Monday, Monday ...

I could joke about "The taxman cometh," but ... well, we paid our taxes earlier  so that's all done.
And we see the taxman (Dad C) at least once a month ... just not as the taxman. He's just Dad C.

My mom did joke with me last week, "Guess what I'm doing for your birthday? ... My taxes!!"
Good times, good times.

SO, I felt like a jerk, since I hadn't done my scripture reading.
Turns out that the 13th's scheduled posting had gotten deleted on facebook. So ... well, it wasn't totally my fault. Because I DID look for it!

And then, well, I didn't read Saturday's and Sunday's at all ... YET.

So I have THREE days' worth to catch up on. Good thing they're all short! (I do think about doing the "Read the Book of Mormon in 30 Days" type of reading ... but, well, let's just start with the baby steps.)

So, April 13 - Mosiah 7:8-7:17

• So, Ammon and the four guys he took with him are in prison. And they're brought before the king (Seriously, how long have I been in the church? Nearly 30 years ... and I'm not that familiar with this story. SAD!) ... But, hey! The king is glad that they've come, since these guys are also Nephites and they're slaves to the Lamanites. Maybe Ammon and his group can help them out!
  So Ammon and his guys are free to bring the rest of their group into the city to recuperate  from their adventure.
  And King Limhi lets his people know to meet up at the temple. Because he's got something important to tell them.

April 14 - Mosiah 7:18-7:33

• This story is starting to feel a little familiar ... I'm betting that I DO know it. But I'd forgotten it because I'm not as much of a Scriptorian as I should be.
• Okay, where were we? That's right ... King Limhi has gathered his people together. He tells them that things are going to get better -- Trust in God, because we are going to escape the Lamanites.
  Even though, you know, it's only because our people were wicked that we got into this mess in the first place. 
• He also tesitifies of the prophecies, both those that have been fulfilled and those that WILL be fulfilled (like the coming of Christ). 
• And this section ends with, Limhi saying (paraphrased), "Turn toward Christ. Believe in Him with all your heart. Follow Him. He will deliver you from bondage."
• Like another person using this Facebook page commented, it's so nice ("refreshing" is her term) to see this process of humble repentance. ... Because, face it, if this group felt entitled and proud, they'd have probably killed Ammon and his guys ... and they wouldn't be talking about any testimony. They'd be talking about how evil the Lamanites are and how horrible it was to be enslaved ... and how unfair it was that anything terrible should ever happen to them.
  And then I'd want to throw the book across the room and send them some loose change to call the WAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHMBULANCE. Or, at least a quarter so they could call someone who cares.
  But, no ... Limhi is aware that, through their sinful behavior in the past, that his people/their kingdom, through their actions, brought this consequence down on themselves and their descendants.
  Way to be accountable and responsible!
  And, also, WOW ... that's a strong testimony, Limhi! ... I wish that our leaders today were a lot more like you.

April 15 - Mosiah 8:1-8:21

• Mormon tells us that Limhi spoke lots more to his people, but that only a small portion is given to us today. ... It makes me wonder what all else Limhi talked about.
  And it also makes me think of how we're told many times that what IS given to us in The Book of Mormon is for US at this time. ... And it also makes me wonder what all is in the sealed portion that hasn't been translated yet. ... Of course, we're not ready for it. And, if I don't get my buns in gear, I'll never be ready for it. Or deserving of it. *sigh* Baby steps, right? Baby steps.
• Limhi has Ammon tell what has happened with the other Nephites ... along with what King Benjamin preached unto them. Then the people all go home.
• Limhi has Ammon read through the record of what has happened to their people.
  (Okay, SUPER JEALOUS. Seriously. THIS RIGHT HERE is the record of a people who were conquered by another group/culture. And here is THEIR record. I want to read records like this! Like history from the conquered people's point of few. How did the Druids feel when the Romans came? What had they done before? Stuff like that!!)
  Also: The importance of keeping a journal.
• Limhi asks Ammon if he can interpret languages. Ammon can't.
  (I relate to this. Which is why I'm brushing up my German and trying to learn Spanish. ... I'd LOVE to be able to speak/understand/read/write ALL languages. Which is a hard thing to accomplish.)
  Limhi  had sent a search party out a while ago ... and they found some relics. Among the relics were some plates (books) with writing that they don't understand ... Maybe Ammon knows someone who could tell what is written on them?
  Limhi REALLY wants to know. (And, who can blame him? I think of how big a deal it was when the Rosetta stone was discovered! FINALLY people could start translating ancient texts. Yes, it was before my time ... but STILL!! Can you imagine how AWESOME that'd be?)
• Limhi thinks that the records might be from some people whose civilization has been destroyed ... Maybe even some ancestors.
• Ammon says that there's someone who CAN translate them. Because a seer could interpret these things. Then there's a discussion on whether a seer is greater than a prophet. And Ammon is all, "Not so, king! [Paraphrased, of course. You know me.] But a seer is a prophet and a revelator ... through the power of God. He can know things past, present, and future. Eventually, though revelation, all things will be revealed."

• "Thus God has provided a means that man, through faith, might work mighty miracles; therefore he becometh a great benefit to his fellow beings."

• I like that we have prophets for OUR benefit. It's nice to know that Heavenly Father knows that we need help and is GIVING us so much help. We have the scriptures. We have prayer. We have prophets, apostles, and other leaders. We have the ability to receive personal revelation. We have Home and Visiting Teachers ... We are provided for. We have so many gifts proffered to us.
  I need to be more appreciative of what all I've been given.
• King Limhi also is glad and grateful for the knowledge of the power and availability of a prophet.
  He's going to know what's written in the book. And, besides that, it's a great blessing to have all these blessings from the Lord. The Lord does truly watch over us, His children.

 Okay ... so I'm caught up. For now.

Our bedroom is still ... somewhat clean. I'm getting closer to being caught up on laundry again. Michael's a rock star at getting things folded. I'm close to being caught up on dishes.
I made ... well, what were SUPPOSED to be pretzels, but turned out to be breadsticks for dinner last night.

Bucket is enjoying her short hair. I'm still training her bangs to not fall right in her eyes ... this way, when they're all grown out, I'll be able to see her pretty face. Won't that be nice?

Talked to one of my friends from grade school yesterday ... just catching up since I never get to see her. She's busy with being in the service (and living across the country). It was a good conversation.

Well ... I can't really think of anything else to write about. SO I'm going to close up.

A bit of CDC for for ... and how today's gone

So, yesterday was a rather quiet day after all.
Michael set the kids to cleaning their room when they got up ... then he left for work.

I eventually got up, changed Bubbles, fed her, let her play until she was tired again, and had THE TALK of why Bruise and Bucket need to be honest -- we talked about trust and responsibility, of keeping the commandments and WHY we need to do that. I talked again about WHY Michael and I NEED them to be honest ... and, more important, WHY we NEED them to be strong in keeping the commandments, even when it's not easy.

I talked again, in simpler terms, about Stuebenville and WHAT went wrong there. How one boy DID speak up ... but fell back under the pressure from everyone else. And how that poor girl was treated ... how some boys who SHOULD have behaved MUCH better hurt her spirit. And HOW the media acted like THEY were some type of martyr, since they had so much going for them ... and now they're in jail and have ruined their reputation and any future football career.

I can only hope that SOON this will start to stick.

After Michael got home, I watched Bubbles while he had the kids help him with yard work (our "jungle" is looking like a YARD again.) ... And, after I laid her down for another nap, I went to take a nap myself. I read until I was dizzy ... and woke up about three hours later. (And I even DID fall asleep without any medicine last night.)

In my dream, I remember that we had to move into an apartment --- it's always our old apartment. This time, the kids and I were going to be roommates with a couple from our ward (congregation). And I was debating on whether I have the kids finish the school year at their current school, which would mean a LOT of driving for me), or should I transfer them to a school down the street with a bilingual program NOW.

Today, I slept in a bit. Eventually, I pulled myself out of bed and into clothes and Bucket and I went to get her hair cut.
She's been wanting a haircut for about a week, now. She was asking for it to be as short as Bruise's (It's grown out a little ... from a buzz with a #4 guard). Not going to happen. ... But she compromised with a bob. The same bob that has been her go-to haircut since we first cut her hair. Cute little chin-length bob. And, with this one, the hairdresser did help to blend in Bucket's bangs, since they're now so much closer to the rest of her hair length.

She and I also went shopping a little ... I picked up some lotion and some of those nail polish strips (for cheap). We got a punching-toy and a shirt for Bruise. Bucket got some new shoes, a shirt, and glow-in-the-dark nail polish. And we brought back a balloon for each child.
Bucket's nails are painted now -- she requested it as soon as we were home.

After chillaxing a bit (and doing my language lessons online), I finally started tackling Michael's and my MESSY, MESSY room. I worked on the closet.
My shoes are now all on my side of the closet (where Bubbles' bed used to be). As are my clothes.
I put away all the folded clothes. Michael's folding everything else.
We're going to match up all the socks. Then we'll all have socks again. Won't that be nice?

I really want to take a bath and redo my nails now ... but that has to wait. We need to make dinner and put the kids to bed first.

We watched The Life of Pi the other night.
I saw a picture of a tiger on facebook last night ... and all I could think was "Richard Parker."
Yup.

I was going to get together with a Visiting Teaching sister today ... but she never told me a time to come over. So ... yeah. Oh well. I'll get together with her sometime.

Well, I'd better feed those kids of mine.

And, yeah, I wonder what all the dreams about the old apartment mean ... Any ideas?

Sometimes a good day can end as a not-so-good day

So, yesterday, I got up, got dressed, and hung out with mom, got the kids off to school ... and then went to volunteer.

