Someday I Will Soar

Another Utah Trip :))

2010-09-05T10:52:00.000-07:00

In late August we took another trip to Utah. So we could get some more cousin time in and see the Payson Community Theater play that my sister and some of my nieces and nephews were in.

One of the highlights for Josie was the dinosaur museum at Thanksgiving Point. She loved that place! It was crowded because it was $2 Tuesday but it was a great time.

Digging for dinosaurs in the sand and water.

Mom and Reese waiting for the kids to finish playing in the sand.

Reese, Ashlynn and Hannah

TERRIFYING!

Josie wasn't too scared there, but I think she held on to Rich a bit tighter by this exhibit.

Poor Reese. She was like a trapped gazelle and these tigers were chasing her all around the dressing room. Those three boys, growling, scratching, jumping around on all fours - are little frightening.

Josie was watching something a little scary on t.v. so she was cuddling up to Richard.

Waiting for the Play to start....

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

My sis with her boys.

Hayden and Parker were in the children's choir. Ramona was one of the wives, and Connley was Benjamin.
They all did GREAT!

Ashlynn - hammin' it up for the camera. She was a little dissapointed we lived too far away for her to participate.

Reese and Ashlynn with Joseph and Hannah and Taylor who were also in the Children's Choir.

Great Job PCT!

Tri with the Girls

2010-08-25T09:43:00.000-07:00

In 2009 I did my first sprint triathlon. In 2010 I did two more. The secone of the two was the Wunderwoman Triathlon, the same race I did in 2009 with Cami and Tiffany. But in 2010 we added more sisters and a niece into the mix and had an AMAZING weekend hanging out, goofing off, training, siteseeing, and racing our hearts out. (Brooke gave me the advice to always sprint at the end. If you don't feel like you're going to throw-up, you didn't sprint hard enough.)

Katelynn, Me, Julie, Krisi, Brooke, Cami, Tiffany

Me, front and center. And I did sprint at the end. I felt very sick. I felt GREAT!

At Riverside Park the day before the race.

I always think it great fun just to hang out with my sisters. This was a special time, no hubbies, no kids, and tons of nerves as we talked and prepared for the race.

(Tiffany)

Reaching for the Brass Ring.....

Really they're little plastic rings, and my fingers started to hurt from grasping the rings so hard when I was trying to pull them.

(Me)

(Katelynn)

One of my beautiful and talented sisters, Brooke, decorated our swim caps for us. No generic, plain caps for us!

It was SO much fun.

And 2011 will be even bigger!

July 24th Utah Holiday :)

2010-07-24T10:14:00.000-07:00

Time for another Utah trip! 24th of July means roadtrips, family parties, parades and firework shows.
Because in July I had started teaching Zumba Classes on Saturday mornings, we couldn't leave for our trip until after class. This meant if we didn't want to drive straight through the night (we didn't) that we would stay in a hotel in Boise. Always fun times.

Josie, taking pictures in the back of the car during the roadtrip.

Once we reach Utah......it's cousins galore :)

Hannah and Josie

Ashlynn and Hannah

Taylor and Reese at the Spanish Fork Res.

Mmmmmmm Mi Ranchito. Josie and Shawlee (Uncle Tom)

Our kickball game seemed to have more arguements than fun. So what should we do next????

I know, let's fight with foam swords.

Ramona and Katelynn go at it.

Games with the Russells. Beckham, Brooke and Travis.

PICTIONARY

Krisi, Rich, Brooke, Travis, Beanpaw (Grandpa)

24th of July Parade in Spanish Fork

Josie and Auntie Mel

Me and my daddy

Melanie and Me

Mom and Me

I think we spent more time posing for pictures then watching the parade!

Me and my hunny ;)

Josie and Beckham, lunching at their own private table.

Reese posing with Taylor after Tay's performance at the park.

After an early morning parade, lunch with the gang, maybe a ride or two at the fair, we head to Mona for a firework show, music and dance. The fireworks are spectacular, and a bit threatening and the dance is fun for the grown-ups and kids!

Any trip to see family is always great. And the 24th in Utah never dissapoints!

Thanks Utah gang :)

July 4th

2010-07-04T23:28:00.000-07:00

July 4th at the Lake Wilderness party. It was a little rainy and soggy but a lot of fun to get together with family and play and watch fireworks.

Girl Time

2010-06-30T23:21:00.000-07:00

Going with Ashlynn to the midnight showing of Eclipse. It was fun, and we agreed Eclipse is our favorite movie so far in the Twilight Saga.

Cute little foot! Josie loves taking pictures with my phone.

On warm, lazy summer mornings Josie and I would sit on the porch swing and smell the fresh air....and goof off with the phone camera.

Why is she smiling?

2010-06-15T23:09:00.000-07:00

Because a dream had just come true ;)
This photo was taken after a full day of exercise and lecture and FUN!
In June I got my license to teach Zumba and it has changed my life. If you're interested in my Zumba info go here.

This is me and my Education Specialist Joy Smith. She is knowledgeable and a lot of fun. I've since taken a ZumbAtomic (for kids) instructor education class from her and signed up for the next level of Zumba instruction.

Although my life has changed since Zumba - my main goal in this post is not to push it. But to document it as I try and catch up on some of the fun stuff I've done in the past months as I had let my blog go by the wayside.

Phone Home

2010-06-14T14:41:00.000-07:00

For Mother's Day I got an iphone.
Yes I love it.
Unlike my other phones I always remember to take it with me
I can get my pictures off of it very easily
and I have games and awesome apps.

Here are some of the pics I wouldn't have if I didn't have my iphone - because I don't always remember a camera:

Ashlynn after her 5th grade musical play - that girl has a great voice and a fun stage presence.

Josie playing "FACE THE COOKIE" one of the Minute to Win it games we did at my sister's house. In this game, you get the cookie from your forehead to your mouth using only your face muscles.

Me and my sis at the Paramount for Fiddler on the Roof.

That musical is such a part of me. We grew up listening to it, singing and dancing to songs from it around the house, and performing it on stage. It was great!

Reese at her 2nd grade concert and square dancing night.

Ashlynn at the dr. office. Turned out she had pneumonia. Poor little thing, I had just kept giving her cough drops.

Josie getting potty trained so she's wearing as little as possible to make any accident clean-up easier.

Reese LOVES to cook. This is her own cookbook and she made treats for the family.

I don't know if she knows what it means, but whenever Josie gets out of the tub she shows me her wrinkly hands and says "I'm wrinkly like a gwamma."

This is her absolutely had to have, would die with out it, needed it to function - skirt.

Ashlynn just before her last band concert for 5th grade. She's such a good musician :)

That's all for now folks!

Smile and Live

BBQ Pete's

2010-06-04T21:40:00.000-07:00

Have you been here? Yum....I love this place.

I know normally I've got pics of my kids and stuff we do, but this time it's a recommendation. Ash and Reese were both at friends playing so Rich and I went on a small date with Josie tonight to BBQ Pete's in Kent. They have the best potato salad in the world, REALLY yummy beef and pork, and huge cornbread muffins with delish honey butter.
The inside is fun with long picnic tables and a high counter the length of the window. On the tables are Trivial Pursuit cards for you to amaze your friends and family with your awesome knowledge. We must go at off times because it's never been as crowded as it is in this pic I got off their website.

It's so good! When you go lemme know so I can meet ya there!

Another year goes by....

2010-05-31T23:23:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe my baby is 3!!

Sleeping with Ash. They still do this. Ashlynn will tuck Josie in for her nap, and sometimes fall asleep with her now that Jo's in a big girl bed.

Reese dressing josie up like a present and taking a picture. And now, Reese will dress Josie up as a cat, princess, mom, doctor or some combination of those things and Josie loves it.

We continue to stare at her with amazement. She is smart and growing so fast. We don't want to miss anything so we're constantly watching her.

She's:

getting potty trained

talking back

sleeping in a big girl bed

constantly putting on lip gloss

mimicking mom and her sisters

singing

hiding, only to be found in a room putting on nail polish

losing her temper

asking for kisses

saying I love you

And Josie....we love you too! Happy Birthday

Treasure Hunt

2010-05-18T08:59:00.000-07:00

Okay...so it's really Geocaching. But when you have three girls with active imaginations....the way to get them into the hike and search is to tell them it's a treasure hunt.

We've wanted to try it for a couple years but never had a good handheld GPS system. But now with the iphones, Rich downloaded a Geocaching App and we went for it.

This is on the Rock Creek trail. We forgot to write down the actual coordinates of the cache, and they were coded on the website we were looking at. So we followed the clues and searched around. We were thinking we were in the wrong spot when Reese spotted the treasure under the log.

They were so excited when the opened it. We had taken a couple small toys (old McDonald Happy Meal toys) and traded them for others that were in the box.

The girls had so much fun. Part of the excitement is trying to keep the locations a secret from non-geocachers. Yesterday we went on a spur of the moment after dinner walk to a cache that was just placed a couple days ago 0.2 miles from our house. It's on a busy trail so the kids were whispering and excitedly looking for it while trying to not let anyone notice us.

The Dreaming

2010-05-07T13:52:00.000-07:00

Last night I had a dream that I was selling most everything I owned so that I could see Kate Bush in concert. This is not unlike something I might do.... if Kate did concerts.

I love the album cover above, for The Dreaming. When we first got this cassette:) I remember flipping and twirling it around with my hands....only to stop suddenly worried that the key on her tongue might fall off. Weird I know, but Kate has that affect of people.

If I were stranded on a deserted island and could have only one artist's work, it would be Kate's. If I could have only one album, it would be Hounds of Love. Every song moves me. In Junior High I was obsessed with the story line of the ninth wave. And Cloudbusting would always bring tears to my eyes. Her music sparked my emotions and her lyrics sent my imagination into a frenzy. I would act out an entire theater production in my head listening to her songs.

Theatrical productions are exactly what Kate would do to...watch any of her videos on youtube and it may take a while to get over the initial crazy you see as a first timer. I think most of our friends who knew about mine and my family's obsession with Kate thought we were all a little crazy.

She is ARTIST.

Yes, it is beyond shameful that I don't own her album Aerial. Something I plan to remedy very soon. But I'm not going to download it, Kate's albums have to be felt and seen. There's usually cool pictures and hopefully lyrics to the songs.

So would I sell everything to see her? I'd sell a lot, but not everything......

Besides, in the productions in my head, I get to be the heroine :)

Now go listen to Hello Earth from Hounds of Love and then tell me if it doesn't move you.

Kids say the darndest things...

2010-05-05T20:19:00.001-07:00

Write it down or you'll forget:

1- Josie told me she wanted to see her cousin Asher. I said, "We can't. He's in Utah." She said, "He's in my-tah?"

2- One of the highlights of going to their cousins house is to see the chickens. Last time we went they were all caged up instead of roaming free. Adrienne told Josie it was because the chickens were naughty and kept going in the road. On the way home Josie said, "the chickens were naughty. The chickens in time-out. They should say......." (then in a high pitched, throaty voice she said, "BAWK! Sorry!"

I know....it's been forever

2010-04-23T17:27:00.001-07:00

Did all of a sudden, blogging start to feel more like a chore and less fun?
It did to me. Hence the 2 month lack of posting.

It still sorta does.

So until I want to spend more time on it, here's a little tidbit.

Rich and I went on, I guess what would be a second honeymoon, our first vacation without kids since having kids.

It was AMAZING!

I love my honey :)

About Reese

2010-02-15T14:55:00.001-08:00

She is a sweetie.
Out of our refrigerator magnets she wrote this Valentines poem for Rich and me.

We bought a new table (HOORAY!!!). We've had the same tiny table since Rich and I first got married and it was tight for four, now we have a family of five and so we searched and finally found one we liked. Anyways....Rich put it together and the carboard boxes were stacking up. Reese climbed in because she wanted to pretend she was a robot I bought. I forgot about it...and next thing I know she's sleeping in the box.

The flash woke her up so she had a smile for me....she is a cutie pie.

Pu Pu Point

2010-02-07T09:15:00.000-08:00

Yesterday the girls and I hiked Pu Pu Point in Issaquah. I had done it once before and loved it so much. And seeing as how my goal is to get our family healthier, more active and happier...I decided to take the girls up there. It was a beautiful sunny morning! We totally lucked out in the weather department.

