Some great news

I have been working for this great company called Sunwarrior a little over a month now and I absolutely love it! I go into work and every day leave feeling better then when I go there. the people are great and really enjoy being there. the only problem is that it isn't my full time job..until now. Yep! On Thursday I was informed that they wanted me to have one of their full time positions with in the next few months. I am beyond thrilled. Not only is a great place to work, but the products are great for you. So now this takes me to where I need to re-evaluate our current situation as far as other jobs go. I has been very fortunate as far as working goes and we have truly been blessed with many opportunities. So the future holds many possibilities for us! But for now I am celebrating this great thing.

Am I missing something?

So as some of you know, I have 6 jobs. They go as follows: wife, mother, Coca Cola merchandiser, Sunwarrior customer service, greeting cards merchandiser,Wonder bread merchandiser. Which means that I work with people, either at a desk or putting things of the shelves at the grocery store listening to people tell me that they wish that I would lower my prices. ( I hate to remind them, but I do not make the prices.) Yes folks, not going to college gets you 4 jobs that equal one full time job. And believe me I am not complaining! Especially in the time of life getting one job is hard let alone 4. I do feel very lucky.But sometimes I feel that I am missing something....like MY MIND! Ok so the work schedules are one thing but then coming home and trying to remember the schedules of 6 other people, I wonder if my brain might explode. I am constantly asking myself...Am I forgetting something?Am I missing something?. My husband says he is surprised that I can remember so much, but honestly I have about 50 sticky pads that help remember whether I have brushed my teeth to whether or not I have paid any bills. I do truly love taking our very active children to all their various activites, but I have to admit, when Bella can drive and can have people in the car, she will be our personal chauffeur.And I know that my children are older and they can remember their own things, but they are also adolescences so the thought that they remember much of anything other then what they ate for lunch is highly unlikely. So there you have it, I might be losing my mind, but don't worry I will have a sticky note somewhere that will remind me where I left it.

In honor of a great mother.

I am writing this about a great mother that I know...and I know quite a lot of them.This one in particular has sparked an interest in me over the last little while and I am to shy( yes, it's true) to tell her how I feel about her. In fact, truth be told I can't believe that her and I are friends. Meaning...that we seem so different in some ways and I really can't believe that she still likes me! My friend Kathryn is one of those moms that you look at and she is so amazing you go home and are always in awe. She is so strong in the gospel, knows and studies the scriptures and when she talks, you listen. She has 5 wonderful children, 4 of whom are boys...very active boys...very, very active. Oh and did I mention that she is absolutely gorgeous? Yup, it's true. She has beautiful black hair, gorgeous blue eyes and and killer smile. I notice with Kathryn though, that she never makes you feel like you aren't important as well. She will ask your opinion of daily life and how you handle things, when in fact, she's the one that should be giving the advice.She is a great mother, who looks at this time of raising kids as a truly short time, a time to get all the info. to them that you possibly can so that then they can go and be good people. I look at it as a looooong journey and think, wow when will this end. But now I really do look at things differently thanks to her. I am grateful for my friend Kathryn. Happy Mother's Day!

Randomness

So lots of things have been on my mind lately and in no particular order...
Louie is in pain and will need surgery soon.
I do not understand where all the money goes.
I think that I am tired all the time
The house is messy
My kids can make me laugh cry and scream all at the same time.
I am grateful for my ward.
Sometimes I feel left out.
I hate that people can't say "Excuse me" and instead just sit and stare at me when I am working..I will move ya know!
I do love watching Harry Potter 7 part 1
I am counting down to Harry Potter 7 part 2
I would love to tell all celebs that having money does not mean to act like idiots for free.
I do not want to go to jury duty.
I wish I knew where to get Pokemon cards for Luke
I wish that I could be closer to my family...not emotionally, physically
I am truly grateful that Easter was yesterday.
I want an Ipod
I really am a random person...

Hopes for when I'm old...

