The Sound You Hear Is ... Living!

Rejoice ...

2011-11-19T23:33:00.000-08:00

What a beautiful word - I know I need to do a lot more of it in my life ...

Thankfully I had a good reminder of that in some recent scripture study:

Yes, I should be doing more of that!

The Kitchen Tracker

2011-11-13T15:36:00.000-08:00

It seems that ever since we moved into our home I have been excited about modernizing the kitchen. However, it has been so structurally sound that it has always been on the bottom of the "Needs Attention Immediately" list - even when I tried to burn it down. (As evidenced by the large burn marks on the floor.)

Anyhow, I was finally fired up and ready to really get it going. I have always wanted a white kitchen, I love the clean, crisp, happy feel and found the perfect "template" to follow when I was playing on Pinterest one day. It was exactly what I wanted:

(here is the Pinterest link)

Finally I had some direction and motivation and it sounded like a great way to keep myself busy this winter. I wasn't sure about the counter tops ... that is a pretty big move and everything I really like was out of my budget for this little transformation I was itching to do. But I figured I would just get going and when we found the right stuff, we'd find a way.

Lo and behold the radio was the answer. I was driving along one day listening to my usual dose of talk radio (I am my father's daughter - and my mother's, too - of course, but I did inherit a compulsive attachment to talk radio somewhere in the process of being raised by them) and there was a commercial for a contest where the grand prize was NEW COUNTER TOPS! All I had to do was send in a photo of my needy kitchen and then vote, vote and vote AND get my friends to do the same. When the contest opened I found there were only 8 entries!!! I couldn't believe it - I was already feeling the cool granite under my fingertips, talk about visualizing good things - those counter tops were practically mine, as far as I thought! The contest ran for about 2 weeks and I bugged my Facebook Friends to vote every single day. And miracle of miracles ... no one dropped me from Facebook during those 2 weeks (ha ha) AND I totally won the grand prize.

Two words sum it up ... Gid Dy!!!!!
(seriously - who ever wins stuff like this???)

So, now the ball is officially rolling and a few amazing things have happened. I am going to keep track here of all the good things that happen along the way. The list is long, and for the most part we are tackling this on our own, since our budget is still pretty tight. So, this won't be happening FAST ... but it IS happening and I am thrilled beyond belief. And on that note, here is our motivation board and our to do list:

One step at a time:

~~1. Knock out corner cubbie and scallop thing above sink.~~2. Knock out soffit above sink, re-work walls and wiring to accommodate light fixture.
~~3. Pull out old range and CLEAN up well and find it a new home.~~
~~4. Purchase wall oven and drop in stove cook top.~~
~~5. Install a gas line to kitchen.~~
~~6. Wire electric line to kitchen for new stove cook top.~~
~~7. Building casing for new oven.~~
~~8. Install new oven and stove.~~
9. Build shelves in corner cupboards.
10. Call the guy to get counter tops and sink/faucet installed. (this is my FAVORITE step - ha ha)
11. Use wood filler to fix up cupboards where needed.
12. Clean, sand, prime, paint and glaze cupboards. (this should take a while)
13. Cut out panels in two doors and replace with glass.
14. Replace stained glass panels with something else.
15. Add new hardware and hinges.
16. Figure out what to do with sacrificial drawer (so we could install the bigger cook top).
17. Scrape ceiling texture down, patch where needed, remove 2 old lights and patch where they were.
18. Call the other guy to come install the new lighting. (this is my second-favorite step)
19. Replace electrical outlets and switches and make them conducive to a new layer of tile.
20. Tile the back splash and around the window by the sink.
21. Build built-in bench.
22. Frame in big kitchen window (with a slight ledge).
23. Paint window trim.
24. Paint kitchen walls.
25. Paint and install crown molding.
26. Rip out old burnt linoleum.
27. Tile the floor!
28. Oh, and get a new microwave somewhere in there.

29. Eventually get a new fridge.

30. And even more eventually - knock out wall by stairs and open up that space. We'll get to that someday!

And there you have it. I felt a little overwhelmed when I first made the list, but the more I looked at it the more I realized how grateful I was that we have the skills and tools and friends to make this happen. Just seeing little bits and pieces of this outdated kitchen go out is also a HUGE dose of motivation, just knowing what is waiting to replace it.

We have already had 2 wonderfully kind people come and help with a few things that were beyond our skill set (installing a gas line and creating a casing for the new oven). That was so amazing to knock out both of those to-do's this weekend, leaving the door open for the counter tops to come.

And we are on our way - there's no going back now!

The HUGE Harry Decompression Session

2011-11-07T10:36:00.000-08:00

And we are done ...

almost a year after we first ventured into the wonderful world of wizarding ...

with our brilliant tour guide, J.K. Rowling ...

‎3,407 pages
346 days
198 chapters
7 books
1 epic tale of a boy with a lightning shaped scar

And all shared with my 2 daughters ...

NOW ... That's Magic!

This has been such a huge part of our lives over the past year, I feel a need to decompress and release all of the thoughts and emotions that have been aroused through reading these books. All of which was magnified because I was reading the story out loud to my two darling girls.

As we began, with "The Sorcerer's Stone", I felt the magic of this world as if I, too, were entering Hogwars for the first time, completely unaware that this world had even existed. The first book was fun, enchanting, innocent and endearing. I fell immediately in love with so many, I longed to have an old friend named Albus and a loveable body guard named Hagrid. I wished to be able to attend magical feasts and quidditch matches. I teared up at the wise words shared between Harry and Dumbledore at the end of the book ... and my girls soon figured out that mom would be crying a lot in the books to come. But I can read through my tears, and I did!

Then Hogwarts returned with a new, very lovable character ... Dobby!!! Who doesn't need a friend/fan this so loyal and devoted??? We were laughing our heads off as we watched Dobby make Harry's life miserable in his attempts to save him. We saw the difference one year makes as the sweet, innocent first years turn into actual wizards - with skills and knowledge and courage in "The Chamber of Secrets". And Dumbledore reminds us all that, "It's our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." Definitely a great life lesson.

And as we moved into the third installment "Prisoners of Azkaban" ... I realized we had become prisoners of Harry Potter! We were in this for the long haul and would not be getting off this boat until Voldemort was gone FOR GOOD! This book was the most tender to me ... I felt this book more than the others. I cried a LOT in this book - my poor girls kept asking me if I was okay and after taking a minute to compose myself and get breathing again, I would continue on until the next wave of emotion overtook me. And in the end, when Harry wonders about the stag that saved him from the Dementors, about his father, about what is real and what is impossible.

"It was stupid, thinking it was him, " he muttered. "I mean, I knew he was dead."

"You think the dead we loved ever truly leave us? You think that we don't recall them more clearly than ever in times of great trouble? Your father is alive in you, Harry, and shows himself most plainly when you have need of him..."

It took a moment for Harry to realize what Dumbledore had said.

Thank goodness Dumbledore is always there to strengthen him and help him believe in himself and the epic mission that lies before him.

This book remains my favorite of the 7, the lessons of this book were tender, and motivational and full of love. For Harry to finally have a physical family, to find more people that he could trust and look up to. To come to know his father through his father's dearest friends, it all touched me very close to my own heart. I know how important it is to have a connection to a father through the friends he made in this life - it brings so much joy to your own.

And one other fantastic aspect of this book was that I fell in motherly love with Fred and George ... their fun, clever, loyal natures were really highlighted here and I felt myself wanting to have my own little Fred and George running around my own home. In fact, we joke that if I would have read the books before having my boys, there is little doubt that The Boy and The King would have been named Fred and George instead!

The first three books went pretty quick, they were shorter and sweeter and much faster for reading. Then came "The Goblet of Fire" ... Oh my, this was my least favorite. But, I accept the importance of the GREAT AMOUNT OF CONTENT that came through in this book. It took us some time to work our way through this book, it even made it's way on our trip to Disneyland. In fact, we started in January and didn't finish until the middle of April. That was a workout! This one really caught me a bit off guard though, when I realized that completely innocent people would be killed off, wow! I didn't quite know that was coming, I figured that Dumbledore wouldn't make it to the end of the series, but he is one of the warriors and warriors will have to die. But bringing bringing demise upon the innocent, well that set a whole new tone for the series and I started taking them much more seriously from that moment on.

As tough as the fourth book was, I was dying to get into the fifth and see if I would be able to connect a little better with that one. Sure enough I did. "The Order of the Phoenix" got me excited and fired up again. I found a kindred spirit in Molly Weasley. I saw our protagonists really grow - even if Harry was filled with a lot of frustration and angst ... he might be the chosen one, but he was still a teenager. I was glad that they were keeping him real - but I was also glad to see him growing. We had to take a little break during this one as we were entertaining our guests from Spain, but we managed to finish it up a few days after our visitors returned home. I was just so glad to come to know the Order in this book, so glad the author took this direction to open us up to this amazing group of wizards that would be the family Harry'd never had.

And then we get to "The Half-Blood Prince"!!! Oh my, I am such a sucker for a sweet bond between heroes and Harry and Dumbledore finally get to get the ball rolling and work together through out so much of this book. It was literally just like eating candy for me to go through each page and see their strengths and weaknesses come together in such a beautiful and timeless bond. It is all starting to come full-circle - you could see where certain details were necessary, and the role they would play in the looming final event. This book left me primed and ready for the final showdown - the big battle - the downfall of one of the most villianous characters I've come across.

One of the funny things was that I had found out that Dumbledore would meet his end in this volume, and I was dreading it. Almost everything made me cry, I saw everything as a precursor to his death and I couldn't quite stand it. I hate finding out about things ahead of time. The same thing happened with Sirius, and it totally affected my reading of the fifth book. Every single scene with Sirius seemed to be his last, and every single scene brought me to dread. But, even knowing these things, we still made it through, I had to hold on to my girls at different points, hold their hands, pat their heads and let them do the same to me. Especially as we moved into the 7th book and again, knowledge of another's demise was made known to me before even opening the first page. Unfortunately, it happened to be my favorite of favorites (well, one of two, as they are a pair). So, "The Deathly Hallows" started up with me knowing that no character was safe, no emotional tie would be strong enough to keep them "alive" and I was going to see some of my dearest, most preferred literary characters go to that big old literary heaven in the sky.

SIGH!

And we started the book. I knew that I couldn't let it drag on forever. So, we took it seriously, we stayed up late some nights, we read for hours on end when there was a day off from school. We read while we were waiting for piano lessons, we read while the boys watched Star Wars. We chugged through like a locomotive and found ourselves on the ride of a lifetime.

We laughed out loud, we jumped in our seats, we cried and we feared. We waited and waited for the inevitable showdown and finally we cheered and triumphed with the great turn of events that left a young man alive, able and ready to finally start his own life, a normal life, nothing like he had ever known. He was finally able to have a family and a constancy in his life and without the dreadful shadow of Voldemort hanging over him!

I felt that the many, many details from the previous books were important and not just thrown in there as fillers. Ms. Rowling really made each word have a purpose in her epic tale of a young boy, and the magic that saved and made his life.

How happy I am to have had this experience with my girls. We laughed and cried together more than I would have ever imagined as we set out on this adventure a year ago. The bonding has been sweet and sincere and deep, the time spent together, beyond description. And our understanding of human relationships increased and deepened.

In reading aloud I found that my best character was, unfortunately, Professor Umbridge ... man I did her really well!!! But McGonagall was a close second. Oh well - someone has to play the bad guy (or woman, in this case). I was also left wanting to do so many things, unfortunately, all of these would be impossible as this was a work of fiction. But, some little corner of my heart still wants to have lunch with Molly Weasley, go shopping at the Weasley's magic store, ride on a broom, befriend a house elf and get a pet phoenix.

So where do you go from here? This magical roller coaster ride has come to an end. There is a bit of a let down, much like having your home filled with friends and family for a party and then left alone the next morning with all those good memories and feelings in your heart, and sink full of dishes to tend to, and alone to boot!

Sigh!

Anyhow - thank you Ms. Rowling for a magical experience, I hope my boys will want to do this as well in a few years!!! I am ready and waiting for them now!

