Mean Girls

Amber came home from school crying on Friday.  Junior High is such a hard time for kids.  Everybody is trying to fit in, figure out who they are, and who their friends are.  Some handle this well and others do not. 

Amber is take a class similar to what Home-EC used to be and they have been on the cooking lessons.

Anyway, they were divided up into groups of five and each student is given a role which comes with an assignment.  On Friday Amber was given the assignment of Guest which meant she only had to set the table because she had already had all of the other roles. 

Well a mean girl, told her she had to switch with her because she didn't want to do the job she was assigned.  Amber tried to protest but the girl was persistent and Amber finally caved and ended up doing most of the work with one other girl while the other three sat back and gabbed.

What made it even worse was they told her at the end of the day that the "mean girl" had licked her spoon before setting it.  Amber got mad at them and they tried to play it off as just playing around and having fun.  They also told her they washed it off but Amber was at the sink doing the dishes and they hadn't ever come over to wash anything.

Anyway, as a mom I hugged her and told her how sorry I was.  I told her that I am very good at comforting her but there is nobody that can make her laugh like her dad so we called Dan at work and he helped cheer her up.

My first instinct was to call the parent of the other girl to let them know what their daughter did but then I am not sure if that will make it worse for Amber at school.  Dan and I decided we would talk with the teacher and see how she handles the situation.  Ugh!  It is so frustrating to me that kids are mean.


I wish she would have come to me sooner because I could have helped her better but Friday was their last cooking class.  She said the girls didn't do much of anything the entire cooking series.  I told her that if something like that happens again to 1. tell the teacher 2.  tell the girl firmly NO and then do your role and sit down.  If the other chores don't get done they don't get done and we would back her up when talking to the teacher.  Any other suggestions?

I didn't stick up for myself when I was younger and I am trying to teach my kids to without teaching them to be bullies.  It is tricky.  Since they were little I've tried to teach them to find the kid that needs a friend and invite them into the group.  They haven't been perfect at this but they have done this.

At Savannah's parent-teacher conference the teacher told me that a group of girls were eating lunch in the classroom and there was another child sitting all alone.  Savannah (1st grade) left the group and went and got the other child and brought them into her group.  That makes me so proud and the teacher said it melted her heart.

Kids are funny and apparently I'm not very smart ...

Katie and a friend on the way to the school a few days ago:

Friend - "my mom can count to 100 million.  She can count so good. She can count all the numbers"

Katie - "My mom can count to .... 39"

Only a few more years and I will not be able to count my age anymore ... :)

The Little Things make all the difference....

I didn't want to go!!  But I did and I'm glad!

This morning I was all settled in to have a lazy Monday where I just get caught up on things around the house, when my husband came downstairs dressed for work.

Me - "What!  I thought you were working from home today."

Him - "Nope gotta go in, why?"

Me - "oh no biggie just told the girls you'd come to the school today for Books 'n Buddies"

I went into panic mode because my day was suddenly cut into 45 minute increments until late afternoon.  There goes nap time for Caleb (and me).  There goes doing much, if any,of the day after Sunday clean-up.  There goes having any reasonable block of time to get ready for the day.

I showered and rushed to do my gymnastics carpool duties -- with wet hair pulled back until  I reached my next 45 min. block.  (I was 20 minutes early by the way - my brain apparently went with my husband to work - so I could have dried my hair but oh well)

Anyway I finally get to the moment that takes me to the school for Books 'n Buddies.  I get in the car and have a flashback to last year where I arrived at the school only to find my kids wishing they could go out to recess instead of read & one of my kid's teacher had scheduled a pizza party for a few kids back in their class so he wanted to be there.  I was hoping that this year would run more smoothly because I always have the company of a couple little ones who could really benefit from a nap.

Anyway I knew my 1st grader would be excited to have us there because this was her first event but I wasn't sure about my 3rd grader.  Each grade comes in at different times so we were nicely settled in to reading when I looked up and saw my 3rd grader standing in the door.  She's clutching to her lunchbox looking around and when she saw me she lit up and said, "I knew you would come!"

That made it all worth it.  So glad I went.

Planning Ahead

I spent the evening researching the requirements needed to apply early to college for my son. 

I skipped my senior year and started college at barely 17 and it was the best decision I ever made - well besides choosing to marry the best man alive and have each of my beautiful kids.  I feel like it really helped me to grow up and I also loved it!  This morning I realized we are only a few years away from my oldest being in that position so I did a little research to see what we need to be preparing for.  I've talked to my kids about this and so far they think its a great idea too.  We'll see in a few years.

I can't believe how quickly the time goes by --- treasure every moment.

Collision Course ---

What would happen if all my world's collided together?

I miss the time when I could see my cousins at every gathering but now there are so many of us and we all have our own lives that these are few and far between.  I miss playing sardines through Grandma's house (okay given the choice today I would probably opt out of the game but I still miss it!)  Or when we were newlyweds and got to see all of my husband's cousins at every holiday gathering.  Life changes, we all get older and our priorities and focus change.

Am I the only one that wishes that I could somehow mash everyone I have ever loved into one big neighborhood?  I know it would get complicated but oh the joy of being able to see everyone I love anytime I wanted.


I visited where I grew up this summer and got to see lots of old (not old age) friends and some family and it made me want to move back to be able to see them all the time.  I had a great childhood and a lot of great people in my life.  LOVE THEM!!

I had all the in-laws at my house this summer and LOVED it. -- Yes it's tiring entertaining for two weeks when I can't get my naps in or else everything will fall apart.  Someone has to make sure things are running so we can eat and actually see the table and floors.  --  I miss family more than anything and don't like missing out on stuff.   If we're with my family and I know the other side is getting together without me it's hard.  Why can't I be in multiple places at once?  When do the superhero traits kick in?

