the verdict is in....

The partial end to the story with the bedding that we have "on loan" from Macy's is....

*I love the color of the bedding

*I love the style

It has great patterns on the quilt and the throw pillows that were bonus in the Bed In a Bag Special aren't really that bad. I'd love some extra pillows - but I could have oodles of pillows on just about every surface.

* I love that it matches our lamp

It's funny that after 18 months with a lamp that never matched ANYTHING in the apartment - the new bedding finally matches.

{The rest of the story: we bought the lamp from the 'Junk Guy' who sells things at the Farmer's Market each Saturday, on what was probably our first Saturday here. We didn't have enough lighting because well - they don't put overhead lighting in apartments and I hadn't thought to buy extra lamps beforehand. The lamp is really cute...even if it was overpriced for the fact that 1) the lampshade that doesn't even fit the base of the lamp, and 2) that it matched absolutely nothing in our place. Thankfully it was only $10 and now we have gray in our bedding to finally match the gray lampshade. Who knew 18 months later I would re-love that lamp so much!}

* I love that it's super easy to make the bed

I whip the bedspread up and have it looks like I spent much longer making the bed. No fuss.

Seems to be that there isn't any problem.

Except that one.

The one that I told the man about in the store.

The feel of the bedspread.

And here is where I'm split....literally.

The side of the blanket that faces down is soft and perfect. No problem there.

The side that faces up.....scratchy and definitely NOT SOFT! Oh no but it's so cute!

This would not be a problem if we simply folded back the blanket and didn't really sleep with it. But we do. And I like to cuddle into my blanket and so I am definitely not loving the fact that there is no cuddle factor in the top part of that bedspread.

I'm so sad - because I really do love every other part of it. So - now I'm trying to decide....do I take it back, or might there be some other way to solve this problem. Such as, I'm trying to decide if I should try to wash it. Can I actually wash the bedding and then take it back if it's still not soft enough?

He did say 6 months - and one would assume you'd wash your bedspread in that time.

Right? Well, if you see my face plastered all over the news for trying to return a washed bedspread....at least you know that I really am {partly} sane.

Costco Conversations

I love to people watch. I also love to overhear little things that people say to one other - the funny, the cute, the endearing (I of course dislike the sad/hurtful or bad) - but I could happily listen to other people talk most of the day and watch their interactions.

So, today while at Costco I overheard the following or had the following conversations and had to share....

Man: Wow, we need to have some kids to really shop in here!

Woman: Oh. Really? {not sure how to interpret her tone of voice....}

Me: Hide smile and chuckle to myself in the next aisle over.

This next one I thought particularly hilarious as I could see Bryson and myself in it.....

Wife: 'I just need to go over here and get some salmon.......

Oh no! All they have are farm fed!

Husband. 'So'.

:)

Chinese woman: {as she picked up a bag of Stacy's Chips} - note: I won't even pretend to know what she was saying, as it was in Chinese - but from her gestures and tone of voice it went something like....'honey, these look really good - let's try these'

Chinese man/her husband: {again my assumptions} 'what? look at the price, I don't want to play that (he did point to the tag) & we don't even know what they taste like and if we'll like them'.

Woman: 'But I think they look good. I'd like to try them.'

Man: {taking the bag and putting it back} - 'No. Not this time - we don't need them'....and he walks away.

Woman walks aways slowly after him.....reminded me a bit of my children when I tell them they can't have something :(

Me thinking: I wonder if I should go and tell them that we LOVE these chips - they are really good and they SHOULD try them!

Would that have helped, or would they have thought I was crazy....which I am but strangers might think I am normal if I don't say random things to them or jump into their conversations which are in another language and I don't even really understand what they are saying - I just like to think I know what they are saying. Help or not help? I'll never know because I chickened out....

Later - I'm on our elevator taking up Costco groceries (there is a cart like in hotels for us to put our things on)

Woman (sizing up my stack of goods on the cart): That is A LOT of food!

Me (sizing up her 2 small bags of groceries): Well, we have 3 children...food goes rather quickly with a family of 5.

Woman: 5? Oh, wow!

Me thinks: Wow indeed....there's always a wow moment going on. :)

attitude of gratitude

At the beginning of the year, one of my goals was to have a nightly catch-up with the children where we would each share at least one 'Attitude of Gratitude' Moment from our day. Following last October's General Conference where President Monson spoke on the topic of gratitude, it has been on my mind and I thought it would add to our family being able to see more easily our blessings. And to be sure that we then are giving thanks for these blessings - big and small.

