this too shall pass--repost: one from WAAAAYYYYY back

haha...going through old posts and found this...posted once in a hardcopy family newsletter, typed version!!! then posted in 2006ish...reposted 10/2008 ...and today. Because I need to remember this TOO will pass :)


i will have to dig up the pictures!

hardcopy in my head...oh how I remember like it was yesterday!!!

REPOST:
I can’t help myself. Memories are so fun sometimes.
I am reprinting this from a very long time ago.

This is one of the articles from August 1997:
G would have been 3.

QUOTE:
A Day In The Life Of A Toddler
5:30 G woke up from his nap, a peaceful 2 hours for mom.

533 Mom starts to make dinner

535 G vacuums with the popper on the hardwood floor.

550 Used a chair to climb on the table

551-552 Time out

553 Stood on the chair and give me “THE LOOK”

554 Mom reads a story to G, burns the hamburger

559 Stood on the chair AGAIN

600 Mom tries to distract G with some toys
605 G gets under the kitchen sink, sprays WINDEX all over the newly mopped kitchen floor.

610 Dad calls to say he is on the way home, G back under the sink

611 Mom tries to distract G and talk to dad

612 G unplugs the phone system

615 Back under the kitchen sink, dumps comet all over
616-617 TIME OUT
620 Asks for a drink of Juice
622 Spills drink of juice, floor needs to be mopped again
625 plays and BREAKS angel candles
626 Mom cleans up broken candles
628 G coloring hall carpeting with deodorant
630 While scrubbing carpets, G is finding all sorts of fun chemicals under kitchen sink, AGAIN

I am going to interject here because I know that most of you are wondering why I did not have safety locks on my sinks….we did…read on.

Back to the article:

cont. (with this child, safety locks are only a pain for adults, if you want it open, ask G.)

Sprays Windex again, boy does the floor shine. “hey, can you spay over here where the comet was?”

631 FIVE MINUTE TIME OUT….for mommy
632 Mom ties the cabinet door closed.

636 Out of time out, wants a graham cracker.
639 Ground graham cracker into Oriental rug
640 Mom vacuuming graham crackers. G crushes the rest of the cracker on the kitchen floor, licks it up…at least the floor is clean.
642 Vacuuming interrupted by crash in the kitchen. Drain full of dishes has found a new home on the kitchen floor (with the graham cracker mess.)
645 Dad calls again, not home (obviously), should be home in 17 minutes.
650More graham cracker mess, (where is he finding these, I only gave him one.) What happened to dinner? Sweep up crackers, wipe floor.
653 Mom starts to make spaghetti. G is throwing Tupperware into the laundry room to the dog, thank goodness, at least he is distracted.
655 G is hungry, wants a milk bottle.
659 G sprays milk all over the kitchen floor, imagine that.

700 Mopping up kitchen floor, G sprays milk on the dining room floor.

705 Floors are clean. G is jumping on cereal boxes, one is open, crushed cereal everywhere.
706 Time out. Mommy cleans up floor, again. WHAT”S BURNING???

707 Throw out Spaghetti.

708 Read to G.
712 Visiting Teacher calls. Cleaning burnt dishes and finish making a pie crust.
716 G unplugs phone system again.
717 Karen, visiting teacher, calls back.
720 G unplugs the phone again. WHERE IS DADDY@!@!
723 Karen calls to say goodbye.

725 G moves a chair to the kitchen where stereo and plants are. Pulls Mommy's records (YES RECORDS) down, knocks over plant and full potpourri pot, stereo hanging by a chord. G smiles.

728 PIE CRUST BURNT

730 Mommy cleaning up the plant dirt, broken record and potpourri mess. Daddy is in BIG trouble (this is all his fault, right!??!)

731 While mommy is still cleaning, G opens the safety gate (did I say open the safety gate???) and spills the dog water and food down the back stairs.
732 Dog cleans up some of the mess, the rest is left for daddy
733 WHERE IS G-3?
734 G just finished pulling the all the books off the shelf and removing the wrappers.
735 Mommy starts crying and stacking books (2 years later and the covers still have not been put back on.)
736 G is being so quiet!!! He has pulled all the Kleenex out of the box. "Mommee, you are crying, you need a tissue."

