A promotion and a public service announcement.

I got a new job at church.  For the last couple of years I was working with the cub scouts.  A year and a half with the Webelos, a year with the Wolves, and a whole week with the Bears.  I hadn't even made it to a den meeting when they released me. 

John answered the phone when they wanted me to come into church to talk about my new job.  What John told me they said was that I was "under strife".  He thought it was an odd comment, but maybe someone was starting to think that after 2 1/2 years, it was starting to affect me, and someone was concerned.  Which I was truthfully a little upset about.  2 1/2 years is a long time, but I thought I was handling it.  It takes awhile to get the hang of things, and I was enjoying working with Zach, as a middle kid he doesn't get much one on one.  Besides, I'd get moved around every year or so, so that was keeping it fresh, and I was about to work again with some boys that I already knew and loved, and they are a great group of boys.  Really fun, cute, kids.   So while my excitement has definitely wained over time, I thought I was at least cheerfully doing my job, and I was upset that somebody thought I wasn't.  I expressed my concern over this.  I apologized if anyone thought so, to which the reply was "No, I said you 'earned your stripes'.  You're graduating. Not being fired."  Whew!  What a difference a few letters make!

So, graduating.  I'm working with the Boy Scouts now.  My official title is something to do with the words "Advancement" and "chair"  I'm still fuzzy on it all.  But at least I am getting a quick crash course in it.  My big job is to put together a Court of Honor to hand out all the Advancements and Merit badges.  And there's a bunch of other stuff that goes with that, like learning new software, and paperwork, and purchasing those little badges and stuff.  I'm a little stressed, but not totally freaking out.  There have been plenty of people offering support and help if I need it.  (The problem is not getting help, it's figuring out what help I need.  Hopefully it won't be too late by the time I figure that out).  Anyway the next C of H is in 6 days.  No pressure.  (wish me luck)

On a related note- I'd like to give a public service announcement to all the kids out there (even though the only two who actually read this, have already gotten this lecture)  Kids- don't do stupid stuff.  Like getting arrested at 18 for trying to get a fake ID.  It will follow you FOREVER.  Last night, as I was filling out my Boy Scout application there was a line "Have you ever been convicted of a crime?"  and I had to fill in the little "yes" bubble. And then on the line "If yes, please explain" I wrote "Fraud. Forging gov't documents -1994".   I'm not that worried.  They let me be a cub scout leader after I put that on my application.  But still.  FOREVER, I tell you.

Everyday is something

May is hard. 

Okay, maybe not hard, just busy.

School is almost out, so everybody is wrapping things up.

Some of the things we've been working on lately-

School projects- reports and posters.  Zach did his explorer report on Juan Ponce de Leon, and Madison had to do a famous American report and a whole presentation on Shawn Johnson.

Maddie is running for school council Vice President.  More posters, and a couple campaign speeches.  Wish her luck.  Voting is over, but we still don't know the results.  She was running against three of her friends, so she feels a little conflicted, but I think she will be fine with whatever the results are.  She didn't even vote for herself.  She voted for one of her friends.  " I think she will make a great Vice President.  And it just feels sorta wrong to vote for yourself." 

Orchestra concerts- I think I've been to four so far, and we have two music lesson recitals this Friday,  (viola and piano) thankfully at different times.

Nick's eagle scout project- trying to remain optimistic, but I think at this point we might need a miracle.  Nick is trying to fix some specialized equipment for disabled kids.  Between getting started so late, the one guy who knows what he's doing is in Asia for 6 weeks, the company who built the equipment in the first place has discontinued the product and won't return our phone calls and emails, etc... let's just say we're getting worried.  (what happens if you FAIL at an eagle scout project?  What do you do if you just CAN'T do what you promised?!?!?)

Baking cookies to try and entice/reward any scouts and their leaders who spend their time helping Nick.

End of school parties. Today is Christopher's water day which I will most likely be going to because I'll kick myself if I don't.  My list of chores can wait.

I need to start making caramels for teacher gifts.  The kids love to give them, and most of the teachers seem to love getting them.  Having a special needs kid means a lot of caramels though.  I want to thank all those souls who take care of my baby - teachers, aides, therapists, bus drivers...

