Sex education in the Nordstrom family bathroom

On Saturday we were killing some time in the mall before we had to head to Salt Lake for the Jazz game. Grace had to go to the bathroom so we headed to Nordstom because everyone knows they have the best bathrooms. Plus they have the magical skinny mirror that makes me look 5'9" and 115 lbs. The family bathroom was miraculously vacant so I quickly snatched that one up. Inside they had a tampon/sanitary pad dispenser and Grace was curious about what it was. I decided it was time to stop using my usual response of "it's mommy stuff" and actually tell them what it was all about. Isn't that what Nordstrom family bathrooms are for? We had it all to ourselves so we might as well have a little lesson about menstruation. I told them the basics and I got the expected "ewww gross" from Hanna and shocked look from Grace. I told them not to worry, that it didn't happen until you were a teenager. I made the mistake of telling them it meant your body was ready to have babies to which Hanna queried whether I had given birth to a baby when I was a teenager. sigh. Hanna wanted to know if it hurt so I told a little white lie and told her "not really". Sorry but I'm not telling my eight and six year old daughters that, "Yes, by golly, it hurts. Some months it hurts so much you want to reach up there and pull your uterus out. Oh and as an added bonus it can make you bitchy and irrational." They seemed to be fine with my little impromptu lesson and we left the bathroom. When we met up with Ryan I let him in on what had just happened and Miss Big Ears overheard and asked Ryan if he menstruated? He told her that men didn't do that to which she replied, "That's not fair!" You said it sister!

Three shows I like to watch

Our family has discovered three shows we all like to watch. I've been kind of disillusioned with tv lately and except for a few good shows, and a few really crappy (The Hills), I haven't really been watching lately. Our family used to be brought together by Ninja Warrior but we can't seem to find it on anymore. It used to be on right after church each week which seemed like a perfect time to watch Japanese and a few pathetic foreigners try to maim themselves. Alas it isn't on at that time anymore so we were fortunate enough to find two other shows we all like to watch. Mythbusters is an amazing show and it also teaches you things! Hanna and Grace love watching this show and I wish I had a video of Grace telling me what Adam and Jamie are up to. It goes something like this: "Then Adam did this and Jamie said this, then Grant made a robot, then Kari made this and it BLEW UP!" Ryan has a little thing for Kari and he is trying to convince the girls that science is the route to take.

The second family show we like is Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern which is on the Travel Channel. Basically the premise of the show is Andrew goes to different countries and eats bizarre foods. Hilarity ensues. It's actually a really good show and Andrew is a good host. I think it teaches the kids about different cultures and they like watching it.

I wanted to mention a show that I like watching but hasn't really caught on with the rest of the family yet. Anthony Bourdain is cool and I want to hang out with him but instead I get to watch him on his Travel Channel show "No Reservations" which is almost as good. I read a little about Anthony and I think he was immersed in the punk/music scene in the 80's plus he did a lot of drugs. I'm sure you could google his name and find more information. His show has a vibe that I just really like and it makes me want to travel more than I already do. I'm seriously considering running away to work as a mike grip on his show. I found a youtube clip with Anthony and Andrew on it together! It's like a foodie Christmas.

Happy Birthday Grace!

My "baby" turned seven today and we she had quite the birthday. Yesterday night we had a family party and she got a lot of great presents at that. Then today after I went to her school to read her favourite story we took her into town for a day of Grace. Nana bought her an outift and then we all got manicures. I don't tend to write my sappy feelings here much but I am very grateful to have Grace in my life. She's a sweetie and I love her very much. I was thinking tonight about our first night together seven years ago and what a peaceful night it was. She was such a calm, happy baby right from the start. I snuggled with her in bed while we both slept. She still likes to snuggle which makes me happy.

Blowing out her birthday candles.

Showing off her manicure and Webkinz.

One of my favourite baby pictures of Gracie.

Happy Day!

I received the most wonderful package today: My passport! I really didn't think it would ever come or they would send my application back because we forgot to clap our hands twice before we initialed every signature. I suppose my shelling out $30 to send it to Quebec overnight was worth it because I got it back in about three weeks. I'm not even exaggerating when I say that upon opening the package and discovering it was my passport, I starting jumping up and down. Oh the places Shea is going to go!

You know you have to look bad in your passport photo, right?

A new blog

Monti (my brother) and Becky are building a new home by themselves. When I say they are building it I literally mean they are hammering the nails in. Monti teaches full-time so Becky is acting as the General Contractor which, I know for her, has been very stressful and has so far required one doctor's visit. It's exciting and I'm living vicariously through them because they seem to be building their "dream house" instead of a cookie cutter starter home. Anyway the point of this post is that they've started a blog about the building of their House of Toly so that we can all follow along. I'm hoping that we'll be staying in this fabulous custom built home when we visit in July.

Yummy yummy chicken balls!

I had a millisecond today when I was with the third graders at recess where I actually felt joy about being outside. It reminded me of those days in March where you can almost smell Spring and it warms the cockles of one's heart. This winter has been a rough one, so this was a big deal for me to feel some hope that winter might actually end.

I have a funny Hanna story for you. The other day she asked us what chicken nuggets were made of. Before we could answer she pointed to Ryan's groin area and said, "They're not made of, you know, THOSE are they?" I'm laughing just writing about it but you can imagine it was hard for Ryan and I not to start rolling on the ground laughing. We both told her no, that no one really knows what part of the chicken the "nugget" is but that it certainly wasn't THOSE. Mmm...yummy chicken balls.

I'm sick

There isn't much more to say except that I feel like pooh. I think I might be feeling a little bit better today so that is giving me hope that this is ending soon. I guess I have the flu because that's what everyone tells me. Whatever it is it was concocted by the devil himself. I called in sick today which I hate doing because I get the feeling they don't believe me. Maybe I should go over to the school and let them take my temperature or cough on them a bit. Ryan has been very good at taking care of me and even the kids seem concerned. Grace is just worried I won't be able to sub in her class on Friday. I'm going back to work tomorrow even if I'm not feeling great because I needs the monies.

I also got my hair cut yesterday which I think is a mistake to do when you're drugged up. I don't remember how it happened but my hair is much too short. I'm kind of pissy about it today because I pay a lot and I'm not happy with it. As we were watching "The Brady Bunch" last night, Ryan said, "Your hair looks just like Carol's." Luckily it wasn't the mullet phase and Ryan does think Carol is attractive. I didn't take it as a complement though.

Punch him in the gut

Almost everyday the girls like to have some special daddy-daughter time where they basically jump on Ryan and try to beat him up. I'm usually cheering them on from the sidelines. This was the conversation that went on at yesterday's beat-fest. I'm thinking at that moment, Ryan wished I had given birth to boys instead of girls.

Me: "Punch him in the gut!"

Grace: "Is this the gut?"

Ryan: "NO!"

Need opinions on new blog feature

I put a music player on the site and I'm wondering what people think. I know a lot of you read and don't comment so please crawl out from under your rocks and let me know what you think. Be honest please. I can take it. You can turn it off if you don't share my taste in music, but come on! who doesn't love themselves a little Spice Girls? Girl Power!