I wasn't sure if they would make it all the way up, seeing as how we haven't done too much hiking before...just the easier hikes at Mt. Rainier. But I let them take a lot of breaks. Halfway up we stopped, had some string cheese and took a few pics. Hikers coming down kept giving them encouragement....telling them they were doing awesome and could make it to the top. At one point Reese said, "I can't wait until we're the ones coming down!"

When we were really close to the top, but didn't know it...they started to get really tired and wondered if we would ever get there. I kept telling them it would be worth it when we reached the top! They were wanting to take breaks every minute...so I told them we would walk slow, but had to walk for at least 10 minutes before we took another break. This worked well, and we reached to top in no time.

And it was worth it. They really loved the view. We ate sandwiches and drank our drink. The girls had enough energy to even play tag. The top is where the parasailers jump off of tiger mountain down to Hobart-Issaquah road. There was one parasailer wanting to jump, but I guess the wind wasn't right because he packed up and left. Other jumpers/parasailers were carrying their packs and talking about the disappointing wind.

There are two jumping points...we went to the first. We decided that we'd go to the second next time, and if I remember right, it's about another 15 minutes of hiking past the first.

I was so proud of them. They had a great feeling of accomplishment and the way down went smoothly. Except - Ash had to find a place to use the bathroom. It was difficult because there was almost always someone on the trail. And with the trail full of switchbacks, even if there weren't people right by you, you never had much privacy. But we found a spot and she did it. It may have been the first time she had to pee in the wilderness. Which I find hard to believe but she needed a bit of instruction on how to not get wet ;)

Isn't it a beautiful view! I can't wait to do it again with them.....and I'm wondering if Josie can make it.

P.S. At the top of this post, you'll see the graph my garmin came up with for our hike. It took us 1 1/2 hours to get up and about an hour to get down. 1.75 miles up with a 1,600 ft elevation climb....I think :)

The talented Ashlynn

2010-02-07T09:08:00.001-08:00

Ashlynn has been in Band this year, she's learning the flute and is really good at it. She picked it up pretty fast and has a great time playing. This pic is from their first concert.

She was also in this years Missoula Theater production about King Aurthur. She was Morgan LeFay and did an EXCELLENT job. She practiced her lines and delivered them so perfectly. She was easily the most animated and easily heard/understood girl up there....and I'm not prejudiced!!!!!

My sweet old man

2010-02-07T08:56:00.001-08:00

Rich turned 40 in January. What a sweetie - putting up with all of my old man jokes.

Instead of cake he wanted Cinnamon Rolls. (Somehow I pieced together a recipe that turns out such delicious rolls - if I make them and there are leftovers, I'm sure to gain at least 3 pounds.)

We decorated the house in black. I'd left out some of my halloween decorations just for this purpose. There were skeletons and Over the Hill signs througout the downstairs. My family came over and we talked and ate and played games. We played charades, acting out phrases such as: one foot in the grave, older than dirt, knocking on deaths door, etc. The best was anytime the word was old, the actor would point at Rich and everyone would yell "OLD!"

The girls thought it was sad, having all the black and skeletons around, but Rich said it was one of the best birthdays he'd ever had.

Relax and be strong!

2010-02-05T13:24:00.000-08:00

I am such a pansy when it comes to confrontations
And I hate to rock the boat
But....
Have you heard of Time For Kids Magazine (TFK)? It's supposed to be a news magazine for school age kids. But the more I read it the more I HATE IT!!!!
I'm thinking of sending the following e-mail. What I'm wondering is- do I just send it to the teacher so he knows how I feel? Or do I send it to the parents e-mail group, hoping there is some support but risking judgement of my daughter's friends' parents?
Why do I even want to raise a stink???? Because I don't think schools should teach our kids what to think.... but should give them both sides of an issue and let them learn to think!

My e-mail:
The more I read Time for Kids Magazine, the more I dislike it.

Even though there are allegations against the IPCC of fraudulent studies and exaggerated information (think of the e-mails that recently came into public view) TFK consistently pushes the problems of climate and environmental issues into their articles. There are numerous studies going on which support the fact that climate change may not be entirely man-caused, yet this never seems to be addressed in the magazine.

But it's not just the "hooray for hybrids!" and "what made you want to help the environment?" statements that bother me. Most recently, in the Jan. 29 issue, there is an article entitled, A Shift in the Senate, regarding Scott Brown's Senate seat. Most of the article seems informative, then there is this statement:

"This means that Democrats no longer hold a 60-seat Senate supermajority. Now, Republicans will be able to block legislation that the Democratic majority wants to pass, including a health-care bill."

This is the extent of the information given on the voting process. It's very one-sided and comes across as if Republican's are only in the Senate in order to thwart the health-care bill.

What is the purpose of reading TFK in class?
Surely there is a balanced news source out there for our children?
Is there ever any class discussion on the other side of the issues?
How many classes use TFK?
Is it really necessary?

I'd love your feedback!

Love this story

2010-01-25T08:41:00.000-08:00

I copied this from one of my fav blogs Triathlon Goddess (click here.)
I love this story.

"The pros had finished the Chicago Triathlon two hours before and I was headed out of transition to go to pack and catch a redeye flight home that night. I was walking past the finish chute which, when the pros and early finishers came through, was packed with people screaming and cheering. Then here comes this woman, who is a little heavyset, coming around the corner. There is not a soul standing along the fence cheering. But as I am walking, I see her coming, and notice that she is looking at the clock. I turn around and it shows about 20-25 seconds to get under the four hour mark. So when she saw it, she just went into this all out sprint. I put my bike on the grass and I started yelling 'Go!' And then I started crying. That is actually my favorite moment of all in triathlon. I’ll never forget it. Her eyes locking into that clock and thinking: ‘I’m going to get in there. For me. I’m just about dead last. No one is watching me. No one cares. But I’m gonna do it for me.’ That's triathlon. And so that's a beautiful thing.”

2004 ITU World Champion Sheila Taormina on her favorite moment in the sport

-Get out and do something that inspires you today! :)

Essential Oils

2010-01-18T11:44:00.000-08:00

This weekend, after a 4 mile run on Friday and a 4 mile walk on Saturday, I ended up with a huge blister on my toe. I think this is because in my effort to get cuter feet, I used my pumice stone on them and made them soft. Too soft for the rigors of running and my shoes rubbed my toes the wrong way.

Anyways - I had this huge blister on my big toe and it hurt. I'd heard both that blisters could be popped and that they shouldn't be popped.

I popped mine. I put a needle in alcohol then poked a little tiny hole in the blister - which I didn't feel at all. Then I squeezed out the water, put a drop of lavender essential oil on it and covered it with a beautiful Cinderella bandaid.

The next morning it didn't hurt AT ALL. It was completely gone.

Why have I ever suffered from a blister? And I vow to not ever suffer through it again....just get rid of it!

I love essential oils, but I don't know much about them. My extent of using them is this:
1- Putting a few drops of Peppermint oil on a tissue and letting Reese sleep with that on her pillow to help her relax and fall asleep. I also put a couple drops on the fabric of Josie's carseat on our last roadtrip to help settle her upset stomach.
2- Mixing 3 drops Tea Tree, 3 drops Lavender, and 1 drop Peppermint with about 2 tsp olive oil and making a massage oil to help with colds and sore muscles.
3- Mixing 2 drops Lavender with 1 tsp olive oil and rubbing Josie's legs to help with growing pains before bed.
4- I dabbed one drop of Tea Tree oil on a pimple and it went away within 2 days... :)

Little by little I'm learning more. And one of the bloggers I follow (What's Cooking Good Looking?, listed in my blog list on the right) had a guest post on another blog where she explained some other simple uses for essential oils. Click here to go there.... I quite often refer to it to see what I can mix up.

I bought my essential oils on my last trip to Utah. I haven't looked for them in Washington. They're probably available at Whole Foods or something else like that. If you know a great place to get them - let me know!

crazy kids

2010-01-07T15:12:00.000-08:00

Just some silly stuff I want to remember:

When I was changing Josie's clothes she lifted her arm and looked at her shoulder. There was a deep wrinkle on her shoulder because of how it was positioned and she said, "look! a bum!"

I was watching Biggest Loser with Reese and when she saw the men weigh in she said, "oh, that would suck to be fat AND hairy."

Happy New Years!!!

2010-01-01T10:19:00.000-08:00

I always think I'm going to get a ton of pictures - but at parties - I never end up getting them because I always wanna play with everyone!

The family came over to my house and we played rockband and bandhero for hours. We had 300 lbs of food, most of which did not get eaten and instead we talked about the Biggest Burton Loser contest.

We counted down the New Year and had confetti poppers all over the living room!

After my new years kiss with my hubby, I played a really cool Pride and Prejudice game with my sister. We played games until almost 2:00. When everyone left, Rich and I did a little cleaning and went to bed.

It was a great, fun, party!!!

Happy New Year!

Christmas

2010-01-01T10:04:00.000-08:00

After having dull video tapes of slow moving Christmas mornings. Rich and I drastically reduced our Christmas Morning filming. Now - it moves so fast, like an unwrapping frenzy it's hard to know when to press record on the video camera. We got some video though - I haven't watched it yet. But here are a few pics from Christmas morning.

Here's the girls (in a picture that could badly use some photoshop help...) in their Christmas Eve pj's, just before bedtime.

Christmas Morning...Jo laid face down in the hall and cried. I think it was the craziness of the older girls' screaming at seeing what Santa left and the fact she didn't get much sleep, having to wake up early to get the goods. After a little coaxing she came into the room and saw her very own kitchen. She played with it and flatly refused to open any other presents.

Christmas morning isn't complete without something for Rich to build. Thanks Lisa for these awesome mechanical animals!

Christmas Eve

2010-01-01T09:43:00.001-08:00

This year we had Christmas Eve and my Brother and Sis-in-law's house. It was so much fun! Here is Adrienne's beautiful tree.

I loved the party - and it was great to have it at her house because not only is it big enough to accommodate us - but she has a playroom with tons of toys so it keeps the kids busy and happy while I can run around and take pictures of myself with people :)

Adam is here, carving the awesome turkey he made in a rotisserie cooker. They also made some delicious ham. It was a great dinner.

This is me and Lisa, she's my sis-in-law and we love having her up for Christmas!!

Since this night - I've begun wearing my bronzer again. No need to look like Morticia!

The kids table

The older kids table

Waiting for the cousin gift exchange

Yo Gabba Gabba Boombox! Are you kidding??? This gift is perfect!

Until it gets 'borrowed' by a cousin - Josie did not want to let that boombox go!

Me and sweet little Lala. She wanted to be on camera so I had to take a picture of us.

Thanks Aj and Adam! It was so much fun!

Quick Update

2009-12-11T15:14:00.000-08:00

I know it's been a MEGA long time since I've blogged. Not only have we been busy with vacations, holidays and sickness - I've been just plain slacking too.

Here are some pics from our Utah trip. It snowed a little bit while we were there. There was enough snow for the girls to make a snowman and for Josie to tromp around happily in her boots.

Today Rich had the day off so we went to lunch at Jay Berry's and then to Snoqualmie Falls. I LOVE the falls. I like to go when it's sunny, or when there's been a lot of rain and they're really full, or like today, when it's been so cold there's ice everywhere! It's so beautiful.

And this last pic is a paper craft I did for my daughter's friend. I had this plain brown sack that needed to wrap a b-day present so I dressed it up. On my sis's blog she linked this really great paper craft christmas decor pic (click here) and I fell in love with it.

Halloween

2009-11-03T12:38:00.001-08:00

We had a great Halloween!!!!! Here are some pictures of our costumes:
Josie LOVES Scooby-Doo. She saw this costume in the store somewhere around Oct. 1 and loved it then. Then as Halloween grew closer, she refused to ever put it on. I was worried she wouldn't wear it at all! Then, when she realized, Scooby got candy, she happily put it on and went trick-or-treating.

Reese went as Sharpay from High School Musical. The dress and purse we got at goodwill, the sweater was from storage and I bought the sparkly leggings at walmart. I also bought some rhinestones and a $1 headband and we glued them on so it reads - SHARPAY.

Ashlynn went as a mad doctor/crazy old person -one of those throw together costumes that can be a few different things. We borrowed an old lab coat from my sister - bloodied it up along with some pants and sprayed her hair. Hanging above her you see the new Halloween decoration we bought this year, a body encased in webbing....some spider has a tasty treat waiting for it ;)

I had decided I wanted to be Medusa, and when I mentioned it to a friend it turned out she had a costume I could borrow - PERFECT!

