lajendi

Wrestling with a Power Washer

Our back deck needs to be repainted. The white siding on our house severly needs a wash. It required renting a power washer. This is something well within my grasp, right? 

 

    First clue was when I couldn't even lift the thing into the van. It wasn't until after the saleman lifted it for me that I considered how I would get it out at home - don't know! After wrestling with the awkward thing for a while in the back of the van once home (If this van's a rockin' come help me!), I levered it up over the edge and managed to set it on the ground without breaking it or my foot. 

     Then there were all the hoses and connections. The garden hose to the power washer. Turn it on. The hose coupling is cracked and is spraying all over. Switch hoses. Attach sprayer gun, attach nozzle to the sprayer gun. Attach sprayer gun hose to the motor. Turn on the water. Squeeze the handle to the get the air out of the hoses. 

     OK, now to turn the compressor motor on. Turn the on/off switch to "on". Open the fuel line by pushing the lever to the right. Open up the choke by pushing that lever, which is immediately next to the fuel lever, to the left. (See, opposite directions. That's not confusing AT ALL.) Pull on the cord (like a lawnmower) and yank your hands off the ends of your arms because you're yanking so hard over and over and over again. 

(I wanted the picture from SIMAM where he pretends he cut off his hand in shop class, but this is as close as I could get.) 

     Play with the choke, 1/4 way, 1/2 way, 3/4 way, off, on. Let it rest, maybe I flooded it. Turn off the water...............(check email)................. Start the process over again. Check the spark plug, the gas, the oil. Try again. 

    At the end of this my wrists were killing me and I felt like a failure. What kind of weak woman am I that I can't get a simple compressor motor started? Ridiculously enough I cried. (I felt as stupid as Danielle was last night on Survivor, why was I crying?!) With so many things in life out of my control surely I could accomplish this simple home maintenance task, couldn't I?! In my desperation I sent an email to DH that said, "I feel impotent and stupid."

     He immediately emailed back, "It's lunchtime, I'll come home." 

     By the time he got here I had pulled myself together. I showed him all the levers and buttons, warned him that he could get wet and he took a turn yanking on the compressor cord. My DH is a big guy, played football, and has started many a lawnmower - he couldn't get it started either. 

     My dignity was partially restored. DH put it back in the van and I returned it and got a refund. 

      Afterwards it was lunchtime and I wanted to reward myself for trying since I didn't have the actual reward of a job well done. Baby and I went to Five Guys, a burger and a Coke sounded wonderful. With my spirits picking up I placed our order and the cashier said, "Your number is double zero." NOW THAT IS FUNNY! My official status as a looser was confirmed through random number generation. I took my double zero self, cute daughter, burger, fries and Coke home, where we sat on the patio in the sun enjoying ourselves while staring at the dirty, paint-chipped deck. 

Addicted to Sugar

"We are in this life for the spirit to gain control over the body rather than the other way around. Any kind of addiction inflicts a terrible price in pain and suffering, and it can even affect us spiritually. However, there is hope because most addictions can over time be overcome. We can change, but it will be difficult."  -James E. Faust

     He says any kind of addiction. Thinking about the connection between our spirit and body, which makes a soul, I know that there are many things in my life that effect my body and spirit negatively in a similar way. 

      Eight years ago I began to exercise. I had never exercised for the purpose of exercising of my own free will before then. (I'd move to be social, have fun, or because the weather beckoned.) Before that time I was taking anti-depressants. It wasn't an exact correlation, I didn't start exercising and walk in the door and exclaim that my meds were going in the trash. It just happened and it wasn't until recently in looking back that I made the connection. 

     Physical activity keeps my brain firing, my spirit light, and my body functional. It could be about dopamine or getting more blood to my brain and body, I don't know for sure. But I do know it works. It works so well that if I feel horrid when I wake up in the morning it's a sure sign that it's a workout day. I might still feel horrid as I step onto the treadmill, but 35 minutes later I'll feel much better. Barring real illness, it happens every time. Even when my knees burned and I thought my hips were being held together with scotch tape, I kept exercising because it felt good to my spirit and most of my body. 

