the life of a hillbilly princess

First day of school!

2009-08-17T14:49:00.000-07:00

Whew!

I wasn't sure how I felt about sending my boys back to school today. A big part of me didn't want summer to end. August went by way to fast.
Surprisingly, all the boys were okay with the idea of school starting again. Brock wanted it to start about 1 day after he was done in June. He couldn't wait to get back. Caden is such a good student that going to school is, not as much of a treat as it is for Brock, but it is a challenge and something fun to learn new stuff, so he was ready too. Tadhg was the surprise. He was anxious to go back, but I'm fairly certain it wasn't for the educational enlightenment. He thinks school is social hour... but hey! at least it got him up and ready on time!
I was able to get the requisite first day of school pictures. I have taken their pictures on that same rock every year and one of these days I'll do up a page with them all lined up and marvel at the age progression. (but not today!)
All of the boys were pleased with their new shoes and backpacks.

Tadhg is so typical-teenager. I had to beg for more than a grimace and the smile I did get was with a mouthful of food. Notice the remnants of his breakfast, still clutched in his hand.... yes, that is a hamburger! There is apparently no accounting for taste or conformity to standard breakfast foods for this boy. He'd rather have a burger or burrito for breakfast than cereal or pancakes any day. I'm just glad I don't have to sit behind him in class!!!

Caden is my one shot wonder. I love the ease and cooperation. Jump up on the rock, smile, click... we're done!

Are you blinded by Brock's shoes or is that just me? Wow! Those are white! Today only. It will be interesting to see if he still comes home with a whole sandbox full of sand in his shoes this year. Mr. Brock-star got his class assignment Friday and he is in the 2-3 combo class. There are 3 straight second grade classes (what equates to a mess of second graders on a normal year) but they still had need for another class, thus the combo. I was disappointed for a few minutes that he didn't get Mrs. Steffke, (super teacher extraordinaire!) but it will be nice for him to be in a class with kids his own age. Who knows, today might be the first day of third grade... we'll see.

I'm Baaaack!!!

2009-04-28T14:18:00.000-07:00

Honestly, I did not plan on painting my bathroom today. I really didn't. It just happened.
What I did plan on was replacing the bathroom light. Our home was built in 1979... need I say more? We have changed just about everything on or in this house since we bought it 9 years ago, but we have left the bathrooms pretty much the way they came to us. I have all sorts of grand plans and huge remodel ideas that will one day come to pass. But, I fear that that "one day" is still several years off, especially with the current state of the economy. :(
As I was wandering aimlessly the other day, when I was in town, I found this light fixture. It caught my eye as being pretty so I looked again and saw that it was called Camille. Well, that did it, now I had to buy it (and I so wanted to get rid of the hideous "hollywood" lighting that was in there!)
So this morning I woke up and decided to change out the light fixture. No big deal... I've installed every light fixture in our house... it will take a half hour...an hour max.
I get everything set up, all the tools I'll need, turn off the power and take down the old ugly light fixture.(good riddance!) I realized as soon as it came down that our bathroom was one of the only rooms WE never painted. I think the whole house had been painted right before we bought it in an effort to spruce it up, in a generic flat off-white. For some reason, unknown even to me now, I left the bathroom walls alone. I painted the cupboards and the closet doors, but left the walls. Anyways...(long story....whew!) I saw that the wall under the horribly dated light fixture was a different color than the rest of the wall, and the new fixture would not hide the old, old paint. Thus, the need to repaint.
No problem, it is still only about 8 am, so I skip out to the shed, grab the half gallon left over from painting the hall (for the 3rd time!) and decide that my bathroom will now be Buckthorn (who picks these paint names anyway?) instead of off-white. By noon I have a nice new light and pretty clean walls. Happy day.

As to the title of this post... I have apparently snapped out of my funk (if you can call it that) and am now ready to take on the world. Or at least a dozen projects around the house. I have been less than excited or motivated to take on any projects, big or small for about the last year. It might be because I completely burned myself out on our garage conversion (which took a whole year of my life!) Don't get me wrong, I have been doing stuff, but I wasn't excited about it or really in the mood. (We still don't even have a counter-top in the pantry. We have beautiful glossy cupboards and trim and molding and a nice floor, but I have just been uninspired to go pick out a counter-top.)
But now...NOW... I am ready. I'm not sure if it is because of the spring weather or being cooped up for weeks staring at all the problems and imperfections that fill my life, but I am fired up and in a fixin' mood.
On a whim I decided to repaint the grout on the kitchen counters. (once again... our house was built in 1979!!!) and I have hated that dark brown grout for 9 years. I would love to take a sledge hammer to the whole kitchen (and I will...one day) but for now I will be content to have white grout. I ran out of paint so I am waiting for more and I'll post pictures when I finish.
I finally found the counter-top I want, now I just need to order and have it installed. I am planning on sanding and staining our patio furniture and making new cushions. I've got the pool in almost summer shape (hasn't stopped the boys, they already swam 4 times last week) At this rate I might build up enough steam to finally get to Tadhg's room. We promised him that once we finished the conversion that his room would be next, and he has waited kind-of patiently. I'll keep you posted.

2009-04-26T20:02:00.000-07:00

This has been a very busy week. I have hardly been at home at all!
Monday necessitated a trip to town to restock the cupboards. After spring break and the boys being home all the time...eating... we were out of everything. I suppose I could have gone on Saturday, but much preferred to go alone. It is faster and much more peaceful.
Honestly, Tuesday was a blur... I went with Brock on a field trip to Fresno State. We visited the planetarium and then saw a very cute play, The Tale of Jemima Puddleduck, put on by the drama department. When it was over I came home and crashed... I was so tired!
Wednesday I headed back to the Family History Library. It has been weeks since I have gone. I was able to make a little progress and found a death certificate for my Great Grandpa Morton.
Thursday was the Honor Roll assembly. Mr. Caden received his 3rd Gold Honor Roll(meaning a perfect 4.0) He must not be embarrassed by me hollering and screaming, "That's my boy!" when his name is called and he walks across the stage, because shortly after he got to school he called to remind me what time the assembly started. So sweet.

Friday, I worked in first grade and then made a quick trip out to Raymond to see Caden run in his first cross country race. The paper that came home said that the 4-8 grades would start running at 11. I left class a little early and got to Raymond about 15 minutes after (I never remember just how long it takes to get to Raymond!) I walk up and see all the runners milling around. I finally find Caden and learn that they had already run! and eaten lunch! The whole meet was over and I had missed it! I saw several other parents there that had also arrived by 11 but had missed the race too. We all commiserated that on missing the big event, and we joked about those great pictures we wouldn't have of the race. Mr. Weimer, the track/cross country coach said Caden has the best attitude and is a happy runner. He's excited about his next race at Wasuma.

2009-04-20T19:27:00.000-07:00

*I actually wrote this on Sunday night, but due to computer problems...(again!) I wasn't able to publish it until today, Tuesday and then the heading my blog gave it was Monday... so it's all messed up, but, oh well.

I have been meaning to write on my blog for days and days and days now... but obviously, haven't. (so why, on the day I DO decide to, are my fingers refusing to work? I can't type anything right tonight!)

I am currently waiting for my Caden to get home. He (lucky duck!) was invited to spend the last 5 days with his best friend at Disneyland! I miss my sweet Cuckoo boy! Cathie has been very good about keeping me informed. I have gotten at least 6 texts (most with a picture!) a day to let me know he is well and happy.

This last week was spring break for our boys... which means that I have been able to sleep in and not HAVE to go many places, but it also means that there are boys around 24/7... and that means lots of messes (and more work for me!) I'm not sure if I like spring break, or christmas break or any other break for that matter if it means MORE cleaning! You know it has gotten pretty bad when the missionaries show up at the door on a Sunday afternoon and Curtis won't even let them in the house! He made them stand outside for 5 minutes while we all dashed around like crazy putting things away. Embarrassing! It will take me at least 2 days to get this place back to where it needs to be.(honestly, it is fighting a losing battle to even try to keep up with the housework when they are making 3 messes for every one I clean up.)
Will I like getting up tomorrow at the crack of dawn to get those boys off to school... uhmmm, nope, not really, but I will like to have a few hours of peace and quiet... and it is amazing how clean the house stays when no one is around!

So, this last week. We went to Gramma and Pop-pop's for Easter. I decided to hard-boil some eggs to color and hunt and then turn into deviled eggs or egg salad sandwiches later. So before we headed over I put some on the stove. I had a vague memory about someone telling me a trick to hard-boiling eggs... adding something to the water, so they would peel easier and the yolk wouldn't turn greenish or something. Of course I couldn't remember what it was, and being the NON-cook that I am I thought I'd better check that "recipe" for boiling eggs one more time. I went online (and never did find the trick I was looking for) but found a recipe and put the eggs on to boil. I swear I even checked them by spinning them to see if they were really done (another online tip) but when we went to color them I discovered that they were only soft boiled. I went online again looking for a recipe for how to fix hard-boiled eggs that didn't quite get hard boiled the first time and found....nothing. At about this point I realized (once again) that I am hopelessly inept when it comes to kitchen-y domestic things. I had to laugh with my uncle Dale that it is a sad, sorry state of affairs when you need to look up a recipe to boil eggs in the first place... but then to screw that up and expect to find a recipe to fix it, too! We colored and hunted, but did NOT eat any eggs. Ahhh well, better luck next time.

It was really nice to get to visit with (most of) the family at Easter. We had a nice dinner and played cards. My cousin Rachel brought her daughter Ava with her and when we arrived little Ava, who is 3 had been anxiously waiting for my boys to get there so she'd have someone to play with.
(*You know, there are just some days when your kids are so well behaved and kind and sweet that you just have to smile and think that everything is right in the world. THIS was one of those days.)
Caden and Brock jumped out of the car and "met" Ava on the doorstep (they'd never seen each other before that day). For the rest of the day they were at her beck and call. They pushed her on the tire swing, helped her up when she fell... Brock got her a new band-aid and played nurse when her old band-aid fell off. They gave her all the best eggs during the hunt and shared all their candy with her even after her mom "cut her off" (Rachel: please stop giving her candy!). It just melted my heart to see how sweet and patient and kind they were to her. What wonderful boys. Made this momma proud.

I have been talking to my mom and she was telling me about all the fun projects she's been working on... a fun scrappy quilt, shopping bags and more, cuter shopping bags and I just felt that itch to sew too. She asked me if I had any projects that were started that I could finish (silly question!) and I cam across some patriotic quilt blocks that I had from when I was in her quilt group that had been gathering dust. Me and my bright ideas! I thought, "I'll just pull these out, dust them off, and make a quilt for the chili cook-off auction to raise money for scout camp. I should know by now, (but apparently fail to remember!) that with me nothing is ever simple or easy or quick. So on Monday I start making a quilt, thinking that with 8 blocks already done I am well on my way. HA! I also fail to remember that with me...small is never an option. So I need more blocks and make 4 more, then I need NEED a really cool way to set them apart, so I do stars and bars for the sashing, which needs another border to finish it off... oh, and I just have to finish the binding by hand...
This is where I just shake my head and wonder what the heck is wrong with me!!! I am the one who 1. decided at the last minute to make a quilt 2. decided that it needs to be done in time for the cook-off on Saturday 3. keep making it more and more elaborate... and then wonder why I get cranky and tired and stressed when the days are slipping by and the deadline approaches and I still have more to do!
Needless to say, it did get done and I was quite pleased with the final product. So after spending a week of my life on it... I just gave it away. (story of my life!)

Spring surprises...

