Unseasonable

Unseasonably warm...that was today. Ethan tried to convince me it was actually summer as we sat without coats eating rootbeer floats in the sun today. It was Disneyland weather. Ahh Disneyland it would actually be shorts weather were we to go this year. The year we went in January we missed a week of -10 so 50 degrees felt awesome. But I hear it's mid 70s right now. That could be why the stores are pulling out the capris and here I thought that was unseasonable.

The Moral of the Story is...

Don't Judge!

I admit it. I've scoffed and scorned and even made fun a little of a certain man. It's not his fault he wears a silly bow tie and his grin makes you feel like finger nails are scraping the chalk board. Or that his parents named him Orville and his last name is Reddenbacker. Nope, I've been unfair. But you see, his smugness about his popcorn perfection just seemed a bit to self righteous and down right irritating. Plus for a popcorn purist like me, the fact that he promoted flavored popcorn was just too much. Yep, I've shunned this poor man for YEARS. Afterall, why pay more for popcorn with a silly guy in a bow tie when the 'cheap' popcorn was just as good.

The lesson: I was desperate...out of popcorn after buying very inferior bulk popcorn that I tossed. Down the aisle at the market and wouldn't you know the ONLY brand available was Orville. Smiling, goofy, bow tiey. But you can't go without popcorn, it's a food group, so in the cart he went. And in the pan when I got home went his kernels. And wouldn't you know that those kernels produced HUGE, fluffy, yummy popcorn. At least twice the girth of my regular pop. The size of which I may never have seen. Plus I had to empty my pan 3 TIMES...when I usually only have to once. For 14 years I've blamed my less than perfect popcorn on my gas stove top when really it was marginal popcorn.

So the moral? Don't judge a book, or a person or popcorn by it's cover, for inside may await a treat you never imagined.

Things I love; Things I hate

I LOVE Sierra and her friend, each on their own side of the street with their own chess board...playing over the walkie talkies.

I HATE reading charts.

I LOVE Ethan's new found interest in Nursery Rhymes and letters.

I HATE Fundraiser assemblies and the brain washing that comes with them.

I LOVE 3-5 grade hiking field work

I HATE the bodily function noises and spitting going on with the 1-2 grade field work.

I LOVE Tim and art.

I HATE flies.

I LOVE Emily's great attitude.

I HATE seasonal allergies.

I LOVE sunflowers on the side of the road...it's like Johnny Appleseed came by but scattered flowers instead of fruit.

I HATE cars that die (and back up cars that die on the same day).

I LOVE Popcorn. (That goes without saying.)

I HATE my new alarm clock/radio. (Seriously I'm a foot away and I can't read the numbers? What's up with that--plus it's 'new' technology is awfully staticy)

I LOVE the 'Wall-o-hangers' Mike installed for me. (He's handy like that.)

I HATE the unsportsman like attitude that pervades soccer games at Sierra's age.

I LOVE FALL!

Unions and Reunions...

First a union...I finally met my blog cousin. :)

I think Jana's kids and husband were as excited as I was to finally meet. Jana introduced me to Dave and we both said, yeah we're facebook friends. LOL And her kids even waved at me. Good thing we were in a public park and all, as you never really know what you might find from the blogging world. Amanda...if you are reading this, it's about time we met up too. Oh Lisa...you had to go and leave early for a wedding...whatever. LOL (Sorry I missed you.)



On to the REUNION...I made it to the 20 year. I like people...so I had a good time. I've dropped the grudge. And for the record, I've been a part of the ward choir for many years now.

The Ticket

As part of a deal to bury the hatchet on an old grudge, I bought a ticket to my 20 year high school reunion.

Huh...weird.

Why am I filled with self doubt? I think it's because I really kind of like carrying around a 20 year grudge. It's kind of comfortable and makes a good story. If I let go, I"ll have to come up with a new story.

So...how bout it...can you help with some titles for my new story?

Give it your best shot. :)

Musings on birthdays and helicopter rides

You feel like it should be profound when you haven't posted for months. But too bad it's just...well...random.

I found out Betty whom I've known was a kindred spirit since I first met her is my birthday buddy. Betty is 91 this year, I hope I'm as spunky when I'm that age.

When I told Ethan yesterday that today would be his half birthday he got all excited and said, "So I'll be 5 and a half?" Yes... "Then I'll be going to school shortly".

I love how he phrases things.

And speaking of other things...

You know, $25,000 for a helicopter ride when your feet are up and your head is down is not really a good deal. It was $12, 000 for the helicopter to just be...and $140 per mile...96 miles to my destination.

And small town hospitals are quite the crack up. With only curtains to seperate us, you'd think people would think before they spoke. But no, those walls must be like iron and nothing would get through.

One guy had a piece of sheet metal in his eye. And had had it there for 3-5 days (he wasn't sure) and it came out on his own in the waiting room. He made rain gutters. The doctor now has a quote for raingutters along the backside of his house. This may be a visit well spent for this guy.

