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Dear blog readers:

Stephanie Nielson, of NieNie Dialogues, is looking for a new "you" for her 2011 "Nie and You" blog. See it HERE.

I think I would be a great YOU, I mean ME.  I would kill it!  :)

If you think I would be a great candidate, and want to see me post a picture of my life everyday on her blog (which I know you do – how could you not with those cute faces I have for children??) then please send her an e-mail recommending me, won't you?  Tell her you think I'm amazing or something like that (make it up if you have to).

Ok – don't make it up…

Here's the e-mail: nieandyou@yahoo.com

I really want this "gig" – how fun would that be?!  

Thanks, in advance, for the props.

Mer.

We all have a little extra bounce in our step over the Rangers heading to the World Series!  What a fun thing to witness.  Wish I could have been there in person…but it looks like my brother and Anne WERE – check out this facebook picture she posted (I stole it!):

Cool, huh?  I think it means more to Texans since it has never happened before.

We grew up going to the OLD ballpark watching the Rangers from the bleacher seats.  I remember my mom bringing a cooler of drinks and a big bag of Starburst (which I thought was heaven on earth).

I remember as a teenager my mom laying in bed watching the Rangers consistently – she loves baseball (still does).

My girlfriend, Kate, had a red jeep in high school.  She and I went to the Rangers game many times as teenagers, in that jeep.  Her dad had season tickets and we took full advantage.  We knew that drive by heart.  A fun sidenote is that now she is an attorney for the Rangers!!  It was fate.

And now we watch with our kids and enjoy each nail-biting second of the games.  Both times we went this year they went into extra innings – talk about getting a bang for your buck.

Go RANGERS!

And a sad FYI:  I entered my name on the Rangers website 4 weeks ago for a lottery that would allow you to buy World Series tickets in advance (before they went on sale to the public).  I was being so proactive!  I mistakenly gave my "junk" e-mail address.  Last week, while I was frantically working on my Relief Society meeting (lots of technology involved) I neglected to check my "junk" email.  Well – you can guess the rest.  I was chosen for the opportunity to purchase 4 tickets during a 36-hour window.  I checked my e-mail 2 hours after the time deadline. Go ahead – pull the knife out of my heart.  Not to be, I guess…not to be.

The con…I've lost the blogging feeling (again).  The pro…I sometimes have the blog feelin', which means I have 5 years of a great life documented.

The con…I can barely walk from soreness and an achy back.  The pro…I've been working out hard and feel good about it.  This is the most dedicated I've been to exercise in 15 years.

The con…I'm tired from staying up too late.  The pro…the Rangers are dominating against the Yankees!  It's sure been fun to watch this baseball team win.  Even if it means staying up later than I should.

The con…Jacob has overspent his brother 2 to 1 in his lunch account.  The pro…a website that allows me to see all of his purchases, a printer that allows me to print his purchase history, a red pen that allows me to mark all of his frivolous spending and a love and logic approach that will allow him to learn a lesson from it (i.e. a suspension on buying his lunch and an opportunity to pay me back with his own money).  It's a good thing (right?!).

The con…a grumpy toddler.  The pro…naptime.

The con…cancelled appointments last night to see ladies from church.  The pro…a shopping outing by myself since Derek had planned on an evening without me.

I'm realizing life is all about seeing the pros!!

Today Samuel is still in his pajamas (it's noon).

Today is the only day all week that we don't have appointments and errands.

Today I have the windows open and am enjoying the sound of the pool fountains.

Today I am giving my achy back a break from working out.

Today I am working on my slideshow and presentation for our RS meeting tomorrow night – the parable of the genuine pearl.  I'm pretty excited about it.

Today I am celebrating the Rangers win last night – hip hip hooray!

Today I am wishing I could go cheer the Rangers on this weekend against the Yankees, but not to be.

Today I am finishing up this week's laundry.

Today I am cramming for book club tonight – we're reading "The Glass Castle" and I'm only half way through – we'll see how fast I can read!

Today I have honey mustard chicken in the crockpot.  Tonight I'll serve it with brown rice and a salad.

Today I am feeling better after a traumatic meeting with Jacob's teacher on Monday.  All things in perspective…right?  He's a good kid, who has struggles.  But first, he's a good kid.

Today I'm grateful for my mom.  I've showed up unexpectedly in her office two afternoons in a row (the first being after the traumatic meeting on Monday) and she was happy to see me and had lots of good advice.  She didn't even bat an eye when I interrupted her day.  Love that lady.

Today I am tickled that my favorite babysitter sought us out to see if she could babysit for us this weekend – how great is that?!

Today is a great day.

I had the great privilege of attending Deseret Book's "Time Out for Women" this month.  It was such a wonderful retreat for me – a time to think and learn and enjoy friends.  The best part was attending with Dana and Shelley (and running into so many other friends who were there).  The second best part was getting to see Hilary Weeks again in concert, and getting to spend time with her "backstage".  Because of her relationship with Dana (see last year's post about the private concert at Dana's home) we were able to enjoy front row seats and time with Hilary for lunch.  What a neat gal she is – very gracious.  We also enjoyed getting to visit with Emily Freeman, one of the presenters at the conference (whom I really liked).  It's always nice to renew and rejuvenate through the power of the Spirit and the influence of righteousness.  Loved it!

