The List

I'm just sitting here, wasting time, so I thought I'd post a list of things I'd like to accomplish someday.

1. Become conversational in Japanese, if not fluent.
2. Become a published author, even if it's only one thing.
3. Lose 50 pounds/make exercise a part of my daily life.
4. Live in a house in the country, but not too far in the country.
5. Have at least one more kid (at most two more).
6. Record some songs, mostly for my mom, but also because I think it would be fun.
7. Be able to stay at home with my kids, so I can do crazy things like try and teach them a second language (current project) and sew them awesome clothes.

So, there you go.  That's all I can think of for now.  What's on your list?

Costumes 2010

 Chaela was a "scary witch" this year.  Unfortunately, she's sitting, so you can't see the amazingness that is her cloak (my favorite part).  However, you can see the striped tights and utterly sweet boots, so it's ok.  On this costume, I made the cloak and dress; everything else (hat, undershirt, boots, and tights) I bought.  I really love the purple and black!

 Joci was a black cat to go along with Chaela's witch.  My favorite part of this?  The feet.  Joci's costume was completely handmade from a plush-ish fleece, so it was soft and warm.  Funny story: I had to shrink the pattern because even a size 1/2 (the smallest size) was too big, but I accidentally shrank it too much, so I had to cut the entire costume in half and sew a band around the stomach area.  I also had to cut down the middle of the hood and add a triangle of fabric there for her enormously round head.  Turned out ok in the end, though.  You can't tell from this picture, but Joci carries on the purple and black theme with a purple "collar" around the neck of her costume (just a ribbon I sewed on).  It's hard to see her tail in this, but it's in her hand.

Here are my girls together!  I really wanted a picture of Chaela standing so you get the full effect of the cloak's awesomeness.  Possibly I will make her put on the cloak tomorrow.  Questionable as to whether those pictures will make it on here even if I do take them.

As for actual trick-or-treating last night (Thursday... Ohio is lame and doesn't do it on Halloween, I don't know why), it went well.

But it was really, really cold.

Our church's trunk-or-treat tonight was still chilly, but not as bad.  No good pictures from that, but Chaela was really excited to go around and collect candy a second time.

Next year's idea: pirates, unless Chaela is old enough to realize she can pick her own, then we'll see.  I'm not going to tell her.

Kids make the holidays fun!

Today I forced the rest of my family to carve pumpkins with me (because it's FUN dangit!!).  Will and Chaela did one "together," which resulted in the following conversation:

Will: "Chaela, come over here!  Come help me get the insides out of the pumpkin!"

*Chaela wanders away, we yell for her to come back, she comes back and peers into the pumpkin.*

Will: "Ok, stick your hand in there and pull out the seeds!"  *Will demonstrates by pulling out a handful of pumpkin guts.*

Chaela: "No way."  *runs away*

--A few minutes later--

Chaela: *wanders by again.*  "I don't like pumpkins.  Pumpkins stink... EW!  Disgusting!"

__________________________

I do have to say, though, it is more fun the older she gets.  This year she tells everyone we see (like randomly, in the grocery store) that she's going to be a witch for "Ha-yo-ween."  She keeps changing her mind, though, about if she's going to be a "scary witch" or "just a witch."  I love their costumes!  I finally finished Joci's over the weekend (she's a black cat) and I can't wait to post pictures on here!

The Potty War

I'm not sure how many of you know this, but potty training Chaela has been a several-months-long war.  We've almost made it to victory, but it's a two forward, one back thing.  Here's the latest.

Just a few minutes ago she was yelling in her room (she was supposed to be asleep).  I went in to see her.

"Hi mommy.  My legs are wet."
"What?  Why are you legs wet, honey?  Did you potty in your room?"
"Yes.  I potty on the floor."
"Do you need new panties?"
"No, my panties are dry."

And they were.  But there's a large wet spot on her bedroom floor.  So, the best I can figure, she took off her panties, peed on the floor, then put them back on.

*forehead smack*

The Purpose

I think I must experience religion differently than most people.

I watched "Glee" tonight, like pretty much everyone else in the country.  I've debated in the past if I wanted to continue watching it or not.  I'm still not sure.  It's funny, and I love that it's a musical show, but it's getting much too political for me.  Why can't it just be for fun instead of pushing whatever agenda is trendy these days?

However, I digress.  Like I said, I think I must experience religion differently than most people.  Comments made on "Glee" tonight and at other times on TV have me wondering: how do most people think religion works?

One thing I've heard nonreligious people (or those having a crisis of faith) ask is, "How could a loving God let such bad things happen in the world?" and cite bad things happening to good people as evidence against His existence. 

Let me tell you what I believe.  I believe that there is a God, but He's not there to make sure life is easy, or happy all the time, or fair.  That's not the purpose of our time here.  The purpose of our time is to be tested, to go through hard things, and grow. 