Dad ended up throwing together a wig, hat and glasses to take the girls trick-or-treating and looked a lot like Slash. But we didn't get any pictures :(

All in all it was a great Halloween and there is a TON of candy just waiting to cause tummy aches. Come over and I'll give you some ;)

District Diversity Meeting

2009-10-29T12:48:00.000-07:00

For those wondering -
I did attend the diversity meeting at the school district.

I went because I wanted to know what the school's taught about same-gender families and let them know I didn't want assignments or books about same-gender relationships being given to my children. I believe marriage is absolutely sacred and should be between a man and a woman. (Interesting how my view is supported by thousands of years of humanity - yet now I feel afraid to stand up for my beliefs.)

In the school's definition of diversity listed among ethnicity, religion, and financial status were gender-identity and sexual orientation. But this was at the forum - I don't know what is taught to students regarding it.

I know that bullying of any type for any reason is wrong. I was shocked to hear the Jr High and High School students talk about the teasing, fights, and violence that occurs. It became obvious that more needs to be done to punish/counsel the kids involved in it.

The forum wasn't really an open mic type situation - which I was somewhat grateful for, I'm not big on confrontations. But we divided up into groups to discuss the issues the students talked about. I let the facilitator know the reason for my attendance and that I didn't think homosexuality should be taught in school. I told her that tolerance and acceptance are two very different things. I also asked that parents should be made aware when controversial issues like this are going to be talked about in class BEFORE hand so they can approve of it or make other arrangements. She took notes on what the group said and it was all going back to the district. I also filled out a comment card, repeating my thoughts, with my e-mail address and notation that I was interested in being involved.

Part of America's greatness is the FREEDOM OF RELIGION. Once same-gender marriages are approved and schools start teaching it as natural and normal, that freedom begins to erode.

Food and Fashion

2009-10-22T12:56:00.000-07:00

The truth is - I always forget about goodwill. And, I don't think the prices are low enough for used stuff. That being said, there's a time of year I love to go there - Halloween. I love making my own costumes.

Reese had decided she wanted to be Sharpay from High School Musical. The ready to wear costume you can buy is between $20-$30 and not that great. So off to goodwill we went. I found the perfect dress for her! It was an adult's really small size, so It works without hardly any alterations.

I didn't get a full body pic, because she's still feeling a bit sick. But I cut the dress on a diagonal on the bottom and added some closures in the back. We also found this silver sparkly sling bag she'll use to put her candy in. "And after that just for anything I want!" she explained. With a pink fur jacket and pink heels from storage; we'll add some fancy leggings, and make a headband that says "Sharpay" in sparkles and she'll be good to go!

Now for the food-->

I finally tried a recipe for a stuffed squash I've been wanting to try. It was SUPER YUMMY. It's an acorn squash, cut and cooked for 30 minutes. Then stuffed with shredded zucchini, carrot and onion that had all been sauteed. Added to that were some bread crumbs, Tuscan spice mix and an egg. Once the filling is in the squash cook for another 15 minutes. It smelled like Thanksgiving and tasted delicious. Next time - I'll probably salt and pepper the inside of the squash before scooping in my filling.

I love banana bread. And I used to love zucchini bread, but have never made it. So this time as I made my banana bread I added a shredded zucchini to it. I used applesauce and a tiny bit of olive oil instead of butter and honey instead of sugar. The recipe called for Baking Soda but I also added a bit of Baking Powder because I've read that when using honey instead of sugar the food needs the extra umph of leavening agent. To get a good sweetness I sprinkled the pan very lightly with some brown sugar before pouring in the batter as well as sprinkled a little on top of the batter.

So this had 1 zucchini, 3 bananas, and 3/4 applesauce - a good amount of necessary fruits and veggies; as well as it was made with whole wheat flour. And you know what? The kids gobbled it up.

So Excited :)

2009-10-20T09:33:00.001-07:00

On October 15th at 12:01 am, I committed to doing another Triathlon. I was really nervous and those voices of self doubt were creeping in (BOOO!).

Then I remembered this:

The extraordinary feeling of doing something I never thought I would be able to.

I had planned all along to do the Wunderwoman Triathlon again in 2010. But for some reason this Valley Girl Triathlon seemed too intimidating. The distances are only a bit longer on the swim and bike, and quite doable, but the whole idea of trying something new was daunting.

So I reached back into my heart and grasped hold of the TRI-HIGH I got from my last triathlon - read about it here - And signed up.

Thanks Tiff for pushing me, and although I hesitated, I am so so excited for it. And the tri sold out on October 15th at 1:10 am!

Now it's time to kick up my training.

Catch and Release is for Sissies

2009-10-09T11:20:00.001-07:00

Our kitchen seemed overrun with fruit flies this year. Even after storing bananas in the pantry and everything else in the fridge - we still had the little pests flying around.

I looked online and there were several different methods - including a catch and release. WTH? For fruit flies?? After reading my post, you'll see there's nothing humane about my method. But I guess if you prefer, you can skip the last couple steps and let the little buggers go live outside.

1. I got a glass, I used glass specifically so I could see how many I was trapping.
2. Put some bait in the bottom. I used pineapple. But I also noticed a cup of OJ my daughter left out had attracted a lot of fruit flies (FF's).
3. Make a funnel out of paper. The top needs to be wide enough to sit in the glass while leaving space at the bottom for your bait. The hole at the bottom is about 1/8" wide. The funnel shouldn't touch the bait, it may help the FF's crawl out.
4. Tape the funnel to keep it's shape and tape it all around the top of the glass so they can't crawl out of the glass.
5. Enjoy watching the FF's get trapped, for some reason once they get into the glass, they can't fly up out of the funnel hole.
6. To kill the FF's, you can put the cup in the freezer for about 20 minutes.
7. So that I didn't have to make new traps, and I was afraid of FF's getting out of the trap, and I know FF's don't like cold bait, once I took it out of the freezer, I microwaved my whole trap and set it out to catch more.

Other suggestions are:
1. Put apple cider vinegar in a bowl and mix with dish soap. The apple cider attracts them, and the dish soap helps disperse the surface tension and they drown. Or something like that.
2. At night, put a dish of bait in your dishwasher and leave the door slightly ajar. In the morning, gently, so as not disturb the FF's, close the dishwasher door. Turn on the dishwasher and wash those flies away. (you shouldn't open the door to see how many you caught - this could alert the FF's and they'll fly away. - see why I love the glass method.)

Happy Hunting!

A new love -

2009-09-21T16:44:00.000-07:00

I've never been a huge fan of sewing. I liked it; but only if the pattern wasn't very complicated. Actually, I think I don't like patterns. Now that I look back - the projects I've really enjoyed, are those that I make up, like:

Ashlynn's 2008 Zombie Bride Halloween Costume

My Jane Austen Tea-party dress, refashioned from an old potato sack style dress

(I hate the way I look in the picture - my sister click here for her blog - looks AB/FAB! - but the only thing I like about me is the cool dress I made and the fact that I've lost 25 pounds since this pic was taken in February.)

Our Apron Extravaganza last Thanksgiving
Although we used a pattern, choosing fabrics and trims allowed for a lot of creativity.

But I just made this cute little apron - patterned after ideas in my head, cutting and trimming and measuring at whim. This apron is for an auction fundraiser my sister is involved in for her son's soccer team. But I plan on making a similar styled one for me with different fabrics.

I love the wide waistband, which I reinforced with fusible interfacing so that when it's washed it hopefully won't get all bunched up and twisted. I also made wide, long ties that can tie in front or back. You can't really tell from this picture but the ruffle on bottom curves up around and meets up with the waistband in back. I wanted a sort of bustle look to it.

Things I'll change when I make mine: the apron a little shorter and more narrow as well as making the ruffle bigger. I'll let you know how it turns out.

I find aprons fun to sew because you can piece together many different fabrics, shapes and ideas to come up with something that makes cooking more fun! I've even considered making a few of these, stockpiling up and getting in on the sassy mei action.

She'll be comin' 'round the mountain

2009-09-13T16:34:00.000-07:00

Mt. Rainier Hiking Expedition circa 1930s.

We made it to Rainier last Saturday and had a great time. We didn't go on the glaciers like the pic above, but I thought it was so cool I had to pass it along. I came across this GREAT site - and if you love old photographs, you should check it out. It's the National Park Service Historic Photograph Collection. And you can search by theme, park, year.

Saturday was a gorgeous sunny day. We started out late in the day, 1:00pm because Rich was out on a boy scout campout.

We saw this momma dear and her fawn. The fawn was too shy and kept hiding from my camera.

Usually when we go to Rainier we hike The Grove of the Patriarchs. Which I love. A beautiful hike that a one-year old who likes to walk can do. But this time we decided to venture out and try some new hikes. I'm so glad we did!

We did the Nisqually Vista trail. At about 1.5 miles, plus a little extra because the trail head wasn't where we thought it was, it was a perfect distance that we got some exercise without tiring out little Josie. There were some uphills, but it's paved the whole way, strollers would be doable, and maybe a wheelchair if you had someone really strong pushing it.

There were gorgeous flowers and meadows and then the path led down to the cliffs, where you could look out across the canyon and see the Nisqually Glacier and White River.

It was beautiful. - We're kinda covering up the view here, but we're cute too so that's okay.

We also did 0.7 mi at the Longmire, Trail of Shadows. There is a 1920s cabin and mineral springs bubbling up from the earth. I didn't have my camera :( and we didn't have time for the museum. So I plan to go again when I can browse the museum.

We ended it all with a picnic at Longmire and a peaceful drive home because the kids all fell asleep from the warm sunny hikes.

Hi my name is Shannon....

2009-09-08T12:12:00.000-07:00

And I'm a t.v. addict.

I luv t.v.! It's so fun to cuddle up with my hunny and watch some good shows once the kids go to bed. Here are some things I'm looking forward to:

Monday
8:00pm Heroes NBC - Premieres Sept 21

Tuesday
8:00pm SYTYCD FOX - Premieres Sept 9

Wednesday
8:00pm SYTYCD FOX - Premieres Sept 9
10:00pm Law and Order SVU NBC - Premieres Sept 23

Thursday
8:30pm Parks and Recreation NBC - Premieres Sept 17
9:00pm The Office NBC - Premieres Sept 17
9:00pm Fringe FOX - Premieres Sept 17
9:30pm 30 Rock NBC - Premieres Sept 17

Friday
8:00pm Law and Order NBC - Premieres Sept 25
9:00pm Medium CBS (moved from NBC!) - Premieres Sept 25

(This list is taken from What We Watch to Escape Our Own Reality)

School/Speech update

2009-09-03T14:45:00.001-07:00

I am not really a get-involved-kinda-gal. But it was quite gratifying to get a call from the principal just now to discuss my concerns.

Thanks Ramona, for the tip on e-mailing the district. I didn't know who to e-mail so I copied everyone, from the superintendent to the entire board of directors. Thank heavens for e-mail! If this had been a phone or even worse, letter writing with stamp, campaign I'm not sure I would have gotten involved.

This was what I e-mailed:
I would appreciate any information you have in regards to Obama’s speech to school children, taking place on Tuesday, September 8th. I don’t feel comfortable having my children watch the speech without me. If I trusted that it would stick to back-to-school messages than it wouldn't bother me, but I don't trust that. And the classroom, especially k-6 grades, is not a proper forum for a political message.

I feel teachers who are participating in viewing the speech should offer alternative activities. Families should be notified that these are available. I know there are some, including myself, who would prefer to watch the message with their children. If there are not at-school alternatives available, my children will be staying home that day.

Here's the info I received:

My kids' school, will have alternate activities going on in the library. Every parent should be getting a call from the school, explaining what's happening on Sept. 8th - speech day. Then a form should be coming home in which they can opt out of the speech viewing and subsequent assignments regarding the speech.

So there we go. ;)

A Parent's Right

2009-09-03T10:11:00.000-07:00

Do you know about Obama day at school?

Is it happening in your school?

Are you fine with it?

Perhaps it is not a big deal. It might not strike me as bad at all, if it were not for the fact that some schools will not allow the parents to attend. Wierd? A little off?

I think so.

I e-mailed my daughters' principal and their teachers to see if they will be participating. Just something short and simple to find out what's going on:

I am curious if our school will be viewing the message President Obama will be giving to school children on Tuesday, September 8th? If so, can I attend the viewing with my children? Also, what type of work assignments will be given to the children pertaining to the speech and can I view them first?
Thanks,
Shannon Miller

Maybe, if you believe it is a PARENT'S RIGHT to know what schools are teaching your children, you should do something similar.

