Life Contemplations

So, I've been thinking periodically about my life and the choices that I've made in it (I've also been thinking about how I start everything out with the word "So" which is rather annoying, but I just can't help it. Even now I know I should change the sentence, but can't bring myself to do it...sigh). I find it rather humorous that all growing up I had this image of what I was going to be like when I was older. I was always married with heaps of children, my house was immaculate (yes, I know that surprises all of you, but remember this is an image in my head...not reality), I was involved heavily in PTA or some other worthy cause (is PTA worthy? I have no idea, but when I formed this thought PTA got in there somehow), when my kids got home from school I had fresh baked cookies for them, they were always clothed. My children were not going to run around naked. They were well brought up in the gospel and I was basically just super-mom. Dinners, lunches, and breakfasts were always done. Laundry,while always a work in progress, was taken care of. Bills were paid on time, and my husband was exceptionally happy that he could leave all of this to me. Oh, and I always looked great and put together, which is hilarious to me because when has that ever been the case? I love my PJ's. Anyway, I find this all very funny that I just excepted all of this to happen. I hate cooking, grocery shopping, finding my kids sock so they can wear their shoes so we can go outside (Why can I never find them? How hard is it to locate two pairs of socks?). My house is always a disaster, even after we clean it it doesn't look clean. The laundry is piled up on my washer and dryer separted into three baskets. Two of which are clean clothes that need to be folded and put away (which never happens) and one is dirty, with more dirty clothes not in a basket but on top of the machines and on the floor...not to mention all over the rest of the house. I very seldom get ready for the day unless I know I have to go somewhere, which because I hate finding socks doesn't happen often. My scrubs are the outfit I wear the most and my hair is always pulled back in a ponytail just to get it out of the way. I don't make cookies because then I would have to clean the dishes used and my sink can't handle anymore dishes because it and the surrounding counters and dishwasher are already full. So, how did this happen? What happened to being super-mom (Although most of these things, while necessary, are not the responsibility of a "mom"...she normally and stereotypically does all of this, but "mom" to me suggests caring for children)? Is there some reason that other people have it all together and I don't? Is there a reason that I had this image in my head? Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining, whining, pouting, or any thing else (although I am quite good at those). I'm just contemplating why I always thought my life would magically change once I got married. I guess that was my own version of a fairy-tale. Well, instead of my idea of a fairy-tale God has blessed me with two beautiful children, who even though they are seldom put together, they are happy, and healthy, and curious, and a million other wonderful things. God blessed me with a wonderful husband. Dan may not understand my lack of cooking/cleaning skills, and he may wish that it was different, but he does understand that if he wants it done, he needs to do it, and he also understands that I need encouragement in those areas, and sometimes gentle shoves in the right direction. God has blessed me with great friends that make it so nothing seems so terrible. We love it here and are blessed in our associates. God has blessed me with a great family...both mine and my in-laws. I love them all and they are very supportive and helpful, and fun. God has blessed me with a testimony of the truthfulness of His church, and my role in his plan. So I guess when you get right down to it, my life may not be what I thought it would be, but I'm thrilled with what it's turned out to be.

It smells like a cow

So I really am potty training now. Kember is doing pretty well most days, but we are a long way from being potty trained. Anyway, Dan did some surgery on a cow today (Fridays are apparently surgery days, who knew?) and he has to go check on the cow periodically throughout the day. I asked him if he could take Kember along since she always wants to go with daddy and he thought that would be fine. So, when she got up from her nap I told her that she needed to go potty before she left. Dan was a little worried about this, and really, who can blame him? But doesn't it defeat the purpose of telling her no more diapers except for when she's sleeping, and then to keep saying, "oh, and now, and now and...now" Anyway, off they went and she waited until a good time to tell daddy she needed to go potty. He said that while she was on the toilet (I really shouldn't be blogging this, but it was so funny to us) he heard a little sound and asked if she pooped. "No, I toot" she says. And then she said, "It smells like cow, Daddy!" Where in the world did she learn that from? Dan asked me if that was something she's said before or that I taught her. No, I didn't teach her that, and no she's never said that before. I guess she was just really overwhelmed at what a cow really smells like. She had a good time though.

It's a Miracle!

Kember is actually asking to wear clothes now! Wahoo! She even woke up from her nap crying because she wanted a shirt on, and once I gave her her shirt she was crying for pants. Go Kember!

