Christmas 2010

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!  Ours was fabulous.

This Christmas has been a bittersweet Christmas this year.  I was so looking forward to Tim's family coming to visit.  We planned on Tim's mom, his younger sister and her hubby and three kids, and his younger brother and his three kids coming up from Texas.  We also thought we'd have his younger brother's wife and six kids and his younger sister and her hubby and their five kids come down from Idaho.  However, due to work schedules and snow forecast only those from Texas came to visit.  What can I say - we must have scared off the others.  We had an enjoyable 4 days with family - visiting, shopping, and visiting Temple Square.  It was fun to see them and I can't wait until we can head down to Texas next year (I'm keeping my fingers crossed that nothing major comes up to nix our plans).  Monday, my mom called to tell me that my Aunt Mary passed away.  We knew it was coming, but it was still quite a shock.  I guess I kind of hoped that it wouldn't happen soon.  However, Aunt Mary is in a better place and will be reunited with her family once again.

Christmas morning seemed to come too fast.  Apparently, Sterling woke up at 3 am - because Tim woke up with the dog and found that Ster was in the living room playing with his legos.  Not his new toys - he didn't touch those.  And he didn't go back to sleep!  He was wide awake until 10 pm - no nap, no nothing!  Me, I had a nice nap =)

Anyway - Ster was spoiled once again.  Each year I keep telling myself that I am going to limit what he gets.  But every year we manage to spend more than we planned on.  He was happy though - he got alot of what he wanted.  But he is already talking about what he wants next year!

Here are some pictures:

His gift from Tim Jr - he was hoping around making monkey sounds. 

Some of his gifts

Ster with his present from Santa

Remember me telling you about his find?  Well, we told him they were for the Sub for Santa family - but gave them to him from his brother and sister and nephews/niece (they  never send him anything or even call to talk to him - but we always give him a gift and say they sent it to him).  He caught on Christmas Night.

Happy New Year!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

OH NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ster found the presents!  Are you kidding me?  WHY!

AAAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!

At first we stashed them in our trailer.  Perfect place, right?  Well, I've been a bit nervous about that because I was told that was the first place thiefs would look.  I told myself it was locked so it wouldn't be a problem.  However, the teenage boys that visit their grandparents behind us pulled up while I was standing at the door with the goods in my arms.  I don't trust them as far as I can throw them.  So, I told Tim we needed to bring them in.  So we did.  And I put them in our storage room behind some stuff so that it was hidden.  Tim told me to wrap them, but I kept putting it off.  What a stupid procrastinator I am!  Tuesday Tim needed our 5-gallon jug and so I had to get it from the storage room.  That was what was hiding the gifts.  I had stuff in bags behind the jug with a large mailing envelope on top to block the view just in case he walked in.  I have the XBox on a shelf with his backback covering it - it was jammed in there so it would stay in place.  But, I did place 2 of Ster's Santa gifts on top of the envelop in plain site - because he NEVER goes down there!  I didn't worry about it because Ster NEVER goes down there unless I send him down for something.  Never.

But I can't say never, now, can I!

I was at work and Tim had to go to Physical Therapy - so Ster was home alone for about 1 hour (we've left him alone before - he does pretty good on his own).  I was about to leave work when Ster called and asked why we had a bionicle toy and hot wheels downstairs.  WHAT!?!  He told me he was down stairs and saw some toys and asked why we had them.  I told him to stay away from the room.  Yeah, right.  I'm sure that as soon as I said that and hung up he went right back downstairs to look. 

I got home and asked him what he saw - because I was thinking that he probably saw everything.  He listed about 1/2 of what I had.  Apparently he didn't see the XBox (unless he was smart enough to keep quiet about it, but when I went down there it didn't look like the backpack had been moved) nor some of the board games.  But every single thing that was supposed to be from Santa he saw.  Go figure.

Needless to say, the things that Ster didn't see (or what I think he didn't see) are now in another location that he will hopefully not find.

Now what do I do?  And don't tell me to return those items - because I don't keep receipts unless it is a big purchase.  I'm thinking that Santa may be bringing the other items he didn't find - but those weren't on his list and he'll have a cow if Santa doesn't bring him something from his list!

And in case you are wondering, I told Ster that those toys were for the family we chose to do Sub-for-Santa for.  We told him we were doing that but we didn't tell him who we were helping nor that we already took the presents over!  His face fell.  He told me that he liked those toys and wanted them.  So I told him that the family we are buying presents for have a boy his age and I knew that if Sterling liked those gifts then that little boy would like it.  He was so sad - it nearly broke my heart.  Nearly.

Sterling made it to 9!

Yesterday was Ster's 9th Birthday.  I can't believe my son is 9 years old!  Where has the time gone?

I remember when I found out I was pregnant.  I was so excited.  We had been trying for a couple of months and I was very disappointed each month to find out I wasn't pregnant.  I didn't want to announce anything because of the "what ifs" and had told Tim that we should wait a while.  Yeah, that didn't work.  And it wasn't me who blabbed!  I wanted to tell my parents first - but Tim blabbed to my brother Scott.  (I don't know if my mom even knows that yet).  Anyway - I was so excited and nervous all at the same time.  I wasn't one bit nervous about the pregnancy - about feeling sick, any discomforts, or any of those horrible things women have to go through.  I was scared spitless about delivery - in fact, my doctor scheduled the induction date for 1 week before my delivery and I asked him if we could hold off.  (i didn't tell him I didn't want to go through delivery - I justified it by saying that another day would be best for tim's work schedule).  I had an easy pregnancy - I was sick only a few times and had heartburn a couple of times.  Ster kicked but it sure didn't hurt.  It was so easy I told Tim I could have a dozen babies (that quickly changed after Ster was born).  And, labor and deliver was a snap!  I was started at 7 am and had him at 12:10 p.m. (I would have had him sooner, but my doctor checked on me and then headed back to his office - he had to turn around and come back).

I sure love my son.  Oh there are times I'm ready to ship him out, but I love him so much!  For all the times Ster has made me want to pull my hair out, he has made up for it by being so darn cute.  He says so many cute things and I have been really stupid not to write them all.  I look at him and my heart swells and I feel such overwelming love for that child. 

I can't remember if I have written about last Christmas and the terrible mistake Santa made.  Ster wanted an Xbox.  We thought we had him convinced that a Wii would be better - so Santa bought a Wii.  Two days later, Ster changed his mind.  Oh well, right?  Yeah, well a few days after Christmas Ster asked me if I had asked Santa for my camera.  What could I say but "yes"?  So he asked me why I got what I wanted from Santa but he didn't get what he wanted.  "I wanted a Xbox but he brought a Wii!"  And Ster has not forgotten that.  When Tim was in Qatar, we were at Wallyworld looking at toys.  Ster found one he wanted and begged me to buy it for him.  I wouldn't and told him to ask Santa for it.  Right there in the toy aisle, Ster gets so upset and tells me "No!  I'm NOT going to ask Santa for this.  He'll bring me the WRONG TOY!  Just like he brought me the WRONG GAME.  I wanted an Xbox and he brought a Wii.  He'll just give me the wrong one again!"  He was standing there so upset because Santa would bring him the wrong thing.  Let me tell you this:  I've learned my lesson and Santa will bring him what he wants - not everything on his list because his list is too long, but what Santa brings will be on his list.

What a child I have.  He is tempermental, can be very cranky, is stubborn, disobedient to me, slower than cold tar at times. But he is my child and I love him dearly!

Taxes

Sterling asked me yesterday if Santa Claus was rich.  I told him I didn't think so.  I wish he was!  Anyway:  this was our conversation:

Ster:  Well, Connor said he was rich.

Me:  I don't think he is, but others may think he is rich.

Ster:  I don't think he is rich.  If he was rich, he'd have to pay taxes.

Me:  Are you learning about taxes in school?

Ster:  no.

Me:  Then why are you talking about taxes?

Ster:  Because.

