Wednesday, September 30, 2009

PLUS


I'm having a good hair day. Let's celebrate life's victories! :)

The Kind Things People Do

As you can see from my previous post, the morning hasn't gone extremely smoothly. It's all OK--it's just life. BUT--

People are so kind!

Amy laughed a little and told me not to worry because everything was fine.

Dave brought me a plum he had just washed.

Briana made me some hot chocolate to go with the rainy morning.

Spencer told me he loved me.

Keith stopped by my desk to say thank you for taking good care of our men.

The men brought me a plate from their safety luncheon (yum! Olive Garden!).

Sometimes mornings go awry, and there's no sense crying or whining about it (so disregard my last post). And anyway, we are surrounded by good and kind people. Aren't we blessed?

To Make A Long Story Short...

Have you ever noticed that when people say "To make a long story short," it never is? This is no exception. :)

I took Lando to school this morning. We had a nice visit with the principal, who was very supportive of my concerns and for Landon's safety. She took the names of other kids who might have witnessed the incident so that Landon wouldn't be singled out as a narc. She also reassured him that they wanted him to be safe, and she offered him some safety alternatives.

I ran to my car (because it's pouring down rain--40 degrees lower in temp today than yesterday), and headed to work. But I'd only gotten a mile from home when Taylor called. He had Ashtyn and Megan in the van when they ran completely out of gas. I turned around to pick them up and take them to school.

Then I went home and picked up Briana and the gas can. We filled up the gas can and her tank (almost). She drove me to where Flo was parked, but neither of us had a key. So we went back home to get a key. We then drove back to Flo, put the gas in her tank. I drove the van to WJHS so that the kids would have a way to get home (and to their haircut appointment this afternoon).

Bri took me home, where I washed the gas off my hands and packed myself a quick lunch. She made me some hot chocolate, which I promptly spilled all down the front of my sweater. I had to get the wrinkles out of another set of clothes (I had done this last night so I didn't have to worry about it this morning--HA!).

I finally arrived at work at 10:20. *sigh*

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

7th Grade Should Be Outlawed

Landon called me after school today looking for Briana's cell phone number. It turns out that he was looking for a ride home. He'd "had a bad day." When I pushed him on what that meant, it turned out that he is being bullied at school. Not only do people punch him in the halls (for no apparent reason other than that he is small), but today an 8th grader in his P.E. class gave him a "titty twister" that put him in tears.

I couldn't get hold of Bri, but I did get Taylor and sent him to pick up Landon, who was afraid to walk home from school. *sigh*

Outcomes so far:

Landon has a large bruise on his chest.

I have called in late for work tomorrow. We'll be headed to the principal's office first thing in the morning.

I'm ready to sic Joe Speredon on the entire population of Joel P. Jensen Middle School.

Landon has been informed that if ANYONE lays a hand on him, he is to punch. HARD. (And I'm a pacifist!) And his dad and I will back him up.

Junior high bites. Seventh grade sucks.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Dear New Mommy (you know who you are):

Being a mother is the best job in the world. It really, really is.

Just like any job, however, there are challenging and un-fun moments. Here are some things you get to look forward to:

1. A child who, in spite of hearing it (and saying it himself!) 400,000 times in the past few years of his life, cannot comprehend the meaning of the word "NO." Baffling!

2. Parent Teacher Conferences. Or worse, Student-Led Conferences. That is all I'm going to say about that.

3. Your children's friends. Sometimes you don't like them.

4. Homework. I know you think you finished school. Think again. If you have 4 children, you will go through school at least 4 more times. Don't let your brain go to slush; you will be sorry if you do!

5. Your babies don't sleep a lot at night. Especially at the beginning. And when they get sick. And when they are teenagers. Just sayin'.

6. Children yell. When they are babies, we call it crying, and it breaks our hearts. When they are teenagers, it's not so cute.

7. Your children will get hurt. They fall off their skateboards. They trip and hit their heads on TVs. They date people who break their hearts. They get in fights with their friends. And every hurt they have hurts you, too. Try to be prepared. You won't be prepared.

On the flip side, you also get to look forward to:

1. Successes that feel like your own, but are even better, because your child did it. Beginning with the first words and attempts at words, to their first steps, to their first great report card, and continuing forever. Biggest hooray! ever.

2. Your children will have joy. They learn to master their skateboards. They trip and pick themselves up again. They date people who don't break their hearts. They hang out with their friends. And every joy they have is yours, too. Try to be prepared. You won't be prepared.

