Nethercottage

Merry Christmas 2010!

2010-12-25T11:05:00.001-08:00

Such a busy holiday season! Dance recitals, my father in laws 91st birthday, piano recitals, choir concerts, exams, shopping for everyone with a puny budget. Somehow, someway we pulled it off by the grace of heaven. Hope yours was a wonderful holiday. We barely got a picture we could use for our Christmas card, so we had to include a few of the mess ups. Merry Merry Christmas to you all!

kittens, kittens, kittens, kittens- 4 of em...

2010-09-27T05:59:00.000-07:00

A stray (and feral) cat started hanging around a few months ago and we noticed she looked pregnant one day but the next day she didn't so we figured she lost the babies because she was pretty tiny herself to be having kittens. Alas... the other day my daughter came running in screaming "Mom, your not going to believe this! Kitten had kittens! They are playing behind the wall!" Oh great...

Sure enough she did. There were 4 kittens back there with the mama cat behind our back wall where there is a gully and a field back there, a perfect playground and lots of hiding spots. SO many hiding spots that it has taken me 4 days of trying to catch the kittens and they freak out and run away from me. They are never in the same spot so I have to wait for them to come out to know what the spot of the day is. Mama has taught them well.

I caught one kitten on friday with food and sitting behind a bush for an hour til he got brave enough to come eat. He is gray and white and is already used to us and playing. Todays goal... get the other 3 buggers. They are old enough to be without mama cat, they are almost as big as she is. Never give up, never surrender!

Another twist in the road...

2010-09-01T12:38:00.001-07:00

I don't want to burst any bubbles but I am learning a very interesting life lesson over and over again lately and I just want to warn you all. Sorry Moms of young childern in advance!
Here it is...
"KIDS DO NOT GET EASIER AS THEY GET OLDER".
Just the opposite in fact. My mom used to say kids are physically exhausting when they are little, emotionally exhausting as teens, financially exhausting in college, and then they are all three at random moments to keep you on your toes.
I am off to the hospital bright and early tomorrow to have my daughter get her stomach scoped in order to figure out what the heck is causing so much pain for her. She is always nauseous, bent over, and no pill will touch it. It's been progressively worse over the past year. I would really love some answers. Not gonna be a fun day. He thinks she may have celiac disease, ulcer, IBS, dairy allergies, or another fun thing but I can't remember what. Poor girl.
All kids are challenging at any age and I mean SO much more than physically challenging. I am a Mom of 4 and to them I am the coach, the pep talk giver, the one who holds their hand when they are unsure, the cheer leader, the go and get em encourager, the congratulator, the pick em up and brush em off-er, and sometimes it's a bit draining but always always always worth every minute.
Today I looked at her and thought, I would do anything for u. Anything. I would give you my stomach, my life, to make yours better. I have been thru so much with this child... emergency surgery for an ovarian cyst, xrays, mri's, cat scans, scoliosis adjustments, dermatologists, and braces TWICE. I love all my kids but I am so grateful for Corynn, she is my right hand, my sweetheart, my little mommy to her sisters, our voice of conscience. She is so smart, so wise, and at 14 is becoming a little to pretty for her own good. All these things shall be for our good and our experience, right! How amazing is it that we are placed in families on this earth? Who else would go thru all the yuck with us?!

The old girl AINT what she used to be...

2010-08-27T11:51:00.000-07:00

Back in April my neighbor made me try ZUMBA. I had never tried it before and had only heard of it. So we went to the gym down the street and I LOVED it! It felt SO good to dance again. I spent my high school years on the school dance team and my first year of college doing ballroom classes but then I completely stopped and dived into studies... then I got married... then I had babies... and that was that, dancing days were done.

Then after the class, this neighbor tells me she has been certified in zumba and wants to start teaching her own classes. She had found a dance studio that wanted to offer adult classes and she was all set and wanted me to come. So I went and the classes started April 9th. In Mid May she tells me that she needs to train me to substitute for her and be a fill in teacher if I was interested. By then I had most of the dances memorized but was still running a lot and doing races. So I ran my last race memorial day weekend and started to work on choreography and early June I was teaching the classs. TOTALLY intimidating but so good for me, the back row girl too comfortable behind the scenes.

So I taught my first class on a Saturday morning and got a ton of people, most first timers who had never done Zumba before. I broke down dances and TAUGHT the steps, I encouraged them and coached them through the foriegn (literally foreign... African, Ballywood, and Latin) choreography as I did it in front of them. Then, I realized that I LOVED being up there in front- it was totally scary but it was so much fun to watch them learn from me and to tell them how great they were doing.

However............ now its become a full time thing. I am teaching at least 4 times a week and always practicing, learning new routines at home, finding new music, etc. We have gone from 5 classes a week to 10 classes. I hope my body holds out! Today my knee decided to grow a little swollen again (reoccurring running injury)and I am just thinking... the old girl, she AINT what she used to be. I am happy, swollen, sore, tired, but still thru it all I am motivated to always improve. Thank u ZUMBA for reminding me how important dance is to me physically and mentally...BUT U ARE KICKING THIS OLD GIRLS BUTT!!! :)

2010-08-25T17:31:00.000-07:00

This whole year has flown by! I can't believe it's almost September and so many things have happened. My life has become so complicated. There are so many blessings and quite a few challenges to keep things balanced I suppose. The challenge at the moment is that my elderly inlaws are struggling. They are 90 years old and my father in law has been diagnosed with dementia years back and last week my mother in law had a personality change and was diagnosed with senile dementia with manic disorder. She is falling about every other month just to recover and fall again. The nurse came and spoke to us and suggested a care center. Its so sad. I don't know how u do this. How do u bring that up with them without making them feel like u don't want to be bothered with them, that they aren't loved anymore or useful anymore. It's breaking my heart. I need to read about it and discuss it with professionals I guess. They aren't my birth parents but I love them like my own and I want to do this in a respectful, careful way. I would love to have them move in with us and care for them if there weren't incontinence issues, constant arguing and meanness, and mass chaos when they are around. Somehow I need to raise my 4 kids and they are full time job as it is, and so would be taking them on. They can no longer care for the house they live in. Sad. I am learning way way too much about being 90 and it is losing its appeal to me strangely. Wonder why that is. I just pray that I can make the Lord pleased with our behavior and efforts and that he will sustain us and them as we try to come up with the best solutions.

I have to also get it off my chest some of the other issues that are weighing on me... Lets start kid by kid-
Christian, 16. Is driving, dating, junior in high school, does lighting for the school play which keeps him busy. Has ADD and needs lots of help keeping on task and staying organized.
Corynn,14. My MOST high maintenance child. She has scoliosis and is being treated at a chiropractor. She has constant sinus infections for which the doctors have no explaination. She has stomach issues. She has allergies and is getting shots for that once a week. She needs to be monitored on her cell phone, computer, and piano lessons.
Chloe, 9. She is the one I struggle with most with behavior. She struggles so hard with anxiety, has ADD, is behind in school and needs tutoring. She is completely disorganized and SUPER sensitive. She has lots of quirks but is the most talented little artist I know. She is very kind but needs a lot of encouragement and guidance.
Sadie,4. In preschool. I have to remember to make time for her, the poor girl. She is learning to write her name, letters, and ride her bike. She is an amazing even tempered child for who I am SO grateful.
On top of that...
All blessings, trying to not see anymore challenges until they rear their ugly head and demand to be dealt with. One day at a time. One prayer at a time. One breath at a time. Life is good!

2010-08-07T08:52:00.000-07:00

Disneyland O Rama

2010-06-27T09:08:00.000-07:00

These pictures are in reverse order but Disneyland actually came after our trip to Santa Monica. The funniest part of Disney for me was the fact that my youngest kids could care less about the rides and just wanted pictures with the characters. Trust me, the lines were just as bad to see them as they were to get on rides. Exhausting but great fun!

Comfort zone

2010-06-15T08:31:00.001-07:00

Lesson: Growth occurs outside ones comfort zone, as long as feet step carefully and courageously into the possibilities and opportunities that surround them.

Note: It is easy to stay in ones comfort zone where things are easy and normal and it is a great place to retreat to once in a while. Sometimes we need that "zone" to regroup and recover after stretching" oneself. Sometimes we don't have a choice in our growth or when we are stretched however, see below...

One church leader said it like this, and I appreciate that we can become better from tough situations that are not voluntary:

"Just when all seems to be going right, challenges often come in multiple doses applied simultaneously. When those trials are not consequences of disobedience, they are evidence that the Lord feels you are prepared to grow more (see Proverbs 3:11-12). He therefore gives you experiences that stimulate growth, understanding, and compassion which polish you for your everlasting benefit. To get you from where you are to where He wants you to be requires a lot of stretching, and that generally entails discomfort and pain."

So... we just need to HANG on tight.

(BTW- that's me in the tree picture at about age 9, totally tomboy).

Never in a million years

2010-06-13T21:33:00.000-07:00

Zumba has brought me to purchasing this... a jingly belly dance thingy which I never in a million years would have EVER imagined on my body. It is completely optional mind you, but I can't be the only instructor without it. And yes, ladies and gentlemen... I am so gonna rock this thing!

Frustrating

2010-06-09T11:04:00.001-07:00

I just have one thing to say today because I have a problem that never ends around here... I've got so much laundry backed up the wazoo that I may become eternally constipated!! I know, that is so wrong and yep, fairly crude, but so very true and completely frustrating.

Challenges

2010-06-07T06:19:00.000-07:00

This past year and a half has been full of unexpected challenges. The latest and greatest is my oldest daughters diagnosis with scoliosis. She was screened at school and told she had a 7 degree curve so we got a letter in the mail and I took it and her to the doctor. That led to an x-ray where I was told the curvature was more like 17 degrees. That meant an appointment with a back surgeon. The spine doctor re-evaluated the x-rays and said the curvature was 21 degrees and that she needed a back brace so that she could avoid it worsening to the point where she needs surgery to put rods in her back. So... this meant we went over to the specialized bracing clinic where my daughter got her first look at the "brace" aka torture device and it was all tears and drama after that. They make a cast of your body and the brace is a hard plastic tortoise shell looking bustier thing that needs to be worn as close to 24 hours a day as possible. Now the tears were really flowing from that 13 year old of mine, despite my attempt to make the whole thing seem like no big deal and joke about how we should get it in titanium and she could be like wonder woman and deflect bullets. Not funny Mom. Oh and did I mention that our insurance deductible is $1000.00 and the dang thing would cost $1060.00 so it would basically be all our expense? Ya... that sucks.

Putting myself in her place I can see where this is whole brace thing is worse than the diagnosis itself. Her comments (thru her tears were): so if someone comes up to me and hugs me they will feel that hard thing and be like what are u wearing under that shirt? The boys are gonna feel that at dances!! What about in gym class, sleep overs, or when its 110 degrees outside... they can't expect me to wear it then! If I sit down in my desk at school it is gonna clank against the back rest! On and on and on... so sad. I couldn't take this away or make it better. I couldn't tell her it wasn't going to get worse. I couldn't help but worry that it was going to get to the point of surgery. We discovered that there is a night brace that she only sleeps in but if I can avoid the pain, cost, and problem of a brace I'm all for it.

Then I got this idea... I wonder if a chiropractor can work on her back and realign it over and over again, retrain the muscles and tendons that are pulling her spine all screwy and make it at least NOT get worse. Funny thing, her best friends dad is a chiropractor and he deals with scoliosis all the time! So we have taken that route and will check back with the spine doctor in a couple months to make sure that it is not worsening. I am very very hopeful and very grateful for another option.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzuuuummmbbbbaaaa

2010-05-30T18:07:00.000-07:00

Running is killing my knees lately so I've backed way off. I can feel my knees swelling, it swells in back of my knees which is the same reoccurring old injury I fight every time I overdo it (I fell once on the mountain and have never been the same since then as a runner). This even happens after I run even short distances so so much for that until I recover properly and it will take time, lots of it, I've been here before. Once a doctor told me I wasn't built for running and he should have known better. Anytime someone says I can't I have a mission to prove them wrong and kept doing it and got pretty good too until the injury. I am only temporarily out of service but love it too much to not do it again once I'm bounced back.

In the mean time on to my other new favorite form of cardio... zumba! My neighbor introduced me to it and I fell in love with it right away. It reminds me so much of my dance team days, so much fun! I am learning to shake it again, it's been so long. If I can't memorize the choreography for the routines to the zumba songs it drives me insane. I wish I had more time to obsess over it and get better! Determined Cinda still lives, I spend more time trying to remember steps than I do with the laundry these days. Sometimes I do them both at the same time. My kids love it when I dance all over the house (not) especially when friends are over. I just really want to give them a healthy dose of trauma, embarrass them when I can, as they watch my groove thing doing its jello wiggle impression. Yep, I'm a giver...

