Today I...

Today has been a busy day.  I gave Chris some pointer on the biscuits he was making for breakfast.  I won't say I helped him, because he did a great job solo!  I led a great family discussion about how to handle kitchen cleanup when Ben and Chris move back home for the summer.  And then I helped clean up the kitchen.  I don't mind cleaning up when I didn't have to make the food - Trent and Chris made a fabulous team for biscuits and gravy this morning.

I helped Angel sort through the dresses in her closet.  She has a dozen of them, but only wears two.  We pared down a few, and she remembered some that she just loves - maybe they will see more wear time.  Or we can pare down a few more.

I assembled a shelf, with the help of four additional hands, and figured out where to hang it.  Trent is better at the power tools, so I let him hang it on the wall.  I also located a spider in the bathroom sink and allowed him to kill it for me.  See how nice I am?

I supported a neighbor's moving sale and toured their house.  I'm now fighting a touch of envy because it is bigger and five million times better laid out than the one I live in.  I wish I could buy it.

I sent birthday wishes to a brother-in-law.  I texted a list of shopping items my dad has requested to my sister-in-law.

I held a six-year-old on my lap and consoled him when everyone else got to play with a toy but he didn't.  I later convinced the other one that he would not die if he ate the gravy.  A bribe of chocolate milk didn't hurt there.

I taught David about pedal markings in piano music and how to properly use the sustain pedal.  He is teaching himself to play "Chariots of Fire."  I admire his dogged determination to do things he sets his mind to.

I had a discussion with Eddie about "fair," and complemented him for getting right on his chores.  He is the best one we have to get started without being asked.

I can't take a nap yet, because I still need to have an executive council meeting with my fabulous husband and send an email to my brothers.  And lunch - it's about that time.

I wonder what the afternoon will bring?

Today I...

Today I washed a load of towels.  The second time, after I had forgotten about it and let it sit in the washing machine overnight.  Then, I actually dried those towels, and got another load of towels all the way through.  I think I'll let those ones sit in the dryer overnight though, because that's ok.

Today I made four loaves of banana bread.  Trent brought a big box full of over-ripe bananas home from the store.  They sell a whole box of them for only $4 - if you get there quite early in the morning.  So now we have enough to freeze for shakes and we can make banana bread.  I would be more excited about the fruit if it wasn't the second box he's brought home in a week.  We're plum full of bananas.  So the twins and I made sweet banana bread with the yellow fruit that looked most disgusting black  ready for banana bread.

I was planning to make banana muffins too, but I ran out of flour.  I went into the laundry room/pantry/craft space/furnace room/storage area where we keep the wheat grinder.  I filled it up with wheat and turned it on to "jet takeoff."  I'm glad I can walk out of there and close the door - that wheat mill is so noisy!  I walked back in to check on it a few minutes later, only to find that I had not pushed in the lower bowl all the way.  Ai, ai ai!  The whole room looked like a scene from a bad Christmas movie!  Every visible surface was coated with white, powdery flour.  Clouds of flour were pouring out of the machine, creating a mystic flour fog that added to the ambiance.  Why didn't I take a picture?  I was too busy trying to find the mill to turn it off.  I spent the next long while cleaning up endless dusty messes.

Today I swept the floor in the laundry room - several times.  And then I decided that since I had to deep clean in there anyway, I might as well drag the compound miter saw in there and cut some wood for a project I've been wanting to do.  And then I swept the floor again.

Today I went to the temple and breathed clean, white temple air.  It was glorious to just sit there and look at the very light carpet that I didn't have to worry about keeping clean.  I loved letting my soul breathe and be filled.

Today I drove with my neighbor's daughter who is learning how to drive.  I was not traumatized.  My friend insisted that I sit in the front seat, so she could sit in the back and play solitaire and not watch the driving.  She must play solitaire in a more gripping manner than I am used to, since she kept shrieking and gasping.  I think the daughter is coming along nicely, but I am concerned about the health of her mother.  I hope her blood pressure normalizes soon.

