Yes, a blog post from Beth

Here is a picture to accompany my post. It is unrelated...

I am the first to admit that I am not very good at blogging. It is probably the perfectionist side of me (small side). I just feel like I can't "post" until I really have something to say or show. So last night as Brady and I were getting all riled up about school fund raising I decided that I could do a blog post about my frustrations. A warning, this is unorganized and rushed.

I am all for raising money for the school and understand that it is necessary. This year our school is raising money to buy more technology (smart boards anyone?) beautify the grounds outside the mobile trailer classrooms (yes they are staying) and to create an outdoor science lab (cool!). We have fun at the school carnival, spaghetti dinners, bingo nights, etc. Selling boxes of frozen cookies for $15 a pop? Not so into that.

Allow me to rant for a moment. I don't even mind selling (buying) cookies. Heck I bought 4 boxes last year and they were pretty good. The problem I have is that they worked the kids into a frenzy about selling, selling, selling. The kids came home totally excited about a limo ride to lunch. What?! Evidently if they sell 15 "units" (translate $225 worth of frozen cookies) they earn a limo ride to lunch. They had an assembly to explain the fund raising and the kids went wild when they told them that they could earn a limo ride to lunch (I'm picturing an elementary school version of the car episode on Oprah).

Brady and I are wondering how much of the $15 "unit" actually goes back to the school. Our neighborhood is full of elementary school students all selling cookies. I'm not sure how we will sell 30 boxes so my kids can ride in the limo. We want to ask how much of the cookie sale actually goes to the school, write a check for 15 times that amount and see if our kids can get the limo ride that way.

Maybe I am a grouch (well I know I am), maybe I am depriving my kids of important (selling) skills, but I am not a fan of adults trying to sell me stuff that I don't need and I am not a fan of kids selling expensive cookies either (isn't obesity a problem people?). It might be different if it was $1 candy bars or if the kids weren't manipulated using methods usually reserved for time-share sales people.

How much does it cost to rent a limo for lunch anyway?

All I can say is that this fundraising company is probably getting rich off of our school. Plus, they didn't even explain the logistics of the limo ride. For real, are they going to come to the school and take the kids to McDonald's in a limo? That is what the kids think. They are already planning where to go and who gets to get in first etc.

I'll send my email to the fundraising coordinator and let you know....no, I'm not calling the news.

PS: Let me know if you would like to purchase a box of frozen, pre-formed cookies, they actually are pretty good and easy to bake! (no, this is not some reverse psychology method of me selling the most amount of cookies by pretending that I hate it, I still hate it!)

Chinese Eyes...

Chinese eyes are watching you....that is what this picture reminds me of (sing it to Hall & Oates).  Brady came up with that little ditty which is pretty funny.  The story that goes along is that we were at a missionary homecoming open house for a kid in his parents' ward.  We were getting ready to leave and a little girl says to Brady, "your Mom has Chinese eyes".  Hmm, I'm thinking how did she know that Gombs (Brady's Mom) was his Mom as she was at the party but not with us.  Then I was thinking hmmm, Gombs doesn't have Chinese eyes.  Then it all came together--she was talking about me.  Pretty funny!  I believe the more PC term is "almond shaped" which is fine with me because I L O V E almonds.  

Anyway, I haven't posted forever because I feel like I never have anything of substance to say.

I thought about doing a whole post in the style of writing a letter like Meri does her Facebook status.  For example...

Dear Beth,

Please post something, I am lame.

Love,

Your Blog

or

Dear Oatmeal Cookies,

Did I cut my cholesterol by eating 2 dozen of you in one day?

Love,

Beth 

One more random story.  Tonight Quinton spotted what he thought was a Queen Ant on the back patio.  He was freaked out because it was huge and had wings.  I don't know if there are such things as Queen Ants but he seemed to know what he was talking about.  Brady trapped it in a bug catcher tube and left it out there.  Quinton is certain that the rest of the ants are going to be mad that we captured their queen.  He thinks they will attack as soon as they see us.  He is really freaked out.  So, then I thought it might be kind of funny (but also kind of cruel and I'm not going to do it) to write a note and leave it on the bedroom door that says:

Dear Quinton,

You took our queen and now you must pay.  We ants are vengeful creatures.  You better watch out.

The Ants

Dear Beth,

You have avoided me too long.  Stop blogging this instant.

From,

The email and document you said you would send tonight

Kate vs. Michelle

So, what is this about Jon and Kate (+ 8) having marital problems?  

