Thoughts About PMS

Regarding my previous post.
I should have known... The why to 'why I do that?'
I should have seen the signs. I usually do and give my man a little warning...
The sweet creme of chestnut craving. the 2 twix bars I ate. The sweet tooth.
The headaches, neck and shoulder stress... Extra sensitivity.
Teary. Impatience. And flying of the handle.

I should walk around with signs hanging around my neck.
This is what they would say.

"Handle with CAUTION!
 Can blow up anytime"

"Watch what you say! 
Everything you say will be blown out 
of proportion and held against you"

"Do not bring up touchy subjects, or past unpleasant memories.
I will relive them, suffer them all over again and make you suffer too."

"Do not blame me for anything.
And I mean NOTHING"

For the kiddos

"For the next 2 days. 
Do everything I say. How I say. When I say"

That should do. 

Most months, the symptoms are so insignificant,
I can control the PMS monster pretty well, we barely notice, no, really...

But there are the occasional months where you better stay clear. 

And no way of telling which ones!

After 22 years, our kids, our marriage and Mike have survived them all.

That's 264, 

+ the 4 pregnancies which are like 9 months each of most likely possibly worst PMS symptoms. 

Advice to my girls 

As you grow up and get married warn your husband,
discuss your 'possible' symptoms before they think 

you have been abducted and replaced by an alien or worst a monster!

Then again you might just be fine and have no symptoms.

Yeah, right. 

Don't count on it!

Advice to my Boys/Future Son-in-laws

When you get married 

Take an important-can't-get-out-of-sudden-work-church-related trip out of town for a couple of days.

Oh and do not tell the girlfriend, wife, sister, mother, friend she has PMS!

Just be kind, and caring, and helpful, and sweet, and take no offence,
if you can't do all the above, stay clear, or suffer (see previous post...)

Not My Best Day.

This morning I woke up so excited to spend the whole day with my man.

I had it all planned out.

Forest walk. Finish Amelie's Derby car. Lunch. Dive meet. Movie in bed to end the day.

With a couple of things on the guy's please-help-with-list.

Well it all went sour during our walk.

An issue from years ago resurfaced, brought back bad feelings from a disagreement

 and it ruined the rest of the day for me.

I even went berserk and lost it because the poor guy tracked sand all through the house
that I took time to clean yesterday to make our home nice for the week-end!

Berserk, like slamming doors and throwing the offensive shoes down the stairs. 

The real problem, is that I still don't feel understood and validated regarding this issue we had years ago...
 I had felt so hurt. 

Why do I do that?

I don't like who I become when I lose control!

It feels good when in the moment, you feel so justified. 

But then comes the feel crappy part.

And then I have to go through that whole process of repenting and eating humble pie, and 'I'm sorries'.

And having my poor kids look at me like... Wow!

Not fun. Really. Not fun.

But Hey. 

At least Mike made himself feel better by buying himself a new Chrome book 

(And I thought he was going to come home with flowers.)

Hey, at least he doesn't go out and drink!

He says he is not mad at me.
Oh, I feel so much better!

 And he wants me to erase all of this but I don't want to. 

Cause this is life. 

And at the end of it we forget all the bad stuff and think it was all a bliss... 

But it isn't. 

Life is hard sometimes. 

Marriage is hard. Family life is hard.
There are good days, bad days, boring days, exciting days, great days.
Good years and not so good years.
( the 3 worst years in our marriage were the 3 years we moved,  huge life stresses)
Relationships are hard.

They need constant nourishment, 

compromise, forgiveness, giving and taking,

selflessness, agreeing to disagree and so forth...

So here we are, in bed, after this not so great Saturday

Me venting on my blog. Him on his new toy.

Tomorrow will be a better day.

A good nights sleep does wonders for me when these kinda days happen.

I rarely stay upset after a good night's sleep.
To me it heals and calms mind and body. Gives perspective.

Just don't ask me to makeup anytime before that.

As for Mike, he doesn't need a good nights sleep to make things better, 

He kinda lives in LaLa land where everything is rosy and happy!

Where forgiving comes so fast and easily, where there is no offence,
where no one does wrong, and bad memories are fast forgotten...

I just don't live there yet!
I wish I did.
I wish I was more like him.

Goodnight.

(Amelie was awesome today)

Awesome dives Amelie!

We were at Amelie's dive meet all afternoon today.

She is now diving with the 10-12 year old.

