Pictures

I dislike pictures of me. I don't like having them taken and I don't care to look at them later either;). But I didn't have any decent pictures of me for a headshot for my blogs or anything else I wanted to write for. (Why do you need a picture to take a written piece? But that is another issue) I happen to have a friend who is a talented photographer and I let her do her thing!

I have to say, I think I like the results. It would be much better if I was 100 lbs lighter but what wouldn't be better;). I had seen Cali Morgan's professional photography many times in wedding pictures, pregnancy portraits and family portraits and kid's pictures. I knew that she specializes in making women look good. But I still wasn't keen on it being my turn in front of the camera.

But as soon as I sat down for Carli, she instantly put me at ease. I know that I tend to be stiff and cheesy in front of the camera but she was able to totally work around that. She was a total joy to work with! I look forward to loosing some of my weight and having to take new ones;).

Now if you are looking for a photographer and are in the Fresno area, look no further! Go check Carli out!

(For disclosure purposes: This is not sponsored in any way. I payed for my pictures and my digital file like everyone else. I just really like Carli's work!)

I am WOMAN, Hear Me Roar!

So NerdDad and I ordered a new tv!!! It is a 47 inch and isn't here yet but there will be pics when it is set up! But I digress. Since we ordered it from Dell I got a call today. They wanted to know if I had gotten it yet and wanted to talk to me about paying someone to come mount it for me. The conversation was both comical and a bit shocking.

Dell Guy: "Are you planning on mounting the tv?"

Me: "Not now, maybe in the future" (at this point I still didn't know why he was calling)

Dell Guy: "Are you a preferred customer? We would love to have someone come out to mount that tv for you with either a flat mount or a tilting mount."

Me: "When we decide to mount it, my husband and I will probably do it."

Dell Guy: "You would help?"

Me: "Well, I would assume my few engineering classes could prepare me for something like this."

Dell Guy: "No, I meant the labor side."

Me: "Well, I did carry 4 children"

Dell Guy: "That's different"

Me: "Yea, its harder"

Dell Guy: "Umm, well"

I pretty much ended the conversation there. He was pretty dumbstruck at that point... The labor side, really?

Kind of a funny way to start my day;).

And We Have Hair Do's!!!!

You know how there are some little girls that look so cute on Sunday (or any) mornings? Their hair is perfectly done with just the cutest styles? Well, I missed the mommy gene that gives me the natural ability to do my little girls' hair. Frankly, I really can't do my own;). I was afraid that it would take for ever and would just lead to huge fights but I was tired of them always looking like little ragamuffins.

So you can imagine how excited I was to find a website that could walk me through step by step a cute hairstyle for my girls! Babes in Hairland had this cute up do so I collected my water bottle, comb, and rubber bands and then set to it!




As you can tell, I did both of them basically the same. It isn't quite a cute as the website's but the girls' are cute so that works. It is also so much better than how their hair is normally done;). I have yet to try any of their other hairstyles (like even a French Braid) but I am going to bask in this one just a little longer! It is the little things, right?

Be a World Changing Family!

Today at MOPS we had an awesome speaker who spoke on being a world changing family. Shelley was awesome. Not only did she talk about some great ways to change the world with our kids (Operation Christmas Child, making sandwiches to give to the homeless, etc) she also brought treats!!! She made the adorable cookies herself!!!

But is it hard to be a world changing family, especially with younger kids? I don't think so. The focus is to teach them to be generous and to care for others starting at a young age. The best way I can see to change the world is to show it God's love. So start involving your kids (or start serving someone yourself) in showing love to others and that alone will change the world.

I think of the joy my kiddos have gotten putting change in the Salvation Army buckets. Or helping me take food to a family with a sick mom or a family that just had a baby. I love the idea of just making bagged lunches and handing them out to people who need them. I don't know where you live but around here we seem to have people begging on every corner. You can also do canned food drives, collect change for your local Pregnancy Care Center or just about anything. Just do something no matter how small.

It isn't hard but it is intentional.

That was a word that Shelley used a lot, intentional. This doesn't just happen but you have to do it. Shelley had a great idea we might start doing. She has a friend that takes all of her kids' artwork down to the convalescent home. I might have to start doing that. Between church and what the kids just make at home, we are swimming in the stuff. To think it might brighten someone else's day and not have to go in the recycle bin (at least so soon) makes me happy.

So what do you do with you kids to make them World Changers?

