So Proud!

Eric was baptized yesterday (and I got pictures to prove it)!

His Uncle Asher got to have the honor of baptizing him.

Our family was all there.

So were Gandma and Grandpa Crumpley.

The proud baptized boy.

The Wrong Way

I am really not doing very good at this. I snack most of the time I am at work. Not the best, I know. Last time I got snacks on the way to work, I tried to get some more healthy snacks. I know it is still not good to snack the whole time, but maybe with them being a bit healthier it will help. Who knows? All I know is that I am not mentally ready to do as good at this as I was last spring. I wish I was because I am fatter than I have ever been in my life. It is so depressing to know that, and a bit embarrassing to admit.

Last Week

Last week proved to be more difficult than I had planned.

Monday was Martin Luther King Day. That means the boys had no school. The good part: all of the kids watched PBS until 12:30 allowing me to sleep until then. Then bad part: I didn't get to sleep after that time. I was a tired mama.

Tuesday wasn't too bad. At least nothing sticks out in my mind from that day.

Wednesday, Eric and Sean each had an awards ceremony. Eric's was at 8:45am (meaning I got about a hour and a half of sleep before creeping into the shower). Sean's was at 2pm (because he isn't in school in the morning). I slept as much as I could between allowing time for making lunch and getting Sean to school. Going to see my boys get awards was fun, and I want to support them when I can. Since I didn't have to work that night, I knew that I could sacrifice a few hours of sleep to see them get their awards. The difficult part came between the awards. Poor Eric threw up in class around 10:45. He was sent to the nurses office. The school then tried to call me. My cell phone had been not working great because I washed it REALLY well in my pants pocket the week before. The house phone was also not working for some reason. There was not a way for them to get a hold of me even if I wasn't too out of it to answer the phone (I usually do answer the phone in case of things like this). They ended up calling John at work, and he tried to get a hold of me through email, voice mail, Yahoo messenger, and any other way he could think of. In the mean time, Sean's teacher tried to waive me down as I dropped off Sean, but I was too out of it to notice. John was finally able to get off of work and rescue our sweet, sick boy from the health room at school. Eric ended up waiting for someone to pick him up for 3 hours. Poor boy!

Thursday went by with no big problems. Eric got to go to his first pack meeting. He had a lot of fun and was actually good for most of the time we were there.

Friday, I decided to go work out in the morning because Sean wanted to play in the play-place there. We went grocery shopping after, getting something Sean and Noel could eat in the car on the way home so that Sean could get to school on time. Then, I had my doctor appointment. That was the WORST experience I have ever had at a doctor's office! I am not just saying that because I am used to Kaiser getting me in and out either. I had an appointment set for 1:25 for a thyroid check as a new patient. I got to the office at 1:10 and waited for 5 minutes before I could even check in. I didn't think that was a big deal. They were busy at the front desk setting appointments for other patients. After checking in, I filled out all of the necessary paper work for new patients and then waited for 20 minutes to be called back (no big deal, right). By the time the nurse was done with checking my blood pressure, weight, pulse, and re-asking the family history and allergy questions I had already answered on the papers I had filled out, it was a little before 2:00 (again, not a huge deal). Then, I sat in the room with a bored 4 year-old until 2:40. At that point, I decided that I really couldn't wait any longer because I needed to be back in Lochbuie to pick up my boys by 3:20 (it takes about 30 minutes to get to Lochbuie from just about everywhere I go). The nurse freaked out and begged me to stay for just a bit and the doctor would be right in. I told her I only had 5 minutes at the most before I needed to leave to pick up my boys. I told her I needed to get back to Brighton (more people know where Brighton is than Lochbuie). She just told me that I should be able to make it (she obviously didn't really understand where I was heading). The doctor came in and apologized and said that she wouldn't charge me to come back, but she wanted to take my blood before I left. By this point I was so frustrated, but it doesn't take very long for someone to take just a little bit of blood. Right? Wrong! When the nurse passes it on to someone else, and they have a hard time finding your veins (thank you Dad for the small veins, by the way), it takes another 5 to 10 minutes. When I got back into the car, my alarm on my IPod was going off (it is set for 3 on weekdays so I can make sure Noel and I are up to get them). My poor boys ended up sitting at the school for about 10 or 15 minutes after they got out of school until I was able to come get them. I couldn't even call anyone to get them for me because of the well-washed phone. I was tired before I went to the doctor's office. I was exhausted by the time I got the boys home. Then I had to make dinner and go to work (it is hard to work a 6pm to 2:30am shift after a day like that).

