Sunny Side

following through

2012-02-15T15:29:00.001-07:00

Social!

When I went to Wyatt's teacher conference last week, I sat there with all of his teachers (6 of them) and the first thing out of their mouths was...

" I'm sure you're aware that Wyatt is a very popular kid"

HUH?

That translates to me as....

Wyatt likes to talk

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

During football season Wyatt's grades slip a little bit. So this semester I told Wyatt if he misses any assignments I would be going to class with him. Yes that is exactly what I said and I should have known that meant I would be going to class with him.

This semester Wyatt has been doing much better except for in Spanish. Of course it's the one subject I know nothing about and I can't even speak the language. But, a ~~threat~~ promise is a promise and when I found out he was missing assignments I knew I was going to Jr High School again.

This morning...

I sat in the back of Wyatt's Spanish class and had the time of my life. Ok not really I was completely bored.

I am hoping he knows I will do it again if I have to.

Now enough about Wyatt, back to me.

As I sat in the back of his class, the teacher had country flags up on the wall with their names. I am proud to say that thanks to my 6th grade teacher Dr Prouse, I was able to remember all of the capitals of all of the countries. Yep every single one of them. I think there was about 20. I can't say I remember a lot about what I learned in all my years in school but I remember a lot about what I learned in the 6th grade.

I ♥ these people

2012-02-14T08:53:00.002-07:00

and I ♥ this guy too...

and now I have kids who ♥ other people
(blahhhhh this makes me feel old)

TJ and Kelsey

Sam and Zach

Happy Valentines Day 2012

focus

2012-02-10T20:14:00.001-07:00

It's not that I don't have anything I can blog about, but for some reason I can't stay focus and wrap my brain around writing anything this week. I have alot of pictures to add and funny things that my kids do and creative things they have been doing. I just have been being selfish and keeping them to myself. Not much in the sharing mood. I have been trying to get things started for Mrs. Jessika"s 16th birthday party next week. She has been great about wanting to help out with any project I come up with to do for her party. I just hope we can get them all done. Next week is going to fly by and I have sooooo much to do. I am accepting all help.

On another quick topic.....

I went with some friends this morning to see The Vow. Who knew a 9:40am show would be full but holy moly there were a lot of people there. What a nice movie to put out around Valentines. I ♥heart♥ Channing Tatum, I first saw him in Dear John and I was hooked. I also like him in The Eagle but that was a long movie, good movie but very long. Anyways.... Hunka HUNKA. I didn't know he would be clothless in this show, and as much as I should say they should have cut that part out to make it more appropriate I am just not going to say that. It was just his backside. I am not justifying it being in the movie but it was kinda funny hearing the gasp and giggles from all the ladies in the theater. I like movies that are based on true stories.

sometimes they get it right

2012-02-02T15:29:00.000-07:00

I think they get it right when I agree with it, but if its something I don't want to believe I am be the hugest sceptic.

Every once in a while I look at my horoscope. I really believe it is a bunch of crazy crap but fun to look at non the less.

Looking at my horoscope today it says.

Daily Horoscope: February 2, 2012

Sure, it's sudden, but it's not like it hasn't been coming for a long time. You've thought about getting away. You're ready for it. You only need to do one more thing: Forget to pack the guilt.

Today it got it right.   I am getting away. Not for long.   Not sitting on a beach with a fruity drink in my hand, but I am getting away. I was invited by my friend whom I have known since the 3rd grade to go on a business trip with her to Texas.   It is just a few days but it will be fun to spend time with her. She is alot of fun and we always have things to talk about.   I am sure I will have plenty to tell when I get back. Not going for a few weeks but looking forward to it.   I always feel guilty for leaving my family but Thayne will be home with the kids so it makes it easier then leaving them alone.

Now to just get a trip planned for my kids and we will be set. We keep asking the kids where they want to go and we always get " I don't know".   Last week they mentioned New York which I think would be fun to visit, but who knows Florida was mentioned too.

As far as I'm concerned I am just excited to get out of the house for a little while.

Maybe my horoscope will be just as exciting tomorrow.

Neon now and then

2012-01-28T17:39:00.002-07:00

Neon colors were a big thing when I was younger. Bright yellow, florescent greens and ohhh the pink. The only thing that made the bright colors better was the big hair. Oh wait before I write anymore about the colors I wore along time ago, I have to tell you the coolest thing. I found Binaca in the store last night and had to buy it to show my kids. Remember Binaca? The breath spray that was popular in the 80's, well it's back people and I was so excited because it brought back memories.
Ok so anyways I was saying I wore bright colors. See this picture. I wore bright green spandex shorts.

how many of you can say you have a picture with a headband, fanny pack, walkman and scrunchy socks all in the same picture. Good times I tell ya.

Fast forward alot of years. I don't think I need to put the number of years, you get the idea it was forever ago just by looking at the picture.

This was TJ today at his pole vaulting meet. I was just not sure what to think when I saw him in bright green shorts. I was glad he wears what he wants and doesn't care what anyone thinks. He certainly has his own style and I had this small happy dance going on inside me because the bright colors are coming back. Not that I will wear them again but so fun for my kids.

Now if I had legs that looked that good I wouldn't have worn jean shorts over my bright green shorts.

It takes a missing 0

2012-01-27T14:23:00.000-07:00

Everyone in my family has and iphone, except.....

ME!

I have been dragging my feet to get one because my blackberry is my third arm. I hate having to learn how to use a new phone. I have an itouch, an inano (which I love to use when I run), an Ipad (Thayne won it but I call it "ours") so I didn't see the need to have to switch to an iphone. I know the iphone has way better apps which really is important to a game playing girl like myself. It wasn't until I lost the "0" button on my blackberry that I have decided to switch over. Then when I saw the whole "Siri" thing on Thaynes iphone (which my kids don't have on theirs) did I start thinking I may want an iphone. Siri and I could be really good friends. I haven't switched yet. I still have my 3rd arm and holding on til it's last dying breath. For now I cannot call any phone number that has an "0" unless it is already in my contacts. The sad thing is my voicemail password has an "0" so I can only get my voicemails from another phone. Ya think that would make me change to an iphone faster but I just figure soon the it will happen and I will have a proper send off for my blackberry.
I can do this.
Change is not fun, but sometimes it takes a missing "0" to realize it's time to move on.

my accomplishments

2012-01-25T08:06:00.000-07:00

This is seriously what most people call an accomplishment of wasting time, but it really takes skill (not really) to get my highest score yet on Bejeweled Blitz.

902,750

I'm not bragging, I am just putting it out there that I have successfully been in first place almost (except 3 weeks) every week last year. Yep, I have probably wasted to many hours then I want to admit. I am not giving it up, it is relaxing to me but since scores don't reset until next Tuesday I am safe to move on to reading or cleaning for the rest of the week.

Monday inspiration

2012-01-23T08:40:00.001-07:00

Sunday is....

2012-01-22T20:04:00.001-07:00

the day of rest.

Today I was able to enjoy a 4 hour nap with Thayne. I remember when my kids were little we would have to take a quick nap when our kids would nap after church. We would sleep until we heard the little chatter of the kids and even though we didn't want to get up we knew we had to. We would then say, "I can't wait until our kids are older and we can sleep as long as we want". We reached that goal along time ago but today I thought back to what it was like to have a timed nap and I appreciated my 4 hour nap a little bit more.

not giving up

2012-01-18T08:57:00.001-07:00

I am a great starter.   I can start anything once.

BUT..... if I get bored I am really good at stopping what I started.

So here it is.
-I realized I am not a runner
-I don't enjoy it at all
-I have already lost my big toe nail from doing it (seriously ugly toe now)
-I am bored with the songs on my running list
-it is causing my shoulder to tweak again
-I don't like cold and that is the best time to run when it is dark and cold (I don't like running when people I know will see me).

Why I am not quitting
- for some reason even though I don't enjoy running, I enjoy the feeling of accomplishment when I get home
- getting up early and being able to run and watch the sunrise is quite glorious. Some days I wished I took a camera because it is so pretty
- I know at my age I need to be staying active
- it gets my butt out of bed even when I try to talk myself out of going, my body starts moving before my brain realizes it's already out the door.
- I can do other physical things during the day without getting tired.   My endurance is better.
- even though I don't run far I enjoy seeing when I run a faster mile then the time before.

I have yet to quit.   I am probably not doing London's Run at the end of the month. I am still not confident enough to do that.   A family in our ward is doing a run for their kids in February so I may try that one, not for sure though.   I don't have a goal to run a marathon, I just have a goal to not quit.   I may not run far or fast but I am going to keep running.   The toe nail thing better be a one time deal because I like having pretty pedicures and I really like wearing open toe shoes. I am planning to start taking a gym class on my non running days to help strengthen muscle. Seriously people, getting old is not bad as long as you keep moving. Ok it's not great getting old but you don't have a choice so try to enjoy it. Do the best you can and then know you have plastic surgery as a perk if you need it, in moderation of course. Perks are always nice I think. Ü Just do the hard part first, then it's ok to reward yourself.
Running hard and losing a toe nail is a good reason to go buy a cute pair of closed toe shoes. Can you tell the toe nail thing is bothering me. Seriously ugly it is!

5 + 8 = 13

2012-01-17T17:21:00.000-07:00

Dang it when I forget to take pictures of a fun weekend.

This last weekend we had our favorite family come stay with us for 3 days.

Wyatt was in heaven having 6 boys to hang out with. For once the girls were out numbered in the house. They came out for a wedding and we invited them to stay with us. Well actually Sam sent Kaye a message saying she didn't have a choice she had to stay with us. We were even brave enough to let all the kids stay home while we had a date night and went to Jester'z.

It was a fun weekend. I think my girls had just as much fun with the boys as Wyatt did. We even had a quick mall trip with the girls. Of course it goes without saying that Thayne and Scott had fun together, since they have a bromance going on. We were sad to see them leave and can't wait until they come back.

what makes a mom happy

2012-01-11T21:12:00.001-07:00

Have you heard that saying, "a mom is happy when her kids are happy"? It is true, I am always happy when I see my kids happy.