In response to a friend who asked, "would you care if George W. Bush was doing it?" I said this:

I would be opposed to any president who has, in the months leading up to such a speech, reached his hands in and tried to manipulate so much of my life. Stimulus taxes, cap and trade, healthcare - if these things become law I lose control over my own life. I'm not going to approve of anyone circumventing me to teach my children whatever he/she wants. Parents can watch the puberty videos, or even sit in a reading class if a child is having a hard time - why should a president's speech be any different?

More Fun

2009-08-27T14:04:00.000-07:00

Here's some more summer fun :)

We finally made it to a blueberry farm. It was great. Josie ate blueberries the whole time. Then found she could have a lot of fun feeding them to the chickens.

My new fav snack. Forget microwave popcorn. Stove top is just as easy and healthier for you too considering there's no fake butters and chemicals to consume. Put some olive oil in the pan just a Tablespoon or two. Add 3 kernels of corn. PUT ON THE LID. When those kernels pop - add the other kernels 1/3 to 1/2 a cup. PUT ON THE LID! Shake until the popping stops. (just like microwave popcorn:) Top with melted butter and salt if desired. YUM.

I'm still making bread for my family. It's so delicious and is made with honey instead of High Fructose Corn Syrup and other crazy additives. I use this Gold Medal recipe except I use ALL whole wheat flour and there are a few differences so if you try that recipe and it doesn't work lemme know, I'll tell ya what I do. I usually use the Stone Burh whole wheat flour because it works well and I can sometimes find it in the bigger bags.

Now this here makes me laugh. Josie found these wrist warmers and for some reason when she wears them - she thinks she's a robot. So she'll start doing robot arms and hands and saying, "I beebot. I beebot."

Summer's been a ton of fun. But I'm really looking forward to school starting!

I TRI'd it and I loved it!

2009-08-17T21:03:00.000-07:00

It was SO FUN!!!
I was doing this triathlon with my sisters, Tiffany and Cami, and my niece Sara. The night before the race we chatted too long and only got about 4 1/2 to 5 hrs of sleep.
When we got to Waterfront park we were all jittery - not knowing what to expect. We took our bikes down to the racks and tried to prepare ourselves.

This is my transition area. My towel right next to my bike. Yes, that is a cute skateboard helmet and not a bike helmet. I may invest in a new helmet so I look like a real cyclist. My socks are rolled down so they'd be easy to slip on over wet feet. My number is pinned to my shirt so it'll be ready for my run.

Here we are before the race, showing off our numbers. With numbers on the arm you REALLY feel like a triathlete. They told me too look mean but I couldn't stop laughing. I just wanted to get started already!!!!

This is the 1st wave heading into the water. Here, your heart starts pounding, goosebumps are forming, and you begin doubting you'll remember how to swim.

But I did - and I loved it. I have to say swimming was my favorite part of the triathlon. The water felt so good once I started going. If I felt any panic I just did what helps me keep my rhythm in the water - go through multiplication tables in my head. (I know, totally nerdy.) One thing I did not expect is how dizzy I was when I came out of the water! I couldn't run a straight line up the hill to the transition area!

Swim 1/4 mile - 11 min 20 sec

I took longer than I needed in my 1st transition I started washing my feet with my water, then realized it didn't really matter so I put on my shoes with bits of sand and grass in my socks. Also, I walked through my transitions. I didn't run like others - I was too nervous of falling or going the wrong way. Plus I needed to catch my breath.

Transition 1 - 3 min 27 sec

The bike was super fun too. This is when you first start hearing the other people say things like: good job! keep it up! you're doing great! as they pass you. Which seems a little weird maybe, but to a first timer is so encouraging. Sometimes I got a little sidetracked, like when the geese flew in a HUGE V-formation overhead and I almost wrecked watching them instead of the road. I was most grateful to the woman who passed me with a bike computer and told me we were half way there. I want a bike computer:) I was most scared when the volunteer pointed out the gravel to my right, right when I was trying to make a left turn down a steep hill. In fact, I said aloud, "I'm scared." as I rode past her.

Bike 10 miles - 43 min 57 sec

I was slow during my second transition also. In fact I remember at one point, just standing and staring at my transition towel thinking, huh, shouldn't I be doing something?

Transition 2 - 2 min 3 sec

The run was what I was dreading the most because I'm not a great runner anyways. I only average about 12 minute miles. And that's WITHOUT having just swam or rode a bike. So I trudged along, stopping to stretch out my cramping calf/hobbit foot a few times. I was grateful for the water stations, teary-eyed at the kids holding posters for their mom and laughing at the lady talking on her cell phone, "Ya, I'm running right now..."

Run 3 miles - 39 min 32 sec

But it felt SO AMAZING to come in across the finish line and see I had achieved my cushy goal of under 2 hours.

Total time - 1 hr 40 min 22 sec

And I can't wait to beat it next year!

TRI it!

2009-08-13T10:02:00.001-07:00

My sprint triathlon is this Sunday. That's only 3 days away! I have to admit I am getting really nervous, but OH, SO, excited. It's the "wunderwoman triathlon" in Spokane. I'm doing it with 2 other sisters. I have another sister and niece who signed up for it but may not be going. So I'll have some support there, although none of us will be in the same wave.
Swim 1/4 mile
Bike 10 miles
Run 3 miles
My hope is to keep it all under 2 hours. (Yes, I am pretty slow so that is a good goal for me.)
Wish me luck and pray for me on Sunday!!

A few summer highlights...

2009-08-10T15:03:00.000-07:00

So far so fun! We travelled to Utah to visit with family and then some of them followed us home :) All in all we're having a great time hanging out. Here are some of the highlight pics from my camera. I need to get pics from others' cameras as I didn't always have mine with me. :)

We tried to get in plenty of sun/water time. With days at pools, lakes, ocean shores, and this shot of Josie at Golden Gardens in Ballard.

Here's my sis, Kris and my niece Katelynn on some sort of whirly-gig at a metal park. Fun but REALLY hot in the 100 degree weather!

We went to Utah to help send my nephew off on his mission. He's in the MTC getting ready for Paraguay. Here he is with my sis Melanie. Thomas you rock!

Melanie and her family :)

Reese and her cousin 'twin' Taylor.

We went to the Oquirrh Temple open house. My girls were so excited to see the bride's room.

My sis Ramona (at this blog) in her Wicked Witch costume. Although the play doesn't open until end of August we got to see her in costume for a parade. Luckily I'll get to go back without the kids for a "ME" weekend and see her in action .

At the parade. Reese waving at the princesses.

Seafair - BLUE ANGELS - so fun!

Josie and her Beenpaw (aka grandpa)

At Golden Gardens, watching the sailboats go in and out.

Everything Austen

2009-07-09T18:01:00.001-07:00

Click on this cute little pic to find out about a fun Austen Challenge at:

Stephanie's Written Word

To participate not only do I link her to my blog, but I commit to doing 6 Austen related things in the next 6 months. (click on the colored/big words for more info;)

This is my plan:

Read Emma - I've never read this before so I'm really enjoying this right now :)

Watch Emma - I'll probably watch the Gweneth Paltrow version as this is the version that's playing in my head as I read the book. I'm forcing myself to NOT WATCH IT until I finish the book.

I also want to watch Clueless. I've seen this movie a few times before. Just a few months back I caught part of it and I realized - "Hey That's EMMA!" So I want to watch it after I finish the book.

Read The Dashwood Sisters' Secrets of Love. I interrupted my Emma read for this book. I read it Monday and Tuesday this week. It's a Young Adult book so it was a really easy read. Cute and fun. I had a hard time not picturing the sisters in their Austen era gowns and houses though.

Watch Pride and Prejudice - This is always and all time favorite. Five hours with Colin Firth?? What's not to love. (even if... or should I say especially if... you know what movie I'm talking about you're going to want to click on my P&P link!)

Read Pride, Prejudice and Zombies - This is so intriguing to me! I love the idea of a rewrite with zombies! Who woulda thunk it?

I think think it'll be a lot of fun and great excuse to get to do some reading and watching of Austen Stuff.

I learned about this challenge through my sisters blog: The Little White Attic. Who is a great Austen afficianado and will be hosting her own blog giveaway on Friday so you better go check her out.

Weekend of FUN

2009-07-07T15:49:00.000-07:00

We had a great time this Fourth of July weekend. With relatives visiting from Utah there were plenty of cousins and craziness.

Here are the little ones settling down for a movie after playing outside in the sun.

We went to Pike Street and fought the crowds at the Farmers Market. Lucky for me Josie fell asleep in her stroller and slept through this madness.

Reese loves feeling grown-up and was always curious about where we were on the map. Here we're waiting for our turn on the monorail.

Our 4th of July party was a blast - as always. The boys start the day with a trip to the reservation to get fireworks. Then we all gather at my sister's house and watch with amazement while sheilding our eyes from falling ash.

Josie was scared of the fireworks, but soon she stopped shaking with fear and was content just to NOT leave our laps.

Mom = Boss

2009-06-29T11:29:00.000-07:00

I love summer. I love the freedom in my schedule. I love the sun and playing in the water. I love it all.

Yet...
I was not looking forward to the kids coming in and out with a horde of friends and me left cleaning up their messes.

I decided I was going to get more control.... because I am the boss after all.

Summer rules:
At least 1 job everyday (kitchen, living rooms, etc...)
Clean room every morning including make bed
Get laundry ready for wash
Read every day
Math practice every day
No friends before 10 a.m.
No friends before jobs listed above are done

This has REALLY helped! Every morning the downstairs is looking pretty good. The morning can start to seem pretty long when friends start coming to the house at 8:30 a.m. That frustration is gone. Last summer, my kids really lost some of their mathematical facts when school started again...I refuse to let that happen this year. They're learning responsibility and time management. So far it's working out great!

One thing I haven't figured out yet is sleepovers. I haven't let them have them yet. I told them summer just started and I wasn't ready. So I've got to figure out my rules for sleepovers and then I'll let them have some.

They're pretty good at getting it done. But I find they work the best when I give them this list like this one. I've started making myself these and the boxes bring a smile to my face every time I check something off. And what is really great is sometimes I'll do my run in the morning with Josie and give Ash and Reese their lists. Then when I come home, their jobs are done, they're happy and ready to call friends and go play for the day!

I luv being the boss!

A weekend away from home :)

2009-06-23T15:40:00.000-07:00

We spent this Father's Day weekend in Spokane. I'd only briefly stayed there before and didn't see any of the sights. So I was excited about this trip and getting to play. We visited Rich's dad who lives in Couer d'Alene and my sister who lives in Spokane.

We visited Riverfront Park where we played on the giant wagon, rode the gondola, and fed the ducks.

Josie was nervous about the gondola ride at first. This picture is of her taking shelter in her dad's arms while trying not to see too much of what's outside the gondola. She soon got over it and had a great time pointing at the water.

More pictures on the gondola.

We had Father's Day brunch at the Davenport Hotel in the Isabella ballroom. It was so beautiful and so delicious. The girls spent most of their time dipping fruit and marshmallows in the giant chocolate fountain.

These blocks are also at Riverfront park.

The Davenport Hotel was lavishly built in 1914 and is amazing to see. We stayed in the new Davenport Hotel Tower which was very nice, and still fancy enough that Reese cried when it was time to leave. (Since we've been home she has been paying Rich paperclips to be her servant.)

Rich and Ash at the Safari Grill in the Davenport Hotel Tower.

More pictures from our Hotel.

We had a great time and hope to go back soon!

AFV

2009-06-15T11:56:00.000-07:00

Yesterday my girls were out on the playset playing America's Funniest Home Videos. This included falling down slides, flipping out of swings and falling off the rings. It also included bloodied knees for Reese and a black-eye for her best friend. Too bad I wasn't videoing.

Favorite t-shirts

2009-06-06T14:34:00.000-07:00

I got a new t-shirt today...and it's the best kind. The kind you earn by doing a run. I did another 5k today. You can read about my last one here.

As you may know I've changed the way I eat and drink and am feeling a lot better than I did last October. I've lost 18lbs since then and shaved 8 minutes off my 5k time!

Although I find the 5k's fun, I'm doing them in preparation for my Sprint Triathlon. It's in August and I'm so so so excited about it! It's the Wunderwoman triathlon in Spokane. 1/4 mile swim, 10 mile bike ride, 3 mile run.

