Category Archives: Uncategorized

Maybe I’m the problem.

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I have been experiencing a lot of frustration in the mornings.  Like the kind where I wonder if my children have brains?

In order to earn “ticket time” (30 min. of TV, Wii, or computer games) after school, they have to complete a list of tasks in the morning before they leave for school.

It’s not hard stuff, people, and it does not matter when they wake up, we are still scrambling to get out the door on time.  It makes me crazy.  Every time I check on them, they are doing something else.  “Oops.  I forgot,” after I bark an order to get back on task or we’re going to be late. “I can’t find my homework.”  “Why didn’t you put it in your backpack when you were done?!” (like I’ve reminded you every. single. time.)  “Can I just have lunch money today?  I don’t have time.”  “No.  I told you last night to make your sandwich before you went to bed, and you’ve been playing with stuffed animals for the last 10 minutes.” My Facebook status the other day said, “Teaching my children personal responsibility may be the death of me.”  I’ve been wondering:

Why can’t they seem to handle simple tasks that would make their lives (and mine) so much easier?  It’s not like I haven’t taught them.  They have an easy checklist, for heaven’s sake.

Then I saw this article the other day.

It’s called, “Nicer Moms Have Smarter Kids.”

Oh good grief.

Fine.

Remember my goal for the year?  If I can stick to it, maybe my children will be smart enough to remember where they put their shoes.

Looking for some holly-jolly laughs

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I’ve never spent a lot of time on YouTube, and I don’t really feel like browsing around looking for great content, but in the last couple of days, I found these little treasures through friends on Facebook.  My kids have been cracking up, watching them over and over again.

I’ve always LOVED this one (for me).  I’ve probably watched it more than 20 times and I laugh out loud every time.:

So, do you have any favorites?  Especially ones my kids would like (ages 8, 7, 5)?  I thought it would be fun to watch some over Christmas break.  I bet you have some great ones.  Hit me.

GCBC Week 10: “A Time to Prepare” by Elder Ian S. Ardern

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This was one of my favorite talks from general conference. Time is so slippery. There are so many things I want to do, and some I know I should do, but I can’t seem to get it all done. And though it’s not realistic to get done everything we ever wish we could do, sometimes an analysis of spent time reveals choice not in line with priorities. That’s why I loved his reminders about using our time wisely. It’s a lesson I really need to learn.

A Time to Prepare by Elder Ian S. Ardern

“With the demands made of us, we must learn to prioritize our choices to match our goals or risk being exposed to the winds of procrastination and being blown from one time-wasting activity to another. We are well taught about priorities by the Master Teacher when He declared in His Sermon on the Mount, ‘Wherefore, seek not the things of this world but seek ye first to build up the kingdom of God, and to establish his righteousness’ “

What about this talk stood out to you? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

To anyone who is checking out GCBC for the first time, the goal is to read one General Conference talk a week and discuss it together as an on-line “book club.” If you want to learn more, go here, and join the discussion.

I knew it.

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See? I knew you were smart.  And helpful.  Wow, I got so much advice, I’m going to have to hire someone to help me figure it out.  The fact of the matter is that with grocery prices and gas prices both going up as much as they have (and growing, hungrier children + more carpooling and more gas use = higher needs in both categories), our current household budget is just not cutting it.  So I’m either going to have to rethink what we eat and our driving habits or figure out a way to increase the budget.  I’m assuming the best answer requires a little bit of both.

If you haven’t had chance, go back and read all the comments because there’s a lot of good stuff in there.  Also, Lacy rocked the answers to quick-and-easy-and-cheap Christmas gifts.  You should really check out her blog where she wrote me THREE posts with lists of ideas.  (Seriously? I have the best blog friends ever.)

And, in other news:  My baby is now five. (I realize that this makes my blog title totally outdated, but I don’t know what to do about that. It’s figurative now, I guess.)  I survived the party.  Here is some photographic evidence.

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Since you’re on a roll, I have one more advice question.  I used red hairspray in Natalie’s hair for Halloween (Strawberry Shortcake), but it STILL has not come all the way out. Any ideas?

Sure appreciate ‘ya.  (Said in my best Utah accent.)