I am Not Sick

I am totally not sick. Even though I have somewhat of a cough, I am not sick. I ache a bit, but no way am I sick. My eyes are sore, but nothing a little sleep can't cure. Calvin was home with a 102 fever a few days this week. Nope, I don't have a fever (I have checked a few times though), therefore not sick.

Tonight I feel sick though. A little cough, a little ache, my eyes hurt...no fever. I guess I should go to bed and give another day of "not being sick" a try.

There is absolutely no time to be sick anyway!

This week:

1. Spent all day Saturday with the General Primary President training all primary presidents in our region (awesome indeed).
2. Sunday drove Sommer to the Washington DC temple to hear/see Sister Dalton, the Young Women's President speak to all of the Young Women in the region (awesome indeed).
3. Two kids to dentist, haircut, Visiting Teaching, was visit taught...
4. Watched Brittany solo for the first time. Her feeding tube was only knocked out three times thus spraying the both of us with her formula. When her mom came home, she assured me this happened often and while I cleaned up the mess in the kitchen, she went to hose down Brittany.
5. Planned a bridal shower for a friend with one week notice...a super success...whew!
6. Let Sommer stay home from school and took her on a New Moon and lunch date.
7. Ran way too much (training for a 5k race next week where I hope to get a personal best)
8. Had our Christmas photos taken (love them) and then had cards made...no I haven't even thought about sending them yet).
9. Stained our decrepit swing set (nightmare)...thanks Calvin for all of the help...other 3 boys, not so much.
10. Took two older boys on date with Garth and I. A little bit of a bust when movie was sold out.

See...no time to be sick!

What to Blog About...

I could blog about all of the Halloween candy I have been eating (just found an entire bag of Reese's...I ate 3 so far today...oops just ate another). Should I mention the amount my kids have been eating?! With five kids, three of which stayed out for hours, only can bring about mounds of the stuff. I keep telling myself I am going to throw it all away, or donate or freeze it...but I can't.

I could blog about the crazy afternoons I have created for myself. I now have 26 piano students and it might be killing me...slowly. I really love it, I do. It just is a lot when five darling kids come home from school, homework needs to be done, dinner prepared, etc. I get calls or emails every other day with moms wanting their kids to take from me (love the compliment), I can't seem to say no. Even when Garth peers into my office as I am talking with them, shaking his head and mouthing...no more. But how grateful I am for the extra income it has provided us during hard times. It's just a lot.

I could blog about the hours of TV I watch each night, many of which are a total waste of my time. I try not to tune in but it calls me...every evening at 8. It's kind of like a time card. I literally "clock out" and begin my zombie-like ritual over and over and over again. I need to stop. But if I did, I would just turn to reading and that usually isn't the scriptures at that hour.

I could blog about Sommer's 8th grade math that I can't do. Or Calvin's 6th grade math. Or dare I admit, Ethan's 4th grade math failures on my part. Thank goodness for a brilliant husband. I think we will be okay with his tutoring skills even through High School. What in the heck are math investigations? That don't even add and subtract like I did growing up!

I could blog about my dirty carpet and my longing for it to be burned. Not going there.

I could blog about my car. About 6 months ago I left the sun roof open (I never use the dang thing and the one time...) on a totally clear night. It poured rain and left 3 inches of water in my middle console. Needless to say, my radio didn't work for weeks. When it finally started working again, there was a constant buzzing from one of the speakers...even when the car was off. This of course ran down the battery. After taking the car in, we were informed it would need to go to the dealer and some small expensive part (which can only be found by ripping off the entire front portion of our car) needed to be purchased. Like we have money for that. At least I have jumper cables in my car and I am pretty.

I could blog about the HUGE amount of food I have in my pantry thanks to Harris Teeter's incredible sales and cutting coupons. It is the greatest thing ever. I know it gives people the creeps when "couponers" start talking about "couponing" and all of the money they save. But in reality, we just want to share the joy of such a simple thing that can save you literally HUNDREDS of dollars a week. It is so dang simple.

