5 for Friday

I can't believe how fast this week has gone by. Canada Day was great!

Every year I kind of dread it because I wasn't raised here and it seems like everyone has their huge family reunions coinciding with Canada Day and I always wish that was us too. It makes me feel a bit like an outsider. This year especially so because my own family did not come down like they have in the past. We went to the parade and then we took Tanner up to Vulcan (to meet up with my Mom) for his 2nd week (4 days really) of adventures (in Calgary) with my Mom. So it didn't make it as lonely as I thought it might be.

On the way back home, Matt and I went to the movie "The Last Airbender". It was REALLY good.

This week has been a bit of a reflective week. I'm kind of exposing myself emotionally in this weeks 5.


5 things I have learned about myself this week:

1. I'm more of a people watcher/listener when I'm around new people, than a conversationalist. I like to observe more than be involved in talking.

I know my personality can come off as strong or obnoxious (as I'm sure many of my friends who knew me growing up can attest to), so I have to really feel people out and get a sense of what their personalities are before I feel "safe" or comfortable letting my true self come out. I've grown up being loud all my life and so sometimes that's hard for me to wrangle in and control. It can really turn people off and I realize that. I'm working on it. It's a life's work in progress.



2. I'm pretty immature. I've known that I'm a little immature at times but this week, I think I've acted totally immature. This is NO surprise to most of you, but I'm really seeing it in myself this week.



3. I'm not a good conversationalist. Again, this kind of goes back to #1 but I don't really know what to talk to people about.

In certain situations it's really hard because being an "outsider", people here know each other and talk about people they know and how do you get "in" on a conversation like that.

I guess any new potential relationship is like dating. You have to ask questions to get to know others.

Plus, I'm actually not very intellectual. I don't really pay attention to what's going on politically or financially so it can sometimes limit what I can converse about. To me, smart people can talk about EVERYTHING. Some days I feel like a character off of "Clueless", or that I'm just the "nice" girl who doesn't really know much. I don't think that I'm stupid or anything, I just wish I was smarter in a different way. Does that make any sense?



4. I'm going through a period of unsteadiness in my life. I go through these phases (as I imagine some people do) where I'm not sure of myself or who I am or what I want. I mean, deep down, my heart knows that I'm a daughter of God, but my head isn't telling me the same thing. I'm content. I'm not sad or angry or feeling negative, just feeling a change. I know change is good. Perhaps I'm being humbled by the Lord.



5. I'd like to trade my body in. It is NOT doing anything I want it to do this week.

I was tearing up while running on Tuesday because my shins hurt so bad they were burning. And on Sunday (yes, I know, I broke the Sabbath by running on Sunday) when I was running, my calf muscles tightened up so much that it hurt to run.

I hate having to keep asking my chiropractor to put on kinesiology tape or adjust me, but if I don't have the tape on, my legs konk out on me.

Plus, all month I haven't been able to sleep. My brain just does not ever shut up! I mean, why do I need to think about stuff for 24 hours a day? My brain seems to have a problem with continual running thoughts.

OH and here's something I learned...did you know that you have a nerve called the Ulnar nerve? I didn't until I was at the hospital because my whole left arm went numb and so I went to the hospital and they said it was my ulnar nerve, and a million things could have set it off to cause numbness. Weird!

I know this kind of sounds like I'm complaining, but really I'm not. I just want a good nights sleep, and my body to cooperate so I can run and function like a normal person. I really enjoyed running while I was on my treadmill, but my body hates me or something because it does NOT like me running outside.


So that is my week "exposed".

My life in Photographs

Sorry this is late. Life has been pretty crazy around here. Today was a great day. I am getting excited to run the 5k on Saturday. Also, the awesome Raymond parade! The office I work for is doing a float. I don't get to ride on it...too bad. I was looking forward to riding on my first ever float, but maybe next year...

Tanner had a couple of Dr's appointments on Monday. He is 41 and a half pounds! Some of you have children that are younger than that and weigh more, but Tanner is my little boy. He is a smart whipper snapper. He doesn't forget ANYTHING you say and he listens when you think he's not. He has another wiggly tooth, so that should be coming out soon. His tubes in his ears are completely blocked with wax, so it's VERY likely he'll have another tube surgery (it's literally a 5 minute surgery). Hopefully they can get it done before school starts.



