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Thoughts

There was an election yesterday.. and I knew that today I wouldn't be happy with the result- I didn't feel either candidate represented what I wanted to see as our President.  Four years ago there was an election and while I supported one candidate- He didn't win.  Four years before that I wasn't thrilled with either candidate.

The United States of America is as diverse of a place as you can find anywhere.  Sure- some segments look lopsided one way, and other area's are lopsided another way.  There are people who are crooks and criminals and only looking out for themselves.  There are those who have true bleeding hearts and hurt for every wrong that happens to others, and there are pragmatists that have bleeding hearts, but disagree on solutions for problems.  Yes there are those who are bigots, and prejudiced.  They come in all colors, shapes, sizes and genders. There are also many more that are color, shape and gender "blind".

Four, and Eight years ago I felt disenfranchised and out of touch with the country.  I still have similar feelings today- but one thing I know... whatever changes happen or don't happen- my day to day happiness and influence is up to ME.   The world will not end tomorrow.  No matter who was elected- problems would not disappear tomorrow.  I will still need to make lunch for my kids to take to school.  The math test that's scheduled for friday?  I still need to make sure my daughter is ready for it.  My bills still need to be paid, and I still will buy that bag of peanut m&m's because since peanuts are in the middle- I can count that as my protein and it's healthy- right?

When my kids are upset and fighting and have feelings that are justifiably hard to control- We go to our rooms for some "time out".  Not to punish them, not to tell them they are wrong or bad... but to give them time to work through their feelings and be ready to be around others.  Maybe that's what we all need after this election- some "time out" to work through feelings, to come to grips with what has happened, to realize that we can be disapointed- and still see the good in the country.

Checks and balances have worked through the years to keep this country afloat... they will work again.  I have confidence in them and in the overall goodness of people.  We will be ok.

And please, please, please... next election- everyone go out and vote primaries and let's have better choices left at the end!

Summertime... :)

Oh how I LOVE summertime!  Now that the kids are older that is.  Used to be- by the end of summer I was so ready for school to start up!  Now I feel like even during the summer we schedule so much that I'm not ready for the school year to start up again.  We are now on the last week of June.  The last month has flown by.  We've had a 10 day trip to Florida, I've had a week at camp with my oldest daughter, and I've hosted Bunko, a 9 year olds birthday party, and a Relief Society activity.  Today is another birthday in the family, and then 4th of July this weekend!  We love to have fun and the laundry will get done- eventually... :)

Swimming, exercising, appointments and such have rounded out the rest of the time.  Next month will find us visiting family and more camps for children... a get away for hubby and I and then it'll be time to start the school crunch time.

Another Year older....

Last week was my birthday... I'm (gulp) 37 now.  Funny thing is it doesn't feel that bad since My hubby is 4 1/2 years older than I am. :)

I've thought a lot about life and stuff this past week.  I've been flooded with well wishes and birthday hugs and love.  I've felt like Sally Fields at times "They love me!".  I'm  not a big collector.  I don't really attach myself to things.  I only keep a few sentimental items- I don't even have more than one baby outfit per child and no baby shoes kept.  But... I think I collect friends.  I feel connections with people even if maybe my connection to them is stronger than their connection to me. 

This past week I have felt so grateful for all the wonderful friends I've collected through the years.  At times I feel like I'm a bad friend- I don't keep in touch very well.  I'm not one to pick up the phone and talk for hours on end.  I haven't sent out Christmas cards in I don't know how many years...  but I love and treasure every one I receive.  I love receiving phone calls and knowing that someone was thinking about me, and I love hearing about what is going on in friends lives. 

