Mr. Congeniality

Matty never ceases to amaze me.  He has these wicked skills and knowledge and brain power that is just amazing.  Not only that but he has this charm that gets people to give him discounts all the time.  I just don't get it he can go into major retailers and get them to give them discounts off the original pricing.  

Yesterday I needed him to stop by the hardware store to get something to finish up my backyard project and I told him the best prices were at Lowes for this product but Home Depot was more convenient on his way home.  He called me when he got to the store and the product was 4 dollars more than the Lowes price.  He was not happy how expensive this product was but I didn't have any other options.  He got up to the cash register and the guy jokingly said $xx(a higher amount then the real price) is your total.  It took Matt a minute but realized he was joking and then in the spirit of joking he said back and I thought $xx.xx was a rip off.  Matt went to pay for the product and noticed that there was a 10% discount on the receipt.  He looked up at the cashier and the guy told him he gave him a discount.  What is it about my husband that people feel compelled to discount his merchandise.  Mind you this is not the first time.

Just a few months ago we were desperate to find some pants for Matt and as luck would have it there was a pair.  They had a sale buy two and you could save but we only could find one.  When we got up to the cash register he(half jokingly) said that if there would've been two he would've bought them to get the sale price.  Then the woman at the register said I'll give you a discount and gave him 25% his pants.

So, the next day I ended up finding another pair of pants somewhere else and they' had the buy 2 deal also and I tried the same trick and the response from the cash register was, "That Sucks!  I could call to see if they have one at another store but we couldn't give you the sales price then."  Both men and women will give him discounts.  I used to be able to do that but I guess I'm just not young enough anymore...maybe it's the whole 3 kids in tow thing.  So, if you ever need to get something for a lower price have Matt pay for it you might be able to get a deal on it.  

Impromptu Ice Cream and a visit

Saturday night came upon us and Matt got a hunkering for homemade ice cream.  This is not typical for us(to not have the kids in bed by 8:00) but about 7:20ish we loaded the kids in the car and dragged them down the store to get a few ingredients.  When we got back Matt threw everything in with his own twist of course and he entertained the kids outside for the time it took for the ice cream to be whipped up.  Matt had all the kids with him on our deck swing and they were just eating up the attention.  I felt a little guilty because I had to practice for choir but joined them after I was done.  The kids watched the sunset and Matt lit the tiki torches.  When the ice cream was done we just popped off the top and dished everyone up and had ice cream while swinging in the tiki lighted dark.  It was so nice and peaceful and I bet the kids were ecstatic that we let them stay up WAY past their bedtime.  We're not spontaneous enough and this was a fun little treat just to enjoy with our little family.  I snapped some shots but too lazy to load them up.  Maybe I'll post them later.

Then yesterday, we took a quick trip up to see Grandma Murdock.  She is in a nursing facility.  It's difficult for her to talk because she can't swallow anymore so her throat is really dry.  We did however get our kisses and hugs in a plenty to let her know that we love her.  We had a lovely visit with family who took pity on us and saved us of our dinner we packed of sandwiches and fed us barbecue beef which ROCKED!  On our way home Matt missed our turn off and we saw where the newer Walmart was built in Logan and while going through the parking lot Matt noticed the new Macey's that had been built off in the distance.  He pointed and made a comment to the affect over there is the new Macey's Deb and our little Macer's piped up and said very sassy like, I'm right here, Dada.

Update on list

I'm half way through the year and how am I doing on my "to do" list for the year?  Good and not so good.  I guess it's all about perspective.  I am about two-thirds the way done on 3 goals and 1 and 16 I have been good about doing but those are on going.  I guess I'll give you an insight on what I'm doing.

Goal 1:  Work on Food Storage

This one is a hard one for me because we use our food storage too fast and I always forget to re stock.  So what I've been doing if something is on sale and it fits into the budget I force myself to buy it to stock up.  I've been so used to buying what we only need for the week for so long(result of being poor college folk) that for some reason it takes all my effort to buy more.  I'm slowly learning though.  It's been nice to have things on hand when I think I'm out and then go, oh, I have that in storage.

Goal 16:  Keep current on kids journals

In my effort to give my kids a gift to them when they are older I've been keeping a journal of things that they do.  They all have their birth story written down and my feelings and thoughts intertwined with each.  I write down there accomplishments, embarrassing moments and cute sayings.  I hope it will help to give them an insight of what they were like growing up and some much needed blackmail in the future.

Goal 14:  Window coverings for family room and kitchen

I am proud to say that I finally ordered the curtains for the family room.  It takes me FOREVER to do stuff for my home because I'm not a decorator, everything has to be perfect and I don't want it to look ugly.  So I usually end up doing nothing.  I have all these ideas of what I would like to do but I have zero faith in my decorating skills.  The curtains are a little on the wild side so hopefully they'll go well(my new color of interest RED).  At least they'll give us more privacy when we are in our family room and keep the heat from escaping during the winter.