Like tonight when I was at Evening of Excellence with Jessika and all the young women got up to sing. The young women all looked so nice and cute and reverent up there singing, and then there was my cute little bug up there singing and making extremely happy and silly faces the whole time.   To some it may have been annoying but I was happy just knowing she was there and knowing she didn't want to sing but she got up there anyways and made it fun for herself. I did mouth a few times stop it, but I winked and blew her kisses too and had a good laugh. She is herself and that's what I love about her.   She makes me happy.

But, what made me the happiest as a mom tonight is.....
having a son who has lost 2 yes 2 expensive and horrible to sew patches on scout uniforms and has gone months without wearing one because I refuse to buy another and sew patches again, (phew that's a mouth full) walk up to me after scouts and hand me his lost scout uniform in one piece.    I cannot even count how many times I had checked the lost and found, asked scout leaders over and over if they found it and searched the house for that shirt and I came up with nothing. Did I mention his name was on the tag of the shirt? All of that didn't matter anymore when I saw that baby walk across the gym towards me and land in my little hands.   I didn't have to drive an hour to buy a new one, I didn't have to sew patches on.   My waiting it out paid off!

and that my friends
is what makes a mom happy.

lack of communication?

2012-01-06T17:06:00.003-07:00

When I first became a mom I heard a story about a mom who got frustrated because she kept telling her kids to stop jumping on the furniture and the kids wouldn't stop. She continued to do this and continued to get frustrated until one of the kids asked, "what is furniture"?

There have been several times as I have raised my kids that I have gotten frustrated only to think to myself, "I wonder if they understand what I am telling them"?

HOWEVER, I do not think that was the case today when I asked Wyatt to clean his room and I found him doing this instead.

I am thinking that by the age of 13 he knows this is not his room and this is not cleaning.

I am proud to say I stuck to one of my mom rules and took pictures before I got mad. Phew..... I easily could have blown that one.

This last weekend I was talking with my brother Travis and he was saying how some kids just learn better with flash cards.

Soooooo......... I came up with these

I seriously think my brother is brilliant! Ü

another year older

2012-01-04T12:12:00.002-07:00

There are just going to be things in life that are hard to accept, and the fact that my dad just turned 70 is one of them. Wowza how did he get to be 70 already. I didn't want to miss this big day of his, so my family headed to Logan for a quick (one day quick) visit to be with him on his birthday. Not sure I would drive so far for one day again, but it was worth it to be there with him. Since alot of the family was going to be there for the day, we were able to have two of my nieces baptized that morning. It was a day full of family time and it was nice to see everyone.

Jess and Wyatt with Papa

The boys love to hanging out with Papa.
Those who know Jess and Papa, can't you just imagine what they are talking about.

Sam, Kyle and Aly
Aly and Sam
All kids at the cemetery.
(Aly gets credit for these pics, I stole them from her)

Alot of Dance 3 going on all day.
Shannon and I .
Papa's cousins, Marie and Joyce.

Fun times!

Thanks to Adam there is a YouTube video of Shannon, Jen, Madie and I doing Dance 3.
I am not nice enough to put the link because it is soooooo bad. Ü

Just another number

2012-01-02T19:59:00.000-07:00

Happy 2012!

Let's hope this year is a good one. No matter what happens I am going to make the best of it. I know there is always laughs, and now a days there is always some crying, some new goals and old problems. I can only change me and that is the plan for 2012.

I don't think a new year is a new beginning, I think everyday is a new beginning. The good thing about that is I don't have to judge a whole year by one crappy day or one crappy week, because I know there will be some of those. Every day is a new day and every year is a time to reflect on how you handled those days and decide if you can do better. So here is to doing better.

Christmas pj's

2011-12-28T19:31:00.000-07:00

2011 Christmas Eve

and time still flies

2011-12-26T21:15:00.000-07:00

It just seems like the days just go by so fast. So much going on and yet I don't take the time to blog about any of it. This week I shall add pictures and sum up the last week. With a quick post I will just say the Harris' had a nice Christmas and enjoyed another holiday with all of our kids home. New Years is coming and we will be heading up to Logan for a quick trip, I will blog more about that later. I am ready for a new year. I don't think changing years changes challenges or problems, but it does help me and remind me that I can always make changes to better myself. Unlike many people I do not think the world is coming to an end next year, so I will make plans for the year and add another number to my age and most likely collect more wrinkles and try to embrace it and enjoy every second of it. Whatever the new year brings I am going to make the best of it.

t.e.e.n.s

2011-12-20T12:25:00.001-07:00

OH BOY!

is 13 YEARS OLD!

I have 4 teenagers now.   My youngest and most favorite "youngest son" turned 13 last Sunday.   To think I could get so lucky having 4 easy kids. They all have moments but seriously I was blessed with 4 easy and great kids.   Of course, Wyatt being the youngest has been labeled by the older kids as "MOM's FAVORITE".   Ü
Who wouldn't be favorite when all I hear out of his mouth is "mom do you need any help"? That right there makes you have favorite status.   (because it's his birthday we are overlooking the part of him being the messiest kid).

Because he is so easy going his sisters have always talked him into doing anything with them. He has painted his nails with them, danced with them, plays silly jokes, used to play dress up with them, and now will let them dress him up so they can practice photography and he just goes right along with whatever they can talk him into.   (seriously any girl who marries him will be sooooo lucky, well as long as she can clean.)

girls put him in suspenders and glasses and it's photo shoot time.

When we take him out to eat we always ask what he wants to eat or where he wants to go and he always answers "i don't care". I really don't know if he cares or if he is just being nice letting us pick which we don't do anymore we make him pick. He will eat anything or at least try anything once. That part he does not get from me, most definitely gets it from his dad. He is a human vacuum but eats bird size portions. He snacks on meals all day long.

I just love this boy and can't believe how time has gone by so fast. So until next year when I wish him a happy 14th birthday looking up at him since he is growing so fast, I am going to enjoy my 13 year old who is still my little boy.

Thayne made the cake, I made the topper.

girls fish too

2011-12-14T19:00:00.001-07:00

It is so fun to me when I am looking through old pictures and no matter what, I have some pictures that make me laugh every time.

This is one of them.

What I find so funny is of course the faces they are making. Sam's red tongue and Aly's pointy tongue. My most favorite part is the fact that they are trying to put a worm on a hook with "press on nails". Such girls! They make me so proud.

and practice has started

2011-12-12T11:19:00.000-07:00

Can't complain about 16'6" for practice.

3 celery sticks

2011-12-08T13:42:00.002-07:00

A mom being as creative as she can to make every crumb of food in the house stretch to feed her family. 2 eggs to feed a family of 4 for breakfast. Not one morsel going to waste. They were hungry all the time, never enough to fill their bellies. The mom open the trash one day to throw something away and saw 3 celery sticks in the trash. She was upset that someone was wasting 3 celery sticks. That may not seem like a big deal to most, but to her it could not go to waste when they were always hungry. She took the celery out of the trash and washed it.
***** This was a Dr Oz episode I watched this week. You may have seen it too. *****

Another mom cleaning the kitchen walked to the trash to throw some paper away when she sees half of a breakfast burrito in the trash. On a normal day she would be bugged at the waste and roll her eyes, but nope not today. The 3 sticks of celery flashed in her mind. The thought of a family somewhere who would be thrilled to have a half of a burrito to feed their kids breakfast before they left for school. Seeing cereal bowls with milk still left in the bowl just sitting on the counter, and the thought of the kids who had almost no milk in their cereal because there was not enough milk in the house and they would be without milk for 4 days. This mom heard her husbands voice in her mind from just this last Sunday saying "we waste too much food". This mom has had a eye opening.

When my little burrito tosser (i'm not mentioning names)

came home from school I asked her why it was thrown away. She said that they were leaving for school and she didn't have time to eat it all.   So I said then put it in a bag and freeze it for tomorrow. She said "oh that's a good idea". I invited her into my room so we could sit and watch the Dr. Oz show together and she could see how some families are living with so little food.   I think she learned a lesson.   This family just might do a better job at eating left overs and only making what we will eat.

This morning after making Wyatt an omelet for breakfast, he ate breakfast and then headed for the shower.   I started cleaning the kitchen again and looked to see if I had another ~~victim~~ kid who was going to get to watch Dr Oz with me again.   He threw nothing away. He ate the whole thing.   This mom smiled to herself and was happy that her hungry boy was fed and didn't waste. Ü

3 celery sticks was all it took to make this mom want to try harder to teach her kids to be thankful for what they have.

Winter Semi-Formal 2011

2011-12-06T12:44:00.000-07:00

The week before the dance the girls made matching shirts for them and their dates to wear for their day date that they planned for the morning of the dance.

Not sure exactly what they did for their day date but it was some kind of scavenger hunt and then back to one of their friends house for lunch.

I am just gonna say this before you see the pictures we took right before the dance. They decided to take their pictures outside and all I can say is it was....

Cooold and Fareeeezing!

You can't tell but those girls were jittery they were so cold. They kept throwing on jackets in between pictures. Those of us taking pictures were standing in the rain.

They headed off to dinner at Baci (yum) and then to the dance were they had a fun time, then to one of the other girls homes for hot chocolate and donuts. Long day, but a good time!

my thanks

2011-11-29T14:05:00.001-07:00

Always Thankful

when I have all my kids home together under one roof.

They never seem to change. They love having fun together and Wyatt loves having TJ home so he is not the only boy in the house. Another nice Thanksgiving this year with our family all together.

All the way up.

2011-11-26T17:03:00.000-07:00

This is the saying I put up in TJ's room and even though he has moved out, it is still up on the wall.

Several months ago before I had started my running routine, Thayne and I went for a hike up in the San Tan mountains. To be honest it was a struggle for me. I was completely out of shape and what made it harder was I was with "speed hiker" Thayne. I could only go halfway and was completely out of breath. When we got to the part that was steep, I said "heck no" I can't do it. So we didn't and finished our easy fun hike without going up the hardest part of the mountain. Last night I asked Thayne if he wanted to hike again. I was convinced that after running for almost a month I would be able to do much better. We decided to get up at 6am. We actually got up at 7:30am because it was too dark at 6 and because we were slugs and couldn't get out of bed that early. Wyatt and his friend Carlos wanted to go with us, so the the 4 of us went. It was a bit chilly when we started but a perfect beautiful day for a hike. I left with thought that I was gonna make it to the top. When we got to the first spot (yes there was more than one) that last time I thought I was going to die, I was completely fine and feeling great this time. So we kept going. I did make a few quick breathers but I kept hiking without thinking I was gonna quit. When we got to the bottom of the steep part of the hill I was determined to hike to the top. Even if it meant going slow. I was feeling great but not sure how long that would last after I started up. I am happy to say I didn't give up and I made it to the top. Wyatt and Carlos went up a different mountain and so Thayne and I stood at the top of our mountain, ok it was more of a hill, and watched Wyatt climb to the top of their hill. Carlos gave up about 3/4 of the way, but I was so proud to see Wyatt not stop and keep on going until he got to the very top.

