Bored

School just barely started, and I am bored. Ainsley and I can play Go Fish and have treasure hunts only so many times a day. I have cleaned bedrooms, the storage room, the family room and the computer area. I have caught up on everyone's blogs. I shredded everything that needed to be shredded. I won't let myself get a good book from the library right now. I'm bored.

Sure, there are many things I should/could be doing. But for some reason or another, I can't right now.

*I need to go to the grocery store, but the baby I watch is having a nap right now.
*The pears I am going to can are not quite ripe yet.
*The kitchen floor needs to be mopped, but I am using the deep fryer tonight, and I always mop after using it. Besides, why mop when I will be making a pear mess in the next few days?
*I have laundry that could be done, but laundry day is Thursday.
*I need to write a descriptive paper about Emily for her Spanish teacher, but after the morning we had together I have nothing nice to say about her yet.
*I have lots of shopping I want to do, but shouldn't.
*I have left messages to talk to a few people, but they haven't called me back yet.

So for right now, I am bored. Tomorrow my pears may be ready, it's laundry day, AND I will have to mop. UGH, which is worse? Boredom or too much to do?

A Miserable Surprise!

Jared hates birthdays. He even hates my birthday. I love birthdays. I think all birthdays should be celebrated for at least two days. My kids always seem to have celebrations spaced out over a couple of days. This is because I am in charge of all that planning. I am lucky to be told "Happy Birthday" once on my actual birthday by Jared. Every year I tell him that once I get the birthday I want, he will get the birthday celebration he wants, which is nothing! BORING! This year he must have thought he got off pretty easy from us. Nothing big. A few gifts and we went out to dinner. Lucky Jared, or so he thought.

I planned a "Surprise Miserable" party for him two weeks after his birthday. The plan was to enjoy things he hates with a group of friends and family. It turned out to be a blast, even though Jared hated everything we did! Keeping things a surprise went better than I thought, until the day of the party. Ainsley told him at lunch time that "Jenny was having a party at the restaurant and he was invited." Somehow that comment was never acknowledged by him. He knew we were going to Golden Corral (his least favorite place to eat) because our friend Rachel wanted to go on a date and she was really craving Golden Corral. Later that afternoon John from Golden Corral called and wanted to talk to me about my party reservation for that evening. Of course Jared answered the phone. As I talked to John I was panicking. Jared was right there listening to my end of the conversation. After John hung up I said into the phone that I wasn't interested. I couldn't look Jared in the face as I explained John was trying to convince me to come to a free dinner so I could listen to his time share info. Jared kept asking questions, and said something was fishy, but he finally let it go.

We finally made it to Golden Corral. We walked into the reserved room where everyone was waiting and he was still pretty clueless. He said his only thought was how did friend Andrew know brother Seth because they were sitting by each other. Then everyone yelled "Surprise!" We all laughed because he was still so shocked. I think that what surprised him more were some of the outfits people were wearing. It was hilarious to see what some people came up with. My friend Jenny helped a few of us dress up. She spent hours at the DI finding just the right seventies outfits.

After pigging out at Golden Corral some of us went Cosmic Bowling. Jared hates bowling because I usually beat him! And what bowling game is complete without some dancing on tables? We laughed so hard together! I think that even though Jared hated everything we did he had a great time with everyone who was there! (Sorry that I didn't get pictures of everyone who was at dinner.)

Just so you know Jared....I expect a good birthday next year or your next birthday will be celebrated even bigger!

Goodbye my friend...

I had to say goodbye to a dear friend yesterday. In its place was a sort of enemy of mine. School started yesterday for Lizzie and Tyler, and I had to wake up to an ALARM CLOCK! Ugh! I really don't like that thing. It represents so much.

During the summer I would set the alarm, but to go off at 9 am if I wasn't awake yet (very rarely would it go off). I love the lazy summer days. I love just hanging out with my kids and playing with them. I love not having as many responsibilities during the summer. I love that we could go play whenever we wanted and not have to be in bed by a specific time. I know that summer is officially not over, but my carefree summer days won't return for 180 school days.

Goodbye my friend.....I will miss you!

I Survived!!!!

Jared left me this weekend. He said it was something about needing more testosterone from the mountains. Maybe he left because I had offered to watch five extra kids over night. I have to admit, I was a little nervous about being a single parent to nine kids. But guess what: we all survived! The kids were great!!! They all played together, slept wonderfully (I actually got more sleep than I do any normal night), ate all their food (I even included a fruit with dinner) and they cleaned when asked. The wiggle bikes kept us all entertained for hours, even 15 month old Olivia. My nephew became our tribal chief (I will have to include pictures of that later...I am too lazy to put them on the computer right now.) I do have to say, I was a little nervous when the power flickered this morning...how would I keep them all entertained inside with no TV all day? Luckily, it did only flicker, and the rain stopped so they could play outside some more. Thank goodness for garages to play in, and good old fashioned fort building. I think fort building must be a special event saved only for when a babysitter is around. I can remember my cousin Jeni babysitting us and building the most awesome forts.

The kids all lived until their moms came to pick them up. It was my own kid who suffered an injury. Ainsley fell down the stairs and broke her thumb/hand Friday night. Being the great MOM that I am I gave her some Tylenol, and took everyone to the playground. (Note: I said MOM, not BABYSITTER. If it was anyone else's kid I would have taken them to the doctor sooner.) She was playing just fine, so obviously her hand was all right. However, the next morning it was really swollen and purple. After arranging for some awesome young women to come help Emily watch the other seven kids, I finally took Ainsley to the doctor. Sure enough, the doctor is pretty sure the bone at the base of her thumb is broke. Something about weird bone shapes makes him have a little doubt about the fracture. Needless to say, she did live through all this, so...we all survived!

Only 20ish more hours till Jared comes home. Hopefully we stay in the survived category!

John Deere?

Let me start with some background info: Today is Jared's birthday. He works for Wheeler Machinery, which is a Caterpillar dealer. Our family LOVES Cat (they pay the bills) and HATES John Deere (Ask the kids, they will say John Deere stinks)

This morning at 6:20 Jared leaves for work. He comes back into the house to tell me to come look outside. The Birthday Bandits had struck!

"Nothing runs like a Deere, not even Jared on his 35th birthday!

The kids are all dying to hit at the John Deere pinata with the Cat bat. They are anxiously awaiting Dad to get home so we can "tear that thing to pieces" (Tyler's exact words)

The poem on the garage door reads:

Deere John,

Your motor was sluggish, I thought it was rubbish, on I put on the brakes, but you flaked.

I thought you were pulling a prank, you turned out to just be a crank.

So I shifted gears and thought about your rear. But when it came to driving the shaft, you choked.

I just wish you would've croaked.

Even if you lose your spare tire my Deere, you broke my heart you old fart.

So take your green machine and make like steam cuz this old Cat is done with that,

Love, Cat

They did a great job of proclaiming our "love" for John Deere. As each kid woke up this morning they again shouted their feelings of hatred. Why would anyone do this they asked?

Jared did smile at all the poems and writing. Great job Birthday Bandits! Thank you!

This is a perfect opportunity to post another event in our family. Sunday was Family Day at Kennecott. My mom's husband works there, and they invited us to go up to see the new Cat truck that was just built there. After waiting in the hot sun for about an hour, it was our turn to climb up to see this giant Cat 795F. It is the biggest vehicle at Kennecott.

For our family, we hope this truck spells Job Security!

GO CAT!!!!!!