Valentines Day

Okay, I have to brag on my husband a little bit. He is an extremely busy guy, and work has been stressful lately with this depressed economy. He has very little time to himself and never complains about the kids or their tendency to cling to him when he finally gets home, even though he would probably like to eat and just relax for a few minutes. He never forgets to kiss me when he gets home, no matter what else there is going on. I underestimate him. It is easy to get down on him because he's not a squishy romance-type, not exactly spontaneous, and finds his joy in the calm of a predictable day-to-day life.
His usual M.O. is to wait till a holiday, or maybe the day before and make a run to the nearest store where he can fill his husbandly requirements of gift-giving. Saturday morning I gave him his card and chocolates (his gift is not here yet), and he told me he didn't have anything for me...yet. I figured. I asked him if he wanted to go to the store, hint hint...
He said no, and we went about our business. We decided to take a nap and were interrupted by the doorbell. It was flowers! He ordered 2 dozen roses online while he was at work and had them delivered on Valentines Day. I felt so guilty. He did so good! The little note that came with them was just what I needed, so loving, and no, I won't tell what it said, but it was perfect. So thank you, thank you to my loving, perfect husband. The roses are beautiful, but you are the real prize. And thank you for letting me buy the necklace...

37 pages of work...

Here's a little song I wrote. Think 99 bottles of beer on the wall...
37 pages of homework in the backpack,
37 pages of work...
Take Aaron down,
smack him around,
37 pages of work getting done.

This is the insanity of a mother. So this morning Aaron was complaining of terrible stomach pain. Too bad for my poor kids that I was studying to be a doctor and they can't get away with that Ferris Bueller nonsense. Tod and I exchange knowing looks because we've ridden this bus with Aaron before. Next step, check the backpack for causes of the stomach ache. I start pulling the papers out...checked work in one pile, blanks in another. 1, 2, 3, 4,...37! Okay, this is bad, even for Aaron. We are having a rough year with him. Since he turned 11 it would appear that he has gone brain dead. Suddenly the desire to succeed has been replaced by a complete void. Where pride and responsibility used to reside, laziness is squatting. We painted for him the picture of his future...
"Aaron, picture yourself in your own apartment. You live alone, not because you finally got to get away from your parents, but because we didn't want you alone in our house while we were away on our mission. You are sitting in your underwear because you were too lazy to do your laundry and no woman would consider marrying a man who scrubs bumpers at the car wash. You reach down to scare the cockroaches off your last box of cereal because you still want to eat it and you won't get any more money on your Lonestar Card till next week. How does that sound?"
He sat down at the table and didn't get up till every page was done, at 2:00. Oh, and he won't complain about his stomach anymore because he got a big glass of Metamucil.
Am I a bad mother? If I knew how to cure him I would do it.

P. S.

I feel it necessary to edit one of my comments. If the name you give your baby is Scandanavian, it is an obvious exception. I am referring directly to the 3 names I had to help Emma put on Valentines---
J'Dus
Ja'naziah
Ah'mya

need I say more?

Road Rage

At the risk of sending you all into shock I decided to add a post for the second time in less than a week. I got to thinking this morning when I was taking the kids to school that I don't like people very much. Oh stop it, you know how I am. Anyway, every morning I have to stop at the same four-way stop. Since it is at the High School, I frequently see people not following the rules of the four-way stop. I mutter "freakin' idiot" at them and keep driving- at least until the next infraction which usually comes in the drop-off line. So when Josh asked me this morning, "Why are all the other drivers such morons?" it got me to thinking...
Not about my behavior behind the wheel, but about the things that really bug me. So I started making a list of pet peeves...
1. People who think they're the only ones on the road/ the rules don't apply to them.
2. People who go through life thinking that the world owes them something.
3. People who goof around at work instead of doing the job they get paid for.
4. People who state the obvious because they think it makes a point.
5. People who think their kids are incapable of wrongdoing.
6. The fact that antibiotic drops for pinkeye only come in teeny tiny bottles.
7. People who name their kids things that no one can read, much less pronounce.
8. My neighbor and his lowrider buddies- the "Disturbn Tha Streets" posse. These are the same people who will give their kids ridiculous names.

So tell me what bugs you. Lets be negative together! Heaven knows that will make us all feel better about life!