     I know that the spirit(mind)-body connection is real. When my body felt better I progressed in spiritual things as well. I was more patient and had the physical capacity to serve others. My productivity went up. I felt more adventurous because I was in tune with my body. Oh, and losing a few pounds was great too. 

     You might have noticed that recently I've jokingly mentioned being addicted to sugar. Now when I say that I realize that "addicted" is really a poor word choice. I'm not addicted to sugar like meth addicts are addicted. There are, however, some similarities. 

     Sugar effects my body. Sugar substitutes do too. So does caffeine. I know sugar effects me because of how much I want it after each meal. I want it in the afternoon when Baby's gone down for her nap and I have a chance to relax. I want it in my drinks, I want it when I go out. When I don't want to give in to my sugar craving I have something with artificial sweetener. That is not good for me - headaches begin their rampage. Caffeine, well caffeine hypes me up and crashes me back down worse than sugar ever does. It also adds to those headaches and starts a daily craving/headache cycle that is difficult to stop.

      So after joking about it for a while, now I'm getting serious about being healthy so I can feel my best. I've decided to back away from sugar for two weeks. It's not that I'm "off sugar", I'm still eating fruits and carbohydrates that some see as types of sugars. I'm off added sugar. No soda, not even diet, it's horrid for my body and is another aspect of the sugar addition with the added caffeine addiction. This also means I won't  have chocolate for 14 days. I have eaten some amount of chocolate everyday for at least the last month (OK, really more like 3, I keep a chocolate chip stash in the freezer).  

     What I won't do is limit how much I eat or be overly concerned with fat. It would be too overwhelming to dissect my food that much and I would give up. Besides, how many things can you think of with horrible amounts of fat that don't also include sugar?Even movie theater popcorn is no good without a soda. 

     What will I have? Nuts and dried blueberries, broccoli, asparagus, ham, bagel chips, apples, oranges, water with lemon or lime, cereal with low sugar, fish, tomatoes, grilled pizza, swiss chard, juice (limit to a glass a day), pretzels, carrot sticks, Cheetos, pineapple, strawberries, grapes, prunes (yes, I actually like them), steak, baked potato, sweet potato fries, Chinese food (not sweet and sour), salad, and more. 

    A few things pushed me to try this- A friend's older mother was at a birthday party and she said no thank you to the cake. In asking her why she said that certain foods make her stomach upset, then she can't sleep and it all goes downhill from there. Hhhhmmmm...

     I also read about food, the history of our diets. Sugar didn't exist in the human diet until the last 150 years or so - none. Hhhhmmmm..... 

     There was a chart in National Geographic showing soda consumption by country, the US is number one by a large margin. Hhhhmmmm... 

     And I can never decide what type of soda to have. Do I choose to be afflicted by sugar, sugar sweetener, or caffeine today? So I'll have water. 

     I hope by the end of these two weeks the way I feel will convince me to eat sweets less often. This should also break the addiction cycle. Even when it's over I need to watch myself carefully or I'll slip back into the sugar trap. 

    I did think about going off sugar long term, and quickly came to my senses. It is hard to resist and everywhere. That could tell me something about it's addictive qualities. Really, the thought of going off of it for the rest of my life is enough to make me cry. You've got to have something to live for!

Ad from Women's Day 1971

 

All Signs Point to "Yes".

 

     Remember the Magic 8 Ball? You ask it a question, give it a good shake, then peer through the little blue clouded window until your answer appears. If you didn't like the answer you could inadvertently give it a little shake to find a better one. Most of the answers in the magic ball were ambivalent - 'ask again later', 'answer hazy', or 'concentrate and ask again'. DH and I are so attuned to children at risk and foster care right now that I have noticed those things everywhere. It seems like the cosmic Magic 8 Ball is sending me answers. 

