Crazy Post Office Lady -or- Wild and Crazy vs. Sleek and Sophisticated

I went to the post office this morning. It was just Isabel and I as Caleb was playing at a friends house. When I walked up to the counter, the first thing the post office lady said was 'she (Isabel) has hair just like you!'.

Um, wha...???!!

My hair looks nothing like Isabel's! For one, I do not have a mullet (she is currently sporting the baby mullet look). Secondly, and most obvious, we do not have the same hair color! And thirdly, mine has style.

What is that lady smokin'? I see no resemblance, do you?

You Are Cordially Invited

When I was engaged I had several bridal showers, and of course I got tons of household things that we needed to start off our new life together. When I was at one of those showers, I remember a family friend saying she wished that she could have a shower every ten years or so. The only thing I remember thinking at the time was that she was a bit silly. I mean come on, a shower for married ladies?! *pahshaw!*

Well, now that I've been married for 11 years and my everyday dishes are no longer a complete set, the kitchen towels aren't as absorbent as they once were (if they even still exist in my house at all!), the sheets aren't used anymore since we upgraded to a queen sized bed years ago (still thankful to the Lord for that provision!!!) and our bath towels are fraying like crazy and look terrible, I now understand the woman's comment. I am still amazed that I even still have kitchen towels that have lasted this long. But I must admit that my being cheap has a lot to do with that fact more than anything. We received quite a bit of stuff at my showers and at the wedding. I don't think we had to buy much after that. But like I said, that was 11 years ago.

I've gotten rid of a few kitchen towels through the years, but I've also received a few as gifts too. However, it is time to get new ones and purge the old. I know this. Maybe I'll do that during my next outing to Target.

It's funny, I didn't quite notice the true condition of the bath towels until I started having regular guests. Suddenly I see that the towels look pretty bad, even to the point of being embarrassed to put them in the bathroom! I have recently remedied that situation.

A few weeks ago, when I was last in Modesto, I saw a great sale on towels and knew I had to take advantage of it! My mother was traveling back with us when we returned home and some new towels would be greatly appreciated in the guest bathroom, for sure! I found some FABULOUS towels at an even more fabulous price (nothing says 'fabulous' like 50% off!). These towels are big, and soooo incredibly soft (it feels like one of those super soft and cozy teddy bears!). So I snatched up a pair and took them home to be mine! I had no idea that such luxury could be had in bath towel. Now I do. I only hope that it doesn't take another 11 years to get some more.

Maybe we should start having anniversary showers? I think they'd be a big hit! So, I'll just print off the invitations......don't forget to RSVP!

A Bragger No More

We used to be able to baffle sales people that tried to sell us any form of extra tv (ie. Dish, cable, etc...). We used to. But not anymore. All because of a door-to-door salesmen. Really, who does that anymore? Well, AT&T does, they came by last week, and Ryan answered the door. Now we have broadband 'cable' (at least I think it's cable. whatever it is it gives us way more channels that we've ever had in our lives!).

I used to enjoy telling sales people that we had no form of cable and had no desire for one. It was a real conversation stopper (that and when Ryan was unemployed, telling sales-callers from mortgage companies that my husband was jobless....no one wanted to re-fi with us. shocking!). I also liked telling people (friends and acquaintances) the same thing. It was a prideful thing, I suppose. But I can no longer be so boastful.

We are now proud of being able to watch The History Channel and design shows on HGTV!

Why, you ask? Well, Ryan was totally prepared to tell the guy 'no thank you' when the he told Ryan that he could have internet access at airports with his laptop from work. Ryan does travel quite a bit, and being able to get on the internet while waiting to board the next flight must be an irresistible thing. We had talked about getting some kind of 'extra' tv so we could watch our favorite show (So You Think You Can Dance) but it was never enough to make us go out and subscribe. If the sales people only knew of Ryan's insatiable desire to connect while traveling, we would've been able to watch this last season of the show! Oh well, maybe next season. But for now I can enjoy the pleasures of design shows and who knows what else!

Look What I Did!!!

I saw this post on Amanda's blog and it looked like too much fun to pass up! All I did was follow the directions here and I'm in! I will be paired up with another person and we will each shop for each other and get little nifty things, then we'll swap! There is always a color theme and this time the color is RED, my most favorite color in the whole wide world!

