Tales From the Primary Room

On Sunday we had a new family move into our ward.  Three cute and smart little girls joined our Primary.  At one point, the five-year old asked if she could go to the bathroom.  Being the ever-so-helpful Primary President, I offered to take her.  (Maybe, just maybe, I wanted to wander the halls too!)

After leaving her at the bathroom door, I promised to wait outside until she was done.  Minutes went by with no little girl.  I figured I was going to have to go on in for a rescue mission.

"Everything OK?" I asked, "Do you need help?"

Her little voiced squeaked, "I'm holding up my dress so I can't get any toilet paper, can you get me some?"

Luckily, she hadn't locked the door, so it was no problem to get into the stall and hand her some toilet paper.

"Um, I like mine folded up.  Just like my grandma taught me."  Her little voice started to get a bit demanding.  "No, no, not like that, I like mine in squares.  That isn't a square.  I can't use it."

"It's square enough," I responded, "Don't forget to wash your hands!"

Then I beat it back out to the safety of the hallway.  I was afraid she was going to line me out on how to wipe...

1/11/11 @11:11

I get a kick out of patterns like this.  I enjoy being a part of something that won't happen again for a long time.  I wake up in the middle of the night to see eclipses and comets and meteor showers.  Some eighth graders were discussing today's date which can only be surpassed by November 11th, at the same time. 

So I set my cell phone alarm for 11:11.  When it went off, my class and I stood up and did a happy dance.  OK, really the dancing only came from me and two other kids.  But we all did stand up.  The rest of the little suckers thought it should be reason enough to go play outside.  But no-the experience is the reward. Maybe we'll save the big party for 11/11/11!

ADHD Blogging

I've put off blogging for a while because I just don't have the attention span to focus on one topic for very long.  In other words, lists are for people like me....

1. Just got word via Yahoo news that the world is coming to a close beginning May 21, 2011. That is if you are "saved". Otherwise, you'll have an additional six months to enjoy fire, plague, burning, etc. Don't come whining to be me on May 22 and say I didn't warn you.


2. This year at Christmas I wrote "From Grandma and Grandpa" on presents to Griffen. Let me tell you, it shocked me that I was writing about myself. (Obviously, it is a role I relish, but in my mind that's a term reserved for my parents!)

3. Speaking of getting old, I swear I've had more gray hair pop out in the last two weeks than any time in the previous 37 years. I'm just starting to squint a little when I have to read something far away. And those lines around my eyes are starting to get deeper and more permanent. But then to top it all off, I started getting zits. Seriously!? On one hand, I'm getting old and on the other hand my forehead thinks it's sixteen again. If I had a choice for a resurgence of youth, it definitely would not be focused on my forehead.

4. I've announced to Ryan that I need to get some sort of plan to fund my life goals which include doing absolutely nothing. I'm thinking winning the lottery is my only option.

5. I found out about the joys of true laziness during Christmas break. For two straight weeks the girls and I read books, watched movies, played games and occasionally cleaned the kitchen. (But only after having made something scrumptious to enjoy while we doing nothing). It was pure heaven.

6. We are in the middle of a miserable cold spell. Arizonans are not made for this. We are so unprepared. It was -22 a few nights ago. And I was still having to tell Lauren that we were not going to leave the house until she took off her flip-flops and put on some shoes!

7. Our house is falling apart. We got a leak in the upstairs toilet, which dripped down into my kitchen light, forming a pool above my head. After two days of "snakes" and augers, we still don't have an answer. I just keep washing things with bleach and telling the girls that I'm glad they have their hepatitis shots.

8. On the bright side... We loved having Cade, Jorden and Griffen around for the holidays. We really do fight over the baby. For the most part, I win. Sometimes I let other people hold him, for five minutes. But that's all. However, Lauren is the queen of walking him around if he gets fussy. (Which never happens, because he is perfect.)

9. On New Year's Eve, my mom hosted her annual "Grandkids Party all Night" party. (We parents just go home and fall asleep at 10:00.) This year I lasted until midnight. We had a ball playing "Rummy" and "Spoons". I haven't laughed that hard in a long time.

10. I started back at work on Monday. I think I can make it another five months, knowing that I can get back to work on my life goal (see #4) at that time. ‘Course by then, the world may have ended…

Beware!

This is what happens when I let the girls frost sugar cookies without adult supervision....  They wanted to paint Lauren's entire face, but luckily common sense returned before that adventure could occur!

We are Family

Lucky little Griffen has not one, but two great-great grandmas.  One grandma from Jorden's side of the family, and one grandma on Cade's side.  It's perfect. 

Here, we have a five generation picture with Griffen, Cade, Ryan, Carol and Carol's mom "Grammie" (Wilma Cornia).  Grammie lives in Wyoming, so we were happy that she wanted to get out of the cold and snow for a while.  Who knows-after experiencing the heat of Arizona, Griffen may want to visit her this summer!

'Twas the Night Before the Night Before....

This year, we are celebrating the Christmas "season".  No sir, we aren't going to be limited to a couple nights in December.  Instead, we decided to string it out over a few weeks.  Due to a growing family, busy schedules and relatives all over the place my mom decided to hold "Christmas Eve" a week early.   So before she and my dad headed to Alaska for Christmas, we got together for our tradition of Mexican food, stories and family.

Naturally, this one was the star of the show.  (At least for me).

These two aren't so bad either.

Of course, I'm pretty fond of this couple as well.

But when it came right down to it, it was a fight over who could hold Griffen.

Or any one of the cute kids hanging around that evening. 

Merry Christmas.... (season)!

My Favorite Things

Lest (first time I've used that word!) you think that I've given up writing altogether, I'm sharing the piece of high falutin' literature I've been working on. 

Actually, it is an assignment for the 7th and 8th grade writing class.  The teacher (and my dear friend) has asked the students to write their own version of "My Favorite Things" from the Sound of Music.  Some kids have seen the movie, others haven't, but all of them loved the jazzy Tony Bennet rendition that she played for them.  Even the most reluctant writer has been creating lyrics and humming along throughout the day.  Most of my students are not known for their poetic skills or syllable counting abilities, so I've been busy.  There are only so many ways to rhyme X-Box and ipod.

But don't let me fool you.  I've loved every minute of it.  I fell asleep last night composing lines, and woke up at 4:00a.m. with new ones in my head.  Truth be told, it's been a great opportunity to appreciate the little beauties of life.

MY FAVORITE THINGS
Bacon on burgers and french fries with dressing,
Green enchiladas and ice with my Pepsi,
Little League baseball on summer evenings,
These are a few of my favorite things.

Memorable moments in black and white photos,
Red Gerber daisies and gardens in neat rows,
Powerful monsoons with brilliant lightning,
These are a few of my favorite things.

Sandwashes, cedars, blue hills in the moonlight,
Clean folded laundry and cookies at midnight,
Time for a good book and lots of reading,
These are a few of my favorite things.

When my head hurts,
When my child cries,
When I'm feeling sad,
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad!