What's Your Sign?

I usually go for something funny with the title, but this time I'm really asking the question: what's your sign? It might not be what you think. According to this article from Time.com everything has shifted. There's even a new sign (well, it's actually an old sign that has been brought back). I'll let you read the article for the why behind the change.

I don't read my horoscope daily or make my decisions based on astrological information, but I have always identified with the description of a Cancer:

Deeply intuitive and sentimental, Cancer can be one of the most challenging Zodiac signs to get to know. Emotion runs strong for this sign, and when it comes to family and home, nothing is more important. Sympathetic and empathetic, Cancerians are greatly attuned to those around them. Devotion is the keyword for this sign, making them wonderfully sensitive people to be around.

Now suddenly I'm a Gemini?

Versatility is a great keyword for this dual sign. Expressive and quick-witted, the Gemini presents two distinctive sides to his or her personality, and you can never be sure with which one you're going to come face-to-face. On one hand, the Gemini can be outgoing, flirtatious, communicative, and ready for fun, fun, fun. Yet when the other twin is present, you can find this air sign contemplative, serious, restless, and even indecisive. Both twins are able to adapt to life's circumstances well, making them wonderful people to know. Things are never boring when a Gemini is on the scene.

Sure, I'm outgoing, expressive, and quick-witted (and humble, obviously), but that's where the similarities end. No, I think that fits Bryan (who has always been a Gemini) much better than it fits me.

What do you think about this change? Do you feel that a part of your identity has shifted? Are you one of the few that didn't change at all? Is it all stuff and non-sense that doesn't matter anyway?

Thoughts?

You Only Turn Five Once

Yup, we went to Legoland for Peter's birthday. Thanks to the awesomeness of the internet, all three kids were free and one of our tickets was discounted. And my parents live about twelve minutes from the park, so we stayed at Hotel Grandparent. (Thank you grandparents.) It was swell.

We left Utah knowing that we were going to be missing a major snow storm. I thought for sure that most of our short stay in the land of perfect weather would be in the sixty degree range. I was wrong. In the middle of the day at Legoland I think it may have gotten up to the mid-fifties. Yes, much warmer than our frigid home, but a shock to our crew that brought sweatshirts and failed to pack our snow gear.

Despite the cold, we had fun.

We saw all kinds of cool stuff made out of Legos. The best were the cities like New York and Washington DC. But we were too busy oo-ing and ah-ing over them to take any pictures.

We went on some rides, but not very many. The lines were ridiculously long. Peter and Bryan went on two more than the rest of us while Cooper, Phoebe and I fought the crowd in the gift shop. If you ever go to Legoland and you have kids that are too small for some of the rides, use Parent Swap. They let you wait at the front of the line while one parent and the older child ride, then you hand the babe to your exiting spouse and enjoy the two minute ride for yourself.

Phoebe spent almost the entire day in the Baby Bjorn and was a very good sport about it. Legoland has a fabulous Mother's Room. We spent a good part of our day hanging out there, building with Duplo blocks while Phoebe ate. Also, she's very cute.

We saw some friends. Peter saw Bob.

Cooper saw a lion.

I saw Will.

The worst part of the whole day was when the little girl waiting in line in front of us ate a peanut butter sandwich and then proceeded to twirl with her peanuty fingers stretched out, touching everything she could reach. It was one of my nightmares come true. Thankfully, no Epi-Pens had to be administered.

Both boys loved it. My only concern is that now we need to do something awesome for Cooper's fifth birthday. Good thing we have two years to figure out how to match Legoland.

Brick By Brick

Peter had a very good fifth birthday a few weeks ago.

More Lego and birthday goodness coming soon...

Captain's Log, Stardate -311970.0195649416

I spent some time on Sunday night looking through old posts. I was searching for something specific (I never did find it) and opened a dozen or so old posts. You know what? I'm really thankful for this blog. There were conversations and accomplishments that I had totally forgotten. I realize that I've said it before but I want to say it again: without this blog I would have forgotten so many stories about the boys from the last two and a half years.

More than just the blog, I think I've really gained a testimony of keeping a journal. I'm sure, much like many other aspects of my testimony, it's something that will continue to grow as I follow the counsel to write in a journal.

I wonder why I've been able to write the blog on a regular basis, but I am far less successful when it comes to putting pen to paper. Is it the typing I like? The friendly hum of the computer? The cheerful glow of the screen?

Hmm... I think I need to hang out with people more and the computer less.

Baby's First Performance

I once heard Sarah Jessica Parker say in an interview that she liked to teach her young son "parlor tricks." I also enjoy teaching my children performance worthy actions. I am pleased to report that at four months old, Phoebe has learned her first trick.

Also, at the beginning of the movie Cooper says, "I am going to snuggle you Phoebe," which makes me smile.

