Pinewood Derby

Post Race Face!

Packing it for the Race ......Pit Crew.....1st place Winning Racer

1st place Winning Car

Git'r done Tuesday

Today was a Bonus Git 'r done day!

(Since it was a 5th Tuesday)

We got fitted for

BRAS!

I know you've all seen the Oprah shows where

she gives woman BRA make overs.

Well a couple of years ago I saw one of those shows

and decided that I'd "do it after the first of the year"

well.....I never got around to it......until

TODAY!

In days leading up to today, I was second guessing myself.

How could I be another size?

What could they tell me that I didn't already know?

You know that sort of thing.

I needed this fitting

I was not wearing the right size BRA!

I'd recommend it to everyone!

so GO

Don't be shy ~ these ladies were 'fitting'

alot of women while they were fitting us.

It's their job, they've seen it all before!

We went to Nordstrom's

they had a lot of styles in our sizes to pick from.

We stopped by Victoria's Secret just to see what they had

and they didn't carry our sizes!?!?

Sunday Thoughts

Today all the lessons seem to fit along the same theme. I don't think they planned it that way BUT it just worked out this way.

How would it effect your life if you knew,

really KNEW that God Loved you?

How would it effect your thoughts if you knew,

really KNEW that God Loved you?

How would it effect your relationship with others if you knew,

really KNEW that God loved you?

How would it effect your relationship with others if you knew,

really KNEW that God loved them?

Saturday on the Prairie

SIDE NOTE~ I'm sorry about the spacing of this post, but I've worked on it for a great while and it just won't space right! sorry ......

We started out early, and I mean early for these boys. We left at 7am! and DROVE and DROVE and DROVE!

Our GPS told us once we got on a our major Prairie Highway that we had 104 miles until we turned. Good we settled in, set the cruise control and DROVE!

Seems at 104 miles there was a major Prairie Highway intersection, the GPS old us to stay on the Prairie Highway we were already on and reset itself.

Just how can that be??

Once it reset for the next 30something miles.

We settle in again, set the cruise control and DROVE!

It wasn't rainy, it wasn't snowy, but there was a low cloud deck. At the 30something mile we started to see these huge poles but couldn't see what was at the top. Slowly more and more poles and THEN.... we began to see something dipping out of the clouds. It was as if we were in an scary alien movie.

We were so busy being scared (OK mostly me but I wasn't driving) we missed out 30something turn off!

Just how can this be??

We made it, with plenty of time to spare.

Made it where you ask???

W had a PowerLifting competition!

his final weight on the dead lift was 445 pounds.

HE SET 3 STATE RECORDS! That boy is a freakish beast!

Oh and there was this .....

I kept thinking that this poor boy had a hole in his singlet

and on his hiney no less!

BUT the front was marked with Georgia, it's a peach!

OK this little prairie town we went to.....

there was just something odd about it. It was super small.

There were 2 choices of eating places, DQ and Pizza Hut.

The School was really old, stone but had an amazing football field and track, there was a modern, state of the art activity center, and when we drove around most of the houses were brand new.

Just how can this be?

I couldn't figure out why or how people were moving in this town. There didn't seem to be any big business to have a town that was growing, thus people having new houses AND the new houses weren't in subdivisions. They just along the old streets with a few older homes sprinkled in.

Something just didn't fit with this town.

As we leaving we stopped at DQ to eat, there was plaque that stated

DQ survived the "prairie town" tornado of 2001.

It all began to make since, everything was about 10 years old! New houses sprinkled in along with older ones, along the old streets... it all made since now.

As we drove home, we once again drove by the alien objects dipping out of the clouds only this time the clouds were higher.

I still can't look at them without having that alien thought come into my mind!

After a long drive back home we got home around 9:20pm. I went to bed and the boys all went out!?!

life on Thursday

I always like to do some sort of learning field trip during spring break. So today G, his friend and I went to the Money Museum in the Federal Reserve.

Before entering the Reserve, we had to go through security! I tried to take a picture of the boys walking through, but I was quickly informed that I could not take pictures of the security system. This included any of the camera bubbles, believe me this was not an easy task, there were camera bubbles all over the ceiling and all over the walls! A brick of Gold We got to see how heavy it was (by pulling a lever) and how much it was currently worth. The history of coins

Make our own money with our picture in it!

See what several million dollars looked like!

Then of course the most exciting part for the boys was the watching the operations of the vault!

Of course no picture taking there!

It's was all computerized with robot fork lifts.

The fork lifts were named

Hewie, Dewie and Lewie

they ran on sensors in the floor.

They went up and down this long hall, picking up and

delivering money to the work rooms!

We got to watch one of the work rooms.

The room with $20s and $1's

We'd started our day with lunch at Ryan's

(Gabe's favorite that no one ever goes for)

WOW that trip there was enough to hold me for awhile.

Wednesday ~ Git 'r done

Today we were without Caroline. So it was a Git it done day.

I had a lot of appointments to make. My insurance is just about to change. YES I've already made my deductible (with my shoulder) BUT due to the high cost of health insurance I need to change my policy.... New policy New deductible! I wanted to get all the appointments I could before my new policy takes effective!

Moved my rugs outside to shake. That was a great idea UNTIL the wind turned chilly.

I gave G the job to clean the bathroom floor. He did a great job! He's a great worker. He used a technique that I didn't plan on BUT it got the job done just the same!