     The day after we talked to Rach about being a foster family there was a Meth Lab bust in the same neighborhood as the high school she'll attend next year. We read in the paper that there were two children, ages 2 & 4, living in the home that were placed in the custody of child services. We pointed out to her that those kids could have come to our home, to give her an idea of where foster kids come from. 

     On Saturday afternoon DH and I went out for our weekly date. We had lunch and went to the bookstore. While perusing the bestsellers and new releases we came across a photo book by Anne Geddes. I'm very familiar with her work (having worked in a picture frame shop) so I passed it by, but DH stopped and thumbed through every picture even remarking that one or two were cute (absolutely no cooing noises though, that would be un-manly). 

 

     As I watched him adore the beautiful newborns I remembered how great he was with our babies and wondered if he was thinking about what it will be like if we get a foster baby. How would it be to get up for early hour feedings now that we're a few years older? It also reminded me of something DH's mother told me when we were first married. She commented that he was wonderful with kids and had no doubt that he would be a good dad. She was absolutely right. I thought back on that, realizing that I was led to marry a man whose heart is big enough to love our children and a foster child. I couldn't do it without him. 

     Last week I took the kids to the library. This has been somewhat rare lately because it's so difficult to manage a two year old at the library (unless it's storytime, then library patrons have to expect weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth). While the kids found their books I quickly looked through the new books. I shouldn't have because I have a mid term tomorrow... but I got 3 books. One of them is called Self Storage. I'm in the middle of it so I won't rate it yet (spoiler alert!), but the main character has a few problems with her children that puts her parenting under a microscope (this is not something the blurb indicated, so I didn't know that going in). It struck me this morning as I read it at the gym that this is how some mothers with children in foster care feel. They parent the same way they were raised and/or find themselves in unfortunate circumstances where they made a bad decision (or several), and their children are taken away. It gave me another level of understanding for birth parents - which I need. 

     I also need this constant reassurance because this seems looney sometimes, especially when I think about how it must appear to others. A year ago I wasn't sure I could take care of my kids because of my physical issues. Now I'm better and willing not only to take on an additional child, but a troubled one at that. When it's right you just know. I can't question it, especially when the cosmic Magic 8 Ball is giving me such an obvious answer: "All signs point to 'Yes'!"

     So Magic 8 Ball, since you're prognosticating so well, what can I make for dinner that costs $3, is healthy, and requires no effort? 

 

Today and the Future

Hi. 

I wrote a long post for today but decided it was very churchy and good for the MW site so I'm not posting that today. 

I thought about posting the amazing journal entry from a Christian who was killed by the Romans way back when that I read for Humanities. But my book is upstairs and it's late. Besides, that would really bum you out wouldn't it? 

This evening I got a haircut, so did Rach. I could have taken a picture of the two of us with our new do's but she's in bed and the only thing that looks fabulous about me right now is my hair. 

I could show you the blogs I've been reading but it kind of lets some things out of the bag that we haven't told anyone about. Then again DH said he didn't mind if I blogged about it. It's late and I'm probably not thinking very clearly, so why not share everything with the world?! You'll be able to figure it out in just a few clicks. Here are my new favorite blogs, and a podcast. Happy Sleuthing-

You must read this one first, it explains why (but not exactly what). 

 

This is the first site I found.

Then I came upon this one, which gives a young, humorous perspective.

I found this one last week, a religious family similar to the podcast. That kind of perspective is wonderful for me.  

Happened upon this one just a few days ago, very real and at times raw. 

I'll share more about this journey in my next post. Unless you beg for a pic of my new haircut... I could be convinced. 

