Leslies, work, church calling, life........................

Deep title, I know.

Well, the Leslie's came over to our place 2 Sundays ago. It was great! We ate crock pot chicken taco wraps, an orange cake Rebecca made, and played the wii. The girls also were completely fascinated with the turtle and tortoise. They were so cute. Here are some pictures. I couldn't cut any more pictures than this. They are all so cute. They are all in random order, but I am too lazy to put commentary and such with them....













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This is random, but I started to curl my hair for a while. It was really cute, Clay loved it, but now I have to get up so early and be out the door so early that I just don't have time...


Work...same ol' deal...wake up at 6am, hit snooze 1-3 times depending on what time I went to bed the night before...shower, dress, drive 30 minutes while listening to Brad and Jeremy on z103 which includes battle of the sexes, celebrity dirt (my favorite), and random other things depending on the day. Then when I enter the workplace walk downstairs, turn on the light, turn on my computer, wait for it to boot on, open the tax software, begin a tax return or continue from where I left of the day before, and then eventually make it back up the stairs to ask for more work. At noon I go to Patty and Paul's house and eat lunch and chat away with Patty about basically everything. Sometimes I read. I then go back to work at 1pm, and the routine continues. At 5:00-5:15 I finish my work and exit the establishment. Drive home for 30 minutes, listen to Shay on z103 who is not NEARLY as entertaining as Brad and Jeremy, so often resort to plugging in my Zune, and listen to High School Muscial 3 soundtrack, or something else like NSYNC or Britney. I'm not joking. This music makes me happy.

Clay and I got called to be primary teachers. I was so excited. Key word: was. Now? Well after trying to teach 5 boys and 2 girls (6-7 year olds), and having them say, "I can do whatever I want", and having them punch themselves and each other, and climb all around the chairs and move CONSTANTLY, I decided I am scared to go to church. Well, I've thought about it a lot, talked to Amy who teaches the same age group, and Clay and I have thought of a few ideas to make it better. I really hope it gets better. Clay and I felt like they went home learning nothing. I don't see how they could've POSSIBLY learned a thing! Anyway, we are trully being tried in this calling because we have no idea WHAT we are doing. Wish us luck. Maybe even pray for us:) I know we'll be fine.

Life. What to say about life? I definitely know for a FACT: that I never want to work if I don't have to....I was born to be a homemaker, mom, and wife. I know that. Don't get me wrong, my job is great and I am so GRATEFUL to have such a good job at this time. It couldn't have come at a better time, and really, I work with great people, and am confident and it's not as stressful as you'd think. BUT, I am just not as happy when I'm working. I just keep thinking, what's the point? However, I do understand that for some women, they need jobs. They go crazy staying at the house all day, or simply...and understandably, their family financially needs them to work. If my family ever needs me to work, by all means, I will do it in a heartbeat. So anyway, I don't judge any mother or woman that works, obviously. Everyone is different. I just know that I am not the strongest person when it comes to balancing my life while I'm working. I haven't been reading my scriptures like I should...as in I haven't been doing it. You know all those posts where I don't read my scriptures for a few days, and then I start doing it and realize what I've been missing? Well this is a case where I haven't been for more than just a few days, and haven't started up again, and I can definitely feel the difference. My life just isn't as productive, or as happy. Then also, I am always so tired when I get home and I never feel like doing too much but watching tv or something like that. I'm even too tired to BLOG! You all know how much I like to blog. Then there's the fact that even Clay hates that I work. He even told me that he never wants me to work again. He says I act different. I don't want to act different! I know I do. I get home and act all business. I am all about the mail, bills, and getting things done. Since I have limited hours left in the day, wasn't home all day, I feel like I have to get everything done right away. So I act like I'm at work, not like a nice, sweet wife. Also, Clay eats better when I am home to make him things and the house is cleaner and...yeah. But again, I hope you all know that I am very grateful for what I DO have, I just know that I wasn't born to be a working girl. I think that the workplace makes women tough, and I don't like being tough, I like being soft. (I know I sound half ridiculous right now, but don't you get what I mean? Maybe not.

Other than all this, Clay and I are very happy. We love each other and are laughing and loving and being silly and all that good stuff. Today at work I updated everyone on how Clay was doing, and kind of went through everything again as I was remembering it and realized again how blessed we've been to have been lead to our doctor and to have everything turn out so well. Clay is doing SO much better. It was a year ago in April that Clay first went to his doctor (I think). Isn't it crazy? It seems like it was just yesterday that he was hobbling around everywhere. I can definitely see a difference in our life. I never realized it when it was happening, but life certainly does seem much lighter than before. I just think that in the grand scheme of things, Heavenly Father is so merciful, so loving and life is just so good. I love my family so much. My Arnold side, my Phillipp side, and all my extended family and friends- everyone is so nice and so loving. Clay and I probably would've never gotten through some things had it not been for everyone's prayers and kind, kind love. Thank you, again. We love you so much.

Well, on to less deep, more shallow and dirty-habit subjects. Chocolate is so amazing. I just think that it's great that such a simple (yet it's not really a simple thing if you research it) thing can really change a mood. A woman at work brought in brownies, good brownies, and we were all just so happy. It made the morning go by quicker today (yes, we were eating brownies at 10am), and everyone just seemed happier. Last week someone brought in a vegetable tray. Didn't have the same effect. Funny.

Oh, one thing I have found energy to do is organize our computer room crap. I know I probably look OCD even posting all these pictures, but I'm sure my mom, and some select sisters will appreciate. I just printed these off the computer and taped them. Now I need to work on keeping track of a budget.................








Well that will be all for now. I hope it satisfied my readers:) I love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!