You Are Special

We love the children's book "You Are Special". It's about a community of wooden people called Wemmicks. The Wemmicks give out stickers all day long. The Wemmicks who are smart or brave or talented usually receive gold star stickers. If a Wemmick did something the other Wemmicks did not like he/she would receive a gray dot sticker.
A Wemmick named Punchinello who had many gray dots met another Wemmick that did not have any stickers at all. He asked her how that was and she said that she goes to see the wooden doll maker, Eli, every day.
In the end Punchinello goes to see Eli and learns that Eli loves him and cares for him because he is special to him. Eli tells Punchinello that it only matters what he thinks and Punchinello should not care what the other Wemmicks think.
We went through a period with Kennedy of reading this story every day. She has not requested it in some time so we were surprised the other day when she made reference to it.
Chris and I were both busy picking up and cleaning to get the house ready for market. It was close to bedtime but we let Kennedy stay up a little later to watch a movie so we could get some work done. Her movie wasn't quite over when Chris turned it off and announced that it was bedtime. Kennedy was not happy with that. She scowled and pouted and finally hit Chris on the leg. As she ran off Chris told her to come back. "What did you just do to Daddy that was wrong?"
Kennedy: "I put dots on you!"

Slow Down!

Two days ago I posted "100 Things About Me". One of the things I wrote was that I had never had a traffic ticket. That was true until last night!
Wednesday night is the night I meet with my quilting friends. It's something I look forward to every week. Last night was no exception. However, the events that occurred before I actually got to quilting were quite unsettling.
I started off the day by touring a preschool in Durham where I want Kennedy to go next year. While I was there with my two kids I had a handyman at my house painting and fixing some things that needed to be done. That was all uneventful.
Tristan fell asleep in the car on the way home from the preschool and I put him down thinking he would take his usual 45-minute nap. He slept for 2 hours! He woke up just in time for lunch and then it was Kennedy's turn for a nap. Just as she woke up Tristan was ready for another nap. All the while I was still trying to clean around the house--two days until listing!
At about 4:30 I received a phone call from a realtor in my realtor's office saying that she knew my house wasn't officially on the market yet but she had some clients who were coming back to look at a house in our neighborhood and could they come by to see our house. I hung up the phone and called Chris at work and asked him to come home. The people would be there at 6:00 so I didn't have much time to pull things together. I started cleaning as fast as I could and when Chris got home we both put our shoulder to the wheel. We just put the vacuum away when the doorbell rang. We let them in then walked over to Wendy's for dinner so they could have some privacy.
By the time we got home it was time to put the kids to bed. I had to run to Home Depot before I went to quilting at 8:00. My friend who hosted lives in Cary which is about a 25-minute drive from my house. Our Home Depot is in the opposite direction so I got online and looked up the address of the Home Depot in Cary and did Mapquests to Home Depot and then to my friend's house. By the time I got out the door it was already 8:00. I wanted to finish a project at quilting so I was a little frustrated that I would have to take time to go to Home Depot.
I turned on the radio and headed down Highway 55--a dark, newly finished (almost), four-lane highway. I saw the posted signs (Work Zone 50) but all the barrels were completely off the road and it was so dark and late I had no idea that a Cary policeman would be hiding out waiting for me.
I normally don't speed--that much. But last night I had a lot going through my mind and I guess my foot got a little heavy. I was just thinking--"wouldn't that be ironic if I got a speeding ticket two days after I wrote that post?" when I saw the blue lights flashing.
I was going 16 miles over the speed limit! I didn't get just a normal speeding ticket. I have to go to court or they will arrest me!
This was a big wake-up call for me to slow down. Not just on the road but in general. Today I slowed down a lot. It did some cleaning but I also took a much-needed nap. I feel a lot better!

