bookshelves and mischief, geography, jobs, fingers...
There have been several things that I have wanted to blog about
lately and instead of giving you 5 different blogs, I'm going to give
you one long one... again... sorry.
Bookshelves and Mischief:
Bookshelves are kinda my stash places. When I have something that I don't know what to do with, and I don't want the kids to get into it, I just put it on the shelf assuming that I'll go find a place for it later... sometimes I do, most times I don't. Right now on my bookshelves there are books, binders, and notebooks... those things are supposed to be there... and there are also a stapler, a three hole punch, tape, pipe cleaners, an RC helicopter, a darth vader mask, a nativity set, a car bank, printer ink, some felt, mystery cables, crayons, essential oils, a harmonica, sun glasses, keys, cassette tapes, stamps, diaper rash cream, a bulb syringe (nose sucker as I like to call it), diapers, wipes, a hand strengthener thingy, a weather predicting thingy, empty picture frames, printer paper, fingernail clippers, a tape measure, a box of random odds and ends, an accordion paper filer, and currently Andrew.
I have three bookshelves in my living room. The bottom two selves are mostly empty, because anything that I put on there ends up everywhere because of Andrew. The only thing that belongs on those bottom shelves are the diapers and wipes... we have no where better to keep them. The books and other items on the third shelf were safe at one time, but DJ now has completely free access to those and Andrew can nearly reach them now too. The fourth shelf is still mostly out of DJ's reach but if anything is near the edge of the shelf he can get to it. He has gotten a lot more resourceful lately. He will pull chairs, his toy table or a box over to the bookshelves and pull down anything from that fourth shelf. So far the top shelf is still safe, and most of the junk is on top of the bookshelf itself, because the shelves are all full of books anyways. I also have several boxes of books in the basement wishing that I didn't have to keep the bottom two shelves completely empty.
So I have some work to do to clear off everything that doesn't belong on the bookshelves, and then maybe my kids won't find the bookshelves to be the most fun place in the house. Although DJ has gotten more and more interested in pulling the books off the higher shelves. It seems though that wherever I don't want them is where they like to play the most. Their other favorite places to play are in the kitchen cupboards and in the bathroom drawers.
DJ used to be really good about not getting into things that I didn't want him to. I could just tell him not to do something and he would be super obedient. Andrew on the other hand has been getting into everything since he first became mobile. Andrew is the instigator for the mischief and then DJ is the enabler. Andrew wants to go play in the bathroom doors, but I keep the door shut so he can't. DJ will open the door for Andrew and then Andrew will get into everything, and because Andrew is doing it, DJ has to do it too. The good thing is that DJ loves his little brother and always wants to play with him. He has gotten into trouble several times for trying to pick Andrew up and drag him into his room to play, so then DJ just goes along and plays with whatever Andrew wants to. It's frustrating, but I do love to see them playing together.
Geography:
I have always loved geography. When I was about 14 or so I learned the names, locations, and capitals of every country in the world. Then a few years ago I was trying to learn a lot of the major cities in the world. I found a game on facebook that quizzed you on some of those cities, I know some of you played it too. I really liked that game. I always wanted to be to the point that whenever someone mentioned a country or major city I could know exactly where they were talking about. Taking history classes in college as made me want to learn more historical geography (places that were important in the past that aren't there anymore, or aren't very large or important anymore.) Unfortunately I haven't learned as much in that area as I could have.
Well now it's time to bring all of that information together. In my history class that I'm taking now we're going to have to take a test about all of the countries, many of the major cities, lots of historical geography and also some physical geography (rivers, mountain ranges, etc.). Most of the people in the class were complaining that he didn't give us nearly as much advanced notice to learn the several hundred places on the list that he gave us, but looking down the list I'm realizing that I already know most of them, and that makes me feel pretty good. Our professor said that the point of the test was not to have enough time to study, he just want's to know what we already know.
In the past few years that he has given the test only about 10 people have ever passed it. I had high hopes that I might be able to pass it too, but looking at this list I think I can do great for parts of it, but the historical history I am going to have a really hard time with. There are some easy ones like "Tenochtitlan" and "Nineveh," but far more that I've never even heard of like "Mohenjo-Daro," "Harappa," and "Transoxiana." The test is this Saturday, so wish me luck!
