Life is Sweet: January 2011

Friday, January 28, 2011

Intensity

Things have been a little crazy around here. It kind of feels like the norm,
but I still hold out hope for a time when life is

peaceful, organized, clean, and smooth.

(I know, weird combination of words. If I had more time I could possibly think of a more grammatically beautiful way to say it, but right now, I'm in a rush. As usual.)

This week has felt frantic, crazy, and unorganized. Bill is preparing for our stake's New Member Reception coming up this Sunday - a big annual event to honor and recognize all the new converts in our stake over the past year. He has pretty much commandeered the computer any waking minute he has been home, as he has collected pictures and bios, communicated with Ward Mission Leaders and Bishops of the 12 wards in our stake, and put together the presentation and programs. (We have TWO computers, but I think I've shared before, one is archaic and slow - 10 YEARS OLD. That's like 100 in computer years. Pretty much good only for Bill's excel stuff and email these days.)

He asked me to help with the refreshments.

It's been intense.

In the midst of all this, we have had swim and cheer practices, a piano lesson, track-on with anxiety, swim meets, a rescheduled swim meet, rescheduled FHE (on a Wednesday), and all the other craziness I share far too often (the job, the laundry, the schedule-keeping, the child-supporting, the morale-building, the breakfast, lunch, and dinner-making...). Intense.

Then there are locker tags.

Monday morning at 6:15am I was at the school hanging the locker tags I had made the week before.

(I love that Shilo's locker is right under the word INTEGRITY, don't you?)

I had also agreed to help make locker tags for the upcoming League swim meets. (Cheer tags needed to be made this week also, but, thankfully, Rebecca took them on.) Initially I was asked to make them for the girls who were swimming C League.

I spent my spare hours (not really, since I have none to spare) on Monday (after making cupcakes for the swim team dinner), printing, cutting, gluing and laminating the 15 locker tags I was assigned.

Tuesday, I headed off to the final regular-season meet. After getting lost on my way there, and a good 45 minutes in the car, I arrived only to find out that there were NO OFFICIALS present, so the meet needed to be rescheduled. I chatted briefly with the swim-mom-in-charge, and was told that B League tags needed to be done by the next day, so C and B tags could all be hung on Thursday. Could I just put those together too? And could I cut some stuff out for her A League tags? Since we didn't have a swim meet, I had plenty of time, right?

Another "What was I thinking?" moment.

So I spent my not-really-spare hours on Tuesday making locker tags too.

Then I cut the requested stuff for the A League tags.

Since Shilo would not be getting any of the locker tags I spent so much not-really-spare time on, I made name-hangers for the A League girls too... in hopes that the mom creating and assembling the tags will use them.

I craft like I cook, so the mess took even more of my not-really-spare time to clean up.

Other intense moments this week:

Britta got her car towed because she parked overnight in the visitor parking at her own apartment complex. $175 to get it back. There's a profit margin in that in a college town. Maybe Bill should quit his job, we'll move to Provo, and start up a University towing company.

Mornings have been intense with Mar tracking back on at school. Remember the problem she had here? It's developed into a fear of not being able to come home from school in the middle of the day IF she needs to. IF she were to get sick. IF she needed me for one reason or another. (Because I'm at work for 3 hours in the morning.) It has led to mornings full of tears and worries, upset stomachs and chest cramps. Oh my.

At Thursday's swim meet Shilo's relay team had a chance to make a State-qualifying time.

They were a mere 2 seconds short.

They only have one more chance to get it. Intense.

And to top off this wonderful week of intensity, I get to spend my Friday night baking cupcakes for Sunday. Just a hundred or two. And I just might throw in attending an LHS basketball game, just to up the ante.

On the agenda tomorrow:

Cheer competition

Refreshment wrap-up (might take all day)

Hair cut (Bill needs one like none other)

Missionaries over for dinner

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Made

After her extended family celebration, her immediate family celebration, awesome gifts (she still has hardly been able to touch her brand new bike), and an airplane ride, Mauri still felt a need to celebrate her decade with friends. She's been off track at school, so it's been a while since she's seen some of them, and the thoughts of gifts, fun, and friend togetherness just wouldn't let up. She used the good ol' guilt trip on her ma ("I haven't had a friend party for years!"), so although I've felt desperately overbooked lately, I relented.

