McCRERY CLAN CHRONICLE

Smells like the First Day of School

2010-08-09T09:10:00.000-06:00

woke up this morning, left for work, and it smelled like the first day of school outside.

weird.

Made me kinda miss it.

Even the part where I had to chase the bus with my overstuffed backpack (because I could never get the homework done in class, and had to take home all my textbooks), my brown bag lunch, and my awkward violin case.

Fall?

Yes, please.

Posting

2010-02-22T13:28:00.003-07:00

This post is mostly for the sake of posting. I am so involved with my other blog (aka - the good one) that I only stop by this blog (aka - the neglected one) for the updates on all the friends/families blogs listed down the right side of the screen, there.

So.

A post.

Five things I think you should do this week:

Go and see the Imaginarium of Dr. Pernassus. Wonderful. And I want a conversation about what you thought of it.
Take a walk outside. No matter the weather. In fact - the more inclement, the better. Get some vitamin D or a collar full of snow, depending. :)
Download this song and give it a good listen: The Middle East: Blood
Write an honest-to-goodness letter to someone. With a postage stamp and everything. Send it to them.
Lie on your comfy couch and read a good book for 10 minutes. Then take a nap for 20 minutes. Then get up, stretch, and do the dishes.

Let me know how it goes.

Presenting: Daphne Martha McCrery

2009-11-24T12:54:00.006-07:00

More details coming soon. But for now, meet the feet of our newest child:

Daphne Martha McCrery
Born: November 21st, 2009 - 8:19am (Yes, the same birthday as Wyatt!)
Length: 21"
Weight: 8lbs 11oz
Hair: Dark so far
Cuteness: In the 99th percentile.
Face:

Coupons!

2009-10-13T22:52:00.007-06:00

Check out these great sanity saving offers being offered to Stepper from Bill!

Isn't my husband fweakin' awesome?

October

2009-09-28T14:44:00.003-06:00

Here it comes...

Just three more days until...

OCTOBER!

sharing

2009-08-12T12:59:00.000-06:00

Wyatt and Kale, sharing a table and sharing chips.

Two very cool kids.

It's a GIRL!

2009-07-24T09:01:00.002-06:00

Coming This November to a McCrery Home near YOU!

Weekend Highlights

2009-06-23T10:16:00.006-06:00

1. Friday - cleaned the whole house so that we didn't have to futz with it at all on Saturday. I mean - we had PLANS. It was Father's Day, after all! Who wants to scrub toilets?? I managed to do most of it, but Bill did vacuum. Even on his weekend off. Thanks, babe!

2. Friday evening - grocery shopping in a torrential downpour. Okay - they don't do summer storms like they do in Utah. We were in our neighborhood Alby's just minding our own business on the cracker isle, and POP! The lights all go out, and a bunch of girls begin to scream. I have to admit, at this moment, I was pleased that not one of my family of three added to the annoying shrieks that filled the store. Instead, we stopped where we were, and when the lights came on again - which we knew they would (even Wyatt knew they would, it seemed) - we took eye-inventory of each other (yes, we were all still there, and Wyatt wasn't at all freaked out. In fact, he seemed rather pleased) and then grinned. Bill and I said, "cool! there must be a major storm going on outside!" and Wyatt said, "Dark! Dark! Lights off! Dark!" We hurried and checked out so that we could check out the storm. We were in the store maybe half an hour. When we went in, it was a fairly mild rain. When we left, it was a heavier rain, but in no way what it must have been during the time we were oblivious in the store. The streets had been turned rivers that we had to navigate around in our Rav, and people were standing under awnings or running with umbrellas, looking soaked and bewildered.

Mmmm...I love summer storms.

3. Saturday morning - Stepper goes to help at Jamie's semi-annual dance concert. Stepper helps with folding programs, getting Kenya dressed into her next costume (from tropical bird to minnie mouse) and setting up chairs for audience and tables for concessions and ticket sales. She also sweeps feathers off the stage and gossips with her mother (who was also there, helping) about how incredible Jamie is, what with having had a baby three weeks ago and still being able to put on an entire large-scale production AND get up on stage and do high-kicks with one of her students. Stepper may or may not have welled up a few times with pride and gratitude for such an awesome sister.

4. Saturday evening - the Father's Day Feast. Bill requested Gyoza - which is his favorite thing that Stepper makes. We make up an entire package of wraps worth of Gyoza (count 'em, folks! That's 60 gyoza!) and yes, we ate them all. Salty, Japanese goodness!

5. Sunday Morning - the Father's Day breakfast in bed. Wyatt and I joined dad for breakfast - you should have seen me trying to haul Wyatt's high chair up the stairs with my big ol' pregnant tummy in the way and trying so hard not to wake either of my boys until I was ready! We had breakfast sandwiches

(sausage, egg and cheese on a toasted english muffin) pears and juice, and Bill opened his gifts. The highlight, I think, was the gift that Wyatt picked out for him at the store. A flying helicopter/airplane set with ZIP CORD ACTION! Wyatt thinks they belong to him. He hasn't let the helicopter out of his sight since daddy opened it.

6. Church. Bill and I taught CTR. Well, Bill taught it, I sat and listened and loved him.

7. Father's Day dinner at Mom and Dads. BBQ'd Steak and grilled mushrooms, potatoes, mom's famous fruit and spinach salad, homemade potato rolls, homemade blackberry jam, and sweet corn. Yes, Bill did get to eat REAL MEAT for Father's Day, and I didn't have to prepare it, so we all won! Thanks, Mom and Dad! And thanks, Meg, for the Peach Cobbler!

8. Seeing Grandma and Grandpa and Aunt Jan. They came for dinner at Mom's and stayed for games. We learned a new dice game.

9. Crazy kisses from Wyatt. He's discovered that if he kisses mom on the cheek, but then jaws his mouth so she gets a toothy, slobbery mess of a kiss that she laughs - especially if he says "bwah-bwah-bwah!" while he does it. And then she'll lip-gnaw on his cheek and then he'll get her other cheek and it goes back and forth until we're both laughing so hard that we have to fall on the floor.

10. Best highlight of all - my Bill. The father of my children - of Wyatt, of the Moeb who will join us officially in November, and of anyone else who decides to join us. He is, I'm convinced, the best father in the world. I interviewed him over Father's Day breakfast Sunday morning. I asked him what the best thing about being a father was. He said Wyatt. But then he thought about it, and said, "playing with him is my favorite." and ladies and gentlemen, this is true. I've seen accounts. Those two are best friends. When they play together - be it hide-and-seek or laundry basket spaceship - there is this look of pure joy that comes over their faces, and I sit back and watch my little piece of heaven on earth. And then I realize I have that look of pure joy on my face, too.

There's this feeling. When Wyatt and I are playing in the family room and the door knob starts to jiggle, and we both know that Daddy is about to walk through that door, and Wyatt jumps up and yells "daddy! daddy! daddydaddy!" and starts to run in mad circles around the room or into the kitchen because he just doesn't know what to do with himself because he's so excited. And then Bill walks through the door and sees us, and said, "hello family!" and Wyatt gets this look on his face. Like..."I know the good fun just walked through that door, but I don't dare approach 'cause I know he'll tackle me". So he grins and sort of hides behind me and also trembles with anticipation until he can't stand it, and he's the one that goes and attacks Bill.

