I've been absent because the computer's been off during the day, and I've been sick, and I don't yet know how to get my operating system to recognize my camera in order to upload photos.
But Guy had 4 hours of television this week, as I had a fever on Wednesday and Thursday and slept the afternoons away.
I'm happy, but we also had a TON of fun doing all our planned activities talking, reading, and learning about music. I plan to do this again, but didn't plan much for this week because SURPRISE! I'm exhausted from 18 days of someone being ill in this house.
Please don't ask about my weekend, because it was awful to feel so tired trying to recover, chasing after two kids, and taking care of Josh who got sick.
But this no TV thing? It's great. I plan to keep it up for the majority of our days.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Sunday, September 20, 2009
I Ready!
So after a week of being sick and letting Guy watch enough TV to rot his brains out, we're having a TV free week. Josh will unplug the TV tonight and we'll put it away. I'll put the laptops out of sight during waking hours. And we'll just be.
We'll have playground time, sure, but I'm taking a leaf out of Katherine's book and doing a Theme of the Week. Call me crazy, but I think we'll have some fun and maybe learn something too!
This week we're going to celebrate music and dancing.
We'll learn about drums, and make and paint one. We'll bring out the guitar and show it to Guy and maybe let him strum a bit. We'll read books about music and orchestras. We'll talk about pianos, xylophones, and our voices. We'll make ribbons (or maybe scarfs?) for dancing. We'll make popcorn and sing that famous Primary song.
Because popcorn is the only musically associated snack I can think of right now! It's going to be a good week, and hopefully there won't be too many tantrums before we start having fun.
Seriously, you should have seen Guy yesterday. It was hard to tell if he was still sick or if the runny nose was just from the constant cries of anguish. Too much TV. Wish we never had the thing in the first place some days.
BUT! This week! It will be great! I hope. At least I get to start the week off right. My kitchen and living room are SPOTLESS thanks to a certain Josh who spent an hour with me this evening cleaning by my side. Love that man.
I'll let you all know how it goes :-)
We'll have playground time, sure, but I'm taking a leaf out of Katherine's book and doing a Theme of the Week. Call me crazy, but I think we'll have some fun and maybe learn something too!
This week we're going to celebrate music and dancing.
We'll learn about drums, and make and paint one. We'll bring out the guitar and show it to Guy and maybe let him strum a bit. We'll read books about music and orchestras. We'll talk about pianos, xylophones, and our voices. We'll make ribbons (or maybe scarfs?) for dancing. We'll make popcorn and sing that famous Primary song.
Because popcorn is the only musically associated snack I can think of right now! It's going to be a good week, and hopefully there won't be too many tantrums before we start having fun.
Seriously, you should have seen Guy yesterday. It was hard to tell if he was still sick or if the runny nose was just from the constant cries of anguish. Too much TV. Wish we never had the thing in the first place some days.
BUT! This week! It will be great! I hope. At least I get to start the week off right. My kitchen and living room are SPOTLESS thanks to a certain Josh who spent an hour with me this evening cleaning by my side. Love that man.
I'll let you all know how it goes :-)
Thursday, September 17, 2009
I should say something
My problem is I have so many ideas running through my head, and when I try to chase some of them they refuse to be nailed down.
So here I am. Saying that life is busy. My boys are sick, but finally starting to get better.
Last week was so crazy that I cooked dinner on Friday when my mother-in-law was in town, and then didn't cook until the Sunday ten days later. THAT is how busy we've been.
Every other day Josh comes home with a new job lead, meaning a new cover letter, and more applications, and more hoping and wondering. But he has his first interview on Monday. I cannot believe how long the recruiting process is for some of these companies.
I'll post pictures as soon as I figure out how to get my camera to upload them on Ubuntu.
So here I am. Saying that life is busy. My boys are sick, but finally starting to get better.
Last week was so crazy that I cooked dinner on Friday when my mother-in-law was in town, and then didn't cook until the Sunday ten days later. THAT is how busy we've been.
Every other day Josh comes home with a new job lead, meaning a new cover letter, and more applications, and more hoping and wondering. But he has his first interview on Monday. I cannot believe how long the recruiting process is for some of these companies.
