Firsts, Lasts and Other Horrendous Moments

Well, first things first, Sarah is officially potty-trained. FINALLY!!! She went a whole week without wearing diapers, so on Saturday, we took her to pick out panties and a treat. Out of all the toys in the toy isle, she picked stickers; not just any stickers though, a huge box of teeny, tiny stickers that are now everywhere. I had them all over the house including in my bed and bathroom, in the kitchen, on most of the surfaces and doors, which landed her in a whole heap of trouble and even one stray sticker on her little pink bum. However, Brady is thrilled to have no diapers. I am not! It is so obnoxious to have a full cart and hear, " Mommy, I have to go potty!" Or be miles from anywhere and have to figure it out. Two year olds have no bladder control so you can't just ask them to hold it either. Sarah also took the cake this week for pushing Mommy to the bitter ends of her patience. She decided she had a special project that required special scissors, so she went upstairs and found the hair scissors and that's right.....CUT HER HAIR!!! I have plenty of nieces and nephews even , who have cut their hair and it always grew back, but I was so mad! Luckily, she actually did a really good job and only cut herself some additional bangs, for which, I am so grateful. The worst though happened today. We had some errands to run, one of which involved a bank in Walmart. The girls were so good, I took them to look at the toys. On our way back out the girls admired some very garish key chains. I told them both no and we moved on. Well Cat did not move on. She stuck one in her pocket. I went to another bank, a store and got almost home before it was made manifest to me. The girls had been arguing about "keys" and I could not figure out what they were talking about until Sarah stole the key chain from Cat, which brought about World War 3 and had me turning around trying to stop it. I saw the stupid thing and was so mortified I could hardly stand it. I turned into a parking lot and proceeded to get the whole story. She wanted it, I said "no", she decided that her want was more than her desire to do the right thing and it ended up in her pocket in our van...that's the short version. I didn't yell, I was very restrained. We turned around and went all the way back. When I told the two ladies at the register we had something that didn't belong to us and demanded she apologize they look at me like I had beaten her and were so rude to me. I return their stupid, ugly," I Love Boys" key chain and they get mad at me. I didn't want it either! They told her it was okay, and that is when I grabbed my kids and stomped out like Momzilla. Grrrrr!!!!! Stinkin Walmart! The last time I go there for a long time! On a bright note, we made Halloween decorations last week for school and I finally broke down and got my kids scissors (and look where it got me). We bought little kits to make yarn pom-pom cats, and chinese lantern that we decorated to look like a pumpkin, ghost and witch. We cut out pumpkins from construction paper and made a chain to count down the "sleeps" as Cat calls them until we go to Grammie and Grampy's house. We also got out the decorations and put them up. No new news on my mysterious illness. The cough is mostly gone, but the upheaval continues. Frustrating! I am very glad to be even a little better. We are happy to have it finally below 100 and staying there. The nights are cool enough for us to go to the playground now and the girls love it! I love it when Brady takes them and I have a couple minutes to clean in peace. I am so excited because right before we leave for Washington, the elementary school by our house is having a book fair! I love the book fair. Oh, I also got to order from the Scholastic book thing that we all had in elementary school. I babysit in the mornings for a teacher and she is slipping me the good stuff. We love books and it is so much cheaper, which enables me to buy more books! Hooray! I am also very excited because soon I will have a garden and a painted living room. Our stake has broken down the church's provident living ideas into monthly themes for our ward. They feel it will better help us heed the counsel of the prophets and make it accessible and easier to manage instead of feeling overwhelmed. We have already done water storage and gardens and this month is focused on getting your 3 month supply in order, which luckily I already had done, so it is giving us more time to get our garden built and planted, plus we have to do the drip system at the same time that we do sprinklers, so we have to wait until we are ready to do them. I am so grateful for all the blessings that we have. It is so nice to have a job that enables us to not stress. Granted, my husband works 6 days a week, but he is a good husband and works so hard to give us the things we want like gardens, sprinklers, paint and a very fun bouncy castle with a ball pit that he found on slick deals for cheap. I am so blessed and happy. So all my grumbling aside, I really do appreciate and see all that I have. I am finally caught up for a while, so until next time, hope you are all well!

Conference

General Conference is one of my favorite parts of fall. I so enjoy getting a chance to be edified by the words of the Apostles and the Prophet! I really was surprised to find so many different talks this conference. My favorite that I heard, was Sister Dalton's talk this morning about virtue. I also enjoyed both of President Monson's talks. He has always been my favorite speaker. I love the easy spirit that comes each conference and how much better I feel after each one. I look forward to April when we will have another chance to hear the words the Lord would have us hear.

Is there a Doctor in the house?

We have been busy, busy! We had a full house this weekend and spent Saturday at the zoo which was so much fun! I am still battling the sickness that I don't have. I am going into the doctor on Thursday for a second opinion and some allergy testing. Hopefully, they will tell me that I have something, anything, so that I can get rid of it. I feel like I need to call Dr. House and have his team diagnose my mystery disease. We are very sad to say goodbye to Anna, Caleb and Emma tonight. They are finally headed back to Texas after a very long road to recovery for Anna. Her scans came back looking much better and so she will be taking her family and going home. We are happy they get to go home, but sad that we won't have them at our disposal. The girls have loved playing with Emma and Caleb is so good with Sarah. Life is starting to have a schedule, but I still am having a hard time feeling like I can get my life on schedule for me personally. Once the stinking painting gets done and I can hang stuff up, I think I will feel like it is home. Everything is still so disjointed and disorganized that it really bugs me. We are so excited to be going home for Halloween. My kids keep asking me if it is today that we get to go on the airplane. Once October rolls around we will get out the decorations and get their costumes. Cat is going to be Batgirl and Sarah is going to be Supergirl. They are very into superheros. They love to watch the old Batman animated series that we have on DVD. The girl ones are their favorites. I have a pampered chef party I am hosting on Thursday, everyone is invited. I love parties!

One Small Step for Berta-kind

We finally have finished painting the upstairs!!! Hooray!!!! The whole mezzanine level is now the most beautiful chocolate milk color. Now we just have to finish the whole downstairs. I am so excited I could just kiss someone!

Today is also Ward Conference. The octet that I am heading up is singing today and I am nervous. I am still hacking up a lung and my voice sounds gravely. I have been drinking lemon water to clear the nasty stuff out, but that contributes to my gravel sound. I hope that it goes well today. Next week the choir is singing a Sally Deford song and I am a bit nervous about it. I am hoping that the next two choir practices will prove fruitful. I picked the song because of the message and the beautiful tune, but some of them are having a rough time. I don't want them discouraged. Say some prayers!

Tara's Questionaire

Welcome to the 2008 edition of getting to know you !! Change all the answers so they apply to you & then send this to to your friends, including the person who sent it to you. The theory is that you will learn a lot of little things about your friends that you might not have known!!


1. What time did you get up this morning? 6:15, better than 5:30!
2. Diamonds or pearls? diamonds
3. What was the last film you saw @ the cinema? Kung Fu Panda
4. What do you usually have for breakfast? I don't ever get breakfast
5. What is your favorite TV show?? I love House and SVU, I am also watching Burn Notice and Project Runway
6. What is your middle name? Marie
7. What foods do you dislike? seafood and other sea bugs
8. What is your favorite CD at the moment? I don't do CD's, but I really love the song"Mercy" by Duffy
9.What kind of car do you drive? Depending on the day, it's a Dodge Grand Caravan or an Audi A3
10. Favorite Sandwich ? A Neighbor's bakery Turkey and bacon ( Manda knows)
11. What characteristic do you despise? lying or any manner of deceit
12. Favorite item of clothing? I love a good pair of jeans, which is pretty much what I wear everyday year round.
13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation: Where would you go ? Europe or Japan
14. Favorite brand of clothing? Gap or Gymboree for my kids
15. What was the last thing you bought? I don't usually buy things for myself, so I can't remember
16. What was your most recent memorable day? Getting to spend Labor day weekend with Brady and the kids.
17. Favorite sports to watch? I don't do sports, but I did watch the US Open
18. Furthest place you are sending this? Finland
19. Who do you least expect to send this back to you? Tara, she already did it on her blog
20. Person you expect to send it back first? ????
21. Your birthday? 12*23*1980
22. Are you a morning or evening person? I do better work at night, but I have had to slowly reverse my schedule since I got married and now I just am crappy either time.
23 What is your shoe size? 6.5
24. Pets? Rudy, our tabby and Greta, our calico
25. What did you want to be when you were little? In 1st grade I wanted to be a nun, but it has changed so much over the years, the one that has stuck is a children's theatre teacher
26. Any new and exciting news you would like to share with everyone? Not so much
27. How do you feel today? coughy
28. What is your favorite candy? I don't usually do candy unless I am with Tara, but I have always loved Reece's Peanut Butter Cups
29. What is your favorite flower? Lavender, I know it's an herb, but it counts!
30. What is the day on the calendar you're looking forward to? I really like Fridays and Saturday's, we actually get to see Brady on those days
31. What is your full name? Roberta Marie Frownfelter Thomason
32. What are you listening to right now? Bleeding Love by Leona Lewis
33. What was the last thing you ate? Does Iced Tea count?
34. Do you wish on stars? Not any more
35. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? PURPLE!!!!!! Everyone knows that.
36. How is the weather right now? Hot Tamales
37. Last person you spoke to on the phone? Brady
38. favorite soft drink ? Whole Foods 365* Caffeine free cola
39. favorite Restaurant? My newest favorite is El Ricos
40. Hair Color? Dark Brown
41. What was your favorite toy as a child? Dollies or Barbies
42. Summer or Winter? Winter, hot chocolate, snow flakes, my birthday and Christmas
43. Hugs or kisses? Kisses
44. Chocolate or Vanilla? Vanilla ice cream, chocolate everything else.
45. Coffee or Tea? Celestial Seasonings Herbal Vanilla Hazelnut Dessert Tea
46. Do you want your friends to e-mail you back? yes
47. When was the last time you cried? I pretty much cry over something everyday, I am a big baby
48. What is under your bed?lids for the plastic containers and books that I don't have shelves for yet
49. Salty or Sweet? Salty
50. How many keys on your key ring? 5
51. How many years @ your current job? Married for 5.75 and a Mom for 4.5
52. favorite day of the week? Friday
53. How many towns have you lived in? 8, Chewelah, Spokane Valley, Cheney, Green Acres(yes, it is a real place), Kenmore, Mesa, Gilbert, and Queen Creek
54. Do you make friends easily? I think so
55. How many people will you send this to? couple dozen
56. How many will respond!! Who knows?

