Obama Visit

Okay so this was Obama's THIRD try at coming out to Indonesia. The first attempt was back in March. He didn't show because he was trying to get the health care bill passed. Good thing he stayed right?!! ;-) The second time he was slated to come was in June and was the reason we rushed like crazy to get out here instead of when we were slated to come in July. But then some tiny little oil spill happened in the gulf, and then it turned out not to be so tiny, so the second visit got axed. The third visit was looking promising until the earth started to shake, tsunami's crashed ashore, and oh a volcano decided to erupt...numerous times. It has all been very sad to watch and read the local news reports here. It feels like we are so far away from where everything is happening because we haven't been directly affected, but we're not so very far. Anyway, it was touch and go there for a while, even up until the day before he came. Everyone at the embassy was crazy busy coordinating with Secret Service and there were lots of late nights leading up to the visit. They had planned a meet and greet with the President and the First Lady for the embassy staffers and families, but I wasn't sure if I was going to go because of stupid logistical reasons and not to mention my own political affiliations. BUT, we decided it was really a once in a lifetime opportunity to see the President of the United States up close and personal in the flesh so we decided to go. We had to wake up at 5am but other than that, there were no real inconveniences to be had. Everyone waited in a ballroom at the hotel and then the President and First Lady came out, and he spoke a few words and then came down to shake hands.

I'm not gonna lie, it was a little surreal at first, but then as he was speaking I was just thinking about how he is just a man who holds a very important position of power, but he is just a flawed, imperfect man like the rest of us. And frankly, I feel kinda bad for him. He's had a rough couple of years, and while everyone can argue all day long about whether or not he brought it upon himself (he did), he still has to be a husband and father while also at times feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders more than any of the rest of us ever will. So while Barack and I have a lot of 'issues' between us :-), he does deserve some respect if for no other reason than for the office he holds. It's a lot easier throwing rocks when you've never actually seen or met a person, but when they are suddenly very real and right in front of your face...it's a little bit humbling. I for one am glad to have had the experience just for the sake of the perspective it provided for me personally.

(just look at the looks on those kids' faces...super adorable)

Marine Ball

So we have had a few busy weeks here in Indonesia! One of the things I have most been looking forward to since we joined the State Department was the opportunity to go to some fun parties and more specifically the Marine Ball which is held every year around the time of the Marine Corps birthday. It is a pretty swanky affair, and Tanner and I decided we definitely wanted to go. I also was hoping to have a dress made for me so I wouldn't have to deal as much with the disappointment of going dress shopping only to realize (again) that there is almost nothing that is cute and modest. We have this awesome fabric section of town called Mayestic which is a bunch of stores that sell tons and tons of fabric. I looked on the internet and found a style that I liked, and then went to Mayestic to do some fabric shopping. I learned a lot about how you can't just make any dress with any fabric, so I had to make sure I chose the right one for the design I wanted. I ended up wanting silk and there are actually a ton of different kinds to choose from. I had narrowed it down between a few and nothing was 'just right'. Then the old man helping me said he had something else and returned with the perfect one. I asked what kind of silk it was and he just showed me the edge of the fabric and it said "Pure Silk by Valentino, Made in Italy". Okay, so I am not totally sure if it's THE Valentino, but regardless, the fabric was awesome and I bought it.

So now the trick was to find a tailor who could actually make an evening gown out of it. I was having a hard time finding one that could do it in the time frame I needed, and then the same old guy said he would take me to a place just outside mayestik. Great! So I go in this tailor shop and the head woman did not speak a lick of English. I was with my friend who speaks better than me and we did okay trying to explain what I wanted, but it all happened super fast, and it felt like she barely took any measurements. I was kind of freaking out about it later, but in the end I figured I just needed to look at it like a new and fun experience.

