Why I Care

Michael had his basketball tryouts this week and I will admit, I was a nervous wreck. I then sat and wondered why I really care so much. Am I trying to live through my children? I mean, this is his schooling, his sports team ... I don't remember my parents really getting too involved in all of that with me. If I wanted to tryout for something, I did. If I made it, I made it and if I didn't, I didn't and I don't think they were too phased by any of it. I think the reason is all of these moves. You only get to grow up once. I passionately want Michael (and the rest of my children) to believe that he has the same opportunities he would have if we were permanently located. It is very difficult to come into a new location and "prove" your abilities in a short period of time. You have no history with anyone ... so if you have a bad tryout and really do play much better, they have no history to say, oh, I know this kid and I've seen him play before. You have to lay it all out on the line and that is all they have to go on. Things don't come easily for Michael and he has to work harder than about anyone I know. Even at things that should be natural, like social skills and friends. He never quits, and that is what makes me so proud and why I care so much. They had a really great group of boys tryout. There were very few who did not have the skills to play ... so what do you do as a coach and how do you pick? I am not sure what the criteria was but I am thankful this day that he has been given the opportunity to play. I'm proud of you, Michael ... for being all that you are and I am truly blessed to have you as my son.

Hooray for Washington!

We just found out there are no mosquitos in Bremerton, WA! What a perk!

Sad Day in Tennessee

For a long time we knew this was coming, but today it really happened. We traded off our van. I loved that van and truly felt like it was a part of our family. We purchased it in Massachusetts before Jenna was born. It is the van that brought Jenna and Andrew home from the hospital.

Shortly after we purchased it, there were some engine problems and then about two years later, the cylinoids (sp?) had to be replaced in the transmission. It seemed to run well for a while, but then when we moved out the Tennessee, the transmission started jumping once again. We could not figure out if it was actually the transmission or possibly the electrical system, because it seemed as if once the van was shut off, it would reset itself and run well again. After a while of this, when the van shut off, it stopped resetting itself and the jump was pretty constant. We decided after much thought and consultation to do nothing, but to let it run its course. That was 3 1/2 years ago, and after getting us to Utah and North Carolina and back home safely, we named the van "Old Faithful." The power window was broken, the air conditioning died, the belts squealed, the transmission jumped, and often when turning it off, the whole thing would start to convulse -- and I often wondered if it would explode! After going down a ditch this past fall, I scraped the bottom so badly I thought it may have to retire, but it started up with no problems and kept running like a champ.

With our move coming up shortly, we felt like our van had given all it could give, or should be expected to ever give. It was a trooper ... we will miss Old Faithful. We hope our new (well, new to us) van can someday prove itself worthy of these same feelings in our heart. So what did we purchase, you may ask, another Pontaic Montana ... because I did not want a truck but I love my 8 seats, and I did not want to purchase a new Honda or Toyota simply for the fact that I didn't want the payment. I really want to get a BIG house in Washington -- as in the bigger the better! The kids are getting big and we all are feeling the need (especially me) for much more space!
We'll miss you, girl!

Erin's Atoka Idol

Erin had her Atoka Idol competition today at school, and though she did not win a trophy, we were just proud as punch! I could have watched her over and over again. Yay, Erin! (and if you notice, I did NOT dress her in pink!)

MIGHTY MINDS

The 3rd grade play, Mighty Minds, was last night and it was in fact very cute. The strangest thing, however, is that it seems like every performance I hear at that school (well okay, the two performances I have seen) their music teacher sings solos. She sang two solos at the choir concert and had about 3 last night. I have never seen anything like this before. She does have a pretty voice, but this is elementary school, and I do not wish to hear her. I would like to hear the children sing, and I don't mean my own. I would like to hear any child sing because their is THEIR performance! I can't figure out if she thinks no one else can do it or if she just likes the sound of her own voice!