I could blog about Brittany. I get to watch her every Tuesday. She has NBIA, a rare genetic disorder. In only a few short years, she went from a normal child to one that is fed through a feeding tube, can't walk or talk. I have learned how to feed her, drive her wheelchair (haven't crashed yet), give her breathing treatments and in an emergency, give her oxygen. She even has her own elevator. She is a beautiful 14 year old girl who loves the Jonas Brothers (this week I found all of their music videos on YouTube, and we watched each one while I feed her. She thought it was really funny when she accidentaly knocked off her feeding tube and it went zipping around spraying us with her formula. And she laughed even louder when I didn't mix up her pills enough in her tube and it clogged the whole thing. I was there holding her syringe full of formula calling out to one of her parents (who had just got home from a walk and were upstairs getting dressed). I said loudly, "Sandy?" "Rich?" "Anyone hear me?" Help?! Brittany started giggling. I then shushed her and said I was going to get in trouble. She laughed more. After no answer, I ended up having to hold the full syringe while maneuvering her electric wheelchair to the base of the stairs in hopes of getting her parents attention. She laughed the whole time...even while I bumped her a few times in the process.
It has given me pause seeing this little girl with so much joy! She can't speak but yet she communicates. She can't walk, but through her loving parents, is able to see the world. She depends on help 24-7 and she gives those that serve her, so much.
I have a tendency to rush through life. When I am with Brittany, my life slows for a moment and I am reminded to hush the rush. I look forward to my time with Brittany.

So I guess that is what I am blogging about today....

Hilary's NEW CD!

I can't wait to hear my sister's new Christmas CD!

Can you?!

If I had a picture like this of myself, I would blow it up lifesize and put it on my front door...I'm just saying.

Halloween

It was another successful Halloween!

1. We had two skeletons (Ash not pictured). This is the 8 consecutive year we have had a skeleton child

2. Grandma Gair another Boo-tiful costume for Sommer

3. After a 4 year hiatus, we finally had another "army guy."

4. We almost had a Heather Clone when Ethan decided to dress up like a runner. He changed his mind moments before the night began since his wig itched him like crazy. Darn wig.

5. Our street put on their annual Halloween Block Party.

6. Garth and I made a very cute Osborne couple: Ozzy and Sharon!

7. Calvin went as a simple "ghost."

8. We filled out bags with candy galore! And I love candy.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

How Much Do You Really Want To Know!?

I am busier than I ever thought possible! I thought when the kid's went to school, I would be on the sofa in my pj's eating Ben and Jerry's out of tub and watching Reg.

No. On the contrary! I will preface this by saying all of the business is totally my fault.

It all started on the first day of school when I started gutting out the boys room. It didn't end there. I then switched Cal and Ethan into Ashton and Tate's room. They look great and due to my evil Mother ways, they are remaining clean.

I then proceeded to start my room renovations. This took major muscle, garbage bags full of garbage, clothes to give away, craigslist items up for grabs and undertaking painting my bathroom. After "the couch" was moved to the garage (it was so disgusting no one on craigslist wanted it but a dear garage saler did!...old friends remember...it was our eddie bauer denim beauty I slaved a week at the Nordstroms sale to purchase 14 years ago) and other chairs moved in its space the four day project was done. Besides totally stained carpet (which at this point will remain until the day I probably die), my room looks so good! No kids allowed to set foot (or clothing item, toy, etc) in there without a raising their hand and swearing they won't touch, leave, remove or stain anything in there! So far so good.

Then it was time to fix the huge holes and scratches that were given to my walls as Garth moved the above mentioned denim couch to the garage. Bless his heart, he thought Calvin and Sommer were professional movers and asked them to help as I taught piano lessons. I watched in horror as he pinned the couch against the wall with his arms in a high outstretched formation. At the same time he was yelling at the "two movers" to lift! After my little piano student shrunk down onto the piano bench wondering what was going on, I ran to his aide and we finally got the blasted thing into the garage. What was left were three lovely holes and quite a few ornate scratches streaming down the staircase wall. Upon seeing this (and having such a lovely clean and organized upstairs), I decided the OTHER HUGE hole in our wall made a few years ago in the hall by a child slamming the doorknob into the wall (and the next two years, children making that whole bigger and bigger) needed to be dealt with.

After calling my super duper fixer dad, I headed to LOWE's telling myself over and over again..."I can do this!" I bought the necessary items and began patching away. After a nice sanding and what seemed like constant dusty remnants being vacuumed over and over again, it was paint ready!

This is when things got a big hairy. You would think matching paint would be a breeze, right?! WRONG! We had this area of our home painted about 4 years ago. I had lost the swatch but figured I would recognize the name of the paint right away at Shermin Williams. I get there ready to work my memory magic to find out they didn't make that paint anymore! What?! The painting associate told me to simply give them a quarter size sample and they could match it. That would have been nice to know the day before, I PATCHED THE WALL where I could have easily torn a little sample off.

