I like the way you work it (out)

I have lost 4 pounds and a total of 2 1/4 inches since mid-January.  Improving my appearance and increasing my fitness never happens as quickly as I want it to, but I'm happy to have made some progress.  My Wii Mii (say it out loud, it sounds funnier) still looks like she's got a little junk in her proverbial trunk, but at least when I stand on the Fit balance board to be weighed before exercising, I always hear "That's Normal!" at the end.

Now if I could just (said in a forboding voice) --

"Step Away from the Cookies."

A Mother's Lament

A few weeks ago I had one of THOSE weekends. Do any of you SAHMs know what I'm talking about? I felt ill-used, under-appreciated, and totally ignored.

I was frustrated that my current church calling is one that only the Bishop and the choir director care about. Being the ward choir accompanist is something people notice only if you make a huge mistake while the choir sings or if you don't show up. I know I've had my ups and downs in the Primary callings I've held recently, but at least people showed up for what I prepared when I was doing that. Our poor choir has only women who come regularly, and one man about every other week - so more than once I have practiced a song for two weeks or more, only to have it scrapped because we don't have enough men to pull it off.

I was tired of doing so many things for so many people and never getting thanked. It made me so mad that I felt I had to thank Nathan for brushing someone's teeth or changing Rachel's diaper, but when I do the same things it's just part of the job description. That's not to say he expected to be thanked, it's because I wanted to thank him for the help - I just wished he and the kids wanted to thank me for the help too. When I leave to go Visiting Teaching or on errands or choir practice I felt like I have to have all the ducks in a row before I leave, with any combination of feeding, dressing, washing, and getting to bed completed. I wished Nathan was able to do the same for me before he leaves too.

I had a good cry and told Nathan how I felt, and he has tried to tell me more that he appreciates the things I do since then.

Don't get me wrong. I am grateful I can stay home. I am grateful I don't have to work. I am grateful I have a church calling that doesn't require a lot of time away from home. I am grateful Nathan can work from home so I can go Visiting Teaching and run errands without dragging my kids along. I'm grateful for our health and for our (mostly) well-behaved kids and for our free country.

I don't need a lot of Stuart Smalley Daily Affirmation comments from you, my friends and loyal readers, because this is old news, and I assure you, I'm mostly over this. However, I did want to share because I know how often we assume others don't feel like we do. Many women see the smiling outside and assume it matches the inside. I just want everyone to know I have my bad days too!!!

Or maybe my outside isn't as smiling as I assumed it was and you all already knew that...

I am mad at someone's kid. Maybe yours?

I knew it was time to blog, but I just haven't felt too bloggy recently. Then I got messages from two different people this afternoon saying it's time to blog, so....

Things have been same old, same old. Rachel's still sleeping well, and has spaced out her feeding schedule to only 5 or so times a day, so that has been good. For President's Day Nathan and I took Cassie and Braden up to Wolf Creek Ski Area and taught them how to ski. We were amazed at how well they learned! By midmorning they were already to tackle the bunny hill off the 'real' chair lift. Plus, they lasted from 9:15 till 3:30, which is some kind of stamina for a beginner! They loved it and are still asking when we can go again.

Today I left to take some friends out to a birthday lunch, and when we returned I found this on my garage door.

Yes, folks, that's red marker. I thought it was Crayola washable, but when I took the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser to it, the ink hardly budged. I don't know who the culprit is. Most of the kids on our street (including the artwork's namesake, Brendan) are in school all day, so unless it was done before school and I just didn't notice it, I'm not sure who to blame. Braden has been questioned, but he did his vacuuming job (without a timer today!) all afternoon, so we're pretty sure it isn't him. BUT CAN YOU GUESS HOW ANGRY I AM????

This doll tastes just like...

So, Rebecca has been playing at my feet here in the den, and I haven't been paying attention. Until I looked over and saw that what I'd been hearing for the last five minutes was her version of The Adventures of Cherry Cheesecake, her doll that looks like this:

Compassion

After church Sister B, the Primary Music leader came up to me and asked if Cassidy was OK and if she had said anything about being upset after Primary. I warily responded, "No...did something happen?" Sister B. said, "I had to get after the boys in her class because they were misbehaving, and after I did I noticed she had tears in her eyes. I would feel so bad if her feelings were hurt, so I wanted to make sure she knew it wasn't her fault." Sister B. went over to Cassidy, put her arm around her, and apologized for upsetting her. The two of them talked for a minute, and parted with a smile.

Later I asked Cassidy for more details. She told me she knew that she hadn't been in trouble and she wasn't upset with Sister B. I replied, "Then why did she think you were about to cry?" I was beyond surprise when Cassie said, "I was upset because I felt so bad for Sister B. and how the boys were treating her. It made me feel sad for her, and that's why I was crying."

Sometimes children surpass their parenting.

Get your Rear in Gear

Braden's chore today: Vacuum the house 

Time elapsed for the first two-thirds: Two and a half hours 

Estimated time wasted talking, giving me progress updates, sitting on the floor, measuring the barstools with his hands, and playing with the vacuum pieces: One hour 

Time elapsed for the last third: Thirty minutes

Lesson learned by Mom: If Braden drags his feet getting his jobs done, all you have to do is say, "I'm setting a timer for thirty minutes. If the rest of your chore isn't done by the time it beeps, you'll be grounded from the Wii tomorrow."

You people should've seen him move!

I love my Clearance

Just got back from returning part of an online order to Kohl's that was the wrong size. As luck would have it, they day I chose to make the return was also one of the first days of the 80% Winter Clearance. Sweeeet!

Among other things, I got 3 Nike track suits for Braden at $6.80 each, a pair of Candie's jeans for Cassie for $6.50, and some Carter's winter pajamas for Becca for $4.50 each. I love to shop clearance and save stuff for next year. Love it, love it, love it.

This entire purchase totaled just $75, including tax. Not bad for 5 complete outfits, 2 pajamas, and two pairs of pants. Now I'm going to take a spending break for the rest of the week and rest on my laurels.

And do you know what thanks I get for my hard work?  None.  I came home, told Nathan I had just found some great deals, and he very disinterestedly said, "Good."  It IS good!