---relationships have to be mutually respectful......wow---that wasnt clever at all.

i waffle up and down on the same 20 lbs---i'm on the up right now---OH MY GOODNESS---WAY TOO BLATANT FOR MY SELF-ESTEEM....and i have long hair--- i hatehatehateHATEHATEHATE it.... but a little hairspray makes it look fuller---and i'm told i look younger with it....and i'm letting it go back to blonde with white highlights because a haircutting reality show said that lighter haircolor makes your thin hair look fuller because your SHINY WHITE scalp doesnt show thru as much

i'm in my mid-50's......hmmmm....no way to clever that up either.....but its not really bad...really.

i'm ready for my closeup

2012-01-26T13:37:00.001-06:00

the family---left to right back row---me, leah with porter (squirrel!) lyric and pyper, jasmine and beth
front row---david, ace with jonas, joe and cannon, ben and milo, david and ben....
MERF---WHAT WERE YOU THINKING? YOU LOOK LIKE YOU BELONG IN THE 1940'S!!!!!!!!!!!!!

milo (2 yrs 4 months) on the slide---he thinks before he moves

always my favorite picture---pick a pose

nelson clan---they live in houston---joe is in his 2nd year of medical school---leah chases boys all day...and night...and day...much like she did as a young girl (whoa---did i really say that!?! love you little girl! :)

in the leaf pile----front to back---ben, cannon, jonas and milo

porter nelson----4 1/2 months

Jonas (2 yrs old) LOVES being outside---LOVE LOVE LOVE

Ah----the change in the family this year---the addition of estrogen! Pyper (3 1/2 months) and Beth (10 months)

ben and milo on the slide---milo is a clone of his dad---yay? lol!

best uncle EVER---ace loves his nieces and nephews---you can see how thrilled pyper and porter are to have joined this group....jonas doesnt look very secure either!

Beth----i think she thought she was in a playground made of jelly beans!

milo and ben---joy

its a good picture of david, cannon and porter---ben is trying to escape---milo is yelling at someone---beth and pyper are looking at something (someone over to the right?)---and jonas looks like he's ready to go

ace 17 1/2---just finished high school and started college! woot woot!
(note to ace---shave your neck)

the fam--wow! got a decent picture of everyone! not easily done!

Team Webb---living and loving life in Orlando---ben is a doctoral student in optics and lasers (dont worry---our eyes all glaze over at this point) and lyric is going to school full time (3 semesters left) in early childhood education....milo and pyper give her plenty of opportunities to try out what she's learning.

and the Halls---david is an engineer at Valero's refinery near New Orleans---Jasmine is also 3 semesters from getting her degree in education....and she's growing another student---due July 28, 2012!

joe and jonas---anything better than that face?

Halls used this picture to announce the coming of "tiny" Hall

david and ben----hmmmm---who has a brighter smile?

Lyric and Pyper---love this picture of them together

i LOVE pictures where babies/kids look like they do in real life----lots of pictures of beth and pyper smiling---gotta show the other side!

i feel blessed to have a lovely family----and they arent too bad lookin' either.

bye bye milo

2012-01-23T13:28:00.003-06:00

....my final milo blitter---more of a blog.
its interesting----i had one grandchild for 3 1/2 months---then i had two for 6 months---then 3 for 4 months----in 13 months i went from no grandkids to 4---all boys----kinda like a litter....one born the next year---then 3 more in 2011---including 2 girls----still like a litter. when the grandbabies are all here it is like nursery at church---you kinda sit back and watch the mayhem---catching one for a hug as they run by----cuddling the one that is crying....but not a lot of one on one time....this past year i was able to have Ben here for about 10 days just by himself---it was great---got to see his little (no, its Ben-----big BIG personality) and enjoy just him....then when leah had Porter I got to be with cannon and jonas while she was with Porter at the hospital----and since they live just---and i do mean JUST--- 4 hours away----i get to spend time with the nelson boys more than when they were in far off Utah.

so this was milo's turn----nearly 3 weeks with him----not all partying---naps, bedtimes, baths, "no-no" to him and him right back to me----up at 1 a.m. for a sippy cup of water----got to know mr milo---he is such a chill little guy----TOTALLY his father with his adventurous spirit and his joy and curiousity---his talking jumped up ten-fold during his time here. he loves to play outside---he has a very happy personality---he gets so excited when he is happy and he has the best sense of humor---he gets the 'joke' and loves to perpetuate it---"wheres grandpa?"----"he's gone!"----"there he is!"----we played that game for 3 weeks!

i'm going to miss finding him in the hall---wide awake---just waiting for an invitation to come out in the morning or after nap....cuddling with him when he gets up----having him call everyone grandma---but putting his arms out for me.....he loves (okay tolerates) my dogs....who is going to pull my hand so i will play cars with him or color with him....i'm going to miss the little guy who lays down and goes to bed without any struggle or argument!

i am not going to miss....1 a.m. sippy cups....trying to grocery shop with a 2 yr old that HATES grocery carts....and i love grocery shopping....going thru GALLONS and GALLONS of milk---milo and ace together are a bad combination for milk consumption.....i'm not going to miss the flailing legs refusing to have his diaper changed...nope---not gonna miss that at all.
...
i am going to miss milo....he wont remember this time together----but i will.

on the eve of turning 40++....okay 50++++

2012-01-20T14:02:00.004-06:00

musings:

i love love love this age
i hate hate hate this body
i love love love getting away with stuff because i can (muu-muu's in public)
i hate hate hate the number
i love love love being a grandma
i hate hate hate----nope----i love love love being a mom to adults
i love love love my quiet house----unless the kids want to come---then i love love love the noise
i hate hate hate my quiet life
i love love love my freedom
i hate hate hate my hair---and the profile picture where i have to hold up my chin
i hate hate hate birthdays---not because i hate the event---just hate having to orchestrate my own birthday.

happy birthday to me---and if you aint hit this age yet---the best is yet to be.

no longer the only child.....his THE OTHERS

2012-01-19T11:34:00.001-06:00

cannon, jonas and porter came to the house last night---staying for a few days over my birthday... milo was asleep when they arrived...
cannon, jonas and porter are early risers---they were up and at'em this morning...milo got up a bit later...
he was happy to see cannon, jonas and porter....and then he realized they were here here and here.

he climbed onto grandma's lap---ignoring mommy on skype...just wanted to be held.

cannon, jonas and milo went to story time at the library with grandma and grandpa....milo wanted to be carried.
milo sat in grandma's lap the whole time.

yep---he's no longer the only child.

oh! i get it----these are his THE OTHERS!

the OTHERS

2012-01-17T23:42:00.001-06:00

Milo spent the weekend with THE OTHERS (thats what i call any of my kids' 'inlaws'---its meant totally endearing :)----i try to be very generous with OUR grandchildren with THEM----
anyway---we drove milo down to corsicana to the Jack-in-the-box on the corner of Interstate 45 and Hwy 31----we pulled up next to THEIR car---handed off the merchandise---got us some egg rolls---and headed home for a childless weekend---well---other than ace---but he hardly counts---you know what i mean-----
anyway
we got no skype calls from milo
he didnt call us on our cells
we got no pictures on our phones
i did see a picture of HER and milo at some farm or lake or something---whtvr
monday---we go back to our 'drug-deal-gone-bad' site in corsicana---pull up to HER car (HE didnt come with HER this time----)----told milo to say goodbye to HER---he did----we put him in our car---handed him his goldfish and personal dvd player (with Planet 51 still in it)---and we headed home....
we didnt speak to milo of his time THERE
pretty sure by now there is no memory of it...notice there arent even any pictures of that time----so there will NEVER be a memory of it
my plan has worked...

news year eve chopped competition

2012-01-16T10:41:00.003-06:00

for new years eve we decided to do a variation on the food network show "chopped"---the three couples got their kids to bed---then 'game on'.....ace, david and i were judges....
rules:
1. access to my pantry/fridge/freezer
2. $10 for a store-run to buy extra ingredients (all 3 couples piled into a van and ran to the store together)
3.@ 2 hours to make 3 courses----
     a. appetizer to be judged at 20 minutes in
     b. entree to be judged at 40 minutes after that
     c. dessert to be judged 30 minutes after that
we were fairly flexible on timing for our first venture into competitive chef-ery.

plates were judged on presentation, creativity (use of pantry etc) and taste.

2 secret ingredients---marshmallows were revealed at the onset of the competition
                                   french-fried onions were revealed about 1/2 way thru the entree course

Ace set us up a judges table and judging sheets

Team Webb:
appetizer----chicken quesadillas with a nice queso sauce---presentation was very cute
**entree---Ben grilled GORGEOUS chicken breasts outside---honey mustard grilled mushrooms were added to the side as was a rice-a-roni BOXED side dish
dessert---homemade fudge with the marshmallows----cut in a circle---mmmmmmmmmmm
.....btw----team webb does not watch food competition shows----BIG learning curve for them! but they watched the other teams 'present' their dishes and were right there using the correct verbage.

Team Hall:
appetizer----lettuce wrap with tuna salad with diced carrots (gotta know your judges!)
entree---grilled steak with a DIVINE sauce--- with a pumpkin mash casserole with the french fried onions on top
**dessert---missionary pie----really a peach dump cake----presented in individual dishes---with ice cream on top
....btw...team Hall had just won the Hall family 2011 cupcake wars and chopped competition earlier that week in Beaumont!

Team Nelson:
----interesting this one---leah is gluten-free----Joe is vegetarian (extra funny/interesting---Cannon is a self-proclaimed non-eater at this point, Jonas is no-egg/no-dairy and Porter nurses!)---so---do they cook to please the judges or to their own dietary restrictions?
**appetizer----tomato and basil bruschetta----to perfection---so good---the topping was all from fresh vegetables and herbs---SO GOOD
entree---oops----leah made apple & sausage risotto------BIG FAN----but her brown rice never softened---so they had nothing to show---Joe made some DELICIOUS zucchini, carrot vegetable blend ----big risk here---we arent 'funny' vegetable people (except ace)----but these were SO good.
dessert----gluten free brownie (made in a waffle maker----so clever) with homemade raspberry sorbet on top

what a fun evening---will add pictures in a bit---the winner of each round has the ** next to it

final winner----TEAM HALL---their near perfect dessert, the sauce on David's steak---pushed them over the edge----

three teams----three meals---three hours

jasmine chopping and preparing the delicious lettuce tuna wraps for their appetizer round

the kitchen was crazy with 3 different meals being cooked all at the same time!

leah checking out the plating possibilities from my china closet

team hall's steak with the pumpkin mash on the side---sauce was made of balsamic vinagarette, french fried onions, marshmallows (major creative points here) and chives

this is team webbs chicken on a bed of rice with the sauteed honey mushrooms on the side

the three desserts----brownie with sorbet (marshmallow/caramel spider-webby decoration) fudge with caramel underneath and missionary 'pie'---hmmmm---i didnt get any a&w----hmmmmm---that woulda been bonus points

yeah---BIG mess----the guys helped me clean it up after we celebrated the stroke of midnight

this was fun--see you next year for round 2!

milo is an eater

2012-01-11T22:12:00.002-06:00

2 year olds can drive you crazy with their picky-eatingness----"no" being their favorite flavor....but tonight at dinner Milo proved he could man up and really get it done..... now this video is mostly for his parents---they are missing him right now---but is there anything cuter than a 2 yr old using a big boy fork!?

copyright@merf

2012-01-11T22:08:00.001-06:00

on this, the 10th day of January, in the year 2012---I do hereby take ownership/creatorship/copyright to the word BLITTER....any use of said word should include a check----or at least a link to my blog....

seriously...why has no one ever thought of this word? it cant be 'bleet'---that is already taken by the sheep community---and i wouldnt want to cause confusion and delay to anyone from the sheep persuasion that might be reading this.....haha....

blitter---a short blog post---limited to a paragraph or so---maybe one picture and a caption.

sometimes i just make myself laugh....really....JUST myself.

Milo has a bed buddy

2012-01-10T22:57:00.001-06:00

Chloe feels it is her place to lay anywhere a blanket is....and very often finds herself not alone

cuddling with Beth

finding milo's blanket and laying on it---AND HIM

pyper and chloe---and an iphone!

an off-year

2012-01-10T14:13:00.002-06:00

all of our kids' 'inlaws' live in texas---YAY! so it has been wonderfully convenient that every other year we have everyone at our house---and the other other year they are at the OTHER's homes---then they come to our home--for a delayed christmas. 2 years ago it worked well---we slept in on christmas day---ace opened gifts---we went to brunch, saw a movie---ate out dinner---lovely.....
BUT THIS YEAR CHRISTMAS WAS ON A SUNDAY---THERE OUGHTA BE A LAW!

and----church was only an hour----WHAT THE HECK ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO THE REST OF THE DAY?

so---we went to my sister and her husband's house in Lago Vista---about 3 hours south o'here by Austin....beautiful drive---casual---let Eden cook---and she is a master---hang out and play games---watch movies---then head back on monday---after a lovely brunch and seeing the movie, Hugo----beautifully done....

eden & bill really outdid themselves---we always have a good time with them---

ace and i christmas morning---dont look at my hair---really---dont

ace continuing the tradition of coming down the stairs in age order

we moved the presents we were opening on Sunday to being under this pathetic stuffed tree

santa claus was very good to ace

ace got a Freeport (my hometown) pretzels t-shirt!

ace got my old cracked-screen itouch


	Eden & Bill got a cute ice cream cake for dessert

Eden & Bill live on a golf course with deer---so serene!

eden's welcoming fireplace

isnt this the prettiest table!

me taking a picture of eden and bill taking a picture of their table

whew! what could have been a plain old lonesome no good CHRISTMAS day (yes--there is a bit of sarcasm in my speech---wish you could hear it)--became a lovely and relaxing quick near-staycation!

milo video

2012-01-09T23:51:00.001-06:00

mr milo has found ace's monkey-in-a-graduation-gown-that-sings-"Schools Out"....
we put it, of course, on a tiered plate so it can go round and round...it entertains all of us every night at dinner.....he really does sing along with it...that whole dance thing is totally his father....and the potato was NOT hot.

milo blitter part 3

2012-01-08T20:14:00.001-06:00

so much cuteness---middle of the night diaper changes---getting kicked out of my own bed---"Good Morning!" from a happy face---so much to choose from---so i chose this:

how many men does it take to change a 2 yr old's diaper----2----one to do the diapering (with a butt-cheek left out in the air---oops---will that language get me reported?)---and one to hold his arms up and threaten to tickle said 2 yr old---which distracts said 2 yr old enough for him to forget how much he hates having his diaper changed---but got this great picture:

mr milo blitter 2

2012-01-07T16:02:00.003-06:00

this morning---at 6 stinkin a.m.---on a saturday---i hear milo stirring---did i mention that milo is sleeping in one of those "couch-that-folds-out-into-a-bed-foamy" things in our room?---well he is---so i hear him stirring---then kinda whining---now david and i used to play the game "maybe if i lay here the other one will hear the baby crying and get up" when our kids were little---so maybe david has forgotten the game---but he got up and tried to bring Milo into bed with us---milo said (ready for it?)--"no"----i put my arms out to him and VOILA! he came to me---i put him under the covers and he was back asleep for another 2 hours.

okay---i know this isnt Milo---but imagine milo's face on this picture---now make it sideways---without the cringing from the flash (so in actuality---the only thing to remember from this picture is the sheets and that there is a cute little boy in it)---and that is what Milo looked like in my bed this morning.

mr milo blitter

2012-01-06T15:13:00.000-06:00

i need to blog about christmas, chopped,---other holiday stuff----but i am starting a daily snippet blog----almost a twitter blog---so a blitter? blotter? twigger? anyway.

history: during December southwest airlines offered a special ONE-DAY sale---buy it today or it goes---1/2 price anywhere---but you have to fly on Jan 24 or 25 or Jan 31/Feb 1-----a tues or a wednesday---so you stay over either one night or a week----not really convenient---i called lyric to see if she wanted to jump on it---but she is in school full-time---so we decided Milo could stay after Christmas and I would fly him back---but stay over only one day (i am doing the show "Big River" at Artisan Theater and that is the last week of regular rehearsals)----Milo will be here with us for 18 days---mommy and daddy and sister, Pyper, left yesterday---so today is our first full day. each day i hope/plan/resolve to write a snippet of a milo moment.

1/06/12....milo woke up kinda realizing that some special people were missing---kinda lost----when mommy called and he heard their voices BIG SMILE! Uncle Ace took milo out to roll cars down the slide. Milo LOVES pizza! yay!
miloism: "lucy---get out" "stop it, lucy" (he's a big fan of lucy!) and....milo knows how to lock the dog crates---which means that poor chip gets locked in his crate....a lot...poor chip.

thankful for....

2011-12-06T07:23:00.001-06:00

days that give me the opportunity to be reminded of how blessed i am.

Thanksgiving 2011---Jasmine, Ben & Beth had been here for 3 weeks---so much fun---got to play and hold and watch---grateful for time! David Hall arrived Tuesday night...grateful for him letting us have his family for so long. Leah & Joe and the boys came on Thanksgiving Day and stayed thru Sunday morning---the party is on! My sister, Eden and her lovely husband, Bill came up from Lago Vista, TX (down by Austin) and stayed til Friday----grateful for having family IN texas! Eden brought up 5 GORGEOUS pies and a lovely fall flower arrangement---thankful for generous and tasteful people. We were well on our way to a wonderful feast.