Things I HATE

I think one of the most disgusting things in the world is throwing up -- it is nasty and it stinks. I hate that gagging sound that you know means it is coming. Erin got sick last night and I guess I am not a very good mom because I just don't like any part of it and honestly, I have no desire to sit next to someone who is regurgitating anything. Jonathan is a much better sick person than I. He will hold their heads and say soothing words ... all I can think about is, this is so disgusting and I am going to have to clean up the remnants! I asked Erin last night if she thought she was going to be sick, to which she replied, no, I am fine. Two second later I heard that dreaded gag and I walked (okay ran) into Erin's room and saw her flopping over the side of her top bunk bed spewing all over the carpet - GROSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It takes all I can do to hold my cookies when I witness things along that nature.

Continuation

When Lindsey came home from school I asked her about the recess and she said nothing was said about it except that her teacher did pull her aside and told her it was fine that she didn't get a pizza and that she certainly was not the only one. I asked her again if she was sure the teacher had told them about extra recess and she said yes, and that everyone was asking about it to each other (hey, I thought we were getting extra recess), but not to the teacher. So I guess it all kind of slipped away. I would have appreciated it more if the teacher had said, you know what, I did say that and now I realize it isn't right and we won't be doing that -- or even stood her ground if she truly believed it was okay. As I told my kids, we all make mistakes and say and do things that we don't always think through. I think it's strange and rather upsetting that she completely denied the entire thing, however.

Extra Recess for Pizza

Lindsey has a 3rd grade play called "Mighty Minds" on Thursday night right before or after the PTO meeting - I can't really remember how that works as I don't attend PTO meetings. Anyway, they asked all 3rd graders to bring in a 12 pack of drinks so that they can sell pizza and drinks before the play, and if the drinks were donated they would make more money. That was fine, and I understand the school is trying to raise money and I don't know exactly what this money is going for, but I really don't care. I was happy to oblige. Now to truly understand this post, you need to realize this school is brand new and all they do is fundraise. We are asked for money on a daily basis -- they even have to pay to participate in crazy hat day, silly socks, etc. This Friday, they are allowed to bring in games, board games or electronic if they pay $1/each -- it is never ending. On Monday, Lindsey came home with a slip that they were also supposed to buy a pizza for their family at $10/each. Okay, that was fine, too, and I really hadn't thought much about it, if we were going to buy a pizza or not. I hadn't gotten that far and it got put in my pile of papers to look at later. Lindsey got really upset and said her teacher told them that if they bought a pizza and brought their money in by Wednesday (today), they would get 20 minutes of extra recess - but only if they bought a pizza. The reason the teacher cared is because whichever class had the most pizzas purchased would earn a pizza party, and the teacher wanted her class to win. So now I decided it was a matter of principle, and I was not going to buy a pizza because I could not believe they were putting that pressure on children -- especially in today's world ... my goodness, what if we had just lost a job or were supporting other family who was in dire need -- a pizza would be the last thing on our minds! Yet at the same time, I didn't want to get pulled into a therapy session in 20 years and find out all of her life problems stemmed from getting singled out and not allowed to participate in an extra session of recess ... so, I asked her if she would feel badly if she didn't get the recess and she said she didn't care as long as she was not the only one, (understandable) -- so then she said she would use her birthday money that she had been saving to buy it. I was really, really mad ... they can't penalize a child because they don't buy a pizza at PUBLIC SCHOOL! So I asked her if she was sure that is what the teacher said and yes, she was sure. I called my friend Michelle whose son is in Lindsey's class and asked her if that was right, and she did not know but asked her son and he verified what Lindsey had told me. So now, I felt REALLY fired up because I'll be darned if Lindsey was going to sit in a classroom doing work while the rest of her class was at extra recess over a fundraiser pizza. I could not send in a note to the teacher because Lindsey hides notes and never gives them to the appropriate person, so I called the school yesterday afternoon, but her teacher had already gone home. It was the principal who I spoke with. I was very nice, but explained that I was concerned and didn't understand how she could be penalized for not participating in a fund raiser. Her teacher called first thing this morning and denied the entire thing. She said the principal had told her there was a parent complaint and that she could not understand this because she never said such a thing, and that maybe another 3rd grade teacher told them that, but she knew nothing of the sorts and that she absolutely did not say that. I said, oh good, I am so glad because I could not understand how something like this would be allowed. She said, I would NEVER do that to my students. I am trying to give her the benefit of the doubt, but Lindsey absolutely does not lie -- she never has. In addition, she is known for relaying information extremely well and does not get confused often. Well, I guess regardless, Lindsey won't be sitting by herself!

