Working Widow

There are many things that I like about Jim's job; flexible, steady pay check, decent hours, not many night meetings, can meet me for lunch once in a while, he can bike to work, etc.. But the thing I don't like is being a working widow. He has been traveling quite a bit this year. The kids and I get into a routine while he is gone but things are harder. Being always 'on' is the hardest. Even if the kids are at school you have to be 'on' - available at any moment to rush off. Tylor ran away after school on Thursday and we had a blow-out. I had to call Jim to call Tylor to talk to him because I couldn't do it any more. Only 5 more days until he is home for 6 days and then he is off to China for 8 days. This working widow may be down a kid by then....

Trifecta

Seriously! What is it about my teeth that make them so darn rotten? I had to go in today and have not 1, not 2, but 3, count em, 3 crowns replaced! I floss - and boy am I tired of those drippy sweet hygenists that say, "You should floss.". As if I don't! I want to smack them! So, now I have one temporary (she figured they were all in a row why do three separate ones). It is long flat and ugly. I will be eating soup for the next two weeks.

What a Weekend!

You know what I love about sisters? Just about everything, especially mine. I loved what Mom used to say when someone was mad at you at home, "Well, go play with someone else!". Words to live by if you have enough siblings and, oh, wait, I do! And a few brothers too! Thanks to Jody (you might as well be a sister) and Brian too!

We all had a fabulous time surprising Deb (far left) for her 50th. "What? She's 50?", you ask in amazement. It's true.

We proceeded to have a great time shopping (Costco, not at a mall), antique-ing, eating, sewing, chatting and generally having a great time.

Let's do it again!

Happy Birthday!

I just wanted to give a shout out to those early October birthday people I know:

Debbie - Turning the big "5-0" and not complaining too much about the fact
she isn't spending it in London - I voted for London in Steve's poll, really....
Jim - It was a quiet and sort of languid birthday for our Jimmy boy. He mowed
we watched conference. He got a battery for his birthday and was really
happy about it. Odd in all ways.
Emma - She is working on having a great birthday in spite of some obstacles as
yet to be named!
Kelly - The 'Tall One' is moving in on 40 and a lot of gray hair. Maybe going
back to school would help!?!
Rhonda - Here's to my ex-sister-in-law. I wish we had kept her instead.
Tia - Okay, is the 19th or the 21st? Curses for being to close to Grandma Hanna's b-day!
Grandma Hanna - "No news is good news!" My favorite motto when I can't see
my kids, or hubbie. Used it today in fact!

I love you all and wish you the very best!

Inigo Montoya: No, there is too much. Let me sum up...

It has been a very full two weeks ... so, in the infamous words of Inigo Montoyo ... here goes ...

My three lovely children started school on 9/9/09 ... a (sniff) beautiful day! This is Tylor the morning of school starting. He looked like a dead body. It took until 7:28 to get him dressed and out the door: just on time!



Also on September 9th, Connor talked to his dad about baptism and convinced him that he was ready to be baptized! Connor said his plan was to ask dad after his sauna when he is the most relaxed and open to ideas - good plan! We spent a harried week trying to plan the baptism. We had just a few obstacles: flood (our chapel is having roof work and they forgot to cover the holes when it rained on the 12th), no fire (the hot water heater for the font in our building had rusted and was surely toxic), the sky fell (okay it was the tiles in the building but it seemed like the sky), and scheduling. They always say you are really tested right before your baptism - it was like it was a Satanic conspiracy as to exactly how many things went awry. But it turned out great! We could see the Lord's hand working in our favor in so many instances; a call from a friend that couldn't make it while she was feeding the missionaries who could schedule the building we needed to be in, a prompting of the Spirit for another dear friend to call to say she couldn't come and ended up agreeing to give the Holy Ghost talk, and people dropping everything to be available for us. It was amazing. Brother James Howell, the Young Men's President, baptized Connor at 10 a.m. on 09/19/2009 in the Comanche Building in San Jose, CA.
Brother Daniel Tayco, the Young Men's first counselor, performed the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. Yes, I cried. Yes, I am so happy. Thank you all for the notes and letters!


On September 20th Connor was ordained a deacon. Somehow I didn't think I could get away with taking a pic during the ordination. Brother Jon Conradt performed this ordinance. We now have the priesthood in our home for the first time. Connor's comment was, "I feel very peaceful.", to both the baptism and getting the priesthood.

Finally, on the 20th I was released as Primary President. I have spent about 4 1/2 years in the calling and have to say that I am very sad to let it go. My replacement, Maren Lopez (see smiling woman below), is amazing! She is a teacher and a leader, creative and spiritual. I love her and her energy. It was the Primary program as well. I cried. I cried some more. I will move on but I will truly miss Primary. It was by far the best calling, with the best blessings, I have every had.


9/27 - It has been a week since I was released. I went to RS for the first time in 11 years. No kidding. I have to say it wasn't nearly as fun. I found myself listening to the Primary children sing and picking out voices and listening to Sharing Time. Old habits are hard to break....

Number One is the Loneliest Number

Okay, it's not true. Connor sequestered himself with his I-Pod touch in his room for most of the day. Tylor played a computer game in my room. Lauren watched tv in the family room. No one spoke to each other. No one passed another in the hall. No contact. According to my children it was pretty near to a perfect last day of summer. So, one is not the loneliest number - it's the right number.

Too Late to Stop Now!

We made our second trip to Great America two days before school started. We thought it would be TOO busy. We thought we were in for long lines and wild expenses. NOT! I got 5 tickets for $24 buck each. Sweet! But then we got there and I realized I hadn't bought a ticket for an extra friend (so Lauren would have someone to go on all her rides with her). I was bewailing this when a very kind Good Samaritan gave me a ticket. No kidding! SWEETER! Then the best part. No lines! The kids walked on almost all the rides they wanted, did them 3 or 4 times in a row! Excellent day and no barfing. It was too fun. Two more days....tick, tock.