How many of you love Halloween (besides Valeri and Carolyn) I don't

I don't know why but Halloween is probably my least favorite Holiday.  I have asked myself why many times but I just can't put my finger on the reason.  Here are my best guesses....

1.  Maybe it is all the candy that makes me feel sick by the end of the night.
2.  Maybe it is because when I was in the 6th grade and I was dressed up in full body cookie monster outfit that zipped from the back and I couldn't get to a bathroom quick enough so I just peed my pants and didn't want to tell my friends but by the time I was done walking around for 2 hours in the cold I had the worst ever rash on my thighs that I couldn't walk for a week!
3. Maybe it is because Halloween is a Satan worshipping Holiday! (I don't see any devils walking around on Christmas, JS)
4. Maybe it is all the pumpkins smashed all over the roads the last week of Oct. that drive me nuts. (dumb teenagers!)
5.  Maybe it is because I can't carve a pumpkin and it takes forever to clean one out and they are really messy anyways.
6.  Maybe it is because I can't get any kids to do a trick when they come to my door and say "trick or treat".  I would like to see a trick but no...all the kids are lying, they don't really know any good tricks!
7.  Maybe it is because I hate scary things...I mean really who likes to be scarred for fun anyways??  I think things like pedicures are fun not watching Nightmare on Elm Street VIII.
10. Maybe it is because Halloween is so...I don't know Halloweenish!

I am grateful I don't have to think about Halloween for another year!

Beds can't talk...so Emma says after she just read what I am thankful for but she is wrong!

Today brought many busy activities as usual for a Saturday.  But the best part was getting to take a little nap (half an hour) with Emma Kate!  We snuggled up for a little Office watching and dozed off.  Oh I love to snuggle with my kids and nap for that matter.

I am grateful for my warm snugly bed that is calling my name right now!

Tanner, Called To Serve.....Where?

Where do I begin tonight?

1. Georgia, USA
2. N.J., USA
3. India
4. Canada
5. New Zealand
6. Philippines
7. California, USA
8. Hawaii, USA
9. Japan
10. Taiwan
11. Hong Kong, China
12. Washington, USA
13. Massachusetts, USA
14. Indonesia
15. Poland
16. Albania
17. Australia

What does this list have to do with my blog tonight?  One of these places is the location that Tanner will be serving a 2 year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints!  We all (family and friends) took a guess as to where Tanner will serve his mission, that is what the list is above, all our guesses!   He got his papers in the mail today and it was torture to wait until this evening when we were all home until Tanner opened it.  It was very exciting as Tanner read through the first page of the packet and he announced much to our disbelief that he is going to #13!!!!  He will be serving a Cambodian speaking mission and he will report to the Missionary Training Center (MTC) in Provo UT on Jan. 5th.  (By the way Scott was the closest in location to guessing where Tanner would serve, the funny thing is Scott was not really thinking Tanner would serve in the USA and was just doing a silly guess when he said NJ.)

I feel at peace about the call he has received.  I know that this is where the Lord wants him to serve.  Tanner is very excited about his call although he feels it will be a difficult language to master especially because he won't be immersed in the Cambodian culture while living in Boston (this is where the largest pocket of Cambodian refuges/citizens are located). It is much easier to learn a language when you are immersed in the language completely.  Tanner's only disappointment is that he will be serving in the cold...he was really hoping for a warm climate but it was not to be (what do you expect from someone who lived in Hawaii for a year?)

I am sure you will all get sick of hearing about Tanner and the mission but like I have said in the past, this blog is more for me then any of you.  So that being said...I hope you enjoy this journey that I am about to take as a mother of a missionary!

I am grateful for Tanner, he is willing to sacrifice two years of his life to serve our Heavenly Father and bring the people of Cambodia unto our Savior Jesus Christ in Boston Massachusetts.

