3rd Grade Vocabulary

Lately I've been moaning about the sheer amount of time it takes to have two kids in high school.  (Feel free to laugh at me if you've already experienced this).  I had forgotten what it was like to have a freshman.  I feel like most of my spare time is spent running Syd around to practices, games, activities, etc.  When Cade was a freshman, Ryan coached his football and baseball team, so he was in charge of that "running around" experience.  No such luck with Syd.  It's on me.  Cade helps a little.   He gets her to school, as well as to and from lunch.  But after that, he's got his own job and practices. I haven't even begun to mention the additional games and trips that have been added to our schedule. Anyway, that's the background story....

This week one of Lauren's vocabulary words is "attend".  Each night, she recites the definition to me in preparation for her test on Friday.  Each night she makes one small mistake...

"Attend:  to be pleasant at an activity or event".

Whooohoooo!  That just cracks me up.  Monday through Wednesday I thought, "You need to work on being pleasant at those events Lauren".  But tonight I realized it's probably me who needs the reminder.  So today I'm vowing to be "pleasant" about all of the activities and events I attend.

*Disclaimer:  I really and truly do enjoy watching my kids in all the things that they do.  But WOW!  I really had forgotten what it is like to have a high school age kid who can't drive yet.

Never Say Never

I may not have said it out loud, but after McFly died, I thought we'd hold off on getting another dog. You know, let the grass and the flowers grow back, that sort of thing. 

It wasn't two weeks later that I started moping about, thinking, "I sure wish I had a dog to love on".  It seems that Ryan was having the same thought because last weekend we loaded up in the car, drove to Phoenix and came home with seven pounds of Bulldog lovin'. 

I've never owned a bulldog before, as my family always leaned towards Labs.  Let me say it, I am in love.  This little dog is the sweetest, funnest, easiest dog I've ever owned.  I know, I know, we've only owned her a week, but every day we love her a little more.  Seriously, we all spend at least an hour each night laughing and playing with her.  Even Ryan is infatuated with her.  We've named her "Tank".  Not exactly a feminine name, but surely a step up from "McFly".  The girls and I have deemed her "Tankini" so that she can at least feel a little girly.

Yeah, I'm not really seeing the girly look either. 

But the love...is flowing all over.....

Missing in Action

I feel like I've given up blogging.  Even the little voice in my head has stopped the running commentary of  "things to blog about". 

I've just been so sick lately.  I hate to say the words "swine flu", because I really try not to whine or exaggerate.  (I had to laugh typing that, because yes, I do whine and I do exaggerate). But I have never been wiped out by the flu like this one. In fact, after fifteen years of working I've never had to call in sick.  Until this past week.  Whatever it is, I'm having a rough time thinking, let alone cleaning, cooking, working etc.  Unfortunately, blogging is on the bottom of my list at this point.

But, today is the first day in a long time that I've gotten up without some sort of ailment.  I'm thinking maybe I should just get back in bed to preserve the feeling.  But then again maybe I've turned the corner.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Homecoming 2009

Cade's senior year of high school.  A year of celebrations, but also a year of "last times".  His last Homecoming parade, last bonfire, last Homecoming football game, last dance.... 

 He spent these "last days" in a walking cast, watching from the sidelines.

What memories!

The Sky is Bluer, the Sun is Brighter

Now brace yourselves, because this is  a pitiful, over-the-top comment....

I can't even begin to describe the weight that was lifted yesterday when we finished the Primary Program.  I know that I make things bigger than they really are, but I must have out done myself with anxiety over it.  I'm not kidding when I tell you that I looked at the sky after church and the sky was bluer and the sun was brighter.

When will I ever learn to just let it be?  To let go?  To enjoy the journey?  Time after time it all turns out. 

By the way, the program, the kids and the music were great.  It wasn't going to be any other way.  And I knew that when we began.  My heart knows it.  I've just got to get my head to follow.

Sweet Dates

Cade is so stinkin' lucky that he has a mom (and sisters) that get into these creative dating ideas.  I've been dying to do this one for a year.

Where were these when I was in High School?

 Oh yeah, it was pre-Internet days. How did we ever survive?

The Happiest Place on Earth

Lauren and I are headed to Disneyland tomorrow.  My mom and my nephew, Hayes are joining us on our adventure.  I've been saving my money for three years, and waiting (for three years) for Lauren to actually grow tall enough to go on the rides.  I Love, Love, Love Disneyland.  Watching Lauren and Hayes anxiously count down the days has been so much fun.

But holy cow, I didn't know if I would get through this past week!  Seriously, I just about called "uncle!"

It all started when we got back from Phoenix on last Sunday and realized that our dog was missing.  Lately I've been having the feeling that she was on her way out, but I was so sad that we may have missed our chance to say good bye.  Monday, Ryan talked to the dog catcher and found that yes, they had found a big black dog that had died just down the street from our house.  Poor, poor Lauren was just distraught.  Truth be told, we are all feeling a little hole in our lives.

Tuesday, I broke down and took Syd to the doctor.  She's been having trouble with lower leg.  Well, good mother that I am, I've been ignoring a high ankle sprain.

Wednesday and Thursday I was at war with my dear teen-age son.  (Don't even get me going-I'm still hot about it.)

Friday Cade got a high ankle sprain in his football game.  What's up with all these weak ankles?  Oh yeah, that's the Jackson in them.  Good mother that I am, I'm ignoring that one as well. 

Saturday, my mom called to tell me that my dad had gotten sick at work, passed out and was being transported to the hospital in an ambulance.  Now let me tell you, there's nothing like a REAL problem to put all of my little whiny ones in perspective.  I had to quickly repent of being a whiner.  Luckily, he was A-OK.  He just hadn't eaten and then had taken his medication.  Come to find out, that's not a good idea.  I told my mom it was probably because she has been starving him on their South Beach diet kick.  Not enough pizza and burgers to keep him steady.

But back to being whiny..So just a few minutes ago, my dear teen-age son called from the Valley to tell me that something is seriously wrong with his ankle.  The bottom of his foot is numb and sharp pains are shooting up his leg if it moves wrong.  I told him to come home.  He didn't like that idea, so I'm continuing my mantra of ignoring it.

So, you can see that I certainly am in the need for Mickey and Minnie, and even Goofy to take me to a happier place. 

Although, I'm kinda thinking that it may be safer to just stay in bed....