Christmas

Andrew got up four times the night Santa came to our home. Luckily, Santa sneaked in and out without being spotted. Randall got out of the bed first Christmas morning and checked the status of the living room. Not a creature was seen but Andrew's stocking had definitely been ruffled. I got up and could hear three tiny boy voices behind Peter's door. After a quick shave and a haircut knock, I was given admittance. The boys were given the green light to come out and the excitement began.

We took a lot of pictures of everyone opening gifts. I am dumping them on FB because it's easier, so check there for all the fun details. Santa did a good job this year, though Andrew was certain Mouse Trap was not for him because it was a family game. Thankfully, by the end of the day Andrew was in love with the idea of being the sole owner of a "Rube Goldberg". Blake loves his dragon and Peter feels that Santa knew exactly what he wanted. I'd like to thank Target for our stockings. I don't know what I would have done without the dollar section. So awesome.

G&G McBeth provided new suits for the boys. The boys look so dapper we've given them their own titles. Blake is The Brain. Peter is The Muscle. Andrew is The Money Man. G&G Larsen gave each of the boys some sort of art/craft. My boys do something crafty every day without fail, so it was a huge hit. Their Great G&G McBeth gave yoyo's and a new shirt. Their GGp's AMAZE ME! I'm so grateful for the time and love they put into Christmas every year. It's so special.

Randall and I had lovely after-naps. The boys played and played without fail.

And the food! I love me some food! Bacon, eggs, homemade cinnamon rolls, and egg nog for breakfast. Ham, mashed potatoes, fruit salad, and green beans for dinner. Lots of unhealthiness in between.

But the icing on the cake for me was playing Mouse Trap as a family then singing Christmas carols over Skype to my parents.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve did not disappoint. The morning began with a double batch of biscuits and gravy. Randall's brother and his family came over after breakfast. The boys opened presents (mostly gifts with wheels) as the adults chatted. My sister-in-law and myself got each other the Leven Thumps series -thank you Deseret Books. All the kids built gingerbread houses and our kid's roof was so heavy with candy, it toppled over completely. The boys also colored a bit. It was wonderful to spend this time of year with family.
Every Christmas Eve we open one present, which is always new pajamas. This year I decided to take old fleece and flannel that used to be curtains and bedding, and make snuggies and pajama pants. Last minute I thought I'd better go pick up some shirts to match and added patches to the shirts so they'd go together.
The boys were slightly confused when they began to open their gifts. Blake, always excited to open anything, exclaimed, "A blanket!" when looking at the pajama pants. I had to instruct the boys to open it completely so they could understand what they were seeing. They all pulled the pajamas out but didn't unfold them, still just thinking they were some sort of blanket. Once they realized they were pajamas, they were "all aboard!" They turned out so cute, I still can't get over it myself! (*I do need to add a cuff to Peter's pants. I hadn't realized the pj pant I used as a template was too small. But no biggie. Easily fixed.)
Next they opened the snuggies. Again they just thought it was a blanket. Again we instructed them to really look at it. Peter saw the arm holes first, Andrew yelled, "Snuggies!" and Blake yelled, "My cape!"
Eventually we started to chill, watched and fell asleep to Santa Clause 2. After putting the kids to bed I had to wake up again to get started on the rest of the night. Being pregnant, it's not so easy to wake back up. But Randall and I got into the groove of things and got things ready for the next day in a good amount of time.

To delete or not to delete, that is the question

So I've been thinking lately about the pro's and con's of Facebook. I'm sure I don't need to make a list because most of you have facebook and probably have the same list I do. So I've been thinking, is it really worth it? It's really nice to keep in touch with people from my past and it's so easy to keep up with my family. But, honestly, maybe I shouldn't be clinging on so tightly to my past. I do have a life in the here and the now. So does having Facebook enrich my life or detract from my life? Living in the now, in my home, with my husband and kids and school and work and extracurricular and church and neighborhood... there are a lot of things that pull for my attention. I am thinking I should simplify and cut out the unneccesaries, the distractions, the complications. What are your two cents?