The nightly habit went very well for about the first week...in fact I have a saved post where I was doing a recap of the things each person was grateful for that first week. Then the next week came, and schedules got in the way of trying to form a new habit - and so I didn't write down what we were grateful for....and I'm sure I missed a day or two of even asking the children what they were grateful for.

It's been on and off since then....mostly off which I am sad to say - as I still do believe it's a very important part of a daily reflection to talk about what we can be grateful for. And this past Sunday I was reminded why I should start it up again.

Nana and Papa Lord were visiting us, and we all went into Primary to hear Jacob give the scripture and Bryson Jr. give the talk. I slipped out after his talk to go to Sunday School, however Nana & Papa stayed behind to enjoy the remainder of Jr. Primary.

That evening when the little ones were tucked into bed, and we were in the Living Room talking as adults - Leslie (aka Nana) told us that we would have been very proud of our little Bryson during the Sharing Time of Primary. The teacher had been doing a lesson on Prophets and held up a picture of the Prophet that was called to tell the Nephites that the Savior Christ would soon be born. When she asked the children to identify the Prophet in the picture, no one responded....except Bryson. His hand came up to share that it was Samuel the Lamanite. She said he then opened up his Book of Mormon to find the same picture and showed it to the girl in his class (there are 3 children in his class....2 girls and Bryson - and the other girl was away that Sunday. They have such a small class!).

Sister Whiting continued with the lesson, and at one point held up a picture of President Monson and asked the children what he had asked us to do at the last General Conference.

Our little guy put his hand up and responded with, "Have an 'Attitude of Gratitude'!"

I can't remember if that was the specific answer that she was looking for....but he was right. The Prophet had asked us to have an Attitude of Gratitude among other things we are asked to do - and I am so grateful for his little reminder to our family that I need to work hard to make and continue this as a family tradition to share our gratitude one-liners each night. They are so simple. It shouldn't be hard....and who knows, it could just be the thing that opens up a discussion we will always remember and be thankful for later on. I want us as a family to always stop and share things that we are grateful for, to focus on the positive and to remind ourselves to give thanks for all things.

As so often - I was taught by my child.

And....better late than not at all - here are the 'Attitude of Gratitudes' that were shared in our family & written down....and now they are finally here. I am committed once again and can say with assurance - there will be more :)

Jan. 18th

* Bryson..... I'm thankful for wonderful books to read (we went to the library)

* Madeleine..... I'm thankful for the library to pick out books & movies

* Jacob..... thankful for pizza

* Mommy..... I'm thankful to organize and clean and the wonderful feeling with having things in a place, and that we have these things in our life.

Jan. 20th

* Jacob..... playing Magnetix and making robots

* Bryson..... I'm thankful for books, so I can read

* Madeleine..... I'm thankful that Mommy goes grocery shopping for us

* Mommy..... I'm thankful for good reports on my children - that they are doing what they are supposed to do (Ms. Alvarez, Madeleine's science teacher, had stopped me after school and had praised Madeleine saying that she was always doing what she was supposed to & absolutely a delight in class, with a bright mind and always doing what is right. If only every student were like her she commented, and I was super proud of her and all my kiddos and their good reports!)

Jan. 22

* Bryson Jr...... I'm thankful for basketball (his winter community class had just started)

* Daddy..... I'm thankful for healthy bodies to run and play basketball (he enjoyed 'parent coaching' and running around with basketball almost as much as Bugaboo!)

* Jacob..... My castle

* Madeleine.... Roasted peanuts from the street vendors (yummy!)

* Mommy.... Staying inside and being cozy

Jan. 24

* Bryson.... instruments to play

* Madeleine.... friends like Aoi

* Jacob.... to go to sleep

*Mommy.... to see Madeleine and Bryson dancing (tap & ballet class night where they had a Parent Open House. Bryson was having so much fun, and Madeleine was so graceful)

Jan. 25 (big snow day in the city)

* Madeleine.... snow that we can play in and have snow fights with each other

* Bryson..... for plants that give us food. Like broccoli and apples, which I don't even like but they do make applesauce which I like! (funny kid!)