737 What time did Dad call? Mom is folding Kleenex and putting it back in the box (saving .79 cents). G has found his fire engine and is screaming fire engine noises in the dining room on the hardwood floor.
738 Call for Pizza. What happened to the fire engine noises? G is in the bathroom pulling toilet paper off the roll!

739 G is strapped to high chair. Mom finished folding Kleenex (I never knew there were so many Kleenex in one box!)

800 DAD”S HOME. Pizza is delivered, “How was your day dear?”
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CLOSE QUOTE


I think this whole thing happened because I mopped the floor while he was napping. I should have been reading, writing, relaxing…..that is my learned lesson, my roots are deeper and I can laugh and smile. This too will pass.


---mommee
Do it nice, or do it twice!

ABC TAG!

due to the chocolate meltdown i was having

which brought the emergency giveaway...

CONGRATS

CHOCOLATE WINNERS

now...

i bring back the interupted TAG!

in the meantime:

you can do the tag,

tell me you already did the tag,

or ignore the tag if you are a tag hater.....ready, set, go:

this one is thanks to trying to stay calm...LOVE IT...

A-Attached or Single: Attached
B-Best Friend: My Husband!
C-Cake or Pie: Pumpkin Pie every time!
D-Day of Choice: Sunday
E-Essential Item: CHOCOLATE, of course.
F-Favorite Color: Hunter Green and Sunflower Yellow!
G-Greatest Accomplishment: My Children
H-Hometown: American Fork
I-Indulgences: DATE NIGHT!
J-January or July: January
K-Kids: 3 boys, 1 daughter
L-Life is incomplete without: Family Time, and Snuggling
M-Marriage: Yes, please!
N-Number of Siblings: 11
O-Oranges or Apples: Oranges
P-Phobias or fears: being this disorganized forever!
Q-Quotes: "Always think of things on an Eternal perspective!"
I kept this quote from trying to stay calm, LOVE IT!

and to repent I will blog
a whole blog of quotes later that I love too.

(hence, above, the fear of being disorganized...ETERNALLY)
R-Reason to Smile: faith and forgiveness
S-Season: Fall
T-Tag Friends: EVERYONE READING THIS!
U-Unknown facts about me: I eat fries alone in my car, use air freshener to cover up the smell because I have raised my kids to think fast food is disgusting. Whenever I get caught they say, "EWWWW, whats that smell." "Fast food" I say," gross, huh."
V-Very favorite store(s): Book stores (second hand especially - I love the inscriptions in old books), consignment shops, and antique.
W-Worst habit: Stressing, yelling at my kids. SWEARING, thinking my kids wont understand what i said.

we interrupt this TAG to bring you this:

[thinking of unknown facts, worst habits and things I probably shouldn't share.]

S-9 came home asking what camel toe is.

I won't go into the WAY TO LONG explanation that Mr. B gave him, or the fact that he has been asking for a month, and B has been putting it off; or the advice B was given at work on how to tell his son.

Also, you DON'T want to see the pictures he drew [quick explaination, they were all of animals feet, up to the camels foot/toe, and then a few of...well go ahead, imagine]!

...best yet, you don't want to visualize Mr. B pulling his pants up really high to give him an effective, S-9 will never be the same, example of it.

B, at near the end of this fabulous lesson in words we wish our kids never had to understand, explained that camel toe is like a sign.

LIKE A SIGN?

Follow me:

He goes on to say, like the loser sign; is the L.

Which brings us to things our kids should never learn from us:


J-7: Oh, I know dad, you mean like when mom holds her three fingers up and says, "Read between the lines." You know how if you take away these two fingers it means......

Dad interrupting him: (how he can respond without busting up is beyond me), Yes, J, exactly. And again, NOT one of the things that you should do just because OTHER PEOPLE (including your MOTHER) do it.

Now back to our TAG!

X-X-ray or Ultra Sound: X-rays and Ultrasounds, too many!
Y-Your favorite food: Mexican, and Vietnamese
Z-Zodiac: Leo

I now TAG:

EVERYONE who will do it.

