Friday, December 29, 2006

My baby will be 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I can hardly believe that 3 years ago today I was laying in the maternity ward at the hospital wondering how long I was going to be stuck flat on my back with an IV. I was so afraid for Wade to be so early I had pictures of ventilators and a million IV's and a baby the size of your hand.
We where so blessed he waited the week between Christmas and New Years for the shots to help develop his lungs. So no ventilators and a he was a healthy 4lbs 11 oz we still had a bunch of IV's and more monitors than I care to remember, and after his NEC scare we had the opportunity to know exactly how a milk cow feels 3 to 4 times a day.
Wade is such blessing to us and our family, he is smart and adorable and has been totally two for the last year. Lets hope that 3 will involve less prying open of pill bottles, fewer asthma attacks now that the dog lives elsewhere, not as many marker from head to toe moments and totally zero throwing our selves on the floor having a temper tantrum days.
Happy Birthday on Sunday Wade!

Saturday, December 23, 2006

It has been way to long...

It has been WAY to long since I blog'd!
What can I say it is Christmas time, heck it is almost Christmas ( EEEK I still need a couple stocking stuffers).

I have been a very busy girl ( that's my excuse and I am sticking to it ;0) )

I finished the quilts for the inlaws and got them mail (in time for Christmas I might add) If you haven't opened the box yet Chuck and Pat SUPRISE you got quilts!! They where the first quilt project I made in full size.
I got brave after I started these quilts and made one for each of the kids Austin is getting Batman ( got them all matching jammies to give on Christmas Eve) Wade got Spiderman and Miranda's is black and white.

I crocheted for my mother in law ( I know Janet doesn't read this so I am safe telling you)

I made cupcake snowmen for the neighbors and the plan is to make some caramel corn and fudge for the kids today.

We have had and then melted about 4 inches of snow and now have about 1/2 an inch is all of new stuff so that's why the snow men cause we wont be having any here today at least.

I hope everyone is ready for Christmas if not what are you doing reading this get to the mall quick :o)!

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Its no wonder my nose is stuffy























I have been helping clean out the attic and the basement at my grandma's house she has moved into a condo from the house she lived in for 60 years and we have 60 years of dust, pollen and who know what else I wouldn't be surprised if I ended up with that fun disease you get from dry rodent droppings by the end of all this.
We have been working like crazy to get the main floor empty and a path through the basement so it could be shown. Well the first people who saw it offered full price so now we have 3 weeks to get the rest out. A lot of it could go to the trash but she won't let you throw anything and I mean anything away unless she touches it tells you the story about it and then deliberates for 15 minutes.
Yes it is a long and laborious process and it will only be worse until we get her out.
I love my grandma!
The one thing this has taught me is I need to go throw some stuff away!

Monday, October 23, 2006

trains 2



Wade loved the trains he had a wonderful time!
I love this grin it just kills me.
Got some cool artsy-fartsy ones too.

Trains mommy trains

Wade loves trains! Every time we drive down Wall Ave. Here in town we pass Union Station and it's train museum. So today I am going to take train boy to see the trains up close, I do have an ulterior motive I want to get some cool close ups of the trains for his room. (we are switching from baby room to big boy room so that means no more Suzy Zoo and more trains!)
Wish me luck not only with getting some cool shots but with keeping track of wild boy in one of the "nicer" parts of town ;0)

Friday, October 20, 2006

Minivans SUCK!


We have a minivan and it sucks!

This could be the end of my post but I feel the need to justify my statement. We bought said minivan when we had a 3rd child and couldn't fit 2 carseats and another child in the backseat of anything else. Yes I know what you are thinking but I would rather slit my own wrists than drive a station wagon and lets tell the truth here a "sport utility wagon" IE the Subaru Outback is a station wagon just with 4 wheel drive!

I hate driving a minivan for one thing it makes me feel old. You know that no one who is young and fabulous drives a minivan.

Two this minivan while it is nice with the leather seats and the two tone paint it has had more problems with it than I can even re-count to you. As we speak(well okay as I type) the dang thing is back at the dealer to have the lock on the sliding door fixed yet again (I believe this is the 3rd time grumble grumble)

Three when you drive it everyone assumes you fit a mold: Soccer mom, 3 or more kids (but less than 5 cause then you have to have something bigger), in your late 30's or 40's, live in the suburbs and own a dog. While some if not all of this is true I don't like to fit a mold, I never have. Why else would someone dye there hair purple and wear black from head to toe in the August heat in Utah?

What I want what I really really want is a custom painted(maybe white and black or purple and black or even pink), convertible VW bug. A new one so I don't have to carry shoe lace and chewing gum wrappers to fix it (long story for another day). Maybe I am old and going through a mid life crisis (I am not that old I am no where midlife maybe its a one third of my life crisis) but I just am not ready for the baggers at the grocery store to start calling me mam, for the people at Hot Topic to know I am shopping for my daughter and not for me, I don't want the 20 something at the store to check out my daughter and not me. I am going into this old thing kicking and screaming!

That being said even if we sell our stupid minivan that has issues I probably will end up with another mom car cause after all I am a mom.

I still plan on wearing the happy bunny t-shirt!

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

To much awareness !?!