Fast forward two weeks, and I go in for the first fitting. They hadn't quite finished it, but they had done all the pleating and I was shocked and amazed at how great they had copied the picture I had given them. I had to go back a few more times and even though I still think I need to get it taken in just a smidge, I thought it turned out great and loved it! Also, they did forget to do a cap sleeve underneath, but luckily I was able to channel my inner Tim Gunn and "make it work!". The day of the ball, I went and got my hair and makeup done and totally freaked out when she went to put on fake eyelashes. I was straight up NOT going to let her put those things on. My awesome hairstylist Roberto asked me to just try it and they could always take them off later. By the end of the make up session I totally wanted to keep them. That was a first for me. We were running a little late, and I got home, threw on my dress, and we headed out to......TRAFFIC.
It took us an hour and half to go about 5 miles. We thought we were going to be super late, but the good thing was everyone was late, so it was all good.

We had a great time. The ceremony at the beginning was very nice. The birthday cake was ginormous, and I thought it was cool that they cut the first piece with a huge saber knife. Then they serve the first pieces to the oldest and youngest Marine in attendance. I just thought they were all very cool traditions. The other awesome thing is that they had very cool ice sculptures around the room.

Anyway, after a yummy dinner, they started the dancing and Tanner and I had a blast. We both love to dance and it felt like we were back in college again at one of our friend's dance parties. We realized we hadn't really gone dancing together since we have had kids which is a shame because we both love it. A definite highlight of the night was seeing a female Marine guard get up on the stage and do Beyonce's exact routine to "Single Ladies"....

in her Marine guard uniform....

with her senior officer looking on from afar no less. It doesn't get any better than that peeps. She rocked the house, and the crowd went wild. Happy 235th Birthday United States Marine Corps!

6 Months...err 7 months!

We can't believe how time is flying by and how old our baby girl is already. At her 6 month well baby visit she was in the 50th percentile for weight (thanks to mommy's milk shakes), and 10th percentile for height. She sleeps great, usually goes down between 5pm and 7pm and sleeps until 4:30am when she wakes up with the rest of the Muslim population of Indonesia for morning prayers. It is like clockwork so I think she must hear the call to prayer from the mosque down the street. She has an early breakfast and then goes back down for a snooze until 6:30am or 7am when the boys wake up and then it just becomes a losing battle for all of us (me, tanner, and audrey) to try to get some shut eye with those boys whooping and hollering throughout the house.

She will roll across the room, and is doing the rocking back and forth thing on her knees with her little bottom in the air, but mostly she just ends up on her tummy boogie boarding on the carpet. She laughs when we play peek a boo and yells really loud when I try to get her to say Ma Ma (not sure what that means, but hopefully she is actually trying out her voice, rather than actually yelling at me...otherwise, we are in for a rough road ahead together ;-) )

Last week, she started to eat solids. I hate starting solids...so messy. Nursing...so clean and easy. But we realized after numerous nights of her sitting in her Bumbo at the end of the table yelling at us and reaching for any food that might be within her grasp that maybe she might want a taste of something different. Indonesians start their babies on solids really early, and anyone who has asked think I am lying when I tell them she is that gundut (chubby) from just breast milk.

She looks like Clark and makes faces like Andrew. We call her Audrey, Audi, Clarkina (thanks Trish--all the teachers at Clark's school call her that now), Pinky (okay, I admit it, she wears a lot...A LOT of pink), and Gundut (see above and pronounce like Goon-doot). I also like Lucu (pronounced Loochoo). It means cute and funny. Gundut and Lucu were two of the first words I learned in Indonesian because that is what every stranger who sees her says to me...and they do this while squeezing her cheeks together and some just full on take her away from me and hold her. Every once in a while I get someone who looks like they are looking or talking in a disapproving way, and it was really disconcerting at first, but now I know that it is when she is sucking on her left fist. It is a big No No in Indonesia to use your left hand for anything...it is considered unclean (Islam). Some strangers full on will try to pry her hand out of her mouth, and it cracks me up because there is NO WAY that fist is going to come out once it is in there. So they struggle for a minute and then give up and walk away muttering. I think it is funny, after all I am a lefty.

