Fun Times!

WOW! What a great day we had!

We went out to the lake with my sister and her family. We had eight kids and four parents. It was a fun day. Lots of water, sun and fun. What could be better?

Here are a few pictures.

Happy 4th of July

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!

I hope that you all get to play and enjoy the day! We are headed out to the lake with my sister and family. It should be a fun filled sunny day!

This is the mess I created in my basement while trying to get the storage room ready to be
transformed into a utility room!






This is my "garden of potential" or as Hubby calls it "the weed patch" It has needed some love for 2 1/2 years! I am going to get the weeds cut down! Then maybe I can start to make it have more than just potential. Anyone have any ideas?

The list shortens!

There is a man in my basement! He is cutting holes for a dryer vent!! Yeah, one more thing crossed off of my list!!

Hidden

Sorbitol is hidden in the darndest things! I was feeling good yesterday and then my sick stomach happened. I was trying and trying to think what I ate. I started doing research for Celiac disease.
This morning I was pouring little guy some Malt o Meal Strawberry coated mini wheats and the ingredients list popped out at me. There it was--Sorbitol. I had had a bowl of this yesterday. I am amazed at how many products it is in!

Sixteen Minutes!

I have posted before about how I have a serious problem. I need to go to a 12 step self help program. This problem causes so many difficulties in my life.

I am here to admit it----I AM A PROCRASTINATOR!

There I said it. I will hopefully be miraculously cured of all future problems with this debilitating disease.

I have made one small step towards a cure. The other night I came home from a party in which I took six children. Lucky for me, I didn't have to plan, decorate, mow, cook or clean for this party! However, it was late when we got home and I was about to walk out of the kitchen. I looked at the sink full of dirty dishes and almost left them there until morning. I STOPPED MYSELF! I decided to use a Flylady technique and time myself. I set my timer for 10 minutes. I unloaded the clean dishes and then loaded the stinky dishes in 9:28! I was so proud of myself. I then reset the timer for cleaning off the counter. It took me 6:00! So basically, I spent 16minutes Saturday night and I woke up to a clean kitchen. I have been working on this Smart Habit forever. I have talked about my counter more than once.

Have I mastered this habit? I don't think so. I think that it will be a constant struggle throughout my life. However, I know that if I can just think of things in short snippets of time I am more successful. 16 minutes, that is all it took!

I am going to have a vinyl word saying printed "JUST DO IT" It isn't just a theme for Nike. It is a theme for life!

I am crossing things off of my list!

Do you have a list of things that just eat at you? Those projects that you want to do but somehow take forever to accomplish? Well, I have talked about my list for a long time. My sweet hubby helped me yesterday and we almost finished the desk in the Big Girl's bedroom! We only had three finishing nails so we couldn't put the front molding up. She was so excited that she actually spent an hour with her friend and REALLY cleaned her bedroom. They made a huge difference! I am planning to get the rest of the supplies tomorrow so that we can finish it up and also so that we can install the desk in the Big Boy's bedroom. I have to get some more wood for the shelves and then we can mount those too.

After we spent the morning working on the desk I started the HUGE project of cleaning the furnace/storage room so that I can have my washer/dryer moved down there. I actually made an appointment with a cement cutter! We purchased the vent hose, the vent, the clamps!!!! I still have quite a bit of stuff to go through--I made a huge mess. Isn't it crazy that to fix a mess you often make another mess? However, I feel like I have actually made some progress on that huge list-it just makes me feel better!

(I can't figure out how to repost it here so check out the link--just skim to the bottom for the full list--I will also post pictures later!)

(Updated with Stacy Julian's links-just clink on them to check it out!)

Saturday-it seems to come so fast. I keep thinking that the summer is going so quickly. I want to sit and just enjoy it. I want to find a shady spot under a tree and read Anne of Green Gables. It is my favorite book/series ever. My Mom and I read the entire series many summers in a row. I need to do it again!

I have really had a very busy week. Where it is Smart Habit Saturday again I thought that I would look at what I have actually accomplished this week. I am really hard on myself so it is so easy to look at what I didn't get done.

Today I decided that I need to make a master list for all jobs that could possibly ever need done in this home. I KNOW all the things that need done. I have nightmares about the dirty baseboards and doorjams. I know that the hall closet is a crash waiting to happen. I can feel the clutter hiding behind closed doors in the furnace room. The problem? I am the only person that KNOWS what needs to be done. Everyone else walks around and looks at the dirty jam smeared across the wall and thinks "that is gross, Mom should really clean that up." Well, this Mom is tired of doing too much work!

So, what is my new Smart Habit Saturday habit? I am going to quit being the martyr and demand more from my family. My #2 said to me today after I had asked him to do his jobs--"Why do we have to do this? Kids aren't supposed to work!" I was ready to jump across the room and yell "that is the problem with our society, we have listened to people tell us that children shouldn't work. That is why we have 19-30 year olds that still live at home with their parents. They don't think that they should work!" Well, I am here to say that I feel that if you live in my house you have to help take care of it.

How am I going to get my family to buy in to this new regime? A really big 2x4 board! No,just kidding! One step at a time! However, I am going to us a technique that I learned in a former life as a special ed teacher. Detailed lists of tasks. I don't remember the official name of this method but we had to understand that many people just don't understand HOW to do some things. So, we have to break every task down into minute little details. I did this today for my two middle children. I made their lists about how/what to clean in the bathroom they are responsible for. I decided that I had to revamp the list to be so specific that it was ridiculous. However, if I have every little detail down on paper they can't argue that I didn't tell them to do it!

I am going to type these lists out so that I don't have to keep writing them. The benefit of this method is that I can add little things that seem to not be happening, more details if necessary.

Years ago I met a gal named Stacy Julian. I was her assistant at a scrapbooking convention. Since that time she has become the founding editor to Simple Scrapbooks Magazine. She travels, teaches etc. I totally respect this woman. She has five children. Four older boys and a brand new adopted little Korean girl. This woman is busy! She had to fly to SLC Ut often to do her job. Her husband is a busy doctor. This gal could just fly by the seat of her pants. However, she is so down to earth and simply organized that her life doesn't appear to be full of chaos.

Last week she posted on her blog about how she keeps her kids on schedule now that it is summer. I think that her ideas are fabulous! Check out Stacy's blog to get more details with pictures. I am thinking that I could have a clipboard somewhere in each bathroom with a checklist of what is supposed to be done when it is clean. I also think that I am going to have to make detailed lists of every cleaning job that happens in this home. I actually started a running list of those jobs that we do in those 2 minutes here and there. Things like--wipe down the baseboard in the bathrooom, wipe the smudges off the door, clean the garage door, clean cobwebs. The list is endless, however, if I don't write these things down, noone but me will ever know that they must be done.

So this week(despite the holiday) I am going to try and keep my kids picking up and doing the jobs that need done--because they live in this house!

For more SHS ideas check out the Lazy Organizer.

Progress!

This is what I have been doing this week!

Instead of this!

So, for the last 2 days I have been working on the mess that is my house and am feeling a bit more in control. If you walked in to my house today it would still look like a total disaster to you. You would not realize what I have done.

*15 loads of laundry

*huge flower bed weeded

*kitchen/dining room windowsills cleaned(yucky)

*baseboards and doorjams washed in utility/half bath

*3 out of 4 bathrooms cleaned(2 kids helped!) Windowsills and baseboards also!