After that first hike I went on, I thought I was just old and would never make it to the top. Now I know I was just out of shape and as long as I keep going I can do anything. We have already decided to do another hike. Today's hike was 3 miles. Our next hike we have mapped out is about 7. Not a big hike for some people, but for me it is something bigger to strive for and accomplish. Running has been great for me. I have to say I don't always finish something especially if it means doing it in the cold. I am determined to finish my running program, I go every other day whether it is cold or not. Running has me more motivated to accomplish things I never wanted to do before. I can't say I love running but I love how I feel when I am done.

So I am not going to give up. Gonna keep running and going to hike to the next tallest peek.

Even if I can't do it the first time, I am not going to give up. There is always a second and third time to do it, just as long as I keep trying.

Night at the K

2011-11-22T18:20:00.000-07:00

"MOM, the truck is out of gas. I guess you will have to take me to school tomorrow".

blah blah blah

I heading to bed last night completely set on taking the girls to school in the morning when I
decided to grab the keys to the "silver bullet" (name of the truck) and head to Circle K to get gas
for the girls to drive themselves to school in the morning.

I turned the key and the first thing I hear playing LOUD in the cd player is Justin Beiber Christmas.
Deciding to try to be cool or to some people uncool I drove all alone to Circle K listening to Justin Beiber
Christmas.   As I pulled into the parking lot of Circle K there were 5 sheriff cars in the parking lot talking to a guy.   I am thinking something big must be going down, but I needed gas so I pulled right up to a pump.

*** OK now try to visualize ***

I pull up in Thaynes big silver truck.   I (me an old lady) get out of the big silver truck with Justin Beiber Christmas blaring on the radio.   I look over and see all the sheriff's and the guy in question looking at me, and all at once they all smiled.

It was not the smiles of "hey baby how's it goin", it was a smile of "what is wrong with this picture".

Funny stuff I tell ya.   I'm sure they got a good laugh, I know I did.

update on my last post

2011-11-17T14:16:00.000-07:00

Sooooo, I have some great news!

oh wait, I mean......

I have some great news!

Yesterday I took Samantha shopping for a winter formal dress, which most definitely isn't the good news cuz we didn't find anything. The good news is that while we were driving Samantha asked me if I was going to throw her a graduation party and I said YES,

butttttttttt.....

only if I can do a table with purple (one of her schools colors) tulle.

She said yes and I said, well then of course I will throw you a party.

After Christmas is over this lady is going shopping for purple tulle.

******Happy Dance******

STOP! Reverse! I wanna go back for one day.

2011-11-16T08:30:00.000-07:00

Awwww I remember them at this age.

Now they are growing up and have their own ideas.

I wonder if........

just for one day they let me throw them a party that looked like this......

http://party.tipjunkie.com/tutu-table-skirt/

or this

http://party.tipjunkie.com/sugar-and-spice-birthday-party/

Thayne promised the kids a big bonfire party soon.

They just have to pick the date and we will have it.

I am thinking I can come up with something clever so I can make a cute tutu table that will fit in with a bonfire theme.

If only I could go back for one day when I could give my idea and not be the "old fashion" mom with dumb ideas.

I did look for winter formal dresses online for Sam and she loved my first choice. Shocking I know.

I am just loving all the pinks, tutu's, frilly, puffy, sparkly things.

Maybe Wyatt would...... no I'm sure he won't want a party like that either. Hahahaha Bummmer.

Christmas give aways.

2011-11-09T15:08:00.001-07:00

Sorry I didn't see this sooner, I haven't been blog hopping for awhile.

Tip Junkie is having their 12 days of Christmas giveaways. Some items are already closed but they still have some you can try to win and they will be adding more. All you have to do to enter to win is leave a comment for the post of the item you want to win. Very easy!

Go to Tip Junkie and you will see it on the home page.

Good luck!

simple reminder

2011-11-09T13:52:00.002-07:00

Sam is so "hoppy"

2011-11-07T21:27:00.002-07:00

Winter Formal this year is "girls ask the guys".

Sam had a few obstacles that came her way when she was figuring
out who to ask and how to ask.

She thought she had it all figured out,
but once you open your mouth some friends steal your ideas.

Blah! Girls are so dumb sometimes.

So we came up with a new idea!

She decided to ask the same guy she asked last year. They are great friends and have alot of fun together, not to mention that they look so stinkin cute together and he treats her really good.

So plan B...

Sam went a bought a baby chick.

she actually got 2, and so we are stuck with one.

I wasn't home when she took it over, but she put the chick in a box and made a poster board that said..
"this chick wants to go to the winter formal with you".
She had her name on the little food bowl so he knew who it was.

I was a little nervous and a little prepared for something coming back in a box that needed to be fed, and was thinking he may find a way to return the baby chick to us.

Nope not so lucky.

Tonight the door bell rang. I opened the door to see this.

My first thought was that I was so glad that horse wasn't real.

PHEWWW!

Sam was already asleep so I woke her up so she could go to the door to see what she got. I never noticed the sign said

"HOPPY" not "HAPPY".

Sam opened the box to find this cute lil thing.

Cute, right?

Tonight he sleeps in Sam's room and it didn't take her more than 10 minutes to be back in bed asleep.

Winter formal = one chick and one rabbit

And to think we were down to just one cow.

embarrased? nope

2011-11-07T19:59:00.000-07:00

Even when Thayne and I try to embarrass our kids, it rarely works.

Thayne did manage to embarrass Sam and I last Friday night. We went to the high school football game and it was super windy. Thayne decided to wear his clear plastic safety goggles to protect his eyes from the wind. Sam and I pretended we didn't know him. Jess and Wyatt didn't seem to care that he wore them.

We don't embarrass easy, but plastic safety goggles to the kids High School will do it.

The one kid that never ever seems to be embarrassed by us is TJ.

He has always been affectionate with us even in public and never cares what his friends think.

When we would show up at his Jr High school to talk to a teacher, he would always walk up to us and give us a hug and a kiss right in front of his friends.

Today, Thayne and I decided to drive to Paradise Valley to visit TJ at college to watch his pole vaulting practice. I never worried that he wouldn't want us to be there with his friends.

As we walked towards the field TJ left his friends and girl friend and walked right over to us and gave us a hug and a kiss. We were the only parents there watching and I said to Thayne "do you think the other kids think it's weird we are here watching"? All I know is TJ liked us there and kept walking over to spend time with us when he wasn't waiting to jump. Even in college it is ok to have your parents hanging around.

It was fun to see him jumping again. They just started jumping today for the first time this season. TJ is doing good and we are hoping for a good pole vaulting year. I can't wait until the beginning of the year for his meets to start. TJ's coach told him that some Division 1 colleges have been calling and asking about him and we would love to see him move on to a 4 year college with a pole vaulting scholarship. Pole vaulting got him to go to college, now let's hope it will keep him there for a few more years. Ü

Today

2011-11-03T08:53:00.001-07:00

Does every month have to have a theme?

Just because it's Thanksgiving this month does it have to be a whole month of

"I am thankful for...".

I'm not saying it's a bad thing, but why does it have to be overly done in November.

Thanksgiving is a day. Be extra thankful that day and then be thankful everyday of the year.

I am so glad I have friends and family who have alot to be grateful for, that makes me happy.

So since it is the month to be thankful, here is my list for the month......

HA!

I will save my list for Thanksgiving.

I have not been very good at seeing my blessing as much as I should. Some days I see them more then other days. Some days I have to look for them, and some days the blessings have to smack me right

between the eyes to see that they are there. So, making a list for everyone to see is not my plan for this month. I am going to just take each day and look at the blessing I have and everyday add a new one to my mental list. I have a feeling some days will be easier than others and that's ok.

The hard days I will just be grateful that I can go to sleep and know I will wake up to a new
day to look for all the great blessings I have. Ü

my latest pet peeve

2011-10-31T14:37:00.000-07:00

I know it is a huge surprise that I have a pet peeve.

Some things just get to me more then others. Now I have a new one.

Are you ready for it?

There is nothing more annoying then online recipes with comments that rave about how FABULOUS, or BEST I'VE EVER HAD, or YOU HAVE TO TRY THIS ONE, and my favorite is....

BETTER THAN MY GRANDMAS.

BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH!!!!!!

All that means to me is, NOTHING!

Every recipe I have tried that says those things are nasty.

To be honest most of them are quick and easy recipes.

I am just sticking to the old fashion hard recipes because they just taste better.

I don't care about low fat, no taste, nasty shmasty stuff.

Like one I tried was....

OK before I tell ya I know this one just looked bad but I tried it.

Ok it said, "just take a box cake mix and add one can of pumpkin for the best ever pumpkin cake or cupcakes". If you have seen this online, don't try it. It is sticky and no taste. Just don't do it.

Trust me I tried it and lucky for me I had teenage boys at my house to eat them, and they

only ate them because they eat anything.

So my pet peeve is stupid dumb reviews on recipes.

I did however try a recipe that a friend of mine found online and she tried it first and said it was yummy, so then I tried it. I made it last night for dinner. I thought it was yummy and Thayne said he liked it, and Wyatt ate it and liked it. My girls made fun of it from the time it hit the table,

but that is completely normal for them so we don't count their opinion.

Are you wondering what it was I made?

I made Spicy Mandarin Orange Chicken.

My friend Jen got the recipe here.

Let me just add that I am not a good cook at all.

I do have my standard good recipes and I am really trying to get better, but darn is it

frustrating when I try a recipe and it just isn't a good one.

Have I mentioned that it is almost fudge making season again,

and I know how to make good fudge.

Maybe I will even be nice a post my recipe on here this year.