She did awesome!

She took 1st place in both the 1 meter and the 3 meter events!

This was her third meet with her Lonestar diving team.

This is all very promising!

Little Kindness & Little Frost.

This morning at 7:30 when It was time to take Amelie to school,

for her morning school duties, her class is in charge of this month,.

I found a towel on my windshield.

It made me smile. 

It made me feel cared for. 

It made me feel loved.

Come to find out my Man put it there so I would not have frost on it!
So thoughtful...

I love thoughtfulness from my guy!

Yesterday, it took a long time to defrost it like 5 minutes, 

and that is long time when you are driving with hardly no clear vision, 

and the heat on full high, to get Amelie to Choir practice on time.
He must have telepathically heard me complain when it happened?
Because I never mentioned it to him.

We don't own scrapers anymore...

No need here in Houston Texas.  

A Place to Be at Peace

Yesterday was: 

A lovely morning

A lovely sunny morning

This is one place I love . 

Where I always feel good and at peace.

Where family ties past and future are remembered.

Where time has no bearing. 

A place where generations meet.

And loved ones are bonded.

A place to be at peace and contemplate never ending stories.
On this lovely sunny morning...

My Baby Hitting Puberty? NO!!!!!!

Last night, Amelie and I did a little shopping for her.

Her dive practice got canceled last minute...

One of the things we got her was some deodorant!

Yep, she is not 10 yet!

Earlier at school she told me her teacher told all 4th graders

that they stink and need to use deodorant!

"You guys are way to old to not be wearing deodorant.

Sorry 3rd graders I wasn't talking to you.

4th graders stink!!!!"

I agree on that one... for the boys! 

Have you ever come within a few feet of a boy who just played on the playground for 10mn!

PeeYuWee!

But Girls... not so much, in my opinion!

Unless it is really humid and hot and they run a lot!

So here we were smelling deodorants at Target.

Which ones does she like the best?

Well, as you have it, she has the same tastes in smell as her mommy!

(promise, I did not coax her into anything!)

The 2 favorite ones were Vanilla and Pear.

I love Fruit scents and Vanilla scents.

He sister Justine is more of a floral lover!

So we bought the Vanilla one since I have the Pear one and she can borrow mine occasionally.

Justine was much older when we started buying deodorant.

What is next for Amelie tampons?

Hopefully I've got a few more years before my baby girl starts using those...

But she did start shaving her legs this summer!!!

( I think I was 13 when I first did it)

So I stoped her and had her use my epilator (the best invention ever!)

If she sticks with that in 20 years she will have no hair left on her legs! 

It didn't even hurt her that bad when she did it! 

The first time I did it 6 or 7 years ago, it nearly killed me!

Sorry guys about all this girl talk!

"I have some very bad news"

Tonight, as my Man walked through our bedroom door after 

Chloe greeted him with her usual exited yelps and wines, 

and a few lickings on his face, 

Mike announced:

"I have some very bad news"

I brace myself for:

'I lost my job' kinda bad news.

But no, thankgoodness, this is what he said:

"I talked to a lot of people tonight, 

and those Marrons glaces were donated a few days ago to a church.

They were a Christmas special, were discounted and then donated!"

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh! 

I'm a few days too late! 

He would have bought them all too, that's Mike, you know!

Zut alors!
Darn it!

Rewind about an hour before

I had texted him

"I'm really craving those Chestnuts Glaces from H&H" 

Mike is too sweet, he went out of his way tonight to stop by H&H to try and get them for me...

Now, that is a good caring Hubby for you, well for me, really!

Thank you lover... You still get the credit! :)

Vanishing Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

I posted my friends recipie for these cookies on my cooking blog here.

These are so yummy!

They literally vanish as soon as they come out the oven!

Jamie made some for us on Sunday night for Family home eavening with them...

They literaly vanished within a few minutes!

Instagram 2012

Since it's been cold here, and rainy again,

I've been working on organising a few of my pictures...

Here are most of my Instagram Moments from 2012.

 

Les Miserables & A Word about Movie Theaters.

While in Ohio, I got to see 'Les Miserables' on the big screen.

It was so beautiful!

I loved it!

But.

Yes, there is a but. Actually 2 buts!

But #1

I wish I had not seen it in the movie theater!

I wish I had waited for it to come out on the net.