REGISTER TO VOTE!!!

If you haven't already registered to vote I encourage you to do so. You can go online and do it and it takes about 5 minutes. I had to register today since we moved and I hadn't done it yet. I am looking forward to seeing what happen this election. I hope that America can get it right and do what is going to be best for everyone. I also look forward to watching the debates. We shall see. Vote Yes on Prop 102, marriage is between one man and one woman.

Lead Kindly Light

I know that we all love and appreciate our bishoprics, but there are times when they might head the promptings of the spirit a little quicker. I got a call on Wednesday night asking me to organize an octet, singing Lead Kindly Light, for Ward Conference next Sunday. I couldn't find the music online anywhere and I couldn't order it because it wouldn't get here in time for us all to practice together. I searched high and low, I called cross-country, but to no avail. I finally called Deseret Book and was told that a different store in the valley had it and to go there. Upon arrival, I was told that yes, at some point it had been in the store, but it hadn't been in the computer since last November and to try Milano's. Luckily, Milano's had a great version and I snatched them all up. I did have to make a few illegal copies, to have enough, but nobody has to know and they will soon be shredded bits of nothingness, ( I take copyright laws very, okay almost, seriously...look what happened to Stephenie Meyer). Needless to say, I have called upon two members of the Bishopric to perform in the special musical number...see if they ever call me again! Other than that, I am still trying to recuperate from my mysterious sickness. I still hack up a lung when I laugh and could sing bass with no trouble! I am feeling better though, thank you. The painting continues. I managed to finagle Brady into helping my paint the mezzanine area of our house. We got half done and I remembered why I do the painting myself. My husband is the love of my life, selfless, honorable, hard working, tireless, smart, funny, adorable, admirable, but he is the slowest painter I have ever met. I thought I was slow owning to the fact that I have to go back and fix every little imperfection, but I was dead wrong. He also wanted so much to do it exactly how I wanted, that he asked me how to do everything. I am so grateful for his help that I am going to ask him to help me finish the upstairs. The work is slow, but worth it! I am also excited that soon I will get to go and get my curtain fabric and then I can sew all of the panels for the great room curtains. It will be quite the undertaking, but I think I am up to the challenge.

Time After Time

The New Do

The Sad, Pitiful, Old Do

We have been busy, busy, busy as I am sure most families are right now. The beginning of the school year always puts me in a frenzy trying to get everything done that I have put off due to summer's lazy days. Brady has been installing fans and wireless network cables and caulking and digging and doing all sorts of man stuff this weekend and I have been trying to clean our messy house. I have been sick as a dog this last week and we all know what happens when Mom is sick. The girls also made quite the mess playing with all of the packing supplies that were lying around. They made a huge box fort and styrofoam chairs and tables. Soon, soon, I will have everything put away. I went to LA this past weekend to see my friend, Kelly, in "Ragtime" and then my friend, Ari, is coming to visit on Monday. I haven't seen him since he was a foreign exchange student in high school. I won't mention how many years that has been...Things in Az are still hot! We get thunder and lightening every night out where we live and I have to say I am actually starting to get sick of it (sorry Mom). I hope to have curtains up and made soon as well. There just aren't enough hours in the day to accomplish everything and I don't foresee depriving myself of any sleep. I cut 3 inches off of Cat's hair the other day, and was pretty proud that it looked decent. I can't decide whether to cut my hair or to let it grow. I have been looking forward to long hair again , but I hate it right now and am really tempted to whack it off. Let me know what you think.