Sweet Caroline

I've been singing Sweet Caroline the past couple of days! OK, rather poorly but still singing just the same.

We (G is on spring break so he's included) have been babysitting Little Caroline. Her mother has pulled a muscle in her back so Caroline has come to play at our house. Caroline is 3, very independent, VERY friendly (so much that I worry about her, she'd go to anyone anywhere without a second throught), very cute and very sweet!

This morning when I walked in her house, she turned to her mom and said, "I'm going with Shelly, she my new best friend" my heart just melted. I'd take that girl anywhere!

I hope we get Sweet Caroline tomorrow! OH I hope her mom is getting better too, but really she could just come to play anyway!

Life on Thursday

I was off and running this morning after putting on my GREEN shirt (Happy St Patrick's Day), I went to visit a friend, went to set up the church for tonight, then I headed to volunteer at G's AR store.

They get points for reading and then they can redeem those points for items. There is always a bigger item, a field trip that they can save their points for and purchase in the spring. I believe there is something smaller in the fall (maybe a movie). Today was the day they could redeem their points so I worked the store for an hour.

It was horribly humid outside and the temp was rising. I actually turned the AC on as I was driving. There was a strong wind and usually that blows the humidity out of here but not today! Shewww it was sticky.

I came home, piddle around when I got just absolutely exhausted. I laid down and SLEPT. I might not have told you this but I was discovered by W, so I might as well fess up! I NAPPED and it FELT GOOD!

Then I watched W watch the NCAA tourny. Our family, as usual filled out their brackets (the deadline was Tuesday, yes there was a deadline this year for your bracket to be posted on the frig!?) and now they sit and watch their bracket fall apart! I believe at one point I heard W state, "This is alot of stress! I don't think I can take it."

Then it was time to run again. Tonight was Relief Society's Monthly Meeting. (Relief Society is our woman's group at church) It was an easy going evening, the ladies were encouraged to bring items that they just never got around to doing and get them done! There were sewing machines set up so there was sewing, there was sorting of pictures, there was logging family history into a computers and then there was just sitting around and visiting! We then had several ladies share some of the preparedness tips.

Wordless Wednesday ~ G on Safari

Safari is the theme for their State Testing

Their creative teacher made these pictures

Git 'r Done Tuesday

Today was

Git 'r Done Tuesday

at my house!

WOW! I loved it!

On any Tuesday I start early with a list and just start marking things off. Today's mode was a if I open a draw I look to see if there is something I can do to make it better.

Can I throw it away? Can I donate something?

Today, I was mostly in the Kitchen this morning.

I loaded the dishwasher, did a quick look through the refrigerator, tossing old things, quickly wiping down the shelves. Swept the floor, wiped down all the counters. Then I moved over to the china cabinet for a quick couple of minutes. I worked on the drawers, ALOT got tossed there!

I love to toss things!

Around noon Stephanie brought a yummy lunch from Molly's Table.

Vegetarian lasagna (with chicken???), a roll and a salad.

Then we got to work.

First upstairs. I had Stephanie work on packing up quilts, and baby clothes. I had purchased tubs months ago so it all had a place, I just needed her to put things in them! I worked on a shelf in the room. There was a ton tossed! and a ton donated! I loved working up there!

Then we came down to the kitchen again. Stephanie and I wiped down my cabinet doors. She's tall so she got the top ones and I got the lower ones.

The last thing ... I set Stephanie up on Facebook.

Even W and G got in on the Git 'r Done mode.

While we were upstairs W replaced a light for me and G (& I) carried all the toss/donate items down from up stairs.

Then G did it!

he swept out the garage without being asked!?

Miracles do happen!

Monday's Ramble ~ in Pictures

It's actually a bright day,

it's the snow blowing vertically that causes the haziness.....

It's March 14th for Heaven sake.......

Next week is the first day of spring .....

There is HOPE,

the rest of the week is suppose to be nice!

Can I just say?

It's just sicken to watch all the devastation of today's news of Japan's Earthquake and the resulting tsunami all over the Pacific rim.

I'm just glad that an Earthquake it's not a constant worry of mine.

I live in tornado ally, that is somewhat of a concern of mine for about 6 to 8 months out of the year. I would and do take tornado alley over an earthquake any day! Seriously, I know when a tornado could be coming. Like today, the weather is beautiful, sunny, mighty breezy but not the weather for a tornado! Earthquakes come anytime, right out of the blue!

I'll be joining all of you in your prayers for the people of Japan.

Tuesday's Git 'r Done, Red Flag & PEO Meeting

This morning was really working on a list.

Order credit reports DONE
Update Blog - DONE on Wednesday
Find a skating rink DONE
Submit bills to Insurance DONE
Clean up the bill paying mess DONE
Take Hubby's car to shop for recalls DONE
Supper (Potato soup and grilled sandwiches) DONE
Clean on shelf of the freezer, Clean the lazy Susan, work on decluttering upstairs ~ can wait until next week!

RED FLAG

Just as I was rushing out the door, the phone was ringing. I didn't have time to answer it but I was drawn to it. I did answer it and it was a (major) business trying to confirm an online purchase by Hubby. Hummmm?? While I had them on the phone I got hubby on my cell phone. Someone was trying to use Hubby's credit card. The amount was not a large amount (under $200) but some thing about the transaction had sent up red flags and they were calling to confirm. Hubby and I both confirmed that it was not us attempting the transaction and the the transaction was denied. I'm so glad I was drawn to answer THAT phone call!

