"Mormons"

" I had to abruptly leave Socials in the middle of class today....." Bailey said when she came in the door from school yesterday.

Now my kids would never, ever skip a class (yeah, right !?!) And they usually don't come in the door and announce it. Its one rug rat ratting the other one out...Anyways...

Of course I ask..."Why?"

So Bailey relates the following (in tears)....

The class was discussing world populations and the teacher had posed the question "What would drive a person to move from or leave a city?" The students were asked to write their responses on the board.

A boy in Bailey's group went up to the board and wrote "Mormons" ....(his reason someone would leave a place)

Bailey immediately stood up and left the class....

Did he know you were Mormon??  "Yes"

Was he trying to be funny?  "Maybe, but it wasn't"

Now I wasn't there and I have no idea how things were handled after Bailey left the classroom....

But I do know that Bailey was deeply hurt and embarrassed by the incident....

This is a first. Living out here they are 3 of 4  LDS students in their High School. But we have always experienced mutual respect and genuine curiosity...with the occasional funny question thrown in.

 I got called in by a teacher once, because she found out Alex was Mormon....It was a funny conversation as I explained that yes Alex could colour a pumpkin at Halloween, and that she  had our religion confused with another..The teacher then asked if there was anything she should be sensitive to while teaching Alex.. I deeply respected this teachers desire to not offend and understand Alex's faith.

Grant and I had a doctor last year , ask....{after finding out that we didn't drink, didn't smoke and had five kids} "What are you...Mormon?" Yup! "But only the one wife kind right?"  It was hilarious and we all laughed...

So yesterday really surprised and saddened me some....

I did email the principal (the class was being covered by a sub) and received an immediate apology and a promise that he would speak to the teacher, other student and Bailey. I have no doubt that things will be made well. ps.{Bailey's principal and teacher spoke to the entire class about discrimination in regards to race, religion and  democractic rights,  first thing this morning...and the student personally apologized to Bailey. Handled perfectly. Thank you.}

This has been a great opportunity to talk with all my kids about respect and understanding.

A genuine reminder that we can always be a little kinder.

Baby Ava Lynne :)

We welcomed a teeny tiny little princess to our extended family this week.... Miss AVA LYNNE was born Friday in Utah {but we won't hold that against her ;)} via c-section, adding to the long list as to why my favourite sister is truly Wonder Woman.... Weighing in at a staggering 5 lbs 1 oz...she is positively perfect in every way.....

Born six weeks to the day after our Dad passed away, Ava is heavens reminder that healing and joy come after every storm.

A cousin of ours commented the day Ava was born, "I'm sure your parents are smiling down upon you today..."

I shed a tear or two as I read that, not from sadness  ...The thought that our Mom and Dad were not missing a moment of our joy in heaven, truly warmed my heart. What a blessing forever families are. :)

The big brother and big sister, admiring the Little Lady.....Ava is one very loved little girl. Congrats Kelli, Jason, Zach and Mya. We love you.

Sunday Morning Circus

So here's my confession: Sometimes I hate Sunday mornings, okay maybe hate's a strong word, but sometimes I look forward to them with all the joy and anticipation of going bathing suit shoping with the female rug rats or school band concerts......


This morning was a Sunday morning epic fail....

6:30 am- I am ironing the Superman's white shirt and desperately trying to locate a second black sock.....

6:38 am- The Superman asks me to fix his collar and the moment I realize my head is pounding....

6:55 am- The clanging of the spoon against the Superman's cereal bowl from the kitchen is making my head throb louder

7:05- am The Superman shuts the front door and walks down the front walk on his way to bishopric

7:08 am The Advil bottle, is no where to be found, so I decide to trying going back to sleep....

8:35 am (Church starts at 9:30) "Mom is anybody going to church today?" Crap, Yes we are all going!?"

8:42 am I hip check Alex out of the way to get in the shower first

8:55 am I realize nobody has woken up Maddie or Dallyn (not my job...) "UP NOW!"...and yes you are going.

9:02 am I plug the hairdryer in the living room because there is no room in the bathroom.

9:05 am Dallyn's door slams, something about a missing belt

9:10 am Check on belt status, can only find a red one, wear it nobody will see it under your suit he rufuses and slams the door for the second time.

9:11 am The superman walks in the door "I can hear the yelling and door slaming down the street!"

9:13 am A lecture on patiance and parenting falls on very annoyed and deaf ears....

9:14 am Wait, why are you home anyways...."New meds causing bad side effects..." Sigh are you okay?" Probably....

9:22 am Can't find my checkbook, bag or scriptures...

9:25 am Walk out the door with Dallyn traipsing 30 feet behind..."With his my life sucks scowl on his face....

