Beware of Kids

Pains....

2012-02-09T22:25:00.000-08:00

Warning: whiny post ahead

I am reflecting back on the past year and realize that it has been the most painful of my life, thus far. (And if I'm lucky--the last!!)

A year ago I was pregnant and it was actually pretty good. I did have to deal with a hip going out several times, as well as my back. That had never happened before, with my other pregnancies, but my husband reminded me that I was no longer a spring chicken, yes, too true. I worked through the pain and took it easy (ha, ha).

Labor, was labor, which meant pain, but that was expected.

I had surgery last May and recovery meant pain. But, I got slowly better.

Cue the past few months--real pain has ensued! Mastitis and thrush. Or maybe it was thrush, then mastitis, then thrush.   I just don't know.

All I know is thrush is worse than labor.   It is the worst pain I have ever, ever felt in my life. Enough to leave me crying and practically incapacitated. Enough to cause me to lock myself in my bathroom and wish to die. Enough to get me to crawl to the doctor and pharmacy to get help! (You know me and "toughing" things out...)

My heart goes out to any of you who've ever had thrush before. I can now empathize with you. What did our poor ancestors do before there were modern medicines? Voluntary masectomies?   That thought definitely crossed my mind.

I feel grateful that the sun has finally risen on the dark night of pain.

Thawed out!

2012-01-29T22:21:00.000-08:00

Seattle had a major storm last, last week. Areas north of Seattle got between 10-20 inches of snow. Those of us to the south got between 5-12 inches of snow and ICE like I've never seen before!

School was out on Monday because of MLK Jr.'s b-day. The kids enjoyed playing in the 2-3 inches of newly fallen snow. Tuesday was a 2-hour late start.

Late Tue. night/early Wed. morning we got about 5 inches more of snow. School was cancelled. We had friends over and I even bundled up the baby so that I could let him touch snow and take the older kids sledding. It takes 4 hours more for me to do anything nowadays so we "finally" made it out to sled around 3pm. By then, freezing rain was falling. This made for some good slippery slopes but everyone got cold fast so when I said we needed to go home and warm up the baby--all children were excited to leave (this never happens)! (And yes, those are wimpy pool intertubes, because mom still hasn't justified the purchase of buying real sleds for an area that gets only about 2 snow days a year. They still had fun and that's what counted :)

Thursday morning I got up to go running, as usual. My companions and I had to opt for a slippery walk/slide because everything was ice-covered. The poor trees and plants had one inch of ice on them. We saw several downed trees and branches.

My poor neighbors had some heavy boughs knock out part of their deck. He spent most of the day on the extension ladder sawing off limbs with a chainsaw to prevent any from falling on their house.

Thankfully things warmed up on Friday and things began to thaw, but the damage was so sad to see....

There was no school Thursday and Friday. Saturday was spent assessing the damages and cutting up broken limbs. On Sunday we had a combined tri-ward sacrament meeting at a different building because our building was without power.

We are so blessed. I have said countless prayers, both uttered and silent, because of His grace and protection. We were some of the few, in our area, to have not lost power. We didn't have very much tree damage, either. My husband was able to help out a lot at work and I believe we were blessed in his absence and because of the great service he provided to others.

It never hurts to be prepared, people! I can attest to that in trials past and now this!

December flurries...

2012-01-05T23:09:00.000-08:00

My Christmas newsletter went out after Christmas--here's why...

Santa!

Kindergarten gingerbread houses.

Riding the Polar Express.

Can you hear the bell?

The famous "Blue House" that we took several visitors to see.

Nutcracker ballet!

More frosted fun.

Early Christmas at grandparents with out-of-town cousins.

Best part of the present is the bow.

Christmas manis and pedis!

Lovely!

My hubby is thrilled to see the cougars.

Reindeer!

Sleigh ride.

Lovely.

Another one...

More sugary stuff.

He missed the last day of school, due to illness,
so we made our own Christmas trees at home over the break.

Mixing Christmas morning with getting ready for church...

First Christmas!

Hubby and his sis with their babies.

Results of a tired kindergartner's Christmas day tantrum.

The end!

Modern acorn wreath

2011-12-24T14:59:00.000-08:00

It's Christmas Eve and I never blogged about the cool wreath we made over a month ago. I found the idea here http://www.littlethingsbringsmiles.com/2010/11/acorn-wreath.html

Parent teacher conferences in November gave us quite a few half days and one of those afternoons the kids and I gathered acorns. They had a great time scouring the ground for them.

I glued them on and it took a lot of glue and a bit more time that I thought it would. But I am pretty happy with the results--a wreath I can have on my door all year--no straw (visible), flowery flowers, fake birds, plastic grapes--just a clean, simple, modern wreath, my kind of wreath.

Oh, please!

2011-12-10T14:07:00.000-08:00

Many of you know I can easily get on a soapbox and start voicing my opinions: this is one of those times.

A brochure came in the mail this week. This is the cover.

Dialogues, like the following, flood my head...

Mom: Oh, Betty, this computer game is much more important than for me to make dinner. Well, maybe I will, but I definitely don't have time to do dishes! We are bonding too much in front of my laptop. Hey--maybe Dad will let us order take-out again, or better yet--McDonald's!

Dad (reading to little Sue): "And Kimmy said to Kelly, 'Mother says I can come over after I clean my room...'"

Little Sue: What's, "clean my room?"

If people are taking the attitude, "Life's too short to clean our own homes" than we are really missing the opportunity to teach our kids an important lesson. Children feel more valued in a home where they are counted on to do their part. Why is teen suicide higher now than decades before? Oh, I could go on and on about the value of work!

"Thou shalt not be ^aidle; for he that is idle shall not eat the ^bbread nor wear the garments of the ^claborer." (D&C 42:42)

Before winter hits....

2011-11-29T12:21:00.000-08:00

(to the tune of "Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree")

I looked out the window and what did I see?

Fall colors glowing on many a tree.

Autumn had brought me such a nice surprise--

Two beautiful daughters growing up before my eyes.

One turned 10 and is such a treat.

The other turned 12 and is just as sweet.

It was really so

and it seems to me--

Time is flying by

much, too much, quickly!

Busy day--eating funnel cake in our jammies.

Welcome Dragon, now the world's most loved
birthday beta fish ever!

Birthday party with friends--playing country fair-inspired games.

Horse racing!

Finals in the ping-pong blow (they LOVED this one)!

Party time!

Corn dogs and watermelon and lemonade.

Blue ribbon pies for a blue ribbon girl! (Excuse the dirty kitchen).

Yeah, that's a lot more than 10 candles.

Balloon animals!

I love her expressions when opening gifts!!

Older girls now...making glass tile
necklaces, snacking, and hanging out.

Opening presents with two curious little brothers hovering...

Birthday field trip to the Museum of Glass!

Watching a live glass-blowing session...

Cool middle schoolers (and mom and 10-year-old)

HOT glass!

Hot girls!

Never tired of posing!

Chulily glass bridge--looking up
(couldn't get the camera settings right to see their faces).

I could look up for hours!!

12 years old!

Who you gonna call?

2011-11-02T11:52:00.000-07:00

$10 on random vacuum cleaner parts at the thrift store? Give me some duct tape and stand back!

shoe boxes painted black, 3 rolls of electrician's tape, and 2 rolls of duct tape later = proton packs!

Looks like they work!

A little too well!

Ghostbusters!!!

Census....

2011-10-27T12:05:00.000-07:00

Just curious, now....

Who reads my blog? I assume it's only about 10 people, at most, because I don't see very many comments.

So, if you are reading this--could you leave me a comment? Or maybe email me? Just curious...

(Maybe I don't want to find out--maybe there's only 2 people or something....)

Drunkenness...

2011-10-21T14:50:00.000-07:00

I was out of town on Sept. 24, when my church has a worldwide broadcast for the women of the church to watch. I missed this talk http://lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/forget-me-not?lang=eng
President Uchtdorf gave lots of wonderful counsel, one thing being not fretting over things that really aren't that important.

I listened to his talk this past Sunday. I should have listened to it sooner :).

Don't ask me for help; I'll rarely say "no." Well, I should have said "no" a few weeks ago. Our R.S. Super Saturday (a day where we get together and do a bunch of crafts) was this past Saturday. One of the ladies in charge asked me to head up a cute little set of nativity puppets. I checked out the template online and knew I could do it.

It took a lot longer than it looked. Mainly because there was no template for little detailed items, like hair, beards, headpieces, and such. I spent Friday night creating templates for everything and then getting all the supplies in order for each person who paid for a set of puppets.

I also spent a few hours pressing, hemming, and cuffing a pair of dress pants for a friend. My hubby was gone that weekend and all the kids were in bed by 9pm.

I couldn't believe it took me SO long to finish up these two projects. It was 6:15am when I finished and began cleaning up. I wondered if I should even go to sleep since Super Saturday was starting at 8am (and I still hadn't popped up the popcorn I was asked to bring).

I felt that I needed to go to bed. That one hour of sleep I got was enough to recharge me for Saturday's duties: making popcorn, Super Saturday crafting, soccer games, caring for infant, etc...

Saturday night, after the kids were down, I found myself in the kitchen making some treats for Sunday dinner, finishing a Super Saturday craft, and cleaning the kitchen. I'd felt dizzy of and on during the day. Out of the corner of my eye I could see darkness--I knew the fatigue was catching up to me.

I felt very impressed that I needed to get to bed--immediately! My kids didn't need to wake up in the morning and find their mother passed out on the kitchen floor.

Being sleep-deprived is just as bad as being intoxicated. 1 hour of sleep in a 40 hour time period--I was stupidly drunk! I will never do that again! (No puppet is worth that).

This job doesn't pay enough!

2011-10-13T15:15:00.000-07:00

Click on this link to pay me for my blogging and/or homemaking skills: quittingmydayjob.org

Made you click!

Seriously, though...I'm not quitting my day job--I'm kind of in it for, well, a while!

September and October have been a rollercoaster. We took the kids on a suprise trip to Disneyland and SoCal, visiting old friends and places (pictures below). It was a great time to go--3rd week of September when the whole nation is back in school. The longest line ever was 20 minutes--and that was maybe once encountered! We had a fun time.

Disneyland for 8 people (we invited my awesome mother-in-law) + airfare + car rental + food + a few souvenirs = a pretty large sum :)

Lodging was free, sort of. We put that timeshare to good use this year...

Who would have thought, that while we were all blissfully enjoying ourselves away from home, so many objects IN the home would misbehave while we were away, and decide to cease operating only mere weeks after our return?!

Some of you married men who are good at sports. Some of you married men who are good at speaking. Some of you married men who are just good to look at. Well, I married all that AND a man who is good at fixing stuff :).

It's not like he has all the time in the world, but he set to work feverishly during any free time he had. But, alas, some times all the effort in the world is wasted on things that cannot be brought back.

Rest in peace:

~ 4th-computer-we've-owned-but-it-still-feels-like-we-just-bought-you ~

~ stove/range-that's-as-old-as-the-house-but-still-seemed-too-young-to-die ~

~ waffle-iron-that-never-made-the-best-waffles-but-we-still-loved-having you ~

and

~ clothes-dryer-drum-that-made-such-intersting-sounds-before-you-gave-in ~

Thanks, dear items. I mean...it's not like we just coughed up enough money to go enjoy a trip together. If you were going to miss us that much you could have just told us--not just quit on us!

I can't post pictures of the fun my hubby had in trying to revive everybody because the new computer requires a new cord, that I didn't have to have with our old computer, to accept my camera. See!?! Give them an inch--and they walk all over you!

(The following pictures were miraculously uploaded before the big crash).

So, in just a short 6 weeks--I got a trip, a new dryer drum, computer, and range/oven! Have to save up a bit before I can afford the waffle maker. Having a family isn't expensive...having stuff for them is! Sheesh!

Week 5 and 6!

2011-08-25T11:43:00.001-07:00

Behind on the blogging!!!

Week 5-- "Weather"

Nursery rhymes: "The Sky," "Twinkle, Twinkle," and "One Misty, Moisty Morning"
Recipe: Mudballs (chocolate cream cheese truffles)
Craft/activity: Seattle sunrise closet mural

Mud Balls (Chocolate cream cheeseTruffles)

2 Tbs. cocoa powder
1/4 c. powdered sugar
1/4 c. chopped nuts
1/4 c. cream cheese
chocolate sprinkles

1. Prepare paper cups (mini-muffin liners or candy ones)

2. Stir all ingredients together in a large bowl
(works best if cream cheese has softened
on the counter ahead of time).

3. Chill mixture a bit, for easier handling.
4. Lay out sprinkles on plate or shallow dish.
5. Gently roll cream cheese mixture into balls and
then roll in sprinkles. Place in prepared liners.

6. Stare at your yummy creations before chowing down.

Seattle sunrise closet mural

My oldest daughter and I are setting up shop--selling modest shirts that we find at discount prices (we love a good bargain). We wanted a back drop for our mannequin, Mandi (you'll see her later). Here it is:

There are actually quite an array of colors in the sunrise--but I couldn't back myself any further into the wall to photograph the whole spectrum. I painted the sunrise and outlined the buildings (and painted the space needle). The kids filled painted in the all the buildings--good job staying in the lines!! (Just to give you an idea on the size--it's 5.5 feet wide and 8 feet tall).

Week 6--"Dog Days of Summer"
Nursery rhymes: "Where, Oh Where [has my little dog gone]" and "Old Mother Hubbard"
Craft: Hot dog invites
Recipe: Grandma Gibson's West Virginia Hot Dog Chili

Hot dog invites for our annual street barbeque/pot luck!

I did the printing out on the computer and the kids helped

with the assembly. The googly eyes were their favorites--of course!

Grandma Gibson's West Virginia Hot Dog Chili

(got this recipe from a genuine West Virginia cookbook that was given to me as a wedding gift, a reflection of where I grew up, and I'm typing it up exactly as it reads!)

All ingredients amounts are approximate! Adjust to own taste!

1 lb. ground beef, browned

chopped or dried onion for flavoring sprinkle over top of meat (I used dried onion)

chili powder, just sprinkle enough to cover meat and onions

1 pint of tomato juice, mix with meat and onions

1/2 c. ketchup (just enought to cover meat and juice) for thickening

salt, just shake enough to cover pan of sauce

Simmer.

For authentic West Virginia Hot Dogs top wiener with homemade chili from above recipe and cole slaw.

Cole Slaw

Chopped cabbage mixed with Marzetti's Cole Slaw Dressing makes a good slaw for hot dogs.

I've made this chili sauce before, but never tried it with cole slaw before. It IS a delicious combination!

Week 4

2011-07-31T00:00:00.000-07:00

Week 4--PIE-o-neer

* Nursery Rhymes: "The Queen of Hearts," "Sing a Song of Sixpence," "Jack Horner," and "Simple Simon"
* Recipe: Mini Tarts
* Craft: Tinkly Tambourines

Mini Tarts

1 stick butter
1/8 tsp. salt
1 c. all-purpose flour
2 Tbs. sugar
3 Tbs. water

assorted fruit, cut into small pieces

1/2 c. clear red jelly, apple jelly, or strained apricot jelly

1. Mix flour, salt, and sugar. Cut in butter until mixtures resembles fine crumbs. Add water, 1 Tbs. at a time until dough cleans the bowl. Knead a few times. Roll out thinly (I did all these steps myself for ease of clean up).
Cut into circles larger than your pans. (Can use tart pans or muffin pans).

Press into pans. Prick all over with fork.

Bake in 400 degree F oven for 15 minutes, or until brown. Let cool on wire rack.

Place jam/jelly in saucepan and melt over low heat. Brush into cooled pie shells.

Decorate with fruit. Brush more jelly glaze over top. Let cool and ENJOY!!

~ TiNkLy TaMbOuRiNeS ~

These are popular with the younger kids and WARNING--these are loud! We limit the time these can be used :).

What you need:

Aluminum pie pans
String
Bells, buttons, beads, shells, etc...

1. Punch 10-12 holes around each pie pan, using a hole punch.

2. Cut a piece of string at least twice as long as the pan's circumference.

3. Thread string in and out the holes, adding a bell, button, bead, or shell, in between each hole.

4. Tie string ends together (not too tightly--you want a little slack to make noise).

Time to make some noise!!

Week 3

2011-07-30T23:00:00.000-07:00

Week 3--Science summer camp...

The girls had day camp on the Puget Sound. Every day they spent roaming tidepools, parusing the aquarium and happily handling sea creatures [and learning a lot]. For the boys, I was hoping to take them to the beach, at this time, but the weather wasn't cooperating.

We decided to take some typical outdoor fun and do it inside!

