February 3

Neb meet Debby. Debby meet neb. This is my new friend. I was so happy to have him today. I spent the bulk of my day at the Dr.'s office/pharmacy. I hate going to the doctor, and especially when I'm convinced they can't do anything for me. Official diagnosis: bronchitis. Most likely viral. So like a good doc, he didn't give me the often overprescribed antibiotics. But, to my surprise he did help me feel much better. I got an Albuterol Nebulizer treatment that opened my airway for the first time in days. After that, he said he still wasn't comfortable with the length of time I'd been sick, the sound of my cough/chest, and my history of bronchitis/pneumonia (we're old friends - nearly every year usually around history day I wound up down for a week with one of the two ailments.) So, I got a really great nightgown and a chest x-ray, which of course was clear enough to not be pneumonia. (I could've told him that...but....) Anyhow...I did get some Mucinex and an inhaler so that I won't wheeze so bad at times. Now I'm still stuck at home, trying to "rest and recover" so it doesn't turn into pneumonia. "Rest and Recover" with two crazy hyena boys? I wish!

February 2

This is Eric on Christmas morning opening his "presents" from me. If you can't see - it is a bottle of Cola, pac of Mac n' Cheese, water, beans, and chicken noddle soup.....but not just any old joe blow foodie items. These are certifiable Dharma Initiative Food Items! Wahoo! Okay, if you don't know what I'm talking about, you obviously don't watch Lost. You are missing out friends, if you don't. Today was the opening episode in the last season of a really fun serial show that hooked me from the start. It's like a big long fascinating movie that never ends. Mixed with a little sci-fi and idealism vs. science it puts it right down my alley. I was much more excited about Lost today than I was for Groundhog's Day. That is saying something, maybe. I usually like Groundhog's Day. I checked out a video from the library on Groundhogs, and books, and had a bunch of activities planned to celebrate the day. (Did you know Groundhogs only breathe once every SIX minutes when hibernating? Cade keeps telling me this ad naseum.) The culmination of the day was supposed to be to go to the Sunset Sam celebration in Sunset Utah. Sunset, about 4 miles away has a resident guinea pig who studied under Phil. You can read more about her/him here:

http://www.standard.net/topics/events/2010/02/02/sunset-sam-says-well-have-six-more-weeks-winter

Well, being sick wrecked my groundhog day. I spent the entire day whining, hibernating, and of course indulged in the Lost season premiere to distract me from my insomnia/wheezing.

February 1

I spent all day Monday in bed propped up by pillows or in the rocking chair. I am a wimp when I am sick. My poor husband. The roles are reversed. I'm the wimpy, whiny male when it comes to being sick. "I can't go to the gym....I can't breathe....my throat/chest/back/neck /head/nose/body hurts.....The kids are driving me bananas.........etc....etc....etc..." It didn't help that my kids were coughing up lungs right along with me. I was sick enough I cancelled all piano lessons, missed a rehearsal for a show I'm playing/singing Baritone in!!! that opens Friday. Rather....a show I was going to be in. Since I haven't had hardly any voice for 4 days, I'm going to have to pass on this show :( Sad. The up side of being sick? I started watching LOST in May. I had 7 episodes to catch up on before I was ready for the premiere on Feb. 2. I did it. It seemed impossible, but not being able to move/breathe/etc. made it happen.

January 31

Sunday Recap - I felt like a giant ball of deer doo-doo. I hate colds. David and I are both coughing up a lung. I got called at the last minute to play for the choir so I had to go pony-tailed to church AGAIN. Then, the fire alarm got pulled in Sacrament meeting by a little guy. Not mine this time, thankfully. Crazy thing is - not a single soul moved. What if it had actually been a fire? Crazy paranoid me. Then I taught Sharing time for the 5th Sunday. I'm the Secretary and technically the stake says the secretary doesn't teach, but the bishop said I could so I did. Junior was a complete flop. I had no voice, and if you can't be animated you lose them in a nanosecond. 19 new screaching sunbeams didn't help. Senior went much smoother, even though I ended up doing double duty at the piano for singing time.....oh and then there was the Sunbeam that was AWOL and nobody found him for 10 minutes! (His mom was freaking out!) We finally found him in the CTR 6 class. Phew, just in time for my friend to pass out in the middle of the combined adult meeting and cause a ruckus. What a Sunday. Now I'm just recovering in bed nibbling on Captain Crunch trying to type as fast as I can so I can get back to my Lost episode...oh,...I mean...um....Ensign.