This is the first time that this class (since there are TWO classes in the bilingual program Bruise and Bucket are in. I was in Bucket's class last week, where NONE of the kids remarked on my hair. This group I was with, though, in Bruise's class, is a little more observant) has noticed that I dyed my hair.

Girl 1: Hi, Bruise's mom ... wha... your hair. It's different.
Girl 2: Yeah. What happened to it? It wasn't like that ...
Me: Oh, yeah! You're right. I needed a change, so I colored it.
Girl 2: Like, with markers? *mimes painting her hair*
Me: *smiles* No, not with paint. It's permenant, with dye. It'll stay until I make it a different color.
And the girls were just boggled. It was cute.

Just like, about a decade ago, when I was student-teaching in a Kindergarten classroom. And I had colored my hair ... then toned it WAY down before going to the classroom:
Boy: MizCoz [what the kids called me], did you dye your hair?
Me: *sheepishly touching the ends of my hair* Yeah.
Boy: *matter-of-factly* My mom does that. *goes back to playing*

Kids can be really fun.

Then I went home and Mom headed back to her home. I read a few blogs and got caught up on Facebook, ate lunch, and then went to take a bath as Bubbles was waking up.

(Bubbles did NOT take any good naps on Wednesday. But she was well-behaved enough while we went to a few stores and the book fair at the kids' school ... where Bruise and Bucket made out like bandits. Yes, proof that they are my kids.)

Got out of the bath ... and got dressed, got the munchkin up out of her crib, and just puttered around until the kids got home from school.

With a certain monthly occurrence, I also lose the ability to sleep well or deeply. So, yeah, I was starting to really feel fuzzy-headed. But I had the kids help me clean up toys in the front room. And Mom had helped me get caught up on dishes. And I was only a little behind in laundry ... until  (TMI ALERT, but -- well-- I have no shame, so here goes) I leaked through my pad (well, more like, it shifted enough/wasn't in the right place enough) to leak onto the fitted sheet, the flat sheet, AND a down comforter. YEAH. SUCKS.
So (TMI ALERT OVER), I needed to do MORE laundry.

And then, after Michael got home, we had a little flurry of activity

• Make dinner (quesadillas -- quick and easy, for the most part, as long as the pan isn't too hot/cold)
• Take a phone call and help a friend with ideas for a Harry Potter-themed cake, because, as she stated, "I'm a MUGGLE!" (She hasn't read the books/watched the shows, but her daughter HAS read about half of the series and seen a couple of the movies. ... And Michael and I are more confirmed Potter-heads ... So, between the two of us, we're a decent resource. ^_^)
• Report some Visiting Teaching (I NEED to get it take care of before we have vacation. I don't want my sisters to feel neglected!! Especially since two of them are new to me!)
• Get the kids ready for bed ... which is where our next bit of "excitement" occurs ...

So, as we're reading scriptures (1 Nephi in the actual scriptures, not just in the scripture storybooks), I look from where I'm sitting in Bruise's bunk at the shelf ... and there are chocolate milk cartons.

A LOT of them.

The kids are NOT allowed to have food/drink in their room. (They don't throw it away or bring dishes back. And, well, they're messy.)

The kids get chocolate milk to take to school for lunch. Which they always drink it at school. 

I was noticing that it seemed like we had JUST bought chocolate milk (the day before Easter) ... but it seemed like we were running out really quickly.

Because the kids were NOT ASKING when they STOLE them.

Both Michael and I were ... well, to be perfectly blunt, we were pissed off.

This isn't the first time the kids have stolen food.
It'd be ONE thing if they were taking food because they were sincerely hungry and I just wasn't doing my motherly/parental duty ... but this? This isn't because of that. It's because they WANTED chocolate milk and they didn't want to ask and chance me telling them "no," which I WOULD have, because THOSE are for school lunches.

I told them that this was WRONG. We were DONE. And when THEY start paying for food, THEN they can start eating it whenever without asking.

It's so TRYING to get lessons like these to stick in their heads.

I think that I need to get something delicious for them and then eat it all up before they get it.
And buy a soda and drink it all in front of them. Maybe MULTIPLE sodas.

Because just TELLING them is NOT getting through to them ...

But ... is that what I NEED to do in how to teach them?

It'd be a whole lot easier if I believed in lots of spankings. But, for the most part, I don't spank my kids a lot. I might give them a swat on the butt for sassing back ... but not a whole lot of spanking.

My mom gave me cold showers ... and I wish that THAT was still an option, too. Because, face it, discomfort is ... well, it's not pleasant. And you GET, really quickly, that you want to avoid actions that bring it about.

Whereas, with what's left to me ... talking, I have to REALLY work at avoiding just yelling at them or saying anything TOO hurtful.

Hell, I should just burst into tears and let THAT freak them out. But I hate doing that. ... even though, holding it together makes me want to cry for most of the night. Ugh.

Being an adult is haaaaaaaard!!!!
Being a parent is HAAAAAAAAAAAAARD!!!!

But it's not like I can just quit. Which I really, really find a tempting option at times.
But, well, I love my kids. Sometimes I love them a WHOLE LOT MORE than others.
And, let's face it, we can only afford SO much therapy for them.

If you want to say some extra prayers for me and mine ... especially what frayed threads of sanity are left to me, I'd appreciate it. I'd also be grateful, if you don't LIKE praying, if you just send some good muju or thoughts or positive energy or whatever.

Because, between my kids and the angry bees in my head that hate me (Thanks, Mother Nature! Your gift sometimes REALLY sucks! But, for the other three weeks of each month, being a girl is not too shabby!), I am not feeling as fabulous as I could feel.

Well, today is a new day. The kids are cleaning their room ... instead of us going to work with Michael.
We had plans that we'd go down with him ... then I'd take the kids to play at a local park (if it wasn't too cold/wet). After a bit, we'd go to a local kids' museum (Bubbles LOVES the ball pit there) and play. Then, after we picked up Michael, we might go out to lunch or ice cream.

BUT, because Bruise and Bucket made a poor decision, we aren't doing that. Which sucks.
Michael and I were looking forward to it.
Heck, I almost thought of cancelling our vacation because things are NOT getting any better.
(But, as Michael put it, "why punish ourselves?" ... And this is a multiple-family event. ... So, yeah, I NEED some more prayers to help me know how to best instill honesty in all things into the kids.)

This is not how I pictured spending my first weekend of being 32.  I kind of thought it might involve a lot more smiling. And less crying and feeling lost at sea.

Anyone wanna run to the store for me? I'm in my jimjams and NEED a couple pints of Ben and Jerry's or Hagen Daaz ... I need to get chip-faced. Maybe I should pull out the big guns and get something with coffee and Irish cream flavours. ... Yeah. It's been a rough 14 hours.

*headdesk*
*headdesk*
*headdesk*

: expletive:
(No, really. I've been taking to saying "expletive" when frustrated. I feel like I'm not TOTALLY cussing. But I don't have to actually USE any swears. And, well, I SHOULD cut down on how often I say "crap." For the children. Punk-butts that they are.)

Two days of scriptures ... Since I was a slacker ...

Yeah, I know ... But I'm TRYING, right? Because that's what I need to DO, to get into a habit.

Baby steps, y'all. Baby steps.

SO, YESTERDAY'S assignment was Mosiah 5:1-15 -- Still with King Benjamin talking/preaching to his people. (I do love the visual given, when we talk about King Benjamin's sermon, of how he built a tower so that his people could see him and more could hear him ... and they set up their tents facing him. And he had people interspersed around, repeating what he said, like a precursor of the intercom system, so that everyone could hear his words. Pretty inspired.)

• His people, having received his words, testified all together of their testimony of the truth. They all desired to enter into a covenant with God. 
• By entering into this covenant, we are named as children of God. (I mean, yes, EVERYONE is a child of God ... because He is the father of our spirits. However, once we come to earth, not everyone KNOWS that.
  In this last General Conference (April 2013), Elder Stanley G. Ellis stated, "We are not spiritual orphans. We are not alone."
  We haven't just been kicked out of the nest and left to fend for ourselves. All we have to do is to look up and recognize from where our blessings come. Heavenly Father is waiting for us, to allow us to encircle us in the arms of His perfect love. And, when we enter into these covenants -- baptism, endowment, sealings ... but especially baptism, we become children of Christ. He redeemed us, fulfilling the plan of our Heavenly Father, and we become His.
• King Benjamin implores his people to remember Christ, to have his name written on our hearts (which puts me in mind of how, when we are going on vacation soon, I'll write our names and phone number on the kids' wrists, in case they are lost). 
• And the selection for the day ends with this Scripture Mastery (a scripture that Seminary Students are supposed to memorize ... and most, like me, didn't. Whoops.)
  

• Mosiah 5:15 - Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who created all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all. Amen.

Today's selection is Mosiah 6:1-7:7 -

• King Benjamin keeps a record of those who desire to enter into the covenant with Christ. EVERYONE does. The only ones who don't are little children (because we don't believe in baptizing little children ... They're innocent. So baptizing them is an affront to God ... since we're making them take responsibility for their actions before they are accountable for their choices. It'd be like basing someone's SAT scores on a test taken before they can read and write.)
• Benjamin also passes the kingdome over, while the crowds are still there, to his son, Mosiah (which is why this book is called the book of Mosiah). Benjamin also sets up priests to teach the people, because continuing education is a GOOD thing (Why else do we have Sunday School that everyone, not just new converts, attends?).
• King Benjamin dies three years later. Mosiah rules in righteousness. He commands the people to farm. He works with them, taking care of his own welfare -- not mooching off the people. There is peace in the land.
• Chapter 7 starts -- People are curious as to what is happening in the land of Nephi, from where they emigrated a long time ago. They can't leave the subject alone ... so he sends a group of men back to find out, then to return and give a report.
• Sixteen men go ... but they don't know how best to get there. So they spend a LONG time wandering. But, eventually, they DO get there and pitch their tents before going down into the land.
• The leader, Ammon, and three of the other men (so, in total, four guys) go down into the land and speak to the king. Then they're tied up and put in prison.

