Ramblings

Last Friday I realized that I hadn't posted one single post all week.

So let me give you a little update:

p.s.- this picture has nothing to do with anything.  I just think it's cute and my husband is HAWT!

1. We've been sick - Mentally and Physically Sick

Some have had Bronchitis and others have had made-up stomach aches.

The Bronchitis I can handle, the anxious pretend stomach aches I can't.  It is physically and emotionally draining to cure the "I don't want to go to school because___________, so I'll pretend I have a stomach ache or I'll worry so much I give myself a stomach ache. Once school is underway, this child is miraculously cured!

Hallelujah! It's a miracle.

Except it's not. What it is is exhausting. We've talked with school counselors and teachers.  We even visited the doctor- you know, "just to make sure". Finally I just had to put on my mean mom jeans and tell this child that if he/she wasn't throwing up and/or if there was no fever, he/she was going to school! With a grand finale of "AND you better not call me "sick" from school because I will not come pick you up."

There may have been some finger wagging and head bobbing when we had this little discussion.

After a tons of crocodile tears and a lot (I mean a LOT) of whining, finally everyone is back in school.

Hallelujah!  Now that's a miracle.

2. Speaking of exhausting, The hubs and I have been planning out our landscaping.

When we bought our house three years ago, it didn't have a yard.  Our realtor told us it would cost us around $5000 to landscape it. HA! What he meant to say was that it would cost us around $5000 times 6. 

Since we can't afford that, we have decided to do a little at a time. Last year we spent way too much on dirt. Doesn't that sound like an oxymoron? You buy dirt to add to the dirt you're trying to cover up with grass. Yeah weird, but if we didn't, our grass would be half a foot below the sidewalks, and that could cause a lot of sprained ankles.

This year, we are installing (by ourselves) the sprinkler system. Before you do this, however, you need to map out where everything is going to go - flower beds, rock-walls, patios, basketball court (yes that will come eventually), and the garden spot.  This was hard- way too many decisions. BUT I think we came up with a plan that will eventually give us an awesome yard.

3. #3's first dance, Preference, was on Saturday. I posted a photo on Instagram and I'll post more photos here on Wednesday. I had to laugh when #3's friend took the words right out of my mouth by commented: "They grow up so fast!" Boy do they!

4. We've lost another library book. 

UGGH!

If you happen to see the book Ellie and the Good Luck Pig will you send it this way please.

Thanks!

Randomness and Other Things

A.) The kids celebrated their 100th day of school last week. 

That means that I have less than 80 days of a quiet house left before the madness of summer comes.

Just thinking about it makes me want to go take a nap.

 II.) #6 has grown hair! It's a miracle. It took her almost 8 years to do it, but she did it.

Yesterday she wore it down, AND she let me curl it - That's a BIG DEAL!

I called her "Lady Lovely-Locks" all day. She scowled at me, but I think she secretly liked it.

3.) I saved the best picture for last. my fine-looking husband fixing the water heater.

(*whistle*)

 He did this after he fixed the dryer.

The water heater's pressure valve was broken and was leaking water all over the floor.

Just over a month ago, this room was covered with wrapped Christmas presents. Can you imagine what a mess it would have been if the water heater had decided to break then?  

I give all the credit to the grace of God.

After 3 weeks, we now have a dryer.

We were able to find a shop that would repair the broken control panel of our dryer.

(When I say we, I mean my handsome handyman-)

I've never been so excited to do laundry before in my life.  I did 4 loads last night, and I've done 2 so far this morning.  I'm like a crazy woman washing everything in the house- sheets, bedding, pillows, the dog (oh wait, we don't have a dog). It's so nice to be able to have soft, warm clothes again.

No more scratchy underwear!

Whoo-Hoo!

12 Days of Christmas Randomness

1. Two Sundays ago we all accidentally dressed in Christmas colors.

Definitely picture worthy!

2. Last Sunday, we kept with the long-standing tradition, and had the grandchildren decorate Grandma and Grandpa's Christmas tree.

3. We've sat on Santa's lap, as well as written him our last minute Christmas lists.

4.  We attended a Christmas party at Gram's assisted living center. The kids made trees while Clint sampled all the candy.