For all I know it is on the back of some box somewhere, but I got it from

Thayne's grandma so to me it is a family recipe. Ü

Halloween 2011

2011-10-31T14:07:00.000-07:00

The best part of Halloween this year is....

NO COSTUMES!

My kids think they are to old. Phew!

Luckily the ward trunk or treat was Saturday night at the

exact same time as Wyatt's football game, so no need for costumes.

We did manage to carve pumpkins.

Wyatt's friend Carlos was over so we ~~invited~~ forced him to carve pumpkins with us.

We also made caramel apples.

Mostly because Jessika has wanted to eat one since she got her braces off.

She wouldn't let me take a picture of her eating it though. Whatever!

Every Halloween we go up to my sisters for the kids to hang out and trick or treat together.

I think this year they will just be hanging out because of the "they think they're too old" to trick or treat.

We don't get trick or treaters in my neighborhood so it is always more fun taking the kids to be with cousins.

One more holiday crossed off the list for this year.

C25K

2011-10-25T08:53:00.000-07:00

Week 1

Again!

Last week I started the running program Couch to 5K. Thinking it was a fabulous idea to get me active again and maybe back into shape. Well at least a better shape then I am in now.

How did week one go? I am just gonna put it out there....... IT SUCKED!

It is a great program and so easy to follow, but I hated it and realized how bad off I was that I didn't want to finish the first day. I went back and did a second day and did a little better but still hated it. I was going down and running at the Jr High school track and seriously how boring is that?

Week 2 (today) I decided to start with day one of the program again because let's face it I was not ready for week 2 yet. My girls left for school at 6am and as soon as they left I grabbed my itouch and ran out the door. This time running in my neighborhood. As I started down the driveway all I could see was the most glorious sunrise ever. The sky was this beautiful red with light grey clouds scattered perfectly. That was all I needed to make me think that 6am is the best time to get out and run. What I really wanted to do is just go back in the house and grab my camera and go out and take pictures of the sunrise, but then I knew I would not finish my run later. So I kept going and going and going. Do you know what I love? I love colors. Not just any colors or not any one particular color. I love seeing things in nature and just thinking that color just makes it beautiful. Like the vibrant red sunrise, or the rich green of new grass (green is my favorite), or the burnt orange of fall flowers. Love it all. I think when things are the perfect color I feel at peace, but if they are the wrong color it drives me nuts. I guess it's true that color sets a mood.

Anyways, back to my running. I did it! I did day one with no problem. I didn't struggle and I am not planning on giving it up. I am supposed to go every other day, so I will try again on Thursday.

I can't quit. I must keep going. Sam wants me to run in the Londons Run with her in January and I am thinking of doing the 10K and the thought of that makes me scared.

Whenever I am running and after a minute think I am going to die, this is what comes to my mind....

“By small and simple things are great things brought to pass”

(Alma 37:6).

I know I can do this. I feel better after I run. I feel happier and more motivated to do other things. I focus more on positive things and I know it is only helping me.

I look forward to posting about my 10K in January.

Not promising pictures, but you will for sure here about it.

If you want to try Couch to 5K you can find it here or on your apps with your iproducts.

sleeping in boxes

2011-10-24T13:36:00.005-07:00

This year for youth conference our stake decided to combine with other faiths in our area,

and create a cardboard city. It was to make the kids aware of homeless in the area and see
how they live and what their needs really are. This was way different then what I remember

youth conference to be, but it was something my girls were willing to do and make it fun.

Each youth was to decorate their own box that they would sleep in. The majority of the kids

just showed up with a box not decorated, which was NO FUN and at the same time brilliant.

We could have saved so much time and saved our grass the girls painted and even part of the
driveway and sidewalk that got speckled with paint. However, I am glad they put some
effort into painting their boxes because I think it got them in the mood to go and have fun.

Of course they had activities that night and they all slept in their boxes at the park.

For dinner they went through a soup line which they all said was gross, but I bet if they

were really homeless and hungry they would have loved it.

The next night they had classes and a dance, because what is a youth conference without a dance.

Sunday night was the fireside and dinner.

Youth Conferences are not all the same. Some are super duper fun stuff and others are more

of a learning experience. It is what you make of it. I believe you can have fun doing

anything, and even if it's sleeping in a park in a cardboard box you can have fun.

I'm a good supporter..... well kinda.

2011-10-18T13:56:00.000-07:00

I can sit and watch my kids play any sport.

I enjoy every bit of it.

(well unless it rains, I don't enjoy watching in the rain)

Right now we are still watching football.

Showing team spirit is important.

This is my shirt I wear for support.

However, after going to Saturdays game I realized

that I need to step up my game and buy myself some

Eagle wings or something, cuz this is what the other

moms are bringing out.

What was I thinking when I went with a bling t-shirt,

I should have gone with the wings.

Duhhhhh!

Pet City

2011-10-18T13:21:00.000-07:00

Your last few days of fall break and you get to help

your dad clean the garage.

and while cleaning starting your very own

collection of scorpions with your dad.

shouldn't there be fish in that thing?

I was told there is 4 or 5 scorpions in there but when

I took a peek I only saw one.

So either someone can't count, or 3 got away, or the

big one got hungry and ate the others.

All I know is this is not my idea of a pet.

Jess and I

2011-10-13T17:15:00.001-07:00

Oh how I love this girl!

She always makes me laugh even when she isn't trying to.

Love her sarcasm, her honest opinion, and her witty humor.

I don't like going to the MVD with her 3 times to have her fail her permit test for her drivers license.

uggggggggg!

However hanging out with her afterwards is quite fun.

With TJ at college, and Sam and Wyatt spending the night with their cousins, I had Jessika all to myself.

Yesterday after her 2nd attempt and 2nd fail, we headed to the new El Rico's Dos for lunch. Then took Jess shopping to buy a men's dress shirt for Jess to make a skirt out of. Then to Yogurt Jungle because who doesn't need chocolate. To finish off our day we headed to see "The Help" because Jess has wanted to see it and I wanted to see it again.

at the movies!

Today we headed off to the MVD again hoping for a better outcome then yesterday, only to get another fail.
blahhhhhhhh!

We did get lunch again and then headed to the grocery store.

After 2 fun days together and she said she wasn't sick of me.
Now that is Success!!!!!!!!!!

Just because you fail doesn't mean you can't make fun memories!

always fun

2011-10-10T22:47:00.002-07:00

It's always fun when family comes!

When there is a hint that family may be coming to visit from out of town, my kids start texting cousins right away to make plans when they are here. The adults just chat briefly on the phone making no plans except saying we are all free and will figure something out when everyone is here. It always seems to work out that way, and we always seem to have fun.

This last weekend we had a fun visit from Ethan and Shannon and their 4 really missed kids.

We all have kids spending the night at each others homes.

We (the parents) are lucky enough to have kids old enough that they figure out where they will be staying, we just provide the roof and the food and the kids provide the fun.

I scored with just having Wyatt, and his 2 cousins spend the night at my house. The stayed up late and woke up early.

They wanted to go on an early morning hike.

Cold pizza in hand and they went off to explore the San Tan mountains. When Thayne and I picked them up a few hours later, we got a show and tell. I didn't get pictures, but when Wyatt opened his backpack we got a nice surprise. A tarantula! You are probably thinking what I was thinking...
"they caught the sucker and brought it home?"

Why yes they did. Wyatt got home and put it in an empty aquarium and was happy to have a new pet. Only it died the next day. I think someone (wyatt) needs to learn how to keep them as a pet before he tries it again.

PHEWWWWWW! Glad the lil guy is gone!

What is more fun than having family visit then to take a

Football Break!

and the family tagged along...

Congrats to the Eagles on a fall break win.

Playing with only 16 boys makes for tired football players.

---------------------------

Teenagers headed for a party and a dance. (no pics)

Little kids stayed home to play and watch movies.

Now my favorite part is.....

The adults went to dinner and ice cream!!!!

I think it's funny that Rachel asked the owner of the restaurant to stand on a chair to take our pics because it looks better.

Fun family weekend and always sad to see them go home.

Roloing into Fall Break

2011-10-03T21:39:00.003-07:00

Apparently cupcakes are the rage.

Who knew they would be such a huge deal when they have

been around what seems like forever.

I don't think I like the cupcake, but I most certainly ♥ the frosting. It is the only reason to eat a cupcake.

In fact what I normally do is break off the bottom part

of the cupcake and just eat the top part with the frosting.

So when I say I wanted to make cupcakes it's not for the cupcake,

it is because I want to make the big honkin dollip of frosting on top.

I have never frosted a cupcake with a frosting bag and fancy tip.

I use what every normal mother in America uses..... a butter knife.

Well today I wanted to try. I was given a rolo cupcake recipe from

one of Jessika's friends mom's. You can find it here if you wanna

try making it too. Recipe

Here is my attempt

I know I need to practice to make them look cuter because that's why I want to make them is to make cute yummy frosting on top.

Now, for this rolo recipe all I can say is.......

Saaaweeeeeet!

I couldn't eat the whole thing it was very sweet,

but the kids ate them and we even took some to friends.

What you can't see is there is a rolo you put in the cupcake

before you cook it so it's like a secret surprise when you eat it.

I am not sure if I liked the rolo inside, I think next time I may

try without it and just put one rolo on top.

I am thinking my next attempt will have to have some

cinnamon in the frosting. Something to make it feel like fall.

Maybe a pumpkin something or other.

Oh ya and I am going to buy a humongous tip for frosting,

I think that will make it look better. Ü

Thayne has always told me that

"you are only as good as your tools",

so I think that makes it ok to go out and buy it.

The BIG TWO ZERO

2011-09-26T09:53:00.000-07:00

Last Wednesday, Thayne and I celebrated our 20th Anniversary.

If I were to describe how the last 20 years have been I would say.

I am sure I could add alot more but that sums it up for now.

I just feel blessed to be married to someone who I know loves me and who always puts up with me through all the good times and the bad crappy times. I am married to my best friend who I love and I am so glad I get to grow old with someone as handsome as he is. I'm a lucky girl! ♥

She smiles

2011-09-19T17:18:00.000-07:00

Somebody has been counting down the days til

she got her braces off.

Today would be the day and she was so excited.

