Sad.

Probably not the post you want to read about... but this is what I'm thinking about. 

Sad. Why? 

A friends son was shot in the head and she found him on her front door step several hours after he had been laying there. 

And after being in surgery, found out that he probably wouldn't survive. 

He passed away yesterday (May 17th).  And they have donated his organs. 

I can't even imagine how I would be dealing with this, and wish to let her know that I love her, and pray that she might feel some comfort right now.  What a hard time. 

And to think this happened only a few blocks from my house.  And I was in that very spot just hours before the this took place. 

I can't believe what goes through anyone's mind to be such a coward and not show their face or own up to what has happened.  I hope that the person responsible is caught and dealt with justly. 

I am glad to know that I can help this family out in the coming days as funeral arrangements are made and that maybe by doing this service, she might know of my love for her. 

Even though this son was 32, I am still thinking of holding on tight to my own children.  Because we really never know how long any one really does have here on Earth. 

What I've been up to lately...

I've just been dealing with sick kids on and off for the last 4 weeks!! YES, it stinks. But now I think we're over the keeping kids home because of sickness phase. They were all at school yesterday for the WHOLE DAY and to me that is a huge milestone after having one or more home just about every day for the last three weeks.

Lately I've been pretty tired, because I haven't been sleeping well at night. And yesterday was a day to get a nice MORNING NAP in. My boys just watched movies, or played on pbskids.org or they ended up in the room just playing with their toys. They didn't make a mess, they weren't loud ...to the point of not letting me get to sleep. It was perfect!! I couldn't ask for two better boys!!

And I wasn't feeling well last evening, and Chris sent me to the bedroom early so that I could rest and not have to do the regular duties in the evening. And let me tell you... it was NICE!! Thanks honey!!

The last of the regular season basketball games is set for tonight at our school. I'm getting quite excited to see an end in sight now. I've had fun, but I'm slightly burned out on basketball. So it'll be nice in a few weeks to have my afternoons back. And I'm sure the kids will like that too! That I'm home and not gone till dinner time every afternoon.

So I haven't disappeared I just have been busy dealing with kids not feeling well, and I was sick for a week as well. And while Heidi was home sick she lost two of her teeth that were lose. So now she's up to 3 that she has lost.

Crazy deal is her adult tooth was already growing in where one of the baby teeth was at. It was wiggly for A LONG WHILE, but she just never worked on it to get it out. SO I had to pull that one out for her like I did on the first one. With the second tooth she lost in the last week, she was messing with her tooth and she got all surprised because it just came out!! I'm glad she had a painless experience with that one.

We just recently bought an external hard drive, and now I'm excited to clear up space on my computer's hard drive so I can get going on creating scrapbook pages again, and get going on creating the yearbook too! I know.. call me crazy!! I'm used to it.

This is what I've been up to the last little bit, boring, but a record for me to remember.

I spent some time at the POLICE DEPARTMENT

Okay so the other night I went to the local police department so I could get fingerprinted. Why? Well, I volunteer as a basketball coach for the girls in 7th and 8th grades. I really should have done this back when I was doing volleyball, but no one thought about it, and so consequentially I didn't know that I should either.

Well, I've known about this for a few weeks, but couldn't fit it in before Thanksgiving so I went down this last Monday night. Oh my gosh!

It was so crazy. There was this incredibly small cubicle of a waiting room, where seriously no "smells" escaped going noticed by anyone. And if speaking loudly there wasn't any chance on having a private conversation. 

There were about 6 or 7 chairs set up and all were taken by the time I walked in just a minute or two past the start time. So I checked in by signing the paper and paid the fee (by the way the school paid for this). I then waited while standing for some time.

I overheard several conversations some of which were completely a waste of my time. But what did it really matter because I had to wait already. But some of the stuff I heard went something like this...

Person A: Yeah, I have to get this done or I have to go to jail. But, I'm fine with doing the jail time, I just don't want to be gone during Christmas. So if they wait till January I'm okay with it.

A little later, Person A was called to the service window, and was asked to show her papers. She was there because of a court order.

Person A : I don't have that paper with me. I left it at home, because I couldn't find it. But I have to do this or my PO (parole officer) is sending me to jail. And I have A LOT of court papers at home and don't know where THIS one is. (Seriously what kind of history does this lady have?? Yikes)

Person B comes up to the window and says, can't you just copy the back of this, it's the same judge.

And a worker behind the desk speaks up and says, NO, that's called FRAUD.  And then person A speaks up, " Yeah I don't need anymore of those charges, I've got plenty."   And after this was said, and everyone could hear it, you could hear some stifled laughs. 

A little while later a man walked in and was very "homely" looking and smelled BAD!! Such as just smoked something that was nasty in smell, which was inducing the gag reflex in me, because it smelled so bad.  And remember this waiting area was like a 12 x 3 foot area.  It was rather rank at this time.  So I stepped out into the open foyer and got some fresh air.  But I wasn't the only one, and started conversing with this other couple that had gone out for fresh air as well.  We decided they should hold different nights and or days for those who are doing this for a job and those that are court ordered. Or rather, have a "non-smoking" and "smoking" locations.   Just saying. 


After a while longer I went back in, and by now, a few people have already been called back and some chairs were freed up, so I took one.  Should have brought a book with me, but I didn't think it would take so long to go though this process. Oh well, guess I know for next time.


Another couple of people came in, and I couldn't quite tell how the this lady knew or was related to the young man that she came in with, who was there to get fingerprinted.  Sometimes it seemed as if she was his mom, but I quickly ruled that out as she kept asking how his mom was?   hmmm.... maybe she was a step mom?? No, probably not.  An Aunt?? Maybe.   I don't know I never figured it out.  But this kid, was probably 19 or 20 and seem to have problems owing money somewhere, and had to appear in court for a traffic violation of some sort.  Not exactly sure. But this kid acted like he KNEW everything.  Yeah, you know the kind. Talk as if they are experts on everything and everyone.  He is a basketball player, but not currently on a team. He's hoping to play for Dixie next year.  And he was asked about certain girls that he knew and told what he thought.  And blah blah blah.... I was getting slightly annoyed with this kid and his way of thinking.  Along with the other people that just didn't seem to "have it together". Or lacked some major common sense. 

So next time I find myself in this situation... A) bring a book.  B) Bring the ipod C) Bring pen and paper and take notes on the "funny dumb" things these people say, and then create a book from it. Simply for the entertainment purposes of other people.   And no worries names will be changed to protect the innocent... oh wait.... guess I don't need to worry about that. 

But seriously, I have a knack for people watching and observing.  So don't think I'm stalking you if you see me quiet in a room and not really talking.  Because I can guarantee you that observing you won't last beyond this one visit,  unless we happen to run into each other again.  And then just know I'm taking notes on just what you are saying that I find quite funny.  And if you are lucky, if it is funny, you might get a laugh out of me. And then you'll know I was watching you.  Bwahahaha...