5.  Last week it snowed.  It was absolutely beautiful.

6.  The next day it snowed even more.

Then yesterday it rained, and melted everything away which I'm not happy about - I'm dreaming of a white Christmas!  Fingers crossed it snows today.

7.  Yesterday #3 spent the day snowboarding in the mountains where it was snowing  - Lucky!

8. The stockings are hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas soon will be here.

9. All the gifts are wrapped, and I can't wait for Christmas morning.

10. #5 had a dance recital this past weekend.  She did great, and is a natural-born performer.

11.  Due to some scheduling conflicts and a surgery, we were not able to have our traditional Cookie Day this year, so yesterday, the girls and I (since the boys were out playing), whipped up a few things, and everyone was happy, happy, happy.

 12.  And last but not least, Christmas came early for these two little girls.

My best friend, Denise (mother of 4 boys), gifted them her old Barbie Dream house (circa 1980), with furniture and Barbie dolls too.  

Remember Aja, the blue-haired Jem doll?

If you need me, I'll be upstairs playing Barbies!

Randomness Post # 7.2356a

 i. Last month I cleaned out my closet.  This is what is left-  a few shirts, 2 skirts, 1 pair of jeans, some shoes, and a bathrobe. This cleaning was due to having recently read the book: 

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Condo.  It's all about how to declutter and organize, but you probably already figured that out (you smartie!). I've slowly been going through the house, keeping only items that bring me joy (aka-still fit me) and getting rid of the rest.  I still have a lot to do, but I choose not to think about that right now.

f. Over the weekend I ran to the mall to buy #4 new Sunday clothes.(He's growing like a weed and now towers over me- No FAIR!) I just happened upon a store having a huge sale.  After spending way too much moolah (that's Spanish for Money- I think), I now have some jeans that fit, and a new jacket!  I also bought Clint a few things, and #2 a few things but she won't get them until her birthday next month.

5. Speaking of birthdays, my sweet little girl will turn 18!  That's E-I- G-H-T-E-E-N peeps!

(insert running around the house screaming)

I'm much too young to have two adult children.  I want a do-over!  Who do I call to file a complaint?

 

 xii. I went on a school field trip with #6 to Cornbelly's.  

I had her cute friends in my group.  We got lost in the corn maze), which only took us approximately 1.4765 hours to complete. (I hate corn mazes, but I was such a good sport this time.  You know, to set a good example for the children and all. . .  We also went on a hayride, played on a beach made of corn kernels, and entertained ourselves on about 1000 different playhouses and swing-sets.  It was a good time.

A.  Last night I looked over at the lamp on Clint's nightstand and thought how sweet it was of him to decorate our room for Halloween.  Only he didn't.  So that only means that spiderweb is real, and I'll be spending some much needed time dusting the house today!

Weekend Happenings

In no particular order. . . .

 Clint's little cousin Samantha got married Saturday in the Mesa, AZ temple!  I was so very sad I could not be there.  She looks beautiful!

 Today (technically not part of the weekend, but . . . .), I began another Bikini Body Mommy challenge.  This will be my 3rd.  My goals this time around are:

1.  Gain more muscle

2. Lose more body fat. 

I'm not sure exactly where I am, but I think I want to lose about 3-5% more.  In order to accomplish this I'm going to have to really work on goals 3 and 4.

3. Eat more veggies, less fruit, and increase my healthy fats.

4. Move more!  Sometimes I think I eat out of boredom.  I think I'm hungry, but really I'm just looking for something to do.  To combat this, I'm going to try going for a walk whenever I think I this might be the case. 

 Yesterday, Sunday, we had a good two hour visit with Gram.  She seems to be doing much better acclimating to her new life in a retirement center. We went for a walk around the grounds, visiting the duck pond, and floating leaf boats down the stream along our way.

Friday afternoon this was mysteriously dropped off at our door.

It was a invite for #2 to Homecoming.  The dance is a week from Saturday. EEK! We're going shopping today.  Wish us luck!

Smell-mories

Do you ever smell a certain smell and immediately you're transported to another time or place?

