Dear Murphy

Dear Murphy's Law,

Up Yours

Truly, it's the end of the year in which we have made less than we have in our entire marriage due to Hyrum going back to school. And I knew--just KNEW at the beginning of this year that if crap was going to go down--it would be this year.

So I said--Bring it on. But I didn't really mean it.

For reals--you started with the cars, and then continued with the cars and then are finishing it up with the cars. HMMM let me see if I can list them--A/C on the suburban, brakes on the burb, something else I can't remember on the burb, steering column on the Honda, New brakes, new clutch and then we rounded it out with a new CV boot. I get it our cars our old--but for real--that is ridiculous.

And now--The freaking Garbage disposal??? It's only 3 years old. Brand new when we put it in ourselves when we bought the house. IT's a dumb disposal. And I tried to thwart you--when it started leaking I just shoved an empty bowl under it and then emptied it daily. Screw you murphy. But you got me--the old use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without just isn't cutting it. I can't bypass it. It's not that you don't work--you grind like a charm. Meanwhile spitting brown slushy goo all over the cabinet underneath. You're a clever little jerk. And since you are connected to the drain I can't really do without you.

So off Hyrum goes to throw down a whopping $169.99. Yes disposals cost that much. Well, they do if you don't buy the crappy Badger brand that we had before. You suck.

Remember the other day when I accidentally blocked that crazy girl from getting onto the road--remember her kind gesture to me? The one she did for an extended period of time which made me wonder if her parents ever loved her?

Well--same to you pal.


Sincerely your most hateful victim,

Me

Punch

I got a hankerin' for a new punch.

Does anyone have a good one they love?

Let me know.

Another Christmas list

Okay, along with the galoshes, keep your peepers out for this little "How to train your Dragon" getup. Supposedly it's at WalMart.

Call me if you find it.

THX

Local Goods

Thought I'd pimp this for a friend of mine.

Go, love, buy.

Treasures

My camera broke and so I forgot about what was on the memory card. Then I just uploaded some stuff and this was on it.

Is this as funny/freaking adorable to anyone else besides his parents?

On my list

In case you are from out of town and are wondering what to send someone in a different town (ahem) you could always send them THIS.

They may just love salt water taffy as much as I do.

Check out all of their yummy stuff HERE.

Smile on my face

This video made me smile. Thanks Michelle for sharing.

Dad Life from Church on the Move on Vimeo.

Santa's little helpers

Okey dokey, it's Christmas shopping time and I thought you all could help.

I want to get some galoshes for the girls. So if you see any on clearance or super cheap somewhere--e-mail me or call me. I need 10/11 sort of size. I need 2 pair.

Also probably some for Beck--so look out for those too.

And if anybody has some Barbie crap they are trying to get rid of . . . dresses, or a car or something I'd love to have it (in good condition of course). I plan on buying a barbie--but not any barbie crap--so if you are getting rid of some--let me know.

Thanks!

A day of rest

The Sabbath Day--Judaism and Christianity got it right on that one.

Yesterday I started with a photoshoot, hit two soccer games, ate lunch, mildly napped, sped off to another shoot and followed it up with two Halloween Parties where we kept the kids up until 10:30.

A day of rest is needed indeed.

So this morning I was thinking--Oh I am SO glad it's Sunday. Which of course in my busy brain toppled over a set of dominoes--mostly thinking about Mormonism and how, whether you agree with it or not, it really has a lot of things right.

Point #1 Sabbath Day

Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy in Mormon terms means a day of rest. It's the day you spend with your family, you worship at church, you rest. No boating, or playing at friend's houses, or work (some people have to--which is understood). But I wake up and think--I don't have to clean the house today even if it is crappified--it's Sunday. I don't have to schedule the kids outings with friends--or go to any soccer games. I could mostly be in PJ's for most of the day--minus 3 hours of church. I can nap and read and snuggle with my kids. It's funny to think if this as a commandment. But it's funny to think that back in Biblical times they knew. They knew that our day would be TOO busy--that we really would need to be forced to take a day off--to rest--for our Sanity. It makes it easy to say no to things--"sorry, I can't, it's the Sabbath". It's great. And I'm enjoying my super chill--cereal morning, kids playing with each other Sabbath.

