A Year In Review

Anna. 

Ensign Ranch.

I miss you Mom. 

Farewell Kansas. 

Welcome to Washington. 

2 months without Ken.

Home School.  

Clarinet. 

Violin.

Piano. 

Organ.

Braces. 

Laundry. 

3 1/2 months of summer vacation. 

The Forgotten Carols. 

2 youth temple trips. 

Bon fires and smores.

Beating my Dad at Othello. 

Personal Progress. 

I hate cats. 

Camp pants x 13. 

Aprons x 9. 

Dresses & Skirts x 34. 

Swimming in the lake and river. 

Goodbye Animal.

tornado season. 

Lists. 

Stay at home mom...again. 

Ward Organist.

Private blog. 

New friends. 

I'll be back

We are going on a trip to Eastern Washington that began the planning process about an hour ago. We'll be gone for a few days...or maybe two days I'm not really sure at this time. I won't be updating my blog while I'm there, so I'll see you in a few days. Until then,

 I'm SO thankful for the power of prayer, personal revelation AND prompting from the Holy Ghost. I'm SO HAPPY!!

Every blog needs a quote from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

What is your favorite memory? Where you surrounded by people you love? How do you feel when it crosses your mind?

Thinking back on my childhood, our family went on a few road trips and vacations. My favorite trip of all time was when we drove from the Kitsap Peninsula in Washington State to Provo, Utah. I had never been to Utah and I was really excited. We went to Temple Square, watched Legacy in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building and shopped at the BYU Bookstore. I saw more temples on the trip than I’d ever seen in all my life up to that point.

If you were to ask what my favorite part of that 6 day trip, I wouldn’t have to think long to tell you the answer. The memories that bring back to most emotion for me were created while sitting in the back seat of an old green Ford Galaxy 500 with 6 of my siblings. That’s right, 7 children in the backseat. Who needed seatbelts when we had a large back window and that many laps?

While we drove we listened to music on mix tape created by Ryan. Our favorite song was Piano Man by Billy Joel. Dad got tired of that song by the time we hit Twin Falls, Idaho so we quoted movie lines. Garen quoted lines from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for about 300 miles. The quote repeated the most often: You dirty rat. You killed my brother. Every time he said it, sounding like Michaelangelo imitating James Cagney, we all laughed. We were amazed at his skill to sound exactly like the movie. It came to a point where my parents were tired of hearing TMNT quotes and told us to choose something else. We didn’t. Finally Dad said, ‘If you say that quote one more time I’m stopping the car.’ We asked him what quote he was referring to and he repeated You dirty rat. You killed my brother. We all laughed, and then Garen responded, ‘Ok Dad. I won’t say you dirty rat. You killed my brother, again. More laughing commenced and he didn’t stop the car.

Memories are a funny thing. You go on adventures that you are certain will make a lifelong impression and then learn later the best part of the trip was being stuck in the car for 12 hours with those you love the most.

There are many wondering places to visit in this world. If you think about it, I’m sure you could come up with places you have been that mean a great deal to you. Are they important to you because you purchased something while you were there or attended business training? Or are they important because you spent time with someone dear to you?

The great thing about making memories is you don’t have to go very far or spend any money to create something that lasts a lifetime. Make a tent in your living room and invite your friends over. Sleep on your deck. Go to a warehouse store and have a ‘photo shoot’ with someone you are close to.

It doesn’t matter where you go or what you do when you get there. The memory is created by being there with the ones you love. To quote Ralph Waldo Emerson, ‘Life is a journey, not a destination.’ Learn to enjoy the journey.

Today I am thankful for road trips

and the priceless memories that accompany them.

Obligatory Thankful Post #2, same topic as the first.

I walked 6 minutes, ran 1 (at a snail's pace), then repeated again. A total of 2 minutes of snail crawling. Guess what? I DIDN'T DIE! I didn't even lose my breath this time.  HOORAY!

Does anyone know why  my calf hurts?

Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum

Have you ever met 2 people that were so similar in mannerisms and sense of humor that it was scary? It's even worse that they  know it and feed off of each other.

Meet Ken and Eric. They meet the above description.

 

When told to do something funny, they both grab their ties. One day they dressed exactly the same. Marsha said it was excruciating. We told them they didn't really look alike and Eric replied, 'Exept for the fact they are both VERY good looking. Hmmm (Say it the way Nanny McPhee does.)

