just writing

I'm exhausted - thanks work for letting people go home early and then 20 minutes before I was to clock out.... you call all TE's to 8 hours... yayyy.. seriously??? I was struggling with the last 20 minutes of work.. NOW I had to take a 30 min lunch at 1 am.. And then work TWO MORE HOURS after that pointless lunch!!

man it was a frustrating night. But also an informative one.  We learned more about the new position.

There are about 600 people to interview for 462 positions. When I heard that, I was relieved! Whew! That is some good odds.  I also had a review the night before.  It went so well that I hope I'm not getting my hopes up! haha. My speeds in all the different platforms are relatively good. On most, I am keying over 100%.  Keying over 100% means that I am keying faster than the REC's average in that platform.  I am a little slow in some areas but I am hardly in those platforms. My average error rate is 3.65% and they want it at 3.1%. So it's close! But if they look at my error rates for each individual platform then I have some really high error rates.  But then again, the ones with the highest rates I haven't been in those in a long time.  And to get the rate down, I'd have to key it perfectly for like 3 months!  So the supervisor who was telling me about my error rates told me to stay with my strengths and stay away from those high error rates platforms.  You'd think to go to my weaknesses right? Well... She said to use my speed and lower error rates in my strong platforms to defend myself in my interview.  To point out my strengths to them and say if I slow down a bit in my fastest platforms and perfect those error rates, then I can work on my weaknesses.

But overall, I feel confident.  I've been told by 2 supervisors that I have a good chance. so phewwww!! Now.. the interview.. They start next week, as in Monday. Then they are doing 3 groups of 5 day breaks.  We have to have a 5 day break in order to start as a PSE (the new position).  The 5 day breaks start on Aug 8, 15 and 22.  So hopefully I get the position. The next 4 months are going to be stressful.  I have to go through another probational period!! And I'm not excited for that.

anyway.  kids are crying like crazy.  they didn't listen to my letter on FB... and working on 4 hours of sleep is hard... Oh boy...

Did you know?

 Did you know that Molly Weasley also played Rosie in Mamma Mia?? 

Rosie is one of the friends of Donna the Mom (played by Meryl Streep)

NOW.... did you know Voldemort....

 Is the same guy in Maid in Manhattan???? Seriously? Good make up job huh? I didn't really notice it... til you really look at 'em!

I know I'm weird.. but I was like "no way!!" about both of these.. So cool haha

30 Day Mom Challenge

If you want to do this with me, you can do this two ways...
Start today at #1 

OR You can find today's date and Start there

Either way you choose -
 continue to do these things each day of everyone month.  

What am I going to do?
I'm going to start with #22
and keep doing it month to month.

And maybe one day every day will have these implemented!

And since I don't want to use SO much color ink. 

I've typed out my own and I'll use some cute paper to make it cute.

I found this image at iMom.

Thoughtful Thursday

My friend, Alex (from my old ward), posted this article on Facebook called "A Few More Obvious Tips for Not-Very-Good Homemakers" and it is hilarious... you should read it :)

My favorite two paragraphs.. They really were all awesome!! But these stuck out the most..


My friend Barbara (you all know Grannybabs, right? She's awesome) suggested this absolute gem on her blog, "Specialization is the key to appearing competent." Memorize that. It's a great homemaking tip. Barbara says she knows how to sew aprons and make homemade mac and cheese, pumpkin cookies, and jam. That's it! But she's really good at those things and people think she's a very  snazzy homemaker. Find your four things and live your life. This is a true pearl of wisdom. Thanks Barbara!

 I like the above paragraph the most because I've been trying to figure out my talents.  So I'm going to take this advice and find MY four things and live my life! And stop comparing myself :)
And finally, I'd like to share something that I learned only a few years ago which blew my mind. It is this: Interpret things in your favor. I spend a lot of time and energy trying to tease out what people really mean or could have meant or could be thinking or might have meant to imply. I read this advice in a magazine and told Christian about it. He says he does this all the time. He just assumes people mean the very best. I never do that. I always think the worst. And it makes me feel bad. So I don't do that anymore because as a not-very-good homemaker I've got my hands full without worrying what everyone else thinks about me and my store-bought birthday treats. 