January 30

Saturday, closing night for Pirates. Once again pretty fun, except for my cold I came down with that day. After a busy morning at Spin class, a temple trip with the Primary Presidency, prepping for sharing time, and a rehearsal for the next February Cabaret show, I was ready for a nap. But, then I had to teach piano, and eating dinner started to sound pretty appealing, so I didn't get my nap. I did get a nice cough and a runny nose, though.

January 29

The latest show I'm playing for is The Pirates of Penzance Interactive Experience 2010. I did the same thing last year and really enjoyed myself. Friday was the 2nd to last night and was dubbed "Apprentice Night." We had a full audience - which is truly remarkable and all the understudies were stepping in and taking the main parts. We were all a little nervous about that, but it worked out great. We had a hysterical performance. Part of the experience is that the audience members get to pick certain songs to be sung double time, or they can pick swapping genders, or swapping charachters. I got to be in on the fun too. Someone had me swap with Frederick. Andy who is normally the cop got to be the pianist (he can't play,) and I am really not a vocalist. I had my nice bass voice going for me though and got a laugh and a half when I leaped on the "leap year" vocal solo. Fun times at the Village Green indeed.

January 28

This is one of Cade's fantastic Preschool Teachers. He goes to preschool at the Bravo Arts Academy twice a week, and once a week at the Sing Out Young Preschool. Does Cade have a future in music? um....no reason to suspect quite yet, and I am not going to push it. So....why does he go to TWO arts preschools? Completely selfish reasons - networking for mom. His one preschool has hooked me up with lots of performance gigs, and the other one is opening a new branch in Layton by my house and they are looking for teachers! Hopefully this summer I will get to teach some group, adult, and advanced piano classes. So, while Cade may not have profitted by these schools (he is a little annoyed and not the biggest fan of singing,) it certainly hasn't hurt him, and it has helped mom a lot. Anyhow I digress. Thursday was their preschool field trip to the downtown library So fun! We got to hear story tellers, and saw snakes and birds, and we got stuck in the elevator, and had a newbie check us out which took twenty eight years, and I lost both the boys coats. It all worked out - we got out of the elevator safely and recovered his coats at his preschool (teacher thought we had left them....when actually we were just taking ten years deciding which book to check out.) We made out like bandits. 7 eyewittness documentaries that both boys are obsessed with and a handful of books. I love the library, but it made me want a nap today.

January 27

Wednesday was haircut day. I hate shelling out over ten bucks for a haircut - but it had been a few months. My boys looked like mops, and I massacred Cade's hair trying to cut it, so I finally broke down and decided I wanted to see their precious faces once more. Wish I had a before and after....we went to Cookie Cutters. DVD's, Star Wars Lego on a Playstation, cars and airplanes, succors, and balloons.....these boys love getting their hair cut. Spoiled? Yup.

January 26

You know when you live in Utah when the playground graffit looks like vinyl lettering from a craft store.....I saw this at a park nearby and it completely cracked me up.

January 25

This picture was taken at the end of Monday. We went to the Treehouse Museum for storytime, and Cade painted the picture he is holding of the boy William in the story we heard. At the Treehouse, we went and sat in the Oval Office, and talked about the Presidents of the United States. (This made me completely nostalgic for Washington D.C. I'd really love to go back sometime.) Grandma Reed gave Cade an early birthday present - posable Thomas Jefferson, Ben Fraklin, and George Washington action figures. Cade LOVES them. So - he wants to know all about them - hence the Treehouse Trip. We also did the Road of Discovery Map where you follow Lewis and Clark's expedition and solve problems like bison running amok and decide to eat hardtack. We did enjoy ourselves. Later for FHE we reinacted the Tree of Life. This is my little boys munching on the yummiest happiest fruit ever!!!! (apples) and showing Dad their art work from earlier in the day.

January 24

NurtureShock by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman

-a quick review of a book I recently finished

I heard one of the authors of this book interviewed on an NPR station several months ago and was intrigued. Here's a link to part of that discussion:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112292248

I was really excited to get the book and read it out. After waiting for 36 people ahead of me in the library, I finally got the coveted dribble. As to what I think of the book? It was easy to read and accesible. It had very intriguing subject matter, and half of it was somewhat interesting, but I think it was terribly mis-titled. Frankly, there is not much shocking about what they say. The point the authors are getting at is that a lot of trendy parent strategies are not working, and it is time to go back to common sense. It uses the usual load of intellectual studies and statistics to prove/disprove their point/the opposing point of view. It was a very readable book, but I felt like my time was better spent listening to the interview. I felt that I got most of the benefit out of listening to the author speak for a few minutes, then I did spending a few hours reading his book. So a re-cap of what I learned? A few of the "uh...no duh" revelations:

1. Be careful how you praise your children, too much empty praise doesn't work. Too much praise period doesn't work.

i.e. "You're smart." vs. "You do well when you work on your homework and study hard."