2009-04-05T21:25:00.001-07:00

I walked out the front door today, (something I don't do too frequently, now that I think on it!) for some fresh air and the last little bit of sunshine. Curtis was wanting to put the hammock up, Tadhg was practicing some skateboard tricks, Brock was in charge of watering the plants in pots... I was wandering, aimlessly. Maybe my critical eye is a huge fault. (Ahhh! See you all think so too!) First, I noticed the weeds swept into the flowerbed right next to the front porch. Then I noticed that the pool was looking way less than inviting. I sat at the table out by the pool and thought how this HAD to be the year that I sand and re-stain it. The pots were overgrown with weeds and looking very sorry... then *BOOM* I see it. (Don't get me completely wrong... I have been admiring the daffodils and the blossoms on the trees and reveling in the beautiful spring weather for weeks, so not ALL is gloom and work.)
In one of my scraggly, sorry looking pots I spotted an orange freesia. A few years back I planted lots of bulbs and such, but I'm fairly certain that I kill most everything during the summer months and am much less than certain if anything will come back the next spring. This lone freesia must have some will to survive. I'd like to say I raced right over, but I didn't, it was more the granny shuffle *ha, ha*. But I had to see if it smelled as good as I remembered. Boy did it! I love the way freesia smell! Hidden behind it amongst the dead twigs and scraggly remains of last summers flowers was a yellow freesia that must have bloomed last week. All of it's scent was gone... but seeing it sparked a thought and I turned around to see if any of the freesia that I had planted in the ground (a dangerous thing to do around here!) had made it also. To my incredible delight I found a whole patch of happy, sweet smelling freesia blooming right under Brock's window. There were so many blooms that I got a biggish vase, filled it with water, grabbed a pair of scissors and went back outside to make myself a bouquet. I didn't even cut all of the blooming freesia! I left a few there to look happy and noticed that there were several more stalks that were just waiting for next week to make their grand entrance. What a happy spring surprise! That will show me not to use my own front door!
Now I have a vase full of sunny golden flowers sitting squarely on my desk, just waiting to cheer me up tomorrow with their beauty and fragrance. Can I just say...Spring-time is the best time around here. IF it could be like this all year, I'd think I lived in heaven.

First Grade and yoga....

2009-03-13T15:18:00.000-07:00

Friday is my "work in class" day. I will say once again that I like working in my kids' classes, for a myriad of reasons, but mostly because I love them. Is it always fun? No. But sometimes, it is a little rewarding.
I normally have the group that is working on writing in their journals or doing a worksheet. I wander around, making sure everyone is working, answering questions, sounding out words, whatever is required. I have escorted kids to the principals office, stayed in during recesses correcting homework, encouraged and cajoled, and witnessed more than a few tears when they got frustrated. I guess I expect all those things to happen. But today... was something I never thought I'd do.

We worked on a worksheet today and I was prepared for the kids who wanted to guess the answers (The ones that think that if I send them back to fix an answer because it was wrong, and they choose the next multiple choice answer and bring it back for me to correct and tell them that they need to go back again to fix it again, because it was wrong AGAIN, and by process of elimination they come up with the right answer, that it will be good enough! NO (I am so much smarter than that!) & the ones who want me to read the whole thing to them (once again... smarter than that, me and them!) & the ones who think if they cry that they won't have to stay in during recess to finish their work when they were goofing off instead of working during station time (wrong...again!) *Wow! I sound tough!!! I am no push over... but I am not nearly as strict as Mr. E.*
After seven months I think I have a pretty good idea of how these kids operate. I know what these kids are capable of, which ones need extra incentive, who needs lots of redirection and which ones get frustrated easily. I thought the day had gone rather nicely. No tears or tantrums, or trips to the office. Great. The kids leave with Mr. E for p.e. and I stay to talk to Mrs. E (she is there everyday til noon when her kindergarten son goes home...now that is a dedicated "volunteer-at-school" mom!) After about 5 minutes we hear a child howling (literally!) as he runs down the hall towards class. Mrs. E says, "That must be ----, back from p.e." (She is also aware of what to expect!!) Sure enough, this student comes into class screaming and crying and yelling and kicking the desk. I am dumbstruck. I just stand there for what seems like forever, staring. I have seen this student when he gets frustrated with desk work, but obviously I have never witnessed a "p.e." melt-down. (apparently, Mrs. E had... more than once too, I guessed) She gave him a second and then tried talking to him, validating his feelings, trying to calm him down. I am still standing there, bewildered. Do I just leave? Do I stand there like an idiot? watching? After what seemed like an eternity something clicked in my head. I set down my purse and walked up to this student and asked, "Can I show you something?" I plopped down on the carpet and asked him to sit there with me. I get him all set up in modified lotus pose, have him put his hands on his knees, straighten his back, shoulders down and start explaining how he needs to breathe into his belly. After a few breaths I ask him, "Do you know what we are doing?" He shakes his head no. "Meditating," I say.

*@^!* Where did THAT come from!!! And why haven't I ever tried it with my own kids???

It was almost immediate. He was calm. I'm not sure if it was the complete change of direction, the yogic breathing, or if he was just freaked out by me plopping down on the ground and switching into yoga mode! We sat there for a few more minutes, talking about breathing, and how he could do *this* whenever he started getting frustrated or angry. I told him I'd check up with him next Friday to see how he was doing and left.

WEIRD! I'm not sure who was more surprised by that whole thing... him... or Mrs. E or me!!?

Chi Tu Do

2009-03-04T23:19:00.000-08:00

Brock is really into this "karate" stuff. He goes at it with all his heart. He strikes hard and he yells loud!

These are "my" boys. As if my own three aren't enough! Honestly... where do all these redheads come from anyways? Is there some unwritten law that they feel the need to stick together? flock to one another? Whatever? I love it!
Caden, Carson, Brock, Josh, McKenzie

Caden, ever observant. You know he is just logging all the information away into that computer brain of his....

Just couldn't resist... he is so darn cute!

"the cub-mobile"

2009-03-04T22:09:00.000-08:00

This is where I come right out and say it.... I could NEVER have planned a cub scout activity this cool. Bros West and Frasier really have this badge down to a science... really. They said they have built and torn down and built this go-cart several times for the cubs over the years and I am sooo glad that they did it for us. This will surely be one of those "scouting highlights" for these boys... they loved the building and they had so much fun racing too. It is still really weird for me when these men look to me to lead them (I have no idea what I am doing!!!) They have so much experience and enthusiasm... I am simply grateful that they are willing to be there and help make this a fun thing for the boys.
Despite the whirlwind that my life has become lately, I did manage to remember the camera today. Honestly, can you imagine NOT documenting a bunch of little boys, power tools and a go-cart with pictures? I didn't think so. I love the looks of concentration on their faces and the way their hands still have a bit of the "baby-ness" to them,( I love baby hands, pudgy knuckles...so sweet!) especially when they are holding huge drills.

After the boys had finished putting the cart together, they were each able to add their name to the "cub-mobile" as proof that they built it.

After a few quick instructions on how to drive... they were out to the parking lot for the test drive.
Can you see the huge smile on Brock's face, behind the helmet? He was in speed induced euphoria.... Caden on the other hand was very cautious.

2009-03-02T14:17:00.000-08:00

I am a few days late (and several dollars short!) but here is an update from Monday.
I know that a few weeks ago I wrote about dodging the "karate" bullet. I had thought that getting a do-it-at-home video would do the trick. Apparently not. About 2 weeks ago Caden's friend Mckenzie invited Caden to go with him to Chi Tu Do on guest day. Because Caden is such a sweet boy and a good friend he said yes. The day came and he didn't really want to go, but we talked about it and I told him he had committed to it and Mckenzie really wanted to bring a friend. I think he was a little apprehensive about it but went. At the last second they invited Brock and off they went. An hour and a half later, they were all back home and....OH MY GOSH! they were so stoked. Both of them were begging to go back. Brock had all the paperwork and was literally following me around hounding me to go online "Right Now" to register them and get "the clothes"!
*Whitney, Mackenzie's Dad is so funny because he can do the Brock impersonation, and I was entertained with a dialog they had about "the clothes"!*
We talked it over as a family and I did in fact go online and register and order "the clothes". That next week was the ski week break so we decided that we'd start in March. I'm thinking that Brock is more into this than Caden, but it might also just be that he is so much MORE vocal. I received daily updates on how many more days until March and endless inquiries as to where "the clothes" were and, "when the heck are they going to get here!"
Thank goodness they arrived before the first class (don't know if I would have had the stamina to keep up with him if they had not!) Both boys tried on their new gi the night they arrived in the mail and gave us a demonstration of their skills in the kitchen. So funny.
Caden and Brock got in a spat on the way home from school Monday because Caden accused Brock of bragging about going to Chi tu do to his friends. I had to explain to Caden that Brock wasn't bragging, just excited about his upcoming class.
Unfortunately, I was unable to stay and observe their first lesson. I got all the boys there (mine +2) and then had to run to the school for the board meeting.

pictures by Curtis....

Before you get all excited thinking that I am some responsible, concerned parent who is interested in all the district going ons... I only went to watch Tadhg and his Shake the Floor class perform THRILLER! I didn't get to see the original performance. Tadhg didn't tell me, until after the fact, when it was. At the time I figured it wasn't that big of a deal to him if he didn't want me to go. When I learned that they would perform again I was determined to be there. He is so blase' about most things anymore... and I would have thought that a "dance" class would be considered totally un-cool. But he did have it for 2 quarters as an elective? So I'm guessing that he liked it. I was curious... Then I was impressed. They all did a really good job. The costumes and makeup were terrific and the dance routine was great. He took it all so seriously too. This was clearly something that he had put a lot of time and effort into and he was proud to be there, as he should be... he was amazing. It was interesting for me to watch him... First he looked so grown up, up there on the stage, made-up to look like a zombie, doing his thing. I realized that he is no longer the little kid, who needs to find his mother in the crowd and wave, who is nervous to be in front of a roomful of people, unsure of his lines or afraid to do his part. He was all "cool confidence" and that was....weird....interesting. I watched him dance with girls, he even did a lift! Very manly. I was kind of blown away. When did he get this old, this independent, this self-assured, this... separate... from me?
My friend Tif took some video. I'll try and post it if it turned out.

2009-03-01T15:17:00.000-08:00

I was asked to say a few things today at church about journal writing. The first thing I thought when Vicki asked me was, "She doesn't know me very well, because if she did... she definitely wouldn't have asked ME to talk about writing in my journal!" I will be the first to admit that I am LOUSY about writing in a journal. I can look back across the last 16 years and find, maybe 3 journal entries. I'm not sure if it is that horrifying feeling of sitting there with a pen and a blank book... or the idea that what I say needs to be important or insightful... or, worse still, 50 years from now, who will be reading this?! And what will they be thinking??? I can just picture someone reading my pathetic attempts at at journal and saying, "Grandma Rebekah... *wow, that was weird to type!*... was so boring" or "Life must have really stunk 50 years ago, I'm so glad we didn't live then!"
I have my issues, I know, but on the other hand... *see me waving my left hand in the air*... I can't begin to describe how much I would like to have something, ANYTHING written by my grandparents or great-grandparents that could clue me into why they were who they were, or what possessed them to move so frequently. It would be really great not to have to guess at why my Great Grandpa O'Kelley was married 3 times and to his sister-in-law the last time? OR Why my other Great Grandpa Morton decided to leave Canada and enlist in the Navy during the Civil War? But, because they left no records, or journals (that I know of) all I CAN do is guess.
So much of my life is mundane. Who wants to read about endless laundry and my war against Coarsegold dust? I am so far from being eloquent... and I never did figure out the trick to telling a good story. (It would probably help if I could corral all these thoughts that just spin out of control in my head! but I gave up on that long ago!)
The really sad part, is that my memory is rubbish. I can barely remember stuff from last week, let alone years ago. Even the hugely significant events in my life... I couldn't describe them with any amount of detail, and some... I have no recollection of at all, even though I am certain that they DID actually take place. There are times when I would dearly love to be able to have a pensive, (you fellow Harry Potter freaks out there will know exactly what I am taking about!) so I could pull those memories out and examine them. *wistful sigh*
Curtis was there when I was asked to talk on this and the first thing he said was, "Would you like me to pack you some tissues?" Thanks for that vote of confidence... He knows that I cannot NOT cry! I started to lament and list my inadequacies *see above* and he said that my scrapbooks and blog were great examples of journaling. I think he was just trying to climb his way out of the "tissues" hole he'd just dug... but I guess, in a way, they could count. They are a sort of documentation to my existence. They aren't very insightful, but they are a start. (I can totally rationalize that if you give me enough time!) Maybe Vicki WAS inspired to ask me, because now I feel this incredible need to make sure I do leave my mark.