* Jacob..... that I built a snowman!

* Mommy..... big fluffy snowfalls

Jan. 30 {Sunday}

* Jacob.... for snow

* Bryson.... I'm thankful for Mom and Dad so that I'm not homeless

* Madeleine.... my teachers that can teach me about the gospel, a car to drive us home safely

and mommy to teach us in music because she's funny

* Mommy..... I'm thankful for music - to feel the spirit and lead the Primary children again :)

* Daddy..... No cavities (ironically as he was munching on the carmel corn we had made for a FHE treat!)

We are truly blessed. We are truly grateful.

We will strive to be a family that says more often the things we feel as our
Attitude of Gratitude.

what a meatball!

We were trying to get back into the routine of daily living tonight after a great weekend. I was working to get all 3 children bathed after dinner, be sure that Madeleine and Bugaboo practiced the piano and trying desperately to keep Jacob off the computer and thinking about his new obsession - the computer games at lego.com.

I was putting the dishes into the dishwasher in between each of the events going on, when Bryson came into the kitchen telling me that his armpits hurt so bad! He had just finished bathing, so I thought they were dry & itchy....so I got the lotion and started to apply it to his armpits. I noticed an unusual feel and bent down to his level and caught a strong whiff....of, what was that? Oh, yes. Of course - it was the minty smell of Madeleine's ICY HOT that she had gotten last week after she hurt her neck. Coincidentally it has the exact same shape & look of deodorant.

Me: "Bryson, did you put on the ICY HOT?"

Bugaboo (caught between a grin and a grimmace): "Yes, of course!"

Me: "What were you thinking?" {yes, classic parent response - not the best I know....but that is what came out}

Bugaboo: "I wanted to smell good!

Me: "Well you smell really good, but that isn't deodorant honey. It's not the same thing that Daddy uses under his arms....this is really strong and it's used for sore muscles. You can't just use whatever you want to - you need to ask us, because some things can hurt you. Do you understand."

Bugaboo: "Yes. But it really hurts. HELP ME!"

We spent the next 10 minutes putting a lot of lotion under his arms, and trying to get him to think about something else....so we went on with practicing the piano.

What a goof ball. Or as he says - what a meat ball. One time, when I called him a goof ball he told me emphatically that he was NOT a goof ball.....I should call him a meat ball.

And ironically that is just what we had for dinner.

one day....24 hours....a day of infamy

I'm not trying to be funny.  However, we really truly had a day unlike any other we have had a few weeks ago - and it was such a huge day, that I could hardly believe we only really had the typical 24 hours in said day ---- and so I will call it the day of infamy.

It was the day we were to come home from Virginia.  First of all, our plan to have Bryson come down and meet us for the weekend, went out the window after he had a meeting on Friday and the boss asked him if he'd be in that weekend to work on things.  Strong, strong hint.  So - there was no train or bus down to D.C. for Bryson.  We talked late Friday and I realized that we should then head home on Saturday instead of Sunday, so that we could at least see Bryson at church and any time in between when he would be at the office.

We had planned to take the kiddos and the cousins swimming on Saturday afternoon at their nearby Rec Center.  The slide and all the fun water features were going to be on - and the kiddos had waited so patiently.  I told my sister-in-law Kristen that we would still go swimming and then we would just leave from the pool so that we could start driving and hopefully.....cross fingers....the kids might even fall asleep for awhile due to all the energy spent swimming.

Well, I suppose we don't go forward with an idea thinking it's bad....the idea did have merit.  However, I just miscalculated a few....maybe more than a few....things.

Here is the run-down of the craziest 24 hours I have had in a very long, long time!

Saturday Afternoon
1-3pm:  Go swimming at Rec Center
Next:  Get into car....kids showered, happy (well, Jacob was super sad to leave, but we worked that out with telling him Daddy really missed him and needed him home)
Then: stop at Target, I run in to do an exchange ---- thankfully in and out in record time!
Look at gas gauge....remember I need gas and realize once I'm on the belt-way it will be disastrous to find gas, so I decide to drive the back roads into Manassas to get gas.  *note:  bad idea to drive some place you THINK you know where it is.  After 1/2 hour of driving through an area I didn't know, I finally emerged out by I-66....below Manassas.  Grrrrrrr.....  Oh well, I thought....I'll go to the Costco that is over by where we used to live because I know the area and I have to run back into Gymboree.  When getting some things there yesterday I had gotten back to the cousins house and when talking to Kristen about all the great deals I had found, she said "And you had your 20% Coupon too!"  I felt so silly suddenly, because I had totally forgotten about that little coupon sitting right there in my wallet.  Duh!  So, now I wanted to run into that store again, so that I could get another $10 off my purchase....which equals another outfit and I still get my Gymbucks.  Happy Day....but we are not even close to leaving the area and by now it's about 4:30pm and I still don't have gas.  