Recipe: Indoor S'mores
Craft: Sand Castle Clay

Indoor S'mores

5 c. miniature marshmallows
1/3 c. light corn syrup
6 Tbs. margarine or butter
1 1/2 c. milk chocolate chips
1 tsp. vanilla
8 c. Golden Grahams or Honey Grahams Square cereals
1 c. miniature marshmallows

1. Measure cereal into large bowl.
2. Butter a 13"x9"x2" rectangular pan.

3. Melt 5 c. miniature marshmallows,
corn syrup, margarine, and chocolate
chips in saucepan over low heat, stirring
constantly; remove from heat. Stir in vanilla.

4. Mix melted ingredients with cereal quicky until
completely coated. Stir in 1 c. marshmallows.

5. Grease hands.

6. Press mixture, evenly, into prepared pan.

7. Let stand at least 1 hour, or refrigerate for a
firmer bar. Cut into squares/rectangles. Enjoy!!!

Sand Castle Clay

1 c. sand
1/2 c. cornstarch
3/4 c. liquid starch

1. Combine sand and cornstarch in an old pot.
2. Add liquid starch and mix.

3. Cook the mixture over medium heat while constantly stirring.
Eventually the mixture will thicken and turn into dough.
(This is a good arm work out--for the adult to do!)

4. Remove pot from stove and let cool.

5. Remove clay from pot and knead it 20-30 seconds before using.

6. Cover surface with an old tablecloth (sand scratches!)
7. Mold the sand to your liking (playdoh toys work well)!

8. Add shells, sea glass, pebbles to your liking.
9. When dry, you may have to glue some pieces on :).

Happy belated 4th!

2011-07-21T11:19:00.000-07:00

Since he wasn't around at President's Day....

If you are a baby in my household you will wear a George-Washington-looking-diaper-wig at some point in your young life.

I may have a weird mom--but at least I'm cute!!!

Summer Fun! Weeks 1 and 2!

2011-07-11T17:28:00.000-07:00

Summer fun, our way, means finding things to do at home and away. It's not hard to do things away, swimming, hiking, riding bikes, etc. But, with a little baby I don't enjoy being away from the house every day. I'm trying to keep a schedule for him, some what.

Summer break isn't [ever] long enough, so I've broken it down to our 10 weeks of summer. Before the mayhem began (aka, kids out of school) I made us a little schedule. The only way I can be sure to get things done, it seems, is to make lists. I have weekly themes centered around nursery rhymes. The nursery rhyme idea is to help with my incoming kindergartner's reading/language skills. We have a recipe and a craft each week. and some times a science experiment--if I'm up for it!

Week 1--Months and Dates

nursery rhymes: "The Days of the Months" and "A Week of Birthdays"
recipe: Cookie Art
craft: marathon letter

COOKIE ART

Sugar cookie dough (store bought is okay or use my recipe below)
2 egg yolks
1/2 tsp. water
food coloring
tiny cookie cutters
clean paint brushes

Chill cookie dough a few hours. Roll out on a baking sheet. Divide into sections, if applicable. Mix egg yolks and water well. Separate mixture into small bowls or cups. Tint each to desired shades (I kept it simple with red, yellow, green, and blue).

Let each child decorate a cookie section. Pressing cookie cutters down gives good shapes to fill in, or children can paint free style.

Bake as directed. Let cool. Eat your "art" out!

Before the oven

The finished product.

Sugar Cookies

1/3 c. butter or margarine
1/3 c. butter-flavored shortening
3/4 c. sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/8 tsp. salt

Cream butter and shortening. Add sugar and beat until fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla extract. In separate bowl sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Stir in to wet ingredients, mix well. Cover and refrigerate a few hours. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out dough to 1/8 inches thick. Cut with floured cookie cutters. Bake for 7-10 minutes 'til edges are firm and bottoms are very lightly browned. Cool on rack.

Marathon Letter
My brother is on the Hill Cumorah Pageant work crew right now http://www.hillcumorah.org/Pageant/. The whole extended family is feverishly writing him letters to help him win a contest, whoever gets the most mail wins. We thought he might enjoy a 40 foot letter. I found a long roll of paper at a nearby parent/teacher store for $8.00. There is still a ton of paper left on it (I threw away the wrapper which had the total length on it). We rolled it up an sent it in a cardboard poster tube, along with some candy.

Week 2: Patriotism

nursery rhymes: "Yankee Doodle," "The Grand Old Duke of York," and "Humpty Dumpty"
recipe: Fruit Jewels
craft: Pinwheel Wreath

FRUIT JEWELS

2 3-oz pkg. jell-o, any flavor
1 1/3 c. water, divided
small pieces of fruit
mini-muffin tins

Place a small piece of fruit in each mini-muffin tin. Dump jell-o packages into two separate bowls. Boil water. Stir 2/3 c. water into each bowl. Stir until dissolved. Use small cup to pour jell-o into muffin tins. Refrigerate until set. Use butter knife to loosen fruit jewels from muffin tins. Enjoy!

You missed a spot.

Mmm...

Patriotic fruit jewels

Patriotic Pinwheel Wreath
http://www.playsational.com/4th-of-july-crafts-pinwheel-wreath/

We didn't get to make this--it's really more for the 5-year old. We were going to put stars on ours, too. However, 4th of July week was busy so we missed doing this one--the kids didn't even notice :).

Pulling back on the reins....

2011-06-16T14:40:00.000-07:00

Okay, each year is definitely going by faster than the one before! What's up with that?!

June has been/is a busy month. Here's our family highlights for this crazy month...

* 13th wedding anniversary! Not going to be an unlucky number for us, I've decided.
* a 6th grader--yup, a junior-high student. Elementary school no more :(
* a kindergartner--what?!
* first laughs from baby
* official goodbye to newborn layette nightgowns--I love to put these on my babies. But, he's a big boy and we really can't squeeze him into them anymore, though I want to put them on him so badly.
* Sleep--yes, we get 8-9 hour stretches at night, I feel so blessed.
* Sunshine, well, at least it's out for now :)
* first harvest from this year's garden--lettuce!
* first summer sunburn for the redhead of the family (and hopefully the last). MUST remember the sunblock for her every time we're outside!
* Father's Day and my dad is out of the country (in India on business)
* ward Fathers and Sons campout, my hubby is in charge--this could be interesting...
* dental appointments, joy of joys!
* last soccer games of spring soccer season, and possibly our last spring soccer season ever--kids are really hating how wet it is. Fall soccer is much drier....

Summer, I welcome you!! Don't go by too fast, please...

Let's Pretend....

2011-05-26T16:54:00.000-07:00

Let's pretend that June is almost here and that the weather is hot and summery. Woah--wait--June is almost here but what's with the weather?!?! Yuck.

I was born in southeastern Texas where it's hot and muggy and the bayou was only 1/2 a mile from my house. (We saw 'gators, snapping turtles, and water moccasins on many occasions). I lived there 'til I was 10 and I don't think I have ever acclimated to any other type of weather! I am cold, here in Seattle, for 50 of the 52 weeks in a year. When the weather hits over 90 I find it quite comfortable while most people around here call it miserable.

So, I'm pretending it's summer. I've been wearing my sandals a lot. Even threw on a skirt last week and a pair of shorts the week before that. I forbid myself to touch the long-sleeved shirts in my closet. I broke down and wore a light jacket a couple of times, though.

Last night, I made a dinner that tasted so much like summer. I'm going to keep on pretending it's summer. If you have to imagine too, than you can cook this on the stove and in the oven. For those of you who have the real summer deal, this meal is even better on the grill [you lucky devil, you]!

Patty Melts with Smothered Onions (from Betty Crocker with add-ins from me)
1 pound ground turkey
1/4 tsp. dried thyme leaves
1/4 tsp. dried oregano leaves
2 tsp. Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
Smothered onions (see recipe below)
4 slices Swiss or Gouda cheese
8 slices rye or pumpernickel bread

1. Heat coals or gas grill. Mix first 7 ingredients together. Shape mixture into 4 patties about 3/4 inch thick. Prepare smothered onions; keep warm.

2. Cover and grill patties 4 to 5 inches from medium heat 12-15 minutes, turning once, until no longer pink in the center. Or, heat 1-2 Tbs. vegetable oil over medium heat on stovetop and cook patties or broil on low rack in oven--check for doneness.

3. Top patties with cheese. Cover and grill until cheese is melted (1-2 minutes).

4. Add bread slices to side of grill for last 5 minutes of grilling, turning once, until lightly toasted or toast them in the toaster.

5. Place patties on bread and top with smothered onions. Spread with mayonnaise first, if desired.

Smothered Onions

1 tsp. vegetable oil
2 medium onions, thinly sliced and separated into rings (I prefer Walla Walla sweets or Vidalia)
1/8 tsp. salt
dash of pepper

Heat oil in 8 inch skillet over medium-high heat. Cook onions in oil, stirring frequently until tender. Stir in salt and pepper.

Sugar Snap Peas with Orange-Ginger Butter (not pictured)

3 cups fresh or frozen loose-pack sugar snap peas
2 tablespoons orange marmalade
½ teaspoon cider vinegar
1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
1 tablespoon margarine or butter

1.Remove strings and tips from peas. Cook fresh peas, covered, in a small amount of boiling salted water, 2 to 4 minutes, or until crisp-tender. (Or cook frozen peas according to package directions.) Drain well.

2.Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, heat and stir orange marmalade just till melted. Stir in vinegar, ginger, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper.

3.Pour sauce over hot cooked sugar snap peas. Add margarine or butter, tossing lightly to coat. Serve immediately.

And to think, I found it at Wal-mart!

2011-05-18T16:58:00.000-07:00

While waiting in the checkout line, I did the usual glancing around at the candies and goodies there (I try to avoid the magazines). Wal-mart has other interesting things in the checkout line, mini-lego packs, decks of playing cards, hand sanitizer....

To my left something caught my eye. At first glance it looked like underwear. "Oh my!" thought I, "Wal-mart is now selling underwear in the checkout line. Gross." But, upon further staring, I saw that it was something called Cami-Secret. Curious, I picked up a package and read.

So, they are these cool little inserts that snap on to your bra and provide some cleavage cover-up. Very cool idea--I hate having to wear an extra shirt underneath a shirt, but I want to be modest so I do it.

And, I bought a Cami-Secret three-pack (colors: white, black, and nude) and have used them a lot lately. I have really enjoyed not having to wear layers!! You can buy them online on their website, or look for them on ebay or amazon. I love them!!

New parent terminology

2011-05-13T11:35:00.000-07:00

I have thought of some new terminology lately, related to my current state...

1. mombie - sleep-deprived mother of newborn; temporary condition that supposedly improves over time

2. disdressed - the situation a nursing mother finds herself in upon realizing that she cannot wear dresses for several months

3. second breakfast - a meal which hobbits, and newborns, are quite fond of

4. ambidextrimess - what happens when an individual is holding a baby in one arm and proceeding to feed her/his self with his/her non-dominant hand

5. gullaby - the naivete of a parent in thinking that a newborn is really asleep

6. stealth load - the surprising phenomenon that a baby has yet again filled his/her diaper in the 30 seconds since his/her last diaper change

Ironic...

2011-05-13T10:22:00.000-07:00

My hubby and kids went for a nice little walk yesterday and came upon frogs and pollywogs and eggs. Talking to my oldest this morning, I admitted I had never caught a frog in my life and that was just fine with me! (In fact, the only time I've ever touched a frog was when I dissected one in 10th grade biology--and I always got A's in that class. Strange....) Anyway--

The irony is that they wanted to take some of the little critters home so they looked around for anything they could collect them in and they found several empty plastic water bottles lying all over. I find it sad that they were out enjoying nature in spring and found enough litter that effortlessly. Wasn't earth day just a couple of weeks ago? C'mon people--how hard is it to find a garbage can?! The frog life cycle is now in my kitchen window and I cringe almost every time I'm at the sink. Also ironic, my second oldest is the COMPLETE opposite of me, with regards to animals. She loves them all and never tires of them and their animals ways. Ah well....

Yikes!

2011-04-25T15:50:00.000-07:00

Okay, so this poster is more for the menopausal woman, but I can't help but laugh and think about it, lately.

I first saw this poster about 7 1/2 years ago--when I was pregnant with our 3rd child. It was hanging in the bathroom at my doctor's office and I thought it was funny.

I've heard it said that with a new baby each day seems like a week, yet somehow that first year flies by! How true. Each day is quite long, filled with a lot of the same little baby tasks. He is so cute, so soft, so fuzzy (his hair) and so sweet that I don't mind at all! But, my hormones are definitely trying to right themselves, because I find myself getting teary-eyed about little things. I wasn't even emotional during my pregnancy, never cried during testimony meetings or anyone's lessons. But, the the tables have turned, for now I am all weepy!

Yesterday, Easter, the kids and I watched, "To This End Was I Born", a short LDS film about the Savior's final hours and I was a mess. Worse, at these times, one of the kids will say, "Guys! Mom's crying!" And then all eyes are on me. Sheesh.

So, what set me off today? Child #4 and I decided to put up a mobile on the crib for the baby. I was given this mobile when my oldest was born. I can't help but reflect on how FAST my daughter has grown from infant to tweenager! Oh, the tears....

I know I will look back at this post in a few months and chuckle. But, for now...."Has anyone seen my hormones?!"

Wall Stickers--10% off sale now!!!

2011-04-15T17:23:00.000-07:00

Yes, yes...more on those wall stickers. Just got this email from them...

"To celebrate Easter and Passover we are offering an Exclusive 10% off coupon to our customers that you can share with family and friends!

Just enter BUNNY10 as your voucher code at checkout to receive 10% off your ENTIRE purchase! That is in addition to our always FREE shipping in the US. Promotion runs from today April 15th to April 18th."

So, go to wallstickeroutlet.com and enter the code.

Survey answer...maybe....

2011-04-12T09:04:00.000-07:00

He has brown hair!!! Threw that bald choice in to throw you off--we saw his hair in a recent ultrasound (texture not color).

Now, why the maybe? Three of my older children were born with brown hair--but with two of them the baby hair fell out and blonde hair grew in. So, I could have another blonde on my hands--only time will tell!!!

Shoot me an email if you'd like baby details...I'll reply in between cat naps :).

tick, tick, tick....

2011-03-20T21:41:00.000-07:00

Time is drawing nigh! Any day now.... I'm trying to keep busy to keep my mind off of all the waiting. So, humor me and take the poll to the right :). I'll post the results as soon as I know! Hee, hee...

Creative dating 101...

2011-03-10T11:49:00.000-08:00

Just got around to filing some things--recipes and other papers I've accumulated during and since college days. I came across some handouts on creative dating. So, I've typed them up and saved them all in one file on the computer. I've added a few and come up with 101 creative dates. I've done some of these, plan to do some others, and some I may never do (like #43). But, anyway...just wanted to share these ideas with you!

Creative Dating

Dating in Grubbies
1. Go skydiving

2. Go for a bike ride and have a picnic.

3. Go horseback riding and play cops and robbers.

4. Have a dog wash-- wash the neighborhood dogs.

5. Go rabbit hunting.

6. Go sand jumping.

7. Go ice skating or roller skating.

8. Swing at the park.

9. Visit your state capitol.

10. Picket your own house.

11. Go mountain climbing.

12. Have a water-balloon fight.

13. Get large ice blocks and slide down grassy hills.

14. Race toy trains.

15. Build a dam in a stream or gutter.

16. Ride a jeep to the top of a mountain and cook dinner.

17. Paint a barn or house.

18. Fly toy or paper airplanes (consider the big, radio-controlled model ones).

19. Make mud pies and have a fight.

20. Make jell-o, let it set up, and have a fight.

21. Take a midnight hike with flashlights and extra batteries.

22. Go bug collecting.

23. Take a sunrise hike and cook breakfast afterwards.

24. Go graveyard walking.

25. Go snipe hunting.

26. Play in a fountain.

27. Go on a scavenger hunt.

28. Go ride some skate boards—maybe even find a local skate park.

29. Go river running.

30. Play hopscotch in a parking lot.

31. Have a house-cleaning party.

32. Have a lawn-mowing and garage-cleaning party.

33. Wash each other’s cars.

34. Rent mopeds/motorcycles (get motorcycle license?)

35. Go on a hayride.

36. Go to a wooded area and build a Robinson Crusoe hut.

37. Look for things in the city dump—wear sturdy shoes and thick gloves.

38. Go caving (spelunking).

39. Go kite flying.

40. Have a food or pie fight (outside, preferably)…

41. Climb trees.

42. Roll down hills.

43. Go frog catching and have a frog jumping contest.

44. Do a craft—make candles, macramé, fingerpaint, paint-by-number, pumpkin carving, etc…

45. Ride the train at the zoo—have a picnic.

46. Take bikes in a car to the top of a mountain and ride down.

47. Play croquet in the dark using flashlights.

48. Use a truck and set up a table in the back and have dinner (in a drive-in theater, parking lot, downtown…)

49. Lie down in a cow pasture.
Casual Dating

50. Visit the nearest temple visitors’ center.

51. Rent a truck or moving van and have a party in it.

52. Have a candlelight dinner in the mountains, at a parking terrace, etc.

53. Pick up date, go to a show, window shop—without the use of a car.

54. Take sightseeing tour of the city on a bus.

55. Go elevator shopping around downtown.

56. Visit a fish hatchery.

57. Bird watch at a local aviary.

58. Visit an amusement park. Be sure to try out the bumper cars.

59. Cook dinner together.

60. Visit the nearest planetarium.

61. Go to a local parade.

62. Go to a play/musical.

63. Go to the nearest driving range and hit golf balls.

64. Fix popcorn and watch a show at home.

65. Visit a wax museum.

66. Walk in the rain, fog, snow…

67. Visit travel agencies and “plan” a trip.

68. Go antique hunting.

69. Go to the library.

70. Have a banana split-making contest.

71. Shop for diamonds at jewelry stores.

72. See what kind of good deed you can do for a quarter.

73. Tour any historical sites in your area.

74. Visit a rest home and bring treats for the people.

75. Buy ingredients and cook dinner for less than a dollar a person.

76. Go to a mall photo booth. While waiting for your strip to develop reach up and feel around top of the booth for other’s tossed out rejects.