There's still time if you'd like to do this too! The deadline is the 28th. So go sign up, but don't forget to tell me if you do....it would be fun to share this experience with you!


**no blog required to take part in this share-fest of red!

Big Ol' First Grader

Today was Mae's first day of school. Yep, she's in first grade this year. Seriously, where did the time go? This only means that it will speed up from here on out (right on out of the house....into college, marriage...ok, I'll stop right there, I've gone too far!).

Anyway, so today we made a little family outing of Mae going to school. We walked with her to her new classroom and found where her desk is. Of course I took pictures! What self-respecting mother would I be if I didn't? I think I even managed to do it with out embarrassing her. I won't expect that to last much longer though. I'll take 'em as long as I can!

This year Mae will take the bus to and from school. We took her to school this morning so she'd know where her classroom is, but tomorrow she'll be on the bus in the morning. I was there this afternoon, waiting for her when the bus pulled up to the stop. Yes, I had my camera with me, again. I felt a little silly taking pictures of her as she got off and walked home, but I'm more glad to have the pictures and record of this milestone in her life....being in first grade and riding the bus.


My first baby is in first grade. I'm really not too sure what to think of that. I don't feel old, but should I? But this does mean that graduation is only 11 years away. Sheesh! That'll be next month by the way the time is flyin'! I'll be pushing 'old' by then for sure!

** click the pictures to enlarge...and check out Mae's new hair cut and outfit! By the way, while you're looking at the enlarged pics....don't you think that backpack it way too big for her?? For sure to fit in a month or so, right?

So Long Summer, Hello School!

My summer fun is now at an end. All trips have been traveled, people have been visited and guests have all returned home. It was a good summer and it turned out better than I thought it would.

What marks the end of summer, you ask? The start of another school year of course! Mae will go back tomorrow, but this time it will be as a great big first grader. *sigh* Where did the time go? I know, I know, we've all heard this and said it many a time, but still.......I could've sworn she was just a babe the other day!

This year will be a little different than last year. For one, Mae will be in school longer (yes!), and she will also ride the bus. She is quite excited about it too. Mae has informed me that she already knows how to ride the bus, for she rode it twice last year for field trips. Well then, ok, that's settled. I suppose I won't have to go over the bus riding rules with her.

Tonight after dinner I'll take Mae to get her hair cut (her request) then we'll head over to Target to pick out a new back to school outfit. We are all excited about tomorrow! I'll be sure to be a dutiful parent and take pictures of my little girl as she begins yet another milestone in her childhood career. Then I'll be sure to post them so ya'll can see!

I'm pretty sure I can make it through this day. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can..........

Seattle Recap

I'm back from our fabulous weekend trip to Seattle. It was grrreat! The best part, you ask? Well time with my hubs while my fabulous parents watched the kids, of course! It was a win-win for everyone. Here are a few highlights from our trip: (sorry, no pictures, as I remembered to pack the camera I did, however, forget to bring the flash card. doh!)

* flying solo (the screaming, hyper kids on the plane did not belong to me! score!)
* meeting my husband in the airport for a weekend away (this was my favorite part!)
* spending time with Ryan's family as we drove around Seattle, had dinner and attended a wedding
* seeing our friend Rob, whom we haven't seen in 3 years, and his newly purchased house (congrats again Rob!!!)
* taking the ferry to downtown Seattle (I've taken the ferry a few times before, but I think it's fun every time!)
* dinner at The Spaghetti Factory (I had the spinach and cheese ravioli.....mmmmm!)
* our hotel was very nice (Ryan called it 'pimpy', meaning it was sleek and modern), I loved our bed (so comfy!)
* the wedding was fun. It was the most fun wedding I've ever been too! The couple are both part of improv clubs and one of the groups did some improv stuff before the roast began, they were hilarious!!! I wish there could have been more improv stuff!
* after the wedding Ryan and I went back to the hotel where we spent some alone time together at the hotel restaurant and talked over appetizers, wine, and a mocha! (we hadn't been alone all weekend, not complaining, as our travel companions are fabulous and we never get to see them!)