Randomness

     Here it is the end of another busy day and I realize I haven't posted. Not that I haven't thought of posting, as I ponder deep and meaningful things throughout the day I wonder if they are blog worthy - the lady at the gym who stole a treadmill from that confused grandpa, Baby's obsession with the word "mine", if I worked really hard on my school work maybe I could get this dragging humanities class over, how hard it is to find Avatar birthday paraphernalia, how that Avatar stuff might be worthless if I don't get an RSVP back from anyone! See, very important thoughts. 

     J. was home sick yesterday, R. today. At least with R. sick I can still leave the house to do my thing (do I get Mom of the Year for that?). Otherwise I might have lost it. I felt horrible last night, even wondering if I was coming down with the sick, again. This morning I got more sleep (because I didn't have to drive R. to seminary), then I hit the gym = all better. It's times like these that I realize how critical exercise is to the health and well-being of my entire person. You name it - mind, body, spirit, emotions- they are all positively impacted by exercise. Today when I felt so much better it occurred to me that all those months of feeling like crud and wondering if I was really sick could have been the result of not being able to exercise properly because of my knee issues. Whatever the reason, I'm sure glad it's over. On Saturday I walked through the neighborhood for 30 minutes and had no knee pain afterwards. That is awesome!

     Last night as I laid in bed in a stupor I watched Housewives of Orange County - that's how weird my brain gets when I don't exercise. It's bizarre stuff, so out of this world they might as well have blue skin and tails. There was a woman who arrived in a limo, eating and drinking at an exclusive party, wearing who knows how much $ jewelry, and she cries, "My life sucks, I just don't know what I'm going to do!" Hmm. I don't know what you're going to do either - little violin playing just for you. Then I changed the channel to American Pickers. 

     It is time to plant seeds if I want to get a jump on the garden. The little crocus flowers that just popped out remind me every time I walk by. It's not a difficult task, just one with multiple steps that is too complicated when added to everything else. Buy seedling kit, buy seeds, plant seeds, water seeds, put in a window. Not hard. Just need to do it. Like grocery shopping, not hard, just need to do it - without a sick kid in tow. 

     I thought about posting this video, but worried that more depression stuff would be depressing. Here it is anyway (it's not depressing)-

I was reluctant to post it because I am so concerned about a finger of blame ever being pointed at a depressed person accusing them of bringing on their demons. That said, it's a good video. 

See ya tomorrow, maybe I'll have something posted worth reading, if you're lucky.

Those Greeks

I took philosophy about 18 years ago and didn't like it. 

I read Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle this week and my opinion hasn't changed. The whole dialectic argument is reason-less to me. "It seems that I'm wiser than he in just this one small way: that what I don't know, I don't think I know." That's from our old friend Sowcrates. I think debating with him is a bit like pin the tail on the donkey - he gets you good and confused and then asks you to perform a simple task - like telling him if you think you are wise. Whatever your answer is he'll find a way to twist it to fit his argument.  

 Death of Socrates, by Jacques-Louis David

 "The activity of philosophic wisdom is admittedly the pleasantest of virtuous activities." - Aristotle 

 I couldn't disagree more. There are a lot of pleasant virtuous activities that are more pleasant than philosophy, especially when you get graded on it. (One of them even produces children!) My grade in Philosophy, as you can guess from my complete lack of comprehension, was not good. (However the Apgar scores on all of my children were great!)

I toyed with the idea of posting my essay about Socrates. But I didn't want to tempt anyone with plagiarizing. Yes, it is that good - I did mention how much I love philosophy, right? There might have also been a little consideration for my future blog stats too. So if you promise to come back I promise not to post it. 

A Runaway Train

Yesterday was a runaway train day in two ways. We ran away, the kids and I. Not far, just to Ikea. But far enough that we were out of the house and everyone smiled at least once (it may have been the ice cream cones). 

It was also a runaway train day because everyone got on board and before I knew it we were on an adventure. All I said was, "We're going to Ikea!" There were showers and breakfast and coats, a stop at the ATM to get money for the toll-road and off we went-down the road that feels a bit like prison (only three off-ramps between here and Philly and you have to pay to get off). I missed our exit, turned around and got back on track with little hassle, considering that we were driving in Philly. 

