Back to School...finally!

As is normal for my life, we have been quite busy! We finally got the kiddies back to school on Friday. They both made it the entire day without incident! So far nobody else has seemed to be affected by the sickies.

Saturday we went to #2's football game. They won 42-0. That is a score that just makes you feel badly for the other team. Our team actually really tried to not run the score up. They tried to slow up and put people in different positions than normal. Such is life.

Saturday afternoon we went boating with my cousin, her hubby, four year old and 12 year old. It was a great afternoon. We had so much fun hanging out with them. She is like the little sister that I never had. She only had brothers so we were close when we were little.

It seems that this day-Monday consisted of about three days!

I MADE IT TO THE GYM!!!!! That is almost a miracle. This summer has just killed me. I got on the scale and it was frightening! I knew that I had gained weight. I am not that blind. However, to actually have the truth in front of me--it was awful. One good note, at this same weight two years ago, I wore two pants sizes bigger. So there is proof about muscle weighing more than fat. At least I had developed some muscle in the process and it helped me a bit! So, now back to a more normal routine. I have to really focus on exercising hard. I know that I need it. I also know that for some reason I am a slacker! It is so easy to tell myself to take a break, stop sooner, etc. I know that I have to work HARD!

My sweet little #4 needed a new bike. He had inherited the bike that has been in the family since #1 was about 3 years old. It has served us well. However, the tire is actually falling off. It is not the easiest thing to ride. So, today was the day.

He was so excited! We found him his bike and he rode it through the entire store! He even rode it out to the car. We had to take it inside with us once we got home. We then went to visit Grandma and Poppa. We had to wash the wheels and bring it back in. We took it to #1's tennis match(she won!) washed it again(dirty tires) and brought it back in. I think he likes it!

Here is a picture of my sweet little boy. Off exploring the world!

Changing Times

Times are changing.

I am not ready for all the changes that come to us in this life. My dear sweet 86 year old neighbor, Margaret, has lived in this little house since she was married. She was only around 16/17 when she got married. This little house was a little log cabin at the time. It has since had many additions to it. My sweet Margaret is no longer able to take care of herself in her home. She has moved to an assisted living center. This little home has been sold to a grandson and his young family. They have four little ones, first grade and younger.

Margaret has been an inspiration to me. I have always said that I want to be like her when I am old. She has had many hardships in her life. Her mother died when she was young. She helped raise her younger sister. Her father remarried and the stepmother wasn't terribly nice. She moved to a tiny little cabin with no indoor plumbing. She raised five children and helped her husband with their farm. He was a good man but a stubborn man(normal for his time). She has had cancer a few times. She had throat surgery and they accidentally cut her vocal chord. They didn't think she would ever be able to talk again, yet she did. She told me that she can't sing and she misses singing so much!

She has been a widow for 14 years. She has always been kind and loving. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren have loved coming to her home. She always had "paint with water" books for the kids to paint when they came to visit. They loved painting with Grandma. My little girl is friends with one of the great-granddaughters so she got to paint and play with "Grandma" quite a bit.

I remember talking to her on the street by the mailbox one day. I asked her how she was doing. She said "Oh, I am fine. I am just so slow. I am as slow as a turtle. I just wish that I could run! I love to run."

One day I recieved a phone call from the alert company that Margaret used. She had fallen and pushed her emergency button. She wasn't answering when they paged her. Could I go and check on her? I ran across the street and she was patiently sitting on the lawn hoping that someone would come and help her. Our motorhome was parked on the street in between our houses so we couldn't see her. She had been out watering and had slipped. She just didn't have the strength to get up. I was so glad that I had answered the phone. I was in a hurry getting ready to leave and I almost let it ring.

There are only a few things that are for certain in life. Death is one of them. As I am getting older I look around at the other people in my life that are also getting older. It saddens me so much. There are people in my life that are not young. I am not terribly young. I have had many people pass already in my life. I feel so sad when someone dies. This life is so short. The older we get the shorter it is! Every person I meet in my life has affected me. I am grateful for my knowledge that this isn't the end. That we can be with the people we love again.

My sweet Margaret has been one of the kindest, sweetest examples of what "enduring with grace" should look like. She has always spoken kindly, even of people that have been difficult in her life.

Our Sweet "Grandma Margaret" will be missed.

One Full Year!

I started this blog one year ago! The first day of school. I wondered why anyone would have a blog. What does the word blog mean anyway? Well, I have found that I actually enjoy it. I have found that I am a bit more aware of things that I might write about. Some things are funny and some serious. I have found a company (?blurps) that you actually upload your blog entries and they hard bind it. I think that is a great idea. This is a type of journal. It isn't my personal, personal things because well, that would be weird.

I don't have a huge fan base but I do have a few people that read regularly. So, keep reading and leave a comment occasionally!
I am going to continue writing because I am not doing so well in my personal journal. This will be better than nothing down the line when I am an old lady!

So, here is to another year!

First Day of School---or was it?

