Oh yeah, I'm totally stealing Darilyn's kid interview. Not only that, it's practically with the same kid, my own 10 year old Emma had a birthday New Year's Eve. So, here goes...
What is your favorite TV show? Can we skip this one?
What is your favorite movie? I'm not sure
What is your favorite color? Blue
What is your favorite food? How many can I list? Teriyaki wings, crab legs
What is your favorite thing to do with mom? Hang out
What is your favorite thing to do with dad? Play on the trampoline or go for a bike ride
What is your favorite thing to do with your sister? Play games
What do you want to be when you grow up? Either a sculptor or a dog shelter owner
Do you have a favorite friend? Maddy, Shyla, and Katie
What is your favorite thing to do when you are not at home? Play with my cousins
What is your favorite toy or thing? I danna know
What is your favorite book? You know, Warriors
What is your favorite animal? a dog (especially Sonny)
Do you want to go on a mission? Yes
Do you want kids? Yes
What's hard to do? Write a story in 2 days, with a dedication page and cover
What's have you learned from your primary teacher this year? Joseph Smith
What do you love to do? Hang out with my cousins, friends and family
What would you want to add? What kind of dog would you have if you got to choose? Some sort of golden retriever mix, golden retrievers rock (This was a great choice, seeing as how we have a golden doodle.)
For some reason, I can't load a pic right now, so...
Friday, January 30, 2009
make-up time
Okay, this has to buy me some time before I have to change my background. This is a quick replay of the holidays. I actually thought that we might take a Christmas picture and send out cards. It went something like this.
"Lauren, I want to take pictures of you guys decorating the tree. Would you please put on a shirt with sleeves."
"Lauren, I want to take pictures of you guys decorating the tree. Would you please put on a shirt with sleeves.""No, Lauren, those are not sleeves. And Emma, eewww."
"It still doesn't work, even with a hat."
"Could we stop dancing with the dog long enough to take a picture?"
This might have worked, but by then I was too wiped out to even think about having the pictures printed.
Yup, those are my girls!
"It still doesn't work, even with a hat."
"Could we stop dancing with the dog long enough to take a picture?"
This might have worked, but by then I was too wiped out to even think about having the pictures printed.Yup, those are my girls!
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Sunday, December 07, 2008
Christmas time is here!
Christmas is definitely my favorite time of year and it officially starts Thanksgiving morning at about 9am when Santa shows up at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. this year, the girls and I spent the night before at Nana B's so we could wake up and watch the parade with her. David arrived just in time for dinner, per his usual plan. He honestly can't understand why you would show up more than about 10 minutes before sitting down at the table. Austensibly, we were there so we could also help her get ready for the crowd coming to her house. She however, was up and had most things done before I ever woke up. My timing is impeccable. Lauren however, did help Reuben set up the rest. (I know you helped too, Meg. And I played with Catcher so that you wouldn't feel left out. wink.) Ok, this is going to be a little backwards since I obviously don't know how to post pics in order and I am slow getting everything on my blog.
I'm so glad that Elise called on Friday (12/5) to see if we wanted to go to see the Nutcracker with her and her girls. I had planned on going to the Hamilton football game, but no one else could go. I asked the girls what they would rather do (thinking they would totally back me up on football) They were shocked, of course they wanted to go to the Nutcracker. It's a holiday TRADITION, didn't I know. One that it's been a couple years since we've done. The girls loved it, Zo especially! She asked Elise nonstop questions throughout the entire show. So hilarious. Lauren was enraptured. She told Zo to be quiet when she tried to ask her questions and Zo was mad. She told Elise that Lauren wouldn't play with her. She only wanted to play with HER friends. I'm guessing these were the ballerinas. Afterward, Lauren reassured Zo that she was her best friend.
At Nana B's house Thanksgiving Day, Lauren was so busy taking pictures of the food, that she pretty much forgot to take pics of the people. It's a tribute to how delicious dinner is at Mom's. Here we are playing the traditional Mexican Train game at the Miller's house Thanksgiving evening. Traditional, in that it is played almost every Sunday!
Back at Nana B's house, Lauren was able to take a picture of Catcher, because he had food in his hands, and face. He was so cute eating this apple. Nana B was enthralled by the tiny apples at Safeway (you know, the ones they used to let people come u-pick after they sold all the good ones to the stores). Well, this one was perfect Catcher size. He couldn't quite break through the skin with his 2 1/2 teeth yet, but once we took a little starter bite, he was going to town. I think he chewed on, sucked on, and generally adored this apple for about 1/2 an hour. He is so hilarious.