The Lie

Okay so yesterday I lied on my blog.  I must confess otherwise I will have a guilty conscience and I will not be able to live with myself.  I didn't do any packing yesterday.  And I didn't do any packing today.  One of my problems is I want someone to talk to me while I pack.  I get really, really lonely in the storage room and I can't get Tanner to hang out with me while I pack and the girls need to do their school work. I just want one or both of my sisters to come lay on my couch and talk to me while I pack.  That  would be awesome!

I am grateful for Emma, she brought me a bag of carmel popcorn from Karols Korn tonight! 

Let the Packing Begin!

I have begun to pack.  Well let me restate that and say I have begun to pack in my head, which means I have a plan formulated in my head.  I have brought in about 10 boxes from the garage and bought packing tape and will go pack up all our games tonight and all my craft stuff tonight.  That is a good start.  I hate having packed boxes sitting around the house for a few weeks just being an eye sore but I guess that is better then having to rush to get the packing done and cause lots of stress between Scott and I.  I would rather have packed boxes sitting around the house then deal with an ornery husband.

Today was a great day for school.  Emma worked so hard and has brought her math grade up by 40%!  I am so happy!

I am grateful for a warm house that keeps the biting cold wind out.

Ending on a Positive Note!

God never said it would be easy, He only said it would be worth it.  I have heard that saying a million times but I often find myself thinking about it when things seem to be really hard.  My day with Emma was better.  She is sitting in the kitchen right now doing some geometry (she told me she was tired of hearing Tanner bug her about it so she thought she would do it to get him off her back, now how come she doesn't feel the same way about me?)  This morning didn't start out very positive though, I knew it was going down hill the  second she told me  "get out of my room and no I am not  getting up".  I had to take Tanner to an appointment so I couldn't stay here to fight it out with her (that was probably a good thing).  By the time Tanner and I returned she was awake and in the shower (that is an improvement from being in bed).  I still am not sure what I am going to do but as long as I have friends to cry and laugh with and a Heavenly Father that will listen to my prayers I think I will be okay (and so will Emma).

Funny thing is when one daughter is giving me problems the other seems to be on their best behavior, I think they know that I can only handle one rebel at a time and it would send me over the edge if I had both of them challenging me.  Also I think all parents should have to attend mandatory pyschology classes on how to deal with 2 year old, 10 year old, 12,13,14, 15, 16, 17, and 18 year old behavior.  I feel so lacking in parenting skills right about now!

I am grateful for the peace I feel right now.

I have failed today...but not tomorrow

Sometimes I feel like a failure.  When I can't (or don't know how) to motivate my daughter to do things that are good for her then I wonder what am I doing wrong?  As the mother of my child I should know her well enough to be able to come up with some creative way to motivate her.  But truth be known I am just really, really tired of trying because nothing seems to motivate or help this daughter of mine.  I know that sometimes it is necessary to just step back and let the natural consequences take place (like simply not graduating from HS) instead of all these privileges and punishments being handed out.  What ever happened to just doing something for the sake of doing it and the reward was feeling good about accomplishing something worthwhile?

Can you tell I am kind of feeling down on myself for being at my wits end?  I wonder how she feels?  I just need a fresh start tomorrow.

I am grateful for eternal perspective.

It's a good family home evening when...

1.Scott only wants to hear Elle play Apologize or Christmas Music on the piano instead of have Krystine teach the lesson.
2. Scott taps his wrist 10 times indicating that Krystine is taking to much of his time and he wants her to wrap it up.  (After he has wasted 10 minutes of lesson time talking about trees growing in a garden that nobody knows what he is talking about to prove no point at all!)
3. The dogs know that they are missing out on a really important lesson that will help them get into heaven  because they are crying behind the gate to get out and join us.  (Just so you know we keep the dogs behind the gate because if they are in the room with us Scott will not pay attention to the lesson he will only play with the dogs and distract everyone else in the room with his behavior!)
4. Elle falls asleep and doesn't roll her eyes one time during the lesson because her eyelids are closed.
5. And finally you know it is a good FHE when the Buman's join us and Finley  cries because she thought Tanner said her prayer was dumb and he thought she was a baby! (He actually said that about the dogs and Finley thought he said it about her.  It crumpled her to tears until we explained that Tanner was talking about the dogs...she is so sensitive!)

