MaeLyn's Musings

The kids are home from school this week for Christmas. Steven finished his last term on the 16th and has three weeks off. We've enjoyed this week at home. We've had a lot of activities to keep us busy, besides the preparations for the upcoming holiday. On Monday, the kids pulled out the Legos and made a movie: Lego Man's Adventure. I crocheted an angel for our Christmas Tree. On Tuesday, the kids made another movie with the Legos: Lego Man's Day. We also put together our Gingerbread house. On Wednesday and Thursday, we pulled out the beads. These beads are placed on pegboards, and then ironed together. Today is Friday. We are going to tour a Candy Factory right now. Merry Christmas everyone!!!

Life is crazy, but with the holidays approaching, they are even crazier. I've been wanting to write a blog for a while, but I've scarcely had the time to sit down, let alone write a well thought out, interesting, coherent statement that I'd like to. So, finding I have half an hour before I need to move on to other things, (actually I'm eating lunch as I type this) I'll let you all know what's been going on here.  1. Breakfast with Santa . The month of December opened with a bang with our ward's annual breakfast with Santa. With the dissolving of the activities committee, it fell to Primary to organize this year's breakfast. So, for the last month I've been busy working with my counselors and others who volunteered to help to plan and organize a breakfast complete with food, decorations, activities, music, photographer and of course, a visit from Santa, with treat bags for him to hand out. In the process I gained a great appreciation for those w...

June 13, 1998, San Diego Temple About twenty-two years ago, I met a guy. He was in my early morning seminary class where, while studying the Book of Mormon, we acted out Lehi's dream, and he had a starring role as Nephi. I think that was what originally brought him to my attention. After a few days I realized that he was also in my math class at school, and one day I summoned up the courage to talk to him and I told him he did a good job in seminary, or something akin to that. I quickly discovered his well developed sense of humor, and through some friendly competition in that math class, I learned that he was very smart. After that we started talking more frequently after school, and in following years we talked on the phone on Friday nights, went on a few dates, didn't talk at all for a couple years, reconnected, got engaged and then married. We've been married for over thirteen years now, and this wonderful guy is my best friend in the world. Why bring this up now...

A few days ago, I asked each of my children to make a list of ten things he/she would like for Christmas this year. I thought they were very expressive of my children's interests and personalities. I thought I'd share what they came up with. My comments are in green. Hannah (age 12): Books (fantasy) tape (any sort) [I assume this is to support her craft making habit.] clothes  drawer things [The two storage drawer towers she already has aren't enough?] socks (colorful) [She regularly wears mismatched socks, and she loves bright patterned ones.] duct tape (blue, purple, etc.) [See tape, above] a good surprise [Apparently she doesn't just want us to get the things on the list...] a clock and/or watch (quiet) [The clock in her room does tick rather loudly.] movies (Tangled, Tarzan, Aladdin, etc.) an umbrella John (age 10): Books (The Son of Neptune) Origami Paper [He rations the paper he has to make sure it will last until he can get more.] Belt Flashl...

Happy Halloween everyone! A few weeks ago the kids had a day off school, so we began our preparations for the holiday by decorating pumpkins to add to our decor. Before long we had an entire family of tiny pumpkins. Josh decorated his pumpkin to be something like a space alien.   We also made some ghosts out of cheese cloth and spray starch. They turned out pretty neat.   Hannah also made Halloween cookies. On Halloween day, the boys had a parade at the school, followed by parties in their classrooms. Peter was a "Mummy Yellow" crayon. John was a "Franken-Green" crayon. Here is Joshua in his "Jumba" Costume (from Lilo and Stitch). On Halloween night all the kids wore their costumes. Hannah was also a crayon, "Blood Red". We carved pumpkins and roasted pumpkin seeds. The kids went trick-or-treating around the neighborhood and came back with tons of loot. What a great Halloween!

The side of the house; notice the branches in the street.  After a mild winter last year and a warm summer, I was not ready for the snow that weather forecasters were predicting. I didn't want snow. I didn't want to have to drive in it. I didn't want to have to shovel it, slip and slide in it, or have anything to do with it. I really didn't. So when I awoke Wednesday morning to a blanket of thick white snow, with more still falling, I wasn't excited. The snow fell most of the morning. At one point I heard a loud crash, and I didn't know what it was at first, but when my visiting teacher came to visit she told me that a branch from our neighbor's tree had fallen into the street. A lot of leaf covered branches fell from the weight of the heavy snow. A few people I know had their power out for extended periods of time, and without heat, they had to find other places to go. Luckily, that didn't include us. The front of the house around noon yesterd...

Yesterday our ward had our Primary presentation in Sacrament Meeting. This presentation is an annual thing; usually it happens in October. It is an opportunity for the children to share the songs and teachings that they have learned over the course of the year. Through the years, I have participated in this program in many ways. As a child, I sang the songs, I got to speak in the microphone to give my one line parts. I don't remember ever worrying too much about it. As an adult, I have played the piano for it. I have been a teacher, helping to direct the children up to the stand when it was their turn to speak. I have been the chorister, leading the music, and hoping that the children would sing loudly enough and clearly enough to be understood.  Two years ago I led the music, felt the Spirit strongly, and cried because I knew that my term as chorister was coming to an end. I had been called to be the Primary President in our ward. Yesterday marked my second primary program as ...

