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Michael is 8!

2011-11-06T16:45:00.000-08:00

Wow, we've had a very busy, but wonderful week. On Thursday, Michael celebrated his 8th birthday. He had a fun day. We were supposed to go to see "Puss in Boots", but William got sick, and Dylan Jr. was on a field trip anyway. Saturday was spent cleaning, taking down Halloween decorations, and getting ready for Michael's baptism. It's hard to believe that he is 8. He was sooo nervous. Out of all of my kids, he gets himself more worked up when he's nervous, than any of the others. But, it was a great experience, and he was very happy afterwards. He did say, though, that the water was cold. I've heard that from so many of the primary kids, that I think there might be something wrong with the water heater at the Stake Center ;-). It was so nice to have so much family there, and we really missed those who weren't there, but also understand completely why they couldn't be there.

We are so proud of our little Michael!

This is Halloween!

2011-10-03T16:38:00.001-07:00

I decided on Saturday that I wanted to decorate my stairs for Halloween, so I did this . . .

and this . . .

Here's a close-up of one of the Jack's . . .

The Jack Skellington pumpkins are just the small white pumpkins from Michael's. I cut the faces, after drawing them out in pencil. Then I cut a hole in the bottom, so it would sit on the finial on the railing. Before doing that, I glued a gauzy black cloth in the inside so that during the day, his face looks black, then at night the purple lights shine through the cloth!

I'm just not sure, now, if I should add some of the floral accents that I put under each Jack into the whole garland going up the railing. Should I leave it black twiggy garland, or add floral accents?

What's up with math?

2011-09-06T11:52:00.000-07:00

I used to be good at math. I've only gotten a "B" once in the subject. But I think I would totally flunk these days. I was trying to help Nathan with his math the other day, and I had to have him go to Dylan to get help. Not Dylan, his father, but Dylan his big brother! They were asking for something that I'm not even sure I've ever heard of! I can't even remember what it was! I need to go back to school just to help with their homework. Good thing he's got a bigger brother.

Busy Life

2011-08-31T10:02:00.000-07:00

Well, the month of August feels like it should be over because it has been so full. So that William doesn't feel left out, we celebrated his birthday on the 14th. He's 4! The boys started school on the 22nd, Dylan started seminary (ugghh!) the next day. He's a freshman this year, Nathan is in 5th grade (already!) and Michael started 2nd grade. Next week we'll begin preschool lessons! Busy, Busy, Busy!

Quick Getaway

2011-08-04T15:21:00.000-07:00

We planned all summer to take the boys on a couple of overnighters with Dylan. So the other evening we got the opportunity to have Family Home Evening up at the Oakland Temple. Dylan and I were married there 16 years ago, so it was nice to take the boys up there to show them where we were married. I have never been up on the terrace before! How did I not know that you can go up on the terrace? Well, we got some good pictures, and got to see the "new" Joseph Smith movie. It's really the old one, but it has 40% new scenes.

I normally wouldn't add a picture that includes myself in it, but I thought that out-of-town family would like to see that Dylan Jr. is taller than me now. I'm old, I know.
The next day we took a quick jaunt over to Fairfield to go to the Jelly Belly factory and take a tour. Can't beat a free tour! I would highly recommend it if you are Jelly Belly fans. You even get a free small bag of Jelly Bellies at the end of the tour! (I ate them all on the drive home just to keep myself awake!) I love those cream soda and Dr. Pepper flavors, not a big fan of the popcorn, though. Word of advice: if you do go, take a hat. If you don't have your own, you have to wear one of theirs. William had no problem looking cute in his hat.

Gift money idea

2011-07-26T16:18:00.001-07:00

I like to try to come up with fun ways to give gifts. Sometimes I can come up with what I think is a festive idea. Well, a few years ago, when my oldest niece graduated from high school, I didn't want to give her a plain card with money in it. So, I put $5 bills in a few fortune cookies, mixed them up with some regular fortune cookies and put them in a cute chinese food take-out box. Well, her sister graduated this year, so I had to do something different. I wanted to make her work for her money (as if graduating wasn't enough work ;). So, I bought some clam shells, folded up some $5's and glued two shells together with hot glue. Then I bought some play sand from Lowe's, this cute sand bucket from Michael's and hid the shells in the sand. On the card I said something like, "I hope you have fun digging for your clams" or something like that. I wasn't there to see her open it, but I heard it took her about 30 min. to find them all, and pry them open! Much more fun than a card with $! Only 12 more (for now) nieces/nephews to come up with ideas for.

The Wrestler

2011-07-01T11:52:00.001-07:00

Our boys have always let their younger brothers wrestle them. Dylan would let Nathan, Nathan would let Michael, etc. Dylan, being the oldest, will sometimes get dog-piled by all 3 little brothers. Well, William has become quite the entertainer when he tortures his big brothers. Here he is getting Michael:

The other night, he was doing this to Dylan Jr., and he grabbed him in a choke hold, then said to him through gritted teeth, "I call you Love Muffin!" We all had tears in our eyes from laughing so hard.

Stairs are a new thing.

2011-06-17T16:14:00.000-07:00

I've never lived in a house with stairs before. The first week we lived here, my legs were sore. That's a good thing, I know, but there have been a few things that I will have to watch out for. Very carefully. Like when Michael was at the top of the stairs in a laundry basket, just getting ready to go down. Then a few days later, he had brought William's tricycle in the house and took it upstairs. When I caught William, he already had his front wheel on the first step down. I do believe it was divine intervention that caused me to come around the corner just when I did. One other thing that I've caught William doing is this:

After the other scares, I'm OK with this. It kinda makes me want to put some liederhosen on him.

Catching up

2011-06-08T15:29:00.001-07:00

My life feels like I'm always trying to catch up on things. Laundry, pruning roses, keeping up with my calling, helping with the boys schedules, more laundry. Right now I feel like I'm being left in the dust by my oldest, Dylan. He just turned 14 and he surpassed me awhile ago in height, and brains. As a matter of fact all of the boys have surpassed me in brains. This week Michael got his Academic Achievement award for 1st grade:

Nathan got High Honors in 4th grade (and he refuses to smile):

And Dylan received CJSF for Fall and Spring, CJSF Honor, Timberwolf Way Apex award and a surprise award - the Principles Award for Highest Honor. He was pleasantly surprised for this one:

I've always been the type to enjoy a slow-paced life. You know, cuddle with the boys on the couch when they were little and had just woken up, or taking the time to rock my baby to sleep while listening to Enya. This is why I feel like I've accidentally gotten on one of those big roller-coasters at Magic Mountain and I'm rocketing up hill and down, through loops and twists at 80 MPH. I couldn't slow down one of those coasters any more than I can slow down how fast my boys are growing up, and how fast paced their/our lives seem to be at this stage right now. So, I guess I'd better buckle up, learn how to scream through the dips, open my eyes for the loops and not get too excited to get off this fast ride.

Farewell, silly ol' bear.

2011-04-13T09:49:00.000-07:00

For years he's merrily chased the fall leaves while singing about a blustery day on what used to be Michael's bedroom wall, and then it became William's room. I was so excited to have our own house to be able to paint what I wanted to on the walls. Painting over him definitely felt like the end of another chapter of our lives. We really don't have any babies anymore! It didn't help, either, that I had to use this to paint over him:

I know, using something called "Kilz" on Winnie the Pooh sounds like the worst form of animal cruelty. I did, however, start to get over it when I was painting the 4th coat of Kilz over that silly ol' bear.

Updates

2011-04-05T15:48:00.000-07:00

Well, I have a few moments to sit down for a bit (and my legs are thanking me for that!). Just to answer some questions, we have moved, but not far at all. Not even a mile away from our old house, which we didn't sell, but are getting it gussied up to rent out. We are right across from Thorburn park, so we are still in the same ward and the boys are still at the same schools. I couldn't picture leaving either. We feel very blessed, and are so happy to have some room. Plus, some other good news, this morning William asked me if he could go #2 on the toilet, and he did! Usually if I mention doing that (he's fine doing #1) he breaks down crying. And I figured he'd be going to high school in diapers! When I find what box our camera is in, I'll post pictures.

