is a snow day.

Which is good. It didn't look like it'd be much, this morning, but it's DEEP, now.

So, I used today to get stuff done. So far today:

Finished "The Screwtape Letters"
Cleaned the kitchen
Fed my kids
Made bread

Now, if I can just keep up this productivity....

The kids, amazingly, played nicely together (mostly), and played their games, and didn't ask for a movie until after I'd started the bread.

But now they're in bed, and I'm about to put the bread in the oven.

FLU UPDATE

What is the difference between Bird Flu and Swine Flu?

For bird flu you need tweetment and for swine flu you need oinkment

So.

Taran's bruise is almost gone, thankfully; it didn't develop into much, and there was no sign of a concussion. Whew.

I'm not as sore as I thought I'd be, but I did bruise. It's a bright purple and about the size of my hand, wrist to tip of my middle finger and wide as my hand when it's closed. It's right under my hip, so sitting is uncomfortable, but still.

We're all fine. He didn't even mind me carrying him down this morning, so no phobias, either.

So, this is what happens when my mind strays while walking down the stairs with Taran in one arm.

We fall.

So, I'm all bruised from the waist down (and mostly on the right); he's got a nice bruise, but he should be okay.

Yeah. I won't be able to move tomorrow - but wow, I'm glad dh was home.

Taran is so funny; when he wants to do something, he says "I do, I do!" instead of "me" - and sometimes changes it from me to I do! (heh... from SJ-M to SuJu! he's my son....)

I am seriously considering signing up on Facebook. Why?

Because all my family is - even dh! - but I'm not sure.

I just really want to. I think.

Suggestions?

SO.

Two dresses: Done.

Two Ties: Done.

Headband (for me): Done.

We're going to match.

I have NO motivation for anything, and it's really frustrating.

I got some things done tonight, and thank Heaven my mother lives here. I forgot I invited her to dinner, and had NO idea what to make.

Voila, she can't come, and she gives me an idea.

I so love my mother. Really, I do.

So, dinner is in the oven (almost, waiting for it to heat up), and then all is good. I'm going to get away from the computer, now, I think. I'll be back... sometime.

I got a call from my cousin Rebecca yesterday afternoon, and she told me she was getting baptized.

Yay! I didn't know she needed to be baptized again, but that wasn't important. I asked her if I could tell mom, and she responded with an enthusiastic YES! So I called Mem.

We went, just she and I, at dh's suggestion - which turned out to be a good one - and it was wonderful. We got there early - Mom got a GPS thing, and it's fun to play with - and had the chance to talk a little to Ann and Rebecca. Aaron, Rebecca's brother, who would baptize her. - was late, and Mom's theory (probably the right one) is that it is Satan's doing. She said she'd never been to a baptism that started on time - it's his attempt to stop it. Like, if Aaron didn't make it or was late, she wouldn't be baptized.

It was crowded - packed - so I was glad dh had kept the children home. I really enjoyed the talks, the baptism was wonderful, and just... it was amazing. I was so glad we found out in time!

My aunt An looks a lot like her mother. It's awesome.

---

So today is Ward Conference, and as per usual, we had submitted questions for the Stake Leadership to answer. One had to do with excommunication, and I found out something I've never known.

When an excommunicated person is baptized again, the original baptism and confirmation dates are reinstated - as if the excommunication had never happened. The Lord said, in D&C 58:42, that he will remember our sins no more. It was just... amazing. He really meant it!

This is taking longer than I thought - in part because I'm actually acting (sort of) like a mom. I'm trying to help Shana a little - I'm no good at watching children, so I'm helping, at least a little, with dinner.

I still feel like I'm not getting much done. Although I do think this being away from the computer is a good thing - too bad it doesn't last longer.

I had a horrible dream-like thing last night. I dreamed about Elyssa, trying to do a handstand, and breaking her neck. It was a little disturbing. Well, a lot disturbing.

I've been LAZY.

Yesterday, we left pretty early - well, okay, by seven - and pretty much drove right through. I would like to say we had no throwing up, but no such luck: Elyssa threw up about an hour after we left, and Maggie threw up after breakfast - the muffin, but not the Yogurt, and I'd love to know how she did that.

Elyssa threw up again just before we stopped for lunch.

But the best part - none of it got on the car. Both girls got their bowls up in time, so it was easy enough to just dump and wash the bowls.

Scott is amazing.

So, we got to Jay and Shana's just before four, and had a nice visit with them.

I also managed to talk to my Dad; I've had problems with my jaw lately. It hurts on the left, especially when yawning or chewing something difficult, whether hard or chewy. So. He told me how to make sure it's not something ... serious.

This morning, I woke up at 6:30, and lazed around until 10:30. I'm not sure at what time I actually showered. But most of the kids were dressed before Scott. We left at 11:30 to get Maggie's Christmas gift - her grandparents got her a dance pad thing, only to realize that we would have to have a WII to use it.

We don't.

So, off to Wal-Mart, and she came away with a Princess craft desk and a hula hoop - something she's wanted since playing with one in gym at school. Not bad.

This afternoon, I read through "Shattered" - it's depressing when I do that and get jealous of a fic I wrote....

I want to write something like that again. I really do.

Anyway, so that's what today was like. I got to see some TV, but not as much as I usually might - or rather, not as much as I usually do. All to the better, I'm sure.

I'm going to have a lot of weight gain this trip. Good thing I'm starting the make-over next Monday.

Oh. I remember what I did. I put together a Hannah Montana puzzle that my children gave up on - because it's a little too advanced for them. But I managed! I love puzzles.

And I definitely prefer the Dvorak layout to QWERTY. It's just... I like it.

