The Frustrated Writer

So the general consensus from you the commentators is that 1. blogs are good for keeping in touch with friends far away 2. most people don't have time to talk on the phone anyway (or get together), and 3. I should remember why I started my blog in the first place, which was to keep family updated that lives far away 4. A lot of people use their blog as their personal journal so they don't care if anyone else is reading 5. I should do what makes me happy, either way 6. okay, I can't think of a sixth.

So people made some really great points. Mostly what I learned was that people really feel busy. So busy that blogs kind of make their lives easier in a way. It allows people to keep up to date on the lives of people that they care about, but maybe don't have time to contact any other way. I feel the same way about some of the blogs I read as well. It is slightly disappointing for me to hear though. For two reasons.

First, because it shows that I may have some unrealistic expectations, and secondly because people find themselves so busy that they find it hard to connect with their friends. I'm not saying that to be judgemental to anyone that commented on my blog (please don't take it that way at all!), it's just sad to me that our lives get so full that we (including me) only make time for friends when it is convenient for us. Which is usually late at night while we're surfing the internet. It has been an interesting thing to consider.

Well I guess in the end I will keep my blog (and not let my blog keep me? That sounds smart). My Mom had a good laugh at my expense when I told her that I was considering closing it. She told me that I would never last because I'm a "frustrated writer" that "needs an audience." Umm, thanks Mom? lol! I don't doubt that my Mom is right, she usually is. It's just funny to hear what your Mom thinks about you occasionally.

So, if you have read all of this post, congrats. I guess what I need to do is just go back to business as usual, except I think that I will focus on this blog as both a journal and a way to show my family pictures. And to keep up my skills as a frustrated writer of course.

Oh boy.

I have a question

Do you ever re-think your decision to have a blog?

I do allll of the time. Today I am feeling like closing the whole thing down and starting a new one that I just tell family about. Why? Well mostly because I feel like blogging is a lame one-way method of people feeling like they are in contact with you and keeping up-to-date on your life. The problem is that many times the people that visit and feel up to date on your life (and really do care about you and what is going on) never let you know that they stopped by to read! Then the phone calls seem to be gone. The emails. The everything. So all of the sudden you feel like your friends have some how disappeared, even though they feel very much in the loop. Basically I'm feeling like my blog is taking away some real live interaction with people.

Do you ever feel that way? I'm not saying that I blog just for the comments (they are awesome to get, don't get me wrong) but I'm just feeling like it is ending up shorting me of real friendship. I feel this way partially because I think it makes me lazy towards my own friends too. I don't call them as much or anything else because I've read their latest and greatest.

This is my dilemma. Tell me what you think.

I will be making a decision soon.

The 81 dollar trip to the pool

Yesterday we decided to get out of the house. We're such homebodies these days that I knew we needed to get some fresh air. Plus Maddy needed somewhere to get rid of some major energy.

We got the road to the pool. We were all wearing our swimsuits. Then we heard an ominous thumping sound and the van started to slow. Luckily we were close to a tire fix it shop. Not so luckily, the tire was kaput.

Want to hear the funny part of it all though? Earlier I had been in the D.I. parking lot inside my van chatting on the phone when a guy wearing camo came right up to my window and started motioning to the back of my van and trying to talk to me. I was on the phone and slightly freaked out so I didn't roll down my window. After he left I went out to check my tail lights and the back of my van, but I did not spy the tire.

So I think karma came and got me because I ignored a good Samaritan in camo. Serves me right I'd say. :)

A Little Look Back

A lot of people use the new year to look back over the past year and all that happened. As I tried to remember what happened to our family, I was thankful I had a blog so I could actually remember. It's been an eventful year. Want to see?

January


I opened an etsy shop. Funnily, I don't recall when I closed it, but it was this same year. lol

I opened the shop because I loved finding vintage stuff but couldn't keep it all myself. Stuff like these plates. We also got a van in Jan., but I didn't take a picture.

February


Maddy did funny stuff. I think February was a slow news month....

Although we did buy our first new bed as a couple. And it was a King size. And we returned it. And, it was a big mess. Because I'm dumb. But now it's all okay.

March


Maddy locked me out of the house. This was pretty traumatic for us both.

John was interviewed about his Columbine experiences by a reporter from Denver.

We put our house on the market despite a terrible recession. We were such optimists.
Then our neighbors both put their houses on the market as well. For cheaper.

I got cabin fever and made a bunch of people go to a children's museum with us. It was a blast.

April


My Grandpa Odell passed away from pancreatic cancer. The beginning of a very hard few months for me.

John's family comes to visit (I'm not sure if it was actually in April, but that's when I posted the pics to my blog lol).

We sold our house two and a half weeks after we put it on the market. Even with both houses for sale on either side of us for cheaper. Prayers answered, and we knew that it meant that we were right about our decision to move.

