organizing kick

Geez, I've been a bad blogger lately. I have been taking less and less pictures and doing less and less cool things. But, that's life. Sometimes its just normal and semi boring, but every "normal" day is something to be grateful for, I know that much. One thing to note: I've caught organizing fever. Ever since we moved, I have been trying to be super organized and to get rid of crap we don't need constantly. Moving makes you realize how much you have that you just don't need. I don't want ANY clutter in our new house, it makes me crazy. I loved these ideas and started implementing them right away...and now I'm helplessly addicted to organizing blogs.

Home management binder, yessss. Such a good idea.

http://abowlfulloflemons.blogspot.com/2011/01/weekly-challenge-1-home-management.html

Love this as well for all the household papers, bills, mail, etc.

http://abowlfulloflemons.blogspot.com/2010/12/mobile-command-center.html

I am always overwhelmed by cute school work that needs to be saved. Perfect solution!

http://iheartorganizing.blogspot.com/2010/11/school-paperwork-storage.html

http://www.mommytracked.com/downloads?page=1

these are the cutest *free*printables!

no jeans challenge

*not that it matters, but these are not totally in order...and of course the dressier outfits were on Sundays and to a wedding reception

Welp, it was surprisingly pretty darn easy. I didn't even miss my jeans. And my banged up scabby knees didn't miss them either. Of course, it wouldn't have been possible without cold weather, boots, scarves, cardigans, and....what I'm saying is I won't be able to do this in the heat, and that's too bad. So it was fun while it lasted. Perhaps I will do a 'no mormon shorts challenge' this summer...

family hike.

a few weekends ago, we hiked the San Tan mountain. Every day when we drop Brayden off at school, Kosty talks about how he wants to hike that mountain. The night before the hike, I told them we would be hiking THAT mountain in the morning and Kosty looked like I just told him Santa was coming again. He was SO excited and had a hard time falling asleep. This hike was super steep towards the top and pretty difficult for me, let alone a little shrimp like Kosty. He struggled a bit and then said he liked the other mountain better. I hope it didn't ruin his love of hiking. The top was a little anticlimactic I have to say. There wasn't much room and there were a lot of hikers, but mostly is was awkward because there was an older couple at the top that were trying to have this romantic picnic; complete with champagne in glasses, cheese, crackers, and grapes. I bet they loved us sitting right by them with our snacks :) At least it was fun 'overhearing' their conversation.

pinewood derby

Jer's parents have been holding onto the winning derby car from when Jer was little all these years to pass it on as a model for one of their grandkids' derby cars. So Jer used it as a guide and got way into making the car and Brayden was really impatient with the process. Jer insisted he sand it for about 2 weeks before it was "paint ready" and Brayden was just a little annoyed ;) but, even though my picture is crappy, it turned out super cool and did really well in the races. Brayden was very specific about it being bright green with a black stripe, and he had fun putting Mario stickers all over it. They named it Mario Cart. Looking forward to more of these, I just show up and take pictures :)

running club

Brayden chose to do running club this year, and it is fantastic. He stays after school two days a week, runs laps, he gets little feet to add to a necklace for every few miles, gets exercise, and the best part: its FREE. He has had 2 running club races where the kids who qualify get to go to the high school and run against 4 other schools. Its not real clear how many are competing, but for the sake of his 169th place, I'll estimate 500ish kids :) I felt bad, but I actually laughed out loud when he showed me his number. At first I just saw the 69 because his finger was covering up the 1. I had no idea that is how they were doing it. I assumed he would get placed out of only 2nd graders but apparently they just hand numbers to every kid that crosses the finish line K-6. Maybe some of you other running club moms can give me the scoop. I didn't care enough to investigate, and he got over the sting real quick when he tasted that Popsicle.

On another note: when jer came home and saw what Brayden was wearing (a pair of stiff skinny jeans) he looked at me with horror. I guess I was supposed to bring him a pair of running shorts to change into in the car? for the second race I did send him in shorts and he got 91st place. Maybe jer was on to something after all...

as i was going to bed just now, i was thinking about the day and I knew that I really needed to record this, sweet & simple as it is.

This morning, Brayden was looking and feeling worse. His fever 103, his eyes bloodshot, his lips bloody, he was listless, dehydrated, and splotchy. He hadn't eaten all day the day before so I was trying to entice his appetite by giving him a big list of breakfast options. As I was rattling off the menu, he quietly spoke up in his raspy little voice....."I like your hair."

i went to bed the night before with towel dried, damp hair. this morning it was awful. frizzy, tangled, unparted. My jaw slightly dropped, and I laughed, a little embarrassed by how bad it was. But he was so sincere. This boy is just the sweetest person to ever walk the earth, I am convinced. And when he's sick, for some reason, he is even sweeter. He never complains, he just lies there and says only 'thank you' for every measly thing I try to do to comfort him. Love love love him.

deleting is done. i figure anyone who didn't speak up but is dying to still read this ol thang can email me. Right? moving on....

Kosty had a fever all day yesterday & today. He spent the day threatening throw up but just gagged and spit up into his bowl. Right when I got him situated and was about to hop in the shower, the school called. Brayden got sent to the nurse's office after his teacher noticed him at his desk looking super sad and rubbing his temples. Poor boy. He couldn't admit he wasn't feeling good I guess. He looked awful when I picked him up. He said he was going to miss the running club picture & he needed to start a book report, & the race is tommorrow, & & &...but he also has a fever and also thinks he is going to throw up at any moment. He also complained that his head and ears hurt. Oh, and he is sneezing like 50x per hour, with BIG snot bubbles. Awesome.

So, as I was looking at the two pathetic little people on my couch today, each with a big bowl beside them, I realized I answered my own question. A job is certainly not in the cards for now. Although this hardly ever happens, there is no other place I'd rather be than at home when they need me most.

**I also swear by this if you have hard water. To say I miss our soft water is a major understatement. We still have it, but its in the garage, unhooked up for the time being :/

I wonder what we all did before the Internet. I'm constantly googling things...This week I found out:

--you can put white vinegar in your jet dry dispenser in your dishwasher, and it works so good, plus no toxic chemical residue on your dishes, plus its way cheaper.

-- I also found out once a month you should be cleaning your dishwasher by running it with 1/2 c vinegar in the bottom and baking soda is the detergent dispenser. (can you tell I'm trying to cure hard water spots or what?)

--I also found out that walmart.com sells a box of duplicate checks for $6.96 a box...beats the bank's price of $25.

--I also use a recipe I found online for curing a slow drain if you want it, google it :)

on my calendar for last week:

....

nothing.

this week:

jury duty-check.

grocery shopping-check.

baby shower-check.

make/gather supplies for mutual activity-check.

go to mutual-

volunteer in kosty's class-

brayden running club race-

deep clean bathrooms-

be the 'mystery reader' in kosty's class-

clean out fridge-

wash boy's sheets-

get oil changed-

finish last minute editing and ORDER blurb book-

track down Kosty's missing jacket-

help brayden with scouts stuff-

and it continues to grow.

This is how it seems to go, I'll have nothing one week and everything the next week. I need to remember this so I will enjoy those easy weeks more. :)

p.s. i just went on my 'permissions' page to add someone and I realized that I have a whole lotta people invited to read my blog that I'm (99%) sure do not. If you think you might be one of these people, then let me know that you are still alive, otherwise I will be doing some deleting on my reader list at the end of the week. Thanks!