Our Precious Easter Pictures

PS- I can't make the photos go where I want them to on this page, we did go to church, miss s was around-just not in the pictures, there will be much less sugar next year
and now you know that I need to clean better.
(after his nap ~photo is how we found him, I promise~ my mr. started a new tradition ~ an egg fight~ thankfully, it didn't end in tears)

Little Mr. B Would Like to Make an Announcement

As of April 27, 2011, 9:15pm, he is no longer a baby.

He aced his "Always Changing & Growing Up" pre-test yesterday.

And the teacher gave them some "deoderant and zit repellant."

It's good that he got some repellant, because we've had a couple of those little visitors come nosing by.

Some girlies ding, dong ditched our house the other day.

Eeeek!

It's happened once before

along with another instance of chalk writing on our driveway.

I think this time next year he will be as tall as me.

His shoes are already a bit too big.

I know the tooth fairy's really going to miss him.

If he/she ever remembers to come.

There is still a tooth in a baggie on his nightstand from a month ago.

The tooth that fell out shortly (like one day) after another tooth.

It's like his body's pushing the little boy out.

That or a dental horror show.

I think the tooth fairy is in denial

and

I wish the teacher'd given him some girl repellant.

Rockin' With the PreK Crowd

A few weeks ago, I went on a hot date to a concert and a picnic lunch afterward.

Transportation had been arranged.

It was awesome.

I liked the bus ride there and back

(except the part on the way home when my tired date and his friend started fighting a little bit),

the awesome PreK mosh pit,

and the walk to the park after our lunch.

When you watch the video, the dark sections are of the auditorium full of kids-singing and dancing along.

Apparently this man is a big hit with this crowd.

I'd never heard of him,

but my friend who has a little boy in

little mr. j's class and soccer team

and who's husband is little mr. j's future

t-ball assistant coach

know him.

He goes the the dental office where she works.

Go visit his site if you'd like- Stephen Fite.

And if you get a chance for a hot date with your little man or gal-

take 'em up on it,

because it's woo hoo, okie pokie fun!

______________________________________________________________________

PS- I was in no way compensated for this post.

We paid for our tickets to the show

and did not buy a t-shirt.

(It wasway fun to see little mr. j's teacher go up on the stage during the show, though.)

Count Down

Image from here.

Tonight we registered someone for new student orientation.

(She's starting summer term.)

I think I may have found a few apron strings that missed being clipped.

We are about 7 weeks out.

So very weird.

Sunday School - Easter

Happy Easter.
What a lovely day.
It rained and was cloudy and grey.
Clearing the drought (I hope).
Very fitting for this Christian holiday, I think.

May I share with you the words to a beautiful hymn that we sang today.
(If you'd like to listen or sing along, click here and hit play.)

 I Know That My Redeemer Lives


I know that my Redeemer lives.
What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, he lives, who once was dead.
He lives, my ever-living Head.
He lives to bless me with his love.
He lives to plead for me above.
He lives my hungry soul to feed.
He lives to bless in time of need.

He lives to grant me rich supply.
He lives to guide me with his eye.
He lives to comfort me when faint.
He lives to hear my soul’s complaint.
He lives to silence all my fears.
He lives to wipe away my tears.
He lives to calm my troubled heart.
He lives all blessings to impart.

He lives, my kind, wise heav’nly Friend.
He lives and loves me to the end.
He lives, and while he lives, I’ll sing.
He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King.
He lives and grants me daily breath.
He lives, and I shall conquer death.
He lives my mansion to prepare.
He lives to bring me safely there.

He lives! All glory to his name!
He lives, my Savior, still the same.
Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:
“I know that my Redeemer lives!”
He lives! All glory to his name!
He lives, my Savior, still the same.
Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:
“I know that my Redeemer lives!”

Text: Samuel Medley, 1738–1799. Included in the first LDS hymnbook, 1835.
Music: Lewis D. Edwards, 1858–1921
Job 19:25
Psalm 104:33–34
(copied from here)

Another Mama Bear Story

This sign was posted at the main intersection near our house about two weeks and two days ago.

I am the reason this sign was posted at the main intersection near our house and many other intersections.

I am especially the reason it part that reads "Possible Traffic Delays."

I know, me? Really? Really.

Mama Bear kicked in.

And she didn't keep her mouth shut this time.

So, for your entertainment,

my embarassment tinged with satisfaction,

and one long read,

 please follow this series of emails from last year.

