Waffle Maker

A few months ago our Waffle Maker met a sad death. Kaleb was getting it out of the cupboard so I would make some for him and he dropped it. The hinge broke, and we haven't had waffles since. For some families this wouldn't really matter. For my family it did. We generally eat pancakes or waffles 2-4 times a week, either for breakfast or dinner. Since the waffle maker broke it has been only pancakes. We have tried to buy a new waffle maker at least 3 times, but each time we looked the store didn't have the kind we wanted. On Saturday we gave up on getting one like we were used to and bought a rotating one (the cost wasn't bad either). I thought it was a goofy idea to rotate the waffles, but now I understand why. Our previous waffle maker made waffles about an inch thick, which I thought was pretty good. This one makes them about 2 inches thick. Here is a picture of one similar to ours:

I like the waffle maker, it's fun to twirl the handle, and I can't wait to made strawberries and cream to go on them.

Success in the Home

"No other success can compensate for failure in the home"- David O. McKay
I had a conversation with one of my friends this week and it has made me do a lot of thinking. She asked what "Success in the Home" means. The long term answer to this is relatively easy for me. I want my family to be happy and grow up to be responsible adults who are active in the church and married in the temple.
But how do you set short term goals that relate to that? My friend wanted help setting goals to accomplish that she could check off at the end of the day or week. Any ideas? Do you do self evaluations and determine what you're doing good and what you need to improve? What things do you look for?
(I asked a lot of questions on purpose, please leave comments and let me know what you think.)

The tale of the shoes

A few weeks ago I noticed that Von was walking funny, so I decided he probably needed new shoes. We went to Payless and had his feet measured. He was wearing size 4 shoes and measured at a 6. I decided to play it safe and get size 7 so they would last longer. They had their BOGO sale (buy one get one 1/2 off), so I got him 2 pairs so I wouldn't have to search for a missing shoe when I was in a hurry.
We got home and Von enjoyed running in his new shoes. I put his old shoes into my drawer of outgrown clothes that I haven't moved to boxes yet, and noticed a pair of Kaleb's old shoes, size 7. I figured that gave me an extra pair. After a day or two I noticed that the size 7's came off his feet too easily. Shortly afterwards I noticed some velcro on them coming unstiched. I took that pair back to the store and traded it for a new pair, this time of size 6 1/2.
Von liked his 4th new pair of shoes and especially liked exploring at Nana and Poppie's house in them. While exploring he lost one of his new shoes. Poppie and I searched for it for quite awhile, but to no avail. I hoped it would surface after I left, it didn't.
Last Friday I gave up waiting to find the shoe and went to buy a new pair so Von could walk at the zoo. The BOGO sale was still going on, so I bought Kaleb a new pair of shoes since his old ones were a little small. I told Von not to lose that new shoe because I didn't want to buy him anymore shoes for awhile. (I don't know how well he listened, but at least he hasn't lost them yet).
On Tuesday I went to Nana and Poppie's and was told that Poppie found Von's shoe. It was hiding in the furnace room.
So now Von has 2 pair of size 6 1/2 shoes, and 3 of size 7 shoes. Hopefully they last him for awhile...

Spelling

fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid too
Cna yuo raed tihs? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can.
i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!

Miracles DO Happen!

I have been really worried about my grades this semester. Actually just about one of them. I was relatively sure that my Saturday class would be an A, but I didn't have any idea about my Abnormal Psychology class. I have averaged 75% on the tests, I did the 2 homework assignments and did extra credit, (which meant I went to some AA meetings with my upstairs neighbor). I studied a lot harder for the final than I did on any of the tests and after I finished I was pretty sure I had failed it. I found out today that I got an 81%.
I was really worried that I might not get a C-, and then I would have to retake it so it would count for my major. I got an e-mail from my teacher today and I have an A. At first I was so stunned that I couldn't even breathe. I am sooooooo relieved!
I'm pretty sure that what happened was that the teacher graded on a curve and thats why my grade ended up so good.

Flowers

Here are some flowers Karl gave me a week or so ago. I love it when he surprises me like that.

Little Things Make Me Happy

Today I was reminded of one of those little things that makes me happy. Friday afternoons at 5:00 my radio station plays a song called "Finally Friday". I was listening at the right time, and got to hear it. It made me happy.