Recipe for a snow day

#1  Flush 7 ice cubes down the toilet at 7 o'clock

#2  Put your pajamas on inside out AND backwards

#3  Do a crazy dance

#4  Flush 8 ice cubes down the toilet at 8 o'clock

#5 Cross your fingers, toes, legs, eyes, and arms

***Guess what?  It worked!*** 

Meatball kept close watch on all the action

 (the plan worked only too well.......we even have ANOTHER snow day awaiting us tomorrow!)  You may want to halve the recipe because one snow day is okay but TWO snow days may prove to be harmful to your health and your household.

**UPDATE**

Seriously, do not use this recipe lightly.   Tomorrow will be our THIRD snow day in a row.  The city is shut down and I haven't left the house since Monday.  Ice storms are SO overrated.

the joys of motherhood

.....you know that paper they have you sign before you have children?  Sometimes I wish I would have read the fine print.  There are so many things that, as a mom, leave me thinking......."wait!  I didn't sign up for this!"  Like the long days with sick children, the orthodontist, the bills, the clutter, the days that pass w/out a shower, the abs that cannot be found, the clutter, the dog, the laundry, the homework, the clutter, the total and complete absence of "me" time, the cooking, and.....did I mention the clutter?   (Can you tell my shopping hiatus has left me a little grumpy?)  Actually it isn't all that bad and I can't wait to post the things I have learned.  Anyhow.......

here are a few things I have done this past week that I am pretty darn sure that I did not sign up for:

~built this diorama for Jordan (I even let him help a little)....I think my portrayal of a 3rd grader's version of London getting bombed during WWII was quite impressive.  Then again, this was my FIRST diorama and with a bit of practice, I think I can do much better.

~rescued this dollhouse from our resident King Kong.....doesn't he have the juiciest thighs?

~spent the big bucks on "phase 1" (there are three) of Jordan's orthodontic treatments.  Here's to hoping that the rest of our kids don't inherit my bad teeth.

~replaced our disposal ALL BY MYSELF.  We done went and got ourselves a Badger 1/2 HP baby!    

~sat at our local grocery store for several hours and watched Jordan hone his sales skills.  Could you say no to a face like this? .......as in, 

"Would you like to buy a LaRosa's Buddy card to help our team get to Cooperstown?"

AND.......

~read this book with Jordan.  Shed a tear with me for the loss of his innocence.

Sheesh!  On paper some of these things may have looked like a raw deal, especially with the terrible pay that goes along with them.  But, on paper, they never could have put into words how much the little buggers would mean to me either.  Amazing how the small things make all the difference and I am so glad that I can be there for all of them. 

Emma hoops it up

(In case you were wondering, she, #30, gets ALL of her athletic abilities from ME........no matter what you may hear on the contrary)

one for the record books

May the records of the world show that on this, the fourteenth day of the first month in the year 2009,  my eldest son in the middle of his 9th year, did something

  COMPLETELY

  AMAZING.  

He came home from school. AND. CLEANED. HIS. ROOM. WITHOUT. BEING. ASKED. 

AND if that wasn't enough, HE. DID. HIS. HOMEWORK. WITHOUT. WHINING. AT. ALL.

Nope, he didn't stay at a Holiday Inn last night, BUT he finally passed this off......

(#1-#4 times test)

(I love that he wrote the answers at the bottom to the two problems that had been giving him trouble, AND that he congratulated himself with encouraging words at the top)

Son, you have made me proud today.

My non-resolutions

I have been trying to no avail to come up with some resolutions that I could actually stick with this year.  After a lot of thought, I have come up with a slightly different plan to better myself in the coming year.  I am going to make monthly goals that I am determined to stick with because 30 days is much less daunting than 365, right?  Also, I have always heard that if you can do anything for 30 days in a row, it will become a habit (good or bad).  So, each month I am going to come up with something that I need to work on or that will help me become a better person.  

