Sept. 28 - Wednesday

I got together with a friend (yes, I said friend).  I took a lesson from Liz and stalked her so we could be friends forever.

We put together the Cheet-O conference packs and just talked.  It was nice to just talk...although it did make me a little misty for my other friends.

I hit the Amish store today....fully stocked deli!  Oh yeah...and I bought a pound (a FULL pound and a little extra) of LUCKY CHARMS MARSHMALLOWS!  It made me happy.  And as I posted on Facebook, there is something ODDLY satisfying about eating handfuls of lucky charms marshmallows.  I'm just sayin'.

They also had some other amazing foods and deals....Guess where I am going to start shopping regularly!  WOOHOO!  And they have BACON, EGG and CHEESE bread....they love me.

We had Young Womens that night, making temple blocks and a few of our wonderful girls couldn't come...but a couple of the ones that didn't make it did manage to win their championship game!  It was FABULOUS!

Oh and I took Caleb to the doctor....so when you see him, be sure to welcome the latest asthmatic to the family.

Sept. 27 - Tuesday

Honestly, I don't remember a lot about Tuesday. Oh yes I do....I'm talking to myself while typing....is that a sign of something bad?

Caleb stayed home from school.  He bawled about going.  He has been sick...but he was even begging me to find another school for him to go to....which makes me really sad.  Especially when he says he knows there are good schools in Utah.  He also told me he really missed great grandma and she would understand.....

So he and I had a 'bonding' day.  I really think the poor kid needed a mental health day.  We worked out in the yard and found a ginormous ant hill....

Which comes to play in the evening activities.  Caleb and I had apparently angered the ants and they attacked the house.  They were in EVERY....FREAKING.....ROOM.  It sucked.

Sept. 26 - Monday

Some days are never expected.

Poor Felix had a business trip and because of scheduling had to take one of our cars to the airport.  Sadly, he hit traffic...he made his flight....but barely.

Noah stayed home from school puking his guts out, I ran errands and the dog got a hair cut.  I know we are so excited we can never stay still.

I worked on my Faith value all day, which I really, really, really needed to do.  It was a welcome distraction, but also a reminder of why I'm here.  I'm here because Heavenly Father said I needed to be....and I listened (for a change).

Then I got a call from Felix....there were all sorts of problems with his flight to the next leg of his trip and so he was bagging his trip and heading home.  Four day trip shortened to 1.  Whoa.

I know it was hard on him...but it worked really good for me.

Sept. 25 - Sunday

Another peaceful Sunday.  Yay for YW....always so much fun and so looking forward to General Conference this upcoming weekend.

I started my YW medallion today.  Felix is leaving on a trip on Monday.  His travelling companion wanted to leave Sunday night, but Felix decided to drive one of our cars into Saint Louis rather than leave early.  It will actually work out better for Thursday!

We just vegged all day.  There were a few nervous breakdowns...but overall it was a  nice quiet day.

Sept. 24 - Saturday

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SAVANNAH!  She's 14.  I don't want to talk about it.

So have I mentioned I live in the middle of nowhere?  Savannah wanted to see abduction....the new Taylor Lautner movie (he should pick another career or just walk around with his shirt off....I'm just sayin').

We drove an hour to the theater (yes an hour)  [Side Note:  There is a 4 screen theater in town....but for whatever reason....there is never anything interesting playing].  We made it in plenty of time, got snacks, got settled and watch it.

Caleb got up 3 times.  I had to get up once for me.  Baylee threw up...again, too much excitement????

Then an hour home.  Took the dog out and headed to the steak house for dinner.  Of course there was the obligatory fighting amongst siblings who's birthday it was not.

We did cake later....and Savannah really liked her presents.  Toms, iHome, books, jewelry....and a surprise designer purse from her dad....I know, I was shocked too.

Sept. 23 - Friday

It's official.  It's Homecoming...for the high school.  Everyone, including elementary schools get out early today.