We made a plan. I thought it would be simple.

We printed up some invites.

(You get a double dose, since I can't figure out how to crop just one.)

As Mauri was addressing them, we counted 12. We delivered them, and started preparing for the big party.

I purchased party prizes, made individual cakes for each of the girls, made pizza dough and carefully divided it equally. The number 12 ("how easy," I thought, "an even dozen") in my head the entire time.

Party day came, and girls arrived. As the last one came through the door, Shilo turned to me and said,

"Mom, we have 13 girls."

In the hubbub of noise and busy-ness that occurs daily in my life, I had miscalculated. I had grabbed the number 12 out of the air, and ran with it. Oops.

Thanks to the assistance of my lovely two older daughters, we were still able to pull the party off without a hitch. It just about killed us, but the birthday-girl-and-guests had a fantastic time (the purpose for a party), and we will forever view it as a success.

They crafted party hats for their stuffed animals (an item Mauri included on the envelope -- to bring your favorite).

They each decorated their own cake (yes, everyone had one. In the midst of the party, Shi, Lex and I managed to bake cake. We are A-M-A-Z-I-N-G).

Which, by the way, was the favorite activity of the party-goers.

We made pizza. Yum-O.

We tie-dyed.

(It was a tender mercy that I happened to purchase 13 shirts. Or maybe it was the fact that they only come in packages of 5 or 3? Either way, I felt blessed to have enough. By the time the shirts were photo-ready - washed and mostly dried, two of the guests had had to go.)

We opened gifts, sang Happy Birthday, and enjoyed cupcakes.

Mauri blew out candles for a third time.

The party was a hit.

Thank heavens, since it just about did me in.

At last we can say "Happy Birthday, Mar!" with finality. At least for this year.

Monday, January 24, 2011

Ditto

Bill had another late-night celebration for his birthday.

Just like last year.

He had a stuffed pizza from Papa Murphy's.

Just like last year.

He had a German chocolate cake with crazy, unmatched candles.

Just like last year (although this year it was NOT my best cake ever).

He received affection from his family.

Just like last year.

The cake had a meltdown.

Just like last year (but not quite as bad... and no trick candles).

The party ended around 11pm.

Just like last year.

Maybe we went a little overboard on sticking with tradition.
Maybe next year we'll take a walk on the wild side, and shake things up.
I have a whole year to think about it, thank heavens.

Tomorrow I'll share what we did for Mauri's party. I think we can safely say we have celebrated enough.
(And you can read that how it was unintentionally written. Like, "Enough already!")

Thursday, January 20, 2011

A Day Over 44

What can brighten up the bleak midwinter of January?
What can sweep away the oppressive weather, depressive funk, and general overall grayness?

A birthday or two, that's what I like to say.

And it's not just {anybody}'s birthday today...

it's that hard-working,

long-suffering,

parental-sacrificing,

endlessly driving,

bread-winning,

diligently serving,

wife-supporting

man of mine('s).

And he doesn't look a day over

39.

I'm wondering where Mar is too...

she must have been asleep, since we tend to celebrate Bill's birthdays in the late-night hours. Or maybe she was busy doing something like this:

And he certainly hasn't aged since the big 4-0.

Forty-one,

forty-two,

forty-three,

and forty-four

only saw changes in those around him.

Bill remains ageless,

don't you think?

So, even though he certainly doesn't look a day over 44,

he is.

Happy 45th, baby.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Validation and A Missed Opportunity

I've been trying to not be so obsessed with blogging every day. I have found that I can get the kitchen cleaned and a batch of laundry folded in the same amount of time it takes to post. But then there are those times when I feel compelled to write. To share. Sometimes to vent.

Today is such a day.

Yesterday, Shilo found out that her name is in our town paper. I think it will be in the edition that gets delivered this Thursday (or is it Friday?), but a friend showed her the link last night at swim practice. She was so excited, I just had to share.

Go here to read.

I was happy that her coach gave her a little validation, since he's been dishing it out to other girls on the team regularly. And I didn't love the quote, "reasonable flyer." She has an A League time in it, for goodness sake, he just doesn't like her form.

