Vander Linden Musings

Well- my second oldest is eight!  I don’t know how that is possible since I am still 25.  He got to go bowling with Papa, Grandma, Kayla, Sean, Gerritt and Josh on his birthday.  Uggg…. I can’t believe he’s 8!!!

Christmas was great!  After opening presents and eating a big meal, we all went to see Bedtime Stories.  That was a funny movie!   As opposed to the sad movie I really wanted to see- Marley and Me.

Yesterday Jake was baptized.  He and Dad did great!  No toes popping out of the water!  Gerritt and Katija gave the talks on Baptism and the Holy Ghost.  They did awesome!  And in the hustle and bustle I forgot to thank them!

One of these days- I will get pictures of all of these events posted!

Oh- and we are buying a house in the neighborhood we live in!  So excited!!!

There’s a knock at the door and some man has flowers in his hands.  I’m expecting he is at the wrong house, then he asks if I am Jennifer.  Ok- so he’s at the right house.  Weird.  It’s not my birthday.  It’s Father’s Day on Sunday- not Mother’s Day.  Hmmm…  What did my hubby do wrong?  He swears nothing- just wanted me to know that all of my boys love me.  Hmmm…  Maybe I’ll find out another time what these were for…

Now if I could only get my writing and typing hand to realize it is 2008 and not 2007!  At least it’s easy to change 2007 to 2008 on a check!

I got to be in 5 states in two days this week. I went on a road trip. Road trips are my favorite. The person that was with me thinks I went to help her out. Nope- it was ALL selfish! Kidding- but I really did have fun!

Barbra, someone I have known since age 4, came out to Utah to buy a car. She thought it was smart to drive home alone. I on the other hand was jealous of the road trip, and a little worried she may need someone to go to the pharmacy for her in the morning, so I volunteered to go. BJ didn’t bat an eye. My amazing hubby got online to find me a flight home. So Sunday we left.

There were some funny moments. Moments in which we laughed like we haven’t laughed in a LONG time (she kept asking “How old are you???”), and moments in which I was the only one laughing, she was in too much pain to laugh. And if you know her- you’ll have to ask her what the pain was from. I’m keeping that info tucked away until I need to blackmail her!

I missed the boys, worried about whether or not they would get to school on time, worried about whether they would get their homework done, and worried that BJ would never let me leave again. But BJ did a great job. They got to school on time, their homework was done, and they knew their spelling words when I got back. All was well.

So, I guess what I am saying is- thanks for the trip Barb! I had a TON of fun!!!

I want to keep everyone updated with what’s going on with us- but there is NOTHING new!  The boys are seeming to enjoy school- but Gerritt doesn’t like his homework load- cuts into his video game time- guess that’s a good thing!  Jake and Josh have just gotten over what sounded like croup- hopefully Gerritt doesn’t get it.

BJ hasn’t been traveling much.  Though he does leave next week for California.  He’s completed two of his masters classes.  Got an A in the first one.  Not sure about the second yet.  His next class is an accounting class.  He’s nervous about that one- a lot more work.  Like Gerritt, his homework will be cutting into his XBOX time.

Me?  Well, I get to make cookies for Young Women’s tonight.  And then I get to clean the kitchen- yuck.  We’re sharing our favorite recipes at Young Women’s tonight- so excited to overeat tonight.  Not really.  I’ve been overeating a lot lately- growing right out of my pants.  I remember when I used to be able to eat like a pig and not really have to worry about it.  Now I exercise pretty much constantly and I still gain weight when I overeat.  Oh well.  Guess thems the breaks of getting old.   See all you people that laughed at me when I was a cranky mess when I turned 20, can now see why I was- I didn’t want to get OLD!

We’ve decided we’re going back to NY next summer.  Grandma and Grandpa Badding will be having their 60th anniversary!  We want to be there to give them hugs and kisses!  We also want to hit a Yankees and Red Sox game.  Hopefully that will work out!  If I had my way- we would be driving out there.  But the hubby would rather fly- he doesn’t like the idea of driving across country with our three “angels”!   Maybe I’ll figure out how much it is to rent an RV.  I’ve read you can stay the night for free in WalMart parking lots if you’re in an RV. Then I would be able to shop at my very favorite store every night before bed time!  Fun stuff!