Today was the first day of school. For everyone except two of my children! They were both terribly sick with the stomach flu that is going around. There is also a terrible parasite epidemic going around from public swimming pools. We are hoping that we do not have that. The kids have been in public pools in the last month.

So, here is what my children looked like on their first day of school!

It is what day?

As I get older and older I am realizing how quickly time passes. When we were young a week seemed like such a long time. Now it is over before I know it!

Smart Habit Saturday is here once again. I am so proud of myself! This was a very hectic week for us. We had four weddings to attend, school shopping,tennis, football practice, etc. etc. etc. However, I feel like I really made progress on my habit for last week. That was to be a finisher, not just a starter. I am going to contine this for this next week. My little ones (and not so little) start school this week so it will be another busy week for us. I want to continue finishing all the projects that I have started.

This week I really did accomplish a lot, considering how busy we were!

*Huge load delivered to Desert Industries/DI (thrift store)

*Tons of stuff in garbage.

*All DVD/videos sorted and put into boxes.

*Went through #2's closet and got a huge bag to donate, another bag or two of garbage.

*Went through #1's closet and organized her mess! Put baskets on shelves with things separated.(I hope that the baskets will help)

*Got laundry room useable, baskets, hanging rod, etc.

*Laundry, laundry, laundry!(washed, folded and put away!!!)

This week I am hoping to continue in this fashion. I have many projects that I am working on.

*#2's room is still a dive-we have to work on his junk collection more.

*basement family room is almost complete-it has been a disaster since the laundry room switch. I am almost to the point that it looks like a room again.

*desks-I have to finish these! I need to go and get some more wood and paint it and then just spend the time(hopefully, with hubby's help and get them finished.)

There are numerous other projects on the list that I am hoping to get to. One more thing that has to go back on my list is going to the gym to workout. Summertime kills me! I just haven't worked out much this summer. I can feel it and see it! So that is going at the top of the list!

Want to join me? Be a finisher not just a starter! Check out Smart Habit Saturday with the Lazy Organizer.

Safety Drills

Those of you over 30-do you remember safety drills at school? They pretty much consisted of a fire drill where the bell rang and you followed your teacher out to the far fence. Then there was the earthquake drill where we got underneath our desks and held our heads. This was the extent of our safety drills.

Today my 14 year old daughter comes home to explain to me the drill that they had today. Those of you that homeschool-here is another reason for you to continue! It was a "shooter drill." The students knew what was happening, it was the first time they have done this type of drill so this was a type of "practice" practice drill. The students were in different places in the school. (school teams-regular classes start next week) They heard the sound of gunshots. They are first instructed to flee. They are to listen to where the shooter is and then decide if they can get to an exit. They are given other instructions also. My Girl knew that it was pretend and she still said that it was "so scary."

What has our world come to when we have to teach our children how to protect themselves from people coming into their schools with guns?

I went to High School in a different world. We lived in a rural community much like the one I now live in. Most of the families hunted and fished often. We had gun racks across the back windows of pickup trucks. Often those rack actually had guns in them, even in the school parking lot. Never one time did I ever wonder if I was safe. Never once did I wonder if someone would turn a gun on me or someone else in our school.

As my beautiful daughter was telling me this I had a sadness for her. We try as hard as we can to protect them. However, there is such evil that abounds that we cannot completely protect them from it. We all know that these types of drills are necessary. In the last years we have all witnessed too many similar incidents.

I pray that all of our children will only have to do "drills". I hope that they can live a life in which they feel safe. I hope that for all of us.

12 hours later!

What a whirlwind day!
We left our house at 9:30 am headed to a wedding in Manti, Utah. It is about 3 hours away. We stop and eat lunch, then continue on to the wedding. We arrive a bit early and then go to a beautiful Temple(LDS) sealing of two beautiful people. Cassie is a young girl who recently joined the LDS church and her sweet hubby is perfect for her. After the ceremony we waited and then went to the dinner. Hubby did a ring service for them because her parents weren't able to attend the wedding. It was lovely! Then we headed for home. Twelve hours after leaving we arrived! What a day!
Tomorrow morning we go to another wedding--only 1/2 hour away!

This is a very busy time but these weddings are wonderful. These are wonderful young adults that are making a huge step in their lives. It is always wonderful to participate in a Temple wedding!

Would you do it again?

Young Love. Do you remember when you got married? Do you remember the ceremony? The cake, flowers, pictures etc. etc. etc. I do(no pun intended!). Tonight we went to TWO receptions. They were both outside in yards and they were so lovely. My sweet husband thinks that the entire thing is just silly. I disagree. I do think that some of the things are a bit overboard, however, I look at these two people, so newly married. They are so full of hope and anticipation. The bride has spent hours and hours, perhaps years thinking and planning of this day. Why not make it special. (I don't mean 20 thousand dollars special!)