And next time I am in this situation .... I think I need a candle just to smell so I can rid my nostrils and memory of such foul odors as a nasty "cigarette' smell, or someone's B.O. who just got released from Jail. 

Oh my... sometimes I wish I could find out why and how a person's thinking takes place.

**please note, I don't say this stuff to make it seem like I am PERFECT.  Because I'm not, at least I'm not all the time.  

A brief history of high school.

SORRY IT'S a long one!!! 

NO PICTURES THIS TIME.

I came across a friend's blog today that triggered some of my own thoughts on high school.

It seems forever ago now, that I attended high school, but really it wasn't all that long ago.

You have to understand a few things here, I lived in Trona, California --- yeah go look that up see what you find. It is a podunk little desert town. With a "plant" as the main source of employment. They mine stuff from a dry lake bed, and la de da da.

The high school was SMALL. At least it's small compared to the high schools my kids will end up going to in a few more years.

I got teased in elementary because my parents kept having kids, and since I had a large family I got really teased. I just ignored it as best as I could.

I was the only member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints my age that was active in the church. There were others that participated here and there with coming to activities and doing other things like that. That isn't the point here, well a little bit it is, but I was fortunate enough to get involved with high school sports. It actually started with 7th and 8th grade. I was hooked!!

By 9th grade I was moved up to Varsity level and bypassed the JV level. I did have some great 'friendships' that started because of sports, and after the sports the friendships kind of died off. I had FUN playing on the teams I was a part of. Yeah, I wasn't perfect, and I wasn't the best, but I gave my all and worked really hard. I played Volleyball (7-12); Basketball (7-12); Softball (9-11); Cheer-leading 10-11 ( I know who would have thought me to be the cheerleader type)

Now, you could say I belonged to the "jock" group at school, but really I belonged to more than just that. I was also academically gifted and had practically straight A's. When I graduated I was #2 in my class. (Well actually I tied with another student) So I could have been classified as a NERD as well. And mostly I got along with those you would consider nerds. So I belonged to the "jocks", the "mormons", "nerd", "poor" (maybe no-one else really thought that but I did)

I was so surprised to find out every now and then that RUMORS, Nasty rumors were started about me. Like I was engaged in "sexual" activities over the weekend and such. Those rumors hurt and they hurt bad!!! I cried several times after hearing such things.

It really was quite sad to find people felt so bad about themselves they had to get creative and make something up to "RUIN" someone else.

I enjoyed most of my classes, but not necessarily everyone that was in them. There were "cheaters" and "liars" in some of my classes, but somehow they always got away with it. Don't ask me how, because I don't know. This made me feel pretty upset because I was always honest, never cheated, and worked hard for my grades. Whereas these others (not mentioning names) would just gab the copy of the test answers conveniently left out and write down what they wanted to know, and pass it around the whole class. I was devastated. I never touched the paper, for fear of being guilty just touching it. Plus I never wanted to condone such behavior and allow someone else to copy too.

I always got made fun of and told I was the "teacher's pet". Because I was a good two shoe!! Well, that was fine with me. I knew I was doing what was right.

I went through a phase in my sophomore year where I practiced "swearing". Call this my rebellious phase if you will. I thought I needed to talk like that in order to "FIT" in with the other girls on the team. It lasted a few months, and I felt horrible talking like that. So to those of you that heard me talk like that I APOLOGIZE for using such language. It wasn't right on my part, and to this day I still don't talk using those words. (Mostly)

If it wasn't for the high school sports and weekly attendance at the football games I think I would have died!! I didn't go and party on the weekends, because there was drinking and other such activities going on that I didn't want to participate in. I did feel left out now and again, but I'd never go back and just give in to the peer pressure.

I also didn't have the best home life either. We were a large family, not much money but enough for our needs. We lived in a small house, and I never had name brand clothes. In fact I finally owned my first pair of jeans in 7th grade and those were given to me. Crazy, I know.

I did have my "first" kiss while in high school. I had a boyfriend or two...but all of which I would probably never want to repeat. I wasn't ever on any of the "royalty" courts because I wasn't popular and never felt like I was that pretty either. But a lot of my friends did, and I was happy for them. Actually I'm kind of glad it wasn't ever me.

I am glad however that I made a lot of friends in the neighboring town that were members of the same church but attended in a different building. I had some great friends there!! And still keep in touch now. It's great.

I had a few jobs through high school, which would limit how many sports I could play in my Senior year. But I learned lessons then that totally helped me become who I am now.

Would I ever want to go back and do it again?? Probably not. Although the sports part was fun, and the good grades helped, the people there were just on a different life path then myself. We probably don't have much in common anymore, other than maybe having kids and talking about that. Otherwise, I don't know what we'd talk about.

Now college... well that is a WHOLE different and BETTER story. More on that later.

It's fun now, to check in on those I knew back then and see where life has taken them. But honestly, I do wish them well, and don't want to treat them the way I was treated, but really life is so much better for me now, with the wonderful people in my life that I don't want to go back and relive high school.

A word on Time.

Have you ever had those days.
You know the ones. YEah those.

Where you wish you could slow down,
have a little more time.

Well, that happened to me today.
BUT, the difference, I really did
get time to "STOP" really. I did.

So, you would have thought I'd have
gotten a lot done today with my EXTRA
time. Only I didn't. I don't think I did
a darn thing today. Kind of a lazy day.

That isn't to say that I don't have LOTS
I could have done. But I didn't.

When time caught up with me, and I thought it was
only 11:40am... it was really 1: 20pm. OOPS...

Chris caught that the time stopped, and you'd think
that I ...Yes, I, would have noticed something,
after I looked at the clock at least three times in about
a 45 minute period that the clock never moved.

Oh my gosh... I lost a lot of my day when I thought I
still had a lot of it left!!!

Note to self...school is starting soon, check all clocks
for accuracy, and replace batteries.

My trip in hind view...

I know it's been a few days since I've posted, and that would be because we're on our "vacation" this year in good ole TRONA, CA. Okay, not that it's that great here, but this is where I grew up and just happens to be the dwelling place of my parents and most of my siblings. It's almost been a bit of a family reunion, except that one sister isn't here and is in Utah instead.

We've been here since June 5th, and the temps are excruciatingly HOT!! Something I did not like very much when I was younger but somehow survived it long enough to move away from.

Here's a synopsis of the trip so far.