The perfect time to blog

There is a solid reason why when I die I would like my husband to burn my journals without opening them. He could even scatter the remains somewhere if he so chose to. The only time I feel like writing, blogging, journaling, etc, is when I'm thinking about something intently, usually on the darker side (again, sorry for using the term sexual being), or am just ticked off about something. The latter is what brought me here today. I should really change my blog from a family blog to The Personal Rantings of the Insane Mother. Or something like that.
So here's my beef. Why do people allow their dogs to poop in others yards. I'm not talking about pooping up in the front, near the sidewalk, but traipsing all through the yard and up the side yard near the back fence and doing business. There's no way an owner doesn't know what's going on. And then to not feel obligated to pick up after their dog... seriously. I wish I had a bbgun. I would seriously wake up early and sit inside, nearby the window and just wait. I could take the screen down and crack the window. Place the tip of the gun through the small space so no one would detect it but it would be ready at a moments notice. Then: BAM! BING! lesson: learned.
Here's my bigger beef. I put together a party for a non-profit organization called Freedom Stones. They help stop human trafficking and teach mothers to become entrepreneurs so the can take care of their families. Check them out. Anyway, I invited almost 50 women. I invited all the women I have contact with from my previous ward in Carrollton, my current ward, and friends and acquaintances from the gym. I sent out evites. One of the best and most effective way to invite people, don't you think? So easy to view the invitation, and all you have to do is click the yes or no button. RSVPing made simple.
How many people responded to your evite? Welllll, I had three or four people send me personal message via facebook letting me know they couldn't make it. Very kind. Very thoughtful. Love them all. On my evite I had ZERO no replies! Impressive eh? No one cannot come. Oh but wait a minute. Zero replies yes? Huh. Did anyone even open up the evite? Did anyone look? Can anyone come? Does anyone care? Well, it's a mystery because I'm not a mindreader. Really wishing I had that power right now. So, I had to email the non-profit rep and cancel the party. How can I host the party when I expect no one to show? So big bummer.
It's one thing to have 15 people RSVP and then have 18 show or even 20 show. It's another thing to have not one person at all find the 2 seconds it takes to click on a yes or no button, or even the 5-10 seconds it takes to open up the evite.
So upset.
Can you tell?
What makes it worse is that I haven't thrown any sort of party for the last 5 years because the last time I hosted a party no one showed. It was a more typical party selling Do Re Mi and You products (fantastic musical toys for children. They are a part of Kindermusik if you've heard of them.)It was so upsetting to me that I never wanted to host a party again.
I changed my mind for this party because it was for such a great cause and I thought for sure I'd get a decent response.
Lesson: learned.

hoo haw

hee haw hoo haw Wee nee three tree see dee me we weenie meanie silly billy philly cheese stake sandwich bar road tire car hat dog firt run where now if then can cow hit ball underscore top bottom feet toe words thoughts dogs neat poop kill pellet shades tree neck necklace freedom stones tires cry tear laugh long blake threat tried won fought hard window airplane yelling noise spoon bowl loud air sky cloud fluffy animal stuffed trashed can my name is earl hick sword sock puppet talent-ish show yodel opera laugh clap funny tired kicks high hot dog hot dog hot diggity dog sleep funny nail pink tired pain neck hurt stiff back pinch pull stretch fat calories msg food eat too much more words thought steam lakes valley give said the little steam give oh give give oh give summer time oh what do you do in the summer time when al lthe world is green fish steam lazily lethargic tap tap tap punch punch punch keyboard letters sentences words.

There. There's one word thoughts that came out of my head in real time. I couldn't think of anything to blog so I thought I'd just type some words. Enjoy, my six followers.

All better

I apparently have the cutest blog on the block. ;)

What the?

Why is my blog orange? I didn't change my background setting. Interesting. I'll fix it later. Sorry it's impossible to read.

