Thursday, July 30, 2009
Heaven....I'm In Heaven
Jared's best friend from Florida came into town yesterday. I have not heard one scream since then. What do you get when the kids are playing nicely, do not hit or scream at each other, or cry? One very happy mom. I even got to sleep in. Ahhhhh...life is good (atleast for now).
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Jump Into Life And Enjoy It
We are going to Florida on Friday. This is our trip that we take every year...one of our favorite family traditions. We spend a week on the beautiful beaches of Florida (I love the white sand). We eat lots of junk, laugh a lot, get together with extended family, play games, make lots of noise, relax, and eat more junk.
I am having a hard time with the trip this year. This will be the first time that we will go to the beach without my sister. Her husband and children will be there, but she won't. We have always laughed a lot because she was so entertaining. She told stories that no one would believe, unless you knew her. She loved to sit on the porch or walk with my dad in the early morning when everyone else was sleeping. Last year she was too tired to walk so she was sitting on the beach and saw some dolphins swim by. She was trying to get my dad's attention so he could see them too and wishing she could see them closer. Then one of the dolphins turned around, swam up close to her, jumped out of the water and then swam away. She got her wish. She was so happy.
My sister and her husband had a tradition of their own. They would get a picture of themselves jumping off the boardwalk. They have one of just the two of them, then the three of them, then the four of them. She had the pictures hung on her wall when I went to Florida for her funeral. Such a simple tradition, but what a beautiful memory for her children.
I think if she were here she would tell me to jump into life and enjoy it. I'm going to try harder. Maybe we will even take a jumping picture this year. So...from my sister to you...don't be afraid to jump into life and enjoy it.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Pioneer Children Didn't Sing THAT Song
Emily has been asking me every single minute of the day for a few weeks for a nightgown like the one I made for Kinsey for her Pioneer Trek. I have been dreading so excited to make her one so the other day I finally did. She has been wearing the thing day and night (with the Laura Ingalls bonnet) for a few days now and can't wait for the Pioneer Day celebration at our church.
I have been trying to enjoy the summer with my children. It is very difficult though when they don't listen to me. For example, I ordered a cheap Book of Mormon for everyone so they would have them for scripture reading. Laura Ingalls aka Emily quickly claimed one and started reading it. Laura Ingalls was starting to get on my nerves because she had been asked several times to go change and then do her kitchen chore. I told Laura Ingalls in my best mad mom voice that if she didn't GO CHANGE NOW AND THEN DO HER KITCHEN CHORE that Laura Ingalls would have to go away for a really long time because she was causing too much trouble. Laura Ingalls then said "but Mom, I'm reading the Book of Mormon right now. It's a REALLY GOOD BOOK!!" I then told her to put the book away and go change. I know, I know bad mom example #1,000,000,001. All she wanted to do was read the Book of Mormon, sheesh!
Later on in the day, I heard someone pounding on the floor with music playing. I quickly figured out that dance dance revolution was being played by Carson and Laura Ingalls. Laura Ingalls was singing along to the music. She learned one line of the song and sang it over and over again. I hate it when she does that because then I get the song stuck in my head. She is upstairs singing over and over in her very loud, very best impersonation of whoever sang this song "I NEED SOME HOT LOVE BABY TONIGHT!" I should have gone upstairs and turned that song off and told her in no uncertain terms that the song is very inappropriate! Instead, I laid in my bed wondering where I had gone wrong! I know, I know, bad mom example #1,000,000,002.
So, pioneer day is today. I hope you are ready to celebrate. You should dress up like Laura Ingalls (or her dad if you are a boy). We are going to go to the celebration at the church. We are going to learn about how the pioneers distracted themselves as they walked and walked. Do you think they sang "I need some hot love baby tonight"?
For those of you who are thinking "boy, she really knows her church history", I did not know it was Pioneer Day today. That is until Gary got up this morning and asked me if I would like to make him some oatmeal in honor of pioneer day today. I said no. He is part of the handcart group that got caught in the storm and he has to go hungry. I guess I should go be a nice wife and make him some oatmeal. Sigh!
