Life Savers

The Last Domino Fell

2012-01-27T21:09:00.000-07:00

I really thought we were free and clear. But alas, Daisy succumbed this afternoon. Poor thing. And now that every child has had a turn, I am much more appreciative of the ones who threw-up in plastic covered beds versus on the computer and carpet. Trust me, I don't make any child feel bad for where they throw up; I just like it more when they hit an easily washable surface.

The saddest part was that Daisy also threw up on her new Dora book. She takes it everywhere and when I'm not reading it to her, she reads it to herself. I rinsed it off, thinking that water damage was better than vomit, but we will see how it dries.

Pearl's new favorite word is Dora. She sings and babbles it all over the house. "Dohwa, Dohwa!" It is pretty cute and tonight she even said, "Furby" (Wait, have I mentioned Furby before? Well, if not, too bad. I'm not in the mood for that tangent. We'll discuss Furby at another time.)

Other funny things said recently:

Me: Ivory, your blankets are in the dryer. You will probably be asleep by the time they are dry, but I will bring them up to you.

Ivory: Just put them right on my head.

(She does like to sleep with her blankets on her head.)
______

(I really like Fig Newtons and we usually have them on hand. I was snacking on them by the computer and Daisy saw me.)

Me: Would you like a Fig Newton?

Daisy: No, that is not their name...they are BIG Newtons.

(I should really try to enunciate around here.)
______

(Tonight we were eating a pomegranate. Dad likes to take big bites, sucking out all the juice and spitting out the seeds. June likes to squeeze all the seeds out onto her plate and then eat them. I pick individual seeds out and then spit them out. June was watching me quizzically.)

June: I'm not sure about the way you are eating them. It is kind of like Dad's way and kind of like mine.

Me: It just seems easier to me.

June: Dad's way is gross.

Me: Your way is messy.

June: Then your way is gross AND messy.

(Ha, you got me there.)
______

Lastly, I got my Valentine's stuff out after Tyler's birthday. I'm not a huge fan of Valentine's in general, (Tyler is pretty good about showing love year round.) but there is something about hearts, pink, red, and white that makes me smile. Here are some of my favorite things around the house.

This one I forgot that I bought on sale last year after the holiday. I pulled them out and it was like a mini-present to myself. And I love how simple they are next to the curtains, but how cute.

Happy Valentine's Day. (Or should I say...Happy pink hearts and stuff.)

The Icky Sickies

2012-01-26T09:31:00.000-07:00

One of the joys of a large family is having sickness run its course through multiple people. I'm always interested to see who gets it and how badly it hits them. Let's take this last bout for instance: (*This is your cue...if you don't like reading about vomit...please don't continue.)

Ivory fell first. Threw up twice Friday evening and then seemed to come out of it the next day. (Even not feeling her best the next day, she dressed up fancy.)

Robyn was next throwing up on Saturday evening. Only twice again, and lucky for us, she came in very early complaining that her stomach hurt, so she was sleeping in the bathroom by the time the action started. I now think this is genius. All kids feeling slightly ill will be allowed to sleep in the bathroom until they feel better. It totally saves on cleanup. (Robyn took it a little harder and was more lethargic. Here she is curled up with Moxy in the sun.)

A couple of days passed and we thought we were in the clear. But Tuesday night got June and it got her bad. She threw up around 14 times, and sadly there were no indications for her, so her first aim almost hit Robyn. (Robyn was NOT happy about this, but when I pointed out that she almost threw up on June just a while ago, she was consoled. It might be time to get a second bed...)

Pearl was the same night. Although she was spared most of the gore. She threw up once, was all smiles and went back to bed without a sound. She was pretty chill.

As if that wasn't enough for one night, Ivory had two bloody noses. (Well, I guess I should say that her nose bled twice...since she really only has one nose.) If the blood on her sheets was any inkling the next morning, those bleeds were quite something. Bless Tyler who took care of almost everything that night. I helped clean up June and woke up to snuggle Pearl, but Tyler shouldered the brunt of the kid cleaning and comforting. Granted, I got all the laundry the next day, but that is nothing compared to a night of no sleep.

June was pretty good the next day. She drank the coveted Gatorade (that you only get when you are sick) and she read and watched movies. I could handle a day like that.

The count stands at four. Daisy and the adults are the only ones to escape so far. Let's hope this particular strain has lost stamina and petered out. We can handle the occasional yuck, but I prefer our normal routine.

Monday Mirth

2012-01-23T14:38:00.000-07:00

These were actually taken at the beginning of the twelve days of our anniversary, but I have been a little slow in getting them on here. (Mainly because I can't figure out how to scan with our new printer. [New—as in we have had it for quite a while but I have never tried scanning with it because I knew it would be different than the last one and I wouldn't be able to figure it out—I didn't—Tyler had to help.] For the record, I like the old printer more; much more user friendly.) So, this is just for a laugh today. Sorry for the bad quality. Those photo booths are pretty crappy. I am pretty sure I could make my own 'photo booth' here at home and get much better pictures. (Hmm...that sounds like a fun party idea sometime.) Okay, really...here are the pictures.

Birthday Stallion

2012-01-21T20:48:00.000-07:00

*All these gratuitous photos are for the Stallion's pleasure.

I think he had a good birthday. We got him some work-out duds; long-sleeved and short. And then a watch that tracks all his movement and caloric removal. I think he looks pretty good...and so does he. We brought out the ~~cake~~ brownie and he posed with his dessert.

We finally got him to blow out the candle.

Don't change Raging Stallion. We like you just the way you are. Okay, even if you lose a few pounds, I promise that I will still love you.

The Missing Cake

2012-01-20T15:16:00.000-07:00

Today is Tyler's Birthday. Happy Birthday sweetie!! This post isn't for you....yet. Your birthday isn't over yet. I may still take more pictures.

But I am feeling guilty that I had a great birthday and never posted my own thoughts. I had a whole birthday WEEKEND. Friday night, lots of ladies came over for Girls Night In. (Lots of laughs, including many chuckles over me ordering Tyler to get chairs for us. You kinda had to be there.)

Saturday, I was kidnapped by wonderful friends who then proceeded to not talk to me in the car while I remained blindfolded for a loooooong time. (Well, almost any amount of time seems long when you have a blindfold on.) They would clap when I voiced a question with a positive answer, but other than that...not so many clues. It is hard to keep a one-man conversation going for long. But I was thrilled to have lunch with Kari, Camille, Jenaca, Becca, Aubry, Tricia, and Caitlynn. (I know there were a lot of others who would have liked to have come. I love you all too.)

Then of course on Sunday I was showered with more love. You saw the gifts from these cuties.

I sometimes make a cake for myself, but I didn't bother this time around, because I had more dessert than I could stuff myself with at one sitting. All from one family. Shari was so nice to make me cheesecake. (She knows my weakness.) But then her stellar husband (who happens to be our home teacher) brought chocolate cake as well. Everything was devoured eventually and this was all I had to show for it; a stack of dishes I need to return.

No candles for me this time around. So, yay, I didn't spit on anyone's dessert this year.

Ivory and I did a little photo session a few days before my birthday. Here you can catch a rare glimpse of me right before 33 overtook me.

I felt really loved this birthday. I have great family and friends. I hope Tyler has a good day as well. He deserves some birthday splendor too. (Especially after I beat him at laser tag.)

Laser Tag

2012-01-20T12:00:00.003-07:00

For my birthday, we usually go play some laser tag. We play exactly once per year--so as to be comparable to last year. Several folks from work came out to see who is the best with a plastic mesh vest with a box and sensors hanging off it--oh yeah, and of course the laser gun.

Players included (in alphabetical order and team color):

Arthur (player 33)
Brandon Burrup (player 13)
Brett (player 27)
Caleb (player 18)
Dan (player 1)
Dorel (player 4)
Langi (player 10)
Maleen (player 28)
Ron (player 34)
Troy (player 30)
Tyler (player 11)

Technically, red beat green. But the most-important ordering was the rank of each player—much more interesting anyway. Here's how it shook out during the shoot out:

For my part, I've learned that should anyone break into my house, I should hand my guns to Maleen—she's got a statistically better chance of killing the bad guys.

Mini Stories to Laugh At

2012-01-18T23:11:00.000-07:00

At Family Home Evening, we each get to chose a song to sing. Naturally, a lot of the songs are Primary songs. Ivory has chosen, "Hinges" the last few times, and at our most recent FHE, I didn't hear her correctly. I thought she said, "Ninjas" instead of "Hinges". Let me tell you, the actions are way more fun when you are all made of 'ninjas'.

I took a few moments today to read with the kids. (I know this makes it sound like I never read with them.) Pearl handed me Moo, Baa, La, La, La. The book is short enough that it is mandatory to read it more than once. So I spiced it up and we did several different versions: Slow, super fast, singing, rapper style, opera, robot, etc. I had a captive audience for quite some time.

I try not to let the kids eat right before dinner. I am not always successful, especially with Pearl. Since I know she won't eat dinner, I usually cave and hand over a cracker or two pre-meal. Today I succumbed and offered her a Graham Cracker. Of course, this starts a chain reaction and I have each successive kid come and ask for a cracker. Daisy was first. I told her she needed a good reason to get a cracker. She didn't really know what that meant, but her pleas that the cracker would abate her stomach pains did the trick.
Next was Robyn. I told her to give me a good reason. She said that she had done a lot of extra piano that day. I accepted. Even as she was leaving with her prize, Ivory rounded the corner and asked for a cracker. I told her to give me a good reason. She looked at Robyn with her conquest and whispered to her, "What was your reason?"(Clever...that one.)

Happy Birthday Maleen!

2012-01-15T15:03:00.003-07:00

Maleen is celebrating her, er... 29th-ish birthday today on this 15th of January! For her birthday, the girls and I spent some quality time together, coniving about what to put on t-shirts that we made for her (this is what wives of designers get for birthdays).

We got the designs just right, and then took them down to BYU and had them print heat-transfers (or "melty papers", whichever is more appropriate for your age). Now Mom's sporting these gorgeous ditties:

"The Girls are with Me, Hello Kitty" by Daisy & Raging Stallion.

"Formal" by Robyn & Raging Stallion.

"Owlright, Now What?" by Ivory & Raging Stallion.

"I'm Worth It" by June & Raging Stallion.

"Fresh Sqeezed" by Raging Stallion

Not related to the birthday, but here are nine amazing gems of wisdom that deserve preservation:

When you're on a date at the temple, it's not a good idea to tell your spouse that there are a whole bunch of scratches on the front on their brand new 2012 (overly expensive) minivan.
Should you decide that it is necessary to take advantage of your spouse's relatively mild temple-going temperament to break such news, don't be surprised when aforementioned relatively mild temple-going temperament expires and morphs into a not-so-mild temperament.
When you got home, in the dark, is not the right time nor light (nor temperament) to inspect alleged scratches on the brand new 2012 minivan.
When you have discerned in amazing fashion that the scratches are in fact NOT scratches at all, but left-over adhesive from the plastic guards the dealerships keep on there, you should not brag to your now-verbally abused spouse that you are the "most-brilliant man in the world."
Effects on the body and mind when swinging rapidly from relatively mild temple-going temperament to most-brilliant man in the world temperament can be unpredictable. In your vigor to prove you're the "most-brilliant man in the world," you should never demonstrate anything.
If you choose that you must demonstrate that you are, in fact, the "most-brilliant man in the world," it's a poor choice to use a dish scrubby and a little spit to remove the left-over adhesive.
When you've discovered that you've actually transformed non-scratches into honest-to-goodness scratches, you should not try shifting temperaments—it's only going to go badly for you.
Shouting profanity at a cold, scratched minivan has no effect whatsoever—unless you count the psychological benefits.
When the brilliance of "most-brilliant man in the world" has faded, humility is the best option for approaching your spouse.

How You Know if Your Pants are Old and Other Stories

2012-01-11T14:37:00.001-07:00

My parents sent me some clothing to mend as a Christmas gift to them. Since I am NOT the most excellent sewer and certainly not mender, they are taking a risk, but they are usually easily pleased. (Thank goodness.) I was working on hemming a pair of my Dad's pants when the label caught my eye. Go ahead...you can read it too.

If the maker of these pants is telling you to air dry them away from the sun, and questioning whether you even own a dryer, I would say these are some pretty old pants. So kudos Dad that you can still fit into them. That must be saying something.

Oh, and I hemmed them without a machine. It seemed the right thing to do since they were possibly assembled by hand anyway. Not perfect, put pretty darn good.

Pearl is turning into a bully. She picks on Daisy constantly. Mainly because she knows she can get a rise out of Daisy. I am having a hard time not giving Daisy the advise to push Pearl down a few times to put her in her place. (That doesn't seem like good parenting.)

Pearl knows she is being a stink-pot. In fact, she gets this sneaky, taunting face when she knows she is up to no good. Kind of like this face here. (When I had already asked her multiple times to leave Daisy alone in the tub.)

This picture brings back good memories.

June requested that we list 100 things we are thankful for as advised in the December Ensign. They broke it down into ten categories so it was easy to accomplish.

Take a Gratitude Challenge

By John Hilton III and Anthony Sweat

Let’s not just talk about counting our blessings—let’s do it! Write a list of 100 things you are thankful for. If that sounds like it is too many, try this:

Write 10 physical abilities you are grateful for.
Write 10 material possessions you are grateful for.
Write 10 living people you are grateful for.
Write 10 deceased people you are grateful for.
Write 10 things about nature you are grateful for.
Write 10 things about today you are grateful for.
Write 10 places on earth you are grateful for.
Write 10 modern inventions you are grateful for.
Write 10 foods you are grateful for.
Write 10 things about the gospel you are grateful for.

When we make a list like this, we discover that a list of 100 doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface of all the things God has given us.

I had the hardest time thinking of ten deceased people. Santa and the Tooth Fairy kept popping into my head. And as far as I know, they are still alive...

Anyway, it was fun activity and I like that the girls got involved.

Book Review 2011

2012-01-09T14:46:00.000-07:00

I like to read and my book group keeps me going. I am at a ~~sad~~ busy time in my life where if I didn't read because I was required to, I might not find time to read at all.

Funny, I just wrote that and then I went back and checked how many books I read last year. I thought it would be around 12, since that is what was planned, but it turned out I managed to fit in 20. Go me! Most of those extra ones were pre large calling, and young adult fiction, but it gives me hope that maybe I do find time to read after all.

I am terrible about things like goodreads where you write reviews. Since in my mind I don't have time to read, I hardly have time to write reviews, but if everyone were as lame as me, we would never be able to read all the cool book reviews out there. (Hypocrisy at its best.)

But I did see one lady who posted all the books that she read and then listed her top 5. I think I want to do that too. So, here is my list of literary reading accomplishments for 2011. (Not listed in the order I read them.)

And here are my:

TOP 5 PICKS

5. Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier: I feel odd putting this one in here because I was snoring through the first half of the book. Really. Boring. Very. But...I liked the twist at the end enough that I might even read it again someday. And I certainly recommend it. Especially to those who can skim-read the first half of a book.

4. Your Happily Ever After by Dieter F. Uchtdorf: I don't know if you can call this a book, because it is really a Conference talk with a binding. But the truths in there are still great to hear. I actually should read more books by General Authorities. They tend to be very uplifting.

3. The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale: Gotta love a good fairy tale. This one was a fun read.

2. The Cardturner by Louis Sachar: I should have guessed I would enjoy this, since I absolutely LOVE Holes, but this is a book about a card game. Boring, right? Hardly. Who even knew Bridge could be so enthralling. Yes, I like to play cards. No, I don't know how to play Bridge. But I really want to learn now.

And my favorite book of this last year.

1. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak: This book was beautiful and touching. I feel like so many Holocaust books leave you feeling very depressed and perhaps angry or disgusted. This book portrays the tragedy and loss while still letting you revel in the character development and plot. It is written from the unique perspective of Death. I would go read it again, but I loaned out my copy and haven't seen it since. Apparently someone else liked it too.

Midget Mode Mishaps (a reenactment)

2012-01-07T21:42:00.002-07:00

I can't remember who made up the name, but the girls will often squat down pulling their shirts over their knees and say they are in 'Midget Mode'. It looks pretty funny and I only frown because I think it stretches out their clothes. (Yes, I have to be the buzz-kill for almost everything.)

I didn't realize Robyn played Midget Mode at school, but she came home with this story:

Robyn: Mom, I was playing Midget Mode at school.

We were headed for the playground. The other two girls were rolling and I was jumping along, when all of a sudden...I fell. I was like, "Whoooooaaa"

I landed on my face. See?

On my chin and lip too. Can I have a bandaid? Please???

(I told her that a bandaid wouldn't fit right and would hurt coming off. She insisted, so I did the best I could.)

I now think that she would make a really cute Mummy next year for Halloween.

p.s. I highly recommend to those who try this at home...not to run in Midget Mode. You tend to fall over much like a sack of potatoes with no legs would.

p.p.s. I have redone the blog look for 2012. If you are reading this in Google Reader or something, you should go check it out. I realize that the header is not a picture of my family, but I was using a test picture and I kinda liked how it looked when I was done. When I find something more fitting, the Littlest Pet Shops will be history. Actually, I'm going to put the picture on here, so I can save it in the blog book someday. Yes LPS, you were famous for a brief moment.

Stations (!)

2012-01-06T14:28:00.001-07:00

I so need to remember this idea for the summer. It was somewhere during Christmas break when all the kids were getting on each others' nerves that I decided they all needed a break. I stepped in and ordered each child to a different room or activity. But naturally I didn't want complaining about who was going where, so I told them they were doing stations and they would switch every twenty minutes. (It ended up being about 23 minutes because that is how long an episode of Dora was on Netlfix—one of the stations.) There was reading, coloring, doing dishes, helping Mom, playing computer. It was great. And I implemented this during Pearl's naptime because I wanted it quiet.

SERIOUSLY, MUST USE THIS AGAIN WHEN ALL THE KIDS ARE HOME.