Our favorite game to play with her right now is "The Falling Audrey Game!" We all sit around on the bed, and sit her upright in the middle...and we wait...for her to topple over to one side or the other. She can sit up, but it only lasts for a little bit and inevitably she decides to reach out to one of us surrounding her and she topples over. The boys think it is the funniest thing EVER! We will get it on video here soon. Everyone loves her, and sometimes our driver all but demands a turn to swing with her outside, and then I watch as the guards, gardeners, and neighbors all stop by to say hi to her. She will go to anyone at anytime, unless it's time to eat.

Sometimes she seems to be in a very serious or pensive mood and I whisper to her "what are we going to do about these BOYS?" and one time, right after I said something to that effect to her, Andrew walked by and made a crazy face at her and she reached out and grabbed his hair and pulled....hard.

Right on sista.

Lost In Translation

So this weekend was district conference. Every meeting is in Indonesian and they have a few missionaries who will translate into English for our branch. For once we were the ones with the headphones on! Tanner went to the leadership meeting without me because Andrew has had Jakarta stomach bug for the last 3 days and so I stayed home with him. I originally thought there would be an hour or two break between the leadership meeting and the adult session, but I forgot to check and I was wrong. Tanner texted me on his way home and I hurried and got ready so we could do a switcheroo. I hopped in a taxi, but I knew I was already going to be about 30 mins late. I walked in, and someone handed me the headphones. They didn’t work, and they told me I was sitting too far back to get a good reception. I didn’t want to make a scene trying to find a seat closer so I decided to just sit back and take it all in ‘local’ style.

I have been taking Indonesian language lessons, but there is a big difference here between learning the language and how people actually speak. I was just trying to pick out words here and there, but I was getting a little frustrated at how little I was actually picking up. Granted, I haven’t been learning ‘church’ vocabulary, but still. When the second to last speaker got up, I was all excited because he spoke very well and I was picking up all kinds of words. I could understand, “car, maid, little girl, hospital”, but I couldn’t get everything so I just started filling the blanks in my head with what I thought the story he was telling meant. I felt pretty good about it too, and after the session was over, I ran up to my friend and said “that second to last speaker was great, I think I understood a lot of what he was saying, it sounded like a GREAT story!” She looked at me as if I was nutso…and then she explained. Apparently the story had a VERY tragic ending, almost inappropriate to tell over the pulpit. In fact, she took her headphones off at times because she didn’t want to hear some of the details it was so tragic and sad. I was like whhhhaaaaaaat? Yeah, totally missed that one. Suffice it to say, my Bahasa Indonesia needs some work. Oh and I also thought that I would be able to understand an American speaking Bahasa better than the locals, but I couldn’t understand President Groberg any better. :-(

However, what was NOT lost in translation was the choir. They sang in Indonesian, but the melody was unmistakable. It was totally worth the effort to get there to hear a group of Indonesians (many very poor certainly by American standards) sing Count Your Blessings.

Chorus:

Berkat Tuhan mari hitunglah,
kau kan kagum oleh kasih-Nya
Berkat Tuhan mari hitunglah,
kau niscaya kagum oleh kasih-Nya

Quarterly Clarkisms and Andoozies

08/09/10
(Clark dives headfirst into Tanner’s stomach on the couch)
Tanner: Ow Clark, don’t do that.
Clark: That was a love tap with my head.

(During an FHE lesson on the Savior)

Cherylyn: … and then Jesus died because people made bad choices.
Clark: Jesus died!?
Cherylyn: Yep.
Clark: Was Jesus a good guy or a bad guy?
Cherylyn: He was a good guy. He was the best guy that ever lived.
Clark: Then why did you guys kill him?
Cherylyn: Um, we didn’t kill him.
Clark: Then who killed him?
Cherylyn: The bad guys killed him.
Clark: Then do the bad guys help us get to Heavenly Father?
Cherylyn: Ummm.....

Andrew: Dada, can I push you [sic] button!?