*weed garden 1/2 mowed

*food fixed

*dishes unloaded and loaded 8 times

*made appointment with a cement cutter for my dryer move

All of these things are additional to the normal feeding, monitoring, reading, hugging, kissing and driving that has to happen if you have a family.

I have to toot my own horn occasionally. If I don't who will?

Laundry Woes!

Those of you with older children and more than 2---Do you have much laundry? Do you have your older children do their own? Do you have baskets for each child? What are your methods?

Laundry is ongoing so therefore it is never done! Luckily, I have a washer that heats the water and a dryer also! My Mom grew up when they had to heat the water on the coal stove and then use a wringer washer. We don't have it so bad--we just have too much!!!

Whose idea was this?

What a day! I decided that I was going to leave the mess(pictures should go here but my camera isn't hooked up!) and work on the built in desks for the kids bedrooms. After taking the Big Girl to tennis I started sanding the boards. I should have done this before I painted--hello. I know these things but sometimes we have brain cramps! Anyway, I started sanding and sanding and sanding. I then went back to pick up the Girl! I spent the next 7 hours working on painting stuff in the garage! Of course, during that time we had lunch, snacks, second lunch, snacks again. I also had to constantly be checking on the whereabouts of everyone. I really do understand why it costs so much to have people do work for you. The labor! These desks have taken more time than I ever dreamed. I haven't even installed them yet! I have only painted everything!
At 5:30 the sweet hubby comes home and looks at the mess in the garage and says "it looks like a true artist lives here!" I wish! At this point I start dinner, unload the dishwasher, load it back up--eewwh what was that smell? Clean off the counter and then feed everyone---on PAPER PLATES!
After dinner I decided that I was going to go and mow the weeds down in my "Garden of Potential." They are almost as tall as I am. This weed patch is not a tiny little spot, it is actually bigger than my old yard! I have grand plans for this wonderful space, just not the time (or help) to actually get to it. I used to be good at keeping the weeds sprayed with RoundUp and I also used pre-emergent stuff. Well,after having the baby I just haven't been able to get to it. Then the old lawn mower died. That was two summers ago! So, to say the least it is a mess! We bought a cheap push mower and I decided to go for it. I worked for at least 1 1/2 hours and got it 1/2 done! The mower and I ran out of gas.
After I mowed the weeds I decided to sit down and attack some of the weeds in my flower bed. It is a beautiful bed that surrounds our back patio. I got behind this spring, very behind and then I went to Germany for 10 days! That was the time that I usually do the early weeding--well, here we are, almost July and I am so paying for it! Oh,well!

So this has been a very busy day. My house is still a wreck, there is still laundry that isn't finished, but a few of the projects that weigh on me are a bit further down the road! Perhaps I will take a picture tomorrow of the "garden" with the mowing 1/2 finished, just to show how awful the weeds really are! I will have to hook up my camera! I have numerous pictures to share but, well-that is my life!

Oh! I was actually able to get into my wonderful big tub!(my back was killing me!) That is almost a miracle! Let's hope that tomorrow I can make some more progress! I just want to get these desks in and the shelves up! Laundry would also be good.

Help!

I am trying to work on my desk project. It is slow. I want to be able to just get it finished. However, I have the title of MOM. Therefore, I have to referee constantly. A distinct disadvantage of having children space so far apart. I just want to be able to have 3 days all by myself to finish some projects. I do need the handyman to help me! Okay, since that isn't going to happen in this lifetime I am living in a mess while trying to finish a project that I started an entire year ago!

Help!

It's Where Fun Is!

AMUSEMENT PARK! Those two words bring joy to the ears of children and total fear into the hearts of their parents!

Today I dared take my FOUR children to our local amusement park(Lagoon,Ut). My dear hubby bought us season passports. Wasn't that the sweetest thing a husband could do? Buy passports and tell you to all have fun(without him). There is one HUGE benefit of having season passes. You do not have to go from open until close! We got to the park at about 2:30 p.m and left at 5:30 p.m.! It was absolutely perfect timing! Everyone had gone on their favorite rides a time or two and they were all at that point that they needed to be fed real food and have a nap(particularly the Momma!) The next time we go we are going to go to the water park. It is just so hard to do both, it is just too tiring for the Mom and 2 year old.
This year is very different. The 7 yr old is tall enough and brave enough to go on almost any ride in the park-so that means that she can go with the 11 and 14 year olds and I can stay in kiddie land with the 2 year old! This works for me because I am getting old. Something happened to me having all these angels. I get sick on many of the rides that I used to love! Sometimes I am okay, but others--hold on! Today I about lost lunch on the flying aces. I really felt like I was going to lose it!
For any of you in the area, head on over to Lagoon-It's where fun is! (or so the adds say!)

Summertime fun

"Oh, what do you do in the summertime, when all the world is green?" Do any of you remember this song?
There is one line "and lazily dream and watch all the clouds go by? " I am hoping that I actually get a few days to do this!
We actually did have a very nice weekend. We went to the lake with seven children! It actually turned out good. They played in the water until they were totally waterlogged. We managed without much sunburn so that is a plus. My two nephews in from CO had so much fun. It was so fun to watch the cousins really become friends. They just don't get to see each other very much.

With so much playing in the sun my kids were all wiped out. All the kids exept the 2yr old fell asleep in church. It was rather funny.

Ok, I don't have anything wonderful to say!

FUN

Heading to the lake for a little overnighter. We will spend tomorrow playing in the water and sand. The boat is in for repairs(again) so we will be using the wave runners(which are a blast). We have at least 3 extra children going! it will be crazy! but good!

Girls Camp

Do any of you remember Girls Camp? Well, I got to go last night to spend the evening with my 14 year old at Girls camp.(church camp LDS for girls 12-18) It was a fun evening. It was so nice to see all the girls having so much fun. This time in their lives is so full of difficult choices that it is so refreshing to see them being fun and silly and just playing. I am so glad that the big girl went. Those that didn't really missed out on a great experience.

What day is it and what's my name?

Okay, it is Wednesday and my house looks like a bomb went off. What is new with that? you ask. Well, nothing and that is the problem!
We took the afternoon yesterday to go to the lake with the newly repaired boat. It was a perfect day, with warm temperatures and no wind. We drove into the middle of the lake and then swam, made sandwiches(with the handle of a comb-we washed it! I forgot the knife!). We were going to do some waterskiing when the boat acted badly. We barely made it back to the trailer! We have had such bad luck with this new toy. The friends we bought it from are so sick. They are not the type of people to sell something that doesn't work.

Last night our poochie started just screaming. We couldn't figure out what was wrong. It was as if something was biting her inside her ear. She was totally freaked out! I took her to the vet this morning and she had fox tail weeds inside her ear. So, she had to be put under to have them removed. One more thing to add to our nutty life! Poor little poochie, she is sleeping now. That was an expensive morning!

So, I have plans to work on my list but I can't get past this mess! Wish me luck!

Monday!

It's Monday already! We had a whirlwind trip starting Thursday morning. We took a young single adult group from hubbies church to Manti, Utah. There is an outside performance done there called the Mormon Miracle Pageant. It was incredible! We had a great evening and then we got up EARLY to go the the Temple. It was a very special day. We had a fireside that evening that was really powerful. Saturday we went to a large waterslide park. It was fun to watch everyone really having such a good time.
I am grateful that I was able to be a part of this activity. These are some really strong young people. They are in a very difficult stage of life. Most of them are really trying to live a good solid, strong life. They are all so smart and vibrant. It is fun to be with them.