In my other class for our final we're going to have to prepare a lesson plan to teach one of the children of my teacher. He has seven children and the other day we drew names and I got his seven year old daughter. So for the last week I've been trying to decide what sort of thing I want to teach her. I don't actually get to choose. I have to come up with ten ideas, and then she will choose from the ten which one she wants to learn. I was thinking maybe I could do something with a rubix cube, but I only get 15 minutes and I don't think I would have enough time to do that. Then it hit me, Maps! There are so many things I could teach her about maps. How to follow a map, how to make a map, use a key, cardinal directions, how to use a compass, different kinds of maps, or even about globes, and maybe I could branch out and talk about why there are seasons! I'm suddenly very excited about this project. I have to record me teaching her and then analyze my teaching, that part I'm not so excited about but it shouldn't be too bad.
Jobs:
Dean is enjoying school, and he is doing really well, but even with that he is wanting to find a job. The GI bill is taking forever to pay us like it should and he is not getting unemployment benefits like they told him he should be, and our savings account is all but gone. He has started looking at law enforcement jobs again, some nearby, some in Utah, mostly in Wyoming. He is also considering doing some sort of labor job like mining or construction. He wanted to know if anyone else knew of any job openings anywhere that he could do.... maybe that you or your spouse have a connection with?
Fingers:
Last night I got to play basketball with a bunch of the other sisters from Relief Society. It was really fun for about 15 minutes. In a spectacular steal that won me much applause and admiration (just kidding) I jammed my finger. The last time I jammed my finger was at a memorial day thing at aunt norene's house forever ago, and I do not hold fond memories of that event. ... actually I don't really remember it... it's kinda a vague memory, maybe one of you jammed your finger and I'm just remembering that? Anyways, I iced it last night and on the advice of someone there I taped a couple of my fingers together.
This morning DJ saw that and asked about it, and I told him that my fingers were hurt and the tape would help me to get better. Later on in the day he was doing flips off the couch and he landed on his hand kinda weird and he was crying that his "Hingers" hurt and he needed "nape". So I taped his fingers together. :) He didn't like that so much because they were "stuck" so I untaped them and then retaped them each individually. He thought that was the greatest thing ever and all pain he may have been feeling was instantly forgotten.
All day I have been appreciating my fingers more than I ever have before. I've never really thought about how difficult it would be to change a diaper or do my hair or dress a baby without the use of all ten of my fingers. It has been surprisingly difficult. Even typing this is taking a ridiculously long time because my finger is still hurting. I did take the tape off this afternoon and that has sped up the process somewhat, but putting any pressure on that middle finger still hurts a ton. Hopefully it will continue to heal quickly so I don't have to do another day of this.
Bookshelves and Mischief:
Bookshelves are kinda my stash places. When I have something that I don't know what to do with, and I don't want the kids to get into it, I just put it on the shelf assuming that I'll go find a place for it later... sometimes I do, most times I don't. Right now on my bookshelves there are books, binders, and notebooks... those things are supposed to be there... and there are also a stapler, a three hole punch, tape, pipe cleaners, an RC helicopter, a darth vader mask, a nativity set, a car bank, printer ink, some felt, mystery cables, crayons, essential oils, a harmonica, sun glasses, keys, cassette tapes, stamps, diaper rash cream, a bulb syringe (nose sucker as I like to call it), diapers, wipes, a hand strengthener thingy, a weather predicting thingy, empty picture frames, printer paper, fingernail clippers, a tape measure, a box of random odds and ends, an accordion paper filer, and currently Andrew.
I have three bookshelves in my living room. The bottom two selves are mostly empty, because anything that I put on there ends up everywhere because of Andrew. The only thing that belongs on those bottom shelves are the diapers and wipes... we have no where better to keep them. The books and other items on the third shelf were safe at one time, but DJ now has completely free access to those and Andrew can nearly reach them now too. The fourth shelf is still mostly out of DJ's reach but if anything is near the edge of the shelf he can get to it. He has gotten a lot more resourceful lately. He will pull chairs, his toy table or a box over to the bookshelves and pull down anything from that fourth shelf. So far the top shelf is still safe, and most of the junk is on top of the bookshelf itself, because the shelves are all full of books anyways. I also have several boxes of books in the basement wishing that I didn't have to keep the bottom two shelves completely empty.
So I have some work to do to clear off everything that doesn't belong on the bookshelves, and then maybe my kids won't find the bookshelves to be the most fun place in the house. Although DJ has gotten more and more interested in pulling the books off the higher shelves. It seems though that wherever I don't want them is where they like to play the most. Their other favorite places to play are in the kitchen cupboards and in the bathroom drawers.
