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Saturday, April 25, 2009

My Famdango

Meet Ken. He is an Embalmer/Funeral Director. He LOVES to stay up late and watch television shoes that he's DVR's. When his shows aren't over and he's still not tired he will do the laundry and play Xbox. He doesn't have a serious bone in his body unless he's working with a grieving family. Often times when I ask him a question or make a request, he takes on the character of a mentally challenged person. He either pretends he doesn't know what I am talking about or makes fun of me. Although it bugs me when he takes this character on while we are trying to have serious discussion, I can't help but laugh because it cracks me up. He especially enjoys doing this when we have guests in our home.

Below is a video, that is NOT rehearsed or redone so I could get it on video. I was simply recording my kids and then turned to look at him and this is what he did...sigh.

This is Nicole. She was sitting in my room when I was taking videos and so I asked her if she wanted me to tape her. She said sure. You will see that there really isn't anything special about the following video. Nicole had a fever of 102.4 when I taped this. I'm actually posting it because everytime I look at my girl, I can't believe how pretty she is, and I wanted to show everyone her fantastic smile. She is my dream come true for a daughter. I LOVE HER!!

Lastly, my best boy, Matthew. He is smart and funny and a class clown. He gets in trouble at school because he makes jokes behind the teacher's back. Although I don't aprove of him being a class clown, I'm not surprised. Ken and I guessed his lot in school life before he entered the nursury at church. Below is a little clip. When yo uwatch it, think bobble head. I'm one proud mom!

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Thoughts on Earth Day...


I'm not going to give you an introduction to my feelings about earth or how we should treat it. I'm just going to tell you some of the things I feel. If you like it or if you hate it, that's okay!

I like to use the Gold Canyon cleaning line in my house. I think it smells nice and works well too. If you are interested in trying it, the lady I buy it from has a website you can go to and she is awesome. Let me know and I'll send you the link.

If my all natural--environmentally friendly products didn't work, I would have no problem going straight back to the more harsh and bad for the earth products.

I don't feel like a hero because of the cleaning products I like to use.

I have no problem with drilling for oil--ANYWHERE. This earth was created for us and if Heavenly Father has provided resources for us to use, I suggest we thank Him and use them!

All though I am not against developing cities and towns, I HATE that so many trees are being clear cut! I was home in January and I was shocked at how many trees and foresty areas are no longer.

I am not worried about Global Warming or the Ozone deteriorating.

Those bags they sell in Super Markets that are reusable make GREAT trick or treat bags AND gift bags! lol you can pay a dollar for a cheap paper one that I would most likely pitch after the party or you can pay a dollar for a reusable one. It isn't rocket science!

If organic produce and other groceries are close enough in cost, I don't mind paying a few extra cents for them. I choose organic anytime I can afford it. On the other hand, I don't deprive my kids of fruits and vegetables that are sold in the grocery store just because there isn't an organic variety available.

I don't litter...unless you count spitting my gum out on the interstate littering. I have a dear friend that does. She and her kids were shocked when I spit my gum out the window while we were driving down a street in her town.

I used dispoable diapers on both my kids and planned to use them on #3 as well. If we have any more kids, I'll buy stock in pampers.

I love the earth!! I have lived in a few different places in this beautiful country. None are comparable in landscape. I've learned that the people are the same no matter where you go. Some are nice, some are not. Some make you crazy and some keep you from going crazy. I love the mountains and the prairies. The Cascade Mountain Range is breath taking to me. So if a Kansas Sunset over a wheat field. I'm thankful that I have the opportunity to live in this great country on this great planet. Happy Earth Day!
PS, I had a BAD typo in my first draft of this that I missed. If you saw it, I do not HATE anyone!! Sorry!!

Part 2 of Ironing and My Life as a Musical...

I don't really think I need to explain. These 3 short videos tell the whole story. I'm not really sure what I would say if I had to. I am glad these are my guys forever.

Video 2...I don't think I would have discovered this is Matthew would have just changed his stinking white shirt!!

At the end of the day...

Matthew wore a wrinkled shirt to church.

Ken is NOT the American Idol OR the Spanish Idol.

Nicole did NOT iron that shirt. (it would have looked better if she did!) Matthew got it out of his dirty clothes basket. Nice.