Coming home is a shocker(as always). It is just so much of the same stuff. The same stuff that I struggle with always. So, trying not to dwell on it and just getting it done.

I was going to the gym, planning on a great spin class. Just as we turned the corner, almost to the gym, angel boy pukes! Eewwh! We had to drop off the big girl for tennis and then head home to clean the mess up! One of the many joys of motherhood!!!

200th post

This is my 200th post! That is a lot about nothing!

We are on our way to a huge singles ward activity-will be back Saturday!

A bit of progress!

Remember my big list? Well, as always, I am trying to accomplish a few things on that list. Since I am trying to be a finisher instead of just a starter I am looking at this list and trying to find things to cross off!

Well, today we have made a bit of progress!

On the list is to go through all 4 kids clothes and bedrooms. Well, today the big girl went through her clothes and got rid of two bags! Her cousin went through them and took one bag for herself! The big boy worked on his room(a miracle in itself) and he really made a difference. He is one of those kids that really could live in a huvel and it wouldn't phase him! We stripped his bed to wash so he didn't get it made yet but it was a huge step!!

Now, what have you finished? I am going to go and finish putting my laundry away!(Another small miracle!)

Baby Steps!

I have been thinking about "finishing." Today I went to the gym and came home and got busy cleaning up. My mop broke so I had to mop on my knees. My Mom used to always do this-I hated it! Well, I am glad that I know how because my floor was icky,sticky.

I am planning to start painting the wood for the desks tonight or tomorrow morning. We have baseball and softball tonight along with the ward Family Home Evening. I am not sure if I will be able to make it to FHE. I want to support hubbies ward as much as possible but I have to take care of home first. It is sometimes quite difficult to do it all!

I am going to go and call about the frames for the magnent boards, perhaps I can pick them up!
I am going to go and hang up the basket in my bathroom.

What are you finishing today?

Starter or Finisher?

Are you a starter or a finisher?

This was one of the topics in church today. The focus of the meeting was commitments. The question was asked, are you a starter or a finisher? I hate to say it but I am often a starter. I have great ideas, purchase the goods, make the plans and then never quite get it finished. I hate this about myself.

I believe that most of us are more like this than we would like to admit. I know people that have had rooms in their home in process for 11 years. All it needs is painted. I know another person who had this beautiful wallpaper purchased and stashed under a bed. When it was finally installed the receipt was in the bag--8 years! I have a wire basket shelf that I bought three maybe four years ago-it is supposed to go above my toilet. It is still sitting on my bedroom floor where it has kicked around all this time.

Why do we do this to ourselves? I know all of my excuses. I have too much laundry, dishes, errands, etc.etc. etc. Why do we make these excuses?

What other aspects of our lives do we start but not finish? Have we started reading our scriptures, intending to complete a book and then stopped midway? Have you ever started an exercise program and stuck with it for 3 weeks?

What does it take to be finishers instead of only starters?
I have thought of a few basic things--they are easy to type-hard to bring to fruition!

#1 Make a plan-what I want to accomplish
#2 How can it be accomplished?
#3 What is needed to accomplish it?
#4 What time frame is needed?
#5 Is it a one time project or a life project?
#6 Do I need someone else's help--if so, whom?

These are only a few off the top of my head. I know that this post is mainly for me. I have so many projects that I have wanted to do for years. I have to start just doing them. I bought a large metal star for my house LAST SUMMER! It has sat on my front porch ever since. I needed to have Hubby's help with a mason bit. Yesterday we were outside and I asked him again. He stood up, went and got the bit and mason screw and had it in in less than five minutes. An entire year and this project took less than five minutes! How many things do we put off that would take so little time?

What are some things that you have put off that you just need to take a few minutes to make a plan and accomplish it?

*I am going to make sure I have all the materials for the desks in the kids rooms-I am also going to get the wood all painted. I may not get them installed until after next week, because we will be gone Thurs-Saturday. I am going to get them finished
*I ordered frames for the metal magnetic boards--that I have had since last JULY. I just have to pick them up and do the finish work!
*Read my scriptures. I am very good at avoiding this. I come up with all kinds of lame excuses. They are the worst kind-if I have time to go to the gym, blog, read a book(oh, I don't do enough of that) I certainly have enough time to read my scriptures. They should be BEFORE the other things.

Are you committed? I didn't ask if you needed committed, are you committed to making your life what you want it? Are you willing to make the effort to get what you want out of life?

I will keep you posted on how I do. Awhile ago I wrote a SHS post about my lifestyle goals. I need to pull them out again and start again. Babysteps, we keep going, doing something! Avoiding gets us nowhere!

Saturday-Already?

Wow, this week has gone so fast! The first full week of summer vacation. We have played and played and made many messes. The weather was wonderful at the beginning and then turned COLD! I am hoping that we will get some more beautiful weather!

It is time again for Smart Habit Saturday sponsored by the Lazy Organizer my friend Lara.
This last week I decided to try and eliminate artificial sweeteners from my diet. Mainly this meant no more diet soda.

How have I done with this? I have done super!!! I have not had even ONE diet coke. I think I might have had a swallow of hubbies on Monday-not sure however. Since then I have not had any pop. I did break and have a bit of a REAL full sugar coke. It was so sweet it about gagged me! I also couldn't really enjoy it because I kept thinking of all the sugar in it. So, I am doing great. Also, I do think that it may actually have abit to do with my stomach problems. I have had a really good week. Not one really bad day. That is amazing. It isn't like I have problems every day but every few days. So, I am keeping a little log(maybe I should actually write it on paper instead of in my mind) about my stomach.

So, this week my new habit is to drink MORE WATER! Not terribly original but healthy. I did good this week but I feel like I should drink even more. I am going to figure out a way to chart how much I am actually drinking. Perhaps I have been drinking more than I thought!

My other main habit I have been working on all year is my counter. I did so so this week. It is just such a daily thing that I get so tired of it. It helps my attitude if it is clean so I know that I need to work harder on it.

Another habit that has been in process is exercising. I did quite lousy this week. I went Monday and Tuesday and then no more. I have to figure out how to get this to also be a habit again. It is more difficult now that I am dealing with all 4 of my children. I usually go in the morning after the big kids are in school. Now that they are home it is harder to get there. I don't want to make excuses, I just want to get there. So, a new emphasis this week-if I can't get to the gym I need to run from home!

If you are interested in more good ideas check out the Lazy Organizer.

Talents or short comings?

Do you ever feel like a real dork? Are you the one that is always bringing the cutest plate full of cookies or the neat little craft? I am so not that person. However, I want to be that person! Isn't that crazy? I want to be the one that knows all the cool recipes, has cute hair, my kids clothes are darling, I know just how to make this and make that. I feel like I am barely able to scrape together enough clean clothes that my family can put on, much less actually have them be cute!

What are your strengths? Have you ever actually written them down? I remember having to do this type of thing while in school. It is so easy to come up with our shortcomings, yet difficult to find our talents. Why is this?

So, I am going to try and think of some things that I am good at. Cooking is not one of them!!

My sweet spot!

My very first peonies are in bloom! I transplanted some peonies last year from the Master Gardeners garden(they were getting rid of them). I didn't know if they would live in our frozen climate. They are also a little finicky about being transplanted! They are so beautiful!

This picture was actually taken by 7 year old little Missy! She did a great job! If you look closely you can see that she even caught a bee in the picture!

I hope that you can enjoy a little beauty today!