I am grateful for a prophet who councils us to hold FHE. 

Do you think this is Heavenly Fathers idea of a joke?  He is sitting in heaven laughing at all the drama unfolding in all these Mormon families on their FHE night.  It is probably like America's Funniest Home Videos but only you could call it Mormon's Funniest Family Home Evening Disasters!....Oh the laughs this probably creates.

Scott and I, Just Us Together!

Saturdays seem to be filled to the brim with activity.  Today started out nicely enough.  Sleeping in a bit and then lounging in bed while watching a few episodes of The Office.  I borrowed season 2 from a friend and have been enjoying a few episodes here and there when I have a small amount of time.  It has been a welcome relief to a lot of seriousness that seems to follow me around now that I am rs pres.  I think it is so funny and can't help but laugh right out loud when I am by myself.

Fast forward a few hours after I got some rs stuff done today and Scott and I enjoyed a whole afternoon and evening together getting errands and shopping done.  I really enjoy having him all to myself sometimes.  I don't get time like that with him very often, he has been so overly busy with work lately and it just seems like we have been having a hard time connecting with each other.  I hope his schedule slows down a bit with the holidays coming up (it happens to be the hotels slow time).  I just hope that I don't have to do all the moving by myself because Scott is to busy.

I am grateful for funny youtube videos!

Just to tired

When I got home last night Scott hopped right on the computer to check scores so I just crawled in bed to watch The Office until he was finished.  I feel right asleep.  When I got up this morning my first thought was "did I blog last night?".  I little panic set in and then I realized that nobody will be shot for my lack of blogging last night.  I know my followers will be a little disappointed that they didn't get to read my life story before they dozed off to sleep last night but I hope you will all forgive me since my followers are actually my friends :)

Just so you know I had a good day. 

I am grateful for Elle she is such a great daughter and a good snuggler!

Blah

I am not feeling like blogging much tonight.  I have a bit of a headache and just want to crawl into bed.  I will hope that I can snap out of my funk by tomorrow.  I actually think I need to get my meds checked because I have been feeling like this more often in the last few weeks. 

I am grateful to listen to Tanner play the guitar.  He is getting rather good at it for a beginner.

Day of the Braces

What a big day for Elle! 

Elle has been begging for this moment for 2 years.  But there is a pecking order in the Greer's household.  Tanner was first to go, then Emma and because Elle is the youngest of course she was last. 

I had to sneak this picture of Elle because she wouldn't let me take any of her today.

I am grateful for my sense of humor!

Good Book Alert!

Today I was very productive.  I finished reading the second installment of "The Hunger Games".  I can't remember the last time I enjoyed a book just for the pure pleasure of reading.  It is so entertaining.  I like it much better than  the Twilight series.  Twilight was so predictable but I find The Hunger Games takes twist and turns that I didn't expect.  Sometimes my girls find a series that even their 41 year old mom adores.  I highly recommend it for your enjoyment, if you haven't already read the series.  I know lots of you are way more in the culture loop then I am and have probably read the books...so why didn't I get a recommendation from you all 6 months ago (Valeri?)

Actually I was more productive then just reading.  I got lots accomplished on the home front.  From running kids around to dentist apt., work, piano, paying bills, telling my kids to do school, crying a little to a friend on the phone, cleaning, folding laundry, taking (and making) many phone calls and making a great grilled cheese sandwich for dinner I think I accomplished a lot for a mother, wife, friend and rs president!  (oh lets not forget my workout too!)  I hope you all had as great a day as I did!

I am grateful for Carmel apples!

This world would be boring without Weird People!