PS...Although we have told the kids to stop quoting Stuart, as you saw in video 2, Matthew did not. Sadly, he probably will not stop either.

Monday, April 20, 2009

We've Upgraded

I don't typically show the world when we buy something new. That's not really my style. HOWEVER, I can't help it this time because I AM SO EXCITED!!!!!

This is my first piano. Ken bought it for me in 2001 before we moved to Utah. It has lived in Bremerton WA, 2 places in Utah, 2 places in Grandview, WA, Troutdale, OR, Vancouver, WA and 2 places in Kansas. When we got it is needed tuned BADLY. For all the time I've owned it, I NEVER got it tuned. My brother gave me the money to get it tuned for Christmas 2 years ago and I saved it because we were getting bad weather and the guy couldn't get to our house. I finally made the appointment and between the day I set it and the day he was going to come, Ken flew to Kansas, interviewed for a job and accepted it, so I canceled the appt and we moved. I spent the money on gas to get to KS. It served it's purpose in our home, I was able to practice the piano whenever I wanted and I'm thankful for it.

We moved that piano out on Saturday and got this one today. I LOVE IT!! Rather, I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!! It is only 4 years old, and I got a smokin' deal on it because the owner is moving to Nebraska into an apartment and couldn't take it with her. AND it has a bench! The other one did not.

So all I have to say is out with the old and with the new! YEAH!!



Sunday, April 19, 2009

This photo is for my friend Jess!

HELP!!!!!!!

As you can see I have changed my background. I'm not actually in love with it but I'm scared to changed it again because it deleted my whole blog list!! So, if you ever saw your name on my blog list and it didn't tick you off, will you please reply to this so I can get the link from your profile?! Thank you! Dedra

Saturday, April 18, 2009

100 things you don't know...

...about MOI. I'm going to tell you anyway!!

So I know I've written lists about things I'm thankful for and I've done the tags about weird or random things I've done, but I'm so awesome I've decided to share another list...a longer awesomer one! Here goes...

