Stop sending me emails!

As of today, I am decluttering my email inbox. I have 15347 messages! As you can tell, I am not good at deleting messages after I read them. Plus, I receive many emails that I am not interested in getting, but I have never taken the time to unsubscribe to them. I have started this process today. It is not helpful when I unsubscribe to a company's email list and they send me a confirmation email to let me know that they will not send me emails anymore! That gives me more emails to delete!

In other news, I got ALL of our laundry done today! That is a major accomplishment!

Just Lightning

Noah insisted on being called Lightning today. This evening, Matt called him Magnus.
Noah said "My name is Lightning!".
Matt..."Okay Magnus Lightning".
Noah laughing..."Not Magnus Lightning, just Lightning!".
Matt..."Okay Just Lightning". We all laughed and we continued to laugh every time Matt called him that this evening. :-)

Zoe had an exhausting gym class today! She took the pacer test...
The test involves running continuously between two points that are 20 m apart from side to side. These runs are synchronized with a pre-recorded audio tape, CD or laptop software, which plays beeps at set intervals. As the test proceeds, the interval between each successive beep reduces, forcing the athlete to increase their speed over the course of the test, until it is impossible to keep in sync with the recording (or, in rare occasions, if the athlete completes the test). Many people who test people using the Multi-stage fitness test allow one level to beep before the person makes the line, but if the person being tested does not make the next interval then the most recent level they completed is their final score. The recording is typically structured into 21 'levels', each of which lasts around 62 seconds. Usually, the interval of beeps is calculated as requiring a speed at the start of 8.5 km/h, increasing by 0.5 km/h with each level thereafter. The progression from one level to the next is signaled by 3 rapid beeps. The highest level attained before failing to keep up is recorded as the score for that test.It gets faster every level of the test.
Zoe ran 42 laps. The other girls in her class ran around 20 laps or less. Zoe has the record so far for the girls! When she stopped, there was only 1 boy running with her. Aaron stopped at lap 43. He was determined not to be beaten by a girl! Another boy in Zoe's class, who ran in a different group ran 70+ laps! Mrs. Frost stopped him because it was time for a different group to do the test. I'm exhausted just thinking about all this running!

The kids had a great time sledding after school today!

The top layer of snow is icy, so the sleds fly down the hill! I stood at the bottom of the hill earlier in the day to stop Noah from sliding into the trees. He had so much fun flying down the hill! Kate was more cautious and she would stop herself before reaching the bottom of the hill. Noah on the other hand wanted to go fast all the way down and he didn't care if he landed in the trees. I cared, though.

Lighter

Have I mentioned that I have lost 5 pounds?! I have gone 29 days without sugar and white flour. Some days have been easier than others, but I have been good every day this year so far! Glenn Beck is encouraging all Americans to be more like George Washington, so when I have a hard day, I think "I will be diligent like George Washington". It really helps!

Flying Solo

Matt left early this morning to get on the bus in Bangor @ 6am to head to the temple. I talked with him this evening on the phone and he has had a nice day in the temple. :-)

The kids & I had fun at my parents' house this afternoon. My Mom hosted a thirty one and a scentsy party, so Zoe, Emily & I went to that. I bought the cutest bag that I can't wait to get and to show you! The younger kids hung out upstairs watching "Babe" and "Rio". My Dad downloaded "Rio" onto Eleanor's mp3 player and she is in heaven! I predict that she will have it memorized soon from watching it over and over again! Eleanor watched "Rio" on her mp3 player, but Kate & Noah watched it on the TV. Zach went to Harry's birthday party and he had a super fun time! He came home with lots of fun stuff in his goodie bag!

Our evening went well because Zoe helped out so much. :-) I dropped the kids off at home with Zoe (her idea) and then I ran a few errands. When I got home, the house was clean, the kids had eaten their treat, and baths had begun. Being able to watch a movie is a great motivator!