Now I'm back at my parents house. I have one more day before the kids and I head back home. This time we'll have a travel companion as my mother will be joining us! She will stay with us for a few days before returning back to Modesto. We plan to take her to the beach. So far no complaints have been heard.

YouTube Tuesday - Beauty is Nothing without Brains

Hilarious commercial!!!

Why I Haven't Posted in a Few Days

1. Mae and Caleb (affectionately known as Mae'leb) have been at Vacation Bible School all week!
2. I've been running errands like crazy while they are out of the house (and enjoying having just one kid with me, let me tell ya, is bliss!)
3. I've also enjoyed some one on one time with Isabel (it's a rare thing when one has three kids)
4. The house needed some tlc (oh, and my mom is coming to visit for a few days next week and I'd like her to think my house always looks fabulous!)
5. There were tons of laundry to be done in preparation for our trip to Modesto, Seattle, back to Modesto, then home again trip!
6. On top of all the above-mentioned items, I'm also pms-ing and I took some much needed naps!
7. Pack for trip
8. Load truck (and not forget anything or your four-year old will flip out) for trip
9. Oh yeah, let's not forget, drive to Modesto in a record 7 hour drive (whoo-hoo!)
10. Then there is always the excuse reason that I just didn't have anything post-worthy to write about.

YouTube Tuesday - German Coastgaurd

Table Talk

At dinner this evening Mae had a question for her daddy.

"Dad, can I say the word fart?"

How does one keep a straight face when hearing that? Answer: you don't, it's simply not possible.

Thier Quiver is Full - or - Three is Enough for Me

I read this article today. I'm in shock. The woman has now had 17 children. All her own. S-e-v-e-n-t-e-e-n!!! She has been pregnant 17 times, has given birth 17 times, has changed, I don't know, too many diapers and has probably been nursing for half her life. Someone, who is good with math, figured out that she has been pregnant ten and a half years combined. But the shock upon shock is that she wants more! I'm not exactly sure what to think about that. She's either an incredible woman to have that many children or has lost her sanity for said reason. I'll give her the benefit of the doubt and go with incredible woman. That's my final answer.

July 2007 Movie Log *updated*

Another month means more movies!

1. Evelyn (based on actual events that changed the Family Law in Ireland in 1953. Movie was ok, but it was compelling since it was a true story.)

2. Her Majesty (not a true story- about a girl that is basically obsessed with her Queen (Elizabeth II) and writes too many letters asking her to visit the little town she lives in. Oh she is a good friend and student and learns things along the way....blah blah blah. Boring, silly film - basically a waste of time)

3. Something the Lord Made (intriguing film, based on actual events and relationships, about two medical pioneers in the field of heart surgery. Takes place in the 1920's through 50's and touches on racial issues of the time. Although it was a little slow at times I really enjoyed it and would recommend if your into docu-dramas (if that is a real term).

4. Drumline (Ryan had wanted to see this movie for a while and it finally came up on our que, so we watched it. Silly (as in immature) movie about a young college student in the band who needs to learn to play as a team....blah blah blah.)

5. Warm Springs (HBO flick about FDR and his affliction with polio and the recovery he went through at a place called Warm Springs. Again, I enjoyed the docu-drama and would recommend.)

Whoops!!!!....forgot to add this one!
6. Five Kids and It (this was our latest flick for family movie night. I was pleasantly surprised with this one! It's pretty good for a kid movie with no super scary parts. It is very similar to The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe in its story line....5 kids get shipped off to a huge relatives house while dear Dad fights in the WWII, kids find an off-limits room where their adventure begins. For a family movie it's good and I would recommend it)

My favorite for the month is a tie between Something the Lord Made and Warm Springs. Both were very interesting and made we want to know more!

YouTube Tuesday - Yosemite!

When we were camping last week we took a hike to the bottom of Vernal Falls. When we got to our turn around spot we stopped and took a nice rest before heading back down. As we rested, snacked and replenished our water supply we noticed the local wildlife and how unafraid the squirrels were (and lets not forget the dive-bombing blue jays!). The squirrels were close to being tame and you could almost touch them! In this video that my brother shot, his friend Bryan was seeing how close he could get to touching a squirrel.

