The Internet truly has something for everyone :) For whom exactly, I'm not sure, but it's funny! Instructions on how to crochet your very own ax and chainsaw. I can't tell you how long I've searched...
making me laugh today...
It's been a crazy busy week! Since last Wednesday I've been up to...
1. Remembering two friends' birthdays
2. Five R.S. visits- (having chamomile tea with a Buddhist was something fun I don't get to do every week!)
3. Two R.S. meetings
4. Two parent teacher conferences
5. One fever (Chloe-she's a trooper and feeling better)
6. Six school lunches- some hand delivered- so between the ill child and forgotten lunches what felt like a thousand trips to the school!
7. Seven loads of laundry-the never ending chore
8. Two dental cleanings for L & C- no cavities-hooray!
9. Taught five piano lessons
10. Painted our bedroom
11. Finished curtain panels for our bedroom
12. Haircuts for Lauren, Tanya, and Chloe- short, medium, long, in that order
Not too bad for a week, I really don't like weeks quite this busy, but it happens, more often than not sometimes. Still left to do-
1. Clean floors and bathrooms
2. Go to library
3. And most importantly, finish my book with a big mug of tea tonight, I can't wait!
make a difference!
Here's your chance-the Idaho legislature is voting on a bill that would enable midwives to carry oxygen, IV's, and other needed drugs. The passing of this bill is so important since it gives the client more choices. If you wish to have herbs and a natural birth the midwife can provide that, but should the need arrive for any interventions that would be available as well, preventing an inconvenient and costly hospital transfer. SO.... if you live in Idaho call 1-800-626-0471 and tell them you
support House Bill 488, the Voluntary Midwifery Licensure Bill, to please vote in favor of it and move it to the Floor of the House.
If you live in my zip code, you are in district #33, otherwise they can figure it out on the phone for you pretty easily.
the little things...
that I love. I've found that waiting and wishing for the big things in life sometimes takes too long or leaves you disappointed, so I'm all about enjoying the small things along the way. Sounds cliche, but it really helps. I have long been a huge fan of Burt's Bees products. I love their facial moisturizers mostly, but this week discovered this little beauty. Smells nice, feels nicer, and looks natural. I always feel a bit overdone with most lip glosses- you know that shade of pink that resembles no one's real lip color. Hooray Burt's, you made my day- again!
Lauren discovered a dry erase board I had stashed away somewhere and began leaving me little notes on it before she left for school. Of all the things she could draw and all the people she could write a note too-she chooses me. I told her last night to pinkie-promise (the true sign of a serious oath) me that even when she was older we would be great friends. Her reply was "Mom, of course, we'll always be the bestest of friends!" I hope so, even when she's a teenager and I'm not the fun, cool mom I was when she was seven. It's not easy being seven though I must add. The poor gal came home today with a huge bruise on her arm. A second grade boy grabbed her coat which came off and hit her with a stick. And there was the name calling and such. Apparently, a group of girls were making snowballs and it bothered this boy. It sure pulls at your heart when your daughter tearfully says, "Mom, I had a really bad day at school." I just want to pull her onto my lap and keep her safe in our home for a long time. I guess that's part of life, learning to deal with psychotic second grade boys- or boys in general :) But then hopefully those pesky boys grow up to be kind and thoughtful husbands and dads- we hope anyway~!
love by association...
Does a Valentine Day ever pass without seeing these little goodies all over the shelves at the stores? Not for me. I've honestly never really liked them too much until 2002 when Paul Windley became bishop of the Moscow University 4th ward. I served as R.S. Pres. and Activities chairman under him and really grew to love him and appreciate his quiet wisdom and subtle humor. One year ago he passed away after a battle with cancer. In his office it was not uncommon to see sweethearts. He would buy them by the box in February so they would last most of the year. I've never known anyone who liked them quite that much. Anyway, each time I see them I think of him. Still don't love the candy, but I love the memory of it.
So maybe that whole concept would work with my kids. I do love stir-fry, but I think I stand alone with that dish in our family. I keep making it in the hopes of changing some tastebuds, isn't that the definition of insanity? Today I thought I would try to give them the complete Asian experience by also making fortune cookies, in the hopes that they would be so excited that the stir-fry would just be part of the dinner package. They were super simple and like most home-made things tasted much better than the store-bought ones. I even got the privilege of making my own fortunes- (Great happiness will come to you as you make your bed each morning :) Just kidding! Sadly, the stir-fry was still picked over and complained about, although not as much as usual. Of course, the cookies were received well. Maybe I need a new stir-fry recipe- a crunchy one with sugar or maybe chocolate...hmm.
I'm so glad when daddy comes home...
I can guarantee that the three kiddos don't sit on the couch anxiously awaiting MY return from anywhere. Although I'm loved, it's a different kind of thing than they have with their Dad. I love to see it! It was a rare picture that for once wasn't staged or planned. The three of them perched on the couch just seemed to perfect to me.