• Thomas takes this trip to learn to "Be a MAN", meaning stopping on the side of the road to stand and pee behind a bush. 
• But only after he started to wet his pants in the car.  And this happening not too long after we started traveling. 
• Got to attend a baby blessing for my niece, and the kids went swimming the same day. (Come on, it's vacation 100 plus temps... it was HOT,  it was at the home of the person hosting the get together, and it was so inviting. So the kids were in the water not ME!!) 
• I had my first LARGE group photo shoot on Monday the 7th.  Prayed for clouds, I got them. But I also got WIND, which I didn't pray for. 
• While I was at the photo shoot 30minutes away. Kaylee was at Grandma and Grandpa's house with her dad and everyone else, and managed to take a chunk out of her foot with an exercise bike.  YUCK is all I'm going to say.
• Tuesday... I walked 2.7 miles, cleaned out my van, vacuumed it and then drove the 30 minutes to Ridgecrest, to have my sisters nurse friend take a look at Kaylee's injury. It was cleaned, and suture stripes were applied, and it was rewrapped with an ace bandage.  Great no beach swimming for her.
• Wednesday -- 4 car caravan, turned a 3 and half hour trip into 5 hours, and joined a fifth car in Oxnard, Ca at Hometown Buffet for lunch paid for by my parents.  (That's a lot of people)
• After dinner we turned into a 5 car caravan for a 30 minute drive up to Carpenteria State Beach Park for some fun in the sun.  People getting wet, and falling down, tide moving in, and things getting wet.  It was LOTS of fun!!
• Thursday... we're all tired, and having a nice lazy day.  And I'm feeling the itch to go back home to Utah.   It's pretty up there!! 
• Friday... will be our last day here... what to do?? 
• Saturday ... our drive home with a few planned stops in Vegas, and Mesquite (Are you ready for that Cluttered Brain??)

I can go into more details that make these short synopsis more funny and will probably answer a lot of questions. But those stories will come, after I return home.  (Thank goodness my parents have internet at least or I'd be going crazy!!)
And Pictures will have to wait till I'm home as well. It's not working on this computer.  

A few things I don't want to forget....

A few things I don't want to forget.... so forgive me while I expand my thoughts.

On Ethan's 3rd birthday --- Thomas came up and asked his Dad to take the training wheels of his bike.  Dad did so, and then on his first go of it with a little help getting on from his Dad, Thomas never fell and balanced on his bike just fine.  And before yesterday was over (since that was Ethan's 3rd birthday) he can get on his bike by himself, and start going.  He was so great at it, and such a natural. And to think I almost missed watching his first time trying.  Luckily I didn't though!! 

Ethan is now 3 and seems to be such a big kid now, but he still seems so little.  Now if we can just get him to fall asleep in his room, on his bed and stay there every night, all night long.... well then we'd be going to a HAPPY place.  Or at least I would because, as it is... I have sleep problems.   If you can put two and two together you can probably figure it out.  And yes, I've heard lock him in his room, and other such things but this is where ... the hubs and I don't see eye to eye.  I'd be perfectly okay with it, but he isn't .  Sometimes, I actually just sit outside his door holding the door knob while reading a book with background noises of a preschooler screaming, and the occasional body slam against the door quickly followed by the falling to the floor.  With constant repeats of " Let me out of here"  "I'm just Ethan" and other such phrases.   But I love him anyways, because really he does LOVE to cuddle and snuggle, and sometimes (like when I don't have any other pressing matters at hand that need to be taken care of) I love that cuddle/snuggle time.  And if he is to be out last, I don't really want to "WISH" these moments and times away thinking he needs to be sleeping in his bed, which he does, but really is it going to kill me to spend a little more time holding and cuddling my baby?  Probably not.  So Ethan... if you are reading this just know that yes, you were difficult when it came to sleeping at night and all things pertaining to getting to such a state.  But also know, that I love you very much, and wouldn't trade you for anything.  And as you always say..." I love you, more than chocolate!!"   You really are a sweet, caring and understanding boy... well maybe not so much understanding but you do like to make me laugh and that is always a good thing.  

Update.

No worries we are still alive and doing well here. I've just gotten a little preoccupied with doing Mommy/Wife stuff, that I just haven't had time lately to update. But seeing how this week I'm supposed to teach a class on "digi scrapping" I'm hoping to update a few more events since this year has started.

I've also been busy with the school yearbook, and going to various places, mostly school activities, to get pictures for that. So the next month or so I'll be extremely busy getting that under way and completed. Luckily the first half is pretty much done, but I still have to get going big time on the other half.

We bought a membership to the Rec Center and have been going swimming the last two Saturdays and the kids have loved it. I have to admit that I kind of like it too. Chris hasn't gotten in the last two times, but he has been there just up in the observation area reading the Ensign. So he helps with the boys when they get done in the pool and changes their clothes in the locker room.

We've been trying to discuss ideas for paint colors, and new redecorating themes, well not so much themes, but ways to change up our rooms to make them look more "fancy". But getting fancy in an older house, that isn't quite up to date can be really hard. We're hoping in the next two years that we can be in a position to be out of debt and ready to buy a newer, bigger home just in time for the wonderful teenage years. Since we'll have our oldest daughter turning 13 in two years.

My how time goes by, and if I don't sit and really enjoy the moment that I'm in, my life is going to just fly on by and then I'll wake up wondering what happened to those years, and not really knowing. So I'm trying to savor the moments I have with my kids, and really try and appreciate their goofiness, and craziness because when it all comes down to it, those are the things that really matter, right?

So more digi pages to come later this week, I hope, I really enjoy scrapbooking this way, now I just need to figure out how to get them into a print form for generations to come.

Monday Mingle

Today I've decided to join in with Eighty MPH MOM and do Monday Mingle with her, and all the other lovely participants!! Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving, and now bring on Christmas!!!



Stay tuned next week, as I answer more questions and allow you to get to know me better.

Suggestions, and comments are always WELCOMED!!!

Mission: T.U.R.K.E.Y D.A.Y

Thanksgiving was pretty low key this year. We decided to have my husband's sister and her family over for Thanksgiving at the last minute, like the day before, but had such a fun time hanging out with them!! We had lots of food, followed by LOTS of pie!!!

My brother in law happens to own a bakery in Springville, near THE WALMART (said like Jeff Foxworthy). And so they brought over some pies that weren't picked up by someone that had ordered them, and hadn't paid either. So we had lots of PIE and TONS of rolls. Because not only did I make my own rolls they brought two dozen rolls from the bakery!!

They left all the pies with us, which are tasty and great to eat, and very unexpected. Thanks you two!!!

But I also had my children help with the meal this year, and really put a lot less stress on me, with my husband helping out too!! Yes, he's good in the kitchen. Especially chopping or cutting things.

Nice tasty Pig that some refer to as a HAM, and some type of bird that I'm told is a turkey. We had some pot's of the smashed kind with some liquidy mess to pour over the top. Add to that some parts from a chicken that have been deviled. Forgot to have any vegitables, but claim that our cooked on the stove goop used to stuff a bird, had celery and onions ... so we called it good. Although we don't stuff the bird, because he really can't eat cause he's already dead. So we thought we might like it more eating it ourselves. We also had some fizzy type of cold liquid colored with berries of the straw kind and chunks of ice plus the cream. The kids like that seeing how they gobbled it up with a few trips to the dipping pool. We followed the scrumptious meal that was fixed by some mouth watering (but not literally) PIE. Why on earth is it called pie though?? I'm not quite sure of that. But needless to say we had several cream varieties... banana, lemon, coconut, and triple berry (although my gang thinks that not very tasty), and Pumpkin, and Apple....served with some ice cold creamy concoction called Homemade Vanilla that isn't actually homemade. All in all we had a great time. The conversating was happening with ease, and seemed to meander through all subject matters. And the cleaning of the mess, well it didn't take long to clean her up.

Hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving... and next time... I'll talk about my experiences with Black Friday this year... because I don't normally participate, but I did this year... and now to tell you what my regrets are, and if it was really worth it. (Well that may never be known, but the rest I can relay another time..)

This day was really low key only because my family isn't close by, and the few we invited couldn't afford the gas to drive down here, and we had a HUGE early Thanksgiving dinner with my husband's side a few weeks ago, and that side wasn't doing a huge get together on Thanksgiving day. But it's always nice to have someone over even if it is something thought of last minute.

PS... the HAM was a HIT!!! So now I think we'll do a Ham for Christmas too!!!

On This our Day of Thanksgiving, give I this thanks...

Okay so technically it's now Thursday November 26th, 2009!!! I'm writing this a little too late at night, or way TOO early in the morning. Take your pick. Needless to say, I've had a bout of back pain, and a headache, that make it a little difficult to get to sleep. So I thought I'd take the chance now, and update my blog, seeing how on Thanksgiving Day I will be a busy MAMA!!

This year I might seem to be getting a little sentimental, but these are my thoughts, and feelings, and I want them down for my posterity. And for the rest of my family too!!

A lot has gone on this year, but at the same time, I've managed to recognize a lot of blessings that have come into my life that I'm incredibly grateful for.

In the last few years I've done an ABC Thanksgiving list type of thing but this year there are a few events that I want to express that make me very Thankful. It might seem weird the way in which I recognize the blessings, but I have been on a journey lately where finding the little blessings in every situation really helps keep me focused when BIG and TRAUMATIC events take place and I feel like I'm at the end of my rope. (If you don't want to read on, I don't blame you, but then again, you might be blessed in a way you never thought possible if you read on!!)

I'm thankful this year for my husband having been put on reduced hours at the beginning of the year. Not any one's normal thing they are grateful for, because that means a reduction in hours to work which also means less money. All of which we experienced but, one day earlier this year he had one such day off and we decided to stumble into the local D.I. (Deseret Industries) which happens to be a thrift store, and we found our next table!!! We got a very nice looking, real wood table that will seat our whole family of seven and then some!!! It was such a blessing, since we were elbow to elbow on the old one, and have the chance to have our Thanksgiving dinner served on this table that has been a great addition to our home this year.

On the other hand I'm thankful that my husband ended up getting the flu back in October and happened to miss work yet again for a few days because of the sickness. Again we didn't get all of our hours, but he did manage to still get his work done, and used some personal time so we could still get money in our paycheck. But at the same time, within a few weeks or less of this illness, he was talked to by his boss, and given back ALL of his work hours. So now we have a full paycheck, and not a minute to late either!!! Thanks Solution Services!!!

I'm thankful for a ROCK!!! And not just any rock, but the one that caused us to have a flat tire just two feet from the driveway of my Uncle's house. Read that story here.
That rock just may have saved our life, and allowed me to spend my Mother's Day on a beach in California watching the sunset and witnessing the beauty that I don't get to see while living in Utah.

I'm thankful for my friends!!! I have quite a few that are dear and near to me, and set great examples, and really help motivate me to be better, and be the kind of WOMAN that I KNOW I can be. I'm not naming any names, but you ALL know who you are!!! Thanks everyone!!! I consider my friends pretty much my sisters!!! I can talk with them just about anything, and when I need a shoulder to cry on, I have one. If I just need to VENT, I get to. They are great people in my life.

I'm thankful for my family!!! The one that I have right now, and the one that I married into and certainly for the one I grew up with. Being the oldest of 8 kids, I was in my Senior year of high school when my youngest sister started Kindergarten. So I missed a lot of their years going through school, and playing sports, and couldn't be there for them to come and talk to when they may have needed the older sister type of moment. (Although I never had an older sibling period) But as I heard the troubles they went through, and some that are still going on, it breaks my heart, but the most that I can do now is to pray that everything will turn out in the end. We were all in the same place this last May as my grandfather passed away. And it was FUN, to see everyone come together, despite all the CHAOS, and noisy, messy kids everywhere.

My extended family ROCKS!!!! We haven't all been too close in recent years, well at least the communication between me and them was very minimal until just recently. And I'm glad that I have them in my life on a nearly daily basis now. Cousins, aunts, uncles --- EVERYONE!!!
So many different talents are shared in the family it's just great!!

I'm thankful for this computer I'm on, even if it's a dinosaur!! I've become quite fond of this machine, and am every grateful for the minds behind the inventions to come this far in the world.

I'm thankful that I have my sight so that I can see my beautiful children, and their wonderful creative pictures they draw just for ME!!! I'm grateful for my hearing, so that I can hear their giggles, and be able to hear their crazy jokes, and ideas of how things are. I'm grateful that I can READ!!! I love reading, and books are my best friends!!! Well, not really but they are up there high on the list. I'm grateful that I can touch my children, and be able to hold my husbands hand. And that I get to KISS him, and feel the kisses back!!! I love you sweets!!!


I'm thankful for the GOSPEL Of JESUS CHRIST!!!! I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and it's a belief of ours that Families can be together FOREVER. Only through being sealed to our spouse in the Temple of the Lord and only by someone who holds the priesthood authority to perform that special and sacred ordinance!!! I'm glad that I can be with my family if I live a life of keeping the commandments and being the best I can be!!

I'm thankful for modern medicine, and the help I've gotten to heal my children of their illnesses and broken things through out their lives.

And there are lots of other things I'm thankful for, but this is already a novel.. (I wonder what the word count is??? hmmm. Hold on a minute .... 1186 so far)
But the last thing I'm thankful for is CHOCOLATE followed by working out!!! Because as long as I work out after I consume it, then I can certainly indulge in it. Don't you agree!!

Hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving!!! Don't forget to count your blessings, and tell your family members that you Love them, because hopefully you do!!!

Signing off....

It's been one week now, since my daughter had her tonsils taken out. She's been camped out on the living room couch, seeing how where she sleeps normally is the top bunk in her room, we thought it'd be easier for her to just sleep in here, and if I needed to help her out with something it is completely easier to do from the couch, rather than up on her top bunk.

She still hasn't gone back to school yet, and hopefully tomorrow she will be able to go, and do just fine. I feel bad though, because she has been a participant as a cheerleader with the school, and their last performance is tonight, and she probably won't be able to join in. :( But our other daughter will, and we'll all be there to watch her at least.

