I am no longer private...

Okay, I hate being private so much that I decided to go public again. Go over to http://cheneychattervolume2.blogspot.com/. Follow ME!

I started a new blog

As you may have read in my last post, this blog is full. SO, from this time further (until I fill the next blog up) please head on over to cheneychattervolume2.blogspot.com/. Your invite will be in the mail shortly, if you haven't received it already.

ttfn

I'm on strike.

okay peeps. My blog is full. I can't post anymore pictures on here, not even a tiny small one from my cellphone. I have to pay to keep this little blogdango going. I'm going to. I'm just on strike for a couple of days. I don't like giving google money for a free blog. It's lame. Even though it's not even very much money. (less than 10 dollars.) That being said.

Stay tuned for some awesome pictures with poor quality taken on my cell phone. In the last 3 days I've made dresses for my girls, painted a couple walls in my house chocolate brown and stalked my friend Amy some more.

I'll pay for more memory soon because my friend is coming to visit me and we are going to have a lot of good junk to post on here. Have a good day!

ps, hola gina. you're a turd.

Happy Birthday Mayson!

Happy Birthday to my nephew Mayson! He is 12 years old today!

Here are two fun facts about Mayson.

• He is Matthew's favorite cousin. The things those 2 boys do together is both scary and totally awesome.
• He knows a lot of stuff about rabbits and raises prize winning ones through the 4H program and at the fair. (Does that make sense? He's a Rabbit Ninja!)

Happy Birthday Mayson! I love you!

Happy Birthday Regann!

Happy Birthday to my niece Regann. She is 14 years old!

Here are 2 fun facts about Regann.

• She earned her Young Women's medallion as a beehive...back in November.
• Today is her first youth conference and her first youth dance is TONIGHT. very cool.

Happy Birthday Regann! I love you!

Borrowed from another blog for your reading pleasure.

I read this post on my friends blog. I love reading her blog. In fact, I love reading everything she writes. I thought you might enjoy this also.


Eating Sea Monkeys...and Liking It.


We're not big meat eaters in our home. I grew up with meat and potatoes whereas He-Man was raised on beans and rice. Somehow, in the past decade we've managed to gravitate to eating green-food, eggs, beans and grains and lots of potatoes and pasta. While we haven't completely eliminated meat from our diet, it's generally not the center of our meal. 

Naturally, we're healthier for it too. We love salads and roasted potatoes. We eat quinoa and several other of the more obscure grains and we love sandwiches stuffed to the max with veggies. Luckily, we tend to like the same kinds of foods even if that means those foods are prepared a little differently for each person.

That is, except for one thing.

Sea food.

I LOVE seafood. Give me sushi or sashimi that has barely stopped squirming and I'm a happy girl. Throw a little bit of rice and a generous blob of wasabi on a bed of seaweed and I'm so giddy, I'd even pretend to be dignified by eating it with chopsticks. 

I'd eat it in one form or another everyday if I could. 

But I can't.

Because with the exception of an occasional willingness to eat salmon (and that's only with some members), my family won't touch anything that lived within close proximity to the ocean; Not even with a sterilized and glitter covered ten-foot pole that could then be used as the awesomest magical wand EVER.

No one dislikes it more than He-Man. It's like his kryptonite. He gags. He dry heaves. He gasps and plugs his nose whenever he's near seafood in any form.

About 7 years ago, he took me to Red Lobster for my birthday. My birthday twin, Lindsay, and I were feted by our husbands with lobster and shrimp and a whole lotta cheddar biscuits.

It was glorious. And with as much as He-Man loathes fish, I knew he really, really loved me. 

I guess I was having the 7 year itch because for months, I was craving Red Lobster again. Out of respect for my husband, I decided to wait until he was out of town to treat myself and our girls to a date at a restaurant and in the meantime, attempt to change their impressionable little minds about seafood. 

The following pretty much sums up the experience:

(As we pull up to a parking spot) Bunny: "Mom. I forgot my shoes and socks."

Mom: "Well, usually you leave another pair in the car. Wanna check under the seat?" (Before remembering I had just cleaned out the car the day before)

Bunny: "Nope"

Mom: "Okay. I'll carry you in. Sunshine, will you please carry Ruby?"