We drive by the Costco and lo and behold....no gas pumps.  What?!  I had thought they had them - obviously I didn't learn my lesson from up above in making sure I knew where I was going and what was there.  Not too much of a problem, because I still need to stop at the mall which is right there - so we zoom inside and again I do my return in record time...but coming out the kids hear other kids.  And see the playland.  And that is where I went wrong...I should have taken them in the other entrance!  I caved to their requests because I rationalized we'd be in the car a long, long time - and so I sat at the familiar play land that I had taken Madeleine to as a baby and watched my now 3 babies running and leaping off of the trains and new play equipment which replaced the good ol' Bacon & Eggs display.

After about 1/2 hour - I realized enough play time, and we really did need to get going.  I scooped up the kiddos and we made our way through the rest of the mall to the car and then the cries of hunger started.  "Mommy, I'm so hungry!"  "When is dinner?"  I had realized it was getting later - really it was actually dusk right now and about 5:30pm.  It is time to get something to eat - because again getting off the beltway is going to be disastrous I thought.

The kiddos voted for Wendy's - smart move as we could order through the drive-thru and zoom on our way. We pulled up and there was the great debate over who wanted chicken nuggets or hamburgers, what drink and was everyone getting french fries?  These are the kids questions - not mine.  I let them make 1 choice - what they want as their "main" dish, and I decide the rest....I call it Selective Democratic Parenting.  Works like a charm when we are in a rush.

We finally made it to the window, picked up our order and I pulled to the side to hand out the food.  It's now after 6pm and dark.  I really just want to start driving and realize I can drive for awhile with the gass I have, and finally pull onto the beltway to be hit with commuter traffic.  Ugh.  

We finally made it around to the Maryland side by 7:30pm, and I realize that we really were now on empty for gas, and I have to stop.  We pull off an exit, that I don't know as well, and it takes awhile to find a gas station that I can use.  By the time I fill up and get back into the car it's 8pm and I still have about a 4 hour drive to get home to the city.  In the dark.  While the kiddos are sleeping and I'm supposed to stay awake.  I called Bryson and talked things over, and we agreed it would be crazy to keep driving home, so somehow it makes more sense to drive back out to the Thiriot's and go to bed there and leave in the morning.  I drive another hour back out to their home, we unpack the basics and crash for the night and then wake up and get dressed to drive home.

The drive home went pretty smoothly, considering that it was a Sunday I hadn't planned to drive on this day at all, and the kiddos were hungry and we didn't have any snacks packed.  I had to stop and get some food, which the kiddos asked, "Can we do this?!  It's Sunday!"  I explained that we were in a bit of a tricky spot, which I believed we were....Bryson on the other hand told me that I was like an ox in the mire - I should have planned better.  Thank you sir, who is working from your glass building on a Sunday and loves to tell me what I should have done better.  I decided to just drive and get home as best and quickly a I could.  Which I tried and I really do think that Google Maps on the phone works well - however, there are times when you leave the interstate to get gas and then when you get back on, you are so turned around and confused....that you take the wrong turn and instead of continuing in on the turnpike through New Jersey - you end up on the road that leads to Staten Island!  Yes, I ended up driving almost a complete circle around NYC to get us home - there was not a place to get off and turn around, so we had to stay on this long road to Staten Island, and then by the time we got there, it was the same distance to keep driving and go through Brooklyn and then Queens and get home to Roosevelt Island.  It was late in the evening when we finally got home - 24 hours later than I had wanted, and hours full of mishaps, misadventures and funny enough - some laughs after we were all unpacked and in our own home again!

I made it!....well sort of, kind of....almost!

I made it an entire day without having any refined sugar.  A treat.  Any little piece of chocolate.

Whew.