I'll post pictures as soon as I figure out how to get my camera to upload them on Ubuntu.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Introspection
Jessica MacDonald came to visit last week, and at the playground we started talking about how to manage life as a mom of littles. She related a talk she remembered Sister Bednar giving that resonated with me.
The gist of the story is that when she had young children and her husband was very busy, Sister Bednar was given a blessing wherein she was promised success in raising her family if she adhered to the simple principles she already knew.
1) Getting enough sleep
2) Eating well
3) Exercising regularly
4) Daily prayer
5) Daily scripture study
In an effort to more closely follow the commandments, I have been focusing on improving myself in these efforts in recent weeks.
Josh and I turn off the computers at 9:30 p.m. so that we can get up at 6 and have enough sleep. I get so much more done in a day if I get started at 6 than if I wait until 8. Since all I do after the dishes are done and the kids are in bed is relax and work on projects, I don't feel deprived going to bed by 10.
I've also been exercising regularly, and when I add my scripture study and prayer to that my mood is much more stable. The days when I don't aren't quite as happy.
One last thing that is making a huge difference in my life is prayer. I now take the time to pray whenever I'm nursing Leo to sleep, either for his twice daily naps or in the evening or at 5 a.m. I feel much closer to Christ, and have a better feel for fulfilling my family's needs as well, which is an unexpected effect.
This just leaves eating well. So far this morning I've had 3 servings of fruits and vegetables, so that's a good start. I know what's healthy for my body and what's not, I just need to be more vigilant about what I bring into the house and what we eat when we're out.
The gist of the story is that when she had young children and her husband was very busy, Sister Bednar was given a blessing wherein she was promised success in raising her family if she adhered to the simple principles she already knew.
1) Getting enough sleep
2) Eating well
3) Exercising regularly
4) Daily prayer
5) Daily scripture study
In an effort to more closely follow the commandments, I have been focusing on improving myself in these efforts in recent weeks.
Josh and I turn off the computers at 9:30 p.m. so that we can get up at 6 and have enough sleep. I get so much more done in a day if I get started at 6 than if I wait until 8. Since all I do after the dishes are done and the kids are in bed is relax and work on projects, I don't feel deprived going to bed by 10.
I've also been exercising regularly, and when I add my scripture study and prayer to that my mood is much more stable. The days when I don't aren't quite as happy.
One last thing that is making a huge difference in my life is prayer. I now take the time to pray whenever I'm nursing Leo to sleep, either for his twice daily naps or in the evening or at 5 a.m. I feel much closer to Christ, and have a better feel for fulfilling my family's needs as well, which is an unexpected effect.
This just leaves eating well. So far this morning I've had 3 servings of fruits and vegetables, so that's a good start. I know what's healthy for my body and what's not, I just need to be more vigilant about what I bring into the house and what we eat when we're out.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Last Night
I didn't expect much yesterday. Josh was really busy. Didn't even come home for dinner. I didn't get much done, the house was trashed, and I was out the door to start the laundry once the kids were asleep when he calls.
Would I please come to campus and spend some time with him? Maybe we could get dinner?
Sure, I leave the monitor with Natalie (who is AWESOME! and the BEST NEIGHBOR EVER!) and go find him on campus. We chat for two minutes, and decide that I'll go get dinner while he keeps studying. I come back, and he is packing up his stuff because he's needed to do interviews. I help him pack his stuff, and we go back to the car and drive to the CB, where I waited in the car for 35 minutes while he did interviews. And tried not to cry, thinking about everything at home that was left undone.
I fully expected him to have interviews yesterday, but nobody called or e-mailed him. So we assumed he wasn't needed. The last-minute disappointment, when I got excited about having a quiet meal in a study room, was a little hard to take.
Would I please come to campus and spend some time with him? Maybe we could get dinner?