Free Washer and Dryer

2011-04-02T16:07:00.000-07:00

Yes, I'm using my blog as the classifieds. Do any of you bloggers out there know of anyone who needs a free washer and dryer? They are 9 years old, but still work just fine. We moved and are very fortunate to have gotten a new washer/dryer included with the house, so we are anxious to find these babies a new home! Right now I am in purge mode as I go through things (almost 16 years of marriage and 9 years in one house, plus a storage unit, can equal a lot of hoarding!), so stay tuned. I might have some more advertisements.

A new favorite recipe

2011-03-22T08:52:00.000-07:00

First of all, I love themed meals. The boys seem to like them too. Usually they are a little too exotic for the younger three to enjoy, though (like the shrimp ettouffee I made for Mardi Gras). But here is a good St. Patrick's Day recipe that the whole family enjoyed!
First, I bought a 2 lb. Corned beef roast and cooked it in the crockpot overnight, until about 3:00 the next afternoon. Yes, it was in the crockpot for about 20 hours total, but it made is so tender! And the boys kept asking what smelled so good. Then I sliced up half to save for making Reuben sandwiches, and chopped up the other half for this:
Confetti Corned Beef Hash, courtesy of Betty Crocker website

2 Tbsp butter or margarine
1 1/2 cups cut-up corned beef or lean cooked beef
2 Tbsp chopped fresh parley
1 tsp. chopped fresh or 1/4 tsp dried thyme leaves (I didn't have any of this and it turned out just fine)
2 medium potatoes cooked and chopped (mine was the equivalent of 4 medium potatoes)
1 small bell pepper chopped
4 medium green onions, sliced
2 hard-cooked eggs, chopped (I did a more traditional fried egg per person to go on top of the hash)

In a nonstick skillet, heat butter over medium heat. Add all ingredients and cook for about 10 min., turning frequently.

As I said before, all the boys enjoyed it. Plus we had some left over and put it in some warmed up tortillas and made Irish burritos! 3 meals from 1 roast! In my book, that not only makes life easier, but it is just awesome.

Optimism Month

2011-02-15T13:15:00.000-08:00

I love to read magazines. I don't think that I will ever really get into blog surfing, just because I love reading magazines too much. Some of my favorites are Ladies Home Journal and Family Circle. I used to be a big fan of Better Homes and Gardens, but each month started to seem like I was reading the same thing. I love that these two magazines often highlight stories of service, mostly from women, but also organizations that are founded by kids! Plus I can find good recipes, and all sorts of advice.
Anyways, one of my favorite parts of Ladies Home Journal is tucked away right at the back. Its a page dedicated to things that are good (don't we need to hear a little more of this these days?) Well, I read in March's issue of Ladies Home Journal that March is Optimism Month. Did you know there was such a thing? Heaven knows I could be a little more optimistic! They also give their readers a challenge: Do one nice little thing to make someone else smile, every day in March. So, I would like to issue that challenge to those of you who want to spread optimism, which, in my book, is a synonym of Hope. You can go to LHJ.com/dogood for ideas if you find that a challenge.

Just when I think I've got things figured out . . .

2011-02-06T16:27:00.000-08:00

William comes along and shows me that I have no clue. No clue whatsoever. William has, by far, been my little challenging child. He's so stubborn, but can be so loving. He often tells me he loves me and will nuzzle my nose and say "Oh, mommy's my cute pup." So, he gets away with maybe a little too much sometimes. But now he's brought on a whole new challenge. Toilet training.

This is a picture of William, crying on the toilet. He is extremely afraid of the toilet. He's fine to stand up and use the toilet for #1, but when it comes to #2, he just breaks down and cries. He's always had some tummy troubles, so this is a whole different arena for me. But I thought to myself, "if I just stand firm and tell him he's not getting off the toilet until he goes, that should work."

This is picture #2, where William was falling asleep on the toilet. Yes, it makes me feel and look like a horrible mother. You know how in school we were always taught to write about what we know? Well, I've always joked with myself that I would end up writing a book about poop. Obviously, I don't know that much about that, either. Any suggestions?

It's been a long time. . .

2010-12-30T16:42:00.000-08:00

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas. I haven't written anything in a long time, partly because I have been COMPLETELY, ABSOLUTELY enjoying having my family home. The boys are home from school and Dylan even took time off from work to enjoy Christmas vacation with us. Another reason I haven't written is because I am simplifying my life, cutting the clutter, trimming the fat, etc. Usually, after Christmas I tend to feel down in the dumps. Not this year. This year I'm ready to take down the decorations (which, by the way, are all down except the Christmas tree) and face the year with a clean and de-cluttered house. I'm ready to face the New Year with hope that this will be an awesome year for everyone. Hope and Simplicity. Those are my new themes for the new year. Just like that Primary song that says, "I want my life to be as clean as Earth right after rain", I look forward to the fresh start of a New Year. Well, that's all I have for now. Happy New Year, everyone!

Better late than never!

2010-11-09T09:13:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned before, we went to my niece, Ashley's, wedding in October down in Anaheim. Michael was asked to be the ring bearer, and to my surprise he really enjoyed it! Here are a few favorite shots. It was really difficult to narrow it down.
Here he is with the flower girl, Kylie. She helped bring him out of his shell a bit. I don't think she has a shy bone in her body!

This is Ashley and her new hubby, Randy. Adorable couple!

My niece, Alyssa, got Dylan out on the dance floor! I realize that all of my boys are going to need very outgoing girls to get them out on the dance floor if there ever is any hope of them dancing.

Michael cutting a rug.

One of my favorite pictures!

It's hard to believe that this beautiful little bride used to crawl around on her knees all day pretending to be a dog!

This is right after Dylan Jr. and Nathan caught Michael's eye while going down the aisle.

Three of my handsome boys. The other one did this most of the time -

Happy Birthday, little Michael.

2010-11-03T08:16:00.000-07:00

Today Michael turns 7 years old. I can't believe that we are just one year left until he is baptized! He is still my cuddly little Michael for now, though. He was my pudgiest baby, and a very well behaved baby, too. I can still remember how, when he'd get excited or was happy, he would start spinning his little feet in circles. Each would go in the opposite direction of each other. This picture is of him dancing with the flower girl from my niece's wedding. I would never have been able to get him to do that, but for a complete stranger, he did it. Go figure! And here he is with his giant pumpkin that he had to carry back to the car, all by himself.

He still has fluffy little cheeks that I love to pinch!

Bubbles!

2010-10-28T13:33:00.001-07:00

While we were down in Anaheim for my niece's wedding, we stayed in a place that had a jetted tub in the bathroom. What a hit it was with the boys! It may look like we added soap to the tub, but those bubbles are just from the baby-bath and shampoo that Dylan rinsed off of the boys. I would love to have a tub like that some day, but we'd have to live in some other town where the water wasn't so expensive!

Something scary . . .

2010-10-27T10:32:00.000-07:00

I am so behind in my posting. I've been waiting for some photos to do a post of my niece's wedding that Michael was the ring bearer for, so that is still a future post. But I do have to tell you what happened to me last night. I had been in bed for about an hour, so I was pretty out of it. It was time for me to turn over, and when I turn over, I don't just roll over, I sit up a bit and then flop over. Well, as I turned over, there was Nathan. Just standing there. Beside the bed. FREAKING ME OUT! I let out some weird sound that wasn't really a full scream because I realized that it was Nathan, and not some stranger standing over me. He calmly said that he was feeling sick. Let's just say that I didn't really feel like going to sleep after that for about, oh, another TWO hours. I'm sure I looked just like this:

His Favorite Things

2010-09-23T14:07:00.000-07:00

Lately William likes to ask us, "Who is your favorite good guy?", "Who is your favorite bad guy?", or "Who is your favorite spiderman character?", etc. Today, as I fed him a bowl of Spongebob noodle soup and watermelon, he asked me, "Who is your favorite girl?" I thought for a moment, and answered "Tinkerbell." So, I asked him, "Who is your favorite girl?" He then smiled and said, "You." He has totally, completely got me wrapped around his little finger!