One of the worst times possible, I get surgery on my nose (deviated septum on both sides) and get my tonsils out. I want to die at this point. Mom stays and takes care of me and helps John and Maddy. Before surgery Mom and I go to Women's Conference in Provo which was awesome.

June


Maddy turns terrific two.

I force John to stay home one day and command him that we are not allowed to talk about anything remotely stressful for our first staycation. Hopefully not our last.

We find out that our offer on a short sale went through in two weeks (pretty unheard of). This is the picture I posted. I was soooo unaware of what awaited us lol.

Maddy gets into a bag of marshmallows while I am busy packing. It's amazing she survived the move.

We move. Thank goodness for friends who helped! Thank you again.

On moving day the a/c unit breaks and the water was not turned on by county. We end up having to sleep in a motel in town (which ended up being kind of nice because we were so tired and didn't finish unpacking truck until very late at night. It was a pretty stressful and terrible move honestly. I guess most are.)

July

We decide to add to our stress by adding unnecessary projects like adding faux wainscoting to Maddy's room. By "we" I mean "me."

Painted almost everything in the house. The short sale is filthy. We also realize the carpets cannot be saved. This is extremely depressing.

I paint the front door red to cheer myself up about the sheer amount of work left to do on the house.

Surprise John on his 28th birthday (and our anniversary) to a super fast trip to Disneyland just the two of us. John's parents drive out to take care of Maddy. Just the break we needed.

August



I got a job as a Spanish Inquisitor. I mean, Tutor.

I had my 28th birthday.

One of my best friends, Anne, got married. I took her pictures and stillllll haven't finished them. This is painful lol. Thank goodness she's an understanding friend.

September


Our hot water heater breaks. My nervous break down worsens. :)

To alleviate some stress, we made cupcakes. With lots of sprinkles. John also had a severe reaction to new medication at this point. The nervous breakdown continues.

October


We went to our favorite pumpkin patch. It was a perfect day. Honestly, it was.

Hosted a housewarming party. Had a blast. But probably should have waited until I wasn't such a stress case. But we got to watch a movie outside, so it was worth it.

Had the cutest Little Red Riding Hood stay at our house.

Made apple cider doughnuts.

This girl is so cute (all year).

November

Maddy discovers her obsession with the zoo. We go twice in two weeks.

We find someone that trades us a beautiful piano for our Pepsi machine. This makes me very happy.

Maddy jumps in the leaves and I take copious pictures.

I host the book club anniversary dinner. So fun.

December

We make sugar cookies to start the season out right.

We also add gingerbread houses to our decorating repetoire.

I do several photo shoots (throughout the fall and winter) and then we head out to Denver to welcome John's brother Joey back from his mission in Australia. We had a blast.

We find out that John has sleep apnea and he finally gets his mask. He is already feeling better rested. (and so am I). :)

That's our basic year in pictures. It was a year full of changes (as it is for everyone). We are truly grateful to finally be adjusting to our new home, new situations, and this year I am trying to keep the nervous breakdowns to a minimum. Not necessarily the nervous breakdown inducing situations, because we know we can't control those, but the stress levels. :) Hope everyone takes a chance to look back over their last year and realize how far they have come. It kind of makes you feel like you've accomplished a lot. :) Happy 2010!

Pictures

Today was fun, although we didn't do anything all that out of the ordinary. But Maddy played with her new toys, we danced in the kitchen, I went grocery shopping.

Here are some of the Christmas pictures. I guess the Genghis Khan pictures are on the other camera. But don't worry, they will appear sometime.

Grandma Jane on Christmas morning with her new camera.
Maddy playing in Grandma's teepee.
Chinese night at Wu's! Sooo good. Maddy was quite the carnivore.
Aww, what a cute family.
We thought it was hilarious she was eating a kabob apparently.
My old roomie Kendra. She looks the same as when we roomed together (maybe even better!) and she's had two kids. Personally I think that should be against the law. :)
Her cute baby Lydia. I call all toddlers babies.
My Uncle Phillip and Aunt Lisa. We stopped for a quick visit. Funnily enough both my Uncle and Kendra's husband are in the bishopric together. Small world folks!
Maddy having a great time with my cousin Alex. It's so weird to me to have such young cousins! Maddy wanted to adopt Alex as her own. :)

Well there are some Christmas photos. Sorry if these posts are boring, but I know my family likes them at least!

Did you miss me??

Long time no write, I know.


I had a good excuse. We were out of town for the past week. We had a blast with John's family. The highlights were that we went to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science and saw a special exhibit on Genghis Khan which was really amazing, we also saw two movies (it was our vacation for this year after all!) and saw The Princess and the Frog (two big thumbs up) and Sherlock Holmes (loved it). Also went to Goodwill with my Mother-in-law and found some great stuff (their local Target donates new things to their goodwill. I found new curtains, a new changing pad cover, and some new shirts courtesy of Target!) We also ate lots of good food, had lots of fun talking, and played Wii together since that was John's fabulous present from his folks. A great time was had by all.