Chronicles of Disneylandia ... (Day 8)

2011-05-15T13:30:00.000-07:00

Day 8 and were still weren't feeling great - well - just Bert. Everyone else seemed to be okay. We had tickets for Sea World and so we packed up and headed toward the ocean. I had never been, I wasn't sure what to expect, and I can tell you, it was nothing like I expected. But I must factor in that we were there on a Saturday and so was half of Southern California. And since crowds and I just don't get along super well - that surely contributed to the fact that Sea World did not impress.

But we had been spoiled by an incredible few days at DLand and the Zoo - so, I guess something had to be subpar!

Anyhow - we pushed through the crowds and avoided the food lines and made it into the Orca show - which was the highlight of the day. I guess I was expecting to be able to see more of this, so the one show, about 30 minutes long, was fabulous, and then it was over. And then we realized there was nothing else for us to see at Sea World, so we left.

But, the Orca show was beautiful, and I did capture a little bit of it (okay - I took about 100 photos during the show - but these were my faves):

After Sea World we drove around San Diego looking for two things - gas and dinner. We found both and as it was still in the afternoon, we sent poor Bert (who was probably down 15 pounds by this point in time) and The King back to the suite to rest. I grabbed the kids and headed for Solana Beach.

We spent a few hours there. And as the sun set, we warmed up on a rock, gathered our belongings and headed back to the suite, hoping that The King hadn't wandered away while Bert was sleeping.

Sure enough, we got there and all was well. BUT, just for the record, The King did try to get out. Thankfully Bert was able to keep him in the room. We then sprinted down to the pool where we found out that we live 10 minutes away from the family we were sharing the hot tub and pool with - small world.

Then it was back to the room for showers and to start getting ready for the ride home - sigh!!!

Chronicles of Disneylandia ... (Day 7)

2011-05-11T13:38:00.000-07:00

WHEW ... to make it to a new day and not have another sick person was a HUGE relief! (especially since I am the last one - it was like this dark cloud just following around, looming over my shoulder ... "you're next" it taunts - and I just hope each day to dodge the bullet - someone needs to keep this vacation going - ha ha)

We woke up this morning finding out all about the devastating earthquake in Japan - we didn't quite grasp the extent of the damage, as we were only catching snippets of information here and there. But we did hear that there were tsunami warnings along the coasts - so we opted out of Sea World and went to the zoo instead. We would go to Sea World tomorrow.

It was a good choice - we were feeling okay enough - the kids were pretty good - Bert was still struggling - he was pretty sure he dropped 10 pounds in one day - we would find out when we got home that that might have been true as he ended up losing 18 pounds altogether with this bug he caught - INSANE! And as much as I would love to drop 18 pounds - I wouldn't wish that method on anyone. I am still just so grateful that I never came down with all this garbage - what a blessing!

So, on to the zoo - this really is one of the most wonderful places to visit - I can't get enough of this zoo - we have to stop there every time we make it down to the lovely San Diego area. And isn't it great to be met by lovely elephant bush sculptures?

We went straight to the koalies ... The King couldn't get enough of them - he just kept giggling and pointing and saying, "Awww - look at the cute koalies". I am not sure who was cuter ... the koalie or the King. In fact, we gave the kids little disposable cameras to use that day, and I think The King took all his photos at that first stop with the koalies.

But can you blame him - look how darn cute and cuddley they are!

Then there were the flamingos - my goodness - they are just so striking - I couldn't keep my eyes off them!

And, we got a great view of the pandas.

In fact, we like the pandas so much we had a photo taken with them!!!

LOVE the moving sidewalks to get you up and down those steep hills at the zoo - such a great feature!

And now, the reason I go to zoos in the first place:

We watched one of the zookeepers feeding this sweet elephant - I loved how she interacted so tenderly with the elephant and the elephant responded with the same kindness. I was just mesmerized by the whole process - I really need to get a pet elephant someday! They are the most amazing, beautiful, emotional, intellectual creatures - I can't get enough of them. And since they have been my favorite thing as far back as I can remember - well - my family just gets to put up with my little obsession because it isn't going anywhere anytime soon!

Oh, and the Condors - such amazing ugly and fascinating birds - so great to see them.

And the meerkats - they were totally hiding until the kids started making funny little noises. Then, they were all over the place and posing for the camera - such silly little things.

And speaking of silly things:

The kids were finding favorite things all over the place - I can't wait to see the photos they all took - but I keep forgetting to get their film developed.

And then there was Bert, he was there for the tigers - and luckily we got some fantastic views of the tigers, too!

And toward the end of the day we made our way up to the polar bears. This guy gave quite a show - rolling and frolicking and taking a HUGE dump right in front of us. (yes, I do have photos - no, I will not be posting them here!)

It took everything out of Bert to make it through the day - so after the Polar Bears we jumped on the little tram and floated back to the entrance and took our leave. It was a beautiful day and we were all thrilled with what we had experienced - it really is one of my favorite places to visit.

With that, we went back to our lovely suite, spent some time in the pool and hot tub, The Boy almost drowning when a girl took his floatie away - sheeeeese. Thankfully Bert was on it right away and all was well. We ordered Megamind from the hotel PayPerView thing and nestled in for a great nights rest. It was a good day!

Chronicles of Disneylandia ... (Day 6)

2011-05-11T08:19:00.000-07:00

Sure enough ... Day 6 brought the sickies to one more member of our family. Thing 1 woke up feeling fine, but right after breakfast she realized she was not fine. She spent the morning puking and spitting and just laying on the bed. But sadly, we had to be out of our room by 11 am and we couldn't check into our San Diego room until 3 pm.

So, we packed everything up, parked in the DLand parking garage and went in for a few more hours of whatever we could manage!

The Boy tried to get into the Jedi training camp, but they didn't pick him - clearly the stars were not in our favor today.

But Thing 2 was in top form and wanted to ride a few of the things we missed on our first day there - like the Tea Cups and Space Mountain. So we zipped around to the few other rides we were hoping to get on, enjoying a few more moments of DLand before we said goodbye for who knows how long (it had been 5 years since our last visit).

And my sweet Thing 1 just sat in the stroller with her head down, spitting all that excess spit into plastic baggies. What a pathetic picture, don't you think? The King passed out, Thing 1 wishing to just be in bed and Bert pushing them both around still feeling like garbage. But he insisted on doing the pushing as he said it actually helped him stay upright!

Now, just for the record - we were washing our hands and staying away from things while we were there, we knew it probably wasn't the most responsible thing we have ever done, but since we probably spread more sick germs on Monday and Tuesday before realizing we were sick, I didn't feel too terrible about going there after the fact and being a million times more careful!

But, energy was not on our side, so after a few short hours at the park, we were ready to roll on down the highway and check into our new home. The best part is that despite the illness that hit our family, we were able to take in the most of DLand that we ever had. The lines were short, the weather was PERFECT and we literally rode ever ride we wanted except for Splash Mountain which was closed. So, no complaints and no feeling jipped - it was definitely good enough.

And so we bid adieu to the proclaimed Happiest Place on Earth and headed for the actual happiest place on earth just an hour or so south! We found our new hotel without any trouble and checked right in. We were so happy to find out that the hotel not only had a full hot breakfast served daily, but they also served a complimentary dinner Monday through Thursday nights - and it was a Thursday night right then - YAY!

So we had our free grilled burgers and sides and then settled into our room for some much needed rest (especially for Bert and Thing 1). Again, going to bed with the hope that tomorrow would bring some much needed recuperation and healing for our family.

Chronicles of Disneylandia ... (Day 5)

2011-05-10T12:00:00.000-07:00

Day 5 brought us one sick daddy! The boys were up and running and ready to go ... but not Bert - he was in a position where he needed to have immediate access to the facilities if you know what I mean. So, we hung around all morning hoping that with a little time he would start to feel better.

So, we waited.

And waited.

And finally we realized we weren't going to have our 3rd day at Disneyland today - we would have to wait until tomorrow. So, we started thinking about the pool. We checked it out and sure enough, it was closed. There was a sign on it that said that it would be open after 2pm. That was something to look forward to. Being locked up in a hotel room ALL day is a bit of a slap in the face to kids in vacation mode ... especially DLand mode.

So, we ran a few errands, leaving Bert in the room. When we got back it hit me how bad that room was smelling ... so sorry to include such details, but it's for me to remember and sometimes all these little bits and pieces are important. So, I brewed my first pot of coffee, not a beverage I consume, but I have always enjoyed the smell - and that made the room so much more tolerable.

I also checked emails and phone messages and found out that the hotel we had booked for San Diego fell through (we had booked with hotels.com). And to make up for it, they upgraded us to a Hilton Suite near Del Mar - that brightened up our day tremendously!

And then we just sat on pins and needles waiting for the pool to open!

This next photo was taken at 6:15pm - apparently the pool wasn't going to open at all that day. We called the office and sure enough - we were OUT OF LUCK!

That's when the cabin (hotel-room) fever hit HARD and I had to get out of there.

So I dragged my poor, sick, puking his guts out husband and 4 crazed squirrels and buckled them all in the car and drove due west. I figured if I kept going west I would eventually hit the ocean. And we did, however, we ended up getting a little off course and it took a LOT longer than it should have. But we made it to Seal Beach - at dusk and it was AMAZING!

We didn't see any seals - but there was sand, surf and shells, and a beautiful board walk - that was all we really needed!

The ocean is beautiful, medicinal and magical - I probably should live a little closer to one - it made all the ickiness and frustration of the day just disappear. And Bert totally forgave me for forcing him into this little outing, well, until we got lost on the way back to the hotel. Then he was kind of miffed again. In fact, after the third time passing by a certain street he made me pull over and he got in the driver's seat and got us to our hotel in a matter of 2 minutes. (I do much better in the navigator's seat, I think.)

And just one more note, I am officially in love with those little old hippie/bohemian neighborhoods built near beaches.

The Chronicles of Disneylandia ... (Day 4)

2011-05-10T08:43:00.000-07:00

We woke up ready and raring to go on Tuesday. We started off with breakfast at the hotel (which I must say was pretty decent - saved us a TON of $ by not having to eat at the park). We were feeling good and ready for some big rides, so we went to California Adventure first thing.

First things first - we got our Fast Passes for the Color Wonder light show thingy ... we were told that was a MUST! Then, we met up with some old friends ... (they couldn't keep their paws off the kids' hair).

And then it was off to the 3D Bugs Life Adventure ... love that little butterfly - I try to get it every time!

And then it was off for some serious riding ... (okay the kid rides first, but the girls were ready for the big stuff - so after hitting every ride in a Bug's Life, we were on the road to bigger and better things). But even if the girls claimed to be a little bored with the kiddie rides - I still caught some smiles on their faces. And the Boys - oh, the boys were in heaven - and you can tell!

They had so much fun that the King (soon to be renamed The Tyrant) just knocked right out. While he slept Bert took the girls on some of the BIG rides, they couldn't get enough of the big coaster and the rapids ride.

We loved soaring over California, and getting an amazing HIGH score at Toy Story Mania, and taking a few more rides on the rapids. And, as it turned out, we shared a raft on the rapids ride with a couple staying at our hotel (as we found out the next morning at breakfast).

Then, we headed over to the Tower of Terror - why? I still don't know. But The Boy enjoyed the army guys who stopped right there to do a little show for the crowd. And that would be the highlight of our venture to that side of the park!

I think I can safely say that this is the WORST RIDE EVER!!!

I don't love this, I don't think I will ever go on this again.

It was simply just horrifying, and all I can remember is holding on to my two precious girls the whole time so that I could make sure they were still in their seats and not floating over DLand.

Free fall things and I just don't mix!

With the disappointment of that horrific ride, the girls just had to go on the big coaster one more time. And since I hadn't been on it yet, I took them. Bert hung out with the boys while we hurried to take in one more ride, as it was getting to be close to sunset and we would want to get dinner before hitting the big water/light show.