And then for the next half hour at least, I can't pull the two apart, and I'm free to go do the dishes or whatever. Or, as is most often the case, sit back and watch and laugh (and cringe, because let's be honest. Daddy's can play a little rough! I'm sure Bill gets weary of my constant "careful of his little neck!" reproaches). But this play time teaches me that little Wyatt-type boys are just as tough as older daddy-type boys. And I shouldn't interfere with their sacred rough-housing.

This is Bliss.

I think the world needs more Father's Days.

One or two more Mother's Days wouldn't be bad, either.

Happy Mothers Day and a few more thoughts, to my siblings, and the rest of you have been cc'ed lovingly

2009-05-07T15:42:00.006-06:00

To my two Brothers, and my Sister,

This is draft #2, and we’ll see if it sticks. I hope you three are doing well. The hardest part of living in Utah is feeling helpless to really be there if any of you need something from me. I wonder how you’re doing, but it’s rare the phone conversation that lasts long enough to get a really good sense.

Do you miss Mom? Do you miss Dad? I do. I teach Wyatt to know that the black and white picture of dad opening the refrigerator is “Granpa,” which he’s pretty much figured out. It seems my memories of Mom are mostly tied to photographs, with occasional multi-sensory scenes: I remember she would take us to baseball games, I remember trying to match my voice to hers at Good Samaritan during the hymns, and that warbley chord we would strike once in a while. I remember when Dad would be the battle cat, and we would ride on his back. I remember once he took me to Zones, just he and I. But I have a lot more memories of him recently. I remember visiting him at the Shop occasionally, and being impressed with all the stuff he was doing. I would actually hope he had calls to make so I could sit and listen to him wheel and deal over the phone.

I remember that every once in a while, he would say to me, “I miss your mom.” I never knew what to say to that, and I usually said something hollow, like, “I know Dad. I miss her too,” of course in those moments, I never meant it like he must have. I didn’t know what it was like to be married to your best friend, your confidant, the one person who helped you try to be the best you, the person that was next to you in the car, on the couch, at night in bed, and then, they were gone. I never could have known what that was like then, but I know now. Or rather, I have a frame of reference, in which I can imagine very vividly what that would feel like. It would be the loneliest feeling. I think, what Dad was looking for at those times was someone to cry to, or someone to reminisce with. Someone to say, “I remember mom had a violin, but she only got it out once that I can recall, did she ever play it for you?” Or maybe, “I miss her too, I remember her coming in to wake us up in the morning when we were little,” or “Do you remember you used to get her a new frying pan every year? What was the deal with that?”

I can imagine what maybe he meant when he would tell me, “I miss your mom,” like he had been holding in that very phrase for months, maybe years, knowing nobody missed her like he did, but finally not being able to hold in that little confession. I can imagine the disappointment every time he tried, to find out he’d been right, I didn’t really know what he meant. And even now, my experience falls short of the understanding I imagine he was searching for. I can imagine losing my wife, but I can never know what it was like to lose Martha Bland McCrery as my wife.

We’ve lost two parents, and I’ve learned remarkably different things from each experience. I have been taught a number of things from the loss of Dad, but one thing comes up pretty often, and it is this: people move on. Like a perfect diagram I see people in position around Dad, relative to their personal relationship with him, and the further out they are, the sooner their point fades, or cools off, or I don’t know. To say anyone “gets over it” is insensitive and inaccurate, and to say they “accept it” feels equally inadequate. But the fact remains: everyone seems to feel the thud at first; but one day you notice that very few people can still relate.

I think it’s part of a plan. I think it’s a gift. If Dad were only a man I knew from a chance encounter at the grocery store, I would have had very little to learn from losing him. It seems the closer you are to a person, the more you have to gain, or grow, or perhaps learn, from losing them. And the other blessing is this: without disregarding the important differences in who the four of us are, we still know what it feels like to lose Sharrel Clinton McCrery as a father. We know it hurts, and within a few degrees of each other, we know how much.

I think this is a gift. I think it’s purpose is to help us understand Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Christ volunteered to atone for us. Not only for our sins, or our mistakes, but for the consequences of them, and for every other sadness that seems to loom over us infinitely at times. He volunteered, essentially saying, “I will suffer everything that can possibly be suffered, to reset the balance.” Because Christ was perfectly just, every injustice that he suffered through, was like a credit to the human race, he paid the price for each mistake so we wouldn’t, eventually have to do it ourselves (your can’t avoid justice in an organized universe). And it had this wonderful side effect (amongst many, many others): Jesus Christ felt what it felt like to lose Martha Bland McCrery as a wife, and He felt what it felt like to lose Martha Bland McCrery as a mother at the age of five, seven, eleven, and twelve. He felt what it felt like to lose Martha Bland McCrery as a daughter, and as a sister, and so forth. And he felt how it felt when you lost your Dad. Not some approximation imagined from a similar experience. Jesus Christ knows the very feeling of a phone call to tell you that your Dad, Sharrel Clinton McCrery, is dead. He knows the feeling of fear, of sadness, of anger. And because He is perfect, he was able to survive that infinite sadness.

When I lose someone I love, it is a chance to understand a little piece of what Christ felt. And the added gift for the four of us, is to have three people, beyond the Ultimate Comforter, to turn to when you just need to cry, or reminisce. And I wanted you to know that I know you’ve still got open wounds from this whole thing, and so do I.

With love,

Bill

Happy St. Patty's DAY!

2009-03-17T16:27:00.002-06:00

from our CLAN to yours!

2009-03-14T23:31:00.007-06:00

I looked out the window and what did I see?

Snow where the budding tulips used to be.

Spring was coming, wassup with this surprise?

Now we're once again stuck inside.

Snow can be an eyeful, wondrous and neat

but after the Old Elf comes, it's not as sweet.

You may say that it ain't so - but you ain't foolin' me

you're just as eager as I am for the coming of spring!

2009-02-27T22:30:00.002-07:00

here we are at the thing...

bill tries to show me how to use his swank camera. I accidentally take a picture of him showing me with his hands.

and then I back way up, and zoom way in, and take a secret picture of him talking to a neighbor because DANG! My man looks good in uniform.

and Wyatt rarely leaves home with out his dat-do-dee-oh (bat mobile).

Wyatt finds an apple.

2009-02-19T11:23:00.003-07:00

Bill had saved me the last apple from the fridge. I kept it in my pocket all day, saving it for an indulgent moment.

I put it down on the cedar chest, turned my back...and it met it's fate.

Yes, that is my laundry in the background. You're welcome.

background test

2009-02-01T18:07:00.001-07:00

...trying to see if I can figure out how to get this homemade background onto the blog...