Recitals.... recitals

2010-05-23T15:07:00.001-07:00

MAYZILLA is in full force at the moment but the gloriously promising brightly beaming light at the end of the tunnel is finally in view. This means we have almost ended the school year and maneuvered our way through the following...
*Band Concert for 8th grade Marching Band
*Piano Recital for my oldest 2 daughters
*Theater Tech responsibilities
*Dance Recital (3 nights worth -- ouch) see above pictures
*Choir concert for child #3
*Testing- end of levels at school= cranky, stressed kids
*Opening & heating of the Pool in our backyard
*More doctor appointments that u can imagine for all of our many issues, all of which we are grateful for because none of them are life threatening. As hard as our issues are we know it could definitely be worse.

STILL TO COME:
*The last day of school
*Honors program
*Son to find, and begin, his first job (asap kiddo)w/Moms help.
*Our annual BIG garage sale pain in the butt on Saturday.
*Planning our upcoming trips
*Youth conference
*Scout hikes
*Especially for Youth Program (6 days away & 3 1/2 hrs from Mom!)for my oldest daughter
*Yearly trip to see family in MI---- BIG drive for us
*Trip to CA for a baptism coupled with Disneyland
*Summer school, summer programs, entertaining, HOT temps... EXHAUSTED already!

A Moment

2010-05-14T20:44:00.000-07:00

Just caught my 4 year old looking at herself in the bathroom mirror and singing "all the single ladies" while doing the dance (very accurately I might add). Very funny. Technically, she is a single (little) lady! Love it!

Race Results

2010-05-09T17:43:00.000-07:00

Did it. Painful. Tough Run. Gold! First place in my division by 6 minutes! Yeah! I'm feeling it today in my knees. Will take it easy this week, cross train more. Ouch!

7th overall female...
16th finisher, and only one person older than me in top 16.

The Hell Hole

2010-05-04T07:24:00.000-07:00

The above title is the name of the next race that I am running on Saturday. It's another 5K, I am hooked all of a sudden on the competition. I don't know why I picked this one, the title didn't scare me off but instead intrigued me. I think that must be because of all the parallels in my life with the words "Hell Hole". Apparently it is named because it's a tough course, mostly uphill, and being that I am slightly insane, something inside me screamed BRING IT ON! I train on hills, I know the pain of them intimately, it's gonna be extremely painful but I have no doubt I can do it without walking it. The goal here is to finish with a decent time, not to burn out in the first 2 miles, and kick the hell holes flaming hot fanny.

The parallels to my life are as follows...
1- I believe, on occasion, that I live in purgatory itself (yes, hell), because this place can get so hot in the certain months of the year that blacktop surfaces melt my flip flops... they become squishy marshmallows under my feet. No smore's in hell tho to make that connection with.
2- My life is as crazy, chaotic, difficult, and frustrating as being in that 'place'. Blessed beyond comprehension and NOT complaining, but if on a normal day you were to see the state of my house, my car, or my un-showered overworked self u may agree with me!
3- Racing is so hard, it hurts. It is legs of fire that want to stop and u have to keep telling them it will be worth it, push it a little further.... you're half way, you're almost there, you see the finish line, give it all u've got no matter what. Think I'm gonna pass out? (Every race I've ever done) Concentrate on breathing. It not only helps that feeling of hyperventilation, asthma, lightheadedness, but keeps my brain occupied and time passes more quickly. I have to tell myself to 'just breathe' all the time in life and oxygen is a close personal friend. To keep a fire burning oxygen is an essential.
4- At this race, u are encouraged to dress up as an angel, a devil, a reverend, the pope, whatever. I think I run with angels and devils every day in life, costumes aside.
5- I want to make it thru the hell hole and win something. Yes, it will be a tremendous sense of accomplishment to finish but a medal again, or a trophy... that will inspire me to beat the "hell" out of the pavement, my running shoes, my overly protruding hips, in the future. If I can endure hell on this run, I will be all the better for having done so. When I overcome the hell hole, I am climbing to new heights, rising above the difficult, THAT is inspiring. Proof that I can change and get myself out of that place physically.... mentally... spiritually... in any possible way really where I need a tweaking. Very symbolic and I hope, very very worth it.

Wings

2010-04-22T20:33:00.001-07:00

Last night I was chatting with an old, dear friend who was down because of some problems. Things like that really bother me, I am the fixer, the helper, the one who can't leave something like that alone... at least let me make them crack up over something completely stupid that I say and get a laugh so I know there was a smile amongst the misery. Anyway... didn't get a chance to do that last night and it bothered me. My heart goes out to them on so many levels and I truly love and am concerned about each of my friends and loved ones. So this morning I was thinking about them again and how I could help. Sometimes a good poem or a quote from a wise author or scholar is helpful so I began my quest. I searched all morning for just the right thing.... nothing fit. Nothing seemed to ring true enough for my friends situation so I gave up and did my cleaning. Somewhere amongst the dirty laundry it hit me, what I should tell them...

"Sometimes we must open our wings, close our eyes, and trust God in our faith, to be the wind that carries us for a time... just until we are strong again and can look down from where He has taken us with a new perspective. That is the point when we truly see the beauty of our friends and loved ones in all their brilliant colors, strategically placed in our lives just when He knew they would be needed most."

Anonymous... because I could never sign my name to words that were not mine, but given to me yet created by a far greater source. I believe these words did what they were meant to do, in a way that was far above my understanding. I love when that happens! So rare for me... so dang cool!

5K

2010-04-20T07:26:00.000-07:00

I signed up for a race. Haven't done one in a long time. Since 2007 I believe. So, I'm nervous.Not nervous about doing it alone, that is usually the case. No one will run with me these days, not even my dear husband. Either that means I'm too good or that I'm just too competitive. Not sure which but it's such a bummer and honestly, the truth is I KNOW I am not too good so (head hung low in shame) I must be wickedly competitive. I need to feel that once in a while though... thus, the race.
I'm nervous about my knees holding out til Saturday and beating my last time. The last time I ran this race I won for my division... pressure! Of course that was before child #4 was born and I was super fit and 7 lbs lighter. This year the course has been changed and it's on dirt so how I will beat my time will be the question and the challenge. Wish me luck! We shall see!!!

Results are in... whew. THAT WAS COLD!!! Froze but did it. Got 2nd in my division- SILVER MEDAL. The girl who beat me was my friend though and a marathoner (curse her from stealing my chances) so I was happy for her and that I did my best. Now the problem becomes Cinda wants to do more and is addicted to racing. There are worse problems I guess! :)

Live

2010-04-07T10:06:00.000-07:00

I want to live my life today like this;

"Be the kind of woman that when your feet hit the floor each morning the devil says "Oh crap, she's up!"

Dare

2010-04-06T14:09:00.000-07:00

Love this. I heard it on a Brittish tv show that I'm hooked on last night and I had never heard it before. It is part of an old Christian song I guess but just love this chorus...

Dare to be a Daniel
Dare to stand alone
Dare to have a purpose firm
Dare to make it known.

The actual song can be found here.

Angel

2010-03-04T16:06:00.000-08:00

My daughter Chloe is unique. I honestly think she is an angel and it will truly take a miracle for me to raise her right. She is a challenge, a blessing, and a roller coaster ride all in one. She is without a doubt the most sensitive of my 3 girls in every way that one can be sensitive. She won't kill bugs she finds in the house, she catches them and releases them outdoors because killing makes her feel bad. (So of course her brother makes sure to smash any bug possible right in front of her and announce it so she has a meltdown.) Siblings....

The other day this child was playing outside and it was a warm day so I was glad she was out getting some fresh air. Apparently while she was out there, completely on here own and not to our knowledge, she wrote the elderly man next door a note, folded it up, and placed it in his mailbox. We had no idea she had done this. Until that sweet little man walked over with tears in his eyes and told my husband about the letter he had received the day before from our daughter, the sweetest note he had ever been given. He wrote her back and gave his note to my husband for her when she returned home from school.

When she got home I asked "Chloe, did you write a nice letter to the neighbors?

Chloe: "Yes Mom, because they are good neighbors and I think they must be lonely."

(Keep in mind these neighbors tell us every year to let our kids know that they will not pass out Halloween candy so don't bother knocking! Kinda funny).

Me: "Do you know how much they loved that. The man brought you back a note and told us with tears in his eyes how much that touched his heart."

Chloe: "Well, I just thought they'd like a letter Mom, no big deal."

No Chloe, big big deal. She doesn't know how thrown away elderly people can feel or how society is moving so fast that it doesn't have time for them as the slow movers. She just does things like this. Oh, and yesterday, she decided to go over and knock on their door for a bandaid. I had to have the "maybe not every day" talk with her. She is a sweet one.

Full circle

2010-02-25T15:25:00.001-08:00

I think I am at the age where I finally welcome those "blasts from the past" moments both in person (and via the wonder that is facebook). I have been becoming reacquainted with friends from childhood, high school, college, married years, dating years, pretty much every year and stage of my life. I used to live as a newlywed in the same town I grew up in and used to walk down the isle in the grocery store and retreat when I saw someone from my stupid days that I was always sure I offended. Silly thinking, I know.

For 20+ years I thought I hated high school with a passion, but today I see what good came of it. Now I have friendships and treasured relationships with people from that very place that I would not trade for the world. The joy of adulthood is that we move on, forget, forgive, and get sappy and sentimental about things easier. It has been very fun for me to play catch up with them and it has actually helped me to appreciate all the things I went through in life. I like to look at it as coming full circle and making peace... man, was it worth the wait.

I am proud to say I was a:

Martell Mustang

Boulan Bronco

Troy Colt (on dance team we were the "Fillies")

Ricks College Viking

To Do the Dew (or not to)

2010-02-19T12:48:00.000-08:00

This is a week of firsts for my son. First day actually calling a car his 'first' car, first day driving legally with his license, and (drum roll please)...first time he was asked to a dance, yes a date, with a girl. I guess she asked him to go to "Preference" with her which is a semi-formal dance at the school. It seems to be a UT thing I guess that you can't just ask out someone to a dance, you have to creatively ask out someone to a dance.

She was very clever and had a case of mountain dew delivered to his classroom and he had to assemble the cans with the words on them that spelled out...."DEW you want to go to Preference with me, Christian ? Katlyn. (12 cans, and then he gave them away so he didn't have to carry a case of soda around all day, typical Christian). NOW the trouble is that he can't just answer her, he has to answer her back in a creative way. He is going to say yes but truly, the kid doesn't have a creative way. It's gonna be interesting. He doesn't want me to help him either so I am just hoping he doesn't blow it...the ideas he has ran past me so far were completely scary. I love you Son, but I am totally crossing my fingers that one of your friends gives you a good idea or you use good judgment and come up with a nice way of answering her SOON.

To add to this, he came downstairs today with cologne on this morning. So help me, I'm not ready for all the drama that will accompany this madness... I hope he is but I think he just innocently has NO idea.

Happy Valentines Day...

2010-02-14T10:41:00.001-08:00

Wishing all of you a Happy Valentines Day full of little acts of love!

***A few fun Valentine facts:

According to the Greeting Card Association, an estimated one billion valentine cards are sent each year, making Valentine's Day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year. (An estimated 2.6 billion cards are sent for Christmas.)

Approximately 85 percent of all valentines are purchased by women. In addition to the United States, Valentine's Day is celebrated in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, and Australia.

Valentine greetings were popular as far back as the Middle Ages (written Valentine's didn't begin to appear until after 1400), and the oldest known Valentine card is on display at the British Museum. The first commercial Valentine's Day greeting cards produced in the U.S. were created in the 1840s by Esther A. Howland. Howland, known as the Mother of the Valentine, made elaborate creations with real lace, ribbons and colorful pictures known as "scrap".

I GET TO PLAY NURSE TODAY TO MY SICK YOUNGEST (CROUP) AND OLDEST (STOMACH FLU). SO WE ARE CAREFULLY SHOWING THE LOVE TODAY SO AS TO NOT SPREAD IT! HAPPY VDAY!!

Accomplished

2010-02-12T07:04:00.001-08:00

This one is for you Stay at Home Moms...

One of the things that people say when they find out that I do not work outside the home is, "So what do you do all day?" That kills me. How does one answer that question and still feel worthwhile and accomplished these days? Did you know that devoting your life to raising the children you bring into the world is "old fashioned"? Why is that? Being a birth mother is a totally different story than mothering. Birthing is the easy part- the sprint, raising them into adulthood, now THAT is extreme marathon... the long haul, the hardest job in the world.

Let me just say for the record that I did NOT complete my nursing degree back in my college days. I dropped out when I found out I was pregnant with my first child 2 yrs after Tony and I were married. I do not have that big degree yet,someday I will, but I am NOT stupid and am capable of intellectual thought right along with making some killer playdough monsters. ALL of my priorities changed when I my 6 lb 9 oz little blue bundle was placed in my arms... I wanted every minute I could have with him. I felt that same feeling with the 3 pink bundles that have followed him. Looking back over my life, when people would ask me what I wanted to be someday I would SAY a nurse, but THINK a mother.

