Just Exactly when did the Tables Turn?

When my kids were little they would embarrass me. Especially Zack and Megan...don't know why these two in particular, but it's true. I suppose the reason Zack would embarrass me was because he was so curious. He wanted to know about everything and he wanted to know why. His FAVORITE thing to say was "cause why?" and to this day Aaron and I still ask each other this all the time....CAUSE WHY? And Megan, she was the girl who would blurt out whatever was on her mind at exactly the time it was on her mind. I can't tell you how many times I found myself back peddaling in conversations because of her "sharing" what she'd heard mommy say earlier....like I said, embarrassing. So, in the famous words of my father in-law "What I'd like to know" is....when did I start embarrassing my kids? Now that I know I have this power it's just way too much fun for me! I found that I'm especially embarrassing to my Megan....oh, the joy and rapture this brings me....I found this out recently when we were at the One Act District Competition and I asked her in the auditorium what she thought of one the high schools performances....she was so offended and told me under no circumstances would she engage in "that kind of conversation" with me.....I was litterally dumbstruck....yet, somewhat tickled. The next time we were in an autorium we were watching the Choir Concert at North Star. There was a kid there dressed in the tightest black shiny pants I've ever seen on a guy....all I had to do was just lean towards Megan and she was slapping at me and whispering "no, no, no!" she was ready to get up and walk out and I hadn't said a word! (insert evil laughter here.....)

technical difficulties

I'm having some technical difficulties with my backround. I've never ever had this problem and it's making me want to scrap this blog and start a new one. I don't know what the dealio is but will have to have a more technical person (Josh or Aaron) take a look at it and see what the heck!

I'm having other "technical diffictulties" in my life right now too. I try to keep things positive here in my blogisphere...so that's why I've not written much lately.

A few things....

Our Joe is 8 now. He's getting baptised!! We asked him if he'd like his brother Josh to do the baptising, as Josh holds the Priesthood and has that authority. He was so very excited to say YES!! Joe really loves his brother and now that they share a room he loves him even more. Joe met with our Bishop tonight and was on his best behavior, which is a big big thing for him! Afterwards he asked the Bishop if he could tell me about the interview and of coarse, he could. He told me "We had some laughs and some serious times, it was real good." Another very exciting thing is that we are going to Utah next week and Joe is going to be baptised while we are there. He has decided that he would like his Grandpa Schafer to Confirm him a member of the Church (which is what happens after baptism in our church, this is where members receive the gift of the Holy Ghost). It's a happy time in our family!

Speaking of Utah...we are all so excited to go!! One more week!! We will only be there for a few days but it's going to be so great to be with family. Aaron's brother from California and his family will be there and I don't think we've all been together for several years. It will be so fun to have all the cousins together. I get to see my son, whom I've missed terribly, and haven't seen for 3 whole months! We get to celebrate my inlaws 50th wedding anniversary, which is quite a big deal. The only thing I'm not looking forward to is that long long drive....and with Aaron in the van. I love my husband but I do not love driving with him long distances. He's not very patient with noise levels...he has sensitive ears. And, with many kids in the van...it's noisy. Good thing for DVD players in vehicles and REDBOX. Maybe we need to throw some benadryl in the mix...ha ha...

One last thing......Tonight I took the little two to McDonalds for icecream and to play in the playplace. They had such a good time!! They made new friends and were both in such a good mood. When it was time to go I only had a little trouble getting them out of there. After a couple warnings that it was time to go I finally said "Okay, I'm leaving, good bye". I heard Hannah tell her new friend "My mom is leaving and I really love her so I need to go with her". What will I do when she's a teenager and there are no little ones around to help me feel so loved and needed?

New Coat

I am a thrift store shopper. I love a good deal and hate to pay full price for anything! I went to several thrift stores and was not able to find a coat for Joe, who is 8. Today Aaron found out the school had been loaning a coat to Joe to go out for recess (embarrassing) So, Aaron and I decided to buy him a brand new coat. It's so sparkly and shiny! Well, maybe not sparkly or shiny but it's new and it's cool, Joe told me so. He was so sweet and so thankful.

This is the actual coat he picked...couldn't find a good picture, I guess I'll take one with him wearing it sooner or later..

I'm not sure who's bright idea it was to create a ginormous Reeses Peanut Butter Cup (each cup weighs a half lb!!), I saw on the way into Sears (where we purchased Joe's coat), but I'm pretty sure they are EVIL and working with the DEVIL! I sure do want one.....

EXCITED

We're going to UTAH in the middle of November!! Can't wait to see my son!! Not looking forward to the very very very long drive, but looking forward to seeing all the fam and hopefully some friends!!

