March 29

Things have been busy here, I guess that is the norm with 3 kids! Today was our Primary activity, I think it went pretty well, the theme was Follow the Prophet. There weren't too many kids there, but the ones there I think had a pretty good time. I am so glad it is over though. I have to do sharing time this week, and on Tuesday we have a Primary Presidency meeting. It can be busy, and I just need to remember to keep a positive perspective, and sometimes remember that good enough, is good enough sometimes. I am thankful for the church.

Well, who knew that my 6 year old knew the macarena? I didn't. There was a spring fling at the elementary that the girls and I went to, and there Jayna is doing the macarena. I guess they do it during project aces which is an exercise program they do in the mornings at school. Both girls had fun, Whitney basically went off with her friends and Jayna and I "danced" (jumped, twirled...) generally in the same vincinity as her teacher. It was an 80's theme, which I thought was weird for youngs kids, but some of them were dressed up with the denim skirts with leggings under them, the teased hair, just things that brought back memories, so it was kind of weird.

Can you believe it- I have lost 15 pounds now! I got weighed in this morning. I didn't realize that reaching that point would make me feel so good, but it did.

I've been really glad that Andrew is enjoying playing his bass guitar- no fighting to make him practice or anything, he just does. Which is wonderful! He takes lessons from a college student, whom I think he thinks is cool. He also started a paper route today, we'll see how it goes. Richard said it was lots of work and he was dragging about 1/2 way through. Hopefully he'll stick with it for a good while.

Jayna had a birthday party today and Whitney went to a Red Cross babysitting class.

Although nothing has come to fruition yet with Richard's job search, he has been getting some nibbles lately, so that is promising.

Also, I did officially apply to the occupational therapy assistant program at the community college here. I wouldn't say I'm 100% sure that's what I'm doing, but I am feeling really good about it.

Have a great day... And so it goes...

Just Finished- "The Choice" by Nicholas Sparks, an okay read,not my favorite of his though.

Sue

Happy Easter!

Hi- It's been a busy couple of days. I had Thursday and Friday off and don't have to go back to work until Monday, that is really nice, one thing about this job is that with school holidays and stuff, I end up with days off fairly often beyond my normal days off.



Thursday I went to the temple, which I was glad I could do. I have been trying to go once a month. That night I had a stake Primary meeting.



Friday a trip to the dentist with Jayna, errands and then the much awaited arrival of my sister and her 2 girls April and Ashley. The kids really enjoy being together, April is 10, Ashley 13, so they fit really well with Andrew being 13 and Whitney 11. Jayna thinks Aunt Mary is great! We played some Guesstures and after Jayna went to bed we watched August Rush, I thought it was a good movie, but a little old for the kids. Saturday we colored eggs, then had our traditional egg hunt. Is there something wrong with us when we hide about 270 eggs for 5 kids?!! Anyhow they enjoyed it. I wonder how long I'll be finding "lost" eggs! We did the hunt inside this year, this weather just isn't feeling too springish! We also went roller skating today, everyone seemed to enjoy it.



Tomorrow morning I'll go to church. Then we'll do our tradition of having an Easter picnic, definitely indoors this year too! We picked up Subway for it tomorrow, we'll also have fruit, and chips and angel food cake with berries and whipped topping. Hope everyone else has a wonderful Easter, I'd love to hear about your traditions.



Weight watchers today - I am down a total of about 12 pounds, I am glad about that, have a long way to go, but one day at a time, right? I am definitely eating much more conscientiously. Richard is also doing weight watchers online now and has lost around 7 pounds. It works out nice with both of us doing it.

I'm exhausted so hopefully I'll get to bed soon! Jayna has mentioned that she hopes the Easter Bunny doesn't hide her basket the same place he has the last few years, and also that Andrew and Whitney won't be waiting to get her with silly string this Easter. It was kind of funny to me because I guess we miss some of Easter as the kids get up before us and find their baskets. Anyhow, hopefully the Easter Bunny will find somewhere to hide her basket that isn't under the computer desk! And I have a feeling that there will be no silly string in the baskets this year.

And so it goes...


Sue

March 8, Snow and more snow!

Well, we are in the midst of a snow storm, definitely a good day to "hunker down", the girls gymnastics classes were cancelled so that made it easier. I'm hoping I'll get lucky and one of the neighbors will snow blow at least the end of the driveway for me. At one point I had Richard leave me instructions on how to use our snow blower and I thought I would be able to do that, however, he now says it it "rigged" and I have to use our air pump to start it -- Hmm, I just don't know about that- on the plus side Andrew did offer to shovel (2 points for you Andrew!)

