STUFF I LIKE/LOVE/AM THANKFUL FOR

Last week, I substituted for my son's early morning seminary/6 am bible study class.
It made me wonder HOW DID I DO THAT EVERYDAY for FIVE YEARS?
The class was great.
The subject matter was great.
The hour was HORRENDOUS!

I was so grateful when Friday came, I couldn't even blog about it!
So here are some things I liked, loved or was thankful for last week.....besides the obvious cupcakes and my awesome husband.

In no particular order -
* My cozy bed

* My working washing machine

* Tuesday night's email from Trammell - He was transferred from Battambang (about a 5 hour bus ride from Phnom Penh) back to Phnom Penh.  He is companions with his orginal companion in the MTC.

* Connections I have made with other moms of missionaries in Cambodia.  It feels like we are family.  Their stories make me laugh.  They make me cry.  I still keep in touch with the mom of the missionary who "trained" Trammell in Siem Reap even though he has been home from his mission for nearly 8 months.

* Dinners with the boys.  Despite the craziness of lacrosse season, we manage to eat as a family 5-6 nights a week.  I REALLY enjoy being with these people!

* It makes me happy that the boys WANT to be with us too.  Yesterday at church, Brian pointed at Garrett and whispered, "You know..........he's only going to be home another 12 weeks." What?  But I like him?  Why do they leave when we like them?

* Homemade peanut butter cookies and Scotcheroos for breakfast.

* Good books - I love to read and usually read for about 20 minutes before I go to sleep.  It's not a lot of time, but I get to read a couple of books a month.

* The sunny Saturday weather - I went to lacrosse games from 10 am to 4 pm.  I didn't have to wear long underwear and I didn't need handwarmers!  Woohoo!  I came home with a sunburned face.  It was an awesome day to be outside.

* The snowy Sunday weather - I love it when it's rainy/snowy and cold on Sunday and I have a yummy dinner in the crockpot.  Sunday's ROCK!

* International Nap Time - I instituted a mandatory nap time on Sunday afternoon when the kids were little.  Depending on our church schedule, we would come home from church, eat nachos and then everyone would go to their rooms for an hour and a half.  I didn't care what they did in there - legos, read books, sleep, whatever.  Just don't come out! Now the kids are in their teens and prefer to be banished to their rooms for 3-4 hours. ;)

* Working in the temple

I'm a Survivor

Hallelujah!  I survived the week! Who would have thought that it would be such an accomplishment?
So, let me empty my mind before I continue on to the weekend.
You can unload too!
Check out Mrs. 4444 over at Half Past Kissin' Time and link up!  You know you want to!

* I've been substituting for early morning seminary this week.

It's bible study for high schoolers at 6 am.

So I have had to get up at 5 am and put on a dress and then go and entertain 20 sophomores for 50 minutes before normal people even get ot of bed.

It's wrong.

Yeah - I taught every day for 5 years.

I loved it, but I was pretty sure that I was going to die of exhaustion every single day.

Now, I'm positive that I'm going to die.

* Line of the week:

Someone and I went to the urologist to determine why someone is in so much pain.

We then met Brian and other brother for dinner.

It was at one of those places where you order and pay and go sit down and wait for them to call your number.

Our number was called.

The boys started "discussing" who should have to go pick up the order.

I immediately stepped in and said, "Get up 'someone'.  Go get the food.  'Brother' just came from lacrosse practice."

Someone reluctantly limped up to get the food.

When he came back, he set the trays down and said -

"I can't believe you sent the cripple with the Bojangles."

Where does he get this stuff?

* I'm an auto mechanic.

Evidentally, when I pulled out of the garage the other day, I left 1/2 quart of oil on the garage floor.

Hmmmm.....

So I've been paying attention when I pull out of a parking space.

I'm looking for a little puddle.

There's been nothing the last two days.

This morning, when I left the church, I noticed some liquid under the car.

Being an expert at this stuff, I got out and looked at it.

Then I dipped my finger in it and smelled it.

Then I rubbed my fingers together.

I thought about tasting it.

Yep - oil.

I went to the mechanic.

It's coolant.

Let me get technical -

The thng that holds the measurer for the transmission fluid was installed incorrectly and has rubbed a hole in the tube or pipe or whatever that helps the coolant travel around.  That's what's leaking.