With all the weddings that we are now going to(4 this week) we see lots of different things. There are two things that I notice that are so much nicer than when I got married. The digital technology--therefore the videos that are made of pictures that have been taken while they are dating and also of them when they were little. Also, I think that the photography is better. I think that with the age of digital photography, a photographer can take so many more pictures that he will certainly get better pictures because he has more to choose from. Also, they can have many pictures displayed at a reception that were taken that morning at a wedding. I love that! One other thing that has changed is the actual guest book. These brides are so lucky! They have darling little scrapbooks that the guests sign. Some have picture frames but they are so much more personal than the old style guest books.

I am so glad that I am still with my sweet hubby. I am also so glad that every time I go to a wedding I look over at his handsome face and think to myself "I would do it all over in a second." Just with better pictures and more real flowers!

Freshly Sharpened

Back to School!
Does this bring happy thoughts to you?

I always loved to go back to school. I was excited to see my friends, my new teacher, a new outfit. Now as the Momma it isn't quite the same for me. However, one thing that I do love about back to school time is all the new school supplies!

Have you seen all the cute tablets, folders, pencils, crayons etc. etc. etc? I have to restrain myself from buying one of each because they are just so cute!
There is an older movie You've Got Mail with Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks. There is a line in it that I just love. It is something about a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils.

So, go and get yourself a new tablet, a pack of pencils and maybe even splurge and buy the big 67 pack of crayons---just for you. There is nothing better than a brand new box of crayons!

Making Progress!

Awhile back I wrote about being a starter not a finisher. Well, I have finished one very large project! My washer and dryer are now in my basement. The spot where they were is now clean. I have made the new utility room more effective by using sorting baskets and also a hanging rod! I hope that this step will help me feel a bit more in control of the mess in my kitchen/dining room.

So, what is your new habit? Mine is to be a finisher. I have some other projects that are in process. Going through movies and organizing them. Dejunking the Big boys room(ick!) Making a DI (thrift store) run.




Here are pictures to show proof of my accomplishments! To get more ideas Join Smart Habit Saturday at the Lazy Organizer.

Another Good Day!

We had a great day at the lake yesterday! The boat ran great, the weather was perfect, the water was good. All in all it was just a really good day!

I actually got up on the waterskiis! I have only skiied a few times in my life so this is a major accomplishment. Granted, I had absolutely no form but I was up! I had one really crazy crash in which I rolled across the water. I came out of the water with a bit of blood on my face. The ski must have hit me when I crashed. So, I have a really cute cut on my upperlip. It looks like I have a cold sore or something. I am hoping to get out again before it gets cold. I have to see if I can look a little bit more graceful!!!

We spent Friday night at the Relay for Life at our High School. It was lots of fun and also very emotional. We are going to try and sponsor/help a team next year.

This is what the Big Girl looked like all day Saturday after she spent the entire night at the Relay! She was wiped out.

Public Service Announcement

When was the last time you pulled your washer and dryer out and cleaned behind and underneath them?

I have lived in my house for six years and haven't done it ever. I have pulled the things out that fall behind it on occasion. But actually taking them out and cleaning underneath? Never!

This is a public service announcement. Go and pull out your dryer and check your vent hose. We are in process of moving the washer/dryer to my basement utility room so we pulled them out the other night. We were shocked by what we found. Our dryer vent hose was completely broken! When you would look back there it looked fine because it was squished a bit. However, if it is completely open imagine what fumes were escaping. I am a believer in Divine Intervention. I think that there was a reason we moved the dryer at 10:30 PM. I am grateful that we didn't have any situations because of the vent.

Go and really check your dryer vent hose--make sure it hasn't got holes or cracks in it. New hose is cheap.

This is a picture of what it looks like under the washer and dryer. This is actually a cleaned up version. The clothes, newspaper have already been removed. Gross, I know! Go clean under yours!!

It's Happening!

I am making progress! My list is getting checked off! I will update with pictures!

The items in red I have done!!!

Move washer and dryer downstairs
-call for cement cutter
-get long exhaust hose
*Put all decorations away in furnace room. Christmas/February/Easter etc.Make sure they are all marked well.
*Move both freezers
*Build Desks in bedrooms(one almost finished!)
*Completely go through pantry-everything put where it goes. (This was major-I worked on it for an entire week)-containers-label all baskets
*Studio/Scrapbook room-go through all the piles, dejunk, put everything in working order.(this is a huge project) (can see floor-a start)
*Clean garage--Winter stuff put away-shoes-throw away old-snowboards/skis up on brackets
*Re-organize hall closet
*Coat closet
*Clean fridge (looks so nice, icky-sticky gone!)
*sort toys-parts with parts(donate many)
*Go through each child(4) bedroom and sort all clothes and toys
*Hang up shelves in kids bedrooms*Hang up name plaques and letters
*Sort books
*Clean off bulletin board (This has to be done ALL the time, it is the catch all and art gallery)*Back up photos-burn cd’s
*pictures into albums*print digital photos
*go through lazy susan
*sort/discard old scrapbook magazines (my friend was thrilled to have them!)
*go through craft boxes in pantry (I went through every sack-reduced from 2 totes to 1)

Registration

I can't believe it. I am registering my baby for High School today! How did this happen? I very vividly remember High School. I felt so mature. I was actually driving at 14!(I know, scary).
I have a High Schooler. Woah, weird.

