A new chain of events.

Wow.

My first post in months. So. It's been way too long to go over everything that's been going on, even if I could remember all of it! So I'll start in August/ September. That is when we decided we could no longer hold out much longer, and I had to get back into the work force. One of my dear friends in RL convinced me it was in our family's best interest for me to become a CNA. And shortly after that... I felt I needed to take it one step further and get an Associates RN degree. While working towards my other educational goals. Ok. You can say it. I'm officially crazy. I know. But it's fun!

So I took the course in September. Oh. Fun side note. Towards the end of the course, we discovered that DS needed a surgery. Which was scheduled for early October, just after my course had ended. I started Job hunting. The day of the surgery was a bit crazy. We left the girls with Grandma, and got up way too early, helped him through the surgery, got back, both exhausted and ready to rest. I checked the answering machine, where there was a message waiting for me from one of the locations I had dropped off an application with. I call them back, and get asked to come in for an interview that day. I accept the job the following day. DS is totally doing great, just so you know. Didn't want you to think I'd forgotten him.

First day on the Job was October 20th. It's going great! As of late November, Early December, I became an Official Certified Nurses Assistant. Note to self: need to do more follow ups soon!

Another Special Post

This is a particularly special post for me. Granted, it's about a week or so overdue, but, hey, better late than never!

My Dearest and I celebrated our wonderful anniversary on the 16th of July. We started off the day (after sleeping in a touch....) by going to the Temple. After that we had a blast tubing down the Provo River. I had never been tubing before, but my Dearest had been. Ironically, I didn't tip out of my tube, but He sure did!

For any of the readers out there in the Provo area, yes, this was the day of the "accident" on the Provo River. We got home 45 minutes before the tragic victim was pulled out. Our hearts go out to her family and loved ones during the hard times they have right now.

I got a rather nice, light, tan too! I haven't had one of those since I was on Swim Team... years ago.. 8 years I believe.

In case my Dearest ever reads this (which most likely will only be if he checks to see if it's updated next month) :

You are my World. Thank You for the Best Years of my life. "God must have Spent a little more time on you". You are my best friend. Thanks for everything.

My Busy Week.

We had a very full week. I spent the early days sewing my pants off for Friday. I, unfortunately, was unable to do much if any cleaning due to my being behind elsewhere.

Wednesday I had the fun opportunity to carpool with my now- new SIL, SL, to pick up my Mom, Dad, and Older brother C from the airport. We had so much fun chatting and visiting. And I hadn't seen C (I'll refer to him as CP for clarity sake) since I was pregnant with now two year old RB. He hadn't met her or RA yet, and it was SO much fun to see him with them. I carpooled with CP, SL, C, RB, and RA, with E went with my parents in their rental car, and we all drove up to the northern part of the state to visit my Great- Grandmother W. That was nice visit, and the kids played in the yard with the aunts and uncle CP while Grandpa (my dad) and Grandma visited with my Great Uncle and Great Grandma (getting confused yet with all the initials?)
We spent about 3-4 hours in the car on Wednesday.

Thursday We went swimming after running a few errands with Grandma, and basically played all day. We had a lot of fun.

Friday was extra Special, CP and SL got married on Friday. I actually ended up finishing some of the outfits as J drove us down to the city where they were getting married, Manti. I swear I packed a needle to finish sewing on buttons.... But I couldn't find it! And once we got into Spanish Fork Canyon, the towns were so little we couldn't FIND a store with a needle until we were only 1 or 2 towns north of Manti! LOL! But I got the buttons Sewed on! I don't think I've mentioned it previously, but We belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and the couple were to be married in the Manti Temple. It was simply gorgeous! It was a breath taking experience. So wonderful to be included on their special day, Thanks Guys!

Saturday Mom took me shopping, we got several nice outfits, and played most of the day. and then we had to bid our tearful farewell.

And then today we managed to get out the door for 9:00 am Church. What a week! But it was wonderful. And now I'm ready to get back to our schedule and schooling, with a day or so off for a very Special day which I will most likely right about next time. Who ever thought I'd look forward to Cleaning house, washing dishes, and doing Laundry, but I am! Thanks for reading and I'll post again soon!

A Belated Post in Honor of Independence Day

Because of the hectic goings on the last week or two at my house, I've been unable to post before now. But I wanted to be sure I marked this special occasion and do some sort of a remembrance on my blog, although I'm sure no one reads it.

We celebrated the day, although not fully how I would like to in the future, by going to the local Parade, we had a cake, and we took the kids to see fireworks for the first time after J got off of work.

We did try to at least explain to our older kids that it was America's birthday. But there is so much more to it than just that. Yes. It is the Country's birthday, but it's also a remembrance of what was Fought for and won by those that came before us. It is a day to remember and be grateful for those rights and privileges that were so dearly treasured that are often taken for granted.

I find that on Independence day, if I have a chance to ponder at all, I have a desire to be a more patriotic citizen, and to try and let my voice be heard when it's time to fight to keep those values and rights that we fought so long ago to have today. I have a lot of respect for those that protect our country, specifically the military and different branches therein. I don't know that I have what it takes to be one of them, although I won't even attempt to find out with my family. But there are other ways to fight for our country and our freedoms. Maybe that's something I should work on finding opportunities to do- fighting a more quiet, but just as needed, battle here and there for the rights and freedoms that we enjoy as Americans. Fighting for not just the Legal, but the moral and right privileges as well.

God Bless America. Stand beside her, and guide her, through the night with a light from above.

A Special Post.

My little girl, "RB", turned 2 yesterday.

She is so wonderful, and although she's reached the 2s, so far it hasn't been too bad. A little fussier than normal, and trying to find out more of her limits and individuality, but I find, either because this is the 3rd time through it, or because she's more mild, it's much easier now than it was for E and C.

