Kiersten’s Blog

I got a job.  I wasn’t even looking for a job.  I didn’t even necessarily want a job.  It all just kind of happened.  Taylor told me Wednesday night that the director of the East County Youth Symphony was asking his department chair for a referral to coach the pre-orchestra violins.  It’s two classes with 5 kids each, ranging in age from 3 to 6.  Taylor happened to be in his office at the time so he talked to the woman because my name was given as a referral.  She gave Taylor her info for me to contact her.  I started the job yesterday.  Really, it’s only a 2-hour a week gig for 10 weeks, but it looks like it may be an ongoing thing if I want it to be.  It was kind of strange, though.  She hired me sight unseen.  I had never even met the woman, or even talked to her on the phone for that matter, until a half hour before my class started yesterday morning.  I think, though, that it’s a good fit and I am really enjoying what I’m doing.

Taylor took the car to work yesterday.  I told him to.  I wanted him to pick up a desk for me that I found on Craigslist and thought would be perfect for keeping Ashton off the computer.  The desk was in Imperial Beach, so I told him to just go surfing after work and then pick it up, which he did.  That left me without a car, which was fine.  It was a nice day.  I was happy to bike to Target after I picked up London from school.  We needed to get a birthday present for a friend’s party she was going to today.  The kids were excited about a ride in the trailer and I was happy to get a bit more exercise.  Plus, Taylor just had his bike tuned up.  I kind of wanted to try it out.

We were almost to Target and the ride had been great.  I was waiting at the final light when a truck with a middle-aged man in it (I know, I’m shocked that it wasn’t an older person too) pulled up next to me.  The man rolled down the window and asked if I had children in my trailer.  I answered in the affirmative, proud that I could pull my kids along.  The man proceeded to lecture me on why I should not ever let my children ride in one of those and that it’s the most dangerous thing he has ever seen.  I am putting my children in jeopardy and he, of course, would never, ever put his children in one of those.  It’s much too dangerous.  Anyway, he went on and on.  I couldn’t hear him very well and I also didn’t really pay much attention because I have had enough people tell me that I’m a bad mom that I didn’t feel the need to hear it one more time.  I politely thanked him for his opinion and finished my ride.  What could have been a very pleasant bike ride and nice afternoon turned into me being angry and upset by something a judgmental person said to me.  I am happy to report that we all made it home safely.  Take that judgemental-middle-aged-man-in-a-truck.  Safe.  Oh, and I have a lovely new desk.

Today I’m tired. Tired from being woken up almost every night for the past 3 years. Tired of picking up toys. Tired of telling my kids to do things that they refuse to do and subsequently yelling at them because that seems to be the only way they listen. Tired of trying to figure out something even semi-healthy for my family to eat that will actually be eaten and not just complained about. Tired of hearing whining and crying about every little thing. Tired of constant cleaning and laundry. I’m just tired. And I’m hungry. I wonder what I should make for dinner. Is it bed time yet?

If you weren’t up running Swallow with me at 6 this morning (and let’s face it, you weren’t), you missed out on the most beautiful sunrise. The fog had settled down in The Box and there were some clouds in the sky, which made for some lovely colors just over the mountains. We could see layers and layers of mountains. What a view! I thought about running inside to grab my camera, but who wants to run while toting that along (even though it is really small)? Not me. It was sure worth getting up for. And FYI, I did NOT eat this yummy pumpkin dessert for breakfast. How could you even suggest such a thing?!

It was Sunday morning.  We slid into church just as sacrament meeting was beginning.  Ashton was in a bad mood, as usual.  We grabbed a pew and sat down.  Of course, Ashton then took off down the aisle towards the front of the chapel.  He rounded the corner at the front, at which point I stopped chasing him and went the opposite direction.  I knew he wasn’t going up onto the stand and I wasn’t going to further embarrass myself by chasing him across the front of the chapel.  I started towards the back, ready to go down the other aisle.  Thankfully somebody grabbed him as he was darting towards the back.  This is only a small example of a typical way Ashton likes to act.  This morning he woke up at 5 and climbed into bed next to me.  Usually I can get him to go back to sleep.  Not today.  He was throwing a screaming fit, complete with kicking and hitting by 6:30.  That lasted an hour.  The day didn’t get better from there.  He was tired and cranky.  All.  Day.  He, of course, didn’t nap.  Why would he do that?  Tired 2-year-olds don’t need naps.  I welcomed the break when Taylor arrived home just before 4 and I was able to take London to her piano lesson, sit on the couch, and read.  The only downfall was I had to come home a half hour later to a boy who still wasn’t any happier.

This morning as I was jumping in the shower, I asked London to get dressed while I was taking a shower.  Not only did she get herself dressed, she also got Ashton dressed!  I think it’s time I taught that girl how to change diapers!  That was the highlight of my day.  I was so proud of her and her initiative.

Now it’s 7:38.  Ashton has been asleep for at least a half hour (HALLELUJAH!) and I haven’t heard from London for a little while.  I guess it’s time I tackled cleaning my house which, incidentally, I spent ALL DAY cleaning on Saturday.  How is it that I’m never caught up?  And oh the laundry.  Sigh . . .