This morning we had cantaloupe with breakfast.  One whiff of that fruity smell and I was 10 years old again on summer vacation eating breakfast with Gram out on her patio on a warm fresh morning.  For some reason, I only remember having cantaloupe at Gram's house- cantaloupe with bacon.  YUM!

I have other smell-mories as well.

For instance, I can't smell Red Vines or greasy fast food without thinking of my other sweet grandma - G.G., who used to eat licorice by the handful while flipping burgers at her ma and pop fast food diner - The Timpfreeze.

For my dad, the smell of manure reminds him of home and his childhood.  Lucky for him, since I live just up from a dairy, he gets to smell that every time he comes to my house.

Ahhh smell-mories like the corner of my nose?

What Smell-mories do you have?

The life of me

a.  Over the weekend, I finished reading the last book in one of my favorite series.  It was awesome, yet sad.  I hate it when a series ends.  I wish they could go on and on forever.  You fall in love with the characters and you just want to follow their lives forever.

Have you read any of the culinary mysteries by Josi Kilpack?

They feature a lovable sleuth named Sadie Hoffmiller whose love for food is weaved through her stories (and yes, recipes are included!).  Her books are a quick easy, sometimes intense, but mostly fun (and let's not forget mouthwatering) read.  I love them, my teenage kids love them, and you will love them too.

b. Last weekend we finally took down the dead, brittle Christmas tree.  Some of the kids helped me remove the ornaments, and then the hubs carried it outside where we spent (I kid you not) almost an hour in the freezing cold unwrapping all 20 strands of lights!  What was I thinking putting that many lights on?

c.  The family tree in our TV room is still up.  Yep, I'm awesome like that.

d.  I'm on day 12 of my 2nd Whole30.  It's funny (not really) that I spent 3 months of jogging/running everyday during the summer, and the only thing I have to show for it is a bummed knee, and maybe 1 pound less on the scale.  I've spent a little over a month doing absolutely no exercise, but eating healthy and I've already lost 14 lbs.  Say what!?  Seriously, abs ARE made in the kitchen.

e.  Basketball season is upon us once again.  This year, only the two youngest boys are playing.  I love watching them, but miss seeing my girl play.  Clint is coaching #4's team.  They are pretty good.  During the first game, my kids told me I was getting pretty mouthy, so this past week, I had to bring something to do to help take away some of my focus from the game.  I'm telling you, those Ref's are sometimes blind as a bat or they see things that aren't really there.  Hopefully I didn't embarrass anyone this week.

Christmas Vacation

Christmas is here, including Christmas Vacation for the kids, but not for Clint.  Just like Santa, this is also his Busy Season.  He's been working Saturdays and he even had to work yesterday, on Sunday.  BOO! HISS!

That means I'm on my own to keep these six little cuties not only entertained but also CALM as the excitement for Christmas day draws closer (thus the reason I'm blogging so late).  Today knowing this, I woke up extra early (almost as early as Clint) to finish my Christmas shopping.  After an hour in the store and an hour in the check-out line (so much for trying to beat the crowds), I am happy to report MY CHRISTMAS SHOPPING IS FINISHED!  

Crowd Cheers with Applause and clapping: YAY!  

Now to wrap it all up (pun intended), and get it under the tree.

Other things that were done today:

(because I know you're interested)

1.  Hung the stockings by the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be here, but not too soon because I'm not ready yet.

2.  I broke up an argument between the two little girls.

3.  Deep cleaned the playroom and bedrooms.  Boy was that was a chore!  We went through every box, drawer, and cabinet of toys, organizing and getting everything back to it's proper place.  We also tossed a few Barbies that have been beheaded or lost a limb or two over the year.

4.  I broke up another "disagreement" between the two little girls, who got sassier and sassier with each other as the day continued.  This time I told them Santa's Elf just called to tell them they were on the Naughty List.  They straightened up and shut their mouths.  -It was awesome.

3.  As a reward for such hard work, we had a gingerbread house building/decorating contest.  The boys -vs- the girls.  (More on that later).  Boy was there a lot of smack talk going down at our house!

4.  I played taxi driver, running kids to play excuse me, hang, with friends, to the bank. and to a Basketball scorekeepers meeting.