We had some family and friends help us celebrate, and I did my normal "thing" for the birthday and made a cake. I made a cupcake-cake. Now, I like my cakes to match the theme, if there is one, either whatever seems to suite the child most or to match the presents for birthdays. For RB, I didn't know what direction to go. She's my, so far, more "girly" daughter. She's never shown interest in princessy stuff, and she didn't seem to have a favorite toy category (like C did for the past 2 birthdays, this year was Thomas the Tank Engine, last year was Lightening McQueen, or E who had her horses this year).

So I went for a "symbol" of what made me think of her. For C, it's boy stuff in general, for E, it is ducks, bunnies (used to be a nickname), and now horses. For RB, I always think of flowers or butterflies. I picked butterflies, and decorated the cupcakes as a single cake with a large purple butterfly. It's not great, but it's not to bad. I'll post a picture(My first Blog Picture) later. And now I find myself thinking "Oh, hey, I could do this (What did you think I would tell my plan for my creation THIS early to Independence Day?). So, Stay tuned for the next posts from One Crazy Lady, as I get knee-deep in schooling, work, sewing, and cake decorating this week. Maybe after that I'll do some fiber-processing and get to post about THAT! Thanks for reading!

Added Note: As you can see, I added the picture! Let me know what you think, and suggestions for improvements!

The Importance of a Schedule.

For those of you that know me, really know me, you know I have struggled with getting the right balanced schedule up and running. This week I have come to realize on a more spiritual and nurturing level just how important scheduling and routines are.

I was reading some blogs on Monday, especially the one I recently started following, too many kids in the bathtub, reading some past posts. I found myself pulled to THAT level of organization, without the aid of a hired hand assisting, and to that level of CALM. I have a lot going on at any given time, and it's hard to keep up if I'm not doing the right balance, and some weeks it seems that the whole balancing act is so teetering that I come very close to breaking a few proverbial dishes. So I read on. I do FLY Lady, and it really has helped TONS, but I found myself trying to do all or nothing, no matter how I tried to pace myself. Her system isn't flawed, it's just my impatience with myself. But anyway, on Monday I wrote up a routine on the white board I used many months ago for the Letter of the Week program (Although I no longer use it, I highly recommend it for new to home schooling mothers with very young children). I'm so proud of myself. I've gone a full 5 days of sticking to my routine and yet still being able to do things like a spontaneous errand in the afternoons.

We are still working on the bed time thing, but I've been waking them up promptly at 7:00 am, with an immediate breakfast (we'll see if that adjusts at all in time). I got them dressed complete with hair and teeth by 8:00, which was morning chores/clean up time. School starts at 9. Before their schooling, I'm sad to admit was hit and miss, and more miss than hit. This week we schooled Tues-Friday, although I am planning on doing it Mon-Saturday, with Saturday only being a light review day. I know, I'm an evil mom. I'm schooling my kids throughout the summer, 6 days a week. And the oldest child is 4 years old.

And how are they handling the summer being "stolen"? They are loving it! I decided today would be a treat, and no school today, so we did our review day yesterday. Tonight at scripture study they told me they "wanted to go to school tonight". E is making sure progress on her phonics, which is really heartening since they really weren't sticking before. Her numbers are getting there, and counting is more accurate. Shapes are better, as are the colors. C is having a bit more of a hard time, as he is resisting bedtime the hardest and he keeps getting timeouts during class time for disruptive behavior. I will be watching to see how/if that improves as the schedule becomes more routine. RB is also doing better with shapes and colors, (not focusing as much on phonics seeing as too how young she is). They are better behaved all around and get more outside time as a result.

The best result: I'm doing a much better job of being a decent Christian, and a decent mother. I am somewhat calmer, and feel more put together. Even though my house isn't too much cleaner, it feels more loving, kind, and tidy in an odd sort of way. Life is good.

My week in which I canned for the first time.

This week has been most interesting for me. A few days ago, I went and ran errands that I normally would have spaced. I actually got a packaged mailed off in time for it to reach my father in time for Father's Day (that was HUGE for me, let me tell you). One of the local grocer's chains in my area, a town south, had a special sale on Strawberries and Raspberries. So I got 2 flats of each, $9.99 a pop. Then I went one town further south to take advantage of a Joann's sale. I was able to finish getting the fabric I needed to finish outfits for myself, my husband, and C for a wedding coming next month. I had so much fun! I bought far more than I had planned on, but I saved more than I spent! Now how often can you say that? My fabric was 50% off, and I got some decorating items for the house, they were almost half price, knitting needles that were clearance, some yarn and pony-tail bands to dress up, some beads for jewelry, and a little tin to temporarily keep the beads in while I'm focused elsewhere.

So my NEW adventure this week has been making Jams! I was so terrified that I would be like Amy March whose jams/jelly's wouldn't Gel! lol. Yeah, no worries there! I made 1 batch of strawberry jam Tuesday night, made a few more and a couple of Raspberry on Wednesday. We did a little sampling on Thursday- yea, the first batch of Strawberry jam we are calling "Strawberry Jam Candy" as its a little too thick to be considered jam.. but it's YUMMY! Both types are really delicious, and I'm super thrilled at the results of my first "Jamming" Session. Which brings us to today. Keep in mind I have not been able to thoroughly finish off the strawberries I bought yet, I'm switching recipes to one with more ingredients and yet simpler. Today, my darling husband bought 3 more flats of Raspberries, and 5 more of Strawberries. Wow.

So tonight I'm spending time getting the house clean so tomorrow I can finish putting away all these berries. They are very tasty and I am enjoying the process but holy cow, talk about volume for a first timer!

But hey, we should have a "Berry" good time of it!... OK, bad pun. I'm done now. Happy Canning!