Amazing

What amazes me about my 11 year old is her ability to do some great things around the house. I hosted Bunco on Wednesday, and if it wasn't for her, there is no way the house would have been as tidy. She is really capable of cleaning.

What boggles me is my growing up girl who is so capable of cleaning, leaves her own little world in clutter. Her jacket pockets are always stuffed with garbage and "treasures" like rocks she finds on the walk home from the bus. Every tag and wrapper never makes it to the garbage no matter how much I ask and remind. Her brain is somewhere else when everyday tidyness is requested. Is this normal? I've never had an 11 year old before.

Essay winner

Caroline was featured in the local paper and in the larger paper in the next county for her winning essay. Unfortunately, my scanner is retarded & my country-connection is not the fastest, so it may take me a little while to get photos posted on these various blogs.

As most people know, Caroline won $250 for writing an essay about healthcare in children. It's a pretty elementary & short essay, but nonetheless, it was a good start in writing. She won in her age group for the state of Utah. Supposedly it will be published in a book from the foundation that sponsored the contest. We will see.

We are going to the bank today to open an account and deposit the money.

My Memory is Fading

Being my first child, Caroline should have a baby book and everything. But with me being a lot like my mom, she doesn't. I have jotted down a lot of little notes in various journals, and in the end, it might be more than I ever have for Tommy. But my memory of the sayings and phrases is disappearing for each child. How does that happen? It must be a disorder. Can't I blame it on something?

So what I'm hoping to do is get family to retell some of their favorite stories of my children. For now, I will write in the here & now and plan on reflecting later.