Cramps Shmamps

Every time I start a new post I find myself typing a boring title like "Busy Day" or something, then decide that's lame and I've done it too many times before so I try to think of something different, but lately all I want to do is write things like "Title Shmitle" because that's funny to me or I want to tack the word 'alicious' onto the end of everything, like "Gymalicious" or "Fridaylicious". Surely I can do better than this? It's not looking like it today though.


I pressed snooze 3 times this morning while my brain tried to talk me out of getting up and exercising, I have cramps so that seemed like a good excuse. Fortunately I had to use the bathroom and I have you all to report to so I wasn't about to turn into a schmuck on my 3rd day of exercising after recommitting to myself. My brain DID succeed in talking me into checking my email at 6:30am, which is a dangerous thing to do because it always leads to blogging and much loss of time. I finally pulled myself away from the computer and left the house for a power walk at 7:00am. Victory was mine!


I hadn't gone walking on my route since June so it was like starting all over again with my nemesis "THE HILL". I felt like I was in slow motion trudging my way up it today, and at one point feared that gravity would tip me over backwards. Sheesh. I made it to the top, breathed through the palpitations and then carried on. Fortunately it was totally overcast this morning so I wasn't contending with the morning sun as well. It was a nice walk and I love feeling like I'm getting a jump on the day and that I'm seeing things I normally wouldn't see. (A couple roses peeking through the fence of some one's yard, potato bugs crossing the sidewalk, horses having breakfast, the temple parking lot full so early in the morning, people from church driving to work, etc.)


The one thing I hate about walking is dogs!! Fortunately most of them are behind fences and just like to bark as I walk by their property lines, but a couple of them were free to come running at me, and that sort of thing just freaks me out. I've had my heel nipped by a yippee little dog years ago and ever since then I've been skittish. That thing about all bark and no bite a loud of crap. I resent having to fret about dogs on my lovely morning walks.


So yesterday ended up being a glorious day of productivity at home even though it didn't rain. I don't know where they came up with a 30% chance, because it was sunny and hot all day! The only break came in the evening at Whitney's soccer game when the sun hid behind some clouds (praise heaven) and made it pleasant. I once again screamed until I was hoarse, but it was so fun. Whitney played goalie and did awesome. I coach from the side of the goal so it was like we were hanging out together and like I was right in her ear. (FYI: I ran in to Jenny S. at soccer because her little boy had a game and pictures too.)


But I digress, my home-time yesterday was spent doing many loads of laundry (lots of bedding), dusting everything (even the highest picture frames), talking to Kristi and Amie on the phone, a visit from Lori, prepping (and later mailing) 4 good mail items (woohoo), and sorting through a big pile of junk mail (it never ends, but the ice cream helped!). I was totally irritated with how fast the time went. I know it's wrong of me to complain about the 6.5 hours I have while the kids are at school, but it flies by so quickly that I feel cheated. Amie had to remind me that the school year just started and that there's more of free time to come. If only I could grasp that concept and let myself relax a little bit instead of frantically trying to finish every project in my mind all in one day.

~~~~~~~~~~

Here are the September and October blogging-friend birthdays I know about (Linked for your convenience, isn't that nice?). There was a mix-up in the email I sent so this is the correct info (Barb's and Amanda's were wrong in the email). We're going to have to pace ourselves and plan accordingly, these are a whole lot of September birthdays!

September 1st--Stefanie Williams
September 5th--Kelly Norton
September 8th--Lori Maher
September 9th--Robin Younquist
September 11th--Melanie Bushman
September 16th--Julia Sorenson
September 18th--Laralee Anderson
September 19th--Amanda Hill
September 19th--Andrea Richardson

October 11--Elizabeth Morse
October 13--Lisa Price
October 26--Barb Olson

**Do barking dogs harass you when walking/running?
Does your alone time fly by?
Do junk mail and miscellaneous papers
take over your world too?