Erin's New Haircut

Erin got her haircut today and I think it looks really cute! She also got some highlights, just right around her face. What do you think?

WHAT A RUNNER!

Yesterday, Michael had his first track meet and it was completely different experience. Track meets (at least here in TN) move very slow. It started at 4:00 pm and didn't end until 8:00 pm making for a very long afternoon. There also was no posted schedule so you did not know when any specific events were schedules. However, that being said, Michael did awesome. The very first race of the day was the 2 mile race and Michael truly smoked everyone. He finished 1/2 lap ahead of the next guy. That was really, really fun to watch. Next, he did the mile race and came in 3rd place, and lastly the 1/2 mile race and came in tied for 4th, but I guess he lost the tie and came in 5th. I was just giddy sitting up there in the stands! I have some video clips but I have a new camcorder and haven't tried to get it to my computer yet, so that will have to wait for a little later.

The Beauty of a Working Dryer

I have been having a dryer dilemma for the past while. It was taking about 3 dryer cycles to get my clothes dry, but this has been going on for probably the past 1 1/2 years and it seemed to keep taking longer and longer. Well you kind of get immune to it after that long of time and stop thinking too much about it ... except for the fact the laundry is never done. If one of the kids wet their bed I wanted to CRY because I knew washing and drying those sheets would be an all day event and it would wipe out any other laundry I should be doing that day. About 2 months ago, all hot air stopped working on the dryer so we (Jonathan in VA, and myself in TN) respectively, started looking at new dryers and both got the same response from appliance salespeople, that the older dryers are better than the newer ones. So I took it upon myself to diagnose the dryer as having a bad heating element. I read up on repairing this problem and decided it was certainly something I could do myself. I had the dryer apart and was feeling pretty good until I had to start disconnecting various wires. The first two didn't seem too bad and I felt rather triumphant but then it looked like there were going to be about 12 in all and they were far back in the unit and I just envisioned the dryer exploding when put back together, so I quit and called the repairman. He came, said it was not the heating element but some fuse thing, fixed it, and said it was good to go. Well, it did get hot but still took 2 cycles+ to dry. This was getting ridiculous so I called the repairman back and said, you guys did NOT in fact fix my dryer and you need to come back. They advised me first to make sure it was not the dryer vent that needed cleaning and so I disconnected the dryer from the vent and sure enough, when running, it seemed to get much hotter than when connected. So I started trying to figure out the maze of my dryer vent since it does not come out the same wall where it originates. After about 3 days of pondering that issue, I called the dryer vent guy and he came over. Three hours later, he told me our vent was now the cleanest one around. Our vent actually goes under our house right above the foundation and around some twisty curves. The final prognosis is that our dryer now dries -- it really dries! One cycle and the clothes are dry -- it is amazing! I am truly giddy about this. I am caught up on my laundy and I just stare at empty clothes hampers in dismay ... how can this be I wonder ... the clothes all washed, dried and put away ... ahhh, this is true bliss!

It's Depressing Me

I am going to play the piano in sacrament meeting. This is at the insistence of my teacher, Brother Call. My compromise was that I would play prelude music but that was not good enough for him. An intermediate musical number and I really don't think I can do it. I am playing, My Heavenly Father Loves Me ... well an arrangement of that. It is 3 pages and I have to memorize the entire thing and then the harder part is my fingers have to actually play it. Anyway, I have been practicing like crazy and the other day Erin came and said, Mom, that song you've been playing, can you please stop playing it. Erin always gets bad headaches, so I asked if it was her head, and she replied, no, my head is fine -- it's just every time I hear you play that it just makes me feel awful inside. I like the song, I don't know how to explain it but when you play it I feel all sad and depressed. How's that for a confidence builder!

Primary Sub?!!!

