Annoyed

Tonight I opened up the rest of Karen's gifts. Her first gift was too big mittens that are going to Emily instead. The rest of her gift was a box of books- two of them appropriate for her. I wrapped up the my little pony book and sticker book for her. The other sticker book was heavy on the abc's and numbers. I don't forcefeed this stuff to my children and just can't give it too her. I wrapped it up for Eric who on his own has become interested. The other workbooks I left, sitting in the box for the kids to discover and do as they wish, which probably is not. They don't do workbooks any more. These are pre-k, k, first, and second grade workbooks. Mom sent them to a just turned 3 year old. She must be off her rocker. I think I'll just go buy Karen a Barbie doll and a pad of paper. Both are more appropriate. I feel bad because mom got Eric two big toys and all she got Karen (in the end) are two books. I am worried what will come next...

As a side happy note, I set up the South American creche my friend Cami sent to me. It is here next to me at the computer. It is really pretty. The llamas make me laugh. We decorated the tree. I dealt with the lights and garland. The kids managed to put every ornament on the tree themselves. They stood on chairs to get up high. I'll have to take pictures tomorrow.

Promotion

Aaron has done it only 3 months after the last one! He's been promoted to a database administrator. He's going to earn more money. I'm excited at the prospect. He's in the Tabernacle Choir concert with the King Singers this weekend. I have barely seen him all week. He got us a tree during his lunch break on Tuesday and set it up at 11pm. It is crooked and I'm not particularly happy with it. I haven't brought the stuff up to decorate yet. The kids are bugging me to do it. This morning we looked through a Christmas craft book. Then we went shopping to buy googly eyes, glitter, and pom-poms. Maybe tomorrow I'll post pictures of crafts. I am getting annoyed with my mother's online shopping. When she gets the wrong stuff I have to pay to return it. That bugs the heck out of me. She bought a book I bought which was why it wasn't on the list. Then she bought two of one book. Oh and I was chastised for opening the boxes early. These books are kid books for the kids. (The Black Stallion series) I told her that some of the books on my book list were for the kids and not me. Somehow she thought I was all that into kiddie horse books...I will read them, so I guess they can be a gift to me, but I'll wrap them up and give them to the girls anywhow. We got some more boxes today. I'm wondering just how long it will take before the children realize that santa doesn't drive a sleigh, but rather a ups truck, fedex truck, and the usps trucks. I'm tired of Christmas already.

All Better

Whew. It is a great relief to be recovered! Today I washed dishes and cleaned the living room. I took the kids over to the local Deseret Industries thrift shop to look for boy boots and a snow coat for Emily. Unfortunately there are no snow boots at the store and very few snow coats. The nice ones are $65, but I don't have that kind of money. We found some church pants for Eric, two winter nightgowns for the big girls, and a book. While there a lady and her kids whom we know came. She shopped separate from her kids. I couldn't believe it. Her kids played with the toys, then with the shoes, then ran (literally) through the store. Why do people think the thrift store is a playground where they do not need to watch their children? On a previous occasion we got to the toy section and the toys were all over the floor. After my kids played a little bit I made them clean up extra and I cleaned up too. Then some boys who had been there previously came back (unattended of course) and complained to me about how I picked up toys they were playing with. I chastised them and told them this was a store and not their living room. A little playing with the toys, then putting them back while the mother looks at things nearby is one thing, but making a gigantic mess and leaving it while mom is elsewhere is another thing. Anyway... Got some wrapping done.

Last night as Aaron was snoring, he managed to hear the phone. (I was wide awake and didn't.) He got the substitution call for the Tabernacle Choir concert this week. The bells play in four songs. Aaron is super excited. I gave his tickets away.

Still sick

I'm still sick. This is aweful. I spent the bulk of the dy laying on the couch. Fortunately Aaron heated up dinner before leaving for the bell concert. Emily missed her play performance tonight. Hopefully she'll be able to be in the Monday performance. I can see why many people get flu shots. I've lost 5 pounds.