My life is not like anyone else's, it's mine, it's unique to me and my circumstances. It would drive YOU crazy perhaps, actually I have no doubt on that, but to me it is my calling. So to you who have asked or are thinking that the life of a stay at home Mom is glamorous, carefree days of soap operas and bon bons... how wrong you are. Lets take a look at mine as an example shall we? My days: I care for 4 children, 2 elderly in-laws, and a handicapped sister in law. I get up at 5:30 am to drive my son to drivers education. I medicate my children with health issues and send them off to school. I have a husband who works out of the home and all day Sadie and I are to remain quiet as to not disturb business calls which is great fun with an active 4 yr old. I have a dog and a cat that need attending to. I have friends and loved ones that I check in with and pray for continuously. I run 6 miles 3 days a week up a mountain. I clean, fix, budget, cook, nurse, launder, garden, and practice the domestic duties daily with a tarnished, crooked tiara on my head. I drive my children to marching band, play practice, activity days, story time, dance class, preschool, and play dates. I check in with my in-laws each day to see if they are in need of help and usually they are, so off either Tony or I go to help. I pull individual kids aside to spend one on one time with each of them as much as I can. I live by medication schedules, children schedules, work schedules, and doctor visits. I attempt to have the occasional date with my husband of 18 yrs and keep our marriage from falling apart. I pay the bills, cut the coupons, and try to keep life organized.

Splurging to me is buying something on clearance- always under $20.00 but preferably under $10. Being able to think of something I want to do and not something everyone else will enjoy. Stealing some time away to read a book that is gathering dust on my end table is a luxury. Watching a cooking show I've had DVR'd for weeks is heaven! Finding a few minutes to keep a blog for my parents who live across the country (why I do this) is something enjoyable to me! I'd love to sew more, craft more, scrapbook beautiful pages for all of my children, but let's be realistic. Somethings just have to give... for now anyway.

I wouldn't trade anything for my life. Not a billboard, not a gold metal, any amount of money, nothing. As busy as my days become I have no doubt that I am irreplaceable. I am molding young minds, old minds, & teaching faith and character. I am married to my best friend that lets me pummel him with problems and never flinches. I screw up and I am forgiven. I am hugged, spit up on, neglected, and yet completely fulfilled and happy to live it all.

So you tell me, does what I do all day warrant the blank look? The lack of a more impressive career? That "what are you contributing to society" connotation? The lack of applause or accolade? All I know is that when I fall in bed at night I am completely exhausted and to me THAT means I have most definitely been accomplished.

Snowflakes

2010-02-08T09:10:00.001-08:00

Okay... I made 7... yes 7.... giagantic snowflakes for that event I mentioned below. They turned out beautifully though and I was happy with the finished product. It took a little time to cut and tape each section and then assemble them and get the right sides together. I also used card stock because they were big and I needed them to be heavy duty. I originally tried to do it with wrapping paper (small ones) but they didn't work because the paper collapsed under the weight of the things when I hung them up.

I made 3 sizes and got so many compliments on them, one lady came up to me afterward and asked me if she could use them for the schools winter dance. So they got recycled and I didn't have to haul them home. Glad it's over. The pattern can be found here. I made the individual sections in 12 x 12 (giant), 10 x 10 (medium), and 8 x 8 for the smallest of these big daddy thingies. The hardest part was getting the individual sections to stay together, they kept wanting to pop open. What I finally figured out was that I used the THICK large glue dots and then used scotch tape over the top of that and then they didn't do that anymore and stayed together nicely. :)

Individual Worth

2010-02-06T07:17:00.000-08:00

My daughter was asked to give a quick thought on Sunday night to a group of girls and their parents. (And YES, someone planned this on Superbowl sunday, so likely it will just be girls and MOMS that show). Apparently, different girls are getting up to speak about different scripture stories and the values they represent. I, admit, I wrote this paragraph for her to read because she is never home long enough to set down and do it (and I do kinda love writing). Anyway, I am really happy with how it turned out and thought I would post it as a little inspirational thought (I kinda like those as well). Oh, and get this, now they have also asked me to decorate for the event. How do I get sucked into these things? (Those decorations are a WHOLE different post, it's been challenging. The theme of the night has complicated THIS YEARS "Opening Ceremonies").

Esther:

Esther was a girl that had to show great faith and courage. When her mission was presented to her, she knew that she needed much more than beauty to accomplish such a great task as to save her people. She knew that it was only she, who had found favor with the King, that could save the Jewish people from the evil plan against them. Esther prayed and prepared wisely, fasting for 3 days and waiting for the right moment, to make her plea. When the situation presented itself she knew she must have faith and bravely stated, “If I perish, I perish”. In the end, she was able to convince the King not to allow the injustice against her people to be carried out. Esther was told by her uncle, “who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this”. We have come today to the Earth as daughters of God, each given our own unique missions, and are of as much individual worth and value to our time as Esther was in hers.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

2010-02-05T13:20:00.000-08:00

i love em! If you don't already have a good chocolate chip cookie recipe, try this one...

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES:

2 Sticks of Better
2 Eggs
1 Cup Sugar
1 Cup Brown Sugar
1 tsp Vanilla
3 Cups Flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp Salt
1 bag chocolate chips

Bake at 375 for 8-11 minutes. Wish I had a picture but they never stick around long enough :(

Cocoon

2010-02-04T05:42:00.000-08:00

I have been doing a LOT of thinking again this week. I'm completely sick of it! I over analyze everything & I get myself very frustrated sometimes. Being introspective caused me, over the years, to build a little wall around myself. I finally have realized that I need to stop thinking small, cocoon size small, and start thinking BIG. To get out of that safe little cocoon a bit more. My little safe space had great benefits for protecting my kids once upon a time but I now realize it has had some undesirable side effects on me over time. I have kind of lost myself in the little details and really want to get back to the big picture. I know who I am and what I stand for, but I guess I've avoided like the plague anything that puts it to the test. Translation: I've lost a big chunk confidence in myself and my abilities.

So I've been going about life getting really good at certain things and yet I've lost a lot of other skills. That was a signal to me that it might be time to start working my way out of the "cocoon" and learn that I can do more with my life than ignore things around me, and reality (past and present), to keep myself hidden away. Perhaps it is time for a little metamorphosis, I do enjoy change. I don't want to wait till my world is shaken off it's safe foundation to appreciate, really appreciate life, and everyone in it. I want to feel the sun on my wings and just share the reality that I do, in fact, have wings and they are unique to me and not like anyone else. I want to use them to make a difference in my home AND in the world around me as well, even if I fly into a window now and then I will have been brave enough to fly... Even if I only manage to accomplish something so small, so insignificant that only God himself will appreciate it.

Fog

2010-01-28T07:27:00.000-08:00

It was foggy this morning and I had an interesting thought as I drove the kids to school and it set off my anolytical mind- really love analogies...

Fog is strange, some parts are harder to see through than others and sometimes I find that I am at the mercy of the 5 feet ahead rule. Today as I was in the thickest part of a fog, not sure what was very far ahead of me and I had an epiphany of sorts. I wanted to hurry but knew it was best to take an unclear path slowly, simple enough. As I approached the distance, little by little things started to look clearer. I realized that this is where I am in my life right now. I've been struggling through the fog, trying to take it slow, fight the urge to look too far ahead and get frustrated or confused by the slow pace, but now things are starting to look clearer. Things I struggled with but learned some lessons from are making sense finally- I'm seeing the WHY! I suppose the fog is our living by faith (trusting when we cannot see), inching along in our embryonic state as we learn to be bigger, better, and more brave while approaching the unknown. The sun is the WHY, it comes out and burns off the fog and then if we are looking, we will see where we've ended up and why/how we got there. Today, for me, the sun is coming out and I see the road much, much, clearer and I stand in awe. I suppose I am grateful for fog, it makes me appreciate the clarity and honesty of the sun.

Sweet 16 to my Sonshine.

2010-01-23T13:29:00.000-08:00

Finally, he got his laptop!

Sweet 16!

Enough pictures mom, really....

Not sure why he was SO determined not to smile on camera, must be a teenager boy thing.

Dear Christian...

You probably have heard this story a million times but I never want you to forget it and someday you will miss my constantly play by play of your birth. You were born on my grandmothers birthday back in 1994, so your Dad and I decided to use her fathers name... Christian. You're middle name is after your dad... Anthony. Somehow, you are turning 16! It's a big milestone. I have been at your side for every birthday and all those parties... the alien one, the army guy one, the cars, the Chuck E Cheese party, it all was joy to me. You have been one of the biggest gifts in my life. This birthday has caused me to look back over the years with a little sadness. It has everything to do with you only being 2 yrs away from 18. I can't look beyond that or it breaks my heart. You have grown into a handsome, strong, incredibly good young man my son, no wonder I was only blessed with one boy- I got the BEST!! I have every confidence in your future. I love you Chi Chi! Mom

Diet tip #1

2010-01-18T18:22:00.001-08:00

Got a good diet tip today...

Eat BREAKFAST like a KING (or QUEEN)
Eat LUNCH like a PRINCE (or PRINCESS)
Eat DINNER like a PAUPER

and don't forget to play ball in your tiara!

In other words I need to do a 360 on my meals but it's doable!

Birthday Blocks

2010-01-13T14:52:00.001-08:00

I made these little blocks to give the kids at church when they have a birthday since I'm in charge of them a little longer. It's kept me very busy this week. So far I've done 30 with 8 to go. I think I may now be a Modge Podge expert. It's fun stuff! The problem is that my sander is dull and needs a new belt before I do any more. My garage is one big pile of sawdust. LOVE getting my hands dirty but think I love using hubby's power tools most of all. My girls loved them, hope the other kids enjoy them too.

UPDATE as of January 17: I have finally passed the torch to the next willing parent and am no longer in charge of the children. I did hear them singing in church last Sunday and felt a twinge of sadness that the torch was passed but I also NEEDED to do something new and say goodbye to that, as hard as it was.

Answered Prayers

2010-01-06T09:40:00.000-08:00

I was very blessed this past weekend. I had prayers answered. I mean COMPLETELY answered, down to the details. I am SO grateful. It makes it very obvious to me that I have a living Savior listening to my prayers everyday. I already knew this but it was such a powerful affirmation. I should never doubt it but sometimes I let stress take over my brain and my heart. I have been feeling so worn out and dried up spiritually lately... my spiritual "well was dry" as they say. Sometimes I doubt that my pleading is even getting past the ceiling and it seems many go unanswered. I should never doubt. Someday I will learn to wait on the Lord.... in His time and in His way answers come, not up to me or my time line. Patience, however, is not something I have in great supply, gotta work on that.

Here we go... 2010!!!

2010-01-03T18:16:00.001-08:00

Goodbye 2009... I will NOT miss you!

Hello, New Year! So full of promise.... and repentance. Time to do the dirty work, the sweat equity, recommit to doing better when I've screwed up, and avoiding stepping in any mountainous piles of ca-ca.

This year, I will try to look at everyday as a new beginning.
I will learn from every slip.
I am one of the thousands that is determined to get in shape this year.
I want to eat better and get my kids to want to do the same.
I want to think of others and not be too focused on me that I do not see a need in someone else.
I hope I am able to feel more gratitude and have less of an "attitude".
I will organize this massive pile of clutter I call a home.
I want to be my kids example of courageous, strong, kind, gentle, and balanced.
I want to laugh more and open my eyes to all the precious, irreplaceable moments.
I will try to better all past & present relationships.
I want to do what God would want me to be doing with my time on Earth.
I will simplify.
Mostly, I just want to enjoy the journey.

And then I'd like to retire the letter "I" from my vocabulary. (As seen in the above list, far too overused).

To help me remember there were good moments in the past year I created a little video diary. Enjoy this little recap of 2009, I'm not so good at slide shows yet but here she is...

Where are you Christmas?

2009-12-30T16:57:00.001-08:00

Is Christmas over.... really?
How did it fly by soooooooooo fast?!

Nutter Butter Santa's

2009-12-21T15:02:00.000-08:00

First official day off school and my kids are already bored. I whipped out the melting chocolates & some goodies and we did these little cuties today to keep them busy! It was pretty fun getting covered with chocolate.

Tradition

2009-12-20T19:46:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to think about the traditions that my mom and dad shared with me and my older brothers at Christmas all during my childhood...
*Driving around looking at Christmas lights wrapped in blankets, singing Christmas carols minus any male voices who usually protested, then returning home to have egg nog and pretending I liked it because everyone else did.
*Making cookies while the classic Christmas songs blasted on our old record player.
*Hanging Christmas cards on the back of our front door.
*Christmas Eve at my Grandma's house with all my cousins.
*Christmas morning ritual... wake up mom and dad, wait at the top of the stairs while mom and dad "check" to see if Santa came (they turn on tree lights).

