The Definition of Chaos

The definition of chaos (in my opinion) is...

Feeling annoyed and mad and sad at the same time. Being in a messy and uncontrolled inviorment. Not knowing where or how anything or anyone is, anymore. Chaos is something that you can feel or be in. It is usually felt when you try to do something that you simply aren't able to do. Or when you don't do something you should do.

Now, the definition of peace (in my opinion) is...

Feeling that everything is alright and better and best. Getting something done that you should have a long time ago. Having love and gratitude fill your whole body. Peace is a feeling that you feel when something bad is over or something bad turns out to be good.

Chaos is something that happens. Everyone goes through it. No one likes it. But it's those moments of pure chaos that open the door to pure peace. If there was no chaos there would be no peace. If there was no bad there would be no good. If Christmas was all year round it wouldn't be so special or grand. It's those not so good moments that bring the really good moments. So, as crazy as it sounds, be grateful for those not moments.

Life at Lizzie's

I came to Lizzie's house on Saturday in the afternoon and have been in paradise ever since. I love it here. Lizzie thanks me for coming every night right after she asks me if I need anything. I get to hold Elle all that I want and I have gotten closer to Tanner and Kate. Kate actually answers me when I ask her questions and loves me just as much as she loves Anna.

Saturday I made the place cards for Thanksgiving dinner and watched a movie after the kids went to bed.

Sunday we went to church and I watched the kids while Lizzie and Shad took naps and helped the kids make a paper tablecloth for the kids table for Thanksgiving. We drew and wrote things that we were thankful for on it.

Yesterday we went to a fairy birthday party for Mila at a park and it was so cute. The girls dressed up as fairies and the boys dressed up as pirates. We ate pizza then the kids went on a treasure hunt around the playground. The treasure was peanut butter cups, rollos (my favorite), chocolate coins and ring pops. The candy (or treasure) was divided into personalized bags then the kids got to paint little fairy houses (bird houses) while on and off some girls face painted things on their cheeks. After that they opened presents, then we left. Through out the whole thing Kate barely said a word and when she did talk it was to say that she was cold. Lizzie says that she is always hot even when everyone else it cold. We were all cold at the party so we didn't think anything was wrong, but we found out we were wrong when we met Shad at a restaurant for dinner later that day. The whole time Kate just laid her head on my lap and nibbled on some bread. Lizzie bought a rudolf book on her phone and it read to her. It was so sad. Lizzie kept saying over and over that if she had known she would be like this she would not have gone out to dinner with us. Tanner on the other hand was very hyper. He was crawling around under the table and getting up and looking around in salute. It was so funny. When we got back and the kids went to bed I organized a kitchen cupboard and wrote names on pieces of fabric to pin to the towels so everybody will know which towels are theirs.

Today I folded the napkins in the way I wanted (surprise), counted out everything we needed for Thanksgiving dinner and pinned the names to the towels. All day Tanner was complaining that he was bored and of course Lizzie could not do anything with him. So, I took him out to ride bikes and I wrote names on cups for the reunion. Now Lizzie is out running errands and I am watching the kids. Elle is asleep and Tanner and Kate are watching Scooby-do so I don't really need to do anything.

That is basically the trip so far. On and off I've played games with the kids and took care of Elle. I'm supposed to leave today, but I am not sure how this trip will end. Love you all and can't wait to see you tomorrow!

So, first I must write of the most amazing thing that is happening this week. HARRY POTTER SEVEN! It is coming out in theaters this Friday. Mom is seeing it on Saturday because she thinks it will be too busy on Friday. Then I will be gone at Lizzie's from Saturday to Tuesday. I don't think we can fit it imbetween then and the reunion. So, I won't see it till after. Just a warning. No one can tell about it at the reunion if you see it before. I don't want to know about how scary it is or about added scenes or cut out scenes. Zip!

On Friday I am having an 'Opening the Holidays Movie Night' party. I am so excited. And mom is so proud of me for wanting to have it. I don't know how to download the invite on here like Lizzie does but I can write what is on it.