One day I allowed the children to do Playdoh as a station. I am NOT a fan of Playdoh. It never quite gets cleaned up all the way (by the children) and all the colors are usually blended by the end. But, it being Christmas break and the fact that they got Playdoh for Christmas (thanks again mom) I relented and let them go at it. They made some cute creations.

June made the most:

Ivory had fun experimenting:

And Robyn actually built hers around the Playdoh container:

Then she asked me to take a bite. Contrary to the picture, I did not take an actual chunk from the cupcake, but I did sink my teeth in to make it look authentic. Yowza, Playdoh is salty and it sticks to both sides of your teeth. Nasty stuff. Just another reason to dislike it. However, I only have myself to blame, and Robyn got a good giggle out of it.

Good Intentions

2012-01-05T14:22:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking a LOT about New Year's Resolutions. I love to make them. My favorite is something like, have a baby this year, when I am already pregnant. It's all about setting realistic, attainable goals.

This year I think I have too many floating through my head, so I am only going to make ONE goal. Yep, you heard me. ONE goal. I want to focus on that one thing and see if I can accomplish it. Here it is:

I have struggled with Scripture study in the past. I am not sure where to focus my energy. There are so many good books and manuals out there. But Tyler has come up with a study schedule that will help me use the good materials on hand while narrowing my point of focus. I am really looking forward to studying, instead of just reading.

But...there are still plenty of other things that should not be neglected. So, I give you my intentions for the year. These aren't goals, per se. I intend to do them, but I don't want to be bogged down worrying about all my goals falling through holes.

Maleen's Intentions for 2012
(in no particular order)

1. Check in with Mint Weekly (This is our finance tracker that I am not so great about tracking)
2. Do a learning activity with Daisy once a week
3. Blog 3 x's a week
4. Take one child on a date each month
5. Do Scripture study with the kids in the morning (7am—I can do this, I can do this)
6. Have a FHE centered around service each month
7. Possibly learn a home improvement thing (I'm thinking chandelier in the kids room)
8. Maintain all the fabulous stuff I do (holiday stuff, birthday pictures, creative happenings)
9. Read 12 books (Is this cheating because I have a book group? No, it's realistic)
10. Find some exercise plan I like (I really don't know what it is yet)

I think that is plenty of intentions for now. I don't think I have ever blogged about resolutions (or real ones) before. Maybe this is the start of something beautiful. Or it could be a big flop. Tyler told me that he read a statistic that 85% of resolutions are dead by March 15. I'll let you know how it goes....

Daisyisms

2012-01-02T22:29:00.000-07:00

The new year has been pretty status quo so far. Nothing major broke which is a small miracle, unless you count the dishwasher which died before Christmas, or the curtains which went from having a small hole, to having a huge gash. (Thank you small children who can't keep from sticking fingers in holes and enlarging existing ones.)

After some debate, we decided on a new dishwasher. What do you think?

I didn't have children for no reason. If one of them could have cooled food manually, I would have skipped buying a fridge as well.

Okay, that isn't all true. I actually lobbied for a new dishwasher, but Tyler thinks the girls could use the experience. (He is probably right.) They take turns washing, rinsing, or drying. It's novel right now. Let's see how long it lasts...

Daisy is still my scatterbrained girl. I think she might secretly be a genius, because she gives me logical reasons for things all the time, and yet, I can't get her to focus. I think there are still some minor issues with her hearing, (Sorry I never finished posting about that. I'm sure that whole story will come out eventually.) and that probably accounts for some of it. But whatever it is, she sure makes me laugh.

Here are a couple Daisy things said in the last few days.

(Daisy was eating a go-gurt and she has trouble getting it all up from the bottom.)

Daisy: Mom, can you help me get the yogurt out of my yogurt bag?

(Today we were getting ready to go to the store. She told me she was ready to go.)

Mom: Where are your socks and shoes? You have bare feet.

Daisy: No I don't. They're not brown. They are peach. They're Daisy feet.

(At dinner, June was getting impatient that I hadn't brought the food to the table yet.)

June: Can we eat already?

Daisy: There isn't anything in your bowl.

She is great at pointing out the obvious all the time. She is at a fun age. I think when people are feeling sad, they should sit down and talk with a 3-year old for a while.

Winter

2011-12-31T20:58:00.000-07:00

The theme is actually Winter/Summer but I usually like to do whatever season we are in, instead of the opposite, but it sure doesn't feel like Winter around here. Sure it is cold, but this is Utah, and there should be snow. I am not complaining since I don't really love snow, but I found it odd to try to find a picture that reminded me of winter. I really wanted to go down to the lake and take a picture of the frozen water. (It was amazing last Wed.) But by today, there were only a few little pieces of ice floating around.

So, I took a picture of the mountains. They look more like Summer mountains to me. For all you know, this could be the snow melting away in the hot summer days instead of it being practically January.

Photo of the week:

It was really interesting while I took the picture. I was far enough away from the freeway and hustle and bustle that when I got out of my car, there was silence around me. It was so quiet. I could hear every little rustle in the bushes from birds and small creatures. A snap to my left brought my head around to see a deer staring at me, and as the birds flew by I could hear the thrum of their wings beating. It was soooooooo quiet. I'm guessing it seemed quite unnatural to me based on the constant barrage of noise at our house. Five kids ain't exactly peaceful.

And so my photography challenge comes to a close. I will probably not get the last theme, Oldness before the year ends and the only thing I can think to take pictures of is myself (because I have felt really old lately) and that would just be depressing. I am not sure if I want to challenge myself again next year. I have felt very busy lately, and you have probably noticed my decline in blogging and photography. And yet...if I don't challenge myself somehow, it will be all too easy to let it slip aside. Then again, I don't know if anyone even cares about my pictures. Have they been interesting? Have you wondered at all what was coming next? Has it been a detraction from the normal blog fare? Will you feel inclined in your busy new year to comment on this at all? (I promise that wasn't a guilt trip. I know you are all busy and I don't comment as well as I used to either.)

But whatever I decide, I am glad that I took this journey. I do love taking pictures. It is a hobby that I picked up not too long ago. It is good to know that I can still learn things in my old age. There is still plenty out there to delve into. In fact, here comes the new year... a perfect time to think about what you want to do with your life. I have some resolutions in the works. Maybe I will be brave enough to put some of them on here.

I hope your 2011 has been fine, and your 2012 looks bright. This will be the first even year in a long time that I won't have a baby. Sheesh, I should go knock on some wood right now. That's all I need is a good jinx to start off the new year.

Cheers!

After

2011-12-29T00:05:00.001-07:00

Photos of the week:

AFTER

BEFORE

SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN

Smiles

2011-12-28T23:32:00.000-07:00

I think this one speaks for itself.

Photo of the week:

Beyond Reach

2011-12-28T23:28:00.000-07:00

You know my displeasure of multiple posts in a single day, but I have a desire to finish up all these photography themes before the new year. It isn't going to happen mind you...but I have the desire.

Photos of the week:

Tyler is very talkative...chatty even. I think this stems from the fact that he likes the sound of his own voice. (I do too. Like his voice, that is.) I am so used to him talking often that I am annoyed when I can't get his attention or solicit a response from him. I have found that there are three things that cause him to become engulfed enough that I consider him beyond reach. They are:

1. Playing the guitar. (This is the first I noticed and I can ask him a question and literally wait minutes for a response. I know minutes doesn't sound like a lot, but you try waiting a minute before answering someone's question and suddenly it seems like an eternity.)

2. Playing the computer. (This really depends on what he is doing. Some ~~games~~ projects are more distracting than others.)

3. Assembling/Disassembling a gun. (I didn't know about this one until tonight. It was like he was in his own little world. I promise that I don't begrudge the man his hobbies, but I am pretty sure I can answer any questions while doing my hobbies. Unless you count running...but that isn't really a hobby and it doesn't count because I am merely out of breath.)

Also I thought I would include this photo as well. The focus actually fell on the wrong object, but I almost like it more for the idea, because he really feels beyond reach now. What do you think?

Christmas...Two Years Running

2011-12-28T23:00:00.000-07:00

Last year I decided that I should actually start taking pictures and documenting Christmas. See, it says so right here. This year we sent the kids packing early up to Idaho and then caught up to them for the actual event.

Packing is not my favorite, although I still like it more than UN-packing. But with five girls and a check-list, it takes us about an hour and a half. And we still missed several items. I look forward to the day that I can say, "Girls, go pack," and they come tell me they are done in twenty minutes. Is that overly optimistic?? A girl can dream, right? Here is the gang in full swing.

Then we partied it up for our anniversary and decided that we should probably relieve Grandma before Christmas ensued. I think her actual words were, "Hope you enjoyed your anniversary, because this won't happen again." Grandma, I would encourage you to reconsider.

We left Eddy in good hands. (He was such a good elf this Christmas, and I will miss having him around.)

We arrived just in time. Pearl had almost forgotten who we were. We got reacquainted in the best way possible.

The girls had been busy while we were gone. Look at this masterpiece they assembled in our absence. Don't look too closely, or you might see some missing pieces.

Pearl found a boyfriend while we were gone as well. It was a bit awkward when J.R. and I walked in on her, but she didn't seem too bashful and she went right on kissing him.

I'm not sure where this picture should go, but I tinkered with it and I liked how it turned out. (Tyler says she looks like she's 90. Okay, to each his own. I still like it.)

Christmas eve has always been the night that Grandma and Grandpa distribute gifts to the grandkids. So we rallied the troops and proceeded to swap between all families. It is always great to see the other cousins and such. Somehow, we didn't get great pictures of everyone (most pictures are thanks to Tyler in the first place, because I was slacking as usual) but here are a couple I liked. The Great Kolbé was in good form.

Check out how cute Sir Jack is.

Ivory, however, should get some kind of award. She went through what must be a child's worst nightmare and actually held it together pretty well. For some reason, her gifts were absent. There were a couple from cousins, but there was a mix-up on the packaging so Ivory only got to open one gift, and then there was nothing else for her. She kept coming up to me and telling me there were no presents for her, but I told her to be patient. Turns out, there were no presents for her. Not even a pair of pajamas. Somehow her gifts were MIA.

Here she is still looking for gifts

Grandma made the fastest run to Target you have ever seen. (Ivory didn't even know she was missing) and somehow came up with pretty good last minute gifts. (Ivory was pleased as punch.) I told Grandma that if she finds the missing gifts, I know a little girl whose birthday is right around the corner.

Eventually all the excitement died down and it was time for bed. The girls left goodies out for Santa and we tucked them in. (Jeebes has other duties when he is not attending to Pearl.)

Christmas dawned bright and early. Okay, not really. J.R had to come wake us up at 7:30am, because Pearl was still sleeping. (First time ever.) The girls were allowed to open stockings and Santa gifts before church. I love this picture because Grandma was in charge of jammies and somehow I failed to mention that the girls don't wear the size for their age. (They are all miniature.) Therefore, I will be doing some serious hemming. (After I wash them, of course.)

Ivory seemed to like her new wallet from Santa.

Robyn found money in hers.

Other gifts were distributed, but I think we have just about enough pictures for one post. Also, we didn't get the camera out after church, so there is no documentation of our family gift exchange. Just know that it was fabulous and everyone had presents...even Ivory. Look, here she is coloring right away in her new Gymnastics leotard.

Oops, I said no more pictures. You know I lie sometimes. And just to prove it, here is one more. Daisy is showing just how we all felt after it was all said and done.

Gathering

2011-12-28T12:57:00.000-07:00

Christmas was a blast and I will dedicate a whole post to it shortly, but I have been trying to get these pictures for a while, and today I accomplished my mission.

Photos of the week:

I have been watching the birds a lot lately. Hitchcock would be proud. I orginally wanted to catch them on a wire. (See above) But I also love how they become the leaves for dead winter trees.

And I especially love to see them fly together in seamless harmony. They are like one well-oiled machine doing intricate aerial maneuvers.

Why do they gather on those wires? Are they warm with electrical current running through them?

Anniversary (On the twelfth day)

2011-12-22T23:37:00.000-07:00

I waited as long as possible so I didn't over-post on Tyler, but he knows better than to post when I am surely going to post. (That seemed like a lot of posts in one sentence.)

Today was the big day. Twelve years ago we got married on a very foggy morning in Washington. Sometimes it seems like a dream, but when I wake up, he is still there beside me. (And some child is calling for me from the other room.) I am the luckiest girl to have married my best friend. Or perhaps he became my best friend after we were married for a while. (Truthfully, it was kind of a short engagement.) I was also trying to decide if we were alike to begin with, or we are just very alike now from living together. There is probably some argument for both ideas.

And even though we are still different, he completes me. He is that last bite of a great meal; when you feel so satisfied and you know you couldn't eat another bite. You think that perhaps you will never have to eat again because it was such a great meal. Unlike my food, my body can't digest this love. It seeps into everything and I am amazed at how much I care for another person. It is different from being a mother. Sometimes I feel like my love for my children is not a choice; it is dragged out of me. It is innate.

But loving a person who came with their own set of quirks and mysteries is different. Sometimes you have to work at it. Sometimes it comes naturally. Most of the time it is cloud nine. Rarely, it is the pits. But it is a choice. And I chose to love you Tyler, for forever.

Tyler's trait for today is a combination of all the others. He is well-rounded. He does it all. He has it all. He could learn it all, if he wanted. If I went back in time and took that test where you write down attributes you are looking for in a spouse, I bet that Tyler has them all. (Of course, I didn't know back then that I should request a man with less gas. Actually, is there a man like that out there?) Tyler is the kit and caboodle, the real deal, the whole package. He is the cat's meow, or pajamas. (Your pick.) He is pretty snazzy.

Here is our last picture. From earlier this year.

Twelve years baby!! We rock.

So, if any of you were looking for ideas, here are the 12 days of our anniversary.

1. Long bath with salts and candles
2. Photo booth photos
3. Massage (on a real table)
4. Met him for lunch
5. New shirts
6. A freezer full of ice cream (all chocolate varieties)
7. Played racquetball together
8. Candlelit dinner (kids helped)
9. Movie night
10. New wrapping paper (inside joke)
11. Professional Photo shoot
12. Dinner out

I actually don't think any of those ideas where especially fancy, but I was thinking of him for over a week. Well, I think of him all the time, but you know what I mean. I actually put the laundry aside to focus on him. (This was painfully obvious when we had to do 6 loads to catch up today. Um...happy anniversary babe.)

So, let's do this again next year. Not the twelve days thing, but maybe you and I can celebrate again this fabulous union we call marriage. I dig it.

CazierTM Turns 12

2011-12-22T04:55:00.003-07:00

For clarity, "CazierTM" does not stand for "Cazier Trademark." It stands, rather matter-of-factly, as "Cazier, Tyler & Maleen." And today is our birthday: we're 12!

4,380 days ago (give or take a few days for leap years), I followed through on the best decision of my life: to marry Maleen. Back then I was handsome, immature, and looking for someone to settle down and spend eternity with. Now, 12 years later, I'm just handsome and immature. Marrying Maleen was a no brainer: she was hot, smart, witty, and also looking to settle down for an eternity of something interesting. Of course, now she's just hot, smart, and witty.

We've had ups and downs, but mostly ups. She keeps helium in my life's balloons, even when the world around me is trying to pop them as fast as they can. Like every couple, we had some getting-to-know you time in the beginning. Somehow or another we managed to get it right—of course I mostly blame Maleen for all the awesome that's happened since 12 years ago, but I had a small part in it as well.

Through computers and fridges, houses and cars, kids and school, Maleen has brought me through it all more-or-less unscarred. She's the reason I can walk through the door with a smile on my face every day, because I know she's there. She's the reason behind that warm feeling I get right before I go to sleep—she's near me. She's the one I can always talk with and figure out my woes with: she's always there. She's the one who has given us five wonderful daughters, who will eventually pamper me for the rest of my life. She's the one who stands by me during those rough decisions that seem like they have no right answer. If it weren't for her, this whole life of mine would have turned out much differently for sure, and there's no way we'd have so many inside jokes.

Thank you Maleen, simply for being the best thing that's ever come into my life.

As of now, when people ask us how long we've been married, I'm rounding up to at least 13. Heck, on a crazy day, I might round up to 20!

And yes, I'm posting freaking early in the morning so you can't post ahead of me...shameless I know (see paragraph two: maturity).

Photos (On the eleventh day)

2011-12-21T23:57:00.001-07:00

I had such great plans planned for today. Tyler and I were going to get our own photo shoot; just the two of us. I was having some guilt since it has been a while since we did family photos, but some times you have to think of your husband first. Especially when all the kids are in Idaho anyway. (Thank you, thank you, thank you Grandma and Grandpa for taking the kids. Best Anniversary gift. Ever.)

BUT, (you felt this coming right) I woke up this morning with pink eye. Yep, that won't look so great documented, so the photo shoot will have to be rescheduled. Blat. However, Tyler and I took some pictures together just the other day. We'll just substitute those for a minute while my eye heals. Candid as always, but pictures without kids. (And that proves we love each other.)

We also have our picture from the eleventh year married. Look, we voted.

Our character trait for the day is...well, I am not sure if there is one word for it. Tyler likes to snuggle and be pampered. Well, who doesn't like to be pampered? And when I say pampered, this doesn't have to mean girly things like pedicures and facials. (Although Tyler likes those too.) Pampering is getting some of whatever you like. Right? For instance, if someone came and secretly cleaned my house, I would feel great amounts of pampering. (This is one of those moments when I wish my children were older and read my blog. Maybe they could take a not-so-subtle hint.)

Anyway, Tyler does enjoy many of the traditional pamperings. He likes his feet rubbed, a hot bath, or a long massage. I think he likes to have someone near him showing love. This means he also likes to cuddle. I have found that I don't love to cuddle. I will cuddle some, but I like my space and the feeling of not having someone breathe on me. So Tyler seeks out a good cuddle companion to snuggle with. Daisy is definitely the best right now. She likes to cuddle almost as much as Tyler. Grab a blanket, turn on a movie, and you are almost guaranteed to find Daisy in your lap. I like to wrap her in my arms and snuggle her right under my chin. (See, I said I like to cuddle sometimes.) Tyler is a great reminder that people need physical contact. Children need to be hugged...so do adults.

