Category: Uncategorized (Page 64 of 118)

A couple of years ago, when Cole’s flute broke, and we found out it wasn’t a high quality instrument that was worth repairing.  Since it had been given to us by a kind neighbor, we weren’t out anything.  So, I asked on freecycle if anyone had a flute they wanted to give away.  Someone actually gave us a used flute, but it was also broken.  And then someone said they would be happy to loan us a flute.  Who does that?  Who loans out a nice flute to a total stranger and lets them use it for a couple of years?  Well, this guy in Payson does.  He actually has called me a couple of times just to check in and make sure we still have it, but other than that, no contact.  No signed agreement, no rental fee, nothing.  Wow.  Well, Cole has decided he doesn’t want to take band again this year, and we actually have another hand me down flute we can use if he changes his mind, so when he called me yesterday to ask if we were still using it, I figured it was time to give it back.  So, I got his address and phone number down, and agreed to return it to him today.

But I’d like to do more than just return his flute.  But how do you say thank you to a total stranger who lends you a musical instrument for two years?   Cookies?  A thank you note?  A gift card to a local restaurant (do they even have restaurants in Payson, I wonder)?  What do you think?

Two days ago I go the wild stupid idea in my head to clean my office.  My office/sewing room/kids’ computer/craft room/ cesspool of a room where we put everything we don’t know what to do with.  I’ve gotten rid of my old office chair, some crummy shelves, and bags and bags of stuff.  But I’m still here, and I’m still not done.  Where are the clean sweep people when I need them?  I’m tired of doing this room, I’m discouraged, and I’ve made the rest of the house a mess by taking things out of my office and leaving them somewhere else.  Help!  Let me out!

I did spend the day watching my sister’s kids. They took the baby with them, so it was only 7 kids. But I brought Jenna with me, so it was up to 8. And they were all very good. Seriously. They are easy kids to watch. Other than the short outburst the two year old had when she woke from a tiny nap and I was STILL HERE, and she proceeded to scream “No! No! NO!” over and over again, we did ok. I just sent her sister over to see if she’d like a drink or a snack or anything, and stayed as far away from her as I could, and then eventually she happied up again. In order to keep my place as the “fun aunt”, I had to be prepared. I brought movies that they hadn’t seen (Pete’s Dragon, while pretty annoying to me, keeps kids attention if they’ve never seen it before), made sugar cookies and let them each choose 3 cookie cutters to use to cut out the cookies, and took these little perler activity beads, which are plastic beads that you form and then iron.    If  you’ve never tried them before, they are worth every penny (especially when you buy a whole quart sized ziplock bag of them for $1 at a garage sale. I just had to buy more to replenish my supply though, after 6 kids doing 2 or 3 each). They keep kids occupied for a while, and they can make all kinds of designs on the little molds. They were a big hit. In fact, when their mom and dad came home, they yelled, “No! You can’t be home yet! I’m not done with my design!” But I stayed long enough for them to finish up.

Here at home, the kids are having a blast. Today we were going to go to Seven Peaks water park, but with a forecast of thundershowers and no refunds on your day passes if it rains, we decided to go another day. But I don’t think the kids are too devestated. Robin took my two oldest and her two to a smaller water park/splash pool in Provo, so I’m sure they’ll be excited to tell us all about it. They’ve been watching movies, playing video games and playing outside. Even the younger kids who don’t have a friend their own age are enjoying having guests here. We let them stay up late, they get ice cream and lots of games. Why wouldn’t they love it?

We also went for our traditional Robin and Paige splurge of a pedicure, and now my toes look fancy and my feet are soft!

This one is just too great not to pass along.  Tomorrow–Friday the 13th–is Cow appreciation day.

Wear any sort of “cow accessory” and get a free entree at Chick-fil-A. Wear a whole cow outfit and get an entire meal for free. It’s silly, it’s weird, and it’s free food. What more could you ask for?

Sunday we will have house guests until about the end of the month. Hooray and fun! I thought it was going to be today (Saturday), but I just found out they aren’t coming until tomorrow. Which is fine, because the house isn’t quite clean yet, even though we’ve been working for what seems like forever to get things cleaned up and ready for guests. We’ve transformed Megan’s room to a nice Megan/guest room. On Wednesday we painted. On Thursday we put things back together

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and today we (meaning Ryan) did all the handyman stuff,

like hanging the curtain rods, the art on the walls, and a little hook thing for hats. We even put a mirror in there, and I made a little seed catching skirt for the parakeets.

It looks much better in person, of course, but I’m very happy with how it turned out. Not to be leaving the other kids out, we hung the stuffed animal “towers” up in everyone’s rooms, hung a mirror and shelf in the girls’ room, and put up some new curtains. Yes, we’ve been busy, but not busy enough, according to the kids. They just want to know “when are you going to paint MY room?!” but that will have to wait until after the guests all leave.

I’m sure it will be a fun week with my sister in law and kids here. And after that, Robin and kids are coming!

So, now all we need are the guests!

Happy 7-7-07.

The reason? Because I used the word “death”. Hmm. I would have thought it was because I complain about my kids occasionally. Well, in that case, I’ll feel free to complain about them even more, and use words like “crap” and “Oh my heck!” and “death” all I want.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go and put the little monsters to bed.