Let me know when you do so that I can come read about you....

or tell me too if you have already done it.

oh, and for fun...TAKE THE AWARD...

Willing to do the tag....awwww, you should get an award!
ENJOY♥

Have FUN!

funerals?

this morning as i was getting dressed cece came in asking me morning questions.

what are you doing today?

should i wear this?

will i be warm enough if i put leggins on?

can i go clothes shopping?

then...


mom, do you have your funerals today?

me: my funerals?

cece: yeah, you said you had funerals this week?

me: funerals? what?

(i don't get it, we had two funerals last month for my grandmothers,
i am wondering if i missed something.)

me: honey, i don't think i have funerals.

cece: oh, you said you had funerals.

me: OH, you mean FINALS. yes, honey, i have finals, not funerals.

i am still not sure if i heard her wrong the entire time,
but thinking about it sometimes finals are like a funeral,
the end of the semester,
burying the disaster of the semester.
some semesters are like that, i've had them.
good luck to anyone in school right now.
hope your funerals go well. no pun intended.

isn't that illegal

No surprise that I would be writing about something illegal, however this came up, I have a dear friend who said I should be sharing these things....here goes.

You would think after so many years of parenting experience...ha ha ha....that things like this would not happen. Alas, maturity would be a key element in preventing me from my own demise.

Our morning routine is a chaotic as anyone's, in the process of getting one husband to work, four kids and a niece to school, and being presentable to be in class, in my seat by 9 am. Okay, 9 am....I should be able to sleep in, right?

Wrong?

5:30 - alarms (plural) go off. Plural because there is dad's alarm, my alarm, the boys room, Cece's and G's....all going off at random times depending on who pushes their sleep button more.

6:00....I am finally getting up, rushing to one of three bathrooms, all being used. Is it okay for Mom's to squat in the backyard. I think we will put in an outhouse, for camping practice purposes, of course.

By 6:30...we should be saying goodbye to Daddy, walking the dog, feeding the cat, fish, frog, hamster, and tarantula, as well as filling four children's bellies (why did I ever give up coffee???)

7am - last call for showers. I am finally getting in, hoping for warm water, and knowing that in 15 minutes I need to be making lunches.

7:20 - G comes in and asks, "Mom, can you make my lunch today?" (Generally his responsibility, but he is running late.) To which I reply, "I can either make you a lunch or get dressed!" He answers, "Okay, thanks mom."

7:23 - Me making lunches (in my robe). Thinking that G will wander by, notice, and pitch in.

7:40 - doing dishes, putting finishing touches on lunches, and grabbing my keys IN MY ROBE to drive G to school.

7:40 and a few seconds - J panicking "Are you seriously driving G to school in THAT?" Me, "Yes and when I get back if you are not ready I will be driving you and walking you to class in THIS!"

7:45 - One late niece....have to get G to school so (AND HERE IS WHERE I WENT WRONG) ...leaving the kids home - Cece, S and J - I drive G to school.

No, no accident in which I would be mortified in my robe. I wasn't lucky enough. I was hoping this would be the grand lesson for G-jr. high, but not today. He barely even noticed that I had driven him in my robe....however, he did notice that I made him a lunch.

8:00 - arrive back at home to find the boys locked in the dog kennel, by their sister, "if they weren't acting like dogs, I wouldn't treat them like dogs."

And finally, after school when we had our family discussions about the day, upon F finding out that his sister had done this act of imprisonment to her brothers, he pipes in "isn't that illegal". Well, look who just caught on. I wish I was still in my robe.

Looking for my Phone

Saturday morning, trying to get out the door quickly to take a test that is due before midnight, to get back home in time for G's football game, a trip to the mall with Cece for a birthday gift, then off to take her to the party, visit Grandpa and Grandma, and home to prepare the Relief Society lesson for tomorrow, plus find time with the boys to write their talks for the primary program, chores and clothes ready for Sunday; marathon Saturday morning.

Who has time to look for a cell phone?

I keep going from room to room, events of yesterday, conversations had. Thinking, oh where, oh where could it be?

