Wax On...Wax OFF!

So, I know it's been 2 months since my last post...and I know it makes me somewhat of a loser because my post is about laundry, but I was just too darn excited about this to NOT post, so forgive me.

So my daughter Lily has a thing for drawing. Like, a serious thing for drawing. She draws all day long. If she can get her hands on a crayon or a pencil, and some paper, she is as happy as a lark. She often will sneak crayons into her bed at night and do murals on her bedroom walls...lovely.



It's actually a big help with her anxiety to stick a crayon and paper in her hands, because it keeps her hands busy, preventing a lot of the little things she would be doing if her hands WEREN'T busy, like hitting and pulling out hair and what not. It also helps her to be calm, and she stays involved in what SHE'S doing, instead of getting herself all worked up over what everyone else is doing. And so, I'm happy to let her draw & colour to her heart's content, it makes her happy...and that makes me happy.

Until...one of her sneaky little crayons snuck its way into my laundry!! Now, this has happened to us before...and as a result clothes get tossed. Why would I keep clothes that have melted and now DRIED coloured wax all over them? There's not enough elbow grease in the WORLD that could get that stuff out...until now! I mean, you all may have found secret ways to get crayon out of clothes, but this was a big discovery for me!

I was desperate...all the new clothes that had just gone through the washer AND the dryer had crayon splotches and streaks all over them! I went online, because the WORLD WIDE WEB is our greatest resource in times like these! I found a recipe for getting crayon out of clothes...NO ELBOW GREASE REQUIRED! This was MY kind of cleaning! Even better...IT WORKED! I'm ECSTATIC about this! So I decided I needed to share my finding with all you lovely ladies because this is one recipe you DEFINITELY want on hand!

So here it is!!

2 full scoops liquid Tide (any kind of Tide, I used Tide with Downy and it still worked great)
1 cup Mule 20 Borax Powder (find it in the laundry section of the grocery store)
1 cup liquid Shout
2 full scoops OxyClean powder
1 cup white vinegar

You put all the ingredients into the washing machine, and fill it with hot water. Let the washing cycle go for about 1 minute to mix around the ingredients, then stop the washing cycle, and put clothes in to soak for 2 hours. Then let the wash cycle finish. Start the wash cycle over again, this time with WARM water, add 1 scoop Tide and 1 scoop OxyClean and let clothes do a complete cycle. When that's done, let it do an extra rinse, and then you can put the clothes in the dryer.

I hope this comes in handy for some of you...although I hope even MORESO that you will never need it!

Husband Tag - My Turn

- What is your husband's name? Jared Spencer Palfrey

- How long have you guys been married? 8 years

- How long did you date? Well the whole story is a little "Jane Austen-esque", but althogether, around 2.5 years

- How old is he? 29...and very attractive

- Who is taller? Jared is 6ft tall...6 inches taller than me...but we have the same inseam, freakishly long torso's apparently run in his family.

- Who can sing the best? I say he can, he has always had such a distinctive singing voice, it's my favourite...but I have had more singing experience.

- Who is smarter? Jared. He loves to learn...more than anyone I've ever met, he is constantly reading and learning new things. I really admire that about him.

- Who pays the bills? I do that actual task of paying them...however, Jared works extraordinarily hard to provide for our family, and does a wonderful job of making life as comfortable as possible for us...and so he pays the bills.

- Who does the laundry? I do...and I have no complaints about it. Jared helps where he can, but the laundry is my territory, mistakes on ones clothes borders on unforgivable.

- Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? It changes frequently.

- Who mows the lawn? The landscapers...we live under a strata, we pay lots of money, and they hire landscapers to mow my lawn.

- Who cooks dinner? I do...I enjoy cooking and trying to new recipes. Jared's cooking skills begin and end with the phone...and a list of take out numbers.

- Who is the first to admit when they're wrong? Jared usually...he has a funny way of admitting it, but he is always the first to acknowledge his wrongness.

- Who kissed who first? This is an ongoing debate in our relationship...I say him...he says me...but it REALLY WAS him!

- Who wears the pants? We both do...we pick up each other's slack depending on what's going on in our lives...we recognize each other's strengths and weaknesses, where I'm weak, he's strong and I depend on him to wear the pants...but where he is weak and I am strong, then I wear the pants.

