NO-Post November

I guess that's what happened this month??!?

While all the guys (idk, maybe there were girls, too?) were doing "No-Shave November," I did my own version of "No."  

It was not purposeful.  It's never happened thus far since the inception of this blog in August 2008! 

What was I doing, you ask?!? 

It's called, "Mandatory Volunteering."  How's that for an oxymoron? 

Otherwise known as, "Volun-told." 

Katelyn was in a play, "Bye Bye Birdie," that was performed November 18-21.

So, towards the end, it got really intense.  (Like it always does with plays). 

It meant she had rehearsal EVERY day except Sunday the whole month.

Which meant that I had to drive her to and from all of those.

AND which meant that, as a parent, it was required that I put in so many hours (about 20) of volunteer time.  (They hold our $75.00 deposit over our head to ensure our compliance).

I'll be honest, during some of the rehearsals I was at, I thought: This is utter chaos!  How is a real show going to come out of this?!? 

But, it all came together (like it always does!) and was really quite GOOD and delightful! 

The play was the MAIN occupier of November, but here's the short version of the breakdown of my month:

1st weekend: Scrapbooking weekend

2nd weekend: Annual Park City Shopping weekend

3rd week: Bye Bye Birdie performances  x 5 (AND a Cub Scout Carnival that my group was in charge of putting on!)

4th week: Thanksgiving in St. George 

No wonder it ended up "NO-POST NOVEMBER!"  ;) 

Maybe I'll make it a "tradition!"  ;) 

My New Rank: MM

We took my son, Ryan, to the Missionary Training Center (MTC) on Wednesday to begin his 2 year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

He will train there for just 12 days, then fly out into his assigned mission field of West Virginia (& parts of some surrounding states).  We will not see him again until he returns home, and only speak to him on the phone a handful of times on special occasions (Christmas, Mother's Day, & I've *heard* when he is at the airport, departing [but it's not confirmed]).  Our communication will only be through weekly emails or letters.  (SUCH A CHANGE from the instant communication we've grown accustomed to with texts, cell phones, & living in the same home over the past years!)

So many others who have already sent out missionary children have told me I am now a "Missionary Mom" (MM) - I didn't even know that I would now have a specific new title or rank!  They have been so kind to check up on me, share tips & tricks, send me texts, visit, and bring me "care packages" already!  :)

I got a bag full of assorted fun size M & M's (I was told it stands for "Missionary & Mom")

All my kids want to eat them, but I ask them, "Are you an MM?  I don't think so!  Run along now!"  ;)

I also got this cute card:

(front)

(inside)

And look at these bright & happy Gerbera daisies another friend brought to me:

A lot of people had told me that dropping him off at the MTC would be terrible, and HARD, and sad, and THE WORST, but truth be told, it was mostly happy!  To be a full-time missionary is something HE WANTS.  And it's something I WANT for him, too.  He was SO READY, he might as well just START!  Plus, I, myself, lived & trained at the MTC [for 8 weeks] 23 years ago, and when we drove into the entrance, I got this feeling of, "Ahhh, I'm coming home!"  And I think that helped a lot!  He's in a GREAT place!

Sure, my eyes filled up with tears during the final hugs and my voice was all quavering as I spoke my last words, but I was able to SMILE a lot, too.  And it's a bit quiet around home.  And I've had him on my mind almost constantly....wondering what he's doing/thinking/feeling.  And, of course, we're praying for him in every prayer.  And we've lost our 3rd driver and overnight "adult" babysitter!  boohoo.  But, it's GOOD!

I won't be writing on this blog about HIS mission.  A separate missionary blog has been set up for him to share HIS experiences on:
http://elderryanbrenchley.blogspot.com

We Aim High Around Here (?)

I found THIS "New Year's Resolution" paper in Katelyn's stuff.....

I wonder just WHERE IS that best set in the shcool found?  In her classroom?  In the Principal's office?  In the cafeteria?  In the Computer Lab?

Is it HARD to "land" this best set in the shcool?  Is it a "First come, First served" type of a deal?  Is it a "reward" for good behavior?  Is it "off limits?"  Is it only considered "the best" by Katelyn?  Or is she just hoping she [luckily] gets assigned to it when her teachers make random seat changes?"

It's obviously a very HIGH "set" that also has magic powers to make your legs grow extremely long when seated in it!   

Maybe it's the orange color that makes it so attractive?