Satuday wasn't too bad. A friend from work was baptized, so I had to get up earlier than I would have liked, but it was for a good cause. When I got home from the baptism, I had to spend the rest of my day doing the homework I didn't get done over the week. That meant no nap for me. Again, I went in for a 6pm shift very sleepy.

Sunday, the kids decided to play loudly in the hall around 8 or 8:30. Eventually, John made them play in their room and closed our bedroom door. I got up close to 10:00 and got myself and the kids ready for church. We got there late meaning another Sacrament Meeting spent in the foyer. Eric got a car out (yes I am one of THOSE moms) and played on the floor. Noticing that the knees on his pants were getting thin, I told him not to scoot on his knees too much. He of course didn't listen, and ended up tearing holes in the knees of his pants (that is after Sean spilled jelly on his chruch clothes and having to wear jeans). I was so glad to send them to primary and get some peace and quiet for a bit. I don't know if Relief Society gets out late every week or if primary get out early (I'm voting on Relief Society getting out late), but Eric always seems to find his way into the gym to play before I get out and plays (he has been told not to play in the gym on Sudays). This time he had taken his shoes off and thown one up and got it stuck up high. Luckily, Melissa (my firend) was able to get her husband and a few other ment to get a ladder and get it down. I got home, watched John play his PS3 game a bit and decided to lay down until it was time to make dinner. Noel decided afer I had been sleeping for only 20 minutes that she was "starving." After letting myself wake up a bit, I made dinner. She ate maybe 10 bites before she decided she was full. Then, I got ready for work very exhausted mentally and physically from the week, and headed out for my 8:30pm to 5:00am shift.

So far, today has gone better. I can only hope that the rest of the week will follow.

Starting Out Slow

Last year, I really pushed myself hard to lose weight.  I changed a lot all at once.  It was hard to keep up with.  This year I am starting off a bit slower.  I am starting to work out again (see last post), and I started adding more water to my intake last week.  I am also starting to eat less junk.  Now that is not to say that I don't still eat junk.  I do.  I just eat less of it.  There is no way I can completely take it out of my diet. I would miss it too much.  I am just being a bit smarter about it.  When I get these things to a point where they are regular, I will do something else to help me lose weight.  I really would like to be able to fit back in my swim suit by the summer.  That is my main weight goal.

My Trip to the Gym

My sweet mother-in-law gave John and I a one month gym membership for Christmas because I thought that it may help me with my depression.  I went for the first time today.  It was GREAT!  I don't know why I waited so long to go. 

I didn't do a whole lot because I felt a bit out of place on the wights (I haven't been to a gym since I was 20, and the machines have changed a bit).  I did go on the treadmill for about 20 minutes, the weights for about 10 minutes, and then the eliptical for about 20 minutes.  I felt awesome when I was done.  I would have stayed longer, but I had to go pick up my boys from school.

I plan to go back tomorrow afternoon and try to talk John into going on Saturday.  Then membership includes childcare, so we can go as a family (kind of)!

I am so glad that I get to finally do something about my weight again.  Hopefully, with working again, I will be motivated to eat better as well.

Can He Really Be 8?

I was told when I was getting close to my tenth wedding anniversary that it made me sound old to hear that I had been married tthat long (for those of you who don't know I was only 20 when I got married).  I got to thinking today, does it make me sound old to say I have an 8 year-old then?  I do have an 8 year-old now.

Eric turned 8 on Sunday.  He got a dual-bladed light saber, jammies, Antz, scriptures with his name on them, a scripture case with a compass, and scout stuff.  Eight is an exciting age.  He gets to be baptized and start scouts all in the same month.

He gets to start scouts tonight!

Eric will be baptized January 30.  I'll get some pictures posted of that when it happens (knowing me at least with in the month of it happening).