I am disliking more and more movie theaters.
Unfortunately my man still enjoys it!
Besides the excessive cost

I would much rather be in my own home, with my own germs- no stranger's germs.

In my cozy bed.

Where I can cry and just bawl like a baby if I want to!

Because

That is what I did during this cry-your-eyes-out-masterpiece!

Embarrassing

I had to restrain myself too much, when all I wanted to do was let go of my emotions!

But #2

I could have done without the very strong British accent of Gavroche, is he not French, after all? 

Slightly annoying and distracting!

You Got Some Nice Moves Kid!

Yesterday, Emric had a 11 dive meet. 

He is finally gaining more control over his body and losing some of that teen boy awkwardness...

Yeah!

I love to see my kids involved in good stuff! 

As I was watching the coach's interaction with the kids, 

I felt immense gratitude for good, involved, caring, kid-inspirering, dedicated teachers. 

They truly are doing a wonderful service to our kids, and play a big role in who they become.

They truly make a difference for good  in our kids lives...

Thank you! Good coaches and teachers everywhere!

My Not 'New Year Resolutions'

A few lot of things I want to continue doing,
do better, accomplish, become and/or see this year.
I see most of these as daily, weekly and monthly living
rather than the well-meaning-but-quickly-abandoned 'new year resolutions'.
This works better for me. I feel less presure and I do more
because I reevalute them daily, weekly and monthly.
 A Year is too long. I prefere "Baby Steps".
It's more managable.

Relationship with God  
Daily sincere prayers and scripture pondering.
Weekly recording on my spiritual/gratitude blog.
Listen to 1 or 2 General Conference talk every week on my walks.
Monthly Temple attendance/service; once with a girl friend, once with Mike.
Fulfill my callings in my Church Ward 100%
Find more opportunities to serve others.

Fitness and Well Being
 Zumba class 3 times a week.
 Yoga at home 2 times a week for 30mn.
Brisk daily walks for 1h. Do a few HITT workouts on yoga days.
Make breakfast a priority. Big healthy lunch. Afternoon snack and light dinner.
Learn about and do more sprouting. (Almonds, wheat, walnuts, rice)
Lap swim 30mn during the summer months once or twice a week.
Maybe pick up more cycling with Mike and Amelie?
Go to sleep before 10:30pm

Family
Be a better mom and wife.
Read Marley and me with Amelie
Get Emric to finally finish his Eagle. This is the year!
Teach Emric to drive! I'm not your best teacher for driving lessons.
I'm afraid, I freak out more than I help!!! Mike is better than I in that erea.
Better/more peaceful daily family prayers and scripture reading (before 9pm).
Go to all the meets I can to watch Emric and Amelie compete and/or practice....
Make my man a priority. Weekly dates. Week-end walks.Words of Affirmations.
(I need  to stop telling him he is getting pudgy and policing his eating habits)
Work on my Family history. Sort through years of digital photos.
Edit Photos and post years 2004, 2003, 2002 and 2001
Stay updated with my weekly blog posts.
Finish my England Blog

Visits
San Antonio.
Not miss the Texas Blue bonnet flowers, again!
I would love to go to France and see my family?
Maybe Hawaii to see Justine?

Home
Paint Amelie's bedroom
Keep up with the yard work!
Succeed in growing tomatoes in Texas?
2 years with no success! Maybe the 3rd time will be the one?
Go through more than one junk draw/cupboard a year!
How about one draw/cupboard once a month?
(Especially my Tupperware cupboard mess!)
Tackle the half bath remodeling.

Well, now that this is all in writing, I should be more accountable...

Two days of Darkness

These past 2 days have been dark so dark with rain and more rain.
Don't get me wrong, I love rain, but
I had to do something to keep the darkness outside from seeping into my soul.
So here are a few things I did to keep the darkness and gloom out.

* 'Downton Abbey' Season 3 Episode 1 & 2 (Awesome!)

* Yoga
* At least 3 episodes of 'Parenthood'
* Walking the dogs in the drizzling rain and foggy woods with a friend
* 'Doc Martin'

* Eat all the yummy gooey oatmeal cookies a friend made for me.
* Zumba (To burn off the cookies)

* Blogging & Picture editing
* Sprouting class at Church
*Power naps
* Spiritual soul-searching time alone in the Word (scripture that is)
* I didn't do the dishes for 2 days, but finally did them last night.
* I didn't sort and put away all my winter clothes I dumped in my bathtub,
before I left for Ohio. I might not need them this year again...