Funnies (On the tenth day)

2011-12-20T23:07:00.000-07:00

Wow, only two more days after this. Can you believe we made it this far? (Some may be wondering how we made it twelve years. But through reading these posts, you can clearly see that we two weirdos are made for each other.)

This photo was taken at Thanksgiving Point when we went on this date.

We are not the best about getting out on dates, but we love each other nonetheless. We usually just watch a lot of TV and pretend that when we both happen to be in the same room after the kids are asleep, it almost counts as a date.

Tyler's character trait today may seem boring, but I actually respect him for it. (That is when I am not slapping him for correcting my grammar.) That trait is that he is very literary. He likes words and the usage of words and correct grammar. I like all that stuff too, but somewhere in school they skipped me through some classes, and whereas I can write well; my commas are not always in the right place, and some of my sentences are not grammatically correct. (I'm sure you have noticed.) This trait makes Tyler an excellent editor and I try to make sure he looks over all my stuff before I print or post it.

We enjoy humor such as Anguished English and Eats, Shoots & Leaves. We like finding typos in others' work. (Not to make fun of them, but to merely laugh at how the mistake sounds once made.) For example when we went to an orientation for June's A.L.L. program, Tyler leaned over to me and asked what A.L.L. stands for. I told him it stood for Advanced Learning...something. Throughout the orientation there was a slide show and it finally listed the title on one of the slides. Except that they have left out a letter and it said, Advanced Learing Lab. Tyler and I spent the rest of the night staring intently at one another and then laughing hysterically. (I would like to note that I think we were the only parents who smiled the whole evening. Parents of smart kids can be pretty dull when in an orientation.)

But it is occasions like that...misspelled words, and incorrect punctuation that make us smile. (See, two weirdos. If you didn't believe me before, you must believe me now.)

Finally two funny moments that need to be recorded. Daisy was playing with Dad the other evening and I was in the room, and was lucky enough to hear this exchange:

Daisy: Dad, I want you to be my horsey-horse. (She likes to ride on his back.)

Dad: I'm not being a horse right now. I'm going to be lying down. (He proceeded to lie on his stomach.)

Daisy: Okay, you're a snake.

(Tyler starts hissing and trying to grab her as she walks by.)

Daisy: You can't grab me, snakes don't have hands. They only go 'Ssssssssss'.

She is so fun.

The other funny moment was at the table, and really it was only funny for me. With the help of Robyn, I made a chocolate pie for Dad's special dessert one night. Robyn didn't want Dad to know about the pie until we served it, so she didn't want her sisters talking about it. She asked them all very nicely not to say anything, but there were a few slips. Tyler was very nice and said we weren't going to talk about the unmentionable thing. And then every time someone started to reference dessert, he would tell us not to talk about the unmentionable. He said it so many times, and the pie being chocolate, all I could think of was the terrible, awful in The Help. If you've read it, you know what I mean. And if you haven't, go get yourself a copy today.

The pie was delicious, by the way. And perfectly fine to eat. I had two slices myself.

Crack-Off (On the ninth day)

2011-12-19T23:56:00.000-07:00

This picture is great. It was from a past-gone Christmas party and Tyler and I were in good form.

We really don't have much shame. We will try most anything and we are not easily embarrassed. Although there has been a time or two that I wished I had not opened my mouth quite so wide to insert my foot. Like the time Tricia and I went to get pedicures....(cue music as we fade into the past)

Scene opens with Tricia and Maleen sitting in pedicure chairs and wallowing in the joy of husbands watching children while feet are pampered and beautified.

Maleen and Tricia have noticed the large amount of boxes piled throughout the shop. Each has the name of a customer. (You have to go multiple times before you can receive a coveted box with your own supplies.) Technician is quietly working on Maleen's feet while both women peruse the plethora of names. They are fascinated by the variety and they strike up a conversation involving many of the names. (I wish I could remember all the names, but sadly time has stripped the small details. However there are certain parts of the conversation that are painfully clear.)

Maleen: Look, Griselda. Who even has that name anymore?

Tricia: It sounds old-fashioned.

Maleen: It actually always reminds me of a witch's name. You know, Helga, Broomhilda, Griselda.

The two women go on to discuss other names and then the conversation falls quiet for a while. Maleen, always trying to get on a more personal level with the nail technician begins talking with her and realizes after a moment that she has never asked her name.

Maleen: Oh, what is your name?

Nail Technician: Griselda.

(long pause)

Yes, Maleen tried to back pedal a little but really there wasn't any ideal way to return to grace. Maybe Maleen could have mentioned that she, herself, was named after a witch, but she froze in the moment. And really would Griselda have felt better about her name being slandered just because Maleen has witchy origins? Probably not. (music fades back to present day.)

See, I have problems sometimes. And Tyler has had his fair share of embarrassing moments. Lucky for him, my memory is short and that is NOT the character trait for today. Today I chose a trait that is quite the opposite of yesterday. Tyler is strong. You might think strong-willed and you would be right. (He is that.) But I was actually going for physical strength. He has a slim build, but he is surprisingly powerful. He can open jars, and lift children. :) Okay, that may not sound so impressive, but I can't pick June up anymore, so I am thankful for his muscles. He can also move pianos and fridges and that goes beyond my muscle abilities. I'm not silly enough to think he could lift anything, but I think he can lift almost anything. And I trust him enough to lift me. (That is saying a lot since I don't think I have let anyone else lift me since I was dropped on my head in college by a guy carrying me.)

I just like the word 'strong' and I think it fits my man well.

Speaking of the past (which I am again) there have been a few things I have left out of the blog. I write often enough that if something is left out, I just move on. Life continues, I might have a chance to throw it in later. But in about two weeks, I will print another blog book and everything will be written in stone, so to speak. It is time for my death-blog repentance.

So, these are pictures from back in April. We had our family crack-off, documented here. But we had a neighborhood one as well that was really fun and somehow it never made the blog. I need to remember these things because we always invite back our champion. So, Jon, thanks for bringing your 'Egg-zit' and stealing the show. It was great fun.

Here is the whole gang.

Phew...got that off my conscience. Now, to bed.

Robyn (On the eighth day)

2011-12-18T21:00:00.000-07:00

Robyn has been making me laugh a lot recently. She draws great pictures, she makes up funny songs, and she has great ideas of what to do with things around her. Like that Ukelele you saw in the picture yesterday...Robyn said you could take off the long part and it would be a big bow. (Why didn't I think of that?)

Her songs are hilarious. She sang one just this evening about Christmas. (I think she makes them up on the spot.) Somewhere in the chorus there was this line, "Stockings are hung high." And every time she sang that line, she would kick her foot up into the air, which was adorned with my new fuzzy red stockings. (Oh, did I mention that there is often awesome choreography accompanying her lyrics.)

I can't decide if this is my new favorite song of hers, or if I should stick with the old classic, DIE. She wrote this whole song about death, with a chorus that went, "Dee, Eye, Eee." (Or would you write that D, I, E?) It was so funny.

Also today, she came in with a paper stipulating the rules of a new club she was creating. I will write it down including all the spelling mistakes, because those are my favorite. Robyn still struggles with spelling, but I am glad that she write things regardless.

rulzs of colering club (time 5:30 Monday)

you may NOT skribil!
Only bring Colering Books to the club (it has paper thar)
Coler light and dark if needed
smile
Have fun
lisan

Boss Robyn!

I still can't decide if my favorite part is the word skribil, or that she labeled herself as 'Boss' at the end. I really love that kid.

But on to another person I love. (Look at that excellent segue.) This picture makes me smile every time I see it.

Tyler's character trait this evening is something that he might not be so proud about, but I really like it. He is tender-hearted. He likes chick-flicks, he cries when he hears songs on the radio about daddies and their daughters, and he really is a softie on the inside. (This is quite opposite from his rock-solid exterior.) He is not one for crying in church and he probably still shakes his head in embarrassment when I sob all over the place, but I know that he has the capacity to get emotional, even if it isn't about the same things I do.

Possible reasons he might cry:

1. No more Dr. Pepper
2. Netflix is not working
3. Someone stole his preferred character on League of Legends
4. He missed listening to Prairie Home Companion on Saturday night
5. I plucked his nose hair

Okay, I am just kidding. He is sweet and sensitive, but in just the right amount for a guy. He isn't gushy, but he isn't dead inside. I think he is perfect. (But you already knew that.)

Music (On the seventh day)

2011-12-17T22:29:00.000-07:00

Trudging onward, I am determined to finish my photography themes, although the chance of them getting done before the new year isn't high. Nevertheless, here is Music.

Photo of the week:

June got a Ukelele at her classroom auction. It isn't really in tune or anything, but what kid doesn't like to strum something and pretend they are making beautiful music. I like that the piano is captured in the background. June is actually getting quite good on the piano. At least she has reached my level. I hope she goes on to play much better than I do.

The Twelve Days of our anniversary are still going well. I will probably post all the activities at the end so if any of you want to do something similar, you are welcome to steal, or just use them as date ideas. Obviously, you would tailor them to your own special someone.

Here is our photo from year seven:

That is a picture from Fete Day. And yes, it was the best I could find from that year. By then, we were three kids strong and probably giving each other a peck on the cheek before we crashed into bed. We certainly weren't worried about taking pictures together...

Tyler's fabulous character trait for the day is creativity. I like that his job description at work marks him as a 'Creative.' Since he works with a lot of programmers, everyone is fairly intelligent there, but I like that he goes one step further and he makes his work look cool. Brilliant even. I feel that almost anything he puts his hand to turns out better. I have said before that I am spoiled. If I want something done with pictures or announcements, I just turn it over to him, and Voila!! Instant creativity. He makes a calendar every year that makes me smile. He does the layout for a magazine (Rocky Mountain Running and Triathalon) and I am amazed at all the ideas he invents for the stories. Somehow I always thought that people would turn articles in with interesting fonts and graphics in place. Not. Even. Close. They just send words his way.

I am not knocking the stories themselves. Journalists and content writers have an important job too, but Tyler sells their work. If it doesn't look good, people will be less likely to stop and read the article. I am proud of what he does. He puts a lot of time into little details. He really wants things to look right and sharp. Go check out the magazine online.

He is creative in many other ways too. He comes up with efficient ways to do things and has good ideas for almost any project I attempt. I still rule when it comes to family traditions and fun activities, but he is always right behind me making things just a bit better. What can I say? We make a good team.

Patches is Safe

2011-12-16T17:58:00.000-07:00

Recently, Maleen and I spent some time cleaning up after a throw up incident. It was disgusting, as anyone on the cleanup crew after a puking incident can tell you. I actually have a friend who will clean up any bodily fluid except vomit because he'll puke if he smells it. (I think he just says that so his wife will have to clean it up.)

It was Robyn this time. When she went to bed, she felt fine, but had been awakened by an uncomfortable feeling in her tummy. She had remained in bed, hoping the snuggliness of the covers would make it all go away. It didn't. She felt worse. She hunkered down, hoping that blasted feeling would just quit.

She realized too late that the snugglies of the blanket would do her no good. She took a last look at Patches, her stuffed dog, before the chunks started flying. In the nick of time, she thrust her head in the other direction, away from the wall where Patches lay quietly comforting her, and toward that hump of covers on the other side: June.

During the bath part of clean up, Robyn queried Mom as to whether Patches had made it out unscathed. In fact, Patches was clean as clean gets. Lucky Patches, we thought. Then Robyn filled us in on the rest of the story: "Ya, at the last moment I turned toward June to throw up, because I didn't want to get Patches dirty. It worked."

So how bad was it downstream? How much eventually got tangled up in June's hair and soaked into her blankets? For those of you worried about poor June, you can rest easy. She was very tightly nestled into her blanket and sheet, which snug nestling made a temporary waterproof (and chunkproof) barrier. When I unwrapped our little June tortilla, she was clean and miraculously unhurled-upon.

We bathed Robyn, scrubbed the bed, changed the bed clothes, dressed Robyn, and sent them back to bed. But hey, at least Patches is safe.

Dora (On the sixth day)

2011-12-16T15:52:00.000-07:00

I know I just told you that I couldn't find pictures of just us without kids, and here we have one. (Darn blanket statements.)

It might feel confusing since we are dressed as gifts, but there are cobwebs above us. We went as "God's gift to women", and vice versa to a Halloween party. I remember it was one of those rare moments that we got out without the kids and then our sitter called to tell us that one of them had thrown up. Why do I remember these things? (Trauma? Randomness? My brain refuses to hold phone numbers so it keeps illness reports? Who knows.)

Today I would like to mention one of my favorite character traits about Tyler. He is funny. No... really funny. Like roll on the floor, tears streaming down, not making a sound because you are laughing so hard funny. (Granted, this happens more at night when we are pushed over the edge by sleep deprivation, but I will take my funny however I can.) When he married me, he promised to make me laugh every day. He has kept that promise.

I tried to imagine how it would be to be married to someone who didn't amuse me. I amuse myself plenty, but I just don't think that would be enough. Although come to think about it...I am sure Tyler is glad that I am witty and humorous, but I am sure he could spend a life time laughing at his own jokes. I, on the other hand, like to play off of other people. A lot of my humor is sarcastic (thanks mom) and it just wouldn't be as funny without someone to hear it. I already smile to myself when one of the kids gets a joke I say.

Basically, the fun is pretty constant around here. Tyler and I are pretty good at jogging the other out of a bad mood with a little humor, and I find it works wonders with the kids. It is hard to frown when you are smiling. :) I am sure that by the time I am 40, the laugh lines around my eyes will be etched deeply. But I don't care. Bring it on Tyler. I will keep laughing with you every day.

We don't have TV right now, but we do have Netflix. The kids will find a program they like and watch it incessantly. The latest is Dora. I would like to apologize to Dora. (Even though she is a made-up character.) I always thought she was rather loud and obnoxious. She is still loud. But now I have actually watched an entire episode, whereas before I was going on assumptions. Her show is very educational, and I am impressed with the reactions it gets from my kids.

Daisy is riveted. She will come running over to tell me that the ice cream truck is stuck in the mud, they can't get little star back in the sky, or Swiper, that sneaky fox, is coming. If we ever pause in an episode, she talks about it until we can return to finish it. I think she summed it up pretty well when she said, "I could watch Dora all day." (I don't let her, just in case you are wondering. But they are short episodes and I am surprised when we watch 5 or 9 in a row.)

More impressive (to me) is Pearl's reaction. She is talking. Pearl talk, mind you, but that is progress. Whenever 'Backpack' comes on, Pearl will point and yell, "Ba Pa....ba pa!"

Then they will sing for Map, and she yells, "Ma! MA!! Lh (look)"

I have noticed that since watching Dora, Pearl will try more sounds. She tried saying egg the other day, and she has finally figured out that Dad is 'Da da'. (Although that was kind of pre-Dora.)

I am content with these developments. There is still a stretch in front of us, but this is definite progress. So, thank you Dora. Your repeated phrases and silly tunes run through my head constantly, but I know this is a phase that will hopefully be replaced by He-man or Jem one day.

The Puzzle (On the fifth day)

2011-12-15T14:45:00.000-07:00

We are entering a sad time in our marriage. It is when we had kids.

NO, having kids did not make us sad. (Okay, maybe a little bit, sometimes.) But, we officially stopped taking pictures together. One of us was always behind the camera and the kids became the focus. I struggled to find ANY pictures of us together for many years. Here is a good example.

See, this picture wasn't even taken near our anniversary. But it was the best picture I could get of the two of us for that entire year. Kids literally took over our lives. So, for the next few posts, that is just the way it is. It tells a story in its own right. (That is June and Foot, by the way.)

So, I highly encourage you to take a picture with your spouse. Every year. Heck, even every six months. It doesn't have to be fancy, but capture a moment or two, and remember how your family started. You know, with just two people.

Tyler tries constantly to remind me that he was the first one I loved. He is very romantic! (Character trait of the day.) As a mom, it is easy to get focused on the kids, but Tyler pulls me back and makes sure I give him kisses or clean his ears. (Yes, that is a sign of love and affection. I don't clean just anyone's ears.) Tyler has interesting ways of showing affection. I get pinched and groped often, but I honestly feel lonely if I bend over and he walks by without taking notice. I promise that too much affection is better than none.

We end every conversation with 'I love you.' The guys at Tyler's work make fun of him a bit, but I don't think he really cares. Tyler still opens doors for me and holds my hand. He writes me sweet notes and gets me random gifts. He knows when I have had a hard day and he shoos me out the door, or locks me in my room (figuratively speaking since our bedroom door doesn't actually lock....stupid door.) He takes kids, does hair, drives littles, and basically is the best dad ever. And what woman doesn't find that romantic?

A lot of Christmas traditions have gone by the wayside this year to make room for our anniversary. The kids haven't really noticed (thank goodness) and I am still trying to keep things interesting for them. However, we did get our Christmas puzzle done. I could not find a good Christmas one, so I opted for one of the Savior since in my mind, Christmas and Christ are kind of the same.

The girls helped a bit more this time around, and I think we might do another one when Grandma Dargan comes to visit. I find that I really enjoy doing a puzzle every now and again. (As long as it isn't a weird 3D one.)

The Van (On the fourth day)

2011-12-14T14:32:00.000-07:00

Here we are on our fourth anniversary.

I remember going out that night. I was pregnant with Robyn, but I wanted to wear a cute dress anyway. I'd like to thank the photographer (whoever she was...probably the babysitter) for not capturing my entire glamorous figure.

Come to think of it, Tyler has been pretty patient through all my body changes. I basically varied between normal and whale proportions for about seven years in a row. He took it all in stride and loved whatever shape I happened to be in. Patience is not his character trait for today though. (Because let's be honest...he isn't all that patient about many things.)

Today we will talk about how sneaky and mischievous he is. Although he will turn 34 next month, he is still a child at heart. He loves to prank and he spends a lot of time trying to get a reaction out of me. I think we could call him a button-pusher. He is not mean. But that is a relative term. Some might say pretending to throw a baby down the stairs is 'mean'. Or making me think a spider is over my head is 'mean'. I say, it is just who he is. It makes him happy, so in a way it makes me happy. Because I am happy when he is happy. It's a complicated emotion at my expense.

