A layer of ice, Jake @ Bil-Lo, and a tasty gift from nature...

At the beginning of last week we couldn't even open the doors to the car because of the layer of ice that covered it!

Last Thursday UNC-Charlotte was in session but Jake's school wasn't...and I had to work. So, I brought him along. It was supposed to only be for 4 hours, but ended up being for 6...Poor Jake, but he was a real trooper and charmed everyone. The reason it was 6 hours is because when we went out to get in the car to drive to work, we realized we weren't going any where. The cold temperatures zapped the rest of the life out of the battery. I called work to let them know what was happening and talked to the store manager. I told him if I had a ride (I live a 3-5 minute drive away) I would come in, so he came and picked us up! Small town living is a good thing. The manager said he would drive us home too and asked if we could stay the 2 extra hours until he was leaving. Jake was psyched to get chicken tenders from the deli and some little ninja guys from the gumball machine. He even helped me at U-Scan. I don't think there are too many places that would let you take your child to work with you on a snow day from school. The ideal place for a mother is in the home, but if you have to work could you ask for a better situation?
Jake sitting next to U-Scan enjoying the chicken tenders.
Me in the break room.
Jake called the ice with snow on it "a tasty taste of nature" and "natures ice cream".

He is one cool dude.

(dis)Organization...

At different periods in my life I have been very organized. Example: alphabetized spice rack. I have never been completely organized. Do you remember on the show "Friends" how Monica was a neat freak, but had one closet filled to the brim with junk that nobody knew about? That is me. Even at my best organizational phase I still had the hidden chaos...I am working on it. I think it was a "what will I do if everything is done kind?" of self sabotage. I have moved past that phase. I am not however moving forward in this battle. I am in a very disorganized period right now. Example: This organizational tool (that I LOVE by the way and have missed horribly) was lost for...I'd say a good 6 months and Aaron just found it for me in a basket of stuff...

That's right folks I couldn't find my label maker...This made me take a few moments to reflect on how desperate the situation had become. I decided to tackle a few areas that had been bothering me in the kitchen. They aren't perfect, and they never will be, but it works and I felt better after doing these 3 things:

1. Going through the pantry and tossing things that were out of date and organizing it...again...Yes, this is organized...It's hard to tell I know. You should have seen it before...

2. Cleaning out under the sink, where there were 25 (give or take a few) bottles of old, 80% used up, cleaning supplies that were taking up space. I consolidated the 4 partially used glass cleaners into one bottle, I scrubbed the waste basket (you get the picture), and called it good.

3. Organizing the baking cupboards. Which included throwing away some very old corn starch (I don't use it very often and apparently you didn't either Mom because it was pretty old...), and again consolidating the two (actually 3, I found one in the pantry too...) sugar containers (one mine and one Mom's, the 3rd...I have no idea...). It is nice to open the cupboard and know where the vanilla extract is instead of having to search for it, or having a muffin mix fall on your head. I can now look in the cupboard and say "oh look, I need corn starch".. along with several other things, as you can see by the mostly empty containers...Again this was organized in the past...but hasn't been as of late.

After organizing these three spaces and emptying all the trash cans in the house I was left with this pile of trash:

Awesome! It actually isn't as much as it looks like it is because I threw away a lot of boxes from the pantry (they don't recycle card board here) and I didn't break them all down. I was feeling good about my progress...Until I thought about what we were going to have for dinner...And then I walked into the sun room to see that the table we were supposed to eat this mystery dinner on looked like this:

Note to self: Before "organizing", I should probably prioritize. The trash can smells lemony fresh-but there is nothing to eat for dinner and no uncluttered surface to eat it on if there was....Prioritize first, organize second. Mental note taken...I am a broken record. I seriously feel like I have learned this lesson before. I should look back to last January, I probably did the same thing last year...Some day it will finally sink in.

Last Weeks Snow Days....