Today I walked my daughter to kindergarten for the last time.  The next time we go to school together, she will be a first grader.  Holy time warp, Batman!  I stopped at the front corner of the school, gave her a quick hug and told her to have a great day, and she skipped happily away.  She's come a long way since she clung to my arm and leg and insisted that I stay in line with her until her teacher came to collect her class.  I felt a little melancholy watching her go.

Today I sigh and miss my babies just a little bit.  How fast they grow!  What a blessing I have to be part of this wondrous life.

Today I...

I'm so bummed that our taxes are not done.  Due to a combination of not getting the correct W-2 forms and having a complicated financial year, we will have to file an extension.  It's not the end of the world, I know.  But I hate being late.  I don't like to run or hurry - especially when I have the pressure of a deadline looming over me. I even hate not being a little bit early.  It just unnerves me to not be where I am supposed to be when I am supposed to be there.  And so not having our taxes done before April 15 is really giving me a anxiety fits.  Gah.

So today I need to list the good things I have done today so I don't feel like a total failure.


Today, I made a batch of really good bread.  It's mostly whole wheat, but it still rose and made four great, tall loaves.  The kids will have delicious sandwiches for lunch tomorrow.

Today, I cleaned the kitchen, even though I didn't want to.  I did all the dishes and cleared the counters and wiped everything off and swept the floor.  I have to remember that one, because if you walked into the kitchen now, you would see no trace of my hard work.  Dinner happens and BAM!  Messy kitchen again.  But for a while, it was clean.

I read a few pages in a book.  That helps my brain to remember that I am a college graduate.  I am a smart person - sometimes.  I love to read, but don't get to do it very often.  Today, I got to read a few pages before the twins both needed to sit on my relaxing lap to show me a new yo-yo and ask how to draw the letter K.

I helped my neighbor lady figure out what to make for dinner when she was getting stuck in a menu rut.  Maybe I didn't really do much except provide moral support while she flipped through her cookbook, but being social is important.

Today, I took my dad for a walk.  We struggled up the hill against a stiff headwind, and nearly ran back home.  The sun was shining and it was gorgeous - for that part of the afternoon, anyway.

I made it to my son's track meet.  Granted, I was a little bit late (the bread was baking and I couldn't leave yet) and missed his first race.  But he was competing in four events and I could watch the others, right?  I came with warm wassail for him and blankets to keep out the wild windstorm we were having.  We even had a long conversation about the importance of staying with mom so that I didn't lose one of the twins like last track meet.  The little people and I were prepared.  What a great mom I am!  We got there just as they cancelled the rest of the meet due to bad weather.  I guess they figured, when the pole vaulting mats blew down the field into the runners, that having a track meet with 40 mph winds was a bad idea.  Glad we stayed away from the shot put area!  We did show up, so that counts for something.  And I was able to take my chilly boy straight home so he didn't have to ride the buses.

I stayed awake all day long, in spite of the fact that I got less than 6 hours of sleep.  I've been tired the whole day, but I didn't snap or snark at anyone.  Major victory.

Today, I had a nice conversation with my husband and listened to his worries.  It was nice to spend time with him, and I didn't even get anxious about the things that were not getting done while I sat with him.

I did not laugh when Georgie raced past me, hollering as he passed, "My bladder is so full!"  I remained a helpful, supportive mother instead of dissolving onto the floor in fits of uncontrolled laughter like I wanted to.  Where did he learn that?

Today, I took a shower.  Total score.  It was a good day.