Music Junkies

2009-01-30T12:25:00.005-07:00

Stepper's Current favorites:

Fleet Foxes

The Decemberists

Sufjan Stevens

Devotchka

Sigur Ros

Bill's Current favorites:

Sufjan Stevens

TV on the Radio

Devotchka

Fleet Foxes

Talking Heads

Wyatt's current favorites:

Radiohead: Rockabye Baby

They Might be Giants: Bed Bed Bed

2009-01-12T14:00:00.001-07:00

2009 I welcome you!

2009-01-02T10:28:00.006-07:00

2009, I welcome you! 2008 was quite a ride - moving to a new house, new jobs for both Mr. and Mrs. McCrery, 2 new schools for Mr. McCrery, the END of a job for Mr. McCrery, a MonkeyFish learning to walk and talk (not just sign language, folks! The Bean knows some actual and audible WORDS! the all important ones, like, "uh-oh!", "more" and "cookie". You can see how these three words would be direly important should a cookie fall to the floor. Grandma Tammy also taught him "up", but the Bean performs this one for her only).

2008 awarded us our very own historical event when a black man was voted the new President of the United States. President Obama, I wish you the best of luck in 2009! I hope that the American People will remember that whether they voted for you or not, you are their President, and deserve their support.

2009 marked the moving on of our dearly loved President Hinkley - what a sweet reunion he must have had with his Marjorie! - and the moving into office of our dearly loved President Monson. We LOVE President Monson! The stone rolls on!

Here are just a few things that we'll have to look forward to in 2009...

trip to Cali to visit the MOUSE
Billy gets to go to school FULL TIME! and without the pesky nuisance of a job. Design the heck out of those graphics, my man.
With the help of her new Brother (sewing machine) Stepper will learn how to sew. Mark my words. MARK 'EM!
We will welcome our new niece/nephew - baby ________ Adams. My $ is on a boy.
my brother in law Clin-TON will wed his high school sweetheart in the fall.
Stepper will train for a marathon. She will first learn what the heck this means.

What's on your list?

December

2008-12-01T16:10:00.002-07:00

Happy December to All!

it's december first; and that is a great day. December first means hot chocolate and egg-nog. December first means time to put all the pumpkins in your pocket, and bring out the SNOW PEOPLE! December first means CHRISTMAS MUSIC by sufjan stevens and the MO TAB.

it means time again for my beautiful Willow Tree nativity

given to me by Bill last year on my birthday (he has good taste, does he not?)

it means it's time for THIS to live in the corner...

(if you look close, you can see a couple of carolers that bare a striking resemblance to Mr. McCrery and I - if we lived in a Charles Dickens novel)

...and the stockings were hung at the bookcase with care.
in hopes that some day, we'll have a mantel of our very own.

HAPPY DECEMBER EVERYBODY!

Wyatt McCrery, Age One

2008-11-24T22:26:00.007-07:00

Thanks to a lot of help from some very important people, Wyatt's FIRST BIRTHDAY PARTY was a completely AWESOME TIME!

Some of the awesomeness included (in no particular order)...

Wyatt giving a good whack to his first pinata (perhaps taking some revenge out on the elusive bathtime rubber ducky? That thing swims FAST!)

The beautiful Ms. Megan D. at the Fish Pond.

My wonderful ChimChim working her frosting mojo behind the scenes (Seriously, Ali! Could NOT have done this without you!!!)

Ryder trying out the "Drag Racing" booth

Annika showing Noah how it's done at the "Sharp Shooter" booth

Kenya and her ladybug reward for visiting the face-painting booth

Grandma Becky, Grandpa Boyd, and studly Kale watch the chaos from a safe distance

the loot (Savannah shows Wyatt "like this!")

enjoying the red velvet cake (still being a bit dainty at this point)

an exhausted birthday boy

Wyatt would like to say something to everyone who helped and to everyone who came to his party...

(did you catch that?)

for more carnival footage, go here

Supa Saturday

2008-11-18T16:36:00.005-07:00

Last Saturday for the S.F. 11th ward was certainly SUPER!

Heather Hunt (always happy) had fun stories.

our beautiful Anne working on an i-spy pillow - one might presume it is for 9 month old hunk Teristan...but it might be for Cody.

Kristy and Robyn dish...over a beautiful quilt they are making for the Humanitarian Project.

I have no idea who's children these are, but they are a treat!

Bill ran the Nursery - and was the best Nursery worker EVER.

Wyatt plays with friends in the nursery - and mom tries to pretend not to think about how many dirty little hands have played with those toys in days gone by...

our fabulous RS prez - a powerful combo of good sense, kind heart, and fabulous fashion.

Jen and Hillary - aren't they striking?

Someone once told me that they couldn't tell me apart from Hillary, this gorgeous red-head here. Imagine the thrill!

The Great Northwest

2008-11-01T22:41:00.004-06:00

We had SO much fun in Seattle - everything was so beautiful with all the fall colors and the cool, crisp air....At the end of the week, we didn't want to leave! We had a great time staying with our gracious hosts the Hansen family (my aunt and uncle and cousin Alex), and seeing our new niece Peyton (Bill's brother's first!), and seeing all our family and friends, Amaze Entertainment, the restaurants we've missed, and the gorgeous, GORGEOUS treeeees!

Wyatt decides to spell Mom and Dad during the 13 hour drive to Seattle and takes the wheel...only to get pulled over for indecent exposure.

Wyatt, meet your new cousin, Peyton! Yes, she's an actual person who's smaller than you! No, you may not toss her to see if she bounces.

Uncle Brian knows the BEST games! He probably brought this one home from when he served overseas...looks like a toned down version of a "we have ways to make 'em talk" method.

Some of our favorite people...Hailey, Uncle Gary, Spencer, Aunt Shirley.

A place to rest our weary bones at the SEATTLE AQUARIUM! SOOO cool. Wyatt was in HEAVEN!

Wyatt invites his new friend to c'mon and get in his boat, fish fish!

Dad is being eaten by a giant octopus. Wyatt is nonplussed (but bursts into tears in about three seconds. Two...one...)

Wyatt and Heather's two girls, Zoe and Phoebe - officially the cutest little girls (older than one month, of course, Peyton!) on the planet.

my new niece...so small, so warm, so perfect. I asked if I could keep her and I think Amy probably said yes, but she was distracted. And then I forgot her. So they'll have to mail her to me.

McCrerys Go to Washington

2008-10-21T16:21:00.003-06:00

We are headed to the GREAT NORTHWEST in the wee hours of Thursday morning - and I am noodley with excitement. I have to be honest, I have missed Washington with a vengeance. I am so excited to introduce the most wonderful place on earth to my little MonkeyFish!

Things I'm looking forward to doing:
- Meeting the new niece Peyton! (the reason for the trip)
- Seeing the Hansen Family! Getting a fix of Aunt Shellie.
- Seeing family and friends that hail from there
- Pike Place Market
- Izumi!
- Cactus!
- Wandering the piers!
- Zoos and Aquariums!
- Trader Joes! must stock up on couscous
- Whole Foods Market! You haven't been 'til you've seen the one in Redmond.
- visiting Amaze Entertainment and showing off my offspring to my old co-workers who only knew him as the expanding tummy-bump
- RUNNING AROUND IN THE RAIN!!!

Ward HALLOWEEN party!

2008-10-09T11:32:00.002-06:00

Kickin' off one of the best holidays EVER with a smashing ward halloween party!

The Dragon, the Dark Knight, and her Faithful Steed.