Me:  What are taxes?

Ster:  When you make too much money you have to give some away.


Well, okay.  Not exactly right, but pretty close =)


Ster must really think Santa is rich.  At day care, they made a "Santa Wish List" by pasting pictures of what they want onto paper.  Ster had 2 pages completely filled on both sides.  When Brooke told him that she didn't think Santa could bring all those presents, he replied:  "Yes he can.  He'll just go back to the North Pole and load back up."  Smart kid.  Too bad it doesn't work that way.  My list would be 10 pages long!

Thankful

At the end of this month of Thanksgiving, I should write a few things I am grateful for.

I am so thankful for my wonderful husband.  He is so good to us and he puts up with so much from us.  He has a cranky wife and a wild, tempermental son and he loves us so much.  He isn't perfect - but he sure is close to being perfect!  He cooks, cleans, does yardwork, helps with homework, picks up dog poop, and most importantly is a worthy priesthood holder.

I am thankful for my son.  Every time I look at him, my heart swells with love.  Yes, he is tempermental and doesn't really like me.  But he is my wonderful child and he makes me giggle.  He likes to fart and likes to try our patience, but we sure love him to pieces.  He has improved so much with his schoolwork.  He struggles and his grades aren't very good, but he tries.  And I'm especially grateful that he likes to do homework with daddy and not mommy =)

I'm thankful for wonderful friends.  You all make me smile!

I'm grateful for my little poopsie Duke.  For the look he gives me when he is so tired and I'm pestering him.  And for seeing his rear end wag like crazy when we come home from work and he's so happy to see us.

I'm grateful for a new, kind Visiting Teaching companion.  One who didn't mind calling and setting up appointments this month - so that I didn't have to report another BIG FAT ZERO for the month.

I'm grateful to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  How blessed I am to be part of an eternal family.  For the atonement - for the opportunity to repent and become clean again.

I have been so blessed.  Are things perfect?  No. Heck no!  We have trials and troubles just like everyone else.  But when I count my blessings, they far outway our troubles.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

It's done!

The quilt is now done. I do have to say that it is beautiful! I delivered it to my cousin so he could take it to his mom next week. I am so excited for her to get it.

As you know, I'm now into quilting. I absolutely love it. I love to look at patterns waiting for that special one to shout out at me. That is what happened when I saw the pattern. I was surfing the net looking at quilting websites and looking at the patterns. I saw the pink ribbons and KNEW I had to buy that pattern and HAD to make that quilt for my aunt. It took 10 fat quarters, so I patiently waited for "Fat Quarter Friday" and then bought my fat quarters. And so began my Pink Ribbon Quilt journey.

I can't tell you the number of hours this quilt took. My cousin asked me how long - but I don't know. I remember when I first started to cut out the pieces and sew the first few ribbons - it took me about a half an hour to sew one ribbon. But I did get faster (as long as I didn't make a mistake). I can tell you that I cut, sewed, ironed, sewed some more through watching Covert Affairs (about 3 episodes), 21 Jump Street (2 episodes - man there are some goodlooking guys in that show!), and a couple NCIS episodes on FanCast. I also watched Laws of Attraction, parts of each of the three Lord of the Rings series, Why did I get Married Too, and a couple others. I can't believe it took me that long - but I guess with the taking out of stitches time would add up.

Binding the quilt was another story! My co-worker helped me sew on the binding strips and explained how to finish the binding. But I did something wrong - the stitches were way too close. In about 3 hours I finished only about 3/4 of one side and I thought I'd NEVER get it done. I took the quilt to pack night knowing that every little bit of time would help - and there I was saved. A kind Sister in the ward came to look and gave me some good advice. I knew right away that what I was doing DEFINITELY was not the ideal way when her response to me saying that I thought the stitches were too close was " Well, as long as you are consistent." I had her show me her way and boy it was much easier! In about 3 hours I had finished the other three sides of the quilt - so I undid the first section and finished it up.

Making this quilt has been wonderful.  I've thought alot about family and the love I have for all of my family - and the desire I have to be closer to everyone.  And how grateful I am for our eternal family - knowing that by living righteously, we'll all be together again.  How beautiful and wonderful to know that this time on earth is not the end - that there is something greater for us.  If we endure to the end, we will inherit the Kingdom of God.  We will be together again.  We will see each other again.  I've also thought of how wonderful the Atonement is.  Because I am far from perfect - and knowing that I can repent of my mistakes and work toward becoming a better person calms my fears.

Here are a couple of pictures of Aunt Mary's quilt:



Finished Quilt

 

Binding - front and back



This is my favorite ribbon



this is the binding that i originally did - i took it out because it didn't look all that great and Sister Lee showed me a much faster way!

PS - I've learned ALOT about quilting since July.  One, trust my instincts.  If I don't like the material, don't get it.  Two, I will never be able to do the long-arm quilting and am grateful that there are ladies out there who do it.  Three, in the end it will look beautiful no matter what!  And Four, sore fingers go away remarkably fast!

Sore fingers!

Boy have I got some sore, sore fingers! I have small chunks of skin taken off of 3 fingers, 2 papercuts, and numberous pin holes on a couple of my fingers. It just hasn't been good!

I started to bind the quilt last night - and kept poking my fingers. In the middle of that, I went to take the lid off our crockpot and took a chunk out of a finger (didn't bleed too much, but it sure hurt like heck!). I ended up with another chunk later that night but can't figure out how it happened. All I know is it hurt, I looked, and saw no skin. Ouch. And all of the hand sewing made my fingers really sore. Today was no better - I gave myself two papercuts.

I am in a rush to get the binding done, but ended up sewing patches on Tim's scout uniform. Have I told you how much I HATE SEWING ON PATCHES?!? What a pain! And more pin pricks.

Tomorrow - more sewing. My fingers may fall off.

I don't know

what has gotten into me = but I've been baking! Yes, don't faint. I don't cook or bake. I don't necessarily hate it, but I just don't do it. I'll make dinner occasionally (only on my day - I'm not nice and volunteer to take over for Tim) and I have made cookies a few times. But not all that often. Why? I'm not sure - but it make have to do with the fact that in order for me to bake/cook, I like to have a clean slate to start with. No dirty dishes. A completely clutter-free counter. Music or TV to listen to. And I like to clean everything up as soon as I finish. But since I don't have a spotless kitchen, all that work has to be done first and then I'm just not in the mood.

However, Saturday I got a bee in my bonnet to make homemade bread. I was actually excited at the prospect (shocked me!). I called my mom for her recipe and she gave it to me over the phone. So I made my very first loaf of bread. I started with a somewhat clean slate - no dirty dishes and the counter was mostly cleaned off. I made numerous calls to my mom to make sure it was going okay. I put let it rise. I put it in the pan - and we pushed it down into the corners cuz it just didn't look right in a log that didn't touch the edges. And this is my very first loaf of bread:



Yeah. Not exactly what I expected. So after another phone call to my mom, I discover that she forgot to mention the fact that the bread needs to rise in the pan, too. Crap! I wondered about that - but since my mom didn't tell me to do it, I didn't do it.

I couldn't stand to not have a great loaf of bread on my counter. So I made another two loaves today. A little better - but I guess I need to let it raise even more. And, after the homemade bread, I got a bee in my bonnet to make Banana bread! A wonderful neighbor brought me some DELICIOUS banana chocolate chip bread (which I controled myself and ate it in two days rather than the one day I wanted to eat it in) - so I decided that sounded really good and attempted to make it. Mine tastes okay, but definitely not as good as hers (it has chocolate in it - so it can't be that bad).

Here are the final products from today:




Besides having the urge to bake, I have started on the final leg of the quilt. Binding the edges is a lot more time consuming than I thought! I thought I would be able to whip it out in a couple of days - but it looks like it will take me all week to get it done. And it will get done and washed and ready to wrap and send on! I'm so excited!

