Redundant

On a street near our house there is a traffic light. During the school year there are 2 crossing guards posted there in the morning and afternoon. At a traffic light?! I posted this on facebook and so many people said, "I am so glad they are there to keep the kids safe." 

Here are my thoughts:
Yes, I am, too. BUT, where are their parents? Why do they need this redundancy? Plus, the state has cut funding every year for the past 5 years to education, the school district and teachers. How is 2 crossing guards at a light still more important than the $100 each teachers pay check has been cut each month? 

If it is against the law for a child to be alone before the age of 9 at home, how is it okay for them to walk to school alone? How is it okay for the parents to leave for work and expect a child to get to school on their own? AND how is it the tax payers problem to pay for? Protecting the child is very important to me. I am so glad there are programs in place for latch key children, etc. But, when is it too much? We are enabling hands off parenting to an extreme that makes me angry. It takes a lot for a child to be taken away from unfit parents, yet there are so many I would just love to bundle up in my arms and love them because they aren't getting it elsewhere. How is this okay?

Get rid of the crossing guards at lights and start investigating the families of the first and kindergarten children walking to school on their own. I'll pay for that.

Some people say I am overprotective. Maybe I am, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

I think I am good now. Not sure how much sense I made, but I have let it out.

Musings

The job search is not going well. It is so disheartening and tiring. We spend hours a week searching, writing and applying. We have not had a single interview. We get excited about jobs and nothing comes of them. Right now there are 2 open that would be great but I don't want to tell people and get their hopes up. However, added prayers can't hurt.

When they announced the temple in Cedar City on Saturday I cried. I love hearing where the temples will be, but when it is so personal it really touches me. I remember living there and only being able to attend the temple in St. George about 4 times in the 5 years we were there. Getting a sitter to commit for 4+ hours was hard. Plus, the kids were so young. It will be a great blessing to that area, especially for Parawan, Beaver, etc.

I think my brain works better around children. That is probably why I do what I do and am good at it. When I am around adults I am pretty sure I say weird things that make no sense and have no context. I don't really have people that seek my company, so it makes working on my awkward social skills difficult. Last night was book club and I am pretty sure I just said stuff. I need to get out more.

Calling

I haven't written on this blog since my month hiatus was up. I have thought of several things to say, but am just not sure. I am more stingy with my time now. It is a good thing for me, but means I will post less on here.

I was released from the calling I love as the secretary in the young women organization. That means I will no longer be making personal progress folders. I have one more ready and will give it to a mother of 2 young women. The folder are pretty much the only things I have confidence in making, so I haven't sewn much. However, I tried making Andy a pencil roll today. We'll see what he things. I am going to attempt a scripture case for me now that I don't need my big bag anymore. Oh, my new calling is the Sunday School teacher for the 12 -13 year olds.

My friend is having a baby boy in a few weeks. The name she has chosen is Bruce Wayne. I want to make a crib mobile that is the bat mobile. I am trying to figure out the best way to go about it. Any suggestions? Her baby shower is Saturday. (I already got her Hiccupotamus and some Batman wall clings for the nursery. Plus, I bring over a pack of diapers each month.)

A rose by any other name...

For a very long time I have wanted a Kitchenaid mixer. They are quite pricey for our budget and it never seemed to work out. Andy saved to buy me one and then we needed the money elsewhere. I have been using a cheap mixer and it just didn't work very well. I started watching another baby and after saving and waiting I finally have the most beautiful Kitchenaid. She is red, of course. Her name is Rose. I LOVE making things with her. I have yet to use the bread hook, though. I may need to come up with something to make so I can try it out. I didn't know it would be so nice to have this addition to my family. I look in the kitchen and see her on the counter and it makes me so happy. Andy is sad because he said he wanted to be the one to buy it for me, but he is glad I finally got one. A dozen years later and here she is! Any tips? Anyone want cookies? I am making another batch.

Figured it out

If you read my other blog, you know what we have been dealing with and still are. Until 2 weeks are over there is no surety that it is gone. 

One of my preschoolers got it. I am pretty sure her mom blames me. It really bothered me. It bothered me that she didn't call and tell me they weren't coming today and really hasn't communicated with me. But, I could not understand why I was so upset. I just figured it out.