A fearsome beastie!
Honestly, the best part for me was watching my little dragon's tail waddle back and forth as he crawled around with all the other kids. He was just SO excited to be there!

Who says Dragons and Monkeys can't be friends?

It was quite a party!

The Dragon's loot

ZOO!

2008-09-29T11:49:00.007-06:00

We loved the Zoo! None of us had been there in SO LONG - so we were gratified to see that they still had elephants and giraffes.

Bill points out the tiny monkeys to Wyatt (who liked watching the people as much as the animals).

Cute Ali sister, leading our crazy bunch.

Steve adjusts his distinguished army beret - He had come straight from training. He got free admission in those duds, and they don't even offer a military discount!

Ali makes friends with a bear.

Dad and Wyatt check out the tortoise that was as big as a tuff-shed.

At the bird show - SO FUN! There were tiny and giant birds flying RIGHT over our heads the entire show! A falcon nearly took Bill's head off!

A Day Off

2008-09-29T11:36:00.003-06:00

Bill got out of his work conference early one Friday, and we decided to spend the day in SLC! We had a picnic at sugarhouse park where Wyatt got to play on the swings and in the grass! Stepper found a Whole Foods Market which made her day, but made her miss Seattle, and Bill bought some smoked cheese! It was a GREAT day! Even the part where we ate at the worst Mexican food restaurant we've ever been to on the Whole Foods check-out girls recommendation.

It's unclear who likes swinging more - Stepper or Wyatt.

Wyatt loves to swing - he would do it for hours if he could.

...especially when Dad plays games with him!

Wyatt loved crawling around in the grass. It felt cool and soft under his hands, and he found lots of sticks to eat! (But didn't get to, don't worry!)

CLARKSTON!

2008-09-23T15:24:00.013-06:00

We recently ventured to the border between Idaho and Washington for the annual McCrery family reunion. Clarkston is as swingin' as ever! (The traffic lights turn off at night because nobody is out and about).

We had a GREAT time! Though next year, we will probably try to stay longer than just one night!

After such a long drive, Wyatt was THRILLED to get to play with cousin Hailey (who was my good Wyatt helper the whole time)!

Lizzie tells a whopper to Bill and Aunt Shirley (our lovely hostess)!

The annual game of Texas Hold 'Em is underway. Three tables of players, one winner. As you can see, it's a high pressure game. Aunt Sharon (at the head of the table) was last year's winner - and she was not afraid to admit that this was to be a "game of revenge!".

Lizzie makes sure everyone knows what's at stake by flaunting the coveted Texas Hold 'Em trophy.

Bill is a bit delirous from the pressure - he wildly protects his winnings while downing can after can of caffiene free rootbeer. It warn't pretty.

The youngers busied themselves by setting up obstacle courses for each other to conquer. As you can see, they are all VERY tough.

Aunt Sharon gave everyone a haircut.

Aunt Maime had a special bond with Wyatt. He LOVED her! She sat down on the floor to play with him once, and after a moment, she dismissed me, saying "Stephanie, you can go outside, now." Obviously, the kid was to have no distractions during Aunt Maime time!

Plays With Scissors

2008-08-27T11:50:00.006-06:00

I want to cut hair. I think I have a knack for it; and it would be a great way to earn a few bucks whilst being a stay-at-home mom. I began to play with scissors in high school, then really amped it up in College. Most of my haircuts were my own design - and my parents can attest that some of them were...interesting. But once I got those scissors in my hands, it was really hard to quit! My sink got really used to catching random bits of hair as I would sculpt and re-sculpt my mane, and my color would change every few months. Friends and roommates would call me crazy, but before long they were asking me to cut and color their hair, too.

And now I want to do it for real.

The thing is, now that I know I really want to do it, it seems impossible! You have to graduate from a certified cosmotology school to be licenced in Utah. GREAT! I *really* want to go to cosmotology school - it sounds like a great time!

The trouble is time. To get a license in one year, you have to be at school from 9 to 5. You can go to night classes, 5 to 10, and get licensed in 2 years (though ideally, I'd want to just get it done in 1 and get started!).

The trouble is that I can't send Wyatt to daycare. I am so jazzed about the prospect of going to cosmotology school that I actually looked up a daycare website the other day. The first thing I saw was "as your child learns to say his first words..." and I literally burst into tears (Welcome to motherhood - you cry over EVERYTHING). I just couldn't stand the idea of some stranger taking care of Wyatt every day, hearing him speak his first word, watching him take his first step. They totally wouldn't "get" how to play our favorite games, and I wouldn't get to see the first smile after naptime.

Don't get me wrong - I know that MANY daycare centers out there are WONDERFUL and a great learning environment for kids. I just can't feel good about putting Wy in there for something I want to do for myself. Sure, a year or two from now I'd be able to supplement our income doing something I truly enjoy...but is it selfish?

We're still trying to figure out if we can make it work, because I just can't let go of this idea - it's gotten me WAY too fiery - until I know there's absolutely no way it can be done without putting Wy in daycare.

Have any of you been in a similar situation??? Whatwouldyouadone?

Go, Wyatt, GO!

2008-07-30T12:01:00.003-06:00

Well, it's happened. Wyatt is now fully mobile, and he's completely set on exploring every nook and cranny of our home. Yeah, he's more of a handful, now, but I have to admit - I get a big kick out of seeing his little face appear in the hall when I go into the kitchen and he decides to follow me, and when I'm doing something and suddenly feel his little hands on my legs. He likes it when I'm attempting to do Yoga and am upside down and in weird poses. He thinks..."cool! let's see if I can knock her over!"

being a mom just gets better and better.

Once he learns to open cupbords, however...

Swing low!

2008-07-08T13:13:00.003-06:00

Megan plays with Wyatt at Mom's house.

4th of JULY! cont...

2008-07-08T12:51:00.010-06:00

Wyatt's story, continued...

After the parade, we went home and made FLAG SUGAR COOKIES with Aunt Lizzie, which we took to the neighbors. We made a HUGE one to take to Great Grandma's PICNIC! Mostly, I liked playing with Aunt Lizzie (she's fun!).

At Great Grandma's, Dad held my new cousin Kale and showed off by putting him to sleep.

My Mikkelson cousins were definitely in the spirit...

Hadley let me play with her neclace. She's always so nice to me!

After the picnic, we went into Great Grandma's front yard. I though the grass was very interesting,

but then bright lights and new sounds started happening in the street! And my dad and all my cousins started dancing around like they were crazy! I LOVED IT!

Everyone was glowing!

Grandpa Rusty and Grandma...

Aunt Megan...

Uncle Shawn and my cousins...

and Mom and Dad and Aunt Lizzie!

I even got a glowing bracelet! But I kept eating it.

PHEW! It was a VERY interesting day, and I slept in the next morning!

4th of JULY!

2008-07-08T12:41:00.008-06:00

The 4th of July was so fun this year! Bill got up early to help the YM in our ward put up flags, then Wyatt and Bill and I went to the FREEDOM FESTIVAL PARADE!

Here's what Wyatt thought about it (told in his babel, interpreted by his parents):

I went to the parade with mom and dad. There was so much to look at!

There were LOTS of people (and everyone thought I was cute)!

