happy tears

I'm crying a little.   Wanna know why?  Just now, literally, I mean seconds ago, Spencer said to me the most romantic thing he has ever said to me.  And he's said some pretty sweet things.  Do you wanna know?  You wanna know what he said that made me cry happy tears, right?

Well, back-story.  I have this friend.  She is awesome.  She is sassy and she is punk-rock-y and she is educated at a fancy school, but she is also kind and good and though life has thrown some punches as of late, she has remained faithful and a dedicated, unselfish mother.  So for a lot of reasons, I look up to her.

Plus she died her hair pink.  Mermaid pink.  It's gorgeous.  And if you know me, you know that I look at pictures of her hair and about die with covetousness.  I know it's a sin.  I'm working on it.

And then she got married.  With pink hair.  Did I tell you-- Awesome!

Just now I took another look at her hair and made some musing to Spencer about how I wish I had pink hair, and then asked (knowing the answer), "would you have married me with pink hair?"

Like a movie, we--without saying a word--had a joint flashback to our first (and one of our only) big fights.  It was when we had only been married a few months.  Spencer was about to start his first round of recruiting, one of many recruiting seasons in our lives to come, and was very nervous.  When I came home from my stylist's house with reddish-purple hair, he flipped.  He was afraid that our future was shot in the foot by my "I-hate-my-parents-they-don't-know-what-it's-like-to-be-me" look.  No jobs for the man married to a blink-182 groupie (disclaimer: I've always hated blink-182).  It was a bad weekend.

Back to present day.  Spencer answered my question: "Back then?  No.... But now?  Well, yes."



Cue super-cheesy Josh Groban song that I can't understand why I'm the only person who sees it's cheesiness...



wow.  I mean, wow.  Do I have to explain what that means to me?  That he "gets me".  That he knows that putting up with my silly antics and love for color(ful hair) and all my other "things"...he knows that's worth having me be by his side.  and that is a good way to be loved.

I kinda liked that.


Our second anniversary. Soon after this day he made one of those comments that still gets quoted in our home, "You look really good now that your white-trash streaks are growing out!" We've covered a lot of ground with my hair, you see.



You may now go throw up. 

but I will shed another happy tear.

(and when you have thoroughly swished and wiped your nose, go click on Nortorious's link over there because you know you want to see her pink hair.  She doesn't mind.  She likes readers, and is good to them.)



This picture is up on our wall right now.  some wonderful 9 and 10 year olds have been over helping me with the kids lately and one day I watched them giggle together about the inappropriate nature of this photo.  It was cute and the picture makes me feel like giggling, too.

 I would marry you with pink hair, too, spencer.  (he just responded, "I'd take any hair at this point.")

recently heard at our house

After applying her own make-up at a birthday party.  Before the party she had meticulously picked her outfit, styled her hair, and begged for my make up.  She told me, "I want Brody (big brother of the birthday girl) to know I spent all day trying to look beautiful for the party."  "Why?" I asked.  "I just have more fun when I'm the prettiest one at a party."

While playing in the playroom the other day:

Cadence: Mom, did you know you could have a baby in your tummy but not be pregnant?

Mom: Uh, no, I didn't.  What do you mean?

Cadence: Like Sister Douglas--she has a baby in her tummy, but she's not pregnant.

(Sister Douglas is having a baby in a couple of days.  I'm pretty sure she's pregnant.)

Mom: Cadence, what do you think "pregnant" means?

Cadence: Pregnant means sick.

(True Dat!!)

Mom: Pregnant means you have a baby in your tummy, and a lot of times that makes a mommy feel sick.

Cadence: No, pregnant means sick and a baby in your tummy.

We argued about this for awhile.  this was while she was playing what I call "baby factory", where she puts a doll in her shirt, walks around for a minute, goes behind the corner (the hospital), has the baby, and then puts another baby in her tummy and awaits the big day again.

She thinks she's so cool when she gets ahold of these glasses that spencer wore as a 10 year old.

Just now as she sits on her bed for a dbl timeout:

Cadence: I hope you're happy, mom.... I mean, I hope you are sad, mom, cause I just took everything (bedding) off my bed!!

And in timeout in a different room:

Campbell:  Mom, you not da best!!!
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Cadence started Kindergarten yesterday!  Yay! I'll post pics another day.   Here are some of her comments about it:

Mom: So... what did you do today?

Cadence: I didn't read, and I didn't write.
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Mom: Cadence, tell me ALL about it!

Cadence:  Mom, that is just MEAN.  When a person makes another person remember everything it's just mean.  You are being mean.  You are mean.

Mom:  Uh, okay, how about telling me your favorite things?

Cadence (still stuck on the lecture she's giving): Sometimes a person can't remember everything, mom.  And it makes them sad when..... (and on and on...lecture comes up twice later, with no apparent reason).  (and today as I am adding more quotes, she has lectured me twice more about this.)