October is breast cancer awareness month, I think that's a good cause we need to be aware of.
It's also domestic violence awareness month, also something to think about,

In addition October is:
Lupus awareness month
Multiple Sclerosis education and awareness month
Workplace politics awareness month (I am totally not kidding)
Rett Syndrome awareness month ( they need to do a better job on this one I have never heard or it)
Nieman-Pick Disease awareness month (ditto on this disease)
National Cyber Security awareness month
Vegetarian awareness month ( I didn't realize people weren't aware of vegetarians)
Federal Energy Management awareness month
Learning Disablities awareness month (so if you have a learning disability do you even know you have an awareness month?)
CSA Celiac Desease awareness month
National Disability Employment awareness month ( this sounds like you should be aware that disableled people can be hired but doesn't do much as far as helping them get hired)
SIDS awareness month
Child abuse awareness month
Down Syndrome awareness month
Dyslexia awareness month
Hunger awareness month
Spina Bifida awareness month
Arts awareness month
AIDS awareness month
Diversity awareness month
Polish American heritage month
National Physical Therapy month
Deaf and Disability month (because being deaf isn't a form of disability?)
Pulmonary Hypertension awareness month ( I would hope if you have this you're aware of it!)
Mental Health awareness month
and my favorite Brain Tumor awareness month

HELLO!!!!! Is this completely out of control? In our need/desire to be politically correct we have to make sure we give every possible illness, lifestyle or thing an awareness month. How completely ridiculous is this? Don't you think that people aren't aware of art? Or brain tumors for heavens sake.

People lets get real here yes we have disease, yes we have disabilities yes we even have art but do we need to have an awareness month for everything?
What it comes down to is money (doesn't it always) If I have National Physical Therapy month I can run ads, send people out to collect for research and the like.

Why don't we try to be more Christ like (oh know its the religious right trying to shove Christian values down our throats again) more Budda like, more Mohammad like if you like,
but lets try to show love to every one and everything lets be aware of the people around us and take care of our friends and neighbors and then we have no need for Mental Health awareness month, or Sad and Lonely awareness month or any of that crap. If we all love one another, take care of one another and lookout for one another we are already "aware" of what people need and its already been taken care of.





Friday, October 06, 2006

You can never be to rich, to thin or have enough fabric!


Seeing as how I will never have to find out if that is the case with the first two I thought it best to work on the third ;)

I love making quilt tops I love finding patterns and then picking out just the right fabric to make it look just right, I love to sit at my sewing machine and watch the blocks come to life. Sometimes they come out exactly like they looked in my head when I started and other times they look totally different, but that isn't necessarily bad.

I love when they are all finished and I can look at the quilt and say I"I did that" I made something beautiful, useful and something that ties me to my ancestors, my mother never quilted and her mother never quilted, my grandmother on my dad's side was an advid quilter unfortunately she was a bit odd and I was a young when she died so I never had the chance to get past the idea that she was strange and learn anything from her. I can only guess that somehow that love of fabric and creating came from her some how.

I think it might also have to do with my love of history and wanting to feel close to the women of my family that walked across the plains of this county with only the things that would fit in a handcart. I know that they made quilts for practical reasons but I think they also must have had a creative side too. They they enjoyed watching a quilt come together and know that something they created would be used to help keep their children warm.

Thursday, October 05, 2006

Chips sooth the savage beast...

I am not 100% sure why potato chips are the think I have to have when I am stressed or upset I think it has something to do with they are my mother and my grandmothers "stress food" too.

Can potato chips be genetic? Or is it nurture not nature that drive me to eat half a bag of the damn things when I get upset?

All I know is that this has been a potato chip week and I will be glad when it is over tomorrow.

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

I love Happy Bunny!

because he always says what you really want to say but don't. Okay I usually say what I want to say anyway ;0)

Lets face it we as a country very rarely say what's really on our mind. How do you explain that to a child? "You should be an honest person" then they see you telling great aunt Bertha that she looks fabulous in her lime green polyester jump suit. They know you are lying. So how do you explain that sometimes you lie to not hurt peoples feelings and that's okay? Is it okay? Should we subject the rest of society to Great Aunt Bertha in her lime green jumpsuit? Maybe what we need to do as a people is stop having our feeling hurt when people tell us the truth instead of what we what to hear and be more honest with each other.

It seems to me that if we could start with being honest a lot of other problems would go away. If you are being honest then we would have a reduction in theft (it isn't honest to steal), we would have truth and honor among our legislator's (maybe we could start to trust them again), we would never buy that hideous shade of lipstick(cause your friends would say "sweetie bad color on you."), we would never have to sit through another Al Gore docudrama about global warming (because he can't honestly say that he can prove anything is warming let alone the BS he has in his speeches and his movie)

Lets all start with honesty, we would have more integrity, we would have a better society in which to live, we would never again be victims of the great fashion conspiracy that gave us leg warmers!

Monday, October 02, 2006

Rain Rain go away...

Rain is not my favorite thing!
I don't mind the snow (until I have to drive someplace!) but I really don't like rain. It makes it dark and depressing and yucky!
Maybe its just my dark, depressing and yucky mood that is doing it. I have had bronchitis for the last 3 weeks and I am totally ready for it to go away too.
Wow what a pathetic post!
I am going to try to improve my mood by playing with my sweet baby boy.

Friday, September 29, 2006

George Carlin and Alec Baldwin oh my...

Thomas is a new fixture on our TV. Wade has discovered a love for trains.
(I think its in the blood, my great uncle was an engineer, my grandfather owned a freight dock about half the older generation of my family worked for the rail roads.)
Thomas is cute but I don't get the "message" its trying to give the kids , they always have some message but its never spelled out at the end just sorta left hanging for the 3 year olds to figure out. What's up with that?

I also have to wonder what two of the biggest tree hugging, Bush hating, baby killing liberals on the planet are teaching my son as they narrate the show. I have watched it with him and the ones I have seen so far are "safe" from the liberal mind control but we will have to see.