(walk through the front doors)

(Squeals in unison, lots of voices) "Oh Momma, look how cute these Lobsters are! Oh look! One is looking at me! Oh, how silly they are...they must have been honking each others' noses so they put rubber bands on their hands!"

(Sunshine stops dead in her tracks and the color fades from her face as she whispers, away from the others): "Mom. These lobsters are going to be eaten, aren't they?"

Hostess: "Please follow me. I'll show you to your seat"

(Sunshine shoots deadly dagger looks towards the chefs in the kitchen)

Bunny: "Momma! They gave us 4 crayons to color on the menu. I'll have macaroni and cheese."

Mom: "Well, actually Honey, we're going to try something new today."

Bunny: "Okay. But what?"

Mom: "Something called Garlic Shrimp Scampi".

Bunny: "Ewwww. That's gross, Mom."

Lulu: "Yeah. I don't like Shrimp Garlic...blah!" (sticks out her tongue)

(The tugging at the other side of my shirt becomes increasingly more desperate)

Sunshine (eyes filled with tears): Red Lobster is so cruel! Look at these cute cartoon lobsters, (pointing to the menu) and all Red Lobster wants to do is eat them!" (tear trickles down her face)

Mom: "How about this: Let's start with salad and some yummy cheddar biscuits."

Sunshine: "No way! They probably have helpless ground-up baby seahorses in them." (wiping the tears from her eyes)

Mom: "Would it make you feel better if I promised not to order the Lobster?"

(Sunshine nods as fresh tears begin)

(Salad comes out and it's time to order)

Mom (over enthusiastically): "Alright girls, how about we have some shrimp?"

Bunny: "No Way!"

Lulu: (vigorous head shake)

Sunshine (with a look of great indignation): "Momma. I'm not eating shrimp. They're the sea's monkeys and I do not eat monkeys."

(At this point I realize there's not much I'm going to get away with and, after placing my word of honor on not eating a bottom-dwelling Cretaceous scavenger, I made an executive decision: french fries all around, steamed veggies, fruit bowls and Garlic Shrimp and Snow Crab Legs for everyone to share.)

As we waited for our meal, the girls ate their weight in cheddar biscuits as Ruby created a fairly impressive pile of pulverized biscuit crumbs beneath her chair all while we discussed the inappropriate uses for the little sugar packets at the center of the table.

Just as the girls were getting antsy, our angel of seafood mercy (or horsewoman of the apocalypse, depending on who you ask) brought over our tray.

(Glorious exclamations of praise and enjoyment over the french fries, fruit and steamed veggies. Then totally disgust as she presents the shrimp offering. But nothing will compare with the next dish...)

Imagine the sound of the theme from 'JAWS' as it approached its latest lunch...

The angel/horsewoman draws closer, dish in hand, resting on her shoulder...she approaches and lays before us seemingly endless legs...with no body! And...and...they're frozen, as if in mid-stroll! And all that is left as a consolation prize is a bowl of butter and a lemon wedge!

(The hysterical wailing begins anew)

"Why? Oh Why, did they have to die?!"

Mom: "Excuse me, would you please bring dessert out right away?!"

Peace was restored once again after I allowed them to eat dessert first. And as they sat, reveling in their death-by-chocolate-cake and ice cream, they would occasionally glance in my direction with a mixture of horror and curiosity while watching me open the crab legs with the cracking tool.

It made me feel totally barbaric.

Eventually, everyone got their fill of french fries, ice cream and steamed veggies AND only one of us felt it necessary to stick several fries into her facial orifices. There were no more uncontrollable sobs or fits of rage toward Sea Monkey eaters...just an eventual end to meal.

As we passed the pool where that night's dinner sat, I saw Sunshine fight back tears and swallow, really hard. When we walked out the door, she breathed a huge sigh of relief and exclaimed, "Phew! Let's never go there again!"

Bunny: "Yeah, Mom! Sunshine's right!"

Lulu: "Yeah! Never, ever, anymore!"

Well, there you have it. Apparently, I will continue to be the sole Sea Monkey killer in our family while the rest of them become the future heads of PETA. 

a lovely view

Look what was sitting on my porch yesterday when I got home from dropping Ken off at work.

All is right in the world again.