I do get him back occasionally, so all's fair in love and war. (At least in our family.) And even if I am irked at the time it happens, it usually makes for a great story later.

I mentioned the new fridge (our unexpected Christmas gift) but we did get a gift for our family that was a pleasant expectation.

The spots are frost. Now I park it in the garage, sometimes on top of stuff (oops)

I love it. (Sorry, I didn't have the wide angle lens, but I think you get the idea.) It is a Honda Odyssey. We had a Honda when we were first married and it was such a reliable vehicle. Then we had the Dodge. That car was great for teaching Tyler lots and LOTS about car repair. I think we are ready for another stretch in our life with reliability instead of maintenance.

And it doesn't hurt that the van is pretty and holds eight people if need be. (NO, this is NOT an announcement. Remember? We are done. We just hope to transport the occasional friend.) It doesn't come with any bells and whistles, (We still claim to be DVD free.) but I love it just the same.

That should be it for large Christmas gifts, but I have my doubts on the dishwasher. Here's hoping it can hang in there at least until next year sometime.

Hide and Seek (On the third day)

2011-12-13T23:01:00.000-07:00

The character trait for today is loyalty. Tyler is extremely devoted to his causes and his people. Oddly when I say 'people', it makes him sound like he has his own tribe or something. Well, with all the girls, it is almost like he does. But Tyler remembers when you do him a favor and he remembers who has helped in his life. Naturally family tops his list and he would drop everything in a heartbeat to go help his brothers or his parents.

He also feels loyalty towards a company who treats him well. He has worked at his current job for over six years. That may not seem like much (especially in comparison to our whopping twelve years married) but he moved jobs a bit after leaving college and it is nice for him to find a place that he fits pretty well.

Tyler is so loyal to his ideas and principles that he actually gets quite stubborn. One would say pig-headed even. (Not me though. I would never say that.) Although it is frustrating when he is wrong, there is something to be said for someone who stands by their values and can't be swayed by the ebb of popular opinion. And Tyler's values are based in some pretty good stuff, so he tends to be a very reliable, honest sort of man. (Even when he is wrong. Which isn't often.)

I probably benefit from all this loyalty, since I am his right hand ~~man~~ woman. I can honestly say that there isn't anyone I would rather have by my side through thick and thin.

Here is a picture from our third year of marriage.

Family News

There has been a lot of hiding and seeking around our house lately. At night we hide Tyler's cell phone. There is an alarm on it that signals when it is bedtime. The last thing the girls do before bed is run around madly trying to find the phone as the intermittent chime goes off. It is actually quite funny to watch.

We also have an elf this year. Every morning he hides in a new spot and the girls find him and put him back under the tree. He is watching to see if they are behaving themselves. He has probably had to turn a blind eye to a few incidents in order for all children to be receiving gifts on Christmas.

Daisy has been enjoying all these seeking games, but she stinks at them really. Not the hiding part...she gets that. But she gives everything away. If she knows where you are hiding, she will tell the seeker. If she sees Eddy the elf, she points him out to everyone, even if they want to search for themselves. Let's give you an example:

We were playing regular hide-and-seek the other evening. It gets very competitive and we parents think up spots where it will take a long time for sisters to find hiders. Tyler had stuffed June behind the couch cushions and I had stuffed Ivory in the linen closet under some pillows. Robyn was having a tough time finding anyone. Tyler and I were trying to give her some clues. We told her she should look in places that she didn't even think people could fit. Daisy was sitting quietly on Tyler's lap this whole time. We thought we had her in check...

Tyler: She might be in something. Robyn, we'll give you some ideas. Like, is she in the entertainment center?....no.

Me: Is she in the piano?....no.

Tyler: Is she in the mandolin?....no.

Me: Is she on the ceiling?....no.

Daisy: (right on cue) Is she in the couch?.....yes.

She just can't keep it to herself. She thinks she is helping and actually gets quite flustered when her 'help' is unappreciated. She is such a good little duck.

The Fridge (On the second day)

2011-12-12T15:34:00.000-07:00

On the second day of our anniversary, I'd like to talk some more about Tyler. He is smart. S-M-R-T. I like to consider both of us above average intelligence, so we have some very stimulating conversations. Granted, many of our conversations are quite the opposite. I actually tried to find one on the blog that I remember, but I couldn't find it which makes me worry that I never wrote it down. That is tragic people, because my brain does not hold memories like that. Just browsing through the blog had me laughing at all these idiotic things we do and say that I had already forgotten. So, for old times sake, I am going to record a conversation we had a few months ago that makes me laugh.

*Please be advised: Content is questionable.

Tyler and I were snuggling on the couch. Maybe we were watching a movie, maybe we were just talking...I have already forgotten. Somehow we got talking about my chest. It is no secret that I am not the bustiest woman alive, but Tyler happens to like my figure. He always chides me when I say something negative about my bosoms. (Or lack thereof.) Once again, I can't remember how we got on this topic and why the letter 'S' came up, but this is what I remember.

Me: The 'S' would stand for 'small'. Small boobs.

Tyler: No, the 'S' would stand for 'super!'

Me: Let's just combine them. The 'SS' boobs. Super small!

About that point we both started laughing, because putting super in front of small doesn't exactly improve my situation and I didn't realize how it would sound until I said it aloud.

Sorry if I offended you. And this only proves that we aren't always using the full capacities of our brains when we converse. (Or at least I'm not.)

But back to Tyler being smart. He really is. I firmly believe that he could do ANYTHING! He has self taught himself many subjects including computer programming, car repair, and playing guitar. He picks up on things quickly and is interested in world affairs. He remembers facts about pertinent topics, and he has a desire for knowledge. He has always gotten excellent grades through all of his schooling. He does well testing. (Although I did score higher than him on the driving exam. Don't worry, he's an excellent driver.) He is just a smarty-pants. I often question which one of us is smarter. Probably me, but he would be a really close second. (I sense he will want to comment on this post.)

But how about a picture? This is from the second year we were married.

In 2001, we went to Ukraine to teach English to children for a semester. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity. That picture was taken in a large park. The rock we are underneath was said to be a Lover's Stone. Couples would come and whisper to each other and if they told a lie, it was said that the rock would fall on them. Tyler is whispering that I am beautiful.

Well...we weren't squished. :)

Phew...it feels good to be blogging again. While I have your attention (if I didn't lose you somewhere around the sketchy discussion) I would like to show you an early Christmas present we got. There are the fun presents you get because you have been hoping and dreaming about them. And then there are the kind that are thrust upon you out of necessity. This would be one the latter. Although I am happy to have it.

Ooh pretty. And check out the freezer.

Our other fridge was very nice. We bought it large to accomodate our growing family, but for some reason, it only lasted 8 years. That doesn't seem long enough to me. It started breaking a few weeks ago. The freezer stopped working and all the ice cream melted into a large puddle at the bottom of the machine. Yuck. It was actually a mix of hamburger blood and ice cream. Double yuck.

So we had someone come in and replace a part for about $200. Freezer worked again. Things looked good. And then we left to go to Idaho for Thanksgiving. And the fridge passed away quietly in the night. I feel bad that no one was there with it. It had served a long and dutiful life. However, the really sad part was coming back to a fridge full of bad food. I practically cried as I emptied it out. That is a lot of waste. But now we have a new one. Merry Christmas to us.

The few days we were without a fridge were not so fun. I really like milk and cheese and cold water. The weather was with us at least and we put some things outside in the interim. It was funny watching the girls look out the back door to see what was in the 'fridge'. We did eat out too much and I consequently got food poisoning one night. Happy New Year to me!! Let's just say I am glad to be back in business. The double doors are still a bit odd to me, but it is growing on me. And truthfully I don't care much what it looks like as long as it keeps my milk cold and my ice cream frozen. Cheers.

Hello Blog... (On the first day)

2011-12-11T20:19:00.000-07:00

...how are you? It's been a while, but I have something very important to write about, so I will be using you frequently for the next few days. And while I do that, I might even catch up on some random happenings.

Like....I reached my 900th post. Interesting, I know.

But what is so darn amazing and fantastic that I needed to blog right away... is that I am married. What? You already knew that? Okay, but did you know that I have been married twelve years? Okay, more lies. Our anniversary is this month. In twelve days exactly. So truthfully, we have been married 11 years and 353 days. Since we got married at this festive time of year, I thought it would be appropriate to get into the Christmas spirit. I know you have heard of the Twelve Days of Christmas. BUT, have you heard of the Twelve Days of our Anniversary??? Fabulous huh? I have been planning this for years. It is just how cheesy I am.

And because you have been faithful blog readers, I am going to ~~drag you through it~~ let you share in the experience. Each day, I have an activity for Tyler, and an object with a silly saying. Also, there is a photograph from that year of marriage. Being a blog, I will share the pictures with you so you can traverse memory lane.

Here is the picture from 2000.

We were married at the end of 1999. (We figured we would make it all official before the world ended with the Y2K angst. Fortunately for us, it all went fine.) After we were married, we realized that we had never printed any wedding photos to display in our home, so we decided to go do a photo shoot. That umbrella picture was one of our favorites, and Tyler proudly flaunts it on his desk at work.

I guess this is where I should say something amazing about my awesome husband. I will try to extol one of his virtues each day. Tyler is very good looking (in my opinion). He has some excellent genes working for him, and he has managed to stay in shape these twelve years. (Please note that I am giving a lot of credit to genetics here.) Tyler does not love to exercise, but he stays active and eats well. (I try to ignore his Dr. Pepper addiction.) His current favorite sport would be watching himself do pull-ups in the mirror. His muscles are looking more defined and he likes to admire the new definition. I can't really complain since I admire his muscles too. I try not to show it too much because he doesn't really need extra encouragement when it comes to his ego, but I do admit to liking his hotness. He is a bodacious babe.

Tis The Season

2011-12-05T21:38:00.000-07:00

I really love Christmas. (Although not the gift-giving so much but that is a rant for another post.) But looking back at these pictures, I am suddenly ready for Spring.

It is going to be a loooooooooong winter.

From the Mouths of Babes

2011-12-02T11:21:00.000-07:00

(Ivory was finishing up dinner and leaving the table)

Me: Did you put your dishes in the sink?

Ivory: Yep, and I put both my tentacles in the dishwasher. (Pause) Wait...

Me: Do you mean utensils?

Ivory: Yeah, that was the word I was looking for.

Love that girl.

Thanksgiving Recap

2011-11-28T23:53:00.000-07:00

Wow, my poor neglected blog is still here. I feel like I have lost all skill at blogging. I don't take pictures, I don't say funny things, I don't have any focus. I download whatever is on my camera and try to create a story that sums up my life in so many words. Even I am a little bored listening to me.

Depressing.

I sense a blogging goal for 2012, but that means I have another whole month of slacking. Phew.

Oddly, I am still keeping most of the family traditions in line. I just don't have time to tell you about them. Our Thankful Turkey was made.

He joined the ranks of turkeys on the wall. We are up to six now. The kids had such fun reading through all of them. They told me that I must really like my bed because I mentioned it on three of the turkeys. (I DO like my bed! But I managed to leave it off the turkey this year, in exchange for my new love...avocado.)This year's turkey was inspired by Robyn. I need to write this down, because I always forget who helped the year before.

This isn't related to Thanksgiving, but we got a chin-up bar. The kids think it is great fun, and Tyler finds lots of excuses to take his shirt off and flash his muscles. All the ladies are very impressed. The one I was surprised about was Pearl. She can't be left out and takes her turn like a pro.

We traveled up to Idaho for Thanksgiving. It was a sweet trip both ways. I would like to say a special thank you to the weather gods for holding off on the snow. It was so nice to travel on dry highway. And not have to wear winter attire at all times.

We left earlier this year and were finally around for breakfast on Thanksgiving day. Vicki decided a few years ago that there isn't a lot of spare room for pie once you are done feasting, so she instituted 'Pie for Breakfast.' I am still trying to decide if I like the idea.

I am all for dessert and seconds after that, but it was so sweet. That didn't stop me from eating ~~three~~ five slices. Vicki even made her own little mini pies with filling. Notice the machine at the bottom here.

Of course, Barry had been putting his candy wrappers in it the whole day before. (I know where Tyler gets it now.) Even with Tyler walking around with the camera, we still got an authentic scream out of her.

I think she was worried that we were baking the wrappers. I have to admit though—Vicki is a great screamer.

Everything was very relaxed and laid back. It was great to spend time with family. I was horrible about taking pictures. Sometimes I feel it is just the luck of the draw who gets into a photo. I guess you have to be in the right place at the right time to be included...or in focus.

Pearl went to bed early on Thanksgiving, but here she is giving her famous kissy lips.

That child is hilarious. She is either the cutest thing on two legs, or you just want to chuck her in the trash, or perhaps somewhere more soundproof.

There was a new face at Grandma's house. Can you pick out the new addition?

Okay, I don't know if I have ever blogged about Gizmo. Let me go check... Nope, the word gizmo has only come up once on my blog and it wasn't in relation to the dog. So, maybe I need to introduce you to two dogs. The black one is Gizmo. He has been in the family for a long time. He is a good dog, but will nip if little hands get too rough. I don't blame him.

That middle dog is Moxy of course. She always comes along for the ride to Idaho and I think she secretly likes it better there because she is allowed on the furniture and sleeps on our bed (on Tyler's side), and she's taller than her Idahoan canine cousins.

The new dog is this one:

He is a Havanese. They are supposed to be very smart, non-allergenic, non-shedding dogs. I could get on board that train, but the ticket is often around $1200. This is probably why I have never found one at the humane society. And Vicki's was on sale, luckily. He is a sweet thing, but currently without a name. We'll have to see if something sticks to him by the time we go back for Christmas.

I hope you all had a grand time with family and food. Thanksgiving is such a great holiday. There is nothing quite like rubbing shoulders with the people who have to love you. Watching these two makes me wish I had a brother.

Wind

2011-11-20T16:45:00.000-07:00

I am not very current on these pictures, but I am bound and determined to finish the year out.

Usually if it is windy outside, I am indoors, but Robyn and I went out together and I noticed it was a bit gusty so I snagged a couple of pictures.

Photos of the week:

You can see how Robyn's hair was blowing in her face and the wind was whipping droplets of water off the fountain. I'm glad the fountain was even working. I imagine they will turn it off for the winter soon. The Provo temple is beautiful and I love to take my children there to walk around. Even on a windy day.

"Fall"ing Behind

2011-11-20T16:37:00.000-07:00

My lame attempt at a pun.

I am enjoying the Autumn, and I appreciate that the first snow came and went so quickly. Obviously, we are in for more, but the fact that it is almost December allows my brain to accept snow. In fact, this is the first year where I have been gunning to get my Christmas decorations out early. I have used all my restraint and the fact that Tyler won't let me, to keep from skipping the joyous holiday of Thanksgiving. Don't get me wrong...I love Thanksgiving. That is why I created the rule of not getting out Christmas stuff before you have been thankful for all you have. I am just anxious this year.

But we will make our traditional thankful turkey tomorrow and that will get me in the spirit.

Meanwhile, I should really catch up on some of the things that have been going on around here.

Robyn won Reflections. She was so dang proud and they gave her a medal and everything.

I was proud of her too. She really is a little artist at heart, and I am glad that her creativity was acknowledged.

June pulled a fast one on us. Probably the first of many. On Tuesday night before bed, she said, "I have good news and bad news. The bad news is that I have a diorama and a report due on Thursday. The good news is that I have already done the report."

Oh, so just the diorama then? No problem. (Sense the sarcasm.)

Wednesday, I went to my favorite new home, Hobby Lobby and picked up some materials for June to work with. And Wednesday afternoon, we put it all together. I think she did a good job. Her habitat was ocean.

There was even a habitat fair at her school where you could see all the projects together. Tyler and I agreed that there were hundreds of parent/child hours displayed. I hope Robyn has to do this project sometime, because I want her to do the desert and then get a real scorpion and put it in a box with a lid and see how many people we can freak out. (I am possibly not always a nice person.)

I have been noticing lately how not-a-baby Pearl is.

She won't be 2 for a few more months, but she is full of Sass and just as cute as can be...most of the time. I really wish she liked riding in the car more. It gets a bit old that she screeches at me every time I strap her in. You would think that she would have resigned herself by now to trips in the car, but I sense some stubbornness in her. It will make trips over the holidays just that much more enjoyable.

Our Relief Society Meeting at the beginning of next month is having a walk-through nativity night. We are going to set up many nativities and then invite families to come through and enjoy the true meaning of Christmas first thing in the season. I have several nativities of my own that I will loan that night, but I was out shopping and I couldn't help but pick up another. I am always on the lookout for a unique nativity. Although the Savior was born in humble circumstances, I love the ornate feel of this set. Oh and the lamp moves. I am not sure why that makes me love it more.

Besides that, life is busy but good. I am happy to have a good family to share the trials and blessings with. Certainly each day is not perfect, but at this time of Thanksgiving, I am keenly aware of my pile of blessings. Like the laundry, it just keeps building up. I wonder if there is some analogy here that could make me love laundry more?

What are the odds?

2011-11-15T21:02:00.000-07:00

I was randomly looking through a calendar for next year, 2012, and 4 out of 7 of our birthdays fall on Sunday. I love Sundays, but not for birthdays, because we can't really go OUT to celebrate, and if I forget anything, there are no last minute trips to the store. And I will have to get all my balloons the day before. Yuck.

I blame leap year. Without leap year, it would have been 1 out of 7. Luck of the draw I guess. At least I wasn't born on Feb. 29th.

Missing You Already Dad

2011-11-13T21:17:00.000-07:00

Tyler left today to go on a business trip. I am not complaining because he hardly ever leaves and I know there are women whose husbands are gone for sizeable chunks at a time. Or women who raise their children alone. So, let's be clear that I know how good I have it. At the same time...I miss him already, and it is clear how much he helps out around here. So, we took some kodak shots for you Dad. Hope you are missing us too.