It was very loud! (The firetrucks were so cool!)

...and very bright!

I got very tired.

Let Freedom Ring!

2008-07-05T00:17:00.002-06:00

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!

I love this country. I really do. I think as a nation, we are forgetting that our forefathers established this as ONE NATION UNDER GOD. Politics have vered dramatically from their originally simple mission of protecting the rights and freedoms of our people and have become a complicated game of popularity - a game with no rules and really, no winner. The men and women who lead our great nation are, for the most part, not the "voice of the people" but the voice of those people who talk the loudest and the most impressively. But I think that America is still good at the core - that we as a nation are incredibly blessed, and there ain't no doubt, I love this land.

God Bless the USA!

George Washington's prayer for our country:

“Almighty God, who has given us this good land for our heritage, we humbly beseech Thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of Thy favor and glad to do Thy will.

“Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning and pure manners.

“Save us from violence, discord and confusion; from pride and arrogancy, and from every evil way.

“Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought out of many kindreds and tongues.

“Endue with the spirit of wisdom those whom in Thy name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be peace and justice at home, and that through obedience to Thy law, we may show forth Thy praise among the nations of the earth.

“In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in Thee to fail.

“All of which we ask through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.”

Happy Father's Day!

2008-06-17T12:14:00.004-06:00

Happy Fathers Day to the wonderful Fathers in my life!

My wonderful husband and best friend BILL who is an amazing father to Wyatt. The way Wyatt lights up when Bill comes home from work says it all.

My wonderful father Russ who taught me since I was a young girl two very important lessons: 1 - what a real man looks like, and 2 - that I can do anything.

And to "Daddy Mac" (picture coming soon!) who was the best Father in Law a gal could ask for, and was the best kind of dad to his kids, his kids' friends, his kids' friends' friends...etc. He would have been a wonderful grandpa. We miss you!

My Innocent Teeth fall prey to the diabolical Dr. Drill

2008-06-06T14:49:00.005-06:00

I've never been afraid of the dentist. I had a really good dentist growing up - the kind that let you choose the music you listened to while you sat in the chair, and named all the cavities that he "chased from your teeth" (who can be too concerned about a cavity that apparently looks just like Mrs. Piggy?), and had an honest to goodness pirate treasure chest full of cool stuff in the other room that you got to pick something out of each visit - EVEN if you had a cavity! And you got a free toothbrush every time, too! The toothbrushes would usually end up in mom's cleaning supply closet 'cause they were just the real basic model, and I usually liked a good, fancy, features-added toothbrush.

Going to the dentist was an event, not an episode.

Until recently.

We have BYU Student Insurance, which is to say we have no insurance at all. There is a group of Dentists in Provo who offer discounted rates to BYU students - basically wholesale prices, no labor charge.

I woke up one morning with a broken tooth - so I researched online the dentists who offered these discounted rates, and called around until I found one who could fit me in the next day. The fact that he wasn't terribly busy should have been my first clue, but my half-full mentality told me that this dentist was just super accomodating.

What followed was a dentist visit straight out of a nightmare. I don't mean a horror-movie, I mean the real kind of nightmare you have where everything is surreal and nothing makes sense, and at any moment a bus will try to run you over, only your legs turn into sacks of soggy oatmeal or your teeth turn to chalk and crumble out of your head.

After an hour long wait (with nobody else in the waiting room) and a bizarre questionaire that seemed to be gauging whether or not I was in tune with my teeths feelings, I was ushered down a dark hallway and into a saggy room. The walls were dark wood paneling, the ceiling was a droopy yellow, the chair I was to wait in looked like an outcast from the antiques roadshow. There was a train motif in the room, so I figured that maybe the doudy atmosphere was supposed to be quaint.

Enter the dentist - older gentleman. Looked like a caracature for a mad scientist. But he had kind eyes, so I opened wide.

I came in for a broken tooth repair. He assessed that I had 8 cavities, snapped on his gloves, and started drilling.

What happened to looking at my x-rays (which he never did, even though the nurse took them) and coming at my teeth with that little tell-tale pick thingy (which he never did)? He shot me up with pain killer and told me that he'd fix my break (thank heavens) and one of the cavities close to it. He whipped out his drill, which smelled funny, and started hacking away at my teeth.

The drill was smoking. I kid you not, brownish grey plumes of burning-metal smoke was coming from the thing, and little bits of who-knows-what started flying at my face. While I was captive, the good doctor asked for suction (sorry, doctor, the suction hose isn't working), asked if the lamp thingy above my head had been fixed (sorry, doctor, we're out of lightbulbs for that lamp), and asked if the air conditioning was still broken (yes, doctor, the thermostat is non-responsive). Great, I thought. I'm under the knife of a doctor who's tools are broken, who can't see me properly, and who might be suffering from heat exhaustion.

I was pretty sure that the doctor had drilled clear to my skull, and I was wondering if the fumes from his drill were toxic when he stopped and handed me a dainty little mirror.

"I just wanted you to see how deep this cavity went!" he said, indicating the two holes in my back tooth that he decided I needed fixed (without referencing an x-ray or using a pic, might I remind you!). I looked, and the holes he gave me were indeed very deep - but I couldn't help thinking a smart-alecky reply "well, I see how deep your drill went"; but instead I just said, "huh".

He then told me to get up, that we were moving to another room.

So I followed the nurse into room # 2, which had white, plaster walls, a fresh ceiling, lights that worked and - hallelujah! - a new drill.

He plugged up the three holes he made in my face (counting the hole he gave my broken tooth) and babbled pleasantly about how his whole goal in life was to help people keep their original teeth.

He sat me up and told me that next time, he'd numb the other side of my face and fix the three teeth up there, and then do the bottoms. He liked to work one side of the mouth at a time.

Well, there was no way I was going to subject myself to toxic-drill again - and I just couldn't believe that I had 8 cavities when 9 months before, my dentist in WA gave me a clean bill of dental health. I wanted a second opinion.

So I asked Dr. Drill what, exactly, was wrong with my mouth. At that point, he pulled out my X-rays. I stared at them, scrinching up my eyes, trying to make sense of what he was telling me, but he was speaking Borg! "You have a cataclismic junction on the number six with a sixty percent chance!" he said, with special emphasis given presumably to work me into a sweat about my number six. I had no idea what that meant, so I said (obviously), "what does that mean?"

He blinked at me, and said, "probably a root canal."

"HUH?!"

"On at least three of your teeth."

Hoo, boy. I had to get out of there! So I thanked the good doctor, and high-tailed it to the receptionist - who didn't know how to ring me up, so half an hour later and $250 lighter, I was safe in my car.

Which was when I noticed that I couldnt' close my mouth. The filling he had given my back tooth (that may or may not have needed the holes he gave it) was sticking down so far that when I closed my teeth, the filling hit first, and I was unable to close my teeth.

I wasn't sure at that point whether to laugh or cry! So I called my mom.

she suggested I get a second opinion from my trusty childhood dentist (the Mrs. Piggy guy!), so I called, gave my sob story to the receptionist, who very kindly told me that, no - they didn't offer student discounted rates, but that they could give me an exam with a second opinion for around $100.

I made the appointment for two weeks later.

