Why does this happen every year?

Every year the end of the school year sneaks up on me. I swear it is April and then it skips to June! And how do I keep over booking myself for all this 'stuff' that happens in the last two weeks of school, such as:

8th grade graduation - The 7th grade parents put it on and I'm in charge of assignments, drinks, ice, serving and replenishing food and of course clean up.

7th grade field trip - Had to scramble and pull in quite a few favors for this one. Not one parent signed up (a case of "Oh, someone else (Sherri & Kim*) will take care of it!")

International Day - I get to represent the good ol US of A. I loved it last year and I'll make it great but still, one more thing!

*We, as a family, need to adopt Kim. She'd be a perfect fit. She totally gets our humor, knows all of the important family names and great in a pinch. All in favor say Aye!

So, basically, I'm a little stressed, Jim's gone (nothing new there), and I have "... a wedding to plan, my wife to kill and Gilder to blame for it: I'm swamped!"

I'll bet you were wondering...

...if I'm dead, or been in the hospital with a serious illness, or have had my hands bound (like the Chinese used to do to children's feet. Nope. None of the above. Not even remotely. Call it a case of if-I-have-one-more-thing-to-do-today-I'll-scream syndrome. Just plain busy with life, love, school, work and pursuing happiness (or a close facsimile). I may be close to having it all ... or losing my mind - it's a toss up right now.

Back in the U.S.S.R... or not....

Well, I made it to my Focus! I am now jobless and quite happy about it. I thought I would start catching up on a few things....like my blog, my life, my contacting aliens - oh, wait those are my kids.

Much love to all that supported me during my time off.

Focus

I have a focus now ... it's April 1st. You may not see this as much but it is my focus. If I focus on this I will be able to make through the next 7 weeks or 51 days or 1,224 hours or 73,440 minutes. Focus. I would add a picture but when you're focused on one thing you can't add a photo that would really do it justice. Focus on April 1st.

Quote of the Day

"All I ask is the chance to prove that money can’t make me happy.” Spike Milligan (He was an Irish comedian and writer)

I don't know Spike but I like him today. I am typically not too materialistic so having things isn't the issue: but after starting our taxes last night, paying our monthly bills, and budgeting for our upcoming real estate taxes I was a little, well, depressed. I needed a smile and I got one from this quote.

I like what I remember Mom saying more than once, "I just want $20 in my wallet.". I think my financial quote for the day will be, "I want to have enough to ..."

Let my Little Light Shine

What a great day in Primary! I miss being with the kids so much that it was great to get a call from Tylor's teacher asking me to sub today.

The lesson was on the priesthood and I have done this one, oh, about six times in the last 7 years. I wanted to try a few new things and it worked great. I found $1 lights at the Dollar Store and added Matthew 5:14-16 to a cute tag. All the kids were engaged and pretty much appropriate. Having 4 quotes and 5 scriptures to have them read really got them using their minds and stretching their understanding. They loved the lights out game - the room we were in was pitch black.

It was a lovely day. I'd do it again in a heart beat!

Idle Hands

I have been horribly busy for the last two weeks saving money and taking up all my time. I have made a goal to stick steadfastly to birthday budgets. With parties I tend to see things that go or would work and justify it in my mind. Well, no more.

We had Tylor's party last week and came in at $60 for 9 boys - $15 for food and juice and $45 for the soccer balls I sent home with them. Fabulous!

We held Lauren's party today, $89. We crafted Heart Strings ($6 for 15 and I could do another 20!) - as soon as I find my camera cord I will post a pic -, potato stamped scarves ($15 for fabric 12" x 45" and $18 for fabric paint (I did smaller potato blocks with more colors) and felt bags ($22 for bags and $23 for felt flowers), and $5 for homemade pizza and drinks (all stuff left over from Tylor's party). The girls were thrilled, the parents (moms) were impressed.

The down part was that I spent the better part of 5 days prepping all of these crafts. My hands are actually buzzing today. I have to look down at my hands once in a while because my fingers don't feel quite right.

One more thing to prep as I am teaching the 11 yr olds tomorrow - each are getting a $1 flashlight "so their light can shine forth". I love it when a plan comes together so well!