1. I claim to be creative although in reality I steal 92.4% of my ideas from magazines and more recently other blogs, and then just add a different twist to them to make them my own invention.
2. Every time I see 10:24 on the clock I wish myself a happy birthday. I also notice the clock for several of my family members. Often times at night, I go to bed around 10 and then at 10:24 I send a text to my sister asking her where my gifts are. Then I see the clock at 11:15 (Ken's B-day) and then close my eyes for the night after it turns to 11:16 (My Mom's B-day) Occasionally I'm lucky enough to wake up and see 1:24 (My Dad's B-day) so I wish him a happy birthday too...EVERYDAY. I've been doing this for YEARS but only told my sister about a month ago. Now all of you can celebrate your life and the life of your loved ones everyday too...or you can think it's weird. Whatever works for you!
3. I only like stainless steel sinks in the kitchen. Any other kind annoys me...ALOT. I might actually say I hate them. I can never get them to sparkle the way a nice stainless steel one does!
4. I don't think I had a sense of humor until I was in High School. I never got the jokes and I felt awkward in groups where they were talking about things and laughing because I couldn't see the humor in them. There were a couple of times I brought the info home and asked my Dad about it and learned that we weren't really talking about appropriate things. Luckily I didn't know about other tidbits of info until later too. Yikes!
5. I had a room in the house we lived in Larned that was empty. No furniture at all. I LOVED it. Then we got a couch. That is all I would allow in there. It was a beautiful room.
6. I've made most of the blankets we have in our home. I'm not one to follow a traditional pattern; I just make up my own. We have blankets that are designed to look like a Tetris Game, one with Pieced Tow Trucks and Traffic Lights, a couple with hearts, on that has different sights from Kansas City and Kansas just to name a few. Sewing is one of my creative outlets. I love that there is no limit to what I can create with fabric. Thanks Mom!
7. I have enough clothes that I could wear a different outfit everyday for 3 weeks and never wear the same thing twice. No, I'm not a big shopper. I just don't realize that things are worn out until they are really WORN OUT. I'm weeding through those clothes right now. I refuse to buy more hangers. When I put this specific shirt on this morning, Nicole asked me if I liked it. I told her this was new brown shirt, of course I like it. She said it wasn’t new and she is right! I bought it 2 ½ years ago. Isn’t new relative?
8. Ken and I don't have room in the dresser that we share for our socks because the 5th drawer is filled with scrapbook paper. I need another bin!
9. I LOVE GARLIC! I eat it often and have been known to put way too much in a dish. The bad part is that I'm allergic to it. The pain I feel after eating even a small amount is horrible. Still, it's worth the sacrifice. mmm, garlic.
10. Ken never beats me at board or card games. He's even a good sport about it. Me on the other hand, if I think I'm going to lose, or if he gets ahead for even a round, I freak out and all my good sportsmanship goes down with my battleship.
11. I've taken over 12 gig of pictures THIS YEAR already.
12. I want to work at Dunder Mifflin and get all the facts from Dwight Schrute.
13. I still have my wisdom teeth...at age 31.
14. I won $10 the first and only time I ever played pull-tabs at the bowling alley.
15. The low fuel light in my car has been on since Tuesday...I'll get gas tomorrow (Friday).
16. I love making beds.
17. When I was in third grade I looked up all the swear words I knew in the dictionary at school and circled them with my pencil.
18. I was kicked out of Toys R Us when I was in High School.
19. I LOVE LOVE LOVE my husband. He is the funniest, nicest, weirdest person I know and the perfect man for me. I'm lucky to have him.
20. I don't forget people that I've been friends with. I still wonder about my best friend from 1st grade. I worry about relationships that went bad from High School and beyond and constantly pray for opportunities to make them right. I can't say how thankful I am each time I've had a chance for closure. I grieve over the relationships I've had that ended poorly and cannot be repaired do to the passing of the other person...times 2.
21. I cannot wait to raise my baby boy and I wish with all my heart that I could become pregnant again to get the rest of my family here.
22. Although I am right handed I put my left sock and shoe on first. I also wash my left arm first in the shower and put my left earring on first.
23. I have a friend that I knew in Troutdale, Oregon who has inspired my more than she'll ever know. Because of her I have a desire to one day become a published author. Hopefully that day will be here sooner than later.
24. When I was in High School I had 2 sets of friends of who were siblings. They were less than a year apart in age. When I learned that I decided that I wanted to have kids that were less than a year apart. Nicole and Matthew are 10 1/2 months apart. They are the same age for 40 days each year. It is just as awesome and I always thought it would be.
25. I don't like squid. It is disgusting.
26. If I could get paid to go to school, I'd be a professional student.
27. I have tiny veins. If I have to fast before having blood work done, I plan on at least 20 minutes in the chair with the phlebotomist digging and poking and tightening the tourniquet often to get one of them to show up. Also, an IV is good for about 8-10 hours and then by vein will either collapse or the pain and bruising will be bad enough they will need to put it elsewhere.
28. On that same note I'm allergic to virtually every good pain med available...Vicadin, Percaset, Morphine and codeine just to begin the list. If I have surgery or a baby, good old fashioned Tylenol 500mg each is my pain killer.
29. I picked my cell phone because it is red. It wasn't until I told my Dad how pretty it was and we were talking about the featured that I learned a BlackBerry was a good phone. I have to say, I LOVE IT!