Tim

goes in for a knee scope tomorrow. We'll find out just how bad off he is. He already has very little cartilege left in his knee and what is there is ragged and causing him lots of pain. So, we'll see what our next step is. The doctor is hoping to clean it up and that will help him for a few years. We do know that a knee replacement is in his future - it is just a matter of when. So, we go hoping for the best!

And we are hoping that the pain goes away in his left knew because he favors that and his right knee now hurts alot.

It stinks getting old!

Life

Well, as you know, Tim is home and life is returning to normal. It is sad that for 5 weeks life can be hell at our house - but within 24 hours of Tim being home it is peaceful. Peaceful most of the time. If I ever get the courage, I'll share my story of Tim's 15-month deployment. I am hoping that I hid a lot of what was going on at the time, but some people may be aware of the situation. It's a long story.

Anyway, life is wonderful right now. My hubby is home. My son is happy. My poopsie is happy. I am happy. And I get a stay-at-home daddy until November 22. I don't have to run Ster to tutoring for two more weeks (Yes!) nor do I have to hurry to pick him up from Day Care (yes!).

And we have a new truck. New-to-us truck. I'm not sure how happy I am to have it, but what's done is done and can't be undone now! I was perfectly content with our 2005 Tundra. It wasn't perfect but we didn't have any problems with it at all. I had big plans - we were going to pay off my Jeep and then trade his truck in for a new truck. There was no way I was going to have two car payments at a time again - right now we do have two payments and I hate it. I planned to pay off the jeep, buy a new truck, and by the time that truck was paid off it would be time for a new car for me. You know - one car payment at a time is manageable. However, my plans changed. There were some issues with my parent's truck - and since they couldn't just sell it, it had to be traded in. So we traded their truck and our truck in on a new truck for us. They don't have to pay for a truck they weren't using and we got a newer truck. It sure is nice looking - let's just hope it is as reliable as the Tundra! (This was kind of like the trailer - I was pissed that Tim was pushing for it but understood that we were doing this to help my parents - but now that I've been in it a bit I'm starting to like it.)

Anywho - more good news. The quilt is back from the quilters! She did a FANTASTIC job. If anyone likes to quilt and needs someone to quilt it, Kate's Quilting Block in Pleasant Grove is affordable and FANTASTIC! I should have it bound monday or tuesday night and then I'll post pictures. I wish I could be there when my Aunt opens the present. I hope she likes it! And I don't mean to brag - but I was told that the quilt does not look like it was only the second quilt I've made and that it looks like I've been quilting a lot longer. So, I can't wait to get this finished up and sent out! Have I mentioned that I just love to quilt?

I guess I'll let you get on to more important things!

HE'S HOME!

My dear sweet hubby is home. It is so nice to have him home =) And, he doesn't have to go back to work until Nov 22. So I better get my list of Honey Do's ready! Kidding - he is so tired, trying to get on the same time schedule.

We are a happier family now that daddy is home. Duke didn't want to leave him - still follows him around. Ster has actually been obedient and hasn't put up much fuss over anything. In fact, we didn't have a shouting match this morning with me yelling at him to hurry up and him telling me to stop yelling.

Wow. It is so nice to have daddy home =)

Almost!

My hubby comes home tomorrow! Yipee! I really want to do a happy dance right now - but then the neighbors would think we just had an earthquake. So I'll settle for a yipee squeal. Reinforcements will be here! Duke can stop moping around when daddy comes home. Ster will be happy that someone else besides mommy will be around. I'll just be thankful to have my best friend home.

And I did a lot of good deeds today - and that makes me feel good! First, I took a really late lunch and ended up eating a sandwich at my desk. For something to do, I got on Facebook to stalk my friends - and I read a comment that my cousin wrote about not registering to vote and she wouldn't be able to vote. I about jumped out of my chair. My area of expertise! I am the second-in-command for the AF City elections and know of a rule change in the last few years. If you were registered to vote in the state of Utah and move to another city in Utah, you can still vote if you forgot to register. You have to do it provisionally and that provisional ballot then updates your registration. I frantically wrote back on her facebook. Then I started to panic thinking she wouldn't see it so I started to look up her phone number. There were three of the same name in Lehi. I almost started calling all of those houses until I found her - but she saw my message. And it worked! She was able to vote. Made me feel good.

Then, it got real busy at work and I ended up at the front counter helping people. (Not what i like to do when water bills go out and it is meter reading time - people are always freaking out over their bills. I hate to help when all people do is complain). Anyway, an elderly couple come in to set up autopay and as I'm logging in, they comment about their high bill and asked if it would ever go down. I told them I doubted it - but all they said was they had a huge bill for such a small lot. So I looked at their bill and asked how big their lot was. They said it was really small because they were in an HOA. Yeah, well, the lady who billed them their pressurized irrigation bill charged them for property 10 times larger than they should have been charged. So, because I listened to them and actually looked at their bill, I discovered that they had been paying $90 too much EACH MONTH for 8 months. Saved them a buttload of money! Man, I felt GREAT.

My last good deed of the day saved another person $450. She was happy. I helped people save money - but the city just lost over $1000. Oh well. Two citizens like me right now!

So all in all, today has been pretty good. And tomorrow will be BETTER!

One step closer!

The quilt is one step closer to being done. The top is finished - and it'll be off to the quilters either tomorrow or Tuesday. Whew. You will be glad it is done, too, so you don't have to see pictures!



I'll have to start another quilt soon. When I'm sewing, my floors are swept and vacuumed all the time!

Tidbits

I have a new hobby. No, not sewing. Something that is just oh-so-interesting.

I check out who has been arrested in Utah County! Yep, you read it. I check on who has been BUSTED! You know, you can see some interesting people on there. For instance, I found out that a former neighbor was arrested. For stalking, no less! It has been quite entertaining. Like - who smiles for their mug shot? And why don't people brush their hair? I mean, if I know I'm going to be in a picture and can't get out of it then I will atleast make myself look presentable.


Now for an update on my project - and I know I can post this without my aunt knowing about it. It is a gift for my aunt who is battling cancer right now. A very strong lady. I'm close to finishing the quilt I am making and I am sooooo excited! It isn't perfect and I'm really sad about that - I can see all my flaws. But I like it and am very proud of it. This is the second quilt I've ever made and it wasn't an easy pattern (smart people start off with "beginner" projects and then work their way toward the harder ones. me - I start off with medium projects and then go easier). It may not be perfect, but I love it. And I hope my aunt likes it. We'll see how it looks when it is quilted! But, since I finished the squares tonight, I wanted to post a picture. I'm going to get more fabric tomorrow so that I can finish up the top and get it to the quilters next week. I'm so excited!!



Now if only I could get a sewing machine that didn't keep acting up. Preferably one that would sew perfectly so there were no flaws in the quilt. Cuz, you know, it was all the sewing machine's fault that my quilt isn't perfect.

My Sterling

Oh, I just love my Sterling. He is just so cute and sweet - some of the time. Those few, precious sweet moments make it all worth the times of hair-pulling, crying, stomping feet and screetching that I do when he's driving me crazy.

Here is Ster at his last pack night. Now he just does not like me to take his picture - it is like pulling teeth to get him to smile decent for the camera. If I can manage to get him to stay in the photo there is a good chance he has a goofy look on his face. So when he instructed (yes, instructed) me to bring my camera to pack night, I couldn't pass it up! He was excited because he received a couple of belt loops. Can't wait until he gets his Wolf thingy (badge?) because I'll be able to get pictures. (That should be next month). Anyway - isn't he just a doll?



So Ster has been cracking me up lately (when he's not making me pull my hair out). We've been working on his pinewood derby car and he told me I can't help him paint because I'm a girl. Well, he did let me help - a little. So his colorful car is all Ster. I wanted to do some touch ups, but had to stop myself. Now I can see why fathers get so involved in their son's car. I'm hoping and praying he does okay with this.



I have decided that I post more pictures about Duke - so this post is to make it up and post all about Ster. I'm going to post some funnies.