Wintry Mix Day

No school today. We woke up to snow and then it changed over to freezing rain. In the afternoon, it rained. The kids & I had a good day overall. When chores were expected to be done, it was the worst day ever!, but while drinking hot chocolate with colored marshmallows and eating pumpkin pie or brownies (that Zoe made), it was the best day ever! Eleanor made cookies in her Easy Bake Oven. Zoe & Emily made this puzzle.


Matt was going to come home after work instead of having me drive to Brewer to meet him for datenight, but he left his headlights on today and his Suburban wouldn't start when it was time to come home. This led to our datenight since I had to drive to his work to rescue him. :-) We went to Bugaboo Creek again since we would get another $20 off our meal and guess what? Our meal came to less than $20 AND my card still hasn't been fixed, so I still have the same amount of points on my card. :-) I gave them my information again, but this time they encouraged me to call the customer service # to give them my information as well. The waitress told me that I would probably get their voice mail and if I left a message with all of my information, then everything should get taken care of. I am skeptical, but I will try it.

Matt bought an iPhone today. He wanted to buy it at the end of last year, but that didn't work out. Zoe is going to buy his iPod. She has been trying to talk him into a lower price since she hates to part with her money, but no luck. She is still getting a good deal, though.

Eleanor wiggled a loose tooth out this evening! Yesterday, Zach accidentally hit Eleanor in the mouth with his zhu zhu pet, which made her tooth looser than it already was. Her tooth was bothering her after that happened, so she has been wiggling it. Matt & I are glad that this tooth came out on its own instead of having to be pulled! Eleanor was happy, too. :-)


Matt is going on the bus trip to the temple tomorrow. It was a busy week to squeeze in a stake interview, so he could go, but he managed to do it. :-)

Go, Go, Go

Last evening, the older girls & I went to church for a joint youth activity, Cub Scouts, and Activity Days. Zoe's friend, Caitlin went with us. The youth were supposed to go ice skating, but the rink was closed. I'm not sure if the thin layer of ice would have been solid enough to skate on anyway. The warm temperatures have melted all the snow and ice away. The youth ended up playing a complex version of tic tac toe. My cubs painted their model dragsters to display at the Blue and Gold Banquet next week. Then they paired up and had a basketball shooting contest. They made the game up and they put me in charge of keeping score. The Activity Day girls learned a hula dance that they are going to perform at our branch Valentine Luau. Fun!

I took Kate & Noah to the "Dinosaur pool" today. We stopped at the grocery store and then came home for about an hour and a half before going to get the kids from school. After getting the kids, we stopped at home for snacks and bathroom time and then we drove to Target for band concert outfits. Last evening on the way home from church, Zoe mentioned that she'd like to wear dress pants to the concert this evening, but she didn't have any! Zoe can have the gift of great timing sometimes ! :-) So, we had a quick trip to Target and it really was pretty quick. I was also able to pick up a birthday gift for Zach's friend, which I needed to buy today, so that worked out perfectly. Dress pants turned into outfits, but they were quick finding them and they were looking forward to wearing them, so I bought them. We arrived home, ate dinner, and then headed out the door again with Matt to the concert. This was Emily's first concert and she was nervous.She had a dream last night that she forgot her saxophone, so during the concert, she just stood in the middle of the concert without her instrument while feeling awkward. Not a fun dream! In real life, she remembered her saxophone and she did a great job!



Zoe was happy because for the first time, she really liked what she wore to the concert.


Zach spent some of his time during the concert writing notes. This is what he wrote to me...
"Dear mom I love you. You are a grate mom. I love pumpkin pie. I love you. Zach". So sweet! Wondering why he put pumpkin pie in there? We had a pie auction before the concert and I bought a pumpkin pie. I am giving it to my dad, but a few of the kids, including Zach are insisting on a piece of it!

"My" Bowling Team

Maine Jump Pictures

I now can post pictures from my Xoom! Yay!