Now I am grown and married and creating traditions for my own children, some new, some recycled...
*Decorate a gingerbread house (my son gets to shoot it up with his paintball gun on New Years Eve, his favorite part).
*Mattress Surfing (no snow here for sledding).
*Hang our Christmas cards on the back of the front door.
*Christmas Eve... we eat a Steak dinner by candlelight/Christmas light. We drive around town wrapped in blankets looking at Christmas lights and listening to music (returning home for hot chocolate). Watch "Scrooge" and "It's a Wonderful Life" while baking and decorating cookies.
*Christmas Day... up before the sun with excited kids (tree lights on a handy timer). Open gifts, eat lot's of candy. Watch A Christmas Story then go out for our Fa Ra Ra Ra Ra Chinese Christmas dinner. Read the story of Christs birth from the book of Luke.

It's almost here!

Merry Christmas...

2009-12-17T12:37:00.000-08:00

I love this plaque. Any idea's on how I could get my kids to agree with it?

Words of Wisdom...

2009-12-14T08:09:00.000-08:00

Just to share a great quote I heard
from the movie KUNG FU PANDA as my kids were watching it in the car the other day....

Yesterday was the past, tomorrow will be the future, today is a GIFT and that's why it is called the PRESENT.

Holy Holidays Batman!

2009-12-06T16:55:00.001-08:00

Christmas because its so jam packed with activities! Holy cow. There is a love hate relationship there for me. Occasionally it gets a bit too busy but this year I am determined to find a balance.

Chloe's Christmas Choir concert is over (pictures). So fun, very cute group of kids 3-5 grades in that and one was the most fantastically unusual Scrooge. Good laugh and lots of holiday spirit. I am so grateful that its still ok here to bring up the birth of our Savior, our last school district forbid any mention of it.

It is most definitely December and busy busy busy! I am so excited and overwhelmed at this time of year but trying really hard to be jolly with a cold. I am trying hard to remember the real reason for the season and to make wonderful memories for the kids. Another memorable part of this season will be that we mark my father in laws 90th Christmas! Today is his 90th birthday, a pretty fantastic milestone.

Missing my parents this time of year! I am going to work on having them here next Christmas for all the festivities, I don't think I can go another year without my Mom and Dad!

Let the Thanksgiving recovery begin....

2009-12-01T07:49:00.000-08:00

..

Thanksgiving was....well it is almost over, still have a few out of town stragglers for the next couple of days. I'm exhausted! I had to find my happy place a couple of times and went on a few hikes. Yes, there were paintball wars, irritating relatives, both serious and happy conversations, tears, singing, food maximus, puking, and pretty much nonstop chaos. Saw New Moon FINALLY!!!! So excited, I wanna go again!

Moments...

2009-11-22T06:44:00.000-08:00

This is a little episode I want to document because it's a memorable moment...

Sadie, 4 yrs old, is crying in backyard.
Chloe, 8 yrs old, is hugging her and speaking in that I WARNED YOU voice of hers.
Me: "Chloe, did you make her cry?"
Sadie: "Chloe was mean to me Momma!"
Me: "What? Your usually so nice to her Chloe, what is up with that?"
Chloe: "I'm sorry Mom, but I've been holding the mean stuff in for so long, I finally just had to let a little out."
Me... speechless (and trying not to laugh).
Thinking in my head... Oh honey, I understand. I often feel that same way with your Father.

A great little holiday video to watch if u have time...

2009-11-21T07:09:00.000-08:00

In+the+Spirit+of+Thanksgiving

"And ye shall thank the Lord thy God in ALL things..."!

Random Thought

2009-11-16T07:31:00.000-08:00

These are just a few of the random thoughts going through my head today.... because it's cheaper than seeing a therapist.

1. Yes, I did forget the visit from the tooth fairy last night. My excuse to Chloe was that her room was so messy that the tooth fairy probably couldn't find the tooth so we should clean up tonight and try again. I do feel kind of bad for that little slip... because it's not the first time. Also, when did the tooth fairy start bringing a dollar bill plus a little toy? The neighbor got a Little Pet Shop animal when she lost her tooth so Chloe was sure to point that out to me. Seriously gonna thank that Mom for the over expectation she planted in my daughters head.

2. I don't want to go to the grocery store but on Mondays the kids have pretty much cleaned us out over the weekend and leave things pretty bare. It's cold, I just wanna stay inside.

3. Where did all this laundry come from? On Friday it was all done and I was so proud of myself. Now, the battle with the laundry beast begins again.

4. I need more friends. I need girls to do things with from time to time. I need girl talk and fun away from the kids on occasion. I seem to have them, just not close ones I can spill my guts to. I wonder why most of my friends are virtual these days, does that even count?

5. I'd like to stop sneezing soon. Really... this is getting crazy. Achoooo.

6. Why do I have such a bad attitude about the upcoming holiday? Oh yeah, it must have something to do with the fact that I've done it so many times before. I actually feel really good about being difficult this year and not helping at all with anything. Completely do NOT care. Like last year, all the planning I did and all the food I bought (not cheap) and then the last day of guests somebody lost their temper over something and all the effort I put forth to make things perfect came crashing down around me. My bubble was burst and still is. For some reason that really hurt me and I thought I was tough. I should forgive and move on but I think that is gonna take another year.

7. No Money... need I say more. What is Christmas gonna be like? Do I need to get a job? I haven't had an out of the house job since before my son was born 15 yrs ago. Not an impressive resume.

That's pretty much it. Nothing profound. I just needed to get that off my chest early in the week and move on. Here's to happiness!

Today I am grateful for:
A warm house
Healthy kids
Faith
Freedom
Family

Hero

2009-11-05T19:44:00.001-08:00

I received a call last week from my daughter Chloe's teacher telling me that she was going to be getting a "Hero Hunt" award at school. She wanted me to know so I could be there to watch and only a few kids from each grade get them. I was so excited for her. The school was assembled and grade by grade they called students up to get their honor. Kids were jumping up when their names were called, all very excited. (They do these assemblies once a month at this school).

When they got to 3rd grade, they called my daughters name as well as another little girls name that is in her class, but there was silence, no one jumped up. No Chloe. I'm thinking like a grumpy mom does, what is wrong? Isn't she listening, why isn't she going up there! Then her teacher walked over to her and grabbed her hand and lead her up to the front. She stood up and followed her and then I saw the reason.

Chloe's other hand, the one not holding on to her teacher, was attached to her friend who is handicapped & delayed. The same girl she helps all the time at school and loves so unconditionally. Both Chloe and that girl were called and Chloe was NOT going to go up without her friend!! This girl didn't want to go up front because she was being shy.

The gym was silent, everyone paused. I choked back tears. What a sweet thing to do, what a sweet and devoted friend, and how selfless of her to stay put until she had her friend along to accept this honor. I was so proud, but not that she was chosen... more about how she accepted. She truly is a hero.

Pecan Tarlettes

2009-11-04T09:47:00.001-08:00

Here they are... yummy. If you enjoy pecan pie, these are your new best friends. It made my house smell like Christmastime. Ahhhhhh..... love it!

This is my assistant, still in her pj's... that's how we bake at our house. She is holding our "tamper" which I never used before this recipe. It's so much fun to use!

First, you make a small dough ball and put it in our greased tart pan....

Then the assistant takes her FLOURED tamper and squishes the ball until the sides of it come up the the top of the pan. Flour after each press into the dough!

Then we bake the "shells" for 10 minutes at 325 degrees. Then take the pan out of the oven.
Spoon the filling into each tart and bake again for 10-12 minutes .

Here is the recipe if you'd like to try!

Pecan Tartlettes:
Crust:
1/2 cup soft butter
1/2 cup sugar............mix
1 egg white...........beat by hand to fluff
1 1/4 cup flour
Bake 325 for 10 minutes, remove and add filling:
Filling:
2 eggs
2 Tbsp melted butter
1 1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup chopped pecans.
Bake at 325 an extra 10-12 minutes.

***FYI: I double the crust batter because the filling goes a long way!

The Big Day

2009-11-01T15:17:00.000-08:00

My Butterfly....

My Dark, but glamorous fairy...

The Black Cat...

The bottles I made for halloween bowling with pumpkins (that we never used)

Trying to do a better face painting than I did for her the day of her school party...

Striking a pose...

On their way trick or treating.... Sprayed them all with sparkles, husband too.

My trick or treaters... only 3 this year. My oldest hung out with his gang of buddies :( He is not a fan of candy these days, not attractive to the ladies to have candy bar face! It was a nice warm evening here though which I am grateful for! The littler kids went out and had a good time. I stayed and passed out candy from home. The kids picked out really simple costumes this year. SO simple I almost felt like a bad mom! I have a whole box of fancy costumes and they just wanted wings and ears so I guess I got off easy but I'm not complaining! On to Thanksgiving!

Halloween Spirit

2009-10-24T14:35:00.000-07:00

A few pictures from my 8 yr old who definitely has the Halloween spirit. She LOVES to draw and oh baby does she love Halloween.

"Leave" it simple!

2009-10-24T14:22:00.000-07:00

I love to decorate for the fall holidays. My big thing this year is to do it on the cheap so I chose things that do double or triple duty by covering autumn, Halloween, and Thanksgiving. My way of doing this is by using fall things such as pine cones, leaves, acorns, squash, gourds, and pumpkins. All of that passes nicely for Thanksgiving well after Halloween is over. Makes sense to me! I do have a few things that I put on our porch for Halloween that are definitely only for Halloween because it's fun for the kids but inside I stay simple, just add and subtract a few things from the porch and our fireplace mantle. The above are just a few ideas that I put up around my home. Now I'm done until after Thanksgiving and don't mind these decorations at all for a few months.

Farewell

2009-10-22T14:41:00.000-07:00

I had a few ladies over today for lunch with my neighbor as a guest of honor. She is really going through some tough stuff. She has moved and it is just hitting me how different things are going to be without that little family down the street. She and her family are still in town but not as conveniently close as 3 doors down.

I was really struggling as to what I could do to help her. She has never asked for any help and does things quick and secretly so no one will figure it out and come to help. It just hit me that I needed to just get a group of her friends together and shower her with love. I hope she felt our love and concern today. I was left with a big rock in my stomach because of how worried I am for her. Once in a while we all have to endure a really tough farewell.

I made a good comfort food though! If you need comforting, try it. It reminds me a bit of the soups at Olive Garden but more home style.

Tortellini Soup:
2 tbsp olive oil
add 1 medium onion, diced.
1 Roll of mild sausage, such as Jimmy Dean. Then cook sausage and onion in same pan, breaking apart sausage into small bits then add:
6 cups of chicken broth
1 (28 oz) can of crushed tomatoes
1 (15 oz) can of kidney beans, drained and rinsed.
2 large cloves of garlic, minced
1/4 tsp each: dried basil, oregano, and black pepper
Bring to a boil, stirring often.
Add:
1 package of refrigerated or frozen cheese tortellini (approx 19 oz)
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 cups fresh baby spinach cut into small strips
Boil about 5 minutes uncovered before serving.
(I like to sprinkle cheese on the top of individual bowls also). Enjoy!

Fabulous Four

2009-10-16T11:29:00.000-07:00

Sadie turned 4 years old yesterday! It's amazing how fast those years have gone by! We had such a great day. She had a speech test in the morning then I took her for lunch and ate outside by a fountain at a place she likes.

We came home and decorated and wrapped presents and then 4 of us took her to the Corn Maze and petting farm. We had lots of fun running through the corn and trying to lose Christian but that big brother always found us. We came home and ate dinner and then had cake and ice cream. WARNING: Never buy a cake with navy blue frosting (we all had blue teeth after which was pretty funny. Really funny to see 90 yr olds smiling with blue stains. Not so fun for any of us to get rid of).

Spooky Root Beer

2009-10-13T18:09:00.000-07:00

If you want to try this I would advise you that it makes a lot of Rootbeer. It's a lot different than the rootbeer you buy on the shelf, not as carbonated, but we had such a fun time making it!

Added this whole bottle of extract (that we just bought at the grocery store) with 5 gallons of water and 5 lbs of sugar. We used our tall drink thermos container with the spout at the bottom. Then we added 6 lbs of dry ice, which you need to make sure to not touch or have the kids touch with their bare hands or it will hurt really bad (just a reminder). Also, when the dry ice is added it starts to bubble like crazy so do NOT cover until all the bubbling stops.
Bottoms up!!!
Oh, and if you want to try something different, we also did this with vanilla extract (same amounts of sugar and dry ice) instead of rootbeer and made some killer cream soda!

Honored

2009-10-13T17:47:00.000-07:00

Six months ago my son undertook some community service to achieve his Boy Scout Eagle award. It definitely wasn't an easy task. It takes a minimum of 70 hrs of service and a bunch of paperwork. I think my son put in 115 hours on this project, almost enough for 2 awards. We received an invitation in the mail to a celebration of the completion of the Heritage Center. He painted the inside of the center which took a full week. It took a couple groups of people to complete the outside. All of those who worked on the undertaking were honored at a picnic the other day and my sons name is on a plaque inside the building. After doing this project with the forest service he seems really interested in working for them someday but must be 18 first I guess. Here are some pictures from the event.

In front of the Heritage Center.... brrrr.

These fine people work for the Forest Service.

The head of the area Forest Service presenting Christian with a book of the area.

