Bella and Harrison already had the day off, and I was wildly disinterested in getting Carter and Rosalind ready for school. They were only too willing to stay home. So I let them. I know, I'm a terrible mother. I've made my peace with it.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Snow Morning
We woke up to a beautiful, record-setting snow this morning. At 5:00 AM we received word that school would be two hours late, so once Carter and Rosalind were awake, they were dressing warmly and heading outside to play. Everyone spent a fun morning doing whatever they wanted, and everyone was on time for school except Bella.
In between school trips, I went to Walm@rt and bought a new business phone. Another step accomplished. Brennan made lunch. After bringing home Bella and her bass, I ran down to Best Buy and had the geeks test the netbook; its battery was fine, its charger was not. That was good, cheaper news.
Harrison went to the kids' club after school again. Carter has been learning "Silent Night" by ear and asked me to teach him the last part of it. Roz played with Leah. Bella napped. Brennan is doing all right, still hanging in there.
Hubby met Bella and me at Bella's school for her studen-led conference; she's doing okay but has fallen behind in a couple of classes, in which she will eventually bring her grades up. She registered for next year's classes (while I goofed around and looked up people on Ancestry on the computer next to her). We went home and Hubby and she went to soccer practice.
I picked up Harrison from the club, dropped him at home, and went to orchestra rehearsal. I hadn't touched my clarinet once this week, and with some songs it showed, but others were just fine. It was an especially fun night - my fellow clarinetist Jenn and I were cracking each other up. I think Conductor must be over whatever reservations he may have had (or I may have imagined) about me, because things with him feel a whole lot more comfortable. He praised Jenn and me for sounding so good together on one song, and he asked me to sight-read the piano part for another HUGE medley. That was exciting. Afterward, I asked Gail Po... for a couple of trombone pieces for Harrison to play with, and when she gave them to me, Conductor encouraged me to take home the piano music I'd played and work with it. I felt very happy.
Then I came home and enjoyed my sweet family, and we went to bed.
In between school trips, I went to Walm@rt and bought a new business phone. Another step accomplished. Brennan made lunch. After bringing home Bella and her bass, I ran down to Best Buy and had the geeks test the netbook; its battery was fine, its charger was not. That was good, cheaper news.
Harrison went to the kids' club after school again. Carter has been learning "Silent Night" by ear and asked me to teach him the last part of it. Roz played with Leah. Bella napped. Brennan is doing all right, still hanging in there.
Hubby met Bella and me at Bella's school for her studen-led conference; she's doing okay but has fallen behind in a couple of classes, in which she will eventually bring her grades up. She registered for next year's classes (while I goofed around and looked up people on Ancestry on the computer next to her). We went home and Hubby and she went to soccer practice.
I picked up Harrison from the club, dropped him at home, and went to orchestra rehearsal. I hadn't touched my clarinet once this week, and with some songs it showed, but others were just fine. It was an especially fun night - my fellow clarinetist Jenn and I were cracking each other up. I think Conductor must be over whatever reservations he may have had (or I may have imagined) about me, because things with him feel a whole lot more comfortable. He praised Jenn and me for sounding so good together on one song, and he asked me to sight-read the piano part for another HUGE medley. That was exciting. Afterward, I asked Gail Po... for a couple of trombone pieces for Harrison to play with, and when she gave them to me, Conductor encouraged me to take home the piano music I'd played and work with it. I felt very happy.
Then I came home and enjoyed my sweet family, and we went to bed.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
IKEA
After three days straight of catching up the laundry, it was time for some fun. Brennan and I escaped to IKEA for a while this afternoon. We tried out their cafeteria, buying some spinach and cheese crepes - meh - and looked around at living room and dining room furniture. I took a couple of pictures of possible future purchases, something for our future new television to sit on. Also noted were the dining room chairs and a long, long bench for the piano (which was free and came to us benchless). We were disappointed to find that part of the store was being remodeled and the plant Brennan planned to buy wasn't available. Maybe next time.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Make it stop!!