 
 
 
 

While I was at TOFW, Derek decided to be adventurous and take the boys to the State Fair.  They all loved it of course.  Caleb's highlight was the funnel cake.  And they all loved the petting zoo.  Samuel had a fright on his first roller coaster (alone with Caleb).  And ended the day in tears because he was so exhausted (see picture in front of Big Tex).  But it sounds like a fun trip and I was sad to miss it with them.

  
    

 

Wow – this week has flown by…thus no blog posts.  I've barely been home, and my house is showing it. I really need to be acting domestic at this very moment – that is, I NEED to be doing laundry and dishes and picking up.  But instead I thought I would pop in with bullet points about this good week:

• We're worried about Caleb at school.  This morning I walked a normally-happy-cheerful Caleb to school after forcing him out the door and holding his hand while he cried that he didn't want to go.  It's happening a lot lately.  His teacher is not a particularly happy person it seems and lots of kids have this same problem with her year after year (so I hear from other mom's). Makes me sad.  And he's struggling socially (which never has happened before) – getting picked last for basketball at recess, not being able to find a peer group that he feels comfortable in, etc.  This is my happy-go-lucky, loves school, kind of kid. I went up and had lunch with him today and ran in to the principal (who I love) on the way out. She visited with Samuel and then said "I've been wanting to ask you how school is going this year for the kids?"  And in that moment I loved her even more.  I was able to discuss some of my concerns. A tender mercy.
• Me and Samuel have had two fun outings – a playgroup at the park and a b'day party at the pumpkin patch.  I love preschoolers.
• I had a lovely trip to the temple with a gal I've admired from afar and enjoyed getting to know her better.
• I got to substitute teach in seminary (6 am scripture class for the teenagers) and loved it. I taught on a subject I love (Emma Smith, wife of the prophet Joseph Smith) and felt that I had their full attention.  A plate of cookies and a note from them the next day made it that much more special. I love the youth.
• I went on a fall shopping spree for clothes and shoes.  I rarely go to the mall.  I rarely shop for myself.  It was fun to do and Samuel was such a trooper.  5 and 1/2 hours of shopping, no stroller!!  I'm thankful for Iphone games and large dressing rooms with benches and chairs.
• Derek and I took a 10-mile bike ride this morning.  I feel as goofy as I look, but am excited to start doing something that Derek enjoys so much.  He took Samuel on his mountain bike and I rode my new road bike (that we bought used from a friend).  I'm learning how to clip in and out of my pedals.  I really enjoyed my first official ride!

 

• I enjoyed visiting with a friend at football practice Wed night.  I laid out a picnic blanket and me and the little boys had a picnic dinner, then they played while we visited.  I love fall weather and good friends.
• I'm working hard on a Relief Society presentation next week about temples.  I'm making a video and am excited about the meeting.
• I'm headed to a "Time Out for Women" this weekend with friends (sponsored by Deseret Book) – excited to be inspired and enriched (and we get to hear Hilary Weeks again!).
• I'm grateful for a kind husband who saw a single mother's sprinkles not working properly in the neighborhood and made a point to fix them the next day.  He's a great guy.
• and I got a call telling me that my brother and SIL are having a _____!!  (Not sure if I'm allowed to broadcast it yet?) and I've already been shopping for my new nephew/niece.  The Aunt Mer role is going to be SO fun.

That's the gist of the week, I guess, minus a few drs apptmts, piano practices, homework, baby showers, football practices, Scout meetings, meals and bandaids.  All in all, a great week.

On September 22nd, my sweet, energetic oldest turned 11!  Eleven!!  We were smack-dab in the middle of a busy football season, but celebrated with a family dinner at our house on Sunday the 19th. Jacob asked for his favorite cake (and the only cake he really likes)  - Texas Sheet Cake.  Nana, Pops, Uncle Mike and Aunt Olivia joined us.  He is a strong-willed, smart, athletic, funny, tender-hearted guy and we love having him in our family.  

Opening gifts on the actual day of his birth – after football practice, before bed:

During a recent visit with Uncle Mike and Aunt Olivia, Jacob was "on a roll" when discussing possible baby names.  So much so that we couldn't get him to be quiet!  Every name that popped into his head he would suggest out loud.  It was cute to watch because I realized that at his age there are no stereotypes related to names!  Any name that he had heard was a possibility for him – there were no "good" or "bad" names. After a while the conversation had moved on to other things, but Jacob was still stuck on baby names.  We told him to go write them down!  And he did…here are just a few:

Katharine
Luke
Thomas
Randy
Tony
Jane
Len
Tina
Lean ("Leanne")
Jerall

My favorite kind of football player…

is the kind that reads before practice!

Truth be told, Jacob always has either a ball or a book in his hands (or both!) and I love it. This picture just sums him up perfectly.