A Happy List

Here are four things that are making me happy right now.

My aerobics class. It’s been years since I’ve been able to go to an aerobics class on a regular basis. I’ve finally been able to again and it’s my favorite. It’s certainly one of the silver linings of my kids getting older (Marlee is a kindergartner now, say WHAT?!). I love working out with these ladies.

3:05. That time when the big yellow B-U-S pulls up in front of my house. (Side note: Marlee is learning to spell all sorts of 3 letter words. She throws it out there all the time. “Did you see the C-A-T?” “M-O-M where’s D-A-D?” "Is the S-U-N up today?” It makes me smile.) Anyway, B-U-S time is my favorite part of the day.  I love watching my kids run into the house after a long day at school. I love hearing their stories from the day, looking through their backpacks and having them home again. They sorta make my world go ‘round. And they also drive me crazy…because, well, kids. D-U-H.

My eye covers. I have always had a horrible time falling asleep at night. And then when we moved into a hotel for 42 days (2 ½ years ago…I can’t believe it’s already been that long!) I invested in some sweet eye covers to block out the all night light of city dwelling. I haven’t slept a night without them since. They don’t cure insomnia, but they definitely reduce the symptoms. Plus, added bonus, they're sexy. Ha!

My husband. The older we get and the more life we live, the more and more I realize just how very lucky I am that he chose me to be his best friend. I’m pretty lucky, and he’s pretty dang amazing!

One, Two {skip a few} ninety-nine, ONE HUNDRED!

{one.} We are already eleven whole days into 2014! That makes my head spin. Time goes so fast.

{two.} Unless we are talking about how looooooooong it is taking for January 28^th to get here. Because that is taken eleventy million years!

{three.} January 28^th is a big day around these parts – Spence gets his neck brace off!

{four.} (Also noteworthy, January 28^th is my Grandma Marilyn’s birthday. Very important dates ya’ll should remember.)

{five.} Anyway, neck surgery. Did I tell you Spence had neck surgery?!

{six.} No? Well, he did. An anterior cervical discectomy and fusion.

{seven.} Here’s why, since I know you were about to ask. He had an old injury – a herniated disc - that he reinjured about 18 months ago. The dumb thing was doing a sweet job of making his arms and hands constantly tingle and go numb. Plus, he was losing mobility in his left hand.

{eight.} So he had surgery on December 16^th.

{nine.} And after he got over the nausea… {side note: puking + a fresh incision across your neck + a neck brace sort of mixes like water + oil}, anyway, since then things haven’t been too bad. The first week or so was absolutely miserable though {for all parties involved}.  It didn’t help that I got strep throat during that time. Because of that whole raining, pouring thing, I suppose. But now we are three and half weeks in and it is more of a nuisance than anything.

{ten.} He still can’t take off the neck brace. Ever! Even has to wear one in the shower. It’s annoying. Or at least that’s my assumption.

{eleven.} And he can’t pick up anything that weighs more than a gallon of milk. Things like firewood, and rambunctious little blonde haired, blue-eyed one-year-olds, and snow shovels. Or help carry laundry baskets or unload groceries. And he especially can’t drag 9 ft artificial Christmas trees down into the under house storage. Or take down Christmas lights.

{twelve.} But I’m not complaining. In case you were confused.

{thirteen.} But he {and this awesome neck brace} went back to work a week ago Friday. So that’s good news.

{fourteen.} Unless you consider the fact that he can’t drive. Cause that is a tiny bit, majorly, extremely inconvenient for his caretaker/wife/taxi driver. My lands!

{fifteen.} But again, just as a reminder, this is not me complaining. Just want to make that clear.

{sixteen.} Because really, I could be the poor sap in the neck brace that can’t drive or pick up anything heavier than 8 pounds.

{seventeen.} But, in happier news … Kate’s pregnant!

{eighteen.} It’s a boy, due May 13^th. Yea!

{nineteen.} And also exciting, Kate and Jake are almost done with their six months stint in Ohio! We’ve missed them.

{twenty.} Actually Kate came home from Thanksgiving to New Years. Which was nice, and very helpful.

{twenty-one.} Let see, what else.

