Happy List

This weather is really making me want to crawl back into bed right now. And it is so hard not to since all of my kids are at school. But I won't let myself do it, of course, because I would feel super lazy afterward and I hate that feeling.

We really missed out on summer around here. It was kind of cold a lot and never got super hot for a long period of time. And now it is September and freezing this week. Plus we are supposed to go camping this weekend and I'm worried it is going to be cold and miserable and I'm going to have to sit in my car with the heater on.

Anyway, here are things that make me happy lately... just because I felt like making a list and heaven knows I don't need another list of things to do!

-having a clean car

- fruit leather

-evening light

- hilarious stories from my sister

-walking to the park with the my family

-muffins

-a new lens to play with for a few days

-curtains in my room

-a phone call with my grandma

-reading

p.s. I want to update the look of my blogs but I'm too lazy to do it myself and too busy to research someone else to do it for me.... anyone have someone good they use and could recommend to me??

Thanks!

Oops! I'm still in a bad mood!

Reason for my bad mood=coldsore

I probably shouldn't be posting since I've been in a bad mood for a week! Yes, a whole week. I've had occasional glimpses of happiness and laughter. But mostly I've just been thinking bad thoughts about everyone I see, wherever I go. The person driving next to me. The pedestrian crossing in front of me. The annoying clerk at every store. The salvation army beggar ringing that blasted bell. Aren't I a great person? I just personify the Christmas spirit in every way!

Now... on to my thoughts for the day.

I've decide that I pretty much hate being a grown-up. It's too hard. I used to think it was all fun and games. Like when I first became a grown up and got to do whatever I wanted. Well, the fun is over. I want someone to tell me what to do, serve me, and give me stuff for nothin'.

Top Ten Reasons Why I'd Rather Be a Kid:

1. Kids don't care if every square inch of the floor is covered in crap.

2. Kids don't have anything on their minds and they promptly forget everything they are supposed to be doing at any given moment.... and they don't care.

3. Kids get to be served a hot dinner every night.

4. Kids get to go to bed at 7pm.

5. Kids get to play with their friends all day long.

6. Kids don't have to exercise.

7. Kids forgive everyone immediately.

8. Kids get a free cookie at Raley's every time they shop there.

9. Kids get to eat a chocolate from their advent calendar every night (I knew I should've bought myself one.)

10. Kids get a hot bath and their hair done everyday, and back scratches every night as they drift off to dreamland.

LUCKY! (SAID IN A NAPOLEON DYNAMITE VOICE)

To read about my last cold sore induced depression click here.

The Art of Napping

I come from a family of nappers. My mom always took "20 minute power naps," my dad took a nap every afternoon when he arrived home from work (he had to be at work at 5am so he was tired!). Every Sunday after church my siblings and I would all sleep for hours.

I go in and out of "nap phases." Sometimes in my life, I've felt too guilty to nap. Right now I don't. Therefore, I am taking one almost everyday, these days. And I love it. There is nothing quite as exciting as anticipating your nap. Then, when the moment finally arrives, and the stars have aligned, you curl up and, smiling, drift off to sleep.

So, let's get down to the "nitty-gritty."

To have a wonderful napping experience, there are a few essential things that must take place.

1. Have a delicious snack just prior to nap time. It is easier to fall asleep when you feel happily full of something yummy.






2. Make sure that all children are engaged in an activity that will keep their attention for a long period of time.

I usually nap for about 45 minutes to an hour. I always nap during Macey's nap because she can't quite be left unattended yet. Another trick that works for me is to not let my children watch very much T.V. most of the time. That way, when I really need them occupied, I can use the T.V. and they become zombies who can't tear their eyes away from the screen and therefore, will not bother me for ANY reason.

Another trick is bribery. Sometimes I tell them that if they let me sleep for 45 minutes without bothering me (unless there is a fire or something) then they will get a special treat when I wake up. This works well for us.




3. Use a face mask to block out light.

I tend to think too much when there is light. My curtains don't block it out enough, so I use this handy little mask. It tricks my brain into thinking it is nighttime.




4. The knee pillow. For ultimate comfort, place a cushy pillow between both knees. I can't sleep without my knee pillow.






5. Use a light weight blanket. And NEVER get under your covers.

If you get under your covers you will never get out. It is just too cozy. It is also just too sweaty. People tend to sweat more during daylight hours. Your nap will NOT be as enjoyable if you wake up sweaty and hot. A baby blanket works perfectly because it gives enough warmth, but not too much.