So... with that selection ... well, yay, for King Mosiah, since he's earning his own keep, just like the rest of his people. You have to respect that. I rather wish that George Washington HAD set that precedent (He did have the option) ... it'd save us a lot of tax money. Especially with the stupid Sequester that's going on (where we can't tour the White House, but they still throw huge, expensive parties ... paid for by the nation. Grr).

And, well, I'm glad that Ammon and ALL the guys didn't go into the land of Nephi ... it was smart to leave some behind to keep camp (and, if needed, head back and report).

Honestly, I don't remember what happens next.
Yeah, I've been in the church since I was three ... and I have read the entirety of the Book of Mormon ... but I don't recall this section about this troop of explorers at all.
SAD, yes?

Well, I promise not to read ahead without you. And we can all figure it out tomorrow (or, well, a PART of it, at least.)

Stuff ... QUICK stuff

So, my mom's going to be driving up in a bit ... and I need to clean the house and take a shower (and get dressed, of course) before she gets here.

Bubbles is taking a nap and the older kids are at school ... so I have a few minutes that I'm wasting to spend reading blogs and blogging.

So, today's scripture reading (Wow. Why did I suddenly have THE BIGGEST URGE to play Myst? Totally hit me. Not going to happen right now, though.)

... Where was I? Oh! Yes! Today's reading is Mosiah 4:16-30. In The Book of Mormon, since that's what the page I'm following is doing.

SO, here are my impressions as I skimmed read through it:

• COMPASSION. We need to give service, even when we COULD say that the person we could serve brought his/her misery upon him/herself.
• Humility - As we serve, we won't be so prideful and selfish. We won't be so quick to judge others.
• We all have to rely on God's mercy. We all need His blessings. We need to be grateful and find joy in what we have.
  We are commanded to be self-reliant ... but we can never do EVERYTHING for ourselves/our families alone. We NEED the Lord.
  As we accept His grace and all the blessings that He bestows upon us, we also need to help others with what we have. ... I mean, we're to follow His example, right? And, how else will we be prepared to be like Jesus if we don't practice, through charity and service?
• Now, if you AREN'T in a position to give, it's not counted against you ... as long as you WANT to. If you have a righteous desire to help, sometimes that's all you are capable of. Just like we can't right all the wrongs that are occuring/have occurred ... but we CAN have that desire to do good.
  We can't all donate thousands/millions of dollars/euro/etc. to alleviate suffering. But we can WANT to do good ... and, who knows? Maybe through our thoughts (which affect our words and our actions and our character), we will have an effect on someone or some group that CAN. 
• Again, humility ... we need to repent. Daily. The Atonement is for us.
  Do what you CAN do ... don't do more than you can. Don't go to extremes.
• I always do laugh a little at Mosiah 4:29, where King Benjamin pretty much says, "Hey, I can't tell you ALL the things that you shouldn't do. Because there's a WHOLE DANG LOT of ways to sin. I can't even START."
  He does continue with an admonition to watch yourself -- your thoughts, words, and deeds. And to follow the commandments of God. Continue in faith/keep the hope. Endure to the end. And he WANTS us to make it, to gain eternal life (like Heavenly Father has).

And I like that, in the talking about charity and service, even then, there are examples (that are still very relevant) given:

• Give to the poor
• Feed the hungry
• Clothe the naked
• Visit people who are sick ... administer to them both spiritually and temporally ...
  (like, arrange for someone to take them the Sacrament. Help them clean their house. Bring over a meal or two. Just go and visit them, so they aren't so alone. Write them a letter or give a phone call. Make sure their Home and Visiting teachers are aware of them! Stuff like that.) ... and I like how it's even caveated with "according to their wants." (So, don't just be showing up to chat for an hour without checking first or whatever.)

And ... well, that's what I got out of today's reading assignment.

Now, I should probably schedule my Visiting Teaching appointments, huh? :P
(And get a shower!)

Happy birthday to ... me!

Yes, yes ... today is my birthday. I'm officially 32 (even though I have until this evening to have been out of the womb a full 32 years.

People ask me if I have any big plans ... and, no, not really.

The kids did tell me "happy birthday" today ... but only barely before they left for school.
(What can I say? My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic IS a bit more exciting!)

But I did get some presents --

• My Grampy sent me a card (and a check). I made sure to get a thank-you note for him into the mail so he won't worry.
• Mom got me some nail polish (that I picked out) and some monetary help towards our upcoming family vacation (Shh!! The kids don't know!)
• Dad gave me some money when we were down visiting last. And he and L sent up a card with a little more money. Made me smile.
• Mom and Dad C gave me a little gift bag (that I opened this morning) containing three nail polishes, some nail stickers, and a gift card to a local beauty supply shop. How sweet!
• And, not to be outdone ... this is what Michael gave me:

If you can't tell what it is, it's a pair of tickets to attend a lecture by NEIL "SCARY PANTS" GAIMAN.
Included in the ticket price is a copy of his new book, which he will be discussing.

YEAH. I will be IN THE SAME ROOM as NEIL GAIMAN.

I can only hope that, if I have a chance to have my book signed, that I don't act like a total lackwit.
At least Michael will be there, too, to stop me from doing anything too dumb, right?

Bucket, at first didn't get why these tickets were cool.
But I explained it in terms she understood --

Me: He's an author. You remember The Graveyard Book? With Bod?
Bucket: Yeah ... a bit.
Me: And Coraline?
                    She and Bruise LOVE the movie. We need to buy the book.  Bucket: OH!!! YES!!!!
Me: So he's the one who wrote those. And other books. And these tickets are to go hear him talk. AND they come with his new book, too! We'll get his new book.
Bucket: Will that be our new story-story (our term for bedtime story)?
Me: ... Um ... I think that this is a grown-up book. Not all his books are for kids.
Bucket: Oh. Okay.

But, yeah ...

It WAS a surprise. Michael was looking on his phone just the other day ... and remarked that it was all sold out. (Due to our upcoming vacation, I knew that tickets would probably sell out before we would get a chance to buy them.)
And I was resigned to the fact that we wouldn't make it. (We've missed other things, too. And We've survived. Somehow.)

So, this morning, Michael texts me from work --

Michael: Did you open your gift?
Me: The one from your mom? No, not yet. I need to open the card from Grampy ... and mail him and [J - his wife] a thank-you.
Michael: The one at your computer!
(I look around ... and notice something taped to the top of my monitor, dangling behind it.)
Me: Oh! It was mostly behind my monitor, so I hadn't noticed it!
...
Squeeeeeeee!!! Oh my gosh! I thought they were sold out?
(I was very surprised. And, until I started tearing up, I didn't realize how much I really DID want to go!)
Michael: [Bucket] must have moved it back. It was behind your monitor last night. ... They were [sold out]. But not on the 3rd.

And he had already arranged babysitting ... so we'll go up and play the whole day in Portland. Yay!

(Also - It's at the Crystal Ballroom! I've only wanted to go there for, what, the last sixteen or so years! Ever since my Drama teacher told us about it, I thought it'd be cool to go there ... and NOW I WILL!)

I made sure to thank him for spoiling me (and not JUST with authors and books).
Seriously, I wish that every girl had a spouse as thoughtful and awesome as I have!
(Wouldn't the world be a much better place?? And the boys all need awesome spouses, too. But I think they'd need to be better spouses than I am. I leave a lot of room for improvement.)

--------------

Today's Book of Mormon reading was Mosiah 4:4-15.

The last three verses stuck out to me most ... about how to treat others and raise our children.
The most important things in raising children (in these verses) are:

But ye will teach them to walk in the ways of truth and soberness; ye will teach them to love one another, and to serve one another. (Mosiah 4:15)

And I see how that would really help ... It goes along the lines of love God, love everyone, and show your love through your actions.
If we're teaching our children (and loving them, too, through our actions), we will take care of them and provide for them as Heavenly Father provides for us. They will learn to recognize His love ... and will be able to pass that love to everyone around them.

And, well, wouldn't that make the world a MUCH better place?

I try to teach Bruise and Bucket (and, to a lesser extent, for now at least, Bubbles) to love everyone.
You don't have to LIKE what they're doing.
But you DO need to love and respect them as children of God.
People can be mean. They can say and do awful things ... BUT ... more often than not, when people aren't nice, it's because they are hurting inside.

And when people lash out at you, with harsh words or unkindness, you have two choices.

1. You can be mean right back
   OR
2. You can kill them.
   WITH KINDNESS!!!
   (Not like with manslaughter. That's illegal and mean and a sin. Don't do that.)

Yes, I did give my kids, as we drove around yesterday, those two options as what to do when people are being mean to you.

"KILL THEM??"
"Yes. WITH KINDNESS. You just be kind to them and be nice to them WHETHER THEY LIKE IT OR NOT."

Yup, that's top parenting right there.

It did make me sad that we had to have this particular conversation ... Bucket's been having to deal with girl-drama at school and at the bus stop.

A girl in the neighborhood called Bucket a liar (Bucket said she knew one person in the neighborhood, but didn't know his name to prove it ... and the other girl was like, "You can't know him! He's OUR next-door neighbor!" .... Whereas, in our household, we use the term a little more loosely ... anyone on our (short) road is, to us, a neighbor. Not that we know all of them ... which we should work on, yes?) ... And another neighbor girl told the younger girls that they were annoying.
(I had to tell Bucket that So-and-so wasn't "a brat" ... She was ACTING like a brat. ... Because, well, I don't always like labels. It's too easy to internalize bad labels. But I'm TOTES DOWN with labelling actions.)

