Begin As You Mean To Go On

Time for a little post month wrap up. It's amazing how fast January slid by, but doesn't time have a way of doing that?

So, my favorite quote is ; "Begin as you mean to go on." That means if I don't start it it doesn't count, right? Anyhow, I have kept this in my head since Keira shared it with me and it has really stuck. I don't look at New Year's Resolutions as things that I will fail at, but things that I can work on and hopefully continue. That being said;

1. I am in the Book of Mosiah and should be done by next week.
2. The scale says I weigh less than I did at the beginning of the month. Let's hope it's telling the truth.
3. My "Picture of the Day" goal has become a picture of the week.
4. The number of posts on this blog is "close" to the number of days in this month.
5. I do need to make a list of books that I'd like to read instead of randomly grabbing whatever books are on the closest shelf at the library.

Blogger's Block

Blogger's block sounds so much cooler then "writer's block." Is not having something to write about make me boring, my life boring, or all of the above? Admittedly, today I thought; "Hey, I just stubbed my toe. I'll blog about that!" For some reason, my witty banter has abandoned me.

Two hours later.

Well, I washed and folded two loads of laundry. Helped Emma with her "100 Day project." Got Lily to take a nap. Took a shower, got dressed, and dried some of my hair. Maybe when I get to my 100th post I'll have to take a picture.

Yup, got nothing.

I was trying to come up with something today to post. I'm afraid that I've got nothing.

This might keep you entertained while I try and come up with something. Anything.

Target

I love Target. There, I've said it. I could wander the aisles aimlessly for hours (not really, but wouldn't it be nice?!). Finding things that I never knew I needed on clearance for 75% off is like Christmas in July.

Today I needed to get a couple miscellaneous items and then I needed to get some groceries. Yes, we have a Super Target in our little town. It's not quite the same as a regular grocery store, but nearly always cheaper. Anyhow....I got my stuff and then headed to the car to load up.

Admittedly, when I have two kids with me (Lily and Emma) sometimes my head isn't screwed on as tight as it should be. As I'm loading up the car I don't check that I have everything, but assume that I do. I run home and put the refrigerator items away. I then head outside to chisel ice out of my driveway. When I'm done doing that, I go back inside to put the rest of the stuff away. I realize that I can't find one of my bags. Rut-Roh.

I check the car again. I check my receipt to see what I'm missing. Of course it's the most expensive bag. I call the store to see if a Good Samaritan has turned it in, or if I left it at the register. NOPE. Ugh. Then the person on the phone says to bring in my receipt and they'll replace the items. Wow, over and beyond what I was expecting. As I look for my coat, I find the missing bag under it. Nice, I've found the missing items and I don't have to feel guilty that Target was willing to replace items that I thought I lost.

Once again, I love Target.

You've Thrown Off My Groove

What is it about short weeks that make them seem longer? With no school on Monday, the school week is shoved into four days. Three days to learning spelling words is not enough time in our house. Words for the week; 1. quake, 2. sly, 3. been, 4. temporary, 5. medicine, 6. magnetic, 7. exposure, 8. permanent, 9. industry, 10. two

Who knew that spelling would become my least favorite subject as an adult?!

I did find a very educational geography site to entertain me last night.

Political Junkies

Political Wars

*Breaking News*

How to get your 2 1/2 year old out of a locked bathroom:

Take a picture of the locking mechanism and show her a picture from under the door.

Yes, Lily is safe and sounds. No child was hurt or endangered during the photography for this blog. She was only in there for about 15 minutes. To her credit, once I showed her the picture it only took another minute before she got the door open.

As a side note, where on earth did the pass keys go? I'd say that most responsible homeowners leave them on top of the door frame. I've looked and I don't see a single key on any of the door frames. Pfft, whatever.

Poisonous Pantry

We share most things in our family. When it comes to Pop Tarts, all bets are off. Michael happens to prefer Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pop Tarts...NO FROSTING. I can't find these culinary delights at most stores, so when I see them and they're on sale I snap up a few boxes (food storage, right?). Jack could care less if they have frosting or not. It's such a treat to get Pop Tarts that he'll inhale them at every meal if he could. Michael went to great lengths to explain what a skull and cross bones means to the kids.