By the time the appointment rolled around, I had a permi-headache from the soreness of my poor teeth that Dr. Drill had worked on.

Dr. Murdock was very professional and didn't say anything negative about the dental work I had received from Dr. Drill, but as he fixed the filling (free of charge) that kept my teeth from closing, he couldn't help but keep mentioning how high the filling was (from the base of my teeth)...the two nurses that happened by while he was working whistled at it, too. They had never seen a filling so high.

So Dr. Murdock fixed me up perfectly, and told me that no. I didn't have 8 cavities. But I did have two...and one on the way.

Two and a half cavities isn't a happy ending to the story, but it's a much more realistic one!

And Dr. Murdock used the x-rays AND the pick, and showed me exactly where the trouble was. Totally worth the $100 spent, even if he didn't tell me I could get a toy from the treasure chest.

Happy birthday, Martha (Dewitt) Bland McCrery

2008-05-21T18:25:00.002-06:00

missing seattle...

2008-05-21T18:22:00.005-06:00

on clean, cool, rainy mornings like this one, I really miss Seattle.

those days were full of wonder.

it was where i fell in love.

Komen's Race for the Cure, 2008

2008-05-17T23:23:00.009-06:00

Last year, my mom and sisters did the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure (http://www.komenslc.org/) - a 5K run (or walk) in SLC that donates its proceeds to research for the cure for Breast Cancer. They had such a great experience, and I thought it was such a great idea! I wanted to participate! But I was two states away, and all the Washington races for the cure were during the day on weekdays - impossible with the work schedule.

But ever since hearing about the race, I'd wanted to take part in it - or at least something like it. Breast Cancer has really affected my little family (My beautiful mother in law, Martha, lost her long battle with it 13 years ago and my beautiful mother, Tammy, is 3 years a survivor), and I wanted to do something to affect IT in return! Kick it's trash by kicking my own on a 5K run!

So this year when Ali told us that the race was coming around again, Bill and I (and Wyatt by default) jumped on board.

We met Mom and Ali in Salt Lake, and the turnout was overwhelming. We began our shuffle with the crowd accross the starting line, and I was moved to tears. I was surrounded by hundreds and hundreds of people who have been affected by Breast Cancer. Everyone (including us) wore a sign on their backs showing who they were walking for - in memory of or in celebration of. It was devastating and wonderful all at the same time.

It was so satisfying to be able to do something; to take action - even a small one - in the battle against the beast.

I plan to do it again next year.

View my Mom and Dad's posting about this event here: http://russandtammycard.blogspot.com/2008/05/race-for-cure-2008.html

Ali and Bill have a HULA SHOWDOWN!

2008-05-16T23:14:00.003-06:00

You have to watch it twice...watch Ali's sweet moves the first time. Then watch Bill's...er...yeah. :D

This was at Jeff's mom's house. I think the adults had more fun with the hula contest than the kids!

What They Don't Tell You About Mothers...

2008-05-09T12:39:00.004-06:00

When you're about to become a mother, you're bombarded with stories and advice from those who have "been there, done that". You read all the textbooks your doctor gives you, all the books your mommy friends recommend to you, all the magazines...and yet, you know, deep down. You're not prepared. You know nothing.

And then that little one comes into your life and you're thrown into the maelstrom of motherhood; and only then do you begin to understand exactly how much you don't know.

Other mothers try...but they simply can't tell you.

They might tell you that you will get no sleep. You expect to be up with the baby through the night, and tell yourself you can get used to the sleep deprivation. And what do you know, you do! And after a few months of desperation, deliriousness, and finding yourself crying more than your newborn does, you even begin to enjoy those midnight feedings and the chance to be alone with that amazing little person - to cuddle him and watch his little face...and you probably cry and whisper prayers of thanks to a Heavenly Father who loved you enough to give you this experience. To force you to come to a new reckoning of what 'selflessness' really means.

What they don't tell you is how the baby isn't even the real issue in sleep deprivation. It's all the times you wake up in a panic, and hold your breath and listen so hard to see if you can hear the baby breathing. How suddenly you've become a light sleeper, and you are on your feet every time the baby moves or sighs or yawns. How sometimes you wake up not even in a panic, just because the new mother in you has to check on your sweet baby, because he might be cold or too warm or, heaven forbid, so cute you would be missing this if you were sleeping. And they don't tell you about the dreams. About how now that you are a mother, every danger imaginable that could harm your baby or your husband in any way haunt your mind in your sleep...and soon, during the waking hours as well. They don't tell you that far more often than you would like to admit, you recognize a potential danger in everyday life, the scene unfolds in your mind against your will, clutches you at your chest, fills your mind with panic, and then leaves...but leaves a permanent mark on your psyche. You are now a mother - a newly born worrier. But you keep these worries to yourself, because now, as a mother, your insanities are your own.

They may tell you that everything is different, but they don't tell you - they don't even come close to warning you - that everything is different. You expect that everything will be different, obviously. You have this new person in your life now that wasn't there before. But they don't tell you that YOU are different. Your perspective is different. Your attitude is different. Your tastes are different. You used to love action movies, but now you can't stand them because in that great car chase scene, three cars blow up. There were people in there! Somebody's father/son/brother! And the tragedy of it makes you cry, and the fact that nobody seems to care about those people in the car makes you angry. And the TV commercials! TV Commercials make you cry. Commercials about adoption, third world hunger, diapers, kids excited to go to Disneyland, McDonald's...they all make you cry!

They tell you that your body won't be the same, but they don't tell you how different your body will feel to you. On the one hand, you'll feel battered, stretched, bruised, twisted, and knotted in ways you have never felt before. Your curves will change, you'll find curves in new places, things that used to be more curvy will be a bit flattened...you'll have marks and scars that will label you a veteran mother. On the other hand, you'll look at your body and feel powerful, unconquered, majestic. You will recognize that there is nothing that you can't do, and so you might as well do it all! Your body is incredible and undefeated. You are stunning.

They tell you that you will love that little baby more than you think is possible. But they don't tell you what that love does to you. They don't tell you that your capacity for love, for giving, for understanding, for sacrifice increases to such a degree that you find it unbelievable that your mortal body - stunning as it is - can contain it. They don't tell you that when your little one looks into your eyes with absolute innocence and trust and acceptance and love, you can actually feel your heart bursting in your chest, and you can feel all your troubles, all your concerns and uncertainties and fears about life, the world and your place in it sluff off of you, and all you're left with is possibility. Possibility and that tiny, perfect little hand wrapped so meekly, yet so strongly around your finger.

They don't tell you how you fall in love with your husband all over again every time you see him playing with your baby. The way he changes the baby's diaper, the way he feeds him, the way he dresses him in the morning, so gently. They don't tell you that you become so overwhelmed with amazement that you are lucky enough to be married to this amazing man that you can't speak. All you can do is smile at him and feel the bursting in your chest, again.

