Link 1,2,3

1. I went to go see Twilight again, yep, I just can't say no to a girls night out. I have to correct my earlier post. It was the actual movie theater that had problems with the sound and color on the picture. That would explain my constant desire to tweak the color and frustration with the sound.

2. Hubby posted our old apartment in Okinawa. Loved it there. He forgot to put in another reason we moved, was because it was more expensive to live downtown too! It was nice having the ability to go snorkling at the bottom of your steps. The snorkling was gorgeous there. We enjoyed many things about living there.

3. I also got a great pic of Hubby playing Guitar Hero World Tour. The girls and I aren't so great at some of the new instruments, but we'll get there. We have also really enjoyed the American Idol Encore (it's my new favorite!). We had a great Christmas overall. Enjoyed the day with the family, then an impromptu dinner with friends, which was wonderful!

Bad Dejavu

We had a great day overall. We all enjoyed our new toys, we also got to enjoy some great time with some friends. (Thanks for having us over!) We are also very excited about watching the Dr. Who Christmas episode tomorrow!

Of course the day couldn't go on without any problems. I was on the phone with my friend and heard Hubby fall down the stairs. Yes, this is the dejavu. He just had back surgery on Friday. He did this after his last surgery too, as I have linked above. This time he fell from the top of the stairs all the way down. He hurt his ankle again, but so far his knees are okay. He also hurt his back, which was still in pain. Please pray for him to have a speedy recovery his back surgery and from this added pain! Thank you!

Hope you and yours had a wonderful Christmas!

Music

After Elastic and Jennifer posted about music, it made me really realize that my music listening skills had gone down the toilet. All I really ever heard was radio Disney, which is fine in small doses. When it's your entire music repertoire and your not a preteen, it's not a happy place. So I had some suggestions. I turned back on my Serius Radio in the truck. I started turning on Pandora Radio, which has been so awesome. You type in an artist you like and they just play music that goes along with that style. You then vote on the songs and they continue to cater to your tastes. I know I'm behind the times, most of you know of this.

Unfortunately there will be songs that weren't meant to be amazing, their only purpose is to stick in your head and torture you. (Disney radio has quite a few of them.) Somehow they know when you are going be in you vehicle and turn the station on, because they are waiting there to haunt you. The song I have had recently got stuck in my head is, The Waitresses' "I Know What Boys Like". What an inspiring song to sing around your kids!

I have found much better music than the above. I've had fun listening to some great songs from my younger years too! Thanks to all who inspired me to get outside of the Disney Radio all day every day mode.

Surgery Day!

Started quite early in the morning to be able to get to the surgery center on time. Of course I did not have much sleep. We get there and begin the hurry up and wait game. It didn't take them long to get him back for the prep stuff.

I had been concerned about how the wait in the waiting room was going to be. You never know who is going to be there. Last time the room had been filled with older people just talking about how good things were back in the day, they were actually quite entertaining. This time just a couple of quiet people keeping to themselves. The TV had some kind of awful problem. About every 10-15 seconds it freaked out and flipped over to a static channel for a split second and made a weird noise. It was definitely something that got your nerves. They finally turned off the sound after a couple of hours. I dozed off a few times, because I was so exhausted.

The most entertaining thing that happened was someone just walked in from the street and stated quite loudly, "Praise Bob Barker! Praise the Price is Right! Praise Bob Barker! Bob Barker! Price is Right!" Then he just turned around and walked out of the center.

I got kind of concerned, because Hubby took so long, but all is fine. They got me back to the recovery area. After a little while there, Hubby is about ready to leave I tell Hubby, "You know how you get kind of sick feeling when you haven't slept or eaten well." Then a waive of nausea hit me and I had three or four nurses around me guiding me to sit down, putting wet rags on me, fanning me with their charts. A nurse guided me outside and felt better soon after. So I delayed us leaving little longer.

Holiday Plans Changing

Hubby just found out that he has to repeat the surgery on his back. The bulging disc, or what was bulging through his discs (I can't ever describe it right) has returned. So they have to go scrape that back off his spine so it stops bothering his nerves. He just found out that this reoccurs in about 7% of people who have that surgery. He has the surgery tomorrow, Friday.
Merry Christmas to us!

One nice aspect is we will just be hanging around this whole time chilling out at home!

Poor Hubby won't be able to go to Trans-Siberian Orchestra, play with Christmas toys or help get ready for Christmas (oh, he might find that last one a bit of a blessing too!). He will get the opportunity to watch plenty of Christmas movies though.

Please keep him in your prayers!

Falling in Love with the Orpheum

The girls and I were able to go see the Nutcracker at one of the local theatres, The Orpheum. We all loved the performance, but we also just adored the theatre. I can't wait to go back and see some different performances there.

Tickled

My kids are always drawing and writing different things, parts of stories and just anything on pieces of paper that they find. I came across this paper the other day. I've always been curious if my children will have a strong sense of self esteem, I always hope they will. After finding this I might have to work a bit more on reminding my kids about humility.

TOP 5 REASONS TO LOVE CHILD #1 (names have been changed to protect...)

1. She is very pretty.

2. She's a fox.

3. She's very smart.

4. She's making a movie.

5. She's the nicest girl in the world.

It still cracks me up to read it. I just wonder what was going through her head as to why she needed this list?

Not Thrilled

Yesterday, I actually made it to the movies and finally saw Twilight.

The main feeling I had leaving the movie was---I am old! I know this was geared toward the teenage girl--I was not the target audience.

I waited this long to avoid the Emo crowd as much as I could, I did succeed at that. Only 7 people in the theatre, an older couple, a Mom and her two younger kids and me and a friend. I do love watching movies in a theatre when I'm practically the only person there.

To start off I wasn't thrilled with the theatre. I'm still checking out all the theatres around here and chose one I hadn't been to before. It was really stinky in the theatre I was in. I was so glad I had some jelly belly like jelly beans to help keep the smell down. I had wished I had bought popcorn just to be able to put my nose in the bucket. The sound was awful, they must have been having problems with their speakers, the sound kept going in and out.

I wasn't thrilled with the coloring in the movie. I'm not quite sure what the effect is called, but it didn't draw me in at all, I kept wanting to adjust it. I did enjoy the scenes much better during the end credits, when everything was in black & white. Some of the instrumental background parts of the movie just didn't fit at all, it felt like someone was just plunking around with a keyboard, instead of setting the mood for the scene. I wasn't thrilled with casting or with the acting or the script. A good portion of the movie I felt like I flipped on an after school special (yes, again showing my age--I don't think they have those anymore). All of this and I didn't hate it. I'll watch it again when it comes out to video and probably go see the sequel.

I did enjoy your review Jennifer!

I did laugh harder at this spoof trailer Elastic posted, even after seeing the movie.

My Week

Sunday most of us were feeling pretty blah, oldest had a real icky belly.

Monday we were feeling worse. It was my birthday and I guess Bobo really wanted to give me a present, he ended up giving me everything he could (out of his stomach that is!). And just one present wouldn't do.