PEO Meeting ~
I finally made it to my PEO meeting, LATE. I'm not a Late person (but I guess I'm glad I was today). I made a point to meet someone new in the group today. The theme was "Games we use to play". These ladies are all older than me, WAY older than me. They'd all played the games that I'd play, but still it was fun! Then the best part, they are great cooks.... we had coconut cream pie for refreshments!

Monday Hoops ~ Losing

Tonight was the championship game for G.

They lost, it was a really close game for most of the game but in the end they just couldn't keep it up until the very end.

I believe the score was 30 to 27.

It was a great season, with a couple of great games to end it on!

Sunday Thoughts ~ quotes to think about

**Just be the Best you Can
**Take Personal Responsibility for our improvement
**Be a Witness of the Savior constantly
**Temples .. are leading you to the path of perfection
**always have a prayer in your heart
**Create Zion on our hearts and homes
**To thy own self be true
**Ponder your values and standards, are they virtuous?
**Never too late to repent
**Have a seamless life (be undivided)
**What have I learned from the recent dip in the economy?
**How to stay strong ...

*keep the Sabbath day Holy*

*have a current Temple recommend*

*have family home evening, family prayer, family scripture*

*be more faithful in studying the scriptures*

Saturday Hoops Win!

Saturday started the playoff games for G. Fortunately they've started splitting up the teams into Divisions. This means alot less games if you're winning.

The only game they won this year was coached by W. W stepped into coach, when their coach was off somewhere else. He said it was stressful! This was good experience for W and G since they're thinking that W and Hubby will coach G's team next year. I hope this all works out. It will be a male bonding experience for all of them!

Funny

Git 'r Done Tuesday

Today is the first of what I hope are many "Git 'r Done" days.

My friend, Stephanie have set aside every other Tuesday afternoon as a day to get those things done that done ever seem to get done!

Today we were at her house and she got to pick what we work on. She choose that we work on her family history. Help get things lined out. I was to teach her how to check things out and set her on her way! It's little bites for her, so we worked together and I gave her a small assignment!

BUT before I left for her house, I'd made a list last night AND I needed to get that list done this morning! I think that entire list had something to do with PAPER! and as I went through the pile of PAPER, I found other things that could be easily taken care of! Can I just say online banking and online bill pay are GREAT things!

I loved the feeling as I left home .... with my pile of mail to be mailed, paper sorted, and my recycling to be recycled. It felt SOOOoooo good to get things done and then go help some one else get things done!

Monday Ramblings ~ everything

OK, there have been some note worthily things going on .....

**I didn't fair too well, after my long walk last weekend. I just think it's too soon to be jarring this shoulder! Heavy Sigh! I'll still on to the walk, but will do what I can on a shorter route. I've not mentally wrapped my mind around this yet, but when my body dictates I have to listen! Maybe things will change once I get to the point that I work on strengthening all these muscles. I have hope!

**I subbed 2 mornings last week. The first one, I just about froze! When I left I told the office that I believe this was the coldest room I'd ever been in!! That's when they told me that the janitor had just discovered the AC was on in that room! The next morning I was subbing in Preschool! That's always fun! Yea, I get paid to monitor play dough play!

**I worked through my taxes yesterday and this morning in order to get the FAFSA done.

**It snowed again! a couple of inches, but by this time of this year.... who cares?

**Our big TV went out!?!? That's bad for the boys, that's the TV they watched. I had the satellite man (who we called since the satellite wasn't' working) switch the satellite to the upstairs little TV. Now the combination of the TV, couch and electric warming blanket are just an invitation to a nap!

Sunday Thoughts ~ Gratitude

Today our Lesson in Relief Society, was on Gratitude.

We were reminded of the story of the 10 lepers. Remember? The Lord healed all 10 lepers but only one returned to Him the Thank Him. He asked, where are the other 9? I try very hard to not be in those 9, I always want to be thankful and to have a thankful heart. It's alittle more difficult than that though!

We were challenged at the end of the lesson to give a quiet thanks for things as we see them. We have always been taught to have a prayer in our hearts now our challenge is have a prayer of gratitude in our heart all the time.

I hope I can create a grateful heart and continual grateful prayer in my heart.

I know that if work on this all the other problems (or what I consider problems) will become smaller.

Wordless Wednesday ~ Fruit Snack Over Dose!

Monday's Ramblings ~ things heard from my boys

#1
Yesterday Hubby spoke in Church, during his talk he stated that he was about to quote the Chinese Philosophiser, Confucius. Just as Hubby was stating this G turned to me and started laughing, saying .."Dad shouldn't speak in Chinese, he really needs to stick to English."

HUH?? Silly Boy
#2
Today, I texted W asking him if he was going to be home for supper?

W's text ~ "yes, I'll be there, and G really needs a hair cut today"
I stopped to make sure it was W I was chatting with, I though maybe it was Hubby, but no it was W!
Me ~ "G is in a long hair stage right now"
story enhanced ~ last night we had a thunderstorm and G went downstairs to sleep in W's room.
W ~ "He walked into my room last night with only his underwear on and it looked like he had a motorcycle helmet on."

I started laughing hysterical, I couldn't look at poor G with his puffy hair. I then told him we had to 'shape up' his hair.

