Wow --what a time it's been!

I want to start this post with a picture I took with my phone this morning -so neat!
So this weekend has been crazy! I hopefully can get this all out of my head so I can go to bed and relax. I thought I would come home tonight and just CRASH... but no, I am totally WIRED instead. Go figure.

I worked at the Scrapbook Expo Thursday (set up) for 8 hours, Friday for 9 hours and Saturday for almost 10 hours. I saw lots of new products, many fun projects and I was inspired and motivated to create.. but couldn't as I was in the booth. I had a good time working there. It brought back memories of when that was my reality, my all the time and all -consuming. I was smacked by the vivid recollections of shows gone by, the friends I made, the good times I had and the pure exhileration of the event followed by the sheer exhaustion when it ends. At the end Sam asked if I would consider doing 5-6 shows next year in California-ish area ..... I think I would. Especially if I could know that I had friends going to the same shows.

I was reminded at the expo that I do enjoy working in a creative arena. Being asked questions with the expectation that I am an expert in answering them. I was proud of myself when I knew the answers to many of the questions and was able to be confident in my answers. It was a boost I think I needed... truely a blessing.

I was reminded while working this weekend that I like routines and I like working. What I do not like is commuting. I hated that it took me twice as long to get there as it should have. I didn't like that a normally 25 minute drive took 75 minutes going home Friday night when I needed to get to my kiddo's basketball game.

What I didn't like was the time away from my family. No family dinners, no cooking, no hearing about their days as they arrived home. I am able to discern now that I really NEED that interaction and connection with them. I was made very aware of that need as each day without the interaction passed. It was a true blessing to be able to see this in myself as I am coming to a point where I will have to make choices about these very things.. time & money --what wins? and who loses?

My brain was going crazy with all these thoughts Saturday night... or I could attribute my sleeplessness to the grande latte I had at 4pm... hmmmm. I was getting my last minute things together for the Sunday event and ended up still awake until about 4:30 a.m. when I forced myself to get in bed and try to sleep. I was up at 7:20 a.m. and headed to the event at 8 on less than 3 hours sleep.

Sunday I spent at a craft/vendor fair. It was put on by the Blue Star Moms as a way to raise money to ship the items they have collected to make boxes for our soldiers overseas. A great cause, a well-organized and planned out event. It wasn't really a great venue for my jewelry but it was for a great cause and I am glad I participated. I was happy that Jackson decided to come and hang out with me there -which was great. We visited, shopped a bit and just had some time together. It was nice. I did get to sleep by 10 and caught up on a bit of rest, sleeping until 6:45 this
morning. Here is a picture of Jackson in his new hat from the craft fair (which reminds me that he owes me $15~)

Today I spent the day at my mom's Curves. I was doing a jewelry fundraiser for Breast Cancer. I think it went well overall. The day started off less than positive, but once I was there -things went well. I came home and made dinner (bbq chicken sandwiches) while the club was closed for lunch and then headed back over there for the afternoon/evening shift. As I drove home I could barely keep my eyes open, then after talking with the boys for a few minutes I got totally wired up. Now I am trying to get myself ready to get to sleep.

Tomorrow I need to finish paperwork from the events, grocery shop, mop, take the dogs to the park (so no rain, ok?), laundry and other miscellaneous things one does around the house. I want to work on organizing and inventory my freezers.

I am feeling sleepy now, writing does the trick again! I am off to bed.. nighty-night.

October 18th

OCTOBER 18Th

FOR TODAY...October 12th from Betsey's Daybook

Outside my window... gray, calm weather

I am thinking... another long, busy day ahead -I have a booth at a local craft fair.

I am thankful for... the good weather we are supposed to have today

I am remembering... how I need to pack myself and Jackson a lunch

I am going... to enjoy the day outside and the interactions that come with a craft fair

I am reading...just finished "Getting Rid of Matthew" for book club.. need to start another book today

I am hoping... that this turns out to be a great day for my business

On my mind... going into day 4 of non-stop going, having worked at the Scrapbook Expo 10 hours a day for the last 3 days... gotta get thru today and tomorrow and Tuesday I can catch up on my normal routines.