...4 to be exact, and one 2-hour delay. We were so excited we went out in our PJ's...with some layers on top of course. Aaron opted out of playing in the snow and went with sleeping in the bed. He was getting home from working 3rd shift as we were heading out to play. He had enough of cold and snow after a night out in it...Of course Bi-Lo was open so I headed in to work after playing. The roads were icy, but nothing compared to the parking lot. It was like a skating rink at work! It took me as long to get in the store from my car, as it did to drive to work!
Only long socks I had that were clean. I tucked in my PJ's so they wouldn't get wet.


Check out the icy streets. This was another day of playing in the snow...(Jake is wearing the home made scarf and ear muffs he got at a friends Harry Potter themed b-day party.)

Brain Declutter...

*Is it just me or does $65 seem high for a field trip? Jake's class is going to Grandfather Mountain in May...$65...really?

*I am on day 2 of getting back into exercising. I kicked butt speed walking for 1 hour on the track above the court Jake was having his basketball practice at. He kept waving to me and pointing me out to his closest team mate, which made me keep up the speed. He is adorable. But, what really helped me keep up the pace was the other woman walking the track. She was across from me on the track, and I made sure she never got closer than a half a loop behind me. That is right I say behind, because I was there first and I got within a 1/4 of the loop of her a few times and she would go faster. She probably thought she was in front of me, but I was so in front. Technically I was like 4 laps a head before she even started and she stopped about 10 minutes before I did. I totally kicked her butt...I am not competitive at all...Really, I am SO glad she was there because it made it so much easier to walk to the beat of "Single Ladies"-Beyonce, and "Twisted"-NKOTB. Listen to both those songs and you will realize I was totally kicking butt.

*We are going to have a conference with Jake's teacher. When I say "we" I mean Aaron is coming too. We are getting more and more concerned with her attitude and ridiculous rules. (Like the fact that school starts at 7:30, but in her class you have to be there at the latest 7:20 because if you turn in your homework 1 minute past 7:30, she may or may not except it...I realize that it is helpful to get there a few minutes early to get ready for the day, but you shouldn't get in trouble for getting there when school actually starts.) I am going to let Aaron do the talking because I just can't lay it out there to a teacher. I guess I have always been taught to respect them. I still have bad dreams about forgetting where my locker is, what my class schedule is, and that the major exam is today. I am a great learner and worker but school stresses me out-seriously. I thought about taking a class this semester to work toward my degree, but realized I just can't add it to my plate right now...Okay...I am going totally off the subject...See, I told you I needed to declutter my brain....So, any way we set up the conference and Aaron says it may get ugly...He is better at being respectfully mean than I am. Say a little prayer that Jake's teacher actually listens to our concerns, because I have yet to be able to get out a full sentence with out her brushing me off...Yikes...I am probably going to have bad dreams about school tonight....

*The snow and ice, that I took pictures of, and Jake missed 4 1/2 days of school because of, is almost gone from our front yard. Jake got me with a snowball in the butt today so I am kind of looking forward to it melting completely. :) I will post the snow pictures soon.

*I still want a dog,(badly) but I have finally been able to find one plus to not having one. Keep in mind that the list of positives FAR out way this one little negative...actually two, I just thought of another one. Any way, after snow melts there is always the inevitable mud to follow. This is the first time in 12 years that I haven't had to wipe up muddy paws and dog prints. But, muddy dog prints are cute...more so when they aren't there...The memory of them is fond, but at the moment it can drive you crazy. If there was ever a drought it was because I hadn't mopped my floor...EVERY time I mopped it would rain, and I would have sweet muddy dog prints...The other thing I thought of is fur. No, fur bunnies (instead of dust bunnies...or should I say mixed in with the dust bunnies...), for almost a year now. No fur floating in the air and landing in the darnedest places. Like the eggs you are scrambling or the stack of freshly clean towels. Or the wall where a wet tail must have hit and left behind what almost looks like a shadow of the real thing..I can live with fur too though...

*I am excited to take care of Pooha, Nana's little dog in February when they go on a cruise! She is so sweet and will give me my dog fix to hold me out until my birthday, when I am sure I will be getting a puppy for a gift to stop me from being depressed I am turning...gulp...35...I dread 35, but that is a post for another day....

