Bonus Time, My Grown Up Christmas List and Angel and a Pest

I filled my tank (and I do mean tank i.e. ozone delepleting beast that fits all of the kids) for $31.00 yesterday! BONUS!

Our new ward is amazing and there is a French Family who just moved in recently. La Famille Gentils and for those of you frenchies, is that not the sweetest name ever?! We finally also scheduled Adi's blessing...TRIPLE BONUS!

My Mom is still at home in bed but feeling better. I scored her a killer appointment with Potty yesterday who hooked her up. It pays to have friends who are ofice staff. BONUS!

Here is my grown up Christmas list; Abba Shampoo & Conditioner, Pot Holders for the Kitchen, a mini tramp for indoor aerobic activity and 'Broken Things to Mend' written by big Jeffy! Simple right?

Last night was Family Home Evening. After dinner we read, 'A Light Unto the World' and the kids were super attentive and had tons of questions. We hate sugar cookies as a treat and made gingerbread house #3 for an activity. The roof stayed on this time!!!!

This evening the big kids will be gone so I'm meeting up to claim my Mary Kay gifty and then I'm headed to the parenting class hosted by Jordan School District to sharpen my skills.

This week's angel is the homeless gentleman off of exit #11. He stood in the wet snow with a small sign, bless his heart. I gave him the last $6 in my wallet. He was patient, polite and offered gratitude. It was one of those small lessons and it felt good to help in some small way.

This week's pest is the nearby neighbor who talks loudly and with a very poor mouth. She has a child with her and speaks like a pirate on crack from Jersey. It breaks my heart that not only does she impose such garbage on my children but she also exposes her own little moonbeam to such rubbish. Ignorance is not bliss nor is it an excuse.

On the B Side: My car heats up super fast! I had forgotten how cold Utah winter mornings can be!!! xxox

Angel and a Pest

Cheers to my darling Ivanhoe as this meme is all hers!

Angel: This week I have 3 that I need to call out; Clancy, Kristin and Shellie.

Clancy Pants, I love our chats and feel like a jerk wad for falling asleep last night in the midst of our 'shiz diggin' session! I love that we can rely on one another and confide in one another.

Kristin, you are the latest and greatest friend. I love that we can chat about real things and I really want to thank you for your kindness, concern, insights and above all for your genuine friendship.

Shellie, The right words at the right time make all of the difference. Our chat yesterday made me smile at the days from the past when we would stay up late and run back and forth between the condos. I do so miss you and was reminded all over again yesterday just how precious you are.

Girls, you are all important to me and serve as serious blessings in my life! Thank you a thousand times over.

Pest: I won't call anyone out but will suffice it to say that it is painful to try to respect people who abdicate responsibility. So rather then try to do something that goes completely against my nature I can flat out tell you that I just don't respect individuals who refuse to be accountable. I am sure that I have done this in my own life and realize that we are all imperfect. Witnessing this behavior this week has made me acutely aware of it. I am living, learning and want to constantly strive to be a better person.

On the B Side: Today is a big day! Best of luck to you, Carrie! We need to pow wow tonight so we can swap stories. Long live Facebook (did I really just say that? yes. yes, i did.)

Angel and a Pest

Credit for the Angel and a Pest posts go to my beautiful friend Ivana

Angel: My dear friend Rebecca is nothing short of an angel . It's funny how our paths crossed and funny how we weave in and out of one another's lives. You are bright, beautiful and have heart that is always touching the lives of others. You stand as a strong example of pure goodness and you do it naturally and without flaw. It so wonderful to see you last night. It caught me off guard when you got a little emotional and made me realize all over again just how very special you are and just how much I love you.

Pest: This weeks pest is that little voice in my head that makes me doubt myself. I think that voice may exist within each of us and spurs a few questions. Just how much space are we going to give to that voice? Just how loud have we allowed that voice to become? That voice is something that we can control and I think it's about time we SQUASH it for good. Clancy my darling, you are the inspiration for the desire to learn to better love and trust myself as you have made me realize just how often and just how much I space give into that voice.

On the B Side: It is overwhelming when I think about the amazing people that surround me in my life. I don't understand it, I will not call it luck and I do not believe in coincidence. I think I'll just be thankful and do my best to take extra special care of them! xxOx

Angel and a Pest

In honor of my friend Ivana here is this week's post.

Angel: This week's angel is a tough one as there have been so many in our lives these past few days particularly as it relates to our packing, moving, unpacking and cleaning. As I thought about it I decided that I hardly make mention of some my favorite people.

Micci has been completley exhausted with her migraines and helped on the spot yesterday. She is a hard worker and busted her heiny on behalf of my family until late into the night. As if that wasn't enough she was absolutely pleasant and wonderful despite it all the entire time. She always smiles and I love it when she giggles. She continually kicks my brothers butt while all the while standing in complete adoration of him (which he happily reciprocates). Two very happy and very helpful peas in a pod! THANK YOU!

