I have saved them the trouble of "accidentally" breaking the crayons

I cleaned half of my living room, and then sat down to take a break to ease the stitch in my side that I feel should be blamed on the baby, rather than my less than exerting work-out routines. Then I saw the towels piled up under the table and remembered the chocolate milk that Ava let Levi spill at lunch and was motivated by a need not to smell the soured milk later (as if I don't do it now it could be a while). I moved the wet wash into the dryer- a load a day keeps my mother away:)- and found that it was polluted by bits of paper. Then bits of crayon. Finally, this was revealed. Who did this? Those children never put things in their pockets...and also I never check. So here we have a box of crayons confiscated from the church on Sunday laid to rest at the bottom of my washer. But the upside of all of this is that the kids now at least twenty minutes of coloring in an otherwise colorless world, as I was too busy cleaning to get out the water colors and we couldn't find the crayons. The downside is that I hear things hitting the side of the dryer, things that could very possibly be melting crayons. But you get what you get sometimes. Besides, the stitch is gone and I feel that the rest of the living room should be finished now.

*I feel that now is an appropriate time to let you all know that the RS President asked Ryann if there were health hazards in my home after she took a comment from me about my messy house out of context. If after reading this post you feel her concerns are valid, email me and I will give you her number.

I could use a little progress

The other day I brought up an idea to a friend from church, really just in passing, that I had read in the New Era (side note: I really do not like the new Ensign format and am boycotting it until conference, or perhaps I feel the shame that I should for being so ridiculous. But really, it is awful now). The article I read was about different Relief Societies around the world working on their Young Women Personal Progress program together, as there are so many that have not completed it. I told Jamie that I think that its a cool idea, and she mentioned that she was doing it for Young Women's, as she is the President and thought it would help her relate well with her one young woman. Well as is my way, nothing was done about it...but I thought about it all the time. I finally decided to join her in the program. I asked her about it after her meeting with the Branch President, and found out that we are starting it in our Branch, for all the sisters to work on it. So I was really excited. Until I opened my copy, which happened to already be at my house, as I live with the Branch President and church mail is delivered there. I thought I would get a head start, since it will be talked about in Relief Society and I am in Primary and will miss the announcement.

And all this rambling and storytelling to come to my point. After looking through the manual for about ten minutes, I was shocked at how much time and effort that it will take to complete it. I am in awe of any girl who has actually completed the program...it is hard. And extensive. And time consuming. I had no idea. I am not as energized as I was twenty minutes ago, but I know that when I do complete it, I will have accomplished something extraordinary. You may think I am exaggerating, but get a copy. Check it out. Those young women have to work dang hard to earn those emblems and ribbons. So here is the deal. If you haven't earned it, start working on it. If you have, re-earn it. I assure you you will learn and grow, and progress. I will let you know how it goes.

I underestimate her sass

I was rereading my journal last night and came across this memory that made me laugh. I wanted to share it. It is a conversation that Ava had with me and the would-be friend that called her on her play cell phone.

Ava to me: "I am talking to a boy."
Ava to boy on phone: "Boy, what are you doing?"
pause. . .
Ava to boy on phone: "Oh leave me alone."

I say good girl.