(notes from me in italics -

names of people and places changed or adapted to make it more confusing for you)

Email 1

Subject: Problem with your bike route Saturday--please contact me

To whom it may concern:

It is April 10, 2010. Today my daughter is supposed to take the ACT. You know, the little test that has a huge impact on her future?

We live in X neighborhood. It is a neighborhood on two cross roads.

Why didn't you put out signs at some of the larger crossroads informing us that you would be causing traffic delays? Why didn't you publicize your routes better?

Do you realize the impact these delays can have on people?
My daughter left our neighborhood 30 minutes before the time she was supposed to be at The High School, where she was to take the test. (That is normally a 15 minute route door to door.) She called ten minutes later, sobbing, telling us she was stuck at the two cross roads. By the time we could get down there to help her, it was quarter till 8:00am. The traffic director let a few cars through, but she was stopped again. By the time I walked up to her car (braless & in my pajamas), he waved her through. I waved her on, because what else could I do?
Now I have a stressed out child taking the test that determines her future. Thanks a lot.
If you had publicized this better, we could have planned accordingly and not had these problems this morning.
I need a telephone number and name of a person in authority as soon as possible. There is more I would like to discuss.
Thank you,
the mrs. (aka Crazed Mother)
my phone number here

Email 2
Hello Mrs.
I was forwarded your email by our Race Director.
I want to offer our apologies for any inconvenience today's bicycle race may have caused you and your family.
I tried calling you a few minutes ago and would be glad to visit with you at your convenience.
Sincerely yours,
Classy Man who can handle a crazed mother well
President, 2010 Redbud Classic
his phone number


Email 3
Mrs. :

I received your voicemail and appreciate your understanding with respect to the busy-ness of this weekend. I know you are probably busy, too, so I will try again to reach you this weekend, but if we don't connect, please call me at your convenience on Monday on my cell (phone number) or at my office (phone number).
Yours,
Classy Man who can handle a crazed mother well


Email 4
Hi Classy Man,
I've been busy and haven't had a chance to call you. So, I thought I'd just email instead.
We were pretty upset with what happened the Saturday morning of the Redbud bike race.We live in a neighborhood. It is the neighborhood at two cross roads. So we were surrounded by the race.
That Saturday morning, my daughter very left early to go to take the ACT. We thought she had plenty of time to make it to the school early. We were wrong, because of the race that we didn't know about. If she'd been running to the grocery, that would have been no big deal. This was the test that helps determine her entire future.
She was stuck at the intersection until 7:45am it usually takes one minute to get through it from our house (she had left at 7:30am). Finally, the traffic officer waved her through. She made it to the test with one minute to spare (it's normally a 15 minute commute door-to-door). Fortunately, there was a teacher there that she knew who was able to help her calm down and she was able to take the ACT.
This child has stress issues and the ACT day was not a good day for this incident to happen. She had done everything in her power to control the situation in preparation for the test. The bike race threw her off.
She says she thinks she did well and did not feel anxiety while taking the test, so hopefully her scores will reflect that.
My husband has run marathons and done bike races, we know the work that goes into an event like this. We also have the bike people out here all the time and we are happy about it, it's a beautiful place to ride.
But, folks who use the area really should be considerate to the people who live here. We had no idea that the Red Bud bike race was going to happen here - let alone on that Saturday. Since moving to Oklahoma a year and a half ago, the attitude of the locals regarding what's happening in the community has just baffled me. Everyone seems to assume that newcomers (and we're really not newcomers anymore) automatically know about all that is going on the the community.
People who plan big events like yours need to do a better job of advertising and community outreach. A simple sign at the intersection would have been enough. We could have adjusted our daughter's plans accordingly. (We did see the port-a-john, and wondered why it was there. We thought maybe the church was getting ready for some construction or something.) There is a precious Baptist church at the corner of the two cross roads.
Although I really thought about it for a long time, I'm not going to ask for your organization to compensate us for the cost of the test that she's probably going to have to retake. I am going to ask you to please get the word out to any and all organizers of events such as these--please be kind to the communities you are using. Let them know what is going on. Put up little signs and contact HOAs in areas that have them. In our case, call the neighborhood school and have them put it on the reader board. The totally obnoxious one that I can see the glow from all the way from my house when it's on and working. It's a little extra work, but the community support you would get back would pay off and you wouldn't have freaked out moms contacting you in such a "mother bear" way on the day of the event.
Hope your event went well. Hope it is awesome in the years to come.
Thank you,
the mrs.
my phone number


