Undaunted

Number 4

2012-01-16T15:49:00.001-07:00

Today, Sam had his tonsillectomy. He did quite great. He was very pleased that he was big enough to wear a two piece gown. Pants and a shirt. LOL He does not like flapping in the breeze.

Mommy and Sammy

We didn't have to wait to long to get back to pre-op. Here we are waiting for his IV.

See?! I am officially Sam's mom.

This is our Pre-Op nurse. Sam really liked her and she did a great job on his IV.

All set! LOL He is such a trooper.

Meds are in.

Can you tell that my boy is on some happy pills?

All dressed up and ready for the OR.

And look! so is Mommy. At this hospital they have a parent program to where I got to go back in the OR with Sam, until he passed out. It was pretty cool and it helped him be more relaxed. It helped me be more relaxed too.

Of course Sam took his sweet time waking up, about an hour and half. He seems to like to do that to me. Makes a mom worry, you know. So Sam has no more tonsils, no adenoids, and had his sinus's checked out. There are no polyps but he is getting that really bad mucus that is starting to fill his upper sinuses again. So that means allergy testing again and back to allergy shots. That is better than another sinus surgery in the next year. We are now home and all snuggled in.

He just got his second dose of meds and I expect him to pass out here pretty soon. Mostly he is waiting for his Dad. He is such a Daddies boy and he is really missing him right now. I am just so grateful for good Doctors and Nurses. They were so nice and competent. I sure do love my brave boy. Hopefully this is it on the surgery front form many years to come.

Night and Day

2012-01-05T15:04:00.003-07:00

For over 11years now this sweet boy of mine has made me work and work and work. Trying to figure out how to help him be happy and adjusted and really able to cope with all the life has thrown at him. It has not been an easy journey and last year over Christmas Break everything just came to a head. It was our worst holiday break yet. I cried everyday and felt like I was drowning. All I did was play referee, praying that it was enough to keep the kids from killing each other or for Alex not to kill anyone else. It was extreme enough that I thought, if this is how the rest of our lives are going to be, then I will not make it. I wasn't being able to cope anymore and Al was out of control.

I was talking with my sister in law a couple of days ago about how nice this vacation was. She made the comment that I didn't seem near as stressed out and that I didn't seem to be having such a hard time. Her comment stuck in my head but me being me it took until three days later to connect the dots. The dots that said your work is FINALLY starting to pay off. Your 11 year old son is accident free for three whole weeks. Longest time without a bathroom issue in 7 years.That he is happy and smiling 85% of the time. He talks to others, answers questions in church, bears his testimony, is willing to work and play and be more himself than I have seen in a long time. He is such a blessing and it is wonderful to see him just blossom. He is such a blessing in my life. I thank my Heavenly Father for such a special young man in my life.

A Randome Thought to Finish up the New Year

2011-12-28T16:57:00.001-07:00

There is this site called Pintrest. It is lots of fun to look at. You can design your dream house, make a recipe archive, or get a bunch of crafty ideas together. Basically it is a place to put all your different stuff. Once I figured it out, it has been lots of fun to browse through. One of the things you can look at is cloths. I have noticed a disturbing trend though.

Either you have a dress with sleeves that is so short if you bend over, you would show off all your goods OR you find a dress that is long enough to cover your knees and there is no sleeves, thus relieving your upper assets. It is like there is some sort of material shortage. Obviously there is not enough material to make both sleeves and long skirts at the same time. It seems ridiculous to me.

I feel that something should be done. For intstance you could take the fabric that is used to make what some pass off as "shorts" and either make sleeves or add it to the hem line of the skirt. You could use a little less fabric from all the moo-moo's in the world and that could make up for the sleeve shortage. It shouldn't be that difficult to solve. We have gone for thousands of years making both a longer hem line and sleeves together. I am pretty sure if you just followed a pattern they could figure it out.

Here is to a New Year full of sleeves that cover some arm fat and a skirt that will at least make it to the bottom of the knee cap. I know it can be done. I believe! I BELIEVE!!!

Wonderful Christmas

2011-12-25T20:07:00.001-07:00

Today has been a wonderful Christmas day. The kids got up really early and had to go back to bed for 2 1/2 hours until we all got up to open presents. LOL

The kids had a grand time opening there presents .

Miss B didn't get any toys at this point (we still have boxes on the way), she just got lots of girly things. Fingernail polish, body glitter, earrings, and the like. She is growing so fast.

Grandpa hit the jack-pot with the football jerseys. Sam with Cutler and Nik with Marino.

Al and Nik got new scriptures. They were really excited. They had lost there other sets a move ago.

Uncle Wayne made us one of his metal works of art. Our very own big pig! It is a piggy bank. One without a cork, so it is truly a savings pig.

We put it in the corner of the livingroom for now. It is freaking out the dogs because it is bigger than Beanie.

I got some pictures with my older two children. The younger ones were to preoccupied.

Miss Bee is getting so mature and grown. She is such a beautiful young woman. Nik is as tall at me. I can't believe I will have an adult child in 5 short years.

Handsome men.

Daddy is always good for a bear hug. GRRRrrrr!

Here is the family. Not to bad for an old married couple. Pretty soon they are going to stick me in the middle, in front because I am the shortest one. I figured as much.

Merry Christmas to all our family and friends. We love you and hope you too have had a wonderful Christmas Day.

14?! 14!!

2011-12-21T21:22:00.003-07:00

14 years ago in about three hours I became a mom for the very first time. My life sure did change that day. Nikolas Donnovan is the eldest in this crazy family of his. Here he is looking in on his little sister for the first time.

I can't believe how young he looks. Those baby cheeks and cute smile.

He is such a sweetie. I love my Nik.

He just makes you smile, when he smiles.

Here is the Birthday Boy today. Look at how far I can get the icing spatula down my throat.

Nik wanted lemon cake with lemon lime icing and lemon filling.

14 "candles" for the top of the cake. I couldn't find my real candles. I didn't catch anything on fire.

Yummmm!!!

Yep, it's official. I have a big kid. He is growing into such a handsome young man. 14. 14. It is quite unbelievable.

Christmas Vacation

2011-12-18T23:37:00.000-07:00

We are officially started on our Christmas Break. And I couldn't be happier for some time off. I didn't realize how tired I was of toting and carting kids every which direction until we finally had an opportunity to not have to do it for a little while. We have all been working really hard and it is nice to have this time to just get our reserves filled back up.

The kids and I have a game plan all set up to make this a great vacation. We have two hours for electronic gaming type things. One in the morning and one hour after lunch. We are going to go swimming at the Kroc Center every afternoon at 3:00 and we have a short chore schedule mapped out so we can enjoy our play time.

So far it is working. We got the cloths all done. (That was a huge undertaking and we all survived.) We also got to draw our names for presents. So Thursday is the day for that. We are going to be busy making yummy treats tomorrow so that we can give out our goodie bags. We are filling them with fudge and cookies and butter toffee and anything else we can think of to make you gain 5 pounds. ;) So you will get to see some baking pictures soon.

So until then, I am going to sign off and get a good nights sleep so that I will be ready to conquer my kitchen and wrangle my kids for a stellar Christmas Vacation!

Mall Shopping with the Girls

2011-12-12T21:50:00.000-07:00

This last Saturday, Miss B, had her very first official babysitting job. She did great and earned herself $15.00. So we were off to Clair's in the Mall. It is a fun store. But way to much to choose from for my indecisive daughter.

We dragged Jackie along, all though it wasn't too hard too do. Here is the sleep mask that Marc thinks would work for me.

Personally, I think it is a good look for Miss Bee.

We also found this store with these great hat/glove combination things. They are way cute.

And Miss Bee LOVES them. I may be headed back to the Mall for a Christmas present.

I told them to make gerr faces before I realized they were wearing giraffe heads and they don't really gerr. They are wicked cute either way though.

Picture Preview

2011-12-06T22:01:00.001-07:00

It's that time of year when I make my kids take pictures. So here is a little teaser to the official pictures. I expect you can tell who wanted there picture taken and who was not as willing. ;)

The Devil Machine i.e. The Elliptical

2011-12-01T10:33:00.001-07:00

Okay. I have been working out for awhile now. I have been diligent. I have worked hard. And I can run a mile and half. It was not easy, but I did it. And I really enjoy running.

But ...

I have bad knees. Not horrible and certainly a lot better than they were 40 lbs ago but I have my mom's knees and they clink and creek when I walk up stairs. I am 227 post Halloween candy fest and Thanksgiving. Not too bad,

But ...

It means that I really shouldn't be running. I am supposed to be easier on my knees so that I can walk without heavy medication when I am 50. Or so says my personal trainer. This brings me to my bane.

THE ELLIPTICAL.

I don't know what is so different about this machine vs. the treadmill that I have been working on these last months. I just know that I don't feel very accomplished when I get off the dumb thing regardless of how much I sweat. And I do sweat.

But ...

I just don't feel like I am getting anywhere. Which is totally silly because I am a treadmill runner and don't actually run anywhere. In fact I don't actually like running outside. I know that I need to save my knees and that I am not doing anything different on the elliptical machine. I am still not really getting anywhere. I have gotten good enough that I don't fall off or look like too much of an idiot. I listen to my headphones and rock out to my music. Just like on the treadmill.

But ...

I just don't feel as accomplished using it as I do when I am running. So there you go. Maybe I will feel more accomplished when I loose another 40 pounds using the devil machine as I have using the treadmill.

A Sparkly Thanksgiving

2011-11-25T23:39:00.001-07:00

Thanksgiving has been nice this year. We have had Great-Grammy and Grandpa here for about a month and half so it was really nice to have them here for Thanksgiving too. We actually had a pretty eventful Thanksgiving news wise too.

Wayne asked his girlfriend, Anna, to marry him and she said yes. Smart girl that she is. They sure are happy and I haven't seen this many smiles from Wayne in a long, long time. Sure is cute.

She is a pretty thing and really nice too boot. Anna seems like she is going to fit right in and keep Wayne in line too. That is quite a feet, but she seems up to the task.

Here is the ring. Wayne did a nice job picking it out. I really like it. But more importantly she likes it.

Lastly I finished my quilt. I got the binding done and all the safety pins out. It really came out good. Not bad for a novice.

Grammy thought it was pretty comfy. It is the perfect size for a lap quilt. I am actually going to keep it too. I know that it is shocking but I worked hard and feel like it is okay to keep.

We are going to work on getting Christmas up here in the house today. Although I think I am going to take a nap before I do. We are on vacation after all.

Missing Ingredient

2011-11-22T21:24:00.001-07:00

Today is pie making day. But it has not been an easy day for me. This day became my pie making day 11 years ago when I began making Thanksgiving dinner with my mother-in-law, Katrina. She loves this holiday. And I have to say it is because of her that I came my love for the tradition of Thanksgiving.