Felix drug me down to Piedmont.....I really didn't want to go....I have other things to do.  But we went....I saw it.  Let's go home.

We then went to the parade.  Noah was on a float (i.e. car)...but goodness knows why he wouldn't say hi mom or anything when he went by so I could have taken a picture.  Sigh.

We made it home and we all crashed.  Too much excitement I guess.  Noah and Baylee had a primary activity, and when it was over we found a pretty good little Italian place for dinner.

That was nice.

Sept. 22 - Thursday

I made friends!  And we hung out and DID A CRAFT!  And for all those of you who know me, and totally know that I am NOT craft....it was fun....and it even turned out!  WOOHOO!

Then it was off to start getting dinner ready.  It's Thursday....which means the missionaries are coming over!  We invited the Chapmans too....because they are infinitely more fun than us.

We did sloppy joes....because it's easy and I found an amazing BLT pasta salad recipe....it was mighty tasty.

A good time was had....even though an extra set of missionaries came and my kids were off the wall....as usual.  And since I always plan ahead...yes, there was plenty to eat.

Sept. 21 - Wednesday

Okay....since I have completely lost track of time, space, continuum...etc. I have to resort to posting the date and day of the week.  Boring, I know.  Sorry.

It was a long day....they kind of all are right now.  But it was YW night (combined activity).  And guess what....we went ice blocking.  SO COOL.  Especially for a bunch of Missouri kids who had never heard of such a thing.

It was pretty amazing because Jonathan came....an inactive kid that Savannah met at school and she has asked to come to the activity, faithfully.....every week.  So it was a pretty cool experience.  Being with the youth just lightens my heart....it was a good day.

Fast Forward to Today

It's been several weeks since I've been here.  Yeah.  It's been rough.

So I'll sum up the past few weeks.

Everyone has been sick.
Caleb has been in trouble at school (acting out a bit?....yup).
Felix has had a couple of trips
A few emotional meltdowns (mostly mine)
A stake dance an hour and half away.
Fallen bookshelf on the 6 year old
Clogged sink
Leaky toilet
Bugs, creepy crawlies, frogs and snakes.

I am trying to get out of my funk.  I am.  Please be patient with me.  This is the biggest learning adventure of my life....I think I was unprepared for it all!

With Homecoming (which is a HUGE deal here) on Friday, there are definitely going to be things to talk about.

I don't want to talk about my icky moody, other than I recognize it for what it is and realize I haven't opened myself up to this experience yet....which is what I am currently trying to do!

Day 33: YUCK

Let me just sum this up...there will be more on my main blog.

1.  My face was attacked by a spider while I cleaned the garage.
2.  There was a snake in the pool filter.
3.  We bought carpet.
4.  Found a semi-decent mexican restaurant in the middle of nowhere.

Spiders and snake.  Yuck.  Yuck....YUCK!!!!

Day 32: What a Day!

If I'm going to do anything....I'm going to do it big.  Have I mentioned that about myself.

We got out the door at 6:30.  Felix gets to drive carpool for the first time.  Fun for him.

We got to the hospital and couldn't find the elevator to the 9th floor.  Went to the information desk and found out I had to have a special sticker to get up there.  We made it and into the Hematology/Oncology center we went.

Wow.  There isn't a lot you can say, other than wow.  Can I be any more humbled?  Nope.

We got Baylee all hooked up and the chairs started filling up.  It's an open infusion room.  Lots of chairs and lots of sweet babies pulling their IV's along as they go to the playroom, get snacks and generally just run around while getting their treatments.

Baylee and I were pretty overwhelmed because at Primary's it's a very quiet experience.  Here...well, not so much.  There were clown docs, and volunteers and toys and balloons and just plain chaos.  She and I didn't really know how to take the philosophy of "You have cancer, let's do something fun!".  Especially since she doesn't have cancer.

But we made it through.  We are set up for our next round at the end of the month, as well as an MRI and x-rays.  It's going to be a very long day.

