Jot and Tittle

Where did my background go?

Blogger has decided not to remember me.

Have I been away for too long?

I should be really good and post some awesome pictures, but my camera is downstairs, and if I go and get it, I will get stuck doing something down stairs.

Oh, summer has been so much fun. When school starts the kids will either be so ready...or go into withdrawls from too much fun. We have a whole month left of fun filled activities..it is just the way I like it.

The children has been so much fun and so good this summer. I think they were needing something to do besides clean and organize the house. They are so amazing to me. I love each of their personalities, I am blessed to be their mother.

So many funny things have been happening, but since I don't write them down, I can't remember. But it has been a summer of laughs and late nights.

This past weekend we went camping up north with some friends. It was a lot of fun. The first morning Jeff and I were up early and we heard some elk. So he got his elk caller and we went on a walk by the lake, unfourtanatley no elk came running to us as Jeff hoped they would.

The week before that we went camping for a week with the Gile family in Colorado, just a little north west of Denver. It was so beautiful there. We had so much fun, it was a great family vacation. We go to the lake every week...we think it is ours. We spent a couple of days in Idaho for Bret Steven Jaques baby blessing. Of course they everyday of work, and home and church keeps us on our toes.

I really want to go to the Castle Dale pageant tomorrow. I really don't want to pay for a hotle room, or drive to Springville at 1am....we will see how that pans out. We have dentist appointments in the valley this week....we have a rafting trip, sister's reunion, and lagoon all coming up for the next couple of weekends.

I know this is so lame, but my brain is not in blog mode. Maybe someday. Have a great remaining summer. Go soak up the sun.

Do you think I should blog?

Me too....

But it is summer, and I have memories to make......

Savannahisms

Savannah is such a hoot! Here are some things she said this past week:

I don't like bread with skin (crust)

She asked Parley, while pointing to her bicep: "Do you want to feel my one pack?"

She said to me: "Mommy, I see your Irish dots all over your face."

I should have taken a picture of all the shoes on our porch. It was beautiful.

The house was busy,

people talking everywhere,

kids running in and out,

Bon Fire,

S'mores

Snuggly blankets

good food (if I should say so myself)

giggles

serious talks

not so serious talks

funny face pictures

Michael's jokes

mud

sunday clothes

cold showers

one exodus from the tramp at 1:30 because of rain

aunties

moms

cousins

grandmas

grandpas

dads

uncles

nieces

nephews

husbands

wives

boyfriends

girlfriends

brothers

sisters

Quartet by four baptized cousins

And one baptism.

When the shoes where gone, that meant all the family was gone and I was sad. The house was even pretty clean. Sunday Mike let me sleep in till 11am can you believe it! I don't know if I have ever slept that late. Can you tell I really partied? ( along with the prep the week before)

We went to church and came home and Webers got here. It was so fun to see them. I wished they lived close, we would hang out with them a lot. They left early this morning...too short.

Now, I am ready to have someone come visit...

I like people.

I like my family all hanging out.

I like baptisms.

Locks of Love

I am thinking about donating my hair to Locks of Love.....any comments?

Golden Slumber

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1e_j66mgTDE

The kids have been begging us to let them sleep on the tramp. Finally last night I told them they could. I didn't think they would do it. The last thing I remember is laying in bed at about 10:30 and Mike was in the shower. I also remember waking at 11:30 and Mike was telling the kids to go to sleep. And this is where I found them this morning.

Jeffrey's head, Katie is burrowed down in the same sleeping bag. I am not sure about the extra blankets, but yes, that is a rug at the bottom of Jeffrey's bag. It is usually in the doorway of his room. He likes to feel right at home.
Funny thing, but this is MY bed. Bana has come in three times this past week. I think she didn't have anyone to snuggle up to so she came to snuggle with me. The other nights she refused to wear jammies to bed, so I think she was cold. Glad they all look so peaceful.

What we have been up to

The week before last we got to go to Springville and spend the week there while Mike was on his brother's trip. We had fun and as always enjoyed seeing family. We tried to go to This is the Place Park but it was closing an hour after we got there...off season, oh well. We decorated graves in Salt Lake and Santaquin. We went sailing. We hiked to waterfalls. Mike had fun on his trip. It was a rafting trip and he got flipped out of the raft twice, I am glad we still have him around.

That weekend my beautiful girls had their birthdays. Where did time go? We celebrated Sunday and Monday, and we still haven't done individual dates. I think birthdays should last a month. On Tuesday Katie had her interview with the bishop for her baptism. She was a little annoyed because when they called to schedule it, they asked to talk to me. Katie also got to officially attend her first Activity Days this past week. She has passed off 9 Articles of Faith to me.

Mike didn't have football this week and we really loved him being home and doing things as a family like watering the garden and walking in the cemetary...very exciting, I know.

Last week Katie and I went out YS on her B-day an d we got a motorcycle. It is battery operated, and goes up to 10-15 MPH. Katie and Jeffrey LOVE it. They take Bana on rides all over the property. One day Katie was supposed to be in her room cleaning and I hadn't heard her complain in a while and looked for her and there she was cruising all over behind the house. It is quiet...so was she. So she is off limits from it until Monday. Very painful for me...and her.

Since it warmed up this week, they kids have loved being outside. The Creek has more water in it. The kids have been working on a fort. We have some nice good neighbor kids who have come to help on it too. One is a 11 yr old boy...wow, they can work! It is a pretty awesome fort with a bridge and a rope swing. I have been down there to play because Mr. P thinks it is pretty awesome too.

Jeff caught a snake with his bare hands and kept it for a pet all day. Mike made him let it loose that night, he didn't like that.

So my kids get to play with a motorcycle, and a creek to swim in...I had a dry wash and a station wagon, oh how times have changed haha.

Yesterday I got a call to come and help a new mom with some nursing issues. It was perfect because Mike was home, and we didn't have anything planned. I spent about 3 hours there. Oh that baby was SO cute, and tiny...like 6 pounds. My babies are still cooking at that size. Katie wanted to come with me so bad...I can't wait until she can come.

When I got home Mike and I were upstairs talking...we were actually talking about CPS and an issue that an aquaintance is having with them, all of a sudden we hear SCREAMING! I run out in the hall and there is Bana with blood STREAMING out her nose. I am barking orders to everyone...get a rag! Get a wet rag! Get the comfrey root! Get an egg! Get the ear scope. Finally when the bleeding stopped I could see the cut on the innerside of the outerside of her nostril. It wasn't deep enough for stitches, but close. Jeff had tied a bear to her door knob and she was using Mike's pocket knife to cut it off. Obviously cutting towards her. Thankfully it was just her nose, and not an eye. It is healing well. So after she was cleaned up, and the carpet was cleaned up and the bear was down, I turned on the iron to finish ironing my quilt pieces. And then I hear SCREAMING! Mr. P had gone into the laundry room and touched the iron. Luckily he had just grazed it. Yes, I did say we were talking about CPS.