This may sound a little cheesy . . .

2010-09-22T08:30:00.000-07:00

. . .but being at the vineyard yesterday evening was a wonderfully spiritual experience. I know, like I said, cheesy. But you know, it was. I wish I had a camera to take pictures of our dusty group walking together to our last row. It sort of reminded of the scene from "Man in the Iron Mask" where the Musketeers have just been shot at in the prison. They come walking out of the smoke, a little ragged and injured a bit, but they persevere. I know, totally cheesy, but as I saw our ragged group trudge along to our extra and final row, I thought to myself, "This is what it is all about." People were enjoying friendships, families were enjoying being together, and everyone had that "put you shoulder to the wheel" mentality. I am so glad that we made it there.

Ashley's Bridal Shower

2010-08-30T13:57:00.000-07:00

So, this last Saturday we threw a bridal shower for my niece, Ashley. I think it was a great success . . .she got lots a goodies for her new married life. I can't believe that my little niece who used to crawl around on all fours, barking like a dog, and who used to say she was going to marry Gonzo (Yes that's the blue one from the Muppets with the long nose), is getting married in October! I do have to tell one story about her before I go. Shortly after I got my driver's license, I wanted to take her to the movies. She was probably three or four years old. We went to go see "Thumbelina" and when we sat down in the theater seats, she was too tiny to keep the seat from folding up on her! She had to sit on my lap for the whole movie. Well, she hasn't gown much since then. But she will be a beautiful little bride.

California

2010-08-25T14:25:00.000-07:00

This last Saturday we took a fun family trip up to Sequoia and Kings National Parks. It got me thinking about how many wonderful things there are about our state. On the way up we passed this beautiful citrus grove. I just love something about seeing lush green trees planted in rows on hills.

Where else can you go from seeing a beautifully kept grove of fruit trees to this?

I've spent a lot of time complaining about the state of California. It's just not the same California I grew up in. I can't tell you the number of times I've wished we could just move away and find that perfect quaint little town in a state that I felt was right to raise a family in. But I imagine that could be said of a lot of other places as well. There's so much that I wish we could change about how it is run. But for now, I've just got to think of the positive points this state has, and pray for the best.

Happy 3rd Birthday, William!

2010-08-14T20:18:00.000-07:00

Today William turned 3, and it has been a very busy day. The start of the day wasn't too fun for him, he was a bit under the weather, but felt much better by noon. Here he is shooting his brothers with his Buzz Lightyear gun, and the other picture he is holding his mini Book of Mormon. When we bought that for him on the way home from Utah, he kept saying "I love my Book of Mornin." It kept him occupied for about half an hour! We love you, little William!

I need a panini press

2010-08-13T14:59:00.000-07:00

All I've got to say is yummmm! Pound cake, strawberries and my new favorite, Nutella. I really need to find a panini press! I happened upon this yummy looking concoction while searching for Nutella recipes. Again, I can't claim that I came up with the idea, or that I took that delectable picture.

Examples

2010-08-09T15:31:00.000-07:00

I don't know if any of you do this, but as I was contemplating what we should cover in Family Home Evening tonight, I started to get that overwhelmed feeling. "A talk from General Conference," I thought, then, "well, something from gospel principles would be good." Then I thought to myself, "But there are so many stories from the scriptures the younger ones haven't heard yet." My mind started reeling with the thoughts of all the things we need to teach our children, things that we need to cover before we send them off into the world on their own. Then I thought, "thank goodness for teaching by example." Not that I'm saying that I'm a good example for my children, I know that I need to be a thousand times better. But it is nice to think that the example of those around my children can help to fill in the gaps where we haven't had time to cover all we've wanted to in verbal communication to our children. Whether it has been family, primary teachers, church leaders, school teachers - I'm glad that every once in awhile someone has been a good example to my boys.

Busy, but fun, summer

2010-07-30T15:41:00.000-07:00

I have to apologize for putting our whole summer so far into one post, but I don't get on the computer as much any more. We have been on the go quite a bit this summer. We started it out going to Yosemite the day after school got out. I would not recommend that. It was sooo crowded! But it was also beautiful weather and the falls were going full-blast.

This is where we ate lunch. There was no room at any picnic tables, but this spot was very serene.

After Yosemite, the boys and I went up to Shaver for an afternoon with grandparents and cousins. Now the boys want watercraft so they can zoom around the lake like other people we watched. We tried a little fishing, but the boys got tired of that and started throwing rocks into the lake. Then they tried throwing boulders.

Yes, they did get a little carried away there.
Here are some more shots from that trip.

Well, then we went to San Simeon for a few days, but I can't retrieve the pictures off that disc, so, oh well!
Then our last trip was to Southern Utah. It was very hot, but we got to visit some beautiful places. The two Dylans hiked, what would have been frightening for me, up to Angels Landing in Zion National Park. Here's some pictures, not taken by me, just to give you a taste of what it is like.

Yes, they hiked to the top of that. Maybe I could've done it a few years ago, but my fear of heights seems to get worse as I get older.

So much going on

2010-06-23T19:39:00.000-07:00

So, it's been awhile. I have been enjoying my summer and have been spending a lot less time on the computer. It must have something to do with all of those articles they keep having in the Ensign about appropriate internet usage or something like that. But in order to keep grandparents up to speed with photos, I have to post every once in awhile. So here it is. Our life from the past few weeks . . .
In the last week of school I had 3 award ceremonies to attend.

Michael received all of his Kindergarten awards and is ready for first grade!

Nathan received artist of the month and an award for getting straight A's all year, which he's managed his whole school career.

Dylan got a few awards, one was for getting straight A's in his 7th grade year, which he has been able to do his whole school career. (He's got me beat. I got my first "B" in 7th grade and was devastated!)
And William has been doing this . . .

and this . . .

Yes, that is a toilet seat on his head. All I can say is thank goodness it hasn't been used yet! Oh, and that shows what he thinks about toilet training:)

I'm the mother of a teenager!

2010-06-03T08:01:00.000-07:00

Well, today is Dylan Jr.'s 13th birthday, and it still hasn't sunk in. It seems like yesterday when he was walking through parking lots, naming every make of car. And going to Sears or Home Depot to name and study each vacuum cleaner. At least he doesn't want to grow up yet, so maybe he'll stay a kid longer instead of hitting teenage years full-stride. I often wonder, "What did I do to deserve this kid?" (Sometimes in a bad way, but most of the times I am thinking that with gratitude in my heart). Although he can be a little absent-minded sometimes, he is a very sweet and caring son and big brother. Happy Birthday, Dylan!

Michael is almost a first grader

2010-06-02T13:28:00.000-07:00

Today Dylan and I went to Michael's Kindergarten award ceremony. At the end they sang the cutest "Little Pig" song. It was like a blues song, so it wasn't like it was sentimental or anything, but I got tears in my eyes! They just kind of snuck up on me, I wasn't feeling emotional or anything. How will I be when the boys each graduate from High school?

In search of a recipe . . .

2010-05-27T15:55:00.000-07:00

Dylan has made some good friends at one of the medical groups he frequents. One of these women is an awesome cook. She has sent Dylan home with some out-of-this-world guacamole. It was so spicy, and it made an awesome burger. She also sent home some Pepsi chicken she made, and it was delicious. I instantly wanted more. It was also very spicy, yet had a sweet taste too. Around the holidays she makes tamales with this chicken and I am wishing we bought more than a dozen. The one problem is that she will not share her recipes, and she doesn't have any plans to open a restaurant any time soon, so I'm on the hunt. I've found several recipes for Pepsi chicken that were basically this:
PEPSI CHICKEN
Printed from COOKS.COM
1 cut-up chicken
1 stick butter
1 can Pepsi
1 (20 oz.) bottle ketchup
Salt and pepper to taste
Melt butter in electric skillet. Place chicken in skillet and pour Pepsi and ketchup over chicken. Cook at 250 degrees for 2 hours.