Email 5
Mrs. :

Thank you for your email. I was hoping you would get back in touch.
Again, I appreciate all of your thoughts and I do understand the frustration. At our post-race meeting, we discussed ways to inform the residents of certain neighborhoods (including yours of course) in advance about the event. Everyone agreed it would be a good idea to reach out to neighborhood associations and even plant a sign in the grass notifying the neighborhoods along the route. Your idea about calling the schools is one we hadn't thought of, but we will look into that, too.
As a way of letting you and your family know that we regret any difficulty the bike race may have caused, we want to invite you and your family to participate in next year's Redbud at no cost. It is a fun spring event and we think you will enjoy the events on Saturday and Sunday. To take us up on our offer, simply email our race director, a very nice person, next spring and let her know what events you plan to participate in (her email address is someone@somewhere).
Thank you again for getting in touch and for your candor. Please feel free to get in touch if any additional issues arise.
Yours,
Classy Man who can handle a crazed mother well
President, 2010 Redbud Classic
Classy Man
Man Law Firm
Some Stree and Suite
Oklahoma City, OK
phone number (Office)
phone number (Mobile)
phone number (FAX)
web address

But guess what we had on our schedule that Saturday (we don't do Sunday sports)?
(I just made a list, but deleted it- it was a fun, but busy day & you just read through all those emails-I don't want to make you read too much more.)
We couldn't take him up on his offer.
But I did leave a little earlier for my meeting that morning.
And I bet the kids who had to go take the ACT & saw the sign knew they had to leave a little earlier.
I had one friend tell me that "they" will never know what I did for "them."
And you know what, I'm ok with that because I know what I did.
Even though I was foolish & a bit irrational.
I know what I did.
_______________________________________________________________________________

PS-Oh, do I know what I did. I have another neighbor and friend (who's beautiful wife is over there --> in the followers section) who seems to not remember seeing me running down the street trying to help my daughter. I am thankful he was busy watching the bikes that morning. (I have not come out and talked to him specifically about the whole thing, it's just too embarassing. In some conversations, I've talked around it & nothing's come up. PHEW.)

Picasso Peep Art

The local library is having a peep art competition,

but according to the registration materials,

I am too old to enter.

I think my piece pictured above would totally have rocked the categories,

but alas,

tis not to be.

So I'm just sharing it with you,

my peeps.

Thanks for enjoying my Peep art.

peep s - (or ps) - miss h and I are in the midst of a disagreement over who took this photograph.
She thinks it was she and I thinks it was I.

Any who who took it,
we're both too old.
And I find that peepy funny.

peep peep s - I'm thinking now that miss h is correct
and she did take the picture
but the senario she keeps describing to me
about the when and how and
what I was doing
while she was thieving my camera
and taking peep portraits
eludes me.

Message from miss h

miss h wrote the message above and asked that I share it with you.

I asked her to please write a post to go with it,

but she's busy being a Senior & all that,

so sorry no post.

But--we can chalk this one up as one more post about a big kid.

Yay.

Happy Spring.

ps- How about those fence lines?

Sunday School

I've been thinking a lot about this coming week.
I've been thinking a lot about Christ and how in just a few years on earth, the tremendous impact he had.
You probably know this already, but just in case you don't, I am Christian.
I believe in Jesus Christ.
I love Him.
And while I am no master scriptorian, I do hope that I may be considered a worthy follower of Him and his teachings.

The following link will take you to an article that describes Christ's last mortal week.
When I think of Him and the things he went through, it makes my weeks seem very small.
But I hope that I can make my small  & weak great.

"Reflections on the Savior's Last Week"
By Eric D. Huntsman Associate Professor of Ancient Scripture, Brigham Young University

Ensign, April 2009
__________________________________________________________________________________

My friend teaches the adult Sunday School class in our ward.  Saturday she invited "a parent with a young child (three to five years old) to bring the child to class, introduce him or her, and briefly describe some of the child’s admirable qualities. After the parent is finished, ask class members to think of childlike qualities that Jesus would want us to have. List responses on the chalkboard." That parent was me. That child was little mr. j. I cried a little while doing it & little mr. j did great in front of all those grown ups.