Josie's Birthday

2009-06-03T17:54:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, my little baby angel turned two! I can't believe how fast she's growing up.

Here she is just shortly after she was born held by a tired looking dad with Reese taking pictures. The girls had put present bows on her hat and blanket.

This was taken the morning after our Memorial Day campout. Rich had taken the grill shelf off the BBQ so he could get the pancakes going and Josie thought it was a seat.

The girls picked out this water mat for her birthday present. She was timid at first but soon was laughing and dancing in the water.

Happy Birthday Josie....I love you!

School Bus Woes

2009-05-29T11:50:00.001-07:00

"I sat by the girl with the mini ketchup bottle again yesterday." This is how Reese started her conversation with me this morning over breakfast.

She's been having anxiety over her morning bus rides to school. Her best friend in the neighborhood has started sitting with a friend from her own grade/class and Ashlynn wants to sit with her own friends as well. Reese said that this leaves her sitting with people she doesn't know and it makes her stomach hurt. One day she sat next to a fifth grade girl who had a mini ketchup bottle in her hands. The girl opened up the bottle, put some ketchup on her finger and ate it. Reese was almost gagging when she told me this and said that seeing it made her stomach hurt even more.

EWW....

Ashlynn's been trying to figure out who this fifth grader is and Reese's only descriptive helps are: her hair is in a wacky braid every day and she has a brother in kindergarten. I guess the girl didn't have her ketchup bottle yesterday but Reese still didn't want to sit with her.

Seahurst Park

2009-05-26T17:20:00.000-07:00

(HOORAY! I have photoshop again :)

Today I got to go on a field trip with Reese's class to Seahurst Park. I'd never been before and so I was really excited to see the tidepools filled with sea animals.

Reese was shy at first, luckily the first creatures we saw were tiny crabs no bigger than my thumbnail. But as the day wore on and the tide went out we saw bigger sea life and Reese's confidence grew as well.

My favorite were the starfish. At first they were clinging to the rocks. Then we found them just on the sand during low tide.

It was a lot of fun. The weather was nice and we discovered a lot of fun sea animals: sea anemoenes, sea cucumbers, mussels, clams, sand dollars and then there were barnacles as far as the eye could see. I plan on going back with my family just to have a fun outing.

Mother's Day

2009-05-18T13:35:00.001-07:00

I'm finally getting around to posting some adorable things my girls' did for Mother's Day.

I wanted to scan the book Ashlynn made me as well as a top 10 list from Reese. However, Rich recently did something to our home computer and not only do I not have any photo editing software on it anymore I have no Microsoft Office on it. CRAZY...I KNOW! He works for Microsoft - I guess the shoemaker's daughter has no shoes.*

*(This is something my mom often said when I was young to explain why we had no blinds or curtains of anykind on our ground-floor, bedroom windows and would end up nailing blankets or sheets into the wall to cover the windows for privacy. My father made drapes and hung blinds for a living.)

So because my husband doesn't check my blog and has no idea how important pictures can be....you'll have to settle for my typing it in.

From Ashlynn:
A book she made in class (based on The Giving Tree) The cover is made from a wall paper sample and it's entitled "Do You Know What I'll Do?"

One day a girl said to her mom,
"Do you know what I'll do when the flowers grow again?
I will gather wild daisies and gently place them in your favorite vase.
Do you know what I'll do when it snows?
I will make a little snowman and take a little picture of it for you.
Do you know what I will do when it rains?
I will come inside and read next to you and snuggle right by you and have hot cocoa.
Do you know what I will do when the wind blows?
I will stand outside and show you how brave I am and that I can do anything for you.
Do you know what I'll do in the night?
I will read to you in bed and keep you company.
Do you know what I'll do on my walk?
I will gather some things and make crafts for you.
Do you know what I'll do when I wake up?
I'll make you breakfast in bed and make you a card.
Do you know what I'll do when I grow up?
I'll have a wonderful family and always come visit you."

So sweet.

And Reese made me at least three different cards and this top 10 list the italics are what she filled in:
10 I love my Mom because she reads me my favorite books.
9 I love my Mom because she helps me swing high.
8 I love my Mom when she makes me laugh by tickling me really hard.
7 I love my Mom because she taught me how to do the monkey bars.
6 I love to hear my Mom sing jingle bells.
5 I love my Mom because she finds time to be with me.
4 I know my Mom cares because she loves me, and our family.
3 I know my Mom is smart because she goes on the computer.
2 I love my Mom because she works so hard at exercise.
1 I love my Mom because she's the best mom ever.

And the award goes to....

2009-05-04T10:59:00.000-07:00

One of the reasons I knew we needed to change the way eat in the Miller household is because of my oldest daughters eating habits. She's only 10 and already eating because she's bored or eating cuz it's a party, and eating all the wrong stuff...all the stuff I do and have unfortunately taught her to do. Her weight for her age and height reflected this and was 'off the chart'.

Enter clean eating.....
I'm still not 100% clean eating, but mostly I am. I haven't bought commercial bread in about a month. And this naturally trickles down to my children. They eat A LOT healthier. I make their breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. No more trips to fast food restaurants (sometimes twice a day.) And I'm happy to say (although Ash may be embarrassed that I'm letting the cyber world know this) she is down 11 pounds in 2 1/2 months. I can tell she's feeling a lot better too. She's outside playing more, jumping on the trampoline more, and happily going for walks with me. So even though my own weight loss seems soooooooooooooooooo sloooooooooooooooowwwwwwww - I feel there is a huge reward in my efforts when every I look at my beautiful daughter.

Easter

2009-04-27T15:00:00.001-07:00

We went to Utah to visit family there. And although it was nice to see everybody...the 'vacation' was anything but....

On Sunday, the morning after we arrived, we found out my dad was heading to the emergency room with chest pains. I spent the day with him there, while they ran tests and weren't quite sure if he had a heartattack or not. So they wanted him the following morning to go in for stress testing. After that test, they decided he needed to be admitted to the hospital. So I spent Monday with him in there and he got an angiogram and two stents put in. He came home on Tuesday and is still doing well :)

But after that I got sick with a head cold. The only thing I wanted to do was sleep. I tried to go shopping with my sister, but spent most of that time in the car because I felt awful. This head cold lasted for two days.

I started feeling a little better and managed to squeeze in an afternoon Rock Climbing with Lisa (which was a total blast!) and a visit with Rich's mom that was great for my kids (and grandma:).
Then I got some other sickness, where I had vomitting and overall ick! So Easter, I made it to church. Took a few pics. And then laid on the couch sick for the rest of the evening.

Not a fun vacation.....and not a very fun houseguest either! (Sorry Mel)
Put here are a couple of pics from Easter.

Reese got a matching dress for her and her doll. A Burlington buy...totally awesome.

Josie loved her dress, and thought she had to hold on to the flower at her waistband. I think she thought it would fall off.

Ashlynn had a really pretty blue dress but once she got home from church she changed so she could have more time to play.

Why I Went to a Tea Party

2009-04-16T11:39:00.000-07:00

I'm a 'go-with-the-flow' sorta gal.

But you shouldn't interpret that to mean that people can sway me this way or that. The fact is I believe very strongly about certain things and this means I don't feel threatened by others' who would try to push their ideals on to me.

I believe God has a plan for us. And my knowledge of this has always made me think - what will happen will happen. I've thought that the government is never going to be perfect. Yes I vote and then I figure, no matter who's in charge it won't be great. But I go with it.

But I've decided I can no longer sit back.

America can be great.

It is great because it was founded by inspired men who were protected by God and led to their positions by Him.

America was founded by Christian Men who had days set aside dedicated to fasting and prayer for guidance from God. This country was built on Christian values and morals.

If we move away from those values, we move away from what made America work.

God made us Free. And I can't stand by and watch the government invade on my freedom. It's out of control. And...YES...maybe I should have paid more attention all my life. But the point is I'm paying attention now. And I want the government to pay attention to The American Citizens.

Stop Spending

Secure our Borders

Strengthen Families

HaPpy BiRthDay ASHLYNN!

2009-04-03T10:30:00.000-07:00

Today my oldest turns 10!

Has it really been ten years since I was turned away from the hospital because they said my water hadn't broken only to return 2 hours later, driving in a terrible Utah spring snowstorm?

It was conference weekend and the whole family came to watch General Conference in my delivery room while I tried to labor.

Then two weeks later I clutched my new baby in my arms as I watched the terrible news of the Columbine High School Massacre and wondered how could I ever protect her from the world?

She's had some trying times, with a blood condition called ITP...but thankfully that's resolved now.
Ashlynn is a sweetheart and a very strong spirit. She and I have our bad moments sometimes, but it's because she is so strong and learning what she is capable of doing in life. She's outgoing and friendly and is able to have great discussions on testimonies, school, and friends. We like to go swimming together at least once a week, just her and me.

For more Ashlynn click here to see her Disneyland trip when she was 3 1/2 years old:)

Happy Birthday and I love you.

A few pictures

2009-04-02T14:40:00.000-07:00

Here are a few personality pics of my girls :)

Now I'm cookin'

2009-03-30T19:11:00.000-07:00

I didn't like to cook. It never seemed worth the effort. I thought fast food always tested better than anything I made. If I made dinner, I usually ate it while dreaming about what I would have ordered at a restaraunt. Amazingly enough that is changing.

Since trying to figure out 'eating clean' I've been cooking a lot. I'm learning to like the food I make. The idea of how much I used to eat McDonald's starts to make me ill.

But today....Today was the first time I really enjoyed the process of cooking. I made a roast in the crockpot and learning from my past didn't put the potatoes in there with it. They always turn out wierd. So I cooked those separate. But in the midst of it all I made my first loaf of wheat bread. Holy cow, it was yummy. I only did one, cuz I was afraid I'd mess it up royally. But it turned out great and I can hardly wait to make more. Maybe soon I'll even get a wheat grinder so I can make my own fresh flour for the bread. But let's take babysteps.

A question for any clean eaters out there.....Is honey clean? Should I be using something different for a sweetener? I know I've heard of Agave Nectar but haven't found it yet.

Any cooking blogs you love and want to pass along to me? I'd love to check them out too.

Clean eating....I don't even know what that is!

2009-03-28T08:22:00.000-07:00

Over Valentines weekend my brother and his wife and baby stayed with us which I was so excited about because I love visiting with family. My sis-in-law lives in Utah so I don't know her really well. I know she's sweet, a great mom, and healthy. Healthy in that she doesn't eat processed foods. No white flour, no sugar. WHAT?

So in order for her to feel more comfortable, I threw out the molding veggies in my fridge and picked up new fruits and veggies and some wheat bread and wheat pasta. That's all I knew to do.
I couldn't even comprehend how to live that way! We went to fast food pretty much every day. And me....sometimes twice a day. So I decided to browse the internet to see what things to fix for dinner.

What I read shocked me ----> having a lean physique is 80% what you eat, 10% fitness and 10% genetics.

Whether it was absolutely true or bloated statistics to tout a diet plan, I figured there had to be something to it. And that something meant that no matter how much I work out, if my diet is mainly consisting of chocolate chip cookies and diet coke (not kidding I'd have that for breakfast and lunch if I could) then I would NEVER reach my weight loss/fitness goals.

When I saw my sweet sis-in-law I believed the numbers. That girl is stick skinny...and not in an unhealthy way...she ran like no-one I've seen....I was trying to keep up with her on my bike (my no gear, pedal backwards for the break bike that I recently replaced - more on that later :)

So since she's been gone. I haven't had even one diet coke. I'm drinking only water. I've replaced all breads with whole-wheat breads. I've gone through the giant Costco sized containers for grapes and strawberries and broccoli etc. My fruits and veggies haven't gone bad before I had to buy more! I've cut out sugar. No cookies! I switched to Adam's Peanut butter and I've packed healthy lunches for my kids everyday this month.

I'm trying to learn the basics of eating clean. It's a big change for me because I've never liked cooking. Now I cook almost every meal. We've gone from going out almost every day to going out almost once a week. I still haven't cooked with whole grains. It literally scares me to see a picture of a wheat berry (which I didn't know what that was until about a week ago).

It's been a little over a month, and the weight loss seems a little slow. I can't watch The Biggest Loser because my 1.5 pounds a week feels like nothing in comparison. But I FEEL a lot better. A LOT BETTER! The first 3 weeks without caffeine....whoa. I would fall asleep anywhere, anytime. But now I feel great from morning to bedtime. My running has also improved. I've gone from dying if I ran for 10 minutes to being able to keep a fairly steady pace for 35 minutes.

