Resolutions

One month into the new year and time for a check-up on my goals.

Lose weight - Doing great on this one. I've been eating much healthier and much less and I am losing weight.

Earn YW Medallion - Progressing here. Accomplished a few achievements this past month and spent 2-3 hours on a project.

Write my grandma's life history - Haven't done a darn thing!

Do major projects early
CPE - I did 8 hours this month.
Christmas cards - I haven't given them a thought
nieces and nephews birthday presents - FINISHED!
Christmas gifts - I haven't given them a thought

Write a book - Haven't done a darn thing!

Get 7 hours of sleep per night - FAILURE! I have managed 7-8 hours on Friday and Saturday nights (I am such a party animal - lol) but weeknights are still about 6 hours.


Conclusion: It seems as though I'm either doing really well on the goals or I'm doing nothing. Maybe I can only focus on so many things at a time.

piano recital

Chandler and McKayla had a piano recital last Monday evening. They both did great.

My intrepid son actually volunteered to be first on the program. He was upset with himself because he messed up the first time through but he got it right the second time through. I was proud of him!

How could I not be proud? They both play better than I do!

Actually, Shanley takes lessons too and also plays better than me. She takes from a different teacher (long story) so she was not in this recital.

creativity

I've been feeling a bit creative lately. I made all these photo holder blocks for my nieces and nephews for their birthdays in 2010. The hope is that they match the decor of their rooms.



The creative "bug" is catching! McKayla and her teammate, Makena (who stayed with us last weekend) caught it and made Utah Glory photo holders.

I also helped them make bottle cap necklaces with their Utah Glory team name and logo.

My creativity has even spread to breakfast. Copying my friend Jill, I made the kids pancakes this morning in the shape of their initials. They loved it!

proper protocol?

What is the appropriate response when your 14-year-old daughter stays after school for some help, asks the teacher if she can use the classroom phone, the teacher tells her "No, I'm in a hurry and need to leave right now", so your daughter must walk home?

No, there are no pay phones in the school.

Yes, I am one of those "mean moms" who doesn't believe every child over the age of 5 deserves a cell phone of their own.

And yes, it was 30 degree weather.


Is the appropriate response:
a) telling your daughter the walk was good for her,
b) calling the teacher and berating her, or
c) calling the main office so the vice-principal can listen to your rant?

Nearly 17 hours later and I am still FUMING!

Book Awards

A few book awards:

Best Romance: Pride and Prejudice

Best Fantasy: the Harry Potter series

Best Adventure: Dead Lucky: Life After Death on Mount Everest

Biggest Impact on My Teen Life: To Kill a Mockingbird

Most Influential: The Book of Mormon

Best Young Adult Fiction: The Hunger Games


These are MY awards - not based on any scientific research. Just my own humble opinion for whatever that is worth.

It might be interesting to note that I have read 63 of the 100 books which were voted the 100 Best Books on www.goodreads.com. My favorites of those I have read many times each. Several more of the 100 books are on my to-read list. Some of the books, I must admit, I have absolutely NO interest in reading!

best son EVER

Those of you who know me or who follow my blog know that I love my oldest son, my missionary son, Brakston.

Let me just brag for a minute more. He is never forgetful. He tells us everything. He loves to surprise us.

Okay. Okay. I really only believe the last one is true.

For example, imagine the surprise Kevin and I felt yesterday when mail from an Arizona hospital came. We opened it to find an emergency room bill for a visit on January 14th.

Huh? Who? What? Huh?

Oh, yeah. It must be our missionary son. Really? Is he back in the hospital? What now? How come we find out from a bill?

You might have laughed if you had seen Kevin and I poring over each line item on the bill trying to decipher what it meant? (i.e. "It says hydration pack. Do you think that's standard or was he dehydrated?" "Morphine. Do you think he was in a lot of pain or did they need to give it to him in order to stick tubes down him or something?)

I think "someone's son" is getting a bit of a lecture in tomorrow's email.



--scrappinsoccermama wonders if he was trying to be an adult (and not have mom worry) or whether he just forgot (I mean, it was six WHOLE days between the ER visit and his next chance to email and Brakston is NOT known for his memory).

uncool

I am NOT cool! But at least I recognize it and don't try to act like I am -- at least most of the time I don't.

Last Friday one of my students asked me to call him "Nate-dog". Here's how it went.

Me: I can't pull off "dog". It's just not my personality.

Nate: Sure you can!

Me: No, really, I can't. I'm not a "dog" type person.

Nate: I think you can. You seem cool. Give it a try.

Me: No, I'm not cool. I'm not sure I was ever cool but I definitely haven't been for years.

Nate: C'mon. One time.

Me: (stupid me) Okay, Nate-dog.

Nate: (laughing) You're right. You can't pull it off.



Great. Now I'm not only uncool but I'm also embarrassed.