*As you can see by the time I am posting this I am not doing so well with the going to bed early thing. But, I am up waiting for the cookies to cool that I made for Aaron, so that is a good excuse...right? My sister is going through the whole can't sleep, even if you want phase right now too. Her husband is going through some training for work and has a wacky schedule for a few weeks. She may be up reading this right now! Actually...probably not. Her hubby is probably home by now...Enjoy this tomorrow night when you are bored, waiting for Allen to get home Tina! I will not be blogging because Wednesday is a night Aaron is actually home and I will sleep good!

*I just had a thought...Is it wrong to use people's real names on your blog if they don't even use their real names on their blogs?...Or AM I using real names?...If you are reading this you probably know the truth. Because the only reason you would reading this is to find out if I have fallen off the face of the earth since this is the only way I keep in touch or because you feel obligated to occasionally comment to make me feel good. :) Either way thanks....for anyone that stumbles upon this blog (highly unlikely), you will never know if the names I am using are real or fake... :)

Jake @ the beginning of 2011...

For family home evening we did our updates for the year on Jake. We do it every year, this is just the 2nd year we have done it on the blog. So, here is Jake in a nutshell...No pictures because Aaron and Jake are party poopers.
Height: 55 1/2 inches
Clothes &Shoe size: 10 and 12's, 4
Favorite color: light blue
Favorite meal: creamy crockpot chicken
Favorite drink: chocolate milk
Favorite dessert: cookies
Favorite book: Far World by J. Scott Savage
Favorite TV shows: Transformers Prime and G.I. Joe Renegades
Favorite Wii games: Epic Mickey, Lego Harry Potter, and Lego Bateman
Favorite things to do: Play the Wii, play with action figures and Legos, and watch TV
Favorite songs: It's the End of the World as we know-REM, Live Like Your Dying-Kris Allen, Eleanor Rigby-Beatles, Going the Distance-Cake, Anytime-Eve Six, Assassin and Half of my Heart-John Mayer, I'm Yours-Jason Marez
Favorite place to be: Where ever you guys are and grandparents
Things you couldn't live with out (things not people): Blue Boo (blanket he has had since he was born), Emily's hair and paw print (given to use by the Vet who put her to sleep), 1st Pine Wood Derby car and trophies.
Best friends: Corey, my family, Cameron, Cade, Kaili, and Kaci
Goals for 2011: Be able to focus more on work, finish homework before dinner, read the Book of Mormon, and be nicer and not as bossy.
Habits to break in 2001: Stop saying "no" to everything Mommy asks, even though I am joking most of the time and going to do any way.

What have we been doing so far this year, you ask?

...We spent the first 8 days of it with the Powell's doing a little of this: (this isn't actually in order...)

We got ice cream and went geo-cashing (spelling?)....And we may or may not, have done these both at the same place...We weren't very good at acting like we weren't up to something.


Saku got sprinkles just in case you couldn't tell. :)









Anika relaxed on the swing...I am not sure it was actually relaxing, but I think that is what she was going for. :)
We raked leaves....again. :) A break from raking...
This is what the tarp was really for...
Saku manned the leaf blower. I love the cow boy boots. :)
The last 2 workers standing(the others gave up) got to jump in the pile.

Aaron changed the breaks on the car and Saku watched. It is SO AWESOME having a handy husband. I feel sorry for those of you who don't have one and actually have to pay to have things fixed. Aaron rocks.

We got out Jake's old train set for Ben to play with and the big kids had just as much fun with it as he did. The Mento's box in the background is an old display I brought home from work. It is perfect as a action figure fort, or as we are currently playing with it, as a large space ship. We took off the outside Mento's sign and it is now just royal blue. We are playing our own version of Star Wars/Ben 10/little alien guys we got out of the gum machine at Bi-Lo. I am a very cool Mommy, if I do say so myself. :)
We made homemade pizza, calzones, and smoothies and watched the movie we got the Powell's for Christmas: Babe. I LOVE that movie. One of my favorite lines from the movie: "That 'll do Pig, that 'll do." If you haven't seen it you have too. You will love it, I promise.