6. Use a noise machine.

This small electronic will only cost you a few dollars but will greatly add to your napping enjoyment. The one I use imitates the sound of a calming wind. It allows my brain to focus on a low hum and tune out any other background noise (like perhaps screaming children).








7. Last but not least, as you are falling asleep, think of something fun to do, or eat, after your nap. This will help you to get up when the alarm goes off.

Remember, you mustn't sleep for too long during the day. Naps are meant to rejuvenate you, not to make you groggy or throw off your nighttime sleep schedule.

For additional napping information, or napping questions, please contact our local expert, my friend, Celia.

Also, if you have any additional napping tips to share, please do so. I may not have covered everything in this post.





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A New Mow Lawner

The mow lawner. That's what Logan calls our lawn mower. So we had this super super old one and every saturday evening for the last 6 weeks when Dave is finally home during daylight he tries to start our mow lawner. Every saturday he strains a bunch of muscles in his arms and then never gets it started and it's too late to go buy one. So finally last friday after looking at our lawn and feeling embarrassed I loaded up my 3 kids and went to Lowe's to buy a new mow lawner. I asked the guy to show me his cheapest one (so then he hated me) and I bought the next step up. It actually looked pretty cool. He loaded it into my car as my kids were asking me, "mommy, how are we going to get it out of the car?" "oh," I reply, "daddy will do it tonight." "but mommy, daddy doesn't get home until really really late." Anyway, I was embarrassed because I didn't want the guy who was loading my mow lawner to know that puny little me was going to try to get this gigantic box out of my trunk.

So we get home and I try to lift the thing. It doesn't budge. Then I get Lexi and Logan to go under it and push up. Barely budges. But somehow I manuver it and slide it down my car and onto the floor. I then slid it into the garage. I felt really cool cause Logan was screaming, "you did it mommy!!!" Then I had to cut the box down so that I could get it out. Then (and I was very proud of myself again) I followed the step by step instructions and got it put together and ready to go! So I put a little gas in, put a little oil in and walla! I was ready. There were only 2 problems.... I wasn't strong enough to move the wheels to their highest position so the blade was in the lowest, closest to the grass position. Problem number 2..... I know nothing about oil and had know idea how much to put in so I guessed on that one.

Well, the next step was getting it started which turned out to be pretty easy compared to pushing it along the grass. I could barely move the thing!!!! For awhile I thought that I was just really weak but then when I saw the mud under my grass showing, I realized it was becasue it was in the lowest position and my grass was really long so pushing it along was almost impossible. I was using my leg to kick and get me a small running start and then I would just push for all I was worth! I definately pulled some muscles. The motor was loud so I couldn't hear anything but when I looked behind me Logan was jumping up and down screaming, "you're doing it mommy! You're doing it!" He really thought that it was only a daddy's job so he was proud of me. He wouldn't be proud for long though.

I was about to stop when I saw how short I was cutting the grass but no need to stop............ I heard a loud metal sound and it stopped itself. I broke our new mow lawner! Yes, for all of my readers out there who noticed the words "little bit" before the word "oil", you guessed it, I destroyed the new mow lawner's engine because I didn't put enough oil in it. Don't you think if that's the ONE way to ruin a brand new lawn mower 2 hours after you bought it they should write it in huge bold letters at the top of the page? DO NOT OPERATE MOWER UNLESS YOU POUR A WHOLE BOTTLE OF OIL INTO IT FIRST!!!! Well, I learned about oil the hard way. Now I know what it's for and how important it is. Never really thought about it before. So for 2 days our lawn looked like what you see in the picture. Yes, the lines going down the back hill is me thinking it would be easier to push if I went down hill. It wasn't.

Luckily, and to end on a happy note, Dave took it back to Lowe's and told them everything that happened and they gave us a new one! Thank you Lowe's!

Interesting side note: Through this experience I learned that my neighbor is a huge shouvenist! When Dave was explaining to him that I had bought a mower and tried to mow the lawn myself he said, "Can you believe "they" try to do these things? You leave for work and "they" get these ideas in their heads...... I mean, when "they're" gone we don't try to bake a cake do we? C'mon." ("they" meaning women.) Hello.

So there's my experience in lawn mowing. I tried it....... won't try it again that's for sure!