Favorite Things Friday

Pre post update:  I am feeling better.  I still have a horrendous sore throat, but the congestion is gradually fading, and I can actually semi-taste and semi-smell.  My eyes are no longer oozing, and have just residual redness. Things are looking up.

On the election front, Mar lost.  She was bummed, but had a great attitude.  And little miss sassy pants from her class apologized for her intimidate-your-opponent campaign tactics.  She didn't win either, btw.  Mr. "vote for Kian if you're a human bein'" won for VP.  

On to my post:

I think I've mentioned before that I don't "link up" to other bloggers for "Random Thought Tuesday," "Alphabet Thursday," etc, etc, etc.  I occasionally read posts of people who regularly link up with those blogs, but blog-hopping-game-playing-contest-entering is just not my thing.  And I love the admonition given during General Conference by Elder Ardern: "...Cyber acquaintances are no lasting substitute for real friends who can give an encouraging hug, who can pray for us and seek after our best interest."

But that doesn't mean I can't create my own "day," right?  Even if it's not my original idea (I'm sure someone has a link party for it somewhere). 

Favorite Things Friday

My favorite muffin pans:

 I am a muffin tin hoarder.  I have 3 sets of the regular size, 1 set of the jumbo size, and 2 mini-muffin pans.  This particular set is my favorite.  They are probably the cheapest (I got them for a wedding gift... and I'm not saying the giver was cheap... just that they were most likely some of the more "affordable" at the time),  and they are not pretty (call them well-loved), but they turn out better cupcakes and muffins than any of my other pans.

My favorite kitchen appliance:

 I can't believe I went over 20 years without one.  Seriously, the best kitchen appliance I have ever owned.  I pause to appreciate it nearly every time I use it, and I share that admiration and gratitude with whoever happens to be around at the moment.  It was a Christmas gift from Bill a few years back.  One of those that I purchased myself.  But I thank him regularly.

Those two favorite things helped me crank out my family's favorite Pumpkin Muffins.

I modified the recipe a little to make it healthier.  I will post the original, since I have had numerous requests for it, with the modifications in parenthesis.

Favorite Pumpkin Muffins

4 eggs

2 cups sugar (1 cup sugar, 1 cup Splenda)

1-1/2 cups oil (1 cup oil)

1 (15oz) can pumpkin

3 cups flour (1 cup whole wheat flour, 2 cups all-purpose flour)

1 Tbs. cinnamon

2 tsp. baking powder

2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1 pkg. semi-sweet chocolate chips (approx. 3/4 of a pkg.)

Beat eggs slightly.  Add sugar, oil and pumpkin; beat thoroughly.  Add dry ingredients and mix until smooth.  Stir in chocolate chips.  Fill greased muffin cups 2/3 full (I used liners).  Bake at 375 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes.

My children said they were delicious (I can't really make a judgement due to my semi-ability to smell and taste at the moment).

Fall is my favorite season, and today is a lovely, cool Fall day.  I made my first i-movie on the Mac for our Trek Family Reunion tomorrow, and it turned out awesome.  I really DO appreciate the genius behind the technology.

Life is good.

Courageous

Mauri gave her campaign speech this morning:

Hi!  My name is Mauri Syddall and I'm running for Vice President.
There are many great candidates running for VP, but these are the reasons why you should pick me to be your colorful choice:

Roses are red, violets are blue,
I will be happy to represent YOU.

One of the ways I'd like to represent you, is having a box where everyone can enter their ideas for Spirit Days.

Pansies are purple, grass is green,
I'll be the best VP you've ever seen.

I promise to listen to your suggestions to make Frontier Valley the best school ever.

Bananas are yellow, buffalo are brown,
If you vote for me, I won't let you down.

You have my commitment that I will do my best all year long.

Orange you glad it's election day?
Now go pink up your pencils, and vote Mauri:
Your colorful choice.


I am so proud that she had the courage to do it.

I won't know until after school if she made it or not, but she had a great win-or-lose attitude this morning.

Way to go, Mar!