And I wonder why she didn't include SPELLING SKILLS as part of her "aspirations" for 2013!?!  ;) haha.

Whatever the details are, however lofty [or not] her goal is -- good for her.  She's written it down, so it's SERIOUS.  How does that saying go?  "A goal not written down is just a wish?"  Or something like that.

Soooooo, that means I better write MINE down, right?!?
And what better place than my blog!  :)

The first one I made was for me AND Matt.  Don't you love it when other people push their agenda goals onto you?!?  ;)  But, he agreed to it immediately, so it wasn't as bad as it sounds.

Here it is:
We're going to invite another couple* to go out to dinner with us EVERY MONTH.
Hey!  Who says New Year's Resolutions can't be FUN?!?  They don't have to be grueling, sweat inducing, miserable, time consuming, mentally taxing, deprivation type goals, right?!?  Those are coming!)
I'm excited for this; we'll get to know our friends better, and make new friends, too!  We're already 1 for 1 as it is just January still.  We ARE taking a "waiting list" of couples who who like to be invited, so mail in your applications!  Just kidding.  :)
*As in a different couple every month -- unless we get turned down for these dates, and then we'll just stick with the one who says, "yes.")

Here's another one:
I'm going to get ready IN THE MORNING.
As in, before I start cleaning up.  Or paying bills.  Or get on the computer.  Or making my shopping list.  Or planning our vacations.  Or working on Young Women stuff.  Or looking for my ever-elusive cell phone.
THIS is going to be HARD
 .....because if I go into any part of my home, I can always see so MANY projects or duties "calling my name" that I want to start tackling right away.

But, what is my mantra, again?

BUT, I'm sick of being "caught" looking like a rag-a-muffin still too late in the day.  I feel like such a loser when that happens!   

PLUS, it just really makes a difference in feeling "on my game" and being productive.  When I AM doing a dozen other tasks while still in my "morning glory" (PJ's, no bra, bedhead, yesterday's leftover make up and smells), there's always that cloud hanging over my head saying, You still have to get ready! and it makes me feel 'eeeck' -- almost like I haven't accomplished anything, even though I have!  Do you know what I mean?

And, YES, I will have you know, here at 10:45 in the morning as I am working on my blog, I am fully dressed, make up, hair brushed, with earrings in!  Woo HOO!! :)

Which brings me to another one:
I want to write more on my blog.
It seems like ever since we moved into our new home, my posts have been declining.
But, ya know, it wasn't just since then, it was the whole time we were building this house, too.
....AND the entire time we had the old home up for sale - which was entirely WAY TOO LONG!
And, if we want to be really honest, my blog hasn't been given proper attention since I turned 40!  And that was in 2010.
I don't know why that's so, but just because I'm OVER THE HILL, doesn't mean that my "Weekly Gratitude List" should only gets changed every 4 months!
So, my plan is.....well, I don't want to disclose it exactly, so y'all won't hold me accountable if I don't follow it flawlessly......but, in my head I have decided that on certain days every week that I am going to write - of course, while I am fully clothed & READY for the day - and "reactivate" my blog.
And feel free to "motivate" me by leaving comments, I love 'em, so I'm not all by myself in blog world.
I chose the blog goal BECAUSE I really like to write in it (or is it 'on it'?) and I love to have the RECORD and the MEMORIES especially since I'm LOSIN' IT these days seems as I'm getting "UP THERE" in years.  (I get these comments from my kids!  Seriously.)
BUT, FOR REAL, I proved them RIGHT recently....I left my purse in the shopping cart, in a parking lot, at Wal-mart this week.  I unloaded the cart into my car, pushed my cart back to the "cart corral" and then walked back to my car without getting my purse out and drove home.....and didn't even notice until the next morning!  I had no recollection of doing that!  I usually put my purse in the car along with my merchandise at the same time.  I looked all over the place at home FIRST for my purse.  Then Matt told me I should go back to the store, but as I thought about it, I didn't really recall not having it with me - so I thought it was a "long shot."  PLUS, I'm ashamed of my lack of faith, but I figured IF I had left it at Wal-mart, it probably would've been stolen.  I didn't think the "People of Wal-mart" would be the most honest.  Well.....I WAS WRONG, and what a blessing!!!  My purse had been discovered by one of the store's "cart pushers" and returned to the Customer Service desk and was locked up in a back room until I came to retrieve it -- EVERYTHING intact, even my pens, lip balm, and leftover Santa Snickers candy!!!  (the most important things, ya know!)  :)

OK.  End of Sidetrack.