J Howard Davis came for dinner and watched the Cowboy game for a bit as well....yay for a win! Our menu was a combination of gluten-free, diabetic-friendly and traditional thanksgiving food...citrus-brined turkey, 2 kinds of stuffing, garlic & lemon green beans, my niece Jennifer's AMAZING won-ton sausage appetizer....mmmmm grateful for FOOD.

after the meal---david hall, joe, ace and david went out to the back yard to work on the playground installation....(see previous post). We got out the push car, the double stroller and the POWER WHEELS (side note---having a son that works at goodwill and texts you pictures of the GREAT stuff that comes in---BONUS!----got it for $7 WORKING!). Ben and Cannon had a great time 'driving'---yeah---now i see why we dont let 2 and 3 yr olds drive (yes---cannon just turned 3---*sigh* the kids are growing up :). we headed over to the playground at the school across the street----Bill, Jasmine, Eden & I watched the boys run and jump and slide (Beth and Porter stayed in their stroller happy as bugs). It was fun to watch Bill push Jonas on the pushcar....grateful for people who love my grandkids!

eden happily took on the job of pushing porter and beth in the double stroller---not so easily done on a grassy field!

beth and porter were all bundled up---thanks Great-aunt Eden for pushing the double!

jonas loved having Bill push him in the pushcar.

jasmine was always close at hand to make sure no veering was happening!

the boys took turns driving the power wheels on the sidewalk (meaning on and off the grass) and in the parking lot of the school....they are such cute friends.

Beth stood up on her own---what a great baby to let us get it on camera! even Porter was interested!

that evening we played a rousing game of the Name Game---our favorite! twas a lovely day!

no-no to no-no

2011-12-04T20:07:00.001-06:00

ace and i put up the tree today----and put back about 4 big buckets full of ornaments, nativities and other decoration we will not be putting up this year...all lovely---all very breakable....we also trimmed the tree on the bottom only with ornaments that we knew would put up with little hands. (the lack of lights on the bottom is due to last year's puppy, Lucy, chewing the heck out of anything in HER reach!)

in the past we have put our 'octagon' around the tree to keep the crawlers and toddlers from pulling the tree over or eating everything within arms' reach----but since our one crawler (beth "incredibles" hall) wont be here til a few days after christmas, we will hold off on enclosing the tree.

Leah & the boys will be here for a day or two this week---and i dont want to say "no-no" the whole time they are here---so instead i just wont put out what will break or be dangerous....Jonas and Cannon are both old enough (haha---really, merf?----2 is old enough?---have you ever SEEN a two year old?---tsk, tsk---so naive---so innocent) anywho----they are old enough to be told only once or twice a day "no-no---dont touch the tree"....grandma's house doesnt like being a no-no kinda place

we also put up a playground in the backyard----our christmas present to ourselves---Joe, David & david hall (and ace before he went to work) worked ALL day the saturday after Thanksgiving putting it together----you remember that saturday? coldest and windiest day of the fall so far? yeah---that day---playground was finished at about 530---just in time for Ben Hall and Jonas nelson to go outside and climb up the climbing wall and go down the slide a couple of times before they froze---and jonas didnt care---he didnt want to come in.

cannon went down the slide sunday morning before church---then realized "its cold!" and he was done.

david worked for about a week putting the accessories together and getting everything ready for

"the build"

jonas making his way up the climbing wall to the fort---looks like he is helping to build it!

(notice in the background of the picture with Jonas on the ladder---david hall is putting ben in time-out for pushing or hitting---i dont remember which---but david is saying "no-no" (haha---i thought that was funny)

along with that we redid our back family room area---make it more 'kid-friendly'---buckets-in-a-cabinet for toys with a tv/dvd for their movies and a futon for adults that want to oversee (and a place for ace to sleep while the girls and fams take over the upstairs)

ace has declared this his 'mancave'---set up his game systems and 2 tv's (really---why 2?)---they will depart when the short men come to the house.

i'd much rather have a yes yes house than a no-no house....so my pretties and preciouses will be put up for a year or two---or a decade or two---my pretties and preciouses (oooh---can you tell i've been watching LOTR lately?---picture me in a dishtowel type loin cloth---well, no---dont---anyway---back to my preciouses) are now 3 mo, 5 mo, 10 mo, 2 yrs, 2 1/2 yrs, 2 3/4 yrs and 3 yrs.

my future-moment

2011-10-23T21:11:00.000-05:00

ace december 31, 2009

went to a "future-missionary" meeting tonight with David & Ace. Got a nice invitation in the mail from the stake presidency. Ace & I arrived (david was coming from another meeting and would see us there)---we got there a few minutes early (as i'm prone to do)---Pres. Vigil (1st counselor in stake) came up and greeted us and asked if I would play the piano for the meeting---"sure"---then Ace asked if they needed a chorister----Pres Vigil gladly accepted Ace's volunteering....told us the the songs and we went up to the stand. It was a nice meeting---3 young men---one having returned from his mission 4 days ago!!!!----the other two within 3-4 months having returned home---each spoke and bore a strong testimony of how glad they were service. Then the three members of the stake presidency all spoke about their missions. I had to keep kicking ace to stay awake----as i'm prone to do----

then---it happened----

closing song----Called to Serve-----I'm playing the piano---looking at the chorister---as I'm prone to do---- and OH MY GOSH----its Elder Jeppson! I START STINKIN CRYING! thank goodness I know that song by heart---muscle memory ROCKS! i totally saw Ace as a missionary directing the music---hearing these wonderful 17-18 yr old boys out in the audience sing this song----my mascara is dripping down my cheeks---cant see a thing. I was so proud of stinkin--falling asleep-grounded from electronics-chat my ear off-Ace!

its a moment i will hold onto when the other moments jump out at me!

even after 30 years----you still remember....

2011-10-17T23:38:00.000-05:00

I pasted and copied this post from cjane
i still cry for couples i see experiencing infertility----even after 30 years---even after 6 children----its a deep pain that is hard to understand unless you have experienced it....I thought she said it wonderfully---so hear ya go:

Infertility is so much more than not having a baby in your arms.

That's why you can't hand your crying baby to the infertile woman at church and say things like, "Here, this will make you feel better. Aren't you glad you don't have to put up with this?"

The woman experiencing infertility doesn't want your baby. Certainly, your baby is squishy and lovely (even when crying) and smells so nice, but that's not it. That's not even a consolation.

Nor is saying to your infertile neighbor, "You should just adopt. If you adopt I swear you'd get pregnant. It's happened to like, three of my friends/relatives/coworkers."

Because, that's not it either. It's not about achieving some ends to a means. It's not about belittling adoption so you can achieve a pregnancy.

And adoption is not a scientific cure for infertility--and it's not an emotional cure either.

Infertility is an all encompassing state of being. It has the force to completely take over the core of a woman's belief about who she is and what she is capable of. It's not about having a biological baby or an adopted baby or a foster baby, it's about feeling whole even if no baby ever comes at all.

It's about overcoming those days when you are called to repentance (by well-meaning family members, or ladies at church) for "lacking the faith to conceive" or for being selfish because "what is taking you so long to have a baby?"

It's being able to love your body even though it's not functioning in a fertile way. It's about ignoring the statements like, "if you lost weight you'd get pregnant," or "the clock is ticking! you're getting too old," or "I don't know what the problem is, my husband looks at me wrong and I'm pregnant!"

It's the determination that no matter how family-friendly our culture is, or how valuable we pronounce motherhood or how we like to say well-meaning things like, "we're all mothers!" that the truth is we are all daughters of a loving Heavenly Father. And that isolated characteristic is mighty powerful in its own course. Anything else added to it is cherry, but not necessary for our eternal self-esteem.

My own battle with infertility ripped me apart. In those heavy years I felt every emotion given to mankind to feel. Jealously like a furious ocean. Anger, rage and self-directed disappointment. It wasn't just the inability to conceive, it was the inability to believe in myself.

There was a lot of misunderstanding everywhere I went.

BUT. There is a belief structure that we preach in our church based on a scripture in the Book of Mormon it says:

Ether 12:27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

If we come unto Christ, He will make our weaknesses strengths.

I'm not talking about being infertile for five years and then pregnant for the next four (which, as it turns out has happened in my experience). My weakness wasn't infertility which was washed away by strong fertility.

My weakness was not seeing who I really was, with or without a baby. I could only see myself as a person who wanted. I was incomplete. And upon getting (miraculously) pregnant I didn't suddenly understand, but somehow along the way I could see how the Lord took me by my hand and showed me my strength:

I am a daughter of God, and therefore entitled to intelligence, creativity, joy, inspiration and beyond. These are my strengths. Real strengths.

That is not to say there aren't residual wounds that came because of that inner turmoil (I am still working on forgiving some of those "helpful" remarks . . .) I feel I'll never get over the entire experience completely. And I suppose this is a post easier to write on the eve of having my third child. But I remember saying to myself during those extremely lonely years, "I want hope more than I want a baby." I didn't mean hope that someday I'd conceive, I meant hope that someday it wouldn't be so painful to be me.

This past week I was asked by Studio 5 to be a guest on their Sensitivity Training segment. They asked me to speak about how to talk to someone experiencing infertility. During the interview I said a phrase I didn't get to really explain "there's light at the end of the tunnel." It sounds so cliche and trite out of context. I didn't mean conception.

I meant: the light at the end of the tunnel comes when the light inside of yourself illuminates who you really are, and what you're really capable of.

That's when infertility becomes less about having a baby in your arms and more about gratitude for having experienced it.

another girl!!!!!

2011-10-17T17:51:00.000-05:00

her name will be Siri
her due date is Nov 1st
anticipate white as porcelain skin---but will wear Cowboys blue!I can dress her up in SO many ways!

yes---I AM GETTING AN IPHONE 4S!

i have had my blackberry for 2 years

i have hated my blackberry for 2 years...it butt-dials---it purse-dials----it is SOOOOOOOOOOOO slow in saving pictures-----the pictures are fuzzy and AWFUL!

my kids all have androids---they updated BEFORE THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO---so when I called Sprint to upgrade 6 months ago---they said sorry---you have 6 months yet.....grrrrr.....I am the primary number!

but....fate stepped in----and last week Sprint got the iphone----and this week I UPGRADED---whoot whoot!

i use my phone a ~~little~~ LOT! so i wanted one with a good camera---i wanted one that i would love as much as i love my itouch----VOILA!

Siri on iPhone 4S lets you use your voice to send messages, schedule meetings, place phone calls, and more. Ask Siri to do things just by talking the way you talk. Siri understands what you say, knows what you mean, and even talks back. Siri is so easy to use and does so much, you’ll keep finding more and more ways to use it.

Siri will call you by name! I'm so excited!

back again...

2011-10-16T19:36:00.000-05:00

gotcha! not MY back---but i'm back again! in primary.....

it has been 23 years since i was in a Primary Presidency! I had just found out i was pregnant with Jasmine when I was called as primary president....LOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG time ago.

so 5 weeks ago I was called as 1st counselor in our Primary----working with the children 18 months to 12 years old....

I've missed the last 5 Sundays---between Pyper's birth---then Porter's blessing---then Pyper's blessing---been gone a bit...so today was my first actual day in Primary---and it wasnt a 'real' Primary---we were rehearsing for our Primary Program for next Sunday.


big fan of stickers

I am serving with Ashley Walker and also of this fame, Kim Dewey and Jesica Eastman----3 of the cutest little girls you would ever know---and yes---i can call them girls---I am totally old enough to be all their mothers! but they also each bring a very special spirit with them---so i'm excited.

In the 23 years since last i served in this capacity I have served with EVERY OTHER age group---and been primary music leader 2-3 times---

so i was a little worried---these are a bunch of little kids---and i dont have this age group in my home---but the minute i heard them sing all those familiar songs---saw their cute faces---watched them wiggle, pick their nose, scratch, wipe etc...you get the picture----it all settled in and i am so happy to be there!

wow---nothing sarcastic or cryptic or clever----what is wrong with me!?!

my back

2011-10-13T17:30:00.001-05:00

ouch...
cant sit
cant stand
cant lay down
cant bend over
but apparently i can type

Photo hacking

2011-10-12T01:29:00.003-05:00

BTW - pics are being posted at random by Jasmine Hall with EXTREME bias. :) This is a blog-nap, folks! And any commentary will be added by Merf later-she is better at hilarious commentary than I am. :)

my clever--no wait---jas said "hilarious commentary" ---yeah---no pressure there---will be in the color of red for this post---thanks to jas for the pictures---albeit SIDEWAYS---she did say she hacked at 1 a.m.---go to bed, jasmine---go to bed!

we headed to disney knowing full well it was going to rain all day---but we had pre-purchased the tickets---so it was not an option to NOT go---3 babies, 3 double-strollers, 4 toddlers, one teenager, 10 adults---quite the crew to move around!

we got everyone ponchos to keep us as dry as possible---the boys were too small for even the child-size ones---so it was necessary to tie up the sides of theirs---they werent liking that a lot! we went to Magic Kingdom where most of the rides were toddler-friendly---this is Ben Hall loving the carousel!

Ben loved the Dumbo ride---even tho we were getting soaked!

we got all the boys matching orange mickey mouse t shirts---pyper and beth got pink onesies with minnie mouse ears---porter had an orange onesie with his name and mickey mouse ears on.

there is a great area in Disney where you can feed your kids---high chairs, small tables---a nice place to get out of the rain, eat, change diapers, nurse etc

leah is thinking of something---we stopped at an eating place to get out of the downpour and let the adults go on Space Mountain---Milo and Ben were asleep---as were Porter and Pyper----we played with Beth and chased cannon and jonas!

all of us in our rain-repellant finery---david hall, ace, joe nelson, me,leah...covering the strollers to keep the babies dry....barely saw porter or pyper!

david hall and ben on the monorail

because it was so rainy we didnt see many of the characters---but Cannon LOVED seeing Buzz LIghtyear---he's a big fan---Cannon talked about seeing Buzz for days!

On Sunday, we gathered at the church for the reason of the weekend---Pyper Lynn Webb's blessing. Ben Webb's parents (lynn & judy webb) came in from Huntsville, Tx (they were at disney with us too---but jasmine didnt take any pictures of anyone but her kids apparently ----holla jas!)

Team Webb---Pyper is named for my sister pyper and both grandfathers---lynn webb and david lynn jeppson

pyper looks so much like Milo---and so much like Lyric at that same age---beautiful babies!

what a treasured photo---these three work very hard to stay close to each other---even if that means having babies at the same time! leah w/porter (8 weeks)....lyric w/pyper (3 weeks)....jas w/beth (7 months)

how the nelsons have energy to be fun, I'm amazed! Joe is in his 2nd year of medical school---leah is in her 4th year as the nurturer of boys---porter is in his 3rd month of this family!

dave and i do enjoy our babies' babies---milo and pyper in this picture

the hall family (ben was in the nursery)---living in new orleans seems to fit them well---david is an engineer at a Valero refinery---jasmine is a full-time student and chaser of all children Hall.

pyper looks like a doll---really---a doll---there is the hope of hair somewhere under that hairband! promise!

us with team webb

i look tired

ah---girl cousins! they dont know it now---but they will have to do a lot of plotting to keep up with the boys!

i love how the sons-in-law in the family are very friendly---we put them in charge of the pumpkin carving contest---very creative bunch this.

then we got the GREAT idea to do Anne Geddes pictures of the babies---in the pumpkin---did they think it was a great idea????? pyper---nope

porter still not liking it---cant imagine why

beth wouldnt really fit IN the pumpkin---so we put her on it---yeah---that went over well

cannon was a trooper---altho since he is potty training---this wasnt a stretch for him

bribed---um---i mean--rewarded Ben with a jelly bean for sitting

yeah---Milo was thrilled---even with the promise of a jelly bean---still not thrilled.

and Jonas wasnt having it AT ALL---not even with the promise of a jelly bean.

the final artwork---david hall did the disney castle on the left---ben webb did the 'disney' spelled out as a face in the middle and joe nelson did the buzz lightyear head on the right

pyper was so unaware of the importance of the weekend---its all about you, baby girl!

yeah---a little awkward, huh----there was a HUGE bathtub in the master bedroom---so the boys all got in---and apparently the big boys also---well, at least joe and ben! you can see ben hall and david in the mirror---ben just got out of the bath

jasmine is making tutus---and beth is a willing model---she made quite a few matching ones for pyper and beth.

the blessing of Pyper Lynn Webb

2011-10-11T14:31:00.000-05:00

...just having her in our family.

but thats not what this blog is---this blogpost is about us travelling to orlando for the blessing of Pyper lynn webb.
3 jeppsons---david, ace & i
2 webbs---judy & lynn
4 halls---david, jasmine, ben & beth
5 nelsons---joe, leah, cannon, jonas & porter
all journeyed to orlando for this blessed event (how many times can i work that word in?)
we stayed in a 2 bedroom full kitchen resort at Hilton Grand Vacations at Seaworld (see my blog here) ...we went to Magic Kingdom with 11 adults, 3 two year olds, 1 22 month old, a 7 month old, an 8 week old and a 3 week old...in pouring rain---all day---good times. we ate Smokey bones...one of my favorite places...we went to church with lyric & ben---3 babies were blessed in church that day---Pyper was the cutest---Ben did a lovely job on the blessing....the webbs left---we went back to the resort and had a pumpkin carving contest (jas---do you have a picture?) and played the name game----we changed diaper after diaper after diaper (no pictures please)---there were multiple bubble baths in our big jetted bath tub---
hmmm...come back to this blog and i will include pictures...promise....
anyway---we were blessed to be able to go
blessed with a wonderful family
blessed with a new addition.

there will now be a pause in blessings.....lol.

what is your time worth?