For now we watch Thomas almost as much as Einsteins I am sure next week or maybe the week after it will be Bob the builder (Heaven help me!)

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Why is it...

Why is it that men feel the need for a hair cut every 3 to 4 weeks?
Mike " It's touching my ears!" Carin "and" Mike "I NEED it cut" Carin " whatever!"

Why is it that a child that wants to play the Playstation can finish his homework and eat his dinner in 15 minutes but if he "isn't in the mood" to get it done or eat it can take 7 hours?

Why is it that the only time I want a Coke slurpee all they have at the 7-11 is Pepsi slurpee's?

Why is it that even when change is good it's never easy?

Why is it that my 11 year old thinks she is 23?

Why is it that when I am bummed I crave something to eat but I don't know what and nothing I eat fixes it?

Why is it that when I leave a surprise for Mike in his car or mail him a romantic card or anything like that I have to ask him if he got it?

Why is it that my cat thinks she is a ninja and hides and attacks my ankles when ever I go down the stairs?

Why is it that even when I have people to talk to and things to do I can still be lonely?

Why is it that I am supposed to live here in this place? I seem destined to stay here and I am not sure why.

Why is it I think moving far away would make me feel any better?

why am I babbling on like this when I should really be doing my laundry?

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Fall leaves

I shot some really cool pictures of fall leaves this last weekend on a drive up to Snow Basin.
No really I did I just can't post them right now cause I can't find what the 2 year old did with the card reader. If I could show them to you I would show you my favorite one of a red leaf on the ground. I shot some vistas of the leaves and pine view down the mountain and those are nice but my favorite one I got laying on the ground
( well more squatting then leaning over really, there is no need to get dirty to do this is there?) it is this brilliant red leaf, you can see brown dead leaves around it and even a little gravel. Anyway when I find the card reader I will show it to you, promise!

Monday, September 11, 2006

It's still so overwhelming

Five years ago today.
That seems like it should be a long time its long enough for a child to be born and go to school, its long enough to pay off a car you have bought, its long enough to have changed jobs at least once, But somehow this still feels like it happened yesterday, it still tears out my heart. When I see the images of that day I still have tears rolling down my face and I still get very angry.

We should still be angry, we should still be mad enough to so what is necessary to stop terrorist from ever doing this to us again. I take courage in the fact that we have an amazing military with men and women who are willing to put themselves in harms way to stop the terrorist on the other side of the world and not in my backyard.

Thank you all Army, Navy , Air Force, Marines thank you to all the reservist that have walked away from there normal jobs, homes and family's to help make America a safer place for me and my family. I know that nothing I can say will be enough to thank you fully. Please know that I do thank you from the bottom of my heart. I pray for you and your family's every day. I want you to know that we support you and your mission and that we know we are safer because of you.
I hope that this day will always make me cry that I will never get to the point that I am over the hurt, the loss and the anger this day means to me.

God bless our troops, God bless America, let us never forget this day.

Friday, September 08, 2006

My life is blah...

My life is blah that is why I go weeks or even months between blogging. I have nothing interesting to write about, I should I have an opinion about everything and I am never wrong just ask me ;O).
Lately my day has been get up make the bed, get kids and Mike off to school and work, clean the house, dork around online, wonder what I am going to fix for dinner and that's about it.

I told you my life was blah!

On the other hand I get wonderful hugs from Wade with a pat on the back, Miranda when she isn't being "Miss Attitude Problem USA" will still put her arm around me and tell me she loves me, Austin will still blow me kisses as he gets out of the van to go to school and he always gives me a hug when I need it most. My sweet Mike is supportive, caring and one of the best tennis players on the planet ;o) So I guess my life may be boring but I am very very blessed by the people that are in it.

Thursday, September 07, 2006

Its soccer time again!

Yippy! NOT!
I am the self admitted worlds worst soccer mom!
I hate getting up on a Saturday at 8 am to sit in th cold (or be there at noon in 95 degree heat) , I hate that they change the rules every time he gets a year older (I as just starting to get the rules from last year :o( ), I hate worrying he will have an asthma attack, I hate that its supposed to be "non competitive" they aren't even supposed to keep score but some of the coaches, dads and especially moms are out yelling at their kid or the 12 year old that is the referee, I hate bugs and dirt and grass and being outside in general!

What I do love is my son and he loves to play soccer! So I will be out sitting on the sidelines trying to be supportive, trying not to be the mom yelling at the kids from the other team cause they touched my son. I will get up on Saturdays at the unholy hour of 7:30 so I can drag a lawn chair up the hill to the soccer field and listen to my 11 year old daughter complain and say all the stuff I can't cause I'm the mom and I have to be supportive ;O) !

Monday, September 04, 2006

We will miss you Steve...

Steve Irwin of "The crocodile Hunter" fame was killed earlier today in a freak sting ray accident while filming for a show to be hosted by his 8 year old daughter Bindi. Steve was as outlandish as they come and one of the most entertaining people on television. His loss will be felt all over the world as he had fans everywhere.
My thoughts and prayers are with Terri Irwin his wife and Bindi and Bob his children at this most difficult time. It is hard enough to lose a loved one but to have to deal with it in the glare of the media spot light but be almost unbearable.
We will miss you Steve. I am sure heaven will never be the same ;O)

Friday, July 21, 2006

Its over 100 again today...

The kids are having a blast cooling down in the yard. Wade who was never very fond of water has embraced the whole idea and is having a blast.

Both Mike and I spent half the time the pool was filling downstairs checking for leaks after last summers adventures with the burst pipe. So far so good :o)

Tuesday, July 04, 2006

Happy 4th of July!!!

