forever swaner family: I Just Don't Get It

Thursday, January 15, 2009

I Just Don't Get It

There are some things that I just don't get. I guess that they are 'life's great mysteries'. For example...Why are there NEVER enough hangers? I buy more and more and more hangers, but we're always just a few short. I haven't been buying more clothes, so where are the hangers going? It's a mystery.

Also, why oh why do they give us the little packet of extra thread when we buy a sweater? Has ANYONE ever actually repaired a snag in a sweater with the extra supply of thread? I mean, a spare button, I get that...but thread???

And...does anyone in my house (other than me) know how to put a new garbage bag in the trash can? Yesterday, after I emptied the trash bag that was piled to the ceiling (another topic for another day), I forgot to put in a new bag. After just a few minutes, I came back to the kitchen to find a whole pile of trash sitting on top of the counter next to the garbage can. Thank you so much guys for not throwing the trash into the can without a bag. That was really very thoughtful.

Ok, here's another one. Are olives good or bad for me? I really like olives, and I'm pretty well educated about nutrition, but olives are just a mystery. I mean, they grow on trees, and they don't have any sugar...but why do I feel like I'm splurging just a little when I put olives in my salad? Just wondering.

Lastly, what on earth was anyone thinking when they planned a 4 day weekend just 2 weeks after Christmas vacation? I know, Martin Luther King was a really great man. And I can respect that, but can't we celebrate his accomplishments while at school? Just wondering. On a selfish note, I'm just getting into the swing of things, and I'm soooo not ready for another long weekend! Especially in the dead of winter.

These are the things that keep me up at night. So what puzzles you?

10 comments:

Leslie said...: I agree with all of your lifes mysteries- I have asked myself many of those same questions! GO FIGURE. It's a bummer that olives have natural fat (like avocados) but their kind of fat is better than the other kinds of fats like in cookies/cakes/candy etc...p.s. The Bosch just makes baking (especially bread) SO much easier!!! That's all! :); January 15, 2009 at 5:57 PM
Unknown said...: I am with you on the four day weekend. It almost took this amount of time to clean up after them!
I wonder why Hollywood only gives us good movies two times a year yet they make millions of dollars and why Bauer HATES men who come over if Dave is not home. (like a repair guy). How would he even know that?; January 15, 2009 at 6:09 PM
FAMILY FAMILY FAMILY said...: Avocados...you couldn't even pay me to live without avocadoes. Maybe I'm attracted to 'good fat'.; January 15, 2009 at 9:59 PM
farmgirl said...: The mysteries of life know no boundaries...Here's what I wonder- Why can't any one manage to keep a tube of toothpaste reasonably clean? Why do we need to open EVERY bar of soap? Who is "I don't know" and why are they eating all the brownies? What is the deficiency that causes selective hearing in children and why does it always flair up when it is time to do chores, homework, or shut the TV/computer off?
Just a few things that make you go hhmmmm.....; January 16, 2009 at 3:59 PM
Nicky said...: I wish that I knew your kids were off school Friday. My kids were begging to spend the day with your kids. I told them they were in school. You don't want to know my mysteries, cuz they are probably obvious to everyone else. For example, why is it that all the really YUMMY foods are unhealthy? Can't there be a chocolate chip cookie that actually makes us lose weight instead of gain?; January 17, 2009 at 4:33 PM
tysonandmandimoser said...: Olives must be OK, because isn't that where olive oil comes from? OR am I way off? By the way, are you related to my husband? You two think of really wierd things.; January 17, 2009 at 6:49 PM
Maria said...: Garbage bag!! Ahhh, it is not hard to replace! I think I must be the only one who knows how do it too.; January 18, 2009 at 11:14 AM
jennaloha said...: I'm puzzled about why children don't value sleeping in. I have to shake them out of a deep sleep on school days, but today, that blessed MLK Jr day of which you lament, they are up on their own earlier than when I usually wake them. I don't get it.; January 19, 2009 at 6:35 AM
Jamie said...: Hi cutie Swaners! I have a lot of blogging to catch up on here, but I just wanted to pass along the message to Derrick that Shaun Krikham is lookin' for him on Facebook. Teel Derrick to email Shaun at shaunkirkham@hotmail.com
We've been havign a tiny little NCRM reunion over there with Wendi Abel, Sarah Black, John Wilcox, Kristin MacDonald Lebaron, etc...yay for mission friends!
PS: I am sooooo with you about the cabin fever and the long weekend.; January 19, 2009 at 10:03 PM
Anonymous said...: I feel ya...will someone also tell me if olives are good or bad???
I liked this post very creative!; January 22, 2009 at 9:41 PM