2011-10-11T12:59:00.001-05:00

so what is your time worth?
david and i have gone to many a timeshare presentation---not that we BUY---but we dont mind spending a coupla hours to get a prize--- gas cards, hotel stays, kitchen gadgets----but it is all about the hotels---
we have gone to Las Vegas, Branson, Orlando (coupla times).... we've also NOT gotten a coupla cruises and hotel stays....
typical time share presentation:
you get 3 nights/4 days at a resort---all they ask is that you sit thru a 45 minute presentation (it is really going to be 2 hours)

customer service at the resort is AMAZING---facilities are great---we had a shower with water that came out of the ceiling---
so you head to the sales office for your presentation----

you are greeted by pretty people in black suits with jewel-tone shirts....they are SO HAPPY to see you---please---can i get you something to drink? a cookie? please sit down in this comfy chair----anotherprettyperson will be here in just a moment!
in comes anotherprettyperson ---also in a black suit with a jewel-tone shirt---so happy to meet you---tell me about yourself---wow you have HOW many kids? uh-huh! wow---that sounds great---let me tell you about myself---i used to be in *insert mainstream industry*---but then i got burned out and wanted something new and different---so i started with *insert brandname hotel chain/resort* about 3 months ago---and Man! I love it here----
so let me ask you a few questions:
do you like to take vacations? yes
where do you like to go? visit our children

thats not a vacation---where do you like to go---when its just for you? no really---we visit our children---thats where we like to go
well....how much do you say you spend on hotel rooms...$200 per night---plus food of $50 per person? no--we stay with family---or we if we do go to a hotel we spend $100 or so...and we eat with family...buy our groceries at Walmart or Publix.....
certainly you want to go to random wonderful places---look at this video---these pictures---see how happy and beautiful the people are that go to our resorts! yep--they sher are nice'n all (say that with a real country twang---it sounds funnier)
well---if you could stay at a LUXURY resort for 2 weeks a year---wouldnt you love that? yes, duh.
so---if you added up 2 weeks a year for the next 20 years you would spend like $60,000 on vacations! no--we already said we dont spend that much money or go for 2 weeks a year...thats not us.

but look at the beautiful places we have luxury hotels at---you deserve this!look at the happy people---even the OLD people are happy and beautiful! no---not really---thanks but no thanks.
dont you want a place to take your family to? well yes---but we cant afford to take them TO anywhere---thats why we GO TO the family.
what if we were willing to finance it for 20 years---or cut the price in half and finance that---or cut the time in half and finance that---or just finance something? no---we dont finance vacations.
but you can give it to your children after you are dead! hmmmmm---thats a happy thought...kinda like dancing around the gravestone!?
so you really arent going to buy? no---its not right for us right now/we have 6 kids/*insert any number of legitimate reasons why we shouldnt pay $20,000 plus $1500 per year for vacations to places we didnt intend on going to.

so usually this is where the prettyperson gets a littlehuffy and her/his tone changes---then comes a supervisor ---in a nicer black suit with a nicer jewel tone shirt who tries to convince you that you CAN afford to finance this --- no thank you.
supervisor abruptly closes binder---stands up---walks you to the front....barely a goodbye.

This weekend we did this same scenario at Hilton Grand Vacations in Orlando----
resort---check
excellent customer service---check
prettyperson---check
presentation---check
supervisor---whoa--wait---no attitude? no convincing? salesman actually says "this may not be for you!" no pressure? no huff? no walk of shame?

AND $100 OFF OUR NEXT STAY AT EMBASSY SUITES?

winning---that is what our time is worth! and visiting our kids---that is winning. maybe an embassy suites in New Orleans?

the curse of the merf re: orlando

2011-10-11T12:24:00.000-05:00

orlando...we love you...so much to do...family there....timeshare resorts to enjoy...great weathe-----WAIT WAIT WAIT WAIT WAIT...not so fast.....
yes---orlando, florida---you do have wonderful weather---EXCEPT WHEN I AM THERE (see---i am always able to make it about me) ....hurricane merf perhaps?
proof is in the pudding:
Aug 2009---Gorgeous weather! but we cant go anywhere because DUH! lyric just had a new baby!
March 2010---STINKIN HOT all day at Epcot---okay---so thats not a hurricane---but it was SO HOT.
Aug 2011---in ORLANDO for my nephew, Brian Ensign's marriage to cute Ashley---there is a HUGE DOWNPOUR right when everyone is at Disney! HUGE HUGE DOWNPOUR---locals say "wow--never seen it rain like this with no hurricane!"
Oct 2011---we all come into town for Pyper's blessing---POURING RAIN all day when we are at Magic Kingdom---David Hall mumbles something about tropical disturbance 35---btw---it was gorgeous the day before AND the day after---just not THE DAY WE GO.again....locals say "wow---this is unbelievable rain for us!"....yeah---
so it must be me.

$153.38 splinter

2011-10-05T13:22:00.000-05:00

so....i had nuthin better to do---so i went to the E.R. last night....why not?

heres the story---with pictures (i was lucid enough to take pictures throughout)...

9:45 pm....i'm sitting at the ~~JONES~~ home (protecting the innocent) in a primary presidency meeting----i move my hands under their kitchen table and

~~KAPOW~~

A stabbing pain goes thru the middle finger of my left hand--- a small wave of nauseau---a little light-headed---i jammed my finger on the table----??????----i steal a look---there is blood---and pain--lots of pain----not a jam----but i'm definitely in a pickle (c'mon---that was funny)

(the picture isnt very good---forgot to turn off my flash---BUT I WAS IN PAIN---and you can see the block of wood---yes---thats what i'm calling it---sticking out)

so i am nothing if not prideful---SO I DONT SAY ANYTHING!----and ~~MARY JONES~~ is an E-STINKIN-R nurse! REALLY MERF? REALLY? nope----i finish up the meeting---get in the car (we had carpooled)---and i get home---finger wrapped in a napkin....throbbing----i burst into tears---calling for ace.

REALLY ACE? 10:20 AT NIGHT AND YOU ARE SOUND ASLEEP? WHAT ARE YOU? A TEENAGE BOY???????????? gosh!

so i sit and look at the finger---i think i've broken the nailbed---its kinda grayish---finger is swelling---the nail is moving a bit----i put a cold damp cloth around it---try to get my emotions under control---start trolling the house for nail clippers----FOR A WOMAN WHO LIKES MORE OF EVERYTHING I COULDNT FIND ANY NAIL CLIPPERS---SANTA?----i find tweezers--three of them----i start messing with the nail---then i realize its not my nail that i am moving---its a piece of wood.....a huge beam....

so i start pulling on it---each time a wave of nausea hits me----so i stop and assess the situation---i have to go to the hospital---dagnabit---david is in austin---ace is SOUND asleep---i can drive---but what if i cant drive home? dagnabit---i'm gonna spend all night in the e.r. for a stinkin sliver.

after an hour of pulling at it----i know i cant do it---so i go upstairs and wake up ace---i'm weeping---tell him he needs to take me to the emergency room--- he comes down in like 20 minutes (actually is just a couple---but it felt like forever)---he is dressed for seminary! 'NO ACE--NOT SEMINARY---YOU ARE TAKING ME TO THE HOSPITAL---I HAVE AN OWIE!' "oh----okay".....

apparently you have to be taught how to take someone to the hospital---i had to put the dogs in the back---lock the door---make sure he had his wallet---he didnt open my door for me---i see a fhe in our future on said topic----but he woke up and realized what was going on---and drove me safely to the hospital.

triage----tell the nurse that from 1-10 pain i'm at a 6 1/2....BUT I HAVE A REALLY HIGH PAIN TOLERANCE---shoulda said 8----cause thats where it was headed....they took me back and i was in a room by 11:45

12 midnite

12:15 insurance lady comes in to get my info---i ask her to send ace---he has my purse--phone---ipod---all my distractions.

12:30 i'm texting (one-handed---not the easiest) with jas about the situation----and in a lot of pain---

12:45 dr comes in---looks at it----we will use (spelling warning) litocaine to numb my finger---then pull the booger out. she warns me that the shot of litocaine is a very painful shot----thats okay---lets git her done.

(here is a picture of my finger right after the shot---puffy and bloody---yuck)

1:00 P.A. comes in...ace leaves....he tells me the shot is going to be the worst---pours iodine on my finger---then saline---then we go for it....i'm expecting STABBING pain---not at all---but i am a beast--

he keeps on asking me if i'm okay---as he 'z's' around the needle in the base of my finger---yep---it feels like he is pulling up on my skin---its tight----its uncomfortable--- he does it twice more--- still okay? yep----then he pulls on the splinter---nay---the beam---the 2 by 4 in my nailbed..... "um---okay---that hurts"---so he stops---gives me a little more litocaine (yes---i will be googling how to spell that after i finish this)---i tell him to just pull it----so he does....and .....

aaaaaaaaaaaaaargh.....and it slides out. whew.

2 1/2 cm.....i get a 'whoa' out of the p.a.---he assures me that i made the right decision to come in---i would never have been able to get that out myself....he goes to show it to the doctor...seems to come out clean--- so i get released about 145 to go to the 24 hr pharmacy for meds .... i get to pay $150.00 as i walk out the door---but the nurse does tell ace that i'm not to do dishes or make beds or take out the trash
(lol---thanks nurse!)

2:30 a.m. ace and i are home---both a little wired---both exhausted
5:30 a.m. ace is up for seminary
...finger is still asleep---still puffy---but it looks okay---bruising where the shots went in....

this is to give you an idea of how big it is---imagine taking the end of your headset and RAMMING IT UNDER YOUR FINGERNAIL----yeah---thats about it.

this is after the procedure---again---iodine on the paper---not blood---you can almost make out the line down the side of my fingernail where the tree branch was....yep----thats what i'm calling it.

you can see the blood from the shot on my finger----middle finger---iodine on the cloth---not blood
here is my finger ready to go home---big bandage to cover up where the treetrunk ---closer to the truth, i think) was taken out.
thats my story---and i'm stickin to it.....by tomorrow i will have been impailed on a redwood.

COURAGEOUS!

2011-10-03T21:50:00.001-05:00

we go to movies----a lot----we see a lot of movies----have i mentioned we go to the cinema?

okay---so---we hit a 5:40 showing of "Courageous"
"What?" you say, "i've never heard of that movie----never seen a trailer---was it a foreign film---perhaps an indy?"
here is the trailer:
http://www.christiancinema.com/l/courageous/?ctt_id=9106732&ctt_adnw=Google&ctt_ch=ps&ctt_entity=tc&ctt_cli=2x8953x86169x1898046&ctt_kw=courageous%20movie&ctt_adid=5809614506&ctt_nwtype=search&gclid=CJTP0KiAzqsCFZBb7AodS0alYw
(copy and paste it)
well----we did see it at our local Cinemark Tinseltown----first run movies-----
no one you know was in it....except Jessa and Joy Duggar! (yes---of the 19 kids and counting duggars!---but you wouldnt have seen them until you read the credits---but its not about the duggar girls).
"What kind of reviews did it get?" (thats you talking again, btw.)
well....there were NO critic reviews on fandango---my go to place for reviews----there were tons of fan reviews---all saying 'MUST GO'---so okay---its not rated R---so we go. it is by the makers of "Fireproof"---so if you have seen that (and if you havent, you should) then you get the ilk (thats not an anagram---its a word---look it up)
"Why no critic reviews?" (thats you again)---Well---(this is me)---critics tend to hate clean, faith-promoting, family friendly theatah (and yes---if you say it that way it makes more sense)
oh my goodness!
i dont like preachy movies---i always think the writers ran out of cleverity when they start to preach (i think the correct word is cleverness---but cleverity was cleverer).

Courageous didnt preach---IT SCREAMED....but it was sweet and clean and the people looked like real people and yes you kinda knew where it was going but then WHAM-O----or maybe just wham-o----there was a twist....
bring tissues
bring your friends
bring your sons
bring your husbands
its like an LDS General Conference Priesthood session talk---dramatized....and it doesnt just touch the male sector---oh my goodness---you will come home wanting to be a better whateveryouare.

you will come home with your arm raised saying "I WILL".

FAQs

2011-10-02T16:25:00.001-05:00

1. Where did you get the nickname "merf"?
my sister, Eden, was just 17 months when I was born---she couldnt say "Meredith"---so she called me Merf. I love the nickname Merf.

2. Which of your children are adopted?
i cant remember.....its all a blur....i prefer to think of it as which of my kids needed some extra help getting where they belonged---

3. Why dont you wear big earrings anymore?
as you age---your skin sags---duh---so does the skin on your earlobes....i dont intend to look like Dumbo in 5 years!

4. Dont you need a rest from all these grandchildren?
no. not ever. never.

5. Who is your favorite?
whomever is in front of me at that moment....really....thats true of children, grandchildren, reality shows

6. Any pet peeves you'd like to express?
misspelling on purpose/chewing out loud/being late/butt cracks---hey---you asked.

7. Which is your favorite calling in the church?
conducting Sacrament meeting music---you get to have 200 people smile and sing at you for about 3 minutes 3-4 times a meeting---no preparation---and you get to buy new clothes.

8. Any calling you DONT want?
Scoutmaster....so i'm good....love teenagers one on one---but a group of teen boys out in the wilds---with no good 'facilities'---NO THANK YOU!

9.What did you want to be when you grew up?
Carol Burnett---google it...then an elementary school teacher...then a music teacher....then an ASL interpreter---now i'm back to Carol Burnett.

10. So exactly what is it you do now?
I get to sing and act in comedy vignettes to reinforce ethical behavior for social workers, counselors psychologists and therapists seeking to maintain their licenses....and i get to sleep in hotels and go out to eat and read magazines in a car for hours on end.

11. You seem to enjoy being cryptic---why?
I need to vent---we all need to vent---i just dont like showing the world all my warts and dirty laundry--so being cryptic lets me vent without exposing myself.

12. Whats with all the dogs?
not sure---i like projects....and i like dogs---but i dont like animals....i think the dogs are just substitutes for having kids running around the house.

13. You dont like animals?
nope---dont like the smells, the flies, the sudden movements....farms, zoos, stockshows----yawn.

14.What parts of your body would you change?
upper arms/hair texture/eyebrow line----yeah---thats a good start.

15. You havent colored your hair for awhile---whats up?
trying to not distract---no thats not right---just not feeling it right now....still looking for the perfect cotton candy pink that isnt permanent.

16. Any place you want to visit?
Ground Zero and Viet Nam War memorial in D.C.

17. What do you fear?
fire, frogs...and empty cupboards.

18. What is your greatest weakness?
cant turn off my brain
impatience
lack of self-discipline
arrogance
pride
....want me to keep going?

19. What is your greatest strength?
the knowledge that i am all fluff----i am awestruck at people who arent fluff---i am grateful for the blessing of knowing that i'm not all that....helps me keep that whole pride and arrogance thing in check.

overlooking GLEE

2011-09-28T18:57:00.002-05:00

OKAY----get ready for a bit of a rant
season 1 Glee----overlooked all of the pretend pregnancy story and the romanticized teenage pregnancy story---overlooked them so i could enjoy the music....and sue SYLVESTER----LOVE THAT CHARACTER.....overlooked the horribly stereotypical characters---because they were just so darn cute and could sing....and clever brittany s pearce----very clever writing
season 2 Glee---THANK YOU ----lets make it all about the music----WHAT THE HECK? LIP SYNCING all-stinkin-over the place---okay---i can overlook that because i LOVE lea michelle's voice---just dont make me watch her sing---girl cant lipsync for NUTHIN---and they brought in AMAZING guest stars---neil patrick harris, idina mendel to name two...and kristin chenoweth for a 3rd...(notice that i didnt mention gwyneth paltrow---that was NOT an oversight)---plus COACH BIESTE---love her!....i can overlook bad lip syncing for great music.....

season 3 glee---really? all of a sudden Quinn is all EMO and pink-haired----WHAT DID SHE DO THIS SUMMER????---that doesnt fit AT ALL----so stop it---give her back her high-pony---oh---okay---thanks---

BUT BUT BUT............................NO WAY................CANNOT OVERLOOK--------------

bad adoption stories-----
I have a little experience with adoption....so this perked me up a bit----but not in a good way--- so maybe perked isnt the right word---maybe RILED up is the right word--

rachel's birthmom----liked the irony of the story originally---LOVED the casting----but lets not make it seem so easy as just singing a DEAD-ON duet of "Somewhere" from West Side Story .... holding hands---and now we are good? PLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLEASE dont make it that easy----but do let them keep singing together.

quinn & puck and baby beth (good name btw)----NO NO NO NO NO. i'm okay with puck saying he will do anything to be in the baby's life---whatever he can have is okay---- but having quinn come in and say she's going to get the baby back? DID SHE TALK TO A LAWYER? that was SO 18 months ago----papers are signed---deed is done----so lets not pursue this storyline---i may not be able to overlook it....

and i need to overlook it.....but i may have to take a stand----please dont make me do that.

separated at birth?

2011-09-13T21:48:00.001-05:00

ethan milo webb 8-15-09

pyper lynn webb 9-12-11

the plan for Pyper Lynn Webb

2011-09-13T15:26:00.001-05:00

I flew to Orlando on Saturday night---spent Sunday with Team Webb---there were plans---oh yes---we had plans.....

Ben drop off Milo to spend the night at friends---then other friends would take him on Monday during the day--

but then the Monday day friends had to change the plans---so we went to plan B---other other friends....whew whew whew!

Call the hospital at midnight to make sure they arent busy---then go to said hospital for induction at 2 a.m.---

but then said hospital was busy---busy busy busy (full moon and all)---so we went to plan B---wait for nurse at said hospital to call in 3-4 hours to let us know---rats rats rats

Wait out the time waiting for said hospital by resting----rest rest rest---gonna be a busy day the next

but then Lyric went into labor---contract contract contract----ouch ow ow!---so we went to plan B----stay up all night timing contractions, braiding hair, rolling on exercise ball, showers, baths---distract distract distract

Call the hospital at 4 a.m.----rats still busy---

but a compassionate nurse called back and said to come on in and get checked--- hope hope hope

nurse had compassion----:) :) :) and admitted Team Webb and team trainer ( muah) into hospital about 5:45 a.m.

but said nurse checked Lyric---rats dagnabit rats----all that pain for nuthin----now we need another med before pitocin can work its charm :( :( :(---delay delay delay

'nother nurse said lets check once more BEFORE i give you the delay delay delay drug (okay---she didnt say that---but repetition and consistency is more clever than the truth)---check check check

but HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORAY! x2! all that pain and work during the night put Lyric to a 4 almost 5!

pitocin/epidural/6/water/check/9.5/wait 30 minutes---

but NOTHIN'! PYPER LYNN WEBB 9/12/11 2:11 pm 8 lb 5 oz 20 inches----the hope of hair! she is a beautiful little girl and we are PLEASED AS PUNCH!

good size baby! pediatrician is pretty sure she was over-due!

proud dad and his little girl

what a cute round face!

lyric did so well---what a trooper!
---her first request was a bite of my burger---but dont tell her i put this in my blog!

happy mommy and daddy

milo came up that evening and was happy to see mom and dad ----

interested in Pyper for but a moment

milo loved the 'edible arrangments' grapes

Team Webb can now play doubles

my favorite genre

2011-09-08T08:17:00.004-05:00

my favorite genre---despair....heart-wrenching songs of loss--i wallow in the sadness---listen to one song over and over and over and....you get the idea....here are some of my favorites

HOW COULD I FORGET BRANDI CARLISLE'S THE STORY---thanks lyric!

love her hair--love the video--love the emotion

dont you want me baby--such a clear cry for attention! love the story---they were obviously on different pages....and who doesnt like a bunch of overly-dramatic skinny Brits from the 80's?!!!

and the creepiest of all---but one that still puts in me a nosedive---and i HAVE to sing along with it

dear merf,

thanks for posting these songs---

now, when i want to wallow,

i dont have to search for them---

they are right here! that made it so easy!

love, merf

too pg-13 for my fb status---so i posted it here---where the readers already know me and wont be surprised that i find this HILARIOUS....and this title may very well be longer than the post!

