red letter day!

Look what the UPS man brought to my door today:

Replacement rhinestone sandals identical to my all-time favorites that broke last year!!

A happy day, indeed.

not what I expected

I had so many things on my Saturday To-Do List: laundry, ironing, alterations, organizing my scrapbook area, bathing Moosey, attending an open house--just to name a few. Sadly, it's after 9 p.m. and I am able to cross very little off of my lengthy list.

My day didn't get off to a great start, owing in great measure to the three small naps I had to call my night's rest. (Remember the slumber party? The furthest point on Judea's Plains wouldn't have been far enough away for me to have escaped last night.) By the time I managed to Smile-and-Nod the last girl out the door, it was already almost noon. Side note: after completing her weekly chores (with nary a complaint, btw) Sarah had a 5 hour nap--wish I could have done the same!

So in an effort to look at my glass as half-full instead of half-empty-and-how-will-I-ever-catch-up, here's a recap of my Saturday's highlights:

• Told Sarah and her friends at 5 a.m. this morning (and at 1, 2, and 3 a.m.) that No, they couldn't jump on the trampoline, and No, the movie "Scream" would not be appropriate for them to watch (one girl had seen it and said that "It's really not scary or bloody--it's just a guy in a creepy mask sneaking up and killing a bunch of people."


• Finished four of six minor alterations for a sister missionary who leaves for the MTC on Tuesday.


• Went to Penneys with my mom to redeem $10-off coupons; bought John some much-needed everyday shirts. Mom started her Christmas shopping.


• Went with John to an open house for Emily's friend Quanta who leaves for South Africa in less than two weeks. Got to see a few of Emily's friends and enjoyed talking with them.

• Came home to continue endless pile of laundry but, after urgent call from my mom stating that her large, 53-year-old chest freezer had quit working, left home for another couple of hours to buy dry ice at King Soopers and a new chest freezer at Lowe's.
• Put $20 of gas in my car for only $2.23 per gallon. Woo hoo!


• One redeeming point of the day: received fun care package from Charlotte and Emily (isn't it supposed to be the other way around?) filled with Halloween goodness for all! Thanks, girls--well-timed to sooth my frazzled soul.

Ah--the Sabbath awaits. Here's hoping for a much-needed day of rest.

See--I'm not the only one

I've been fighting the blues today, missing the girls and not looking forward to Mark being out of town this week for business. I'm not even used to just four yet, and now Mark's departure makes three. I've been trying to keep my chin up, as my mood seems to effect those of everyone else at home (one of the more burdensome tasks as a mother, that of Mood Maker).

I was doing fairly well until John came up while I was making dinner, and with a teary look in his eye said, "I missed hearing blow dryers when I woke up this morning!" Who knew that a fourteen-year-old boy would miss the sound of his sisters styling their hair on Sunday morning.

The bathroom does look a little empty without the customary tangle of appliance cords.

On a brighter note, I was getting a package ready to send the girls and was thinking I'd use my cute Good Mail labels from Jill, but wishing they said "Mom" instead of "Denise." Lo and behold, what to my wondering eyes should appear in Friday's mail, but a cute card with a sweet note and a little bag of "Good Mail from Mom" labels! Thanks, Jill--you're not only very thoughtful, but apparently a mind reader as well.