1. I hope to be patient with everyone
2. I hope not to glare at a woman with children
3. I hope not to correct said children when their mother is trying her best.
4.I hope that I don't expect children to be adults
5. I hope that I don't cut in line at the grocery store, when I know that someone was definitely there before me
6. I hope I don't drive a golf cart 10 miles an hour in a 25 mile an hour road...
7. I hope I don't complain...a lot...
8.I hope that I wear jeans with out an elastic waistband
9.I hope to be the old lady that people can't believe that she is the age she is
10. I hope that I will never know if I get gray hair
11. I hope that I don't start a sentence with" Back in my day..."
12. I hope I don't start a sentence with " I remember when bread was $1.50 a loaf"
13. I hope I don't think all music is garbage that I don't listen to.
14.I hope to be a grandma with sweet grandchildren that I love and spoil
15. I hope that Louie and I can celebrate at least 60+ years of marriage.

Games/ Dirty Laundry- Warning to Wahl Family

WARNING TO SOME FAMILY!...YOU MAY NOT LIKE THIS.
Ok that being said and since this is MY blog, I am going to air out some laundry.I do not have a relationship with my in laws...meaning that I don't want one and I am sure that they don't want one with me.To say that I have tried, and in their way they have "tried"is a matter of opinion. My opinion of my efforts is that I have included them in our lives when it matters about our kids and their grandkids. I did try and understand their point of view, but that was wrong for me. I really did try to care about them...many times, but there are times you realize that the effort made and the reception received are just too exhausting, on both accounts.Eventually it became a game. The "let's pretend to care game". You know the game- I pretend to care about you and you pretend to care about me. We make small talk and then we exchange the normal courtesies and then we are done for a while.Well, guess what?. NO MORE. Two weeks ago we, meaning my husband and I - together ( they think I make all the decisions for him and he just follows along...I mean heaven forbid that we have this thing called a marriage) we made this choice that she said she was so supportive about and in fact acted like it was her encouragement that my husband came to the conclusion. Anyway,father in law, was NOT happy and apparently wanted to have my husband come and talk to him about it- long story short, that conversation did not happen, so cut to two weeks later. We went to a family gathering and I have to say, I absolutely have decided that I would prefer them not to speak to me. I am merely wallpaper( get it WAHL) anyway, do not act like that you care about me at all. It is a game I do not want to play anymore. But, DO NOT include my kids, your grandkids in this game. At this gathering, that was meant for a nephew, Not one word was said to our kids and even one of our kids who loves her grandpa gave him a hug and was not acknowledged in any form. Then, yesterday the ultimate insult, she (grandma) deleted granddaughter as a Facebook friend ("accident" supposedly). I know dirty, filthy laundry everywhere!! So why air it? Why not just let it smell up my house and let me clean it myself? Because like I said this is my blog and you can read it or not. Writing this for me, therapy I guess. I am not a game player. I am so tired of the whole thing. Our kids are wonderful. How dare they not at least act like some sort of grand parent!They have done nothing to them, even though I have to say if were really up to me, there would be no relationship, ever. They are kids. I do not use them against them. They can act like that they care about them all they want, but that really isn't the truth. Birthdays and presents do not make up for love and attention. But then really, do I want them in their lives? No, not really. Honestly, I want to shelter them from what I consider a toxic relationship. There are so many reasons why not, but that is just somewhere I don't want to take you.So game over.The game between them and me is over. Our kids, their grandkids I guess are the alternates since I am out of the game. Too bad for them (Grandpa and grandma).I grew up having relationships with both sets of grandparents and I guess part of me wants that for my kids, but they treated us like grandkids, not pawns or alternates in a game. So hey! Bright side! Why complain? They have started a game and nobody is going to play...

Schedule

I called a dear friend of mine today for her birthday and talked to her for about 5 mins. My intention had been to call her earlier in the day and have a great conversation with her and catch up on both of our lives. No, I ended the call with scheduling her in my planner for tomorrow. Yes, I have to schedule phone calls. In fact I feel I have to schedule everything, and then I hope that I remember to look at my schedule because, like something else I did today, I forget things that I have scheduled. Now I know that there are palm pilots, blackberry's, and um...whatever commercial that shows that they have the newest scheduling device....I DON"T WANT THOSE!! a- because I can't afford them and b- I have a planner...with a pen...I just find that it is hard to sit down and talk to my friends. I even was hoping to turn a park day into a kill- two- birds -with -one- stone and invite the women i visit teach and just get it all done in one swoop. Even though I am suppose to work around their schedule...blah blah blah...The good news is, I have made a schedule for our kids so that they can start being more aware of their responsibilities around the house and I don't have to hear that it isn't their job or their chore...now there is a schedule and a list of the chores and when they are in charge of them... so HAH! Take that palm pilots and blackberry's...I'm doing schedules the old school way of paper and a pen.