Tuesday Hubby took a sick day and stayed in bed. The rest of us weren't feeling great.

Wednesday Hubby home sick again, we think we are on the mend. Went to get some errands done, because we have all been sick since we got home from vacation, we really needed some groceries and such. Came home and middle child decided to start sharing from the bottom of her belly.

She was sick all through the night, just about on the hour, every hour till four a.m.

Thursday, we are tired and still mending. Middle child didn't move all day. It took a lot for me to get her to drink two tiny cups of Sprite through the entire day.

Friday, I think we have finally beat this stuff! Middle child not feeling great yet, but has moved and eaten already today. On the last parts of mending up, hoping I am not speaking too soon, because I am really sick of sickness.

I Made It!

I made my goal of blogging everyday and don't think I'll ever do that again! I did enjoy the challenge over all, but I don't think I'll do that again.

We also made it home okay. Most of us are under the weather at our house. Hopefully we will all be better really soon!

Bobo likes....

Bobo has fallen in love with Star Wars and I couldn't be more pleased. He just loves everything Star Wars, movies, books, characters-you name it. He has a Star Wars calendar at home that he just carries around with him and sleeps with it. This calendar got him to start speaking so much more. I think that he has found something that he really likes so he is more willing to speak. While on vacation he got a book, a comic and some figures all Star Wars. He has been holding on to them for deal life. I am hoping I can get him talking even more once we get home.

He also is in love with anything that has dogs on it. He also carries around these things and talks a lot about them.

Hopefully I can use his interests and continue progression with his speech. We quit speech therapy. I still haven't been reimbursed for our payments back in Oct and obviously not Nov. So we couldn't keep paying with out ever getting our money back. Now I get to fight work with insurance company to get our money back, yeah!

Holiday Shopping

I am so not a person who likes crowds, especially in stores. Last week we needed a couple of things from Sam's Club. We didn't make it very far when I informed our troops we were turning around and getting out of Dodge, because there were just too many people around. I put the one item I had gotten in my cart up and ran as fast as I could.

There were a couple of things that Wal-mart had today that I was willing to go fight the good fight.

I finally got a Cricut!! I'm so happy!!! My hubby really wanted me to have it, if it was up to me, I probably wouldn't have gotten it. Thanks honey. Now I can't wait to get home and play with it!!!

I also got a couple of good things for my kids, but since they sometimes read over my shoulder, I'll just leave it at that.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope all of you are having a Happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy your good food and traditions!

Daily Blogging

Blogging everyday is definitely not for me. I know I only have a couple more days left in November to make it through this challenge, so I will finish to the best of my ability.

I am not a fan of writing. Getting the words together is always a challenge. Back in the school days, I dreaded having to write. I do enjoy keeping up with people, if you were curious as to why I have a blog when I don't really like to write. I would much prefer to call each of you up and chat for awhile or come and see you, but seeing that's not really possible, this option will have to do. I also thought this daily blogging thing would be a little bit of a challenge, which it has been, hopefully it hasn't been too torturous for those that frequent the blog here.

The challenge just increased though! We are now in the land of dial-up. Wow!!! I know I thought that the Internet was so cool when Cullen and I got our first computer back in 1994. We were living in Japan and I could communicate with anyone. I never had a clue that s...l...o....w dial-up was bothersome. That was then, times have changed and I am now spoiled, spoiled, spoiled.

In-Laws

We have made it to our second destination on our trip. We are now in the outskirts of the village of Quitman, LA, according to the 2000 census there was a population of 168 in the actual village. There's probably just a few more people in the surrounding area of the village limits. It's always amazing how different this place is. It's like traveling back in time. Nobody locks their cars or homes. It's not uncommon for someone just to leave their keys in their car for the next time it'll be used. Everybody knows you, or knows your kin.

I did enjoy living here back when we did. It was good to be close to family and friends. I have also enjoyed moving on to the 21st century too!

Yep, I'm Old

I was on my way to go see Twilight, but because I was going with others we didn't get there with enough time to buy the ticket and get in the theater before it started. I knew I was practically dragging everyone else along, so I just agreed to watch it at a later date.

We decided we would find something else to do. We tried a karaoke place, but they were doing more football, seeing it was a sports place. I suggested hanging out at the bookstore, yep, I know I'm cool like that, others were not interested in that at all. So us old people just drove around the coast looking for something to do and just going home.

Just full of life huh?

Good news though. Cullen and met at an IHOP. Katrina had washed it away, but they have rebuilt it and it's practically in the exact location. I know it's silly, but I was excited to see they brought it back and in very similar design. (Yes, because IHOPs differ so much from each other.)

Lazy Day!

I rarely get to enjoy a totally Lazy Day. I mean my toddler keeps me pretty busy, let alone the other two and all of our commitments.

Today I enjoyed laying down and reading a book. I took a few naps too! I'm using my vacation time to the max!!!

The kids played and kept themselves entertained enough that I was able to escape for the day. The book wasn't awesome, it was a Mary Higgins Clark, I had always wanted to try her out, just to say I had. It's what I expected.

Everyone's in bed and I'm going to find another book!

Trip Update!

We started our trip yesterday down to my Dad's in Biloxi. Biloxi is where Cullen and I met back in May of 1993.

Our trip started out very stinky. The dog puked before we even hit the Interstate. Then he puked 3 more times. Come to find out this most likely my fault because I was cleaning out my fridge, came across some pork chops and gave them to him the morning before we left. Yes, lesson learned. I helped make a 6 hour trip an 8 hour trip.

One of the things I love doing here is hitting the outlet mall. I have found some of the best deals ever at this outlet mall. Well, we get there, went straight to the bathrooms for the kids then go to play on the playground. Bobo has his first in public accident, right after he had been to the bathroom. He was on top of the playground and it started raining pee. I was so glad there were no kids getting rained on.

We got to go see Bolt. It kept me laughing, especially the hamster.

Then we came back to my Dad's and started a Star Wars marathon.

I have been watching another 3 yr old for about the last month. He is Bobo's age, we'll call him C-boy. They are very alike in so many ways, except one major difference. Getting dirty! Bobo is all about making a mess, loves the mud, very typical boy stuff. C-boy is the complete opposite in this regard. He steers clear from a mess with everything in his being. When we went through the corn maze last month there were some mud puddles along the way. Bobo jumps right in them. He loses a shoe in a mud puddle, because it got stuck down in it, he did the rest of the maze with one shoe on. He told me through the maze how he wanted a bed out of the mud. C-boy stopped at the first puddle, did not have any interest of figuring out a way to get close. I usually had to pick him up and carry him over.

This morning we had cinnamon rolls with melted icing all over them. Bobo of course dives in head first. C-boy staring at him in disbelief, a kind of disgust, almost in a state of shock tells Bobo, "Your going to get messy doing that!" I just died laughing. It didn't stop Bobo either. He just put his head right back in the cinnamon roll and took another bite.