What is up with so many September birthdays?**

Up and At Em

I don't want to alarm anyone, but it's 7:22 and I'm showered, dressed and blogging. Of course, my hair isn't dry, I'm not wearing make-up, and I haven't eaten breakfast, but still, I'm up and functioning at 7:22am. I think the benefits of my Monday and Wednesday 6:18 wake-up calls and gym visits are already reforming me. Hooray! Also, I am not even sore from going to the gym. I had some minor muscle awareness of sorts on Tuesday, but amazingly enough my muscles (buried though they may be) are not angry and sore. I'm thrilled.

Yesterday was a crazy, yet well organized day for me that can best be described as satisfying.

6:30-7:30am--Gym
7:30-8:00am--Shower and get ready
8:00-9:00am--Breakfast for the kids, Pack lunches, Blog
9:00-9:30am--Scurry around gathering stuff to be gone all day (I can scurry.)
9:30-11:00--Two visiting teaching appointments
11:00-12:00--Costco for groceries and gas, pick up lunch at Wendy's for me and Lori.


Eagle Mountain Express...
12:15-12:30--Deliver Costco items and have a brief visit with Jenn
12:30-1:00--Talk to Lori while she eats lunch (I had eaten in the car), vacuum the front passenger seat of my car since I ran out of time on the vacuum the day before ($%#@!).
1:00-2:45--Visit Amie and help her prepare her house for company, since she's so weak from being sick (poor girl).
2:45-3:36--Drive back to pick up kids from school, write a "Just Because" note while waiting. (This use of school pick-up time makes me giddy.)
3:40-3:55--Freshen up, make visiting teaching handout and review message.
4:00-4:45--Visit Teach
5:00-6:00--Make brownies with Whitney for Primary meeting, make some dinner for the kids, fill water bottles for soccer, put Costco groceries away.
6:00-6:55--Clean the kitchen, take a quick shower, get ready for my meeting.
7:00-7:20--Pointless teacher development meeting at the church. (I left when the socializing began, after the "business" had been discussed.)


7:30-9:45--See Becoming Jane with Collette. Ahhh, it was even more enjoyable the second time.
10:00-10:20--Tidy kitchen, take papers from kids' backpacks, get ready for bed.
10:20-10:45--Read scriptures, read 5 pages of Twilight, zonked out completely!
Phew!!

I actually don't have anything I HAVE to do today until Whitney's soccer game and pictures tonight! Of course it's Back to School night at the same time as her game, so I'm not sure what to do about that. I suppose Randy could go, but I'd like to hear what the teachers have to say for myself, but I'm helping to coach Whitney's game so pretty much I need two of me.


There's a 30% chance of rain today and I'm really hoping it arrives. I love a rainy day, especially if I get to stay home and have the windows open. It poured on Tuesday morning for about 15 minutes and that was bliss.

**Do you have days like this?
Did you do your visiting teaching?
Do love to be home when it rains?
What do you order at Wendy's?**

Free time, shmee time!

Today is the kids' 7th day going to school and I have only been home alone for part of 2 of those days. What is up with that? I thought things were going to quiet down and be free and easy but so far they haven't been, but you know what? I'm okay with that! I love my time alone at home, but I love being useful and productive as well so it's all good to me. Plus, some of that non-alone time was being creative with friends, and who am I kidding, that's the best time of all.


Yesterday Jenn and I went to Michelle's to act as surrogate knees and surrogate selves for her since she's struggling with her gimpy knees and is trying to prep for her parents' arrival tonight. Jenn and I were able to easily do things that would have been a huge struggle for Michelle right now, plus with our combined efforts and brain power we were able to figure things out, move things, and get more done than one person could do alone whether they had gimpy knees or not. It was a good, satisfying day. I was a little sad to see the tiny mouse crunched in the trap, but happy for Michelle because she shouldn't have to contend with a rodent in the house (whether it's cute and tiny or not). (Michelle taking a picture of the caught mouse.)