Spent another great day at home, doing laundry and housework. I really do love being at home and it's been neglected lately with all my busy-ness elsewhere. But the laundry can quit reproducing any time now.
Harrison went to his after school club again. Bella and Hubby went to Bella's soccer practice.
Harrison went to his after school club again. Bella and Hubby went to Bella's soccer practice.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Vernal Equinox
Back to school and work! Hubby decided to see how Brennan's car liked the light rail station. Bella woke up with a nasty stomach, feeling nauseated, so she stayed home from Seminary and school. Everyone else made it to school on time.
Around noon I became aware that my cousin Joe Dy... had had an episode on Sunday night that landed him in the hospital in Portland. His sisters Candace, Lynda, Becky and Karen all live far enough away that I knew they couldn't do much, and Aunt Sherri has multiple sclerosis and she and Uncle Doug are raising two grandsons, so I figured maybe they could use some help. I got some sandwiches and snacks together, grabbed two throw blankets, and brought them to the hospital when I visited Joe later that evening.
Aunt Sherri and I had a nice visit. It had been years since I'd seen her, and the last time I saw Joe was 1987, the year he was born. I had to introduce myself as his cousin - sad, but funny.
On the way home, I got stuck on the I-5 bridge during a bridge lift - so not my idea of a good time. Just the night before I had a scary bridge dream. I hate those! But the ship went through, the bridge went down, I made it home and everything was fine.
Spring arrived at 10:14 PM our time. I had read that during the vernal equinox, an egg can be stood on its end and will stay there. I tried it earlier in the day and it didn't work, but around 10:30 tonight, I remembered to try it again. Brennan, Harrison and I were all able to get an egg to stand on end; Carter tried but it didn't work for him, poor guy. The girls were already asleep. Hubby did not participate, but was impressed enough to take pictures. Here's my egg:
Around noon I became aware that my cousin Joe Dy... had had an episode on Sunday night that landed him in the hospital in Portland. His sisters Candace, Lynda, Becky and Karen all live far enough away that I knew they couldn't do much, and Aunt Sherri has multiple sclerosis and she and Uncle Doug are raising two grandsons, so I figured maybe they could use some help. I got some sandwiches and snacks together, grabbed two throw blankets, and brought them to the hospital when I visited Joe later that evening.
Aunt Sherri and I had a nice visit. It had been years since I'd seen her, and the last time I saw Joe was 1987, the year he was born. I had to introduce myself as his cousin - sad, but funny.
On the way home, I got stuck on the I-5 bridge during a bridge lift - so not my idea of a good time. Just the night before I had a scary bridge dream. I hate those! But the ship went through, the bridge went down, I made it home and everything was fine.
Spring arrived at 10:14 PM our time. I had read that during the vernal equinox, an egg can be stood on its end and will stay there. I tried it earlier in the day and it didn't work, but around 10:30 tonight, I remembered to try it again. Brennan, Harrison and I were all able to get an egg to stand on end; Carter tried but it didn't work for him, poor guy. The girls were already asleep. Hubby did not participate, but was impressed enough to take pictures. Here's my egg:
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Ahhhh, Sunday
Hubby and I got a late start getting ready for church, but we managed to have him and Harrison there in time for Harrison to pass the Sacrament. The rest of us followed shortly after. We are LOVING this two cars thing! My Beehive lesson went well and everyone else seemed to have a good time as well.
After church, Hubby left for the sports complex to deliver some equipment and oversee the day's soccer game for a few minutes. The rest of us lounged mightily. The home teachers, Brother Cr... and Brother Ri..., came over for a visit, and after they left, we ate dinner, fettucine Alfredo and salad and garlic bread and leftover grasshopper pie. We watched the movie RED.
Bella and Harrison had a youth fireside and Hubby took them and Jaydn to that. Carter and Rosalind and I went for a walk/bike ride and enjoyed the chilly twilight. The sun had just set and the sky was beautiful. We made our way around the block and up to the nearby Methodist church, where they took turns ringing the bell (Roz needed some help from her brother). They also had some muddy fun riding their bikes through puddles. "It's like a water park!" Carter said.
