We have a dilemma at our house that involves pink Ikea tableware. Nobody wants them. I'd pull a pile of dishes from the cupboard, and a big fight would follow about which unfortunate sap would get stuck with the pretty-pretty-princess dishes (that is the worst insult possible in our house). Finally, I convinced the boys that the pink dish is a wish dish. If you get a pink dish, you get to make whatever wish you want. So now everybody wants them.

Yesterday, Leo got a pink fork. "Star light star bright I wish I make a wish today," he said. He thought for a moment. "I wish Lael was my mommy."

"I already am your mommy!"

"My wish came true!" he exclaimed with relief.

It makes me feel good that I am my three-year-old's wish. Or maybe he is shooting too low.

We all have colds, but they aren't the knock-you out kind. They are the sniffle all day, and feel congested at night kind. I'm looking forward to spring, and airing out the stuffy-germy air in our house. I'm going to open all the windows and doors, wash all the sheets, and Lysol everything that doesn't run.

I Heart Jeff

Here are a few reasons why:

-He eats frosting straight out of the tube
-He researches things before he buys them.
-He is tolerant of people
-He understands taxes
-He likes to eat out
-He is civic minded and acts for the good of the group
-He gives people second, and third and fourth chances
-He bears responsibility, even when it isn't fun
-He'll watch "Bizarre Foods" with me
-He sees the big picture, and is willing to explain it to me
-He wrestles with the boys on the floor after work
-He likes Disneyland
-He plants a garden, builds a fire, paints a wall, scrubs a toilet
-He likes dogs, and dogs like him
-He cares for the environment
-You can always call him in a pinch.

He is such a great man. Take that, Chinese Calendar. An ox and a sheep can find harmony!

Passing Week.

This was the week of passing things on. I passed on our Saturn to a new home, and passed my old job to a new torch bearer. All within three hours.

We casually posted an ad on KSL.com for our car during Jeff's lunch hour on Monday. Jeff returns to work. Five minutes later, I get a call from the first interested party. They want to drive up from Price, but can't come until Tuesday.

Then the doorbell rang. It is the new prodigy my ex-boss has finally hired to replace me (I quit around Thanksgiving). There are a lot of really talented people out looking for jobs lately. This very smart individual has a MBA, and is willing to take a part-time job that pays a mediocre wage. I show her the ropes. The second inquiry for the car rings in. They are from Pocatello, and are driving down right now. Back to the job training. I throw complicated information at her for two straight hours, and she eats it up with efficient grace. I kind of wish she wasn't so competent ... just to make my boss miss me more. He won't miss me.

Efficient girl leaves. Third phone call on the car. I answered questions while desperately looking for the title in case the Pocatello people actually want to buy. I don't know how to sell a car. I call my husband's cell phone three times. Not answering. I find the car title, call my Dad to find out how to sell a car. Not there. Doorbell rings. It is my neighbor. She gives me some pointers on how to sell a car. I clean out the cheerios and child safety seats. The Pocatello people come, test drive, want to buy it. Write a check, off they go.

I call back callers number one and three to tell them not to come. Three says, "Unless they paid in cash, it isn't really a done deal." I tell him sorry, he can't come.

Maybe we underpriced the car?

Non-cool things I love.

Here are three things if I were more cool, I wouldn't love, but since I'm not cool, I really do:

Minivans: Boy are they great. My sweet sister sold us one they had outgrown, and I'm loving it. I love the space. I love the sliding doors on both sides. I love that I can access my kids from the driver's seat (when we are stopped). Image? Pshaw. Doesn't hold a candle to convenience.

Jello: Gabe has a weird virus that gives him bumps on his tongue and cheeks, and I've had a sore throat for a month (allergies?). So we've been eating a lot of jello. Smooth and cold, sweet and slippery. I love it. Yes, I know what gelatin is made of. I'm a meat-eating environmentalist, so I'm glad to use the whole animal. Jello is as environmental as recycling.

Radio Dramas: I know I don't need to defend this with most of my family, but I list this for the benefit of those who aren't familiar with the genre. It is fun to listen, rather than to watch. It is not so overwhelming to the senses, and the familiar format is comforting. I was listening to an old radio drama as I fell asleep last night, "Jack Benny." He is so funny, a master of comedic timing. Ironically, the program's sponsor was, yes, Jello.