Then, at school, two girls told Bucket that she's ugly and her clothes are ugly.
I just have to roll my eyes at this one ... but, yeah. Sometimes girls are just weird. And not in the cute, kooky, Zooey Deschanel-type way ... but in the "THE HELL are you THINKING?!?"-type way.

And, seriously, these are First Graders ... can't we still be nice and share our graham crackers at this age?

... But ... yeah. So, like I told her, either you can NOT be their friend and avoid them, you can be mean and snotty back, or you kill them with kindness by treating them how Jesus wants us to treat each other. He was kind to people, even when they weren't kind to Him. There are choices. And, if you want to be His disciple, it helps to narrow down your choices.

Still, it makes me SAD that these girls (and other people) seem to figure that the only way to make themselves feel better is to hurt/degrade other people.
So, I made sure to tell Bruise and Bucket that, when I'm having an off day and I have to be around people, one of my tricks to feeling better is to smile at a stranger.
And here's my secrets behind that:

1. Smiling, just the ACT of smiling, releases endorphins. Just like Elle Woods says.
   
2. Almost all people, when smiled at, will return that smile. And when you see that smile, you know that they are happy.
3. So you feel even happier because you've made someone else happy!

(I also will give an honest compliment. Sometimes, the surliest/saddest-looking individual will be completely chuffed when you compliment her awesome haircolor. ... And, face it, doesn't it feel GOOD when someone tells you that your new haircut looks amazing? Or that you look great in a certain color? ... Why not BE the stranger (or friend) that GIVES those compliments? ... I figure that if I can make ONE person feel better about him/herself, that's one less person being sad. And there is MORE THAN ENOUGH pain, suffering, and sadness in this world. Let's get happy. ... Because, face it: happy, appreciated people who feel noticed, valued, and cared about don't do things to tear down other people (or commit crimes, I'd bet).
Caring isn't a bad thing. So, why don't we care a little more?)

But, yeah ... that's most of what I have to say.
I've done a load of dishes, refreshed the laundry, ... I should practice my German and Spanish (Yay, Duolingo!) ... and be ready for the kids to come home in a couple hours.

And be so proud of me because I am dressed. I know. Sometimes I amaze myself. >.<

Braindump and Catching up

So, since I last blogged, we had General Conference.
I'm not going to blog all of my notes yet ... but, if you're really wanting to know bits that stood out to me, you can browse my Twitter feed  (@llannalee).

My dad's girlfriend had a birthday. Apparently, I was the good (step)daughter and remembered to call on her birthday (Cozi.com calendar FTW -- again!). Bruise, Bucket, and I serenaded the answering machine.
Her other kids and mom called the next day, and the day after. But they all DID call. Phew!

Bruise was selected to be one of the students of the month at their school -- for displaying honesty. The boy is ALL about being fair. And, USUALLY, he's quite truthful. Unless he and Bucket team up and steal food they shouldn't be getting into.

Bucket was rather a punk about it, "Why is HE student of the month and I'm NOT?!?? It's not FAIR that HE'S been it TWICE now and I've only been it ONCE!!"

(Well, I've been alerted that a certain whiny girl has been selected for displaying Self-Reliance ... but don't tell her!)

We went up to OMSI on Friday and got to go to the Mythbusters exhibit. Bruise sat on a chair that Adam Savage designed to capture farts for an episode. There were some fun experiments to do (I can ALMOST pull a tablecloth off without disturbing the plates) and lots of memorabilia from the show to see.

Michael did see about getting tickets for when Neil Gaiman comes to Portland to speak this summer ... sold out. Oh well ... The tickets WERE a little pricey, BUT they covered the book that he'd be speaking about, too.

Besides Conference, we didn't do a whole ton of stuff.
I baked cinnamon rolls ... took some to some neighbors.
We had biscuits and gravy for breakfast on Saturday.
I made Chicken Tikka and a Turmeric-Coconut rice for dinner ... which Bruise and Bucket didn't care for, but Bubbles ate with gusto!
(Bucket thought she'd be clever and put her chicken in the garbage and then claim she was done eating. TROUBLE. She had to eat MORE chicken AND some of the rice. Which she cried through, because --obviously -- I am a mean, mean mother, making my child eat and punishing her for lying.)

By that point, I was just really, really DONE being a parent. I just wanted to go somewhere quiet and cry. Which was even more sad, since I had finally started feeling better, spiritually, due to Conference. And then I felt like a jerk, being tired of my kids.

Oh well.
Doesn't help that I have the angry bees of  PMS buzzing in my brain.

Today, I went to an appointment for Bubbles -- she's healthy and has a healthy iron level. She's just tiny.
Then we went home ... and she ate and took a nap.
Talked to Dad on the phone.
One of my friends from high school (that I hadn't talked to in a long while) called up to wish me a happy (early) birthday. It was a good chat.

Some sad news is that my brother-in-law and his wife's cat (who they got shortly after they got married ... so  M-cat is around 12 or so) has cancer. The vet has given her a week, since there's fluid around her lungs, which makes breathing difficult.
I'm going to take the kids up to give her some loves and to say goodbye.

About this time last year (tomorrow, actually), we had to take Sari-Jasmine, the hedgehog, to be put to sleep. Self-mutilating ... and a huge tumor in her mouth.

After that ... and how Bubbles-fish died on Valentine's Day (and Iris II not long after), I'm starting to think that I'm cursed when it comes to animals and holidays/birthdays (Gingi-cat went on Mom and my stepdad's anniversary. Diana-cat right before Christmas Eve ... but those were a few years ago).

I've started using the Duolingo website/app/program/whatever. Some of my friends are using it ... so, who am I to avoid an educational bandwagon?
I'm refreshing my German (and Bruise and Bucket like to watch ... they're picking up bits of it, too!) and learning Spanish.
I can't have the kids around when I do the Spanish. Bucket, ever helpful, GIVES me the answers ... whether I want her to or not (I don't. Because I need to learn this for myself).

But I'm starting to learn Spanish a bit. I REALLY need to learn/memorize the rules of Spanish conjugation. (German, I've got that. But I don't really know the pronouns and verb forms at all in Spanish.)

This site does a different approach to teaching a foreign language than my German classes did. In class, we'd go through the alphabet, numbers, some vocabulary, the rules of grammar ... some common phrases ... then we started really getting into it.

With this program, I feel more like I've been tossed into a pool and I only know how to doggy paddle. It's a challenge. But I'm going to do it. Because I should know Spanish. There are enough Spanish-speakers around that I need to learn it. And, well, it'd be nice to learn it well enough to volunteer in BOTH kids' classes (instead of just the English-speaking class ... since it's a dual-immersion program at school).

So ... yeah.

Also, how did I never know about this before!?!? There's a page on Facebook that gives you a Book of Mormon reading assignment (all typed out, even) every day (Book of Mormon Daily). They even have it divided up so that, if you read every day, you'll get through the entire book in a year.

Today's reading was Mosiah 3:19 -4:3 ... and, as I read it, some things occured to me (and since I don't have a scripture journal, nor have I yet started a blog to do that, I'm putting it here):

• Mosiah 3:19-20 ... These concepts were covered quite a bit in General Conference.
  The natural man is an enemy to God ... We need to be like a child (meek, submissive, teachable, willing to let the will of our Heavenly Father guide us, instead of trying to be in charge.)
  The gospel will be available to all nations, all people.
• Mosiah 3:24-27 ... I think that it's in C.S. Lewis's "Great Divorce" where it's discussed that if we make a habit of sinning instead of being saints, that we won't feel comfortable/right/happy to be in God's presence.
  This goes even further -- if we sin and choose not to repent, we disregard the Atonement of Christ. And, therefore, without His mercy to fulfill the demands of justice, we will suffer the effects and consequences of all our sins. Hell isn't a place someone sends us ... it is a place of our own making. If we are humble, we will repent ... we will forsake pride and accept the gift that Christ has offered us. Then we will be able to be cleansed from our sins and joyfully enter the presence of our loving Heavenly Father.
• Mosiah 4:1-3 ... Well, it's fitting to be in these verses, since King Benjamin's sermon to his people is very much like our modern-day General Conference. And his people, at first, felt terrible, due to the recollections they had of their sins ... but, then, they were able to repent and feel joy.
  In fact, having "peace of conscience" was mentioned in one of the Conference talks.

So, yeah, there's my insights.
Now it's time to get back to being a mom again.

Actually, I DON'T have any Crazy Dream Chronicles to share ... yeah, I know!

Since I last posted, ... well, what HAS happened?

We had Easter ... We visited some family ...

• Friday - We went to Michael's work in the morning, on our way down to visit family.
  I took the kids to a fast food place for breakfast. Bucket devoured her biscuits and gravy; Bruise heartily enjoyed his French Toast sticks with syrup; I chowed down on a breakfast burrito ... and Bubbles ate our little fried hashbrowns and anything else we shared with her.
  
  The kids and I shopped around, ending with trips over to Trader Joe's and Target. Of course.
  Then we swung back around and picked up Michael so that we could head down to visit Nana and Dad and L ... I also got to see my uncle, M, and Aunt I. It was a really nice visit.
  It's not easy to communicate with M anymore, since his stroke about four years back. It was pretty bad. Nana had a stroke when I was around Jr. High ... and she bounced back really well. M's was a lot more severe. And it's not fun for anyone, since he was the sole brother who didn't have Usher's Syndrome -- He was the most independent and capable. And, now, it's much harder for him to be that way. He still can see well ... and hear well. But walking unaided and speaking ... those are harder.
  
  We got to look at the new house that Dad and L built. It's way cute. L has a great eye for color and a good sense of design and set-up. Not that anyone should be surprised, since this is the third house she's worked on. (They live in house #2, after selling house #1. The first house Dad had started ... and L worked to make it a lot better. Originally, the kitchen was really small ... by the time they put it up for sale, the kitchen had been remodeled, they built on a beautiful porch, ... It's a gorgeous place.
  