Our Camping Trip

And we're back! We survived our camping adventure in Yosemite with my brother and his family and a friend of his (and his family). It was a great week but, as always, it is also great to be back home. I think I finally have all the dirt out from under my fingernails! And oh how I love my bed, my glorious bed!

I am still surprised that all we had fit in our truck, even though we could not see out the back or check the blind spots. Next year we will have to get a pod or something to go on the rack on the top of the truck. But then again next year we won't have to haul a pack-n-play for Isabel either.

We left Modesto Monday morning and caravaned up to Yosemite. Everything worked out with our camp sites and we even managed to be altogether. Praise God! When we were checking into our site the ranger lady told us that the bears were horrendous this year. Yes, she used the word 'horrendous'. When we got to our site our 'neighbor' told us that the night before a bear got into one of the bear boxes a couple sites down. I think most of us were a little nervous about the bear situation but we were good about putting all food and toiletries away (we even went at far as pulling out the car seats so a bear would not go after the crumbs and leftovers that manage to lodge themselves in our vehicle). One night as we sat around the camp fire we heard a man yelling 'get away bear!' several times! He was not too far away either! I am thankful that the only bear we saw was in an open meadow and from the vantage point of a bus!

We rented bikes one day and took a great ride around the valley floor. We had to rent a bike with a trailer for Caleb and Isabel, and helmet rentals were required for the trailer. Poor Isabel....the only way she could see was to hold the helmet up! It was cute but I can only imagine that it was tiresome for her (maybe that is why she fell asleep as we headed back to camp).

Another day we hiked up one of the trails to Vernal Falls. We didn't go all the way up, only to a bridge that gives a great view of the falls. It is a popular stopping point with drinking fountains and bathrooms. We took a nice break there before heading back down. Ryan was not able to join us that day since there was no way to take Isabel. She is too big for the baby back pack and we only had room for the umbrella stroller (which is not trail-friendly). I must say though that the gym must be doing me some good! The next day I only felt a little bit of soreness. I had expected to be entirely sore, but that was not the case. Whoo-hoo!!!

The kids did pretty good. Although Ryan was pretty worn out from keeping Isabel in camp! She likes to wander around. A lot! You know you're not doing such a good job of keeping an eye on your kids when one of your 'neighbors' says 'You may want to get Isabel, she's running out of camp!'. Yes, by that point she knew Isabel's name. I think Isabel made her mark on the camp site, for sure! She could be heard early in the morning saying/yelling 'Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!' Another fellow camper, not in our group, responded from their own tent one morning and said 'Daddy, would you get that child!' Oops! Sorry lady! Overall, though, the kids did great. They got dirty, they played with the other kids, and actually didn't do too terribly bad with going to sleep at night.

It was a great week. I loved being able to spend time with my brother and his family. I am so grateful for the opportunity to take this vacation. We continue to be blessed with our move to Southern California and being closer to family. I look forward to having more times like we had this past week.

So Much To Do, So Little Time

I'm not too sure what to write about today. I've got many things to do and less than a day to do it. Mary is leaving on her own camping trip tomorrow and she has a to-do list posted for today. I think she is a wise lady, and because I am short on ideas and long on things to do I will create my own list (hope you don't mind Mary!).

So, as of this moment, it is a little after 10:00 in the morning and this is what I have to get accomplished before I hit the sack tonight:

• meet friend at pool with kids - go swimming
  
• go to store and get last minute camping items
• feed kids lunch
• vacuum
  
• finish laundry
  
• pack mine and Isabel's suitcases
• oversee Mae and Caleb's packing
• finish packing food stuff and other camping stuff
• pack ALL stuff in truck
• call Mom and Dad and see if they prefer beef ribs or pork ribs for Sunday's party
• order food for Sunday's birthday party extravaganza

You know, now that that I've written it down it doesn't feel so overwhelming! I just may get it all done without turning into super-crazed-stressed-out-mama! Wow. That'd be remarkable and a never before seen event. I'll keep you posted.

A Camping We Will Go!