(for those of you that don't know, you can click on an image and usually it will be enlarged so you can see it better!)

Extrinsic/Intrinsic

I have been thinking about what I should write. Then I thought about why I should or should not write. I have a friend who writes really entertaining posts. They are always a hit. I have decided that I am just not that funny! I have also read posts that are depressing(I rarely read them again if every entry is depressing).
So, why do I do this blog? Is it for my own ego? Is it to record my own thoughts? I don't really write down a lot of my deep inner thoughts because well, they are just too personal for the world to have access to. I don't blog about all the disagreements and squabbles that we have around our house. That would be depressing. So--what to write and why?

This is just me rambling! I don't know why, I just do. I do think that it has to do with ego! It is a strange thing to put a bit of info out there and let strangers read it. Weird actually!

Today was the two older kids spring piano recital. #1 broke(or sprained) her middle finger at softball the other night-so she didn't perform. This did not hurt her feelings considering she puts the piano right up there in importance with cleaning the toilet. #2 did play one number and he did really well. He really could learn to play well if he actually would realize his ability and practice. I struggle to have them practice. It is often such a struggle that I just forget. I really want them to be able to read music and play for enjoyment. I would also like them to be able to play hymns well enough that if they were somewhere where noone played the piano they could do it.

I don't know how to get this generation to value anything that one has to really work at. I believe that we are rewarded extrinsically so often that we don't understand WHY we do something. I want for my children to understand that they do things because it is the right thing to do, it makes them feel good inside, they learn from it, it helps someone else. I want them to understand things intrinsically. That is MUCH more difficult than it sounds.

We are all motivated by extrinsic forces. Sad but true! I want to change that. I am trying to drink more water because I KNOW that it is better for my body. It is hard for me. I want to really exercise hard because it is good for my heart and body-not just because it will make my butt smaller!

Today my little #3 girl needed to clean her room. She is a little crazy girl! She is a little flighty. She gets distracted very easily(I wonder where she gets that?) So, I went into her room and we made a list about what she needed to do to clean up her room. Pick up books, pick up garbage, etc. etc. It was amazing how well this worked for her. I have done this before with her and I know that it is the best way to help her focus. What I did however, after she came to me and said she had crossed off everything on the list, I asked her how she felt when her room looked so pretty? She said good. I want her to know that it is nice to live in a clean place.Not just because Mom wants it clean but because she feels more at peace when it is clean and tidy. She was so proud of her clean bedroom that she had to show her cousin(who's Mom has won the Clean Mom of the year for the last 12 years running!) Now to really get it to sink in. Does this happen in a home that seems to be bursting at the seems daily? I try,I really do try to keep a clean house. I am very poor at keeping my children on task. Therefore, often they just don't think. They drop anything and everything.

Being constant is the key. I realize this. HOW TO DO IT 24/7? Anyone have any really effective ideas?
#1 is to get rid of all the junk. I am going to start working on this again. It is amazing how much better my pantry has been since I organized it. I have a little bit of tweaking in there and a few more labels and I will take a picture--it is working-which is a miracle!
#2 I think that responsibility is also important. I just fail miserably at this. Making everyone be responsible. They just think that I will do it--usually I do. It makes me grumpy. I want to be happy and feel joy in my home.When I am doing too much work I don't feel like the nice Mommy I want to be. So, it is MY JOB to figure out how to really get my children to feel responsible for themselves and their stuff.

How Do I get them to feel responsible?

Suggestions? Please feel free to comment!

Rain,Rain,Rain

It is a dark, wet, dreary-rather depressing day here at the Chaos household. I tried to enlist help and it lasted for about 10 minutes. So-I hope that we get a bright and cheery day soon. A maid would also be nice!

How do you do it?

Are you a structured summer person or an unstructured summer person?
I am totally unstructured. To the point that my house is a wreck!(what's new?) Little boy wanted to be outside so out we went. I had actually planned to work on the mess that is my life. However, out we went. I did get some work done in my flowers. They are quite negelected this year. Between Hubby being gone so much and 4 kids I am always behind!
Oh, well!

So, how to you keep sane in the summer when you have older children, therefore more goings and comings?

June 3rd 1960

HAPPY 47TH ANNIVERSARY MOM!

I wish Dad were here to celebrate with you.
I love you

Smart Habit Saturday

Sunday-the end and the beginning. Tomorrow starts a new week. The first full week of summer vacation. That is good and bad. We are already tired. It is also difficult because of the ages of my children. Not sure yet how to keep everyone happy-including the Momma!

I haven't participated in Smart Habit Saturday for quite awhile. So I am going to jump in again. I am still working on everything-life is full of constants! My counter is still a challenge. I LOVE it when it is clean. It is just so much the center of everything that it is hard to keep clean. So, all the other potential habits are still there. I am adding a new one.

NO Artificial sweeteners. Which really means, no soda.

I have a lot of stomach/bowel problems(I know--too much information). I have been learning about a lot of artificial sweeteners. Particularly sorbitol and maltitol. These are common sweeteners in "Sugar Free" foods. Lots of products aimed at diabetics use these sweeteners. The problem is that they are known to have a laxative effect. The packages sometimes will ready, in tiny print "May cause a laxative effect in large quantities". Well, in my research, online and by personal experience, the term large quantities---is very, very misleading. Some people are so sensitive(me) that a piece of sugar free orbit gum (almost all gum now has sorbitol in it) will cause problems. Sorbitol is in all kinds of products, I found it in some granola bars, which I knew caused me problems, I just didn't know why. I thought it was the fiber in the oats.

So, why all this info? Well, my new habit is to stop drinking any soda. I have been a diet pop drinker. Not all the time, but enough that it is a regular habit. I have read that there is research that is supporting all kinds of problems with nutrasweet/aspertame. So, I am going to try to basically stick to water!

Wish me luck!

For more ideas check out the Lazy Organizer for others Smart Habit Saturday

Funny!

I found this Youtube video--you must click here and then watch it. It is hysterical!

Crazy Hair!

After a big day playing outside what could be better than a warm bath followed by a soft towel? Only a sweet boy with crazy hair!!

I need a nap

The first full day of summer vacation---I already need a break! We had a very late night and then went to lunch with all the cousins then they played and played and played-then we went to Shrek 3. It was cute but I am officially done with Shrek. Enough. We were going to go to the drive in but got vetoed. Came home and the kids played again. We had to drag them in! #2 has a ball game in the morning-I am already tired thinking about it!

Can I handle this much fun?

Summer has Begun!

Summer has officially begun at our house! We had a bbq outside, the kids played outside until it was dark and cold, the cousins have hung out, the adults visited(even with the blankets and jackets-it gets cold quickly at night here). It is late, late, late and some of this family is still awake, not just the Momma! Summer, endless summer!

We had a nice afternoon at my Mother in laws retirement party. Everyone said nice things and she was glad to have all of us there. Our Sister in Law came from Colorado--a total surprise! It was one of those priceless moments when she walked in-It made J cry!

I spoke to my brother yesterday. His daughter graduated this last week. How could that have happened? She was the darling little curly-headed girl at my wedding.
Remember when you were a teen and everyone always said how fast you were growing and you just looked at them like--NOT FAST ENOUGH! Well, I have completely crossed over. I have been out of highschool for more than 5 times longer than I was in highschool. My baby is 14 years old. I met my sweetie when I was *17*(yes, I was a very young graduate) OK, that is just icky to think that my daughter could meet someone within 3-5 years that she wants to spend her life with. Just for the record, I was almost 22 when we got married! When those little babies are placed in your arms you think that they will be yours forever. They are in your heart but the reality is that you really only get them as yours alone for about 10 years. After that they seem to start to separate from you. You have them in your home longer than that but it is not the same as when they were younger. I realize that this is a good thing. I don't want them living with me as adults. I want them to move out and have their own lives-but it is so hard to watch your babies become big people.

