Archive for January, 2009

Random Friday

January 30, 2009 at 11:26 am · Filed under Random Friday

We got bikes for Christmas. Well, Aiden, Dallin, and I did. We’re still searching for one for Ches, and Parker is getting the old tricycle (but fixed up). Oh, and I’m getting a seat for Parker so once Aiden and Dallin become proficient on their bikes, we can all ride together. I haven’t had my own bike since I was, sheesh, I don’t know. 14? 13? Dang, that was a long time ago. Last week I rode my bike to Walmart (about a mile away) to return some Redbox movies. It was so fun! The wierd part? I feel like I’m still 6 years old and I have to ride as fast as I can. My legs felt like jelly when I got home, but if I wasn’t going full speed the whole way, it just didn’t feel right. Hmmmm.

*****

I have been released from my primary calling. Wo-hoooo!! It was in the works long before “The Incident” (as I shall refer to it from now on). Sunday was supposed to have been my last day, and I had a really great activity planned out so I could leave on a good note. I wanted to let the kids know that I love them (which I do!) and just kind of move forward from what happened. Sunday morning Aiden got sick. Threw up many times. Ches is a primary teacher, and his class had Sharing Time. He had this great thing all planned out. He is team-teaching the class, but the other guy was unexpectedly out of town. So who was to skip church and stay home with Aiden? I ended up staying home. It was easier to pass my activity on to someone else. I was sad, but not too sad. Aiden was sad because he wanted to help in Sharing Time (Ches is Aiden’s teacher!). Oh well.

*****

In case you’re wondering about the activity: I made a puzzle. On a 12×12 piece of cardstock I drew a picture of a family and a picture of the Temple and had the words “Families Are Forever”, then cut it into 6 pieces. I then had 6 scriptures to be read, and each scripture had to do with a song that the kids know. They had to read the scripture, answer a question or two, then guess the song. Once they sang the song, they got to put up that puzzle piece. The last song was, of course, “Families Can Be Together Forever”. I had it planned that we’d make it easier for the younger group, of course, and the scriptures read were short and had an obvious phrase in it. It all had to do with this year’s primary theme, “My Eternal Family”. From what I heard, the activity worked out pretty well. :) Yay.

*****

The other day I packed Dallin and Parker in the stroller and we walked to Target, bought some new Pull-ups for Dallin, then walked home. I think it was about 3 miles round trip. I was amazed at myself, and not really in a good way. I was totally not prepared for my 3 Day Walk, but I was comfortable walking 7 to 10 miles. But that was in November. I walked these 3 miles and I was tired!! I need to get back to walking. I would like to do the 3 Day again this year, but I don’t know if I can right now. I will do it again, and I will be more prepared than I was the first time. Getting worn out after 3 miles is not going to cut it.

(Of course, when I was preparing for the three day I wasn’t pushing a bulky double stroller with a 2 year old and a 3 year old, and all the gear that goes with kids to keep them occupied and warm on a walk one chilly for Arizona morning!)

*****

I just read “The Lovely Bones” by Alice Sebold and it was amazing! I highly recommend it. And I just saw online that it is being made into a movie with Peter Jackson (you know, of Lord of the Rings) as director. Peter Jackson is great, so I’m sure he’ll do a great job with the movie. According to IMDB, the movie will star Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz, Susan Sarandon, and Stanley Tucci. Awesome.

*****

You know, I never had a problem with Mark Wahlberg as an actor. I watched the SNL skits and laughed at the portrayal of him, of course, knowing that it’s an exaggeration. Like all the characters on SNL. That’s what makes it so funny.

Then Ches and I watched “The Happening”, and I have to tell you, he sucked in this movie. His acting was exactly like the impression on SNL! It was hard to take him seriously in this movie. I just kept bursting into laughter at wierd parts. Hopefully he’ll be better in “The Lovely Bones”.

*****

I’m not usually impressed with movies made from books. I also recently watched “Tara Road”, which is one of my favorite books by Maeve Binchey. I knew when I rented the movie that it wouldn’t live up to the book. The book is long and covers a very large period of time. It is essentially in two main parts anyway, so I guessed that the movie would only cover the second half of the book. I was right about that. I knew they couldn’t put in everything I love from the book. It’s impossible to do that. I knew they would have to make changes for the movie. I really try hard to keep a book seperate in my mind from the movie. The movie was… okay. I didn’t like the casting (yes, Andie McDowell was great, but just not right for the part in my mind. And the actress who played Ria looked nothing like Ria in the book. And Rosemary wasn’t sophisticated enough!). The house in Connecticut was all wrong. And too many things felt rushed. I felt they made the movie to be more about the American woman than the Irish woman, and the book’s story was about the Irish woman! The house exchange between the two woman was secondary in the book, but played such a large part of the movie. It was just disappointing to me.