Campaign Headquarters

Yes, I am still sick.  The {gunk} has now spread to my right eye, so I have one very-red-but-no-longer-draining eye, and one nasty, goopy, I-can't-see-anything eye.  I did NOT go to the doctor.  I did some research online (so handy, don't you think?) on sinus infections (my self-diagnosis), only to discover that the doctor will most likely NOT prescribe an antibiotic for a viral-induced sinus infection.  Since I just had Lex in last week, and the doctor clearly stated that her illness was a virus, I figured I might just get the same response.  Lex, however, did NOT have goopy eyes.  But since the left eye seems to be getting better, I will press forward through the unpleasantness of {gunk} in my right eye.

Last night I peeled myself off of the couch to assist Mauri with this:

She wanted to wear it to school today, as advertisement for her campaign.  There are lots of stipulations for proper campaigning around here:

You can make a shirt, but only YOU can wear it.  You can't make shirts for your friends to wear.

You can't pass out toys or candy.

Everyone gets one page of address labels to make campaign stickers.

You can only make three posters: 1 big, 2 small.

Since speeches and voting are tomorrow morning, Mar wanted to wear her shirt for a full day around school today.  That meant some late-night crafting, regardless of my unfortunate, uncomfortable, and untimely illness.  (Crafty-dad Bill assisted, too.)  Luckily, we are pros at making shirts around here.

Tomorrow is election day.  Good luck, Mar!! :-)

I forgot to mention how yesterday, in my state of delirium, I managed to flood my bathroom.  Yep, when it rains, it pours.  Thankfully, Bill did not get upset... he just cut our I'm-on-my-way-home phone call a little short.  Probably to process it in solitude.  He immediately pulled up the carpet and got the blower going upon his arrival home.  Thanks to his quick thinking, expensive intervention will be unnecessary.  
He is the best husband ever.

'sup

This past week was busy.  Lex was sick, then Shi, then I caught it.  Each day I became progressively sicker, but willed my way through the next event.  I'm the MOM, you know.  No taking a day off to lay on that basement couch to rest and recover.

After school on Wednesday, Mar finished her posters,

 and then we ran to the school to get them hung.

Her speech is this Thursday(!).  I hope I feel better by then.

Thursday morning Lex's friend decorated her bed for her B-day.

 Lexee's comment:  "That's just what I asked for - Reeses, Cheez-its, and Squeez-its."

 That evening we planned to go out to dinner for her birthday, but since several members of the family were not feeling particularly well, including the birthday girl, we selected to get take-out and eat at home.  Unfortunately, Panda Express was a {huge} disappointment.  When Bill and I went in to order around 8:25, they were D.O.N.E.  All but one door had been locked, the cook was standing on the grill scrubbing down the back of the grill with a super soapy solution, they were OUT of fried rice, and would NOT be making anything that hadn't already been sitting in those warmers for the past hour.

Aren't you open until 9?

Apparently not really.

Plan B.

Half half-heartedly wanted Goodtimes, half half-heartedly wanted Noodles & Co.

(They all really wanted Panda.)

We celebrated with cheesecake, per Lex's request.

Taylor, who has not been sick, was happy to be the center of attention at the photo op.

On Friday I subbed at the school all day.  Subbing has been the perfect solution for me right now... I don't want a permanent daily schedule, but don't mind an occasional work day thrown in here and there. The full day wore me out, and I was starting to feel the effects of the impending sick-bug by the end of the day.

Saturday, in between (with maybe a little during) conference sessions, we cleaned house and prepared food to get ready for our semi-annual General Conference Pot-luck Luncheon on Sunday.  I stayed in my PJs the entire day (not as fun as it sounds since I was working and sweating and terrified that a neighbor might drop in at any moment).

On Sunday, in between General Conference sessions, we hosted our luncheon.  I thoroughly enjoyed conference, and the chance to rest and relax a little bit, certain that I had conquered the sick-bug (because I'm so mentally tough).  I was scheduled to sub a full day again on Monday.

Monday.  Full day at school.  Trying desperately to not spread germs, and keep the fact that I was feeling under the weather a secret.  An eternal day.