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Cadence:  Mom, my teacher is the luckiest--do you know why? (cuts me off to say:) Because she has me.  And I'm the goodest kid. 

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Mom: Tell me about the new friends you made.

Cadence: Well, Holden sits right next to me--and he's nice at school. (her tone becomes dark and ominous) And Dustin--he's the one.  He's always mean and making bad choices.  He's not mean but he's mean because he makes bad choices.

And the class clown has already been crowned.  Haha, reminds me of a Dustin I once knew :)

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She also told both Spencer and I excitedly: "Guess what!?! We don't eat lunch in our classroom, do you know where we eat it?  In a special room: the cafeteria--that's a lunchroom.  And guess what!?! In the cafeteria there is a little room filled with chefs!  And the kids can ask for what food they want!!"  Her voice is escalating to the point of nearly shreiking as she knows we will be as mystified as she is about this.  And then of course she begs to participate in the lunch-line.  It's home lunches for now, Cado. 
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Today as I picked her up from school she told me about meeting up with Brody at their usual spot on the playground.  "We love eachother.  I love him.  and he loves me.  We are friends, like a boy and girl friend."  I just let it slide...no comment from me.  I don't think she quite gets the romance/boyfriend/girlfriend thing yet and so I'm just keeping my lips pursed against anything that might interest her dramatic side (which is her whole self).

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"reading"

Campbell:  Everything Campbell says is funny.  Because she speaks so deliberately and poignantly, but also has several speech impediments: a slight lisp, no R's, no L's, f=th, etc.  It's impossible to represent on paper (or in writing, I guess) how adorable her speech is.  Just know that it is.  Her eyes open wide, or squint tightly, pierce you to the very core or look away disdainfully, her lips are either puckered out front or pulled tight in a beautiful smile, and her little dimple and curly hair make her look like the angel she is (15% of the time, that is). 

Here is an example of her prayers of late, with an attempt to capture her speech.  I know it's annoying to read baby-talk, but you've got to hear it like she says it:

Dee-ah Hefuneee Fafa (Dear Heavenly Father),  Fank you fo dis day, an' I don' want to be sthick, but I waaaant to be sthick, but I don' want to be sthick.  An' I don' want to be sthad, an' I wan' da Ho-weee  Ghosth no I don' want da Ho-weee Gosth, becausth da Ho-weee Ghosth isth sthcaiweee, but I want da Ho-weee Gosth no I don'.   An' hewwp usth to be bedda an' I want to pway in da naaaame of Jesthusth Chwistht, AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAmen.



Not kidding.  Not exaggerating.  And then when she's finished she smiles so big and her dimple comes out and her eyes get all smile-squinty and she is so proud of herself I just have to give her a big hug and a kiss and smother her for a minute until she says, "Mommy, ah we a happy famiwee?"  Yes, mam.  I believe we are.

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Layla:  This girl never stops talking!  If you knew Cadence as a baby, you aren't surprised at all.  She speaks in gibberish-paragraphs and soliloqueys.  But she also speaks a lot of english, too.  Like how last month she said to me, out of the blue: "Mama, I pirate: aaarrrrr!!"

She is speaking in little sentences now, like "Mama, push me higha!!"  and "Cama, you gotta owie?"  Stuff like that.  She mostly speaks in commands, "SWING!" or "DRINK"!  But at least 3 or 4 times a day full sentences come out.  Oh, I love this one-word sentence: "Fummy! hahahaha!"

I find them like this all the time.  They have a special relationship.

Every once in a while, she'll make her sisters laugh by retelling Campbell's favorite joke, which is to say "watch dis!"  and then grunt loudly while using both hands to do a heimlich-like maneuver on your own tummy.  Try it; it is, apparently, hilarious.

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These pics of the girls in these dresses were taken by Special Moments Photography.  Should probably give credit...

What in the world will I blog about when my kids stop saying hilarious stuff?  I'll have to get another hobby, and post tutorials.  Man, I'm not ready for that.

The Last Word On Politics

(That you'll ever hear from me.*)                  (*disclaimer: not a guarantee)

I hate politics.  I mean, I think they are important.  I think they are confusing, and frustrating, and when involving yourself in them, you must refuse to accept that there are two sides to every story, much like when you are involved in a car accident, you must NEVER make anything resembling admission to any fault.
Politics make me feel icky and sad and defensive.  I mean, they are important.  I said that.  And I wish I had the wherewithal to be more involved.  But I don't.  You know, I think you have to be the kind of person who enjoys a good healthy argument about things you are 100% certain you are right about with another person who is 117% certain you are wrong about said things.   I don't especially like that.  Or, said differently, that makes me feel like I'm going to throw up.

