5 minutes

I only have 5 minutes before I have to leave.
1. I have realized-- thanks to Beth's comment on my last post-- that I am so happy NOT having to go Brett's company Christmas party/dinner! One great thing about being laid off from that company!
2. man I hate those.
3. it's cold here
4. but I still put my make up on with a fan pointed at me.
5. I'm always HOT
6. glad the wind is gone
7. I bought & wrapped so many presents yesterday!!! woo hooo!
8. Double woo- hoo-- because so far I have stayed (strongly) in the Christmas budget.
9. Knowing I have work keeps me busy getting things done.
10. Have a GREAT day!

11. what do YOU want for Christmas?
12. soon I will make my Christmas favorite list!!!!

a birthday list

1. I have not taken any pictures of myself this past birthday
2. I feel great-
3. but, look worse than ever - in my 43rd year...
4. I guess you can't have it all?
5. I have added some new things to my
6. "100 things I want to do"- list
7. just mentally- I need to really write them on there so I don't forget!
8. I want to go to Mt. Rushmore.
9. and Hershey, PA.
10. I want to go on a Mediterranean cruise.
11. and get a necklace with my grandchildren represented on it.
12. you know, the kind you can add to when you get a new grand baby- not that I have any on the way... no- bummer.
13. Next year, I want to enter a quilt in the 4th of July quilt show.
14. I want/need to go back to-
15. sending everyone in my family a birthday card on their day.
16. This year I did not have that as a goal at the beginning of the year-
17. and have not been doing that.
18. I feel terrible about it...... really guilty
19. Happy Birthday Johnna (my sweet sister)- sorry there is no card in the mailbox today!
20. I hope you have a good day, I love you.
21. On my birthday I had my usual breakdown & asked brett over & over why he was married to me & gave him permission to get a divorce so he could be happier?
22. Poor brett.
23. note to self: add to list asap- don't have weird breakdowns on your birthday
24. that only brett can fix.
25. I sure love that man.
26. Not just because he puts up with my insecurities
27. and not just because he bought me this for my birthday.
28. he had to order it since I had a crying fit & wouldn't let him buy it on time, to give it to me on time. I can't wait for it to get here!
29. again- poor brett.
30. lucky me

this weekend

this weekend...
Brett & I took some kids to Mcdonald's for breakfast Saturday.
We went to Ikea to get a new desk for him- to go with my desk, in the office.
Ikea is so overwhelming- but i love it.
We went to dinner after that at. fun!
Trent has been playing with the empty boxes again, ever since- man that kid loves a box.
We bought hailey a new yellow dresser to go with her yellow bed.
Who knew that would prompt her to totally clean her room?
hailey- you rock!
still no photo of the haircut... I've gotta get sneaky.
Brian came home sat. night & spoke in another ward Sunday morning- it was fun to listen.
Jack went to two missionary farewells yesterday.
He leaves in 40 days- can that be possible? am I wrong? Is April 6 really only 40 days away?dang.
Jack is getting ready to go to the temple- I am so excited for him!
Brett feel asleep on the stand - brian texted him & woke him up just in time to close the meeting - fewwww!
Brian wrote a paper & did laundry.
Jack played his guitar.
Chloe, trent & I made dozens of cookies.
Hailey cleaned her room some more?!
We played bananagrams & sequence. Trent always wins sequence by playing the card he draws??
We studied the scriptures together & ate an early dinner.
It's going to be a good week!