Well, we enjoyed the coaster tremendously and got off to find Bert with a very sad little boy. The King had thrown up all he owned all over the midway there by the exit to the roller coaster. And when I say everything, I really do mean EVERYTHING! Poor kid - he was miserable and he couldn't stop - stuff just kept coming up even when it didn't seem that there could be any more. We strolled him to a quiet corner where there weren't many people so that we could get him cleaned up. And while we were getting him more settled I thought I could hear that familiar, awful sound of more vomit. Sure enough, there was The Boy, unloading all he owned right there in our quiet little corner. Holy COW!!! Have you ever seen the Barf-o-rama scene in "Stand By Me"? Seriously disgusting, but one of my favorite movie scenes of all time - I guess that says a lot about me - oh well - I am what I am. Anyhow - that kept playing in my head, which was good, because it helped me kind of step outside of the situation and laugh a little instead of losing my mind, or my lunch!

So now the task was just to get people to stop vomiting long enough to make it back to the hotel. First Bert set out looking for some Customer Service to 1. Let them know about the new piles of "stuff" that would need to be attended to (oh, that has got to be one of the more unfortunate duties - cleaning up vomit at the happiest place on earth), and 2. ask where we could find a taxi.

So, with the vomiting on pause for a bit, we set out to get to a taxi. I am pretty sure we walked just about as far to get the taxi as we would have walked to get to our hotel. But hey, now the kids can add taxi ride to their list of things they have done!

We made it back to the hotel, got the boys bathed and pajamed and the worked on getting those tummies settled for the night. And the good news is that they were ready for bed pretty soon and the vomiting came to a stop ... for them!

Once things were settled, I found a little Italian Restaurant close by and ordered Spaghetti and Meatballs, Salads and bread. I gave the fellow on the phone a bit of a heart attack when he asked for my name, as it very CLOSELY resembles a Hollywood A-lister when said quickly. He stuttered a little, I could feel his blood pressure climbing, and I totally knew what was happening. Then I cleared up the mix-up and let him know that he should not be expecting a visit from her:

Oh, it's never fun to disappoint in that way, but he took it well. And, just for the record, the food was good, much better than we would have had on the park, and for about half the price - YAY for that!

We gobbled it all up, got everyone else ready for bed and just when we thought we were finally getting settled in, hoping that we would be rested and ready for another day at DLand tomorrow, guess who had to join in on the fun ...

The Chronicles of Disneylandia ... (Day 3)

2011-04-26T13:09:00.000-07:00

Finally - time to go to the magic Kingdom ... except that Thing 2 was still a bit on the woozy side. In fact, she ate a little breakfast and it didn't feel so good for her. So, we decided to take it easy that morning and not rush off to the park. We also decided that it would be the perfect day for those softer rides.

When we finally got on our way, we stopped to pick up our passes, and the anticipation was just bubbling in the crowd. The lady helping us at the ticket counter was about the nicest person I had ever met - not to mention she had a lovely manicure (which I did mention to her)! And The Boy was already having a fun time riding on the chain links around the ticket counter!

Once inside we headed to the Peter Pan ride - it might be the second best ride ever. (We know which one is first best of all time ... and it is coming up soon.)

No, it's not the carousel - but there was no line so we hopped on for a quick ride as we made our way to the best ride EVER.

And yes ... there it is ... THE BEST RIDE EVER!!!

For whatever reason there was a huge line when we got there. So, of course, we waited. There were hardly any lines that day ... but I wasn't about to walk past my happy place without stopping in for a dose of happy happy happy! Seriously - it is so worth it to stand in a really long line in order to sail "the happiest cruise that ever sailed".

And this is what I mean by a long line:

See - here we are coming out of the ride - those are some seriously happy faces! (even Bert)
It was worth the wait! (and as a side note, when I was on Casey Jr. later on that day - there was absolutely NO line for Small World - not a bit)

Then it was off to Dumbo - and of course the feathers you hold in line work great for swordfights!

And Finding Nemo was a fun time - we made friends with a family from Canada - it's awesome how easy it is to get to know the people around you at the park - good times!

We ended up over at the Tiki Room before long - and this would be another of the happy highlights of DLand!

Who doesn't love a snarky singing bird?

And sadly night began to fall - we were pretty satisfied with our day, so we said our good nights - we would be back for another day.

And just a little FYI, that shuttle thing they use for the parking lots - it's pretty darn awesome! It didn't get us any closer to our hotel, but it was like squeezing in one more ride just for the heck of it!

The Chronicles of Disneylandia ... (Day 2)

2011-04-23T07:42:00.000-07:00

Our second day started with a bit of pain in my neck (and by a bit, I mean that I couldn't move it one way or the other and was walking around like a 90 year old woman). So we ran to the drug store, bought some hot patches and got on the road - we had a lot of driving to do that day!

Our first stop was The Mad Greek - we've passed the signs before, this time we had to stop.

After filling up and taking care of all sorts of necessities - we were on the road again.

And before we knew it, we were seeing marvelous signs!

The unfortunate this is that we didn't grab our road map in our rush out the door, and the signs don't point you to Anaheim. So, before we knew it, we were stopping for gas, a map, and a potty break (ewww) in Whittier - it was interesting to say the least. (Just for the record - it isn't a real road trip for us if we don't end up taking the LONG way to get there - and we stayed true to form!) Thankfully, we made our way to the hotel. As soon as we arrived we bathed and pajamed the kids and were getting ready for bed when Thing 2 started spewing everything out of her. Poor thing. We weren't sure if it was the food at the Mad Greek, or that she was carsick, or just sick. But she couldn't stay away from the toilet - and in the middle of all that, the big Disneyland fireworks show started. Poor Thing 2 was just curled up on the bed or the bathroom floor while the other kids were enjoying the fireworks. And it was quite a show - it kept going and going and going.

And those kids that got to watch it didn't really know what to think - it was a long, big, lovely display. And having it all framed in palm trees - well that was pure delight in my book!

The show ended and we finally settled in and got to sleep. Thankfully Thing 2 was able to sleep through the night without any more trips to the bathroom. We were hoping she would be well enough for a trip to the magic kingdom in the morning!

Let the Chronicles of Disneylandia Begin ... (Day 1)

2011-04-19T21:50:00.000-07:00

So our trip was over a month ago ... who's counting? I was all excited to get posting about everything, but that first week back was spent getting my daughters caught up on school work, and then I had a fun little incident with a GIANT kidney stone ... and I'll tell - I just haven't quite got my mojo back, but I can't stand it any longer - these events must be chronicled before I forget any of those insane little details like the debate I had with myself in the bathroom by It's a Small World, or the insane coincidence of the one day the hotel closed the pool! Yes, these little details all need to be recorded, or they will just disappear into some void of the untold - think of all the great material that is just floating around out there - forgotten by those who experienced them and left it at that. Oh, not me, I am a woman of many, many, sometimes way too many, words.

Let's start on Thing 2's birthday. (March 5)

We were supposed to be in San Diego, at the zoo on that day. However, we were in Utah just going about our daily routine. We had been planning a trip to SoCal since Christmas, and our departure date was completely dependent on the schedule provided to us by the IRS. So, when I got online to check our balance and start making all the reservations on Feb. 25, instead of seeing that wonderful sum of money back in my bank account, I instead found a little email from the IRS stating that my return was delayed.

Sheeeeese -

No money - no trip - I am trying to avoid credit like the plague right now.

So, we were told that the money would be in by March 8. I wasn't going to believe it 'til I saw it. So, there would be no definitive planning until the money was actually IN THE BANK. We did, however, try to work out which dates in later March would be best, and unfortunately, none of them were really working with all the other obligations we had. But, we were determined to make it work.

Okay - back to Thing 2's birthday (March 5). It was a Saturday and I was planning on making a Key Lime Pie (per her request) and having a fun b-day dinner that night. However, that morning, while checking up some on-line bill paying, I noticed that the money was there!!! It was in our account - totally and completely OURS! I called Bert (at work) to let him know and asked him what he thought about taking off that very afternoon.

He was game!!!

So the next few hours were spent purchasing Passes and lining up hotels and a dog sitter and calling neighbors and family and the school and anything else I could think of. My brain was completely jumbled ... and I did all this without letting on to the kids that I was doing any of that. So, the house was in a state of disorder, as was my mind, but our trip was magically, and wonderfully ON!

Bert arrived home, we gathered the kids and told them to gather some clothes, a swim suit and shoes to last for a few days and that we were going to Disneyland. Just like that. They were a little bewildered, but the excitement set in pretty quick and they started buzzing around getting their stuff together.

As I was busy packing, I noticed a bit of a pop in my neck that was followed by some pretty intense pain, the kind of pain you have with a crick in your neck - where you can't turn it one way or the other without crying. Yep - that kind of pain. But I just stiffened it up and kept going. I knew that once we were in the car I could whine about it to Bert for the next four hours uninterrupted, if I could just get us packed and in the vehicle.

And, by 4 pm, (thanks to a great deal of help from my sister who stopped by, and the presence of her two wonderful, darling step-daughters) we were on the road.

And sadly, this ended up being one of 2 pictures I got of Thing 2 on her 9th birthday:

(And she isn't even in focus - dah!!!)

Anyhow, we hopped in the car and booked it to St. George where we were going to stay overnight - it is almost half-way. Definitely a great place to take a breather on such a long drive.

We checked in and, just like they always do, the kids went straight to the beds and starting jumping for joy. We told them to get in their suits, we were going swimming, the pool was open for one more hour and heck if we weren't going to get our money's worth!!! ha ha They willingly obliged us and we took an hour long dip in the pool, and it was lovely. Afterward, we rinsed off and got in our jammies and I was able to sneak in one more photo of the birthday girl:

However, it would not be a true family vacation if it didn't get off to a bit of a rocky start. As we were unloading the minivan, we unfortunately locked our keys in the vehicle. We knew (from previous experience) that it couldn't be broken into by law enforcement, so we looked up a lock smith ... he was there in 20 minutes and had our car open in 30 seconds - seriously! Love that!

So, with key issues resolved, we laid our little heads to rest and got to bed shortly before midnight.

Hey, we're on vacation!!!

A Little Tribute

2011-04-19T16:04:00.000-07:00

Do you believe in love at first sight?

How about love at first taste?

That was the case for my love affair with Nutella that began on January 17, 1996!
(Yes, I can remember the date CLEARLY!)

I had just arrived in Spain as a missionary. My sweet companion at the time, AhhhhNette (there's a story behind that), had me taste some while I was getting settled into our apartment. I was a little skeptical, I have to admit ... chocolate on bread? Who could even conceive of the idea? But, I had made a rule for myself before going to Spain that I would try every food item offered to me, at least once. So, kindly, I took a little nibble. And then another, and then another. And then I asked for a second. And then I bought my own jar the next time we went to the store. And then I had Nutella with my breakfast almost every single day I was in Spain.

And then I came home, and Nutella was not as easily accessible here (back in 1997). Thankfully, VERY THANKFULLY, the product has made it's way into our commerce - hallelujah!

Well, today I heard the news that the CEO of Nutella (part of a HUGE family business - Ferraro Rocher anyone - YUM), died yesterday. I think that it is appropriate to pay tribute to him, and his family ... so I whipped up a batch of:

Yes, Nutella Crepes! Not our typical after school snack, but we needed to do something special today.

So, here's to the Famiglia Ferrero ... my heart (and tastebuds) goes out to them.

Bless you all!

Muffin Tin Lunchable

2011-04-04T11:06:00.000-07:00

Does anyone else have kids that love Lunchables? Oh, they drive me crazy, but my kids seem to flock to them in the store and beg for them. Ewwwww! I get that it's all cute and stuff - and I guess that's part of the whole muffin tin lunch appeal - so maybe their not soooooo bad!

Anyhow, as we were doing a little shopping this morning, we got the same reaction as always as we passed through the back of the grocery store. I just rolled my eyes and kept walking past.

But then, a little idea popped in my head, I figured a lunchable might make a cute muffin tin lunch, and appease their appetites as well. So, I grabbed some lunch meat and a fun drink and figured I could put together our own little muffin tin version of the Lunchable!

And here it is:

Basically, it's just what you get in a little lunchable ... crackers, lunch meat, cheese, juice and a little treat.

Very well then, we are good on lunchables for a while!
YAY!

Muffin Tin Monday - Grandpa's Birthday

2011-03-21T13:53:00.000-07:00

Today is my Dad's birthday ... he would be 72 this year ... hard to believe.

