Just Fallin' Around

Happy Fall, everyone!
I love autumn, but it doesn't quite feel like autumn yet. Summer is still trying to keep a nasty hold on things and I'm ready to kick it to the curb, with all of the other junk in my house I'm getting rid of. I'm tired of being hot and sweaty all the time. It's a great time to CLEAN out closets, drawers, heck - ROOMS! Teresa get's an early Christmas. She's getting half my house practically, even the kitchen table! You're welcome, sis. :)

What I love about fall:
Crisp, cool air that wakes you up when you open the door
Crunching leaves with my feet, or hands
Watching the kids as they find "treasures" of all colors
Hot Cocoa (I'll drink it year-round, but now I have a cover)
Hot Apple Cider and filling my house with that scent
Cuddling with a blanket and a good book
Cuddling with a blanket and my Hubby and any movie (once again, year-round stuff)

Everything seems to slow down and I feel like I can catch my breath again. I'm looking forward to moving soon and starting new memories. Fall is a great time for memories, school pictures, autumn crafts, and did I mention hot chocolate? Hmmm, no matter that it's 85 outside. I'm in the mood for some chocolate. :)

Oh, the struggles...

...when you get to sleep in until 6am and it feels like heaven!

Seriously, I tossed and turned, then finally rolled over, sneezed a few times, looked at the clock and it was 5:55 and my body was having no more sleep! Ugh! So, I went upstairs to take an allergy pill (that will knock me out in about another hour) and decided to catch up on my blog reading and personal on-line journal.

I have noticed that since I left our bed 75 minutes ago, Daryl has been sleeping very soundly.

I contemplated laying down on the very comfy couch in the very-dark family room, then I figured I could write a blog about the harrows of working every day and not getting enough sleep and having so much to do and no time to do it...then while I'm typing I'm thinking..."Nothing new. Everyone feels that way, regardless of their situation." Yes, I'm no pioneer, just yet another tired Mom who tries to make everything work for everyone and trying to keep everyone happy.

And yet, this morning, being awake before anyone else, I'm feeling subtly accomplished as a person. That's a new development.

I'm going to take my daily 'happy pill' (another blog for another time) and bring in a bunch of boxes and start packing.

Love you all. Thanks for reading!

Yah, that's not going to happen.

Final Offical Report: Due to past health problems, Daryl and I can no longer have children unless we adopt. (that's what he told me to say)

I guess there is always sperm donation... ;)

When Daryl is done with school, maybe we'll look at adoption. I would love to adopt a baby. But the thought of being pregnant at 34 isn't doing it for me.

So, our family will grow old together and we can start planning our retirement. Empty nest at age 49 and 46!! WooHoo!! :)

So Far Behind...

...that I don't even know where to start catching up! I have 200 pictures on my camera that I haven't even downloaded yet, so my camera knows what the kids have been doing all summer... I'll catch up with you all probably around Christmas...well, we'll be moving over the break...maybe you'll just have to wait for a while. :)

Speaking of catching up, Daryl took my out on a real date last night for our 3rd Anniversary. It was so lovely. He arranged a babysitter (thanks Papa Peay) and took me to The Roof Restaurant at the JSMB. He wanted to go to the Joseph Smith movie first, but he didn't make it home from work in time. But, we walked around temple square and walked through the South Visitor's Center. They've put in an exhibition about building the SLC temple. It was really interesting.

Dinner was so cozy. I never knew "buffet" could be so elegant. There was even a pianist, and she was even playing pieces I knew. :) Then, while we were eating, she started playing our song (Bless the Broken Road, by Rascal Flats) and I started tearing up. D asked her to play it for us. We had a beautiful night view of the temple and the city from our table and just enjoyed our evening together. I knew we were going to go out to dinner, but he wanted the rest to be a surprise. It's nice to be surprised now and then. Thanks, love. I can't wait to go back next year and talk about these past months.

More Not-So-Random Thoughts of a Six yearold

E: I have the best hearing of anyone in the world.

Me: Then why don't you listen to me?

E: Well, I'm not Wonder Woman!

(I didn't even know she knew who WW was!!)