Going to the dealership today.

* Parker had his first lacrosse game this week.
He scored 3 goals and had 3 assists.
Yea Parker!

* Someone knows and loves me.  I've only mentioned cupcakes in every post since I started blogging.  I've also mentioned how COLD I always am.

What could be better than this:

Are you jealous?  Mmmmm Hmmmm....re-usable Cupcake Hand Warmers.

We have two lacrosse games tomorrow.  I'm going to try these babies out!

It's the best of both worlds.........kind of.

Unfortunately, I can't eat them after the games.

Well - I'm done.

I'm going to go do something exciting - like load the dishwasher or start the laundry.

Have great weekend!

* Oh yeah, I almost forgot!  I hate "springing ahead."  I NEED that hour of sleep more than I need more daylight. 

Dear Vayama !%*$@

Dear Vayama,
You stink, but I'm thinking of a worse word than stink.

When I use your system, you ALWAYS have the cheapest prices for the exact flights I want.
But then when I click "Select," the flights are not available.
But that's okay.
There are LOTS of flights.

When I click on EVERY SINGLE flight, none of them are available.
IF, I clicked on the higher priced flights and they WERE available,
that would be called BAIT and SWITCH.  It's illegal.
Don't tell me that, "Shoot! We just had that flight.  But, oops, someone booked it just seconds before you."
I'm going to Cambodia.
Not THAT MANY people want to go to Cambodia this morning.

But it's cool.
I'm not accusing you of Bait and Switch advertising.
Because when I click on ANY of your flights, NONE of them are available.
NONE OF THEM.
NOT AT ANY PRICE.
So you don't really have anything to sell me, do you?
We call that FALSE ADVERTISING.

I'm calling you.
I'm typing this while I am on hold.
If I were you, I wouldn't answer your phone.

PS: You are stupid because when I first called, you told me I was sixth in line. I am currently FIRST in line and I've been first in line now for 8 minutes.  You might want to rethink that whole telling where I am in line.

And the Oscar For Editing Goes to the Ultrasound Technician

Best day of the week!  It's RaNDoM THouGHT TueSDaY and what could be more RaNDoM than my mind?

Go on over to Keely's - The Unmom and see some of the other randomizers!

* Did you watch the Academy Awards?
I didn't.
I read a book while it was on in the background.
I looked up to see the dresses occasionally.
That's all I care about.
I saw exactly 0 of the nominated films.
I don't get out much!


*Our whole family was dressed and out of the house by 5:45 today.  Garrett and Parker were attending the Early Morning Seminary (scripture study) class.  And Brian and I were teaching - different classes but all of us were there.  We'd all like to roll out the nap mats now!!!! 

* Last night was our first of about 30 lacrosse games this season.
To celebrate, I went out and bought 3 new pairs of long underwear.
Don't laugh.
You stand outside in the less than 40 degree weather being pelted by wind, sleet, hail and snow while taking stats for 2 1/2 hours.  I dare you!

* On the bright side,
I bought myself some of these

Last season, I borrowed a pair of Garrett's gloves.  He didn't appreciate me constantly wiping my runny nose on them. I decided to get my own pair.  My gloves have to be 1) Warm, 2) Not too thick because I have to be able to write all the stats, 3) Not chafe my nose, and 4) WASHABLE.

 So I got my own pair, but mine our furry.  They are warm and cozy and soft on my nose. ;)

* I have to turn some pictures in for a Senior program. I am supposed to turn in a baby/toddler picture, three pics of him participating in sports or something he likes when he was younger and a senior picture.  the photographer will insert recent lacrosse action shots.  Here is Garrett -

Going through the pictures made me sooooo nostalgic.

* Today is "someone's" appointment with the urologist.

I went and picked up this:

Really?  Did you think I was going to show you the contents of the envelope?
I was thinking that maybe we should gather the family around the TV for some quality time viewing the scrotal ultrasound.  But then, I decided not.   So no Oscar for the ultrasound technician because the judges didn't want to view this particular piece of art.

* Could someone out there please find me a CHEAP ticket - make that 3 cheap tickets - to Cambodia.  Please?????  I will love you forever.  I almost want this more than cupcakes.

Happy RaNDoM TueSDaY!