Dental issues.  I had a cavity that got worse and needed a crown, and that was a nightmare experience as it was, and then because the pain wouldn't go away, they decided I should just get a root canal on top of it.  Once again, that experience was so   awful   fun, the endodontist gave me free movie tickets to make up for it.  (nothing like hanging upside down in a chair with your mouth full of   crap  necessary dental instruments, and thinking you are totally going to lose your lunch.)  - Believe it or not, I'd still recommend him to anyone getting a root canal, he's super nice and competent, it was just one of those days.


Luckily though, I got a bunch of percocet out of the deal, and I love me some percocet (and vicodin, and lortab...) except it makes me itchy.  Not itchy enough to throw them out of course.  (and for those of you worried about my safety and well-being, don't worry about me, I can quit any time I want to. Ü - Just kidding I already have.  My mouth doesn't hurt enough to warrant wasting them on it any more.  And yes, I was very careful to not operate heavy machinery or make important decisions while hopped up on my favorite drugs)

And then there's figuring out the schedules for the family for the next couple months- traveling, summer pre-school, EFY, camps, etc, etc, etc.  I still haven't got a grasp on that.  One thing at a time I guess.

Lost and Found

A couple of weeks ago I got a phone call from some guy who said he found a backpack belonging to a Nick Berrett while hiking in the mountains.

Two months ago, Nick lost his backpack at a Boy Scout Camp. John was with him and they scoured the campgrounds with no luck. Nick thinks someone stole it and hid it, and I secretly wonder if it is equally likely they were on a hike or something and he set it down and forgot about it, but as his mother I will be giving him the benefit of the doubt and believe that he was the victim of a prank and not mere carelessness. (Although thinking about your child being a victim doesn't make me feel any better.)

Anyway, it was lost. Presumably forever. And then, miraculously I got a phone call. Actually, the guy called and left a message, which I NEVER check, and so it was over a week before I got back to him. (Seriously, people- texts or e-mails. Best way to get a hold of me. Or call my cell phone. Unless you want to sell me something, then don't bother)

I finally picked it up yesterday at his work place in Mesa.

I had to stop and think about all this guy went through to get it to me. He found it up in the mountains somewhere where it had been exposed to the elements for at least a month, hauled it back to his car or whatever, rifled through it looking for a number to call to return it to it's owner, stuck it in a bag and stored it for a few weeks at his house until he could get it to me. (Fortunately for whatever reason, Nick had put our phone number with area code on one of his merit badge worksheets)

And then I wondered what thoughts, if any, this good Samaritan had while going through this backpack. As a time capsule for my son, I couldn't be prouder. His scout handbook, his Deacons Quorum presidency binder, piles of scouting merit badge papers, a notebook filled with detailed goals and projects he was working on in all areas of his life, his Duty to God book, and a Book of Mormon.

And his broken glasses.

It's currently out on the back porch.

I'm trying to decide what, if anything, is salvageable.

Besides being just really dirty, I am concerned about bringing the plague into my house. There appears to be little black mold spores over much of everything.

I miss this kid

He's been gone to scout camp all week. In Arizona.

John went with him. I thought that was a great opportunity for both of them. Male bonding and all that.

Tomorrow evening John will stay in Arizona and put Nick on a plane back to Utah, where I will greet him at the airport, give him hugs and kisses, listen to his stories of camp, then pass him off to my mom so I can board an airplane to Arizona so I can catch my flight to Europe in the morning.

Are you keeping track?

In a three week period, I will get to see my oldest for approximately 30 minutes.

30 itty, bitty, teeny, tiny minutes.

I've never been away from him for so long before.

EVER.

Truth be told, I will be away from all my babies for about 15 days. That's about 5 days longer than I've ever been away from them.

my son, the geek

Just had to share...

Nick told me this story about scout camp today. He is working on his cooking merit badge, and they had to design a pie. I'm sure they were thinking cherry pies with lattice crusts or apple pies with a cut-out design in the crust.

Nick decided on a raspberry pie (can't really blame him for that though, it is a pretty yummy pie.) For half a moment I was wondering what kind of "design" he was going to put on top of the pie as it is a single crust pie.

Before I even voiced my thoughts on the matter, Nick said, "and for the design, I said I was going to use frosting (ew, gag) and write 3.141592653589"

(that's as far as he's managed to memorize Pi. He says his goal is to memorize to the 100th decimal place. A bigger geek out there? I think not.)