And they don't tell you that in every new stage, with every new challenge, every new joy and every new experience that you get with the package deal of motherhood, you begin to understand your own mother a little bit more. You begin to recognize in new ways her unfathomable strength, her strong character, her unfaltering will, and her unchallenged love for you. You begin to understand that for every tear you cry in anguish and in joy, she has cried for you. You begin to understand that every pain, every worry, every moment of absolute wonder, every bout of uncontrollable laughter that you experience, she experienced over you. You begin to understand that everything that you have given up...every task put off, every errand foregone, every personal pleasantry postponed...every dream exchanged for your baby's dreams...your mother has given up for you.

And so you begin to understand, as a mother, exactly all of the things that you never understood, and all of the things that you still don't understand about what a mother is.

And you are filled with a vast yet quiet gratitude for the depth of what it is to be Mother. You give a nod of kinship with all mothers around you, and you wear your badge of Motherhood with empathy and pride.

And you remember - always remember - the mothers who came before you who made you who you are. Especially your own.

Thanks, Mom.

Happy Mothers Day.

Remembering Ashley

2008-05-08T13:02:00.002-06:00

Ashley Hansen was an incredible young lady. She lived her life to the fullest - had no regrets - and treated everyone as though they were her best friend.

We remember her fondly and miss her greatly today, her birthday.

Ashley was the BEST cavewoman in our childhood play - she really perfected the art of her craft. The bone through the ponytail at the top of her head, her animal print "cave-dress", and her cries of "OOGA BOOGA SHMOOGA!" were very convincing.

She also kicked my trash at bowling.

Ash is one of my greatest examples in living a life the way I aspire to. The way Christ did.

And she was a dear friend.

I love and miss her.

A Strange Occurrence at Chez 686

2008-05-06T21:46:00.001-06:00

Saturday Evening...

8:42pm.

The McCrerys return home after an evening of hooplah in Highland. At first glance, everything seemed in order; calm, tranquil, the only sound the gentle push of air through the vent above their heads.

18 minutes before Wyatt's bed time. Plenty of time to PJ the kid, read from the good book, and toss him and his passifyer into his crib to saw some quality toothpicks.

The McCrery's had everything under control...

Then Mr. McCrery saw it. The grotesque scene unfolded before him in what seemed like slow motion. He had entered the kitchen with innocent thoughts about a glass of cold water to slake his thirst; but he never made it to the glass cupboard. For there - in saturated and horrific detail - was the bowl. In two pieces. Split right down the middle. Murdered.

The bowl had been performing an act of service for Mrs. McCrery. The McCrery's had enjoyed some corn on the cob for dinner the night before, and the little miniature corn-shaped cob holder thingies are too small to run through the dishwasher. So Mrs. McCrery solicited the aid of the bowl - ever reliable - to contain the miniature corn thingies and some hot, soapy water so they could soak until she felt like scrubbing them.

"If I had known" - Mrs. McCrery admitted later - "that my laziness would cost the bowl it's life - (choke, sob) I would have washed the corn thingies RIGHT AWAY! I never would have left them to soak! They don't need to soak! They weren't even really all that DIRTY!" (sob)

Once the shock of his discovery abated, Mr. McCrery noticed something odd. Not only was there no explanation for how the bowl ended up splitting down the middle into two perfect pieces, there was also no WATER.

Where did all the soapy water go?

The bowl had had no crack.
The hot water was not the culprit as they had begun soaking the night before the occurrence.

The McCrerys find it difficult to sleep with this unsolved mystery looming over their heads. What happened to their loyal bowl? Why was there no water? What could have broken the bowl in such a way while they were out; doors and windows locked?

Some suspect really thirsty and violent ants...
some suspect the corn thingies did it...
some wonder about beings from beyond this world, trying an experiment that went awry...

What *did* happen in the McCrery kitchen that fateful Saturday? If you have or think you have any information about this or other mysteries from this show, please contact us using the "comment" link below.

For you, Aunt Christie!

2008-05-06T21:39:00.001-06:00

Sheriff Wyatt...

Alls you need ta be a cowboy is a sturdy pair a boots! (pants are optional)

the sheriff...in his fancy duds and shiny spurs, ready to go to town. (spurs not included)

...lookin' fer mah harse!

Sheriff Wyatt stands for truth, justice, the American way, equal treatment for horses, and rootbeer.

Thanks, Aunt Christy!!!

SOUP turns 19!

2008-05-04T12:37:00.001-06:00

It's official - Megan has one year left of being a teenager.

SWEET 19!

Bill and I were in the car, and I recalled a song that Megan - aka Soup - made up when she was around three years old. It goes a little something like this...

Dust-a-dust!
Dust-a-dust!
Dust-a-dust buster,
in your face!

It was obvious then that she would rise to heights of creativity that her siblings had only dreamed of.

Other fun (embarrassing?) memories of Meg over the years:

- "scrinch and go" hair
- "My name is Suzie Q, and I like spiders!"
- wishing the cupboard "merry christmas"
- "it's about time!"
- Meg is sitting on the couch with mom and sunni, giving sunni one of meg's world famous back scratches.
Mom: Megan, knock knock!
Megan: ... BWAAAAAH (runs from room crying)
Mom: (following her) Megan, what's wrong??
Megan: you said to 'knock it off'!
- ringlets and gillies
- sledding
- gus gus the hamster
- rainbow the rabbit
- all the weekend movie and treat nights
- the case of the missing jelly-shoe at bear lake
- games in the foothills behind our house
- swim team ribbons
- ballroom costumes
- killer smile! (and the trail of drooling boys to prove it)
- her way with kids - she's a natural! When she takes Wyatt, I can totally relax.
- her extremely kind and giving heart
- staying up all night talking about scary stories or spiritual stories - often we'd
rotate between them!

Meg puts up with me embarrassing her all the time. She was a delightful kid who has grown into an incredible young woman. I admire her and consider her to be one of my best friends. I'm so glad she's my sister!

And that she's driving Bella, 'cause dag. Bella is a sweet ride.

Palm Trees in Utah

2008-04-28T15:53:00.001-06:00

Last week we went to St. George for a training retreat for the 4th district juvenile court. Bill had some interesting seminars to tell us about at the end of the day, and Wyatt and I hung out in our hotel room and explored St. George!

But...the thing that STEPPER was most excited about (though she insisted it was Wyatt who was excited) was Wyatt's first time in the pool! He's such a little fish at home, LOVES bath time and is fascinated any time we turn on the faucet. We knew he'd take to the pool like...like...sticky fingers to your brand new shirt.

Wyatt is all ready for the pool in his very first brand new tigger swimsuit. Isn't he a DISH?

The maiden voyage...what a treat!

Wyatt LOVES the water.

He loved to splash, but couldn't figure out how water kept getting into his face!

We had a great time in St. George, it was a fun break for Wyatt and Stepper (poor Bill still had to work!) Bill thought that St. George felt a bit like Guatemala...palm trees in the middle of a desert felt like a little green oasis in the middle of a poor country.

Thanks, Mikelle, for sneaking me all the free food! :D

Family Picnic

2008-04-28T15:48:00.001-06:00

Last Monday night for FHE, we went to the main park in our little town for a picnic dinner. Wyatt loved being outside.

Our little picnic'n family!

Wyatt and the tree

daddy flies Wyatt - SUPERMAN!

just an afternoon walk...or so we thought. bum Bum BUM!