The Continuing Saga of Painting and Other Various Subjects

So, I have had one painter come out to give me a bid, and I have two today. I am still doing a majority of the painting, but am looking for someone to do the great room, stairwell and possibly the kitchen if I can swing it. I really want to get it done so that I can hang things on my walls. I refuse to put everything up and then have to redo it, especially the 6 huge curtain panels in the family room. There is so much to buy and it takes so long to save up for everything that I want, which means we have white walls and no furniture still. It is exciting to have our own place though and be doing it all ourselves. I fuss, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I am taking a break from the monotony and driving to LA for the weekend to see my best friend, Kelly, in the musical, Ragtime. I am very excited. I also am excited for my Dad's 70th birthday which is coming up. I love my Dad so much and it is fun to get to spoil him a little, when he will let me. Our life is starting to get back into our school year routine which is nice, summer really threw me for a loop this year. I love my schedule! Hopefully soon I will have some pictures to post. Until then....

Forgive the Funk

Okay, so I am over myself and moving on. We have been so busy lately. I am going to start watching a little girl in the mornings for about 45 minutes to an hour. I had decided that I wasn't cut out to be a babysitter, but I get sucked in by these adorable babies!!!! It is not bad because it is a time when I am home and it is not for very long and I told her parents that I would be going out of town a couple of times and they were really cool with it, so I am going to give it a try. Wish me luck! I am also excited because my sister-in-law Amanda was just here and I love her and her kids! I wish they lived closer, but I know LA (the state) is where they are meant to be. The dining room and the girls bathroom are finally painted, and yes, my bedroom is finally done! Now all I have to do is get the rest of my house painted, sew curtains for all the rooms, get furniture, and accessories and I will be done. Please feel free to come by and see the finished product in 2020...it will be a sight to see! On a more upbeat note, we are going away overnight and I am looking forward to relaxing by the pool and swimming with the girls. They are getting so big and it goes too fast! We started school with Cat this week and it has definitely been patchy to start. I took the summer off from teaching her and now my groove is GONE!! I did however, get my affidavit of intent printed out and just have to order a copy of her birth certificate from Spokane and I can get her officially registered to home school. It is so ridiculous that they won't let her take music and PE at the elementary school here until next year. She has been in school already for a year and I am filing legally with the school district, but they won't let me put her in until she is officially kindergarten age. Poor kid has been waiting and waiting and they just keep making her wait. It is okay, she will be able to take those classes next year and that will help me a ton, because then I will have one on one time to teach Sarah, who will be turning 3. As before mentioned, Cat started dance again and I love to watch her. She is so serious and yet so happy-go-lucky that it is a joy to see her having fun and learning at the same time. I didn't find a piano teacher out here who would take her for a price I felt like paying for my 4 year old so for the time being, I am teaching her piano myself until she gets a bit older. She loved her old teacher, Carlie, and misses her (I do to!). We are all doing well, time seems to fly by when you have so many projects and things going on. They called me as the choir director again in this ward, so I have choir practices and music to prepare. It is really a fabulous calling. They still haven't called Brady yet, so there is hope he won't have to do Scouts for a while. The girls are doing well in their classes. Sarah is adjusting to the poopin huge nursery and Catherine is so reverent that she often comes home with treats her teachers have given her. She is such a princess! We are loving our neighborhood and moved in at the right time. Everything is almost done and most of it is in other areas, so there is little activity and noise. The cement factory is set to close in a year or two so I can handle it. I really don't even notice it. The kittens are doing well, Brady and I did notice Rudy taking a more than brotherly notice of Greta last night and are anxious for this month to be up, so that they can go in for surgery and be done. I love kittens, but I don't feel like being a grandma yet. Speaking of kittens, my kittens Mom is having another litter and it will be her last, so if you want great kid cats, these are them. Life is moving on and I have already been shopping for winter clothes, which sounds ridiculous living in Az, but we are going to Wa in October and it will still be hot here and definitely will not be hot there. I found the cutest pink jacket and cable knit sweater that Gymboree had on sale this week and snatched them. The store I went to had only gotten in one of the jackets because they were selling so fast online and it was our size. I literally beamed with glee when I found that out. I am waiting for the rest of the collection to go on sale before I stock up. It makes it hard to buy clothes that my kids will only wear here for a month or so and only twice in WA. I am looking forward to seeing my parents for Halloween and Christmas this year. I love going home for my birthday and Christmas and having it snow, so it had better snow this year! Enough from me... I have to finish packing.