Fickle fickle me.

There I was, ranting and raving to all who would listen to my ramblings about how awful Jayce's school was, and how much trouble he got in for such small things, and how much I hate (still do) their undefined uniform policy. Should I switch schools? Do you like public school? Is there another charter school in the area that is better? I fed off all of the negative information, although it was interlaced with the posative, I chose to focus on the bad. 3:30pm and in walks my foot in my mouth. Jayce came in excited he had not recieved a warning that day, and as I went through his folder there was a new colored note from his teacher:



'Just a quick note to tell you how pleased I am that Jayce, sat tall and was an active listener during class today. Jayce had a great day! Signed his teacher. '



Ok, so he is staying put. And I am yet again, a fickle fickle mother.

We love Pergo.

Yet another reason I am grateful that we opted NOT to put any carpet in this house. Two joyful faces came flying into the room with what appeared to be water dripping from thier heads... it looked as if they has just showered in the oil for my hair clippers. I am sure that they will think twice before entering the salon room for the rest of thier childhood days.

Revenge

Looks good doesn't it? You know when you wake up in the morning and you think of exactly what you want for breakfast and once you arrive in th kitchen there is someone eating the very last of the very thing you came to eat? Ok, so that isn't what happened, but when I looked over Jason's shoulder this morning and realized he was eating two enormous chocolate- chocolate chip muffins from costco, I was a little irritated. They were the last two. So I asked him later...

Me: So when you ate those last two muffins, was that so I couldn't have one?

Him: No. (a grin pulling at the corners of his mouth)

Me: You ate them both so I couldn't have one??

Him: No, I ate them both because I knew if I only ate one, when I came back later to eat the other, it would be gone.

NICE!!

Yoga

Shell and I took a yoga class yesterday. I think this was the first time in my life I have used some of those muscles. I actually didn't know some of those muscles existed. But today I feel each and every one of them because they all HURT. I have to say it was the most relaxing workout I have ever experienced. Very quiet and calm. But when shelley busted out with a move like this one

I started laughing. Surely this was a joke. There is no humanly way for my body to do that.

Queen B

I am the Queen of the B word. ha ha, not that B word. I mean Budgeting! As much as most people have a bad taste in their mouth after even saying this word, I love it! I love the organization behind it, and I love the challenge it sometimes presents. Ok, ok. I don't love that I have to budget out of necessity, but there are good things to speak of. Like a grocery store high! I know some of you have experienced this. I am an avid couponer and have just recently delved back into it full force (This is the coupon site I use)

So this month we had to pay for Jason's classes and books for next semester. I decided instead of transfering the money over from my savings account I would try and 'squeeze budget'. A chance to live off my food storage! Some of it at least. I think because it was a 'let's see if I can actually do this' situation, I saw it as a challenge, and was a little bit excited to try! We drank Gossner milk all week, (which my children actually prefer to regular milk) made cookies for snacks, and I had such a huge stock of pretty much everything I needed, that we didn't have a lot of want for anything. Each time the account got down into the single digits (yes, like under $10 scary!) I had a haircut call to schedule, or a color client that would boost us back up into safe mode.

There are a lot of things I fall short of in the gospel, but the one thing I have never struggled to understand or obey, is the law of tithing. Truly it has been a blessing and I have been part of countless times when things work out in a way that seemed humanly impossible. We have been given blessings that would otherwise not have been ours had we not been diligent in this commandment. And this week is no exception. Small and simple things became evident as I watched closely. Hair clients popping at the right time, that spice I needed happened to be on clearance and I had a coupon, my grocery bill being $4 under what I had in the account, hitting every green light on the way home... Ok, so the green lights is pushing it, but I was on a grocery store high, I took it as a little extra gift.

Someday when I am rich and famous, probably not famous, or even rich for that matter, but someday when money isn't as tight and I don't have to 'squeeze budget' I think I will still enjoy getting the best deals, going to get that grocery store high, coming home with a cartful of groceries that I paid pennies for, yard 'sailing', and repainting something cuz sometimes it just needs a fresh start.

'Everybody dance now'

by C&C music factory

Some of you wondered what the song was that caused me to bust a move.

I was so mad

Jayce is learning to read and learning to recognize small words so he doesn't have to sound each one out. This book is one of my favorites and we read it often enough that Jayce knows that at the end of every page it says " I was so mad." A few pages in, we were reading along and we got to our third 'I was so mad' and I asked Jayce to look at it a bit more carefully and it said 'I was just so mad'. He read it again and leaned in to get a closer look, his head popped back up and he said " Hey! How'd that get in there!" He's so funny.