AMAZING TECHNOLOGY

I HOPE I'M DOING THIS RIGHT. MY COMPUTER IS DOWN & THIS IS THE 1ST TIME I'M TRYING THIS BY PHONE. MY PHONE'S NOT THAT HIGH TECH, SO THIS WILL BE INTERESTING.

BOBO THREW THE BIGGEST FIT TONIGHT BECAUSE I WOULDN'T LET HIM WATCH A SHOW. THE SHOW IS 6TEEN. ITS THE 1ST TIME I'VE SAID NO TO A SHOW. I THOUGHT THE GIRLS WOULD HAVE A HARD TIME WITH IT, BUT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN BOTHERED. HE KEPT TRYING TO TELL ME IT WAS FROM THE MAKERS OF TOTAL DRAMA ISLAND. JUST HILARIOUS HAVING A 3 YR OLD TRYING TO JUSTIFY SOMETHING, JUST BECAUSE THEY HEARD IT ON COMMERCIAL.

Happy Belated Halloween!

We had a great Halloween this year!!

A friend of ours hosted a Halloween party at her house. It was awesome.

Again a reminder that you can enlarge the photos by clicking on them.

Boys attacking the skelleton!

Oldest, who did her own make-up, but ran out of black hair spray, because we used most of it at Trunk-or-Treat (I've got to find those pictures too.)

Everyone won some kind of prize in the costume contest!


Middle child and her prize!

We all carved pumpkins at the beginning. Nope, Hubby is not affiliated with the gangs!

The spread of food was awesome!

Boys protecting the place.

Oldest stirring something up in the kitchen.

The kids, the dog and our friend all in costume.

J-Mom and Hubby went costumless.

Yeah! Now I dont' need a family photo!

Dyslexia & ADD

I have been wondering lately if my middle child has dyslexia. I began teaching her reading with phonics, but then realized that she learned the phonics rules just fine, but never really could move that knowledge over to reading actual words. She's technically in second grade. She still flips letters around, while reading out loud she mixes up words, skips words all together and sometimes just reads words that aren't even around, but they go with the context and her spelling is not great. I know I have wondered, how in the world do you think those letters go in that word?

Yesterday I checked on some information on dyslexia. As I was checking things out, I was surprised how some of the symptoms were also symptoms of ADD (which I have) and how dyslexia and ADD as so many disorders can go together. Of course I started wondering, "Am I dyslexic?".

I also learned that most schools don't test for dyslexia, because it's not considered a medical condition. Also because it's not a medical condition, insurance usually doesn't cover it.

I'm still torn with testing kids. Mostly because I didn't find out about myself until I was 25. I feel I made it half way decently without knowing. I did struggle with things (still do) and I know I drove my Mom crazy with some of the things I did. At the same time, I have wondered if I had known and gotten help earlier, would that have been better or would it have labeled me and made more excuses for me?

I've also been debating the whole medication thing lately. I know I function much better medicated, but I always feel medicated. I hate feeling medicated, but I like functioning better. I know I have to be careful about depression, because I have done that before--another one of those things that goes hand in hand with ADD. I haven't been medicated for about 5 years, so I have survived, but I know a good portion of those years, surviving is all I have done.

Let me know if you have any great information on either of these!

November 17

November 17th is always a somber day for me. I lived in Greece on and off close to 6 years. There was a terrorist group there (thanks to wiki I found out it's believed they disbanded in 2002), they considered themselves to be a revolutionary organization, they went by the name November 17. Most of my friends stayed home on this day, because there were always a lot of attacks on Americans and I went to an American School, ACS Athens. My parents never let me stay home!!!!

One of my best friends, Nicole, through middle school's x-step-father (the only person she really knew as a true father figure) U.S. Air Force Sergeant Ronald O. Stewart, was killed by November 17th with a car bomb as he was walking to or from his house. I remember all the kids that rode my school bus that lived by him talking about how all their windows in their houses were shattered.

This happened during the Gulf War. Living in Greece during this time was a little dangerous. We had a ton of different terrorist groups attacking all over the place. When the war first broke out every American was recommended to stay in their quarters for about two weeks, it was just too dangerous to be outside. There were at least 5 bombings a day of buses or banks or car bombings. After the quarantine was lifted, my parents kind of went on with business as usual. The only thing was you weren't supposed to keep things routine, don't go to work at the same time, don't take the same route, etc. My parents let me continue public transportation and doing things as I normally did before. I do believe they had the philosophy of, if something's going to happen, we can't stop it. My parents were the extreme opposite of over controlling. I did learn a lot of early independence from that style of parenting and I was as cautious as a dumb teenager could be.

One of My Dislikes

I don't know why, but some commercials really bother me. One that has bothered me recently is the commercial with the shoes falling all over the place, because chicky has a new car! UGH!!!!!!! Okay, who would want anything falling out the sky that dangerous, especially with a brand new car, I mean all the dings and dents the car will get. People are walking around like it's no big deal that these deadly shoes are falling out of the sky. It just gets under my skin every time I see it!

Zumba!!!

I made it to Zumba today!

Zumba, it's a Latin dance workout. I enjoy it, because they pump up the music quite loud and it's usually music with a great beat. Then you get to go wild dancing! The instructor here is great, she always makes you feel awesome! Surprisingly it is offered at our YMCA. I do want to say that for such a little YMCA, the Millington YMCA is awesome!


It's been awhile since I have tried my workout classes, since I hurt my hip, went on vacation, got busy with kids, husband's back surgery, sicknesses, being out of routine or insert any other excuse I could imagine. I have been on an awful work out routine of 1-3 times a week, usually leaning towards 2 workouts, which isn't even a maintenance level.

Now I get to find out if I killed my hip or not, I guess I'll find out in a day or two. I really hope not, because I would love to start going regularly to Zumba again!

Family Theme Song!

What is your purpose?----I JUST WANNA ROCK!!!

Almost anytime when the whole family is in our truck together, you will most likely hear the above song. Everybody rocking out to the song! (I tried to find the best youtube. The song doesn't even start until about 2 minutes into it, feel free to fast forward--it is cute, but it is long!)

If it wasn't for my Hubby not agreeing to listen to Radio Disney while he was in the vehicle and listening to his music or for Elastic posting her music finds. I might not have realized that real music has been released over the last decade or so.

I really do enjoy music. I just have gotten to a place where if I have to work for it, it's probably not going to happen. I allow the kids to go crazy with Radio Disney and that's all I know, which really doesn't qualify for music in my book. It seems like when I was younger I found underground music so easily, I had my favorite artists and knew when and where they were playing most of the time. Today when music is so easy to come by (I don't have to run down to the record store and find the new releases--yes I used to do that.) I'm clueless.

Thanks to Hubby being such a guitar enthusiast I did get to surprise him with tickets to the G3 concert toward the beginning of 2007. It was pretty awesome to see Joe Satriani, John Petrucci, and Paul Gilbert men who are excellent in their craft!!!