I have:

Elyssa's Christmas program
In-laws staying overnight

so, what I need to get done:
Straighten living room.
Fold laundry (Super Show)
Straighten Family room
Dishwasher
Shopping (need lettuce, at least) - technically, dh did it, but it got done
Straighten Spare bedroom
Defrost tortillas
Clean bathroom (empty trash, wipe down vanity and sinks, clean toilet)
Wrap gifts

THere is probably more, but I can't currently think of it. I'll get out the HoO cards and see what they say.

With luck, I won't be on much today - that means I'm actually doing stuff.

It is so bedtime. For all of us.

So. Off to sleep.

I have been tired all day - I know why, I stayed up late last night and watched CSI: New York.

I've come to the conclusion that I can't do that any more. It breaks my heart - I like the show, like the characters, but I just... can't. :(

The difference between even yesterday and today was marked. Huge. So. That's out.

I've been slacking off on getting offline by 20:00, and that needs to get fixed, too. I might well keep that up even after I come off my hiatus.

The next couple of weeks look... busy. Very very busy. I need to go find out what my hiatus start date was to know when to come back.

And tomorrow, back to a normal schedule.

I now begin to dread Mondays, too.

Writing group today - that was fun! I didn't get much written, but we had such a huge group that it didn't matter. We had three girls from the High School, and a young man who was one of the Municipal Liason's students. It was a blast. We really had fun! It was a much needed break from the seriousness of Nano, and no one seemed to care that I had decided not to do it.

I'm sad, yes, but I think it's a necessary thing.

I have this list from skyangel2009 - well, that I helped her creat prompts for, she did most of the work - that, if I can come up with a storyline, and finish the other pending challenges, I'll do a janowrimo, and see if I can't get 50k words in January. I might put it off to February (although that would be HARD, hello, short month), but if I can just get these done, that will help.

This afternoon, Scott went shopping for electronic stuff. He picked up the digital converter boxes, and shopped for the big screen tv he's wanted for about a year. So, after dinner, we went to get it. We found the tv, and the table to set it on, and now we get to rearrange the family room by next week some time.

This is good. It means we will need to clean up the room. Clean out the book cases, things like that, and find places to put thing.

Oh. Joy. But it has to be done, and we can do it.

It has been a long and rather messy day. Urg.

( and I mean messy )

I'm missing the Adult session of Stake Conference, but Krista didn't want to risk getting sick - and was afraid that if Maggie threw up, so would she. Which I totally get, because until I had kids, I had the same reaction.

So. There you are. My long and rather messy day.

OH! I almost forgot.

We had a man drop off a tract at our house, and Scott gave it to Maggie to find her "popcorn" words. She had a blast with it.

I have, mostly because I am trying so hard to achieve my goals - and I am not getting on the computer before noon.

It might kill me tomorrow - they're doing sprints in the morning - but I won't do it. Besides, I need the time to finish outlining.

Anyway, a few things happened.

Wednesday night, I got home from book group, got on the computer a bit, and then went up to bed. It turned out that Elyssa had thrown up - and slept through it. She got up about an hour later, crying, so we dumped her sheets and blankets and lamby in the washer and her in the bath (it was caked in her hair), and put her in her sleeping bag between the bed. She threw up one more time, and then slept the night. She felt well enough to go to her Halloween party at preschool yesterday.

Maggie's parade was this morning, and she looked so cute! They had some darn cute costumes, too - one of her classmates was a nearly exact replica (and angel_katchan, someone went as... is his name Domo? the big brown square thing? I laughed out loud at that) of Harry Potter. After the parade, I went back to her classroom, changed her into normal clothes, and we went home.

Another of her classmates (who dressed as the Scarecrow from Wizard of Oz) had invited the whole family over for pizza and to go trick or treating, so we went over there just as it started to get dark. Walked over - they just live behind us. Scott eventually went home with Taran to handle people at the door, and we went for a hour. We hit three streets (including ours) with... oh, probably 15 kids. Elyssa held everyone's hand but mine, actually squirming out of my hold when she had someone else's hand to hold!

They came out like bandits. Seriously, a huge stash of candy - we'll go through it tomorrow.

And now, I need to get some sleep, or I'll never get up for Nano in the morning. Wahoo! It finally begins!

I'm sure I had a lot to write, but I can't think of it, so I guess I'll just say "Hi", and that my in-laws left this morning instead of tomorrow, and my mother is home again.

And I so...

Oh. I remember what I wanted to write.

So, the icon is for me.

I forgot to inform the staff of pr_classics that I am out of commission this weekend as my in-laws are here (I promise, I'll get those notifications out on Tuesday!).

Which I love. They're wonderful people, and I am excited to have them here.

I finally got all the cast list (those who need them, anyway) with last names - and yes, those who have none, it was done on purpose - and I need to change some pictures. ChangSun, KyuHwang, Ti-An, if I can find one, and Travis (which shouldn't be hard, really...), at least, need new pictures (especially KyuHwang - he needs to look more lawyer-like). I'll still try to combine people, but so far, I don't see any chances of it.

I finally got them all done.

A bit of a refresher: I took the ideas for how to make these goals S.M.A.R.T, and powerful from the Top Achievement website. It helped.

I also got the idea of how to do these from Scott:

1. is Daily: used to create or eliminate a habit
2. is weekly: what isn't daily
3. is monthly: a once-a-month occurance, or something I'd like to get done within a month
4. is yearly: a long term goal, usually with begin and finish dates
5. is an event, something like: vote in the November 2008 elections or something.

So. On to the goals.
( In six different areas )

Well, there they are. Some - most, I hope - of these are on my 101 in 1001 list, but the rest are things I need to get done, too.

Wish me luck!