Monday, February 9, 2009

Last week...

...I decided to try and get back in the game. Which means....

No more avoiding Camden's two month doctor appointment.

I HATE taking the kids to the doctor. Seriously...I HATE it. I make Aric go but he had an unexpected meeting come up the morning of the appointment...so I had to go by myself. After researching the subject thoroughly we only got two of the shots.

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He weighs in at a whopping 12 1/2 pounds and is 24 inches long. So basically he is perfect.

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No more being unproductive.

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So I decided to take on a reupholstering project for Jessica. This is a before picture of one of the chairs. She is actually paying me so I have to do a really good job and do it in a timely manner.

So here are the chairs, I forgot to take pictures of the ottoman...but trust me it was HUGE and STRIPED...which means it involved some skills.

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No more being anti-social.

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I'm not sure why I have retreated these days. Maybe it's having a newborn (two months old is still newborn right?)...maybe it's the weather....maybe it's my husband who can't stay healthy...maybe it's LOST, 24, American Idol and The Biggest Loser... in any case it was good to get out for a girls night.

No more being "lame mom".

I decided that this year I was going let go of my controlling ways and let my kids pick out what they wear. I give a little guidance, but really I have totally let go. So Eden loves this silver sparkly number. She wears it EVERY week. And this week I decided to embrace my "Sparkly Eden" and we went all out with the sparkly-ness. Does anyone remember "Sparkle Josh" from Design Star?

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No more being too tired to help out in the classroom.

Maya's class just finished their Native American unit. These are some fun projects she did:

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To celebrate the end of the unit, the teacher had a Potlach (Native America feast). She needed some food items brought in for the celebration...

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Guess who got roped into making the flat bread....

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And we all know how much I love cooking...especially really messy things. My house smelled like fry bread for three days but it was worth it when a couple of the kids told Maya that her mom made the best Indian Fry Bread ever!

Besides feasting on jerky, smoked oysters, berries, salmon and fry bread, the kids danced:

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They got to look at Native American artifacts:

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And they played their homemade instruments:

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Maya loved having me there...even though I was unshowered and still in my sweats. And the best part was that Camden slept through all of the chaos!

No more being mean to Mike...

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Poor Mike had surgery on his foot so I decided to be kind to the cripple....I made him a cake:

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His favorite is white cake with vanilla frosting and a raspberry filling middle. I didn't do the raspberry but I made up for it by personalizing it.

We watched a movie with the Samps but no sooner was it over and Aric was doubled over in the front yard....I'll spare you the details, just know that it was another weekend of single parenthood while Aric was quarantined off in our bedroom. I slept on the couch. So far he has kept his sick germs to himself and the rest of us have stayed healthy...I'm knocking on wood as I type this.

This week is as busy as ever, but sometimes I'd rather have it that way. I like feeling like I'm alive and not going through the motions of life. So look forward to next weeks summary...

14 comments:

The Hansen Clan said...

That is the cutest picture ever of Camden and an amazing cake - you are an EVIL GENIUS!!!

Anonymous said...

You're doing EVERYTHING on my list that i keep thinking that i SHOULD be doing but am not. Except watching 2 of the above mentioned television shows (plus 2 others). I am definitely doing that! i was just going to research "how to reupholster" today...instead i called the state prison and got a price quote from them. i would really rather do it myself and wish that i knew how. where did you learn?
You're being the woman that i aspire to be. Way to go!!! (Have you thought of moving to AZ lately? i think that we would be really good friends:).) Tell Aric that the weather is GREAT for your health!:)

Jessica said...

You have NEVER not helped out in the classroom. Never.

And Emma shrieked with wonder when she saw the new and improved ottoman. Thank you!

Jean McKendrick said...

Geeze Jessica, could you fit anymore in one week? You are the super mom! :) I love the sparkly shirt. Way to let go and let her Eden embrace her sparkly self. :)

Melissa-Mc said...

I'd have surgery on my foot, if you'd make me a cake like that :)

Ilene said...

Your domestic skills are amazing.

The child's first year is considered a newborn.

Laura isn't even 12 pounds yet. She still fits in newborn shoes.

AMY said...

How appropriate for you to eat the "@?#!"

The cake was just what he needed. I mean he asked for the next night with a HUGE glass of milk.

Cristy said...

Awesome post Jessica, this opened my eyes to the fact that life is really more about feeling alive, instead of just "going through the motions" which I'm really struggling with at the moment. Moving to a new town, trying to get back into the groove, and I feel like I'm just "going through the motions!" Thanks for inspiring me to become more active and helping me realize that life is a dance and we learn as we go, and if you can do it, so can I! :-)

Lauren in GA said...

You can reupholster in addition to all of your other Madddddd Skilllz?

You are amazing! Please post the final products!

Love the cake. Nothing says, "Get Well Soon" like a cheery, "Get Well Doofus" emblazoned on a cake. You are a gem, Jessica.

Camden is so, so adorable and so is Sparkly Eden!

kc and k said...

Who can wear sparkle from head to toe if it isn't a kindergartener???

Camden reminds me of your brothers in that picture.

Erin said...

So adorable--that baby is ADORABLE!! Way to get back in the game girl! Sometimes, just making a resolution to let go is a huge step right? Well, at least it is for me.

Nice cake. Nice tackling of the chairs and ottoman (having seen that sucker, I will attest to it's hugeness and it's perfect stripeness!).

You rock.

♥Shally said...

You are superwoman.

And that cake!?!? It made me laugh out loud!!

Someday I hope to be as good of a mom and wife as you are!!!

Nurse Graham said...

Wow girl you really packed it all in! You are amazing and on par with a superhero--mom to a newborn, wife, mother to other children who need you just as much as a newborn, and friend to many! I really need to take a few lessons from you.

Good job on doing your research about the immunizations. I'm not anti-immunizations, but I do think that the medical community tries to give too many shots at one time. Also, as Maya approaches 11, I would encourage you to continue with your research as this is another age group where, in my opinion, the medical community over-immunizes.

Bethany said...

Okay geez. My blog updater thing must be behind because you have not only been blogging but doing EVERYTHING else on the planet! That explains the completely "umm, hello crazy" look I got from (other) Jessica at dinner!