Valentine's Day??

2009-02-14T22:20:00.000-08:00

As I write this it is getting late on Valentine's Day. Why am I still up late on Valentine's night? A romantic dinner? NO. A fun, wonderfully relaxing day? NO. Actually, I am waiting for the laundry to be done. Great....I know. Exactly what I wanted to be doing today. Along with all the other stuff I had to do today... Why? (because the world is conspiring against me?? might be....)
What I want to know is.... Who are the freakin' geniuses who decided to plan a bunch of stuff that I had to go to on Valentine's Day? Or maybe it has something to do with my inability to say no.... That may be it, too. At any rate... It wasn't the fun romantic, pampering day that society has made it out to be.
I started out my day with kick-boxing...that was my choice...and I was glad to go. Nothing like getting all sweaty and stinky to get the day going! From there I had exactly an hour to get cleaned up and shuffle my tired body to a baby shower (on Valentine's Day?? Come on!!) I probably would have bailed, but my sweet friend Nancy was putting it on and I would hate to disappoint...plus she puts on pretty good parties. (thank you again Carl for getting my truck up your snowy driveway!)
I had to leave early to make it to Tadhg's Council Court of Honor for Boy Scouts. (Again....must it really be on Valentine's Day??? Really?) Thankfully, this particular Court of Honor took a fraction of the time that our own troop does, so maybe that was a good thing? Hmmm... I thought we had done fairly well getting there on time, and we had managed (well Curtis mostly, as I was at a baby shower...) to get Tadhg there in uniform. Scout shirt..buttoned....check. Hideous green pants....check. New blue neckerchief....check. New sash with merit badges sewn on... check. Nasty green scout socks.... .... uh.... nope....and they did check! Really!! They made him pull up his pant leg to see if he was wearing the green socks! Needless to say, our troop did not "pass" inspection and therefore did not get the totem pole. The boys were really torn up about that one.....*still crying now* He did get two rank advancements and 6 merit badges...so I guess we are still on the right track.

You can tell he was thrilled to be there!

Home again...and we are trying to determine if we (Curtis and I) want to risk mutiny by suggesting that we all go down to Fresno for dinner and a few errands. Babysitters at this point in time are fairly difficult to find. Not only because it is now Valentine's afternoon... but our boys are at that age... Tadhg is kind of too old for a babysitter, but not responsible enough to be left home alone. Especially in charge of his younger brothers.... Can you say unrighteous dominion? We had been using some of the teenage boys in our ward...but alas they have all turned 16 and now want to drive and date and all those other things, besides ride herd on our lot... :(
We tried to separate ranks, wheedle them one by one... but they weren't falling for it. A no go on dinner in town. I, alone, went down, ran my few errands and brought back pizza and ice creams and we spent the night watching "Prince Caspian". You are all jealous...I know.
Friday nights, at least from January to March, are church ball nights. This last Friday was no exception. As I might have mentioned we did get snow...well not at our house, exactly...but because our ward is so spread out most of the boys did get snow at their houses and as a result only 5 showed up for the game...or I should say, games. Our little guys had two games, back to back, again. The first game was against the other Yosemite team, the big guys. It was brother against brother, literally, and I think that the big guys showed some serious class by not going too hard on the little guys...but they did not roll over, by any means. It was really fun to watch. But kind of hard because you are cheering for both teams... The B team (little guys) played awesome. Maybe it was because they weren't intimidated by their friends, or because they knew that it was, in fact, a "friendly" game...??? They all lit it up. Tadhg (you knew this was coming...right?) was on fire! He had 4....yes 4!... three point shots that were just beautiful to behold. All the boys scored multiple times.
You know I have documented proof of all 4 shots... go to Tadhg's facebook for the rest. :)
After the first game....remember that there were only 5 of them there.... they had to play Sierra. (Dun...Dun... Duh! their arch nemesis!) These little guys had played their hearts out in the previous game... had all of 5 minutes rest and then had to hit the boards again with the same 5 guys...no substitutions, for another whole game. Once again, I will not elaborate on the absolutely appalling unfairness or lack of class exhibited by the ........ (maybe that bit of self-restraint there < < will make up for some words spoken in passion last night...)
LOST... final score 80 something to 20 something. Couldn't see straight. The boys never gave up... Good for them. They'll get their day.
Last, but not least... funny boy Brock. He knows how to entertain himself. He has a hard time sitting still during the games and can't wait for half time or the break between games. He jumps off the stage and skate/slides across the floor til they tell him to get off the court. What is a guy to do? for 2 long hours?

This last pic is of his new "tat". He came home from school Friday after his class Valentine party with a new secret. He had gotten a special valentine and bashfully told me where he had put his new tattoo...so no one could see!

Gotta love the fact that he's not too cool for Cinderella!

fun stuff...

2009-02-10T11:42:00.000-08:00

Mondays are about to get way more interesting....
Yesterday, Tadhg started the first of his "official" guitar lessons. Tadhg found a guy in our ward who is really good and has played with some big people and offers lessons.
Tadhg asked for a guitar for his 6th birthday, I think, and he takes it out now and then and messes around for a while. About 2 years ago, he took an elective at school for GATE and learned some basics. He and Pop-pop talk guitars and when Yasha was here this last summer they worked on it a bit too.
But this....THIS is real. Tadhg really impressed me by taking the initiative. He approached Matt and asked for lessons, then did the e-mails back and forth of when and where and how much. Impressive.
Sunday at dinner with Pop-pop and Gramma he told Pop-pop all about starting his lessons and hit Pop-pop up for the red electric guitar.... Don't know how he managed it, but sure enough... he left with the guitar and all that went with it. (Thanks Pop-pop, you just made his day, week, year....)
It is so funny to watch Tadhg. I can actually see him struggling within himself.... I know he is excited, but he is trying so hard to be cool, play it down. He arranged for a half hour lesson, but I was pretty certain he'd want to go the whole hour....
I walked him up to the studio and then went back to the car to help the other two boys with their homework, while we waited. At a half hour they both come out and I knew he didn't want to quit. They went back in, we finished the homework and I walked across to their house and got some "girl time" visiting with his wife and her sisters. (I don't realize how much I like girl time until I get it. So used to being one of the boys....) When the hour was up they both came in and I was talking with Matt about how it went. I asked Tadhg a few questions trying to see how he liked it and only barely got a head nod... What's up with that!
Tadhg came home and showed us his awesome-ness on his new electric guitar. His homework is Sunshine of my love, One by U2 and Lithium by Nirvana. I can recognize the songs, so that is a good thing... Later he told me he had been waiting all day (ALL DAY!) to go to guitar lessons.... :) Guess I need to get better at interpreting this whole teen-age behavior stuff. Apparently, a barely noticeable head nod means, "Wow, heck yeah! I love this!"

Brock came home from school with a surprise.... He is the cutest little boy! He was all excited and wanted me to guess what it was. He hands me a paper, all folded up. I open it and there are 5 hearts, colored in marker. Not sure what to think at first... did he make it for me? I look at his face and he is blushing and smiling hugely... NO, apparently not.... I said, "It's beautiful." "Guess who gave it to me?" he asks. I had to think for a minute, but I guessed right (always a good thing to try and keep up with their latest crushes..) "Emma" I say. The smile grows. He then proceeds to tell me that she gave it to him at lunch and had to walk over from another table (!!!!) to hand it to him. (and valentine's day is still several days off, ahhh...young love!) :)

Brock's Valentine from Emma

Monday morning...

2009-02-09T11:49:00.000-08:00

Got up this morning and started in on the daily routine...started some laundry, general house cleaning. I like to get the vacuum out and do all the floors that way, if I can... (if the chunks aren't too big!) So here I am... plugged into my ipod...vacuuming. Here... there...carpet....hardwood.... I get to the front door and I know that the boys aren't as careful with getting the cat food (which hides behind the front door and the cat dishes which are just outside the front door) all the way outside. There is usually a trail... sometimes I can get the vacuum to pick it up, sometimes I have to break down and get out the broom and dustpan... So I'm going at it and I see something a little bigger.
*We have gotten a lot of rain this last weekend(which I LOVE!) and that normally means that "stuff" finds it's way in out of the rain.
I look, then look a little closer, just to make sure it's not a lego or something. It is one of those wormy things with about a ba-gillion legs... (I have gotten MUCH better about the bugs and crawly things since we moved to the hills. There is always something I find repulsive... lurking...) I have the vacuum right there and I think, "I'll just pull out the hose attachment and suck it up, no messing with the tissue and toilet flush this time!" I pull out the wand and go to suck this millipede thing up and UGHHH! I have one hand on the hose and there is this huge thunk, right where my hand is holding the hose, as it gets sucked up. Major jibblies!!! (He-bey-leys ...just for you Mom!) I can still feel the crawling shivers up my spine! Gross! Might have jumped a foot of two... can't be sure, but the adrenaline is pumping....Gaaa!
Now, back to work! :)

Still recapping the weekend...

2009-02-04T19:27:00.000-08:00

I was only able to get through Saturday skiing last post...I'll try and fill in on the rest of the weekend and through to today if at all possible. (How many interruptions and distractions do you think will occur before I get this posted? Bets, anyone? I'll say at least 5 and a continuation before it is done!)

Sunday, we finally got back to Gramma and Pop-pop's for our usual Sunday dinner. We hadn't been since the beginning of January. It has gotten so bad that I have to text Gramma during church to let her know if it looks like we will actually make it for dinner. Sad! I even got dirty looks 2 weeks ago when during the Scout Committee Meeting (which lasted 2 hours... after our regular 3 hour block!)to say we wouldn't be able to make it. Between new callings and various meetings we missed at least 3 good, nutritious, home cooked meals! One of which was tri-tip! Dang. Sometimes Gramma's Sunday dinner is the only good, nutritious, home cooked meals my boys get! (sad commentary on my cooking skills) Needless to say, they like when Gramma cooks and love to go there each week.
Having missed multiple weeks-in-a-row I (we, I guess it was put to a vote...) decided to bail on the 'Break the fast' after church and go to Sunday dinner. I almost lost it when I learned that there would be a cub scout planning meeting for me and a missionary correlation meeting for Curtis after church (could feel that case of "bad attitude" coming on!) I managed to hold my meeting to 30 minutes and then recruited help to 'bust' Curtis out of his...Thanks Travis! As it was we still didn't get there until well after the Superbowl started....
Sunday dinners are more than just eating good, nutritious food. The boys normally get some one on one time with Gramma and Pop-pop's television, watching the Disney Channel(since we have no tv at our house) Curtis normally gets to watch some sort of sporting event with my dad (also because we have no tv at home *evil grin*) and I get to play card games with Gramma and Great Gran. Everyone wins!
After a rousing game of Phase 10, (and Great Gran always wins...how does she do that??) we took a break and watched a few minutes of the game. Curtis is a life long fan of the Steelers (growing up in Utah? who knows why?) Chris was rooting for the underdogs... the boys were split. Gran, on the other hand, is sitting next to me and leans over conspiratorially and says, "You know... some women watch football just to see the players from behind..." I look at her and my face breaks into a huge smile, "Yeah, checking out their tight ends!" "Don't look at them from the front," she says, "that ruins it. Just look at the back." Can you believe that? What a hoot! (interruption #1) I love my Gran. Almost 86 and as sassy as can be!
Gramma always makes sure there is dessert. Tonight it was pie. She asked around for votes...dutch apple, cherry or raspberry. The boys really don't care, so the girls won out with dutch apple. After a game of Kings Go Wild it was nearly time for dessert. Gramma said that the pie would be done in a few minutes... and then my dad said something about it having to cool for an hour. Chris pipes up from the kitchen, "Like the hour you wait for your brownies to cool?" At this Brock's head pops up, "BROWNIES?" He had been sitting there concentrating on something, not really paying attention to anything or anyone, but at the word brownies....BAM! instant attention. He knows what he likes. (interruption #2 and #3) He was a little disappointed that there weren't really any brownies, so sad.... (interruption #4)

Monday it was back into (major interruption #5 triple chat window in facebook!) the homework grind, after school chaos mode. Brock decided to lighten things up for us, as usual. He came back down the hall to the laundry room wearing my shoes! He was wobbling around and was quite proud of his cute-ness. Tadhg had to find a way to tease him and said, "Brock, you are a girl!" True to form, Brock responds without even batting an eyelash, "Yes, I am a girl." and does a little dance in my shoes! I ran to grab the camera. He kept it up for over half an hour... at one point he asked if he could wear them to school, but I explained he might break his leg and he decided they would be hard to run in! So funny.