Today I

Arose 5:30
Family portraits
All smile!
Restaurant breakfast
Water lawn
Trent roofing
Alec shopping
Ben shopping
-separate trips -
Camping prep
Nap time!
Read news
Feeding family
Clean kitchen
Clean again
Want pictures
Lose hardware
Not happy
Demolish bushes
Edge garden
Chris grumpy
Encourage children
Make dinner
David scouts
Wake daughter
Neighbors visit
Dirt monsters
Bathe twins
Prepare forms
Tomorrow morning
Scout camps
Preassemble lunch
Low IQ
Short words
Hem pants
1:00 am

Crash

Today I

Today I started a nice breakfast, but rushed through the last of the cooking and the kids only got to eat half of it because I started too late.  I buckled three youngsters into frozen car seats with fingers stiff from scraping the windows.  I drove the carpool to school and got the boys there on time.  Hurrah!  I didn't clean up the breakfast dishes until lunchtime because I didn't feel like it.

I tackled the laundry pile, huge and Mount Washmore sized, due to all the clothing I pulled out of David and Eddie's room.  We're cleaning out their closet.  It's no wonder they can't keep their room clean if they have so many clothes!  Most of it is old stuff that doesn't fit and has been stuffed in the back of the closet, or to-be-grown-into hand-me-downs that have fallen off the top closet shelf.  I think I'll have them empty their dressers too, wash everything, and start over by picking out a manageable number of clean clothes that fit.  It will be like shopping!  But not.

I put my three youngun's down for a nap, then I snuggled with them until they all fell asleep.  I may have dozed a little bit, too.  It's the only way I can get them to sleep instead of play - when I lay down and pull the "big bankie" over all of us -  but I really don't mind.  It's a slower, peaceful break from the rest of the day.

I went to two parent-teacher conferences.  David and Eddie are smart and friendly.  They read a lot (even when they aren't supposed to).  They are getting better at turning in the homework, but they still need to work on being "finishers."  The message from each teacher was basically a repeat.  I could have just gone to the first one, and listened to it a few times while changing out the names.  BUT, due to the things I have been learning in counseling this past year, I had a different outlook to parent-teacher conferences this time.  I love my children, but I don't control them.  Love and control do not have to be connected.  They have their agency to do whatever, and I have my agency to not have to react, to assign consequences without anger, and to love them anyway. In short, I could listen to a critique of my son - my own flesh and blood! - without feeling defensive or offended.  Because his actions are not mine.  It was satisfying, and so much easier to go home and have that little "Here's what your teacher said and here's what we need to work on" chat with the boys when I got home.  I'm learning!

I went to a band concert and enjoyed it.  I was present, and didn't take pictures or film or anything.  I just enjoyed it.  Of course I got a kick out of seeing Chris on stage (first time I've seen him play since he switched from tenor saxophone to the baritone - it's big!).  But I also liked listening to the other bands - odd rhythms, random squeaks, and all.  One of my favorite parts of a junior high band concert was the time when the trombonist over-greased his slide and it fell out with a clatter.  I remember mortifying moments like that in my awkward years, too.

Knowing that it would be an odd evening, I cooked up a roast in the crockpot.  A big bowl of slightly-too-soft mashed potatoes, a pan of rolls, and a bowl of buttery cooked corn stayed warm in the oven for much of the evening.  We almost always have dinner together, and I love it that way, but tonight, of the ten of us, I don't think more than three ate at the same time.  I put a note on the counter about what was where, and everyone helped themselves when they had time.  Crazy, but it worked.

Today was a busier day than normal, but I managed to get a bunch done anyway.  Go figure.  If I know it's going to be hectic, then I can plan for it, and things still run mostly smoothly.  Some days are just like that.

Today I

Today I did a load of laundry for the third time.  It was a bunch of towels that I kept forgetting about and left in the washer.  Ew.  But now they are nice and fluffy and stink-free, thanks to a bit of bleach and a good dash of vinegar.  And I folded three loads of laundry that has been sitting by the piano, where everyone who comes into our home can see it.  I'm much better at washing than folding.

I learned that I should not try to sniff hot oil in a deep fat fryer when I am lifting off the lid.  I burnt the inside of my nose.  It still feels yucky.

I also learned that the Angel has an inside scoop on Heaven.  She told us that Grandma Susie would give us an orange telephone and then we could call her and Heavenly Father.  I'm looking forward to seeing how this works.