2011-09-01T13:59:00.004-05:00

A study has revealed that the kind of face a woman finds attractive on a man can differ depending on where she is in her menstrual cycle.

For example: if she is ovulating, she is attracted to men with rugged and masculine features.

However, if she is menstruating or menopausal, she tends to be more attracted to a man with duct tape over his mouth and a spear lodged in his chest, with a cricket bat up his #^%!# rear-end while he is on fire.

No further studies are expected on this subject.

p.s.-----funny side story---my husband is in Cortez, CO visiting his mom for a few days---i tell him to read this post to her b/c i think she will find it funny...he calls me to complain that the font is too small---HOW OLD ARE YOU? 82? (OOPS---his mom is 81!)---so i laugh and say i will enlarge the font---he is reading it from his blackberry---anyway---i thought it was funny....and notice that i put this in the smallest font available! lol

should i be concerned?

2011-08-31T21:52:00.003-05:00

should i be concerned that my husband asked for a new vacuum?

should i be concerned that he knew exactly which kind of vacuum he wanted?

should i be concerned that my frugalprudentdiscount-crazy husband didnt care about the cost?

should i be concerned that my 17 yr old cheered when he found out i got a new vacuum?

and said 17 yr old asked if it was bagless?

and with the ball thing?

i think i will be concerned---but not until AFTER the vacuuming gets done

can we blame Milo?

2011-08-29T12:42:00.001-05:00

so here's the story---and i'm stickin' to it.
when you choose names---sometimes you dont think about if there will be stuff with the child's name on it---expecially those of you who spell your kids' names weird (pet peeve---but i'll be okay)----truly---met a woman whose name is Caitriona-----KATRINA---really? REALLY? reallyreallyreally????????

deep breath

i remember Lyric as a child commenting that there was never anything with her name on it---so one date night at Grapevine Mill Mall, David & I found a kiosk that did personalized license plates---little ones---so we had them do one for Lyric---she was thrilled!

back to the story:
I have a grandson named Milo. (lyric's son---she's about to have a baby named Pyper---seeing a trend?)
not much with Milo's name on it. So david saw some dogfood snack/treats---brand name Milo's Kitchen---so, of course, being married to me---he got them!

so now---conveniently---I have a grandson named Jonas...his name is not the issue----Jonas is an eater----well---jonas is a chewer ---(side story---jonas eats most everything---but only for awhile---then he spits it out---he eats watermelon--til the good juice is gone---then you find watermelon all over the floor---also true of apples, noodles, meatballs, chicken nuggets---yeah---he's a chewer)

back to the story:

Jonas is at the house---points to the bag of dogfood treats (milo's kitchen brand) and so I, being the GRANDmother that i am---get the bag and open it---anticipating letting Jonas and Cannon give the dogs (lucy, chloe and chip--since we are talking about names---just fyi)---a treat---but NO! as fast as you can say JO--------nas!---he has dipped his hand in and tossed a treat IN HIS MOUTH!---now these are chicken meatballs---soft---like a human meatball (not a meatball made of human---but a meatball a human would/should eat).

now normally i dont get overly concerned about the babies eating dogfood (oops---my daughters probably are reading this)---cause its mostly cereal-type and all sorts of healthy bi-products---and who doesnt like a good bi-product now and then)--but for some reason this creeped me out----and he didnt chew it---he just held it in his mouth! with the dogs following him ---hoping he would do the Jonas thing and spit it out---and finally----Lucy was the winner in the "eat whatever comes out of Jonas' mouth" contest.

i blame Milo---if his name was Peggy Sue we wouldnt have had this problem.

Orlando trip

2011-08-25T08:37:00.000-05:00

got to jaunt down to Orlando to see my cute nephew, Brian Ensign, marry his cute girl, Ashley Barney---their colors were creamsicle orange and salmon pink! i LOVE clever adjectives! It was wonderful to see my brothers Marc & Matt and their wives, Pat & Shelly (respectively)---plus matt's kids austin, luke and Jackie & derek and their doll-of-a-son Elliot (he is one week younger than Beth---so I got to get my fix of 6 month olds in). Got to spend lots of time with my Mom and Lyric & Milo and Ben (see previous post)---here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure:

big bonus was spending time with Mr Milo Webb---he who talks and cuddles and gives grandma kisses!

while the rest of the family spent the day at Disney---Lyric, Milo, Mom and I enjoyed lunch at Olive Garden---(Ben was at work/school/lab)---Milo figured out Tongs during the lunch! Lyric is one of the loveliest 37 week pregnant women EVER!

we stayed at a condo that slept 13! Milo loved playing hide and seek in the kitchen.

We headed to Disney to see La Nouba (cirque du soleil)---it was AMAZING and so much fun....whole new appreciation for America's Got Talent. we had terrific seats to enjoy the show. Then we strolled around Disney Downtown watching street performers and italian ice..........nummers. (notice the cool movement of the general public around two of my favorite ladies!)

my brother Matt with his Elliot. It was so much fun to watch him enjoy his grandbaby.

outside the temple getting ready for pictures---Luke, Shelly, Jackie, Dereck and Elliot---it was hot and humid---duh---August in Orlando!

Ben and Milo---Ben was so good---he watched Elliot and Milo during the temple (with a lot of help from Luke & Austin)---made french toast for all of them---got everyone to the temple in time for him to make it to the sealing (thanks luke & austin for watching the boys during the wedding!)

Brian and Ashley Ensign.

Mary Lou Ensign---matriarch and sweet funny woman.....Austin crouching in the background.

My mom hosted a lovely luncheon at BJ's Brewery after the wedding (had to add in the brewery part---they make their own root beer and black cherry sodas---as well as other brewed drinks). This is Lyric sucking down probably root beer---next to Jackie and Dereck...Elliot was with Grandpa Matt.

at the condo enjoying pizza during a TERRIFIC rainstorm ---love Florida rain---

back at the temple---they were so happy and cute

Milo thinking he is going to be a big kid and not sit in his car chair!

Mom and the couple

Ben Webb---a moment we'll share---naw---that sounds way too mushy---

2011-08-22T21:15:00.000-05:00

----my lovable son-in-law---married to Lyric---he is quite the character---brainy enough to make my eyes glaze over (getting his PhD in lasers and optics...what?)----adventurer enough to scare me (swimming with sharks and such ilk)--- mischievious enough to make me want to put him in time-out---loves my daughter enough to make me weep---

we share a love of Smokey Bones---(okay---that link makes it look a lot more like a Hooters than it really is) a restaurant in Orlando---so we go everytime i go there---and i'm pretty sure he goes when i'm not there---traitor----but anyway---

i was in orlando---so we went to smokey bones----their beans and their roasted corn are TO DIE FOR---but they had something new---SMOKE STACK---we were eyeing the ad for it---and he kinda had 'that look'---i asked him if he wanted to order it and he said---"its $17!"---yes---for a burger----so I smiled and said---"if thats all that is keeping you from getting it---then today would be the day"---so he did---and it came---and he ate it---

this is not JUST a burger

3 patties --- each 1/2 lb

3 cheese slices

pulled pork

onion rings

french fries

cole slaw

lettuce

tomato

one bun

this kinda stuff makes my heart smile! i love a 'do you remember when' moment---and this was one

hair-----the bain of my existence

2011-08-13T21:41:00.001-05:00

i'm sure i've said this before---but i was not blessed with lovely hair---lifeless, straight as a pin with less confidence, fine enough that i can feel when a mosquito lands on me......2 hairstyles do well with this hair---long straight from the 70's and army cuts.....and i've done them both.
but you know its time to cut the hair when you start putting hair clips that are meant for 4 yrs old!
its comin off.

NUMBERS and PORTER KEVIN NELSON

2011-08-09T22:44:00.001-05:00

was born 8/8 at 4:56 a.m.! numbers numbers numbers----he was 7 lb 5 oz and 19 1/2".....11 days early.....

numbers numbers numbers.....270 miles in 4 1/2 hrs...with a gas stop (i drive the speed limit---most of the time....2:30 a.m.....when we arrived in houston----9:30 p.m.---when we got the call that Leah was being admitted into the hospital...1......push for Porter to enter the world!

Leah has contractions a lot at the end of her pregnancies---but they dont progress---so she was determined that with THIS baby she was NOT going to the hospital early just to be sent home....so she walked and walked and walked and rested and drank water (really? 9 months pregnant in houston in august? really?)---and contracted and contracted---but she didnt go to the hospital (well---once she went to the dr and he checked her----but NOT to the hospital).....so we anticipated that she would be induced sometime in the middle of august....

porter had other ideas.

11 a.m.i was sitting in church on Sunday, Aug 7---minding my own business---noticing no sign of ace or david on our pew---hmmm---where are they---so, of course---i check my phone---ace texted me "turn your phone on vibrate"....so i do.
10:55 a.m. leah had called and told david she was having different contractions and worse---so kinda pay attention today---then she went to church and then to a friends house!
8:30 pm---got a text from her---but i didnt see it "....going to the hospital"
9:30pm---joe calls and says she is being admitted---so we are on our way (we had already packed bags just in case)
10 pm---said goodbye to ace---gave him instructions---and dave & i were out the door.

porter's heart rate was high when she went to the hospital----lots of back and front contractions----dr checked her---she was at a 3---he didnt like the heart rate being so high---so he said 'THIS IS IT"

10:30PM....admitted...pitocined....epiduraled....cathetered.....water-brokened....and so it began...the slow crawl to 10.
4

5---we arrive

7---any pain dear? no!

BAM! 10---call the dr! (he's already at the hospital--just call him to the room----duh)---grandpa excuses himself to the waiting room----

dr comes in---checks her---LETS GO!

OKAY---dad---count to 10---mom---you push---then you relax...ready

1,2,3....WWWWAAAAAAIT!

dr grabs the sucker thing....sucks out grossness from porter's little face....

and SLIDE INTO HOME! safe!

literally one push.

1 hr of ooooo'ing and ahhhhhh'ing ....then an hour at the nursery for bath...

but no bath....

100----what your oxygen saturation should be..............90 what porter's is

60.....what your respiration should be......................100 what porter's is... (the 41 is wrong---the nurse was messing with him when i took the picture---DOESNT SHE KNOW I BLOG?!)

so he spends a coupla days in the NICU---cant breathe and eat----so tubes go in----

20 hrs old...out of the oxygen tent---breathing the real stuff

24 hrs----first bath---saturation is 98---YAY

30 hrs----respiration is 60-70---yay! still cant eat and breathe at the same time---so now we are working on that....

mother and child are doing well---porter has/had fluid in his lungs that his body has to absorb---so he can then breathe deeply---not shallowly---hmmmm---note to self---look up shallowly....

1 ....more beautiful baby boy---dark hair---we'll see if it stays dark

2 ....happy brothers anxious to meet "quarter"

7......grandchildren in

3 years........................

probably cant continue this rate....but its something to consider.........

ps---Leah was released 8/10----porter is doing great---eating---lungs are clear----needs one solid day in NICU to "prove himself" (so much for unconditional love at 3 days old!) and then can come home!

perhaps i need to not....

2011-08-01T18:29:00.002-05:00

....watch so many cooking shows....

i'm preparing my signature dish....Chicken Stuffing Casserole....a family favorite....(except poor Molly---she would cry everytime i served it)....
boiling water with butter....diced vidalia onions, thinly sliced mushrooms rehydrated, corn off the cob with diced peppers for a little heat....boxed (gasp!) stuffing mix added to the water...then all the vegetables added in...with a creamy mushroom soup, sour cream and greek yogurt (so wanted to say marscapone ---but just because its a cool word) sauce mixed into the stuffing. Now---for the protein....

i george foreman'd (yes--its a word) a bunch of chicken breasts
yesterday for some lovely romaine chicken with chop salad wraps (topped with a honey mustard dressing).....so today I took out the leftover chicken and diced it....until i picked up this one...very thick...lovely piece of poultry....

WHAT? WHAT? WHAT? WHAT? WHAT?
I sliced into it to see if what i was seeing was.....

yep---it was UNCOOKED....not done....medium rare....a little pink....

and in my mind...all i could hear...over and over...was Gordon Ramsay screaming at me :
~~'ITS RAW!"~~

(fyi---click on 'its raw!")

i've been chopped.

ps...the romaine chicken wraps were fine...just in case you were worried

i'm in love----with a tree

2011-07-29T20:13:00.001-05:00

we used to have a wall for family pictures---then two years ago we repainted the inside of the house and didnt put back up most of the pictures----i went a little minimalist----UNTIL I SAW THIS! it is a tree painted on a wall---then you put your pictures on the branches. I found it here.

i'm in love.....with a tree.

palmyra, new york

2011-07-29T12:09:00.000-05:00

18 months ago i gave david a gift---a trip to palmyra, new york for july 2011. all expenses paid!

so July 14, ace, david & i hopped on a plane to buffalo, new york---rented a car---and headed to palmyra.

(for my non-LDS friends---palmyra is the place that Joseph Smith had his vision of God, the Father and Jesus Christ and also where he received the ancient plates which he translated into the Book of Mormon. This is sacred, blessed land. We toured thru the Joseph Smith Farm a bit---then made our way up into the Sacred Grove area.....which is a wooded area behind the farm---there are dirt trails and benches that have been put there for convenience---no one knows exactly where the vision happened....so folks are encouraged to just go and wander and feel the spirit of the place. There are trees that were there when Joseph Smith prayed.

We looked around ---and then separated off to have some individual time to pray and ponder. As Ace and I came upon each other again---a large family reunion group passed us by---stopped at one of the original trees----and sang---I Believe in Christ---in lovely harmony. Everyone in ear's hearing stopped to enjoy the moment. My parents would have had us sing at that same moment----what a heart-touching memory.

loved that the trees were so straight and tall---easy to walk around and imagine the day that Joseph Smith came here, as a 14 yr old boy, to ask God a question.

the sun shining thru the trees---it was about 6 pm...cool, nice breeze ....the Grove wasnt too crowded---and you feel the desire to whisper....sat and watched grandparents and their little ones walk thru----a look between david & I told us both that this is a place we wanted to bring our family.

this is an original tree---totally hollow now.

coolest thing---this was not a hallowed place before Joseph came---this was a place where he was comfortable ....this was home. It became a sacred site when he knelt in prayer.
it was a beautiful moment in a hallowed and beautiful place.

Dear TVland

2011-07-22T15:12:00.001-05:00

Thank you
thank you for all shows reality...and competition....i live vicariously happily thru you.
thank you for survivor---all 21 seasons---and american idol---(altho i always root for 2nd place---i'm a curse)----amazing race, project runway, designstar---ALL cooking competition shows---chopped/next food network star/iron chef (america ---not japan or china or wherever---way too cheesy---even for me)-----(well---not Challenge---too much fondant---and they use rice krispie squares---thats not cake)-----
thank you for toddlers and tiaras, the duggars....deadliest catch....
thank you for I didnt know i was pregnant and Biggest Loser (why do i always eat while i watch that show)
thank you for those storage unit auction buyer guys
thank you for any i didnt mention---EXCEPT-----bachelor (sloppy seconds gross me out)/so you think you can dance (i only watch the auditions)---big brother (try to watch it---just cant)....hoarders (makes me clean and feel bad about myself---because i UNDERSTAND!)
thank you for itunes and hulu and nbc.com and fox.com and other sites where i can watch the shows when it fits for me---THANK HEAVENS FOR DVR----rocks my world.

and now---thank you, Lyric & Jasmine----for telling me about THE GLEE PROJECT----combining my love of pop music AND a competition-----WITHOUT all the Glee teen drama that is scripted (not like the reality shows that are REAL

I'm a better cook, know world geography better, my house is designed---i know im NOT pregnant----we are 6 and counting (8 by mid-september!), America has ALWAYS had talent, I work at not being 'pitchy' when i sing....i know how to make fire (you have to go to tribal council)....i will never put my granddaughters in pageants (but i know what a flipper is) but i betcha Beth would win----i'm tempted to go to a storage unit auction----and i respect crab more now when I eat it....and i know i cant dance.

love,
merf

monday monday (sing it---or at least hum it)

2011-07-18T23:04:00.000-05:00

...so ace is gone....we get up for a leisurely trip (100 miles) to Palmyra -----I THOUGHT THE SESSION WAS AT 1130---IT WAS 1100---WE STINKIN MISSED IT----DAGSTINKINRASSINFRASSISNABIT..... So i sit and pout in the car for a bit---dave goes back in---finally i suck up my pride and go back in----

then we go to the visitors center and watch an AMAZING movie about the restoration of the Church thru the eyes of Lucy Mack Smith---Joseph's mother....it was wonderful---what a testimony she had---and how strong was her witness thru the loss of grandchildren and sons all for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Then we found the Lollypop farm---essentiallly a petting zoo and animal shelter----so we didnt get out of the car....drove (BY THE TIME I AM STINKIN TIRED OF DRIVING) back to Rochester---checked into our hotel---and got back in the car and drove to Lockport----60 miles---90 minutes----NEVER IN TEXAS DOES IT TAKE 90 MINUTES TO GO 60 MILES---but up here they take you thru every small town in western NEW YORK----30 mph---wiinding roads--toll roads everywhere (altho they are much cheaper than florida or texas)--I LOVE MY INTERSTATES----so we got on the boat and went over 2 locks on the Erie Canal---totally cool---saw where fire hydrants were invented----so many different kinds of bridges ---i am always amazed at the inventiveness of people---the wheelbarrow was invented to help cut and carry out a 3 mile part of the Erie Canal in Lockport.
then we DRIVE 90 MINUTES back to our hotel---both sit on our laptop (me doing dancing moose---dave who knows what).
tomorrow---back to palmyra (30 miles)---temple----then 100 STINKIN miles to buffalo airport and home by 1130 p.m.---please have it be about 85 wednesday----its really nice.

tomorrows blog----the pros and cons of small town america vs METROplex.....(spoiler---metroplex wins)

tomorrow is

sunday----lazy day

2011-07-17T19:23:00.001-05:00

we woke up and ate a nice breakfast at the hotel---then drove over to the u.s. side and went to see the movie about the people who have gone over the falls and lived to tell about it...16 tried---9 made it....the first one that did it was a 63 yr old woman in a barrel!
then we just strolled around the edge looking at the falls from different vantage points---then crossed over the to 3 sisters islands (very small---connected by bridges)----so pristine---so uncommercialized.
i love that palmyra and niagara have not been tainted by too much civilization----nauvoo looks very commercial compared to palmyra------and Niagara has not been commercialized by the state---it is very friendly. The Canadian side of Niagara was very commercialized----expensive to park----beautiful flowers and parks....really beautiful. The U. S. side of the falls isnt as pretty---but New York state has done a terrific job on keeping it available to "common folk".....interesting---canada charges $3.25 to drive across the bridge---and .50 to walk across same bridge from canada side to u.s. side---u.s. doesnt charge.

we then drove to our hotel on Grand Island, NY and enjoyed the pool----then took ace to the airport---he has summer school tomorrow and cant miss---but we are staying to do a session at the palmyra temple and ride the locks at lockport, ny.
weather---gorgeous...the locals were complaining about the heat (record high was going to be 91!!!!)
people---friendly...so many people from different countries----ace is extremely friendly to strangers---so we met and chatted with a lot of new people.
cost---very reasonable...even the cost of flying to buffalo was not as bad as i thought.
company----other than being on top of each other for 4 days---we have survived.
pictures to come

saturday----passports!