After an hour in the chair.

she is finally metal free.

back in the saddle

2011-09-19T13:10:00.000-07:00

When school gets out everyday I feel like I am swinging from badminton to football.

I can't take all the credit of being at everything and getting kids to where they need to be,

Sam has been so great at helping with the mom taxi job. When I am at Jess' games and

Wyatt has to be at football, Sam is always willing to help out.

Jess is loving badminton. She is learning alot and having fun. She hasn't won a game yet,

but we have fun watching and she is having fun playing and that's what's important.

Let's not forget she is the cutest girl out there.

Wyatt had his 2nd football game on Saturday. His first game was a night game and it was raining.

Maybe I should rephrase that.... it was POURING!

this isn't Wyatt, but look at the rain. Don't let the parents on the other side
of the field fool you, they weren't standing there for long.

First game they tied 0-0. It was not a recorded game so they didn't go into overtime.

They won their 2nd game 14-12.

I am enjoying being back behind the camera.

Last yr. of the teen

2011-09-16T11:39:00.001-07:00

I know I am late,

but one week ago today this cutie pie...

turned the fun age of 19.

Thayne and I had alot of fun spending the day with him. Even with a girlfriend at college he still wanted to be home and spend the day with us. Of course she was along the whole day too via text messaging with TJ. We can't wait to meet her.

Tj is such a good boy and it's fun watching him grow up. I love that he still texts me all the time and I love the hugs and kisses he gives when he is home. I just love his easy going personality and am scared of his fearless attitude when it comes to sports.

Love You TJ! ♥

pat on the back

2011-09-06T11:02:00.001-07:00

While Thayne and I were driving together on Saturday morning,
we each recieved this text.

"So I had to meet this girls parents yesterday.....

and they think that I was raised by some good parents cause of

how respectful I was to them.

Just thought I'd say thanks for raising me right. Ü"

that's alot of poison

2011-09-02T19:10:00.000-07:00

I don't mind the Arizona heat, in fact I kinda like it.

I wish there were more green hills and mountains to look at.

A beach within a few hours would be nice to have.

Winters are the best in Arizona. Always perfect weather.

There are many things I love about living in Arizona.

There are a few things I don't like as much but deal with because the weather is great.

The one thing I hate, hate, hate about Arizona and is the only thing that makes me want to move tomorrow is finding this mama in my garage.

Wanna know what I am thinking about this?

Just throw all your Christmas boxes away.

I can just imagine how many more of these suckers are in my boxes.

It seriously gives me the creepy crawlies.

So I keep telling myself.....

"self, scorpions are so much better than living in earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, snow and humidity."

I think I may need to repeat that over and over as I begin digging through

Christmas boxes in a few months.

It's all indoors

2011-08-31T09:51:00.000-07:00

Finally one of my children took pitty on me and decided to play an indoor sport. No sitting in the heat watching the games.

Miss Jessika is playing High School

Are you thinking what I thought?

"There is really a High School Badminton team?"

Well yes there is. I think it is the quietest game to watch.

She had her first games yesterday.

She didn't win any, but she is pretty good. I was impressed.

She was the only kid with a cheering section.

I mean really, do parents not think they need to be there?

Jessika actually had 3 generations in her cheering section.

We had great grandma, Mimi and Papa, and of course me. Ü

The thing that is driving me crazy in taking pictures in the gym. I can't ever seem to get it right. I am hoping by the end of badminton season I have it all figured out and I get some good pictures.

phew

2011-08-29T12:18:00.000-07:00

Hayward Baker Co. picnic

Magic Mountain

Dinner with Cuillards

Beach

Tommy's

All squeezed in a day and a half.

some days

2011-08-26T15:44:00.001-07:00

I am thinking today is one of those days where you just

have to choose to laugh.

On top of other things that I had today and trying to get things ready for a quick trip to California this weekend,

Sam called from school telling me the truck wouldn't start.

Feeling stressed I grabbed a gas can, jumper cables and my stressed out self and started driving to the school.
Have I mentioned it is so stinken hot here right now.

Half way there I just started laughing and thought this is what being the mom is. I knew these days were gonna come and I was gonna be ok when they came. So I called Thayne and double checked how to jump the car and felt better about the whole situation and knew everything would work out and we would get it fixed and home so we could leave for Ca.

With a "we can do this" attitude I showed up smiling and saw Miss Samantha with her friend Deddrick who refused to leave her at school alone with a broken car.

Love boys like that.

He helped us jumped the truck, put all the jumper cables away for me, took time to show me that him and Sam had on matching outfits, gave Sam a hug and all was good.

phone pics aren't the best, but so glad I got a pic of this.

♫ The Mood

2011-08-25T10:38:00.001-07:00

Music

sets the mood

(When I just wrote that the Disney movie Little Mermaid popped into my head when they were going out on the canoe and the crab said "first you need to set the moooood". Love that movie and I think it funny how certain things make quotes from movies and lyrics from songs pop in your head. )

It is something I have always known. I grew up in a house with music being played, sung, danced to and blasted.

I now live in a house with all of the above.

I should clarify that being sung in our home is actually belting it out at the top of your lungs and making it your own.

What I have always known, is that certain kinds of music put us in certain moods. When I want to work out all I have to do is turn on Pink, she just makes me want to get up and move.

Anything 80's makes me want to dance. Scary thought I know but one should never shop dancing, even if your kids laugh.

Slow music makes me want to go lay on a blanket on the grass and watch clouds float through the sky.

Church music puts me in the mood to be a better person.

The music that makes my heart smile and brings peace to my mind is the music my kids bring into out home with their talents.

I so enjoy waking up to Sam playing a hymn on the piano. I love hearing my kids playing and singing with the guitar.

I'm Alive

2011-08-24T17:07:00.001-07:00

I can honestly say that after pretty much being

in bed for the last few weeks,

it is nice to finally feel like I can get up and do things.

Still in pain but I can cope much better.

When you lay in bed and watch

HGTV and Food network it can really

get you motivated to cook (maybe cook is a stretch, but bake a lil)

and do fun projects.

I even squeezed in a few lunches with friends this week.

The best thing I have noticed about being up and about is, spending time in the kitchen with the kids. That is when they open up the most and tell me about all the fun and crazy stories of their day. I've missed that.

So here is another mom tip.

Food and time is all you need to get your kids to talk to you. That's it. Pretty simple huh?

On a side note......

I finished all the football decals I needed to make.

Can I hear a WoooHooo!

theif in the night

2011-08-21T12:47:00.000-07:00

Even if you can eat this whole thing in one sitting,

you just shouldn't.

Thayne and I went out last night for a late night ice cream run and we both

got a Sonic Blast. I got the Oreo and he got the Reeses.

I knew I was not going to finish all of mine so I got home put my left overs in the freezer,

CROSSED MY FINGERS it would be there in the morning.

Still not feeling great I was laying in bed and I asked Thayne to get my ice cream for me.

He walked back into the room and said

"sorry to have to give you the bad news, but"

NO need to finish I knew Wyatt had found that baby in the middle of the night and ate it.

Happens every time.

I guess I should think of it as a good way to diet. Boooooo!

Ouch update

2011-08-17T21:04:00.000-07:00

I have a one word shoulder update.....

MRI

Hopefully I will have answers soon so I can get it fixed and get
some sleep and my butt to the gym. Staying up all night does nothing
but let's me feel pain,have blood shot eyes, realize nothing worth
watching on late night tv, let's me practice my mad Scrabble moves,
and stay at the top of the leader board of Bejeweled Blitz.
I need to either fix my shoulder or get a good book. Maybe both.
So for those of you who have asked, that's how I'm doing.
Poor Rachel got stuck on the phone with me because she asked.

always in bloom

2011-08-16T09:10:00.000-07:00

Remember this day?

That was the day I saw this....

and I thought

~CLEAVER~

A corsage made with material flowers, tulle, and black feathers. It was so stinkin cute and it was never gonna die.

They are everywhere these flowers. In girls hair, on jewelry, on clothes. All different kinds and all different sizes.

I think they are so fun, and I am so glad I have 2 girls who will wear them. So here is my thing about these, how hard can they really be to make. I wanna know because I want to make them and not buy them. It is just something that runs in my creative blood. So I went on a hunt and here are some tutorials that I found and liked and I am passing them on to you, because then you can make them yourself and I won't have to make them for you. Ü

Tip Junkie

Lil Blue Boo

Living Locurto

Go ahead and Google away, there are many more sites that show you how to make them. These are just a few that I liked.

They look super easy. I think I am gonna make some and then make the super duper easy apron Cindy showed me how to make and add some flowers to it. I'll show you how to do the apron later, but let's just say EASY sewing.

sweet 17

2011-08-11T10:47:00.001-07:00

She...

• already has one foot out the door

• always determined to get what she wants

• dependable

• stubborn as all heck

•loves to plan

• knows how to sweet talk her dad

• can't wait to be 18 and graduated

•sings at the top of her lungs

•loves practical jokes

• can be a total pain when she wants to be

and I would never have survived this week without having her here.

She sure knows how to help out her mama when she's disabled.

She never minds driving her brother and sister around.

She jumps at the chance to run to QT for me.

Not even just this week, she is always willing to help.

This week I just especially appreciate it because she is not just doing things because she wants to, she's doing it because she has to because I can't, and she hasn't complained one bit.

I ♥ Sam! 

Oh the pain

2011-08-09T22:13:00.000-07:00

I've been a slug!

Am I the only that is mentally ready to do projects when my body is not able, and physically ready to do projects when I'm mentally not wanting to do projects?

That is my life right now. I am so ready to get into Wyatts room and help him clean and organize it. I have some ideas of what I want to do with it. Problem is I have been in so much pain this last week. I have some wackadoo shoulder that is hurting like crazy. I think I would rather be in labor having a baby because it would be over by now. I am a total wimp. No pain tolerance. Today I finally went to the dr and got some good medicine and I am hoping to finally get some sleep. See that is one reason I never would have made it as a pioneer, no good drugs for pain. I am blessed with great kids who have helped me out as I whined about hurting.

