Another Month

There is always something nice about starting a new month...I guess it's kind of like starting a new year. It's another month closer to summer, it's another month that is over with, It's another month to get things done, it's another month to try and live within a budget, and it's another month to..........I don't know what else I just like turning over that calendar page and move on.

Not much to write about today. I'm still working on the girls being not only kind to each other but tolerable. Some days its good and some days it's not. We are working on it though. It's interesting to see the changes come about as they get older. They used to like the same things and get along quite well but personalities and interests are becoming quite defined and quite different. Sarah is a teenager now and I think Kate "misses" her. A 3 year age difference at this age is a lot. I think if we can get them both through middle school they might like each other a little better (or we just might ring their necks).

Sarah "won" the $10.00 for the month for doing her jobs happily and regularly and Curtis and Sterling won a candy bar for "good effort". Now jobs change and we will see who wins for february (Its usually the person with garbages - that's the easiest job).

I'm not doing so well on my goals - I made cinnamon rolls last night and I ate 3 of them with a couple glasses of milk and I have exercised once since Jan. I just have to hit a motivation point and then I get on a roll. Todd didn't even eat one! not because he tries to eat healthy or anything he just doesn't eat much baked goods. He is no fun!

I think its time to sell the house. But will it sell is the question. Ours is too big and too expensive. Advice to children - Don't buy a big house even if you can afford it.






I want this cookbook

Notes to Self

For a more pleasant Christmas............

1. Save Christmas shopping until the week before Christmas because I spent most of my time returning things before Christmas because the kids changed their minds on what they wanted (other than things that have to be ordered and do all ordering at one time to save on shipping)

2. None of us are aloud to get sick

3. Plan a trip...we had too much time off of school after Christmas that the kids were bored (especially Kate and Sarah) and fought fought fought. Hopefully we can go to Arizona and get in the snow.

4. The kids have to shop and choose their exchange gift on their own. I'm not doing it for them. I think all exchange gifts should be homemade next year! (my camera stinks!)

5. Todd needs to be included in the shopping. He gets off way too easy!

6. Take family picture in the summer time and not a week before Christmas

7. Purchase new clothes for winter in Nov. rather than Dec. All I did for a solid 3 weeks was shop for birthdays, winter clothes and shoes and then of course Christmas - Oh and start putting money away now. December kills us every year.

8. Send parents gifts by Dec. 1

9. By Christmas night we were looking for a resturaunt open because I was done in the kitchen - NOTHING is open on Christmas (which is the way it should be) so plan ahead for that one

10. Make and deliver friends goodies a week before instead of on Christmas Eve

And last of all - Todd and I need to spend more time together!! I felt like I spent so much time trying to please the kids we forgot whats important.

NOW for a new year! Call me weird but I get so excited buying a new calendar and putting all the school and church events on the calendar, planning vacations, making appointments for things that need to get done it is just so fun! I'm almost giddy. Is that weird? I think its an illness because I almost get more pleasure out planning and organizing than I do doing. Todd says I'm a get it done and over with kind of person. He is a stop and smell the roses kind of person. We both need a little of each other in us. I guess we balance each other though.

I'm enjoying kids being in school and getting caught up...cleaning, costco, bills, getting kids back on track with their goals and responsibilities etc.

My goals for 2011:

Get all pictures in a book

Get home videos on DVD

Loose 15 lbs (which includes eating healthier and exercising - good blood work results by July!)

Prepare for a mini triatholon

Complete personal progress

Complete scripture reading program

Take violin lessons

Find money so we can paint our house, landscape, trips to AZ, trip to conference and Cedar (just me and Todd) buy a couch, table, rug and just redo the whole house (I wish)
I'm sure I will add more or change as the year goes on but for now those are my aspirations!

Our family set goals for family night and Scott didn't see the point of setting goals.... (Some people are goal setters and some aren't). I think it made him feel that he wasn't trying hard enough at things that he does which wasn't the point at all - We tried to explain that we set goals so that we improve, make changes where needed, and accomplish things that need to get done or things that we want to have happen. Hopefully he understands because he has a lot happening in his life these next 2 years that setting goals for himself would be wise. I know he understand - He just knows in his head what he's going to do and he works towards it. I don't think he likes the self evaluation and the writing things down part.

