Caroline's Thank You Card

I received this thank you card from my granddaughter Caroline.  She calls me graham crackers.   When she was here last summer she started calling me grams and then it became graham crackers.  She's chocolate and Christian is marshmellows so we can make S'mores.  Kevin is the fire.  I sent them a microwave S'more maker for Christmas.  I can't wait for them to come for the summer again.  I like to keep them for as long as I can-a month or more.  CariSu and JuanLuis are going to Spain for 3 weeks in July so I think I get the kids from the last of June until the end of July.  We always have so much fun.  They love to play with their cousins Tyson, Jackson, Lexie and Tommy and CariSu and JuanLuis have fun just being a young couple in love.  It's a win-win for everyone.

Lily-Bad Dog!

My sister Leisa just left my house.  She came over so I could rub her back.  She has a big knot on her right shoulder blade and I spent about 15 minutes rubbing it out.  Her son, Tyson (age 7) came with her. He had never seen Connor's house so he went next door to see it and Connor's dog, Lily, bit Tyson in the face.  It was really more like a scratch but it bled and scared Tyson.  We can't figure out why she did that unless she was just being protective of her turf.  I went grocery shopping tonight so I won't have to leave my house tomorrow.  I plan on staying in my pj's all day long and cleaning and sewing and reading and doing whatever I feel like.  That's my idea of heaven.

Sick Day

I just got home from work.  We had a training at 6:30 pm and it was great.  Holly Whitworth came and talked about classroom environments.  Inspiring!  I'm not feeling well again so I'm going to bed.  I had mom check my glucose levels and they were normal so it's not blood sugar related.  Oh, I almost forgot, Jackson went home with his teacher Brittney last night and now he calls her his mom.  Leisa thinks it's funny, which is good.  I'm glad her feelings aren't hurt because it is kind of cute.  Andrea gave him a magic wand that he sleeps with.  He tried to turn the couch into a Thomas bed.  What a kid!

Stake YW Meeting

I just got home from my monthly Young Women meeting with the Stake.  We are in charge of a large 4 stake Mia Maid/Teacher pre-dating activity.  We talked about several ideas and then Sis. Hunter offered the idea of a pre-dating speed dating night.  I think the kids would LOVE that!  I would have at that age.  We are also planning a Youth Conference for July 22,23,24 that will be a handcart trek.  We are going to Chesterfield, Idaho and pulling handcarts in pioneer dress to similate and authentic trek.  I went on a trek at Ensign Peak in Salt Lake City several years ago for a Youth Conference and I swore I'd never do that again.  It was so HARD!  Ultimately, it was one of the best experiences of my life but it was HARD!  I really appreciate my pioneer ancestors so much more but have I told you that it was HARD!  I also learned to never say never because here I am planning on going on another one.  I guess I learn the HARD way!

Kid Quotes

OK, so yesterday one of our employees picked up the Latchkey kids from school and when she pulled into the parking lot, one of the second graders was standing at the curb holding a sign, grinning from ear to ear, and waving at everyone that passed by.  When she got on the van she asked all the kids "Who wants Geiko?"  This is the picture she was holding.  Check out the spelling on insurance.  It's hysterical!

Sick Day

The last half of the day I've been getting sick and I'm going to bed right now (even if it is only 6:30).  Sleep helps me heal.  So this is all I'm going to blog tonight but tomorrow I have the funniest story about one of our Latchkey kids.

Birthday Party

Today we celebrated my niece, Lexie's birthday.  I can't believe she's 10 years old.  She is growing into quite the young lady.  She performed the cutest dance to a song by Selena Gomez (I don't remember what it was) but she wasn't brave enough to do it in front of her cousin Aaron who is 15.  She made him leave the room.  We got talking about when my youngest, Connor, was baptized.  The whole family came to see him as well as the Primary President and of course the Bishopric.  He was in the dressing room getting into his white clothes when everyone arrived and when he came into the room and saw everyone he asked "What are they doing here?"  I told him they were here to see him get baptized.  He said "Oh, no, I'm not getting baptized with them here.  Make them leave!" and he was serious.  He wouldn't calm down until we cleared the room.  The only one he would let stay was his brother Taylor.  He even made me leave.  I didn't care, as long as he wasn't freaking out it was OK with me.  We all stood in the hall and laughed about it.  His dad baptized him and his Grandpa Potter was a witness.  It was quite a memorable day!

Going Rogue

"I don't believe that God put us on earth to be ordinary"

--Lou Holtz--

These are the first words in Sarah Palin's book "Going Rogue".  I LOVE this quote.  I also love the style she writes in.  It feels like you're sitting with your best friend and catching up.  I also love one of her stories and I'm going to share it with you.

  It was in softball that Coach Reid Smith taught me another lesson that served me well for years.  He told one of our rookie outfielders, who was almost as weak a player as I was, to quit jumping around and acting all gleeful when she successfully caught a fly ball.

  "That's what you're supposed to do, girl!" he yelled.  "Quit acting surprised when you do what you're put there to do!"

  Early in my political career, I would remember that lesson.  When things went right under my administration's leadership, sometimes I'd look around and wonder why no one but me was jumping with joy.  Then I'd recall Coach Smith's holler from years ago: "You were put there to do this, so don't act surprised." (And don't look to anyone else to cheer you either.)