3. Your children's friends. You will love most of them.

4. Your children as friends.

5. When your child yells "Mommy!" with joy, just because you walked in the door. If you're lucky, s/he will do that even when he's old enough to ignore you.

6. Your heart will grow beyond what you can ever imagine is possible. And keep growing.

Get ready. The fun is about to begin!

Friday, September 18, 2009

Not fair

I'm having a bad hair day today. No, really. It's bad. It's all because my groove was off this morning. So I'm wearing my hair up in a clip, and my bangs are straight down.

It hurts.

It's not beautiful.

AND I have one little 2" gray hair sticking straight up off my head, right in the middle, for all the world to see. This hair may as well be waving a flag, yelling a cheer, and moonwalking. It could not be more noticable.

And it's not fair that Spencer gets to shave all his hair off, while I have to glare and this rebel gray hair all day long.

I'm just sayin'.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

As My World Turns

Yesterday was the prime example of one of my days, which happens all too often.

6:00 a.m.--Get the kids up for prayer. Potty break, visit with Mr. Toothbrush, get dressed, pull my hair up (it was beautiful, let me tell ya!).

6:30 a.m.--Leave to take Landon to the orthodontist. Read 1/2 an article in a magazine in the waiting room. Have an impression of my teeth taken for a new retainer (to replace my 7-year-old one).

7:30 a.m.--Leave Dr. Curtis's office to take Landon to the middle school.

8:15 a.m.--Walk in to tell the attendance secretary where he's been, wave goodbye (because 12-year-olds don't want kisses at school). Go home and take a shower, do my makeup, and change into work clothes.

9:30 a.m.--Drive to work.

10:00 a.m. -- 4:15 p.m.--Work. Lots to do. It's all good.

4:30 p.m.--FINALLY get out of the office and walk to the car.

4:50 p.m.--Drive through at the bank for cash to give the hair stylist. Drive directly to Chelsea's.

5:30 p.m.--FINALLY arrive at Chelsea's house for a haircut. Relax for a few minutes while someone else does my hair.

6:15 p.m.--Leave Chelsea's and head straight to South Jordan Middle to pick up Landon from lacrosse practice. Drive Landon directly to his YM activity (do not pass go, do not collect $200). Go home and honk the horn to pick up Ashtyn. We go to Macey's together for a few groceries.

7:30 p.m.--Take the groceries in the house, drop them on the counter, and sit down to inhale some fatty food, because we are STARVING!

8:00 p.m.--Do the dishes. Quickly, before Landon calls for a ride home! Put on my running clothes and shoes. Log Ashtyn into the safety-locked computer so she can do her homework.

8:30 p.m.--Not fast enough! Landon calls. Pick Landon up at the church and take him on his promised outing to Iceberg. Enjoy a few quiet (as quiet as it ever gets with Landon) minutes (in my running skirt) with our wonderful son. Eating ice cream. A small one, because sometime tonight I still need to visit Nutrimirror.

9:30 p.m.--Pull into the driveway at the same time as Spencer and Briana. Gather everyone for prayer. Give Landon permission to stay up and work on his homework.

9:40 p.m.--Leave for the 4-mile run I promised myself I would do today. Run (relatively speaking) up and down Wood Green. A lot.

10:30 p.m.--Arrive home. Kick off my shoes and socks. Take some clean clothes into the bathroom and clear off my side of the bed so Spencer can go to sleep. Go into the living room and stretch. Visit Nutrimirror for today. Play a couple of games of wind-down Solitaire. Go into the bathroom and shower. In the dark. Because it's too late to turn on a bright light. Sleepwalk to the bed.

11:30 p.m.--Try not to fall asleep while I'm praying. Say, "amen," and fall asleep without even thinking about it.

Today? My eyes are puffy, my brain is slushy, my muscles are tired. And the remainder of the day looks quite similar to yesterday...

Thank goodness for busy days and nights--and for a healthy body that allows me to do it all!

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Dear Crazy Lady:

That shed doesn't belong to you. I know you are the supervisor, and it is your job to take care of the stuff in the shed. But it's. not. yours.

Repeat this to yourself: "It's not mine. It's not mine. It's not mine."

Keep going.

Because you are seriously worked up over nothing. Nothing, I tell you!

They went into the shed to fix the problem you've been whining about for months! They moved the stuff in order to keep it dry and non-muddied. Really, they were trying to help you.

Really.