My family, it's the greatest.  I know you are all jealous and wish mine were yours - okay, I know the beauty about family is that most everyone feels this same way and if you don't I'm sorry.  We're not perfect but we love being together. 

I have great friends in my neighborhood and in my old neighborhood.  Last month I was able to go to lunch with friends from my old neighborhood.  I was slightly nervous because we rarely talk anymore and I was afraid I might be the odd man (or woman) out because they all live near each other still.  It wasn't the case and lunch made me wish I still lived by them.  They get me (or at least pretend to) and it was so great to be able to catch up and chat as if I were still one of the group.

I know it's crazy to think that this could actually work but why couldn't it?  One big commune full of my friends and family ----- maybe because I wouldn't still love them all? 

I guess that's what memories are for ...

Farewell 1616 Canyon Oaks

My brother found out a couple of weeks ago that they were going to tear down my childhood home. I was fine with that until a different brother sent a bunch of pictures tonight and we found out they were doing to start demo tomorrow.

I will admit --- I cried a lot! I felt silly for crying but the tears started as I looked at the pictures and they just kept coming. As I type more are coming. My kids just looked at me wondering what was going on so I showed them the pictures my brother had sent.

What really set me off was seeing the gazebo in the backyard. What little girl doesn't dream of her wedding day? I did and I LOVED gazebos. I was so excited when my dad had it put in. We couldn't have an outdoor reception because it was cold in January but we did take some wedding photos in my gazebo. I know it wasn't really only for me but I've always thought of it as mine

The Family Room

THEN:
The original 12!

Here's the family room with my brother's family.

NOW:

The back yard.  We had a rope swing off of this tree with a trampoline under it.

Looking out the Master and into my dad's office.  My parents moved 12 years ago and these were their same curtains. Funny!

The main hall with the attic entrance.  Every time we went down the hall we ran and hit the attic pull.  Another favorite thing to do was climb the walls.  The hall was narrow enough that we would put our feet on one wall and hands on the other and make it all the way to the ceiling.  This is also the hall my mom had decked out in family photos.

My room!  One birthday 14 or 15 my mom said she'd decorate my room for my birthday.  I wanted black & white but she didn't like that idea so somehow I ended up with hot pink!!  I hated pink but did love the room once it was done.  Green walls were not included!

The Game room hall.

 This was the long hall that went from the main part of the house to the game room and at one point my bedroom. I was always scared at night because of all the windows so I would run down the hall as fast as I could!

Memories:
•Haunted house in game room
•Soapy trampoline time
•Swimming & jumping off roof into pool
•Kickball in front yard
•Rope swing
•Zip line
•Telling Paul & Phillip everyone was gonna drop there drawers on the count of 3 & then Liz and I laughing when they did it
•Playing hide & seek & using attic to get to the other side of the house
•wedding pictures w/ my sweetheart in the gazebo - this one makes me the most emotional
• taking baths w/ preschool friends (in swimsuits) in my parents giant tub - it was like a swimming pool & b4 everyone had giant tubs

Childhood has come and gone.  I don't think daily about my childhood but when I do it is with fondness.  I know it wasn't the house that made the difference but wonderful parents, fabulous brothers (lots of them!) and sisters, and a foundation in Jesus Christ that made the difference.  We had the house that everyone was always at and my parents welcomed everyone. 

 I just had to throw this one out there b/c everything is bigger in Texas and that cake was pretty impressive!

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Playin' in the Mud!!

I sat down to write this last night and after 2 sentences realized my brain power had gone to bed a few hours before! Here is what I had come up with ---

My sister sent a link to this race (The Dirty Dash) a while ago but I forgot and never registered. I found out my sister did register so we decided to go watch.

------ I know blah blah blah blah blah blah ------

Anyway I didn't run the race with her but on a whim signed up all the kids, cousins, & an aunt for the piglet plunge. It is just a small loop of the race that includes running up & down a mod bogged hill, then off to the enormous 4-lane slip in slide that ends in a mud bath, and finally down the hill to the mud pit (the kids stayed here awhile)! Everyone had a blast!!!

So now you can understand why I find myself washing out the washing machine tonight. I washed everything twice then removed it all from the wash to give the machine a good scrub. Now for the third and hopefully, final wash.

Little Debbie

I recently watched Dr. OZ talk about the 5 rules to lose 10 lbs.

RULE #4 - You will not eat snacks larger than your fist

This counts right?

I have a problem. I don't eat in the mornings so then I head to the kitchen once I realize I'm starving and before I know it I've scarfed something down. Today it was a creme pie. NOT part of my healthy eating plan!!

Movie Star!!

I was looking at  LDS.org     to find my next talk for my Conference blog. The front page has changed has changed since yesterday.

The first thing I noticed was a new section for mobile applications. I tried to install them but it's not working yet, but still VERY COOL!

Then the next section says they are looking for actors for the NEW TESTAMENT film. I clicked on the link and went to the sample head shots.

THERE WAS MY SISTER-IN-LAW!! She's the 6th one and her mother is the second to the end.
The New Testament Film

Anyway ... I thought it was pretty cool! I knew they had taken some shots but I was still surprised when I came across them. My niece had hers done also but it wasn't in the sample pics.

OUCH!!!

Sometimes you just have to bite your tongue .....

Like when one of your daughters uses your entire thing of eyeliner to turn one of your other daughters into a lion ....

For a little play called "Daniel and the Lion's Den"