2011-07-17T19:15:00.001-05:00

we took the short trip up to Niagara Falls, Ontario----longest part of the trip was getting from us to canada---1 hour to cover about 100 yrds over a bridge---gorgeous sites on both sides....and both sides have the exact same hotels/restaurants etc----altho, the Canadian side had haunted houses all over the place---go figure.
we checked into our hotel (king bed with a jacuzzi in the room---so ace volunteered to sleep on a cot.....we spent most of the day on the u.s. side...museum (lame)---aquarium---lame-----cave of the winds---maid of the mist----trolley rides all over...we walked over to the us side-----nice walk across the niagara river....hot but not stinkin hot.....we got to the caves of the wind---which is a walk down long stairs to put you within 20 ft of the bottom of the falls---its like being in a tropical storm (deck is called hurricane deck)---they give you a poncho and sandals---IT WAS GREAT---so much fun.....I'd do it again in a minute----kept my sandals---and yes---there will be a picture of them too.
Maid of the mist is the most famous thing---its a boat that goes right up to the falls---again, they giveyou a poncho---youdo get wet----i'll be putting up pictures----it was overwhelming the spirit and the power and majesty of that water.
ace says hi to EVERYONE ----howya doin---where ya from? goofy but sincere....but everyone is willing to take pictures of each other's groups---very friendly.
it was a long day---so we headed back to canada..... dave and ace toured down a street with all sorts of haunted houses and game rooms and fast foods----

note to self: it never goes away

niagara falls is not an expensive holiday----
the museum/aquarium/maid of the mist/cave on the winds and the movie we saw this morning about the people trying to go over the falls----$33! TROLLEY $2 FOR ALL DAY....parking on the canada side---$20....parking on the us side $10....
cell phone signal---HORRIBLE HORRIBLE HORRIBLE in upstate new york.

day 2---lazy daisy-----vacation!

2011-07-15T23:15:00.000-05:00

today started off with us sleeping in---and in---and in....then having a nice breakfast at the hotel (coupon for one free---dad and i shared)...then we headed back to palmyra where we first went to Hill Cumorah----you can stand on the top and see down to where the audience sits....there is also a very cool Moroni statue.....everyone is so friendly---taking pictures for each other. We spent some time in the visitors' center---saw a cool movie about the restoration of the Church. Then we went over to the Temple and looked around. President Hinckley wanted visitors to be able to see the Sacred Grove from the temple and vice versa---so it was very cool.
then we headed into downtown (and i use that word loosely) Palmyra---checked out the very cool publishing company where Joseph Smith had the first 5000 copies of the Book of Mormon printed....then we went and got some Tshirts and Ace got a hat....and then some fudge---TOTALLY DELISH----chocolate/peanut butter and marshmallow. We ate New York pizza in the car as we drove to Waterloo (about 22 miles) to the home of Peter Whitmer-----this is where Joseph finished the translation and the Church was organized....it was a beautiful site---like time had stopped.
we had thought to go see Harry Potter tonight---but we were all tired---so swimming at the hotel sounded better (well---the hot tub sounded better)---then ordered in Chili's and watched "8 below" together....now at midnight we crash---or at least i am---it was a wonderful slow day ---totally vacation.
tomorrow is niagara falls---yay!

Start spreading the news---i'm leaving today....

2011-07-15T09:19:00.000-05:00

well---okay---we left yesterday---but it was too late last night to blog---and truth be told---we arent in New York City---but we are in New York.
dave, ace & I got up at 0-dark-30 and (thanks Joe!) hopped on a 6 a.m. flight to Buffalo, NY (via Atlanta--I HATE ATLANTA AIRPORT (too too big))---btw---the airport and airplane were packed---WHY ARE ALL THESE PEOPLE UP SO STINKIN EARLY GOING SOMEWHERE?
anywho-----we had a lovely flight and rented a cute little---and i mean little---sorry ace-sitting-in-the-back-seat---aveo and off we drove to Rochester to our first hotel.

a little history---18 months ago i gave david a trip to Palmyra, NY ----the LDS church started in Palmyra and there are significant sites to be seen---so for 18 months every major holiday---i havent had to give him anything---just a reminder that the trip was coming....lame---but it aint a cheap trip!----anywho----dave was able to use his frequent credit card user/signer-upper points to find us hotels in the area every night---saving me well over $500----BONUS!

we got to our hotel and i had to make some work phone calls (got 11 calls while on the plane)---sitting in the room we heard planes taking off RIGHT OVER OUR HEAD! no wonder it was a cheap hotel (holiday inn---but apparently right on the landing strip)----we were laughing at the idea of not getting any sleep---so----calls finished---we went out to the car to drive the 20 minutes to Palmyra---and ZOOM---airplane overhead---we looked around and realized that there were tons of people looking up---we looked up---IT WAS THE BLUE ANGELS! 6 planes were doing formations right over our heads! WOWOWOWOWOW! so we got out our camera and watched....great show---totally bonus. (there will be pictures on this blog---but not right now.

drive to palmyra--via rochester downtown (bad navigator---i'm just sayin)....went straight to the Joseph Smith Farm---this is where Joseph lived with his family when he had his vision of God the Father and Jesus Christ.
after visiting the log and frame homes, the cooper shop, the threshing barn---we took the small hike to the Sacred Grove---this is a foresty area on the property where Joseph went after reading in the scriptures that if you wanted to know the truth---pray---so he went to a quiet area in the grove, knelt and prayed. No one knows the exact spot---there are dirt paths for people to walk----it is beautiful---and like 82'----compared to 182' in dallas---so we were thrilled. we found a bench and sat and looked....people were very quiet as they walked along the paths....we each went off to have some private time to reflect and pray on our own. There are trees there that WERE there when Joseph had his vision.
we saw a lot of grandparents with their children and THEIR children---dave and i decided we would bring our family here sometime soon---the Holy Spirit was so strong---it was a comfortable and comforting place.

as we were getting ready to continue our walk, a big family (obviously a reunion) came by---we waited for them to pass---then---they stopped a few yards beyond us and started singing a hymn IN PERFECT HARMONY! that is exactly what my mom and dad would have done with us----i videoed them and we chatted a bit with them.....everyone along the paths stopped to listen---it was angelic.

after we left the Grove---we drove to a pharmacy to get bugspray and Pringles---then to Subway for dinner (woot woot---yes---we go all the way to new york and have subway)---then head to Hill Cumorah for the pageant. (every year at this time, the church puts on a pageant re-enacting scenes from the Book of Mormon---the Hill Cumorah is where Joseph dug up the plates that had been buried there by Moroni 300 years after Christ's death. There were actors in costumes milling around chatting, taking pictures (ace got pics with everyone)---3 young men came up to us and chatted---then one bore his testimony of the truthfulness of what happened ---the vision, the Book of Mormon---it was so sweet---these boys were 17---just like Ace----I think he was touched.....success.
DID I MENTION THEY WERE SELLING SALT POTATOES? (just red or small potatoes boiled in water with more than a cup of salt in the water---then salted again and drenched in butter)---IT WAS PERFECT!
(sorry---back to the show) There were missionaries all over the place. There are 700+ people in the cast....and 9000 people in the audience---lady next to me is from this area---her parents brought her to the show 20 years ago---so now she is brought her daughter (about 16)---she's not LDS, but she felt it was something her daughter should see----God moves in mysterious ways......show started at 9:15 pm and ended about 10:30---it was so well-done.
and FREEZING! WHO KNEW WE NEEDED JACKETS IN THE MIDDLE OF JULY (leah did---so i brought a light sweater---but poor ace was freezing in t-shirt and shorts)
sidenote---a lot of anti-Mormons were picketing and using bull-horns before and after the show---telling us Mormons were sinners and how wrong we were----ya know---I dont think Mormons picket Easter Sunday mass at the Vatican---we shrug (hmmm---remind me to link that story of Mormons shrugging---think it was from the Washington post or New York post or some post)

sorry for the long post----there will be more today----going to see where the Book of Mormon was published, the temple, Peter Whitmer's farm (where Joseph spent a lot of time translating)---but its 9:15 a.m. and dave and ace are still zonked---UNHEARD OF!

and now i'm humming "start spreading the news---i'm leaving today---i want to be a part of it---new york, new...."

fill in the blank

2011-07-11T09:10:00.003-05:00

Dear ~~xxxxxxx~~,

I ~~xxx~~ having you ~~xxxxx~~ to ~~xxxx xxxx~~. I ~~xxxx~~ the ~~xxxx~~---for awhile---i x~~xxxx~~ ~~xxxxxx~~ back and ~~xxx~~ the ~~xxxxx~~ you ~~xxxxxxx~~ and your ~~xxxxx~~ with ~~xxxxx xxxxx~~x. I ~~xxxxx~~ that ~~xxxxxx~~ have been ~~xxxxxx~~ to ~~xxxx xxxxxx xxx~~ so ~~xxxxx~~ to ~~xxxxxxxx~~ the ~~xxxx~~ ~~xxxxxxx~~.

and now----a bit of ~~xxxxxxxxxx~~---~~xxxxxxxx~~----~~xxxxxx~~ Miss ~~xxxxxx~~ perhaps----
we have ~~xxxxx~~ ~~xxxx~~ to ~~xxxx~~ our ~~xxxxx~~ to a place where we~~xxx xxxxxxx xxx xxxxx xx~~. Please ~~xxxx xx xxxx~~ your ~~xxxxxx~~---nay,~~xxx xxxxx~~ your ~~xxxxx~~ after you ~~xxxx~~ ~~xxxxxxxx~~ your ~~xxxxx~~. Please dont ~~xxxxx~~ so ~~xxxx xxxx~~. ~~xxxx~~ what ~~xxx~~ will ~~xxxx~~ based on history. Please ~~xxx~~ let ~~xxxx xxxx xx~~ on ~~xxx xxxxxxxxxxx.~~ Please make ~~xxx xxxx~~ i have ~~xxx xxxxxxxxxxxx xxx~~. Please dont ~~xxxx xxxxxxx~~ ~~xxxx xx~~ around. Please ~~xxxx~~ my ~~xxxx~~---they are ~~xx xxxx xxxxxx~~. And while we are at it, ~~xxxxx~~ have ~~xxxxxxx~~, ~~xxxxxx, xxxxxx~~ and ~~xxxxx~~ for nearly ~~xxx~~ years---i kinda ~~xxxxxx~~ what ~~xxxx xxx xxxxxx~~.

whew---glad to get that off my chest.

love
merf

ps....my daughters tell me that it looks like i am cussing/swearing/expletives deleted---ah--not so!...well...not on ALL the "fill in the blank" personae---and there are probably 7! some of my xxxxx are merely and simply (wait--is that a duplication?) just an explanation of frustration---not nigh unto anger.

um----tmi---and no---there are not pictures

2011-07-09T16:15:00.000-05:00

When you become a certain age---there are things that happen---
5 start school
8 baptism
16 drivers license, date
21 drink (well---if you choose to imbibe)
67 retire

there are also things that physically happen at/about certain ages
6 mo crawl
12 mo walk
2-3 yrs potty-trained
6 baby teeth fall out
12 puberty sets in
40 need bifocals or reading glasses

you get the idea

there are also medical tests with a date attached
vaccinations have ages
mammograms
prostate checks
COLONOSCOPY screening

every year, millions of people are supposed to have this age-appropriate procedure done---most dont---why?
1. GROSS-EW--YUCK
2. fear of the preparation
3. STINKIN EXPENSIVE
4. ew--gross---yuck
5. fear of the procedure---really---a camera up where?

yep---when you hit the big 5-0 it is time for a colonoscopy screening....now---for truth in advertising---i hit the big 5-0 um/er/coughcough a number of months ago----but David said we had money in our healthcare reimbursement account that needed to be used up---so i went and got new glasses....and had a chat with my primary-care physician....who agreed it was time.....yuk.
but i put on my big girl panties and went to see the gastro-enterologist.
(sidenote: WHO THE HECK WOULD GO TO SCHOOL FOR 8 YEARS TO DO THAT FOR A LIVING?)
i explained to Dr Guinan that, since i had a gastric bypass 30 years ago, there was NO way that i could drink the gallon upon gallon of liquid required to 'prep' for the test....isnt there a pill? he said 'yes--there is a pill---but it is 20 pills---with water'----so he prescribed a different prep---16 oz of a grapy-flavored water type drink---followed by 32 more ounces of water--all to be drunk in one hour (yeah---it took me 2)---drink it the day before---then 4 hrs before the exam---repeat....(so i was up at 2 STINKIN A.M. drinking this---took me nearly 3 hours---watching ESPN) (my prep cost $60---WELL WORTH THE MONEY---SUPREP BOWEL KIT)---then off to the endoscopy center. oh---btw---the diet for the day before is clear liquids.....THAT WAS THE WORST---green jello, chicken noodle soup sans the noodles or the chicken,popsicles (nothing red or purple---you figure it out)----and stay close to a "facility" (if you get my drift). (btw---if you dont do it right---the dr will send you home and you have to RE-DO it!---um, no thank you)
i had, of course, googled all the info i could about said age-appropriate procedure----DONT DO THAT---it will scare you to death. I had pictured (here goes the tmi part---you were warned) myself semi-conscious (in Europe they do this WITHOUT ANESTHESIA!), butt-up (yep--i said it)---groaning (google talked alot about groaning during the procedure)
david drives me to the center ===where we pay (all bills together) nearly $600 WITH INSURANCE (what is wrong with this country????!!!!!)...and wait...and wait.
FINALLY they call me in---i put on a lovely gown and lay on a bed with heated blankets and towels---THANK YOU!---cute little socks with rubber stripes on the bottom complete the ensemble.
we wait---and wait....does not bode well for mr right-before-me .....if they find polyps---the dr has to cut them out---more time on the table.
the anesthesiologist---Charlie--cute bald guy with tats on his neck---"HEY---ARE YOU SURE YOU WENT TO MED SCHOOL?"---comes in---tells me what to anticipate and i request REALLY DEEP SEDATION---he assured me i would be out.
iv--in---ouch---my already bad veins are so dehydrated that cute nurse Dee has trouble---so when she gets the i.v. in she puts me on a little saline solution---my voice is totally hoarse due to the dehydration--again---figure it out yourself----i lay on my left side nice and relaxed---they roll me into the (duh-duh-dahhhhhhhhhhhhh) procedure room---there is a tv---Disney? Pixar?---no---my innards.
okay---ready to go---dr guinan comes in and apologizes for the delay---lots of polyps today--but maybe i'd break the trend---i told him to take his time....and i'm out.
waking up---there is david---total of about 15 minutes later (wait---did the dr really check me out thoroughly in that short of time?)----(wow---do the math---he's getting paid like $2000 an hour!)---i feel fine---AND I'M CLEAN AS A WHISTLE! yay!----wait--couldnt he have found SOMETHING nice and benign to make all this worth it?
lots of---well---hmmm---how do i put this delicately? well---they fill your colon with air so he can see---and the air must go out----so the nurse encourages me to let loose....excuse me.
30 minutes later i am dressed and heading home---stopping for Wendy's fresh-cut french fries with sea salt---and a nice long nap.
long story short----it was no big deal---prep was easier than i thought---worth the extra money---no memory--no discomfort....TOO STINKIN EXPENSIVE....
see ya in 10 years!

