Spreadsheets and Pumpkins and Cleaning

That’s pretty much been my day today. I spend a few hours this morning setting up a spreadsheet to better record our finances, so maybe MAYBE we (I) can try and stick to a budget. I really have a problem with spending money (thanks mom and dad) 😛

Ella woke up when Ali left for work, so I brought her into bed with me and gave her a drink while I dozed off. I woke up a half an hour later when she was sneaking out of the bed, so I gave her my ipod Touch to play with (she has about 8 games just for her, and she knows how to find them!). She did that for a while and then I decided to get up and out and so we went to the living room and Annabelle woke up too.

I gave them some breakfast and got to work. I really wanted to get it done and it took AAGES, but I managed to get it done by the time Ali got home for lunch.

Also managed to load the dishwasher, but I paid for that of course, with a new mess to clean up. My girls sure know how to make a good mess!!

Had a chill lunch, and then when the girls went down for a nap (Anna PASSED OUT on my lap, and Daddy put Ella down for me) (I enjoy every minute of Anna falling asleep on me, as I know that it won’t be very long before I won’t be able to do that anymore).

Ali went back to work and I had a bit of a practice of a colouring technique for this cake I’m doing this weekend. I have SO MUCH WORK TO DO AND I HAVEN”T EVEN STARTED!! Except for the black roses. Tomorrow I’m going to bake my little heart out, and colour the icing that I need to colour. I’ve got chocolate fondant I’m going to colour black, and some white fondant I will be colouring hot pink. If I can get the cakes baked and the fondant coloured, all I have to do SAT is cover the cakes in icing then the fondant, and then decorate them all on SUN, then they will be picked up on MON. They are meant to arrive on the WEDS, so hopefully they will still be yummy by then. That’s the good thing about using fondant though; it seals the cake up nice and tight so it stays fresh!

Ok, the was a tangent. Back on track. My sister emailed her weekly email from her mission. She’s in the MTC for another 3.5 weeks before she’s off to Sweden. Is it really selfish of me to want her to say something specific to me in her email? (it’s a general group email, almost a diary entry.) I sent her cookies last week with my weekly allowance, and she never even said a little bit of thanks. (actually, it was 2 weeks ago). I guess it’s silly, but I get so much enjoyment out of hearing that something I have done was enjoyed. I don’t even care if they know that enjoyment came from me! In fact, I love doing secret elf things….but I like to hear about it!

Anyway. SHe’s doing well, which is really, by far the most important thing.

OH and my dear friend is in a bad spot, so please please pray for her if you read this. Her name is Mickelle, and she has a 1 year old Avi and and a 3 year old Betsy….and her children are both in the hospital with Pneumonia, And Avi is in the ICU with a possible secondary infection. I’m so so worried about them, and I really hope they get better. Please send up a prayer for them. (Avi is short for Avielle and Betsy is really Mary Elizabeth)

To finish my day off, I got to chat with my mommy for a bit. She is still trying to get a job in WA, and is so so so frustrated with the whole deal. No one is calling back. She’s had like 2 interviews in the freaking 2 years she has been looking for jobs. I’m trying to keep the faith and I surely don’t know how she does….but I can’t shake the feeling that she’s been abandoned in her time of need and it MAKES ME MAD!!! :'(

Then I sent my family off to their gma’s house )my mil, Sue) for dinner, and I cleaned the house for about 2 hours. I really REALLY need to do laundry, but shortly after they left, it started raining. Yes, the absolute WORST thing about living in NZ is the fact that running even our tiny dryer costs too much $$, so hanging the clothes out is the only way. And I HATE HATE HATE doing it. so our laundry piles up quite often. I know. I am lame. Oh well.

But I got lots done, the house looks a lot better, and tomorrow I’ll clean a bit more in the kitchen before i BAKE BAKE BAKE!!

Then I’ll have to clean it again *doh*

I’ve got a playdate set for the girls on Sat and then a bday party for a little boy on sunday. Crap, must find present!

ok, I’d better go, Anna really needs to get to sleep.

Night!

Steph

PS I cooked a pumpkin in the oven in 2 halves so I could mash them and make pumpkin cake!! My kitchen smells like Halloween!