I tell myself I get a cheat day, on Saturdays. This helps me deal with the cravings. Sometimes I take it, sometimes I make it one cheat meal. Maybe I'll have to stop this if I want the weight loss to go quicker....but for now I'm afraid if I do, I'll give in to weekday cravings. I also recently read that it can take 3 months for your body to realize you're eating clean and then the weight will come off. I must admit I haven't been calorie counting or WW Point counting. When I do that I start to feel like if it's only about calories then why can't I have the same amount in a cookie then in a banana.

Well, if you've read through this long post- thank you. And I'd love to know of any blogs or websites you refer to for healthy eating.

Fair Weather Trainer

2009-03-20T18:09:00.000-07:00

I have always considered myself a fair weather 'athlete'. I use that in the loosest sense possible. More like a trainer.
So today I was totally freaked out when I hopped on my bike to go for ride. I decide to go to my sister's house...about 4 miles away.
On my way home - HOLY CRAP! The wind starts blowing the rain sideways, my hands are frozen and a giant tree branch falls and flies across the road in front of me. I hide behind a fence and think about calling Rich to pick me up. But Josie's home in bed with a fever; I didn't want him to have to wake her.
I was near the lake trail and so I see the small tunnel and think about taking refuge underneath.
Then the wind let up ever so slightly so I figure I'll just head home. I found myself laughing on the highway as I can barely see and the cars are splashing more water on me.
When I got home, my clothes were soaked like I had jumped in a lake. My right hand was numb and when I took off my shoe water was able to drip out. Rich was just about to load up the girls. He had a blanket and a towel and was going to come find me.
It was an adventure and it was fun. But I'll probably wait for better weather to ride again.

It's hard to stay up.

2009-03-10T08:12:00.000-07:00

(that's what she said)

But seriously...I'm having a day where I feel like crying but keep fighting it. After 8 1/2 months on the market, our house brought in it's first offer. We were over the moon excited when we heard it was coming in. THEN it came in. WAY lower than we could even consider. And it turns out our counteroffer was too high for them to do. So now my emotions are a-tumble. But I love to laugh more than I love to cry...so I'll stay up and happy.

So if you happen to see me with red eyes today, you should know that I alway cry during the Price is Right.

For my Pho-tag friends....

2009-02-27T11:43:00.000-08:00

I wanted to share these pics of my sister's family. They are beautiful and inspiring.

Sacred Harp

2009-02-23T10:32:00.000-08:00

When my brother comes to town, he usually times it along with a Sacred Harp convention. Sacred Harp is singing early american christian songs most written in the 1700's. There are no instruments. And it seems the goal is to sing as loud as you can. There are two sacred harp songs on my playlist (The Morning Trumpet and the Sacred Throne)...take a listen. (the first verse is shape note singing where they sing fa so la me....listen long enough to pass that and so you can hear the words of the song)

The singers sit in their part section and form a square around the room. The leader stands in the middle, keeping time while waving his/her arm. Usually the very dedicated singers sit in the front rows of the square, close to the leader. These singers usually wave their arms also, keeping beat with the leader. Here's my brother leading in the square.

What I love about it: The words to the songs. They are so beautiful and full of lines about salvation through Christ and obtaining rest in heaven when we pass on. I plan to buy one of the books just to have the lyrics on hand. Also...it's fun to sing loud and not worry about what others think (my voice is usually drowned out by my brothers' anyway.)

If you like singing...and are willing to give up control over dynamics and pleasant sounding voices (the more old-timey you sound the better) then find a Sacred Harp group and attend a singing. Take some water and some headache medicine.

This singing was in Seattle near Belltown. So when I needed to clear my head I went for a walk and happened upon the Olympic Sculpture Park - part of Seattle's art musuem. It was really cool with HUGE sculptures and nice pathways and benches to enjoy them. I only saw a few...there were more near the water but I was limited on time. I plan to go back with my children. This is one of sculptures....I didn't see the plaque but I think it was titled, Waves.

Saint Edward

2009-02-20T20:51:00.000-08:00

Today we went to a really cool park. Saint Edward. There's a huge playground for the kids. Then we hiked down to the lake and the kids put their feet in the water despite how cold it was!

Austenland

2009-02-16T20:17:00.000-08:00

Today my sister hosted her first Austen Tea-Party. (See her blog here) It was sooooo fun! We had punch and (amazing) cocoa. (Maybe if you comment on her blog we can persuade her to post her recipe). We had a delicious assortment of tea sandwiches, fruit and other finger foods.

My sister has a lovely dress she had made for a Jane Austen convention. And I've coveted it ever since. I decided the tea-party was the opportunity I needed to make a dress for me. I didn't have the money to spend on all new fabrics and patterns, so I bought the dress you see below from goodwill. And happily "made it up new again" to be fit for the party.

So to this potato sack dress I added a silky blue bodice, sleeves and adorned it with ribbons.

I also altered a goodwill dress for Ashlynn while Reese had a very suitable dress hanging in her closet. Here they are with their cousin.

We put on a short play which my sister had adapted from one of Jane Austen's Juvenalia work. And we also learned "The Hole in the Wall" dance. All in all it was quite a pleasurable afternoon.

Under the bridge

2009-02-07T21:53:00.000-08:00

We ventured in to Seattle and found the Fremont Troll. Ash, Reese and their friend loved it, running around it pretending they lived there.
But Josie wasn't too sure about it. She kept a cautious eye on it the entire time and even when we took her out of the stroller she never made it too close to him.

Good v. Bad

2009-01-15T15:31:00.000-08:00

The other night Reese and I were talking about being an example, especially in Church. (Now's a good time for her and Ash to see this in action because Josie is such a little copycat lately.) So I said to Reese, "you're always an example. It's up to you to choose if you're a good example or a bad example."
She said, "ya. Like a good example would sit quietly in church and a bad example would talk loudly, run up to the microphone and start doing hip-hop."

A Fave and a Babe

2009-01-09T13:12:00.001-08:00

Here are two miscellaneous pics I wanted to share.

My Favorite store right now has to be Tai Pan Trading Company. Although their website isn't real functional...the store is amazing. Everytime I go to Utah I make a special trip so I can get the cutest ever things for my house. There have been a few times I've entered the store and panicked because I was afraid I would never get to see everything. It's a good thing there's not a Tai Pan nearby or my house would be bursting at the seams with their totally cute decor. I ADORED this snowman sign and so I bought it to add to the cute seasonal change-out hanging arm I also bought from there.

And this is my babe Josie enjoying the American Girl Doll stuff Reese recieved for Christmas. Reese's bedroom is Josie's favorite room in the house. If the door is left open she makes a beeline straight to it. (Much to Reese's dislike.) Reese was at school so I let Josie take her tea in there.

Finally some pictures

2009-01-05T17:48:00.000-08:00

Here are some Christmas Morning pictures. Santa was brilliant and brought Ashlynn and Reese American Girl dolls. Ash and Reese are just different enough in personalities and far enough in age to think they have nothing in common. But these dolls have inspired so much playtime together. It's been great. Plus...it's so fun to do the dolls' hair...there's no wiggling and crying when I try to get out tangles.

And not to be left out - Josie got a doll of her own that's the same size/style as the AG dolls. But I think Josie has used Reese's doll sized tea table & chairs as well as climbed on Ashlynn's doll bed more than she's played with the doll itself.

And here are some pics from New Years Eve. After an evening of playing games like Lips, Call of Duty, Killer Rabbits, and Would You Rather we rang in the new year with sparklers and confetti. These pictures are of Reese and her cousin Tyler.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and is looking forward to a better/happier and more loving New Year :)

The Widow's Bounce

2008-12-31T17:57:00.000-08:00

You know that story in the bible (1 Kings 17:1-24) where the widow has enough cornmeal to make a 'cake' for the (prophet) stranger and then one for her son....even though there was only enough for one?
Well I've had a box of Bounce dryer sheets that keeps magically refilling...it never ends. Every time I get a new dryer sheet for laundry I think - surely this will have been the last one. But then the next time I do laundry...there is another! I have picked up other boxes of bounce when I've gone shopping...just to make sure that I'll have more when I finally run out. Yet, they sit unopened on the shelf, as the neverending bounce box fulfills it's miraculous duty of keeping me static free and touchably soft.

Snow Daze

2008-12-29T19:17:00.000-08:00

This was our first little snow storm. Josie, like everyother kid in the neighborhood, loved to go outside and play. Soon after this I was lucky enough to find a pair of snow pants just her size so when the snow got deeper she was still able to play.

I LOVE the snow. I have had so much fun this december watching the snow fall, playing outside with the kids and hopping on sleds (but I didn't like the huge bruise I got on my knee when I ran into a rock.) But when the snow kept falling and falling and falling, all I could think about was building an igloo. Then after a phone call to one of my brother's in Utah....who himself had just finished building an igloo...I went to work.
Now however.....
igloo + three days of rain = giant pile of slush :(

Not a Christmas post

2008-12-23T23:58:00.000-08:00

Driving around in the car, Reese takes off her boots.
"Feel or Smell my feet. They're really sweaty." She said.
"Gross." We ALL reply.
"Well they're hot." Then, she further explained, "well not hot like a boy would like them but just hot."

Thanksgiving with strings...

2008-12-15T12:10:00.000-08:00

DON'T FORGET TO PAUSE MY PLAYLIST AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE.

So here's slideshow of me and my sisters modeling our aprons on Thanksgiving. It was so much fun. First we spent a day shopping for fabrics and then a day sewing them up.

It was tons of fun and I think new aprons will be a part of every Thanksgiving.

Sidebar

2008-12-03T20:22:00.000-08:00

I know I promised more apron pics and I'll get to them. But first a little sidebar.

I'd like to mention a Christmas song I've hated. Dan Fogelberg's Same Old Lang Syne. This would be the boring song that lasts forever and you're stuck wondering why they play it at Christmas time. But ever since Wierd Al's Stuck at the Drive Thru parody of that Out of the Closet song....I have found I can enjoy Same Old Lang Syne....if I make it mine. And here's how you can love it too:

Just Sing Whatever The Crap You Are Doing

Here's a sample of what I sang tonight when the song came on XM Holly 81 :) (Just imagine it to that lame tune and make the words on the end very melodic)

It was time to start some dinner,
All I had was some ground beef.
So I'll make it into meatballs,
with some Pasta that's Penne.
Earlier my daughter Ashlynn,
tried to make up some Salt Dough
She must have spilled it on the floor
cuz now there's salt between my toes.
If I walk now on the carpet,
I could wipe it off my feet.
But then the salt will be inside of it.
I think it's better if I sweep.
I take the broom out of the pantry.
I wish it had a better home.
But it's a good thing that I'm sweeping
cuz on the floor there's Honeycombs.
Oh crap. Here comes little Josie.
She'll mess up my crumb pile.
Oh wait, she kissing baby Jesus.
She knows how to make me smile.

It works great in the car too.
;) YOU'RE WELCOME

I'm back...

2008-12-02T15:01:00.000-08:00

from the edge of the world (Utah) and the brink of insanity (what does that even mean?)

Thanksgiving was a total blast.
Crowded as all get out,
noisier than a cat convention,
and better than ever. (This may be due to the fact that I ran around taking pictures and playing with nieces and nephews rather than cooking and cleaning.)

I'll make a slideshow of some of the pics soon. But for now this will have to suffice.

I'm happy to say my Apron Tradition really took off!

It's me along with 5 of my sisters and 2 sisters-in-law. (Each of our spouses had cameras with instructions to take great pictures of us....so none of us are looking in the same direction.)

Apron fever

2008-11-17T10:38:00.000-08:00

Here are aprons I made for my girls, mine is just like it but I didn't get a picture of me.

Every year I want to start a tradition (one I read about in a magazine years ago) where the gals all wear new aprons to cook on Thanksgiving. So I decided the best place to start is with myself. :) This year, I'LL be wearing my new apron to Thanksgiving. And I've tried to spread the word to my sisters so that maybe someone else will wear their favorite apron and we can get some pics together.

She's craft-tay.

2008-11-16T16:18:00.000-08:00

You might remember this post where the girls and I went out for a walk and collected leaves.