Growing up we would have more non-traditional Thanksgivings. Pizza on china plates was fun but rather unconventional. There was really no pie baking day. It wasn't until I started having Thanksgiving with Katrina that I really came to enjoy it all. She and I would start making our list and diving up what we would buy about three weeks in advance of the big day. Then we would shop and plan and talk about what we were going to make. There were new things to try. Tips to put into motion. And laughter to share.

We did Thanksgiving that way for 6 years straight while we lived in New Hampshire. Then in Boise we had to start flip flopping holidays so every other year I would get to do Thanksgiving with Katrina. But since our move to Northern Idaho, we no longer get to share this time together. It will be two years this year of not having my Turkey Buddy to plan and share this special time with. I mightily miss her. Even though I am with my parents now, it is not the same.

So I have spent another year trying to drag my mom along to find the joy of preparing Thanksgiving. And I made my pies by myself. I do enjoy making a good pie. Here is my peach one. I made huckleberry, chocolate (from scratch), lemon (also from scratch), two pumpkin. I have key lime, peanut butter, apple, and possible a maple pecan pie left to make tomorrow. So I turn up the Christmas music and drown out the loneliness that accompanies my preparations these days. I don't think I will ever find another pie making buddy quite like her.

I've got the WHOLE world in my hands...

2011-11-13T14:00:00.000-07:00

Sam had to make a plant for his class at school.

He made Venus. We found this really cool fabric at the quilting store that looked like clouds.

Then we cut it into strips and hot glued them to our Styrofoam ball.

Then we cut out patches to give some different cloud like patterns.

Cool, huh? I think so any way.

Quilting 101

2011-11-12T23:00:00.001-07:00

For the last few weeks, I have been going to a quilting class. It was lots of fun and I even got the top of my quilt done. It is a lap quilt size because that is all the fabric that I had, but it will be real nice at that.

We started with a nine-patch and then cut and shuffled it. If you go here you can see were it started. So the top was really a lot easier than it looks. I also found a flannel for the back that is the exact match of the brown poke-a-dot. My Grammy Marlatt is going to help me hand quilt it. I am not sure what color I want to use, but I will figure it out, I am sure. What do you think?

I just threw this picture in because Nik is as tall as his Grammy now. The picture is at a funny angle, but it is still true. Sure is weird that he will be 14 in about 6 weeks.

The Laaaassssttt Melon

2011-11-07T23:03:00.003-07:00

Miss B finally got her new glasses today. She is wicked excited and they look really good. She wore them for a little while tonight, but had to take them off because she is not used to the weight yet, even though they are light.

Here's three of the yahoo's. And a bit of Zoie the dog. They sure are cute. Alex was at IBI, so this next one is the whole gang.

Here they are. My little money pits. We are offically a glasses wearing kind of family.

This little cartoon has nothing to do with the rest of my post. It has everything to do with my husband and the fact that he works Walmart retail. He laughed his backside off a good two sizes when he read this. It's because they get Christmas stuff starting in June. Sad but true. So just enjoy a good chuckle.

That's right "fat boy" it's the turkeys' turn.

Skinny, Sweaty, Boys

2011-11-04T09:11:00.000-06:00

Nik had his first wrestling meet yesterday. Luckily his match wasn't until about half way through the meet, so the fact that I hit every single stop light known to man, didn't keep me from missing the action.

He was not just wearing the wrestling uniform without his shirt until it was his turn. It was pretty cute.

He was wicked nervous. He was pacing back and forth, wringing his hands.

You can see it in his face. His first match went good enough. He didn't win but he didn't get pinned either. He lost 3-1. I have noticed that Nik wrestles like his personality. It is a little lade back for the wrestling arena.

I know this is a picture of his feet, but I thought it was so funny. He has his socks rolled down. Who rolls down socks? Obviously by eldest. Makes me chuckle.

He is going to start wrestling with his Uncle Wayne three to four nights a week to help build his muscle and skill. It should be interesting.

Quilting Class

2011-11-02T09:53:00.001-06:00

Here is some of the fabrics that are going to be my new lap quilt. I have been taking a quilting class through church the last few weeks. I sort of fell into it but I have learned a lot and had tons of fun.

We are doing a variation of a nine patch square. You make the square and then cut them in half both ways and shuffle them to make a different design. It is really quite cool and not as much work as you would think.

So I have some sewing "homework" to get done before Saturday morning. I am really excited about how it is coming out. My corners certainly look better.

Bored or Deranged

2011-10-27T08:34:00.002-06:00

Can you guess what has happened to this poor, miss begotten little doll?

Here is a closer view. Any idea's now?

Yes those are sewing straight pins. My brand new sewing straight pins that I couldn't find anywhere because, you guessed it, my daughter took off with them and did this! When asked for an explanation for this grotesque facial..."Oh, I was bored". I hope she never gets bored with a magic marker while I sleep on the couch.

A Lovely Wedding

2011-10-24T16:45:00.004-06:00

My cousin Ryan got married this last Saturday at the Columbia River Temple. It was one of the nicest weddings I have been too. Barring my sisters'. His lovely bride Cristina is so sweet.

And just a lovely, lovely lady.

Here are the two mother in laws. My Aunt Laura and Cristina's mom Hope. She doesn't speak any English but we all got along very well.

The Columbia River Temple is very beautiful. I especially loved the spire.

Here is all of my dad's brother's family. It was wicked windy and everyone was getting blown away. But it is those types of things that make a wedding memorable.

We tried to keep Grandpa in shelter because it was so windy that he was getting blown over.

Here is Dad with his baby sister Carol. I never get pictures with such a wonderful smile on him and I got this one on the sly.

This is much more typical when it comes to the Marlatt men. Grandpa is looking good enough but really showing his age these days.

Here is Cristina with Jade. She is one of Ryan's nieces.

Here is Grandma with my Aunt Denise. (All of my Eastern friends will note that I am saying AU-nt. Although I might have slipped a time or two and called her after the insect.)

Here is Cristina with her brother. It was just such a sweet moment. Her family had to leave on Sunday.

Here he is with his "big" sis. They are really such a sweet family.

Here I am with grammy. I look a little frazzled because I had to sew the bride into her dress as the zipper broke. Plus it was really quite warm there.

Here is Jerry with his newest daughter-in-law. She is so cute.

Here she is talking to here Dad. He couldn't come, but she got to talk to him several times.

I thought this was just too funny. He is aiding and abedding Asher in M&M retrieval.

Aaaahhhh

A Jumble of Thoughts

2011-10-15T22:51:00.000-06:00

I don't think that you should put crosses on assisted living homes. Regardless of the affiliations, putting a cross on a home for the elderly and infirmed really just sends off the wrong message. I am not sure, but I think that maybe you don't want to be advertising the other world when their residents are so close to that other world to begin with.

Since when did the library stop having payphones? Not everyone in the world has a cell phone and the library is a public building, built with our tax dollars and yet no payphone?! It just didn't make any sense to me at all. I will say that at least they let me use their inside phone, but what good would that do me when they close at 5 o'clock?

Honesty is definitely the best policy. Although, sometimes when it comes to husbands and wives, we aren't always bluntly honest about little things, like what we are wearing for instance. So two days ago when I pulled out a pare of jeans that I hadn't worn in a while and I thought, "Yea, these are a little big, but will work." It would have been better for my husband to tell me that I looked like I was wearing clown pants (direct quote there) when I came down the stairs, instead of 2 o'clock in the afternoon, after we had be to 4 or 5 different stores.

My eldest is now as tall as I am. He has shot up in the last two months and has basically skipped over size 14's and is now in 16's. It is kinda freaking me out! I am excited for him but on the other hand it is just emphasizing how sort our time is growing with him. I have a child as tall as me now. Pretty soon I will be on my own in the height department. At least we have small dogs. I will always be taller than them.

Captain Levi

2011-10-12T23:26:00.000-06:00

My sister, Delanie, had her baby on Sunday. Levi James. He sure is a cutie.

Delanie is doing good, but Levi came down sick and has had to stay at the NICU. These pictures were taken Sunday afternoon before he got sick.

I think that he is going to be a well loved little guy. All three of his big brothers sure seem fascinated. :)

I love this picture with all the boys trying to get a hand on Levi. The boys have nicknamed him Captain Levi.

Personally I liked the one they came up with before he was born. Dude Sparkle-berry seems appropriate right?

I expect Levi will appreciate Captain Levi more than Dude Sparkle-berry. We are all praying for him. That he will improve and get healthy so he come home. He's got a lot of brothers to whip into shape.

Being Brave

2011-10-10T22:28:00.000-06:00

Today I was brave. I didn't fight a wild beast or jump off an airplane. I didn't talk to someone new or even try squid. What I did do seemed infinitely harder.

For a good month now I have been struggling with food. Not all food, but dairy food. We are back on dairy until we can afford to not to be. Boy oh boy has it thrown me for a loop. I have not been able to wrap my brain around how to cook with dairy.

Yes, I know how to cook with dairy but that was when I was fat. Or fatter than my less fat now. My point is that I know how to cook with all that dairy being 40lbs heavier than I am now, but I don't know how to cook with it now and not gain all that back. It has taken me until just the last few days to get enough courage to buy more than milk and bread.

I know logically that taking the dairy out of our diet in January was not what caused me to loose all my weight. I have worked dang hard exercising and counting my calories but it sure helps when the things I ABSOLUTELY love are off the menu and I can't reach for them in weak moments. I have been all tangled up in knots about how to shop and cook and just plain live with it added back into my life.

My poor family has been living off cold cereal dinner for most of September and I finally decided that it was time to buck up and face the fact that I am being a coward. A coward for letting my life be ruled by food. A coward for letting the fear grow so big that I wasn't feeding my family healthy, good meals.

So today I shopped. Not like before. I bought one thing of sour cream, an 8oz package of cream cheese, some cream of mushroom soup and evaporated milk. I can cook. But I don't have to drown everything in so much sauce that you can't taste what you put in it to begin with.

Some days will be easier than others. Probably the one's at the end of the month when we are out of everything. Just saying. Either way I am going to figure it out and not be ruled by anything other than my God and myself.

Day by Day

2011-10-06T09:26:00.001-06:00

This summer I thought I was busy. When school starts, I told myself that I would still be busy but I would at least get a little break while the kids were in school. Seriously I don't know what I was smoking. So here is some of what I have been up to.

Last week we picked apples. A person in Mom's ward has three apple trees and a pear tree that he said we could come and pick everything off of for free. So mom and I went and picked. These babies are going to become apple juice, apple jelly, apple sauce, and apple pie filling. We are doing tomato stuff at the moment. We have already made salsa, stewed tomatoes, and tomato juice. We still have all of that and more to go.