Tapped Out

My level of stress is at the highest it's been for a long time. January has almost put me over the edge with teaching preschool and finding and putting an offer on a new home and now preparing my home to be put on the market.
Yesterday Kennedy started a new dance class at The Little Gym. It started in the late afternoon and Tristan woke up just in time for me to nurse him before we left. I actually had to wake up Kennedy from her nap. I grabbed her ballet and tap shoes, still in their box, and shoved them in a plastic bag. We made it just in time and all the little girls had their pink ballet shoes on so I put Kennedy's ballet shoes on. Just as I tied the last bow the teacher announced that they were going to tap first. I hurriedly changed her shoes and sent her off with the other girls. This is her first class without Mom so we were both a little nervous.
The class was so cute and Kennedy was happy learning some new steps. I watched her through the window and tried to keep Tristan entertained at the same time. About 15 minutes into the class they changed into their ballet shoes. The teacher had written Kennedy's name on her ballet shoes as they were headed into class. Another 15 minutes of dance and they were ready to head into the gym.
The next little bit is a blur and I wish I would have paid more attention but I went in to the room to get Kennedy's tap shoes and I saw another mom take the last pair of 8-1/2-size shoes, which I thought were Kennedy's. Silly me for not thinking to write her name in her shoes but they were brand new with the sticker still inside. I looked around and did not see another pair. The dark cloud started forming above my head. I just knew this mother had taken my daughter's shoes but I didn't want to accuse her of anything. After all, she had two daughters in the class and she had with her a newborn baby. There must be some mistake on her part.
I politely asked her to check her shoes. I explained that my daughter had a brand new pair of tap shoes from Payless and the sticker was still inside the shoe. All the response I got was a terse "So did mine!"
The dark cloud kept getting bigger. I looked at all the shoes that were left. They were either too big to belong to someone in this class or too little. I was left with a used size 8. I kept brewing over this situation the whole time and didn't get to enjoy watching Kennedy in her gym class. I kept praying in my heart that I would be able to do the right thing. Kennedy is signed up for a 20-week course and I would have to sit in the waiting room with this mother for 19 more weeks. I didn't want there to be any bad feelings between us.
After class I told Teacher Kim that I couldn't find Kennedy's shoes. The other mother admitted that we both had size 8 1/2 taps and that neither of us had written our daughter's names in them. Kim asked all the parents to re-check their bags and make sure they had the right shoes. I was still left with a battered pair of size 8s. Frustrated and about to cry I just sat down. At this point I think Kim could feel my frustration. She then offered to buy "my" size 8s and then I could go purchase Kennedy another pair of 8 1/2 shoes. So Little Gym now has an extra pair of size 8 tap shoes.
I didn't want to leave without smoothing things over with the other mom so asked her what her name was and told her mine and apologized. I would like to know where those 8 1/2s are right now!

100 Things About Me!

Here it goes!