I know I look a bit concerned in this last picture with Pearl. She had taken a nap after church and by the time she got up, the light was fading. The first few pictures I took were too dark and I was wondering if I was going to get an adequate shot at all...hence the angst in my expression.

Loves to you across the country. I hope the time flies while you are away. Really, I do.

p.s. Tyler, you know my love of the 50mm, but you can't beat the wide-angle lens for getting pictures at arm's length. It's growing on me.

Storybook Family

2011-11-11T21:39:00.000-07:00

I took this photo shoot a while ago, and somehow forgot to post pictures on here. We love the Jett's and were super excited when baby Savannah came along. Then I was even more excited to take some pictures for them. Here are some of my favorites in no particular order.

They are such a beautiful family. I am a tad jealous that Savannah got those blue BLUE eyes of her Dad. Why couldn't I pass on my baby blues?

Texture

2011-11-06T20:15:00.000-07:00

I cheated this time around. Tyler is the one who likes to take pictures of texture. Remember this post? He is still at it. He has been taking pictures of textures for over a year now. So, I went and grabbed some. What I love about textures is that it is a piece of the whole. You will probably recognize most of these, but think about how it is different as a piece of the big picture.

Photos of the week:

Cool huh? I haven't become a texture junky yet, but it might become a hobby of mine.

Memories

2011-11-06T19:39:00.000-07:00

Winter is settling in like an old friend. Perhaps an unwelcome friend in my book. One that I know is coming to visit, but I just can't seem to get excited about. There I go complaining again. I swear my weak Washingtonian bones will never get used to the snow and cold here. It certainly isn't terrible, and I can't start the winter complaining, because the cold lasts around here until April. That is a lot of cold. And at least I don't have allergies in winter. There is one Huzzah!

This morning there was frost on everything. I think frost is very pretty, and I like watching the sun soak it into dew.

Photos of the week:

When I was little, I learned a little song from the Brite Music books. It went:

Playful little Jack Frost came last night
Yes that's right
Came last night
Painted all the ground a frosty white
Just last night

Playful little Jack Frost froze the air
Here and there
Everywhere
Spread a frail design of Angel's hair
Just last night

I had great images in my head of Jack Frost creeping around and frosting the windows with his icy breath. It seems that nowadays Jack Frost gets a bad rap. He is bad in Santa Claus 3. And the Fairy series that the girls enjoy has Jack Frost as the bad guy as well. I know he is said to bring winter, and I know that I was just harping about the cold, but I always liked Jack Frost. I have fond memories of him. I am sad that he has become the scape goat of winter. I mean, if you want an evil winter figure, I think the Snow Queen wins, hands down.

On the Shelf

2011-11-06T18:57:00.000-07:00

You probably all know that I am a sucker for holidays. I love to decorate and change things around. The kids love to help, and this November, I was pleased when June thought of a new idea for me. We have all these cute blocks with different Thanksgiving sayings on them. We usually chunk them together, but June put them all over the house this time around. There is one by each cluster of objects. Genius I tell you. It makes me smile to look at them.

Photos of the week:

Then again, they aren't stapled down, so sometimes small hands mix them around a bit. I caught this one in the act.

I am a little concerned at how fast time passes these days. At this rate, Christmas will be next week. I'm not quite ready.

Reflections Entries

2011-11-02T21:56:00.000-06:00

Just so you know...I am NOT blogging every day this month. I often try that in November, but I am not going to torture myself this time around. That said, I am still trying to catch up, hence the continued posting.

Reflections is a program that has been going on before I was in school. I remember entering something once or twice. I want my girls to be involved if they would like, but only if they have an idea they want to run with. I don't want to be holding their hand, or staying up late finishing their project. (That is only for book reports and State projects. I'm kidding.) Reflections is meant to be their own work, so it would kind of defeat the purpose if I did much.

There is a different theme every year. In 2011, the theme was "Diversity means..."

I had already told June that if she wanted to use my camera she could. She came up with her own idea of who to photograph and why.

In the meantime, Robyn came home one afternoon and I had bought a pack of eraser tops since all the erasers on our pencils are either worn down or eaten off by little ones. I had left the extras on the counter and Robyn set to making some art with them. She was so proud of her creation that she wanted to enter it in Reflections. I am not quite sure how it fit the theme, but here is her Eraser art, entitled Something New to Taste.

If you can't tell...it is fruit. It could be diverse because there are different kinds of fruit, or perhaps this is a different way to think of erasers...it is all in her mind. But I really like.

June on the other hand struggled to get hers finished mainly because her sorry mother kept forgetting to set up the photo shoot. But just days before it was due, we got everyone nailed down and June did her thing. She did a great job posing the kids and taking pictures. I helped her put them in a collage and I think it turned out great. She titled hers Anyone Can Be a Friend.

Looking at her pictures, I suddenly think that I may have no talent at all and we just have a really nice camera. Or, we'll just chalk it up to June having raw talent at an early age. Probably it is a combination of the two. But it was fun that they both participated.

I found out later that you can enter more than one category, although only one entry PER category. I think this household will stick to one entry period. This mother can only handle so much artistic exploration.

Jett's Halloween Party

2011-11-01T21:36:00.001-06:00

I had good intentions to host a Halloween party every year starting last year. And that is where is stayed...at good intentions. It wasn't until Jenaca called me up and asked if I wanted to come to her Halloween party that I realized I wasn't having one. I hadn't even thought of having one. It wasn't even on the radar. Oh well, there is always next year. But I was glad for an excuse to dress up and go on a date.

This was the costume I talked about making. June used it after me, but I broke it in. It was pretty easy to make and I am proud of myself for doing anything that involves sewing.

Yes, I was wearing more crazy eyelashes. I got a whole bunch on sale after Halloween last year. I was going to let June use the eyelashes too but I forgot she wears glasses. I didn't see those two working well together.

And now for a real picture of the Ornothologist. (Which as you all know is fancy talk for bird-watcher.)

The party was fun and we played a few games that we played last year. It was girls against boys, and I am proud to say that the girls won. Woot.

I admit that I felt old. EVERY couple had a baby there. And unanimously, it was their first baby. I guess I could have brought Pearl, but that wouldn't have changed the fact that she is the fifth child. It was a nice feeling to know we aren't at the beginning, and refreshing not to have to drag along a child who will ultimately be cranky by the end of the evening, but still...old feeling.

I loved this little guy's costume.

Cannon was looking good as Superman.

I did use my mothering skills though and let a child puke into my bare hands. It seemed better than letting it get all over the carpet. I saw some very startled faces, and the actual mother wasn't batting my hands aside to take over. I think several women were surprised I would even do that. But, in all honesty, it didn't bother me one bit. Maybe there is something to be said for us 'old' mothers. Been there. Done that. Just wash your hands well afterward.

Trunk-or-Treat

2011-10-31T20:54:00.000-06:00

Somebody stop me!! I'm on a roll. Cranking these posts out. Here's hoping I can catch up on my photo themes this quickly.

We don't have family around here, so Trunk-or-Treat is our main Halloween event. Tonight (official Halloween), we let the kids hand out candy and watch an episode of MacGyver. (We don't have It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, because that would have been my first pick.) Not terribly exciting, but they have enough candy.

We had a good time at the Trunk-fest. We all got into the spirit. Here is a peek at our costumes:

To be fair, I do have other pictures of Tyler from the night before when he dressed up and I was the owl. But that is another post.

You may have noticed Ivory in the boot with me handing out candy. She actually got in trouble the day of Trunk-or-Treat and I revoked her privileges to walk around and collect candy. She still got to come and each of her sisters donated five pieces to her later on. But I am that strict mother who designates a punishment and then follows through. I'm not sure if she learned anything...only time will tell, but I felt good about not caving.

And it was just as well, since we have an odd number. The other four paired up and made the rounds. I still get teary-eyed watching the older ones shepherd the younger ones.

I've said it before, but I hope they all take care of each other.

They had their Halloween parties and parades today. I think they all had fun. You can definitely tell that we live in a house of girls when you hear a conversation like this:

Ivory: There were two ninjas in my class, and two G.I. Joes.

June: What's a G. I. Joe?

Ivory: I don't know.

(parents laughing)

Dad: He's a soldier.

Ivory: There was a good G. I. Joe, and a bad G. I. Joe.

Mom: Well, G. I. Joe is always good, the bad one was the guy G. I. Joe fights against.

Dad: (explaining as if to a child) Cobra.

Mom: Right, Cobra.

Like I said...girls.

Hope you had a fabulous Halloween. Oh, and if you needed a close up on those lashes, here they are.

Pumpkins We Carved (and Painted)

2011-10-29T22:37:00.000-06:00

It is always a tad crazy trying to carve pumpkins with kids. Someone always needs help. Parents are lucky to get much done on their own pumpkins. But I love this tradition.

Here we are as a family. Pearl was in the thick of things, but never got a pumpkin of her own. (Last child syndrome.)

The Jett's joined us. They are such an awesome family. I took some really cute pictures of their little girl Savannah recently, and I can't believe I never posted them. Add that to the blog list.

In order to keep Daisy happy, we let her paint her pumpkin all by herself. But when it was all said and done, she was upset that her pumpkin wasn't scary (carved), so we let her add a face. That seemed to appease her.

Ivory wanted to carve and paint. She did a good job.

Actually, everyone wanted to carve and paint. Robyn's was a Dalmation.

June gets no points this year. Tyler drew and carved her pumpkin. (Although it was her idea.)

And she did paint it afterward, or two days later. (We ran out of time that evening.) I guess that is like writing your name at the top of the test. You get 2 points.

I opted to carve and paint too. I liked how mine turned out.

Tyler was quite done with carving by the time he finished June's, but he had a last burst of energy to finish his pumpkin. *yawn*

I think that means it is bedtime. (I should note here that I almost always blog at night, which if why I always talk about going to bed. I promise I am not narcoleptic or anything.)

Walking In the Canyon

2011-10-28T23:39:00.000-06:00

A week or so ago, we made it out to the canyon as a family. It was great to walk around and enjoy nature. (I actually enjoy nature immensely when my allergies are not active, it is not too cold, and I know that I don't have to stay outdoors for prolonged periods of time. Yes, you may judge me.)

We took pictures and I thought I would throw some on here to remember the day. So, in no particular order...

Robyn was finding huge rocks to throw in the river

I think the skirt says it all

Sweet Daisy

Love cool webs, especially sans spider

I think Pearl came so sassy to keep me on my toes

I like fuzzy-looking plants

Proof I was there. It wasn't as cold as they make it look.

This one knows she's cute...wait til you lose those baby teeth

Seriously...fuzzy plants. What are those things even?

The sploosh from Robyn's big rock. She was proud.

Ah, Fall

Caught him whistling.

It was a gorgeous day, albeit a bit chilly for those without jackets. I did take more pictures of nature, but truthfully I enjoy pictures of people more. To each his own. There isn't much Fall left to savor. But I am excited for the upcoming holidays. Too bad they have to be accompanied by snow and such. Ooh, do I hear myself? I am such a whiner. So, here's to hot chocolate, long-sleeved shirts, snuggling, and scarves. (I don't wear enough scarves...probably because I'm not sure how.)

Why I Haven't Been Blogging

2011-10-28T22:11:00.000-06:00

Okay, my lack of blogging is not because I have been sleeping. (If only.) But it has been a full week with Reflections and Halloween preparations. Hopefully Trunk-or-Treat will be everything the kids hope it will be tomorrow. But since it will probably be the candypalooza they were expecting, I doubt we will have any complainers. The real trick will be to keep Pearl from Pterodactyl screaming every time we expect her to put candy in her bucket versus her mouth. Should be boat-loads of fun.

I will try to be diligent and put on here:

Pumpkins we carved
Reflections entries
Jett's Halloween Party
Walking in the Canyon
Photography Themes
Trunk-or-Treat
And Random Crap as usual

Wow, that list doesn't look overwhelming at all. Maybe I will go back to sleep.

iPad*

2011-10-25T21:59:00.001-06:00

I am posting from an iPad and I don't like it. There is a reason that God invented the keyboard. Okay, maybe not God so much as some computer nerd, but God probably is a computer nerd as well as a gardener, athlete, scholar...you name it.

Regardless, I am quite slow when it comes to picking up new technology. I drag my heels, but then usually enjoy it once I understand all the quirks. But it is hard to get me to change over. I am a creature of comfort and familiarity. And maybe a tad bit of laziness. (You didn't hear that from me.)

And since I have no reason to use an iPad again, unless my computer goes haywire (which it has been known to do) I will just stick to my good old-fashioned way of blogging. (Is it too soon to call a standard keyboard old-fashioned?)

Phew. That is enough very small typing for me. Peace out.

* Husband has iPad on loan from work.

My Neighbors

2011-10-23T22:32:00.000-06:00

I have some kick-butt neighbors. So much so, that I secretly never want to move. EVER. AGAIN. That probably isn't in the cards, but I can dream, right?

In the meantime, I would like to show off one of my cutest neighbors. Sunny was kind enough to let me do my first baby session. Granted, little Thomas is not a newborn, but that was better in some ways, because we got some cute smiles. He was a perfect angel. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy.

Photos of the week:

This baby is adorable

I still love feet

He got tired and Sunny cuddled him for a few moments and he was asleep. It was like butta', I tell ya.

When he awoke, his sister couldn't help but give him kisses.

This baby loves his mama.

I am a little behind on my themes, but waiting for these pictures was worth it. Don't ya think?

Pumpkinland 2011

2011-10-20T23:03:00.000-06:00

Fall Break is upon us. Normally I wouldn't plan anything, because I am a cool mom like that. BUT, I noticed that this year, most of the kids hadn't been to Pumpkinland. AND I didn't take Daisy last year out of sheer laziness. SO, I decided to pack up the troops and head out to conquer the corn maze.

Here we are.

I do enjoy that most of the kids are old enough to take care of themselves. I usually put them in pairs and they keep each other company. Granted, we have an odd number in our family now, but Dad tends to be missing, and when he is present, we just tag-team on Pearl. (Poor kid never had a chance.)

I did not bring the wide angle lens, and therefore there is no Daisy in this shot. Tyler would scold me, but I say...if you can't cuddle up, you'll get left in the cold. (Actually she was sitting on a cool gourd that she called her throne.)

We reached the maze and we split up.

Ivory and June took off, and the I followed Robyn. She led the way.

Apparently to a field with no sky. (My favorite settings love to blow out the sky, especially on a bright sunny day. But the weather was gorgeous...so no complaints really.)

But we won!!! Robyn found the secret room first.

And Pearl collected her bean.

Not to be outdone, the other two showed up moments later.

I couldn't fit the stroller down that tight aisle, so Pearl and I footed it in. She likes to be included anyway. Once I took her out, she was not so easily convinced to go back in. Our stroller days are not long for the world.

We passed the cut-outs on the way out of the maze. We took plenty of pictures, but only one had all five.

Next we came to the play area. The kids ran around and chased each other here and there. Pearl just sat and pointed and stared at all the animals. She was excited by the chickens and goats and wanted to see it all.

Daisy was busy being cute. Oh, and there is a sky after all.

I think that is Peter's house.

Pumpkinland is great, in that you leave one play area and go to another. Our next stop was the slides and bounce house.

There is wild-life here and there along the way. The kids ran on ahead, but Pearl wanted to inspect each cage. I don't blame her; there were some pretty interesting birds. In fact, what are these things?

I would call them painted-face birds, or maybe skeksis birds. Their necks totally remind me of the Dark Crystal.

Pearl was sad to leave them behind.

But she was happy to try out the third play area.

This is where we took a slight break from the scheduled programming because Daisy peed. And not in a potty. But life would be dull if everything went according to plan. Luckily, we live very close, so we scooted home, changed clothes and came back to find our pumpkins. And oddly, it was all worth it when Daisy said, "Thanks for taking me to the potty mom." It is easy to get uptight and cranky, but I hope my kids remember the times when I shook it off and didn't make them feel guilty. (I'm not sure there are many of those times right now...I am working on it.)

But we did find our pumpkins and we did have a good time.

Ivory was scavenging pumpkin stems. Don't ask why. I'm not sure she knows.

And so there you have it. We actually did something for Fall Break. Don't worry, I took the kids home and made them clean the house afterward, so they wouldn't get any ideas.

I'm Running Out of Ways to Say This Post is a Conglomeration of Random Facts

2011-10-17T22:59:00.000-06:00

I wish my life wasn't so piecey right now. But I still want to remember the random moments that keep me going. Because trust me, there are plenty of those unfriendly moments that you just throw right back in the pond when you catch them. And chances are pretty good they will show up again, but you certainly don't want to take pictures and write home about it.

So, anyone up for some feel-good fluff?

Look at these cuties. The horse ain't too bad neither.

Tricia let us borrow her fruit miracle maker. This thing is amazing.

Yes, I have seen it before, and yes, I have used one before. But not with so many hungry mouths at one time. Brilliant I tell you. And Pearl gets a kick out of the thing in action. (Especially if you make funny noises while you are peeling.)

We got these glow in the dark spiders and eye-balls the other day at Arctic Circle. (It was a girl's night out, since Tyler was missing. I feel like it is a mini party everywhere we go. People always stop and count and mention that they are all girls. Really? I hadn't noticed. Still, it is fun to see them in action.) The spiders were sticky and one of the kids saw that the ceiling of Arctic Circle had several spiders stuck to it. Naturally, when we came home, they all wanted to throw them on our ceiling. Good times. I would lift Pearl high in the air to retrieve them. She really liked the flashy things, although watching them too closely gave me a headache.

See, all five...so cute.

Oh, one more. Proof that I do try to do their hair every once in a while. Even if it all falls out by around lunch time.

And so off to bed. Is it only Monday? This day was long.

5k

2011-10-16T17:29:00.000-06:00

I should have written this a while ago, but I needed the pictures as proof. There are some of you who may not have believed without some evidence. Heck, I would be one of the non-believers.

See, remember back when I told you I was running? That was going well....until....my allergies came back with a vengeance. (Evil, I tell you.) Well, having allergies feels the same as being sick in many ways. I can't breathe, I feel tired, and I don't want to run. At all. So I didn't for a few weeks.