77. Ride the 25 cent horsy rides outside Wal-mart.

78. Launch a message in a bottle with your email address (make sure tide is going out).

79. Rent a boat—rowboat, canoe, small sail boat. Maybe take boating lessons.

80. Go to a ballet.

81. Visit a local children’s museum.

82. Go to the local thrift store—buy each other outfits for $5 or less. Model them for each other.

83. Write thank-you notes to local politicians/leaders.

84. Go to a sporting event.

85. Volunteer at a local food bank, boys and girls center, etc.

86. Read a book, out loud, together.

87. Hook up speaker system outside. Dance in the street or have a block party (obtain permission first, if necessary).

88. Buy a giant bubble wand and make some huge bubbles.

89. Make a sidewalk chalk mural.

90. Learn to ride a unicycle.

91. Rent a tandem bike and ride around the park.

92. Take dance lessons together.

93. Fill the car up and go on an exploration drive—take roads you’ve never traveled on before. Bring snacks!

94. Invite your friends and everone bring their cars over. Decorate the cars and have a car show.
Dressy

95. Go to breakfast or a local drive-in in formals.

96. Have a progressive dinner with friends.

97. Have a chauffer and red carpet treatment for dinner.

98. Go to the symphony.

98. Have a candlelight dinner at home.

100. Volunteer to chaperone for a formal youth dance.

101. Attend a charity ball.

WallPops!

2011-02-25T15:02:00.000-08:00

For the next few blog posts I will stick with recommendations. There are definitely some great things out there, praiseworthy things, even if they only have to do with my temporal needs/wants. They still make life pleasant. Doctrine and Covenants 59: 17-21: states,

"17 Yea, and the herb, and the good things which come of the earth, whether for food or for raiment, or for houses, or for barns, or for orchards, or for gardens, or for vineyards;
18 Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart;
19 Yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul.
20 And it pleaseth God that he hath given all these things unto man; for unto this end were they made to be used, with judgment, not to excess, neither by extortion.
21 And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments."

SO....today's recommendation is: The Wall Sticker Outlet! http://www.wallstickeroutlet.com/

After much research I have found this site to be one of the very best for vinyl wall stickers. Every now and then I found a cheaper item on ebay, but that is a lot of combing through listings and time-wasting. Wall Sticker Outlet has a HUGE selection of wall stickers, low, low prices, and FREE shipping to the continental USA. I recently ordered a product called WallPops! They came (all the way from Connecticut!) in a week's time. I spent a good part of the day, yesterday, measuring and putting them up for the baby's room. Tell me what you think:

(the crib doesn't match, but I guess I can paint it

later if I feel like it....what can I say, it's had

previous siblings, but is still a good crib with

more than enough use for baby #5!)

Anyway, check out http://www.wallstickeroutlet.com/ !!! It's great!!!

Yummy--cinnamon rolls!!!

2011-02-10T10:34:00.000-08:00

Making any sort of bread product that requires three rises should only be done for that occasional special occasion. Husband's birthdays are one of those rare times that I take on such an ordeal. So...

...if you're itching to use a full pound of butter/margarine...

and

...if you're craving to spend more time in the kitchen...

and

...if you like using every cookie sheet in the house...

and

...if you want cinnamon rolls as big as dessert plates...

and

...if you won't try and calculate how many calories or fat grams each of these babies has, than...

THIS is the recipe for you!

Cinnabon-like Cinnamon Rolls
1/2 c. warm water
2 pkgs. dry yeast
2 Tbs. sugar
1-3 1/2 oz. pkg. vanilla pudding mix (milk, as package directs)
1/2 c. margarine, melted
2 eggs
1 tsp. salt
6 c. flour
1 c. soft butter
2 c. brown sugar
4 tsp. ground cinnamon

In small bowl, combine water, yeast, and sugar; stir until dissolved and set aside. In a large bowl, mix pudding mix according to package directions. Add margarine, eggs, and salt; mix well, then add yeast mixture. Gradually add flour. Knead until smooth. Place in a greased bowl. Cover and let rise until doubled. Punch dough down and let rise again. Roll out on a floured board to a rectangle about 34" x 21". Spread with softened butter. Mix brown sugar and cinnamon in small bowl. Sprinkle over butter and gently press down. Roll up and notch every 2". Cut with thread or knife. Place on greased cookie sheets about 2" apart. Lightly press down on each roll. Cover and let rise until doubled. Bake at 350 F for 15-20 minutes--remove when turning brown. Don't overbake!! Frost with cream cheese frosting or powdered sugar glaze. Makes 16-20 large rolls.

Cream Cheese Frosting
8 oz. cream cheese
1/2 softened margarine
1 tsp. vanilla
3 c. powdered sugar
1 Tbs. milk

Mix all ingredient until smooth.

***Notes from me: The cream cheese frosting recipe makes more frosting than you need, you might want to half it. Also, some times I freeze half the dough, after the 2nd rise, to keep myself from being tempted by giant cinnamon rolls all day. If you do this, make sure you only use half the butter and brown sugar and cinnamon. ***

Changes over 5 years....

2011-02-01T20:51:00.000-08:00

Five years doesn't seem that long to me. But, it's enough time for things to change. Being in my present condition, I can't help but compare things that are different for me in this pregnancy than they were only 5 years ago.

1. Maternity bottoms:
I think they were coming out when I was pregnant 5 years ago, but I never bought any then. Anyway, I'm referring to all these under-the-belly skirts and pants. They are driving me crazy!!! I feel like my pants are gonna slide right off, since my waist and hips have fused in to one mass and/or that my underwear is falling off. Over-the-belly clothes at least are held up by your belly! Fortunately, I've found a consignment shop that sells maternity clothes and I think I'm gonna go over tomorrow and check again (for like the 10th time in two months) to see if they have any over-the-belly pants.

2. Testing your urine:
Now, maybe it's just this doctor office, but, I never had to test my own urine before. In pregnancy they are testing your urine at every time and for everything. This I understand. What I do not understand is why the nurse has me doing this (and everyone at our clinic). Weird.

3. Maternity tops:

Again, some of these styles were probably around 5 years ago. But, maybe it's just my mindset. While I am happy to be pregnant I don't like to flaunt it. Thankfully the tent-only option, that many of our mothers and grandmothers had to go through, is non-existent. However, we've gone completely in the other direction. I do not like these ruched, tight, maternity shirts and dresses! The last thing I want to do is enter a room in a skin-tight shirt or dress with my belly being the first thing, and only thing, someone notices.

4. 3-D Ultrasounds:

These have been around for more than 5 years now, but they still creep me out. I haven't gotten one and I don't want to.

Thankfully, not too much else has changed. At least, not anything I've noticed :).

Motherly pride....

2011-01-21T12:24:00.000-08:00

I don't write too much about my kids, because I don't want any weirdos knowing about them. Honestly.

But, my oldest is so amazing (well, they all are). Since we're going to have a baby soon, I know I'll be keeping track of all the little milestones he will reach, since they happen so fast in those first years.

But, it's just neat when I can pinpoint things that my older kids are achieving, and stand back and be wowwed by them and their accomplishments.

The school district has received some budget cuts to deal with from February-June. My oldest's was concerned about this one activity that her grade participates in every year. It is a wonderful opportunity--Junior Achievement BizTown, where for an entire day the kids are adults. Boeing sponsors it. They have an actually town set up, and every kids has a job, and is in charge of checking and savings accounts. I only know details because I am a volunteer for the day that she will go. It's pretty cool, wish they'd had it when I was in school!

Well, sure enough, due to budget cuts, this experience was too expensive and deemed a no go. My oldest, and her friends, were pretty sad. During one of their recesses they made some plans. They decided to sell hot chocolate and donate all proceeds to the school so that they could all still go to JA Biztown.

My oldest really took it upon herself to make sure this plan was executed. She called several friends and their parents, set up dates and times. She made time schedules, listed materials needed and made assignments. Last night was the first night of selling and they made $115 in 3 hours (50 cents a cup of cocoa)! They will definitely meet their goal with the rest of their sales. All the other parents told me how impressed they were with my daughter's planning and organization skills. I smiled at them, I am pretty impressed myself. Wow!

Good things come to those who wait....

2011-01-07T13:48:00.000-08:00

For many, ahem, years now, I have been waiting for a bargain like the one I got yesterday. Always wanted one of these, in 13 gallon capacity. And, whenever I found one that was okay-priced (not great), it was either smaller than 13-gallon size or one of those automatic ones with a sensor (usually the former). Well, when my son and I were at Costco yesterday and saw this beauty for sale at $47.99, I actually cheered out loud! It even came with a baby trash can (which I put in a bathroom), just like the daddy one, pictured here in the kitchen. Even though it's stainless steel, which is no fun to clean, because of the foot pedal--there are no little fingerprints showing all over. I am so excited!

My 2011 goal....

2011-01-02T18:14:00.000-08:00

I started a 2nd blog to coincide with my 2011 goal, a promise to Jesus, if you will. I really liked the idea of expressing my thanks, daily, to people. So, I started another blog to keep myself on track. I am going to thank a different person each day of the year--no repeats! (Although, I'll probably thank my husband and family and close friends over and over again). I want to develop a greater "attitude of gratitude" (President Monson).

The posts are short and sweet....

http://365dayexperiment--attitudeofgratitude.blogspot.com/

Goals hit; goals missed....

2010-12-15T11:49:00.000-08:00

Just a quick reflection on this past year and what I'd set out to get done. Had some goals, too. Some, I made! Others...I didn't!

Teach the youngest to be more self-sufficient.

SCORE!
I realized this a few weeks ago that he doesn't need me for much now, just an occasional shoe-tying and a listening ear, really. His clothes, that he picks out, usually match too.

Not procrastinating so much.

SCORE!
I have to do stuff like, placing my church bag in the car a few days in advance, but it's helped! Also, I seem to do really well when I make lists. I like lists, and charts, and graphs, and nerdy things that make me look like I know what I'm doing :). Even if I lose some of the lists, I most often remember what I wrote down and then it gets done--in time!

Not buying any frames or canvases from Aaron Brothers until I used up my current stash.

SCORE!
If I ever had to work a retail job I would pick Aaron Brothers http://www.aaronbrothers.com/. I love all their cool frames and all the art supplies. It is one of my favorite stores! I haven't set foot in an Aaron Brothers for a WHOLE YEAR now! I still have five canvases up in my bedroom, two in my closet and about four frames that I haven't used, yet. This has been a hard thing for me, to not go to this store. Especially, their twice-a-year 1-cent sales. Go me--virtual pat on the back here!

Learning to drive a maual car.
BOO! HISS!
I have at least two meetings a week that I have to go to for my church calling. It would make since for me to take the small car. The honda civic, that my hubby takes to work, gets much better gas mileage than the van. But, hence, I still can't drive it. We, my hubby and I, have gone out few of times in the year, to a nearby parking lot, in attempts for him to teach me to drive it. But, alas, I hate it! I have been driving for 18 years now, always with automatic cars and I am extremely frustrated with manual cars. But, I know I need to learn to drive the stupid thing, so I will work on this next year. We have both decided that our kids are learning on manual cars first, when it's time for them to learn to drive. Than they won't end up severely auto-operated handicapped, like their mother.

Losing weight

Nah, just kidding. That wasn't a goal of mine. As you probably know, I'm doing the opposite--pregnancy tends to do that :)

Hope you all are enjoying this Christmas season and not beating yourself up too much for the goals you didn't meet. Look back at what you did accomplish!

In case I don't have a home tomorrow....

2010-11-15T22:38:00.000-08:00

I'm sitting in my house and listening to the 50 mile an hour winds blowing around me and it's really freaking me out! Western Washington has a lot of big old trees all over. I love big, mature trees, but not when the wind is plowing into them! I hope they are all still standing tomorrow morning, when I wake up, and that my house remains unscathed!

Anyway, today was a crummy day so I decided I'd better take my own advice, that I give to my oldest child all the time, to count your blessings...

* I am thankful that Super Saturday is almost here and that I will be done with all this planning and preparing.

* I am thankful that the PTA Reflections contest entries will be judged soon and I can get them to district and out of my office.

* I am thankful that my son's socks absorbed most of the urine that he unleased today while standing in the long line at the craft store.

* I am thankful that I only have to make 104 invitations for the Relief Society Christmas dinner; some of you come from big wards, sorry!

* I am thankful that I am a pretty heavy sleeper and will probably sleep through these insane wind gusts. (The trick will be GETTING to sleep, though).

* I am thankful that I have the freedom to change my mind and cave on subjects like finding out a baby's gender.

* I am thankful that our baby is a very healthy little person--even if it's a he and not a she. (I miss baby girl stuff!!!)

* I am thankful for wonderful friends like you who took the time to read what's on my mind...just because!

Beans are spilled....

2010-10-10T15:42:00.000-07:00

Ever since last Saturday the gossip wire has been hot over here! Half the school and probably all of church knows, thanks to my 4 fast-talking, loud-mouthed kids:

We are expecting a baby, around here, folks. I am due in April and so far, so good. Thought I should let you, my cool cyber friends, know before you heard it from my kids.

Here's some answers to questions that are probably forming in your head (if you don't see your answer, than write me a question in the comments form and I will answer it for you--oh goodie!)

1. Yes, this was planned.

2. There will be 5 years between child #4 and child #5.

3. No, I have not been sick (never have with anyone--don't you hate me?)

4. No, we're not finding out what we're having--this will be a tie-breaker.

5. No, it's not multiples--we saw an ultrasound and there is only 1 baby there.

6. Yes, I am starting over from scratch, in regards to baby things* (This includes all my maternity clothes which a "friend" borrowed and never returned. They were pretty cool and maybe she sold them because they were that awesome. Oh well, bummer, guess I have to go shopping :). )

*The crib and a stroller managed to get packed and moved over the years and are magically awaiting to return from storage.

We are pretty excited. I made up two new rules in our household: 1) You are NOT allowed to make ANY comments about mom's body and/or size and 2) You are NOT allowed to ask when the baby is due, since mom and dad already told you and you will make the next 20+ weeks absolutely miserable for your mother if you are constantly asking "When's the baby coming?" or "How much LONGER til the baby gets here?", etc....

Well then, that's my news. The beans are spilled!

Quiet house....

2010-09-13T23:53:00.000-07:00

We're down to two home during the day--me and the little guy. It is quite quiet. He does not like being the only culprit for the recent messes, but we are mangaging to have some fun around here. The most exciting thing was that we went on a Costco/Wal-mart/grocery store/other stores trip the other day, and no one was, ahem, late for afternoon kindergarten. (Poor child #3 ended the school year with 14 tardies on his report card. It's a good thing they don't penalize grades at this grade level, at least not in our school district). (Yes, those 14 tardies are all my fault--trying to do too much in the morning time and making it to school a few minutes late).

Before school began, we managed to have a final venture to the beach--it was mine, and the kids, first time to the Washington coast (we've been all over the Puget Sound, but not the coast). We were given a nice gift of great weather--rare in coastal Washington! Both Saturday and Sunday were GORGEOUS and we spent almost those entire days at the beach. My kids even got sunburned for the first time because their mom was so busy laying on warm sand dunes that she lost track of the time and forgot to reblock them. Oops. Sorry kids. They don't have their mother's skin, that's for sure.