After Michelle's house I took a bag of baby clothes from her to Hannah and then a bag of stuff to DI, then vacuumed my car, then picked up the kids from school. I then had 20 minutes to freshen myself up and then go to Activity Days (luckily I wasn't in charge of it this time). We made strawberry freezer jam (my first time ever doing that) and ate freshly baked bread too. It was sooooo tasty, but majorly crazy with 12 excited s, 2 leaders and 2 dogs in one kitchen! I was hugely surprised when my co-leader sent me home with a big jar of jam and 2 loaves of freshly baked bread!! What a gift, I was thrilled. (I don't even really like jam, but it turns out it's strawberries and sugar and we made it without lumps so it's good.)


By the time I took all the s home it was 5:30pm. I felt so wasted. Amie called so I retired to my bed (oh sweet cozy) and talked to her for about an hour until I had to get ready for a Relief Society birthday gathering. This was for the women who had birthdays in July and August, so I was invited. Truth be told I wasn't too keen on going, but when I realized it was scheduled at the same time as Pack Meeting I was more than happy to go! (I hate going to Pack Meeting!!)

I finally got home at 8:45pm and felt like I was going to fall over. What a day. This morning I'm off to go visiting teaching (finally on the 29th!) and then I'm getting together with Lori. Tonight Landon has soccer pictures and a game at the same time I have a Primary Teacher Development Meeting, thank heaven we've got two cars now!

Also, it's Wednesday again, so that means I'll be sending some notes Just Because. I hope you will too!

Happy Birthday Laurie M.!!!

**How is your "free time" going?
Is your life calm or busy right now?
How do you feel about mice?
Can you stand Pack Meeting?
Will you send a note Just Because?**

What Has Become of Me?

In years past I had a very strong affection for diet Coke. I referred to it as my sweet nectar, sweet lady C, headache prevention and breakfast. But then I read a book about headaches which led me to believe that the very nectar I was imbibing for pleasure and to avoid headaches was actually causing them! I was so desperate for relief from these headaches that I stopped my 15 year relationship cold turkey! It wasn't nearly as hard as I thought it would be, it was more the relationship and habit that I missed. It will be 2 years in just a couple of weeks that I haven't even touched a drop!


Long story short, this is what I was reduced to drinking yesterday. I usually drink ice water all day and night, but every now and again I get a hankering (yes a hankering) for a soda of some kind. I consider this nubby, kid soda but thought it sounded good. After half a glass though I was done and ended up rinsing the ice and eating that instead. This is a sad state of affairs.

**What's your poison??**

Back in the Saddle

"Desire is the starting point of all achievement,
not a hope, not a wish, but a keen pulsating
desire which transcends everything."
--Napoleon Hill

After basically taking the summer off (not what I had planned) I finally went back to the gym this morning! The hardest part was getting out of bed at 6:18, but everything after that went well. I hadn't been to the gym since June 11th (that's worse than I thought) and feared I would have to lower my weights because of summer atrophy, but I'm happy to report that I did not have to do that. I was able to lift the same amounts as before (perhaps with more effort). I know I'll be sore tomorrow, why oh why did I let myself down like this?

I'm disappointed in myself for breaking my momentum and for taking all this time off. What did I gain from not going? Weight. Some sleep. Perhaps I took for granted how great I was feeling and thought it would last. Well it didn't. Yesterday I slept in and then read in bed for a couple hours (delicious) reading Sarah's Quilt (I finally finished), but by last night I felt headachey and just not good. I'm sure it's because of my wonky sleep schedule and poor eating.


So today I'm starting over again, and rather than continuing to dwell on the time I have lost (those first two paragraphs will be the extent of my dwelling) I am choosing to move forward with anticipation to feeling so good again. It's deeply satisfying to know that I can push through the pull of the cozy to do something for myself (and for my family as well).