As we celebrate our countries independence this day please be safe!
Remember our service men and women in your thoughts and in your prayers both veterans and those currently risking their lives for our freedom, and be thankful for our founding fathers who sacrificed everything to give us the freedom we enjoy today.
God Bless America!

Friday, June 23, 2006

Toe much fun!


This is not my toe but it was the best I could do right now! :0)
While rescuing Wade when he ran in front of a car I bent my big toe funky and broke it. I did a good job too cause I had surgery today to reattach the tendon and remove the chunk of bone floating around. Woo Hoo.
Anyway I am okay Wade is okay and I will be an better with some rest, an ice pack, and a bottle of Loritab ;0)

Saturday, May 13, 2006

Mothers Day




When I think about Mothers Day its moments like these that make the hard work worth it!


Miranda singing with the choir, Austin going for a goal, Little Wade blowing bubble these are moments of pure joy for them and for me. I am so proud of them all of the time. I hope I let them know often enough how wonderful they are and how much I love them.

More than anything I am so glad to know that they will be with me for the eternities, that our family will be together forever and that we can always share these sort of joyful moments.

Happy Mothers Day to every mom out there!

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

Our new baby



Isn't she adorable! Her name is Ginger and we got her today. She is so much fun she is so full of energy and bounces everywhere. She will be a great addition to our family.

Wednesday, May 03, 2006

Who's baby is that...


I was looking at some of my friends blogs today and Wade would say "Who's baby is that?" every time a childs picture came up.
When I pulled up my blog Wade would say "That's Wade!" everytime he saw himself. He is growing so fast, he talks more every day.
Mike took this picture and I think it is so funny that he and Alton Brown are making the same face.

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

Bubbles...

Bubbles are Wade's new favorite thing! This is on Easter with Grandma "Ginnie"
(Janet Mike's mom called Ginnie because Miranda couldn't say Janet when she was 2 so she started calling her Ginnie and it has stuck around.)
Wade had such a wonderful time with the bubbles he would squeal with joy every time. I am really enjoying being here with him and watching him change and learn every day. He is such a good boy and to smart for his own good. Speaking of the bubble boy is up from his nap must be off...

Saturday, April 29, 2006

C is for Carin


When we went to the California Adventure at Disneyland I had Mike take a quick picture of me in front of the giant C in California I thought it was cute at the same time I wanted to post it so everyone could see I have lost 35 pounds :o)

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

Easter



I love this picture of the kids acutely working together to dye Easter eggs! Wade is so dang cute in his "bunny hat". This picture was shot about 5 minutes before we discovered that the eggs weren't cooked all the way thanks to Wade testing them by throwing them on the floor. We had to cook more eggs cause this batch would not have traveled well.
The one above it is Wade testing the eggs (insert eye roll here)
and the top picture is Easter morning and the kids making themselves sick on candy before church.

Tuesday, April 11, 2006

Back from the happiest place on earth


Mike and I had a blast!

We had a great trip, had more fun than grown people should have a right to and are dog tired from it!

We spent 2 days in Disneyland and one at the California Adventure walked some where in the neighborhood of 100 miles and ate whatever we wanted. Not once did I have to say "Get off that right this second or we are going home" and only once did I have to say "stop touching things you will break them" ;0)

We where able to take our time and go on what ever we wanted if the line was to long we just came back later. I really enjoyed spending some alone time with Mike it has been far to long. Everything went smoothly our flights where on time, the rental car was ready to go, our hotel let us check in when we got there and then moved us to a different room when I didn't like the first, we only had a bout a 3 minute walk from our hotel to Disneyland, We shopped, we ate, we went to the hot tub every night, we had a wonderful time being with each other. The only "bump" in the road we had was Mike's dad was unable to meet us for dinner, We where both disappointed as we only see him every other year or so but he had some sort of house emergency so he was unable to come. I hope we can find a way to make it to CA again soon (maybe this time we will take the kids) to see Chuck(Mike's dad) and to play at Disneyland again.

Thursday, March 30, 2006

My cub scout


Austin carried the American flag in his first pack meeting this week. I am so proud of him! He did a fantastic job with it and has great respect for the flag.
He has only been a cub scout since the second week of February but he earned his bobcat badge the first week and received it at this pack meeting.
During the coming month he and Mike will be building his Pinewood derby car. As Mike didn't have a lot of chances to build Pinewood derby cars as a kid he is very excited the two of them have worked out at least 3 different blue prints. Austin doesn't so much care what the shape is as long as in his words it has "weaponry"! I know they are both going to have a blast with this and I am thrilled they have the chance to work together on stuff like this to "bond".
In addition Tuesday was my last day at work so I will be able to go to all of his scout stuff from Pinewood derbies to blue and gold dinners. I am thankful I have been blessed with the opportunity to stay at home with my kids now so I guess I better stop wasting time and get some laundry done ;0)

Tuesday, March 21, 2006

It's almost time

It's almost here! One week from today is my last day at work! Just to make sure I am committed to this path the kids have been extra crazy the last few days.
I am really very excited to be a stay at home mom, it will be nice to not have to feel like I have to get everything done before I go to work.
I will really enjoy getting to have family prayer with my family not just with my cell phone.
I will enjoy tucking my kids into bed.
I am going to love being able to snuggle up with my sweetie every night at bedtime not climbing into bed when he is sound asleep.
So the count down is on and I couldn't be more thrilled.

Thursday, March 16, 2006

Next time do your homework...

