Showing Off.

There is something horribly anticlimactic about going to your child's school for an "Open House" when you are at the school every week.
When we first heard about the open house a week ago, Sissy automatically starts in on her nagging questions. "Can we go?" "Are we going?" "Are we going to go at 6 or 7?"
Roon looked to me for the answers to these questions.
"I'm not sure why we need to go." I said.
"So you can see my school" was Sissy's retort.
Keep in mind, that I volunteer at the school every Wednesday for 3 hours. I am also the room mom for Bubble's classroom, and I have attended/am planning to attend every field trip /party/ family night my kids have, from now 'til apparently the end of time.
Missing the open house, did not seem like a far fetched idea to me. After all, I had an appointment to have my hair done at 7 (which coincidentally is going to be my Friday post, when I link up again with MiMi), on the same night, and I was NOT going to reschedule it again.
When it looked like she was going to lose the battle, she brought out the big guns.
"But EVERYONE else is going to be there!"
Well, heck fire! Where's that bridge?! I wanna jump now too!
As you might have guessed, we went. We dawned our...whatever we were wearing at the moment, and drove the 1.5 blocks to the school. Sissy was all a flutter, excited to see her friends (whom she had seen not more than 3 hours before) and show off her classroom. I, on the other hand, wondered what on Earth could have changed so dramatically since I was there on Thursday.
No, I'm not a negative Nelly, who grumbled as I walked in, but my mop needed to be tamed, and I did not want to be late.
Bubble led us into the Kindergarten area to "meet" his teacher, who I am on a first name basis with. He shows off his work, as I point out to Roon my work, as well.
"This is my American flag" Bubble gloated.
"These are the stars I punched out by myself, 50 per student, 17 times over" I bragged.
"This is my cowboy" Bubble pointed out.
"I did the die cuts of every one of those boots and hats" I boasted.
"Check out my western scene!" Bubble exclaimed.
"Guess how long it took me to cut out 17 of those silhouettes." I pressed.
It was just as much my open house, as it was theirs.
Sissy's classroom was more of the same, albeit a little more rushed, since the time was drawing near when I had to be in the salon chair, and we still hadn't had dinner.
I'm sure we fell out of the running for parents of the year since we neglected to take a camera to document this auspicious occasion. And no, I most definitely will not be laminating the flag, cowboy, or silhouette to save for years to come. Why? Because I have 4 kids, and just don't have the storage space. Plus, those silhouettes gave me nightmares...

Celebrate Bacon

I have a lot of things on my to do list today. One of those things being to write the blog post I meant to post yesterday about my first day teaching the 8 year olds at church, but it may have to wait until nap time. Right now, I feel the need to express my undying love and devotion, to Wilbur.
Wilbur is my pig. Well, not my pig persay, but he is the pig that makes me want to break out into a rendition of "Two of Hearts" by Stacy Q. Don't remember that song? You can watch the totally radical music video here, if you feel so inclined. Why would a pig make me want to sing? Well, because just like in the song, our hearts "beat as one."
One year ago today, I was wide open on the operating table, while several people fiddled with my heart, yet again, to try to improve my quality of life. In case you don't remember, or are new to my blog, you can read all about my heart defect(s) by clicking here. Obviously, things went well, and I am fully recovered. This was not my first rodeo, so to speak, nor will it be my last. For now, the valve Wilbur donated to me so unselfishly is ticking away beautifully. My scar still itches like the dickens, and has gone from a beautiful light pink (due to 16 years of sitting undisturbed) to a MUCH brighter, aggravated pink, but I'll take it, if it means I can put away laundry without getting winded.

18 years ago, I NEVER would have considered sharing this. It was humiliating. It made me different. I would never wear scoopy neck shirts, my bathing suits practically had to include a turtle neck. Now, I wear it like a badge of honor.

So now, the only question I have is...does eating bacon make me a canibal?

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY WILBUR!!!

The Name Game

Phew! It's been a busy blogging day, but I couldn't call it a day (as far as posting goes, SO many visits yet to make) I just HAD to link up with my pal, MiMi for her F-Bomb Friday, because it's what I do, and I love it!

To set up this story, I guess I need to mention that my real name is "Samantha". Nobody ever calls me that, but it is what is on my birth certificate, and it is what people who don't know me, call me.
I've had to deal with people misspelling my nickname all my life, but never my real name, until...