So, the bottom line is:

  • No, you can't just lock the door at 3:45. And if you do, don't be surprised if someone uses another key to unlock it. That's what they do to open doors.
  • Yes, you can talk to the construction manager, but he's going to tell you the same dang thing.
  • Get over yourself, and get over it.

Sincerely,

Aundrea

Monday, September 14, 2009

Bad News...and Good News!

I specifically asked Brother Brisk if I had to attend ward council with this calling (activities committee chairman). He said no. I was glad.

Turns out he lied. I may never get over that betrayal!

I can't decide which is worse: the 11th floor or Ward Council. The dentist, for a root canal, is better than either one of them. Other than that, I have no feelings or opinion on the subject.

The good news is that I got to spend an hour and a half in nursery yesterday. Livvy sat on my lap and barbecued me some delicious Legos with ketchup and mustard. Everyone else played dodgeball against me and Briana. Jojo let me tackle her, which led to some munching (sorry for the "cherry pie (lipstick)" on her cheeks, Lara!).

And THEN I got to go to Primary, where the kids had made me and my counselors each a wonderful card. They also gave me chocolates (which I ate one of and shared the rest--sharing is good) and lots and lots of hugs. And I only cried a little bit. Which is good.

And I finished proofing my manuscript (I won't tell you what it was, because that would be a conflict of interest. But it took me over a week to spend a grand total of 3 hours on the proof. That either tells you something about my life or the book. Or both.).

The end.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Happy, Busy Saturday

Landon had his first lacrosse game of the fall season today. He's playing in the Junior League now (7th and 8th graders). He's so little, especially compared to the long, lanky 8th graders. Here's Landon on the faceoff (black jersey). Landon will get in and mix it up. But on his very first play of the day, he got hit hard. That made him pretty hesitant for the rest of the day. (But he's cute!)My parents have been in town this week, helping my grandma, who had hip replacement surgery. They left Orem Saturday morning and spent the rest of the day with us and Derek and his family--what a treat! We all met at McDonald's for lunch. Then everyone came to Lando's game, which really meant a lot to him.

Spencer and I went to TJ Maxx and found me a running skirt. You may or may not get a picture of it sometime in the future. :) I ran 5 miles in the morning--go, me! I also bought a cute pink running shirt, which I'm anxious to try out, just because I'm gonna look so cute! (heehee)

Friday and Saturday nights were the Sterling Singers' patriotic concerts at the Granite Tabernacle in Sugarhouse. We sang to a full house each night, and it was very well received. Briana and Ashtyn came on Friday night. Spencer and Mom and Dad came on Saturday. Spencer's mom brought a friend and came on Friday night, too. Thanks to everyone for your support. Everyone said it was lovely. Spencer said Daddy cried throughout, so it must have been OK. Mostly it was a LOT of fun. I got to meet and get to know a couple of new choir friends, too--how much better does it get?

AND I made it through "In Remembrance" WITHOUT crying. Incredible! (I love that song!)
(I'm in the lower left corner area.)



Wednesday, September 9, 2009

On The Other Hand...

...I got up and used Briana's new flat iron on my hair, and it looks pretty cute today.

...I jogged 4 miles on Saturday. Without stopping.

...I made dinner, picked up Landon and Raymond from lacrosse, did nearly half of my manuscript, called all the neighbors about Friends of Scouting, picked up toner for the printer, and read two chapters of my book last night.

Okay, the list is short, but at least there is a list. :)

If I Were...

...super confident, I would be headed to Chelsea's so she could chop my hair off.

...awake, I would be having a much more productive and fast-moving day.

...a better, healthier person, I would not be craving a 12-oz. sirloin and cheese toast.

...more organized I would not be stressing over Friends of Scouting, a manuscript to work on, a Relief Society lesson to teach, and activities to plan.

...simply a Primary teacher, I would not be even THINKING about Friends of Scouting, a manuscript to work on, a Relief Society lesson to teach, and activities to plan.

...not a whiner, you would have nothing to read.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

The Answer is Automatically "No" If You Don't Ask

When I was the PTA president, one of my favorite quotes was "The answer is automatically 'no' if you don't ask." So there is a vendor that has brought donuts to the office every week for about three months. And my desk is centrally located, so that is where they sit.

I started giving Jeff (the vendor) a hard time about a month ago. "Bring something healthy!" He's been promising week after week, and last week I said, "Yeah, yeah. I've heard this story."
This morning, this is what showed up in Jeff's hands. Yum!
See the link at the right of my blog for Nutrimirror. Go green!