On our way home, we stopped to get some lunch and lo and behold....A HOBBY LOBBY!  Yeah, we went in.  It was happy.

But then we got home and had to start pulling ourselves together, the missionaries were coming for dinner.  The house was a mess.  A big mess.

I spent the afternoon cleaning.  Then around 5, Noah realized he needed stuff for school the next day and I had to take him to the store.  Really?  So we went and shopped as fast as humanly possible, so I could get home and order pizza.

Got the pizza ordered and waited.  And waited....and waited.

I finally got online to see where my pizza was and ummm, yeah.  I sent it to my house in Utah.  SPECIAL.

I called Papa John's and asked them to send it to the Grant's right across the street.  But they didn't get it and didn't get it and didn't get it.

Then I got an email from our renters.  They got the pizza.  With a few phone calls, we divvied up the pizza and fed both families.  And took the missionaries out to dinner.  It was a good service day....thanks to my stupidity.

Day 31: Guest room?

Yeah, the guess room is about done now too.  I got it unpacked.  And then Baylee came home...found all of the craft stuff...and yeah, I already have to fix it.

Savannah and I went to YW.  We are decorating the rooms.  Thank goodness there is an extremely crafty  person there, and thank goodness I can follow instructions.

We are building the program from the ground up.  The program has been barely there for quite some time.  Personal Progress hasn't been done for at least a year.  And the girls have all been on the verge of leaving.  Hopefully we can save the program.

Once I got home....I had to get everyone in bed.  Baylee has her first infusion at SLChildrens Hosp.   Yeah...we are freaking out.

Day 30: The Basement is DONE...mostly

So in order to fight the boredom...I finished unpacking the basement today.  Well....okay, I moved all of the remaining boxes to the rooms they are supposed to be in.  Hey, it's a big step.

Felix had a big work dinner and meetings all day so I took the kids out....he shouldn't have all the fun.  We were all soooooooo wiped out though.  So we went early to Ryans (a buffet place) and had dinner with the over 60 crowd.  Awesome.

Then we went home and crashed.  I hope we aren't getting sick.  That would really suck right now.

Day 29: Another Monday

We put our garbage out...they didn't pick it up.  Even though they said they would....it was kind of gross.

Baylee is not feeling well.  We made it for a really long time...so I suppose I shouldn't complain.

I got to hear my first tornado siren today.  I was so confused.  The sky was blue, not a cloud in sight.  I called Felix at work, who assured me it was only a test...well that was rude.  You don't do tests to new people.

I think this is three days in a row of boring.  This is not good.  I don't do bored.

Day 28: A Normal Sunday?

So I spoke at church today.  It was interesting.  I have been miserable enough that I had really been focusing on how I could be happy.  So I spoke on happiness.  My talk is HERE.  It did help me pull out of my funk a little bit.

Although, the talk after mine was about apostasy.   So, yeah....two extremes.  Hmmmmm....can't imagine what that was like from the congregation.

I also got called to Young Womens, but I subbed in primary.  Felix was called to primary as well, but he didn't have a manual so we combined the two classes.

Let's just say...these kids aren't used to structure at church.

We went and did x-rays for Caleb after church...the after hours clinics close at 2, so we kind of had to.  But they don't think his hand is broken...but they will call us sometime on Monday to let us know for sure.

But other than that, it was a nice, quiet day.  I like quiet.

Day 27: Working It Out

So we did a little adventuring today.  Yet another trip for recycling...sigh.  We did find the butcher shop. It's the first thing I have found that isn't astronomically priced.   Finally found a reasonable priced grocery store too.  Although I have to have a quarter for the grocery cart and there are no name brands and they don't bag groceries.  Yeah...there were some quirks, but at least it didn't cost me an arm and a leg.

We are starting to settle in...thank goodness...after such a rough week, it's about time.

I have to start my talk at some point.  Yeah, I haven't done anything.  I've been too busy feeling feel sorry for myself.

But at the end of the day, I managed to crank something out.

It was nice to have a day that wasn't all about packing.