This story took me back about 11 years, to the end of my senior year (okay, go ahead and point and laugh if you've done the math, and figured out that I am only about 29. I get it, I'm young...bla bla bla.) of high school. I am LDS, and, as some of you may know, this means that in addition to regular school, I took a scripture study type class (called Seminary) from the time I entered high school. In Ohio, it was early in the morning. Once I moved to Utah, it was worked into my school schedule. Anyhoo...
Upon completion, your senior year, they hold a graduation ceremony of sorts, to honor those who have accomplished this goal. You get a "diploma" and everything!
I go to the ceremony, enjoy the presentation, walk accross as my name is called, get my diploma (which is in a plastic-y cover) and return to my seat. I open the cover, to see my name. Or at least, what was SUPPOSED to be my name.
SMATHA.
What the...! That's not even a name!
No biggie.
After the commencement is complete, I line up to talk to one of the Seminary teachers, behind a friend of mine whose name had also been horribly misspelled. Of course, hers was at least a name. Hers read "Amber" while her name is actually spelled "Ambre". I could totally feel her pain.
My teacher made a note of all the people who needed corrections, and I went happily on my way.
The next day at seminary, He gleefully presented me with my new "corrected" diploma.
SAMATHA.
When I looked up confused, and did not say thank you right away, the smile fell from his lips.
Him: "What's wrong".
Me: "It's still spelled wrong."
Him: "It is?!"
Me: "There's supposed to be an N between the A and the T."
Him: "Well, we're all out of diplomas, is that okay?"

Guess it has to be, doesn't it?! I wonder if they spelled Ambre right...

Now, head on over to MiMi's and link up with her...you won't regret it!

Love, Me

I'm a day late in linking up with Shortmama for her Dear Someone letters, but I hope you will all forgive me. After you read mine, head on over to visit her, and see what other people had to say!

Dear Boo,

If you don't like when mommy has to hold
you over the sink to rinse out your hair...
STOP TRYING TO WASH IT YOURSELF!!!

Love,
You can join Bug in his quest to receive toiletries for his birthday
Mommy


Dear Costco,

Oh, how I love you! I love how I can always find
"old" movies for cheap, and that cheese is an absolute
steal! But, we must talk about your gigantic bottles
of laundry soap and fabric softener. Once the level
reaches the low side, and detergent no longer flows
freely from the spicket, they're really a nuissance to
deal with. Together, I'm sure we can find a solution.

Sincerely,
Love me some giant bottle of Cheer,
Sym

Dear Sissy and Bubble,

I realize that your lives are completely unfair, and that
you always get the short end of every stick. That being
said, Mommy was NOT kidding about taking you to a
homeless shelter so you can see first hand that there are,
in fact, people who have a rougher life than you.

Love,
Seriously, you haven't had a phone of your own, your WHOLE LIFE?!
Mommy

Catching Up

Holy cow guys! It's only been 3 days since I last posted something, but in the blogging world... it's an eternity! I wish I could say that I've been super busy being the perfect homemaker, or that I took some fabulous vacation, but I can't. My explanation? Tuesday night, I got one of these...

photo found on Google

and I have been playing words with friends ALL DAY LONG.

Now it's time to take a break though, and see what everyone has been up to, and link up with some fabulous people!

You Say Finale...I Say Finally

Unless you have been living under a rock, don't have TV, or do not have easy access to the internet, you had to know that last night was the much anticipated (aren't they all?) finale of season...whatever...of the Bachelor. I never call them by their season numbers, this one will forever live in my memory as "Jake's season". I hope the anticipation for this update didn't kill you, and I hope that I succeed in making it worth your while with this parody, taking you through the final episode, and the "after the final rose" show. It is, in case you couldn't guess, to the tune of "On The Wings Of Love" by Jefferey Osborne. Press play, scroll down, and ENJOY!
By the way...the tune gets a little hairy at the end, so my lyrics may not flow too well. I'm sorry!



Come follow me, and let the show begin.
Jake is the pilot that two girls want to win.
Tenley seems just like an angel in disguise
Vienna, most hated, would win the final prize!

On the wings of LOVE
Jake's head is in the clouds
But he still can't deciiiide.
But before he can propose...
The girls must meet his FOLKS
Maybe then mom and dad
Can help to shed some liiight
On which girl
Should become a Pavelkaaa.

Tenley meets his dad, and he begins to cry
How there's another girl, they all wonder why
Jake's crazy bout her, but you can't help but see
He's a little conflicted, on which one it should beeee.

Really not that SMART
Jake tells his family that noone
Liked Vienna
And then he felt regret.
What if they don't LIKE
Her 'cause what he said
Has tarnished all their viewww.
Of who she really is
And what he seeees.

As crazy as it seems.
Though things started awkwardly.
They changed their view and loved her eventually.
When they said thier last goodbyes
Vienna couldn't help but cry
Losing him, seemed so much more than she could bear.

On the final DATES
J covered V in mud
The two rolled 'round like piigs.
While J and T sailed on a boat.
Jake made Tenley CRY
When he said physical, the chemistry was noooot
And she tried to prove him wroong

Finally Jake picks ONE
And the girls are led up into the clououds.
To await their final fate.
Tenley's plane lands FIRST
Then comes the ugly cry
I just don't understaaand
Why you'd pick Vienna over meeee.


