Home Management Specialist

I got this email, which I totally LOVED, because I think that Motherhood is some of the most higly0unrated work there is in this world.

My facebook profile reads:

Home Management Specialist: Oversee shipping/receiving, finances, head scheduling, run the cafeteria as well as the janitorial work.

And that's pretty much all true. It's a good thing I don't actually get paid money... someone around here might fire me for not always getting it done!

Anyway, I thought all you other mothers might enjoy reading this:

JUST A MOM?

A woman, renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk's office was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation.

She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself.
"What I mean is," explained the recorder,"do you have a job or are you just a......?"
"Of course I have a job," snapped the woman. "I'm a Mom."
"We don't list 'Mom' as an occupation, 'housewife' covers it,"said the recorder emphatically.

I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall.
The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient and possessed of a high sounding title like, "Official Interrogator" or "Town Registrar."
"What is your occupation?" she probed.

What made me say it? I do not know. The words simply popped out. "I'm a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations." The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in midair and looked up as though she had not heard right. I repeated the title slowly emphasizing the most significant words.

Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written,In bold, black ink on the official questionnaire. "Might I ask," said the clerk with new interest, "just what you do in your field?"

Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply, "I have a continuing program of research, (what mother doesn't?) in the laboratory and in the field, (normally I would have said indoors and out).

Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities,(any mothers care to disagree?) and I often work 14 hours a day (24 is more like it).
But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money."

There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as shecompleted the form, stood up and personally ushered me to the door.

As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career,I was greeted by my lab assistants -- ages 13, 7, and 3.
Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model, (a 6 month old baby) in the child development program, testing out a new vocal pattern. I felt I had scored a beat on bureaucracy!

And I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than "just anotherMom." Motherhood!

What a glorious career! Does this make grandmothers "Senior Research associates in the field of Child Development and Human Relations?"

And great grandmothers "Executive Senior Research Associates?" I think so!!! I also think it makes Aunts "Associate Research Assistants."

My First Race

Apparently I failed to post these here, (I really shouldn't have so many blogs, I'm getting confused!)
Anyway, all of you that check regularly.... I didn't want you to miss out on these fab shots!

I ran in my first ever "race" on Saturday. It was a 5K supporting SpinaBifida. I actually got talked into it my some other gals at church, but it was a really cool goal for me to work toward. I've never cared about running, I actually am less than thrilled to do it, but I went ahead and succombed to the peer pressure and did it with them.

It was a lot of work, I mean, not any more work than running 3 miles on my own, and had I been consistantly running 3 miles often-ish, it may not have been so hard (I'm going to keep telling myself that!).


Anyway, here's me with the girls when we first got there. We had to get up SO early to get down there on time, everyone was so tired when we were done! But the girls thought it was so cool that Mommy was running in a race, it was totally cute!

Here I am, in all my running glory on the finish-line stretch. I actually had to walk a good portion of the run, but the last little bit, I picked up any energy I had left in me, and hauled my butt into the finish line. I actually caught back up with a girl that had been running several hundred yards in front of me, so that was cool.

I nearly met my original goal, of running it in less than a 10 minute per mile pace, I'd only have to shave off 3 minutes to get to that pace... I think I can do that for a future run. I finished 6th in my age catagory, and unbeknownst to the girl that I caught up with (who finished first in her age group, which was 20-24) I was not even in the ancietly old category, just the one above her. (she totally thought I was older than that, whatever!) And I think I placed like 44th over-all... don't know how many people were there really... there were a lot sitll behind me...

Anyway, there are a few more race day pictures at the Skinny Hippos and also in my album. Thanks for all the extra cheers, and all the warm compliments on the accomplishment. Even though it's not my love in life, it feels so awesome to hear someone tell you that you did a fantastic job! Thanks everyone!

**Update** I finally got my official stats, jsut wanted to stick them on here, so I would always have them (how sentimental!)

Zufelt, Ashley 44-overall 17-female 6-(age 25-29) 34:23.2- Gun time

33:55.6 -personal chip time 10:55 -mile pace

That's my girls

These are just them hanging out last week. Their favorite toy lately has been the Weebles. I'm not quite sure why, I thought maybe they had outgrown them, but they still love to pretend with them. And they don't have to change clothes on/off, so it's easy enough for them. Plus they are baby-safe, so it's awesome!

Yeah, I don't know WHAT they are all doing in that picture, apparently each one something different... what a bunch of weird girls!

Conversing with 4-year-olds

It went about like this:

Madison: "Grandma is your mom?"
Me: "Yeah, Grandma is my mom."
Madison: "And Great-Grandma is Daddy's mom?"
Me: "No, that's Grandma Zufelt. My grandma is yourGgreat-Grandma."

(Stay with me, the punch-line's coming)

Madison: "Great-Grandma's have white hair."
Me: "Yeah? What color hair does Grandma have?"
Madison: "Grandma has STYLISH hair."

Seriously... who taught my kid the word "stylish"? If so, I thank you, because I laughed so hard driving in the car that a tear came to my right eye. I thought it was awesome... stylish.

No fears about going gray Grandma, cuz your hair is stylish!!

My Little Cooker

Brooklyne is in LOVE with the food network. Her favorite t.v. show to watch is Rachel Ray, and a close second is Alton Brown. Tonite she was completely disinterested in the t.v. and what we were doing until she saw a food show on that she liked and she climbed up into Daddy's lap, snuggled down in low and said, "Thanks Dad, I like watching the Network."

The other day I promised her that she would get to help me make some pudding. We first made instant pudding, then we graduated into the cook and serve, she did a pretty good job of it, there she is tasting it, -not quite ready- she couldn't stir it the whole time, she finally got tired and relenquished the whisk to me to finish the job.

I love what she calls things also... like the grill outside she calls the "griller", or there's the "cooker" or whatever. But she always adds that "-er" at the end, because she LOVES to help Daddy smoke meat on... the smoker!

**Edit: That is Cheeto on her face, in case you cared. And yeah, she was still in her p.j.'s at like 3 in the afternoon... we were just getting over from being sick.

Remembering Como

Well, after that post about October I was missing the mountains and so I dug out the old shots that I had taken in our favorite town, Como. I went up there with class once, and then TJ and I went up, and then we made it an annual trip every autumn until we moved away.

Hopefully the shots come through okay, they are actually just scans.

First day of October

October is my favorite month, I guess for a few different reasons... Because it's the month that truly is fall and pumpkins, and you are over the school just starting, and the weather is cooling down (some places, not here in the Lone star State) It's also the month that kicks off all the holiday season, so it's okay to be thinking about plans for Christmas, Christmas cards, decorations, scrapbook pages, etc. I do love Halloween, even though I hardly ever make the efforts to dress up for it, I am in LOVE with all the paper crafting supplies that are Halloween oriented.



It helps that my birthday falls in this month, and therefore I've always taken a special liking to October. It's just a special month for me. I remember often times having a carrot cake in the shape of a pumpkin for my birthdays, what fun! Madison is in love with Halloween, and I just wish her birthday wasn't a few days afterward, then it wouldn't be so awkward throwing a Halloween birthday party!



Anyway, I love, love, love that picture up above of the sun setting and the tree leaves changing colors. It makes me miss good ol' Colorado and our favorite town to go visit in the fall, Como. I know, it's weird... but it was TJ's and my special place when we were first married.

Well, I just wanted to wish everyone a happy First Day of October! Enjoy it, it's my favorite month. Ooh, and my favorite apples should be at the grocery store now... go try one, they are called Honey-crisp apples. Slightly on the pricey side, but go ahead and just get one and try it, you won't be disappointed!