When Brady plays basketball on Tuesday nights the kids and I like to watch shows about families with lots of kids.  For some reason they are fascinated by it.  So we end up watching TLC.  I do have to say that I'm not sure if Kate and I would get along.  I know many people love her no-nonsense OCD attitude but she kind of drives me nuts.  Like when she got so mad at her friend (coincidentally named Beth) for giving her kids gum while Beth was kindly watching the kids so they could do something individually with one of their older girls.  For real?  Get over it.  She also threw a caniption (I don't know how to spell it) when Jon used the nice matching hairbands for a stay home day or something.  Hey, I know, you have to be organized with so many kids, blah blah blah.  Also, it looks like they recently moved into some fancy big house.  That should have been the first sign of trouble--the fame is going to their heads...  

On the other hand, the Duggars (18 kids and counting) tend to drive me nuts as well.  The strange thing is that they are starting to grow on me.  Michelle Duggar (the mom) is so soft spoken.  She would never throw a fit about gum or hairbands.  They do have their strange ways like "modest" swimwear (hey I am all for covering up but...) and long permed hair (although in the newer episodes some of the daughters have started wearing straight hair I hope it isn't a bad sign), and the long denim/khaki skirts.  I did get annoyed when they were on the Today Show promoting a book they wrote and had it right on their laps even though the interview was supposed to be about something else.  Oh well.  They are growing on me.  

What would people say about me if our family had a show?  Interesting thought.  

So after the kids go to sleep on Tuesday nights sometimes I watch the Real Housewives of New York City.  Gag!  I want to look away but I can't.  What a juxtaposition with the Duggars and even Jon and Kate. 

Well, now you know what goes on in my head when I really should be going to sleep!

Up Too Late

Isn't ironic?  Remember that song?  It really should have been "Doesn't that just suck?"  Anyway, I'm addicted to the show Intervention.  Also, I'm agitated that my washing machine doesn't seem to be agitating correctly.  Now, isn't that ironic? 

Also my scanner isn't working but that just sucks, not ironic...

The picture has nothing to do with this post.  I just knew that Lysa and Meri would like a nice big bottom shot (and I don't mean Penn).  Plus, blogs are much more interesting when pictures are included.

Thanks for the Memories!

The funny thing about memories is that they always seem better than actually doing the thing you remember.  I spend a lot of time really trying to enjoy the moment but the moment is usually not the ultimate moment that I am planning on which leads to let-down.  I also spend a lot of time in the moment thinking "I need to enjoy this" because it is going to be a great memory. 

Case in point-Trip to Disneyland.  We had a really good time and I had withdrawals this whole week.  I missed it and wanted to go back!  However, when we were living the "moment" there was stress, frustration, instances of bribery and bad parenting trying to force our kids to have fun.   

Maybe this is a little too philosophical.  Back to the laundry....

Proof

Ok, so here is the link to the "special" photos.  Now, I hope all of you understand that I am attaching this link in good faith.  Please do not post to Facebook or try to blackmail me with these!  BTW-I hate those shorts!  How could I run in them?  Gross...

Woulda Coulda Shoulda

What I should be doing right now is sleeping, laundry, work, flexible spending reimbursement forms, or straightening up.  But I decided I needed to make a post to my blog even though I never know what to write about.  So, here are some random thoughts...

Quinton has a serious sleep walking problem which is why he usually sleeps in our bed.  It is scary as we have awoken (awaken?) to hear him running down the stairs for no reason.  He is always in a rush when sleep walking.  Tonight we tried putting him on our floor and sure enough he bolted out of bed and tried to rush downstairs.  A couple years ago I woke up to find him opening the front door.  Scary!  Brady and I are considering a gate or a cage for him. Probably not a cage.  

I went running outside on the trail on Saturday and it was awesome.  It made me realize that you really don't get the same experience on the treadmill (duh).  I thought I had been doing pretty well but that trail kicked my b$%*!  (I don't like to say butt).  The weather was beautiful and I was able to run alone which makes it easier to sing along to my ipod.  Some of my favorite running songs are Solitary Man (Neil), Upside Down (Diana Ross), Take a Chance (Abba) and Love Will Keep Us Together (Captain & Tenille).  Yes, I probably need to venture into some newer tunes.  Any suggestions?

Another thought about running.  I know that I look retarded (literally, sorry not very PC) when I run.  I have proof.  At the NYC Marathon they take pictures of you at random spots on the course and then email them to you so you can buy them and share them with all of your friends because you are very proud of your accomplishment (run-on sentence-get it?).  Anyway, I saw those pictures and nearly died.  My mouth was slack and I had a not so bright look on my face in each one.   Needless to say I did not buy any of the pictures.  I wonder if I still have them on email?  I will look later.