Today I had a friend that I met in the 3rd grade come to Scottdale for a visit. She asked if I would be able to meet her for the day at the resort she was staying at. I was excited to see her but almost cancelled because I was hurting. I went anyways and had such a nice time visiting with her, sipping Pina Coladas by the pool and having lunch together. It is so nice having friends that no matter how long you go without seeing each other, you can talk for hours with out coming up for air. We had so much fun talking about life and old memories. Can you believe we forgot to take a picture. Dang I hate forgetting to take pictures of fun memories.

Great kids, good friends, and pain medicine makes for a good day.

Why?

2011-08-05T09:36:00.001-07:00

Why is it I decide to walk outside in the heat when I have a perfectly good gym membership?

I walked last night during football practice with my friend Cindy. She usually runs but she was nice enough to walk for me. I walked again this morning. Woke up with my shoulder hurting again, but I went walking anyways. Feels so good to get out and feels better to exercise. Exercise makes me want to eat better. I drink more water than coke when I exercise. It sounds like seeing the benefits would make it such an easy thing to do, but taking that first step to get out the door is totally dreadful. I want to get to where I am running and not walking. The thing is I really want to live where there is paved roads so I can rollerblade again. Maybe I will go to the park to do some rollerblading. All I know is after hurting my shoulder with the weight ball, I will be taking a break from that thing for awhile.

Tonight is the first dinner with the football moms for this season. I know it's the little things that make me happy. I'm easily entertained. I'm also looking for a job to keep myself busy while the kids are at school. Life is busy, crazy, sometimes interesting and sometimes blah, but it's life and everyday I try to learn something. Love my friends. You know who those friends are that you can count on. They are the ones who just call or text the "thinking about you" even tho you just talked to them the yesterday.

Family, friends and exercise are my smiles for this week.

Oh ya! I also went to the movies alone. All by my Lil ol self. A early morning movie and I actually enjoyed going alone. Definitely something I will do again.

Life

2011-08-02T09:36:00.002-07:00

Season of birds

2011-08-01T09:58:00.001-07:00

AGAIN!

Another season of Eagles football starts today.

I know you've heard me say it many times before,

but the best sport to watch is anything my kids play.

Don't think it's all gonna be Eagle football pictures the next few months,

more birds will be flying since Miss Jessika is starting Badminton soon
and I can't wait to watch that. Ü

pedaling

2011-07-29T18:55:00.001-07:00

Today has just been one of those day.

Nothing bad, nothing good.

Just felt blah, blah, blah.

and a lil waa waa waa.

I came across this motivating saying.

it just fell in my lap

2011-07-28T09:59:00.002-07:00

I'm sharing.

I know that sounds hard to believe to some,
but when I find something I think is pretty neat, I like to share.

Wanna know what it is?

It's ........
Hold your horses, I will let you know in a minute.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Have I ever mentioned that when I talk to people I like asking questions. I think it is fun to talk to people I don't know very well and ask them questions. I like talking to people and think its fun to always call them by their name, which is helpful if I don't know them and they are wearing a name tag. I always call cashiers by their name. It's amazing how much more friendly they become and how much more help you get. Go figure it is that easy.

Learning to have a conversation with people is not always easy. I get anxiety about it sometimes but I find if you just ask questions about them, the conversation just keeps going.

Why am I telling you this?

Don't get you panties in a bunch, I'm gonna tell ya.... in a second.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The other day Thayne and I were in World Market, it is a fun store to walk around. Thayne mentioned he wanted a tall table to use as a standing desk for his office at work. So I said, "really"? He said ya then I can stand and work. Hmmmm I can kinda see how that might be nice if you have to sit all day.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yesterday while I was folding laundry, I had the news on and a story came on that talked about the government closing down (i'm not sure how many) alot of post offices across the country because they have just lost alot of business do to people communicating on the computer and with phones and have stopped sending hand written letters. I can't remember the last hand written letter I have sent in the mail. I remember when I was a teenager and there was no internet and the only way of sending a note to a friend was by writing it out and sending it in the mail. I was going through a stack of papers in my closet and found a card that Thayne had sent me when we were first married. It was hand written and mailed. It was so neat to have that memory and it brought back some good times that we had. I have to say it has a whole different meaning than just getting an email.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Why do I tell you all this?

Isn't it neat when something is thought about or talked about and then you come across something that relates to those thoughts or conversations. I came across something yesterday. Maybe you have already heard of this but it's new to me and I think it is gonna be a favorite of mine for now on.

Want to know how to have a good conversation?

Good Conversation

Or now to remember someones name?

remembering a name

Or the benefits of having a stand up desk?

stand up desk

How about the art of letter writing?

letter writing

What I am sharing is this new website I found and I think it is so interesting and fun to browse through.

So, here it is. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have been.

The Art of Manliness

oh girlzzzzz

2011-07-26T11:45:00.000-07:00

Last night was the last late night for my girls before they go back to school. The decided to put their mattresses in the game room and have a late night sleep over with just the 2 of them.

1st day of 7th grade

2011-07-26T11:39:00.000-07:00

I dream in chocolate

2011-07-24T09:23:00.001-07:00

This morning I woke up remembering

that I had bought these.

Without any hesitation, I jumped out of bed at 7:30am and started making these...

Luckily for me the cookie police (me) was still in the kitchen to remind the kiddos as they woke up that the cookies were not breakfast, but an after breakfast dessert.

midnight at my house

2011-07-22T09:23:00.002-07:00

I am just going to pretend that everyone else had their kids tucked in bed and not only tucked in bed but put in bed at their exact bed time. That when you went to bed at a decent hour (9 or 10) you checked on your kids in their beds and saw them sleeping sweetly with smiles on their face.

If this is you, then congratulations you are ruining your kids summer of going to bed when they want and falling asleep where ever they fall in the house and falling asleep watching tv and leaving it on all night long.

Yep you guessed it, my kids are living the summer life and I hope they can switch back next week when school starts.

Last Night at midnight in my house.....

~Wyatt was out catching frogs in the irrigation.

~Jessika was up making cupcakes with Cassie

(because I was nice enough to go out at 9:30 to get her eggs)

~Sam had just gotten home from going to movies with friends, and is now playing with Wyatt.

~I was in bed trying to ignore the running and laughing in the house. Trying to pretend I could fall asleep and think my kids were old enough to not kill themselves.

~Success~

Woke up to Wyatt and Sam asleep on the couch. I didn't really feel like going for a walk around the house to see where Jess and Cassi ended up. I saw yummy cupcakes and decided to have one for breakfast and told myself you are doing a great job of not ruining your kids summer! My only regret is not taking pictures.

G_ _ _ s

2011-07-22T09:09:00.000-07:00

Starts with a G and ends with an S.....

Girls ~ Schmirls

Last kid to go to Jr High School.

For anyone who has gone through this can understand the feeling of being so glad that you no longer have a kid in elementary school and sad that knowing Jr High will change them into a "I'm too cool" teenager. Lucky for me this kid is sweet but he is showing signs of having a teenager opinion. The exciting part is watching him grow up and seeing what he does with that opinion.

We went to the Jr High school to get his schedule and to look at his classes so he knew where to go. I was looking for room numbers while he (Mr Social Butterfly) was looking for friends in the hall. I totally understood this was completely normal. This is after all my last kid and having done it 3 other times I knew I was on my own looking for classes. He was nice and pretended to act like he cared that I was taking him on a tour of the school. He will be glad when he gets there the first day and actually knows where to go. Ü

After we left I said to Wyatt....

Me~ "there was a really cute girl in the hall. She was wearing a white shirt and white leggings and her hair was off to the side in a cute braid". Did you see her?

Wyatt~ I saw alot of cute girls.

Obviously he wasn't just looking for friends in the hall he was looking at the girls.

This is gonna be a fun year.

Final Reunion post

2011-07-19T18:33:00.000-07:00

Last stop, Kanab.

Had a nice time in Kanab. Walked around a lil bit. Went by the cemetery to see Grandma Hulet. She is the one who wanted a family reunion every year and so it is nice that it still continues even after she is gone.

These are the end of the reunion pictures.

Phew. Now back to real life.

Reunion Day Two

2011-07-19T17:30:00.001-07:00

Saturday we decided to go hiking (this time it was a lil harder) at the sand caves. This time NO flip flops. Well it was more like a climb then a hike. When driving on the highway near Zion and you look up and see little dark caves up on the mountain and think how did those get up there and how do people get up there, well we went up there and it was quite a climb but much easier than I first thought.
By the way, I am fully aware that TJ is shirtless in every picture. I say if you look that good then why not show it off.

The walls of the cave were sand and there was carved graffitti all through the caves so we found nails and toy knives and wire that others had left and left our mark on the walls.

Nothing like standing on top of a mountain and hearing someone's cell phone ring.

Well this is not the end of our day, after we climbed down we headed into Kanab.

If you are wondering if there are pictures of that too, why yes there is.

Reunion day One ~ part 2

2011-07-19T16:20:00.000-07:00

After a day of hiking the whole family headed over to the Kanab swimming pool.

Reunion Day One~ first half

2011-07-19T15:37:00.000-07:00

This last weekend we attended Thayne's annual family reunion up in Alton, Utah. His family rents a cabin out every year for 3 days and we get to live with a ton of his closest relatives.

We drove up Thursday, so we didn't do anything exciting that day. Friday we woke up and decided to go look into a zipline place we saw down the road. When we got there we found out they had not yet opened for business so we let the kids play in the water while. We then headed up Zion Canyon and went on a small hike and when I say small I mean a half a mile in flip flops, to a waterfall. It was a nice day spent with a few of Thayne's cousins and their kids.

Hanging at the watering hole

The hike ~ notice Thayne in flip flops.

Don't we look exhausted. Ü

Hanging out with Thayne's cousin after the hike.

Summer Seventeen

2011-07-18T11:55:00.000-07:00

Having a birthday in the summer has some good and some bad.

The good is that strawberries are in season, and when you want strawberry shortcake for you birthday cake it is nice to have it when strawberries are so yummy.

The bad is having a family reunion or girls camp scheduled on your birthday every year so you have to celebrate a lil early.

This year it was a family reunion. Sam is always a good sport about having to celebrate on a different day when we have to.

Happy Birthday last week Sammy Soup! ♥

the quick trip

2011-07-13T12:26:00.000-07:00

Last week I took 3 of my kids on a quick 3 day trip to

California. We stayed with Thayne but we spent

2 days with my brother and his family at the beach and

at Magic Mountain. Two of my most favorite places.