{twenty-two.} Marlee is addicted to my phone’s camera.

{twenty-three.} The Young Women “snowflake” attacked our house before Christmas. The kids thought that was fun.

{twenty-four.} I think Brynlee managed to perform her entire school Christmas program without smiling once. Talent.

{twenty-five.} The kids got new rollerblades for Christmas and we spent Christmas evening at the church borrowing the gym floor. Good times.

{twenty-six.} And Brynlee has been saving money for a doll.

{twenty-seven.} A doll? It’s weird only because in all seven years and ten months of her life leading up to this point she has never showed an ounce of interest in dolls. It’s just never been her thing.

{twenty-eight.} But both her cousins, Brookie and Livvie, got Our Generation Dolls for Christmas and she decided that she would love to have one too.

{twenty-nine.} I told her if she saved enough money for half the doll I would pay for the other half.

{thirty.} I figured making her earn her own money for the purchase would be the telltale sign if she really, really wants a doll, or if it was just a fad because, you know, everybody else has one.

{thirty-one.} She started off really strong, earning four dollars in just a few days.

{thirty-two.} But the other day she was looking through the Scholastic Book order and started questioning the need for a doll. There were just “so many good books that she might like more than a doll”. Because “dolls aren't really that fun anyways”.  

{thirty-three.} It made me smile, because it didn't surprise me in the least.

{thirty-four.} But yesterday she came home from school requesting more “doll-money” chores. So I guess we will see how it all pans out.

{thirty-five.} She’s been a fool for the rainbow loom as of late. Making bracelets and rings and pencil toppers and animal charms and all manner of rubber band goods.

{thirty-six.} She brought home a weekend to-do rubber band request list that she has promised to friends. Long live the rainbow loom.

{thirty-seven.} I am Jace’s primary teacher again this year at church.

{thirty-eight.} He was pretty excited when he heard the news. Which was just the pick me up I needed, because when I asked Brynlee if she wished I was were teacher again this year (I was her primary teacher all last year) she smiled and said “kinda, but kinda not”. Ha.

{thirty-nine.} I taught Jace’s little class on Sunday and I couldn’t believe how much smarter and more mature they had gotten since I taught them in Sunbeams in 2012.

{forty.} One year is a heck of a long time in childhood years.

{forty-one.} Jace has been in seventh heaven with daddy being home from work for three weeks straight.

{forty-two.} It helped that I saw fit to remove the kid’s Wii time restrictions during that time. Mainly because a Wii remote doesn’t weigh more than 8 pounds and Spence and his BFF, the neck brace, weren’t capable of doing much else.

{forty-three.} Jace and Spence spent many of Christmas break hours defeating Super Mario  Brothers Wii. Jace thought he had died and gone to a heaven where the streets were paved with gold coins and one-ups.

{forty-four.} He enjoyed it so much that I was a little nervous that he would have withdrawals when school started again and Wii was removed from our list of daily things to accomplish. So far though, he’s been a super trooper.

{forty-five.} Jace and I were playing superheroes the other day and I went to grab Iron Man from him and in process scratched his face with my thumb nail. Poor kid. I got him good.

{forty-six.} At school yesterday his teacher asked what happened to his face and Jace told her honestly, “Mom did that!” I felt so bad.

{forty-seven.} Marlee still rules this roost. Boy Howdy.

{forty-eight.} She got a cozy coupe for Christmas and its provided hours and hours of entertainment for the little clown.

{forty-nine.} The amount of love she has for that little car actually makes me feel a tiny bit guilty that Brynlee & Jace were never gifted one when they were her age. I didn't want the excess clutter of a giant children’s car in my house. Parent fail, I suppose.  

{fifty.} But the good news is with age (or maybe with kids) I am becoming less and less bothered by things like that. It’s almost like I don’t even know who I am anymore.

{fifty-one.} Although, you better believe, come springtime I will be itching to make that car an outside only toy. 

{fifty-two.} Um, completely unrelated, Jace just came and asked me if we could make a basement in our house. I told him to go ahead and get started.

{fifty-three.} Let’s see, what else … our little family went seven weeks without eating out!

{fifty-four.} One Family Home Evening we decided that we were going to save money to help buy Christmas gifts for children that would otherwise not have a Christmas.

