My Crazy Week!

Oh man! What a week!

Sunday we went to mass as usual, and after they had the ground breaking ceremony for the new education center that is being added to the church building. It was pretty fun! We got some cute pictures of our family helping break the ground.

Monday was the first night of CCD (for those of you who don't know what that is, it's like Catholic Sunday school/bible study for kids). I'm insane, and now I know it! Why? Because I'm teaching 1st graders from 5:30-6:30 and 6th graders from 7:00-8:00. I'm in WAY over my head! I think 1st grade went well. I taught kindergarten last year, so I have a lot of the same kids. It was pretty fun! Enter 6th grade. Of course my son was the one that had to be sent to the hall. Part because he was showing off. No, it was all because he was showing off. It seemed to me the more I tried to ingore him the more out of hand the whole class was getting. So I "made an example out of him." I tried to prepare for my 6th class, but the more I read my teacher's manual the more I got confused. I think the kids sensed that too because I felt like they were testing me, much like the Raptors on Jurassic Park test the electric fence--FOR WEAKNESS. I know that any second now they're going to attack me and eat me alive! It's kind of a scarry feeling!

Tuesday I started a walking routine with one of my friends that lives near me. We walked for a hour in the morning. I ran a half marathon in May and really haven't done much training since. We made it maybe 3 miles in an hour. I was pretty bummed about that. Maybe I'll run at night after CCD. Heaven knows I'm going to need some kind of "down" on Monday nights.

Wednesday I started Tiger Cub Scouts with Kael. Some how I was talked into being the leader for that too. I think Pete volunteered me for that, because the Cub Master was talking about how the den usually needs a leader but this year they have one already. Then he looked at me and said, "Right?" I said, "I think Pete said he'll do it when he gets done with Webelos." and he said to me, "Well, we need someone to fill out the leader application. So I'll let you do it." And so I said...nothing. I went along with it. Ugh. I thought it was fun, and I enjoyed it, but why do I let myself get so dang busy??

Today is Thursday and I told Pete that I would go to RCIA with him. RCIA is classes for adults who are interested in joining/learning more about the Catholic faith. I guess if you haven't received all of your sacraments you go to RCIA too. Pete wants me to go with him every Thursday, so he is talking about hiring a babysitter every week.

Oh yeah, and Kael is home sick today. I'm supposed to go volunteer at Syracuse Arts Academy in the lunchroom today. Don't know what kind of miracle I'm going to have to perform to make that happen. But, I have done well with this crazy week so far...what's one more thing. Right?

My Kids Owe Me Money

About a week ago my Chocolate Lab, Maia (said My-uh), escaped from my yard. I guess she wanted to go play at the park because a Davis County Sheriff found her swimming at Jensen Pond here in Syracuse. She was arrested and sent to the Davis County Dog Jail.

I was in Murray at the time with my neice Haley and my mom because it was Haley's first day of kindergarten. Right when I got home the Davis County Dog Jail called me and let me know my dog was "under arrested" as Kael says.

I thought at the time that maybe this naughty neighbor kid opened my gate to play in my backyard and didn't close it, but then after a little investigation came to know that Devon and Kael had left it open.

So my kids owe me $56 each. They're not too happy about it. They are working for me to pay me back. Devon is currently mowing the lawn and Kael is washing baseboards. They have mopped all the hard floors in my house, vacuumed, dusted, put away laundry, washed dishes and pulled some weeds. I think they are going to learn how to sort, wash, dry and fold laundry, wash the bathroom, clean the fridge, wash my van, vacuum my van, wash windows in my van, dust my van and repeat all that for Pete's car.

Ahh...this is the cushiest (is that even a word) Saturday I've ever had! I only had 1 haircut and a facial wax today in the salon. I think I'm going to make time to do my own nails and maybe rent a movie to watch with my husband while my kids do all my chores!

Boy Scout Store

So today I had to go to Ogden for a Dr. appointment for Devon. After we were done with that we went and picked up Peter since he rode the FrontRunner to work, then we headed to the Boy Scout store!

Man! I love that store! When I have to go I think, "Ugh, I don't want to go there. It's so far out of the way..." Then I get there and I'm like a kid in a candy shop! "Oooo look at this cool thing Devon would love!" "Oooo they have wrapping paper!" "Oooo now Kael is a Tiger now he'll need this!" "Oooo look at all the cute scrapbook paper that they didn't have here last time so I have to get!"

Long story short...we left with lots of things we didn't really need and $90 lighter in the wallet.

Big Shot!

So today I had preschool and realized that I REALLY could use the Big Shot from Stampin' Up! in preschool.

What is the Big Shot? It's a FABULOUS die-cutting system that can cut through 50 different materials! The materials that I'm excited about are felt, chipboard, card stock, leather, vinyl and lace.

Anyway, back to preschool! The kids were learning how to use the scissors and they were sensitive about how it wasn't perfect. One little boy almost cried because he ripped his heart a little. I tried telling them that it was okay and they will get better and we'll keep practicing, but I could tell that they were still bummed. I thought, "If I had the Big Shot then after doing this we could cut something out with that and glue it on to this and they'd be happy again."

And I could really use it for scrapbooking, and decorating my house, and making gifts for friends, and I could come up with a million more reasons to get one! You should check it out! I added the link to it under "Aubrie's Awesome Links!" You can check out the different materials on the link too!

I have a blog!

So when I first heard of "blogs" I thought, "That's one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard of!"

Then I started seeing these cute blogs of friends of mine.

Then I started reading these cute blogs.

Then I started wanting one of these cute blogs.

I mean, isn't a blog like those Christmas letters I mail out with Christmas cards every year? Only this way I don't have to try and fit everything on a tiny piece of paper. Oh yeah, and I don't have to mail it! Yep, last years Christmas cards are done, CUTE and sitting on my scrapbooking table. Peter sighs almost every time he passes them. A lot of good they'll do me now...9 months later!

And isn't a blog like a journal? Some advice my mother-in-law gave me when she lived with us was, "Keep a journal." I've had journals before. In fact I have one now. I haven't written in it for like 4 or 5 years. And even then it was pretty much just my take on current events in the news. Keeping a calendar with all of our family events and scrapbooking is like a journal, right? I didn't think so either.

Enter my blog! The sweet answer to my problems! Not all my problems, mind you... but an answer all the same!