I tag Marcy, Susan P. and Debbie Jo :)

Tagged...7 Things

I am not going to tag anyone, because everyone I know with a blog has already been tagged...sorry. SO 7 things you may or may NOT know about me...here goes.

1. On my 16th birthday my girlfriends did a surprise group date for me...and set me up with my first date...with 2 different guys...on the same night, at the same event. That was awkward.

2. Also on my 16th birthday, I got my first kiss (my first cheek kiss) from Brother Lillie...I know...if you want more details, ask.

3. My first LIP kiss was when I was 17...and it was a little kiss...does that make me a late-bloomer?

4. Jared & I spent 18 months NOT talking and avoiding each other after the first time we met...come to think of it I think EVERYONE knows that one, haha.

5. I chew my nails when I'm stressed.

6. Jared is the first love of my life...my second love is Mr. Darcy.

7. When I was 16 years old I went to EFY in Idaho and got asked to the banquet at the end of the week by Donny Osmond Junior.

In all things there MUST be opposition!

I can't even begin to tell you how much I enjoy General Conference every 6 months. It's a chance to hear the inspired words of our church leaders, our amazing Prophet, President Monson. An opportunity to receive council and guidance...and isn't it amazing how they always seem to touch on topics that directly affect SOMETHING we've been thinking about, or longing to change in our own lives? Things that we have meditated on, longed to receive answers to and just desired clarity about? I feel so resolved, all questions answered...time to make the extra effort to take one step upward, closer to the Savior.

The theme for me through this weekend of conference was that there MUST be opposition in all things. Sometimes I forget that this life is a test...and not just a test for me...but for everyone! It's really hard for me to keep this point in check because I demand a lot of myself. Why can't I have a perfectly clean home, with the dishes always done, and laundry always clean, folded and put away? Why can't I have a husband who can read my mind and take out the garbage without being asked? Why can't I have 5 PERFECT children who have a keen understanding of the gospel...who have all 13 Articles of Faith memorized...who know EVERY song in the Children's Songbook by heart, who NEVER hit, scream, fight, whine or get dirty? Why can't I be patient, never raise my voice, never be late, always have the most creative FHE's, the most delicious meals, the perfect body after 5 kids, time to exercise, time to read, time to sing, time to play the piano, have no debt, no bills, MORE money, a bigger house, newer cars, better clothes, LOTS of shoes? Why? Why?? WHY??? Because if my life was perfect, I would have no purpose in being here. On the one side, I would have no frustration, no stress, no despair, no fear, no agony, no envy...and on the flip side I would have no gratitude, no work ethic, no money or time-managing skills, no appreciation for my children, no appreciation for my husband, and no testimony. There must be opposition in all things...and along with this, there can be JOY in the JOURNEY! Just because we experience opposition doesn't mean we have to suffer through it...we are required to endure it...but endure it WELL! Why need I fear if I my Savior is steering my ship? He calmed the raging sea of Galilee...why not the raging seas that are in my life from time to time? All things are possible in the Lord, if I put my trust in Him...the oppositions I face will become learning experiences and will allow me to grow and progress.

Anyways, I could go on and on aobut that topic...but I will leave you with my testimony instead (and it's probably going to be long, sorry!). I love the gospel of Jesus Christ. Every day and every night, and many times a day in between I am thanking my Heavenly Father for restoring it. I have an unshakable faith in temple ordinances. I have felt the feeling of my family being temporary...and have felt the feeling of my family becoming eternal, and I testify, there are no words that can adequately express the difference between them. Night and day, dark and light...the cold of winter and the warmth of the sun. This gospel not only holds the Priesthood keys, but the keys to eternal joy and happiness. I am so grateful, so truly grateful for the life I have because of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that through my Savior I can do all things...because all things are possible through Him. The Atonement is real, it was a necessary step in bringing us back into God's presence. I love the scriptures and love the temple with all my heart. I know we have a Prophet today, President Monson, who leads and guides us with the love of our Heavenly Father, who receives revelation and directs us in ways that will keep us on the path that leads to eternal life. I am filled with gratitude today...and hope that I will be filled with gratitude each and every day of my life. The church is true, and I am grateful to be a part of it!