Next week we are going camping! We will join my brother and his family along with his good friend and his family. Where are we going??? Yosemite!!! It's been years since we have camped. The last time was when Mae was 2 and Caleb was just a babe at 9 months.

In preparation for this trip we had to buy a new tent. The old one was a '4 man' tent and there was just enough room for Ryan and I with a kid on each side....absolutely no room for the size of our family now with all our crap stuff. So we bought a new one at Costco a few months ago (and got a great deal by the way). It's huge! I don't know how many 'men' it's supposed to sleep but I'd guess at, um, like 100! Well, ok, maybe not that many but it is for sure big enough for our family. The best thing about this tent is that it tall enough for me to stand up in! This means I no longer have to sit or crouch to changed my clothes (which is difficult to do, let me tell ya)! The other feature I like is that it has a sound proof wall/partition and therefore creates two rooms! Isn't that cool? (yeah, it's only my wish that it was sound proof.....maybe the next tent?)

The other week we set it up in the living room so we knew all the parts were there and that we also knew how to set it up. It's a good thing that our living room is ginormous and that we only have one couch for it took up the entire room! I feel like we've gone from humble to huge with this tent! Here's a couple pics of Huge Tent in our living room. Maybe after we get back from camping I can post pics of the tent in action at our campsite.



Well, I've got some shopping to do in preparation of our trip. Then I have to start laundry and then packing can commence. I hope I don't forget anything. I hate it when that happens! Like I said, it's been a while since we've been camping. Any ideas of things not to leave behind, things that might be easily overlooked?? I'm thinking about things that are typically brought on a trip or camping. Things that may make camping easier. Like, I bought a little cutting board and knife at Target, in the dollar section, along with some rope (you never know if you'll need some rope!). Things like that! Any ideas or suggestions???

YouTube Tuesday

If you are a frequent flyer or have flown in the past few years then you'll appreciate this video! Enjoy.



**thank you Rose for showing us this clip, it's great!!! (I may have to post the other one you showed us that night...stay tuned!)

Birthday Babe

Today is Isabel's 2nd birthday. It's hard to believe that my baby is now, offically, a toddler and no longer a baby. She'll always be my baby, no matter what!

So in honor of Isabel this day I will blow up her birthday balloons to cover the floor and bake her some little cakes. We will keep it low key simple as we celebrate her tonight. Next weekend we'll celebrate a little more with family when we are in Modesto. I'm thinking we'll go to a park late afternoon or early evening and have cake and ice cream while the two year old plays and gets dirty. What more could a baby turned toddler want?!

Est. July 13, 1996

Today Ryan and I celebrate our 11th anniversary. Wow. Eleven years! It seems that a lot has happened in the past 11 years. The Lord has been gracious to us in many ways. For one, if it were not for Him we would not be celebrating today.

Our first year of marriage was difficult, to say the least. If it were not for each of our relationships with Christ, and our commitment to him, either of us would have walked away from the other at one point in that first year. We've gone through a couple other 'rough' patches since then, but the Lord continues to show his grace to us.

Eleven years and 3 kids later we have managed to grow closer to the Lord and closer to each other. Ryan is my best friend. He gives me wise counsel, makes me laugh, and thinks I'm pretty. Ryan is my husband, he is my love.

So today I thank the Lord for his grace, mercy and love in our lives. I thank Him for helping me to let go of myself and to trust him with the course of my life. And I thank Him for my husband, whom I love and cherish.

I thank you, Lord, and praise you for the marriage that Ryan and I share today.

Happy Anniversary Ryan!

Another Tooth - Gone!

Yes, Mae has lost yet ANOTHER tooth. This makes five within 10 months (three of which have been in the last 3 weeks)! I never knew one could loose so many teeth in such a short amount of time. I have set a precedent for writing Mae poems when she looses a tooth. Do you know how difficult it is to write poems? Well, it takes time for me, and I'm in a pickle here! It wouldn't be so hard if she'd just space out the tooth loosing a little more! *big grin* Oh well, she is worth it. Who knows, maybe she'll look back and treasure these little poems that I stay up late at night writing for her? Hey, it could happen!