We shared a cottage with some friends in a quaint little community called Seabrook.

Monday, we woke up to the normal Washington weather--rain! Oh well, we were leaving that day anyway. We were not far from the United States' only rain forest so we drove to the Lake Quinault area and had us a little hike in the rain. It was beautiful and WET! We remembered that we forgot to retape my husband's raincoat seams, after the hike, of course....

Driving back home we drove through a town that my husband had received a job offer from a few years back. The pay would have been excellent, but the prospect of living in a tiny town, that received more rain than the Seattle area, turned me off completely and he declined the offer. Well, let's just say that we would have owned a mansion in this little town; we would have been considered snobs. It would have been a weird life for me. I am a happy middle-classer. Not that we don't aspire to greater things, we just are making it work and the Lord takes care of us. Anyway, traveling through the town was just, well, interesting....

Anyway, summer is over. School has begun. And life is busy all over again! Hope you are all doing swell!

Pack-in-Play!

2010-08-08T16:22:00.000-07:00

Well, well, well...it's already August. As usual, my favorite season of the year is slipping by all too quickly! July was a busy month, so I'm posting pictures and doing some recaps. Nothing is quite chronological, but everything did happen in July (I think)!

Family hike on one of the beautiful mountains of the Cascade Range.

At a Relay for Life event, some of my husband's employees had a team so we stopped by.

One booth had some pretty talented face painters.

Really talented!

The kids and I have had fun attending several of our ward playgroups. Tall totems.

Playful pirates.

We were able to go to northern CA to spend a little over a week with my husband's bro and his family. Beach combing in Monterey Bay is always on the list.

My husband (on the left) and his brother. I thought this picture looked cute of them scrouring the pools for crabs (which they use to do as kids all the time too).

Show and Tell.

I took several more pictures of our CA trip, but too many to post. Here are all the kids and their cousins, ages 7 months to 10 years.

We were able to squeeze in a visit with my grandma and her sister, my great aunt. (My grandma has the glasses). Dig that wig.

And of course, the floors have been done for a while (this is the living room before). I've been painting the trim when I get a moment. (Which means it's still not finished, yet!)

Still gotta paint the walls and put up new window treatments and decorate the living room...

Family room before.

Family room after.

I even got around to painting some rooms, too! Yes, painting is fun for me; the keeping the kids entertained and out of my way is NOT fun for me! This is the girls' room before. I call this color diarrhea pink, it was just, well, ugly?!

We like this color choice much better! As you can see, they still need a nightstand, and I still need to put up decorations. Let me tell you though, getting the curtains detailed and hanging up was a VERY big accomplishment for me!

The downstairs bathroom seemed so dark to me and I've always been annoyed that the towel holder is not near the sink. Kids use this bathroom at leat 25 times a day--imagine all those fun little water drips all across the floor from sink to towel.

I chose this color and it definitely lightened it up. I am in the process of staining the cabintry. We put new trim in here too, but you can't see it (and it got painted, too!)

A few friends have recently had baby boys. I saw baby bouquets similar to this in a catalogue so thought I'd try it out. I love it! You may copy my idea just be sure to give me credit for giving it to you ;)!

I thought this second one was even cuter!!

The garden is growing, just a little slower than last year due to our mild-weathered summer. Fun shelling peas.

When your mom is from West Virginia you are heavily inclined to have teeth like this.

I usually do crafts and science projects with the kids during the summer breaks, but I haven't done as much as I wish I had. But, I wanted to share the best playdough recipe I've ever come across. Most homemade playdoughs leave your hands dried out and salty-crusted. But, here is the best one I've found:

Play Dough

2 c. water (add food coloring to water)

2 c. flour

1 c. salt

1/2 c. cornstarch

2 Tbs. vegetable oil

1 Tbs. powdered alum

Mix all ingredients. Cook over medium heat until thick (won't be long). Remove from pan and knead until smooth. Keep in fridge in an airtight container.

And, lastly, during all the July hustle and bustle I had to spend a Saturday doing traffic school to "repent" of my speedy sinning. The lieutenant was this Hawaiian dude who kept us learning and laughing. It was actually not bad. And, he even made us these cool graduation certificates.

Hope you are having some great fun in the sun!

Love and Marriage

2010-06-29T11:58:00.001-07:00

I have been married for 12 years now! All dozen years have been spent with the same fine man. I really can't believe how fast the time has gone by! The happy [and clueless] bride and groom,

just minutes after being married, sealed for time and eternity.

It was really hot and humid--the hottest in
20 years, so they told me. You can see the sky
behind the temple is a scorching haze.

Here's a shot of my dress, my veil, and the wedding cake.
Scanning is hard work, ya know.

So, for fun....

A DOZEN THINGS THAT HAVE CHANGED SINCE TWELVE YEARS AGO:

1. We own a car (it's been 5 in total--but 0 in our first year).

2. I wear make-up.

3. He no longer gets to sleep in.

4. We make more than $5,000.00 a year.

5. We don't ration our snack food anymore.

6. I weigh 15 pounds less.

7. He weighs 15 pounds more.

8. We have made and now care for our 4 children.

9. We have had a miscarriage (between our 1st and 2nd).
10. We can't fit all our belongings in the back of a pick-up.

11. We have dental insurance and can go to the dentist regularly.

12. We own a house.

A DOZEN THINGS THAT HAVEN'T CHANGED IN TWELVE YEARS
1. His hairstyle (it's timeless).

2. Our fascination with bonsai trees.

3. We go to bed at the same time.

4. We hold hands in public--but only if the kids aren't around holding our hands :).

5. We own more fishing equipment than all our other sporting goods combined.

6. Our old desk.

7. Our meals are home-cooked.
8. My teeth (someday I'll get braces....)

9. Arguing is pointless.

10. We use the same sets of scriptures.

11. We still use the same set of dinner plates.

12. He still makes my heart skip a beat when I unexpectedly run into him.

Just had one of those moments....

2010-06-01T09:43:00.000-07:00

I was updating my address book--the "old-fashioned" kind that's a book where you actually physically write stuff :). I don't trust technology 100%. I always use pencil so that I can erase and make changes if people move and stuff.

It's probably been over a year since I last updated it because I noticed that I still had my paternal grandfather's information. He passed away 15 months ago. Yesterday was Memorial Day and seeing my grandpa's name on the page just tugged at my heart. He is gone from us. He served in the US Navy and fought in the Korean War. He was always smiling and laughing and full of wit and humor--we were always laughing when he was around. Here he is 5 years ago. Can you guess which one he is?

(The guy with the goatee).

His step-father, my great-granddad, passed away a year and a half earlier. He, too, was a veteran. A US Marine, having served in World War II and I am pretty sure Vietnam (gotta check and make sure). He, too, is pictured above.

This is another picture of us with my great-grandparents,
one of the last times we'd all see them.

My great-grandma and great-granddad died only a few days apart. That was a touching story.... Great-granddad was more soft-spoken than great-grandma. He was always happy to have us great-grandkids over. I loved his big garden and his hugs.

Though he joined the church in the early 70's, great-grandma didn't join until 2004. The obtained special permission from the First Presidency to not have to wait a year after her baptism to be sealed in the temple.

It was a beautiful day, the day of their sealing.

My maternal grandfather passed away almost 9 years ago. I can't find the picture I have of him in uniform when he and grandma married. But this is them with their 9 children.

Grandpa fought in World War II. He was there on Normandy Beach. My mom said he never talked about his war experiences. We wonder if his wife, my grandma, still living, even knows of his stories. All my memories of him are seeing him weak, walking with a cane and going steadily blind over the years. My mother remembers his healthier days of during her childhood, his strength, stamina, and good humor as he worked their family farm.

One of my brothers currently serves our country in the US Air Force. He is a linguist and I am amazed by all the knowledge this guy can fit in his head! He and I were close growing up and perfected the art of verbal disputation, much to my father's disappointment. I'd like to think that I helped expand my brother's capacity for communication :). Seriously though, we are so pleased with this guy's devotion to family, church, and our great nation.
Happy Memorial Day....

Gone fishin'

2010-05-25T10:52:00.000-07:00

We took the kids fishing at a local pond three weeks ago--not a bite.

The husband went fishing a week and a half ago--the whopper got away (he had a witness).

Check out the giant I caught this morning!

Never know what you're going to catch down the kids' bathroom sink. I know for a fact that this is not human hair from any of my family members! It is brown hair and my daughters are the only long-haired individuals who use that bathroom [and they have red and blonde hair].

So, this is my money-saving suggestion for now: Keep those wire hangers handy for fishing down the drain now and then. No harmful chemicals from harsh cleaners (a.k.a. Liquid Plumber, Drano...) and no plumber's fee (and no plumber's crack--thank you, lord!)

Still tasty...

2010-05-10T14:19:00.000-07:00

I recently found this site and LOVE it! I am all for saving money. By properly storing the food you buy and eating it before it goes bad--you are saving money--hurray! Enjoy!

http://stilltasty.com/

Welcome to the Mane Event!

2010-04-27T20:34:00.000-07:00

My sister has grown out and donated her hair to Locks of Love several times over the past several years. Last year, I thought that would be something neat to try. So, I let my hair grow and grow, getting a teeny trim every few months, but really just letting it grow.

I was nervous about getting it cut--mostly because I didn't want my neck and back so exposed. When I told a good friend of my "neck-a-phobia" she informed me that I have a beautiful neck and no back fat. We joked that I have such thick hair that they'd be able to make two wigs with my donation--ha, ha! Ah, friends....

Before I left, for my haircut, I weighed myself. When I got home I weighed myself again. I made sure not to go to the bathroom or eat or drink anything in between the two weigh-ins. Guess what--a 3 pound change!!

Here I am before. My hair looks scraggly
in this picture but it's just wind-tossed.

Here is the after! She cut off about 14-15" total.
First, she sectioned off 12"
for the donation to "Locks of Love."

I love this style! It's an inverted bob with way-textured ends. Fun, fun, fun! I think I'll wear it this way for a while. I will grow it out and donate again in the future, though--but I'm in no rush.

AND---what does my family think of it? 2 of my 4 kids' first words, upon seeing me, "Mom, you look weird." Another said, "I don't like it." And the other (and now my new favorite child), "Wow--you look like a rock star!" And the mister? "Wow," (but not in a "I LOVE YOUR HAIR" kind of tone).

Oh well...I like it and that's all that matters to me!!!

Master of....

2010-04-19T09:50:00.000-07:00

With this award, I'm supposed to list 6 things I'm a MASTER at and then pass it on to SIX people.

So.....here you go! Things I'm a MASTER at.....
1. Making quick, mostly-nutritious dinners without recipes (it's amazing what adrenaline and deadlines can do)!
2. Growing hair (on my head and between my eyebrows--I love tweezers!!)
3. Backing my car into the garage.
4. Speed-reading.
5. Memorizing song lyrics, usually the first time around.
6. Signing up to do too many things at school, church, and within the community :).

I'm passing this award on to:
1. B is for Bobbins
2. Choate Family
3. P-burg Penningtons
4. Pettingill Crew
5. Starpansie
6. The Camacho House

The kids were not totally neglected....

2010-04-11T18:44:00.000-07:00

The kids were not totally neglected this spring break. They have been real troopers during all this downstairs construction stuff. Still, last weekend they confided that they were not looking forward to spring break since a lot of their friends were going out on vacation and doing fun things. I haven't felt normal since we started tearing up the floor, but I tried to think of something we could do that would be fun for them. I talked with them and asked them if it would be okay if I took each of them out a different night of the week. They liked the sound of that!

Being the thrifty-wannabe that I am, I took them out using all the coupons and certificates they have accumulated over the past few years from all the summer and school reading programs, as well as a few won from running races. We also went to the stores of their choices to get things that they needed like supplies for science projects, a new pair of slippers, and such. But, to them (and me) shopping for ordinary things is quite fun and relaxing when it's just the two of you!

I enjoyed our little nights out. I discovered that all the kids will dance in their seats to whatever music is playing at the restaurant. We had some deep conversations--as deep as it gets for a child. But, it was fun.

We'll have to do that again some time soon!

We're so cultured.

2010-04-11T17:44:00.000-07:00

It was spring break this week. School starts again tomorrow. Many families go on trips during spring break. They go to fun places like Disneyland or Disneyworld. Some travel to visit nearby countries like Canada or Mexico. Some just go to warm, sunny places like Hawaii or the Bahamas. Some wealthy friends of ours go on a European cruise every spring break. We opted for a different spring break experience--let the exotic come to you--in the form of exotic hardwood flooring that you install yourself! We're still putting the floors down, so I'll post final pictures in a few weeks when we're done. But, let me say--WOAH!

We've lived in our home for 15 months now. The downstairs foyer, hallway, and kitchen had a lovely cherry colored laminate flooring. I tried for months to find the same colored laminate so that we could rip out the living room carpet and put the same flooring in. We have a very open downstairs floor plan. Can't figure out why the previous owners didn't just put the same flooring in the living room (probably because of costs--but still!)

Anyway, to make a long story short---we decided to just do it--put hardwood floors in the ENTIRE downstairs (except bathroom and laundry room). It has been THE project!! We started about a month ago. My husband has done a fantastic job at ripping all the old flooring out, sanding and leveling the floorboards, fixing all the squeaks (all after putting in 10-12 hour days at work). And now, after letting the hardwood cure in the house for a couple of weeks--we began installation! Of course I'm not in any pictures, but trust me--I've been yanking nails and flooring staples and chiseling glued-down linoleum and the like! If all else fails, at least I know I could handle construction as a career!

Barren living room--I was waiting to start from the ground up for its transformation.

My hubby rolling up the old carpet, after having fun tearing it into strips.

Cherry-colored laminate flooring in hallway.

Dad and the boys taking out the cherry-colored laminate.

Sanding, sanding, sanding. It's been a dust bowl at our house for the last three weeks.
Not fun, but I kept telling myself it will all be worth it!

Underneath the laminate in the kitchen we found....

Linoleum (which was glued on top of press board that had been
stapled AND glued down to the floorboards).

Curse you, stupid linoleum/press board compound!!
Took us almost 6 days to get it all chiseled out!!
Can I just say, crow bars, I love you!

I wasn't sad to see this pile go to the dump!!

Might as well take out a wall while you're at it.

That's right kids--hide in the bathroom as Dad unleashes his fury!

Even the family room would soon fall victim.

The kids didn't help much, but they looked
really cute rolling out the felt paper
(still the family room--yes the carpet is gone).

Seeing if he missed a spot with the hammer stapler--
now one of my new favorite tools!

After the felt paper goes on the foam sound barrier stuff
(I forget what it's called--but it helps muffle noises).

Laying the first pieces of wood.

All I can keep saying is, "You're so pretty!!!"
Yes, I'm talking to a floor.

My husband and I have done this project ourselves. Whenever I ask him if he wants to have so-and-so come over and help him out with ______, his response is always, "You and I can do it." Well, the man has some great faith in me and my abilities. Seriously though, it's been so flattering that he wants my help and trusts me. I love working side-by-side on things. We've found common ground (no pun intended).

I'm loving the new floors!!

It's almost over (bet you're glad to hear that!)

2010-03-30T19:28:00.000-07:00

The 3rd phase is on. Since all my begging and campaigning for the 2nd phase proved to be not-so-fruitful, I've backed off some. But, I remain ever hopeful!! http://bit.ly/bclXtY

Yes, I'm still at it (one more week)!!!!

2010-03-07T14:33:00.000-08:00

Please copy and paste this link http://bit.ly/9HP0Xe and see me "transformed" into a modelquin. And then vote (and you can vote every day). My ranking is much higher than it was before--please spread the word!!

Thanks!

Help me win $100,000!!!

2010-02-25T21:06:00.000-08:00

Please copy this link http://bit.ly/aSUUPD and rate my pose (a 10, of course!!) Thanks!!

The voting goes on for 5 more days (March 3)--and I believe you can vote every day. So, if it's not too much to ask! (And--please feel free to post this on your blog and send emails/facebook all your friends. If you twitter, I'd appreciate it too!!)

Hee, hee!!!

2010-02-22T10:07:00.000-08:00

I'm not obsessed...read each book once...watched the movies once. But, I sure thought this was funny!! (Don't forget to pause my playlist at the bottom of this page).

You may have my autograph...

2010-02-08T13:42:00.000-08:00

Top right hand corner...I know what you're thinking....who is that babe balancing that giant purple egg on a paddle? She looks really worried about the ensuing race.

One of a bajillion families to have attended BYU's summer family camp, Aspen Grove, and I'm in the new brochure. That's my sis and two of my six bros, in case you couldn't tell. (Kid with the goggles is of no relation--we Tice's don't need no goggles).