Then home; the Tu...s brought Bella and Harrison home, and then Brennan and Bella took off for a short walk. Brennan is doing well. We had him skip Sunday school at church so he wouldn't be overwhelmed - large crowds seem to be hard for him.
Then more TV and bed. A very nice Sunday indeed.
After church, Hubby left for the sports complex to deliver some equipment and oversee the day's soccer game for a few minutes. The rest of us lounged mightily. The home teachers, Brother Cr... and Brother Ri..., came over for a visit, and after they left, we ate dinner, fettucine Alfredo and salad and garlic bread and leftover grasshopper pie. We watched the movie RED.
Bella and Harrison had a youth fireside and Hubby took them and Jaydn to that. Carter and Rosalind and I went for a walk/bike ride and enjoyed the chilly twilight. The sun had just set and the sky was beautiful. We made our way around the block and up to the nearby Methodist church, where they took turns ringing the bell (Roz needed some help from her brother). They also had some muddy fun riding their bikes through puddles. "It's like a water park!" Carter said.
Whiizzzzzz!
The bell has a sign that says "Please ring the bell." Once a man came out of the church, smiling, and encouraged us to ring it. "Let people know there's a church here."
A group effort
Rosy little cheeks!
Then home; the Tu...s brought Bella and Harrison home, and then Brennan and Bella took off for a short walk. Brennan is doing well. We had him skip Sunday school at church so he wouldn't be overwhelmed - large crowds seem to be hard for him.
Then more TV and bed. A very nice Sunday indeed.
Saturday, March 17, 2012
St. Patrick's Day
Today was the first Saturday in months that I didn't have to drive everyone everywhere for everything. Wow. It was nice.
Hubby and Carter took off first for Carter's soccer game, and then the girls and I left for Rosalind's first spring soccer game. Roz scored the first goal of the season and the little girls did very well. It was horribly cold, but at least the rain held off. After her game, I took Roz home for a warm bath and then went grocery shopping.
I then spent the rest of the day working on our neglected kitchen and making St. Paddy's dinner: roast beef and veggies, mashed potatoes and gravy, broccoli casserole, biscuits, "leprechaun pee" and grasshopper pie. Mmmm. I cut daffodils from the backyard and arranged them in a vase, and we set the table beautifully and had a nice dinner and dessert.
Hubby took Harrison shopping for a new video game headset, and then came home. Bella was picked up by the Tu....s for the stake dance. I crashed on the couch.
Hubby and Carter took off first for Carter's soccer game, and then the girls and I left for Rosalind's first spring soccer game. Roz scored the first goal of the season and the little girls did very well. It was horribly cold, but at least the rain held off. After her game, I took Roz home for a warm bath and then went grocery shopping.
I then spent the rest of the day working on our neglected kitchen and making St. Paddy's dinner: roast beef and veggies, mashed potatoes and gravy, broccoli casserole, biscuits, "leprechaun pee" and grasshopper pie. Mmmm. I cut daffodils from the backyard and arranged them in a vase, and we set the table beautifully and had a nice dinner and dessert.
Hubby took Harrison shopping for a new video game headset, and then came home. Bella was picked up by the Tu....s for the stake dance. I crashed on the couch.
Friday, March 16, 2012
Two Cars???
No way. After everyone left for school, I took off in Brennan's car for the Department of Licensing and bought a tiny, expensive sticker, and now Amy Fisher, the blue minivan, is driveable! Woot! I drove her to work and everything. Dare we hope for three? Will Charlotte run again anytime soon? Only time will tell. In the meantime, I am grateful that year without tabs is finally over and Amy Fisher can take us where we need to go, as long as we carry antifreeze around with us and don't leave the area.