Lauryn

So, I haven't blogged in nearly 2 weeks...not for lack of things I could write about, but mostly because I simply haven't had the words for some reason. I think you could say I have had some "writer's block". I've never claimed to be an amazing writer by any means, the fact that anyone reads my blog is remarkable to me because I lead a very uninteresting life. I write things that are interesting to me, and try to run this blog like a journal so that I'm recording things that matter to me, but don't make much of an effort to make them interesting for everyone else. I don't include videos, or photos...there isn't a ton of humor or fanciful writing.

So I'm going to share a few things about the latest Palfrey...our baby girl Lauryn...and if anyone finds even an ounce of joy, humor, delight, or even just a smidge of interest, then fabulous! Since 99% of my life involves the people I live with, then that is where my interest lies, and therein lies 99% of my blog topics :D.

Our baby Lauryn started crawling!! She's my latest crawler starting at 7.5 months of age...and I'm hoping that her "delayed" (delayed merely being relative to my other children of course - and delayed most definitely be a good thing!) physical abilities will continue into walking, running, climbing, jumping, falling out windows, etc. She is such a happy baby, she just oozes joy from every pore. When she is being fed her baby food...she is just a wiggly mess! She is SOOO excited about the food she just loses all control and kicks and wiggles and bounces...she scrunches up her nose and snorts and laughs and smiles uncontrollably! It makes it difficult to get the food INTO her mouth...but it's a lot of fun at feeding time. When she wakes up from her naps she is the same way...giggly, wiggly, scrunchy faced, edible ball of chubby cuteness. She is such a joyous addition to our family...so far. Many of you might remember Noah being the same happy baby...very mild and observant of all his surroundings...then one day...he became....A BOY!!! AHHHHH!!!! But there is hope for Lauryn, because she will never one day become a boy...she is most definitely a girl...and how does the saying go? "Thank heaven for little girls". Our decision to have Lauryn was one of the biggest decisions we ever made...took 3 visits to the temple seeking confirmation (which I pretty well got on the FIRST visit) to feel comfortable enough to do what we felt the Lord wanted for our family. The pregnancy started out great, everything was normal, and with 4 weeks left, after several doctor and hospital visits due to some concerns, the doctor put me on bedrest. Boy was I grateful for that to be over...sounds glamourous at first...but it gets old within 48 hours. I think the first words out of my mouth when Lauryn was born (AFTER I was over the shock of having ANOTHER girl) was,"I'm so grateful we had her". And now that she's here, like it is for all us mothers...life before them is soon forgotten, and things begin to feel like they were always here, always a part of our family. Confirmation of all things spiritual, that all good things come from God. I see evidence of my Heavenly Father in many things on a daily basis...but nothing is quite as convincing as our children, wouldn't you agree?

The Sad Day

Out of the love and respect I have for my husband I wanted to share a note he posted on facebook today...lots of you have read it, so I apologize if it's a "re-read" but I guess I wanted to add my feelings to it, so here it is:

Well it's late and I’m up working late again. It’s not terribly exciting what I do, fixing networks, rebuilding Raid Arrays, or inoculating viruses from computers or is that computers from viruses. Even my writing isn't that exciting. I’m not a writer, I’m not a poet. I do like writing music though as well as singing with my guitar. So perhaps I’m just a guitar playing singer song writer. Sounds alright to me. Anyways it's late. And I am just finishing up some work before bed comes and I looked at the date.

It’s September 17th.

Not a particularly special day to most. But to me it happens to be one. In about 3.5 hours, it will be 13 years since my mother died.

I remember it well and I won't go on about it but it was a Sunday morning. Mom was taken to the hospital a few hours in the day before. She was desperately ill. I remember what seemed to be a constant flow of morphine bottles going into her bedroom while she attempted a Hospice death. It didn't last. It was too hard to pretend you are happy to die I suppose.

Someone woke me up in the morning at around 6:30AM to tell me that she had died... death..... gone.................... It was a terrible morning.