Okay, so I guess I need to get on top of bringing more music into my home and finding more for me to enjoy.

So where or how do you find your music?

Organization Queen I Am NOT!

I just found the Halloween candy from last year that I was saving to do our gingerbread houses with last Christmas. Obviously, I hid the candy quite well. We never made the gingerbread houses (at least not at our house). Just in case you didn't know, most of y'all already did---organization is a challenge for me!

Suggestions

We have 2 missionaries right now who have very unique diets. One is allergic to chicken, beans, soy, some fish and I think that's the majority of his allergies. The other missionary can have no protein, no meat, no dairy, no beans. I'm open to suggestions on what to feed them, please help!

Thank You Veterans!

Thank you to all who have served in the military, sacrificed for the country, so we could keep our liberties. A special thanks to all those who gave the ultimate sacrifice and their families.

Happy Veteran's Day to all!!!!

I know most of us have family or friends that have served this great country!

Blogging Ideas

I know I seemed to run down to the last minute more than often lately. I had a full day today, running to the zoo with 4 extra kids---we actually had a blast. Oldest child opted out of going so she could stay home and get more school work done, I don't get it, who turns down a trip to the zoo? She does have this goal of getting through/skipping 5th grade before next Aug/Sept. I also got to go to a friend's and play.

So I was thinking about what to write tonight and couldn't think of much, so of course I think---I'll look up some ideas online to help me out. Here are the ideas I found that would help me have the most awesome blog ever, at least that's what they said.

* write a funny post (because that comes so naturally to all---NOT!)
* share an article you just wrote (because I'm always writing articles)
*write about what other people are thinking about (because I read minds)
*write the news (don't they have reporters for that?)
* take an alternate position (on laundry, dishes??)
* write a post that solves problems (I will solve world hunger)
* write a post that is inspirational (I guess I could copy a Hallmark card here)
* write about what's new and trendy (since the 80's are back, maybe I could do this)

Pumpkin, Pumpkin, Pumpkin Time

Yes, I know Halloween is over. But pumpkins were cheap right after Halloween, so now I can make some pumpkin puree. MMMMMM.... I'm pretty sure in the past I have cooked down the pumpkin in the microwave. This year I have 2 pumpkins to cook down, so I am using the oven.

Now I have to decide what I am making with the pumpkins, pumpkin bread, pumpkin pie, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin roll, pumpkin pancakes. Not quite sure, if you have any suggestions---I'll take them!!! (of course I'm roasting pumpkin seeds!)

I also found a recipe for pumpkin smoothie that sounds kind of yummy that I thought I'd share.

Pumpkin Smoothies
1/2 cup pumpkin
3/4 cup milk or vanilla yogurt
1/4 tsp. cinnamon1/8 tsp. nutmeg
2 tsp. brown sugar
4 ice cubeswhipped cream (optional)sprinkles (optional)

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into 2-3 glasses. Serve with a small amount of whipped cream on top. You may also add orange sprinkles if you like. Serves 2-3.

Repeated Question!

I am tired, almost went to sleep and realized I hadn't posted today. Almost lost my month of blogging daily, I probably will miss later this month, but it's not today!!!!

Lately, I have seemed to run into people who have friends, family or acquaintances that have become Mormon. Once they find out I am also Mormon and I had activated after some years of being married, I have had the same question repeated, how did you give up caffeine, especially drinking Coca Cola? Because their "friend/loved one/co-worker" had such a hard time giving up Coke.

Obviously this post is directed to the other Mormon or two out there that reads my blog:)

The only thing I have ever read being stated has been coffee and tea for "hot drinks" from the Word of Wisdom. I have heard a ton of speculation as to why, tanic acid or whatever the acid is in coffee and tea. Basically commandment equals abstain from coffee and tea!

I see chocolate at every church potluck, obviously chocolate is caffeinated. So it's obviously not a caffeine thing.

Where is this soda thing coming from? Is there something I have missed? Please comment and let me know!!!!

Noisy Pancakes AKA Blender Pancakes

Kari, a dear friend of mine, introduced me to noisy pancakes. Her kids always loved eating them. My family adores them too! All those I have shared the recipe with have loved them too!

This is how I was using my wheat, because I didn't have a grinder. The only way I got to grind wheat was going to a friend's house. There were a couple occasions when I have had friends that have let me just borrow their grinders, but we all seem to move too much!

Yes, I finally got my own grinder a few months back (yipee!!!! It was a tough choice between a Cricut or wheat grinder). We still enjoy Noisy Pancakes!

1 cup wheat kernels (washed)
1 1/4 cup milk
1 egg
1/3 cup veggie oil
1TBSP baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 TBSP honey (can substitute sugar)

Put milk & wheat in blender and blend on highest speed for 4-5 min or until batter is smooth. (usually just a couple of minutes) Add remaining ingredients. Blend on low until mixed.

Bake on a hot griddle.

*****for waffles add 1/2 cup flour and one more egg!

Proud Momma

Middle Child in black leotard.

Middle Child---(you think that I would come up with a better nick name, seeing there is always things that are associated with being the middle child, I'm guessing calling her Middle Child doesn't help matters at all!)

Back to the point, Middle Child started gymnastics at the end of August. She started in level one. Last week she earned her way up to level two. I'm so proud of her, she has great goals of getting up to a competing level. (I'm not as interested in that, because more money is involved.)

A huge thank you to my father, because he so kindly offered to pay for an extra day of gymnastics to help her along. Thanks Dad!!!!

This is an easy one just go to the third folder in your pictures and choose the first photo.

Tag....anyone who wants to!!!

This is a picture of me & my sister rafting down the Dechutes River in Oregon, July 08! It was so much fun, it's up in the category of one of the best times in my life!!! The majority of it, so relaxing, then the class four rapids were very exhilarating!

Go Vote!!!!

Yes, today is the big voting day. Go vote, if you haven't yet! I'm so glad we had early voting here. Lines were still longer than ever. For the Memphis area there were amazing record turn outs for early voting.

Due to record voter turn out. Polling stations around the country have requested those voting for Obama to wait until Wednesday to cast their vote.

I heard this last night, somebody had texted to another and I thought it was funny.

Go vote!!!!

8 is Great!!!

8 Favorite TV Shows: Dr. Who, Sanctuary, The Office, Farscape (old show, no longer around, but loved it), Life on Mars, Pushing Daisies, Heroes (haven't been as excited about it this season, close to being dropped on favorite) and Seinfeld.

8 things I did Yesterday: Made it through all of Stake Conference (my ADD usually kicks in, and it's a real challenge to sit still with all the distractions around), made cards, read to kids, dishes, let Hubby cook! (yumm, it was a good dinner), called friends, enjoyed my "extra" hour! (Yep, I'm a wild child--Sundays are a bit slow around here.)