Just perfect

Last Saturday our family was able to be sealed for time and all eternity in the Las Vegas LDS Temple. The only words that I can use to describe it to anyone was these two...just perfect. We had a LOT of people that are family to us show up. Some members biological families were also there. As we were being sealed as a family, I thought...if this is what heaven is then I am ready! This journey to this point has really got me thinking of how truly blessed we are as a family. I wish that we could take pictures in the temple, but the mental picture and feeling that I will have is this....all of us in our white clothes, looking at each other, filled with love and happiness.There was no other feeling in that room other then love. People we love, people that love us, people waiting outside that love us.It truly was just perfect...

Have I mentioned this already....

Ok so Saturday is the day, our family is headed to the temple. And we are very excited, but I am afraid that I am getting over bearing about it.I tell EVERYONE..LDS, Non-LDS alike, "Hey guess what?". Some of you still are curtious to smile and say "yes, so exciting!" and other smile and look at me like" I can't wait til she quits saying this to me every time I see her..." Anyway, sorry folks but I am just happy.:)

Yep, I'm selfish...

Each of my friends have taught me so many things both as individuals and as a combined group. One thing that they have taught me collectively is that...I'm selfish.It's true. I love having my own TV time. I love having my own computer time (which includes Facebook browsing), and enjoy time to myself. I. am. selfish. All my friends talk about how much time they wish they had to teach their kids more, or do more with their kids or take their family places. And I listen to them and I think...you really do all that with your kids!? Don't get me wrong. I love spending time with our kids. I love going places with them and family time is important, but I also think me time is important..in fact, truth be told, I think me time is more...yikes!...Anyway, I look at it this way...happy mom= happy family.My kids aren't ...too bad. They think for themselves, they are taught by me and their dad the most important things. I just don't feel the need to be there for every cotton pickin thing they do....So don't go having a heart attack my friends, it's not that I don't love them, I'm just selfish...

14 years later...

Our anniversary was on Tuesday and I really had to think about the how many years. 14 years!! Wow! Really that isn't that much, but it really is! I got married when I was 18 years old...and I love when people tell me...oh, you are too young to be married that long...why thank you! But, this last week I have thought a lot about where my life was 14 years ago. Barely married and getting ready to be a mom. Married to a man that I had known 6 months, but fell in love with at first sight... really! Which is funny because he had no job, the wrong size clothes on, and his teeth were awful, but hey, what a catch for me!:) Sometimes 14 years can go by really slow and others times I can't beleive that another year has gone by so quickly. The reason that I am writing this entry, is because someone recently told me that they knew my husband better then I do. That basically they would always know him better. I took that to mean that the last 14 years were just ...nothing. But guess what?... they were not nothing...They are not nothing. You might think you know him, the past him, but I know him now.You may think that you know about our life, because you see us every 3 or 4 months, but I have been there for him.And he has been there for me.WE have been there for the good, the bad, the very bad and we keep building a life together. I have built my life, past, present and future with him. I have been raising 5 children with him. I have been there for surgeries, diseases, death, happiness, love, tears, birth and everything else. That is not nothing.We are happy. We are a family. I am sorry that this person cannot except that we have a life together. I am sorry that this person doesn't want him to be a great husband and father and would rather act like he still is a kid. That they think they know him so well. Guess what...14 years...now that is something.

Happiness...

