Disney Overflowing

Like most households with young children, especially with young girls, our home is awash with Disney. There are few of our toys, particularly Grace's, that don't bare the Disney brand. This makes me uncomfortable because it proves that I am susceptible, not only to advertising and commercialism, but to my daughter's incessant whining and pleading for all things princess. 

When my kids were younger, they thought I was Tinkerbell. I don't know why since I am unable to fly or do magic of any kind. I wouldn't mind Tink's figure though. At the beginning of every Disney movie when she flies across the screen and waves her little wand, they would both start yelling, 'there's mom!', so very excitedly. I really don't know where this came from, and it didn't last all that long. Now when they see her they say, 'that's not my mom'. And after watching Peter Pan today, I'm kind of glad because she is a first class shrew in the movie and I hope my children don't think I'm like that. 

There is a friend of mine whose children thought she was Mary Poppins when they were young. I'm not at all surprised, knowing her and her children. Though they may realize now she isn't Julie Andrews in disguise, I'm sure they still think her practically perfect in every way, because she is. I wouldn't mind be mistaken for Mary. She's beautiful, musical, just a touch acerbic, and able to handle all kinds of children. And she's magic, too.

When I was in high school a boy I know told me that I looked like Belle from Beauty and the Beast. I'm sure it was just the longish brown hair that Belle and I share, but it was still a really nice compliment, I thought. And he was just the nicest boy imaginable; all us girls were half in love with him, and since he compared me to a Disney princess in the middle of a large group of people and everybody heard him, that made it that much nicer. Of course, now that I think back on it, it was pretty pathetic that a group of teenagers, boys and girls, would spend their Friday evening watching Beauty and the Beast. That tells you the kind of hell-raisers I grew up with!

So no one compares me to Belle anymore, I'll never be mistaken for Mary Poppins, and my kids are most emphatic that I am NOT Tinkerbell. And all this is ok with me. I like most of the Disney films, and we own a lot of them. They are fun, clean, entertaining, and long enough that I can get showered and ready for the day and not have to worry about what my kids are getting into. But I find that I am avoiding the toys section at stores, and steering Grace away from the princesses when we are there. Disney is just too big, too into everything and everywhere to be something that I want to actively be a part of. 

I've been such a bum this entire month and haven't done ANYTHING that I should be doing. I've been a lousy wife, mother, friend, primary worker, blogger,... you name it, I've not been doing it. I'm slowly working myself out of autopilot and hope to soon be back as a functioning human, but until then, all I can give you today is a link to a quick, easy, and delicious dinner idea here. We tried them last night and they are awsome!

Summer Recall

Since I'm doing such a lousy job at blogging this summer I decided just to post some pictures of what we've been doing the last 2 or 3 months. Enjoy!
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I always wanted to fly...

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contriteness and a summer dessert

Ok so I feel bad for my last post. This happens to me all the time: I complain and gripe about something and then I feel guilty for it. However, I had forgotten how cathartic it is to write my troubles out, not to mention when I'm having a good cry while I write. Almost immediately after I posted I felt enormously better. Also, about half hour later Rob called to say that he had been discussing things with his prof and had determined that the soonest we would have to move isn't till next summer! What a relief! I'm so glad I have more time to spend in this great place. 

Speaking of great places, this is shaping up to be one of the better 4ths I've had. For one thing it is certainly the coolest. It's 2 in the afternoon and I think we just hit 70. Growing up with triple digit summers certainly makes outdoor activities different then they are now. We had a ward breakfast at a local park which was fun. We brought our bocce ball set and got quite the ongoing game going.  I don't think the same group of people played the entire time; there was kind of a never ending rotation of people wanting to play. Then for lunch we went to a county park near here that we've never been to before. It was so amazingly beautiful! We were the only ones in the park and had a great time. There was a really neat playground area, lots of flat, open fields for games, volley ball pits, a stream for kids to fall in, and a nice little hike. I can't believe we've lived here for 3 years and had never been! We are already planning on going back, maybe even weekly. This evening we'll be taking the city bus to another park in town for the city celebration. The kids look forward to this every year. There will be a big bouncing castle, the fire trucks for them to climb through, lots of kids to play with... but the biggest thrill is always the bus ride. 

So here's a quick and yummy summer dessert. My mom made this all the time when I was growing up and then I saw the exact same recipe in a magazine just a few weeks ago. 

Mix 2 8 oz yogurts (I usually use strawberry or raspberry) with a regular size tub of cool whip. Pour into a graham cracker crust and cover. Freeze.

Take it out of the freezer and let it soften just a bit before serving. 

Grumblings

I haven't posted for awhile because June was so very busy and action packed that I just didn't know where to start. Now I'm posting, not to fill you in on our great trip to Utah, or to tell you about Rob finishing his thesis, but just to whine and complain. Prepare yourself for some serious wallowing. 

I've been very tired this past week. Not only have I pretty much been the sole caregiver for my kids for the past three weeks, but I've been suffering PMS for just about the first time in 3 years. Man has that come back with a vengeance! It's been very hot here, and while I don't mind getting sweaty while I'm running or biking or whatever, I really do mind it when I'm trying to get to sleep at night or just being in the house in the middle of the day. And then, my dear and loving husband told me yesterday, in an oh-so-casual, by-the-way sort of way, that we have to move to Spokane. I can't begin to tell what a blow this is, especially after I was reassured by same husband that we wouldn't have to be moving for at least 2 more years. I don't transition well. It has taken me these last three years to begin to feel like I belong here in Pullman, that I actually have friends and purpose. And even though I have no close friends- no one who will be all that upset to hear I'm leaving, the thought of having to go to a new place and start all over again is devastating. 

In all fairness I should state that I can understand why we have to move. Rob HAS to finish his PhD work in 2 years or we'll be without university funding and the professor he will be working with is in Spokane. As much as I'd like to just tell him to commute, there's no way that's happening. And we wont be moving for a few months at least. I think Rob said last night that we can't move until he finishes a class or two here in Pullman. I'm not sure because as soon as I realized he wasn't joking when he said we have to move I pretty much tuned him out and haven't really spoken to him since. (sorry honey)

I feel like a heel complaining like this, especially cause I just got an email from my mom reminding me that my cousin starts chemo today to kill all her bone marrow (plus her immune system, reproductive system, hair, etc) to try and get ride of her MS. She'll be in the hospital for a month, then in an isolation apartment for another month, the whole time not being able to see her boys and after all that no one really knows if this will work. There is so much suffering in the world and my own little heartbreak is really insignificant in the face of it all. I'm trying to keep a healthy perspective, but it is hard. 

With that, have a great day!