{fifty-five.} We started a collection jar the first part of November and the kids donated all their chore chart money from then until Christmas.

{fifty-six.} And, without anybody even making the suggestion, Brynlee threw in her tooth fairy money too.

{fifty-seven.} In fact, both the kids emptied their piggy banks of leftover birthday money and quarters they were saving for quarter machines and any other money that was saved in their piggy banks to add to “the giving jar.”

{fifty-eight.} And, as a family, we didn't eat out for seven weeks and put the money that we would have otherwise used on eating out in “the giving jar”.

{fifty-nine.} It was such a fun thing to do.

{sixty.} And that Saturday that we found ourselves in the ShopKo toy aisles buying gifts for children that were in need is not a day that I will forget anytime soon.

{sixty-one.} And I don’t think the kids will either.

{sixty-two.} It was definitely a start to a tradition that will be the center of many Christmas’s to come.

{sixty-three.} Both Brynlee and Jace asked if we could start sooner next year so we could save more money and buy more gifts. You betcha.

{sixty-four.} Kate took the kids to McDonalds, for their first time in seven weeks, while Spence and I were hanging out at the surgery center. She texted and said they ate every.single.bit of everything she had purchased. Ha. After a seven week void fast food tastes like manna from heaven.

{sixty-five.} Did you make New Year’s Resolutions this year? I made one. Only one! And it has nothing to do with losing weight, or working out, or eating right. And nothing to do with going to bed earlier or doing better at daily personal scripture study. I ignored all my usual resolutions and am focusing all my resolution energy on one resolve. It’s a super fun resolve too. One that I am so excited about putting into action.

{sixty-six.} Speaking of New Years and resolutions, do you pick a word for the year?

{sixty-seven.} I never have before. In fact, I had absolutely no intention of doing so this year either. The thought hadn't even crossed my mind.

{sixty-eight.} But then I was sitting next to Judge Smith at church on Sunday. He is such a kind and spirited man. Anyway, when the closing song started playing Judge Smith started whistling the tune, without control or reserve, in true Judge Smith manner.

{sixty-nine.} Carry on, carry on, carry on.

{seventy.} And then it hit me. I would chose a word for 2014, and that would be it. Carry on.

{seventy-one.} I’m not entirely sure what 2014 will bring our family. Maybe change. Maybe more of the same. Maybe it will be speckled with trials or a smooth sailing sort of a year? Maybe it will be one for the books. Or maybe one, come December 31^st, I want to wrap up and store away in a locked chest to not have to worry about any more. But whatever it brings I intend to do that: carry on, carry on, carry on.

{seventy-two.} Alan & Jaelynn and Jami & Zeb brought their kiddos and hung out on New Year’s Eve.

{seventy-three.} We actually took a break from our card game at the right time this year to celebrate the New Year.

{seventy-four.} Usually we are the dorks that look at the clock at 12:15 and realize that we managed to start the New Year running fifteen minutes behind. Typical.

{seventy-five.} Everybody, except for Marlee, toasted the New Year with sparkling cider. Even Chloe made it to midnight.

{seventy-six.} And then after we drank our sparkling cider and were getting ready to send the kids to bed, Brookie asked when we were going to start “the party”. Ha. Now that I think about it, the clock striking midnight is a little anticlimactic, isn't it?

{seventy-seven.} And then later in the week the Francis family came and hung out.

{seventy-eight.} We had to cancel our traditional sledding day this year {due to some dude in a neck brace} {lame}. But they came and spent the day with us anyhow.

{seventy-nine.} It’s always so fun to spend time with them.

{eighty.} And every time we hang out I add a new board game onto my wish list. Sarah has a knack for finding all the cool board games.

{eighty-one.} In December, before the neck surgery, Brynlee and Spencer went roller skating for their Daddy and me day. Brynlee had a ball.

{eighty-two.} And now that it’s January it’s Jace and my turn for a night out. We haven’t decided what we are doing yet. But I am pretty sure ice-cream will be involved. That’s always Jace’s first {and usually only} request.

