Just Keep Swimming

The hamster wheel I'm on is going about 90 mph these days.  Here is a list of activities I was involved in last week:

Primary activity
Young Women camp hike
Soccer game
Basketball game
City service project
Senior Ball
WalMart grocery shopping

And that was on Saturday alone.  The other days of the week keep me running just as fast.  In fact, there were a few times last week when I felt like tears were imminent.  It was at those times that these words came to my mind:  just keep swimming.  If you haven't seen Finding Nemo, you can see what I'm talking about here. 

Funny how a quote from a Disney movie came as my inspiration.  But it did.  And I did it, I just kept swimming.  And you can too.  And if you do, relief will come.  Prayers will be answered.  Hard work will pay off.  You will be strengthened.  I promise.

A Recommendation

I'm reading this book because my brother-in-law suggested it.  I think you might like it too.

Icing On The Cake

Sung to the tune "On The Good Ship Lollipop" chorus

He's a good kid,
Alex Clark
Journalism -
where he'll make his mark.
Off to B-Y-U
on a half-tuition scholarship!

I'm bursting with pride for my boy.

Rules To Live By

Lately I've been breaking all the rules, rules I've set for myself to live by.

One rule is bed by nine o'clock.  We're up at five, so early to bed is important.  Lately, little league is pushing back bed time.  I'm also tired of the bed time and feel like I ought to be able to stay up and see who gets voted off Celebrity Apprentice if I want to.  So there.

Another rule is nothing to drink after dinner.  Not talking alcohol here, just liquid in general.  My bladder won't tolerate it unless I want a three AM wake up call.  But I like to have a tall glass of milk with those cookies gosh dang it - so I'm drinking it down and paying the price. 

Next rule, exercise.  Haven't done it in weeks.  Don't feel like it.  Too tired for it (see first rule).  I'll get fit in the summer when I'm not driving kids back and forth to school, dance, basketball, baseball and soccer.

This rule is a biggie, limiting intake of soda.  I don't want to be addicted, really I don't.  But for some reason, Coca-Cola is an emotional comfort for me and if I feel like I want one, I'm having one. 

So now that I can see it on paper (well, the computer monitor) I can see that my self discipline is weak.  I must have caught a little senior-itis from my graduating senior.  Time to take a deep breath, determine to do better, and get it done.  Wish me luck, I'll need it.    

Yes To Carrots

Whenever I endorse a product on my blog I feel like a door-to-door salesman.  Truth is, I'm really just trying to hook you up with a product I use and like, because I use it and I like it and I think you might like to use it and like it too. 

So today I'd like to introduce you to "Yes To Carrots."  Yes To Carrots, according to their website, "combines high-quality organic fruits and vegetables with a special mineral elixir derived from the Dead Sea to nourish and hydrate naturally."  I found Yes To Carrots C Me Blush Lip Tint while waiting for a prescription to be filled.  I'd recently lost my lip gloss and my lips cannot go dry in the desert environment I live in.  Well it wasn't long before I was lovin the way my lips felt and even looked while wearing this balm.  I even like the small size because I carry a small purse.

So if you want to say Yes To Carrots, and I know you do, click the pic above and you'll be magically transported to a nifty website where you can purchase your very own balm, lotion, shampoo and conditioner.

Did that sound too rehearsed?  I felt like I rushed it a bit.

Here's How It Went

This is how the birthday day went:

8:00 am   
Open presents - too excited to wait for family to come home at end of day
9:00 am   
Ditch school for birthday fun
10:00 am 
Buy glitter for toenails at craft store
11:00 am 
Meet brothers and sister for lunch and yogurt
Noon       
Go to school to distribute birthday treats
3:30 pm   
Come home from school and pick up friends for party
4:00 pm   
Paint pottery
6:00 pm   
Dinner at Roberto's Taco Shop
7:00 pm   
Family soccer game at park - girls against boys - birthday girl magically scores winning goal
8:00 pm   
Cupcakes, Birthday song, candles and wish
9:00 pm   
Bed.  Dreaming of what the 11th year will bring.

Double Digits

Today my baby hits double digits.  It's five AM right now and she's awake in her room anticipating the excitement the day will bring, but I told her she must go back to sleep for a bit longer.  That's what I like about kids growing up, you can give them instruction and they're capable of following your direction.

I loved when my kids were babies, but to be honest, I couldn't wait for them to be three.  Communication was important to me, still is.  It hurts where?  You ate what?  And I certainly wasn't one to cry when they turned five and I dropped them off for their first day of Kindergarten.  Most likely I did cartwheels to the minivan then caught a chick flick at the matinee.

Don't get me wrong, I adore my children.  I've loved every stage of their growth.  Some stages just make me more nervous than others.  I guess I feel like their self-reliance is a success for me.  What I want most is for them to be able to negotiate life using the skills my husband and I have taught them.    The skills we've worked the hardest to teach are selflessness, respect, kindness, and love.  I'm thankful that my baby girl exemplifies these qualities from day to day.  Come to think of it, she teaches me these skills better than I ever could teach her.  What a blessing these ten years have been.