Wow! Two posts in two days? What's going on?!

I figured it was time for my annual "I hate making new year's resolutions" post since it is 3 weeks into the new year.

So, have I mentioned I don't believe in making new year's resolutions?

Ya. I hate it.

So I don't do it.

But in my head I have ideas of things I may like to change at some point in the coming year. Some sooner than others.

One is getting on a regular exercise routine. (Wow, really? I know... an exercise resolution. So... predictable.) I improved my exercising quite a bit last year. I went from practically nothing to an average of about 2 to 3 days a week. (Ok, maybe closer to 2 than three. Don't judge me.)  And I was very physically active during the summer and fall. We went on lots of hikes and bike rides and walks. But I really want to get to where my body is craving sweating and heart-pounding activity. Right now... not so much. It doesn't help that I break out into horrible itching every time I run. Like, crawl-out-of-my-skin kind of itching. I read somewhere that this could be an allergy to adrenaline. Ya, see... I always knew I was allergic to exercise! However, it seems to go away about 20 minutes into the workout, so I just grin and bear it.

Another is to eat a LOT healthier meals. I'm not talking super low-fat, no sugar, tree-bark and berries washed- in- mountain -streams- on- the- first- night- of- the- new- moon type of healthy. I'm talking lots of vegetables, lean meats, more fish, and healthy snacks like apples and peanut butter, carrotts and cheese sticks, raw almonds, low fat cottage cheese, orange slices, etc. I've been keeping fresh fruits and veggies in the fridge and it really helps to have healthier things on hand and grab those first.  I don't want to say it's a "diet", but more just "cranking the healthy" up a notch. We ate fairly healthy meals before, and now they are even healthier.

And the other is to be much more consistant with our family scripture reading. We did pretty well last year, actually. This is more of a "keep it up" type of goal. And maybe adding a little "we can still do better" in there as well. I accept that no family is perfect, and we don't want to be the only perfect ones out there, though there really is no danger of that at this point! (You catch the sarcasm in there? I certainly hope so... we are sooooo far from perfect it isn't even funny.... and then it is!)

Soooo... that's it for my "put down in black and white" goals. Everything else I will let rattle in my head and see what sticks. It's like the lottery! I never know what is going to come out and make itself known. "Hey! I'm that goal you thought about making! Remember me? Well, I'm here to do something! Wanna give it a shot?" It makes every day just that much more exciting!

This in no way should reflect my spirituality or what I learned at Stake Conference this weekend....

Some observations from  Stake Conference this weekend:

1) "Adult" session in no way infers that all who attend are, in fact, adults. My husband's and my attendance at said meeting proves this fact.

2) We are a very long way off from having the "Heavenly Home" the speaker referred to. (A home where there is no arguing? Is there such a place? I have a very hard time believing there are any normal marriages on the earth today where there isn't SOME arguing, whether voices are raised or not.)

3) I have about a 38 minute attention span when sitting on a hard, cold, metal folding chair.

4) Stake Conference begins at 10AM twice a year for as long as I can remember, and we arrive at about 10:18 twice a year for as long as I can remember. Apparently time gets sucked into some otherworldly vortex on Stake Conference Sunday at our house and we absolutely cannot make it any earlier than 10:18.

5) Old people don't just cough, they hack up a lung and part of their upper digestive tract. Please, oh please don't let me get old!

6) Old people are physically unable to whisper.

7) If the hymn is taken too slow, my  husband will sing it at his own tempo and finish about 2 minutes earlier than the rest of the congregation, causing me to laugh, rendering me unable to complete the song at all, and making me have to use the bathroom. And he says I'm irreverent when I sing "Come, Come ye saints.... no toilet paper here..."

8) I am very sure now that there is no possible way on earth I could have been a sane mother of 5 or more children. Or 4 or more.... or maybe 3....

9) I wish I could still pack a church bag with fruit loops and crayons and cars and fruit snacks and books....

10)  I have about a 38 minute attention span.... (oh, did I mention that already? Well, it's true.)

Stuck in my head....

Holy Loads of Snow, Batman!

I got up at 7:00 AM this morning to shovel snow so my son could get out to his ride and so my husband could drive his car. (He's been sick so I didn't want him shoveling anything today. Wow. What a great wife I am. Too bad he never reads this blog!)

When I saw how much snow there was- over a foot where we live- and how much sidewalk I had yet to shovel- we live on a corner- and how little snow I could get with each shovelfull, I thought I'd better think of a song to sing to make the work go faster. (After all, I'm always telling my son to sing a happy song while he does his chores. "It makes it so much more fun!" Ya, I know- one of those made-up-parent kind of sayings. I figured I'd better practice what I preach lest I be labled a hypocrite.)

A hymn popped into my head. I don't usually think of hymns, but today I did, and it was a beauty:

Does the journey seem long-
The path rugged and steep-
(And here's where I got very creative in my song-thinking-capabilities... hold on to your seats...)
Are there piles of snow in your way?

Does the load heavy seem-
You are called now to (something....)
Is there no one your burden to share?

Just then, my son popped his head out of the front door, and with his red boots on, he came out to help me shovel! He even let me have the good shovel!

2 hours of shoveling later, I am sitting here in my warm house with a heating pad on my back because the very last shovel full I bent down to scrape up some ice and twinged my back a bit.

But, school was cancelled for my son, the walks are all clear... for a few hours anyway... and I have hot chocolate in my tummy. And a hymn stuck in my head for the next several hours. Yay!

 

Pot calling the kettle.... and A Very Mayan Christmas.

This morning as I was perusing blogs I was getting frustrated because my blogging buddies don't blog anymore.