The lesson used Matthew 18 (becoming like little children & parable of the unmerciful servant).
Oh boy is that chapter full of so much wisdom.
It's been a touching day.
And a touching week.

For my "journal" purposes of this blog, I'm going to list a few of the things that have happened (without much detail, sorry).

-miss s's telling us about her presentation in her marriage & family class on LDS Marriages (alright--this one might need more detail--she's the only LDS kid in there & she said the whole hour turned into a question and answer period. I am so proud of her and her courage.)
-trying to find the perfect earrings to match miss h's prom dress
-listening to miss h and the prom drama
-listening to miss h and the friend drama
-miss s teaching little mr. j ukulele
-listening to the Bau sisters presentation about their father & mother's experiences in the Holocaust
-talking to my friend, an incredible woman & a recent convert to the LDS faith, while waiting for a soccer game to start
-little mr. b getting a package in the mail that he ordered and paid for and was wayyyyy excited about
-watching little mr. b make a goal at his soccer game
-being able to visit teach one of my ladies (whom I've been very delinquent in visiting) in the Wal Mart parking lot :)
-dog wrestled, didn't lose, but still limping after 5 days
-being brave enough to deliver fliers about the brain training I do to the school and hopefully drum up some summer time business
-three very windy soccer games
-pressing install and a password on many free aps
-seeing (for the first time in 2 1/2 years) the trainer from the gym who helped get me started on getting healthy and listening to the wonderful story of her trials, finding Christ, forgiveness and the redemptions of her past year
-funnest family dinner today. miss s said something so hilarious that I almost choked and died. Then we started teasing miss h about a silly thing that we kept catching her doing & she didn't get mad at us.

All Awesome.
This week I plan to ponder a lot and clean up the office.
But I'm sure more will come.
Thanks and good night.

Assume

Image from here.

Who knows what assuming something does?

Let's spell it out:

when one assumes,

one makes an

A _ _

out of

U

and

ME.

ASSUME

Somebody assumed that I was mad at them because I did not answer a text they sent.

Somebody was wrong.

And now I think somebody is mad at me.

But I am not going to assume that because what would that make me?

I left this kind of drama long ago.

It's stupid.

I will not be sucked in to it again.

Life is too short and time is too valuable to play games in this arena.

If you want to know how someone feels about something, ask them.

Don't assume.

And if you think someone is not telling you the truth about their feelings,

maybe you are right and maybe you are wrong.

It doesn't matter.

All you can do is take them for their word and move forward.

Hopefully in a positive direction.

_______________________________________________________________

PS- I am at a great point in my life.

I have gained the courage to speak my mind, if deemed necessary.

Most of the time it's not necessary.

Most of the time it just doesn't really matter what I think.

But when it does, I do say something.

And I did.

I just don't know if somebody heard.

Sunday School - ramblings on reverence

I thought I would let you know right up front that I am just going to ramble about here at Sunday School today. I hope you don't mind.

A few weeks ago, we sat in front of a seat kicker. It felt like I was sitting in a massage chair. I remember thinking, "Gee, I wish he would kick a little higher and work on those knots in my upper back." Then I realized that the pew doesn't go up that high and he would just be kicking me and that would not be pleasant.
And then I got prideful and thought,"Wow, how good of me to not get all judgemental, frustrated and impatient with this kid's lack of respect and annoying behavior."  And then I wondered why I didn't get judgemental, frustrated and impatient. I think it's because my back was just really needing some attention at the time and it was a huge blessing that we sat where we did.

Today we sat in front of what I think might have been the noisiest bunch of people ever. 

my mr. has gotten us into the habit of arriving about 10 minutes early to our Sacrament Meeting (main meeting-everybody's there). It's been a very peaceful time to sit and listen to the music and really shift our spirits to worship.  And even though my mr. had responsibilities in another congregation today and was not with us, I got it together and got us there early. (That doesn't always happen when he is not around. I try, but usually only get us there three minutes early. Doesn't work as well.)

Anyway, today was weird.
During our sitting time, little mr. b leaned over to me and said, "It's noisier in here than in my cafeteria at school."
I said, "You're right, now be quiet."
Even miss h & miss s commented on how chatty people were being.
And I had to separate little mr. j and miss s, because they were being obnoxious.
And it just was not the correct time or place for the business they were conducting.
miss s gave me crusties.
I don't care.

The congregation finally shut up after the counselor in the bishopric had been standing at the pulpit ready to start the meeting for a little while said something like, "We welcome you...." I don't know what he said, because I couldn't hear him.