Fireside

Last night we went to the Primary Fireside so that we'd know about all the things that Jack will get to do now that he's 8. I purposely didn't tell him we were going to a "fireside", I called it a meeting. I didn't feel like explaining what fireside meant. As we slipped in the back, we sat down just as the prayer is starting. I notice that it's a youngster wearing his cub scout shirt. We bow our heads, fold our arms, and listen to the prayer. The young cub scout says; "..and we are thankful that we will be learning about fire safety. Amen."

Jack was pretty excited that we were going to be learning about fire safety. I guess I need to clarify what fireside means.

Weather and the Art of Reading

I have a couple books on my nightstand that "need" to be read. I doubt that my kids think that I need to read all weekend. However, it really is perfect weather to wear pjs all day, drink apple cider, and read frivolous books.

What's on your nightstand?

Risky Business

I was trying to be cool last night. A little too cool. I decided that I needed to try and slide across the floor in my socks. Michael can do it, and he can slide pretty far. The first time I tried to slide I went about a foot. Lame attempt. Second attempt, I went about three feet. I was expecting to go one foot. I stopped at three feet because I slid into a chair and nearly sprained my ankle. Stupid move!

Words going through my head while my ankle was throbbing; "If Michael were jumping off the Brooklyn Bridge, would you?"

All Done

Two days to paint a room, not bad. I even put the face plates back on the outlets, that's how done I am.

So Close

It is Murphy's Law; When painting, you'll run out before you finish.

This is the after....
This is the before...
Baby steps to a decorated house.

Sweet Tooth

I am seriously craving sweets tonight and happened upon this beautiful picture. Good thing I'm too lazy to actually make these right now, but wouldn't they be super cute for Valentine's Day?

These are the directions for anyone so inclined;

Make Paula Deen Red Velvet cake recipe and bake them in a jumbo cupcake pan with the liners, take off the liner, cut in half and add the frosting.

The Storm before the Calm

How is it that by Sunday afternoon my house looks like a twister has gone through? It's not like I don't pick up on Saturday, in fact, generally it's pretty clean by Saturday night. (Well, not this week)

Is it slightly sick and twisted that I look forward to Mondays? I like Mondays because I can generally clean the mess of the weekend without tripping over kids. Of course, I need to remember that the reason I have children is for the labor benefits.

Barp (Warning TMI)

Lily; "Mom, mom, what's dis?" (Holding Jack's garbage can)

Me; "Ummm, no touching! put it down, walk away!!!" (As I bound up the stairs two at a time)

Lily; "What is dis?"

Me; "It's barf. Don't touch."

Lily; "Ohhh Barp."

Yes, it's garbage day at our house as well. Only we don't have a hinged lid, which is a good thing.

Snow Falling

The weather people have said that it was supposed to snow last week. It never did. Then we were going to get a big storm on the weekend. Nope, bright and sunny. It's now Wednesday and as promised, we have snow coming down.

When I woke up this morning I would have predicted another day of no snow. The sun was shining there was a bite in the air. I guess that bite was trying to tell me it was going to snow. I think that I could be a weather personality on tv. Unfortunately I'd have to change my name to Sunny Daze.

Not Quite.

I FINALLY got around to buying some totes to finish putting Christmas stuff away. I bought the red and green totes by recommendation of Keira, however, they're not quite right. (Keira, I am in no way blaming you for this)

The only piece of the tree that fit was the top section, which is in the bottom tote. I decided that next year I won't procrastinate and get the tree tote that might actually fit most of my tree. Will someone remind me next year?!

Happy Dance

I am so excited that school starts in 1 hour and 25 minutes. Lily woke me up around 5 am by crawling in bed with us and then I couldn't fall back asleep because I was so excited that we are getting back to our regularly scheduled program. I almost feel like it's Christmas morning all over again, but it's all for me.