I know that this is such old news to some and most are wondering why someone would put this on facebook. The only answer I have is that this is who I am now. I’ve had to deal with much more than this throughout my years and this sort of exposure has been the only vent I know.
I am cheerful by habit most of the time. But on September 17th I am trying to take a little time for myself.

I've written a few songs over the years, the one I have always tried not to ever perform is a song called Kiss Goodbye. It’s terribly sad. It’s about this day. Today, the day she left without a goodbye kiss. 13 years ago. A terrible Day.

I've decided to include this song however on my album. I've recorded it now in the studio; it's a slow song, a slow story.

For you all to know, she was an incredible woman. She came to every single one of my opening night performances, sick or not sick. She said a few times she wanted to come to more but her body wouldn't let her. She used to drive me into Vancouver for auditions in between her visits to St. Paul’s hospital. Even when she was sick and could barely speak through her morphine induced pain relief, she said she loved me, and she said she was proud of me.

Her body didn't last in the end; it died to the aids even with the treatments. What a terrible day.


I pause while I write this note here on the book of faces to hold my face and stave off complete tears. This has always been a hard day. Every year. I have often wanted it to get easier, but it doesn't. It just gets less complicated.

I love my family. My wife, my extended and my own little ones. And have often thought that my mom will get to meet them all someday in our future.

I wish I had some kind of joke or story that would make me feel better and perhaps you as well. Perhaps something like, what do you call a blonde with two brain cells, pregnant, or I know a guy named John Hancock. I mean those are pretty funny right.

But alas I must close.

It’s been 13 years. Long years. Too long.

I guess I'll say this to close, that if you still have a mother, or a father. That you should remember September 17th. Remember it as a day to remember what you have. I know I do. I think about all the wonderful blessings I have been given and how wonderful truly my children are, and what an amazing, loving, beautiful, caring, supporting, sexy wife I have. I think about those things as well on this day. About the things I love and have still. You should think of what you have, and give your mother a big hug. I have lost my mother but still have incredible substitutes like:
Wendy fleet
Angela palfrey
Angela palfrey
Laurel palfrey
Karen Obrien,
Elaine Noftle


Incredible women that I love and that for some reason love me as well.

I hope this message leaves you well. cuz I feel an H'load better than I did when I started.

Fowler

I just wanted to add how blessed I am to be married to a man who loved, and continues to love, his Mother as deeply as Jared. I never had the fortune of knowing his Mom before she passed away...I came along around 7 months after she passed, but so many people knew her...and every single one of them loved her. Ever since I met Jared, when he would introduce me to someone, be it friend, family or just acquaintance...I would hear over and over how wonderful Lois was. How she made others laugh, and feel so loved. That's how Jared is...boy am I glad he had a mother who blessed him with humour, and unconditional love...who raised him to KNOW he was so special and so talented. He passes those traits onto our children...and that is a blessing to both them and me. I love Lois...she gave me my husband, and all the beautiful things I love about him I know came from her. I have a secret hope that when the day comes...I hope Jared passes before me...because I don't want him to ever have to experience that depth of loss again in this life. However...I'm sure that most of us would prefer to pass together with our eternal companion...that's how my grandparents passed.

I love you Jared...and I thank your Mom for blessing you with all the traits that I fell in love with so many years ago...and continue to love every minute of every day, for this moment and for all eternity. I love you.

My Brother Joel

So my brother Joel is a composer, and I have looked up to him my whole life. Well my super cool brother has entered the Hockey Night in Canada Theme Song competition! And might I say that I think his particular composition is seriously one of the best on there! Now I know I'm biased, but I also KNOW that Joel has spent his whole life, from his first waking moments watching and loving HNIC! So I know that his composition was written with a whole life's worth of fond hockey experiences...so I would have to say he knows what he's doing, and it shows! His theme song is AWESOME! So go to this link http://anthemchallenge.cbc.ca/mediadetail/327204?sort=upload+DESC+DESC&filetype=2%2C3&moderationstatus=1&offset=12 and sign up so you can rate him...and leave LOTS of comments!! We really want him to win, not just because he's my brother, but because his song is the BEST!! And invite all the people you know to check it out and rate! Enjoy the song! Oh and be patient, both on my blog and the HNIC website the song takes a minute to start playing, but it's worth the wait!