Spring Break Tomorrow? YIKES!

I can't believe Spring Break is tomorrow and ugh..we have no plans! My kids are going to expect something grandiose because afterall, it's THEIR vacation. (unfortunately it's not a vacation for me..just more work!) My first thought is.."cool, built in babysitters!" but I realize that it's not quite fair to do that to them. So, unless I have some fun things planned it will quickly turn into a next few days of severe quarrelling! I am envious of any of you who have travel plans this weekend. Anyone up to doing anything? Here's my ideas so far: Go see "Horton Hears a Who", hang out and make bows with my sister-in-law Amy (that is if she calls me!) or anyone else for that matter who wants to adorn their girls w/obnoxious boys like I do, ( okay I really meant to say BOWS but I thought I would leave it purely for a good laugh at the typo) and I am really hoping to take Zach skiing on Monday for his B-day (that is if I can find sitters!) Nothing is concrete so if anyone can think of alternative ideas to keep us all from going crazy for the next few days..let me know. I'm up for it!

Happy Birthday Alan!

I meant to do this yesterday since it was your actual birthday but the day got away from me. I just wanted to let you know how much I love you on your 42nd birthday! I often think how lucky I am to have a husband who displays the following characteristics: (don't worry I am not going to do 42 of them! Just a few of the most cherishable ones!)

1. First and foremost you are always willing to help me. You never mind going out of your way or being inconvenienced. (even if it means going to the drugstore in Maui at 3am to buy me an enema after a severe case of "vacation constipation".)

2. You never complain about what I have not accomplished during the day (unless you don't have any clean underwear or jeans to wear)

3. You never get sick of hearing about all the cute or funny things the kids say. Even if I call you 10 times a day to tell you.

4. You are always supportive of things I want to do. (basically, you rarely tell me no.)

5. You are never possesive. Sometimes to a fault. (I know so why do I love that about you yet dislike it also? Because I am a woman and we are complicated)

6. I love the way you walk in the door each day and say "Hello Babar!"

You are a wonderful man. (I never thought I would be married to a 42 year old man! wow!) I appreciate all of your hard work and sacrifice by the long hours you put in each day with rarely a complaint. Thank you for being such a great dad to our children and such a sweet husband to me! I love you!

Charity Never Faileth...

For those of us who belong to the Relief Society Organization, we are all too familiar with these words but do we really live by them? Fortunately there are those around us who do and last night I was a recipient of such a person. In reading my last blog post, you learned of my Sunday frustrations. I received a lot of encouraging comments with great ideas of how to make my upcoming Sunday a more peaceful one. I started mentally preparing myself Saturday afternoon by thinking of what needed to be done, etc. I even got the kids clothes ironed. Alan and I left early evening to go out to dinner and upon returning home I found the most pleasant surprise. After reading my blog, and realizing my struggle with Sundays, a most wonderful friend had brought over a dinner that was all ready to throw in the oven with a note attached saying "Happy Sunday!" WOW! How on earth does someone take time out of their evening as they are trying to get their own family ready for Sunday and think of making my day a little smoother? What a great example to me! How many times have I thought to myself "I should really take her kids for her" or "I really need take dinner to them" but quickly think of all the reasons that I am too busy or that maybe I will do it next time. How many times do I find myself saying these all too famous words "Let me know if there is anything I can do?" Like anyone is ever really going to call you and say "hey listen there is something you can do..." (well maybe some people would but I certainly wouldn't!) It's easy for me to run a loaf of banana bread over to my neighbor or sign up to take dinner to a friend after they have had a baby but it's the times that I may be prompted to help someone when it's a little inconvenient that I often ignore. My eyes were definitely opened this weekend by such a simple act of service rendered yet the profound impact it had on making me want to try a little harder to serve a little more.