"Come On!" I thought., "You gotta give me something to read here, people!"  I'm sick in bed with some stomachy thing today. I need entertainment.

Then I realized it's been a while since I last posted. I am guilty.

So, here is today's post.

A Very Mayan Christmas

It seems many people I've talked to this year are going the direction of "Less is More" in their Christmas preparations.

My sister is using the cute idea of :
Something you want,
something you need,
something to wear,
and something to read.

I, myself, am simplifying things around here as well. I only put up one tree this year. The "Family" tree with all the old ornaments and cute homemade ones didn't get put up this year. I just didn't feel like the hassel. I also didn't put up all the knick-knacks and do-dads. Just one tree, and 3 wooden Santas my brother made. I felt guilty at first, but the thought of how quickly everything will get put away eases my mind considerably. 

It got me thinking: Did the Mayans cut back on Christmas before their civilization was wiped out? Hmmm...  Anyway, back to the post.

Then there's the whole Santa thing. Since it's not really an issue in our house anymore, *sniff sniff*,  I haven't done as much in that department. I promised my son, however, that we would never forget Santa comes and he will always get something from him on Christmas.

I've been in a good Christmas spirit, though. I've just been incredibly laid back this year. It remains to be seen if this is a good or bad thing at this point. Will neighbor gifts be made and delivered? Will shopping be finished? My sewing machine has been out of commission, so I haven't spent hours and hours in the sewing room. What is happening this year??? Your guess is as good as mine at this point!

One thing has changed dramatically, however. My husband.... now, hold on to your seats here.... ACTUALLY went shopping last Saturday for my Christmas present. He has NEVER gone before 5pm on Christmas ever... like, EVER!!!

Maybe the Mayan calendar is true! Maybe the world really is coming to an end! I didn't go crazy for Christmas, and the hubby planned something in advance!

What will happen next? The toilet seat will be left down??? Who knows???!!!!

And the "BEST Mom of the Day" award goes to....

This morning I woke up with the sun shining in my face. I felt incredibly rested. What a miracle, I must have slept so soundly I woke up before the alarm clock and I feel great! 

Wait a minute....  the sun is shining and I feel rested.... and it's not a Saturday????

Ya. I forgot to set my alarm and we all slept in until 8:30!!!!

Oh, that's not the best part. I run in to wake the kid up and see he is already almost dressed, realizing himself that I had forgotten to wake up. (Yes, he's a golden child.)

I run into my room to get dressed and realize... he's going to be almost an hour late to school, and what would be the point of taking him for just a few hours. So, I though-I'll be "Awesome Mom" and ran in to tell him "Hey, you get to take the day off!"

But, then I realized he missed Wednesday for being sick and he has tests today and... well, not the best day to miss. So I ran back in and told him "Never mind! You get to go to school today!"

Well, he didn't freak out, but he wasn't happy with me. I threw my arms up and said "Hey, I dont' know what the heck I'm doing, ok? Just roll with it."

So, ya, all my mom-credibility is blown.

I love being a parent sometimes.

Family time

I had a fantastic oportunity on Saturday to wake up at 5AM and drive with my dad and my brother and sister to Rexburg, Idaho for my cousin's wedding. (Ok, the waking up part wasn't fantastic. In fact, I only got about an hour of sleep that night. Fun!)

The coolest part was that we haven't been together like that for years and years... like, before any of us kids were married! It reminded me of what a wonderful family I have, and how we're all weird, and nothing every really changes! Well, my brother doesn't tease me as much, and my little sister now knows she really IS a girl, and not a boy like I always tried to convince her she was. (She's proven it by having 4 kids. I think she may be more of a girl than I am, actually.)

Thanks, guys. I love you!!!
 

I'm a lucky, bad mother!

The other day, I was having one of "those" days. You know- the kind where you are on the edge of insanity and just know you are going to snap at any moment. Nothing in particular makes you crazy, but everything makes you crazy. Unfortunately, being a mother, the offspring tends to become the scapegoat for all my irritations.

"Why do you have to eat your dinner by categories? Why can't you have a bit of this, a bite of that- enjoy the whole meal as it was intended?"

or

"Is it so hard to just do your math first and THEN your spelling?" (Ya, like it really matters what homework he does first, right? See, I told you I was going crazy!)

Well, on this particular day I was trying to get dinner ready. My son sensed my obvious verge of breakdown behavior and snapped into action before I knew it.  I turned to get the plates I'd set on the table and they were gone. My blood began to boil. SOMEONE TOOK THE PLATES ON PURPOSE!!! ( Hear twigs beginning to snap in my brain?)  Suddenly, a plate is thrust in my hands. It is full of food. Someone is pulling out my chair for me to sit. Someone is gently patting my shoulders to help me sit down, and my plate of piping hot food is placed in front of me. Then another plate is brought to the table for my husband. I realize no one was trying to drive me to an early grave. IT was just my sweet son trying to help calm his mommy!

I watched- probably with my mouth wide open in astonishment- as he dished himself up a plate and sat down. We said the prayer, and I was still sitting there with my mouth agape.

My son. My sweet, sweet boy-soon-to-be-man  was taking care of his mommy! My insanity melted away.

My husband says I never feel guilt. That, my friends, is not entirely true. On this day, the guilt cloud hanging over my head turned into a giant snowstorm. (We got 8 inches here! Seriously!) I felt guilty for ever snapping at my kid. For ever picking on anything he has ever done. EVER! He is a good kid. I am a bad mother. But, I am sure a lucky, bad mother!

Since then, I've been trying to look at all the little things he does that are so wonderful. There are a lot. And I am such a lucky, bad mother!