A good morning to Blog

My house is quiet, I cleaned last night so my house is clean, two of my three are still asleep, and Peter is awake but reading a book. Ah, life is sweet.
It's been a while since I blogged last. Randall had his 33rd birthday and Peter had his 7th. We had a pool party for Peter and I took Randall on a double date with his brother and wife. Both events were a blast. I'm still dreaming about the next time I can go to Yogurtland. I need to sample more pistachio. (A great flavor in a sample size, but I can't imagine eating a whole bowl of it.)
I am excited for school to start at the end of August. It's so close now. I am pretty much over having no schedule, sleeping in, etc etc. I need some order and organization. i am also crossing my fingers that I can get a gym membership when school starts. I've been consistently, though slowly, gaining weight since I moved here and it's no bueno.
This morning I was thinking about the balance of spiritual and physical things. I'll keep this blog G rated so I'll just say this. Tonght I have the opportunity to either go to a club to dance or go to the temple. I was suppose to go to dinner and then dancing with women from the gym but it fizzled out. So I sent a message to a separate friend from the gym to see if she wanted to go out dancing. But since my plans failed with the initial group I was thinking I should take the opportunity to go to the temple. My problem isn't necessarily with the choice between the temple or dancing. My problem is mostly whether or not it is appropriate as a Latter-Day Saint to go dancing in the first place. I know that the places to go dancing have people that drink and smoke. I know the songs they play are overtly sexual. And I know that when I dance I tend to "shake it like a polaroid picture". But here's my beef. Dancing is one of the only outlets I have to feel like a physical person. I spend the rest of my life poised and proper, which is good and fine, but it doesn't help me... how can I say this when I'm not sure who's reading this... feel like a sexual being. I think it's important to feel that way because it affects my physical relationship with my spouse. So I know for me in order to have a more satisfying love life I need to connect to that side of me, but I feel like in order to connect with that side of who I am as a human being, I am doing something wrong in the eyes of the church. Isn't that a hard one? This is what I think. I think it's okay for me to go dancing. I think it's good for me to find ways to see myself in a more "physical being" sort of way. And when I think of other ways to get in touch with that side of me, the only things I can come up with are generally drinking or pornography related. And I'll never go there. Maybe some people out there who read this don't have problems feeling sexy or "physically motivated" (that's a good one. lol) but I always have. I know, for those of you that knew me before marriage, it's all very surprising. Oh well. Deal with it.
When I am exercising and in great shape that really helps my sex drive. And that's a great wholesome outlet. But it's just not enough for me. I need to connect with my body. But I don't want to feel guilty doing it. And no, country line dancing and formal ballroom dancing does not do it for me, and plus my hubby doesn't dance. So it's just me and the girls shaking our groove thang.
And here's my second problem. I really can't handle being fully attired when I dance hard. It's totally an aerobic workout. But it's not a gym setting and again I'd feel guilty if I dressed like I do at the gym. Get me?
So here I am. I feel bad and guilty and I'm not sure if it's because I should feel bad and guilty, or if I should let it go. When I first went to the temple I had trouble not feeling guilty about wearing workout attire as I worked out. I sweat A LOT and realized if I didn't want to constantly overheat I needed to wear tanktops. I felt guilty about not wearing a t-shirt but knew I needed to get over my guilt because it was an appropriate venue to wear a tank top. Is this the same senario? huh.

We've been busy!

Boy we've actually had things happening lately. Usually I don't want to write on my blog because then everyone will no how nothing ever happens here. Now I don't want to write because there are so many things to say. So how about I make a top ten things that has happened to this family over the last couple of weeks. This is in no particular order of awesomeness.
1. Saw Wicked with Randall
2. Made a rainbow cake for Andrew's birthday using skittles- Oh, we tasted the rainbow.
3.Went bowling as a family for Andrew's Bday- Andrew's idea.
4. Attended a ward swim party/potluck
5. Went "swimming" with the YW (sat out with the other "too cool for pool" Laurels)
6. Taught my last class for LA Fitness
7. Spoiled my hubby on Father's Day
8. Enjoyed a Father's Day dinner with my bro-in-laws family
9. Watched Looney Tunes cartoons (yes, it's important enough to get it's own number)
10. Started doing morning scripture study and journal writing with my sons

And now for pictures! YIPPEE!

My family

I know I should just re-title my blog from Just Us to Just Me because I hardly blog about my family anymore. I am not totally redeeming myself now, either. I couldn't get Facebook to upload these pics today and after hitting my head on the wall for an hour it occurred to me that I could just post them here. WELL DUH! So, this is my family as of today. The last time we took family pics we were all snazzy looking and I thought it would be nice to have a real family photo. So this is what we really look like after getting home from church. Everyone immediately changed out of their church clothes except for Blake and myself. And Blake only stays in the same clothes because he doesn't know how to unbutton his dress shirt yet. I have gone through periods of staying in or changing out of my Sunday clothes after church. Sometimes I feel as if staying dressed helps me remember that it's still the sabbath. Other times I realize there's no keeping up with three boys in a skirt.
I made shakes for everyone and forced everyone outside to drink them. Lovingly forced. So lovingly they might have thought it was their idea. I really enjoy sitting outside on the driveway, I find it very peaceful.
Anyway, while sitting there looking at the hodgepodge Larsen clan I thought, "How perfect. This is the way it really is. This is my life. This is our life." So here we are. Uncensored. No forceful happy faces or, "Everyone smile! Be happy!"
Just Us.