This is the pecan pie, before David and Lauren picked off about 1/3 of the pecans. Yes Lauren had already gained control of the camera and was on her food photo marathon.
The day before Thanksgiving, the girls helped make 6 pies, an apple, cherry and pecan for each house we went to. When I took the bags of apples out of the fridge, I almost died. The smell of those apples was like heaven. I just wanted to stick my head in the bag and leave it there. I hear that's not healthy. The girls were a big help with the pies. I don't know how I used to do 10-12. Oh wait, I didn't have a job. We had a blast and were covered with flour and dripping with apple juice by the time we were done. I love it!
I'm so glad that Elise called on Friday (12/5) to see if we wanted to go to see the Nutcracker with her and her girls. I had planned on going to the Hamilton football game, but no one else could go. I asked the girls what they would rather do (thinking they would totally back me up on football) They were shocked, of course they wanted to go to the Nutcracker. It's a holiday TRADITION, didn't I know. One that it's been a couple years since we've done. The girls loved it, Zo especially! She asked Elise nonstop questions throughout the entire show. So hilarious. Lauren was enraptured. She told Zo to be quiet when she tried to ask her questions and Zo was mad. She told Elise that Lauren wouldn't play with her. She only wanted to play with HER friends. I'm guessing these were the ballerinas. Afterward, Lauren reassured Zo that she was her best friend.
At Nana B's house Thanksgiving Day, Lauren was so busy taking pictures of the food, that she pretty much forgot to take pics of the people. It's a tribute to how delicious dinner is at Mom's. Here we are playing the traditional Mexican Train game at the Miller's house Thanksgiving evening. Traditional, in that it is played almost every Sunday!
Back at Nana B's house, Lauren was able to take a picture of Catcher, because he had food in his hands, and face. He was so cute eating this apple. Nana B was enthralled by the tiny apples at Safeway (you know, the ones they used to let people come u-pick after they sold all the good ones to the stores). Well, this one was perfect Catcher size. He couldn't quite break through the skin with his 2 1/2 teeth yet, but once we took a little starter bite, he was going to town. I think he chewed on, sucked on, and generally adored this apple for about 1/2 an hour. He is so hilarious.
This is the pecan pie, before David and Lauren picked off about 1/3 of the pecans. Yes Lauren had already gained control of the camera and was on her food photo marathon.
The day before Thanksgiving, the girls helped make 6 pies, an apple, cherry and pecan for each house we went to. When I took the bags of apples out of the fridge, I almost died. The smell of those apples was like heaven. I just wanted to stick my head in the bag and leave it there. I hear that's not healthy. The girls were a big help with the pies. I don't know how I used to do 10-12. Oh wait, I didn't have a job. We had a blast and were covered with flour and dripping with apple juice by the time we were done. I love it!
Monday, November 24, 2008
Fine Merilee!
Believe it or not,
my mom actually found suckers like this in gorgeous Christmas colors at Walgreens. Please don't buy them all, because I haven't been able to get any yet. I am so ready for Christmas. I know lots of people don't like the early displays, but they could have Christmas stuff up all year long and I would be just fine. I love to listen to the songs, see the lights, create the lists, make the pies, wrap the presents and everything else that goes along with the only holiday I can think of that makes strangers smile at each other and people go sing in front of other people's houses. I love it! Even when I'm not sure I can do it all and I am stressed out beyond ever, I still love it!
Sunday, November 02, 2008
Happy Halloween
I wonder, do bad memories of Halloween make it through the filter of childhood? I don't think I ever remember not having fun on Halloween.
Lauren's actual costume is "Alice Cullen, dressed as a wood nymph for Halloween", hence the black hair. Thanks to Aunt Megan, the wild bandido for coming over to do Lauren's hair and makeup for our ward halloween party and Aunt Elise for loaning the costume. One reason Halloween was more stressful for me, ward halloween party on halloween night and knowing my kids still wanted to trick or treat.
I just loved this pic of Bad Guy Megan!
Emma dressed as Sally, from the Nightmare before Christmas. She actually won "Best Costume" at the ward party, which I think may have made up for missing out on trick or treating when Mom, Dad, and Lauren all got asked to help with game booths at the party.
However, she did inform us that no Halloween is complete without the annual dumping out of the candy and swapping with your cousins tradition. So, we made the trek out to Chandler, because for some reason, I'm all about making memories. Of course, this way we get to see Nana B. and Grampy when we're all dressed up for halloween too. Now, one holiday down....
