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!

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 'FUNK'

Please enjoy these selfies while I ramble on and on about nothing of real importance.

 Have you ever had one of those days where from the moment you wake up, you know something's just not right?  You feel a little twitch coming on, something different is in the air.  That was me a couple days ago.

 I call it 'THE FUNK'.  Basically it's a technical, sophisticated term for being ornery.

Doesn't saying "I've come down with a case of 'The Funk'." sound a lot better than saying "I'm really ornery today, so watch out because I just might kill you before the day is over."?

Have you ever had a case of 'The Funk'?  You're ornery, sassy, moody, grumpy, angry, sad, grouchy, crotchety, cranky, and very ill-tempered.  You know you have it and everyone around you definitely knows you have it, but there's nothing you or anyone else can do about it.  It's like a virus, you just have to wait it out.  

 Have you ever noticed that when 'The Funk' hits, it really hits.

Take my day for example:  I woke up to one side of my hair doing this really weird bouffant-type thing.  The other half was perfect.  No matter how much water I poured on it, or how many times I tried to comb it down, it went right back up into it's fro-self.  NOT COOL!  Then of course my patience was tested 1,000 times more than on a usual, non-funk day.  I got sassy the secretary at the dentist office who called to reschedule an appointment.  I was rude to sister, and honked at a sweet little old lady who was taking too long to cross the street (okay not really on the little old lady part).  Of course, Clint had to work late, and I think all of my kids (bless their hearts) purposely sent themselves to Time-Out just to stay clear of me.  Sorry Kids, It wasn't me - It was 'The Funk'.

Then I decided to make a new Pioneer Woman Soup recipe for dinner in between running kids to and from.  Two hours later, it still wasn't done!  So, I did what anyone with a case of  'The Funk' would do, I stomped around, slammed the kitchen cabinet doors a few times, then yelled for everyone to "come out of hiding if you want to eat", and served everyone cold cereal for dinner.  It was awesome.- I think it's even up for a "Best Funk Moment Ever" award.

Thank goodness I don't suffer from 'The Funk' very often, but when I do. . . .stay clear, you will get yelled at and you just might catch it too.

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

Come Join the Ranks

Over the weekend, we (well maybe I should say, my boys) joined the ranks in promoting and supporting ALS also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

 In case you live in a cave or underground and don't know about this challenge that has gone viral all over social media, you can read about it HERE.  Basically you video yourself or someone else dumping a bucket of ice water over your head.  Then you post that video on to your social media site(s) and challenge specific followers to do the same (#icebucketchallenge or #alsicebucketchallenge). You can watch my two boys' videos on my instagram HERE.  

When I think of ALS, I think of Cake Boss, Buddy Valastro's Mama.  If you watch the show, you'll know what a terrible terrible disease this is.  It affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord causing loss of muscle control.  Currently there is no cure and research is still being done to even find effective treatments.

 Now it's your turn-
I CHALLENGE YOU to take the Ice Bucket Challenge and/or Donate.

WHAT?!

1.  I can't walk today on account of I did a 10-minute Youtube workout, and then runned on top of that.  I don't know what I was thinking!

2.  I've been reading a Junie B. Jones book to my girls.  Cute books, terrible 1st grade grammar (for an example, see #1)

3.  It's getting close to "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year" again -School Time!!!!!  18 days and counting for us.

4.  Clint and I are trying to spend within our means by using Mr. Ramsey's Envelope system.  We've heard good things about it from lots of people.  We'll see how it goes.  (I hate budgeting.)

5.  Family Scripture Reading is back on track.  We had a week that was super crazy, but we're back going strong, unless you count last night when everyone fell asleep watching a movie.

6.  #3 has been gone on a scout trip for the last couple of days.  He gets home today.  We can't wait to see him!  He's the life of the party at our house.

7.  There is construction going on behind our house.  Waking up 6:00 am to the sound (and vibration) of tractors sure can put you in a crappy mood.

Losing My Mind

I think I'm losing my mind:

I can't think,

Form sentences,

or Make any sense,

I know what I want to say, but when I try to say it, my mind goes blank.

Wait, What was I saying? 

I start a sentence and BAM!  right in the middle, I totally forget what I . . .

If anyone finds my mind, can you please return it?  I'm really beginning to miss it.