2. Kids need to sleep. More. Okay, I sooooo do not follow this advice, but I know it is really true. I think we all do, doesn't make me do it, though.

3. White parents should talk about race. Openly.

4. Getting your kids to be honest can be tricky. Really? NOOO way! A lot of things that you do just make your kids become better liars.

5. The smart kids can't always be found in Kindergarten or before. Wait a few years.

(As a side note: I am SOOO glad that my state was one of the ones that doesn't screen for "gifted" programs until the 3rd grade, and that they took a chance on a borderline score=me. The gifted program really impacted me, but I doubt I would have qualified any earlier. I needed to learn to focus my abilities. I went from singing on the tabletops in Kindergarten to a focused student. It took some time.)

So the first five chapters somewhat bored me, honestly. The second five chapters were much more compelling. If you are interested, read up on why siblings fight, why teens rebel, how to teach self-control (or can you?) why children fight, and how to get your baby to read (or should you wait?) I was fascinated by the chapter on kindergarten education that speaks of a system called the Tools of the Mind. I wish that there were a school around me that utilized this method. It is a preschool and kindergarten system that gives children tools of learning and cooperation. Children basically "play" all day. They have to put together scenarios and act them out and problem solve. It is guided play, but it is still imaginative play. I'm a big fan of play and not pushing your kids too much too early. It also has peers guiding reading/listening skills. Kids read/listen to each other every day. Reading/writing is presented without worries of spelling errors at first - sounds are reinforced. I'm really not doing the tools justice here, but it sounds like an amazing system. It piqued my interest probably because I have an up and coming kindergartner in the next year, and I am very interested in how he receives his education. For more info. on Tools of the Mind here is a link: http://www.mscd.edu/extendedcampus/toolsofthemind/

Overall, it was well-researched and well-presented, but I always get the feeling in these books like the author is just another guy trying to sell me on his research findings. I really get annoyed by all the statistics and studies out there that prove/disprove whatever you want. Really if you want you can pick a side and find some kind of study to back you up. Even if it is a crazy side. So a few possibly "shocking" things presented were: I

1. P.B.S. can make your kids more aggresive than Star Wars

2. Spanking doesn't make violent kids, if spanking is the norm.

3. Arguing, lying, and agression may be positive traits in your children and mean they are "advanced."

The conclusion was the best part of the book. If I could go back in time, I would listen to the interview and read the conclusion. The authors do throw the question out there - here are the studies - but does it really matter? Your child is more agressive than others? So? Your child lies? So? It matters, but ony to a point. I often ponder the same thing - especially when it comes to my kids. Yes, I want them to be as smart as they can be, as hard-working and honest as they can be etc. etc. etc. Yes, I believe certain things will guide them down that path, but I also am leary of pushing too hard and too much. I don't need a baby Einstein, and even if I wanted one, I don't think you can creat one.....so.... now I am rambling. Decent book - I'd give it 7 toes out of 10.

-as a side note, I also heard some stupid local radio hosts on the "Night Side" project call spanking "nurture shocking." They obviously had not read the book and missed the boat and mis-quoted the studies on spanking. Go Utah talk radio!

January 23

This is the doorbell soundbox. This is my doorbell soundbox. It is the top white box in the picture. I walk past this box every day billions of times. Below the doorbell is the thermostat. I've seen it before, I've touched it before....I've noticed every nick my boys have put in my walls. I've noticed every discolored inch of grout on the floor below, and every piece of dirt on the entry rug....but NEVER NEVER in all the time I've lived in this house (about 9 months) did I notice the doorbell soundbox until Saturday. How is that possible? I wonder what else I walk by every day and don't notice........

January 22

Friday morning. 7:15 A.M. I was still sleeping. I am usually awake much before this time, but I had been emotionally drained. The phone rang - the only person who ever calls me that early is my mother, and she was snoring in the room next to mine....so I dragged my way out of bed.

"Hey Debby - its been so long since we talked. How are ya?"
"Um....who ARE you? Do I know you?"
"Well, we are Fischer and Peggy and YOU are going to San Diego!!!!"
"Are you serious? No way! This is a joke."
"You did enter our contest, and it is in the middle of the morning show isn't it?"
"oh yeah! Yeah!!!! Shrieks me! I used to live in San Diego for 6 years and it is like my favorite place on the planet!" (Ooooo- I sounded like a retartded teen.....I was so taken by surprise.)