I believe we are His children, and He will give what we need, and not what we want.  Sometimes people say that unanswered prayers are their reason for losing faith.  My almost-three-year-old asks me nightly if she can have candy for dinner.  Every night she asks, she says please, and sometimes she throws a fit.  I know she wants it more than she wants anything else in the world in that moment.  However, I am not about to give her candy for dinner, because, as someone with more knowledge and experience, I know that if she eats candy for dinner, she'll feel sick later because she's eaten too much junk.  Not only that, but if I did let her eat candy instead of an actual, healthy meal each night, she would grow up with weight problems, which could lead to self-esteem problems.  Her body would become too weak to run, dance, and play the way she loves; not to mention dental issues.  I know all of this without even really thinking about it, and she doesn't have a clue.  All she knows is that she really, really wants candy, and I could give it to her if I wanted, but I don't.

This is how most people seem to me, like three-year-olds throwing a tantrum because they don't understand the reasons for the things that happen to them.  Yes, much of the time these things are tragic, horrible, or at the very least grossly unfair.  But could it be that Heavenly Father allows them to happen because He understands things that we don't have the capacity to comprehend?  That's what I believe.

And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things.

1 Nephi 11:17

Blogging Bum

Ok, obviously I've been a blogging bum lately.  I think it started when Joci was born.  That's when I let my "Gamerwife" blog go (I've posted once on there since she's been born... it was about how I hadn't posted).  This one was doing ok, however, until I started working.

Have I written about that?

I've started a temporary full-time job as an OGT (Ohio Graduation Test) tutor at the local high school.  It's pretty cool.  I like the kids, and over where we are, the administrators have been very helpful.  I'm starting to get nervous, though, because the OGT starts on October 25th.  I've put quite a bit of time and effort into this whole tutoring thing, and what if, when the scores come back, I find out I'm an awful teacher and all my kids failed?!

If that happens, I can tell you what the problem is: my control freakiness.  I just have a problem waiting for kids to get the answer, so I explain the question in an extremely leading manner so that 99% of the time they come up with the right answer.  This past week, the biggest thing I've done is try to let go of my craziness and have the kids answer questions on their own.  Like I said, the test doesn't start until the 25th, and the science portion (which is the subject I'm tutoring in) isn't until the 29th, but please, all you readers, pray for my kids, keep them in your thoughts, and wish them luck!

*

As for other goings on, Chaela continues to say crazy things. 

My current favorite, which has been going on for a while, is the song, "Jesus Wants Me for a Sun Bean" (supposed to be "sunbeam") which she sings several times every day. 

At the doctor's office she looked the doctor square in the eye and said, "I can't get a shot today, you don't give me a shot," which is an example of how bossy she is.  Luckily, she didn't need one.  This time.

I've noticed she doesn't name her toys like other kids do.  Thinking maybe I just hadn't noticed, tonight I asked her what her doggies' names were that she takes to bed with her. 
"This is my pumpkin doggie."
"Oh, is your doggie's name Pumpkin?"
"No."
"It's name isn't Pumpkin?"
"No. This is a pumpkin doggie.  And this is my 'nother pumpkin doggie.  These are my one, two pumpkin doggies."
"..."

*

Joci is getting bigger, even though she's not the chunk I thought she'd be.  In fact, sometimes she looks downright small to me.  I don't know if that's because I've got her on one hand and Chaela on the other, but I suppose she is starting to fit into her six month stuff just about on time, so it's probably just me.

Speaking of which, she'll be six months on the 20th of October!  A half a year.  I can't believe it!  She's rolling like a pro, but she hasn't started sitting up on her own yet.  I imagine it will be before the end of the month, though, she's definitely getting closer.

I think of all of us, she's had the hardest time with me working.  Not surprising, right?  She's a breastfed baby, and she likes it that way.  Thankfully, I've discovered that she also likes carrots and peaches, so Will has something to give her, and because of the way I set up my schedule, I'm only missing one feeding. 

The problem is that she's a huge mommy's girl, so from the time I get home until the next morning, when I leave for work again, she freaks out if I'm not holding her or she can't see me.  Even at night, and I'm not huge on co-sleeping, because I just can't sleep as well if there are kids in my bed.  This begets a vicious cycle whose main result is me not getting enough sleep during the week EVER.  So, whenever I can, I turn the weekend into one long nap.

Ha ha!  Just kidding!  I have two children.  But wouldn't it be nice?

*

Well, I suppose that's enough blogging for now.  It's long, but I guess after such a long time I had a lot to say.  I'm hoping I'll start doing this more often, but I'll be honest, most of the time I'm too tired to do anything but watch TV.  Good thing there's plenty in the fall lineup this year to keep me occupied.

Which reminds me, everyone, if you haven't seen The Big Bang Theory on CBS, definitely give it a try.  It's pretty much the best comedy show ever.  My only problem with it is that CBS is run by stupidheads who, for some reason, won't put full episodes on hulu.com or their own website.  Oh, well.  Check out some clips on the Hulu link, and if you like them, TBBT is on Thursdays at 8pm (Eastern) on CBS, which means you'll have to record it and watch it after Bones, the current best crime show (Bones only gets preference because it's an hour long and TBBT is a half an hour... otherwise they are equally awesome).