My To-Do list

My middle three children we gone with their Grandma for 3 days - leaving me with a good deal of time on my hands. My goal while they were gone was to paint E's new bedroom downstairs. I got the walls done, and it looks wonderful. She was so excited when they got home.
With that done, I started thinking about other things that have claim on me over the next couple of days. There really is a lot to be done, so I started a list. It's a long list, so I color coded it to help me prioritize and plan. It's not a great "system" but it's going to work out just fine for today and tomorrow. I've already got the letter to the IRS done. (Whew! and Niiiiiice to have that crossed off.) I'd like to get the furniture moved into E's new room on Saturday so that she can sleep there Sunday night. The three older kids go back to school on Monday morning. We really needed this break from reality, and all of us have enjoyed the time away from the school routine. I'm actually, for the first time ever, sad to see the break ending. There is a lot of nostalgia tied up in that - the timing of other events has heightened that feeling. It's time to move forward, in so many ways. Heading back to school is symbolic to me of what my future has in store.
So, here's the list. "Feed, Wash and Care for Children" is the unwritten but constant to do list which will be mine for many years to come, and even though it's not written in ink here, it's the task I'm most grateful for.

New Scentsy Catalog & Discontinued Scents

Though I don't generally bring my business life onto my blog - I do want all interested parties to have this list of Scentsy scents that will be unavailable after February 29th. Also, I have a .pdf copy of the new catalog if anyone would like to see it. I can email it to you, or bring it by if you are here in town. So many fun new warmers and wonderful new fragrances, it just makes me giggle.

(If any of the scents below are among your favorites, make sure to let me know before the end of next week.)

Apple Bayleaf
Blue Christmas
Buttermints
Cranberry Peppermint
Cinco de Mayo
Cozy Fireside
Cherry Almond Pie
Cider Barrel
Cottage Garden
Eucalyptus
Fresh Cut Grass
German Chocolate
Lavender Apple &Oak
Leather
Luscious Lemon
Newborn Nursery
Rootbeer Float
Winter Candy Apple
Wassailberry
Winter Wonderland
Christmas Tree

Taxes

Wow. I really wasn't worried about this one. I figured that my current load was probably complicated and heavy enough to warrant a little grace period on further complications. I have to admit, it's very good I didn't get this letter yesterday. Yesterday would have been worse. We received a letter from the IRS today. It was not the check that I was anticipating. Far from it. I know I did the taxes correctly. I reported our income All our income, in All the right boxes. It took me a long time to figure out which boxes it should go in, and I was very proud of myself. I went through painstaking efforts to get the appropriate documents from the appropriate sources. I made sure all MY ducks were in a row - but one of the reporting companies, I guess, didn't.
Last year, one of D's 1099s was reported to him when it should have been reported to an S-corp that he was a part of through June. Oddly enough, D left the S-corp about the same time that the company sold off the section that D did freelance work for. For the rest of the year, he was paid as an individual by a different entity. I did a whole lot of message leaving and e-mailing to get the 1099 corrected. I'm finding that (is it possible) they didn't send the corrected 1099 to the IRS. So, even though the exact amount in question is reported through the S-corp, the IRS is looking for that amount paid directly to D. Even funnier, they are looking at the other amount, reported by a different company and assuming that we simply under-reported that income, and owe taxes. I was very relieved to find that this was the case. At least I am absolutely sure that we reported all of our income, and don't owe any more taxes. Now, I just have to help them connect the dots. Funny how these things go. When it rains, it pours - that's what they say. I have 30 days to make a formal protest in writing. Thankfully, I have good communication skills, a computer with a great word processing program, a wonderful printer that will spit out a lovely letter upon request, a copier that sits on my desk with which I can make copies of all pertinent documents, and a very good memory of all the trouble I went through last year to get it done right.

How crazy is that. The IRS is wrong, and it only took me 5 minutes to figure it out. It I HAVE to be audited, I'm glad it's because of someone else's mistake, rather than my own.

"Knock, Knock. . ."