Caden had homework that asked him to come up with an (American) Indian name for himself. The kind that becomes legend...Wind in hair, laugh like lightning... We brainstormed for a little while about what he liked to do, what he is good at.... trying to find a cool, unusual 'Indian' name for him. We tossed a few ideas around, but couldn't come up with something really neat. I kept coming back to him and his love of reading. He devours books. That was it.... he became the "book eater". The indians might not approve, but I thought it fit him, to a "T".

I am really loving my kick boxing class. Jennifer is one tough cookie, and I hurt when I am done, but I have found that I smile now, when it gets really tough. Hasn't killed me yet! Coordination is still a very real worry, and I fear for my class mates' safety. But I love pushing myself. Maybe it's the boxing, or the push-ups...they empower me. Weird?! Anyways... I walked to class on Tuesday. It was kind of brisk out so I was walking quick-ish. When I got to the parkway I came upon a nice little old lady walking her poodle. I thought, "Oh, I'll just breeze by her and be on my way..." It takes me a bit longer to come up beside her than I thought and then I realized that she was walking fast! We ended up walking together for about 1/4 mile and I had to work to keep pace! She said she has walked her dog every day for years and sometimes does 5 miles! Did I mention that her mom is going to be 103 soon. So that makes her.... like really old...at least 80. Ouch! Pride wounded... dusted by a granny and her poodle. Few more months of kick- boxing and I bet I could take her...

February....already?!

2009-02-02T20:18:00.000-08:00

So, here we are. February already. When, exactly did that happen? (Like 2 days ago, Bek.) If this is how fast this year is going to fly by then I am in T R O U B L E!

I didn't post for a few days, feeling horribly inadequate after reading my cousin's absolutely hysterical blog. Then, just when I think I might be able to be marginally clever...the internet goes out.

So, now that I have this wonderful relationship with Lee, our local hillbilly internet provider tech, I am back up and running. I am seriously considering having him over for dinner. *laugh* (well maybe not yet, but....) Goodness knows I've talked to him more in the last few days than my own husband...

How shall I do this? Go back and start from the beginning or go backwards starting now? Decisions...
I'll go back and see how I do from there.

Friday night was church ball. Need I say more? It was, as usual, frustrating and exasperating and really gets your blood pumping. (and that was just for me!)
Since our wards combined we now have more boys than you can shake 3 or 4 sticks at and necessitated another youth team. A & B. Or older and younger. Big and little. The A team is 16+, B team 12 - 15. Tadhg falls under the Team B heading. The B team had 2, back-to-back games on Friday night to get them caught up. Fridays are mountain area ski school, so most of the team had also spent the whole day skiing at Badger. We rushed down as soon as the ski bus showed up and then those boys ran and ran and ran some more. Their coach,(what a slave driver!) Curtis kept telling them to keep their hands up. Our boys were, like a full foot or more shorter than the first team. The second game /team wasn't much better, but the boys really kicked it up and had the game in the bag.....but for the officiating. Let's just say they were robbed in the last 30 seconds of the game and lost. [Long, horrible back story that I will not force you to listen to :)! ]
Meanwhile, I am sitting there on the stage, watching these boys play their hearts out, trying to get a little of the action on video. Brock (you knew he'd factor in here didn't you?) is trying very hard not to die of boredom. He's imagined up several games... all of which require my attention and the, more than occasional, whack on the arm (camera jiggles and jerks) to get me back on track. At one point he was rolling and wiggling across the stage and I thought, "If he did this at home....my floors would be clean." Completely random thought there.
Burgers and fries and Fanta at Rally's did a pretty good job of soothing the disappointment. In 3 years....when they "have grown a foot or two" (sing it!) and have gelled together as a team, they'll dominate. That's what we tell them.

Saturday...we finally got to have our family ski day. We'd planned it for a few weeks now, but what with one thing and another... and no snow! we had to wait. I always get nervous before we ski. I worry about everything, car wrecks on the icy roads, lost mittens... but the biggie, "Will I bite it really bad on the slopes today?" is in the forefront of my mind. It is always nice to get to the end of the day, still in one piece, the kids, with rosy cheeks, too tired to tease each other, and realize all was truly right in the world.
Brock made his skiing debut this weekend. We figured last year he'd rather spend the day with Gramma and Pop-pop than sit in the cold and snow. I was worried (again with the worrying!) that he'd get frustrated too easily, and sure enough after falling several times and having his skis pop off as he tried to figure out the tow rope on the turtle run. It came to tears rather quickly, so I did what any self respecting mom would do (right?), I signed him up for a 2 hour lesson. He won't cry for a perfect stranger. We peeked in after each run. No more tears. He did this really cute thing with his arms. They said to make a pizza shape with his skis... but he was having a hard time getting his feet apart and knees together so he'd stick his elbows in the air, like a puppet on a string or the scarecrow from wizard of oz with his wrists and hands dangling... It was like his arms and legs were connected and couldn't move independently.... knees together, elbows UP.

Caden decided he wanted to try snowboarding this year. While I was working with Brock, the big boys went to Bruin to try out the boards. After about the same amount of time and the same frustration level...Caden got a 2 hour lesson too. This is when the serious worrying sets in...(about me eating a face-ful of snow?..yes) and will my babies be okay without me....? thus the peeking after every run!

I have to say I had a really good time. I loved watching Tadhg snowboard. He makes it look sooooo easy. To have that carefree confidence! Beautiful. It was also nice to realize that I could keep up (and NOT fall down!) He wanted to progress to Eagle, but I convinced him that the "old folks" needed to work our way up, gain some confidence (and courage) before we tried out something steeper.

I tried getting some pictures of him "catching air"... I guess I missed the really great one.

That Brock boy!

2009-01-20T20:45:00.000-08:00

Brock will keep me posting with all the funny things he says....

Today, right before dinner:

Curtis: "Who knows what happened today?"

Boys all together: "We got a new President."

Brock: "Yeah, it's Barackobama." (all one word and really fast)

Me: "Yes, it's Barack Obama."

Tadhg: "Not Brock Obama"

Brock: "Yeah, Barack" (totally sounds like Brock to me)

Tadhg: "Brock, you're the President?"

Brock: "No, I can't be President...I'm not brown."

more random conversations

2009-01-15T17:19:00.001-08:00

A while ago:

(set the scene) Tadhg eating his after school snack. His mouth stuffed full of food.

Tadhg: "Brock, do you like see food?" (we all know this joke, right?!)
Brock: (completely straight faced) "No, I don't like fish."

We all start laughing so hard, and Brock is staring at us wondering what was so funny. Obviously, he didn't understand the joke, and the best part....It totally took the wind out of Tadhg's sail! Couldn't finish!

Yesterday:

For Christmas all the boys got MP3 players.

Brock: "Momma, do you know why I put the headphones in my ears? It's so my heart can hear the music."

2009-01-13T21:17:00.000-08:00

I dodged the bullet! No jury duty for me! Yeah. I had to call back twice, but my services were no longer required. Yipee. I would have been bummed if I had to miss the Library tomorrow.
Started a kick-boxing class today. Let's just say I am not very coordinated. I did manage to make it through the whole class without kicking another person though. That's a good thing. Right? I realized I am a wimpy girl when she wanted us to do push-ups (girl ones with knees down, ankles crossed) after the first set of 16 I was feeling pretty proud that I hadn't wimped out, then she asks for 12 more then 8 more then mini pulses!!!! UGHHH.
Had a day in town with Brock yesterday, taking him to the dentist and running errands. Reminded me of when he was my shopping buddy, before he started school. He was so easy to hang around with. He talks a lot more now... :) Mr. Question boy. "Momma, how does this work?" He thinks I'm magic. That's an incredible feeling.
Wish all life was that easy, everyone so willing to see the best. Wish I could bottle this time. He is so sweet....except when he's mad at me. Then he draws a picture of me... in jail! :) Whatever!! Still love him.

I am trying to teach Tadhg about CHOICES. Not an easy task. I'm sure he hears and understands where I'm coming from, but...not sure it's really sinking in. "What do you want in life?" "Will that make you happy?" "Are you sure that is the best choice?" "Will that get you in trouble?" We are trying to find his "pause button" so maybe he can think before he acts. He is so smart and funny and can be quite charming when he wants to. Maybe that's why I love him so much, I can see what is inside. Wish I knew how to help him realize that HE is in control.

Quiet? Sunday Evening

2009-01-11T19:02:00.000-08:00

It is a tradition in our house to have "quiet time" after church on Sundays and I look forward to it all week. I was worried that with the new year we'd get a new church schedule, and it would "infringe" on my quiet Sunday afternoons. We did get a new schedule, but YEAH it is better than ever. Now, we get to sleep in another hour in the morning and get our quiet afternoon! Except for today. But that was partly my fault. The boys did their time (and that is how they look at it....doing time!) but I never got mine, so it is now after dinner and because they had a rest they are bouncing off the walls! So NOT quiet now. As I was trying to cook dinner it was so chaotic I made them put on sweatshirts and flip flops and go jump on the trampoline until I was finished.

You've got to love dinner conversation. My boys come up with some pretty interesting topics and Brock, wanting to put in his 2 cents worth, says, "MOM, mom, MOM, mom" I look at him and say, "What Brock?" and he looks at me, then his face screws up and you can tell that he's thinking hard, (I'm not entirely sure if he forgot what he wanted to say or if he just wanted to be part of the conversation) and then says, kind of quiet, "never mind." It's so hard for a little (I use that word facetiously!) guy to get heard! Anyway....tonight, for some reason the topic was "man points". I know that some of you know about "man points" and some of you don't so here is a brief description. [With three boys in our house and no girls ( I really wouldn't know what to do with one!) we had to come up with a way to help them deal with disappointment, or fears or hurt feelings, injuries... whatever, so Curtis came up with "man points"] Keep in mind that these are young boys and originally it started out as a joke, but has taken on a life of it's own! Curtis likes to dare, and bet and basically tease... he frequently challenges the boys to do something that they would probably not normally do on their own. Things that now fall into the "manly" category. If you accept the challenge and do... whatever it is you get "man points". In order to earn man points you have to have a "man card". You have to really step up to get a "man card", for Brock it was riding California Screamin' roller coaster at California Adventure when he was just barely 6. For Caden it was jumping off a roof (don't freak out... it was into Curtis' arms and only a few feet at that! after he retrieved a ball) he is afraid of heights. I think Tadhg had to ride Malibu-mer, or something. If they do something exemplary, or handle a situation in a mature manner, or try something outside their comfort zone, they get a man point. (Tadhg got a man point for asking a girl to dance at his school dance... a slow song!) Well, they LOVE getting "man points" and tonight it came up after they had to walk to the trampoline IN THE DARK!!! Of course, and especially with Tadhg, it becomes a competition as to who has the most "man points". He threw out some ridiculous number like 42 and all heck broke loose! So we decided that with the new year the slate was wiped clean. Everyone starts at zero, but they still have their "man cards". So now, they are trying to think of things that they have done since Jan 1 that would get them some points on their card (actual physical cards and points don't exist, mind you!) So, Tadhg decided that he deserved a point for passing the sacrament at church today(very manly, indeed). Caden tried to talk us into awarding one for good behavior in Sunday school, but there was no way to prove it one way or the other :0! Curtis earned one for accepting the call to the Elders Quorum Presidency, and Brock told us that last year he had earned some for getting Hawk Awards and was sure he'd get another soon. After a few minutes of this they all look at me and say, "Mom needs 'woman points'!" I had to laugh. What, exactly, would I have to do to get woman points?? Crying at a movie? Get out a tough laundry stain? Not burn dinner? LOL! But it was nice of them to think of me. Oh, and if you are caught not being manly (being a pansy, or acting like a baby) there's the chance you could LOSE a point. [Brock informed me a month or so ago that he could NOT go see the new Tinkerbell movie because it would make him lose man points! but, if I wanted him to go with me, really bad, it would be okay! Funny boy.]

