I'M A WEENA!!!

After two very intense weeks, the blog challenge is over. In case you forgot, my friend, Mindy, posted a blog challenge for 14 days. Fourteen different topics to blog about. I must say, it was a lot of fun. And not knowing what the prize was, made it that much more fun! So I was sitting in my room having some 'mommy time' when there was a knock at the door. I figured I'd let the kids answer it since it was most likely for one of them. But no, it was Mindy, delivering this! I won!! Even though I had the most entries in the drawing (you get more entries for tags you participated in) I thought for sure someone else would be chosen...cuz that's just the luck I have. I only wish she would have stayed so I could hug her! So thanks, Mindy, I love it! And I feel like I owe you some babysitting so you can have a nap after staying up until 2 AM to finish it!!!

Gripe Session Tag

Here's your assignment: It's time for a good vent session. For all you moms out there who get tired of picking up after the members of your family, or straightening the cushions on the couch; this is for you.



Step 1: Walk around your house and find (get a picture if you can..) three things out of place or not put away properly, then take a minute and vent about how much it bugs you or how NOT fun it is to clean it up 20 times a day. We moms are hard working ladies. We do our best to keep our homes in great shape (well for me that's not every day...) so take a minute and complain (don't worry, I won't tell.....) A little gripe therapy is always useful!!



1) Books all over the floor. Usually it's full of clothes, too.

2) Dishes on the counter. I don't even require them to be put into the dishwasher right away. The sink is RIGHT THERE!

3) Stuff all over the family room. We do not live in a dump! Pick up after yourself!!!!

Step 2: Now that you've got your venting out of the way, take a minute and write a sentence or two about how much you love those family members who can drive you nuts.

1) He is only four. And it's not like I have a bookcase for his books to go in. They just sit on his dresser with a couple bookends. When I ask him, he is pretty good about picking them up. Nathan is all-around a fun, cooperative kid.

2) I won't name the one who started this....but everyone followed suite. At least they don't leave them on the table. And after dinner, they each take turns doing the dishes. I really appreciate the help they are to me.

3) I would rather that all the kids have fun memories together than have a perfectly clean house. A messy room shows we live here and they are having fun. Again, they pick it up when asked, so how can I complain?!

What's on the Menu Tag

5 Favorite Meals to Cook

Hmmmm.....that's a tough one. I don't enjoy cooking, so my favorite meal to cook would be anything I don't have to cook. So instead, I'll list my family's favorites...

1. Sweet n' Sour Chicken (My mom's recipe....lots of sugar!)
2. Steak (Randy actually cooks this on the grill- does that count?)
3. Fettucine Alfredo (from a jar, baby!)
4. Chicken Pillows (An old Releif Society recipe that goes by many names...)
5. Pasta (yes, I do make my own sauce....)

5 Favorite Restaurants and what you order

1. Olive Garden- salad and breadsticks
2. Union Grill- salad..love the capers!
3. Timbermine- yum-o steak
4. The Mayan- bean burrito...not so much for the food, but it's so much fun, the kids LOVE it!
5. Chili's- steak fajitas...I've tried, but I just can't duplicate them!

5 Favorite anything to eat

My taste changes depending on the day, and So I'll do my best....

1. Anything someone else fixes for me. ;)
2. Candy- pretty much any- it can't be chocolate. Starbursts and Boston Baked Beans are up there. I don't care for Mike 'N Ike's, though.
3. Bean Dip...not the stuff from a can. I like a good seven layer dip- hot or cold.
4. Fresh Veggies and ranch dip...sugar snap peas, cauliflower, warm grape tomatoes and zucchini are my favorite
5. A good steak- from a good steakhouse. The best was at the old Salt City Jail that is no longer.
:(

My Kiddos

Whew! At least I don't have to pick a favorite kid!.....

(I'll add pictures later...we just got home, and I needed to post these before the challenge deadline...so come back later to see pics of all these posts...)

Casey is my oldest. He is not a kid anymore and would rather be with the grown-ups. He just started piano and is taking off like wildfire. He is a pretty persistent kid who can talk anyone into doing just about anything. He'll be a great missionary- and/or salesman, someday! He has a spirit bigger than could ever fit inside his body.

Hailey is my right-hand gal. She can do my job almost as well as I can. She is a terrific babysitter and is very anxious to start babysitting "for real"! She has had a few jobs watching my friends' kids and has done a fantastic job. Whenever I need something done, I ask Hailey. She is a very talented girl who catches onto things easily.


