Where did October go?

I woke up this morning and looked at the calendar and could NOT believe that October is already over! Where in the crap did that month go? It seems like yesterday that Mr.D and I were discussing what we needed to get done on the house for this month. We accomplished 85% of it. Kind of a bummer but when you only have 2 hands, 3 kids, and a perfectionist for a husband that's kind of what you get.

It's frightening in a way that a month could literally just slip by without being noticed. It makes me feel a little out of control at the moment and I'm not liking that feeling. I feel like my time is not being spent very well or importantly and that bothers me. I am usually the type that has everything organized, neat, and clean. Lately I'm doing really well if the laundry is at least washed and dried. The home we are living in currently is pretty bad and I can't seem to get a handle on much of anything lately.

I am praying that we will be moved in and settled before Thanksgiving. If we are not please forgive me if I seem a bit rattled and am mumbling nonsense. I think that may be the final straw for me. The holiday's are so crazy and I haven't even Christmas shopped yet. Usually I'm done by now. So if you can't get ahold of me after Thanksgiving and we haven't moved yet, then you'll know why I'm not answering the phone. I may be a little frazzled.

P.S.- I just got called to be the ward canning specialist, the den leader for the wolf pack, and a ma on the next trek in March. Help Me!

Really?

So our ward's trunk or treat is tonight and I am scrambling to get costumes pulled together at the last minute. Ugh. I had a few from previous years stashed in a tote in the garage. I was seriously counting on them to save the day and then my boys informed me that they already wore them and that they are NOT "cool" anymore. Really? Because that's what you're gonna wear whether you like it or not.! No, I didn't really say that. I felt bad. They have worn those costumes every year for the last 3 years. Crap. Now I've got to get seriously creative.

#1's Costume- A cereal killer
T-Shirt
opened boxes of mini cereal's
fake blood
large spoon covered in blood

#2's costume-Construction worker
$1 construction workers hat from target
flannel plaid shirt
holy jeans
lace up work boots
toy hammer hanging out of his belt

#3's costume- Skeletor
Recycled costume from brothers
white face paint
black face paint

Phew. Crisis averted. Everyone is happy and I had to do minimal work. Now all I have to do is make an amazing batch of chili to win the chili making contest and some bread for my mother in law. Really?

Let the Type A personality step forward please!

This past week has marked the beginning of the most progress that has happened on our new house since it was framed. Our amazing cabinets are being installed and I am so Thrilled!!!! It's not just because they look amazing, but now I'm organizing things before I can even put them away! I have so much storage that I don't think that all of the drawers are even going to be filled.

Everything has a place and the workspace I have now is incredible!!!! I have enough room  to have 4 workstations for my catering company! That's a lot of employees people!!! I can't sleep right now!!!! My mind is a mess of organizing and planning right now. Where do I put my Bosch so it's the most functional location? Where do I put everything? It's pretty sick that I am already worrying about where to put things when I can't move in for at least another month. It's just sooooo exciting though!!!! I am excited that everything will be put away and won't be stuck on my counter tops! It's going to look to clean and pretty. I will definitely take picture of the entire kitchen when it's done!!!!!

P.S.- We got those cabinets off of Craigslist! A lady had ordered them for her house and had changed her mind about the stain color after they had already stained them. So the guy was left with all of these cabinets. There was enough for our kitchen, laundry room, office, and two bathrooms. Besides that her plan for her kitchen was identical to ours! We got a great price and I LOVE them!!!!! We have been so blessed through building this house and I am truly grateful.

Lunch

I know that I have mentioned this before, but, I LOVE FOOD. I was able to go to lunch with a good friend of mine at the Olive Mill today. It was LOV-E-LY!!! The company was fun, the food was good, and we got there before everyone else did. I ALWAYS get the Arbequina sandwich. It's roast beef with a mild horse radish sauce, sautee'd peppers and onions, with homemade potato chips. OMG. My mouth is watering again. I really shouldn't be hungry, but I would drive over there and get another one in a second!

What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Do you make it from scratch? Or do you go somewhere to pick it up? Let me know!

Just Call Me Ma!

Mr. D and I have lived in our new ward for 3 months and we were asked to be a Ma and Pa on the next trek for our youth in the ward. OMG!!!!! I am so freakin' out right now. Why you may ask? Because I am not the hiking type. I don't even like to go shopping because my feet start to hurt. Ugh.