 Now meet Marsha. She's an angel saint that works with them. Every. Day.  I heart Marsha!

I'm thankful for Ken. I like his friends. I love Marsha. (She's his friend too.)

Eat, Drink and Be Merry--in a non blasphemous way.

Tonight we had friends over for dinner.  We've been meaning to have them over for about 4 months and it finally happened tonight. It was so fun we've decided to do it again tomorrow for Family Home Evening and then some games. 

For dinner I made an awesome meatloaf. It was delicious.

I am thankful for friends and yummy meatloaf.

I also like leaves that change colors in the fall. I took this photo on my cell phone through a dirty windshield on a street in my neighborhood...not too shabby! I LOVE WHERE I LIVE!

Obligatory Thankful Post

Today I am thankful that I didn't die when I ran for one minute straight. That's right people. One. Minute.

I'm lame.

Adventures with boys...part deux

Last night Matthew spent the night at his friends house so that means they move the party over to our house for the next night. (Have I mentioned that I love 4 day weekends?!!) Here are only a few of the things I have seen in the last six hours since Matthew and Jacob got here.

The barricaded Matthew's door and the hallway, except for little peep holes, so they could shoot nerf (nerd) guns at each other.

*take notice of all the lincoln logs in the lincoln log bin. We try to be organized!

 Matthew built me a table to hold scriptures.

 He's still working out some kinks.

 They built a fortress in the front room using twenty-four storage bins.

 Then they covered it with blankets and called it a fort.

They have since expanded their fort by lowering the walls. They've padded the ground with blankets and old couch cushions and they're 'exersicing.'

On another note, that is kind of related...the boys were calling each other 'dude' a lot. Ken interjected and asked them if they knew what a dude is?  Do YOU know what a dude is? Ken told them a dude is a mole on a camel's rear end. According the http://www.dictionary.com/, Ken is a liar. 

Dude
–noun


1. a man excessively concerned with his clothes, grooming, and manners.

2. Slang . fellow; chap.

3. a person reared in a large city.

4. Western U.S. an urban Easterner who vacations on a ranch.
 
*I just told the boys Ken was wrong and then explained it's a guy worried about his clothes and appearance. Jacob replied, 'That's even worse!'
 
Today I have to be thankful for little boys. Especially little boys who think they are big! They are hilarious and inventive and a little smelly.

Holy Pictures Batman--at the park

Today I am thankful for beautiful weather and no school. We were able to go to a park close to our home with some good friends. Here are 18 pictures for your viewing pleasure. My most favorite favorite picture is the very last one. I my opinion, it's totally worth the wait!

Matthew and Jake on pogo sticks. They were getting about 18 inches in the air. It was pretty awesome.

 Matthew jumping.

 Nicole scooting.

 Nicole riding a bike.

 Nicole and Jessy just sitting around.

 Tyler on a bike.

 Next we 'played' tennis. I use the term played very loosely. We actually swung the rackets and chased the balls. A. Lot. Be sure you notice how often the ball was not where it was supposed to be when the rackets were swinging.

 This is Nicole honest to truth 'pose' while she waits for the ball to make it to her side.

 Next the boys got tired of running for tennis balls so they decided to climb the fence.

 And now, for my MOST FAVORITE picture of the day....I LOVE IT!

I'm also thankful for children who like to have their pictures taken. It was a super fun day!

November 3, 2010

Right now one of my children is sitting in their room crying. I interrupted their story to tell them to put pants on. They're too old to be walking around the house in their underwear. Can my one thing I'm thankful for today be doors and pillows to cry in? GOOD GRIEF!

Today Matthew only had a half day of school because of parent teacher conferences. He also has tomorrow and Friday off because of said conferences. I went to his conference today. He's doing really well but they said he gets easily distracted and he talks too much. I'm pretty sure he got that from Ken. (or me)

The thing I'm thankful for today is $20 coupons off of purchases that are even under $20. Because of said coupons I was able to buy a Christmas present for one of my children and 3 pairs of crazy knee high socks today for nothing. That's right.  It was free. I didn't have to add stuff to meet a limit so my purchase of $19.51 cost me nothing...except for all the shoes I bought at famous footwear to earn said coupon. So worth it though!