Pete-ography

A year ago,
almost, I upgraded phones. Since my old phone was still in good condition I gave it to Peter. I told him it didn't work as a phone anymore but the camera worked so he could use it to take pictures. He has enjoyed having a camera phone so much. He takes way too many pictures to post them all, but I thought I'd post a few. It's funny to see what he chooses to photograph. It's also funny how he'll take one thing and photograph it from many angles. He will also do videos but I haven't even taken the time to watch all of them. Most of his videos are of him talking or laughing or doing something silly. Also, probably a third of his pictures are of himself making all sorts of faces.
Yes, chances are he gets this from me, self-absorbed Mommy that I am. But I don't want to take credit for all of it. Every once in a while he really surprises me. He has a pretty good eye and some potential. It'll be fun when he's a bit older to get him a real camera and teach him how to use it.
This is just an example of how children at such a young age already come equipped with likes and dislikes. As parents we are like spies or detectives, keeping watch, unearthing clues, trying to steer our kids in the right directions so they can find themselves and be pleased with who they are and know who they want to be.
I stress a lot, as I'm sure most of you do, about which activities to put my children in. Between sports and arts and hobbies and and and. Oh, it's hard to figure it out. So I am grateful that sometimes our children make it obvious to us.
Thank you Peter, my favorite Pete-ographer.

Goals

We open the scene in the Young Woman's room. 12 giggly girls between the ages of 12 and 18 are sitting around talking about their goals.
"I want to go to BYU," one lady cries.
"I want to go on a mission," another one chimes in.
"How about getting married in the temple?"
All the girls cheer.
"Kids?
"5!" "2!" "Um, 1?" "12!"
"12?!"
More laughing and giggles.
Zoom in to the tall blonde girl.
"I don't know."
"What do you mean you don't know? Everyone has a number."
"I don't."
Scoffing.
"What. God hasn't told me yet."
Pshahs all around.

Fast forward fifteen years... and now what?

When I was a teen we talked so much about our futures, we set goals, made plans, stuck to our guns, fought for our beliefs, held our heads high, and achieved, achieved, achieved. Let's check my to do list.
1) Graduate HS- Check
2) Go to BYU- Check
3) Graduate from BYU- Check
4) Marry a Return Missionary- Check
5) In the temple- Check
6) In the San Diego temple- Check
7) Have kids- Check

Now what?
Maybe we can only set goals ten to fifteen years in advance and maybe there is a limit to how many future goals one should set. But didn't anyone think maybe we should have goals once we got married? Once we had those kids? Or did we just have this undercurrent of dewy eyed "And they lived happily ever after"?

And here's my other problem.
I was always told we should live without regret. That those who make the right choices, choose the right paths, when they are old and gray will be at peace because they have nothing to regret. But here's something to think about. Who says that those paths we thought were right and good were actually right and good and that those paths, those "good choices" "good goals", would be good paths. We can control our choices. We can choose the path that we travel. But we don't get to decide what lies along that path.

I'll be honest, because I'm not really complaining about my specific choices in my life, I'm not wishing I hadn't gotten married in the temple or had children or any of those things. I'm happy about my choices. But as those choices have turned into paths that I now ride like the currents of a river wild, who's to say I won't look back and have regrets. Maybe I won't regret my BIG GOALS but I can sure as anything regret some of the minor choices along those main paths.

Here's what I'm getting at. First, setting goals is important and we should always be making large goals to work toward or life will become meaningless no matter how grand those previous accomplishments were. Second, even when we accomplish our goals, no matter how good or right they may be, we are still susceptible to questioning, regretting, wishing, and wanting to change things.

No wonder people go through Mid-life crisis's. We work through most of our lives inventing ourselves and then begin the daily grind of being adults, working 9-5, raising children, and just being happy when a kid pees in the toilet instead of the floor. We loose that hope and drive that we use to have by having goals and dreams. Life is here for us to work toward something and once we get to that something we worked for, we need to pat ourselves on the back, take pictures, blog about it, then move on and make another goal. That's where we get meaning and purpose in life- in the working and the doing. Accomplishment is fleeting. It feels so good and then it's in the past. As someone once told me, you can only tell the stories about your mission so many times. Once a certain period is past, if you haven't created new experiences and new stories, you're in trouble.