This Forest Service guy (Jake) that helped Christian set things up with the Heritage Center. Please note the fine paint job in the background. He did all the rooms, cupboards, and ceilings.

The plaque with his name on it (that they mispelled as Christen instead of Christian).
Oh well, we know what they meant.

Frozen HOT Chocolate

2009-10-04T06:28:00.000-07:00

What a delicious contradiction!
It's an icy, cold fall treat. I watched a review of a restaurant in NYC that specializes in this (the name of the place is Serendipity), so I had to try it for myself and now we are hooked. I'll post the recipe but just for your information, you can go to Dairy Queen and get these too. They are not on the menu but they make them and DANG they are good. HOT hot chocolate always upsets my stomach so I like it in the frozen form ALOT. Yummm....

There are a lot of recipes for this on the internet, but my version is simpler.
Try this...

Add to a blender-
2 scoops of powdered hot chocolate mix
1 cup of crushed ice
1 cup of milk
1 spoonful of hot fudge topping (from the jar)
1 cup of vanilla bean ice cream OR 1/2 cup marshmallow cream
(if its too strong add more ice, ice cream, milk til it's to your liking)

Blend it up and top with whipped cream and shaved chocolate if desired. Easy!

Look what I found!!!

2009-09-28T12:14:00.000-07:00

This book may not mean anything to most people, but to me it was my favorite book as a child. The pictures have stood out vividly all these years in my mind. I remember reading these books every time I got to the library when I was young. I loved them so much. I found them online after years of looking because I could NOT remember the title. I stumbled across them and ordered 3 of the series.

If you aren't familiar with these, and they are OLD so you probably aren't, but they are so sweet. They are books told with beautiful photographs of a doll and her adventures. It makes me so happy to read them with my girls. They are enjoying them too which is so much fun for me. Here is a look inside...The Lonely Doll by Dare Wright

Good Eats

2009-09-26T06:43:00.001-07:00

My new favorite salad...
Try it!

STRAWBERRY FETA SALAD

Mixed Greens
Sliced Strawberries
Walnuts (sugar coated are good in this)
Crumbled Feta Cheese
Thinly Sliced Purple Onion (optional)
Any Pink or Red Wine Vinagaerette

Mix it all up with some dressing. YUM!

I wish I had a picture but I had to eat it ASAP!

Rose Colored Glasses

2009-09-11T07:50:00.001-07:00

Life has been kicking me in the backside lately. One thing to tackle after another. I am witnessing miracles among the madness however, which is the best I could hope for. In typical (goofy) ME fashion, when faced with gray times, I go on a quest of sorts, searching my life for SOMETHING, anything uplifting... and I always find some morsel of hope!

My daughter is doing better on some medication for her extreme anxiety. Never a fan of medication, yet there comes a point when you've tried everything else and it's time to bite the bullet. She has reacted marvelously to it... making me wonder WHY I waited so long to get my happy, singing, sweet, hugging, sleeping daughter back again. Man, how I missed her. The miracle of modern medicine.

Then there is my always eventful (almost) 16 yr old. He is always getting himself into situations. Sometimes he has NO idea how dangerous they are. On Monday, he was thrown off a four wheel ATV and into/over some barbed wire. He was knocked up pretty good, scratched and ripped, and really sore and miserable. In the car the other day he told me that he was still in shock from the whole accident. He had been on those machines (we do not own any) many times with his friends and had never had anything like this happen. Then he paused and said, "I should have landed on top of some sharp boulders, I came down on my back Mom. When I opened my eyes I was laying on the ground in a clearing, surrounded by those rocks and I was expecting to be paralyzed or broken, but I could move." To me, that is a miracle. He got UP and walked for help (he was the rear man in the line of boys on the machines). The boy must have guardian angels working overtime these days. You KNOW Mom is on her knees for my kids asking for that!

The picture at the top is not one I took but I saw those "God Ray's" yesterday... the sun breaking through a storm cloud, it's rays beaming down like long, golden fingers. My eyes filled with tears. Even in stormy times, light can always reach us, God's love can always reach us. I needed that.

The list of amazing things goes on and on. I have to search for the positive in day to day life. Sometimes it's overshadowed and stunk out by the garbage. We all have to stand up and walk for help when our problems are bigger than we can manage. This is why I value prayer so much as my life line. So glad I have never given up my prescription and use for those rose colored glasses as well. They keep perspective and I sure don't know what I would do without them.

Almost Sixteen

2009-09-03T10:44:00.000-07:00

It's way more fun to watch my boy be almost 16 then to remember being that age myself.

My son and his friends are sophomores. The first year of high school here. It's also the year that all the buddies are starting to drive and get licenses, jobs, dates, and think about the big dances. Scary times in my own life as I remember back at that age, but also really exciting. Lot's of drama at that age weither your a boy or a girl... oh how I remember.

The boys come home and eat at our house every day. Thank goodness for frozen burritos. I look forward to it. I love to hear there conversations and get into their world a little. Yesterday they talked about punk rock and how it would be if our bodies were jointed like a barbie and how whacky we would move. That was funny to watch.

Today the conversation was way more serious, centered around President Obama. They discussed how they were going to have to listen to Obama talk on Tuesday at school and how they were all supposed to be Obama-bots from the "indoctrination talk". They also said how they were not keen on having that guy lead the charge in having the government take over their freedom. Interesting, I thought they were all ruled by hormones at that age, they still have a little room in their brains to contemplate anything that affects their future.

Good for you boys for caring so much and wanting a say in that future of yours and not just about the girls you'll see on the weekend. No matter what your political viewpoint, it is GREAT to see the next generation being concerned and wanting to be involved in a time when our country is in such fluctuation with things changing so quickly.

What is happiness? Find it!

2009-08-31T13:51:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnQh0QFkAYQ

It's Great to Be 8!!

2009-08-28T07:29:00.000-07:00

Chloe posing for her baptism picture. Tomorrow is her big day!

Escargo

2009-08-23T06:26:00.000-07:00

I was attempting to not be completely nauseated by a crate full of slimy snails that my kids collected yesterday by playing the photographer...

"Mom, they tickle when they slide around on your skin!"

Gulp...do not hurl and play it cool....

"Wow, there's sooo many! Sadie, do NOT kiss them!"

"Why not?"

"They live in dirt and poo poo on the ground."

"No they don't Mom, they're clean and I love them."

Ugh.

The best part is that I put the girls into the bathtub and scrubbed them down and we forgot to let them go. This morning there are snails all over my patio, on the ceiling, the window, etc...
We love God's creations but we now had overload.

This morning Chloe, who helped collect them, woke up and said, "Mom, I'm so grossed out, there are snails everywhere outside cuz we didn't let them go and they got out of the box."

Nice.

We've had a great time finding where they crawled off to... ceiling fan, light fixtures, gutter, furniture. They make an amazing crackly suction sound when you pull them off. They also leave a beautiful boogery residue.

In honor of Spongebob, they were all named Gary. All 500 Gary's have now been removed and given a new home.

The never ending story...

2009-08-21T07:14:00.000-07:00

The story goes like this...
Mom leaves the house to get her hair done.
Mom comes home to make dinner then runs off to back to school night.
Back to school night lasts for 2 long painful hours...
She came home to this in the laundry room.
She came home to the dishes not done.
She came home to a blasting television.
She came home to a stressed out husband that hasn't slept for two days and was still working from home amid the chaos.
She came home to toys spread all over the girls bedroom and she couldn't get to their beds.
Her bathroom was trashed with towels and dirty kids clothing.
BUT...
She came home.
She came home safely.
She came home to happy, showered children.
Did I mention she came home to happy kids?
The "happy" part is the story she hopes to remember and the story that she hopes is never ending.

Pictures from my sunday hike...

2009-08-17T06:07:00.000-07:00

Have a great week. Enjoy the magic moments.

shake it like a polaroid...

2009-08-15T13:33:00.001-07:00

Today during cleaning time we put on some Disney music to inspire the little girls to help and caught this footage of my youngest "dusting the piano" or at least that's what she was supposed to be doing. How can I get mad at her when her 3 year old bootie shakin' is so unbelievably awesome!??

As Little Children

2009-08-12T17:32:00.000-07:00

Yesterday at my daughters party I was awe struck at that beautiful 8 year old child. I was amazed at her interacting, the color of her hair, how kind she is to her friends, how the heck she got to be 8, and how I hope she is always so happy. Pretty typical mom stuff.

One of the friends that she made sure she invited was a girl from school with learning disabilities. She loves this girl and considers her among her best of friends. The whole party I watched her help the little girl and say things like... Do you need help with that? Can you try to do this with me please? Come over here and be by me ok? She looked out for her at every turn. I was worried that maybe some of the other girls that didn't know this friend from school would be mean or laugh at the things she couldn't do but I think that because of how Chloe treated her, the other girls were just as kind.

Her teachers had told me many times at school how amazed they were at how great Chloe was at helping and loving this child in class. For two years now she has been seated next to her to help the teachers get her through the schoolwork. She is so naturally kind. The other girl is often rude and grumpy with her and she just lets it roll off her shoulders day after day (she never does this at home with us however). It was absolutely special for me to witness and just brought tears to my eyes at how effortless it was for her. I hope she never loses that gift. I stand in awe of that ability to accept and to value people. Love thy neighbor.

This is also the daughter of mine with some uphill challenges. She exhausts me and blesses me. She is an emotional roller coaster. I hope I can continue to have the patience, love, and inspiration that I desperately need to do what she needs me to. I need to raise her knowing how good she is and most importantly to drill it into her head that I love her NO MATTER WHAT. I'll take some of her example in doing this from what I've seen her do. Wow, what I have learned from my children is amazing.

"Verily I say unto to you, except ye be converted, and become as little chidren, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:3

Fishy Pool Party

2009-08-11T19:21:00.000-07:00

It's OVER. Dang that was a lot of work. Everything went well though! Fun theme we had!

Balloons everywhere... blue, orange, yellow.

Made beach bags with hand printed "crabs" this was my example but the girls did much better than I did. I was impressed!

Girls with their almost finished projects.

I filled the pool with tons of beach balls. I bought a bunch and we had a bunch so it was looking like a fiesta. Wasn't fun to blow up but worth it!

I'm not sure what it is they are doing... they came up with some waterballoon on the trampoline game. Hey, it kept them happy and outside... all good.

Swedish fish to decorate our blue frosted cupcakes.

The treat table...
The place mats were obviously modeled after Goldfish crackers.

This is my impromptu centerpiece. Basket, shells, silk flowers, cake pedestal. I am so happy I kept that shell collection!

Pinata. Do they ever break open like they are supposed to??? Ours didn't. I had to shake it once it split cuz it wouldn't spill out.

And they all had fun and left happy :)

I Have Mis-filed My Gray Matter...

2009-08-08T07:34:00.000-07:00

In searching for some paperwork last night, I discovered that I am not as organized as I thought. These papers are from 2003 to present. Papers I thought were properly filled and organized were found in the weirdest of places, which scares me. Can I please have my brain back? Has anyone seen any run away gray matter? I really think I am going crazy.

Besides the fact that paperwork hates me and runs away from my stinky little hands all the time, I have too much on my mind. I NEED THE TITLE TO OUR CAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My husband got an awesome trade in deal and I was up way into the night looking through boxes of unidentified papers.

I seriously am starting to believe that maybe I threw it away. IF I did... I'm in big trouble. CROSS YOUR FINGERS!!! I'm off to search some more! I hope I come across my missing mind in the process!UGH...

Tears (aka My Super Power)

2009-08-06T18:00:00.000-07:00

WARNING, SLIGHTLY DEPRESSING BLOG ENTRY... and no, I'm not depressed I promise! I am just the kind of girl who always wants to make it better.

So far this has been a month of tears. Not necessarily my tears, but I have shed my share. Tears because I wish I could help people I care about. The nightly news alone is able to to bring one to tears with all the doom and gloom, things out of one's control.

TEARS from children who are frustrated. Typical, heartbreaking, and frustrating. Just loving on them more helps sometimes and then there is the times when they need that tough lovin'.

TEARS from an elderly mother in law... she is obsessed with the end of life stuff. She cannot have a conversation without shedding tears of concern and anxiety... and that's WITH medication. I hope she is taking it anyway.

TEARS from my parents, I'm always worried about them and wish I could help them more. All I can do is pray for them, call them, and be there however possible.

TEARS from friends and neighbors. Sad news it seems is bombarding my brain and hurting my heart these days.

So with all these sad tears flowing around me, sometimes I cannot help but to cry along with them. Sometimes I take a step back, always I want to make it all better. It's hard not having super powers!

So I look to heaven...

It all makes me have a greater sense of awe and gratitude for our loving Father in Heaven. He knew we would come here and be tested, struggle. I'm sure He sheds many tears for us in our times of trouble. I do not doubt that the times we are at the lowest of the lows life throws at us HE is there with us. Sometimes I think we blame him rather than turn to him for help when we feel it's too much for us to face. I guess I must take my example from Him on how I can help others... love them.