30. I like my dog. It took me a long time to be able to say that. He's pretty cute in an ugly sort of way and he's dumber than a bag of rocks, but I like him anyway.
31. I don't love Disneyland. I've been there 3 times and each time we leave I feel like I'll be fine if I never go back.
32. When I was growing up I wanted to be a nun. I didn't understand requirements and after I learned you had to be Catholic, I thought I could just start a club for our religion. I got over that by middle school when I got my first radio.
33. The Amish religion is fascinating to me. A lot like nuns were to me when I was younger. However, I don't want to be Amish...anymore. :) They would shun me because I'm too mouthy.
34. I think Bath and Body Works has the best lip stuff on the planet! It sparkles and tingles and makes lips look beautiful!
35. I love Math! When I was in College I took more math classes than I needed just because I thought they were fun and it allowed me one class a term that was not stressful to me.
36. I often wonder if my idea of art or beauty is accurate. More than once I have taken a picture or showed someone I was with something that I thought was really neat and the response what nothing like I thought it would be. I guess that is another blessing from Heavenly Father. Wouldn’t it be boring if we were all the same and there wasn’t variety? On the flipside, I often end up feeling like a nerd. lol
37. I enjoy the smell of skunk.
38. When I buy clothes, specifically shirts, I buy the same style in 3 or 4 different colors. Typically Red and Black and then I vary between brown, navy blue, white and some other shade of blue. All my shirts are V-neck. Because of these 2 habits, I won 5 red v-neck shirts. I love them all. Red is my favorite color and it’s a nice color on me too. That’s just a bonus though, because I would probably wear it anyway.
39. I have conversations with myself. Many times I have been thinking about a conversation I had, or that I think I might have and I say a thought or response out loud. It seems like when this happens, my kids are always with me and one of them will ask what I said and the other will say she’s not talking to us, she’s talking to herself. The next response from either child is, ‘She’s so weird!’ If the shoe fits.
40. I like cleaning my kids’ ears and checking their hair for build up. Luckily and Sadly, they both have fairly good hygiene for their ages so we don’t see much dirt anymore. I feel more lucky than sad about that.
41. I’ve never watched a Soap Opera.
42. In my spare time I like to read the Dictionary and look at my Atlas.
43. Other things I do to pass my time are practice my penmanship. I especially enjoy writing my name and the names of my family and friends.
44. I like making a list of things to do and the crossing off each thing that I accomplish. Sometimes my lists have so many details that I can cross off 4 or 5 lines just by cleaning my bathroom. Check, check, check, check, check!! LOVE IT!
45. I can solve a Rubik’s Cube.
46. I got pregnant when I was a teenager. (I had her when I was 20)
47. I like to play with play dough. Only the homemade kind that has Kool-Aid in it…that way it doesn’t stink.
48. I am a Cheese Fondue Ninja. I am can any kind you want and it will be just as good as or better than the Melting Pot Mmmm fondue!
49. I was accepted into LDS Business College. Ken moved to Washington instead.
50. I regret not going to college before I got married. I missed out on the whole ‘College Experience’ way waiting. I am thankful that I did go to college though. I love my piece of paper that says I know stuff…or at least passed the classes that were teaching stuff. lol
51. My favorite numbers are 4, 8, 24 and if those aren’t choices available, typically I pic a number that is divisible by 24 and even.
52. Tetris is the best Nintendo Game ever created. When we had a Nintendo and I played (OFTEN) I could make it to level 18 easily. LOVE that game!
53. I like my hands and dislike my feet.
54. I love socks.
55. In 2007 I dubbed that year, ‘the year of experimental dinners.’ I tried new recipes at least 4 days out of each week, and I made up at least 1 a week. From that year we liked many dishes, LOVE probably 9 or 10 and my family will NEVER eat cauliflower again. Good times!
56. All the stuff in the front of Hobby Lobby (vases and home décor and frames and bla bla bla) doesn’t faze me at all. It rarely grabs my attention and if something actually does, I have enough of a sound mind to know that I don’t need it. The good side of that is that I don’t have stuff all over my house. The bad part is that when I’m asked to decorate for something at the church, I don’t have anything I can use so I end up borrowing, buying it then, or saying no.
57. The last time I was asked to decorate for an enrichment event I was assigned 1 table. The other 2 tables were nicely decorated with birdhouses and jars of buttons and other crafty things. I brought a stack of white paper that I ‘borrowed’ from the art closet at work, 2 boxes of crayons and a 1 box of markers and we colored. It was the best table!
58. I have never drank alcohol, smoked cigarette, tried tobacco or any other illegal substance. I have sniffed country time lemonade though…at girl’s camp.
59. I still mourn the death of Phil Hartman.
60. Although I know a little bit about a lot of things, I can’t think of anything I know a lot about.
61. I can play all but 2 of the hymns in the hymnbook and all the primary songs on the piano. I can fake them on the organ. The only song I can play without music is heart and soul.
62. I bought a new to me piano this week. I’ll have it in a week or so. I’m so excited!!
63. My natural temperature is 97.3. That is also my favorite radio station in Seattle, WA.
64. When I was in Jr High, High School and even for most of my adult life I have enjoyed Country Music. I don’t love it very much anymore. The old songs I enjoyed I still like, but I’m not loving the new stuff as much. I’d much rather listen to Celtic thunder or a CD of General Conference.