Pray for Shelley and her family! They are a world changing family in a big way. They have sold their house and will be moving their family down to Colombia to preach God's Word. They are not already in the ministry (her hubby is a teacher) and their kids are young (4 girls ages 10-6). So this isn't convenient but they were called by the Lord. So I ask you all to keep them in your prayers!

Updated: I was asked why I would consider this a WFMW. I can say that for many years I was looking for ways to help my kids serve others. I think there are some really good ideas on how to get your kids active in showing generosity and love to others!

Home Hilarity

Since we are now living without the satellite we are exploring our many free online options. We have recently discovered that all of Scarecrow and Mrs. King is online over at Slashcontrol.com. Scarecrow and Mrs. King was a favorite of mine as a kid and a teenager. I had a little thing for Scarecrow. The funny part is I always wanted to be Laura Ingalls and marry Scarecrow. Then Laura Ingalls (Melissa Gilbert) married Scarecrow (Bruce Boxleitner). But I digress...

To start with it isn't as dorky to watch as I was afraid it was going to be. And the kids love it. We are about 7 episodes into the series right now. At the end of the last episode Scarecrow got shot. We decided that we were going to watch another episode during dinner. NerdPie express how she hoped he was going to be all healed by this next episode. To which NerdDad said how he was sure that Scarecrow would be fine...he heals quick, like Wolverine.

It really tickled me (yes, I am a dork). But it tickled me even more that the kids didn't even blink at the statement because they knew exactly what NerdDad meant by that;).

First Impressions

So I was talking to a woman from church about some service stuff and right before we were done she said she had something kind of funny to tell me. OK, I like funny;). She recalled bringing a meal out to my family after a surgery (or baby) and that was the first time we really had a discussion. She had seen me at women's ministry things and checking in my kids on Sunday at church but hadn't really talked to me. At that point she said she thought I was bubbly, friendly and a bit airheaded. When she brought out the meal we were talking about Bible Studies and the book Bad Girls of the Bible came up. I had said it was a good book but not really deep enough for a study. For me it was bathroom reading. I lent her the book and she went on a trip. She said that she poured over the book and thought it was way to deep for bathroom reading and then realized I couldn't be a ditz. So at this point in the conversation I am laughing. Then it gets better. I was meeting her for a quick exchange of stuff at church on my way to my Precept study and quickly met her husband (again). She said that she later asked him what he thought of me. He described me as cute, bubbly and kind of ditzy or airheaded. She said she then went on to tell him how wrong he was;).

I have to say I am a bit shocked. 15 years ago this would have really bothered me because I was so afraid of not being taken seriously but now I don't know what to think. Objectively, I do not think I am an airhead and I don't really feel the need to defend myself too much (did I mention that I was have a discussion about whether or not studying end time prophecy has a needed place in your spiritual health?;). But this is a new one for me. There have been many phrases used to describe me but ditzy? airhead?

I remember my husband saying that I came off very serious the first time I met him (at a Bible Study in college and I was wearing nylons and a skirt after work;) and at the same meeting scared and intimidated a man who later was our best man and a dear friend of mine. My best friend met me quickly in a computer lab in college and thought I was quiet (man, was she wrong;).

But what does it mean or matter? I can't really control what you think in that 30 second exchange? I can try and put my best foot forward but beyond that? When I met this woman's husband I didn't say anything stupid or factually wrong. I shook his hand and looked him dead in the eye. I also had been talking to people and was in a rush to exchange material, both physical and informationally, and then get to the study I was already running late for. So there wasn't really anything different to do. Maybe I should have talked about the speed of light, programming or calculus... No, that would have just come off as pompous or rude. Better a ditz;).

So you, my readers, what was your first impression of me? Either in real life or just from my blogs? I am curious!

Wordless Wednesday: Shake It!

This is how we roll in the NerdFam... Throw that tutu on over your rugged jeans and shake it to the music!

I Can't Believe We Did But We Did It and It's Done!

Yes, I am channeling a little My fair Lady;). But to the point!

We love tv over here. When NerdDad and I got married money was tight but we always found a way to pay for cable. It was a priority right behind tithing, rent and power;). It was right after the then slow internet. Then we grew up to the Dish. And 2, yes 2 tivo's. But it has hit us lately that most of what we really want to watch, and not all the mindless drivel that we often watch, was actually free on the internet. So we cancelled the satellite dish.