9:26 am Mustering my Sunday smile I shake our bishops hand and take my spot to lead the music

9:28 am Spot Sister W, realizing my head is going to pop off my body and I really shouldn't leave the Superman alone, I hand the hymn book to her and head home....

9:32 am Walk back in the door check on the Superman , find the Advil (finally) and crawl back in bed.

10:45 am Bailey, followed close behind by Dallyn ... "So you ditch church Mom""yes I needed to come home" Well if you get to be inactive today...so do we... WHATEVER ....they had a point .

2:12 pm I finally crawl out of bed.



Don't get me wrong, I know church is where I should and need to be.....But even this Mormon mom has bad days.Please tell me we are normal,  after 19 years why are Sunday mornings still such a circus???....

Playing in the Dirt /Positively Pointless Sewing

Proof that men are always boys at heart....

The Superman and the three middle girls spent Saturday out at our friends bison farm "playing in the dirt".

I wasn't aware the Superman even knew how to drive one.... he was like a kid in a candy store :)

My crazy girls aren't afraid of a little hard work...in fact they seem to love it....the rug rats have all found part time jobs for the spring and summer, yard work, farm work, fast food, babysitting. I'm so proud of them and it definitely takes the pressure off our wallets :)

So while they all worked.....I cleaned the house (the whole time) but really I mostly sewed.....in a really quiet house.

 

A positively pointless, Kitchenaid Cozy....Now you, see it, Now you don't.....

Everyone started mocking me when they came home...."What's next mom, a iron cozy....no a I think all the phones need cozies....no a tv cozy mom..." I don't care, its cute and it keeps me sane...something they will appreciate later in life..... me not being crazy..... not the cozy :)

Man, I'm loved :)

So this is a few days late, but that's how I roll.... Maddie's Mother's Day card is a keeper....

look close at the bottom left corner....

Her young woman's leaders refused to help her spell funeral, but she still got it right. That's my girl. She has such a way with words....only a Kramer.

Holly got me this table caddy and I LOVE it, no more setting the table :)

I finished the table runner yesterday...The superman even noticed it, now that's saying something...

My sewing frenzy continues and I made a remote caddy today....

Something to cover this....

We used to have nice stuff...now we just have teenagers :)

That'll do :) Now I somebody hid the sewing machine so I can enjoy the weekend.

Messing Up Muffins...

Step by step.

1. Made bran muffins this morning (from a mix, I made sure the mix had stuff in it I couldn't pronounce so don't worry I haven't turned into that Island granola head, yet) Its a miracle I entered the kitchen before 8 am.

2. Asked the Superman if he wanted some before work.

3. Buttered two muffins and handed Superman his plate.

4. Buttered my own muffins.

5. Grant, "Did you use garlic butter Robin"

6. Did I?, smelling my own muffins...smells like it.

7. Grant: "I thought they were a bit off"

8. Superman was nearly done his last muffin before he realized it.

9. Great now I'm going to smell like garlic all day !?!


Its not my fault and no I didn't do it on purpose (maybe)....Bailey had mixed up butter and garlic salt to make garlic bread for dinner, last night and put the left overs back in the same butter container. (Dad would like to personally thank you, Bailey)

mmmmm warm bran muffins and garlic butter....you should try it ?!? Sorry superman....at least all the vampires will leave you alone today :)

Nothing to blog about.

I've been hoping the rug rats would do something hilarious so I could blog about that, instead of how my heart really feels {overwhelmed, tired}..... We have definitely put the crazy in Kramer, around here this week...

 I even have 4 or 5 blog posts sitting in draft but they are either too personal or written in my mother bear tounge...So I've decided a few things....I will not publish a post written when I am strung out on allergy meds or drunk on Dr Pepper and 15 5 cinnamon buns, and definitely not when I'm angry....

Instead look what I made today while avoiding all manner of productive household duties.....

A valence for our kitchen window.....The kitchen needed colour, so I grabbed a pile of scraps and went to work (all the fabric is from thirft stores) ....I've never made one before and cut and guessed as I went....

I used painters tape to mark a seem allowance on my machine, I thought I was a genius...But I'm sure its all ready some where on pinterest :) Regardless it saved a ton of time in pinning and measuring....

Finished product...(of course my sink and counter ALWAYS look like this, :))

I am pleased for a first try...I will do a few things different next time.

 It adds some fun to the place I should spend way more time in making dinner and such. I just found out that's a daily expectation, not a weekly expectation as previously thought ;)...

Tomorrow, I'll make a matching table runner, for the dining table that apparently should eat dinner around (not just pile stuff on)