If I were a perfect mom , I would always remember to teach and remind my children to... say their morning and evening prayers, brush their teeth after every meal, floss every day, wash their hands when they come inside, after using the bathroom, and before meals, wear their helmets every time they ride a bike, do their homework, clean up after themselves, do their chores, clear their places from the table, say please, say thank you, send thank you cards, wear sunscreen, change their socks and underwear, read their scriptures, be kind to each other, obey their parents, help without being asked, open doors for other people, make their beds, clean their rooms, practice a musical instrument, practice their addition and subtraction facts and times tables, of fruits and vegetables, dress appropriately for the weather, chew their food thoroughly before swallowing, wear their seat belts, get plenty of exercise, drink their milk, get plenty of sleep, cover their mouths when they ...

Someone once told me that when I'm frustrated, stressed out, overwhelmed, or worried, I should think of things to be grateful for. So today, I'm writing a gratitude check. 1. I'm grateful for my children. I am grateful for their strong spirits that will help them stay true to what they believe some day and help them to keep from being swayed by every wind of change. I am grateful that they have creative imaginations, that help them to add excitement to their lives. I am grateful that I have the opportunity to be at home with them, to watch them grow older. I am grateful that the stages they pass through do pass. I am grateful that my children spend time together. I'm grateful that my children have voices that can be raised to great volume because I'm sure that will come in handy some day when they are coaches or teachers or parents. I am grateful that my older children are learning responsibility; that I don't usually have to worry about them completing their...

She turns twelve today, that beautiful girl who changed my life forever. A dozen years ago I was young and relatively care free. A dozen years ago I quit my job at Kinkos and looked forward to caring for my precious baby in our home. We had gathered a bassinet, a crib, and a changing table. We had acquired sleepers and onesies, diapers and burp cloths. We thought we were prepared. We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. Hannah was beautiful from the start and we loved her immediately. I remember how carefully Steven drove us home from the hospital, how gently he rounded every corner, how he eased over every bump to be sure that our precious cargo arrived home safely. I remember watching her, holding her over the months that followed, never wanting to put her down, not wanting to miss a single moment of her existence.  I remember walking home from church one day and hearing another young child tell us, "Your baby is sooooo cuuuute!" and smiling because I knew i...

A week or so I wrote about my search for my style ( Click here to see ) and mentioned that I have been wanting to learn how to make jewelry with beads, but didn't have the resources to get the supplies necessary to get started. A friend of mine saw the post and offered to send me her beads and tools that she didn't want anymore. (Thanks a ton Melissa!!!) I took her up on the offer, and the package arrived in the mail Monday afternoon. I was thrilled to see how much she had sent me - not just a case full of beads, but several tools, spools of wire, rulers, files, and books that explained how to do it! Tuesday morning I waited until all the kids were out the door, then hurried to pull out the box she sent. (Remember in Bedknobs and Broomsticks when Angela Lansbury's character waited until all the kids appeared to be asleep before she ran to her workshop to unwrap her first broom? It was something like that.) I spent the rest of the morning reading books, playing with the wire...

Today begins the second complete week of having my entire family in school most of the day. I thought I'd give an update on how I've been keeping myself busy during my alone time. Monday : Cleaned out the laundry room, everything from organizing the cupboards above the washer and dryer to vacuuming up kitty litter that had spilled under the shelves. Prepared a crockpot dinner, made refreshments for FHE. Washed a load of laundry, paid bills, wrote a blog. Tuesday : Cleaned out the linen closet, even labeled the shelves with what should go on each one. Washed a load of laundry. Went to the library. Started a digital scrapbook of clothes that I like as part of my quest to find my style. Had a meeting with our new Primary chorister. Wednesday : Presidency Meeting in the morning. Went to Goodwill for some pants for Hannah and a belt for myself. (This was the kids minimum day so they got home early.) Cooked pinto beans from scratch for dinner. Thursday : Went visiting teaching. H...

This is it! The boys are at elementary school for the next five hours or so, Hannah is at the middle school for the next six hours or so, and Steven is downtown at UC Denver for the next seven hours or so. I have the house to myself!!! Woohoo!!! After looking forward to this for so long, I'm having trouble figuring out what I want to do first. There are so many things that I want to do, that I should do. Where do I start? Actually, I've already walked the boys to school so I can check off exercise for the day. I've checked my email and paid bills. Breakfast has been cleaned up. (Steven helped with that before he left. Isn't he wonderful?) The cats have been fed and watered and their litter boxes have been cleaned out. I should get some laundry washing, and maybe I'll clean out the cupboards in my laundry room today. I'll make something for dessert for FHE tonight, and maybe fill the crockpot with something for dinner. I've got a book to read (I've alwa...

Today I went for a walk to find my style. I promised Steven I wouldn't spend any money, drove to a local shopping center, and spent a long while wandering through stores. I started with a Lowe's. I meandered up and down the aisles, looking at doors, lighting fixtures and water faucets. I examined shelves, rugs and storage bins, assuring the solicitous salespeople that I didn't need help, that I was just browsing. I wasn't sure exactly what I was searching for, but I hoped that I would figure it out when I saw it. In the process I learned a few things about myself. I like oil rubbed bronze finishes better than nickel chrome. I like cranberry colored front doors. I would love to have a lamp post in my front yard. I left Lowe's and walked to a Jo-Ann store. There I ignored the cloth and concentrated on the craft supplies. It didn't take me long to gravitate toward the beading supplies. For the last little while I have wanted to learn how to make jewelry using bead...