Fun Tag

2010-02-01T11:01:00.000-08:00

I would love to read your responses!!

Someday: I will dye my hair (when I go gray).
I usually: eat breakfast after I get the kids off to school.
I regret: buying a stupid timeshare.
I love: my husband, a lot.
I care: so much about people, even those I meet on the street.
I always: read your blog posts :) (if they are really lengthy I skim).
I am not: as tall as I wish I were.
I remember: people's names.
I believe: you can train children to do almost anything, it just takes patience, persistence, and love.
I dance: better than most people (aren't I humble?)
I sing: almost every day.
I don’t always: floss every night ;).
I argue: less than I used to (surprise, surprise!)
I write: individual messages on all the Christmas cards I send out.
I lose: my tan over the winter :(
I wish: that I didn't have to age...
I listen: to everything but country.
I don't understand: how the FDA gets away with so many things (or how those who work for the FDA can live with themselves).
I can be found: at home most of the day.
I am scared: of modern-day Jihad.
I need: very little.
I forget: to rely more on faith than the arm of my flesh.
I am happy: that I am so blessed with family and friends that love me.

A shoulder to cry on...

2010-01-21T09:25:00.000-08:00

Almost every afternoon I have to wake up my youngest, from his nap, in order to pick up his siblings from school on time. Aren't children just precious when they are asleep? I love to look at him in his angelic slumber, all relaxed with a hint of the little baby he once was. I tried, the other day, as I have so many times, to lift him gently and carry him to the car or stroller, hoping that he would keep snoozing in peace. But, imagine the anguish of leaving your nice, soft pillow only to have it replaced with a bumpy stone, a.k.a., my shoulder. It never works. Not to mention, my hair is usually in his face. Poor kid!

All my kids! None of them ever had a nice, soft shoulder to lay on. While I've always thought they were kind of attractive, my collar bones protrude at my neckline, as well as where they attach at the shoulders. This creates an extra hard bump. When they were babies, I was rarely able to get any of my kids to sleep on my shoulder at church. I don't have a chest, so there was no cushion there either. My poor children!

So, if you ever need a shoulder to cry on--mine is the one! But, it's probably my shoulder that'll make you cry...

Happy Blog-Giving Day!

2010-01-15T11:09:00.001-08:00

I had so much fun doing this last year that I want to do it again! Remember, how it works? If not, read on...

The first 5 people to post a comment will each be the happy recipient (I hope) of something 100% homemade by me! The only catch?! You have to post this to your blog and do the same thing! Happy blog-giving day!!

Your input is needed....

2010-01-04T11:06:00.000-08:00

I've been married for almost 12 years. We, as a couple, have survived (actually thrived) over this time period, but one wedding gift we received--a gigantic supply of Rubbermaid food containers--is coming to the end of its plastic rope. I'm pretty good about only washing them on the top rack of the dishwasher; I just don't think they were meant to go on forever. *Sigh* So, please do a "good deed" today and post your plasticware recommendation to me (and many of you know that I save leftover food and *gasp* we eat all them leftovers!) Thanks!!

Procrastination....

2009-12-29T11:02:00.000-08:00

When I was 17 I was talking with one of my young woman church advisors and mentioned to her how I had been scrambling the week before to finish a gigantic Engish project (1/4 of my grade for the whole school year). The computer or printer had died at my house. Since my dad was the bishop of our ward, at the time, I left work early one evening to get a ride with him up to the church where he had meetings. While Dad conducted meetings and interviews in the bishop's office I sat in the clerk's office typing frantically and struggling with a dot matrix printer. BUT--I got the assignment done--and I pulled off an 'A' on it.

My leader quietly told me that procrastinators are really just people who love excitement. "We, procrastinors, know the thrill of being fully fueled by pure adrenaline." That is not the words I expected to hear from my advisor! But, I think it's a little bit true.

Over the years I have done some serious procrastinating. I've had a few experiences where whatever I was working on ending up looking, smelling, or tasting like trash. BUT, for the most part, I pull it off...like magic...from an adrenaline junkie.

I don't know why I procrastinate. Okay, with all the psychology I studied, I do know why. But, I am still sickened with myself that I do it! The Lord needs to punish me for it more by not making me have so many successes when I do it. For instance....

9th grade...we spent a week working on writing assignments for the PTA's Reflections contest--and for a grade. I dillydallied. Most kids were taking their work home to work on it. Not me, though. On the final afternoon that it was due, I frantically began scribbling. I wrote a poem. It was turned in with all of my classmates' submissions. Guess who won the school, and later, district contests and was invited to read her poem at a special luncheon with the mayor and city council? Isn't that just wrong?!

College. My husband and I took one class together--Anthropolgy 101. Grading was simple enough--read two assigned books and 1 of your choice on various cultures around the world. Write 10 page paper on each. One morning I awoke early to finish my book of choice and to write the subsequent paper. Class started at 8am. My husband shook his head in disbelief as he got ready that morning, watching my frantic attempt at starting/finishing. He had finished writing his paper several days before. I begged him to wait a second and let me finish so that he could turn my paper in for me. I would not be going to class that morning--not all nasty-haired and unshowered. A few days later we received our graded papers back. He got an 'A'; I got an 'A-'. He couldn't believe it (and frankly, neither could I).

You don't want to know how many lessons, talks, baked goods, and such that I have had similar experiences/results, far more than I want to recount. It's like an addiction! One that I really need to kick. So, guess what my goal for 2010 is?

Hey, it's not even 2010 and I've already started working on my goal! Go me! Maybe there is hope for this adrenaline junkie!!!!

Last day of school, 2009

2009-12-18T14:10:00.000-08:00

In an hour the kiddies will be home for the rest of the year. Shocking!!!

My whole school year, thus far, has been pretty good with the exception of having an afternoon kindergartner. This has split my days in half and made a mundane task like getting the shopping done, awful! Either my child is cutting it close (or gets a tardy) or we leave with having visited half the stores I needed to go to (and later having to use more gas to turn around and go back to where I was shopping!) I had an afternoon kindergartner a few years ago but for some reason, this time around it is killing me!!!!! Just thought I'd vent to you....

I have, however, managed to buy the last Christmas item last week and almost everything is wrapped and hiding in the attic. Aw, bliss....

Hope your Christmas, preparing, partying, and presenting is going as planned.

Battle of the baristas

2009-12-02T09:48:00.001-08:00

Seattle. When people hear that city's name they automatically start thinking of other things they associate with Seattle--rain and coffee--are amongst the top.

There are coffee drive-in shacks every half mile on our main roads. I think they look VERY tacky--all set up in a parking lot with their silly names and menus, "Cool Beans," "Big Foot Java," "Zipperdoodle," to name a few. They are drive-in style, like I mentioned. In the morning there are LONG, LONG, LONG lines of cars full of people with the pre-caffeine jitters. I know we are free to choose--so they are all free to choose their morning beverages. BUT, service is no longer good enough served with a smile. No, now many of these coffee shacks are sporting baristas.

Barista is an italian word for bartender. Baristas prepare and serve coffee with a smile. But now many of these baristas are serving coffee with hardly any clothes on!

I am married to a wonderful man. He told me about a new distraction on his way home from work. He was so disturbed by the outfit one woman was wearing (or hardly wearing) that he decided to not drive that way anymore. Her coffee shack was right up next to the street and the window faces traffic where everyone can see her. (I've driven past this place myself).

Yesterday my husband was talking with some of his employees. One of them is a single mom with four sons. She told everyone how embarrassed she was when she pulled in to one of the drive-ins with her 12- year-old and the lady walked over to take their order, and she was wearing a teeny negligee. The co-worker was shocked and tried to cover her son's eyes. She later told everyone that she had recently found a pornographic magazine in her house.

This led to further discussion on the matters of morality and my husband mentioned how much he didn't like all these baristas and that he'd even chosen to go a different route to and from work. Most of his co-workers are female and they thought he was so cute and sheltered. Oh, yes, a good little Mormon boy. My husband tried to explain to them the link between getting comfortable with viewing soft porn (baristas, for example) and that it's the same addicting path leading to stranger and more disgusting pornography (and actions).

They thought he was wrong, "Oh no!! Some people are just wired that way!" "You've lived a sheltered life," etc....

He disagreed. They expressed more opinions. He told me that they eventually ended the conversation, with everyone agreeing that they have differences, but that they are still considerate of each others' rights to their own opinions.

The scripture in 2 Nephi 28:21 reads, "And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well—and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell."

You may call us goodie-goodies. You can call me whatever you want. I will take all the name barraging you can throw at me because I am trying to avoid evil--in any form.

Jump on the bandwagon.

2009-11-20T14:14:00.001-08:00

Yes, I waited in a long line last night.

Yes, I went with a group of female friends.

Yes, we screamed during the film.

Yes, I went to the 12:01am showing.

Yes, I spent 30 minutes just trying to get out of theatre parking lot.

Yes, I crawled into bed at 3:10am.

Yes, there was school for the kids today.

Yes, I am tired.

Yup--IT WAS AWESOME!

No, I am not so obsessed that I lust after Edward or Jacob.

Experimentation in my field....

2009-11-10T11:32:00.000-08:00

Many people have jobs where they are required to do research. Some do more than others. In my line of work I do experimentations when I feel they are needed. Maybe this is because of my degree in psychology and my keen interest in that and of sociology. Who knows why, really.

Most recently I tested the overall and individual reactions to elivated household stress. The main focus was on lack of clean habiliment.

There were 6 test subjects. I will refer to them as:
1. Man
2. Woman
3. Child #1
4. Child #2
5. Child #3
6. Child #4

The trial period was over a period of 2 weeks, during which time the laundry facilities were left untouched.

After two weeks, these were my observations:
1. Man: Not too phased, seemed to not even notice improved space in dresser drawers .
2. Woman: Quite relaxed. Compared to the other test subjects, she had remarkably low stress levels.
3. Child #1: Highly stressed, quite irritable. Was prone to much screaming and yelling. Borderline dysfunctional.
4. Child #2: Adaptable. Never spoke on the matter, seemed quietly contained and satisfied to wear shorts and t-shirts, despite going outside in 40-degree weather.
5. Child #3: Also adapted well. Resorted to wearing and re-wearing dirty clothes.
6. Child #4: Maybe a little too young to have been tested. But, subject was found to be spending abnormal amount of time in pajamas.

Conclusion:
While stress levels of individual test subjects varied greatly, the overall stress level was not too much higher than normal. Would like to have continued experiment for longer duration but found my own clean undergarment supply to be lessening. Would also like to try similar experiment with gauging stress levels in response to subject #2, Woman, not answering to the whiny call of "Mom." Will need to purchase heavy, gauge ear plugs, first.

The next decade....

2009-10-28T09:17:00.001-07:00

I gave birth to a little girl in the fall of 1999. Fast forward to now. (Do you really think I could possibly try to cover the past 10 years here? TMI!!!!)

What do I have to look forward to in the next decade? Well, basically, I'll blink and my baby will be a sophomore in college! If she's like her mom, at that age, she will be just a few months away from meeting her future spouse. Oh my.....

We celebrated the momentous occasion of turning 10 with friends from church and school....

Making windchimes--thanks http://www.kiddiegardens.com/garden_wind_chimes.html

Wish I'd gotten a picture of everyone's--they all turned out so cute. All that time spent drilling holes was worth it.

Pass the Parcel

Balloon Stomp

We played a few other party games--one of them involved the girls taking a quiz about the birthday girl--just how well did they know her? (I should do one of those. Oh wait--that's what facebook is for).

Leaf print goodie bags.

She LOVES to read!

(The paper says: "Treats from some of _____'s favorite books")

Pumpkin tassies (Little Debbie pumpkin treats)---Harry Potter series

Knocker's listening stones (chocolate rocks)---The Ironwood Tree (Book 4 of Spiderwick Chronicles)

preserved crocodile tongues (Halloween gummy worms)---James and the Giant Peach

dragon's egg (giant jawbreaker)---Eragon

gold (chocolate coins)---Inkheart

Never bugs (Keebler graham bug bites)---Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg

dream trumpets (Oreo Stix)---The BFG

Well now...off to plan the next decade....

Someone's paying attention....

2009-10-16T13:33:00.000-07:00

My youngest child still takes naps. All of my kids have had the same nap routine: read a story, go to the bathroom, sing a song, say a prayer, then in to bed. I usually rock them or rub their backs when I sing. Today's melody was "Rock-a-bye Baby." I've probably sang it at least a thousand times over the last decade.

As I put my youngest into bed he turned to me and said, "Did the baby fall in the road?"

I thought, "What?!?!" A second later I realized he was referencing the song. I told him not to worry, the baby fell in the grass. ;).

Psalms 127:3-5

2009-10-02T14:06:00.000-07:00

The title of my blog is "Beware of Kids." Don't know if I ever explained this. I reference it to a few years ago when I was with my 4 kids at Target or Wal-mart. We're all walking down the aisle (a kid or two was probably in the cart) and this woman is walking towards us from the very opposite end. She looks at me, shakes her head, and snorts, "Very brave. VERY BRAVE. Four? I can't even handle one." From that point I've always felt that I need to walk around with caution tape surrounding us and holding a big sign that reads "WARNING: Children are present! Persons with pedophobia BEWARE!"

I am no super mom. I love my kids and try to do all I can for them and help them grow up to be good citizens and not fight and be gregarious, etc., etc., etc. I feel like I am constantly adjusting schedules, budgets, priorities, and car seats to keep up with the growing demands of our family. Some times I do it grumpily, but it gets done.

My kids fight. I find myself getting caught up in that at times. You know the children of prophets and other religious figures and how they recollect things about their childhoods? They always say things like, "I never heard my mother raise her voice." Yeah, my kids would never say that.

I just had my birthday. My husband was out of town. This meant, to me, it was going to be a yucky birthday. I don't know how women can fall out of love with their husbands and devote all their time and energy on their kids, because I love, love, LOVE my husband. He is my sun. Sappy, but true.

I stayed up WAY late on the eve of my birthday to can tomatoes. They'd been sitting on my counter for a few days and they weren't getting any fresher so I canned! I also made some peach butter. I went to bed at 2:30am. I groggily got out of bed 4 and a 1/2 hours later to start the morning routine. I was surprised to see the beam of a flashlight shining around the kitchen. One of my daughters gasped when she saw me and the other one said, "Oh no!" It took me a few seconds and I realized they were making me breakfast! I saw a little bottle of orange extract out and asked them what that was for. "We couldn't find the orange juice so we were going to make some."

I quickly explained what orange extract was for and then pointed them towards the freezer. I went back upstairs to take a shower. When I came downstairs this is what I saw:

Please understand that I don't let them use the stove, yet, since they are just above eye level with it. I am 32. We have no "2" candle so they put 2 regular ones in its place. Frosted mini-wheats, orange juice with all the trimmings, and that little bowl is Haagan Dazs--I've always wanted to have that for breakfast!

It is hard to surprise me, I'm a hard one to trick. But, the girls did this time! It really made my day. They were angels, shining before me.

So, about Psalms 127:3-5--verse 5 is missing a footnote "b" which should be in front of "quiver." Footnote "b" should read: "And you are doubly blessed if you get daughters."

in retrospect....

2009-09-13T10:57:00.000-07:00

I meant to post this on Sept. 11, but didn't make it to the computer that day. I did, however, manage to remember to fly the American flag.

I can't believe it's been 8 years since 9-11. I will never forget that day:

I was at home, then, Provo, Utah, and caring for the new demands of my 4-day-old baby. My sister-in-law called me from Portland, crying. I could barely make out what she was saying. She did manage to get out, "Turn on the news." I did and saw the shocking images of plane crashes and buildings and clouds of debris.

Already a whirlwind of post-partum emotions, this news of the twin towers caused me to gaze at the new baby in my arms and tearfully say to her, "What have I done? What kind of a world have I brought you in to?" I was scared for her. That famous image from Time magazine of that female refugee fleeing with her fellow countrymen, all the while clinging to her nursing babe, flooded my thoughts--would that be me in a few weeks/months?

My mother was planning to fly out the following day from the D.C. airport, to come help out with us and the new baby. I feared for her safety and called her to tell her not to come--it would be too dangerous. She said that we couldn't live in fear and that she was coming. She had to arrive at the airport like 5 hours before her flight and was given the search of searches, but she made it to us safely.

Now my baby is 8. I still fear for her safety but not so much from terrorist attacks. I worry more about attacks from peers and child predators, and the demoralization of America, in general. A lot has changed in 8 years. The greatest, for me, would be my capacity to love. My family, and the world, need that love now.

My summer....

2009-08-25T13:28:00.001-07:00

Ask yourself, "Do I have a lot of time right now?" Because the following is a marathon of a post--no kidding. I figured I'd just kill all my birds with one stone and post everything all at once. (Forgive me for using ABC's again--it just made it easier for me to organize my thoughts).