Here's picture of what we made with some of the leaves we collected.
The girls were so excited because they got to use the hot glue gun. I bought the twig wreaths at Joann's and found the swags of acorns there as well. The acorns were 70% off so all in all it was a fun, inexpensive craft. Reese and Ash each had their own book of pressed leaves so they glued them on the wreaths. I ended up walking away because I didn't want to tell them what leaf to glue where, but they asked me to come back to watch them :) Their wreaths are now hung proudly on our front doors.

It's ON!!!!

2008-11-12T09:47:00.000-08:00

It's ON!
That's what we used to yell to eachother during t.v. programs back in the day. We'd all be enjoying a show together, such as Star Search or Simon and Simon. Then as soon as the commercial's would start everyone would scatter, getting snacks, cleaning chores, or maybe fixing hair if a date was coming to pick up one of the girls. But whatever you were doing, you would soon hear a melodically drawn out "IT's AAAWNNN!" and everyone would run back....claiming their crisscrossed-applesauced seat in the living room.

Now I own a DVR and rarely watch any live t.v. Many times someone will asked me if I've seen a certain commercial and the truth is....I haven't. I forward my commercials.

Also, I've been trying to go to bed earlier and so I've been saving my shows for the following day. Well there's only so much you can do in front of the t.v. withouth feeling guilty about spending all day in front of the t.v. (crochet, scrapbook, laundry, make Relief Society invitations etc.) When will I clean my kitchen? Or make beds in the other room? So I'm tryin' it 80's style. During commercial breaks.

Only during the day there's no one to yell, "it's on!" and I have to listen for Teri Hatcher's whiney voice on Desperate Housewives to know. But at least there's no one stealing my seat.

GOB baby....Get On Board.

2008-11-05T11:36:00.000-08:00

Another of my New FAV shows is: KATH & KIM

With Molly Shannon and Selma Blair, 2 ladies each with 2 first names = 1 totally funny show!

Two things make a show a good show...excellent writing (like Fringe) and/or a sprinkling of awesome improv. Which is what K&K seems to have. It's an American version of an Australian show. Having never seen the original I can't compare the two. But NBC's is the type of show that I like to rewatch as I fold laundry because things get funnier and funnier. Like how the BBC Office was or the first couple seasons of NBC's Office.

With lines like: It's every girls dream to show up at her wedding in a horse drawn pumpkin carriage.

Or: The new sandwich Phil and Kath, it tastes like the love we make.

It'll keep ya laughin....so check it out so we can gab about it.

Happy Birthday MONA!

2008-11-03T10:32:00.000-08:00

This post is to wish my sister HAPPY BIRTHDAY. I love ya Mona!

Me and You circa 92 could be 93, I'm not sure. I just know our boots are lookin' WAY COOL!

This is us with Lynnae, on my confirmation day, October 81. I remember I LOVED our shoes here too :)

HaPPy HaLLoWeEN!!!!

2008-10-31T12:25:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween Everyone!

As many know, I love October. I think Halloween decorations are so much fun and I always look forward to being able to wear glittery eye-lashes. And what I love the most - My family's Halloween Parties. But this year I didn't get to go :( boo-hoo. But you can check out some of the costumes on my sisters blog here.

So I'm throwin' my own party. While my kids go trick-or-treating with dad. I'm dressing up in my costume and handing out candy. (Before now, I've always been the one going out t&t'ing with the girls.) So here is the scene you'll see if you come trick-or-treating at my house.

Here's me with my Snow White :) Josie

"Have a Bite!"

The magic mirror.

I can't make this s&*t up!

2008-10-30T21:00:00.000-07:00

I am NOT kidding about this. But I was standing at the bus stop today and ANOTHER bee flew down and tried to burrow into my HAIR!

Perhaps you haven't experienced this, but you can tell when a bee is getting close to your head. The buzzing is soft at first and you're not even sure you hear it. Then it gets louder and you think hey, I don't mess with bees so they don't mess with me. Then it's buzzing is so loud that your body is warm with adrenaline and you think, there's no way a bee will fly into my head!

Well, I've learned to think again.

Today a bee went through the buzzing cycle described above THREE times, trying to find a way into my ponytail. I was yelling NO-NO-NO! and swatting at it and running around. (I left poor Josie sitting in her stroller next to the tree with the demon hive.)

Finally, it left without stinging me. I look up and see one of the dad's on his way to the bus stop (up until now I was the only one there) and he's laughing.

"There was a bee!"

"Oh." He nods sarcastically and laughs.

And then.

I see the tiny black and yellow menace dive for him. He swipes frantically at his head. The bee had flown right into the guy's forehead! Luckily we all escape without injury.

Idiot bees.

When it's fun to be IT...

2008-10-29T13:23:00.000-07:00

The reason I love blog tag is because I have something to write about without straining my brain for knowledge or wit. So here's my new I got from my sis, Mona at www.samuelsfamilyfrenzy.blogspot.com

LIFE PICTURES
Post(without straightening or cleaning): Your Fridge, Your Laundry Room, Your Kitchen Sink, Your Bathroom, What Your Kids Are Doing Right Now (as your taking pics), and Your Self-portrait.

I'm happy when the top shelf is full :)

Some decorations waiting for Halloween Night.

Really boring, but so is most of my house because it's for sale!

Again, pretty boring....but for sale :)

Josie, happy I was destracted taking pictures. After I took this picture I was off to take more pics and forgot about cleaning up her mess. She made an even bigger one.

Ashlynn, didn't want to do her homework, nor did she want her picture taken.

Reese, creating a poster for her Cat Babysitting Business.

Me, wrapped in my half finished scarf with knotted yart waiting for me. My friend Daina said once she was a dabbler in many things a master of none (or something like that). That's how I feel...I love to try everything out...but I love change and motion so I tend to not stick to one thing very long. But don't worry...I will finish this scarf. I love to crochet :)

I had to add this one. As I was taking pics for this my daughter came up and poked me in the eye.

I'm not going to be specific and list names who I tag...because I don't want you to be pressured. But if you check my blog....I probably check yours, so do the tag cuz I'd love to see MORE of YOU!

Your MOM's offensive.....

2008-10-28T12:40:00.000-07:00

Somewhere my daughters picked up the line, "no offense, but..."

I hate these types of phrases, including, "with all due respect..." When I hear these words in movies or t.v. shows it drives me batty.

So I explained to Ash that saying "no offense, but..." really means, "I'm going to say something rude to you but it's not my fault if your feelings get hurt." And being the sweetheart she is she stopped saying it...at least around me.

Well last night they were making puppets out of paper bags. Ash turns to me, "Mom, Reese keeps saying that the nose on my puppet looks wierd and ugly."

Then Reese tries desperately to explain, "I said NO DEFENSE! I said NO DEFENSE!"

This, That & The Other Thing

2008-10-23T19:25:00.000-07:00

I know I need a new post but my head is as empty as the inside of a jellyfish. So I thought I'd give y'all the opportunity to say hiya and speak your mind about whatever you want to. There's no judgements here!

There Can Be Magic

2008-10-19T13:39:00.000-07:00

One thing I've learned from having kids is that there can be magic anywhere. Things that become mundane as an adult are amazing once again when you see them with your child. Leaves falling, jumping in puddles, walking along a hidden trail.

This weekend we went for a walk to gather leaves to press in books. It was a rather well-traveled trail, but since we were the only ones there it became a secret and inspiring place for my daughters. Reese searched high and low, scanning tree tops and sifting through enormous fallen maple leaves, looking for fairies. Ashlynn told me stories of trolls and water monsters hiding amongst the underbrush. And I felt my heart growing even bigger as they explored, discovered and created.

Here's a slideshow of some of our pictures.

You know when it's quiet...

2008-10-10T14:43:00.000-07:00

that something's going on.

There's never really quiet in my home. I say home because a house is only a house until the family is there...that's when it's home. So ya, I suppose my house is quiet. But my home is not.

UNLESS....
The three-year old finds a pair of scissors and is cutting her hair.
The one-year old finds a bag of marbles.
The halloween candy stash is found.
New Sharpie artwork is appearing on a wall in the hall.
The toddlers found the lotion. Then the powder. (This makes a sticky paste that covers all the clothes they had just pulled out of the drawers.)

What's happened during the quiet in your home?
(I can't write anymore...it's already too quiet downstairs...gotta go see what's happening.)

I'm brilliant and you can be too.

2008-10-09T14:06:00.000-07:00

ANOTHER mention of my awesomeness.

Okay fine, it's my first. And I'm not sure if it's really mine. I copied it off my sisters blog when she tagged me. But look at it this way. If I tag you, you can copy my awesomeness.

Here are the rules: I have to answer the following questions with one word answers and one word only! Then I must pass it on to seven others!

This award comes with a list of questions:

1. Where is your cell phone? table

2. Where is your significant other? Puerto Rico

3. Your hair color? Darkbrown

4. Your mother? hair

5. Your father? whiskers

6. Your favorite thing? Chocolate

7. Your dream last night? Blackness

8. Your dream/goal? Ireland

9. The room you're in? no-name

10. Your hobby? writing

11. Your fear? strangers

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? running

13. Where were you last night? bed

14. What you're not? jerk

15. One of your wish-list items? home

16. Where you grew up? Utah

17. The last thing you did? laundry

18. What are you wearing? white

19. Your TV? action

20. Your pet(s)? gone

21. Your computer? quiet

22. Your mood? antsy

23. Missing someone? Heckya

24. Your car? Black

25. Something you're not wearing? Socks

26. Favorite store? Tai Pan

27. Your summer? fast

28. Love someone? fiercely

29. Your favorite color? pink

30. When is the last time you laughed? today

31. Last time you cried? yesterday

Basically if you read my blog you're awesome and brilliant. So copy the award (is that thing even in english?) and the questions and ANSWER them. Cuz I'll be checking, Niki, Sarah, Lynnae, Wendy, Debi, Jill, etc..... (and Lisa, I guess this means you need to make a blog to put the award on!)

I did it.

2008-10-07T09:24:00.000-07:00

So I ran my 5k on Saturday. Okay. I ran/walked it. But I'm really glad I did it. My main goal was to finish before they started giving awards and they had that scheduled for 9:45. The race starting at 9:00. And I made it in just over 44 minutes. I had really hoped to get under 40 minutes. But there was a hill that TOTALLY kicked my booty. And then I had to stop about 3 times and stretch out the arch of my hobbit/princess foot. ( http://somedayiwillsoar.blogspot.com/2008/09/what-was-i-thinking.html )
That surprised me, cuz in my practice run/walks it didn't cramp up quite so much.

So anyways. I guess we're going to find another one to sign up for. We being the Washington Chapter of the SRC (sisters running club...those are two of my sissies in the pic with me.) And I figure it's a good thing to sign up for, because I may not be exercising at all otherwise.

Why I like it...

2008-10-01T15:00:00.000-07:00

I like t.v. OK. I LOVE t.v. And I'm feeling a little deprived now that the new fall shows are starting up and I don't have enough DVR capabilities. (I used to have the ability to get 4 shows at once and now I'm down to 2!)

But today I'll write about my new favorite show: FRINGE.

It's named after the 'way out there' kind of science expirements that government would never acknowlege - Fringe Science. The show has conflicts that will span the series yet the episodes aired so far have been satisfying and not a bunch of unanswered questions like in Lost.

Fringe, by the way, is partly born from the black-smoke/polar bear/DARMA initiating creator THAT IS J.J. Abrams. So there's action, intensity and an impelling series storyline. Like the X-Files, only it doesn't focus on the paranormal, there is a team of government agents hoping to reel in the madness created from these fringe science expirements. It has cool effects and well cast actors. But my favorite thing about the show is the depth of the characters and the clever writing.

Olivia is pulled into the investigations because her previous partner/love was effected and involved.

She's good because she doesn't overact and even though she's pretty she's not sexed up in the shows. I like the way she talks. I saw an interview with her and she has an accent, but none in the show. I think that's why she talks so low, to cover it up.

Walter Bishop was institutionalized because he was found incompetent to stand trial for a death that occured in his lab. However, because he is the only scientist that can understand what is going on with Olivia's partner, he's pulled out of the institution. In his earlier years he developed and worked on what the investigators are now trying to uncover. AKA "The Pattern."

Walter is my favorite character. He seems lonely and regretful yet he's easy to like and has the best lines of the show.

Peter Bishop is cool. He's a guy with a past and he's not a federal agent. Olivia needs Peter's help to reign in Walter, his father. His character is also well written and the exchanges between father and son are fantastic. He's my QT pie in the show and although he's familiar I never watched him in other shows. (Dawson's Creek?)