I invented a new dinner with some freezer-burnt steak (cooked to perfection in the crockpot), some leftover baked potatoes (cut into chunks and pan-fried) and white gravy.  I called it steak and potato hash and we had it with a green salad and fresh  30-minute baguettes.  It was a hit!

I had to spot-clean the twins' carpet after their naps - again.  But pinning their zippers up on the footie pajamas was successful in keeping their diapers on.

I cleaned up the kitchen two or three times, picked up the living room more than that, and decided not to clean my own room.  I'll do that tomorrow.  Maybe.

I read some in the book I borrowed from a nice neighbor, Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis.  I thought I'd like it, but I am pleasantly surprised at how readable it is.  I'm loving the book!

I rescued Chris' saxophone cork grease from Freddie, who thought it was a tube of chapstick.  Freddie eats chapstick.

I drove Dave and Ed to school and back.  I really need to see if there isn't a carpool I can join so I won't have to drive so much.

I saw this chalkboard wall and I'm seriously considering doing something like this, only with the calendar squares ever so much bigger.  We have a lot of schedule to coordinate around here.  I have a wall that I use for  our "command central," but it has textured wallpaper on it.  I'd have to strip that off - would it be worth it?  I have a bit of a hangup abut not having a paper calendar to save.  Anyone else hoard old calendars?

I got a phone call from Alec, who said he'd be coing home this weekend, and could we buy him a new backpack?  His old one (and his helmet) got demolished in the bike wreck he just had.  Fortunately, Alec only got a few bumps and bruises.  Glad his guardian angels were watching out for him!

I smiled as I listened to David and Eddie play night games with a bunch of neighborhood kids.  Our yard is big enough to be a great dark-playground.

And I stayed up until midnight talking with Ben, who casually used the word "burpy" in conversation.  I really like that boy!

Today I

Today I slept in a little bit.  The babies stayed blessedly asleep until about 8.  I was so glad to have the sleep I got, since I wasn't able to go to bed until about 2 am.  Yikes.  Stupid hour.  But it was necessary, as we had to call a late-night council with my siblings and spouses (Trent calls them "spice") to figure out how to deal with our current medical adventures.

I grogged around for a while, but was able to eat the French toast Trent made me for breakfast without any spilling incidents.  I spent a lot of time on the phone with various nurses and hospital departments, trying to get a status update on me mum.  That was frustrating.

I threw my hair on top of my head in a French twist kind of 'do.  It was way too hot to wear the fur collar today.  I wore a skirt for the same reason.  I watered the yellow spots in the lawn for the same reason.

I laid on my bed and cried for a bit, just because I don't want to deal with all the stuff I have to deal with.  Then I shook myself, prayed, got up and went back to work.

I got into a teenaged argument about exactly how much information the parents need to have before the aforementioned teen is able to have permission to drive the aforementioned parent's car.  I settled a few debates about a Monopoly game.  I read the news online.  I paid bills.

I held the twins and read them stories.  I tickled and sang to them and played with them.  They have gotten so grouchy without their regular routine for the past two weeks.  I helped them learn not to scream when they want something.  I did a few loads of laundry.  I even folded and put away a load of laundry.  I didn't forget and leave a load in the washing machine overnight.  It would get stinky, so Trent took care of it for me.

I had a good visit with each of my older sons.  It felt good to connect with them again.  And then I had to ground them from the computer for breaking the rules.  And that's about it.  Lots of sitting and resting and loving on my kids.  I think we all needed a day like that today.

And oh yeah, I took a nap.

Today I

Today I was supposed to finish the curtains.   <snort>

Today I woke up when Georgie and Freddie crawled into bed with me - one on each side.  Georgie was all about poking my eyeballs, tying my hair in knots, putting the blankets over his head, kicking me in the ribs, burrowing down to the bottom of the bed, throwing all the covers off, and generally wiggling. Freddie, on the other side, would occasionally raise his weary head, stare me right in the face as if to say, "You're kidding me.  Why don't you make him hold still?!?" before he thumped back onto the pillow, sound asleep.