After we all recovered, we had errands to run in town. We drove past the I Love Drilling place and George was out getting people to honk. The kids have been wanting to go down there, but whenever Mike is with them, he is not out. And I am not going. But I told Mike if he wanted to take the kids, I would drop them off. So they went and stood on the corner and got people to honk if the love the USA. They were there about an hour. I ran home to get the phone and then came back and sat as Mr. P was sleeping and Bana was cold. So we hung out in the van. George did make me come out for a picture. They loved it.

Katie got a job for a couple of days taking care of a friend's chickens. We went to put them away lst night and I foolishly tried to get the rooster to shoo. Well, he told me! He came flying/running at me squaking. I screamed and peed a little. It brought back flash backs of Big Bird.

And to end the week on a good note, we put the mattress in the back of the truck and headed to the drive in. I rode in the back laying down with the kids there...so fun. The movie was dumb, but it was all about the experiance. Everyone fell asleep except Katie and I. When it was over I woke up Mike to drive is home and I laid in back with all the sleeping children, and since Katie fell asleep on the way home, he got to carry them all up the stairs when we got home. It was a good week.

Now we get to plan a baptism party. How do I possibly have a child old enough to be baptized?

Grand Central Station

That is what it was like Friday evening at Otter Creek Homestead.

I had some leftover Activity Day girls, 6 nieces and nephews, and my four.

The second counselor from the bishopric stopped by.

He has been to our home a couple of times to extend callings, invitations to speak and so forth. He is really neat, and knows all our kid's names.

Some of the kids were outside, and some were inside, and Mike and I were in the kitchen visiting while I was getting dinner ready. So that is where Bro. Cook was too.

He was telling us some thoughts he had had while in the temple recently...then he was complimenting us on how we are raising our kiddos. While he was on that topic "Whirlwind" (aka Katie) came in and got a drink then announced for all to hear..."I am going back out so we can rob Jeffrey." It was perfect timing, right in the middle of his "You're doing great" conversation. We were laughing so hard. It was something I wont for get for a while.

Yes, so Mike got a calling SCOUTMASTER

We laughed because he and Bro. Cook had already had a "There are huge problems in the scouting program, I am an eagle scout, but I am not fond of the program" conversation last time he was here.

But Michael is excited, and knows this is where he is supposed to be serving right now.

What we are up to: 5 foot 8

During General Conference in April I really felt like I could take the time I am on facebook or reading blogs of people I don't know and spent it doing better things. Specifically... indexing. It has taken me a month to go to the Family History Center and get the information I need. My next step is being off FB. I am not sure if I am going to wean myself, or stop cold turkey. I am still going to post on my blog because it is my journaling.

Somehow our days are filled to the brim, not that we are running around, but here at home working and playing. I am so grateful for summer.

Michael has been busy with football. He stepped in to play a down the other night and he came home saying that it really made him want to play. Of course with the warmer weather, he is busy at work, but we did get to see him a lot Monday afternoon and Tuesday. We got a lot done in the garage and outside. The lady who has been shelving and facing his water at Walmart quit so Mike took that over, another thing to his load, but he would rather it done right. We have been preparing the ground for our garden. We are so excited for it this year. Last year was the only year since we have been married that we didn't have one and I really missed it at harvest time. Mike still doesn't have a calling.hmmm

Yesterday we went to the fabric store and the lady was talking to us about receiving blankets. Then she said " So you have four and one on the way...so five, wow." I said "Oh, I am not pregnant, it is for my sister." I didn't think much of it since I was wearing a baggy sweater, and have had four kids, my stomach isn't exactly flat. So she was talking to the kids and they were telling her our life story. She kept telling me what a great job i did on their names, and what a great teacher I must be, and how smart they were, and how good they were being, and she gave them all scraps of fabric. So afterwards I started laughing wondering if she was being extra nice to make up for suggesting I was pregnant.

Katie is so ready to be baptized. She has a big dinner and party planed. It will be her day. She is miss smartie pants, and doesn't miss a beat. She made me smell her armpits last night to show me they were stinky...they weren't even musty smelling. So then we went over when she gets to do things...her favorite topic. Makeup 18, she asked if maybe 16..we'll see. Then she said, what if I get zits? I said so maybe some cover up? And she said no Mascara. That wouldn't looks good on zits. Marriage 30, she said " I might come home one night when I am 20 with a ring on" So we talked about 25. She loves life so much. She loves people. She is a blast to be around.

Jeffrey is always working, and if he isn't working, he is picking on his siblings. So basically, I try to keep him busy. He has dug various hole out side. He has been so good about being responsible about Jeep. His crying/whinning fits have pretty much stopped since he has been able to work out side and we have gotten settled here. I kept reminding myself the children were transitioning and then the transition went on and on for the year it took us to build. That is hard knowing you are moving. But here we are a little over a month later and they are doing good and I almost have forgotten what it was like.

Savannah says the funniest things. This morning she woke up and gave Parley a hug and said "Oh, I missed you last night" one day Jeffrey didn't fold his arms for prayers and she told him "You are ruining God's plan" She loves learning and spelling and counting and adding. She will give the other two quizzes...Jeff, what is two plus two, or our family's favorite. What is the highest number with three digits?

Parley is almost two and has gotten a little worse about getting into things. The other day he got my mascara (A NEW one) and I was in the closet hanging up clothes and he had it on his face hands and all over the bathtub. Yesterday he, Mike and I went on a walk while the others were at a Primary activity. After he got over the fact that he had to survive without them, he was pointing out every bug, bush, dandelion and rock. It was very fun. He reminds me so much of Katie when she was little. They both are little fireballs. THEY say that nursing through terrible twos helps the child not throw many tantrums ect. I don't know if that is the reason or if it is because I am more experianced, but it really doesn't bother me when he has a little fit, and he gets over it fast.

I love being a wife. I appreciate that Michael takes his role responsibly to be the provider and makes the sacrifices so I can stay home and fulfill my responsibility as blogger, JK as the one to nurture our children and nurture him and nurture our home. I have been studying "Nurture" lately...such a good word.

I love being a mother. I can honestly say that I haven't always loved being a mother. I regret the times I murmured about it when Katie and Jeffrey where really small. I still have to take one day at a time to try to get through that day with out yelling, or losing my patience.

These are what I dreamed about and prepared for. I am glad I still have a lot to learn and a lot of ways to grow. I am glad everyone is patient with me as I do so. They volunteered to be my children, Mike volunteered to be my husband...what troopers! I better make it worth their while.

Lonely lookin' night

Do you know what song that is?

Since I am leaving for Women's Conference tonight, Mike has had to pile up work. Yesterday he worked from 5am and got home at 10:30pm.

I don't do well by myself that long.

I cut my bangs even shorter than the trim I had done the week before, and I picked my face.

Today is not a good face day.

The headstone

While we are at it

This is a grave Jeffrey made for a dead mouse he had found.
Katie, Savannah and Parley dressed up. (I think P's outfit is for a girl)
Handsome boys I get to be around, and cute puppies.
It is in the genes.

He is such a stud! Looking off our back deck.

Savannah was being quite the turkey for these so there were a couple of times she was giggling and we realized it was because she had crazy faces in the picture.

Here they are!

