Music Monday

I heard this one on Monty's Friday Night Live broadcast and now it is my new favorite song:



Most Keith Urban songs 'speak' to me, so I wasn't too surprised at how much I love this one.

Weekly Winners: Birthday Edition

Cheeky Birthday Girl


"Dude, back off..."



"Don't make me smack you!"



If only you knew how many outtakes there were before we got one with all 4 looking at me.



Different cake, different day, same birthday girl



Keeping a safer distance



Partied Out!



Just warming up!



"Let's get this party started!"



Soon-to-be nephew



Best party snack ever!





Scariest birthday present ever (from Mom, of course)



My birthday loot from a few weeks ago since I haven't had a chance to brag about it yet.

Check out more Weekly Winners here! And thanks to Lotus for hosting the weekly photo-fest!

Week In Review

Watching-

Dancing with the Stars-

OK, I finally got curious enough to watch a few episodes. It's a fun show! No big surprise that Kristi Yamaguchi won, but I do now have a big crush on that football player.

Grey's Anatomy-

As usual, I loved every minute of the two-hour episode. I'll admit that I didn't really care about them shipping Rebecca off the to "hospital" at the end, but I loved the Alex/Izzie moment. I also loved George standing up to the Chief, loved the Chief telling Meredith "I'm not a bad guy," and then finally going home to his wife. I loved that Meredith was pacing and cussing over her romantic gesture, and of course I loved the Mer/Der reunion. Also, I can't believe I ever thought about dropping this show over the addition of Lexie Grey. We needed her! And finally, welcome back Christina! (Also wasn't unimpressed or put-off by Callie/Hahn-there was just so much to love about this episode that I just kind of looked, said "It's about time" and held my breath for the Mer/Der final scene.) I can't believe I forgot to babble and rave about how much I LOVED Dr. Bailey's extensive beyond-the-movies Star Wars knowledge! She even knew about the twins (and I'm glad she didn't mention poor Anakin, I still haven't forgiven THAT writer). I wonder which Grey's writer is a Star Wars fan.

In My Netflix Queue-

Knocked Up-

I knew I would love this one, and I was right. It was cute, funny, and touching in all the right amounts. A little icky in places, but my inner 12 year-old boy likes that in a movie. I could have lived without the baby crowning shot as that was more than I ever saw during the birth of any of my four children-but it did explain why I always got sent home with a good script for pain meds. Ow! (They do offer a mirror, but I declined without regret during each delivery and this movie only confirms in my mind that I made the right call.) I also loved the nurse telling her to "tone it down" and her response to him. I had a similar experience with my first baby, and my only regret some ten years later is that I didn't "accidentally" kick her when she said it. She was right by my foot too. Darn. (Chris-I'm talking about the one who was called in when they thought I was an emergency c-section and who bitched at me because they called her in "for no reason." See, she needed a good kick.)

Extracurricular Activities-

Super Kids Day-

We got do it this year! (Rained out last year) Big fun with the sno cone machine, runs to 7-11 for bagged ice, a little sunburn, record heat, and older kids trying to take more than their fair share. Also, a dunk tank for the principal and PE teacher (and the counselor at the end of the day when we picked her up and tossed her in). I know I'm no longer "in charge," but I sure hope they let me volunteer again next year.

Talent Show-

Despite her diva tantrum, Natalie did a beautiful job when she performed as did her friends who played, jump-roped, and other fun stuff. I really need to start Tristan with some kind of lessons next year, because he really wants to be on stage too. Maybe I could have all four of them sing-they will all be at the same school in the Fall for one year, and one year only.

McDonald's Night-

McDonald's will let non-profits (like PTA) set up and earn 20% of the sales in return for a couple of hours of volunteer work. We did this on Friday from 5-7. I can't speak for all of us, but I thought it was really fun. My grandmother drove over to get food for my kids (at her house, so Dave and I could actually help) and wouldn't you know that would be the one day that favorite cousin Eric called her back promptly on the cell. The conversation went like this:

F.C. Eric: Hey Cuz, watcha doin'? (He already knew, but being the closest thing I have to an older brother, he likes to taunt.)

Me: Wiping down tables at McDonald's

F.C. Eric: See, I KNEW that Master's would really pay off for ya! Hey! Do ya think in 6 months they'll let you flip burgers?

Me: You should see what I'm flipping now.

I love Eric, really I do. And the PTA made some good money for nothing more than putting stickers on kids, wiping tables, and greeting families. Good times. Good week. But I'm glad summer is here!