Point #2

Word of Wisdom. The word of wisdom was a revelation given to Joseph Smith--a law of health for the people in 1833. Most people know that Mormons don't drink coffee, alcohol or tea. And we don't smoke. Those seem obvious with health benefits. But also in the Word of Wisdom is the instruction to eat meat sparingly, "Yea, flesh also of beasts and of the fowls of the air, I, the Lord, have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving; nevertheless they are to be used sparingly;". And lately, since I have been in more of a pursuit to eat things naturally, I find this next excerpt to be even more intriguing and divinely given, "Every herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof; all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving". Think about the idea of Joseph Smith saying, "Fruit should be eaten in the season thereof"--meaning--you should only eat fruit in it's season. That would have sounded odd in 1833--well of course that is when you eat fruit and vegetables. But fastforward to 2010 when you can go into ANY grocery store and get whatever fruit you want from any season. Think about it--it's not really natural. Things shipped from Chile or New Zealand so we can have it in the opposite season. It's not good for the earth God created for us and it's not good for us. And to eat with prudence. Hello obesity--it's talking to you. I am amazed at the Word of Wisdom, given so long ago--before research was available, to give us a law of health to live by.

Point #3

We have people who take care of us. Each family--whether a single person or traditional family--has home teachers. Two men that stop by once a month to give a spiritual message and check on your needs. They offer to help with things, they make sure things are going well in the home. Each woman in the ward has 2 women who do the same thing. Bring a message once a month and stay and chat and maintain a friendship. They are there to see if you are doing ok, and if there is anything they could do for help. A bishopric (the clergymen in charge of the ward). They are also around to instruct, aid and befriend. Add in the teachers of the children, youth and adults as well as just the strength in numbers of a ward family. Heavenly Father didn't want us to be alone--and if you are in a functioning ward--you shouldn't be. That--is divinely inspired. The best thing is--that's it's a worldwide church. Anytime you are anywhere, you should be able to stop in and be befriended and if need be--get help. This gave me tremendous comfort when I backpacked Europe, I knew that if something went wrong--all I needed to do was find a local Mormon church and everything would be just fine. I love this. I truly do.

I could go on, but as a Mormon, I am teaching a class today in Sunday School. (oh and the church is run as a volunteer organization--teachers, bishop, home teachers, visiting teachers, choir people, all of it--we do it of our own free will and choice--I love that too).

Enjoy your Sabbath.

On my mind

ON my mind: The president, Laundry and Diane Rehm

#1 The President is going to be on the Daily show. Ok, Mr. Barrock Star--you are a president, not a celebrity, although you think it's the other way around. YOu've been on The View and I saw ticker tape on CNN that said you were going to be on Mythbusters. REALLY? Guess what--we are in so much debt, pretty soon we will be flying a Chinese Flag. So how about you take some of this spare time, sit down with one of the financial guys and pound us a way out of this mess. Thanks

#2 I processed 173 pieces of kid laundry today. Yes I counted. I don't suggest it--it makes laundry even longer. I did not add in Adult laundry, or towels.

#3 Not once but twice this week NPR has been called out. And I found myself talking out loud to the radio (Kizzy asked me what I was doing). First was when Juan Williams was initially fired and your program was discussing Fox News. A caller who listens to both NPR and Fox news pointed out that at least Fox news welcomes the other side for banter. Not so much with NPR. I laughed, and clapped. Do I think NPR is as biased as Fox News? No. Do I watch Fox news? No. But NPR is left of center. Diane I listen to you and try to make a claim that you are impartial, but sometimes--when I dare say you don't notice it, your tone of voice becomes very pointed when you react to a comment of certain right of center guests. I have tried to justify it as good journalism, but I can sense your irk. And then today when you had Juan Williams on and he suggested that NPR's leadership was full of leftist ideology. You with your shocked tone said something to the effect of "NOT ME!" gasp. Then you said you could make a list of all of the people you have on for balance. I take that challenge. I want to see that list. It's not even, your subjects for programs aren't even. You lean Diane. Just admit. At least in Juan Williams' discussion today he admitted that all journalist have a bias--that as a human being--experiences create your view of things. He went on to say that one could still be a good, honest journalist.

I am right of center Diane, but I listen to NPR so how right can I be? Just ask someone who is from the right--NPR is not played on their radios. Just like Fox is not played on the left.