I definitely need to make mention of Jenny. Jenny is Mark's older (but not the oldest) sister. I've struggled to know how to best develop a relationship with her. We've had some honest ups and downs but I can tell you that I really do sincerely love her. She is extremely family oriented and takes the Mama Bear syndrome to a whole new level as it extends beyond her children to include ALL of her family. She has a very protective and I respect her for being so strong and so passionate. She has stepped in many times this week and also was with us late into the night. Most of all she gave me the pep talk of a life time that brought much comfort.

Definitely note that lots of people have helped us with the move and we appreciate everyone's selflessness. The time and energy you have put into us is priceless and I do thank you. You know who you are and we are grateful for your service.

Pest: This week's pest is an easy winner. Bugs, don't bug me. Stay away from my family. Particularly, to all of the spiders and earwigs that attempt to intrude....DIE! Die, die, die. It sucked to find you in the bathroom. It was awful to find you on my leg. Terrible to have you crawl out of the diaper bag and ONTO MY ARM while at the store but if I catch you in my baby's car seat again there is going to be some serious hell to pay. In the mean time please note that the pesticide people are on their way TODAY. BWHAHAHAHA!

On the B Side: I am not working again today for the sake of continuing to move my family. The down time and the quiet time seems to be serving me well. Time to jump into the ring for the day~

Angel and a Pest #3

First of all, I have to say how much I miss the kids!! Dayton, Ellie and Kayla are gone this weekend and I miss them all like crazy :( Dayton and Ellie will be home later today and I so look forward to that. We'll see Kayla tomorrow morning and I also really look forward to her return. As for this week's angel and pest here's the low down;

Angel: My Lingy! Thank you for the honest chat this morning. You really are a doll and I do so love you. Funny that something like MS served as the catalyst for our friendship. Thank you for always making time for me, worrying about me, quietly serving me and just being you! You are extremely insightful and able to be objective about life and it's struggles. You became even more endearing as you held Dayton after his bee sting and please know your back rubs are to die for! You are the craziest, cutest Australian beef cake I know!! See you next Tuesday ;)

Pest: While I do not feel it appropriate to name a specific individual I will say that I feel strongly that IT IS NOT OKAY TO TREAT OTHERS POORLY OR MAKE THEM FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE INTENTIONALLY and especially not in my home but thank you for apologizing...that warmed my heart! How important is it that we do not take life or ourselves too seriously? Painfully and crucially important!!! xxox

On the B Side: Again, I just feel blessed and so happy.

An Angel and a Pest #2

True to form and compliments to Ivanna here is my post.

Angel: Mo Mo. Squishy Bug. K Mo. Call her what we may, McKayla is this weeks angel and also today's birthday girl! Happy 6th Birthday to our not-so-little-girl! She is the care giver in our family. She is the one who worries about everyone else and never wants anyone to feel bad. She has a desire to do good and is a great listener. On top of it all, she is always telling me that I am the smartest girl she knows! I have no idea what prompted this but she also contends that I am way smarter than her Dad as well! "Huh, Britta?" she will ask after make these proclamations! She is darling and also a very special part of our blended little family!

Pest: J. Perry is the recipient of this title this week. While I have no idea who this person is I do know that this person recovered a check that I lost in February. Rather than doing the right thing this person took advantage dishonestly for the sake of personal gain. While it was written out to me, J. Perry took it upon him or herself to endorse and deposit this check. The bank took it upon itself to accept this check and hence is a runner up for the pest title this week. I only have two questions; 1) What the heck is wrong with people? and 2) Is the Bank really that careless? I hate dishonesty and incompetence!!!!

On the B Side: Mark and I get to spend the day with Kayla tomorrow! Also, once we get the mess straightened out with the bank J Perry will be held accountable as the moron deposited the check into his or her account. Way to go, Einstein.

Angels and Pests #1

Per Ivanhoe here is my post!

Angel: His name is Dale. Dale at Metlife. I'm pretty sure that the "consultants" who man the phones at insurance companies should be well paid (oh except maybe for that first simpleton I talked to) as they have some serious complexities to sift through when it comes to the claims and explanations of benefits (and given the fact that we all pay out the nose for coverage anyway). I think Dale (my new best friend) must have a degree in helping morons like me make some sense of the nonsense that is billed, contracted, paid out and written off! To top it all off not only was he extremely helpful and patient he was friendly and professional! Given his help I was able to clear a $240 bill to a zero balance! Rock on Dale and the like (but not that first lady)!!

Pest: The "educators" that labeled Michael Phelps ADHD and told his Mom that he would never be able to focus. Shame on them!!! 13+ Gold Medals later I hope that they see the error of their ways and have a renewed outlook on what, who and how they label children. And to any mo fo' who may ever try to label any of my kids, STEP OFF me! I pity da' fool!

On the B Side: I am grateful for the day to day angels that we bump into in life!