It was a usual Ikea trip, sitting in fake rooms (Baby kept trying to turn on the fake TVs), finding nifty things we never knew we needed, and plenty of indecision. We're almost done with Rachel's room re-do but she needed a lamp. My girls don't make decisions quickly, it might have something to do with their mother who has to point out every pro and con. Eventually we got out, accompanied by two lamps, a poster frame, lightbulbs, a grocery bag keep, and innumerable stuffed things (puppets, animals, pillows, and us - we had lunch and ice cream). 

It was success because we got out of there before rush hour. That was my biggest fear about the trip because we had an appointment with the missionaries at 7. Back on that prison road things were sailing along very smoothly, considering all the snow we've gotten, when traffic slowed and eventually stopped. Pulled forward a little, then STOPPED. stopped. not one inch of movement. stopped for 45 minutes. My sanity was saved by peanut butter popcorn, the van DVD player, MP3 player & nintendo for the teenager, and Scrabble on my Iphone. 

Let me give you a tip: NEVER get on a toll road without at least a half tank of gas. For some blessed reason I had filled up my tank, but several others had not. I passed a poor woman in a mini-van full of kids, pulled over on the side of the road with hood up and hazard lights blinking- waiting. I mentally inventoried our food to see if there was anything I could give her but by that time the kids had scarfed down most of what we had. There before the grace of God go I. 

During this whole adventure I could not get DH on the phone. By 5:30 when we pulled up to the house I was genuinely concerned. His car was parked in the driveway and he was in bed, sick. Sick with the stuff the rest of the family previously had. Well, everyone else "had" it, I still carried tissues in my pocket. Which I used with increasing frequency the longer the day went on. 

After a few minutes of freakout and breakdown the kids ate leftover lasagna, I tidied the living room and pried DH out of bed. (I was not nice to DH - while I had the same sickness I took care of 4 sick kids.) The missionaries asked that I pick up someone they're teaching so I went out to the barely plowed inner-city streets to find her. 

As I trudged to the car I reminded myself that service is a sacrifice, it never comes at a convenient time. Usually the more inconvenient the better the experience... so I told myself. 

Back at our home with the missionaries, the young woman, DH and I (with kleenex box at my feet because my nose was running like a river), we sat down to talk about the gospel. 

It was a good experience. The things I have dealt with in my life are similar to hers, and because of that, what I said was what she needed to hear - even though I knew nothing about her. I'm hopeful that the gospel, the church, could give her an understanding of life and a support structure to improve her life, if she wants it. 

It's like a runaway train though, once you get on, it could take you anywhere. 

They want your Money

There is a time in every child's life that you have to teach this important truth: Most people are out to get their money. Right now you're asking me, "Jaded much?" Yes I am jaded, and very realistic, and I want my kids to hang on to their money. The place we begin teaching this is right in our own home as we sit in front of the TV. 

"Mom, we should buy that!"

"Why?"

"Because it makes pancakes in a flash, with fillings!"

"Do you really think it takes less time to cook pancakes in that pan than in the pan we have now?"

"Um.... that's what the commercial says."

"But do you think it is really true, or do they just want your money?"

After several of these type discussions the kids know the answer- "They want our money." 

It makes me smile from ear to ear when my kids go through this routine with each other. 

"Hey sis, we could put our allowance money together to buy that!"

"No, they just want our money."

Love it. 

Not that I love that I have to teach this lesson to my kids. I can barely imagine a world where "money back guarantee" really meant money back guarantee. While we live in this real world full of people after our money I believe it is my duty to teach this concept just as sure as it is my duty to teach them to work hard to earn that money. It's related to the concept 'you can't get something for nothing', 'if it's too good to be true it probably is', along those lines. In short, we're surrounded by deception. 