But, the spice is not in any of the recipes I find. I've thought about adding Cayenne chili powder to the recipe on my first attempt, but wanted to see if anyone out there had any suggestions. She might use a chili sauce instead of ketchup . . . hmm I really don't know. Any clues? Anyone?

New names

2010-05-19T14:35:00.000-07:00

I've become my mother and my grandmother. I'm constantly getting my boys' names mixed up, and I often run through 3 wrong names before calling each by their given name. Well, ever since Dylan and Nathan were little I found it easier to just call them "Thing 1" and "Thing 2". Then "Thing 3" and "Thing 4" came along. Well, Dylan Sr. happened to be in Florida for work last week and they were having dinner at Universal Studios (I know, poor thing) where he happened to find these t-shirts. Perfect! Who would have thought they'd have things 1-4?

Just what I needed

2010-05-13T12:43:00.000-07:00

I, just like all of you, have taught my children when they are young about opposites. Open, shut. Dark, light. Hot, cold. Well, it seems I've taught William too well about big and little. Just a minute ago, he grabbed his little diaper-clad bottom and said, "I have a little bum!" Then he came up to me and swatted my behind and said, "Mommy has a big bum!" Thankfully, he then asked, "Where is Daddy's big bum?" I replied, "Sitting at an airport, waiting to come home." At least I wasn't singled out.

a hodgepodge of things

2010-05-12T20:27:00.000-07:00

Dylan has been missing the boys this week, so I told him I'd post some photo's. Too bad I'm not getting them done until the day he gets home;) The first is of William with his new glasses. They are a darker blue, a little more round, and to my eyes they are a little more blurry. He is a tad bit more farsighted than before. But I think he looks very cute in them.
Next is Michael. Here he is after a day of kindergarten, just plain tuckered out. But he did get to drive the swather today and cut hay out at my parents farm. He was excited that he actually steered all on his own.

Then there's Nathan. This is him after I told him to stop procrastinating and start taking notes for his Biography project on Neil Armstrong. This is his "You caught me" and "I'll do what you say, mom," smile.

Here is Dylan. I wish I had a close-up of him, but this was taken tonight at an awards ceremony honoring a few kids who were chosen out of the district for Honors Choir. He likes to dress up in a tie. I'm sure that in a few years from now, he'll be sick of it.
Well, here they are. I'm sorry I didn't get them posted sooner. We love you, Dylan, and we'll see you soon!
By the way, I have no idea what I did to get the pictures like this!

Ready to go!

2010-05-04T18:56:00.001-07:00

We recently ordered new bike helmets for the boys in order to get ready for some family rides. When the doorbell rang and the boys saw that it was Fedex, they were tearing open those boxes in no time. Michael even decided to put Williams' on his head even before it was out of the package! They are chomping at the bit to go for a ride, but we're still waiting for the bike trailer to come. So a few more days of noses being pressed to the windows . . .

Just a thought . . .

2010-04-25T16:43:00.000-07:00

I've been reflecting on life lately, and I just wanted to share a few thoughts. I mentioned it a bit in my lesson the other day, so it may sound redundant if you were there. There are times in life where we all experience great disappointment, or where things just don't go how we want them to go. But if we've prayed and asked that the Lord's will be done, then there is nothing more to worry about. Those few words, in my mind, are the biggest safety net we could have. I really can't count the number of times in my life that things haven't gone the way I planned, but because we turn the outcome over to the Lord, it has always turned out much better for us.

A fun evening with the family

2010-04-12T12:55:00.000-07:00

For weeks now I've been trying to pin down a night when we could watch "The Princess and The Frog" as a family and have a fun New Orleans dinner to go with it. We finally got to do that last night. We had jambalaya (thanks to Zatarains)and beignets (thanks to Mom T. and Paula Deen) for dessert. The beignets are tasty little pillows of fried dough, sprinkled in powdered sugar that you dip in chocolate sauce or raspberry jam. They were really good! And the recipe makes a ton.

I don't think I'll ever go to New Orleans, but I've always been interested in the place. Maybe it's the look of the buildings with the wrought-iron balconies, or the look of the trees draped with moss, or it could be simply the descriptions of the food. Then again, it could be that when I think of New Orleans, I also think of Disneyland? Let's just say that I like other people's idea of New Orleans.
Here's the recipe that I stole from my mother-in-law and I think Paula Deen:
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups lukewarm water
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 envelope active dry yeast
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1 cup evaporated milk
7 cups bread flour
1/4 cup shortening
Nonstick spray
Oil, for deep-frying
3 cups confectioners' sugar
Directions
Mix water, sugar, and yeast in a large bowl and let sit for 10 minutes.

In another bowl, beat the eggs, salt and evaporated milk together. Mix egg mixture to the yeast mixture. In a separate bowl, measure out the bread flour. Add 3 cups of the flour to the yeast mixture and stir to combine. Add the shortening and continue to stir while adding the remaining flour. Remove dough from the bowl, place onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth. Spray a large bowl with nonstick spray. Put dough into the bowl and cover with plastic wrap or a towel. Let rise in a warm place for at least 2 hours.

Preheat oil in a deep-fryer (I used a pan since my deep-fryer is on the fritz) to 350 degrees F. They cook really quickly, so keep an eye on them.

Roll the dough out to about 1/4-inch thickness and cut into 1-inch squares. Deep-fry, flipping constantly, until they become a golden color. Drain on a paper towel, then sift powdered sugar on them and warm up your jam and chocolate sauce.

An embarrassing moment

2010-04-03T11:36:00.000-07:00

This morning started out as I had hoped . . . I got to sleep in! Complete bliss, but that didn't last long. I had a plan for this morning. I was going to start some laundry, then shower. I would then clean floors and sit down to watch General Conference. I had time . . . 45 minutes to be exact. Well, I was in the laundry room when I heard some odd knocking sound. I went out to the living room to investigate. 3 of the 4 boys were on the couch, with Nathan missing. What was he doing? Now, as a very relevant side note, I was not dressed at this point. Let's just say I had my underclothes on. What can I say, I had planned on making my trip to the laundry room a quick one. As another side note, in order to get from the side of the house that has the laundry room to the boys room, I have to pass by the front door and the small window by the front door. Just as I start to cross that line of view from the small window, that has no covering, I see the Elders through that window. "Oh, crap did they see me?" I ran straight to the laundry room, while saying a few choice words (none that would make a PG movie a PG-13, but let's just say they would have made a G-rated movie PG). As I booked it to the laundry room, I yelled to Dylan,"The Elders are here!" (Insert a few more choice words). Well, to make a long story short, I was stuck sitting on my dryer while Dylan finished his shower, entertained the Missionaries and then forgot about me. Yes, he forgot about me. I couldn't hear what was going on because the dryer was on, so 45 minutes later Dylan comes in and says,"What are you doing? The Elders left 10 minutes ago." He said that he told the boys to come and get me as he walked the missionaries out. Suffice it to say that I was a little upset. Then as I was getting ready to hop into a quick shower, Dylan Jr. calls into my room and says, "Oh, mom, the Elders left." No kidding, really? Let's just say my morning didn't go as planned.

A Great Easter Egg Coloring Tip

2010-03-27T20:10:00.000-07:00

I love my Family Fun magazine. This months issue had a great idea in it to help little ones color their Easter eggs without having to use a spoon or those little wire dipping tools that comes with the kit. Use a wire wisk instead! Just slip the egg between the wires, and your egg is nestled in a safe basket of wires! Less chance of breaking the egg as you dip it into your cup!