Mom's birthday was on Sunday. Hannah and I went to the Devil Store i.e. Fred Meyers and had this cake made for mom. It was so fun, plus she loved it. YUMMM!

Then we sat and worked on making some jewelry while we listened to the afternoon session of conference.

Miss B made a bunch of dangly earrings. She loves them.

Here she is working with her grammy. They had a blast.

Al would stick his head in once in a while. Grammy has some cool beads.

I have been working with Dad for a while now. And as we have been driving around town I have noticed how all these different business owners have their names on their vehicles. I decided that dad needed that too. Here is his truck before.

Here it is with the new lettering. It really came out sharp. And I got pretty high praise from dad. He said that it didn't look to bad. Yes that is pretty good when it comes to dad. LOL

He is a funny duck. It is never easy to promote yourself. But I really think that he likes it. Plus this way when he is all old he won't lose his truck in the Walmart parking lot as long as he can remember his last name. ;)

Miss B Plays Some Ball

2011-09-30T09:00:00.000-06:00

Miss B started volleyball this year and yesterday was her first game. She did great! Their team won one out of three games. Not bad for a group of girls that have never played before.

She is number 21. She was so nervous that she kept shaking her hands and then getting in to position. It was way cute.

Here she is after the game with her Papa.

Miss B and her friend, Jackie.

I love that she is so modest. She added a shirt under her jersey (which is sleeveless) and has the longest shorts. They went to her knees. That is the only problem I have with her continuing on in volleyball is the tiny shorts that they are supposed to wear. But we will fight that battle when it comes.

New Room

2011-09-30T08:52:00.001-06:00

Nik is now officially a teenager. And he is really worn out with his brother, Al. So we set a new space for our eldest.

Here is what we did. We stuck him in the garage. I know, I know, it sounds bad but not really.

The garage is completely finished. Which means totally insulated. There is already carpet in that area.

We put up some pictures, added a bed, desk, and the rolly hanging thing for his cloths.

He has loved it and we can monitor Al going in and out much better. This is helping Nik not be so frustrated with him. That is always a good thing.

Not Forgotten

2011-09-26T10:51:00.000-06:00

It is always amazing to me how well our Lord and Savior knows us and what we need. I know that my Heavenly Father loves me. What a wonderful blessing that truly is.

A is for Apple...S is for Snake

2011-09-19T22:26:00.001-06:00

I have watched way to many nature shows. WAY TO MANY! Here is why.

While working today I saw a little black and yellow garter snake. A little startling but not to bad. It was sitting up on the hillside, off the path, no big deal.

Personally I prefer my snakes behind glass but if it must be in the wild, this benign variety is fine. That is until one watches Nature. So when a second snake slithers by, you start to think ... hhmmm, must be some sort of snake path. But when the third one slithers by your mind starts running through those shows that talk about how garter snake mate.

Like in this writhing ball of one female snake and twenty male snakes. And how the boys chase the girl around, trying to show their fitness.

See exhibit A: Garter Snake Den

[Eewww]

So with this lovely picture running through my head, I am being a little more cautious on the path. Then this huge garter slithers by. Big enough that my dad can hear this thing move by with him down around the corner. That get my heart pumping a little. I then see about six or seven other ones, of various sizes sliding pass.

At this point I was making deals with the snakes. "You stay on your path and I will stay on my path over here." The last thing I need is one of them saying "Hello" while I am carrying a full bucket of concrete down the hill. (((shutter))) All the while my dad is gleefully laughing at my squeaks and sqauks as they slither on their merry way.

Unfortunately on my way back up, one snake decides to break the "my path/your path" rule and appears out of no where right in front of me and headed right for me.

HO-LY HANNAH!!!

I started yelling at the dumb thing to shew, my dad is cackling down below, as the stupid snake can't get purchase and slides precociously close to my toes. By this point I am, for lack of a better term, shrieking in earnest for it go over the other side of the path.

I seriously DO NOT NEED that kind of heart stimulation!

In my minds eye I have been seeing all theses writhing snakes, then for one to come across my path was just about more than I could handle. Thankfully they all seemed to settle down after that. I only saw one more the rest of the afternoon. It sure does make me glad we only have one day left on this job.

Butt Busting 101

2011-09-18T17:48:00.000-06:00

I have discovered the best behind/leg workout there is. First you take one very nice lake house.

You add a nice steep grade. This is where the second set of steps start.

Then you put in steps. Thirty-one for the first tier and at least that for the second. Plus a path in between. Then you hike up and down them a couple hundred times and Wa-La!! A great backside. ;)

These are the first set of steps. Dad and I have the two platforms and the holes dug for the third platform that is part of the second tier of steps. I am most defiantly getting my cardio running up and down the these babies. This is the view from the very top.

Here is a shot from the lower platform of the upper tier, it is just past the big tree from the picture above. If you look hard you can see Dad down below starting the holes for the lower set of steps. So I get to go from where he is, up the path, up thirty-one steps to get/cut/carry/mix whatever he needs, take it to him. Then repeat. A LOT.

I sure do feel the burn by the end of the day. At least I don't feel guilty about not getting my running done at he Kroc yet. Seems I am doing my cardio on the hill instead.

Whirl Wind Weekend

2011-09-12T08:56:00.003-06:00

These are some of my favorite shots.

K2 Equestrian Ranch

2011-09-08T20:55:00.003-06:00

Today was Al's first day working at the rescue horse ranch. The K2 Equestrian Ranch is a place for rescued horses and people. I am hoping that it will help Alex in a way that I can't. I think today was a great start. I haven't seen my son this mellow in years. He is happy and relaxed and at peace.

This is Flash. He is Al's favorite. They have horses, burrows, and really big dogs, as well as, other assorted animals. Eventually he will get to ride the horses. He spent his time this week with Huston the dog and Kitty the kitty. He mucked out stalls, swept, and handed out hay to the horses.

This is Sage. He is the oldest horse on the Ranch and Alex really likes him too. Al's new IBI Therapist is Katherine, the owner of the ranch. This is her. Alex really likes her.

I really think that this is going to open up a part of him that only a good horse can touch. So every Thursday for the foreseeable future Alex is going to be here.

Up in the Air

2011-08-27T09:15:00.000-06:00

I have been working with Dad, making a shed these last few days. We are further along as of yesterday. All of the framing is done. The siding is up about 90%. We have to put the roof on, but that won't take as long as the fussy cutting of some of the roof timbers.

I have been up in the scaffolding a lot and have found that I am not so comfortable walking around up there. But I can tell you know that I am lot more nevous when Dad is up there doing something I can't.

There are a few things that I really like about this shed. First it means Dad has a job, but it also has a clerestory. (Windows that are above, in the rafters, letting in more light.) It just brings back a memories from school and things that I love.

Some Times

2011-08-27T07:53:00.000-06:00

Sometimes I get so frustrated with myself. Yesterday, I worked with Dad and got everything ready to go, but forgot to call Alex's IBI worker and let him know to come to moms. It was his last day for a few months and I don't know why I can't stop worrying about it. It is done. Alex missed IBI, but I have sure been weepy about it. I figured that if I wrote down some of what I am feeling then I might feel a little better.

I just get tired of my mind not working all of the time and forgetting things that are important. Yesterday was just one of those days. I know I can't change it, but I still feel bad. As to rest of life, we are doing okay. Nik got back from his scout trip and had a grand time, but I think he might sleep for a week. Hannah, Sam, and Al have been working really well together the last few days. They did a fabulous job cleaning house the other day and it was so wonderful. I love that they are old enough to do that now. I am also really proud of them. Mostly everyone is really excited for Grammy and Grandpa Cat to come next week and start school the week after that. We are certainly winding down.

16 and Counting...

2011-08-21T14:49:00.000-06:00

This summer has flown by. As do most summers in my recent recollection but this one more than most because we have been so, so busy. We went to Bruce and Katrina's for the last few days of school until the mid of June and you would think that we went there six months ago for all that we have done since we got home. But we are now on the very last bit of that down hill slide to starting a new school year.

Alex and Nik are both starting their last years of their respective school. Alex finishing his last year of elementary and Nik his last year of middle school. *PHEW* One more year and I will no longer have any kids in elementary school. Scary! But that is besides the point. Personally I am glad Nik has only had to spend two years in middle school with the way the school districts are different between Boise and Cd'A.

Personally I think that all the kids are ready to get back to the school routine. They seem somewhat sick of each other and although they want to play with each other, they also have very little tollerance if something goes wrong. Alex has also worked very hard this summer with his IBI (Intensive Behavioral Intervention) and is really getting tired. I do feel that he has made so good strides. I sure am prayerful that all this work now and over the next year will ready him enough to make it through middle school.

That is a cursed place, middle school, and I pray that all my children come through intact, but I especially worry about Alex and his ability to cope with all the changes that take place there on a daily basis.

I am most defiantly getting ready for the kids to start again. But then I think that most mom's feel that way. I should throw a little party for the mom's on my block. LOL Nothing like a good bit of sugar to celebrate making it through another summer. I don't expect life to slow down much but I do look forward to a few more moments of quiet to order my thoughts, my home, and spirituality. Sometime it is hard to do anything but swim for dear life when you are running so much of the time.

Now There Be Two

2011-08-16T23:05:00.001-06:00

I now have a gate and another section of my fence done. :) It is looking pretty good.

There is a little bit of a swoop in the top but I am going to have dad help me even that out so it will look beautiful.

Here is my gate. It is level and swings right and locks. Yea! Not too bad for my first gate ever.

This is from the back yard side. I have turned the corner but that side is not done yet. I know it is somewhat obvious but that is why it doesn't look like the other side yet. LOL

I am so, so excited to be able to let my dogs out to run free. At least in the back yard.

Yes, My Brain is Odd.

2011-08-10T22:56:00.003-06:00

You should notice that my title is a statement. Because I seriously think about the oddest things. I am not sure what brings these odd thoughts on but I thought you should all share in my oddities.

Did you know that I don't drive with my thumbs griping the steering wheel in my car? Instead of wrapping my thumb around the wheel, like I would if I were hanging onto a bar, I almost always keep my thumbs pulled up next to my fingers. I was told a long time ago that if you drive with your thumbs in between the spokes of the steering wheel, you could break your thumbs if you were ever in an accident. The wheel could whip around and catch them, but if you drive with them out, well then no breakage. This comes to me in flashes all the time when I am driving. Which I do pretty much all the time. If I catch my thumbs down I pull them up. I have even tried to drive with them down, but inevitably I pull them back up because...well, I just don't want broken thumbs.

Going into Boarders Book Store makes me physically ill. I want to weep. I am not sure why the death of that store hits me this way but I can hardly stand to go in there now. They will be gone by the first part of September. I know this e-reader revolution makes the printed word much more accessible to many people but to me there is nothing like the feel and smell of a book. The anticipation of opening the crisp new pages of a long awaited sequel or the discovery of a rare old book with beautiful pictures nestled between translucent tissue. They smell of things long ago remembered, of revolution and romance, and all of the little moments in our lives. There is something to treasure in a book and the death of Boarders just breaks my heart.