8 things I look forward to: Visiting family for Thanksgiving, enjoying the entire Christmas holidays at home, Summer time!, Hubby graduating! (got another year left), reading a good book, stopping all extra Home school stuff next semester(yes, I have decided to say no to all the extra things we are doing and stay at home more next semester!), seeing a one in the dollar spot of gas prices (don't know how long the low gas prices will last, we are averaging $2.05 here), hanging out at Julie's scrapbooking/card making.

8 Favorite Restaurants: Panda Buffet, Los Reyes, Moe's, Husband's Grill, Johnny Carinos, Jim & Nick's BBQ!, Pig N Whistle, Lenny's


8 things on my wish list: Cricut (dream on product I know), new paint in kitchen, new blinds in kitchen, new countertops, new floor in kitchen (my kitchen is still in pretty bad shape, hopefully we'll be able to change it all in Spring), attatchments for my kitchen aid, more books (and time to read them--the library will fulfill this wish, well at least the book part, haven't seen time be passed out at the library), new fancier sewing machine (super dream on item, seeing my machine still works just fine!)

8 people to tag: 8 of you that want to be tagged!!!!

Pampered Chef!!!

For those that have known me awhile, they know I have been a Pampered Chef consultant on and off again for the last, I think 9 years. I recently joined back up with Pampered Chef for my 4th, yep 4th time. If you are wondering why, I do love the company, but I have quit after having kids or right before a big move in the past. If you wait a year with Pampered Chef, you can join up with a new kit and everything!

Well, I am a full fledged consultant now! I have had my 4 shows. I have earned my right to have a website where you can shop or check out your show is or check out what is new. I am still trying to figure it all out, so please excuse any hiccups. I know they used to have an outlet section where they had awesome prices on discontinued products. Not sure if they still have it.

Well you can go check out my new shopping website!

http://www.pamperedchef.biz/shaunajames

Let me know what you think!

Rough Start

Well, my friend Jennifer asked if I wanted to be part of the NaBloPoMo, posting every day for the month of November. I thought about it for a moment and then agreed to try it. My first post I am squeezing in 30 min. before the end of Nov 1st, so who knows how great the rest of the month will be.

I did have a great day today. The family went together on some errands in the morning, you know like buying socks---very exciting!!! We wanted to eat out at Stevie B's, a restaurant similar to Cici's Pizza, we had heard great things about it and had buy one get one free buffets, we got there and they had closed. So it was off to our favorite Chinese Buffet.

I got home and had a moment to play with scrapbooking/card making stuff! Then off to stake conference (church stuff). A friend of mine invited me to go out before hand and eat, well more hang out for me, because I was still stuffed from lunch. It was a great stake conference. Came home and spent time with hubby. It was a great day!

Okay, so I cheated with my play-by-play of the day, but I did get the first day in & that almost didn't happen.

Very, very funny!

I know I should have never stated in a blog that I was starting to get things together, because I haven't blogged much since then. I recently started watching another 3 yr old boy. So I am relearning how to balance my homeschooling, all the places we have to go and do and keeping the 3 year olds entertained. I am still making bread (yeah!!!), but I haven't balanced the blogging back in very well yet.

I had to share the following. I found Elastic's blog awhile back and have loved every post she has, she cracks me up all the time, but you have to go and check out the Twilight Trailer Spoof. Click here to enjoy the laughter!

Good & Scary Sounds

GOOD:

Bobo and I were talking about Daddy going to work. Then Bobo told me how he liked his job. I asked him what his job was, he said, "Pwaying with toys and fighting aliens." I just thought it was too cute and I guess overall he is a happy kid.

SCARY:

The kids and I were downstairs reading and all of a sudden we heard Dad lose his footing and fall down the stairs. It was one of the scariest sounds I have heard in awhile. Dad seems like he is okay, just hurt his knee and ankle some. Just awful so soon after his back surgery.

Getting Some Order Back

I know in my life there are moments that things seem to be going okay and there seems like there is some order to things, but most of the time it seems so out of control that I feel like I am just barely hanging on for the ride.

I was talking with a friend of mine the other day and had mentioned I was making bread. And I realized while I was talking to her that usually when I start making bread things start to fall into place better in the home. It does not make logical sense, seeing making bread takes more time than grabbing loaves off the shelf and throwing them in the cart and putting extras into the freezer so you always have some. (I was very tempted at Sam's Club yesterday just to grab a few loaves.) My bread machine even died out recently, so I am putting more time than what I am used to putting.

Here's hoping that I continue to get more order in the house, because it's really needed!

Hubby Much Faster Than I

Okay, since I forgot that my husband updates much faster than I, here is a better link.

Click on me!

Cheating!

Yep, I'm cheating today. Hubby is much better about getting around to blogging than I am, so yep, today I'm just linking over to him.

Just click here.

Impulsive Images

I used to rarely have a camera on me, but thanks to technology on phones, I do now--even though I still seem to forget that I do have one on me most of the time.

Thought I'd share!

This week was my first time to TCBY. A friend of mine told me of the goodness there. I had some buy one get ones and decided to try them out as a special treat. Yummy, so we swung back by again tonight after gymnastics for the 99cent waffle cone. Kids enjoyed.

Finding out that Bobo's favorite holiday is Halloween, he loves everything Halloween and wants everything Halloween.

Kids had snowball cupcake things for the first time ever. Bobo didn't want to touch his when he ate, very funny!

Oldest's 1st swim meet. She was awesome, gave it her all!

Isn't sad that this makes me happy! I actually passed a $3.09 today, but couldn't get a pic.
I mean, this price used to make me frustrated.

Cool car we saw sitting in McD's parking lot.

Girls sporting their Dollar Store hats!

Slacker!

I know you're thinking I'm a slacker, I can hear it through the keyboard!

I have been torn about what to blog about, I am trying to keep people updated, but do people really want to know? We had a week (well days, it feels like it was a week) of bodily fluids flying every direction. I found out the splatter zone for a child upchucking by only lifting her head over the top bunk down, and of course onto the floor that was covered with all the things they hadn't picked up over the last few days. I had to clean it myself taking many personal trips to the bathroom, because I was the first one to come down with the nastiness. All through the night all the girls & I running to & from the bathroom or using their special, large bowls lying nearby.

This wasn't a fast running bug, it took a couple days to run it's course and of course Bobo was jumping and full of life. Literally jumping over our pitiful bodies at one point. Hubby can't help, because Hubby can't bend, lift, twist, drive, he is supposed to just be healing. (After a month he's allowed to start lifting over 5 pounds, 2 weeks until he can drive.)

Thankfully a dear friend brought us Sprite, ginger ale and popsicles or I don't think we would have had any intake that day.

One of these moments of Bobo's jumping up around, full of life, outside playing with the dog, he and the dog came in covered head to toe with what I thought was dirt. Well, no, he had found a partially used bag of quick cement outside (yes, with the warning label, keep away from children, don't get on your skin--can burn, don't inhale, yep all of that). Everything turned out okay from that, or at least that's what we are telling ourselves. (soon when the pipes are all clogged up, because they are filled with cement, from bathing him!, we'll be singing a different tune.)