I just realized that there isn't one of Katie and Michael, so we will have to get that at her baptism. Also, I really wish I had chosen a different shirt. There were a couple that it looked like I was pregnant because of the way the wind billowed it, not okay when I am not preggers.

Family Pictures

Update

Last week was a good week.

I asked Mike what I could do for him for the week and he said "Get rid of the puppies" So I added something and decided to not complain about football. Monday we spent 40 minutes at Walmart and got rid of the puppies (I was sad) and I did great not complaining about football. Me not complaining always makes for a good week.

Friday night Dad and Rosa came to visit, they got in late. We woke up Sat and went GS for a while then we had family pictures. My friend was nice enough to come do it for us. I wanted to do something a little more formal this year and have them taken at the temple. (Can't compete with the temple grounds). Afterwards dad took us to lunch then they headed home. It was a short visit, but nice. Our first overnight guests!

Mike had a game last night so we left here about 3:30 and got home about 9pm. It was long and started out as a beautiful day, ended as bitter cold wind.

Now today we have talks in church, so this means I wrote 4 talks throughout the week, and Mike wrote his this morning...unfair.

I think the kids will do great, they have theirs memorized. Mike will do great...he can give a talk out of his head, never looking at paper, have it be a great talk, and long. I have a huge zit on my chin from stress about this. I am prepared, but who knows how long I will speak for. I guarenteed (okay, can't spell that) Mike 10 min between the kids and I.

I'm gonna wash that soap right out of my mouth...

The other day we were driving and Katie started singing...normal. The song she was singing I had heard before, but one of the words she was saying definatly was not the word I heard on the radio. The song went....The party .... connected to the stayin' out all night long. I thought I heard her wrong, so I asked her to repeat herself, and she did. Then I repeated it too see if what I was hearing was what she was saying...sure enough.

"The party bong's connected to the stayin' out all night long....

I laughed and told her what the word really was.

A couple days later we were again in the van driving a long and Jeffrey made Katie mad so she said "Jeffrey you F word"

Mike and my mouths dropped. I asked her what the F word was and she said "Freak". Mike and I told her never to say that again.

Today I told Jeffrey it was time to do a chore and he said "What the hell" Yep, he said it! I know that he has never heard it at this house. Luckily Mike was right there again and we explained never to say that...and he got soap.

Tonight I was singing "Old MacDonald" to Parley and said "Here a moo, there a moo, everywhere a moo moo" And Savannah said "Mom there isn't a moo moo everywhere." I thought I was singing it wrong or something so I asked her what she meant and she said "Well, there's not a moo moo in the road or in our house."

What is up with these kids?

I remember twice getting soap in my mouth. Once I don't remember why but I think I was about three because we lived in NY. But I do remember having it in my mouth, and teeth marks.

The next time I was 7 or 8 and all of us girls were in the bathroom brushing our teeth and Julie was practicing whistling and I couldn't handle the noise and yelled "SHUT UP" Yep, got soap. Other than that, I honestly don't think I said even stupid, shut up..or anything.

Then I got married..

Okay, I really don't say bad words now, but stupid is in my vocabulary, and freaking. And this past volley ball season a very naughty word that started with sh and ended with it slipped out. The bad thing was, someone heard me and laughed because she knows I don't say things like that.

Why do my little angels have such potty mouths?

Lessons

I feel like I have been the receiving end of many learning opprotunities lately. I am going to be able to go to Women's Conference at BYU in two weeks...it just happens to be the one week Mike doesn't have a football game so he can be the daddy day care.

I got a phone call today that I am being sponsored for a Breastfeeding conference in Australia..luckily they are trying to go green and it will be online conference.So I get to attend that in May..for FREE! It is 180.00 a ticket.

I get to learn the ropes and everything about Achievement Days for girls since I am the new AD leader in our ward. I haven't done anything with that since I was 11.

I am now 31 1/2 (I think...yeah) and still learning and growing. I never want it to stop. I think Heavenly Father knows when I have a little spare time that I can spend formally learning. I am so grateful for these opprotunities.

Trials

I have felt so much love from my Father in Heaven lately. Lots of Little tender mercies. General Conference was the spiritual boost I needed to go forward for another 6 months. I also really enjoyed sitting and doing nothing besides listening to it.

I have also seen how Heavenly Father gives us trials and hard times to help us and to strengthen us.

Why is it so hard to remember His plan and that he loves us more than we can understand in hard times?

Last week friends of our had their fourth baby. He was born with Downs Syndrome. They didn't know before he was born, so they are struggling with the new turn their life has taken.

My sister is having health problems, and has been for a long time. They finally found what it is, but it still means that she will be having symptoms for a while. She is so young.

I visited with a girl around my age who was married to a man for 8 years then the morning of their anniversary he died of a heart attack at the age of 34 leaving her to care for three children.

I try not to dwell on the trials in life, but this week I heard of a lot that people were going through. But I also got to learn a little lesson in faith.

I have this fear of my children falling out the second story windows in our house. So I have been only opening the windows if I am in the room. We had this tote that was in front of our window that Parley would stand on and watch the dog and her puppies. So one day I opened it and did things in my room, we were getting ready to go somewhere. When I was walking out the front door I remembered the window, and I felt the spirit say it was okay to go and leave it open.

Parley fell asleep int he car and I brought him upstairs sleeping and laid him on our bed. When he woke up, I came upstairs and he was on our bed, and I realized the window was still opened. My heart skipped a beat and I was a little mad and thought "I thought the spirit prompted me that it was okay" I then distinctly heard "It was okay, and if it wasn't going to be okay, I would have prompted you to close the window" Wow, that was a lesson in faith and listening to and trusting in what we are prompted. I thought I knew better than the spirit..oops.

I know that our Father in Heaven knows us individually and loves us more than we can comprehend. I know I love my children more then they can comprehend. Katie always tells me " I love you more than you love me" I tell her that that isn't possible.

He loves us, I KNOW he does.

Butterscotch Disks

Last night Mr. Mike and I had one of those rare opprotunities to go out on a date. He asked me and had it all planned, I just had to get the sitter. After our date we had to go to Wally World to get a shirt for him to wear to his first football game of the season. We looked at some Polo shirts, but they had pockets and looked exactly like the ones my Grandpa wears. We finally found one. Then we mosied on over to the candy section. I picked some out, and Mike debated about the Butterscotch disks...really does anyone eat those besides people who are over 80? I know he love old people and has his bi-monthly date with Virginia Houston (yes, her name is really two places) but to buy a bag of Butterscotch, that is too much. Especially after looking at Grandpa shirts. He had told me that he only had orange juice to drink that day before he came home, I think that is an old person thing too. We got to the cash register and as the nice little boy, yes, he was little, he told the couple in front of us that he only works a couple hours a week because he is still in High school. Mike was paying so I was standing a little back off, and as the little boy scanned the candy and said to ME...Do you want the candy left out? Why would he not ask Mike? Don't old men like candy besides Butterscotch Disks? So I nicely told him....No, put it in the bag, I can sniff it out int he car.

video

I think I got the video working so anyone can view it now. Hopefully I won't have any freaks stalking us.

