Friday, December 10, 2010
Love this job
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Confirmed Craziness
There are 2 main reasons I do this to myself every year.
The first being that I really enjoy basketball. I've grown up in a gym and love the sounds and smells. There's nothing quite as exciting as a great shot in the last minutes of a game. A good man on man defense is fun. Can I play the game? Definitely not! I'm terrible, really, terrible. Although I do have great technique. Can I coach the game? Yup. Been there. Done that. Loved it.
The second reason is that I have a lot of my Dad in me. No matter how busy he was, he wouldn't want a kid to miss out on an opportunity. I want the 130 boys that signed up this year to have a great time and learn to love the game. The boys deserve an opportunity to succeed.
This is where I start manufacturing my craziness. I'm a little (ahem, a lot) OCD about organization. I have a file box that is ONLY for basketball. In my box are few manila folders containing a mirage of things. All registration papers are done by alphabetical order in each grade. Practice schedules, volunteers, team rosters, insurance, Jazz contacts are included in these manila folders. Ok, maybe I have more than just a few folders. All of the information that I have must be shared in a clearly organized manner. This is just the paperwork part of it.
Now we move into the gym. The coaches that have so gracefully volunteered must feel at ease as things run smoothly. Every night I close up the gym, the floor must be swept. Once a week the bleachers are pushed in and swept. I know how much it costs to refinish a gym floor so we keep it as nice as possible. Besides, it was fun to sweep the gym floor as a little girl. My dad taught me that's what you do before leaving the gym, so that's what I do.
Tonight I had a few people thank me for stepping up to the plate and running the league again. Honestly, I kinda like it. It's my way to give back to the community and kids. I'm grateful I have a reason to be crazy. Thru basketball I feel very connected to my dad. It's a game he loved so dearly and I can be a part of him.
If you see me around town and I'm disheveled, haven't showered in days, and babble at you, please remember that I'm a little basketball crazy. Give me a week or 2 and I'll come around.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Daddy's Girl
I remember so many nights that we'd shoot the bull and watch Sports Center after I returned from a date or activity. He would be in the stands watching dance performances, diving meets or softball games. There would be cards placed on my pillow congratulating me on a job well done if he had to miss something due to other obligations. Or the flowers left on the counter top with a note since he'd have an out-of-town basketball game on my birthday. He cared and made sure we knew it. Don't get me wrong, we had our moments. We stood toe to toe in a disagreement neither wanting to back down. We were more alike than not and our stubborn sides would clash every blue moon. Then again, I was a teenager. Even though we didn't see eye to eye, I still had to obey the rule: Give Daddy a Kiss on the Cheek Nightly. Some kisses were a little icy but I would give almost anything to give him more nightly kisses.
I miss my daddy's smell, his hugs that make you feel like everything is ok and his voice. I'm sad that my boys won't have him in the stands at their sports games cheering them on. I wish he was in the seats at my daughters dance performances. My dad knew all the dance terminology and how to do most of the moves. See, I told you he was interested! I would love to cuddle up next to him and talk basketball/baseball/football/tennis/track...you get the idea. I wish he could have been coaching as SUU got an invitation to the Big Sky Conference. Although we all know he was involved in that from the other side.
I aspire to emulate my dad in my life. To bring out all of his great qualities he passed onto me. I know he was proud of me when he passed away and I'll continue to make him proud. I'll continue his legacy and teach my children of the great man he was. I will always hold my head high as one of the "Hodson Girls." There is a man in town that knew my dad and calls me STEVE since he doesn't know my name. The man has appologized for not remembering my name but I told him it's the greatest honor to be associated and remembered as my dad. I'm honored to be Steve to this man.
As I cry and hurt during this hard time of year I'm grateful for our gospel. I'm grateful for eternal life and the opportunity I have to be with my dad again. I know he visits me and watches over us. I know he's surrounded by family and friends. He probably golfs every thursday and is in a softball league with his buddies that have also passed on.
I miss my dad.
Steven Lloyd Hodson Dec 11, 1954- Nov 3, 2008
Friday, October 29, 2010
Run, Run as fast as you can...
Thursday, October 14, 2010
I'm tired because...?