So, I'll keep listening to NPR--mostly for the non-political interest stories that I love, and I'll wait for some news organization to either be half and half---or, if ever, just center.

See the part of the interview I was talking about HERE

Again? For real?

Seriously Trader Joes? How is it possible that you have combined yet ANOTHER chocolatey Sea Salt treat that just makes my mouth water.

Button up Naturally

My friend hooked me up with a cool button for my natural blog.

Head over there to get one!

Have a looksy

Modcloth gets me every time.

Dentists. ARGH.

I just spent the last 2 1/2 hours in the Dentist chair.

Which gave me a lot of time to think . . .

Who in the HELL would ever want to be a Dentist?

Sincere Search

I am so sick of thinking about this. I decided to get more info from any/all of you. I know you either know some information or know someone who would know.

I REALLY want to switch schools. My kids are doing great where they are but it is so BLAH. I want a more well rounded approach to education. My neighborhood school is out.

I am seriously sick of thinking about this. I just wish it were easy.

So this is kind of where I am stuck right now.

Part of the reason I want to switch is that Annabelle is VERY creative. And I think her current schools is just not developing that. Also, she HATES math. She can do it, she just hates it. I think it is because her school is all about timed drills and math facts. They are not good at the application part. She said something to me once that made me realize she doesn't know WHY she does Math--she hasn't learned the application part.

I am considering Edu-prize in Gilbert.

This is what I know/heard/think so far:

Pros:

• Colorful classrooms (fun stuff on the walls)

• They integrate science, art, and language (I saw on their walls a project that was a representation of the kids learning about Arizona for science, so they painted an Arizona landscape, then wrote a poem about it and overlayed with with velum over their painting)
• Small student/teacher ratio
• High Parent involvement
• They are an excelling school with high test scores
• Nice facilities
• Seem to encourage creativity
• They have fun events for school where the kids show what they do, and get to do it creatively (her current school has NOTHING fun or creative)
• I've talked to a parent at Edu-prize and they LOVE it.
• It has tons of great reviews on greatschools.net
• They have a garden
  

Cons:

• No one in my ward/neighborhood that I know goes there. (right now I have it so easy, I know everyone at the bus stop and can have someone else get my kids if I need to)
• No bus system--would have to drive every day
• It seems too colorful and happy which I interpret as not serious about education--I am a very back to basics school theory sort of person, I just think their current schools is TOO much like that. I would really like to find a happy medium. I know I sound contradictory--that is why I need your help.
• They have combo classes. 3/4, and 5/6. Annabelle is a lazy kid and I think she would regress/not challenge herself and just go with whatever is easier so I fear she won't be pushed. She is pushed at her current school and does well because everyone is doing the same thing.
• My friend told me a story of when she worked at a public school a few years ago. She got a transfer student into her classroom from Edu-prize. In the child's folder he had excellent test scores and was supposed to be very smart, but she said he wasn't even reading at grade level. She said that other teachers in her school had had the same experience. They had discussed it and thought that Edu-prize shady and fed their kids test answers (or something like that). So that freaked me out.
• Parents that have kids their LOVE it. And the scores are seriously unmatched. All of their performance is at 94% or greater for all of the subjects in the school. So that makes me question it--how do THAT many kids do so well, it seems to good to be true. And if I was a parent and my kids came home with those scores, why would I know any different? I would think my kid was doing great. I want to have a parent compare their Edu-prize kid with another kid that is at a good public school. Does that make sense?
• They don't do Spalding Phonics which is how I learned and how my oldest two learned and they are so good at reading. And good with really difficult large words. (to be fair I don't know what they teach in their Kindergarten)

So what do I do? This may sound random, but I don't want my kids to have TOO soft of an elementary school experience. I don't want them to be so used to small focused classrooms that when they go to Junior High in a large public school, that they FREAK. Would that happen? Am I crazy?

See why I am so stuck? So what do you know? Who do you know? If you know anyone with a good or bad experience at Edu-prize send this link to them.

Or do you have any other suggestions?

Seriously, anyone with an opinion, good or bad, whether you know me or not.

Lengthy comments welcome.

I have got to make a decision. It is drivng me C-R-A-Z-Y.