(Random picture that my 3-year-old took a month ago. Decided I'd

better post it since the following pictures are ugly shots of me).

Anyway, the chronological ABC's of my summer:

Acclimation: To prepare my lungs from 1,200 ft. elevation to the 8,000 ft. elevation of the Utah Wasatch Back, a Ragnar Relay http://www.ragnarrelay.com/index.php, I ran with weights on. Four weeks before race day I started with just 3 pounds. I gradually increased the weight until I was running with 12 pounds extra weight. I also ran the monstrous hills near my home (8-10% grade) with the weights on, of course! So, I missed my kids' last day of school (June 19) to fly out and run my race, but I'm happy to say that my lungs were ready and I was able to breath just fine!

B.O. 188 miles from Logan to Park City--this distance was shared by me and my 11 teammates--Go team Lightspeed! I was runner #12 and thus ran legs 12, 24, and 36. I only knew 3 of my teammates, prior to the race. We were in the same ward in San Diego. They were in vehicle #2, with me, as well as two other teammates. We were runners 7-12. Vehicle #1 had runners 1-6. (Everyone's total individual mileage ended up being between 13-18 miles).

We had all communicated prior to the race via phone, email, Facebook, and IM. Still, it's something else to all wear electric lime t-shirts and spend 30+ hours together in a van. We bonded, as only runners can, cheering each other on over tough terrain, a pitch-dark night, and inclimate weather. Since there were only two girls, our team was classified as a men's team. Yes, I was in a car with 5 men for 30+ hours. At one point I asked someone for my sweaty sweatshirt, to which he picked it up from the seat handed it to me while commenting, "Woah, you smell like one of us guys." Uh, I'll take that as a compliment.

Contacts: I was in very few photos during our race. I'd like to say it's because I'm so fast that they couldn't catch me, but in reality it was that one of my contacts had broken a week prior to the race and the new ones hadn't come in yet. I don't like wearing glasses, let's just say that.

Here I am all dorked up--glasses, reflector vest, headlamp, flashing LED lamp.

Anyone who ran between the hours of 8pm and 6:30am had to wear this stuff.

(Excuse my even dorkier expression--this was after I had run).

Decorations: Here's how we decorated our vehicles.

Other teams went all out with things like scarecrows, millions of flashing lights, mannequins, medical equipment, etc....

Exhilerating: Being greeted by this sunrise in the sleepy town of Coalville, UT.

And, how it felt to be at the top of this mountain on the hardest and highest leg of the race, cheering for my teammate.

Fatigue: What happens when your first leg looks like this:

(Yes--three miles uphill the whole way!)

And when it's not your vehicle's turn to run and you pull over to sleep and there's a snorer in the bunch and you get no sleep. Less than 2 hours of sleep in a 30 hour race = fatigue.

Glory: I wanted to be runner #12--not because I'd get to cross the finish line, but because it meant my first leg would be my hardest, my second one would be a tad easier, and my final leg would be cake.

HA! Before I started my 3rd leg I was deliberating if I should bring my jacket. The weather was cool and misty, but the runners before me stayed plenty warm. I knew I didn't have any hills but I was planning on booking it to the end. Last minute, I decided to take my little jacket.

So, around mile 2, I stepped stepped in a puddle and said to myself, "Darn--now my sock is wet!" 30 seconds after this thought the sky cracked open and I found myself in the middle of a torrential downpour. It was the kind of storm that if you were driving a car, you would have pulled off to the side of the road to wait out, due to lack of visibility. It was INSANE! Gallons and gallons of water in 40 degrees and I was only wearing my little running shorts, team jersey, and my very thin jacket. The last three miles I ran with one goal in mind, "Must get w-w-w-aarmm--m--m."

As we runners neared the finish, race officials were radioing our numbers to the finish line. Officials there would then announce the incoming runner and the rest of their team was able to join in the final few hundred feet. My team was there and we streaked to the finish. They were so proud of me, all teams were proud of their final runners at this point--that was INSANE!!! Seriously!

Here's our team: we're arranged in running order, front row left to right, then back row, left to right.

I'm not wearing my team shirt because immediately after we received our medals at the finish line I ran to the bathroom to take off all my wet clothes. The water in the toilet bowl doubled after I was done wringing out my clothes, shoes (yes, shoes!) and hair. (A teammate had brought me my bag of dry clothes but I was still shivering 5 hours later).

The race was AWESOME. The finish line was ready for the 500+ teams of 12, but the rain spoiled what would have been a really sweet party. What a shame. But we still had fun!

Holy Cow: 5 days after I returned we left for a family reunion at BYU's family camp for alumni and families, Aspen Grove in Utah. I love the Cascade Mountains here in western Washington. We drove a different route than usual and saw views like this:

14 hours later we found ourselves surrounded by views like this. In the middle of this scenic sandwich we had:

Idaho.

Okay, okay, I know there are scenic parts of Idaho, but we didn't go near any on this trip.

Juggle: There were many fun things to do at Aspen Grove. It was fun to cram as many activities as possible in to every day. And what a true vacation for me because all of my

Kids were watched all day long. They were put into groups with kids of the same ages and basically had summer day camps all week long. They loved it!!

(Not the best picture of us, but Stewart Falls was sure pretty!)

Losers: There were sport tournaments amongst all the different family groups staying at Aspen Grove all that week. Me, my hubby, my bros, and my dad participated in 3 on 3 basketball, 5 on 5 basketball, and volleyball. I didn't play in the 3 on 3 games, but I was there in case someone got injured. The other team was shocked to see a girl (me) walk out on the court. I even made 1 of our 10 total points! (We played to 21-single scoring).

Three of my brothers and I are all within 1-2" of each other (5' 7"-5' 9") and the others aren't much taller. With the exception of my husband, our basketball and volleyball team was on the short side. This proved to be a downfall for us. We didn't win a single game--it was closer in volleyball though (We won the first game of our first match, but lost the last two). We watched the rest of the volleyball games in the tournament and realized that we were the most challenging team the winners had played. Even with our shorter team, we managed to block the guy on the right--he was like 6' 6". (My bro is going up for the block in this picture. Excuse my bum in the foreground). Even thought we lost I even blocked the tall guy once, ahh...it felt good!

My hubby, a few of my bros and I are pretty competitive and it stank to lose all those games. Most of my family members didn't really care. I've seriously been playing in competitive leagues too long, 'cause that really ticked me off (the losing, not my family). Oh well....

Muscle: Several of us did the ropes course. No one took my picture but I really did do it! This is one of my bros making his way across the high wires. Before that you had to climb up a log with some notches cut in the sides, then a climbing wall. After the wires you got to repel down. Fun stuff!!

Neighbors: We can't go anywhere without running into someone we knew beforehand. One of the other families at Aspen Grove was none other than our neighbors from the apartments that we lived in 10 years ago--it's a small world after all!!

Obsession: Most people don't know this about me, but I am obsessed with the game Dance, Dance Revolution (DDR). My husband bought it for me for Christmas a few years back (xbox 360 version). We sold the xbox and games a few months ago and I still need to get DDR for the wii. However, one afternoon at Aspen Grove--they had it!!! Yea for Dance, Dance Revolution!!

Pottery: They had a very cool pottery shed--it's built over a stream. You can sit at your pottery wheel and hear the running water below you. It's very tranquil and lovely. In such a setting you'd think that nothing in the world could go wrong.
Well, three hours in the pottery shed and after about 50 tries I still was unable to shape my clay into much of anything. This was a bit humiliating for me, being a half-decent artist and having my family there. I can shape clay, but not when it's on a spinning wheel!! Myhusband rubbed salt in the wound when he produced a practically perfect pot first time around. And yes--it was his first time ever!

Quiver: I did discover a hidden talent during our week at Aspen Grove (not pottery). My dad, uncle, one bro, my sis, and my hubby, and I attended the archery workshop and competition. I hadn't shot an arrow since I was 14. We were all having a good time. My hubby and uncle were consistently scoring high. I was half-messing around, trying out both compound and composite bows, even shot a few times around using the bow for lefties (I'm a righty).

The counselor in charge had stuck an arrow through a Coke can and then stuck that on the bullseye of one of the targets. When I shot at that target I hit the Coke can!! I was pretty excited and decided to take this archery thing a little more seriously. A few rounds later I was tied with a guy for 1st place (the competition was us ongoingly keeping track of our scores). We both scored 48 points out of a possible 50! A little later he shot a 49 out of 50. I never did get a 49. I guess it was impressive because I'm a girl and we were all shooting with the same bows--I didn't get a handicap or anything!

My sister snagged this shot of me; we didn't get any of me with bow fully extended.

Move over Emma--I got the "Joan of Arc" award at the end of the week!

Reunion: It was fun to have all of us together--2 parents (my mom and dad), their 8 children, 5 daughter-in-laws, 1 son-in-law (my man), and 17 grandchildren. We haven't all been together for 3 1/2 years. It was a treat.

Supplies: After driving back home I had a few weeks to prepare for girls' camp. I was to be in charge of 19 fourteen-year-old girls. I was busy buying snacks, making camp decorations and preparing little daily devotionals and cute things to put in the camp mail box for each of them every day.

Third-years: Girls' camp is for girls ages 12-17. I had the third year level girls (in there 3rd year).

Unpack: That was a lot of stuff to set up. Took me about four hours to get everything in order at our campsite. (We put these little "Toto" dogs up on all the girls' tents--aren't they cute?!)

Volume: What we added to our hair on 80's dress-up day.
Wizard of Oz: That was this year's theme. We focused on "The Power Within." Just as all the main characters in the story came to the wizard only to discover that deep inside they had had what they were seeking all along. Of course, we paralled going to the Emerald City with going to the temple, and the Lord with the wizard of Oz. We third years were Dorothy. One day we all did our hair like Dorothy and some girls had even brought cute dresses to wear. (Some Dorothy girls playing human foosball).

X-tra: Camp had about 100 girls and around 25 leaders. All that estrogen meant x-tras: x-tra silliness, x-tra hugs, x-tra kindness. Really, just a great bunch of kids--what a pick-me-up--I felt x-tra special.

Yearning: Before I met my group of girls they were just a list of names, phone numbers and email addresses. It was so wonderful to get to know each one of them as the week progressed. On the second to last day I learned that two of our girls were not baptized members of our church. They each came from a family where one parent was not a member of the church and forbade their daughter getting baptized. I heard each of them bare their testimonies on our last night of camp. Each girl bore her testimony and of their strong desire to be baptized. It made me realize that having the gospel in my life truly is a great gift. I pray that their parents will change their minds one day soon.

ZZZ's and Zucchini: A week at girls' camp got me pretty tuckered out. I was in a tent with 3 other leaders and we were staying up 'til 1-2am jabbering and laughing, just like our girls were. When I returned home I was happy to see that my hubby had kept up on watering the garden and that the zucchini plants had suddenly become very prolific and gave us about 15 new babies (all in one week--and they haven't let up since!!!!)

Whew. So, that's my summer in a nutshell (you should see the length of my journal entries!) School starts in a couple of weeks. Oh summer, I'll miss you....

Not cool....

2009-08-15T13:11:00.001-07:00

More proof that we are getting lazy and flabby in America. I don't care how hip this is, I won't ever encourage it! Men (and women) fight against this evil!!

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/13/fashion/13POTBELLY.html?_r=3&scp=1&sq=hip%20to%20be%20round&st=cse?no_interstitial

Over and Out...

2009-07-26T22:04:00.001-07:00

I'm off to a week of no modern-day technology! Wish me luck at Girls' Camp, in charge of nineteen 14-year-olds!!

Consider this...

2009-07-09T12:11:00.001-07:00

The next time you see a man (be he your boss, religious figure, professor, etc.) and he has red marks on his collar, consider this:

Maybe he is not having some risque affair. Perhaps his wife discovered that his dress shirts had been washed and dried with the same load of clothes that included a child's pair of pants with a pocket containing an overlooked red crayon. Thanks, again kids!

Y is for youthful

2009-06-01T09:46:00.000-07:00

How to stay youthful:

(The following tips are tried and true).

1. Don't earn higher than a bachelor's degree. If you tell people you have a masters or doctorate that automatically labels you as "old."

2. Exercise regularly. Hey--a firm, old body looks younger than a flabby, old body.

3. Get married young and have children right away. If you do this right people will think you're your kids' older sister.

4. Be genetically predisposed to have no chest. People will think you are just entering puberty. Thanks to my english, danish and asian progenitors, I have found the perfect mix.

5. Make friends with older people, staging is everything. I knew I'd made a friend for life when I met a mother of two who'd had her oldest when she was 45. I thought she was their grandma. Oops--I hope she isn't reading this.

6. Even though you may have followed tip 3, above, you should try to have shopping trips without the kids, maybe when your husband comes home. This accomplishes two purposes: 1) You'll actually get your shopping done and 2) You'll be at the mall a couple of hours before closing time, you know--when the teenagers are out. Remember to keep your head down so that you look like a loner, a shy kind of gal. Don't walk with confidence and for heaven's sake do not actually talk to any teenagers. You might be tempted to use the dead givaway saying, "When I was your age...."

If you must go to the mall accompanied see to it that your shopping companion is in accordance with tip #5.

7. Keep up-to-date on the latest electonic devices. Technology--it's happening, at least make an effort at it. *Bonus* Learn current text abbreviations: http://www.netlingo.com/acronyms.php (warning--not all are PG rated)

8. Smile. Smile lines are the best kind of wrinkles you can get. Smiling may also trick the rest of your body into feeling happy, go-lucky--youthful!

(Author's note: at some point I realize these tips may become obsolete in our lives. If I ever opt for evasive anti-aging treatments I'll be sure to list them).

X is for e"X"treme

2009-05-22T12:50:00.000-07:00

The letter "X" is a racy letter. All words that begin with or have the "x" sound in the first syllable just seem more dangerous than other letters of the english alphabet. I could write lots about risky "x" words. (Hee, hee--side note--say "risky 'x' words" 5 x's fast). Anyway...this week we have had a first--an eXtreme--in my household....

Well, to begin, western WA is wet, off and on. It doesn't really turn all the way off until July through October. Whenever there is a warm, rainfree day, I have learned to drop everything and go outside and do yard work. There are many people here who do yard work in the rain, but I don't like to.

Last weekend was gorgeous. On Saturday, after attending 4 hours of soccer games, I came home and knew that I needed to plant the rest of the garden, otherwise I wouldn't have much of a harvest come harvest time. Mind you, Sunday was supposed to be an equally pristine weather day, but I don't work on Sundays (except for maybe washing a dish).

My hubby had taken one child to a birthday party so I had 3 kids to tend to. I pulled out all sorts of water toys, had 'em get on their bathing suits, and do a free-for-all in the backyard. They played and I succeeded in ignoring them for 4 hours while I pulled newly-grown weeds, fertilized, and put in new plants and seeds. During that time my hubby returned home. It was getting late and I knew the kids were getting hungry. I asked him to whip us up some vittles.

He went to the store and then brought the kids in and fed them whilst I still tended to the vegetable garden. When I finally came in, they were getting ready for bed. I scrubbed my hands and arms. I enjoy gardening and I always work up a good appetite. Dinner was take-out chinese food. The food was great! And there was a LOT of it.

In fact, there was so much food that we have been eating it for five days (we made something different for Sunday dinner). It's lunch time right now and I'm eating cashew chicken. We've, along with some pasta already in the fridge, been eating leftovers for 5 days straight!!!!

I can't stand to throw out perfectly good food, so we continue to eat it. Tomorrow I should be able to polish off the sesame pork, I think I'll cook them a real meal tonight. This is eXtreme for us--leftovers for 5 days?! This lovely, fattening, chinese food, has really helped me in my running this week. Good thing my race isn't for another month....

Happy Blog Giving Day!!!

2009-05-13T13:57:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post to show what my dear friend Christy gave me for Blog-giving day. She made me some homemade coconut marshmallows and they were so extremely good that I: 1) Didn't remember to share some with my family until I'd eaten half the bag and 2) Snarfed almost all of them down before I remembered that I should take a picture to post on my blog. (Imagine a neat, not-torn-into package with at least 4 dozen snow white marshmallows). Thanks so much Christy!! How did you know that I liked coconut--did we talk about that once during one of our many conversations in the Wymount stairwells (when our husbands' were in Starcraft land)?

Friends are so great--thanks, Christy!

W is for Wireless

2009-04-23T12:03:00.000-07:00

A little over a month ago, I switched to wireless. Can I just tell ya--what a difference it's made in my life--an every day difference! Now I can go from room to room and all over, stretch out and enjoy the freedom of being, well, wireless.