Tyler is my quiet one. Most of the time, I have to ask him to pipe up so I can hear him. But then, when he really wants to be heard, he makes sure he is. He is sensitive and pays attention to details. He is always creating things with paint, scissors, glue, tape, markers and anything else he can get his hands on! He is a pretty great kid!


Hannah is always happy. And I mean that. There is not much that gets this girl down. She has a smile that lights up the room. She is a good listener and big sister. She plays well with anyone and everyone. She never forgets a friend. She loves animals and I wouldn't be surprised if someday she lived on a farm with dozens of them.

Nathan is a hoot. He is always making me laugh. He is the kind if person everyone wants to be around! Ever since he was a tiny baby, he has had this personality that draws you to him. He can be spunky one minute and cuddly the next. But even at his worst, he's fun to be around. He is so smart, he continually amazes me with the wheels spinning inside his head.

Emma is my baby. She thinks she's as big as the rest of the kids. She has figured out her place in the family, and how to get what she wants. Her vocabulary has increased ten-fold in the past couple months! If I trip or hurt myself, she asks, "Tay?" She loves to undress herself and is perfectly happy being naked. She likes me to lay on the pillow next to hers and rub her head as she gets ready to sleep.

My Favorite Summertime Activity

Need I say more?

My Favorite Room in the House

Choose another Favorite? Seriously? I love all the rooms for different reasons.

I love the kids' rooms because that means quiet time for me.

I love the family room because that means we are all together.

I love the living room because that means we have friends over.

I love the kitchen because...well, wait a minute- I take it back- I don't really love the kitchen.

I love my bedroom because that means I am either relaxing in the tub, or sleeping.

I just love home.

Keepin' Cool in the Summer

We love taking trips together. We have made a tradition of going to the only 'beach' nearby each summer. I know it looks cloudy, but the water really is clear. (The kids had just been doing 'sand angels' and stirred up the sand....)

Me, and 5 of my Favorite Things

Can I only choose five? I have never been one to have favorites- I like too many things. I like variety. I'll do my best to narrow it down.





1) My family. I love 'em all. Even on a bad day.



2) Photography. I have always loved pictures. I love taking them. I love the story they tell, and the memory captured. I love the composition of a well taken photo. Hopefully someday, my dream of having a studio will come true.



3) Babies. I love everything about them. So naturally, I love taking pictures of them. It is strange to not be expecting one in the near future. Another dream would be to be a doula. The whole birthing experience is amazing to me.



4) Candy. As long as it's not chocolate, I love it. I'm not a big dessert fan, either. I like pure, unadulterated sugar.



5) Outdoors. Maybe it's the lack of chores. The simplicity of nature and the slower pace of things. Maybe it's the interrupted family time. Whatever it is, I love it.

Something I Have Made...

I like to be 'crafty' (...not the sneaky type...) I like to make things. Some things more than others. To unwind, I like to create. But I definitely have to make the time. Lately, I have been a little more motivated to find time to 'create':

I Can't Take More of This

We are getting ready to go camping. I asked the kids to do their chores and pack their bags so we can leave on time. Nathan and Hannah share chores. It is their turn for the playroom this week. Nathan was working didligently putting away the toys when he exclaimed, "Where's Hannah? Because I can't take more of this!"

Do you think he has heard that before?!

What's in Your Fridge?

Tag...What's in your fridge?

So lets pretend we are on an episode of Cribs and that we all have these big beautiful houses that we can't afford and only have to show off to the neighbors.

You know how they all make a big deal out of what's in their fridge? So here's your tag.

Tell us what your favorites are and what you have had in there for weeks and are just to lazy to throw out. (you know you have something)

I don't know what you're talking about...I didn't throw away any month old lettuce that was hiding in the back, before I took this picture.....

In the Fridge: It's sad to say there are more condiments in my fridge than anything else. Randy always buys condiments for scout camp and they never use them all. So guess where they end up. You guessed it: my fridge. It's kind of embarrassing how many bottles of relish we have. Trouble is, we don't go through it faster than he buys it. Other than that, you can see we had pizza last night. There are some rib bones from our BBQ on Sunday. Those are for Molly. I try to keep lots of fresh veggies and some grapes and plums. OK, so the celery isn't so fresh. I bought it to make some chicken noodle soup when someone wasn't feeling well- that is the only thing I can eat celery in. So I use what I need, and the rest goes bad. I still have some of those delicious flour tortillas from Costco, and some old pancakes nobody will ever eat. But I couldn't throw them away when they are fresh. I have to wait until they are moldy. On the top shelf is one of our staples: spray butter. My kids don't even know what real butter is. And margarine, to them, is only for cookies. Spray butter just tastes better.