What I'm doing

I haven't posted much about anything for awhile, and don't really plan on blogging much more for the rest of the week either, but thought I'd just post a little something about what is going on and why I don't have time to blog much this week. I do this mostly so my mother doesn't worry I am dead or something, and so my faithful blog followers (all half dozen of you) know I haven't fallen off the planet.

Basically, in a nutshell, I am working on a couple "While You Were Out" projects.

Last week Nick was off at a week long Boy Scout camp at Camp Geronimo and had a total blast, saying it was one of the best weeks of his life, despite having his underwear flown up the flag pole (we suspect it was boys from another troop). Nick was still bully magnet material, but for the most part, all the boys in his own troop stuck up for him when he was the target of kids from other troops. He was both surprised and touched. I explained that it must be the "little brother" syndrome. You know, big brothers are allowed to pick on their own little brothers, but if anyone else tries to mess with them...

So, while he was away, I moved Christopher out of the nursery and in with Zach, and repainted the room for Nick (cause he was so not down with the pale green jungle theme going on). I painted and taped and painted and taped some more. For like 4 days. I'm still not quite done, need to find some bedding, spray paint and construct some things, and hang stuff on the wall. Nick loves the results so far.

Christopher, however, is having a hard time adjusting to the new sleeping arrangements. We think he is trying to claim Nick's bed as his own. The first night he woke up screaming at 4 in the morning, I went and comforted him, apologized to Zach, put the screaming Christopher back in bed and went to my own bed. About 20 minutes later, the screaming and crying finally stopped. I thought he had fallen back asleep. Nick said he had climbed out of his crib (although no one has actually witnessed this yet, it was believed he could not) and went and kicked Nick out of his bed. We might be in the market for another bed sooner than we had hoped, because I am afraid he might hurt himself climbing out of the crib in the middle of the night. But that will just make it easier for Christopher to go in and bother Nick in the middle of the night in an attempt to claim his room back.

This week, Madison is leaving for Girl Scout camp tomorrow. She's super excited. She'll get to ride horses. I am going to re-do her room while she is gone. She's not so big on the princess theme any more. (she was 4 1/2 when I painted it last) I'll think she'll like what I have planned. I'm excited.

I'll update with before and after pics when I get everything just the way I want them (more or less any way)

Thanks Stacey!

You Rock. Seriously. You're a total lifesaver! Any time I can return the favor just let me know!

We ♥ Scouting

In the last weeks, my two oldest advanced in rank in scouting.

Madison just graduated from a Brownie to a Junior. They had a little bridging ceremony to celebrate this fact with her troop.

We had debated whether or not to continue with Girl Scouts, but she's excited to keep with it. So never fear, those of you who rely on Madison to supply you with Samoas and Thin Mints are still safe for another year.
I'm sending her to "sleep away camp" again this summer. She is so excited.

~~~~~

Nick advanced to the rank of Star.

Unfortunately as I will not be winning "Mother of the Year" anytime soon, and John was out of town, I didn't show up to his Court of Honor, and had to resort to stealing this picture off a friend's blog. (Thanks, Rachel!)

Despite the fact that no one showed up to support Nick on this recognition night, we are fortunate to know those who will look out for and support our kids when we are unable (or forget) to be there. These pictures were just e-mailed to me. As I sit here and look at these pictures and let the guilt wash over me, I am thinking I will try to buy Nick's forgiveness (even though he's already given it freely) and buy him a snazzy sash to display his merit badges. Maybe some super cool green pants too.

He will be attending not one, but two scout camps in the next couple weeks. Next week is camp Geronimo, (week long overnighter) and the week after that is Lake Pleasant (day camp). He couldn't be more thrilled.

In preparation for that though, I need to go and sew some patches on his shirt (it's been a year and half and he still doesn't have the troop numbers or council patch sewn on). In my defense we tried once. I decided I don't like the badge magic (iron on stuff) that I used on his cub scout uniform, because the more you wash it, the more they tend to fall off, but the badge magic goo stays on and just looks gross. (And believe me, those shirts get washed. A lot.) So, I tried to sew on the patches, but I am retarded, and ended up using bad words and throwing the shirt at John to do it. He ended up breaking the thimble, shoving a pin through his finger, and bleeding all over the shirt. (more bad words were probably used).

So, I need to figure out how to sew in the next couple days. (unless I can bribe someone else to do it for me? any takers? Bueller? Bueller?)