I think that's how we begin to regret choices, even good choices, even minor good decisions. We stop making goals and stop have big accomplishments. We gradually loose meaning and the past meaning to our lives can no longer buoy us up. We begin to wonder why we even bothered so many years ago. Or we begin to think that we were such ignorant children back then to think those things would make us happy.

We were right. Those good choices would make us happy. But, as I'll say one last time, they don't carry us through the next 60 years of our lives.

So,what are your goals? How do you maintain meaning in your life? How do you propel life forward? Or is the ticking clock just shoving you along?

To Gym or Not to Gym

That is the question. What is the question? That is. That! Right there, in the title. Geeze.
So here's my deal. I now live 18 miles to the nearest LA Fitness- about a 25 minute drive. I teach two Aquafit classes a week ( Wed and Sat mornings). I get paid 14.00 a class.
Is it worth it?
I don't ever get to workout at the gym because I live so far away and cannot afford the gas money to drive there and back every day.
Is it worth it?
I love teaching my classes.
Is it worth it?
I cannot seem to go a week without some sort of drama where I feel like I'm going to get fired.
Is it worth it?
I continually get calls to substitute classes that are 45-60 minutes from me, which I repeatedly turn down, which makes me feel guilty and upset that they would even ask.
I've been reprimanded in front of my class by a General Manager because I upheld an LA Fitness policy that made a member upset.
Is it worth it?
It seems the only good thing about working for the gym is teaching my class and every other element is stressful, upsetting, and down right just sucky. Every moment that I'm not in class I think about quitting. Every moment I'm teaching a class and talking to members I cannot imagine giving it up. I was threatened to be fired by the Class Coordinator over the DFW area if I didn't teach more than one class while I was going through my move. Before my move I had previously had a great track record of having many classes, subbing very often, and just being a great team player. The second I have to back off and do something for myself I am mistreated and accused of only working there for the "perks"- $14 a class and a free membership worth $20. Need I mention that starting wage at most other gyms are at least ten dollars more per class? And I don't even get to use the gym for my personal workout anymore because I live too far and am just too poor.
Is it worth it?
I love the LA Fitness gym. I love the layout, the facilities, and the classes.
Is it worth it?
I figure I have two options:
1. I can quit.
2. I can start driving to the gym every day and taking advantage of my "perks", loosing money, but at least personally gaining more for the sacrifice of putting up with everyone's crap.
Did I mention that I really do love teaching?
Is it worth it?

P.S. Before you tell me, well Sara why don't you just go work for another gym? let me tell you that I did a miserable audition for 24 Hr Fitness, failed miserably, and refuse to do it again. I don't like the facility in my area (even though it's only a few years old), and their kids club policy of allowing only one parent to check kids in at a time creates a huge line that would necessitate me getting there very early just to teach and I think that's dumb. I know, there are smaller gyms. My Dad googled gyms in my area, thanks Dad. And I've thought about certifying as a Personal Trainer. I can teach classes out of my neighborhood, even... probably. But that doesn't fix my problem with what to do about LA Fitness.

Men

Sometimes I can't decide if I understand men so little or if I understand them more than I use to and the lack of mystery makes them less interesting. Maybe as opposite genders we should just stop trying to figure each other out. Maybe if we really understood one another we'd be so put off that we'd just rather stay on opposite ends of the dance floor. Maybe the mystery is the greatest blessing we are given.
As I laid out in the sun today and my wonderful hubby played in the pool with the boys my mind wandered as it almost constantly does. Now, there's no way I am going to let you all dive that deep into my mind by telling you all my strands of thought, but my thoughts often end in, "I wonder what Randall would think if he knew what went on in my head?"
Am I the only person that has constant embarrassing, degrading, creepy, sad, wistful, pleasant, futuristic, abstract, nostalgic, strange thoughts flawlessly braiding together, weaving along the neural pathways? Can you imagine if someone could actually hear every thought that skips across your deep inner mind?! If men could hear what women think about and women could hear what men would think about would we love each other more? Be more humble? Be too grossed out to even make contact? Or, bringing you two readers back to my original thought, would we just be turned off?
I like not understanding my spouse. I enjoy this aura of mystery or my own naivety. I think these things fuel a relationship with a constant sense of desire that helps us continuously propel ourselves toward the future, toward tomorrow. Always wondering, always guessing, arguing, battling, making up, being surprised, making goals, changing goals, changing desires, gives a momentum to a relationship that keeps it interesting.
I like interesting.

