Wednesday, January 30, 2008

The Many Faces of Rachy

Snow

On Shoveling Snow

Monday found me shoveling about four inches of snow. The tragedy was that I had already gone out and back for the day (see WIC), leaving car tracks in the driveway. It is so hard to shovel once the snow has been driven on or walked on. I really doubles the work. The blessing was that my neighbor bought a new snowblower and he cleaned our front sidewalk. Let's not forget that we live on a corner and I must shovel the other side as well.

Last night it snowed all night and after the gym I shoveld another six inches or more this morning. My forearms ache. I think I have discovered why I haven't thrown my back out. I throw the snow from the sidewalk up and over the fence. Instead of twisting with my back I have to do more lifting with my arms. The driveway snow must be thrown over the mountains of snow in the yard. Up, up, up... That's the secret, don't you think?

I don't know how much more of this any of us can take. I do feel for the city. The old water main broke because of the cold and old age. They are spending thousands of dollars on maintaining snow plows... parts, overtime for employees, gas, salt/sand etc. Yucky. It has been quite the year.

The Dreaded WIC!

So... L and S didn't gain one pound in six months, therefore a follow up visit within two months was required. The date was set for January 28th (Happy Birthday Melissa Richmond... a friend from High School, I wish I knew where she was) and the hour was set for 9:30 a.m. A very early hour for me to have everyone ready. After getting B off to school, getting home from the gym, getting E off to work (like he needs a lot of help)... we jumped into the shower. A girl must be clean if she is to be weighed.



I forced the girls into their cute red sweaters I gave them for Christmas. For some reason they hate the sweaters... but I paid for them, they are cute and they must be worn. After much screaming, sweating (me) and many tears they were all dressed, socked and shoe-ed. Then the coats, and they must be zipped... and out to the van. Must buckle every girl in, climb into the back, don't forget Sarah. So many tinies! I was exhausted but we were going to get there on time!

Imagine my horror when I push the button on the door and it doesn't close. I have been here before. Sometimes E leaves the keys in the ignition and leaves the van on! Glancing up to see if the worst could be true, I see the keys in the ignition. The battery is dead, dead, dead.

I tried to call E but he didn't answer his phone. Every ring just got him deeper and deeper into trouble. Then I spotted a random battery just sitting in our garage. I hauled it over to the van, hooked up jumper cables and tried to fire up the van. Nothing but a wierd clicking noise. I tried calling E again but to no avail, so I went into the house to find WIC's number. Once inside I could hear E's phone ringing. Huh.

WIC didn't answer, I was on hold for at least ten minutes. When the lady did answer I was trying the van again and miraculously it started!! I was so excited I explained to the lady I would be right there... but she wanted to look up my file, see what type of appointment it was... blah, blah, blah. Then she said that I would have to reschedule because I probably couldn't get there in five minutes. I assured her I could, I was on my way. "Now you only have three minutes. That just regulations." Grrr... So, I had to reschedle for 1:30 p.m. that afternoon.

I decided to drive somewhere and charge the battery. I went to Target and found a $12 dress that is beautiful in black and white. I also bought some $1.74 shirts for R, L, and S. When they say 75% off they mean it.

At the WIC office later S had to go potty and B had to go stinkies. Annoying. Not very punishable. They called while we were in the bathroom and I went out front as quick as possible looking around for the ghost voice. Everyone was too busy to talk to me so we just stood there for about five minutes. Then I just went back and looked in every office asking them if they had called my name. Then all the cats fought over the magnet toy, just like they always do. Yelling, crying, pushing, hitting... all while the nutritionist is trying to talk to me. Fun.

Yet, I am thankful for the help. Thank you US government.

Oh, and I must add that both L and S had gained two pounds each. What? As a scientist, I feel that something is going wrong with the data collection.

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Is it wrong to rent "Dora Undercover" and just let the kids watch it over and over? Hmmm....

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Crush

I just picked up B from school. As I walked in Mikaela said, "Guess what Brigham's mom. Brigham has a crush on me."

My response was, "Does he even know what crush means?" When she nodded I asked, "Who taught him? Did you teach him what a crush is?" She just giggled.

When I later asked B if he liked Mikaela he said yes with his eyes all aglow. What the? His friend told him he should kiss her. That is going a too far. I have extracted from him a promise that he will never kiss girls, "except for you mom." Much better.

Ode to Grandpa Jack

Whew

What a crazy last few days we have had! I feel like we were run over by a truck. It was a nice truck for the most part.

Thursday before I went to pick up DiAnn from the airport I noticed some water flooding our basement. My theory was that the washer was broken. But since I was on a very strict schedule I tried not to think much about it. It would be fine if I didn't use the washer again. So, I picked up DiAnn, we picked up Brigham and packed, we picked up Elias and headed on our way to Vernal.