31...and a few days

2011-06-24T08:24:00.001-05:00

as i said in my previous post---David brought Lyric and Milo here for a visit as my anniversary present---we've had a wonderful time---Ikea, In-n-Out burgers---watching Milo dance and sing (he is quite the performer)---Hurst water park...

thursday night (yesterday) was our one night to go out for dinner---i have Sound of Music shows Friday and Saturday----so i suggested we go out---David kinda hesitated and pulled a face---so i made sloppy joes---Qrewq2S2344CF2FA3WS 94Z9 (that was Jonas typing)----so we are chatting and i'm finishing up some dancing moose stuff2S433WS%DDrdrr$rdwwwwwwwUVza$uyfzx 2(thanks again jonas) ....there is a knock at the door----i see Cannon's face peeking in the side window! OH MY STINKIN GOSH!
there is leah and cannon and jonas! they drove up for the weekend!
David is out back gardening---so he comes in from the back door----WITH STINKIN JASMINE, BETH AND BEN!
everyone drove up! leah gets to stay for a long weekend (then is spending the month of July with us while Joe has time off school)....Jasmine is staying for 2 weeks! LLLLLLLLLLLLLLAAAAAAAAAAA!

cannon (2 1/2), ben (2 yrs 2 months), milo (22 months), beth (4 months), jonas (18 months)

so my house is totally unprepared----toys are not out----breakables not up---but that will get done----this morning i'm taking 5 grandkids to see Cars2---tomorrow we're seeing Cinderella Kids at Artisan----gotta go buy whole milk, diapers, formula, goldfish, fruit snacks, wipees....

:)

31

2011-06-21T21:30:00.003-05:00

today is David & my THIRTY-STINKIN-FIRST wedding anniversary.

but this is not one of those sentimental posts---nah.

i have a cold
really----my throat hurts
i did my ethics show on friday night in Hot springs, arkanas---felt it a-comin
drove 6 hrs back home saturday morning to do a Sound of Music matinee---felt it a-rivin (get it---arriving---hey---that was clever)
sunday i went to church---played the organ--but didnt stay in nursery--not gonna get the kids sick and no way could i sustain that energy for 2 hours....slept til dinner (a most wonderful father's day dinner made by mwah)
stayed quiet most of monday---did a Sound of Music show---thank heavens for microphones.
i dont get sick often....and i dont stay sick for long

this morning---woke up----MY THROAT WAS ON FIRE---hurt so bad---my nose was running---"happy anniversary" "thanks---you too"....not moving from this bed....
david had said that he had a conference call at 8 and a meeting at 12---so we were going to go out between those to celebrate our anniversary (really? REALLY? 31 YEARS and you DONT remember THAT I DONT EAT BREAKFAST (well---at least in the morning i dont eat breakfast)----and WHY THE HECK am i being 'fitted-in' between meetings?????) REALLY??????
so---he looks at me---TRYING TO BREATHE---nearly lifeless---and he says "dont worry about today---we'll do it another time---it will be well worth your time"....so he leaves.
i have to go check out a hotel near the airport for our ethics show---so i drag myself out of bed...get dressed...drive to the hotel....check it out---and head home....think about runnin an errand or two....nope---goin home.
bbbbbbbbbbrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrring (thats the sound of my cell phone ringing)
its lyric
we chat
we keep chatting...bout how she should come visit before the baby comes.....
i drive up to my house---sit in the car to finish the conversation---
the door opens.

lyric is at my door---in my house---talking to me! David flew her and Milo out for the week as my gift!

lyric made this shirt for the celebration!

BETTER THAN BREAKFAST!
thanks dj---you are the best

a bug

2011-06-10T14:46:00.004-05:00

i have a bug

its overwhelming

insatiable...hmmmm...not sure that is the best word for this post---but its okay

i am in the craftiest of moods....the crafting bug

i also have a weakness

i dont finish

nope, not a finisher...this is why i dont sew---because my kids would have ended up walking around in clothes with no hems---no buttons----zippers? forgettaboutit.....

i need one week of nuthin---but who is kidding who---all i'll do is start

so---right now---i'm blogging----with facebook open (duh)----off to my left i have a knitting loom with yellow and white yarn---about 3 minutes away from finishing a newborn baby hat-on the cardtable in the front room i have my cricut (that even sounds like a bug!) up and have finished one project for it---have another that needs to get done....next to me is a bunch of raffia to make flowers with another loom type thing---i've got about 8 flowers done---but no pin or alligator clips on them yet----have 3 baby hats done that need matching booties---2 have the booties done---just not the final stitching----i have 3 pairs of booties that are mid-stream-----

i made napkin rings out of wire and beads---turned out really cute---but now i have 6 more ` staring at me---pleading for a cute napkin ring

i should be taking pictures of all of this---i hate blogging without pictures---my phone is almost dead---but it doesnt take very good pictures---i hate my blackberry...but taking pictures would infer that i was going to finish this blog correctly----ha...see? i cant even finish an emoticonism!

i have 162++ cooking magazines waiting to be pulled apart (a bit of an exaggeration---but not alot)...and then try out the recipes i rip out
there are 3 baby hats (like you get from the hospital) waiting to have a cute edging put on.

my grandmother's 50 yr old hot pink chaise lounge is in my front room---waiting for me to find someone who knows how to reupholster---notice i didnt say that i would reupholster it---just have to find someone to pay to do it...

i have 2 grandbabies due in 10-12 weeks---so i need to do 2 blankets
i have a sock machine screaming at me to make socks.
....screaming so loud that i cant hear the laminator whining as it waits to laminate the church pictures my kids were supposed to get for christmas.
and i'm doing 3 Sound of Music shows this weekend---but when i'm not onstage---i'm crocheting baby booties or flowers for headbands...

laundry
dishes
bed made

none done...well---laundry is done---but people are still wearing clothes! and the dishwasher is full of clean dishes---but yes---we continue to eat AND USE DISHES....and i plan on sleeping tonight...so bed made---yeah---not gonna happen.

jack of all trades---master of none...in fact....i'm surprised that i've even finished this po

an eternal family

2011-06-09T17:54:00.000-05:00

one of the most beautiful beliefs that we have, as a faith ---as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints---is that we believe the family unit is eternal----it is the basis for everything that God created----that we will be families into the eternities and be able to associate together and continue the family relationship we have enjoyed in this life.

may 2011---lyric & ben were able to come to dallas---bringing mr milo---and be sealed together as a family (with Pyper in utero)---there were many good friends and family that came for the wonderful ceremony. Alysha Bond (Bonded Memories) took these pictures----it was a lovely day.

the happy family coming out of the temple----it was lovely---a perfect May day.

hmmm---from left to right starting on the front row---lynn webb, judy webb, ben, milo & lyric, cannon nelson, me, jonas nelson, leah, abby dow, beth & jasmine, ben hall & david. 2nd row---michelle webb, todd webb, branson & claire (webb cousins) jeremy webb, lynn's college bff, ace, david, j howard davis, joe, eden schiffmann, pyper dow---and this was just the fam!

i have this same picture with each of the girls' weddings at the temple

cannon, jonas, ben, milo & beth----and my heart

the webb men---jeremy ben & todd

webb family in front of the spire of the dallas temple

nelson family jonas 16 months, cannon 29 months, joe 750 months, charlie brown 30 weeks, leah----i'm exhausted!

love this picture of jasmine and david trying to co-erce ben into coming over for a picture

the coersion worked!

my sister, Pyper (yes----lyric's baby is going to be named Pyper) and her cute daughter, Abby, came for the ceremony!

attention!

2011-06-09T08:09:00.002-05:00

dont get lazy---there are 3 new posts!

3 sisters

2011-06-08T21:08:00.000-05:00

65 years ago, my mother and her two older sisters took this picture----so, my two sisters and i decided to re-create the picture for my mom's birthday---since we arent 17-25 years old---Alysha Bond (bonded memories) did some nice photoshopping to ease the show of time!

margo, lil, mary lou circa 1945

meredith, eden, pyper circa 2011

pretty good likeness---dont you think!?!

my life on blackberry

2011-06-08T21:02:00.002-05:00

i just downloaded 990 pictures off of my blackberry----they are from very long ago (this is the first time i've uploaded them---didnt know i had a media card---duh---and i hate my blackberry) to very recent.....so here are some of my favorites---possibly very random.....but its where i've been and what i was lookin at and what was important at the moment...i am not going to bother putting these in chronological order---oh well...but i'll do my darnedest to tell you what was happening.

may 2011---ben hall came to visit us for 2 weeks sans parental units---we had a blast

may 2011---jonas, ben & cannon---ft worth water gardens

leah, cannon and lyric, may 2011---ft worth water gardens picnic

milo----must be 2011 because he has hair

my cute niece, abby---she came with her mom pyper for Lyric & Ben & Milo's sealing---may 2011---she loved Chip.

my nephew installed new fluorescent lights in the kitchen! june 2011

went to visit my mom in spring 2010---visited my dad too---altho he isnt there

my sweet mom---and her red car---april 2010

joe graduated from BYU april 2010 in applied physics----cannon is trying to figure out what that means---so am i

dave and i took cannon and jonas back to texas with us on a plane while their parents drove a truck with all their stuff---his backpack is a leash!

jonas is the chillest happiest most independent baby! (we call him the boy in the other room)

may 2010 david hall graduated from lamar in electrical engineering---then off to his job in new orleans with valero oil refinery.

leah got her associates degree from Tarrant County College in August 2010!

Jonas figured out how to crawl while they were living at our house summer 2010---and i need a better phone camera.

sweet jonas---summer 2010

july 2010----me and dave went on a cruise to the caribbean with my sibs and their spices---thanks to my mom---this is pat, pyper, shelley on the beach in san juan, puerto rico

i will apologize to my grandsons in 15 years---christmas 2010? well-placed 's', Cannon!

October 2010 we went to a Jeppson reunion in Salt Lake---the man in the shorts is our dear foster son, Doug---got to visit with him and his wife and 3 daughters---it was great! (also shown---ben--lyric & milo---jasmine with the arm attitude)

toured the conference center---my aunt lil is a tour guide---family also got to see the taping of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's 100th anniversary show---the Prophet made an appearance!

lyric, ben & milo with salt lake temple in the background---oct 2010

ben, david & jasmine (beth in utero) with salt lake temple in the background---october 2010

cannon, leah, jonas & joe october 2010 in front of the salt lake temple

ace and my aunt lil on the roof of the convention center---with the slc temple in the background---oct 2010

dave, doug and i october 2010

cannon, ben & jonas----october 2010 at the visitors center on Temple Square

david hall giving President Monson a high five---october 2010

ace shaking hands with President monson---october 2010

our version of theater seating---may 2011---cannon, milo, beth, jonas & ben

meals---leah, barely jasmine, david, lyric & ben---may 2011

beth! jun 2011

jonas---dec 2009----brand stinkin new

me and jonas---both of us worn out---december 2009

ace loves his nephews---summer 2010---think thats jonas

love this toothless grin of milo----early 2010

DAVID! HOW CAN YOU FALL ASLEEP AT THE RODEO? january 2011

david & ben----hmmmm----orlando? spring break 2010---we took turns watching babies

milo was the only one not afraid of the big characters! universal studios---orlando march 2010

ben was terrified of one of the shows----so he clung to mommy but kept on looking---i think it was someone in character costume....orlando march 2010

thanks to alysha bond for the pictures----obviously not from my phone!

cannon, jonas, ben, milo & beth----my heart.

cliquish? snobby? intimidating?

2011-06-08T16:04:00.001-05:00

this will be short---and all about me---
when i was in college studying sign language---it came very easy to me---the vocabulary and the signing out---not really the reading of other people's signs---but anyway---i did very well----i also had 6 kids at home between the ages of 3 months and 10 years old---and i was gone every night at school----and i took it very seriously.
one day we were asked to write down a critique of others in the class (WHY WOULD A TEACHER DO THAT?)---most of my critiques were "you are awesome!" "great facial expression"---etc-----thanks---but then one.....ONE.... said "why dont you share your talent with others? you keep it to yourself and are a little cliquish in who you interact with and not willing to share to encourage those of us struggling"

i was cut to the core......knife in my heart.....obviously---i still remember it 17 years later.....i wasnt being elitist----it wasnt that i didnt care----i assumed that they were fine without me and my influence----and i've never forgotten how that felt when she said it---well wrote it.

i still worry about that. i'm not a snob----i'm shy....reticent....hesistant....less than overly confident (great---now i am humming Sound of Music "I have Confidence"---haha---so are you!)

WHA---WHAAAAAAAAAAAAT? MEREDITH? SHY? BAHAHAHAHHAHA!

i know i come across as intimidating---as "i can do that'"----- but most ---neigh all of the time---(okay---now i am worrying if it is nay or neigh---i think it is nay---as in no) so nay, all of the time it is an act---i am onstage. i assume that everyone is 'realer' in their behavior/personality/etc than i am----i admire people who can get mad in public or be 'frank'-----to the offender----i cant do that---i talk a good story---but when face to face---i dont confront....i also dont put myself out there to help because i assume that anything i can do is not really that valuable.
i have been blessed with talents---i reek of talents---but anyone can have my talents---take lessons from 5 yrs old on and you too can be shallow-talented.
i admire people with talents that are faith-based.....who are calm in their skin----who truly dont care if people dont think they are cute (not facial cute-ness---more behavioral cuteness). thats not me....i dont assume people like me unless i am the onstage me. my talents are shallow---visual---on stage. the greatest gift i would like to have is natural compassion---where it came naturally---it doesnt.
even in the shows i do---i am onstage (duh meredith---of course you are onstage---you are in a show)----when i walk into a room of people i dont know---i DO NOT assume that people want to meet me. i am likely to hover around the food table or chat with people who already know me as cute me.
when lyric was young---there was chatter that she was uppity---yes---i said it---and she and i talked about it---she was/is/was SO PAINFULLY shy---and didnt smile at people---and worried---that she came across as aloof---snobby----it came up many many many many---yes---quad-many times.....i get it.
so---backstage at Annie and now, Sound of Music....i am working very hard to reach out---to talk to people--- to volunteer to do something----to say hello (i assume they either dont remember who i am or are so ensconced in such a deep conversation that i would only be interrupting) to show genuine interest in their life---to be helpful----to rehearse with someone who is struggling---to say hi to the teenage boys who could care less about a 'older than dirt' nun---to offer to help or join---thats it-----I'M NOT A JOINER---i dont go out to Chili's after the show---i assume they will have more fun if i'm not there.....i am an invitee.....I LOVE TO PLAN----but then i assume people arent really going to want to come unless i have great food and great other people to be fun.

this was more rambling than i intended----just that i am proud of myself for learning names of people that i dont know and asking them about their life without putting in my 2 cents....its not about me....and now i am kicking myself for being proud of myself for learning names---really merf? REALLY? that is appalling.

i think i have posted this before----obviously a pathetic plea for attention and acknowledgment.

Next Food Network Star

2011-05-21T08:03:00.001-05:00

is me! well---maybe not---but i do my darnedest.

The local Community theater that i indulge my need for applause at (hmmm---dangling particple aside---that is a convuluted combination of words)----Artisan Center Theater in Hurst, Tx----was doing "Proposals"---and they needed a traditional 1960's meal for every performance---tuna noodle casserole, green salad, jello, cookies and pecan pie (i grew up in the 60's---never had pecan pie---but the rest is totally onspot)---I LOVE TUNA NOODLE CASSEROLE---so i volunteered to make a casserole every Monday and Friday for the performances. I GOOGLED (adding in another love) tuna noodle casserole recipes from the 1960's and went to town---did i mention i love reading recipes and cookbooks/magazines?---if i didnt---i do.

i served tuna noodles with macaroni noodles, wide egg noodles, twirly noodles---with peas & carrots, with peppers, with corn flakes on top----all served in a traditional cassserole dish.

the prop-momma---Tammie Phillips---and i concocted a plan-----

in my research---i came across an AMAZING recipe---tuna lime jello loaf! and THERE WERE MULTIPLE RECIPES of this---its not a fluke, folks! so tammie and i agreed that the last weekend THIS DELICIOUSNESS would be presented to the cast ONSTAGE---so it makes its debut TODAY!

as i made it---being the good chef i am----i tasted (i learned that from Chopped and from Gordon Ramsay---you have to taste your food---)----and it was NOT bad! (now---truth in advertising----i let the jello set a little too much before adding in the other ingredients---so i would imagine the next time you wont see chunks of jello---but this makes for good theater)

lime jello, tuna, chopped celery, minced onion, lemon juice, little bit of mayo, chopped hard boiled eggs---combine in a loaf pan---chill---serve! (it made the funniest 'galush' sound as it came out of the loaf pan)

me thinks my boys at home are going to get this next week---just to see....anyone wanna come to dinner?

dressing girls

2011-05-09T10:03:00.007-05:00

Elizabeth Ann Hall....born February 23, 2011....7:18 a.m....8 lb....19.5 inches....

a most lovely little girl...looks a lot like her brother, Ben....except

she wears florals
she wears purple

she wears pink

she wears ruffles

she wears headbands

......leggings

......tutus

......dresses

.....bows

.....lacy socks

.....ribbons

.....jewelry

....smocking

Dear Ben's Mom...

2011-05-03T20:57:00.004-05:00

Please dont come. Ben loves me. He cries when I leave. He says "mama!" when i get in his eyesight. We play chase. He likes my dogs. He likes Mrs. Beasley. Tonight he cried for me to be the one to put him to bed. We cuddled and watched "The Voice". He fell asleep in my arms. He likes me...he really likes me.

i leave tomorrow morning...early....before he wakes up (stupid shiny me---i'm weeping!)---and when I get home you will have been with him for 24 hours...
When you come....you will be "Mommy!"...and i will be 'the other'.

Love,
Ben's mama

ps....please bring beth with you.

vanity, thy name is...........

