Weekend Update

Oh that I had the folks at SNL to write this for me, but no you get me.

Eric and I both went and faced the heat - yes it was 72 degrees and HUMID - and ran our long runs with our running group. The good news is we are starting the taper, and we are ready to run the Houston Marathon (and 1/2). It really took everything out of me, so I was not much good the rest of the day.

Eric, on the other hand, had to step up since he was speaking in Sacrament meeting on Sunday. He wrote his talk, and then he and Ryan went to the Texas State Championship football game. I am always torn because I do think it is great that he and Ryan do this together every year, but that means he still has not done ONE minute of Christmas shopping. This will force him to go out on Christmas Eve, when I would rather have him home, and he will buy stuff just to buy stuff. Some things will never change.

In case you missed his talk, there were moments of Michael Scott (like lying about his father taking away all his gifts), but he did a great job. He had the kids paying attention at first with talk of presents and Santa. During the talk he talked about things we do before Christmas - like make cookies - and he added maybe you will make some for Brother Pearson. Begging for cookies (also very Michael Scott). Nice.

Well, some of the folks in our ward must have listened. We have had two cookie drops the last two nights. One family, the Popes, went way overboard. Look what they brought us

(do you love how Eric took this picture and did not try to clean off the counters before snapping the picture?)

So, thank you to the folks who have brought us treats. Maybe Eric should beg for them every year! Today includes a movie, decorating sugar cookies (all of which were baked by Kelsey and Sophie), and get the gingerbread made for houses!

Have a happy day.

I Made It To Friday!

And that is an accoplishment this week. The last week of school before a break is always crazy - the older kids have finals, the little kids have parties, and I had a trip to Dallas.

I had a meeting yesterday. It was the twins Christmas party. I told them I would not make it because I had to go to work. Allie COMPLETELY fell apart. On the floor. Real tears. You have to come Mom! Then she asked for Dad. Well, Thursday is his crazy day at work, and he could not make it. I then offered up Ryan - and that seemed acceptable. And being the good guy Ryan is, he attended both Christmas parties to play parent for the twins before he went to work! Thanks Ryan.

In days past, only the room parent and one helper were ALLOWED to attend the party. No more. Dang I miss those days.

As I landed last night at the same gate I had taken off from 14 hours earlier, I was happy to be home and glad today is Friday! Now we can move on the cookie baking, gingerbread house making, and other fun traditions that make Christmas feel like Christmas.

But first a 12 mile run in the morning....What was I thinking?

Happy Friday!

Will I Survive?

Not Christmas, but my children. One child, who will remain nameless, left slamming the door exclaiming she hated Eric and I on her way to school. Nice huh? I am not sure what else I can take away from her. Her Christmas? Between the twins and said child, we might not have much of a Christmas around here!!! This was NOT in my job description...

I Am Now A Real Mom

But, as you will see, not a good one.

You would think bearing five children, two at the same time, would make me a real mom. I tended to think so, but that changed last night.

In Tomball ISD, the Pride of Texas in case you are wondering, you need to take art, choir or band in 6th grade. Pretty common. Both Ryan and Kelsey took choir. The sixth grade choir was not fabulous, but not anything offensive to the ears.

Sophie, in her quest to be different, took band. I got to sit through my first 6th grade band concert. Now I will say, it was better than I thought - these kiddos have been playing for just a few months. I was prepared for the worst, and was pleasantly surprised. The band teachers must have infinite patience. We had many squeaks and strange sounds coming from the band, but also a recognizable tune.

As I mentioned before. I do not think you can earn your mother stripes until you participate in such an event. Whew, glad I made it.

If only I could be counted among the good parents.... I am struggling with the twins, the babies, thing one and two, whatever you want to call them. Sunday morning I asked them to shower, and I went to get ready. They are almost 8 - perfectly capable of getting in the shower and dressed in the am. Well, as we are almost ready to leave I have Sophie go and check on them. Not only have the NOT showered, they are NOT dressed and playing a game in a room full of filth. That was the last straw - full MOMMY MONSTER came out and I raged like I had not in a long time. We were late and I was pretty sure we should skip because NO ONE was in a very spiritual mood after that.

They came home, cleaned their room and made nice. Fast forward to this morning. I got them up a little early to help our morning routine. They ate. They got dressed. They were sent up to brush their hair and teeth. 15 minutes go by. No twins. I walk upstairs and they are, I kid you not, sitting there getting OUT barbies to start a whole big game (forget Maria comes today and we are getting the house picked up anyway...) So, once again I lost it.