The viewing for Grandpa Jack was really nice. Getting to know relatives again, being able to ask questions about Mom and Grandma Edith. Oh, and it's always nice to be able to see Dad and Donna. I also loved going to JB's with only B and other family. It was such a treat that it deserves mention in the blog.

Friday a dream came true when I got up early with Di and went to the Vernal temple. That is where Dad and many grandparents went to church, now it is a beautiful temple. The people we talked to and those who helped us were down home good people. Sometimes I forget what that is like. DiAnn also had some very nice inspiration about staying true to our covenants and shooting out tendrils that will help gather family. Instead of judging others, we can live our best and love, that is the way to help...

The funeral was nice and I am glad he got buried in Dry Fork. I have a lot of fun memories of going to Dry Fork... Friday, however, was shockingly cold. When I die, I will try to make sure and pass away when it is warmer. Not that I blame Grandpa Jack at all. I just couldn't imagine how they even found where his grave was supposed to be under all of that snow, and how they dug in the ice cold dirt. Amazing.

The dinner was fun. I really want to keep making an effort to keep family close, and make sure that our kids are friends with all of their cousins. Keep family close for generations.

So, we drove home Friday. My kids ate cold cereal for dinner... and to bed. It was nice having DiAnn. I wish all of my sisters lived next door!

Saturday I took DiAnn to the airport... but by then we knew that the sewer was backing up into our basement. I called the city and they came out to make sure their lines were clear. The smell of human feces put E over the edge. He was crazy for the next 24 hours. He borrowed a shop vac and cleaned up the grossness. I called a plumber and they told me it would be $600! to clean out the main line, but even though they didn't have payment plans they accepted credit cards. Thankfully the city guys recommended a different plumber that apologetically charged $140 because it was a Saturday. What a nice blessing. They snaked the main line and cleared the problem right up. We will never know what the mystery clog was, but hallelujah it is gone!

Lester came by and invited us to eat hamburgers at his house. So we went over and ate and watched a movie. Yanira, the wife, is making me crazy because she believes that typical American food is hamburgers and pizza... and so that is all we eat. She thinks that I cook those for dinner all of the time! Making me crazy, but I survived.

I had to make the invites for our Visiting Teaching Conference. They turned out great for midnight work... I chose the theme, "...And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things. 1 Nephi 16:29"

Sunday church... the RS Pres. asked me if all was well with the VT conference. I told her it would be great and she just needed to show up. She has been a little nervous because she hasn't been in on any of the planning and is just leaving it all to me. Imagine my surprise when she stood up and said that she had been looking in the Conference issue for something about VT and she found a talk entitled, "By Small Means." She then proceeded to read something very similar to the theme I had chosen for the conference. That is proof that the Lord is guiding us if we let Him. He inspired both of us at different times, in different places to choose the exact same thing! What a nice testimony building experience.

Sunday night it started snowing before we went to bed. Monday morning at 2:30 a.m. Elias was called into work to fix snow plows. We were being dumped on again. He worked for 11 hours straight! He could have stayed there all night, but I kept calling to tell him he needed to come home, he needed to eat, etc. Two other mechanics came in and stayed while he came home.

Last night, or rather this morning, they called him in again at 5 a.m. He is still hard at work. This snow is really wearing us down! I shoveled yesterday, at least 8 or 9 inches. What a great workout. Our driveway seems so huge in the winter and living on the corner doubles the sidewalkidge. The sad news is that another storm is coming on Thursday. We might go crazy before then.

Congrats to all for making it this far in the blog... I just wanted you to get a taste of the exhaustion here in our home. Reading this huge blog has made you a little exhausted. Matchy, matchy.

Love ya!

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Fidelity

Well, I got asked out this morning at the gym. When I told E that I got asked out for the first time since we've been married he said, "That's something at least."

A couple of weeks ago I was on the tread mill and this guy made eye contact, I smiled and nodded, and he came right over to the machine next to me. It made me a little nervous and I carefully ignored him. When I had 2 minutes left to go he started yelling, "Katrina! Katrina!" He was trying to get my attention. I gave him a couple of minutes of attention, trying not to be rude but making it obvious that I needed to go... and I made a quick escape.

A couple of days later, I saw him change from the eliptical to the bikes when he saw me... but I was already done. He just had time to say hello before I took off.

Today I saw him again as I was walking out. He asked if I was going to teach, if I were a teacher. Spooky... I told him I was going home to take care of my kids. After asking if I were married he said, "Wow, your husband must have a good job." Yes, yes... Then he followed up with, "When are you going to go out to lunch with me?" Duh...

