July's almost over and I'm not done with my To Do list

This has been a busy month. The bathroom is painted as well as the two walls in the kitchen where we removed a huge banquette bench. I've moved all my winter clothes over to the bedroom closet and taken measurements for curtains. Noble's birthday presents are all done and the second box is on it's way. She turns 24 on Sunday. I finally got some pictures developed to send to my Dad who doesn't do email. I've helped with Dr. Hair's film project by baking cakes, breads and cookies for his fund raiser on July 4th, then shopping for costume pieces in Council Bluffs with members of the cast. I've worked in the yard pulling weeds and moving plants around; keeping a dog and two cats fed and happy, as well as taking care of a bird bath and feeder (new to my life this summer).

I've decluttered and taken bags of stuff to the thrift store. Moving is a good time to do that sort of thing. Items I haven't used or even unpacked from the last move are good candidates for removal.

My sewing room is a total mess again and will stay that way until we move out of this house and I can spread it out between the three bedrooms upstairs. I have PLANS! And with space to work in I fully expect to accomplish them.

I've given a lot of thought to my frugal lifestyle. My way of thinking is so natural now that it is automatic, without a lot of thought. The only times I think about it is when I hear what someone else does and I think to myself "That's not the least expensive way to do that." or something similar. When I think about topics for this blog I decide "Oh no one would want to know about that." I wish readers would ask questions that I could answer to give me some direction as to what you'd like to know.

This week Dr. Hair and Dandylion are off to the Scout High Adventure in South Dakota. TopDad and I are enjoying the peace and privacy. Just three short years until it will be like this all the time. Amazing! It took us ten years to get all five of the chuns here; it's only taking six for them to all leave us. (PW left in 2010, Dandy will leave in 2016) By the way, Noble is doing well in Korea. Several airmen (and women) have asked her to accompany them to Seoul because she speaks the language and can be their tour guide. She is happy to do so.

JET bought a zippy convertible sports car, red no less, and has let me drive it a couple times. It is really fun!!! He has a new job as a technician at a Honda dealership. PW is a pesticide technician for the summer earning money for school in the fall.

Everyone is happy, busy and making progress.

Lastly, the weather today is cool, dry with a lovely northern breeze. It feels like the end of September to me, rather than the end of July. But who's complaining, this is perfectly wonderful weather. Supposed to stay like this for the next week, then rain is in the forecast. Lovely!!!

Countdown Begins

Two weeks from today school begins in our town! Gadzooks, where did the summer go?

We're still working on our new house, but progress is slow as we are not under any deadline to finish, and I refuse to begin a second room until the first one is completely finished. I don't want to be living in a house of unfinished rooms. So I do a little here and there and we'll see what happens.

Yesterday I had the boys sort through their clothes to see what they had and what they needed for the new school year. I got out our storage box of "grow into" clothes and found I had enough shirts to meet their needs, plus shoes, Sunday slacks and belt for Dr. Hair. SCORE! That leaves jeans for both boys, and all new underwear for Dr. Hair (Dandylion got his for his June birthday).

JET has a birthday this month and I promised him new jeans and Sunday Shoes too.

PW is registered for classes at Utah Valley University and has found an apartment and roommate so he is excited, and we are pleased that things are going well for him.

Noble is enduring through her third and final semester at Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California. She celebrated her 23rd birthday last Saturday by going to California Pizza kitchen where she had a Pear and Gorgonzola pizza, which she said was divinely yummy.

TopDad is stressing over all that needs to be done to be ready to teach classes at TWO schools this year. Enrollment is down and he is (sort of) half time at the two schools. Always a new challenge.

I'm getting ready to teach early morning seminary again this year--my two students are our two sons. We'll study the New Testament, which we read as a family last year.

Catch Up Time - In Pictures

April 22 we had a Korean Meal to celebrate Noble's selection for the six-week immersion program in Korea. We enjoyed Noodle Bowls (Spicy Beef, Spicy Chicken and Spicy Kimchi) with steamed vegetables to put on top. Everyone ate with chopsticks! (Saranghae, Miyoonah!)