Oh yeah, and I forgot that he also some how took a dump in a towel, all through the towel, I guess he was having flashbacks of his poop smearing days. Oh, how happy I am and glad those days are over and he was able to confine the dump to a towel. I still can make no sense of it.

We have finally made it through the nastiness, then through the clean-up mode, now working on finishing catching up, getting back to the swing of things. (Well, I always feel like I'm playing catch up and trying to get with the swing of things--so maybe things are more back to normal than I would like to admit.)

Until next time, well, if there is a next time---after all the nasty talk, not sure if you'll come back!

Drugged Hubby Faster Than I

I had intentions of hijacking my Hubby's Blog and showing off his leggings. But he beat me to it, even when he was extremely drugged. His surgery went well, he is working on mending. Maybe later I'll be able to sneak a blog on his site. Check it out!

Yes, I'm Still Here!

My blogging activity has been quite sad! Bad habits beginning, so here is another attempt at not putting off one more thing.

Updates:

*Hubby and I celebrated 14 years of wedded bliss (or something like it).

*Bobo made the -K- sound, so we have seen improvement already with his speech therapy.

*The dog started grabbing books off the second shelf on bookshelf to chew (we had already moved the books from the bottom) & he also started chewing the carpet. He is in the process of becoming an outdoor dog.

*Oldest's has her first swim meet this Saturday.

*Middle child still uses cartwheels as her main mode of transportation.

*Hubby is having his discs on his spine cut next week.

*I was released as Primary President, now teaching Sunday School to youth.

Stating the Obvious

I'm busy, busy, busy, busy!

I've been real busy! Yep! Betcha couldn't have guessed that.

School's back in session and we are going crazy all over the place.

Hubby had a Spinal Block about two weeks ago and is now going to have to have his discs on his spine scraped, so more back surgery coming up! So busy isn't slowing down yet.

Bobo's potty training coming along okay.

Doggie Discipline

I am having the hardest time figuring out how to discipline my dog. He's a good dog when he is in your sight, he'll obey in your sight, but as soon as you're in another room or turn around, he'll jump up on the table, couch, chair or grab something he's not supposed to have, like kid's clothes or toys and chew, chew, chew them to destruction.

So far the only ones being disciplined are the humans. We have learned not to leave anything on the table, or couch or floor. We leave all the doors upstairs closed.

Tonight middle child had a little step stool up to the side of the cupboard/counter where she had made her supper, but then she left to do something real quick. I was making my supper on the opposite counter and I turned around and saw the dog on the step stool reaching up on his hind legs trying as best as he could to get her food. I'm lost as what I am supposed to do in that moment, when the dog is getting caught doing wrong. Any suggestions? He got down as soon as I said something, but I know there has got to be a "right" and "wrong" way for the dog to learn not to do these things, even when not being watched.

Anybody have a well trained dog? Any advice?

I have never been a fan of getting puppies, just because I like to get the ones that are already trained. It's so much different than disciplining my kids. I don't understand the mind of a dog.

School Time!

We are starting to get ready for school. We have been out of school for about 6 weeks, of course the kids have done some light work through this time. We are officially starting school next week. I still have doubts, even though I feel overall I am doing the right thing. I seem to change my teaching styles a lot, not sticking with one style EVER!. I guess it's like having a whole bunch of teachers with different styles all wrapped up in one!

Here's to another year!

Surprised J-Mom

Well, I had some great news yesterday. I found out yesterday at a swim team meeting that swim practices can be only 2-3 times a week, instead of the 4 I thought we were supposed to be working up to. WOOHOO!

We also got the schedule for the upcoming swim meets. Well, there were a few that fell on Sunday and the final championship also fell on Sunday. We unfortunately don't have a strong Sunday rule in our house hold. Mom and Dad have different belief systems and keeping the Sabath Day Holy is something that we don't see eye to eye on. So I have not pushed it at all, it's not worth a fight between us. We try not to do extra things on the Sabath, but if Dad really wants to do something, I'm not going to throw a fit about it, we usually do it. I feel the family together time is better than a fight about the Sabath. (Dad doesn't usually ask to do much on Sunday, he does respect how I feel about it.)

So my first thought when I saw the schedule was that the oldest might miss some church and I was hoping it wasn't going to be the children's program that we missed, but I would find some way to work it all out.

Oldest saw the swim meet schedule and she just stated straight out, "Well, I can't do those on Sunday." I was a little suprised, since we don't have a stead fast rule about the Sabath in our house. I questioned her, "Are you sure? You'll miss the Championship Meet, it's on a Sunday." (It's on Super Bowl Sunday, so there will be others with conflicts on that day.) She said she didn't care, she wasn't going to do the swim meets on Sunday, it wasn't right. Okay, I'm a little shocked, but not sure how strongly she felt about her conviction. She has loved being part of the swim team and she has been wanting to compete and just found out she would be able to compete, so I piped in, "You might not be able to stay on the swim team, if you aren't going to the meets." She returned to me, "Is the swim team more important or following God's rules? Keeping the Sabath Day holy is a commandment." Okay, she does feel strongly about this and she got to teach Mom a few lessons in the process.

Newsflash----well an update at least!

Dad's back "surgery" went fine. It was a spinal block, they call it surgery, I guess because they are sticking a needle in the spine with cortisone, but he is doing okay. He would be doing a little better if he wasn't putting together the new computer that came in today. Oh, well, hopefully this works well. Oldest child went with me and I taught her to text, so we texted back and forth sitting right next to each other. We played with the camera on our phones (mine & dad's phone) and we wrote letters and she finished her math book. (she is excited about that!!--I don't think she realizes I have the next one ready to go for her!) Yes, we waited a long time for him to get that needle stuck in his back. (Thank you Julie for watching my other children.)

Oldest started swim team through our local YMCA. The price was awesome, it is $20 a month. The downside is practice is 4 nights a week! (Yes, because we weren't busy enough before this.) She is getting pretty good and she really loves going to practice.

Middle child started gymnastics. She chose to start gymnastics before the Olympics started. Her first practice was right around the beginning of the Olympics. I wish I had been able to take a picture of her face when we first walked in the gym, her face just glowed and her eyes were beaming when she saw the bars, and beams, and all the other gymnasts working. (of course the first thing J-Mom sees is all the cast boots, wrapped ankles, & other injuries, I'm thinking this might not be the best idea, she could really get hurt.) She has loved every minute of it. She is already trying to figure out how to get on to pre-team, she has only had 3 practices. The first thing out of her mouth after her hour there, is can I stay and do some more?

Bobo will start Speech Therapy this next Friday. I found a place that was about $70 a session and insurance will pay 65%. It's better than other options. I'm really hoping this will help a good bit, I can't wait until I can understand him more.

J-Mom is extremely excited!!!! I FINALLY FOUND A WII FIT!!!! Every time I had gone into a store and asked for it, I was always told, "I'm sorry, we just sold our last one." I was certain I wasn't supposed to have one. I have had so much fun with it! I can't wait to play with it some more. My kids have wanted to play too, so I had to take turns.

