It's Worth a Shot

One of my children has SUPER bad eczema.  Lately there have been some signs of other things allergy related, so I'm a bit curious to see what develops.

In the meantime, we're working to battle the dryness.  I shared our cure a long time ago, so I thought I'd link to it again for anyone who might be dealing with this same ailment.

When I shared it before, it was used on a baby.  This child is now much older than that.

We went to Target this evening and purchased two 100% long-sleeved cotton shirts and followed the same instructions as given in this post.  It worked on a baby.  I don't see why it wouldn't work on an older kid as well.

We'll see what the morning holds. Hoping for the best.

The New Plan

Sometimes insomnia is such a wonderful thing.  Although, this morning's insomnia was coupled with a migraine at 4am, so maybe not so much.

I didn't waste the time, though.

Before I went to bed last night, I checked Facebook.  A friend's status stated something about how much money is saved when you have a meal plan. 

Let me just tell you, if you ever decide to go back to school, have a rotating menu that you can follow the entire time you're taking classes.  I had one that came and went, and when things got really busy, I totally let it slide.  We've still been continuing our sliding pattern these past few weeks.  Time to get it together.

I think I'm ready to implement a meal plan.  Not just a meal plan, though....A meal plan with a twist.

I woke up with my friend's status on my mind, and I thought about my kids.  During the summer, we split up cooking duties--each child has a night to cook dinner.  I haven't done this during the school year just to give my kids a break so they can focus on their studies, school activities, etc.  As I thought about this this morning, I realized that I'm not doing them any favors.  The day's going to come when they're going to have school, work, love lives, etc., and they're going to have to work eating in with all that somewhere.

So, the twist...I have decided to allow each of my children from the five-year-old on up, a night to cook dinner.  They're not allowed to throw a frozen pizza in; that would be cheating, but they can make something simple as long as there is a vegetable in there somewhere--along with a protein and a grain, of course.

Once a week, we will sit down together and each will tell me what they plan to make on their night.  I will shop for the ingredients.  The older kids can make dinner by themselves, but I will work with #4, 5 and 6.  #4 might not even need me. We'll see.

#1 and #2 left for school before I was able to present the idea to them.  #6 is on board for this evening.  He's making chili mac and salad.  I just asked him if he was planning on doing something for dessert (kind of rare at our house).  He said, "Yes.  Hot chocolate."

So far, #5's making teriyaki chicken on rice tomorrow night.  He'll probably do corn to go along with it.  He'll throw the chicken in the crockpot before he heads to school, and it will be done by the time he gets home.  #3's making grilled tuna sandwiches on Thursday.  --#1 and 2 just walked in.  Man, oh man!  You should have seen the eye-rolling!  But, they're willing to give it a go.--  #4 is making pizza next Monday.  I haven't a clue what I'm doing for Sunday, but I'll get there.

So, no, I didn't get any sleep this morning, but I love it when a good idea comes from it all.  Somehow it makes it worth it.  Maybe because of this plan, I'll be sleeping better in the future.

The Interview

Someone inquired as to how the interview went on Saturday. I'm really not sure how much I should reveal on this topic, but I've decided I'm just going to let it all hang out like I usually try to do.

The Mother of the Year interview was actually really fun. I enjoyed the people I interviewed with. There were three of them, and I was already acquainted with two of the three. The third guy I liked from the moment I met him, so it was just like sitting there answering questions. Each asked me two questions and then I was allowed one minute to sum up my feelings on whatever I wanted to. 

Here's where the honesty comes in.  Please don't think I'm talking myself down because this is just me being honest.  I'm a good mom, but when it comes to this competition, I'm completely out of my league. You recall that I was nominated for Young Mother. Well, becoming a nominee for Mother is a different ballgame in a few ways.  One in particular is that you have to prove that you are helping your children succeed as they become adults and go out on their own. I don't have this factor in my life. I can't prove something I'm not doing yet. Not only that, but as far as motherhood goes, compared to these amazing four women, I'm a newcomer to motherhood.  I think most of them have been a mother for at least ten years longer than I have.

I have a hunch who's going to win, or at least who'd get my vote.  Of the women that I know (of the four) they are all FABULOUS, and I'd love to follow them each around just for one day to learn from their experiences and what they do on a daily basis.  I'm thrilled to get to rub shoulders with women such as these.

So, as I drove out to the interview, I was completely relaxed.  It was a nice place to be.  I think if I'd really thought I had a chance, I'd have been nervous as all get out. The Warden asked me if I didn't think I could win why was I going? I figure everything's good experience, and what do I have to lose, really? It's all been a very fun and educational ride.

I plan to continue participating in the activities and meetings of American Mothers, Inc. It's a great group, and I think if you haven't, you should check it out.

The Gala is the 17th.  I'm jazzed to wear my new dress, shoes, earrings and necklace and have a reason to dress up and celebrate motherhood. It will be good to be with my dad and his wife, my parents-by-marriage and others. I love that there is absolutely no pressure. I'm going to go and enjoy myself.

When the Gala is over, I wonder what life will bring next. School's out and the Mother of the Year stuff will be past. I'm looking forward to whatever lies ahead.

Life is good!

Historical Coincidences (?)

I'm up waiting for a daughter to get home from a dance and decided that I'd watch an episode of one of my favorite shows--Who Do You Think You Are? I caught the first episode of season 3.  The Martin Sheen episode. Now that I've watched it, all I can say is WOW! History is amazing!




I am just astonished how things come together.

In alignment with the Sheen story, our family has interesting turn-about as well....

In 1999, when it was announced that the Nauvoo, Illinois temple, which was burned way back in 1848, was to be rebuilt, we were urged to search our family history records to see if we had any ancestors that helped in its original building.

It was a pretty sure deal that the Warden, who descends from LDS pioneers on both sides of his family, would have had ancestry there. As for me, my paternal grandmother's was my only line that descended from those who joined the LDS church back in its early days--around 1830, so it was doubtful that I had much to go by with only that one line.

As I got to searching, though, I found that that line--the Riddle line--was, in fact, in Nauvoo back in the days of the building of the temple. Not only that, but my great, great, great-grandfather, John Riddle and his sons, helped make the shingles for the roof of the temple.

After finding that great news, I searched through the Warden's family records and found that his family--the Walker's--took those shingles my family had made and...LAID THE ROOF.  Ironic?  (If you go to the link--go to page 40 at the bottom of the right-hand column).

So here's some other weird facts--my dad and his wife served a mission to the Nauvoo Temple a few years back.  When you go to that Walker link, here's where it gets really amazing....the Warden descends through the Walker's and Miner's.  I descend from that same Miner/Minor line a few generations prior--my line was non-LDS.  Added to this, a friend, who is a fairly recent convert to the LDS faith, asked me to help her do her grandmother's genealogy.  Her grandmother's maiden name? Holmes--descended from this same line through the Miner's.

It is SUCH a small world!  If you get a chance, read through the Walker family information at the link.  It's pretty fascinating what these people endured.