Did some more research and found this:

Though rugged actor Lee Marvin was a frequent guest on Johnny Carson's "The Tonight Show," it's unclear whether the exchange cited in this letter ever took place. What we do know is that the story can't be true, regardless of whether it was actually ever told. Here are the facts:
Keeshan turned 75 on June 27, 2002. The current version of the rumor above had been circulating long before that. This comment has been added by an anonymous forwarder
Bob Keeshan and Lee Marvin both served in the Marines, but never together.
Marvin was wounded at the battle of Saipan, two months prior to Iwo Jima. He received the Purple Heart, not the Navy Cross, for his injuries. There is no record of him serving at Iwo Jima.
Keeshan enlisted in the Marines in June, 1945 - four months after Iwo Jima. He never saw action during the war and never received the Navy Cross.
Entertainment legends are expected to tell legendary tales. It's possible that Marvin did relate this story, but its also just as likely that it's an urban legend that got attributed to Marvin to make it sound better. Not surprisingly, this chain picked up some steam in response to Keeshan's death on January 23, 2004, at age 76.
Urban legends that portray childrens' television stars in a situation or profession that is in stark contrast to their on-screen personas are common. Can you imagine dear Captain Kangaroo lying in the sand, clad in fatigues, dragging on a cigarette? Me neither, that's why legends like this endure - shock value.
Newer versions of the Marvin/Keeshan chain above now carry an interesting prologue that suggests another beloved Childrens' TV personality has a dark and deadly secret.
This one is completely the stuff of Urban Legend - The facts do not bear it out. (The same rumor has also been falsely applied to folk singer, John Denver." Rogers was never in the military - let alone a Navy Seal. And, he was born in 1928, so he would've been the oldest sniper in Viet Nam. It's no surprise that this bit of folklore resurfaced in the days following Fred Rogers' death in 2003 - and the Marvin/Keeshan chain seems a logical vehicle to tack it on to.

You might not ever guess...

I got this from a friend of mine at work, I have no idea where she got it I know parts off it are true I hope the whole thing is.


Captain Kangaroo passes away on January 23,2004 at the age of 76, which is odd because he always looked to be 76.(DOB:06/27/27) His death reminded me of the following story.

Some people have been a bit offended that the actor, Lee Marvin, is buried in a grave alongside 3 and 4 star generals at Arlington National Cemetery. His marker gives his name, rank(PVT), and service(USMC). Nothing else. Here's a guy who was only a famous movie star who served his time, why the heck does he rate burial with these guys? Well following is the amazing answer.

I always liked Lee Marvin, but didn't know the extent of his Corps experiences. In a time when many Hollywood stars served their country in the armed forces often in rear-echelon posts where they were carefully protected, only to be trotted out to perform for the cameras in war bond promotions, Lee Marvin was a genuine hero. He won the Navy Cross at Iwo Jima. There is only one higher naval award...The medal of honor.

If that is a surprising comment on the true character of the man, he credits his sergeant with an even greater show of bravery.

Dialog from "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson": His guest was Lee Marvin. Johnny said, "Lee I'll bet a lot of people are unaware that you were a Marine in the initial landing at Iwo-Jima...And that during the course of that action you earned the Navy Cross and were severely wounded." "Yeah Yeah...I got shot dquare in the bottom and they gave me the Cross for securing a hot spot about half way up Suribachi. Bad thing about getting shot up on a mountain is guys getting shot hauling you down. But Johnny, at Iwo I served under the bravest man I ever knew...We both got the Cross the same day, but what he did for his Cross made mine look cheap in comparison. That dumb guy actually stiid up on Red beach and directed his troops to move forward and get the hell off the beach, Bullets flying by, with mortar rounds landing everywhere and he stood there as the main target of gunfire so that he could get his men to safety. He did this on more than one occasion because his men's safety was more important than his own life. That Sergeant and I have been lifelong friends. When they brought me off Suribachi we passed the Sergeant and he lit a smoke and passed it to me, lying on my belly on the litter and said, where'd they get you Lee? Well bob...If you make it home before me, tell Mom I said to sell the outhouse! Johnny, I'm not lying, Sergeant Keeshan was the bravest man I ever knew.

The Sergeant's name is Bob Keeshan. You and the world know him as Captian Kangaroo.

On another note, there was this wimpy little man(who just passed away) on PBS, gentle and quiet. Mr Rogers is another of these you would least suspect of being anything but what he now portrays to our youth. But Mr Rogers was a U.S. Navy Seal, combat-proven in Vietnam with over twenty-five confirmed kills to his name. He wore long sleeved sweaters on TV, to cover the many tattoos on his forearm and biceps. He was a master in small arms and hand-to-hand combat, able to disarm or kill in a heartbeat. After the war Mr Rogers became an ordained Presbyterian minister and therefore a pacifist. Vowing to never harm another human and also dedicating the rest of his life to trying to help lead children on the right path in life. He hid away the tattoos and his past life and won or hearts with his quiet wit and charm.

America's real heroes don't flaunt what they did they quietly go about their day to day lives, doing what they do best. They earned our respect and the freedoms that we all enjoy. Look around and see if you can find one of those heroes in your midst. Often they are the ones you'd least suspect, but would most like to have on your side if anything ever happened.

Take the time to thank anyone that has fought for our freedom. With encouragement they could be the next Captian Kangaroo or Mr. Rogers.

Sunday, March 12, 2006

Disney baby crack...

This is the Little Einsteins" or as we refer to it at our house "baby crack"
I have never seen anything like it in my life Wade sill sit down and become intranced in this show for 25 minutes at a time. When it's time for a breathing treatment we hit the Einsteins on the TIVO so he gives us no trouble, I need to take a quick shower Einsteins to the rescue. He will watch every episode we have on the TIVO at least once a day and it would be the only thing on the TV if Wade had his way.
He is very cute when he is watching it he slaps his legs with the character's on the show to help rocket take off and even throws his arms up in the air and says blast off at the right time. I like that is is exposing him to classical music and art from all over the place I sure like him watching this better that some of the other crap that is on TV but I have to wonder if I am doing the right thing when he stands in front of the TV or brings me the remote and jumps up and down saying "steins, steins!!"
Good thing I have that mother of the year award all wrapped up already.