Catching up

2010-03-25T13:19:00.000-07:00

It has been a really long time since I've posted anything, as you can tell by the partially changed background with the St. Patrick's Day photo and music to match, I haven't had blogging as my #1 priority lately.
So what's been going on? Hmmm . . . Well, we helped Nathan finish his animal report this week. I searched several stores on Saturday looking for a silly Killer Whale figure to use for his habitat. All I could find was a stinkin' plush stuffed Orca. So, I thought, "use what you've got at home." Nathan loves Lego's, so we built it from scratch. I think it turned out pretty neat. Like the way we pulled the legs of a Lego monkey to turn it into a seal? And, the Orca is hinged so that it can bend as it bursts out of the water to catch that seal.

Something else that I have been really busy with is Family History. You know, you'd think it would be easy in this day and age, but all of my relatives seem to be from areas where there isn't a lot that has been put on Ancestry.com or any website for that matter. It can be so discouraging, but I've been able to get so many great stories from my grandma, and I've learned things I never knew about my family. Remember that movie, "Far and Away"? I had relatives who were in that 1889 Oklahoma land run. Another great result is that my family is very interested in their history, especially my dad. It's nice to have some help there.
Last, but not least, the house has been on the market for the past month. I think this is officially our 4th time trying to sell it. I'm ready to be done with it! We only keep doing this because we feel like we need more room, but I've gotten to the point where I've told myself, "I will be happy with either outcome." The Lord knows what is right for our family and I'm very confident that what is right for us will happen. And all of that stuff we've had in storage for over a year now? I can't even remember what is in there, so it's not like we need it immediately. We could probably recycle some of the boys' toys in there as Christmas presents, and they'd be none the wiser!
The boys are all looking forward to Spring break, and so am I! I just love not having that hectic morning schedule to deal with, and to be honest, I love having the boys home. Even when they argue, I just feel better when they are all home. Now, ask me how I feel by the end of next week, and I might just give you another answer!

All I can say is TGIF

2010-02-26T12:14:00.000-08:00

Thank goodness it is Friday, because I've had one heck of a week. You know, one of those weeks where you are so sleep deprived by the end of it that you don't know which way is up. I thought I was doing well today. I had Michael ready for school early and as we were headed out to the garage to take him to his afternoon kindergarten class, it dawned on me. "I don't have a car!" How could it not sink in that after dropping Nathan off at school this morning, I took Dylan's car and picked him up at Bingham Toyota because he dropped the minivan off there? How could I not realize that I needed to find some other way to get Michael to school when I kept thinking to myself, "I can't even go shopping because I don't have a car"? So, when I walked him to school, I had to get a tardy slip (which the poor guy was upset about because for some reason he has this fear of being late) and they asked me what the reason was for being late. Should I have said car problems, or brain problems?

It's a Girl!

2010-02-18T16:07:00.000-08:00

No, I'm not pregnant. You remember the dog we got months ago? You know, the one we thought was a boy because the breeder said it was? Well, it just dawned on us that Blooregard Q. Kazoo is a girl. That is a heck of a thing.

Now I know . . .

2010-02-10T13:43:00.000-08:00

. . . who to keep my eye on. Yesterday afternoon, Dylan and I were getting ready to go to the Temple. I'm putting mascara on as Nathan strolls in and says, "I know what we can do when we're older and you're going to the Temple! We can have a party and have lots of friends over!" I can see it now.

The Proposal

2010-02-04T13:39:00.000-08:00

No, this isn't an entry about the Sandra Bullock/Ryan Reynolds movie (which, by the way, I loved!). The 10th of this month marks the 15th anniversary of when Dylan proposed to me. It was a very clever proposal, I must say. You see, Dylan served his mission in Russia, for those of you who didn't know. While he was there, I waited for him. He must have known I was the one, because while he was there he had a special Russian nesting doll made. And, no, this picture isn't the doll. Each doll had a different picture painted on it that depicted a moment from our dating history, i.e. a prom, us at the coast, etc. The final, smallest doll had a picture of the Oakland Temple painted on it. This is what Dylan used to propose to me. When I got down to that last doll, there was the engagement ring around it, and he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. Soooo romantic! It's a good thing we tried so hard in the beginning to be romantic, because, let's just say it, who has time for romance now? So for those 2 people who read my blog ;) how did your spouse propose to you?

A new and easy recipe . . .

2010-01-26T13:32:00.000-08:00

I've been very blog lazy as of late, but here is a new, 3 ingredient recipe that my family really enjoyed.

1 pork tenderloin 2-4 pounds
1 can whole cranberry sauce
1 package of onion soup mix

Salt and pepper roast. Mix cranberry sauce and onion soup mix and heat in microwave for 1 minute. Cook roast in oven, or as I like to do, on rotisserie. Baste every 10 minutes with sauce mix for about 30 minutes!

Very easy, very good.

Apparently I'm a bad word.

2010-01-15T11:05:00.001-08:00

So, last night I was scolding one of the boys, can't remember which one, and William came up and starting sassing the brother that was being scolded. I told William to please stop and be quiet while I was talking. Well, that did not go over well at all. William then threw his glasses off, took his pajama bottoms off, then, while pointing his finger at me, said, "You're a bad word!"
Now, after giggling a bit at that and after he was dressed again, I started to wonder. Has one of the other boys said that same thing to one of his brothers, or has one of the boys called their brother a bad word in which the other retorted, "That's a bad word" while William was in their presence? Hmmm, this is one answer I don't want to know.

It's a good thing Santa already came . . .

2009-12-25T19:07:00.000-08:00

. . .because this is the mood that William was in by noon today! Not enough sleep!

Bad penmanship

2009-12-13T08:42:00.000-08:00

Yesterday afternoon, Dylan and I were in the bedroom wrapping presents. I had already wrapped a few when Nathan came walking in. Thankfully we weren't wrapping any of the kids presents at that time. As I was working on a present, Nathan asked, "Who's Farto?" I said, "What?!?" He replied, "This present says to Dylan Sr. from Farto." I looked at the gift, and it was one that I had made from "Santa", not Farto. But, it did kinda look like it said Farto. I've never had great penmanship.

A New Goal

2009-12-03T14:19:00.000-08:00

As I was going through my china cabinet looking for all of my favorite Christmas recipes, I realized that I had a lot of unused cookbooks. Most of them are just those small booklets that you see in line at the grocery store, and some are just blank books with collections of recipes on cards. So I've set a new goal for myself. I would like to pick a new recipe from one cookbook each week to try. I'll share them if they are good ones, like this Snickerdoodle recipe:
The Easiest Snickerdoodles Ever

2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 Betty Crocker Yellow Cake Mix
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
½ cup sugar
2 tsp. ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 375°. In a bowl combine vanilla, cake mix, oil and eggs. Stir until well blended. Combine sugar and cinnamon in shallow bowl. Form cookie dough into 1” balls. Roll balls in cinnamon sugar mixture. Place cookies on baking sheets and bake for 8-10 minutes until cookies are set and lightly browned. Remove to cooling rack.

This was from a long time ago, when I shopped at Albertsons. Every week they had a couple of new recipes in a card dispenser, and no matter what the recipe, I'd pick it up. Some of them look kind of questionable, but some looked really yummy. These cookies are good, and very quick to make if you don't have time for the real thing.

We caved!

2009-12-01T19:30:00.000-08:00

Well, we finally did it. We caved and got the boys a puppy. He is a Bassett Hound, (if you couldn't tell by his ears). His name is Blooregard Q. Kazoo, for those who don't watch Cartoon Network that is the name of a character from Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends. We call him Bloo for short. We almost named him Mort, after the little lemur from Penguins of Madagascar. Why? Because he loves feet. I was in the garage this morning with one shoe on and one shoe off, and he kept nipping at my foot in the sock! It was making me insane! It is fun to watch him trip over his own ears as he romps after the boys. We have had several, "Why did we do this?" moments, but the boys seem to love him.