Richard is having an exhausting time in Florida- I had really hoped it would be a time for him to rejuvenate, but I guess not this time. He has spent a lot of the time at the hospital and has also been doing things for his parents house that needed taken care of. As of yesterday his Dad was still hallucintating and not really able to carry on much of a conversation because he would keep falling asleep. It would be nice if before Richard came home on Tuesday that he and his Dad could have at least one good day to at least talk to each other. He's been a great help to his mom during this time.

Teenagers and Pre-teens -- What do you do with them??? As Andrew and Whitney get older I find it definitely harder to find common interests or do things together - they are no longer happy to play board games or go to the play ground (not as often anyhow) Whitney would be happy to hang at the mall, so I may have to start doing that- I just don't want to lose the connection we have as they get older and I know I need to maybe give them a bit more freedom (or not, I'm not sure), but I do have a lot of fears of what they will get into (personal experience) Andrew gets angry because I won't let him play Richard's M rated game all the time in front of Jayna- has he forgotten that only recently has he even had access to M games ( just a few, shooting games, yuck) Sometimes it is all draining. And it seems like when Richard is gone Andrew really gets more of an attitude, or maybe it just seems that way since I'm the only one dealing with him. Whitney hasn't enjoyed being without cable, and when she heard that I plan on going back to college she was frustrated saying something like now we'll never get cable. Ugghhh!!!!

Didn't make it to weight watchers today, but got weighed in at home and it seems like I'm down about another 1/2 pound, so that makes about 9 YaY! I made it through taking the kids to McDondalds the other day, just have soup, a side salad with light dressing and water. Luckily I like the soup a lot. It was hard for me though.

And so it goes...

Reading now: "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns (I think)

Just Finished: "Before Women had Wings" by Connie May Fowler - a good read, made me think about how kids love their parents just because they are their parents even if they are abusive- the huge influence a Mom has.

March 5

Day 2 of Richard being in Florida- he is definitely enjoying the weather, opposed to the ice storm we had here! He went to visit with his parents, his mom mentioned around the holidays that she thought this might be his Dad's last Christmas, so Richard just wanted to take the opportunity to visit with them some. Unfortunately the day or 2 before he was to arrive, his Dad landed in the hospital. He had gotten up to go to the bathroom and his leg broke ( I think a side effect of being on dialysis) He had to have surgery and was on a ventilator, then there was a blood clot in his other leg and he had to have more surgery. The ventilator has been removed, and hopefully he will be moved out of intensive care today (if it hasn't already happened), that will allow Richard and his mom a lot more time to visit with him. I think he'll still be in the hospital for awhile, and then he'll need about 6 weeks for recovery/rehab?? I don't know all the details, but it is possible he will go into a facility during this time, which makes my mother-in-law feel guilty, but he would still need care at that time, that I don't know that she could do, along with his regular dialysis. Anyhow, it seems like it was probably a good idea to go when Richard did.

Andrew's play went really well and he did great, hopefully I'll post some pictures soon. Whitney got selected for a solo in the elementary's musical. The kids definitely do not get their singing ability from me!!!

Okay, I'm still trying to pin down what to do career/college wise for myself, so I thought I'd write out some of my thoughts of things I like or have thought about...

Since I was in high school I thought it would be cool to own/run a campground- I guess my love of nature and also fun mixed together, but it would require working on Sundays, and I'm just not sure if I'd be brave enough to do a sink/swim business venture.

I generally do enjoy working with preschoolers- and have thought about getting my associates degree in early childhood, but sometimes I feel like I've already done that avenue and would like to expand

I love reading and literature.

I feel such a need to help people- so have definitely considered the human services field/ possibly social work. It is just a huge piece of who I am internally.

I have considered occupational therapy because it is a way to help people, I can get a beginners degree (assistant) in 2 years, and it pays fairly well.

Okay, so if anyone know what this makes me, or where I should be headed, let me know!!! If I'm going to be spending the $, at this point I really want to make the best choice. (hmm, if I go the human service route, is there a way to incorporate the reading/nature and kids?)

Hope all is going well for everyone! And so it goes...

Reading now: "Before Women had Wings" by Connie May Fowler
Just finished "Never Let Me Go" by??K. Ishaguro? (something like that) -- I really liked this book!