2011-04-10T23:17:00.001-05:00

MEREDITH ANN ENSIGN JEPPSON

okay---a few things you need to know about me---if you dont already.

i am very very vain---altho i hide it well by wearing unkempt,goofy hair and not always wearing makeup and schlupping (sp?) around in slippers and muu-muu's (all totally done to hide my natural vane-ness---yeah---right) (hmmm---have i blogged about my love of muu-muu's and how happy i am to finally be the age to wear them and not be totally guffawed (yes, I said it) at---AND----have you counted how deep into parentheses i am!?))))))

i love maxi dresses---thats what we called them in the late 1960's----they are the wonderful "dont have to wear hose or worry about keeping your knees together or bending over" dresses....AND they are IN right now! yay!

knowing those two points---you are now prepared to read the rest of this post.

i go to church today----ready to play with my sweet nursery kids----which means i wear LONG FLOWING skirts or MAXI dresses!

i'm feeling pretty good----i have a couple of dresses that ( at least, I think) make me look long and lean...or at least long.

then in walks our wonderful music leader---she comes in every week and sings with the kids---and she is the mommy of one of my sweet boys---today, in the interest of anonymity (sp?--really, merf---twice you have to sp?) we'll call her Barbie (ashley---dont take it personally---i'm giving you an alias to protect your identity----oops)---she is a pretty, blonde, talented and pleasant young mother and has two of the most beautiful little boys (well---other than MY little boys----but.....i digress......)))))----and did i mention she is 6 stinkin months pregnant!!!!!???? (she is due in July---so even with that ---her mom beats me out---mine are due in august and september----gawsh)

and i notice....we have the same dress (style) on....oh my stinkin gosh----she is 6 months pregnant---with her 3rd child---which means, we all know, that she looks like 8 months ( but you dont, ash---i mean Barbie---sorry---i'll work on that)))).....so i look down at what i thought was long and lean....and just see....wellllll---realizing that the dress doesnt necessarily fit well---the straps need to come up A LOT---and its dragging on the ground....Barbie's (see, Ashley---I can remember to not....oh,,,,, rats) doesnt drag---BUT SHE HAS A BEAUTIFUL BELLY holding hers up.

the end result is----she lets me take a picture of her---not knowing what i have planned until AFTER i take the picture---see what i mean when i say she is pleasant!?---and then tries very hard to convince me that i dont look 6 MONTHS PREGNANT and that her dress isnt really a maternity dress (does that argument work on ANYONE? )......and i'm sure it was very awkward for her---but she didnt show it....pleasant.

so.....i'm going to give the dress to lyric---i think its probably too long for leah----altho i am 5'6" now (thats a whole 'nuther blog---I'VE STARTED SHRINKING)))))----because, in my mind....it is a maternity dress....or, at the very least, belongs on a much younger, pleasanter---altho NOT BLONDER (so there, ashl---i mean Barbie---yeah---thats it)

this is not a pathetic plea for 'NO NO NO MERF---you look GREAT' (for a woman your age---you always forget to say that)---it just is what it is.....sigh.

have i?

2011-04-03T12:29:00.002-05:00

...i'm fine.....how apropos that my time of "grrrr" came right before the LDS General Conference---a time when we can listen to the inspired leaders of the Lord's church---and i can glean from it what i'm supposed to hear and use.....Lord, I heard....and i will use.
....when President Uchtdorf tells me that the answer to my prayers wont necessarily happen when i am on my knees, but when i am on my feet, serving.....i better get up off my duff.
When Elder Paul Johnson talks about the beauty of the view comes AFTER the climb....i better continue climbing.....(i HATE climbing, btw)....cant i just walk farther? okay---i wont argue---i'll climb.
Sister Allred talks about being prepared and the Relief Society being prepared to help during times of struggle across the world----and i'm griping about my kid not being invited to a movie?
When Bishop H Burke Peterson talks about those around us that desperately need our help----gulp----i have it pretty good....and better stop belly-aching.

Hymns 223, Have I Done Any Good?

1. Have I done any good in the world today?

Have I helped anyone in need?

Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad?

If not, I have failed indeed.

Has anyone’s burden been lighter today

Because I was willing to share?

Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way?

When they needed my help was I there?

Then wake up and do something more

Than dream of your mansion above.

Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure,

A blessing of duty and love.

2. There are chances for work all around just now,

Opportunities right in our way.

Do not let them pass by, saying, “Sometime I’ll try,”

But go and do something today.

’Tis noble of man to work and to give;

Love’s labor has merit alone.

Only he who does something helps others to live.

To God each good work will be known.

the last line of the song was changed in 1985 with the new hymnbook----it used to say "the world has no need for a drone" We dont get to sing the word 'drone' very often....i still sing those words---rebel---go ahead---try it---yes---sing it---out loud--its great poetry!

he'll be fine....i'll be breathing for him.

merf----dont be a drone.

grrrrrr

2011-03-31T14:23:00.001-05:00

coming soon
nothing cryptic about this one
grrrrrr

okay---now i'm rethinking----you know----sometimes you just need time to calm down----and then you rethink how it might sound---BUT DAGNABIT ----

i am sure that i come across as competent---fine----able---put-together----possibly even intimidatingly unapproachable (altho i hope not!)----

not always true

sometimes i'm not fine----sometimes i'm not all that put together----

but i can take care of myself----now----my children are a different animal.....the claws come out---even if they arent aware of anything....(my kid----not the claws---claws arent ever aware of anything---they are people---this is not going to work if you cant stay up with me)

look around your ward----there may be kids in your ward from active families that still need to be included/invited....children with no siblings---or maybe siblings THAT ARE GROWN AND GONE....or maybe many siblings and they need to be singled out for some extra attention----

i have such a kid----with such a good heart---accepts everyone----likes everyone----invites/includes everyone----assumes that everyone else likes everyone else---never takes offense----but i notice and i take offense and i get MAD

so when there is a clique---and there is---that excludes not only MY child---but others as well (i've actually had parents come up to me and ask why some kids get invited to pre-dance parties or movies and some dont---i didnt have an answer and i was embarrassed for my ward)---

my kid has friends---nice kids---but what do we do when we say we want him to double-date with LDS kids---so he approaches them and is told their group date to the Mormon Prom is full---really? the group is full? how many makes a group? didnt realize that a group is a definite number.

what do we do when there is an activity at church and the kids in charge (clique-members) DONT call my kid to tell him its been cancelled----DONT tag him on fb to tell him about an event-----grrrrrrrr. please dont talk about all the kids from the ward meeting at your house to go to a movie---in front of kids that arent invited---because it really isnt all the kids, now is it?

who do i talk to? do i go up to the parents and say something? NO---cause that makes me look hovering----do i talk to the clique? NO---stupid kids.

so i blog----and i put it out there----and if you have active good kids in your area/ward/school that seem to be fine----look closely----every teen needs someone other than their parents encouraging them---and please! encourage your kids to include others.

ya know---this goes for adults too----dont assume that just because we come to church on Sunday, that we've been around forever, that we appear to have it all together---dont assume that we dont need.

okay---i'm done now. i chickened out in naming names and being as specific and as catty as i had intended....and i do catty really well.

i dont sew---but i rouche!

2011-03-25T11:58:00.001-05:00

...i dont sew---i know HOW---but its not something i like to do---i'm not a finisher----i'm not detailed enough---my motto is "close enough"---not the best philosophy for sewing....(or being a doctor---or a bomb-maker)---
but, dear followers....i do DO....i crochet, modge-podge (i probably should be linking all of these to lovely examples of my work---but as i said before---i'm not a finisher), i craft....
AND NOW! I ROUCHE!

was googling (as i do REALLY WELL) around---saw a diy (thats do-it-yourself for you non-crafters/non HGTV watchers) for "big tee to maternity tee"----
WHAT?
did that say MATERNITY!? one of my FAVORITE words right now!
you take a tee-shirt (who really spells it that way----its t-shirt) that is 2 sizes too big for your preggeress (thats for you, Lyric)----rouche the sides----VOILA! (rouche is the gathering on the sides)...hmmmm---probably should include a picture of rouching right here....but...yeah---you know....

anyway, so i tried it

i rouched

....not on just one t shirt-cause if it works for one---then 2 would be better, 3 would be great and

8 WOULD BE TREMENDOUS!

leah and the boys were up visiting---(have i mentioned that she is pregnant?)----so i had her be my model and maternity-clothing consultant (she's an expert)

so i rouched a man's t-shirt, a v-neck, a pattern, and a few solids....
LOVE IT

and will do more---maybe one for me....so if you see me in a rouched shirt----yeah....i did it.

tmi-----

2011-03-20T23:44:00.000-05:00

had a great week---spent 5 days in missouri doing shows---4 in st louis and one in Kansas City---stayed at wonderful hotels---ate great food-----had great audiences---fun times----flew from St louis to Orlando---got to spend a bit of time with my baby and her baby...then Lyric went to the Orlando Temple and we got to go with her ( She and Ben will be sealed on may 14, 2011 in dallas)
anywa----dave and i get on a plane--fly from orlando to chicago to dallas----our plane was late leaving orlando---so we were hurrying to our chicago connection----we are carrying multiple bags---trying to put one in another ---one bag had broken a strap for the LAST time----checking thru our larger carryons----i'm reaching up on our plane going to dfw---putting carryons in the upper bins....and

hmmmmmm? whats that feeling? what? really? um.....eyes dart around to see if anyone else notices? nope----i'm pretty invisible---but i laugh out loud.....sad that noone notices----but i sure do! what a strange feeling!

okay----i'll let you in on it......my bra had unsnapped--totally undone--somehow----sometime----so i had scurried from one plane to another, reached up and down moving bags----AND NO ONE NOTICED THAT I WAS GOING COMMANDO---UNENCUMBERED----FREE TO THE WIND! except me---i hate that feeling----but it was a little fun to be so 70's retro----like being in on a secret that no one around you knows---and giggling out loud...then looking around to see if anyone noticed i giggled.......nope.

maybe next time it will NOT be an accident!

sympathetic pregnancy?

2011-03-12T22:17:00.000-06:00

i have two pregnant daughters....up until 3 (REALLY----CAN IT BE THREE WEEKS ALREADY) weeks ago, i had 3 pregnant daughters....and i have like 763 nieces and friends that are pregnant

i have so many things to blog about---havent even talked about christmas---it was great-----full of diapers and babies and naps and memories---and i took pics---but then came january---and we went to the rodeo---i aged a year----sam came home to visit for his bday (we share the same)---all very nice----then february hurried thru---plagues on Lyric had me breathing for her...then MISS STINKIN ELIZABETH ANN HALL was born---yeah---i have a grandDAUGHTER....still adore my boys OF COURSE...and physically need a grandbaby fix more often than not.....hit up my first mardi gras parade...got beads....doin shows....

but thats not what i'm writing about.

emotions.

i cry. i weep.

all the time.

of course at cheesy commercials.....and game show/reality show big winners---duh.
but even more....i cry at the THOUGHT of things...happy....sad....important....inane (look it up)....tears flow.

February was huge....see above...good/bad/healthy/unhealthy...my dad gone 10 years....cried
March is big....going to the temple with Lyric in Orlando....will cry---crying now thinking about it
April---hmmm....maybe not cry---oh, no----Beth is being blessed---will cry
May....BIG crying month....mothers day---happy/sad/melancholy tears....Lyric & Ben & Milo are being sealed....OH MY GOODNESS....get my hankie out now....

can i blame it on leah and lyric being pregnant---i live vicariously thru my children---so maybe i can blame all the tears on them...hormones and all...
do you know that talking about pregnancies would have brought me to tears 30 years ago?
and my cravings....for chocolate, lately for all things cheeseburger-y....can i blame that on sympathetic pregnancy-related....okay---this one only if i can say i've been sympathetically pregnant for thirty/twenty/insert single digit here years......okay----cant blame that.
i'm losing weight....hmmmm...okay---that has nothing to do with sympathy---i just thought i would mention it....

this was a lot more clever in my mind....

i'm tearing up ...laughing at my silliness.
join me....and hand me a tissue.

Dear friend...well....person in her ward....

2011-03-05T12:09:00.001-06:00

...of my daughter
   .......that just gave birth
       ......that lives in a small apartment
           ......that has no children your daughter's age

thank you for helping her by watching her son a couple of times while she went to doctor's appointments.
thank you for being her visiting teacher.

she was trying to think of a way to thank you

you wanted to go to a Mardi Gras parade....you grounded your 8 yr old daughter from the parade....you left your 8 yr old daughter at her apartment 10 days after MY daughter gave birth---you said you wanted her to learn service, so could she come over and help you with my grandson...no you didnt---you wanted my daughter to babystinkinsit your daughter....DONT GROUND YOUR KIDS FROM SOMETHING YOU WANT TO GO TO....you wanted to leave her for 5 hours---my daughter negotiated you down to 2 hrs....your daughter was bored after 10 minutes....and my grandson went down for a nap 1 hr in...and your daughter wanted to be entertained---not to entertain a 2 yr old....she has a 2 yr old brother---she is bored by 2 yr olds. my daughter is too nice to say no.....but she wont be next time.

pretty sure you are even now.

things you forget

2011-03-05T10:00:00.000-06:00

i consider myself pretty much an EXPERT in delivering babies...well...in watching my daughters deliver babies....well....in being right outside the room (or on an airplane travelling TO the hall outside the room) while they deliv....well, while their DOCTOR delivers....okay---you know what i mean....in the last two years---i have had an experience or two.

so, you think i would remember everything about those first few days---first week of newbornness.....um....no.

now---i only DELIVERED one baby myself---leah and lyric were both 8 days old---practically potty-trained when they arrived in our family---ace was 3 months, sam was 14 months and molly was 20 months...so i did miss out on most of their 'first few days' events.....

anyway....these are the things i am always surprised at---and shouldnt be....

newborn babies sleep---all the time---so the new mother thinks "wow---this isnt so bad"---yeah---just wait---the newborns wake up.
newborns are puffy
it is entertaining to just sit and hold a newborn and watch her/him breathe....how often can we say that in our life? (NEVER)
nursing hurts...to begin with.
bodily fluids....everywhere
muconium diapers----ew
nothin cuter than miniature clothes....well---newborn diapers are cuter...okay---nothin cuter than newborn diapers...BEFORE they are used (see above)
you get NOTHING done...it takes two to diaper, bathe, dress.....

one thing new mothers shouldnt forget---and we (i speak only for myself) as experienced mothers NEVER forget-----they grow so fast.

Angus Cannon Ensign Jr

2011-02-17T18:29:00.003-06:00

my dad has been gone 10 years....my parents have been married 61 years on February 14th....He passed away February 18, 2001 after having been sick for a couple of years with diabetes and complications associated with that horrid disease.

if you want to know my dad----just meet my brothers and sisters---and me. we all share many of his best characteristics---and his weaknesses.

my dad is a planner...a list-maker---(so is my mom---so we were all doomed to inherit this trait).
my dad is as focused a person you'd ever want to meet----not a trait i got---- when he and mom were on their temple missions, he expounded on the importance of temple work to all of us.... if he was working on his emergency preparedness, then we ALL should be working on emergency preparedness ....when dad was sick and couldnt eat fast food---he decided that NONE of us should EVER eat fast food---no happy meals---nuthin....but before that he would eat ice cream out of the carton with a spoon with anyone who wanted to share---chocolate marshmallow or rocky road.. he also loves his chocolate---THANKS FOR THAT ONE, DAD!
my dad loves for his kids to learn by experience---by struggle---and loves to tell the stories ....yeah, i'm a tough love mom----most of the time---but i dont enjoy it as much as he seems to.
OH MY GOSH---my dad loves abundance--- when dad would come to visit us, he would fill--literally FILL our freezer with chickens---whole chickens....if one was good, two was better, five was best and 10 was WOW!.... it all makes sense now!
my dad loves to sing, play the ukelele, dance ..... :)
dad loves his toys...he collected calculators....bet he is experiencing the sweetest WIFI ever! ....and yeah---all his kids got this one---itouch/ipad/pc/pda.... car, gardening, kitchen toys----dad started us all on this!
my dad is bald.....thanks...yeah...thanks dad.
my dad loves to play games---and loves to win.....he would lead us in games of "marco polo" or "shark" in the pool...."fox and geese" in the snow.... monopoly, chess....i like games...i just dont like to keep score.
my dad is a worker----and wants everyone around him to be working---yeah---i got that one---Saturday mornings he would be vacuuming (his inside chore) or working out in the yard----we would take our sweet time cleaning our rooms or whatever, 'cause if you finished early---YOU'D GET ANOTHER JOB!.... i tried to not do that.
dad loves his family..and he loves the family as a unit...a well-oiled machine...he focused on family scripture study, family home evenings...table manners are HUGE to him....got that.
dad likes his clothes....white shoes, belt, tie....all with red pants, shirt and sweater----of course, it was the 80's.....i like to think i'm stylin.
dad has a temper......oops.
dad believes in the saving atonement of Jesus Christ---and bore testimony of it as we grew up....yep, I got that. he believes in Joseph Smith as a prophet of God and the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ.... me too.
dad serves his fellow man.... he believes in struggle---and then compassion. At his funeral, there were so many people that came up and shared times of when dad gave them money, bailed them out of jail, gave them a hand up---and then advice and follow-up---to better their lives----most of the time, we never knew....wish i'd gotten that.
dad loves my mom..... he loves to make her happy ---with the exception of the past 10 years (dad, you are SO going to hear about that from her!).... yeah---i love my mom a lot!

now, Merf---you might be saying---your dad is gone----why are you referring to him as "is" not "was"....
because I know my dad IS.... he IS watching over his family....i believe he is up there getting my grandbabies in line---giving them advice, pushing them on the swings, playing "Duck, Duck, Goose" while they wait their turn---thinking he can help them NOT be 'terrible two's (he hates that phase)....bet he is sharing ice cream with the babies....i like to think he IS suggesting to God things that his family might need----you know, just an "oh, btw...." every now and then....i know my dad IS waiting for us (be patient, dad---yeah---NOT something he is!---me neither) I know my dad IS...and i know my family WILL be.....forever.
love you dad---you need to call more.

as the clock ticks down....

2011-02-16T19:46:00.001-06:00

to grandbaby number 6.............

jasmine feb 1, 2009...4 weeks before delivery

jasmine feb 14, 2011 ---1 week before delivery

the most beautiful....

2011-02-15T11:20:00.000-06:00

purse....ever.

Thanks Eden!