DJ used to be really good about not getting into things that I didn't want him to. I could just tell him not to do something and he would be super obedient. Andrew on the other hand has been getting into everything since he first became mobile. Andrew is the instigator for the mischief and then DJ is the enabler. Andrew wants to go play in the bathroom doors, but I keep the door shut so he can't. DJ will open the door for Andrew and then Andrew will get into everything, and because Andrew is doing it, DJ has to do it too. The good thing is that DJ loves his little brother and always wants to play with him. He has gotten into trouble several times for trying to pick Andrew up and drag him into his room to play, so then DJ just goes along and plays with whatever Andrew wants to. It's frustrating, but I do love to see them playing together.
Geography:
I have always loved geography. When I was about 14 or so I learned the names, locations, and capitals of every country in the world. Then a few years ago I was trying to learn a lot of the major cities in the world. I found a game on facebook that quizzed you on some of those cities, I know some of you played it too. I really liked that game. I always wanted to be to the point that whenever someone mentioned a country or major city I could know exactly where they were talking about. Taking history classes in college as made me want to learn more historical geography (places that were important in the past that aren't there anymore, or aren't very large or important anymore.) Unfortunately I haven't learned as much in that area as I could have.
Well now it's time to bring all of that information together. In my history class that I'm taking now we're going to have to take a test about all of the countries, many of the major cities, lots of historical geography and also some physical geography (rivers, mountain ranges, etc.). Most of the people in the class were complaining that he didn't give us nearly as much advanced notice to learn the several hundred places on the list that he gave us, but looking down the list I'm realizing that I already know most of them, and that makes me feel pretty good. Our professor said that the point of the test was not to have enough time to study, he just want's to know what we already know.
In the past few years that he has given the test only about 10 people have ever passed it. I had high hopes that I might be able to pass it too, but looking at this list I think I can do great for parts of it, but the historical history I am going to have a really hard time with. There are some easy ones like "Tenochtitlan" and "Nineveh," but far more that I've never even heard of like "Mohenjo-Daro," "Harappa," and "Transoxiana." The test is this Saturday, so wish me luck!
In my other class for our final we're going to have to prepare a lesson plan to teach one of the children of my teacher. He has seven children and the other day we drew names and I got his seven year old daughter. So for the last week I've been trying to decide what sort of thing I want to teach her. I don't actually get to choose. I have to come up with ten ideas, and then she will choose from the ten which one she wants to learn. I was thinking maybe I could do something with a rubix cube, but I only get 15 minutes and I don't think I would have enough time to do that. Then it hit me, Maps! There are so many things I could teach her about maps. How to follow a map, how to make a map, use a key, cardinal directions, how to use a compass, different kinds of maps, or even about globes, and maybe I could branch out and talk about why there are seasons! I'm suddenly very excited about this project. I have to record me teaching her and then analyze my teaching, that part I'm not so excited about but it shouldn't be too bad.
Jobs:
Dean is enjoying school, and he is doing really well, but even with that he is wanting to find a job. The GI bill is taking forever to pay us like it should and he is not getting unemployment benefits like they told him he should be, and our savings account is all but gone. He has started looking at law enforcement jobs again, some nearby, some in Utah, mostly in Wyoming. He is also considering doing some sort of labor job like mining or construction. He wanted to know if anyone else knew of any job openings anywhere that he could do.... maybe that you or your spouse have a connection with?
Fingers:
Last night I got to play basketball with a bunch of the other sisters from Relief Society. It was really fun for about 15 minutes. In a spectacular steal that won me much applause and admiration (just kidding) I jammed my finger. The last time I jammed my finger was at a memorial day thing at aunt norene's house forever ago, and I do not hold fond memories of that event. ... actually I don't really remember it... it's kinda a vague memory, maybe one of you jammed your finger and I'm just remembering that? Anyways, I iced it last night and on the advice of someone there I taped a couple of my fingers together.
This morning DJ saw that and asked about it, and I told him that my fingers were hurt and the tape would help me to get better. Later on in the day he was doing flips off the couch and he landed on his hand kinda weird and he was crying that his "Hingers" hurt and he needed "nape". So I taped his fingers together. :) He didn't like that so much because they were "stuck" so I untaped them and then retaped them each individually. He thought that was the greatest thing ever and all pain he may have been feeling was instantly forgotten.
All day I have been appreciating my fingers more than I ever have before. I've never really thought about how difficult it would be to change a diaper or do my hair or dress a baby without the use of all ten of my fingers. It has been surprisingly difficult. Even typing this is taking a ridiculously long time because my finger is still hurting. I did take the tape off this afternoon and that has sped up the process somewhat, but putting any pressure on that middle finger still hurts a ton. Hopefully it will continue to heal quickly so I don't have to do another day of this.
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