Today the sick has not gone away, and has become slightly worse with the addition of a puffy, runny eye.  After a call to the ask-a-nurse, I have decided to give it ONE MORE DAY (for that mental-toughness-mind-over-body to kick in) before running to the doctor.  I am only hesitant because I took Lex last week and we were sent on our merry way with little-to-no assistance.  It's a virus.  Call back in another week if you're not feeling better.  I was called early this morning to sub.  No can do.  I have pondered if I dare attend Mar's Parent/Teacher conference this afternoon in my glasses and without make-up (suggested by the nurse).  

I think I'll sleep on it.

Compulsive Fingertips

(My first wordle... I wonder if it was a productive use of time...)

I have enjoyed General Conference today.  It's always chock-full of uplifting and thought-provoking talks that inspire and prompt me to be/do better.

I love every talk, but particularly enjoyed the talk by Elder Ian S. Ardern on the wise use of time.  Probably because that's something I question myself with nearly every day.  I have anxiety over exactly what is the {BEST} use of my time each day, and frustration when, at the end of the day, I feel that perhaps I gave too much of it to something that could likely be considered a "disguised distraction."  I have a hard time making sure the "scales of time are correctly balanced."  Honestly, I have only the best, most saint-like of intentions each morning, but they often get skewed, or sometimes lost, at the onset of the day-to-day sporadic demands that bombard me from the moment I get up in the morning.

An example from this past week:

Thursday was Lexee's birthday.  It's also the morning I attend an Adult Continuing Education class.  Because the week had been so busy, I had not taken the time prior to Thursday to put together the every-year-of-your-life blog post for Lex.  I felt that it was important to get it done promptly that morning, so in between making breakfasts and lunches and sending kids off to school, I focused on the post.  Of course,  because I wanted to do it as quickly and efficiently as possible, I made one mistake after the other in sorting and collaging the pictures.  I still needed to shower and be ready for my friend Jeanne to pick me up for the class around 9:10 am.  Shilo had decided to skip her advisement class that morning, and needed me to call her out, but also needed a ride back to the school on our way to class.  In the busy-ness of my good intentions, I forgot something.  Something really important.  A sister (less-active/husband's-not-a-member/Bill's-home-teaching-family) in our ward had asked a huge favor of me several weeks prior.  Her mother had passed away, and she needed to be out of town for an extended period of time.  She had made all the necessary arrangements for her son to get to and from school except on Thursdays.  Would I be willing to get him and his friend to school for the next few Thursdays?  Of course, I said.  No problem.  I would be happy to help.

The first Thursday came along.  I had put an alarm on my phone, just to make sure I didn't forget, and Bill happened to be available to drive the boys to school that day.  Just like I thought, no problem.  The next Thursday rolled around.  I had seen it on the calendar the night before, and tried to impress it into my mind.  Around 2 pm the following day I remembered.  I felt sick.  Bill made the apologetic call to the dad.  

Before I knew it, Thursday (Lex's B-day) had come again.  Again, I had made a mental note Wednesday evening to NOT FORGET the arranged carpool, but again, the stuff of life came crowding in.  Luckily, this time I remembered before school was over.  Around 9:00.  I called Jeanne to tell her NOT to pick me up -- I would be late.    I frantically threw my newly showered hair up in a clip.  I yelled at Shilo to be ready for school when I came back by after grabbing the boys.  I drove like a maniac down the hill to pick them up, my familiar friend {anxiety} accompanying me in the car.  

In the end, it all worked out.  Kind of.  Kyle was home, but his friend had panicked about not making it to school on time, and had called his grandparents to come get him.  I called the school to excuse Kyle from advisement.  He was calm and unconcerned.  Shilo was ready when we swung back by our house, and I dropped them both off at school, and made it to my class before the opening prayer.

But I was so frustrated with myself.  Next Thursday, should my help still be needed, I will put a giant reminder note on the computer AND on the refrigerator... I know I will see at least one of them before the arranged carpool time of 8:30 am.

I'm determined to be a better "Master Manager" of my time.

No more Angry Birds.