Aaron was there. He was just the one making the smoothies and he is a P.T.P.P. (Picture Taking Party Pooper. I just made that up. Aren't I clever? No, not really, I know. It is just getting harder and harder for my P.T.P.P's to pose for pictures anymore. Aaron has taught Jake to sigh every time I get the camera out now too...Curse you Aaron...), so he wouldn't let me take a picture of him.

We had our 4th Christmas celebration...or actually our first of the year! It was on January 1st. Allen was pretty excited about the smoked salmon Mom and Dad sent from Seattle.





Jake trying out his new G.I. Joe kid razor from Nee and Papa. My mom actually bought and wrapped gifts for Christmas before leaving on their mission.
We fried a turkey.
We went and had lunch with Jake at school.
We climbed trees on a walk to the bank. It is a little Sound of Music"ish" isn't it? You can't tell from the picture, but there were 4 trees with kiddos in them.
We made funny faces while on our walk.

One boy with a green tongue (lolly pop from the bank) and another trying to be funny sticking his finger up his nose...

Having fun on the swing...
Sam's picture crashing crazy face-gotta love it!

We pretty much just hung out and spent time together. Jake was jealous of his cousins being home schooled. He ended up faking sick one day (he felt miraculously better, about an hour after I picked him up from school. He did have some post nasal drip irritating his throat...but sick is a stretch.), and got to come home. I got to spend time with each of the bigger Powell kiddos. Sam and I organized coupons and he helped me save lots of money at the grocery store-and it even counted as math for homeschooling. He has a great eye for a bargain. Anika and I hit the Target and got some nail polish (don't waste your money on finger nail polish pens...they don't work) and did manicures. I ended up with taunting turquoise, while Anika had a split between snow bunny and pink sparkly with hearts...that didn't actually stay on. (Don't waste your money on the nail polish with floating hearts in it either...). Tina opted for snow bunny also. Saku and I made a trip to the dollar store where he picked out some awesome badges and hand cuffs. He wanted to buy everyone a treat but I told him it was his turn. :) He did find some cool puzzle erasers that he shared with everyone when he set up a scavenger hunt. Jake wondered why he didn't get a turn until I reminded him that everyday was his turn normally....One of the few perks of being an only child means you get spoiled more regularly....

So, that is a brief (sort of) run down on the 1st 8 days of the new year!

No Resolutions...Things I am not going to do in 2011

In not particular order....

1. I will not think of excuses not to exercise.
2. I will not stay up late just because Aaron is at work and I feel guilty that I could be sleeping and he can't...and there are always tons of random things to do around the house...I will go to sleep earlier because I need sleep. I am grumpy without it.
3. I will not let the laundry pile up, the dishes pile up, or the dust pile up...Not all the time at least.
4. I will not get sick....much. I know this because I am a big believer in anti-bac. I also haven't been getting sick much for the past 3 years that I have been using Airborne. I will buy stock in Airborne since I use so much of it. If you haven't tried it and you are a germ-a-phob you should try it. It is the bomb. You will love it.
5. I will not just read kids books. I will branch out and actually read some adult books too. Not bad adult books-you know what I mean right?!?
6. I will not eat snacks late at night just because Aaron is at work. I will no longer be staying up late so that should pretty much take care of this one too, but I just wanted to be thorough.
7. I will not be a complete slacker when it comes to keeping in touch. I probably won't be calling everyone and writing letters, but I will send out emails to remind people I am alive and if they want to keep in touch they should check out my blog. So, I guess I am not technically going to be doing much better in this category...but trying and wanting to do better, is better than nothing right?
8. I will not post pone losing weight until next Monday. Because next Monday always turns into next Monday...
9. I will not buy any purses or bags in 2011...I will try REALLY hard not to buy any purses or bags in 2011.
10. I will not feel guilty for taking happy pills, because I am not sure how I functioned in daily life before I started taking them. I will also not try an "experiment" to see if they are really working by stopping taking them for one month....They REALLY do work. ***Something I wanted to post about but forgot: While we were in Seattle Jake stopped me from taking my pills one morning. He took them to my dad and said "Papa guess which one of these pills makes Mommy not grumpy." Papa guessed right and we had a good laugh at the same time.*** If you need medication take it people! That is why Heavenly Father made people smart enough to invent it!!!