But I am really happy to be home. This isn't to say we didn't have a wonderful time, because we really did, but there is something so nice about coming back to your own house and your own bed and your own schedule. We even cleaned up all of the Christmas decorations and put away the traveling stuff. The house now feels pretty clean (ignore the pile of dishes and laundry), and I am feeling refreshed. Although does anyone else's house feel kind of empty without all of the holiday clutter? It's nice, but kinda weird.

Well this is a rambling post because I haven't been on here for a while. Mostly that was because I was super busy with editing pictures and getting ready for Christmas and traveling and feeling sick there for a while.

Well that's the very generic post describing our Christmas. I'll post pictures soon. I have some funny ones of Maddy and Grandma wearing Genghis Khan hats that deserve to be posted for all to see. Hope you had a great Christmas.

Lately

It has been so weird, but lately I have had nothing to say on my blog. Usually I am a blog-a-holic (as you all know) but it just seems like I'm running out of interesting tidbits to share. What is funny is that I'm constantly busy, but suddenly none of the stuff that is keeping me so busy seems interesting enough to make it to the blog.

But leave it to me to write a whole blog post about how I have nothing to write about. LoL.

No, but tonight I am thinking of little tidbits that have been occurring that are worthy of some mention. So here is a random list again. Random is my favorite after all.

1. John has sleep apnea. He had to do two sleep studies, which I didn't mention at the time because I'm pretty sure that you're not supposed to mention when you're home alone. Mostly because I'm a scaredy cat. But he'll be getting one of those mask things. His response to the whole thing (after sleeping like a rock with the mask in the sleep study), "Darth Vader had it right."

2. Maddy has started coming up with her own little versions of sayings. My current favorites are: "Thank you muy much a-ever." Which I believe translates roughly to, "Thank you very much forever." She also likes to tell me she'll "be right back," and when I ask her if she's okay, or if she's sure, she likes to tell me, "I not okay," or "I not sure."

3. I finally finished a photo shoot that I've been working on tirelessly. I always do way more than the thirty photos that I tell people they are going to get. It's a problem. No seriously, it is. I still need to work on friend Anne's wedding pictures. This is the busiest photo time of the year for me. Almost makes me dislike photography. Well no, just dislike editing.

(One of my favorites from the recent photo shoot. These two are sisters. Aren't they cute?)

4. My sister and I made our annual cookies the other day. They are deeelicious. A new favorite involves marshmallows.

5. When I saw Elf for the first time I didn't think it was all that funny. I saw the beginning of it again at my sister's house and could not stop laughing. I need to see the end, it was hilarious! (Was I high on cough medicine the last time I watched??)

6. We're going to Denver for Christmas and I can't decide if I should pack all of Maddy's presents because honestly, all of the sudden, it seems like she has tons. I'm thinking not.

7. I love lamps. I wish every room in my house had even more lamps.

8. I hate how grangy my hair looks when it's long and I don't blow dry it. Why am I growing out my hair again??

9. My house is clean. I feel really great about that. It feels like it's been a while. I've had no motivation lately.

10. I want to take Maddy to see The Princess and the Frog during a matinee showing because there were will be other rowdy kids. Has anyone else taken their kids? Did you like it?

The Potty Whisperer

Today we (and by we I mean me and Madeline) tried to potty train the cold turkey method. You know, where you put your toddler in cute princess bespectacled panties in hopes that it inspires them to be more aware of their goings on? I knew to expect a few accidents, but was feeling confident that she would get some victories in there as well.

Oh my friends. There were no victories today. We lost a few good pants today. I'm not discouraged, but I am still wondering how I will know when she is ready. She will go at night before we put her in the tub, but if I ask her to tell me (or if I ask her if she needs to go, she flat out denies it) and she gets mad if I try to make her go. So I'm guessing this is not the right time. But Maddy is pretty stubborn. I'm afraid if I let her go much longer then there will never be a right time. She's a little too smart you see. She knows a good thing when she sees it.

Do you have any tips? I don't mean last resort kind of tips, but ways to get her interested? So far treats and stickers have not worked. As I mentioned, cold turkey did not seem to work (although I only tried it for part of the day, so maybe I need more time?). Also buying her a peeing baby doll didn't seem to do the trick either. Fill me in on what I'm missing. Is it just not time? I'm okay if it's not, I'm just not sure.

Okay in other news....well honestly, I don't have any other news. That sadly took up the majority of my day. I have decided that potty training is not my favorite part of toddlerhood. I wish I could pay a potty-whisperer to take over.