Today at tutoring, he read a story about Teddy. I think I've talked about Ster's speech impediment - there are some words he just can't say. For instance, he can't say "business" - it comes out "biz-in" and he gets so mad if you tell him he's saying it wrong. So Ster starts the Story about Teddy. Only half the time it didn't sound like "Teddy" but "Tiddy". I did a double take the first few times he said the word because I was sure he didn't mean to say what I thought he said. Yeah, well Mr. Rowley tried to correct him a few times but it didn't work. So I had to hold my snickering in. It was too funny.

Yesterday, our ward had the Primary program. I'll admit that I didn't want to go to church because I didn't think I could bare watching him up on the stand goofing off. But he did real well - only bounced up and down in his seat a few times. Anyway, we were running late (as usual) and Ster didn't have a chance to get his belt. Since Ster started on his medicine, he has lost a few pounds. His church pants were a tad big to begin with, but with losing a few pounds his pants were definitely big on him. As we were practically running to church, he had to keep grabbing at his britches to keep them from falling off. Poor kid - he had to keep his hands on his pants so they wouldn't fall off.

But we are having all sorts of problems with his pants. One size is too small (however we'll have to re-check that - he has lost some weight) and the next is too big. So we get the bigger size, cinch up the waist, and then he rolls up the pant legs. And he can't roll them up a little bit - he rolls them up so they are floods. Looks a little goofy - but he doesn't complain. Heck, why would that bother him? He wears a couple of his shirts backwards on purpose and won't change!

This has been a long post - but I'm really proud of Ster. I have to admit that Tim's little trips are really hard on me. Ster knows how to push my buttons - he knows that I can't handle his hour-long fits (which are down from his 2-hour fits that he threw almost daily when Tim was in Afghanistan). But this time he has been so much better. We still battle - he still has hissy-fits and I still screetch and cry - but things have been so much better.

He is a sweet, sweet boy who melts my heart. He is a sweet, sweet boy who forgives me for not being a better mom. He is a sweet, sweet boy who is also a little fartblossom.

I just love my Sterling.

UPDATE!!!!
Of course, since I mentioned how sweet he is and how good he has been he just has to go and throw one heck of a fit yesterday! Wow - he was so mad and cranky.

Lets get DOWN & DERBY!

Next week is the scout's Pinewood Derby. I was dreading this - because I just knew that Tim would be gone for it. And of course - he is gone! Aaarrrggg! I don't know a darn thing about pinewood derbys other than what I watched in Down & Derby (which I just love). So the fathers are supposed to build the car with a little bit of input from the scout. right? Well, with daddy gone, that means Ster decided what it looks like and he may or may not let me help. Phew. This is all wrong! hehe.

Seriously, I have been pretty worried about this. Ster is still pretty tender hearted and gets upset with he is in last place. So of course I'm going to worry and stew that his car is going to be last. (I'll feel bad for whoever has the last-place car - I just hope it is someone other than Ster!) Anyway, one of the scout leaders had a little workshop at his house today and he cut out Ster's car. Since I had not one idea of what it should look like, and Ster's idea of the perfect car would be something a more knowledgable person would build, Bro. Sisson offered a couple of ideas. Ster grabbed onto the first idea and so now we are building this:



Bro. Sisson told us we'd need to sand it down and then paint it. So Ster was just all fired up to come home and sand it. So sand it we did. Not really good, but he was insistent that he sanded all areas. I've thought about taking it now that he's asleep and sanding it smoother, but it's his car. Anyway, while we were sanding it, I told Ster that tomorrow we'd go get some paint. And guess what that little fart told me? That Bro. Sisson had to help him because a girl couldn't do it. Little pissant!

So in the next day or so, you should see a finished project.

It broke

my heart to read of the soldier who died in Afghanistan recently. His poor wife and baby. I can't imagine losing my husband - but to have a newborn would make it so much harder. I am so grateful for the many men and women who serve our country and who put their lives in danger so that we can have the freedoms that we have. When Tim was in Afghanistan, I knew he'd be safe. I knew he'd be protected and would return home safely to me. I thought he was on a safe base - as safe as he could be over there. We were so lucky because he was on a base and could call home daily. As long as there was a phone available, he could call. I loved that. How lucky were we! I didn't like to think too much of where he was when he went to a "FOB" for a few weeks at a time. But I found out after he got home that he had an experience where he was in extreme danger. I am so thankful that he returned home safely and it hurts me to see that another soldier has died. I cry for his family and for their loss.

I guess I'm rambling. Maybe it is because I'm really missing Tim right now. I miss my best friend. No offense to Sterling, but it just isn't the same with Tim gone. There is no one here to tell me that I wouldn't be so tired if I didn't stay up so late. I miss trying to slip into bed without waking him up (fail every time). I miss his teasing me and me teasing him. I miss waking up Saturday mornings to find he went and bought us breakfast sandwiches and drinks. I miss my friend. And my best friend should be home in 20 days!

stress over!

Well, the stressful interview is over. It didn't go so well. I was so nervous I couldn't think straight. Plus, I have no problem listing my faults but can't seem to brag about myself or think of many good things to say about myself. So it didn't go as well as I'd have wanted.

But that is okay - I know I don't stand a chance. When I came out of the main interview, I saw another lady there that works for another city. Yep. She'd get the job over me in a heartbeat. But I'm okay with that.

So, although I'm disappointed in my interview, at least it is over! And either way, I still have my current job and it isn't a necessity for me to get the job.

I'm so nervous!

I have to admit something. I am so nervous that I have made myself sick. My heart is starting to race and my stomach is squeemish. I feel like I could upchuck.

Why? I have a job interview tomorrow at 10 am. And I am so ready to call them and say "Never mind! I really didn't mean to turn in the application." But I can't - I told my co-workers and my supervisor that I was applying.

Sheesh. What have I gotten myself in to? I have a great job and a great boss. I have a ton of vacation and sick days. I have a boss who tells me to keep track of my time when I tell him I need to take Ster to tutoring or to a doctor's appointment. I like my co-workers. Well, most of them anyway. I know my job - I know a lot about my city. I know where to send people when they have questions I can't answer. I can drop Ster off at school on my way to work and get him to day care easily. I work 8 to 5 and like it (other job works 4-10's and I am pretty sure I couldn't get to work by 7).

Not that I'm assuming I have the job. Because I'm sure there are a lot of qualified individuals who have submitted their applications. I'm assuming I won't get it - but what if?

Emergency Preparedness

I have to share a FABULOUS blog: plentyofpicnics.blogspot.com

If you are wanted hints and tips and information on emergency preparedness, you need to check this out! Besides emergency preparedness, she has crafty things on there.

So proud!

I am so proud of Sterling. I feel like shouting from the rooftops!

Yesterday at tutoring, Mr. Rowley tested Ster on his reading level. He is at a high third grade level! In one year, he went from an early first grade reading level to a high third grade level. (he is in 3rd grade) Amazing! He told us that Ster was his fastest learning student and that he sounds out the letter combinations better than anyone else. I seriously wanted to cry when he told us that. Now, the school district tests differently and at the end of last year he was at a mid-first grade level - they test on fluency and comprehension. Ster's learning disability makes it difficult to pass his reading levels because he can't retell the stories. He is much better at reading and he can answer most of the questions (sometimes with help), but he can't retell the story. Anyway - I'm just proud as punch he has improved.

I've worried about his reading because of the fact that the school tests so differently. Today I found out. He is at a level 18. He should be much higher, but since school started he has gone from 14 to 18! That is so great. Plus, his resource teacher said that she is working with him at a 3rd grade reading level because he can read the words. She told me that was better than most of her students - who are reading at 2 or 3 grade levels below their actual grades.

Now, he still has lots of struggles ahead because he can't comprehend things. But I'm just thankful that he is reading words 100% better than a year ago.

I'm so proud of my little stink!