{eighty-three.} Let’s see…eighty-three? Sheesh. Now that I think about it one hundred things is a lot! Why the heck did I have to be so ambitious when I titled this post? It’s like setting myself up for failure.

{eighty-four.} Speaking of failure … I planned on posting more often in December. I originally planned on posting a December Postcard daily all month long.

{eighty-five.} Then I only got around to posting three in the first week so I decided that I would keep that up and post a few a week.

{eighty-six.} I posted a grand total of three all month long! Three, oops.

{eighty-seven.} It is getting harder and harder for me to find the motivation to blog.

{eighty-eight.} I don’t want to quit this little family journal I've created, but at the same time I need something new and fresh to encourage and stimulate me to document. Ideas?

{eighty-nine.} You know, there are actually a few things I never told you from late 2013 and wished I’d written down. Now sounds like a convenient time to do so.

{ninety.} Like how Marlee and Brynlee both won first place at the zoo boo costume contest this year.

{ninety-one.} Brynlee can finally cross that off her bucket list. Phew. She's been waiting three years to bring home that title.

{ninety-two.} Brynlee also got second place, and Marlee third place, at a local department store costume contest. They won $50.00 collectively. The three kiddos divided the money and used it to purchase Christmas gifts for each other. Win, win.

{ninety-three.} Jace was pukey sick on Halloween. Did I already tell you that? Anyway, if you ask me, that totally falls under the Things that are NOT One Bit Fair in Life category. He didn’t even eat one piece of candy. Major childhood holiday fail.

{ninety-four.} So, what else ... fall soccer season. We had so much fun this go around.

{ninety-five.} Spence and I didn’t coach, and Brynlee and Jace played every.single.game at the exact.same.time. On opposite sides of the park. Every single Saturday. But it worked out, we made do, and we had a great time.

{ninety-six.} There is nothing more fulfilling as a parent than watching your children succeed at something. And for those few months this fall, soccer was that something. They both did such a great job. And more importantly, had so much fun.

{ninety-seven.} And here’s a few pictures since I never posted any.

{ninety-eight.}

{ninety-nine.} And, I made it. 100 things.

{one hundred.} The End!

Well, would you look at me all posting stuff and stuff.

Hi.

I woke up this morning and decided that I was going to post some stuff on this blog. Mainly because it's been short on the updates lately.

Word.

But first. But first, I have some very exciting news!

And by news I mean a harrowing tale of woe and misery.

And by exciting I mean painful. Very, very painful.

I will start at the beginning …because it’s a very good place to start. April 2013. Spence bought me new laundry baskets for my birthday. Because laundry is my love language. Not really. But I am a lover of practical gifts. So it was a celebrated birthday gift.

On the first laundry experience with said new laundry baskets we endured a minor setback. The little handle covers thingamajiggers fell off. Boom. Just like that. Plastic little handle covers thingamajiggers flying everywhere. There were no other injuries. Other than it caused me to make some exaggerated scene - ranting and raving about how craps not made like it used to be. Seriously.

But I decided to be the bigger person in the situation and ignore the baskets imperfections. Until recently, when I made a brilliant decision to restore the broken basket to new. Enter super glue.

In the name of fixing the laundry basket situation I dumped a big ol’glop of super glue all over the handle of the basket.

And then Marlee – in the name of being a total and complete hoodlum – climbed up on top of the kitchen counter and started removing plastic cards and receipts and gas station fountain drink punch cards and all other manner of purse contents and throwing them in the air like confetti. In my efforts to rescue my personal belongings and wrestle the toddler off of the counter top I managed to knock the laundry basket onto the floor.

No biggie. I picked up the basket and continued my gluing attempts. Standing very still (and firmly, might I add) as I offered complete concentration on not gluing my fingers to the big ol’glop of super glue on the basket. I glued and applied pressure, and glued and reapplied pressure. And then glued some more. All the while standing very still as I focused on my bonding efforts. I managed to only remove the fingerprint of one finger in the process. Win.

And then I was done. And the proper thing to do when you are done with something is to walk away from the situation. Which is what I did.

And…OH. MY. HECK!

You guys.