I've already used it and I LOVE it!

Quotes from my home to yours...

• What the fliz-donkeys!

okay. It's only one quote. But I hear it. All. The. Time.

deleted post

I have deleted my previous unsavory post about a very important legend to many people. I don't feel bad about what I said but I realize that some children read my blog.

Another give away...

My friend, Amy is giving away super cute crochet hats. Two of them. I'm sure you don't want one.

http://amyrnelson.blogspot.com/2011/02/giveaway-bee-in-your-bonnet-hats.html

go check it out. or don't

This is how Matthew does laundry...

I folded the clothes after he went to bed.

Good Mail.

I received an awesome box of 'good mail' on Thursday afternoon from across the country in Pennsylvania. My friend Kate is trying to de-junk her house and she was so kind to think of me and send some of it my way. Here are some pictures of my new loot.

A new to me stamp set. I coveted this set for a long time when I used to sell Stampin' Up! but there was always something else I wanted a little bit more.

 A rice bag. Love it! So does Nicole.

 SEVEN Moda Charm Packs. Look up 'Civil War Homefront' and 'Hushabye' so you can see the whole set. The colors and prints are great. My phone camera is no great.

 a whole bunch of other junk too. It was super exciting and I love it all.

 This little pin somehow made it's way in the box too. hmph! I guess that payback for sending her a bracelet that says she supports the rabid.

This little chicken is my most favorite thing that was in the box, even though I really do love everything I got. It's an Amish Pincushion. 

Here it is full of pins.

LASTLY, this didn't come in the mail on Thursday but arrived a day later from the local florist. Flowers from Kate on a day that might have been really difficult. She made it better. I love these flowers. A lot. When the flowers die, I'm going to clean the little square vase and fill it with peanut m&ms.

Thanks Kate! You're an awesome friend. I love you!

February 26, 2011

• Gina is at my house. Her boyfriend is here too. They're funny. 
• We all went to Mexican Food tonight. By all I  mean...no kids were invited.
• Today  I made a scrunchy with my friend, Sylvia. She's going to teach the Activity Days girls how to make them and then we're going to make white ones to donate to the temple.
• I babysat kids yesterday and one had a high fever and puked.  Matthew followed suit this morning.
• Less than 3 weeks until Kate comes to my house and cleans my bedroom. I'm excited.
• We had a party at my sister, Wendi's last night to celebrate making it through the first year without my mom. It was a fun evening.
• We're supposed to get more snow tonight. 3.3 inches. We'll see how much we actually get.
• I made peanut butter chocolate chip cookies.
• Spencer ate them. He said they were yummy. 
• Gina is a stalker.

That is all.

Anna's first Daddy-Daughter Date

Anna had her first daddy daughter date with Ken today. They went to Costco. She got all dressed up for the occasion.

 While she was waiting for Ken to be ready to go, she sat on couch. My friend's son, Tyler was on the couch too, and I had to take a picture because the look on his face is too funny. I'm not sure if he didn't want her there or if he just hadn't seen that much pink on one person in his life, but he was a little confused.

They had a good time and spent our life savings at Costco...again.

One Year Ago Today...

Ken was offered a job in Lacey, Washington. As soon as I found out I tried to call my mom. She was convinced that we would be moving to Port Angeles. It didn't matter what I told her, she couldn't remember it. She lacked the oxygen...literally.

I tried to call her at 11 am CST and she was asleep still.

I tried to call her at 3:30 pm CST and she was asleep again.

I tried calling again at 5:30 CAT and she was resting.

I spoke to my Dad on the way home from his commute and our call was interrupted 3 times from Kyle. Mom was giving him a difficult time. I told him I was going to try to call her since she was finally awake and he said not to because she wasn't feeling well. 

Dad got home from work and had to call an ambulance to get my mom to the hospital. She was refusing to wear her oxygen. He called me and asked me to call Kyle and help him calm down. (Kyle was nervous)

I called him and then called Gina and told her to call him. I was no good at calming Kyle down. 

