i just can't do anything right...

the other morning...

anna (tear-stained face, red eyes and screaming...): "mom, i am just trying to live a happy life and it's not working because of you!"

all because i make her wear clean clothes and non-sweat pants (jeans) to school.

she's only eight.

a quest for some optimism in january

redeeming facts about january...

*excellent tv...jack bauer, biggest loser, american idol, psych, monk, the bachelor, etc...i know it seems like a lot of tv but when it is too stinkin' cold to go outside and do anything else...

*it's only one month of the year and it's first, so it's out of the way.

*kids are back in school.

*elk are around in abundance. i think they are beautiful in their herds, all nestled down in the snow.

*hot meals...when i do cook, which i have been doing lately.

(at this point, i am really trying to stay positive. i can think of a hundred things i hate about january but that defeats the purpose of this post)

*fresh snow

okay, i'm done. and i don't think this exercise helped at all. ugh. can you share any positivity with me?

a post worth sharing...

thanks mandy for sharing...

ahhh...

here is my little skier...i love these learn to ski days.

poor anna is home sick.

please act your age

i saw a mom or maybe a nanny get mad at her two maybe three year old yesterday at the post office. she told her she was acting like a one year old and should be embarrassed.

i just don't get it.

one smart carrot...i mean cookie.

anna: "mom, i'm pooping. but i'm constipated. could you get me a couple of carrots?"

what a good mom am i

i told anna monday to let her teacher know that i could help out with the field trip if needed. i tend to wait until the last minute to volunteer--intentionally or unintentionally, i don't know (you see, if you wait until the last minute your chances of actually helping are slim because most people are on top of things but i don't really do all of this on purpose...i am a great procrastinator). anyway, the teacher called to see if i could help out. sure.
well, this field trip was to sylvan lake state park. an outdoor field trip. in the middle of january. with 500 feet of snow. in 20 degree temperatures. for five hours. and it snowed. and i did it.
with my four layers of clothes (not including my long underwear). my coat, my gloves, my boots, my hat with neck gator, and my snow shoes. tromping around sylvan lake. standing the whole day. because i was afraid if i sat down i wouldn't be able to get back up (due to the snow shoes, of course)--and i was right. i couldn't get back up when i fell. the instructor guy had to help me up. quite embarrassing. but i survived. barely.