I know this will probably be an amazing experience. One that I will never forget. At least that's what I've heard. I just I hope that I won't forget this experience because it was so awful! I am not an outdoorsy girl. I am allergic to a lot of outdoorsy things and prefer to sleep inside with all of the many comforts that I have been blessed with. Example: My sleep number bed. I never sleep well in other places anymore.

My shower. I can't sleep when I'm dirty. I know that I will probably be so tired that I won't care, but I still can't fall asleep. I feel like I'm itchy when I go to bed dirty. It's disgusting! I know that my pioneer ancestors did it, but they kind of had to. They had to get to somewhere better where they would be safe. I don't have to do this. I'm not going to die if I don't do this.

In lots of ways my parents kind of did a disservice to me by never taking me camping or hiking. The only camping I did was in the back of my dad's truck for one night for Father's and Daughters. My mom was NOT the nature type. She can appreciate nature, but it's from her front porch of her cabin/house in the mountains.

Mr. D could not be more thrilled. This is right up his outdoor lovin' alley. Heaven help us. The first thing he asked was if he could bring his mule on the trek. Show off. He is so excited to see if these kids can actually hack it. They might have a harder time pulling the handcart with me sitting in it. :)

Well here's to being ripped out of your comfort zone, forced to dress in period clothing and sleeping under the stars with 8 teenagers and a handcart. Oh my, what fun.

Lucky

I am incredibly lucky. Just wanted you to know. The man I married, the children I have been blessed to have, the situations that I find myself in, and the blessings that I enjoy. I am incredibly lucky. Nothing happens by chance. Everything is for a reason.

I always know that when I'm having a rough time, that a better time is waiting just around the corner. How? Because there is opposition in all things.  When things are not easy, there will come a time when they will be easier. Be patient and grateful at the time.

I have a brother that is helping me install our closet organizers. He used to work for a closet company and learned all of the tricks!!! I am so lucky! Our closets are going to be awesome!!!! I can't believe that we are on the home stretch!!!! Hopefully it will be a few more weeks and we will be almost done! Lucky girl!!!!

Making It Up As We Go

Do you ever feel like you have absolutely NO idea what you are doing ? Yeah, me too. It's called making it up as you go along. My middle son likes to do this frequently with his music. He is constantly making up songs all by himself and yelling them at the top of his lungs and making up the words as he does so. It's hilarious. And yet he takes himself totally serious and really feels that someday these songs will be heard on the radio for everyone to enjoy. I love it.

My other son is the fountain of knowledge. His brothers are constantly asking him for the answers to their major questions in life like, "Where does Santa live?", and "Are we going to shoot a big elk on the next hunting trip", or How come mom and dad like to yell?". And believe me if he doesn't know the answer, he will make one up that actually makes sense to the other boys. What fun!!!

I don't feel like I have all of the answers on a daily basis. My oldest child likes to ask me questions about space, dinosaurs, science, biology, math, and the speed that a bullet leaves a gun. I rely heavily on the Internet for my answers. It's annoying to not know the answers to seemingly easy questions.

My children want to know when the new house is going to be done. They want to know what we are having for dinner at 6 a.m. in the morning. They want to know why they can't have friends over to our house all of the time. My answer? I don't know or I don't want to. That's it. And unfortunately that is not a good enough answer. So they pester me until I have to stop whatever it is that I'm doing at the moment and tell them to LEAVE ME ALONE!!!!! Yep, Making it up as we go.

I am amazed

Building this new house has taught me a lot about myself. Go figure. When we first started this project I was scared to death because I am not handy at all. I bake, clean, and sew. Not drill, screw, and hang doors. It just goes to show you that you may not know yourself as well as you thought.

Here is what I've learned about myself
1. I can unload an entire 4 tons of roof tile and drywall from a trailer at the dump.
2.I can spend an entire day sweeping up drywall dust.
3. I can I can dig a trench.
4. I can wear the same clothes 2 days in a row.
5. I can eat sandwiches for dinner all week long and be okay with that.
6.I can handle my husband on a daily basis.
7. I am an amazing multi tasker.
8.I don't want to build another house for as long as I live.
9. I am going to be more attached to this house when it's finished than I ever have to anything in my life.
10.I know how to recognize Heavenly Father's hand in every step of building this house. It never would have happened without His help.