As I've finally relaxed and am headed to bed I realize it's once again 2 a.m. I've come to the conclusion that I keep weird hours. And until I manage to add a few more hours into the day I'll probably continue to go to bed at 2. It also occurred to me that I'm tired because my work day didn't end until way after midnight. (Those extra hours will help my workday end sooner.) I'll give you a peak into today's workday, it's been a long one.
Since my kids like to be woken up and won't use alarm clocks I'm up at 7:10 a.m. Yes, I realize that's not early but waking before 9 is a sin in my world. Hm, probably because I've only been asleep for 4 hours. The kids are on the bus by 7:45, dogs brought back into the house and I jump back in bed by 8:30. My next alarm clock is the bus rolling to a stop in front of the house bringing Colten home around 11:30. Total sleep time= 7 hours.
Today Rob, Colten and I made a quick trip into St. George for an ENORMOUS WalMart run. Once a month Rob and I replenish the food storage and try to add a little to it. It's convenient to do regular grocery shopping during the same trip. It takes me 45 minutes to make and revise the food storage/grocery list. We've also settled into a routine as we shop. I fill the cart, he gets me an empty one. Rob checks out with the full cart as I fill another one. We continue our pattern until everything on the list has been checked off. We managed three carts today! Poor Colten was a little cramped on the way home as he had to share half the back seat with groceries. The kids were home from school by the time we got back. Hooray for more help unloading groceries!
Now the chaos truly begins. By the time the car was unloaded it was almost 5 p.m. Dallon had football practice at 5:30. Kason had scouts at 5:30. Bethany wanted to play with her friend. AJ was dying to try out his new Xbox game. Kim was willing to ride her bike down to the park with Dal to practice. I think Colten was glad to be free. The dinner menu tonight consisted of frozen pizza due to the fact that I had other plans.
I turned on the oven so I could heat the bottles of applesauce and apple butter that had been previously made and stored in the fridge. There were 5 (1/2 gallon) bottles of homemade applesauce and 9 (pint) bottles of apple butter to heat and process. I also had a mound (small mountain) of tomatoes on my kitchen table that were in desperate need of attention. As the tomatoes are being prepared for a homemade steak sauce, the other bottles are being processed, I looked at the clock and shook my head. I WAS A TERRIBLE MOTHER!!! It was 6:30 and I had forgotten to take AJ to gymnastics. In my canning bliss I had completely forgotten to watch the time. I'm going to have to beg forgiveness from AJ and his gym teacher. I'm still having guilt.
Rob, being the sweet husband he his, told me I ought to start setting more alarms. Ya, thanks honey. :)
A few more bottles were being processed, the steak sauce was started and boiling down and kids were returning home. I returned home from picking Dal up from practice (7:20) and Rob had a truck load of wood to be unloaded. Many hands make light work and it was done in a flash. Since all of the bottles were now out of the oven I could start dinner. We threw in the first pizza and I took AJ, Kason, Colten, Beth and Kim for a run.
Kason, Rob and I are going to run a half-marathon with my mom and sisters in January. There is a 5K that my kids want to run. Because Kason, Rob and I have started to do a little running everyone else thinks they need to run too. I've been promising that we'd go on a mile jog so go we did. It ended up being a run/walk with a lot of stress on my part. There was only 1 fit, 3 stern moments and a few tears but we made it a whole mile. The 5K training has ended until January. My poor sanity can't handle it.
It's now 8 p.m. I'm making sure kids are showered. Rob is handling reading time. Pizzas are being rotated in and out of the oven as they're cooked. Homework is being finished and reading logs signed. By 9:00 the sauce is moved to a better pot, all bottles have been processed, backpacks are ready for tomorrow and we're settling the kids in the living room. Wait, things are still a mess. Quick cleaning time and we're back on track. 9:15 scripture reading. This sparks a good conversation but turns to talking about Grandpa Hod. Tears are shed on my part. All kids were sent to brush their teeth and get in bed. We only had one argument tonight so it was relatively smooth. By the time it's quiet it's 10 p.m.
I need a coke. Rob and I go into town to acquire my sanity beverage, a nice large Diet Coke. When we return home we measure out the last ingredients for the sauce and pick up the kitchen. Rob is getting ready to head to bed so we get in some much needed snuggle time. It's 11:30 and the sauce probably has about a half hour left. I didn't want to leave it on the stove all night so I tidied up and adjusted the seasonings. Around midnight it was looking and tasting pretty good. I got it into jars, put them in the fridge and finished wiping down the kitchen. 12:40 a.m. and my work day is complete.