Freckles

Today Savannah pointed to my freckles and said : "I am getting some dots like that on my face"

What can I say...I produce little Irish babies.

Can't wait

Mike was telling us about Priesthood session and how Pres. Eyring went to a funeral of a 14 year old girl, and Katie Said: "She didn't even get to date, how sad"

Yep

It's Official!

It is official, I am now a La Leche League leader!!

All the time and hard work has paid off, and I can now start helping moms.

La Leche League of Vernal

435-789-6108

Email: lllofvernal@gmail.com

Thankyouverymuch!

Otter Creek Homestead

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGKIwakoNnM

This is a link to the video tour I made of the house. It is about 10 min long, and if you are feeling queasy, don't watch it, it will make you feel worse.

Intentions

Hi

I had intentions of getting up early this morning and updating my blog.

Jeffrey heard me get up and reading my scriptures, so we read then visited instead. Then we went and woke up the girls. They wanted stories this morning.

They got stories of losing Beverly, Julie's tree story, and the Wizard of OZ.

So, no blog update.

Four nights spent in our new home.

Treading water

We are alive, just barely........

All is well and extremely busy.

This week we passed final inspection,

I finished all my interviews, reading, writing and studying for La Leche League,

I have a two day volley ball tournament,

Mike has football,

We are moving into our house,

And all the million of other stuff that is normal and abnormal in a week.

So, until we are moved and the internet is hooked up.... goodbye, come visit.

St. Patty's

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

May the luck of the Irish be with you always.

Irish boys are adorable, and Irish girls are pretty.

Here is a little jig to get you in the mood to celebrate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKIl-v18mgo

Music to my ears...

I have had one of those weekends where you walk away on a spiritual high. On Friday We went to the temple with our friends who were going for the first time. We stayed for the sealing, so we ended up being there for a very long time, it was wonderful.

The next morning I went to the Women's Conference here in Vernal. The guest speaker was Hillary Weeks. I have never heard her speak before. She was wonderful, and was just what I needed to hear. I am so glad that I took the time to go. If you have a chance to ever hear her speak, GO! She would talk and then sing...very neat.

Today our above mentioned friends spoke in church. Honestly...it was the BEST sacrament meeting I have been to in a long time. The spirit spoke to my heart.

I am ready for life...

I am ready to be a better wife...

I am ready to be a better mother..

A better sister, friend, teacher....

Maybe when I wake up in the morning from being puked or peed on I will forget my commitment, but I hope and pray that I don't.

Where is summer?

Yes, still alive...

We have four very cute puppies. Jeep finally moved them out from under the deck to the garage. We couldn't see them under there and I was worried about them being too cold. She spent her time home from church shredding the kids pop up tent and putting the puppies in there. The kids have the dog house ready and a light on it, but nope, she didn't put them there.

We have several items in our house missing, and we haven't even moved yet. Last time I really lost something (besides my mind) I found it six months later after I got a fourtune in a cookie saying I will find something I've lost. Well, I had a fourtune cookie this week and it said "You will have great sucess in the entertainment business" No luck finding what we have lost I guess.

Among the list:

Jeffrey's two important school books.

He missed school for about a week then I realized that I had those same books waiting for when Savannah is ready for them. So he has been doing copy pages...we have looked EVERYWHERE! Even in the blanket tote.

Savannah's winter coat, and since it is still winter here, it is pretty important.

One of Savannah's church shoes, one of Parley's church shoes.

My library book was missing for about a week. I was begining to wonder if the kids had hidden it. I remember once Molly was supposed to be doing the laundry but was choosing to read in stead. Well somehow my mom got her book and hid it in the washer. Molly looked FOREVER, and finally found it when she decided to do her chore. So in the mist of looking for my book, I decided maybe I should do laundry, in case the kids hid it there as a hint.

I turned on the washer and noticed that there wasn't much water pressure...I knew what that meant, but it hadn't happened in a while...that water was on outside. I looked outside and sure enough...there was Savannah and Jeffrey in their swimsuits, filling the kiddie pool. They had to climb over piles of snow to get to the front yard. Have I mentioned it is winter here? They told me it was a warm summer day...I think it was 43 degrees. A heat wave for these parts. Needless to say, I ruined their fun and made them come in and get seasonal appropriate clothing on.

I'm alive....

It is just one of those weeks..I will blog again.

We have a good story about the Jazz game and pictures.

Life is beautiful.

The dog was gone for a day, but she is back...bitter sweet.

Had a dream about leaving a movie and having a blanket keep rubbing my arm, woke up and it was a box elder bug on my arm.

Vicki

Yep, she is making my 'support" again.

I am more than thrilled, I am speechless. I want to thank Vicki personally.

I am going to buy 10.

I think Mike will be okay with $500 spent at Vicki's Secret place, I don't think he will be impressed with it being for 10 WHITES.

Cranberries

Yesterday I bought a bag of dried cranberries. I haven't been much into dried cranberries since my factory job where to got to partake visually of waaayyy too many dried cherries. (I can still remember the smell) But I want to add variety to "The Bread" since Katie and I have perfected the basic recipe. I think an orange cranberry....

Tomorrow I will be seeing some of my most favorite people so I will be cooking today in spite of the fact that I have two big must dos and a couple REALLY should dos on my list, I will be mixing love and baking it.

Any ideas?

When I am doing this I will be listening to Pandora

And this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHx4BlF6V2o my most recent favorite song.

I'm in love

With this boy.

Even though he only wears hats backwards (Uncle Trevor's way as the kids say)

And he wears my heels around the house

And he steals my tools

And he pouts better than the rest of them

And he serves everyones dinner before we sit at the table

And he is still obsessed with the toilet

And he moves things to climb onto my dresser

But I am still madly in love.

This guy has taught me more about patience, and unconditional love than any of my other children.

Because I am his mother, I have become a better mother to my other three children. I love them more deeply than I did before I held him in my arms.

He has made me a better person.

I have more empathy towards others because of him.

How can one who is 19 months teach so much? And make one love so much? And be so darn cute?

all the single ladies..get your hands up.

Because of the below mentioned past time (football) I am a single lady 2 nights a week (so far). So since my personal entertainer is gone, I have had to come up with alternative past times besides following him around like a puppy and hearing his stories of the happenings of his day. I have read, played Monopoly Jr with the kids, made curtains, read blogs....this is my latest past time. I was going to make these for our ward auction in May (That we are in charge of even though we won't be in the ward) When the girls woke up in the morning, they saw them and fell in love. Parley even was wearing one around, with my high heels on, and a hammer in his hand. I have been wanting to do these for a long time and finally got them done, but they were fun and easy, I want to do more. Anyone want one? Better yet, come and make some with me any Tuesday or Wednesday.

Big plans for this weekend. We are taking Jeff and Katie to the Jazz game. (Thank you MOWI) We are excited, but sad we will miss the grand opening and tour of the new jail. You can spend the night and have breakfast the next morning for $10...doesn't that sound fun? What better way to scare the kids out of ever doing anything that will put them in jail.