Clark: Lets play superheros!!
Tanner: Okay, I’m Batman! Na na na na na na na na na na BATMAN!!!
Clark: No, I’m Batman!
Tanner: Okay, then I’m Superman!
Andrew: No, I Supa man!!
Clark: Yeah, Andrew’s Superman.
Tanner: Fine, then I’m Spiderman.
Clark: No, you’re Ironman! You have fire and your whole body is fire.
Tanner: Wait, if I’m Ironman, wouldn’t my whole body be iron?
Clark: No, you have fire all over your whole body.
Tanner: Okay, then I should be called Fireman!
Clark: Okay.
Tanner: So is Mama Wonderwoman?
Clark: No, she’s the princess!

08/22/10
Clark: Mom, I took a really long nap.
Cherylyn: You did?
Clark: Yeah, it was really boring.

08/28/10
(Clark playing the Wii using a remote with a dying battery, which keeps shutting off)
Clark: Grrr, this remote keeps being mysterious!

08/30/10
Cherylyn: Clark, go get your PJs on.
Clark: But can I still play?
Cherylyn: Yes, after you get your PJs on, you can play for a few minutes.
Tanner: For two minutes.
Clark: No! For five minutes!
Tanner: Nope, two minutes.
Clark: Dad! Mama said five minutes.
Tanner: No she didn’t.
Clark: Dad, you can’t tell me two minutes.
Tanner: Oh yes I can, I’m in charge.
Clark: Mom, can you be in charge of dad tonight so that he doesn’t say two minutes?!

09/12/10
(after we just finished putting the boys to bed)
Clark: Oh wait, I need to go peepee!
Tanner/Cherylyn: (sigh).
Andrew: I need go peepee too!
Clark: Oh yeah! We can make an X!

09/26/10
(Clark playing a video game in which his character squeezed between two bad guys, narrowly avoiding death)
Tanner: Whoa! How did you squeeze between those two guys?
Clark: I squeezed because of my skills!

09/30/10
(After Audrey tipped over sideways in a reclining chair – don’t worry, no babies were harmed)
Cherylyn: Clark, can you help pick Audrey up?
Clark: (grunting while lifting Audrey), but she’s sooo heavy at zero (years old)!

Ma Kasih!

I have taken the boys to the embassy on Fridays the last couple of weeks to get their rabies shots. We are going to Bali for Thanksgiving, and they recommend getting it because they have had a rabies outbreak in the dogs and monkeys. I figured if we didn't get the shots, Clark and/or Andrew would find the one monkey or dog wherever we are staying and get bitten or scratched, so I decided to just make sure that didn't happen. Anyway, we have to stop every time we go to the embassy and the security guards open the doors to check everything out. It was very quiet in the car, and a guard opened the door and just as he was about to close it, Andrew shouted enthusiastically "MA KASIH"! which is the slang version everyone uses here for "Terima Kasih" which is Thank You. Both Lala (our driver) and I started busting up laughing because I have not ever even asked Andrew to say anything in Indonesian (he has a hard enough time with English), but apparently he is listening.

In other news, apparently the way to get my kids over the fear of shots is to take them in a lot. I thought it would be the opposite that by the 3rd shot in the series, they would be acting like they actually HAD rabies, it would be practically impossible to get them into the med unit front door. But in reality, because Clark remembers what happened the last time, he was excited because "I only have to count to 3 mom and then it's over, and I get lollipops and a super hero guy!" (the med unit has some serious goodies they give out to the kids every time). Andrew is chill all the way around about shots for some unknown reason. Clark volunteered to go first and he counted to three, didn't even say ow! and it was over and he was all smiles. Andrew did one cry and he was done. You know your kids were good when the nurse says "Hey, bring your kids in ANYTIME!" I didn't even know what to do I was so pleased! But I know I did at one point on the way back to the car say "Thank you boys for being so good!" and I guess I could have just said "MA KASIH!"

To My Sisters...