In my freezer: some tilapia, a loaf of bread, some Rhodes rolls (pre-KitchenAid) and a bunch of other stuff that I should probably go through.....I think there is an elk roast that someone gave us three years ago....I have one bottle of breast milk still......I couldn't bear to part with it. Half a scoop of bubble gum ice cream- if it were chocolate, Randy would never allow that. And on the top shelf: our A&W mugs for pizza night. Gotta have a frosty mug to wash down the pie!

How I Met...

The Love of my Life....

Our Engagement Picture

It was the fall of 1994. I was a freshman at BYU. I made it known to my roommates, and anyone else that cared to ask, that I wasn't there to get t degree. I was there to get married. I mean, why else would I go to BYU? If I wanted an education, I would have stayed home and gone to the local university where I was offered a scholarship (....not that the local university is better...it's just cheaper.)


So there I was- 18 and exited to be on my own. I got a job cutting fruit for the salad bar at the cafeteria at 6:00 AM (bad idea...but I can cut a mean pineapple!) I had my dorm room, and I was set. Ready to date. Oh yeah, and take some classes. My parents had a rule: never date an RM more than once. Randy (an RM) lived in the building just over from me. We were in the same ward. The same Family Home Evening Group. It was then that I realized just how WEIRD this guy was! He was determined to marry an Rm himself, but once he met me, he knew he was in trouble! :) He asked me out pretty early into the semester. Our date was memorable. We went on a 'scavenger hunt' around the dorms. We had lists full of items. It was fake. All items were crossed off except for two: 'an egg' and 'sell and egg for 25 cents'. We went from door to door. At one door, we'd ask for an egg. At the next, we'd ask them if we could sell that egg for a quarter. We collected enough money to get ice cream at the corner market. We also went to see The Last of the Mohicans at the edited theater on campus. Randy kept trying to make the moves on me. ;) And I was trying hard to stay awake (nothing against him or the movie...I inherited that trait from my mom.) That was our date.

Preference Dance. We set our roommates up with a date. Randy was set up with my roommate, Rachel...he looks like he's about ready to beat my date. Can we say jealousy? :)

We continued to do things together in our FHE group throughout the semester. Christmas break came and went. I somehow knew things would change between us when we got back. He had been to Italy for New Year's and brought me and my roommate back a necklace from Venice. I thought he was more interested in my roommate until one day I was talking to his roommate, who told me Randy was really interested in ME. That was all it took. We spent all our spare time together. When he wasn't studying (he did enough for the two of us) we'd hang out. I realized what I once thought was weird about him, was really what attracted me to him. He always made me laugh and he is so creative. I was never bored.


Early one morning, after an all-night talk at Denny's (he wasn't allowed in my dorm after curfew) we got engaged in my stairwell. It was really more of a mutual thing. We had been talking about anything and everything and it came out that we knew we should marry each other. Then I said, "Well, what do we do now?" Romantic, eh?


Neither of our families had met the other. I had spoken of him over Christmas break, but his family had no clue about me. I had him call my dad and ask permission (after the fact) and he asked my dad how he felt about that. My dad replied, "I don't know, I've never met you. But I raised her to make good decisions and I trust her."


What a guy, huh? I mean, I was only 18. I don't think I would take it so well. I did technically only go on one date with him before we were engaged.... We made a trip to my parent's house to announce it to the rest of my family. Randy surprised me and got the ring before we went. He put it in a fortune cookie and made up some game...the details are fuzzy.....I opened my cookie in front of everyone and found the ring. He got down on one knee and proposed to me. It was official. We took a walk together and kissed for the first time. :0)


A couple weeks later, we took a trip to Las Vegas to see his family. We pretended we were just friends....so sneaky....then one night at dinner, we passed my ring around on a plate and announced our engagement. I don't think his mom took the surprise very well.


After knowing each other for a little over seven months, we were married in the Salt Lake Temple for time and all eternity.

Ahhh...don't you just love kissing pictures?!

My Favorite Thing About Summertime

Summer...the days of sleeping in and staying up late. I think that is my favorite thing. We don't have to be anywhere at any certain time. Yeah, it has it's drawbacks. We don't get our chores done until lunch time, but we have alot of fun staying up late. The kids can talk us into letting them watch a movie together in the basement. So even though they don't get to bed at a decent hour, we figure they are making some pretty great memories that will last a lifetime.

