This Week's Top 10

1 - The elliptical problem is all taken care of (we hope) at no extra cost to us, just more time and the inconvenience of taking it apart again, packing it and waiting for the freight company to pick it up. Oh, and almost 2 hours and 4 e-mails trying to get ahold of a live person to talk to.

2 - My neighbor has beehives and sells honey. OH So Yummy!! After LeRoy surprised me with 2 pale yellow, almost golden, see through jars of fresh from the hive honey I pulled out the saltines and had a sticky, lip smackin' snack. I think I got that snack idea from watching my dad do it.

3 - Nathan attended his first "real" birthday party. 8-10 (I'm not exactly sure) 2 year olds, bubbles, stickers, finger puppets, singing, animal water jugs, chicken nuggets, animal crackers all presented in an animal theme . . . of course he had a great time! Maybe now we can get the invitation out of his hand, he's been packing it around for 4 days.

4 - The apricots that we picked sat in my garage for a few days before I finally started making them into syrup. Let's just say the syrup was so tart that to add enough sugar to give them the flavor of a syrup, it would be solid. Talk about pucker!! I'm not sure what type of fruit these are but they are anything but sweet even though they looked and felt ripe. I wish I had some Native American thinking to know what to do with them. Oh, well. When life gives you sour apricots . . make war. The boys have had a great time getting rid of them for me.

5 - I took Erika to a Lia Sophia jewelry party. I may have created a monster.

6 - Levi was in a bit of a car accident. Actually, a college student just backed into him in the parking lot. She apologized profusely, Levi asked if she wanted to exchange insurance, she declined, he looked at her "newish" looking car and saw a VERY damaged bumper that would probably have to be replaced, he looked at his much-less-than-new car . . . minor scratch, not even an itsy bitsy dent. They don't make cars like they used to. It's worth having a gas guzzler to know he's driving a tank.

7 - Justin goes to a different school every Thursday for Discovery. That is the nice way of say 'Gifted and Talented' so that the kids don't get teased for being so smart that they are put in advanced classes and to make it sound like they are on an adventure. His only reason for not wanting to do it is that he misses Pacers at his own school. Pacers is program where they do the 1/4 mile course around the playground during lunch recess, volunteer mothers keep track of their laps, mile markers go up in the gym with their name and there is a big competition to have more miles than the principal. Justin was doing 4 miles every Tuesday and Thursday (the only days they are offered). We called the principal and asked if he could do it for the same amount of time around our subdivision and his comment was "you do whatever you need to to keep that kid happy, even if he does beat me in miles". What a great principal. Oh, and what a smarty-pants kid. He has been in the Discovery group since 1st grade.

8 - I bought a new pair of pants. After watching "What Not To Wear" on TLC all week (while nursing and Nathan is down for a nap) I have been keeping track of the 'rules' that are set up for the participants. Erika and I watched 2 episodes together to really remember the rules and then she sent me out on my own. Her last bit of advice "remember, you aren't supposed to be mad at your body, just love it and follow the rules". Even in Rexburg where stores are limited (understatement!) I found a pair of pants. Woohoo!! It was so nice to go to a party (Lia Sophia)without my pants making me feel I was doing the plumber crack or having my saggy belly bulging over the top to the point that I was slouching funny to hide it and constantly tugging at my shirt to hide everything that really goes on in my clothes.

9 - We picked up a standing freezer at Home Depot! After turning over the gift cards that we earned from our Home Depot Visa Points I realized that LeRoy is a little bit addicted to walking out of Home Depot having purchased something but not paid for it. We have now 'purchased' at no cost to us (between the 2 houses) 2 dishwashers, 2 stoves, 2 refrigerators, 2 microwaves, linoleum for the other house, 1 garbage disposal and a deep freeze. Wow, he really has bought a ton (or a few tons) of wire. That is where we earn all of our points from.

10 - I received 2 unexpected checks in the mail for reimbursement of our cancelled Renters and Builders Insurance Policies. I had no idea they were coming so they were not already spent. I am so excited to use that $437 to stock my freezer and build up our food storage. That kind of shopping I do love (not so much the clothes shopping).