Other J-Mom news, I started Pampered Chef. I signed up on Monday. I'm kind of excited about where I can actually go with the business this time. Yes, this time. This will be the forth time I have signed up with Pampered Chef, all the other times it has been because I wanted lots of Pampered Chef stuff and I wanted to fill my house with it and earning it was the best way to get it. This time I actually need to get some $ so we can do some extra stuff like visit friends. By the way, I will come and visit y'all if you do a show:) Hopefully I can change the way I look at doing Pampered Chef and break my old habits of just doing it at the most minimal.

Bobo's Speech Evaluation

First an update on the potty training. He is doing quite well. Today I did pull-up at church, and of course he had an accident in it. The other accident he had was when we went to Target and I had forgotten to take him to the bathroom and he fell asleep in the cart and had an accident. Of course every BM is an accident. Enough with the potty talk!

Bobo had his speech evaluation this past Friday. Of course the weather was disastrous, after I got to the office (late of course) I heard there had been 12 accidents on the road. No wonder I hadn't been moving on the freeway. The power was out in the building when we arrive and they were wondering if I could reschedule or do it by flashlight. I chose to go ahead and try the evaluation. We found a room that wasn't too dark and the electricity came on about half way through.

Bobo had to name items that the therapist pulled out of a bag. This was used to see how well he could say his sounds. The next test, I can't remember the exact name, but it was testing his language knowledge. She would ask him things from a flip chart, like which one is a man out of a couple of pictures, and he would point to the man, or out of a group of symbols he had to pick out which one was a letter. She told me he got to the 7 year old age group with this, still not sure what that means, but Bobo is 3, so of course it makes a Mom feel good, even if it doesn't mean much. Last he had his vocabulary test, where he had to tell the names of things in a flip book. For example there were a variety of different animals on a page and the therapist would say, "All of these are....", and Bobo was supposed to say animals, and if he didn't then it was counted wrong.

Well he really needs speech therapy. I am going to call my insurance tomorrow and find out what they will cover. From what I understand is that they usually don't cover speech therapy, unless it is needed because of a stroke or an accident/head injury. The sessions where I went would be $300 a pop! OUCH!!!! He would qualify for state help, but I have my reservations about using the state and also it is a group setting, which we were suggested that if he did that, that he got one on one therapy too. They also told me of another speech place in town that charged $80-$140 a session, which is cheaper, but if insurance doesn't cover anything, I'm not sure what we'll be able to do.

Bobo doesn't make a lot of the consonant sounds he should be able to make, the therapist found it unusual that he could make a few like an R sound that aren't usually at this age. He drops off middle and ending of words too often and even sometimes the beginning of the word. She said that he seems like he is already starting to compensate for his speech delay, and not using a larger vocabulary. For example when a picture of a truck would come up, he would call it a car, possibly because it is easier for him to say car. I know he knows the word truck.

Well tomorrow we'll find out about the insurance & I'll update again.

WOO HOO!!!

Well, as I am still getting around to blogging my vacation, Bobo gave me such a great reason to blog this evening. I finally decided to take the diaper away. I had been waiting until I was ready and I thought he was ready. Well, I made my mind up this morning.

He made it through the day without having an accident!!! (well, not a pee accident, number 2 is a different story.)

So here we go! Hopefully tomorrow is as good as today.

Blogging Personal Assistant

I know I have not been in the habit of blogging lately. I have had some great ideas through the day of things to blog, but then when I sit down to actually blog, I can't remember what it was that I had been thinking of blogging. Then of course life happens all around me and now I haven't blogged in forever!

I was thinking if I had a personal assistant, things might go a little more smoothly. My personal assistant could take notes through the day when I had my great blogging ideas, and all the other things I have the knack of forgetting. Maybe I'm going about this all wrong, I'm sure a hiring someone could help out in my life in so many different ways. Oh, well.

Hopefully this will get me back on track to actually blogging again!

White Water Rafting

My sister asked me before I came out on my trip to visit her in Oregon, if I would like to go white water rafting. I'm usually up for anything, so I said OK. I'm so glad I did, it was one of the most fun things I have ever done in my life. I can't wait to have an opportunity to do something like this again.

Our trip was a 6 1/2 hour day, 16 miles on the Deschutes River. We met in Maupin, OR and got on the river there. We went about 4 miles down and had a great lunch grilled for us and got to dry off a bit. The rest was mostly riding the river.

Remember, if you click on the pictures they will enlarge and you can see the OH CRAP! looks on our faces better!

My sister is in a pink hat and I am in a beige hat.

This is one of the rapids we hit, we all had to get down in the boat.
And this is why!

This was the first rapid we hit!

It was hit pretty hard!

Yep! I was the first one out of the boat!

My sister and another guy got me back in pretty quick.
Everyone, except my sister got thrown out at a different rapid.

We also got to swim (float, get tossed around) in some Class 2 rapids.
That was pretty fun too!

We had water fights with the other boats.
We had our guns. We had a blast.

At one point many people from the boats chose to cliff dive. NOT I!

A Good Day!

I am leaving today to visit my sister in Oregon for two weeks. My husband will come out for one of the weeks, while my mother-in-law is staying at our house watching the young ones. I have been a little worried, the basic Mom worry about leaving my kids, but I am looking forward to spending time with my sis.

I don't know how much I'll be able to blog, so I will keep the memory blog going on below.

My dear friend Stacey brightened my day by upping her written memory to a live memory for all to see go here. (We did have fun!!!)

Kind of Being Tagged At Your Own Will/Risk

Memory Lane

I got this off my friend Julieann's site and thought I have not been great at blogging lately, so I'd give this a try.

Here are the directions: 1. As you comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember! 2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.

No Butt Invasion!!!!

I had planned on having a lovely colonoscopy this past Tuesday. I had awhile of things not liking going into my belly and would try to escape as soon as possible, or just give pain and let me know they weren't happy in there. I was just like one of my kids and soon after going to the doctor, I really didn't have any more problems. But I had these procedures scheduled. I had the CT scan and that came back negative. I have been billed something awful for past medical stuff. So I called my insurance company before my colonoscopy and found out they don't pay for a anesthesiologist (thank goodness for spell check!), they are optional, except for a few states. I guess I live in a state that it is mandatory to have an anesthesiologist, but the insurance company doesn't care about that.

All and all, I called my Dr.'s office and mentioned I hadn't had any problems since about the time I left the Dr.'s office and wanted to know how important this test was. They said not so much, unless I start having problems again--they understood the insurance problem too. So I canceled my buttscope, and hope not to have to do it until after 50...maybe in the next few years my insurance will change their policy.

The saddest thing about this is my oldest was so concerned she was about in tears. She was very upset that we don't have any money and I might really need this procedure. My heart went out to her and I explained the Dr.'s said it was okay to cancel. She does really worry about things.