Saturday I got up early (oh my!) and went to the church in Oakhurst for a Merit Badge Clinic for the Boys Scouts. I was asked to be the Merit Badge Councilor for Genealogy. (I don't understand how scouting works...it's like a foreign language to me, with all the rules and special ways you have to do things, but...) I had about 6 boys show up, including Tadhg, and we went over what they needed to know in order to earn this badge. At one point I looked at these boys and saw the glazed looks on their faces and realized that I had become "that" person. You know, the one who bores you senseless with their enthusiasm for something you think is totally un-interesting! I had to laugh AND then make them promise that they wouldn't just throw away the time lines and interviews that they had to do for this badge, but give it to their moms. Try explaining to a bunch of 12 - 15 year old boys why, 60 years from now, their grand kids will think this piece of paper would seem cool! I KNOW they think I'm crazy :) After I had taught my classes I was sitting and waiting for Tadhg to be done and was talking to our new Bishop. He asked if I would be willing to continue in cub scouts, (everyone was released last week when they re-combined the 2 mountain wards) but this time as the Den Leader, not just the assistant. Panic washed over me. I am fine to help, but be IN charge! Plan! **Cause for stress** So, I run some errands in Oakhurst, one of which was to give blood at the Elks Lodge and come home. Maybe it was the combo of being a pint low and all that adrenaline from stress, but I felt like CRAP. And my mood wasn't much better. This *** is when I realize how thankful I am for good friends who, in talking with them, help me "get over my bad self". Thanks, you know who you are... I decided that I probably needed an attitude adjustment, it is not as bleak as it seems...a laugh, a smile and the world is right again. Thank goodness! How does that saying go?? Fake it, till you make it? Maybe I'll be a good Den Leader after all.

random conversation from Sunday dinner...

2009-01-05T22:17:00.000-08:00

Brock: "I was at the hospital when mom bought me."

Tadhg: "Yeah, you cost two dollars and fifty cents."

Curtis: with eyebrows raised, "Buying children?"

Me: "..walking up and down the aisles, looking at the babies, 'Nope, don't want that one, it cries too much!' moving along...

Gramma: "oh look, a redhead, let's take him!"

Brock smiles.

and to finish the update...

2009-01-04T22:01:00.000-08:00

Sorry had to take a break. Dinner with Pop-Pop and Gramma. Let's see... I got mostly through the boys, now....me!
It seems like I have been running non-stop (mostly in the "like a chicken with my head cut off" fashion) and this Christmas break has been a good break. Honestly, when it takes me months to finish a book you know I've been busy. I read two in the last week **contented sigh***.
Like I said, I have been working at school, volunteering in Brock's class. I started working on Mondays, then Thursdays and now it is Fridays. I love working in my kids' classes. {I've been to Kindergarten for 3 years!!!(and loved every one!)} I get a resounding "Good Morning Mrs. Flynn" when I walk in (the first few times I had to look over my shoulder, wondering where the heck Curtis' mother was??!!) followed by lots of hugs. Sometimes I think that the other kids are more excited to see me than my own, but hugs are great no matter where they come from. (Plus, this is where I get girl time..."Mrs. Flynn, can you put this bow back in my hair? This is a new jacket, do you like it? I got glitter nail polish!" Can't get that at home!) I usually get drug to the carpet and sat on (in a good way) by at least 3 kids, my own front and center if he can manage. I love it when Mr. Elliot gets out the guitar and they sing, that is so neat. Brock is always astounded when I know the words to one of the songs, (like Mr. Elliot made them all up!)
On Wednesdays I haul myself to Oakhurst to work in the Family History Library. When it is slow I work on finding my own ancestors. It has now become my mission (more like Mission Impossible... *deep voice* "your mission should you choose to accept it...") to hunt down O'Kelleys, Mortons, Wages, and Coats from here to Canada and back. I hound my Gran mercilessly during Sunday dinners for names and dates. I will find these people, I will!!! I think they are hiding on purpose... Never-the-less...I will prevail! But, I have found that I must limit myself to Wednesdays at the library or hours and hours will fly by and no one gets any dinner.
Wednesdays are also Cub Scout days, and I have been the assistant den leader for Caden's pack. Trying to get a roomful of boys to stay on task for more than 2 minutes is a joke, but a couple of Excedrin and the mantra "It's only for an hour and a half" has gotten me through since September.
Around October-ish, I started working part time for my friends, who own a Christmas type business. It was nice to get out, some adult conversation, a little pocket money...but it did make me think longingly of those rose tinted hours to fill as I pleased. Lucky for them, the lousy economy didn't affect their orders, (they said I was the lucky charm... I'd work and they'd get more orders!) What started as 1 day became a week, then every spare minute up to Christmas break. It's kind of nice to be needed.
Of course, there is the regular, at home stuff that fills up the after school hours. I have found that I am much better at Algebra at 35 than I was at 16, but it normally takes me just as long to check the homework as it takes them to do it. (except, I get x3!... but Brock's is pretty easy.)
Tadhg tells me that I am the "fun nazi" and I have earned quite a reputation with their little friends, who's parents have started limiting xbox time after finding out about 'our' house rules. But, we still seem to have more than a few extra boys around the house and my boys don't seem too down-trodden...it's amazing how they'll get up at the crack of dawn on a Saturday to play xbox, but can't drag themselves up for school!!!
There are still a few home projects left to finish (the list grows, but rarely shrinks) on the remodel/conversion and I get to them as I can. But it has been nice to take the last year off, sort of, ...at least I'm not making weekly trips to Lowes and tripping over power tools.
I had taken a break from my digi-scrappin' and never did finish my last class, once school started. I felt kind of rusty, but had to kick it into high gear to get the Christmas Calendars out. Felt a lot like college, pulling all-nighters to meet that deadline (that I procrastinated) Still didn't get there in time! I made 2 versions this year, a wall calendar and a cd size ( cuz my momma asked me nicely!) I'll post some when I get around to it. Despite the frantic, 'didn't I take more pictures? where are those pictures?' I really enjoy doing my scrapbooking *note to self... take more pictures*. I hadn't printed any off, just looked at them on the computer screen, before I printed out the calendars. I was pleasantly surprised. I was afraid they'd look funky or cheesy. I guess I'm a tactile person and I like to touch the paper layers and the fun things that pop off the page, but these were okay. I'll probably do both or a combination (hybrid scrapping, yes, there is a name for my sickness!) once again, if/when I get around to it.
I have been sooo good about keeping up with my blog that I decided to join facebook, too! Like I need another thing I feel compelled to do each day! I have heard that it becomes quite addictive (like I need another addiction!) maybe, between the two I can keep in touch with family and friends and feel connected, even if it is that nebulous, floating out there in 'computer space' kind of connection. Hey, I've had more positive communication with Tadhg on my facebook wall than in real life for the last 4 days.
Tomorrow starts real life again, and that's not necessarily a bad thing, sometimes it's pretty great. We'll see how I do, I'll try to keep you posted....

2009-01-04T15:34:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! So, okay I'm only 4 days late, but that is about par for this girl's life... I know, I know there has been nothing here for the last 4 months, (or more) what can I say. I'm a busy girl, lots to do. Much more than I thought. I had these rose colored ideas of all this free time I'd have once school started. I wasn't really sure what I'd do during that glorious ME time, but it was coming, I knew it was... It's a good thing I wasn't specific, because not much *free* time was forth coming.
School started like a whirlwind. Brock was thrilled to be back, and for the entire day too! The other two, not so much. I did get the required first day of school pictures, but little else went as planned. There were some teacher/ class assignment issues that had me stressing for...oh, probably the first whole month of school! And I learned a very important lesson (good to know that I CAN still learn :)!!) which was...sometimes I DON'T always know what is best for my kids. Needless to say, the sun still rose and set and life did go on.
Brock ended up in just the exactly "right" place for him. His teacher, Mr. Elliott, is no nonsense and expects a lot out of these 1st graders, and you know what? They can.. and do.
Brock (gotta love that boy!) gave Mr. Elliott and I a run that first month. I have some friends who would ask me "So, what did Brock DO today? I know there has to be a story here!" and then they'd laugh and laugh when I told them about his 'exploits' (no pun intended, but there could have been...) It was one of those situations where you can laugh or you can cry, and they helped me to laugh. Thanks for that!
I had planned to work in class this year...and I got to, sometimes multiple days a week. I know Mr. Elliott was grateful and I really do love to be there. Once the lines were firmly drawn and all the rules fully explained (and a few privileges lost, for a few weeks in a row!) Brock excelled. He loves praise and in October was able to get his first ever Hawk Award! He was so proud, and he told me that now he knew 'how' to get one he'd get lots.
Caden, that little trooper, is so easy going...and forgiving. He just goes with the flow and doesn't complain, even when it's not exactly what he wants (hmmm... lesson there too?) He's been holding out on us! He got a gold honor role the first quarter without even breaking a sweat. He spends his free time reading the encyclopedia (not a joke!) and learning interesting facts about whatever has caught his fancy that day. Can I just tell you I love, LOVE going to parent-teacher conferences for this kid!! He was part of the science club after school and looked forward to each meeting so they could "blow things up!" I must have washed 4 copies of the periodic table, and he'd get a new one, to 'keep in his pocket'.
Tadhg demonstrated exactly how old I was this year by having the nerve to be in the **7th*** grade! You can NOT have a kid in 7th grade and be young. So, I guess I'm OLD. He loves Jr. High. He came home that first week and said, "Mom, school goes by sooo fast now!" He likes having different teachers and classes. He always has been 'on the go', now school can keep up with him! His parent teacher conference was really great. I did have to stop his home room teacher once, just to make sure, that she had the right parent or child.? She said he was a model student! (Yeah, that's where I had to verify..) I made the mistake of bragging to my mom and he found out. Apparently, he doesn't LIKE being a model student! Can you say contrary? Skiing starts this quarter so I'm sure all will be sorted out. He won't want to lose eligibility...come on, skiing or snowboarding every Friday or--- sitting in class...Hmmm.. He's played on the school flag football and basketball teams (he shoots an awesome 3 pointer} and **Yeah** had a growth spurt. He's getting closer to looking me in the eye, and catching up with his friends. I've had to buy new jeans because of his green bean legs. Oh, and he is wicked awesome.

2008-08-03T21:20:00.000-07:00

2008-07-31T21:40:00.000-07:00

What a month. It sure has been crazy.
Soon after my last post I went to Burbank and picked up my sister for her yearly summer visit. We decided that she has been visiting me now for 8 years. Cool. It has become kind of a tradition.
As a family we took a drive up to Yosemite. We decided to check out Glacier Point, as we had never been up that way. The farthest we had ever gone that way was to Badger Pass, and that was in the winter, when the roads are covered in snow. We stopped at the turn and discovered that there is a little restroom there. I have pictures of the boys playing on this huge mound of snow while we were waiting for Curt to put on the snow chains. Apparently, they were on top of this little building when it was burried. Funny. The drive was really nice getting there and we were super surprised when we got to Glacier Point. What a view!! I can't believe that we had never explored there before! Normally we just blow through the park on our way to Utah, or we take visitors to the valley, so we had been missing out. At our first stop we saw a squirrel who was very forward. He was able to con the boys out of a few almonds. We think he ate the first 2 then stuffed the rest into his cheeks!