This post actually starts about a week ago. My children are currently out of school for a few weeks, and we were lounging a bit last Monday morning before starting the day. Everyone was in my bed and the older boys were telling Knock Knock jokes. It was fun - even though, honestly - until that moment I probably would have placed Knock Knock jokes high on my "most hated" list. The funniest part of all was that A, our two year old, figured out the rhythm and started to "tell jokes." This is how it would go. . .
"Not Not. . ."
"Ooos Dare?"
followed by completely unintelligible baby babble for a few seconds and loads of laughter.
She loved it. So did we of course, and we got a huge kick out of how much fun she was having.

So, about one week passes. For some reason the boys start telling knock knock jokes again last night. This time, however, I am prepared. There is this one particular joke that just cracks them up, and it is a staple.
It goes like this:
"Knock, Knock. . ."
"Who's There?"
"Interrupting Cow."
"Interrupting Cow W. . ."
"MOOOOO!"

I have to admit, the first time, they totally had me. They got to interrupt rudely and everyone laughed a great deal. This time, being not unintelligent, and knowing what was coming. . . I said "Interrupting Cow Who?" so quickly that even my twelve year old son was completely caught off guard. (I know at least he thought that was impossible.) He couldn't finish his joke, and that was the best joke of all. The look on his face was priceless! From then on, the boys just said "Moo!" to each other no matter what the other was saying. It had us all rolling on the kitchen floor - well, not literally - for about 15 minutes.

All in all, in the last seven days I'd say we've had about 30 minutes of pure joy from Knock Knock jokes. They are not on my most hated list any more. In fact, I'd say that at least a few of those jokes have jumped right into the "fond memory" category which totally trumps the most hated list. I will now be much more open to Knock Knock jokes - even the one that finishes up "Orange you glad I didn't say banana?"

Today's Scriptural Gem

Words of Mormon verses 7-8

7 And I do this for a wise purpose; for thus it whispereth me, according to the workings of the Spirit of the Lord which is in me. And now, I do not know all things; but the Lord knoweth all things which are to come; wherefore, he worketh in me to do according to his will.

8 And my prayer to God is concerning my brethren, that they may once again come to the knowledge of God, yea, the redemption of Christ; that they may once again be a delightsome people.

This is EXACTLY where I am, today. It is always to amazing to me how the Lord can use the words of ancient prophets to speak to me and comfort me. Even sweeter - I stopped after verse seven to plead with the Lord about the events unfolding in my life. Mostly to ask that He would help me to say only the things to a particular person that would tend to bind him to life, and bring about the Lord's will. When I read verse eight, I was amazed at how pertinent it was and how deeply it touched me even though it wasn't my exact prayer, it was still very much my desire.

Happy Valentine's Day

I would love to see the poll numbers - separate for men and women - about whether Valentine's Day is a real holiday. D has always maintained that it is a fake holiday made up by the card manufacturers. (I know that to be true, lest you think me to be a real pushover.) Sometimes, however, things transcend their original purpose. A day set aside to express love can't be a bad thing. It just can't. Making someone you care about very very happy can't be a bad thing. I've always said that the key to my happiness is very low expectations, but that not exactly true. People mean more to me than things. Their motives and reasons for doing things are important. The things my children bring home to me from school are so sweet, and I'm thrilled. That's the feeling I'm talking about. That's what I think Valentine's Day is about.

LifeChange - Weekend for Women

The 2008 "Weekend for Women" is coming up. Here is the information and a link to the website where you can get tickets.

"Get Connected"
March 29, 2008
9:00 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Provo Marriott, Provo UT

Tickets & More detailed information

Baby A is sick today

My little A has a cold, maybe a croup. She has a kind-of dry barking cough and a runny nose. She very willingly took her afternoon nap, no surprise. She is such a sweet happy girl, even with her discomfort, I had to put a little note here about it.
Daddy has been out of town for a trade show, so church was a bit tricky. We went for just a little bit, and I kept her out of her nursery class.
We've had two very out of the ordinary Sundays the last couple of weeks. The kids are now off track. I'm sure whatever A has is going to circulate a little bit. There's really no better time to have a break in our schedule. The way life has been going lately, I'm really looking forward to the reprieve from highly scheduled days.