Mommy Tag

How many loads of laundry do you do every week? 20+

How many toilets do you scrub in a month? Hmmmm...now that I make this kids do them, the number has significantly decreased.

How many diapers have you changed? Approximately 32,950 and counting....

How often do you have to empty your vacuum? Dyson, or no Dyson? With a Dyson, once a day. With my Miele- every couple weeks.

How many loads of dishes do you do each day? Again, the kids help a ton. But 2 loads + the big or delicate stuff that is hand washed.

How often do you scrub your floors? Daily would be about right, but I hate to admit, I don't. It is usually when I look for my shoes before walking on the tile, that I decide it's time to mop. But I LOVE my Hoover Floor Mate. It died a while back and I am hating the old fashioned way.

How many boxes of cereal does your family consume in one week? 10 or so. Unless I get the big Malt-O-Meal, then it's more like 3-4.

How many buckles do you buckle when loading the car? only 3 now. At the highest point, I'd have to buckle 12.

How many gallons of milk do you buy each week? 5 (we're not milk drinkers- only on cereal...except Randy and Hannah.)

How much does it cost to fill your vehicle with gas? $171.62...just yesterday, in fact...another story...

How often do you go to Costco or Sam's? weekly

How many meals (equivalent) end up on your kitchen floor? I sweep up about one good meal's worth every day. Not counting the cereal spilled on the floor almost every morning. That's what I get for having independent children who want to "do it myself!"

How many beds have you made in the past year? Again, I don't want to admit that is one thing I'm not good at. I mean- you're just going to mess it up again tonight! Actually, I've done much better with my own bed in recent weeks.

How many baths do you give each week? Well most of mine bathe themsleves now, so I give between 5-8 every week- depending on how many Emma insists on taking!

How many Polly Pocket shoes have you vacuumed? 561

Airsoft BB's and/or rocks have you found in the washer/dryer? 22,367

Moms work hard. If you're a mom, just step back and take a look at what you do every day! Take it in stride and pat yourself on the back. If you're not- find one and thank them for all they do.

Oh, and feel free to add to this list.....

But I Have to go to the Bathroom!!!!!

Another one of Mindy's demands....it had better be worth it... ;) It seems as though all most of my embarrassing moments deal with bodily fluids. Namely, the one that comes from your bladder.

1) I was around 4-ish? (Correct me, Mom, if I'm wrong...) My mom was taking a church group to the filming of a children's TV show. I don't know why, but I was chosen to be part of it. In this show, kids are given the opportunity to tell "Floppy", a dog puppet, a joke. Well, I'd had given it much thought. I didn't want to tell the same knock-knock joke everyone tells. Or the same old "Why'd the chicken cross the road?" So I thought of my own, hilarious joke. A riddle, if you will....

4 year old me: "What's blue and white?"
Floppy: very puzzled "I don't know, honey, what is it?"
4 year old me: "BROOOOOWN."

Very funny, no? As if that wasn't embarrassing enough, you are probably asking yourself were the bodily secretions come in.....here it comes....Let me just preface by saying, I am sure I had some medical condition that didn't allow me to hold my bladder as soon as I partook of any liquid. As I recall, we had sodas on the way there.....back to the recording studio....

So us kids had to sit on chairs, in rows as the other kids took their turns telling jokes. I was on the front row, of course- I was so cute, that is naturally where they would strategically place me. The urge hit me. I motioned to my mom that I HAD TO GO! NOW! I wasn't allowed to just get up in the middle of a recording. But I couldn't hold it anymore. And there I was, on camera. And I wet my pants. I'm sure my mom was never so proud. First, her darling daughter tells a stellar joke, and the next minute, she is wetting herself in front of a captive audience. Proud moment, I tell ya.

2) I was out of high school, and my brother's friend- who was more like my brother, asked me out on a date. We went bowling to the classy bowling alley not too far from my home. I felt a small need to empty my bladder, but decided against it given the state of the bathrooms the last time I had used them. No big deal, we were almost done with our game. Little did I know, he had plans to take me to an ice cream parlor- 15 minutes away. This particular ice cream joint has no public restroom. No problem. He made small talk as we ate our frozen confections. I have no idea what it was about. I couldn't concentrate on anything but the growing urge inside my bladder. It was a long drive home. As we approached the front door, I knew I needed to make it quick and get inside. But if you know my dad, you know that the door was most certainly locked. Murphy's Law states that when a door is locked, whether you needed to go or not, you will suddenly have an irresistible urge to pee. So when you already have that overwhelming feeling, there is no stopping it. The flood gates opened, and the entire contents of my bladder, now soaked my pants. Luckily, I had on a jacket, and I nonchalantly took it off and wrapped it around my waist. My Dad came to the door, and slipped in past him. He stood and talked to my date for a minute, I guess. Neither of them ever knew. Until now, that is.