This time I have acted. There are NO toys in their room. None. I did not take the books, but I might have to do that as well. They are all safely packed away.

I have threatened, you know when you say stupid things you know you will never follow through with that you regret as they are spilling out of your mouth but you can't stop, to take back all their Christmas toys. If I was a little meaner, I might. Could I really make 2 almost 8 year olds sit there and watch everyone open gifts on Christmas? Today I am mad enough to say yes, but I am sure I will soften. Maybe.

So, why oh why do they have to be so disobedient? Will this make an impression? I remember doing such a thing to all the other kids as some point. I think it worked for some, not for others. Where to go from here...

The good news - their room should stay clean for a while! Now, will they be able to get their booties moving in the morning? Only time will tell.

This And That

Last week I survived another cold sales meeting. Actually they were having a heat wave - it was all the way up to 40 degrees during the day!

Ryan got a job! That should be a headline of its own. The boy has never had a job, and that is not wholly his fault. Between football, my travel schedule and his lack of a driver's license, he has not really been able to until now.



Meet the newest member of the Ci-Ci's Pizza team. His first day he was assigned the arduous task of keeping the pizza's stocked and looking good. Hard stuff. He did work from 11:30 am - 8pm on Saturday night. He was tired - he announced it is tiring working. Really?

Eric ran the SunMart 31 mile race on Saturday. Two of his brothers came down and they had some brother bonding and tortured themselves on a 31 mile run. Now, 1/2 marathon I can see. Full marathon is crazy. Anymore than that and you need to have your head examined. Just my opinion.

We had the ward Christmas party on Saturday evening. To be honest, I was thinking about skipping it. I was not in a ward Christmas party kind of mood. But, Eric volunteered to be in charge of the Elder's Quorum talent. Each group had to come up with something. Someone found this video on YouTube, and that was all they needed to think this would be great to do.

I was not as supportive as I could have been. They practiced for the first time on Saturday at 4:00. The gig was at 6:30. But, they did a great job. Here is a pic from our finale. You will notice our water is green. It is in need a servicing from Cypress Pool Services.

Eric ended up NOT being one of the stars. He could barely walk. 31 miles and all. I ended up being glad I went.

On to this week. Travel to Arizona and Kansas. Band concert. Soccer practice. Etc. Etc. You get it. Have a great day!

Happy Birthday Laurie!

Ok so it was on Sunday, but I still within the birthday week which works if you are a Linford!

My little sis is 38! Now I have outed her. She is pushing 40 - it happens to the best of us. Laurie is a great sister and friend. She was my best playmate when we were little - under 10. As we became teens, we still loved each other but had funny ways of showing it (like how she always called me "thunder thighs" - we wonder why I have body issues it is all her fault). As adults, we have been able to recapture that closeness we shared as young kids.

While we were camping, Caroline threw up all over herself - and slept right through it. When Laurie and I were little, she threw up all over me and I slept through it - and I still love her!

We shared a room for years, and created such elaborate games. We thought we were so sneaky and our parents had no idea what we were doing. Our favorite time of the week was Friday night - that is when the Donny and Marie show came on and we would gather our albums and bring them in for visual aids. Fun times.

Even though she lives in California, we try to get together and have fun as often as we can. She even drove all the way to San Jose to take me to my conference a couple of weeks ago so we could spend time together.

The first picture is our favorite picture of ourselves (does that sound vain?) We were at our peak. It was at Matt and Julie's wedding. Pre-twins for me. Pre-Jonah and Rebekah for her. It has been downhill since then.


This is Laurie crawling into my sweatshirt because she did not have one! A typical second child - not prepared at all!

Happy Birthday Laurie!

So What Have You Been Doing?

I know, it has been a few weeks. I would love to give a great reason for lack of posts, but alas I have none. So I decided to show what has been going on in pictures.

This is where I interject my sappy sadness. This is probably the last time Ryan will decorate the tree with us. Sigh. If you will notice the ornament, or instrument as Allie calls it, it is his favorite. It is a pom-pom bear peeking out of a raisin box. He made it as a child. I have tried to throw it away many times. He has rescued it each time.

Now on to White Trash Thanksgiving. I am hoping to get some more photos, but this is what I have for now.

Ready for the grease - we do fried turkeys.


Only healthy eating at camp.

Eric's version of camping.

Oh - and my sister Melissa got engaged! Three engaged sibs at the same time. You would think I am from a big family or something! Congrats Melissa and Chris.

Besides Christmas shopping, that about sums it up! Merry Christmas! Let the advent calendars begin.