2008-04-10T12:22:00.000-06:00

It was one of those beautiful overcast days that I just love - it had rained that morning and so everything smelled clean and all the colors looked deeper. The sky was still a pleasant canopy of grey-blue clouds, but the air was a cool warm. This is the sort of day where I feel like anything can happen. Like that feeling I had that time when I was a kid and went to bed in my own room, but woke up in the back of the family station wagon - the seats put down and the blankets spread out to make a surprisingly comfortable bed - next to a sleeping Jamie, and Mom turned around and told me that we were half way to Disneyland.

Well, Bill had the car, so I couldn't drive to disneyland. Going for a walk with Wyatt and Stroller in tow was the next best thing.

So I got Wyatt all bundled up in the new jacket Grandma Tammy had just bought for him and a blanket, and buckled him into the stroller. Wyatt feels so big in his stroller because he doesn't have to use his carseat anymore, so he can sit up and face forward and see everything knee-down that adults never pay attention to. When we go on walks, Wyatt is either super quiet, just taking everything in; or he's babbling to the trees, the cars, the sidewalk, the bugs...

This time he was silent. I think he got that 'anything can happen' feeling, too.

So we took the long way to get the mail, and then we walked to the back of our little neighborhood where there is a secret walkway. A sidewalk that goes between our neighborhood and the next one that goes by the ponds and the tall grasses. It would spit us out on the other side of our neighborhood - right by our house! Perfect! So we took it. Poems by Robert Frost about roads less taken turned in my head, and I felt very adventurous!

As soon as we got to the first pond, I noticed a little cloud of gnats above us. No big deal, you just duck and walk through! Well...they weren't gnats. By the time I realized that we were in the middle of a cloud of mosquitos, and ducking really doesn't help, it was too late.

I hate mosquitos. They seem to love my blood only slightly less than they love my dad's. But the thought of them sucking on Wyatt made me crazy. "MY BABY!" I yelled - partially pleading, partially defying those little blood-suckers - threw the stroller's sun shield down in front of Wyatt's face, and ran.

Mine was no jogging stroller. The front wheels of Wyatt's ride bumped and spun and jiggled and skidded - too bad! No time! Too many mosquitos! - and we blundered along the path at top speed until I felt that the mosquito cloud was safely behind us. As soon as I started to slow down...another cloud appeared not far ahead. And THIS one seemed to know we were coming! In one militial movement, the mosquitos all left-faced and began to march toward us.

So off we ran, again! Bumping, spinning, jiggling and skidding past cloud after cloud of disgusting little vampires! I kept waving my arms around Wyatt's head to make sure no mosquitos that may have dared break rank found their way down to my sweet baby's tempting virgin skin. As I ran for our lives, I thought..."well, this makes sense. Here we have stagnant ponds, and it's spring. I should have guessed there'd be mosquitos!"

I turned the corner...the end of the path! Light at the end of the tunnel! And then I heard it. A deep, menacing HOOOONK. I looked down and there, right before the end of the sidewalk and our ticket to freedom was a gaggle of geese. Sitting there on the sidewalk STARING at me as if to say, "I dare you to try it". Only slightly less daunting was the pile after pile of goose poop that covered the sidewalk they were sitting on.

"Excuse me, Mr. Goose!" I yelled as I ran, obvously dilusional in my desparation. In answer, the goose stood up, stretched it's neck toward me, opened it's mouth, and spread it's wings. I could almost hear him say, "you want a piece of this?" Okay, I thought. I can outrun the stupid geese - but if one of those things takes a nip at my baby! Roast Goose!

I ran...the goose didn't move...I swerved into the gravel to avoid the goose, his gang, and their poop...we passed them...jumped back onto the sidewalk, and there were DUCKS in the way!

Ducks, however, are not satan with wings, and they moved out of the way for us and tipped their hats as we passed.

We made it! Off the trail of misadventure! We were on a normal sidewalk with a normal road by us and our house just a few yards ahead! I stopped, panting, and pushed the stroller visor out of Wyatt's way. I checked him all over. He was completely fine, and enjoying himself tremendously. Success.

Then I looked up.

MOSQUITO CLOUD! I ran all the way to our house, fumbled with the keys a-la Better Off Dead, and finally got us in to the house with the door closed behind us. We were finally safe! I grabbed Wyatt and we went into the kitchen...

...there on the sliding door window were dozens of MOSQUITOS! They had us surrounded! Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds" came to mind.

"This is nothing like Disneyland" I thought, and closed the curtains.

some choice wyatt pictures...

2008-04-06T18:17:00.000-06:00

wyatt in his super sweet hoodie given to him by grandma beck and sitting in his super sweet swing

have you ever seen anything so sweet?

wyatt the card shark playing cribbage with mom...you have to learn the game early if your'e going to be a McCrery!

quite a 'tude for such a small dude

Super Dad's identity discovered!

2008-04-04T09:25:00.000-06:00

I came down with a nasty bug this past week that started with a nasty sore throat and ended in a cold. I was so nervous that my boys would get it - Bill is nearing the end of his semester and can't afford to be sick. And I couldn't imagine how awful it would be for Wyatt to have a sore throat! He'd cry and it would just get worse!

Bill took precious time off school and work to stay home for a few days and take care of Wyatt and I. He put me on the couch with a pillow and a blanket and the Cosby show. He made me juice, and - get this - homemade chicken noodle soup! He even went out to get me a milkshake to make my throat feel better. As if that weren't enough - he took care of Wyatt day and night for those couple of days. He fed him, changed him, played with him, put him down for naps, even got up with him in the middle of the night so I could sleep.

Over those couple of days, Wyatt decided that this Dad guy was pretty darn cool. Bill can make Wyatt laugh better than anyone. Watching the way they play together is something else. Bill has a great instinct for fun. So now when Bill comes home from work and Wyatt hears his voice, he gets this big old grin and his arms and legs start pumping, and you know he's thinking, "Finally! The fun guy is here to play!"

"Onslaught"

2008-04-01T21:24:00.000-06:00

I think that the Media - especially the fashion industry - is breeding a race of psychologically disturbed humans. Go to this website and watch the movie "Onslaught" :http://www.campaignforrealbeauty.com/home.asp

I've watched "Onslaught" a few times, now. The first few times I was alarmed, and it made me feel a little sick. The last few times, I've cried. When you see that sweet little wide-eyed girl walk by after seeing all those grotesque images, the contrast of her innocence is jarring - and the fact that she will have those images and messages try to corrupt her (and often succeed) is heartbreaking.

I mourn for the innocence that I've already lost to the fashion industry - but my resolve is steely. No daughter or son of mine will learn their self worth from the media without a good, strong dose of home-lovin' to help combat it!

A Blogger is Born

2008-03-27T14:44:00.001-06:00

I always thought that blogging was for the snarky...or at least the humorously cynical. But via a cousin's and uncle's blog, I've seen the light! A blog doesn't have to rant about global warming or go on political tirades; it can be a sort of electronic journal meets scrapbook meets family letter. As Chari said, "a way to keep up on what's going on in each other's lives!" So, while I can't promise there won't be a rant or tirade now and again, this blog has been created with the intent to show off the brilliant going-ons of my little family (Warning: Extended members, you are not exempt!).