Seriously, you all know what to get for me (and by extension Audrey) this Christmas.

You got me all the episodes on VHS a number of years ago on Ebay, and from what I recall, it was a somewhat pricey gift at the time. I did actually watch most of them. It's time for an upgrade ladies.

If you would be so kind.

I'll take the action figure too...and if they have Swiftwind to go with it, all the better.

Think about Audrey...it's really for her.

I promise.

Whenever I am reminiscing on my childhood with girlfriends and they talk about how many Barbies they had, and I mention that I didn't have a one, they look at me incredulously and say "You had NO Barbies?!!"

Who needs Barbie, when you could have She-Ra?

Barbie is a poor woman's She-Ra. Yeah, that's right. I said it.

Not only that, She-Ra and I are so similar...let me count the ways:

1) She has long flowing blonde hair (me. At age 8)

2) Her name was She-Ra. (me. Hello? My name is Cherylyn! Practically identical!)

3) She lived in a rainbow shimmery castle, she could ride AND fly on her unicorn, she could travel to different places by walking through sparkley portals, and she had the coolest get-up around...not to mention sexy, but who cares? (I didn't and don't) It was all about functionality...how else could she run unless her skirt was that short? (me also...in my 8 year old...okay I admit it, AND sometimes 29 year old dreams)

Oh, and...

You didn't really think I named my daughter Audrey just because I liked the name did you?

Audrey....Adora....

Okay, just kidding. But seriously you have to admit, it is kind of awesome.

8 is Great!

Today is our 8th Anniversary! It's funny because it feels like it has gone so fast, but then when I start tallying up all the happenings over the last eight years it feels like we've been together for an eternity. Over the last couple of years it has started to feel like there has been no B.T (before Tanner) life. I liked my B.T. life, but I love my A.T. life.

Since September 21, 2002 we have:

• Moved houses 7 times (average of almost once a year! Ridiculous!)--U-hauled it 5 times!
• Lived in 3 different states and 1 different country besides U.S. (Utah, Virginia, Florida, and Indonesia)
• Visited on vacation or lived in the following interesting cities: Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, San Diego, Tijuana (MEX), Denver, Topeka (not sure about interesting, but I'll throw it in there), Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Boston, Williamsburg (VA), Yorktown (VA), Charlottesville (VA), Valley Forge (PA), Outer Banks (NC), Charlotte (NC), Richmond (VA), Washington D.C., Baltimore, Annapolis, Hershey (PA), Lancaster (PA), New York, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Seattle, Portland (OR), Boise (What up Mel!), St. George (UT) (must include, it's where we were married), Jakarta (Indonesia) (lots more to come in SE Asia).
• Gave birth to three children in the last 4 1/2 years. I have spent almost exactly the same amount of time (4 1/2 yrs) either pregnant or nursing...still counting.
• Tanner graduated from 2 Universities and had 3 full time jobs since graduation! Yikes! Love you honey. :-)
• We have been put under general anesthesia 6 times combined...now that's a yikes. (2 for me, 4 for Tanner). Hey at least only half were for what I would consider somewhat serious or life threatening. Tanner went under 3 times for injections to try to fix his back...unsuccessfully I might add...which resulted in the 4th microdysectomy surgery. Also of interesting note, Tanner has had more epidurals than I have!
• We have held over 20+ callings in the church combined
• Been members of the same NFL Fantasy Football League for 4 years running, and I have won the NCAA tournament bracket twice...Tanner none. Whoop Whoop!
• I have never beaten Tanner in a full Tennis match...ever. :-( (new year's resolution 2011 anyone? I only make meaningful resolutions).
• And I only just found out this last year what Tanner's favorite dessert is. It's Cherry Pie for all of you who are interested. I don't know how I didn't know for 7 years, but there it is.