One girl, had to give back her flute to her band teacher and she was mad that her grandma would not buy another. Her grandma...apparently....is not made of money and she missed her chance when they spent $300 on her prom dress. BUT THAT IS NOT FAIR, because music is her life. That and going to Lagoon and THEN deciding to go to the ER after for a wrist that has hurt for some 6 weeks. It is related to her flute playing...by the way which IS HER LIFE. And now she has no life because Grandma won't buy her a new flute. Grandma suggests selling her prom dressES yes plural. But that is not an option...well maybe 3 or 4 of them. ?!?!? or maybe some video games. Because after all playing the flute is HER LIFE.

One had a shoulder injury from rollerblading and hitting a bump in the sidewalk. She had been in pain for a couple of weeks but was worried as she was supposed to go 4 wheeling on the weekend. She knew her injury had happened on May 16 because that was the day her kid got bitten by the dog.

I had been feeling really lame for 'going to the ER' fully conscious, smiling, in little pain and just unable to walk...but after a couple of hours I felt quite legit and mostly sane.

I still don't think a sandwich, a room (with entertainment) and several cups of water really warranted the $1600 charge though.

At least if I was going to be injured it was doing something 'cool'. I now have a cool story to tell each new Physical Therapist I meet. That is handy, because nothing is quite as humiliating as telling your PT tech that you were rollerblading backwards down the sidewalk.

It is also handy when you plan to blow both ACL's to have to legit Military guys on your team. First the shear strength to play crutches for and second a good healthy dose of macho...nothing like getting your downed buddy out alive. They are good for finding an excellent landing spot for the life flight helicopter and the scouters around will definitely have a mirror for signaling. All important aspects of getting yourself out of one of the most rugged parts of the state. All in all a very memorable day.

The end of an era

Today I taught my last day of Joyschool. 5 kids...10 years (not consecutively THANKFULLY!) But wow...

Yesterday I registered Ethan for Kindergarten.
WOW. Tears (if only metaphorically--pretty sure the real ones will come soon enough)

I've had anxiety over this registration, wondering if I put Ethan in the right school. But as I walked in and saw Savanna's teacher from last year and the look on her face of recognition and joy...I knew I made the right choice. (Now just pray that the secretary sees that too and grants my teacher request.)

I will soon be a Mom of 'School aged' children...and that's all. No babies, no toddlers, no preschoolers.

Where will I fit in?

Will I still get invited to go to the park?

Can you ask your friends to play dates when you don't have anyone to play with?

I may go through a little identity crisis.

I'm not sad about it, quite the opposite, I feel ready to enter this part of my life.

But wow... it actually is happening.

I didn't believe that was possible some 13 years ago when I was constantly nursing a baby while reciting Dr. Seuss with my eyes closed (1. because I was too tired to keep them open and 2. because I had them all memorized.)

WEIRD.

Very Random Thoughts Of The Day

I thought having a peanut butter sandwich bar for dinner sounded like a good idea...I guess I was wrong.

Having a non-functional dishwasher is better than having a semi-functional dishwasher.

I really truly believe my stake presidency listens to the spirit...and the spirit was talking to them for me.

Snow...I'm so over it.

TimTams...I have friends in Australia and now I've bonded with them over TimTams.

I have a new side kick, I'll introduce him soon.

I feel philosophical 'rant' coming on about kids and newspapers...please remind me if I don't get to it soon.

I love my kids....ALL of them....A LOT.

(and Mike) (A LOT)

Little Happy Dance

We got the A-Ok from the state board of education today. Approved for high school.

Give a little YEAH!

Weight Lifting

Weight lifting generally means carrying extra weight.

It's felt like that as we've had some extra medical bills wallowing around in my budget for some time now. It was getting heavy.

Today I paid off all our medical bills and made the last payment on Emily's braces.

That's a new feeling.

Weight.............Lifting.


Ahhh, I think I like that. :)

Skiing

Took all 5 kids.

Anxiety.

Friend to the rescue.

Thankfully.

Anxiety.

By more than one participant.

Lessons.

For all.

Skiing fast.

Lunch.

Anxiety by different participants.

Confidence.

Gained.

Super Awesome Ninja Skiing skills displayed by Super Awesome Recycling Boy.

Beware if you ever ski near him.

He can't turn.

Very well.

Well actually, his last turn was a perfect parallel.

Sweet.

Skills increased.

Fun had.

Snow.

Falling.

Patches of blue sky.

Was o.k.

Glad we did it.

Tired.

Skiing.

Maybe we shouldn't

have attempted to replace the faucet the night before inviting Brooke & Andy to dinner. There is no need for water when cooking...right?

Despite that, I have a little smile on my face because I hear Tim and Mike working hard together to get that faucet changed...(of course I hope the smile will be bigger soon so I can wash the dishes no one wants to eat mashed potatoes on a paper towel.)

Soon Tim will have another checked off home repair for his merit badge and I'll have a new unleaky, will actually work faucet.