You're Invited...
What: Opening the Holidays Movie Night
When: Friday November 19, 2010 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm
(We will bring you home)
Where: 1400 Barton Rd. Apt. 915
~Please bring your favorite movie to be voted on.
(No PG-13 movies please)
~Dinner and refreshments will be served.
R.S.V.P.- 208-390-0105 or 208-705-8087

It was centered and in a cool font, but I can't center it or change the font on here. I can't even bold it. Just imagine it centered and decorated with a different font. Mom is going to get pizza for dinner. It's easy and everyone loves pizza. We are going to have popcorn in white paper bags that I decorated to look like popcorn bags. And cupcakes that look like popcorn* while we watch the movies. I figured we could watch a half hour Christmas movie like frosty the snowman or something to demonstrate the 'Opening the Holidays' part. And then vote out of what everyone brought to watch next. I'm inviting the four beehives from church. I'm so excited. I really need to send off the invites, though. I'll get on that. I love you all and can't wait to see you next week.

*So, in case anyone was wondering how to make cupcakes look like popcorn, this is how. You need mini cupcakes, frosting and yellow and white mini marshmallows. For a popcorn kernel you just take two marshmallows of the same color nand cut one in three crosswise. Then you gently flatten each one with your finger and arrange in a leaf clover way. Then you put the other marshmallow in the middle with frosting. If you put 6 or 7 of these on a mini cupcake it looks like popcorn.

The Last Week

Okay, so it has been a long time since I've blogged or emailed or done anything on the internet at all! I need to catch up. I need to post on my blog, answer emails and post on Sign It Weekly. Don't worry, I'll get better. Everything has just been so busy and I have been thinking about posting, but not having the time. So I was neglecting to do it when I got a complaint. We were all at Lizzie's house and having a good time when the phone rang. I was sitting at the computer writing something for Young Women in Excellence that night and Kate was standing right by me and the phone by the computer. The phone was ringing, no one was answering yet so Kate picked it up and tried to hand it to me. I reluctantly took it and just held it. I didn't want to answer their phone. Luckily Lizzie went to pick up a different phone. She looked at me and asked, "Did you already get it?" Almost in a why-would-you-do-that voice. I answered, "Kate did." And Lizzie got an understanding look on her face and answered the phone (yes it was still ringing). I hung up the one Kate answered and continued to write. Then Lizzie came over and handed me the phone. "It's Amy," she said when she saw the look on my face. I answered saying, "Hi!" (I think)
"Hi!" said Amy, "Did you read my comment on your blog saying you need to post?"
"No."
Amy sighed.
"Well you need to post!"
And then we went into a long conversation that only Amy and I know about and that I won't go into. So, that is why I am posting right now. Be grateful to Amy.

We were at Lizzie's house from about 10:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. We left with lots of yummy food. We originally went there so mom and Lizzie could cook. By the end they both wanted to take naps. Even ask them! That night we all went to Young Women in Excellence (mom was playing prelude and all the babysitters were there so Anna and Gracie came, too). We got there half and hour early so I could set up my sewing display and mom could play prelude. If we could we were supposed to bring some project we work on to display. I brought my not-yet-finished quilt, a skirt and bag. I also brought a paper describing the why and whens of my sewing. Lot's of people came up to me and said that we needed to get together to sew sometime. They said they have wanted to make certain projects but haven't. One or two were leaders! The theme was "There's No Place Like Home." The leaders did a skit like the Wizard of Oz. Dorothy was twelve and in her dream in the land of Oz the yellow brick road was the path of personal progress. The scarecrow, lioness and tin "woman" (The leaders were woman) were her beehive, Mia-made and Lorel leaders. They had props and costumes and everything. They even taped yellow paper bricks to the floor for the yellow brick road! I loved it. They are such great leaders.

Yesterday we planned to go to Disneyland with the Mechams from Firth. But apparently they traveled here with Des's dad. They went to Disneyland all week (this week has been HOT) and they were all worn out. On Wednesday night Des's dad announced they were leaving on Thursday. So, we went with Lizzie instead. It was fun. We brought lunches and treats instead of buying them. Mom says we are doing that from now on for field trips. Mom is buying "One Yard Wonders" and it had a lunchbox in it. She says she can buy it if I do most of the sewing. After I finish my quilt of course.

I have more to write but I don't have the time to do it. After school I can write more. I love you all!