it's thursay

* yes the blogger moms still meet on thursdays!
* it continues to be great therapy :)
* My MIL's doctor told us that people who get together regularly with friends live healthier, longer lives. I believe it.
* Brett is in Seattle
*I'm GREEn with envy- even though he is only there for an afternoon.
* On his flight to Sacramento yesterday it was so turbulent they had to turn around & people were throwing up... so. glad. i. wasn't. on. that. plane! EVen happier all is well.
* Jack's Visa papers go in today.
* He has been working like crazy & rarely home. soon we will be shopping for a suit, white shirts (short sleeve- lucky guy!), heavy duty shoes, etc.
* I am so excited for him- Brazil is going to love him!
* Hailey got the most amazingly cute haircut Monday night!!!
* she is resistant to me taking a photo & posting it- teenagers!?
* it's short & cute & you are gonna love it.
* Chloe nearly quit piano last month... drama. her awesome-fabulous teacher talked her out of it. fewww! She's got so much talent... again- teenagers!
* it has been rain/snow mix all week & the air is CLEAN - ahh I can breathe!

five for wednesday, just because

1. two weeks ago when it was brian's homecoming we had soup & rolls & cornbread. I make really good cornbread. I noticed no one was really eating it? I just figured they weren't "cornbread people" until later than night I tasted it- eeew gross. I guess being up the night before until 4:00 AM talking with college jack & return missionary brian, took it's tole on the cornbread, bummer. It was worth it to be up with them.

2. I have been insisting chloe do all her awesome impressions for brian - since he left, before she started doing them. Chloe is SO FUNNy!!! She can recite the whole movie of Nacho Libre- her & hailey's rendition is hilarious!! I could watch them all day long & laugh & laugh & laugh & .... she's sick of me asking- but chloe- you are so funny!

3. It's not supposed to get above freezing today- I am so thankful it is still sunny. I can handle cold when it's sunny.

4. I have chosen a word for next year. I've been thinking about it for a long time.

5. I cannot wait for Christmas for ONE REASON... Charlie will be here. oh heavenly day! that kid couldn't be cuter if he was carved outta butter!

recipe for disaster

what do you get when you add:

1. two weeks of company

2. child left for college- I'm missing him.

3. tough lesson at church on Sunday

4. hurt feelings (long story)

5. cramps

6. tons of work to be done: canning tomatoes- I'm sick to death of them & I haven't even really started-

7. and this book...
BAWLING- bawling-bawling.

I've been pretty much having crying fits all week. I finished this book last Saturday. Cried my eyes out many times. Almost quit many times... but I am glad I stuck with it. My book club met last night & I am relieved it's over. I am proud of myself for finishing it but it was such a tough emotional read for me. I guess everything else hasn't helped either...

what a week- I hope the weekend is better!

Have you read this book?

Did you cry your eyes out?

Do you ever have one of those weeks?

home. sick.

-i have been home with trent now for two days. he is sick with a cough & fever 103.2 at 11:30.
-i have the cough now too.
-probably because I've ended up sleeping with him in his bed the last two nights.
-good thing it's a double bed with a new mattress & seriously more comfortable than my own bed. it's not right that a kid's bed is more comfortable than his parents.
-in between motrin doses he has been doing his homework packet.
-he hollers out what's 54 divided by 9? followed by more division questions... I have to get the calculator.
-i have been reading blogs between doing one load of laundry & the lunch crowd (jack's friends & pizza) all day.
-i have to get something done today!
-my community council meeting is canceled. thank goodness.
-brett brought trent home a happy meal for lunch :)
-it's a beautiful warm day & the windows are open.
-i hope it's not influenza?!

Is anyone sick at your house?
I hear this is going around.
How long did it last???
I'm tired thinking about it.

a whole lot of nothin'

1. I walked the dogs today.
2. last week was a hard week.
3. It's finally warming above 40 degrees & we are hoping the old snow in our yard will melt before it snows again.
4. I hate old snow- but love the new stuff.
5. Trent has a program this week. He has a one sentence part with the word "intricate" in it.
6. He doesn't want to say intricate.
7. It feels like I haven't gotten anything done for a week.
8. I am driving the ballet carpool & donating blood this week.
9. I am also spending one morning up at the capitol. I love being at the capitol when the Legislature is in session.
10. Hailey is now writing music with a friend- it's really good!
(I'm not being prejudice- it is good!)
11. I am hoping she lets me post a video.
12. Jack is applying for on-campus college housing soon.
13. He turns 18 next month - when did that happen?
14. Brian has been gone for 465 days.
15. He should be home in 265. No - I am not counting. What makes you think that?
16. I talked to megan on the phone for an hour or so this morning. she is good :)
17. I sent a whole lot of good mail last week & it helps with the winter blues.
18. It feels like spring is just around the corner!
19. I can't think of anything to make for dinner.
20. If I don't have dinner planned in my mind by mid morning-- it's not good.
21. I lost my pedometer. already!?
22. I made it to church yesterday & subbed in primary :)
23. I am taking my scouts on a big field trip this week.
24. It's nice to be busy- again.