Yes, we don't even get local channels right now. I am still in shock. We cancelled Monday morning after we saw the second half of the Doctor Who special (can't watch BBC online in America). I am still adjusting because Food Network doesn't really have anything online and that is disappointing. We are planning on getting an antenna and digital converter box for the tivo so we can record things like Jeopardy so that will change. But over all we are doing pretty good and still watching a ton of tv;).

Resolved: That I am a Better Me in 2010

That encapsulates all my resolutions for the new year. I want to be a better version of me as a person, mother, wife, friend, in ministry and as a blogger. Now of course I have some steps and goals to help make all of that happen both just for life and for blogging(at least a little).

So let us look at the life goals first:

- Spend more time with God: both in Bible study and just in prayer.

- Spend more time teaching my kids Bible and about God.

- Organize my house, which means get rid of a lot of clutter!

- Keep track of Birthdays and send cards! (virtual or paper)

- Do more crafts and projects with my kids.

- Do more freezer cooking

- Pray more for others!

- Plant a garden and herbs

- Prioritize my life and stop getting caught up on things that don't matter.

Blogging Steps (Some are personal but make me a better blogger)

-Take time to read books again!!!

- Catch up and stay caught up on politics!

- Post to each blog at least 5 times a week

- Utilize Social Media

- Double Twitter followers and Subscribers

- Do more political and homeschool blogging (like I used to)

Lesson from a Tree

This year was a crazy Christmas. I am once again recovering from surgery. As far as the surgical sight (versus any problems from having the tube down my throat) this is my worst recovery so far. Which has had a large effect on our Christmas because I couldn't do many things that I normally do for Christmas. I couldn't do all the baking, decorating, and going (Christmas Eve service, Christmas Tree Lane, etc) that I usually do. Of course I had big guilt and stress about the idea of ruining the family's Christmas.

Well, this year's Christmas tree is going to serve as part of a reminder to just let go! Do you notice that there are only decorations about 2/3 the way up? Because that is as far as the tallest kid could reach. That is right, my kids decorated the tree all by themselves. And they loved it! NerdDad and I sat watching as they put them all up. No the decorations aren't even but who cares!

Make sure you pop over to my food blog and see the results of my similar gingerbread lesson;). The gingerbread solution is going to be repeated every year!

God's Grace and His Miracle

My baby girl could have died today or been seriously injured. I am blogging about it because God completely spared her from any harm and I need to share to give Him glory. (This may read a little rambly, I am on pain meds)

For those of you who follow me on Twitter or Facebook you already know that we took the crib out of NerdPud's room on Christmas so we could move the kitchen set into her room. Now she sleeps in her big girl toddler bed. Which also means that she can get up during naptime to play. Since it is all so new we haven't really stepped in to stop her yet.

Now in her room she also has a large dresser. It is more than 6 feet long and, at most, 4 feet tall. Out of 4 kids, we have had 1 ever start to climb on his dresser so given its shortness (and wideness) we didn't worry about tethering her dresser to the wall. That could have been a fatal mistake.

So NerdDad put down all the kids for naps/rest time today and came downstairs. We heard them all playing, mostly quietly. Then all of a sudden I hear a large bang. I started sprinting up the stairs and she started to cry. NerdPud had managed to pull the dresser down on her self. I ran in her room to find her body covered with the dresser and her head and shoulders free. It seemed a bit propped up on the end she was at and I just slid her right out without resistance or anything.

The dresser just didn't fall in that area all the way down. At first we thought it had landed on her bed, but it hadn't. It may have been supported by the drawer but the dresser wasn't designed that way. The drawer didn't actually come out of the dresser so there is no logical way it should have been propped up. It was as if she truly had the hedge of protection around her just like I always pray for.

My baby girl came out of the whole thing without even a scratch!!!! No bruises, no bumps, nothing. As I was carrying her downstairs I asked a couple times if she had an owwie. She kept saying yes and when I asked where she kept saying on her drawers. There is no reason for this but God. I praise Him and thank Him for keeping my baby safe.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all of you out in Bloggy land! I pray peace and joy on your families! Now chill out and enjoy life!

Aloha Friday

For a little holiday Friday fun here is my Aloha Friday question....

So what is your favorite family Christmas tradition?

My Guilt, My Fear

I knew that I would probably have some pretty bright kids. I am blessed with a husband who is absolutely brilliant so the chances of smart kids were good. But what I didn't expect was the guilt in the face of their brilliance.