Monday, July 13, 2009
My Love/Hate Relationship With Ikea
Several years back I found out about Ikea and ordered their catalog. At the time, I was living in Orlando and there wasn't one near by. I would look through the catalog and drool over their stuff and marvel at how inexpensive they were. Gary knew about this relationship of mine with Ikea, but he was not jealous at all! One morning he called me and said "guess what?! I just heard on the radio that an Ikea is opening up here in a year." Well, to say I was excited would be an understatement...I couldn't wait for it to come to town so I could go and spend all of our money. Gary, on the other hand, was not so excited. He was not jealous or nervous because I couldn't shop at Ikea, just drool, but now it was coming to town and he was a little worried about our bank account. So...what does any man who is worried about his bank account do? He starts looking for a job in another state and moves his family across the country away from Ikea before it is even finished. I was so sad. I had missed seeing this wonderful place by a few months.
His plan backfired though, because he moved us to a place with an Ikea just minutes from our home. He called me from Texas one morning before we had gotten here and said "guess what. I am driving by Ikea right now." He even took a picture of the sign with his cell phone and sent it to me. I told him to stop and go check it out. He did, but he wasn't very impressed except that they did have good cinnamon rolls.
I could not believe he wasn't impressed. How can you not be impressed with a place that you can shop, eat, and even let your children play but doesn't charge a lot? I figured he was trying to discourage me so I wouldn't go and spend all of our money. So...one of the first things we did when we were all in Texas was to go to Ikea. We shopped, we ate, and as much as I hate to admit it...he was right. It wasn't that great. I felt like I was in the midst of a herd of cattle being pushed through the store. If I wanted to look at something I felt like I was stopping the normal flow of cattle and I would get run over.
So, here it is a few years later, and I still won't go to Ikea by myself. My reasons being that I can't push their dumb carts through the store, you have to walk through the whole store to get the one thing you want (boy am I tired!) and their food reminds me of the lunchroom cafeteria in elementary school (YUK!).
Gary and I went there on Saturday because we were looking for a chair for Carson, a desk for Jared, and a TV cabinet for our loft. We did not want to spend a lot of money for them either. When we got there we decided to try the play place for Carson. He was very excited to go play. After giving them our fingerprints, blood type, license, and 5 other forms of ID (I may be exaggerating a tiny bit) they let him in to play and gave us one of those restaurant buzzers and an hour to shop. So we were off, with the rest of the cattle.
Gary asked me if they had a chair that I liked for our living room because I had rearranged the furniture and we didn't have enough seats for our whole family anymore. I picked out a chair I liked but he couldn't hear me and kept walking. I kept saying it louder but by that time we had already been prodded past the chair by the people behind us who thought they were at the Indy 500. Then I got the "you are just as important as they are. If you want to look at a chair just stop and they can just go around you" speech. By this time I was annoyed (we were about 20 feet from the entrance of the store) and ready to go home. I kept plodding along even though you can't really look at anything in the store because if you stop you will get run over by the dumb carts that are completely out of control.
We found the chair we were looking for, the TV cabinet that isn't what I really wanted but will do for the good price, and saw a desk that we think will work for Jared. We still had to go through the rest of the store though. At the very end of the cattle run, we started looking for the things we needed with the aisle and bin numbers we had written down. Wouldn't you know they were out of the things we needed?! Gary went to stand in line to ask if they had anymore and I went to get Carson because our hour was up.