We also got to see our favorite couple and their kids and made a quick Tommy's run with them but didn't get pictures. grrrrr

Here is a glimpse of our beach trip. I didn't get any at Magic Mt, because let's face it who wants to carry a camera around there.

Boys on the boogie boards

Smash Ball

Sand Fight

(and yes Jen started it)

Those of us not wanting to get our hair wet

Crash

and all other Misc pics

the very last pic is my favorite. hahaha

Drum roll please......

My favorite picture

Fun memories!

Together at last

2011-07-12T18:56:00.000-07:00

Last year was

BEARS and BULLDOGS.

This year these two ladies are gonna try

the BULLDOG thing together.

This year Jessika decided to change schools

and they will both be attending the same High School.

Here's to a new school year with both girls at

~Anything that makes my life easier is a good thing.~

a lil R&R

2011-07-06T19:50:00.000-07:00

Takin a few day to enjoy

family, friends and the west coast.

Now close your eyes and picture us with a sunburn, and for some sick reason I have always loved the sting of a sunburn. It tells me I had a fun day in the sun.

2011

2011-07-04T07:58:00.000-07:00

Not as I planned

2011-06-30T22:40:00.004-07:00

One of my good friends in California once told me while she was visiting teaching me that whenever she was cleaning or in the middle of doing something she needed to do, that was always the time her girls would come to her and ask her to help dress a Barbi doll, or help with dress up clothes and she would always tell them she was busy and couldn't do it right then. Then she said, "I realized I will always be busy and there will never be another one of those exact times again." So she always stopped to help and play with her girls so those moments wouldn't slip away.

I have always remembered that and was glad she said it to me when my kids were young. I am not always good at dropping everything especially as my kids get older because they are able to do most things on their own, but when I don't take the time the thought crosses my mind and I try to spend extra time with the kid who asked for my time. It's a learning process this parenting thing. Ü

Tonight was one of those nights. I had just taken Wyatt and my nephews to the movies. Had a fun time with them and I even think Calvin kinda likes me now. After the movie I dropped all the boys off at my sisters house and picked up Sam since she spent the night there last night. Jess was shopping with a friend.

It was just Sam and I for the next few hours.

I had to make a quick trip to Hobby Lobby for small paint brushes.

This is where the fun began!

You see I had planned a night to finish some painting.

That was until we passed the scrapbook isle. Sam asked if she could get a few scrapbook papers and do a small craft tonight.

My Brain perked up!

So ~~stupid~~ crafty me, started spurting of ideas of things she could do. Of course these things involved lil ol' me having to teach, help, or just do some of it.

I really thought she knew how to use the electric sander.

She does now!

Sam got busy and when she sets her mind to something she doesn't stop til she has it done.

smart girl changing into a Lowe's work shirt.

gotta love already cut pieces of base board in the garage that won't even go noticed that it is missing.

My "painting project"? What painting project?

This became my project and I wouldn't have missed a second of teaching, helping and doing any of it so that I had

one on one time with my almost 17 year old daughter

who will gone out of the house before I know it.

This is the project we decided to do first~

she picked the word!

The project started out easy since I already had random size wood that wouldn't need cut. We used vinyl letters so that was easy.

Just sanding, painting, mod podge and vinyl. Viola!

So easy that just as we started my brain perked up again and thought of something else we could do at the same time.

Only this would require me (well the laser) cutting the tags and letters,

me gluing on knobs, and me sanding.

All that so Sam could have one of these.

recognize the tulle? We bought a whole roll of it for prom and we are getting use of all of it.

We decided on wood letters for this one and I think it turned out great and she was very happy with it.

After she was done, she made me laugh when she said...

"You mean I have to clean this mess up now?"

The only thing we bought for both projects was scrap book paper.

Another moment not missed and

another night I will always remember! ♥

Flashback download

2011-06-30T20:19:00.000-07:00

Today I had a fun song pop in my head that

I have not heard in like forever.

Probably because the song is old now. Probably because the group was a lil outspoken and the public wasn't happy about it.

All I know is the song popped in my head,

and I have been singing it all day.

SO, I downloaded it!

The Song is.....

Let 'Er Rip

by these people....

Like them or not they sing great and you can't listen to them without singing along. I sing along and pretend I blend perfectly with them. As long as no one else is around to tell me different, I would make a great 4th member to the group.

My Lunch Buddies

2011-06-23T22:31:00.001-07:00

I don't eat breakfast. Well almost never.

I have a hard time turning down biscuits and gravy,

or a good donut.

I am a lunch person.

I LOVE A GOOD LUNCH!

I am a sucker for Deli's.

I am a sucker for BBQ.

I am a sucker for Mexican food.

Ok I could really eat anything....

EXCEPT FISH!!!!!!!!

There is a reason that is written so bold,

but that will be another post.

What I like about going to lunch is that it is the time of day I get hungry and everything sounds good.

It is my big meal of the day.

Another thing I like about lunch is my lunch dates.

Lunch dates are the best.

I have alot of people I would call friends,

but I only have a handful of people that I truly feel I can call any time of the day or night.

These people!

(these are my AZ people I have a handful in CA too)

These ladies are nice that I haven't called them at night yet, but ya never know I could.

Love these ladies, it is always fun when I get to go to lunch with them. Girl talk is always a good time.

I also have other lunch dates that I like maybe alil better!

These people are crazy and sometimes I have to pretend I am not with them when we go out, but I love spending time with them.

Let's Do Lunch!

Picture this...

2011-06-22T13:17:00.000-07:00

ME....

In a bathing suit and bathing suit shorts.

No Shoes.

Balancing on a short wobbly ladder.

Hose running.

Bucket of soapy water.

Washing windows. (yes I was...really)

I washed about 3 windows and was thinking everything was going smoothly. Then, all of a sudden I felt a tickly crawling, YES CRAWLING feeling up my leg. I looked down to see a scorpion crawling up my leg and seeing another one headed for the other leg. I couldn't believe it either.

I am pleased to announce that today I successfully washed 3 windows (yep I quit) and killed 2 scorpions in a half hours time.

Looks like I will be cleaning inside today!

BLAH!

domino effect

2011-06-21T16:33:00.000-07:00

It Happened!

Just like always. When I do one project it always sparks something in my brain of something else I can do.

Love when that happens.

It's a secret right now cuz I have to try it out,

but when I finish I will let you see.

Molding/tile Project

2011-06-20T20:08:00.003-07:00

I have a craft room.

Only I call it my office or laser room. I should call it the wreck room because that is what it looks like most of the time.

The laser room is where all my magic happens.

My mind gets all giddy with fun ideas. Some ideas are better than others, but they are all fun.

Some of my best ideas come from my kids saying...

"it's my friends birthday can you make something?"

Why YES I can!

Today is Emily's birthday. Her mom just redecorated her room so we thought something simple and cute and personalized would be a good idea. I dug into my room of tricks and pretty soon

this plain piece of molding

turned into this.

I love this molding because it is thick enough so it stands on its own. No easel necessary!

All I did was tape off the top half and painted the bottom half black and then scuffed.

Then taped off the bottom half and painted the top white.

Then with my handy dandy laser machine I cut out an "E" with mdf board and painted the "E" black, and then glued it on the top half of molding. Added a lil ***bling*** a Shazooow there it is.

Simple! The molding came just as you see it in the top picture so I did not have to cut anything with a saw.

Now this is where the bonus creative stuff comes in.

After I cut out letters with my laser machine I usually chose if I want to use the letter or the frame of the letter. I usually chose which will look better. So when I used the "E" I cut out I still had the frame to the "E" and I didn't want to waste it.

So....... I found a $.16 white 4x4" tile in my handy dandy room.

SEE ~

It was the perfect size to put the "E" frame on.

I painted the frame black and then added ***bling*** to match the molding project,

and this is what I ended up with.

These two projects took about an hour.

Molding was about $4.00 and tile was $.16.

Everyone has black paint laying around so you shouldn't have to go out and buy that. You should also have glue lying around.

I got the ***bling*** from the scrapbook section at Hobby Lobby.

I know not everyone has a laser machine to cut letters in any font they want, but you can still do this with letters you see at Michael's or Hobby Lobby or if you have a friend like me you can have me cut some for you.

If you are really lazy and not very crafty and you don't want to make it yourself call me and I will make it for ya, but it will cost ya! Ü

When Sam gave Emily her gifts I think she liked them because I heard a squeel of delight when she saw them.

Rah RAh RAH!

2011-06-19T22:21:00.010-07:00

There are somethings I just don't get about myself.

Why is it I can tell myself over and over I can't do something. I am either not smart enough, strong enough, talented enough. Skinny, tall or pretty enough to do something. Anything.

But......

As soon as someone tell me I can't do something I will do everything in my power to do it. Just to prove I can do it.

Why do I do that? What a stupid way to be. I once had a friend tell me that she didn't have anyone to cheer her on and so she decided she had to be her own cheerleader and do things she wanted to do and she was gonna cheer herself on in everything she wants to do. And you know what? She is a pretty darn good "self cheerleader".

I have thought about it and I am gonna be my own cheerleader darn it.

Ok Wait a Second!

She's how I feel, not how I wanna look!

Phew Much Better, minus the belly button showing.

(BTW just a heed of cation, don't ever just type in Cheerleader when you google images. Google "cheerleader cartoon". And if you really do it, don't say I didn't warn ya")

I am also going to teach my kids to learn to do the same. I don't want them to think they can't do something but to always try and to cheer themselves the whole way no matter what anyone says.

I remember this quote I heard once, not sure who said it.....

"One day your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it's worth watching"

Right now I think my life would make a really good "Lifetime" movie. I am thinking I may want to add some "HGTV" and some "Fit TV" and maybe some.... well you get the idea. Something to add a lil more variety to the exciting life I have.

I know I am not the only one thinking this. I think it is life. We as people are always looking for ways to make things better. Sometimes I think we just put ourselves last.

I know what you're thinking? You were thinking that I am tall enough, strong enough, and talented enough, smart......oh wait you weren't thinking that. You are thinking that this is how I think every time I get the urge to roller blade and get my butt movin. I knew that what you were thinking. You are right I am, well I am thinking about those dusty old things in the closet and just wish someone would call and tell me that I am just to old to roller blade and that I can't do it anymore. Then I would have to show them I totally could still do it.