Sleeping Beauty has really been living up to her name this last week, because she's been sleeping till 10 or 11 in the AM most days, and I'm not feeling the need to wake her from her slumbering sleep, because I know that is exactly when the body is able to heal itself the most, is during sleep. Plus she looks so darn cute while she's asleep it's hard for me not to just sit and watch her. But don't get me wrong here, this isn't the only thing she's been doing. She's been eating popsicles like they are going out of style and no longer going to be made. And the funny thing is she isn't too LAZY to go and get her own "food" that she eats on, but something tells me there is a problem in her laziness when it comes to taking her "trash" or dishes back to the kitchen. So she has a bowl that has three popsicle's worth of sticks and wrappers, and partially melted liquid from the once frozen treats. And has managed to spill quite a few times on my couch. So tomorrow, when she's done being on my couch, I'm stripping the fabric off and throwing it in the wash .... because I can do that!! Then they will be clean once again!! Yeah.

She's been so quiet and now, we can start to see the "drama queen" coming back to life, because when we mentioned she needed to sleep in her bed, she pushed the "I'm in pain, and start to tear up" button and right on cue... she had tears coming down her face, and holding her throat area or rather pointing to it. She's taken on a time of limited talking and thinks now that she doesn't need to talk at all. WRONG !!! You have to talk, and you can start talking again. Just no yelling.

It is rather fun, to have her company her during the day, and getting such random hugs for no reason at all!! Totally not her. Or at least the old her, who knows, maybe there really is something to the whole growing up and maturing and maybe there really is hope that she'll be a helpful contributing citizen when she is grown.

Last night after dinner she managed to tell me this: " I don't' know what it is, but whenever the TV is on I don't have a headache, but when you and dad are talking I get a headache."

WHAT?? I think it's just her way of saying SHUT UP YOU CRAZY PEOPLE, and let me watch this show.

She's a total TV nut, and I have to admit that I don't quite limit it all that much during the colder months, so she gets like a lot of hours of screen time in, but I have told her to work on her homework now, so that she can try and catch up sooner rather than later, but it might not be till after Thanksgiving before she's all caught up!!

I've been such a terrible night owl this week, but I think it has something to do with a certain book I've been sucked into reading, and totally LOVE IT!!! But I really either A) need to finish the book, and then use tomorrow as my CLEAN THE HOUSE day, since I've basically done NOTHING for the last two because I've been reading this book. I've managed to keep the dishes washed up, and clean up the living room floor, but I have a LOT of LAUNDRY AGAIN, that needs to be folded and put away. AGHH. Or B) Ignore that I have anything to do at all, and just don't care. (But I think that kind of just sounds like option A.) or C) Put the book down and never look at it again. BUT ... I'm not going to do that, so I guess I'll just have to bear with one more day of not getting A LOT done, and then I can take a break from reading for a day, and then start in with the next book I already have, and by the time I finish this one, hopefully a book or two I have on hold at the local library is ready for a round.

I'm just kind of frustrated, that I spend lots of time on cleaning up a room, and just within an hour or less looks like I've done nothing all day. I just can't help but wonder, when the kids are all grown, if the house will remain in tact for more than an hour. And really right now, it's only one room that remains in tact, and the others are all drowning in a mess of JUNK. So I can only hope that when the wee ones aren't so wee anymore, that my home will look more inviting to those who don't visit now, so that in the future I'll get more visitors!! Yeah, I pretty much like people stopping in and saying Hi to me, but don't get much of that at ALL!!! It seems as if I have to go other places just to visit, but oh well.

I have good friends, and great family, and enjoy being with all of them. And this year as Thanksgiving approaches, I've been thinking more and more on the whole concept of family and really like how family can pull together when help is needed, or hard times come, and members of such families, often lend shoulders to cry on, or ears for listening, or themselves just as company. The wee ones are full of humor when they aren't full of throwing fits, and getting angry and mad at each other, and the old ones are always fun because there are always interesting conversations had with them. I cherish my family members near and far!! And always pray for their safety and health. And sometimes, even pray for them to have some fortunate times instead of unfortunate times. I love my nieces and nephews, and have enjoyed watching them all grow and get older. Yikes... some are entering their teens now, and others are still awaiting arrival to this earth!!! And family has a way of making you feel loved no matter how much of a dork you can be. (actually replace the you with I/me).

A little bit more, that you may or may not want to know.

1.Where is your cell phone?
Laying on top of my entertainment center across the room.

2. Your hair?
Blah... it's hair!! No really, it's brown, and wavy/curly.

3. Your mother?
Lives in California, and don't get to see her as much as I'd like, but I call her at least 3 times a week to chat.

4. Your father?
Lives in California too, and busy working, and losing weight, and trying to control his blood sugar because of diabetes.

5. Your favorite food?
I can do burritos, tacos, tostados, and taco salad stuff ALL THE TIME!!!

6. Your dream last night?
Don't know if I actually had a dream.

7. Your favorite drink?
I usually prefer water, but juice is always welcomed if I have it.

8. Your dream/goal?
I want to be a photographer and design announcements and stuff like that.

9. What room are you in?
Living Room

10. Your hobby?
Scrapbooking, photography, blogging, reading, talking with friends.

11. Your fear?
That one of my kids will die before me. And a little less serious, that will never have a newer house then the one we live in now. Which happens to be originally built in 1893. Aghh... old houses, oh boy!

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years?
I'd like to have a newer/nicer house that's kept clean ALL The time.

13. Where were you last night?
At home sleeping in my bed. Thinking the home time, Little Man better not wake up....

14. Something that you aren’t?
Superwoman!!! Supermom!!! I try my best, and if you don't like how I am, well too bad.

15. Muffins?
Lemon Poppyseed!!! And Pumpkin Chocolate Chip isn't so bad either, actually it's really Delicious!!

16. Wish list item?
I want a

Canon EOS Rebel T1i 15.1 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3-Inch LCD and EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens

17. Where did you grow up?
In the MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.... Trona, Ca.

18. Last thing you did?
Took my kids to school this morning, after they have missed a few days for being sick.

19. What are you wearing?
Threw on my pants and shirt from yesterday before I left, I need to go get a shower.

20. Your TV?
Bugging me. We have two, and the boys think that both need to be on.

21. Your pets?
1 Dog, named Amber.

and a cat named Phoebe (yes, as in the one from Friends)

22. Friends?
Yes please!!

23. Your life?
Getting better, but can be frustrating and stressful, but on the whole, it's good!!! And I would like Chocolate and Diamonds too!! (just like my friend said)

24. Your mood?
Wanting to be lazy and go sleep, but I have an ugly mess of EVERYTHING, that needs to be taken care of so my house can be clean again.

25. Missing someone?
I wish Alexes was close by, and haven't really seen any family members on any side for a little while now, because of sick kids. It'd be nice to see someone!!

26. Vehicle?
White Chevy Venture... that seats 8!!

27. Something you’re not wearing?
Makeup, but then again, I don't wear it very often. And, of course, I don't have shoes on either.

28. Your favorite store?
Hmmm. that's a tough one!! I never have money to go anywhere....

29. Your favorite color?
I love blue!!! Starting to really like some green shades as well as purple too!

30. When was the last time you laughed?
Yesterday.. to early yet, to have anything funny happen.

31. Last time you cried?
A few days ago, I was pretty stressed and frazzled from dealing with sickies, and didn't want to make dinner, I was a little TOO emotional.