I think about how angry people get at the Almighty when life turns dark and the why me's start. I have done that myself. Why us? Why now? Why so much pain? Is this how we grow? Is this how we prove we are good as Job in our hours of need?

Sometimes I think "why not me"? So often it's so much more painful to have to watch horrible, hard things happen to others, and I want to take it away and carry it for them. Tears sometimes are the greatest release of frustration in those times, the pressure release of stress. A blessing.

Sooner or later rock bottom comes and everything looks clearer. We are not immune to pain, none of us are. Why should we be? Even the Son of God came here and felt every burden, every sin, all suffering, and all for us. He was not spared it. He knows what we feel, he is hearing our prayers for help. That brings me the most unbelievably thankful tears.

I LOVE to cry tears of joy. Tears of gratitude. Tears of amazement. Happy tears. The best thing that I've realized this week is to always see the HOPE. So, my super power? No, not tears. It's much better and I think we all have it- HOPE! Followed closely by faith's powerful inspiration.

Busy summer goings on...

2009-08-06T07:31:00.001-07:00

My daughter turned 13 and it was, once again, sleepover time. Her theme was "Happy Campers". The best part was she wanted it to be just a few of her bestest buds. Activities went something like this...

swimming...

scary movies in the tent, roughing it girl style.

s'mores by the pool in the "pit", she likes them with dark chocolate

Fear factor for feet... she tortured her girlfriends with 3 concoctions we made earlier in the day and they had to identify with their feet. Jello, pudding, and cooked carrots pieces that were dehydrated (yuck). Blindfolds on, of course. They loved it, but my neighbors probably didn't love all the screaming. They were all sticky after the third stinky unidentified substance so she snuck up on them with the hose and let them have it. That led to more swimming.

Treasure hunt... I made 10 riddles on strips of paper that sent them around the neighborhood. At the end they found some "campy" water bottles that I filled with goodies such as airheads, fruit roll ups, jerky, nuts, mentos (long narrow food fit best). The tag on them said "Birthday Recovery Kit". (Thank heaven for the dollar store!) This one got half eaten before I got a pic.

They slept in the tent, heat and all. I have no idea what time they went to sleep but since they slept outside and not in my family room, I actually got some zzzz's also.

In the meantime...

My son is still in love with his car, and all he can do without an adult is sit in it and dream...

Then my seven year old is getting ready to celebrate birthday #8, a fish themed swim party...
so far, we've got the invites made... they'll have a bag of "whale" crackers attached.

She also wanted an aquarium with fishies for her birthday, perfectly themed. That is getting set up today so that the water in it will be just right for her to get the fishes from Petco on her birthday.

Also in the meantime... My youngest is learning to swim without her bubbles on...

What knee's are for..

2009-08-02T06:43:00.000-07:00

This week has been a bad week for child #3. She is out of control. I lost it a few times with her and that always makes things worse not to mention what a horrible parent I feel that I am after. If I had perfect kids and I was perfect myself, things would not bother me so much but they do since that state of perfection is not reality yet, maybe someday, but who is perfect, really.

Yesterday there was an incredible adventure going on in her room. There was a whole civilization built for her littlest pet shop animals. After about 2 hours she came out and realized that we all had been doing Saturday cleaning- the dreaded chores. She was asked nicely to please go back to her room and clean up so we could vacuum in there. She went nuts. The fit of all fits. She said she was too tired now, the mess was too big, that she couldn't possibly clean it up by herself, she was now wanting a new family, she was running away. It's all typical statements a cranky kid makes.

This time was going to be different I determined. I refused to lose it and I refused to let her get to me. I also refused to let it go. After about an hour of encouragement I turned it over to my husband. He went in there and put on cleaning music and danced around for her to make her (hopefully) stop crying and get to it. She just got up on her bed under the covers. She didn't do it. POWER STRUGGLE.

So I went in a while later and said that she had 5 minutes to get it done and I would clean up the toys that were not the little pet shop mess. I did that small task but she sat there crying like a loony. She kept HOWLING, what she sounds like truthfully. She hits a note on the scale of piercing that is so incredibly painful. Anyway, I kept my cool.

Five minutes later she is in the pantry looking for food. I told her that she was welcomed to have food when her ONE chore of the day was done. More howling ensued. I think the wolves were summoned, or at least she got their attention with all the ruckus. I was getting really close to losing it but I said to myself, she needs to know you mean it and it's really not too much for a seven year old to take care of. So putting my arm around her shoulder I escorted her to her room in silence (the whole time thinking about what I was going to do now).

As we came in her room I stopped, dropped to my knees. She happily flopped along side of me on the ground. I started to pray out loud with my arm around her. She shot me a look like she couldn't believe I was actually praying with her, what is mom up to? She quieted down. I muttered something like..."Please help her to know how much I love her, help her to make good decisions, let her know she is an important part of this family and to not feel sad, help me to be a good mom although I am not perfect, help her to learn how to work hard and help her to be cheerful today."

She was stunned. So was I frankly. I didn't know I was going to do that. She sat there looking at me as I explained that if it wasn't cleaned up by the time I came back with the black garbage bag I was taking the toys away. She didn't do a darn thing. So with her decision made, I cleaned up all the toys, put them into the black bag, and told her because she chose not to even try to clean them up they were gone for at least a week. She started crying about how much she miss them, and not my favorite toys mom... blah blah blah. I explained that decisions have consequences.

They are hidden in my closet now, in the sack, behind my clothes. No more games. She cried in mourning for the toys for a while and then came out and asked for a treat. I reviewed the deal with her and what had happened and how I expected cooperation in the future or she would lose all the toys around here. She said ok, she understood. Hmmmm... we'll see. I don't know if I did any good but I know I turned it over to the Lord and things did get better after that, not perfect, but better. I like better, it sure beats things getting worse.

Now I know why we have knee's. As I raise these four kids, mine are getting pretty worn.

Mama Tiger

2009-07-31T07:31:00.000-07:00

Once in a while I am reminded how fierce a mom can be when someone messes with her kids. I get crazy like a mother tiger protecting her cubs, probably most moms feel like that. I don't like it when someone uninvited comes up and messes with them.

At Costco, I was hurrying through the store and some guy was at a stand trying to promote his book. It really didn't look interesting to me, so I attempted to pass and ignore him staring at us so he wouldn't stop us. It was some obscure book I'd never seen or heard of or I would have been more impressed, He stopped us anyway. Ugh...

The opening line was something like "are you guys interested in the Harry Potter books or Twilight books?" NO. Big lie, I loved Twilight, but dude... NOT INTERESTED. He kept trying. (Don't ignore the 'your not gonna get a sale' here body language). He asked my teenage daughter, "what kind of books do you read?" She answered, "I don't know". She isn't a huge reader, she has to be interested and it has to be realistic for her to enjoy a book, not fantasy. He then explained how if you aren't a big reader he has a program.... blah blah blah... and lost all of us. I started looking around for the exit and her phone buzzed. She reached down and hit silence.

This dude lectured my girl about how rude she is even to touch her phone while he was talking to her and that he was done with her, goodbye. My jaw dropped. So after giving him an "I'd like you to know it's her birthday rude dude, we didn't want to talk to you in the first place, thank you daughter for shutting this man up, we've been trying to hurry through a huge store as fast as possible before you made us stop, your stupid fantasy book about dragons is gonna fail anyway, and hello, your a big jerk now and I am SOOOO not buying your book" look I controlled my anger and hurriedly walked away.

My daughter looked at me and said "What? Mom, I just silenced my phone that was going off, is that rude?" Yes, I told her, I guess it's technically kind of rude but so is stopping a frazzled mom who is in a hurry in the middle of a Costco who has kids hanging out her cart grabbing everything they see, and some guy stops you to chat about something you were obviously NOT interested in. My only satisfaction in this story was that he didn't get a sale. She was really upset though, she hadn't had someone do that to her before, ever.

I've fought the urge to call Costco and tell them that the author was rude to me and my daughter and that we left Costco in tears. I wish I knew the title and the author and I would so post it on here. I am trying to get over it, let it go, but the mama tiger in me is still growling. I hate that!

Okay... just looked up the guys website and I can't allow myself to post the book ban campaign I wanted to because the weirdo served our country in the armed forces once. He is a nut job though, and not a people person apparently.

Fail

2009-07-30T14:42:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was a bad day for our 15 year old beginning driver. He failed the written drivers test. So, determined as he was, he took it again. Fail #2. Dad was not happy. Dad let him have it for not being prepared. I'm so glad I wasn't there. He had to get his learners permit before taking drivers ed, seems backwards to me, but that's how it's done here. So this test was checking that he knew enough about driving BEFORE the class I guess. I was so nervous for him.

I was at home waiting for the grumpy guys to arrive and smooth it all out. I waited plagued by my own bad memories of my failed drivers test when I was 17. Reliving the humiliation of having to tell friends the next day I didn't do it is still painful all these years later. Now, thankfully, I look back and realize that it was a great learning experience. Driving isn't simple, it is a BIG deal. It's a major responsibility. It taught me a huge lesson in humility, and I believe he learned that same lesson yesterday.

When the kid is determined, he is determined. He studied all day yesterday and all night. He took readiness pre-tests on the computer until he consistently got 100% each and every time. Today he went back. Again, I decided it was best if I did not come along and jinx the moment. He took the test but this time he drove home. Mission accomplished. Big smile. Majorly cautious and humbled driver. Humbled, for now anyway. Not as easy as he thought. Yep, I know that all too well.

May the fails always be with you son, at least the lesson it taught you and that horrible feeling of not being prepared enough when you thought you were. Keep pride out of the drivers seat and don't even let it be a passenger. Now, young man of mine, you have inspired me with your never give up attitude. Prepare more, try more. I am again in awe at the strength of youth.

Boys

2009-07-29T13:41:00.000-07:00

Could it be that my daughter gets her braces off, turns 13, and is suddenly getting noticed? Today at the gym I actually spied boys checking her out. Very very cute boys, probably college aged and boys that would give Zac Efron stiff competition. OH BOY. Here we go...

Witness

2009-07-29T07:06:00.001-07:00

I was a witness.

I was hurrying to find some paperwork for my husband and heard some noise outside. It was garbage day yesterday and we put out our cans for the garbage man. He seems to come very early here, like at 7:30 am or so. The insane day that we had yesterday kept us away from the house until about 4 pm. This is the time it all happened. To most this may be no big deal but to me, well, it touched my heart.

I heard some noises outside and looked out the office window. Two of my sons friends had been walking by on their way to the snack shack, aka the gas station where the kids hang out, near our house. They noticed that our garbage cans were still out late in the day so they each grabbed a can and rolled it back to the side of the house then continued on their way. No stopping to get credit.

I love those kids. I've said it before and I will say it again... my son has the best friends a mom could ever hope her child could have. That touched me, small act of kindness that it was, and now I am trying to decide which one I can one day set up my daughter with to marry someday in the future. What? I'm thinking ahead, I know. A mom can only hope her girl picks good guys like that in the future.

Truckin'

2009-07-28T14:44:00.000-07:00

My baby, I mean my 15 1/2 year old son, is on his way home with his dad from a big purchase. His first car! I'm gonna cry for so many reasons right now. First, no way can I be this old. I really can't afford the Botox yet, he needs to wait! Second, because he will be actually driving. I don't like it! The list goes on and on but it's too much whining on my part so I will resist.

The funny thing is that it's a piece of doo doo car and yet my son is so in love with it he might throw up. My husband is so in love with it I am a little jealous of it already. What's with men and cars? It's a Nisson pick up truck (so not technically a car), dull gray, dinged up, beat to a crisp in this desert heat, and the love of their lives. Men... they have a new toy. I guess I will step back and let the male bonding begin. Maybe this really is a good time to sneak out and get the Botox. It's either that or cry tears of unbelief that he actually has a car and has not yet even taken drivers education. Oh, did I leave out that little nugget? It's all his Dad's fault! Dad is so excited to see his boy be a man, Mom is not so excited to see him behind the wheel.

The Tick

2009-07-26T19:58:00.000-07:00

Today at church my youngest child laid her head on my lap and I ran my fingers through her hair. Her hair was still slightly wet from the quick bath I had managed to give her right before church. It's a lot of work having 3 girls who need help with hairdo's in the morning. Anyway, as I was running my fingers through her hair I felt something weird. It looked like a bean but it was (gag) a big fat tick. Engorged to the max. I almost died. Thoughts of lyme disease and lice treatments flashed back in my mind. Finally I had a chance to get up and walk her out into the hallway and straight to my friend who was a nurse.

Thank heavens for medical professionals. How grateful I am that I have so many on my street that I have friendships with especially when there is a crisis situation like this! (It was only a crisis to me really). She calmed me down and said she'd stop by after church. I was so stressed out and sick knowing this huge thing was eating my daughter alive (the drama) and could barely eat lunch. Finally, she arrived to help me.