Tanner and I are arguing about who is the most weird in our family.  I think Tanner is much weirder then me as a matter of fact he is crazy and super weird!  Here is his list...I am not sure if it is a good thing if you made it on the list but just know that you were part of our conversation tonight and so therefore you are in my heart and mind and you must be a part of our family in a special way if you made the list.

  Elle was watching Bones tonight and Scott is in his reading room and therefore not a part of this really, really weird conversation!  I tried to defend all of you that made the list except for Barbara and Steve. (because I believe in Tanners assessment of them both)

Tanner and Emma's List:

Krystine~ Super Weird (I disagree vehemently, I know I am weird but Tanner is so much weirder then me!)
Tanner~ Weird (I think Tanner is super duper crazy weird.  He bowed and saluted me and turned in a circle while he was jogging down Teton Street today, now that is weird!)
Emma~Weird
Elle~ Super Weird
Scott~Interesting (now I think Scott is weird myself)
Grandma Barbara~super duper weird (I agree with Tanner on this one, but he also thinks I should be in the same category as my mom but NO WAY am I as weird as my mom!)
Grandpa Gary~Interesting in a Weird way
Allison~Super Weird (Tanner and Emma think all the sisters are super weird!)
Katie~ Super Weird (Just so my sisters know I don't think you are super weird just plain weird :)
Nathan~ (you are the only one that made the normal list!)
Amber~ Just Crazy
The Bumans~ Interesting (Tanner and Emma think your kids are crazy)
Ann~ Super Weird (Steve really, really super weird)
Poulsens~Interesting
Youngs~Interesting

Okay that is enough for now....I want you all to know that you are all just normal to me...probably you are all thinking to yourselves that the Greers have way to much time on their hands if they can sit and talk about whether or not people are weird.  We probably should be doing something more productive with our time.  I agree.  But because this is my blog I have the last word on the subject, Tanner is the person who is the really weird one, but in such a good way!

Oh and another thing...I am going to try really hard to be normal this week.  Just to prove that I can be normal.  My kids don't think that is possible.

I am grateful that no one on my list will take offensive to our silly little topic this evening :) 

I Hope They Call Me On a Mission When I Have Grown A Foot Or Two!

Well it is official!  Tanner has gone through the process that is required to submit his papers to go on a mission.  In about 2 weeks we will be getting a letter from the First Presidency of the church telling Tanner where he will be called to serve for the next two years.  He indicated on his papers that he is ready for an immediate assignment but usually once you receive your call it takes another 2 months before you actually leave.  That means that sometime around the first part of January he will be leaving but actually he could leave before then or as late as 6 months from now.

This brings many emotions to me.  Mostly I am so excited for him.  But I have already started to cry when I think about him being gone for 2 years with minimal contact by emails and a couple of phone calls each year.  I know in my heart this is what he should be doing right now, I feel such peace about it, but I also know it will be hard on me and the rest of the family to have him gone. 

Wow, what a great experience for him.  I am willing to give him to the Lord.  I know that through the refiners fire he will become the person the Lord wants him to become. 

I am grateful Tanner is willing to make this huge sacrifice to serve the Lord.

A friend once told me Crazy Splatters, it is so true!

I attended a mental health conference today.  I have decided that a few people in my family are mentally ill.  (No surprise there!)  Actually I have known that for a very long time but it was just reconfirmed to me today.  I personally suffer from depression and if it wasn't for my medication then I think I would be lost.  I can think back to times during my life when I was in a deep depression.  One being during HS.  Another during college.  Another after I had Emma.  Another when Elle was about 4.  Another when I moved to MN.  Finally I went to the Dr. and got help.  The Dr. has prescribed some medication and that changed my life.  I understand how hard it is to ask for help and admit that there may be a problem.  In our culture of Mormonism it is hard to admit that you are not "perfect" and that sometimes is an obstacle that is hard to over come.  It was difficult for me.  I hope that if anyone I know is suffering from depression or any other mental illness knows that it is okay.  There is hope and things can be better. 