It was one of those mornings.  I’m sure it was partly due to a lot of things.  I have a lot (too many) things on my plate right now so it’s a little stressful around here.  I’m sure that I’m more cranky.  I know that things annoy me more.  Today was a typical morning, but with a little added stress because of a few things.  I didn’t wake up until 6 this morning.  Usually I’m meeting my running buddies at 6.  Since I slept in, that meant I missed my run.  I think I probably needed that more mentally this morning than I did physically.  Ashton has been driving me crazy, just not listening to what I say at all.  He won’t even look at me when I’m talking to him when he knows I’m trying to scold him.  Plus, he’s nuts.  He has WAY too much energy for me.  He comes into my room every morning and climbs all over me in bed, kicking me in the face on purpose.  So Ashton started his morning in time out.  At around 8:20 I decided it was time London got up.  I don’t know how late she was up last night.  Too late, obviously.  I wasn’t here, but I was told she stayed up late, reading.  Since school starts at 9, it was a rushed morning, baths and all.  I was mad at her (partly because we were rushed, partly because I’m cranky) for not being able to find her shoes and not being willing to go anywhere in the house to look because she’s “scared.”  I know I should be more sympathetic, but this whole being scared thing is really starting to get to me.  It’s gone on way too long and she needs to get over it.  Anyway, back to the shoes.  As soon as she walks in the house every day, the shoes and backpack and whatever else she’s carrying just drop wherever she happens to stop that day.  So, no shoes in her closet where they belong and no way of knowing where any of them are AND a 6-year-old who refuses to look because she’s afraid.  Even when she does actually look, she doesn’t really look.  They could be sitting right in front of her and she wouldn’t see them.  We never found the shoes we were looking for, but she did find some that fit.  So, back to school.  We left the house at 8:55 (which is normal because we’re always in a rush) and realized that we didn’t have her friend’s toy that she had borrowed yesterday (note to self: never let your kid bring home another kid’s toy).  It was 8:57 as we were walking through the back gate and I was rushing her along, pushing a stroller because Ashton always slows us down.  Of course, she whined and cried all the way to school about how she can’t run because her knees hurt.  Really?  This has gone on for probably 2 years now.  We went to the doctor about a year ago about her knees and she found nothing wrong with them.  Since she’s a little over dramatic, I don’t know if her knees really do hurt or if she’s just whining about it so I won’t rush her.  She doesn’t whine about it when she’s running and playing with her friends, just when she’s rushed on her way to school or tired on her way home.  Anyway, we arrive at school just as the bell is ringing.  I’m still pushing her along, telling her that she’s late, as she’s screaming, “Don’t push me, Mom!”  Nice.  It’s going to be a good day.

It’s official.  I stink at gardening.  My harvest this year was very, very meager.  I even killed zucchini.  Again.  I have heard that the fall is the time to plant here in San Diego.  Apparently the summer is too hot.  Maybe it’s time for me to plant now but I don’t have the energy or the time.  But that’s okay.  It still feels like summer in these parts.  Maybe I’ll have more time and energy in a couple of week when there’s not so much going on.  But there will probably be more going on then.  Who knows.  Maybe I’ll never have a successful garden.  Someday I’ll try again and I’ll probably fail then too, but at least I’ll keep trying.  One of these days something has to work.  Maybe.

Right now it’s 73 degrees outside.  When London was driving me nuts asking which ones to wear and I told her to pick whatever she wanted, I guess she thought it was cold outside.  I explained beforehand that if she was warm, short sleeves and shorts would be good.  If she was cold, then maybe long sleeves and pants.  If she was just right, probably short sleeves and pants would be a good idea.  It was warm when she got ready.  And she’s in long sleeve, long pants fleece.  Whatever kid.  And right now Ashton’s sleeping with his feet under his pillow.  His head isn’t even on the mattress anymore.  It’s on the floor.  It’s a good thing he sleeps on a mattress on the floor.

We spent the weekend in Hemet.  It was kind of a last minute thing, but there has been a lot going on in Taylor’s mom’s family life at the moment (the latest with the surprising passing of her sister) that we wanted to be with her to lend support this weekend.  We probably drove her crazy instead, but at least she wasn’t alone.  We had a nice time which included watching conference and eating WAY too many cinnamon rolls.  I put some in my freezer today so I wouldn’t get too fat.  Oh, and speaking of kids sleeping, Kerri checked on the kids before going to bed Friday night and Ashton was nowhere to be found.  When at her house, the kids sleep in the same room — London on the bed and Ashton on the trundle.  He had rolled off the trundle and under the bed.  There was no sign of him at all.  When we lifted the bed skirt, there he was, as comfortable as ever and fast asleep.  Maybe you had to be there, but we thought it was hilarious.

