Life as Labeled

Book Worm

Mischievous

Sweet

Festive

Big Girl

Curious
(This label requires a bit of explanation. Megan's preschool talked about jobs a couple weeks ago and ever since she's talked about going to a florist and asking a florist questions. Today I took her and the florist was awesome. He answered her questions, showed her his favorite flower and gave all the kids a free carnation.)

Happy

Enjoying nature (even Jeremy, not sure what was up when I took this one.)

The Balanced Mom

I have a book called The Balanced Mom. I started reading it forever ago and just haven't had time to get back to it. Or at least, that's my excuse. I've read about 100 other books since then. I guess I haven't gone back to it because the exercise it wanted me to do was a little daunting--write down EVERYTHING I do in one day. From what I've gathered, it's about taking joy in being a mom and remembering that I'm a separate person from my kids and that I need to take time for myself.

I realized after doing this that I should pay attention to how long each of these takes me, or how much time I spend doing certain things. So maybe I'll have to do it again. I did take note of a few times, though. Thursday was a non-babysitting day, so maybe next time will be a babysitting day and I'll take a look at the differences.

Anyway, here's the list.

Wake up around 7:30 AM to Emma.

Get Emma out of crib and walk with her and Megan to kitchen.

Make cereal for Megan and self, get cereal and a pancake for Emma.

Jeremy wakes up and becomes stuck to me.

Get sick to stomach, eat two bites of cereal and go to bathroom while holding Jeremy.

Do my business with Jeremy watching, have him do his.

Make Jeremy cereal. Get Megan another bowl of cereal. Get Emma another pancake.

Feed fish. Out of fish food.

Mine is gross by now; throw it away.

Get Emma another pancake.

Put everyone’s dishes in sink.

Clean off kitchen counters and put more dirty dishes in dishwasher.

Pick up dishes from around the apartment and take to kitchen.

Change Emma’s diaper. Rinse out pajamas.

Turn on the computer.

Make our bed, Megan’s bed, and Jeremy’s bed.

Clean up toys from their room.

Clean up toys from the front room.

Try to keep Emma off trunk in hallway.

Try to blog.

Watch the kids get more toys from bedroom into the living room.

Get dressed.

Try to keep Emma off trunk in hallway.

Get Megan dressed.

Try to keep Emma off trunk in hallway.

Try to blog.

Get apple for Megan and Jeremy. Rinse knife.

Fold blankets.

Clean up Megan’s bookshelf.

Receive phone call from prospective tenant.

Try to keep Emma off trunk in hallway.

Finish cleaning up our room.

Try to keep Emma off trunk in hallway.

Move trunk to our room.

Receive phone call from prospective tenant.

Move trunk back to hall.

Start dishwasher.

Show apartment to prospective tenant since the last one lost his job and doesn't want it anymore.

Try to blog.

Put Emma to sleep.

Try to blog.

Play with Megan and Jeremy.

Finish blogging.

11:00 AM Eat lunch (since breakfast was a waste).

Read scriptures while eating.

Go get Emma because Megan and Jeremy woke her up.

Change Emma’s diaper and get her dressed.

Play with kids.

Play Webkins with Jeremy.

Realized Megan was going to be late to school, rushed everyone to get ready and out the door.

Drove Megan to school, chatted with Janice while waiting for teachers.

Drove back home for income verification and housing verification.

Found Nathan at home, he joined the ride.

Took paperwork to new preschool for Fall enrollment.

Home.

Shower (2:30 PM).

Take Emma to mall to buy a couple much needed items, console Emma.

Home for snack for Emma.

Doctor visit, console Emma.

Home.

Talk to Nathan.

Received phone call from Realtor, talked to Nathan about it.

Get dinner ready-leftovers.

Wake up Jeremy from one of his infamous dreaded naps.

Eat.

Feed Jeremy.

Set up laptop for Jeremy.

Get Emma off table, chest.

Move table, chest.

Clean up front room and part of kids’ bedroom.

Help Megan with Webkins.

Put Emma to bed.

Ask kids to get ready for bed.

Help kids get ready for bed.

Put Emma to bed again.

Help kids get ready for bed some more.

Put Emma to bed again.

Put Megan to bed.

Put Jeremy to bed for the second time (Nathan did first time).

Try to relax online with blogs, email.

Write in MS.

Sent messages to Nathan through Jeremy running up and down the hallway between the dining room and the living room, because he couldn't sleep, dang nap!).

Cut Nathan’s hair.

Cut Jeremy’s hair (because he still couldn't sleep).

Clean up mess of hair.

Blog.

Write in MS.

Email parents.

Tried to figure out how to change my internet homepage while looking at the news, couldn't do it.

Finish this list.

Get ready for bed.

Go to bed 12:50AM.

New Career Paths

Yesterday I couldn't seem to remember what day it was. For this reason my daughter had her piano lesson two hours later than usual and I forgot about book club. I hadn't had time to read the book, Stargirl, but I still wanted to go.

A friend on her blog said they discussed how to stay true to yourself, and that one way to always stay true to yourself would be to pick 5 careers you would have done if you had not picked what you are currently doing, gotten married, had kids, etc. Your choices don't need to be realistic or practical. Then take these career choices a step further and incorporate them into your life somehow.

She mentioned that these alternate careers are part of your personality and should be embraced no matter where you are in your life. She listed her five and why and then tagged everyone.

I probably would have done it even if she hadn't turned it into a tag, so here goes.

1. Stage Actress. I loved doing plays and musicals in junior high and high school. I don't know that I was any good (I only had the lead in one play) but it was a lot of fun. When my goal was Hollywood I used to say that I would be happy bringing Steven Spielberg his coffee.

2. Teacher. I have always loved to read and learn and I always wanted to make a difference in our school systems. I always wanted to help kids who don't like English and history to love them. I had some terrible teachers that really made me hate being there and because of them, I wanted to make a change. Have you seen the movie Stand and Deliver? I wanted to be that teacher, just with English and History instead of math. I don't like math.

3. Published Author. While I have been published, so far it's only been in newspapers and collections. My manuscripts have not been published (for obvious reasons--they aren't finished). I would be the next J.K. or Brandon Sanderson (I know, I aim high).

4. Social Worker or counselor. I studied social work and psychology for three years before deciding it wouldn't work out for me. I did a ton of volunteer work in Rexburg at the Family Crisis Center and at the Child Rehabilitation Center. I tried to continue it when I lived in Logan, though opportunities for such activity was less.

5. Politician. This is a rather new development. It's not something I really thought about as a kid, but is something I think a lot about now. I am increasingly unhappy with the way the country is going and I want to help. (The link is not because I want to be like her or think a lot of her, but that if I was to go into politics, our situations would be similar in that I started small and knowing nothing.)

So there you go. My five. It was harder than I thought it would be, but now I'm tagging you! So ha! You get to see just how hard (or easy) it is. Leave me a message and let me know if you're going to play along so I can check yours out.