Happy Birthday to you

Yes, it is another one. This time it's my brother Mikey. My brother from another.... father. He's my half brother, but he's just as much my brother as my brother Matt. we spent most of our time together growing up, we did everything together. Even in school. He's the one i moved in with when i moved to UT. We lived together for 3 years before getting our own places. He introduced me to my husband, because they worked together, and Mikey got me a job with them. So, we also worked together for a few years.
We grew apart when we started living different life styles, but i still think of him on a daily basis. I miss how close we were. He's had some tough breaks. In the beginning,none of them his fault. I'm happy to call him my brother, and hope that things work out well for him. I love him, and i hope he is happy.

ME ME ME

20 years ago.

1. I was 11, that was sooooo long ago i couldn't tell you. I was busy, my mom had me in piano, ballet, tap. I was at a ballet camp most summers, and swimming lessons. Maybe playing with some friends in the Vegas heat, catching lizards in the desert. Walking to Green Valley Grocery.

10 years ago.

1. My life was a mess, i probably won't go into details.

2. DH and i were living in a rental that the landlord never came to pick up the rent and the bank foreclosed on. So we had no electricity, no water, no phone. But, with no kids... who cares.

5 years ago.

1. 3of 5 was 4 months

2. we lived in a house we couldn't afford, with 1 crappy car (that was paid off, and it fit all of us, so please don't take that as a complaint) and no family close in a snooty neighborhood. One of those keep up with the Jones places. It was kind of hard. 3 of 5 was really fussy.

3. On the plus side, we had no debt at all, which meant we were able to get a home loan and buy our first home, even though we made about 25k a year. (i was looking at our old tithing settlement from that year, yesterday. That's why i know that)

3 years ago

1. We were commuting from Magna to LDS hospital 3 times a day

2.It was a really hot summer

3. we loved our house and our neighbors. I am still amazed at how many freezer meals we had after 4 of 5 was born. 10th ward, you are the greatest.

4. my parents got remarried, to each other, after 15 yrs apart

1 year ago.

1. We were expecting 5 of 5, and i was so useless

2. we just finish one of the bdrms upstairs in this monstrosity of a project house.

3. took our kids to Disneyland.

Yesterday

1. got my kitchen cleaned

2. it was my birthday

3. my parents went home

Today

1. floors (nough said)

2. survive until 8 pm

3. park for lunch?

Tomorrow

1. survive until 8 pm

2. i don't really plan my days unless i have an appt. I just do what needs to get done each day

Next year.

1 i would like to be done with the bdrms and bthrm upstairs, then start on the kitchen and living room. We could be done with the inside of our house at that point, and be able to start on the little things like my canning kitchen and shelves in my food storage/laundry room.

2. get my yard looking like more than a weed forest. plant 2 peach trees and a cherry tree.

And, 5 of 5 has started rolling the other way. She now ends up on her back, and hates to sleep on her back, so when i put her to bed, and she starts screaming, i know she's rolled and is mad. It took an hr to get her to bed last night. I wish DH were her to help. Especially at 4 pm when it's time to start dinner. I would not be a good single mom. I don't know how people do it.

On My Mind Monday 6

I have sat down to write this about 5 times now. Every time to be interrupted by the phone. Why is it, when it rains it pours. Some days my phone doesn't ring at all, on the others, it's a constant nonstop ringing.

Anyway, what's on my mind today.

I was talking to a friend yesterday. She had just seen the movie Wall-e, and heard someone complaining about the movie depicting all the people as fat and slow. She told me she thought.... "duh" Which got me to thinking about this "recession". From my view point. My DH is pretty secure in his job, we don't make a lot, but we take care of our needs, not a lot of room for for higher utilities, gas prices, and food prices, though. So, who says this is going to be a bad thing. Did you realize how much money you would save if you turned up the temp on the thermostat by 2 degrees, got rid of a cell phone, and ate out once every 6 months instead of how ever many times it happens? Or, made your food from scratch, instead of out of a box. Have you priced the food co ops? None of these things are bad things. I think whatever it is that causes us to have to cut back a little of the excess is a good thing. Maybe we need this and it's for our own good, maybe He's up there saying, wow, these people are getting a little fat and slow. I'm feeling it. The more I gain, the slower i get, and the more tired i am. The first thing I'm getting rid of is the cell phone. Don't know why i got one in the first place. And the Internet? It's nice and all, and it would be hard to get rid of, but when it gets tight..... it's gone. One of the reasons we got chickens, and grow a garden, we want to be self sufficient. DH grandfather went into tithing settlement one year, and the Bishop said "there is no way you make it on this much money, do you need help?" And his reply was, no we don't need help, yes we make it, we do well. He had no house payment and he grew almost all of his own food. I hope someday to be able to live in the same situation.