And Today the Sun is Shinning bright!
My awesome man, who I haven't seen during those dark days, (he is overly busy at work)
 cleaned the garage this morning before I was out of bed!

Windows are opened to let the fresh air and the sunlight shine in!

This Past Year

“Come and hear, all who fear God, 
And I will tell of what He has done for my soul.”
Psalm 66

How He has blessed my family in 2012:

* Answered my prayers and desires for renewed love for my man.

* 2 Surgeries to fix my man's shoulder and knee. 

* Long painful but successful recoveries.

* Extended family ties where strengthened this summer.

* Righteous daughter growing up, taking small and giant steps toward adulthood.

* Channeling a little girls energy in better things, like gymnastics.

* A courageous son slowly getting his Crone's disease under control. 
(Fingers crossed)

*A good teen-boy, keeping himself worthy, against the norm.

* New girl friendships with opportunities to serve and camaraderie.

* New callings to expand my talents, to grow and to serve in his kingdom.

* A new lovely place to walk my Chloe everyday. The rainbow bridge trail.

* 4 Best friend visits to keep a 22 year old friendship well and alive.

* My man's job extended past his 2 year original contract.

* A new affordable fun fitness program I love: Zumba. 

* A healthy body at this wonderful age of 45.

* A romantic Aruba trip with my man.

*A Summer trip to Utah.

And many more...

Blessings

Going Home

 We left Ohio, the day after Alexi came out of his week-long-hospital-stay.

I was able to take him to Old Navy to get him a few clothes I had promised him for Christmas.

We shared great moments with family and friends.
Unfortunately, we wish we could have seen more friends, it just wasn't in the cards this time...

The snow was nice and so much fun.

But, as the kids and I stopped at the Texas border for lunch, 

we got out of the car and the cold chill was gone!

A nice welcome home...

We even ate our Pizza outside!

The drive home went very well.

We did sleep in a crummy motel though...

La Quinta Inn Little Rock Otter Creek

Don't stay there!
 Believe the bad reviews.

Mission Puzzle accomplished

It took tons of late night hours, 

my slightly OCD sister Audie, Chris and a few teens, 

to finish this hard Coca Cola Puzzle!

They sure are cute though!

Here it is, all modgepoged...

Snow Tracks in a Winter Wonderland

 So much running, playing, and walking in the snow...

Chloe stopped often to chew of the ice that would collect in her paws.

Chloe and Libby are like best friends.
They Love each other!

I love love love walking in fresh snow, feeling it crackle under foot...
the sound it makes, the extra workout.
The beauty of this pure white blanket covering mother earth.

Tea Pot

The awesome Tea Pot I couldn't post Here
Justine made it in her college pottery class.
She gave it as a Christmass gift to Sarah.
It's just so Sarahish...

I find it just P E R F E C T and B E A U T I F U L like it's creator

Dangerous kids

 This was naughty, dangerous, disobediant and not smart!

But they hey sure had fun...

Crazy kids playing Tug-of-war with the dogs!

Let's not mention how dirty this dog toy is!
Gross Gross Gross and Gross

Loads of laundry

The Daily Loads of Laundry!

With 3 families, sledding trips, snoman making, trip to the pool,
muddy forest walks, 

we had to keep on top of it. 

Or we would have been buried under it...

Oh... let's not talk about the socks!

Can you spot the 3 dogs?

Exhausted Puppy

All that running in snow every day and playing with her best friend Libby pooped Chloe out!

Hospital Pass Time

Games and more games...

We got some board games for Christmas and brought them to play with Alexi.
I'm glad this time we were able to spend some time with him while he was in the hospital.
He usually finds these stays quite boring...
This time he had lots of visits! :)

 

Hospital stay

Alexi had a 'Holiday' stay at the Hospital.

He got a Staph infection in his blood.
He is now on antibiotics for 4 weeks but had to stay in his steril room for a week.

The good news is that he had a nice huge luxury suite!

Emric stayed four nights on the couch, kept him company and played video games with him.

He was quite happy to make this sacrifice to be with his big brother.

(all night and day gaming, he was one happy camper!)

I just love this picture of Mike and Alexi!

Christmas Day @ 10:44 pm

Feast and Famine Board Game

Sugar and more Sugar Consumption

Sleeping

Watching Movies and more Movies

Puzzled by the Puzzle