My job is watching out for 4 children that are not my own. I really enjoy it most of the time. I love my preschool especially. I love planning and executing the lessons. It is my favorite time when it comes to my job. My priority is these children. I would not knowingly hurt them. That is basically what it feels like, that they think I selfishly inflicted others with this blight that has been so hard for me. I would never do it and am so sad anyone would think I did. It may have been us, yes, but I made sure my house was sparkly clean before starting preschool again. Does it matter where it came from? It doesn't really bother me not knowing. Blame stinks when you are the recipient. 

Pin trading

This post is mostly for the Pfiester family. I posted about Disneyland on my other blog and this was a whole other experience so I thought I would post it here. SO, Aunt Cari, this is for you.

The first day I was more into the pin trading than the kids. I tracked down a few Cast members with lanyards. I didn't have my pins and missed out on a Cinderella pin, very sad. Anyway, as the day wore on Anneke kept retrading the same pin over and over and Marcus accidently traded his favorite pin. Luke would just randomly trade them, which was fine.

That night we reevaluated. They took every pin off that they really liked to leave at the hotel. Anneke's lanyard was empty. We divided up all the extra pins and tried again the next day. Anneke was on a quest for Belle pins. (Did you know shops have pin trading boards and so did our hotel?) Not much luck, but Luke would trade for anything interesting.

The last day I said, "You will be going home with all these stinky pins unless you trade them away." That did it. Here is what they ended up with:

Marcus's lanyard:

He really likes Mickey. He has a hipster Donald, Pluto silhouette, Goofy star, 3-D movable marathon Mickey, then three Mickey Mouse pins. The other side: you can't really see the top one, but it is the lion from Bedknobs and Broomsticks, Simba, S-Stitch, Good Stitch, Good Chip and a Mickey Mouse storm trooper. His goal was Star Wars and Pirates, but gave up and just traded for cool ones.

Luke's lanyard:

 It was fascinating to watch him. He traded for some odd ones and then would refuse the ones I thought he would like. He has - Fillmore from Cars, Mikey Moose, a duck car, Nemo, a bird; the other side - Mickey shaped Pooh, Mickey shaped lightning, paisley Mickey, Jiminy Cricket, and a cat

Anneke's lanyard

 I helped her get a few of these. She finally found a couple of Belle pins. She has - Belle, B-Belle, Minnie star, Ariel flower, Daisy square, Daisy silhouette, Dopey in a box, Pink Mickey, heart Aurora; other side - Chest of Drawers from Beauty and the Beast, pink shell, Snow White flower, Snow White, Minnie, Snow White Wicked Queen bowling pin*, Sleeping Beauty's castle

My lanyard 

I traded for the kids. I really wanted the Princess shoe set, but never found one. I ended up with a Wendy pin because it reminds me of my sister, Cari. Andy got a Goofy pin because he likes him. My original Repunzel shoe and Tinkerbell Mickey shape. The other side are the perfume bottles. It is a set of 5 and I have 3 - Cinderella, Jasmine and Tiana. (Missing Ariel and Aurora)

*There was a bowling pin set of Villains that would have been cool to collect. We saw quite a few of them and they were really neat looking.

It was fun. If we were there longer I think it would have been different. It took until the last day to really get into the trading.

Cinderella

I really like the Cinderella fairy tale. She is my favorite Disney princess. I have several versions of the story and even had a t-shirt with the many names Cinderella is known by around the world. It is so cliche to like her. She seems to be a lot of people's favorite. I can't help it and I figured out a few reasons. (This is about the Disney movie.)

*My grandma got me the VHS tape of the Disney Cinderella for my 8th birthday as well as a copy of the book Heidi.
*Cinderella cheerfully goes about doing dull tasks.
*She likes to sing.
*Even when she gets grumpy she doesn't stay that way.
*She asks to go to the ball and tries to make it work.
*She accepts help graciously.
*She enjoys her evening and is ready to get back to normal life.
*She says thank you.
*She again is proactive in getting out of an upsetting situation.
*She smiles and is happy.

I am pretty sure I had more but this is all I can think of at the moment. Also, I am pretty sure the movie takes place in France. The names announced at the ball are French. Plus, it draws heavily on the Charles Perrault version and very little on the Grimm version. The former is French. Disney did not used to broadcast where the movies take place. Since Beauty and the Beast that has changed. Come to think of it, a lot of the Disney movies take place in France.