Tent Tales

Strange picture?

This tent was used one year ago. My hubby and son went to scout camp. While at camp my then 9 year old ate and ate and ate. He just kept shoveling the deep fried fish, mushrooms etc. into his mouth. At 2:00AM he rolls over(no extra space in a 2-man tent) and pukes all over my hubby. Son then rolls back over and goes back to sleep!

My poor husband had to get out of the tent and clean it the best he could. Then at 6:00 am he was washing everything out in the river.

Why am I showing you this tent one year later? Well, when my men came home from camp and shared the experience with me. I said (in my best motherly way) "you better take the tent out , wash it and let it air out."

Well, that tent sat on the garage floor where hubby dumped it(where the shoes go) until I moved it out of the way.

Saturday, my hubby decided to open up the tent. First thing he said "that tent is disgusting!" He then proceeds to ask me how to clean mold out of it. It was all I could do to not tell him "I told you so!"

Brighter day!

Today has been a bit brighter than yesterday. Thanks for the kind wishes. Sometimes being the Mom is not always fun. However, I always love my children and am grateful for them. I am also wondering what I am supposed to learn from this challenge. I believe that with every trial we have in our lives there is a lesson to be learned.

Calgon, take me away!

Ever want to run away? I do today. I have a 7 year old that is pushing her limits. She has been a very, very difficult child for the last 2 1/2 years. She has a terrible middle child situation.

I am at the end of my rope with her. I would like her to go and visit someone for the next three weeks.

Any suggestions?

Smart Habit Saturday

I have not posted anything for Smart Habit Saturday for awhile. I have been trying to work on my list. I have made tiny bits of progress. However, completion on any project is evading me!


I am hoping that this week I can really focus on a few projects and complete them. There are so many other things that also have to be done this time of year to prepare for school.


I have also been thinking about one of my older habits-making my kids be more responsible. Well, that comes and goes. We were out of town visiting and it was very difficult because it isn't their normal. So, that will go back on the front burner. I have to get them to focus again. Little things like putting their shoes away. Hanging up their jackets and backpacks. We have lived in this house for six years and we have had a shoe shelf that entire time. We also have hooks for coats and backpacks. After all this time one would think that it would automatically happen. Shoes would be put on the shelf. Well, it doesn't. Mr. #2 is the very worst. I will say, pick up your shoes and go and put them on the shelf. DO NOT THROW THEM. He will open the door and throw them! Just today I had to make him walk back out and actually put them on the shelf. He had every pair of shoes he owns dropped on the floor.



So I will continue to work on having the kids be more responsible. For their own things and for the house.


I am also going to reevaluate how I waste my time so that I can be more productive.


I hope that you are all working on some great habits.


OH!! awhile ago I posted about a person that hadn't finished painting a room in 11 years. Well, she read my post and figured out it was her--surprised her to think that it was that long---anyway she is painting!! It looks wonderful and is almost finished! Now if only I could finish some of my projects!!!



For more great ideas check out the Lazy Organizer.

Let Her Wave

This was the view from my front yard tonight as I helped Hubby empty out the boat from our afternoon on the lake.

Funny thing--it is the first picture I took of about six and it is my favorite.

As summer begins to wind down(school is starting very soon) let's not forget about those that are serving our country.

We are blessed.

Carageenan Update

Updated again! October 15, 2008

I have a meter that monitors visitors to my site. It is often a search done on Carageenan. So, I thought that I would add a few additions to this list. I hope that anyone reading this blog can leave with some information that helps them. I know that learning about carageenan has helped me! I had unexplained stomach issues for more than 11 years!

*Carageenan is actually spelled carrageenan---I have left it because I have at least 2-4 people a day do a search with this spelling.

*I have discovered that Haagen Das ice cream does NOT have carrageenan in it! Yeah!

*Ben and Jerry's ice cream DOES have it in it!

* I have discovered another sugar alchohol that makes me sick. Ethanol---as in corn alchohol! I found it in some(not all) of Fiber One granola bars. If you have a problem with carageenan you may also be sensitive to sorbitol, maltitol, ethanol.

-Another installment in my stomach issues!

I wrote earlier about Carageenan, here is the latest!

Carageenan is found in many, many products. I have been doing a little research about carageenan and it is quite disheartening. It has links to ulcerative colitus, colon cancer and many stomach issues.

I have found a few other products that have carageenan in them. Sour cream---not all sour cream--I found this out because the tub I bought didn't have it so I thought sour cream was safe. I went to a Mexican place and had the sour cream. The next day I was sick. Still didn't connect it. I was looking in my Mom's fridge and she said that the sour cream probably has it in it. I said no--but looked. It DID have it in it. So, I looked at the local store. All the brands that store carried except DAISY had carageenan in it.