I made a sack lunch for David, and helped him get ready for his first overnight scout campout.  I resisted including a love note from Mommy (not 11-year-old-approved), but I did write his name is large robot letters on the bag (which did get the nod of approval).

I took Ben to orientation for his new job, then waited in the hot, non-air-conditioned car for an hour and a half while he finished his paperwork.  I didn't die, but I did get some paperwork done.

I made a list of all the things which have been bugging me.  I plan to seal the list and burn it while I forgive and let go of all that *stuff* with which I plague myself.

I made a salad for dinner because I could not stand the thought of  cooking.  Or eating anything hot.  I also made my first green smoothie.  It was quite tasty, but I have to admit that it was the first smoothie I've ever really wanted to chew.

I was happily surprised when my folks popped in for a little visit.  I cheerfully cleaned the kitchen.  I killed a spider.  I  pulled a bunch of weeds.  I coughed some while I swept off the back patio because of all the smoke in the air from a local wildfire.

I helped Alec get ready for a short trip to see an outdoor pageant.  We're all out of ice now, and our blanket stash is temporarily limited.  (Do I stay up until the wee hours of oh-dark-hundred when he gets back?)

I grounded a boy for being mean to a younger brother.  I listened to Chris and David and the neighbor kids play night games in our yard.  I changed a lot of diapers.  I put everyone to bed.

And I'm exhausted.  Mothers just are in the summertime.  Now, it you'll excuse me, I have some drapery sewing to go do.

Today I...

Today started when I got up.  Isn't that profound?  Ok, it actually started before I got up.  If it hadn't already started, I wouldn't have gotten up.  And that's the truth.

Angel had to go to the bathroom this morning, so I needed to let her in the bathroom.  We've finally put a kiddy-lock on the bathroom doorknob.  Georgie was complaining about his diaper, so I took him to the bathroom for a diaper change.  He saw the Angel on the toilet, and wanted to go "pah-TEE!"  She finished and went into the kitchen to eat breakfast.  While I was balancing a little bottom on the big toilet, Freddie barged in and wanted to sit on the "bobby," too.  I took off his diaper while George was doing his business, removed one naked baby from the toilet and replaced him with the other.  Just then, there was a tremendous crash and a wail from the kitchen.  I ran in and helped the girl and the bar stools off the floor, with both buck-naked boys dancing around us.  And that's how my day began.

I did get some of our dying grass watered, did errands in the hot van with most of the kids for hours, took said hot children to get 49 cent ice cream cones, narrowly avoided getting in an accident on the freeway, had a nice visit with my mother, was thankfully informed that the luncheon I had volunteered my house for (and then forgotten about) had been cancelled, hung inspirational postcards in the stairway, found out that David has been climbing out his bedroom window, and helped the boys chop up the branches that were blown off our tree in the last windstorm.

I put my hair up in a new hairdo-triple-bun-arrangement and it mostly stayed up and off my neck.  I remembered to look at my schedule before the day was over.  I congratulated my children on getting such wonderful grades by taking them to Krispy Kreme for doughnuts.  I cleaned up after a peanut-butter-and-apricot-jam-sandwich spree that cost the lives of a loaf and a half of fresh bread.  I helped Chris magically make dinner appear out of our empty fridge (pasta with cheater Alfredo sauce, canned fruit, and hot Italian sausages we found in the deep freezer).  I supervised the doing of chores (whew!).  I changed diapers.  Lots.  I made sure the garbage can was taken out to the curb.  I chased little people back in the house half a dozen times after they escaped.  I pulled a few weeds out of my new strawberry patch.  I folded a load of laundry, which has since been unfolded and strewn about the living room because I didn't put it away.  I braided Angel's hair.   I did not work on those curtains.

I did get a few moments to read out of an inspirational book a dear neighbor lent me (thanks, Michele!  It's making a difference!).  I did listen to some uplifting music, and I did sit on the back porch for a few minutes this evening.

