Lately

I've been feeling so overwhelmed with life lately....like I'm treading the water and it keeps going right over my head. I've not ever been a great time manager. This past week was not one I wish to live over again! I forgot Matthew's fifth grade graduation and I wouldn't of been able to go anyway because work was crazy! I also forgot that Josh had High Adventure, for some reason I thought it was the week after Girl's Camp and it was really the week before girls camp. So, he's not going. I didn't get him in for a physical, and they are leaving tomorrow. I was truly heart broken that I dropped the ball on these two important things...so heartbroken that I've spent some time sobbing like I haven't sobbed in quite some time! To top off the week....Matthew's been sick for a couple days with some kind of stomach bug, poor boy. I have pink eye and I wrenched my back just picking up Hannah (she only weighs 30 lbs) and I got a sunburn at Josh's game yesterday. I know when things get so tough I need to hand it over the Lord. I struggle doing this...for some reason I just like to hold on to all the stress and keep it all inside wrapped in my heart in a tight little ball! How truly silly! So, my goal today is to let it go...let it all slide right out of me! I don't need it. I'm not a good mom or wife when I treasure my pain like this. Time to let the Lord take over. Time to let it go!

too funny!

When I was born I was so surprised I didn't talk for a year and a half.
- Gracie Allen

Insomnia

Here I am...3am. This is the third or fourth time in a week! Okay, I get up at either 4 or 5am to go to work and most nights don't get to bed until 10 or so. Why am I awake!!! I've been up since 2am.....and I have to " get up" in an hour for day five in my six day stretch at work. I know I'll be sorry later...and wish I got that extra sleep! It seems I go through this every once in a while..things weigh so heavy on my mind and I just can't stop thinking.

I've been wanting to blog about a few things...but have just been sooo busy! So, maybe I'll take a little time now...while I SHOULD be sleeping.

A couple weeks ago we went to see Josh perform in the Student Directed One Acts. Every year North Star High's drama department has a few students cast and direct a One Act play. Josh was one of several to try out and made it. This time Zack was behind the scenes as the Tech director. So, Josh was in a play called Frumpled Fairy Tales. It was hysterical! He played Rumpelstiltskin,Rapunzel's dad and the wolf in Little Red Riding Hood. I was so proud of him...he did such an awesome job!

I also made some play dough for the kids recently and boy what fun they had! I used to make it more often...but now that I'm working I'm not as fun of a mom anymore. boo hoo! I think the first day I made it, Hannah and Joe played with it for about three hours!!! I'm not exagerating!

I always make Kool Aid play dough, here's the recipe

2 c. flour

1 c. salt

4 tsp. cream of tartar

2 tbsp. vegetable oil (I use canola)

2 c. water

2 sm. pkgs. unsweetened Kool Aid

Mix all ingredients in a sauce pan until well blended then turn on the stove to low to medium heat and stir constantly until you have a "ball" and not "goo". Put on a dry surface and knead until well mixed. It is quite warm at first, so don't burn your little hands!

Last week was the Choral concert and the Band concert. They were both so good. I love how involved my boys are in school. I never really did much in high school, I just love that they are so outgoing. I think having Zack so involved really helped Josh to find his place right away. Thanks Zackers! Josh is really looking forward to Marching Band. Last year he played the saxophone this next year he's going to play something called a mellodrome..don't know if I spelled that right or even if that's the right word..lol....it's a version of the french horn. I think we'll have to see if Matthew would like to play Josh's sax...so it doesn't get lonely! Matthew and Megan will both be going to the new middle school next "year". They are just finishing it up...it's closer than Park..which is where Megan goes this year. One of the much loved band directors at North Star is going to Schoo (the new school..pronounced SKOE) to be the band director there...so maybe Matthew would like to play an instrument...I hope.

Baseball season is upon us...Matthew has had a couple games and is really liking it. He had his first hit (in a game). It was so cool! He made it to first base! Josh's first game is this coming Wed. I don't think he'll be playing. He had a little "surgery" on his big toe. He had a terrible ingrown toenail so the Podiatrist removed part of his toenail..yucko! I hope it heals fast so he can play!

Megan won an award at school for having a 4.0! She has done so well in school this year. I'm really so tickled. She still misses Utah and reminds us ALL the time....but I do think that even though she does not want to admit it..she likes Nebraska okay...maybe just a little.

Aaron's new job is going okay. It's really nice to have him home on Sundays.....he has it off for the first time in many years! Well, he's sporatically taken some Sundays off...but this is really his "day off". He also gets off at 7 some days now. I told him it's just like being a "real" family, having both parents home at night. LOL!

Matthew just got home yesterday from a two day camping trip with his friend. He had a blast but was happy to be home. He even wanted to snuggle with me last night! Those days are far and few between lately.

Well...it's almost time for me to "get up" and get ready for work. Good morning!

Joe and Hannah enjoying their playdough

Josh..as Rumpelstiltskin..sorry the photos aren't the greatest, I forgot my camera and these were taken with Aaron's cell phone.

We're off to see.......my sons!

North Star is gearing up for next year's musical..already! It's The Wizard of Oz...and who is the great OZ??! Zackaronious! That's who! Josh is also going to be part of the ensamble...I think he's caught the acting bug...no more behind the scenes for him! I'm so excited for both of them and so excited to see it! Wanna come to Nebraska in October?

Poetry by Zack

Morning

Spilling across the landscape
Splashing upon the mountain and hillsides
The destructive hero opens wide his eyes.

Singing delightfully in his praise
Soaring to reach the tips of his wonder
The beautiful peasant seeks it's food.