 I like the above paragraph the most as well because I do take what people say in the worst way.  About 90% of the time the people don't even mean it the way I think they do.  I need to think the very best of people! People are NOT out to get me! haha :)

Now go READ THE ARTICLE...  here's the LINK again :)

How to Use Pinterest

I have made this tutorial to hopefully help get through Pinterest! I've done Browsing Pinterest, How to add a board, How to Edit a pin, How to Repin.  Let me know if this helps, if I need to change anything and any suggestions :)

Here we go......

BROWSING PINTEREST

This is what you see when you go to Pinterest.com

1. Recent Activity.

What the people you are following are doing.

2. Discussions

Random things being talked about

3. Everything

More Random things

4. Gifts

Things you can buy

5. Recent Pin

What the people you are following are pin-ing.

6. someone's Pin

When you hover over someone's Pin, you'll see

Repin, Comment, Like.

7. Search

8. Your Name

when you hover your mouse over your name, a list will drop down.

Your Pins

Your Boards

Preferences

Logout

You can also click on your name.

and this happens:

A. People who follow you

B. People you follow

C. Click here to edit your Profile- like picture, name

D. Editing your Board

E. To see your Board

F. To see your Pins

G. To see what Pins you've liked

H. To rearrange the boards

 (just so you didn't forget)

9. Add

Add a Pin

i. where to put the link

ii. pick the right board

iii. description of the pin

iv. click Pin It

OR

Click Upload

And choose a picture 

you want to upload

Add a Board

I'll show you below how to add a board.

10. Boards

Boards You Follow

Staff Favorites

11. People

Tastemakers

Find Friends

Invite Friends

Followers

12. Find Friends 

Invite Friends

HOW TO ADD A BOARD

and then how to add a pin

In the upper left corner you'll see drop down lists.
Hover your mouse over "Add"
you'll see Add a Board. Click on it.

This will pop up. Create a name for the board. Select the Category. 

Last pick who can Pin to your board. (I've always just put "Just me") 

Click "Create"

Here's my example:

For this tutorial, I am creating a Girly stuff board.

After you press "Create"  this will pop up. Make sure you have your booksmark bar up.  

Don't have this? 

Go to "View" on the top of your webpage.  Click "Toolbars".  

Make sure "Bookmarks Toolbar" is checked.  

It'll usually be right under the place where you type in the website.

See where it says "Drag this link Pin It to bookmarks bar"? 

You literally press on the Pin It and drag it to the bookmark bar.

This is my bookmark toolbar:

You find a site you want to "Pin".

 Love me some GigisPetals :) 

So you want to bookmark this page.  Press Pin It

This will show up. 

Click "Pin it" On the picture you want to have as the picture 

you want to represent what you wanted to remember. 

On this website, there's obviously only one picture available. 

After you click Pin It, this will show up. 

1. Make sure you pick the right Board you want this bookmarked on. 

In this one it says Books I love - obviously this is not a book. :)

Remember how I created the board Girly Stuff? 

Click on where it says Books I love and click the right board - Girly Stuff

2. Describe your pin.  How do you want it to be described so you know what it is? 

For mine: <3 this headband for future daughters/nieces

3. Press Pin It

 (If you want it published on Facebook- 

check the box next to Publish on Facebook)

here's another example:

Cute Idea that I found on a blog about how to make a Canopy Bed. So cute.

To ensure that you are taken back to the right blog post - 

Click on the Blog post name.  

That'll make sure that the Pin will bring you right back to what you were wanting to bookmark.

Then press Pin It.

LOTS of pictures this time. 

On this blog, she has lots of pictures on the side not pertaining to the blog post. 

Make sure you click Pin This on the right picture.

Make sure the Board is right. Put the right description.  Click Pin It.

What your board will look like.


HOW TO EDIT YOUR PINS


For this example, I'm using the canopy bed pin. When I was taking all those screen captures, I forgot to click on the blog post name so that the link would go back.  So here's how I edited that.

 Here's the Girly Stuff Board:

Click on the Pin you need to edit.
In this example, the canopy bed.