65. When I was pregnant with Matthew we bought new couches. Once we ordered them we had to wait for 8 weeks before they arrived. During that waiting period, about week 5, I was pretty crazy (8 months pregnant) and threw out our old couches. We didn’t have anything but lawn chairs to sit on for 3 weeks and although I was upset about that, I never admitted that it was my fault…until now. Poor Ken! The things he has to put up with when I’m pregnant.
66. I love surprises and I get really disappointed when one is spoiled.
67. I don’t care about politics.
68. My favorite book in the B.O.M is 3 Nephi.
69.The first time I had my own identity rather than so and so’s sister was when my family moved to Silverdale WA the summer before I started 8th grade. This was also the first time I was in YW without any siblings.
70. I’m my Dad’s favorite. (Don’t tell my brothers and sisters, they haven’t been told yet)
71. My favorite Disney movie is Robin Hood.
72. Although I have been playing the piano since I was 4 or 5, I don’t really have any idea about theory. It confuses me.
73. I don’t look at myself as an instant gratification girl. I don’t need to run out and buy something as soon as I think of it. I can wait if I want something. BUT, if I want to go on a road trip, I have to leave NOW! I don’t like planning for it. Maybe I am an instant gratification girl!
74. I love to play outside in the pouring down rain. Puddle jumping is so much fun! The water falling on my head is exhilarating to me. One of my favorite memories from high School was walking home in the rain. My friends and I would go puddle jumping. There was a mosh pit at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds that would fill up nicely and we went swimming in it. It was so much fun.
75. I love camp songs. I sing them with my kids.
76. Although I prefer long finger nails, I keep mine short so I can type and play the piano better.
77. If my kids want to watch TV we make them write us a 50 word story first. It has to be from their own imagination. We have just started this, but we love it so much I’m pretty sure it will be a new rule.
78. I only answer my phone if I know the phone number that is calling.
79. I hate to say this, but I think I like to iron again. Okay, maybe I don’t like ironing, but I LOVE to see all Ken’s shirts neatly pressed in his closet.
80. My favorite sweet treat is Butter light popcorn with Milk Duds. My favorite salty treat is original stax with teriyaki jerky. I know they are both sweet and salty mixed, but when I want something sweet I go for the first and when I want something salty I go for the second. I should clarify that I don’t even have these treats once a month…that is why I can call them a treat.
81. I like to push all my hair forward and act like there is nothing wrong with it when I’m around my kids. It embarrasses them.
82. I am very tender headed. I don’t comb or brush my hair EVER. Besides when I get my hair cut, I don’t think I’ve brushed my hair in 6 or 7 years…it hurts too bad.
83. Sometimes I take a picture just because it I know it will be a good story for my blog.
84. When I was a little girl I would often look in the mirror and not recognize my own face. I’d just stare and wonder who that girl was and why is she here.
85. I like to pop my toes. I just did!
86. I do not enjoy LDS fiction books. I used to read them all the time. I have since grown tired of them. Even though some of my once favorite authors have new books out, I am no longer interested in them.
87. I am growing out my hair so that I can donate it to Locks of Love. I haven’t had long hair since I had my friend cut it back in 2002. If I would have been thinking correctly, I would have had the 11 inches she cut off donated then, but I was not. So I’m going to do it now. It’s only been 3 months since my last haircut and I’m going crazy with it, but I’m going to do this.
88. The worst part about being a mom is having to take my kids to the park. I LOATHE PARKS!!!
89. I heard that the Musical Wicked it going to be made into a movie. It probably won’t be in the theaters for 2 years or so, but I AM SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!
90. Not long ago I looked in the mirror and said out loud, ‘I look like a 30 year old!’ Then I thought to myself, I am a 30 year old! 31 actually. This is actually one of the first times I’ve been okay with that! The 30’s has not been an easy transition for me.
91. I miss living 1/10 of a mile from my friend Becky. We had so much fun!
92. I am not photogenic. That means photos that are exact reflections of myself are not the greatest. I’m not really sure I want to examine that thought further!
93. I can type 63 words per minute with 1 or 2 typos. I can type 100 words per minute with 45-50 errors.
94. When I was in High School my Mom did all my homework for one of my History Classes. When I went to take the quizzes I wrote ABACADABA down all the multiple guess sheets and I got 2 A’s a B. Sweet!
95. I have a Whirlpool Cabrio Washer and Drier. We bought them in December. I believe if we have to do laundry in Heaven, these will be the washers and driers available to use…They are AWESOME!
96. Ken calls his Blazer a truck and our dog a kid. Both of these things bug me!
97. I like to give Barbie haircuts…STILL. When Nicole asks if we can trim one of her dolls’ hair, I say yes and practice my excellent cutting skills on them. Some look good, some not so good.
98. Each year after Ken and I watch the Tony Awards (The best award show EVER) I go onto Wikipedia and read the spoilers for the shows that look good to us. Then I got Youtube and watch any videos they have. Finally, we decide if we should buy a soundtrack. This is how we discovered Wicked. We first saw it on the Tony’s. A few years later it finally came to Portland. We’ve seen it twice now and I’d go again tomorrow if I had the opportunity. I LOVE MUSICALS!! (I realize this is something that you probably already knew. Cut me some slack though, this is a long list!)
99. I think Dieter F. Euchtdorf looks like Barry Bostwick.
100. It took me 3 days to write this.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Happy Birthday Grandpa!