Sarah went to the beehive/deacon cotillion. She wore a new dress and looked so pretty. She bought a bumpit for her hair which we all teased her about but it did look cute!

I better stop - the days a waisting

Ok its time

Ok it's time to post. It's been way too long. We have survived Thanksgiving ( 3 turkeys 1 ham, a gazillion pies, kids everywhere, flag football, Ovesons staying with us and yes it's too much work BUT everyone loves it!mas. I'm trying so hard to keep the cost down but with the change of season everyone needs new clothes, 3 birthdays and then Christmas it seems I am shopping every day and spending money I don't have. I've got my spreadsheet going of what I'm spending and then cutting back wherever I can. In the end..... we have more than we need and are truly grateful.

Each year I say to myself that I am not going to do Christmas pictures and cards because it really is a pain to do pictures but here I am on the 9th of December figuring out what we are going to wear for pictures. Kristen - I wish you were close because we need someone to take our pictures.

The family newsletter is next which I will post as soon as I can get it done. The tree is up, 1/2 the lights outside are up, garage is a mess and wreaths for my windows are in the back of the suburban waiting for ribbon and lights - maybe tomorrow! We are enjoying cold weather and expect freezing and I mean freezing temperatures on Monday. Love it love it love it.

For family night we built a fire out back and talked about the prophets that gave their lives to tell the world that a Savior would be born. We picked a star in the sky to concentrate on as if it were the star telling us that the prophecies had been fulfilled - How would you feel if you saw that very star? We sang Silent Night and made smores. I love our family time together. My dream is to have my family all together in the temple one day, and to be able to gather often with grandkids! Oh it will be good.

Conference

It's finally a cool morning (almost cold)....I couldn't get to sleep last night because I took a long, Sunday nap but I feel revived this morning even at 6:00 am - I am sure I will crash at some point today. This was conference weekend which I love! Conference and fall are the best combination for me. I love to hear EVERY speaker. I am trying to think of my favorites and there are always so many good talks. Elder Arnold was one of my very favorites as well as Elder Tom Perry. I remember these the best because they applied to Scott and Sarah the most. I still need to listen to the RS broadcast and priesthood session. There is so much to learn and so much to get from each talk.

Lately I have really really been missing my grandparents and the memories of being in Cedar City. I would give anything to be able to go back in time and visit them in their houses that I remember as a kid. It's been bringing out the emotions and then conference ads to it! They are good emotion - emotions of the spirit. Todd and I decided to go to conference next October and visit Cedar....I can hardly wait and we are saving now! I remember as a kid my mom would a feel a draw or a pull to go back to where she grew up...I understand what that feels like and am grateful to have had good memories and for the "good name and legacy" (Elder Arnold) that was left for me and my children.

I worry about Scott...he seemed down yesterday and his grades aren't very good right now. He has a hard schedule and I feel sorry for him sometimes. Early morning seminary, 7 classes (3 AP), volunteering at the hospital, working, youth nights and some social acitvities in there some where. He works hard and is doing homework all the time - I'm sure its stressful sometimes. I'm not sure how to help.... I keep telling him that college will be easier than what he is doing now. He is such a good boy and I love him so much. He did go to the homecoming dance this weekend. This was his first school dance and not my first choice of places for him to be but I think he and his friends had a good time. He and Jason made dinner for their dates and then went to the dance. I don't know how dances are out in mormon world but they are pretty bad out here.....Nasty dancing and scantily dressed girls - standing in holy places? NOT. As soon as I get some pictures from Natalies mom I will post them.

I think I will go ahead and get my foot operated on (bunion)....I've been putting it off because I have to be off my foot for 5 days and in a boot for 6 weeks! How can I be down for 5 days?! I think its time though now that we have met our deductible thanks to Curtis.