So - I really won a trip for 4 to San Diego. 3 nights in the Manchester Hyatt, tickets to the zoo (my VERY least favorite thing in San Diego, I know.....I shouldn't complain) and tickets to all the museums in Balboa Park. I'm pretty happy about this. I have actually entered this contest for two years prior. The first year I did it we had only moved from there a few months before. You have to click on Fischer and Peggy to enter. It said you could enter multiple times....so one day I was sick. I clicked on them ALL day long and ALL night. (Not an exxageration.) This year? I clicked once and went on my merry way......and I won! I'm pretty happy about this one. I LOVE San Diego and would love to vacation there all the time. Eric on the other hand is bored to tears of the place. You pretty much could only pay him to go. This will work! Free vacation and a chance to see my dearly missed friends? Happy day indeed!

January 21

These are my cousins. They are truly an amazing family. Thursday was my Aunt's funeral. It was tough, but it was also beautiful. It was great to see and meet several of my cousin's spouses and children. They were all so gracious and kind and "together," unbelievably together for such a shock. All of the children stood and told a teaching moment, a humorous moment, and a memorable moment about their mother at the service. I laughed, I cried, and I was touched. I don't have words adequate enough to express all that I felt that day, so I am not even going to try. I will really miss my Aunt, though.

January 20

Cade told me to take this picture because "it would be great." And, it is.

January 19

"Blowing Kisses with Grandma Reed."
Monday night and Tuesday morning we spent with Grandma and Grandpa Reed. We were verrrry happy to see them and spend some time with them. My mom has really had a rough week. On Wednesday her sister, my Aunt Diana, passed away suddenly in Jerusalem. On Monday, she came down to visit me for a night before she headed down to the viewing/funeral. On the drive down to Utah, my parents were the first people to arrive at an awful wreck. A car from the opposite side of the freeway landed in front of them. My mom ran out of the car to find a horrific scene with two young girls. One was pronounced dead at the scene and another was lifeflighted and is in very serious condition. Needless to say, Grandma arrived at our house a little shaken. Yet another reminder of mortality for us. I was very happy to give my mom a big hug, and the boys loved giving Grandma some much needed love and kisses.

January 18

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day??? It was supposed to be a happy outing for mom and Cade.....being a holiday we left Dad and David at home and went to a Preschool Program at the Ogden Nature Center. It was supposed to be a discovery program about snowflakes and ice complete with stories, hot chocolate, and a craft. After driving 30 minutes and running in the snow to try to get there on time, we found out that you were supposed to preregister (not mentioned in the paper) and since we were the only people to show up....they weren't going to have it. Grr. So - Cade was very sad as you can see in the pictures. We did get to see Wild Turkeys (in the top picture) and unique birdhouses (like the Rubix Cube Birdhouse pictured below.) It worked for me, but I think Cade was a little disappointed.

January 17

Earlier this week on our library trip Cade picked out a video about natural disasters, and books on volcanoes, tornados....etc. So he has been watching this video nonstop all week. Here is a recap of what he has learned. He is sitting next to me and he wants me to say all of this to you.... and I quote: "Hurritans, Floods, Tornadoes, Blizzards, does that start with B? Epstunami, -also known as a tiger wave, meteors that hit the earth. These are all the natural disasters that I know of. The cold air gets trapped in the hot air and the hot air wants it to not get out and says no I don't want you to get out. This is how tornadoes get made. A volcano can trigger evil landslides. I have a movie all about tornadoes and you must like it. It's from the library. This is me Cade. Eptsunami is a biggest wave, and eptsunamis can break through the door in the house and get in the house, eptsunamis are so big they can almost reach the top of the Statue of Liberty. All the statue of liberty has when an eptsunami reaches it is the head. It almost reaches all the way up to the top. You could only see a part of the neck, and an eyes, and a nose, and a mouth, and ears. Eptsunamis would cover the toes and the whole of the tummy. Okay? This is me Cade. This is some things about natural disasters. I am tired. I have to go to bed." I tried to tell him about the recent earthquake in Haiti. He didn't understand. "How can an earthquake be in just one place? An earthquake is when the whole earth shakes, so how can just one place shake?" Are all 4 year old this literal? Yikes! Also....he is very concerned that a tornado is going to hit the barn down the street from us, because tornadoes go to farms. Maybe I'll go back to Curious George books next week!

January 16

This is the a sign from yesterday's YIP pic as seen going the opposite direction. If you couldn't tell, I haven't been taking very many pics as of late.....so this slew of sign pictures were ones that I took on a Sunday drive I took trying to keep David from dismantling the Wii any farther.

January 15

Ha! Ha! This sign cracked me up. Could these be Eric's sentiments?