And one more thing why are car companies ads telling up that 30 mpg is a good thing. I want at least 50, then we'll buy your car.

Oh, happy birthday to me.

Did anyone see the fire out here last night? CRAZY?! I have never been that close to a fire before. DH and kids actually saw it start from a wayward firework. DH took the kids to watch the fireworks last night, and i stayed home with 4 and 5 of 5. We didn't take 4 of 5,It really isn't nice, what happens to her when she's is up took late. She gets to where she can't stand herself, and she doesn't know what to do, so she thrashes, and tantrums, and kicks, and that really isn't her. So, i'm just not going to do that to her. Plus, i really could do with out the fireworks. Dh likes them enough for both of us.

It really was kind of scary, and it looked HUGE. We drove by it this after noon, and it really wasn't that big. Thank goodness it was a wet spring, the only thing that burned were the dry grasses. And, thank goodness for a south west wind.

The fire wasn't the worst part of it (this is why we don't stay out past 10.) there was this car accident, right in front of where we were standing, and the guy that got hit jumped out and tried attacking the other guy. So that guy peeled out (keep in mind there are hundreds of people out there watching this fire) to get away from the accident. So we now have a hit and run. Then 5 more cars took off after him. He wasn't going to get far, his car was really smashed. And i really don't understand why the guy that got hit was so irate. Relax, there are enough cops out there at this fire..... you will have someone there pretty quick. It was pretty intense. That was enough excitement for the next year.

CAMP

Girls camp is officially over. I will admit, it was a tough task. It was hard to get to that point, and all of the leaders are glad it is the 3 rd of July, not the 1 st. But, as always, girls camp is the high light of the YW program. I am truly grateful for the leaders that took time off work, donated their cabin, grocery shopped, cooked, and especially for those that went and stayed with them.

I am always amazed that these girls, with nothing in common., are willing, and able to show such compassion and love toward each other. They are friends.

Some of them, i wish i could do more for. I understand that we are given trials for a reason, and we grow and become better after enduring them. But some of the things some of these girls have to deal with, is truly unfair. I would take it from them if i could.

I love the girls in my ward, i love the women i serve with, and i love the parents that support this program, and make sure their girls know the importance of the gospel, and standing "Steadfast and Immovable"

Jinx

So, has it been long enough, that i can say this with out jinxing myself? My little 5 of 5 slept through the night Sunday night, and every night since!
Can you ask for anything better. I'm not quite sure how it happened. it wasn't like one night it was 4hrs, then 5 then 6. It was BAM, the same night i posted that she fell asleep with her thumb in her mouth, not wrapped up..... that's when it started. Even for naps, i lay her down, and she goes to sleep. Yes, i am very aware that this doesn't last forever. As soon as she realizes naps, and sleeping are not fun, it won't be as easy. But for now.... 2 nights before this happened, i tried to leave her unwrapped to sleep, and it just made her mad, but now, it's working. So, hopefully we can keep this up. It makes me happy. I feel like I'm getting back to normal, and I'm not a walking around with no clue what I'm doing. AHH, sleep, it's a GOOD thing.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY 4 of 5

It is hard for me to imagine that you have been here for 3 years. It really feels like you should be turning 1. The memory of your 1st month is still quite fresh in my mind. But it's no longer a harsh memory. It has now become one of my sweetest most cherished memories. Something that has brought me close to many, and helped me feel empathy towards others. And i truly thank you for that. Thank you for coming to this family, thank you for being my little 4 of 5. Thank you for showing me, "perfection" doesn't always come in a perfect box.
You were given your name before you got here, i knew you were coming, in a special little body before you got here. Actually, we didn't know 3 of 5 was a boy until he was born, so i thought he was going to be our girl, with something different. But, you waited a few more years.
I love you, i hope we can help you live up to your full potential. You are capable of great things. And we will do our best to help, and give you all we are capable of.