Football

It is STILL invading our house. Jeffrey has been working on being responsible and kind so he gets to go with Mike to football practice. He gets up early and gets his football gear on nice and early waiting until the evening to go. Somedays he even talks others into letting his get them dressed up and they have a football game. His Aunt sent him a Packers shirt that he is almost always wearing.

Embarasing Moments

I know that if I were a shy person I would have a lot of EM, however, when things happen, I usually just laugh about it and don't think twice. Like yesterday at church I was sitting there as the sacrament was being passed and looked down and there was a HUGE hole in my skirt. I looked at Mike and he said"spsdsp" ( that was his whispering voice) So I said "Did you see this?" He said "Yeah, I just did it" He had ripped my skirt! So after it was passed I left with Parley as my cover, went home and changed. I thought it was funny, not embarasing. So when we got home I asked Mike "How did you rip my skirt?" He said "I didn't rip it, it was there and I saw it and showed you." I think the misunderstanding was the funnier part.

So last week I went to my new wards RS meeting and they asked for and EM. The only one that came to mind was the one Mom had just told me that happened to her...So I shared it. I told them it had happened to my mom, and they were on the floor laughing, like I was when she told me.

Yesterday at church a gal stopped me and said "I heard a funny story about you...well it is about your mom..."

Appearently one of the ladies in the new ward works out with a group of ladies and was sharing the story. When they asked who it happened to, she said the mom of a new girl that is moving into our ward Amber Ray. So the girl in my ward said Oh, I know her! My how this spread!! This should teach me not to share so much stuff, but it probably won't. Poor mom can't come to Vernal with out everyone knowing she is THE LADY.

Giggles

So of the b=many thinks I really like about the man I married, one of the top things is that we can get laughing hysterically together. We get each other's humor. Okay, maybe he just puts up with me. Anyways I love nights that we go to sleep laughing with each other.

Last night we went to sleep laughing about...

sweatbands..on the forehead and on wrists

How football players wear pads (I know I have a warped sense of humor, but I still laugh about it and tease Mike about it...I may grow up one day, but don't plan on it.)

Everything is funnier with him to tell it to.

I really could go on about what I love about my man, but I think I will go look into his ice blue eyes and make out with him instead.

Go laugh until your sides and cheeks hurt.

Saturday

I dream of the time when we can sleep in on Saturday and have a lazy day. We got up this morning and cleaned as they were showing the house at 10am. We left and worked on the house all day. It took many trips to the store today since we were having technical difficulties. Finally at 5:30 we left Jeff and Mike at the house and headed home to get dinner started. The kids lived on yogurt, pretzels and apples today. I made homemade pizza and everyone devoured it. Then we got ready for bed, had homemade chocolate malts and watched our movie....Saturday's Warrior. Mike and I thought about it the other day and we got it from the library. We both loved it growing up. And I can say, after 20 years, I still loved it. We were laughing so hard about hair styles, clothes, and songs. The kids said they liked it. I could still sing along...yes, I think the family loved me singing to it. ahem...

So until the day we can sleep in, we look forward to our pizza and movie night each week. It is the night the kids stay up late, and can eat in the living room, and have dessert after dinner. What's not to like about it?

Olympics

Can it pass without a post? The past couple of nights Mike and I have been olympic junkies staying up until 10:45 (I know we go to bed so early, just wait until we are old) watching a couple of sports. We have caught some figure skating, skiing stuff (I can't remember all the names). We have been proud of all those who have worked so hard.

Tonight as I was making yogurt I thought, all this talk about 4 years ago and the olympics in Torino, and I don't remember ever hearing about it or watching it. Then I remembered...

4 years ago Mike's dad was very sick and we were in between moves. We spent so much time at the "Funny Farm"/ "Grand Central Station". Nights after work we would go over there and visit or help out.

4 years...yet an eternity ago.

Then I thought..that is how long I have been making yogurt.

(don't laugh about my thought process)

After Ernest died a lady in the ward brought over a gallon jar of stuff. I remember the grandkids and I in the kitchen putting it in cups and drinking it, trying to figure out what it was. (It was still warm and not set up)

I am not sure if we even shared with any adults or if the kids and I consumed the whole thing...it was SO yummy! I asked her for the recipe and she gave it to me and I have been enjoying it ever since. The kids think they are starving to death if there isn't any "o-gurt" in the house. We love smoothies, or just a cup of it. 5 quarts cost me about 2.50 to make...can't beat that!

Bring on the o-gurt...and the olympics.

Neigh...bors

Okay, that was supposed to be funny, and maybe it is not. Yesterday I got a visitor at the door. I love it when the kids answer the door and tell me someone is here, and I haven't even heard a knock, so I was caught a little unawares (ie, 8:30am jammies, hair parted down the middle, sans brassier, eating a bowl of oatmeal). So he was a nice looking man who was looking in my house at the cushion/blanket fort that the kids had made right after they got up. He was wanting to info about the house next door because he could never catch them at home. And me being the honest...say too much person that I am said "Oh, I am sure they are home, they just don't answer the door" He asked about what water system we were on and sewer, and I volunteered that they had their power turned off, and he said he knew and they were working on getting it turned back on, and that the house was in foreclosure. He was the realtor the bank listed with. I gave him their phone numbers, and I think he got tired of all my wonderful information I was giving him because he said thank you , bye.

"Big G" is still going strong.

There is a trailer that has been sitting in their yard with three end tables and one mattress, it has been there for three days.

Who do you move in with to mooch off of when your unemployed boyfriend is mooching off you?

Curtains

I have tried out 4 different curtains for our living room. I finally bought a sheet set yesterday in hopes of the perfect curtains. I set them on the window sill and squinted, and imagined. I set them on the couch and squinted and imagined. I decided I loved them, and started cutting last night. I hope it turns out because you can't return a sheet set you have made into curtains.

I also bought the fabric for curtains for mine and my honey's room. More sewing today...lots of returns next time I go to Provo.

I think one of my main hold ups is that my house is going to be decorated differently than it has ever been. My homespun/Americana motiff is out..the new one is definitely different, but I am loving it! However, trying to incorporate plaid couches is a bit tricky.

Shortened Condensed

Jeffrey has announced to all of us that he is now Jeff. That is how he is writing his name in his school work, that is what he is reminding us to call him.

He will always be Jeffrey to me...that is a mother's right. Okay, sometimes he is Fred, Freddie,Freddie Fru Fru, Jeffarias, Jeffrafra..now wonder he wants to be called Jeff.

Cha Cha's Jeff wrote and told him that Jeff is "Hefe" in Spanish and it means "Boss". Maybe that is why he is shortening his name.

Speaking of short....

He has been wearing his same church pants for over a year, and they still fit fine.

But I did notice on Sunday as I was coming his hair..I think he is FINALLY growing!! He seemed taller. A lady at church commented on it too. The others have always been tall for their age,I think he is average, so that is a shortie in this family.

Generator

Okay here is the story:

It started about 6 months ago. We got our power bill in the mail. Mike opened it and said "Um Honey, will you look at this" I looked and it said that we owes $562.67 to Rocky Mountain Power. $489.07 of which was previously owed.