J-E-L-L-O!
Color: Bright, sunshiny and gay! Flavor,: Extra rich, cool and refreshing. As tempting as the real ripe fruit. Ease and speed: Jello dissolves instantly and sets quickly. Economy: Jello only costs a few cents a package, and a package serves the average family generously. And variety: for Jello offers you dozens and dozens of delicious new dishes. Serve it plain, in a colorful mold of beauty, garnish it with whipped cream, or any seasonal fruits, Use it for salad, for Jello makes swell salads that even the men-folks go for.

Yes sir, one box of Jello is filled with real kitchen magic, the kind that every busy woman appreciates. So ask your grocer tomorrow for Jello! Jello spells a treat!

I almost leaped out of bed to get some. Don't tell me you aren't hungry.

Happy B-day little bro!

Happy happy birthday to my favorite youngest brother! You are one of the best storytellers I know. I still laugh when I think back about some of the stories you have told ... being on the high school bowling team, rolling tires, coming home with giant purloined signs from shoe stores ... I can't wait to hear more! I hope your birthday is an awesome one, just one more year in the young decade! Next year you'll join us old fogies. I would say have fun, but I think you already do. You are awesome!

We are living in a material world

It is funny how easily my kids are swayed by commercials. They are fairly naive to them ... I generally stick to PBS, which is commercial free for the most part. But when we do switch to network channels on the odd Saturday morning, they are completely taken in. "Mom, that car can fly, it really can! Can I get it?" "That dog wags it tail and pees, can I have it?" I am so jaded to commercials, growing up in a consumer world, it is funny to see what commercials are actually supposed to do ... persuade on the most superficial level. I don't want to see my kids get jaded to it, but if they don't, they will live in an impossibly distracting world.

It has been interesting to see Gabe learning more complex concepts as he gets older. He is asking harder and harder questions ... taxes, for instance, how do you explain taxes to a six-year-old? Or the difference between lying and not being rude? A while ago, Gabe asked me why things next to the car move so much faster than the faraway mountains. I started explaining perspective, and how distance changes perceived movement. It was a complicated idea, and after a moment or two, Gabe zoned out. Leo piped up, "Mom, why do you talk when no one listens to you?"

Good question Leo, good question.

I spent a delightful Saturday with my sisters and Mom in Ogden this weekend. The excuse was to pick up a car, but really I just wanted to get together and chat. It was fun and reminded me how much I love my family.

Lava

Jeff and I had a little retreat this weekend to Lava Hot Springs. It was heaven, actually. Sweet cousin Megan babysat the boys overnight. They (the boys) had a blast. "She never got tired of playing," said Gabe. (Unlike Mom and Dad who go kaput after 20 minutes of wrestling.) In response to the question if Megan still wanted to have children at the end of this adventure, she replied, "Not in the near future." She is a trooper and we love her.

The hotel we stayed was family owned and was one of those places that have a lot of personality (mismatched furniture and bathroom down the hall). It had hot springs right outside the front door, which minimized the cold, wet walk on exit. And guess what the thriving metropolis of Lava Hot Springs has now ... yes, a Thai restaurant! My FAVORITE! A Thai restaurant! I Lava Hot Springs IDAHO! It was scrumptious, scallion soup, ginger chicken, curry noodles with egg. Scrumptious.

Leo started preschool this week. He is really enjoying the unlimited access to art supplies. The second day, he came home with nine -- count 'em, nine Giant Pieces of butcher paper covered with his patent smiley face with legs. We spread them out to admire them, and they covered more than half of the family room floor. I'm so proud of him for embracing preschool. He has struggled with other things ... refused to do a soccer class when the coach gently told him to use his feet, not his hands, even with me sitting right there. And he had a hard time going to Primary in church. But something about the preschool (probably the awesome teachers) lets him embrace it fearlessly.

Ben was up half the night Thursday night. I think it was a combination of late-drunk chocolate milk and teething. He is so pleasant, even at his worst. I actually kind of enjoyed snuggling with him on "Nanny's Chair" until 2 a.m. He still can't say anything except "Dis," and "Dat." (This and that), but I'm in no hurry for this little cutie to grow up.

Our digital camera is broken. I hope to replace it soon.