Sister Wives

I'm watching Sister Wives on TLC right now. It is interesting. Really - which surprised me. I guess when I think of polygamists, I picture women with long hair in braids, long dress, and what looks like pants underneath the dress. These ladies dress normal! I don't agree with what they are doing, but there are some positive points to being part of a polygamist family.

1 - Cooks. There would be additional cooks so instead of cooking every other night (Tim is absolutely wonderful and takes turns cooking) I would only have to cook a couple of times a week.

2 - Cleaning. there would be more hands to help clean. yes, more hands to make a mess but those hands can clean up! How nice would that be. You know, if there were 10 kids, I wouldn't have to clean at all because between them and my sister wives I wouldn't have to lift a finger.

3 - Day Care. I wouldn't have to shell out the money for day care. Of course it isn't like i have 5 more years of day care.

So, I've decided that Tim needs another couple of wives. I could use a couple of sister wives - one who specializes in cooking and one in cleaning and one in yard work would be ideal. Now, Tim might not agree. For some reason he seems to think that one wife at a time is enough.

Kudos!

Kudos to my cousins who ran the St. George Marathon! Three very talented ladies ran their hearts out and did great! Me, when I'm sick I stay down as much as possible. Not Melissa - she ran anyway. And I'm pretty sure Heather was fighting a cold, too (at least she was a couple of days before the marathon and I know you can't feel 100% right away). And Kaelee? Man, she traveled around the world to get here! (Okay, so I won't mention the fact that she came for a perfectly-timed wedding).

These ladies are AMAZING!

(and I'm so jealous!)

What have I gotten myself into?

I have found that I love to quilt. Am I any good? Not really. I see all my flaws and all the little areas that I should have done better. But I'm addicted now. I want to start quilts, but hate to pick out the fabrics because I can't pick out anything that I think goes together.

But, I've decided to make a special quilt. A pink ribbon quilt. I've wanted to do this for about a month now and I bought the fabric a few weeks ago. But I couldn't make myself get started. I made a few practice squares and figured out the best way to do it. But, I put off starting the actual sewing of the quilt.

Tonight that changed. I decided I wasn't going to put it off any longer. I want it done by Thanksgiving and I don't want to rush through it. I have been so picky on this - picking out a few of the pieces to start over. I've noticed on one that the ribbon is just slightly off - but didn't notice until after I cut it down to the proper size. Now I'm excited for the finished project and have a feeling I'll be doing a lot of sewing the next couple of weeks (which means my kitchen will be a disaster - fabric all over the table, threads hanging everywhere, dishes piles in the sink)!

Here are the first two squares:

Bear Lake

Last weekend we made a last-minute trip to Bear Lake. With Tim leaving, we did want to go camping one last time but didn't know where. Friday morning Tim gets this bee in his bonnet about going to Bear Lake. We've never been there and were able to reserve a spot that morning. So, after work off we went! Tim got everything ready (as usual) so all we had to do was grab something to eat and head on out.

We opted to go through Wyoming to get there and it was dark by the time we hit Evanston. But it was so beautiful! There were hills on both sides so the earth was dark but the sky was lit up with the full moon. I really liked traveling at that time of day/evening/night. And to see the lake in the dark was cool, too.

I loved it up there. The lake is BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL! And because we were there so late in the year there was NO ONE there. Seriously, the camp ground had only about 10 trailers there at the KOA. We went to the beach and there weren't very many people around - no one within a 100 yards, at least. We drove all the way around the lake, running into some 'cowboys' and 'cowgirl' herding cows down the road. Have I said it was beautiful?

Here are some pictures.

He's gone again

Yep - my dear, sweet hubby is gone again. He'll be back in about 5 weeks. I looked at the calendar this morning and just groaned. 5 weeks. Depressing. I thought each time he left it would get easier. But it doesn't. I don't see how my cousin does it with 3 kids - her husband has gone on at least 2 deployments and she has traveled around the world toting 3 kids. Another cousin's wife traveled all over with her two kids all alone. And I can barely survive the 1 kid I have. I thought I'd never get through the 15 months he was in Afghanistan. But we survived - barely (and with help from my parents) but we did. We've made it through so many small deployments - a couple of weeks here, a month there, two and a half in Florida. And, really, they have been much easier than the long deployment. But the older Ster gets, the sassier and more argumentative he gets. Seriously - he acts like a teenager. And I just dread Tim leaving. The easiest deployment we have had was when Jayden was here. For some reason, that month-long deployment went by quickly and easy.

I think I need to invest in duct tape. One, to tape his mouth shut so he can't get sassy with me. Two, if he is really naughty, to duct tape him to someone's porch so they can deal with his attitude!

It is a good thing he's cute! And now I TOTALLY understand why my mother-in-law told me that the only reason Tim is alive today is because he was so darn cute - he was quite the handful, too (a handful enough for his mom to wait 8 years before having her next child!)

I pulled a naughty!

I'm not a nice person. I'm sure you can tell that by now. I am not a teacher. I taught primary for just over 2 years and struggled like crazy almost the entire time - I found that the 4/5 year olds were the best. Me and kids just don't seem to get a long - my own kid doesn't listen to me, so what makes me think anyone else would? I did love most of the kids. Most of them. There were a couple that would make me want to pull my hair out and that made teaching difficult for me.

Of course, the 3 times I have substituted Ster's class didn't help. The first two times, the kids wouldn't sit next to him. They'd keep moving away from him. That hurt me to the core - knowing that my son didn't have friends in his class. And it makes sense to me now the fact that he hates going to church.

Anyway, Ster's teacher has asked me again to substitute. Actually, she asked the answering machine =) Me being not so nice didn't call her back. The last time I tried to tell her that I wasn't comfortable teaching, she blew me off and told me she'd bring the book by. She never did. So I had to guess at the lesson and printed it off 5 minutes before we walked up to chuch (late - i wasn't feeling well that morning). So, she called on Tuesday and I was rude and didn't call her back. She wouldn't have taken no for an answer and I really don't want to do it. Well, she just tried calling again. Tim almost answered it - but I told him not to. Then I proceeded to turn off all the lights in case they drove by. Unfortunately, they live across the street to the north and probably know we are home.

Maybe she'll get a hint next time and ask someone else from the get-go!

Ooops

I just found out I did another major faux pas. Apparently it is rude to ask people to move their cars. Didn't know that.

Today, I was floored once again at the stupidity - or selfishness - of people. When I went to drop off Ster and Conner, there was another back up. Amazingly, if you could get past the first set of doors, you had clear sailing. Unfornately, some mini-van mama suddently stopped right smack dab in front of the doors and left a big day care van blocking the way. You could tell the driver of the big van was not anticipating the lady suddenly stopping. Imagine, if you will, a wide open expanse of drop-off area. Then, a mini-van in the drop-off lane with a big van at an angle thinking they would be able to pull adjacent to the curb, and then cars in two lanes from than point back to the curb (there is a corner right there, no less). Anyway, once again cars could not move until that mama moved - and she wouldn't move until her child entered the building and the doors closed behind him. Then she started to fiddle with her sunglasses. I think she must have realized that she was creating a traffic jam - cuz she moved forward about a car length and then stopped once again. The big van pulled in parrallel to the curb, the vehicle behind it was able to turn the corner and move to a location in front of that minivan (with room for another car - me). Now it is my turn and I was so excited! Wow - I can finally drop off the boys and head to work. No such luck. Now, with my experience around the minivan mamas, I know to check what they are doing cuz you never know when they will start moving. So I looked and she wasn't moving. I started to pass her and get ready to pull in front of her - and then she just started moving forward and then started to turn into my lane. That is when she started to look. I just shook my head at her. Doesn't anyone believe in looking anymore?

Now, before you start to judge me to be a cranky woman, I'll tell you right now that I am. I am cranky. I am also perfect. NOT! I make mistakes and sometimes I'm in a hurry - but when others are involved, I try to be overly careful and overly considerate. But then I think "why should I be considerate when no one else is?"