What is bringing me happiness?
1. Louie...our anniversary is on Tuesday. I love him. I love his strength. I love that he comforts me when I should be comforting him. I love that we get to raise our kids together.
2. Our kids... they have brought so much love is my heart. I feel like it might burst! I love that they are unique is every way, but continue to work together to make our home happy.
3. My mother. She is an amazing woman. She give literally her all for us. She is funny and thoughtful and kind. i am grateful for her.
4.Music. I love all types. Just listen to my playlist. I might sound bi polar, but I'm not...:)
5. The church and ward I belong to.This is very important to me. They are truly my family.
6.Facebook. I'm sorry but I really enjoy it! I love seeing others and their lives and their families.
7. Herbal tea...helps out alot..
8. Last but certainly not least...the temple...very excited to go there with our family next month and make promises and commitments that bring us all happiness.

Cut or not to cut.. that is the question

When I was younger I had a period of time that I grew my hair out. And it did get long... ish...down to the middle of my back. Anyway, I had boyfriend that always said he loved long hair and so hey! I loved having long hair...until the break up and the ....chop! All gone. up to the chin. The point of me sharing this that I believe that I am not a long hair person. I really hate the upkeep. I mean some people, like our daughters for example, have beautiful long hair and do so many fun things with it, but I would rather have a shorter hair. Well, this last year the girls talked me into not cutting my hair for a year. A YEAR!! And so far I have kept to it. Hair color, that is something entirely different. Color away...not away as in go away, but away as in go for it...um, yeah, anyhoo...but it is so hard! I seriously think that if I had the "ideal" face, ya know the one that doesn't have the appearance of a slight double chin, that I would just chop it all, but no. Those dang girls! Well, I guess it's not that bad to grow it out, at least I am growing it out the natural way, I could go and buy hair and just clip it in and voila! instant hair! No I'll keep growing it and the we will see in August...that 's the year mark, if I keep going....

Superstitious

I am superstitious. I do the throw- the- salt -over- the- back, don't go out on Friday the 13th kind of gal. So this big event is coming up and we had one date in mind, and then it just didn't gel with my numbers. I know... weird. For some reason, 4 and 11 are my lucky numbers. Our old house was 4161...4 and 11in the numbers. Our house now 2081...4 can go into 20. Yeah, I am that lady. So when we came up with the date of March 12 for the Big day, it all came together. 12: 4 goes into 12- 3 times. We are performing 3 ordinances that day. 2011- duh! 11...Anyway so now that brings me peace of mind. I know scary. The there is the cake. We are going to have a get together after the Big deal, and I ordered chocolate cake. The lady that I ordered the cake from said she heard years ago that ordering chocolate cake for a "wedding" cake was bad luck.Oh no. Bad luck! Then I thought, well it is our family's favorite cake and it will make us happy, so...plus I watch those baking shows and people order chocolate cake all the time.... So, I will just take my chances. Louie says that I think about things way too much, but hey it's my thing...

Can't you just be happy for me?

Our family has some exciting things that are happening soon for us. Religiously this is the best thing and we are all very excited. When I shared this at an activity the other day, I had a very blunt person say to me..."Well are you sure that you are ready? Are you sure that your husband is ready?" ( You have to know this person, always got an opinion.) I said that yes he was and she just kept at it. Finally I thought "Can't you just be happy or me!? Why is it that we can't just be happy for each other. I understand that we all have ideas of how others could lead their lives better...you know it's true...but when someone is happy about something...it is none of your business to question that. Let them be happy. Yes, I have my worries, but I do not need you to vocalize them. And this I am sure has happened to you as well. I have a friend that when she got pregnant and was happy she had, that her own family gave her the "Ooo really?" face. Just be happy for them!! None of your business...unless they are homeless, on drugs and havea two headed kid...just be happy! So I write this because I just wish this person would be happy. Not bring up every insecurity I already feel or bring those doubts back in my mind. I know, I shouldn't worry about others for my happiness, and I am not. I just want her to be happy and let it go. Go home and voice your concern there. Do not voice it to me. So, I am happy ...we are happy. And I hope that I can be happy for you.