***************
E: Mom?!? Is something burning? I smell bacon!!

(referring to a time when the bacon caught on fire in the oven as I was trying to cook it)

***************
E: Mom, I have some Saturday Rules.

Me: Okay

E: Rule #1 -- Come upstairs on Saturday morning and get us out of bed.
Rule #2 -- If I'm not awake, go back downstairs until I am awake.
Rule #3 -- When I stomp on the floor, come upstairs and get breakfast ready.

Me: Mmhhmm

E: It's pretty simple, really...Why are you trying not to laugh?

Me: I'm not laughing. I just love listening to your stories.

E: It's not a story, Mother. It's just breakfast.

(not only has she made rules, but what 6yo says 'pretty simple, really'? I'm still chuckling!)

You'll be surprized...

People say, 'Oh, I could never do that!' But when you meet cancer patients you understand the bravery and spirit those people show each and every day. Their sturggles motivate and inspire you to test the limits of your endurance and to cross that finish line. You'll be surprized by what you can do.
John Kelleny, eight-time marathoner and leading fundraiser with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training (starbucks.com)

Well, that was fun...

...Now it's time to do something different (My life-long mantra).

Because the faster Daryl gets through school, the sooner I can stay home with the kids, he's going to school full time this semester, hopefully full time until he graduates. But that means less time at work and less extra income.

Cancer isn't what it used to be.

So, in order to cut costs, we've put ourselves on a waiting list for an apartment back on campus. At first we were told it would take a year or longer. Then we found out, because of the apartment we want, we could be into it by the end of the year!! What a blessing! We'll find out for sure in November.

But that means more change (which D isn't crazy about) and leaving our friends here in White City. That would be the only thing that holds me back, but that won't pay my mortgage so I gotta move on! :) There is so much we need to do to the house to get it ready to sell, but I had a dream last night that we sold it right away. I know this is a blessing, and all though we'll miss our friends and neighborhood, I know this is an answer to our prayers. I am really very excited. It will be a fun opportunity to live on campus again; being close to work = more time at home with my family! Small apartment = cozy fun times!

Change is never easy, but I love a good challenge, and a good chance to clean out my house!!

Daryl needs a little more convincing. Anyone good with a paint brush? I need all the help I can get!!

Nothing New...

...you may think I have a fun Back-to-School blog to go along with the fun school-ish background, but nope. Just wanted something new and this will work for me for a while. :) That's all. Thanks for visiting! :) Come back soon!

Customer Service

I will not be the first to say "There is no Customer Service anymore." Just take a look at my brother's blog.

But come on, people?? I know it's just a job, but can you find a way to NOT make me hold for 12 minutes, just to talk to something other than an automated voice machine???

Seriously, we all know the cranky adolescent at the grocery store whose throwing the produce, or the gum-chewing receptionist who gives you the run-around about making an appointment, or heaven forbid the nurse in the Emergency Department who thinks you like to fake pain (and know all the right answers because you're a nurse). Right? We've all been there.

But after I'd been on hold for 12 minutes, a real person finally says, " (name of company), can you hold for a minute?" I seriously didn't say anything right away. What did come out was "I guess." Because I really was stunned that he would ask. Then, what starts going through your head? All the answers you wanted to say, right? Like, "No, I've just been holding for 12 minutes!" or, my favorite, "How about I put you on HOLD? Hu? Let's do that for a change!" Ya, none of that comes out, though, hu? Now I'm just waiting, and I kid you not, the music is twice as slow as it is supposed to be, reminding... me... of... all... the... time... I'm... waisting...

How have we gotten so complacent that we accept poor behavior. Why do we just 'put up with' people treating each other poorly?

The last few months I have had my share of being treated unprofessionally, and it's been in my role as a patient. And I'm glad to say that I'm so fed up with it all, that it came crashing down on an unsuspecting physician's staff (who took it very well) and the CNO of our hospital, who sent me a reply email within the hour. :)

No one needs to be treated as any less of a person, so don't take it. Don't just stand by and let someone give poor customer service. Expect the best out of people and they will give it to you... hopefully. :)