I did like watching the interview with Maeve Binchey on the DVD extras. She talked a bit more about writing the book than the actual movie, and that was cool. I’d do a house exchange with her, even though I know she is so curious and would go through our entire house to find out everything about us! I’d probably do a bit of it at her house, myself. :)

So… if you haven’t read the book, you might like the movie. If you have read the book you might like the movie. Either way, don’t expect a lot out of it, and don’t go out of your way to watch it. It was just an okay movie. Nothing to write home about (although I guess that’s just what I did, huh?).

*****

The other night, for Aiden’s 15 minutes of reading, we started to read Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. I read chapter 1 to him (as he very willingly followed along), and then sent him to bed. He took the book with him the next morning, and read chapters 2 and 3 at the busstop while waiting for the bus. He took the book with him again today so he could read it during free time/reading time at school. I wanted to read the whole thing with him, but he is so entranced by the book he can’t leave it.

That’s my son.

*****

A ton of pictures from high school have been put up by a friend on Facebook. I don’t know how it is possible, but the most sober, straight person in the class (yes, I’m talking about me) looks like the most drunk, stoned person in most of the pictures that I’m actually in. How is that possible????? Gah!!! And then there are pictures of me with the high school boyfriend. I don’t mind ones with us and a bunch of our friends. No biggie. But there is one of just the two of us (and me looking horrible, too) that I wish wasn’t up. Oh well. High school was a long time ago and it’s nice to see most of the pictures. There are some horrible pictures of other people that I’m sure they don’t want up, either!

*****

My goal for February: lose 5 pounds. I bought a 3 month pass to a gym for $20 (what a great deal!!), so I’m gonna use it constantly. I hear the classes at this gym are super fun. I’m hoping to start going next week… Monday night. Everyone get on (and stay on) my case about this, okay? Thanks!!

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Rules Of Teaching

January 18, 2009 at 10:44 pm · Filed under Church, teaching

I remember a few things from my undergrad studies very clearly. As I studied music and studied the theory of teaching, I knew there was only so much that I could learn as a student and so much more that I would learn once I was the teacher. As we studied methods of teaching and talked about different situations, I remember one time being told to never let the students see you cry. Once they have seen you cry, they know they have power over you and you have lost that class forever.

When we were in Idaho, a guy Ches worked with had apparently cried because of frustration in front of a class once. It was several years before we were there, but I’ll tell ya, the kids talked about that for years and years afterward. Those kids lost all respect for that guy. I don’t recall ever seeing one of my teachers cry, but I think I, as a student, would have reacted in the same way (after being afraid of whatever beating was waiting for me at home once my parents found out I was involved in whatever happened that would make a teacher break down like that). I’ve seen teachers lose their tempers. I’ve seen band directors throw batons, bullhorns, and stands. I didn’t lose respect for that. I was intimidated as crap, but I can handle someone losing their temper and yelling or throwing (I never saw anything thrown at a student). As a teacher, I work really hard at keeping my (very) short temper in check. It’s important to me that my students don’t see me lose control.

Teaching is tough. A lot of you guys are teachers, so I know you know what I’m talking about. It doesn’t matter if you are teaching in high school or elementary, in public school or private, in Sunday School or preschool. Teaching is just plain a hard gig! I do love it. I just know that it’s not the thing I should be doing right now, and so I’m counting down the months (soon I’ll start with the days) until the end of the school year.

I also teach at church. I’m the primary music leader. I get to teach all the children between the ages of 3 and 11. I have 20 minutes with the 3 through 7 year olds, then 20 minutes with the 8 through 11 year olds. I’ve never been that comfortable with this calling, but I do what I can. I work hard to find ways to teach these songs the kids need to learn, to keep their attention, and to have fun ways to learn and sing, too. I’m just mostly not comfortable because I’m not any kind of a singer AND when I do sing, I have a pretty low voice. Children’s songs are written kind of high. I cannot sing these songs! Add to this the fact that kids in that “tween” age are actually quite rude and mean. I’m learning to not ask open-ended questions, such as, “Do you think you can do that now?” because they will always answer with “NO!”

Things have been kind of culminating for me for a while there. I’m still trying hard, but I do not enjoy this calling at all. The bishop actually asked me recently about how it’s going and I answered with “I hate it.” I then corrected myself. I don’t really hate it. I’m just having a hard time and don’t feel like I’m doing a good job. I know there are so many other people that could do a better job, relate to the kids better, and actually get the kids to sing. So a few weeks later I was informed that they are currently looking for someone to replace me, but it might be a while. No worries. I’m still trying my darndest.