That's all I can think of at the moment, although we are sure to come up with some more tonight while we are at dinner. Suffice it to say...I love our life. See below for anniversary pictures throughout the years. I don't have a picture from last year. I remember we went to Maggiano's and the food was terrible, and let's just say it wasn't the greatest anniversary...we may have even fought. Oh, the horror! :-) I don't have one from 2005 either...maybe it was because I was 7 months preggers? Oh, and all I have to say about my hair is YIKES!

(2003)

(2004-Tanner totally dressed up)

(2006)

(2007)

(2008)

Peek-A-Boo!

I especially love how she gets all serious and wide-eyed while anticipating the next Peek-A-Boo!

Vonage Visual Voicemail

Having Vonage while living overseas is a LIFESAVER. Basically the way it works is you set it up in the United States with a U.S. phone number, then when you take it overseas, you plug in the phone adapter to the internet, and BAM! whenever anyone from the U.S. calls that U.S. number it rings in our house in Jakarta, Indonesia all for about $20 a month unlimited. Sweet right?

Well, another fun and interesting feature is the "Vonage Visual Voicemail" that you can set up. Basically, there is some electronic service that transcribes the voicemail messages left on our Vonage line and sends that transcription as an email message to my Inbox. So I usually know I have a voicemail by my email before I bother to check the phone. This is where it gets AWESOME! The transcription service they use gets my name wrong EVERYTIME. In fact, some are down right hilarious, which now makes this an even AWESOMER (I know that's not a word) service because it gives me a good laugh every time I read them. I now view the Vonage Visual Voicemail service as totally worth my overall $20 bill every month in and of itself.

So, if you want to give me a good laugh, leave a voicemail on my phone (my family would probably argue I don't ever answer the phone anyway, so it's pretty much your only choice, or you can hang up, which would be LAME). I recommend longer messages with random vocabulary words. Below are some examples of my transcriptions I have received lately. By the way, I have never been given the same name twice!

September 14, 2010

Voicemail left by Melanie:

Real Voicemail: "Hey Chezzie, it's me. Just calling to say hi. Bye"

Emailed Transcription: "Hey jazzy, it's me. Just calling to say hi. Bye "

(My favorite name so far, Jazzy, arrived in my Inbox just today! Thanks Mel!)

September 8, 2010

Voicemail left by my Dad:

Real Voicemail: "Cherylyn, this is your dad. Talk to you later, bye."

Emailed Transcription: "Sheldon, this is daddy. Talk to you later, bye."

August 31, 2010

Voicemail left by my friend Jenna:

Real Voicemail: "Hey Cherylyn, It's Jenna. You know your message on your phone sounds kinda depressing, like you're depressed. Anyway, I always feel a little depressed after hearing it. Just calling to say hi and see how things are going and see how Clark likes preschool just calling to check up so anyway, give me a call when you can. Thanks. Talk to you later. Bye"

(FYI, I changed my greeting after I got this message :-)

Emailed Transcription: "Hey Sarah, man, it's John. I I you know your message on your phone. Sounds kinda depressing like your crap. Anyway I was so depressed after here but I say hi see how things are going see how Clark Lakes preschool. Just calling to check up. So anyway, give me a call back when you can. Thanks. Talk to you later. Bye "

(I love how Cherylyn was changed to Sarah, man. I also loved that they somehow threw the word crap in there!)

August 22, 2010

Call from Melanie:

Real Voicemail: "Cherylyn, it's 845 in the morning. Where are you call me. Bye"

Emailed Transcription: "Dylan and it's 845 in the morning. Where are you call me. Bye "

August 15, 2010

Call from Melanie:

Real Voicemail: "Hey Chez, it's Mel. Sunday night here, Monday morning there. Anyway, just calling to say hi. If you get this call me back. Bye"

Emailed Transcription: "Hey Chad, it's mom. Sunday night here Monday morning there. Then anyhow, just calling to say hi. If you get this call me back. Bye "

August 12, 2010

Call from Melanie:

Real Voicemail: "Hey Chez, it's Mel calling to say hi. Bye"

Emailed Transcription: "Hey Sandra, it's Mel calling to say hi. Bye "