Why am I writing all this down? Because I hope that if someone does a search about Carageenan that they might find my site and it might help them.

Other products that I have found Carageenan in:

whipping cream -read labels, one local company doesn't use it.

sour cream -Daisy brand does not have it.

ice cream -Bryer's all-natural does not have it ---Costco brand vanilla does NOT have it in it!

frozen yogurt -ice cream type

almost all soft serve ice cream or frozen yogurt has it

cottage cheese -I have only have Knudsen's that doesn't have it, but have only found it in individual containers.

soy milk products(read labels)

granola bars -not all but some

condensed milk(if it has this on a label it still may contain carrageenan even if it isn't listed) -I have found that regular evaporated milk has carageenan but skim/fat free does not.Think about pumpkin pie before you just go ahead and eat it!

powdered chocolate milk--Nestle does have it (Western Family powdered milk does NOT)

premade chocolate and strawberry milks, this includes many of the canned meal replacement drinks.

Turkey sandwich meats (not all, but many) it is in the brown jelly like coating.

Many store bought or restaurant cheescakes have it. Went to the Cheesecake factory--yes theirs does have it.

I know that this seems a bit wacky but I have had strange stomach problems for 11 years. No real explanation. Since I have discovered the problems with sorbitol and carageenan I have had very few unexplained stomach problems. I hope that this can help someone.

If you have discovered Caragennan or sorbitol in other foods please leave me a comment on my current blog posting. My little corner of chaos.

Beauty

Beauty is everywhere. I believe that it is the handiwork of our Heavenly Parents. I seem to be a bit stretched thin lately so I am trying to notice the little bits of beauty all around us. While doing this I am hoping that my heart is opened and softened so that I can feel His love.

Digging Out

Still feeling overwhelmed but not as deep today. That is a good thing.

I find that it is so easy to wallow in sewers of self pity. Why? Must just be the Dev*l trying to win once again. So, trying to dig myself out of my sewer pit so that my house doesn't continue to look like one!

Normal stuff. I still have my huge list that I want to work on. We are just so busy that it is difficult for me to ask hubby to help. He is stretched so thin all the time with his responsibilities that I don't want to add "my" projects onto his.

Well, the mess is calling! I won't say what it is calling!

Today

Still tired. Still overwhelmed.

I have more to do than hours in the day. I don't even know where to begin. Drained.

Home

I am home. Home is good.

We came home from my Mom's house on Saturday. It is always nice to go away and always nicer to come back home!

Today I am tired. Mentally and physically tired. I am trying to psyche myself up for a really busy, productive month. August is a busy month(which isn't?) Football starts, school prep starts, we need to play as much as possible because winter is coming, etc. etc. etc.!

I actually had thoughts about Christmas today. Thinking that California would be a nice place to spend it! What do you think?

Well, nothing profound or terribly informational today!!

When Did I become an expert?

There are people that are really, really smart. Those people that know how to do all things possible on computers, digital photography, photoshop,etc. I AM NOT ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE! I am quite computer illiterate. Just ask Lara. I am always asking her how to do things on my blog!

Well, today I spent a couple of hours updating my Mother's Ipod. Yes, my Mom has an ipod! However, she is even more terrified of computers than I am! So, when I convinced her that she would enjoy an ipod, I guess that it became an unwritten rule that I would take care of the programming needed on it! So, somehow, I am now an expert! That is laughable! I have a friend in the student ward (LDS church congregation) who is really a techno geek(said in the nicest way possible) . When I discovered his love of his Ipod I started to ask him questions. So, I have learned a few things.

When I was in High School I was like most kids. I wondered why we had to take algebra, chemistry etc. I now understand! Knowledge is Power! The most important thing that I have learned is that I don't have to know everything, I just have to know how to find the answers! So, I find the people that know the answers! Thanks, Nate!

Now if I could just get my Mom to take the digital camera out of the case and use it! It won't blow up! Be brave, take a chance! You can do it, I know you can!

Life in a Small Town

Life in a small town. Some people can hardly imagine living in a small town. I am so glad that I did grow up in a small town. Today my two boys and a cousin walked downtown(two blocks) and went to the "Fountain." These types of places used to exist all across the country. They are few and far between now. This fountain comes complete with mixed sodas, milkshakes in the fancy glassess with the extra given to you in the mixing glass. They have all sorts of meals and such. Just walking in and looking at the high counter with the tall round stools makes my heart jump. It is the same as it has been for YEARS! Sometimes change is good. Other times it is nice to have things that just stay the same!

You Know You are the Momma

You know that you are the Momma when your seven year old yells to you "I need help" you go in and she is sick-both ends! You also know that you are the Momma when you are at YOUR Momma's and you still have to clean said child, tub, floor,rugs,toilet. Then the sick one say's "you are going to have to throw my jammies away, they are downstairs." As you go downstairs to check out that mess your 10 year old say's "there is a problem in the bathroom!"