As sad as I am that my kids don't get to bounce on his knee or get whisker burns from him, I think I talk about him enough and share pictures enough that my kids have formed a pretty good idea about who he is. And we'll continue to do so as the years go on.

So, for Muffin Tin Monday, that happened to fall on his birthday - we had a little birthday lunch just for him. And no, none of these are any of his particular favorites, it was just fun party food. But I will say that my mom made those yummy potatoes with bacon, and they are GOOD! Anyhow - here's our eats:

(potato chips, ham & cheese roll, orange soda, cupcake, potatoes, and grapes)

And here are the kids singing happy birthday ... they got to blow out the candles, too!

Happy Birthday Dad ...

We Love You!

Been Away ...

2011-03-16T23:37:00.000-07:00

... a long ways away, for some time ...

Okay ... maybe not as far as that photo would suggest.

This might be a better representation (and it's just a short walk away from the site pictured above):

Yep ... the Magic Kingdom ... the Happiest Place on Earth.

And there are two words that can best wrap up this vacation ...

E - PIC!

So many photos and experiences to share ... but summing it all up right now ...

Leaving on a moments notice,
with dishes still in the sink,
forgetting a few important details,
finding out that The King is now The Tyrant,
bringing family bonding to a new low,
and causing the girls to get bad grades this quarter,
doing something we probably won't be able to do again for a LONG time,

TOTALLY WORTH IT!

Phase 1 ... DONE!

2011-03-04T09:48:00.000-08:00

A few years ago we started the process of braces on this sweet, young, unassuming darling.

It wasn't for her teeth, but for her underbite ... which I was encouraged to do something about as it would only get worse and more expensive to correct with time.

So,we did it, we bit the bullet and said goodbye to this beautiful, sweet underbiting smile.

We started by knocking out some of her chompers ... poor thing!

Once the new teeth grew in, the orthodontist went to work and created this masterpiece:

And here's that thing she had to sleep with for months:

Anyhow, months and months and months later, she went to her regular appointment and got the good news that she only had 5 weeks left!

We did the happy dance ... even if she looks a little sober in this shot.

So, the day arrived and the orthodontist went to work:

And here she is with her new smile, taking a little break before we start Phase 2.

Brilliant - eh?

What a beautiful, tolerant, sweet, obedient girl.

I just love her to pieces!!!

Refinishing Furniture Takes TIME!!!

2011-03-02T21:25:00.000-08:00

Holy Cow ...

Last Friday I started refinishing a little bedside table and a rolling bookshelf ... sheeeeese ... that takes time. But, it looks pretty, and since I got the bedside table for FREE and the rolling cart was just a few dollars from the thrift store, I guess it was worth the work of refinishing. And I haven't done anything else since then except

remove hardware and doors
sand, clean, prime,
          sand, clean, paint,
                    sand, clean, paint,
                              sand, clean, paint,
                                         sand, clean, topcoat,
                                                   sand, clean, topcoat,
                                                              sand, clean, topcoat
                                                                        reassemble (with new hardware)
                                                                                  let cure for 2 days before moving it!!!

And yes, my boy wore the same outfit to school two days in a row, but they wear uniforms there, so hopefully nobody noticed!

But I think it was worth the effort ... I am turning my girls' room into a big girl room. It was a very necessary move ... moving up into more stylish, more glammy, more blingy ... and more responsible stuff. Anyhow, I just gotta finish the curtains and a cushion for the rolling cart thing. But it is looking good and they are very happy, and piles of little girl things are leaving my home by the boxfull.

And I am going to have to STOP referring to them as "The Squirrels" because after what I found in and under their beds today ... my goodness - talking about living up to a name!

Anyhow - can't wait to post more about their lovely new surroundings, but I want to finish it all the way. So, for now, I'll show off the cabinet that took me several days to beautify! And it was worth it!

(can't put things on top of the table for 28 more days - ha ha ha)

Anyhow, there is a little glimpse of the new bedding, too. It's turquoise and I love it! Now to figure out the curtains, here's to projects - eh?

Muffin Tin Monday - Busy, Happy Weekend Leftovers

2011-02-21T16:19:00.000-08:00

The past few days have been FULL of fun activities and get-togethers ... book club, Aimee and Matthias' wedding party, hosting a baby shower, sending off some grandparents onto a mission with a big, yummy family dinner. My goodness ... I am certain I have gained back several pounds, and I have found that I LOVE, I mean REALLY LOVE goat cheese. Oh dear!

Anyhow, with all that food we have ended up with many leftovers in our home ... so here they are for the kids on our day off of school - doesn't the muffin tin make leftovers so much better?

Our tin consists of:

(top) carrots, m&m's, cheddar cheese and red pepper

(middle) frozen strawberry, celery, jello, peas in the pod

(bottom) mozzerella cheese, banana, broccoli and pita

(below) and a bunch of happy kids who got to "picnic" in the great room since the kitchen table is full of drying dishes ... did I mention we had a lot of entertaining going on this weekend?

More at:

Muffin Tin Mom

Smile Lines in the Right Places

2011-02-20T07:00:00.000-08:00

"Beauty comes from a life well lived. If you've lived well, your smile lines are in the right places, and your frown lines aren't too bad. What more do you need?"

~ Jennifer Garner

I have to thank my friend Brittany for being quick enough to follow me into the kithen (with my camera) to snap a photo of me and my little guy. He couldn't keep himself away from the chocolate fountain that we had at the baby shower over the weekend. So, every once in a while he would come in the room and need a little wipe down. This time, though, he needed the kitchen sink and a change of clothes.

I am so glad this moment was captured, and honestly, I am not a big fan of getting my photo taken. But this one I love, it really captures what my life is like right now, and it captures me in it! That does not happen very often. Despite the constant state of messiness I am currently "enjoying", I love this crazy little 2 year old bag of trouble, and his siblings ... they keep me going like no other, but the entertainment factor is priceless. And there is lots of smiling going on ... so bring on those smile lines, I welcome you as a sign of a happy life.

(now the gray hairs ... not so much)

A Princess (Party) Shower

2011-02-19T21:04:00.000-08:00

What do you do for a friend who has been raising twin boys over the past (almost) 6 years who is now going to have one little baby girl in a matter of weeks? A friend who has spent the last six years learning about trucks and dinosaurs and pokemons and legos? Do you leave her high and dry, not knowing a thing about what is about to come into her life?

OR do you prepare her and give her a crash course in being a true princess mommy?

Well, of course you go with the latter, and you do it in the form of a baby shower.

You make her show up to the party in a little t-shirt that clearly defines what is there in her womb.

You play some princess trivia games that end up teaching her quite a bit about all the princess we could think of. And while we're busy playing, two little boys are getting into the chocolate fountain and playing with the tiara.

And then you make sure she gets LOTS and LOTS of really cute princess worthy things to get this little gal off to a good start in this life.

And then you bring in the big guns!

The real McCoy.

The Princess of all princesses (yes, my personal favorite) ... to crown your friend ready to be a Princess Mommy!

And you catch your friend off-guard, she doesn't really know what to think, but she's so gracious she smiles the whole time!

And she even poses for a quick little snapshot to record this moment forever! And then you feel good because you have done your part in preparing your friend for the years of pink and purple and pearls and boas and crystals and sparkles and frills and lace and flowers and dresses that await ... but in all reality - she has no idea!!!

But she'll have so much fun along the way.

It's Snowing

2011-02-16T20:42:00.000-08:00

... It's Pouring ... The Old Man Will Soon Be Snoring!

One Word ...

2011-02-13T15:06:00.000-08:00

For the past few years I have been trying to focus one just One Word with each new year. It hasn't been so much about resolutions, but about trying to learn more about and develop characteristics and traits that would be good in my life. I have focused on Love, Order, Virtues ... and good things have come from those focused efforts.

As this coming year approached, I decided I was going to focus on Reclaiming! I felt as though I had let everything about me go to the wayside. My mind, my body, my sanity, my health ... and this year I wanted to focus on getting ME back. It was even made more relevant by losing 12 pounds in November ... I was excited and ready to focus on ME again. But, funny thing, every time I really tried to lay out a plan or focus on what I needed to do for me, I couldn't get this scripture out of my head:

"For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it." (Matthew 16: 25)

My intentions were all about ME ... finally being able to sleep through the night ... getting back to a figure that would be a little closer to my original adult size ... reading every book for book club, and then some ... getting my mommy quilts made ... finishing all of the unfinished leftovers of recent (and not so recent) home improvement projects ... and who knows what else (there was plenty MORE).

Honestly, none of that is bad - any of them would enrich my life. But, there is this thing called time, and there is only so much of it. If I were to focus on making all of thesethings happen, there really wouldn't be time for anything else. And when it comes down to it, good as it all is, none of it is eternal. I realized what a precious commodity time is right now, and I need to make sure it is used as best as it possibly can be. So, my focus shifted ... thanks to the above scripture. And I no longer am going to focus on ME ... but on the one thing (which I lack terribly) that seems to completely envelope the idea of losing your life for the Lord's sake ... and that is Charity!

And, I am taking my family along with me on this journey.

We are going to work hard to lose ourselves in loving the way our Savior would. We have so much to learn and so far to go in this endeavor, but the outcome of improving our capacity to possess the true love of Christ in our souls is far more important than any of the other ideas that have been overtaking my thoughts lately.

And just to help keep me in line and on task, I have posted little reminders about what Charity is and what I need to be doing in order to truly possess this virtue. It is kind of busy and full of a lot of stuff, but each word was so important, I couldn't leave any of them out. Each word is a key to living the life my Heavenly Father has in store for me. Each word carries a weight and strength that will last for eternity.

So here's to reaching for the seemingly impossible ... because one thing that I've learned over the years is that the "impossible" only takes longer.

some days

2011-02-09T15:35:00.000-08:00

That says it all ...

3 hours of sleep and coming down with a bug ...

Yep ... my boy seems to be capturing exactly how I feel today!

So the Steelers Didn't Win ...

2011-02-07T11:59:00.000-08:00

But at least there are some funny ads to cushion the blow!

And my favorties were:

#1 ... This IS my BOY (not actually in the commercial - but, by all means, this is him)

#2 ... Bert thinks I am a little morbid for liking this one as much as I do - but, it made me laugh out loud - really caught me off guard!

#3 ... Any Lassie fan found enjoyment in this little tribute to an old favorite - and if anyone can appreciate the insane amount of trouble little boys can create ... well - that would be me!

#4 ... And last, but not least, this was just fun!

So, thanks to all of those creative advertisers out there for giving us a little laugh while our team bit the dust! I guess they really can't win them all - but I am pretty sure they'll keep on trying!

Happy Monday!

Pure Insanity

2011-01-23T10:00:00.000-08:00

"... the English alphabet is pure insanity...", "It can hardly spell any word in the language with any degree of certainty."

- Mark Twain

Thing 1 just participated in the school spelling bee ... she was so cute and excited before it started. This is my first spelling bee I have attended, and it was a bit nerve-racking! I would hold my breath as each student started the word, and then wait with baited breath until the last letter was pronounced. If they were right, my heart would race until they were at the end. If they got it wrong, it was so hard to sit there with a poker face and wait it out! Anyhow, I was surprised at how suspenseful it was and how much I wanted each and every kid to win!

As for Thing 1 - she did great! She got out on the 2nd round with the word prejudice, which I find quite ironic. But, 2/3 of the kids were out that round -it was a tough one. She didn't seem to mind too much either. She sat by her friend and they silently cheered on their other friend who ended up getting 3rd place.

That quote from Mark Twain got me thinking about how fun spelling bees are in the English language. I am fairly fluent in Spanish, and the thing about that language is that it really is kind of a "What you see is what you get" language. It is consistent and clear, a very easy language to learn. English, on the other hand, gives you many, many options as to how to spell a certain sound - there could be 3 or more different ways. So, a spelling bee in a language like Spanish probably isn't as challenging. I'm not trying to dog on any language ... I'm just realizing how crazy English can be, but how that provides for some pretty exciting spelling bees.

And, I'm looking forward to more in the future.