We were there right at the end of the fires, so there was still quite a bit of smoke hanging in the air, but we were still mesmerized by the waterfalls and the eye-level view of Half Dome. We stood there for a few minutes tracing the trail as far as we could follow it up from the valley floor over two waterfalls to the back side of Half Dome. Camille and I and Curt tossed around the idea of hiking it in October when it cools down a little. Hmm...
I had a mini photo shoot at the old rock "house" on the way to the look out. It just looked like such a happy, safe place. From the top we could see the valley far below. I was drawn to the tiny little tubes floating down the river, and wished that we had brought our suits so we could float too. As we were heading to the gift shop I saw a trail marker that looked interesting. Turns out it was a trail that after 4.6 miles straight down would dump you on the valley floor! Well... sounded like fun to me. Curt and Brock opted to drive the truck down to pick us up (good thing too, because I didn't want to walk back up!) and Camille, Tadhg, Caden and I went on our hike. We got a few funny looks from people who were coming in the opposite direction and even had a lady tell us that we should probably turn back at the vista point after she saw our footwear. True... we were completely unprepared for hiking. Camille and I both were wearing flip flops. I was carrying what amounted to a large purse, but we had waters for each of us and some snacks, so... The hike was really not hard. I was surprised to find that at one point the trail had been paved. Every once and a while you would be walking on big patches of asphalt. Tadhg was the official photographer for the hike, and he had us stop a few times so he could take some pictures.

When we we were sure we had passed the half way mark we thought we saw the "teal monster" parked way down below by the road. Curt & Brock had found the end of the trail and decided to start up and meet us. Brock was a little trooper, he probably hiked over a mile! (with no complaints!) I don't know about anyone else, but by the time we got to the bottom my legs were like jello. It was almost 5 miles down! Camille and I took pictures of our feet, which were covered in dirt, as proof of our adventure.
It was really nice to cool off and wash off our feet in the river. Tadhg & Brock took it one step further and got completely wet, which was fun until they had to ride home in wet jeans!

We spent the remainder of Camille's visit hanging at home, playing card games and swimming. I spent way more time than I wanted fighting with my computer, which had lost it's wireless capabilities...somehow? (probably my fault, poking buttons I shouldn't!)I made Camille pose for me so I could do my photography lesson on manual settings.

Friday, the 19, Camille and I headed to Palmdale to visit with Spencer and Tricia and Riley before she went home. We all met up at Auntie P's house and Camille & I stayed there that night. Riley is a cutie and everything that a 1 year old baby should be. I sat there watching him constantly on the go, and poor Tricia chasing after him averting danger left, right and center and realized that I had FORGOTTEN how much work that keeping up with a baby was. I remembered being so tired. I remembered thinking that it was too much work to leave the house, especially to visit someone else who's house was not completely baby proof. I remember always having to be shadowing those boys, lest they get into trouble or break something or hurt themselves. People would ask me how I was so skinny after having my kids and I'd tell them that I had to keep up with my boys. They'd look at me and think I was joking, but after watching Tricia (and doing it myself, 3 times!) I know it's true. Maybe our boys are more active? Who knows, but Tricia... I feel your pain.
I took Camille to the airport again on Saturday and was hoping that this wasn't going to be the last of the "Sisters summer visits". One say she'll have a husband who probably WON'T want to come hang at my house for 10 days. Bummer.
Home again, and I had not realized that the summer was flying by. Monday, the 21st, Caden & Brock went in for their pre-op appointment and Tuesday they both had their tonsils out. I realize that there is never going to be a convenient time for any surgery, but summer seemed good to me. You don't have to go anywhere, could sleep in(Ha!) The boys did great. I was super impressed with their doctor and the surgery center & nurses. It is obvious they have done this many times and know what is going on. They anticipated every question and had some great advice for a happy, speedy recovery. Now... 10 days past surgery, neither boy has felt any pain. At all! I was told a trick, by the nurse, to give a half dose of pain medicine every 2 hours instead of a whole dose every 4. For me, getting up every 2 hours 24/7 for 10 days, that kind of stunk, but for them....no pain. Perfect. They have had 10 days of pampering, popsicles, pudding, ice cream, sleep and video games. Nice. Oh, and their freakishly large tonsils....Gone.

After, eating a popscicle.

So obviously, I don't really think stuff out very well, because I decided to take on several things during this time that probably could have waited, but no....I can't say NO, so...
I helped Chris with a scrapbook for her parent's 60th wedding anniversary. 27 digital scrapbook pages later, she is in Wisconsin and I hope the album is what she wanted. 60 years is quite something, and she does so much for our little family.
I also took on another digi scrap class that started this last Monday. Ugh! I really want to do it. Really. But I'm having a hard time getting motivated (and staying awake!) I still haven't even finished my last digi scrap class and the photography class still has 2 more weeks to go. Good thing I'm not getting graded!

My first Digi-in-Deep lesson assignment.
This new class is really intense, with an in depth assignment every day, so I'm fairly behind and the first week isn't even over yet, but what I have done is really cool. Must be ready for the October class, which I will get to take with my MOM! Yeah!
Back to work... my indoor lighting photography assignment, no flash just using available lighting and adjusting ISO, aperture, and white balancing.

oops! I forgot my monday lesson page.

2008-07-05T23:30:00.001-07:00

I scrolled down my blog page and noticed that I was missing something! I forgot to load my Monday lesson page.
Another cruise pic. Grenada was midway through the cruise, and it was the closest to what I thought a Caribbean island was supposed to be like. The first few were okay foliage-wise, but Grenada was LUSH. The tangles of vines and flowers and trees everywhere. A mass of green. Interesting that these islands could be so different. Bonaire was desolate! Hmm.
The lady with the flower headdress was really mad at us.(faded photo in bottom left corner) As our taxi was driving away I saw her up ahead in the road. I handed my camera to Jeff and said, "stick this out the window and get her picture." Surprisingly, it turned out. But she was mad at us. I guess they want to get paid for having their pictures taken and as we were speeding away at the time....Oops. Sorry.

another late night

2008-07-05T23:00:00.000-07:00

Here I am and it's 11 at night and I'm still at it. I just finished uploading my assignments for my JS classes.
I finally got some alone time today. I haven't had 5 minutes I could call my own since school got out. I think I was getting a little(well, maybe a bit more) CRANKY! I was able to "wander aimlessly" through Target and a few other stores, without having anyone ask when we were going to be done, or telling me that they had to go to the bathroom or that someone had just poked, teased, looked at(you pick one!)...them:D Now I feel better. Oh, and I had some Harry therapy on the way down and back. (see page below)
Now I am sitting in my office rockin' out while I blog. A much better day.

We went to the fireworks last night at Buchanan High School. We met up with Gramma, Pop-pop, great Gran, Sean and Yasha. The boys took a football to toss while we waited and I was happy to snap semi-candid pics of anyone I could train the lens on.

I tried my hand at photographing fireworks for my class. Not as easy as it looks. But I found out after I got back home and uploaded the pictures that in the dark I had accidentally set my camera to timer, so there was a 6 second delay before the shutter clicked. DUH! Here were the best.

And a picture of the moon at sunset while we were waiting.

Okay, now for the nerdy little secret.... Yup... that was the Saturday 30 minute challenge. To scrap that little addiction that would make me a BIG nerd. Actually I have several, but I'll only divulge one today!:D

I've had a "thing" with Harry for several years. He's always there for me, to keep me company.. while I drive, sew, scrap and to fill my hours as I flip pages or discs. As I was working on this page Tadhg came in and was teasing me about my "nerdy" secret. He read, "I love Harry" and asked, "Do you love him more than dad?" I laughed, "No" Funny Boy! *(but I think we might get along better! Harry never disagrees with me and when I'm done with him I turn him off.)

happy fourth of July!

2008-07-04T11:37:00.000-07:00

I jumped out of bed today and put up our flag! Normally I totally forget, but this year I had homework to do.
I started a digital photography class on Monday and I needed to take a picture of what "freedom" means to me. That was tough at first, but then I thought of our Flag. So, I put out the flag and snapped away.

About 60 pictures later, I found one I liked. Can I just say how great it is to have a digital camera, where I CAN take 60 photos to get the ONE I want. Then delete the rest!:D

Spent about 8 hours online yesterday looking for family history stuff. I started to get really frustrated, after looking for HOURS and not finding anything. I finally came across a website for Cleveland County Arkansas that had marriage indexes and obituaries, where I found 3 marriages and 1 Obit. Glad I found something, but...8 hours!!!!

I had a challenge to make a page about "this makes me happy" for my digi-scrap class. I thought about a lot of things that make me happy, like chocolate and fabric, and colors and sleep..books and swimming. I could go on and on, but I decided on my boys. DO they make me happy....yes. Do they also make me crazy? absolutely! Frustrated, yup. But they do make me happy, when they are sweet and loving and cooperative. There are moments.:D

last day in June

2008-06-30T14:03:00.000-07:00

Here it is... the last day in June, already!!! I hate it when summer speeds by. We've been keeping busy around here.
The boys have had friends over right, left and center. Somedays I'm up by one (or two) and on others I'm down a boy. For the most part it has been really nice. Every once in a while though I'll notice that there has been too much of a good thing and at least one boy is cranky and over tired. We swim most days, took in the "free" kid movie in Fresno and took a trip to Hobby Town. The boys each picked out a model to build. I got Brock a snap together model, thinking he wouldn't be up for the intricate small pieces and gluing (yeah! I found non-toxic, non smelly model glue!) He surprised me with his ability to follow picture directions. I hardly needed to help at all. The other boys needed a little more help. Directions for building models is seriously lacking... I even had a hard time determining what goes where and when. Oh and that non toxic glue, doesn't work all that great, you spend a LONG time holding the pieces together waiting for it to set up! But I guess that is better than killing brain cells!
I've been trying to keep up on my digital class. I find that some days I just can't be motivated to crank out the pages. I'll get distracted, or frustrated, or just don't have any creative juices flowing. I've put off a couple of assignments for a few days and I guess that is okay.
I finally got a new calling. Yep....it's in cub scouts. I think I had a premonition that it would be. I am just relieved that it is only the den leader call, although what that is exactly I do not know. Just as long as it is me "helping" Allison I think I'll be okay. When the Bishop asked for a sustaining vote this last Sunday he ribbed be about my own half-heartedly raised hand :D
I also got some training for my Family History Consultant calling. I guess that in the last year a newFamily Search went online. I came home and decided to try it out.
Not sure what to think. It's not easy to add in your information and with a not-so-fast computer I spent more than half the time just waiting for a new page to load or update! I also found out that I am apparently not the only one working on my family line, bummer... Ah well.

To the pages....this is what I have done since my last post:
Last Saturday's 30 minute challenge.

I did not like being timed! It stressed me out. I hit the 30 minute mark and my journaling was still not finished, so I restarted the timer and went another 15 minutes. I was having sticky mouse issues and I could not get things to move where I wanted them, then they'd stick and be messed up when I jiggled the mouse to get it to move again! UGH!!! Still wasn't happy with the page. It was "finished"...
technically, but I went back and fiddled with this and moved that and resized another for a bit longer.

Finally a page from our cruise. This was last Mondays lesson. I did the layout just like the lesson called for and HATED it! The paper was red and it clashed horribly. I talked to my mom and she said that it was alright to deviate.. so I did. I like it much better with different paper, colors, and fonts.

We really loved the forts in San Juan. It was incredible to me that they could have built something this complicated and huge and well thought out over 500 years ago. I guess when you think about it there are loads of examples of incredible architecture all over the world that is centuries old, I've just never been able to see them before to truly appreciate it. (but boy would I love to see more!)
You could see where they had made channels along the walls to divert and store fresh rain water, holes to bring in fresh air and as ports to "hear" if enemies were approaching, tracks for the massive cannons to pivot on, walls that were over 30 feet thick. All made of lava rock and then covered in plaster to make it pretty. I was drawn to the turrets. There were several that just hung out there, with slit windows. Amazing.

