Some Weekends Shouldn't Count...

When you miss the ball in kickball the teacher calls, "redo" and you get to try again. No going to the end of the line, or waiting 5 more days, just an automatic "Redo".

This weekend should be a redo.

Not that it was bad or awful, but just that it didn't fulfill the duties and responsibilities of a traditional weekend. There was no relaxation, wimbling, napping, going to the movies, taking a trip to the grocery store, lounging on the couch, sleeping in, lying in a bubble bath, or taking a relaxing stroll. Those ARE the typical weekend activities, right?

You see it's been a long time since I had a "nothing to do weekend" (who ever really does.... except in the movies, they can always manage it there...) And this weekend has been the crux of "un-weekend weekends".

I tried to leave work early on Friday but after a team meeting, parent meeting, cleaning the room, and planning, there was no early left. When I finally made it home, we were immediately off to Lowes and Home Depot (One, One trip to Home Depot - think Count Dracula). We did manage to squeeze in a movie when we got back, but I can't remember what it was. So I either slept through it or it wasn't that good.
Saturday I began painting at 6 AM, and finished painting 14 hours later. Ok, there were a few other things in there. I sanded, went to Home Depot for moulding (Two, Two trips to Home Depot) , spackled nail holes, removed door handles and painted doors, got lunch, went to Home Depot for paint (Three, Three trips to Home Depot), vacuumed, sealed tile, dusted, vaccumed, cleaned off the counters, swept the kitchen floor, shined the sink, went to Home Depot for....Just kidding, three trips was good, but I do need to go tomorrow for a few things....
And so at 8:00 PM I ate my bowl of cereal, took a shower, and crawled in my bed (with clean sheets, forgot to mention that on the to-do list).

Today also began at 6 trying to actually write down the talk and lesson I had written in my head the prior day during painting, ok and I was chatting with Kassie. Then it was time to make breakfast, clean up the kitchen (again!), and then get ready for church. (Which is a chore in itself because finding clothes is so hard!) At church I spoke in sacrament, then helped Art with his lesson in Primary, then taught Relief Society. When we got home I made Art a Tortilla Sandwich (Pan con Tomato - Spanish food), me a wrap, and got some carrots steaming for my lunch this week. (I really didn't intend on writing a play by play, it just happened. And Jamie and/or Andre are going to hassle me about the number of parenthesis and asides - oh well.) After that it was an attempt to do school work, instead moving the washer and dryer back and beginning to chip away at the laundry mountain (literal mountain stands 4 feet high - must have washer!) I'm not sure I know where the rest of the hours went today, but I know I didn't nap.

And now it's 8:41 and I am just now remembering I didn't make a new seating chart, and noticing the still uncorrected pile of spelling tests (3 weeks worth - can I pay someone to do this for me??) And I haven't gotten my reading done in our class novel, and do you know how much trouble it causes when the teacher is UNPREPARED!!???? So I was going to upload some pictures of our progress (I say progress because No, we still have not finished any of 3 the currently under construction rooms) but it's too late, and I've got to make that seating chart before I get to my reading!

Do you see why I need a redo?

To clarify....

By "Dud" I didn't mean lack of things to do....there are PLENTY of things to do, I won't even start that depressingly long list...just a lack of interesting and fun things to do! But it's February now so everything is going to be pleasant and wonderful (positive thinking works)...

And to start it out, we were having so much fun in Math yesterday that we didn't even notice that we'd missed recess!

January Dud...

Blogging is slow. You may have noticed as you click around that the updates have slowed down and some have come to a screeching halt (except for Belinda, but we all know she has some sort of manic obsession). Even with the lull in writing, each and every night I still click on each blog in hopes of a new post, and on a lucky day they'll be something new to read. And then I start thinking....
What should I post about?
For along with the clicking each night, and longing for new updates, I also feel the guilt to keep my own blog exciting. So with each guilt ridden moment I wonder...
But WHAT could I post about?
You see, I have determined that January is an insanely boring month. Boring to such a degree that it's miserable because you aren't bored from lack of things to do, but bored from doing the same tedious frustrating tasks day after day, with nary a break for something - anything - fun...
And so I've thought, and thought, and thought about what I could possibly put up here...
Could I write about my debate unit in class and that really funny debate about homework? Hmm, I think you had to be there. How about I tell the story of cleaning the laundry room and finding piles of dog bones and dryer sheets and lint and...okay, no one wants to read about that. Perhaps I'll talk about about my dogs, but even they are bored. The really hard math test... The funny thing on the radio... The new dance in the play... The homemade soup I made... Playing ShwingBong...
The more and more I thought, the more depressed I got. This has not been a pleasant month. It has been uneventful (except the birth of my nephew - whom I haven't even held yet). It's been filled with entirely too much to do and not a drop of energy to do it. And the most joy I've felt was crawling in bed each night and knowing that I was one day closer to January being over.

So in my attempt to post SOMETHING entertaining I'll share the dance that my students and I created to learn about Landforms...It's fairly long, but what else are you going to do, it's January...

Our Max....

*This is Not intended to be a sad blog entry.

