When we're helping we're happy....

There is no worse news to hear than that your mother has volunteered you for a service project. So of course, my three boys were thrilled when I told them we would be spending our last day of spring break helping the elderly. The chorus of moans and groans was music to my ears. After all, if they are this upset with me than I must be doing the right thing, right?

I have an elderly friend who doesn't really act elderly. She's pretty much awesome and since I don't have any living grandparents (Justin does, but they aren't living close to us) I have adopted her as my own. I've known her for 12 years and am happy to help her in any way that I can. She needed a bunch of yard work done and I jumped at the chance to help her. First, I love doing yard work. Second, my boys spent enough time this week on their DS's and X boxes. I knew it was time they payed it forward. After all, it's her daughter and son- in- law that take us to the lake all the time and let the boys ride go-carts and let Carter test drive tractors whenever he wants. I figured they needed to learn a lesson in not being a free-loader.

So we spent our Saturday making a sweet old lady very happy. I left very happy as well because I was so proud of the effort the boys gave. They each had assigned jobs and performed like true hard- working men. Here are some pictures I can use later as proof that it REALLY DOES feel good to help others! They are having so much fun.

I should've thought to get an "after" picture because after they dug up the rose bushes, they laid plastic and hauled and poured 10 bags of river rock.  It looked awesome when we were done.  

Bundt gone badly

I tried to make this.

It turned out like this.

Weekend with Devanie

My niece came to stay the weekend with us.  Here's what we did:  

Zoo

McDonalds

Rented Bolt (very cute..the hamster makes the whole movie)

Football in the yard

Made my first ever soda cake(gone in one sitting)

Justin always takes great pictures...

Anyone for a game of WII?

In an effort to get "pool ready" I pulled out some old exercise tapes (VHS?  Oh my gosh, I know!) My all time favorite workout is Tae Bo.  That Billy Blanks knows how to get ripped!  Look what he's done for me (hee hee).

   

Carter was watching as I ever-so-gracefully grunted and sweated through the tape. It took me a minute to realize what was happening:

Carter:  "Wow! You're good at this.  Which guy are you being?"

Me:  "What do you mean?" 

Carter:  "Are you controlling the blue guy?"

Me:  "No.  He's controlling me.  I do what he tells me to do."

Carter:  "No.  That's not right mom.  Which guy are you?"

Me:  "I'm all of them.  We're all doing the same thing"..........and then it dawned on me that he thought I was playing a WII game.  

 

Morhpine is expensive...

Sometimes the only way to get perspective is to write your own MasterCard commercial:

Hospital bill for a morning in the E.R.  --- $2200

Missing the review for my test--C+

Laughing at Justin on Morphine---worth every penny

Having a healthy husband--Priceless

The mother load

Camdon's asthma/allergist is seriously the greatest doctor ever!  Not only is he an overall nice guy, he's everything a doctor should be.  He REALLY cares how Camdon is doing.  He's been treating his asthma since he was 2 1/2 so he knows him well.  He had his semi-annual check-up today and look at all the loot he gave us!  If you aren't familiar with Advair, then this won't seem like much to you.  But, these things are so dang expensive.  Let me put it this way:  you are looking at (without insurance) about $750 worth of medication on my counter.  Plus, the $50 off coupon for another one.  Even with our insurance, these things cost us about $80, so the coupon is a pretty big deal in and of itself.  

Anyway, it felt like Christmas!  Thanks Doctor Jeppson!  (he doesn't read this blog, I don't know why I just thanked him, but he's seriously awesome!)

Alone Time

Justin had a conference down in Salt Lake City this weekend. His sister Whitney invited the whole family to come, but I couldn't miss school, so they all went ahead without me. They left early Thursday morning and won't be back until Sunday evening. This is how I felt at the thought of all that free time.

I got so much work done at work. I got so much work done at school. I even finished up that painting project I started months ago. Remember I said I was painting my trim? Well, it's finally done and the room looks so much brighter. It took five hours to finish, so it was good that I was here without any interruptions.