Facebook gets a rep as a social media site, drama takes place and feelings get hurt.  I can completely understand if someone feels like they need to get off of facebook and it's not a good place for them.  For me though- Facebook has been a blessing in my life- as funny as it sounds.  It's made it easy for me to reconnect with old friends.  Having lived in many places growing up, and as an adult- when the phone numbers and addresses change (as let's face it- in this day and age those things change frequently) I have found and connected with so many of those friends on facebook.  I can see their children as they grow up and I can feel connected and lend support as they deal with difficulties.  I've gotten to know cousins that I didn't grow up knowing very well- a little bit better and feel like they know me a little  bit more as well. 

So I'll be on facebook for a long time coming...  but I am going to try and pick up the phone a little more often and call a friend- just because.  And maybe, just maybe I'll get some Christmas cards sent out by New Years...

And thank you to everyone that made me feel special this past week.  :)  It truly was a wonderful week and I felt the love. :)

New four letter word

There is a new four letter word at our house... LICE... I've had enough of it and so it just is a bad word now.  The little kids school has been battling it since OCTOBER!  Seriously it's gone through every single classroom at the school and it's always the conversation starter amongst the moms- what grade level is currently having it and what products people have discovered that might repel and keep it away from their kids.

We've done our time with three outbreaks in the house and I hope and pray that we don't see any more ever again.  We've even cut one child's long curly (and thick) red hair off by about 6 inches to try and reduce the area that is exposed to picking up lice from wherever we seem to be picking it up from.

Spring Break came and went and we are back at school tomorrow.  I love the kids and we love days we can stay home and be lazy, but I'll be glad to send all four kids back to school tomorrow and have a house with no one else home!  We've been dealing with sick kids and allergies and so many absences... I just hope we are past all of that for awhile.  I'm ready for some warmer air and less sicknesses...

More of the same?

We have made plans to take a cruise in September without the kids...  I'm hoping in my head that by then I can loose 20 pounds... and the cruise is the incentive I need to make it...  I'm averaging a pound a week though so realistically I'll probably only loose 10 pounds before the cruise, but I'll be happy with that too! :)

My snacking is really my downfall.  If I can keep my snacking in check, and get my exercise consistent I think I can get a little more than just one pound a week.  We shall see.  It's hard to stay on a schedule with a house full of kids running around.  I'll have three weeks after school starts before the trip so we'll see what I can accomplish until then and then do a little boot camp with myself to see if I can kick up the weightloss in those weeks.

Budgeting and menu planning

Many many years ago when we were a family of 2 adults and a toddler and infant I was so good at budgeting our family's finances... I did menu planning and planned out 2 weeks of meals at a time.  I made dinner almost every single night and did so in a budget conscious way with lots of stuff made from scratch and not many premade short cut items.

Many years, and two kids later we are a family of 2 adults, 1 teenage boy, 1 preteen girl and two kids... our grocery bill has multiplied by leaps and bounds and I've decided I have to go back to some basics that I've long since stopped doing.

So I'm going to start doing meal plans again... I've seen lots of places where you can buy preplanned meal calenders with grocery lists etc, but the reality is while my hubby and I would enjoy the new menu items, the kids would stage a revolt.  So here is what I have planned for the next week of meals- all meals that I know 80% of my family love and the remaining 20% each night that doesn't love it, will still manage to find enough on the table to eat.

Sat- Ward Picnic (bring 3 dozen rolls)
Sun- Taco dinner night, baking day- bake cinnamon rolls and no bake cookies
Mon- Chicken Rolls, carrots, and salad
Tues- Leftovers for the kids, Bunko night for mom, Big lunch for dad
Wed- Sweet and sour meatballs, coconut rice, salad and a veggie side (corn or broccoli from the freezer)
Thurs- Leftovers or a pre-prepared freezer item (pizza rolls, frozen waffles, etc) (we will be gone all day on an outing, and have things that night for 3 of the 4 kids so it has to be something quick.
Fri- Spaghetti, corn fritters, garlic bread, salad.

Now that I have my menu, I just have to remember to not only take my grocery list to the store tomorrow, but look at the list and get everything on it- and not a bunch of extra un-needed stuff! :)