Life...

It's so hard sometimes, no?

Yesterday these kiddos went back to school. Why was that so sad? Why do they have to grow up anyway?
Life is also good, though. Yesterday for FHE we talked about this picture:

Somehow, our discussion went from the blessings of the sacrament, to "would we act differently if the Savior was with us?" to "the Savior is always with us - through prayer" to "You can pray anytime, anywhere, for any reason."

And isn't that great?

Manic Monday

A few things happened today:

1. The train engine died on my way to work. Boo.

2. Two mice in the last week were caught in the office right next to mine. Double Boo.

3. The vending machine candy went from 90 cents to 1 dollar. Boo Hoo. I refuse to spend a dollar on a peanut butter Twix.

Here's my Five:
1. I still wasn't late to work. Yay!
2. There are no mouse "tracks" (aka poo) in my office. I checked all my drawers. Double yay!
3. I could use some cutting back in the vending machine department. Yay?
4. FHE tonight: going to the unveiling of the Utah Jazz jerseys. Go Jazz!
5. My internship people gave me LOTS of work today! I can't wait to get started (and finished!). Sigh of relief...

cRaZy bUs

I have a new favorite bus driver. I think he's crazy, but that's what makes it fun.
It's not the fizzy long hair that's sort of in a pony tail that I like.
It's not the way he turns corners at lightening speed, either.
It's not even the way he's lead-footed on the brakes at red lights.

No, it's his love affair with the speaker that makes me laugh.

He has a quiet, mumbling, barely audible, rambling voice, but he uses it whenever he can.

He wishes every passenger getting off a nice summer ("Have-a-nice-summer-Have-a-nice-summer-Have-a-nice-summer-Have-a-nice-summer-Have-a-nice-summer").

He plays tour guide to downtown Salt Lake City ("Coming-up-on-your-left-is-Wells-Fargo-across-the-street-is-the-copy-shop-then-there-is-that-hotel").

He even forecasts what's going to happen next ("As-soon-as-the-light-turns-green-we-will-go-straight-at-about-40-miles-per-hour-I-suspect").

Other passengers roll their eyes and start furiously texting. Or they turn up the volume on their IPOD and fake sleep. Or they watch Star Trek on their laptop.

But me, I smile.

Have a nice summer.

Easy as Pie Monday Five

1. I made the BEST looking turkey pot pie for dinner last night. The crust didn't taste great, but my boys raved and raved anyway. It made my day. (Yes - I'm choosing to ignore what my daughter said about it.)

2. Truly - it had a little turkey pie crust cookie on top. And little heart pie crust cookies around the turkey.

3. And the pie crust was from scratch even.

4. I love cooking.

5. And the Lagoon trail. We went twice over the weekend.

Count Your Many Blessings

Hi,

Yesterday my car wouldn't move after work. It started up just fine, but wouldn't shift out of park. I called my Knight in Shining Armor and he said he'd be right over to pick me up.

In the meantime, I went back into my office and did what any person would do under the circumstances: asked my facebook friends for advice. The response: "um, walk."

So I did the next best thing: I listened to BYU radio (yes - I was listening to BYU radio while at the UofU. My son thought I was a traitor).

I searched for a talk on happiness (because I absolutely wasn't happy at that time), and came up with a talk by Jeffry Larson, and the basic gist of it was to lower your expectations, quit being a perfectionist, and count your blessings. Whatever.

Once I got home, life resumed as normal: fighting kids, my daughter's phone broke, lost some homework assignment, basically a rotten night. After reading scriptures as a family, we decided to count our blessings. It was actually quite fun. After listing a few, my son kept mentioning his name as a blessing (because he is a blessing, you know). He kept saying it over and over. Then the rest of the kids did the same.

And you know what? They are right.

My Five:
1. Fresh cucumbers from the garden. My lunch today consists of a cucumber and salt. Mmmm.
2. My Knight in Shining Armor.
3. The three kiddos. My boys waited up until I was done getting ready for bed last night because they forgot to give me a hug goodnight, and they know I LOVE them to give me a hug goodnight.
4. My boys for giving flowers to their sister to help her feel better.
5. An alternative form of transportation to get to work: the train.

Gone Fishin'

Darin took the kids fishing yesterday. This is the summary I got when the kids got home. They saw:

25 cows
6 deer
1 black bear

But no fish :(

My Five:

1. The black bear didn't see my kids (they were in the car on their way back)
2. My brave daughter: she got her first set of stitches the other day. On the bottom of her foot no less. And she still went fishing yesterday!
3. My morning walk. I decided not to run. Walking is so much more enjoyable.
4. Brian Tracy wisdom. That guy is smart.
5. The book on tape that makes me like my commute: The Story of Edgar Sawtelle. So far it is SO good.

Overwhelmed

Sometimes I feel overwhelmed. This is one of those times.

Even though my life isn't busier than it normally is.

Aaaaahhhhhh!


My Five:
1. My daily salad. I am so much like my mother that way: I need my greens.
2. Hair cuts: mine and my boys.
3. Lindsay Lohan is out of jail (kidding - just seeing if you are paying attention)
4. My brother Ed. It was his birthday yesterday. He truly is such a great guy, and I'm lucky to be his sister.
5. My sister Jess. She's moved to Ohio, and who knows when I'll see her again. Love you Jess!