There are always motivational quotes at the gym and there were several great ones today. Of course I couldn't write them down, but I remembered the name Napoleon Hill so I came home to try to find the quote I'd read from him. I didn't find the same one, but it turns out he has tons of great quotes (so I linked his name to those quotes). You might want to check them out.

Being up and going so early also meant I had more time to spend with the kids this morning and time to have our family scripture time and family prayer. It's a great way to start the day and I'm so thankful now that Randy has his own car so that he doesn't have to leave as early so that we can do this without discomfort. Blessings, blessings everywhere blessings!

Happy Birthday Elisa!!

**Do you have a hard time starting over
with big goals like I do?
Do you love quotes?
Are you an early riser?
What are you doing today?**

Sunday Thoughts

"Everybody can be great... because anybody can serve.
You don't have to have a college degree to serve.
You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve.
You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love."
--Martin Luther King Jr.


"We think sometimes that poverty is
only being hungry, and homeless.
The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and
uncared for is the greatest poverty.
We must start in our own homes to
remedy this kind of poverty. "
--Mother Teresa


"I encourage you to discover who you really are.
I invite you to look beyond the daily routine of life.
I urge you to discern through the Spirit
your divinely given capacities."
--Richard G. Scott

These Sunday quotes are a follow-up to my Just Because post the other day. I don't like feeling like I have bursts of service or bursts of goodwill, I want to live in a way that I feel like that all the time. Instead I'm constantly regrouping and being reminded of who I am versus who I want to be (which is probably why I need to go to church every Sunday). I always intend to focus my my efforts, to send that note, to make that call, or read that book, but how great would it be if I just did it because I understood the importance of it and followed through with my thought rather than just adding it to my ever-growing future to-do list? This may be my personal quest.

Happy 20th Charlotte!!

**What do you think??**

"I am yours body and soul"

Do men really say things like that, and if so why didn't I get one that does? Lori and I went to see this movie today and we both really liked it. I am partial to these kind of movies though, so I'm not hard to please. I wasn't expecting to like Anne Hathaway, but I did. I was thoroughly swept up in the story and could definitely go see it again. I'm such a sucker for romance, particularly when I'm in a theater full of swooning women like myself.


Lori and I went in to Sam's Club since we were at the theater in South Provo. I know someone had blogged about them selling boxes of bubble mailers for a good price, so I wanted to check it out. I don't have a membership there, but remembered that they offered a visitor's pass and made you 10% more. I talked to the greeter there and she said they don't do that anymore, but that we were welcome to look around.


We found the boxes of bubble mailers (so joyous to see) and then approached a kindly mother and teenage daughter to see if they would purchase them for me. It was kind of funny because I had to explain to them that there was nothing shady about this, just that I don't live near Sam's Club and therefore don't have a membership, but wanted to purchase these items. So I got 25 smallish sized envelopes and 25 medium sized envelopes for $11!!!! That is so awesome. I'm kicking myself (not easy to do) that I didn't get a box of the biggest sized envelopes while I was there. I don't usually use big envelopes, but for that price I should have just gotten them. Dang. I'm absolutely tickled to have this supply.


This is not a good angle for me, but it's the only self-portrait Lori and I took today so I'm going with it. We got some very tasty frozen yogurt (which surrendered to the August heat rather quickly) at the gas station while she filled up her new car for the first time.


Amy S., Christina, Amie, Julia and Hannah are the big winners from my Just Because Contest. I typed up this sheet of names this morning and had planned on cutting them out and folding them and then drawing the names, but then decided to spin the paper and randomly put my pencil down to choose names. I was so surprised that I actually landed on the names in such an orderly fashion. Thanks to all of you who participated, your comments were so inspiring! I'll be emailing the winners to take their orders. It's a good thing I ended up doing this randomly, I never would have been able to choose!

Happy Birthday Anne!!

**Do you have a bulk bubble mailer supply?
Are you a sucker for romances?