32. Your best friend?
I have a couple, Amy Ras. (one of my old roomies--- love her and the others) Alexes is a best friend too, but lives a little further away than I care for. My husband is probably my absolute best friend who isn't a female though. Lol...

33. One place that I go to over and over?
There are too many to list. DI(thrift store), Allen's ( a grocery store), Walmart, taking the kids to school.

34. One person who emails me regularly?
SPAM, JUNK MAIL.

35. Favorite place to eat?
Cafe Rio. Nuf said.

Cheer Class = Game Time....

So my girls are involved with an after school cheer class this year. They are so excited about it, and the best part is, they only have a school ordered cheer t-shirt with any bottoms that are Red, Blue or White and even Khaki is an option. Which is a good thing since that is one of their school colors they get to wear.

Well last Tuesday just a few days ago, they got to do their first performance. So dang cute, and kind of funny too!! These are girls made up of 4th grade through - 6th graders I believe... not sure, so I'll have to check. But the fact that the girls are all having fun, and trying to help promote school spirit at the 7th & 8th grade volleyball games is fantastic.

And not to mention the trip down memory lane for myself!! I started playing volleyball and basketball while I was in 7th grade and pretty much continued with it until I graduated high school. I love the nostalgia that came with watching these kids play their games. I see all the improper techniques, and the lack of getting three hits on each turn with the ball, the crazy attire, and just the plain silliness that is taking place. But I also saw the Freedom team, (the one my girls cheer for and attend) coming together at the end of a play whether it ended good or bad, and gave each other hi-five's. I didn't see them not liking the actions of another team mate because they messed up, or completely missed the ball, or went to bump the ball and watch it fly through the sky with such speed and height that it not only went over the net but smacked the back wall, or see the guy that was really tall, and somewhat still awkward while going through a growing phase try to tip the ball to the other side but while doing so end up in the net, or crossing the middle line and causing the play to be over, and losing their possession of the ball. Or the server who tries to serve overhand but didn't get a good hit and came up short and didn't go over, or when the ball landed in the court right between three players - none of which who attempted to get the ball.

And while noticing these different things this week (because I got to watch another game two days after the first) I had memories flood back into my mind, but they didn't end so pleasantly with the hi-five's at the end from all the team mates.

But as I've been thinking about my life lately and the way that I interact with others and vice versa, I would like to think that this is exactly how we need to be with each other too. It doesn't need to be something that just takes place on a ball court/field or anything of that nature. It often comes down to being offended by something someone else does, or thinking you are better off than someone else, or just plain better then "Joe" or "Sally" next door.

As members of the human race, and taking and breathing each other's "air" ( no matter what it has just been polluted with) we have a right to be kind to everyone, to befriend those who are less fortunate with material things, and those who haven't yet discovered who they are, or why they are here. It's our job to be a team, and say good job to the other even while they might not be at their best, or even know what that best is.

Watching these kids play, and seeing how they interacted with each other was such a vivid reminder of how I need to be more in my life. Not that I'm intentionally mean but there are areas in which I can improve.

And not to mention it felt really weird to be a parent attending one of these games, instead of being the one on the floor playing. I loved playing sports... and hopefully when my kids are all a little older, and don't need the constant help from me, maybe then I can take a stab at it again. Not to mention it's a fun way to stay in shape once you get in shape. And the friendships that are formed is just one of the benefits also.

Time to become accountable...

It's Monday again, and I can't believe what's happened today. Or rather what hasn't happened today. I think I opted for the "lazy" day today. I've been thrown off the schedule this last week due to parent teacher conferences at school. And then with General Conference (which takes place 2 times a year, where we get to listen to the leaders of our church give us talks that are spiritual, uplifting, and help us to do better) I am coming off from a pretty lazy weekend. And it's Monday, and I just haven't gotten back in the groove yet.

But, I'm coming out on Tuesday morning armed with a major to-do list that consists of the following:

• Clean the kitchen. PERIOD.
• Fold all laundry and put it away.
• Clean up the living room, and place all furniture in it's place.
• Make salsa to use up my tomatoes followed by bottling them.
• Make strawberry/blueberry jam or jams depends on what I decide to do.
• Bottle the peaches for food storage.
• But before I do all this I need to take the girls to school.
• Drop Thomas off at his preschool class.
• Watch the girls perform a cheer or two at the school's volleyball game. (Take Pictures for the yearbook)
• Send out email to the yearbook committee and set up a meeting.
• Practice the piano. (since my nephew asked me to play for his baptism on Nov. 7th and I'm not very good)
• Sometime I need to go shopping for some jeans without holes in them for myself. (I don't want to go through another winter wearing the same ones I did last year with holes)
• I need to workout for at least 90 minutes. (35 - 45 of which is to be aerobic, and then do strength training as well) Time to get back in shape before the holidays.
• Try to figure out which scrapbook pages I want to get done this week. (I have a lot I can do)
• Put dinner in the crock pot before I get too busy, so I don't forget to have dinner ready after we come back from the volleyball game.
• At 7pm I need to head over to my friend Elizabeth's house for our recipe exchange night. Which reminds me, I need to gather at least 1 if not more kid friendly recipes to share.

And of course, I have two children still at home that demand a lot of attention too. So what do I do? Ignore, half ignore, pay attention to them, or just have them help (which could be disastrous). Plus there's lunch in there that half the time I forget about, because I just get busy doing things and before I know it, I have to go pick up my girls, and it's nearly dinner time.

Good Habits = Good Change

Okay so we've gone a long time where we've not been in the habit of reading scriptures as a family. Well, I up and changed that this week. I think it was a shock to even my husband too. Sunday after dinner I asked everyone to clear the table and that they were to go and grab their copy of the Book of Mormon. And the stipulation was that we read at the kitchen table. We've tried at the couch in the living room before, and I just got a bunch of whining and moaning, and lots of "Why do we have to's?" and " I don't want to's". Well, so far this week I haven't heard a single whine about getting scriptures out and reading them. Although, we didn't actually start at the beginning either. We picked it up at 2nd Nephi. And everyone is involved, whether they can read or not. If they can't read, we read aloud what the verse says and then we go onto the next person. We go around our table and take turns that way.

I've noticed a great difference, if not in them, at least me. I'm finding myself wanting to make things better around my home, and trying not to be so uptight about the millionth mess that I've got to clean up, or the fact that all the pillow cushions from the sofa and love seat are all over the living room, and that piles of "extra" junk have been dumped all over the main rooms I'm trying to get clean. Well, the weekend is coming and the kids will be home, so I think before movie night tomorrow, they'll have to clean up the living room floor and help fold clothes before they can watch a movie. I'm trying to find ways to be more productive, and be more spiritual.

It's been really hard recently for me to keep the faith, as it has been said. But I'm trying to rely on the strength that comes from my Heavenly Father as I put my trust in him, rather than that of myself. I have "goals" that I strive for, and I have "ideals" of how I'd like things to preferably be, but in reality, I often fall way short of that finish line.