• Saturday morning, the kids colored eggs with L and had a little egg hunt of their own.
  After breakfast, lunch, and touring the new house, we were packed up and ready to take off.
  We were going to take the kids to a community egg hunt in my hometown, but Bubbles was JUST about asleep (after barely any naps the previous day ... and skipped the morning nap today, too) ... and there wasn't anywhere to park (small town, what can you say?). So we headed back home to get unpacked and run a few errands.
  
  Michael had to do some things, so I had the kids and we got settled in at home. Bubbles got a REAL nap. I did some laundry.
  Then he came home and I went out to help the Easter Bunny. I decided that, since the kids would get a ton of sugar on Sunday at Grandma's (Mom and Dad C's, that is), we'd try for something a little healthier that I could be fine with them digging into before church. So, amid a couple little toys, there were small bags of jelly beans, (bunny-shaped) fruit snacks, pretzel/cracker mix (shaped like bunnies), fruit leather, granola bars, coloring books (or, in Bubbles' case, a board book), and water bottles. And they each got some DVDs to share (Darkwing Duck, vol 2, DuckTales, vol 2, and Princess Sofia the First ... which Michael picked up at Costco).
  
  They were HUGE hits ... I think I know what to do about treat baskets from now on!
  
• Sunday, the kids TORE into their baskets. And I patted myself on the back.
  
  We went to church ... since it was a fifth Sunday, we had a combined Elders (mens) and Relief Society (womens) class. Which meant that, for the first time in WEEKS, I was able to stay in class the whole time (I usually have Bubbles, since I don't have a Sunday-type calling. Michael, though, DOES. So she usually sticks with me. And she's not into napping during class anymore. But, if I need to substitute in Primary, Michael willingly takes her with him. And Bubbles gets passed around the Elders' Quorum. Good thing that (1) she's personable and (2) we have GREAT men in our ward who like to hold babies.)
  
  At church, I was so happy to see that the husband of one of my friends was there! He hasn't been active for a while. In fact, it took me a second to recognize him, since I haven't seen him often. But I was SO GLAD for her. I was sorry that I didn't have a chance to go tell him "hi" and how nice it was to see him ... well, not without sounding a little like a stalker. I don't think he knows who I am.
  His wife and I worked in Young Women's together ... so that wouldn't help him to know who I am.
  
  After church, I tossed (figuratively) the kids into the shower in some kind of assemblycleaning line (My pet peeve, apparently, is when my kids have dirty nails/toenails). Michael and the kids got the garbage out. And then we loaded up and drove to his folks' house.
  
  We got caught in some horrible traffic ... which made us appreciate our smart phones. According to TripCheck, there was an accident. And it told us where on the highway it was. So we got off at the next exit and were able to make it to the grandparents' house without TOO much of a delay (If we'd stayed on the highway, we'd have been there for at least an hour. Traffic was STOPPED for a few miles).
  
  The kids got to play with their cousins. I got to talk to my brother-in-law, Jason-head. I also got to visit some more with C, Michael's other brother, and A (his wife. Meaning C's wife. Michael only has one wife. And I'm that one).
  
  The kids had an egg treasure hunt (Dad C and Uncle D wrote out clues for the kids to follow) ... and a sugar rush followed.
  
  Then we got the kids home and ready for bed ... since Spring Break is now over.
  
• Monday - I mostly took it easy. I got caught up with laundry (YAY!).
  Mom and C (my stepdad) were able to get the pump fixed ... so after two weeks, they have running water again. My mom is THRILLED.
  
  I colored my hair ... It's red. Like a bright auburn type of red. I think I like it.
  I did miss a couple spots along the hairline, so I think I need to redo it. However, I'm happy with how my hair feels. (I had gotten used to buying the ColorSilk, which is CRAZY cheap. And it'd make my hair feel like straw. I "splurged" on a box of Feria ... and WOW. Even right after drying my hair, I could feel a huge difference. My hair is soft and feels like HAIR.)
  
  I'm about caught up on dishes, too. Which might make the shambles that my kitchen is in just a titsch less heinous. I hope.
  
• Tuesday - Bubbles is pretty awesome. Not only does she run to help me put the wet clothes from the washer into the dryer, BUT yesterday, when I was loading the washer after she helped me transfer clothes, she waddled off ... and came back with dirty clothes to put into the washer!
  Dude, y'all ... she's just 13 months and has an awesome work ethic when it comes to laundry.
  I was/still AM totes impressed.
  
  And, NO, she did not get it from me.
  I do need to step up the housework a notch. And finish a library book.

Our kids school does Fall AND Spring pictures. I talked the kids (per Michael's request) into NOT getting individual pictures done this spring. We'll still order the CLASS picture ... but, when presented with the choice of getting a Spring picture OR going to the book fair?
Yes, they proved that they are my children. Book Fair it is!

Oh ... the kids were funny on April Fool's Day.
After they HAD TO CHECK to see it April Fool's was on the first or the third (I was honest ... I also didn't pull any pranks), they proceeded to tell me that they put snakes and scorpions into my bed.

Yup.

I tried to convince Bucket to get her friends to help her look for hens' teeth ... and had to then explain to her that no, hens don't have teeth. That's why THAT's a joke.

But, yeah ... that's most of what is standing out.

That and the fact that I don't have to keep a friend's pregnancy a secret anymore!
I'm excited for her and her husband ... and a little worried, since she's suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum this time. So she's in the hospital about once a week, so that she stays hydrated.
But hey, a baby!! And I don't have to keep it a secret anymore!!

Well, I should go get a shower and clean up the kitchen or something.

Wrapped up

Well, I've made it through all the performances of Savior of the World (Act 2). I've also made it through most of the kids' Spring Break. I'm tired. And we're about to go visit family soon. So I should finish doing all the laundry.

Also, one of the local librarians is retiring. Today is his last day.
And I'm so very, totally bummed.
Don't get me wrong, I'm glad that he's able to retire ... but we are going to miss him.
He's such a great person -- so fun and funny and able to make everyone feel welcome ... and I don't know that the libraries will be the same place without him.
Yeah, I don't take change all that well. I'm aware of that fact.

So ... let's get all caught up ...

Lots of people asked how Michael and I made it through our performances and who took care of the kids.
It was a community effort, really ...
Tues: Mom and Dad C (They got to come see the performance)
Wed: My mom
Thurs: Nichole (a wonderful babysitter we know from church choir)
Fri: Joy (another wonderful babysitter from church. I've known her for a few years, since I was the ward YW Camp Director)
Saturday: The kids went up to spend the evening with Mom and Dad C (and cousins)

How did Michael and I get through it? Well, Michael'd leave work a half-hour early and drive straight to the church to get in makeup and costume. He didn't really get to see the kids much at all, until Friday, since he gets home early that day.
I would work to get dinner done and the house clean, then race over to the church around 5 to get makeup done and into my costume ... USUALLY before we had a prayer, devotional, and warm-ups.
(Yeah, what with character makeup -- Michael needed his beard a little darker and more eyebrows; I needed to have aging makeup done -- I was not always successful in getting into my costume before 6:30. There were a LOT of people who needed makeup. Last time [Act 1] was easier, since we usually did everything ourselves -- except for blush. We had someone to do our blush. ... The only thing I did myself this time was mascara. And ONLY on the top lashes, which is different for me.)

I did have a MEDICINAL Cherry Coke Saturday. And it was SO GOOD.

Besides that, we were just really tired.

And, after everything was over, we jetted home and gave Michael a haircut and shaved off EPICBEARD and the Mustache of DOOM.
It's so nice to have the man I married back again. So very nice.

Monday, I had high aspirations to get some spring cleaning done.
Which were dashed because the kids didn't want to listen to a dratted word that I said.
So I was irritated and ready to go on strike.

Tuesday morning, I lumbered out of bed to find that Michael left me a cinnamon roll (Awww).
And that the kids ate the top two-thirds (Booo).
So I ended up bursting into tears and pretty much going on strike.
The kids had to endure swishing some soap in their mouths for lying about it ("I don't know [what happened]." "I didn't do it!" followed by "Bruise did it first!!" ... Yeah. *sigh*)

Mom came up Tuesday night (their water pump is out on the well, so they're ROUGHING it). Michael got me ice cream and a Cherry Coke. (Good man. I wish everyone could have such a good spouse. He's thoughtful and funny ... I'll stop before I disgust you all.)

Yesterday, I donated blood. For the first time in how many years of doing this, my vein didn't want to stop. So the nurse/phlebotomist/whatever and I had to spend a few minutes applying pressure, then checking, then HURRIEDLY applying pressure again, repeating all that a few times. We were cracking jokes about it ... it was a lot more comfortable than the time that I had to KEEP lying down so I didn't pass out back in, what, 2003 or so.

After I stopped bleeding, I was fine. My elbow pit was pretty sore from having bandages on it for so long ... but overall, it was pretty great.

Mom and I took the kids to McDonald's and then to pick up stuff for dinner ... and I wrapped up my Visiting Teaching (before the last day of the month, what?!?).

Mom headed back home this morning. I took the kids to help me use up some coupons (Got an Essie nail polish for $2.29, since I had a 15% off coupon AND a $5 rewards coupon. ... This is right up there with how Bruise, Bubbles, and I scored me a $10 pair of pants Saturday) ... and a Plesco (algae-eater) for Bucket's fish tank.
(Cue: Fish Watch 2013 ... Let's hope that this one, Jasmine, breaks our bad luck. Emmy, the catfish, is having a ball darting around like a ferret on a Pixie-stick bender.)