Really it was a great conference and I am glad I went.  Learned stuff I didn't know and came away having a better understanding of mental illness and how greatly it effects the whole family not just the individual.

Hope your Saturday was as great as mine.

I am grateful for Scott, I love him.  He married into a really CRAZZZZY FAMILY :)

The Amazing Tanner!

My morning was very entertaining.  Tanner wanted to show me how flexible he is.  He was very proud of his talent of bending his body in all kinds of shapes.  I encouraged his display because I found it funny.  I told him I was going to take pictures for his posterity because some day he may not be so flexible and if he has pictures of this amazing feat then he can prove to his children and wife that yes indeed he once was silly and could put his feet behind his head.

I am grateful for books.

Tanner said not very many people can do this.  This is the easiest way to test your flexibility.  He wants all my readers to try to do this.  If you can do this you probably can get into all sorts of crazy positions!

I tried it and could touch my fingers (Tanner told me that was good for someone who is 40 as he rolled his eyes!)

To Exercise or Sleep that is the question

Not much to blog about today.  I didn't have anyone tell me I was growing a beard and both the girls were on their best behavior today.  (That doesn't happen very often).  I am feeling kind of in the dumps today though.  I need a little pick me up.  I think getting up an extra hour and a half early all this week has sapped my energy from me.  Should I continue to get up early and exercise and help my mental health and physical health that way or sleep in until 8 and have more energy to last me through out the day and evening?

I am grateful for Tanner he did a lot of running around for me today.

A Tale of Two Hairs and how I need to keep a pair of tweezers with me at all times!

Today will go down in the record books as one of the saddest days of my life (so far).  I will now share the Tale of Two Hairs.

Today I went to an appointment with someone who needed some help.  While sitting there with her waiting to get her name called she leaned over to me and what seemed to be with her very loud voice, in front of probably 100 people at least (okay maybe only 5) and said "Why Honey! (often this person calls me honey) while I have been sitting here I couldn't help notice you are starting to get a beard just like me!"  This made me want to cry and throw up at the same time.

Now ever since childhood this has been the bane of my existence.  Sometimes mean rotten boys would make fun of my soft fine hair on my face.  But most often what bothered me was looking at my Grandma and just knowing in my heart that one day I would be just like her.  I fear that day may have come, (at least according to my not so tactful but honest friend). 

You see it just can't be helped.  My Grandma Dalton was known for her 5o'clock shadow and sadly that is one of the many traits she has so graciously handed down to her oldest grand daughter.  For many years it bothered me but usually I just go about my business hoping that no one would notice my extra fine hair growing on my face.  Just ask Scott what bothers me most about my body.  He wouldn't tell you it is my extra fat rolls that are forever on my tummy or all my freckles splattered on my face or the fact that I have gray hair popping up everywhere on my head.  I think that Scott would confirm with you all that the thing I hate the most about my appearance is the hair on my face.  And my sisters would also tell you it the one thing they are always making fun of me for, that at least they didn't get grandma's hairy face!

Now just in case you are all wondering, yes, I have looked into hair laser removal to no avail.  Because the hair on my face is blond it can not be done.  Only those that grow dark hair can have it done.  I am hopeful that some day (soon) the medical community will realize that Krystine Greer is alive on this planet and wanting to pay them lots of money to once and for all cure me of my most dreadful condition and invent a machine that can zap all my hair off my face and also while they are at it they might as well make it so I will never have another gray hair on my head!

If you are all saying to yourself "Krystine, it could be worse...much, much worse".  I agree, I mean after all I could be on a deserted island with a endless bottle of whip cream and some really, really great books and someone to massage my back all day and lots of lobster and cheese cake and lets not forget to throw Scott into the mix too! 

I am grateful to have the opportunity to serve people who point out my faults!
P.S. I am also grateful for another beautiful day!  I love autumn.

How many of you can see my beard?

