The Worst Day of Katie's Life

I am confused about how to do both Facebook and blogging. Because it seems kind of redundant. Do I really have to post pictures in both places? And it's so much easier to post pictures on facebook because I can do a whole album. Maybe there is an easier way here in blogspot and I just don't know about it yet. The other thing that makes is redundant is the monthly newsletter I do for my family that has pictures and everything we did over the last month. I need to combine all these things together somehow! Any suggestions???

But I do want to update my blog because it's more like a journal while facebook is more my life as one-liners. And I can make a book out of my blog. So there it is. I'm going to attempt to update my blog more often and spend a little less time on facebook. The nice thing about facebook is that it's more social and interactive. So I will do both, but need to make an effot to update the blog, especially for our own family history.

We had an awesome FHE tonight (other than the fact that Liz was sick with a UTI). It was based off this article: http://zenhabits.net/2009/07/how-giving-changes-everything/
on "giving". What made it great was the conversation - the girls told stories (The quilt maker, the princess with the magic dresses, and even Garfield and Family Circus comics) about people who were happiest when they were giving something away. This lesson wasn't a "we should give service lesson", it was a lesson on happiness and how if you forget yourself and concentrate on others you are really happier than if you just worry about yourself. I need to remind myself of this fact, too!

During this conversation, we learned something about Kaite. She said, "When I'm having a bad day I just think about the worst day of my life and then realize - it's not that bad!" Mike and I looked at each other with raised eyebrows, wondering what was this terrible day.... Mike asked her what it was. She said, "It's the day we went over to Nicky and Joshy's house (our neighbors) when they were building snowmen. I got hit in the face with a snowball so I just sat by Daddy's car and was sad. Then I wanted to build a snow fort but we had to go inside. I then reminded her that was Christmas Day last year and we asked her (with straight faces!) if that was really the worst day of her life. Apparently it was, so I think she's had a pretty good life :)

I have had so much fun teaching my girls all the girls camp songs. I wish I knew the tune to more of them in my camp book. The girls really like Horsey, Princess Pat, and Linger. I can't wait to go to camp with Ally next year.

Rules about Reading

Yes, in our house we have rules about reading: when and where it's o.k. to read and when it's NOT o.k. to read. For example, no reading while we are walking (they like to read while we are walking to the car or into a store), no reading before school (unless you're all ready and Mom has given the o.k.), no reading at the dinner table, and finally no reading in the bathroom (because they disappear for hours and come out with a really red, deep ring around you know where!) Here is proof these rules are often ignored - I found a book curled up inside the toilet paper holder when I went to replace the roll!

Half Marathon Training

My friends and I are training for a half marathon. Today I ran the furthest I have ever run in my life, nine miles. Ouch. But at the same time, it feels good. The race date is the end of June. I think I'll be ready. I also started the program from a trainer from the show "Biggest Loser" with some girls from Olympic Gym. It's a book by Jillian called "Making the Cut". It's a 30 day intense program of eating and working out. You can check out my progress at that blog - www.letsmakethecut.blogspot.com, or just follow the link on the right. I am trying to actually eat right so I can be lighter and run faster. Plus, I've been training for this half marathon since February and haven't lost any weight so I figured I'd better do something different.

Here come the clowns!

The spring carnival was a big success! Lots of people came and the kids all had fun. It was a carnival theme (my kids thought that was funny to have a carnival themed carnival). We had Cha-Cha the clown, a dunk tank, a cotton candy machine, a raffle and silent auction, and lots of food and games (which I was in charge of). I was also the mastermind behind the the circus decorations by the front doors and back doors. It was a lot of work and I'm glad it's over and hoping we brought in TONS of money for the school!

Liz made me promise not to "email" this anyone. Blogging it doesn't count as email, right??
I love it when she sings and plays Mr. Popcorn man in her funny voice.

Double Baptism!

Elizabeth Ashleigh (above left) and Katheryn Bailey (above right) were baptized and confirmed on March 28th, 2009 by their Dad, Michael Allen Card.
The day went beautifully. We celebrated with friends and family after at TCBY.

Blue Sail, Soft Camel, and Tawny

Laid off from work, all three of my girls in school all day, I SHOULD have a perfectly clean house, hot meals on the table, laundry done, and steadily checking off projects from my to-do list. RIGHT??!!

Sigh....

I was whining about this to my sister Raychel as we sweated away on the treadmill. I feel like I should be getting more done! So I can (mostly) keep up on my house and meals and workouts, but beyond that, I certainly am not finding myself with hours to get caught up on the family albums, redecorate rooms, meticulously keep track of our finances, and re-landscape the front yard. You know those bigger projects that have consistently been on my long term list but never make it to the daily to-do today list.

I know, I know, I'm being too hard on myself. But this is blog entry is for those of you Moms who are just waiting for all your kids to be in school and imagining how much you can get done. I can still spend the whole day just "keeping up".

But, on to the good part.... once Raychel gave me hard time for whining (thanks, I needed that!), I decided to stop complaining and start working. I left the laundry undone and started tearing down the hideous bunny rabbit border in the master bathroom. Yes, I put up the hideous border myself 12 years ago. What was I thinking??? Liz came into the bathroom as I was in the midst of the enthusiastically ripping down those bunnies. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING????" she said. "Getting rid of this ugly border," I told her. "No! I liked those bunnies, don't take them down!" Too late. "But Mom...." Too late.... I wish I took a "before" picture, because along with the the ugly bunny border was an ugly bunny picture. Oh well, you'll have to use your imagination.

I then painted the bathroom "Tawny" - a nice medium khaki color. I added new art, dark plum towels to coordinate with my bedroom, and my Dad came and helped me install a medicine cabinet so we didn't have wire mesh baskets of toiletries with a radio balanced on top of the basket on the counter. Now the radio fits perfectly on top of the medicine cabinet. I am happy every time I walk into the bathroom. (unless the girls have used it and left towels, dirty clothes, and toothpaste everywhere - use your own bathroom!) Happiness for under $100.00.

I was on a roll. I liked my bubble-gum inspired bathroom downstairs, but felt the white wall were somewhat boring. So along comes Blue Sail and Soft Camel. The Soft Camel color was a little lighter than I wanted, but to me paint color is kind of like doing my girls' hair, once it's done, I'm not re-doing it. It's good enough even if it's not perfect and the pony tails are just a little bit crooked. The new thing in the downstairs bathroom is a magazine rack. The old one was a wooden one on the floor that the kids had scratched up the floor and wall dragging it towards them to get something to read as the sat on the toilet! This one matches the other brushed steel accessories.

What I've learned is that I can't have a perfectly clean house AND get some of these projects done. So I let things go a bit while I do the projects, or I stay up late.

What's next? The extension cord is marking my new layout for the front yard landscaping...