Oh, the pain!

I've never had braces, so I can't sympathize, but I can empathize. Buddy said "my jaw feels about 3 pounds heavier than normal." I'll bet!

Missy got pink, orange, and green rubber-bands around her brackets. (Bud's are black.)

They say the first week is the most painful. They've already found eating to be a much slower endeavor. Hopefully they adjust well to them and aren't in too much pain. Thank heaven for Motrin and Tylenol!

Braces

Today I'm taking Missy and Bud to the orthodontist to have molds made of their mouths, in preparation for braces on Thursday. They are not very excited about this. Missy still cries every time we have to go to the dentist, doctor, and now orthodontist. She's 11 and she cries like she's 3.

I also get similar behavior from her when I ask her to clean her room.

This morning she had orchestra before school, so I had to wake her early. I thought I'd be nice, and turn on her bedside light, gently waking her, as opposed to turning on the overhead lamp and waking her from the door like I usually do. Well, the gentle awakening turned into me tripping over all the JUNK on her floor as I crashed into the bed. Yeah, so much for trying to be nice! Next time I'll do like I usually do and holler at her from the safety of the door.

Speaking of messes...I really need to tackle my basement. I know I've been saying this for about 4 years now, but I really do need to make it a priority. What I really need is to get the appropriate shelving and storage built/bought so I can put all the junk away.

This started as a post about braces and turned into something else. Such are the thoughts running through my head. I also need to change the laundry before picking the kid up for their ortho appointment.

Spinning

Tonight I went to my first spinning class. I was really scared to do this, because people who spin are usually really hard-core athletes/fitness nuts--things I am definitely not. Plus, the bikes themselves kind of scare me. But, with the thought of a triathalon looming in my future, I thought it might be a good idea to see if I can even bike 11 miles. Thankfully my friend found a beginner spin class that we could attend without feeling so out of place with more advanced spinners. In the end I went 14+ miles, my legs felt like jello, and my hiney felt like it had become one with the seat. But I made it through! We'll have to see how I feel tomorrow when the lactic acid sets in.

In good news, though, the triathalon is full. It filled before Christmas, and I guess we were too slow to commit. However, there's one in September in St. George so we may just shoot for that one. The swimming in that one is in a reservoir, so I might have to do it with a life-jacket on.

Proposal

Tonight they boys and I were watching The Princess Bride. Of course, they were talking about getting married and true love and all that. Lemur turned to me and said "Who am I going to marry, Mom?" I said "You're going to marry your Princess Buttercup." Then he said "Will you marry me, Mom?"

Melted my heart! He was a little disappointed to hear me say I had already married his daddy. Mister and Lemur then went into a discussion about who they would marry--which included their siblings, and even the cat. I'm not quite sure they understand what it is to get married.

At the end of the movie when Princess Buttercup is kissing Wesley all over his face, Lemur ran up to me and said "Kiss me like that, Mom!" He's a sweetie...I better watch out when he gets older!

D.A.R.E.

Yesterday Buddy and Missy had their DARE graduation. They worked really hard for it, and it just so happened that Buddy was able to attend. He had a half-day of school yesterday, because of parent/teacher conferences. His class was really excited to see him and I'm glad they were able to get him a shirt to wear. Here he is with the officer (who happens to be one of Ben's friends from high school).

Miss Utah 2007 came and talked to the students. She spoke about all the times she said "no" to alcohol and drugs, and then told of her little brother who choose not to say no and who eventually ended up addicted to drugs and dying of a drug overdose. It was a sad, but powerful story about the importance of deciding now to say no, and saying no every single time.

Here's Buddy wearing her crown.

Missy with her certificate and the officer. Missy's essay was chosen as one of three winners. She got to read her essay to the audience, and got a medal (around her neck).

Missy wearing Miss Utah's crown.

Buddy and Missy with 3 of Missy's friends. Congratulations!!!

Draper Temple

Today we had the opportunity to go to the open house of the new Draper Temple. Buddy didn't have school today because of parent/teacher conferences, so he was able to come with the little ones and me. Grandma V also met us there and we all went together. It was very beautiful. It my 5th temple open house. (As a very young child I went to the Jordan River temple; the Bountiful temple; the Boston temple, when we were living in NY; and the Newport Beach temple.) It was Buddy's 3rd temple open house, though he doesn't remember the Boston temple; and it was Mister and Lemur's 2nd, they were babies when we went to the Newport Beach temple. I think Mister and Lemur are old enough that they will remember this one.

Thanks, Krissy, for the tickets!

decisions...

I am one of the most indecisive people there are. And I'm married to another one. There's been a lot to blog about, but I've just felt anxious about putting it out there because it seems to make these decisions so final.

When school first started, I was feeling anxious about how my oldest son does in school. He struggles with being organized, getting work turned in, etc. Probably pretty typical stuff for a 6th grader. Plus, all of my anxieties about Jr. High next year. Well, I had talked to a friend about different charter schools, and really liked what I saw when I looked into them. So I decided I'd just put my kids names out there, and leave the rest to chance, since they usually base enrollment on a lottery. I figured if it was meant to be it would happen.

So, toward the end of November I got a call from one of the schools telling me that my 6th graders names were drawn and they would start in January. A lot of me felt nervous pulling the kids out part way through the year. Missy was not happy at all about the thought of leaving. We took the whole family to the school for a tour with the principal and got an enrollment packet. Missy said she wanted to finish 6th grade where she's at, which is understandable. They said that was fine, and she could start in 7th grade. But, we went ahead and enrolled Buddy--that way the spots for my other kids are held open for next year.

I really feel like this opportunity has been an answer to my prayers, but I can't shake the feelings of anxiety. All through Christmas break I was so nervous about this. I know what a wonderful opportunity it is for the kids. And even though I feel like it is something we need to at least try, it doesn't make it any easier.

Today was Buddy's first day--beginning of the 3rd term. There were several new kids starting so he wasn't the only one. The first hour I stayed with him while we had a question/answer session with the guidance counselor, then it was off to classes. 6th grade there is a lot like Jr. High--they change classes and have lockers, etc. Tonight when it was time for bed, though, he curled up on my lap in tears. Which didn't make it very easy for me to be comforting, because I started crying, too.

It's hard, this kid-raising business. Oh, how I long for the days and nights when I was up 400 times a night, and my biggest worry was getting kids to sleep, fed, calmed, changed. It was exhausting, but it was a lot easier than the worry and anxiety that comes when they're older. I've been more anxious these past few weeks than I ever was when he started kindergarten.

Anyway, I don't mean to sound like such a Debbie Downer. I'm sure in a couple of weeks when he's made new friends and gotten over the new-ness of it all, things will be wonderful. At least I hope so.

January Exercise Log

1/3--3 mile jog
1/5--3 mile jog
1/6--3 miles
1/8--3 miles (I think my time is actually improving a little.)
1/12--3 miles, plus some swimming
1/13--4 miles
1/21--14 miles on a spin bike
1/22--2 miles
1/26--60 min. spin class
1/28--3.5 miles

Movie quote

I thought for sure one of my sisters would get my movie quote about the "dangerously unbalanced woman". I'm so disappointed in you, L! ;) It's from "What's Up Doc". As I remember, Howard Bannister (as in "sliding down the--") says it about his fiance, or maybe Barbara Streisand says it about Howard's fiance.