Does anyone want her?? So here's the deal . . . she is a great indoor cat, actually terrified of the outdoors since being hit by a truck 3 years ago. We actually took her to the vet to have her put down and he gave her a shot of steriods instead and said she would either die or bounce back. She's still here.
Usually I really like my cat. She's not an in-your-face pet, she is usually quite invisible but cuddly when I need her to be. No kittens in the future is a great plus. The last week has changed things. We haven't had weather warmer than 26 degrees since the 24th of December, lots of snow and wind and she won't go outside (she even has her own door to get out). I can't really say that I blame her for not wanting to go outside in the middle of the night to dig and hole, squat her bare hinney and run back in but hey - I'm the human she is just a cat. So I have been up the last 3 nights playing this dumb game to catch her and put her out, blocking her cat door with a block and then enduring her whining outside and banging the door against the block until she finally realizes that she is out for the rest of the night and climbs up the decorative well in our front yard to sleep. Believe it or not, the dog is not even an issue. I have actually seen the dog (black lab) sitting in the driveway watching the cat do this stupid nightly routine. What really made me mad last night is that I had to open a window to take out a screen so that she wouldn't rip it to shreds (which she did last year over this same issue!)
Ok - while I'm complaining about the creature let me tell you what she did to me during my last pregnancy. We had a couple of mice get into our house and she quickly let me know they were there . . . in the middle of the night of course. She would corner them but not catch them. Here I am big, pregnant, heartburn and all catching a mouse in the middle of the night. Then I would take the mouse outside to the dog for her to kill it. We only had the 2 mice and never saw signs of more but wow . . . what a useless cat!
So now that I'm done complaining I'm looking forward to my nap while Nathan is sleeping. I'll probably cuddle up with none other than . . . the cat! After all her purrrrr is quite relaxing.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Sunday Blessings
Ahh . . . another Sunday is gone. Sundays are really hard for me at this stage of a pregnancy (6 months). For some reason my legs are more swollen on Sundays, me legs usually go to sleep during meetings from sitting so long, sacrament meeting is tough because LeRoy sits on the stand and I have Nathan on my lap (which is quickly disappearing) and it seems that the whole day is full of meetings. Saturday nights are a mental stuggle for me because I start to come up with all these excuses why I could get out of church. However, I go. Usually just out of duty because of my example to my kids, but I go. And for some reason I am blessed for doing that. I am amazed that I am blessed for my lack of enthusiasm and my grumbling but I guess that's what I get for being in the right place at the right time. Today was no different.
I had a terrible night and I was very swollen this morning but hey - I didn't have to wash my hair. My first blessing came when LeRoy came home early from meetings before church started (not usually the case) and he was able to get Nathan ready for church - he even kept him on his lap on the stand until after the sacrament. That 20 minutes is huge for me!!
So many times I just endure sacrament meeting but I was touched so much by this one. We had a young man who is entering the MTC on Wednesday that spoke. This usually means thank everyone over and over, say how unprepared you are and drag out the time but I was so impressed. He shared his feelings about leaving and how he knew he was not alone and then focused on the Atonement and how none of us are ever alone - regardless of our weaknesses/trials, etc. It was one of the better talks I have ever heard on the Atonement. Then his brother spoke - who happened to get home from his mission 3 months ago. He had all the young men/women stand who have filled out papers or have their calls for missions. Then he had all those who have served missions stand. It was such an overwhelming feeling of support and love! He also talked on how we are not alone and included our responsibility to share our knowledge of that with others. It was such a great meeting! Definitely worth getting out of bed for!
The next blessing came (in spite of my lack of faith) when Levi, Erika and Derek played with 2 other kids and 1 leader for the opening of 5th Sunday combined meeting. It was like a mini orchestra playing "Love One Another" through 4 times and ending with only 1 violin playing. The reason I lacked faith on this is that the kids were asked yesterday morning to do this and they only played through it together once. It was so beautiful and it immediately quieted down the chapel of all the visiting that was going on with the missionary boys. Oh me of little faith! Here is a picture that I took of them while they practiced last night.