My Creative projects:

Remember when I won this
(SORRY IN ADVANCE FOR THE MOUSE PICTURE AGAIN)


Well, this is what I made:



It's not on my bed properly. I just randomly took a picture.

Also the following 2 blankets:









You may have noticed that there are 2 different beds in the picture...yeah, he doesn't sleep in either one of those. He sleeps in a fort.







"Santa" also recently made the rag quilt for him for Christmas.

I also make cards, but that's coming in a different post.

5 for Friday

5...just a number

When I was 5 I would have been in pre-school and Kindergarten (my birthday is in April so I would have tuned 5 in April and finished being 5 in Kindergarten). pre-school and Kindergarten...I don't remember so much about pre-school but I remember this one time in Kindergarten. We did a Whinnie the Pooh play and I was a tree and I was so upset because I LOVED whinnie the Pooh and I thought I deserved to be him. But, I was not. Also, at the Christmas Concert, we did a song called Suzy Snowflake and I remember my Mom playing the piano for it and I thought I was the coolest kid around because MY mom got to play at MY concert. Clearly, I was not cool and am still not...lol

15! The good old teenage years. I had my first boyfriend (WHAT! A b/f @ 15! It is true...I was a rebel child). I had this huge crush on a boy named Clark but he was one of the popular kids and I was not so he didn't think anything other than I was a "loser". But then came Steve. Yes, we were in Drama class together and I don't really know why I was "in love" with him, but my heart twitterpated when I was around him. First loves....ahhhh....good times.

25. What was I doing at 25? I was preparing for Tanner's 3rd surgery. His Cleft Palate surgery. He also had another surgery that year, 6 months later. That was a very busy year for us but the end to his many surgeries was coming to a temporary end...for a season.

35. I'm not quite there yet, but I hope to have a house by then.

50! I am looking forward to 50. If we don't have any more kids (I want one more but it's up to the Lord), Tanner should be married by then and it will just be Matt and I. I am looking forward to traveling and going on a mission with Matt and just being the best I can be.

FYI

I know I haven't posted my 5 for Friday but I will tomorrow. I haven't forgotten, I just was very busy today. See 'ya tomorrow!

I speak Spanish?

Before I forget these I have to get them down.

We went into Pet Smart (or should I say Pet DUMB!...no animals!) and we went to look at the fish and Tanner says to the lady working in the fish/reptile department: "I speak Spanish". Not even a hello or anything. He just flat out said this. It was too funny.

FYI: He does NOT speak Spanish...that is why this is funny. He knows "Dora" spanish which is clearly a limited amount.



On Sunday

Tanner: Why do I have this cold?

Me: I don't know. Maybe you got it when you were in Calgary

Tanner: I know where I got it.

Me: Where?

Tanner: At the zoo.

Me: oh really? (I wouldn't be surprised at this point)

Tanner: Yeah, I got it at the zoo from the dinosaur. I'm allergic to the robotic dinosaur there. He gave me this cold.

Me: (trying SUPER hard not to laugh too much because he was quite serious about his response) Oh, well, I guess you should stay away from robotic dinosaurs then.

Tanner: NOOOO!

He had his grade one orientation today. His teacher seems really nice and I've heard she's good.

Now to FINALLY enjoy the nice weather.

Cool Drink

So I just found this card with 3 drinks on it...totally virgin drinks...YEAH! Seeing as we have to boil our water I figured, let's live it up and drink fancy drinks this week. So I bought juice for my disgusting tasting boiled water and then I bought stuff to make this VERY tasty, yummy, summery drink.

Colada Creamsicle:

2oz orange juice

3oz Mr & Mrs T Pina Colada mix

1/2oz Rose's* Grenadine

Blend the o.j and pina colada mix with 1/2 cup crushed ice. Pour into class and float grenadine (I'm not sure what "float" means in this particular recipe but that's what it says)

Garnish with strawberries.

WARNING: Very addictive!

My life in photographs

Kind of boring this week, but better than nothing.

Inside my fridge:




We just did a bit of grocery shopping this morning so it's a bit fuller than that right now.