Detachment Bliss

Yesterday was my Lainybugs first day of preschool. What a difference having a child that jumps out of the car, waves good bye and heads in the door with out a glance back. (I would prefer a little glance, and maybe an extra hug) but the kid has been like this since the day she was born. I actually tried to see if there was someone she wouldn't go to as a baby and toddler. I never found one. She readily jumped into any waiting arms. She has become more hesitant in the last year, but has kept her confident attitude. Love you Lainy!

Bathtime

M: Lainy, dry off and go in your room and get dressed.

L: Mom, I don't have any underwear in my drawer, but don't look ok?

Apparently she doesn't like wearing them.

Spontaneous Delight

After dinner was finished and the dishes were being cleared, on popped the radio as it does some days. A squeal flew from my mouth as one of my favorite 80's dancing songs came on. Everyone came to inspect the reason behind the sudden noise. Mom was dancing! (Mom's always dancing, this was nothing new) but tonight it was a family affair. We laughed easily and had smiles all around. Jayce showed a natural talent in taking Lainy as his partner and swinging her from side to side and then surprised us (and her!) with a swift spin and dip! 5 or 6 songs later mom and dad peetered out, but the kids are still dancing away! A simple and spontaneous family home evening! I love the laughter of happy children.

Fresh in my head

I have a lot of thoughts concerning of most recent stake confrence that was held this weekend. Pres Richardson came to our ward last week and gave a form of a pep talk to remind us of the importance of the meeting the following week.

Don't miss the opportunity to pray about the most important things in your life and have them matched by the prayers of those who will be speaking and praying about what to speak on.

It stuck. I suddenly felt that stressful feeling creep in and felt the urge to get on my knees and pray so I didn't miss out on the opportunity.

Jason went to the Priestood session saturday and Laurie, Heather and I met the men afterward for a quick meal and then the adult session that night. Yes, No children. It was a needed night of spiritual boosting. I will touch on a few subjects that hung onto my thoughts more than others.

Stake Relief Societ Pres, Sis Winters:

I felt when she was speaking that she was just teaching me. She began by relaying a story of harships that her daughter had faced, and man she was dealt a hard playing hand. But what she said next was nothing short of inspired.

You must decide how you will deal with the trials you are given. Since we are all given trials. They are necessary to grow stronger. Christlike qualities won't be gained another way.

She then said that her family decided that they wouldn't refer to trials as hardships any longer, but hard blessings. How appropriate!

Pray always. Identify blessings everyday. Teach your children to identify blessings everyday. She told a short story of picking up her grandson from school one day and asked how his day was. He proceeded to tell her each good thing that had happened to him that day and nothing more. She in turn, asked her daughter why he never mentioned anything negative about his day and her daughter said that when she picks up her children she always asks 'what good thing happened today' for the first few days it took a little thinking, but after that, her children leanred to be prepared and think of those things so they would be ready when she asked. What a simple thing we can do for our children and ourselves and it's repercussions will be generationally astounding!

Learn from the past, live in the present, and prepare for the future. It is never necessary to place blame. Grief turns to anger, anger to resentment. When you talk of we/us as a couple or a family unit and what is happening in your life, we/us needs to include Heavenly Father. Look at your hard blessings in a celestial perspective.

President Richardson (Sunday session)

First, I LOVE our stake presidency. They are inspired, intelligent, funny and have something most all other presidencies do not have. A binding friendship. Comradery. They seem to be the best of friends. And you can feel it.

He spoke on doing a million things at once and feeling guilty for not being about to do it all simultaneously. He read off a list of things on any given day a woman/wife/mother would need to do. He asked 'How do you balance these things?' Guilt creeps in. After everything cannot possibly get done. He said so much more, but what I remember is that he specifially talked about the Holy Ghost and that he would never use guilt once the Atonement is enveloped. The Holy Ghost does not use guilt as a tool, Satan does. (If I could underline this next part I would) "Guilt is reserved for sin. NOT as a motivator." It hit me like a ton of bricks.

He then began talking about behavior and attitude. He said there is no excuse for bad behavior and bad attitude. You cannot place blame for your own bad behavior and attitude. The Iron rod is covered with hard blessings. But you know it's the path that is watched over by our Heavenly Father.

When Pres Richardson first came to our ward the week before confrence, he said that an added blessing of the meeting would be that we may change what we prayed about after hearing the words spoken there. I have.

I got it at Jared's

This kid can bring a smile to your face even in his most miserable hour. I can't help but run for my camera when he goes into pouty mode. There are very few moments when it gets past this stage. If you couldn't see him (which is dangerous. See Jared), you would most times not notice his presence. So quiet. So sweet. He loves to snuggle and though it takes a while for him to warm up to a new person, once he is warmed, you are a forever friend.

He is not a people pleaser. You will not usually get a smile, kiss, hug or high five unless he feels it necessary. But when he chooses to smile, is lights up his whole little face.