As a little side note to this I am grateful for leaders who have good relationships with my kids. The man who was teaching the 5th Sunday lesson is the one that asked the kids to play and he also played with them. Levi has been asked several times to play the viola in church and keeps refusing. When Brother Buchanan asked him he willingly agreed. I couldn't believe it. I think the biggest part of it was that Bro. Buchanan wasn't asking Levi to do something that he wasn't willing to do himself and he also has made a point to get to know and include the young men and women in his calling (ward mission leader). Levi has such a great talent and it was good to see him play outside of school orchestra and practicing at home.
Another blessing - Nathan went to nursery and I only had to stay 10 minutes before sneaking out and he did great! Any mother will understand the blessing that this is. He also looked so adorable in his new tie and church clothes. He has been growing so fast that I had to get new ones for him. Suddenly my baby looked so grown up!
Once we got home we realized that we didn't have any additional meetings today - so unusual!! Levi wanted to play a game with me, I agreed, he chose Monopoly (not my favorite) and so Derek, Levi and I played - for 2 hours. My hip will never be the same after today. Don't I know any better than to sit on the floor for that long?!?! It really was fun - especially for Derek as he wiped out Levi and I!
In the mean time Erika decided to make a cake but we were out of eggs. I showed her the powdered eggs, which she kind of wrinkled her nose at but when I told her that the last time I made crepes they were made with only powdered milk and powdered eggs she decided to try it. Needless to say - the cupcakes are all gone! Derek has been making omelets nearly every day (that is why we were out of eggs) and he wanted to try the powdered eggs for an omelet - not good. So I guess my hidden message here would be that it is easy to rotate your powdered eggs and milk by making crepes and lots of cakes - but beware of the 'powdered' omelet!
Now Nathan is in bed, everyone is reading or doing something quiet and I feel somewhat ready to start another week. Another blessing: I only have 12 more Sundays before my due date!! Then I will have a whole new set of mental excuses to overcome to get myself to church. I'm just so grateful that over and over again I am blessed and rewarded for going (not necessarily every week but it does come) even when my attitude is not right.
I had a terrible night and I was very swollen this morning but hey - I didn't have to wash my hair. My first blessing came when LeRoy came home early from meetings before church started (not usually the case) and he was able to get Nathan ready for church - he even kept him on his lap on the stand until after the sacrament. That 20 minutes is huge for me!!
So many times I just endure sacrament meeting but I was touched so much by this one. We had a young man who is entering the MTC on Wednesday that spoke. This usually means thank everyone over and over, say how unprepared you are and drag out the time but I was so impressed. He shared his feelings about leaving and how he knew he was not alone and then focused on the Atonement and how none of us are ever alone - regardless of our weaknesses/trials, etc. It was one of the better talks I have ever heard on the Atonement. Then his brother spoke - who happened to get home from his mission 3 months ago. He had all the young men/women stand who have filled out papers or have their calls for missions. Then he had all those who have served missions stand. It was such an overwhelming feeling of support and love! He also talked on how we are not alone and included our responsibility to share our knowledge of that with others. It was such a great meeting! Definitely worth getting out of bed for!
The next blessing came (in spite of my lack of faith) when Levi, Erika and Derek played with 2 other kids and 1 leader for the opening of 5th Sunday combined meeting. It was like a mini orchestra playing "Love One Another" through 4 times and ending with only 1 violin playing. The reason I lacked faith on this is that the kids were asked yesterday morning to do this and they only played through it together once. It was so beautiful and it immediately quieted down the chapel of all the visiting that was going on with the missionary boys. Oh me of little faith! Here is a picture that I took of them while they practiced last night.
As a little side note to this I am grateful for leaders who have good relationships with my kids. The man who was teaching the 5th Sunday lesson is the one that asked the kids to play and he also played with them. Levi has been asked several times to play the viola in church and keeps refusing. When Brother Buchanan asked him he willingly agreed. I couldn't believe it. I think the biggest part of it was that Bro. Buchanan wasn't asking Levi to do something that he wasn't willing to do himself and he also has made a point to get to know and include the young men and women in his calling (ward mission leader). Levi has such a great talent and it was good to see him play outside of school orchestra and practicing at home.Another blessing - Nathan went to nursery and I only had to stay 10 minutes before sneaking out and he did great! Any mother will understand the blessing that this is. He also looked so adorable in his new tie and church clothes. He has been growing so fast that I had to get new ones for him. Suddenly my baby looked so grown up!
