All for Nothing

So I took Michael to his Scout Leader's house to go and his wife would not let them take their van. They crammed four boys and one leader and all of their things into this tiny little Mazda. Michael was able to take the cot, but no mattress. He held out hope until the end. His Young Men's president said, Michael, you're like a princess having to take a mattress to which he replied, yeah, I may be a princess but I sure would be a well rested one!

My Creation

I am rather proud of myself. Michael is going on a weekend trip with the Young Men to Baton Rouge, LA to do cleanups from Hurricane Ike. I do not believe in having a miserable time because of awful sleeping conditions while camping (which is what they'll be doing) and not knowing exactly what they will be seeing and with Michael's thought problems, I just wanted to make sure he would sleep well at night ... so I was trying out all different types of sleeping arrangements. Normally, we use air mattresses but lately ours have started to leak and I really didn't want to buy new ones because it seems like we always have leaking problems; so, I purchased Michael a folding cot. It folds into a bag really quite compact and takes up virtually no space. Then I thought the cot was not quite comfortable enough, so I got a foam mattress topper, you know, the egg crate type -- all grooved. Well that was very nice and comfy, but I thought still a little thin, so I went to Target today and was going to get a 2nd, but then I spotted mattress toppers filled with what, I don't know, probably polyester or something but for the purpose of camping, I thought they looked great. They were really marketed for dorm rooms, but with school shopping over, they were on clearance for $10 but rather cushy and thick, so I got one of those. The combination of those two was perfect, but I didn't want Michael to have bed pieces all over the place, so I dug in my linen closet and found a set of sheets we do not use and they are Navy blue -- what a great camping color -- 2nd best only to brown! Then I made the dreaded trip to take out my sewing machine, and goodness knows, I cannot sew but I willed myself to set it up and begin, and this was my final creation. I made a kind of duvet cover and stuck both the mattress topper and foam pad inside so that it can be all rolled up like a sleeping bag. Okay, for anyone with sewing talent, this would be pathetic but for my ability, I have to say I did a darn good job!

Oct 2nd is the Date

Oct 2nd is the official date of my first piano recital. I am not excited for it, but I am excited for it to be over. My teacher asked me, "What do you want people to feel when they are listening to you play" My answer: Nothing, I am just looking for some support. "Well what type of message are you trying to send?" My answer: This is amazing that I have memorized and am playing for you a gazillion notes all in one song. Who cares what they think ... these are friendship dues -- nothing more and nothing less! My teacher, Brother Call, is very into this event and has designated my friend Mandi to be my concert promoter. He has booked the church and is dictating my invitation list of at least 50 people. Okay, I am thinking about 10! In all honesty though, I have memorized 10 pieces for my recital and it is possible that I will do a very respectable job, of course, when my fingers are shaking like an earthquake has hit, the outcome may be quite different. Our Primary pianist was not there on Sunday so I played. I did pretty well until the birthday song. One of my Primary kids, Jax, said, "Sister Ward, that is pretty bad to come play in Primary when you can't play the birthday song!" But then he said, maybe when you move, you will get the job of Primary piano player ... yes, Jax, that is exactly what I am hoping for, too!

Erin did officially make the choir, and she is elated. If you can believe it, in 5th grade choir there are choir fees that must be paid. I feel like I am going to scream if one more child comes home from school with one more note asking for money or supplies! We haven't even recovered from school shopping yet!

AND THIS IS WHY I LOVE ATOKA, TN

On Friday, Erin had her callbacks for honor choir. Normally, since I am so pathetic in the mornings and cannot get myself up, Erin and Lindsey are amazing helpers. Erin makes sure Jenna gets up kind of gets her going. I take care of Lindsey, but Lindsey gets Jenna's snack together, and then I make the final roll call when it is time to pray and go out for the bus. Well, since Erin stressed how important this day was for her and that she absolutely had to be to school on time, I told her not to worry about anyone but herself. In was on that day that I realized just how much of a help it really is, and Erin and Lindsey made the bus, but Jenna did not. She had about 5 meltdowns, especially when it was time to put on her shoes. I never did figure out the problem. Anyway, as we ran outside, seeing if the bus was still there, it was soon obvious we had missed it. The middle school/high school bus was just pulling up as we were running out and the bus driver opened her window and yelled out to me that she would take Jenna and would catch up to the elementary school bus and make sure that she got on safely. So Jenna did not hesitate. She ran up to the bus and I never worried. I did not feel I had to call the school to make sure Jenna was there. I knew she would either get on her bus or the other bus driver would take Jenna to school. And she did make it to her own bus with no problems.

Callbacks!