A favorite saying of mine is something that I struggle with-perhaps others do as well.
Enjoy the journey!

We have to take a few moments to just enjoy or those moments will be gone forever!

Date night

I got to go on a date last night with my sweetie! We went to a great Asian place called Pei Wei-fabulous!

I was just thinking about how glad I am that after---17 years! I still really, really like this guy! He is fun to go places with, talk to, walk with and anything else! I am just glad that he is with me in this crazy life!

Big Day!

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL!

We are also heading to my mother in laws retirement party! It should be a big day!

Desperate times!

The reality of life---NO TOILET PAPER!

I have to go to the store-no matter what! We are down to ONE roll of toilet paper and two diapers!

Remember my list? Well, I printed off another copy of it. I am determined to start getting a few of these things crossed off. I hate that I am a procrastinator! I just have to finish some things!

First thing-metal boards for the kids rooms. I actually called and made arrangements to have a frame made for them! Next is the desk-I am going to paint the wood on Friday(if we don't go to the zoo-we might have family in town.)

Here We Go!

Oh, My! School is almost out! Those six words either bring sheer joy or ultimate terror. Which camp are you? I am actually a bit of both. I am ready for a change of pace. Not quite so rigid of a schedule. Hanging outside in the evening, not worrying about bedtimes.
I also dread it. I have four children-yes, I did say four! That means that I have to have more food around, I have to cook more, clean more, monitor more, everything more!
So, here are a few things that I want to enjoy this summer.
*Go to the Zoo a few times
*Go to Lagoon--and try and enjoy it(it is still quite a chore for me)
*Go to the lake with the boat(once it gets fixed-bummer)
*Go to the drive in-we have one of the few left in the country--so much fun for the family.
*Go to Grandma's house
*play in my flowers
*color with sidewalk chalk
*read a good book(I don't know if this will ever happen again! I hate,hate being interrupted)
*scrapbook
*evening walks
*movies outside on the patio
*looking at the stars
*smelling the mountain air

What are you plans for summer?

What a whirlwind weekend!
We started out Friday evening after tennis lessons-we made it to the campground in good time. We made dinner, sat by a fire, roasted old marshmallows(they don't work well) and all those sit in the woods kind of things.
Saturday morning we realized that we had no life jackets(duh!). We called Poppa who is our life saver often and he came and we spent the morning on the water. The wind picked up terribly so we decided to get off the water. That was a nightmare. The wind was making the water have terrible waves. Try holding a boat away from the dock so it wouldn't bang the boat-not easy! As soon as we were loaded up and leaving the wind started to die down! Isn't that our luck? We went back to camp, had a nice lunch and decided to try it again. It was a nice afternoon. The water was ICE cold! The wild #2 children(mine and his cousin) rode the tube and loved it! We ate a nice supper and then headed home for the night. With hubbies church responsibilities he needed to be in church. So, we went to church and headed back Sunday evening. Unfortunately, Saturday after the boat ride we looked inside the motor compartment. It wasn't good. Water is getting into the motor-that is bad! So, no boat for Monday! Oh,well! We took the jet skis and had fun anyway.
Our kids are true water babies. They just love the water. I wasn't feeling the best, I caught little boys cold.
I am glad that we are able to spend time playing with our kids. I hope that they will want to continue to play with us-it is harder and harder once they get older. Our oldest already wants to go other places sometimes. We want to be the FUN place.

Now that I have bored you with my weekend I will stop!

I do miss going to the cemetery with my Mom. I have always been one to go with her and walk around and listen to the who and what. Memorial Day is a very special day to remember those that have fought for our freedoms and to celebrate those that have passed before.

Tired

I am exhausted! We had a great day yesterday! We went out on the lake with our new family toy. The water was COLD so I wasn't getting in. I am now just so tired that I cold use a 3 hour nap. WE will be going back to the campground to spend the night and then we will hit the water again tomorrow.

Can you please press the stop button?

My day!
7:00-8:13 --try and get #3 dressed, fed,hair combed and out the door.
8:14 breathe sigh of relief at sight of #3 getting on bus
8:45-decide I better get a move on getting myself ready
10:25 -take #4 to Grandpa's house
10:50-get to Dr.'s Office
11:00 -Time for appointment
11:00-12:05 take nap in freezing Dr's outer office
12:06 -go to inner office-get weighed(same as last year)
12:15- finally get taken into patient room
12:25- Dr. finally comes in-actually a very good visit.
1:00- leave Dr. office
1:15-go through Taco Time drive through
1:30 pick up #4 from Grandpa's
1:40-2:40 rock and cuddle #4 (sweetest spot of the day!)
3:45--feed the starving herd after school
4:00-load Suburban with blankets, coats, trike, bat, mits, cleats, dance shoes, diapers etc.etc.
4:14 #3 is picked up for dance practice
4:15 leave for baseball practice
4:30 drop off #2 for practice
4:35 meet #1 at middle school for art show
5:00 Asked if I am ready to start teaching. ?in all my spare time?5 positions she would let me choose from-ego booster, yes--however,not even a consideration yet.
5:15 take dinner back to ball field, look like a dork with all this food, watch #2 pitch
5:30 #3 comes from dance practice(neighbors turn to drive-next door to the ballfield)
6:15 take #1 to softball game
6:25 come back to get #2 from his game, barely make it in time for him to bat!
6:30 round up #3 from playground(again)
6:40 go back to #1 softball game
7:30 take #1 to dance practice
7:35 take #2 #3 #4 for an ice cream
(all of this take place in a two block area of our town--however, a bridge is being replaced so you have to go about a mile around every single time! We live 12 minutes away from town)
8:00 get home-start mowing lawn
8:15 run out of gas ---fill with gas
8:30 lawn mower dies, not finished mowing.
9:00 trying to get everyone into bed, everyone thinks they need a shower(they did but it was late!)
9:15 Dry off #3#2, lotion, jammies
9:20 say prayers with #3 #4 get them to bed #2 had already fallen asleep
9:25 #1 comes home from dance practice.
9:45 #1 says she is starving. Make a fried egg and toast
10:20 -GO TO BED #1

What a day!

ick!

Today-yearly doctor's appointment! Yuck!

Happy Birthday MOM!

I am the luckiest daughter in the world. I have the BEST MOM ever. Today is her birthday! She is beautiful, kind, helpful and just basically great!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy Birthday

Fourteen! How did that happen? My baby girl is 14 years old! Doesn't 14 years just sound like a long time? If someone says to you, "in 14 years we will have our house paid for." It sounds like a really, really long time. Hard to consider. I have a 14 year old daughter!
We spent her birthday shopping. I survived with only a few scratches! We did really well, we hit our local Ross store. We found t-shirts,shorts,skirts,a darling dress and all of them were a decent price!Of course, we also had to find shoes---shoes are so cute this year! It was a fun day. Hard to believe she is this old. To me she is still a little thing. However, I have to remember--when I was 14 I had a driver's license!(daytime only-Idaho) I am SO glad that she doesn't get one until she is 16! I am also glad that we live in the country so that she isn't just "wandering" around town.
She is beautiful, smart, funny, talented and my little girl-how did she get this big?

