I have been wanting to get some thoughts down on paper but I feel as if I have been a little bit of a ping pong ball lately. We have had a busy week with my kids out of school. I had two articles to finish for Wasatch Woman magazine and I have to plan Becca's b-day party by Wednesday. I haven't even had a chance to buy her birthday gift. Next Friday we are headed to Salt Lake to meet my Mom and brother. I really just wanted to go to SLC because I was running out of things to keep the kids busy. We have already been to see the National Geographic photo exhibit at Southern Utah University and we went down to St. George for an end of season swimming blowout at the Washington Auquatic center. Of course, now I have to clean my whole house before my Mom comes back with me. I have not been the best housekeeper for the past two weeks.
I am really excited to see my Mom since it has been 10 months since I have been with her. Everytime she has been here in the last few years it has been to take care of me when I was sick or just had a baby. I have some serious girl time planned and I am excited to be with her. My kids are pretty happy too. They miss Grandma.
Rebecca, my little polar bear, was so excited for the snowstorm we had here this weekend. I am not a snow person, especially in October when I have an 100 tomatoes still on the vine. I think I may have saved them but I am glad the warm weather is on its way back. Lia was dissapointed at the dissappearing "smow" also. They had big snow activities planned. They woke up to a winterland this morning and when we came out of church at 2 p.m. everything had melted. This is why I love Cedar. Snow just doesn't hang out here for too long. Of course, I feel a tiny, and I mean tiny, bit sorry that the kids didn't get to build a snowman. But the snow will be back and there will be lots of opportunities for sledding and snowboarding.
Well, I didn't really mean to ramble on but I know that on Tuesday I will be busy making little chef hats and buying pizza ingredients for Becca's birthday so my journaling post day will probably not happen.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Talented Thursday
I have been surrounded by talented people this week. I love when people share and use their talents. My friend Taryn finished my crochet pillow which was an immediate hit. My kids love its warm, soft qualities and I think it is just amazing anyone can do this.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Bat O-Lanterns Link
Here is the link for the bat pumpkins.
Tips: I used the glue dots to glue toothpicks onto the ears and for the dowels on the bat wings.
I also used a nail to make a hole where I wanted all the wings and ears to go. Otherwise you will have a lot of broken toothpicks and dowels.
Tips: I used the glue dots to glue toothpicks onto the ears and for the dowels on the bat wings.
I also used a nail to make a hole where I wanted all the wings and ears to go. Otherwise you will have a lot of broken toothpicks and dowels.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Too Busy to Talk Tuesday
My kids are home for the next two weeks and I am busy trying to keep them busy. When they get too bored they get really grumpy with each other. On our first day off we made these cute bat pumpkins and we are so proud of them.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Isaac and the Puberty Dilemna
I know it's Monday and I am supposed to do a Writing Post. But I am not going to because, well I have been writing all week for work. I am going to talk about my Isaac instead. Apparently, he is preoccupied with puberty lately. It's kind of wierd to have a child on the cusp of his tween years, especially a son. I get the whole girl angst of tween and teenager years but I flounder in deep water a litte bit when it comes to getting boys. Isaac and I have a pretty good relationship. He tells me everything eventually. We are able to talk about issues and concerns openly, and I am grateful for our ability to communicate. Oh we have our moments. I have a temper and so does he, but I have noticed that he is learning how to "handle me." In that he knows how to make me laugh or rethink my position or ignore me when I am pushing the anger level into the red zone.
Back to the puberty issue. This past week, Isaac told me in a purely spontaneous moment "Mom, I don't want to go through puberty." This off- the-wall statement caught me offguard. "Why?" I asked.
"I don't know." was his answer.
"There are some good things about puberty," I said in an attempt to offer an encouraging word.
"Like what?"
I have to admit I was a little stumped. I don't know what is good about boy puberty, all I could think of at that moment was all the things that I disliked about my first year of puberty.
Poor boy. He needed a little help here.