Asking Mr. B, G, Cece, no avail. Checking downstairs with the boys and the conversation goes like this:

Me: Anyone seen my cell phone?
S: Check behind the toilet.
Me: Yeah, right. Seriously, did one of you use it?
S: I bet Cece put it behind the toilet?
Me: Cece huh?
S: Yeah, I bet Cece did it.
J: Go look, Mom, I bet it is there.
Me: Okay.

Me to Mr. B: The boys think my phone is behind the toilet, Cece did it.
Fred: (laughing)
Me to Cece: Have you seen my phone?
(She is washing her hair leaning over the tub.)
Cece: No.
Me: The boys said you put it behind the toilet.
Cece: Well, that is where it is.
(As she looks from upside down.)
Me: Seriously.
Cece: Yep, with the boys army men, chains and bouncy balls.

There sits my phone, right where cece put it!
What do you do with monkeys!

Wednesday Whoas

Home from my vacation and actually looking forward
to the Wednesday Routine: Crazy as it sounds!

For anyone who knows us well enough knows that Wednesday is our DAY!!!... for EVERYTHING!!!

Soon I will be on my way to pick up the kids:

305: Pick up G
315: Pick up Cece, Lucy(my niece), S, and J
325: Arrive home, wash hands, after school snacks, check for notes
355: S to Piano
425: Pick up S, J to Piano
455: Pick up J, Cece to Piano
515: G to Football, Lucy picked up by her mom!
600: Cece picked up from Piano
625: S to scouts, get Adam on the way
725: S picked up, G picked up (somehow at the same time)
745: G to Young Men's (quick change, and most times too late!) Uh oh:(
800: DATE??
Relief Society???

Somewhere in between the kids eat, do homework, shower, Daddy comes home, I head out to meetings; it just seems that EVERYTHING falls on this night. G's guitar, postponed for now, is also, on Wednesday.

TGITh....Thank goodness for Thursday!, Friday...Monday, Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday....Wednesday makes me count my blessings every other day.

And Wednesday gives me a chance to drive, one on one, with each child; a chance to talk, without interruption, at least one direction, with each little precious person. So I guess I should say: Thank goodness for Wednesday!; and for Home Sweet Home!

up hill through the snow both ways

...remember the olden days. Being a kid, tough times. I predict the future...my poor grandchildren. It will go something like this:

Dad, WHY can't I have a new cellphone, all the kids have new cellphones.

G: When I was a kid I was the ONLY kid who didn't have a cellphone. I saved my money FOREVER doing poop patrol for neighbors. I paid for my own phone, and set up a plan with the worst phone service. I couldn't even get phone service in my own bedroom. I was the only kid who got my phone taken away. And while my parents had confiscated my phone I still had to pay for my phone bill every month. Kids in my school all had new phones, and their parents paid for them every month. One time, my phone was taken away for 3 months! I had the oldest phone; the ones the dinosaurs invented, and all my friends had the newest phones.

I lost all hope in the humanity of my parents.
The meanest parents on the block.

...And I bet he will be just like us.

Defining Utopia

Utopia; a book that I have read, pondered, digested, analyzed, loved. The idealistic society; in the imagination of Sir Thomas More in 1516 as he poetically describes a fictional island somewhere, nowhere. Unrealistic then, unrealistic now, although impossible to achieve, can it be discovered, somehow, within a willing subject? Can I discover it within myself?

My Utopia, has a star shining day and night. Looking over me in my plight. My perfect place, my existence within the world, as it is, but not of the world.

Like More's Utopia, I dream of a place, a perfect place, a beautiful society. Where equality reigns, and poverty, pain, and misery are impossible. Society's evils, as we know them, do not exist. There are not wars, and jealousy is fiction. Where people live by the law of tolerance, and love. Where someone would be there to wipe a tear, before it landed upon the grass. Where an entire society stood to celebrate each other as opportunities and achievements were granted and earned. Where one did not feel as though another was competing for the beloved spot of a father's love.

Is my idyllic hope lost in our world today? Am I seeking for a paradise which on this earth does not exist?

My Utopia is in acceptance, of me with all my mistakes, of my need to be listened to. My desire to make a bit of difference in my community. My hope to help someone who desperately needs something just to make it through today; through the next meal.