Clean Toilets!

I broke down again! Being gone so much last week my house was overwhelmingly dirty. I was trying to not freak out about it but I also was not making much progress.I usually have my kids do their chores, etc. However, we were way behind and it was getting to me. So, I called in reinforcements. I called my now 14 year old(happy birthday-how did that happen?) and her two friends. Will you help me clean the house? Will you pay us? (the normal answer for that is NO, you live here, we all clean.) Yes, I will pay you.
Desperate times call for desperate measures! So, three teenagers and one hour and I can move in my house again!
The best $18 I have spent in a long time!

What to do?

This is a really scary world. I have some information that I wish I didn't have. I know things that would shock and scare anyone over 35. Things that are so common place that I have a sick knot in my stomach most of the time.
How do we live in this horrible world but not be OF this terrible place? I know the basic answer to that question. Read my scriptures, say my prayers, listen to good music, keep myself away from evil---these are things we know. However, the reality is much harder. The reality of teaching children is so much more difficult. There is nowhere safe for our children except our homes-if we make them safe. I am not a homeschooler yet. However, I understand it and embrace it. I live in a community that looks good, it acts good, it has strong, devout people in it. Yet, it has the same horrible element that the rest of the world has. Unfortunately, I think that many of us are turning a blind eye to things.
Just a bit of depressing info for a Monday.

Do you Listen?

Wow, another week beginning!

Today was actually fairly calm-especially considering the week I had!



I had a long talk with my almost 14 year old daughter tonight. It was one of those talks, just random stuff that is important or not so important. Why am I telling you this? Because my first instinct was that it was way past bedtime. She is usually not a talker(to me) so I just let her. I am so glad that I did. I learned a few things that are quite important.



Do you think that many times we are just in too big of a hurry to listen? I know that I am. Sometimes after having #3 talking to me for hours I just want her to not talk anymore. Do you think that we are also like that with our Heavenly Father? We just don't take the time to listen. I know it is true for me.



With all the noise in our lives we have to make a concious effort to turn off the noise and listen. I am going to try harder this week to listen. Perhaps that will be a new habit that I am going to work on. Listening-to my children, Husband and my Heavenly Father.



(if you want to make some new habits go to the Lazy Organizer's site for Smart Habit Saturday)

Is it Friday?

What a week! We have been running ragged this entire week.

Monday-FHE-big hike,baseball practice, science project

Tuesday-Bishopric night - me speaking at Enrichment meeting-YW planting flowers

Wednesday-Wedding at Temple(45 minute drive), luncheon,switch cell phones, cubscouts, Weblos, back to reception(45 min drive), extra dance practice

Thursday-softball practice, two-softball games,#2 Piano lesson, driving little girls to dance practice, baseball game, older girls dance practice

Friday-Gym(I needed it badly) tennis,#2 moving sprinklers(first day), packing motorhome with food for dance competition tomorrow-heading to campground at Lagoon(amusement park).

Saturday-dance competition-spread throughout the day starting at 8:00am until 5:30pm!

That list doesn't include Daddy working,Mommies work- laundry, dishes, homework, showers,grocery shopping, food etc. etc. etc.!

May is such a crazy month for us. So many things are ending yet other things have already begun. Also, the mindset has changed. It is now summer and nice warm weather. We all want to be outside playing!

I have often heard people say that children are too overscheduled. I do not disagree. We have tried to not have too many things for each child. However, when you have 4 children, 2 parents, a dog, a house and a partridge in a pear tree---oh, wrong story! We as parents-or me as the mother, we are often running a lot. I am trying to just go with the flow. I am not feeling like I am doing that too well. However, I have a very messy house and I am trying to just do baby steps. I am trying to just accept this crazy week. We are all healthy! The messy floor isn't going to kill us. It might embarrass us but it won't kill us!

So, if you come to visit, please just step over the mess and love us anyway!(bringing Alice wouldn't hurt either)

Tired

Tired! I am so tired today! We went on a hike last night for Family Home Evening. It was supposed to be an easy little hike. Well, it was a beautiful, glorious hike-that was also twice as long as anticipated and four times as steep and rocky! We took little Missy with us. We started the hike at 7:00pm and got back to the car at 10:10! That was a late night. Missy should have been in bed hours before that! Oh, well, she did so great! She really was a trouper. My lower back is sore and Daddy's knee is really hurting. It was longer and harder than anticipated, yet, it was a really great hike.

I was feeling quite "wo is me" yesterday. For no real reason except that I have a messy house and it never seems to really change! The hike seemed to use some energy, perhaps get those endorphins going-which is so important. Perhaps I can keep focused and realize that the mess that is my life IS my life. It isn't who I am, but maintenance is just a fact of life. Not always a fun, exciting part but still vital!

I was tagged awhile ago for 7 things you wouldn't know about me.

1. I am the youngest of four
2. I went to college in Hawaii( and 4 other Universities!-yes, I was a flake)
3. When I was 12 I was hit by a truck while riding my bike. I landed on my face. Luckily, I had no head injury(maybe that is my problem, an undiagnosed head injury)just lacerations and a hurt knee-I spent 4 days in the hospital.
4. I have a college degree(elementary ed.& special ed) yet I don't know what I want to be when I grow up!
5. I am a wannabe photographer.
6. I was a state officer for Future Homemakers of America in HS. Too bad it was a leadership club more than a way of actually helping me to run my household!!
7. I am a scrapbook supply collector-I keep thinking that I am really going to have time to do my hobby. I love it but don't make time for it! I have to really restrain myself from purchasing things that I love, yet know that I won't be using anytime soon.

I don't actually know anyone to tag that hasn't been so---think of 7 things about yourself. Perhaps write them down. Your family might think they are funny in 15 years!

I am going to go and fold the MOUND of laundry that has accumulated. At least it is clean!

Monday

Just checking in--just in case you were worried! We have been busy, my house is a mess(what's new?) I spoke in church. We will continue in this pattern for the next---oh, 100 years!

I hope that you all had a wonderful Mother's Day. I forgot to take pictures of my little present for my Mom. It was a little mini album-it turned out so cute. It was from a kit and I really enjoyed doing it.

I better get back to laundry. It is overtaking my house-again!

Scouts

Have you ever felt like an underachiever? I sure did tonight! It was our monthly Pack Meeting for Cub Scouts. I am the Bear leader in our ward(church congregation). We have our meetings, the boys are passing off requirements, advancing, etc. Then I go to the meeting--and the Wolf leader has like 12 additional EXTRA awards that her group has earned. I didn't even know that there were other awards that they could earn!
I often feel like that old saying "a day late and a dollar short". Even right now my computer is typing slow, I hope that it isn't dying. I have pictures that are not backed up yet!

On to brighter things! I got the wood today for the desks in the kids bedrooms. I had purchased some melamine, but I just was not convinced that I was going to like it. So, I got it. My friend Lara is quite the powertool gal so she is going to help me with this project. I also got some more ribbon to finish the labels for my pantry. I realize that I am being obessive, will anyone but me ever realize that my ribbon doesn't match? No, however, I figure if I am going to as much work and thought to this pantry as I have been then I have to go with it. Interestingly, I am finding that with the baskets there just isn't as much extra "stuff" getting shoved in the pantry. That is the plan, a place for everything!

I was also tagged by Chrissy . I haven't ever been tagged before. I am suppose to come up with seven random things about myself. I have to think about this. I will try and do it tomorrow!