I have zero experience with ticks. I have never seen one removed before so I was slightly fascinated and sick at the same time. She put Vaseline all around the stupid, ugly, bloodsucking little vampire's embedded head to suffocate it and waited for it to die so it would let go and we could pull it out. It didn't let go. It had clamped down and it took a long time to get it out. Finally it came out with a nice big chunk of flesh in it's jaws but that meant we got it all out. Yuck. Nausea.

The thing that really bothered me was that I had no idea that it was in there. I had quickly done her pretty dark hair that morning and in my hurry to get ready I had totally overlooked it. What if it had been in her hair for a long time and I have just been neglectful? I felt like a terrible mom.

So I write about this for two reasons...
First, because if it happens to you or someone you know, you'll know what to do. Second, I see it all as a metaphor. How many things are sucking the good out of my life without me even knowing just like that little bugger was sucking the life blood out of my innocent baby (more drama talk). I'm looking at my bad habits, my faults, where I can improve. Life is funny. There is always something to learn!

Doubt

2009-07-25T15:14:00.001-07:00

“O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?”

The other day I was talking to a woman who teaches my sons sunday school class and she opened my eyes. I know my son as a goofy, silly kid who runs around the house amusing himself by teasing his sisters. To her he is more. She told me how much she has enjoyed getting to know him. He is courteous and asks great questions. A couple times he has even stayed after class to discuss things with her and she has been impressed at what a good kid he is. She said I must be doing something right. No, I'm far too imperfect. It's not me- it is HIS faith that makes him who he is. He does not murmur when he is asked to do things. He often does them with clenched jaw, I know very well he wants to say he doesn't want to do our dirty work, but he does it. I tend to see the imperfections in my kids but today I am going to put my faith in him and look at him not as my boy, but as a young man. A warrior. I should not doubt in him or what he is becoming.

At his Eagle scout board of review, they interview him for a long time about what he did for his project and then had us come in to the room. The person who asked the questions told us that what he said to her was completely insignificant. It was his ability to look her in the eye as he answered questions without a single break in eye contact that made them know what kind of boy he was. It proved his honesty and showed he was a boy of great potential. My first thought was "Wow, how'd he know to do that?" See! I am a doubter! Darn it, I need to do better.

My teen daughter just got back from a girls camp called "Camp Courage". She proved to herself that she could do more than I ever could. She stood backward at the edge of a mountain cliff and repelled almost 100 feet down. The pictures are truly terrifying. She zip lined down a cliff later in the week. She stood in front of a group of girls and told them she believed in living the gospel of Jesus Christ. In each of these things she showed great courage. And yet, I often doubt in her also. She DOES murmur a lot, unlike her brother. It's great to know that she has enough faith to get through the hard things when mom is not around. I do not doubt that she is becoming refined and a woman of great faith.

My seven year old can hardly stand waiting until her eigth birthday to get baptised. In our church they do it at that age since they feel the children know right from wrong by then and are accountable for their choices. She is my most difficult, complex child. She is also my kindest, most angelic, inspirational child. Since first grade she has sat by a little girl with learning disabilities and has help this child get through the school years miles ahead of what they expected possible. Chloe helps her, she encourages her. She has a very hard time learning herself and is quite a bit behind but she learns so that she can teach her friend and explain it to her. I should not doubt that she is truly better in her heart than I am. She has marvelous potential and such an ability to love.

Then there is my youngest. She is 3 going on 10. She is enthusiastic, ready to go at pretty much anything, and so brave. She wanted to be pulled behind a boat this summer by herself to go tubing like her sister but absolutely BY HERSELF. I thought she'd be scared to death to even try. Yes, again I doubted. She has no problem getting up in front of people which I HATE doing. She is on her way to building great faith in herself. I do not doubt she has more faith than a mustard seed already.

It's good for me to take a step back and look at my babies as people. I love to see what they are becoming. How grateful I am to know that they are who they are because of faith. Why should I ever doubt to exercise such faith in my own life in scaling the cliffs and bumps that life throws at me. I should never doubt the miracles that faith produces in my tiny, insignificant life each and every day.

I think of the story in Matthew where the disciple sees Christ walking on water and tries to do it also but starts to sink. That is where Jesus speaks the words...“O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” I wonder if I was put to that same test of faith if I would sink into the depths or stand tall. If my behavior in every day life is any indication of the answer to this, I believe I may need to take a few lessons from my own children.

Fiber One

2009-07-23T13:39:00.000-07:00

These are so good. They are very full of fiber and low in calories, a good staple while swimsuit season is in full swing. Unfortunately, these don't like me. I forgot how VERY much they don't like me. I'm in the middle of a mid life crisis now that I just turned 39 and apparently my mind isn't quite as good at remembering the details of a dangerous diet. I'm in trouble. I really am wondering how I am going to go through the party at our neighbors house tonight and not be uncomfortable. Let this be a lesson to you all who have these in your home! Let's all try, like I will, to remember to look on the calendar before eating them and avoid a day with anything social. All I know is I don't usually post these types of messages but I have been banished from my family for a few hours while these run their course. Tonight should be fun, heck, it's gonna be a "gas"!

I Could Write a Book...

2009-07-20T18:47:00.000-07:00

I really could write a book on my in-laws. It is amazing how many messes that they get themselves into. 90 year old kids. I have to just laugh or worry myself sick about them. What do you do when people get to a certain age and could easily become a full time job? In our case, we try not to take away any of their normality but at some point it gets ridiculous!

I need to share this experience with love and respect.

On Saturday they decided that they would drive up to Salt Lake City to see my mother in laws sister who kept falling and getting hospitalized. This sister was not doing well and in her 90's also. Our first thought was, they'll never make it up there. Our next thought was, they'll never let us tell them they can't go. We can't take away their keys until they are willing to forfeit them and my husband was away at scout camp and couldn't drive them. I had my little ones to care for. Then we thought, if they don't go and something final happens to her sister this time we'll feel horrible that they didn't get to say goodbye. So after them getting off I held my breath.

They got up there fine. On Sunday they spent the whole day at the hospital. My father in law sat at her bedside with his wife and they just sang songs to her. Very sweet, they really are the sweetest people. Her sister did pass away that night at 5 am. The children did not tell my in-laws until this afternoon which they didn't like much (not having the news sooner). Upon hearing the update, they walked into a Mortuary (they figured it must be the one they are using for a funeral, right? Any random Mortuary they drive by looked good I guess). It said CLOSED on the door. Well, they were determined to ask if they were at the right place that the sister would be brought to so they tried the door and it was open.

So what would any reasonable person do? Walk in anyway even with the closed sign and use the bathroom, right? Yep. Apparently they had to go! As they went into the bathroom alarms started going off and they didn't know what to do. Someone found them after the system went off.

...Then the police did too.

OH help me! It's too much and it makes my belly hurt! Crazy!

Now they are resting peacefully after becoming exhausted they from their criminal behavior in the funeral home. It's just so funny to me how they think. What an adventure! You can get away with things like that when your 90!

Up close

2009-07-16T11:13:00.001-07:00

I'm love to snap photo's of nature. Just thought I'd post some of my nature shots from our trip to green green Michigan...

I love ferns, they are so lush and beautiful and EVERYWHERE.

This freakish picture is what a dragonfly sheds when it grows, being the science geek I am I wanted to keep it but knowing it would crumble and gross out people if I touched it, I settled for a picture. Below is a picture of a dragonfly who has just emerged from shedding and it's tail hasn't even straightened out yet.

The pink water lilly. Okay, I cheated and took these lily pictures at a water garden store.

Little blue flowers that grow along the waters edge at the lake.

This is moss that is growing in the woods. It was so soft and lit by the evening sun.

Chloe's crayfish / crawdad. He was a lively one.

Home Again

2009-07-16T07:51:00.001-07:00

We are just back from our trip across the country. If you don't believe that I literally mean ACROSS the county, check this out...

Where do I begin with our adventures?! This picture was taken in the middle of no where in a tiny city called Lebanon, KS. You see this kind of stuff when you go off the main highways and take the little red roads on the map. We stopped because we saw a sign that said US Marker and that always gets my husband excited, we pulled off and searched for life and a gas station. We drove through parts of town that looked like tornado's had hit, only to find out the poor place is just really old and dying. They had shut the school down and all the families moved with kids and that is certain death to any city. As we were leaving the gas station the owner said, "Hey if your going to the marker, take this bread and feed it to my rooster, he lives there." My husband came back to the car with a loaf of bread that was half gone and we stared at him baffled as he told us what we were asked to do. No, I'm not kidding and dang I love small town America, everyone is so nice. We got to the place and the race was on with my kids to be the one to find the rooster.

That was all on our way home. I should begin with the way out to Michigan. We do the drive every year from our Desert Southwest abode and each year there are many stories to tell.

We left on our drive on July 29th and drove to Denver, CO (about a 12 hour drive) and stayed with Tony's sister and saw our other wonderful family members that live there that we have missed. It was a nice time and we always appreciate them tolerating our mad drives through town each year.

From there on the 30th we drove to Omaha, NE which took us all day. The next morning we went to the Omaha Zoo, which I highly recommend. They have a great layout, tons of great exhibits, and even my 15 year old was excited. This is us after we got off our train ride.

We had a great day there and then drove to Davenport, IA to spend the night. The next day we hauled it through IL, stopped in IN to buy fireworks, and kept driving through MI up to the cabin. We stopped at a Welcome Center and they gave our girls these...

Then we got to the cabin and discovered it was a little chilly! We were able to see 2 of my brothers and my parents and lot's of my family that I have missed so much. The next day was cold and windy also so rather than waste the day,we went to the Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes.

The next day was my parents 50th Wedding Anniversary Party. Of course the forecast was cold and rainy but after an iffy morning, it cleared up and was beautiful. We got the restaurant about 4 pm with our photographer and took pictures in the gardens. It was the perfect location and the dinner was good. Sadie got the biggest hamburger ever. We shot off our fireworks and told stories around the campfire til late. Great memories.

The next day was the 4th of July and we went into the little town on the lake for small town holiday festivities. We watched a parade, went to all the booths and bake sales, then packed the kids in the boat for the boat parade. It was hot, beautiful and perfect. That night we went into Traverse City for the big town firework show on Lake Michigan. It was a great show but it did get pretty cold.

The rest of the stay is pretty much wrapped up by these pictures...

On the way home we stopped in a town called Nauvoo, IL for an outdoor pageant/musical that they put on every year and got there just in time. From there it was the miserable drive home. We stopped in Hannibal, MO for a walk. If you ever go through there and it is Mark Twain everything, his birthplace. We've been there before and my kids loved it. Then we drove, drove, drove.

Upon our 6:30 a.m. arrival after an all night drive, we found that our air conditioner was broken and our house was 89 degrees already and the day was young but forecasted to reach 106. Our pool was green also, apparently too many dead frogs had clogged our vacuum hose- how nice is that! Yummy! It all got fixed in a matter of hours.

My task was to unpack, wash, and help to repack 3 of my family for camping. My son and husband were shipped off to scout camp yesterday and my oldest daughter got off to girls camp this morning. It's just me and my 2 little ones. I'm looking forward to just getting caught up on housework. Coming back from vacation produces mess but packing guys for camp is insanity.

Unfortunately, I went outside this morning to find my pool filter shooting water up like Old Faithful. I guess that it's up to me to be handy and try to fix it myself or get a green pool again. It looks like a tube cracked, I should be able to tape it up, I'll fix it in my own special way. If I could, I would just sew it together. I am such a dang good woman. I think I'll just stay in the a/c and think about how great that makes me for a while :)

Ahhh.... home again. Never without it's challenges but there's no place like it.

Nerd

2009-06-26T15:20:00.000-07:00

I am a nerd. I've always felt like one anyway. I just thought I'd share it today. My kids are great at reinforcing the notion. They think I'm ridiculous. Really, all I am is the same little nerdy girl with glasses that I was in 4th grade in a much bigger, much wiser, nerd bod. I hope I can teach them to love their inner nerd also and that it keeps them out of trouble. Nerds rule...and the candy isn't bad either.

"Golden" Gifts

2009-06-26T07:06:00.000-07:00

Planning the 50th Anniversary for my parents...
they wanted to get their kids together all in one place. Since this will take place at the cabin, 4 hours away from where they live it limited the number of people anyway.
What we've done so far:

We reserved a separate room at a nice little restaurant to have a "formal" dinner at. At this dinner will be all of my brothers and sisters in laws- which is a big deal since I haven't seen one of my brothers in 6 or 7 years.

At dinner we will pay tribute to them and give them gifts. We've gathered a box full of cards and letters from all the friends and family members (we sent out a letter announcing their anniversary back in May and asked for help in gathering 50 of them).

The box is fancy and hopefully they will treasure it and enjoy going through all the notes. Then we had a little clock engraved to present to them. I also made them an album that they can add the cards and letters to once they open them all and save them. I tried to get memories of Grandma and Grandpa from the grandkids as well (although I am still missing 2 from the adult grandkids- we can always add that later if they'll ever get back to me). After dinner we are going to have pictures taken and I am hoping for good weather! Please! Please!