My Bedroom:
My Mom didn't not enforce the rule that we had to have our room clean ALL the time (there were other enforced rules, but not this particular one) so I never developed a love or appreciation for having a totally clean room at ALL times. I appreciate when my room is clean/tidy, but if it doesn't stay clean/tidy, it does not bother me in the least...only if there's clothes on the floor right beside the laundry baskets. So here's a before and after look.










Least Favorite chore:

Right now, it's cleaning my kitchen sink. I don't know why, but I hate cleaning it.



Matt did these dishes.


My favorite flower: Lily...specifically tiger lily's.



My least Favorite room: the toy room! it's cluttered and messy and Tanner never really picks up all the toys. It's the least organized of all my rooms.

40 minutes left

I know this is super late but for any of you night owls, if you love aprons, you must check out this giveaway. I secretly adore aprons but only have a few of them. I'm hoping to make one with my very dearest best friend, Jamie, this summer. Possibly matching ones! Lol. Like I said, I know it's late, but maybe it's good luck ; )

5 for Friday

5 general rules I have in my life:

1. Always try your best

2. Life is all about choices

3. Drink lots of water

4. Be punctual

5. Be honest

This week has been a not so great one. Probably one of the most stressful, overwhelming weeks I've had. Even more so than when Tanner was born. I am looking forward with hope that next week will be better.

Matt and I were not able to go to the temple yesterday because we were waiting around for the paper delivery guy to bring the papers. I guess his car broke down (poor him, but not poor us because we got called by some of our customers asking where their paper was) and they didn't show up until 5 o'clock. By then, Matt was at work and I didn't get home until 10pm. So they got delivered with today's papers. But we did get to go out for lunch together. We were going to go to the golf course but the road looked like it was rained out so we chose the Chinese food place. We ended up running into someone we hadn't seen in years and chatted with her so although it was nice to catch up, we didn't really get a "date". So I guess that means we'll get to go out again...right? lol

We will go to the temple next weekend. I planned a temporary alternate day this month. I'm not sure why I did, but I felt I should. It's a good thing I did.

I watched the movie "When in Rome" with Susanne last night. It was a good movie, but I probably wouldn't recommend it for the fact that it has sketch nudity in it. Think Titanic...when he sketches her naked. Although that may not phase other people, it does me. The story was cute and there was no swearing otherwise. It might make me a prude, but I just would rather not watch that stuff if I can help it. It's hard to know sometimes with movies. You live and you learn.

Glee...have you seen this show? I haven't and I would like to see one episode to see what the hype is about. Is it really any good? I imagine it's a bit like High School Musical crossed with Grease. Maybe I'm totally off base, but that's what it seems like.

I have been taking pictures for my "My life in Photographs" project...if that's what you can call it. It's kind of fun actually. It makes you really think about your life. I've always tried to keep a journal and although I'm not super faithful at it, I do try. Not too long ago, life seemed simpler and it was easy for me to keep up in my journal writing, but now it's not so easy.

Cleaning for other people has really taught me a lot. About myself and about what I want. I really enjoy cleaning for other people because I love seeing the end result and I love helping other people out.

Parenthood is HARD! I knew it was going to be hard but lately I feel like "what do I have to offer". Why did Tanner and/or the Lord choose me to be the parent of Tanner? Because I feel like I'm doing the worst job EVER! I'm glad that he's in Calgary right now because I really needed the break. Why don't parents ever get to have a "grandma" break? lol

The weather...although it has rained and rained, the prediction is that it's suppose to be a hot, dry summer and if that's true, we are all going to be wishing and praying for the rain. I know it may ruin farmers fields and even our own gardens, but this is the time to prepare. We need to stop being so complacent in our thoughts that we'll always have what we need and prepare now for the things that lie ahead of us. Storms are just the beginning. If we have poor fields, food is going to start to be scarce and then what? If we don't have what we have been told we need, then we have only ourselves to blame. So take this time and make sure you are at least prepared with 72 hour kits as a start. I know we have some work to do with our own 72 hour kits. We don't all have all the things we need. We have a large amount, but we are working toward having all of it.




Well, I'm off to clean my own house now. I hope everyone has a terrific weekend and I'll be back on Monday with "My life in Photographs".

For your viewing pleasure...LOL

This one's for you Sharon and Susanne!