Yeah, we are having fun on our vacation!

Let's Have a Parade!

We have been playing hard these last few days!

In my home town we have a huge celebration around the 24th of July. It is in honor of the Mormon Pioneers that entered into the Salt Lake City valley on that date. Well, our little town has a great celebration. There is a great parade that all the different congregations enter a float into. These floats are every bit as good as the huge parade in Salt Lake.



It has been a tradition my entire life to watch this parade. I have carried the front banner, been on a truck for a baseball team(girls team in a boys league-that was an experience!) I have marched in full band uniform with full hat-playing the trombone (that was hot).I have helped on floats and helped with concessions and been to many rodeos. We have watched the parade from my brother's house, my Uncles house, my brother's in laws business, my best friends business and from numerous street curbs and now from my own front yard(ok,technically I don't live here anymore). I watch the parade now, after being gone away for as long as I lived in this town and still feel connected. I see people on the floats that I have known my entire life. I see people walking after the parade that have been part of my life. People that I love. There is something special about growing up in a small town. There is history. It doesn't seem like my summer is complete if I miss the parade.




This year we were so lucky because the parade route went directly in front of my Mom's house! How great is that? Super great! We had almost 100 people in our yard. Family, friends, friends of friends. It was wonderful.

The little kids got lots of candy(their favorite part of the parade) and we got to visit and just enjoy the celebration.



I am a person that loves tradition. I love that my little hometown still has a parade. I love that the wards(church congregations) all work so hard to make such neat floats. I love that LOTS of family from all around different states get together to celebrate. I love that my children have been able to have this parade become tradition for them.

Catch up day!

Woa Nellie! What a busy three days! I am now trying to catch up on laundry that hasn't been done and trying to get us ready to go to Grandma's house!

Tuesday I spent the day at the amusement park with 6 children. Amazingly, we did great! We didn't have any meltdowns, bickering of any kind. It was hot, hot, hot! I hung out in kiddie land and enjoyed watching the little guy. He is just getting so big. He holds his arms up now as he goes around on the rides--so cute! There are a couple of newer rides that adults can ride on with the kids, the littler ones have to have an adult-so, I went. They are the type that take you up high and drop you. These were my kind of rides. They were high enough and they dropped just fast enough to feel it but not FEEL it. Little guy just giggled and giggled!

Wednesday I spent the entire day with my very best friend for her birthday. We went to the brand new IKEA store! It was an amazing store. Quite an experience. Unlike any other store I have ever been in. So many possibilities! I came out with cork bulletin boards and a darling hot pink swivel desk chair for the Big girls desk project.

We then went to this great little shopping spot that has all these old homes that they have relocated there. Guess what? I found my bed! I have been looking for a headboard for years. I actually purchased one a year ago and then called and told them not to bring it. I knew it wasn't what I wanted. When I saw this bed I knew it was the one! Luckily for me, it was a fabulous price as well! 1/2 of what I was going to pay on the one I didn't want! So, I bought it. I won't have it for awhile, it is being made. I am hoping that I can get my room painted before it comes and find a new bedspread to go on it!!! This is major for me.

Better get to packing! I am so excited to just relax a bit. My Mom has the most heavenly porch in the entire world. It is certainly a slice of heaven. We sit on it as much as possible. We also will be swimming at the river which is only a block away. We will also be playing with the boat on the reservoir! The big parade is on Saturday and that is a great tradition. This year the route has been adjusted due to construction so it is going directly in front of Mom's house! Yeah! we don't have to go anywhere!

Here are pictures that shows one really nice thing about having such an age difference in kids!

Crazy day ahead!

It is 9:00 am and all the people under 15 are still asleep! We are headed to the amusement park today. I am the only adult going with 6 children. Yes, I realize that I am crazy. I truly would not be heartbroken if I never went again. However, I also realize that if you are under 15 you really think that it is so much fun and you just can't get enough of being buckled into things that throw you around, hang you upside down, shoot water at you and make you really dizzy.

I will be the one in the kiddie land with the 2 year old. Luckily, all the children going are old enough to go on all the BIG rides and they are also old enough to go with the 3 big kids.

Wish me luck!

Let me off for a minute!

I am tired! I have had one of those weekends that is very busy and this week is going to be more of the same! We have a cousin with us from Idaho so we will be doing some fun things-however, it is a bit nutty! Today we started out the day leaving home at 8:30 headed to an All-star baseball game. It was the longest game in history! Then I dropped off 3 kids at a pool with my sister and then drove my #3 child 1/2 way to Grandma's house(120 miles), met Grandma. Then drove back, of course! That was just today! Hope that you are having calm, calm days!

Let's get Productive!

