Presidents' Day

I got the kids up at 7:00 this morning on a holiday to do chores. Secretly, they were really grateful, I'm sure.

Conversations that ensued:

5yo: It's seven hundred. Should I wake up the girls?
Me: Yes, please.
5yo: They usually get up when I yell "BOO!"
5yo: *Goes and yells "BOO!" at the 12yo and 15yo*
5yo: Um, they jus' ugnored me.

7yo: My eyes hurt really bad.
Me: If you have pinkeye, I'm quitting my job.
12yo: What job?
Me: MOTHERHOOD.
7yo: *throws up*
12yo: Please don't quit, Mom!

15yo, playing out of the Children's Songbook: The Prophet said to plant a garden?
Me: Well, yes.
15yo: When?

This picture just makes me laugh. The kids were watching the baby stretch and kick, and more than one of them thought it was creepy.

Making Mr. Rogers Proud

When we moved into our current home five years ago, one of our new neighbors warned us gently about the guy across the street: He didn't care for cats (not a problem) or kids (maybe a problem). We noticed right quick that he didn't care much for a friendly "hello" either. But we've acquired no cats, kept the kids out of his yard and avoided subjecting him to neighborly chit-chat, and in return, we've had no complaints from him. Good enough!

He can't be that bad, because he did take the time to come over shortly after we moved in, and let us know that our perpetually flooded driveway did indeed have a drain, and he pointed out where he thought it was. I thanked him happily, and I intended to thank him again with a plate of goodies, but never got around to it, of course. Until Monday morning, it was the only time I had conversed with him in five years.

He DID report us to the police once, but so did pa-lenty of other households within a one-mile radius. (No exaggeration. Turns out illegal fireworks can be mistaken for gunfire or worse. Who knew?) Anyway, we suspect he was one of the ones who called, because he was watching from across the street as the police came to the door, which was thrown open by six ecstatic children (and one mother with a camera) expecting to see Santa Claus.

(Bless Santa's heart, he had arrived at the same time as the police, and was waiting around the corner for the dust to settle. Except when he did finally come to the door, the children refused to answer it. Go figure.)

SO just Monday morning, I happened to be taking kids to school right when he and his dog were outside, and the dog came barreling across the street towards us, barking and growling. The poor man had no choice but to come collect his dog. I figured I'd better say something, which ended up being:

"So, is this a new dog?" (Because I really couldn't remember ever seeing it before.)

And he replied, "No, I've had him for six years."

I think that's a conversation that'll hold us for another five years, don't you?

For Mandi

(Because I would do anything for Mandi.)



That is a mad bull, right? With really skinny legs? Or am I totally missing it? (I'm probably totally missing it.) Wait, is it a mad bull being held up in the air by a Polar Bear? A two-headed llama? An Ecuadorian pictograph for Olé, we finally unloaded the reject fabric on that guapo, guapo gringo?



I'll get back to you on the egg whites - gotta go pick kids up.

2010

I swiped this from my awesome sister.

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1. What did you do in 2010 that you’d never done before?
I ran for 2 miles. Without stopping. Now you can stop laughing.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Didn't make any, so yes? No? And so far, there are no new ones, but we'll see. (Maybe I should resolve to be more decisive.)

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Two of my brothers' wives did (note the punctuation: that's two married brothers, not one brother with two wives), and I got to spend time in both of their homes within the first weeks/months afterwards. How do they make it look so easy? I do NOT remember it being that easy. Other people gave birth too, but I didn't invite myself to their houses.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Not close to me personally, but some dear friends lost their 25yo son very suddenly, and I don't know how to express how heart-wrenching it has been. I would do anything to make it easier for them, but there's no magic for something like this. I just keep thinking of one of my favorite quotes: "Hands often speak as voices can't. A warm embrace conveys volumes. A laugh together unites us. A moment of sharing refreshes our souls. We cannot always lift the burden of one who is troubled, but we can lift her so she can bear it well." (Elaine L. Jack) Even then, I'm not sure how much is too little, and how much is too much.

5. What countries did you visit?
Who put this question in here?

6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
The usual - more organization, less clutter, more motivation, less waistline, more generous budget . . . but none of those are life-threatening (yet), so I can live with it. Or work on it. Either way. (See #2.)