Roller blade and watching me fall would be so fun to see when I watch my life flash before my eyes, because I would think "well at least I did it". I always have good intentions, I am just working on the follow thru part of my plans. HEY! I am getting there. I am getting better.

I wonder if the self cheerleader part would help if I got myself a uniform? Hahahaha!
If this old blog post of mine just flashed in your head like it did mine, don't worry I won't get the megaphone.

Daddy Day

2011-06-19T13:59:00.000-07:00

My kids are so lucky to have such a fun dad who will do anything for them, and loves to have fun with them.

Oh Ricky

2011-06-17T19:35:00.000-07:00

That's right, I have Ricky Martin on the brain.

Not because he is a cutie pie.

Not because He sang Happy Birthday to me (on a commercial) on my birthday.

I have been singing Ricky Martin "She Bangs" in my head all week because Brother Longs was funny enough to talk about Ricky Martin "she bangs" in his talk on Sunday. Totally cracked me up and it still makes me laugh thinking about it, and now I have the stupid song stuck in my head all week.

Did you know it is hard to sing that song in your head or out loud and sit still doing it? I didn't say it couldn't be done, just that it's hard to do. It has a good dance beat. Ü

Happy/Unhappy days of Summer

2011-06-17T14:55:00.002-07:00

Summer days as an adult are so much different than as a child.

The things that make me happy now aren't spending all day at the pool with a whoppin $.75 to spend at the snack shack, or building a blanket fort in the hot upstairs bonus room with a fan blowing on me to keep me cool while watching Tom and Jerry cartoons.

Things that make me happy now...

~letting my girls have a movie night and when I

go to the kitchen to get popcorn and finding out

Sam is popping the last bag for her friends, but then

have her bring me a small bowl of popcorn to my room

to have while watching "Dear John".

~ giving Wyatt $20 when dropping him off at his cousins

for a few days and having him give me the whole

$20 when I pick him up.

~ trips to QT with my kids to get a soda cuz it is so stinkin hot outside.

~ having Sam drive to get me a QT soda when I don't wanna go.

~ kids weeding without complaining, except Sam because she found this lil guy when she was weeding.

I should have warned ya huh?

Unhappy now.....

~ having to buy all the summer snacks that the kids mow through in a day.

~ not wanting to get into a bathing suit.

~ never having a clean towel

~ all the QT cups sitting around the house, and yes I take blame for alot of them.

~ snack shacks that cost more than $.75

~~~~~~~~~

Summer is my favorite season. Love the heat, love the clothes,

love no homework and love making memories! ♥

I love the good and the bad!

It was a mall day

2011-06-14T17:37:00.001-07:00

Let's go shoppin!

sounds like fun until all I heard was....

~that's ugly

~(just silence) with the nose turned up

~mom it's not the 80's anymore (but have you been shoppin? It's all 80's style)

~you could wear that if you went to the gym (referring to bathing suit)

I am so fun to go shopping with but apparently have no style, pick only ugly clothes and am to fat to wear anything anyways.

However, I would bet anyone that tomorrow morning I have at least one of my daughters in my closet looking for something to wear.

I am going to stand by that saying....

"Actions speak louder than words"

Theme for the week

2011-06-09T17:49:00.001-07:00

Camp

Scout camp and girls camp all in the same week.

Scout camp all week and girls camp is just a few days. It has been really weird not having all my kids home. It makes me realize what I miss about each one of them. They all have different personalities and I count on each one of them for different things, so when they are gone I notice and am sad for their absence.

I can't wait til they come back and I get to hear all about the good and bad of camp. I am hoping to hear more good.

Tomorrow looks like a loner day for me.

Loner = clean and paint.

(of course I am gonna try to find time to lay out by the pool)

I want someone to start a "Handy Lady" business. Just like when you call a Handy Man to come fix things in your house, I want to call a Handy Lady to come work beside me and help clean and finish projects with me. Seriously a genius idea if someone would just go start it. May I should start the business. duh!

This summer is going to go by so fast. Shouldn't I have a cruise or something fun scheduled in the next few months? I wish!!!

Gonna just enjoy my kids and have fun with them and make more memories!

Drum roll please.

2011-06-08T08:42:00.001-07:00

OLDER THAN

and it doesn't bother me one bit!

shutter~bugs

2011-06-07T17:25:00.001-07:00

It is so fun having a kid who enjoys the same hobby as myself.

Miss Shutter Bugs loves photography and it is so fun to see the ideas she has when she takes pictures.

Of course editing the pictures are almost as fun.

Here are some of her pics that I think are fun.

reality......girl vs 25 guys

2011-06-06T20:43:00.003-07:00

Yes I am going there!

No exciting blog today.......

(I like this pic better)

just the excitement of going in to watch my tivo'd episode of

the Bachelorette so I can see the jerkiest guy ever get booted!

YUCK!!!!!!!!!

Hate him!

Yes he does add some entertainment for those of us who like seeing men who think they are so "all that"

make a fool of themselves being so "not all that".

I am not liking the Bachelorette very much but the

entertainment factor is still there for me since I am

easily entertained. However, Ashly does drive me

nuts that everything is so "the sweetest thing ever".

Yes annoying people all making out with each other, wearing almost no clothes, always jogging shirtless, batman mask wearing weirdo, big forheaded Bachelorette, and yes I am still going to watch each and every episode.

See ya Bentley!

just .....

2011-06-05T20:22:00.001-07:00

I've had one of those....

Days

Weeks

Year!!!!

You know when you feel like everything is just spinning around you and when the spinning stops you're not sure which direction to walk and you really can't even walk straight if you did know which direction to go. You have people around you telling you to go a certain direction but you can't see straight enough to actually focus on that direction so you just try walking and hope you get some where. Yep that just about sums up how I feel.

It's what life is about I suppose.

I am thankful for friends and family who are helping me try to see straight to get to the spot I need to be.

Theme for this week~

stay focus!

getting back

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

I am getting back to the gym. Yep probably a lil late for bathing suit season, but getting into a bathing suit has certainly been part of the motivation.   Good thing wearing bathing suit shorts is in right now.   PHewwwwwwww!

I am going to get my girls to go to some classes with me. What a good way to be motivated then to have 2 teenage girls wanting to go.

Not to mention that I will have to sit by my friend Kaye at the beach this summer and I am already looking into cover ups so I can sit by her with a smile. hahaha

So the Subway cookies I ate today, not a good idea.   Time to get serious! I can do this. Feel free to do it with me. Anyone want to have a challenge?

~Not just a day off

2011-05-30T09:57:00.001-07:00

It's a day to remember!

Happy Memorial Day!

I am so thankful to wake up everyday

with the freedoms that I have because of men and women

who have served and sacrificed for our country!

the 40's

2011-05-30T09:49:00.000-07:00

Here's the plan

Plans always sound good in my head and I always have good intentions but sometimes executing those plans isn't so easy.

BUT, I am making another go at plans for my 40's!

I am going to learn a new skill each year of my 40's. Starting next week when I turn 41. 40 wasn't the best for starting a new skill and so I am starting at 41. I already have a few I am wanting to learn but if anyone has a skill they just couldn't live without knowing, please pass it along, it may just be a life changer for me. Ü

Here's to good intentions and new skills!

Things I don't plan on putting on my list~

sewing

painting

rock climbing

gardening

~there are more but that's all I can think of

Things that may make the list~

photography

photoshop

fitness/nutrition

organizing

Why May is not my favorite month

2011-05-28T14:13:00.001-07:00

The one thing I don't like about May is....

Season Finales!!!!

Why must everything come to an end and leave the summer tv season so boring!

Survivor~ over

Dancing with the Stars~ over

Biggest Loser~ over

American Idol~ over

Celebrity Apprentice~ over

Bachelorette~ just started and not sure if I am too excited about it

Voices~ haven't got hooked on this one

I need to know what I am missing that I can watch this summer?

Maybe I will try to hit the gym alittle more (Jess is looking over my shoulder as I type this and she is laughing... not a good sign).

So long for now to my "Reality" and hello to re-runs. Uggggg

Time to play in the sun!

Woooohooooo!

seeing red

2011-05-25T09:48:00.000-07:00

There are reason you buy these babies...

I buy them to store all my important files and pictures on so I don't cry when and if my computer were ever to crash. I like knowing all my old pictures are safe and sound.

UNFORTUNATELY

I never thought that my kids and this...

would be such a ginormous problem.

Huge veins popping out of my forehead moment today!

~I bet you're wondering why I am not putting up a picture of that huh?~

I put in my thumb drive to get a picture and this is all I saw on my 8G drive that was completely full with no more room on it to store a single thing.

Yep, all I have left is this report on Rome that was so important it needed to replace all my hundreds of pictures.

I'm gonna go take an Excedrin now!

time is flying

2011-05-23T09:09:00.000-07:00

So hard to believe this is the last week of school for my kids.

Why is it that I don't look at it as my kids are growing up, but that I am getting old. I remember the last week of school and always being so excited for summer. The beach, the pool, spending alot of time in a bathing suit. Having just enough money to get a candy and a slurpee at 7-11.

It will be fun to listen to my kids when they get older to hear what they remember about their summers.

all grown up

2011-05-20T14:22:00.004-07:00

The starving college kid is home this week for a visit.

I am so glad I get to spend time with him when the other kids are at school. We go to lunch and he even went grocery shopping with me. After walking down the first isle of the grocery store and with about 8 things in my cart, I was informed I had more things in my cart then he gets for the whole week. Looks like someone need to learn how to shop. It was fun shopping and showing him tips to shop. I am thinking about starting coupons again and showing him so he can stalk up for school.

Anyways....

as we were shopping he asked me what I had planned for dinner.

Well it's Friday and I usually don't plan ahead for Friday night.

So I said "haven't thought of it yet".

So TJ says, "well you don't have to plan on me for dinner".

I said ok, why?

Are you listening? This is great!

TJ said...

"because I took steak our of the freezer and I am marinating it for dinner tonight!"

Oh yes he did!

He did tell me he took 2 out so he is going to be nice enough to share with Wyatt. Looks like the girls and I will find something for ourselves. hahahaha.

Oh to be a 18 year old boy who is back home with food.