I was trying not to be judgemental, frustrated and impatient.

Then during the Sacrament, there was still a lot of noise. Now this is the most sacred part of our meeting and it was very distracting to have a low murmur going on.  My kids must have decided that if others were whispering, it must be ok for them to do as well.
I thought not.
After it was all over, I told miss s that this was a very sacred time and the whisperings and "Mom" questions need to stop, because it distracted & interrupted people's worship. Especially mine.
I should have told all my children.
miss s gave me a crusty.
I don't care.

It turned out to be a very nice meeting.
I am sure I would have got more out of it if I hadn't been judgemental, frustrated and impatient.
I'm going to try.
Maybe I can sit in the massage pew next week.

Snore

Image from here.

It is 12:34am CST (at least it is that time right now, when I finish typing this sentence and when you read this it will be a totally different time, but I wanted you to know anyway).

Now it is 12:35am. For me.
And I am sitting at this computer typing in words listening to the rumbling sounds coming from a snoozing somebody. A few minutes ago somebody else was talking about something.  Busy night here, huh?

I'm waiting for it to be midnight April 6th, 2010 MST. I was going to go to bed and wake up for the event, but I stayed up too late and didn't want to do the whole go to sleep, wake up, be groggy, wake all the way up and go back to bed again and not be able to go back to sleep. Did that two nights ago when some rude young neighbors decided to antagonize the dog. Not fun.

Tonight will be fun. miss h's enrollment for fall classes opens and we're hitting it right when it opens. 
(Yay, she wants me around for this!)

Very far cry from the days when I went to a giant gym and waited in line for hours and hours only to find out what I wanted was full or canceled.

I still have nightmares that I am in college and it's finals time. Only I haven't been to class - ever - and I can't find the room the exam is being given in. Oh, yes, it's a doozy and bothers me greatly.

And now I will share a family story that has become legend:

Once upon a time, we had a little boy who woke up numerous times every night. He said a monster woke him up and was very scared. It was a difficult period in his and our little lives.

One day my mr. was taking a nap on the couch in the living room. little mr. b was playing in his room down the hall. little mr. b came out in to the living room and said to me, "Mommy, the monster's here."
So being a good mommy, I encouraged him to face his fears and lead me to the monster. (Hoping of course that we could deal with the problem and be free of the monster.)

little mr. b took my hand and walked me over to his snoring dad and said, "That's the monster noise that wakes me up."

Now, if you will excuse me, I need to go ask someone turn on his side.
Good night.
12:51am.

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday (on Saturday)

Today's a big day in the Mormon circle of the world.
Actually, today and tomorrow.
It's General Conference weekend.
Happens twice a year.
First weekend in April and first weekend in October.
It's a time where we can be fed spiritually and hear the messages our Heavenly Father wants us to hear.
For our time.
Right now.
Today.

So, if you'd like to join the family, you are totally invited.
(We'll be playing this bingo game with m&ms and enjoying our time together.)
If you can't make it to our house, you can access Conference in quite a few different ways.
(And know, that if you can't watch or listen live, you can always access it later. The directions are there.)

Here's a link to the Church news & events website:
http://lds.org/church/events/181st-general-conference-of-the-church?lang=eng
Scroll down to "How do I watch?" and you can choose the best option for you.

Toast

Image found here.

Today's show and tell item was supposed to start with the letter "T."
little mr. j wanted to take the toaster.
After some cajoling, he settled on toast.
When he came home he told us that, "This was the first time ever in the history of my school that someone has brought toast for show and tell."
Yay us!

And in more preschool antics, he came home with one of those very coveted tooth shaped container charm necklaces-you know the ones the spoiled kids get when they lose a tooth at school-and he told me, "Mom, Mom, I lost a tooth! [pause] April Fools!"

I wondered if his teacher might have told him to do that to get back for the toast.
(She's got a very fun sense of humor.)
(The tooth necklace was a little reward for remembering to bring your show and tell.)
(Something we've forgot in the past few weeks, and will not forget again.)
('I' is next week's letter. I suggested ice that's melted. He wasn't impressed.
He would like to bring his friend, Isacc.)

When I asked him if he heard that April Fool's joke at school, he said, "No, I made it up myself, on the bus."
Good night, we are going to have to take great care on future April 1sts.
Or else we'll be toast.