Tuesday, March 07, 2006

How man colors of tan can there be...

So tomorrow I have a guy coming to give me a bid on painting our living room, stairwell and hall.
Why might you ask would I pay someone to paint such a small area!?! Well for starters its really not that small while the floor space isn't huge our living room has something close to 30 foot ceilings and I have no desire to climb up scaffolding and paint all the ay up there. Might and I get cross when we paint I choose to blame it on the chemicals in the paint and not on Mike being a butt ;O)
I think I want something neutral but not white or off white something more up to date so I have been thinking a nice tan or beige I was looking at paintchips at the Home Depot and can you believe that there is something like 50 colors of tan? Good grief!
I don't want it to be to dark and I don't want it to look brown at all (especially when our kitchen is green that would be a 70's flashback color scheme for sure ewwwww!)
I am hoping the painter will have some suggestions and maybe some paint swatches to check them out. Wish me luck.

Saturday, March 04, 2006

Comments anyone...

I startd to get spam so I turned on the word verification but I must have messed up something else. I believe it is all fixed now :0)

Friday, March 03, 2006

I'm going to Disneyland!

The dates are set I have asked for the time off work, We are going to go to Disneyland just Mike and I in April!!!! Woooo Hooo!
I have always wanted to go just the two of us so we can go on any ride we want, we can shop on main street with out having to say" stop that don't touch that", we can eat dinner at one of the cute little restaurants and not have spend our whole meal saying "eat that I just paid 12 dollars for that hotdog you will eat it"
I am so excited I could just burst.

Wednesday, March 01, 2006

Sleep study?!?


Doesn't the term "sleep study" imply that sleep will be involved? I went in last night for my sleep study and did very little sleeping. I thought maybe I would get a sleeping pill or something to help facilitate said sleep but alas that is not the case.
After almost an hour worth of hooking up wires to everywhere the technician says to me as he is walking out the door " Okay now hurry up and sleep, I will be watching from out here." Oh yeah that is going to help me sleep so much faster the thought of some strange guy sitting out at a desk watching me toss and turn.
The fact that there was a big window from the hall into the room and every blessed light in the building was on didn't help much either, add to that humming computer equipment, sleeping in a strange bed and no Mike to cuddle up to and you have the makings of one of the longest nights of my life.
I hope that this study will help find some answers but I am not holding my breath. ;O)

Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Take that you stupid machine!



This machine is my nemesis!
When I started at the gym I climbed on old Bessie here and walked (in the odd high stepping way it makes you) for exactly 4 minutes and 27 seconds. You can imagine how proud of myself I was with this accomplishment. (eyeroll goes here)
Well today I decided that I had avoided the elliptical trainer long enough, I have seen women that have been going to the gym about the same amount of time I have that have been using the elliptical while I have been using the bike and they have better butts now and I don't. (well that isn't entirely true my butt is better just not as better as theirs!) Now don't be thinking I go to the gym to sit and look at other women's butts but when you are on a stationary bike that is closer to the ground and they are up in the air next to you on the elliptical you are eyeball to butt cheek checking it out can't be avoided! Anyway today I climbed on and used the elliptical for 30 whole minutes!!!!!
I even finished up my 45 minutes of cardio after I got off on the bike.
I know this is a flagrant attempt at fishing for complements but it's still nice to hear them.

Monday, February 27, 2006

Spring is almost here...


I love the beautiful flowers that come up in the spring. The last couple of days it has been warm and very spring-like here. The weather man says it wont last that it should snow tomorrow or the next day but it still feels very much like spring is right around the corner.
I love the feeling of coming out of a long winter of confinement and depressing days. I love that I can have the windows down in my car and still be warm. I can't wait for the 4 or 6 daffodils and the 10 to 12 tulips that still manage to come up in my front yard every year to poke there heads through. I think that its no coincidence that Easter is in the spring the whole season is one of rebirth and renewal.
This spring will be a bit different than before I have been exercising all winter and I am looking forward to going hiking with Mike and the kids. Not to far away we have a trail its called "the old Indian trail" (I can only imagine because it is an old Indian trail) that in the spring has some of the most lovely wild flowers that grow along it. This year I don't want to miss seeing them. Also Mike has been bitten by the photography bug so he can carry all the heavy camera equipment up the trail. (thanks for the camera equipment Chuck we use it all the time!!)
So I guess I just need to hold on to the memory of the last couple of days for another couple of weeks and then spring will be here...

With kids playing outside

The smell of lilacs as I walk into and out of work(we have HUGE lilac bushes along the courtyard that runs next to the main entrance to work)

No more coats

Warm sunny days that we can throw open the windows and air out the house

Did I mention kids playing outside?!?

Friday, February 24, 2006

Bowling anyone?