Tomorrow is Todd's birthday - 45! Stake dinner tonight at home with apple bread (his request) and a gift or two. This is a secret but he is on the list to be interviewed by the visiting general authority on November 6th for the new Stake President - big sigh. We have been told to make ourselves available that day - More on that later.

The kids are planning their costumes for Halloween - it's funny but next to Christmas I think it's their favorite holiday - is it even a holiday? This year it's on Sunday so we may have a party at our house on Sat. - I have to decide if I have the energy!

Old Mother Hubbard

I think I need to go to grocery shopping - This is how I know (other than my kids telling me there is nothing to eat)


BEFORE the grocery store


AFTER the grocery store





I'm known as the milk lady at the store - every week its 7 gallons and 7 loaves of bread. Without fail someone will comment on how much milk I'm buying. Its quite funny. Now the big question is...what to make for dinner

Maybe tomorrow

Haven't posted for a while...I decided that blogging would be my way of keeping a journal and in a personal journal you can write when your feeling blah right? I'm overwhelmed and probably make myself that way when I take on too much or start thinking about all the things that I wish I could get done or need to get done. Our house and yard consumes way too much of our time. We would like to make a change but now is not a good time. The kids are doing great but school puts the pressure on...not to mention the church calendar.....no wonder we all like summer! Its a lot to keep up on homework, grades, personal progress, duty to God, Cubs, Faith in God, seminary scripture mastery etc etc. Just thinking of it all weighs on me. I'm irritated that my girls haven't been nice to each other. Oh how I wish I had a sister! I remind them that they will be each others best friends one day (hopefully). I'm really grouchy about messy rooms and girls that change clothes 3 times in the morning and decide they have ugly clothes. I guess I was the same way (but I'm not going to tell them that) So on to my day of cleaning up after everyone - blah blah blah. Maybe tomorrow I will be in a better mood. And for some reason its taking me forever to fall asleep at night which is really annoying when you're tired.

Fashion

With the cast on Curtis's arm I have been making sure his hand gets washed, dirt scraped out from under his nails and nails clipped since it hasn't been getting washed by him....The other night as I was flossing and brushing his teeth and combing his hair after a bath he got so irritated with me, threw up his arms and said "I'm tired of all this fashion stuff - first my nails, then my teeth and now my hair" I hated to break it to him that its not called fashion, its called HYGEINE! Did I spell that right?

It Feels Good

Here I am early in the morning of the first day of school. The alarm went off at 4:50 and I really did not want to get up after sleeping in every single day this summer. Scott got off to seminary and I tried to take his picture and he got mad at me! Very snippety, he said "why are you taking a picture?" I guess the willingness goes away with age. (I still think that something is wrong with going to school when its still dark outside). Other than getting school supplies, names on everything, backpacks packed and a gazillion forms filled out I wasn't completely prepared because I found myself doing laundry Sunday night once kids decided what they wanted to wear on the first day of school and Todd had to get milk and sausage for breakfast at 6:oo in the morning.


I am looking forward to kids being back in school to get back on schedules and getting things accomplished. With everyone home the house gets dirtier and it needs a deep cleaning so the first week is dedicated to getting the house back in order. Exercising and a better diet starts today - not sure I am looking forward to starting but once I am back in the habit it feels good.


Last night Todd gave all the kids fathers blessings as he does every year. Sterling was first and after he was done he came in smiling from ear to ear and gave me a tight hug. Throughout the evening as everyone was in the kitchen doing their own thing like eating, packing for school or last minute homework Sterling made sure that everyone had their turn for their blessing. Todd had finished with Sarah and came in to the kitchen... Sterling was sitting at the bar noticing that everyone had had their blessing.... he turned to me and said, "it feels good". He felt the spirit and it felt good. I pointed this out to him to help him recognize what the spirit feels like. I hope he always remembers.


Now its time to get the others up and let the morning craziness begin...whole wheat pancakes and sausage for breakfast (fried potatoes and eggs for kate - we have plenty of those - did I ever mention we have chickens?)



