Happy Birthday Janae!

It had such a fun time earlier this week preparing for Janae's birthday.

I made her an apron (all the blogger moms went in on it) & wrapped all of her presents all matchy. It was really fun for me. I am realizing with these friends that I really do love giving gifts. I thought previously that it was not my "love language" but I am learning more & more about myself. Thanks to my great friends & family for helping me to learn so much about myself & the joy of friendship.

Why I am glad Janae is my friend & fellow blogger mom:

1. I thought I was the truest SEe's lover... but I have met my match!We both love See's - going into a See's store with her is so much fun! We have this See's common bond between us. Who else in the world can discuss the difference between a scotch mallow & a buttercream & really know what they are talking about?

2. Janae is a FANTASTIC cook!!! She has a way with salads that could knock your socks off & she can BAKE too. She even made these once & they looked exactly like the original!? that's seriously impressive~

3. Janae has this very sweet bond with her mom & sisters. I hope my girls love me like she loves her mom.

4. As the mother of FIVE darling girls Janae is a great mom. Five girls- wow I can't even grasp that in my brain. They are so cute & you should've seen them at Christmas. They were so darling in their Christmas dresses. It was like looking through a catalog at a darling Christmas family!

5. Janae is feminine. She is abounding with femininity & I love that about her. Sometimes I am a little rough around the edges... I wish I was more feminine. I love that quality in women. Women who really embrace femininity- not weakness- are really amazing to me.

she even sits feminine- see here I am sprawled all over the place & she is so cute!

7. Janae lets us blogger moms congregate at her house for our Creative Thursdays- she acts like it is no big deal... but I know it is. Besides the fact that her neighbors wonder- why does she has a bunch of cars over every Thursday in her driveway? she makes us feel so at home.

8. Janae is not a Utah girl- just like me- we didn't grow up here. Only another non-local understands what it's like not to be local- does that make sense?

9. Janae is extra good at showing GRAtitude! She is so over the top at saying thank you- she mentioned the other day that her mother in law told her not to bring her anymore treats/gifts after bbsitting for her. I thought- that's just like Janae to thank her like that! She is very thoughtful.

10. Janae is a good friend. She didn't expect & doesn't expect anyone to go out of the way for her, yet she would do it for you in a heart beat!

Happy Birthday Janae!!

20 things I did yesterday

1. woke up early to help Brett find pants to wear to L.A. for a meeting
2. sorted through $5,000 + of Sally Foster product for the elementary
3. went to the store 3 times because I kept forgetting things
4. tried to bribe Trent with a toy if he didn't interrupt my book club- unsuccessful, as usual- that kid does NOT accept bribes.
5. hosted my book club
6. called 6 PTA presidents
7. tried to send a text, but after several attempts quit
8. ran upstairs to the bathroom with a plunger & plunged a plugged toilet- don't worry I made it!
9. drove jr. high carpool
10. made 2 lunches
11. searched for lost Sally Foster chocolate box- didn't find it
12. dropped 3 letters in the mail
13. ate two cinnamon rolls
14. had lunch with friends, ran home- early out day
15. missed my husband who comes home today- hooray for short trips
16. picked up a huge box of legos- again
17. called my parents for like the 100th time & left a message- because they are never home
18. made 2 beds
19. microwaved dinner
20. laughed :)