For Austin's birthday we took him and 8 of his friends to Weber State to go bowling they are all 7 or 8 years old. When I called they said sure they had smaller bowling balls for little kids
(this is technically true if you call 8 pounds a smaller ball) They did not mention however that ALL of the "lighter" balls where hot pink. Austin's first reaction was "don't they have a blue one?" after adjusting to the idea that they where going to have to bowl with hot pink balls they could lift but not well they had a wonderful time.
They have the bumpers in the gutters so that they did pretty well. Austin got at least once strike and 2 or 3 spares.
As you can see he got his bowling technique from his mom. Some where out there lurks a picture of me bowling (not to long ago I might add) I look a little like a warped ballerina on acid. I hope that Austin and his friends will remember how much fun they had and not that they had to bowl with girl balls or that they had to bowl next to obnoxious college kids that took all the seats so the little kids had to stand the whole time. I know this was more fun than any of the birthday parties I had as a kid (no offence mom)
Just in case you are wondering Austin bowled 113 and lost to his friend by one point.

Thursday, February 23, 2006

The cosmic police and other joys in my life...


Its the cosmic police I tell yah (Its tattooed on the back of their neck ;O) )
I must have been very bad in a former life or I have something really really good coming my way to have the week I have been having.
First Wade has been having asthma problems (we didn't even know he had asthma until 2 weeks ago) I finally got him into the specialist at the allergy and asthma clinic here in town and we have discovered the problem Wade is allergic to dogs. We have a dog. Now you see the problem, This dog has been on the top of my not so favorite person/animal list several times but my kids and my husband love this dog so I hurt for them because they will be really sad to see her go. We are looking at family and friends to see if anyone would like her.
Next I get a call from the sleep disorders clinic telling me that I have to come in for a full blown sleep study. UGG! I woke myself up a couple of times now not breathing so I told the doctor and he had me sleep with an O2 monitor the results from that led them to believe I probably have sleep apniea and that I need to go in for this study, anyone who knows me knows I don't sleep well in strange places. I don't sleep in hotels, I can't sleep when we go camping, they give me sleeping pills when I have to stay at the hospital, when I was a kids I didn't sleep at sleepovers, now they want me to go to a strange doctors office be hooked up to a bunch of machines (they said it would take about an hour to hook up everything) and fall asleep so they can watch me. HA I tell you HA!

Later the same day I had to go back to Brigham City (30 minutes North of here) where my dentist is (he lives 4 doors down the street but his office is 30 miles away) to try on a new metal piece for the bridge I am getting. This would be try number 2 the first go round we did all they stupid molds and crap and sent them off to the lab the try in piece came back and it didn't fit at all. SO we went back and did more molds of my teeth and tried again. This time around the metal thing fit so in about a week I will finally have my teeth fixed.

The topper of the week has been I went back to work. That means home and in bed around 2 am back up with kids to get them to school around 7 am. We have a plan and I am hoping that is the good thing karma has in store for me. My parents are moving out of our first house (the mobile home from hell) that they have been living in for the last two years. This thing has been impossible to sell so what we are going to do is move back in, I know before you think I have totally lost my mind hear me out, we will do the repairs and painting needed in this house to sell it while we live in the trailer, sell ths house, pay off all our bills including the stupid trailer and be debt free. Once we do that we can build the house of our dreams, or buy and old Victorian like this one I am in love with http://www.utahhomes.com/Property/PropertyDetails.aspx?mlsnumber=553076 . Wish us luck, keep us in your prayers and do what ever it is you have to do to make good Karma come our way .

Wednesday, February 08, 2006

If I were a rich man, Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum


or woman I would by shoes like this,
http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/11169257/c/19.html
I have been thinking a lot about money lately as the time has come for me to return to work.
Big Sigh!
I think we have worked it out and I will only be back for about six months I can do six months. I know that if we can work out plan and be debt free then it's so much better for us and for the kids. I will have less stress, I can quit my job, we can start saving for college for the kids. So I guess a six month sacrifice to have good things is worth it. Besides I now have an excuse to go buy new clothes after losing 30 pounds none of my old work clothes fit.

Monday, February 06, 2006



So I got this book thinking I like to color I will whip out some cute file folder games for the kids to play with during church.
That was 3 years ago
I finally have all of them colored, laminated and all but 3 cut out and velcro attached. The kids love them they do make a bit of noise and in our ward where the average age of the congregation is some where around 55 that kinda sucks. But it is lots less noise than the boys playing demolition derby on the pews.
I hope that the kids will play with these until they are at least 30 to make it worth my work.

Monday, January 30, 2006

Xanth!?!


Anyone who knows me knows I am the last person you would expect to get into fantasy books I love mystery's, I like the classics Jane Erye, Wuthering heights, anything by Dickens, I like a really well written romance(not some smutty bodice ripper)and even the occasional horror book.
None of that contains any ogres, golems, merfolk, no invisible giants, sorceress, magicians, harpies, elves or unicorns. I did read the Hobbit about 25 years ago ( I guess that is telling my age huh) but I had a hard time following who where the good guys and who where the bad guys are orks good or evil what about the elves and the tree people.
Mike introduced me to the Xanth books about 6 months ago (after years of suggesting I might like them) and I read the first one with a bit of hesitation not that I don't trust Mike's judgment...
Well okay that's it I don't trust Mike's judgment he went on and on about how I would love the movie "Highlander" EWWWW!! I hated it! It was all cutting peoples heads off and gratuitous violence. However I have really enjoyed the Xanth books. They are funny (I can't decided if that is in spite of or because of all the puns) I can follow who is good and who isn't, they are short enough I can finish one in about a day or so and it has given Mike and I a common ground in something we like to read.
I don't know if this means I am ready to move on to Isaac Asimov with Mike and I doubt I will get him to read any "The Cat Who.." Books any time soon but for now it is nice to be able to talk about these books and laugh at the same joke and torment the kids by not telling them anything so as not to violate the adult conspiracy.

Friday, January 27, 2006

Dang snowplow drivers!