Lauren's actual costume is "Alice Cullen, dressed as a wood nymph for Halloween", hence the black hair. Thanks to Aunt Megan, the wild bandido for coming over to do Lauren's hair and makeup for our ward halloween party and Aunt Elise for loaning the costume. One reason Halloween was more stressful for me, ward halloween party on halloween night and knowing my kids still wanted to trick or treat.I just loved this pic of Bad Guy Megan!
Emma dressed as Sally, from the Nightmare before Christmas. She actually won "Best Costume" at the ward party, which I think may have made up for missing out on trick or treating when Mom, Dad, and Lauren all got asked to help with game booths at the party.However, she did inform us that no Halloween is complete without the annual dumping out of the candy and swapping with your cousins tradition. So, we made the trek out to Chandler, because for some reason, I'm all about making memories. Of course, this way we get to see Nana B. and Grampy when we're all dressed up for halloween too. Now, one holiday down....Saturday, September 20, 2008
Garbage trucks
Thanks to Mike Bogle for this link to a site that shares a truth that is easy to forget sometimes.
http://www.bewareofgarbagetrucks.com
or just click the title of this post.
http://www.bewareofgarbagetrucks.com
or just click the title of this post.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
September
Well,
Fall is here, hear the yell back to school, ring the bell brand new shoes, walking blues climb the fence, books and pens I can tell that we're going to be friends
It's that time of year again. I don't want to bore you all with school stories, but of course, the classroom antics are interesting as usual.
On top of that, it's my um, 20th high school reunion next weekend. That should be interesting. The closer we get, more people are posting old and new pics on classmates. It's pretty funny. The amount of big hair is not really so surprising I guess as just amusing.
It is strange though, the change in the weather (even if it is just the monsoon flaring up), school starting, football, and I don't know who lit those fall scented candles in the dining room... I seem to just feel a static of excitement in the air. Whenever anyone asks what my favorite season is, I always think of Christmas, but then I realize that it's really the build up that I love. Right after Christmas is always a let down, so winter is not really my favorite. I love the crescendo as football leads to halloween leads into Thanksgiving and the Christmas season. I do love Fall. I don't even care when they start putting Christmas stuff up in the stores. To me, it's all just part of the fun. And hey, if they want to clearance the other holidays before they actually happen, I just get 
a better deal, YAY!
a better deal, YAY!Sunday, August 10, 2008
HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA PICKERING!
It's my Grandma's birthday today and I just thought I should mention it. She was a rockin' grandma. Mom and I were talking the other day about how she loved to read romance novels. When I was in high school and a young adult, she would pass the ones on to me that she thought were tame enough. Mom was a little shocked because she said her mom wouldn't even let her read East of Eden in high school, but I said, "Hey, that's what grandmas are for. It might be weird if you gave your daughter romance novels."
Grandma was great. She took us places, like out to the AF base to see a movie or shopping. Grandma was Oklahoma through and through. She married Grandpa at 15 and never looked back. She raised her 2 sons and 10 years later, her little daughter. (World War II happened in the middle there) By the end of her life, she had trouble remembering who was on her side or not. She was always fiesty and full of life and I miss her. Edith was "Jack" to her family and Grandma to us and will never be forgotten.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Reading list.
I stole this 100% from a blog called "Troy and Nancy" The comments are hers and I don't have time to change them, or really want to for that matter. I don't necessarily agree with them and I've read 35 books from the list. (I'll add asterisks so we can see if I can count) - Monique
I read on another blog that the average adult has read only 6 out of 100 of the following books! (I don't know if those stats are true, but I guess it doesn't matter). I've bolded the books I have read.
1. Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen (awesome - one of my favorite)*
2. The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien (It's on my list to read. Love the movies)
3. Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte (great book)*
4. Harry Potter series - JK Rowling (some of the best books I've ever read)*
5. To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee*
6. The Bible (the majority of it)-not enough of it
7. Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte (weird, but interesting)*
8. Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell (read it in high school, can't remember it)*
9. His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
10. Great Expectations - Charles Dickens (high school - BORING)*
11. Little Women - Louisa May Alcott (pretty good)*
12. Tess of the D’Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy
13. Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
14. Complete work of Shakespere (no interest)
15. Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier
16. The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien (great book)*
17. Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks
18. Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger (just remember a lot of swearing, sorry Alexandra)*
19. The Time Traveller’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
20. Middlemarch - George Eliot*
21. Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell (hated the movie, so no interest)
22. The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald*
23. Bleak House - Charles Dickens
24. War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
25. The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
26. Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh
27. Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
28. Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck (HATED this book; couldn't even finish)*
29. Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll*
30. The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame
31. Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy (boring, wouldn't recommend it)
32. David Copperfield - Charles Dickens*
33. Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis*
34. Emma - Jane Austen (pretty good, rare occasion where the movie is better)*
35. Persuasion - Jane Austen (not her best work, but still a good read)*
36. The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini (read 1000 Splendid Suns and did not like it, so no interest)
37. Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres
38. Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden (started off good, but didn't like the ending)
39. Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne*
40. Animal Farm - George Orwell (high school read - don't remember much)*
41. The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown (Angels and Demons is better)*
42. One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez*
43. A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving*
44. The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins
45. Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery
46. Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy
47. The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood
48. Lord of the Flies - William Golding (another high school read. remember the conch and "kill the pig, suck it's blood, bash it's head..." or something like that)
49. Atonement - Ian McEwan
50. Life of Pi - Yann Martel
51. Dune - Frank Herbert
52. Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons
53. Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen (on my to-read list)*
54. A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth
55. The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
56. A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens*
57. Brave New World - Aldous Huxley (high school, but I do remember liking this one)
58. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon
59. Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
60. Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
61. Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
62. The Secret History - Donna Tartt
63. The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
64. Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas (one of my favorite; great book)
65. On The Road - Jack Kerouac
66. Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy
67. Bridget Jones's Diary - Helen Fiedling
68. Midnight’s Children - Salman Rushdi
69. Moby Dick - Herman Melville*
70. Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens*
71. Dracula - Bram Stoker
72. The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett*
73. Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson
74. Ulysses - James Joyce
75. The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
76. Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome
77. Germinal - Emile Zola
78. Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray (movie sucked, so no interest)
79. Possession - AS Byatt
80. A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens*
81. Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
82. The Color Purple - Alice Walker*
83. The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
84. Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert*(not sure I finished)
85. A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
86. Charlotte’s Web - EB White*
87. The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom (hated it, thought it was stupid)
88. Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle*
89. The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton
90. Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad*
91. The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery*
92. The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks
93. Watership Down - Richard Adams
94. A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
95. A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute*
96. The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas
97. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl
98. Les Miserables - Victor Hugo
(The last two were missing, so I made some up)
99. Age of Innocence - Edith Wharton (Interesting read, but hated the ending)
100. Twilight series - Stephanie Myers (only read one and HATED it.*
I know, I know. I thought it was so shallow and silly, especially after just finishing the masterpiece of Harry Potter. No comparison.)
I got 23. How many did you get? I know a lot of people won't agree with my reviews, but if you found you had similar views, please share with me some other books that you liked. Or, post this list on your blog and do your own reviews.
I read on another blog that the average adult has read only 6 out of 100 of the following books! (I don't know if those stats are true, but I guess it doesn't matter). I've bolded the books I have read.
1. Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen (awesome - one of my favorite)*
2. The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien (It's on my list to read. Love the movies)
3. Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte (great book)*
4. Harry Potter series - JK Rowling (some of the best books I've ever read)*
5. To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee*
6. The Bible (the majority of it)-not enough of it
7. Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte (weird, but interesting)*
8. Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell (read it in high school, can't remember it)*
9. His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
10. Great Expectations - Charles Dickens (high school - BORING)*
11. Little Women - Louisa May Alcott (pretty good)*
12. Tess of the D’Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy
13. Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
14. Complete work of Shakespere (no interest)
15. Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier
16. The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien (great book)*
17. Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks
18. Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger (just remember a lot of swearing, sorry Alexandra)*
19. The Time Traveller’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
20. Middlemarch - George Eliot*
21. Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell (hated the movie, so no interest)
22. The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald*
23. Bleak House - Charles Dickens
24. War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
25. The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
26. Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh
27. Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
28. Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck (HATED this book; couldn't even finish)*
29. Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll*
30. The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame
31. Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy (boring, wouldn't recommend it)
32. David Copperfield - Charles Dickens*
33. Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis*
34. Emma - Jane Austen (pretty good, rare occasion where the movie is better)*
35. Persuasion - Jane Austen (not her best work, but still a good read)*
36. The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini (read 1000 Splendid Suns and did not like it, so no interest)
37. Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres
38. Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden (started off good, but didn't like the ending)
39. Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne*
40. Animal Farm - George Orwell (high school read - don't remember much)*
41. The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown (Angels and Demons is better)*
42. One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez*
43. A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving*
44. The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins
45. Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery
46. Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy
47. The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood
48. Lord of the Flies - William Golding (another high school read. remember the conch and "kill the pig, suck it's blood, bash it's head..." or something like that)
49. Atonement - Ian McEwan
50. Life of Pi - Yann Martel
51. Dune - Frank Herbert
52. Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons
53. Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen (on my to-read list)*
54. A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth
55. The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
56. A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens*
57. Brave New World - Aldous Huxley (high school, but I do remember liking this one)
58. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon
59. Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
60. Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
61. Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
62. The Secret History - Donna Tartt
63. The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
64. Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas (one of my favorite; great book)
65. On The Road - Jack Kerouac
66. Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy
67. Bridget Jones's Diary - Helen Fiedling
68. Midnight’s Children - Salman Rushdi
69. Moby Dick - Herman Melville*
70. Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens*
71. Dracula - Bram Stoker
72. The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett*
73. Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson
74. Ulysses - James Joyce
75. The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
76. Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome
77. Germinal - Emile Zola
78. Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray (movie sucked, so no interest)
79. Possession - AS Byatt
80. A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens*
81. Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
82. The Color Purple - Alice Walker*
83. The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
84. Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert*(not sure I finished)
85. A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
86. Charlotte’s Web - EB White*
87. The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom (hated it, thought it was stupid)
88. Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle*
89. The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton
90. Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad*
91. The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery*
92. The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks
93. Watership Down - Richard Adams
94. A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
95. A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute*
96. The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas
97. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl
98. Les Miserables - Victor Hugo
(The last two were missing, so I made some up)
99. Age of Innocence - Edith Wharton (Interesting read, but hated the ending)
100. Twilight series - Stephanie Myers (only read one and HATED it.*
I know, I know. I thought it was so shallow and silly, especially after just finishing the masterpiece of Harry Potter. No comparison.)
I got 23. How many did you get? I know a lot of people won't agree with my reviews, but if you found you had similar views, please share with me some other books that you liked. Or, post this list on your blog and do your own reviews.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Happy 13th of July
Ok, I know that this is late, but I was sticking with the whole one post at a time thing. Anyway, I love small town 4th of July, especially where it's cool enough to have a parade!
Emma and Riley got to lead out the parade with Thad's cousin Ell and his horse Amish.
Of course, they were all looking away in the first picture. I think Emma's favorite part was throwing candy at people.
Everyone was saying at church that the whole town had signed up to be in the parade and they were wondering who would be left to watch it. Well, the out of towners, of course, US.
Lauren was out fishing during the parade, but made it back in time for lunch, getting soaked in the canal, and of course sparklers.
I was a bit devastated that we didn't go watch "actual" fireworks, but a storm was brewing and the kids didn't seem a bit disappointed, so... Happy Independence Day!
Emma and Riley got to lead out the parade with Thad's cousin Ell and his horse Amish.
Of course, they were all looking away in the first picture. I think Emma's favorite part was throwing candy at people.
Everyone was saying at church that the whole town had signed up to be in the parade and they were wondering who would be left to watch it. Well, the out of towners, of course, US.
Lauren was out fishing during the parade, but made it back in time for lunch, getting soaked in the canal, and of course sparklers.
I was a bit devastated that we didn't go watch "actual" fireworks, but a storm was brewing and the kids didn't seem a bit disappointed, so... Happy Independence Day!Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Koooosharem, UT
This seemed like a good time to write about how much fun David has in UT. This first picture is his nightcrawler digging uniform. He didn't want to ruin his jeans. I'm not sure why he didn't just wear his holey jeans. He did find 16 dozen worms though, in about 20 minutes, enough to last the rest of the week fishing.
And speaking of fishing, here's David restringing his hook after one of the, I think it was 11, fish that got away. You would think he would change poles, but he's a man of habit. One of those fish was reeled all the way into the boat, but grandpa's hook was still caught in the net with his fish and he broke loose.
This must be after losing another one. This day, Emma caught my limit, 4, I caught her limit, 2, and David would have had a lot more than he did. Technically, that's not true, it just means that we would have been done fishing a lot sooner.
After a long day of fishing, a little sunburn, and dinner at the Cafe, there is nothing like a good game of cards to finish off the day.Monday, June 16, 2008
Summer
It has been so long since I posted, I'm not sure that I even read my blog anymore. After reading Mer's Bos/Mas blog, I had to post this pic. There is definitely some sibling magic that can turn two kids who can torment each other like no other back into the best of friends in the blink of an eye. On a side note, this picture is just way too 21st century for me.