Have you ever tried to jump into bed after walking in the door from work? Doesn't work so well. I personally need some down time. I tucked the kids and dogs in bed and hopped in the bath. A nice hot bath, add in some pine nuts and watching Dancing With the Stars is a recipe for relaxation.
Here's where the insomnia part comes in. I'm relaxed, lying in bed, and I got nothin. I can't sleep. So here I sit at 3:30 in the morning blabbering on my blog hoping to see a glimpse of sleepiness. I'm hoping to readjust my work day and bedtime in the next week. I'd love to be in bed by 10 but let's be real, it's not going to happen, so midnight is my goal. But until then, at least I know why I'm so tired.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Insomnia = Tough Subjects
As I lay is bed I'm able to think about sensitive subjects without intense emotion and come to clearer thoughts. I would love to take my personal experiences and talk about them openly with groups to educate. I'd talk with health classes on the effects of anorexia, young women on the subject of date rape, groups of people on dealing with depression/anxiety, women on abusive relationships and anyone who will listen about how the Savior has helped thru all of these ordeals.
This sounds a little depressing but by dwelling on these subjects I have a clearer understanding of my position and a healthier outlook on them. I can feel the atonement continuing to take effect on my life and lighten the burden of sadness. I lay next to my husband and feel grateful that he's supportive (although jealous he's asleep) and I can talk openly to him. Rob isn't judgemental. He loves me for who I am.
What do you think about late at night? What do you do when you can't sleep? Like my cousin said, we'd like to find the relative who passed on the insomnia and see if we could trade it for something else.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
They are my kids
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Jumbled Thoughts
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Good Intentions Don't Help Overwhelmed
I'm grateful there are men/women that are willing to coach my kids teams. Scout leaders that watch out and help my sons get their badges. Teachers that help my children push themselves and succeed. As for me, I'm glad everyone is in bed and it's finally quiet.
As I look around my house there are so many veggies(also known as my green things) that have taken over my kitchen table that I need to tend to. Bags of clothes that need to be taken to the thrift store and donated. Laundry bins of the boys clothes that they need to be motivated to fold and put away. It goes on and on from there with dishes, dusty shelves and floors that desperately need to be mopped. Although, I did get my droopy plant watered and it's looking much more perky.
Most days I don't have the energy or desire to clean for hours on end. After the kids get home from school I end up spending most of the time in my car driving kids to and from various activities while cooking dinner in the spare moments. By 8pm it's time to make sure everyone has eaten, all homework has been corrected, kids showered, reading time, tying up loose ends with the kids, scripture and prayer. All accomplished by 9:00 bedtime 9:15 lights out. My kids should probably be in bed by 8 but I never get it all done to send them to bed at 8.
That leaves the morning when Colten is in Kindergarten, after lunch before the kids get home at 3 or late at night when they're all in bed. Since I'm a terrible morning person (think trying to take steak away from a hungry bear) that time is ruled out. I absolutely love going back to bed and sleeping in for a while. Add a diet coke on that and you get a happy mom. Some things I do get done in the afternoon like feeding/watering the chickens, picking my green things, running to the store. That doesn't leave hours for cleaning the house. Now all I'm left with is cleaning late into the night. I don't mind cleaning late at night. But by the time the kids are put to bed, leftovers are in the fridge and living room floor is picked up it's after 10pm. I'm EXHAUSTED!
These next 2 days I have already given my kids a heads up that mama is cleaning. I'm throwing crap away. The clutter is leaving my home. The kids are on their own for dinner cuz cleaning is my focus. I'll probably work myself into the ground and sleep all day Sunday but darn it, my house won't drive my crazy anymore.
Maybe next week I'll be able to get around to doing things I've intended to do, like fix my broken freezer so we can put all the food back into it.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Boy oh Boy
"There will be NO light sabers at the dinner table."
"We are not running wind-sprints in the livingroom."
"No, you may not take your sword to t-ball practice."
"Please take your cape off your head for family prayer."
"Yes, girls fart to but they don't think it's funny."
Raising kids can be a difficult job. Boys are much different than girls and need different parenting. Boys are rough and tough and very physical. Girls are more emotionally led.