When I was considering wireless options, the saleslady I spoke with was super helpful. I had more questions than I think she was used to answering but she handled it great. I was surprised at one of the answers I received. I asked her if large people opted for wireless, since they were, well, large, and often not moving all over the place like their slighter counterparts. She said that actually, it's a matter of taste. Some of our heavier peers opt for wireless--I was totally baffled!

So, if you are considering wireless options I have a great recommendation: the Very Sexy bra from Victoria's Secret. It comes in a wonderful variety of colors and prints and you can get it padded or not padded. I love being wireless!

V is for Virtue

2009-04-16T09:48:00.000-07:00

For all my LDS chaps out there, you may or may not know that the YW Personal Progress Program has an 8th value now: Virtue. http://www.lds.org/pa/display/0,17884,6884-1,00.html

A copy of the actual insert with the value experiences and project: http://www.lds.org/pa/yw/pdf/YW_2009_PersonalProgressVirtue_08255_eng_.pdf

I've been serving as the secretary in our ward YW presidency for a couple of months and it's been great to learn more about virtue and I wish that we had had that as a value when I was a youth. It fits in so well with the Young Woman program.

So, just when I was getting comfortable and feeling so uplifted about virtuous things and such, and loving hanging out with all the girls--I was released! They reorganized the RS presidency in my ward and I've been called to serve as the 2nd counselor over enrichment.

I was only in that YW calling for 2 1/2 months--the shortest time I've ever had a calling! While I'm excited to plan awesome activities to enrich the lives of my fellow sisters I am also sad to not get to be with the young women anymore. Well, the Lord left me with a swell consolation prize: I've been asked by the stake to be the leader of the 3rd year girls at Girls' Camp this summer. Yup, me and twenty-two 14-year-olds in tents for a week. This is gonna be fun.

U is for Uncalled-for

2009-04-02T10:05:00.000-07:00

Well, of course that previous posting was an April Fool joke! My kids never talk back to me--do yours? For real?!?!?!

Just kidding again....yes they talk back.

Oh yeah, and I am NOT pregnant. Don't y'all remember how I announce my for-real pregnancies? If you don't remember it's because I never announced them :). Now you may be wondering if I really am since I wouldn't tell you anyway....Seriously though, no pregnancy news. We may be done at 4. When we were first married, my hubby used to say, regarding having children, "As many as you want." After the 4th one was born he then said, "We're done, right?" So, I've turned the tables on him and said, "As many as you want," and I added, "but I don't want to be pregnant after 33 or 34." We've got a 2-3 year deadline. I'll let you know, in a non-April-fool-joke-blog if he decides he wants more kids.

Hope you weren't too annoyed by my silly joking. I love April Fool's Day.

T is for Trouble

2009-04-01T08:47:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was one of the worst days of my parenting years, regarding my eldest child. She is not a trouble maker, per se, but gets herself in to trouble with the way she has been bad-mouthing me and her siblings. I HATE IT WHEN KIDS TALK BACK! I want to bust out singing "R-E-S-P-E-C-T! Find out what it means to me...." Maybe I'm just emotional because I just found out that we will be parents of 5--can I handle another kid?! "Well, we got trouble! Right here in River City!" to say the least :(.

S is fo $aving$

2009-03-23T11:45:00.001-07:00

I am only 100% passionate about a handful of things: my husband, my kids (okay 85% here, they're still growing on me), healthy eating, exercising, religion, the power of music, and saving money.

Recently I had such a great experience saving money that I just have to share it!

Our middle garage door, and I park in the middle spot, has been having problems since we moved in a few months ago. It was inconsistent in opening and closing with the garage door openers (all 4 of them)! Imagine me, in a hurry to leave (which is stupid because I'm already 10 minutes late to wherever I'm going) and I pull out of the garage, push the button and it doesn't close! This happened many times so I usually had to physically get out of the car and walk right up close to the door and only then would the sensor receive the signal from my opener(s). We knew it wasn't a problem with the openers because they opened the first stall from anywhere!

To get the dumb door fixed was in the back of my mind. I would haughtily remember to do it for only those few frustrating seconds when I had to keep getting out of the car to close the door.

Well, soccer practices have started, as well as school musical practices. My coming and going has increased by 212%. So all this past week I've been fuming about the stupid garage door.

On Friday, there are no practices. I actually had a moment to breath and I remembered that I needed to get the door taken care of ASAP. I had even laid aside a couple of garage door repair coupons over the past month. I never called to make appointments because of the cost. The coupons were advertising things like $50 dollars off garage door repairs and I thought, "If I'm getting $50 off then how much is the final bill going to be?!?!?" Ugh...my stomach lurched.

Well, I kept having this crazy notion to try something that worked for me when I was 11. I had a classy Soundesign brand radio/cassette player (a brand probably carried by drugstores) and I wanted better reception so that I could get the FM stations clearer. (Now you know why I sing the words to "Karma Chameleon" wrong). I wrapped aluminum foil on the antenna (just like people did to their tv rabbit ears, back in the day).

So, yes folks--for 5 cents I fixed my garage door. Again, that's, FOR 5 CENTS I FIXED MY GARAGE DOOR!!!!!!!!! I can't express the elation I feel every time I push the opener button and my door responds! And I'm even more thrilled because of the money that I didn't have to spend. HALLELUJAH!!!!!

R is for Radical

2009-03-12T10:08:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post to say I'm still alive, here!!! So, the word "radical...." This word was very popular lingo amongst my 6th and 7th grade peers. A quick walk down memory lane....

You know people send around all those forwarded emails about being children of the 80's and growing up in the 80's? Well, I was around in the 80's but the 90's stick out more.

In 6th grade, being a "skater" was cool. Caucasian boys had what we called "Pee-wee" haircuts (whole head is shaven except for your bangs which hung, slyly, over your eyes) and African-American boys often sported the "Gumby." If you were not considered a cool skater, you were called a "poser" which meant you were a wannabe skater. Some kids dressed nice--wearing stuff like expensive rugby shirts and penny loafers or Eastland dock shoes--they were called "preps."

We often used words like "radical," "gnarly," and "bodacious" to describe anything remarkable to our junior high minds. I loved to see all the Reebok pumps shoes in their varying colors--the little "pump" basketball on the shoe tongue is so cute!

For fun, at school, we enjoyed hitting lockers and listening for the clunks of fallen locker mirrors. The hallways smelled like Love's Babysoft. Everytime I smell that stuff I am immediately transported back to those days. Weird....

Why do I bring up "radical?" I guess, I just can't believe, sometimes, that I am a wife and a mother of 4, and paying bills, and doing fundraisers, and talking politics, and... and doing what grown-ups do! Does anyone ever really feel "grown up?" Guess I better fake it 'til I make it!

Q is for Quirks

2009-02-20T16:27:00.000-08:00

The first definition in my dictionary describes "quirk" as "A personal peculiarity, mannerism, or caprice."

So, a few quirks about me, that you probably didn't know:

1. I don't like eating grapes. It all stems from one of my earliest memories, eating wild grapes from my backyard in Texas; they were sour and seedy. I buy them often for my family to eat, I just usually grab some carrot sticks to snack on instead.

2. I almost always run up stairs. Don't know why, I guess I think it's fun.

3. The kitchen has to be spotless before I can go to bed. (Since I spend 90% of my time there I like it, my workplace, to be tidy and in order when I arrive there for work the next day).

4. I'm not usually picky about other people's grammar and speech, but when someone says "We was..." I think it sounds as ugly as nails on a blackboard.

What are some of your quirks? I would love to know!

A Little Blog Fun

2009-02-15T11:29:00.000-08:00

The deal: The first 5 people to respond to this post will receive something made by me for you! It will be my choice, but custom designed especially for you. Just so we’re on the same page, here are the details: No guarantees my gift will make you will feel absolute true love, but possibly some happiness, slight fervor, or maybe chocolate. It will be done sometime this year. You will have no clue what it will be… cookies, a photograph, a piece of homemade jewelry. It may be some other random thing I am capable of making or doing that would be enjoyable to you! I may bake something and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you! That’s for sure. I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.

The fine print (which is actually the same size, but whatever): You must repost this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on their blog. When you get your lovely homemade goods from me, post a picture on your blog so I know my love arrived without a hitch. I got this from my sister-in-law's blog and I couldn't NOT keep the love going around. Who wants to play?

P is for Pain in the Patella

2009-01-27T19:51:00.000-08:00

No, I don't have any literal pain in my knee (thank goodness). Just a general pain, an annoyance....

The dynamics of a family--everyone moving in different directions at different speeds. It sure can get crazy. To prevent future headaches in your homes, please read the following true story:

Once upon a time a little boy turned 5. The night before his birthday his mother was driving around frantically in the dark trying to find the nearest Toys 'R' Us. (She had waited til the last minute because 1) She couldn't very well take her son with her to the store during the day--he'd see his gift and 2) Due to a ridiculous amount of unexpected snow for the area, many roads had been closed prior, due to severe flooding). She knew exactly what she needed: a remote control car, more specifically, a replacement for the one that the little boy had received at Christmas, the same car which his sister had thrown down the stairs and destroyed. He had wept over its loss for many hours. Mapquest had missed one little detail in the directions and the poor woman was nearly rear-ended while realizing that a road she was on suddenly turned sharply into a freeway on-ramp. When she finally got to her destination (after many, many turn-arounds) it was 2 minutes to store-closing.

The unable-to-tell-time Toys 'R' Us employees had already locked the doors and had the nerve to pretend not to notice the woman pacing and tapping at the doors. (Oh yes, they saw her!) The woman drove home feeling horrendously frustrated and upset. She was even crying so much that she had to pull over the car at one point to "have it out." Calling her husband made her feel a little better; he was happy that she hadn't been killed. After saying their "goodbyes" she sucked it up and drove home (surprisingly without having to turn around at all--stupid Mapquest).

The woman and her husband decided that even though he was pulling long hours working at his new job, the next day he would have to leave early to go to the Toys 'R' Us near his place of employment. He would have to get that car before cake and ice cream time. He did get that car, as well as a few other things. Unfortunately, for those who don't like long stories, this one doesn't end here.

Those few other things have been giving the woman a headache for the last couple of weeks. When a toy's packaging has the words "ages 6-16" it should be taken seriously. The man, though, sincere in his efforts, had no idea that his casual overlooking of these words would prove to be a nightmare for his beloved wife.

First, some things to be aware of: 1) The woman stays at home and is therefore around the little boy about 10-11 hours more than the man. 2) The boy is awake during this entire time and, being a child, does tend to play with toys during most of this awake period. 3) And like any kid, the boy was bound to ask for someone, let's say the woman who's around him most, to "help" him put his new "ages 6-16" toy together.

The instruction manual was 25 pages long. And it had an annoying fold right down the middle that kept the manual from laying flat. There were 61 parts, 20 of which were moving parts, and 13 of which were smaller than 1/2". The woman extracted every brain cell that remained after carrying and birthing 4 children, and somehow managed to build what the boy affectionately named, "Dude."

Dude looked tough, with his spinner shooters and light-up cranium and ability to roll up into an orange wrecking ball. Dude had an even smaller dude, also rolled up like a ball, that he could shoot out of his chest. Little dude even had little dude guns. Dude was the Dude of Dudes.

Unfortunately for Dude, and the woman, it is hard for 5-year-olds to play with "ages 6-16" toys. Just because you can be rolled up into a cool, rolling boulder of destruction doesn't mean that a 5-year old can roll you up without making parts of you come off. And, this particular 5-year-old boy happened to be quite good with putting things together, just not as good as a 16-year-old (or even a 10 year old). I mean for crying out loud, he just learned to tie his shoes--and now this?!? What happened to something transitional, like a perfectly harmless Transformer?

Poor Dude, spending several hours of each day as an amputee. Poor 5-year-old boy, unable to mend his beloved, suffering toy. Each effort seemed to leave Dude in worse condition than before. Poor woman, unable to get any household chores done, seemed to be constantly rebuilding Dude.

In exasperation she said to the 5-year-old two days ago. "This toy is recommended for older kids, I don't think Daddy knew that it would be such a frustrating thing for you [and me]." She even made a side comment about maybe putting it away for a while until the boy was older. Usually the boy would have loudly protested to words like that. But he didn't. He got a thoughtful look on his face and just walked away.

Yesterday the boy approached his mother as she was checking her email. He handed her a pen and paper and asked her to write a note. "Dear Dad," he began. "I kind of like the big toy you gave me, but I'm putting it somewhere safe. It keeps on breaking. So, when I'm bigger, I'm going to play with it. Love, ______." The sweet child had thought about it for a day and even considered how the man would feel about him not wanting to play with the toy he'd been given.

So, Dude is now put away for a time, with all parts intact. The woman is now free to do her homemaking duties. The little boy has managed to be happy with just the memory of Dude. And, hopefully the man has seen the error of his good-intended ways.

May you be blessed with wisdom in your toy selections.

O is for over-abundance

2009-01-12T11:28:00.001-08:00

I was recently reading someone's personal account of their life during the Great Depression. It was a very saddening thing to read about, but it also made me wonder if we are heading towards the same tragedy with today's economy. That has been on my mind over the last few months, what with my husband resigning, interviewing, and being offered jobs. I feel so blessed that he received job offers, not just an offer, but offers.

It never fails, whenever I'm feeling down I count my blessings, just like that hymn says, and I find myself immediately lifted up. It works so well that my family has incorporated it into our daily life. If someone is complaining or whining about something or someone (including him or herself) he/she is then told to now find 5 good things about the situation or person. My husband and I will throw that at each other too and boy is it humbling and boy does it really work! Try it and I think you will be surprised!!

If you are sitting at your computer reading this and are, too, feeling blessed and have a few minutes to give--check out this website http://www.freerice.com/ Grains of rice are donated to the UN World Food Program. When you feel blessed you are more ready to give. Try the site and see how many people you can help (and test your vocab!)

COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS!!!

N--Naughty or Nice?

2008-12-24T08:56:00.000-08:00

I rarely read the news for two reasons: 1) It uses up too much of my valuable time and 2) Most of it is sad, violent, and/or depressing. Yuck. But, my wonderful hubby, who is a pretty avid news reader/watcher, will save stories for me to read that he knows are of interest to me (usually psychological and/or anthropolical related articles). Here's the one he saved the other day: http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/12/19/milgram.experiment.obedience/index.html?iref=newssearch

(Did I mention that my degree is in psychology?) I found this article interesting, especially the last paragraphs. It looks like we have a choice to be naughty or nice--WHO WOULD HAVE THUNK IT??!!?!??! Stay out of those powerful positions, I guess. Unless you have a very solid moral character, eh? Darn it, I'm still considering politics as a profession....Do you think my moral character is strong enough? :)

Well, choose niceness--Santa still has 15 hours, according to my timezone. (Is there such a thing as Christmas eve deathbed repentance?)

M is for MOVING!!!!

2008-12-08T12:11:00.001-08:00

Many of you know that throughout my married life we have tittered back and forth between CA and WA. Well, my blog drought has been due to the fact that I have been packing and driving and soon-will-be-unloading our stuff! And, we're back in Washington and we plan on staying for a while. You may be asking, "Why the h_ _ l did you leave sunny, beautiful, warm southern California???!!!!"

I guess you could say that we are "going green." Western Washington is gorgeous!! Plus, I know how far my dollar goes in both states. While I love the beach and pleasant weather, this just isn't my dream home:

Okay, slight exaggeration. But, you get the idea.

Email me if you'd like my new snail mail address--you just might get a Christmas card, you never know!

L is for Love Languages

2008-11-06T21:19:00.000-08:00

I absolutely love these "Love Languages" books by Gary Chapman. In case you've never heard of these books--here are the 5 main love languages he's identified, (please, please, follow this link to read about them in detail: http://www.fivelovelanguages.com/learn.html )
1. Words of Affirmation
2. Quality Time
3. Receiving Gifts
4. Acts of Service
5. Physical Touch

Dr. Chapman also acknowledges that we all probably give and receive love using all five of the languages, but we usually have a dominant language.

Here's a very simple quiz to give you a hint as to what language you communicate in and respond to the most (bare in mind--this is just a little quiz--for the real deal--buy the book!)

The quiz: http://edified.org/myspace/lovelanguage

He has written several books based on these five love languages. This one is geared more towards families.

While The Five Love Languages is more for couples and proved to be insightful for me, I don't find it difficult to analyze and improve upon my husband's and my relationship. We chose each other because we were compatible (and really attracted to each other!) and have been working on our marriage over the years. The kids, however, oh boy! The Five Love Languages of Children was a real eye-opener for me: I reflected on all four of my children and why I was just not "getting through" to each one as well as I wished I could. Now I have a better understanding of what each individual child needs.