Busy, slightly insane, and content.  My heart is full.

Today I...

Today I have been working on our family room.  I took apart our at-least-30-years-old brownish metallic ceiling fan and spray painted it.  It takes a few moments to write this, but most of the day to do it.  I unscrewed the bulbs and removed the glass shades.  I wiped the dust bunny colony off the blades, washed the glass shades, and found a pleasant surprise: they weren't really frosted yellow, but clear glass!  The metal parts got a new, shiny coat of silver, and the blades went white.  I actually got it put back together before dinner.

I made dinner.  Yes, with spray paint on my fingers.  It was pizza and I didn't make enough (durn growing boys).  I washed, folded, and put away a load of towels.  I washed a load of jeans and gently dumped them in the middle of the floor because they look nice there.  I drove carpool to the school in the morning and in the afternoon, and went back again later because David had to stay after school (too many missed math assignments, I think.  Must have mother-talk with him.).

I listened to Alec tell me about how he asked a girl out to Prom (filled her locker with chocolate kisses.  She opens her locker, they all spill out, and she finds a note to the tune of "now that I've kissed the ground you walk on, would you accompany me to Prom?"  I also gave him a shoulder massage.  He loves me now.

I did my Pilates workout.  I didn't complain too much.  I visited with my amazing mother.  I babysat two of my adorable nieces.  I let the big boys watch Psych (their favorite show), and the little ones watch Green Eggs and Ham.  I acquired a gallon of "oops" paint in a lovely minty-sagey green color - just perfect for my bedroom (thanks, Erica!).  I did the dishes.  I made sure two scouts got to their meetings on time.  I held and loved on my babies.

But I didn't pay the bills, or get to the grocery store.  Good thing there is a tomorrow!

Today I am happy.

Today I...

Some days are busy.  Some days, I don't feel like I really accomplished anything.  Some days I actually don't.  This is the story of a full day.

Toady, I slept in some.  I made breakfast (a special weekend one: English muffins with eggs and bacon, milk, orange slices).  I cleaned up the kitchen, and taught a reluctant teenager how to mop a floor.  I moved big dining chairs so a son could vacuum under the table more easily (hate having carpet under our table).  I organized a fair chore list.  I fed babies.  I changed a dozen diapers.

 I made bread.  I deep-fat fried the bread dough into fry bread when it didn't rise.  I made dinner (fry bread, homemade apricot jam, little smokies in barbecue sauce, and carrot sticks).  I pulled screaming children in from a beautiful afternoon.  I put the two of the small children down for naps.  I sang songs together with my children.  I settled arguments.  I cleaned the computer room.  I folded two loads of laundry.  I vacuumed the living room.  I moved a pile of boxes back into the closet I had taken them out of (two months ago) when I thought I was going to organize said closet.  I lost my daughter (Dad took her on an errand).

I gave two haircuts and three baths.  I got four boys through the shower.  I helped a son decide that his shirt was really, unbearably wrinkly, and found another shirt for him.  I threatened terrible happenings if the Legos didn't get picked up (only half found a home).  I made more food (we downed a number 10 can of peaches, a whole bunch of cottage cheese, orange floats, and pretzel sticks).  I made two fighting boys lay on their backs on the floor and sing until they were laughing.  I watched my sons play tennis on the Wii.

I made an alphabet banner out of a sheet of poster board.  I showed a boy how to scrub soap scum off the edges of a sink.  I taught a little girl how to play "Hokie Pokie".  I read bedtime stories and brushed three little mouths full of teeth.  I smiled as a teenaged son gave me a hug.  I told all my children that I loved them.

And I watched four hours of TV - two 2-hour church meetings.  We'll have two more tomorrow.  They call it General Conference, and we do this twice a year.  I call it having my bucket filled.  It was a crazy day, but I was able to keep up and manage everything because my spirit was at peace.  Today I thank the Lord for the wonderful craziness that I call home.