Money Can't Buy Everything...

Well, I am sitting here today pondering the big deal that is money.  Supposedly Money can't buy everything.... BUT there sure is a whole lot that it CAN buy and it seems as though there is some truth in "Money makes the world go round".  At least, it sure keeps people running around in the world.  I've been reviewing budgets, trying to sell a house, trying to find a better house in a better place for a better price (harder than it sounds), trying to start teaching piano in the fall and looking forward to Jarett being admitted to the bar in one weeks time.  All these time consuming, thought comsuming things revolve around Money.

So what is it that makes us SO focused on Money?  Well, it feeds us, clothes us and shelters us... and those are basic needs.  It can make us feel happy when we use it to help others.  It can pamper us, protect us and fill our lives with many wonderful things.  I think that the big thing is that without money, we can't do many of those things.  On the other hand, money can bring us too much, our lives get cluttered with nice things, but TOO many.  How often do we find ourselves short of money, but surrounded by too many things.  (This would be why garage sales become quite popular).  I'm SO sick of having so many things around me.  I feel like taking at least half of my things and just giving them away.  Have a "Take whatever you want" garage sale and call it a day.  Why do we keep buying things that we end up not really wanting less than a week later??

Wouldn't it be nice if we could just go into a place where money wasn't a factor?  We could trade our goods and services for other goods and services and not have to worry about money.  How neat would it be if making a skirt would pay for lessons?  or babysitting would get you some eggs?  I wish we lived back in the day where you just went out and claimed your land and built your own house.  There were no set floor plans you HAD to chose from.  There wasn't plots of land around the houses that were so small that you couldn't even grow a garden.   I wish my kids could have a good education at home that consisted of learning how to be good Mom's one day instead of whatever new liberal agenda is out there... and I didn't have to pay almost $2000 a year to have them learn a regulated curriculum for the "average student", be on a bus for an hour and a half and be able to eat lunch (that was sent from home) at the school.  Shouldn't a teacher LOVE their job?  And shouldn't she actually get paid more than the administration who sits at their desks and decide what school deserves more funds than others?

People get so corrupted by money as well.  I have seen good people go crazy over the lack payment.  People fight with each other over a mere dollar (I'm not just talking about bartering... I mean when people feel ripped off by service and are SCREAMING at eachother...).

I'm just sick of it all today.  It truly drives me crazy to have to count pennies daily.  I really wish that people could be trustworthy enough that you could just expect good service and honest payment for a good exchange.

I should point out that I TOTALLY understand that people, in general, will try to get the best deal for themselves to the point that they totally take advantage of other people.  I realize that this is WHY we need a constant to even things out.  I REALIZE that this is why money is what it is...  I just wish we were all above that.  Sigh, one day...

PS - I should also say that no one has ripped me off recently or anything.  It's just a mere reflection on the world and my budget. ;)

The wee hours of the morning...

It was about 5:35, and Jaymeson had been torturing Jarett and I for about half an hour crawling in and out of our bed.  I finally said, "Jaymeson, you have to go to sleep.  Do you want to stay here or go to your bed?"  He, of course, chose to stay.  As we're working on letting Benson sleep as much as possible, Jaymeson has been finding himself in our bed more and more.  I realize it needs to stop soon, but it is what it is for now.  After another 10 minutes of jumping on us etc, I said, "Jaymeson you HAVE to lie down and be still no matter where you are, so where do you want to go?"  He stopped and thought while tapping his finger on his chin and said, "Costco!"

My First Haircut

I do understand that in reality, this wasn't my first haircut.  It wasn't even Jaymesons first haircut... but it was the first haircut I did for Jaymeson (actually it was the second, but the first one was with scissors and wasn't nearly as nice).  After a couple months of having Jaymeson look like Harry Potter (complete with the stand-up hair and glasses - all we were missing was a lightning scar), I got the nerve up to cut it myself.  My hair cutting friend, Amber, recommended some good cutters for kids and hooked me up with some.  I got them and was in HEAVEN.  I NOW understand how all these moms cut their boys hair.  It's SO much easier.  In fact, I enjoyed it so much, I might even make it a bi-weekly deal.  Maybe I'll even take on Jarett.  I can conquer the world!!

The before picture!  Please note the pile of hair coming down over his ear.  This looks especially smashing with glasses.

After!  It was short and sweet and he was so good!

My Handsome little Devil!

 

My Excuses

"You've really neglected blogging.  So, what the heck is keeping you so busy, Ashley?" you might ask.  Well, I suppose I could tell you - since you might be a captive audience (which is hard to find around my house - trust me).  Conveniently, I just wrote my excuses to my sister, Kim (who is serving her mission on Temple Square in Salt Lake City), so I'm going to use them for this too!