5.  Finally turned a Christmas movie on for the girls while I take a hopefully long winter's nap sans kerchief.

  Man, it's going to be a looooong two weeks.

Randomness

 1.  We've been having some totally awesome sunsets lately.  

We have not lately been having much snow.  There's a little on the ground from the last snow storm but not much.  I WANT A WHITE CHRISTMAS GOSH DANGIT!!!!!  

I guess if we can't have snow, I'll take the painted skies.

They are really beautiful.

2.   Yesterday morning this tiny thing woke up with a headache.  I let her lay in my bed, hoping a little more sleep would cure her.  She never slept, but played with her My Little Ponies instead.  Then she decided she was hungry, so out to the kitchen we went.  I poured her a bowl of Rice Krispies.  Before she even took a bite, she accidentally spilled it because she was doing her Barbie Stylin' -Head's hair while eating her cereal.  UGH!  After cleaning up the mess and pouring yet another bowl of cereal, she decided her tummy hurt and back to my bed she went.  Right as I sat down to my yummy breakfast of latkes and applesauce (Hey!  It is Hanukkah) I hear crying coming from the bedroom along with barfing sounds.  Whenever you hear that combination you know it's NOT GOING TO BE GOOD!  Yep, throw-up - on my pillow.  Why oh why couldn't she have been on Clint's side?  I rush her off to the bathroom but of course she was all done vomiting by then.  Did I mention all over my pillow?  Into the bath she went.  I had 5 minutes to bathe her, get her dressed, and run #5 to school.  It was a miracle we made it.  I think I even set a new world record.  -NO LIE-

 Once I called the school to excuse her because she was sick, a miraculous healing took place and she's been fine ever since.  No more headache, no more stomach ache.  (It's a Miracle!)

"So, Mom, what do you want to do today?"

"Aren't you so glad I'm home with you today so you don't have to be all alone?" 

"Let's bake something."

"Can we make rainbow flower cookies?"

Sure thing!  But only because you're my baby and I like to spoil you and coddle you.

And that's the end of that.

3.  A boy Clint and I teach at church brought us a Christmas gift .  I think it's one of the sweetest things ever.  It made my day!

4.  Did I ever tell you about the time Clint was a human Christmas tree and all the kids at church got to decorate him?  That's the most handsome Christmas tree I've ever seen.  He even smelled like pine for the rest of the day (okay, no, not really, but that would have been really cool!)

5.  Christmas is in a week!  7 days!!!!  I had planned to finish wrapping my gifts today but that didn't happen (See #2), and  I'm starting to feel the crunch.

Spiritual Enlightenment HERE

Life

a.  My day was made when I woke up this morning to chocolate on my pillow.  It was undoubtedly left there for me by my oldest.  He knows his mama well.

b.  On the flip side, yesterday I woke up to no internet service - thus no blog post.  I would reset everything and it would work just long enough to get me excited, then it would shut off again.  Living out in the sticks, we only have 2 options for internet one is super slow, the other gives spotty service.  Guess which one I have.

c.  This past weekend was LDS General Conference Weekend.  As always, the talks were incredible.  The topic that stood out to me was PRIORITIZE.  Put prayer, scripture study, Family Home Evening, and the temple first, then fit everything else in.  

d.  This selfie of these three boys was taken at the Priesthood session inside the Conference Center.  Don't they look  handsome.  Thanks Uncle Steve for the tickets.

e.  This year we started a new conference tradition.  After seeing several other families post about putting together a puzzle while they watched the conference sessions, I decided to do the same thing.  Saturday the boys put together half of a 1000 piece puzzle before they left for the Priesthood Session.  While they were gone, my girls helped clean up the family room, including the half completed puzzle.  No worries, Sunday we began again and finished it just before the last session was over.

f.  Saturday night, while the boys were at Conference, I, my sister, her two boys, and my three girls met up for Cafe Rio, ice cream, and playtime/talk time at the park.  While the men are away, the girls will play. . .. 

g.  Today, I'm trying to find the energy to deep clean my house.  You know wash walls, dust ceiling fans and the tops of cabinets, wash windows, wipe mop boards- stuff you don't usually do, but needs to be done.  Wish me luck.  And if anyone wants to help, just come on over.