What a great story.  I think we are often surprised when we succeed in something, especially if it's something hard.  We can do hard things.  We can do amazing things.  We just need to believe in ourselves.  I'm going to work harder to believe in others and myself.

Another Day....

I almost went to bed without blogging!  It's too soon to blow my resolution.  The day at work was kind of uneventful.  I did bring my sister into the 21st century.  I helped her create a facebook page AND a blog.  Her blog is http://www.idahoshopgirl.com/.  It's very cute and she did a great job on it.  I finished my book "Even Money" and I'm going to start "Going Rogue" by Sarah Palin.  Mom gave it to me after she read it and said it's a must read.  I'll let you know what I think.

Cute Kids

I hope the story I'm about to tell you isn't too...well...inappropriate.  If it is I 'm sorry but it was too funny.  There is a little boy at the day care center who enjoys....."fondling" himself.  Yesterday, he kept trying to talk to my sister, Leisa and she was ignoring him.  She finally asked him what he wanted and he said, very innocently, "My weenie is big!"  She had to leave the room so he wouldn't see her laughing.  Then today at nap time he had his hands down his pants and Ms. Kate told him to take them out and he said "But I'm not touching my weenie".  BOYS!  What do you do with them?

Another day...

Today was pretty dull with the exception of firing one of our employees.  Not my favorite thing to do but sometimes necessary.  I made spaghetti and meatballs and I feel sick now.  I think the meatballs were past their prime.  I have what Connor calls "popcorn burps".  Yuck!  I think I'll go to bed.

Ordinary Day

Today was another long day at work.  My sister, Leisa, has been home with her 3 yr old, Jackson because he has been sick so I had to close the center tonight.  Mom works in the temple on Tuesdays.  I feel so sorry for Jackson.  His temperature was so high this weekend that he was hallucinating.  He thought there were kitty cats in his bed with him.  I did get a break at lunch time so I went shopping for a calendar.  They were pretty picked over but I found a really cute inspirational one for $1.50.  I'm missing my reality TV.  No "Dancing With The Stars", "American Idol", "So You Think You Can Dance", or "Castle".  Well, Castle isn't reality but I really enjoy it.  I even read the book "Heat Wave".  I might just go to bed early and read.  I finished "U is for Undertow" by Sue Grafton last week and I'm reading "Even Money" by Felix and Dick Francis.  Dick Francis is my favorite author and I think his son, Felix, will take over for him when he's no longer writing.  I hope so, at least.  And I hope Grafton comes up with something when she runs out of the alphabet.

Kid Sayings

I work at a day care center and love it when the kids say cute things.  Today I was getting ready to read a story to the 3 year old preschool class and I was asking each of them what they got for Christmas.  After they finished telling me what Santa brought them I told them that I had received a spice rack.  One of the little boys (I'll call him N) said "Oh, that freaks me out!"  I guess rosemary and ginger can be a little freaky!  After the story he told me he didn't like it, that it was boring.  Then after snack he was in the dramatic play center, trying to put on a policeman outfit and he looked over at me, put his hands in the air and said "Oh, teacher...a little help over here??????????"  I could steal him and take him home with me.

Fast Sunday

Today our church starts at 11:00 am.  It is Fast Sunday which means we fast for 2 meals and then donate what we would have spent on those 2 meals to the Fast Offering Fund which helps people who need money to live.  I like to fast Sat night for dinner and Sun morning for breakfast but I forgot last night and so now I need to fast for Sun breakfast and lunch.  I need to find a way to remember the night before so I can start on Sat.  Tomorrow is back to work and I don't think I'm going to like that.  I've enjoyed having time off and getting things done.  Oh, well, someday I won't have to work.

New Snow

Woke up this morning to more snow.  I had one of my Miche Reps coming to pick up an order so I shoveled the walks and driveway.  It was so clean and white, I hated to disturb it.  I also loved the sound of the snow shovel scraping against the concrete.  It made me feel warm even in the chilly morning.  I should have done more cleaning and organizing today but instead I went and had my hair cut and returned several Christmas purchases.  My hair is shorter than I've had it in a long time.  My husband, Brad loves short hair so I know he'll like it.  It is similar to Victoria Beckham's hair.  I watched "Duplicity" and fell asleep-it wasn't very intriguing-and now I need to go grocery shopping.  I think I'm craving Chinese food.

Happy New Year

It's January 1st and the second day of my project.  Brad is working and I'm spending the day cleaning.  Sounds dreary?  I love it.  I'm moving my craft room downstairs and my sewing room upstairs.  It's more than a one day job but the great thing is I have all day tomorrow.  I need to go to the grocery store but if I leave the house I loose momentum and usually don't finish the job.  Lifetime has a Jennifer Aniston marathon on and I just finished watching "Rumor Has It".  "Derailed" just started.  I haven't seen either one.  It has snowed several inches today and it looks so clean outside.  When Connor gets up I need to have him shovel the walks.  I'll have to pay him but it's worth it.  We bought the house next door a couple of months ago and he is living there.  After a rocky beginning, he has settled in and is doing quite well.  Next step is getting him a job.

New Year's Resolution

I just finished watching "Julie & Julia" and was inspired to start writing about ......well I don't know yet. It was such a great idea to have a project and write about it every day. I don't quite know what I have to say but I want to write something. We'll see what this brings.