Thursday, April 24, 2008

the problem with procrastinating

Things have been unexpectedly busy around here this week. I'm not sure why I let things take me by surprise like that -- it's not like I didn't know about all of these things -- but at the beginning of the week I was feeling footloose and fancy free, only to realize by the middle of the week that I had a whole lot of stuff to do, and fast. Here's what's been keeping me occupied:
  • Finding and wrapping a gift for a birthday party for a friend who's turning 8. Why is it hard for me to find a present for a boy? I should be a pro, right? I ended up with the old standby, a Bionicle.
  • Going visiting teaching -- first time in the new ward. I got to meet my companion and a woman that we visit at the same time! That was a first for me. I found out that my companion's husband is in the military. She has five children who have only seen their father sporadically through the years. He was on a submarine when she found out she was pregnant with twins -- there was no way to communicate with him and she couldn't even tell him until two months later! He was home for the birth of the twins, but had to leave one week later. This woman is amazing. Her husband returns from Iraq in one week, for good, but he will be in Virginia for a few weeks finalizing everything. She is so excited she can hardly stand it.
  • Getting ready for YW. The Laurels have started making little recipe books. They make a recipe and bring copies of it for everyone, then they make a little scrapbook page with each recipe. (I made toffee dip with apples.) The girl who was supposed to be in charge of bringing supplies didn't show up, so fortunately I had brought a bunch of my stuff. One girl brought spinach salad, but forgot to bring forks or plates. Luckily, we had napkins, so we ate the salad with our fingers. That was another first. Incidentally, I've started having dreams about my Laurels. I'm not sure what that means, other than that I guess they're on my mind.
  • Back to piano lessons. It sure was nice having no lessons last week!
  • Helping Max get ready for a Scout overnight campout. It is truly staggering how many things they have to pack just for one night. They are going to Topaz Mountain, which I'm sure would be a lot more fun if it weren't getting down to freezing at night! (Yep, it snowed again yesterday. I guess they thought a late April campout would be warmer.) Also, I have to send him with a tinfoil dinner. I've never made a tinfoil dinner in my life.
  • Trying to stay on top of the laundry. I just don't understand how the hamper could be almost full already when I just finished folding all the laundry last night!
  • Jill's brother-in-law Jared came over yesterday to give us an estimate on tiling our kitchen and entryway. I'm so excited to be one step closer to having that done!
  • Family dinners. A small victory on that front: on Tuesday I was going to a YW leadership meeting and didn't think I had time to pull a family dinner together. I was scrambling to get something, anything, for everyone to eat. Max and Lucas were having a Pokémon battle on the table. They scooted over to eat. Marc and I happened to sit down at the table as well. Eva was in the family room and said, "Hey! I want to sit at the table, too!" Maybe they're coming around...
  • Our first ward activity is tonight. Not sure why they scheduled a Scout camping trip that conflicts with that, but... the rest of us will be going to see if we can get to know anyone. I signed up to bring cookies, because well, I love to make cookies.
  • On Saturday we will be celebrating Eva's birthday and my niece Nicole's birthday. We're all going to meet at Thanksgiving Point for the baby animal birthday party and the tulip festival, then we'll come back here for panini and birthday cake. I have not done one single thing to prepare for Eva's birthday -- no gifts, nada. What in the world? My birthday banner isn't even close to being done, and I don't think I'll have a chance to make the cake until Saturday morning.
  • I have to teach YW on Sunday. I've read through the lesson, but that's it so far. Hmm, not sure when I'm going to have time to prepare, probably not until Saturday night. Not ideal.
Just before I woke up this morning, I dreamed that I had photos to go with this post. Wishful thinking!

p.s. Yesterday morning Marc, Eva and I were all eating cereal for breakfast. Eva looked around and said, "is this a cereal party??" Who knew such a little thing could be a thrill?

15 comments:

Jill said...

Reading all of this makes it kind of hard to believe that you were feeling footloose and fancy free earlier in the week. I often do this myself so I understand, but how can just a few days away seem like all kinds of time?

It appears that the affects of serving in Young Womens are already showing up. Plus, spinach salad with no fork?!

Hopefully Creative Friday will help. We can talk things through and maybe cross some of these things off your list.

Alisa said...

Love the cereal party comment! That is so great- you can turn anything into a party.

Good luck with your weekend- it will all come together. What gets done gets done...and the rest...well just let it go.
(I know, so much easier said than done!)

Amy said...

The end of the week--it has it's ups and downs doesn't it? It sounds like you have some fun stuff going on, though, so hopefully that negates the pain of being so busy. Have a great weekend!

jenn said...

deadline to deadline- it's just how some of us roll.

Kate still doesn't have a birthday present from me. Yep. Her birthday was in February. Just thought that little secret might help you feel better.

Elisa said...

I love the animal barn at Thanksgiving point, but have never seen the tulips. I bet they are lovely. Happy Birthday to Eva.

Are you going to girls camp or youth conference? I just found out I am headed to a 3 day trip to Wyoming with the youth. I am afraid, and anxious about it although I can't pinpoint exactly why.

patsy said...

I hope next week really is footloose & fancy free!
I love your yw activity- that's a good one.
I wish I was going to Thanksgiving Point today- have fun!

Linda said...

With everything you have going on...I'm tired!

Hope it all works out...and we know it will. Have fun!

Natasha said...

I feel all caught up now.

Love the "cereal party" comment.

I have probs with boy gifts too. Girls just seem to have so many more options - doll, hairbows, Webkinz, book . . . but boy gifts stump me.

carlo said...

wow. that is a lot going on! i am intrigued by the Laurels group. I don't know much about it but I like what I have read. I love how your church really focuses on each stage in life and has a group/support for it. truly cool in my book.

ps- i love the list of what is keeping you busy...it is amazing to me to see what we can accomplish in a week (or a few days!!) and still keep our houses/familes on track

we are amazing!!!!!!

Kim Sue said...

Aren't there times when you wish you had just done it all yourself because even though it is more work it just seems easier knowing that it will all get done - biggest pet peeve ever is someone saying they are going to do something and then not. Don't volunteer or just say no! I love to find people that I can depend on.

Becky said...

Michelle--I loved reading this list..not sure why but it just kept making me smile. I hope that the campout, ward activity, and birthday festivities all went well.

Tinfoil dinners are yummy by the way! :)

I work with the YW and I have weeks where I feel like I am thinking about them constantly. Good luck on your lesson--I am teaching tomorrow as well!

Denise said...

Whew--I'm exhausted just reading your list! Birthdays always wear me out, and stupid as it sounds, the older I get, the more my kids' birthday's sneak up on me. I know--they're at the same time every year, but somehow I still feel ambushed.

I can never think of things to give boys for birthdays--especially as they get older.

And laundry--who knew it could divide and multiply so quickly.

Hope your cake turned out beautifully--please post a picture!

Barb said...

I'm catching this post on the back end of things, I hope everything pulled together smoothly. I look forward to seeing your birthday banner! (don't just dream about that picture)

Bond Girl 007 said...

CEREAL PARTY! howfunny....you have a laod of things to do, since I am late reading, you did very well, even if the cake was not to your specifications....I bet it was tasty! Wow...no fotos, but you made up with the other post...i LOVE THOSE PINK FLOWERS...they have those trees in disneyland, in the entrance and it is just soo magical to see them bloom!

Anonymous said...

These posts are priceless! A cereal party.... I often have my own private cereal party for breakfast or dinner (!). A teacup of cheerios with 1% milk. YUM!

Eva and I will have to party together next time we are together!

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