Whoever came up this the idea to put dish soap on the bottom of a pan, leave it there, and then cook on an open flame with it? I really don't think it was a woman because we just don't leave soap on the bottom of clean pans and then use them again. This is a great thing, I grant you, (it makes it so you can wipe the soot right off the bottom and sides of your pan) but it is not the normal process of things when you are cleaning. Soap and water goes in the sink/tub/basin. Pan goes in said sink/tub/basin. The pan is scrubbed clean and then dried and put away. Nowhere in the hand book does it say, take clean pan, put soap on the clean outside, then set in the open fire and cook in it. Really it is just plain weird.

Summer Business

2011-08-04T08:14:00.000-06:00

Summer has been incedibly busy this year. More so than many of the years past. I can't believe we are into August. The kids only have 5 weeks of summer left. Here is a bit of what I have been doing. I made this really cute diaper bag for my sister, Delanie. She is due with her 4th boy here in October.

She has only ever had a backpack as a diaper bag, so this is a good first. It will start as a diaper bag and then morph into a fashionable church/all purpose bag. She is very excited.

I have got to practice just a bit with my new lenses. Not as much as I would like but at least a moment here or there. Mom's Hollyhocks are blooming finally, so there you are. :)

We have been gardening feinds. We are almost to our last harvest of raspberries, all our shell peas are done and our string beans are coming along. We still have cucmbers, beets, carrots, potatoes, garlic, dill, and a TON of tomatoes!! We are so excited! *Do a Happy Dance*

We have tons of greenies at the moment, but with the warm weather we are FINALLY having they should start to turn. I am salivating just thinking about it.Can you find some of them? They blend in at the moment, so it's like a mini "Where's Waldo?"

We have also had our pup, Zoie, for almost 6 months now. It is hard to believe. She is just about to the top of her growth. Here she is with Bo, mom's dog.

She sure is a cute thing and had the funniest faces.

Pretty, pretty, please???

We have also done lots of swimming in Grammies pool. Sam seems to most especially be my fish this year. We have been helping her with all sorts of things. Our second batch of meat chickens goes to the butcher on the 15th, Nik has been mowing her lawn, and we have just been generally busy over at moms.

I also made jam last night. Yes it is hot but fresh raspberry jam was calling my name. I made 4 batches of raspberry and two batches of strawberry/raspberry jam. Yummmm...

Not to bad for a couple hours worth of work. I did miss my jam making buddies, but I survived. I think I am going to make some Amish White Bread (click on for recipe) so that I can slather on some of my new jam.

I have also been working with my dad, playing softball, keep up with the house, trying to get my foot to heal, working with Al and his IBI, gearing up for Marc to start football (which he does tonight), babysiting, teaching Relief Society, reading, cross stitching, playing with my kids, and about a hundred other thing that I can't think of at the moment.

I am going to have to have the kids start school just to get a bit of a break, but then again we will just start some other new business that will keep me running through the winter. Seems to be the lot of us moms.

Some of the Gang

2011-07-28T11:34:00.001-06:00

Three of the Gang. I am so short. Jan is as tall as Delanie. I am not sure what happened.

Hi, Ho, Cheerio...A, Camping We Will Go

2011-07-27T15:20:00.000-06:00

Miss B is off to her very first Girls Camp. She left yesterday at 11am. To say she was excited is a Major understatement. LOL She had to give her cousins farewell kisses because they will leave before she comes back.

Here she is getting all here gear on.

Her bag was kinda heavy but she's got muscle.

Hoofing it to Sister Brocells house where they were meeting to ride up.

Waiting...waiting...waiting...here she is in her "going to camp" outfit. Way cute if I do say so myself.

Me and my cutie girl. She is going to have a ball and really enjoy herself. That is just her personality.

Camo Boy

2011-07-25T12:05:00.000-06:00

Cousin Ryan decided that he wanted to be camouflaged. So he took some lilac leaves and went to town. This is his front camo. Then he realized that he needed some for his back as well.

Personally I think those are some really cute turkey feathers he has sticking out the back. What a sweetie!

The List

2011-07-20T22:58:00.000-06:00

So this lovely young lady gets to go to Girls Camp this year. We are on the countdown, 5 days and 13 hours to be exact. She is SO, SO, SO excited! That would be a direct quote. On the 10 minute ride home she had to have said this half a dozen times easily. I am excited for her too. She also came home armed with her LIST! EEKK!

There is clothing, personal items, general stuff, sleeping/tent gear, and then a column just for all the odds and ends left over. They also practice putting up their tents tonight. Yes, tents. This ain't no sissy Utah camping! We camp in actual tents here in North Idaho. ;) She is thrilled. Definitely got my genes, if it were her fathers, she would be running for the nearest 4 star hotel with indoor plumbing and a/c.

Macro

2011-07-20T07:43:00.001-06:00

Two days ago I got my macro lens adapters. They are lenses that go on to the end of the lens that you already have and allows you to take really close up pictures. Yea! I didn't have to spend an arm and a leg to get a macro lens to get a similar effect. So I have been playing just a bit with it. I have different lens powers and here are a few shots that I got to take.

Sam's eye.

Hannah's.

I have a lot more practice left to do but I am starting to get the hang of it. I can't wait to play some more with them.

Ponderings During a Day

2011-07-16T10:48:00.000-06:00

I don't usually have issues with bugs to much. A large spider might give me a start if it comes out of no where by really I am pretty pragmatic when it comes to insects and general creeping things. Yesterday I have found something that I find totally yucky and repulsive.

SLUGS ARE DISGUSTING!! I shutter just thinking about them.

I was working with my Dad and picked up a board yesterday and there were some HUGE, nasty slugs on the back. They were a good 2 inches long and wider than my thumbs.

*EEeeeeWWWwwww*

Then I found another one smooshed on the back of a board I was taking nails out of. Only it wasn't completely non-recognizable, but chunky smooshed. NA-STY! All I could think about the rest of the days was Anne of Green Gables and Matthew Cuthbert saying that the slugs in his garden gave him some excitement. Those slugs would have done it for me, if I had found them in my garden.

( The ones yesterday were that big and there is no way in heck I would put one in my hand.)

Bra's are not designed for heavy construction work. My Dad loves to buy 16 foot boards when doing work and alas I get to carry them to their proper place when he gets them to the job site. Easiest way to do that is to heft them onto your shoulders to carry them from place to place. As I was doing this yesterday, my shoulder got sore and it dawned on me that my bra manufacturer probably didn't have this in mind when they made the strap design. They need to come up with something that is construction tested. I bet they would make a mint.

Run, You Chicken Fat, RUN!

2011-07-11T23:03:00.003-06:00

My summer work out routine has been absolutely abysmal. Oh, I have worked hard and sweated everyday but I haven't gotten in my regular running in for about 3 weeks. I decided that today was the day to get back in the grove. But there are some problems.

1. I absolutely don't want to go out at 4:30 in the AM. More importantly neither does my husband, so we have not been getting up to exercise. So when to go?

2. I have 4 children out of school. This is a distinct hindrance when it comes to getting my workout done. Summer hours are full of all sorts of stuff, most of which include my kids.

3. I am TIRED from working with my Dad, working with my kids, working on my house, working on my mom's, and trying to generally keep up with everything.

So I have had to figure out how to get by butt moving. This is the plan. I sucked it up and have started running *glup* ... outside. In my subdivision. On a sidewalk. OUTSIDE.

Today was my first day. And miracles of all miracles, I actually did pretty good. Plus Sam can ride his bike around to find me because I am just right in our neighborhood. It is going to be my summer routine. That way I don't have to drag kids out, have a car, or worry about the kiddo's for thirty minutes.

The only problem I have found so far is running pass a house and getting a huge whiff of cooking bacon for a good half a block. It is just not fair to be running off your fat only to smell the yummy fat from cooking meat. Mmm, bacon. I love bacon. Wow. I am daydreaming about bacon right now. Bacon.

Playing Around

2011-07-08T21:39:00.000-06:00

Tonight started our co-ed church softball league. We won our first game with 4 people. LOL Yes, that is possible when none of the other team shows up. So the Cd'A 2 Ward is now 1-0. We also stay and played in the next game. They need a few players. We won that one too.

It has been a good 15 years since I played softball. On that same field none the less. My biggest frustration is the fact that I now have flabby arms. I was never very good at out-fielding but I have gotten decidedly WEAK! It is quite pathetic. You can bet I will be adding weights to my morning workout routine. A little practice won't hurt either.

Whose been sipping lemonade on the back deck?

2011-07-07T21:25:00.001-06:00

It certainly hasn't been me! No, instead I have been building one with my Dad. Off and on this summer I am working with my Dad doing different project that he needs an extra set of hands for. Like next week when I will be digging fence posts. *Happy Day* (note the somewhat heavy sarcasm) Anyway, off track, back to the deck.

This is the Dilman's new deck. Came out famously if I don't say so myself. ;) I help lay and drill in all of the boards, do the railing and other odds and ends.

It is made out of that Trex board and system. Which is awesome stuff but really, really heavy to move around. Especially in the 12 and 16 foot varieties that we work in. But it really does come out sharp looking when you do it right.

It was nice working with Dad, but we are (note the continued present tense) working on our communication. Or more accurately I am gently reminding him that I can not read his mind and I need a little more direction than a variety of grunts. This all stems from the fact that I was off having babies over the last 14 years and not working with him.

This view gives a good picture of the length of the deck. It was nice that it was a good rectangle, with very few fussy cuts but the dang thing is BIG!

We also had to mind the plants. She has roses, fox glove, clematis, pansy, daisies, and several other things I couldn't name. Made for some interesting maneuvering when it came to some stuff.

On other fronts. My daughter. Holy Cow! She wanted to show off the dangly earrings that she got to wear today. She is getting more mature every day. I CAN'T BELIEVE how grown up she is looking.

Seriously GROWN UP!

She is still as goofy as ever.

This is her new swimsuit and cover skirt. Got it Fred Meyers for 60% off and it is modest! Thank heaven for small miracles. A modest swimsuit that isn't ugly.

She also still has the best arms in the family. What a cutie. Or I should say a beautiful young woman.

Lakeside

2011-07-02T23:37:00.000-06:00

We were brave. We were strong. We went swimming in Cd'A Lake. It was 80 or nearly so and I dragged everyone out. Even Marc.

It was cold. But Sam was brave. He ran in and out five or six times before the rest of us made it to our knees.

This is NOT a particularly sand beach. Our feet were feeling it until it numbed it.

Ahhh, my kingdom.

The architects considering their wall.