"Saturday is a special day...It's the day we get ready for Sunday"

I am finding out lately that there is some profound wisdom in that primary song we all learned growing up. Why does Sunday end up being one of the most hectic days of the week for me? I guess it's because I am not prepared. Yesterday was a bad Sunday for me. I literally did not sit down the entire day except for the few minutes in Sacrament that I wasn't taking Abby out to put her on a chair in a classroom. (By the way that is working out well-now if I could just teach her to whisper! I kept telling her.."whisper Abby!" and after about 10 min of me doing it..she said "what's whisper mom?") Anyway, It seems no matter how picked up my house is Saturday night, by the time we leave for church it looks like a bomb went off. Then we walk back into it..this time with crying children who are hungry and tired. The older kids are raiding the pantry before I can even get my pantyhose off. So I start in on them telling them to hold their horses until I can get something out that's semi nutritional. And from that point on..the chaos begins. I end up being in the kitchen most of the day making a meal that by the time I sit down to doesn't even taste good to me. Then afterwards, of course, I have to start thinking about dessert. So, once the dishes are done..I start in on something yummy to make.(Usually brownies and icecream..the old standby) Then everyone is off doing their own thing..napping, watching movies, pulling out every toy we own and I get in a bad mood because I am NOT able to relax until the house is picked up and nobody else seems to care. We sometimes manage to do something productive like get in a game of Settlers but soon everyone is hungry and out comes the food again which means more kitchen mess for me to clean up.

So, is this keeping the Sabbath day holy? NO! Some people have told me not to fix a big meal on Sunday..keeping things simple. I have a hard time doing that. Growing up we always had a nice Sunday meal..china out-goblets and all. Tara and Amy, do you guys remember how we would rub our fingers along the rim of the goblets until they made that whistling sound that drove mom really crazy.

So am I alone in this frustration? or do the rest of you sit around in your church clothes all day reading scriptures, singing at the piano, reading stories, and planning your next family service project? (Tara, you are not allowed to comment because I have a feeling your family does!)

Point Proven

In case any of you thought I was being dramatic about Abby's demanding personality let me give you a quick example of what happened last night. We were walking out of the store last night and she saw the moon. She started saying "Get the moon down mommy!" I tried to explain to her I couldn't. She then started SCREAMING "GET THE MOON DOWN MOOMY...I WANNA HOLD IT!!!" She screamed this over and over all the way home. I rest my case.

Happy Birthday Amy!

Amy I don't have many memories to recall since I have severe memory loss. Oh how sad that makes me. So I will do a tribute to you for what I love about you today:

1. You are probably the least judgemental person I know.
2. You are definitely the kindest.
3. You make everyone feel at ease immediately upon meeting you.
4. Maybe it's because you have no fear of ripping a fart when the urge comes upon you. (okay you knew a fart comment would come out!)
5. You are so incredibly loving and affectionate.
6. You are the only one I know who can love other people's kids like they were your own.
7. You love to laugh.
8. Even if it means you pee your pants or fart.
9. Our family is very important to you.
10. You are very forgiving.
11. You are a great mom.
12. You are a patient wife.
13. You have a way of making anything look cute (even if it's a trailer in West Valley)
14. You are a great friend.
15. And make friends easily.
16. You are so down-to-earth.
17. You are open to suggestions or advice.
18. You blow up at your kids just like I do.
19. You love to eat just like I do.
20. You cry easily.
21. Especially when you feel the spirit.
22. You love to sing.
23. And sing like a bird. (okay that was cheezy)
24. You inspired me to do Abby's hair cute every day.
25. You bring out the best in people.
26. You are not critical.
27. Sometimes you stay in your p.j.'s all day and don't feel guilty about it.
28. You don't mind talking to me while you are on the toilet. (does that embarrass you?)
29. You don't really get embarrased easily.
30. You love having people at your house.
31. And make it a place where everyone wants to be.
32. You are good at compliments.
33. And make me feel good about myself.
34. You are one of my truest friends.
35. I hope you are only 35 because I can't think of anything else to write. ha ha!

Friends Again!

Just thought I'd do a quick post to let you all know that Abby and I are friends again! I needed a quick reality check on parenting and it has really helped. Afterall, I am the mom, right? For as much as she drives me nuts, she brings me more happiness. Thanks for all your kind words of support. It really helped. She is actually screaming right now as I am writing this. I have to remember one of my favorite sayings in parenthood "this too shall pass!"