When I texted W back to say the job was done, he asked "How short?"

Background to the next story .....Last year around Christmas W was shopping and signed up to get Sports Illustrated for free (for 3 mos), Sports Illustrated sent us a card about making sure it was cancelled by Feb 1st. I was hopped up on shoulder narcotics around then so the subscription continued. G has just absorbed this magazine every week. So I went to the Library to get some Sports Illustrated for Kids. He liked those so I got him a subscription to that and planned to cancel the regular Sports Illustrated after March Madness's College Basketball issues.

#3
I was totally waiting for the Sports Illustrated swim suit edition so I could make sure that G didn't get it! Fortunately for us the mail came early that day and we were in the car together when G got it out of the mailbox. With only the swiftness of a mom on a mission, I swooped in and grabbed the magazine before the boy even knew what had hit him! I hid all the mail until the next morning after G had gone to school! When I pulled out the pile of mail and handed it to Hubby, his eye got huge! in a stern voice he asked, "Who bought this?" I reminded him that we had a subscription .... with even bigger eyes ...."They send THIS with the little kid's subscription?" I corrected his thoughts before his eyes fell out of this head! He was so funny!

Sunday Thoughts ~ Forgiveness

Today the talks in church were concerning Forgiveness.

WOW just this week I was holding a grudge... More of a "I'm not going to be nice until you say you're sorry" attitude! Today the words took care of that!

**"I, the Lord will forgive whom I will forgive BUT you are required to forgive ALL"
**To be in the right we must forgive
**Forgiveness is an individual responsibility
**Peace and forgiveness are intertwined
**with what you judge you shall also be judged

After Church G and I were going to visit our new temple site. I called my friend Stephanie a couple of time to see if she wanted to go with us, but she didn't answer! Just before I left, I called her house phone, she answered and she and her husband wanted to go. I was abit surprised that her husband wanted to go, but the more the merrier!

I'm excited to tell you that it takes exactly 1 hour (from our church's parking lot) to get to the temple. Currently we drive 4 hours! What a huge blessing it will be to have a temple so close!

As we were driving around the temple site, snapping pictures. The car started shaking, there was something wrong with a tire. Stephanie's husband discovered we had a couple of bubbles on our tire. I suppose the belt separated on the drive up there. As Stephanie and walked around the temple, G and Stuart changed the tire. Just another Tender Mercy from the Lord!

Life on Thursday ~ Hallelujah all Day!

Hallelujah it was a great workout! I walked 4.1 miles in an hour! It's still not 1/2 marathon speed but it's getting there! I needed a great workout since my pants are getting tight! Blasted Valentine's Candy!

Then off to the grocery store in all my stinky mess!

I came home to find W still at home. I could tell by his truck still in the drive. I had done a step class yesterday so I was too sore to really go downstairs to see what was wrong. I finally did go, groaning all the way! He had just over slept.

Then to make the most Hallelujah salad for tonight, love love love it!

Laundry laundry Laundry Laundry.


I must say it was a Hallelujah record setting day. Sunny and 75 by 1pm!
I believe last Thursday was a record setting day too, but for the opposite reason! Not so much a Hallelujah day, but that was last week!

Then back to church to set up for tonight's Relief Society Meeting. Home to shower and head back to church.


The Meeting was on Exercise "Run and Not be Weary, Walk and Not faint" it the famous Michelle, of friend, Y trainer fame gave the talk.

She talked about how we don't do the things we used to do, like sit on the floor. Why don't we do that? We should make an effort to sit on the floor and practice getting up. Why don't we skip? Skipping is great exercise. Ok, I can sit on the floor and get up. I don't look too graceful getting up but I can get up. SKIPPING? Nah, I'm not going to do that! There are alot of things that at 45 year old woman just can't pull off, and skipping seems to be in that category!

She talked about setting goals? What is a realistic goal? and what are you going to do to attain it. Daily do something to move you closer to your goal, plus make a change in your diet for the better.

We had healthy snacks, Quinoua, salad, and Hummus.


Side note ... After much prayer about tonight (earlier this week) I was prompted to share an event where I felt the blessing of being fit and why I feel like it's important to be fit. I won't share the whole story, but it really comes down to we never know when we'll be asked to "Run and not be weary, Walk and not faint" we have to prepared for that. There was a day a few years ago that my son needed me to be somewhere, it was important to him to have me there. Time was running short, and I had to jog to get there, through a series of events I had to jog much further than I'd really planned on. I was able to do it because I had prepared physically. Even though I've not been as fit through the years the Lord has always reminded me of that day, and reminded me of the importance to always be prepared phyiscally.

Mrs Honeybee!

Today I was subbing in Kindergarten. It's really amazing to me just how fast and how distorted little Kindergartners can change my name! Today I was Mrs Honeybee! It really depends on the child on their level of understanding my name. Some give me that quizzical look, then try to remember my name before saying it, some just rattle what they think they heard.

I think it's really a pretty great name, Mrs Honeybee. It would make the other teachers smile when they would hear my class call me!

Subbing today was a desperate call. Out of the 6 kindergarten teachers only 2 where there today and well. I don't know where all the subs were BUT I was the only one that could make it. Well, I switched my schedule after the 2nd phone call. One teacher held out a half day before she left and the other's class had about 8 or 9 kids out sick so they just divided up the rest of her class. Even at G's school he said they sent home almost an entire 5th grade class! Unfortunetly not his, the class next to his!

