Thursday, March 27, 2008

Lately


I've been pondering this article.

I love this part:

There is no tomorrow to remember if we don't do something today, and to live most fully today, we must do that which is of greatest importance. Let us not procrastinate those things which matter most.

Today, I'm going to write down what things matter most and place the list where I will see it often so I will have a reminder when things that matter least come seeping through.

Try it too.

Monday, March 24, 2008

A Happy Easter!


In other news:
  • Brian told Chandler he could quit piano when he memorizes all the hymns in hymnbook. "That's not bad," he said. He must have forgotten that I told him he could quit when he knows how to play all the hymns.
  • After opening up all his eggs from the hunt on Saturday, Carson said [with obvious disappointment] "I don't know why everyone likes jelly beans!" Not enough chocolate in his eggs I guess.
  • "I don't love you mom, I only love dad." That's what Baden tells me in a matter-of-fact way at least 10 times a day. What's the psychology behind that?
  • I've been M.I.A. the last week because my favorite one-year-old daughter, does not, in fact, enjoy teething especially when it's her molars. In spite of this, Kate has graduated from the army crawl to all fours this past week. Cause for celebration indeed.
  • I am happy today because a. the sun is shining b. there is no wind c. my mom invited us over for dinner tonight so I don't have to cook.
  • Our first ever family garden is under way. Brian has torn out the grass and cornered it off with railroad ties. Anyone need 250 sq. ft of sod?

Monday, March 17, 2008

Green Day

Once upon a St. Patrick's Day we went to Chicago where they go all out and die the Chicago River green.
(Then we went on a really cool architectural tour on the river through the city.
Highly recommend it if you ever find yourself in heart of Chicago.)

Thursday, March 13, 2008

10 Easy Steps

This is what you do when your oldest son gets home from school and soon after that you hear him yelling from upstairs that "the toilet isn't flushing!"



First, you run upstairs and assess the situation.


Second, you yell to your husband to get the plunger.


Third, you hear your husband's verbal frustrations [he keeps it clean] as he is unable to get the toilet to "plunge."


Fourth, you see your husband run outside.


Fifth, you see your husband run inside with a snake he borrowed from the neighbor. [Not a real snake, a plumbing snake. Guess you've never had this problem before.]


Sixth, you hear more of husband's verbal frustrations because the snake isn't helping. Then you hear oldest son telling his sweating and upset father that he forgot to tell us that youngest brother flushed a yellow ball down the toilet last night.


Seventh, you try and calm your husband down. You remind him that one time he tried to flush a roll of toilet paper when he was little, and we have been through worse.


Eighth, you decide to call in the experts.


Ninth, you wait 30 minutes for the plumber to show up, then watch as he pulls out his snake with a thing on the end that grabs objects lodged in toilets, goes upstairs for 1.4 minutes, takes care of aforementioned yellow ball and gives you an invoice for $97.00.

Tenth, you hear a calmer husband rehearse with the young offender that he is never at any time to flush anything like that in the toilet ever again, on top of that he adds that the plumber's services are in fact his birthday present next month.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Always Watching

I frequently question Chandler about the friends he plays with at school: do they use good language? are they kind and respectful? etc... you know the drill.

Yesterday, he accompanied me to his parent/teacher conference. The radio was on faintly in the background as we drove to the school. One of the men used an expression, violating the 3rd Commandment. I heard it, but ignored it. At that point I should have turned it off, but I didn't. About 30 seconds later, from the backseat, Chandler said, "Mom, I don't think you should be listening to this station." I knew why, but I asked anyway, "Why?" And he made me proud and ashamed at the same time when he said, "Because that man took the Lord's name in vain." At that point, I turned off the radio like I should have done in the first place.

Always watching.

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Miscellaneous

[appropriate miscellaneous picture I thought]
  • I made my first call into talk radio on Tuesday. Wonder what show it was? It may surprise you. It's a local show called, The Locker Room. Not normally something I listen to, but it was on. I didn't realize I was on air until I hung up my cell phone and heard the last part of the conversation [delayed by a few seconds apparently]. Wonder what caused me to call a local sports show? The guy commented that "Mormons and Catholics hate each other." I had to set him straight on his incorrect statement. He said I didn't know anything. "Well," I said "We are Mormon and my husband went to Notre Dame for his grad degree and all the Mormons and Catholics were friends so I don't think you should be making such generalizations on air." [Isn't that right Megan, Emily and Keri?] So there you have it, don't believe everything you hear on the radio. [you already knew that didn't you?]

  • My kids ate corn dogs for dinner tonight. Before that they ate 1 [or more] chocolate chip cookies. The parents ate fried rice, and since it had vegetables that were larger than a grain of rice people younger than 6 ¾ wouldn't touch it.

  • We switched up our workouts this week and I can hardly walk up and down the stairs. Isn't it funny that you feel skinnier when you are sore? Or is that just me?

  • Why do my children like to play in the front yard instead of the larger and fenced backyard?

  • I love, love, love it when complete strangers say [disapprovingly], "my, my you have your hands full." And I say, "yes I do," with a smile "and there is one more at school." {GASP!} But then the woman at TJMaxx today said, "Thank goodness there are women like you!" So there is a compliment to all you mothers…

  • The little lady turns 1 tomorrow. We will celebrate with pizza, [because it is Friday] fruit and cupcakes. You are all invited [just kidding].

  • I had Carson step on the mat at Target to see what size his feet were. Well, I think I've discovered why the little boy was getting ingrown toenails. His shoes were a little too small [just like 2 ½ sizes]. What? He never complained!

  • This week I sent Chandler to school with money -$6- to revamp the lunch account. When I picked him up at school that afternoon he was wearing a Dr. Seuss hat [$5] and had a book [$1]. I was planning on recycling last year's hat. Little stinker.
  • Baden is still Baden. Intense. Demanding. Manipulative. Funny.

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Discouraging


Sunday, March 9

You know what that means don't you?


No more conning the kids into thinking that it's time for bed when it's only 6:30 pm.


What will I ever do?