This was the 6/25 challenge, to use 2 carnival papers, journal strips and one idea from the 100 in 10 list.
I think that Caden took this picture on Mother's day this year. What a sweet boy.

caden is 9!

2008-06-19T12:36:00.000-07:00

My babies are growing up :( It doesn't really sink in for me until I look at pictures of them as babies, then see what they are now. The daily change is so gradual...makes me kinda sad that they don't fit on my lap anymore and they won't let me cover them in kisses because they taste so good.
And this little man!!! Less and less of the baby, more of the manly man, leg hair and all!
We had a little family party on his official birthday, he informed me that his birthday was rescheduled/ postponed. Caden is my choco-boy, super chocolate cake which had to have ice cream to tone it down. He's looking forward to his friend party on Saturday. He called and invited everyone,(so grown up) even GIRLS!. He's so good about that, he's not afraid to be friends with the girls. Had to give him man points for that.

My mid week challenge for the Now we're rockin' class was to choose 2 concepts from the first lesson and make a new page. I wanted to try my hand at recoloring again, and chickened out on the suggestion of doing a page about me... so birthday boy got the honor. The page took forever to complete, or so it seemed. Still not comfortable with all the commands and menus and hot keys. But it is enjoyable, so I don't mind putting in the time.

summer

2008-06-17T23:05:00.000-07:00

It's finally here! Whoo-hoo! Bring it on. I love it when school is out, sleeping in, swimming every day, long days, hours and hours for projects. This summer should be a good one. I'm taking a new digi class. Started yesterday (Monday). I love getting into the lessons and "growing" my skills.
I finally finished painting my pantry cupboards (thanks dad, couldn't have done it without you!)Just a little touch up and a counter top and we are DONE! (with that project:D)
Brock congraduated (his word) from kindergarten last Wednesday. Funny boy, he was so excited. He was seated in the last row in the middle section and he kept popping up sporadically during the "ceremony" to wave and see if I was taking pictures. He reminded me a few times leading up to the big day that I needed to take A picture of him and then load it up on the computer. I assured him that I would take at least one! He's a big first grader now.

The boys went to cub scout camp today and then again tomorrow. Brock feels all grown up, because he was included this year too. Mr. Tadhg got to go as a counselor. They have all had summer play dates, with lots of friends. Keep them busy and they won't fight.XXX(that's me with my fingers crossed!)
I am fairly unpopular around here now though. After a Wednesday afternoon to Sunday x-box marathon,with subsequent brain rotting, I instituted a 2 hour rule. Each boy is allowed 2 hours x-box/gamecube/computer time each day. I had to amend almost immediately that if there was any arguing with me about that rule that an additional 5 minutes would disappear for each complaint. They have tried to avoid me (and home) since. We'll see if they can get creative with their time.
I had an interesting experience today. I ran a quick errand with a friends daughter(age 15) after I dropped the boys off at day camp. I was talking to the recycle guy (we see each other monthly, and chat, as I recycle) and he asked if Kellie was my daughter. I answered, "Nooo! She's just a girl friend", then the thought hits me.....She could be! Wow, that was weird. Ouch, I'm OLD!!! Then I think of Tadhg starting 7th grade in the fall. Kinda hard to wrap my head around that one too.
Was IM-ing with my mom today as we both worked on our computer related projects. Talking about what was going on in our lives, sharing ideas, funny bits and pictures as needed. I was telling her how I had gotten sucked into a big party for Caden's birthday. (9, oh my!) I told her that he had found an invitation left over from last year, and brought it to me and stated that he wanted invitations just like that this year. I said, "what makes you think you are getting a party?" He looks at me... with his big Gromit eyes, and ...now there's a party. When I mentioned Gromit eyes she brought up the little reach he would do opening and closing his hands when he wanted to be picked up. It always worked. She dug around and found a picture of him doing that reach. Melt my heart! What a sweet baby. Where did he go? those eyes and his little "up" hands.

I got a late start for my first assignment, with painting the cupboards so I sat down today to get busy. I had a really hard time deciding on a picture for the layout. It needed to be horizontal with a part that could be recolored after the rest of the picture was sepia tinted. Everything I came across didn't lend itself to the sepia tinting. Too much going on, not enough contrast, etc. I finally found this photo of the b-day boy from last summers trip to Idaho. It would work. It took the better part of the day, between computer problems, IM-ing and other distractions to get it done. The lesson called for a brush that was no longer available, so I tried a few, but didn't like the results. Mom came to the rescue with a more masculine foliage brush. After a few false starts I found 2 that I liked. After I put them in where I thought they'd fit on the photo I looked at what I'd done. It was interesting that the brush by Caden was young grass and the brush by Dave was an old oak. An analogy perhaps... Whatever it was it, seemed serendipitous.

tug

2008-06-03T15:34:00.000-07:00

Your patience has been rewarded. I said I'd maybe post the 3 panel storyboard and
Taa Daaa.... here it is. I started it yesterday, then had to begin again when my computer unexpectedly shut down!?@*, but the second time around went much faster. I put the finishing touches on today and here it is.

Not much new since my last post. No calling yet, but that's cool, a longer break.
One week of school to go! Then I get to sleep in :D

funny

2008-05-31T19:26:00.000-07:00

As I was previewing my post I noticed that my background looks almost exactly like my new shelf paper. I'm apparently seeing spots everywhere. The same spots!

life

2008-05-31T18:46:00.000-07:00

It's been an interesting week and a half. Let's just say that shortly after I posted last I got sick. Ugh. Never a good thing. I was laid out for 4 days, and over a holiday weekend, too. I guess it was my turn, as the boys had all had the stomach flu over the past 2 weeks. I thought with my super (somewhat OCD) hand washing that I'd be able to bypass this one, but alas....
As movement was out of the question, I spent the 4 days (three days longer than any of them!!!) in bed READING! Of course.
I took the opportunity to read Stephenie Meyer's new book The Host. It was pretty good. Didn't like it as much as I liked the Twilight series, or maybe it was just me being sick?
It rained the whole weekend, which was a bummer. Not because I don't like rain, quite the opposite really. I was bummed that I didn't get to enjoy it. I'd have loved to have sat out in it. As it was I had to be happy with smelling that fresh, wet scent through my window and hear the patter against the roof. I'm hoping that wasn't the last we'll get for the summer (months and months of hot summer!)
By Tuesday I was raring to go. Being cooped up doesn't suit. I got busy with putting down shelf paper in my semi-new cupboards. Took me until this morning to get them all done. 16 cupboards, 43 shelves, didn't realize it was that much.... got some cute blue and brown polka dot contact paper. Now I just need to finish painting them. That is the 95% rule in effect there. Just about everything in this house is 95% done. It's that last danged 5%!(did I mention that I ran out of paper with one shelf left!!! That's 95%!) Ahhh well.
The weather this week has been blissfully cool. I think the warmest it got was about 82, but mostly in the low 70's. Gotta love it, cuz it won't last, but a girl can hope.
I've finally convinced Brock that it's ok to walk home now. It used to be that he'd complain the whole way about how long it took and why couldn't I drive. But just Thursday he told me that it was healthy to walk and it saved gas (yeah, he listens!)
I just about had a coronary when I had to fill up the suburban on Wednesday for $4.06 a gallon! ($4.06 x 42 gallon tank = no college fund for the boys!)Will it never end??

I got released on Sunday from the Stake Primary. That was a pleasant surprise. I really loved the calling the first year, but this year was going to require more public speaking and I don't like that, thus the pleasant, but we weren't in for even 2 years, that was the surprise. Hmm... won't think that one too much. Bishop is giving me a short break, we'll let you know tomorrow if its up yet.

I took about an hour today and did a page for the Sprague Challenge (went back to may week 2) Never done a challenge before and posted it. Was I supposed to incorporate all the colors from the swatch??? Well I didn't, but here it is, and it got me to post again so....

I took this picture on Tadhg's field trip to Hearst Castle. Can I say again how much I love the beach! maybe I'll try the 3 panel storyboard photoshop friday lesson from May 2nd for the seaweed? watch for it!

Whew!

2008-05-21T22:35:00.000-07:00

Whew! O.K. apparently I do not blog unless I scrapbook. Good to know. A connection. Life has been hectic since we got back from our vacation. It was great, glad we went... more on that as I get to my pages. Believe me you'll probably hear about it way more than you want to!:D

I finally found an afternoon to document a "Brock" moment. I wish that I did this a little bit more (alright a lot bit more, and not just for Brock, but for all the boys). Sometimes the things that they do or say are just so darn cute or funny...you know!??
So this was one of his latest.

Completely unrelated to my boys, I finally got some "Bek" time. Well, I took it, whether I should have or not. I got a Sony Reader for Mother's Day. (Great present by the way, do they know me or what!!) I was really excited about the $50 credit and then completely stoked when I learned that I could get 100 free (FREE!!!) classics, my favorite. So can you guess what I've been doing....Yup, reading, ALOT! It is officially a sickness, I get into a book and it is very difficult to get me out. I carried that ebook all over. I read while I did my hair, vacuumed the carpet, ate, you get the picture. What was I reading...OHHHhh, yeah.

So I need to back up just a little. I went to Utah for a long weekend to hang with my beautiful, amazing, cool sister, who is no longer a kid, but this incredible career woman (and R.S. Pres! Heehee) I went back for Women's Conference with my mom and my auntie Annie, (career woman had to work :( ) That, by the was was so great, glad I could escape.
As I was perusing Camille's book shelf, looking for new fun stuff to read I saw that she had some of the Twilight books. I'd heard about them from a girl I know (yup Kellie it's you!) and have heard they are good, but I'm not into Sci-Fi and definitely not vampires and werewolves. (Didn't really care about wizards and elves and all that before Harry either, so go figure, maybe I need to expand my horizons, hmmm) Well she, (my cool sis) said they were great as did Katie. Then she said that my mom had borrowed the first, but had yet to read it. So I get home and talk to my mom and she said that she had started Twilight and that it was good, so..... with my $50 I bought the series for my reader. Unfortunately, I had sick kids for a few days and I still needed to finish Mansfield Park, which I'd been reading off and on for a few weeks. Friday I started reading ....I could not put it down!!! I got sucked in so deep. What an amazing author. I can literally feel these character's emotions. I finished the first book on Saturday waited a few hours ( I was feeling guilty...) to start the second. I stayed up real late and read, then woke up and read some more. Had more sick kids, felt guilty again, but had to start book three on Monday. Finished them all on Tuesday. Now I'm anxiously waiting for book 4. Good Grief. Like I need another obsession. Ahh well. Love it though.
Found the web site today and OH goodie.... there's a movie. Whoo-hoo!! And a chapter for a book on Edward. Devoured it. Yup, good. Will be waiting for that one too. Is it crazy to be in love with a fictional vampire? (me and every other 14 year old girl out there!) That was me shaking my head in exasperation.
You know it is really bad when I am willing to stay up late (9 is my normal late!!!) to read, or in this case write, 11:06....insane!

puerto rico

2008-04-11T05:53:00.000-07:00

We arrived in Puerto Rico! Yeah! Our flight was long, and we'd been up for almost 40 hours straight, but we got here. We had this massively huge-muscled taxi driver with corn rows take us to our hotel. The drive was interesting.. and Curtis thought driving in L.A. was hairy!
Our hotel is a quaint little boutique place in Condado beach. I guess the area is going through revitalization. You can have a Gucci shop right next to a slummy mini mart, same with the hotels, etc. My first impression was....Scary! But after a local Puerto Rican dinner, sweet plantain stuffed with crab, (yummmmmmm!) we walked a bit and saw that in P.R. everyone is out. Either running, walking or just hanging out.
We felt much better about the area's safety so....
We stoped to look in a few other hotesl and found some cool ones. So far our favorite is La Conch, right across the street. The boys would have been in heaven. Way cool. We also stopped in at the Marriott, which as a hotel was not so cool, but they had all of these middle school kids playing the violin. Wow, were they good. Not only did they play they did dancing etc, while they played. Impressive, most impressive. Their shirts said Allegra string perfomance something... Wonder if they put out a cd?

vacation

2008-04-09T22:33:00.000-07:00

finally!