Okay so we have missed a payment, or have been late on a payment in our bill paying career, but this was bad. One time we got a power bill for $2,000.00 because our meter reader had big fingers and pressed a couple of extra buttons. One time a collections agency contacted us because a Michael Ray owed 200.00...and we had to prove it wasn't us and Mike had never lived in Boise.

All these thoughts ran through my head...there had to be a mistake. We even got the previous months bill out to make sure that we had paid it. We were planning on calling the power company to get it figured out and right then Mike noticed that it wasn't our bill at all..it was our neighbors, yes, we had opened their mail.

So we nicely wrote a note explaining the mistake and put it in their box. Even though we have lived here 3 years, we still get their mail. I think we should throw it out, but Mike is much nicer than I am and puts it all in their box.

So time moves on..yes we know there have been problems to the West. So the night I got home from Springville I woke up in the middle of the night to this weird sound, and went back to sleep. The next night it was going before we went to bed and Mike said "So have you heard the generator?" (Did I mention that he is really smart too?) I said "Oh, why is there a generator?" And Mister Know It All said "I think they are using it because they got their power turned off" Me being the compassionate person that I am, was laughing. "How could they use a generator if they don't have any power?" (Sometimes mechanic elude me) "Lots of Gas" The next day I looked over as I drove by and sure enough there are three HUGE gas containers right by this generator that is on a trailer. I think it would be cheaper to pay a power bill rather than buy all that gas...but what do I know about those kind of things?

Every night we get to listen to the "Big G".

The other morning it was about 3 am and I awoke to sputtering, and it wasn't human. I think they had run out of gas. Then a while later I heard a car trying to be started, it was either cold or out of gas too. Finally they got the *%$#@ started and off they went..to get more gas I am sure.

But on a positive note: The "Big G" noise drowns out any fighting they might be doing.

Look what I found!

a moment to write...

This past week was CrAzY!

I only have watched about 10 minutes of the olympics..maybe in 4 years.

We got CARPET!!

The cabinets are all put in with shelves in them.

Some curtains are up.

We turned on lights.

Door knobs, and dead bolts are on.

And a million other little things that we got done this week. It has been a very productive week, but whenever we turned around, there is more to do. It was nice today to get a break and rest.

I have heard whisperings of 3 more weeks.. I can only dream.

I went to RS on Friday night for my new ward. I was nervous, but I went because it was a getting to know you night. I am really glad I went. They were so nice and welcoming. I found out a lady used to teach a talent that I want to learn, and I talked to her about teaching me...she said she would. I met our neighbor across the street, then on Sat. she brought over cookies. It made me happy, I feel loved.

I have something to post about that is a long story in itself..so look for it this week.

I wore a dress to church

For all nursing mothers, you know what this means. I am not sure when the last time was that I wore a dress to church.

Last week I got tired of Mr. P nursing 10+ times a day and I told him I was going to read the chapter about weaning in my favorite book (yeah, like I really have one favorite). So I read it and decided to wait to work on it until we move. The next day he only nursed for nap and to go to sleep at night..then all night long like usual. And then the next day right when he woke up, then to sleep for nap and night. He is so happy, and has fallen asleep with my mom and the babysitter. The only other person he has ever fallen asleep for is Mike.

He is so much more ready than I am. He has only had two to three nursings a day for over a week. My body is finally adjusted (hooray) to the reduced nursings. Parley is eating more at the table, and is as happy as a lark.

I'll work through it.

Committee: a body of persons selected to consider and act or report on some matter

"Rodeo Committee people do EVERYTHING better"

That is a bumper sticker on the truck that we have parked behind at church two weeks in a row. It makes me laugh so hard. Honestly..who would make a sticker that said that...and who would buy one? Only Rodeo committee people. Do they have issues? Like an identity crisis? Inferiority complex? Are they under appreciated?

I hope Mr. Mike parks behind it every week so I can go into church laughing.

Winter Thaw...and Spring cleaning

We got home from a 4 day trip to Springville yesterday. We left when it was 1 degree here. We got there and there wasn't any snow...we could see grass! I think we had forgotten what it was.

I had a list of things to do, so I didn't get to visit with my sisters as much as I like to. I only saw Shana for about 10 minutes, and my attention was divided. The I later found out that she has a "like" so she will be getting a phone call this week.

Mom and I got to go on a date. I honestly can't remember the last time we did a mommy daughter date. We went and saw Dear John. We both loved it. We hurried to get there at 7 and got there at 7:01 and the movie was already playing. I thought, why are they ruining the whole thing by telling this at the begining? So after about three minutes, I leaned over to mom and said " I think we came at the wrong time" I searched my purse with the light of her phone for the tickets, and found them..7:40. So we hurried out giggling. We went and got ice cream and then reentered at the right time.

Martha took Jeffrey and Katie skiing. They had so much fun. I have never been, but they might be addicted now. They especially liked riding the lift all the way to the top and back.

Maryann Katie and I all got to go to IKEA. We spent about 2 1/2 hours there, and loved every minute of it.

I also spent a lot of time cleaning Grandma's and Grandpa's house. Here are my thoughts on that:

Clean out your crap!

I meant it!

Every time you put something away, or save it, think "Someone is going to have to sort through this when I die" (G & G haven't died, just in nursing home)

DO NOT SAVE:

25 ice cream buckets

Baggies of dried crunched plant

500 picture frames

30 saints

1,000,000 little scraps of paper with notes on it.

150 Hot Pocket cardboard things in various boxes

15 seat pillows

DO SAVE:

8 page (front and back) handwritten letter from Grandpa to his Mother in 1942 When he was in the Military

Letter from Grandma to Grandpa on 45th wedding anniversary

Random jewelery..enough for all posterity to each get some, only worth the memories.

SHOULD HAVE BEEN SAVED BUT CAN'T BE FOUND:

Mini silver spoons promised to Julie and Amber

Little milking stool

Cuckoo clock

Boston Rocker

How do you divide up stuff that really only has sentimental value, and you are not sure who it would be worth more to?

After all the work, we went and saw G&G and they are so happy. They don't remember or miss the stuff they have treasured for 60 years. Gone, forgotten, never missed. We will treasure our little keepsakes because of the memories they hold.

One of the most prominent things about Grandma is her saints, rosaries, statues, prayers ect. But I am not going to have saints on my dresser in memory of her. Mom and I might be burning in hell for what we did with her "Holy Box".

When Grandpa was here in October I cut his hair and I saved some of the locks (they were like 5 inches) because I will always remember his white hair. I have always loved it, and have cut it many times.

I remember Grandpa threatening once that he was going to spank us with a belt.

His very reluctant, strained hugs

His shocked reaction to the kiss on his cheek I always gave him

His VERY worn white t-shirts (they were see through, and never a stain)

I remember Grandma

making us saltine crackers and country crock,

lightly toasted english muffins with country crock

her little cough and touching her knees, then rubbing her legs

Her saying "You never say never mind to Grandma"

wet wash cloth in a baggie to wipe our hands when we went any where

The cloth diaper around her head to keep her hair flat to dry.

I love those two so much. I am so blessed to be able to call them mine. The are great examples to me of patience, and kindness. I will be sad when they are no longer on earth with us.