Okay,it has been brought to my attention that it has been 5 weeks since I updated our blog, and with 5 kids there must be SOMETHING going on.
Honestly, no. Life has been fairly simple. So here is the list, for Anna's sake (I know you miss me so much you are dying for something to read)!
Went another round with strep and the Flu.
Tod stayed home for a week to get some things done around the house. Then he ended up staying home another week battling the above mentioned illnesses.
We went to Albuquerque for Christmas- that's right, Christmas. One month late.
Had our east wall re-stuccoed.
Had the kid's pictures taken.
I have become an ipod addict and discovered a new ailment for me to claim- ipod ear. For real, ipod ear.
Restarted book club (it was a blast, ladies! Thanks for the break!)
Bought Leah her "big girl bed"
Aaron graduated to a "real" scout shirt. He's way too big for his britches.
We watched the Pittsburg Steelers win the Super Bowl, to Tod's utter delight.
Tod bought 8 packages of Girl Scout cookies (I wonder who will eat all those!)
I got a haircut. (It has been a year)
Signed the boys up for baseball.
Learned how to curl the girl's hair with my flat iron.
My daffodils are blooming.
We are finally getting some new families in the ward. Slowly but surely!

Okay. It has become clear that I need to get busy. I don't have anything interesting to tell anyone! Perhaps a new hobby...any suggestions?

The downhill slope

I feel well again. It took a cold to kill the flu and I finally have most of my voice back (still can't sing- tragedy, I know!). It has been such a whirlwind for us this past month, as I'm sure it has for everyone. I feel bad that I look forward to January- taking down Christmas, coming back from travelling and the complete lack of to-do's, but it is such a relief!
It is also a time for reflection. I think back on what this year has brought us, both in good times and in bad, and i am continually amazed at how blessed we are. It is especially apparent at this time when our economy is suffering. I know that lower gas prices are a relief for everyone, but they come at a cost for those of us in the business. People are struggling, but I still feel peaceful and optimistic. My little bubble is intact.
Thank you to everyone who tolerates me on a regular basis! We have wonderful friends and family.
Christmas was wonderful. It was quiet and happy. We enjoyed our newly enhanced family room. The kids were and still are well and healthy ( a Christmas first).
Everyone is doing well in school, getting smarter and more attitude everyday. They make me laugh and keep me young. Aaron is looking forward to getting the Priesthood this year and Emma will be baptized. All of the kids are out of nursery and settled in primary- another milestone!
Dad will be 70 this year. I am so grateful that he survived his family expectation of 55! I look forward to spending many more years with him.
A 13th year of marriage! It still seems like yesterday! How lucky I am to have my best friend always by my side. We will join with two of Tod's brothers this coming year as they start their own marriages and hope they are half as happy as I am.
Anna will start school, leaving Leah home for one last year. Then where will I be? I shudder to think.
I hope that all who read this can count themselves as blessed as I do. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your lives.

From Twilight Fever to Post- Twilight Flu

Okay, so it may seem that we've dropped off the face of the earth. The Saturday after Thanksgiving, Tod's dad, sister, two bothers and their significant others and children were all here for a Thanksgiving get together. We ate two twenty pound turkeys, 5 pies, 10 lbs of mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole, cranberries, a gallon of gravy, and rolls. Whew! A LOT of work! I was up at 3 in the morning to get everything done, but it was a fun day for everyone and we ate till we were sick. As a sort of a thank-you-to-myself gift, the women went to see Twilight again. Any excuse will do right? So we got there and the theater was about half full. We sat down on the edge, three seats from the closest people. As the previews began, two men and a lady filed into our row. Why? There was half a theater full of empty seats, but they had to squeeze into our row like pieces in a human Tetris puzzle. This now puts me next to- we'll call him Joe-
Apparently Joe had been coerced into coming to the movie...not sure of his relationship to the girl, but I think he was the odd man out. The movie starts and Joe howls like a monkey. I glare at him and mutter under my breath (of course in the theater seats his ear was 6 inches away) "If you ruin this for me, so help me I'll stick my elbow in your teeth!"
So Joe piped down. He scaled down his attack on my pleasure to a non- vocal approach. Cough, hack, cough, cough, snarkle. Every other minute through the entire movie. And that wasn't all. He took over the armrest and further violated my personal space by spreading his legs and flopping his knee on my leg. Who is this guy Joe? Where is his date? Do I have "snuggle me" written on my forehead?
The movie ends and I'm irritated. Joe distracted me and I didn't get to soak in all the love.
As if that wasn't gift enough from Joe, he also blessed me with the influenza. Blast you Joe!
So that is how I've spent the last week...
Along with the other delightful symptoms, I haven't had a voice for three days. This is a change the kids pretend they feel sorry about, but I can see in their eyes that they are secretly enjoying it. So here I sit, still coughing and aching and cursing Joe for ruining my week. For now, I'm camped out in my recliner, drugged and watching the world pass me by. I'll let you know when all is well again, and if you see Joe, give him a big thank-you elbow in the teeth for me!