Eventually, I stopped feeling sorry for myself and called my Pediatrician, like I mentioned. And behold, I could breathe again. So that meant I should start running too. Well, I got up early one morning to run a mile and it was dark outside. When did that happen? I didn't want to run in the dark, so I went back to bed. (Actually, it doesn't take much persuasion for me to crawl back in bed.)

So much for my dedicated running. Naturally when people mentioned a 5k, I knew I wasn't ready, because I hadn't been running. But Beth put on a 5k to support her dance group, and I visit teach her, and I love her, and I knew I couldn't avoid the 5k thing forever, so I decided to do it. Well, more accurately, Tyler asked me all week if I was really going to 'run' and I finally signed up the day before. But sign up, I did.

The morning of the race came, and it was cold. Coh-OLD. I got there a little early and I stood there and froze. My teeth were chattering and I couldn't feel my toes. (I couldn't feel my toes until I hit the second mile marker. Then they slowly got feeling back. Seems you can run without toes after all.)

I knew a few people. That was nice. I didn't really want to run with anyone per se, because I didn't want to slow anyone down and I was pretty sure I would not be a good conversationalist, what with all the wheezing going on. But Deanne showed up and asked if I would run with Olivia. I was hoping that since Olivia just came from three hours of volleyball practice that she might be going my pace. Charity snapped a photo for us. I reluctantly use this as evidence. Just remember it was cold. (I'm not sure if that makes up for how scary I look?)

Finally it was time to start. Good thing too. Most of my body was numb. Olivia had found a friend in the crowd and they were chatting as the race started. Actually, this cute girl didn't stop talking the entire time. And it was a good thing she was talking to Olivia, because as I suspected, I wouldn't have been able to answer her. The two of them eventually decided to walk and I figured that Olivia was in good hands and I continued on. (Truthfully, I thought that if I stopped, I wouldn't be able to start again.)

And so I ran. Or jogged slowly. But I kept my pace and I passed a few people. I did stop three times, but each for less than ten seconds. I would think that I couldn't go any longer, but the minute I stopped and walked a few feet, it seemed easier just to start up the dull jog again. And those feet finally brought me to the finish line. I know I look lonely here, but I promise there were some people behind me...somewhere.

I was so ecstatic to be done that I didn't look very closely at my time. It was something like 34: 38. I made up the seconds. I know it was 34 minutes, but I didn't look much closer. So I didn't quite make the 10-minute mile, but I also hadn't been running since the end of August. And before that, it wasn't like I was training. So I am proud of myself.

And I was sore for days afterward. Ouch. I am tempted to do another 5k to see if I could beat my time, but I should probably start the weekly running before I do that. Beth plans to make this an annual event, so even if I don't get my act together, I can probably torture myself for another half hour next year.

There you have it. The 5k that didn't quite kill me.

Dad's Nap

2011-10-15T13:11:00.000-06:00

I've been taking June to school, and it turns out they're rather inflexible about when she arrives at school. Owing to a desire to put my children in a position to succeed, I've been traveling to school early in the morning. I mean, who gets up before 8:00, let alone arrives anywhere before 8:00?! Since June's been getting to school on time, I've been getting to work early (for me).

Having successfully punched in excess of my 40 hours, I decided to leave a little early on Friday. I came home, and had fond fantasies of swimming into my pillow for a few luxurious moments of napping...This is how I woke up.

My little Daisy makes sure I'm wide awake to play with her. Good for her. And, wherever my nap may have fled, I'm sure it was put to good use by whoever found it.

June's Gallery

2011-10-14T23:13:00.000-06:00

I realized that time was slipping away and I hadn't taken June's nine year old pictures. Here are the things I noticed since her last session:

1. June now has braces
2. June also has glasses
3. She opted for a dress (She never wears dresses. I think the last time she wore a dress was for her baptism pictures.)
4. She is still beautiful
5. She has changed a lot since last year
6. She is growing too quickly

enjoy.

Everyone says that June looks just like Tyler. Two peas in a pod.

Colors

2011-10-11T21:28:00.000-06:00

There are three little colors that scream HALLOWEEN to me more than anything else. I mean, purple and black have their place and I love all the browns and reds of Fall, but there is something about white, orange, yellow.

Photo of the week:

I actually love all the colors this time of year, but that combo of white, orange, and yellow makes me giddy with Halloween delight. I even sewed a costume today. Look at me getting into the spirit of things. And no, you can't see it yet. Daisy asks me every day, "Is it Halloween today?"

Nope, not yet.

Bangs?

2011-10-11T21:20:00.000-06:00

Sorry. That was truly cruel to talk about those delicious muffins and not provide a recipe. But I couldn't remember where I found them and I didn't want to hunt them down last night. Lucky for you, I found them this afternoon. Ok, hurry, click here.

Now I would like to lament our tragic loss to the battle of the scissors. With so many girls, it was inevitable that someone would get ahold of the scissors and cut their locks. I was amazed as each year passed and we seemed to come out unscathed. I admit there were a few singleton hairs snipped away in idle curiosity, but no serious damage. And then along came Daisy...(How many of my stories start that way?)

She tried to cut out a hair tie the other day. (This was actually a few months ago.) It didn't go so well and instead she hacked off a chunk of hair at the front of her head. But it was easily disguised. However, when she went back for seconds this week, there is less ways to hide the damage.

It isn't as bad as I made it look. I pulled the damaged part together so you can see her handiwork, but most of the time it just looks like she has some interesting bangs. And I guess she does now.

And she is banned from scissors, of course. It could have been worse, but knowing her, I don't feel we are in the clear yet. And there is always Pearl...

Grandma is still hoping that someone will accidentally cut off her tail.

All in an Afternoon

2011-10-10T22:38:00.000-06:00

Broke Something

Yep, this is a normal occurrence around here. Sometimes I love the object, most often not. (Since you know I am training myself not to love material possessions that my children can break.) This time it was a jar that held small pumpkins. Although it was their home, the pumpkins are often found elsewhere and have a spirit of wanderlust, so I am sure they can move easily, unlike me and my hoards of stuff. (Read: Holiday decorations.) Pearl was the culprit. She was dragging the jar around and dropped it. Lucky for me, it shattered into a million fragments, as per usual. This happens often enough that I have a system. 1)Remove all children. Oddly enough, they are always there when it happens. Oh wait, things don't break unless children are present. Good to know. 2) Sweep. 3) Vacuum 4) Mop or use something wet to pick up the last little slices and slivers.

I swept, and then vacuumed which was good because my sweeping job stunk based on the huge chunks I got with the vacuum, but I didn't have time to mop before Daisy cut her foot on a wayward shard. Well, I'm glad she found it, and also can't be bothered to listen to me when I clearly state, "Please, no one walk with bare feet in here until I mop." She has only herself to blame. And she loves bandaids more than candy on most days, so I think she was secretly pleased to 'bleed' finally. It was the least I could do for her.

Defended the Ankle-Biters

Another bee flew in the house. Usually it is flies. We kill those. The girls love to watch us hunt the flies, and I must admit I was pretty proud of myself the other day when I hit one out of the air while it was flying and also killed one around a blind corner. I should have sewn myself a belt or something.

The bees like to fly up to the high windows because they are bright. I don't really like them up there, so today I decided to coax it down. Naturally I threw baby shoes at him. Every time I hit the window, it would startle, but it couldn't be forced to move. The girls all got a big kick out of watching me, but in the end, I gave up and didn't see it again. Come to think about it, that happened with the last bee as well. (Minus the shoe-throwing.) I am sure that some day I will put up a ladder and find an abundance of dead bees on the window sill. Maybe this is their secret bee graveyard. No more shoe throwing for me. I will let them die in peace.

Lost a Biter

Yep, still not a happy feeling. We searched the neighborhood over only to find her right across the street in a neighbor's house. She plays outside over there sometimes, but I hadn't realized she had ever gone inside. Regardless, the rule is that she cannot leave without informing me. She was in trouble. Still is.

Did Something Stupid

Now, I submit that I do something stupid every day, but some cases are more amusing than others. Today's was worth mentioning. I decided today was the day to make these Pumpkin cream-cheese muffins that I have had my eye on. I am always cracking eggs when I realize I am missing an ingredient. (See with eggs, you can't go back. You can only move forward.) Today, it was sugar. At least it was a common ingredient, but I still scolded myself for my lack of preparation. So I called Becca and sent over offspring number one. Becca was more than happy to loan me a cup and a half of sugar. She is a good neighbor. I feel like everyone nearby is more than happy to sacrifice a cup of whatever, myself included. BUT, as I continued to work my way through the recipe, I noticed that it called for another half cup of sugar for the crumb topping. (No skimping on these muffins.) I was frankly embarrassed to call Becca again, so I availed myself of the friendly neighborhood and called Sarah instead and sent off offspring number two. (They were actually fighting about who got to go.) Feeling rather sheepish, I finished the muffins vowing to repay my neighbors with pumpkiny goodness wrapped around a warm cream-cheese center.

Muffins are baking, life is good. There is a knock at the door. There is Sarah holding a half cup of sugar for me. You can imagine my surprise because I had already received sugar from offspring number two and finished the baking. Why would I need more? Sarah was surprised at my face, because I had called and asked for sugar, right? That is when it hit me that I never gave directions to offspring number two and naturally she had gone right back to Becca for more sugar. My genius plan are not only gone awry, but it was more embarrassing than ever. My kids had bummed more sugar from Becca without a second request and poor Sarah had finally brought the sugar to my house because no one had shown up to get it. Sometimes I am beyond awesome. The good news is that the muffins probably made up for most of my stupidness. I should probably make muffins every day. Just to be on the safe side.

As you see, an afternoon can be very busy around here.

A Collection

2011-10-08T12:12:00.000-06:00

Life is good. I ran a 5k this morning, in which I did not die. I will tell you about it later.

I meant to put this picture on here long ago. I mentioned this frame back here, and I filled it very quickly, but I kept forgetting to post it on here. I see these pictures every time I walk up my stairs.

I like them. It reminds me to keep it real and that things don't have to be perfect. And it is important to laugh.

Also got me some new jeans recently, since my old ones finally ripped through the knees. (Have I mentioned that I live in jeans?) I ended up at Old Navy, and really I don't love their jeans, but they had some new ones. They call them Trouser jeans, but Hello? They are totally Bell Bottoms brought back.

Love it. I have a thing for jeans with flare. I could not get on board the skinny jean's train. My girls ended up with a few pairs from Grandma, but I will probably never own any. I don't feel like a hippie, but I sure love my new jeans.

Daisy went to a princess birthday party the other day. She was cute and so happy to be invited to something that the other girls weren't. (You can tell she visited Grandpa the week before because her name is still on her head.)

Of course Pearl came anyway. She is my little tag-along.

Anyway, must run and play with my kids. We have nothing going on today (small miracle) so that is what I intend to do...nothing. Or a close approximation.

Before I forget

2011-10-06T23:05:00.000-06:00

I have to write down the funny things right away. Yesterday morning we came downstairs and I had left the Fiber Optic Scarecrow on during the night. The girls were appalled because they were worried he would run out of batteries.

Me: Don't worry, it doesn't run on batteries...it is plugged in.

June: Oh, it goes by the energy of the wall?

(Yeah, I guess you could say that.)

Love it.

Grandparents

2011-10-06T16:02:00.000-06:00

This last weekend my parents were in town. Actually, they were here for about a week. It is cozy when they come because we don't have a guest bedroom, so Grandpa takes the girls room and we have the four oldest sleep in the loft. But I don't really begrudge them the room. Plus, I want my girls to realize that it is good to sacrifice things for family, even if it is just a bedroom for a week.

It was a really relaxed week with them. Well, it was still crazy busy for me, as per usual, but my folks entertained themselves and we got to spend some evenings together.

It is always fun to see how the girls react when family is here. (Since we don't live nearby any.) The girls bombarded my parents with everything from their latest school assignment to what they ate for lunch yesterday. Pearl (who is not sure of everybody) felt at ease almost at once and spent their entire trip bringing them anything she could lay her hands on. I would often come into the room to find Grandma holding five books, two blankets, a bear, and other odds and ends. Here they are making friends in the beginning.

Another fun thing my mom does, is write stories. There is no end to her creativity, and a few years back, she decided to write a story based on the girls. She writes one chapter at a time and the girls love to hear them. They are always looking forward to another installment. Grandma was tentatively planning on writing another one while she was here, but when she realized she had left June's birthday present at home, she was more dedicated to getting it finished. I make it sound like it took a long time, but she went upstairs one morning to use my computer and a short time later, she was finished. Super impressive.

When the girls were all home from school, they sat down to listen to the next chapter. (It did have to be about spiders, didn't it mom?)

The red-head is not mine, but Hannah might as well be, since she and June are as thick as thieves. She comes over every other Friday and she seemed to enjoy the story as much as the rest of them.

I didn't take pictures like I should have. (Typical.) Tyler snapped this one that I thought was great.

June was decorating G'ma's shirt. The blue jewels are part of the shirt, but the leaves are all strategically placed. It looks like they should be there, huh? But they just came off our bush out front.

Over Conference weekend, Tyler took the kids up to see his parents, and I stayed and watched with my folks. I don't know who had more fun, but I KNOW I had the quieter house.

It is always fun when you come to visit, Mom and Dad. (Please imagine a picture here. I meant to get one with you all weekend and somehow forgot. You may flog me later.)

Nine Lives

2011-10-02T23:03:00.000-06:00

Yep, I have been missing, but when you combine having family in town with a giggly-girl spectacular (a.k.a. birthday party) then you come up with one tired momma who is amazed she is still functioning.

I will highlight family soon, but because I have already missed her birthday by a few days, let's talk about my oldest (now 9) June.

June had an excellent birthday, if I do say so myself. Which I guess I will have to until she gets a blog of her own. Trust me...I am not encouraging that yet. This year was her scheduled friend party. I was skeptical, but I want to create memories for her and then remind myself why I only do this every OTHER year. June is attending her new school with new friends that she will probably have in her class for a few years, so this seems a good time to get to know all these young ladies.

The morning started as usual. I sent June off to school, but then I brought balloons when I picked her up.

I got her the traditional nine, but one popped in her classroom. Two things stuck out to me when I visited her school. 1) It is only an elementary school, but over half of the kids who passed me were taller than I am. Sad. 2) June requested Rolos as a treat for her class and although they were a bit pricey, I got them because she has never asked for a specific treat before. They were a bit hit. I don't really think of myself as that mom that gets her kids whatever they want, but birthdays are special.

When all the family was assembled we opened her family gifts before the party started. I was surprised at how alike June and Robyn look here.

Pearl was digging the balloons. Please ignore my stone face.

We bought June a bike earlier this week. I don't even think she likes to ride all that much, but her legs are out-growing her last set of wheels, so it seemed time. Pearl though the helmet was cool. (Pearl likes to be doing everything we do these days.)

And then the party guests descended like so many birds on a live wire. Actually they weren't too bad and we had plenty of activities to keep them busy. Our craft was trickier than I imagined, but the end result was so darling.

Winkum turned out to be the big favorite. Whoever got the winkum card was in charge of winking at people to get them out. But people could raise their hand if they saw someone winking and get winkum out instead. Simple game, but perfect for this age group. And that is why it looks like we are all sitting around staring at each other...because we are.

Gift opening was a treat. Some parent got gold tinsel that the kids promptly spread all over the entire floor.

It is a good thing I wasn't paying attention to who gave that gift because I might have sent home a nasty note. Well, not really, but I am still finding that stuff all over the house.

The cake was not homemade. (I can't do it all.) But it was cute.

June blew out the candles as usual.

I can't believe she is nine. She is growing up fast. She is such a fun child. I love to watch her sense of humor take shape and her independence develop. And I take heart that even though she is the child we experiment on, she seems to be turning out okay.

Autumn and Tools

2011-09-28T13:25:00.000-06:00

Photos of the week:

Welcome Autumn.

Okay, so it still feels pretty nice outside, but it has just an edge of coolness. The leaves are slowly jumping off the branches with the promise of Fall right behind them. This is perhaps my most favorite time of year. (One of these years I will really make a decision between Spring and Fall, but it hasn't happened yet. I am totally that lame person all scared of commitment. That isn't like me because I tend to be very opinionated. Okay, I am making my choice. Fall, I pick you. Not because you are happening right now, but because you are so cozy and friendly. You bring Halloween and apple cider. You make the air smell different and I love the crunch of leaves under my feet. You don't have everything because truthfully you eventually make my flip-flops obsolete, but I will embrace you as my favorite season because really...you are.)

I grabbed some decorative pumpkins at the store and was delighted to find they were only 48 cents each. (They were supposed to be 48 cents a pound, but I didn't argue.) Pearl is fascinated by the new additions. Just wait until we carve pumpkins later.

And to keep up on the photography challenge (sorry I keep slipping behind) I'll add in this week as well. The theme was tools, and although I love me a hammer, because I tend to hang things all over my house, my favorite tool would be this:

Don't try to tell me it is not a tool. It is. And I would be lost without it. Take away my TV, and my books, I would rather keep my computer. (But only because I could read the books online. I am so sneaky that way.) Do you have a favorite tool? Eye-Lash Curler, Blender, Pencil Sharpener? What?

Good News

2011-09-24T23:51:00.000-06:00

I won't complain about my lack of blogging, because that is probably going to be the norm for a while (read: 3-5 years), but I will keep up as best I can. And most likely I will fall into a pattern and get my groove back. Goll, you threw off my groove.

But I didn't come here to complain tonight. I wanted to tell you all the great things that are happening. First and foremost...I can BREATHE!! I never did go to an allergist, but I remembered the name of a nasal spray I used back when I only had June. Turns out that they still have the stuff, and my pediatrician felt okay prescribing it to me. (Over the phone even. I LOVE my pediatrician.) It takes a few days for full effect, but those days were swift compared to my misery and now I feel great. This is stellar, because right about now, I usually have a raging sinus infection brought on by my stinkin' allergies, but instead, I am free and clear. It's the bomb-diggity. (I don't know if I am allowed to say that being as white as I am.)