Patience

Now that I am a mother, I would love if our children had patience.Patience for each other, for others around them and especially for me and their dad. So , last night, one of our kids has homework that I will not even pretend that I know how to do.So I sent them to a child that I know knows how to help. Well, after about 5 mins, screaming was heard through the house and tears were being shed. So, what do I do?...I yelled, yelled at the both of them. "You need to help each other...be PATIENT!!!" yeah, that really helps. (By the way I'm also a yeller...) Why? Why do I have to be so impatient? I hear of other mothers that sit with their kids and guide them and love them and help the through their homework... and I wonder, why can't I be that mother? The mother with the right answers and the milk and cookies ready, and that sits down and patiently helps them with the school work. No I am the yeller that refers them to others kids in the house to help. ( I mean isn't that why I had them all is for them to raise each other). Anyway, I really hate homework, and believe me it is so different from when I was in school. They have so many more steps and higher problems and have to explain every. thing. It's very frustrating. So if you are patient and would like to help my kids with their homework, the job is yours. If you needa yeller and impatient mom, then, give me a call.

Anxious

Does getting older mean that you get more anxious? Our life this last little while has brought some anxiety. Not a lot, but there are times that I feel like it is a little more then I can bear. My mind is the problem. There are too many thoughts going through my head. Family- are they ok?...am I being there for them...Louie's hip, is he going to be ok?...did he recover well?... Bills...are they ever going to go down?... I try and remind myself when I start to feel anxious that we a really blessed. That things have been working out and that they are going to continue to work. We still have our home, we have health, we have each other. So why do I start letting those thoughts into head? I guess I just want some clear cut plan. I want to be able to see the future really? (Wouldn't that be great!) So now as I type this I wonder if any of you have this and how you handle it. I feel that I am trying to handle it good. I don't lay in bed and cry all day. (But I also think that that might be nice to do.) So how do you handle anxiety?

Repeater

Hello, my name is Andrea and I am a repeater(Hello Andrea...). What is a repeater you may ask?... Well, let me start by saying I come from a family of repeaters. We very often have to say the same thing, out loud...over and over again, sometimes to different people but most likely to the same people. Not just once, but quite often. We begin by just feeling that we are sharing info that you might be interested in, that we feel you SHOULD be interested in. And then when we talk to you again and the subject that we have shared with you pops up again, we then AGAIN share the info that we have already shared again, because ..hey!.. we might not have told you ALL the info the first time, or so often, we forget that we have shared it already with you and feel that you need to hear it.( we also share things about our life, that does not even affect you, but we just have to get it out there, somewhere where it is heard.) And so the cycle of the repeater is. My dear hubby, he has started to catch on to this pattern and so when I start to repeat myself, he will point it out that yes, I have already given this info out(more then twice). But this usually makes me think two things:1-did I give him ALL the info and 2- when did we talk about this subject before?. Is this a sign that I am going crazy, no..been there... I honestly think that I just think that sometimes things are worth repeating, rehashing and just talking about more then just a passing time. Of course the repeater should know that you might get the occasional eye roll, also, others with out this condition,who know you have this condition, might do the "turn the other direction" so that they don't have to hear the same story over and over again, and then there is the courteous head bob that says,"yes, you HAVE shared this before, but I am too nice to stop you." So if you share in this condition, you are not alone. You are among friends. You are not crazy. Maybe you just need to get some more stories...

New Year

I have some friends that this year have decided not to set new year's Resolutions, because they feel that this word just sets you up for failure from the moment it leaves your mouth. I agree. See every year we say "I resolve to do this.." and then what happens...you resolve that you have no resolve. Another friend said that she is setting new year goals.I guess I can live with that. My only problem is then you have to set a completion date, and I am not sure I want to do that. I guess it could be an ongoing goal, something that I continue to do until I am dead... So what is the goal for this year?....AWWW! That is another tricky thing. When you tell someone that "goal" or share that you are trying accomplish said "goal", then that is when the temptations come. You could say I am trying to lose weight, BAM! You get a life time subscription to Baskins Robbins for free ice cream! (Could happen)...you say I am going to read more, BAM!...you go blind....(again could happen.) The point is, goals, resolution they are doomed from the start. They are something that: a- we should never start....or b- we should NEVER say and put it out there in the universe. Just keep to ourselves and then when say you do lose weight or your do read more, then you know you did it without the odds stacked against you. So, what is my new year goal/resoultion?..keep guessing!