I'm not the only one who thinks it is rude to block everyone. Another lady here has the same complaint about the same ladies over and over causing drop-off problems. This morning, her husband was with her and when he saw that a lady was blocking traffic, he made the mistake of asking her to move. Yeah, well he got yelled at. And all he did was point out that she was blocking the travel lane and asked if she could move.

I told the ladies here at work that I was gonna start writing down all the stupid things that go on at the drop-off zone. You wanna know what a co-worker said? "Why do you get upset with the drivers? What does it accomplish by yelling at them?" I was kind of taken back. I didn't yell at the lady last week other than to get her attention - and then I (nicely, I thought, at least) asked her to move her car. But, apparently, I was rude to call out to her and didn't accomplish anything but get her upset. And my co-worker's husband shouldn't have asked the lady to move, either. He didn't yell, but he shouldn't have done what he did. It doesn't do anything to upset them.

I was then kind of snotty. I told them that it was apparent that you can't expect people to have common courtesy these days - and that since common courtesy was out the door, then I no longer have to be courteous to people. Am I blocking traffic? Who cares. As long as my son gets to the doors without having to walk any further than needed, I will stop in the traffic lane and let him out. And I will wait until he gets through the doors before I move. Someone in the crosswalk? Who cares! They can wait until I'm gone. And if anyone has the nerve to ask me to pull up or move my car, I'm immediately gonna start to bite their head off.

I also told the lady that I guess instead of trying to be nice, I'll just start to yell first off instead of being nice since you don't have to be nice anymore. I don't think she realized I was kidding because then she starts arguing with me about how I must think it was okay for people who came in there to pay their bills to start to scream and yell at us. I told her that of course it was - no sense in trying to be nice anymore! Let them yell at us - who cares! No one =)

So I've learned a valuable lesson today. I've been wrong all along to think that people needed to be courteous. I'll remember that next time someone points out to me that I'm blocking them in or something like that (earlier today I would have been mortified if someone had to ask me to move - not no more!)

BTW - I'm the "Jeep Jerk" at the school since I've asked someone to move. There is also the clueless compact car that parks in the crosswalk every single day (I used to think it was rude and illegal to park over the crosswalk, but it is only the crosswalk across the drop-off zone so that must mean it doesn't count as a crosswalk). If you can think of any other names to call people, let me know! I've got minivan mama, diesel dad, jeep jerk (that's me!), and clueless compact car. Help me with the SUV and big vans and regular cars.

(Oh, and I do know I need to have more patience. But I am a very impatient person)

I'm green with envy

because Tim is in Texas right now. Do you know what this means? Tomorrow night his ex-wife and his son and Jayden (we hope) will be picking him up and taking him to dinner - where, hopefully, he will meet up with his daughter, her boyfriend (common-law husband?) and their two kids.

HE GETS TO SEE THE GRANDKIDS!!!!!!

I am sooooo jealous. Really, the grandkids are the cutest. Oh how I wish I could snuggle with Jayden (but he doesn't remember us at all) and kiss Kym and Levi. But I'm the wicked step-mom/step-grandma so I doubt that will ever happen!!!!

Dear, sweet Sterling

Oh my dear, sweet Sterling is GONNA DRIVE ME BONKERS!

Ster has been coughing/clearing his throat for AGES. I didn't notice it when he was in Kindergarten, but in 1st grade he kept getting a cough. I took him in over and over to the doctor - I'd wait until he had a stuffy nose/cough for about 2 or 3 weeks and then we'd head in. (When Ster was a baby, I kept thinking his stuffy nose was a sinus infection - I was told to wait for 2 weeks and then take him in if it didn't clear up) We did it over and over - and the doctor finally said that we'd do some testing if it didn't clear up after the antibotic. Well, that summer he quit coughing and I figured it really was just cold on top of cold - for cryin' out loud he was at school so that made sense to me.

Yeah, well the cough/clearing the throat never went away this summer. So I took him in - and we tried a couple of things that didn't seem to work. His doctor said we had two choices - see an allergy doctor or a pulmonologist. I chose allergy doctor first.

Tuesday we went in to that doctor and Ster saw the Advair inhalers - purple, just his favorite color. Anyway, the doctor did some tests and low and behold, Ster is allergic to a couple of grasses, couple of molds, cedar, and thistle (I think). He also had some weazing when he took deep breathes. Ster got what he wanted - a purple inhaler and some nasonex.

Has the medicine helped? Not yet! His clearing his throat is much worse right now and I am about to go crazy. Tim is even super annoyed at the constant clearing. Arg. Poor kid - hopefully it kicks in and we don't have to listen to him anymore.

Maybe we should take him to my mom and dad's this weekend!

For rude!

I am so sick and tired of people. Really, I should just be a recluse so I don't have to deal with people.

I've complained about mini-van mamas and diesel dads who think they can do what they want. I've complained about the mini-van mama who sits there in the drop off zone before school starts - you know, the mom who doesn't want to leave her young child there waiting outside the doors. Never mind that there is usually a teacher there or that there are 50 other kids - she doesn't want to leave her kid there. I don't blame her. Ster's first few weeks I wouldn't leave until I saw him walk into the building. However, I parked in the street or in a parking stall - not there where people drop off their kids. I didn't hold up traffic or block people in/out while I waiting. So it drives me absolutely batty when I have to drop Ster and Conner off a mile away because the same 7 mothers park RIGHT, SMACK dab in front the doors. People are tired of it now so they stop in the drive-lane of the drop off zone and let their kids off. It is annoying - but there is no other place to do it so they have to. I've even started to do it - and I hate it.

After school, there are issues. I understand people parking in the drop-off lane in the drop off zone to pick up kids. That is where you wait for them to get out of school. I get there plenty early so that I have a place to park. There is one mama who insists on parking in the cross walk. Guess it hasn't crossed her mind that no one else is there because it is a cross walk. Hmmm. Maybe I'm wrong in thinking that you don't park there.

Anyway, today was fun. I couldn't leave work at my usual time, so I got to the school about 5 minutes before the bell rang. When I turned the corner, I saw cars stopped in the travel lane of the road in front of the school. I knew that the drop-off/pick-up area must be full. I didn't even bother trying to go in there and decided to park on the street. Now, I don't like Ster and his friend crossing two drive areas to get to me (neither one seem to look before crossing) so I walked to the school. I noticed a lady parked in the left lane - which is the driving lane in the drop-off zone. No one could get thru with her parked there - so anyone behind her couldn't go through to find any place to wait for their kid. That explained the cars backed up. Anyway, I had to wait for a boy to get out of the school and he didn't get out for a few minutes. As I was walking toward the school to find him, I saw the lady get out of her car. I was annoyed and then pissed to think that she felt she could block off traffic for her kid. She should have had the decency to move so that traffic could get through. Anyway, this is what was said (we were about 20 feet apart):

Me: Hey lady! (I'm sure I sounded rude but didn't mean to be - at least not at first)

Her: (turning) What?

Me: Could you move your car?

Her: I'm getting my kid.

Me: Well, you are blocking traffic and no one can get through.

Her: (kind of snotty) I see that.

Me: (sarcastic and rude) Obviously you CAN'T see all the cars waiting to pick their kids up.

She said something else to me but I didn't hear it - but she was GLARING at me and she was talking so that I couldn't hear it. I know it wasn't nice. She was pissed.

But, if I was parked behind here, I'd have been FURIOUS for being stuck there for 10 minutes. She was seriously there for 10 minutes - and there were cars lined up waiting to get their kids. It was a good thing I had to park out on the street (cuz I couldn't get in the drop-off zone) because I couldn't wait around for her kids, too!