DH and I had a conversation today about the global warming debate, about the increasing evidence that numbers were manipulated to produce a desired result despite peer review. In short, the world has been deceived by a community that is supposed to rely on impersonal facts. Guess what? The facts were produced by a person, therefore they are in some way 'personal' facts. There's no taking the person out of the equation and so there is no taking the imperfect out of the equation. This life is not the time or place to expect perfection. 

Why would someone manipulate data? They want your money. (That was a question to test your comprehension of the first part of the post.) So you say that the researchers weren't out for money, they didn't get a cent. Which leads to my next point - If they don't want your money, then they want your attention and regard - they want power. 

"As you pursue your discipleship and observe the human scene, do not be surprised or unnerved by the natural man’s relentless push for preeminence and power. It really reflects the premortal psychodrama. Nor should you be surprised over the efforts of so many to cover their sins or to gratify their vain ambition (see D&C 121:37). Be grateful, therefore, for the gospel’s emphasis on meekness. Be careful of the natural man’s milder expressions—craving for credit and rustling for recognition. Alas, so often the hearts and even the moral agency of others can be crushed in the search for self-glorification."*

Wow, crushed hearts and moral agency. In the end that is what my teaching conversations in front of the TV are all about- teaching my children to preserve their hearts and moral agency from those that would crush them for their own gain. This isn't just about TV, it's about every facet of life: work, play, and the internet. 

*Side note: This quote is a great way to watch yourself - when you embark on a new endeavor, ask yourself why. If it involves credit, recognition, or power then check your ambitions at the door and re-think your endeavor.

Confusion: Mistakes, Sins, Productivity. What is of Lasting Value?

"That we do a lot may not be so important. That we focus the energy of

 our minds, our hearts, and our souls on those things of eternal significance

 -that is essential."

This quote has been swirling around in my brain with other things, one of which is the YW lesson I've prepared for my stake assignment. It is about repentance, one of the quotes I found is about the difference between sin and a mistake:

"For most of us, most of the time, the choice between good and bad is easy. What usually causes us difficulty is determining which uses of our time and influence are merely good, or better, or best. Applying that fact to the question of sins and mistakes, I would say that a deliberately wrong choice in the contest between what is clearly good and what is clearly bad is a sin, but a poor choice among things that are good, better, and best is merely a mistake." (Dallin H. Oaks, "Sins and Mistakes," Ensign, Oct 1996, 62)

    I spend too much time dithering over what could possibly be a mistake, giving it as much mental weight as if I were deliberating over a sin. If I really don't know what to do, then I should choose an option, succeed or fail according to that choice (which could result in a mistake, not a sin). If I make a mistake I learn from it and move on, better prepared to make a better decision the next time. 

    I think this is what the Lord is talking about when he says to 'apply our hearts to understanding' - learning and becoming wise through the process of making mistakes. While our mistakes do have accompanying consequences, there is not the consequence of offending God as there is with a sin. (The talk by Elder Oaks explains it much better than I am here.) The major difference between the two, to me, is that with sin God has given us specific direction and we disobey. With a mistake we have general instructions (like "focus the energy of our minds, our hearts, and our souls on those things of eternal significance") but the application of the concept is unclear to us and we haven't received revelation as to a specific course of action. This is a huge part of the learning that takes place in this life, applying knowledge, making mistakes, and learning through our own experience.

    Sometimes this whole process of deciding a course of action is more about deciding to do something or deciding to refrain from action. Like today, I had a ton of things to do, but because of feeling badly the last few days I decided that I needed to rest. I'm still not sure if that was a mistake or not, but I made that choice with the best of intentions based on my current knowledge. 

    You could say there were two commandments competing in this situation - that I should care for my physical body, not run faster than I have strength and the admonition to not sleep longer than is needful, and to live according to the law of the harvest and the ethic of work (<--this work link is to an awesome article!). It's like Elder Oaks said, the difference between good, better, and best; which changes constantly! What could be best for me today, taking a nap, may not be what is best for me tomorrow.

