Sunday Reflection

A friend shared this with me this week,

and it has inspired me to forgive
perhaps those I haven't in the past.
I hope it will do the same for you.
Just as it did this amazing man.
For those who haven't seen it yet,
grab a tissue. . .

Funny Friday

My kids quote this part from Bedtime Stories
and giggle crazy-like every single time.
(Particularly the alligator part.)
Didn't care for the movie so much,
but this part had me in fits!
Enjoy your Friday and
remember to laugh!

Nightly News, Radio Show and The Tooth Fairy

Because some of you have asked about it, I thought I'd post the latest news report on my budgeting program. Here you go:

There was also a radio show done with Cristie telling my story and giving advice. She tells what we have been working on thus far. If you have time and wish to listen, here you go. Oh, the "Curtis" caller at the end is my brother-in-law. What a goober.

Here is this week's blog entry. If you wish to follow along each week, just click on the icon on my sidebar or go to Imagine a Happier You. Thanks to all those who have been so supportive through all this! It has been a ride that is for sure!

The Tooth Fairy Dilemma

I’ve got a dilemma. This dilemma adorns wings, a wand and a sack full of teeth. She most definitely carries around something else. Money. With three children now losing teeth, what used to be a fun, irregular occurrence is now turning into a thorn in my side, and my wallet.

When the dentist happened to mention in September that my oldest would be losing seven or eight teeth very soon, I brushed it off thinking, oh, they will fall out one-by-one over the next year or so. Surely he jests.

It all began last month, the weekend of our anniversary getaway. My mother-in-law arrived to watch the kids and just as Todd and I were rushing out the door, my 10-year old exclaimed, “Guess what!? I pulled my tooth at school today!” I answered her, but my widened eyeballs shot to Mom, “Oh, you did? Wow. . . . that’s great! I sure hope the tooth fairy comes tonight. . . .” That’s when Mom’s eyeballs widened. She bit her lip, as I came to learn later out of concern that she would forget to wear her wings that night. After all, it had been many years since she had been faced with this situation. I sneaked her a dollar bill and ran out the door.

The next day I heard the entire story, from both sides. Mom didn’t forget. Whew. There was a letter exchange involved. What?! Now I have to write letters? And, perhaps the most disappointing, Mom informed me that she added another dollar bill to the reward. Two dollars for a tooth? Perhaps I am turning into an old fuddy-duddy. Perhaps I have been blinded from the reality of inflation, but I remember when I was pleased as punch to find a nickel under my pillow. How was I going to live up to $2 with subsequent teeth? Mom had now doubled the expectation from our norm .50-$1 range. Thanks Mom!

Since then, my 10-year-old has lost two more teeth and informed me this morning that she will be pulling another one tonight. Oh ,and by the way, she has another three loose and let’s not forget younger brother and sister who wiggle their loose teeth daily in hopes of finding their $2 under their pillow. My kids feel life is totally unfair when so-an-so at school tells them they got a $5 bill for a tooth! Really? Sheesh.

Do I really need to make a special budget category for lost teeth? If so, how much should be budgeted? The Tooth Fairy has already disappointed my daughter when each subsequent lost tooth only generated $1 each. Todd simply explained that each tooth has a different value to them. Am I being too stingy? I am almost starting to believe that this little Fairy is the one who has been hacking in and taking all our money!

It’s not just Tooth Fairy money I lack a budget for. It is the other little occurrences like money for the occasional school lunch, classroom donations, a gift for the birthday party your child just got invited to, etc. To those who have young kids — Help! What is the going rate for teeth these days? And what do you suggest for these once-in-a-great-while happenings when it comes to my budget?

Dear Tooth Fairy: Will you please reward me with a wad of cash under my pillow if I leave you a handful of hair? Because, when it comes to budgeting for the little stuff, that is all that I seem to be losing these days!

Turnback Tuesday

Today's is dedicated to two of my dearest friends ever.

Because, weirdly, it is their birthdays today.
Yes, both of them.
We have been friends since high school.
And now our kids are friends.
And so the cycle continues.

April and I became good friends after working together on student government at OHS.
(We would be the goofy gals on the ground.)
You always seem to know how to make me laugh.
Dawn and I became friends in high school aerobics class.
Then we roomed at Ricks College.
And I still see her several times a week.
Finding good friends like these is such a rare thing.
I am so blessed to have friends in my life.
That make me laugh,
Listen to my emotionality,
but love me all the same.

Happy Birthday you two.
Lunch today was too short.
But splendid.

Baptism Day

My sweet girl was baptized Saturday.
She was so nervous.
Even woke at 5 a.m. and couldn't, wouldn't go back to sleep.
Read 2 books.
She has anticipated this days for the last 365.
SO excited.
I learn from her.
When she met with the Bishop a few week prior and he asked
why she wanted to be baptized.
He answer was quick and simple,
"Because Jesus was."
Isn't that why we all should do things?
Because He did?
Everything will ultimately be aligned in my life
if I do as He did,
live as He would.
Lesson learned.
Thank you, my Alli.
You are beautiful.

Funny Friday

Since it is still technically Friday for another hour I thought I'd do a Funny Friday.

I read an article on the top toys for the year and I honestly can't believe that this is the #1 toy to get for Christmas. It's true! I saw it in the Family Fun magazine for this month!
Seriously?
What are we doing to our children?
Throw out educational, mind-stimulating toys and let's give them these?
Nope.
Not happening here. . . .

My Little Bug's B-day

Being the middle child, it seems like you always get the short end of the stick. Believe me, I am one. Because of this, I vowed to not dish out that short end to my kids. But I failed. Here I am two weeks later, posting about my little girl's birthday party. Bad Mom. Not only that, but we forgot our camera at home in another car, so the pictures she will have for posterity are from Todd's phone! It was her 8th birthday, so an important one. Despite all of this, she had a great day and is still celebrating.

Per tradition (from Todd's family), the 8th birthday is celebrated at the Lion House.

The Lion House really knows how to put on a great party!
The kids toured the house, learned about Brigham Young and his family and saw some of his collections--did you know he collected seashells? They even played pioneer games, had a taffy pull and ate sandwiches, veggies and homemade lemonade.

Grandma works downtown and stopped by for a surprise visit!

They made her a large cake, with a hidden gumball inside. Alli chose chocolate. Yum. The kids had cake and ice cream. Alli had to guess the disguised voice of the gift-giver behind her. Wasn't as easy as it looks!
They let her choose a porcelin doll to take home. She also got to take a crown and everyone got to take a goody bag home. Now she is counting down the hours until she is baptized. She is really looking forward to it.
Happy Birthday Little Bug!