School is a Bummer

Who would've thought that sending the kids back to school today would be such a bummer for me?

I seriously enjoyed the Thanksgiving holiday this year -- are you as shocked as I am?!?

Jeff had Tuesday - Friday off work, and at first I thought that might be a problem.

But it was heavenly!

I got my annual Thanksgiving (insert cold, flu or pneumonia here).

But it was totally fine -- I spent all of Friday in bed after seeing the doctor and I LOVED it!

Saturday was glorious with the football game and some stress-free Christmas shopping.

Let's not talk about Sunday . . .

Regardless, I hated to see the kids go back to school today.

I'm not ready for swimming, homework, carpool, . . . .

Gratitude 7 of 7

Wow! I've got a lot to be thankful for today ~

Gratitude #1 - Survival Skillz

Yup, I've got Survival Skillz! When I went all "Biggest Loser" last night and tried to hop up onto a bench at the gym proving my strength -- and then fell off . . . but I Survived!

My hand is bruised, my butt and my head (where I banged it on the wall as I fell). Not to mention my pride is really tender today too.

Don't mock those players on Biggest Loser who can't jump on the step . . . it's freakin' hard and dangerous!

Gratitude #2 - Melanie

Everyone needs someone who will babysit your vomiting child while you go to meetings. Thanks Mel, for helping me out.

She even cleaned my sheets and remade my bed after Emma threw up on them. How awesome is she?!

Gratitude #3 - Stacy Martineau

Stacy saved my bacon today doing stuff for the Arts Commission. She has been so reliable in helping me and I think people don't realize how much she does, and how calmly she does it. Stacy holds me together and listens to my rantings. She's also an amazing mother!

Gratitude #4 - Ethan's Science Teacher

Thanks, Mr. Whoever You Are. Thanks for not giving Ethan the "F" he deserved in science and giving him extra credit at the VERY last minute so he can have a "C". Now instead of tossing him in the dungeon he will be my work slave for the next week. Also, I have unlimited zit popping rights now. Sweet!

I love November and Gratitude!

Gratitude 6 of 7

Do you ever just have one of those days?

I did, yesterday . . . .

I couldn't even remotely find something to be grateful for.

The day fell apart.

However, here's today's list:

1. I'm Grateful today is not yesterday.

2. I'm Grateful for Diet Coke and Ho Ho's.

3. I'm Grateful for Shauna who took the fall for my missing treasurer report this morning.

I think that's as far as I can got today. Let's hope tomorrow will be even better

Gratitude 5 of 7

I'm sure this is old by now, but I can keep thinking of stuff.

Gratitude #1 - Fandango

I'm grateful that I can go online and purchase my ticket to see New Moon. You will want to do the same. I'm going to the movies on November 21st at 4:30pm at the AF Cinemark 12. Get your ticket and we can carpool over. I can't wait to rip the movie apart . . . . although Jacob looks pretty hot in the clips.

Let's do dinner after!

Gratitude #2 - Taco Soup

Don't ask, I just like it and I'm still having good memories of it from last night. That's weird I'm sure.

Gratitude #3 - Gift Wrapping

I wrapped my first two Christmas gifts! I'm ahead of the season and I still have some holiday spirit left -- woohoo!

Gratitude 4 of 7

And so the list continues:

Gratitude #1 - Microsoft Word

I've been typing my little fingers out like crazy today as I write new grant applications and grant evaluation forms for my PGAC meeting on Friday. The thought of using a typewriter for any of this makes me cringe.

And to think my children have never seen a typewriter . . . .

Gratitude #2 - House

House is on tonight! Did you see last week's when they went to do an autopsy on the body and they started sawing his chest open and he started bleeding? And then the 'dead' man sat up screaming? I'm still not over it.

Gratitude #3 - Microwaves

I'm grateful that microwaves work to hide the leftover birthday cake so that SOME of it remains for Jeff to eat tonight. Now if only the microwave disappeared after I hid something in it . . . .

Gratitude 3 of 7

Gratitude Day Number 3

#1. I am Grateful for Jeff's Birthday

Mostly I'm just grateful that Jeff doesn't ask for anything for his birthday except white cake with white frosting. I can do that. Anything above and beyond that is hard for me -- I'm not a great wife. Luckily he's not high maintenence.

#2. I am Grateful for channel 21 (The BYU Channel)

I love getting ready for church and catching the past week's devotionals and firesides. Last week I watched Greg Mortensen (Three Cups of Tea) and this morning was President Uchtdorf's talk to the Young Adults.


#3. I am Grateful for Karen who had us sing ALL the verses of the sacrament hymn today.

It was unexpected to sing all the verses today. But I was feeling the spirit so strong during what I thought was the last verse, and singing the rest - it really filled my bucket.

#4. I am Grateful for friends who let me fall apart over their baby.

Hmm. . .sorry about that Tammy. I think it was a cumulative thing with Gratitude 2 and 3 from today and the fact that your baby LOOKED at me. He looked at me like he saw my heart. Thanks for the cuddle.

Gratitude 2 of 7

Gratitude Day 2

#1 I am Grateful for: BYU Football

Ah! After a bye week and a loss against TCU, BYU redeemed themselves with a sweet win over Wyoming.

(Sidenote: We had a young man from England hanging at our house today. He saw the game on and finally clicked that the big "Y" on our vehicles, mountains, etc wasn't for "Yahoo" - but for BYU. So funny.)

(Additional Sidenote: They don't have Rootbeer in England)

# 2 I am Grateful for: A Good Book!

I spent the last week reading "The Thief" by Megan Whalen Turner. It was GREAT! I would particularly suggest it to young adult readers and their moms who like a little bit of fantasy. I'm sighing internally as I think about this book.

#3 I am Grateful for: A Good Book and its Sequel

I spent time this week reading "The Queen of Attolia" by Megan Whalen Turner -- sequel to "The Thief". Man it was good!

#4 I am Grateful for: A Good Book, its Sequel and its Sequel

Again, spent time reading this week: "The King of Attolia". Holy crap, talk about true love! There isn't crazy mushy stuff in this, but you know what love is by the end of the book. I really enjoyed this series and am looking forward to the next installment come March 2010. I hope I can wait.

Gratitude 1 of 7

Well, Miss Shauna over on her Celestial Circle blog is showing her gratitude each day this month.

I have been moved and motivated enough to share my gratitude each day for the next week.


At this point in my life blogging 7 days in a row is landmark!


I'd never make it for 30 days.

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Gratitude #1


Halloween is OVER!


It's just not my favorite holiday.

Getting tossed into the middle of costume prep time on Hallow's Eve didn't suit me either.

Especially after spending the weekend with 55 teenagers in Cedar City.

However, kudos to Melanie and Ethan for putting together his Swine Flu costume and including Aidan. I'm very happy about that.

(Emma, the Rockstar, and her friend Tia, the Ghost)

Gratitude to Jeff who took them Trick or Treating while I cleaned the house.

(Swine Flu boys - Ethan and Aidan)

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Gratitude #2

Dishwashers!

Try going a week without one and this will be towards the top of your list too.

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Gratitude #3

A husband who stores computer hard drives in the storage room and can magically copy my dying hard drive stuff to the new one.

Also, gratitude for hard drives that still work when computer handicapped wife installs the hard drive herself and manages to drop it on the floor.

Can you imagine my gratitude when my email and Bejewelled game were useable again?