Why do I never remember the camera? Suffice it to say that we were the cutest group at the theatre last night!
Briana took Ashtyn to the Hale Center Theatre last night (Ashie's birthday present), and I got invited to go. We saw "Pirates of Penzance." It was such a fun production!
Mostly it was fun to hang out with our girls.
Markie's favorite word is "Why?" A conversation yesterday went like this:
Mark: What is she doing?
Bri: Stretching.
Mark: Why?
Bri: Because she's gonna go running.
Mark: Why?
Bri: She just wants to exercise.
Mark: Why?
Bri: So she can be healthy.
Mark: Why?
Bri: Because.
(VERY slight pause)
Mark: What is she doing?
Bri: Stretching, silly.
Mark: Why?
Bri: Because.
(another small pause)
Mark: What is she doing?
Bri: Stretching.
Mark: Why?
This is just one example of the types of conversations you can have with a three-year-old named Marcus. Our kids get annoyed. I just think it's funny.
Last night my brother came into the upstairs portion of the house. I could see that he was tense. He said, "If L and K want to meet at the football game, would you call that a date?"
You don't live with 3 brothers, a sister, and/or 4 children without learning that often you are going to have to justify your answer. And sometimes I dread having to try to justify the answer. So I took a second to think, cringed, and said, "Yes, I think so."
He said, "OK then!"
I am impressed with my brother. He had, apparently, been having words with their oldest son and was looking for some validation. He didn't really need my validation--he already knew the answer, and he was holding the line.
He was being a responsible father.
I am very impressed.
***
Right after my brother said, "OK then!" his wife walked into the upstairs. She said, "What's going on?" He replied, "L is grounded for a week. He's being a fart about this."
She responded, "OK," and she shrugged her shoulders as if to say, "It is what it is."
Maybe she knew the entire situation--I don't know. Whether she did or did not, there was no hesitation on her part to back my brother up in this. It was the right thing to do.
I am impressed with my sister-in-law.
My boss took a very long lunch today. He's entitled to do that. But he feels guilty about it.
I think that's weird. But that's just me.
He was in his office, with the door closed, for another hour or so after his long lunch. Meeting.
When he finally walked out of his office he apologized, because he had to go to another meeting. I'm not really sure why the apology. Do I look like I need a babysitter? Does he think I wish I were in all those meetings? I don't know...
Anyway, all this guilt-mongering was to my benefit, when my boss got back from that last meeting with a brownie in tow. For me.
Yup, I'm gonna like this job. :)
Today our children go back to school. Do you know what that means?
It means it's time to get sick.
Yes, folks, get ready, get stocked, get sick!
Now that we are all in close quarters all day, the germs will start to spread like, well, germs. Make sure you have your cold meds, cough drops, and kleenex! Stock up on hand sanitizer, soap, and laundry detergent!
And while you are preparing yourself and your family, could you come take care of EVERYONE on the 11th floor? Because EW!
Sixteen years and nine months ago, I went off my birth control for about a week.
Sixteen years and 8 months ago, I learned that we were going to add Baby #3 to our family.
Sixteen years and 7.5 months ago I started praying for a sweet, easy baby.
Sixteen years and one month ago I was the last of the five mommies in our ward to still be pregnant.
Sixteen years and two days ago I went to a birthday party for my mother-in-law. I thought I just might have a baby on her birthday. You know, to celebrate. But Baby changed her mind and went to sleep.
Sixteen years and one day ago I sat at the kitchen table for hours, trying desperately to finish a very large sewing project I had been working on. I was sure that I was going to be interrupted by a delivery trip to the hospital. Each time I was sure it was time to stand up and call Spencer, Baby would change her mind and go back to sleep.
Sixteen years ago today I had an appointment with the doctor, who checked me and said, "It doesn't look like much is happening." I probably cried; at any rate he said, "Let's send you up to the hospital for a non-stress test. The nurses at the hospital promptly hooked me up to a monitor and announced, "Woah! Those are HUGE contractions!" (Wasn't it nice of them to tell me that? What if I hadn't known that?)
Sixteen years, one epidural, some tears, a small nap, some food, several book chapters, a few visitors, and some hard pushing ago, our Ashtyn Sarah Hill was born.
Heavenly Father answered my prayers by giving me a sweet-natured, happy, helpful angel girl.
I now "live" on the 11th floor. I swore I would never work here. Ever. Like, I would rather DIE than work here.
But here I am. And so far I like it.
Yesterday I attended a meeting with the managers I worked with in a different division. One of them--who I had met and not particularly liked before he left for his mission--sat near me during our lunch. We spoke about some of his mission experiences.
He also lives on the 11th floor. As he walked past my desk this morning, he waved at me.
He. waved. at. me.
Please do not misunderstand. I do not care.
But I think that perhaps the world is ending. I can only handle so much weirdness before I begin to question...
I had a FABULOUS time in Primary on Sunday. Thanks for asking.
My first day on the job went well, but it was only a half day, because 5 weeks ago I scheduled an orthodontist appointment for Landon. Nothing like a great first day on the job!
My second day on the job I wasn't on the job. I was back with HQF in their annual Annual Plan meeting. I will admit to doing some laughing, but only if you swear not to tell.
I liked lunch. The food was yummy. Also, I sat next to a certain recently-returned mission president, who told me some sweet things about his experience in South America. Who knew? He even made eye contact with me *gasp!*
After the meeting my sweet friend, RH, came up and said, "Aundrea, I hope this doesn't make you feel bad. But with as intelligent and talented as I know you are, it nearly breaks my heart to watch you clearing everyone's plates from the table!" I would not clear the plates if it bothered me (believe me!), but I also think that I am assigned a certain strata at my place of employment due to my gender. That is all. And that is enough.
Briana and Ashtyn finished painting their room today. Spencer came home from work and built them a closet, which Ash is currently painting. Maybe tomorrow we'll actually get their bedroom put together!
Sassy took me out on a date last night. We saw "Eat, Pray, Love." I liked it better than she did. I think that was just the maturity level based on the main character in the movie. The movie was OK. V---E---R---Y slow! All in all, I'd wait for Netflix if I were you.
That's an exciting week, don't you think?
The boys are moved into their room.
The girls' room has been cleaned, masked, and textured.
All three bookshelves are in the dining room.
Two other shelves are in the pantry (thanks for the suggestion, Lo!).
The organ, Bri's cedar chest, and Bri's sewing table need to find a home, so do many boxes of "stuff."
Our kids need to finish getting their stuff out of the downstairs bathroom and into the upstairs bathroom. I helped them a little bit yesterday.
The huge, heavy file cabinet needs to come upstairs.
We need to swap our sofas and loveseats.
We need to figure out what to do with all of our movies.
We need to get rid of the TV (and buy a new one).
We need to paint the girls' room, set up their bunk beds, and put together their closet and organizer.
Why is it that you can work all day long and feel like you haven't even made a dent?
