End of an Era

I have been in this fabulous Bunko group for almost 7 years now and it is slowly being disbanded. There are a few who have moved out the county so it's more difficult for them to get to the party, a few have decided that they need to focus on other things, and a few who have had their feelings hurt, we all have been offended at times in our lives, but some have a more difficult time getting over it. Anyhow, this is a picture of most of us, even those who left a few years ago, it was great to be together for the last time, some of us are trying to keep it going with some new friends. Hopefully it will be just as fun. The part that I love about it is that has never been a husband bashing thing, in fact I always go home appreciating my husband more and looking forward to time with him. So here are the pictures I promised. Good luck and love in your new chapters.

Poinsettias

By the way thanks to all those who purchased from our organization.

OK, so who is sick of the poinsettias? Well I must tell you the story that goes along with the pot that I purchased for myself. Beautiful isn't it, nice and big and beautiful. Well, #1 and I had to run to Wal-Mart to pick up a little somethin', when we returned I found all these beautiful flowers/leaves sitting on one of my kitchen chairs, wondering what happened I asked the current caregiver what had happened, this person knew nothing other than the fact that #2 was trying to turn on the light behind the flower and somehow knocked it over (a few times) and pulled the leaves out trying to get it up right and had the vacuum out trying to clean up the whole mess before I got home. He was pretty upset, so what can I say? "I'm not raising poinsettias".

Tonight, # 2 also thought he'd try his hand at playing barbershop once again, his own hair wasn't enough. He had the scissors taken away already, but he decided to cut #3's hair, her ponytail and the side. How do you get them to STOP? His answer was he forgot what "NO" means. #3 said that next time he tried to do this she would just tell him "no, no, don't cut my hair", in her cute little voice. I'm sure that will work.

Poinsettias

I am on an auxilliary board for my husbands' work and we sell flowers 2 times a year. In the spring, we sell mother's day hanging baskets and at Christmas we sell poinsettias. I thought that my blog would be a good way to get the word out. They go for $15 a flower and are comparable to those found at Costco, only $0.50 cheaper through us and they go for a good cause, we give money to families in need whose fathers may have been hurt or have fallen, or to families whose children who are ill, and we do a sub for santa each yearfor a family in the community. If anyone is interested in buying poinsettias this year please think of me first and just leave a comment to let me know how many you want, I'll be in touch with you after that. You don't have to pay until you get the poinsettia, just let me know how many you need before Dec. 2. Thanks!

Halloween Scarecrow

This is our scarecrow that we made for Halloween and the ward trunk-or-treat party. It was a great Idea that the boyus had eh? They are really into the headless horseman right now, can you tell?

Isn't that sweet?

I really try on Sundays to not let the kids watch too much TV and if we do it's a scripture story or something. There was a little hole in my yard that needed filling in before the snow flies and the kids were interested in doing it. You wanna know how two ideas are related? Well the kids go inside, find the Indiana Jones whip and #3 proceeds to whip her brothers, they say that she is an Egyptian and they are the Hebrew slaves. Then they all got to take turns whipping each other. I was surprised that they actually used the soft whip, it was very thoughful of them . Hey at least they are understanding some part of the scripture story, even if it is the voilent part.

During the time of the deer hunt this year we went camping even though none of the people in the camp actually had a deer killin' tag. It was a good thing that we had great weather or I would have really been P O'd. But instead I was a happy camper! My kids were great and it was dry as a bone. Well, one of the nights we were doing our roasting and #3 thinks she need to roast the mallow her own way and this is how she does it. Thank goodness she didn't get any closer to the fire. I thought it was so cute. She was really trying to get it to work.

More child labor

My #2 has really lucked out lately, 'cause #3 thinks she has to do all of the chores. I had asked him to go make his bed, he hemmed and hawed for a minute, we both go down to his room and looky here, she was in there making it for him. She was so proud of herself. She did a pretty good job for a 2 year old don't ya think?

Oh and by the way for those of you who don't know yet, we are pregnant, and we are expecting in February. As far as I am concerned, I think it will be a boy, ultrasound is still unsure. I'm feeling great albeit I'm mid-thirties and pregnant. Apparently I'm old, at least that's what people tell me, but I can't think of anything better than another baby to kiss on, I've had so much fun with the 3 I already have, I love it!

Tired baby

So apparently I'm not too good at getting my kids down for naps. After they turn 2 they get weird when they wake up, like all ornery and whiney so I don't really push the nap issue. My number 3 was apparently really tired and hungry so she sat down in the laundry baskets to eat her bag of chocolate chex and all of the sudden I didn't hear her bag rustling. I turned around from working, well actually playing, on the computer and low and behold she had fallen asleep like this. Totally out and I still had to go to volleyball with the young women. She woke up when we got there, luckily there was enough going on that she was happy when she awoke. Usually it takes about an hour to get back to normal. No exaggeration. See why I don't like the nap thing?