Also, meet Sonny, the soccer dog. He is learning a few new sports. Soccer with Emma, Tennis with Lauren (pictures to come), etc.
Also, meet Sonny, the soccer dog. He is learning a few new sports. Soccer with Emma, Tennis with Lauren (pictures to come), etc. Emma can be a pretty harsh coach! We all miss her, she went to Utah with her Fullmer Grandparents. When we talked to her on the phone, she said that she was cold. I had a hard tinme feeling sorry for her when it's about 110 degrees outside.
Hey Sonny, quit hoggin' the ball!
Oh yeah, something about blogging just seemed a little too much like work for me to focus on it for the last 2 weeks, but I will try to do better.
Hey Sonny, quit hoggin' the ball!Oh yeah, something about blogging just seemed a little too much like work for me to focus on it for the last 2 weeks, but I will try to do better.Thursday, May 01, 2008
Life is just so daily
I'm borrowing a little quote there from Mary Engelbreit that just so aptly describes my life lately. (Many other peoples' as well)
Last week on wednesday, my dad had a major stroke. I found as I read Megan and Tom's posts that I don't think I'll be able to write about it. Megan was pretty thorough if you want to read her blog. The first day I was at school while Megan was texting me all that was happening. Luckily, my students had just left when I got the text that said the doctors thought that my dad wouldn't ever talk or walk again. I absolutely broke down. My poor mom has been at the hospital non-stop. My dad gets very anxious when she's not there and she hates to leave him because they usually end up strapping him down. Unfortunately, yesterday she got that stomach flu that's been going around and has had to stay home in bed.
On a good note, my dad seems to be doing hugely better than they expected. We went to see him for home evening on Monday since he got moved out of ICU. The girls had made him get well cards and Lauren read them to him. Both girls said that they needed their tickle monster to get better quickly. Dad reached over (with his left hand) and started tickling Emma's side and smiled. They told him funny little stories and he smiled and nodded. Earlier that day, he said his name and sorta counted to 10. I don't know much since then but I think that his therapy has been rather hard on him. They also have had a really difficult time with his feeding tube. The first 2 times at least that they tried to place it, it didn't go all the way down past his stomach the way it is supposed to. The next time, I think it was making him uncomfortable and he pulled it out. Yesterday, when he coughed it dislodged it and they had to take it out. I don't really know much about it, but I think that my mom is getting worried about him getting the proper nutrition. Anyway, I wish I knew more right now and I'll have to get over there tomorrow and check on him. This week was also progress reports, so it was a little crazy.
On a much lighter note, thanks to Megan, Rueben, and Catcher for coming to visit me at school today! It was so much fun for me, the girls, my students, the other teachers. You can't imagine how much joy a little 4 month old brings to the dreary walls of a school. Thanks also to all who called, texted and came by to brighten my day as I begin my 38th year.
Well, it is late and I am going to go find something else to distract me from going to bed on time.
Last week on wednesday, my dad had a major stroke. I found as I read Megan and Tom's posts that I don't think I'll be able to write about it. Megan was pretty thorough if you want to read her blog. The first day I was at school while Megan was texting me all that was happening. Luckily, my students had just left when I got the text that said the doctors thought that my dad wouldn't ever talk or walk again. I absolutely broke down. My poor mom has been at the hospital non-stop. My dad gets very anxious when she's not there and she hates to leave him because they usually end up strapping him down. Unfortunately, yesterday she got that stomach flu that's been going around and has had to stay home in bed.
On a good note, my dad seems to be doing hugely better than they expected. We went to see him for home evening on Monday since he got moved out of ICU. The girls had made him get well cards and Lauren read them to him. Both girls said that they needed their tickle monster to get better quickly. Dad reached over (with his left hand) and started tickling Emma's side and smiled. They told him funny little stories and he smiled and nodded. Earlier that day, he said his name and sorta counted to 10. I don't know much since then but I think that his therapy has been rather hard on him. They also have had a really difficult time with his feeding tube. The first 2 times at least that they tried to place it, it didn't go all the way down past his stomach the way it is supposed to. The next time, I think it was making him uncomfortable and he pulled it out. Yesterday, when he coughed it dislodged it and they had to take it out. I don't really know much about it, but I think that my mom is getting worried about him getting the proper nutrition. Anyway, I wish I knew more right now and I'll have to get over there tomorrow and check on him. This week was also progress reports, so it was a little crazy.