Dragon Woman

So I am back to my dragon woman days!  I have been letting myself slide and I know if I don't nip it in the butt now I will find myself back in my same boat as I was last year at this same time.  I have gained 5lbs. since my lowest weigh in in June.  Probably 3 of those 5lbs was put on in the last 2 weeks! (remember my 5 doughnut day last week?)  I realize I am in need of help.  I think it is the stress of buying a house and some of my responsibilities (homeschooling/relief society) that are causing me to feel the need to eat everything in sight and then some.  But I also know that I can change those thoughts.  So I have recommitted myself to eating healthy and getting regular exercise.  (Since becoming RS President I haven't been able to find the time to do that regularly but I do know it is actually really important now more then ever that I make the time to do it).  So dragon woman is making the eating choices and getting up extra early to go exercise now.  I hope by staying focused and disciplined I will be able to maintain and even lose a few more lbs.  Wish me will power.

I am grateful for another beautiful day here in sunny Minnesota!  I have to be grateful for days like this because it is not long before I will be grateful for the freezing cold.   

Gratitude a message from a prophet

Warning to Kevin...this is spiritual, proceed at your own risk!

I just got done reading 5 talks from General Conference.  This is when the leadership, which consists of the Prophet, Apostles, and other leaders of the church speak to the members of the church found world wide.  They give us council, warnings, guidance and many times call the people to repentance just as the prophets of old did.  This happens twice a year when we have the wonderful opportunity to hear what the mouth piece of Jesus Christ would have us hear.

I loved President Monson's talk on gratitude.  I would recommend all of you read it.  We have so much to be grateful for and it is such a gentle reminder that no matter what we face in life, that if we have gratitude in our heart and express it to our Heavenly Father and those around us then it will help us be more charitable and positive in our lives.

Here is the link if you want to take time to read it now.

http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-1298-27,00.html

I have much to be grateful for this day and every day!
1. My health
2. My family
3. My testimony
4. My agency
5. My good parents
6. My freedom in a beautiful country
7. My good friends
8. The Atonement
9. The scriptures
10. A living prophet to guide me in these days

I'm Baaaaack!

I am back, but I understand some of you like my guest blogger's post better then mine.  I am OK with that because I even get really, really bored with myself. I love to read most of Tanner's writing, sometimes he can be very interesting but occasionally no so much (have you ever read one of his post's on his political blog?...BORING! JS! JK Tanner) 

I thought Tanner did a great job of holding down the home front while Scott and I enjoyed a much needed break away from life, work and the kids.  We drove the 3 hours to Ames Iowa to watch the Utes play the Cyclones.  It was a breath of fresh air to be treated with courtesy by the opposing team.  (I was always afraid to go to any games in Albuquerque when I was cheering the opposing team, sad, they were so rude and obnoxious!)  But this was a totally different experience one that was fun and welcoming. 

We went down with a few other couples that are also Ute fans and had a wonderful time.  The women tried to solve the challenges of motherhood (sorry we were unable to come up with any answers for all of you struggling with a 15 year old, 13 year old or a 6 year old) while the men just had to stop for constant bathroom runs.  I think someone in the group may need to get on some medication to help curb the feeling of needing to pee often, they do make medicine to control the urge to always have to pee!  I won't name any names, Scott, because you know who you are.

The game was awesome.  Utah kick some butt.  We only heard 2 jokes about polygamists and the rest of the game the Cyclone fans were quite because there just wasn't anything for them to say, after all they did take a beating.

I feel so refreshed with our little get away that I am ready to face anything Elle and Emma throw at me this week.  I can and will be a good mom this week! 

I am so grateful for Tanner taking care of the kids this weekend and for Scott having the great idea to go to Iowa!

The Unreasonable Expectations of Krystine Greer

Krystine Greer has goals. One of them is to write a blog post every day. That is why she always has these tiny little blog posts that just say "I am really tired" or "fall is here!" It is not so much that everybody in the world needs to know that she is tired or that fall has arrived (a big fib anyways -  it was 85 degrees today!) as it is necessary for her to write something every day, no matter how small or otherwise obvious. If she did not write such posts her goal would painfully wither away into nothingness and cause all of her posterity heartache for ages to come.