Well, Off to my bed! I am going to spin class again tomorrow. I am feeling very good about this but very bad about my weight. It is up not down. I think that I may have to really step something up. Perhaps cutting out the pepper jack cheese would be a good start! I think that I may need to add an evening run into my routine. I might be able to schedule it in more this summer, in all my free time!

Little Bits of Sunshine!

Fun Little Goodies!

I made a trip to Michael's today. I went to find more ribbon to match what I am using for labels in my pantry. Instead of ribbon I came home with these fun little treasures! The stamps are darling--best part? they were each $1! The cute flower brads? not $1 but still adorable! I could spend hundreds of dollars on scrapbooking stuff. I am a collector! I refrained today and this is all I walked out with. I told myself that I had to use some of my stash before I could add to it!!!

Just thought I would share my fun finds!

Help?

Do you remember a few months ago when I shared a picture of the basket FULL of stuff that I took off of the dryer? Well, it happened again!

Obviously, I have NOT figured out a method that actually works to keep my dryer top fairly clear. I am actually the offender in this case. I sit things on my dryer. I HATE IT!

Does anyone have any suggestions?

I FOUND MY STUDIO!

I DID IT! I went into my scrapbook studio and actually created! I almost completely finished a special project. I need to go and buy a decent pen(my artist girl found them and so they are not usuable!)
and then add a few more touches and it will be finished! It felt so good to actually create something. The best part? I didn't over analyze each little detail. I am terrible at overthinking the placement of everything! I would show you but it is a surprise for someone who actually reads this blog! I will take pictures and then share when it is given!!

Now that it is very very late--or early! I am going to go to bed!!

Just Do It!

Rain, Rain go away, come again another day! That is what rain makes me feel like. Tired, dark, droopey.

Most of my family has plans tonight which leaves me and the little guy home. I am thinking that I am going to wander to the basement to my studio and actually see what that great room has to offer! I have not been using it and it haunts me.
Tomorrow is National Scrapbook Day. It would be wonderful if I could actually scrapbook. I really love to document things but I have just been overwhelmed by life for a few years. I also realize that I use that as an excuse. I blog --a silly waste of time, I could probably use my time more wisely and do other things. I believe that often times we do what we want to---I have been making time to go to the gym, some people use the computer, plant gardens etc. Why don't I MAKE time to scrapbook? I like it, I have a special room, I have neat products to use. I have great pictures? What is the problem?

I am an "all or nothing"gal. I don't mean to be but I am. When I clean, I usually want to clean everything. All 4 bathrooms, all floors vacuumed, mopped, all bedrooms done, etc. etc. etc. etc. I think that I am this way with scrapbooking.
Years ago I was fortunate enough to go visit my Mom a few times a year and basically do nothing but scrapbook for 4-5 days. I started with one and then two little ones. They were little enough that they were either sleeping or content to play around Grandma and I. Once #3 came along #1 was seven years old. She was not content to just sit and play. She wanted to GO and PLAY. She had to be supervised, there ended my easy time of scrapbooking. #3 is now seven years old. She has very very few pages that are actually about her. I feel badly about this.

Instead of complaining I should be doing. What are some ways that I could actually get more scrapbooking done?

1. Stop wasting time on the computer. (it is a mindless time sucker)
2. Make a small plan.
*find a picture
*jot notes about it
*JUST DO IT!
3. Stop waiting until everything else is "caught up". That is a dream. It doesn't exist. There will always be laundry, dishes, vacuuming, dusting and dirty toilets. I run around doing the same things every day. I have to decide to do something different or I will continue as I have been doing for years! Today is the day for change!

What is holding you back? Do you have something that you have always wanted to do but you just think about it and never do it? I hate this part of my personality. I have ideas, ideas but no follow through. It is something that affects many of us. Let's all decide we are going to do something-----and actually JUST DO IT!

My Mom mentioned that she had always wanted to go parasailing---so, we went!!!

I am going to go and explore my studio!!!

Pantry---Again!!

Do any of you remember this picture? Well, I am ready to finish this project! It has been almost finished since before my trip. I have needed to label the baskets. I am still not sure how to go about doing this. I know that I am overthinking this process! My big girl said just get some big sticky labels and stick them on! However, I want it to look cute!

The baskets are already helping! Labels are needed however, because I am the only one that seems to realize that things go in certain places! Actually, the family is starting to "get" the placing of things. I have a few more little tweaks to do, not liking the looks of a few boxes but not sure what would work better! When it is finished I will take pictures and have the pantry's big debut!!!

What projects are you working on? I have a pantry to finish and a desk to build!

Progress!

Wow, it is so nice to be able to see my floors! Also to not see too many sticky messes that I knew had been there for much too long!


I worked hard all day. We stopped and read books to the little one, made meals, kissed boo boos, etc. but all in all it was a very productive day! Each of the three older kids came home to their very own lists with their chores on them. Interestingly, the 7 year old was the very best at just doing her jobs, she asked for more windows to clean! The big girl wasn't thrilled but she had a friend that wouldn't let her go outside until it was finished. Now, the 10 year old boy---he still has work to do! He is in the avoidance phase. So, his list today will have todays and what didn't get done yesterday! I am really going to try and stay on top of this method.


We discussed these chores before I went to Germany but it hadn't been ingrained yet. So, a new day--a new job. We all live in the house, we can all work together to keep it clean!


I actually kept a list of all that I did--you know that each one of those things crossed off actually had six steps inside of it to be completed!

Totally different subject---How to keep from snacking? I want to eat junk, all day, everyday! I went to spin class, had a great workout---now to stay motivated! How do you stay motivated to healthy living?

Little Blessings

I ask Angel baby "where are you from?" Angel baby says,"Jesus"

and then grabs his Momma's face, turns her head, moves her hair and kisses her cheek.

Now that is a good day!

Get it done!

Today is "suck it up and get it done day." My house is a wreck and I can't stand it any more! I can tell that nice weather has hit(yeah) because my children are outside so much that the "enter and drop" syndrome has come again! We enter the house and drop whatever we have---never to be thought about again!

I am going to refrain from posting pictures about my filth, it is just too embarassing. So, I am taking a day off from any errands or the gym to get this house liveable!

I did go to spin yesterday and used my new bike shoes. This was "power spin", it kicked my butt! I was wiped out! That is good, tomorrow I will hit aerobic spin and hopefully, I will get a run in this afternoon.

Wish me luck, I may be offline for awhile---life happens in my home not on the computer!!!

I want chocolate!

Today all my thoughts revolved around--CHOCOLATE! I wanted it so badly! I actually have some good German chocolate hiding in my house. I know this!

This is what I had instead!

A blackberry smoothie. Some milk, ice, a few frozen blackberries and a scoop of vanilla protein powder. Not calorie free, but I think that it was a better choice!!!

Tired

Do you ever look around and realize that you are outnumbered? Well, today has been one of those days for me. It has been a long weekend, no school on Friday. We worked ALL day Saturday in the yard. My flower beds were in desperate need of some love. I have a before picture--too tired to load it!

So, here is hoping that a new week brings much needed energy. I am trying to not enter the woa is me syndrome. It is so easy to enter but difficult to get out of.

What do you have planned?

I am going to go to spin class! I got some new bike shoes. Ones with clips in the bottom. Real bikers wear them, hopefully they will improve my form, who knows, perhaps I will get on the real bike hanging in my garage!!