I went to the play place and gave them my proof that he was mine (even though he was yelling hi mom from across the play place). Then they called his name and expected him to come running over to his mom. Well, he made it perfectly clear that he was not ready to leave "NO MOMMY NO!!! So the girl working there said "Carson it's time to leave your mom is here." "NO!" Then another girl tries to reason with him...which doesn't work for most kids, but definitely not one with down syndrome (they are known for their stubbornness). Then they come and ask me if I have anything to bribe him with. Ummm...let's see...bodily harm? I even gave them permission to pick him up and bring him to me. Then she says "well, you can come back and get him, but we have to call a manager first" What?!! A manager? The manager is apparently the gate keeper. He lets the parent in, escorts the parent to the child, and says "okay _______, it's time to go." So after waiting 5 minutes for the manager, he lets me in, asks me which child is mine, escorts me over to Carson, and tells Carson it's time to go. "No!" So I drag him out of there as he screams "no, mommy, no!" As we sit down to put his shoes on he starts doing the pee pee dance and says "no pee pee". I throw his shoes on and start dragging him to the bathroom. Oh, yes, I am really over this trip to Ikea. I am no longer feeling the love!
We find Gary, who is waiting in line to pay...he did find everything. It was all in a completely different spot than what those signs said. Carson sees the picture of the ice cream cone and starts screaming for ice cream so I decide to get out of there fast and go get the car. I get him out to the car by reminding him that he has lemonade out in the car (ema-ade? yay!!) We load everything up and go home vowing to remember that we hate Ikea and will never go back!
On the Sabbath day (we were just asking for trouble) we decided to put it all together so we wouldn't have heavy boxes in the house all week (like how I justify?). It all goes together smoothly until the very last piece. It has a hole in it, which will show if we use it so guess what?! I have to go back to Ikea today to beg and plead for one part that is in one of three boxes. I just don't know if I can do Ikea twice in one week! Please pray for me!
Update: I managed to pull together the courage to go to Ikea today. They were actually very nice and efficient. They offered me 30% off or they would open a box and give me a new piece. I called Gary to get his opinion and of course he went with the money. I agreed since it was the top piece and won't show if we put a basket up there. So I left Ikea with a $74 credit. Hmmm...what should I do with all that money. I know, I'll go to the Ross across the street and spend it. So that's what I did. Turns out, for a price, I will change my tune. Today, Ikea is not such a bad place!
His plan backfired though, because he moved us to a place with an Ikea just minutes from our home. He called me from Texas one morning before we had gotten here and said "guess what. I am driving by Ikea right now." He even took a picture of the sign with his cell phone and sent it to me. I told him to stop and go check it out. He did, but he wasn't very impressed except that they did have good cinnamon rolls.
I could not believe he wasn't impressed. How can you not be impressed with a place that you can shop, eat, and even let your children play but doesn't charge a lot? I figured he was trying to discourage me so I wouldn't go and spend all of our money. So...one of the first things we did when we were all in Texas was to go to Ikea. We shopped, we ate, and as much as I hate to admit it...he was right. It wasn't that great. I felt like I was in the midst of a herd of cattle being pushed through the store. If I wanted to look at something I felt like I was stopping the normal flow of cattle and I would get run over.
So, here it is a few years later, and I still won't go to Ikea by myself. My reasons being that I can't push their dumb carts through the store, you have to walk through the whole store to get the one thing you want (boy am I tired!) and their food reminds me of the lunchroom cafeteria in elementary school (YUK!).
Gary and I went there on Saturday because we were looking for a chair for Carson, a desk for Jared, and a TV cabinet for our loft. We did not want to spend a lot of money for them either. When we got there we decided to try the play place for Carson. He was very excited to go play. After giving them our fingerprints, blood type, license, and 5 other forms of ID (I may be exaggerating a tiny bit) they let him in to play and gave us one of those restaurant buzzers and an hour to shop. So we were off, with the rest of the cattle.
Gary asked me if they had a chair that I liked for our living room because I had rearranged the furniture and we didn't have enough seats for our whole family anymore. I picked out a chair I liked but he couldn't hear me and kept walking. I kept saying it louder but by that time we had already been prodded past the chair by the people behind us who thought they were at the Indy 500. Then I got the "you are just as important as they are. If you want to look at a chair just stop and they can just go around you" speech. By this time I was annoyed (we were about 20 feet from the entrance of the store) and ready to go home. I kept plodding along even though you can't really look at anything in the store because if you stop you will get run over by the dumb carts that are completely out of control.