Goal 2:  Finish Twin Quilt

I love to quilt but I have never finished anything bigger than a baby's blanket.  I have had a quilt top finished for almost 7 years now(pathetic, I know) and I have still yet to finish the whole thing.  I have to quilt it which shouldn't be too bad but I'm nervous about doing the binding.  I know it will be fine once I start but starting is always the hard part.  Here's a picture of the task at hand.  Maryn has already put dibs on it.

So, here I am trucking along.  My year end has been cut short by about 3 months so I feel the rush of needing to get these things wrapped up before September.  Just FYI the little procedure I had mentioned a couple posts back is happening within that month of Sept.  I get to re try to fix my knee again because it's not working so great and the previous attempts have failed.  I'm not going to lie I'm nervous about it...surgery is never a walk in the park but I'm hoping the long term of it will allow me to enjoy my life a little better without the pain and the ability to walk down the stairs and kneel(that's an important one since I be a prayin' kinda people).  For those of you feeling sorry for me I do take cash, check or charge but will except donations in chocolate, flowers or notes (I so hope you know that I'm kidding...hard to joke around in typing)

Things will be great!!!  Come what may everything will be fine.

My boy turned on me

After 12 months of care my boy has turned on me.  My once cuddle bug has turned into a daddy's boy.  He wants nothing to do with me unless I'm stuffing his face full of food, even then he pounds his chest until I feed him.  Can you say demanding?  It is getting increasingly difficult to console him, pick him up or put him down to bed.  I guess he thinks I abandoned him after I stopped nursing.  With the girls we have a specific ritual of reading, prayer and a song before they go to bed and they are out like a light.  When the girls were young Matt or I used to rock with them and we would sing to them and they responded to that great.  I try to sit and rock with my boy and he thrashes, bites me and throws his head back until he can break free.  It makes me so sad because I rock with all my children but he won't let me.  I was particularly struggling the other night and Matt came in and asked to have him and he quieted right down and snuggled into Daddy's chest and zonked.  There is no sweeter feeling then holding a sleeping baby rested against your chest.  I just shook my head in frustration and left feeling a little defeated.  Then yesterday I tried to go to a RS activity and had to take the kids and for the first 20 minutes I couldn't pick him or put him down.  He just wasn't happy so I stood out in the hall and was just about to leave because I had had enough from the day and Buddy Guy wouldn't back down.  While he was still squawking one of the guys from our ward walked by and asked if he could take him in the nursery and I declined.  And all he did was put his arms out and say hey little guy do you want to come with me and Mason practically leaped into his arms.  He was tall like Matt so I'm wondering if he was thinking along the lines that he's like Dad I'll go with him.  He didn't spare a second thought to me though.

Mason is not the only one leaving me in the dust.  I was getting Macey ready for bed this past week and said let's go pick out a book to read together.  Emphatically she tells me, "No, I read with Daddy."  I get it Matt's been gone a lot but work with me kids...Mommy is not so bad!

Macey + Mason = TROUBLE

Undeniable Truths

One undeniable truth that has come into play in our life is that at one point or another everyone must leave this life.  No one can escape death and no one knows when it will happen.  Even with the knowledge that I have been given regarding my faith still doesn't stop the heartache that is felt with each loved one that passes.  For the past week Matt and I have taken turns visiting his sweet mother in the hospital.  She is still with us but her quality of life is not what it once was and it's difficult for us to see her suffer and struggle to do just simple things.  My heart aches for my husband because I know how much he loves his mother and honors her.  She is the most graceful and strongest woman I have ever met and I've been so blessed to have her as my mother in law.  I can't help but feel cheated that we didn't get the quality of time everyone else in the family got with her.  I feel even more cheated that my children will not be able to get the time with her that the older grand children have had over the years.  That is selfish and I'll have to resolve those feelings that I have somehow.  But for now we will cherish each day that we have with her.  I've said this before life is too short.  Live everyday with meaning and with no regrets.

 

Bird's Eye View

This is my month to play the organ.  For my calling I switch off every other month with another gentleman in the ward.  Between all the callings Matt and I have had we've always been able to make it work somehow juggling the kids and our meetings.  Sometimes we are rushing in and out of the house pacing for the person to come back so we can go to our next thing but hey at least we're needed right?  It's not as insane as it used to be when I was in YW's but still can get crazy at times. 

Anyway, I was up on the stand watching my poor husband wrestle with the kids.  Buddy was on his lap while Macey was on some type of kick today.  While Matt's head was turned tending to Macey there was this boy in front of Mason that was lounging back trying to get some rest in and as soon as his head was draped over the pew then WHAM! Mason bopped the kid on the head.  The kid whipped around to see who hit him then he went back trying to get comfortable and just as Matt turned his head Mason bopped him on the head again.  The kid turned around and looked at Matt.  Matt couldn't figure out why the kid was looking at him weird.  One last time the kid kicked back trying to catch some Zzz's and as Matt turned his head Mason bopped him on the head again.  I was laughing so hard!  Later talking to Matt he had no idea that Mason was smacking the boy in front of him.