Happy Birthday, Dylan!

2009-11-23T10:09:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to wish my hubby of almost 15 years a Happy 36th Birthday! I'm so blessed to have him as my husband. He is such a wonderful father, a great husband, and the best friend I could ever have (not to mention the most entertaining friend I've ever had). Happy Birthday! Yes, I put a Metallica song on my playlist, just for him. That shows how much I love him.

Why?

2009-11-08T19:17:00.000-08:00

I've asked myself that question several times today. Like when I was drinking my diet Dr. Pepper, and William asked Dylan to get a straw so he could drink my drink. And he had his own. I also asked myself "why?" when he started eating my beef stick and crackers, when not two feet away was a plate with his own on it. There was also the time today when I thought I would have a brief moment to myself where every woman should have solitude (on the toilet) and who walks in? Michael, asking me to close a ziplock bag. He literally walked past Dylan, who was in the kitchen at the time, to come and open the door to the toilet room to find me. Why? Why is it that the boys have never once gone to Dylan's side of the bed in the middle of the night when they've had a bad dream? Well, I can probably answer that one. Dylan sleeps through anything, even a television falling on his wife's head didn't wake him up (that's another post for another day). Oh, and there is also the occurance when one of the boys comes to bed with Dylan and I, like William did twice this last week, they always end up crowding me to the edge. It may sound like I'm complaining, but I'm not. It's kinda cute when William comes up and says, "I need a straw" or "can I have some?" I like that the boys know to come to me when they need help, just not when I'm in the bathroom. And I like having a cuddly little bundle snuggle up close to me in bed, even though I do not get a wink of sleep. I just wonder, why?

Michael is 6!

2009-11-03T12:36:00.001-08:00

I can't believe that Michael is already 6 and in Kindergarten. He's been so excited about his birthday. He has also been very kind about sharing his new toys with his brothers. He'll do anything so they will play with him. He was definitely our chubbiest baby, and he still has little baby cheeks! He and Nathan, (I like to call them my peanut butter and jelly sandwiched in the middle of 4 boys) always stick together, whether happy or fighting. Someday, he'd like to own a huge farm so he can drive big tractors. Happy birthday, our little Michael Boo!

If I had it to do all over again . . .

2009-10-21T14:39:00.000-07:00

Have you ever felt like you wished you could re-do your wedding reception all over again? I've felt that way for years. Each year new ideas come out and they are prettier than the year before. Well, my niece is getting married in a year, and I've volunteered to help. It is so hard to try to stay out of the way and not give too much input because it is so fun to think of ways you would decorate things! So, I'm trying to keep myself in check and do only what is asked of me. But I did have so much fun putting together this centerpiece for a test. Luckily, she liked it. Oh, and for those of you who are wondering, what I would have done differently is taken the money my parents offered us in lieu of a wedding reception and run! Just kidding. I did have fun at my reception, I just felt stressed.

One more recipe . . .

2009-10-15T14:23:00.000-07:00

O.k., this isn't really a recipe, it's more like the combination of two delicious items. Have you ever ordered Otis Spunkmeyer cookie dough from any fundraiser? Well, Dylan and I love to get their peanut butter cookie dough (preshaped and ready to go!) and when there is one minute left on the timer when baking, you place one Dove milk chocolate in the middle of each cookie. Let cool for however long you can stand to wait, and then enjoy the chocolatey, gooey happiness! Soooo good. And yes, I drool like Homer Simpson when thinking of them.

Memorable Recipes

2009-10-15T12:21:00.000-07:00

Isn't it wonderful when certain recipes bring back memories from the past? I was making some hot sandwiches that my mom used to make this time of year the other night, and it brought back all of these memories. First, there were the Friday's when my mom and grandma would get together to make a bunch of these sandwiches to take to the Friday night Clovis High football game (when my brother used to play). Those were fun, even though I've never been a big football fan. Then I remembered the Halloween parties I used to have! They were so fun! My sister-in-law would help me plan the haunted house for two weeks before they were held. We'd turn the back patio into a haunted parlor by draping black plastic from the patio roof. My parents usually had a lot of corn in their large garden that we'd take the group through, and one year we even had a haunted forest in the Eucalyptus trees where we had the wolfman hanging out. We never had a problem finding help, family members would always volunteer to dress up as Freddy Kruger or Jason wielding a chainsaw to scare my friends. And to think, sandwiches brought back all of these fond memories. They used to be called something like "Hot Crusty sandwiches", but I've renamed them to "Tasty Little Devils." They are really easy to make. Here's the recipe, and yes, I know. Just from the first few ingredients they sound like a gastrointestinal explosion waiting to happen, but those who've tried them really like them;)

2 4.5 oz. cans deviled ham
5 boiled eggs
1lb. Velveeta cheese, cubed
1 can chopped olives
1 can green chili's
Salt and Pepper
1-2 Tbsp mayonnaise to moisten
2 bags of 12 count Sweet French rolls (my favorite is Basque)

All you do is cube the eggs and cheese and combine the first 7 ingredients. Then you open the rolls and scoop out some of the bread to make a nice pocket. Fill each roll with about 2-3 Tbsp. of filling. Wrap each sandwich in foil, then cook at 350 for 20 min. Be careful, because the filling is very hot and rather messy.

Customer reviews

2009-10-08T14:13:00.000-07:00

Have you ever seen an infomercial, and just really, secretly wanted to purchase the product? When Dylan Jr. was a little tyke, we sent away for a video on some vacuum system that he would watch over and over. We have always told him that he is so gullible when it comes to infomercials. In reality, he gets it from me! Have you ever seen the commercial for the "Point and Paint"? Well, I broke down and bought it thinking that I'd surprise Dylan by having the bathroom painted while he's out of town. I just hated the thought of having to spend hours taping and masking just to have him spray it. Well, it wasn't too bad. It took about 3 hours, but I still have to do corners with a small brush. To be honest, the "Point and Paint" isn't too different from a roller, just not as messy. So, I didn't have to lay down one drop cloth or use any painters tape. It has its pros and cons, like where do I buy replacement pads? I couldn't paint nearly as fast as they claimed I could on the commercial, but all in all, I was satisfied.
Have you ever caved in and ordered an infomercial product? Was it good/bad?

Playin' a little hookie

2009-10-02T16:04:00.001-07:00

I don't know how long it's been since we've been out of town as a whole family, but we were able to get away this last week. We went to Laguna Niguel and to the happiest place on earth, which happened to be all decked out for Halloween. We had a nice view of the ocean from our room . . .

We even got to watch a sunset wedding right outside our patio on the grass overlooking the cliff. It was a fun trip . . . a long trip. I'm so glad to be home, though. Now I'm inspired to decorate my house for Halloween!

William is 2!

2009-08-15T15:17:00.000-07:00

I didn't get around to posting yesterday, on his real birthday, but I couldn't forget our little William. We are so blessed to have him in our lives. He always makes us smile, and always keeps me on my feet. Seriously, today I was chasing him through Target while he was pushing a Mega Blocks wagon around. Dylan just watched and laughed. Happy Birthday, my sweet William. Oh, and the new music is one of his favorite songs by the Imagination Movers.

Children's Book Review: Pizza Pat

2009-08-12T13:39:00.000-07:00

There are several book clubs for adult books, and websites for adult book reviews, but I read children's books more than adults books. I've found some that have become family favorites, and I've run into a few that I wish I didn't spend my money on. So, I thought every once in awhile I'll review a children's book, and maybe those of you who read my blog can suggest some good ones as well.
Now on to "Pizza Pat", by Rita Golden Gelman. This has been a family favorite since our first son, Dylan, received it in the mail from one of those book of the month clubs. It is so fun for the adult to read out loud, and the children find the words like "gloppy" and "sloppy" fun too. It can get to be a bit of a tongue twister, especially if you are trying to speed up the pace, but that makes it more enjoyable!
Poor Pat, he works so hard on making this pizza, but the mice who steal it are so fat and happy at the end that you don't feel bad for him too long. I would definitely recommend this one for those who enjoy reading out loud to their kids.