The kids are actually glad that school is starting again, but I think that'll last until we have to start homework. We did have to finish up some left over worksheets from before Christmas break yesterday. Nothing like leaving homework until the last minute.

I'd like to say that my house will be in tip top shape by the end of the day, but let's be realistic, it's not going to happen. I might put my dancing socks on and polish the floors with my happy dance. We'll see where the day leads me.

Happy "Back to School" Day!

Reverently Quietly

I would like to think that Sunday is a good day to "rest" from the day to day of THE BLOG. Well, as this pertains to church, I felt it would be appropriate to share my story today.

In an effort to have a more spirit inducing day at church I decided that it was better to get to church late rather then yelling at the kids. Last week I was only twenty minutes late, but it was the best day at church that I'd had in a while. This week, as I was packing snack bags, I looked at the clock and thought, "Not bad, we'll only be ten minutes late." Then it dawned on me. It's a New Year.

Starting this week we have church at 11 am. I think that I am in the "earlier the better" camp when it comes to attending church. I have more energy to wrestle with the kids. I guess I shouldn't murmur, I think that next year it moves to 1 pm. Ack!

Chuga Choo Choo

I seriously need school to start. Like yesterday. Admittedly, I'm not the most patient mother out there (What?!, say it ain't so). I had ZERO patience today. I'm going to be counting down the hours until the first bell rings.

Right now, it is 39 hours and 20 minutes. I think I can. I think I can. I think I can.

The Longest Minute

(<- I'm bored in front of washer)


So, I'm actually doing laundry today. What?! Well, I need to make a big push to get some loads in before the weekend. Inevitably I slack off on the weekend and then have a ginormous pile looming on Monday.

Well, I'm waiting to put the clothes from the washer into the dryer. Like a fool, I decide to stand in front of the washer and wait as the timer says 1. What unit the 1 means...well, I think that is is the time traveled to the moon and back. Seriously, I waited for 5 minutes and the washer was still spinning. I had to leave the room as I was starting to get dizzy watching the clothes go around in a blur.

Lesson learned; a watched washer never finishes spinning.

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Thank you Debbie!

Ack, not again!

Sick
by Shel Silverstein
"I cannot go to school today," Said little Peggy Ann McKay. "I have the measles and the mumps, A gash, a rash and purple bumps. My mouth is wet, my throat is dry, I'm going blind in my right eye. My tonsils are as big as rocks, I've counted sixteen chicken pox And there's one more--that's seventeen, And don't you think my face looks green? My leg is cut--my eyes are blue-- It might be instamatic flu. I cough and sneeze and gasp and choke, I'm sure that my left leg is broke-- My hip hurts when I move my chin, My belly button's caving in, My back is wrenched, my ankle's sprained, My 'pendix pains each time it rains. My nose is cold, my toes are numb. I have a sliver in my thumb. My neck is stiff, my voice is weak, I hardly whisper when I speak. My tongue is filling up my mouth, I think my hair is falling out. My elbow's bent, my spine ain't straight, My temperature is one-o-eight. My brain is shrunk, I cannot hear, There is a hole inside my ear. I have a hangnail, and my heart is--what? What's that? What's that you say? You say today is. . .Saturday? G'bye, I'm going out to play!"

And so it Begins...

Happy New Year! I have not written out the resolutions that I am going to attempt to conquer this year, but it is on my list of "to-do" things that I'd like to get done today.

I did manage to dismantle the Christmas tree. That was no small feat because I've never; 1) taken an artificial tree down, 2) didn't put this tree together, & 3) had no idea how many pieces I was supposed to end up with. The good news is that the tree is only three pieces, the bad news is that we don't have a box to put it in. (Read earlier post on discounted Christmas tree) The REALLY good news is that I have plenty of room to store it in the basement. How have I lived without a basement?! Oh yeah, I didn't have nearly so much stuff.

Speaking of stuff, I finally put the last of my fall decoration away as well. Yeah, yeah. It's a new year, don't laugh at my procrastinating self.