Christmas comes but four times a year

Christmas has come and gone. Our house is slowly returning to normal. The tree is down and the lights off the house. Even the Christmas candy is gone. The only thing that remains is the mountain of broken toys that the kids got this year. It is only the second week in Jan. and most of their toys have been rendered useless. The balls have been popped or have had big chunks bitten out of them. The Nerf darts are missing or torn apart. Even though their presents are destroyed and the fun is over for this year the kids are already getting their lists together for next year. It is a good thing we have a long time to prepare and that Christmas comes but once a year right. This year was the exception. This year we had Christmas at our house. We had family come in from all over. Kristen's parents and two younger brothers came from Utah. Her older brother and his family came from California. My sister and her family came from Virginia, and my parents, brother and his family, and my grandma were here also. The grand total 27 people for the holidays. The best part (for the kids) was that everyone left at different times. Some left before Christmas so we had to celebrate early. We had Christmas on the 22nd, 23rd, 24th, and the 25th. Four days of Christmas. The kids were stoked they LOVE Christmas. What other time of year do you get to open presents for four days straight? I just hope that they are not upset next year when Christmas is just one day.

Long Nights, Long Weekend

Kolby on Sunday afternoon

Well this weekend has been very interesting. On Friday Kolby complained that his cheek hurt (at night). We questioned him and he said that he was ok it just hurt a little. He continued to play and we didn't think much more about it. Kristen then went off and partied with some of her friends, and I got the boys ready for bed. Teeth brushed and kisses given the boys went up to bed. I had to work really early in the morning so I took advantage of a quiet house and went to bed early. Around ten I awoke to a crying Kolby. He said his tooth was hurting and it woke him up. I gave him some medicine and he went back to bed. I thought that it was safe to go to sleep again. Just as I was drifting off to dream land a cry rang out and I jumped up and ran to Kolby's side. After comforting him he let me know that he missed mommy. I told him that she would be back soon. We both went back to bed and as I was closing my very tired eyes Kolby started crying again. I went into his room and picked him up and brought him back in with me. The rest of the night was spent with Kolby crying and me trying to comfort him. Kristen got home around 3am and took over the comforting duties. I then got up at 4am and got ready for work. That day Kolby was feeling better but we didn't want to take any chances so we found a dentist that worked on Saturday. I took a couple of hours off work and we went in to see the dentist. The appointment went fine Kolby told the Dr. where he hurt and they took X-rays of the area. Everything looked normal, but as a precaution we got a prescription for some antibiotics. Well that night Kolby woke up a few times but it was a lot better than the night before. I awoke to the sound of a laughing Kolby. I got up and went to check on him and he was playing with his older brother. Upon hearing me he turned around and gave me the cutest lopsided smile you have ever seen. You see the whole side of his face had begun to swell and it forced the right side of the face down while the left was raised in a I feel great smile. We gave him his medicine and we all got ready for church. Now I know what you are thinking. Why are you going to church instead of the doctor? Well first of all our dentist goes to our ward, along with at least three other dentists, two oral surgeons, five or six doctors, several nurses, etc... After Sacrament the bishop and several other people gathered around Kolby and and decided that he had a problem not in his lower jaw but in the upper jaw. Our dentist Dr. Paul Sadleir opened up his practice today and took out one of Kolby's molars and cleaned up the problem. Kolby was so brave and strong, and Dr. Sadleir proved again why we love him so much. He helped Kolby feel secure, safe, and comfortable. This weekend was tough, but we did learn a couple of things from it. Kolby is a very brave and strong boy. We have some of the best friends, and we have some excellent dentists. Kolby is doing great tonight thanks to Dr. Sadleir in Auburn, and Dr. McIntosh in Edgewood

Not feeling so well and a little scared

Kolby and his tooth

The pesky molar

Dr. Sadleir, Kolby, Kris Sadleir
just after the removal.
EXCITED FOR THE TOOTH FAIRY!!!!

The Organization Challenge is Over.

It is time for the organization challenge to end, and for those of us who have entered, to do our final update. I have say I am not sure I will even qualify for the challenge anymore. I definitely was unable to accomplish the goals I set for myself. I am still struggling with my health. I really wanted to complete this challenge and finally have my stuff in order. I spoke with a friend the other day and she gave me some great advice. "Let it go" she said. I was holding on to the idea that I could still accomplish all that I have on my list, even though I am ill. And I was struggling with the fact that my list never got shorter, just longer. Thus the great advice form my friend. I need to learn to let things go and focus on the necessities. So with great resistance I had to let my ideals go for the office and come back to it and a later date.