I was wrong - all the kids griped about their pictures being taken. Curits is so happy to have a short cast now. The full arm was way too restrictive! Everyone is gone and my day is awaiting - run, shower, groceries, clean kitchen, a nap, dinner, family night - Mondays are my least favorite day. Looking forward to Wednesday which is our anniversary. Todd is taking the day off so we can spend the day together. 22 years and it feels good!

Pictures

There has got to be a better way of getting pictures on here. Moving them around and putting descriptions under them is not working for me! I am frustrated!

Curtis is NOT happy that he could not swim.

The last day of our trip I think was the most fun. We went 4 wheeling in the blue hills (thats what Todd calls it anyway) in St. Johns and it was a blast. I let Sarah drive the suburban around and she thought that was great. We then went to Alpine to the candy store and dropped $30 bucks on candy! and finished the day off hiking. Kate took some great pictures of the scenery - she is liking photography and mostly takes pictures of outdoors stuff (flowers, birds, bugs, trees, sky etc.). Our car ride home was looong. I wasn't as prepared as I was on the trip out and we ended up stopping a lot for food and potty breaks. Oh well we are home and all is good. Now if I could just get the energy to get caught up on things and get everything back to normal. School is just a week and half away!

Ready to go home

Vacation is coming to an end. We will head home Thursday with a full car so I hope everything goes well and we don't want to beat anyone before we get there. The kids did great on the way here. They fight more on the way to church than they did 2 days in the car. I was very pleased! We spent a few days at my parents which was so nice for me. It was my parents 50th wedding anniversary so we all went to the temple, had lunch and Joyce arranged to have their pictures taken at the temple - nice day. The kids went to Sunsplash, Mesa Museum, roller skating and my dad rented the new lego Harry Potter for the wii. I avoided seeing friends while in town because there just never is enough time and I really wasn't in the mood so maybe next year. We had a BBQ and swimming at Mikes and laughed with them for while - always fun. I wish David would have come in to go to the temple. Russell came for a visit and Kate was his favorite this time.

St Johns - 20 minutes after we arrived in St. Johns Curtis, Belle and Sterling were playing in the tree. Curtis jumped from the tree and broke his arm. Todd was near by and heard the snap. Curtis didn't cry but I did when I saw his arm. We took him to Showlow and waited for 3 hours before we were even seen. Finally, they put him out, set it and put him in a splint and sling until swelling went down. Yesterday he got his cast on. I can't imagine how much its all going to cost - ugh! He was so funny and entertaining in the hospital. After he came out of the anesthetic he was obviously loopy - he kept asking the nurses if he was the best patient they had ever had. I'm sure he was! Todd got a big kick out of showing the pictures of his arm and watching peoples reactions. Curtis has been a good sport about it. The only time he cried and was sad was at the pool when everyone was swimming and he couldn't. Todd started a game of 500 and everyone joined in so that cheered him up.

I think Sarah got to do all she had in mind. She rode Ricks horse, spent the night at Quillans, went to the dance, parade, rodeo and ate snow cones. She found boots that she wanted and all is good. The minute Scott was in town he was off doing stuff with girl friends that he met last year who he had kept in touch with. I was glad for that so he wasn't sitting around bored. Todd and I ran in the 5k and Todd beat me. I was so mad because he doesn't even exercise. He was soar the next day and I wasn't so I was somewhat satisfied. The boys have had fun playing outside, playing guns, watching movies, playing with Belle, Grant and the cat. Kelsey did Kates hair which I thought looked so cute - Kate thought it was too puffy. I got to hold babies which is always fun for me.

We went hiking yesterday in Greer and got soaked from rain. Curtis's appt to get his cast on was at 3:00 so we went hiking before. I thought to myself "what kind of mother lets their child with a broken arm and only a splint on, hike up a mountain in the rain"? Curtis had his heart set on it so we did our best to be careful.

Todd and Scott went fishing today and I stayed back to do laundry and get packed to head home. We have had our fill of cool weather, beautiful mountains, mexican food, family, soda, vocabulary and behavior that I don't want my kids around and I am ready to go home! Kendall worries me...he has slowed down so much. I watched him struggle to do simple things. It makes me sad.

I want to go to the candy store Alpine before we go home!