Setting the Record Straight

For those who aren't aware, my parents are serving as Mission President (and wife) of the LDS mission in Prague, Czech Republic. They keep a great blog of their ongoing adventures. My Mom's latest entry is in response to the recent polygamy incident. It is brilliant. I am including a link to it, as it is far more worthwhile and entertaining than anything I could write.

http://theslovaceks.blogspot.com/2008/04/who-we-really-are_28.html

Esta Bien!

Everyone, calm down. You may once again breathe easy... I have found my camera. It was pure inspiration. I decided to organize and de-junk Zoie's room today (SO unlike me!) I found a purse shoved underneath her bed. It had somehow managed to elude our frantic search. Inside was indeed my camera.

I was gleeful... for a minute. Then I was a little peeved at my daughter who knows not to touch my camera. I asked her at least one thousand times (not exaggerating) this week if she knew where my camera was.

As promised, here is a video of Tobin toddling around the house. And also, a few pictures from last week.

(I know that some of you were probably relieved that I lost my camera, so I could no longer inundate my page with pictures of my kids! Sorry- no such luck. Enjoy the pictures!)

No Bueno

I have lost my camera. I am beside myself at this unfortunate event. My camera is like an appendage for me. I literally take hundreds of pictures each month. I am bereft.

I am blaming it on my kids. I keep my camera on the kitchen counter-- well within Zoie's grasp. Once one of my kids gets their hands on it, it could end up anywhere. We have turned the house inside out-- searching in toy bins and random cupboards; even places like the bathtub and refrigerator. There was even a horrific garbage search (on the day that I had cleaned out the fridge-- I still shudder at the memory).

This weekend Tobin has, at last, made the transition from being a crawling infant who occasionally walks to a bona fide walker. If I ever needed a camera, its now! I love the first stages of walking-- he looks like a little robot. I would have posted a really cute video to illustrate, but alas-- it is not meant to be.

Chicken and Coins

Zoie keeps smelling my hair-- it is making me self-conscious.

I asked her what it smells like. I was hoping for something like, "strawberries" or "pretty". She didn't even hesitate when she said... chicken.

Gross.

I asked her what her hair smells like and she said coins.

I really hope she is wrong about the chicken thing.

The Mutts

Our dogs are a major part of our daily doings. I really don't say enough about the Rasmussen canines on this blog, so here's a little more info about these mutts of ours:

Bluto:

Bluto went from adorable puppy to HUGE menace in a just a few months time. It was a difficult adjustment to get used to a giant puppy. Instead of eating our shoes, he ate our couch. Instead of nipping at other dogs, he jumped through our front window (which was closed at the time) to get to the neighbor's poodle.

However, he has always been amazing with kids. He doesn't jump or lick or nip or bark. And over the past year, he has become almost as lazy as his pug brother. He is exactly what we wanted when we used to lay in bed at night and talk about the boxer we would own someday.

Bluto is hilarious to watch. He is a very handsome, muscular dog and we think he knows it. We love to put words in his mouth and we believe if he could talk, he would sound just like Putty (Elaine's on-again off-again boyfriend from Seinfeld). He thrives on attention. If he feels that we should be petting him, he will come rub up against us (nearly knocking us over) until he is satisfied with the level of attention he has coerced from us.

George:

George was once our baby. He was an only child and loved it. He has been a good sport as the family has grown and grown. And by a good sport, I mean that he only mildly resents the rest of the family.

George has never thought of himself as a dog and has always held some level of contempt and annoyance for other dogs. His brother Bluto is no exception. George still loves attention, but will never solicit. He is extremely overweight and will always choose food over human attention. George is a regal snob and we think if he were to speak, he would be British.

George is such an integral part of our family. He is particularly fond of my Mom and my brother Steve. Everyone who has ever met George loves him. He is funny and quirky and amazingly low-maintenance.

George and Bluto are like any two brothers who love each other-- they fight and bicker, but also play and back each other up. They love to gang up and get into mischief.

Good Wife Update

In my last post, I set a goal for myself to try to have the house in order each day when Lance gets home from work. And I quote, "I would love to have Lance come home to a clean house, dinner on the table, and a smiling, happy, attractive gaggle of adoring family members." Such a lofty goal...

Lance's hours are never the same so he gets home anytime between 2 pm and 6:30 pm. Since setting my "good wife" goal, he has come home to:

1. Me fast asleep on the couch (I am having my first ever experiences with migraines)
2. Zoie in time- out and Tobin crying
3. A horribly messy house and all of us out at the beach (it was a last minute idea-- so we tore the house apart looking for swimsuits and beach towels)
4. Me reading a book with my feet propped up on mountains of clean, unfolded laundry.