Good night! Tomorrow is a big day. I hope that I can post something that means something, at least to me!!

Long Ride

How was the field trip? you ask. Well, imagine a busload of fourth graders driving for four hours. We did have a short bathroom break and a look see at the mud swallows. It really wasn't as awful as it sounds, however, it was a very long day. The main reason for the field trip was environmental awareness. We went to a bird refuge. Luckily, the kids really were very interested in the many, many birds flying around. After lunch at a park we went to the landfill and the burn plant. I actually found this very interesting. It made me want to learn more about recycling. We throw too much away---where is away? It doesn't just disappear!

For those of you that haven't known me forever, you might not realize that in a former life I was a teacher. I have an elementary education and special education degree. However, it has been 14 years since I was blessed with my first baby(wow, that sounds old). I am now out of practice. I was sitting in a seat with a boy that just really wanted to be friends with me. I struggled because I felt like the rude girl, I didn't want to be friends with him, I wanted to look out the window and not guess which restraunt he was thinking of! Later, there was another little boy who just talked too much. He wanted my ipod, my gum, my binoculars and my space!(and he was not my own child!) I actually had to finally find a new place to sit because he was directly behind me and he kept hitting me in the head. Not on purpose, he just has severe adhd and can't hold still. I just couldn't take it and had to move myself!

Remember how my boy WANTED me to go on this field trip? He could have cared less! He didn't sit by me, on the bus or at lunch! No holding Mommy's hand, no having Mom sit by you for lunch.

Oh, well! Mommy is not so cool!

Bus time!

What am I doing today? Fourth grade field trip, that's what! It is most likely the last time my big boy will really WANT his Mom to go-so, I get to ride the bus, eat a sack lunch and learn about birds!

Did you discover something that inspires you?

Inspire

What inspires you? Flowers, paintings, graphics, color? Since I am struggling with my messy house(just can't get "caught up" whatever that means!) I decided that I have to find a few things BEYOND my messes to inspire me.
I saw a beautiful sunset sky last night-all pink and dreamy.
My tulips are out in full glory.
Sun is bright and beautiful
Baby is talking to himself in his crib(instead of sleeping!)

Just a few! Better go attack the messies!
Go and find something beautiful!

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE BEST DADDY AND GUY IN THE WORLD! Too bad everyone isn't as lucky as we are!

A New Week!

It's over! It's gone! All the icky ickyness is gone! Daddy was still sick last night. He didn't get any time to rest because he had to go to church all day. He feels his responsibility so strongly. He came home at 6:00 and was asleep by 7:00pm. He was still fevering when I went to bed at 9:00pm. He awoke this morning like nothing had happened. Let's hope that it is totally gone and it doesn't return!

Now, back to reality! My house is a wreck, Grandma is so glad that she isn't here! I have to start attacking the list, it is a long, long list. It needs to be ammended because now it has outside things to add to it!

So, here is to a good week! The sun is suppose to shine all week!

Enough is Enough!

This bug has officially affected every member of this family. All six of us. We were hoping that the Daddy would be spared. No such luck. He started about 4 hours ago. Hopefully, it will finish up during the night, he will be spared some of the misery and will be great by morning!

The girls both felt pretty rough today but both managed to dance and do well! Poor little one had her face in the bowl minutes before they went on stage. We actually missed the dance, they were early, the coach talked to the judges and they let them dance again==they even announced that a sick little girl was here to dance-they did so well!

Hopefully, by tomorrow evening the news coming from this corner of the world will be much nicer than it has been since Wednesday! This is the first time EVER that something has gone through ALL SIX members of this family. I hope that it is the last!

Saga continues!

Four down--two to go! The little missy started early this morning. Big sister says her stomach hurts-we will see. I hope that the Daddy doesn't get it, it was awful for me.

We are going to a dance competition, hopefully we are all alright! Taking the motorhome to help!

Barf Saga (part 2)

The pukes have spread. I now officially have them. Angel boy still has them, projectile style! Gross, I know.

I need my Mommy!

Just a few more pictures from my trip. I know that you don't have a clue what they are about but, they were eye candy for me. Every scene was so amazing that we couldn't get enough. Between the two of us we took about 700 pictures!

We saw castles, cathedrals, medival castles, darling little villages, large villages, gated cities, secret gardens, weapons, gates, window, goats, little German men and women, nuns, etc. etc. etc.!!!

Barf Saga

How you know when you have crossed that line. That line in motherhood when the barf just hardly fases you. You see your darling little angel baby throwing up and you just grab a rag. Not a mad dash reaction, more like, oh here we go, more laundry kind of movement.
Poor little guy has the pukes. Big brother had it two days ago. It didn't last too long, but he was sure miserable. Nothing was able to stay in. I hope that the rest of the family doesn't get it. The girls have a dance competition on Saturday. That wouldn't be good if they were sick. The hand sanitizer is out and being used--at least by this Mommy!

Daddy has been in Florida, it has been warm and sunny. I am jealous. I am here, in the snow with barf.

I am Moving!

I am needing to move! I awoke this morning to EIGHT INCHES OF SNOW! It looks like a Christmas storm! My beautiful tulips are totally covered up. It is still coming down, a total blizzzard!

Tragedy

I know that we have all been traumatized by this tragedy at Virginia Tech. Every day we send our babies out into the world, without us. Hopeing that they will come home to us at the end of the day. Senseless acts of violence, innocent victims.
I remember on Sept. 11, the shock waves. I also remember thinking that we can not live in fear. If we cower and never leave our homes, never allow our children to experience the wonders of life that the evil wins.

Do not allow yourself to think that everyone in this world is bad. There is beauty to behold. We must look to the light to see the sunshine, even when there is a terrible shadow hovering above us.

Jet Lag!

The jet lag has hit! We were so lucky that we really didn't experience any at the other end--there was no time. There were sites to behold.

I am exhausted! I am fortunate, my wonderful Mom stayed at my house while I was gone and she had it in great shape when I got home. So lucky for me, there isn't a messy house or tons of laundry that needs done. It is also a good thing because I feel like my brain has been disconnected from my body!

My Sweetie had to leave early this morning(5:00) for a business trip to Florida. He and I were up at 4:00 AM!!! That is much too early for any human to be awake!

So, I am not terribly interesting--just tired! Hopefully, this will wear off after one really good night's sleep!

P.S. I did make it to the gym! I did spin class! I loved it last spring, and just haven't been able to get myself there early enough since school started last fall--It felt great! I am feeling terribly flabby and soft. I am having to recommit myself to my exercise. It has been so hit or miss since before we went on our cruise!

Home Sweet Home!

Wow, what a trip! We went and went for 10 solid days! We saw more churches and castles than I can count! It was a "life trip". I will remember it always!

I will give more details later! I am exhausted! However, I missed all of my babies and my sweet hubby so much--I am glad to be home!

I'm off to Germany!

I am off to GERMANY in thirty minutes! It has taken an act of Congress(at least help from the congressional office and lots of prayers) to get my friends passport. It has been a nightmare. One minute she isn't going, I'm not going, I'm flying alone, she will be there in a day, etc. etc. etc. I haven't flown by myself for many years, I was terribly nervous!

So, here is hoping that she will be at the airport today before 12:00!

Have a great time--I know I will!!!!

T

Love Notes!

Sweet. Theynk's hunny, Mommy needed that!

Eggs!

HOW FUN! and messy! Little Man and Missy had a great time decorating Easter eggs after conference on Sunday.

Don't they just scream out SPRING?