The next event will be going back to the cabin for cake and we will watch the DVD that I made. I didn't put the pictures of my parents and their grandkids in order because I didn't want them to be conscious of themselves aging (silly maybe, but they notice those things).

The best part is that we are not just celebrating for an couple hours at a party, we are going to all be together for a couple days. I hope it will all turn out very nice.

50 Years

2009-06-23T07:36:00.000-07:00

I can't wait to see my family all together again at the lake. It's been 6 years since I've seen my youngest brother. Mainly this gathering is to celebrate my parents 50th Wedding Anniversary but also because it's where my kids have always grown up spending their summers with Nana & Papa at the lake and its a tradition close to our hearts.

I can't believe it's been 50 years together for my parents- they are too young to hit that milestone in my eyes. My parents are very caring. They want the best for each of their children, grandchildren, and now even great grandchildren. They are great worriers like most parents. It's been a blessing to me that I have had fun, kind parents that have stuck together all these years. I am grateful for their examples.

Grandkids... (10) Kirt, Chelsey, Jeremy, Chase, Zane, Hope, Christian, Corynn, Chloe, Sadie Great... (3) Aubrey, Conner, Kollin

And a Daughter in law soon to join the family in October so we are all hoping that these numbers change soon! :)

When planning this event, my mom started to stress out so my sister in law Michelle and I told her to leave it up to us. My mom said she just wanted to get her kids together all in one place for once since we are spread out across the country these days. Somehow, I think that we are going to pull that off! Hooray! (BTW- they took a 3 week trip around China last November to celebrate this together as well).

The plan is to have a nice celebration dinner at a restaurant. I sent out 6o something papers asking people to send cards and letters to my parents, since they (at the time) didn't want neighbors or old friend, just family to come. We have a fancy box to present to them at this dinner that is full of letters and cards and hope that they feel how much people care about them.

After we go to dinner, we are going to have our family pictures taken (Hopefully)! Then we are going back to the cabin to have cake and ice cream and watch the "Tribute" dvd that I made to them from their grandchildren. I hope that they are happy. I really really hope we have good weather so we can get pictures outside! My kids are so excited they can hardly stand it.

Here's to the man...

2009-06-21T07:12:00.000-07:00

...who see's his influence on the next generation.
...who feels the responsibility to inspire the boys, not ignore them.
...who knows that little eyes are watching their every move and chose to lead.
...who stand up, speak up, and hold steady in their beliefs.
...who follow God and HIS wisdom.
...who allow themselves to live in humility and to be taught, then to teach.
...who carry the guns to defend our freedom.
...who are brave in the face of the evil or bad in the world.
...who use their strength to carry someone elses load.
What would the world be like without good men? Strong founding fathers?
Here's to you honey! Daddy! Dad in law! My son- the far off future daddy! Todays little boys!
Here's to the men and their impact on each of us and on our children.

Happy Fathers Day!

The man loves his cars...

These are a few of my favorite things...

2009-06-19T21:56:00.000-07:00

Today I took a little moment. A pause. Just enough time to think about some of the day to day things about life that I really enjoy.

*The smell of rain.
*Peeking in on my sleeping kids.
*Watching them wake up happy.
*Babies dressed in white.
*Tulips in my garden.
*Ice cold water on a hot day.
*Sunsets and sunrises.
*Cookies from the oven.
*Witnessing the goodness of the average Joe.
*Music that makes me cry.
*Friendship.
*Holding hands.
*Laughing til it hurts.
*Feeling inspired.
*The sound of giggling kids.
*The word Mom.
*Soldiers. Courage. Our country.
*Raspberries fresh from the bush.
*Popcorn, oh how I love you popcorn.
*Really sassy shoes.
*Fitting into a new smaller size.
*Getting my hair done.
*Feeling a baby kick for the first time.
*Getting over a bump and being a better person from it.

Isn't life a great thing?

Music

2009-06-18T21:46:00.001-07:00

I think this is a great example of the power of music. Excellent song and I just really love kids.

Camping at Zions National Park

2009-06-16T13:47:00.000-07:00

My husband is famous for the self portrait snapshots...

View from the "Narrows".

Taking a break.

My kids, hot and tired but always amazing.

Wishing I could crop my hips out of this one.

View from our campground of the Watchman.

The men setting up the beast.

The girls in search of tadpoles.

My baby girls...

Don't you love Wildlife adding itself to your pictures- I love this one!

We just got back from Zions today. I'm tired! It was worth it to have such a great time with the kids. My little junior adventurers like to go go go. We camped at a beautiful campground (Watchman- we like the B loop) but did some hiking and snooping around the park. It is so beautiful there and so close to our home. Our first time with 4 kids though.

Our youngest was so (surprisingly) good but the 7 yr old had a harder time. I was afraid she would, she's the sensitive one and let's face it... camping isn't all that comfy. She did great until bedtime, everything was weird in the dark to her and definitely not her own bed. I'm sure our camping neighbors loved the 2 crying fits during the night. Besides that it was great to be together and have that time with them!

Red White and Blue

2009-06-15T10:10:00.001-07:00

Pictures from the kids activity this morning. Just wanted to post them asap!

Made patriotic pinwheels, which unfortunately did not spin since they were stuck on a pencil.

Recycled centerpieces.

Water balloon madness.

Bounce house...

Doughnuts... they were soooo good.

Learning something new...

2009-06-12T08:09:00.001-07:00

Sewing on Paper? I'm so behind in the craft world. I hadn't tried it before now and I am loving it! Why did I wait so long? Oh, yeah, I'm a bit busy. This is the Fathers Day card I made my dad in zig zag. Try it! Just remember that the pieces you sew on need to have glue or adhesive on the back so the stitches don't pull out.

Also I have been lifeguard in the backyard as I am every summer... getting nothing done but teaching swim lessons for the 7 and 3 year olds.

Little Prayers

2009-06-11T08:19:00.000-07:00

I love to listen to my kids say their prayers. It made my day tonight to kneel down with my daughter and hear her talk to the Creator.
...help me to be good
...bless my family
...help me to not have bad dreams or bad thoughts
...take care of those who are sick
...help me to learn.

No, I think it's me who learns from her. Simply, the children GET the important things and aren't caught up in the repetitions like they do as they get older. I'm always learning from my kids and on my knees for them every day.
My prayers echo hers from a moms perspective...
...help me to be a good mom
...so I can bless my family
...keep bad things away from my kids
...take care of everyone who are struggling and not be caught up in my own problems
...help me to keep learning and once in a while, I hope, teach.

What Matters Most

2009-06-08T07:08:00.003-07:00

With all the business life can throw at me, this is what matters the most. My little family.

Yesterday at church everything that could go wrong picked that day to actually go wrong. I am in charge of the little kids and some days I feel like that voluntary job that I have undertaken is heaven... and then there are days where I can't wait to go home. It was more like the latter this past Sunday. I have a love/not so much love relationship with the position.

I felt like I was scrambling the whole time I was there. No one showed up to do what they were supposed to do. The best was that I had to add lib a 20 minute "sharing time" with 30 kids and somehow pulled it off. My daughter was naughty while I was trying to do my job. I was very glad I had a back up plan but a little cooperation would have been nice.

I got home on Sunday and my gratitude for the children I have been blessed with opened my eyes. They really are what matters most because they need me and I need them. That is why we were organized into families after all isn't it. I would say our dear Father in Heaven knew that we would need that strong unit of family love and support while we were here on Earth traveling the ups and downs of life and learning from our day to day experience. I am so amazed at what he has blessed me with!

I'm Burnt...S O S

2009-06-05T12:41:00.000-07:00

School is out and we are into the 2nd week of summer vacation and I am still burnt. May was a horrible month with busy stuff everyday and every night. I haven't recovered yet I guess.

Totally burnt. Of course there are many forms of "burnt"...
*Growing up, the teenage smokers were the "burn outs".
*Sometimes we say we are burning a candle at both ends.
*Dinner is occasionally burnt to a crisp.
*Tough exercize makes your muscles burn.
*Burns hurt for a long time and need medical attention.
*Someone could play a trick on you and you get "burned".
No, not the kinds of burnt I mean.

If your like me or have ever felt like me or have just felt burnt in general, what's a girl to do about it? Seriously, I need idea's. How do I re-energize? Fuel my batteries? I am at a loss...

This is why I haven't recovered and am still burnt...
*I am trying to get my sons Eagle papers done, scout merit badges finished, and Electronic High School squared away. These are tough!
*I take care of my elderly in laws and their craziness gets to me.
*I have a church job that I have a love/hate relationship with.
*I am trying to plan my parents 50th wedding anniversary from out of state.
*I am dieting.
*I have kids struggling with learning issues that need help all summer.
*I have a husband trying to find design work in a slow economy, thus leaving me on a tighter than tight budget.
*I have a household to keep up with.
*4 Kids to raise, nurture, feed, entertain, care for, and try enjoy.
*A cross country trip to prepare for.

Yeah, I'd say that load is bound to drain anyone's batteries. Advice needed!

Let Birthday Season Begin...

2009-06-04T07:46:00.000-07:00

My husband was born when my mother in law was 43. I give her credit. Her 6th child at that age is quite an accomplishment. Yesterday was my husbands birthday- he turned 45. He is 6 years older than I am and this birthday bothered him a lot so I don't mind that I'm still in my 30's a little longer!

I made this birthday banner and just taped it to the mantle...

I bought these "gourmet" cupcakes for a new twist

I was in such a bad mood by the time this picture was taken...
Let's just say my in-laws came over and chaos and craziness drove me to the point where a smile was not happening.

His birthday is the beginning of birthday season for us... lot's of cake in the summer.

The Recital

2009-05-31T15:46:00.000-07:00

Saturday was dance day. The dance recital went on and on... and on... and oooooonnnnn. There were a total of 38 numbers- that's right 38 and I agree, what the heck were they thinking?! Ridiculously too long for little kids and for most everyone in the audience who were dying from the a/c being off (it was crazy hot in there). Way too many solo dances (it went one group number followed by one solo number the whole night). Sadie did great but they were right towards the end of the program at #26, we left before the final bow. There were 10 more numbers to go and it had already been almost 2 hours long at that point. It was crazy and my husband and son were in agony the whole entire time- too much pink. I have to say, seeing my little princess feel proud of herself was worth it for me!

Miracle of spray paint...

2009-05-29T14:08:00.000-07:00

Before- the garbage picked Chair was white.
After- black. I like it much better.
Improvement? I hope so!

Training

2009-05-28T17:33:00.001-07:00

Going on a 6 mile run. Gotta beat my time from Monday which was 75:48 (actually one of my better times on a cooler day). That's just under 13 minutes each mile. Keep in mind I am running up a mountain and down it again then I do an extra 2 miles. I'll post my time tonight. It looks like another storm is moving in and I hope it rains on me, just spare me the lightning, thunder and hail.

Tonight's time was... 73:37, not too bad, at least I knocked a couple minutes off.

It was hot. Not a drop of rain. I was dripping the whole time and fairly nauseous which both are unusual. Only saw 3 people, 3 dogs, lots of little lizards, a dead toad, and a couple nasty biting flies got my dang knees again. They love my knees and ankles. Stretching and showering quick!

I THINK I am training for a race in Michigan this summer at the National Cherry Festival in July (that's if I have the guts to do it). They have a 13K (what the freak is that- like 9 miserable miles?) or a 5K which I've done before. Not sure I have the guts or the cookies to do 9 miles. I hope I can talk my husband into doing it with me.

Fathers Day Crafts

2009-05-28T15:08:00.000-07:00

I've been racking my brain trying to come up with a fathers day craft that the kids at church can give to their dads. It was much easier dealing with mothers day. Here are the things I came up with...

If I don't use this one for Fathers Day, I am definitely using it for another occasion- easy idea. It says...."Dad- hope your day is filled with sweet surprises" and it's filled with candy (I used taffy).

This one is a little harder. I didn't quite understand the folding directions (brain cells not firing so well lately) so I did the best I could. Slipped a candy bar in there and called it good. Have also seen them with Pop Rocks slipped inside.

And the winner is... the easy one! All Star Dad. I think these look like sparklers or fireworks a little. Just taffy on a skewer and glue a little topper over the pointy part (which I have decided must be cut off before the kids impale each other or dear old dad). In this picture it is missing the crazy wired foil star garland that you decorate presents with (I'm out right now but I know the dollar store has them).

There just aren't a lot of original idea's out there so this is my offering. Not all of mine are original either but a creative challenge always gets me excited!

The Music of the Night

2009-05-28T09:49:00.000-07:00

My kids both did very well at their piano recital last week but until now I haven't thought to post the footage. I think my daughter would mind it less that I was posting the recital video so I might spare my dear boy this time and just post hers. I am so proud them and so mad I never learned to play when I was younger. They practiced like crazy even though they were both so busy that last week of school and have always struggled with nerves at the recitals. (The teacher -the blondie- turned the pages- something like 8 pages total. It's a long video and has taken forever to upload, I hope it works).