2008-04-06T15:10:00.000-07:00

I finally finished this challenge layout. I started it several days ago and just couldn't get it right. I set it aside and came back today and started over. The technique was for fading photos.

adventures with Tadhg

2008-04-04T09:07:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Tadhg and I had an adventure. I was able to go with him and the 6th grade classes on a field trip to Hearst Castle. I opted to drive, as opposed to riding the bus with 90 eleven and twelve year olds. Hmmm... hard choice. Tadhg decided to come with me and it was really nice. We stopped half way and got McDonald's breakfast. We had a nice drive. I got several "I love you"s and at one point he even reached over and patted my shoulder and played with my hair. He hasn't done that since he was a baby! Everything is really green right now and the mountains were spectacular. We say Morro Rock in the distance and the minute we came to the ocean both of us opened the windows as if on cue. Tahdg said, "You know what I love about the beach? The smell. I also like to play in the sand." That's my boy!
The tour of the castle was fun. It was a different tour than I had taken, oh 13 years ago, with Curtis and Gran on a CA visit during college. I took tons of pictures. Now I'll have to devise a page, or two. Tadhg was taking notes on what he saw that he wanted to duplicate at our house. Funny boy. I loved the pools and the grounds. I was surprised that he was so into the tour. He said we needed to come back with the whole family to take the other tours. Cool.
After the tour and the other kids were getting on the bus, Tadhg and I took off across the highway to W. R. Hearst state beach. You can't drive all that way and not play in the sand! The water was so clear and blue, not usual for California coast. It made me really excited for my beach vacation next week. Tadhg found all sorts of rocks on the beach that he said we just like the ones they were trying to sell at the gift shop. "They must come over here and get them, then shine them up." he said. He also found a ginormous piece of seaweed that had washed up. It was comical to watch him trying to drag it. With help he was able to budge it and then decided to set it free and tried to get it back out into the surf. The best part..."I'm really glad you chaparoned." Yeah!

long time been....

2008-04-02T15:42:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I last posted. Been busy with stuff. Little bit of scrapbooking, lots of other.

Finally, after about 3 years, we(Curtis and I) finished putting up the rock on the front of the house. It looks really nice now. One of about a dozen unfinished projects, done!

Cooked dinner last night. Amazing, I know. Found some recipes in BHG that looked good, Chicken thighs with artichokes and asparagus-leek risotto. Let's just say I made a big mess and burned the prosciutto and turned the risotto to mush. Caden informed me that the risotto was horrible and then Brock decided to agree and did the fake gag thing. Nice.

We went to the driving range to golf for family night. I had all of these grand ideas of taking some cool photos. I got down there with my nice camera, ready for business, except...Dun,dun,dun..no CF card. Bummer. No pictures.

Okay, to the scrapbooking...I spent almost all day yesterday on the phone with mom while I was working on this layout. We had fun working "together" 800 miles apart.

Brock was so funny this day. If you can read the journaling it kind of tells the story behind the pictures. I think it is so funny that Brock writes "letters" to tell you how he's feeling. Normally, it is a cute picture of him and me with a heart between us and then both of us circled. But as you can see here, when he is mad at you, you get crossed out! and there is definitely NO heart! Funny boy.

This other layout was my last lesson with Up & Running with Photoshop class. I have really enjoyed the last month of classes and I can't wait to take the next class in June.

I have found that I am seriously lacking in the picture department recently. I have mostly had to scrap from 2006. UGH! I need to get back behind that camera lens. I had to dig way back for this picture of Curt & I. 16 freakin' years! :P
who are those people anyway? I hardly recognize them!

This last layout was our Wednesday challenge, making a comic book-esque photo block. It was one of those pages that you just do. Not really excited about how it turned out, but at a loss on how to make it any better and at the time really couldn't have cared less. Loved the pictures of Brock He was so cute playing with Woody & Buzz. It's neat to see him as into them as Tadhg was. (note his name written on their feet, just like in the movie. He must have dug through the whole toy box and pulled out all the Woodys and Buzzes we owned. Gotta love it.

hiding

2008-03-21T13:19:00.000-07:00

Today you will find me hiding out in my office. Our house is temporarily overflowing with 11 year old boys. It all started Wednesday night, when after scouts we had Nic and Nathan here while they were waiting for their parents to get back from mutual. They boys decided to play "hide & scare" (their version of hide & seek) where you turn off all the lights in the house and then try to "get" each other with dart guns. Needless to say, I was hiding out here that night too! Well, they all had sooo much fun that Tadhg concocted the idea of a mass sleep-over as soon as possible. Last night was the History night/wax museum project for all the boys at school and then today is the first day of spring break. So... I gave in.
When I venture out to feed ravenous animals or go potty, I must step over at least 100 darts, several sleeping bags and....is that sand in my rug!? Guess it goes with the flaming hot cheeto crumbs on the sofa. Now I remember why I don't do this very often. At least they keep each other entertained. Did I mention that a houseful of boys smells? Well, it does.
Now let's see if I can find another activity that will keep me sequestered to "my room".

what fun

2008-03-19T20:47:00.000-07:00

I learned how to use templates today. Yipee! They are so fast and easy. It was almost a let down, in that it wasn't a challenging challenge, but boy was it fast and easy!

our home

2008-03-18T14:27:00.000-07:00

As extra-credit, for a cookie, Jessica asked us to do the exact same page but with different paper and pictures. So......I did. Don't like this second one as much, maybe I'll try another "home" page. But here it is none the less. These were the pics I took earlier this week. Love that plum tree!

almost like Christmas

2008-03-18T13:24:00.000-07:00

I pulled out my "big" camera the other day the other day to take some pictures of our home. I rummaged around in my camera bag and came up with a digital photo card, (as the camera was empty) took some pictures and then put it down for a couple of days. Sunday I finally got back to it and decided to download the dozen or so pics I'd taken. But when I stuck the card in the reader I got a nice surprise. About 75 pictures I'd forgotten I'd taken last summer. Some really cute ones too! Yeah for me! Well those sure came in handy for my Monday assignment.

The boys really did have fun up on Grampa Flynn's farm. When I showed the boys the pictures they said they wanted to go back. Gotta love the ATV.
Took St. Patrick's day cookies into class yesterday, felt it was only right, being Irish and all. I also found fun green socks for the boys to wear (wasn't sure we had anything else that was green to wear!), but they all surprised me. They all found a shirt that had a little green on it. I wasn't so lucky, ah well. No corned beef and cabbage here, I made chili. Not very Irish, but everyone ate it so...it works.

saturday night

2008-03-15T20:58:00.000-07:00

Here I am and it is Saturday night. Sorry, I'm just sitting here at home, boring... I know. Actually, I have spent the last 2 days trying to organize my digital stuff. I didn't realize I had amassed so much. Thank goodness that 95% of it was FREE! Still *WHEW*. Now I can have some real fun.
No new pages, to busy organizing.
Tried a wheat free recipe today. I have had the "fixins" for about a week now, but couldn't muster the energy to make it. I think secretly I was afraid that after all the work my gluten free biscuits would be disgusting! Well they weren't great, but nothing like the biscuits I'm used to. But they were the first bread that I have had in 2 weeks. Maybe that made them taste better. Who knows. I'm not much for cooking normally, but I think this new way of eating will change that. Have to. Maybe I'll break out and dust off my bread machine. You think it will still work after 12 yrs? Sad.

oops!

2008-03-12T17:11:00.000-07:00

You'd think that after staring at his beautiful face all day I wouldn't forget about him, but sure enough. I did. I was so wrapped up in this layout that I forgot to pick him up at scouts. I happen to look at the clock and HOLY COW! it's 4:43. Scout's has been over for half an hour! Good thing he's 1. close 2. at my good friend Allison's house 3. she's understanding! (I might have to think about a 12 step program if I get any more addicted to this!) But the layout is cute, right?? At least he liked it. He also told me that Scout's is way more fun when I forget him!:-)

craziness

2008-03-11T22:03:00.000-07:00

The last few days have been crazy busy, there are so many things I want to do and an even greater number of things I NEED to do, I feel like I am running in circles to get even a fraction of them done. I find I am being sucked into this digital scrapping and it is so time consuming. I am staying up way too late and neglecting so many things, but it is a compulsion to do the challenges and watch the classes and finish the pages.
So nearly 5 days later, I am done with my photoshop friday circle page! My super Brock. What a funny boy! He cracks me up with his super powers , which change to meet each situation. You never know when a "power" will kick in and you have to be very observant to know when you may call him Brock and when you MUST call him...Salamander! Tricky. I've tried to get him to use his super powers to get him moving faster in the mornings and he tells me that he's running out, that he only has 3 left and he needs to save them. Oh well, I tried.
I've been trying to get these boys to get ready for school faster, in anticipation of the "Grammie" week. It really is ridiculous that it takes them 45 minutes to get up, dressed and brush their teeth. I've resorted to being mean! I time them and then ..remove..privileges when they don't meet their mark. So far, not working so great, only had one day (out of 5) that they were done early. We'll keep working. I think daylight savings is to blame!!(can I blame it for everything?)
Well, I must sleep or I won't be able to get up!!!

me again

2008-03-09T21:42:00.001-07:00

Okay, just a quick funny. I had written then I went back and set up my profile. As I was filling in my "about me" thingy I was typing away and wrote monkier instead of moniker, I guess both would have been right, as I have several monkeys in my home!

in the beginning....

2008-03-09T20:03:00.000-07:00

Okay, it may soon be obvious that I have no idea what I am doing here, but I'll figure it out someday. I am starting this blog spot so I can post the digital pages I am learning with Jessica Sprague in her Up & Running with Photoshop class. My experience with blogs are/is minimal (like I said.. OBVIOUSLY!) so any tips or pointers are welcome. Who reads this anyway?

I guess I can use it like a journal, not that I'm very good at that. I think the last time I wrote in one was hmmm....15 years ago before my life became so ...well....not my own. I'd say I have very little time for journal writing, but I guess it's all just a matter of priorities. I think I'd rather sleep, or read or a bunch of other things, but... then I'd have a really boring blog page so maybe this will be the way for me to be better about documenting my life. Didn't someone say that if you didn't write it down then it didn't really happen? Who knows.

My blog life then starts today.

We were very nearly late for church. I did remember to set my clock ahead, but that didn't mean that the other 4 people in my house were ready to get up at what would have been 6 in the morning to get ready. I think the bishop took pity on us and gave us a 10 minute grace period. Believe it or not we even got to sit on the benches and not the folding chairs in the cultural hall (something I detest.) Hmm. guess we weren't the only ones who were late.

Caden my sweetheart demonstrated his skills with the "ladies" today. As I was leaving I stopped to talk to Cheyenne (a little girl who was in Caden's school class last year) and noticed that she was holding a daffodil. When I got to the car someone (doesn't really matter who, not that I would have paid attention anyway) tattled that Caden had given her a flower and told her she was hot. (nice!) Oh and by the way, mom here's a flower for you too, says Caden. He does know how to charm, doesn't he?? He then informed me that my daffodil was better. It had an orange center and not just plain yellow like Cheyenne's. (glad to see he knows who rates higher, at least for now!)

I was able to take another walk around the neighborhood today. The weather has been so perfect. This really is my favorite time of year. Everything is so GREEN! I wish it could be like this all year round. It was so warm ( and has been for the last week or so) that I even had to water my plants (so soon, surely not yet...we need more rain!) Let's see if I can keep them through the summer.

I'll see if I can post my first 2 digital assignments. More later...