Do you enjoy frozen yogurt?
Do you like blog contests?**

Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy

Cute Eva was chanting this as she arrived at my house today, and I must say I like her style and sentiment. It was such a delight to have Eva and Michelle over two days in a row. Today Jenn and Ethan joined us, and eventually Claudia and Jorvik arrived bearing our Cafe Rio lunches...such a delight.


It seemed like we had many interruptions because of the kids (not phone calls today), but it was still a fun day (just surprising that there were only 3 kids causing all the commotion, not the 6 it felt like). I don't know that anyone else accomplished a whole lot, but I ended up cutting out 3 sets of good mail labels, preparing two good mail packages, and writing 4 cards, so that's a productive day for me, especially since I mailed them all out after I picked up the kids from school. Woohoo.


In other news, Randy arrived home in a new car this afternoon.This is HUGE for us, because in the 13.8 years we've been married, we've only ever had one car! Randy commuted to Salt Lake on the bus for 2 years and has taken the bus to and from his current job many times so that I could have the car to shuttle the kids to school, Seven Peaks, friends' houses, etc. What a guy, he's truly a champ. All his extra hard work over the past year and half (the stuff he does on the computer in the evenings, which is basically a second job) has paid off so he was finally able to buy a car of his very own. It's a 2006 Hyundai Sonata, and is pretty nice. Now we won't have to juggle our lives so much and will actually be able to be in two different places at the same time (just imagine it!)


Lori, Adam, Amy and the girls came over tonight for game night tonight so that was fun, I felt like I was hosting parties in shifts or something...one group out and a new group in. Nice. We got take-out Los Hermanos Nachos Supreme for dinner tonight and they were fabulous. Apparently I can eat Mexican food multiple meals a day and love it! We played cards and chatted for a few hours and then moved to the couches to cover some SEP (Searing Emotional Pain), though we really never got to it. We did light the fabulous IKEA candles I bought on my birthday, which I purchased and placed in our fireplace especially for SEP mood lighting. They proved to be too bright, who knew??


So it has been a very full day and I am tired. I'm optimistic about being able to sleep tonight, have some fabulous new Down-Alternative pillows we bought at Kohl's last weekend, and I'm almost finished reading Sarah's Quilt. I have an obligation-free Saturday (those are the best kind) and have plans to go to the movies with Lori...delightful. We're finally going to see Becoming Jane, I love a nice Chick-Flick Matinee.

**How do you feel about Mexican Food?
Have you ever had to commute on the bus?
Have you seen Becoming Jane yet?
Did you reply to my contest post?**

Creative & Crazy Thursday

Today turned out to be a totally unplanned and fun day. It was basically the day yesterday was supposed to be, but didn't turn into.


Claudia and the boys came over this morning and were followed just minutes later by Michelle and Eva (all were seeking shelter for the day, and I was happy to oblige). So the 3 kids played (which was handy) while Michelle and I tried to work on some creative stuff and Claudia took a shower and got ready (the process took a long time).


Poor Michelle was fielding many calls from a panicky Marc because of their carpet installation woes (I'm sure she'll post about that) and then Claudia got several of phone calls from Alfredo, who was at BYU taking classes at Education Week. (I'm not sure why he kept calling.) So it was kind of a crazy, distracted sort of gathering, but still fun. (We had a big bowl of Peanut M&Ms on the table, so how bad could it be?)


Lori called around 1:30 to see what I was doing, so I told her who all was here and then jokingly said "Are you bringing us lunch?" to which she replied "Maybe." So I called in our order to Chili's and she picked up and worked her magical discount for us, so we feasted all together. It was lovely. Plus, it's always fun to hang out with Lori and since she knows Michelle and Claudia it just makes for a "more the merrier" situation.