On a much lighter note, thanks to Megan, Rueben, and Catcher for coming to visit me at school today! It was so much fun for me, the girls, my students, the other teachers. You can't imagine how much joy a little 4 month old brings to the dreary walls of a school. Thanks also to all who called, texted and came by to brighten my day as I begin my 38th year.
Well, it is late and I am going to go find something else to distract me from going to bed on time.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Hung Jury
Somehow it seems that my trial was only interesting when nobody was allowed to hear about it. Anyway, the poor kid who got killed last year by PIR got no justice this time around. Of course, he was the one who started waving a gun around. I'll give him credit. He was going to put it down and fight with his fists before his girlfriend grabbed the gun, but I'm just guessing that the other gun probably wouldn't have come out if his hadn't first. Also, poor guy had weak taste in girls. The problem was his girlfriend blamed the same guy for grabbing her gun and shooting her boyfriend. Sadly, that was not the gun that killed him so it kinda damaged her credibility. Wait, credibility? Of the NINE witnesses, not one was believable. So, seven guilty, five not, but this guy went home free.
ps. don't let your kids party in the desert.
also, I didn't think you could get the same cold twice in a row! Blast!
ps. don't let your kids party in the desert.
also, I didn't think you could get the same cold twice in a row! Blast!
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
fun, fun
Well, who would have thought that this "2 week" jury duty would be well into its 3rd week and threatening to go next week. At least we are through with testimony and such. We are going into deliberation and hopefully that won't take too long, but I won't be the one holding my breath. I'm dying to talk about it. It's not really all that exciting, but you know me, I'm a talker. Even with jury duty, spring break was fun. We had a great time at the ball game on Thursday, "Go Cubs", when in rome or chicago, or mesa or whatever.
Easter was a great time with all the cousins at Nana B's. My kids didn't want to come home or go to school the next day. Oh wait, with mom at jury duty, they didn't go to school the next day. They took a little extra vacation. Will post pics soon.
Easter was a great time with all the cousins at Nana B's. My kids didn't want to come home or go to school the next day. Oh wait, with mom at jury duty, they didn't go to school the next day. They took a little extra vacation. Will post pics soon.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Lame, lame again
Ok, I have to beg for a little break. I know that I haven't been on in a while and I miss it so much, but life is crazy right now. I'm afraid that I have a bit more than just jury duty. I've been spending most weekends trying to work on water tower stuff and feeling like its not really going anywhere. There are now official people involved, but they don't seem to be looking for random helpers right now, mostly money, which I cant help with much.
On top of this, I got sick. At first I jusst thought that I had a scratchy throat from, um, raising my voice, at my students. Then my brains started leaking out my nose nonstop. I got called to jury duty on Tuesday. Jury selection continued the next day. Of course, I have to make the lesson plans any time I have a sub, so I was doing both jobs. The second day of jury selection, the judge had to call up a whole new group of people because he released so many the first day. So, being a half day at school, I taught in the morning, rushed to jury duty, got picked to sit on the jury, and got out of there by 6. So, the next day, I got to go to school to make my sub plans and my sub hadn't shown up so I taught for about an hour or so and then made copies for future subs. Then I went back to jury duty for the first day of a trial that the judge says should last about 2 weeks. Read into that whatever you want. Although, none of the jury pool raised their hands when asked if they had heard about this case on the news.
So, lucky me, hacking away, my nose stopped leaking and plugged up, we didn't have court on friday, so I got to go to field day and spend the day yelling to get kids attention with about 250 kids outside where I added a sunburn to my list. Oh yeah, and my team mate is getting married this weekend and so she had a sub all week who turned out to be crazy hat woman. Wait, we already called her that before this week. We just thought we were talking about the crazy HATS, now we know it was the crazy LADY. I swear, she showed up late every day and never stopped talking for one single moment and always ran out of things to say so kept repeating herself, over and over and over again.
Did I mention that this is the end of the quarter, grades are due and I get to spend my spring break next week on jury duty? Jury duty doesn't start till after lunch, but what can you do in the morning and still get back downtown, parked in a garage 4 blocks away and up to the 9th floor of superior court by 1pm.