(Just kidding... I don't play it, it's just on my phone because Mar put it there.  Really.)

I can't wait for more enlightenment tomorrow.

XVIII

Today Lexee turns 18.  EIGHTEEN.

She seems too young to be 18.  Maybe because she's one of the older kids in her class, unlike Tay, who didn't turn 18 until after he graduated high school, and Britt, who turned 18 only two months prior to graduation.  Lex, on the other hand, still has a good 7 months until she officially becomes "an adult" (and I use the term very loosely, btw)... done with public education and ready to move on to a more independent phase of life.

Lex is our hump-child.
I now have more children that have reached this important milestone than have not.  {Crazy}.

Her schedule isn't as busy this year, so we hope to actually enjoy celebrating with her today.

Here is how she grew up before our eyes:

Happy Birthday, Lexee!

You are an amazing young woman, and an awesome daughter.  We are so blessed to have you in our family.

 I love you and hope you have a wonderful day!

Motherly Help and Advice

Just because I was striving to PAY ATTENTION to the day-to-day moments of mothering (I mentioned it yesterday), I was given all kinds of opportunities to {try}.  I have to admit, at times it was challenging to redirect my focus to the child in need with hardly a moment's notice.  It was also occasionally exasperating, because those kids seemed particularly needy yesterday.  Some with stop-what-you're-doing-and-listen-to-me needs, others with I'm-dying-and-I-need-you-to-fix-it-NOW needs.  But I gave it my best shot, switching from ADULT-CHILD MODE (advice on everything from bank accounts, education, life plans, and love) to TEENAGER-DRAMA MODE (curbing younger-sibling-teasing and running for Tylenol and cough drops to stop what certainly would be eminent death) to BABY-OF-THE-FAMILY MODE (need I say more) at the drop of a hat.

Let it be said, there is still plenty of room for improvement.

My {motherly focus} this morning has been here:

Mauri is running for Student Council VP.  She is excited and confident, despite the fact that there are "only 6" other students running against her.  One of her opponents is a girl in her class, who walks by her desk daily and says things like, "I'm going to win," and "My write-up is better than yours."

Of course, I gave her my best advice on handling the situation... in a way that will allow friendship once again after the election is over and done with, regardless of the outcome.  But Mar is a sensitive girl, and I can tell that it hurts.

Mar desperately needs to get her posters up.  Some kids have had them up for days (I guess the candidates were given their paper for the posters after they turned in their write-up, which wasn't due until yesterday.  Since I rely solely on what information is passed along to me by Mar, I was unaware that she could have turned in her write-up the day after she was given it.  She turned it in on the final due date, of course.)

I wracked my brain trying to help her come up with a catchy slogan of some sort.  We polled family members.  We tossed around ideas.  Mar would settle on one, then we would reconsider, over and over.  

It needed to be simple enough for the voters to understand (3rd to 5th graders).

We considered using something from Napoleon Dynamite, but decided the majority of the kids might not be familiar enough with it.

We thought of using jokes like, "You know what I HERD?  Buffalo!" - but decided that, since some of our older kids' friends (I won't mention names) have a difficult time "getting" our VERY OLD FAMILY JOKE, it may be way over the heads of those elementary school students.

Then we thought of "Vote Mauri for VP - She's Out-standing in the Field."

Still a little abstract, perhaps, but what Mar had decided upon by bedtime.

This morning, after sending the older girls on their way to seminary, I started in on cutting out buffalo silhouettes for the poster.  We were going to put a picture of Mar's head on one, so I searched through my photos for a decent shot.  Then I had an idea.  When I woke Mar up, I ran it by her.

Vote MAURI for VP

The COLORFUL choice

Go HERD 

She liked it.

I've started in on the busywork of the posters... the picture printing... the cutting (which Mar could easily do, we're just under time constraints so I'm assisting)...

some quick glitterizing...

(everything could use some glitter, in my book - and if Mar wants to add more, she certainly has my blessing).

After school today, Mar can do the gluing and writing.
Then we'll take those babies to the school and get them hung.  ASAP.

Motherhood is exhausting.