Back to these New Year's Resolutions.
I am implementing a healthier lifestyle.
I wrote down all these things that I can do.  BUT, unfortunately, right now I can't find that paper!  (See above section about losing my mind!)
Here's the good part:  I'm only going to start one new thing a month and then BUILD on each month - so it's not so overwhelming all at once - but after several months, and the end of the year, I'll have MANY good habits going on!
So, this month I have been drinking water.  A lot of it, too.  As in HALF my body weight in ounces each day.  (So, a 100 lb. person drinks 50 oz. of water/day.  A 150 lb. person drinks 75 oz. water/day.  A 400 lb. person drinks 200 oz. water/day.  You get the idea?)  I fit somewhere in there.  :)
I find drinking all that water bearable if I utilized THIS product sometimes:

(Now, please don’t burst my bubble and tell me that adding Crystal Light occasionally to my water isn’t technically water because in my fragile state right now I’m just not ready for that!  I know some super-strict water drinking people are wondering, but I DO fill the bottle up WITH WATER first [with pride] so I’m going to feel good about it.)
The only problem is....here's Murphy's Law in action in my life again....I have ALSO been sick this month with a variety of symptoms, but one of them is a violent cough - the kind of cough that shakes your whole body - or contracts all your muscles & seizes it up, one of the two.  And THAT condition does not go well with a constantly FULL BLADDER, if you know what I mean!  Note to self:  add "Do more laundry" to list of goals.  :)
So I have a couple more weeks to find that "healthy lifestyle" paper of mine, so I can add on the next thing in February.  That will give me more things to blog about later, thus, helping the above mentioned goal, as well.  SCORE!

And, last, but not least:
We just got a new ward cookbook, and I definitely need to make:
Jena Andrus' BUFFALO DIP
Julie Bushman's "FAMOUS DIP"
and
Dee Ann Stout's PINA COLADA FRUIT DIP
...and that's just in the Appetizers section.
I'll go through the rest of the cookbook, too, and try out new things.... of course, it needs to happen BEFORE I implement the "don't overdo it on dips/condiments" part to my healthy lifestyle plan!!  ;)


So, there you have it.  The FUN, the RIDICULOUS, & the HARD goals all mixed together.

HAPPY 2013, EVERYONE!

Just Loungin' Around on the Couch Eating Bon-Bons

My oldest son critiques reads my blog.
After scrutinizing viewing it just the other day, he says to me, "You haven't been making many blog posts this Summer, huh?!?"
"No, not many." I replied
"WHAT'S UP?" he questions me.
"Uhh...I've been a little busy!" I informed him.
(Snickers) "Doin' WHAT?!?" he wants to know in a voice laced with disgust.

You mean besides being pecked to death by a flock of chickens [i.e. YOU CHILDREN]?!?!?

Well, let me tell you, young man...and make you regret that you EVER had the audacity to entertain such a [ridiculous] question!! ;)

Well, there was this "incident"....

{ It would have to be a brand spankin' new container of Nesquick that was dropped on the floor!}

One mess after another describes a lot of what I did this Summer.

...Then there were the picnics that I planned, shopped for, packed, and made for you to enjoy!

...pulling out my little girl's front tooth.

...Getting the dress-ups out, putting the dress-ups away. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.
Ever heard the version of the Snow White Story where she has a sword? That's what happens when you have a boy/girl family! :)

...about went crazy over the neglect of breakfast/lunch/snack dishes that were left around by "NOT ME." And the fact that the place mat is treated as an extension of the plate (food all over it) and required frequent laundering.
{This photo is an example of the random "surprises" you find when you download your pics!}


...Protecting/saving my offspring from possibly boiling to death in a Hot Pot on one side and drowning in a lake on the other.

...Buying junk (for the "Junk Box").

...Continually counting The Brood as to not lose anyone.

...Taking my 2nd boy to baseball practice, picking him up from practice, driving clear-the-heck to West Jordan to see his games, buying Gatorade to keep him from having a heat stroke, washing those brilliant-of-an-idea white baseball pants. Wash. Rinse. Repeat. And working extra to pay for that snazzy All-Star uniform.

...Arranging "Slumber Parties" and losing sleep while waiting for them to fall asleep.

