Things that Must Go IX

1. People and places that don't take cards: Seriously people it is 2009! Carnivals, movie theaters, and craft fairs take credit cards, so should you. Who has cash on them? I have to go drop off some cash at the salon tonight cause my stylist is an independent contractor.

2. People who pay with checks in a check out line: Seriously people it is 2009! Who carries a check book with them. It seems like I always get behind these slow pokes at Sam's Club, just when Max has gotten through all his samples and is ready to start yelling. I pay the occasional bill with a check, but all other transactions take place via debit card. I have heard the argument that some people use check books to help them keep track of purchases, but isn't that what receipts are for, and don't even get me started on the people who actually take the time to enter the transaction into their balance sheet!

3. Max: Between the whining, the stalled potty training, the hit or miss naps, and the endless touching and getting into things, this kid has got to go. Why does he have to touch everything. He is in a particularly naughty stage right now where he does things he knows he is not supposed to and then giggles when I yell at him. It seems like the cute moments are getting fewer and farther between.

4. Jacked up trucks and SUV's: Unless you live in on the top of a mountain you should not have one of these. It makes me so furious every time I see one. Everybody take a minute to think of what would happen if most other cars on the road get into a head on collision with one of these aholes, their engine will go right through the other cars windshield. As if driving wasn't dangerous enough. Really what are they getting from these jacked up cars other then the thrill of having to jump into and out of their cars. These vain selfish idiots need to go!

5. Christmas Dominance: I think everyone here knows where I stand on the whole Christmas issue, but what is particularly annoying me right now is the channels and stations that convert solely to Christmas Programming. I am talking to you ABC Family and 107.9 (and to a lesser extent Lifetime.)

Stop the Insanity!

WARNING: THE FOLLOWING IS A POTTY TRAINING VENT!

Arrrg! I cannot take any more potty training. I am going crazy here. When will it end? I feel like we have tried everything and nothing works. He started last spring showing an interest in the potty. It was going really well and I probably should have really run with it, but the pregnancy and the move really kept me from working it too hard. This summer he was almost there. I could leave him in his under ware and we would only have problems when he pooped. He would go on car trips with out accidents. Then about a month ago it seemed like he just gave up and decided to revert on everything. I have tried working on it, and I have tried letting it go. I have tried bribes and withholding his shows. I have tried the kid potty and the kiddie potty seat. We have sat down on the potty for hours and no poop. I am going crazy. It isn't about the money on diapers or that I feel he is behind, I am just sick and tired of changing that diaper! He is so big that it just looks ridicules when he comes up to me requesting a change. He also does this thing where he poops in stages! He will take out up to three clean dry diapers with one slow bowl movement. This has gone on for almost a year now and I am sick of it. Any secret weapons I haven't tried yet? And please no karma comments from my family.

The Kiddos

Max and Mae are really good kids. I am very blessed to be their mom. Mae is getting bigger and growing out of her newborn size clothes. Size one/two diapers are a good fit right now. She has more facial expression then any baby I have ever seen. She always has a look on her face. Often her brows are furrowed, which is super cute. She has been smiling a lot of late. Her whole face lights up. She wakes up one to two times a night to feed and then feeds every one and a half to two hours during the day.

Max is still obsessed with Rock Band and drumming. I am starting to think it is not a phase but will be with us for the long run. He has regressed with the potty training and I have decided to drop it until the first of the year. It has become to much of a stress for all of us. He has been previewing primary on Sundays, Super Cute. I can't believe he is going to be a Sunbeam. He loves preschool and throws a fit, pushing me out the door when I come to pick him up. I am surprised at how well he has adapted to having Mae around. He is really cute with her. Every night he tells us all to have good dreams about Peter Pan.

