Character Matters

Today we went to the school to attend Abbi's 3rd grade class production of "Character Matters."  They all did such a great job!  Here is a synopsis of the play:

Led by Rapunzel, a Handsome Prince, and a (recovering) Wicked Witch, the council offers help in                                    character building to famous folk creatures. In this fun show, the Big Bad Wolf learns the Golden Rule, Cinderella gets help in managing her anger at her bullying stepsisters, and Jack and the Giant discover that their differences are cool. Will Humpty Dumpty take responsibility for his fall? Can Baby Bear forgive Goldilocks (and will Goldilocks apologize, or just take the porridge and run)?

It was a lot of fun to watch and I am so proud of Abbi.  She did a great job!  But, in true Abbi fashion, she refused to get her picture taken. So, here are a few of what we were able to get.

A Day in My Life

The other night I went to bed thoroughly exhausted and thought to myself, "I have been running nonstop today but got nothing done."  Which led me to this post.  I run and run and run all day, running my staging business, running the household, running the kids everywhere they need to be, and run the back-end of the real estate business.  I am busy all day yet feel like nothing ever gets done.  I have lots of projects that are half done but nothing finished, which leaves me with the feeling of getting nothing accomplished.  So, I decided, for one full day, to write down everything I did that - no matter how mundane.  It made me realize all the little, run-of-the-mill things I do everyday.  Here is how my day went:

7:00 am:  Wake up, and roll out of bed

7:15-8:00:  Pilates workout - only 135 calories burned - Crap!  Feels like I should have burned more.

8:00-8:30:  Breakfast, check the kids' homework, sign planners, do Abbi's hair, make sure everyone's teeth are brushed, steal a quick moment to check Facebook and various blogs, and get the kids off to school.  At which time I get Alex in the tub.

8:35-9:35:  While Alex is playing in the tub, I hang a new towel bar that was needed in the bathroom because one of my children (Alex) thought the last one was a jungle gym and broke it.  I wash Alex and get him out of the tub, fold the Levi's that have been in the dryer for days, and throw in a load of towels.

9:45:  Holy crap!  My house looks like a bomb went off!

9:46-12:00:  House cleaning begins.  I empty then refill the dishwasher and get it started, I clean off various piles around the kitchen and put the piles away, I wipe down all counters and the table, I vacuum the kitchen floor, the family room, and the front room which allows me to see all the dirty marks on the floor, so, out comes the mop.  I mop the kitchen floor, the bathroom/laundry room, and all entryways to the house.  I clean Alex's room which looks like a bomb went off and throw away a bag full of garbage from his room.  I change out the laundry- put the towels in the dryer and start a new load of darks.  Whew!

12:00:  Realize my Visiting Teachers are coming any minute and I have not showered.

12:02-12:10:  Quick shower just in time to hear the door bell ring.  Alex tells them I'll be down in a minute.

12:15-1:15:  Visit with Visiting Teachers - all the while thinking, I have no makeup on.

1:15-2:00:  Finish putting on my makeup and get my hair done while watching "The Young and the Restless."  (I know, it is one of guilty pleasures - I DVR it everyday!)

2:00-2:35 - The kids get home from school.  I start to work on the wood projects again (I started them the day before) and re-schedule Abbi's piano lessons for Monday.

2:45- Remember the laundry.  Fold towels, put the darks in the dryer and start a load of levis.  (Yes, another one)

2:55 - resume work on said projects, then remember to call my mom for her birthday!  Left a message.  Called to find out if Aaron's flight time was still on.  I gave him an introductory flight lesson for his birthday.  It had to be re-scheduled.  Called Aaron with the info for him to re-schedule.

3:00:  Mom called back, talked to her while I cleaned out the popcorn machine.  Popcorn sounds good but the machine was a mess.  Popped fresh popcorn.

3:30-5:15:  Finished up the wood projects, Finally!  

5:25:  Take Adam to guitar lessons.

5:30 - Came home to clean up the mess of the wood projects.  Wipe down counters again.