I guess we'll study next time.

And, I'll make Thing 1 read "Pride and Prejudice" over the summer!

ha ha

A Moral Dilemma ...

2011-01-22T09:59:00.000-08:00

The other day we had a little party at our home. One of our neighbor girls is moving and we wanted to send her off with a bit of a party. So, we gathered and played some minute to win it games. Then the party moved outside and this is where it gets a little sticky ...

You see, they started a game of hide and seek, and started dispersing all over the surrounding houses.

(Although my moral dilemma might involve the fact that The King is playing outside on a January evening without pants or shoes - it doesn't ... and he did get pants, shoes AND a coat on just minutes after this photo was snapped.)

My moral dilemma begins with two girls hiding themselves REALLY well and the others getting bored and resorting to doorbell ditching! As fun as it is, I live in a rather old neighborhood. It turns out that the girls got the door of my 90+ year old neighbors - OOPS! Enter the moral dilemma ... do I go and apologize now, a few days later, knowing that they probably don't even remember it happening? Or do I just let it slide, since they probably don't remember it happening (most likely from even 5 minutes after it actually happened)?

I guess, if I go and apologize for something they don't even remember having happened, it won't be that bad, because soon enough, they won't even remember my stopping by to apologize.

So, I'll go take care of that today - and they like company anyway!

Muffin Tin Monday - Liners

2011-01-10T09:37:00.000-08:00

YAY ... we're getting our groove back around here! The kids have missed these and honestly, so have I. This week the theme was to use liners or cups ... so I used what I had and made a boys version and a girls version. We had cheese flowers, caramel dip and sliced apples, soup (chicken noodle or vegetable - depending on preference) and little mini crescent rolls. I made it up quick and they ate it up even quicker!

So glad to get back into the fun - we have missed our muffin tin lunches, dinners, snacks, etc!

Thanks Muffin Tin Mom for your motivation and taking the time to host!

Thing 1's Essay

2011-01-07T12:33:00.000-08:00

This is an essay just written by my daughter for her Literacy class. I just want to keep it forever ... her facts are not all spot on, but it still went straight to my heart.

I know a change my mom had to go through and still is. When she was almost fifteen her dad died of diabetes. It has been hard on her, my aunt, uncle and grandma. It has also had an affect on me. M mom's entire family says I'm a lot like my grandpa because he was an engineer. They also say that because I'm smart like he was.

I've lived my entire life wondering what he was like. My mom said that by the time he was forty, every single hair on his head was snow white. I once saw a picture of him in his mid-forties, it was true about his hair!

My grandpa died of diabetes because there wasn't the treatment tey have now. The old treatment was very harsh and hard to go through. Most of the time it was only 50% that the treatment would do anything good for my grandpa. He was looking at the glass half empty for his future.

This story connects to the story "Stretching Ourselves" because there is no cure for Diabetes or Cerebral Palsey. However there are treatments for both. My family will never forget m grandpa. Especially my mom.

My mom was the closest to my grandpa.She would spend the most time with him because my uncle was 21 and my aunt was 19 and my grandma had to go to work. My mom was the first to be married and have kids. She always told me what a great grandpa he could have been. Now through the rest of my life I'll wonder, "What was my grandpa like?"

Anyhow ... I won't worry about clarifying much except the 50% thing mentioned in the 3rd paragraph ... I'm not sure what that was about, but that's how my girl works - she likes to include numbers and figures, whether they are valid or not. Now we are just working on helping her learn how to verify her "facts" first.

And as for the hair, here's a little proof - he really was snow white before he turned 40!

Here are my mom and non-gray dad on their wedding day, my dad was in his mid-20's:

Here is a semi-gray dad, he was in his mid-30's:

And here he is in his full gray glory - in his mid-40's:

I guess I echo her thoughts and feelings on this, how I wish they knew him, how I wish Bert even had ever met him, how I wonder what he would have been like with my kids. But that is how things go and these are the experiences that mold our lives. And, someday we will all embrace together.

Have You Ever Seen ...

2011-01-06T12:13:00.000-08:00

a Pacemaker?

My stepdad just got one and the doctor gave him a spare to show off to people! Pretty small for the amount of work it will be doing over the next several years. And there it is inside him, just under his collar bone ... pretty cool stuff. Now, let's hope it does what it is supposed to do, for a LONG time!

What I Love Wednesday - Simplicity

2011-01-05T11:30:00.000-08:00

I love Simplicity!

I haven't always, but as I make my way through life, I am seeing the beauty of keeping it simple. I have been one to take on the big projects and make them even bigger. I have been one to agonize over the miniscule details. I have found joy and satisfaction in what I have done, but have also been burdened with undo stress at times. So, I am (for now) embracing the Simple.

Simple is good.

Simple is doable.

Simple doesn't make me crazy.

Simple takes care of the necessities.

Simple keeps my husband happy.

Simple makes more time for my kids.

Simple is usually even kind of cute.

Simple is clean.

Simple is easy-going.

Simple is refreshing.

Simple is joyful.

Simple is satisfying!

Here's to simplifying, and enjoying the process.

A Little of Both ...

2011-01-01T08:36:00.000-08:00

"An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves."

~ Bill Vaughan

Between Bert and I ... we have a little of both in us. I hate to lay claim to any amount of pessimism, but I must admit that I am not too sad to say goodbye to 2010! Not too sad, at all!

Cheers!

Here's to a fabulous New Year!

That's a Wrap (of 2010, that is)!

2010-12-31T09:11:00.000-08:00

2010 was a year that took us up and down, around again and through ... it had some very high highs and some very low lows and pretty much everything in between. Here is my take on the year with a little help from some photos, of course.

One thing that is certain each year is birthdays! Thing 2 turned 8 ... which was awesome as she was able to be baptized the very next day. The Boy turned 5 ... so he could start Kindergarten this year. The King turned 2 ... yes, 2 - the most entertaining age there is, I think. Bert turned older ... and so did Jenny! And to round out the year, Thing 1 turned 10 and she got her ears pierced ... and despite her claims to being a Tomboy, she is LOVING the addition of a little bling to her ears!

We had a few fun outings this year, including a trip up to ATK to see the final test booster launched ... we missed it, but caught a photo of the HUGE plume of smoke that followed. We went to parades, parks and parties galore, got pie in the face (followed by a big kiss from dad to the offending pie thrower) at the ward campout (at which we skipped the camp part - for good reasons). We took our neighbors out for ice cream in our pajamas, drove a little ways away to meet one of Jenny's favorite actors, and Bert and Jenny got to head down to Las Vegas to catch Carlos Santana in concert - AWESOME!

School was also a big part of our year, and that would be an understatement! Some of our memorable moments include Thing 2 becoming Laura Ingalls Wilder, taking a field trip to the Animal Adoption Center, The Boy graduating from Preschool, Thing 1 doing an ENTIRE year of math over the summer, Thing 1 taking part in RadKids (an unbelievably effective kid's safety program - I HIGHLY recommend it), Pirate Day, and a concert where all of the kids got to sing a special song about being nice and safe!

There were plenty of moments that kept us laughing ... like Thing 2 being terrified of losing her first tooth, then all smiles directly after said event occurred. We sent Bert off to scout camp for a week - which ended up being the week our basement flooded - of course. The King started really coming into his own in our family ... never a dull moment, so much like his big brother (whom I barely survived ... here's hoping my sanity will hold on a few more years).

Hair played a big role this year ... the girls had been growing their hair out so that they could donate it. They were thrilled with the outcome, loved their cute new do's and are already wanting to do it again. On the other hand, mom was aware that The King needed a haircut, but not on board with the idea at all. So, Bert took things into his own hands and gave him a buzz cut ... those tears were mostly a reflection of his mommy!

We wouldn't be us if there weren't some level of silliness ... here you go!

And then there were injuries ... stitches in Jenny's hand and Lauren's ear, Bert and The Boy rocked some head and face injuries that required no medical attention (thank heavens), The King ground off the pad of his finger in the treadmill - I am happy to report his recovery has been a thing of wonder! And poor, sweet Thing 2 beat us all when a virus attacked her liver ... it was a scary time while we waited to see what her body would do, but after a few weeks and countless blood draws, her health was restored - what a beautiful miracle and answer to many, many prayers.

Speaking of stitches ... The Boy had us in them all year long!

And The King seemed to be getting ready to take over that role - he's learned a lot from his big brother!

And the girls were just as wonderful and sweet as ever ... what would I do without them???

2010 brought opportunities for learning and growth ... like dance lessons from dad, reading lots and lots of books, horse riding for Thing 1 and art for Thing 2 (which included winning a ribbon at the county fair). We rode bikes, took care of some fun animals (a bunny and macaw to be specific), had potato bug races, and jedi training. We even took part in a postcard swap and learned about most of the 50 states.

Jenny got a new camera and had a lot of fun ... horses are her favorite subject, but birds and butterflies were up there on the list. And one of her favorites is getting a shot of the home built by her great-grandpa. It is such a beautiful, well-made home, full of some wonderful memories. And the house is so lovely that it was used to film a commercial in the 1960's - for Butterball or Norbest turkeys (it was before my time)!!!

The World Cup was a thrilling experience in our home ... as Spain was on FIRE!!! We had a party the night before the big Germany vs. Spain game ... in honor of our best German friend (and soon to be brother-in-law) Mattias. Spain won, of course, but the food and smack talk was a lot of fun. When Spain took the whole cup, Bert and I watched the celebrations going on in Spain with a great deal of envy, what we would have given to have been there in Plaza Real in Madrid with the million other people there at that moment - now that's a celebration!!!

Celebrating aside, we had LOTS of work to get done on the home this year. We started off with a brand spankin' new water heater - so much bigger and better than the one we had - and it didn't leak - BONUS!!! I made the downstairs bathroom a bit prettier. Then I (sniff, sniff) took down the crib and gave it away ... my goodness, how life changes - and how excited we are for Phil (whom I babysat) to become a father! And our sweet little nursery is now a spare room with lots of new shelves for storage - and a queen sized bed the kids love to invade. YAY! (that means we have room for visitors) Of course there's more ... while Brady was at scout camp, our sewer drain backed up and flooded the basement ... so we got new carpet and a new paint job in the entire basement - YAY for good insurance policies! We took that opportunity to replace the foam tile ceilings we had down there with actual dry wall ceiling - they are so much homier. And, I took on my first solo crown molding assignment ... and met with success! We still have to finish off some of the trim and one more closet, but what a difference it has made. Next up ... the laundry room!

2010 was full of some fabulous celebrations ... Easter, the HopeKids Princess Party, Halloween and Weddings!!! There were three in our family this year, must have been a good year to tie the knot.

We started with Bert's brother Whit and his gorgeous new bride Brooke. What a beautiful and incredible day that was!

Then there was my beautiful sister Debbie and her wonderful husband Scott (who has so generously added 6 WONDERFUL cousins to my children's lives).

And then there was the Thanksgiving Day surprise wedding of Bert's brother Jon and his gorgeous Sarah, who also added 2 new cousins to the fam! (They are the good lookin' ones in the center of the photo with their two blonde haired boys in tow.)

As the year started winding down, we found ourselved enjoying the beauty and fun of autumn ... one of my very favorite times of the year! There was lots of puddles and leaf piles to jump in, enteraining the kids for days on end!

In December Bert's band played for his company's Christmas party ... at The Depot in SLC ... what a great venue. And right there on the Marquee is the name of his band right above Slash ... how funny is that? Yeah, it's pretty awesome being married to a rock star!

And then we finished off with a beautiful Christmas ... which included cooking dinner for our church Christmas party (about 200 people attended), surviving bouts of the flu (ha ha - great way to start off your celebrations, eh?), having the cousins visit different care centers with a Christmas program (one of the best days ever), building a snowman, decorating, going to parties and enjoying a wonderful Christmas day at home with the family and a turkey dinner.

With so much going on during the year, I turn to my emotions to summarize it all:

Grateful, for so many wonderful and precious memories.

Sober, for the losses we (and so many of our loved ones) experienced.

Humbled, for the miracles and blessings we witnessed.

Hopeful, for the promise of new experiences and new adventures in a new year.