Ideas Needed

I am writing an essay for school bout husband and wives sharing household responsilities.  It needs to be 2 or 3 pages long.  I have almost 2 pages.  I nees some idea on how to extend it a bit.  It is due tomorrow, so quick responses would be nice.  Here is what I have so far:

Household chores have to be done. Traditionally, women were the ones doing all the chores around the house such as making dinner, washing clothes and dishes, and nurturing the children while the men went to work and provided financially for the family. Now, many women are going to work to help provide for the family as well as the men. This makes it harder for women to do the work around the house as well. Therefore, husbands and wives should take an equal share in all household responsibilities.


With more than one person doing the work around the house, one partner won’t feel more overburdened than the other. Both husband and wife can feel more productive and have equal personal responsibilities. While not every day will husband and wife have the same amount of work to do around the house such as washing dishes, doing laundry, picking up and dropping off kids, and making dinner;”the bottom line is that sharing these responsibilities also means sharing a certain way of thinking about chores as a whole.” (Sharing Responsibliities Around the House, 2007)

Dividing this burden can help a couple grow closer together. The cleaner and more orgainized the house is, the less chaos and tension is felt in the home. When deciding who is going to do what, good communication is very important. Arthur Lee suggests, “Discuss these (things) together, but do not make it confrontational.” (Lee, 2009) Lee, also, suggests making charts and lists while including even the youngest of family members in doing things like emptying the dishwasher or taking out the trash. Another good way to divide the chores would be on a lottery basis. All chores could be put in a jar and pulled out at a specific time to dictate who does what. Of course the best way would be for each person to see something that needs to be done and just do it. According to Gregg Hall, “Not only does sharing these responsibilities prevent resentment but it also gives the couple an opportunity to work as a team which strengthens their bond.” (Hall, 2006)

Allocating liabilities around the house will help with equality in the home. When the husband and wife both work, they are away from home about the same amount of time. That means they are also home for about the same amount of time. Therefore the division of work should not be gender based. “While married couples in many inadvertent ways continue to live life with certain tasks being associated with male or female; they now have to introduce thoughts into their mental make-up that makes the picture of mom in a gown hanging laundry with clips a thing of the past!” (Lee, 2009) No longer should only the wife do the dishes and laundry. As well, no longer should the husband be the only one to be doing household repairs. By having an attitude that the chores are not gender based, the couple would be more likely to help each other out when the burdens get to be too heavy.

When carrying an equal burden that means there is more time to have fun together as a couple. When chores are done faster, there is more time to go out to movies, parks, and restaurants. There is also more time to play games together and spend time together at home.

In today’s world both men and women work, meaning they share the responsibilities of providing for the family. They should also share in other obligations around the house as well. When husbands and wives work together, there are many benefits such as less resentment towards each other, less stress, less chaos around the house, and more time to spend together.

 

References

Hall, G. (2006, July 21). How Talking And Sharing Responsibilities Makes For A Happier Marriage. Retrieved December 21, 2009, from Enzine Articles: http://ezinearticles.com/?How-Talking-And-Sharing-Responsibilities-Makes-For-A-Happier-Marriage&id=249078

Lee, A. (2009). How to Share Household Responsibilities with a Spouse. Retrieved December 21, 2009, from eHow.com: http://www.ehow.com/how_2305854_share-household-responsibilities-spouse.html

Sharing Responsibliities Around the House. (2007). Retrieved December 21, 2009, from Professor's House: http://www.professorshouse.com/family/relationships/sharing-responsibilities-around-the-house.aspx

Snag

On Monday, I was sick.  For some reason I couldn't stand or even sit for very long.  Needless to say, I spent most of my day and night lieing down either in bed or on the couch.  That means no laundry was done.

Tuesday I was feeling better, but I had a killer headache and no energy.  I ended up sleeping all day again.  I did eventually get the energy to get one load of laundry going and go to work, but not enough laundry to make up for my illness on Monday.

Wednesday I did get two loads done (yay me).  I have figured that is about how much needs to be done daily in my house.  (Who ever said that one load a day will do didn't have very many kids.)