They only have one more meet, then league, to try to qualify for State. They are closest to State times in their relays, and with a slight adjustment (which would require the coach to remove the same girl from both the 200 free relay ~ which Shi already swims in, and which they are the closest to a State-qualifying time in ~ AND the 400 free relay, and replace her with faster swimmers, one of which would be Shilo in the 400), they might have a chance.

To swim at State, and get a State Qualifier flag to hang in her school, would be a dream come true for Shi. But she's pretty happy with an honorable mention in the newspaper, too.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Last night Bill attended an LHS boys basketball game. He wanted me to go with him, but I had carpool duties, so he headed off on his own. When he got home, he shared his missed opportunity to make a cool $800 at the game.

He had arrived to the game a little late. As he was entering, he was asked if he would like his name to be placed in a drawing sponsored by Kwik Car Wash to shoot a few shots at halftime, and possibly win some cash. He agreed.

He told me that he had a feeling his name was going to be drawn, since he was there late, and that ticket with his name on it was right on top. Sure enough, his name was called.

$100 if he could make a basket from the free-throw line.

He missed.

(He said it's pretty nerve-wracking to have all eyes on you.)

$200 if he could make a basket from the 3-point line.

It bounced a couple of times on the rim, then didn't go in. Bummer.

$500 if he could make a basket from half-court.

Air ball.

We were all a little disappointed... who couldn't use some extra cash these days? But I was glad Bill had the opportunity. If someone else had been selected, he would have totally been sitting there thinking, "I could have made that shot." I know him so well.

Monday, January 17, 2011

I Have a Dream

My Martin Luther King Day was so eventful.

I sorted laundry, then realized that I was OUT of fabric softener. After Taylor told me his clothes and towels were scratchy (back in his middle school days), and so-and-so's clothes and towels were much softer, since his mother used Downy, I have religiously added the April fresh fabric softener to my loads. And believe me, I have loads of loads. I'm so paranoid about scratchy laundry now that I usually even add a Bounce to the dryer in addition to the Downy. And I still sometimes have scratchy laundry.

I have a dream of ultra-soft towels and fresh-smelling linens and clothing.

So my loads had to wait until I could make it to the store for some Downy, which put me a little behind.

I was also determined to purchase a new iron. I had an iron that I really liked. Then {someone} (the culprit is still unknown) dropped it. Or tipped it off of the ironing board. Regardless, it fell, cracked, and could no longer hold water. I just can't iron without a little steam, so Bill tried his best to fix it. Super glue fixes everything, you know. And if super glue can't do it, duck tape can. Except for cracked irons.

So I purchased a cheap(er) iron. I found it at Costco, and figured if Costco carries it, it has to be good, right? It acts so much like a cheap iron, I have only used it once. And that was aggravating.

See the un-pointy tip? The limited steaming capability? And it took for-ev-er, just to iron a napkin. It was a lightweight, as irons go.

So today I grabbed my Kohl's 30% off coupon, and purchased another iron. Then I ran to Costco to grab the Downy. While there, I spied yet another iron... same brand as the one I just purchased from Kohl's, but it cost less. Could it be the same iron? I wondered. So, trying to be as efficient with my time as possible, I purchased THAT iron, figuring that IF it was the same iron, I wouldn't have to come back into the masses at Costco, and I could swing back by Kohl's to return the other one on the way home. If it WASN'T the same, and I liked the Kohl's iron better, I could just run the Costco one back into the store and do a quick return. I spend a lot of time thinking through this kind of stuff, since I have a dream of being as efficient as possible.

The Kohl's iron was better. The Costco iron, although the same brand, and labeled "Master", was not as awesome as the "Master Pro" I had previously purchased. The return was quick. I congratulated myself on my efficiency, and I can rest easy that I got the best iron for my money.

I could admire the steam awesomeness and pointy tip all day. So once that laundry got going, I ironed the stack of stuff that had piled up over the past 4 months, while watching the Disappeared marathon. Good times.

I heard on the news that someone has done a study - or researched - or surveyed - and today (January 17th, not necessarily Martin Luther King Day) is the "most depressing day of the year." Who could be depressed about laundry and ironing?