3) Randy and I took a few days for ourselves in St. George several years back. Grandma and Grandpa watched the kids and we stayed at a nice little Bed and Breakfast. One of the days, we went to a fun center and played a round of mini- golf. Lets just say, Randy was being really goofy and my laughter got the best of me. I lost it right there on the green. How romantic is that?! Your wife wets her pants while playing mini-golf. Nice.

As you can see, I have issues. And only one of these incidents took place after bearing children. So as much as I love trampolines, I just can't do it.

Memory Lane Tag

As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!


Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

What's for Breakfast?

Another one of Mindy's challenges :) ......

CAUTION!!!!!! If your stomach is sensitive the sight or thought of maple syrup, consider yourself warned.....

Breakfast at our house usually consists of this:

Sometimes, the kids can talk me into making this:

And when I am really generous, I allow them to make these:

Yes, that is a plate of maple syrup (bleh). Nathan thought it was excellent finger painting material. And obviously a much more effective method of ingesting the syrup than actually ON the pancake. Needless to say, he required a bath after this episode. In fact, anyone who eats syrup at my house is required to bathe immediately afterward to remove the awful stench that accompanies the dreadful goo.

What Makes a Nice Teacher?

Tonight, Hannah was busy at work. She made quite the creation.

She said she was going to save it for her "new, nice teacher."

Hannah: "Do you know how I know she'll be so nice?"
Me: "How, honey?"
Hannah: "Because when she saw me, she said she wanted to take me and lock me in a closet, and never let me out."


Maybe when Hannah gives her a gift made of toilet paper and carpet scraps, she really will lock her in a closet! If you knew Mrs. L., you'd feel the same way Hannah does. She's is that kind of person....I'm pretty sure if I told Hannah that same thing, it wouldn't be taken so well.

Remember, Remember, Remember

I was reading Stephanie Waite's blog today.....she is the one who recently lost her baby- I mentioned her blog several posts back... Wow. I find myself checking her blog sometimes more than once a day, just to see what profound or uplifting thing she has to say. I find it ironic that she has the comforting words. She is so spiritually high, I cannot comprehend it. Today, her post made me stop and REMEMBER my word for the year. And it gave me a new purpose. Something else to remember. In her quote, she is talking about her little girl and how she loved watching people:

"I wonder how she must have seen the world and all of us in it through her perfect baby eyes. I wonder if I can ever be the woman she knew me to be -- the woman I was before -- the Queen I am supposed to become. "

"I feel her helping me now to see myself as I was, as I am, and as I ought to be. It strengthens me to know I was a valiant follower of Jesus Christ and an advocate for His plan for us to become more like our Heavenly Parents. "

"We all chose to follow Him. We all were on the same side. The whole human family came here with one purpose: follow the Savior, live like Him, follow His steps of repentance and baptism so we can return HOME clean and pure to live with Him and Our Father again. "

"We lose that vision here. We let life cloud our view. But babies, they are so fresh from heaven, surely they must still remember. Camille must have known who we all were."

"I feel that bit of divinity crying out inside 'Remember, Remember, keep your eye on the Plan. This is all a part of that Plan. Use your agency to draw closer to Him. You are far strong. You are valiant. You are steadfast and immovable in your faith. You are His and He is with you. Live up to who you REALLY are: a descendant of incredibly strong, faithful men and women whose greatness echos in the blood that flows through your veins; a sister to siblings as valiant, strong and faithful as Captain Moroni; a mother to sweet, loving, strong daughters, a mother to an angel, a noble heir and daughter of the Almighty God. '"

"Remember, Remember, Remember"

Tag, You're It!

If you had three wishes what would they be? (They can't be material things.)
1) My kids would stay little, longer.
2) My husband wouldn't have to work
3) We would live in the mountains

If you could change one thing in your life what would that be?
Well, it's something I can change- my testimony would be stronger

If you could change one body part what would it be?
My feet?....

What year would you have loved to be born in?
I quite like the year I was born, but it might have been fun to live through the 50's....

If you could stay at one age forever what would that be?
In my 20's...bearing children....

Viva Italia!

Flashback Summer '97...

pregnant + 1 year old + Two weeks in Europe = FUN TIMES!