My outfit

Okay, not the best picture, possibly the worst. It reminds me I need to work on excersize more and trying new recipes less. But I had to share a picture of my outfit. I L.O.V.E.D it!

What is up with the curtain?

And the pillows?

And it looks like I am holding my dress tucked.

I really wanted red lipstick but couldn't pick it out by myself...oh well.

HeArTs

These are my four little pieces of my heart that are walking around, outside my body. Mr. P doesn't have any red church clothes, but we thought his hair was red enough to count.
This is the boy who stole my heart. This is us before out HOT date last night. He wore Grandpa's tie so we kinda matched. I am proud to be on his arm. They only played slow songs so we didn't get to swing, but it was still fun.

Happy Valentines Day!

What a happy day! Last night Michael and I got to go to dinner and dancing and really enjoyed ourselves. Then today we are celebrating love day. Here are some love cookies for you!

I dreamed a dream in time gone by....

Savannah is into telling me her dreams in the morning. I am not sure if they are really dreams, or a chance to sit and talk to me. So yesterday morning she said that she had a dream that she opened Jesus' casket and she saw him and he wasn't dead any more, then she opened her eyes and she was in our house.

My confession: I L.O.V.E. Staples!!

Remember my "Planner"?

Well, after two months of trying to get by without it, or a makeshift one, I became way too unorganized and realized it was time to make a visit to Staples.

(Yes, we actually do have one in Vernal!)

So my big thing on my to do list (which was written on a scrap of paper because I don't have a notebook) was to go to Staples and see if they would have anything that would work. Last time I glued pockets to the inside covers of a spiral notebook. I thought that a calendar would be a great addition, and thought maybe I could get one to glue to the back cover.

So after taking about 10 steps into Staples, but what do I see...

A Spiral type note book, you open the front cover and lo and behold, there is a pocket! Then there is a pocket page..then.....3 pages of calendars (6 months) then...there is the notebook pages. It was what I wanted and needed and came in lovely colors, so I did what I tend to do..and bought TWO. I knew if I didn't spend the extra 4.00 I would go back in 6 months and they would have discontinued making it because it was convinent and something people actually use.

But since my Staples fix had only lasted 5 minutes, I browsed and found many cool things to look at. Then I saw the Clearance table.

But this leads into another story so i need to back up. Remember how my recipes are NOT organized. Well, about 6 months ago I saw a Rolodex and thought, OoH, wouldn't that be perfect! Since the price tag was $25 I figured I could find something that worked just as well, for a lot less. Then I heard about a nifty little high tech thing that hold three thousand recipes and organizes them. It looks like an I phone sort of thing. And it could be yours for only $300! So I settled for a recipe box. I was not happy and knew it would be dumped a million times, and recipes would be taken out and not put back in ( I have a child who is being trained still). But for .50 for a stack of index cards..it is what I had to do.

So there was the CLEARANCE table ( I had to capitalize because that is how it is in my head) I didn't need this that or the other that they had.

And then..there at the end, by the hand sanitizer, all alone on Rolodex. No price tag of course. So when we were ready to go, I asked the cashier how much it was 2.50 (no! the decimal is NOT in the wrong place!!) I about fainted and told her I would take that little baby home with me. Then there were refill packages at the front counter for .50 in case I ever use the 500 it came with. So for a grand total of 11.00 I am ready to organize, and flying as high as a kite.

I told Michael "Staples makes me happy, isn't it just such a happy store." He agreed because he loves it as much as I do. But not as much as he loves me.

Inventor

Yes, I am an inventor.

I had a brilliant idea and was so excited about it. It was to make discs that snap on the end of a rolling pin. They would come in three sizes 1/4 inch 1/2 inch and 3/4 inch. That way when you were rolling out cookie, pie or whatever, it would all be the same thickness, in the thickness you want.

I thought it was brilliant!. The only draw back would be that you would have to be rolling something out that would fit in between the rolling pin.

So the other day I was watching my tread mill show and they were answering questions about how to make good sugar cookies. And the tip they gave...

Set chop sticks on the side of your dough, and the pin would rest on that, or add rubber bands to the end of the pin, and until desired thickness.

Now THAT is brilliant. THAT is inexpensive!

Maybe I'm not an inventor after all.

Save the date:

April conference 2010 Parley will be potty training.

Ahhhh Music to my ears...

After months of my Beatles CD missing...I found it! I am embarassed to say it was in my cookbooks. Don't even ask.

Triathlon

April

500yd swim

8 mi bike

3 mi run

Yes, I am toying with the idea.

I would need to learn how to swim well..how far is 500 years?

I have been doing really well on the treadmill. I am running longer everyday. I know, I can't believe it either, I still hate running.

In March I am going to be in the Volleyball tournament, and I am getting better at that..though I still struggle with Setting (another 2010 goal).

I don't know, should I commit to it? If I commit, and pay (Feb 15) then I will do it.

I think the prize to myself (besides sense of accomplishment and healthy) Would be a new little number from Shabby Apple...in a smaller size than I am now of course!

I Wish....

My sister put an "I Wish" post on her blog.

After reading it, I was depressed for a couple of days.

You see, she is really amazing.

She is one of the people I really look up to. (Even though she is younger, and maybe taller...)

She is the one who gave me a motivational talk after which I signed up for my last two classes and finished my degree after 13 years.

I am not comparing my bad points to her good, I am comparing apples to apples, I am the dirt on the bottom of her shoes.

There are only two bad things about her she doesn't get enough sleep, and she lives far away.

Oh the I wish lists I could make. That is the only thing I could think of after I read her post. The lists ran through my mind.

I could write it and make you all feel great about yourselves.

But I am going to share one....

I wish I knew how to design something, then make it and wear it. I have a swim suit in my head that I think would be wonderful. How do I get it from something in my head to something on my body? And after that was done, I would make a couple hundred perfect bras.

Sing, Sing a song

Katie asked me what my favorite song was the other day. I told her that I love too many and that I couldn't pick just one. But, then I got thinking about it. What song rand true to my soul when I heard it, and I immediately knew what song was one of my most favorite in the world.

Guess what it is.

I can't find the right one on Youtube. It is Adagio from Dvorak New World Symphony.

But how can you pick just one?

She told me that she didn't like Amazing Grace because it sounded weird. I told her that that is the song I expected her to sing at my funeral. She told me that she would have to be like 24 when I died.

She said that no one sings as loud as she does in Primary, I agreed with her, and told her that it was okay.

She said she wants to be a singer, I told her to think about what talent she wants to work on and we will get her into lessons in a few months. (A little lesson in commitment)

She likes music like I do, and always needs something playing like me. I am excited that in the new house I can have my CD player out, and my music.

I want to make another favorites CD, I really need to learn how to use itunes, or bug my sissy again.

I can't find my Beatles CD.

SLC

Mike is on his way to SLC as we speak. His new truck is waiting for him. Is is more excited than he gets for Christmas. I REALLY want to go to SLC. I tried to figure out how I could hitch a ride with him, but 6 people in a two seater truck doesn't work out.

