By popular demand

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125192090269180725.html (Wall Street Journal link)

http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/16/pilgrims-pride-to-sell-majority-stake-to-jbs/?hpw

Maybe now life will get back to "normal".

My morning routine

I am currently sitting in my family room with the windows open because it is a little chilly outside...a refreshing change from the stifling summer heat. All the kids are at school and I have one hour before I have to pick up Malia from preschool. What am I doing? Besides playing on the computer, I am eating some cantaloupe and reading a book. Yes, I could be cleaning the house or doing some work for Elise...but today is my first morning without diet Coke. You see, i have a routine in the morning...get up, put a diet coke int he freezer, go for a jog, come home and drink diet Coke which is perfectly slushy. But alas, today is the first day of "The Challenge" that I am participating in and i will lose points if I choose to have my diet Coke. It is 9:35 and I am okay so far...But, I did decide to treat myself to some serious relaxation instead. So, wish me luck. i didn't sleep well last night and one diet coke would be great now...but I must win this game I'm playing...must win.

I'm getting married

Did I get your attention?

Last night, Stephanie said that Brittany and Brooke were telling her they are going to get married in the temple when they grow up.

When asked who they wanted to marry, Brittany said, "I'm going to marry Daddy!"

Brooke said, "I'm going to marry Nana!"

Stephanie explained the gender problem with that.

Brook then said, "I'm going to marry Papas!"

I thought that was adorable. Problematic. But adorable.

Summer...

Is it wrong that I am completely stoked that our electricity bill was less than $300? Because I am seriously excited...It was hot this past month and we didn't OD on AC!

Why I never blog any more...

Well, first there was summer. And, I spent about every waking moment trying to entertain the children. My house was a wreck, I got nothing done, but most of the time the kids were sufficiently entertained. And now, it's not summer any more. In fact, I have the days to myself...with just Malia hanging on for the ride. However, with school starting, so did a crazy schedule. Let's see, there's Jake's football which lasts until 4:30 every day. There is a bus to take him home, but he won't take it because he doesn't like the bus driver, so I have to pick him up. Then there's Carter's soccer practice on Monday and Wednesday Evenings and Bella's soccer on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Jake has football games on Fridays except for this week he has one on Saturday. Carter has a soccer tournament next Saturday...three games in one day. Oh, and let's not forget Jake's choir and band which is mostly during school hours but there are other performances also. This week I have enrichment (right this second, actually) as well as Back to School Night...oh, and of course, I'm the den leader so there's that on Tuesday nights also. I missed the PTC meeting because it interfered with soccer and scouts and I couldn't figure out how to be in three places at once. And let's not even talk about homework. I gave Carter a pass tonight after he worked on it from the time he got home until he left for soccer...I think we were all over it at that point. Every kid has to read for 30 minutes a night and we try and get family scripture study in too every night. I did make it to the temple this week which is a personal victory for me...actually, I think that was last week, but whatever. And then there's my work for Elise which is a steady flow and trying to volunteer in the kids' classrooms at school. I have to volunteer in malia's preschool twice every two months. I guess that's about all I do...except for the usual cooking, cleaning, jogging, laundry, and those things we all do every day. Oh, except at my house, I am super cheap...so laundry is an evening only chore (when the electricity's cheaper). So, as if my nights weren't packed enough, I throw in a few loads of laundry every night so that awaiting me in the morning is a big old pile to fold...Somehow, in the middle of this tornado that is my life right now, I don't find time to blog...I do, however, find time to watch college football on Saturday! And it rocked last weekend, if I do say so myself. Anyway, so that's where I've been. However, it's about to get better. A challenge I am participating forces me to "journal" every day. Since this is about the closest thing I have to a journal...you people are in for a real treat (said sarcastically, of course). That begins next Monday...so until then...I'll just go back to my little life...

5 months and counting

So I heard that someone-- and I'm not going to name names-- had requested pregnant pics of me. It's all fun and games til you're the one that's getting fat. So here you go... Go ahead, laugh it up Griswolds!!

A week in the life

It started out Sunday with our ward getting combined with another ward. All ward callings from both wards were released other than the Bishop and the two counsellors. So, no more EQP.

I believe it was Monday night that I was heading out to my car at midnight. As I got to the car, it would not start. The battery was dead. And, my cell phone was dead. Luckily, security at the building had a portable jump starter. So, they gave me a jump and I got home OK.

The next morning, I went out to take Brandon to school. As we got in the car, it would not start. I was surprised because I thought the jump the night before and the long drive home should have recharged it. WRONG. So, I borrowed my neighbor's cables and jumped it using the Expedition. As I bent down to pick something up, my medicine fell out of my shirt pocket onto the ground. I eventually get underway and realize I don't have my breakfast (instant oatmeal) or my lunch. I then go to the mechanic to have the battery checked. It needed to be replaced. Wonderful. He said it would take 15 minutes. He went to pick up a battery and came back a while later, WITHOUT one. He said apparently my car (Hyundai Elantra) is so exotic that it has a custom battery. It took an hour or two to get one. I finally got one and headed in to work. I was a wonderful day that lasted until midnight and included getting unfairly chewed out and berated in front of a few people for something I should not have been chewed out for.

The next day, I had more fun. I can't remember with what, but it fit right in with the above.

The next day, I had one of the highlights of my legal career. I learned that a deal I have been working on made the front page of the Wall Street Journal. To put that in context, most lawyers will never have that happen in their entire career. I will probably never have that happen again in my entire career. A partner from one of the country's most prestigious firms thought it was so cool that he kept a copy of that article for posterity. So, that was a bright spot in an otherwise painful week. I capped that day off with a celebration that involved reviewing documents and hanging out at the office until 2:30 am.

I followed that up by getting to bed at 3am, only to turn around and get up at 6am to make my 7am Dr. appt. So, it was a special week. Very long. Very tough, but it included one of the highlights of my career. I hope you can see it in your minds and I hope it is beautiful. (Bad paraphrase, but you know where that comes from.)