5:55-6:25:  Went to pick up Adam from guitar.  He was running late, so I had to wait.  Enjoyed a moment of peace.

6:30:  Came home and met Aaron at home.  Decided to go to dinner with the boys since Abbi was camping with the neighbors.

6:35-8:45:  Dinner at Su Casa with the family and a quick trip to Sam's for fruit and salt for the water softener.

8:50:  Drop off the boys to make it to a 9:00 appointment at Massage Envy with Aaron.

9:00-10:05:  Enjoyed(?) a massage.  My masseuse was really getting into the knots on back.  It hurt, but my back was hurting so bad and I knew the knots needed to be worked out.  Feels much better now.

10:30:  Return home, check on kids in their beds, brush teeth, pull out contacts and fall into bed.  Almost into a restful sleep, when I realized the laundry hadn't been changed.... Oh well, there is always tomorrow.

So, there you have it!  A look into my life of being a stay-at-home mom.  There are still bills to be paid and checks to be deposited but that will have to wait for another day.

Here are the craft projects I was able to get done:

Aaron's Birthday and our Harley Ride

When Aaron came home and told me about an upcoming Realtor Rally Harley ride, I said "That's great! Have a nice time and I'll see you when you get back."  See, I remember riding the Harley in Kauai for 4 LONG hours in the hot sun and the burn I got on my calf.  I wasn't about to do that again on an even longer ride down to St. George.  Then he told me it was on his birthday and that he really wanted me to go.  Ugh!  How do you say "no" to that?  I tried to discourage him from taking me, tried to come up with any excuse not to go, but to no avail.  I would have to go.  My mom agreed to take the kids and we "suited up" to take the long, scenic ride to St. George.  We left the Sandy realtor campus on Wednesday at 8:00 am.  It was a little exciting just seeing all the bikes.  There were close to 40 bikes that participated so we made a huge impact as we traveled the side streets with a police escort to I-15.  We traveled I-15 to Nephi where we made our first pit stop.  I thought my thighs were going to burn up and fall off.  It didn't help that I had done a bazzilion squats and lunges the day before.  Note to self:  Next year when we do this again.... do not work out the day before.)  We jumped off the bikes for a little rest before saddled up again and made our way to Scipio and Salina for lunch.  Throughout the day, we saw some of the prettiest sights Utah has to offer.  We rode through Bryce canyon and Hell's Corridor.  Absolutely gorgeous!  We made it to St. George around 7:00 that night where we were treated to a dutch oven dinner by the Washington County Realtor Association. 

The next morning we woke up and saddled up again to make our way back home.  We drove through Zions National Park.  Nothing is cooler than 40 bikes revving engines as we drove through the tunnel at Zions.  Pretty Cool!  We made it home, again driving the back roads, around 7:00 that night.  We were exhausted!  Although I didn't want to go originally, I am so glad I went.  Seeing what we saw, experiencing what we did, and spending that time with Aaron on the back of the bike was amazing!  Happy Birthday to my biker man, from you biker babe.  I love you!

Happy Birthday Abbi!

Happy Birthday Abigail!

For your birthday this year, you had quite the list of "wants."  All I can say is that you have expensive tastes.  On the top of your list was a new iPod.  You love music and I knew you would love having an ipod.  Here you are after opening your present and finding the iPod, speakers, headphones, and an iTunes gift card.  I don't think I have seen you happier.

 For your birthday, we organized a small party with your best friends, Hailey and Riley.  We went to see "Gnomeo and Juliet" and then went to dinner at your favorite place, Chick-fil-A.  You had a great time!

And like the Marshall family fashion, your birthday week ended with dinner at the Spaghetti factory with Grandma and Grandpa Marshall, and a steak BBQ with Grandma and Grandpa McGee with cupcakes from the Sweet Tooth Fairy.  Can we say spoiled?

Abbi,

I love being your mom.  You have such a sweet and fun personality!  You are such a beautiful girl and are getting so tall.  You can always brighten my day with your caring notes left by my bedside table or your great hugs.  You have such a kind heart!  I can't wait to see what is next!

Love,
Mom