Al is always the builder.

He was very intent on making his wall.

Marc made it all the way out and even dunked, although he looks kinda cold here.

The light was wonderful. And really gave me some great pictures. I love this one of Sam.

Here is my silly boy being a chicken.

Caw-cauw!!

He looks likes a deranged ostrich.

He survived! And his feet were even better for it. Ice baths will do that.

Beautiful B!

Nik was bringing the "finest sand ever" to their work site.

I love the sand all stuck to his face. It is so cute little kid.

Hi Mom

I though it was cute that Sam and Nik were both directing. We had a grand time and it was decided all around that Grammy's pool was the better place to go swimming.

Strange Happenings

2011-07-02T00:16:00.000-06:00

As one ages, their bodies change. It is just one of those fact of life things that everyone deals with. Sagging skin, ache joints, hair loss, and a multitude of other odd and annoying things that accompany aging.

Now I know that there are certain stages of life when things happen to your body, but I was unaware that at 34 there was a special hormones surge that causes weird stuff to occur. You know it is the one everyone always talks about. "Oh you have to watch those freaky hormones of 34. Ooo, they are a doozie."

What?! You have never heard of them? Nope Me, neither. But man do they exists!

Case in point just look at my HAIR!!!

IT IS CURLY!!!!

Seriously, someone up there has been have a grand time. I cut my hair a little bit and it curls. I cut it a little bit more and I look like I got a perm. Not only that it ACTUALLY stays curly. It is the strangest thing and has just happened in the the last 4 months. I know my hormones are on some sort of vacation because (cover your ears boys) my cycle went from 28-29 days to 25, consistently for about 5 months now. Plus the curly thing. Frankly it is freaking me out. I was actually asked if I have always had curly hair like my sister!

Nope just those freaky hormones of 34.

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jig

2011-06-27T17:34:00.000-06:00

We are home. Seems a little weird but only because we left in the school routine, went on vay-kay, and came back to summer. So I am trying to figure out our routine. I refused to let the kids play electronics today. I want the house really tidy so that we can just do a quick clean every day for easier upkeep. It sure is wonderful to be home with my love.

We did take the long way home, through Boise, so that I could meet Jan's fiancee, Nick, and take their engagement pictures. Even for being longer it was really good. I like Nick and his parents and it was good to spend some time with my sister.

I have been thinking about lots of stuff lately. Random and not very coherent as I am still tired from tripping. So when they all fall into place I will get on here again.

Beautiful, Beautiful

2011-06-23T19:42:00.000-06:00

My Sis-in-law can make good pictures look great. This is one she got her hands on.

A Night Out

2011-06-23T15:56:00.000-06:00

Last night I went to the Logan, Utah Temple. It is a beautiful temple. I was able to get some night pictures for a change. It was a beautiful night and I was glad to be in the house of the Lord.

It reminds me of a castle. I love being in the temple. It brings me great peace.

Frankenstein's Bride

2011-06-21T08:38:00.002-06:00

My children have reached a very interesting stage of development. They haven't really grown any taller but the things that come out of their mouths lately are just ... shall we say ... charming?. Like a couple of weeks ago when we were discussing Young Women's Conference and Alex said that I couldn't go because I was an "old woman" and they can't go to young women's stuff.

Charming.

Then their was Sam, who two days ago was giving me a hug and said "Curse YOU mom, You Ancient ONE!" He was so proud that he just came up with that one on the fly.

Special.

But yesterday my daughter took the cake and a little bit of apple crisp too. As previous post's have attested too, I have been doing A LOT of outside work. (It keeps me out of the food.) Yesterday was the big dump/take down swing set day. So I just bundled my hair up and went to work. At noon time I came in to make their lunch.

No glamming up required to do that, right?

Wrong.

My daughter pipes up. "Mom, you hair is kinda sticking out." Yes, daughter I figured that. I have been working outside all morning. "Mom you look like Frankenstein's Bride."

WHAT?!?

"Yea, Mom, you know that lady with the stuff up the side of her hair. Frankenstein's Bride." Thank you so much daughter. See if I ever make you lunch again. Then Alex got into the conversation and of course they had to continue discussing this topic for another 10 minutes through the rest of lunch.

I took of picture of my state at that point in the day and let me tell you, I looked 10 times worse when I got done. That would be after wrangling all the rose bush into the back end of the car, two dump runs, mowing the back yard and dumping humming bird syrup down my front. It was just charming. So personally, I really didn't think I looked so bad at lunch time.

But leave it to my children to be shockingly blunt about any aspect of my appearance. I just have such lovely children. Note the heavy sarcasm. Frankenstein's Bride indeed.

Finishing Touches

2011-06-20T19:24:00.000-06:00

Today was my last big yard day. I started at about 8:00am and finished at 6:00pm. There were three dump runs made, some mowing, and a swing set completely disassembled. Oh and the under deck was clean totally out.

Here is the front yard. Katrina said that her yard now looks like some of her nicer neighbors yards. LOL

We moved the bench and the bird feeder out back in the corner. And "vacuumed" i.e. mowed the lawn.

The biggest change to the back yard is the taking down of the swing set. It was really breaking apart and Grammy was ready. It will make mowing much, much easier.

The swing set is were that black spot is kinda in-front of the shed. It really is the end of an era, but Gram doesn't have any more grandbabies close anymore to come play on it. And it was REALLY breaking apart. We have just a bit of weed whacking to do but that won't be until Thursday. Sure is nice to have everything all set for the week.

Final Piece

2011-06-18T17:43:00.002-06:00

The last project to get done in the front yard was this mess of roses. As I explained earlier something killed a lot of the rose bushes here in Utah this winter and these were not any different.

They need some serious help. I needed to get my exercise in this morning and decided today was as good as any.

I hacked and hacked at the bushes and discovered that Katrina had only truly lost one of her bushes. The rest just needed some serious cleaning. This dang root was a pain to get out but now she has room on the backside for two more bushes.

This is what it looks like now. I think that it look good, just not as big. But all the sun that will reach the good roots should really make for some healthier bushes in the long run.

I have to make a dump run. As most of the bush is now in a neat pile on the lawn.

The front yard is now all set. Next week we move onto the back. But tonight we are headed to Chris's for a movie and some grub.

Traveling on the Train

2011-06-17T22:44:00.001-06:00

Today we got out of the house. But we didn't really drive. We rode the train instead! This was the first time that any of the boys have rode on a commuter train. They thought it was way cool. But then I like trains too and they did get some of my genes. ;)

We rode on the top level of the train car so that we could see really well. They kept moving from side to side and really enjoyed the passing view.

Yep, that is me. Not to bad if I do say so myself.

Right down by Temple Square is this AWESOME Chihuly glass sculpture. It is called "Olympic Fire" and was put up for the Olympics. Yes, I know that is obvious. All the individual pieces are hand blown and then installed at the location. I have always been fascinated with hand blown glass. Liquid fire.

We then headed for Temple Square to eat some grub with Grammpy. It was quite lovely. We had the perfect day to be downtown. Brilliant sun with a nice breeze. Perfect.

Here is my teenager at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. Bigger and Bigger everyday.

Grammpy gave us a tour of his office building. We went up to the top observatory and then down to his floor to see his cubical. But I had to get a picture or two of the cute couple. I really like this one. It makes me smile.

Sam was thrilled to be with Grandpa. Aren't they sweet?

Bruce's cube is pretty nice, about the size of Katrina's sewing room for those that have been in that. Plus this new cube is not so close to the higher ups which is always better.

At the Church History Museum they had a fun area dedicated to kids. There was this great dancing area. Miss Bee was a dancing queen.

EEeeeckk! A rat! LOL Sam thought that was so funny.

Al and his eguana.

My very dear friend from New Hampshire, Cindy Cote, was called on a mission to the Family History Center in downtown Salt Lake. It is the first time I got to see her in about 6 years. I love her. She and I clicked and I have to say that I shed more than a few tears when I saw her. She has such a wonderful spirit and generous heart. I adore her.

On our return train trip we got to come home with Grandpa. While we waited for him, I subjected my kids to a photo shoot. Were we were waiting, there was some wonderful reflected light.

I got some nice pictures but they were tired and you can tell. Still all and all not too bad.

Yep, a teenager.

Al is struggling a lot with crowds and noise right now. This was not the easiest trip for him. I got moment when he was okay, but it was still not easy. I hope this summers IBI will help him.

After dinner here at home, I go Miss Bee to do some posing. Katrina's peony's are blooming beautifully and she is so pretty. I couldn't resit.

But these are the real Bee. LOL. I see this look A LOT.

Yuuuhhckkk!

She thought it was too funny that I got her tongue sticking out.

I don't have too many pictures of Al and Miss B together. They were working together really well this evening.

Look at those silly kiddo's. All and all we had a nice trip downtown and evening home. We are going to do a BBQ and movie at Chris's tomorrow night but for the day we don't really have anything else planned. Although I will probably tackle the big rose bushes. But we will see.

Nantucket Blue

2011-06-15T21:14:00.000-06:00

Since the time that Katrina and Bruce moved to Utah they have had this cave of a master bathroom. The pictures don't really capture the mud brown nastiness that they have been living with for the last 5 years.

It was very sunny out side and you can see how dark this room is. *Plugh* You can just see the the edge of the ugly brown cabinets. We painted it white.

This is the view if you are standing in the shower.

Obviously we had to make this better. LOL We taped everything off and got started. Katrina had nice blue paint that she had picked up and we painted the cabinetry bright white (see above tidbit). It has a very Nantucket feel to it.

We used garbage bags to protect the mirrors and it just worked swimmingly.

You can see the white and it looks really great. We picked up some nobs that match the brushed nickle hardware that is already in the bathroom. They are going to look great but we don't have them on yet.

Primer up.

Here we are all prettied up. :)

It is just beautiful.

We were just amazed at how it gave the impression of length and light. Everything looked so crisp.

We are yet to finish the floors. We are going to get some of those linoleum tiles that look like wood. Something light and airy. So we have a bit more work to do but for the most part we another project under out belt.

Vacation is not complete until....

2011-06-14T19:06:00.000-06:00

No vacation to Katrina's house is ever complete without some hard core gardening.

Serious hard core gardening.

I didn't get a "before" picture on this bed, but you will have to trust me when I say that the grass was taller than the iris's. LOL We are going to have to move the hosta eventually because the day-lilies are doing FABULOUS and are encroaching.

Our next bed was the front lamp pole with the hollyhocks. Some of the pricker weeds were taller than the actual flowers that are in the bed.

Ta-Da!! So, so pretty. We cut down the stems of the daffodils and tulips that had already bloomed. It sure can be gratifying to pull weeds.

We tackled this bad boy with some vigor. Utah's rose bushes had some serious issues this year over the winter. Something killed tons of the bushes. Katrina's were partially spared. We had to hack the crap out of them but they mostly survived and will look really nice next year for the trimming we gave them.