Girls Outing

Saturday was a momentous occasion in the Johnson home. Not only did we really clean our house (I'm talking renting a carpet cleaner and everything...I know, that's really sad that that's momentous) but Kember got her first hair cut. Now, I know some of you are thinking, "What was there to cut?" The answer, "Not much". However, it was a little straggley and I thought a little trim would help out a bit. I decided to have my hair cut as well. A girl in our ward is just finishing up with beauty school (Christie, if it isn't called beauty school I apologize) and we went to her. Kember did really well. She mostly held still during her turn and she played very nicely during my turn. All of the people at the school were really nice to stop and talk to her and keep her occupied, so that was good. I got about 7 inches chopped off mine, and I'm getting used to how short it is now. I haven't had hair this short since....um....middle school? I got my hair cut when I was 8 months pregnant with Kember, but I don't think it was this short. Everyone still says its long, but trust me...it's definitely shorter.

Sorry, no pictures of me. Anyway, while we were cleaning that morning Dan asked me to find a babysitter so we could go on a date. Wahoo! Who could turn that down? We went to a chinese place for dinner and then wandered around ShopKo. It was a great night, and we are really glad Beth and Jeremy could babysit for us.

Alone

This week should be interesting. We just got back from Spring Break (Utah to visit the fam) and Dan is now gone to Auburn for a Vet Convention. Sigh, I hate being alone. I didn’t get married so I would be alone with two kids. However, I’m determined to make the most of it and do more than just survive. Does that sound pathetic? Yes, it does, and I am, but at least I know I am. I’m trying to think of things to do to keep my little family occupied. I’m not so worried about the hours from 7-4. Dan is seldom home then anyway. It’s after that. I am always surprised at how much I rely on him. I don’t realize it until he is gone. So I’m just going to take this moment to say, “Dan, I love you and I appreciate all you do for our family. Come home safe and sound okay!” Anyway, if you have suggestions of what to do to keep us occupied so my children and I don’t rot out our brains watching movies, suggestions would be appreciated. I only have to make it until Sunday. It shouldn’t be too bad. I mean Easter is coming up soon so the kids and I can do lots of Easter projects. I could even try to teach them the meaning of Easter. There is the Stake Primary Activity on Friday (which I’m still trying to get help with…if you’re reading this and don’t mind dressing up as a bunny let me know, I’m getting desperate), I think there is an Easter Egg hunt with the city on Saturday, and then actual Easter on Sunday. Yeah, I’ll be good, I just wanted to vent and read the venting so I could realize that I was being overly dramatic.

Wireless Keyboard and Rechargeable Batteries

Allow me a minute to curse my wireless keyboard. Okay, it's Dan's wireless keyboard, but I'm still going to curse it. Don't get me wrong. Dan loves it and was really excited when he got it for Christmas (thanks dad) and I've never really thought much about it, until now....when the batteries are dying and typing is becoming hazardous to my health, and I can't find batteries anywhere!!! That is probably the frustrating bit. We buy rechargeable batteries, so should I have some? Yes. Do I? Yes. Are they charged? No. Can I find the charger? No. So if my typing is missing a letter and my spelling is more attroucious than usual, blame the keyboard..I do. In fact, I can't handle this, so I'm done. When I find some batteries that actually work I'll try again. Sigh....

Glasses and Firesides

This is a random question for all you people who were glasses (mind you, I'm sure there aren't many of you since most people wear contacts or have been fortunate enough for eye surgery...some day...sigh). If someone, or yourself, were to push the ear piece of your glasses up and down so your glasses went up and down, does it make you sick? Dan just did that too me and it seriously made me motion sick. He thought it was so funny he kept doing it. Needless to say I didn't think it was all that funny, but I'm glad he got enjoyment out of it. So, I'm just wondering if I'm just weird, or if other people are affected by it too. Let me know.

I was able to go to the CES fireside today. The speaker was Sister Beck. I thought it was really good even though it was directed towards the young single adults in the church. I still got useful things out of it. I think it's really neat that the church puts a lot of focus on it's activities and events for its members. I needed to go to this fireside tonight. I missed out on Women's Conference yesterday (something that I look forward to every year. I always come away feeling so filled and ready to take on the world) because Caden was up all night the night before with a fever. I don't know what other churches do, but I think it's really cool how my church has programs for every age group to strengthen and support them. I hope we all take advantages of programs like this that people put on for us. I was rather dismayed to find that I was the only one that came to this fireside (at this stake center anyway). I was running late and when I got there the only people there were the ones who were in charge of the technical part of it. Once it was up and running they disappeared (although I think you could listen to it in multiple rooms in the church). Another couple with a little baby came, but when they found out that it was basically addressed to singles looking for spouses they took off (okay, I'm just assuming that's why...there could be a million reasons why they had to go and top off the list would be that they had a kid who didn't want to sit there and be quiet, and they had no way of knowing that I definitely didn't mind a noisy kid since I have two screamers of my own...their kid wasn't screaming by the way, but this is all beside the point). Anyway, I guess I was just shocked that I was the only one there, but I was even more grateful that the church would take the time and effort just for little ol' me (and the thousands of others watching it else-where).