Broyles is the agent who oversees Olivia's work investigating the pattern. He's cryptic and doesn't give her the information she needs for the job. Years ago this would have been a groundbreaking character, but with shows like Lost and Heroes, Broyle begins to seem more like a cookie cutter character and has less depth than the others. He makes for an interesting addition nontheless.

Astrid is like a cardboard character and frankly seems out of place in the show. She's supposedly an FBI agent put in the lab to assist but she's pretty much looking through files and running errands. She's the type of character that makes you think..."hey, I could work for the FBI!" Although in this last episode she was pretty mad at Walter and may not forgive him...will she be back in his lab? Me, I don't care if she is or not.

Fringe is on Tuesday nights on Fox, although it won't be airing next week. A new episode will be on October 14.

Maybe you'll enjoy it as much as I do :)

What was I thinking?

2008-09-27T09:21:00.000-07:00

I wasn't. That's pretty much gotta be the answer. Why else would I sign up for a 5K when I don't even like walking to the bus stop? I just got done with a "practice" run and did better than I thought I would. But now I'm home icing my club foot. (This foot has also been known as my Hobbit foot and on occasion to send good energy to it, I call it my Princess Foot.)

Yes, most of you probably don't know but I did have to wear special shoes with a bar attaching my feet together when I was a child. (I just tried to find a picture of said shoes on the internet and the only sites I saw were for HORSES.?.? ) If it were up to my dr. I'd be wearing the z-coil shoes which have a SPRING on the heel, every morning, noon and night. (Although it might help with my vertical jump for volleyball. I saw something similar on a Scooby-Doo episode.)

So anyway, my 5k is next week. Wish me luck. And if you see me running through the neighborhood and I have a smile on my face, just know that secretly I wish you would sneak up and stab me.

The Phantom of the Opera

2008-09-25T15:11:00.000-07:00

Here are the girls with Rich, getting ready to go in the theater. They were so excited and didn't want me to waste time with pictures. When Reese saw the flashing Paramount sign she kept saying, "It's just like we're in Paris!"

This was such a fun night. We talked a lot about the special effects. Reese's favorite part was when Christine went through the mirror to the Phantom. Ashlynn's favorite part was when Christine and the Phantom were in the boat.

This was my third time at a theater to see Phantom and I've seen the movie at least five times, probably closer to ten. So I found myself comparing this cast to the others I'd seen. And unlike other productions before, this one didn't move me to tears at the end. I think the reason was that I had been pulled out of the action to explain to Reese how the chandelier could fall without hurting anyone or by Ashlynn who wanted me to look more closely at a specific costume during Masquerade...etc... This produced in me an amazement for the technicalities rather than an emotional response. Also, I was focused more on my daughters' reactions than mine. It was awesome to see the wonder and magic that I feel from live theater come to life on their faces and in their eyes.

To make you smile :)

2008-09-24T13:26:00.000-07:00

Here's a clip of a video my sisters made. I thought I'd put it on to make my sis smile. With a death in her (husband's) family I wanted to cheer her up.

If my playlist is going, you may want to go to the bottom of my page and pause the music so you can hear this video. :)

Enjoy Mona!

The times they r'a' changin' but the games stay the same.

2008-09-23T13:10:00.000-07:00

Yesterday as I was getting my daughters ready for bed, Reese exclaims that SHE WILL NOT SLEEP ALONE in her room. When I asked her why, she explained that Ashlynn had looked up BLOODY MARY on the internet, and now she's scared. It turns out, Ashlynn was a bit scared too and more than happy to have Reese sleep in her room with her. And have the lamp on.

They have tried to play Bloody Mary with their friends before - by chanting Bloody Mary in the mirror 3 times. But they always run out of the room too scared to finish.

Oh, it takes me back. Way back to the nights when we'd set up a mirror in the dark sauna in the basement. I'd chant Bloody Mary and nearly wet myself trying to get out of the room. Someone would usually be on the other side of the door, holding it closed so I couldn't get out. And that sauna room was freakin' dark. Think of the darkest room in your house and quadruple the darkness. That's what this room was like. AND the lightswitch was on the outside, not inside, where you were trapped with a ghost in a mirror. The chills would crawl up my spine and make the hair on my neck prickle.

So I remember the fear.

I gave them their lecture on not playing on the computer at friends' houses. I don't know what site they were on. I'm sure there are plenty to choose from. In truth, it makes me laugh. When I was young we had World Book Encyclopedias. And there were two things I loved to look at. One was a picture of a baby with herpes sores all over it's face. And the other was the picture of Queen Mary...who in my mind...was and always will be BLOODY MARY!!!!!

WHATEVER Nature...it is ON!

2008-09-18T16:35:00.000-07:00

WTCrap?!!!!
Today I was at the bus-stop, talking with the other mom, basically minding my own business. When a bee or a hornet swoops down at full speed, dives right into my hair and stings my freakin' head!

It totally hurt and I can hear it buzzzzzzzzing around in my hair and I'm trying to wiggle it out without getting bit again. Finally it flies away and the other mom, who doesn't really know me that well, now thinks I'm some sort of freak because I was yelling at a bee.

I always tell my kids don't bother them and they won't bother you. Well OMgosh there goes that agreement. I'm getting my squashin' shoes on now. (Honeybee or not!)

Crap, I think the venom is staying in the thin layer of skin just above the skull bone. I can practically picture it oozing down from the point of origin like syrup on a stack of pancakes. Oh no...am I losing sight in my right eye?!?!?!?!?!
J/K
But I might go find some old percocet I have lying around the house.
J/K!!!
bye ---------------------->

Deep Thoughts

2008-09-15T19:59:00.000-07:00

Many days I feel like blogging, but when I sit down at the computer my thoughts jump around like a bag of microwave popcorn. I try to find the most interesting kernel of info....but everything I do and think seems to be white fluff. And I don't want to write fluff. I want to dazzle you with my life and deep thoughts. I'm reminded of Pride and Prejudice when Lizzie and (hunky) Darcy are FINALLY dancing together and she remarks:

"-- We are each of an unsocial, taciturn disposition, unwilling to speak, unless we expect to say something that will amaze the whole room, and be handed down to posterity with all the eclat of a proverb.''

I mean, I AM putting something down in writing...something anyone could read. Shouldn't it be amazing? Shouldn't it make the reader pause and think?

Well, the other day I was pushing my baby in the swing, as she watched her shadow on the ground going back and forth along with her - she reached out to it. It was so sweet, reaching her chubby little arm as far as she could. And I thought...that should mean something. If I were profound I could find some philosophical meaning in that: Reaching for a shadow or not grasping what she reaches out for or and when she finally reached etc....

But I couldn't. So I took her out of the swing and let her slide.

Luv'n U Luv'n Me

2008-09-15T19:25:00.000-07:00

Here's the scoop. (I know you've been waiting on pins and needles to find out what happened.) On my b-day eve, which was Saturday we decided it would be a good idea to open my presents. This is because we are still trying to sell our house (I SCREAM to the universe "MY HOUSE IS SOLD!") and were having an open house on Sunday and opening up presents would take up too much time ;)

Reese got me a bouquet of flowers. She was so proud of them and they are beautiful. I've always been a sucker for flowers. Ashlynn got me a gift-cert to itunes. How fun, and she's so excited to see what songs I buy. Josie got me a jogging stroller. Totally fun for me cuz I'm trying to get back to running and awesome for her cuz it has a built in ipod deck so she can listen to music. Rich got me a handsfree thing for my phone so I can finally talk in the car without worrying about getting in trouble!

Then Rich's surprise was that he got everything we needed for a picnic and took us up to Mt. Rainier to go for a little hike. It was a great day!!!

And also fun...the gifts that are still coming from the 14 days of Shannon....our night out at Phantom and also I thought I deserved a real haircut-so I scheduled a hair apt with my favorite stylist ever....but also the most $$$ one I've been to. So she's a real treat.

I know I make a huge deal about the things I got but I'm not all materialistic. I KNOW it's really a privilege to have the life I have. A caring husband, healthy children, the opportunity to stay at home with my kiddies, an amazingly loving family of bro's and sissies. And I appreciate all I have.

Thanks for the LUV everyone! :)

Oh ya....

2008-09-13T14:23:00.000-07:00

It's my b-day tomorrow. :) (:
My hubby took my little ones out shopping. Reese is so adorable, she keeps telling me there's a surprise she can't tell me about.
I LOVE surprises ;)

So, I'll have to catch up later, my baby just woke up from her nap and is not too happy.

9-11

2008-09-11T13:17:00.001-07:00

Isn't this so cool! This is what my niece did in her high school. She's co-founded a group called the Student's Conservative Club. And to remember 9-11 each of these flags has a victim's name hand written on it. There are nearly 3000 flags throughout the school. Each flag and name hanging by a thread.

YOU TOTALLY ROCK ARIANNE!

Days 9 & 10

2008-09-11T13:14:00.000-07:00

We got our Phantom of the Opera tickets!!! I LOVE this show. And to make it even more exciting, we're bringing Ash and Reese along with us-- They both love the movie and also love to go to a theater so HOORAY! It's going to be so fun :) (I'll count this gift for both 9 & 10 cuz I'm so freakin' excited about going.)

Getting Tagged

2008-09-09T12:16:00.000-07:00

I was tagged by RAMSAM at http://samuelsfamilyfrenzy.blogspot.com/2008/09/i-am-offically-tagged.html

This tag is for 6 random and perhaps little known facts about me:

1. I don't think baths are all that relaxing. So I like to take 10-15 minutes after my bath, curled up on my bed.

2. I once went to Sea World and wearing sunglasses, pretended I was blind. It worked because I had a friend who helped me along. (Thanks Marnae!) In one shop I 'accidentally' knocked over a pencil display and felt so bad because the cashier was so apologetic to me.

3. I sometimes like to turn my ipod up as loud as it goes and jump on the trampoline singing songs (not singing outloud...just mouthing) And wondering if a neighbor watched me close enough if they could tell what song I was listening to. (But please don't watch me that close.)

4. I like trashy romance novels cuz I love the romance (especially ones about Historical Scotland or Ireland) but skip over the graphic sex cuz that just wierds me out.

5. About 4 times a year I have a dream about the boy I crushed on all through highschool. Usually in the dream I'm still too shy to talk to him, but sometimes not ;)

6. I DO drink all my Diet Coke. The 1/2 drunk cans people find lying around are not mine, but people just blame it on me cuz they know everyone else will believe them.

I'm new to the blogging world and don't know if these bloggers have been tagged before...but I'll tag Lynnae, Adrienne, Jill, Wendi, Debi, and Sarah.

Gimme a 7, Gimme an 8

2008-09-08T17:15:00.000-07:00

Hey, as it get closer to my actual b-day...shouldn't the celebrations be getting bigger? I think both my 14th and my 15th birthdays went by without anyone wishing me a happy day until the next day. (And yes that includes my parents!!!) And we all know that sometimes, if you want something done right you have to do it yourself.

Sunday was great. Rich did the last minute cleaning for our open house AND made me a delicious dinner. Yum ;)

Today...well, I really don't know what's going to happen today! I haven't been shopping and I don't think Rich has either. Although, I did get some really cute cards in the mail today. MERCI LISA! (She's in Paris right now lucky duck.)

Oh, wait. I just read my post and realized I did go shopping. I bought some make-up and a hair accessory. Man, I really know how to keep the surprises coming! Happy Birthday to ME.

Ramona, regarding the ANTM comment from my last post. I still have a copy of one of me laying on "the cube" I don't know where the photograph is but I had a copy of it on the fridge once and Ashlynn's friend saw it and said...man your mom was skinny.

Cinco y Seis dias de Shannon

2008-09-06T17:10:00.000-07:00

I picked up a couple things that I need/want and will count them to

~The 14 Days of Shannon~

For yesterday I picked up a photo album. I'm going to try my hand at scrapping the 4x6 way. And on a related note...I have actually already used some of the new supplies I bought the other day. I made three pages from when mi familia (Lisa included) took a trip on the Seattle Water Taxi and went to the aquarium. While doing this I watched a couple episodes of Tabitha's Salon Takeover on Bravo. I need to add getting my hair done to my 14 day fiesta.

Today I picked up an arm band for my ipod nano. I'm really wanting to join the SRC (sisters running club) but have to do it here while they run in Utah. Any WA sisses wanna join me?

Okay.... Have a great weekend and GO BYU!