I guess what I am saying is, despite my efforts I think I will come up short on my goal this week.  I have yet to fold anything that I have washed since Saturday when I made this goal, so I have already failed in that aspect.  Hopefully, I will get the motivation up today and tomorrow to make up for what I have lacked the rest of the week.

Phone Manners?

I know that I am slightly stealing this idea from Tera, but I feel I must remind people that not only do they need manners while in the check out. They also need to have some consideration when on the phone. This is my list of reminders for the not-so-phone-savvy folks out there:

1. Turn your TV down. You are talking to a real person on the other line. I get that you are trying to watch TV. I work in the TV business. I don't want to have it blaring in my ears however (especially if it is one of those pay-per-views).

2. If the baby/toddler is crying, either go to another room or wait to call. I do get that children, especially babies, cry. I am a mom to three children myself. They are loud. If you are calling to trouble shoot you can't hear me, I can't heard you, and my ears are hurting in the process. Calling while they are crying is not going to get something fixed any faster. In fact, I may get more frazzled and lose my train of thought. That will just make the torture last longer for me, you, and the little one in the background.

3. Don't carry on other conversations while on the phone. It is just plain rude!

4. Follow instructions. If you are calling me because something doesn't work, it is my job to do trouble shooting before I can send out a replacement or tech. Don't keep me on the phone for 20 minutes telling you to push the same button if you are just going the push whatever button you want especially if you have already decided that because I am a woman I don't know what I am talking about anyway.

5. Watch you language! I am not calling you at 2 am because I "forgot" to pay my bill for two months now I don't have service. You are calling me for that reason. I am not calling you every name in the book. I would like it if you would not call me those names. I am a real person with real feelings. I may be on the verge of tears by the time I get off the call, and the next customer doesn't deserve that either.

6. Don't eat on the phone. I get irritated when my kids eat too close to my ears. Why would I want to hear some slobby adult eat?

7. Don't use the bathroom while on the phone. I know we all have to go, and it is a natural function. Please, use the bathroom, then call.

8. If you want answers, be quiet long enough to get them. I am not allowed to interrupt you. Don't go on and on about every problem you can think of and then get mad that I am not resolving your issues or answering your questions. Shut up for even 1 minute so that I can do something it.

9. I DO NOT work for a phone sex line! If you call expecting that, you will be transferred to my supervisor. He is a man. He doesn't put up with his agents being treated that way.

10. Hang up the phone when we are done. I don't want to hear your fight with your boyfriend/girlfriend/children. I have handle time goal that I need to meet. Waiting the required 2 minutes of dead air raises my handle time, therefore reducing my chances of getting a bonus. I know that sounds selfish, but deal with it.

11. Speaker phone sucks! I know it makes things more convent for you, but it also picks up other noises, so I can't hear you as well.

I really do like my job. It is fulfilling most of the time. If people calling in would realize that the person on the other line deserves some of the common courtesies that all other people get, it would be even more enjoyable.

Now for my disclaimer so I don't get fired.

This doesn't reflect the views of Dish Network or its employees.

Goals

I realized while showering today (the best place to think) that I need some goals.  Not just because it is a new year, but because I really like working towards goals.  It makes me feel like I am accomplishing something.  I would like to make some kind of weight loss goal, but that takes a lot of determination.  I don't know if I want to put that much work into it.  (Is that pathetic or what?)  I do have some financial goals, but that is a bit to personal to blog about.  I am accomplishing my school goals (A's in all my classes).  My work goals are too boring to blog about.  I guess that leaves me with cleaning goals.  My goal for this next week will be to get caught up on laundry (washing and folding).  I want to get through the week without my kids asking where their underwear are and not having to seach a big pile of clothes in the living room to find them.

Christmas Pictures (better late than never)

OK. I know I have been really bad about blogging lately. It is almost like the more I tweet, the less I blog. Sorry. I will try to do better. 
Now for what you really want to see:

Christmas morning was exciting.

Not just for the kids.

A Dora scoot and a Dora helmet.  What more could a 4 year-old ask for?

Of course a red Hot Wheels scooter is a bit more exciting to an almost 8 year-old boy.

The blue one puts a smile on the face of the other boy.