This is your Pin. Click Edit.

Here's the Edit.
1. You can edit the description here.
2. Edit the link.
You should highlight and copy the right link.
Then paste in this field.
3. Editing the Board.
This is where you make sure the Pin is in the right board.

HOW TO RE-PIN


Say you see another Pin on someone else's board. Like this adorable wreath for the front door. Love it! :)

click on it.

1. You can Like others' Pins
2. You can Repin someone else's Pin

When you click Repin
1.  Pick the right board
2. The person's description- you can change it.
3. Click Repin
4. You can publish it to Facebook

1. The right board - For the Home

2. A new description

3. Click Repin

4. You can publish to Facebook

Success!
You just repinned a Pin.


Hope this has helped... Remember to comment if you need anything.. :)
 thanks for stopping by

a complete 180

Yesterday was a FABULOUS Sunday.  So much better than last Sunday.

But let's start this little post Saturday night.  Creighton and i were hanging out in the tree swing when my pocket started vibrating. It was a local number and usually I don't like answering my phone if I don't know the number.

But I did. And I'm so happy I did. It was the Primary President.  She was checking in with me, making sure everything was okay and if I was okay with the calling.  And she wanted to reassure me that they hadn't forgotten me since it was Saturday and I hadn't been given a manual. 

Anyway. I wasn't going to say anything.  But then the Spirit prompted me to just say it.  What bad could happen. 

So I spoke up. 

So happy I did. She completely understood.  She immediately brought up to have Creighton try the younger nursery to see how he does.  I was SO relieved that she brought it up!  Heavenly Father really knew what I needed to have put that thought into her head. I guess it was 2 thoughts. 1- to call me. 2- to mention the younger nursery. 

Sacrament was easier because Adam was there. Love those rare Sundays when he can join us.

Primary was GREAT! Except that my co-teacher had an emergency so I had to teach the lesson. i think they learned something.

Adam dropped off Creighton.  Apparently Creighton didn't even notice Adam. When I went to pick him up, he was being held by one of the leaders.  She said right away "Creighton did SOOO good! He fit right in and just played."  He didn't want snack - he rather play.  He sat for about 2 seconds for their little lesson and went right back to the toys. But they were okay with that. 

*big sigh of relief* 

if Sundays go like this, I'll be one happy mama!

I still LOVE my boys!!

older picture but SO cute

So That last post needs to not be in the top spot anymore.  Its depressing and just negative.  It was a horrible horrible day but things happen.  I just need to learn to express how I'm feeling to the right people the right way. Which I'm hopefully doing before church on Sunday.

That post also made it seem like I don't love my boys.

boys are tough. 

really tough.

BUT I keep telling myself that it will get better.. They grow up and different difficulties will arise, yes but they'll understand how to act in church.. And maybe become my helpers in a way. 

life wasn't meant to be easy. 

"I never said it would be easy, only that it would be worth it"

I don't think that's a direct quote, obviously, but its true.

So when my days are hard with the boys, I really just need to ask for help. And then when that doesn't help I need to get on my knees and pray for strength and patience.

and then I need to remember:
I LOVE MY BOYS!!!

....

Today was not a great day.. Not even a good day..

But it started out good. Woke up before the boys to get ready.. got them ready and fed in time.. Even Sacrament was great. I thought I was in heaven with how well they were doing!! I was so thrilled..

But of course, as it always happens.. I thought all that fuzzy happiness too soon.

Then came Primary and since I was just called to be a Sunbeam teacher I was asked to sit and help with the kids.  Yep sure thing. I was happy to! I love the kids in Primary they are always so fun. But then cranky 13 month old Creighton started to not want to sit still. Cause THAT would be too easy for me.  And he's everywhere. And I'm sweating like crazy! (I do this gross sweating thing whenever I'm nervous and in an awkward situation) Then the other sunbeams were distracted by Creighton and how cute he is.. (which he is) THEN Cayden says to me "I can be here by myself mom" - like I was there to make sure he was okay with his class.. Sorry buddy I'm a teacher in here now... Then decides he doesn't want me at all..