And why are people so rude? I have a lady who needs help with a cemetery issue. The first time she stopped by work, I was in the back room cleaning and asked that they send her up to the cemetery office - I did say I'd help her if she was upset about going up there, but I was filthy and would have to clean up before I could help her. When they asked if she would go up to the cemetery office, she threw a royal fit and started screaming that she didn't have time and wouldn't go up there. the ladies I work with tried to help but she didn't give them a chance to help her. She went on and on about not having time and not going up to another office for help and then she stomped off. They couldn't even come back and tell me to hurry up and help. anyway, that lady called in twice the next day to complain about us. Then, yesterday she happened to come in while I was at lunch - and when they suggested that the cemetery secretary could help her, she refused to go up there and was very upset that I wasn't there. Once again she stomped out of the office. I just knew that to top my day off, she'd be there when I got back from lunch today - lucky for me, she wasn't. So I get a repreive from one cranky lady - hopefully the other cranky lady won't park in the way again!

I love weekends!

I love weekends =) Two days away from the torture chamber, as I like to call my place of employment. And this weekend - three days away from the torture chamber! Woot woot!!!!!

And, we lucked out again - or were blessed - to find the very last camping spot at Little Mill in AF Canyon. Yes! Tim is up there right now sleeping in the trailer while me and Ster stay here and go to work/school tomorrow.

We were supposed to go camping with some friends this weekend at some property they had access to. It wasn't in a campground so having a trailer with a potty was a plus =) But, when Tim called them today, he was told that they had to cancel the camping trip. Crap! We would have gone up yesterday to try to find something had we known. We would have gone up right after work had I not invited a friend over for dinner. So, we kinda shoved her out the door a little sooner than we should have - but we wanted to drive up the canyon to see if we'd luck out again. And we did! The camp host told us that we had to have the trailer there and that we couldn't just throw up a tent to save it. So, at 8:30 tonight we flew back down the canyon to get the trailer - hoping and praying that no one else had the same idea. We don't even have food or clothes - but it sure is nice to have the trailer all ready to go! Fill up some water, hook it up, and fly away!

here's to a peaceful weekend!

Poor Teri

Poor, poor, pitiful Teri. So I had to do something I didn't want to do - be a witness to an accident. How sad. How torturous. I was so put-out and put-upon and it just wasn't fair. Poor Teri.

What is important in life? My family. My testimony. My covenants I made with Heavenly Father. What is it that I want most? I want to be with my family. Forever. I know that no matter how terrible and torturous life gets, I will be with my family forever if I live righteously. Why sweat the small stuff?

Tonight I was checking out a blog I discovered - and she mentioned their sharing time and how they tied it into a little girls experience. So, out of curiosity, I checked it out - http://patrickandashley.blogspot.com

I have been reading about little Pressley - and crying my eyes out. Why was I complaining about doing something I didn't want to do? I still have my child with me - and even though he doesn't want to have anything to do with me most of the time, I can hold him and kiss him tonight. I am so blessed.

I am such a whiner!

Grrrrrr

I saw an accident today - lucky it wasn't a major one. But crap - why did it have to happen with me around? And why was it that no one else at the busy intersection stopped to be a witness to the accident? Grrrrr. The last thing I needed was to have to wait 45 minutes - yes, 45 minutes - for the cop to show up. And what is with people? They don't want to be bothered with filling out paperwork? I know I didn't - nor do I want to be in the middle of anything, but isn't it our duty to tell what we saw? Why me? Why couldn't the guy have rear-ended the car another day?

I was in a hurry to get back to work and traffic was CRAZY!!!! So, I debated whether or not to hurry through the yellow light (I was turning left) - but I stopped. The car next to me stopped. However, the guy behind him didn't. He hit the guy hard enough to push him 3/4 of the way through the intersection. I hurried back to work to get info from someone and then headed back to the accident site. I waited there for over 30 minutes before a cop showed up. I had hoped that since I was a city employee, that I shouldn't be a witness. But, no, I was okay to be a witness. Lets just hope this is nothing complicated! I would hate to be sucked into something terrible - like someone who is sue-happy.

Grrrr. Why did it have to happen next to me? I would have felt soooo guilty if I hadn't stopped. But I feel annoyed that I did!

The funniest picture

So yesterday I was at work getting ready to check out the obituaries. Yes, it seems weird - but I have to for my job. Really. Anyway, I noticed an article about a Pleasant Grove family business and I immediately thought of a family I know that makes and sells soap. I love the stuff. And guess what? It just so happened that the article was about that family. They had a couple of pictures with the article and I about fell off my chair laughing. The picture included the mom and their 7 kids. The oldest just happened to be pulling rabbit ears on her younger sibling. Too funny!

check it out:

http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/north/pleasant-grove/article_39199bf1-2d80-5cf3-95ac-9480a9ae4c0f.html

(I'm too dumb to figure out how to insert a link - it just won't work for me)

By the way - the little boy (Joseph) sitting smack dab next to his mommy holds a special place in my heart. He was in my primary class a year ago (for a whole month before they released me). Very shy, he didn't want to have a thing to do with me - until he got separated from the class and found himself near the chapel with no teachers or other kids around. I found him and he was so relieved to see me that he got this big smile on his face and from then on was my little buddy. I love that little boy!

New School Year Begins!

I can't believe summer has just flown by. Did I do what we should have done this summer with Ster? No. We definitely didn't read like we should have! However, his reading tutor says he has improved a lot. Am I looking forward to having homework again? Not really - cuz I know that it will mean battle after battle to get Ster to work. However, we will do it and it will be nice to be on a schedule again.

But here comes trying to get out of the door on time (yeah, right - there will be lots of yelling "Hurry Hurry Hurry!"), late lunches so I can pick up Ster from school, homework, going to bed early.

But with the start of school - comes cheaper daycare! Yipee!

I hope and pray Ster does well tomorrow.

My baby

Here is a picture of my baby. And Duke.



Okay - so Duke really is my baby. I talk to him like he's a baby - and I'm sure my neighbors (who can probably hear me) think I'm a lunatic. Dukey Doo is such a sweetheart. He went from being an outdoor dog to spending a good chunk of his time inside. He was such an active dog - and he still can be active - but he has calmed down SOOOOO much since Tundra died. He is starting to mind so well - with his special treats he can't wait to do what we want! Anyway, Dukey Poo loves licorice. Yes - it is his favorite treat. I have some red vines (the small chucks with black and red) in a bag and when he hears that bag, he runs to me. He never obeys me that well!

Here are more pictures of my baby:



Tomorrow (or the day after): Sterling. However, there won't be as many picture since the little turkey hides his face when I pull my camera out!

A bad day at work!

Today was a terrible, terrible day with a too few bright spots. One bright spot - a friend came to visit at work and I got to see her oh-so-cute little girl that just melts me (She has beautiful eyes and a to-die-for smile). Two, I got my cute cards from my friend (she is FANTASTIC with designing her cards). Three, we may have a chance at another camp spot at Nunns Park (I'm keeping my fingers crossed because I need a little get-a-way). Tim, Ster and Duke have worked real hard to try to cheer me up - but the thoughts of me going back to the torture chamber just bums me out.

Is it sad that I know I have to work about 7,650 more days until I can retire? And that if I want to collect my retirement through work I have to work about 3,600 more days? I've already taken out the holidays and the vacations days I get. And unless we win the lottery, there really isn't much chance that the numbers will go down. How depressing.

But I'm trying to remind myself that it could be worse. I also have to remind myself that it is only a job.

It WILL get better!

School starts WHEN?

Oh crap! School starts next week and am I ready? NO NO NO! All we have are school supplies (of course) and shoes. Hey, atleast we have shoes!

Camping Fun

Whew! What a week! I went from being really, really pissed off at my hubby to being very thankful I have a wonderful hubby.