Once we got home we realized that we didn't have any additional meetings today - so unusual!! Levi wanted to play a game with me, I agreed, he chose Monopoly (not my favorite) and so Derek, Levi and I played - for 2 hours. My hip will never be the same after today. Don't I know any better than to sit on the floor for that long?!?! It really was fun - especially for Derek as he wiped out Levi and I!In the mean time Erika decided to make a cake but we were out of eggs. I showed her the powdered eggs, which she kind of wrinkled her nose at but when I told her that the last time I made crepes they were made with only powdered milk and powdered eggs she decided to try it. Needless to say - the cupcakes are all gone! Derek has been making omelets nearly every day (that is why we were out of eggs) and he wanted to try the powdered eggs for an omelet - not good. So I guess my hidden message here would be that it is easy to rotate your powdered eggs and milk by making crepes and lots of cakes - but beware of the 'powdered' omelet!
Now Nathan is in bed, everyone is reading or doing something quiet and I feel somewhat ready to start another week. Another blessing: I only have 12 more Sundays before my due date!! Then I will have a whole new set of mental excuses to overcome to get myself to church. I'm just so grateful that over and over again I am blessed and rewarded for going (not necessarily every week but it does come) even when my attitude is not right.
Shadow and Shorty
Shadow and Shorty?? That translates to Chad and Levi. These two are nearly inseperable and they are the comic relief around our house. Chad is Levi's best friend and a great one too. I don't think I ever imagined that I would enjoy teenagers as much as I enjoy these two. They have me laughing so hard so often that I feel like I will lose bladder control.During this last week (Christmas break) they have helped LeRoy wire our house. They did it in freezing cold temperatures (only 8 degrees one day) and knowing that it was not a paying job. I dished out enough hot cocoa to the 2 of them that Chad even has chapped lips from having them burned so often. Well - last night LeRoy and I decided to pay them . . . just not hourly.
We gave them their choice of 4 restaurants and they chose Texas Roadhouse. The trip to Idaho Falls was pretty quiet but that didn't last long. We found that we were going to have a 45 minute wait so we put our names on a list and headed across the parking lot the the arcade/race track. LeRoy, Chad and Levi all got on the big intertube type of bumper cars and they all looks like little 8 year olds ramming into each other and giggling. Then they headed to the race track. This is not a bumber car track - it is a go cart racetrack. Wow - talk about a guys sport. They tried to convince me to do it but I was quickly found the sign that said I couldn't go because I am pregnant. They raced 3 times (about 30 minutes total) and had a blast 'drifting' around their turns and going as fast as their cars would let them go - which is alot faster than mom would have let them go!!! Levi ended up with a sore knee from one guy running into him and Chad hit his head on the bar and they both were ready for more - injury only makes the sport better, evidently.
Once we got back to the restaurant LeRoy and I quickly realized that these boys could eat!! Thank goodness the nonstop rolls and refills are free! I think Levi had a total of 6 rolls and Chad had 8 - unlimited lemonade and coke and still they had room for a meal. Of course they both got an eyefull with all the cute waitresses and we could tell that they are definitely typical 15 year old boys (soon to be 16).
LeRoy and I also surprised them each with $50 as a thank you for their hard work, willingness and good attitudes about the last week. I think if we had handed them a phone number for one of those waitresses it would have been just as good as the $50! Anyway - it was a fun night!
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Christmas Highlights
This was a very fun day. Mom and Dad came to visit (and bring gifts) as well as John and Jared. We had great food and plenty of gifts for everyone. Even tho' we kept it small this year we were all happy. I don't know why I have made it such a stressful thing in the past - we were all content with simple and it was alot less stress on me.
With 7 of us in the family it would take forever to show everything that we got (and I'm still learning how to post this stuff) so I wanted to show what I enjoyed making and giving the most. First I need to give a little information for this to make sense.