Yesterday we had to say goodbye to our Max. He had lived a long and plentiful life and his old bones were done carrying him.
We adopted Max about 4 years ago from Art's best friend who couldn't keep him in an apartment. Since then, Max has been a part of our family. He was full of love and happiness, and naps. He didn't love to travel, but he loved the destination, especially if there was any water nearby.
We'll miss Ol' Half Dead, but we're happy that he's running the trails of heaven and enjoying his life again!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Thanks...and moving on.

I just wanted to say a quick Thanks to all who posted, called, and offered love and support. I have to admit that every time I opened my comments I cried and cried, but mostly because I felt the love - and I'm a Nielson, I'm not sure how to handle love!

Thanks to those who dropped off treats, offered hugs, and most important - smiles.

Thanks to my sister who listened to the gory details; paid attention to the doctors; walked me to the bathroom so my gown wouldn't blow open; quoted Steel Magnolias with me so I would stay distracted; brought me ice packs, disgusting iron drinks, movies, and more; read and researched to answer my questions; paid attention so I didn't have to; and on and on and on....

Thanks to my mom who spoke her best love language and cleaned my bathroom, vacuumed my floors, and changed my sheets; kept me utterly distracted with mindless chatter; bought us lunch, and toilet paper; gave me a hug that was long and hard, and of her own free will; made me cookies; and sat in the ER waiting room until it was okay to go home...

And so the list could go on, my whole family, my co-workers, my students, my amazing husband, my loving Dad...I shouldn't start, it's like the Emmy's I'll forget someone important...Just thanks...

And with that, I'm moving on - at least on my blog - away from the sappy tear jerkers back to the important stuff like....the bathroom remodel! Look we got the vanity in and painted...

(I know it's SO white, I don't think it's going to last, I can't handle white!)

Loss...

I don't know if this is the right time or place, but the thought of face to face encounter, or phone call sounds dreadful, so I guess I'll use this avenue because there is support in this little blog world, and as I look at my list of friends who read my blog there are many of you who have been here.

We went to the doctor yesterday and found out our peanut is gone. I'm not sure what else to say.

I am one of those people who believes that everything happens for a reason, and I do trust that we have a plan laid out for us. My mind knows this but 'I just wish someone would explain it to my heart.' We are trying to move on, and find the positive. I have the most wonderful loving and supportive husband who smiles and laughs and wraps his arms around me. I couldn't make it without him.

I'm not the kind of person who wants long discussions, I'd rather none at all - I'd like to hop on a plane to Hawaii and disappear for a while. Because I know that the first person who asks how the baby is doing will bring me to tears again so I would rather people know.

With all of this, the many tears, the constant reminders, you have to find the purpose and understanding in the disappointment. I know that the trials we go through are intended to make us stronger people. Why do we fall? To get back up again. As I think through the difficulties in my life - from the loss of good friends and relatives, to the grueling hours on the trail - each of those challenges provided me an opportunity for growth. Prince (I know, an odd person to be quoting) once said, "You can't regret anything, it's all part of the experience." I hold that to be true about more than regrets, but all things - we have been given a life full of challenges that make each day worth living, waking up - if only to move past them. And as I look at my challenge, I have to be grateful. I am going through something that so many people experience, and so many people around me understand and can lend support. And this challenge will pass, and our time will come. I have to be grateful that I have a home, a job, an amazing family...I can be grateful that I can paint my bathroom now, and go backpacking this summer (promises have been made).

There is fresh snow on the ground, and the sun is shining.

Another new year...

I must join the throngs of people who hate this holiday - Who does like New Years??? (I was in bed by 10, but Max had me up again at 12, and 1, and 3, and.... anyhow...)

Like it or not, it's here and it's a time to reflect and move on. We've had a good year, we are very blessed in our life and lucky to have our home, jobs, and a great relationship. I can't say that 2008 ended on the highest note what with being sick, job-stress, never-ending remodeling projects, and a very old and dying dog - BUT we are very excited for the guaranteed changes of 2009.

Here's our goals/plans for the year:
1 - The Peanut!!! However she (this is hopeful on Art's part) comes - we're planning on easy and natural (positive thinking works!) - we are so excited to see what she looks like, find out all about her personality, and all the rest of that fun stuff that comes with being a parent! (Me, a parent???)
2 - Sell the House!! We just have about 5 million projects to finish before we list the house in February, and then we are HOPING it sells!!!
3 - Move to Logan.... We're ready for small town living, a cheaper house, USU, and a new adventure.
4 - New Jobs - Art is looking for a new career where he only has to work when he wants, makes lots and lots of money, and can still be a stay-at-home-papa. I am hoping everything works out for me to be the drama specialist at Edith Bowen Lab School, if not I'm good to teach anywhere - but it would be such fun to just be 'dramatic' all day...

- ok, so that all has to be done, here's what we'd like to do...-

5 - Train the dogs!!! Rudy can get away with anything - stinkin' puppy dog eyes!
6 - Go to the temple monthly...
7 - Save money and pay off bills - who doesn't need to do that??
8 - Learn to relax (ok, that's just for me, Art has already mastered this...)
9 - Try to get through the giant stack of books to read so my kids will stop pestering me for a discussion about all their favorite new books...
10 - Take time to enjoy life...You only get one chance, might as well live it happily.