NerdBug (8) and NerdPie (6) were pretty bright. NerdBug didn't really read early but once he did the kid started eating books. He is a year ahead in math and overall pretty bright. NerdPie started doing 25 piece puzzles at like 14 months old, she read in kindergarten, and is ahead at math too. So, while I know my kids are above grade level, I have been afraid that I am not educating them up to their total potential. I should be doing more with them but life always seems to get in the way. I have Latin to do with the oldest that I can't make time for. I am not diligent on the history. They could be speaking foreign languages, doing physics, who knows what. So if I was guilty and afraid before.....

NerdDad started going through a great book series with Nerdling in the this last month. Here is what my 4 year old (he won't be 4 1/2 until the end of January) read last night all by himself:

Mike has a hen. The hen is black. It is a fine hen. The hen is lost. Mike is sad. Is the hen in the nest? It is not in the nest.

The word egg is what stumped him. I am in so much trouble.....

What if I don't equip them well enough? Their intellect and brilliance is a gift, what if I am squandering it? What could they do if they had a better mom? In all seriousness, I am not wondering about sending them to public school. I know that a teacher in a class of 30 couldn't take as far as I am now. But, there is always a but, is it as far as I could take them?

Uh, Mommy Guilt exponentiated.

Girly First Attempts

We tried to curl the NerdPie's hair recently. I got her hair up and that went fine. The problem arose a few hours after she went to bed. Apparently they were keeping her up so we had to take them out. I didn't have the heart to tell her that beauty is pain;). Maybe we will try again when she is older.

Junk Food Worse than Heroin?

Scripps Research Institute has come out with a study that looks at the addictive nature of junk food. Apparently these rats were so addicted that they were willing to take a shock in order to get the beloved junk food. They are trying to prove that the junk food is just as bad as drugs.

As a fat girl I don't know what all to think. On one hand I can totally agree because I don't know why my logic doesn't control my intake better. But on the other hand I can't say that I really cut a lot of slack for addicts so why should I be able to use it as an excuse because if you have a problem you should get help. The one thing that I get out of it that makes me feel better is that changing food choices is hard. Not due to my weak will but it really is hard.

So what do you think? Is the fact it may be addictive give us an excuse? Should junk food be illegal like the drugs? What?

(HT: Grist)

Tackle It Tuesday: Pantry Clear Out!

You know those things you never get around to? You know, the ones that drive you crazy but you just don't seem to make time for? My pantry is one of those things. Well, Sunday while I was running a couple of errands NerdDad started clearing it out. I finally finished it Monday afternoon;). It is amazing the amount of junk I have in that pantry. The blue bins hold baking. decorating and freezer packaging for food. Then there is all the food, oy! I was amazed how much I actually had to throw out. I have been very convicted to cook out of my pantry and freezer for the next few weeks/months (my freezer is just as bad;).

But at least for today I will feel good that the pantry is finally done. I will feel guilty about the rest tomorrow!

Go check out some more projects at Tackle It Tuesday!

Wordless Wednesday: Fair Memory

These are the tickets I won for tonight's concert. We didn't get to use them. We also had matching tickets to the fair, which we used. It was raining so hard they called off the concert. But they didn't call it off until NerdDad and I had been at the fair for a few hours, in the flooding rain;). That is the $3 ring I picked up in the gem and mineral display. After the concert was called off we went to dinner and saw Surrogates in the theater (which we rarely ever do).

I will keep both of these forever but not really for all the fun (though I had fun;). But to remind how wonderful my husband is. My husband doesn't really care for either fairs nor concerts. And that is in the best of weather;). But he went with me because he loves me. He also got soaked because he loves me;). And walked around for a couple of hours because he loves me.

I love him too!

Sweet Art!

My sweet friends surprised me with a little party and a dim sum dinner! When I got home I had this wonderful surprise waiting for from my hubby and kids. Isn't is great? And yes, those are Starbucks cards in the heart!

Where is the NerdMom

Sorry I have been so absent lately. I went back up to Stanford last week for another procedure. That makes 4 since April. So in the wake of that chaos and all the things I have to do to prep for the fall, specifically for MOPs, the blogs have suffered. Between the pain meds and the feeling icky, sometimes my thought process isn't conducive to actually writing anything but I am slowly getting back so stay tuned for more postings. NerdDad has marked over 250 things in the Google Reader and I am sure some of them will rock and make it to the blog;).