Good/Strange thing about this all of the sick teachers seem to have something different. My teacher had pink eye! Yes, my eyes were itchy all day once I found that out!

Monday Ramblings ~ Camera Purge

My camera doesn't talk to my computer!?! Both work great independently of each of they just can't get it together (it's a union thing I'm sure!). Most of the pictures I post here are from my phone, but I do still take pictures with my camera and when I have time I put the memory card in Hubby's laptop, download the pictures then burn a disc and move them in to my computer! Not a horrible process but still a process!

Here are some great shots from the latest Camera Purge ...

G's New Year's Party ~

The boys at Midnight

(Just after their fireworks)

Twister!

Obviously I'm not the only one taking pictures ~

Ya, I created that

or should I say I gave birth to that!

He created THAT!

Outside my Bedroom Window ~

What you can't see is the Cat lurking around the tree!

My animals love me! ~

Last month I was hanging the last set of new curtains in my bedroom. When I started there wasn't anyone outside the window. By the time I finished they were both there, with their tail wagging!

Happy Valentine's Day

G's super cute, clever and fun Valentine's for his class!
I can call them that cuz I didn't think of the idea I stole it from some else's blog!

Sunday Thoughts ~ Pride

Today our Bishop spoke to us. He spoke on Pride and the damage it can do in our lives.

Pride leads to .....

selfishness
We should have our lives focused on doing what the Lord wants of us, not what can we do for ourselves or what is best for us.

Contention
All arguing should stop! It tears relationships apart.


I'm sorry that I didn't take notes today, there were some great quotes!

Being Social

Tonight was the 2nd Saturday night in a row that I was out past 9pm!

I know that's shocking.

I took naps for both of them.

I know that's sad!

Last week I went to a baby shower that started at 6:30pm.

It was supper, games and then fun baby things.

Tonight I went to the Y's Winter Gala. I don't know why it's the Winter Gala, there isn't a summer Gala, or even a Spring or Fall Gala, but it is the Winter Gala. My friend Stephanie purchased a table and I got to have a seat at the table. The food was good, the company was good so it was all good.

our dark picture of the night!

There was a silent auction, I didn't bid on things, until the very end. Friend, Trainer, Y employee and Gala organizer, Michelle came to me and asked me to bid a this super cute iron tea cart up. Seems the Area Y director's wife had seen it at the beginning of the night and said she was going home with it, no matter what it cost! Michelle thought it was going too cheap and my job was to run it up! I could only run it up by $10 before the time was up. The director's wife took it home for $141! still way too cheap. That was fun!

Life on Thursday

First things first ... it is Freezing! When we left for school this morning it was ~14!

I subbed today. I've got an on going subbing position with the lower elementary's science teacher. It's on going in the respect that she only calls me to sub for her. Now the truth is her children are grown (youngest is W's age), so she doesn't have sick kids, she isn't sick so I only sub for her when she wants a day off.

Good side of this is... I get advanced warning
Bad side of this....it's not very often.

I taught the Water cycle to 2nd and 1st graders.

Now this lady has been teaching for around 25 years, so her lesson plans aren't very sub oriented. Meaning, it's not enough for a sub. For an hour class I have 2 books to read. NOT ENOUGH. I came up with a couple of other things so I had 45 minutes worth of stuff but still I hate to sing and dance with a class. Oh, well it means that I earn my $$$. I get to go back to they same thing tomorrow but I at least have the singing and dancing down from today!

I do have to say that 1st graders just have a smell to them!?!? They smell farty all the time! OK, not all of them, but today while I was reading a book, I thought I was going to have to open a window! and I have was in a good size room, a huge room in fact... Sheeeszzz it was strong! If a class is going to stink it's going to be a first grade class!

G had a rare Thursday night game this week. They lost! They've finally gotten some more boys on their team. They had 7 to start the season, then one broke his ankle (the coach's son) and one just quite (claiming he just didn't know how to play). This put a strain on the rest of the team. They didn't have any subs and they couldn't miss. I don't what happened but they came up with 2 more players and the kid that broke his ankle got his cast off! So now that the season is almost over they have subs!

I drove through Burger King after the game and it was burgers for all!

Wordless Wednesday ~ Again!

Monday Ramblings ~ Therapy

After surgery I switched therapist. I think the other therapist did a great job but it was a great distance to get there. I now go to a therapist in the same town that G goes to school (and the same town as Walmart). My travel time is greatly reduced. GREATLY!

I've always been leary about this local hospital but I knew I'd been through enough therapy that if I didn't think they were making good progress then I could always go back to the other therapist.

OK, I love this therapist! She massages the tight muscles! If there is a 'catch' when we move my shoulder she'll stop and massage things until the 'catch' is gone! HEAVEN! Remember at this point there isn't scar tissue (or at least not much yet) so now it's just tight muscles keeping the shoulder from moving!

My range of motion is increasing! and I'm happy.

I did start back with exercising this morning right after therapy.....My shoulder is screaming now!

Face Lift or Brighten up

My little blog is about to be 3 years old so I thought it needed a face lift! That AND the fact that we've been snowed in WAAAAYYYY too many times this winter, things needed to brighten up!