My boys are fun and I try hard to raise them with an awareness of always trying to be a gentleman. Someone told me that a true gentleman isn't seen anymore. I beg to differ. I have 4 little gentlemen in my house. They carry groceries, open doors and offer assistance to other women in public. I true gentleman is taught by his mother, in my opinion. If I don't require them to treat me like a lady then how are they going to learn to treat other women? My boys are also expected to treat their sisters like ladies. And my daughters are in the process of learning how to be a lady.
I do have moments when I see my little gentlemen emerge without a little coaxing from mom. My daughter was getting ready for dance and was struggling with putting on her ballet skirt. One of my sons walked over to her and offered to help her put it on since he'd seen mom do it a hundred time. He walked her thru the process and proceeded to tie her ballet skirt on offering to help again. That's my gentleman in the making.
Friday, September 3, 2010
I'm a compulsive list maker
Tomorrow we're heading to Cedar City for AJ's baptism and to ordain Kason a Deacon. Time flys! I can't believe my oldest is receiving the priesthood and my youngest is receiving the Holy Ghost. Thank heavens Rob and I have Colten so we still have a little one. Ok, he's 6 so not that little but you get my drift.
I was so worried that AJ wasn't ready for baptism. Out of all my kids he's the wild one. I didn't think he understood until his interview. In the interview he said the Holy Ghost is like our new best friend for eternity. I knew then that it would all work out and he had heard some of the things I'd been saying. AJ's nervous but really excited.
Kason isn't quite sure what to think about receiving the priesthood. He and Rob have talked a lot about it and some of the responsibilities that come with it. I can tell he's nervous when he talks to me on the phone for a half hour. Kason is such a great kid and will work to be worthy of all priesthood blessings. We went over the fact that all he has to do is sit and fold his arms. The men will take care of the rest.
Then that leaves Dallon. He was a pest today but for good reason. He's the only one that isn't being recognized tomorrow. That's tough to handle especially when he feels overshadowed frequently. I may put him on official camera duty and haul him all over with me.
The girls, Kim and Beth, and Colten are once again along for the ride. They adore their brothers and are excited to be going tomorrow. I'm proud of how supportive they are.
I know tomorrow is going to be a special day and full of laughs and love. I know my heart will sting when my Grandpa Gil is a witness and not my Daddy. I know he'll be there but I miss him and these types of events bring it to the surface. A few tears will be shed for the absence of my Dad and the joy of watching my boys.
As I've sat and pondered tomorrows events, it occurred to me that I need to add to my list! Off I go so nothing is forgotten or left behind.
Back to the Beginning
About 5 years ago I met the man of my dreams. Rob and I talked for about 3 wks before we decided a first date was in order. I knew that I had to get to St. George to meet this guy. After some babysitter scheduling I was ready to go. My favorite pants weren't washed and my allergies were so bad I couldn't wear my contacts. I had to wear the pants that were clean and my nerd-goggles(glasses) but, hey, my hair looked great! Since I didn't know where he lived we decided to meet at the St. George Temple Visitor Center. He walked around the corner and WOW...HANDSOME!!! He even brought me a Diet Coke.
Rob and I went to dinner at a mexican restaurant and did a lot of talking. We continued talking instead of a movie and I didn't want to go home. With promises of phone calls and another date he dropped me off at my car. The next day I was headed back to St. George to watch my dad's team play basketball and invited him and the kids to the game. Another successful date!
From that time on we were inseparable. Any spare moment we had was spent together, on the phone or I.M.ing. After a while I decided this guy had to be a permanent part of my life. We'd talked about the possibility of marriage and what that ment. I'm not the most patient person when I want something and I wanted him. After some thought I decided to propose and make him all mine. The proposal didn't go as smoothly as planned but after a few "Your s*^tting me"s he said yes. Thank heavens! I was starting to panic.
We were married June 2, 2006 in the Canyon Park in Cedar City, UT. It was a small and beautiful ceremony with a fun barbeque after. Our kids were involved in the whole process and felt special.
That was the day that His and Mine became OURS. We're now a blended family with 10 kids, 3 dogs, 5 chickens, 2 ducks and a fish. And, we couldn't be happier! We don't pretend that things are always easy, life is chaos, times are good and bad. We are who we are, nothing spectacular, which makes Just Us Nording's.