Dear Doctor,

2011-02-14T12:40:00.002-06:00

Dear Doctor Ohman,

I hurt here....
Can you make this go away....
There's gotta be a pill for that...
What the heck is this....
Love,
merf

Dear Merf,

Nice to see you...what hurts bad enough to bring you in?

I know.... sorry...take Tylenol for it EVERYDAY for the rest of your life.

Hmmmm....lets get a blood test ....and try this cream

There is...but you have to TAKE the pills....EVERYDAY....REALLY.....i'm not kidding

How old are you?

Love,

Dr Ohman....

ps---by the way---since you are here---lets schedule your tri-annual well-woman check---and mammogram (yes, merf---you are supposed to do it every year)---what did you have for breakfast (M & M's? really? how many? okay---we'll check your cholesterol since you are here)

Dear Phlebotomist,

My veins roll

My veins are deep

My veins arent very good

I bruise

Love,

Merf

Dear Merf,

Sorry...twice... in 3 places..sorry

love, phleb

nesting?

2011-02-12T15:05:00.001-06:00

.....jasmine is due in 11 days.....my niece and american idol buddy, Jackie, is due in 2 weeks.....nieces, Katie & Ashley are due April and first of may-ish---another niece, Mary Ellen, is due end of May---ANOTHER niece, Lindsay, just announced... have i forgotten anyone....oh yeah. ....LEAH AND LYRIC ARE BOTH EXPECTING!

okay---that deserves a line all by itself----JASMINE, LEAH & LYRIC---ALL PREGNANT---ALL EXPECTING--- GRANDBABIES 6,7 & 8---ON THE WAY.... stop for the happy dance....

okay---back to business.....
add to this two or three girls in our ward and daughters of friends---all pregnant....PLUS working in the nursery at church---all i think about is babies and toddlers!

.....the crafting bug has hit me hard---again---i've gone thru decades of the latest trends in crafts---EXCEPT scrapbooking---yeah---never did that---or card making---never did..... but years ago we did the whole tole painting, wood baskets, holiday decorations, cross-stitch----and 13 years ago my mom helped me FINALLY learn to crochet.... very cathartic---not that good---not very fancy---but i enjoy doing BABY blankets.... add to that knitting looms for hats....those held me thru my 40's....

NOW......i've done magnets, coasters, cookie decorating (well---if you consider my tomato pumpking cookies decorated)---i google 'diy' on everything----jas is making sock puppets for nursery---i LOVE modge-podge....

i've been crocheting amigurumi animals---essentially small stuffed animals---my first, a seal---looks more like a walrus---but i'll get there....

I've done a bunch of 'homeless' gloves---'texting' gloves.....essentially just a sleeve and a thumb-hole---but perfect for warm weather chilly winters....they go up fast (very important for me) and i love to wear them---i dont often do projects that i keep---but i love me my homeless gloves (is that pc? sorry---love me my texting gloves)...

i'm about to finish Beth Hall (jasmine's new baby and MY FIRST GRANDDAUGHTER) blanket---and i learned a new stitch (HUGE FOR ME, FOLKS)---its called a v-stitch....you can teach an old dog new tricks....

oh---btw---finishing a craft is HUGE for me----i jump from project to project and then have to stop myself to go back and finish it.... and quality is not always my goal----my life's motto "close enough" totally shows up in my crafting projects.

i'm about to start knitting baby socks on a knitting sock loom---CANT WAIT---have some really cute yarn---i'll let you know....

i want to make a gumball necklace----got the idea from my niece, Olivia, on her clever blog (Gnome, Sweet Gnome)...

and you can bet miss Beth will be getting this cardigan---or my version of it---next year---for the one day in New Orleans that she needs a sweater...

my craftiness includes cooking and trying new recipes---cowboy lasagna from Trisha Yearwood's cookbook---big hit with the guys here at the house

chicken empanadas---made with pie dough---great for snacks----will do them again when the grandboys are up here visiting

this week i DIY colored rice-----for "look and find"s......plastic jars with little random toys/beads then filled with colored rice---for toddlers to shake and move around to find the little random toys...like a Where's Waldo that you can hold.....

so am I nesting? i dont think so---but let me google "diy nest crochet"---betcha i can make it!

p stinkin s ....i googled "diy crochet nest:"------ AND IT EXISTS! i'm so going to have to make this!

a.a.i.m.b......play by play

2011-01-21T10:51:00.008-06:00

a.a.i.m.b.....after all, it's my birthday

12:30 a.m.---wake up (fell asleep to Jay Leno)...go to the front door to make sure its locked and Ace is home (he had a Camelot show last night)----he is...i go back to bed.

5:30 a.m....woke up to my alarm---which means that Ace didnt wake up to his...but David hears my alarm and he goes upstairs to wake up ace...a.a.i.m.b.

5:53 a.m....go to front room to make sure ace got out the door to seminary---dave is asleep on the couch...i go back to bed...a.a.i.m.b

7:15 a.m....wake up again...go out to front room---ace is asleep on the couch---get him up to shower/eat/dress/make his lunch/brush his teeth....GOSH---YOU'D THINK A SIXSTINKINTEEN YEAR OLD WOULD KNOW THE ROUTINE....anyway....i get dressed...cause i have to take him to school since he didnt get up to his alarm....no drivy....bummer for me---it is stinkin cold outside...God---did you not get the memo? a.a.i.m.b

8:30 drop ace off at bowling (his 1st period class is AT a bowling alley---our public education dollars at work!)---reminding him its MY birthday...."oh....uh....happy birthday"....grrrrrr.

8:35...head to the store...GET TEARY in the car driving---i realize that none of my girls (and, consequently, their boys) will be here! i think this is the first birthday in 27 years---maybe last year was---i dont remember---but it doesnt matter if it is the first or not....a.a.i.m.b

8:40...go to the store....decide to be a little...okay...a lot... passive aggressive .... which i do MAGNIFICENTLY ...i go to the bakery and get a cake...i dont like cake...i like brownies...but i didnt see a pan of brownies when i got home last night (gone from 4 pm til 9---plenty of time to make mom's birthday brownies and hide them not so well on top of the fridge)---and its Sam's birthday and he is coming up from Waco---so i BUY a cake and then freeze in front of the freezer section looking for Sam's favorite ice cream---banana nut....WHICH I GUARANTEE DAD DOESNT KNOW AND DIDNT GET (did i say that out loud?)...find it...i also get a tub of strawberries---for me to eat---before the guys get home...then i check out---including buying a crock pot cookery magazine AS A GIFT TO ME.a.a.i.m.b

9:03....i cant eat before 10 a.m.....cant....it doesnt stay with me---not gonna say it any clearer than that...but the Subway breakfast sandwiches have been calling to me...so i stopped at subway and got a sandwich....ate 2 bites....it is now sitting next to me on the couch as i type this...it was good....but i'm done....a.a.i.m.b

9:30...Stop by the post office---because life goes on...even THO a.a.i.m.b

9:45....skype with Jas and ben...she sings to me...ben wants candy....then we talk about dishesHAHAHAHAHA ...and the lovely new kitchen linens (hot pads and gloves etc) she gave me...a.a.i.m.b

10:00.... get onto farmtown to check my farms....plant 3 day seeds so i wont have to worry about it til monday...Holla to Jasmine & Amy for sending me a peacock and a fuel tank after reading my previous blog (my bot thanks you too!)... a.a.i.m.b

10:30...lose everything i ate....but thats okay---the crockpot magazine kept me company...tmi...but a.a.i.m.b

11:00...checked out nomorerack....HAVE YOU FOUND THIS SITE? everyday there are a very limited number of AMAZING deals---but you have to jump on it AT 11 a.m....they are gone in less than 30 minutes...but today i got 3 ties for 1$ EACH! a.a.i.m.b

11:05...crocheting homeless gloves...these are the gloves with no fingers...for us southerners they are perfect---you can still text or eat a taco...and it keeps the little nip in the air from climbing up your sleeves....want one? a.a.i.m.b

11:45...my sweet brother matt called to wish me a happy birthday! very nice! he is anticipating the birth of his first grandson (march 3ish)...so we talked anticipation and skype! i have great brothers and sisters. He was going to sing to me....but he was at work...so he didnt sing...but he wanted to...because a.a.i.m.b.

12:15...Lyric called and sang me "happy birthday"...asked me if i had gotten her box yet....nope...then we chatted about HER RASH...gawsh! lyric----its all about me today! a.a.i.m.b

12:39...my sister Pyper just called...first thing she says "i'm not singing to you...but happy birthday"---then proceeds to announce that my gift is ON THE STINKING TABLE! then we talk about my birthday---and then we chat about her car troubles and our ITouches... i love my sister Pyper! a.a.i.m.b.

1:00...cousin Paul calls to tell me they will meet us at the rodeo tonight (Paul & Peggy Jenson are serving a mission here in Fort Worth)...i had put Pyper on hold---then when i finished with Paul I totally HUNG UP on Pyper! So i called her back..even tho a.a.i.m.b

this is what i look like when i'm sitting around at home---a hoodie--with a sweatshirt...and a hat with a scarf attached...on the phone...with a space heater at my feet...even on days its not my birthday!

1:30---hit with a HUGE wave of exhaustion and joint pain---LIKE HORRIBLE...cold does that to me...i couldnt function...so i sat there...because i can...because a.a.i.m.b

2:15----i go to pick up ace from school...braving the frigid 43 degrees....heat turned up as high as possible in the car...then ace and i have a lovely conversation about self-centeredness and how i'm pretty sure that the developmental age for that to stop is 15!

3:00 good friend drops by---with an AWESOME purple purse---OH MY GOODNESS...its amazing...then we talk about her div...um---private things.....and i show her how to navigate microsoft calendar...even tho a.a.i.m.b. ace takes over to help her with a word document....i lay down and heckle him...because a.a.i.m.b.

3:30 i lay there just muttering whimsical sayings and witty repartee....needing to sleep....especially since a.a.i.m.b

4:30 i skype (well, ace and i) with milo and lyric---and she chews me out for talking about her rash---so dont say anything.... i need to get dressed and ready for the rodeo...where we are going because a.a.i.m.b
5:00...lyric's box arrives! FOR HAMBURGER! (blog post will be coming)----i have very clever daughters...and they put out lots of effort because a.a.i.m.b
6:00---heading to the Fort Worth StockShow Rodeo----maybe try to blog from there---dont know if i can...but i'll try...bet the internet powers will let me BECAUSE A.A.I.M.B!
6:30.....eating french fries with homemade fry sauce at the stockshow----
7:30-9:30 FREAKIN GREAT RODEO! love the rodeo---love it love it love it.
10:00----birthday cake and banana nut ice cream.
11:00---finishing up one of eden's homeless gloves----
11:50---going to bed---thanks all for a lovely birthday!

....meet my bot

2011-01-20T14:36:00.000-06:00

YES! i know its been 2 stinkin months since i posted---i been busy---and lazy---and have so many ideas for blog posts that i couldnt decide---so i didnt...but i had to.

Hi my name is meredith and i play Farm Town. I have 8--yes 8---farms...dont judge. BUT---do you have any idea how hard it is to have enough fuel to harvest/plow and sow my 8 farms when FT (farmtown) only lets you refuel once a day...and did you know you cant buy cinnamon trees---you can only have them gifted to you---same as cows for milk to make the cheese for my pizza restaurant...it cant be done...without gifts from other FT farmers. I hate to ask for gifts. and I hate to admit that i may or may not have a problem.

DING! (that is the sound of the light bulb lighting up over my head)----why not create a farmtown friend that can gift me what i need everyday---BINGO! my friend---my robot---MY BOT---can give me a cow...or a tank of fuel...or a peacock...everyday! whatever i need!

so....i created a facebook account for my bot...required. i didnt do a picture for her or anything---but i did give her a birthday...one day before mine....albeit a few---okay---26 years younger....anyway....her name is Merf Jeppson....a few people friended her....she has one neighbor on farmtown---me.....and while at the beginning she farmed a little...her only real reason for living (okay---yes I know she isnt ALIVE)---is to give me gifts.

BUT----today...January 20.....MERF has been getting birthday wishes! she only has like 6 friends on fb---so it wasnt anything really...but crack me up! then i noticed on FB that on the little sidebar where it tells you what friends have a birthday today---there was Merf's name! so Meredith Jeppson---me---started getting birthday wishes! and I dont have the heart to tell these lovely people who took time out of their fb time to wish me a happy day! so this year (and this year only---i went in and took out Merf's birthday)---I get to be wished TWO DAYS worth!

yes....i havent posted for 2 months....and YES...it took this cuteness---this silliness---this funny, unanticipated consequence to a game that i am obviously WAY too invested in (using the word invested is so much nicer to the ear than the word addicted).

I'll be back---and soon---i have lovely and cute pictures of my grandbabies---pictures from thanksgiving in New Orleans---witty telling of my mom's trip here--- darling stories of christmas with the fam---and hilarious little tales of our new puppy, Lucy.

ps---american idol is back...and i for one love the new judges...anyone would have trouble telling someone "no" when they have a life-dream of being a singer...but who cant love steven tyler getting so wrapped up in the song with the singer that he starts to sing with him! this will be a great season!

my life in the theatah

2010-11-21T21:13:00.001-06:00

i have been involved in 3 shows in the last month----my regular gig Dancing Moose---- musical comedy ethics workshops for mental health professionals (psychologists, therapists, social workers, counselors), community theater (Artisanct.com) in "Annie" as Miss Hannigan and a school outreach program (also thru Artisan)---a 30 min show about dealing with bullies "Sir Generous and the Bully"---its about 3 knights that have to deal with a firebreathing bully dragon---i play the Hermit of the Hills---the voice of moral authority that teaches the knights how to work with the dragon. We go into schools and present the show to 3-5th graders.
This past week I did 4 Annie shows and one Bully show---tomorrow I do 2 Bully shows and 1 Annie show---Tuesday is another bully show----whew......anyway....this is not about the show or the ACCOLADES i receive (and i do)

its about what i have learned about myself and others in life backstage.

1. i HATE false eyelashes. They are heavy. They look cool...and make my eyes look very hollywood----but they wear me out after 3 hours. Hermits dont wear false eyelashes---neither do mooses....but hannigans do.
2. Wigs....Wigs and hats. I wear wigs in all 3 shows....wigs are hot and itchy...and they mat down my hair...fortunately, I wear my hair pretty darn short....but if i go bald---i'm just shavin....not wearing wigs. Hats---same thing....but---they are part of the costume.
3. costumes....LOVE COSTUMES.... they free me to be the character i want to be....put me in a costume and i am no longer meredith stinkin jeppson...i am a hermit with a limp and an english accent or a love-deprived frustrated orphanage manager with a new jersey accent or a beatle...yes....a beatle.
4. Auditions SCARE me to death. I dont audition well. If I sign up for an audition---please just give me the part---i dont audition for parts i dont think i can do---so trust me---my audition is uncostumed---and i wont be as good---really---i can do the part....i dont think so high of myself that i would audition for a role i cant do....just give me the part and we'll both be happy....i wont let you down.
5. I like small parts---dont want a whole show that relies on me ----no, thank you....i like parts where i am memorable...and then off-stage...let me steal a scene or two...thank you.
6. I'm not a dancer. sorry. i'll do my best....but it dont get any better than that.
7. I'm a pacer. I get to the theater really early. I get my costume and makeup on. and then i pace...i go thru my lines...i chat with and smile at my fellow actors---but i internalize and think and pace...I am nervous....the good nervous that gets the adrenalin pumping.
8. I love the performing. I love the rehearsing. I love the comeraderie. I love the whole process (except the auditions)...i love a director who helps me be better and gives me ideas and encourages me to push myself.
9. i would prefer not to do curtain call. really. I become meredith again and she didnt do the show---she doesnt deserve the accolades....it embarrasses her....but thanks.
10. dont talk backstage. DONT TALK BACKSTAGE....learn sign language...but DONT TALK BACKSTAGE....really...dont...please....sssssssh.
11. please dont tell me that i'm perfect for a part.....i'm not a hunched back hermit or a man-hungry mean woman.....i am just a person who can channel those traits to portray them....i'm not offended...it just makes me question myself....and i do that without any help....and really---i'm not offended.
12. my knees are killing me...i carry icy/hot in my purse.
13. i love singing on stage---as the character---dancing moose---mwah----i get to sing beatles, elvis, country, gladys knight----never as meredith---hermit---i get to sing with a dragon!----Annie---well---you know the show. i dont think i'd enjoy doing a non-musical---i might have to be meredith.
13. this is the best time in my life for me---my self-esteem---to have an outlet for the performer meredith....she is very happy.
14. i've been blessed with external talents---I get a lot of applause---my talents are easily seen---which makes me appreciate those with internal talents---gifts of the Spirit---the quiet talents----I'm in awe of people with quiet gifts.....those people are getting Heavenly applause....i just wanna sing in the choir...yeah---the big choir.

time to move

2010-11-11T22:17:00.000-06:00

when you no longer feel safe in your neighborhood....it is time to move.
when you are accosted as you try to enter your front door...it is time to move.
when marauders feel free to wait for you on your doorstep...it is time to move.

i've always felt safe in our area... and i like to think that i'm aware of what is going on around me and taking appropriate precautions for safety... we live in a fairly low-crime area...so even at night, i've never felt fearful... until tonight.... i may never be the same... it may be time to move.

tonight i came home...about 645....the front light was on...there was no one home.... i had my keys out---ready to enter my home... the dogs happily barking from the kitchen area in the back of the house... and then...
THERE HE WAS ....i stopped in my tracks....my breathing began to grow faster... i let out a gasp...
i couldnt get to the door.... i didnt know what to do....i stared at him---in his olive green--- i wanted to be able to identify him--- i picked up a stick and threw it.... he moved closer to my door.... i looked around for something bigger to throw...i yelled at him.... he mocked me with his silence... i found my LD Bell band booster sign----grabbed it....threw it at him---he jumped back...i picked up a brick---surely this would do the trick...i blocked his path and, in one swift movement, unlocked and opened the door ---madly dashing inside and closing it---locking it tightly----my breathing finally calmed down.

its time to move....next time i might not be so lucky.