This one is geared more towards teens. Dr. Chapman writes, in many of his books, that people's dominant love language sometimes changes over time--especially in times of growth and change. Sounds like puberty is number one on that list!

There are many more love language books: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Love+Language&x=22&y=12

Hope you can at least get your hands on the four that I have pictured here, 'cause, "what the world needs now--is love! Sweet love! It's the only thing that there's just too little of." Seriously though, I hope you find these books both insightful and healing.

K is for Kindness

2008-10-29T22:49:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Marie' for 7-tagging me. I thought that was so kind. So, yes, I will play along. As far as other kind things: I really believe in the sayings, "What goes around, comes around" and "Do unto others, kindly and true, as you would have others do unto you." (The latter of the two I make my kids repeat until they say it in their sleep).

7 things that I can do:
1. Entertain more than 15 kids at one time
2. Sightread music
3. Keep secrets
4. Dance
5. Block 6' 4" tall men in volleyball
6. Make greeting card/stationary
7. Knock on strangers' doors and talk about Proposition 8

7 things I cannot do:
1. Be patient (well, I probably can do it, but it's so hard)
2. Bowl
3. Grow really, really long fingernails
4. Shop at expensive department stores
5. Keep the top of my clothes dryer clutter-free
6. Buy processed cheeses or meats
7. Refrain from quizzing people on where various products are made (I'm a nerd at heart).

7 things I say often:
1. Let it go in one ear and out the other.
2. Hi, babe (usual greeting for hubby).
3. Do not talk back to me!
4. Time to eat!
5. Shhhh.
6. Call me.
7. How was work/school today?

7 things I plan to do before I die:
1. Run a marathon
2. Visit all 50 states (only 8 remaining)
3. Write several books
4. Learn to fly a helicopter
5. Serve a mission with my husband
6. Witness my children's temple weddings
7. Hold political offices

7 things that attract me to my man:
1. His quick, charming smile
2. His sense of humor
3. His tolerance of my all-night snuggling, even if it's 90 degrees outside
4. His love for our children
5. His sincerity
6. His happiness with the simple things in life
7. How he thinks so deeply about things and then speaks with great eloquence and affirmation

7 Favorite Foods:
1. Homemade chicken and dumplings
2. Lentil soup with rosemary
3. A really good green salad
4. Greek pizza
5. My hubby's steak
6. Homemade oatmeal hazelnut bread
7. Apple crisp

7 people who I would like to do this (only if you want to):
1. Shea
2. Heidi
3. Jacy
4. Christy
5. Becca
6. Molly
7. Melissa

jokes (and only ONE WEEK until elections!!)

2008-10-28T11:27:00.000-07:00

Mimi was just over five feet tall and pleasingly plump. After a minor accident, her mother accompanied her to the emergency room. The triage nurse asked Mimi for her height and weight to which she quickly blurted out, "Five-foot-eight and 125 pounds!"

"Sweetheart," her mother gently chided, "this is not the internet."

Uh, another joke :)

2008-10-27T08:45:00.000-07:00

Forgive me, my great grandfather passed away. Then, without being told of his death, his wife, who was in the hospital, died two days after him (doesn't that give you chills). I hope I can die that way, when I lived a good, long, healthy life and within days of my husband. So, I was at their funeral over the weekend and it was so nice to remember them and to know that they are together forever.

I was able to play the organ at their funeral. For those who know me, I love, love, love music and feel it can really set the mood, faster than spoken words. I chose songs that were pensive,but not tragic, uplifting, but not cheery. My own soul feels grateful to have known my great grandparents and to know that my own children have a few happy memories of their own about their great, great grandparents.

Here's a cute little joke for you:

A woman's husband was stationed overseas, when her four-year-old daughter decided that she needed a baby brother.
"Good idea," the mother told her, "but don't you think we should wait until your father's home?"
The little girl had a better idea, "Why don't we just surprise him?!"

Jokes will not be every day....

2008-10-20T10:42:00.000-07:00

Oh my, life gets busy! Sorry, the jokes will not be every day. I ran a killer race on Saturday--the Camp Pendleton Mud Run. It was awesome! I am still a little achy. I run at least 20 miles ever week and this race was just a 10K but because of all the obstacles--whew, what a grueling and fun run! I'll post pictures in a few weeks.

Now I find myself in the midst of parent/teacher conferences and class parties so I can't guarantee a joke every day. Waah, waah, ya, I know....

Today--a couple of fun food quotes (I apologize in advance if you are a vegetarian):

"Red meat is not bad for you. Now, blue-green meat--that's bad for you!" Tom Smothers

"The only time to eat diet food is while you're waiting for the steak to cook." Julia Child

Daily joke~~~

2008-10-16T11:14:00.000-07:00

A couple was sitting at a bar having a drink. The man snickers quietly to his wife and says, "Look at that funny-looking, old couple over there."

She looks where he's indicated, "You fool-- that's a mirror."

Daily joke...

2008-10-15T10:03:00.000-07:00

A mother was explaining perspective to her young daughter, showing her that when an object was close-up it looked big, but the same object viewed from far-away looked small. The little girl was amazed and ran off happily.

A few minutes later she came up to her mother and stated, "But Mom, from far away, your bottom still looks big!"

Daily joke:

2008-10-14T08:08:00.000-07:00

A lawyer parks his shiny Jaguar on the side of the road. He is just getting out when a car comes zooming past and rips off his driver's side door. He's angry and shouting and cursing at the maniac. He is still ranting when a cop pulls up a few minutes later. "Officer! Some !#@&# idiot ripped off the door of my new Jaguar!" The officer replies, "You lawyers--you're so preoccupied with your car that you didn't even notice that your left arm has been torn off." The lawyer, shocked, looks down and screams, "My Rolex!"

J is for Jokes

2008-10-14T08:00:00.000-07:00

Ah, there's nothing like a good joke. Every now and then I can think up a good one. For those in-between-times when I'm feeling not-so-creative I am grateful that I can read jokes that someone truly funny came up with.

Things here in CA are really getting heated with this proposition 8. I am for this proposition because I believe in family and that marriage is the foundation to creating, bearing, and raising children. Last I checked, two people of the same sex couldn't make a baby. Since that's one of the purposes of marriage--I'm all for traditional marriage. I've gotten my share of hurtful comments and even had my yard sign stolen. (http://www.protectmarriage.com/)

Anyway---things are so busy with this that I feel I need to keep my chin up and a smile on my face (and a song in my heart, yada, yada, yada). So, from here until election day I will post a joke or funny story every day.

Happy reading and don't forget to vote!

I is for Internet [Safety]

2008-09-30T22:23:00.000-07:00

At some point in your child's young life you have to talk about strangers. This is, hopefully, not a one time deal. They need to be aware of what to do in various scenarios/situations. Amongst many things, they have to be taught that appearances can be deceiving. This brings me to this topic, internet safety.

This is something that parents need to be greatly involved in--for their safety and the safety of their children. Here are a couple of quizzes for you to take, for starters:

http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PageServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=714

http://www.kysafeschools.org/pdfs&docs/clearpdf/isafe/internetquiz.pdf

Maybe you are really smart and knew all the answers. Good for you--but you still need to be careful. Some quick thoughts on basic internet safety:

1. Keep all computers in high traffic areas--not bedrooms. This is kind of a challenge with wi-fi and all sorts of wireless handhelds available. Maybe opt to not have wireless devices.

2. Purchase and use internet filter software. Check out some comparisons and buy the one that best suits your needs:

http://internet-filter-review.toptenreviews.com/

http://www.child-internet-safety.com/internet_filters.php

There are so many wonderful features with the filters--many of them allow you to set up how sensitive you want alerts and filters to be--many, many options--it's awesome.

3. Be in the room when your a family member has to use the internet. Instruct them to never download anything from unknown or questionable sources, never give out ANY personal information, discourage chat rooms, bookmark sites so as not to have to search for them, not to use free peer-to-peer or chat-based programs to download material, and to use credible search engines.

4. Teach family members to have the courage to turn things off, as there are always ways to bypass filtering or sometimes something sneaks past the filter. By definition, pornography is any visual or written medium created with the intent to sexually stimulate. Teach yourself and family members, "If it turns you on--turn it off--IMMEDIATELY!" An educated man once noted that all males are addicted to pornography without even having to view it. Yes, males are very visual, but female viewing of pornography is also on the rise. The following link lists some alarming statistics: http://internet-filter-review.toptenreviews.com/internet-pornography-statistics.html

5. Finally, practice these tips yourself!! While blogs are all the rage consider making yours password-protected. I've seen some blogs where people list their addresses and schools that their children attend--not a safe move, parents! (Even pictures of your child in front of their school are unwise). If you do not wish to make your blog private than at least refer to your family members by made-up names, "Handsome hubby," "Princess #1," "Superkid," etc....

My intention is not to scare you, but to help you protect your family. It's up to you!

H is for Housework

2008-09-24T16:49:00.000-07:00

Joy of joys--housework!! I used to hate some aspects of it, especially the little chores that constantly need to be redone. For me, especially, it was cleaning up the area wherever the youngest child ate. Kids eat 4 or 5 times a day. At one point I noticed that I was almost holding a grudge against the youngest child for the messes that they unknowingly were creating. I came to grips with myself and after some serious pondering, decided that this was the stage of my life, cleaning up after babies--might as well do it with a smile. It sounds cheesy, but really, it was my change in attitude that made the difference.

I have always loved having a clean house. And I have always loved delegating. The two work together in housework.

First off, parents of little ones: notice how your baby or toddler will sometimes try to do a chore with you. While you may be annoyed at their desire to take out all the spoons from the dishwasher, realize that they are trying to help--Let them! We have children's size brooms, dustpans, pretend vacuum cleaners, etc. And all kids love feather dusters. From my experience, two-year-olds can learn to fold washcloths and match socks.

Older children, even those who "helped" with the chores when they were toddlers, get to a point where they don't want to do chores. I suggest a chore chart for each child with their daily tasks listed so they can have a way to check them off. Allowance, based on doing chores, is perfect for teaching cause and effect. And, of course, every wise parent knows that making the task a game helps tremendously. Here are some of my favorites:

1. Beat the timer: Set the timer--whatever toys/objects are not put away before it beeps are gone for a day/week, however long you think is fair.

2. Toy card game: Cut index cards in half. Write a different adjective, that describe toys, on one side and draw a simple picture representing that adjective. For instance, "red" and color a little spot of red on the card, or "toys with numbers" and draw numbers. Even young children, who can't read yet, understand the simple pictures. Make several different cards. Put them in an envelope. When it's time to clean up, each child takes a card, cleans up all the toys that fit that adjective, and then choose another, etc.

3. Clean up to music--singing or listening: Barney's "Clean-Up Song" while annoying, really works for little kids! http://www.ilovewavs.com/TV/ChilShow/Barney/Barney.htm (scroll down to "Barney-Clean up" and click on it).

4. Practice counting by having them count how many toys they pick up. Maybe even have them estimate beforehand how many toys they think need to be put away.

I have redone chore charts over the years, since their availability and abilities have changed throughout childhood. But, even a busy teenager, involved in everything under the sun, needs to learn the value of work and contributing in the home. By the time I was 15 I was prepping and cooking dinner every Sunday--since that was the only evening I was home and my mom wasn't going to let me have a free ride throughout my teenage years--and bless her for that!!

Now, don't think I sit back taking advantage of child labor or anything. I have a simple chore chart for myself and here it is, in case you're wondering or in case you need one yourself:

This chore chart works for me because I only spend about 10-30 minutes doing these things each day. This helps me not to procrastinate and then have one day when I'm just running around trying to clean up everything--yuck! Also, it keeps the house pretty clean, you know, not just picked up, but actually clean. Aww.... *sigh*

Anyway, remember, delegate, keep smiling and maybe "whistle while you work!"

G is for Gossip....

2008-08-28T14:20:00.000-07:00

Nothing like a juicy piece of gossip, eh? Yeah, but that doesn't mean it's right.

One of my favorite games when I was a little kid was telephone. Everyone sits in a circle or in a line and the first person whispers a message into the ear of the person sitting next to them. The message is then similarly passed along 'til it reaches the final participant. You can only say the message once to your neighbor. It was always a riot to hear what crazy words came out at the end.

Well, that's how I feel gossip is too! The story gets changed, twisted and tweaked a little here and there until it is completely off from the truth (or from the original rumor).

One time, in college, I ran into a guy that had been in a lower budget film. I had had a crush on him a few years before that. You can imagine my surprise on running into him, finding out it was his hometown. I told a few friends and family of my surprise run-in. I still had a bit of a crush on him so I was talking to a friend of a friend about setting us up (he knew the guy, personally). This, too, was being reported to my relatives and friends back in my home state.

Well, midterms hit about then and I got busy and also got over that teen crush of mine and therefore the set-up never took place. A few weeks later I ran into a gal from my home town, who heard from her mother, who heard from a friend, who heard from etc... that I was ENGAGED to that guy. HELLO!?!?!?! Well that gossip definitely was twisted and tweaked, at warp speed, apparently!

I find it best to not repeat anything until I have talked to person who is the subject of the gossip. (Even if the gossip nice, don't spread it unless you heard it from the horse's mouth and they want it spread). (Yeah, and how often is gossip nice?!) Yes, be a truth-seeker, friends, not a mudslinger!!

F is for FANATICS (and Fantasies)

2008-08-15T17:34:00.000-07:00

Oh, how I love the Olympics! I am truly a fan of this mecca of sporting events. All the talk about Dara Torres and her age has really gotten me motivated. I hope that there never was nor never will be any performance-enhancing substances discovered. That would be sad. Okay, so, assuming she is clean (which is my hope!) aren't you just so excited about a 41-year-old competing in such a demanding sport as swimming? WOW!

One of my life-long dreams, since I was little, has been to compete in the Olympics. I played sports almost non-stop as a youth, and I've tried to stick with it in between pregnancies over the years. I had a few offers to play for some little colleges, but turned them all down to attend a larger school. My only regret was that I never tried out for their volleyball team.

My brother-in-law has been telling me I should shoot for 2012. Maybe I will, maybe I won't. No one has seem surprised when I mention this. So, aside from that....

I thought it would be nice to know-- assuming you are stellar-- what Summer Olympic sport would you love to be a competitor in and why? Post your comments now! I'm curious.

E is for Election

2008-08-09T08:39:00.000-07:00

This blog only gets updated every week or so and so I knew that alphabetically I wouldn't be at "V" by the time November came around....

So, it's up to you to do your homework and find out which candidates you support most. And be aware of the issues you will be voting for and take a stand. We live in a democracy, ain't it great? Take advantage of it!

And while you are comtemplating and in deep thought, here's a little video to help you not stress out: http://sendables.jibjab.com/sendables/1191/time_for_some_campaignin

D is for Desserts

2008-08-04T11:02:00.000-07:00

With the growing problem of obesity rates in the USA, I was really debating if I wanted to post this. Desserts are delicious. Desserts are decadent. Desserts are delectable. AND, desserts can make you fatter. So, be wise. There are countless articles about eating healthy and exercising so I don't need to preach to you; we'll save that for the results of your Google searches.

I try to be smart about eating and exercising. I do not have Obesophobia (fear of gaining weight) as in I'm not constantly obsessing about my weight. But, I try to be very in tune with my body and when it's had too much to eat or foods that are really rich, I am aware of and HATE that sluggish feeling. I limit my dessert intake to Friday nights and a small morsel on occasional Sunday evenings. Call me crazy, but I like dessert to be something special so I don't eat it every day.

I've listed below four of my favorite recipes, but before you read them I have to say a few things:

Desserts are fun to share. Everyone can enjoy the sweetness. If you are the recipient of an abundance of desserts, like when all the women on diets at my husband's office gave him all the Christmas treats they had received that season because they thought that since we had four children we must eat desserts all the time and I hate to waste food, the freezer is your friend! Cookies and cakes and cheesecakes freeze quite well. Frosting may come out a bit weird-looking but the treats will taste fine!!
I like to use unusual ingredients in my recipes some times, as you'll see in the first recipe.

With regards to the title of the second recipe, I have not actually found any food that I consider to be "Better than Six," but that's the title it was given so I'm keeping it.

I try to cook from scratch whenever possible. Convenience items are also conveniently laced with chemicals. I do use "Cool Whip" sometimes, as listed below, an exception to my rule.

So sorry that I didn't include pictures. I don't have the energy to make four desserts just for the sake of having pictures. Maybe if I was getting paid....

Now on to the recipes!! (Right click, save 'em to your desktop, then print whenever).

Yummy, chocolate...

I like this refreshing dessert in the summertime...

And this one in the fall...

And these make the house smell heavenly....
Bon appetit!