Elisa's Birthday-

The baby girl turned four today, but we have been celebrating all weekend. Friday was her classroom party which was really cute and fun. (Especially the way she swatted Tristan anytime he stood too close to her or birthday cake.) Her party was yesterday. The poor thing woke up with an ear infection and, after a "thank God she was in town" visit to her ped in the morning, she spent most of the day sleeping while we prepared for her party. She perked up for a hot dog off the grill, some cake, and about three presents. But once she opened her Care Bear from Gran D. She was DONE for the night and fell asleep with it on the couch. She opened everything else this morning with a lot more pep and excitement thanks to her antibiotics. She also thinks that she should be allowed to do everything she wants today "because it's my birfday," but who doesn't feel that way on their 'birfday' no matter how old they are. It's just hard for me to believe I no longer have any babies in the house. And a little sad. Not missing the diaper changes, though. Pics of all the celebrating to follow when I post my Weekly Winners later today.

I'm a Weiner Winner!

A few days ago, Swistle left a nice comment on one of my blog entries. (We share similar opinions on the hotness factor of BSG's Lee Adama.) Trying to be a good blogger, I reciprocated the visit and found that she was running a contest. So, I multi tasked by introducing myself AND entering the contest in the comments. And it turns out, I won! Yay me! Now, I can expect good mail along with the usual bills, catalogs, and those Disney Movie Club DVD's that I keep forgetting to decline. But that's not all! I've also found a lovely new blog to read AND I get to 'Pay It Forward' by hosting a contest here and sending out a package of my own creation. I'm not sure what I'll put in there yet, but an unopened Disney DVD is a very distinct possibility.

Freedom

For the first time in three years, I am no longer a PTA President. I finished. It feels pretty good. I started this blog to vent about the stress of juggling a lot of kids while getting a Master's and serving on the PTA board. Now that I've finished with two out of three, is there anything left to write about? I sure hope so...But it's definitely time for a new chapter.

No Blogging Tonight

I'm hot, tired, stressed, and completely sucked into Grey's. My word for the week is "finish," but not so much when it comes to writing a compelling blog entry. One. more. day. of school.

Why I Didn't Call This Blog "The Sunshine Place"

Today was tough. This week has been tough. I've managed to miss my kids winning each of their end-of-the-year awards, half of Natalie's talent show performances, AND she and I are in constant conflict. Yesterday, she pouted because she was only (ONLY) getting to sing a solo while accompanying herself on the piano, instead of getting to play three songs on the piano like last year. (I only remember two and they were shorter pieces than she plays now.) So last night she refused to look for her music saying she wasn't going to play at all. This morning, she was crying because she couldn't find it in time to leave for school and I was the meanest mom in the world for not finding it and setting it out for her while she was asleep. We had some not-so-friendly words all the way to school. Once we got there, I talked to her music teacher and found that she already knew the music and had been performing from memory during each practice. So, she was still on the afternoon program and felt like she could do it. That was a relief, but I still spent the drive to work trying not to cry over how much she and I clash lately. (Moms of older daughters? She's 10, is she ever going to like me again?) I got to work where I stayed for all of three hours and I feel like I contributed nothing useful beyond sweeping out one of the buildings. Sorry guys.

Then I came back, enjoyed the talent show, but didn't give myself the time I needed to finish up some much-needed PTA business. And so I had to leave the school with yet one more task almost-but-not-quite done. (The School Store isn't air-conditioned and I started getting all dizzy and spacey like I do when I get over-heated, so I really did have to leave at that point.) Apparently, I am the queen of unfinished business today and I can't help but wonder if all of this tail-chasing is really benefiting me, my co-workers, my children, the kids they got to school with, or anyone else who counts on me. And I just can't say for sure that it is anymore.

That 14th Article...

We were rather fond of reciting this to each other on my mission. I had forgotten it until a PTA budget meeting and a Stake YW planning session made it my theme for today:

14th ARTICLE OF FAITH

"We believe in meetings, all that have been scheduled, all that are now scheduled, and we believe that there will yet be many great and important meetings scheduled. We have endured many meetings and hope to be able to endure all meetings. Indeed, we may say that if there is a meeting or anything that resembles a meeting or anything that we may possibly turn into a meeting, we seek after these things."

All I can say at the end of it all is that is next year's PTA Officers had better make every penny that they budgeted for today and that this years Girls' Camp had best be all our Young Women can talk about for the next year. And that I'm glad I'll only have Stake Young Women meetings to worry about from now on. Believe me, that will be plenty.