Apparently in the part of the story where Marlee and I knocked the basket (with the big ol’glop of super glue) onto the floor, a portion of the glop fell to the floor. And then I – as I stood very still and firmly – rested my barefoot in that glop of super glue.

Do you see where this is going?

I MANAGED TO SUPER GLUE MY FOOT TO THE FLOOR.

No kidding.

Do you want to know what is really, really painful?

Answer: Super glue on your skin.

Want to know what is worse than that?

Answer: When the super glue is removed and takes a portion of your skin as a souvenir.

Want to know what’s worse than that?

SUPER GLUING YOUR RIGHT FOOT TO A WOOD FLOOR!

Don’t do it. It sucks.

Yesterday I did laundry again. And guess what … the super glued little handle covers thingamajiggers fell off my laundry basket. 

Foot super gluing experience all for not.

Today I’ll be employing a half used roll of duct tape, because super glue is dead to me!

***

Oh, and also.

There is a snake in my flower bed! That gives me peace and comfort.

Speaking of that...

Jami called last night. “Wanna know what I love?” she asked. “I love when mom comes over to my house and tells me stories about how wild Marlee is. It makes me so happy … it’s about time you get a Brookie.”

“Brookie” is code word for “Oh sista, you’ve got yourself a wild child! God bless you!”

Brookie is Jami’s oldest daughter. She’s spicy. Bless her heart.

And Jami’s heart.

And my heart, apparently!

Yes, yes. Please bless my heart.

I told Spence last night that it takes Brynee, Jace and I to keep that little girl at bay. The kids are constantly calling for me, “Mooooom, look at Marlee!” I race in to see her standing on the kitchen table. Or stuck, head first, in the toy bins. Or standing on top of the toilet. Or the kitchen counter. Or scaling the bookcase. Or emptying every single cupboard/bin/tote/drawer onto the floor.

No kidding. The chic’s a wild child.

***
Speaking of my Marzee:

She got her first black eye. [see paragraph above for how that could’ve happened]

Also, she turns one next month! I’m trying not to think about it too much.

***
Speaking of growing up:

A week or so ago was Jace’s Mommy and Me day at preschool. It’s one of those things that I look forward to during the year: the holidays, springtime, the end of the school year, the crab apple tree blooming and Mommy and Me day at preschool. 

I am so proud of Jace. He has grown so much this year in preschool.

I’ve never really been one of those mothers who mourn all the passing signs of babyhood. I mean kids get bigger no matter what and I think that motherhood just gets better and better as we weave our way through the highway of childhood stages. Surviving breastfeeding, taking away the pacifier {or Jace’s silky}, graduating to the big potty, kissing the terrible three’s goodbye {You think two’s bad? Wait to see what three has in store for you!}.

I loved all those stages. So much so. But I wouldn’t go back, because I love this stage too.

I love Jace as a preschooler!

***
Speaking of Mommy and Me Day:

Miss Lori read us Mars Needs Moms as part of our day at preschool with our kids. It’s a book I never tire of hearing. And every time I hear the book I cry. Like, real tears. The kind that swell up in the back of your throat and stay there until the tears start to roll down your cheeks.

Mars needs Moms. Kids need Moms. And even Moms need Moms.

My favorite lines of the book:

"Anyone could see that [mothers] were giant, summer-stealing, child-working, perfumy goblins. There was hardly much special about that."

***
And speaking of Mom’s:

We spent Mother’s Day at The Farm. Here’s the proof:

Also, my mom's the best.

***
And speaking of Mother’s Day:

I delivered a beautiful hanging basket to my mom for Mother’s Day. It was pretty enough: purple, full, smelt so sweet. But then here comes Alan with his hanging basket. Purple[er], full[er], smelt sweet[er]. Plus, he grew the dang thing himself in his greenhouse!

Cheeky showoff!

***

And speaking of Alan:

He also brought a bunch of flowers for each of his sisters for a Mother’s Day gift. Flowers that he also grew in his little greenhouse. [again, showoff]. I planted all of mine in my backyard flowerbeds. They are so pretty.