Ivory is thinking about being dry during the night.

It turns out that bed-wetting is a common side effect of having large tonsils. Ivory's body was so busy keeping her alive and breathing that it wasn't too concerned about waking her up to go to the bathroom. The doctor mentioned that she might do better after the surgery. It has been almost two months and I didn't see an ounce of difference. Then one night she woke up to go potty, and then another. After three nights waking up dry, we decided to risk going to bed in just underwear. She promptly peed through that evening. Naturally. BUT, the fact that we are having dry nights at all is good news.

We made it through another school carnival. Granted, we lost a child at this one, which makes it less fun and more embarrassing since everyone knows us. I mean, if we are going to lose a kid, we might as well do it at June's school where none of our neighbors look over and think, Oh, that's not surprising. The good news is that they used real FACE paints this time around. Sure Robyn and Ivory chose a spider because they think it is fun to tease mom, but they washed off easily. :)

Funny spider story if you have a minute. Dad caught a spider in a jar the other Saturday and Robyn thought it would be great fun to shove it in my face. She tried luring me out by saying, 'Mom, I have the cutest thing to show you...come here.' Well, oddly enough, a spider in a jar is just not as terrifying to me, but I still don't want to cuddle with it. I told them to let it go outside somewhere, but instead they left the jar in the garage.

Fast forward two days. I am helping June with her homework and I hear a loud crash in the garage. I ran out to see a broken jar and pieces all over the garage. (It shattered pretty well.) You would think that a little voice would go off in my head warning me why the jar was out there. (After all, we had put all the jars away just so little hands wouldn't drop them.) But luckily, my memory is so bad, I had already forgotten about Maleficent (as Dad so lovingly named the spider.) right up to the point where I was picking up Polly Pocket pieces and found a large spider underneath. Then it all came flooding back, painfully clear. Fortunately, the neighbor boy heard the scream and came and squished the spider for me. Now, I can do my own spider killing when necessary, but I am happy to pass the chore to someone else. But the good news is that had I remembered what the jar was holding, I wouldn't have cleaned up anything at all. I would have left the mess for Tyler to deal with when he got home.

In other good news, the kids are cute and they seem to get along fairly well. June seems to be honing her mothering skills. She is often found helping the littlest minis. I took these pictures because I was impressed with how patient she was being. Daisy's hands often smooshed into her eyes.

But Daisy sure was enjoying herself.

I also tend to be gone a lot of evenings, but I am comforted when Tyler takes a picture like this.

First, at least someone is taking pictures, but mostly it cracks me up because this is a typical moment. Robyn, in the tub. Ivory, reading a book on the potty. And Daisy listening and supplying books when needed. Ivory is getting to be quite a good reader. She won't let me read to her very often anymore.

Lastly, this last picture is just funny. I was making cookies and Dad offered Daisy a bite of the dough. She looked at it for a minute and said, "Whoa...big one." But then she opened wide anyway.

Who can resist cookie dough? Don't worry, we didn't actually feed her that bite, or any dough for that matter. Tyler frowns on it because of the raw egg. I try to honor his wishes and not feed the kids, but that doesn't stop me from sampling the batter.

Oh, one last good news. The General Relief Society Broadcast was fabulous this evening. President Uchtdorf has definitely been blessed with the ability to speak. His talk tonight, centered around the Forget-Me-Not, was amazing.

I don't think the entire thing is uploaded yet, but here are some snippets.

And now I get to go to bed. That is good news too. Sweet dreams everyone.

Amazing and Stupid...Amazingly Stupid

2011-09-20T16:13:00.004-06:00

Amazing: I actually find myself with time to blog.
Stupid: I have nothing to blog about.

I have been taking pictures for other people and haven't snapped any around here for days. Thusly, not much to blog about. I could get on my soap box and blather on about how men never wear shirts while running these days. Just because you CAN do something, doesn't mean that you SHOULD. That is probably enough on that subject.

Instead, I decided that I would look back in time and see what was going on a year ago today. (Or at least in the same week.) Now would be a good time to queue the music, that is if you like a little background music while you read this post: Try to Remember the kind of September... We took the girls to Temple Square and even now it is interesting to see how they have changed in a year...especially Pearl. (She was chubba.) 2010.

Then I want back and found this picture of dinner. It was edited so I must have wanted to include it on the blog, but it never made it on here. Look how little Ivory is. 2009.

A year before we put the girls together in a room. Funny that they still sleep together now...just a little closer. 2008.

And then it starts to get weird. Here we are visiting WA for my ten-year school reunion. No Daisy, no Pearl. 2007. I just got rid of those jeans - oh how I loved them.

Even further back in time we go. I didn't even know what blogging was. I had a house full of littles. 2006.

Another year back. We had only been in our house for two years. I was pregnant again. I was probably hoping for a boy. :) 2005.

Keep going. Robyn was a baby. Apparently we took all our pictures in the bedroom. We still have that quilt (from our wedding) but it has some holes now. 2004.

Goodbye Robyn. Goodbye house. Time takes us back to our old apartment and our first baby. Back before she had four sisters. 2003.

And then...we didn't have a camera. At least not a digital one. All June's baby pictures were printed out. I would have to scan one in and I don't have THAT much time today. Well, and actually, she wouldn't be born for another week.

But it was fun to go down memory lane today. Septembers come and go. Kids grow, we move on. Time doesn't seem to notice one little family. But they mean everything to me. So goodbye Summer, hello Fall. Seasons...keep going. I will keep taking pictures and watching my children grow.

Ivory-ism

2011-09-19T22:36:00.000-06:00

The kids are learning Praise to the Man in primary to sing for the Primary Program. Ivory was singing it one morning at the dining room table. Her lyrics are original and I wish I had gotten them all down, but my favorite part by far was the line—Hail to the Prophet, ascended to heaven—changed to:

"Hail to the Prophet, I sent him to heaven."

Kitchen

2011-09-16T20:24:00.000-06:00

Photos of the week: (Interspersed throughout the post)

My kitchen is one of my favorite rooms in the house. It is a good thing too since I spend a LOT of time there. This led me to pondering on how we are made and why things are the way they are. It seems like eating three meals a day, or continual snacking (whatever works for you) is not very efficient. I feel that sometimes I finish cleaning up after one meal just in time to start another. Why is so much of life dedicated to food? Wouldn't it serve us better to be sustained on one meal and be able to spend extra time in more productive matters? Then again, perhaps that would leave us more time to spend in UNproductive matters.

I've been contemplating balance. With my new calling, I keep thinking that it should come with a pause button so I have time to get everything done. And then I could visit all the sisters in the ward. But then no one would grow and serve, because they would know that the Relief Society President probably was taking care of everything with her pause button. And I would not know when to stop because I would feel like I could do it all. Nope, I am pretty sure that one of the key things we have to learn while we are here in this mortal sojourn is balance. We need to prioritize and make mistakes and reprioritize and find out what really matters to us. Heavenly Father wants to see if we will chose the right things. I know that I don't always put the right thing first. (This is blatantly obvious because I stayed up past midnight two nights in a row to read The Goose Girl—perhaps not the best prioritizing.)

This all returned to my mind this morning, because I was looking at my kitchen.

Yep, that is my kitchen and that is how it looks often. Entropy is probably strongest in the kitchen. I was sitting there thinking about how hard it is to keep the kitchen clean and that led to that pondering about too many meals a day. (Pearl only seems content these days with something in her hand. She thinks that we are eating. All. The. Time. Arg. I need to have scheduled snack times and not bend to the incessant whining and reaching in the pantry.) So, since I still lack the pause button, I just got to work and found my kitchen again.

(contented sigh) I sure love it when it is clean. And I love it most in the morning when the sun comes in and lights everything.

It feels cozy and fresh. It starts a new day. A day of choosing how I will balance. And I won't lie. It always feels easier to balance a day if you start it in a clean kitchen.

Robyn Chalae Won't Put Things Away

2011-09-15T21:25:00.000-06:00

Okay, kind of a lame rhyme, but the truth nonetheless. I love Robyn, but I am surprised at finding her stuff all over the house. Socks under the dining room table. Her shoes strewn carelessly by the door. Her little fan (purchased at the fair) found everywhere and replaced (by me) in her room each time. (I usually wouldn't bother supervising her trinkets, but if Pearl laid hands on it for one minute, there wouldn't be much fan left.) This doesn't have much to do with anything, except this post is mainly about Robyn, so I thought I would mention some things about her, even if they aren't the stellar things she will want to be remembered for. After all, my parents still call me "Little Messy" even though I have changed my ways.

Robyn has many excellent qualities as well. She is quite the little reader and I find it amusing that her favorite books are geared toward boys. Not that girls (or adults) don't enjoy them. She started off reading Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and now she is into Captain Underpants. I think she enjoys the humor in them. Speaking of favorites, I have not been faithful about capturing another 'school' photo, so I took one of her in bed tonight. Close enough, right?

Robyn has been on my mind because she has said some funny things lately. I wish I could remember all the faux pas my kids utter, but I will be content with the ones that make it here:

(I asked Robyn if she knew where her cup was.)

Robyn: Yeah, it's over by the cauldron.

Me: ?? (pause)

Me: You mean crockpot?

Robyn: Yeah, I was just about to say that.

(Today, June was discussing why she was going to give her Incan treasures to children in Kindergarten. Robyn argued that they would make their own when they got to 3rd grade.)

June: But what if they move? It would be nice for them to have those things.

Robyn: Yeah, as a remembery.

(For the record, I think that should be a word now.)

Robyn is great. She watches Pearl for me for quarters. Cheapest baby-sitter yet.

There are two Hispanic girls that come play in the garage with our girls and Robyn has taken it upon herself to teach the older one more English. (I actually don't know if Callista needs help, but she seems to enjoy playing 'school' regardless.) Robyn told me that she taught her sentences today. Sweet girl.

Robyn is very concerned with right and wrong and doing things correctly. When she does something wrong, she always says, "I don't want to tell you this..." and then proceeds to tell me anyway. I sure hope that never changes.

Actually I hope that a lot of things don't change about Robyn. Sure, she will grow and learn, but I hope her heart stays pure and good.

Spice

2011-09-12T23:07:00.000-06:00

I did have good intentions of taking a photo of something that had to do with cooking spices. I love me some cinnamon, dill, oregano, or lemon pepper (not necessarily together). But I won't lie to you. I am busy. Like, I-can-see-the-white-hairs-growing busy. My cup runneth over. And so, instead of searching for pictures, I need to search the pictures I have already taken.

Photos of the week:

After all, Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice...That is what Little Girls are Made of.

Oddly, this one is the spiciest of all.

Don't let that cute face and bear holding sweetness fool you. Pearl runs hot and cold. I think it must be the twos lurking around the corner, and possibly some fifth child syndrome throw in for good luck.

But my days would be empty without Robyn's smiles, Daisy's hugs, Ivory's giggles, June's wit, and Pearl's Loves. They truly are the spice of my life.

Piglets, and Funnelcake, and Prizes...Oh MY!!

2011-09-11T23:36:00.000-06:00

Yes, it is time to do the Puyallup. Or, it would be that time if we were in Washington. But since we're not, we'll have to settle for the Utah State Fair. Most of you probably know my secret strategy of putting stuff in the fair so the kids will be enticed to come see the displays and not worry so much about the rides. Well this year was no different. In fact, I told the kids straight up that we wouldn't go on any rides. Amazingly, they were pretty cool about it, and even the little ones enjoyed looking at all the arts and crafts. There really is some fun stuff. I can't tell you how many times I heard a gasp, followed by, "Mom, look at the ______." (fill in the blank with something...anything...I think we saw it all.)

I entered another crosstitch which I finished this Spring. I kept forgetting to take a picture and put it on the blog, so now you get to see it; with a first place ribbon. This pattern is one I have loved since I was a kid. It is not as fancy as some as it has no beads, but I still love it.

The other thing I entered this year was a photo. I have never entered photography before. I was excited to go see all the pictures and it probably was my favorite exhibit. Now that I am more interested in photography, I am super impressed by the pictures people take. Oh, and I got an Honorable Mention.

I was super excited by this, because I heard there is a lot of photography entered and I wasn't expecting any kind of ribbon. Yep, so now I feel just a tiny bit famous. It is just the perfect amount of notoriety.

Afterwards, we had to go see the animals. I think Tyler might enjoy them more than the creative arts, so we compromise and drag the kids to both. Okay, the kids might like the animals more too...Good thing I am in charge around here.

As always the baby pigs are my favorites. And looking at the mom, I am glad I only have one baby at a time.

I was so proud of this photo because I couldn't get close enough so I stuck my camera over the edge and clicked the button.

That is always dangerous because who knows if it will even be in focus. But I got baby pigs and my kids' hands. I can tell that is Robyn's hand because she has no nails. (Evil habit).

One of the experiences of the fair is the people watching. I told Tyler, an hour into our adventure, that it wasn't right that I had already seen five butt-cracks. People really need to buy clothes that fit. Tyler was amazed at one guy who wore a shirt labeled 'Idiot'. He told me to take a picture, but I wasn't brave enough. So he got one for me. Later, I told him that we needed to put the picture of the lady in the 'Idiot' shirt on the blog and he was startled because he was sure it was a man. See for yourself... what do you think?

We finally decided on woman. If you zoom in, her arms do not seem that hairy, she has a bracelet/watch, her fingernails are longer and she is wearing toe-nail polish. Granted, that evidence is not conclusive, but we will give her the benefit of the doubt. Although the shirt is still questionable.

I eventually slowed us all down for a group shot.

And then I asked June to take a picture for us. Not bad.

Then we decided to get a picture kissing, because we are all sappy like that. We sat, posed perfectly for what seemed like an eternity. And then naturally when we go to ask what she is doing, she takes the picture. And then we laughed about it.

We also took a picture at the classic cut-out.

Oh, and at the Lego Shark too. (The Lego shark is not a regular, but he was pretty cool.)

We ended the fair with a treat. We bought ourselves some funnel cakes and chowed down. Pearl really liked them, but I think she was just happy to be out of the stroller.

Daisy has the perfect face here that says, "Yep, if I eat one more bite, I am going to be sick."

And then Robyn was sick later that evening, close to midnight. I guess that funnel cake didn't agree with her. I don't blame her. Fair food is not that great. We decided that next year we'll skip the food, and do a couple rides instead. I guess that still leaves a 50/50 chance of someone puking.

Block Party

2011-09-08T22:56:00.000-06:00

Labor Day was a calm one around here. I finally got out to see The Help. It was so good. The book was amazing and I thought they did a fabulous job with the movie. All the characters were believable and evoked emotion, whether good or bad.

In the evening, we had no plans, but the neighborhood put together a huge block party, compliments of the Marty Sutton Band. Here they are playing.

It was loud, but awesome.

We just lined up across the street, ate food, and enjoyed a day off.

We kicked up our feet; literally.

The kids played, the band jammed, and we relaxed. It was a great way to close the day. I love that we celebrate Labor Day by trying to do the least amount of work possible. Okay, that isn't exactly true for all of us, but it certainly is a good day to be thankful that we can work...other days.

p.s. I bought those flip-flops on my honeymoon. They are a little worn on the bottom, but still very comfortable. Most shoes don't last 12 years.

Sunset

2011-09-06T22:45:00.000-06:00

Once again I am cheating. I had looked ahead and worried about this theme, because what if there wasn't a fantastic sunset the week I needed it. So, I took this picture a while ago, but in the end, it is still my photography, so I don't see why I can't break rules that aren't really there in the first place.

Photo of the week:

It was a beautiful night, but I don't feel that my camera always captures what I see, so I bumped up the purple and pink hues because that is my favorite type of sunset.

And then I did a color burn because it looks cool and I would love to see a sunset that looks like this.

Of course, it could mean the second coming is close at hand, so let's hold off on that.

Criss-Cross'll Make you Jump, Jump

2011-09-03T22:55:00.000-06:00

I took the older two girls to Seven Peaks the other day to use their free passes they earned from school. Tyler didn't want the littler munchkins to feel left out, so he set up the small pool for them. They seemed to have a good time. Eventually Ivory decided that she needed to jazz it up a bit and she started running and jumping into the pool. Tyler caught some fun shots.

Pearl spent most of her time in the buff.

Daisy made herself a helmet that shielded her from the splash zone that Ivory created.

They sure are cute little ducks. I find it highly unfair though that Tyler lets Pearl run around naked for an hour with no problems and I leave her diaper off for three minutes after a bath and she poops on the floor. I tell you folks, some times it just doesn't go your way.

Another One on the Road to Edjukashun

2011-09-01T14:40:00.000-06:00

Ivory started Kindergarten this week and she is ecstatic to be in the 'big' school finally. I am a bit bummed that all three aren't at the same school watching out for each other, but June loves her A.L.L. school so much, and Robyn still runs into Ivory sometimes, that I can be okay with the whole thing. Ivory rides the bus by herself (since Robyn leaves earlier), and she doesn't mind a bit. There are plenty of people she knows. Apparently, she is getting too attached to the bus because when I picked her up today, she broke down into tears because she wanted to ride with her friends. Note to self: Don't pick up Ivory.

I managed to grab a shot of her on her first day, but I had seen this, and I had to try it. What a fun way to keep memories. (Now I have to go back and do the other girls.)

I'm glad she is only gone half the day. It seems that just when they get to a super useful age, the school gets them. Although, Daisy is better with Pearl than any of the other kids, so I probably have the best matched set at home right now.

Defeat

2011-08-28T23:03:00.000-06:00

I would like to warn you in advance that these photos are not pretty. You will soon understand why.

Photos of the week:

This first one is my Arch-Nemesis. We will call him DR. GARAGE.