I think the big LIGHT came on when my Thomas my four year old, asked me why I get mad when it's bedtime. OOOHhhh. Hello. Wake up call. I've been thinking on it, and trying to give a legitimate reason why I get so upset and sometimes loud when it comes that time of the day. But really, it' me loosing control of my emotions. I have to sit back, and have more patience. Something I've struggled with a lot in the years since I've had children that can walk and talk.

So my next thought process has been, what's the big difference between having more patience, and being lazy. Okay maybe lazy isn't the right word, but I can't figure out what is. My kids have a habit of not wanting to do what I ask the first time. So I ask again, and they still don't do anything. Ah ha here's where the frustration starts.

A) I've had a long day already. I'm exhausted and tired.

B) I want some ME time, and unwind. And would like a few minutes of adult time with my husband and not have constant interruption from the kids.

C) I'm impatient to just sit around and wait for them to get to what I asked, like brushing their teeth and getting their pj's on. It's so much easier to not care, and just let them run around like wild apes and monkey's till they drop of sure exhaustion than it is to stick to a task at bedtime and make sure they follow through.

D) I'm realizing I don't have a good discipline system in place. I swear things would be so much easier if everything was laid out in black and white and said exactly how everything should work and how to handle each child who might come along and disrupt your perfect system.

And to go along with the whole bedtime theme here, I love what my kids like to say to me either when they need to go to bed, or when it's time to get up.

• But I'm not tired, followed by " You didn't let us sleep enough this morning"
• They're keeping me awake followed by " I'm tired mom, I don't want to get up"
• Mom, I'm having a good dream, why did you have to wake me up ?
• It's too early to go to sleep, I don't want to go to sleep yet.
• Why do you wake us up so early, (this comes only when I've tried for a half hour, and in 15 minutes we have to leave for school) ** They are crazy I tell you!!!

It's hard having three girls in the same room, and trying to get them to all fall asleep as soon as they should. But then I've also realized that they are the best of friends and they are talking, and laughing and building a relationship with each other that will span the rest of their lives. I also realize too, that one day (I'm sure it'll come faster than I want it to) that they'll be bigger girls and will be able to fall asleep on cue, and they won't be giving me the constant excuses anymore, and I'll miss the one on one interactions that will sometimes happen with one of them.

It's been amazing to really see the changes in my attitude. Granted I'm NOT perfect, but it has and will always be my goal to become so. But over time, I think that great things will come, as long as I just keep in mind and remember to have faith, and cherish the moments with my kids. Sometimes I'm selfish but HEY, I think I'm entitled once in a while for my sanity's sake and theirs.

I've gone too many months and even years without getting this habit established within our family, and the times where we have read the scriptures there always seemed to be more harmony in our home, and the times where we haven't well, my house is living proof, of what takes over. CHAOS!!! So out with old, and in with the new. It's a habit I hope to further develop and never stop again.

Lessons learned on Monday.....

Okay so really, who decided to deactivate my flying abilities? Really, I wanna know!

Why?

Well mind you it's MONDAY!! Need I say more? Oh, that's not enough?

Well, this morning things were going good, the kids all woke up and got ready for the school day, and I had them all out in the car and ran back into the house to grab a sandwich bag for my dear little Heidi. Why? Well she gets to have a snack at morning recess, and we grabbed a pack of crackers to give the boys, and she wanted to stick some in a bag for her morning snack at school.

Okay so I finally remembered to lock the door and actually pull it shut behind me, and then I take off in a slow trotty run over to the van. WHAM, as everything accelerates towards my face, I realize that I'm in a freefall of some sorts. Then all of a sudden everything came to a quick halt. No more moving, just ....p..a..i..n!!! What did I do? I realize that I was on my stomach, and could only register that my hands were hurting and my right knee. BAD!!

Being like a little kid and not wanting to really see what was causing the pain, I rolled to my back, and commenced the crying that sometimes happens when one gets hurt. Yes, I am a baby. I squeezed my hands in between my legs my knees in the air while my feet were flat on the ground.

Then I heard it, my doors to the van opened, and my girls came running out, asking if I was okay? I was such a baby, that I didn't want to use my hands to push me up from the ground and asked them to help me up. So I had a girl help on each side, and then had someone push me up from the back, while I used my legs to get me up. And mind you the whole time I'm thinking about what happened to the bag, and where was it? I managed to look around right before they did lift me and said, "There's the bag".

Once I was up, and had looked at the damage that was done, I realized that I had scraped up my hands pretty good, and a little scraping on my right arm near the elbow, and then my right knee was also scraped up pretty good. I got up, and was scared to touch anything, and it was a little difficult at first to walk, but managed to get the girls to school.

So I learned a few lessons from this little episode. I don't care if you don't want to know... and if you don't quit reading right now!! I mean it, STOP!!


Okay now for the lessons:

1. Don't try running with sandal shoes on, because you can never tell where the ends of your feet are versus the ends of the shoe, unless, of course, you are wearing shoes that allow your toes to completely hang over the edge and your comfortable with that. I'm not, though.

2. Don't try running on an uneven driveway. Period. Kids fall all the time, and you'd think that, being an adult, you'd be a little more cautious and careful and do a daresay invincible and can do anything. Well I learned I still fall down.

3. If you run back into the house to get just one item, that isn't necessarily vital for the day, but more of a want, you better darn well make sure that you get a Thank you from the person you retrieved it for. If it was yourself that needed/wanted that item, well you might want to rethink next time, and see if it's really worth the work, IF you FALL down again.

4. I'm grateful I have two hands, even if they are scratched up at the moment. Because had my hands not been there to help stop my fall, well I'd hate to think of what my ugly mug would look like after a one on one introduction with the concrete driveway.

5. When you fall down, you need to get up and keep going, no matter how bad you don't want to.

6. When you fall down, you need to get up and keep going, and head straight for the bathtub and soak, and clean the wounds, and then relax for a little bit, and be grateful that you aren't canning salsa, or tomatoes today with all the open wounds on your hands.

7. Just face the fact, that despite all your best abilities, and mind power that you won't ever be able to fly, (on your own at least)

Gifts from God...

Okay so I've taken a little time off from the whole blogging scene lately. Well at least the posting on my part. But I've been keeping up reading all the fun blogs that I like to visit mostly everyday, but at least every week. I've realized that I've been keeping my blog now, for two years. And after going back and looking through my posts I realize that if it hadn't been for the blog, a lot of my precious thoughts, and moments with my family would be lost and gone forever.

After a brief, but very needed, cry session the other day, I feel a lot better. What? Oh, I didn't tell you I had a bad day? Well, not so much a bad day, but just the moment at which the culmination of all things going against the grain for us, seemed to want to cause an emotional outbreak filled with enormous amounts of frustration. I realize that these feelings of frustration aren't from God, but sometimes the feelings need to be expressed before they cause a woman (or a man) to go insane. It just seemed like one thing after another this spring and summer have been going against us. Along with the fact that my husband has had reduced hours, doesn't help my emotional state of mind.