34 Ways to Boost Productivity
In light of yesterday's post and my desire to organize my mind and my closet, this post from Personal Development for Smart People, seems to be exactly what I need to help me stay on track...I especially love #33! :)
34 rules to boost your productivity:

1.Super Slow. Commit yourself to working on a particularly hideous project for just one session a week, 15-30 minutes total. Declutter one small shelf. Purge 10 clothing items you don’t need. 2.Write a few paragraphs. Then stop.
3.Dailies. Schedule a specific time each day for working on a particular task or habit. One hour a day could leave you with a finished book, or a profitable internet business a year later.
4.Add-ons. Tack a task you want to habitualize onto one of your existing habits. Water the plants after you eat lunch. Send thank-you notes after you check email.
5.Plug-ins. Inject one task into the middle of another. Read while eating lunch. Return phone calls while commuting. Listen to podcasts while grocery shopping.
6.Gratitude. When someone does you a good turn, send a thank-you card. That’s a real card, not an e-card. This is rare and memorable, and the people you thank will be eager to bring you more opportunities.
7.Training. Train up your skill in various productivity habits. Get your typing speed to at least 60wpm, if not 90. Learn to speed-read or PhotoRead. Develop your communication skills.
8.Software. Take advantage of productivity software to boost your effectiveness. Lifehacker recommends new items every week.
9.Zone out. Enter the zone of peak creativity, and watch your output soar.
10.Denial. Just say no to non-critical requests for your time.
11.Recapture. Reclaim other people’s poor time usage for yourself. Visualize your goals during dull speeches. Write out your grocery list during pointless meetings.
12.Mastermind. Run your problem past someone else, preferably a group of people. Invite all the advice, feedback, and constructive criticism you can handle.
13.Twenty. Take a piece of paper, number 1-20, and don’t stop until you’ve listed 20 creative ideas for improving your productivity.
14.Challenger. Deliberately make the task harder. Challenging tasks are more engaging than boring ones. Compose an original poem for your next blog post.
15.Asylum. Complete an otherwise tedious task in an unusual or crazy manner to keep it interesting. Make phone calls using pretend foreign accents. Fill out government paperwork in crayon.
16.Music. Experiment to discover how music may boost your productivity. Try fast-paced music for email, classical or new age for project work, and total silence for high-concentration creative work.
17. Estimate how long a task will take to complete. Then start a timer, and push yourself to complete it in half that time.
18.Pay it forward. When an undesirable task is delegated to you, re-delegate it to someone else.
19.Bouncer. When a seemingly pointless task is delegated to you, bounce it back to the person who assigned it to you, and challenge them to justify its operational necessity.
20.Opt-out. Quit clubs, projects, and subscriptions that consume more of your time than they’re worth.
21.Decaffeinate. Say no to drugs, suffer through the withdrawal period, and let your natural creative self re-emerge.
22.Triage. Save the lives of your important projects by killing those that are going to die anyway.
23.Conscious procrastination. Delay non-critical tasks as long as you possibly can. Many of them will die on you and won’t need to be done at all.
24.TV-free. Turn off the TV especially the news, and recapture many usable hours.
25.Timer. Time all your tasks for an entire day, preferably a week. Even the act of measuring itself can boost your productivity, not to mention what you learn about your real time usage.
26.Valor. Pick the one item on your task list that scares you the most. Muster all the courage you can, and tackle it immediately.
27.Nonconformist. Run errands at unpopular times to avoid crowds. Shop just before stores close or shortly after they open. Take advantage of 24-hour outlets if you’re a vampire.
28.Agoraphobia. Shop online whenever possible. Get the best selection, consult reviews, and purchase items within minutes.
29.Reminder. Add birthday and holiday reminders to your calendar a month or two ahead of their actual dates. Buy gifts then instead of at the last minute.
30.Do it now! Recite this phrase over and over until you’re so sick of it that you cave in and get to work.
31.Inspiration. Read inspiring books and articles, listen to audio programs, and attend seminars to keep absorbing inspiring new ideas (as well as to refresh yourself on the old ones).
32.Gym rat. Exercise daily. Boost your metabolism, concentration, and mental clarity in 30 minutes a day.
33.Lovey dovey. Romantic love will spur you on to greater heights, if for no other reason than to persuade your partner you aren’t such a loser after all.
34.Troll hunt. Banish the negative trolls from your life, and associate only with positive, happy, and successful people. Mindsets are contagious. Show loyalty to your potential, not to your pity posse.

Slow Down

When did this happen? My little angel baby has crossed over. He isn't a baby anymore. He is all boy.

I watched him yesterday. He runs and skips like a big boy. He wants to play with the big kids. He can tell me most things that he wants.

This is my last baby, he is also the last grandbaby on my side of the family. So,as he leaves his babyhood I have a twinge of sadness. He has been such a little joy. We didn't expect this bundle of sweetness.

So little one, please slow down a little. Momma isn't ready for you to be all grown up yet!

As I looked out my kitchen window this morning I noticed just how beautiful my flower bed is. It is an overcast day so the color of the flowers is so much stronger than in the bright sun.
I spent two hours outside weeding-I have the dreaded morning glory in a section of my garden. It is like a wayward child. It takes up so much energy that some of the other children get left out a bit. I work in this one section more than anywhere else.
Did you know that morning glory seeds stay viable in the dirt for 50 years? That is the reason that we can't really seem to get rid of it. The roots can also stretch for 50 feet. Doesn't that encourage you?