The truth is I think the teenage years are great. I love teenagers. Their energy, their ability to hope and feel and discover life is so refreshing. I enjoy teenagers' company and so eventhough everyone tells me how awful the teen years will be for me as a parent, there are some things I am actually looking forward to in the future. I just read this article and it reflected my feelings so perfectly about youth. I just hope I can be a tad more helpful to Isaac in the future. Obviously, this random outburst of worry over puberty is not an isolated thought for this poor kid. At dinner on Sunday, his aunt was asking him if he had a girlfriend.
His response: "I haven't even gone through puberty yet!"
Oh we laughed. His Nana at least had the good taste to turn away as she giggled into her hand. I just laughed and pointed out his beet red face. I think maybe Isaac should be more worried about going through his "puberty" with a Mom like me, than I should be worried about spending my first years as the parent of a teen like Isaac.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
A thankful week
After venting all week long, I thought I would write a short post on the things I am thankful for just this past week.
1!!! Lia is potty trained. I can't believe it. She has not had an accident in two weeks. After a year of effort I am so relieved to have cleared this hurdle.
2. I am thankful for laughter. Lots of people made me laugh this week and laughing is my favorite thing to do. Luckily I have lots of funny friends, funny kids and a funny husband (one of the reasons I married him is because he makes me laugh.).
3. I am grateful for my writing group. I really love the women who share their writing with me every month. They keep me motivated.
4. I am grateful for my friend Heather who doesn't care if my house is clean or if I fall asleep while watching conference with her.
5. I am so happy my raspberry bush is producing raspberries finally. They are so yummy.
6. Yeah! Soccer is over.
7. I am grateful my husband watches the kids all the time without complaining.
8. I am grateful it rained all Saturday because I am lazy and did not want to water the garden. It was also fun to watch my girls play in the rain.
9. I am grateful my little brother called to talk to me on the phone. I am always amazed when my brothers call me.
10. I am grateful one of my two ovens is working. I was really ready to have my oven back.
1!!! Lia is potty trained. I can't believe it. She has not had an accident in two weeks. After a year of effort I am so relieved to have cleared this hurdle.
2. I am thankful for laughter. Lots of people made me laugh this week and laughing is my favorite thing to do. Luckily I have lots of funny friends, funny kids and a funny husband (one of the reasons I married him is because he makes me laugh.).
3. I am grateful for my writing group. I really love the women who share their writing with me every month. They keep me motivated.
4. I am grateful for my friend Heather who doesn't care if my house is clean or if I fall asleep while watching conference with her.
5. I am so happy my raspberry bush is producing raspberries finally. They are so yummy.
6. Yeah! Soccer is over.
7. I am grateful my husband watches the kids all the time without complaining.
8. I am grateful it rained all Saturday because I am lazy and did not want to water the garden. It was also fun to watch my girls play in the rain.
9. I am grateful my little brother called to talk to me on the phone. I am always amazed when my brothers call me.
10. I am grateful one of my two ovens is working. I was really ready to have my oven back.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Just Words Wednesday -- Customer Service Please
Wednesday is the day I try to reserve for tangents. I know you are thinking isn't that all she does lately? I really didn't mean to complain about the car thing I just thought it was funny. But now I am going to vent for a minute and I hope you will bear with me because this story does have a good ending.
I grew up with a father who always expected good service. He has been in sales his whole life and understands the importance of positive customer service experiences. My Dad gives everybody the benefit of the doubt but if he gets lousy service he will easily stop shopping or eating at their establishment. Perhaps, just a little bit of these expectations have rubbed off on me. I really hate bad service. It makes me really grumpy.
If only people at stores and businesses understood the difference a few words make.
Today I was able to experience both ends of the customer service spectrum and it was astounding the difference it made in my mood. I have been having real issues with my pharmacy lately. I chose this pharmacy 11 years ago because their pharmacist was friendly and informative. I have remained mostly loyal. Their new techs this past year drive me crazy. They almost never smile, they verge on rudeness when they finally acknowledge that you have been standing there or waiting at their drive through for more than five minutes. They are often out of my subscription and they are generally unfriendly. This afternoon I was in one of those moods I can only describe as, if you had put a black pointy hat on my head I would have been easily recognizable as a common Halloween character.