On Lawn mowers

Oh, lawn mower, how I love you. I remember when I was a teen helping out in the yard. No, I did not wake up every Saturday morning eager to do "outdoor chores". But I do believe as a teen I did a fair share of the work. I really did enjoy working out in the yard. I loved pulling weeds with my Dad. I really enjoyed shaping the bushes and cutting down unwanted trees. I liked mowing the lawn, though it was not a simple task. Mostly, though, I just liked the idea of helping out my Dad. (You'll find that I can easily do things for other people but have a hard time doing things for myself.)
How easy do people have it that own riding lawn mowers? Ok, so they end up sitting on a mower for like an hour because their yards are so large, wah wah wah. I have no sympathy for people with large yards. I think riding lawn movers are like parking it on a tortoise shell and going for a jaunt. And, for clarification, I think that's cool. Have you seen Marry Poppins? 'Nuff said. But pushing a lawn mower- that's a workout.
It's been a long time since I've had to mow a lawn, so I've been pretty anxious. But Randall works so hard all week and is away from the family that I think the more I can do while he is at work, the more time he'll have to be with myself and the children (mostly the children). I remember enjoying mowing the lawn, so this will be a good thing, right?

I've been able to put it off most of the week because the grass wasn't too high yet and I needed to get gas for the beastly machine. So today was the day! I got Peter off to school, put the boys in front of the TV and puzzles, etc. and set to go out and GET ER DONE!
My first sign that this wasn't going to go so well came when I went to get the gas can and there was a HUGE SPIDER! Ick. Ack. Yuck. After over twenty sprays with the bug killer, the magnificent creature gave up the fight. So the lawn mower was tanked up and ready to go. One, two, three- PULL! And... nothing. PULL. Nothing. Pull harder. Nothing. Pull faster. Nothing. Huh.

Ring, ring. "Hello?" "Hey Rand. I can't get the lawn mower started. Is there something I don't know?" "Yah, you need to push the button..." etc etc etc. So here I go. Press button 5 times. PULL. Nothing. Press button 1 time. Nothing. Press button two times. Nothing. You see where I'm going with this?

Nothing. No mowed lawn for me this morning. So sad. So frustrating. Am I just not strong enough to pull the start cable? Is it broken somehow? Shoulder shrug. I don't know. All I know is that it was a lot of built up anxiety, nostalgia, and spider confrontation, only to not be capable of starting my lawn mower.

STATUS UPDATE: Sara cannot start a lawn mower to save her life... or, at least to save the grass.

Better than Twitter

I often want to status update my Facebook page but realize I'd just updated my status only a few minutes before. Then I think, "Maybe I'd make a likely candidate for Twitter." Then I feel like puking. I mean, I guess Twitter is great and all, but there has to be a middle-of-the-road from Themeing your life in a status update once a day and telling everyone in the world what you do every two minutes. So, I guess I should just blog. This is suppose to be my families blog, but you all can tell how good I am at that... yikes. In conclusion, we're going to try this middle of the road where I can sit and vent and share a few times a day or just whenever I feel the need to chat. Randall should be happy, it'll help me not call him three times a day just to let him know what I've been up to and how I'm feeling about what I've been up to. Chicks.

I have a pulse

I feel really redundant posting pictures on here and on facebook but I realize there might be one person who doesn't use facebook so...
We are still alive, we did make it into our house, we are in heaven. My home life has changed a ton with all this added space, yard, and garage. All for the better. I find I enjoy cleaning my house (of course not all the time) because things look beautiful when they are clean.I definitely have pride in ownership. It's good to have a good sense of peace where I spend most of my life now.
In addition to the wonderful house, we have a community pool. The pool (not shown) is a lap pool about four lanes wide with large shallow platforms on either side. This pic below is a shallow kid area, covered, with a water feature. SO COOL!
We also have a beautiful cat. He produces far too much hair so I have to make sure to brush him every day to keep the free-fly down to a minimum. But that's the only downside. Randall and I are both cat lovers. It's fun when the kids can be entertained for a bit by the cat and I can get a moment to myself.
Most importantly, my kids love this home. We talked last night about whether they miss the old place and they are very pleased with the change. As a Mom, that's a great relief.
Good stuff.