Today is my Grandpa Price's Birthday. He is 85.

When I was growing up in Boise, Idaho, then Oregon and finally Washington, one of my favorite things to do was go to Basin City to visit my Grandparents and my cousins.

Here are some memories I have from Basin City as well as with my Grandpa.

*My Grandparents used to have a mini car. I just asked my Mom what kind it was and she said it was a miniature Datsun Pickup. It was gas powered and when we sat in it, our heads stuck out the roof. When we would go visit, we'd spend hours doing laps around my grandparents house in the mini car with our cousins and my grandpa. I wish I had a picture of it, I don't feel like I'm describing it well enough.

*My grandparents lived in a small town out about 25 miles from town. Once we would take the exit by the airport to drive to their house, the hunt was on for 'Grandpa's Harvestors.' They were 2 tall grain silos that held grain, located up on radar hill, just passed their town. When we could see those harvestors, we knew we'd FINALLY be there. I haven't driven that long road in many years, but as a child it felt like it took about 2 hours to get there.

*When my Grandma died, 20 years ago next month, we stayed in their house while we were in town for the funeral. That house was very large and had many bedrooms. Since there was other family coming into town for the Funeral that were staying there also, some of the grandkids were put on the couches downstairs. I slept on the recliner infront of the Zenith Console TV. The night before the funeral, at the ripe old age of 11, I slept walk and ended up in bed with every single person in that house. If memory serves correctly, I think there were 7 bedrooms. I was in bed with my Grandpa when my Aunt Jan and Uncle Tom came into town. Apparantly I got up and left while they were visiting. The next morning, I learned that I took a turn in their bed also. I've not heard of any reoccurences of my sleep walking habit since then.

*When we went to visit we would eat my Grandpa's Honey Comb Cereal. I still love honey comb to this day and everytime I eat it I think of my Grandpa.

*My grandpa was at the temple when I took out my endowments. Ken happened to be there also. (we weren't engaged then) When I introduced him to my Grandpa, he told Ken that he didn't want to meet him again if it wasn't at this same building (the temple) dressed in white. Ken shook his hand said said, 'Yes Sir.' We were married in the same building 6 months later and my Grandpa was a witness.

Here are some pics of My Grandpa. I love him very much!!
July 2008, in Moses Lake, WA at the Price Family Reunion.
At his house in Kennewick, WA.

Monday, April 13, 2009

Ironing Shirts

I think it is against my religion to iron shirts. Certainly when we get to Heaven there will be a remedy to this problem!

I probably average ironing about 5 shirts a YEAR for Ken and he has to wear a shirt and tie EVERYDAY to work. Since I'm trying to be a better wife I decided that I would start ironing his shirts. I didn't tell him that, I thought I'd surprise him. When I started ironing, Nicole asked me if I would teach her how. YES! I have an out. My goal at that moment changed from being a good wife to being a good Mom that teached her daughter important life skills. I know she's 10 and I should have taught her like 3 or 4 years ago. (I learned when I was 6 and LOVED it! (That was then...))
Anyway, Nicole loved it a little bit. Not as much and she thought she would, but she did stick to it for 3 shirts. Below you will see Ken holding up 4 shirts that were ironed today. 1 that I did to show her how to iron and then the 3 that she did herself. See if you can figure out which one I did. Good Luck!! (ps, I'm not sure I mentioned how talented Colie is at putting shirts on hangers too! I think I had a trouble with that until I wasi n High School!)