Wow, I love modern technology

Most of my friends know that I am not much of a cook, not that I can't, I just don't enjoy it very much, I think the problem is that it often is difficult for me to decide what to cook, and there's always something I need to run to the store for. Another issue is that my kids are picky and only want a simple meat, a simple veggie and a roll or something. It gets pretty boring around here come 6:30 p.m.

I decided I'd make a special dish for my hubby, one of his favorite squash casseroles. I was trying to grate carrots and it was taking too long, not worth it, until I realized that for my wedding, 8 years prior, I received this nifty little contraption and had never tried to use it. I guess you could call it a mini food processer. I could not believe how well it worked! Boy, someone should market this thing. 20 Seconds start to finish, pretty cool huh. So, just remember you heard it here first. Gadgets that make cooking easier are AWESOME!!!

Bow hunt time

It's that time of year again, when grown men and little boys and a few women dress up in funny clothes and paint their faces so they can trapse around in the mountains in full camo when it's still pretty hot and use a bow and arrow to try to kill a massive beast. There's my # 2, the camo works great doesn't it?

Of warriors and wee ones

If you ask my kids, they will tell you that their cousin was a warrior in a war, maybe even a knight. And now he stores his "weapon" in the corner of his bedroom. I love the way kids think, especially my boys, always going in that violent direction.

I know it has been a month since the olympics were on but I'm blogging about them now, OK! My kids really enjoyed watching them, #2 couldn't believe all the muscles on the swimmers bodies. So one night we decided to have a party to celebrate the olympics, I bought this FAB cake to eat (made from scratch, no hydrogenated nothing, only butter :>)) Expensive too, don't tell my hubby. And we sang the "Star Spangled Banner" my kids like stuff like that as long as it is the least bit out of the ordinary.

By the way, was anyone else suprised and amused to see trampoline jumping as one of the olympic sports? Or am I one of the only people to finally be brought into the 21st century.

Child Labor

Yes, I totally believe in child labor, even if they totally screw it up at least they are occupied in something other than teasing and watching TV at the time. And yes my # 3 does a great job with the windows.

A quickie update

Well, this is a shout out to my family in Mesa. I was told that they need an update, so, the truck is back, looks great, as of today only. But he still thinks that he'll be selling it. School has started and no I don't think it has been the most wonderful thing in the world, I miss my guy, he's gone all day. We have been sick a lot the last month, no fun! There's two of my sickies in my bed, that's where they always end up. Lastly, my hubby has started his new position, no more kiddie stuff, now he's on to the big guys, and no it's not as great as he thought it would be, never is. Oh and the boys are playing flag football!

in & out

Out with the old, in with the new. My old washer has been leaking from my laundry room into my bathroom on the other side of the wall, time for a new one. I didn't want to spend $400 on a new one so I found this one on KSL, it was so clean, the mom I bought it from is an amazing housekeeper, so I was totally pleased. Plus, it was only $100 ,after negotiations, with detergent included. We picked it up (dad & I) and my hubby put it in the basement and got the other one out and put it on the street with a note that said FREE WORKS LEAKS A BIT and what do you know it was gone after 6 days. Awesome!

So, after it sat there for 4-5 days my husbands' friend sees it and says, "I wish I knew you needed a washer, 'cause we just gave our 2 year old one's away in order to move." It's amazing how guys don't talk about that kind of stuff, these guys have talked at least twice a day but never mentioned it, not a surprise.

One hell of a week

Kids' Games

Tubing on the river

Hand fishing yep he caught one

My hubby's PFD, Personal Fly Defense. My aunt was told that of you hang bags of water around your camp the flies would not bother you as much, (by the way it is not true, but fly spray works wonders) so her son and my guy decided to tease her a bit, she loved it.

Well, for those of you who think I'm nuts for continuing to go to a place where there have been stabbings resulting in death and drunk indians driving through our awnings, can you now see why I continue in the journey/adventure?

This family reunion is the best, when I first told my husband about it when we were dating he thought I was nuts and wasn't too excited to go, now he is the one who pushes the rest of us to drive 12-14 hours to go. It great and so wonderful that we can all be so close and know so many of our 2nd & 3rd cousins.

The only problem is that something wierd usually happens on the way home, like one time our trailer wheel was on fire and we were stuck about 2 hours from camp with 11 to go, and last year my dad had our bedding and decided to leave early so we had to follow him home until we couldn't drive anymore and pulled over at a $100 hotel room for 4 hours worth of sleep.