But you know, I vote.  And I try not to vote strictly by party but by the person I agree with most, trust most, and feel has the best chance at not screwing everything up. more.  I guess I'm on the liberal side of conservativism, and so I look for somebody like that.  Is that the wrong way to vote?

At the time of the last election we lived only a few blocks from the Obamas.  I didn't vote for him (on account of they never did bring us any banana bread upon moving into the neighborhood.  I found that rather cold, wouldn't you?), but was neither surprised nor disappointed when he won.  The streets of Chicago were alive with hoots and hollers (well, we say "holla's" in Southside Chicago) and exclamations of joy.  Our favorite was (and you must read this in a very joyful, ghetto-accent): "White House is gonna be BLACK!"  We saw this image painted underneath an overpass as we were walking to Navy Pier one wintry day.

A couple of weeks ago our super-duper good friends from our Chicago days came to visit us and brought along this game they found at the Walgreens in our old neighborhood, the self-proclaimed "Obama Headquarters".

And you know, I listen to news radio and watch political late-night comedy shows.  Here's my political-news philosophy:  ALL news is slanted by the media.  Even if they were trying to be fair (which I'm not sure anybody can afford to be that fair these days), they wouldn't really be able to hide their own opinions.  So, I listen to a Christian Radio Ultra Conservative Down South Bible Quoting show, and I watch Jon Stewart, who is hilarious.  Both presentations of political news are so obviously one-sided, but I much prefer to be able to see the slant quite clearly and be able to take it in cautiously.

But what about the people who don't?  What about the people who take it as absolute truth?  And then they get on their soap-boxes and say mean things to people and pretend that there is only one side to the story.  People: There will ALWAYS be two sides.  Like a slice of cheese.  Simple, isn't it? 

Okay, so here's the one thing I don't get.  The one slice of cheese that, if it DOES have two sides, the other side is only there to break the hearts of honest cheese-lovers.  Abortion.  I don't. get. it.   And don't give me the  "I would never do it but I think it's a woman's own choice."  What the $%#$^#$%!?! 

I'm not going to get all statistical on your bums and I'm not going to get all religious, either.  Those paths have been explored.  But I'm going to get real for a second:  How in the @#^$# @%^@#  &%$#@ is it not murder? 

And I can *sort of* get it when single people who aren't thinking about having kids yet and who are still in that phase of life where it is all about themselves can tell themselves that without really thinking too much about it.  But what about people who have actually held a brand-spanking new baby in their arms?  What about people who have had their own babies? 

I just.don't.get.it. 

Well, about here is where my computer failed to save what I had to say.  Which is lame.  So now I'm going to put the pictures back in and not say all the funny stuff I was going to end with.

So there you have it.  Phew, I got it out.  You were hoping for the political musings of one with savvy and know-how and grace and I'd say you got it!  Some direction for your political wanderings.  Your welcome!  Gosh, I think I'll do this again sometime!*      (*Disclaimer: Not likely).

Okay, if you leave a mean comment, I'm just going to delete it.  Or I'll repost it and get all Jon Stewart on you and make you look like a total fool! (Cause I'm just as clever as he is...so watch yo'self!)

Summer in Paradise....

Well, it depends on your definition of paradise, but if you think warm days with cool nights (NEVER happens around here!), a house full of aunts, uncles, grandparents, great grandma, and of course every Orton cousin there is to date (Marcel + Susan Ortons, I mean), a dog, a swing-set, a 7-seater teeter-totter, a tire-swing-esque rocketship,  a log-cabin play house (built by Grandma and Grandpa's bare hands!), a pink corvette and a batmobile (bought used and repaired by Grandpa just like any other car around our place), a plastic pool lent to us by the neighbor, family reunions, family mani/pedi's on Grandma's tile floor, family dance parties, family night at the Pirate-themed restaurant/arcade, cousin sleepovers (in the basement every night),family swim-parties, family birthday parties, and over 3900 miles of driving...........  is paradise, then that is just what our summer was:  PARADISE!  (or it would have been if only Mikalyn had been around :) )

Our trip went like this: NW Arkansas to Denver to Salem, Ut, stayed there for a couple of weeks, then Salem to Boise, Boise to La Grande, OR.  Back to Salem, up to Park City/Salt Lake to see old friends, Back to Salem, down to St. George, then Albuquerque and finally back to NW Arkansas.   Wow.  The kids got a little tired of being in the car all that time, but it was worth it and they knew it!

Below are only a very FEW (in comparison to the 460 + that I downloaded) pictures of our summer in paradise:

the very beginning!

Our wonderful friends Rex and Edda let us stay at their place in CO on our way-- how fun to get to see the little people their babies have become!

Inside the cabin Gramma and Grampa built

Grampa Orton loves cars.  Even pink ones.