7. What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Days I got really good news, days I got really bad news, and the Great Kidney Transplant of 2010, because it went so well and because my sister and I laughed ourselves sick whilst documenting it all.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Well, staying pregnant is definitely up there. Also, I drove all the way to Utah all by myself. And ran a little (locally. Not on the way to Utah). Also, I managed to get to a place, financially, where I no longer have to take time away from my family to supplement the income (as long as I'm very careful). (Plug here for YNAB, of course. Oh how I love it.)

WAIT WAIT!! I also voluntarily and correctly whipped egg whites several times!

9. What was your biggest failure?
Announcing to the entire church choir that I had recognized one of the songs from our Christmas Cantata in a Disney movie, and wasn't that fascinating? And then being informed that the mysterious song was "Ave Maria." (In my weak, weak, defense, the Cantata had different lyrics and no credit for the original.) (If you're thinking I missed a way more obvious failure, just keep it to yourself, ok?)

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I thought I had broken my foot at one point, but luckily I was wrong. I wasn't looking forward to explaining that I broke my foot by falling over while walking out the door. I was going to tell people I did it while demonstrating a back handspring for the kids. You would have bought that, right?

11. What was the best thing you bought?
A bigger family car, with SEAT WARMERS, I tell you! (A well-timed purchase brought about by the unexpected demise of my poor van.) So what if I'm generally hunkered down at home because of 13mpg. When I do go out, my seat is TOASTY!

12. Where did most of your money go?
Not into my pocket, that's for sure. Actually, I could fire up ye olde YNAB (I don't even get a kickback. I just love it.) and tell you exactly where it all went, but that's not any of your business. I guess there's some spare change I can't account for . . . no, wait: it's under the couch cushions with the legos, hair clips, and loose thumbtacks.

13. What did you get really excited about?
Besides seat warmers? And Star Sushi's crunchy crab roll? At one point, I told myself to get really excited that my potty-training/smelly-diapering/nursing-bras/eternal-nights were things of the past. It was working, too. But then I was really excited to find out I was wrong.

14. What song will always remind you of 2010?
I'm thinking it's "Ave Maria."

15. Compared to this time last year, are you:
– happier or sadder? Happier, in the sense that life keeps getting better.
– thinner or fatter? AHEM
– richer or poorer? What is this, the nosiest quiz ever?

16. What do you wish you’d done more of?
More and more and more playing with my kids. I was better at that in 2010 than in 2009 or 2008, but tick tock . . . they'll start leaving in a few years and I already miss them.

17. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Wasting time.

18. How did you spend Christmas?
Morning at home, afternoon/evening with extended family.

20. What were your favorite books of the year?
"Joan of Arc" (Twain) . . . and . . . uh . . .. good golly, is that the only book I finished? How embarrassing. Add reading to #16. And I think I found a resolution for 2011: Not getting kicked out of Book Club.

21. What was your favorite music from this year?
I know I should come up with something current, but would it surprise you to hear I have no idea what's current? So instead, I'm going with the violin/piano/cello trio that I got to play with my 14yo and 12yo at Christmas. I may have even teared up a little every doggone time we played it together. I love those girls.

22. What were your favorite films of the year?
I don't go to a lot of movies, but wasn't this a good year for animation? "Despicable Me" and "Tangled" were so good! That's right! I'm six years old!

23. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 35, went to Mongolian BBQ with good friends . . . and now I'm panicking because I can't remember what I did that night, and I hope it wasn't something meaningful involving anyone who's going to read this. If I was J-Dub, I'd look back at my faithfully kept journal for reference. Curses.

24. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
More sleep. Fewer school mornings. More family vacations. Oh wait, that was three things.

25. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
What's a personal fashion concept?

26. What kept you sane?
I'm wondering the same thing.

Titles Stress Me Out

Last summer, (dear summer, I miss you) I was picking my 12yo up from the dentist's office, and she and I were waiting while the gentleman ahead of us was being checked out. It was taking a while, but we weren't in any hurry. I can't remember what we were talking about . . . maybe the upcoming family reunion, or our mutual gratitude that she had no cavities?

As we were headed out the door after checking out, the gentleman we had waited for approached me and shook my hand, then congratulated me on my daughter's good manners, my parenting, and the rapport he had observed!

As I thanked him, he handed me this card:





I'm not going to lie; it made my day! What a kind, thoughtful gesture!

Also, I'm not going to lie; had he seen me about 24 hours prior in Wal-Mart with my 7yo and 5yo, he most definitely would not have handed me that card. I wonder if he has a card in his other pocket that says, "Hey, lighten up and realize that if your kids are a little wired, it's because they're making the best of yet another boring shopping trip."