I tend to be a worrier, and sometimes that's good, but in my case most of the time it's bad. I sometimes forget to keep faith, and know that things will work out, and that it might not be exactly on my time schedule, but I know that my Heavenly Father is mindful of my needs. And tries to send me "gifts" that are there to remind me just how much he really does love me.

Some of these recent gifts are when my two year old comes up out of the blue and hugs me, and says "I luv lou" and the cute little smiles and smirky grins that he does.

Or my 4 year old when he goes and offers to help the lady on the corner who isn't married, but still has a severly handicapped child at home that she cares for. My son goes over when he sees her mowing her grass with a non-motorized push mower and sweeps the grass up and helps her clean up. What a great worker!!

Or my 7 year old when she goes out of her way to help her younger brother to get ready for bed, and finds him a night shirt, and tries to get his toothbrush ready. I see her attempts at doing her homework on her own. And seeing the delight in her eyes when she gets a 6/10 on her spelling test!!! Spelling comes hard for her, and I just make sure that she feels good about it!!

Or my 9 year old who is constantly looking up information on the internet about animals, and different countries, and space things, and trying to learn everything she can. She has a spark of "brilliance" that says she's truly a gift who seeks out others at school and tries to befriend everyone.

Or my 10 year old, who is becoming a young lady right before my eyes, and her attitude is changing immensely. She still has a stubborn streak, but for the most part she is willing to help me out with a task, and she gets right on her homework just as soon as we get home. She's managing her time wisely, and doing a great job, helping with her brothers.

Or my husband, who despite having reduced hours this whole year, still has faith that things are going to be just fine. And despite how imperfect I am as a wife, mother and woman in general isn't always the way he would hope that I could be, he continues to love me, and work hard for our family. When a difficult situation comes up he keeps his calm, and keeps me grounded.

The vegetables growing in my garden, and the fact that preserving them has been made known to others so we can enjoy the sweet summer and fall goodness through the blustery days of winter. When no one dares go outside because of the frigid temperature outside.

And who can forget about CHOCOCLATE chip cookies, and all the other lists of things that can be baked. And just CHOCOLATE itself!!

My talent of being able to try and make food despite practically bare cupboards come the end of the pay period. You know those days when all the fresh stuff is gone, and bread is no more found in the house, and you're just so dirt poor that for once you'd like someone to give you a break from making dinner but alas it never happens kind of days.

Or when I have desires, and ambitions of things I'd like to do at some point in the future. I guess they could fall under hobbies, but maybe hobbies I'd like to get paid for in the future. It makes me feel like there is something else to look forward too, after my children are done needing me on a constant basis.

And I'm glad that I have this blog, that serves for the most part as a journal for me. It might not mean anything to anyone else, but for me, it's everything. I've got the happy moments, the sad ones, the so so ones, but it's a record of my life (as far as I've been doing this) and someday in the future, I can look back at it and have this to draw from. Knowing that there were days that weren't so good, and other days that I felt like I was on top of the world. And other days, where I just blended into the day, and didn't know morning from night (because most of the time that's how I am).

So I need to make a more diligent effort to record my memories, and those that involve my children so that they can have some lively entertainment when they are older and parents themselves.

Here's to making life changes for the better so that maybe I won't have such bad days where I feel completely overwhelmed.


What are the gifts you notice in your own life?

I'm just sayin' .....

• Avoid Little Caesar's Pizza during half time of a BYU game. Even if the game is away from Provo (where they play their home games). Because if you go you'll find yourself waiting 15-20 minutes to get their "Hot-N-Ready" pizzas. But if you have to wait, at least that means you're getting HOT pizzas instead of those that have been in the warmers for who knows how long. You know the kind... they almost have a leather like texture to them, and don't
• If you are a woman, always be sure and check that the dress you like to occasionally wear, you know the one with all the buttons down the front, yeah that one. Make sure you have a chance to sit in it at home before you head out to church. Because you might just realize that one button is missing right in the middle of it. And feel self conscious the whole time while at church, and find yourself keeping a book, or paper on that spot in case an opening should appear and show off to everyone that your a big dork, and didn't inspect your clothes ahead of time.
• If you find yourself in a situation where you and dear hubby are going to the same destination at the same time, but for whatever reason need to travel in two different cars be courteous to each other and make sure that both vehicles will start. Otherwise whoever got left behind with a non-working car will find him/herself walking the whole two blocks to church causing a major sweat session to come on before you get to church.
• When starting your dryer make sure that the knob used for choosing your heat setting is set to regular, therefore providing heat to the dryer. Of course, this is probably only applied to a gas dryer, because that's what I'm familiar with, but maybe electric run the same way, I don't know though. Because when you are half asleep and wanting to start the load to dry your unmentionable because you've used the last pair earlier that day and need another pair for in the morning... well if they don't get dry in time, guess you'll either a) have to wear the same ones as the day before with or without getting a shower or b) wear them wet or rather slightly damp and hope you don't find yourself chaffed in the near future.
• Even though you might have a king sized bed, which would normally entitle you to a lot of space, don't even count on it if you have a spouse that is a total cuddle fan. Meaning the human blanket type that think you are their personal body pillow. So just quit thinking now that you'll ever have your own space on the bed, because ... well the other person doesn't understand your logic, that cuddling when your all "touched" out from a day of holding baby or babies at the hip, and kids clinging to your clothes and lucky the pants fasten at the waist or they'd end up being on the floor rather than on you and the little critters won't care wherever you might be. You know what I'm talking about... and sometimes when the looser clothes like sweat pants or really loose and baggy shorts ... well sometimes that's how they end up. But just remember, the other person doesn't understand you need space... so you'll just have to find another way to obtain it. Good luck...
• And when making chocolate chip cookies it's okay to let the 2 year old help, a little. But leaving the baking sheet down where he can attack the prepped cookies ready to go into the oven, is really unacceptable. Or maybe it isn't, you can decide. But I'll promise you the little dude will want to eat that cookie dough and he doesn't care rather Mom just got it already and now it's just waiting for it's turn in the hot cubicle otherwise now known as an oven.
  
  

A little note about being lucky...

Another blog that I came across is sponsoring a give away for a few books. I love to read, and these looked like books I'd like to own myself. These are historic romance novels, and that alone is hooking me. So go and enter this giveaway. At this location: Not Entirely British

I'm crossing my fingers that I can win these, because I'm not very lucky and haven't won too many things. Actually besides the scholarship money I was awarded when I graduated from high school (do I dare say the year?) 1996, I haven't won but one thing.

And that's because I entered a giveaway for a hip-tee, and I love it!! This lady does a lot of giveaways and chances are good you could find something you really like and win something too.


Matter of fact she's got a giveaway going on for some cool MOM shirts. Check that one out, I want one of these really bad. Anyway, hope you have a great Friday!!