Okay, so I ran out of verses to parody, so it didn't go through the after the final rose ceremony...here's how that went:
Vienna and Jake are insanely happy, and he doesn't care what anyone thinks about it. They plan to be married, but probably not until they have had time to live together "in the real world". Guess it's a good thing the show is sending them back to St. Lucia, get their "real life" romance off to a realistic, and totally normal start.
Ali was named as the next Bachelorette, and you all know that I love her, so I will most definitely be watching.
During the show they named the next DWTS (Dancing With The Stars) contestants, and you will never guess who they picked to be on it...JAKE! That is a little less an excited exclammation, and more a "Come on! Enough already! Or, can we say, overexposed?!" exclammation. Granted, I still think he's hot, but you know, the less you like someone as a person, the uglier they look to you. I started to dislike him the more the season went on, and the more girls he made out with, so let's hope he can't dance. I like that show, and at this point, I'm pretty sure he'll ruin it for me. How much vacation time do pilots get anyway? Shouldn't he be fired by now?!
I guess I should say that I'm not upset that Vienna won. No, I didn't particularly care for her, but there wasn't anything specific to back it up. For all I know, I don't like her because the other girls didn't like her, and I've been hopelessly lead astray. I hope they're happy, and that their relationship lasts as long as can be expected...about 6 months.

A Report, and Some Randomness

It's the beginning of yet another month, and you know what that means! It's time for me to reveal another unattainable goal! In case you haven't been reading my blog for long, each month, I set a mini resolution, known as a RESOLUTIBILITY. If you want to know what that word means, you can read about it here. First though, I would like to update you (as my form of being held accountable) on my progress from the last two months.
In January, I set the goal to exercise. We did very well, and have continued with it up to this point. In February, I took a whole week off because I was sick. Although to date I've only lost about 3 pounds from the beginning of the year, I have been noticing some major improvements. For example: On Saturday, Roon and I decided to go hit up Old Navy for their jean sale. FABULOUS deals going on over there. Roon told me that what I should do is buy a couple pairs of jeans in a size down from what I normally wear, to serve as "motivation" to keep going. I reluctantly agreed, (because dang it, I wanted some new pants!) and went to the dressing room to face my phenomenal failure. To my incredible surprise, THEY FIT!!! I didn't even have to lay down to button them or anything! SCORE! I came out and told Roon, and asked if this meant I had to buy pants in the next smaller size, and he told me I didn't have to. Plus, he bought shorts in a smaller size, hoping that by summer they would fit, and when we got home, he tried them on, and THEY FIT TOO! I heart you, Wii Active, and all your snarky comments!
In February, we set the goal to floss regularly. We have done AWESOME at this one. I missed 3 days this month because I was sick, had a migraine, or was just too tired, and simply fell asleep before doing a proper bedtime routine. Roon started out reluctantly, but with the difference he is seeing, he is motivated to do it without me having to nag him! This should be a piece of cake to stick with.
So now, it's March. I have an appointment with my cardiologist at the end of this month, and I would love to be down a few more pounds. Mainly, I want to be down enough weight that she believes me when I tell her I am exercising regularly. So, For March, in addition to the exercise and floss, we are going to improve our eating habits. We're going to concentrate on eating more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, while cutting waaayy down on the amount of fast food we consume. I'll miss you sirloin burger from Jack in the Box! The hardest part will be cutting out or at least cutting back on my biggest weakness...DR. PEPPER! Oh you devil in a red tuxedo...go easy on me! And what does this mean for donuts? Oh donuts! Okay, seriously, I'm falling into the pit of dispair, gotta snap out of it!
So how about a little randomness...

Bubble lost his first tooth on Friday morning. He was pretty ticked when I wouldn't let him take it to school to show everyone. Roon suggested that he could just show people the gaping hole in his mouth...that should do the trick. He finally admitted defeat when I told him that if he lost the tooth at school, the tooth fairy wouldn't come to visit. That did it! He received a handful of coins (not sure how much, the male tooth fairy was the one to make the housecall) which he shared with his siblings the next morning so they could all buy gumballs while we were grocery shopping. What a sweet kid, huh?

I got a new calling at church. For the time being, I am going to be alternating weeks of teaching the 8 year olds Sunday School class. I got to sit in with them on Sunday to get a "feel" for it. I think I have my work cut out for me. Before moving to Texas, I worked with the 8-11 year old girls, and LOVED it! Of course, they had been under my watchful eye for quite a while, and these kids have only just met me. Just a note...playing with your gum, and balancing on one leg of the chair will NOT be permitted on the weeks I teach, thank you very much!

Have a great Monday everyone!