I've had constant deja vu these last few weeks as Noah grows older and is talking more. You see, it's been a few years since Cody would drop to his knees and become the "horse." Something you only do for your children :) Now instead of the girls it's Noah getting trotted off to bed. Also, it escaped me as to what amazing memories these little ones develop. Or maybe it's just those all important and favorite things stick in their heads. I'm proud to say that Noah shares my love for chocolate soymilk and after we drank it up I heard for days - "cha- all gone, cha all-gone." Cha- his word for anything brown that resembles chocolate, afraid he did inherit that from me. Noah has a small obsession with Elmo also. He has a favorite video that he watches-maybe too much, or maybe he just has a great memory- my vote is with the memory. Anyway, the fantastic Sheryl Crow makes an appearance as a letter singing her own Sesame St. version of Soak up the Sun. So as we are driving out and about one day it comes on the radio and he notices and starts singing- as only a one year old can- his own version- good enough though that I knew he'd made the connection. Funny, maybe a little less Elmo 'round these parts?!
And finally the driveway picture tells me two things- the snow is slowly melting today- hooray! And the second- love is in the air. Chloe called me into the room telling me their was a heart in the driveway and sure enough there was. Kind of like seeing the elephant in the clouds I guess. That's what I love about my girls, they always see those little things that I miss that make me smile. Happy Valentine's Day, proof you can find love wherever you're looking!
what I learned this week...
1. When your son (or maybe it was the dog) spills milk on a new library board book, don't purchase one from Amazon.com in the hopes that the library will do a straight across trade. They have their own "private book vendor" who charges you twice as much. Oh well, now we have a cute book whose pages weren't destroyed by milk.
2. When you watch your very kind and generous neighbor pull out two other neighbors and a friend who get stuck in the ROAD in front of your house-hurry and leave the house so he's available to pull you out should you need it. (Which amazingly I didn't- who knew the Kia had in him!) A huge thanks to the city road department for finally plowing our street, I appreciated it so much!
3. When your daughter forgets to tell you her boots are wet and you forget to check before the next day of school make sure to tell her that after the liners dry at school they are to be INSERTED into the boots before wearing. Chloe came bouncing out of the school wearing nothing-not even socks-just her boot liners when I picked her up. "Mom, they were dry before I came out to the van!" How does that happen?
4. Don't attempt to remove a huge pan of bar cookies from the oven while talking to your husband on the cell phone. It may result in a dirty phone or worse- bar cookies sliding off the pan into the oven. Had it been the regular phone I might have fared better. I have a heck of a time holding those teeny phones between my ear and shoulder.
5. When your daughters take the dog for a walk around the block be sure his collar is tight enough so when he meets other neighborhood dogs he doesn't wriggle out of the collar and start a fight. (Sorry Louie!) Lauren came running in crying and I raced down to where Chloe was trying-unsuccessfully- to get Boozer's collar and leash back on. I will never know if the dogs were actually fighting or just being rambunctious, but the kids were not enjoying the show!
6. Always be grateful to piano students who like you well enough to offer a referral. I start a new student next week! And thinking I'm about filled up as far as students go.
Hope you all have a fantastic weekend!
what happens when...
you get out of church at noon you ask? You get kids making life-size Lego towers in your basement all afternoon. "Hurry MOM, take the picture, it's going to fall!" I had to keep coming in for them to measure if it was actually as tall as me. Well, I'm actually liking the early church schedule, besides having early meetings and trying to get out the door on time I do like getting home at noon. What else happens... we have time to make scones with Dad, a family favorite, especially since he cooks them. We have time to have family home evening and play three SORRY games- an L & C favorite, play until they win, that's their motto. Cody has time to tinker with one of Noah's electronic dinosaurs, manage to drop the parts in the garbage disposal without knowing it, leaving it to jam when I turn it on, ugh. He better have time this week to fix it! It's amazing how I survived 5 years without one of those little gadgets! And a dishwasher! We had some ancient student apartments in college. Maybe that helps me appreciate the little things, like not having your laundry area in your kitchen or your computer under the stairs- I digress. I do love my home, it's cozy, warm, mostly clean :) and has many conveniences I like. I did miss my disposal tonight though!
Well, not too much other news, gearing up for Valentine's day. Last year I totally missed the boat and all the Valentine's were sold out when Lauren and Chloe needed some. So I wasted no time picking some up this year. Not sure why I bought the candy 12 days before the actual holiday because of course it's already open and being enjoyed, not by the classmates of L & C though, so that means I'll probably be buying more. I am excited for these little towels and spatulas. So if you are a mum or sis you can expect to get a sweet little package next week. Before you think I'm all creative and stuff I copied the idea from another blog, is there a name for that- bloglifting? I don't know, they were fun to make though. So ladies, sorry to spoil the surprise, I just thought they were too cute. What other holiday can you find spatulas with hearts on them? Makes me smile!