This shirt is Matthew's.

I just remembered a funny ironing story from when I was in 5th or 6th grade. My Dad hadlost his job in Oregon where we were living so he took a job in Boise, Idaho and was gone all week, then came home on the weekends. When he got home this was particular weekend, he told me he'd give me $5.00 to iron all his work shirts. I was happy for that and went right to work. I think I ironed 5 or 6 shirts. When they were all done, I went and told my Dad so I could collect my sweet moola. He was surprised that I could finish the job so quickly! When he went and inspected my work, he figured out how I got the job done so fast. I didn't know I was supposed to wash them first! I ironed 5 or 6 dirty dress shirts. oops! He still paid me the $5.00. I guess my Mom must have reironed those shirts because I didn't do it. lol oohhh, good times.

Happy Easter!

Each year at Easter we focus less and less on the Easter Bunny and TRY to focus more and more on the Atonement of Jesus Christ and what that means for each of us.

We informed the kids a few weeks ago that this year the Easter Bunny was going to fill a family basket instead of baskets for each individual person. Both Nicole and Matthew were fine with that, but my fourth child...aka Kenneth Gerald Cheney or my Husband...didn't like the idea and thought it was lame. So at the last minute (Saturday night at 10:45 when I was at Walmart being the procrastinating Easter Bunny that I am, I folded and got a few extra things to fill small baskets for all three of the big babies.

Nicole and Matthew were surprised and really happy when they found the surprise on Sunday morning. Ken was glad he didn't have to share his resses peanut butter bunnies.

The baskets didn't have anything special in them (look closely and you can see they each got a lint roller and erasers that they need for school) and the treats were eaten very quickly. The fun part came later on Sunday afternoon when we colored our eggs and then hid them over and over in the front room for the kids to find. We did it inside because we were being blessed with rain all day Sunday. I loved that too!

Since Nicole was not feeling well yet, we decided to have eggs and hashbrowns for dinner last night and we have a more traditional Easter Dinner tonight before FHE.

Although yesterday was really nice, TODAY was amazing. We had a nice dinner that the kids helped me prepare and then for FHE we started the article, 'He is Risen' out of the April Ensign. We looked at the first 3 pictures, read the captions and looked up the references in our scriptures. As we were explaining what was going on the kids had so many questions about the Atonement that we were reading other passages in the scriptures to answer their questions and we showed them extra pictures from the new Gospel Art Book the church has put out (which is AWESOME). The spirit that was present at our FHE tonight was so sweet and I could tell that my kids were really getting it. It seems like we go through the motions of FHE so often that when I can see a light I get so excited.
When we tucked the kids in tonight for bed, the questions were still coming and we decided that we would continue with the article for our scripture study for the rest of the week.
What a great day.

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Are we on the Interstate?

Yesterday we were driving to Stake Conference in Salina, KS. It's about an hour and 15 minutes from the house. While we were driving on a normal highway Nicole asked if we were on the Interstate. My sweet girl needs to get out more. (We only see an Interstate 4 or 5 times a YEAR where we live, unless we decide to take extra trips to Wichita for some reason)

Does this look like I-5 to anyone? LOL

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Excused or Unexcused Absence?

Okay, so here's my excuse for being the 2nd lamest blogger in the world. (First prize going to my sister, Gina)

Last Thursday, Matthew came home from school with a fever of 99.8. That evening it was almost 103 degrees. He was sick for almost a week and I took him to the doctor. Diagnosis..Walking Pneumonia.

Fast forward to this Thurday. Nicole came home from school with a faver of 99.7. That evening it was just over 102. Last night it's still burning out of control. I called the doctor, she starts antibiotics today. Just to add another element of scary, Nicole has a low tolerance with it comes to fevers and she actually seizes between 101 and 102. It is a MIRACLE that she has not been in t he hospital.

So, needless to say, I'm not really concerned about the blog, facebook, or dinner at the moment. I just need my kiddos to return to their funny selves and then we can move on!

Hopefully that will happen soon. Until then, I'll try to find something to take a picture of that is not my kids with flushed cheeks and bright red lips, looking really pathetic.

