Reclaiming sanity!

This picture is titled "Crazy Lady". That is definitely how I have been feeling lately. You can see all the things going on in her hair. My schedule has been so hectic that my kids are telling me that they never see me. They are probably right when you take into consideration the things on my list. Let me give you a view of what this week has in store.
Monday - run kids to school, email coaches and parents about basketball tournament this next Saturday, email players parents to remind them of the schedule, pick Mason up from school, grocery shopping (had the luxury of leaving the boys at home since Steve was there sick), put groceries away, pick kids up from school, basketball practice ( I cancelled it because the players have 2 games and a tournament this week), more grocery shopping to finish the list with the girls whining the whole time that I wasn't letting them get anything, put the groceries away, let the kids open a box of cereal for dinner because I am too tired to make it, re-attach the wires to the light in the girls' bedroom so that they can see, fold a load of laundry, loudly beckon my children to put it away, fold another load, watch 24 while doing the laundry, get kids ready for bed, chase the kids to my room for prayers, then chase them to bed, go to their rooms twice to threaten them for being loud and not sleeping, send sick Steve to the boys room 2 more times, finally let Jaxon come "nuggle" me where he jumps around then decides it is Steve that he likes, finally send Jaxon to his own bed at 10:20ish so that I can relax and drift off to sleep. Are you tired yet?
Tuesday - Take kids to school, go fold more laundry (maybe I can finish watching "Fiddler on the Roof"), pick up Mason, try to find more help for the tournament on Saturday, check facebook of course, make a Costco run, pick up the kids from school, feed the kids and take them to karate, ref a basketball game, coach a basketball game, make dinner (maybe I will put something in the crockpot in the morning), help kids with homework, send kids to bed, fold another load of laundry, somewhere in there I have to go order trophies for the tournament.
Wednesday - same as Monday, just replace grocery shopping with hosting a potluck lunch with friends and add vacuuming and mopping. Hopefully I can make it to my own basketball practice at 9 pm.
Thursday - exactly like Tuesday except the costco run. Add finalizing tournament details and my own basketball game at 8 pm after picking up girls from karate.
Friday - bulldoze the kids rooms after school. It is early out day for them so they are my slaves for 3 hours. make dinner, attend the Elders quorum party after dropping Raven off to babysit, come home put the kids to bed, try to sleep while I think of all the things that need to be done at the tournament the next day.
Saturday - set up for the tournament, host the tournament, probably ref a couple of games myself, clean up, then go home and crash. Gotta rest so that I can do it all again next week.

Anyone tired yet? Don't forget to add, ward calling and stake calling to that, plus helping kids with homework, reffing the little battles that go on every day and all the other mom stuff that has to be done.

So I am sorry if I haven't been answering my phone or emails, life is just a little crazy and I have not had time to breath. Thank heavens that I will be done with coaching the beginning of March just in time to catch my breath and help with the musical that Raven is in. I haven't subbed at the school because it takes time from everything else and I haven't been as social as normal. It is a good thing that my kids can do dishes and help wash the laundry. They think that I am not fun anymore so I told the school that I will be the Athletic Director or the basketball coach next year, but not both. I didn't want to coach this year, but the coach backed out 2 days before tryouts and I couldn't find anyone to do it. I didn't think that it was fair to the girls to not have a team so I stepped up. I am still trying to find someone to take over, any takers? So now that I am exhausted just thinking about my week, I better get going because the kids have got to go to school.

Fresh from Heaven!

Yesterday morning I had the privilege of seeing my nephew be born via c-section. It wasn't as gruesome as I thought it would be. It was actually a very peaceful, almost spiritual experience seeing that little boy enter the world. I got to hold him about an hour later and I still love that fresh from heaven smell that all new babies have. This is the first time that I have been at the birth of a baby that wasn't my own baby. It gives me a whole new respect for motherhood seeing it from the outside looking in. It also makes me grateful for all of the women and men who help Steve and I with our brood in so many different ways. I think that President Bush did a good thing when he made this past Sunday "Sanctity of Human Life Day" (www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/jan/09011601.html). I think every day should be that way and I think most people would agree if they could witness what I was able to yesterday. I would post a picture of the cute little man, but I will leave that for his parents.

Discoveries

In our quest to eat better, we have had some successes and failures. I keep reminding myself that this is a work in progress and that my family will have to be kept in the dark sometimes as to exactly what they are eating.

Tofu was not a success. Steve wouldn't even try it because he knew it was tofu. Mason ate it but didn't like the texture. I didn't care for the texture myself. The girls were sick and didn't try it. I will try tofu again, but this time I won't tell anyone what it is.

Yogurt with granola and berries has been a huge hit with all of us. We have even used ground turkey in some of our meals without people saying "GROSS". We are continuing our quest so if anyone has a recipe that they want to pass on, I will gladly take it.

2008 in retrospect!

I read another blog that made me want to put down some of my memories from 2008. I did so much that it is hard to answer some of these questions, but this is a good place to start.

1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before? Watched my first live skeleton race (what a rush) and made my first trip to Houston, TX

2. Did you keep your New Year's resolution and will you make more next year? I do goals and a finished a couple of them and came close on a couple of others. Yes, I have already put them on paper and started.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Some of my cousins.

4. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? That is a hard one, not! A more clean house!

5. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory and why? my families birthdays, Nov. 4 (election) and the death of President Gordon B. Hinckley (I will miss his forthrightness and humor).

6. What was your biggest achievement of the year? taking my kids to my family reunion by myself and finishing the raft trip with as many as I started with.

7. What was the best thing you bought? Guitar Hero!!!!

8. Where did most of your money go? My mortgage and then to food and bills

9. What song will always remind you of 2008? Chiquitita

10. Compared to last year, are you happier or sadder? HAPPIER

11. What do you wish you'd done more of? study the scriptures, exercise, spend more time with my kids.

12. What do you wish you'd done less of? spending time frivolously!

13. Did you fall in love? more like strengthened it!

14. What was your favorite TV program? Bones or House

15. What was the best book you read? non scriptural would be the "Peace Giver"

16. What was your greatest musical discovery? Taylor Swift.

17. What did you want and did you get it? 1) don't think that I am allowed to share so , 2)To go to my family reunion and yes.

18. What did you do on your birthday and how old are you? Went to the Cheesecake Factory and I turned 39.

19. What was your favorite film of the year? Mamma Mia, then Twilight.

20. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? spending more time with my siblings and parents

21. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? very casual: dressy casual?

22. What kept you sane? Am I sane? that depends on the day!

23. What political issue stirred you the most? Proposition 8 and Abortion

24. Who did you miss? Tami and Mom

25. Who was the best new person you met? Kim Laursen!

26. What question made you laugh the hardest? "Do full moons really get women pregnant?" (guess you had to be there. It kept me laughing for weeks!)

27. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year: "So I wanna know, what's the name of the game?"


I really hope that 2009 is a great year for all with minimal regrets. Remember to live each moment to the fullest! Be in the moment not busy wishing for the next.