And to finish, I find T.S. Eliot said it so well and with such eloquence:

"For last year's words belong to last year's language and next year's words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning."

Happy 2011 to everyone!

The Joy of Feeding!

2010-12-10T07:17:00.001-08:00

It's that time again ...

2010-12-06T13:50:00.001-08:00

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Happiness Is:

2010-12-05T15:39:00.000-08:00

"We dare not trust our wit for making our house pleasant to our friend,

so we buy ice cream."

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Oh, and don't forget the hot fudge!!!

Just Trying 2 Win ...

2010-12-01T08:29:00.000-08:00

a $50 GC to Hearthsong - one of my favorite catalog companies EVER!!!

Trying 2 Stay Calm is hosting this and I am jumping through all the hoops because it is so awesome!

If you want to jump through a few hoops, too, click HERE!

Don't Rat Us Out, Please ...

2010-11-17T15:24:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday, as Bert was heading out the door for work, he gave the kids some instructions. He told them to have all the leaves raked up before he got home from work. There was a slightly giddy response to his assignment, not the usual response to chore announcements. I tried to quickly cover their smiles and smirks and let Bert know that I would make sure they got all that hard work done today, even though Aunt Debbie was coming over with a few of our new cousins.

And Bert was out the door.

A few hours later Debbie arrived with the girls and soon we found ourselves outside getting to "work".

So, the "work" got done and dad came home from work to find big pile of leaves waiting for the street sweeper (tax money very well spent in my book). Bert was very impressed with all of our hard "work" - let's keep it that way!

And just because that's how we are, we might just stroll on over to the neighbor's and get her leaves into the gutter also!

When ghosts were created ...

2010-10-31T08:28:00.000-07:00

"A house is never still in darkness to those who listen intently; there is a whispering in distant chambers, an unearthly hand presses the snib of the window, the latch rises. Ghosts were created when the first man awoke in the night."

~ J.M. Barrie

Happy Halloween!

Trick or Treat

2010-10-30T15:03:00.000-07:00

The Halloween Fun started early this year! I got to go to The Boy's class party - and I brought the Toilet Paper Mummy game with me. It was a big hit - especially when all the TP ended up on the floor and was attacked like a pile of leaves - absolute chaos - but the best kind possible.

And The King was my trusty assistant for it all - except for when he wandering through the school unattended - YIKES!

And the girls made sugar skulls in their classes - pretty fun!

Grandpa stopped by ... he forgot to put on his costume.

And here they are ready to go trick or treating!

Guess who decided to boycott Halloween this year ...

We have Mario:

And some sort of scary vampire/witch thing:

And a gypsy:

We didn't put Mario's mustache on until we were actually going out the door - cute eh?

And our little boycotter ... not much candy made it to the stroller though!

Despite the rain, and the boycotting - we had a fantastic TIME ... can't wait for next year!

Mad Mad Muffin Tin Monday

2010-10-25T11:03:00.000-07:00

What a Smile!

2010-10-24T07:05:00.000-07:00

Autumn,

the year's last, loveliest smile.

~William Cullen Bryant

I just can't get enough of these hills!!!

Muffin Tin Monday - A Little Bit of Everything

2010-10-17T21:39:00.000-07:00

Today's muffin tin was meant to be a snack ... but it ended up having enough food that it was an early dinner. It started off with the pomegranate. Then I just started filling up the little cups with whatever I came across in the kitchen.

We had chips and fresh salsa, banana, cheese, mini pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, granola and yogurt, red and green peppers, cucumbers, cream cheese, crackers and ... the pomegranate ... which was very well received.

I love these mini-muffin tins, you can add so many things and it ends up being just the right amount of food!!!

See other muffin tin meals at:

Muffin Tin Mom!

She's Outgrowing My Lap

2010-10-17T08:51:00.000-07:00

"A daughter may outgrow your lap, but she will never outgrow your heart."

~Author Unknown

The Paper Storage of my Dreams

2010-10-14T10:29:00.000-07:00

So I have recently (with the re-finishing of our basement) been able to get my craft space much more organized. And I love my craft space now! However, a girl can still dream, right?

This paper tower is the PERFECT way to finish off all the work I have done in there and make that room unbelievably amazing!

So, the lovely Sue at MyEyeQ is part of a bigger contest that will ultimately give away this beauty. And I want it! And you can try for it, too. Go to HER CONTEST for more info.

And if you want to check it out for yourself, go to

THE PAPER TOWER!

Beauty and The BEAST (that is the media)

2010-10-11T11:43:00.000-07:00

As the mother of two beautiful daughters (in my "where-on-earth-did-they-come-from" humble opinion), I must admit that I fear for them. Adolescence is right around the corner. In fact, my oldest just entered the double digits a few weeks ago. They are both starting to care about what they wear, they're becoming a bit style conscious - and it is all just hitting me like a punch in the gut! UGH!!!

That's really not the subject of this post, but that is where it starts. I look at these wonderful girls of mine (and Bert's - of course) and I wonder what's in store for them. I see their strengths and their weaknesses, I see their talents and their shortcomings. I see everything about them and I am so excited for the way they are growing and the people they are becoming. And yet, in the same moment, that excitement gets a little tarnished when the world around me reminds me that it is there. And, it is waiting for them!

Everywhere I look I see story after story of this pop star or that movie star. Of course, the story really isn't about them, it is just about what they look like and what they are wearing. As much as I don't care how they all look in their bikinis, my real hope and desire is that my daughters won't care.

I hope that my daughters can develop a good, strong sense of self despite this over-sexed and over-exposed media that seems to have nothing more important to do than focus on the bodies of young women. It sickens me, and more importantly, it saddens me. Our girls are being taught over and over and over that their worth is defined by the size of their waists and their breasts. They are being compared, they are being judged, they are being categorized.

It can be a devastating thing for a young girl.

It angers me that the most fragile and innocent members of our society are the ones being targeted. And despite the efforts of companies to celebrate the unique beauty of each and every woman (thank you Dove), I am still greeted by "news stories" featuring scantily clad young women each and every time I turn on my computer.

We are fostering a situation where girls are growing up with society's standards for "beauty" being forced down their throats, instead of being encouraged to find and celebrate the beauty that they intrinsically possess.

If I could, I would just pull all of this nonsense out of their lives. But that would require a major lifestyle change involving complete isolation on a deserted island. (okay - so some days that doesn't sound so bad) But, realistically, I know that if they are going to find happiness in their lives, they need to find their own beauty and define it their own way, despite everything going on around them.

Not an easy challenge.

And to be honest, it is one that I lose sleep over sometimes.

But they are smart and gorgeous and strong. So I know that they can do it.
And they will do it.
And I will be cheering them on every step of the way.
(But a mom can worry, right?)

So, to my beauties - here's to celebrating you and who you are each and every day!

And to BYU Women's Services, thank you for the "Recapturing Beauty" campaign! Love it!

Go Jump in a Lake ...

2010-10-10T16:46:00.000-07:00

I'm sure that is what he was wishing I had said.

In fact, I was saying something more along the lines of, "Whatever you do, DON'T fall in!!!"

But you can't keep a boy from the edge of the lake (that's where you have to be if want all those rocks and sticks you are throwing to actually make it into the lake), and so you just cross your fingers.

And thankfully, when we started heading home, he was still dry.

A bit dirty, but still dry!!!

"Did You Know You Have a Really Big Zit on Your Nose?"

2010-09-09T13:06:00.000-07:00

And that was the opening line of an interesting conversation I had with a 10 year old boy yesterday while I was helping at my kids' school.

(And for those who need a visual, here is the topic of the conversation in all it's glory.)

This is how the rest of the conversation played out:

Me: "Well, actually, it's more of a mole-like thing, not a zit."

Boy: "Did you know that you could get it taken off?"

Me: "Yes, I've thought about that, but it would require surgery and that is kind of painful."

Boy: "It's not that bad, you just need anesthesia."

Me: "That would help a lot, but it is also very expensive." (referring to the surgery)

Boy: "I can get you some anesthesia for free. My dad's a _____________ and my mom's a ______________. I can get anesthesia anytime I want." (identifying information removed for obvious reasons)

Me: "That's very interesting."

Boy: "Sure I can hook you up, just let me know."

Me: "Thank you for the offer."

Boy: "See, I have had surgery and it wasn't bad, look at my scars." (shows me a few scars)

Me: "Wow, that must have been painful." (obviously not getting the point of this conversation yet)

Boy: "Nope, I didn't feel a thing, you just need good anesthesia."

At that point I had to get the kids down to the gym ... but it looks like I now have a friend in the anesthesia business!!!

Who knows, maybe I should have taken him up on his offer!!!

Muffin Tin Catch-up!!!

2010-09-06T11:43:00.000-07:00

WHEW!!! We haven't been posting our Muffin Tins even though we keep having them each week. That basement project is keeping me busy, so I feel a little guilty spending extra time on the computer right now. But since today is a holiday, I am going to take a little break and share the past few weeks of muffin tins - just for fun, ya know.

We used some fun red baskets with muffin tin cups to have a hotdog dinner one night:

Then I participated in the Muffin Tin Swap and got these goodies from Jen:

(thanks again - we are loving them)

And we have been using parts of them from time to time - so, so fun!

and then I already posted this one:

And this isn't really a muffin tin - but it was so fun I had to share it anyway.

(saw it Taste of Home magazine - it's a mashed potato-keilbasa sundae)

And then yesterday we had a simple muffin tin lunch, I was still in recovery mode from my sister's wedding the day before ... we enjoyed the left over flowers very much!!!

And there you have it, the muffin tins live on! Now I just need to get my basement all settled!

Forgiveness

2010-08-29T07:52:00.000-07:00

This past week I had an interesting experience. A friend at church told me about this video and after church that day I watched it. I needed a few tissues to make my way through it, but my heart was very affected by the story. I had heard the story in the news and heard reference to this gentleman many times, but to hear him say those words and see him physically offer forgiveness was a great lesson to me.

If you haven't seen it, it is very worth your time:

I was so touched. I hope to really learn the lesson that is taught through this tragic experience.

Later that week, I was visiting with a friend of mine. She is a newer friend, so I am still learning many things about her. We were talking about some things that we had experienced and she shared with me how her own son had been the driver in an accident that had killed someone. In this case, the victims family has been filled with anger and hatred. If they had it their way, all of her family would have to pay the price for this horrible event, not just her son. Letters were sent to keep the son in jail longer and longer and longer, wishes were made that his mother would suffer death, too. My heart broke as she shared this experience. The pain was so strong, you can see that she hasn't had a moments peace since that day.

I am not trying to judge the actions of the victim's family in this case, but I am trying to share what I learned. I can see what great forces love and hate can be. Love can work miracles, bring healing and change lives. Hate can bring misery and prevent healing, it can keep the wounds just as fresh as they were when they happened.

I have no idea what I would do if placed in this situation. But I am currently making the decision to choose forgiveness. I have a situation in my own life that is very painful due to the actions of others that I cannot control. Anger and frustration are my usual emotions in response to their actions. It is time for me to let go of the anger and let them do what they are going to do. I cannot change a thing except what happens in my own heart.

So, I am working on changing, I am working on this old heart of mine still.

Love.

Forgiveness.

Peace.

That's my goal.

Off to School ... It's That Time Already!

2010-08-23T13:31:00.000-07:00

Like usual, summer just FLEW by. Part of me is kind of glad this year, since our summer has been offically dubbed, "The Lost Summer". (I won't share the other names we came up with, though!) We started off with my crazy heavy work load that took over the first two weeks of vacation. Then, Thing 2 got sick and that took over the next four weeks of vacation. Then the sewer drain backed up and that took over the past 5 weeks and possibly a few more to come!

Anyhow, I LOVE autumn, and this year I am very glad to see it come.

And as I sent the girls off to school this morning, I was taken back by how much it felt like autumn. I don't know if that means we are just having a cooler day, or that autumn really is going to come quickly. But that crisp fresh morning air was the most rejuvenating thing I have experienced for a while. It filled my soul as much as it filled my lungs, and it left me feeling powered up and ready to go.