In this picture you can get a glimpse of just how much fun was packed into Grama and Grampa's yard.  Isn't it amazing?

I love this picture of my Dad's barn (ok, it's a shed).  He built this with his own hands, painted it, decorated, and filled it with his personality (which is synonymous with his work ethic.)  By the way, as a Sr. in high school I helped frame this, and when Spencer and I were engaged we helped paint it.

They bought these cars used and got them working again.  This was endless excitement for the kids, and even some of the grownups.

Tyler, Mammaw with Layla, and John.  We got to go bowling with Spencer's fam while they were in town for a whirlwind weekend.  It was such a party!

Gramps got a kick out of the comparison of Campbell's head to the bowling ball whenever she lifted it to put it on the ramp.  He kept trying to get a picture of it.  It's okay, though, since she gets her head from him :)

Precioso!

Cam and Cadence show off their mani/pedis by Aunts Merica, Mignon, and Melanie

Merica orchestrated a lemonade stand and the kids were all over it.  They would dance and sing and yell from the second they saw a car off in the distance until it was completely out of view.  I think they made like $14 or thereabouts!

Reese with the sign, Zavian overseeing sales.

 

Are you dying?  I looove this picture!  Lauren, Cadence, Reese, Avery.  Cookin' up some fun, albeit at the cost of a peaceful afternoon, no doubt.  (a lot of big personalities in a little cabin!)



The kids were playing all together as one big family for once, so we decided we couldn't interrupt that for lunch.  Instead we wrote up a menu, seated them, took their orders, and let them continue making believe.  I think they liked it :)

First ever professional cut.  Spencer will argue that point, but he is, after all, not actually a professional!  anyway, when all is said and done, her bangs were more crooked than usual, so I guess she'll be frequenting Salon Spencerrre from now on.

Cadence, Campbell, Avery, Reese, Zavian in the pool, and Jackson and Ethan (Sister Glenn's grandsons).  This was probably as much for for them as the big aquatic center we went to later.

Grama is so young at heart (and not that old in body, really).  All 3 of my kids are still asking for her.

2 adorably larger-than-life personalities that really grew to love eachother.

On our way to Oregon for the Orton Family Reunion! Worn out from all the fun.

Melanie made it possible for my kids to survive and me to not go crazy.  She was always playing with some or all of the kids.  Thanks mel!

Sometimes if nobody is looking, Cam just starts taking stuff off.  She was a good 20 yards from anybody, just standing on a wooded path.  Alone, and finding she needed less clothing. 

My Uncle Wayne always brings his ponies for the kids to ride. Cadence felt an immediate bond with this one. 

She might not seem like a priss to you, but she is always accessorizing!

You already know I love it when they all wear these tutu swimsuits.

Hanging out together at the Reunion in Oregon.

We got to spend the 4th of July in Park City with the Bentons-- so lucky!  Adam's parents had just come home (like literally, the day before we got there) from serving as mission presidents in Argentina.  The whole family was there and we always feel right at home with them.   We love this family.  This picture is the group watching fireworks in the rain on the golf course in their backyard.

Another addition to my parents backyard.  Campbell is the only one so far to barf from spinning in it.  Let's see how that record changes in the years to come, eh?

We love this boy.  To know him is to love him. Zavian, Sigh.  He is the only grandSON and loved having all "the girls"  around.  He would just walk around and say "Girl, come ride in the car with me!"  Or "I want the girls to come play in the water now!"  "The Girls"  miss, you, Z! 

It was such a treat to see Spencer's Grandma Clark along with the Ludlows (Guy and Ruby pictured) and Spencer's mom while we were in St. George!  We had a fantastic birthday celebration for Cadence and Campbell.

Somehow surprisingly, I ALLOWED Spencer to hike Angel's Landing in Zion's with Brian, Sarah, and Sarah's friend.  I don't know why everybody thought I'd be mad about this.  Am I that much of a jerk :)   We are excited for when our kids are old enough to appreciate and hold their own for this type of activity.

Looking down at the Colorado River at the very beginning of the Grand Canyon.  Note how tightly Cadence is clenching her sisters' wrists.  She is very responsible and I'm afraid, has the same ability to imagine the absolute worst possible scenarios in every situation.

A fun little community swimming hole in New Mexico where we stayed on our way home.  Spencer is the most fun dad and always finds little adventures for our kids.  Gosh I'm grateful for him, since I'm sort of lame :)

Zavian and Reese let the sun warm them up.  Aren't they completely loveable?

wow!  What a great time we had.  Thank you thank you to all the wonderful people who made room and time for us, and for all the help we received in preparation for, during, and after this big adventure.  What fun.   It was so fun to see the people we got to see, although there were many more we would have loved to have seen and didn't get to.