So on Sunday, the new Primary Pres. came up to me and asked if I would sub for the CTR 6 class that day. Can you believe it ... I didn't even have one week, but I said, no, that I would rather not. Why, you may ask. Okay, last week I was officially released, but I was still in Primary the entire time. I had to do the Sharing Time! There was a reason for the release. I just wanted to sit through Relief Society, a meeting with no children, including my own, and do nothing but listen. Second, I didn't really want to sit in someone else's Primary right after being released. It is no longer my domain; and third, I didn't want others to view me as a pathetic lurker ... someone released from their calling who acts like they cannot handle the release! However, I did agree to sub for the next few weeks in Nursery. I really, really, really do not want to do this. Chandra, who was my couselor and is in this presidency as well, asked, and I just couldn't say no to her. I tried to say no, but couldn't. It was the absolute best feeling last Saturday night when I realized I had absolutely NOTHING to do. I had nothing to prepare. I went to bed at 10:00 -- Halleluiah!

I am Tired!

I painted the kitchen today and half of the bathroom. I also painted the stairwell and a couple of doors. I am so tired. The girls and I sorted out their room, packing up things, throwing things out, donation pile, etc. Yikes! We have accumulated 3 huge bags of junk just in one afternoon. One bag was just what was under Jenna (the hoarder's) bed! Now, I have left to paint only the girls room and our room and the other half of the bathroom ... well, if you don't count the garage. I have to paint that, too, as well as a bunch of doors and trim, but I think that can happen kind of on an ongoing basis. My friend, Mandi, is an awesome decorator and is going to come and help me "stage" the house and get things going that way and Alice is going to help me scrub my kitchen floor like it's never been scrubbed. My deadine is 2 weeks and there is a ways to go, but I think we can do it! The kids are starting to feel like they have a vested interest in helping our home to sell/rent, as I told them if it does not, we will be living in a 2 bedroom shack in Washington! When I mentioned that, they got extremely cooperative! Lindsey stayed home from school today. She said she was sick, but she was not. I think she coughed a couple of times during the night is how she justified the sick, but I can hardly say no to that girl. She is so incredibly fun to have home during the day. I just treasure that time with her, as she is so sweet and helpful and very hard working. So opposite from her moody side that we often see. When we were sorting through things tonight, I felt so sad when she didn't want to keep her Ariel and Jessie toys. I just can't part with them because I will always remember how she would just sit in the bathtub for hours playing The Little Mermaid and her love for Toy Story. I remember the one Christmas when that is all she wanted was a Jessie dolland how hard it was to find one! She has been my one little princess and she is growing up, and it nice but at the same time so sad.

NEWEST MEMBER OF THE TRACK TEAM

I am so proud of Michael. I think half of Munford Middle School tried out for the track team, but only eighteen kids were selected, and he was one of them. He has really enjoyed the 5K Club that he participated in this year, and it is the same coach. What makes me so very happy is that he says they are really nice kids -- much different from the basketball crowd. Okay, so this is what that coach does. After he makes his team list, he sends a copy to all of the teachers and asks for comments back if there is anyone in jeopardy academically and also if there is any reason for behavioral concerns. He says if anyone doesn't act like a team member, criticizes anyone else on the team or anything else negative, they are gone. I love him, Coach Z. He is such a great guy. I hope Michael has a great season!

After 2 1/2 years ...

I've been released!!! I feel so light, so relieved! I have loved my calling as Primary President, from the very day I was called. However, with Jonathan being gone, it has been a struggle and I have often felt like a whirlwind -- just too much going on. I don't really feel a bittersweet reaction, I just feel happy. I am going up today to the church to clean out my "stuff" and the new president asked if I would go to their first meeting, as she has never even served in the Primary before (talk about overwhelming!), but I have declined. I don't mind meeting with her prior to the meeting, but honestly, I have no desire to sit in on their meeting, and especially the first as they establish their presidency. What I noticed that was very interesting to me is that I have known and loved those children for years. I speak with them each Sunday and almost every Wednesday, yet I was released on Sunday but still did Sharing Time and I found myself having to think of their names -- and almost got stuck a couple of time as crazy as that sounds. I guess the mantle of my calling had been lifted.