At least court should make for a good post when it is over. Is it coincidental that there are 3 teachers on the jury? Well, that is my excuse.... I know, still lame
On top of this, I got sick. At first I jusst thought that I had a scratchy throat from, um, raising my voice, at my students. Then my brains started leaking out my nose nonstop. I got called to jury duty on Tuesday. Jury selection continued the next day. Of course, I have to make the lesson plans any time I have a sub, so I was doing both jobs. The second day of jury selection, the judge had to call up a whole new group of people because he released so many the first day. So, being a half day at school, I taught in the morning, rushed to jury duty, got picked to sit on the jury, and got out of there by 6. So, the next day, I got to go to school to make my sub plans and my sub hadn't shown up so I taught for about an hour or so and then made copies for future subs. Then I went back to jury duty for the first day of a trial that the judge says should last about 2 weeks. Read into that whatever you want. Although, none of the jury pool raised their hands when asked if they had heard about this case on the news.
So, lucky me, hacking away, my nose stopped leaking and plugged up, we didn't have court on friday, so I got to go to field day and spend the day yelling to get kids attention with about 250 kids outside where I added a sunburn to my list. Oh yeah, and my team mate is getting married this weekend and so she had a sub all week who turned out to be crazy hat woman. Wait, we already called her that before this week. We just thought we were talking about the crazy HATS, now we know it was the crazy LADY. I swear, she showed up late every day and never stopped talking for one single moment and always ran out of things to say so kept repeating herself, over and over and over again.
Did I mention that this is the end of the quarter, grades are due and I get to spend my spring break next week on jury duty? Jury duty doesn't start till after lunch, but what can you do in the morning and still get back downtown, parked in a garage 4 blocks away and up to the 9th floor of superior court by 1pm.
At least court should make for a good post when it is over. Is it coincidental that there are 3 teachers on the jury? Well, that is my excuse.... I know, still lame
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Home Evening
We had Fullmer family Home Evening tonight at Karen's house. It was soup night and I was lame and took pillsbury fake croissants. However, here are some of the soups that were there. In the back left corner, is Rose's Pasta Fagioli which was absolutely fabulous. Rose also brought the potato soup in the back right corner that she adds crumbled bacon to for added flavor and hip girth. The brocolli potato on the front left is Karen's and although I didn't eat any tonight, it is wonderful and I am eagerly awaiting the recipe. The front right is Chicken enchilada soup that Rose also made (Rose was busy), I just had a little taste of that, but it was super yummy.
Because I had to save room for this...Lindy made fried ice cream cake. Oh, my, gosh... it was to die for
Just to give credit where credit is due, Karen also made homemade bread that was so yummy and warm. Thad and Lily made their famous much requested chili. Dave and Phyllis brought a tasty green salad with Milae's homemade ranch dressing that is literally the best ranch dressing ever. There was more to the evening than eating, but I'm not sure I remember what. J/K. It is lovely though to have a fun evening filled with family and loud children and good conversation.
Because I had to save room for this...Lindy made fried ice cream cake. Oh, my, gosh... it was to die for
Just to give credit where credit is due, Karen also made homemade bread that was so yummy and warm. Thad and Lily made their famous much requested chili. Dave and Phyllis brought a tasty green salad with Milae's homemade ranch dressing that is literally the best ranch dressing ever. There was more to the evening than eating, but I'm not sure I remember what. J/K. It is lovely though to have a fun evening filled with family and loud children and good conversation.So, I decided to stock up on my posts since I rarely get to them during the week. Just read one every other day and they will last all week.
ps. David laid down about 450 square feet of sod in our backyard yesterday. It looks like such a tiny patch in our backyard, but it will continue to grow as we can afford it. We can't play on it yet, and the girls are anxious. Sonny has not given up his plant eating habit. David put up a fence around the grass, but unfortunately it is not Sonny proof- dang it.
Childhood has its moments of pure joy!
Is there anything better than learning how to do a cartwheel?
Straight legs will come eventually, I think.
She got up after one series of cartwheels and said, "I love cartwheels, they're so fun!"
Straight legs will come eventually, I think.
She got up after one series of cartwheels and said, "I love cartwheels, they're so fun!"
Ah, change...
Last weekend, I put a new faucet on my sink. It was actually kind of fun. When we bought our house, the design center showed us several lovely new faucets for around $500. I thought this was a little high, so we decided that we would take the plain one that came with the house and change it later. Well, faucets,that I wanted anyway, are still about $250 at Lowe's and such. However, a few weeks ago, Tuesday Morning had some faucets on sale for $99. I found this one and David thought that this was a project that could wait, but he's not the one using the sink with water splashing all over the place from that low faucet. So, I decided to undertake this project. Once I was down on the floor under the cabinet, Lauren wanted to come help, which was fine of course. We only needed David's help for one little pin that we couldn't quite push in to lock the sprayer into place. I love it. It was easy and we donated the old faucet to a friend who was in need of one.
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