100 Things About Me. . . .

1. I was born a small-town girl (population about 2000 when I was born)
2. I am the youngest of four living children
3. I was a "surprise" to my parents. . .I'll still be having kids when my brothers are drawing social security!
4. I hate fresh tomatoes and my dad thinks I'm weird
5. I pretty much like all colors but my favorite color to wear is red and my wedding colors were purple and yellow.
6. I love cats, hate dogs, I'm terrified of snakes and I am borderline arachnophobic
7. I like to cook and love to bake.
8. In grade school I won 3rd place in the National PTA Reflections Contest.
9. My junior year in high school I tried out for Miss Dairy Princess. . . .moo!
10. I wore braces for 11 months and have worn my permanent retainer for 16 years.
11. I played in a tree hut when I was a child.
12. I danced on the drill team in high school and was the "drill mistress" for two years.
13. My senior year on the drill team I won the state drill down.
14. I tried out for Miss Drill Team Utah and got last place.
15. I love to travel, I do not recommend the Thunderbird Motel in Las Vegas.
16. I like to color--yes, with crayons
17. My favorite hobby is quilting and I meet with a group once a week to quilt.
18. I was Miss Beaver County and tried out for Miss Utah during my reign.
19. I can never decide if I like spring or fall better.
20. I don't like my handwriting.
21. I'm a wallflower at large gatherings.
22. I enjoy reading but didn't until about four years ago. I've read more books in the last four years than my whole life combined.
23. I wear make up every day and don't like to go out of the house or let anyone see me without it!
24. It bothers me when the word 'everyday' is misused.
25. I would rather sleep than eat if I had to choose.
26. My favorite TV program right now is "Lost"
27. I used to be a big "Knott's Landing" fan.
28. I took piano lessons for nine years but don't play anymore. . . .I want a piano.
29. I love a good breakfast.
30. I have a few really close friends but lots of acquaintances
31. I sing alto but don't have confidence enough to try out for the church choir.
32. I drive a Toyota Corolla but have minivan envy.
33. It grosses me out to clean the toilet--I wear gloves.
34. I enjoy camping but haven't been in years.
35. I love musicals. Some of my favorite are "Les Miserables", "The Sound of Music", "The Unsinkable Molly Brown", and "My Fair Lady"
36. I hate exercising, except for walking and swimming.
37. I love to play a good April Fool's joke on my dad.
38. I like to make people laugh. When I die I want my headstone to read, "and everybody laughed."
39. When I was little I wanted to own a restaurant when I grew up.
40. I like having company stay at my house.
41. I love going to antique car shows.
42. My favorite holiday besides Christmas is Pioneer Day in Beaver, UT
43. I wish we would sing Christmas songs all year long.
44. I enjoy watching movies with my husband. I also enjoy watching the Academy Awards, although, I don't do it every year. Especially now that I live on the East Coast.
45. I love a good nap.
46. I drink Postum
47. My favorite chocolate bar used to be peanut butter Twix but now I like Snickers.
48. In high school and a little beyond I was know as Rizzy.
49. After I graduated from high school I got a 1987 Toyota pick-up and affectionately named it "Rislone" after the oil additive and to match my nickname.
50. At 5' 9 3/4" I played a munchkin in the school play, "The Wizard of OZ"
51. I love a good kitchen tool and used to sell Pampered Chef.
52. I worked as a medical secretary while my husband was in medical school.
53. I'm an introvert except when I'm around my family.
54. I hate making phone calls.
55. I've had the same Eddie Bower jacket for over 12 years.
56. I love the sound of the ocean.
57. I get annoyed with people who have bad cell phone manners.
58. I have had two c-sections.
59. I want to go on a cruise when I get brave enough to leave my kids with somebody.
60. I'm not good at teaching but I love to learn new things.
61. In college I would sometimes go on multiple dates in the same day.
62. I would trade style for comfort in shoes.
63. I hate watching sports on TV, except the Olympics and the Super Bowl (but then I only watch the commercials).
64. When I was about five I accidentally stuck a knife in my left hand and had to get stitches. After it healed that was how I remembered left from right.
65. I'm allergic to avocados and Bounce fabric softener sheets.
66. I love to watch fireworks.
67. I'm always looking for new recipes
68. If I had to choose one place on the earth to spend the rest of my life it would be the mountains.
69. My favorite ice cream is chocolate chip cookie dough.
70. I craved hot dogs and green beans when I was pregnant.
71. I went to the 2002 Olympics and hurt my back falling down the steps of a bus.
72. I can't remember the last time I bought a pair of shoes.
73. I wash my face every night before I go to bed.
74. I love the smell of gardenias and lilacs--gardenias remind me of my mom and lilacs of my grandma.
75. I eat the crust on my bread before the middle.
76. I sleep on my side.
77. I have a 33" inseam.
78. I don't wear shorts.
79. I can curl my tongue and do a lip-up, a unique talent that only a few know of.
80. I don't like to touch raw chicken.
81. I love a good foot rub.
82. I own about 50 cookbooks.
83. Tulips are my favorite flower.
84. I'm very picky about how my water tastes. It could be that I grew up with the best tasting water in the nation. Beaver recently won a national contest for the best tasting water.
85. I learned to play a recorder in 6th grade and was selected, along with six other kids in my class, to play for the school board.
86. I tap my tooth when I have to think hard about something.
87. I wear prescription glasses.
88. My first kiss was on a "truth or dare".
89. I used to really love motor cycles and dated a boy once just because he had one.
90. My favorite hymn is "Be Still My Soul".
91. I played the flute in 7th grade.
92. My freshmen year of high school I played volleyball. I would have kept playing but I didn't like the coach.
93. I've never had a traffic ticket. (Two days after I posted this blog I was pulled over for going 66 in a 50 work zone so this isn't true anymore! I have to go to court since I was 16 miles over the posted limit.)
94. I still have a baby tooth that's never fallen out.
95. I sleep on a pink satin pillowcase that I have had since I left home for college.
96. I played with Barbie dolls until I was about 13.
97. I prefer vanilla-based flavors of ice cream. Right now my favorite is chocolate chip cookie dough.
98. I own a real fur coat.
99. I cheer for the underdog.
100. I had a really hard time coming up with 100 things about me and after reading this I realize some of them are silly!