Personally, I think this is one of the most dramatic transformations. We left the good stock on the rose bushes, spread out the hyacinth bulbs and de-weed everything.

The view from the porch.

Now this is our BIG project, that is left in the front yard. You can see that at least 2 of the five big rose bushes are gone. They will need to be hacked, dug up, and hauled off. We are waiting for some shade before we take this on.

My other project last night and this afternoon was a case for my lap top. This is the front. I am thrilled with how it came out.

See? It actually fits.

This is the back. I attached a small pouch for my power cord. It's not to bulky and if I ever need to take it off it wouldn't be to hard.

You can see the top of the pouch better from this angle.

I made it out of scraps from the combined Katrina/Meggan/Jenny sewing room. I think I am going to add a sturdy strap to make it easier to tot along when I go somewhere.

I feel very accomplished today. It is wonderful to have good company and lots of projects.

On Main Street

2011-06-13T18:04:00.001-06:00

On Saturday morning we went to a parade. This was a fun endeavor for the kids.They sat/stood on their sheet in the middle of Main Street.

It allowed me to get some cute pictures of my kids.

But as I sat there, I realized that the parade gene had skipped a generation.

We sat there for about an hour and half, watching the floats and cars go by and I realized that I don't like parades.

They are loud and long and somewhat boring. The floats could be pretty but they could be very tacky too and I just don't think I will sit through to many more in my lifetime if I can at all help it.

My mom loves and grandmother loved parades. I was even in a few as a kid, but I just am not too keen on them these days.

So are you a parade goer or a parade pooper? Me, definitely a pooper, but I survived and the kids enjoyed themselves. I just don't think I will be going to a parade anytime soon.

Vacation So Far

2011-06-10T22:26:00.000-06:00

We have made it to Utah in grand fashion. Making the trip in 11 1/2 hours. Not too bad for 771 miles of trekking. We are here at my sisters for the first few days and have been have lots of fun. This is "Baby" Ben.

Who is pretty stinkin' cute, if I do say so myself. Here is Ryan in the only glass that are indestructible enough to make it in his world. Sports goggles. LOL

Stinkin' Cute.

Here is Jesse at the hot air balloon thing in the park. We got to see them get the balloons all set up and ready to go. Way cool.

Who could resist taking pictures of this pumpkin? Not I.

Sammy being very fascinated. He LOVED it when they add the fire.

AWESOME!!

Yep, Niki is so looking teenagery these days.

Alex being Al.

After the hot air balloons we went to the Art Fair for Kids. It was a bunch of free art stuff for them to do. We spent about 2 hours there. Here is Miss B getting her face painted.

The finished project.

Poor Al had a hard time. To many people. To much noise.

This was the face that I got mostly, although...

I did get a few smiles.

Then we went to a fun park. They had these cool spinning equipment. They all made themselves slightly sick.

Miss B and her dramatic hair.

Then after lunch and some quiet time, we sent the yahoo's out back to play in the water. Ryan was making spikie hair.

Naturally Jesse had to get in on the fun.

Ryan and Ben.

The best way to get a drink of water.

How to Keep Your Sanity While Traveling with Kids

2011-06-08T10:26:00.002-06:00

Drug them PROFUSELY!

Just kidding. I have only had to give my kids meds on very few occasions when I have traveled. Mostly it has been allergy related. I find giving them "yucky" types of medications only increase the tendency for them to throw up and well... that is just nasty when it happens on the first day and you have three more days to go. (This is the voice of experience speaking).

I have found that listening to audio books is a great way to pass the time for all involved. We have never had any of those fancy smancy DVD players in our cars. They are just to new a concept for our old cars. So we listen to stories. Lots of stories.

Next I make them (meaning the kids not the aliens) a snack bag of food. This bag pulls double duty. It starts out as a snack bag but then becomes ... wait for it ... a trash bag! I use those gallon ziplock bags that I then fill will all sorts of food. As they eat there trash goes in the bag then I just have to fish out four bags of trash instead of a gazillion pieces of nastiness. That is the bag they get for the day. If they go through all of their snack before 10am, well they have to wait until the next day for their next bag. They have gotten pretty good at making their snacks last.

Remember that CapriSun Juices make great ice. I have found that filling a cooler with ice just makes a mess as it melts. Stuff get soggy, mushy, and just plain gross. So I went to freezing two boxes of those CapriSun's and using them as ice. It keeps everything cold and as they melt they just become ready to drink. Works slick, avoids a lot of mess, and makes for some yummy slush type drinks.

Always start with a clean car. By the time you finish traveling your car is going to look like it got bombed. Don't start with it that way or you will be shoveling out crap-o-la that does not have any definable origin and is probably radio active.

If at all possible, drive at night. When the kids sleep, mom's can breath a sigh that all is quiet on the western front. I know lots of you out their aren't night drivers, but if you are it is better. They go to sleep, you drive, they wake up, your there. You avoid all of the "are we there yet?" whining that accompanies all travel.

Be prepared to stop. Kids have to pee often. and stretch often. and generally need a break. So let them have one and just know that your schedule is just flexible.

But mostly, and I mean the biggest part of having a good trip, is to have a sense of humor and a good attitude. If you think it is going to be hard and horrible then it will be. Your kids will be themselves in or out of the car. If you have prepared, then you just go with it. If they scream, turn on your music to punk rock and scream to a beat. If they whine, take a deep breath and whine back. Things happen. Like throw-up and pop tart goo and sibling beatings but all of that can be dealt with if you just breath and smile and not take yourself or your kids to seriously.

A little prayer never hurt either.

Immanent Departure

2011-06-07T19:02:00.001-06:00

The kids finished there last day of school for the summer. Can you just give a YEA!? We are headed down to Utah on Thursday very early in the morning for 2 1/2 weeks of some vacation. Very early because it is a 12 hour drive and I just don't want to be doing it all day. It is easier for me if I throw in some night/pre-dawn type of driving. I always preferred driving at night when I by myself with the kids. Sleeping children in a car is much easier to deal with.

I got all the cloths packed up today. Marc and Sam cleaned out my car on Saturday. I have most of the food ready and I am getting raspberry starts for my MIL tomorrow. :) Even with all of that, today has not been easy. I have felt really yucky. Female stuff galore. That always seems to happen when I am doing this sort of thing. The kids are crabby when asked to do anything. They just don't want to think, AT ALL, now that schools out. Work involves thinking, so you get the picture.

I am just ready for a break. A break from routine. A break from my four walls. A break from just about everything that I am doing at the moment. I am looking forward to working in Katrina's garden/yard/house and seeing the hot air balloons down at my sisters. I am looking forward to going to the temple and just generally being somewhere else for a few moments. But then that is what vacation is for.

Shrinkage

2011-06-04T22:58:00.000-06:00

There are times in my life when I feel somewhat short. Most of the time it is around some one excessively tall but mostly I don't think about it much. Unless... My baby brother is around. Then he reminds me constantly that I am short.

Case in point. Wayne got his new home i.e. a very large fifth wheel. I notice yesterday that even with my flip-flops on (they give me about an inch) I could still walk clear under the trailer head without any problems.

This caused Wayne all sorts of amusment. Here he is showing that he can put an entire fist between me an the bottom of the trailer. He then proceeds to tell me I am shrinking. The nerve! The only way I am shrinking right now is around not down!

Personally I maintain two things. First Wayne's new house is HUGE and you could walk a small elephant under there and two, Wayne will always be my baby brother, no matter how big he gets.

Miss B's New Bag

2011-06-04T14:01:00.000-06:00

For Miss B's birthday her Aunt Meggan bought her a camera. Ever since I have been wanting make her a camera bag for it. Last night I got the crafty bug really bad, so I know that I would be doing some sewing today.

Hannah picked out the fabric. Pink on the inside and the circles on the outside.

I got a basic design off some tutorial blogs but also made up my own stuff on the fly.

I wanted her charger and camera to be still, so I used some hair bands to do the job. They worked great.

I also wanted a long strap for the bag so that it would go over her shoulder across her body. That way it would be safer and more secure for her.

This is the center pocket with the rubber band holders.

Sewing away.

The first side sewn in. It worked easier than I thought it would. I had to do some finagling and was worried that I wouldn't get it.

Here it is on the outside.

ALL DONE!! It came out great and Miss B loves it!!!

Here she is sporting her new bag.

It fits a small notebook, pen, chap-stick, I-Pod, camera, and charger. Plus some extra odds and ends.

This is the front pouch.

And here is the back pouch.

I think...just maybe...she is pleased with her new bag. ;)

Say Cheese!

2011-06-04T01:07:00.000-06:00

I subject my husband to many of these types of photo shoots. I am working hard at capturing us together, so that as my leaky memory becomes leakier I will remember stuff.

But in-order to get one of these...

*****************

I usually have to go through a dozen or so of this...

and this...

He is just a great big ham! Boy does he make me laugh. I sure do love that man.

Follow-Up

2011-06-02T23:20:00.001-06:00

It has only taken the kids 4 days of eating spaghetti to not complain. Sam and Hannah were a little poky with their eating but didn't complain about it. So it looks like burgers for dinner tomorrow.

Thank Heavens!!

I ate salad tonight but we are defiantly ready for something else. I really hope this lesson sticks. I figure I will repeat it if they complain about something else. Just as a reminder that we DO NOT COMPLAIN about food. All and all I think I got my point across.

Hopefully the next time the kids complain about food it will be something along the lines of Mexican Haystacks. I could eat that for a week easy. Or scones. But then I would probably gain 10 lbs and end up sitting in a corner of my room in a food coma. So I guess I am glad it was spaghetti because I really don't like that. ;)

Creative Parenting

2011-05-31T20:36:00.000-06:00

As stated in my previous post, this last weekend we went to Montana. We had a great time but there were a few times when I could have shot my kids. Like when Nik thought it would be good to play ring-around-the-rosy on the stones that contained the blazing hot fire that melted Alex's shoe. So smart.

But I really wanted to pitch them in the pond when I heard any complaining about the food. We had been graciously invited to be driven up, housed and feed for nothing. So to have them complain about the food put my teeth on edge. Our first night's dinner was spaghetti. This is not Sam and Hannah's more favorite dish. So what comes out of their mouths? A continual complaint.

"I don't like spaghetti." "That is so gross." "Can I eat cereal instead?" and on and on and on.... I was so frustrated and embarrassed that they would be so ungrateful.

So being the resourceful mom that I am, or at least try to be, I have come up with a way to hopefully help them understand that we DO NOT COMPLAIN about what has been given to you.

This is my plan. We will eat spaghetti every night until there is no complaining about what is being served. Every night they complain about dinner, the following night's dinner will again be spaghetti. It makes menu planning decidedly easier. I expect that we will have to eat spaghetti for a least a week before they are actually able to come to the table with no complaints about the food.