Enjoy ~

Sunday Thoughts ~ Thoughts from Julie Beck

Julie B Beck

Today it was my opportunity to create and teach a lesson for a few of the women in our Church Congregation. It's more than a bit overwhelming IF I choose to think about it. This time I took an interview and a talk of Julie B Beck's.

Psst ~ I love this woman.

Quotes from Sister Beck that I love .....

"I believe that when we focus on the important and forgo the frivolous, we gain confidence & our spirits are lifted. We cope better & feel less burdened"

"Our hands are His Hands, Our love is His Love, Our service is His service"

and then my very most favorite piece of direction

"We must ask for a broader vision to see what the Lord sees."

Then there were 3 challenges ..

"What is your Mission?"

"Prioritize your life"

(an example of her system)

When we're ready for new way to
study scriptures,
ask yourself as you read ....

*Who Am I?
*What are my responsibilities in the House of Israel?
*How do I fulfill my responsibilities?

Peripheral.....

Today was G's county spelling bee! He was out in the first round with a miss spelled Peripheral! Drats!

Once came to sit by me, I gave him a pencil and paper where he wrote his attempt at the words. Some good, some wrong!

Here are some of the words that we heard today, how would you do?

Roux
oscillation
apocalyptic
Plantagenet
hermetically
regurgitate
nepotism
tempestuous
quadrilateral
sabotage
froufrou
testimony
despicable
delicacy
impromptu
supremacy
Kelvin
yeti
legalese
jalapeno
Olympiad
abacus
peripheral
rhombus
bombastic
writhe
unkempt
mauve
Farrel
grotesqueness

In true G fashion he pulls out his study list last night at 9pm (bedtime) to start working spelling. REMINDER .... we'd been snowed in for 3 days with the words in his backpack! That's G for ya!

Life on Thursday

W and Hubby finally ventured out after the big Blizzard of 2011. From our house (inside looking out), we fared well. There's not much snow on the field but there are knee high drifts at all the doors! There are places with around a foot (that's not a drift) and then hay popping through in the field. How do you measure when it's like that!

We woke up to -9 degrees (had been down to -14) this morning, no wind! No School for G (hasn't been since Monday).

G and I had a relaxing morning. We downloaded a new game this week, Burger Shop 2, so we took turns playing this but then I wondered to kitchen and mildly cleaned out the frig and then I started in on my long list of phone calls (appointments), and could get G into the eye doctor today, so things picked up for us.

I showered and we were off. This was a big accomplishment for me since this was the first day I had really done things swiftly. My arm ached all through my errands but it's still fine.

G's eye exam ~ he'll be getting new glass

(we're hoping to just order lenses that fit his glass now)

Walmart ~

G and I have been working on these super fabulous Valentines this year!

I can't wait to show you!

lunch ~

our town has a new Burger King

delivered dishes and thank yous

to those that had brought meals to my family while I was out with my shoulder

Post office

Home ~

Only to find out that I'd left the doctor's office without paying. They were going to call my insurance to see if it was in the system and I was suppose to drop right back by there and pay.......totally forgot about it! I'll be stopping by there in the morning!
Tonight's supper will be a simple burgers and fries with carrots with ranch to dip them in!

After 21081600 seconds

After 21081600 seconds, or 351360 Minutes or 5856 hours or 7 months and 30 days

aka 3 surgeries
1 month and 1 week in the hospital
laying most of that time in our bed
reading a pile of books
watching hours and hours of mindless TV
playing countless games of spider solitaire

Hubby is returning to work
only to most likely have a snow day tomorrow and Wednesday!

I have survived

and I have survived well!

This surgery was not as bad as I was prepared for. I seem to do that prepare of the worst!

1 ~My surgeon was 45 minutes late.
2 ~They were able to break it mostly lose by just manipulation but still broke things up arthroscopically. I have two little stitch marks.
3~ I got the most wonderful shoulder block (lasted over 24 hours). I was actually doing a load of laundry Thursday morning. (see #6)
4 ~ I tried to sleep in bed at least one night too soon!
5~ I'm so grateful for my friends that brought food to feed my family.
6~ G got the flu, the throwing up kind.
7 ~ I felt like I was rushed out of the outpatient surgery, it was after 5pm.
8~ I've already had Physical Therapy.
9~ I've realized the bad part of sleeping on the left side of the bed. It's my left arm.
10 ~ When I ripped off the bandage, I ripped a small piece of skin off my back. Seriously, why did this bandage need to go all the way down my back? I've got to get this arm moving cuz this little piece of healing skin is going to itch like crazy!
11 ~ I learned to sleep with that U shaped pillow that I never knew had to sleep with before.
12~ Today, day 4 is the first day that I haven't reached for some sort of medication just after my feet hit the floor. I've still not had any meds.
13~ G being sick does not mean that he was quiet or still.
14~ I briefly decided that I didn't need surgery once the shoulder block doctor told me all the negative things that could happen!
15~ my family took good care of me.

Now I'm off to take a shower, I thought I'd better get this written before the shower since that could change the entire tone of this post!

There will a thaw!

Tomorrow my frozen shoulder will be thawed!

I wish it would just that simple,

but the end result will be the same,

a loose free moving shoulder!

I'll be back in a few days,

(hopefully not all hopped up on drugs and

talkin' crazy) with an update!

Thing that make me go hmmmmm....

After getting a text hours earlier that W was at his friends house playing video games, then getting a text at 5:52am that says W is spending the night at his friend's house.

