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!)

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?

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!

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.

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.

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) !

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)

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)

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!

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)

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!

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.

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.

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...

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)

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.

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.

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)

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.

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.