I didn't cook. I didn't do any laundry. I had sole possession of the remote control. It was great.

Thanks Whitney for showing everyone a good time in Utah. I'll take a turn this summer!!

Tattle Tale

 Background information helpful in understanding the story I'm about to tell:

Saturdays can get pretty nuts for me.  Especially the first of the month.  And Saturday was one of those days.  I had two new-hire orientations to do at work, then I came home and started the huge list of chores that needs doing on the weekend.  Then I went grocery shopping.  Winco on a Saturday is enough to make you want to kill yourself.  But, nobody beats their prices, so whatever.  Then I started preparing sharing time (I know, I know, this shouldn't be done Saturday.  But, when then?)  After that I jumped into the shower to get ready to go to the stake baptisms (the pres was out of town and as vice pres....it had been delegated to me).  When I got home my family informed me they weren't interested in the crock pot full of chicken tortilla soup I had started somewhere along the way.  

So, fine!  I put Justin in charge of dinner and I left to go to town for the third time that day to return Camdon's church shoes that were too small that he needed for the next day that I had forgotten about when I was there the first two times.  Justin's solution was frozen beef and bean burritos.  Fine, whatever.  I'll eat the soup. 

It's helpful to note that I took my sweet time in town, because I was tired and annoyed and needed to wander up and down the isles of Shopko by myself.  I also went into the bookstore to wander around and unwind.  I didn't return home until late and the children were in bed.

It's also helpful to keep in mind that Justin no longer gets up early to go to Sunday morning meetings (yay!).  

The actual point of the story

Okay here we go.  Sunday we were sitting in church and Carter was being especially difficult.  I have a certain look I give Justin and he knows that's his cue to take Carter somewhere private and "remind him we need to be reverent", otherwise known as a beating.  Ha Ha..I'm just kidding.  I don't know what goes on out there, but he always comes back into the meeting with his head hung low and his tail between his legs.  

So, I give Justin the look and he takes Carter out.  I kid you not, THE SECOND Justin walked out the door, Jamon turned to me in his most excited, "I've been waiting since 6:30 last night to get you alone to tell you this" voice he says, "Mom, dad swore last night at dinner! He said the "D" word!"  This wasn't whispered by the way.  Remember, he had been waiting a long time to report this little nugget of information.  He was asleep when I got home and Justin was home with us all morning.  So, here it was 11:45 the next afternoon and he finally saw his chance to squeal on his old man!  

Upon hearing this news I immediately left the chapel.  Now, I'm sure Jamon was satisfied in thinking I had left to go find his father to give him his punishment.  Not true.  I left because I was going to bust out laughing so hard it would have surely caused a scene.  I found Justin out in the foyer talking to a buddy and I inquired of this horrible accusation that had been brought against him.  He could neither confirm nor deny that he had said the "D" word.  The fact that he wasn't sure if he had sworn or not tells me that his descent into profanity occurred long before last night over frozen burritos.  

(He claims he swears a lot while in traffic and now that I am commuting down to BSU five days a week, I can see how this could be true. )

Anyway, thank goodness for families to keep us in line and hold us accountable for the things we do wrong!  I only heard my dad swear once the whole time I was growing up....it just so happened to be the "D" word as well.  Jamon, if it's the worst thing your dad ever does, you'll be doing okay!   

Honors and benefits at the age of 11...you go buddy!

 

 Last night Camdon was inducted into the National Honor Society.  We, of course, are super proud of the little fella.  The application required each candidate to show how they've been active in their communities, their personal and family responsibilities, and talents & extra-ciricular activities they are involved in. What does all of this mean?  It looks good on college applications. If he wants to be a doctor, he's going to need all the help he can get.  Hopefully he'll be able to get scholarships that will help him out.  This is a good start.    

Anyway, afterwards we went to the Sweet Spot for a treat.   Kuna finally got an ice cream shop and it's now our favorite place to go when we're celebrating.  Good job, Cama-lama!  We love you!