Really, he is not innately evil. His evilness was thrust upon him by the mere fact that he is the only storage space in the house. He is not large and we try to cram him full of stuff and he rebels by spitting stuff back at us. I have looked at this beast from many angles and there are times that it is cleaner than others. (This would be one of those others) But, it comes down to the fact, that there are too many free-standing objects that take up space and won't allow a car to fit in there. Like bikes, coolers, lawn mower, and strollers (many). We already hang luggage, the shop vac, some older bikes,and all the Christmas decorations. We need a shed. Badly. I even ventured into the attic space the other day to see if it was a viable storage area. Well, after hauling a ladder up the stairs, scraping paint off my walls while setting up the ladder, then opening the attic and having my head melt into my neck, I thought that nothing would survive a summer up there and I couldn't spare the extra paint. Plus, the insulation is too high, and I couldn't put boards across it to store stuff anyway.

But mark my words. I will find a way to get my car into the garage before Halloween. DR. GARAGE, I am not defeated yet. Maybe.

This second picture would be the Vice President Arch Nemesis. We will call him MAGNETO.

I call my bathroom counter this, because I am convinced there is some large magnet in the counter-top that sucks things back onto the surface. I can clean it off incessantly, and it only takes moments for things to materialize back on the counter. This picture is a good assortment of the usual: Hair stuff, dishes (because I never leave them near the computer, but I am too lazy to walk them downstair), bandaids I have taken away from Daisy for the millionth time, floss because we all floss tons (no, really I have no idea why that is out), and other miscellaneous objects. Oh, like the shampoo for which I do not have a pump that goes far enough down, so I can't throw the bottle out until I buy a longer pump or pour it into my hand. But I lost the top long ago, so I can't actually keep it in the tub or one Daisy (sorry I always pick on you kid, that's just the way it is) would pour the whole thing out in one sitting.

And so MAGNETO lives another day. He probably will outlive DR. GARAGE and take over the title of Arch Nemesis, but perhaps CAPTAIN MOM will vanquish them both someday. It is possible, especially if I learn to keep the kids out of my bathroom. They have their own by the way. Mine is just cooler, mainly because I am in it. And it has no door*, so I can't really keep them out. So, like I said, someday when we move...I will rule ALL.

*CAPTAIN DAD would like you all to know that our other two bathrooms DO have doors; in case you worried about our family preserving privacy and/or mom being able to lock herself inside for a quiet moment.

Odds and Ends

2011-08-26T22:05:00.000-06:00

My goal is to be in bed by 10:30 tonight. I haven't made it all week, so the chances are slim, but it is good to have a goal. So let's make this quick.

Pearl's hair is getting long.

It falls in her face most of the time. That means I should pull it back, but she isn't a fan of having her hair done. Oddly, Tyler does her hair more often than I do, but I think that is because he likes to style it. He only uses water, so when it dries, it doesn't look half bad, but right after the styling, I think she could pick up a radio signal in Iowa.

Tyler will have the envious job of getting five girls ready for church most Sunday mornings. So please smile and admire his handiwork when the girls shuffle in, and remember that I wasn't around.

In other news, Daisy has some stuff going on with her ears. We are still in the midst of everything, so I will wait to put all the details, but the good news is that she will probably need something normal like tubes. (Yay for no serious damage.) Ivory tends to be Daisy's mom around here. She is always concerned with what Daisy is doing. I try to remind her gently to mind her own business, but sometimes you need more persuasive methods.

Really this is a rare moment. 1) Because they usually get along pretty well, and 2) Because I normally use masking tape. Just kidding. We use the tape about once a year to remind everyone that we are serious about this whole parenting thing.

This last picture is for you mom. We took it shortly after you made fun of me for being afraid of a spider. I'm sorry that I haven't posted it until now. I know you will enjoy it.

Ant that's all for now folks.

Too Cool for School

2011-08-24T20:44:00.000-06:00

Ah yes, the blogs abound with children getting back to their educational experiences, and parents getting back to a bit of sanity. And no, not sanity because they despise their kids and can't wait to get rid of them, but the sanity that a good schedule brings. We are doing the early route around here, and although there are some bleary eyes in the morning (namely mine), at least we are up and running and feeling good about it.

I barely got the obligatory pictures, and I won't lie; they weren't so hot. Let's look at my failures, shall we.

The light was crazy and I had to color correct this thing a ton, and it still doesn't look quite right.

I never could get a picture of her looking at me, but you see the bus and therefore know that I was accompanying her.

(One day is all you get before I just throw you out the door. Okay, I will probably walk Ivory more often, but that is because she will be in PM and I won't be debating whether a shower or my child is more important.)

June is not quite in focus. Go mom! (Oh, and June wanted me to point out that I didn't have time to do her hair. Bonus points all around.)

June gets the special treat of her own personal chauffeur. Tyler is driving her since she is going to a different school. Gotta love the bright sun and closed eyes.

So, all around fabulous photos. But, you get the idea. School is back in session. They are having a blast. And I will be enjoying my minis who are still here.

Good Friends

2011-08-22T22:44:00.000-06:00

Sometimes you meet someone and know you will be friends for life. It is that way with Rubia. Even though we don't see her often as she stays busy teaching and alternately gallivanting around the world, it is always special to get back together again.

Sadly, it may be a while until we see her again. She is going back to Brazil for good. (Now, I have to find a reason to go down there.) But on the other side of the coin, I know when we see her again, it will be just like good old times. Rubia, we love you. Have I mentioned that I owe you for life? We will come down and stay at your hotel someday. (wink, wink.)

Tyler, we make you look tall

And you know that I love you because I stepped out of my technology-challenged shell and put these pictures on FB too. And I tagged you. (I didn't even know how to do that yesterday. And I will probably forget tomorrow.) We hope you find everything you are looking for in life. You deserve it. Até mais.

Peace

2011-08-21T23:20:00.000-06:00

Photo of the week:

So, I was sustained as Relief Society President today. I can't even begin to describe how 'all over the map' my emotions have been. I was stunned by the call, but I have made my peace, and luckily I have some excellent counselors that will hopefully buoy me up.

I want to remember my first thoughts, so I will put them down here. I know that I tend to not talk about my religion in great depth on this blog. This is not because I do not believe or have a strong testimony, but simply because this blog feels like wading in the shallow end of a pool. I have fun, splash around, but I don't have to worry about getting into the deep issues. Some times I will swim out far enough to speak my piece, but I find it easier to sit on the edge, dabble my feet in the water and laugh at life.

When it comes to my feelings concerning my religion and the Savior, I tend to cry. Not because it makes me sad, but because my convictions and feelings are so strong that they touch my core; my heart. And it tends to leak out my eyes. (Trust me when I say that I could do without all the water works, but that is how it is for me.) I believe wholeheartedly in Jesus Christ and his Atonement. I believe in the prophets, past and present. I know the Book of Mormon is true. Just ask me. I'll tell you and if you can understand me through the crying, I'll tell you some more.

So naturally, I would accept this opportunity to serve. But that doesn't mean I wouldn't second guess the choice of ME. I realize that I am a good person, but I was content in believing that I wasn't President material...yet. I kinda always figured that I would be some day. (Not that I wishing and hoping for this calling, but I guess some day I thought I would feel worthy of it.) Well, who knows if I ever would have gotten around to feeling that way. The Lord didn't wait to find out.

I walked out of the Bishop's office and this is the thought that went through my head, "Well, if I am going to do this calling...this is what I want in return: My allergies to go away completely and I would like to grow a few inches taller." Let's ignore the fact that I was asking for impossible stuff and go straight to the part where I quickly rescinded that thought because it flashed into my head that I could be Relief Society president for 50 years and still not pay the Lord back for all he has done for me. And truthfully, I don't want the calling that long. Later I thought of my beautiful, healthy children, my wonderful, supportive husband, and the scripture came to mind, For of him unto whom much is given, much is required. (Doctrine and Covenants 82:3) And being the RS President is not asking that much. I am happy to serve, even if I still can't breathe that well May through July. (Seriously, I'm going to the doctor next Spring. Hold me to it.)

The good news is that I love the sisters in my ward, and since I was the secretary beforehand, I know about 95% of them. So, I am not just saying that I love the sisters in my ward because that is the cliche thing to do. (It actually kind of bugs me when people get up and say, I love all of you, and they don't even know me. I realize they are speaking in general, but still...) Nope, I really know most of the sisters in my ward, and I really like the people they are. I hope I can show these women that I love life, but I love it because I live the gospel. It sustains me.

But enough of the serious and verbose. (I did warn you.) I'm sure my blog will quickly return to the light-hearted fluff you are used to, interspersed with the quasi-serious moments. But I needed to tell you that I know my Savior lives. I know prayers are answered and that he listens. That will give me the peace I need to do His work.

Daisy Grace

2011-08-18T22:12:00.001-06:00

I know we have had a lot of pictures on here recently, but now is not the time to stop. I am sure that I will get all serious and verbose this weekend, but in the meantime, you should enjoy Daisy's 3-year old gallery. (Bout time I took them.) She is such a sweet, sweet child. Besides her incessant curiosity, I really don't think she has a mean bone in her body. I have mentioned that she is the first to help Pearl when she is upset. I watch her all the time leading Pearl around by the hand and taking care of her. She loves to help with anything and everything, but at the same time she is learning to look at something, smile at me knowingly and say, "Don't touch?" She wants to be big and go to school. She wants to go everywhere I go. She snuggles the best and loves one-on-one time. She potty trained before I even thought about helping her. (Way back some time when she was two.) She has an excellent pouty face and she has trouble not picking her scabs. And she is beautiful. Her hair is getting long, her skin is so olive, and her eyes are so dark brown. She is a really pretty child, and probably the one who looks least like me. I used to look at the two of us in the mirror and try to see even a little of me in her. But it doesn't matter if we look alike. She is mine...my Daisy.

Daisies have always been my favorite flower. They are simple, lovely, and they grow easily. I'm glad this one was planted with us.

Picture Scavenger Hunt

2011-08-17T22:10:00.001-06:00

*Warning: There are a lot of pictures. But duh, it's a picture scavenger hunt people.

Here are the themes our teams interpreted in photographic form:

1. Trust Me
2. Case Closed
3. On the Edge
4. How'd You Get in There?
5. Brother, I'm Committed
6. Help!
7. Let it Be
8. Hold My Hand
9. Yellow
10. Ladies First
11. Baby Steps
12. Think Twice

I put them all there together in case you ever wanted to steal the list for your own purposes. It really was terribly fun. I highly recommend it. In our case, since we had so many children, we stayed in our neighborhood so we wouldn't have to drive anywhere. We gave each team a list, and an hour to shoot. Here is what we came up with. There was no declared winner, but you can decide for yourself which ones you like best. They are each pictured with Team 1's picture first and Team 2's picture second. (Brady actually gave our team (2) the name of "Does this make me look Fete?" He definitely wins the prize for best team name.)

1. Trust Me

"Jump Jake, I gotcha!"

Porter is not convinced

2. Case Closed

Jake finally caught the neighborhood culprit

This case is CLOSED

3. On the Edge

4. How'd You Get in There?

5. Brother, I'm Committed

Sorry Jake, she already has a man

No going back now

6. Help!

7. Let it Be

Marty was singing 'Let It Be' while everyone did the lighters (okay, you have to imagine lighters)

Yes, I super-imposed the 'B' on top of the kids

8. Hold My Hand

My personal favorite of the whole night

Go Team 2

9. Yellow

Yellow fire hydrant, wearing yellow, and yes...peeing yellow (pretend peeing!)

Brady is the 'O'. Get it. Yell—O

10. Ladies First

Probably my second favorite picture

11. Baby Steps

We seemed to have the same idea on this one

12. Think Twice

We didn't have to think twice about this picture

Oh wait, did you notice that there is only one picture for 'Think Twice'? That is because Team 1 forgot to take a picture for that theme. So I guess they are going to have to think twice about claiming the victory for this game. So I declare, in my most unbiased opinion, Team 2—the winners. Or, if you will: Does this make me look Fete—the winners!

Really, we were all winners. Because we got to spend time together. Aaahhh.

Just kidding, Team 2 totally spanked Team 1. And if you have a different opinion, you are welcome to comment.

It's a good thing I am not too competitive.

Fabulous Fete Day

2011-08-16T22:15:00.001-06:00

This year was a riot. We had such a blast. We did a photo scavenger hunt and I need to get all the pics in order. Some of them are hilarious. Needless to say, my bedtime is creeping up, so you will get them tomorrow. In the meantime, here is the whole gang. Can you guess the color? (Hint: Don't go by what Brady is wearing.)

Top row: Matthew, Maleen, Pearl. Couch row: June, Porter, Paxton, Jessica, Daisy, Brady, Robyn, Emma, Ivory, Jake, Sarah, Nash. Front Row: Lily, Kyla. Photographer: Tyler

Hope you had a fabulous Fete Day. If you are a little confused, you are welcome to catch up here. Deanne described it best.

Water and Shadows

2011-08-15T21:46:00.000-06:00

Behind again, I am, yes.

I wasn't really feeling the water picture. Really, I should have just put in the one from this post. But, since I am running more and that is the what is on my mind, this little baby is keeping me sane.

Photo of last week:

Have I mentioned that I am a sweater? (And I'm not talking about Cashmere.)

The weather was rather stormy last night and that led to the usual puddle in our garage. I pretty much curse the builders who layed the garage floor every time it rains. I forgot it was out there, and Pearl found it first.

Which led me to shadows. Pearl had on socks and she would leave splotchy blob-prints at first, but eventually, they would turn into little footprints as there was more pressure from the foot than anywhere else. And almost as quickly, they would disappear. Unfortunately for me (since I was determined to get my shadow picture today) it was overcast, but watching Pearl walk around, leaving prints that disappeared before my eyes, it was like watching shadows fade. I'm sure I could give it all very profound significance if I weren't so tired.

Photos of the week:

crazy that she had socks on while she made these

The sun finally came out this evening and I love the shadows it makes behind this new frame I got. I have a fun plan for it. Remind me to show you the finished product when I get the pictures in.

This picture was not taken today, but I love the little shady lane between our house and the neighbors. Pearl went exploring in her awesome tie-dye. (Wait, shade..shadows. They aren't exactly the same. I think I am stretching now.)

But caught up, I am, yes.

Oh, and in case you were wondering. When you combine socks, puddles, and lots of traveling, you get some very dirty feet.

Confessions of a Non-Runner

2011-08-13T21:40:00.000-06:00

So, I don't really run. But I feel like I should because everyone is doing it. Well, not everyone, but you know what I mean. Okay, let's start at the beginning.

In high school I was in shape. I played Volleyball. I could run sprints. I ran an 8 minute mile. I felt pretty good. And then I went to college and my physical activity went down a notch, but not too badly. Most importantly, my self-esteem about my athletic abilities did not budge an inch. I watched Fear Factor and thought, I could totally do that. (Unless it was a swimming challenge, because let's face it—I have always sucked at swimming.) But I considered myself to be able to do whatever I could do, back in the day. Crunches, no problem...just tell me when to stop. Flexed arm hang...what's the big deal? I could climb a rope to the top, and do squats without blinking.

But the old adage, If you don't use it, you lose it, is still true. Except, that I was NOT using it so much, that I didn't even have a chance to see that it was gone. Even after having five kids, I still figured that if I had to do something physical, I probably could. I mean, people are always running these 5ks. I could do that. Probably.

Add in the fact that Tyler now does the layout for a running magazine. I am constantly hearing all these articles about running. Some about super-moms who run. Others about where to run and how to run. I have been bombarded by running. I figured now was the time to prove that I've still got it.

So, the other evening, I told Tyler that I was going to run a mile in the morning. I don't think he laughed out loud, but he might have smirked for a very long time. I planned my route, and told him to time me. And perhaps, by now I was maybe coming to terms with the fact that I hadn't done this in a very long time, and that there was a slight chance that I would need to walk. A little.

I walked. A ~~little~~ lot. I came home totally winded and gasped as I came through the door. "I may be skinny, but I am NOT in shape." So not in shape, that on several mornings I have had asthma-like wheezing after coming back from my measly mile. I say several mornings, but I have only ran five times in two weeks. I am working my way up. I am coming to terms with the fact that I am not a runner, and definitely not even close to the person I was 15 years ago.

But, I can be strong again. I can bring my time down and maybe even add another mile in there. (In a month or two.) And perhaps, one of these days, I will run a 5k and really be able to, instead of saying that I could. Because right now, I couldn't.

So I ask those of you who actually run (instead of thinking they can), what is a good mile time? What should I be working for? That first day I ran/trudged a mile in 12:50. I was not impressed. Today, I did it in 10:48. I still have a ways to go, but what should I be gunning for? Do I hope to get back down to an 8 minute mile? Is that even reasonable at my age and laziness? A friend of mine was trying to finish a 5k in under half an hour, so I'm assuming I would have to get my mile time to under 10 minutes, right?

Anyway, it is very slow going at the moment, but make me accountable. I need to earn back a little respect for myself.

Literary Overload

2011-08-08T22:44:00.000-06:00

It's not like I have a ton of time to read. But I try to make time, because it is one of my great loves. I have my book group and that keeps me honest, so to speak. I get one book read every month. I've been trying to add others in on the side, but it is slow going depending on how busy everything else keeps me. I keep several books on hold at the library and hope they come up when life isn't too hectic. Well, not so much this time around.

First I read a book called The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde. Interesting little book with lots of literary wit, and just a tad too much swearing. It made several references to Martin Chuzzlewit, a book by Charles Dickens. (Supposedly his last and favorite, but it never became very popular.) So, I thought I would pick it up at the library. Yikes, it was a fatty book. Please note exhibit A.

Next, I have been promising my Dad that I would read this book called The Great Gathering by Chad Daybell. Well, it is a skinny guy (exhibit B), so I thought I could read both at once. And actually it is nice to read something modern after reading a few chapters of flowery Dickens. But unfortunately, a book came up on my queue at the library. The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton. These are all books that have been recommended to me, so I don't know much about them. I was dismayed to see it was another large book. (Exhibit C.) Then shockingly, another book came up. A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness. Sheesh, but that is not enough, it was another chunky-monkey book as witnessed by exhibit D.

Let's just say that I will not be finishing all these books this month. Some will be returned to the library and put back on hold, and I will hope they come up separately when I have some extra time to read. Wait, extra time...what is that?

Do I dare ask for recommendations of books you have enjoyed recently? Sure, why not? I am always looking for a good book to read.