And we've just gotten back from the open house for the librarian I mentioned above.
We had some cake and said hello/goodbye and dropped off some cards that we made for him.

I should close this up and finish laundry/make dinner/snuggle with Bubbles .... Yeah.

Weighing in ... but not in physical-type weight...

So ... I went on a bit of a limb, Facebook-wise ...

And I had the indigestion to prove it.
(Go fig, I can sing on a stage in front of hundreds of people without much issue. But state my opinion/beliefs? Yeah ... Not the most effective missionary, huh?)

So, I posted this --

http://middle-agedmormonman.blogspot.com/2013/03/simplify-my-thoughts-on-marriage.html

I think this sums up most of how I feel on this issue. I love my brothers and sisters, regardless of lifestyle ... or any other form of difference. 
I may not be at my most eloquent right yet ... so bear with me, please.
I could talk about how allowing the courts to decide who is or is not allowed to marry is NOT something that I could support (Seriously, do we really trust our courts that much? When people get awarded millions for spilling coffee on themselves or having to eat dog food when they get stuck in a house they BROKE INTO?). (See also: http://www.christianpost.com/news/gay-marriage-social-experimentation-and-legal-precedent-92041/)

I do believe that our homosexual brothers and sisters should have all the rights that a married heterosexual couple have, under a civil union. I believe that they shouldn't be bullied for having same-sex attraction.

I also believe, as this blog states, that God still loves us all and, ergo, speaks to all His children today.
That He knows best.
That He's expressed an opinion.

I support the leaders of the church (who've also said that we need to show so, so much love to ALL children of our Heavenly Father. And that, just because someone might do something or act in a way contrary to the commandments, it is NO EXCUSE to treat them with anything other than the love that Jesus Christ has for all of us).

I wish I knew of some easy and fast fix that would result in everyone being happy. I was hoping that recognized civil unions might be it ... Apparently it's all or nothing. Which tears at my heart, to be honest.

I understand that not all of us see eye-to-eye on this. And that's one of the great things about having agency and the ability to choose for ourselves. I respect your opinion on this whole issue. Like I've said, I feel torn about it. Part of me sees it like Queen Victoria's quote (about not scaring the horses). But, there's also the fact that I can't go against what I know is true. It wouldn't be honest to myself or God.

And don't be speaking about how "my God" is a god of hate. He's not. If you want to know what has been said lately, go here (instead of taking other people's words for it. Would you take a cat person's opinion about dogs at total and complete fact? Really?): http://www.mormonsandgays.org/
(Spoiler: The main message is "Love One Another." Not "we hate everyone who is different.")

 And, even though a good deal of my friends are LDS, I know that I have a lot who aren't.
And, even among the LDS friends I have, there are some that don't share my exact opinion on things.
And I can handle that ... Life would be BORING if everyone was exactly the same.

Most of the comments that I got were decent and sharing an opinion that differed in some bit.
(One idea that I am totally in favor of -- Let EVERYONE get civil unions that offer all the protections of a currently-defined marriage. THEN, those who want a church-ordained marriage can have one in addition. Like how England demands that EVERYONE get married in the Church of England. Then, for LDS couples, they go to the temple to be sealed. I think this would be suitable and satisfy the majority.)

However, one of my friends (I like him. He's smart and he's funny. I respect his opinion ... though, as you'll see, we don't see eye-to-eye on everything. Also, I like him even though he doesn't care at all for C.S. Lewis. But, well, it takes all kinds.) lambasted my post. He said that since The Church was at all involved with Prop 8, that it should have its tax-exempt status revoked. He was ... harsher than I would have anticipated.

I don't LIKE to upset my friends.
It sucks to have an opinion that others (in general) mock.
I'm NOT a homophobe ... I like PEOPLE. And I don't think that people should be classified solely by what they choose to do with their sexual organs. Heck, I don't really CARE what one chooses to do with one's equipment. As long as you are relatively kind and have some semblance of a sense of humor, I'm totally on your team!

A FOAF (friend of a friend) put it really well on Facebook:

Here are my thoughts on gay marriage. Please try not to get offended and try to see where I am coming from. 
I think this argument started a long long time ago when marriage became more political and about property than it is about what God set it up to be. According to the Bible, God set up marriage as a three way covenant between man, woman and God. I don't think this definition of marriage would interest many gay couples. But when marriage became political it became about rights, and the three way covenant was pushed aside. I, and I am pretty sure a huge majority of LDS members, agree that all people should have equal rights regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation or gender. We have said many times that we have no problem giving them those rights in a civil union. But marriage, which used to be Gods, has already been taken and belongs to government. So of course religious people are getting upset when you take a core belief of theirs and change and reinterpret it as something it was never meant to be. A lot of this mess is our fault (traditional religionists) because we let the covenant of marriage leave the faith world and enter the political and now we are trying to get it back too late.

Now I have been too long winded to express how much I love and admire many of my gay and lesbian friends. I do not think I am above them or better than them in any way. I do want them to have all the rights I do. But it is difficult for me to understand how a person can think a gay lifestyle is okay and still believe in the Bible. And then, it is difficult for me to understand how one can believe in the Bible and still feel it is okay to make a covenant with God in a way that He has clearly stated is wrong and not have it feel like mockery. Let me be clear that I know that no one, especially me, is perfect and follows Christ perfectly. But doing something wrong and calling it wrong is different that calling it right.

The bottom line is, I don't think government has a right to have ANY say in marriage at all but we have already let it get its sticky fingers on it. I hope we can find a solution that works for everyone.
Now I have been too long winded to express how much I love and admire many of my gay and lesbian friends. I do not think I am above them or better than them in any way. I do want them to have all the rights I do. But it is difficult for me to understand how a person can think a gay lifestyle is okay and still believe in the Bible. And then, it is difficult for me to understand how one can believe in the Bible and still feel it is okay to make a covenant with God in a way that He has clearly stated is wrong and not have it feel like mockery. Let me be clear that I know that no one, especially me, is perfect and follows Christ perfectly. But doing something wrong and calling it wrong is different that calling it right. 
The bottom line is, I don't think government has a right to have ANY say in marriage at all but we have already let it get its sticky fingers on it. I hope we can find a solution that works for everyone.

I think that she's put it beautifully ... and yes, marriage has now been (for far too long) bastardized into some political/property thing.
But ... at its heart and creation, it's a covenant between a man, a woman, and God.

I have no problem, myself, with homosexual couples.
It's not like they're schtupping in front of me ... Therefore, it's none of my business.

(I have the same opinion in regards to people who have premarital sex. It's not what we've been commanded to do. BUT, they're still children of God. Most all of them are wonderful people. As long as they're not schtupping in front of me or my kids? It's not an issue that I'm going to focus on. I have enough sins of my own ... I'll work on those first.)

I also like how Eli over at It Gets Stranger covered his take on the issue: http://www.itjustgetsstranger.com/2013/03/about-that.html

I have friends who identify as homosexual or even bisexual. It doesn't bother me.
I have no issues with homosexual couples ... I think that Neil Patrick Harris and his partner or George Takei and his partner or Ellen DeGeneris and her partner (the girl from Arrested Development) are all adorable and wonderful people. I would love to have any of them as neighbors and/or personal friends.

I think, though, that this marriage discussion is broken.
I do want a solution that can make most everyone happy.
I just don't know how that's going to happen ... and maybe it won't happen until Christ comes again.

Oh ... and when people go and quote random laws from Leviticus and Deuteronomy as proof of how dumb those laws are and why aren't folks up in arms about THOSE laws instead of just being upset about same sex marriage?
Well, IF one reads the New Testament, the reason we don't follow those laws is the same as why we, as Christians, eat pork and shellfish.
The Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ fulfilled the law of Moses.
Christ gave us a higher law to follow ... Those that followed Moses were incapable of following these laws at the time (That's why Moses had to go get the ten commandments ... and why they had to wander in the desert for SO. DANG. LONG).
So ... yeah.

We do still follow the ten commandments ... but first, we love God and love our neighbors (i.e., EVERYONE. Even if they do stuff that we don't agree with 24/7... Heck, I sometimes do stuff that makes me regret knowing myself. Still have to love myself, though. I am a daughter of God ... and He thinks that I'm lovable.)

Yeah, I just want everything fixed.

Yet ... what am I doing about it?
Besides kvetching on my blog?

Yeah, I just don't know.

I just know that, whoever you are, you deserve to be loved.
And that I do love you ... might not always like what you choose to do ... but you are loved.
Heavenly Father loves you ... and if you choose not to believe in Him, I still love you. So you still are loved.

Opening night ...

Well, the house is MOSTLY clean-ish ... It could be a lot worse.

Mom C will watch the kids tonight (and bring them to the performance). My mom will watch them (and the performance) tomorrow night. Then a couple of gals in the ward will be taking on babysitting duties. Closing night, the kids will be up at Mom C's with some cousins ... then Michael and I will swing on up, nab them, bring them home, put them to bed ... and clean Michael up.

A client (older man) referred to Michael's facial hair as "cute."
Yeah ... he got some flack from everyone about that.
Just the word choice cracks me up.

I got some more sleep yesterday ... woke up before my alarm and couldn't fall back asleep. Oh well.
Going to make at least one dinner ... maybe prep some more. We'll see how awesome/motivated I get.

I really almost wish that it were already around 5 PM so that I could just get this performance STARTED.
That's the fun of opening night ... and, well, the fun of EVERY performance. Opening night, though ... that's when we have the biggest jitters.

Bubbles' doctor visit went fine. She's been declared "perfect." Her skull is almost totally fused closed, the big kid. She got three immunizations ... she took them well enough. A little crying, but once I held her she calmed down. She's got a large head circumference. Nothing freakish. Her doctor proclaimed that it's just "full of brains" ... along with being a beautiful child.