We found the chair we were looking for, the TV cabinet that isn't what I really wanted but will do for the good price, and saw a desk that we think will work for Jared. We still had to go through the rest of the store though. At the very end of the cattle run, we started looking for the things we needed with the aisle and bin numbers we had written down. Wouldn't you know they were out of the things we needed?! Gary went to stand in line to ask if they had anymore and I went to get Carson because our hour was up.
I went to the play place and gave them my proof that he was mine (even though he was yelling hi mom from across the play place). Then they called his name and expected him to come running over to his mom. Well, he made it perfectly clear that he was not ready to leave "NO MOMMY NO!!! So the girl working there said "Carson it's time to leave your mom is here." "NO!" Then another girl tries to reason with him...which doesn't work for most kids, but definitely not one with down syndrome (they are known for their stubbornness). Then they come and ask me if I have anything to bribe him with. Ummm...let's see...bodily harm? I even gave them permission to pick him up and bring him to me. Then she says "well, you can come back and get him, but we have to call a manager first" What?!! A manager? The manager is apparently the gate keeper. He lets the parent in, escorts the parent to the child, and says "okay _______, it's time to go." So after waiting 5 minutes for the manager, he lets me in, asks me which child is mine, escorts me over to Carson, and tells Carson it's time to go. "No!" So I drag him out of there as he screams "no, mommy, no!" As we sit down to put his shoes on he starts doing the pee pee dance and says "no pee pee". I throw his shoes on and start dragging him to the bathroom. Oh, yes, I am really over this trip to Ikea. I am no longer feeling the love!
We find Gary, who is waiting in line to pay...he did find everything. It was all in a completely different spot than what those signs said. Carson sees the picture of the ice cream cone and starts screaming for ice cream so I decide to get out of there fast and go get the car. I get him out to the car by reminding him that he has lemonade out in the car (ema-ade? yay!!) We load everything up and go home vowing to remember that we hate Ikea and will never go back!
On the Sabbath day (we were just asking for trouble) we decided to put it all together so we wouldn't have heavy boxes in the house all week (like how I justify?). It all goes together smoothly until the very last piece. It has a hole in it, which will show if we use it so guess what?! I have to go back to Ikea today to beg and plead for one part that is in one of three boxes. I just don't know if I can do Ikea twice in one week! Please pray for me!
Update: I managed to pull together the courage to go to Ikea today. They were actually very nice and efficient. They offered me 30% off or they would open a box and give me a new piece. I called Gary to get his opinion and of course he went with the money. I agreed since it was the top piece and won't show if we put a basket up there. So I left Ikea with a $74 credit. Hmmm...what should I do with all that money. I know, I'll go to the Ross across the street and spend it. So that's what I did. Turns out, for a price, I will change my tune. Today, Ikea is not such a bad place!
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Appy Autday To Me?
Appy Autday to you
Appy Autday to you
Appy Autday Dear Carson
Appy Autday to you!
Happy Birthday to our cute 7 year old!
Love, Dad, Mom, Chris, Kinsey, Jared, and Emily
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
That's Soooo Random
I changed my blog background. I was bored with the first one and the last one reminded me of pepto bismol...too much pink.
Thank you to all the nice comments...even the crazy ones! If I am going crazy, it's because it's summer vacation and all I've heard in the house is Spongebob, Ferb, I Carly, Arthur tv shows and the always favorite "what...I shot that guy, this game is so cheap!" Carson is trying to set the new world record in the say momeeee category and someone else is trying to set the world record in making their sister tell on them. Summer is so fun. When are they going to start year-round school here?