Well I calmly returned home to and actually found the swatch card! I felt so empowered. I marched back the next day to get my paint to find out they didn't know what kind of paint was on my walls!

Well I uncalmly returned home to get a bucket of old paint we had used at the same time but was of course a different color. The next day (mind you...this store is 15 miles away), I march in with sample card and paint can. They tell me, that the paint in the can I brought in was not the same that could have been used for the lighter color I needed!

I couldn't believe it! I just need some paint to quickly cover my repaired walls people! It was then they used their computer to find me in their system from 4 years ago. Luckily I knew my painter and as easy as pie...they found me...they found the paint! Why didn't we do this to begin with.

So with paint in hand, I returned home and began to cover. Now...hoping the paints matched after four years, my blood pressure began to rise (you see, these walls connect to an entry way with ceilings sky high...and we are in no position to be repainting whole walls). As it dried I was overjoyed to see the colors matching perfectly. But later, tragedy. The new paint was shiny and the old paint dull. All were eggshell but after four years...eggshell dulls, therefore new paint is shiny.

Now you can see, in many a place, shiny and dull, shiny and dull. Boo to that project. IT will remain as is until further notice!

One room left to do upstairs...SOMMER! She has had the same paint, decor, etc for 5 years. I decided I would go ahead and redo her whole space. And within two or three days we will reveal her new ROOM! And let me tell you it ROCKS! But I am tired.

All of this and so much more have filled the past 30 days:

1. I have 24 piano students each week
2. I ran a triathlon relay (doing the 10k portion), the Army 10 miler and the Baltimore Marathon
3, Trying to go to the temple each week...seem to be averaging every other
4. Primary President
5. Craigslist Seller Extraordinaire (need help...I will help you)
6. Lunching with friends
7. Trying to help Garth get kids to their sports
8. Watching their sports
9. Not writing on my BLOG.

I am all over pjs, couch and ben and jerry's the next 30 days!

Random Happenings

Since I haven't blogged forever, here is a random sampling of our Haymarket Happenings the past month.

It started with the first day of school. More importantly, my first day with no kids in 14 years.

Ahh...

Here is our street's bus stop.

Elementary School: Ethan (4th grade), Tate (1st grade) and Ashton (Kindergarten)
Middle School: Sommer (8th) and Calvin (6)

They are so cute together and such great friends. Calvin is loving his first year of middle school. He even made the football team being only one of two sixth graders who made it!


Then we went to the Renaissance Festival in Maryland.

Garth is the biggest fan of this annual event. And we love to take him!

Here he is getting ready to win an ax throwing contest. Yes, he did win. He says he was born in the wrong time.


The kids think he is a stud...so do I (minus the donkey hat).

Very tall man...

Our little Fool.

Our Gossip...

Another fool and a sloth...

They were punished and quickly repented.


And then just this past weekend I ran my first triathlon. The only problem is I still haven't swam or biked...maybe next year. Being on a relay was the only way to go...and much warmer.

Here is my teammates: Stephanie (biker extraordinaire) and Vicente (he could have whipped us in any event but since neither of us swim he had to take that slot).

We ended up getting fourth (by 30 seconds...not taking the fall for that one) out of 20 or so teams) and missing the podium...boo.

Garth was sent to Utah to see the BYU game (I won't mention which one). He had a blast with ALL of my siblings (boo again...wish I could have joined in the fun)! Thanks Matt, Mark, Mike and Hilary for showing him a super time!



Why so dorky?

Love my boys!

When Your Happy...

I love the song, "When Your Happy and You Know it..." I am happy. I know it (I am clapping my hands right now by the way). Nothing spectacular is going on here to make me extra happy. No glamorous vacations planned, money is still tight, so are my pants. Kids still think I am a mean mom, the basement has MESS written all over it. And so on.

But I will tell you a little secret:

I have been getting up early these days. We read scriptures with the kids (sometimes only a verse but reading...), get them all off to school without too much craziness (last year I was awaken by my daughter each morning as she sweetly said from the front door, "bye Mom, I love you." Yes, it is true, I was lazy). We kneel to pray as a family. The dishes are done, lunches are made all before 9 am.

I believe more in the council, "Early to bed, Early to rise." I am still working on the early to bed wisdom but getting up each morning is putting an extra spring in my step.