it's really just embarrassing...

Today I did it!

I finally cleaned out my linen closet- all this junk was in there!

It's embarrassing really how many junky ol' blankets & non matching sheets I had. Years & years of old stuff that we just-plain-don't-use. Not to mention my college bedding set. I don't think I'll be going back to the freshman dorm anytime soon-- it was just a little outdated.
I'm on a roll I tell ya- tonight I cleaned out all the old VHS tapes- wow.

It's really just embarrassing~ but it feels so good.

anticipation

I'm not proud to say...

there are two things I have been dreading all spring & all summer.

They were both accomplished yesterday & today-

and ya- the anticipation- was much, much worse than the actual task!

First: was painting the deck.

Jack did most of the work.

Hailey, Chloe & Trent helped (really helped a lot)

& half way through I escaped into the laundry/sewing room to work on a project.

I am such a heat wimp.

Trent kept saying, "this is so great- us all painting together."
I knew I had to go inside when I was getting overly crabby hearing him say that.
Heat, the wrong paint (it worked out, but still I bought the wrong stuff at $30 a gallon),
teenagers, dogs who couldn't go outside...

It wasn't that bad for me- more for jack- but still. I hate/love this deck.


Second: Cub Scout Day Camp.
Oh boy.
I have tried really hard to be a good sport about cub scouting.
But--- day camp.
oh man, oh my goodness
Anticipation of the 7:30 AM leave time
just about put me over the edge.
You won't believe it- It really wasn't that bad!
I have successfully gotten out of going (I don't know how?)
for years- Frankly- it was my turn.
I can't believe I didn't go before- it was fun- seriously.

We went to Camp Frontier which was lead by a bunch

of great kids.

We learned about the gold rush, panned for gold (even got some ;), learned about endangered species, made Indian headbands with feathers, tied knots, played games, ate lunch, sang songs, watched some painful skits- the boys laughed their heads off, we learned flag etiquette, shot BB guns, ran an obstacle course--- on & on.

I just watched
How bad is that?

I have been anticipating these things for so long, making it worse than it really was. Now it's over & hey- not too shabby! Do you ever do this, anticipate something so much that you make yourself miserable? Unfortunately- I do it all the time.

off to work

So yesterday there was No School due to the end of term last Friday. I'm all good with that- except for the weather was rough- snow/rain mix all day. Trent didn't care- he was over the top thrilled - because dad had invited him to lunch at his office. This is a rare occurrence & therefore VEry exciting for the big/little guy. He got up & got dressed- I reminded him he needed to look nice at dad's office.

He replied that sometimes he doesn't "do his hair very good"

so we decided he should wear a hat.He took along his NIntendo DS - just in case he got bored.Dad decided it would be a good thing to let Trent come up to his office on his own...? I'm a little over protective- but agreed & dropped him off, watched him walk in, then waited for brett to confirm he made it off the elevator- feewww. I guess I should lighten up?

Trent had so much fun & was so good, he ended up spending the whole afternoon. this was so helpful for me - I finished my quilt & dropped it off at the quilters. (This is thrilling- making a quilt was one of my year goals & here it is only March!!) We used the same system picking him up- He looks so big.

(I don't know why this is sideways? I didn't take it sideways like I usually do-)

My house is TRashED & I am feeling really low.
I am plagued with negative thoughts & overwhelmed with the mess I have created.
Maybe it's the lazy eye taking over--
or the severe wrinkles on my forehead?
Somehow- making a quilt- threw me off my groove.
Oh the price of getting something done.....

chloe & G.I. Jill

Linda asked me to work a wedding luncheon yesterday. I already had another commitment & was so disappointed when I heard it was a wedding luncheon for the former Miss Utah, Jill Stevens. Last fall Chloe & I heard her speak at a Young Women's Conference. Chloe immediately idolized her. She is an amazing lady & speaker. She had a new book coming out soon after - I bought it last November & wrapped it up for Chloe for Christmas. She has been reading it & everyone in the house feels like they are reading it too (she talks about her all the time) When I told Linda what a big fan Chloe is- she said we could call during the luncheon, if the timing was right... maybe Chloe could come up & meet her.

We called, it was all good, Brett drove her up & what a sweetie!!
She was so nice to take a minute after the lunch, take a couple of pictures, plus sign Chloe's book.
She even signed the book- thanks for making my special day even better-
wow, really nice.
What a great experience for Chloe.
Miss Jill- You are better than any Miss America in my book!

big snow

Today I went to work for the first time since I broke my ankle.

Luncheon for 104.

Not bad, not bad at all. It felt great to be back.

At least 24 people didn't show up because of all the snow.

Yep- we are getting dumped on today - tomorrow.There was at least 5 inches of snow to trudge through when I was done.

My Mary Jane's were filled.

When I got in the car, so much snow dropped in the door that the floor board & automatic window buttons were full of snow. I had to dig some snow out to roll down a couple of windows, getting the snow off.

My wipers were working great except for the strip right in front of my eyes. Why is that always the strip on the wipers to go out first?
I stopped to get milk & eggs- just in case.
It's supposed to snow all night & most of tomorrow.

I turned to go up my street & there was Chloe walking over to Caroline's.

Here's my street-
it's going to be a white Christmas!

I actually like driving in snow

-call me crazy-

(as long as I have good tires)

I don't like driving in ice!

Here's me in the garage.

I made it.

Brett had told me to call when I made it down the hill,

but there was no cell phone service the whole way home.

The true measure of how much snow is always the

back yard picnic table.

Looks like a good 10-12" to me.

Now that I'm all warm & cozy I'm too wimpy to go out & measure.

Is there snow at your house?

do you drive in it?

good idea - or just a big mess?