Feed My Sheep

So we sign up to feed the missionaries about once a month. I feel good about that it is what I am up for right now, and they usually get a full month of meals. I sometimes try to sign up for them on special days, i.e. October 20th- Krista's Birthday, or April Fools Day. Days that I can remember! But I am in no way set on this. The calender came around two weeks ago for the month of December and I saw that there were only like one or two days open, one of which was Christmas Eve. I saw it and thought okay, that will be nice, Give the holiday a churchy feel. We actually have had them over on Christmas Eve before, it was nice. So the Elders came up to us today and asked if we could feed them for lunch because there is another family who signed up after us. We told them that Jeff has to work Christmas Eve so that won't work. They were very gracious and said they would work it out with the other family. Okay. So they come back and ask if they could come early so they can go to the other families house after!!! Apparently this family is demanding to have them on Christmas Eve. It was evident that the poor Elders were just trying not to hurt any feelings. They left before we could tell them to just come another day. I am not going to fight to feed the missionaries, but I am not going to make them a really nice dinner if they are getting another. I don't care that much. I am a bit bugged by this other family, I signed up and made plans first, you snooze you lose, but whatever. I honestly have no idea who they are, (classy points to the missionaries for not telling us,) and I don't want to know, so don't tell me. Really people I am just trying to do some good service, which is hard in my ward, you really have to fight and search for opportunities to serve and help.

Less Weighty Things

Max is grateful for Rock Band, hot dogs, and "Claudy"
Mae is grateful for breast milk, pretty dresses, and fuzzy blankets
Jeff is grateful for High Definition, less lawn to mow, and the DVR
Emily is grateful for Mom's Day Out/ Preschool, her laptop, and jello sugar free Boston creme pie pudding cups.

Yes, we are grateful for all our blessings which are many, but I thought I would focus on some little things.

Stupidest Post Ever

Tithing Settlement last night. Our temple recommends expired last July and in August we went in for renewal. I signed mine in the wrong place and haven't dealt with it until last night. So I haven't been to the temple in the last 6 months. (sad, but I am fine with this.) Now a friend of mine had the bishopric over to her house a few months ago and she was all but chewed out for not going to the temple monthly and then for going to the Dallas Temple instead of the Oklahoma City Temple (Because our stake is crazy obsessive about going to our temple, because according to them the only reason to attend the temple at all is so that our attendance numbers are up therefore earning us our own temple. Screw personal edification or service for the dead, its about numbers people.) Now here's the thing that has been bothering me (and the part where most of you will roll your eyes and think this the stupidest post ever), why didn't the Bishop hold Jeff and I to the same standard as my friend. Are we such loser slackers that he's just happy we come to church? He told me to come back Sunday and we would resign it then. There is a ward temple trip this Saturday! He didn't even ask if we were planning on going. He just assumed we weren't and he was apparently fine with that! Maybe he didn't want to see us there. Crazy as this sounds I kinda want to be held to a higher standard. Maybe it would encourage me to do better. I do better when someone else holds me accountable, not just myself. My real guess is that the Bishop is tired of me, I am usually bugging him about something, like nursery gates, and he doesn't want to talk to me more then he has to. So I leave this thought with a song my sister, Krista made up that has become a theme song for me lately. Take the tune from the Primary song, "Genealogy, I Am Doing It." Mediocrity, I am doing it! Mediocracy!

Something tells me its all happening at the Zoo.

This last weekend we went down to Little Rock to attend my cousin Grace's wedding. We got a great deal at the Courtyard by Marriott that included the room, breakfast, and zoo tickets. Room was fine, super comfy mattress, the food was fine, and the zoo was fine. I consider myself a huge zoo fan, I've done San Diego, Omaha, and many others. The Little Rock Zoo was fine, it had some nice features but looks like it needs some TLC. The one thing that made it stand out was the carousel. It was amazing. Wooden and from the 1920's, it was very pretty and super fun. The horses didn't go up and down on poles but up and down on a track. I went with Max, but kinda wish I could have gone on a horse myself. The wedding reception was lovely. Grace looked like a queen in her white gown. It it always great to see my family in Little Rock, it is such a comfort to have them so close. Good Weekend.