Nathan loves his Dad. That is an understatement. He adores his dad, he doesn't want anyone else when dad is around, he cries when dad leaves. One of his first words/phrases was 'Dad's home' only he said it as one word 'dadzome'. LeRoy was so honored by this that I decided to make a shirt for him to mark this moment in his life. This is Levi's description of the event: "dad opened it, cried, stripped off his shirt and put on the new one, he picked up Nathan and cried some more . . . it was a very disturbing Christmas". I think he liked it!
The other great moment was also for LeRoy. Nathan is named after his Grandpa Loope - our favorite Grandpa on LeRoy's side of the family. I decided that for LeRoy's man's room (in the new house) I would make a shadow box with the stuff that Grandpa gave to LeRoy on our last visit to Texas (which was also the last time that we saw him before he died). It was quite easy to make and turned out great. I thought he cried over the shirt but he wouldn't quit crying over the shadow box. I loved doing it - not only for LeRoy but also to remember Grandpa by.
With 7 of us in the family it would take forever to show everything that we got (and I'm still learning how to post this stuff) so I wanted to show what I enjoyed making and giving the most. First I need to give a little information for this to make sense.
Nathan loves his Dad. That is an understatement. He adores his dad, he doesn't want anyone else when dad is around, he cries when dad leaves. One of his first words/phrases was 'Dad's home' only he said it as one word 'dadzome'. LeRoy was so honored by this that I decided to make a shirt for him to mark this moment in his life. This is Levi's description of the event: "dad opened it, cried, stripped off his shirt and put on the new one, he picked up Nathan and cried some more . . . it was a very disturbing Christmas". I think he liked it!The other great moment was also for LeRoy. Nathan is named after his Grandpa Loope - our favorite Grandpa on LeRoy's side of the family. I decided that for LeRoy's man's room (in the new house) I would make a shadow box with the stuff that Grandpa gave to LeRoy on our last visit to Texas (which was also the last time that we saw him before he died). It was quite easy to make and turned out great. I thought he cried over the shirt but he wouldn't quit crying over the shadow box. I loved doing it - not only for LeRoy but also to remember Grandpa by.
Orchestra Concert
This was such a great night (tho' also a long one)! Levi, Erika and Derek all play with the school orchestra's and that makes for a lot of music at our house - not to mention the piano that goes on as well. It is a mother's reward to go to a full orchestra concert! Finally I get to hear the full music instead of the simple low part of the cello or the 'alto' part played by the viola. The Jr High/High School Christmas concert is held at BYU-I and is sold out every year. The tickets are only $1 but there is limited seating, even on campus. Another thing that I love about the concert is that it is recorded and I get to enjoy it all year long.Erika's concert was impressive. It is amazing what a good conductor can do with that many hormonal teenagers to create such beautiful music. She is currently 1st chair for the violin section and was a little disappointed that the teacher chose not to include a song that she had 2 solos in. Maybe next spring.
Levi's concert blew me away. They all looked so sharp in their required tuxedo's and black dresses. It was Levi's first time wearing a tuxedo and wow - he looked handsome! He kept grinning and saying how powerful and goodlooking he felt. He also looked great sitting next to his 'hot' stand partner (which he has a little crush on). The 2 of them make a great looking team. He's now waiting for his 16th birthday coming up soon - she already turned 16 in October. Hmmm . . . dating. So after 2 hours of concert and plenty of waiting (lines, sitting, between the 2 concerts) we went to Dairy Queen for treats.
Another Day Done
I have tried starting this blog several times but would get stuck on 'pick the name of your blog'. There were so many sarcastic names that came to mind reflecting the pregnant, tired, mom of teenagers, mom of toddler, office manager that makes up a good part of who I am. Then I realized that at the end of every day I let out a tired sigh and my nightly thought is "another day done". The thought can be one of relief (Finally - this day is done!) or just tired (Aaahhh - another day done.) or accomplishment (Look at what I got done today) or just blahh (another day done).
I'm sure my posts will show what kind of day I had - and believe me there is variety in my life.
So here I go . . . .
(things will be a little out of order for the first few posts because I wanted to start this about 2 weeks ago . . . and I still want to post those moments)
I'm sure my posts will show what kind of day I had - and believe me there is variety in my life.
So here I go . . . .
(things will be a little out of order for the first few posts because I wanted to start this about 2 weeks ago . . . and I still want to post those moments)
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