Well this year was no exception.

Yes, we were traveling home together we came across a black cow with a white face, thank goodness for that, we swerved a bit around it and honked and hoped my dad would see it he was about 150 yards behind us, he slowed down, and when he came upon it it was even further in his lane, he thought about swerving onto the steep shoulder but then decided against it because my mom and sister were both on the side that the truck/trailer would hit if it rolled, and my mom had accidently opened to door when she saw the cow, she was trying to grab the handle. No one was hurt, the kids slept through the whole thing. I'm grateful that we only had to call a tow truck ( rather 2 tow trucks) and no paramedics. It could have been a lot worse. Now my dad is already on the line ordering a new truck. Like he even needed one.

Remember game

A Walk Down Memory Lane Here's a little game! Leave a comment on my blog of a memory that you and I have had together. It doesn't matter if you've known me for a short time, or a long time, anything you remember! Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses.
Ready, Set Go!

Night of the 4th of July

It's 12:30 am on the 5th of July do you know where your chidren are. Well my # 1 and #3 were just getting into bed but my #2 was asleep in the bathtub. We had had a wonderful day, trying to get to see dad a little bit while he was making it safe so other families could be together, between parades and parks and fireworks we were busy and pretty much pooped out, but we went hard for as long as we could, it was a great day.

Ode to my phone

You were the best I ever had,

Why did I treat you so ... poorly?

Many a time I dropped you on the ground,

sometimes you were lost and then ... recovered.

You were a great sitter for the baby,

when with patience there was only a ... perhaps.

I do not live a life of posh,

so why did I throw you in with the ... laundry?

(the real laundry, not the fun laundry)

Only the truly witty will understand my humor. Lol, it's midnight give me some credit here.

Long time no blog

So, we went to a family reunion on my husbands' side a couple of weekends ago, it's great how you can introduce kids and tell them that they are the same age and they are immediate friends for life. We saw one of the families again last week and all the kids were totally excited to see their old long losts. There ended up being a ton of mosquitos so we all got sucked on pretty good. I think that #2 got it the worst or else his body reacts differently to bugs 'cause he had big red bumps all over. About once a year a spider crawls in to his bed and bites him somewhere on the head. It's even been on the face a few times and he ends up with a gigantic goose egg. I feel bad so I spray down but he always gets it again later. It's sore but it goes down within a day or two. Poor kid, all he's trying to do is sleep.

On the way home we see this heading on down the street and my hubby says, "so, do you think they went biking on their trip?", it's one of those see to believe things. Kind of white trashy, but in a cool /healthy sort of way.

Another Lazy Mother

So, last night as I was helping the kids pick up their messes around the house, #1 says to me "mom, why do we have to do all the work while you get to sit and relax" I said "who is sitting and relaxing #1, it sure isn't me" he said "OK you're not, but why do we always have to do this?" Then I have to remind them of the mom who died from hitting her head after she tripped on toys that the kids had left around, true, just ask my neighbor/nurse. I like to use shock therapy, it'll only work for so long so I must do it while they're young. But what the hell? Why is it that they don't see all that I have to do everyday! After this conversation I thought of my friend's blog that hit this issue right on the head, you must read it and then add your own personal chores too. Plus, sex isn't on there and as we all know it too is a must, although only the unlucky one's think it's a chore. http://www.thevoiceofashby.blogspot.com/

This picture is of the time of year when it takes days to clean up "my mess" because I'm too

busy "relaxing".

Mom is great, she gives us chocolate cake!!!

I wake up to this, my #1 says, "Mom, I was getting hungry so I ate birthday cake." I love being a mom, I'm having a great time. You just never know what you'll find.

The homemade birthday cake is the best, just add any toy you have around the house, hey, it works. But my hubby says I need a new chocolate frosting recipe, any ideas?

Birthday Party

We had a birthday party for #2 yesterday, it was great. We always put up streamers and balloons, they seem to think it's pretty cool and makes a party atmosphere. ; -)

Here are some things that he got. For some reason it seems that we really encourage violence in our house, but we say were just teaching the boys to be boys and the girl to be tough as nails, she's defended herself pretty well against the wild brothers.

Memorial Day Eve Barbeque

I've been a non-blogger lately, too much going on I guess. Anyway, this was my husband's creation from when we got together with some friends of ours. Anyone who knows him knows he loves to cook and is darn good at it too. It's a good thing because I don't really like it very well. And he knew it when he married me, so my goal is to try to have something edible when he comes home from work everyday. I'm getting better but there are improvements that could be made. Add corn, tomatoes and salads and you've got a good meal here. By the way, we must put on a great party 'cause our friends stayed until 1:00 a.m.