I had another dream (I don't dream that often). This time someone was screaming so loud it woke me up. Turns out it wasn't a dream...it was my children. Don't they know that screaming before 8 am is not allowed?!!! This was after I got up at 6:00 so I could get in the shower before Gary to get ready for an early doctor's appointment that isn't until tomorrow (I hate it when I do that!) Gary decided to look at the positive side and say "you got ready really early". Yes, I always appreciate his positive attitude early in the morning!
Everyone went to the library today with friends. Carson and I stayed home. Carson doesn't like to stay home and started crying so I decided to distract him with a craft. We cut up little pieces of yellow, brown, blue, green, and red paper and then glued them to a Spongebob picture. He had lots of fun cutting paper and gluing. I've decided that I am too much of a perfectionist even when it comes to kids crafts. He kept getting mad at me for taking his pieces of paper off and moving them so that they would be inside the lines. I know, I know...bad mother!!
I took Jared to swimming camp today. We have a rule that you can't sit in the front seat of the car until you turn 12. He is 12 so now he's old enough. He decided to play "banana" today while we were driving, which means that every time you see a yellow car you say "banana" and tap (or hit in his case) someone. Emily was also in the car because I was taking her to a friend's house. She was his first victim and I told him to stop after he "tapped" her. Then she got out of the car and I was his second victim. I told him if he didn't stop I was going to make him walk to Cedar Park. Yeah...he knows I won't! I think I might change the age to 14!
I may have a bit of a negative attitude. I should probably go eat some chocolate except I don't have any. I just called Gary and asked him to bring some home. He asked what kind. I said every kind. I can tell that my goal to cut back on sugar and chocolate is not going to happen until after summer vacation. Only 48 more days!
Thank you to all the nice comments...even the crazy ones! If I am going crazy, it's because it's summer vacation and all I've heard in the house is Spongebob, Ferb, I Carly, Arthur tv shows and the always favorite "what...I shot that guy, this game is so cheap!" Carson is trying to set the new world record in the say momeeee category and someone else is trying to set the world record in making their sister tell on them. Summer is so fun. When are they going to start year-round school here?
I had another dream (I don't dream that often). This time someone was screaming so loud it woke me up. Turns out it wasn't a dream...it was my children. Don't they know that screaming before 8 am is not allowed?!!! This was after I got up at 6:00 so I could get in the shower before Gary to get ready for an early doctor's appointment that isn't until tomorrow (I hate it when I do that!) Gary decided to look at the positive side and say "you got ready really early". Yes, I always appreciate his positive attitude early in the morning!
Everyone went to the library today with friends. Carson and I stayed home. Carson doesn't like to stay home and started crying so I decided to distract him with a craft. We cut up little pieces of yellow, brown, blue, green, and red paper and then glued them to a Spongebob picture. He had lots of fun cutting paper and gluing. I've decided that I am too much of a perfectionist even when it comes to kids crafts. He kept getting mad at me for taking his pieces of paper off and moving them so that they would be inside the lines. I know, I know...bad mother!!
isn't it cute...look he even wrote his name
I was invited to go to Girl's Night Out at Dell Diamond. I hadn't replied yet, so I did today. I said "no". Everyone else was giving a reason so I did too. My choices were to lie and say I was busy or to tell the truth: (a)I don't like baseball, (b) it's too hot, (c)Dell Diamond isn't air-conditioned, or (d) all of the above. I chose c. Afterall, this is Texas and it is summer...shouldn't they have put cold air in the place?!!! I should have chosen d though because that would have been the more honest answer!
I took Jared to swimming camp today. We have a rule that you can't sit in the front seat of the car until you turn 12. He is 12 so now he's old enough. He decided to play "banana" today while we were driving, which means that every time you see a yellow car you say "banana" and tap (or hit in his case) someone. Emily was also in the car because I was taking her to a friend's house. She was his first victim and I told him to stop after he "tapped" her. Then she got out of the car and I was his second victim. I told him if he didn't stop I was going to make him walk to Cedar Park. Yeah...he knows I won't! I think I might change the age to 14!