**At 5:52am I thinking it's morning and about to get up, not thinking about it as a time to decide to 'spend the night' someplace??? Maybe it's an age gap thing?!?

Long overdue Update.......

I'm so tired of having appointments!

They never seem to be where I can do more than one a day, so my current life has been an appointment at either 11am or 12:30pm daily! Drive an hour there, have appointment, then have a small amount of time to get another errand done and then drive the hour back to pick up G from school. That seems to be my life and I'm just sick of it!

I'm a homebody and this isn't the life for a homebody!

There have been some highlights in the past couple of weeks!

Super Speller!

G is the 2nd runner up in the all school Spelling Bee! He'll go on to the County Spelling Bee next month! Silly Boy didn't even realize that he was in the All School Spelling Bee, he thought he was 3rd! His teacher said he was talking when she told him, can't image that can you? I lost my mother of the year award ... I'd been to one of those many appointments (Dentist this time) and had come back home. While I was home my mind just kept going to G and school. Even one time I thought I should just go and see what his class was doing (yes, I kid you not, I actually had that thought). Several minutes later the phone rings and he gives me that news that he got 2nd runner. Since he didn't hear that he was even in the All School Spelling Bee, he also didn't hear when the Spelling Bee was going to be .... I missed it!

I wonder why we don't get many birds at our feeder?!?

G has been super consumed by the playoff games leading up to the SuperBowl.

While I was decluttering I found this, it's Hubby's from the late 70's. You set your men up and then turn it on, the field then vibrates making the men move around. Once someone touches the person you designated that has the ball the play is over. Hubby and G have been having fun with this.

My declutter has come to a bit of a stopping point.....it got cold! We block that room off when it's cold in an effort to keep our house warmer. Just too much effort to take the 'door' up and down.

We (hubby, W and I) got the basement bathroom to a point where it's usable! This has been years in the making!

I have been inspired by Peter Walsh by getting things off the floor. Today I went to the Dollar Store and got several (cheap) laundry baskets. I've labeled them and now we'll (I like to image that other members of my family sort clothes!) sort our clothes in to baskets and not on the floor!

We went sledding with some friends. It's so hard to believe that we're already on our 3rd snow day. In years past we never had a snow day and I was having to drive white knuckled all the way in to school! It's like we're in the SnowDayTwilightZone!

The doctor and I have decided that it's time to have surgery on my shoulder. It shouldn't be a major thing, just a sore 48 hours and then back to therapy and back to active life (exercising) in a week! I had an MRI just to make sure everything is as the doctor expects it. Since it's been too snowy I haven't been able to get those results and make concrete plans for surgery BUT I go this Monday and hopefully (cross your fingers) that I can have surgery on Wednesday of this week!

Random things and Snow

*finally Good news on the medical/financial end of things. W has some gum receeding on a couple of teeth. Our dentist thought it was a condition that happens to people that have had braces and sent him to a Periodonist. If needed the Periodonist would do a small skin graft to the area. NOT NEEDED! The Periodonist thought the receeding was from gritting and clinching his teeth and thought the dentist could just fit him for a mouth piece to keep this from progressing. For once something that didn't require alot of money and surgery to fix!
Maybe 2011 will be our year for good health!

*I signed up to walk my 1/2 marathon. The date is rapidly approaching! PANIC! If you're interested in this, it's all on the workout blog!

*G's Basketball season has started up. They start up really before Christmas break, but it's just one practice and one game then the break so it just doesn't seem right. Now they've started up for good! They lost their first game by quite a bit. G plays with 5th & 6th graders. There is a big difference between 5 grade boys and 6 grade boys in size and talent! G is the smallest player that I've seen thus far. He got knocked around quite a bit but he didn't seem to mind. He didn't mind until Sunday morning when he was sore all over!

*it snowed Monday morning and all day. I don't know how much is out there, but enough. They never cancel school in our district, but they did Monday and Tuesday. I was surprised, since we'd gone in much worst weather in the pass. I suppose it was cancelled since they now have so many walkers.

* I'm creating and teaching a lesson at church in February. I think it will be on HOPE and JOY. Just wish it was already written!

*I will not watch the Bachelor this time! I will NOT, I WILL NOT! I've already watched this guy, he had his chance and he blew it! I WILL NOT WATCH!

* It's cold. This morning when I got up (around 7) the thermostat was -0.4. They say tomorrow will be much colder! If they cancelled for walkers (which I don't know if that was the reason I just speculate) then why don't they cancel for sub zero temperature?

Life on Thursday

First of all this post #900!

*Took G to school

*Dropped a bag of clothes off at the thrift store

*Tried to dropped off the recycling but the trucks were gone ?!?

I quickly call a friend yelling, "Where are the trucks?" Panic was setting in and then the thought "what if they do away with the recycling trucks!" Could I actually go back to throwing away milk jugs and cardboard? I just went into the land of denial.... it just couldn't be! I took my recycling to the friend's house, since the town recycling is going to be picked up tomorrow! She saves me again!

*Then off to a great workout. I walked for an hour then worked on strengthen this stuck shoulder of mine! I just don't get this shoulder of mine, stuck STUCK STUCK it is making some progress in some positions but some are just aren't making progress at all!