And these little cuties helped, too:

Here's Thing 1:

And Thing 2:

And then (sniff, sniff) The Boy:

(yes, he started the big K today - I can't believe it)

Trying to get this guy to give me a good pose proved to be too much to ask.

But then I caught a glimpse of who he is to me ... that's my boy!

And don't tell the girls, but we went out for a little lunch date before I took him to school.

We mostly just laughed at the King and all his craziness.

Then it came time to take him to school. He found his seat and sat down and then, he basically just FROZE!!! I kind of giggled. Here is the crazy, rough-and-tumble, in your face kind of a kid I've always known, now basically paralyzed by the newness of it all.

And despite it all, I think he'll do great! (Doesn't he look awesome?)

And The King and I saved our tears until the walk through the parking lot and the drive home.

What a Sight to Wake Up To ...

2010-08-19T08:07:00.000-07:00

I have said it before and I'll say it again,

My Neighborhood is THE BEST!!!

This is what I saw first thing this morning:

Yep, that's me as a munchkin ... in triplicate!!!

Upon further inspection, I found that there was more, too:

The kids observed the whole thing with kicks and giggles ... (even if they look a little sleepy - they did just get out of bed ... ahhhhhhh)

Those lollipops were all over the place. Excuse the dry lawn and weeds ... but I have been focused on my basement for weeks now and my poor yard has been left to fend for itself!!!

The Birthday Banshees are very creative, everytime they get someone, they do something different. I don't even know where they pulling these ideas from - but this was funny!!!

And the true frugal scrapper in me couldn't help but take note of all the perfectly good (and cute) paper that went into this surprise:

(I could totally use that!!!)

And yes, there were actual lollipops included in all of this - aren't they cute?

Anyhow, those Birthday Banshees are the best kind of people there are!!! Thanks so much - you have helped get me b-day off to a sweet start!

Now, off to deal with the basement some more:

Getting everything put back in place (and LOTS of it just thrown OUT), makes me very happy. So I am actually very excited to get back to work on it. And to still pamper myself a bit today, I will not be doing more than pouring cereal and milk to feed my family (wait - they can do that themselves). Lunch and Dinner will be had somewhere else, prepared by someone else.

Hmmm, I keep hearing good things about 5 Guys Burgers and Fries ...

And then maybe a little shopping ...

Thanks for all the Birthday Wishes so far, it looks like a great day ahead!

Just Taking it One Step at a Time

2010-08-17T10:31:00.000-07:00

but at least, these steps are DONE!!!

BEFORE: AFTER:

Now on to cleaning, dejunking, reorganizing and decorating!!!

We're in Good Hands

2010-08-11T22:04:00.000-07:00

Still here, still alive, just busy putting the $$$ Allstate paid out for a little sewage back-up in our basement to good use.

I am definitely grateful for a good insurance settlement experience. I've never had to do this before, and I hope I never have to again. But I'm relieved it has been a pleasant process despite the gross nature of the mess in our basement.

Now, back to painting ... new carpet will be here soon and my sanity will hopefully follow soon after!

He Hasn't Changed a Bit ...

2010-07-31T21:49:00.000-07:00

THEN:

NOW:

Okay - maybe he's changed a little ...

"It Takes a Long Time to Grow Young."

~ Pablo Picasso

Happy Birthday Love!

Muffin Tin Monday - Breakfast in "Bed"

2010-07-26T08:15:00.000-07:00

Yep ... breakfast in "bed" for the kiddos!

Why is "bed" in quotes???

Well - you'll see why:

That is where they have been sleeping for a while.

We are doing some "tough love" with the King, trying to get him to stop waking up in the middle of the night. So we didn't want The Boy in there during the process. That is why he is sleeping in the living room and his sisters are there for moral support.

I think we are getting closer - although we had a minor set-back with a little flooding in our basement. Oh well - we'll get there!

And ... I loved the piggy toast - what a fun toy!

See more tins at

Muffin Tin Mom!

Who I Am and Where I Come From

2010-07-25T14:21:00.000-07:00

“In all of us there is a hunger, marrow-deep, to know our heritage—to know who we are and where we have come from. Without this enriching knowledge, there is a hollow yearning. No matter what our attainments in life, there is still a vacuum, an emptiness, and the most disquieting loneliness.”

~ Alex Haley

These are the faces of my great-great-great-great grandparents James McDonald and Sarah Ferguson. And thankfully they are just not names and faces. They are real people that lived a long time ago did a great deal of good in this world. The more I learn of their lives, their successes and struggles, the more I start to know who they are and who I am.

Their story is one of faith, courage, hardship and love.

And perhaps someday I'll share that story.

But today I am off to meet some new, future relatives, and I am very excited!

Let me just share one more thought about seeking out your ancestors:

“Who among us wants to throw stones at their own ancestors? I, for one, am intrigued by their battles—their victories as well as their defeats. … I am fascinated by what may seem the most commonplace of lives, because I have come to realize the excitement that is concealed in the commonplace.”

~ Arthur Bassett

@ Fresh Mommy

Just Another Day in Paradise ...

2010-07-22T20:36:00.000-07:00

Today I babysat for a friend of mine who was taking her baby to the doctor. Our kids just have a fabulous time together and it is always fun to welcome them into our home. It is also fairly chaotic ... with 7 kids running around all crazy, you just learn to sit back and relax and enjoy it all anyway.

After the doctor appointment she stayed for a while so that I could cuddle her precious baby. It was a great visit, I got to hold a baby, my kids were entertained, we all ate lunch together (thanks to her making a little stop on the way home) ... it was all good.

Then I received this message from her later that day:

"Hey Jenny,

So if I was the mother of only one child...I would have thought that play date was disasterous (sp?)! ;o) I would have been so embarrassed that

1) my child hit your child on the head and made him bleed

2) my child peed on your bathroom floor

3) my child let your dog out

4) my children destroyed some other part of your house without us knowing

But....I am now the mother of 4 and I enjoyed our visit instead and was not embarrassed by my beautiful crazies!

Thanks for having us!"

I guess that just sums it ALL up ... you just really seem to accept a certain amount of chaos when there are lots of little ones around.

And that is just another day in MY paradise!

I LOVE My Dog

2010-07-17T22:07:00.000-07:00

"Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring--it was peace."

~ Milan Kundera

He deserves a LOT of love and attention!

He took good care of me this week while Bert was out of town.

He's a silly, funny thing, who even pooped in my house this weekend, but I'm not mad. He's a great companion to have. We all love him and can't imagine life without him.

He also deserves some scooby snacks - which he will be receiving promptly!

GOOD BOY!

Fresh Mommy's

A Book Club for Kids

2010-07-16T17:31:00.000-07:00

We have just started on a new little endeavor ... a book club for Thing 2!

It came about after one of the other moms and I were discussing plans for a school photographer. As we got to talking about our girls, she mentioned the idea and I jumped right on board. My Thing 2 has not taken to reading as much as her older sister, so I was ready to go with anything I could possibly do to make the practice more appealing to her.

What's more appealing to an 8 year old girl than a monthly "party"???

Yep, she was right there with me and the book club was born. We found a few others interested and somehow Thing 2 picked the first book. (Which means I got to host the first "meeting"!) The book we read was, "The Princess and the Unicorn" by Carol Hughes.

The book was well-received by my girls - there were even moments when they were laughing out loud as we read together. I have to say that it was much different than I had imagined, but a fun, exciting read just the same. So getting through the book was a piece of cake, and Thing 2 seemed to be motivated to keep going on it, even though it was a big book for her. I probably could have had her read it and then I could have just read it to myself, but seeing their reactions at certain things was priceless and I am glad we were able to take it in together.

The story itself involved a princess, a unicorn, a governess, several fairies and much, much more. I don't want to give out too many details, so if your girls are interested in those things, I am certain they would enjoy this book.

Now ... how do you host a girl's book club?

I had no idea, so hopefully I was close to on-track. This is what we ended up doing:

We started with a discussion of the book. We had a crystal vase with the names of certain character on scraps of papers. The girls picked out names and then discussed those characters. They also shared some of their favorite parts and some of the most exciting or surprising parts. We talked about it for 10 minutes or so and then we did a few activities that we pulled from the book.

The first activity was just to pin the horn on the unicorn - pretty simple! But it was all planned by Thing 1 and Thing 2. Then Thing 1 made the unicorn and horns - she's so awesome!

After that we went outside and tried to learn how to see fairies ... just as the princess had to learn to do in the book. Each girl searched and found several fairies to keep. We also had to search for shoes, since the princess had to search for her shoes at one point in the book.

Then it was time for a treat. We had princess cupcakes, but they didn't have a crown on them, the girls had to make the crowns on their own. We did this because the princess had to learn how to be a princess in the book ... and she had to do it on her own (okay - she had a little help from a fairy). So, the girls made crown and put them on their cupcakes before eating!

And just for fun (mostly because I saw these letters right by the fairies at Michael's) we decorated a big letter with sequins and "jewels". Each girl had their own first initial and they did a lovely job - I was impressed.

And while we were busy doing some of these things, The King was busy getting into the rest of the cupcakes!

HA! What a little stinker!

Anyhow, that is how I did a girl's book club. I am looking forward to see what the others do, but I am also glad to have my turn over with for a little while. This is such a great group of girls ... this should be a wonderful experience for Thing 2 and hopefully instill a love of reading that I haven't been able to help her attain ... yet! We'll see what happens.

T"Hair" it Goes!!!

2010-07-14T23:23:00.000-07:00

My beautiful, sweet girls have been working on a little project.

It has taken them quite some time, a lot of patience, and some time consuming (and sometimes painful) maintenance.

But here they are, ready to give it all away!

Say goodbye to those long pony tails.

Good news, they were thrilled to get it done. They had been growing their hair until it was long enough to donate. The day arrived, and then due to all the crazy stuff that's been going on lately, the day was postponed over and over and over again.

Finally, we got to our Hair Expert and had her work her magic.

Here she is harvesting Thing 2's ponytail.

And here she is applying a few finishing touches:

And then Thing 1 got in the chair:

And, to get that hairline just right, Thing 1 needed a little buzzing:

It looks like their work paid off:

2 long beautiful ponytails to send off to a great organization.

And two beautiful little girls, pleased as punch with their sassy new do's!

(And, just for the record, I got a hair cut that day also, but my photos weren't nearly as cute - and I didn't have enough to donate - so I will be left out of this post!!!)

The best part, they are already planning on growing it out again ... I love them!!!

Muffin Tin Monday - Please Play With Your Food

2010-07-12T09:23:00.000-07:00

After seeing the little zhu-zhu snack made out of a twinkie (in Family Fun, I think), I decided to make a tin out of favorite toys. This is what we had to play with in our tins:

Tic-Tac-Toe Apple Slices (with a little caramel sauce in the bottom)

Grapes and Toothpick Erector Sets

Stacking Rings Sandwich

Edible Playdough

Fresh Lime with a Cars Toy

And... the Zhu Zhu Twinkie!!!!

This ended up being a very fun tin. I had originally wanted to make a spiral cut on the apples and have them be slinkies, but it didn't work. I should have done potatoes! Oh well.

AND ... those Cars on the straws are from my Muffin Tin Swap package that already arrived. (My partner is sooooo much more on the ball than myself.) THANKS JEN!

The kids had fun with the grapes and toothpicks:

There's her finished product:

And The Boy ate his faster than he could put it together:

And the King had fun sneaking a taste from his sister's tin:

There he was ... caught in the act!

(but who could get mad at a face like that???)

More tins at:

Muffin Tin Mom

Everyone Deserves a Little Sunshine

2010-07-10T13:48:00.000-07:00

"Beautiful and graceful, varied and enchanting, small but approachable, butterflies lead you to the sunny side of life. And everyone deserves a little sunshine."

~ Jeffrey Glassberg

"Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you."

~ Nathaniel Hawthorne

Posting on Fresh Mommy's

Muffin Tin Monday - OR, MD, HI, MA and AK

2010-07-05T00:11:00.000-07:00

Our Muffin Tin Monday was actually on a tray, because the dessert was too big for anything else!!!

My poor kids!!! ha ha

Anyhow, it's been a while since I have done a States theme, I was excited to get them going again.