Dad called me about an hour after that, for what I assumed was a progress report. Instead of saying, She's stable and going to sleep at the hospital tonight he said, 'I don't think your Mother is going to make it through the night.' I did not compute what he was saying. It didn't make any sense. Then his cell phone cut out.  About  20 minutes later I got a call from 'Brother Bob,' a man from church I've known since I was 12 years old. He called to give me more information about Mom. Even after he gave me the information a second time I didn't believe it. All I could think about was my Grandma Price. About 4 years before she passed away she developed a blood clot and almost died. I remember my Mom telling us Grandma only had a 10% chance of living.  Then she lived.  

As my Dad and Brother Bob explained what they felt was the end of Mom's life, I knew she'd be fine in the morning...just like her mom was.

She wasn't fine. She died that night.

Ken got home from his Washington trip and the airport about 45 minutes after she died, we loaded up the car and drove to straight back, picking Gina up on the way...One year ago today.

All the leftover pictures on my cell phone

NOTICE:I have deleted the following blogs: cheneychatterless, project 365, and my brother's mission blog that ended a very long time ago. That leaves this blog, my personal progress blog, the front door to this blog and a super secret blog that only one other person is invited to - still up and live. Apparently blogger thinks I've used up too much space on pictures. If you are following me on those other blogs, just know they are no longer.

Here are the random pictures from my phone. I'm pretty sure you don't really care about these, but I liked them enough I took pictures of them and since this is my blog and do what I want to, I'm posting them here.

Nicole made pancakes. She didn't measure the mix and she didn't turn the griddle on. 

Anna likes to sit on her dresser and read books.

Garden gnomes at ShopKo after Nicole and I watched Gnomeo and Juliet

The lady with purple hair was like 50 years old.

This car is a transformer. The sticker says so. It's a decepticon. The gas lid says so.

Quesidillas at Red Robin...Yum!

A giant tube of meat.

Toast Stars

Matthew wearing giant underwear over his pants: he likes to tuck all his pj legs into his underwear for a 'special' effect.

Random stalker photo showing it's face on my main blog page. If you haven't noticed, My friend Amy has a shrine on this blog. You should check it out. (She totally approves and encourages my behavior. That's why I heart her.)

Nicole doing homework with a giant pencil, sitting on a giant ball.

Spinach Artichoke and Bacon Pizza. YUM!

Okay, that is all. Thanks for watching.

Snowmageddan 2011!

This morning we woke up to a couple inches of snow. To my friends in Kansas, this may not be that big of a deal but in the Great Northwest, it's enough to close schools, cancel sporting events and cause the local Walmart to have a run on batteries and flashlights. The Storm of the Century! Or as my neighbor told it last night...snow-mageddan 2011. It may even be here for a couple of days. You never know.

Here are some pictures of the beauty.

The view from my kitchen window. 

Our front yard and the neighbors stuff.

 Matthew and the neighbor playing in the cul de sac

 Our backyard

 My favorite bush in the back yard. In the spring and summer it is full of bright red leaves. The kids take camp chairs 'into it' and use it as their fort.

 Playing in the cul de sac

 The kiddos

 The garbage man's tire track. Matthew picked it up off the ground.

Happy Birthday Mark!

Happy birthday to my nephew Mark! He is 8 years old.

This is a super exciting birthday for him because he gets to be baptized.  I'm really excited for him.

Happy birthday Mark!

It SHIPPED!!!

It will be here on March 3, 2011. I'm so excited!!!

Best. Mailman. Ever.

Saturday while Matthew was outside throwing around his basketball the mail came. I'm not sure how to conversation went but it wasn't long before the mailman turned off his truck and was shooting hoops with Matthew. I got a few a pictures of them playing and a video (from my phone) of the mailman showing Matthew how to throw to the ball so he (the mailman) could get a good action shot. (see 3rd picture down) They never really grow up, do they? 

He was only here for 5-10 minutes but it totally made Matthew's day. That alone makes him the Best Mailman. Ever.

a nice fraction

Today I am 1/3 of a century! 

weird.

I want presents.

Fashionisto?

Ken and I went into Tacoma on Friday night to go suit shopping. The place that was recommended to us what a scary little dive in the ghetto of Tacoma. AND it had nice suits for not a lot of sweet moola. The coat Ken is wearing in this picture...not a nice suit, and even less moola.

Matthew

I'm not even going to try to explain what in the world this kid is doing. I will say 1 thing though.

I LOVE HIM!