One Act

It's time for the One Acts (high school kids perform a one act play at festivals and then district competitions and hopefully on to STATE!) This year they are performing Oliver Twist. I'm excited to see how they cut this down to a one act...no longer than 30 minutes. Megan and Josh are both involved...Megan is in the ensemble and Josh is playing Fagan.
They will be performing this play with English accents....I already know what this means for our home....everyone is British now, or at least trying to be.....even the littles are speaking like lit'l poppets.

Why Clean?....it's just gonna get messy again....

This is a statement I have heard far too often in my years of motherhood. I truly love love love a clean house, it makes me feel so happy inside!....I just can't seem to keep one. I know working makes it ten times harder to keep on top of this and I know this because I have had the fortune of being a stay at home mom several times during my mothering career. Unfortunately this is not one of those times and I'm being driven to the breaking point...really, I'm going to have a breakdown!! I am so SICK and TIRED of cleaning up pieces of garbage off the floor!! What is this about???? HELLO??? We have a garbage can in the bathroom and also in the kitchen why is there garbage on the floor??? This seriously unnerves me!! I am also SICK and TIRED of threatening, I mean reminding my kids to do their chores! We have had the same system for several years now...it is not a new thing!!! They have one chore that needs to be done daily and sometimes more than once daily and they rotate every week. It's easy and not complicated.

One of my kids especially hates to do the dishes...she really does everything in her power to look like she is doing the dishes...she will be in the kitchen doing heaven knows what for an hour or maybe even two....I see her, picking up dishes and I think...oh she's doing the dishes!!!....(our kitchen is not connected to the living room). So, I hear her, I see her and she states she's done and goes to bed. I go in the kitchen to find a counter full of dishes nicely stacked and none of them washed!! (we do not have a dishwasher, the electric kind anyway). So, with this girl I have learned some things. She will trade doing the dishes for other things like cleaning out the refridgerator (a job I truly hate!!) and my favorite, she will trade doing the dishes for a 30-40 minute massage and I really like massages and I really don't mind doing the dishes. Aaron really hates when I do this but I think it's still teaches her something...like the art of negotiation. And I really like massages!

I can not tell you how many times I'm told "no one else cares about having a clean house" or "you have OCD" or the one I heard today, which really takes the cake.....I walked in the bathroom and called the child in who has the bathroom this week. I showed him the towels and clothing on the floor and the trash decorating the floor around the trash can and he said "no one's coming over, no one's gonna see it" and I said " I am standing in here and I SEE IT!!!" and he said "maybe you should wear a blind fold".

AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

Conversations

Hannah: Sometimes you are mean and nasty and sometimes you are nice.

Me: Mean and Nasty????!!!!

Hannah: okay, just mean.

Things I'd hoped to never hear....

I love your lips because of all the fuzzy stuff on top....it's like you have a mustache.

Witchcraft HOO HA HA!

Last week was North Star High School's production of The Crucible. This is the first year we have a new drama teacher, Brenda Broeker and I just can't say how impressed I am with her. It was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!! I can not believe these were high school students!! One of the kids' father took some awesome photos on parents night. Josh played John Proctor. His performance was so wonderful and everynight I cried and cried at the end. I was sad that there were no photos of Megan during the court scene but did a good job. This was her first speeking part! Again, I just can not say enough how wonderfuly Josh's performance was....that boy is talented....and I'm his mom!

To see all the pictures go to http://scobb717.smugmug.com/

Oh, and the title...this is the chant the kids would yell out after their huddle each rehearsal and show days....I got to witness this a couple times......so cool!

Scenes from the play...pretty much in order.....if you do not know the story...here is a little synopsis.....John Proctor had an affair with Abigail Williams but he has since repented, but Abigail still wants him so she and her friends get together in the woods and Tituba makes a charm, which Abigail drinks to curse Elizabeth Proctor..for you see, she wants to be his wife. The girls get caught and end up blaming many of the town folk of witchcraft to deflect the blame from them....so all these people get arrested...including Eliabeth Proctor. John is pretty upset about this...John has an evil temper! So, he gets his housemaid (who was one of the girls in the forest) to admit the girls are lying about all the townspeople. Well, Abigail, gets all the girls to gang up on the Proctor's housemaid, Mary, and she ends up saying John Proctor is a wizard and he made her sign her name in the devils book......and John gets arrested. The judge and the magistrate end up sentencing many to hang....they realize that the girls were lying but not until after many have died for witchcraft....so they can not admit they were wrong so they try to get Elizabeth Proctor to have her husband admit to witchcraft so others will follow and they won't have to hang. John at first decides he wants to live and admit to witchcraft even though it's a lie....he then after much heartache (and a stellar performance from my son) that he can't lie and ruin his name....he hangs at the end (with my daughter Martha Corey).

This was so much work for these kids!! I am amazed at the grace in which they handled the subject matter. This play was written by Arthur Miller in 1952 and was based on the real witch trials of 1692 in Salem Massachussetts. The characters are all based on real people.