And for this one I was able to try something I have heard of, but never had before.

Can you guess what it is?

In our tin:

Massachusettes: Corn Muffins (the official muffin of the state)

Hawaii: Pineapple

Oregon: Sand dollar sandwiches (for Seaside Oregon, where you can gather TONS of these)

Maryland: Popcorn Shrimp

Alaska: Baked Alaska

The girls were excited to show off their sea shells (in honor of the sand dollar in their lunch).

Soooooo, the item I have never tried before is the Baked Alaska!!!

Can I just say ... YUM!!!

My goodness - what a fabulous dessert!

I was trying to make mine muffin tin sized, so this is what I did:

(mind you, it was still too big for the tins in the end)

Individual Baked Alaskas:

1. Baked LARGE chocolate cupcakes.

2. Once cooled, I put the cupcakes in the freezer to get them fairly cold (not frozen, though).

3. I cut off the top of the cupcake and scooped out the insides.

4. Then I filled the insides with Strawberry Ice Cream (I REALLY recommend this flavor combination).

5. I put the cupcake top back on and carefully smoooooshed the two pieces back together.

8. Then, freeze the cupcakes until they get really firm.

9. When they are ready, start the meringue. I used 5-6 egg whites and a dash of Cream of Tartar. I mixed that until is was really foamy and white (but not stiff). Then I added 1 cup of sugar and let that beat until I got stiff, glossy peaks. Preheat the oven to 500F while this is going on - it moves rather quickly at this point.

10. I set the cupcakes on a baking sheet (top sides down) and then covered each one with a layer of meringue, using the spoon to make them look pretty.

11. Then place in the hot oven just until they are browned to your liking (~ 5 min).

12. Eat them up right away ... what a treat! I can't believe I've never had Baked Alaska before!!!

Want to see other muffin tin meals?

Go to Muffin Tin Mom!

Happy Birthday America

2010-07-04T09:13:00.000-07:00

“I am sure that never was a people, who had more reason to acknowledge a Divine interposition in their affairs, than those of the United States; and I should be pained to believe that they have forgotten that agency, which was so often manifested during our Revolution, or that they failed to consider the omnipotence of that God who is alone able to protect them.”

~ George Washington

“America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.”

~ Abraham Lincoln

"I have sworn upon the alter of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man."

~ Thomas Jefferson

“Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.”

~ John F. Kennedy

More thoughts at Fresh Mommy

Happy Birthday to The King

2010-07-03T22:54:00.000-07:00

... OR ... Tit for Tat!!!

Today the King is 2!

Although he has been acting the part for some time now, it is official as of today.

It's been a crazy week dealing with Thing 2's health (which is on the mend now). Between running around and just being flat out paralyzed with anxiety ... there weren't any preparations for The King's big day. Which is "funny" in a way ... just a year and a half ago, the King was hospitalized with RSV around the time of Thing 2's birthday. So, she had a fairly pitiful birthday observance that year. I guess that sibling rivalry runs strong in our family!!! ;)

So here he is, our 2 year old:

He's enjoying digging into his unwrapped presents (purchased moments before):

And this isn't the best photo, but his smile just melts my heart!

And then there was the cake ... this is the first birthday cake I have bought for one of my children ... EVER!!! (and that's a 23 birthday run) Anyhow, my favorite thing to do for each birthday is make a cake, but it just couldn't be this year!

He didn't seem to mind, however!

And the silver lining was that it was a mint chocolate chip Baskin Robbins ice cream cake.

So GREAT for a summer birthday!

Then we got to head out to see fireworks that night - thank heavens I didn't have to plan ahead for that! We started off with some military jets flying overhead.

Of course, trying to get a cute photo of the kids looking out over all the activities was impossible!

The King was a little restless while we waited, but Dad came to the rescue with some tickles.

When the fireworks started, The King (mosquito bites and all), just observed everything with that "deer in the headlights" look in his eyes.

Eventually though, he got into it!

I think he is going to like his birthday ... what a great way to celebrate!!!

And to finish off the night, he knocked out in his new big-boy bed ... I can't believe he's that big already!

(Just for the record, The Boy added all sorts of pillows and blankets to the bed, this is not how The King slept all night!)

Happy Birthday to my sweet baby boy!

I am so glad that it could still be a great birthday for you!

A Doctor a Day ...

2010-07-01T19:58:00.000-07:00

Keeps the Apples Away!

Whew ... it has been a week, and then some. We have been in hospitals and doctors' office solid for a week. Fortunately, we haven't been actually hospitalized in the process.

We are still in a bit of limbo as to the condition of our little Thing 2, but after meeting with a specialist yesterday, my anxiety has been reduced dramatically. It looks like a long recovery ahead of her, but we are sooooooo grateful for the prospect of recovery.

Anyhow, the week has basically gone like this ...

From having a fever and feeling crummy last Wednesday and Thursday:

To a flu diagnosis on Friday:

To a strep diagnosis on Saturday:

To "We have NO idea" from the ER on Sunday:

To "Let's wait for more lab work on Monday":

To more labs, doctor visits, and mild bursts of energy throughout the rest of the week!

I just need to say thanks to all the prayers that have been sent our way and to the great help given by our family, friends and neighbors. It's been chaotic, and it probably will be for a bit longer, but we are so blessed to have so many good people in our lives to help along the way.

One thing I am learning through this process is that I need to take a class on dealing with stressful situations ... I am already anxiety-prone, so when you add stress - I am a basket case!!!

I have also learned that I have an amazing daughter who can take on life's challenges with sweetness and grace ... oh wait ... I already knew that!

So now, the waiting game.

Bless her heart!

Muffin Tin Monday - Project: Rehydrate

2010-06-28T11:25:00.000-07:00

Oh, my little Thing 2 has been through the ringer lately ... she is SICK! She has been tested positive for a strep infection AND a viral infection. And her poor little body just can't seem to handle much food or drink, so on top of it all she is dehydrated.

Today is all about keeping her hydrated and offering some protein in small, cute little ways to make it a bit more palatable.

This is what I came up with:

(Ginger ale, yogurt w/sprinkles, cheese bears, ants on a log, watermelon, red grapes and an Oreo on top)

And this is where she ate it:

More tins at:

Muffin Tin Mom

Accentuate the Positive ...

2010-06-26T00:00:00.000-07:00

I totally could have had one of those "Debby Downer" kind of days ...

I just listed out all of those "Downer" things out, one by one.

And then I deleted them, ALL OF THEM.

And now, I changed the title of this post to what you see now.

I am going to do just that instead!

I feel better already!

Here I go ... latching on to the affirmative:

Bert and The King looked so cute in matching shirts!!!

I really think Thing 2 is on the mend!!!

Bert sold this cabinet thing, he got what he wanted out of it, too!

The flowers in my yard are in bloom - and they are gorgeous!

The spaghetti squash is coming along - see all those future goodies?

The basil is also looking good, small, but off to a good start.

Same for the cumin, parsley and radishes - can't wait!!!

And, no photos, but my sister took Thing 1 and The Boy to see their daddy play ... they got home at midnight with sleepy little grins plastered on their sticky little faces!

So, there are some of the beautiful, positive, delightful, lovely things going on around me.

Not too bad, eh?

What I Love Wednesday - Online Classified Ads

2010-06-23T11:58:00.000-07:00

NOTE: We have had some great experiences with online local classifieds, but we are VERY cautious in how we go about our business. So, although I am singing the praises of these services, know that people have been cheated, injured and even murdered ... so PLEASE be careful!

I have to say that we have been able to get some really great deals using some local online classified ad services, namely KSL.com. I love the deals we have made and the products we have purchased, but we have also had some interesting experiences along the way.

Here are a few:

When we moved the girls into their new bedroom, we needed a window covering. I shopped around and couldn't find the right thing, until I saw these lovely little curtains (on craigslist) that used ALL of the same colors I had in their quilts ... what a winner!

This summer we decided it was time to make sure we could all go biking together ... so we ordered a brand new lovely pink cruiser from the local bike shop. Turns out the pink bike was on backorder and we wouldn't be able to get a date until JULY!!! That timeline didn't work for me. So we turned to KSL.com and found a great bike that actually came with a baby seat attached!!! ROCK ON! And the dark orange color matches me very well, I think.

We also thought we would want a bike trailer for the two little boys if we wanted to go on a longer ride. So, we found one for sale in a lovely little town and figured that even though it was a little ways away, it would be a beautiful drive and a great outing for our family. Well, it was all that, and MORE. The family we bought the bike trailer from had horses and let our kids ride them a bit before we left. SCORE ... great deal on bike trailer, beautiful drive and free horse rides!!!

And now I am on a mission to beautify a few rooms in our home, but our home beautification budget is pretty low. So, when I realized that two comfy recliners would work really well in our TV nook, I turned right to KSL.com and found a pair of these, only a year old and in really good condition. Let the makeover begin!!!

But Bert has the best story of all!!! He is constantly shopping for basses ... it's his hobby, his stress relief, his sanity. One day he went and played a blue bass he saw on KSL.com. He has been looking for the perfect blue bass for years, but hasn't quite found THE ONE. He went down to Provo to play the blue bass pictured below (that very one) and came back telling me that the guy who owns this bass is the bassist for a really great band.

Well, the bass didn't work for Bert and the guy ended up keeping it. Which was a good thing, because it obviously is sounding good enough to get his band on the Jay Leno show.

Have you heard of the Neon Trees?

(yes, that's the guy and his blue bass on Jay Leno)

If you haven't heard them before, take a listen. I really like them!

Anyhow, happy shopping out there ... but, BE CAREFUL. Trust your gut and watch out for scammers!

Here's to finding all those perfect little treasures you are searching for.

(and hopefully meeting some really cool people in the process)

Muffin Tin Monday - Snack for Dad

2010-06-21T07:25:00.000-07:00

I am so glad JDaniel4's Mom did this muffin tin last week - it was the perfect little way to celebrate dad. So, I had to copy it. Mine was more of a snack to hold us over until for a few hours, as we had a lovely dinner for Father's Day. This is what our snack consisted of:

Thing 2 needed another chocolate graham, so this is what she came up with!!!

Of course, there are no photos of dinner, but we snapped a few before bedtime. By then Bert had passed on his sticker badge to The King. We did make him wear it all afternoon and evening - HA! He's a good sport.

And now, the results of an attempted Father's Day photo:

We had to try! Ha ha!

Anyhow, it was a great Father's Day for a really great Dad!

We Love You Bert!

AND... Muffin Tin Mom has more Muffin Tins on display!

Trying to Be a Father

2010-06-20T07:38:00.000-07:00

"You will find that if you really try to be a father, your child will meet you halfway."

~Robert Brault

How grateful I am for having a dad who always tried! I always felt loved, I felt secure in his world, I knew I belonged to him, and I knew he wanted me there. He might not have been perfect, but he was the perfect dad for me. Perhaps that is what has made his parting bearable, knowing that he tried. Because of that, I knew that he loved me, and that's all I needed.

And how grateful I am for a husband who loves his children. I can see how they long for his love and attention, I can see how much it means to them. I can also see how it is shaping their lives for good. But enough about me, what do the kids think?

Thing 1 - "I love that he takes me to do fun things."

Thing 2 - "I love how fun he is."

The Boy - "I love him since he's silly."

The King - "indecipherable babble" ... (But I know that he LOVES when daddy comes home.)

Happy Fathers Day to all the dads out there.

More quotes and photos at Fresh Mommy:

I'd like you to meet some bunny!

2010-06-18T15:45:00.000-07:00

(If you are needing a dose of "cuteness" today ... HOLY RABBIT - you are going to get one!)

This is Toyo ...

Look at what my dear friend and her husband found on their driveway the other day:

(they drive Toyotas by the way)

Yes, it is a baby (very baby - maybe 3 weeks old) cottontail.

The vet was pretty sure she is a girl ... isn't she adorable?

Seriousy, I couldn't get enough of her ... even though I never held her.

I just kept admiring her and squealing with delight on occasion!!!

She knows who her mommy is and didn't want to have anything to do with the rest of us!

Just looking at the cute little face, I am really hoping she warms up to me someday!