You've got 2 weeks

Hey friends!

Just wanted to let you know that you only have 2 weeks to sign up for the 'Mormon Lottery.' The lottery for seats to the MoTab Christmas Concert, that is (I know, I know, some of you started seeing dollar signs floating through the air).

The concert is December 10-13. They just announced the special guests. Drumroll please:

Natalie Cole and David McCollough

I've attended the Christmas concert every year for the past 6 years! I consider it one of the highlights of my Christmas Season and hope that anyone else gets a chance to start a new tradition. PBS has made this concert a tradition on Christmas Eve. It is free to enter the lottery. Just click on the link above and it will take you to the Christmas Concert page. Then to sign up for tickets there is a link in the top right corner of that page.

Wish me luck with the lottery and I'll send some your way as well!

What Video Games Really Do

Davis: Mom, guess what?

Mom: What?

Davis: Today I felt my brain turning to mush while Seth and I played video games.

Mom: Really? Did it feel weird?

Davis: No. It felt like I was getting a headache.

Most Amazing Lady and I Know Her!

Check out my friend Kelsey and her blog. She just gave birth to her SECOND set of twins. . . . . . . .no Clomid or anything. What a woman.

Interference

While Davis and Eliza were working on their homework (arranging letters into their spelling words), Eliza started talking out loud to herself.

Davis scolded her, "Eliza, could you be quiet? You are interfering with my learning."

Goals! OR Weekly Reckoning, part 1

It's October 11th! Do you know what that means?

Absolutely nothing (unless it is your birthday, in which case: Happy Birthday!).

I was thinking that I have a few goals I need to get started on. The thought went through my head that I wish it was the New Year so I could get going. Then I realized, "Duh! Who says you can't start now?"

So I am starting TODAY.

I have 4 goals:

1) Be in bed by 10:15 P.M. and lights out at 10:30. (I can make exceptions for late night movies or dates).

2) Start my babystep checklists for food storage and actually DO THEM.
(P.S. the website is right here: Food Storage Made Easy )

3) Be active for 20 minutes every day-preferably in the morning before the kids get up (thus goal #1) (I know this isn't a lot, but for me right now, it is a start).

4) Consistently read scriptures with my kids during breakfast-- seems easy, right? For me, this goal means I've got to get up early enough to have breakfast on the table and LUNCHES made.

I want to update every Sunday on my status. If you feel so inclined, keep me in check. Ask me how my goals are going.

Spooky

Eliza: Mom, we have got to go shopping today.

Me: Why?

Eliza: Our house just is not spooky enough on the outside.

Tonight

Tonight my Deedles is in bed.

He's tired.

He's spent many long nights at the hospital this week without sleep.

He's working tomorrow.

And Sunday.

He hasn't complained.

He helped clean up Roger, Roger's pants, Roger's undies, and Roger's tiny heinie just after he came home and Roger had a #2 accident.

He didn't complain.

He told me about a 16 year-old that was discharged from the hospital today following a 5 week stay due to injuries from a car crash. She wasn't wearing a seat belt. My little doctor spent lots of time during the night (and day) taking care of her--especially the first few weeks following the accident.

She walked out of the hospital with a smile and a hug for him.

He smiled.

I smiled.

I am so proud of my Deedles.

I just wish I could have him to myself a little more often.

Oh well.

At least he's up to some good in the world today.

Maybe I did something good, too.

Maybe.

I lost Davis after school.

I found him, though.

On my back porch.

He walked home on his own.

Life is good.

I've been blessed.

Thank you, Heavenly Father.

It's Confession Time

While at the grocery store today, as I was walking down the aisle, an overwhelming smell of nail polish permeated the air. As I was turning the corner, an apologetic mom had summoned a worker with the confession her toddler had somehow opened the nail polish and spilled it on the ground. She felt so bad, so I told her, "I've been there."

Yep, at that same store (my beloved Harmon's where the workers really do know my name, and my kid's names!) 5 years ago, when the twins were about a year old, they were sitting in the front of the car cart. Then Davis started crying. I ignored it for a second (thinking he was just complaining about being strapped in) until the smell of vomit started permeating in the aisle. Sure enough, he had puked ALL OVER himself and the floor. Fortunately Eliza was spared. I was lost. I didn't exactly know what to do. I pushed the cart to the front of the store and told the cashier that there was some major clean-up required on the soup aisle. The worker said she'd take care of it and then she offered to watch Eliza while I went to the bathroom to clean Davis up. I took her up on the offer and then she asked if she could check me out while I was in there. She opened up a register just for me and had someone check out my groceries while I was otherwise occupied. When I returned, I just had to swipe my card and everything else was taken care of. I was mortified.

A few months ago, this same checker was working and asked me where the twins were. I said they were in first grade an at school. She said she couldn't believe it and she remembered when they were babies. I said, "I know. You probably don't remember, but I do, when one of them got sick in one of the aisles. You were really helpful."

"Oh, I remember, " she nodded.

Nice. One of my most embarrassing moments was a very clear memory for her, too. But, she solidified my patronage at Harmon's from that moment on. Maybe I should write a letter of thanks to Bob and Randy. . . . . . (the Harmons brothers)

So, it's confession time. What is the most embarrassing/ worst thing your kids have done in public?

Today I learned

Today I learned that person's house might be dirty because they don't have enough money to buy cleaning supplies. Today I learned that person's house might be dirty because they are depressed and unable to get off the couch. Today I learned not to take no as an answer when you are offering something you know that person really needs.Today I learned cleaning someone else's house is much easier than cleaning your own--especially if you know they really, really appreciate your service.

Today I learned to be grateful for what you've got. . . even if it isn't perfect, at least you've got it.

Coupon-o-licious: I wish

You know when you go to a playgroup or hang at the park and soon everyone is sharing the great and AMAZING deals they got that week? Well, I've got a confession, I am not one of those people who gets good deals. I try to coupon-but always forget to bring the coupon into the store I needed it at, or I often find the store brands are cheaper than the coupon-brands. I don't even know which grocery stores have double coupon days.

I have friends that go yard-saleing and find some awesome stuff. So either I'm too snobby for other people's cast-offs (I don't think so) or I just hit the wrong garage sales or I'm not creative enough to see the potential in other people's trash. I go to D.I. sometimes and rarely find anything. I stop by Kid to Kid, too, but they never seem to have pants in the sizes I need.

So, I just spent 30 minutes perusing thrifty people's blogs and am totally amazed by their talent, and my lack of it. The only time I find good deals is when I am shopping with Brooke Sanderson. Occasionally I'll get 5 packs of soda for the price of 4, but that is the limit of my frugality. . . .

So, I'm sending out a big holler to those of you who are reading this who have a talent I don't: YOU GO GIRL, FINDING GREAT DEALS IS A SPECIAL GIFT!