{My attempted group self-portrait,
at least the edge of my head made it in the photo.}

The late afternoon involved me picking the kids up from school, running (and by running I mean driving quickly) Landon to Michelle's house for Lucas' birthday party, going to the slow post office in Pleasant Grove (@#$%!), rejoining Claudia at my house (Lori had gone to work) for 45 minutes, heading to Whitney's Soccer game and screaming until I was hoarse (I'm the assistant coach and rather passionate), then driving to meet Michelle to pick up Landon. Phew!


Randy is out with a friend tonight so I'm actually able to use the computer (woohoo). It makes my night feel so free (is that wrong?). Don't answer that.

I enjoy hosting these little impromptu gatherings so much it makes me think I should do it more often, but then the spontaneity of it kind negates the planning of it...quite the conundrum (I love that word).

**Do you like to host impromptu gatherings?
Are you okay with friends' kids at your house?
Do you cheer a lot at your kids' games?**

Also, the Just Because Contest is open until Friday night at Midnight (so technically Saturday) so make sure you post your comment in that post okay? (Lurkers come out, come out whoever you are!) The responses so far are fantastic!

Good Mail & A Contest

I need to post my latest good mail happiness. Remember last week I had the mail on hold during our mini-vacation, so that meant our Monday delivery was actually 3 days worth of mail. I'm happy to say it was worth the wait!


Sweet Heather sent me this box full of goodies. She is always so good to me and I haven't even sent her anything except for good mail labels so far! I need a really great idea (though this goes against my own advice of not waiting too long for something fabulous, but rather reciprocating right away oh dear). Thanks Heather!


Pam sent me this thank you note for the birthday present I sent her for her 40th. I sure do wish she'd start a blog so we could know what's going on in her daily life. Last time I talked to her she sounded like she was pretty close, but I haven't seen anything so far. Hint, hint, hint.


Mique sent me this package with this cute notebook and a nice note. She joked that I probably didn't need one more notebook, but that's just not true. When you're a cute, notebook addict like myself you welcome all of them! Thanks Mique!


Annalisa sent me this nice thank you note for these birthday cards and for the blog party. Thanks Annalisa!


Lucy sent me this cute thank you note for the good mail labels and birthday cards I sent her. I'm wondering if she, the self-proclaimed noncrafter, made this card because it looks pretty crafty to me. Thanks Lucy!





Jessie sent me this thank you note for making these cards for her birthday and for coming to her going-away party last month. It's sad that she moved to North Carolina, but happy too because pretty soon she's going to be blogging like crazy. Thanks Jessie! (By the way, Pam and Jessie's cards actually have different colors of green, though I didn't even realize I was copying myself. Sorry ladies.)


Tasha gave me this hilarious book while I was visiting her last week. She knows I'm fond of this kind of humor because I am so in love with the birthday card Amie gave me last month featuring this picture. The whole book is funny. Thanks Tasha!


Also: I wanted to say something about Just Because Wednesdays.

day, but my thinking with Just Because Wednesday is that the act of writing to someone for no reason in particular is a great habit to incorporate into our week (or at least mine) and is very easy to do. Who doesn't have 5 minutes to jot a nice note to someone? Especially if you keep your supplies handy. I totally believe that keeping My thinking behind it is that though we are all busy and don't need one more freakin thing to do, there's something wonderful about taking a moment to send a note to someone just because. I know good mail is often sent for no special reason other than the desire to brighten someone's notecards and postage in your purse or in the car is a great help, and time filler while you're waiting somewhere. I've written notes while waiting in line at a slow drive thru before, at a soccer game (before it started), at the dentist's office, etc. So pretty much it's about being thoughtful and taking a moment to say something you maybe wouldn't have taken the time to say otherwise.

Contest:
Five lucky winners will get personalized "Just Because" Stationery, for writing about an experience you've had with either sending or receiving a note just because. (Meaning have you ever gotten a note that was so thoughtful it made you cry? Or sent one and then found out it totally rocked the person's world?)

