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.