This can't possibly be a picture of my street as some one has plowed this street!
It has snowed for the last 12 hours or so we have about 3 to 4 inches of snow so far the roads are a nightmare and I have yet to see a snowplow come down our road. Now not living on a main thoroughfare I can understand (a little) that they may be busy with other streets in town, they aren't! I just had to go out to take Miranda her homework at school ( she is 10 you would think that was the sort of thing she would remember but it isn't) and not one road has been plowed. I did see a snow plow not plowing or salting or really doing anything but driving around looking for snow.
GRRRRR I would move someplace warm but I complain just as much when it gets over 80 degrees.

Monday, January 23, 2006

are you a geek?

http://www.innergeek.us/geek-test.html
I have descovered I am a "major geek" with a geek score of 40.43393%
I guess I sorta knew that but it is sorta funny to see.

Tuesday, January 17, 2006

Tag your it

I have been tagged by Marilyn http://marilynhealey.typepad.com/familyjournal/

Four jobs you've had
IRS
The USPS
AOL
I was a maid at the Grand Canyon

F
our movies you could watch over and over
Princess Bride
Holy Grail
Yellow Beard
Christmas Vacation

Four places you have lived
Salt Lake City,Utah
Layton,Utah
North Rim, Grand Canyon, AZ
North Ogden,Utah

Four TV shows you watch
Simply Quilts
The first 48
Celebrity Fit Club
Dr G Medical Examiner

Four wesites you visit daily
Squirrely Girls board
The Straight Dope
Discovery Channel
Blogs

Four places you have vacationed
San Diego, CA
Mt. Rushmore, SD
Las Vegas,NV
Yellowstone NP,WY

Four foods
Mike's pasta
Chocolate
mozarella sticks w/maranara sauce
toast (we doesn't love toast especally with cinnamon and sugar)

Four places you would rather be right now
A WARM tropical beach with Mike and someone watching the kids so I don't have to think about them for a while
in a paid for house
did I mention someplace warm?
Italy

Four bloggers you are tagging
http://coxkids.typepad.com/what_a_life/Mary
http://brutus1964.blogspot.com/Ken
and everyone else I know that blogs has been tagged at least once :(

Tuesday, January 10, 2006

My friend Mer


This is my friend Marilyn! (its the only picture of you I could find :) ) She is the best friend anyone could ask for. We have been friends for longer than either of us care to admit to. We shared a locker in high school, worked our first jobs together at Wendys, lived through being forced to go to girls camp and both have a son named Austin.
I am a HUGE flake I forget birthdays, Wedding anniversary's, Baby blessings I wouldn't remember my head if it wasn't attached. Mer is my polar opposite in many ways. I am so thankful that she has remained my friend for all this time and not given me up as a lost cause years ago.
Mer thanks for all you do for me and thanks for being my friend!

Wednesday, January 04, 2006

Austin



This is my sweet Austin.
I realized that I hadn't posted about him and it is time to fix that.
Austin is the busiest child you would ever meet at the same time he is the most loving child you could ever meet. He can't sit still for 5 minutes, I get notes from his teacher saying that he laid on the floor under his chair for half of his math class, he never walks down the stairs he always runs and jumps down the stairs. Austin is the poster child for busy.
Austin is so full of love for everyone that when a sad story is on the news he is sad for those people. Days later he will still come to me and tell me how sorry he is for the people who lost there house or whatever happened. When the hurricanes happened he sold soda and popsicles at our garage sale to donate money to the red cross. He loves his family and will just walk up and hug you and say "I love you mom". Austin is such a joy in my life and such a trial I know that he will do great things in this world if I can do my part and help him to learn to focus that energy and love into something to help save the world.

Tuesday, January 03, 2006

I have good news and I have bad news


Well the good news is I was able to buy a pair of pants in the regular woman's size part of the store today! WOO HOOO!!!
Now the bad news I went for my cleaning today at the dentist and he informed me I have put of the crowns and bridge I need as long as I can. To that end I now get to spend some quality time with our friendly neighborhood dentist and I get to play with the budget in an effort to come up with $3000 to pay for the pain and suffering. Lucky me(said with all the sarcasms you know I am capable of.)

Monday, January 02, 2006

2006

Just like everyone else at this time of year I too am making a few goals for myself and my family.

1-continue to make it to the gym!
I would like to lose another 25 pounds in the next 3 months and continue losing until I lose a total of 75 pounds this year.

2-eat better
see above

3-work towards our goal of being debt free.
its been a year since we went to Financial Peace University and we have done really well with 4 layoffs during that time we still have paid off hospital bills, one car, 2 credit cards and incurred no new debt for both Christmas's we have had since we went. I know that we would be out of debt much sooner if I go back to work and I will have to make that decision in February because that is when my leave of absence from the IRS is up.

4-be a better wife and mother.
This is also a factor in my work/stay home decision I have worked at night for most of my 2 older children's lives. It has been very nice to be able to be here to help with homework and eat dinner as a family.

5-strengthen my testimony of the gospel.
I believe knowledge is power and so the more I know and learn about the gospel the more it will strengthen me and my faith. As a relief society teacher I have a golden opportunity once a month to learn all I can about that months lesson. I need to be better about doing just that.

6-start scrapbooking again.
I have missed scrapbooking I have been doing a lot of other things sewing, craft projects, quilts but I haven't set aside any time for scrapbooking. I need to.

7-Keep the California grandparents more in "the loop"
I know this one is just a matter of being more organized and following through on goal # 6 so I can send them pictures and the like. Love you guys.

I think seven is a good number to end on for now. I don't think any of my goals or resolutions if you will are unreasonable or unattainable. We will see ;O)

Sunday, January 01, 2006

Happy New Year!