**Have you sent or received any good mail this week?
Do you send notes Just Because?
What's your favorite color combination?**

A Big Day for All of Us

Today was the much-anticipated first day of school. I set my alarm for 7:02am (I'm not on the gym schedule yet, baby steps people baby steps) and ended up incorporating the alarm into my dream, thus causing me to hit snooze repeatedly until I finally got up at 7:50...good grief. We did have family prayer though, so that was a morning first.


The kids were dressed and ready by the time I got up, so I only ended up pouring them bowls of cereal and helping with their lunches. I had originally planned on making a festive breakfast, but was so disoriented from my dreams and from oversleeping that I didn't end up doing anything special. It reminded me of last year on the first day of school so I ran to the computer to check last year's post and sure enough, I needed a do-over then too.


I felt like a complete spazz when it came to packing the kids' lunches. I have never done this before! Sure, I make them lunches all the time, but this was so official and seemed more important because it had to last them for 3.5 hours until school got out. I was trying to make it well-balanced, yet realistic. I had frozen their juice boxes last night so they'd be nice and cold for them (victory) but my idea to freeze the applesauce so it would be cold didn't work out so well, it was still frozen hard at lunch time. I'm wondering if I should still freeze them but then set them out the night before. Any ideas about this?


This morning, we drove to the school and had to park around the block and then walk a little way. I stopped to talk to Landon and make sure he knew where to go and then looked up to see Whitney half way down the sidewalk to where her class lines up! Not so much as a "See ya Mom" or anything. What is up with that? Apparently she was very excited and not at all nervous to go, so she just left. Landon gave me a glazed look and nodded as I tried to talk to him (apparently he had things under control and was tuning me out), so I finally hugged him and sent him on his way. I stood there for a second thinking how this was not the first day of school farewell I had envisioned!

There was no trauma, no tears, no moment of longing or anything. It was what it was.


I ended up having a marvelous day all by myself (I had to keep reminding myself that I didn't have to do everything I wanted/could do all in one day). I ran a few errands, did 3 loads of laundry, blogged off and on throughout the day, talked to Michelle and Claudia on the phone, and mailed some books I sold on Amazon (I'm loving that). I ended up being 10 minutes early to pick up the kids (I was coming from Target) so I had some quality eye-brow plucking time in the car while I waited. I was seriously overdue for some plucking, and can't believe how many gray hairs I'm getting in my eyebrows; they're so much harder to see when they grow in underneath that I end up not realizing they're there and then suddenly see them and let out a little yelp!


This is Landon after school today giving me the double thumbs up! Hooray! He knew 5 kids in his class (all from church), likes his teacher, liked recess, and said the math test they took was easy.


Whitney came out smiling as well, but then acted shy in front of the camera. The first thing she reported was the Oreos and Skittles she got to eat in class! Oh my.


I took the kids to Sonic and we ended up waiting like 20 minutes for our treats so I got the whole update on both of their days with no interruptions. They had great days and are very excited about everything.

For those of you wondering why Landon is going to public school this year instead of doing home school this is the answer: he wanted to go.

I never set out to do home school, it just kind of worked out that way after the religious, private school Landon went to for kindergarten disintegrated. Amie and I had both planned to trade secretarial work for tuition for our kids but then the school got a new principal and he wasn't keen on that idea. So suddenly we were scrambling for a new option. We ended up going to a seminar about k12.com and were completely sold on it. We both left the meeting shaking our heads and saying "home school??"


But after our kids had had such a great year at the private school and had enjoyed such tiny classes (Landon's class had 11 for most of the year and then 13 by the end of the year) we couldn't stomach public school class sizes or the thought of sending them into a big school. So we signed up for k12 and had a great year. The program is free in Utah and is fabulous, so we decided to give it a try. Landon ended up testing out of 1st grade when he took the k12 placement test so I was already excited (only because how great is it that he didn't waste a year being bored at school?). So he and I did the 2nd grade curriculum together that year and I was amazed by how much could do, how thorough and cool the program was, and loved spending that time with him each day.