Noticing that... I enjoy working as long as it is close to home.

From the kitchen... need to get something defrosting for the family to eat tonight.

Around the house... relishing the clean kitchen I came home to last night thanks to my hubby.

One of my favorite things~ an early morning with my family and a hot cup of coffee.

It's been a busy few days at the expo. Lots of creative energy, fun & new friends. I made some $, got some new stamps and saw some friends. Overall worth it!

Jackson & I are sitting in the car waiting to pick Steven up from his confirmation class at church. He is enjoying the classes which is nice. So proud of him.

Visitors

We recently had some visitors from the East Coast. My cousin and his family have moved to Sunnyvale (about 2 hours away in the Bay Area) and my aunt Lulu and Michael came to help them with the move. We were so pleased that they came to spend a few days with us while they were here too!

We had a great time hanging out. We visited (briefly) the Capitol Mall area downtown, had lunch at the Casa Garden Restaurant and just enjoyed a whole day. It didn't matter what we were doing -it was so nice to just spend time with them. Michael is a hoot and he made me laugh -it was great to see him outside his regular world.




I think throughout my life I have looked at Aunt Lulu as a role model. I know some of you will spit your drinks out at the computer screen when reading that --which is ok. I admit, she is a bit unconventional (which is part of what I love about her) but she is one of the most intelligent, well spoken people I have ever had the pleasure to spend time with. I always wanted to be as smart as her, to know what to say and to sound like I know what I am talking about. She is a passionate reader and learner. I do think I got my quest to learn from watching her.. I am most happy when enrolled in a class or learning something new --be it cooking, a hobby or just politics. She is always supportive of my endeavors (crazy though they may be!) and when I am with her I truly believe I can accomplish anything I set my mind to.

I am grateful today that I belong to a family of strong women. Each has their own strengths that they have taken the time to share with me throughout my life. I think that is why I always wished for a sister or a daughter... to have someone connected to me in that circle of strong women. Through the years I have come to realize that what is to be will be and there are lots of opportunities for me to have a connection with younger girls. Many of my friends have daughters that I get to spend time with, I am blessed with neices and I will strive to establish a connection to them as Aunt Lulu did with me.

Testing.....
Maybe I can blog more often from my phone. This is a test, this is only a test of my mobile blogging capabilities:-p

The trouble with pouring everything out here...

is that when I have things going on in my life (or just inside my head), that aren't ready to be shared --I find I can't blog. We have been going like crazy around here and there are some things going on -but not that I am ready to put out there yet.

Let's see if I can catch up the easy stuff....

We are eating a lot of potatoes! I love the yukon gold potatoes I got in Idaho -they make excellent mashed potatoes and boiled too! I never knew there was such a difference in the texture or flavor of potatoes.


Over the weekend Steven played in a baseball tournament on Saturday and his team won both games. He played well, hitting the ball and making plays in right field. It was nice to be on a winning streak after the year he's had in sports.... then he & Jonathan and I stopped for Carls Jr lunch. We all really like the new Big Carl -which they compare on tv to the Big Mac -but it isn't a Big Mac nor is it better, just different.

Jackson had a basketball game Friday night. His team did not win, but they did play hard. They are really working to play as a team -even though they are new playing together with only 1 practice behind them. Their practice Monday night was long and intense and seemed to really be stressing stamina (their coaches favorite thing!) and moving the ball around. We'll see how that goes on Friday. He is pleased that his friend Tyler is playing on his team this season -he is new to basketball -but they are having fun.

After basketball Jackson talked himself into a sleepover at Logan's to avoid going to Steven's tournament super early in the morning. Then my dad brought both boys back here after Logan's football game so Logan could avoid a super early softball tournament on Sunday -it worked out quite nicely.