Long gone are the days . . .

2009-08-04T14:03:00.001-07:00

. . .when my calendar had days on it with no schedules!
. . .when I could spend an hour on the couch with the boys in the morning watching cartoons, cuddled up with them.
. . .when asked what I had planned for the day, I could reply, "nothing."
. . .when I could have a spontaneous outing or fun play activity.
. . .when I could take a long shower in the morning and take my time shaving my legs (now, some mornings, I do the "can it wait until tomorrow" feel along my legs).

Seriously, though, scheduled appointments go against everything I believe! My personality doesn't cope well with a full calendar, and I've tried hard for years to fight it. But with 4 boys, it is inevitable. Today was going to be my one day this week with nothing on my calendar but to pay one bill. Then, I had to schedule an unexpected doctor's visit for one son and as we were on our way out the door my other sons' teacher pulls up in front of the house. I completely forgot my youngest had his CITI kids appointment today! My brain is a "one-activity-a-day" type brain, and if there is too much going on, I just forget things like crazy. And I write things down! I have a calendar that I check every morning, but I still manage to forget things! How do people keep it together with such busy lives? Aren't stay-at-home mom's supposed to have more free time to get everything done?

I'm a basket case

2009-07-28T21:17:00.000-07:00

We've had a lot of women in the ward who have either had babies, or are about to have babies, and when you've made a baby flower basket for one, you don't want anyone else to feel left out. So, I've been busy with baskets . . .

This one was a very difficult one. This was for a mom who doesn't know the gender of her baby yet. There's not a lot out there that is neutral.

This one has a very cute toddler dress for the center flower.

This was the first boy basket I've done. I was actually surprised at how it turned out. I loved the blue color of the little baby mittens put together with the mini daffodils.

Happy 4th of July!

2009-07-02T16:28:00.000-07:00

I came upon this quote in a magazine that had included patriotic quotations in its' July issue. I just think it is a wonderful sentiment, and really makes me grateful for all who have made our freedoms possible

A craving . . .

2009-06-25T13:42:00.001-07:00

Can you crave a smell? Some things that I enjoyed so much when I was little growing up on a hay farm were the smells of it during the summer. At night my dad would turn on the sprinklers in the hayfield next to our house, and the first scent that would hit your senses was of the freshly dampened earth. I've always loved that smell. Especially if it was created by the beginning of a summer thunder storm. Just the first few minutes of the storm is when it smells the best, as the drops of rain kick up the powdery layer of dirt from the ground. I seriously craved this smell whenever I was pregnant.
Back to the hayfield, though. After the damp earth smell, I can recall the sweet smell of alfalfa hay. And the sound of the impact sprinklers would lull me to sleep, as each sprinkler head rotated slowly almost full circle, then sped up as it reversed rotation to return to back to the start. I remember that you could feel the nighttime temperature cool as soon as those sprinklers started up. I guess I miss more than just the smell.

A little getaway

2009-06-15T15:26:00.000-07:00

Friday Dylan and I took off for a quick getaway down to Pasadena for our Anniversary. For years I've wanted to see the Gamble House, so we decided why not now? This is a picture of the front of the house, with its beautiful art glass door.
This is the backside of the house, where you see Doc Brown from "Back to the Future" run down to his garage.

A beautiful clinker-brick wall surrounding a pond. Who is that handsome man?

This is one of the many Jacaronda trees that you see this time of year in Southern California. Aren't they beautiful? I wish that we were allowed to take pictures of the inside of the house. The wood work is gorgeous and the details that the architects, Charles and Henry Greene, put into the house is amazing. They not only designed the house, but the furniture, the light fixtures, the landscaping, the rugs, etc. When I worked for a group of architects, I would always hear about Frank Lloyd Wright and how wonderful his work was, but I say he has nothing on Greene and Greene. I know that's architecture blasphemy! It was a very fun getaway.

We've got a Romeo on our hands . . .

2009-06-10T14:12:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we were in the Verizon parking lot waiting while Dylan was talking to customer service. While I was out in the car with the boys, a girl walked out of the store. She looked like she was about 12 years old, and Nathan said, "Wow, she's HOT! She's by herself, so, can I walk her home?" I then replied, "She's way older than you!" He said, "No, she's about my age." This made me laugh, but it also surprised me at the same time because Nathan used to be such a quiet and shy boy! I don't know what to do. It made me think of that line that Short Round (is that his name?) said in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom - "Maybe he like the older women?"

14 Years!!!

2009-06-09T11:35:00.001-07:00

I can't believe that Dylan and I celebrate our 14th anniversary today. Plus, I've know Dylan for over half my life! He is my best friend, and the only one I can be the real "me" with. So much has happened in these last 14 years, and I wouldn't change a thing. I'm also glad that he didn't even get mad at me when I left all 4 windows down in his work car over-night! (What is with my brain!) By the way, that is the Oakland Temple pictured above, where we were sealed.

Dylan is 12!

2009-06-03T15:01:00.000-07:00

I can't believe my little Dylan is 12 today! I'm still having problems with my scanner, so no cute baby pictures or pictures of him doing his Batman face, but here's a few pictures of this handsome devil. I very clearly remember the night he was born. In the middle of the night I remember waking up and looking over at the basinett and seeing two huge, dark blue eyes staring out from all of his blankets. That was a sign of what was to come . . . he still hates to sleep. He wasn't ever really fussy, just awake. Awake from 8:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m., mind you. As he got older, he developed a great interest in things like vacuums, fans and cars. Every Sunday, when Dylan was 2, we would walk through the parking lot at church and he could name the name of each car just by looking at the symbol. He would love to go to Sears for an outing to look at vacuums, and impressed the salesmen by his knowledge of the name and make of each vacuum. Whenever he'd meet someone new, his first question was, "what kind of vacuum do you have?" And this was all at two years old! Dylan is such a sweet boy, always concerned for others, especially his family. We are very blessed to have him in our family.

I hit a wall . . .

2009-05-14T12:41:00.000-07:00

Well, after exercising for over 4 straight weeks now, I've hit a wall. I've been really good about it, 5 days a week, sometimes 3 times a day, and I've cut back on calorie intake too. So I decided to weigh myself yesterday. Big mistake! Not much of a difference. I was very disappointed. My husband tried to cheer me up by telling me I'm building muscle mass and toning up. That helped a little. I think the worst thing, though, was trying on shorts and capri's that I've been trying to fit back into, and they still don't fit. And to make it a double whammy, I think the little bit of weight I did lose came from my bustline! Not good for a person who is bustline challenged! My sister told me that's the first thing to go. So what am I going to do with that wall? Hopefully I'll decide to climb right over it and keep going.

Earworms

2009-05-12T14:07:00.000-07:00

Sounds like some kind of sick parasite, right? No, it's what Stephen King refers to as those songs that just get stuck in your head and you can't get them out. I read an article that he wrote about this in Entertainment Weekly, which I found to be pretty funny. Actually, the more articles of his that I read, the more I think that he and I are alike (scary, huh?). His earworm happened to be that Free Credit Report.com commercial where the guy is dressed as a pirate. I don't think that is too bad because I think those commercials are funny. My earworm is a little more irritating because I don't really understand the song! I don't listen to the radio that often, but when I do, this song always seems to be on! It is "Human" by The Killers. I hear it as I go to sleep. I hear it when I wake up in the morning. I hear it when I'm in the car with the stereo off! At first I liked it. But it's one of those songs that as you hum along and start thinking about the lyrics, you think, "What the heck does that mean?" "Are we human, or are we dancer?" It makes me crazy! I think what gets me the most is that the word dancer doesn't have an "s" at the end. Oh well, maybe it could be considered a step up from "Fruit Salad, Yummy Yummy" by the Wiggles that would go through my head for months a few years ago. Oh great, I think I just triggered something by typing the name of that song . . . .
Anyways, to the few of you who read this, what have been some of those earworms that irritate you? Maybe if I try singing the lyrics to them I'll be able to get rid of mine.