I am really lucky to have two pantries in my kitchen. My house is over 25 years old though & I think the paint inside the pantries is original. It was looking pretty bad. I have always wanted to paint the inside a color- just to brighten things up. So, Thursday I did it- cleaned out the pantry & started painting.I guess I didn't really think it through.

Here it is Saturday morning & the mess is still here. The shelves have to dry extra long-

they will be covered in cans & heavy stuff

so we need to make sure the paint has cured.

Oh boy- I didn't mean for this to be a project Brett helped with, but here he is- what a guy. I think he is opting to paint rather than deal with the nine year old?

The problem with painting ONE thing is that you then notice every other dirty thing around that needs a coat of paint too!

Oh the Humanity!

I kind of wish I would've just let it be- It's going to be worth it- right?!

ooohpa

Last night I went to work for the first time in a long time. Now & then I work for my neighbor a caterer, serving at weddings & golf tournaments. Last night was a blast. It was a wedding dinner for an Armenian/American wedding party. They were Greek Orthodox. Let me just say - I don't believe in reincarnation- but if I did I seriously would want to come back Greek Orthodox.

Man, those people know how to have fun.

It was a little like My Big Fat Greek Wedding- only LOUDER. The music was so loud I couldn't hear myself think. They had flown in an Armenian Elvis type guy from LA & he was cool beans as the teenagers around here might say- He had Elvis's hair & side burns (kind of) & wore huge sunglasses the whole night. I couldn't understand a word they were saying but it was fun to listen to. They danced & danced (until midnight) & ate 9 different appetizers followed by salad & dinner, then dessert & coffee & boy can they put down the drinks....

I loved watching them dance while holding the bride- her puffy dress & all- over their heads. At one point the bride & groom dance while people threw money at them- I've seen that tradition before at other weddings...why didn't we do that at Megan's wedding? I wonder if people would've been willing to throw money at the parents of the bride?

NOw there's a tradition!
*have you ever been to an awesome wedding like this one?

*I had over 60 hits yesterday & only 2 comments.... what the heck?

throw me a bone people!

Trent At Work

Last night I took these two cuties to work with me- reception for 400. They stayed in the back, of course & played restaurant. It was an absolute thrill for Mr. Trent here. At one point during the night I took him to the bathroom & he said- mom, I can't believe I work here now- I have two jobs- I work for Grant (my remodeling neighbor) and I work here! He was so happy. He actually did really good too.

Here he is with another helper. When it was time to go he refused to take the apron off. He really wanted to take it home. He's been wearing it all morning.

And this picture is when all the sprite started kicking in. By the end of the night he was pretty wound up & I was really busy. Good thing Chloe was there to keep things in order!

I kept thinking I would've loved this when I was a kid. My sister Ruthie & I used to play restaurant all the time with my dad. We would take his order then make food for him in the kitchen & bring it out. Mostly saltine crackers with peanut butter or cheese. We loved it.

*did you ever play restaurant?

* do your kids?

Saturday

Well, it's Saturday & you know what that means...

after karate, Trent went to work with Grant the remodeling neighbor.

It's a little hard to tell in this picture but, Trent is sporting his new tool belt from Home Depot. It's black so it blends in with his shorts. Brett finally caved in & bought him his own. He is so proud of it & wears it every chance he gets.

Today in the car on the way to pick up Chloe from Nutcracker tryouts Trent asked me how long a year was. I said, a really really long time. In a year you will be a third grader. His eyes got wide. That's how long Grant the remodeling neighbor said his project should take.

It's a good thing I wasn't driving. Brett is considering filing a grievance with the city. Surely there is some code that could make him get the project done this month?! Oh well, Trent is loving it.

Speaking of Nutcracker tryouts.
Here is Chloe coming out threw the crowd. She has made the cut every year for the past three years. The first year she was a cupcake, next a cookie & last year she was an angel. She wore 50 curlers in her hair every night & all day for more than a week (that's when her hair was super long). She was gorgeous & the perfect angel.
Like every year we talked all week of how there are good things about making it & good things about not. Fifty percent of the girls who try out are cut so we went into this knowing it was tough competition & hey~ she has had her chance three times over. But, you know this girl LOVES ballet. Well, it truly never occurred to me that she might not make it this year. I was the idiot with the camera. I was trying to get her first expression- she is crushed. I wasn't going to post the picture, I wasn't going to mention it too much. Then, I remembered... there are so many great things to be learned~ when you don't make it. It's just so darn tough. The whole way home I was trying to be strong, fighting back the tears, seeing her do the same. I had to be the good example. It's okay to cry I told her~ you're disappointed. She said, "It's not the not making it~ it's being told I didn't make it." Ain't that the truth.
She's got a good attitude. Two out of the three carpool girls didn't make it this year. We will go together & celebrate for the other!

Just for fun I took her to work with me tonight. I am so glad I did. We had a great time working together! She's such a FANTASTIC worker. For eleven- it's amazing how great she can get things done. We snuck in a couple of pictures when the wedding line was slow.

Here she is pouring sparkling apple juice.

This is Stephanie, Tiffany, & Jan. They are awesome to work with & so much fun.
Jan is the smartest gal around- not just because she told me she thought I looked 30 just before my 40Th birthday, either. Tiffany just moved into my neighborhood & is starting a blog soon- I can't wait. Stephanie is doing her student teaching at my kid's H.S. & drat I forgot to ask her about it tonight. They are so cute!

Here is Chloe & my self-portrait at the end of the night.

It was a beautiful wedding. The pictures don't do it justice.

We had a great time.

I am so glad Chloe could come & help. She is great- and a great dancer. For now, she is a "Strong Woman" - that's a long story for another time.

I am proud of her.