We spent a few days in Germany and Austria and then drove to Venice. Ahhhh, the city of romance.....that is, if you aren't accompanied by a toddler. We passed on the gondola ride for fear of Casey diving into the murky canal. But Randy was able to expand his tie collection.



We rode trains to visit the rest of our destinations:

Pisa

Naples

Rome

It was definitely a trip to remember. One note of advice: if you are pregnant, I wouldn't suggest allowing a little Italian lady to spend her entire day cooking for you. You will never be able to stuff your belly with as much food as she thinks you should eat. Oh, and don't let her do your laundry. She just might flush your little boys' red shirt down the toilet (how it got near the toilet to begin with is beyond me!)

What's in My Make-up Bag Tag

Since I wear so much make-up, I have all sorts of essentials in my make-up bag:

OK, so technically it's not in a bag. But inside are all the makings for whatever Halloween costume you come up with. The white cream is fabulous for a mummy. And the orange is great when you have a child dressed like a pumpkin. There is some glittery goo for a little fairy or princess, too. The sponge is an excellent tool for smearing the stuff all over, while the waxy sticks are perfect for details.

You just never know what your little ones will decide to be, so you'd better be prepared...

..

I'm Blushing Already Shaved Ice Delight

Let me just start by saying that Mindy made me do this. She posted a blog challenge and I have to do all 14 to try and win some prize. I don't even know what it is, but I figure if it's from Mindy, It's worth it....come to think of it, I don't even know how to win....is it a random drawing? are there points for the most creative? or does everyone who completes it, win? On second thought, I won't embarrass myself until I know all the details....

Instead, I'll blog about my favorite summertime treat:

Ahhhhh....where do I begin? Popsicles?.... Watermelon?.... Rice Krispie treats?.... Apples dipped in Tif's fabuloso carmely cream cheese dip?..... Fresh-picked peaches?..... Famous Raspberry shakes from Bear Lake?..... Marshmallows roasted over a fire? All those are on my top 10, but I think my very favorite (at least at the moment) is SHAVED ICE. It all started in Hawaii. Mmmmm. Then my friend, Leta, just had to go and buy a real life shaved ice machine. Not one of those cheapo ones from WalMart. I'm talkin' the real deal. Complete with 20 or so flavors. We swim at her house every Thursday. As if the afternoon wasn't good enough, she had to add shaved ice. It is definitely a highlight each week (that's pretty messed up, huh?) I think I could eat it all day- every day. I mean, what could be better than ice cold, artificially flavored sugar to quench your thirst? I would probably stop at the Snowie Shack daily if I could get out by myself. So when I don't have access to this quiescently frozen treat, I find myself sneaking the kids' popsicles, trying not to remind them they are in the freezer. As it is, I am asked no less than 500 times each day if someone can have a Popsicle. I like to let them sit out for a while before I dive in. It makes them a little soft- more like a shaved ice, I suppose.... OK, my mouth is watering, and there's a Popsicle in my freezer.

I'll Stick With the Wii

I took Nathan bowling tonight. I am pretty pathetic. Can I blame it on my useless hand? Which, by the way, I didn't get it stitched...and I'm glad, It is doing really well. I am just babying it for a while.....

I have never been a good bowler. I think I broke 100- once. Sometimes I get a few strikes in a row, but they are almost always followed by gutter balls the rest of the game. I wasn't so lucky tonight. They were just pretty much all gutter balls. Nathan bowled a 92. I bowled a 59.....with Nathan's help the last few frames. See what I mean? Pathetic. It helped when I used the ramp. Is that cheating?

Nathan was pretty cute. I can't believe I forgot my camera. He would take the ball, and heave it like a Scotsman. It would roll slowly down the center of the lane until it hit several pins. He even got a 'sparrow' or two. Way to go, Nathan!

A Daily Scoop

Yesterday, I came across a blog (thanks, Heather!) written by a mom who just lost her baby though a drowning accident. She has an amazing perspective and is very eloquent in her writing. It opened my eyes to what our friends have, and are, going through with the loss of their son. It brought back that flood of emotions from that week back in March. I was reminded of the power of the Spirit and the tender mercies of the Lord. She taught me not to get upset over little things that don't matter in the eternal realm. Take a look if you have some time. You might want some Kleenex handy....

Check-Up

Emma had her 2 year old well child check-up yesterday. She is not quite 21 pounds yet, and her BMI is way low. Other than her weight- she did great! She didn't even cry when she got her HepA shot. She just said, "Owie." and then got back to business trying to unwrap her DumDum. The doctor was impressed and amused at her fun personality.