PW & JET

TopDad

Dandylion & Dr. Hair

PFCMom

I participated in an Apron Swap at the blog Down To Earth by making these two aprons and sending them to gals in Australia:

From them in return I received these two lovely aprons!

Thank you Fay!

Thank you Jacqui!

While with my Father in San Diego I had a three generation photo taken:

PFCMom - Grandpa W - Noble

Here's my traditional Mother's Day photo for 2012:

Back: Dandylion and Dr. Hair
Front: PW, PFCMom and JET

PW's been making faces since he was born!

Lastly, I had the frugal thought today to label important cords so I know what appliance it goes to; seems every time we move we gather up a bunch of electronics cords and no one knows what piece of equipment it goes to, so we discard it, only to find later that something is missing its cord. Solution? Label the darn things!

And that's about it. Noble is giddy with excitement about her departure Saturday, May 26 for her adventure in Korea; PW works long hours at two jobs, saving money for college this fall; JET is busy working for his college's TV studio and a contract project to promote tourism in Western Iowa, as well as his regular job as a lot porter at a Chevy Dealership; Dr. Hair is currently in San Antonio with his High School Band; Dandylion is home enjoying summer and helping us around the house. TopDad and PFCMom are working together on projects at home and enjoying some couple time.

He's Home

Elder PW - home from Argentina

We met him at the airport on Wednesday, April 4 at 10:45 AM, true to his teasing nature, he was the last one off the plane. I started running toward him and the gate guard cautioned "Ma'am, you can't go down there." I ignored him and ran to give my son a hug.

He is the same person, just a little taller, a little slimmer, and a lot more emotional and spiritual depth. He is settling in and making decisions about the future, taking care of business such as dentist and doctor visits, making contact with Westminster College and hundreds of friends.

PW's first request was to eat Pizza for lunch. Here he is with Topdad, and then his first taste of American pizza.

Then a short drive in JET's car

Oh yeah, this is sweet!

Here we are on Easter Sunday:

JET, Rozylass, Elder PW

The Man!

Dandylion

Sunday evening Dandylion combed his hair back out of his face. Is it just me or is he just about the most handsome thirteen year old boy you've seen recently? By the way, he has decided to continue to comb his hair this way. I love it.

Burst of Tears

Friday we received an email from Church Travel detailing our missionary son's homecoming arrival date and time. As I read it I burst into tears, joy and relief. It's been a long two years! He'll be leaving Argentina on April 3 and arriving here on April 4. Ten weeks from Wednesday!

Elder Thoelke with President and Sister Peterson

A New Year, A New Beginning

A fresh calendar, a clean slate, a new year in which to pursue goals, hopes and dreams. This past year was one of change and adjustment. I passed the one year mark of living in Iowa, a new to me experience; Noble joined the Air Force and left home permanently; JET graduated from High School and left home, temporarily it turns out (he's home again for a short time); as of this week Elder PW has just three months before he returns from Argentina; Dr. Hair surpassed me in height; and lastly, fortunately Dandylion still fits under my arm and still likes to cuddle.

I began my blog a year ago to announce and record my weight loss. LOL, that didn't exactly work; but it got me blogging and introduced me to a whole world of wonderful people and ideas that I didn't know existed. I've "met" seamstresses, crafters, preppers, scriptorians, moms of Large families, homeschoolers, poets, writers, photographers, gardeners, and more. What is so fun to me is that every blog I find leads me to at least a couple more (sometimes dozens). I've learned so much it's like attending a university.

With just two children at home now my time is more my own and I look forward to finally getting to some projects that have been on the back burner for years. My New Year's Resolutions include "making measurable progress" on five projects: weight loss, photo albums, cookbook, de-cluttering, and sewing.

I've written out a detailed weekly schedule to include all those projects so I don't get distracted and can focus more clearly on my desired outcomes.

Today we took Noble to the airport and said goodbye again. The time together was just too short! But I'm so thankful she got to come home at all and so grateful the weather cooperated so she could arrive and depart with no trouble.