Today was one of those days for me. I’m not feeling in top form, I’m super emotional, and I’m still not enjoying Primary. I made it through Junior Primary okay, and then it was time for Senior Primary. The kids are always a bit tough, as I described above, but today they just weren’t in to being at church or something. They were very irreverent and very rude. I’m trying to teach them a specific song, and I just couldn’t get and keep their attention. It finally was just too much for me. I couldn’t give any more warnings. I couldn’t do anything. I knew if I opened my mouth, I would just start crying. I was done. I tried to pull myself together, but I felt like I was going to explode inside. I turned around and said to the Primary presidency, “I just can’t.” I couldn’t say anything else. I put down my book, and I left.

As soon as I left the Primary room, the tears started to flow. I left the building and leaned against a pillar to pull myself together, although that took quite a while to do. Not only did I lose it in front of the kids, I started to feel SO stupid for just leaving. I remembered the “Never let them see you cry” rule, and it just made me cry even more.

A member of the primary presidency found me and I immediately started to apologize, but she cut me off. She said that the kids were extremely rude and she apologized. She also said that they were being talked to now, it was deathly quiet, and many of the kids are quite emotional about it themselves. It was really good to have her talk to me and she really made me feel better about the situation. I didn’t feel great, but she helped me feel better.

I still feel like an idiot for just losing it like that, but I can’t go back in time. I will go in there next week. I’m not sure exactly what I’m going to do, and I don’t want the kids to think that I hate them, because I don’t. I just couldn’t do it anymore. I didn’t want to let them know just how badly they get to me, but I’m sure they know now. I hate that they’ve seen me lose control. Did I ever have control in the first place?

I’m trying to come up with a positive outcome in all this, but I’m having a hard time doing that. I know the kids will be super quiet and obedient next week now, but how long will that last? How will they treat the new music leader? And now how am I going to face going back there, even when I’m not in Primary? I’m sure it’s not as big a deal to anyone else as it is to me, but I still feel horrible. Foolish. Ashamed. Idiotic. Just typical Sariah.

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Alvin Bar, Aiden, All Y’all

January 14, 2009 at 10:33 am · Filed under 3 Beautiful Things

This post is brought to you today by the letter A.

It’s Wednesday, I’ve been feeling horrible lately, and I need a pick-up. So… Time for 3 Beautiful Things!!

1. I got a gift card from my brother Vince and his wife Tanya for Christmas. After a lot of hemming and hawing, I decided on this duvet cover from Ikea. I love it! My plan is to finally do something with our bedroom. It’s a work in progress. :) Anyway, the new bedspread is the start. I have a vision, which Dana is helping me with a bit. It involves black and white and red accents. It won’t be finished for many, many years because I have to have my own house to paint walls and I have to buy new furniture (I’d like to finally have a headboard on my bed… for the first time in my entire life!!).

2. Aiden offered to clean his room the other night before bed. And he did it!! I didn’t have to do a thing!! I’m just amazed. It’s like normally everyone in this house has some kind of handicap that prevents them from picking anything up and I’m the only one without the handicap. I’m also the only one who knows where anything goes. I don’t know how that could be (it’s very clear to me which bin the cars all go in, or which bin all the Legos go in… but whatever. And how hard is it to throw trash in a trash can??? Anyway…). It was super nice to hear Aiden say, “Mom, once I get my pajamas on should I pick up my room?” Man, I love that kid.

3. You guys. I whine and complain all the time, but you guys are such good friends. You’re always there for me, you always know the right things to say. I only know a few of you in real life, and even then, I haven’t seen most of you in SO. LONG. I wish we all lived closer so we could get together, but this is still good. You all seem to think my kids are cute and my husband is wonderful and I’m smart and fun… I’ll let this ruse continue so long as you remain my friends! :) Thanks for being here. I rely on you more than you know.

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Invisible Woman

January 13, 2009 at 5:25 pm · Filed under My Crazy Mind, Observations

I went to the park to pick Aiden up from school today. Dallin came with me (riding his new bike. Well, trying to ride it. He doesn’t quite get the concept of pedalling). The normal group of moms was at the park with their kids. I haven’t been in a while as Aiden spent all last week sick and before that was winter break, so no one was going to the park. Anyway, I haven’t really seen anyone in a while, and thought it’d be fun to go catch up and say hi.

I sat down and couldn’t catch anyone’s eye. They were in a conversation, so I didn’t want to interrupt or anything. But honestly… couldn’t just one person have acknowledged that I was there? A simple “hi” would have been nice. That’s all.

I sat there for about 10 minutes as the other moms continued to converse when Aiden wanted to run home for a snack and Dallin wanted to ride his bike some more, so I got up to leave with them. Finally someone said, “Is that it? You’re going?” I made my regrets, but Ches had to return to school tonight anyway, so it’s not like I could have stayed long anyway.

I don’t feel very welcome. I don’t know. Maybe I should have made more of an effort. I don’t like to really push my way into things. It feels rude to me. But it sure would be nice to have a little attention. A smile and a “hi”.

And now you know Reason Number 537 of Why I Hate This Neighborhood.