Erin has a 5th grade honor choir at her school this year and they had auditions last week. She informed me that she would find out today or tomorrow if she had made the callback list -- and she then informed me that if she did not make callbacks, she would not cry at school but she would certainly cry when she got home. I think they take 30 children, but there are about 150 in 5th grade at her school. Well she came home today full of smiles because she made the callback list. They reaudition on Friday and I would be highly surprised if she doesn't make it, but I guess you never know. Way to go, Erin!

Stomach Bug ... Yuck!

Last night, in the middle of the night, in came Andrew because he had wet his bed and then after that was taken care of, Lindsey straggled in. She said she felt sick and sure enough, she wasn't there for more than a minute and she started vomiting. Luckily, she had grabbed a bowl on her way so that part wasn't bad. She fell right back asleep, but stayed home from school today. She said she was feeling alot better, but I missed my church cleaning job today because Lindsey was home and I clean on Tuesday. When the kids all got home from school, I ran up to the church to clean for not my normal four hours, but just long enough to get the trash emptied and the church vacuumed. While I was in the hallway, someone came to the door which always freaks me out when I am there alone. It was Chris Hodges, who is in our Ward and also in the Navy Band. He was hurrying to get his key into the lock and in ran his 5 yr old daughter, Chloe. I thought she had to go to the bathroom, but he said they were driving and she had said she felt like she was going to get sick, too. Now that part, I found amusing because if we were out and about and one of my children said they felt sick, I would not run to the church, chance them not making to the bathroom, and then even if they make it, let them vomit in a public toilet - I would just lead them to some inconspicuous grass, but anyway, I then called my friend Mandi and her little boy had the same thing, so I guess this fun bug is going around. Lindsey felt fine all day but then tonight we took Michael to karate and she fell asleep. When we got home, she said she felt sick again, and sure enough, it looks like this isn't as quick a sickness as I thought. These are the times it is hard to be alone. To take care of her and then try to give a little attention to everyone else is hard because you can only stretch yourself so far -- and honestly, I feel quite queasy, too. Oh well, hopefully we're blessed and this will pass over the rest of our family!

Kit Kittredge: American Girl Movie

Well yesterday we saw the Kit Kittredge movie and it was excellent! We went up to the base and ours has a really cute little movie theatre, which is free. I love it there! There are about 35 seats plus lots of bean bag chairs on the floor, so the kids can either sit or lounge. Popcorn is free and drinks are 75 cents, and candy is 75 cents. I really enjoy going there for a couple of reasons; first, they show pretty good movies and only once have I seen it really crowded; second, it is a fun thing to let the kids invite a friend to without it costing very much; third, if anyone gets antsy (typically Andrew) I can leave with him and still feel like the kids are safe because it is so small and only one way in and one way out; and fourth, it is in the same building as a lounge with lots of tv's with all types of video game systems and games, ping pong tables, pool tables, air hockey, computers, board games, etc. So I can leave Michael out playing video games if he thinks the movie is too "girly" for him. He opted not to go into this one, but I think he really would have liked it.

Small Favors

You have to appreciate the small favors of life, and today this was mine. Andrew lay down on my bedroom floor about 5:00 pm playing with his little police car and now at 10:30 he is still asleep. It was such an easy night! And he is not sick, I think just worn out. Now I have to think, do I dare move him to his bed or do I just leave him there! Sleep tight, little guy.

BEST FEELING

One of my favorite all time treats is when I go to take clothes from the washer to the dryer and find that the dryer is actually empty! Hallelujah!

Grandparents Day

For the second year in a row, Jenna has had grandparents day at school. I absolutely despise this day because for all those little ones who do not have grandparents remotely near, it is not an enjoyable day. I did not grow up with any grandparents close and every year I either had my grandmother-aged babysitter come (at my mother's request ... not mine) or I had no one. There were always some lucky kids with two grandmothers in attendance and usually one would go try to find a poor soul such as myself and sit by me, but I always felt a little humilitated. My mom promised she would always come out for grandparents day, but she has not ... so, poor Jenna. Anyway, I decided I am going in to eat breakfast with her, and I didn't even ask permission (boy am I getting rebellious)! I'm sorry, Jenna, that you don't have any grandma's coming for your special day, but I hope you know how much I love you!

Armpit Hair

I about died laughing a couple of nights ago. Michael came into my room and asked if he could talk to me for a minute. He shut the door and said, Mom, I have to tell you something and I am kind of freaked out about it. Of course, a million thoughts go through my head as to what was the matter and my panic is rising and he then says, "I'm growing hair under my arms". It took everything I had not to laugh out loud but I sure was chuckling on the inside. He then asked, do you want to see it? I don't know, I asked ... do I have to? Yes, he felt he had to show it to me so I looked and there is just this little tuft of hair. I gave the whole, Michael, this is just what happens speech, blah, blah, blah and he said, I know but I just don't want to be as hairy as Dad!!!