Thanks to all who read this and may there be more of you in the coming year!

Time goes too fast

Noble has been here a whole week and it's just going by too fast. Last Saturday she took me out to dinner and to see the Nutcracker. Topdad took our picture.

Last Sunday I spoke in church (you can read that on my other blog); this week has been a combination of lazy days and lots of Korean with a little bit of baking and shopping and wrapping presents thrown in.  Noble is so fun to have around I'm loving life with her here.

Thursday night Topdad and I went to his annual end of semester staff bowling party. I won the award for the Lowest Score - and look, they even took my picture! (Sometimes that's what I feel like.)

Wednesday was our church Christmas Dinner and Party. I cooked a turkey for it and the party was a "white elephant" gift exchange. I scored some Hannah Montana hairbands and lipgloss as well as a package of thank you notes and another of stationary. Topdad got a hot dog and bun cooker, looks like a toaster. (We're re-gifting that to JET who is living away from home. BUT DON'T TELL HIM.)

Well, it's Christmas Eve and I want to wish you all a Joyous Christmas. May God bless you and your loved ones with the righteous desires of your hearts.

Another Fledgling . . . Fledges!

Today our 6'4" hunk of an eighteen year old man moved out of the nest. JET goes to school and works in Council Bluffs, just over an hour away. He has wanted to move out since August but hadn't found just the right situation. The decision was made easier on Saturday when he slid off the road into the ditch on his way to work. When Topdad went to pick him up they drove immediately to see a house with a room for rent. Today he and I packed up the most necessary items into the family Suburban and he drove off to a new home in the big city. (We are driving a rental car until JET's car is fixed.) He'll be back tomorrow after school to get the rest. It's always nice when a child moves out under good circumstances rather than in anger or rebellion.

Time continues to race ahead us our readiness. When I think of where our family will be in five years it boggles my mind. JET should be home from a mission; Dr. Hair on a mission; Dandylion preparing for a mission. And here's an interesting tidbit for any LDS readers: In our family we have a High Priest, an Elder, a Priest, a Teacher, and a Deacon. How's that for priesthood representation!!

Christmas preparations are coming along slowly, had that major hiccough this weekend, but I think I'm back on track. Stay tuned for tomorrow's post about what we do and why.

Today I Am Serious

That is part of my new mantra:  "Today I am serious about being healthy, losing weight and being physically fit."  Like most others I want to exercise and diet for one day and achieve my goals.  Sort of like practicing the violin once and playing like Itzhak Perlman.  Like that's gonna happen.  So I finally got it through my aging brain that reaching my goal is going to take a whole lot of todays.  Each day that I consciously choose to exercise and eat correctly will bring me closer to my goal.  The more days I chose to be serious the faster I will reach my goal.  Therefore Today I Am Serious.

In other news:  Noble is doing great at school despite logistical challenges like not being at liberty to go off post; not having a mail box to receive mail; not having a working computer, etc.  She is, however, having the sweet experience of being liked by a guy whom she likes at the same time.  This is a new experience for her.  Learning the language is progressing; she feels ahead in some ways from all the time she spent listening to K-Pop, watching Korean Dramas, and other television shows; and learning the Korean alphabet ahead of time.

Elder PW's letter this week was more upbeat; with new people to teach and a baptism on the horizon he is encouraged and happy.

JET began school last week and likes college; he has a good job at a car dealership which he likes.  Next two steps is finding the right living situation close to school and work and then getting a new (to him) car.  He attended the Singles ward this week and was gratified to have been scoped out by all the girls as well as having two of the cutest sit by him during the meetings.  Can't get happier than that for an 18 year old boy.

Doc Brown (almost 15) and Dandylion (13) come home most days with good things to say about school.  They both like learning and enjoy the small classes and attention of the small school here.  Doc Brown is so named because of his penchant for coming up with ideas for inventions and innovations a la Back to the Future.

And there's the latest news from the Heartland.