Actually, I kept that card out on my dresser for quite a while, because that was the week when the baby nausea started, (and the ensuing survival mode: just keep them fed and clothed and get them to and from school on time). I had to remind myself that there was a time when I felt like being a good mom.

I'm hesitant to write much on here about this baby, because there are a few people very near and dear to me who would give anything to be in the same place. At times when I've felt the same way, even when I was genuinely happy for those with better luck, I didn't always want to read all about it. (Not that women shouldn't be writing about it - I just chose not to read it sometimes.) (I've rewritten this paragraph about 6 times, so I hope it's taken as it's meant.)

But anyway, I'll save all the nitty-gritty details for my own personal journal, and just say that we're all terribly excited and grateful and just a wee bit nervous, but mostly excited. And grateful.

You know what else I'm grateful for? Everyone in this house has been sleeping in until 8:00 during Christmas break. I don't think we've enjoyed that any time in the last 14.9 years! Next week is going to be torture.

But this week is bliss!

Sincerely

Dear October,

Deer AND elk season, two soccer games per Saturday, and the long-term departure of my beloved warm weather?

Your only redeeming features are fall leaves and multiple birthday celebrations.

Sincerely,

Is it Spring Yet?

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Dear Family,

Did I really take a whole, entire shower without anybody trying to talk to me through the door? A whole shower in which I didn't have to holler that truly, honestly, I can't hear what in the world you're saying, and that if it's not blood or fire, it can wait?

Love,

Stunned, but Grateful

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Dear Halloween,

I was in costume. I was a nudist on strike.

Sincerely,

HAR HAR

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Dearest, Sweetest Automotive Seat Warmers,

Where have you been all my life? You are rising quickly to the top of my short list of things that make winter bearable.

Love,

Please Don't EVER Leave Me

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Dear Kids,

Tonight when we watched videos of you from 3 years ago, you were all so young and cute, it really did hurt a little to see how fast you're growing up. And then I realized that in 3 years, the videos we shoot this year will be young and cute and a little painful, too. I wonder if you all could just stop growing up for a little while? My heart can't keep up with you.

Love,

Mom

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Dear Crunchy Crab Sushi Roll,

Is it wrong that I can't stop thinking about you? And that I offered a date with you to my daughters as a reward for good grades? (They seemed a little confused by the offer. Weird.)

Sincerely,

Report Cards Come Out This Month

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Dear Little Idea I Tried Out,

Well, whaddya know? It worked! Just about 4 weeks after the last bag of baby clothes was given away, actually. The excitement around here is tangible, and the kids' anticipation might be the funnest part of all.

Sincerely,

I Still Can't Believe It!

Complete Slacker

Since it's common knowledge that I have got some fears, it should also be noted that I hate change! I don't deal with it well at all. So 6 months ago we moved. It's been the hardest thing for me! We moved one mile away. I realize this is pathetic but I've had every emotion hit me about moving. However, it's not just that we packed up our house and moved our belongings, I have a theory as to why it's been so hard:

• We changed Wards-we went from a very small, close knit ward, to a huge ward where I hardly know anyone! Making new friends if very hard for me!


• Two of my greatest friends moved away, I miss them terribly!


• I started learning who my true friends are and who was just "friends" with me because we were in the same ward.

I've had some great help though in dealing with the change and some recent realizations:

• My three year old was having a hard time adjusting and stopped sleeping through the night, she went from sharing a room with her brothers to having her own room. A great friend brought her family over for dinner and it normalized everything for my girl and she started enjoying her own room and started sleeping all night again. Thank you!


• I came to the realization that having not moved wouldn't make me feel better. I didn't miss our ward as much as I missed our ward of a few years ago when my great friends were still there.


• I have still got some great friends that will always be my friends and that after a really bad day I can call at 9:30 at night to meet me for a movie and they let me complain and they make me laugh and we enjoy our movie.

So my conclusion is I've been neglecting blogging because people don't want to hear me complain about how difficult things have been lately, but now that I'm on the other side I can say I love my new house, the space is amazing, and I'm so glad we switched wards, all the kids have made so many new great friends that it was completely worth it! And I've got great friends that haven't moved and I really do enjoy them. And I made a new friend! So I am back and I did do something completely for the sake of the blog this summer. Stay tuned.....................