GGGRRRR!!!!!

I am a little afraid to write because it has been a week of annoyances and I am afraid they will come flooding out in disorganized fashion and ultimately offend people because of my strong opinions. Here are just the vague highlights without giving reasons or saying too much.

• I am tired of people and groups of people looking for special rights instead of equal rights.
• Okay, it may be medicinal but I don't need the smoke blowing in my windows because you don't want your place smelling like that.
• (My selfish yet hypocritical statement) Why is it always about you and what you want? Can't you think of others? It's this little thing called sacrifice.
• I hate being in debt myself, why would I want my country to go into farther debt?
• Why can't we be friends? On the other hand, does everyone really need to know that?
• How about instead of focusing on the bad things that happened and wanting restitution for it, try being grateful for the good that came out of it?
• There is this little known fact of cause and effect. You do something and as a result something else happens. You break the law, there should be consequences and it's alright if they aren't pleasant.

I know these don't tell the whole story but I am trying to avoid jumping onto my soapbox. I have actually said these all at least twice this week while driving, visiting parks, reading the news, or just talking with people. Now this is sort of off my chest, I'll focus on the fact that it is a beautiful day and that my daughter climbed out of her crib without smashing into the ground.

HOA Ignorance

As summer was starting up around here, I thought it would be fun to take Ellie to the pool here. Unfortunately the HOA rules state that all children must be potty trained before entering the pool.  When I asked if an exception or a compromise could be made, I was told I would have to bring it up at the HOA meeting held monthly. So last month I attended the meeting. When I spoke with the presidency, I said I would like to spend time in the pool area with my daughter. Seeing as the current rules don't allow her to enter the pool, I wanted to know if something could be done; i.e allowing me to bring a kiddie pool into the pool area so she can enjoy the water or changing the rules to allow swim diaper. They told me it would need to be discussed.

 (P.S. my personal thoughts about what's going on are found in parenthesis.)

A month goes by and we hear nothing. The night before the July HOA meeting, Jake receives a message on his phone stating that our request to take a kiddie pool into the pool area was denied. So off I go again to the HOA meeting to ask if I will ever be allowed to take my daughter swimming.

I enter the clubhouse and say that we had received the denial information yesterday. Pres: "you didn't receive a letter?" Me: "No I didn't." Some guy: "Sorry, I forgot I had to inform you of our decision so I just called." My question is the current rules don't allow un-potty trained children into the pool. I would like to use the pool but can't because my child would want to enter the pool and besides me using the pool in front of her would be cruel. Would they be willing to make an exception if she were wearing swim diapers?

One lady asked what were swim diapers. (Seriously? What are swim diapers?) The maintenance guy told her they were diapers for young kids to use the pool. Public pools allow them, especially since there are swim classes for children as young as 1 year old. So the first lady says, well that makes sense. Swim diapers should be allowed in the pool then.

Me being stupid but since we already were yelled at by the previous HOA presidency because exact rules/procedure wasn't followed, I wanted to make sure I was covered so I asked, "Just to make sure, even though the rules state a child not potty trained can enter the pool, if she wears a swim diaper I can take her into the pool? You will allow the exception?"

"You mean she isn't potty trained. (Why else would she need a swim diaper?) Didn't you say she is almost 2 years old? Why isn't she potty trained yet?" (Are you kidding me? You don't have kids or grandkids do you?) "Well, we have denied other requests from other owners so it wouldn't be fair to grant you the exception,"

So I asked if they would consider amending the HOA rules to allow swim diapers on children not potty trained. Any bets on whether or not they get back to me in time to use the pool?

Little things that make you laugh

So I was sitting in construction traffic the other day and saw this in all it's glory.

No joke. I took this picture with my phone while sitting and waiting. I thought to myself, "No way. Can they be serious?" Then I thought, "Maybe it was just a freak accident." But no, there was an identical sign on the other side of the road. I really wanted to "borrow" one just because but what kind of example would that be for Ellie?

New Calling

Why do people always wait to give you good advice until after something happens? I was called as the 2nd Counselor in the Primary Presidency for our ward. After my wonderful sister says, "That's why you don't work hard and do a good job in the nursery." 

The interesting thing is because our ward is so close to the University of Denver, there are a lot of young transitioning couples and empty nesters. There aren't too many middle ground families so even though there are 2 wards (with separate classes for all the adults) there aren't enough kids to have separate classes for them. That complicates a few things when trying to organize cub scouts, activity days, and baptisms.

I think this calling does have a great benefit that I didn't realize before. Our bishop has asked that someone from the primary presidency attend Sunday morning meetings. So I trade off with the other counselor but have to make sure it is opposite of when Jake is supposed to be attending the meetings (so one of us can be with Ellie). The benefit; on those mornings when I am at the meeting, Jake is the one to shower Ellie and himself, dress both of them, feed both of them and then make sure Ellie's bag is packed for church. I come home from the meeting, do Ellie's hair, pick them up, and head back for church.

So far, I am enjoying the calling.

Jibber-jabber silliness

Ellie is talking more and more. Much is still gibberish but she loves to talk. One day she was on a role while we were playing.

Her favorite phrases: I got you, I foun it (found), I hep (help), jump, run run, fasser (faster), and juice. Other words come up during conversations that are mostly gibberish laced with real words.

More Crafts

I have been in a crafty mood lately especially since you can do cute, fun things for cheap. Here are my latest projects.

Campfire eclair sticks and "Hand and Foot" container

The box is a holder for our hand and foot game.  Yes, the hand and the foot print belong to Ellie.  The dowels are for camp fire eclairs. We have lost a few sticks in the past so I thought giving Jake nice painted ones, so that no one will mistake as theirs, for Father's Day. I hope one day we will be able to use them.

Picky about diapers

Ellie woke up from her nap with a stinky diaper. I asked her to grab one and bring it to me. She looked in the box, grabbed the diaper, pointed to the front and said "Mickey". (Her diapers have Mickey characters.) So she reached back into the diaper box and grabbed a second diaper. I said she only needed one. So she pointed at the new one and said "Mickey, Minnie." Then she put the first one away and brought the Mickey and Minnie one for me to put on.