We have an appointment at the lab tomorrow to have a Celiac and Sweat Test done. I'm pretty sure she doesn't have Cystic Fibrosis, but the Celiac is a real possiblilty. I have a brother and a sister with it. And a couple years ago, Tyler was borderline. Which means he could develop it at any time. He will be re-tested tomorrow, along with Emma.

Wish us luck. We all really enjoy our gluten, and we eat too much pasta to go gluten-free!

I Hate Can Openers

WARNING!!!! This post contains graphic images....the kind I USED TO enjoy looking at. If you are anything like me now days, you might want to close your eyes while reading this post.

Tonight as I was preparing dinner, I had a little can to hand incident. It is probably time for a new can opener. It never opens the last little bit of can. So I have to use a knife to pry it open and pour out the contents. I was kind of in a hurry tonight. I left out the knife part and tried pushing down on one side of the lid to pop up the other side. It worked. Trouble is, my hand was kind of in the way.....

These pictures don't really do it justice.

Since I am too cheap, and don't care too much about the scar, I opted out of a visit to our good 'ol InstaCare buddies. I called my friend- a pediatrician turned neonatologist, and asked her advice. She offered to stitch it for me, but informed me she had no anesthesia. Thanks, but no thanks! She said as long as it didn't sever a tendon or something it should be fine if I can keep it closed and stop the bleeding. So Dr. Randy cut up some steri-strips and patched me up.

It looked pretty good...but now, and hour later, it is all working it's way loose. I might end up going somewhere after all. I am pretty useless, one handed.

....maybe that can get me out of some of my duties... ;)

Bows, Bows, Bows (And Binky Clips)

I am happy to make bows for anyone and everyone who likes them. Just leave a comment as to what color or colors you want along with the style.

If you are a loyal blog reader, it is my treat...because I'm nice that way. If it is for a friend of a friend, I might charge a small fee to cover the cost of materials.

I also make adorable binky-clips. It was going to be my new entrepreneurial endeavour, but I haven't gotten my behind in gear. If anyone is interested in one of those, be sure to leave a comment. Let me know if it's for a girl or a boy , and what kind of binky they use (I have more designs than the ones shown.) Again, I have to charge a little something. After letting me purchase supplies to make 300 binky clips, Randy wouldn't be too happy if I never charged anyone for those.

Happy Belated Fourth!

We had a fun Fourth of July.

The night before we Randy and the five oldest slept outside- some on the tramp, some on the grass with the puppy. Emma and I were going to sleep out..until Emma started screaming. I think she was too hot. Because when we got inside, she fell right to sleep...in my bed. :)

Friday, Randy had to man a booth for his construction project at the city celebration. The kids and I stayed home and played with "Molly Brown". Yes, the puppy now has a name....I always did like that musical....I was just throwing names out there and Molly was the one that stuck. Randy added the Brown, I guess because she's a chocolate lab. My parents thought she should be "Cocoa' because, what if somebody names their baby "Molly"...just for the record- if anyone wants to name their baby Molly, that would be just fine with us!

...anyway, back to the Fourth.....

When Randy got home we watched Spiderwick. Nathan fell asleep (thank goodness) and when he woke up, we went to our friends' house for swimming and a BBQ. Good times! The weather was perfect and the kids had a blast. Hannah can officially swim without a floaty, and Nathan loves the water. The other kids are all fish and spent most of the day in the water. Once dark, we lit some fireworks in the road. Why is it that all fireworks look EXACTLY the same?! I mean, it doesn't matter what the packaging looks like, or what they call it...it's the same thing inside.

On Saturday, we spent the day doing yard work....Yes, we planted a Nathan. We like him so much, we were hoping to get more just like him!

We cleaned the garage (for the 576,295th time!) and dog run (which we think we'll get rid of to put a shed there, instead.) We went swimming at another friend's pool that afternoon. Casey and Hailey have been tending their dogs and cats and taking care of things while they are gone, and they offered to let us use it anytime. Emma learned how to kick her legs to keep herself upright in her life jacket. It took everything she's got, but she loved it! She was so cute!

Randy and I went out to dinner and ran some errands for our date. I know, it's so creative. But it's nice to just be together.

