Observations of the VaNILLA Variety

When you make instant hot chocolate, the best part is that chocolatey layer that gathers on top that has some of the chocolate powder still not mixed in :). This is usually indicative that you used too much hot chocolate mix… But can you ever really have too much hot chocolate mix ;)?

Although it is nearly tasteless (to me, at least) once cooked in a chowder, a turnip is not a pleasant smelling thing. I used one for Monday Meals, and I was totally turned off by the smell of the raw turnip. I had my doubts about how this smelly vegetable(?) would influence the chowder and if my efforts for a tasty meal would be tainted by such a stinky thing… Happily they weren’t. But a raw turnip still stinks.

I think it may not be a good sign when your car starts surging while you drive down the road and your "check engine soon" light keeps coming on sooner and sooner. It's probably an even worse sign when you have a hard time starting your car in the morning and when you finally do get it started, it chug-a-lugs for a bit and you give it gas, but really... should you have to do that for a fuel injected vehicle? Actually, I'm seriously asking that question, because what do I know about fuel injection?

Miracles still happen. And I'm thankful I can witness so many of them in my life. I am thankful for my Heavenly Father who blesses me so abundantly.

It is useless to send a woman who has never had a baby out to help a woman who believes her water just broke... Yep, that was one of my grand adventures at church. One of the bishopric members told me one of the sisters in the ward was in the parking lot and had asked for him to send out a woman. I was the first person he saw who didn't appear busy, so he told me about it (I don't think he knew what was going on). So I went out there and she was leaning against her truck and said, "I think my water just broke." Holy. Cow. Like I know what that looks like! (Well, I do now... And who knew you could make that massive of a puddle!?!). So I told her not to be embarrassed (because she said she felt embarrassed) and I hurried in to get the Relief Society president (who thankfully has had 4 children of her own and would know what to do...). Add that to my knowledge about child bearing. I knew about water breaking, but I had no idea as to amounts. Now I've seen it. One good (maybe?) thing about not having babies until later in life is that I get to hear all the facts that nobody seems to share... I hear them from all my friends who have had babies. I'll go ahead and say that most of the stuff I've heard is pretty horrific sounding. But I still want to have babies one day :). I'm pretty positive the joys will far outweigh the grossness and trials.

My little tiny house may be the animal kingdom... So we have aforementioned rodent (who hasn't returned and I'm pretty sure was a squirrel -- the fattest squirrel I've ever seen). And this weekend, we discovered aphids galore on my garlic. We put the garlic outside in hopes it would freeze overnight and kill the aphids. It froze overnight (I know, because I had to scrape my car before leaving for work), so hopefully the aphids bit the dust. Also, I have had slugs manage to find their way in the front door (can you say drafty?). Any bets on the next wild creature to venture inside?

My car runs better after the "service engine soon" light comes on. Jeremy and I learned this when we drove my car to his parents' house. I still have AAA, though, as we expect that car to die any time. We're hoping to put 180K at least on it (it's at almost 178). Getting to 200 would be phenomenal, but that may be a little far-fetched, considering we know the coolant is leaking into the oil.

Listening to the conversations of children is awesome. Here's a conversation involving me, Emily, and Desiree after Sacrament meeting: Emily: "Time to see toys?!?!" (said with great enthusiasm and a smile on her face... Referring to nursery, as that is what she associates with nursery). Me: "No, it's time for Sunbeams! You're my big Sunbeam girl now!" (trying to be equally as enthused about Sunbeams, because she is 3 now, and she is no longer in nursery and therefore there are no longer toys and snacks). Emily looks down solemnly and covers her face with her hands. Desiree, soothingly to her sister: "It's okay Emily. It happened to me too." Hahaha.... Purely awesome. Maybe a "you had to be there moment." But it was it was awesome. Just the way Desiree so matter-of-factly stated it like it was this horrible event we all must pass through. Oh these girls are getting so big. And Emily does great in Sunbeams. She's just still adjusting to not going to nursery, but once she's in her class, she has a grand time.