I went to work and spent a frustrating day there. I'll be glad when I can do more on my own. I'm doing well with some flavors of fudge, passably okay with others, but a few I'm not ready to do alone and man, I hate sharing space. Space is one of my things. I don't like people in my kitchen when I'm busy and I hate crowded aisles in the grocery store - will go out of my way to avoid them. Today was hard because three of us were trying to make fudge and dipped Oreos in the same little space, with one microwave to share. It was a long, drawn out day.
Bella went to Katie's house after school. Harrison was invited by a school friend to go to the friend's club's supervised youth activity, so after picking up Bella, we drove through Dairy Queen and bought dinner for him, Carter and Rosalind. Then we took him to the activity and bought Chinese food for ourselves and the big kids.
We came home and ate, and I crashed hard.
I went to work and spent a frustrating day there. I'll be glad when I can do more on my own. I'm doing well with some flavors of fudge, passably okay with others, but a few I'm not ready to do alone and man, I hate sharing space. Space is one of my things. I don't like people in my kitchen when I'm busy and I hate crowded aisles in the grocery store - will go out of my way to avoid them. Today was hard because three of us were trying to make fudge and dipped Oreos in the same little space, with one microwave to share. It was a long, drawn out day.
Bella went to Katie's house after school. Harrison was invited by a school friend to go to the friend's club's supervised youth activity, so after picking up Bella, we drove through Dairy Queen and bought dinner for him, Carter and Rosalind. Then we took him to the activity and bought Chinese food for ourselves and the big kids.
We came home and ate, and I crashed hard.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Good News!
We've almost survived this week of hating Daylight Savings Time!
After the kids were at school, I worked on the house and practiced the clarinet for an hour or so. I didn't get near the practice time I wanted to have this week, though. I will have to make more time from now on.
I went to the school for the kids' Grandparents Lunch. All our grandparents live far away, and we never know about these things until it's the week of, and so I stood in for the grandparents today. I sat by Roz while she ate her lunch and went out with her to recess. Carter saw me and wanted me to stay and I wished I could have. I really miss my free time.
The very good news: at work today, Boss Lady said she liked all six pans of my fudge! This is huge! She was very happy with everything I did in her absence yesterday. I was happy to hear it. We worked on chocolate peanut butter swirl together, since anything with peanut butter is a giant pain, and we cleaned the kettle and I made chewy praline and started a Caramellow and waited on customers while she did her administrative stuff. We had a busy day.
After work I picked up Hubby, who was a block away paying a bill, and we picked up Bella and dropped her at home. Then we went to get his new driver's license, then to Walmart for groceries, then home again. Later, Hubby took the car to soccer practoce while Bella and I caught the bus down to her school for her concert and my rehearsal. Her concert went well.
Orchestra was interesting tonight. It hit me when I took Bella to the school for her concert, walked into the band room with her, and noticed that all the chairs and music stands we use for rehearsals had been moved to the Commons for the concert, that perhaps some school building schedulers forgot about us and didn't tell us our equipment would be unavailable. Since I was there early, I was able to speak to the band teacher and he found a box of the smaller foldable music stands for us. As orchestra members came in, and our conductor, we decided to hold rehearsal in another room and took the little stands with us. It was odd but it worked. We had a fun rehearsal, and I sounded great. Yay!
Hubby came later to get us and we dropped by the store to buy a ruler for Carter's homework, then home to bed.
After the kids were at school, I worked on the house and practiced the clarinet for an hour or so. I didn't get near the practice time I wanted to have this week, though. I will have to make more time from now on.
I went to the school for the kids' Grandparents Lunch. All our grandparents live far away, and we never know about these things until it's the week of, and so I stood in for the grandparents today. I sat by Roz while she ate her lunch and went out with her to recess. Carter saw me and wanted me to stay and I wished I could have. I really miss my free time.
The very good news: at work today, Boss Lady said she liked all six pans of my fudge! This is huge! She was very happy with everything I did in her absence yesterday. I was happy to hear it. We worked on chocolate peanut butter swirl together, since anything with peanut butter is a giant pain, and we cleaned the kettle and I made chewy praline and started a Caramellow and waited on customers while she did her administrative stuff. We had a busy day.