Or something like that.

Such a demanding goal does come with its costs, however. How is one supposed to keep up with the writing  when traveling far away from the lap top used to publish every post?

For Krystine the answer to this question is very simple: You have someone else do it for you!

But what is this person to write? Krystine is really a very popular person - if you look at the bottom of this blog you will see a little widjet that keeps track of everybody who comes to this website. You will see all sorts of places on the list: She has avid readers in New Jersey,  Virginia, Utah, Washington, New York, and Minnesota. Krys's writing is a hot commodity. How is one to measure up?

One must surmise that is futile to try. To ask it of anybody is to have one seriously unreasonable expectation.

Sadly, it is but one of many.

For example, before Mr. & Mrs. Greer left town this morning Krsytine decided that the most splendid way to start the day was to drag all of her children out of their beds and tell them all the things they needed to do while she was gone. Her expectation was that they would be done before she got back.

This was unreasonable.

Take her instructions, given to two of her delightful children, that they must "Deep Clean" the house's bathrooms. To "Deep Clean" a bathroom one must sweep and scrub the entire bathroom floor, clean the mirror, wipe down the base boards, clean the inside and outside of the toilet, sanitize the counters, change the garbage bags, and most importantly,  give the bathroom's shower a thorough scrubbing. Of course, this last aspect of the Deep Clean requires a special bath-tub scrubber. (Do you want your tub scrubbed with the toilet cleaner? I thought not.) These two children searched far and wide for such a scrubber - but alas! It was nowhere to be found. What could the two children to do but not scrub the bath tub?

Thus one sees that Krys' instructions to Deep Clean the bathroom was one big unreasonable expectation.

It was not her only unreasonable expectation. She expected her eldest daughter - a wonderful being, I assure you - to cook dinner for herself and her two siblings. What her mother forgot was that this very daughter had committed herself to attending a Church service project/hokey stake dance that was to last the entire night. While this daughter really is quite amazing, to think that she could cook for her family in Rochester whilst she was digging up potatoes and weeding gardens in Winona is to have unreasonable expectations.

She also expected that her children would have tacos for dinner. However, neither of the two remaining children are even that fond of tacos. When there is a choice between cooking all of that taco meat or hopping in the car, driving to China Wall, and ordering one or two delicious entrees from their most ambrosial menu, all sane folks will choose the later. To expect otherwise is, in a word, unreasonable.

Krystine is not the only one to have unreasonable expectations, of course. Emma found it most unreasonable that anybody could expect her to dance to hokey line-dance music; later in the night she realized that one of her dance partners had quite unreasonable expectations as to just how many times she would allow him to hug her. For some odd reason Elle - awesome as she is - unreasonably expected that her brother would allow her to stay glued to her computer watcher soap operas for more than three hours in one sitting.

And Tanner? Well, he thinks it unreasonable that anybody could expect to match the blogging skills of his mother.

Field Trip 101

I had the opportunity to take Elle on a field trip today.  Her English class meet at a horse stable North of the Cities to do some activities and get to know one another.  I drove two and a half hours one way to get her there.  So we were on the road for about 5 hours total today!  I had my trusty navigator with me, Emma.  She took the day off of work and school to join me while Elle did her activity.  We went out to lunch and had a great time and then went window shopping because Emma dislikes buying clothes.

I am grateful for map quest.

a plea for help :)

Dear Friends,

Honesty is letting you all know that I ate 5 (yes I said five) glazer doughnuts today.  Oh my gosh!!  What is wrong with me?  I need to get control of my eating.  I couldn't help it though.  Why couldn't I help it?  I don't know (maybe it was all Satan's fault).  I think I need an intervention.  Oh what am I going to do?  I would appreciate it if you could all organize a rotating schedule so some one is calling me daily and asking me if "Dragon Woman" exercised and was able to "just say no" to anything that could possibly give me a coronary heart attack.