We had dinner with the whole family to celebrate Cyn's birthday (belated, it was Sept. 26th). We struggle with many of the birthdays now, finding a day when no kid is playing a sport to plan our dinners. Sometimes they are early, sometimes late -but we celebrate together. Steven got the kids and G-ma to all play Scrabble --they seemed to enjoy it. He is in the Scrabble club at school and his passion for the game has been re-ignited .. only now he knows the real rules! He has also joined the cooking club -where they made pizza yesterday.

It's crazy to realize that in 2 weeks it will be Halloween (and my parents 40th anniversary!) and then it is a short jump to Thanksgiving and Christmas. The year is 3/4 over and I can hardly believe it.

Menu Plan Monday

Today has passed by quickly, although I did get through some of my to-do list...

make menu
plan grocery list by store
catch up clipping coupons
review grade site
laundry from weekend
cook ground beef for sloppy joes and chili later in week
blog
print pictures
email list
call Christina
finish unloading car
confirm tournament for this weekend
call Jenn
Premier calls
bathroom counter organization

I guess I will be happy with what I got done and work on the rest tomorrow. I learned in my MOMS class the other day that stress is the difference between your moral values/judgements and your expectations --in other words, all internal. I am working to have realistic expectations and not to cause myself unnecessary stress. It is the least I can do for myself, right?

Monday -sloppy joes & home fries (made with real Idaho potatoes I brought home)
Tuesday -pot roast & mashed potatoes "
Wednesday - roasted chicken and veggies
Thursday - chili, baked potatoes and cornbread
Friday - German goulash soup, bread
Saturday - pot pies
Sunday - chicken noodles
Monday - Spaghetti

Now I am off to take a hot bath and review my workbook for MOMS. Hope you have a fantastic night!

So much to say... but tired!

Jonathan and I got home today from a quick trip to Idaho. We drove from Salt Lake City home today, leaving at 6am our time and arriving home at about 5. It was a long day and we are tired. I was so happy to see the boys and reconnect, hearing about their weekends. My dogs were crazy happy to see me... but I don't take that too seriously, as they are crazy happy to see me when I've been gone to the
grocery store. I will be blogging out the trip this week in several parts.. I think I have alot to say. I took lots of great pictures to remind
me of where we went and what we did! I captured lots of images, but missed some too.

What I will say right now is that spending 21 hours in the car with my husband over 4 days was a blessing. I enjoyed every minute whether we talked, laughed or were quiet. The entire trip was a vacation, even though the lions share was spent in the car -him driving and me in the passenger seat. It took me back in time to when we first got married. We moved to Turlock for school. We spent tons of time in the car back then... 20 minutes each way to Grandma Clines a couple times a week... 90 minutes each way home to visit family & friends in Sacramento at least once a month... 6 hours each way to LA to visit Maggie a couple times a year. Lots of road trips, lots of talking, lots of time to just be. I think I realize now how much I really missed those road trips I used to count on.

Road trips with kids are different. They are a way to get you where you are going though, not the trip itself. When the kids are with us on a road trip there is never a peaceful, quiet 20 minutes to stare at the landscape. What is there? Chaos, loudness and lots more stops. I love it -traveling with my kids is fun and crazy and I enjoy {almost} every minute of it. It is just different.

I went on this trip as a surprise for my friend -who I felt could use my support for her play opening (she was the Mother Superior in Nunsense -and FABULOUS!) night. I arrived home to a surprise of my own. My sister in law Cyn had not only painted Steven's room {and organized it too!} as we had talked about -she also cleaned out my laundry room of the massive piles of laundry I have been unable to complete as well as a few other things I noticed. Those little things brought a smile to my face and after getting over being embarassed that it was necessary for someone else to do it - I felt so grateful. I have been overwhelmed with trying to get everything "caught up" and organized and she saw that and did a great service in helping me out. One of the worst things about not being organized is when you come home from a trip and are greeted by the reminders that you have failed to figure it out once again. For once I didn't feel that way and I appreciate it more than I can say --thanks Cyn!