January/February:

Spend $0 on non-essential items

One of the things I am trying to work on is spending less $ on silly things or things that we do not need.  Since January is almost halfway over, I am going to stretch this goal into February in hopes that I can simplify, bring less clutter into our home, clean out things we do not need, and save a whole lot of money in the process.  As I did some deep cleaning last weekend, I was astonished at how everything piles up and before you know it, your things are controlling your life.  It seems like yesterday that I was a young newlywed with very few possessions, trying to accumulate furniture and other necessities to make our house a home.  Now, only 10 short years later, I would love a fresh start to de-clutter and get rid of all the things that are taking up space and causing me to have foggy corners in my brain just knowing they are there.  I know that it is difficult to streamline things with small children and all their knick- knacks, oh the knick-knacks.  So, this month I am not going to buy ANYTHING other than groceries and other necessities.  No clothing, toys, Target stuff, etsy, books, fabric, craft supplies, etc.  I went to the grocery store today and it felt really good to just be focused on what was needed and not distracted by bright and shiny objects.  I am really excited for this.  I think I will be amazed  at how good it will feel.  So, please don't pass any great sales or good buys my way.  In fact, if anyone would like two gymbucks for next week's use at Gymboree, let me know.  Cuz' I am NOT using them (but I might be tempted just a little bit if they are still in my possession!)

Quest for perfection

My idea of a perfect trip?  white sandy beaches, sunshine, culture, relaxation....you get the picture.  

Travis' idea of a perfect trip?

Thursday:  Drive to Columbus to catch a flight to New Orleans. Get ticket for expired registration (since August?) woops!  Connect in Memphis.  Get stuck in Memphis.  Get two flight vouchers for $600 and free hotel room.  Of course he did.

Friday:  Fly to New Orleans in the morning.  Lose bags.  Wear same clothes from Thursday.  Meet up with fellow Ute fans.  Eat begnettes.  Walk down Bourbon Street(in the daylight, of course).  Go to pep rally.  Buy Utah stuff.  Listen to trash-talking 'Bama fans all day.  Go to game.  Cheer loud.  Lose voice.  Watch 'Bama fans leave early.  Celebrate like crazy.  Hop in rental car.  Pick up lost bags at airport.  Start driving to Nashville.

Saturday:  Still driving (speeding) to Nashville.  Catch flight with 1 minute to spare.  Need to shower.  Fly to Kansas City.  Drive to Lawrence.  Buy Kansas stuff.  Go to Allen Fieldhouse.  Bond with son.  Be thankful for firstborn son to take on crazy trips like this.  Cheer loud.  Lose voice again.  Celebrate.  Drive back to Kansas City.  Really need to shower.  Catch flight to Phoenix.  See Mom on her birthday.  Drive to mission home.  Shower.  Hug parents after shower.  Sleep.  Sleep.  Sleep.

Sunday:  Go to church.  Chill.  Skype me and the kids.  Catch up with parents.  Hang out with good friend J.D. and his son, Easton.  Pick up broker from airport.  Sleep.

Monday:  Sleep in.  Shop. Leave Jordan to hang out with grandparents.  Take broker to Mutual of Omaha tailgate.  Tailgate.  Eat.  Eat some more.  Watch Ohio State lose with 16 seconds left to Texas.  

Tuesday:  Sleep in.  Pick fresh oranges off trees in backyard.  Hunt for the perfect cactus.  Find open baseball field to hit and take a few ground balls with Jordan.  Say goodbye to parents.  Catch delayed flight to Indianapolis.  Arrive at 1 am.  Rent car.  Drive 2 1/2 hours.  Get home.  Sleep.  Sleep deeply.  

Wednesday:  Get shaken awake by two very excited girls, anxious to see their "surprises".  Hand out peanuts. Hugs all around.  Declare, "Best Trip Ever!  Utes should be #1!"

I don't go on too many of these sports themed trips.  Maybe I will have the energy and stamina in a few years......or maybe not.  While the two main perpetrators were away, I detoxed my house, caught up on some projects, and had some fun times with Eli and the girls.  My idea of a good weekend.