YEAH! (THANKS GUYS)

P.S. Now we have a Winco

So after reliving the bagger dilemma (see post below) I realized after reading all the LOVE left for Winco that I understand it now!

We NOW have a WINCO!

It's Ethan's favorite store. He loves to be 'store manager' and bag the groceries. BUT, he can't just bag them, he has to scan them first.

Which, translated, means he finds all the barcodes puts them up to the little metal plaque thingy at the end of the conveyor belt and says 'beep'. But like any good scanner it doesn't work EVERY time so sometimes he has to do it again. Yes it frustrates him too. (You can hear him talking to the produces sometimes)

I LOVE Winco because it makes me smile big and wide to watch Ethan's imagination in action. Gotta love that kid.

Oh yeah and I love the bulk foods section too. :) Granola anyone?

A trip down memory lane

I bought a Groupon coupon (that sounds cool) for $60 @ Blurb.com for 20 bucks. Cool eh...yeah except there is an expiration date. THAT MEANS DEADLINE. Which I guess is good since I've been meaning to make a blurb book out of my 2009 blog for...well...a year now. So here I am blurbing away (it's harder than they make it sound) and I'm laughing and giggling and smiling and stimulating my mind with all the old blog comments. So thank YOU my friends for making my blog that much more fun.

And do you remember THIS POST? Baggers gotta love em.

I challenged them

to make a snowman taller than Tim.

I think they cheated a little. :) What do you think?

You know you're...

in Provo when the restaurant you are eating in is full of expectant missionaries and their families going out for their 'Last Meal', and they leave with a little care package with 2 cookies and 2 lollipops.

(Oh yeah and the waiter entertains said customers with the 'story about when I almost got killed on my mission, but ended up teaching a discussion to the most unlikely person.)

Good News Minute

Why is it that the instant they announce the 'Good News Minute' in Relief Society my mind goes blank?

I think good things happen to me. I know good things happen to me...but nope blank.

Sometimes my blog is like a good news minute.

Enjoy...the loveliness of knowing there is good somewhere but I don't remember Who, What, Where, When or Why.

(Really I just can't stand having that picture up front and center. :) )

I LOVE Laundry...

Ha Ha...made you look.

'Cause, you know me well enough to know that I. DO. NOT. LOVE Laundry.

But it's a new year, clean and fresh...just like I LIKE my laundry.

Last year was like a brutal Loofa cleansing. This year, I have the urge to do something unexpected.

Can't tell you what or you would expect it.

So happy New Year you deserve it. :) Yeah...you, you know who I'm talkin' too.

My world's met last Saturday.. Brenda on the right...who is now blog buddies with Sharon in the middle (and Amelia) and I was lucky enough they invited ME to lunch. :) I think it is so fun you guys got to meet, and thanks Ken for the great photog skillz.

So many things...

I still think about writing on my blog....but it just seems so foreign, so not natural so I'm going to sound disjointed and messed up like I feel. Except I'm not feeling totally messed up and disjointed like I used to but it's like I can't remember how to get in the flow. Come on blog blogginess get with it again. So once again a list for you.

Things on or around my mind.

1. I want to institute Google day at my house. I learned last week that they give their engineers one day a week to work on ANY project of their choice. These projects do not need to entail anything to do with the internet, search engines, phones, operating systems or what not. Really any project they way even farming the ocean. Why would they do this? Creative juices baby. IT so happens though, that many of their great ideas were once 'personal projects'. We NEED a Google day at least once a month around here. I feel like my juices are drying up.

2. YW Excellence program was...really excellent. I was really touched be Emily's program tonight. Those young women in our ward are really beautiful...and not just good looking though they are, but beautiful inside and out. I had a glimpse of their 'divine nature' tonight. So cliche but so true and right.

3. High school progress...is well progressing, I am still working on possibilities. It does excite me.

4. Stress about business. Why is it so slow? And I'm hoping in a month I'll be asking...why did I worry about it being so slow? I should have got everything DONE while I could.

5. I am proceeding to getting the everything done deal done.

6. As such I am about 65% done with Christmas.

7. YEAH!

8. Also I'm going to out Brenda and let the whole world know that the girl that hates to shop has ALREADY started Christmas shopping. I'm proud of you Brenda. :)

9. I was reading the Personal Progress book...as a Mom I can do the projects and get my medallion...which I never finished as a girl so I should, but dang, it's harder now AND I still get the twisted up knot stress feeling in my stomach when I read it the same as when I was a young woman.

10. I LOVE the time change. My kids have been up and ready for school on time for TWO count 'em TWO days in a row now. :)

11. Little things make me happy.

12. GORGEOUS, GORGEOUS, GORGEOUS colors around right now. White snow on the mountain with beautiful yellow leafed trees lining the roads, deep reds and still green grass. Pink clouds in the sky and brilliant blue, clean air. What more could you ask for? YES this is why I love Utah.

13. I have a bundle of adorable pictures to post...but I haven't yet.

Thirteen...that's a good number I think I'll stick with that. :)