My Utopia is in the smile between two people who are in love, and have fallen into love through times of trial, hardship, happiness, and endurance.

Nap time with a "twist"

Upon waking up from my Sunday nap I have been privy to tmi (too much information) about what has gone on while I was asleep.

Sundays are our Movie Nights. This began when Grandpa couldn't get out much. We enjoyed a fine dinner each Sunday afternoon, and then watched a movie with Grandpa. Each kid, and adult, took a turn in choosing the movies. Many comments should have been recorded at the watching of these movie choices.

So here I was yesterday evening, minding my own business, asleep in my bed. Mr. B was intending on waking me for the movie, but "forgot"; likely story.

As I awaken, I hear the pleasant sounds of laughing and talking. I decided to join the fun. Here is what I heard:

"Wow, probably shouldn't tell your mom about that one." (This is B, thinking I can't hear them.)

"What one?" I say.

G-13, "Dad, you're in trouble." (The smirk on G's face says it all, this is going to be fun.)

"Bad movie choice."

Me, ignoring that comment, knowing that G and Mr. B have left me sleeping WAY too long, I decide to bring up the Standards Night (which the both of them should have been attending at the Stake Center an hour ago, hence dad suppose to wake me up, hence, trouble for the pair of them.)

Mr. B, "Oh crap, I totally forgot about that."

G, "I didn't, I remembered at 645, but since mom was still asleep I thought we could sacrifice going."

B and G "We should probably leave mom's nap out of this one." (Good idea).

"So, tell me about the movie."

Mr. B: "Not the best of choices."

G ratting on his dad, "Well it is PG-13, parents STRONGLY cautioned."

Mr. B "Yeah, I probably should have noticed that."

(Ya think.)

Mr. B, "I thought this was the Oliver Twist Musical, it wasn't."
He is thinking I will leave it at that.

Me: "How many night terrors should we expect tonight."

Mr. B: " A few, and G will probably want to sleep upstairs on the couch."

Me: "How bad was it?"

Mr. B, still avoiding any real details: "We sang a lot of Hymns, while I fast forwarded through some parts."

Me: "Was Adam still here?" (Let me introduce Adam: 9 years old, taking the missionary discussions in our home, going to be baptized this Saturday, came over to have some solace on a Sunday afternoon, Adam.)

Mr. B: "Yeah, he should be fine. But J-AGE 7 was a bit frustrated." (J frequently reminds his father and me that we are the parents, PG means parents should know better, and PG 13 means he is not old enough, and we should really know better, i.e. the time we wanted to watch Transformers, and he was huddled under a blanket crying. Then not huddled under a blanket screaming at us, "you are supposed to be responsible for me. This is not an appropriate movie for a 6 year old. PG means parents are suppose to know better. What is wrong with you." Which, being the kind mom I am, I took him to another television and watched Monsters Inc. Really dad, what is wrong with you?)

G-13 trying to interject here, and dad saying, "G, you should probably not say anything right now, especially if it has anything to do with certain parts of the movie."

G persisting in his dad's defense: "What about all the movies mom has made me watch. Like the year at the cabin when she only brought three movies, Beaches, Steele Magnolias, and Fried Green Apples." (..tomatoes:)) "The mom's all die in those movies, what was she thinking, huh, Dad."

Dad: "G, that's not going to work with mom, I think we should stop talking."

Me: "HOW MANY NIGHT TERRORS ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?"

Mr. B, "Well, I had the kids close their eyes, we really did sing some great Hymns. It wasn't that bad."

Okay, so isn't Oliver Twist a classic. That was his entire defense. He lost.
I will be picking the next few movies.
Anybody want to watch Dumbo.

tao of Have a Happy Day!

"In Taoist Feng Shui, there is a well-guarded secret set of codes that will, when mastered properly, allow you to have any and everything you want in life. These codes are called 'The Five Mystic Codes' and are really for study by only the most serious students. The first of these Five Codes is called The Heart Secret and says that anyone -- even you -- can train yourself to the point that whatever you spend time thinking about will literally happen. This first code purports that you must maintain a mastery over your thoughts before you can manifest your wishes and desires. The premise is that this thinking is done using your very first thought in the morning. The absolute moment you awaken you must then think only about what it is that you would like to come true. You cannot open your eyes, or even let any wandering thoughts stray through your mind. And, even though this sounds relatively simple, it demands focus, concentration, repetition and practice. A powerful discipline with the ability to effect a hugely positive change.