I may have a bit of a negative attitude. I should probably go eat some chocolate except I don't have any. I just called Gary and asked him to bring some home. He asked what kind. I said every kind. I can tell that my goal to cut back on sugar and chocolate is not going to happen until after summer vacation. Only 48 more days!
he's so good to me...especially when I want chocolate!
Monday, July 6, 2009
I Always Thought John Ritter Was A Nice Guy!
I had a dream last night that John Ritter showed up at my front door. He pushed his way in and took a check written for lots of money that was hanging in a bag by the door. I asked why he was taking the check and who wrote it. He said that my husband said he would leave a check for him. I replied that my husband wasn't even home to write a check and then he took off running. I started to run after him yelling "help"! Everyone in the neighborhood ignored me.
I'm sure that any self-respecting dream interpreter would say that I dreamed that because the people reading my blog are not commenting. So...if you want me to sleep at night...tell me who you are and what you think of my blog. I'm not below begging (or is that above...hum, I'm not sure!) Pleeeeeease?!!!!
I'm sure that any self-respecting dream interpreter would say that I dreamed that because the people reading my blog are not commenting. So...if you want me to sleep at night...tell me who you are and what you think of my blog. I'm not below begging (or is that above...hum, I'm not sure!) Pleeeeeease?!!!!
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Socially Unacceptable
I am a social outcast. I can dress myself up, but I can't take myself anywhere. Last night I went out with friends (that's right...I have friends...yay) to celebrate Chelon's birthday. My friend Cathey came with me and I think everyone had to come up and introduce themselves to her because I didn't think to do it. The other night I went to introduce her to a member of our Bishopric, I told him her name and then said "and this is.......somebody?" How lame is that? He said "I'm her best friend Brother James." Yeah, I knew that, I was just testing him.
We had a fun night. I laughed at things (some I didn't get...I know, sad). We discussed my insomnia in detail. They gave suggestions. We discussed book club. I think I might go next month. Maybe I will even have a comment about the book that night. Tammy thinks I can't stay out so late, but I managed to stay out until midnight last night. I know, impressive. Right?!?
A few things I learned...I was the oldest person there (how did that happen...I used to be the youngest), my bra size is smaller than most (I know better than to complain about that), melatonin is the thing to take for insomnia, and the best doctor in town is Dr. Spelling. Spandex is the best thing to wear when you are going to the Cheesecake Factory. Oh, and you should eat all of your cheesecake before you get home because at least 1 person will be waiting up ready to pounce. You are probably not the only one in your family that likes cheesecake.
It was a fun night. Thank you to my friends for inviting me. I think I managed to make it through the night without offending anyone. Maybe I'm not a complete social outcast...just don't expect me to introduce you to anyone I bring with me. I just don't remember things like that. Oh...and if I give you a blank stare, you might want to explain the joke to me. I kind of live a sheltered life.
Happy Birthday, Chelon! I hope you have a great day.
We had a fun night. I laughed at things (some I didn't get...I know, sad). We discussed my insomnia in detail. They gave suggestions. We discussed book club. I think I might go next month. Maybe I will even have a comment about the book that night. Tammy thinks I can't stay out so late, but I managed to stay out until midnight last night. I know, impressive. Right?!?
A few things I learned...I was the oldest person there (how did that happen...I used to be the youngest), my bra size is smaller than most (I know better than to complain about that), melatonin is the thing to take for insomnia, and the best doctor in town is Dr. Spelling. Spandex is the best thing to wear when you are going to the Cheesecake Factory. Oh, and you should eat all of your cheesecake before you get home because at least 1 person will be waiting up ready to pounce. You are probably not the only one in your family that likes cheesecake.
It was a fun night. Thank you to my friends for inviting me. I think I managed to make it through the night without offending anyone. Maybe I'm not a complete social outcast...just don't expect me to introduce you to anyone I bring with me. I just don't remember things like that. Oh...and if I give you a blank stare, you might want to explain the joke to me. I kind of live a sheltered life.
Happy Birthday, Chelon! I hope you have a great day.
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