I've been tagged!

2009-04-30T15:38:00.000-07:00

O.K., this is the first time this has happened, but, thanks to mom, I have to list 6 unimportant things that make me happy, then tag 6 other people. Sorry to those of you who I tag. One question, though. If they are things that make you happy, then aren't they really important?

Hmmm. . . think about it.

My 6 things are:

1.The new verses of the diarrhea song that my boys come up with at the dinner table. (Please don't be offended, but my boys do bring me to tears with their whit and ability to rhyme).

2.When my husband takes the boys to school.

3.When my husband is home to bath the boys.

4.Pulling the boys out of school early tomorrow to go see X-Men Origins:Wolverine (More for the activity than the movie, although I am secretly anxious to see it!)

5.My secret stash of Dove chocolates (I'm trying to stick to dark chocolate because they're fewer calories;)

6.Having couch-potato fest on Thursday nights with my husband to watch My Name is Earl, The Office and Supernatural.

I tag:

1.Stephanie
2.Sunny
3.Sharlene
4.Heather
5.Brianne
6.Karyn

Sorry, guys. At least this isn't one of those things that tells you that you will not be happy for 6 years if you do not follow through.

Baby flower baskets

2009-04-28T16:26:00.000-07:00

Some family members have convinced me to add these to my blog. They are baby gift baskets. The one on the left has a dress as the center flower, a baby bonnet, socks, a shirt, and washcloths all made into flowers. The theme is pink and green. I've only made two so far, but they've been fun to make.

This one shows the bonnet better.

This one was done in lavenders and browns. It had a sundress style top as the main flower, with little pantaloons as smaller flowers in front/bottom. It also had onesies folded into roses.

This picture shows a onesie and a sock a little bit better.

Weaknesses

2009-04-26T15:30:00.000-07:00

Some of you may know that I teach in Relief Society, the Teachings for Our Times lessons to be exact. Funny that I get the one calling that I fear the most, right? Thankfully it has been a learning experience. I've never been a great teacher . . . I get too nervous and I feel like my lessons never really have a flow to them. I usually rely on my notes so much that I'm looking down most of the time, and not at the audience, which, by the way, is what gave me my first "C" in my life in Speach class in college. But I've really taken Ether 12:27 to heart where it says, "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." I'm beginning to understand this in a different light now. I decided to put this promise to the test, and have asked the Lord to help me with my lessons and help me to be a more competent teacher. I feel that He helped me in my lesson today. Instead of being so tied to my notes (namely relying on my own thoughts) I was able to let go of that crutch and rely on the Spirit a little bit more. I know this may seem small to some, but it was a big leap of faith for me. Bit by bit, the Lord is teaching me and helping me to be better at what I lack strength in. Maybe the next weakness I pray about will be staying away from that stash of Dove chocolates that I have hidden in the cabinet next to the Pantry:)

My little farm boys

2009-04-20T08:44:00.001-07:00

All of my boys have loved to drive tractors at some point in their lives, but none have kept that interest as long as Michael. He was looking forward to driving the swather with Papa for months, it seemed. He is already asking when he can go out to the farm again. You can see he is very serious about farming! I think this was the first time that William ever stepped foot on a tractor. My parents tell me that my dad used to put me to sleep on the tractor when I was a baby, so maybe it's in the genes.

Someday my Cheerios won't be soggy . . .

2009-04-16T13:13:00.001-07:00

Every morning it's the same thing . . . wake the boys up, figure out what they'll eat, make their breakfast, make their lunch, yell at them a few times so they won't be late, take them to school, get home and get the younger two fed, then get myself fed. Lately, I've been eating cereal for breakfast, mostly Honey Nut Cheerios (trying to be health-conscious). As soon as I sit down to the table with my bowl of cereal and my glass of chocolate milk, William starts to run over saying "eat, eat." I look into my bowl and think to myself, "How fast can you eat this before it gets soggy?" It's on. I race to shovel my spoonfuls of Cheerios into my mouth as William scales the chair, the table, and plops himself right on the table by my chocolate milk. Do I try to drink the milk first before he gets to it, or do I try to eat my cereal before it gets soggy? I go for the cereal. Wrong choice. William has his hand in my milk before I can set my spoon down. Now I've got to get up and get a paper towel to get him clean. While I'm getting the paper towel I realize, "I forgot the bowl of cereal!" Yep, his hands are in it too. I'm too tired to deal with it, so I sit back down, remove William from the table, and try to find the cereal that has not touched the milk yet because it's not soggy. Then I feel something being shoved into my side as William says, "read, read." He has one of his favorite books, and it happens to be a long one. I can't ignore him because he repeatedly shoves that book into my side saying, "bad day, bad day." So I pull him up into my lap and start reading Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. By the time we're done, my Cheerios are a lost cause. Someday my Cheerios won't be soggy. That will be a very sad day.

A small glimpse

2009-04-11T16:12:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago my son, Dylan taught me something, or perhaps I should say he made something that I've known for a long time now really sink in. You see, Dylan is off of Nintendo for awhile for reasons that I will not disclose, but suffice it to say that it has been and will be awhile before he'll play again. Well, the other week I took Nathan off of Nintendo as well. Dylan noticed how sad Nathan was, and he started to plead Nathan's case. He begged not for himself, but for me to forgive Nathan. I thought to myself, how many big brothers would do that very selfless act? Then it dawned on me that there is One who does this for us all of the time. The Savior is an intermediary for us, his brothers and sisters. How many times have I heard that, and yet it took this instance for it to really sink in.

What a fun week!

2009-04-09T16:56:00.000-07:00

This week has been a great one so far! Nathan was baptized on Tuesday, and we've been able to play with cousins, and cousins, and more cousins! Last night, after one such visit, the boys immediately said, "We miss them." They are already looking forward to Dave, Annette & girls in June. Plus, later this month we'll be able to see Suzanna & family! I have really enjoyed having the boys home from school.

Where is the one cord that I need?

2009-04-02T13:38:00.000-07:00

Since I've started blogging, I've been taking more pictures. Well, I've spent about 30 minutes looking for the cord to our camera so I can download them. I've found 6 different cords that I have no idea what they do! Why do we need so many cords? And what is the use of purchasing extra cords for something, like a TV, that already comes with its own cords? Yes, Dylan, I'm talking about you. Do any of your husbands get excited about different cables and/or cords? So, today I have a boring blog.

Happy 8th Birthday, Nathan!

2009-03-30T22:33:00.001-07:00

All About Nathan

2009-03-30T21:22:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe that Nathan has been with us for 8 years. He was our little miracle baby. After a few miscarriages, we found out I was pregnant. During an ultrasound, the doctor, who was supposed to be a specialist and was not my regular doctor, said that this would be another miscarriage. Thankfully, another doctor came into the room and said that it looked like a perfect pregnancy! We're so thankful that Nathan is a part of our family. He is such a good big brother,(when he's not getting into mischief with Michael, or should I say leading Michael to do the mischievious acts) especially to William. He looks up to his big brother, Dylan. He's quick to obey and is very patient (where did he get that from in our family?). I still need to scan his baby photos onto our computer so that you could see how he looked like a little baby gorilla! He's just a fun loving boy, who is often found saying, "Awesome!". He loves to build his Lego's, and he loves his chocolate-chip cookies. We are very blessed to have Nathan. Yes, and his birthday is the 31st, but I knew tomorrow would be to busy for me to do this.

Still trying to figure this out!

2009-03-30T13:58:00.000-07:00

Let's see if this works now.