#1. I've been quilting (don't tell Alanna - she'd be impressed).  I'm finishing the double quilt that Alanna helped me start over a year ago.  So that's been time consuming AND has really kept me off of the computer (which is general IS a good thing... just not when it keeps me away from blogging and writing letters etc.)

#2. I've started to workout in a group.  Well, not just me (clearly - or it wouldn't be a group).  But there's about 5 other women in my ward who are feeling a little "larger than life" after having babies (I suppose I could say that they're feeling large because of life too).  We are working out 2 nights a week (it may be a kin to torture), and whipping ourselves back into shape.  We've also been doing "food journals".  I've cut out sugar except for Sundays (and to be completely truthful - whenever a good dessert is offered.... but that is REALLY rare).  I've really caught myself snacking a lot and I've been able to take that out.  I've been pushing fruits and veggies.  Having awesome smoothies and I'm not eating at night at all (except for date night).  All this considered, I've lost a whopping 1.6 pounds (no, the "." is not a type-o).  Don't get too worried.  I'll slow down soon enough - you don't have to worry about me wasting away to nothing.  Ugh.  It'll come.  I know it will.  It's a gospel principle.  Patience and moderation in all things.  Endure to the end, right?  (I am just hoping there's an end - or a result for that matter - before the judgement day, because I might lose my mind any second now).

#3.  Scratch that last fragment of a sentence.  I HAVE completely lost my mind.  I am getting very little sleep (Thank you, Benson) and I'm running after 4 other kids.  Kaia and Kienna are finishing up school for the year.  Kaia has just finished her violin lessons, I'm looking for Kienna's cello teacher and Saryn will be starting both Kindergarten and Violin in the fall.  Since I'll be so bored at home when my girls are at school, I've decided to take on the BRILLIANT plan of teaching piano and theory one night a week (Jarett convinced me to knock it down to just one night... I think I have a tendency to torture myself).

#4. I am actually watching Peso for a couple days while my Gran and Aunty Beryl have taken their half-sister, Bubbles who is visiting from South Africa and her friend up to Banff.

#5.  I am in the process (hopefully nearing the end) of potty training little Jaymeson.  He's doing great - all we need to work on now is changing what he is calls it.  For some reason he decided it's called "Mom and Dad".  I'm just not a huge fan of that (for some crazy reason).  I THINK that Jarett said, "Wow are you a big boy like Mom and Dad?" when he went potty once and so he decided that that was the correct name for it.  Hopefully this will be a fleeting memory very soon.

#6. I have also been busy celebrating.  Hayley's birthday was fun, but that REALLY big celebration happened last Friday.  Jarett and I went to the Keg on a date to celebrate his LAST (like VERY VERY last) grades coming back as a "Competency Demonstrated" (aka, he passed).  He's DONE!  DONE!!!!!!  No more hoops to jump through, no more student at law.  All that is left is the celebration and ceremony of being "Admitted to the Bar", which will happen on June 29th (the day before Dad's 25th anniversary of being admitted to the bar).

#7.  Jarett's sister, Erin, is getting re-married on June 30th.  So I've been having fun doing a few little wedding plans etc.  She's so excited, and I'm so happy for her.

#8. Marvel (my niece) just did her Grade 5 piano exam on Tuesday.  She is my first student to do so, and I spent MANY hours every week drilling everything with her.  We went over to my old piano teacher's house and had her play there, we've had multiple 2-3 hour sessions of mostly scales etc.  I'm really proud of her.  I think she did fabulous!  Can't wait to hear her grade!

#9.  I've been busy with rain, snow, sleet and hail.  Bad weather really keeps you busy when you have 5 kids.  Many much more things to think of to entertain.  Today is sunny and I'm LOVING it.  We took Peso on a walk around the pond behind the house and played on the playground etc.  The kids were dancing to 'candyland' (the demo on our piano) and we've just had a lot of fun!

#10.  I've also been busy with Mechanics.  Apparently the van's transmission is on the fritz.  We've taken it to a couple places to get more opinions, but pretty much, I'm driving a time bomb.  We just don't know when the transmission will blow.  In the meantime, we're going to try to sell it (someone else might want to put $4000 into it) and get an 8 seater, so we can all fit more easily (and maybe even be able to pick up a friend or something too).

Well, I figure I've now given you the top 10 reasons that I've been crazy busy and away from the computer (except for maybe the Peso thing, but I think I'll add that I've been busy being a Mom, trying to keep the house clean and SELL It and being a chauffer etc.)  I'm sure I could add many more things, but I'll stop there.


Anyway, needless to say, life has been busy.