Ya Shouldn't Wear So Much Color, Ya Harpie*

I don't wear color. I just folded all the laundry (because that's the kind of wild and crazy Friday night I like to have) and saw the shirts that I've worn this week:

• Monday - Light gray long-sleeved shirt
• Tuesday - Dark gray short sleeved-shirt with long sleeved black undershirt
• Wednesday - Black long-sleeved shirt
• Thursday - Light gray long-sleeved shirt (yes, again, but I had washed it since wearing it on Monday)
• Friday - White long-sleeved shirt

All of those were with blue jeans and white socks.

My Grandma Bonnie occasionally gives me a hard time because of the lack of color in wardrobe. She loves color and her clothes reflect that. I love color too, but no one would know it from the way I dress. I used to wear a lot of blue and red and even some green. I have no idea why I'm suddenly dressing like a rainy day.

I have a challenge for myself: wear color. I'm not sure how to accomplish this since my current wardrobe appears to lean heavily toward the sartorial equivalent of a funeral dirge. Any suggestions?

*This was an inside joke among my roommates and I one year. I'm pretty sure it was from an episode of Whose Line Is It Anyway. It should be said in a New England accent, how you might imagine a disapproving Amish grandpa would say it. In case you were wondering...

For Jordan

My dad always has a book on him. When I was younger it was usually a sci-fi paperback stuck in his back pocket. In fact, according to legend, the day I was born he pulled out whatever science fiction book he was reading at the time and read to me. In recent years he's used a Sony Reader.

My dad and mom both have instilled a love of reading in almost all of their children. (One of my brothers doesn't enjoy reading as much as the rest of us do, but his wife is an avid reader, so she's making up the difference.)

I love all kinds of literature, although I did grow up reading quite a bit of science fiction (from my dad) and fantasy (from my mom). I think out of all of us, my brother Jordan is the biggest fan of science fiction. That's why when I saw this posted on a friend's wall on Facebook, I immediately thought of Jordan.

What do you think Jordan?

The Women

My family ended up staying at our house for ten days over the Christmas break. On the day they left it occurred to me to pull out my camera. My sister-in-law and my niece were here for the holiday, but not at my house at the time, so this is an incomplete picture. However, this photo shows four generations sitting together, which I think is pretty darn cool.

People say that Paige and I look alike. We do, it's true, but not enough for people to confuse which one they're talking to. Which happens. A lot. And how cute is Phoebe in this picture?

Here's another one of Phoebe, you know, for her fans.

Sleeping Beauty

On Sunday Phoebe and I spent some time in the mother's room at church. One topic of conversation that came up was sleep. How long did Phoebe sleep at night? The other moms gasped in envy when I said that on a good night she would sleep for a seven hour chunk before waking up to eat, but most nights it was at least five hours. Apparently a lot of the babies in the room at the time have only been giving their moms three hour blocks of sleep.

Phoebe must have been taking notes.

On Sunday night she woke far more than usual. The longest block of sleep? That's right, three hours. I was tired on Monday, but ok.

Last night the most consecutive sleep she got was two and a half hours and it was during the early part of the night before I had gone to sleep. She woke up so much in fact that I didn't get to sleep until 4:30 this morning. I finally stumbled into our room, somewhat weepy, and handed her to Bryan. He had her in her bed and asleep within minutes.

He has skills.

Today is Bryan's last day off of work from the Christmas vacation. I told him that I was so thankful he was home, because I didn't know how I was going to get through today otherwise. When Phoebe went down for a nap, so did I.

It's 2:52 in the afternoon and I just got dressed for the day.

Dear Phoebe,

You are a very sweet girl and I love snuggling with you but if I don't get more sleep tonight, I might be a wee bit cranky tomorrow.

Love,

Your Mildly Coherent Mommy

The New Year's Game

I've had a handful of possible New Year's resolutions bouncing around my brain for the past few days. I haven't landed firmly on any one thing yet. I like to have a plan about how I'm going to accomplish my goals. So far, the plans have been slow in forming.

That said, here are a few of the things that I'm going to focus on in the coming year:

• Improving my scripture reading, both the quality and the length of time spent
• Adopting a more active lifestyle, for myself and my family
• Reading books more and the internet less
• Attending the Temple at least once a month
• Smiling at my children more than I scowl at them

There are a few more, but I think I'll stop the list for now. I have a tentative plan for the first, but I'm working on methods of implementation for the rest. Oh there is one more that I'm going to carry on from the last two years. In spite of the fact that many of my posts as of late have been cop-out posts, I am going to continue posting every weekday. I know that if I hadn't committed myself to doing this, many stories about the boys and important insights I've had would have been lost in the cobweb strewn recesses of my exhaustion-addled mind.

2011, prepare to be as well documented as 2010 and 2009 were.