Saturday, January 15, 2011

The USF Returns

Yesterday was another long sports day. Shilo had a tri-meet against two Castle Rock schools. I only managed to capture a portion of their team cheer before agreeing to fill in for the other teams' absent parents as a timer.

I came away with wet feet and tired legs, but I found down-time in a quick game of sudoku on my phone while the diving was going on. Shilo, despite her feelings of tiredness, swam well. Her relay team placed first in the 200 Free, she handily won the backstroke, and placed 3rd in the 200 IM. Today is yet another meet. A long, drawn-out, 12-team invitational. Then we get a good 10 meet-less days. Awesome.

After the meet, Bill and I headed over to the boys basketball game against the big cross-town school. The one Tay and Britt graduated from. The one with history. The one that thought the game would be so easy to win, they didn't even send their cheerleaders.

We were there to support Lex. Of course.

But the game was so amazing, I got a little caught up. Here's the scoreboard story:

Oh my. I was sweaty, flushed, and I lost my voice. The only thing that could have made that game better was for Legend to take it. It was a heartbreaker (double overtime), but at least we played tough, and even put some fear into them. Serious fear. They would have had a hard time living that loss down (which is what would have made it so awesomely amazing if we could have pulled it off).

I just want to say, "Just you wait, 'enry 'iggins, just you wait." (Because I'm a nut.)

Reckoning will come.

The USF (ultimate sports fan),

Friday, January 14, 2011

Ultimate Sports Fan

Yesterday I spent most of my non-(paid)working hours at sporting events.

The first stop was here.

Hot, muggy, and loud. This is Missy Franklin's school (who I mentioned in a previous post). Shilo was hoping to get a picture with her, but Missy was a no-show.

I had a slight headache, and didn't love sitting next to a fellow LHS mom who would not ~~shut up~~ be quiet. She wasn't talking to me, she was talking (very loudly, even during the diving) to her son about how he needed to attend the upcoming Sadie Hawkins dance with a girl who had just walked up to him at the meet and asked if he would go with her. He protested (to his mom, not the girl) that it was just a joke, someone had put her up to it. The mom insisted it was a genuine invitation, and that his only choice was to go. This wasn't a brief conversation, it lasted the entire meet.

I wanted to tell her about the time I schemed and planned a blind-ish date to the Homecoming dance for Taylor. A good friend of mine had a daughter that attended another school. She had not been asked to her Homecoming dance, and it was her senior year. In our efforts to encourage participation, self-esteem, and good old-fashioned fun, we cajoled her and Taylor to attend his Homecoming dance together. Around these parts, you have to follow a strictly enforced approval process to bring a student from another school. The visiting student's principal/vice principal must sign a form, and the student has to fill out and sign a paper stating they will display appropriate behavior. Since Taylor was somewhat unenthused, I handled it all.

Date night rolled around, Taylor got sick after dinner, and ended up having to be picked up at a gas station after his friend (who they were doubling with) took Tay's date home. They never made it to the dance. It was a whole lot of time, effort and money for a pretty pathetic end result. (I don't think anyone's self-esteem was improved that night.) The lesson I learned: date coercion doesn't work. Which was kind of what that swim mom was doing, in my opinion. But I didn't share. I just tolerated.

Shilo swam well, although she didn't beat any of her previous best times. Here's her 100 Fly:

Third place is VERY respectable, especially against such a hard team. Good job, Shilo!

After the meet, I ran Shi and Mar home, grabbed Bill, and headed here:

This was Tay and Britt's high school... but we were the visitors this time. Earlier in the day I had read an article in our town's newspaper about the boys and girls basketball teams in our area. Chap's girls team has been towards the top of the league for years, and their coach had made a comment in the paper about how he expected them to remain towards the top, and placed Legend at the bottom. At the bottom. In print.

I attended the game expecting Legend to trail the entire game. Maybe even take a beating. Not that I don't have confidence in our team, just that I know the history. And I know that Legend is still an infant in that history. Of course, I was really there to support Lex, since she was cheering.

(Lex is standing in front of the Wolverine "W")

But then I got all caught up in the game.

It was such a good game, that could have only been better had Legend come out on top after overtime play. I wanted that coach to reconsider his quick judgment next time. Talk nice. Give respect.