I need some Christmas Cheer

I'm all depressed again. This year I had the money to buy all the kids and dh nice, store-bought presents. Last year I thought, if only I had money, Christmas wouldn't be so depressing. I used to like Christmas. Before marriage. (We had a baby the first married Christmas.) It used to be fun and exciting. I don't hope for any particular gift any more since I know I likely won't get it. Now that I'm grown my mom wants to spend lots of money on me for boring things. And Christmas isn't about that anyway. It should be about Christ. I need to do something. I've gotten slack on reading the scriptures. Last week Ben had the flu. Now Caitlyn and I have it. I feel rotten and don't want to do anything. Caitlyn spent two days in bed, but I have to get up. I am depressed about the illness. Not just this one, but the ones before that. From the last two months I can predict that this fall/winter/spring will be another sick one. With our large family we can't get sick all at the same time. It starts with one and goes down the line. By the time the last person gets over the illness the first person has got a new one. I hate living like this. I feel like we can't do anything. Caitlyn will miss another dance class this week. It is a waste of money. I worry about Emily falling ill this weekend when she's supposed to be in a play. I worry about Aaron getting sick and missing work. He used his leave time on me last month. The other thing is decorations. I don't decorate for Christmas with the exception of the Christmas tree. I feel lights outside are a waste of money. I won't buy decorations. We have no place to put anything in our house. My mom likes to give me snow globes, but we have little ones who break things. I only get out the plastic nativity scene and since the kids play with it it never looks nice. It gets bulldozed all over the room and the pieces go all over. It doesn't matter how many times I set it up it gets thrown all over the place. I would be happy if the kids would do some cute arrangement of it. I have no where to put the breakable sets. Actually, maybe I could put it by the computer. I'd at least get to see it. At least I've got my record player working this year. I've got lots of Christmas records. The only trouble is that I have to be downstairs to hear them. Well, Ben is doing another one of his blowout poops. I feel so lucky.

Happy Birthday Karen

She still likes pink! Happy 3 years old to Karen.

Guests, please don't wash the dishes!

My aunt and uncle came to visit. We had a lot of fun. We made pepperkarkor cookies and popcorn balls. (Throw away your old unpopped popcorn.) We had our grand Thanksgiving feast and celebrated Karen's birthday. It was really very enjoyeable, but I cannot stand using greasy dishes. My father likes to wash all my dishes and my aunt does them about the same way as my father. My mother decided to be "helpful" last visit and even boasted about her "helpfulness". I have one of the cheapest models of dishwashers out there. You can't just throw plates covered in food and grease into the dishwasher. You cannot put in unwashed pots and expect them to come out clean! I am very careful when I handwash my dishes. I use running water to rinse the dishes. Next I use running water and soap to wash, then rinse. In this way I get clean, not greasy dishes. Should you come be my guest you are welcome to vacuum my carpet, wash my kitchen floor, clean my bathrooms, but please- don't touch the dishes!

Saturday Aaron was singing at Temple Square. We went out to dinner at The Blue Iguana. It was very good Mexican food. We recommend it. Next we froze looking at all the lights. We went into buildings every now and then. Sorry I forgot the camera. I got to see the inside of the Tabernacle for the first time. I can see why the conference center was built. It is really small.
Aaron's choir was really not very good. Afterwards he talked for at least an hour about how bad the choir was and how stupid they sounded and all their problems. I approached him quitting since he's got bells now and he said "No way". Oh well. Caitlyn cried because she was so cold. Sunday morning she was obviously sick. By evening Eric had it too. I've just started. Ben was sick all last week. He still has pooping issues. He has to change his clothes afterwards. This Friday Emily is in "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever". I hope she will stay well at least until afterwards. Emily and Aaron went to the Christmas Devotional last night. Emily enjoyed it. Karen and I listened to it on the radio. She fell asleep during the closing prayer.