A Story of a Homeless Person's Clothes

So, Anna and Gracie do not take care of their clothes. They have been throwing them on the floor so we have a carpet of clothing (which causes sore toes). So, finally yesterday mom said, "Today is 'going through the clothes day.'" So we washed all of the dirty clothes and folded all of the clean clothes. Mom said they can each have 7 summer outfits, 2 winter outfits, 3 church outfits and 2 pairs of pj's. Anna did not take it well. She sat on the couch and cried and cried and said, "That is as many clothes as a homeless person has!" She was a mess. Mom decided that instead of giving the clothes to DI we would just bring them to dad's. That way they would not have to pack when we go there. We would throw one clothing after another to mom and she would hold it up and say, "Dad's or California?" So we piled clothes all over the room, on the couch, in a suitcase and on the piano bench. Dad came over to see us after we had finished and mom asked if he would except all the clothes. He said that this exercise was excellent and that he would only permit 10 outfits, 2 pairs of pj's and 2 church outfits. Anna really hated this. She repeated the temper tantrum on the floor and cried and cried. So, today we are going through the process again to see what to take to dad's. There is the story of the homeless person's clothes.

I am a published Author!

As you all know I have always liked writing. When we went to Oregon last summer I started a fantasy story. Mom said I worked on it for hours at a time. When we got home progress slowed. Without the inspiration of the ocean I did not work on it as much. Finally one day in September I worked on it for hours and whenever anyone came up to me I said without looking at them, "Leave me alone. I am on a role." Finally I finished it. I called it "Love is Truth."I handed it around and soon it got to my dad. He kept it for over a month and once in a while he would call me and ask me questions like, "This part when you said, blah blah blah... what did you mean by that?" Soon it was February and it was my birthday. Dad took me out to lunch on his lunch break and gave me a present. I opened it and saw three published copies of "Love is Truth." I gaped at it and the only sound I made was a line of repeated gasps. My dad had published them on lulu.com. It had a picture of me on it and everything. I loved it.

Now the only people who have read it are, mom, dad, Danielle, Diane (dad's fiance) one of my mom's friends, my bishop, and our visiting teacher. And there are a whole lot more of you than that. Soooooo, we have set it up so people can buy them. All you have to do is go to lulu.com and search "Love is Truth" and it will come up. Then on the side there will be a button that says "Buy It" or something like that. I am not saying you HAVE to buy it, but if you are anxious to read it and can't wait until we see each other next than you can. This is optional. Buuuuuuut... if you buy it while you are reading it you can say to yourself, "I know the author of this book." How often do you get to do that? Cool huh?

And my dad videoed me singing "You Belong With Me." We just have to figure out how to put it on here. Love you all!

Oh, the drama and the trama for Kate Leslie

Kate is a wonderful little girl. In mom's opinion with an adorable nose. She is very unlike the rest of her family. She loves us and we love her. That is why when the accident happened we all gasped. It was at the cabin when we were all there for the family reunion. We were on our way there. Dad had to work so we got there after everyone else. All this information I got from someone else.

Kate, Austin, Sayer and Cooper were out riding bikes far from the house. With Austin and Cooper in the lead Kate coasted down the hill and tried to catch up. To her disadvantage the bike she had borrowed went out of control. She tried to turn as she went up another hill, but the bike tipped over. Now ahead of everyone she rolled down the next hill holding onto the bike for dear life. As the road levels she skids and crashes. Austin and Cooper being a bikes length behind her rushed to her side and helped her stand up. Blood gushed from Kate's nose and went all over her white shirt. Just then the rest of the bike crew rode up. Everyone gasped at the sad sight.Being careful not to tip her head back Austin picked up the sobbing girl and held her close. Luckily at that moment Nicole and her friend rode up in the car. Pulling over and getting out immediately. Seeing the mess of blood Nicole retrieved a towel and held it up to Kate's nose. Austin still holding her got in the car followed by everyone else. Once arrived at the cabin Kate was cleaned up and changed. Now more comfortable Kate stopped crying. Trying to get a hold of my dad Brandt eventually gave up and took Kate along with her mother, Bridget and Meg to the hospital back home.

So, there is the story. I may have added a thing or two, or most of it but no one would tell me much. Anyway what the doctor said was that Kate had indeed broken her nose. She came back the next day but left that night. Her forehead had some scabs, her left eye was so purple it looked like make up and her nose was swollen. She however was very brave. After everyone left the cabin Kate came to our house now with two black eyes on Monday. On Tuesday she was checked by a specialist and made an appointment for surgery. If they didn't it would heal wrong and look weird. This is when mom said, "Oh, I am so glad she will have that adorable nose forever." Kate got surgery yesterday morning and everything went as planned. She will have to wear a nose cast for two more weeks but will soon be as good as new. They also took her tonsils out and the poor thing has to breath through her mouth which dries out her throat even more. We went to visit her yesterday afternoon and brought her a cool coloring book, crayons, a stuffed animal and a get well balloon. We also gave her a card that we all signed. She will be just fine and just as loving as ever.