As you know, we are the proud owners of a 2006 Cherokee Trailer (at least I think the loan papers went thru - I'm assuming they did since we signed papers the first part of August and now have the trailer). The whole story in a nutshell: Tim has been pestering me about buying a trailer since May (when child support stopped). I have been resistant because I don't want another payment - and so I would shoot down any attempts at a trailer. We borrowed a neighbors trailer for my big reunion and tim mentioned buying that if we liked it - I was excited because I knew the payments would be more along the lines of what I wanted. When I got sick, Tim looked at trailers and found one he liked. I resisted. He pestered. I resisted. He pestered more. I resisted more. Finally, I decided it wasn't worth the pestering and left it up to him. He wanted to buy it, I reluctantly agreed, and we signed papers. I was pretty pissed at my husband - actually, it was more than being pissed. I was madder than a wet hen. I decided being mad over a trailer wasn't worth it and tried to be happy. We went camping. I'm now happy! I have to say that I am now really happy about the trailer. Not so happy about the payments, but I am very glad that I gave in and we got it.

Here is our lovely, new-to-us trailer:




I did learn some very important things as we camped at Nunns Park. We left bright and early this morning so we could make it back to church. I haven't been to church for 3 weeks now and I didn't want to miss another day. Boy I'm glad we made it! We had the best Sunday School lesson - and I am so very thankful we didn't miss it. Anyway, here is what I learned:

1 - I have the best husband. He ended up hooking up the trailer without any help guiding him. He found the perfect location at Nunns Park (one that is very in-demand and never stays vacant for long) and backed the trailer up and set up camp all by his lonesome (I was at work). Boy I lucked out when I found him! He also puts up with my crankiness and weepiness.

2 - That I really am a chunky monkey! I already knew I needed to lose 60 pounds - but that was reinforced this weekend. Ster and I walked part of the trail that goes up Provo Canyon - it went right past our camp spot and Ster wanted to go so I went. Anywho, we started to walk and then Ster started to run. So I started to run. Didn't last long. My large-marge behind started to hurt! Yes, my butt is so big that the bouncing up and down started to make it hurt. Seriously. Apparently, the fat on my butt doesn't like to move very much and protested very loudly when it was violently pushed up and down. I had to stop running. P-A-T-H-E-T-I-C. I gotta do something to lose some weight - and apparently it won't be by running! I'll have to lose my balloon butt before I start running.

3 - My little boy is growing up. Saturday morning, we walked the trail to Bridal Veil falls. It was beautiful and relaxing. And walking with my family was the best. Of course I had my camera and took pictures - when they would let me. Anyway, I tried to hold Ster's hands - but he wouldn't. he refused to! So, I felt a bit sad but realized that it happens when they grow up, right? However, I really felt bad when I saw Ster holding Tim's hand. Although it was precious to see, I did feel bad. Here they are holding hands:



4 - Duke really does need to remain shaved - his fur is getting longer and he needs to have a "sanitary shave". On our walk, he had to do his business. Unfortunately, some of that business remained stuck to his behind. I gagged. And as I was walking behind them, I had a lovely view of that business. I couldn't take it any more, so my wonderful husband took a big leaf and took care of it. Don't I have the best husband?

5 - The trailer is wonderful! It has two slide outs so it is really roomy. The furnace may be loud, but it works. And it has a potty! So, although it does come with a monthly payment, I am overall pleased with it. What I find funny is that there are 3 of us with a roomy trailer. My brother has a trailer similar to ours but there are no slideouts - and there are 8 of them. My neighbor's trailer is alot smaller and they have 7 of them. Why do we need so much room? I don't know - but it sure is nice!

Here are some shots of our camp spot:

Reunion Fun!

We're back! Big, huge thanks to the Field Family for letting us borrow their trailer. It was great - even though we (me, Ster, and my sis) ended up sleeping in a tent. We borrowed their trailer, but there was way too much stuff brought along to pull out the couch or the put down the table for beds. My main reason for making sure we had a trailer for the reunion was for my parents - they needed a bed to sleep in. Although I wouldn't have been a bit upset if I was able to sleep on the couch. It would have beat sleeping on a blow up mattress that lost most of the air by morning. But it was nice having a potty and a sink and a place to go when it rained. Because it did rain. Every day. But what is a reunion if it doesn't rain? We used to say that if there was a drought anywhere, all they needed to do was have a Nelson Reunion there and the drought would disappear. So it wasn't a shocker to have it rain again.

I love reunions, but I'm particularly glad this one is over - only because my family was in charge. What a pain in the tushy! It is much better watching the races knowing you don't have to pay attention to the winner - only your son. Or watching your son in the sawdust dig and not paying attention to the time. Anyway - I'm just very grateful we don't have to worry about being in charge for many, many years. Who knows if we'll even keep having them in 11 years!

******

On another note, we may be getting us a trailer. A horribly long trailer (maybe not sooooo long, but it seems like it) with a big bed up front and bunk beds in back. I would have been content with a smaller trailer (like the one we borrowed). But no. My hubby wants slide outs. My son wants a bunk bed (one for him, and one for Duke/my sister - if my sister is there, she has to share with Duke. At least he gave up on the idea of double bunk beds in back - one set would be for his toys while he and Duke have the other set). I didn't want a trailer. But I guess I was overruled. I told Tim I didn't want a payment - we got rid of our last trailer because we were making payments on something we didn't use very much. I quite liked having a little extra money each month to go out to eat on so I didn't have to cook. But, it looks like Tim is winning and you may see a trailer next to our house this week.

Does anyone ever listen to mommy?

We are off!

Well, we are off to the reunion. If you are headed down I-15 between here and Beaver, you may come across a slow-moving vehicle. That will be my dad. He is driving our truck - and has informed me that he will drive between 55 and 60 miles an hour and not any faster. Yikes! Slow moving driver - but he has lots of experience pulling trailers. I was a bit nervous to be pulling a trailer because it has been years since I drove a truck pulling a trailer. So, my dad offered to come up and drive it all the way. Once we get out of Utah County, I may take over (if i feel comfortable).

Anyway - I'm so excited! I love our reunions. Even though my second quilt didn't quite turn out and we have to work on it at the reunion, we at least have the one quilt.

gotta go - gotta load last minute stuff before it rains!

Some peoples kids!

Sheesh - I can't decide if I was more embarrassed by Tim or upset with the other car. But.....

The power went out for awhile today - and since I hadn't made dinner (like I felt like it) and Tim hadn't made dinner and we were hungry, we decided to head out the door for dinner. We got down the street to no power. What are you supposed to do at an intersection when the lights aren't working? Treat it as a 4-way stop - but I'm pretty sure that Utah Driver's Ed doesn't teach the proper 4-way stops. Either that or a lot of transplants from other states come in and mess everything up. But I'm pretty sure its a Utah thing. Anyway, we happened to get closer to it and the power came back on - and therefore the lights started to blink red. Okay, I learned long ago to be very careful when that happens because pretty soon it'll be working right. Anyway, sure enough, the light goes solid red for about 3 seconds and then turns green. People start to go - like you should. Not everyone started to move, however. Three of the four lanes started to go - and not just a couple, but all the cars in the lanes. So what happened to the person in our lane? Just sat there. Did. Not. Move. At. All. Seriously - I was annoyed. I was hungry! Lights green - you go! So, Tim finally found an opportunity to get in the other lane and go around the dude. As we got next to him, Tim leans way out his window and in a deep, deep voice yells at the guy to look at the light - it's green. The guy finally hit the gas pedal - but wouldn't pass Tim. How embarrassing!

Update:
I am feeling much better. I still cough like crazy and there are times I can't really talk. But, I can breathe much easier and my chest doesn't hurt very much. I do know when it is getting close to time to use my inhaler - I have about an hour or so when my chest starts to feel wheezy. Use my inhaler and voila! I'm better! My doctor told me I wasn't really contagious - but to be careful around old people and people who have weak immune systems or are already sick. I had to go buy garments to day and who works at the garment store? Old people. So I sanitized my hands before I went and I didn't get close and wouldn't cough at all cuz I didn't want to get the old ladies sick. I lucked out and got one of the younger old ladies. (I have to be careful - I'm getting to the age where I'm gonna be considered one of the "younger old ladies"!)