Oh, on a happier note, I did 7 loads of laundry yesterday, I threw away 3 garbage bags full of stained and holey clothes, filled another garbage bag with good outgrown clothes for my friend, and I filled 2 18 gallon bins with winter clothes. On top of that, I mated 110 pairs of socks. It is amazing what you find with you clean under the kids' beds!!

ttfn

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

This and That from This Week Volume 2

Tonight we had an enrichment activity at a lady's house here in town. We made stone soup and learned how to can meat. It was a nice evening. I think this might be the summer that I actually try to can something. I'm not really sure what that something will be, but I'll keep you posted...stay tuned.
***
I had a doctors appointment today at 9:00 am. When I got there, I learned that although I scheduled and appointment and they gave me a time, they didn't put it in the computer. I had to reschedule for later in the month. I was a little bit annoyed, I missed 2 hours of work. I thought about sending THEM a bill for 25 dollars but of course I won't. Mistakes happen and I wasn't looking forward to the appt anyway.
***
Matthew came home from school on Thursday with a temperature of 100.7. By Friday night it was 104.4. After a long weekend with lots of fever reducing meds, an actual housecall from a Dr. (Thanks Josh!) and over a gallon of gatorade, Matthew seems to be fine now. We were worried for a little bit.
***
I LOVE GENERAL CONFERENCE!!! Since Matthew was sick, I stayed home for most of General Conference with him and watched it on TV. I had been looking forward to conference for over a month and I was not dissapointed. A friend of mine compaired General Conference to taking nice hot spiritual shower...and I agree with her. When the final session was over I was dissapointed but I felt renewed and hopeful. I'm so thankful for messages and songs. Quite often I felt like that speakers wrote their talks specifically for me. Those messages couldn't have come at a more perfect time.
***
2 more school days until a 4 day weekend, Easter and Stake Conference. I'm also hoping to get rid of all the clothes that keep coming through my laundry that are stained and/or still folded. It's time to downsize.
***
Before conference started on Saturday morning, I unpacked all but 4 boxes that have been loitering in my laundry room since the last week of SEPTEMBER. I need a book shelf for the 4 boxes of books that remain. I've made it a goal to get that shelf before next September.

You know those febreeze commericals where the lady walks in her front door, breaths deeply, then closes the door. Then repeats? That is how I feel about my laundry room now. I just keep opening the door and looking at how awesome it looks, then I go about my work, only to end up there again. It's a truly beautiful site.
***
In the April Ensign there are 5 or 6 pages of paintings of the Savior from the time he was in the Garden of Gethsemane continuing on thru his ministry after he was resurected. It is BEAUTIFUL and truly touching. I encourage all of you to look at those pages and read the scripture references that go along with them.
***
I hope you are all well and the Spring is really truly on it's way. Thanks for reading my blog and caring enough to comment every once in a while. You make my day.

Sunday, April 5, 2009

10 questions

Occasionally I post a tag here that I've gotten from Facebook. Here is my recent one...

1. What is your favorite word?
A: oximoron

2. What is your least favorite word?
A: Typically I dislike made up words..co-ink-ee-dink instead of conisidence, edumacation instead of education, skissors instead of scissors, etc as well as baby talk spoken by anyone over the age of 2.

3. What inspires you?
A: General Conference, the Ensign, my family, a clean room or closet, beautiful art, piano music

4. What discourages you?
A: I'm not going to blame any one or anything. Typically when I'm discouraged it's because I don't have my priorites right.

5. What sound do you love?
A: A good pair of sciddors cutting fabric,

6. What sound do you hate?
A: Yelling, alarm clocks and Hillary Clinton's voice

7. What is your favorite curse word?
A: I don't have a favorite. Although I sometimes slip and say one, I think the use of profanity actually lowers your IQ. I've never heard a person cussing and swearing and thought what they had to say was of any importance.

8. What profession other than yours would you like to attempt?
A: Phlebotomy

9. What profession would you not like to do?
A: Mortician

10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates? A: Well done, my good and faithful servant.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Mother Nature's April Fools Joke

I didn't post anything yesterday because I couldn't think of any good April Fools jokes and because nothing worth blogging happened.


This morning we had a natural April Fools joke. This is how it goes...
7:30am...Look! We have almost 3 inches of snow in our yard! Is winter finally showing his face?
4:30 pm...No! April Fools!
Okay...Now for a magic trick
Now you see it...
Now you don't!