Postal delivery

October 23, 2012
The mailman really delivered today.

We now have football and basketball tickets sitting on the fridge. Jeff couldn't be happier. 

Change in weather

October 22, 2012
The rains are here.

Which means Mother Nature is about to turn my illusion that it's still summer upside down and inside out. 'Cause rain in October can only mean one thing.

Snow.

Wish bone

October 21, 2012
Do you think the wish came true?

Perspective

October 20, 2012
I had an entire Saturday to myself.

Well, almost.

I had to work this morning. It was our annual Family Remembrance Event for our Teen Memorial Book. A collection of stories about teens killed on Utah's roads in 2011. It's the most emotional, powerful, and humbling project I have ever worked on in my career.

Jeff and the kids were in Logan for the USU football game.

After our event, I hit the local Tai Pan Trading Company store... a glorious excursion I'd NEVER in a gazillion years would get to do with kids or the hubby. I did have a purpose in going. To find Cole a Halloween costume. Jeff told me they were selling pee-wee sized USU football uniforms there. Who would have thought? One Halloween costume for Cole, two birthday presents for my brothers, and a Christmas gift for Jeff (yes, all bought at a woman store) later and I made a quick visit to my Aunt Julie and Uncle Bob's house.

Then it was home to enjoy the peace and quiet.

Kind of.

The dog was going crazy after being alone all day. And the weather was unbelievably gorgeous. I wanted to hit the pause button on it so we could enjoy the crisp air and gorgeous sunset forever.

Anyway.

I knew this was a rare chance to go on a walk with Blu in daylight so we went for what I thought was a little longer walk than normal. Note to self. Wandering unfamiliar neighbors will get you lost and add an extra 2 miles to your walk. Needless to say, both Blu and I were sore and tired when we finally got home after 4.5 miles. And coveting this gorgeous waterfall in someone's yard I saw on my walk.

Then it was a delicious dinner of leftovers that no one else would eat and planning for my YW lesson on Sunday. Oh, and some laundry.

It's funny to me how my perspective of "alone" time doing "nothing" has changed since having kids!

Smoke alarms

October 19, 2012
Why, why, why must every single smoke alarm go off in the middle of the night? Every single night this week?

After four days of being the ONLY person in the ENTIRE house who happened to hear the annoying beeping at the hour when sleep should be the only thing you worry about, I'd had it! We should be good for at least another six months of sound sleep now. If not, I just might take up a new career as an electrician and wire the smoke alarms into our historic home myself.

Confused flowers

October 18, 2012
I know little flowers.

I'm confused too.

The calendar says it's fall, almost winter. And some days it feels like it.

But then there are days like today. The sun is shining. The weather is warm. The birds are chirping. And the flowers are blooming. Again.

Oh, summer how I miss you!

Blu

October 17, 2012
Someone please tell me this innocent face will stop growing.

Eventually.

And by some miracle, pass obedience class.

Please.

Skinny Cow

October 16, 2012
Sometimes a girl needs the real thing... with all the calories.

Sorry, Skinny Cow. You just aren't cutting it today.

Obedience class

October 15, 2012
Tonight was the first day of obedience class and I learned more than the dog. 

Flour crisis

October 14, 2012
I may or may not have an unhealthy amount of anger built up in my system.

And I may or may not have had to hold myself back from bashing in my entire kitchen with my rolling pin when I realized we had gobs of sugar but no extra flour in our house. Anywhere.

Which meant I barely had enough flour to make a batch of rolls for dinner but because I had to skimp on the last cup of flour, they were too sticky and I couldn't roll them out.

Which lead to a major, major sticky dough mess.

Which left me crying at the neighbors for some extra flour to save my kitchen from getting bashed to shreds... wondering why I hadn't gone over sooner.

Which lead to my family ooing and ahhing over 24 homemade rolls, dripping with buttery goodness.

Which lead to one yummy, tummy-filling dinner.

Burst of color and hope

October 13, 2012
I had about given up hope on my walk today.

Blu is never going to stop pulling on her leash... even after 4 miles.

And my life feels like it is falling apart.

But just when I was ready to sit down right in the middle of the sidewalk and cry until someone came by and saved me, I looked up and saw this bright, yellow burst of color. It was a little hope for a lost, lonely, sad, and depressed soul.

Bread

October 12, 2012
I won't argue with you.

You should just know that the only thing Great Harvest Bread Co. has on The Old Grist Mill (Cache County favorite) is the fact that I had a coupon for a free loaf of bread.