After work I picked up Hubby, who was a block away paying a bill, and we picked up Bella and dropped her at home. Then we went to get his new driver's license, then to Walmart for groceries, then home again. Later, Hubby took the car to soccer practoce while Bella and I caught the bus down to her school for her concert and my rehearsal. Her concert went well.
Orchestra was interesting tonight. It hit me when I took Bella to the school for her concert, walked into the band room with her, and noticed that all the chairs and music stands we use for rehearsals had been moved to the Commons for the concert, that perhaps some school building schedulers forgot about us and didn't tell us our equipment would be unavailable. Since I was there early, I was able to speak to the band teacher and he found a box of the smaller foldable music stands for us. As orchestra members came in, and our conductor, we decided to hold rehearsal in another room and took the little stands with us. It was odd but it worked. We had a fun rehearsal, and I sounded great. Yay!
Hubby came later to get us and we dropped by the store to buy a ruler for Carter's homework, then home to bed.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Fudgy Fudgerson
After getting everyone off to school, I went to work and had a busy day. Before the morning was over, Boss Lady called to say she and Boss Man weren't feeling well and were staying home, and I was on my own until J and M came into work. I straightened up the fudge counter - noticed some new flavors, quite a few green for St. Patrick's Day - and served a few customers, made a popcorn gift basket for a donation, changed an appointment and took messages for the Bosses, and made six (!) pans of fudge. Dark chocolate/raspberry swirl, dark chocolate/orange swirl (used too much color and it looks like Halloween), dark chocolate/caramel with sea salt (looks AWESOME), two chocolate walnut, and rocky road.
Everyone had a good day at school. Brennan is taking it easy still and getting used to his medication. We had a quiet afternoon. I made an early dinner of burritos and quesadillas.
Things exploded around 5:00 when I took the girls to Roz's soccer practice, and stayed till 6:30 to bring them home. Then we drove to Tu....'s to pick up Jaydn for Mutual, then home to pick up Harrison and drop off Rosalind, then to the church to drop off the kids and pick up two of our Beehives, Hannah and Shilo, then down to the bowling alley for our class activity.
We bowled, and we sucked, but it was fun. Joni and George Gi... are great Wii bowlers but the real thing has them a bit stymied. I still have the basics down, but still stink, and the girls weren't doing well until we had the bowling guy pull the bumpers out. It was fun, we had a good time and ate cupcakes for Lillie's birthday.
Took the girls home, picked up Harrison at the church and Bella at Hannah's house, came home and went to bed.
At the bowling alley, Joni took pictures of us, and later, when I saw the one she took of me and posted on Facebook, I decided it was diet time. Seeing myself so fat made me cranky and sad, but I'm keeping emotions out of it and thinking of it as a problem to solve or a project to do. It keeps me from giving up and eating junk. So that will start tomorrow - back on the beans again.
Everyone had a good day at school. Brennan is taking it easy still and getting used to his medication. We had a quiet afternoon. I made an early dinner of burritos and quesadillas.
Things exploded around 5:00 when I took the girls to Roz's soccer practice, and stayed till 6:30 to bring them home. Then we drove to Tu....'s to pick up Jaydn for Mutual, then home to pick up Harrison and drop off Rosalind, then to the church to drop off the kids and pick up two of our Beehives, Hannah and Shilo, then down to the bowling alley for our class activity.
We bowled, and we sucked, but it was fun. Joni and George Gi... are great Wii bowlers but the real thing has them a bit stymied. I still have the basics down, but still stink, and the girls weren't doing well until we had the bowling guy pull the bumpers out. It was fun, we had a good time and ate cupcakes for Lillie's birthday.
Took the girls home, picked up Harrison at the church and Bella at Hannah's house, came home and went to bed.