So we signed up again for the next year. I was still happy with everything having to do with the program, but ended up not being nearly as involved with Landon's work because he could do everything himself. It was pretty cool that he was so self-motivated to get his work done each day, but that meant that he was often done by the time Whitney was going to kindergarten at 9:00am (I knew she'd love kindergarten so I didn't want to try home school with her). So Landon's days turned out to be very long. He read a lot, played video games, and played with the neighbor kid (who was also doing k12) but he still had a lot of time on his hands. One day in the spring he said, "Mom, I think I'd like to go to school next year." That was fine with me so I signed him up the next day.

That's our story. I don't have strong opinions about home school, private school or public school. I plan on approaching each year for each child differently and will do whatever we think is best for them that year.

**Do you make a big deal of the first day of school?
What did your mom do for you on the first day of school?
Do you pluck your eyebrows in the car?
Have you ever home schooled?**

The Return of Crazy Claudia

I ended up sleeping in embarrassingly late yesterday (10:00) because I was up half the night reading because I couldn't sleep. (I also had a major spider incident in the night and had a hard time recovering from it.) I woke to find the neighbor kid here playing with Landon (how humiliating).


So after my routine trip to the bathroom I headed for the computer and commenced reading blogs. An hour quickly flew by when the door bell rang, and who should it be?? Claudia of course. She came to pick up her box of stuff that she had left here over a week ago when they left for Jackson Hole. I couldn't tell if she was just stopping by or not because Alfredo and the boys didn't come in right away. But then Alfredo came in and the two boys played outside with Landon and his friend. Alfredo had to sew a button on his shirt, so we sat and talked together (the 3 of us).


Pretty soon we were having nachos and chatting at the table. Their visit ended up being 3.5 hours! Classic. I caught up with them about the adventures from their past week which ended up involving trips to both Jackson Hole and Yellowstone! They've been to 8 states over the past 3 weeks, and this trip was originally just going to be a 4 day trip to Utah to attend the blog party! Their adventures have included visits to many friends and cousins (she has an endless supply), and most amusingly accidentally bidding at a hog auction!! She was adjusting her hair and ended up being seen by the auctioneer so she almost bought a hog for $450. Only Claudia!!


I finally took a shower at 2:00 (while they were here using the computer) so that I'd be presentable at the open house to meet the kids' teachers and find their desks between 3:00-4:30pm. Crazy Claudia always stuffs things into her bra. This makes me laugh every time and I finally documented it, this time it was a water bottle and a Nutella sandwich for Alexei. Too funny.


I also had to document the front seat of her car as she was leaving. Even though they only have 2 kids they still drive a huge SUV, but after seeing her in action it makes perfect sense because they use every inch of that car!



The kids and I then went to the school and found their classrooms, met their teachers (both are younger than me!), found their desks, and bought a school t-shirt for Friday Spirit Days.


We also went to the Scout Store to buy Landon's new bandanna, slide and book since he moved up to Wolves now that he's 9. It was $16.40 for those 3 items! Good grief. At least we don't have to buy the shirt every year.

Later we met Randy at Pizza Factory for dinner, then went to the grocery store while Landon got his haircut nearby. Phew. Our evening was spent cutting tags off the kids' new school clothes and helping them decide what to wear. Whitney was mainly concerned with wearing her new blue, flowered belt, so we had to create an outfit around it. Landon, on the other hand, said "What am I wearing?" He didn't even end up wearing something new. I guess for boys it's not as big of a deal, especially since his shirts are all the same style.

I have more to report, but feel this post is too long. I may have to post twice today. Hmmm. I should have plenty of time because both kids are at school and I'm reveling in the freedom, though I can't quite wrap my mind around the thought of this being a daily occurrence!

**I don't even know what to ask today?**