On our way home, we drove in separate cars.  I’m taking the kids to Disneyland next Monday with a friend and her kids (the kids don’t know yet) and we thought it would be easier if we all drove together, but neither of us have a car that fits all of us.  So we borrowed the in-laws van since it’s rarely driven.  Taylor drove it home with the kids (because it has A/C and if you recall, ours doesn’t anymore or maybe I didn’t write about that yet so just know that we don’t have A/C in our car at the moment) and I drove the hot car all by myself.  It was kind of refreshing.  I had the windows down and the radio blasting.  I don’t do that much.  Sure, it was a little warm, but it was a nice, relaxing drive.

And one last thing.  I bought a new vacuum.  A Dyson.  I ordered it from Kohl’s because I found a 30% off coupon code.  That also means that I got $50 Kohl’s cash which I intend to spend on shoes for myself tomorrow.  I can’t wait to get my UPS package sometime this week and immediately vacuum.  I’m excited to have a machine that actually sucks.  A lot.  And then I’ll vacuum my car since the car seats are no longer in it.

Oh, and one more thing, in case you don’t read my other blog, let me mention that I spent Friday morning lifting these two 2-year-olds in and out of airplanes and helicopters at the Miramar Air Show.  Lots of fun was had by all.  I think.  And we were all exhausted in the end.  At least I was.

Now that a week has passed, it’s about time for me to document my half marathon.  Let me make it very clear that I ran a half marathon and do not plan to run a full marathon at any time in the future.  Ever.  I can’t imagine getting that far and saying, “okay, halfway there!”  It was tough.  I trained well for it.  But it was tough.  We ran the Camp Pendleton Heartbreak Ridge Half Marathon.  It’s an out and back course through the rolling hills of Camp Pendleton on packed dirt fire roads.  Let me emphasize the hills.  Because they were not easy.  The first big one started around mile 2.  I felt great when I got to the top, but as I was running down the backside, all I could think about was how I would have to do it again in 8 more miles.  I was sore for a few days afterward.

Now that I have been running for a year and a half and actually enjoy it, I would consider myself a runner.  I have a running buddy who I meet 3 days a week and we run 6 miles (on hills).  But I have never been the first to initiate running a race.  This idea came from somebody in our ward (he’s now our bishop) who thought it would be fun to get a bunch of us together to run this race.  In the process, Deann and I gained a couple new running buddies as we trained.  The four of us and our husbands all ran, as did another guy from our ward and Deann’s daughter-in-law.  The women trained together.  We trained well.  The men, not so much.  Every single one of us passed up our husbands.  There were three of us who ran together most of the way.  When we got to about 10 miles, Deann took off (maybe it was adrenaline from the tarantula that she almost stepped on, or maybe she wanted to get away from the guy who was running up the hill and had to stop to hurl) and Danelle slowed a bit to give her husband a little motivation.  So I ran the last three miles alone and let me tell you, it was not easy.  I’m not sure I would want to do it again, although when it comes time to register next year, I’ll probably only remember what a good time we had and not how beat up my body was.  It was a good experience and I’m proud of my accomplishment.  And after running for hundreds of miles with these ladies, I have developed some great friendships as well.  At least next year I’ll know what I’m signing up for!  Wait, did I just say I would do it next year?  We’ll see.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot.  For those of you who care, my time was 2:08.

And one more thing: a special thanks to my father-in-law who slept on our couch the night before and brought the kids up to cheer for us.  We couldn’t have done it without his help.

I got up this morning and cleaned my bathrooms before I even ate breakfast.  I did not do it because that’s just what I do.  I did it because it has been way too long and they were NASTY.  Late last night I was up cleaning my kitchen and dining room floor; again, not because that’s how I roll, but because it was starting to gross me out.  Once I started, I was on a roll, noticing things that I don’t notice often, like the disgustingness of our cabinets that I’m afraid to scrub too hard for fear that our cheap paint will all peel off and I’ll have to pull out the paint brushes again.  Why don’t I re-paint?  Yeah right.  Not much motivation there.

I’m playing in a community orchestra.  I feel like I need the motivation of having an impending concert to make me practice.  It doesn’t.  I don’t.  I should, but somehow I’m not motivated.  I learned today that I’ll be playing a Mozart symphony with a chamber group.  Maybe that will motivate me to practice, since I’m actually kind of excited about it.  But then again, maybe it won’t.

I ran a half marathon on Saturday.  I think that’s blog-worthy, but I haven’t blogged about it.  Not because I’m not proud of myself or the work I put into it.  I just have a lack of motivation to sit down and write about it (although here I am writing about my lack of motivation).  Oh, I also have a lack of pictures, so maybe once I get them, I’ll get some motivation.

Because of the half marathon training (and running for the past year and a half) I no longer have clothes that fit me.  This is a good thing.  I’m quite happy about that.  Kind of.  But I need new clothes.  Bad.  I’m a size (maybe more) smaller than I was last summer which means all of my shorts are too big.  The good news is: time to shop!  The bad news: I have to go shopping.  Really?  I can’t believe I’m complaining about shopping for new clothes, but I’m really not motivated.

I have a whole list of things that need to be done around the house.  I have plenty of work to do for my church calling (that I haven’t even begun to tackle) and for my PTA assignment (how I got roped into that I’ll never know).    But, like I said, not much motivation here.