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Legendary!

January 11, 2009 at 10:27 pm · Filed under Funny ha ha, TV

I love Neil Patrick Harris. I mean, I really, really love this guy! I adore him as Barney on How I Met Your Mother (best comedy out there right now, IMHO), and I could watch Dr. Horrible’s Sing-along Blog a million times. Remember Doogie Howser, MD?? I actually didn’t get to watch it a lot (it wasn’t on Mom’s approved list) but when I did get to see it, well, how could you not love a cute teenage genius doctor on TV?? Heh.

Neil Patrick Harris (or NPH, as I’m going to refer to him from now on because it’s just easier to type and it makes me sound like a bigger fan than I am) hosted Saturday Night Live last night. Yup, I stayed up to watch it. There were, of course, the normal not quite funny bits to the show… but I have to say that whenever NPH was on, it was funny. I thought so, anyway. I enjoy a chuckle or two each Saturday night, but there is usually one skit that has me laughing loudly each week. This week it was the digital short. I mean, this was just freakin’ hilarious! I had to look it up on YouTube just to watch it again today. And now… I share it with you:

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Positive Thinking From Dallin

January 7, 2009 at 7:05 pm · Filed under Family, Funny ha ha

Just so you guys don’t think I’m always negative and always complaining, I thought I’d share a funny thing from Dallin. He got to pick out a video today, and he chose a particular Blue’s Clues DVD we have that is titled “Getting to Know Joe”. It’s the episodes where they make the transition from Steve to Joe. Anyway, for some reason, Dallin does not like the title as it’s written. Must be too negative for his 3 year old brain, because he repeatedly asked for “Blue’s Clues Getting to Yes Joe”. And don’t you dare correct him! He insists it is “Yes Joe”. Silly boy. :)

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Happy New Year!

January 7, 2009 at 12:42 pm · Filed under Family, Life in general, health

We went to Texas for Christmas, and I got out of reading and writing blogs. I think I’m caught up on reading all y’all’s blogs, but I just can’t comment on everything. Sorry. So I’m telling you now that I’ve read and will be back to my normal, over-commenting self.

Aiden got sick travelling to Texas. We attributed it to being in the car for too long and eating too much McDonald’s. He was fine the whole time we were at my mom’s house. He got sick in the middle of the night at the hotel on the way home. He swore he would never eat McDonald’s again. Or greasy food. We got home, and after the intial night (where he was sick in the middle of the night again), Aiden was fine again. School started up Monday morning. Aiden woke up, throwing up. Ches very kindly stayed home from work so I could go, and he said Aiden was sick in the morning, but by lunch time seemed great. Aiden even ate a hot dog and when we had dinner than night, he was totally fine. Tuesday morning, Aiden woke up and threw up again. Urgh. At least I didn’t have to work. He only threw up the one time Tuesday, then was fine. This morning it was important that he be well because his class had a field trip. I had volunteered to be a chaperone, and Aiden’s teacher had actually called me yesterday, a bit panicked because she had another parent cancel already and couldn’t really afford me to cancel. I assured her that Aiden would be fine and we’d be there. Aiden woke up this morning… and yup. He threw up. I figured he’d be fine in a couple of hours, so I made him get dressed and we went to the school. He was whiney and complained of an upset stomach, but Mom Of The Year (that would be me) basically kept saying, “Oh, you’re just fine. Tell yourself that over and over.” The kids were in the classroom, all lined up and about to leave for the field trip, when Aiden said, “Mom! My stomach hurts!!!” He then turned around… and threw up. So the class left and Aiden and I came home. The class left with only one chaperone. Good thing there were extra parents in another classroom. Aiden took a two hour nap when we got home, then threw up a few more times. Poor kid. He said to me, “Mom, this stomach virus SUCKS.” Yes, Aiden, yes it does.

I am now planning on staying home from work with him tomorrow and I doubt I’m going to make it to my music educator’s conference this weekend. Ches is going to make Aiden a doctor’s appointment. I doubt they say anything other than “rest and drink plenty of fluids”, but Aiden asked to see a doctor and it can’t hurt.

My babysitter called me the other day to let me know that she and her family are struggling, so she interviewed and was offered a job for tax season. She can’t babysit for me anymore. She let me know as soon as she could find out, and I appreciate that. She is so great, and the boys are going to be sad not to go there anymore, but I know that my babysitter has to do what she has to do for the good of her family. So now I’m on the search again for a babysitter. I can’t afford normal daycare. So far, no hits. I have a week. PRAY for me!!

I’m still positive about this new year, but it hasn’t exactly started off that great, as you can see. I know my trials are nothing compared to the trials that most of you are having at this time, but it’s still stressful to me. Yes, things could be worse, but if Aiden doesn’t get well soon and I don’t find a sitter soon, things will definitely be worse!!!

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