An encounter with this pharmacy just put me over the edge. I drove off in a huff and for the next 30 minutes I felt as if I had a gremlin sitting on my chest. I was already tired and frustrated and I knew I had hours of running yet to do.
What happened next reminded me that a kind word goes a long way. I ran into Albertsons. As I stopped in front of the butcher counter to pick up the great deal on chicken I could barely think straight. That sweet woman at the butcher counter just looked at me as I wondered if they were going to tell me I was limited to one pound or something. I apologised for bothering her and she just looked at me and said "You can have anything you want, sweetheart. It's no problem." I just felt that gremlin jump off off my chest and runaway. She wrapped up all the chicken I wanted and wished me a wonderful afternoon and called me sweetheart again. I did not care that she called me sweetheart, I mean its not like I'm 20 anymore and I was clearly not being a sweetheart today so it just made me feel good. I told her exactly what I wanted and got it. She smiled, she acted happy to help me and not like I was interrupting her. I let out a big sigh and told her thank you for being so kind. I wish I knew that woman's name because she reminded me that good service or a kind word from anyone can change a person's day. It really does not take much effort to make people happy and to dissolve tension. As I checked out at the front I got even more sweet and thoughtful service. I kind of felt like I was in the good twilight zone. The rest of the day I treated my family better and I even yelled a little less at all the cars who cut me off on the way home. Way to go Albertson's girls. You made my day and you made me think about my own words and attitude of service.
I grew up with a father who always expected good service. He has been in sales his whole life and understands the importance of positive customer service experiences. My Dad gives everybody the benefit of the doubt but if he gets lousy service he will easily stop shopping or eating at their establishment. Perhaps, just a little bit of these expectations have rubbed off on me. I really hate bad service. It makes me really grumpy.
If only people at stores and businesses understood the difference a few words make.
Today I was able to experience both ends of the customer service spectrum and it was astounding the difference it made in my mood. I have been having real issues with my pharmacy lately. I chose this pharmacy 11 years ago because their pharmacist was friendly and informative. I have remained mostly loyal. Their new techs this past year drive me crazy. They almost never smile, they verge on rudeness when they finally acknowledge that you have been standing there or waiting at their drive through for more than five minutes. They are often out of my subscription and they are generally unfriendly. This afternoon I was in one of those moods I can only describe as, if you had put a black pointy hat on my head I would have been easily recognizable as a common Halloween character.
An encounter with this pharmacy just put me over the edge. I drove off in a huff and for the next 30 minutes I felt as if I had a gremlin sitting on my chest. I was already tired and frustrated and I knew I had hours of running yet to do.
What happened next reminded me that a kind word goes a long way. I ran into Albertsons. As I stopped in front of the butcher counter to pick up the great deal on chicken I could barely think straight. That sweet woman at the butcher counter just looked at me as I wondered if they were going to tell me I was limited to one pound or something. I apologised for bothering her and she just looked at me and said "You can have anything you want, sweetheart. It's no problem." I just felt that gremlin jump off off my chest and runaway. She wrapped up all the chicken I wanted and wished me a wonderful afternoon and called me sweetheart again. I did not care that she called me sweetheart, I mean its not like I'm 20 anymore and I was clearly not being a sweetheart today so it just made me feel good. I told her exactly what I wanted and got it. She smiled, she acted happy to help me and not like I was interrupting her. I let out a big sigh and told her thank you for being so kind. I wish I knew that woman's name because she reminded me that good service or a kind word from anyone can change a person's day. It really does not take much effort to make people happy and to dissolve tension. As I checked out at the front I got even more sweet and thoughtful service. I kind of felt like I was in the good twilight zone. The rest of the day I treated my family better and I even yelled a little less at all the cars who cut me off on the way home. Way to go Albertson's girls. You made my day and you made me think about my own words and attitude of service.
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