*Insert full on tantrum that includes hitting mommy and crying*

Yep.. I was NOT happy about this. I didn't know what to do. I wanted to cry. Creighton was somewhere in the back knocking over chairs and Cayden was trying to push me out of my chair. Yayyyy.. This is the point where I just want to grab the cranky boys and leave.

Class wasn't better at all.. He saw his Sunny D bottle of apple juice and started freaking out wanting some.. Creighton went after all the Sunbeams.

Cayden also does this thing where he asks for the same thing over and over and over and over and over and over and over and OVERRRRRR until he gets it.. and if he doesn't he FREAKS OUT! Ahhh.. the life of a 3 yr old.. I thought I was lucky and had a kid that didn't throw tantrums... Today made me realize I am not that lucky mom who's kid is perfect..

So after crying my eyes out for a good thirty minutes when we got home, I finally was calm-ish to sort out my feelings and thoughts.

I'm still upset with the behavior of my 3 yr old who I was told is a perfect angel in Primary.  I think its a bad idea to have me in there. Let alone with his 13 month old brother. So when I'm a bit calmer and not about to burst into tears every 36 seconds.. (yep 36.. I've been keeping track. ha) I'm going to call the Primary President and explain how I feel about the situation.  If they would let me have Creighton in the Nursery earlier than 18 months and have me NOT in Cayden's class (there are 2 sunbeam classes) then I think things would be smoother.  I haven't been set apart yet because that was a whole other fiasco that I don't want to go into.  But I hate talking to people about my crap because I feel like I am being in the way or seeming not willing to accept callings.. I am very willing but if its going to be crazy like this every week.. my sanity canNOT handle that... I don't want to come home every Sunday and ball my eyes out and send Cayden right to nap time.. I can't..

Am I wrong in thinking this way? Should I just stick it out? I don't think I can.. I don't know..

Randomnesssss..

- As I was blog hopping to random people's blogs, I realized how lucky I am.  I am a mother of crazy boys but they are healthy!! I am the wife of a supervisor of the Deli at Costco.  I don't have to be without him for months or nights at a time.  He's not going overseas.. He's not out fighting crime or fires..  Don't get me wrong those are amazing amazing careers.. But I don't think I am a strong enough woman or mother to handle any of that.  I am proud of Adam of being a supervisor! The higher ups LOVE him and that helps for future positions. So proud!!

- I'm lucky to have a job myself. I love being able to help with the pay days. Even if its just to cover groceries. I wish we didn't have the bills we have, the debt we have.. But until that is gone, I work.  And as much as I hate it, I'm willing to work so that my husband doesn't have to work 2 jobs!  I could go on forEVER on that.. But I won't.. I'm lucky that this job is a night job so that I don't have my boys being raised at daycare..

- Our house is almost unpacked.  The 3rd of July party for the 4th of July helped with the boxes that were in the kitchen, playroom and the front room.  The front room's painting is done. I need to take pictures of it.  There's one wall that I'm doing a project of craftiness.. I'm hoping it'll turn out great.. Here's the start of it :

See that Tulip picture?? Gorgeous huh? My friend Laralee took it! And that Tree picture with the path in the middle??? My dad took it :)  I have many more pictures to add to it and quotes! :) What do you think?

- I've lost track of what I wanted to stay! haha. But that's normal.. :) even though we're struggling a little with certain things.. I'm still happy and feel super lucky to be in the life I am in.. with have the family I have! :)

Friday Fotos of our Felines

(excuse the mess - still unpacking the play room)
But Millie decided to plop into one of the boxes

Lovin' each other FINALLY! 

 Funny thing about the cat bed is Millie reFUSED to sleep in it til Milo decided to sleep in it.. :)

Well.. He's found his hiding spot..

This little guy is always finding weird spots in  our house..

Thoughtful Thursday

Sorry for the glare... I took this picture from a magazine that was left on a table in my break room at work..  But I have to say... I totally agree!! Why must we all keep up appearances?  I want my house to be clean yes.. but it doesn't need to be sparkling.. Right now our TV room is a mess.. but my boys are happy and playing.. when they are old and moved out.. My house will be clean again :)