I just love taking pictures of flowers. They are just so close to heaven. I think that it must be Heavenly Fathers compensation for us being removed from the garden of Eden.

I hope you have a beautiful day!

Try try try!

We went to the lake tonight. It was perfectly smooth water, the temperature was lovely. We swam and the big girl tried to slolum ski. She was so determined! I know that the next time she will be right up and going around the lake. Me on the other hand, I tried waterskiing. I haven't tried in about 8 years. I did NOT get up. It was embarassing. Little Missy tried and really did better than expected.

All in all a very nice evening. It actually helped get me out of my little funk.

Carageenan

For those of you that actually read this blog-skip this if you don't want to read me discussing my stomach problems. My sweet hubby is one of those!



Remember when I wrote about sorbitol? Well, I have also discovered another additive that makes me sick. The reason I am writing this is because it may help someone else.



The product is called CARAGEENAN. It is taken from Irish moss, boiled down and is a gelatin type substance. It is used in dairy products. Many people that think they have lactose intolerance but may actually have an intolerance to Carageenan. It is used to make things thick and creamy.



I had been having a good week, no stomach issues. Then I ate a Fat Boy ice cream sandwich. A few hours later my cramping and bowel problems started. I knew that I hadn't eaten anything except that Fat Boy. I also remembered having problems a week earlier after eating a Fat Boy at a party. I got the label out and it was basically Whole milk, sugar and carageenan. A bell went off in my head. I did some research and sure enough it can cause problems.



Now, move forward another week. Another good week with barely any problems(had a diet coke, a bit of a stomach ache-dang it, I won't be having that anymore). So today after swimming lessons I took the little girls for an ice cream cone. Four hours later the stomach cramping and bowel started. I was at the grocery store tonight. I looked at almost every type of ice cream treat available and all of them had Carageenan in them. The only ice cream that doesn't is Bryer's All Natural. You have to make sure it says All Natural because they have others that do have it.



So, if you have problems with ice cream, chocolate milk etc. perhaps it is the Carageenan.

Different perspective

Have you ever walked around and thought "what a mess?" and then stopped and really looked at what the mess was? I did this yesterday. We were getting stuff off the lawn to mow and I noticed that #3 had every lawn chair and beach towel we owned out. My first reaction was "what a mess" then I looked at it. She had made herself mac/cheese and ramen noodles! Yes, the bowls were still there. However, I decided that I needed to stop and just look at her creation. She and her cousin and made a tent and had a picnic in it. I then walked in the house to hear the jetted tub-that is always scary! They were having a bubble party. Bubbles were everywhere. Sometimes I am not happy about this-on this day I tried to see the fun!

So, let's slow down a bit and look at a few of our "messes" a little bit differently today!

Days that We Hope For

A Very Good Day!

We all went to the lake yesterday and it was one of those days that you wish came around more often. We got on the water and the kids all had a ball! They played TOGETHER, which lately seems like a miracle! We just hung out on the boat, got in the water, pulled the tube, waterskiied. It was a good thing!

Then suddenly a summer thunderbumper came up! It was terrible. The waves got big, the rain was pounding. We weren't quite sure what to do. After we were beat trying to drive in the waves we decided it would be better to just wait it out. We were hit by a HUGE wave! It brought so much water into the boat, everything was soaked. The poor dog was terrified! She found a little cubby up under the steering wheel-I didn't even know that it was there! The storm lightened up and we were able to wait a bit and then get the boat out.

It was a really good day!

Here we go again!

We are going to attempt to use our boat again! It has been repaired again--it had to have a complete new motor.

So we are going to load up the boat and the Suburban and head to the lake. Wish us luck!

We spent yesterday afternoon at a funeral for our dear neighbor. He was 91 years old! It was a very nice funeral. 91 years, imagine the changes that have happened in his lifetime.

After the funeral we headed for the amusement park. We spent a couple hours at the waterpark and then hit the rides.

All in all a good(but tiring) day!

Are you a born worker?

Remember Smart Habit Saturday? Well, here is a little update. My children were not thrilled but they did get their jobs done! We have had a fairly good week. I have been trying to just have more follow through with them. This sounds easy but is not! I believe that there are people that are just born workers. Then there are the majority of people that are taught to work. As adults we are workers because we have to get things done. We may learn to enjoy the feelings of work and also the end result. My best friend has 4 children as do I. She has one of those children that is a born worker. He is only nine and he will set his alarm so that he can get up and go do jobs/chores with his dad. He is naturally more organized than the others. Her other three are like mine. They are going to have to be taught to be workers. Why is this?

Images from a Great Day!

Just a few more images from a really great day!

Don't the two men in their straw hats crack you up?

I am so glad that I get to have all these people in my life. I am also glad that I get to have a camera!!!