Happy 3rd Birthday Bobo!

My youngest is three, well technically tomorrow, but the celebration was this past weekend. Bobo wanted a pirate birthday, so that is what happened.

We started the festivities with each kid making their pirate flag. Decorating construction paper with pre-printed and cut pirate graphics. (You'd think I would clean off the bar before taking a picture? And for those who haven't seen my ugly green walls with pink countertops---TADA!)

Next we decked the kids out in homemade bandannas to appear more pirate like and practiced saying AAARRRRGGGH!!!


Then we moved on to pin the X on the X. Yes, my creativity was just flowing...I had planned on drawing treasure chests on the circles, because X marks the spot for treasure, but it was easier to put an X on the circles.


My husband read How I Became a Pirate to the kids. Then after that we followed a map to find gold. (baggies filled with some Rollos, Hershey's in gold wrappers and butterscotch.) With the gold there was a pinata waiting.


We made the pinata, then my husband spray painted it for us. Making the pinata became a family event. During our first go with the paper mache, the balloon popped and myself, the kids and the entire kitchen was covered with flour water mixture. It stuck good too! Lesson learned, do paper mache outside.

Then of course we did presents and had cake and ice cream. I had read somewhere to pre-scoop the ice cream in cupcake liners, so they were ready to go----such and awesome idea. Bobo requested the pirate treasure chest cake. So that is what that cake is supposed to be.

We had a great time. Thanks to all that were able to come and celebrate the birthday with us!

New Addition

We just got a new dog this past week. We have friends that breed beagles and we had been thinking about getting some kind of hound dog. They had a surprise litter and we now have a puppy. Yes, that means I have been a little more busy. Max Uno is his name.

Good News/Not Great News

There has been some good news over the last few days.

Our AC is fixed and it was a free fix! Very, very good news. (Now we hope it'll make it through the summer.)

My middle child, who reads at a decent level, but HATES to read. She would rather do almost anything other than read. She read her first full chapter book by herself today. I am so excited!!! She actually asked to take the book with her while going to a friend's house. My oldest, who usually is glued in a book had asked to take the DS. My middle child tells me, "Mom, we must be in an alternate reality, because I want to bring a book and sister wants to bring the DS." Very cute. I made a really big deal about her book reading, I splurged and let her pick out a new paperback book while at Wal-mart. She is quite happy!

The not so great news is that my insides haven't been acting right lately and I went to the Dr. today and he scheduled over the next two Tuesdays a CAT Scan and a colonoscopy.

To The Movies

With our AC still broken we were looking for cool things to do this weekend and we broke down and decided to go to the movies. This is the first time since Monster House that we all went to the movies together. At Monster House I spent most of the time in the hallway of the movie theater with kids 2 (too scared) & 3 (couldn't sit still) when we did that.

We went to see Wall-E. We all made it through the movie. Bobo is old enough now that he really enjoyed the whole movie experience. This was really his first time at the movies, because me hanging out at the front of the theater for Monster House doesn't really count in my book. He loved the previews, he just laughed through the whole Beverly Hills Chihuahua preview. (Disney sure knows how to market!---yes, the understatement of the day.) He talked about the Chihuahuas for a good while after the movie. It was a good movie going experience and we all enjoyed the movie too!

AC guy is coming today. Hopefully it hasn't broken beyond repair. Yes, three breaks in one week stunk. Thankfully the weather has been unusually nice and the humidity has even been low the last few days.

UGH!

Oldest's toe is broken. It broke at the joint. She went to the Y and was playing dodgeball with her injured foot and reinjured it. There was more swelling on the foot, so that raised out interest to take her to the Dr., yes 4 days after the injury. It's just a toe break and there is nothing they can do for a toe break, except charge you a lot for your visit to 2 Dr.'s offices. (UGH!!!!) So we just wait. The only limits to her activities are her pain.

Yesterday my brother surprised me with a visit from him and his 3 kids. And of course the AC unit broke again!!!! UGH!!!!

Broken Things

Broken Hip

The first thing that started off broken was my hip (not bone broken--just not working right kind of broken). My old injury came back and I have had to hobble more and wince a lot more. I was nearly in tears by the end of Saturday night. I had been going all day long. I have taken off a few days this week from working out and went to a chiropractor and had my first real adjustment. I am hoping this gets better soon. I quit working out all together last year because of this same injury and I don't want to repeat that.

Broke Car

Sunday morning started off with early morning meetings at church. Our early meetings start 2 hours before our services start. It's just a long day for me and the kids (it's just me & the kids at church, Hubby stays home). With meetings they're there for over five hours & that's just a long day for all of us. My hubby offered to drop the kids off, I was so thankful. Well about 15 min before church was about to start, he wasn't there, which is late for him. I started getting worried. I got a message on my phone that he had a flat tire, he had noticed it before he left the house. He got it fixed and got the kids there in their Sunday dress during the opening song. I was quite impressed. I was glad that he was able to fix it and we were able to get it patched later. He did get a speeding ticket on the way home.

Broke House

Our AC broke down Sunday night. It was fixed Monday evening to break again Monday night, but got fixed Tuesday evening again. It was hot and I totally was going to start Siesta in our house, but we usually had to leave by 3pm, or else drown in our sweat! Glad to have AC again.

Broke Kid

Because we had no AC. I went and searched for our slip n slide for the kids to play on to keep cool. Well, middle Child #2 rammed into Child #1's foot with her head while slipping & sliding. I was inside trying to read a book and Child #1 is very gifted in overreacting and exaggerating. I heard her just going on and on and on and on about how she was hurt. She limps on her foot a lot afterward, which she is also great at milking things. I hadn't noticed any swelling or bruising. I wasn't too concerned about it at all. So I just kind of ignored it, until later that evening, when she took off her shoe.....lot's of swelling and bruising. Oh, I felt just awful. Everything looked better the next morning, so I don't think there was an actual break, but I don't think I'll be up for the Mommy Award of the Year either.

Things Are Good

I know these things are such little things and we have really been enjoying our summer and having a blast!

Flashback Friday

The Inseparable Kids

Again, not a too far back flashback.

This one is taken from a few years back. Back when we lived in Albany, GA and my 2nd child and Stacey's 2nd child were just about inseparable. She had also lived in the area longer and helped us out a ton showing us places to go. Well, these pictures were taken of a trip to Pirate's Cove. It's a swampy area with walking & biking trails all over.

Well, while we are there, my oldest daughter was probably around 6. She fell over the side of the path, which was roped off. She fell right into a swampy area, into the water and landed straight on what I guess was a cypress either root or stump (the pointy kind) right in the middle of her stomach. It was a very scary experience, she ended up just being badly bruised.

Something close to those stump like things up out of the water.

I came across these pictures and just brought back some great memories.

Me and both of our kids.
Minus Bobo, he was probably home with Dad.

I have also had a lot of people ask me where Bobo got his nickname from and he got it from the little guy in the front. Yep, the little one with the pacifier.

We miss you guys!!!