...Risking my life by cutting in front of floats, running across the street in order to chase down Jr. High Parade bands to get a good picture of my boy! (the same one getting the lashing in this story)
{He didn't get the memo about wearing khaki shorts for the parade performance. Hmmm...shows how much he pays attention to things! :)}


...Performing Popsicle duty. (And incidental clean-up)

...Fetching a minimum of 2 whistles and/or other toys for the baby - to keep her happy and avoid any meltdowns of epic proportions.

So, yeah...I pretty much did nothing - just wasted the Summer away!

"Thanks, Mom. You're awesome!" my boy repentantly admits.

Now, I'll get back to blogging.

If I Wasn't a Blogger, What Would I Do?

A few weeks ago, around the dinner table, we were having a discussion of some sort. The exact details of the entire conversation are kind of fuzzy, but there's one part that I haven't been able to forget. Which is really quite amazing since I'm really having a "forgetting" problem as of late. Maybe that is a testament to how impressionable it was on me!

So, we're talking about something (here's the fuzzy part).....but it had to do with doing something...like rebuilding a car engine
or reading the complete Twilight series
or getting a Master's Degree
or raising your own pigs
or watching all the Reality T.V. shows
or becoming an astronaut
or being the President
...or something equally as difficult, time-consuming, and unreasonable at this "season" in my life.

OK, so on to the non-fuzzy part.
So, right after we were talking about whatever [it may or may not have been one of the above listed items],
my oldest son, Ryan, who-in-my-opinion-should-know-better-than-to say-this, said, "Mom, you should do that!"
That sort of comment always takes me a little aback, because, are they saying it because they think I'm not valuable enough the way I am, with what I am already doing? Or do they think I do nothing, and they're trying to find me a "hobby?"
Whatever...
I retorted, "Yeah, right, with what time?"
in a tone of voice that was suppose to give off the message of, "You are talking complete nonsense, get a grip on reality, Buddy!" and it would force him to comprehend the error of his comment.
Nope. Apparently, the "tone" failed.
Because he came back (rather quickly, I must add) with, "With all your blogging time!"

And THEN, and then, Matt, after thinking silently for a minute, said, "Yeah."

What? My own husband?

To which I lamely replied, "Blogging replaced my scrapbooking time."

At that point, the conversation was over, but not the thoughts - at least for me!

And what do you do when you can't quit thinking about something? You blog about it, of course.

The reason I know they didn't give it another thought is, because, in order to assist with the details of this post, I asked those male members of my family, the same ones who were involved in this very conversation and offering me alternative life solutions, just what it was we were talking about in the beginning....and they both could only vaguely remember us having any such conversation, let alone the details of what big, fabulous thing I should be doing with my life [in place of my blogging time.]

Why can't boys ever remember what you talk about? I do not get this. Never will! But, that's another post....

I need to say that the comment back at the dinner table rather confused me, because those two guys, especially, really like my our blog. And they really like our family scrapbooks, too. Basically, they've always thought it was cool that I did these things.

Anyway - here's what I've been thinking about, very simply:

Does blogging take too much time?

Not necessarily me making posts, but me reading all your wonderful posts. Just make them a little more uninteresting & despicable and I wouldn't have a hard time giving them up! ;)

But, I like it so much! And that is my reading, I don't read other books & magazines.

I don't think I could give it up for Lent, that's for sure - at least I wouldn't want to! (If I was even Catholic in the first place, which I'm not.)

But, my family's comments linger in my brain.

So, the first thing I decided to do was "clean house." I had a ton of [approx. 20] blogs on my blogroll that I "stalked." I didn't even know these people at all. I'd never met them. They didn't know me. I didn't comment on their blogs. I just made the decision to delete them. That just cut out some "blogging time." - check.

And secondly, lately, in conjunction with a new system cutover at work, I've found myself working A LOT more hours that I'm not used to. And the majority of those hours are in the wee hours of the morning, when not too many customers are dialing up causing our phones to ring off the hook. So, a new idea began to form....What if I decided to NOT read blogs during the day anymore, but what if I could wait to read them during this time, at insane hours, when I'm awake (barely), sitting in front of a computer and not really doing much? It would mean I might be reading things a couple of days late and not be "in the know" all the time, but oh well....

You may have noticed my comments on your blogs lately have some really odd time stamps on them, like between the hours of 1:00 to 4:00 in the morning. NO, that's not a typo, it's when I'm reading them....
...and as a result, using my old "blogging time" to do other things - but, NOT to become an astronaut - yet! :)