What I am really trying to get across is gratitude for the things that we are given. And to never complain about the food that has been put in front of them. The last thing a cook wants to hear is that you don't want what said cook has just spent an hour or more preparing. I figure this is a good way to help them learn some gratitude. We just finished with our second night of spaghetti.

Can you guess what is on the menu for tomorrow?

Noxon

2011-05-30T11:29:00.003-06:00

Thursday evening we went with friends to their camp in Noxon Mt. It is about 2 hours away to the northeast. It is a beautiful spot.

The land sits in a valley surrounded by big mountains. There is two ponds, upper and lower.

Friday was mostly rainy but we played out anyway. Saturday was mostly not rainy and we played out in that as well. ;)

The kids had a blast. They all learned how to ride those little dirt bikes. An 80 and 50 if you know dirt bikes.

I think Sam has been waiting for this moment since he was conceived. LOL
He LOVED IT!

Hello!

Alex was not so patiently waiting for his turn but he let me get a good picture or two.

I love this picture of Nik! I just caught him.

This is what your backside looks like when you spend 45 minutes riding the dirt bike in the mud.

Nothing says hick more than riding around in an old tin bathtub. They had a blast.

Hanging out around the campfire. Yes, Alex is sitting there with no shoes.

This little dog was hit with the girls. Her name was Gracie. I really like this picture of Hannah too. She is getting so grown up.

We ended up coming home a day early. One of the other girls got sick and I was missing Marc really badly, so it worked out well for me. It was really nice to be asked and it was a beautiful spot.

Flower-lishous!

2011-05-22T13:00:00.086-06:00

"Mary Mary quite contrary, How does your garden grow?
With silver bells and cockle shells, And pretty maids all in a row."

My pretty maids are my lilacs. The whites are ahead of the purples. They are just about to open. We have had nice sun for several days and now some good soaking rain, so I expect this week sometime.

I can hardly wait for all the ones at Mom's to open up. (Her plants are just a bit behind mine because she is just that much further north.) Then I will fill my house with lilacs. :D

My tulips have bloomed as well. They are looking lovely and I had enough to cut some for the house and have some out front.

Yep it really just that pink.

I love how this caught the rain drop on its petal. This is the last of my daffodils to bloom. They are tiny and very delicate.

Most of the drops are on the back side of the petals. How cool is that?!

These are my tulips that I brought into the house.

I have all my pretty ladies next to my computer so that I can see them and smell then and just thoroughly enjoy them because they don't last long enough. It will be fun to see what next years growth will bring as they spread and grow.

I hope you are finding your beauties as pretty as mine. I may kill veggies but at least my non-edible variety plants are content to hang out at my place.

Bedding Down

2011-05-21T19:57:00.002-06:00

Thursday, I went over to help my mom work on her yard. While there we found that mom had a bunch of raspberry starts. Yea! So I dug them up and stuck them in a bucket of water to take home. But in order to get them in the ground I had to make a new bed. This is were I started. I had the one raspberry that I planted last fall and that was it.

This bed mirrors the bed on the other side with my lilacs in it. :)

Here it is all cleaned out. Not to bad for a few hours work.

I actually took these pictures on Friday. I didn't get them all in the ground until 10:00pm that night. Which worked okay for planting but not for picture taking.

I know they look a little sad but it takes a day or two for them to perk up with watering. :)

I can't wait for them to grow up. Not only will I have some nice shade against the house, I might actually get some raspberries. Which I totally love. Especially raspberry jam. I have been craving that like no ones business.

On a somewhat related topic: Why is it worms crawl out into the middle of the pavement during rainstorms? It is seriously nasty to put the dog out in the middle of the night and have your toes squish into those slimy worms.

SERIOUSLY. NASTY.

Ready

2011-05-19T08:26:00.000-06:00

Marc and I have been working out in the mornings. The very early mornings of 4:30am. This time has just not worked for Marc. So we made the executive decision to get up at five instead. In order to do that we had to let the older kids get themselves up, dress, breakfasted, and out the door on their own.

We gave them the alarm clock. (Hannah actually because she is better at getting up then Nik.) And they had to get themselves together without any of our help as we get back from the gym just as they are heading out the door. I was worrying just a bit about their ability to do this. I really shouldn't have.

They have absolutely flourished these last two weeks! There has been less arguing and they haven't been late once. They were more ready than I realized for this added responsibly. They are having more confidence in themselves and growing up. It is just funny how they take to being responsible for themselves to some degree.

Here I was worrying about them not being able to get up and they just take to this like duck to water. It is really quite amazing. I am proud of them.

Tiny Miracles

2011-05-17T23:15:00.000-06:00

It is always amazing to me how Heavenly Father can create such beautiful thing in miniature. For Nik's science project he has to take pictures of wild flowers and classify them. So we have been hiking about, taking pictures, and generally trying to find wild flowers and not tulips to take pictures of. On Tubbs Hill there are tons of wild flowers and in one little stretch I found these beauties!

They are Calypso Orchids.

In the wild.

It was so cool.

They are perfect miniature flowers. They were only about 3-4 inches tall. My finger was resting just below the delicate slipper. I was so thrilled to find them. They were just stunning.

Then I got this picture of a Shooting Star. It is one of my better shots. I just think it came out so cool.

Then today mom and I went and dug up some free strawberry plants. We are going to go back for another bunch here in a week or so. That way we can finish the other half of the bed. I think it look great.

Here is just a random picture of my hubby tossed in. He is looking so good. He is tired here. He has been working overnights this week.

I hadn't put up any pictures of our chickens in a while and they were all perched in the coop. I thought it was funny because...

the "Three Musketeers" were out running about like man women. These are our Brahmas. They are really doing great and are wicked feisty. LOL

Here are mom's red tulips. And last but certainly not least was our beautiful sunset tonight.

When I look all the miracles that surround me in my everyday life, I realize that I am incredibly blessed. Sometimes I forget that I am a walking miracle myself. It helps to look at those small things. It helps me to remember.

Night of Stars

2011-05-14T10:48:00.003-06:00

Alex received tickets to our local amusement park, Silverwood, through his service coordinator at a New Hope. The special time was for last night. So I took my son and we headed out. I expected to have fun and enjoy some one on one time with Al.

What I didn't expect was the emotional roller-coaster that had me close to tears for a good twenty minutes of being in the park. You see, The Night of Stars Event was a special event for anyone mentally or physically disabled or anyone diagnosed with a terminal illness.

It was very hard for me to be so obviously faced with the fact that my son has a mental disability. I understand that Alex has Aspergers but to be walking around in about a group of 5000 people with all sorts of problems just slammed home that my child was different. That we are part of "that group". It was one of those moments when you realize that the challenges facing this child, at this moment, labels him in a way that puts him at a disadvantage compared to everyone around him.

This brought that into such sharp focus that I had to fight off the tears. It is such a mixed bag raising a child with these types of challenges. On a day to day basis, I don't really see or treat him different. He is just Alex. It turned out to be a really nice evening, but I am not sure I want to go again. We shall see what next year brings.

The 500

2011-05-10T11:03:00.003-06:00

This is my 500th post. In honor of that I am going to tell you five things that you may not know about me.

*********

I have my mother's hands. I was looking at them today, my mom's hands, not mine and realized that mine are going to look just like that when I am older. They are even just as scared, thanks to all my cooking burns. It is really strange to see pieces of your body attached to someone else. I just hope that when my hands get that age they won't hurt as bad as hers do.

*********

I so want to be an actual runner. I want to be able to run for twenty minutes straight and not feel like I am going to die. You would think that it is not so hard but it really is. I don't want to run any races or anything, I just want to go out and run for myself.

*********

Even though I have a green thumb when it comes to flowers, I so totally kill vegetables! My mom and I have planted seedlings that we are getting ready to put in the garden and I volunteered my house for seedling germination. I thought I really can't do to much damage.

WRONG!

I killed about half of them and brought what was left back to my mom's and now they are fine. I am not sure why I spell death for veggies but there it is.

*********

I adore sparkly stuff. We are talking Elvis Presley jumpsuit kind of sparkly. Jewelry, shoes, doo-dads and the like. If it is glittery chances are I will end up with it. I have round mirrored Christmas ornaments hanging up in my kitchen window because they catch the light and make it dance all over my kitchen. I love it! My husband says they are disco balls, but I bought them at Christmas, so that is what they are.

*********

I haven't cross stitched anything in 6 months. It is horrible, I know! But I just have not been in the mood. I have projects that I ~~need~~ want to finish for myself but I a not motivated to get it done. I think it is because it is for myself and I don't make cross stitches for myself. I do want to make a one for the Spokane Temple. They are doing a remodel at the end of the year and I know I could make one beautiful enough for there, but I don't know who to ask. I think that there is something inside that clicks on when I am making a cross stitch for someone else that doesn't click when it is just for me. Strange but true.

A Special Day

2011-05-08T16:32:00.000-06:00

Today has been a good day. It is Mother's Day but more importantly Miss B went into Young Women's.

She sure was looking grown-up this morning.

She wrote me a card. In it there was a poem.

Roses are red,

Violets are blue,

Mother without you,

I would be dead.

It made me laugh out loud.

Here I am with my beautiful girl. Who is fast becoming a woman.

I hope you all had as wonderful a day as mine has been. I am so grateful for my wonderful family. Even though they drive me batty most of the time.

On another note, it looks like Spring is eking her way into our little spot of paradise.
Here are my lilacs! I have buds all over the place. These green ones are the white lilacs and the dark, almost black ones are the purple. :D

My daffodils are in full bloom now. Almost my whole row is looking mighty fine!

I am even getting some of the orange ones blooming!

These next few pictures are for my MIL. These are my tulips that are well on their way to blooming too.

Praise the Heavens!

And here is my Mothers Day Cake. Yes I know it is missing some of it's bounty. It is my cake, I should be able to eat it, even if it is the day before. ;)

It is lemon and raspeberry with white chocolate and this mouse type frosting.

YUM-O!

Frazzled Friday

2011-05-06T21:56:00.002-06:00

Just some random bits of silliness. Good for a smile on a hard day.

Districts

2011-05-05T20:01:00.000-06:00

See the little green man in the second lane closest to the infield? Yep that little green man would be my son!

Today was Nik's last track meet for the season. Tuesday was his first. Yes, our spring has been that cranky. But Nik took it all in stride. He is really good and will just get better.

He really got some seriously good air over those hurtles. I was excited to see him run!

I love the concentration on his face.

There were two heat of seventh graders racing. He finished in 19.8 seconds! He took second place out of all the seventh grade hurdlers and won his heat! GO NIK!!!

He is such a cutie. He still lets me give him a kiss in public. What a great kid I have.

