Random thoughts that have been percolating around my brain lately:
*I can't believe how stress-free I've been this Christmas. Even after having made almost all of my gifts. I think it's because earlier in the year I sat down and wrote out a game plan and for once didn't procrastinate (mostly). I'll have to remember this next year.
*I'm obsessed with Brandon Flower's solo cd Flamingo. My favorites are: Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas, Only the Young, Playing With Fire, Crossfire and Swallow It. So that's almost every song on the cd but I can't stop listening to it. There have been a few of my fellow Nephites that have posted on their blogs and facebook about him recently which also got me thinking about how amazing it is that he grew up in Nephi and is trying to stay true to the gospel but being honest about the fact he has struggled balancing it with the rock and roll lifestyle. Check out some of these videos (click on the bolded text)..... an ABC, Amplified interview and performing Crossfire on the Jay Leno show.
*I also can't get enough of the song Jar of Hearts.
*I'm sick of Jordyn and Maegan fighting all the time. Why are kids like this?
*I counted all of the books that I've read this year and I was shocked when the total was over 50. With working full-time, the craft blog and craft club and the girls activities I was surprised it was that high.
*I am still loving coupons but right now I'm going through a low point. Sometimes you just gotta let it go a little to be excited about it again. I haven't been to Walgreens for weeks.
*I don't believe in chore charts or allowance for kids doing things around the house. They are part of the family and have an inherent responsibility to help. I am NOT a maid and they know what to do and are expected to do their share...age appropriate chores of course.
*I like looking at the layers of my dryer lint....it's funny to see all the colors....kind of like the rings of a tree. Weird I know.
*I like to sweep and vacuum floors.
*I loved Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 and am already anxious for it to come out on DVD. I get sad every time I think about how it's almost all over.
*I was recently asked if I would want to be set up on a date. The fact that even thinking about dating, let alone a relationship or marriage, makes me anxious and feel like I need to throw up must mean I am definitely not ready to go down that road again. The only problem is that it's been almost 4 years and everyone else seems to think I should want to get married again so then I start wondering if something is wrong with me.
*Related to the one listed above, no matter how many people don't believe me, I am 100% positive I do not want to have any more children. I don't particularly enjoy the baby years (mostly the 1 to 3 years old range). I love my three girls and I'm excited for the upcoming years. I really do not want to start over again.
*I don't like hypocrites.
*I honestly believe I was born at this point in time because I needed air conditioning. I detest being hot...to the point I don't really like summer. I much prefer today's weather (cold and rainy) than anything over 75 degrees.
*I'm so excited I finally bought a laser printer for my home. I did a ton of research and found one that would fit perfectly in my cabinet where my laser jet printer was. I am loving it.
At this point I think I'm going to scratch the detailed update of the past few months and just do the highlights.
August was spent swimming, going to Lagoon and school starting. Brooker Boos started preschool and loves it. Every morning she wakes up and asks if she has school. Maegan is 3rd grad and has Mrs. McQuivey. She was scared of her at first but quickly grew to love her. Jordyn is in 5th grade and has Mrs. Andersen who is a wonderful teacher. I started a new craft blog. I've learned a lot about "blogging" and still have lots of plans for it. I'd like to turn it into a part-time business someday but I'm no huge hurry to do so. I gave a talk to my Relief Society about how I live "Spiritually Provident". I wasn't nervous about it until the night of and I literally got 5 words into it and started to cry. Not just teary but the full on ugly and couldn't stop crying which made other people cry. It was so embarrassing. Afterwards I had a lot of people tell me I had a "sweet testimony" which was surprising to hear. I always think it's interesting that people actually give a darn about my life and what's happened to me. I think there are others who have had much more horrible marriages than mine.
The blue, never going to come off to prove you paid stamp.
Silly girls wanted to pretend they were twins so they dressed alike and Brooklen played along.
First day of school for Joranski and Maegers
First day of Preschool for Brooksters
September brought on the routine of school and their new activities. Brooklen is in dance for the first time. Jordyn is in dance and theater again. Maegan is in gymnastics again. I had Jordyn and Maegan signed up for piano but then their teacher moved and to be honest I haven't been looking too hard to find another one. I need to, it's just crazy enough as it is.
Brooklen's first day of dance!
October brought our traditional get-together at grandma and grandpas to pick out pumpkins. The girls look forward to this every year and I must say it's nice to get free pumpkins! This year we drove to Nephi over the Nebo Loop. And yes, Brooklen picked her own outfit...thought you'd want to know just in case you want her to be your stylist.
A few days later we made a scarecrow.
What a pain in the behind this was. I don't like straw getting where straw doesn't belong ;-) Maegan took a picture....I can't believe there's finally proof that I really do exist! lol. I'm always the picture taker, never the picture takee if you know what I mean.
They each took a turn drawing on the face and this was the final product:
Brooklen (ok, so mom) gave a talk on repentance
Halloween was fun. Brooklen wanted to be a Hershey's Kiss (what?! yeah, no idea where that came from),
Maegan wanted to be Frankenstein
and Jordyn Medusa.
Brooklen's costume didn't turn out anything like I had envisioned but she was happy. Maegan, after seeing her costume realized that she really wanted to be the Bride of Frankenstein. Luckily she liked what I made her so she wasn't disappointed at all. I reused a costume Jordyn had a few years ago and then did a major ponytail hair job and then attached the snakes to them. Silly Maegan lost the hair and bolts at school (what a surprise) so when it came time to go trick-or-treating she ended up going as a zombie. We went to Nephi to a few houses around my mom and dad and also through the straw maze the grocery store had set up. When we got back to the neighborhood they hooked up with a few friends and had lots of fun. Thank goodness it wasn't too cold this year!
Nothing much happened in November (well, other than Harry Potter 7 coming out which I was at in the middle of the night and I loved it) except Thanksgiving. We went to my aunt's house in Mapleton. Thanksgiving is kind of a boring holiday in my opinion.
And there you have it! You are officially caught up with my incredibly boring but happy life!