Y HALO THAR FEBRUARY!!!

1. So far 2010 is kicking the bum of 2009 all over the place. This proves my own personal theory that even numbered years are typically better than odd numbered years.

2. Some sort of crazy pandemic swept through the two 4 yr old classes at preschool. I was out Monday and Tuesday myself. The two classes averaged 3-5 kids each day. On Friday I had a grand total of ONE child in my class. (Of course, he was the one who requires the most attention, but it was a lot of fun to work with him one-on-one, and he loved it.) We had kiddos out with the flu, bronchitis, stomach viruses- you name it, they had. I went through a whole can of Lysol.

3. The girls continue to work their little hearts out singing and dancing in preparation for OZ. Practices are up to four days a week now, including Saturday. Oy vey.

4. Valentine parties are NEXT WEEK. Umm, what?

5. Madeline went to New Beginnings last week. She was invited as an up-and-coming Beehive this year. UMM, WHAT!!??!??!?

6. *looks in the living room*
No worries, yet. She and her sister and currently playing with a bumch of Fisher Price Little People I brought home from school today. I guess she's not all grown up *yet*.

7. I've had to buy highlighters in order to color-code my planner just so I can keep up with schedules/activites of four different people. *shakes head* When did I become this person? Doesn't the world realize I LIKE being in my jammies by 6:30pm? Sheesh.

8. I've decided that there are three specific bills I want to pay off before the end of the school year, and if I do, then I will give myself permission to buy a digital SLR camera. My pocket digital only takes so-so pictures, and I miss the clarity that SLR pictures have. Any suggestions on what to buy are appreciated. As are donations. ;) (I prefer Canon brand, since I already have some Canon lens from my regular SLR.)

9. I am VERY excited that the Winter Olympics start next week. Please do yourself a favor and watch Johnny Weir skate to Lady Gaga's "Poker Face". There are no words to describe the experience.



See? Even Dick Button is speechless!

10. Holy cow! It's 6:47- JAMMIE TIME!

Numbered Lists Make It So Easy To Update!

1. Our Air Conditioner had stopped working on Wednesday, and it wasn't fixed until Thursday. (We were like a third world family, all sleeping in one room that night. A friend from church let us borrow a window unit, so at least we didn't have to sleep in the oppression heat. And yes, it was opressive!) Even though the unit was fixed, we still are going to need to replace is some time soon. Like, before winter, as the fix needed for the A/C part to work necessitated bypassing the part that makes the heat work. Bummer.

2. Thank you for all the birthday wishes. I had a nice, low-key day. We went out to the Japanese steakhouse in town. Nothing makes the night more festive than a flaming onion volcano or watching the hibatchi dude flip an egg into his hat!

3. I must give mad props to Lora who really commerated my birthday in the most fitting an appropriate way: a Top Ten List about how awesome I am! The rest of you should take note for next year.

4. Today was the official First Day of preschool- kids and all!! I think it went pretty well. No tears, no tantrums! I have to say it's pretty satisfying being the "lead" teacher. Being the Type-A/Oldest Child/Control Freak-type person that I am, I wouldn't have it any other way. ;D

5. My friend Jamie and her family are moving back to Idaho tomorrow. BOOO!!!! I am very sad.

6. How 'bout that Michael Phelps?? It's been very exciting watching all of his races. I also watched Nastia Liukin win her gold medal live the other night. I think I have a little bit of a crush on her father.

7. The girls talked me into to signing them up for Cheerleading. Oy vey. I opted not to go through the County Rec Department program, but instead with a local church's Upward program. Less pressure, less stress. They will practice and then cheer for a game the same night. The "Meet and Greet" was tonight, and they were very excited. On the other hand, I am very tired. My day started at 6:45am, and it's finally coming to a close, once I hit "Publish Post" on this blog entry.

Uh-Oh

I think it finally hit me yesterday what my life was going to be like for the next ten months. Yesterday I:

- got up at 6:45, started a load of laundry, had breakfast, helped the girls get ready for school, got myself ready, vaccumed the living room, tidied the girls' bathroom, changed the load of laundry to the dryer
- took the girls to school
- went to the preschool to continue getting my room ready, lesson plans in order, etc. Stayed from 8:30 till 2:15 when I left to
- pick the girls up from school for 3:00 dental appointment
- went to the chiropractor at 4:00
- went to the grocery store
- came home, made dinner, helped the girls with their homework
- cleaned the kitchen
- took a shower
- folded clothers that I had washed and dried earlier in the day while I watched the Olympics
- fell asleep at 9:30, still with the headache I had had since around 1:00.

And you know, that's not even a lot. I know there are hundreds of thousands of people who do ten times all that every single day. But for someone who's used to surfing the net all day and crafting witty blog posts it's going to be an adjustment! ;)

I think it will make me appreciate my free time even more than I already do. But working will also let us have a few little luxuries in life. Like, oh, say- a trip to Disney World? We've already made our reservations at Chateau de Volle for three days in October! My preschool follows a slightly different school calendar than the girls' school, and then we also have to take into account James' schedule. There is a three day weekend over Columbus Day that we are all on holiday, so we are taking advantage of it to go pay homage to the Mouse. YAY!

And finally, this was the scene at our house two weeks ago. One of our missionaries, Elder Parker, came over to do the traditional "Burning of the Suit" before he went home. Suffice it to say, unnatural fibers create a *LOT* of smoke! ;)

*Sigh*

Am I really old enough to be the parent of 4th and 3rd graders?

I guess I am.

I love the early-morning-we-just-woke-up shots. And here is visual proof that I am no Mommy Sue- no homemade breakfast on the first day! AND I let them eat Trix, which I think might be a criminal act in some parts of the country. ;)


It's good to know the reflective patches on the backpacks work! :P









We went and met the teachers yesterday, and I think they are in for a good year. I got a good vibe from all of them which bodes well. (Last year I did *not* have a good vibe from Isabella's main teacher, which turned out to be well-founded. Self-fulfilling prophecy perhaps?) Anyway, they are both excited, and they both have at least one person they already know in their classes. Plus, they both have really good lunches (leftovers from our dinner out at out favorite restaurant), so how can you go wrong?

In other news- YAY! It's time for the Olympics! And how excited am I that we have the DVR to aid in our Olympic game watching?? No more staying up until midnight and being tired the next day! No more missing favorite events because they come on at crazy times! Fast forwading through the commercials! I'm telling you, *this* is the real People's Revolution. ;)