Spot the wild one

My little doggie 'Flapjack' is never without a toy to chew on or bat around. Some days I wonder is he isn't just a hybrid in dog species, but possibly part kitty. His favorite sleeping grounds are on the top of the couch cushions, much like a cat would perch. He brought me a bird and so carefully left it on the mat on the porch.

Last weekend I was doing hair and the kids ran in breathless and excited and could hardly get the words from thier mouths without bursting at the seams. Each took turns filling in words where the other had missed. "Mom! Flapjack... outside... dad... bucket... And dad said we can keep it!!" I soon found out the dog was caught playing patty cake with a terrified gopher. I am not sure how he caught or kept it within his playing field, but Jason managed to get it into a bucket. Of course the kids were thrilled when dad said they could keep it. For an hour, I said. I later found Jason in his closet twidling with his paintball gun.

No target practice, I said.

Of course he was only making sure it was working. He would never do that (his words). A few minutes later, it was gone from the bucket.

Jayce casually mentioned later that 'Did I see what dad did with the bucket?'

He made a motion much like you would of you were throwing water from a bucket onto a fire.

Tell your friends Gopher.

Does he not look like a coyote?

Baby fever anyone?

This is my little nephew Carter, and if any baby was going to give me baby fever, it would be this one! Of course, I am not infected with this fever of love, but thought I would share some of the beautiful pictures he was included in!

Messy Toys

Keep pile.

Pack up and save for later pile.

Give away pile.

And finally trash pile.

This foam mat popped up in line. It went into the pack for later pile. ( I pack up about half of my kids toys in boxes until a day comes when I need them quiet and viola! New toys.) Jared kept pulling this horrible toy from the stack and running off with it. Of course I chased him and pryed it from his little hands, knowing I would be finding pieces strewn throughout my house that night. This happened 4-5 times before I realized the insanity of it. HELLO!? He is a kid and it's only 10 pieces!!!! It was a parenting moment for me. Sometimes I need to just let it go.

First day of first grade

And a peaceful one at that! I geared myself up for an emotional morning, such as the one I experienced last year. He is growing up. My Jayce is learning to control his temper and keep his flying limbs inside the cart at all times. He is joyful and happy in the morning and even has a hop in his step when he walks in the door after school!!

We had family pictures done last weekend and Jayce had a hard time being natural leaning against the rock like his cousins did so comfortably, so when I told him we were taking pictures for the first day of school he wanted to find a good spot to 'lean' on.

This was his first year getting to eat lunch at school and is learning by trial and error. He has always been a bit pokey about eating and mentioned that he has a 'fast' lunch time. Today he didn't get a chance to finish his pudding and wanted to save it for later... in AZ that makes for some very messy chocolate soup.

Will I ever learn?

Things Jared has dumped out this week...

• Every toy bin in the toy room (more than once)


• full container of cinnamon


• full container of pumpkin pie spice


• half a canister of seasoned bread crumbs


• a box of noodles


• a cupful of bath water into my lap


• the dog food from the food bowl into the water bowl


• each day at least one meal a day is deliberatly dumped onto the floor

In the process of writing this post, wouldn't you know it, he dumped out the bag of dog food.

Inny or outy?

Cousins came to town last week and the kids did a lot of swimming. Rylee and Lainy were connected at the hip. So, I wasn't surprised when Lainy joined Rylee while they suited up for the pool. As Rylee was getting her suit on Lainy squealed with delight "Oh! I like your belly button!" Lainy has an inny, Rylee has an outy, which apparently Lainy has never seen and likes!

Car freshener? Nope, just Jared.

We should all be so lucky as my 3rd child. As long as I can remember (which is questionable these days) Jared has always had a unique scent. I should preface this with the knowledge that I have an uncanny sense of smell. I can smell things most cannot. Quite possibly this superhuman quality I possess is all in my mind, but just go with it.

A few months ago after smelling him for quite some time, I finally pinned down the scent. Pine. Or a tree of some sort. Mostly it's his breath, but sometimes it is his skin. I know, weird. Thats's what I said when I first started smelling it. I am fairly sure that he isn't supplementing his diet with any household plants or outdoor vegetation. I couldn't grow something if my life depended on it. And we have no landscaping.

I think the kid just got lucky to have piney fresh breath naturally!

Honesty in all things...

Once a month my friend steffani and I get together at my house and do one anothers hair. For my children, it's an "if you can reach it, you can eat it" day. And my house is in demolition mode for a few hours. Steffani was rushing out the door this afternoon and Lainy, always a helper, opened the front door for her and as it was closing the words "She has a big butt!" fly from her lips. I quickly yank the door back open, and Steffani replies "oh! That girl needs a good smack on the butt" Of course, with a smile on her face! Man, I haven't laughed that hard in a while!