Sunday before church, I decided to make rolls. My parents and sister were coming over for dinner; and with my new Kitchen Aid, I just do things like that. The power went out as the oven was preheating to bake them. Minutes later, Randy left to help Casey do Fast Packs. The rest of us were still in our jammies with bed head....and no curling irons. It was 12:00. Church starts at 1:00, and I was conducting Primary. I certainly couldn't go to church looking like I was, and I wasn't about to let the rolls go to waste. I called my parents and asked them if I could borrow some electricity and to preheat the oven. Nathan threw one of his classic tantrums because he couldn't find the right pants Nonetheless, I managed to get him dressed, pack our church bags, gather our beautifying products, and arrive at my parent's by 12:20 or so. Not too bad, I thought.....but it still didn't leave me much time. Needless to say, I walked into church at 2:05. Thanks, Julie, for pinch-hitting for me!

Dinner was great. I really enjoy our Sunday grilling tradition...and it's always nice to have family there.

Today's the Day

We did it. Yesterday we found a home for the last kitten, so there was no excuse. The kids have been asking for a long time, and Randy has been so patient. So I have been looking for a puppy for a few weeks now. We wanted one like our old dog, Lucky. An English Lab with a big, blocky head, and over sized paws. They are harder to come by, but their temperaments are more mellow than their American cousins. Today I found what we have been looking for. She is perfect. Her dad is a big guy, and her mom is way mellow. She seems to take after them in their respective traits. At 7 weeks old, she weighs over 15 pounds! And the whole ride home (a whole hour) she sat on our laps and cuddled. The kids love her to death...the cats, not so much. She ran around the yard and we took her for a walk. She was great on the leash- we hope to keep her that way. We haven't decided on a name yet...any suggestions? One thing is for sure- she'll be loved.

Leave Some Love

I put off cleaning my kitchen and did a little crafting yesterday morning. I found some cute hair clippies online and just had to try them....



They are pretty fun to make. If you leave me some love, I can make any of the princesses, not just Belle ad Sleeping Beauty. There's Cinderella, Mulan, Tinkerbell, Snow White, Ariel, Jasmine, and Pocahontas. And the butterflies and dragonflies can be any color.

Last night was Hailey's softball championships. Their team made huge improvements this season. Last night, they played in the final three. The team they played was the only team they had lost to earlier in the season. Hailey was awesome! She had some great hits and even a home run. She played first base and as always, was a pro. She tagged many a player out! It came down to the last inning, and the score was tied. They played an extra inning and they scored two runs, then the other team scored three. :( It was the most exciting ball game I have ever watched. Those girls played the best game yet, and it was awesome! They were a little disappointed that the third place team doesn't get trophies, but all in all, they were thrilled with how far they had come together. Watching that game made me think maybe we could allow the kids to keep playing sports.......

The Great Outdoors

Last weekend we packed up and took the kids camping. The campground at the lake we planned on camping at was closed due to SNOW! They had been plowing 5 foot snow drifts the week prior....so we found another campsite a little lower in elevation. We snagged the second to last campsite available- probably for several miles around. That is not to say we would have gone home if we hadn't. We Randy is notorious for finding obscure spots in the middle of nowhere and setting up camp- even at 11:00 at night after searching for hours for some place to crash. I guess that's what we get for being impulsive.

Our campsite Friday was perfect. There was a stream and a pond nearby, but not too close to be a hazard. We had a great fire, thanks to our fire marshal, Casey, and the pile of dead pine boughs in our camp. All the kids did a great job tending to the flames- even when we didn't want any more! Emma caught on to the concept and threw in whatever she could. Randy and Casey tried fishing in the stream and pond with no luck. But it was fun exploring anyway. And the kids never mind getting 'accidentally' wet. The kids saw a few animals- rabbits, deer, and a beaver. Luckily, no bears. There were lots of trees and plants around to keep them occupied. Their favorite: playing 'restaurant'. Even Casey got into it. Shhh...don't tell him I told you. ;) They'd take our order and bring us back a scrumptious plate of grub.


Speaking of cooking.....I am starting a new blog. I am hoping to recruit some of you to help. You see, every day around 5, I go, "Hmmmm.....what I am going to make for dinner?" I know I really should plan better. And there are times when I am really on top of it and I have my month's menu planned out. But other times- times when we have been up to our ears in soccer, baseball, softball, and scouts- or just plain bein' lazy- that I am not so good at it. So, it will be a place to post recipes and menu ideas. Nothing big or fancy. Simply, what's on your menu. And if it is an unfamiliar dish or you have a special way of fixing it, recipes and directions would be fabulous!

Post as often as you can, and visit as much as you like. And I'm thinking that by having it all there, recorded, if you're in a bind, you can hop on over and get some great ideas. Leave me a comment if you're interested in being an author. I'd love all the help I can get!

Stop by and give some ideas....http://whatcha-gotcookin.blogspot.com/