Sure, I leave the monitor with Natalie (who is AWESOME! and the BEST NEIGHBOR EVER!) and go find him on campus. We chat for two minutes, and decide that I'll go get dinner while he keeps studying. I come back, and he is packing up his stuff because he's needed to do interviews. I help him pack his stuff, and we go back to the car and drive to the CB, where I waited in the car for 35 minutes while he did interviews. And tried not to cry, thinking about everything at home that was left undone.
I fully expected him to have interviews yesterday, but nobody called or e-mailed him. So we assumed he wasn't needed. The last-minute disappointment, when I got excited about having a quiet meal in a study room, was a little hard to take.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Busy Weekend!
Josh's brother Jeremy blessed our new little niece Olivia Jayne on Sunday. This means my mother-in-law came out to visit, and Guy sure had fun with her! Friday night we tried to make donerkebabs, and on Saturday we spent the morning and afternoon with family, and spent the evening at Josh's grandfather's house in Riverton. Then Sunday was church and an afternoon luncheon at Jeremy's grandma-in-law's house here in Provo with ward prayer in the evening. We had lots of fun, but Josh was really worn out once everyone left. Thankfully Monday gave him a chance to catch his breath and catch up on homework.
The semester is already in full swing, and Josh can tell you all about it if he ever gets a moment. He's a TA, writing two papers, taking 6 classes, and is in the bishopric. Busy busy!
This week will be no exception. Ward FHE last night, Josh has interviews tonight, tomorrow night is a graduate student dinner followed by bishopric meeting, and Friday night we have two ward socials. Saturday is the Wymount social.
Oh, and did I mention that job applications are due Thursday for the firm Josh is really interested in? WOO HOO! We're also buckling down with grad school applications this week, too.
Like I said, busy busy. But we're so very happy. I used to keep thinking, "I wish we had more money, I wish we had a bigger place, I wish I didn't have stretched out clothes from little fingers pulling me every which way". Right this moment, I feel so grateful to be right here and I am loving my life!
The semester is already in full swing, and Josh can tell you all about it if he ever gets a moment. He's a TA, writing two papers, taking 6 classes, and is in the bishopric. Busy busy!
This week will be no exception. Ward FHE last night, Josh has interviews tonight, tomorrow night is a graduate student dinner followed by bishopric meeting, and Friday night we have two ward socials. Saturday is the Wymount social.
Oh, and did I mention that job applications are due Thursday for the firm Josh is really interested in? WOO HOO! We're also buckling down with grad school applications this week, too.
Like I said, busy busy. But we're so very happy. I used to keep thinking, "I wish we had more money, I wish we had a bigger place, I wish I didn't have stretched out clothes from little fingers pulling me every which way". Right this moment, I feel so grateful to be right here and I am loving my life!
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
TEMPEST IN A TEAPOT
Over 100 people signed a petition, asking for a gate to be put in a fence so they could trample the grass and save a few feet and a few stairs to get to their cars. The fence was put up likely for the express purpose of keeping you from walking on the grass.
Seriously?
Now they want to mutiny against wymount for the construction and landscaping.
I am unmoved. Yes, I am frustrated, but threatening to never donate to BYU until they change their attitudes and show more compassion? The same BYU that gave us rent credits?The only person losing will be the one with the rotten attitude.
Lame. I'm just disappointed that some of these people, who are my friends, have such a sense of entitlement and lack a perception of reality (and rental rates in the rest of Provo).
You want something to happen? Propose a solution, and in a spirit of reconciliation help make it happen. If you really hate it? Really, truly? You can leave. It's a month-to-month lease.
Now I can get back to disciplining my sassy 2-year-old.
Seriously?
Now they want to mutiny against wymount for the construction and landscaping.
I am unmoved. Yes, I am frustrated, but threatening to never donate to BYU until they change their attitudes and show more compassion? The same BYU that gave us rent credits?The only person losing will be the one with the rotten attitude.
Lame. I'm just disappointed that some of these people, who are my friends, have such a sense of entitlement and lack a perception of reality (and rental rates in the rest of Provo).
You want something to happen? Propose a solution, and in a spirit of reconciliation help make it happen. If you really hate it? Really, truly? You can leave. It's a month-to-month lease.
Now I can get back to disciplining my sassy 2-year-old.
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