She did flirt with the few people in the waiting room. She had the play table all to herself ... and enjoyed crawling under the chairs.

Every so often she (along with Bruise and Bucket) will do something and I'll see, just for an instant, a glimpse of the adult she's growing into. And ... it strikes me.
At the same time, I'm glad that they're going to be such good-looking adults.

-------------

I'm still stuck on thinking about the whole situation at Steubenville ... It's just so wrong.
These kids there need adults to be leaders and teachers -- to teach what is and is not proper behavior, how to follow laws, how to treat each other -- regardless of one's sport status or gender or whatever.

I've started, from a young age, teaching my brood about their bodies. We've always used the terms "penis" and "vagina," partly because that's what they ARE ... and partly because children who can use the proper terms are less likely to be victimized.

I've also worked to teach them about treating others well. And that you don't touch other people's private parts or let others touch yours (with a few exceptions -- your spouse, your doctor as needed, things like that).

I also have felt the need to impress upon them that if they (or someone they know) is acted upon by another person who does something to them without permission, it is NOT their fault. The person acting upon them made a decision that impacted them. THAT person, not the victim/survivor is to blame.

I'm just getting REALLY FED UP with things that need to change. Like a person who says that we need to teach people not to rape deserves to have horrible things happen to her for saying such a crazy, outlandish idea.

I am more offended that these nay-sayers seem to feel that it's the default of men TO rape.
I am surrounded by wonderful men who would be aghast at the idea that all women, everywhere, should live in constant fear of all men turning into base creatures that have no choice but to force themselves upon others.

I'm just going to come out and say it: THIS IS STUPID. IT'S RUBBISH. IT'S BULL.

And I'm going to take a deep breath, flex my hands out of fists, and just hope and pray that things will get better.

And, until it does, I'm teaching my children to deal with what might happen ... though I really wish I never felt a need to. I'd love for them to be able to go out into the world without worrying about what someone might do. I wish I didn't have to instill a core of steel into their sweet, innocent hearts.

But I do.
Because some parents and leaders aren't doing their jobs.
Because some people are not in control of themselves.
Because some people don't care.
And that sucks. A lot.

So I will teach my kids to respect themselves. To respect others. To be brave and take a stand if they see anyone needing help. To know how to call 911. To know that they can tell Michael and me anything and that we will still love them. To stand up to "friends" ... and even their true friends, if need be. To protect themselves. To protect others. To stand up and give a voice to those who can't or don't know how to protect themselves. To know they can always turn to others for help, especially their Heavenly Father who is always with them ... because Michael and I can't always be there ourselves. To respect the privacy and needs of other people. To serve others.

And other things ... like what "consent" really is (if someone cannot say "no," then assume that it IS "no." You have to ensure they ARE saying ... and continuing to say "yes."). What masculinity really is and is not. That femininity is not purely submissive. The purpose of our bodies (i.e., the sacred power of procreation ... which, understanding that, helps to respect our bodies and others' bodies).

There are times when I can tell that I'm getting through ... like how Bruise knows that women have breasts (and men have nipples too) because we're mammals ... and their primary purpose is to feed babies. The kids know that they'll someday make babies with their future spouses ... and that they shouldn't do that before they're legally and lawfully married. As a sign of respect for both their spouse and themselves. They know that "penis," "vagina," and even "testicles" are real words ... not jokes or something to giggle at whenever they hear the words.

I have a lot of work ahead of me ... and I'm so scared sometimes at what might happen to them. Some news stories out there are so, so awful ... things happening to little babies and young children, people who can't even defend themselves against the strength and cunning of some wicked, depraved adults out there.

What can you really do?
Teach them as best as you can.
Make sure they know that they can always come to you, that they can ask you anything.
Pray for them, even fasting for them.
Love them as best as you can.
Letting them know, through word and deed, that you have their back, you WILL protect them.

If there's anything else ... well, I'll try to learn it so that I can do it.

Because, well, if I screw this up ... would I ever really forgive myself?

Truly, if my kids EVER took part in something like what happened in Stuebenville ... or stood by while something like that happened ... I would, honestly, believe that I had FAILED my children and my community as a parent.

And, if they were at such a party and stood up against the tide of peer pressure, protecting another person? Even if they were arrested for being there, I'd throw them a freaking PARTY ... and I'd invite the arresting officers (since they were doing their job. And I support that). Cake and sparkling cider for everyone, because my child(ren) did what was right. And I want the world to know that I am celebrating that fact!

There's enough glorifying the crimes and their perpetrators.
I say that we start celebrating the heroes in the world ...  Let's start showing appreciation and honor for people who are working to change the bad.

Let's bring it.

It'd be nice to have a clever title ... But, well, yeah ...

This is going to be a kind of random-type post.
Since I haven't blogged for a week, and I keep meaning to blog, I feel obligated to do it.
BUT, what with Bubbles being a PUNKBUTT last night, I don't have a lot of sleep (She went to sleep BEAUTIFULLY around 8. Then woke up SCREAMING about midnight. And whenever we'd put her back down -- after a diaper change and feedings, cuddles, more feedings -- she'd scream again. So, she spent the rest of the night in our bed, where she FINALLY conked out after a HALF-HOUR nursing session).

So, I'm sure that Michael is dead tired. I'm not feeling much better (even though I get, like, a couple hours more sleep). Bubbles has a well-baby check-up this afternoon ... let's just hope that I'm coherent enough to drive safely and conscientiously.

This weekend, as we were at Mom and Dad C's (the kids stayed overnight, so that we didn't have to scramble so much in the morning before Saturday's dress rehearsal ... more on that later), Bruise said to Michael (in reference to these little, bitsy mugs that Mom C has on display. Each of them has the name of one of her children) ...

Bruise: Dad, when you die, can I have your cup? So I can remember you. Because you're not around much. But Mom is.

Yeah ... Michael works hard (and long hours) for the money. And there's always a sacrifice to be made.
At least, with both of us in Savior of the World, I get to see him. But, yeah, the kids have been getting a glimpse before we leave ... and they're often asleep when we get back home.
This coming week is going to be worse ... since Michael'll be headed directly to church (where we perform) after work. But it's the last week ... and it'll be better after that.
And, in about five weeks, we'll have a family vacation ... and we'll get TONS of time together. Which will be REALLY nice. No stage make-up involved!

Let's see ... what else is going on?
In rehearsals, unless we're saying an aside to another character, we HAVE to FACE THE AUDIENCE. I'm remembering more and more to do it. I did flub up once onstage during rehearsal on Saturday ... however, I was also called out for doing it right (and being one of the people that the sound guy LOVES for doing it right), "One gal is picking fruit ... AND SHE TURNS and delivers her lines."
I'll try not to let it go to my head. ^_^

My costume kept changing, too. At first, I had my dress and two headwraps. Then there was a belt and an outer robe added. Then a scarf added. Then they changed the robe and outer headwrap. And then they changed headwraps on me ... And the belt isn't the same as I started with. But I think we've got it now. I have the original (jade-colored) dress with a striped robe and matching sash. There's a peach headwrap and a grey wrap that I mostly wear as a cowl-type collar. And I keep my original head covering (which, due to it's softness and texture, I refer to as "my dishrag") as a "pocket," hanging off my sash.

I do have to laugh, though. The grey cowl was part of Trish's costume in Act One (which we performed together in back in December 2011). And SHE is wearing my overskirt from that act. We snicker about that when we're not referring to each other with our Ancient Israelite gangster names (ModgePodge, since I'm MOJ [Mary, Mother of James] in the script, and MagDog [for Mary Magdalene]). Good times.

Also, I tripped going up the stage steps before rehearsal started on Saturday morning. I almost didn't catch myself, so I was THISCLOSE to falling backwards down the stage, which would have hurt a megaton.

SO, getting back to talking about dress rehearsal, Michael and I were there at 8, to get our makeup started (and completed) with time to spare, since we both have character makeup -- He ends up looking like a mountain man, what with his beard and mustache and the CRAZY DARK eyebrows they draw on him.
I am aged to look at least ten years older ... Our makeup takes time to get done. And we're not the only ones getting this treatment.
Oh, and I'm in the first scene, so I HAVE to have mine done and get dressed in time ...

We had two makeup gals who didn't come -- well, one did, to tell the others that she won't be able to do it. She needs to take it easy on her knee ... and it wasn't working. The other couldn't get childcare ... So, we were down two makeup gals who help get everyone through the line. And we only had one gal (the main one) who is practiced at character makeup. So she's totally swamped ... and stressing about getting everyone else through and done.

She did confide in me later that she really would have been glad if the other two gals had called earlier so that she'd have a chance to find replacements ... And, I can't blame her. It would have been more responsible. I also know how it feels to be on the end of scrambling to get childcare at the last moment. It wasn't a good situation from any angle.

BUT! We were dressed and made up and ready for our cues. And, really, I think that it went pretty well.

In other happenings that went on last week, the kids (Bruise and Bucket) had their school music program. I went to the rehearsal for it and recorded it. Bruise was doing okay. Bucket, though, was hiding behind the girl next to her and not singing and ... well, she, my mom, and I had a talk about it. My mom (who, yes, spoils her grandkids a bit), promised them that if they did good things at the concert (e.g., sing well, do the hand motions, DON'T HIDE, etc.), she'd give them a nickel each time she caught them being good. BUT, if they were not doing what's right, they'd have to pay HER a penny for each time.

In short, they both got $5. So did Bubbles. AND, to top it off, they both were remarking on how it was really fun and NOT AT ALL SCARY.
SHOCKER!

I mean, it's not like I told them EXACTLY THAT OR ANYTHING.
(That sound you just heard? That was my eyes rolling so much that they FELL. OUT. OF. MY. HEAD. I think they're in the kitchen now. Hard to tell.)

