I am one sad little woman sometimes. I’ll let you choose which connotation(s) apply. 

The highlights:

• Finding all of the beads to my Mother’s Necklace when the chain snapped after I caught it on a doorknob
• Talking to Richard on the phone
• Viewing his lovely photos of Chicago’s skyline and landmarks
• Finding and purchasing diapers discounted 30% 

The high(low)lights:

• Only swearing audibly twice (at the children, using PG-13+ language)
• Finding Richard’s keys again (which I’ve been using since mine disappeared 13 days ago)
• Spending $100 on those diapers
• Finding Anya’s purple bottle (from yesterday) (in my purse) (while searching for the source of liquid in there) (the not so nice smelling liquid)

I’m sure there are more of them. I’m too tired to spell them out, though.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of home school has been setting our own schedule. You may recall that our life is not immune from the frantic, however, and that’s been weighing heavily on my mind as the 08-09 school year begins. Starting with the end in mind, they say, increases the efficacy of chosen means.

We’re experimenting with lapbooks this year, starting with one about the 2008 Beijing Olympics. I’ve described them as science/history fair displays in a file folder–they work as book reports as well as summaries of topics studied. It’s a handy compilation for a school portfolio too.

Little hands tug at mine to stop typing now.

Day 5:

Anya has not nuzzled up to me with any nursing intent in 3 days now. Pained as I may be, physically and emotionally,  I think it obvious we’re both ready to move on.

Oh yeah, and she has multiple teeth now. 

And I’ve got the calling to prove it  =)

Yes, the calling drought is over, gentle readers, and I am thrilled to be working with the women on the Home Family & Personal Enrichment committee in my new role as an Enrichment Specialist. My assignment is the Home & Family part, serving alongside sisters who fill specialist roles in Spirituality, Socialization and Homemaking. (Wouldn’t it be funny if they just scoured the ward roster for the woman with the most children after the ward realignment and said “Bingo!” when they hit my name?)  I was assured I would be a great asset to the team. [insert your own joke here]

Several aspects of the calling make it a great fit for my life right now: it’s not a weekly demand; it calls for lots of creative brainstorming; it’s an opportunity to expand the HFPEnrichment program in our ward; I can observe the ‘behind the scenes’ portion of the Relief Society; and I think the women I’m working with are fabulous.

I might could learn this whole home and family thing after all! 

What’s small, yellow, made of wood and…. sticking out of my son’s foot????

Why it’s a toothpick, don’t ya know? Only penetrated about an inch, according to the nice doctor at the urgent care facility we went to this week. The wooden rascal came out of Duncan’s foot in one piece–hallelujah!–and his puncture wound is healing nicely so far. He did receive a tetanus shot, but he was due for a booster in the next year or so anyway.

Sorry, I didn’t think to take any pictures. I’m sure he will remember the experience well enough without them.