Crazy Things Our Kids Say

'Mom, Desmond needs to be changed. He smells like a waffle'. -myah- I've heard all sorts of descriptions, but never a WAFFLE!
'Mommy, How come all of our prophets names start with "President"?' Myah
'Mom, baby boys are special too'. Myah's words of encouragement shortly following the boy ultrasound. Thanks Myah!
When talking about what to grow in our garden this summer, Skyler said, 'Oh, I know...let's grow more zuccini so we can have more pickles!' Pretty funny coming from a really smart kid!
'Mommy, I want my armpits to look like yours, with all the black pokey things in them!' Yep, that's Myah!
'...Thank you for Santa Clause...and thank you for his reindeer.' Myah's prayers last night
'Daddy...You smell like Grandpa!' (Myah) Derrick has picked up a new second job, working with my dad doing sheet metal construction...aka 'manual labor', and apparently, he's starting to smell like hard work!
'When I grow up, I want to be....A MOMMY!' Myah
"But sleeping makes me tired!" Never heard this excuse for a later bedtime before!
'How does my water turn into pee?' Myah
'My eyeballs are melting!' Myah...We built a fire for fhe and made smores...apparently it was pretty hot!
'Can I pet the baby?' I was babysitting for a friend the other day, and Myah was so happy to have a baby around!

Quotable Quotes

'Yesterday is history, Tomorrow is a mystery, Today is a Gift. That's why it's called the Present' -kung fu panda...master uguay
"The greatest discovery of any generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitude." William James (borrowed from Katie)
"As long as it stays outside" -my grandpa joe- let me explain this one, he was a farmer and was referring to the problems and trials we have. I interpret this to mean that as long as we don't let them into our homes and our families, it's all good!
"Remember, a good attitude produces good results, a fair attitude fair results, a poor attitude poor results. We each shape our own life, and the shape of it is determined largely by our attitude." Jeffrey R. Holland

Hmmmm....

There once was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror, and noticed she had only three hairs on her head.

'Well,' she said, 'I think I'll braid my hair today!'

So she did, and she had a wonderful day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that she had only two hairs on her head.

'H-M-M,' she said, 'I think I'll part my hair down the middle today!'

So she did and she had a grand day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that she had only one hair on her head.

'Well,' she said, 'today I'm going to wear my hair in a pony tail.'So she did and she had a fun, fun day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that there wasn't a single hair on her head.'

YEA!' she exclaimed, 'I don't have to fix my hair today!'

Attitude is everything. Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Derrick

Derrick goes by many names around here, including Honey, Big Fatty (only when Zac is really mad or really tired), Babe, Appocolypse (his wrestling alias), Abomination (another wrestling foe),...but my definite favorite...Daddy (or Dad as the big kids say). I also think that to everyone in our home, Derrick is considered a great friend. He has a talent for turning those tense moments into funny and lighthearted memory makers. I guess that he is the perfect balance for me, since I have a hard time letting go of my 'schedule' and just having fun!
The man of our house stays very busy with work, play, more work, and a little more play! He still works as part of a management team of an imaging center, where he also does nuclear medicine, ct, x-ray, and lab work. When he's home, he acts as teacher, barbeque king, friend, companion, tutor, priesthood holder, elders quorum president, bedtime tucker-inner, and daddy!
So yes, Derrick wears many hats, and I have to say, I love every one of them!