Give Me A Little Love

Actually, don't give me love.  Give me CUPCAKES!
An angel came by last night and dropped these off -

Delicious nuggets of sweet, sugary goodness!

It was actually Stephanie from The Proof of This Joy in Me.

There are FOUR cupcakes.

There are FOUR people in the house.

BUT - Stephanie gave me the option to share.

To Share or Not to Share?

Everyone knows I hate sharing.

Sharing doesn't really work out that well for me.

Hoarding does.

For example, I shared my Valentine candy (because I don't really like chocolate)

and look what it got me -

 The box is nearly empty and all my favorites are gone.

Arsenic & Old Flannel

I SURVIVED!
Friday always takes me by surprise.
I'm pretty much in shock every Friday when I wake up and I am STILL alive!
I haven't decided if it's good shocking or bad shocking.

Anyway, it's time to defragment your hard drive and unload everything.
Pay a visit to Mrs. 4444s at Half-Past Kissin' Time and link up.

* I think my husband is killing me slowly with arsenic - not softly with his love.
I asked him.
He denied it.
The other night while shivering under the covers in flannel pajamas, ski socks and a hoodie, I revealed my symptoms -
"I'm ALWAYS freezing.  I can't get warm."
"Well, come on over to my side.  I'll get you warm."

I ignored this.
"I've noticed some muscle weakness.  I can't open jars as easily as I used to..."
"Yeah - you're getting old."
Enough!  He's obviously deflecting.
My other symptoms "could be" hair loss - remember all of MY hair I found in the vacuum canister while searching for the wishbone for the Operation game?
Drowsiness - I'm not so much drowsy as just plain ole exhausted.
Stomach problems - So what that I've had these for 30 years.  I'm just sayin'.
Whatever.  No one believes me but you will when I'm in a coma!

* Someone in our house has an injury.
It's private.
He's going to the doctor next week.
The paperwork came in the mail.
Does anyone else find this hilarious?

Look at this "pretty, teenage girlish" handwriting.  Did she giggle as she formed the curly "S" and perfectly round "O" in "scrotal" or did she shrink back and go "Ewwwww...."?

* My arms are kind of sore.

I can't figure out why.

It might be because I carried 4 coolers, 6 cases of pop, 4 cases of water and 80 pounds of ice into the school last night for the Lacrosse Team Potluck.

Or it might be.............arsenic poisoning.

* You know why this week was kind of not a very good week?

Besides Garrett's car being in the shop and Parker being home sick all week and me having to get up at 4:30 am to substitute for the freshman bible study class, spending seven hours on the phone trying to get plane tickets and the washing machine being broken.....

The biggest travesty was that I didn't get any donuts.  No maple cake donuts.  No wonder I'm dragging!

* I signed the hubs up for EVERY asian frequent flyer club possible this week.  Yep, he has six new usernames and passwords.  And he's a proud member of ANA, Asiana, Eva Air, Oceanic Airlines, Singapore Air.......

You know, it NEVER occurred to me to use my own name and sign myself up.  Just never occurred to me.

I think that when he gets the 38 "welcoming" and promotional emails a week, he might start poisoning with arsenic.

Have a great and wonderful weekend!

Can't BLOG Today

Sorry, I can't play today.

I can't hang out at Writer's Workshop.
I can't share any witty conversations from the Boneheads.

I can't tell you about Garrett's idiot teacher who told him he didn't know what he was talking about when he said that some people in the highest tax bracket could pay up to 50% of their income in taxes.  She rolled her eyes.........and said it isn't so.
He printed out the tax tables to show her.

I don't have time to tell you that I'm laundry load 18 of 25.  Hey - at least it's winding down.

I can't blog and tell you that Parker is home from school sick AGAIN.

I can't blog because I spent 7, SEVEN, S.E.V.E.N hours on the phone yesterday with various and sundry airlines and American Express trying to fnd tickets to Cambodia - cheap tickets, not just ANY tickets...
and I am back t it again today.

I can't blog because it's the lacrosse team potluck tonight.  We have 95 guys on the roster.
At 5:30, those 95 sweaty, smelly boys will pour into the school and want food - that hopefully their parents are bringing.
But I'm in charge of the drinks and the paper goods.
Gotta ice down those water bottles (and the coke ;)  ).

Anyway -your day will be better than mine.
Have fun!