Well, here we all are on Oscar night, in the comfort of our family room,ballots completed (at the urging/insistence of the resident film critic), all waiting with something less than eager anticipation for the winners to be announced. I mean, DAN is eagerly anticipating. I am half heartedly attempting to feign interest, and not being very successful. The kids range from one end of the interest spectrum to the other. Every year, Dan makes us all fill out ballots, then carefully tallies our results, then announces the winner. Which is always him. Then he lords it over our heads for the rest of the night that, surprise suprise, he won AGAIN. But, he makes attempts to support my holiday efforts at carving pumpkins and hiding Easter eggs, so I indulge him.
Here is the really big news though: Today is Day 14 since I have had a diet soda. !!! Can you believe that? I almost can't. The last time I gave up diet Coke for more than a day was when Audrey was a newborn. And I never thought I would give it up again. But this year, about the time that Lent started, Alisa called and asked what I was giving up for Lent. That got me thinking, and then Audrey and I got this crazy idea to do a Whole 30 food challenge. This means that for 30 days, you eliminate basically everything worth eating from your diet. Really all we eat now are vegetables, meat, fruit and nuts. In a few hours we will be at the half way point, and now I'm wondering why this ever sounded like a good idea. But, hey, I have at least proven to myself that I CAN live without diet coke. I just don't want to.
Here is what we have learned so far: Breakfast is really important. Have a big, high protein breakfast, and you can eat healthy the rest of the day. Miss breakfast, and you will crave junk food all day. Also, I have learned that I depend on food as a cure for boredom more than anything else. When I have to take the kids somewhere and wait for them, or when it is slow at work, those are the times that I NEED a diet coke.
Like now for instance. Watching the Oscars bores me. I could really use a diet coke right now. I am going to be strong now, and drink my smoothie like a good girl. And go try to pay attention to who is who and who is winning what on this silly show.
Sunday, February 28, 2016
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
Five Months In
How is Duncan doing on his service mission you ask? Well, it is hard to believe he is five months in already. I am happy to report that the mission is going really well. It for sure has some challenges, but mostly they have been good challenges that have helped him grow.
The challenge for me has been to get him there every morning at 8. I have to be to work at 9, and Olivia has to be to school at 8:40, so it is a little time crunchy every morning. I try to get Duncan dropped off in Kaysville by 7:50 so that I can turn around and drive back to Syracuse to get Olivia to school on time, and then hit the southbound freeway once again to get myself to Bountiful by nine. It works, and I consider myself lucky. It's not every mom that gets to say goodbye to her missionary every morning and then welcome him home every night.
Right now, there is a group of seven service missionaries at the mill, including one sister. First thing in the morning they have a morning devotional and study time. They are in charge of it, and I would love to be a fly on the wall in one of those meetings.. The senior missionaries that work with them have told me it is often very spiritual and enlightening. I am going to bet that it is occasionally wacky and often intensely humorous. But that is just my guess. I do know Duncan is learning so much and getting a lot of opportunities to speak and teach, and that is so good for him. The senior missionaries are so great, I can't say enough good things about them. They have so much respect for those missionaries, their opinions, feelings, and abilities, and work with them at whatever level they are on, and are so encouraging and kind.
From 10 to 11:30, they serve in the mill, usually working on production with the volunteers or cleaning. Keeping a place like that clean is a never ending job, so they are always busy. Duncan has become a pallet expert. Everything they produce at the mill is boxed in different sized boxes, and each sized box has a specific pattern that is the best way to fit as many boxes onto one pallet as possible. Apparently, Duncan is really good at figuring out the best way to fit the boxes onto the pallets. Can anyone say Tetris? Lately though, he has been opting for sit down jobs on the production line. Variety is the spice of life after all.
11:30 is lunch time. After lunch they have another meeting where they either work on their journals, or work on life skills, or take care of other mission business. Then from about 1:30 to 4 they are back at work in the mill.
Once a month, they have a zone conference with all the other missionaries in their zone. They have put together hygiene kits, gone to the temple, and had a picnic and some holiday parties. Just today they had a whole zone conference on life skills. They learned about table manners, good hygiene, conversation skills, and how to iron a shirt. I bet they aren't the only missionaries that could use a refresher in those areas.
Duncan has already learned some great life lessons, like being responsible to show up ready to work, even when you don't really feel like it. There have been days when he really hasn't wanted to go, and was looking for any excuse to stay home. But don't we all have days like that? But most days he really enjoys going. He says it feels good to work hard and accomplish something and then get to come home and relax. He knows that he is really helping and working at something worthwhile.
The challenge for me has been to get him there every morning at 8. I have to be to work at 9, and Olivia has to be to school at 8:40, so it is a little time crunchy every morning. I try to get Duncan dropped off in Kaysville by 7:50 so that I can turn around and drive back to Syracuse to get Olivia to school on time, and then hit the southbound freeway once again to get myself to Bountiful by nine. It works, and I consider myself lucky. It's not every mom that gets to say goodbye to her missionary every morning and then welcome him home every night.
Right now, there is a group of seven service missionaries at the mill, including one sister. First thing in the morning they have a morning devotional and study time. They are in charge of it, and I would love to be a fly on the wall in one of those meetings.. The senior missionaries that work with them have told me it is often very spiritual and enlightening. I am going to bet that it is occasionally wacky and often intensely humorous. But that is just my guess. I do know Duncan is learning so much and getting a lot of opportunities to speak and teach, and that is so good for him. The senior missionaries are so great, I can't say enough good things about them. They have so much respect for those missionaries, their opinions, feelings, and abilities, and work with them at whatever level they are on, and are so encouraging and kind.
From 10 to 11:30, they serve in the mill, usually working on production with the volunteers or cleaning. Keeping a place like that clean is a never ending job, so they are always busy. Duncan has become a pallet expert. Everything they produce at the mill is boxed in different sized boxes, and each sized box has a specific pattern that is the best way to fit as many boxes onto one pallet as possible. Apparently, Duncan is really good at figuring out the best way to fit the boxes onto the pallets. Can anyone say Tetris? Lately though, he has been opting for sit down jobs on the production line. Variety is the spice of life after all.
11:30 is lunch time. After lunch they have another meeting where they either work on their journals, or work on life skills, or take care of other mission business. Then from about 1:30 to 4 they are back at work in the mill.
Once a month, they have a zone conference with all the other missionaries in their zone. They have put together hygiene kits, gone to the temple, and had a picnic and some holiday parties. Just today they had a whole zone conference on life skills. They learned about table manners, good hygiene, conversation skills, and how to iron a shirt. I bet they aren't the only missionaries that could use a refresher in those areas.
Duncan has already learned some great life lessons, like being responsible to show up ready to work, even when you don't really feel like it. There have been days when he really hasn't wanted to go, and was looking for any excuse to stay home. But don't we all have days like that? But most days he really enjoys going. He says it feels good to work hard and accomplish something and then get to come home and relax. He knows that he is really helping and working at something worthwhile.
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
Five Guys, Burgers and Fries
Duncan and Will both had big birthdays this year- 18 and 21, respectively. I don't care. No matter how old they get, they will always be babies to me. MY babies, and they better do what I say, no matter how legally adult they think they are. Mother always knows best, and they better remember that.
In honor of this momentous year, they headed up to Logan for a little combined pre-birthday celebrating. It was back to Angie's with their childhood buddies, for lunch and a cleaning of the sink.
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