Moving and stressing

I can't make a list long enough to express how I feel today. I wish the only feeling I had was that of excitement since we are finally going to be signing our papers and getting the keys of our very first home! But between the stress of everything turning last minute (we have to be out of our apt tomorrow), waking up at 4 and not being able to sleep any longer, the long list of "to do", trying to find a fridge we want to buy, etc, I feel more, how do you say, BLAH than I wish I did. And then let's add to this mix of emotions, shall we?
Being employed with LA Fitness has been a roller coaster this last month. I had to drop four of my five classes because we're moving too far. Then I had a miscommunication with one of my bosses... yaddah yadda yadda, my name hit the Big Boss a few too many times this month. So she called me this morning and told me that I cannot have only one class and if I don't pick up at least one more class by the end of the month I would be fired.
Ugh.
I keep reminding myself that I need to be happy because I will remember this moment in my life and I want it to be filled with joy and excitement.
Well, when all else fails, I'm grateful time doesn't stop. In the next 24-48 hours I will be home.

SUPER Target

I don't know how I got myself out of the house this afternoon. It probably had something to do with there being no food. But I cannot even begin to express how tired I am of Walmart. Whenever I think about going there I just imagine all the stress, all the lack of good service, the crazy looking crazies, and it just makes it impossible to get myself to go there for the LOW LOW prices. My new place is Target. I really love how less crowded, a little smaller and a lot more kept, cozier, and nicer it is. Unfortunately, it is more expensive. Though, let me add that it is not a lot more expensive and if I am careful they have some great sales on food that make shopping there cost me about the same. So when I am dragging my feet to get out my door, the thought of going to Target instead of Walmart helps a great deal.
Though I'm only there for food I enjoy entering on the opposite side. Slowly I'll make my way around, looking at all the pretty things I would like to purchase, and imagine how much cooler of a style I would have if I had the extra cashflow to be more indulgent. I did just buckle and buy myself some sunglasses because my kids did who knows what to my last pair last summer. I'll spend almost two hours at Super Target. I like to sift through the 30-75% racks (though to give you a sense of how cheap I am, I find most of those clothes to be too expensive) and let the kids check out all the new toys. The boys have a good time there, and I get to be a bit of a girly girl (at least in my head), and eventually food gets purchased.
So thank you ST for getting me out of the house, giving me a red hat to try on to feel cool, helping my kids expend energy, and above all providing us with food.

Time ticks on

I don't know how many of you out there actually read this. I do most of my updating on Facebook so I've fallen out of the habit again. Yesterday I was reminded that people have blogs and that I have one. I determined to at least put a few blogs up here so if there are any onlookers they can get an update.
Our house is being built and will be finished in a couple of weeks. I am so excited that it makes my mundane life unbearable. I just stare at my dirty apartment and think, "I don't want to clean this stupid place. I hate it here. I'm just moving anyway." Not the best way to think when you are the caretaker of any living space. Especially one with children so there is a need for constant cleaning and attention.
I'm not sure how the time line will work out but we should be in our new place in a few weeks, I'd suppose a month at the most. I think the thing that possibly excites me the most about our new home will be the light. I am very affected by weather and by extension being able to have a sunny home. My parents house we house-sat had so much great natural light that it was so much easier to deal with my day.
Another thing that gives me much joy and anticipation is the backyard and garage. It will be so nice not to have to carry groceries so far, not worry about my children making it into the house from the car, the temperature of the car, the state of cleanliness on the outside of the car, etc. And oh! To have a backyard again. It's hard to go from having a place for your kids to safely run around to having nothing. It will not only be good for my sanity, the level of cleanliness of the house, but so much better for the boys.
There are things that could be complained about with the house, like the tininess of the bathrooms, but I really don't want to think about those things. It's such a dramatic improvement from how our life has been for the last year, I just want to focus on the blessing a house will bring.
I will be letting all but one of my gym classes go and will be applying to work at a gym closer to our house. That's made doing those classes I currently have very hard to care about. I definitely don't spend as much time in preparation for my classes as I use to. But that is how things go, I suppose. I've moved so many times in my life that I can recognize all the symptoms of transitioning, but also know that there isn't too much I can do about it.
It's a very exciting and difficult time for us right now. It's nice. But I'll definitely be looking forward to a month from now when we're settling in and setting out our priority list of things we need to buy.
Like a piano.