    Satan so loves to confuse us, and I know that for me one way he gets me confused and stunted is by making me feel that I'm not doing enough and that it is sin. This especially applies to motherhood. I've been stressing over the eating habits of my family, worried about starting my children off in life with the healthiest habits. It dawned on me today that I am doing a good job of this - we don't drink alcohol, tea, coffee, we don't smoke, we limit sweets, we grow a garden, I pack sack lunches, eat some organic/whole foods, etc. Yet Satan has me feeling like a failure in this area - it's crazy!!! I get so caught up in this worry that I may spend time on food prep that I could spend actually interacting with my children :) So instead of "doing" food I could be with my children, just being with them.

    Another area this applies for me is putting my kids in extra-curricular activities. It's just not something I feel is important, yet I feel pressure from the world and friends constantly. It creeps in a makes me worry that I'm not providing something essential for my children. While it isn't a sin, and other wonderful people I know do put their kids in extra activities, I believe it would be a mistake for me to overburden our lives with more commitments. 

    To sum it all up - I'm too uptight and I over-think things. Hopefully I can learn to trust 

God more, to leave my children's future, and mine, in His hands. Believing that he will lead 

me to do those things that are of eternal significance while at the same time feeling hopeful

 and at peace. 

The Lost Week

Isn't this week between Christmas and New Year's like Land of the Lost or something? It's just weird. When I worked as a pay-by-the-hour employee I always had to work, and thought the whole world was pooping on me (ahhh, retail at the holidays). Now that I don't have to work on this week I just don't know what to do with myself. (I know, being a mom is work, but if you don't have to deal with school, it's time off.) What a great opportunity to get things done! But it's vacation, are you kidding me?

I keep staying up later and later, adding another movie each day. Although I sleep through the family showing between 3-5 pm. Today it was the kids playing the demo of Little Big Planet, not a movie. They have watched Night at the Museum several times. Right now they're finishing up Around the World in 80 Days (modern version). The newest Harry Potter flick arrived from Netflix yesterday, how have we let more than 24 hours go by without watching it?!

Baby is getting better and better at her covert food sneaking skills. Just now I caught her with two peppermint Joe-Joes that Jason and Kasey sent. Yes, I took them from her. Such delicacies should not be wasted on a 2 year old. Then she went for the bubbles. Then she went for the chocolate. We have so much junk food lying around it's hard to find hiding places for it. So it lays about. Right in front of my face, where I stuff it in. The kids regularly ask, "Can I have a cookie.. candy.. etc.?" And I have to keep a straight face while trying to swallow a dove caramel chocolate and tell them, "No!" I promise, I'll get a handle on the problem right after New Years. 

Yesterday I enlisted the kids' help and took out the mountain of recycling and trash. I mentally nagged my husband - "Why in the world did you have to forget to take it out the week before Christmas!" Then this enlightening bit of info popped into my mind: "He's working late tonight you ungrateful wife!" DH is working 4 days this week because a client is in town. So it's not just punching the clock, it's someone looking over his shoulder for the 10 hour work day. He does get a couple of nice dinners out on the town, but I know we all agree that being at home watching movies in your sloppy clothes is better. Thanks DH.

Yesterday we returned a few things to Target. It was easier than I anticipated. Today A. used her Build a Bear gift card from Grandma and Grandpa P. I bought a few new clothes with my Christmas money from them. Then we went grocery shopping. See, I am doing a few useful things. Baby's diaper is being changed and meals are being made too, dinner anyway. And you know with all that chocolate being consumed I am scared  of missing a workout, so that continues like clockwork.

Eventually we'll get back to real life, what a shock it will be. 6 am seminary starts on January 4th. By then I may have changed my sleep schedule enough that I can take the kids to seminary and then go to bed for the night. 

Happy Lost Week!