So what can I do now? Paint, paint, paint. I also have so much to do and lots of organizing, sorting through things, etc. It's amazing how much you accumulate in just a couple of years. And as I look at the walls and ways we have destroyed our home, I realize a lot of it comes from Jonathan! The kids aren't really that hard on things, but he has certainly caused damage! He really is still like a big kid!

Grateful for Blogging

As I was driving Michael to school this morning, we were talking about snow days and making up school when it goes beyond the designated number of snow days built into the system. Anyway, I was trying to remember what happened my senior year of high school because we had so much snow that year and they were not going to let us graduate, yet the place we always graduated in was not available at any later dates. I know the story, but was somewhat sketchy on the details and find my memory can often fail me. For the year or so I have written on here, as I look back I read things I completely would have forgotten ... so I am grateful.

Erin got her first training bra this week and that was a very big deal for her. She giggled and laughed the whole time while putting it on. Oh, the joys of youth.

Michael is off today for his all west band. I can't believe it has been an entire year since he was there last year. We feel much better equipped this time around. One of the things that was strange last year is that there were 3 people in his room and only 2 double beds. I shared beds with people all the time when young and on school trips, etc. but today is just different. The thought of my son getting into a double bed with some boy I don't even know is not a thought that would leave me untroubled. So I called the hotel and they said if there are 2 beds in the room they will not give them a cot, so I sent Michael with his camping cot. I told him to sleep there 1 night and tell the other kid he had to sleep there one night. Last year he had 3 kids in his room also, and one of them said, I'm sleeping on the chair because I'm not sharing a bed with either of you. Poor kid did sleep on a chair for 2 nights. What do you think? Is that being neurotic to send your child with a camping cot ... how do you feel about your child sharing small beds with others these days?

My mom and dad are coming out today and Jonathan's parents are coming at the end of February. I think they all know I'm kind of at the end of my rope! Primary has been a huge struggle for me lately as in I'm just ready to be released, and I don't really understand why I have not been because right now I am a single parent with five NEEDY children (can I stress needy enough?!!!). Obviously, it will be sometime soon since we will only be here for a few more months, but it takes so much time and I just don't have it right now. In addition, I need to start painting our rooms and getting things ready to either rent or sell our house and I really just need a break!

That's it for today, just my random thoughts.

Story of Adoption

My Bishop's wife sent this youtube link. This is their daughter and her story of putting her baby up for adoption after she had him at age 17. I think it is absolutely beautiful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGCxBmoAIAE

Utah Jazz Game

Michael's Scout Leader, Bro. Tom Combs, works for some company in Memphis and the owners of the company are part owners of the Memphis Grizzlies. They have a box seat section/suite that they own and the workers have access to. Their scout troup was supposed to go camping tonight in the 20 degree weather, so he gave them the option of backpacking/camping overnight and freezing their tails off or going to the Jazz/Grizzlies game in luxury. Hmmm ... kind of a no brainer. So that's where he will be tonight. The last time the Jazz came to town, a super nice guy in our church took Michael to the game, knowing he would have gone with Jonathan if he had been home, so I have to say Michael has been well taken care of and will not miss any local Jazz games this season.

Pizza Hut Cinnamon Sticks

The kids and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Pizza Hut cinnamon sticks but they are quite expensive just to have as a snack, so I found this recipe online about a year ago and it has become one of our favorites. I do the pizza crust bread machine recipe (see link on right side of recipe) and in the bread machine, it takes about 2 hours to get it ready, but then they are super fast to make after that. You just roll them out, put on melted butter, sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar mix, and kind of make the cut indentation marks without cutting, let raise 15 minutes and bake. I have them in right now and love to have these ready once in a while when they come home from school. If you like cinnamon sticks or cinnamon rolls, you should give these a try because they are much faster and less messy to make than cinnamon rolls and most importantly, they are really good! (we do not use the frosting, but you may like it).

http://www.recipezaar.com/Cinnamon-Pizza-Sticks-With-Dipping-Glaze-167598