*Came home

*Paid Bills

*Sorted paper

*tossed paper

*made phone calls that I'd been putting off

*performed a quick decluttering job up stairs (YAY)

*Went to get G

*Grocery Shopping

*Dropped some decluttering treasures off at a friends

*Home again Home again

*put groceries up

*cleaned the kitchen

*Back to town for G's basketball practice

*dropped G off while I went to check on the recycling trucks ... they just really be gone!

THEY WERE THERE! I wanted to dance on them!

*Watched G's practice

*Wee Wee Wee all the way home .....again

*fixed (pan) grilled chicken sandwiches, raw veggies and fries for supper

*finished cleaning the kitchen

*Blog this day

*Now off to take a shower and hit the hay!

Wordless Wednesday ~ Decluttering find!

Doodles

W's Gift from Gran'ma

Monday Ramblings ~ Decluttering!

I have a horribly clutter room!

It's above my garage.

It's cold in the winter, hot in the summer.

The lights have mysteriously stopped working up there!?!

It's the room that if you're coming to visit and I have things to stash,

those things go into that room.

It's also storage for all of Christmas,

all crafts, Halloween,

all things that need a stopping place before leaving our home (toys),

Easter, games, old family things, pictures,

school supplies, and for all things that might not be needed at all!

After watching Peter Walsh on the new OWN

(Oprah Winfrey Network) yesterday.

He made a comment that hit me.

"If you're keeping Memories from the past

and things you might need in the future,

then you're not living in the PRESENT!"

Remember my 2011 resolutions ...

BE PRESENT?

Yesterday, I went up for just a few minutes and made all sorts of head way in that room, and then just went up there this morning! The trash is full, the recycling is full and the pile for 'Give & Take' (at church we take things we don't want that others may want. At the end of the evening everything left goes to charity! The key here is to give and not take!) is full also.

One Valuable lesson I learned from the FlyLady years ago is to only work in 20 minutes increments. I usually work for 2 20 minute increments. It's amazing what just 20 (or 40 minutes) can do!

My family's reaction to my de cluttering this room is so very typical of them ....

G ~ "hey, I love that, it's my favorite" (to the item he hasn't seen in years)

W ~ "you shouldn't just trash it or give it away, we should have fun and burn it all"

Hubby ~ "out of all the things to declutter you start with that room" (complains about that room but not happy when I do something about it! never happy, that man!)

Don't worry I'm not getting rid of pictures or old family things,

but I am putting them all in the same area.

If I love these things I need to treat them like I love them!

BUT

everything else is being considered and being happily tossed!

Scary Scary Scary moment for W

I've always told W that he is just like me! I always knew it was scary that this could actually be true. What 19 year old boy wants to think he's just like his mother?!?!?

Today it was proved. G and I had gone to get birthday cards for Hubby's birthday, while W went later on his own. Out of all the birthday cards we could have picked ......

We picked the same card!

Funny, funny, funny for me

Scary, scary, scary for W

Sunday Thoughts ~ "Look Not Behind Thee"

Resolutions

OK, I've never been big on resolutions if I do them I usually do them later.

I usually think about them through January and implement them Feb 1st!

BUT

since I had to stay up until Midnight last night,

I sat at the computer and worked on some ...

Have Hope

Think to Serve

Know that My Body is a Temple

Simplify

Be comfortable with myself

Be Present

Move forward Eternally

Relax

Be thankful

Show Kindness

Plus to work on some relationships by daily ......

* Doing one kind deed

*Giving one kind touch

*Saying one kind word

......to someone around me

Yawn .....

Why didn't I think about how I'd have to stay up until Midnight if G was going to have a New Year's Eve party?

Yes, G is having a couple of friends over tonight. I'd tried to have a party for him last year but the snow came and got WAAAAaaay to high before I could get things planned.

He's been so excited all day. He even folded 2 baskets of laundry for me just ......well, just because!

We called in pizzas, then left to go get the boys (Mason and Wyatt). Their parents offered to bring them but the excitement was just too much for us to be sitting at home.

They've been playing down stairs. Nerf Wars, Basement Gladiators, ping pong (3 against W)Twister and now Wii fishing!

I'm about to fall asleep and they're all wound up!

side note ... Hubby, is all snug as a bug in bed!?!?!

Life on Thursday

I was up at my regular time (7am) this morning. The wind was wild. I thought Iwas going to blow away.

I went downstairs and started cleaning down there. It's really W's territory and for the most part it's clean but it just needed alittle TLC. Washed a few loads of laundry while I was down there.

While I was there, the tow company (that was coming for W's crashed car) called and they were at the end of my drive. The driver wanted to know if he could back up my drive way!?! I told him he could, but then he decided he could drive the car to his truck!?

I then headed to the city for my physical therapy session. My arm is making some head way in some areas but still it's just plain stuck in other ways! I made my appointment to go back to the doctor in January. I know my arm is not in any position to stop therapy so we'll see what he says.

I stopped by Target and Price Chopper before coming home! The weather was extremely warm. It set a record by hitting 69degrees. I actually turned the AC on in the car at one point when it was really humid!

We (Megan, W, G and I) made the Christmas decoration trek back upstairs. G and I had taken the tree down last night, but still needed to tuck everything back upstairs. It was so nice to have so many people making the trek a quick one. It's so nice to have my living room back!

I'm headed now to make supper. Tonight we're having burritos. I'll make them, then stick grill them with Geo Foreman and cover them with cheese! I've never tried this, but it sounds tasty!