On this one: You snooze, you lose! Ellen Whitehurst, Astrology.com "


Me: okay, so I was thinking back to my post: not breathing...can't remember who to call.

advice to myself: ..."very first thought of the morning. The absolute moment you awaken you must think only about what it is that you would like."

Summary...that is what my problem is. I wake up grumpy (just kidding Mr. B!).

Then I get up and act like grumpy.

If you cant change your attitude, change your circumstances.

To make a very long story, short. I dropped my classes, picked up some that I can enjoy, and others that I just have to take, and alas, all is feeling well.

Art
Brazillian Capoeira....yes, again
Film Critic
Computer Essentials (I have avoided this course, but needing it to move on I am finally giving in.)

Maybe I will get to spend more time in my kids classrooms with this schedule, rather than the nightmare I was facing. I am already looking forward to the 4th grade curriculum, the field trips, etc., with S; to G's 8th grade year, how many events can I come to without embarrassing him; Cece and her fabulous 6th grade experience; and my baby, J, my last shot at the 2nd grade. Lets hope we make it.

I can breathe.

forgetting THINGS

With all that has been happening with J I seem to be forgetting so many things. And not one bit of it is bothering me. What happened to my obsessive compulsive everything. We have an appointment up at the Hospital today for Cystic Fibrosis testing for my baby j- Bear. Prayer is the only avenue for peace now. Not cleaning, not perfection, not one thing can offer what we need right now. Just faith and prayers.

a real headache

I spent the whole entire day in bed or throwing up, with a migraine. I have never had one before and this took me by complete surprise. Actually I think that this was a perfect way to describe the pressure that I have been under for the past few weeks, like a volcano, my body finally heated up and exploded, literally. I have certainly learned a great deal from this experience. I have never experienced a debilitating headache like the one that I had yesterday. I will never make light of anyone who suffers from true migraines, nor will I suggest that I have a headache anything along those lines again. I could punch anyone who says that they have a “migraine” and is standing up. I could not function, stand, or even sleep through the pain. If I wasn’t throwing up I was in bed with an ice pack, and yet the pain never subsided. It took the whole day in bed, and even today I am still sensitive.

on time

Today was a bit better for the running. Kids have a half day of school. They were on time, so was I. We had to be to the school by 8 am for J's kindergarten appointment and we made it. I got to class on time, had lunch with a friend, picked the kids up, avoided housework, tried to figure out my assignments for this class, to no avail, will work on it more this weekend.

The journal thing is all I have figured out so far, so I am doing it diligently. The kids are picking up on it and doing better on their journals as well, positive. I am having a sleepover with my 9 year old daughter in her room tonight. Tomorrows positive thing will depend on the amount of sleep we get on her tiny couch folded onto the floor watching movies and eating way too much junk food.

back to school

Today I was 10 minutes late to my English course. The positive thing in this was that parking was not the problem but that I went to the wrong building, twice. I kept thinking that I had in my memory what building and room that I was suppose to be in, but I was wrong. After wishing that I would wake from my apparent nightmare and then checking to be sure that I had put clothes on (not showing up to school the first day in you underwear nightmare). I looked in my bag at my hand scribbled schedule and ran to the right building, correct classroom, and looked into the face of my teacher for the quarter, who I have had for a previous course, and called attention to me being late, which brought on some discussion as to why I was late and then his introduction of his expectations and that being on time is pretty much required. I knew it wasn’t a really big deal, but I am a compulsive perfectionist and for me it seemed to really blow my personal expectations. On the positive side, I had found a great parking space, and I made it on time for the rest of the days events, i.e. picking kids up from school, soccer, piano, the usual stuff for Thursday. (I just realized that I wrote Tuesday as the day, Tuesday after Wednesday, only part of my brain is functioning right now, so I will leave that alone as well as yesterday’s grammatical blunders.)