{Success} amid {Trial}

Despite various mishaps this week, most not worth mentioning, because I know you've all been there - you know the kind - blowouts, too-early mornings, too-late nights, failed meals that nobody eats, hamper full to the brim and out of detergent, get in the shower to find no shaver or shampoo and no towel when you're done - Yeah, you've all been there!!!

On a side note, I have a few successes...

{one} Tanner and I share this one: eating a plate of cookies within ten minutes of them coming out of the oven...Thanks Stevie! This is a picture of "The Last" cookie (two points to whoever knows what movie!) They were the most 'yummiest' pumpkin cookies I've had! I'm looking forward to that batch I can pull from my freezer and bake...Thanks for having my rambunctious crew over to eat cookie dough and play in time-out!

{two} Making relish to relish! Ha-Ha! It sure was a blast! Tricia and Keith came up for the weekend, so we decided to go down. Mom taught us girls how to whip up a batch or FOUR of relish with the greet tomatoes I grew in our garden (60+ pints)...never mind I had to buy the onions, cucumbers, vinegar and other various ingredients...I should have grown them, but ran out of steam! We were laughing so hard, we forgot how much of each ingredient we put in each pot - which made us laugh even harder.

***The story behind why it's called Johnny Relish***

In the words of my father, and I quote, "This isn't a very pleasant story, but I'll tell it. My grand-daddy had sheep. His sheep herder, being a sheep herder, was of humble means. This sheep herder, named Johnny, Johnny Cox, lived in a little sheep camp. He had some teeth, but the teeth he had weren't very good. The relish looks like it was chewed by Johnny, hence, Johnny Relish."

***Should you be at our house for breakfast and have relish on your eggs and hashbrowns, know that we used a grater, and not our teeth to make the relish!***

{three} Singing Time is ready for Sunday! Our Primary is doing their annual program on November 9th, and because I'm the chorister, the music responsibilities sort-of fall on me. I say sort-of, because I have the wonderful help of my Primary Presidency and our pianist, not to mention the teachers that keep their classes in line. It was suggested that we have a Singing Time Olympics. We're doing it a tad bit differently than I'd seen it done, but I think it will work. I purchased some paper mache round ornaments and painted them Gold, Silver and Bronze, then attached these fun red, white, and blue ribbons (I would have used red, yellow, and blue, but couldn't find it...). These 'medals' are about four inches in diameter, and are huge! As it stands, each song will have its gold, silver, and bronze singer, which will be able to stand during our national anthem for a brief moment - then those children will receive a badge that says their singing was 'noteworthy' to take home...the medals are then 'reused' for each song...I hope the children are motivated to sing!!! After yesterday, I was wiped out...and felt a bit defeated...but I'm determined to get those children to understand the importance of singing with their heart, and not goofing off! (This is a test, this is only a test, but is it?)

It's nice to have little accomplishments to balance the 'failures' - or better said, learning experiences!

{four} and final - Ryan and I managed to re-arrange our living room in less than three hours and broke only one sentimental object (I keep telling myself it's just that - an object) and destructing one very large and cumbersome piece of furniture (I've hated that lateral file since the day Ryan brought it home - he started wrecking it first, so then I just helped! Now I've got to find a place for all the stuff it held! Good thing it's just stuff, and the garbage is taken twice a week!) and kicking one nasty piece of purple underwear of significant size from our side of the gutter to the other side. I know, I should have been the bigger person and put it in the garbage, but it's been frozen to the street for awhile...okay, two days. But I feel a lot better! Now that it's dark outside, maybe I'll go pick it up with my nifty claw-grabber I use to pull hair balls from the sink drain...that'll do, that'll do. (three points to whomever can name that movie - quick! - there's actually two options for this one!)

Anyhoo...

For those needing an update on the Mr. Mom situation, Ryan is 'winning', and I'm surviving. I sure am glad Heavenly Father decided what roles men and women would have in the family, because I will be glad when we can get back to 'normal'. I've had today, Columbus Day, off. I've been able to spend time with my boys, and I really do miss it. I think Ryan misses getting out of the house and being the bread-winner, too, but hopefully with his Masters, he'll have more opportunity to have a more substantial career...Here's to EDUCATION! HOO-RAH! HOO-RAH! HOO-RAH! (four points to whomever know this movie!)

Okay - I'm done with my public thoughts, and I'm done with the movies! I'm serious - I'm keeping score on this one! Good Luck!