At the bowling alley, Joni took pictures of us, and later, when I saw the one she took of me and posted on Facebook, I decided it was diet time. Seeing myself so fat made me cranky and sad, but I'm keeping emotions out of it and thinking of it as a problem to solve or a project to do. It keeps me from giving up and eating junk. So that will start tomorrow - back on the beans again.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Skirt Work
The kids went to school at the normal time, which gave me most of the day to myself. Yeah! I spent some quality time with the clarinet, then got busy with the house and catching up the laundry.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Holy Hairdo, Batman!
Predictably, Harrison and Carter hated their haircuts, and also predictably, they developed wrenching, debilitating stomach ailments when it was time to get ready for school. Dear children, that's why we have the Xbox... it comes in so handy as a bargaining chip.
Forget the bullying awareness movements.
I want to know where the "Hey kid, stop being a total douchebag" movement is.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Daylight Savings Time
"Don't make me go to church tomorrow," Brennan begged us yesterday, and we figured it's hard enough for a depressed kid to go to 9:00 church without adding Daylight Savings Time in the bargain. Also, we're under a week away from getting Amy Fisher's new tabs, but until then there are only so many of us that can go to church at the same time. So it ended up being only Bella and me going to church.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
My Children are Dipwads
Woke up early and took Hubby and Bella to the sports complex for a day of soccer games. Afterward, I went to Winco and bought supplies for a chores and appointment poster, then stopped for gas. When I came home, I interrupted Carter and Tyson's video gaming and Roz's goofing off and being cute to take them over to the Tu...'s and care for the dog.
Friday, March 9, 2012
Teeming With Life
Rosalind had a hard time staying asleep last night. She woke up and wandered the house, chattering to us with her chirpy little voice, eventually settling down in the living room to watch TV and fell asleep. It sounds darling, except that it totally messed up her morning. But she did eventually get to school and have a good day.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Back at the shop
I had a great day at work today. After everyone was dropped at school, I picked up the house and then left. Wore my black and white Vans today for the first time, they were GREAT work shoes and are cute, so they will be good go-to shoes from now on (I have all these shoes to try out).
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Angst
I was absolutely certain I could not live in this house another second, with our space limitations the way they are. We need a fourth bedroom YESTERDAY. After I got the kids to school and spent some time on the house, Mom and I texted back and forth about it and looked around at real estate together online. Gotta love the Internet and texting. We didn't find anything, but Hubby and I are indeed thinking of moving once we find a bigger place and a landlord who will sort of compare to our current one, who has been wonderful.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Tuesday Morning Meltdown
Roz and I were just not feeling it today. She and I were at cross purposes pretty much all morning long, and she finally broke down and said her tummy hurt and was hurting at school yesterday as well, so I let her stay home. At any rate she got a mental health day out of it.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Pizza Party
Still in the clutches of The Hunger Games series - finished the first book Sunday and finished Catching Fire tonight, and started on Mockingjay. Also spent some quality time catching up dishes and laundry and messing around with old pics on this blog.
Brennan is doing better and went back to classes today. Whew...
Rosalind started her spring soccer practices. She's very excited! Bella and Sammi are coaching again.
Harrison played in his basketball game, and sadly they lost. One more game and the season will be over. He really enjoyed basketball "because it's easy" and we were happy to see him have a good time. Hopefully he'll keep this up along with his technology club.
We went to Carter's end-of-season team party at Round Table tonight. He received accolades, a lovely team picture I would scan if we still had a working scanner, and a nice medal.
I talked for Mom for awhile last night and told her about this blog. Hi Mom :) Apparently I woke Bob up with my early morning texting. Ooops!
Brennan is doing better and went back to classes today. Whew...
Rosalind started her spring soccer practices. She's very excited! Bella and Sammi are coaching again.
Harrison played in his basketball game, and sadly they lost. One more game and the season will be over. He really enjoyed basketball "because it's easy" and we were happy to see him have a good time. Hopefully he'll keep this up along with his technology club.
We went to Carter's end-of-season team party at Round Table tonight. He received accolades, a lovely team picture I would scan if we still had a working scanner, and a nice medal.
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