And we are tired of eating gross grocery store bread that has enough preservatives in it that it would last years.

And my kids were hungry (big surprise) and they gave us a free slice of bread to tide them over.

But other than that, I will only buy bread from Old Grist Mill.

Bath time

October 11, 2012
This isn't going to end well....

Hello. My name is Blu.

October 10, 2012
Hello.

My name is Blu.

I am an almost four-month-old chocolate lab puppy who eats backyards, rose bushes, honeysuckles, sand toys, sticks, and pots.

I dig in the sand box and have recently learned it is fun to dig up my alpha male's newly planted $75 maple tree.

I bark in the house and jump on the couches when no one is paying attention to me.

I can't decide if I want to be in or out.

I pull on my leash despite the alpha female's best attempts to teach me that she is in charge.

I poop. A lot.

I slobber and drip water all over the floor after taking a drink.

I run in front of cars because chasing a kid on a bike across the street looks like more fun than staying alive.

I run away to the park when no one is looking. Or when the boy lets me out of the backyard.

I jump in the bathtub with the kids. Then remember I do not like having a bath in the tub and jump out, soaking whichever alpha is in charge of bath time.

And I eat through bottles of antifreeze, sending panic into my alpha female's already stressed and overly emotional psyche and sending me a trip to the Animal ER.

Sweet reminder

October 9, 2012
It never ceases to amaze me the kindness and insight some of my friends have.

I came into work and found this note stuck to my computer. It was just what I needed to hear. I'm trying but it feels like I am never, never good enough. Like I'm on a rollarcoaster that's going nowhere but down, down, down. And I can't stop it no matter how hard I try. It's never good enough. And it's not just my kids. Everything.

Sorry.

I really needed a reminder this morning that I do have two great kids already. And as my friend said, "I need to enjoy them for who they are."

Thank you Rhetta for somehow knowing just what to say.

Static hair

October 8, 2012
I'm always harping on Pearl to fix her crazy hair. Usually to this look of "huh?"

Well, now I have proof that she does in fact have CRAZY hair! While jumping on the trampoline, she hollered at me, "Mom! Is my hair static?"

Kids are so funny.

Reading by flashlight

October 7, 2012
Some days I think I'll keep these two.

Blue jay explorers

October 6, 2012
Pearl has invented a new game called Blue Jay Explorers.

I'm not really sure what it entails other than that they have to wear their explorer backpacks and wander around the yard. I guess they're looking for blue jays. Which we haven't seen in awhile.

Whatever the game is, I'm just glad these two are playing nicely together.

Just like candy

October 5, 2012
These tiny, beefy treats have the same effect on dogs as candy does on kids.

Here's hoping they help bribe Blu to be a more willing participant with her non-pulling-on-walks training. And if they work for that, maybe they can help her learn to stay, instead of running in front of a car!!!!

Raising a puppy (and kids) is going to KILL me!!!

Faball clothes

October 4, 2012
I read something today that said moms need to be in the pictures more often. I know this is especially true for me... someday my kids are going to think they were raised by their Dad and a dog. Or left to scavenge for themselves.

So when Fern saw I had put on my Aggie tee-shirt and warm-up pants (don't judge), he insisted he change into his "faball" clothes too. He was more than happy to get a picture taken with me... once he had his USU shirt and athletic pants on.

He's such a cutie. I love that little grin.

Gentle Leader

October 3, 2012
This stupid "gentle leader" headcollar better work.

I dropped $200 on Blu tonight at the store. Dog food, treats, a new toy (everyone says we HAVE to get a Kong... it better cure her from chewing our backyard), an antler to chew on (yes, a real antler... I know, weird), obedience class (wish us luck... five weeks of torture for me and her), and this fandangled contraption. Supposedly designed to curb her leash pulling, wanting to chase everyone who goes by, and make her listen better.

I'm not sure who hates it more, me or Blu.

This one... again

October 2, 2012
I don't get it.

Cole gets this new pop-up book for his birthday, way back in May, and he flat out refuses to look at it until just recently.

Now, I can't get him to pick anything else to read before bedtime. I'd give just about anything to read "Maisy's train" again right about now!

The word "was"

October 1, 2012
How do YOU pronounce the word "was?" According to Pearl, it can be pronouced as "is" or if your mom says that's wrong, "his."

Learning to read it tough! On kids and parents.