But, thankfully, a family friend recorded that performance for us. And, Michael and I made it to rehearsal ... and Bruise and bucket had a lot of family show up to watch them -- Mutti, Bubbles, Mom and Dad C, Grandma C, and (Great-)Uncle D. So, it went really well. ... And, by that point, I was a bit less crazy-with-hormones-and-angry-bees-in-my-head. So between having the performance recorded, having a lot of family there to support them, and having gone to the rehearsal, I was feeling MUCH better. Phew!

Backstage, on the first dress rehearsal night (Tuesday), I became QUITE popular.
I'd like to say it's all due to my quick wit and myriad charms ... but that'd be a lie.
It's really due to the fact that I had make-up wipes and fashion tape (strong double-sided tape).
Yes, I do come prepared! And I am willing to share ... since that's part of being a theater-type person. Your costars are family. (I mean, heck, in high school, most of us were used to getting dressed all together in the costume room ... You saw EVERYONE in their skivvies. And it wasn't any kind of a big deal. ... Though, if you wore a thong, you'd get dressed with your back to a wall. Or, in my case, you'd wear boxers over.)

But the nice thing about this performance, since I now have a turban-type headwrap?
I don't really have to do my hair at all. WINNER!
(Though, I do pull it back into a low-key updo, so it's out of the way when someone helps to do my wrap.)

.....

I can't believe that March is already more than half-way over! With how busy we've been, the days are flying by.

There's a musical production that'll be done in July to celebrate 50 years of the Church in the Willamette Valley. Yeah ... no. We're not going to audition. We'll go see it, of course. But we NEED some time to decompress.

Five more days and I can make out with Michael again. And I can paint my fingernails and toenails any way I want. I can color my hair however I want.

I will say that, from watching so many make-up videos and reading so much online, I am pretty awesome at helping the guys to know how to take care of their skin. Most guys never think to moisturize. (Now I can only think "Moisturize me! Moisturize me!" 50 gold stars if you get the reference.) I've shared moisturizer and I do tell them that olive oil is thebombdotcom in a pinch.
Before Michael and I went to this last dress rehearsal, I had us both slap on some coconut oil before jumping into the shower ... and rubbing in some jojoba oil on top of that. With tea tree oil on any trouble spots. And that's when I'm not making us do an oil cleanse for the face (currently, I have grapeseed oil mixed with castor oil. Rub it in, steam your face [I use a hot, damp washcloth] and then scrub it off with the washcloth). Good times.
He's lucky I don't break out the mud masks ... which I might after all the performances are over. Theater makeup is THICK and rough on your complexion.

Oh, so last night, we were making some geeky jokes. It culminated with me coming into the bathroom and announcing that I was turning on the light in there (since it's dark, I give a warning ... and no, it was NOT "Brace yourself, the light switch is coming." ... Though I'll have to remember that one....)

Me: Okay ... LUMOS!!
Michael: You know that the mark of a great wizard is being able to do spells without speaking.
Me: Jealous, Muggle?
Michael: You are such a nerd.
Me: *laughs* Yes. You know it. ... We are so, so special. It's at times like this that I wish they did a show about us. ... Though I'd have to put on clothes more often. I couldn't just hang out in my underoos all the time.
Michael: I don't mind.

Like I said, we are special, special people.
Especially when we use geeky references with each other (Even though I haven't seen all that much Doctor Who, I can make a lot of references and recognize a lot of references. Same with Game of Thrones [Still need to read the books]. And a lot of movies that I haven't watched, but are referenced often in memes). Or when we give each other the Shawn/Gus fist-bump ... which is pretty dang often.

Yeah ... we're special people. Who just seem to be rather perfectly-matched.

(The other night, Michael came home ... after I was being all cranky and b-word-y ... and thanked me for being a good wife. And I was all, "Um, thanks ... I've been kind of a  jerk today. But I'm glad that you're happy." Yeah, our goal is to always be friends. And I think that we do a good job on that.  Even though, as I told him, I am not all that romantical or horny-as-crap ... but I'm glad that he puts up with me regardless. ^_^)

Oh ... I tried going shopping for jeans, since two of my favorite pairs ended up with holes in the inner thigh section. Ugh. ... Apparently a lot of stores don't cater to my size ... and, even when they do? Well, my shape is all wrong (thanks Bruise and Bucket! You stretched out my stomach enough that it's WEIRD!. Good thing I still love you!).

I tried on a pair of pants that promised "slimming and shaping."
Yeah, if the shape you're going for is camel toe.
Niiiiice.
NOT.

But, yeah. After three attempts where I ended up crying each time (I'm NOT going to cry right now. it's just that the inside of my nose went all prickly. Not going to cry), I ended up buying three t-shirts. At least they fit and look nice and are soft.

Ugh. Stupid body and stupid designers and stupid culture where it makes me feel like a giant land whale because I'm not a size 2 or 0 ... Ugh. Stupidstupidstupid.
And stupid hormones that make it HAAAAAARD for me to deal with the fact that maybe I should just go get a tummy tuck and lipo and staple my stomach closed since I like food a HELL of a lot more than I like exercise.

Oh!! Speaking of food!!!
(Yeah, nice segue there, right?)
BUT!!!! At Denny's they are having Baconalia ... Michael and I totally went.
He had the burger with bacon and pepperjack cheese and jalepenos. I had the caramel French Toast stuffed with white chocolate and bacon spread. I wasn't wild about the white chocolate. It was a little more like shortening than chocolate-y. But the bacon was EXCELLENT in cutting how DANG SWEET the French Toast was. It was really tasty.
AND!!
I also had the Maple Bacon Milkshake ... that was really, really good.
The first taste is all sweet, creamy maple ... then  you have the smoky, savory bacon taste.
And there are bits of bacon in there!
The bits are usually too big to pass through the straw, so at the end, I was spooning the remains of the shake into my mouth.

Michael: Is it good?
Me" *giddily* Ah haa a maafuu uh BAACAAA! ("I have a mouthful of BACON!")

And THIS is another reason why I'll never be a size 0 (or 2 or 4 or 6 ...)
Because how can I manage THAT when there is BACON in the world?

And cheesecake. Gotta remember cheesecake. And Cherry Coke. And Doritos. And pizza with spinach and mushrooms ... Oh, wondrous mushrooms!

I mean, look at Paula Deen ... She's not a stick figure. And she's HAPPY.
I'll just keep my blood sugar up. It's all good.
And I'll wear sweatpants or something, instead.
Yeah.
Maybe yoga pants ... if they have a pocket for my phone.
Yoga pants are a little classier, right? >.<

Insomnia

So, between Daylight Savings and a certain regular-type lady-occurrence, I can't sleep. Joy.

I've had some strange dreams, too ... in one, I was hanging out with John and Sherry Petersik (of YoungHouseLove). We were buying me a desk at a thrift store. John and I were cracking jokes involving 80s song lyrics. Yeah.

It could be hormones, but ... I'm feeling ... meh. It's a struggle to keep the house clean. Rehearsals are all crazy-making. I'm ready to feel accomplished and spiritual and contented ... and, at this moment, well ... I don't.

It's probably the PMS-angry-bees that buzz in my head.
Still ... I hate it.

I'm crap at reading my scriptures.
I'm crap at praying.
My blog is my journal ... and it's regular for me to go DAYS AND DAYS between postings.
My house is messier than it should be.
I've only NOW started chore charts with Bruise and Bucket.
We're down to one fish and the tank should be way cleaner.
I need to buy pants.
We can't have cell phones or anything like that backstage anymore. Grr.
(Yes, I admit I have a problem. I COULD quit anytime ... but I don't WANT to, you see.)
There are still ants scurrying around inside my HOUSE. (I had to spray the kitchen CEILING. What's up with that?!?!?)

So ... yeah. I don't feel RIGHT.

But enough about that ... what else have I been up to?

• Renewed my driver's license. Even with the marriage license where the public servant MISSPELLED MY NAME. ... But we had NO problems at all. Phew!
  But ... my face looks all fat in my picture. Next time, help me remember -- PULL MY HAIR BACK, so it shows off my bone structure.
• Had to pay owed postage on a letter that came in the mail ... Turns out it was a chain letter for a pyramid scheme. Took that sucker into the Post Office. Because that IS ILLEGAL.
  And hella annoying.
• Bruise and Bucket stole my M&Ms ... and lied about it. Which rather ruined the rest of our Friday.
  They were in TROUBLE. For stealing and LYING about it. ... They're earning back our trust. But they've lost some privileges. 
• Today was Stake Conference. I spent the second hour trying to keep Bubbles quiet. Almost got her to nap by hanging out in the (dark) supply closet and singing to her until she fell asleep. But another dad and his (SCREAMING) daughter were RIGHT OUTSIDE, so Bubbles did NOT nap.
  But I did run into one of my old neighbors from back home. He and his family live in the next town over. His mom was my piano teacher and is one of my mom's best friends.
• Our sitter had to cancel on us Tuesday ... so, thankfully, Bri and her husband and daughter were able to come watch our minions. And we got to visit with them afterwards.
• My stepdad got into a bit of a fender bender ... long story ... but we'll see what all happens.
  The only reason my mom knew about it was that his insurance agent called. Yup.
• I had cleaned the front rooms ... but they're mostly dirty again.
  But, since the kids have chore charts now, I forsee it being easier to keep the house in better order. Phew!

Yeah ... not the most exciting week. There were some good parts. And some crap bits, too.

I was asked, at rehearsal, if I was a dancer.
I replied that, no, I wasn't really one. I took dance from 2nd-5th grade. (I also did some swing in high school. Good times).
Apparently, I have "the look."
Which I can't totally figure it out. Was my makeup on a little heavy? Do I sport a certain carriage?
Who knows? Since I don't!

I can't think of anything else to add in this braindump of a post.