Kelli

I am a middle aged stay at home mommy to five kids. I rarely get out, and I don't always manage to get a shower in every day. I cook, I clean, I sew (well, not really, but I wish I could sew!), I tutor, I clean some more...and I love my life! I am a wife, a new mommy, and an old mommy, a wannabe runner, a friend, a neighbor, a sister, a daughter, an aunt, a food network junkie, a inventor (of recipes, since I can't stand to follow a recipe as given), a hiker, a taxi driver, a librarian (my new calling in church...are you jealous???), and a really great sports spectator!
My goal over the next year is to try and be 'happier' on the outside while I'm with my kids. I'm always happy inside, but don't tend to show it as often as I should. Also, I hope to be able to give in service to those around me as much as they have done for me! I am so thankful to know that I am a daughter of God, and that he not only loves me but is totally aware of my trials and my weaknesses. I truly believe that he has surrounded me with special people to help me through those trials and to help me become better! How cool is that???

Skyler

Skyler has a whole variety of hats, and it's hard to know from day to day which ones he'll pull out! I guess that's all part of being a teenager! Skyler is a big brother, a babysitter, a son, a priesthood holder, a scout, a basketball player, a friend, a football player, an excellent student, a reader, an artist, a musician, a help (when he wants to be), a tease, and a future (and current) missionary! I appreciate Skyler's committment to the gospel and to living the gospel standards. I know that sometimes, we butt heads, but I have never ever been worried about him not honoring his gospel standards and covenants! What a great example to the younger brothers and sister!

Zacary

Zac is so often my life preserver! On days when I feel like I'm drowning, he is able sense that and jumps right in to save me! I often refer to him as our 'resident chef', since he absolutely LOVES to cook! He can follow a recipe pretty well, but he can also 'taste cook' (a boy after my own heart). Zac also wears many hats...soccer player (almost any position), student, resident chef, babysitter, big brother, cousin, scout, maid (really, the kid can clean...when he wants to!), missionary in training, manual laborer (loves to work on house and yard projects), and friend! I love Zac and so much appreciate his awareness in knowing when to jump in and help out!

Tannon

Tannon may be a skinny little thing, but his heart is HUGE! Tannon is a big brother (a fact of which he's very very proud), a son, a friend, a soccer player, a tease, a wrestler (just as home with Derrick), a student, a reader, a cub scout, a future missionary, an example, a food critic (since he doesn't like much of anything!), and a very tender hearted little boy! I love Tannon, and I think that his quiet, peaceful nature brings a smile to my face and makes his Heavenly Father very happy! I really and truly hope that we can instill in Tannon, exactly how special and amazing he is!

Myah

Myah is the cream on top of the Swaner family sundae! We are all just crazy about the only girl in the family! Myah's hats...big sister, little sister, daughter, friend, social butterfly, artist, student (preschool!), dancer, singer, comedian, peacemaker, and helper! If I can teach her one thing that she will never ever forget, it is that she is a daughter of God, and that alone makes her so incredibly special! She often says, 'I am a princess, because my Father in Heaven is a king!' I hope that she remembers that always!

Desmond

Little Des, is a true blessing in our family! He is the cherry on top of our Swaner family sundae. I never knew I wanted a cherry on top, but once he joined our family, I can no longer picture it any other way! Just when I thought we were moving along to the next 'stage' in life, there was a quick little u-turn along our path, and just about 10 months later...here we are with a new sweet spirit in our family.
So Des's hats...a little brother, a son, a sweet little spirit, a peacemaker (and he doesn't even know it), and a HUGE blessing!
Desmond joined us on August 18th, 2008 in Blackfoot, Idaho. He was born via planned c-section, and the whole process was an answer to many prayers! We are very thankful for our newest addition!