I never said it was an easy goal to achieve. Of course, Lance says he doesn't care at all, but I will keep working on it.

The Good Wife's Guide

I saw this article from Housekeeping Monthly in 1955 on a friend's blog-- The Good Wife's Guide. I don't know how my grandmothers put up with some of this stuff. For example:

• Remember, his topics of conversation are more important than yours.
• Don't complain if he's late for dinner or even if he stays out all night.
• Don't ask him questions about his actions or question his judgment... You have no right to question him.
• Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soothing and pleasant voice.-- (I really wouldn't mind doing this, but Lance would HATE it!)
  

I love living in the 21st century where women are considered equals. However, I actually agree with some of the "tips" in the article.

• Have dinner ready. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospect of a good meal is part of a warm welcome needed.
• Prepare yourself. Touch up your makeup...and be fresh-looking. I really do agree with this, in theory. I really like doing my hair and makeup in the morning, but by the time I see Lance at the end of the day....
• Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives.
  
• Be happy to see him.
• Don't greet him with complaints or problems.
• Greet him with a warm smile.
  
• Your goal: Try to make sure your home is a place of peace, order and tranquility where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit.

Am I old-fashioned? I feel so lucky (most days, anyway) to be able to spend my days at home with my kids while Lance is working on various job sites in the hot Florida sun. Why not make my home the kind of place he can't wait to come home to? And what kind of husband wants to come to a messy house and a cranky, homely wife and kids?

I would love to have Lance come home to a clean house, dinner on the table, and a smiling, happy, attractive gaggle of adoring family members. Something to shoot for...

2008 Inaugural Beach Trip

Hooray! The Beach is Back! Yesterday, some friends and I decided to have a play date at the beach. It was a gorgeously perfect day. The water was about eighty degrees and ideal for swimming.

The kids were amazing and I actually found time to relax by myself-- an unforeseen treat. Zoie and Tobin kept themselves entertained at the water's edge without wandering too far. In light of this good behavior, we hope to frequent the coast all summer. Here are some of my favorite pictures of the day:

My Good Kids
(Tobin is actually ripping the umbrella off the chair in this pic)

Tobin in the (now) umbrella-less chair


Beach Beauty


Brit and Me

Eternal Slumber Party

Okay... the title of this post sounds morbid-- like a bad mystery novel.

Zoie was sick last week. One night she woke up with a high fever and to comfort her, I laid down in her bed for a little while (something I rarely ever do). I would open my eyes and she would be about an inch from my face just staring at me with so much excitement. She kept whispering "secrets" to me. She thought it was the funnest thing in the world.

It reminded me of when I was 9 or 10 and sleepovers were all the rage. I loved sleepovers! At every party, I was always the last person to go to sleep-- which means I got to be the one who pulled pranks on the other girls. I would always look forward to the weekend so I could have a sleepover with my friends.

I remember the first few months I was married, I couldn't believe that I got to "have a sleepover" with my best friend every night. It felt so amazing to be able to lay in bed and talk all night. After seven years of marriage, I hate to admit that I now take that blessing for granted. But no more!

How wonderful that we get to find the person that makes us the happiest in the world and then spend eternity with them! Hence my creepy title, "Eternal Slumber Party." If you are married, when you go to bed tonight, remember how blessed you are to spend every night with your best friend.

Punk Rock Mom

Lance called yesterday and told me that he was coming home early to watch the kids while I took the rest of the day off to get my hair done. What a thoughtful husband.

Mistake #1: I went to a new stylist

Mistake #2: I went into my hair appointment without a concrete idea of what I wanted done.

Mistake #3: I told the stylist I wanted something "fun."

Mistake #4: I didn't ask for clarification when he asked if I had an office job and seemed relieved when I said "no."

Six hours later:

My face is stained with hair dye, the streaks are bright pink/red and I'm pretty sure that April is my month to conduct in Relief Society. Oh well. What can you do?

Rasmussen History

Happy Birthday Tobin!

Today is Tobin's first birthday! Although he did not realize the significance of the day, I wanted to make it as fun as possible for him. Throughout the day's activities, I took 78 pictures of him... 78! Here are a few of my favorites...

After he ate, he sneakily ate Zoie's breakfast while we weren't looking...

Playing at the park

Cookies after lunch

Getting into mischief

Discovering presents


Laughing at Dad during dinner

CAKE!

The cake necessitated a good bath


Opening presents (yes, I realize it is not exactly classy to hang out in just a diaper, but after 3 wardrobe changes throughout the day, we gave up)

Family Time

Asleep at last