He assured me that it would just be as friends and I assured him that I didn't need any friends. I have all the male companionship I need in my husband.

As I was running away, he said he would be there tomorrow. Sweet... kidding.

Thank goodness I can't go tomorrow because E has to work early so we can head out for Vernal.

I kept thinking I should let Aunt Alice (Grandpa Walker's sister) and Glade Nelson (Mom's cousin) know that Grandpa Lent had passed away. Finally last night I got up the nerve. I was prodded on by the letter I received from Aunt Alice yesterday. How was that for a sign. So, armed with my high speed internet I was able to find phone numbers (and ages oddly enough) and I gave them a call. They were both so grateful that I had called. Aunt Alice said that she is sure she wouldn't have known otherwise... Glade said that he had already heard and was looking forward to seeing us all at the funeral.

I am not sure why sometimes I fight against listening to the Spirit. I guess it is because I'm just never sure. Instead of questioning everything maybe I should just plow ahead.

Tonight I have book club with a bunch of ladies as different from me as beans are from apples. What fun.

Oh, and hurrah for Ticee! She finally broke down and became friends with Bella, Edward and Jacob (I choose Jacob!).

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

Cute family

IT IS STILL SNOWING!

SNOW!

We are getting so much snow this year and right this minute. E is working on two cars right now so we don't get to park in the garage. The good thing is I will be so grateful when we get our garage back. The bad thing is we had a foot of snow on our cars this morning... Actually a little more because the snow from last week hasn't melted.

I went out and shoveled the foot of snow from our sidewalks. What a great time. Everything is so hushed and big snowflakes are falling all around. What quiet beauty. Also it is so rewarding to see the clear spaces where you have been. I love shoveling snow... until I hurt my back or something. But that hasn't happened yet. : ) The snow hasn't stopped and all of the walks and driveway are inches deep again.

My neighbor across the street was trying to get out of her driveway and got stuck. She was home alone so she got out of the car and tried to push it out into the street herself. I luckily saw her out the window and ran out to help. We budged it a little, then a hero pulled over to help push, so she could get in and drive it out.

I was worried about getting out of my driveway but I had to pick up Brigham from school. Right as I was loading my little monsters, along came Brother Wilcock in a little tractor. He cleaned my entrance to the driveway from the street, when I pulled out he cleaned our driveway. What a blessing. That is one good reason for switching to English church. : )

May you all be safe and warm...

Love,

Julie

Friday, January 04, 2008

Money... Who needs it?

This morning when I got home from the gym (oh yeah, I work out...) I noticed that I didn't warm up when I came into the house. To make a long story short, the ignitor in our furnace cracked and some grumpy, uneducated guy (he wasn't too bad) came and fixed it... $130!! It took him just a few minutes, grrr... but who can ignore the situation and not fix their furnace with four littles that don't want to just bundle up in more clothes even though it is sixty degrees in the house.

He also informed me that our builder never installed a filter on the furnace. Shouldn't that be against code or something? So rude! The blower and coil will need to be pulled out and cleaned and a filter installed. "That'll run ya about $700 bucks." Nice.

Now, on to nicer thoughts. This new computer and internet service is dreamy. It is like a whole new world has been opened up for me. Love it!

New Year's Eve was so much fun. Bonnie invited us over so we went for a couple of hours. The kids had so much fun playing with toys that don't belong to them. We had fun talking to adults. Then, Presidente Carrillo called to invite us to the Spanich branches dance/party. We left Bonnie's at 9:30ish with the plan to just stop by at the church and say hello to everyone then go home and hit the sack. We ended up having so much fun at the dance that we stayed till midnight. Hispanics really do just let go and have so much more fun than gringos. It was like being with a bunch of really close friends, which they are. So easy to love them from afar. I loved not worrying about table cloths or food, clean-up or paper cups. We had a blast.





Hopefully our Slade family get together can become at least a biannual event. I must apologize to Richard for making him take care of my kids while we went to copy the circle journal pages. And thank you to Janett and Ticee for all the help with the circle journals. I know it was torture, especially for Susan, but I can't wait for the finished product!

May I also say how much I enjoyed being a rock star, playing the drums and the guitar or singing. I kept saying how much fun it was and Jaren couldn't tell if I was being sarcastic or not... because I really was quite bad at it. I can see the importance of playing video games constantly to get better and better. One of these days I will be as good as Jaren on the guitar, watch out.



I didn't take any pics of Di's family since they escaped so early from Janett's. Luckily they stopped by to sleep a couple of hours at my house before heading home. May I just say that I love feeding them. They acted like they liked it! And luckily I got some "my spaceish" photos.