Well- seriously nothing new here- sorry to bore you with my pointless ramblings!!!

We have half day kindergarten…

Why am I blogging this answer?  Because I wanted to complain.

It’s 10:20 now… just got finished cleaning the upstairs, and doing some laundry.  Do I have time to go to the mall and get some lotion and use my coupon to get some free stuff?  No.  If Josh were in full day kindergarten- I would have plenty of time to do that!

If I can’t get much done- I don’t suspect they’re getting much done at school.

Just another of my pet peeves.  Of course- they are trying full day kindergarten in some schools.  So by the time I will no longer have children in kindergarten- full day kindergarten will have FINALLY been implemented in the Utah schools.  Blah blah.  Ok- done complaining!

Well I finally started up again! I had gotten up to Gerritt’s 9 month age range. Wow- I’m good! I started yesterday, and now I am up to Jakob’s blessing day and Josh’s birth day. After I get all of my photos that I have printed in- I will be switching over to my new scrapbooking program on the computer! I can’t wait- it makes AMAZING pages! I just may finish up the pictures that I don’t have on the computer, and forget about all of the hundreds of prints so I can scrapbook the EASY way.

This program is attached to the Apple computer system where I can send pictures in and they will publish a hard bound book for me. BJ had the idea that we can do this for Gerritt’s baptism. Such a GREAT idea- to have a hard bound book full of pictures of you and your family on your baptism day! I can’t wait!!! I love technology!

Anyway- back to the scrapbooking. I haven’t wanted to start again because I was SO far behind. So- I took over the kids toy room (they don’t really have toys anymore anyway) and I spread all my pictures out by year- and it is SO easy now to do. Just grab some pictures and go! I’m not that great at making it cute- which is why I can’t wait to use the computer program- but the kids love it anyway!

I figured I’d better start a hobby since Josh will be in school this year and I will be left at home all by myself! They go back in less than 2 weeks- July 25th. I hope I don’t get bored! What does a stay at home Mom do when there are no kids at home? Guess I can take up the Xbox- haha.

Oh how I wish I were one of those women who loves cleaning!  Do they exist?  Are there really Monicas out there (Friends reference)?  It took me until 2 Pm today to get motivated to clean the kitchen.  I called my sister Beckey so that I could talk to her while I cleaned…she was busy.  So I decided to SUCK it up and just do it.  Now the task of cleaning the bathrooms tomorrow is already on my mind.  Dreading every minute that ticks me closer to tomorrow.

And don’t get me started on the laundry!  That NEVER ends!  There is always something staring at me seeming to say, “Wash me!  Wash me!”  I’m not so bad at the washing, since I gave myself a schedule, as I am the putting away.  I have many pieces of clean clothing hanging in the laundry room, and many pieces of clean clothing folded in the laundry room.  I have to pump myself up to put them away.

If only being a stay at home Mom was just playing with the kids, or making sure they don’t swallow something they aren’t supposed to.  If only, If only, If only…

So- I woke up this morning sicker than a dog (not sure what that means). I’ve been able to get out of bed a few times- and none of those times was it to take care of the kids. I’ve found that when you are sick their voices are not the first thing you want to hear!

The boys have gotten their own breakfast, lunch and dinner today- poor things! If BJ weren’t on his way to some country far far away- he would have been able to take care of them- and ME! I was starting to get hungry and I lacked the energy to get up and get something. I could have asked the kids- but they would have gotten me cereal- and that just didn’t sound like my stomach would like that!

I’ve banished the kids downstairs pretty much the whole day- I should get the Mother of the Year award!

Only now have I felt good enough to get up and sit at my computer chair. That is most likely because the hubby is supposed to be checked into his hotel in the Philippines and getting online with us- so I am waiting- since his device (cell phone for those of you unfamiliar with the Helio lingo) won’t work over there.

So in the last couple of weeks, since BJ has been out of town- I have found two reasons to keep him around- shoveling and taking care of the kids while I am sick!