I also decided that I have a problem attending competitive events, whether my child competes or not. I get sweaty. My heart races. My nerves are on edge. I get way too involved.

Today I have another swim meet, then plan to attend the boys basketball game. I have by far attended more high school sporting events since Taylor started marching band as a freshman, than I ever attended when I was an actual student in high school. Even counting the year I was in the Pep Club.

Reliving? Perhaps. (I honestly think not, but you may feel differently.) Definitely appreciating the commitment required from all competitive high school groups (of which I include marching band and cheerleading).

Good luck, LHS. I'll be there cheering you on.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Baby It's Cold Outside

Cold enough to stay inside for recess two days in a row (following that awesome snow day).

That's cause for a ray of sunshine.

Yes, our Christmas lights are still up.

(Photos courtesy of yet another child's photography class assignment. My girls take much better pictures than I do.)

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Snow Day Catch Up

Yesterday, another tender mercy came my way. A snow day. Just what I needed to catch up a bit. I sorted, filed, organized, and laundered. Although I still have a {LONG} way to go, it felt good to get that far.

And poor Mar, still can't ride her new bike. But she was happy to have the whole family home all day with her, so that made up for it.

I also wanted to share one of Shi's races from her meet on Saturday. I must preface it by saying that the announcer at this meet was terrific. He made sure every participant's name was said in each race, then he called it play by play (or would that be stroke by stroke?). Listen carefully... just ignore my loud cheering (and my audible disappointment at the end -- but let me say in my defense, I was NOT disappointed in Shilo in the least -- she actually took over a second off her best time -- just in the finish, which I didn't even manage to capture completely. Nice.)

Shilo wanted to meet a girl named Missy Franklin at the invitaional. Missy swims for a local religious high school, and is a girl that may likely swim in the Olympics someday. This girl swims with Michael Phelps (not a fellow LHS student as I had originally misinterpreted). Shilo just wanted to say hi, but didn't get the chance at the meet. As we were heading home, however, we realized that Shilo actually competed against Missy. In the 100 Back. With just one heat in between.

Competing against Missy is better than just saying hi, don't you think?

I'm off. Happy Tuesday.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

10 Years, 3 Days

Mauri turned a decade yesterday. I really wanted to write a lovely tribute to my beautiful youngest daughter, but didn't have even a minute to sit, ponder, reflect, and write.

But don't worry, we celebrated. In a flying-by-the-seat-of-your-pants kind of way.

Let's start at the very beginning of the celebration. January 7th.

Mauri was in Utah, and had a slew of relatives to party with.

Her sister, cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents gathered together in honor of Mar's big day.

She had a yummy cake (which cousin Lincoln apparently could NOT resist, thus the interesting and unique texture on the top and side of the cake). She had candles. They played party games and had a good time.

I would be amiss if I didn't thank everyone involved for making it such a memorable time for Mauri.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

The next day, January 8th (Mar's actual birthday), she was up early, ready to hop a flight back to Colorado. She would be flying as an "unaccompanied minor," and was initially a little

concerned/afraid/worried.

But, with home as her destination, she set aside her fears and forged ahead.

She enjoyed the flight, and was pleased as punch to be back home. Even if there were no balloons, gifts, party or cake waiting for her there.

But we did stop and shop for her gift on our way home from the airport. Here's what she came away with:

She has been riding hand-me-downs for YEARS, and was excited to finally get a brand spankin' new bike. She couldn't wait to ride it when we got home, since it was a sunny, beautiful day.

But wait. No time to ride. Just admire it quickly, park it in the garage, and hop in the car.

The next five hours were spent here:

The celebration just doesn't stop.

After a long day at the very crowded meet, we headed to Panda Express for a birthday dinner.

Do we know how to have a party, or what?

Then we headed next door to the new frozen yogurt joint for a birthday dessert.

(I'll bet you wish this was YOUR birthday. Cough, cough.)

Mauri was gracious and kind. She didn't complain. She didn't whine. She was happy to be home, that was enough.

Today, thanks to her sweet friend Madalyn, Mar had a birthday cake.

Madalyn and her aunt had made the cake together. I considered it a tender mercy, since I had not had the time to make a cake myself. And everyone knows you need a cake to commemorate an important birthday properly.