Stretching longingly for his bright waves
Sipping gratefully at his sudden vines
the needy rich man fills his vacant stomach.

Sneering up at his blaring strands
Splurging the thick protective coating on it's freckles
the genius idiot tries to blockade his power.



Sisters

Sisters like to fight
Up and down
And all around
They like to scream
And shout making
Tears appear in
Eyes blue as
Blue jeans
They fight on boys and
Clothes and computer time
They like to scream
And love
Another always remembering
They need each
Other to survive
Sisters like to fight but
Sisters love to love

Dear Mr. Sofa Mart

About three years ago my husband decided to change careers. He was tired of restaurant management and all the hours that go into it...so he/we made a choice to make a big plunge into the world of "commission only". At first he was so impressed with your company. It seemed so family oriented and he loved all the training opportunities. He stuck with you...even when things were tough financially! About a year and a half ago he was promoted to manager and he moved his family away from their home and family and friends to a new state. At first things were so good...he loved his Regional Manager and felt support from the upper upper management. He worked hard...he never called in sick, he was ALWAYS loyal. As the economy started to fail his pay got smaller and smaller...it got so small and he was so nervous...I was nervous too...I got a job outside the home, even though I already had a lovely job at home, raising our six children. As his pay got smaller his duties got bigger...as, for some reason, you all decided that you wanted to save money and have your employees take on things they never had to do before...like wash the big windows of the front of the store and change the BIG flood lights outside in the parking lots. (among many other things!!) Did he, or any of the other employees receive compensation for this? NO! But he did it..he stayed loyal. So, one day in Feb, my husband went to the bank and deposited some money.....he took his employee with him (just what he's supposed to do!) and he watched as my husband opened the night deposit box, dropped the deposit in there and then opened it again to make sure it went in....(this is what he does each time). Then he went about his duties. Now, it's May and YOU can't find this deposit...the bank says it never made it into the account. So, you do your little investigation and find that my husband has a perfect track record...never any missing money...ever! But you fire him anyway...for "lack of trust" LACK OF TRUST!! And because he has been with you for so long you are not going to pursue him for the missing funds...oh, how very nice of you! I think the reason you will not "pursue" him is that HE DID NOT TAKE that money!! Do you think if my husband took that deposit I might of noticed when we had enough money to pay our rent and to pay our bills? OH, I may of noticed that! So, let me get this straight.....my husband does his job above and beyond....he is loyal....he follows the rules and even though he is backed up by those rules (the employee who went with him that night verified that he deposited the money)....you still fire him? For "lack of trust?"....that is despicable!! Shame, shame, shame on you!
Kim Schafer

Okay...I feel better now.

Brace Face

Megan got braces today!

So EXCITED!

In August, for my 40th birthday, my dad bought me plane tickets to go to California!!! My sister and my aunt are meeting me there and we will spend 6 lovely days there. Although I consider Utah my home...California is my original home and it's very dear to my heart. I am so excited to spend time with my family! My mom and dad both live there...we will spend three days with each of them. I CAN NOT WAIT to see the ocean...oh how peaceful and wonderful the beach is to me. I will miss the kids and Aaron though.....I really wish we could make the trip together...but on the other hand..a week away from it all will be so lovely. Hopefully we will be able to do something this summer...a few days away with the kids. A trip to Utah would be devine!

Take a walk in my flip flops

I think we all have things that bug us...one of mine is being judgmental. I once heard that we are more annoyed with weaknesses in others that we either see or fear in ourselves. Now I think we all must be somewhat judgmental...like when we decide who we want to be friends with and what we find appropriate for our children to view and so on. What I find interesting is how many folks KNOW just what someone else OUGHT to do in certain situations. We all react differently...we are all different! When I was younger and didn't have children I just knew that my future children would never be brought to the store with dirty clothes on, or their hair a mess!! My children would be so well behaved and would never throw a PUBLIC tantrum!! I would NEVER yell at my kids or be unkind!! HA! and I do mean HA!! What a pipe dream! As I've grown older and as I've HAD children, I think of all those times I've judged another and I realize how YOUNG I was...how NAIVE I was. We all have struggles. Some have struggles right out in the open for all to see and others have more private, personal struggles and most, if not all of us have both. I'm sure I've handled some situations so poorly! I'm sure someone else could take my situation and figure out a much better way to handle it. I'm sure of it! But, it's not their situation, it's mine, and I'm handling it the best way I know how. A very wise friend of mine once said this "I'm so glad I don't have to be the judge". I remember those words each day. It's not my place to judge another..it's my place to love another. It's hard I know....I still find myself judging, sometimes......but I sure hope I spend more time loving.

Wedded Bliss

I think each of my boys has wanted to marry me at some point when they were between the ages of 3 and 5. Sometimes Joe worries me though. One day we were sitting at the kitchen table and he cocked his head to one side and looked at me very seriously and said, in a slow, low voice, MAARRRRYY MEEE. I've tried explaining to him that I'm already married but this does not detour him. A few days ago he came in to our room while Aaron and I were laying on the bed, chatting....he looked at me and said "MY BRIDE!" I was seriously getting a little weirded out by all this attention from my SON! He wants to kiss me and hug me all the time...which I do like...because I know all too soon he will not want to even be seen with me....let alone hug me...yuck! Yesterday I was in my room playing with Hannah when Joe came in and said "Hannah!! Do you want to marry me? If you marry me, you will be a princess" and Hannah replied with a huge smile on her face "YES!" and she looked down and said "I have on my dress!" Then they went to the living room and got married. I guess my boy is moving on...to someone closer to his own age...hopefully he will move on even further one day to someone who is not related!