The Step Stool

When I sat down to write an entry I planned on writing about getting our house ready for sale--cleaning mop boards, de-cluttering, boxing up unused items, etc. But who wants to write about that, let alone read about it?
I thought it would be more interesting to write about our step stool. It's just a plain step stool, nothing fancy, nothing extraordinary. We got it for a wedding gift almost 11 years ago and for most of that time sat unused until about a year and a half ago.
I can't remember exactly when it started but it was when little Kennedy was old enough to understand that she could stand on the step stool and watch what Mommy was doing in the kitchen. At first we pulled it out when we made something special like cookies or pancakes. Then Kennedy became agile enough to pull the stool out of the pantry herself. Then it was used more and more. Then Kennedy found that she liked to play in the sink while Mommy worked in the kitchen. When we tried to put things up high that she wasn't supposed to reach her solution to the problem was her "tep tool".
Kennedy soon learned that the step stool was just that, a tool! She started using the stool to her advantage. Rarely was Kennedy seen in the kitchen without her stool. One time I set Kennedy up with a movie while I went upstairs to take a shower. She usually stays still and never moves while a movie is on. When I got out of the shower I heard a commotion and had a feeling I should check on her. When I came down she was in the garage with her step stool. She had used it to turn on the light and she was playing in the car and just as I opened the door she was reaching up to my garage door remote to open the door!
She has used the step stool to do many naughty things. She recently learned that she could reach the top of the refrigerator if she could get on to the counter. Again, the step stool. This became worrisome and I started storing the stool in the garage but that does not deter her. She is too clever.
Yesterday while I was busy cleaning up the breakfast dishes I turned around and on the top step of the stool, just as big as he could be, was Tristan! I just about had a heart attack! Now the level of worry over the step stool has increased. I guess the step stool has passed down to baby brother now!

Uncomfortable Call

Over the last week I have interviewed three realtors in hopes of finding someone with the right plan to sell my house. At first my objective was to get as many opinions as possible and then sell the house myself. That was before we put an offer on another house. Now we are feeling crunched for time because our closing date will be April 16. This is all sooner than we anticipated and we aren't in the mood to deal with the hassle of selling the house ourselves.
I interviewed two very competent realtors from two different companies. They both came with a lot of information about my house and other houses in the area. They were prepared to win me over. I was impressed with both. The realtor we are using to buy the other house showed up with a packet that I was expected to read over myself (and understand) then measured all my rooms. Not impressed. Where's the pitch? He did offer his services at a whole percent lower than the other two but when it came down to it I felt more comfortable with the other realtors.
I tried to convince Chris that he should be the one to call our realtor and tell him we were going with someone else. We both knew, however, that I should be the one to call since I did the interviewing. I HATE these uncomfortable situations. I am always so worried that I will hurt someone's feelings or offend or make someone angry. It's ironic because I am the customer and it's my money. That's how I am though. I would rather be inconvenienced than offend someone.
I made the phone call this morning and it wasn't as bad as I though it would be. The realtor was very nice and understanding. That was a load off my shoulders. I seem to make things worse in my mind but when I really do it, it's not so bad. I'm still glad it's over.

The Offer

After much deliberation we decided to put an offer on the Weldon Ridge home. We ran into a few snafus though. Before we sent in an official offer we had our realtor enquire about a few things.
1. There is an unfinished storage area above the garage that we thought would be a perfect "bonus room" for the kids to play in. We asked if the builder could finish it. The answer was no.
2. There is some flooring in the hall bathroom and utility room that is not quite our style. We wanted to know if the builder could change that out for us. The answer was no.
After being shot down on both requests we had to think about if we still liked the house. The answer was YES! so we put in an official offer. We wanted to get as late of closing as possible since Chris doesn't start his faculty job until July. We asked for May 15 which we knew as a long shot. Again the answer was no, March 6. We were starting to wonder if the builder just didn't want us to buy the house.
We had our realtor call the builder and ask if she could compromise. She came back with April 16 so I guess we are going to shoot for that. Now we will have to get our house ready for the market. My mom is going to come out to help me with the kids the end of February so hopefully we can get this going and sell our house by the time we close.
Today after church we drove to the house to see how far it is going to be. Our ward boundaries were changed today and we will be going to a building in Chapel Hill. The new house is actually really close to the new building and will be a quicker drive to church than our current home.