That was quite a feat....and I did so well that at 12:02am I was going crazy and had an Oreo.  Make that 3 Oreos.  And I had them with milk.  Of course - is there any other way to have an Oreo?

Dang.

Is there a grace period between midnight and 12:05am?!  Because I'm going to claim that and start again in the morning....

It kills me that I was watching those calories stack up this morning when I went running on the treadmill - and then I just ate them up.  Literally.

Losing weight this go around is much, much harder.

Grrrrr.......

sleep over special

While down in Virginia I purchased some new bedding for our bed. Bryson & I are having a love-hate relationship with the bed....we are both exhausted each day and love to sleep, but we really dislike how small the bed is (going from a King to a Queen now down to a Full size has been a challenge....there really is not a lot of extra space in that size bed....we feel like Julia Child when she lived in Paris as our toes don't quite make it onto the main space of the bed!). We usually have a few accidental elbows and blanket take overs each week....it's rough I tell you!

To add to that- we realized we need more blankets in our house this past winter! We were cold and always wanting/needing more blankets. I've wanted to get something new for our bed, but never had the time to pick it out. While in Virginia I always plan to do some (or a lot) of shopping - it's a place I know well and I feel like I finally have time to enjoy looking around & without having to pay for parking it's a whole new joy! I glanced through the bedding at Macy's and found something I liked...and it was on clearance and I had a coupon. It was almost a done deal.

I took the bedding package up to the register and asked the man if I could open it up to feel inside. I'm picky about the feel of a blanket - it has to be just the right amount of soft & smooth - so I wanted to be sure I liked this before buying it and driving it all the way home. The man looked at me as if I has just requested that we have a picnic dinner on the blanket to test it out.

Salesman: "What do you want to do?"

Me: "I'd like to open the package and make sure that I like the feel of the blanket. You know - touch the blanket with my hand? I want to be sure that it's smooth - I'm picky about my blankets!" {I thought if I threw in a joke and a smile he might soften up a bit}

Salesman: "Oh. No. You can't do that."

Me: "Why not? I want to purchase it, but I want to be sure that I like how it feels - a scratchy blanket would be terrible, so I want to be sure it is soft. Can't I just open it up and spread it out a little bit on one of the bed displays? I'll fold it back up - I'll probably buy it....but I just want to be sure that I like how it feels."


"Right"


"Okay, so I can open the package?"

"No. The security guards would not like that" {I'm thinking where are these guards and why would they care if I wanted to be sure that my purchase was going to be something I like? We try on clothes don't we?!!!"}


I started to weigh my options - why did I even ask in the first place? I should have just opened it up and asked for forgiveness if the Security people really came over. Then he chimed in with his final offer....

"BUT - you can always return the bedding if you don't like it."


"Yes, I know that. But not after we open it and use it right? And I would rather make sure I like it before I leave with it and have to bring it back."


"You have 6 months to decide if you like it and can return at any time if you don't like it."

"Wait. Let me understand what you are saying. I can open this package at home, and use it...and if I don't like it for any reason during a 6 month time frame ---- I can bring it back?"


"Yes, of course!"

And that is the strange situation ----- you can't open the package and feel if you like the bedding AT the store, but you can take it home open it there and even try it out for 6 months....then take it back when you change your mind that you really don't like it any longer. I've always loved Macy's policies...but this was beyond anything I had ever heard of!

I wish Seinfeld were still running - I would send them this scenario to use for an episode. It even felt a little Seinfeld'ish - I definitely don't want this to sound racist, however the guy was from India and talked with his great little accent - which I really do like the sound, however it can be hard to understand and for some reason it made it more exasperating and a bit more funny all at the same time.

Last night (or early morning...still not sure what to call that time period) Bryson got home at 2:00am, and I was up late trying to catch up on things for school & home from being on vacation for the past week. I decided enough work for the night - and followed him into our bedroom and remembered the new bedding and started to open it up. While pulling out the new comforter and pillows, I told him the above story about purchasing this new bed set. We both had laughed about the craziness of the scenario.

Bryson: "Well, it's always better to sleep with something first to see if you like it, right?"

Me: "But you didn't sleep with me first to see if you liked me" :)

Schabam! I never think of funny lines or jokes at the right time!

And that....is the story of how we have a blanket "on loan" from Macy's. The End.

*until 6 months is up at least....than we'll let you know*