***

Speaking of my flower beds:

I picked up this little sunbathing frog at the thrift store the other day. It was so ugly and so strange that I couldn’t pass it up. I brought her home and gave the thing a fresh coat of spray paint. Brynlee and I couldn’t stop laughing at how the frog just sat there so chill while I doused it with paint. And then I laughed out loud to just myself again this morning when I looked out the window and saw her sunbathing there – arms behind head, legs kicked out – just chillin’. It’s about finding joy in the simple {and stupid} things, I guess.

We named her Kermi.

***
Speaking of finding joy in the simple things:

3 days, 22 hours, 42 minutes and 23….22…21 seconds until schools out for summer. Schools out forever.

Do me a favor and sing that last part. Alice Cooper style.

***

Speaking of school:

Last Friday Jace had his big preschool graduation. {Well mock graduation, since he still has one more year of preschool yet to come.}

He surprised me. He sang every song. Danced, clapped, giggled, did hand motions and enjoyed every single second of it. I couldn’t stop smiling at his totally out of character on stage presence. I mean, he certainly wasn’t the loudest one up there. But he was up there and having a ball.

It is so fun to watch my kids learn and grow and come out of their shy little shells. I know they experience uncomfortable growing pains along the way, but watching them shine, without their shell, is such a fun accomplishment to witness.

 

***

Speaking of preschool graduation:

The little preschool graduates each take a turn saying something they can do. An “I can” statement. Some say I can dance, or I can sing, or I can run really fast. {Brynlee professed that she could whistle.}

Jace decided that he wanted to score a soccer goal.

So when it was his turn, he stood in the middle of the stage, with his soccer ball, and proudly {yet somewhat inaudibly} declared in the microphone that he could score a soccer goal.

Spence and I both assumed that he would take a few small kicks to make his way closer to the soccer goal then kick it in, scoring his goal. That’s how he had practiced before the event anyway.

But nope, he set the ball down in front of him and with one giant kick, kicked the soccer ball across the entire stage and straight into the goal.

The crowd went wild. :)

It seriously was the best soccer goal I have ever seen a pint size soccer player score. He was pretty dang proud.

 

***

Speaking of soccer:

The kids finished their last soccer games of the season on Saturday.

Both of them finished the season strong: Jace scored a goal during the final game, and Brynlee scored two.

And then they got a trophy! So you know, coolest thing EVER!!

Brynlee missed her team photo while we were in Disneyland :(

 

***

And speaking of finishing things up:

The end. 

Hi.

Listen. I had high hopes of spending this evening writing a blog post {or four} to get my wee little bloggy all up to date. But by the time 12 o’clock {in the am} rolled around I was just as frazzled as I could be – but I had not accomplished a single thing other than figuring out how to add an attachment to an email. A task that I have mind numbingly done for years!

Oh, and I also ate about 27 Almond Rocas. But that’s beside the point.

Remember how Spencer got me a new computer for my birthday. Hip hooray! But here’s the kicker, that new computer runs with Windows 8.

And, I’m not gonna lie: Windows 8 … I have no kind words for you.

 

None.

 

But I do have very serious question: "Why did you guys feel a need to hide practically everything?" Apparently we can't have a Start button and a Start screen. And for some reason it takes 18 clicks and reciting an ancient chant to close a webpage.

 

Drive me absolutely batty!

 

So anyway, I am tucking myself in and calling it a night before my whole entire brain explodes into a million itty bitty fried pieces.

 

But first, this.

 

It’s a handful a pictures from when we hit up the Museum of Clean here in my town. It’s a museum. That focuses on clean. The name even says so.

 

And that museum … it’s a wonder, you guys. And very strange. Yet, clean.

 

You should come check it out. And when you come you should come over to my house for dinner. I will send you an email with all the details attached. Because I know how to add an attachment now. Thankyouverymuch.

 

Oh and one more thing before the Museum of Clean photo dump. This article was framed and hung on the wall at the Museum of Clean. I’ve thought of it many o’ times lately, you know, while I warm up corndogs last minute for dinner without a trace of makeup {and no ribbon in my hair!}, having yet to offer my hard working husband a drink. As the kids, and the dishwasher, dryer, washer and vacuum, scream in the background. And while my poor husband, with shoes still on feet, helps me carry the laundry baskets upstairs and listens to everything I have to say about what we did that day.

He's so lucky to have me.