About Bloomin' Time

2011-05-04T08:13:00.000-06:00

Yep, that's right, my daffodils are finally blooming and my tulips are not too far behind. :) It has taken forever for our flowers to come up and out this year.

I have a variety of different daffodils. They have non-traditional trumpets. I am so please to finally see some brush of spring.

I love the light yellow color and the ruffly edges. :) It is amazing how ridiculously happy blooming flowers make me.

My lilacs out back are getting all their leaves too, as well as, my raspberries! Spring may be on the very late side but at least it is still coming.

On another note. We are altering our new puppies name a bit. When we started calling her Evie for short, we didn't realize how close that was to Beanie in sound. So now her name is Zoey Evangeline.

I accidentally called her Zoey about four times yesterday, so it must be a sign. If nothing else we should only get one dog when we call her name now.

Baby Haze

2011-05-02T21:59:00.002-06:00

Puppies and babies are hard things to resist. I had 4 babies and but never any puppies. Now I have a baby puppy. She is cute and sweet and will be really good once she is all trained. But at the moment she is still a pup.

I have decided that I need to fall back on all that kid baby boot camp that I have under my belt.

First and foremost...

NAP WHEN THE BABY NAPS!!!

Don't drop the baby. (Although squishy and squirmy, they don't tend to bounce so well.)

Remember that at least I am taking the potty mess outside and that I should be grateful that at three in the morning I am not changing a diaper and doing a bottle feeding.

That sleep deprivation makes for a short post because I can't remember anything else from my baby boot camp at the moment. ( It is either that or the fact that said babies sucked out my brain cells and all I have been left with is a very slow hamster spinning on my wheel in my brain.)

I am very happy to have our new baby but I am even more happy that she will be a teenager in about a months. :D

Saturday

2011-04-30T19:44:00.001-06:00

This morning was our big ward service project. We worked at the city beach from about 9:45 to 12:30 cleaning, hauling, picking, and generally making everything look pretty.

Had to get a couple of shots of my daughter looking beautiful.

Nik worked with his friend J. They racked and racked. It doesn't look like too much of a hardship.

Part of what we had to do was pick up some of the drift wood and cut up logs, then haul them up to the road so that they could be picked up.

Then afterwards we went to the church to have burgers and hot dogs. There was a sister in our ward who had some free puppies. This is our newest family member. Her name is Evangeline. We are calling her Evie for short.

She is a Chihuahua, Terrier, Australian Shepard mix. So she will probably be a little taller than Beanie but not really any bigger.

She is really cute. 7 1/2 weeks old. She will be a good addition to our family as Beanie is already 10. Beanie is doing really well with her and I think she will continue to do so. She has really pretty markings. Now is the time for me to have a baby, as I am here at the house by myself a lot and haven't started into the real business of teenagers yet.

I know I am insane, but such is the turning of our lives. Also this last picture my daughter took. She took the picture of the flags reflection in the puddle. It is way cool and I am really proud of her.

Rights of Passage

2011-04-28T23:18:00.000-06:00

My little girl is one step closer to being all grown up. Tonight she got her ears pierced for her birthday on Tuesday. She is turning 12. *sigh* Time just seems to be speeding up.

Here she is checking out her choices.

She decide to go with the Rose Quartz October set (they came with a little necklace too). It was a pretty gold and pink set.

Signing paperwork. Me not her. She was just anxiously waiting.

On here "special" chair. It was a little rocky but only enough for her to comment on not fall off of.

She was asking a hundred questions the whole time. Mostly though, it was how much would this hurt?

Here she is getting all cleaned up and marked. LOL Love the squinty eye, pirate look.

Nik held her hand through it so I could capture the moment. This was him examining the damage his sister had done, even before the actual piercing.

Are you sure?

Making sure one earring didn't end up in the wrong place.

Mmm, your sure this is going to be okay?

One, Two, Three .... SHOOT!

There was a momentary malfunction with this gun. It wasn't wanting to leave the wonderfulness of Hannah's ear.

You might have to go home with it like that! (It's the eyes that get me.)

Yep, she made it. Without shedding one tear. She sure is a brave girl.

So pretty. She is loving having her ears pierced. I think she looks beautiful.

Miss B is finally old enough to get her ears done. She sure is proud to be sporting her own set of sparkly earrings.

Theme Music

2011-04-28T12:05:00.001-06:00

I have always thought that we need to have our own theme music.

When you walk around doing different task that your music for that moment should just start playing.

You would have laundry theme music, like "Another One Bites the Dust"
(Insert appropriate melody here.)

And another ones gone, and another ones gone, ANOTHER ONE Bites the dust!

Then there are those romantic moments with your honey when

"Cannon in D" melodically begins to play in the background.

Or when your time of the month puts into one of those moods.

You should just have Darth Vader's Theme boom in all general directions,

sufficient warning to all that you

are pissed and willing to take anyone out.

All should just kneel at your feet in abject terror.

My theme music for today

(and I must admit I am really excited to

listen to it while I am doing my running workout this afternoon)

is the soundtrack from Tron:Legacy.

It is perfect for treadmill butt kicking and laundry doing.

Of which the latter is finished.

Yea Me!

So what is your theme music today? Melancholy, joyful, kick-butt techno, or just some quite soothing sounds running though the background?

Hope you having a Kick-Butt Techno kinda day personally,

as you get a lot done that way.

Fits and Spruts

2011-04-27T12:15:00.002-06:00

It seems with life that you can't be all put together at the same time for very long.

My house is either clean on the top or clean on the bottom,

but very rarely are both levels clean at once.

In fact I tend to take pictures and blog about when it is clean

on both levels because it is such a rare occurrence.

Then there is this exercise.

I have been working out since January,

but now I am working out at the ungodly hour of 5am and I am SO TIRED.

I mean I have been tired from working out anyway,

but now that I have a consistent time, I am consistently tired all the time.

Because I am tired, only part of my house gets clean at a time,

so I go to sleep so that I am not so tired and can then get my house clean.

But then I get up at 4:30 to exercise.

Thus making me tired again.

So my house does not get clean.

It is a vicious cycle.

I think that if you exercise at any hour of the day, you should have more energy.

Then the more energy allows you to clean your house.

Thus making you healthy and skinny with a clean house all at the same time.

See it's not so hard.

Now I am going to go take a nap.

Neither level of my house isn't clean.

But I am skinner than I was yesterday ... I think.

Our Easter Weekend

2011-04-25T14:30:00.000-06:00

This weekend Bruce, Katrina, and Chris came up for their first visit to our new place here is Coeur d'Alene. It was WONDERFUL, but too short. I wouldn't have wanted to miss it for the world. We had a wonderful visit. Easter weekend wouldn't be complete without making my children stand for a bunch of pictures. They actually did really well. Sam was a bit tired but the pictures still came out good.

This was Sunday morning just after church. We had stake conference this weekend and got done with church by 11:00am. We usually don't get home until 2:30pm. We had yummy Easter dinner with everyone including my bother and folks. Some played Phase 10 and some watched a movie and we all enjoyed the wonderful company surrounding us.

We even did pretty good on not eating too much Easter candy. All non-dairy. The kids loved it that Grammy and Grandpa brought some treats.

I really wanted to get this picture yesterday. She is 12 in one week and one day. :)

Then I got pictures of all the kids. Of course I got them in descending order. Can't do it any other way.

I love this pic of my oldest two. They are such cuties.

B, K, and C arrived at about 6:00pm on Friday night. On Saturday we were really busy. I ~~drug~~ took Katrina to workout at the Kroc center at 7:00am. We were back by 8. Then we went to ~~the devil store~~ Fred Meyers to get Bruce some shoes. Marc came too and Chris stayed home and hung out with the kids. Thank You, Uncle Chris. Then we headed for the Spokane Temple at about 1:20pm.

It was ABSOLUTELY one of the most beautiful days that we have seen since last year. We got some really nice shots after our session on the Temple grounds.

The boys were being silly and this is one of the better shots we got. :) They sure do make me laugh.

I really liked this shot of Bruce and Katrina. I played with it a little bit and like this effect. Anyway. I thought it was nice.

They all headed out at 8:00am this morning. I am sad to see them go, but if everything works according to plan we will get to see them (me and the kids anyway) for a few weeks after school is out in June. It is only about 6 weeks away.

I am so grateful for the atoning sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. That because of he conquered death I will get to be with my wonderful family for the eternities. How blessed we are to know this basic truth. I love my Savior and I love my family.

Bunny Hopping

2011-04-23T09:52:00.001-06:00

It is official.

I have written a blog post for someone else.

Scary, I know.

But kinda fun too. :)

So if you want to check it out you can hop over here.

I hope you have a great day!

Despite the Snow

2011-04-22T12:39:00.002-06:00

For being April 22nd around here it has seemed much more like December.
We have had snow the last two days and awoke to two inches on the ground.
Although long and tiresome as all the rain and clouds may be,
it has been the snow that has been my main concern.

I planted my flower bulbs last October. Beautiful tulips and daffodils, as well as, iris's and lilies and a peony.
I have been anticipating their burgeoning beauty ever since.
And they have finally started to come up. But then we got this retched snow!

The daffodils started coming up a few weeks ago and the buds have been up for about a week, but it was today despite the snow, when I discovered this ...

See how the bud has begun to split? With the sun that is supposed to arrive this afternoon and tomorrow it will bloom! I am so grateful for these lovely plants. And a Heavenly Father who knew that, we northerners would need flowers that will bloom in spite of the snow.

I can't wait to see them in all their glory.

Happy Spring!

Growing Up

2011-04-22T09:13:00.001-06:00

Here is my beautiful daughter. Yesterday was her last official day at Activity Days at church. She has been in Activity Days since she was 8 years old. I can't believe how time has flown. She has 11 days until her 12th birthday.

She is getting here ears pierced for her gift from us. She really and truly is becoming a young woman. So we marked this day, one of her last as official "little kid". I am excited for this new chapter in her life. She is going to grow so much and I can't wait to see.

sigh

2011-04-21T10:48:00.000-06:00

After much prayer, Marc and I have decided that we have to start buying milk and bread with casein in it. Meaning regular cows milk and cheap bread.

I am a bit discouraged.

The change has nothing to do with how we are doing on the no casein diet and every thing to do with our finances. We are just not being able to buy enough of the food that we need to get us through the month and don't have the income to make up the difference. We aren't buying any other dairy. No cheeses or cream soups or sour creams.

We feel like we should do all we can with what we have but at this point getting a gallon of milk for $2.99 is more important than getting a 1/2 gallon for the same amount. These are the hard decisions you have to make as parent.

Alex and Sam and Marc all do better without the casein, but there just isn't enough to last the month. So we are going to be a mostly casein free family. At least until we get a little more income to even out the bumps.