Who's in charge, here?

My Q, even on a good day - which means that yesterday he really didn't cause any nearly overwhelming problems for me, the boy's got spunk. I was making lunch for him. I didn't make him wait or give him any excuses about finishing anything up first. I was there for the boy, you know? For some reason, however, he didn't like the fact that I needed to clean a pan before I began to cook. He didn't like the fact that I wiped some things off of the counter before I got out the eggs. (That's what he likes, eggs for lunch.) He got this exasperated look on his face and bellowed, "I'm in charge in this house, now get to work!" Then he smiled. He said that a couple of times. What a kid. He believes it, too. If there is anything I know about my child, he is large and in charge. He doesn't like to be thwarted by adult opinions. He is very confident. Unfortunately, I'm sure he picked up that line from me. I don't like getting drawn into power struggles, but it's not easily avoided with Q. The need to assert my motherhood over his childhood happens frequently during our days together. I don't consider that uncommon, I'm sure that's a normal kind of experience in the realm of mothering. Three of my five children directly challenge authority at every turn, one ignores authority, one is too young to categorize. In my world, that works out to 'normal'. I am definitely in charge, but I have to remember that I will be challenged and/or ignored at every turn. It's really not something I choose to get upset about. Sometimes, when I make a request, one of them will jump up and run to get it done. Sometimes, they will give me a big hug and say "I love you, Mom" before they run to their work. Sometimes, they will do things without being asked. Sometimes, I feel like I am truly in charge here - I just try not to let it go to my head.

Mom, There's footprints.

That's what he said. It's just a generally understood fact that Q will take advantage of any opportunity he gets to preform massive amounts of mischief in the absence of an on-looking eye. This afternoon it was glitter paint and the couch. That wasn't great but cleaned up fine. It wasn't the end of his escapades, however. I was tired of fighting him, and had sought some consolation in the quiet of the office. When he came into the office, maybe 10 minutes later, he had white powder on his feet and the bottoms of his pant legs. I got up to see what he had done. . .small trail of white powder turning into a river. Footprints, galore and so much more. An 8 foot toy stuffed snake from IKEA was swimming in it. So was baby A. The only real relief I had was that he had not added water to it. Lately, he's been throwing everything into my cooking pots and adding water, and sometimes soap, lotion, aloe vera gel, urine . . . whatever comes to mind really. I'm well settled into resignation today. This is my boy. I love him. Hate what he does, but I love him. I'm hoping that his endless creativity, curiosity and determination will bring him a great deal of success in his life, rather than draw him into crime. I may have as many as 14 years to mold and shape him. He's got a fighting chance. I may be completely crazy by the time he has found his calling in life, but I doubt anyone will have to wonder why. Ah, the joys of Q at four years.






This last print was made by my baby girl. It was almost too cute to clean up, but alas it had to be done.

Inclement Weather

After D shoveled - still building up on the front porch.



Back door: The snow is blowing sideways. I don't know about you, but I'm not going out there. The neighbor's car across the street looks stuck. The drifts are pretty high. There had to be 15 inches on the drive way.




It takes a lot of snow to shut down Utah. Well, this - my friends - is a lot of snow. I doubt everything is shut down, but there won't be church today and we are planning a quiet little day at home. The kids were really disappointed about church - or at least for my sake tried to look disappointed. Thankfully, we have all the comforts of life. There is still electricity (obviously, since I am posting to my blog). The furnace is warming the house like a champ. I'm going to do some scrapbooking. Everyone is playing happily. Who knows, by 5 or 6 p.m. we may still be able to make it to Grandma's. Happy Sunday.

Will Miracles never Cease?

I was working on the bills, when I realized how quiet things were - usually a dangerous sign. Not today. Today, they were just . . . sleeping. I did a little jig and went back to the bills.