In other news...Nicole continues to be doing really well learning at home. She's found her niche and I'm just trying to provide her with enough information because she can't seem to get enough of it! (except for history. We seem to fall asleep during movies.)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my Sister in Law, RHONDA!!

I couldn't find a picture of her but she likes pickles so this is for her. :)

and now for the TMI section...
I need to buy new deodorant. I think mine is betraying me.  If I'm around you and I stink, please tell me in a way as nice as possible. gracias.

Lastly, but not least-ly...
Will you pretty please with sugar on top help me earn my Personal Progress Medallion and Honor Bee by participating in my PP blog? I'd be most grateful!  http://honorbee.blogspot.com/.

Bathrooms and Pigs and Sugar Cookies...

When I was a little girl visiting my Grandma Price's house I loved using the upstairs bathroom that was down the hall towards her bedroom. It was pink. BEAUTIFUL pink and the soap had a lovely flower smell. There was a doll with a crocheted skirt that hid toilet paper.  Seriously, it was the perfect bathroom for a little girl. The only problem with it was the light was not by the door, but over by the toilet instead.  I always thought that was a little weird but it didn't bother me too much because I could see the light switch when I walked into the room. One time when I was about 5 years old, I finished with my business and then turned the light off before I walked over to open the door.  It was instantly black. No more lovely pink. I didn't know where the door was. I really scared but I didn't want to call for help and be teased. I remember standing in the middle of the room panicking before walking slowly to a wall, placing my hand on the wall and then walking slowly for what seemed like an eternity, until I found the door. It was easily opened and I was free. Phew! That was a close one.  I learned a lesson that day. I NEVER again turned the light off before opening the door in the pink bathroom.

Today when I left my children's restroom I turned the light off (which is right next to the door) before opening the door. When the room went black, I was suddenly 5 years old at my grandma's remembering that experience. the only difference was I wasn't lost inside the bathroom. I just opened the door. I just thought I'd share.

Another funny thing that happened today:

My friend came over and we were talking about what we were making for dinner.  I told her I was making sloppy joes. She said she was making spaghetti. I told her I don't like spaghetti. (Sorry Kate.) She said she doesn't mind spaghetti but she doesn't like hamburger. I told her my sister, Wendi, doesn't like beef at all. Matthew interrupted:
M: Wendi doesn't like beef?!
Me: nope.
M: How come she has a pig?
Me: Pigs are pork.
M: Oh yeah.

So my friend Kate (who happens to love spaghetti) stole and idea from her friends' blog and I'm stealing it from her. For the month of November, she is sharing one thing each day that she is thankful for. I'm going to do that too.

Yesterday: Believe it or not, yesterday I was thankful for Walmart. It pains me to even type that because I HATE Walmart. But yesterday, they were my dream come true. I bought 3 weeks of groceries for less than $200. there. HOORAY! I also took Ken's watch in to get the battery replaced and they broke it. they couldn't get it put back together, even with THREE associates working on it. They told me they were so sorry and gave him a brand new watch, a nice one like the one they  broke, not a crummy one. Thanks Walmart! I'm thankful for you...for the moment.

Today: I'm thankful for good neighbors. Four of the neighbor girls came over and decorated sugar cookies with us today. They are a lot of them, getting them out of my home. It was great to visit with their mom too. I like her. See pictures below for our cookie decorating awesomeness.

Here is my awesome sugar cookie recipe:
1 1/2 C butter softened, not melted
2 C sugar
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla or almond extract (I used almond)
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
*mix all of the above until well blended (I let them mix in my kitchenaid for about 4 minutes)
5 C flour
*slowly add flour until well blended
*chill for 2-3 hours
*roll out until 1/4-1/2 inch thick
*bake at 400 degrees for 6-8 minutes (I did them for 6)

Frosting
1/3 C butter softened, not melted
1 1/2 tsp vanilla or almond extract (I used almond)
1/4 C milk
4 1/2 cups sifted powdered sugar
*cream butter
*add flavoring and milk
*slowly add powdered sugar
*add more milk if needed, to make it spreadable (I usually end up using about 1/3 C)
*add desired food coloring and enjoy decorating your cookies!

Meet Perri. She is SO SWEET! Except when she eats too much sugar. Some people get hyper. She becomes angry. Before that happened, she went home and then off to Activity Days. I felt kind of like a grandma this afternoon. Sugared her up and then sent her home to detox. :)