I have a list. This time it is a long list. THE LIST consists of things I need to get or places I need to visit next time I am in the valley. (Happy valley that is) I make the lists months in advance, plan it all out, stop at Costco first, then I am out of money, and don't need to go to the other places. Next time we plan to go is in March when we are taking the oldest two to a jazz game. We think they will love it! Katie and I will watch people and Jeffrey and Mike will watch the game...and we will make a good memory. So I will try to work out away to stay a week and make my sisters go do my errands with me. I think they secretly LOVE my massive cart load trips to Costco, and La Leche League meetings.

I have a better list, yes, Costco is on it, but so is Ikea. I need to go and look at everything and at least get magazine boxes for scriptures.

We put them under the couch when we are done reading, and since one of my goals this year is better organization, I have decided that I need to do something about that.

The fabric store is also on my list. Baptism dress pattern and fabric for Miss Katie. I know, I can't believe it either. MY daughter is getting baptized!!! I need cute fabric for curtains, and a million other things I want to sew.

So, this is my conclusion...I will ask Mike to stop at Ikea for me and look at EVERYTHING and see what would help with organization and to get ideas. Then I will have him stop at JoAnn's and see if there are any patterns that Miss Katie would wear. (Miss picky is her name)

Once my dad was shocked when I had Mike go to the store for something. He was sure Mike wouldn't get the right thing. But I was sure he wouldn't come home until he had the right thing. (Okay, except for the time he went tot he store because I wouldn't, to get a pregnancy test and came home with a Urinary Tract Infection kit.)

But, since I love the looking part and running my fingers along the fabrics, and the smells of the fabric store. And I know he wouldn't look at everything at Ikea..I'll wait. I think he will be happy.

On Friday we went to Wally world so I could try to find a stencil (didn't find one, made one that didn't work, so I am free handing a million leaves). There was a man in the paint/stencil aisle in was in a Mart Cart park right in front of the paints. He was on the phone to his wife explaining that they didn't have Heather Blue...Is that like a light blue? What exactly was this color or that color. He was parked right there in front of the stencils/paints for a good 15 minutes. I kept peeking around the corner to see if he was out of my way. I was glad that there are other women in the world who have a good hubby who will go and get things for them at the store. I hope she was grateful when he got home with her paints, and if he got the wrong one, I hope she didn't tell him.

My other hope is that when Mike gets home he will show off his truck to me.

He said it is an automatic.

He said he would take me out to Timbucktoo and let me drive it.

Shh, don't tell.

PS, I can drive a stick, just not a 16 hundred gear one.

Whimsy

Look at this little number I made (okay, it is a letter) Isn't she beautiful!? The idea was in my decorating folder for a long time and I decided to attempt it the past couple of days. I am quite pleased if I may say so myself.

4

That is how many days Katie has been bugging me to let her wear deodorant.

7

The age she is.

It started off 4 days ago when she told me....

"You take four fingers, rub them in your armpit back and forth, like this (little demo) then you smell them."

Me: "What do they smell like? Here, let me smell." (I sniff and don't smell anything)

Katie: "See they smell, I need to wear deodorant."

Over the past couple of days I have explained that she doesn't need it until she reaches puberty, I am not letting her wear it now because she is seven, ect...

She has told me she has reached puberty.

She told me that she wants to spend her money on deodorant, razor and shaving cream. She said that it hurts when she pulls the hairs on her legs. She explained that she pulls them out because I won't let her shave. She told me that she is a midget (She is the tallest in her age group) and that she wants to be taller so people think she is 15.

It is consuming her.

I started shaving at 11, I think she can wait until then.

I don't remember when I started wearing deodorant, but I don't think I was seven. I told her I would think about it for a few months, then I lamented to Michael that she is still a little girl, my baby, and I wish she would love each age she is at. I do know someone else who always wanted to be older....maybe it is Genetic.

How old were you when you started wearing deodorant?

Ride 'em cowboy!

As we were going through all our storage items, we found these boots that used to be Jeffrey's. As soon as Mr.P saw them, he fell in love. He regularly wakes up from his nap, takes them off his dresser and puts them on before he comes out of the room. Since there is still ice and snow outside, and cowboy boots are like ice skates, we only let him wear them to church. He was so excited this morning when he realized it was church day. He put them on nice and early...when he still had his jammies on. But notice his hair is done, except for a weird alfalfa thing we took care of soon after the kodak moment.

The horse is what Jeffrey and Katie got him for Christmas. They painted it themselves, and it is small enough Mr. P gets on it, rides, then carries it and walks to his next destination. I have a great idea for a cute paint job, I am trying to figure out how much time I should let pass before I make it over.

And, yes, he is riding it on the couch....hmmmm.

I love this little guy so much. It is really hard that he goes to nursery all by himself and that he is okay with it. He is so happy to see me, and is so tired after church (2:30 by the time we are home) so he nurses and goes down for his nap. It is a good time for me to bond and re connect with him. I am such a baby about it. I know he is growing up, but he still seems like a tiny baby to me. I wonder if I am keeping him little, good thing it is his disposition to be independent. I can really see the reason the "babies" in the family are treated differently. If Savannah had been the baby...oh, that would have been bad. She actually acts more as the "baby of the family" than Parley does.

Savannah and I have been doing Kudos chart for her. It seems to really be working well. I know that part of it is age, and part of it is us letting her wrap us around her finger. Things have been going much better with her the past two weeks. She is such a smartie, and loves to learn. She is close to Jeffrey's level academically because she cares and will ask to sit and do school or get read to, or what not. Jeffrey really couldn't care less, unless it has to do with tools, working outside, large trucks, using his muscles, ect. But he is very smart in that department. Katie is as sharp as a whip in life skills, what is happening with everyone around her and math. Her handwriting is horrible, and she honestly doesn't care. She is doing well in reading, but hates it. (Didn't get that from me!) I am not sure if there is a kids in the wold who doesn't like Katie because she is SO FUN!

We will be doing school all summer because we have not been very regular since Christmas break. The kids finished their books, and we have been working on the new house or this one. We have done a lot of sorting and organizing...that is important too.

On Friday night we sat down to have scriptures and a can of worms was opened. Everyone vented/ cried and expressed their feelings. It had been a long week painting and working on the house.

Katie was upset because she hadn't been able to wear good clothes in five days

Jeffrey was frustrated because he said we didn't have enough food at the house when we were working on it

Savannah was upset because she didn't have any clothes to change into when we were down there (I am surprised she didn't mention no toilet...maybe she is used to peeing outside for a year now.

I was upset because I was tired, physically and emotionally

Mike was upset because he has gone to work on the house after a long day at his job almost every day for almost a year

Parley was running around playing "Duck, Duck, Goose!"

It was good that we all got things off our chest. After it was all said and done, we told the kids that the next day would be spent at the house too. Jeff and I got up early and went grocery shopping (we were out of a lot of essentials, I don't think I've been to Wally World since before Christmas) then we all headed to the house. We laid sub flooring until 6:30 pm. But it is DONE. The vinyl is being laid on Tuesday. Tonight we are going to plan something fun to do as a family this week. And let me tell you...we will be wearing our GOOD clothes.