Thank you,

Love ~ Krystine

I am grateful that the inspection on the house went well tonight. 

The devil tempted me today and I fell!

cracked tooth :(

What a sad day for my mouth!  I found out that I have a cracked tooth and that is why I have been in such pain for the last few months.  You may all realize by now I dislike dentists very much.   Why does there have to be such pain with teeth?  Sometimes I dream that I don't have teeth (actually that no one does, because I don't want to be the silly looking person with no teeth while everyone else has beautiful teeth) but that would be awful if I couldn't eat steak, corn on the cob, yummy gooey Carmel popcorn, or a good crisp Carmel chocolate covered apple.  I take care of my teeth, really I do.  I brush like 3 times a day, and I floss almost daily (sorry dr. klampe, I don't floss every day but I do better then most).  My problem comes from grinding my teeth.  The damage that I have caused from my grinding has given me horrible headaches and cracked teeth, sad I know!  I now have a mouth guard to stop my teeth from grinding away and it has cured me of my headaches but the damage has already been done with my cracked tooth.  My advice to you grinders...stop!  Or at least get a mouth guard.

I am grateful for the sight of orange, gold, red and brown leaves falling off the trees today, it was beautiful.

NEW HOUSE!!!

Great news!  We put an offer in on a house and the sellers accepted it.  We will be closing on Nov. 19th.  I am so excited.  It is a older house with lots of charm and love.  And yes we will be staying in the 2nd ward.  It is only a couple of blocks away on Sierra Lane.  I feel so great about this purchase and the fact we will be staying in Rochester for quite some time!

The girls are not happy about that if they had their choice we would move to Mars or something.  Actually Elle wants to move to California (she does not like the cold) and Emma wants to move to Colorado (something about finding a cute cowboy). 

I am grateful for technology the kind that allows me to blog every day!

Good things...bad things...

Today is a good and bad day. 

Good because I got lots of things done around the house.
Good because I was able to have scripture study with the kids.
Good because I was able to get some RS stuff done that needed getting done.
Good because I am happy.

Bad because you can't tell I got lots of things done around the house.
Bad because Elle stomped out of the kitchen right before scripture study and wouldn't join us.
Bad because it seems like RS stuff is never done.
Bad because I was sad.  (When Elle wouldn't join us for s.s.)

I am grateful for Scott who is working late and hard so I don't have too!

The picture that Tanner will include with his missionary papers.
Who wouldn't want to have this kid knock on their door to share a message?

Sunday thoughts

I am not feeling well tonight.  I am going to keep this short.  I had a great day watching conference. We had a wonderful night eating dinner at friends.  I am hoping that this week is a great positive experience.  No matter what comes my way I am going to remain happy, positive and in control of my emotions (even if Elle rolls her eyes at me like she just did).

I am grateful for spell check.

Friends Food and Fun

Today was a nice day of getting stuff done.  After catching up on my grocery shopping and listening to afternoon conference while making a pie I had just enough time to hop in the shower and get ready to take one of my best friends out to dinner for her birthday. 

We went to Twigs and it was really great food with even better company.  The best part of the meal was the great conversation all the laughing at funny stories and of course the desert....yummy cheese cake with raspberry  syrup drizzled on top.


I am grateful for a living prophet.

Heaven is...

I got to snuggle and sleep in with Emma today.  I am so lucky to have a daughter who likes to do things like that.  After Elle and Tanner left for guitar lessons this morning I climbed back into bed and asked Emma if she wanted to join me.  She pretended that she didn't want to as she dragged her body into my bed anyway.  (Sandy was not far behind her, snuggling is his favorite activity too!!)  It was so nice to spoon with her and breath in the smell of her hair.  An hour later the phone started to ring off the hook and we got up.  That hour with Emma was a bit of heaven.

I am grateful that Elle has been nice to me today...I wonder what she wants?