The room however looks absolutely smashing. We had to clear out the room for new carpet so when we put it back together we only put back the necessities. I still have some boxes that I didn't go through that will be nicely stored in another closet and taken out one at a time for some sorting and filing. I did get rid of at least half of the things in the room prior to the carpet replacement, so I did accomplish a lot. And now the room will be ready for guests during the Christmas Holiday.

So its up to you Organizing Junkie to decide whether I actually accomplished my organization challenge or if I will have to enter again next time. I really appreciate the challenge and the push it gave me and I know that with better health I would have absolutely accomplished it all.

Before Pictures:again I am sorry for the sideways pictures

After Pictures:






Here are some questions answered.

1. My biggest challenge was my health. I really could not summon up the time and energy to perform the job as I would have liked, and I did not overcome it yet. I also had a problem with the papers. It is always a problem for me. I got rid of a lot but kept more then I wanted because I never know how long to keep things.(like health insurance payment records)
2. The biggest change I have to say was the realization that I really can spend time on projects in a normal day. I had a few days when I really did some great organizing and it made me realize that I could do this every week. I could accomplish a lot if I keep that in mind.
3. I threw away over three over flowing boxes of junk. Plus many other boxes. Then I re-organized my closet to fit some unfinished boxes in there nicely. And then I found new homes for the rest. Mainly another closet that is closer to the purpose of the items(games in the hall closet next to the play room).
4. There will be quite a few differences in my life. One being that when I have guests over for the holidays they will have room to sleep and call their own. Also clutter crowds me, this will give me less stress and more peace.
5. I wish I could say that I deserve to win because I did an awesome job, and left no stone unturned, however that is not the case. I did make a lot of head way and the room looks great, as do many other contestants, so I will trust Organizing Junkie to do the correct judging.
   

Grumpy Gus!!

We have our own Grumpy Gus at the house. It doesn't matter what we do for him. He is grumpy. He can watch a movie of his choice, and still he is grumpy. Who is our Grumpy Gus?

Blake

Note: posting this put a smile on his face, even if its short lived.

Six days Later and.....

Nothing to show for my organization challenge. I have done nothing. Not one little bit. I am still feeling ill and I have had absolutely no energy or physical ability to get to work in my area. In fact the rest of the house is a disaster. So here is my plan and hopefully I will be feeling good enough to accomplish it.

1. Get the rest of the house in order again. I have to do this. This is how I work. If the rest of my house is decent then I can focus on this room and I won't feel guilty.
   
2. I will not be clearing out this room entirely. One reason is that I don't want to move the desk, just to put it back again and also I just cannot afford to have the STUFF clog up the rest of my house. I have some room to move in here and I think that it will work out fine.
3. Okay, this is where I get lost. I don't know where to start. I know that a lot of my mess is papers lots and lots of papers, and this will take up most of my time, but how shall I do it. I need suggestions. Shall I tackle it first? Should I clean out the rest first? And can I finally get everything into files? I don't know what to do.
4. I will need to get rid of all the boxes and find places for the items.
5. Hopefully I will finally buy a filing cabinet and some other storage solutions for the closet. I want to pack this full, but in an orderly way.
   
6. Who can help me? Well, I will need the help of my husband. He will need to watch the kids and act like I have gone shopping. I will need either and hour a day, or sessions of three hours. I will also need his big strong muscles to move things for me. And I am sure that I will run into some things that I will need his advice on. It would be nice also if I was able to hire a babysitter a couple of times. I would love to find an Ethel, you know a partner in crime, so if I have any takers I would love to come to your house next.

Anyway this is my rough plan. I hope this illness of mine has not gotten in the way of my goal. Will 24 days be enough?

Halloween Fun!

Here are some Halloween pictures.
Sorry that the pictures are sideways

Organizing

I love to organize. It is something that gets me all excited and makes me happy. I love to read books about organizing and all the tips and tricks to get your life in order. I do not however have a completely organized home. One of the blogs that I have discovered recently is called I'm an Organizing Junkie and she is hosting a 30-day Organizational Challenge for the month of November. I have decided to take the challenge. I am not sure if I will be able to complete it because I have been feeling a little under the weather lately and am low on energy. I need something to motivate me though, I have had this project on my list for a while and I am hoping that this challenge will push it to action.


My 30-day project is my office. We moved into this house in April and this is the room that has never been fully unpacked. I am not too embarrassed of it though. I know the reasons it looks this way and if others have a problem with it- its their problem. I do however know how much better life will be with a de-junked, organized room. So here I go. Cross your fingers that I can finish it in one month. Here are the Before pics (and sorry that some are sideways I am having some computer issues at the moment.) By the way, I will be posting more on this project in the future so if you want to read more click the label: Organizing.