Before I unveil my latest poem I'll give a little background on the story behind the latest tooth escapade. First of all, this tooth has been loose for months now. And even more so in the last couple weeks. This tooth has been literally holding on by a thread (or is it a nerve?). Mae probably could have pulled the silly thing last week. Easy. I don't know which is more stubborn. Mae? or the tooth? My vote is Mae.

Your so proud
And I’m so glad
That you finally pulled that tooth!
I thought I’d never see the day
I never thought I’d here you say
“Look Mom, I pulled my tooth!”
But here it is
and there’s the proof
Yes, you have finally lost that tooth!

My Bargain Template!

Sooooooo????? How do I look? What do you think of the new me? Does this template make me look fat?

Kim, once again, has been an inspiration. A couple weeks ago she started changing her template and it made me want a new one too! I mean, come on Blogger, the templates to choose from are a tad boring. I wanted something new, fresh and unique. So, I went online and searched and searched and searched! And today I finally found a site that had a lot of free templates to offer (at least ones that I liked!). Yes, I'll admit it. I'm cheap. The word free will, in most cases, win my attention every time!

Are you, too, interested in changing your look (for free)??? I found my template here, and there are others here, here and here*.

Here is something to keep in mind if you do decide to change your template. If you are with Blogger and have a beta account then you will most likely want to keep it beta. If so, then make sure that your new template is in an XML format. That way you can make changes to your template (ie. add links to your sidebar) just as easily as you can now. If you choose a template that is not an XML then you have to do your changes the old fashioned way, which is mess with the html code.

Ok, I'm done. I'm off to enjoy my new look!

*this last link only offers about 3 XML templates, the rest are in the 'classic' template form.

Eight Little Things

I was tagged by Bringing Good Home for another meme. I guess I have to reveal eight things about myself. Here's the rules....

…Each player lists 8 facts/habits about themselves. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning before those facts/habits are listed. At the end of the post, the player then tags 8 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

I wonder how long it will take me to come up with eight things? Let's see....

1. I used to looooove the color blue
2. but now it's red
   
3. tulips are my favorite flower
4. I share my birthday with my friend Chris (although she is one year younger)
5. I learned how to drive on a stick shift
6. I currently drive an automatic and it is the first non-stick vehicle I've driven/owned, ever.
   
7. I have lived in three states (California, Oregon, Michigan)
8. This Friday I will have been married for 11 whole years.

Ok. That wasn't too difficult. Now I have to spread the love and 'tag' eight more people. Hmmm, whom shall I choose? Oh, I know! In no particular order, other than randomness....

Amanda at Oh Amanda
Cat at MommyCat
Wendy in her Tiki Hut
Mary in Mary-land
Heather, the Orchard Girl
Chris, at The Mayne Events
Jenn at her Ivy Six Pack
and
Kim, whom has been self diagnosed with Temporary? Insanity

There you go, ladies, you've done been 'tagged'. So, in your not-so-free-time go post 8 things about yourself.

Clean Up on Isle Four!

I went to the gym today. The kids came with. That was the good thing, that I went to the gym that is. Our gym has childcare up to age 12. Another good thing.

So, I check in then proceed to the kid check-in counter. They have this huge nifty room for the kids. It has a McDonald's size play structure, 4 video game stations, a tv, and two craft tables among other toys to play with. Also in this room is a waist high gate that keep the kids contained.

Here's where it gets interesting.

I decided to lift Isabel over this gate instead of unlocking it and letting her walk through. I thought this was a good idea. It wasn't.

As I was lifting her over and setting her down I had to let the gate support my weight for a bit. Bad idea. The gate could not support me so it stripped itself of its hinge screws and completely came off from the wall causing me to drop Isabel and fall on top of the gate! Isabel was fine, just a little shaken and confused. I, on the other hand, had other issues.

'Are you alright mam?'

'Yes, I'm fine, but I may need some stitches for my pride.'

YouTube Tuesday

I saw this on someone else's blog (I don't remember who, not one of my 'regulars'), so forgive me if you've seen this before. I thought it was worth repeating!



Is this guy for real?? Oddly, I think he is! I'm not sure if I should laugh my head off or be in awe. Well, I think I'm doing a little of both.

What's Missing From This Picture?

Caleb's fish, Fisher Eater, is no more. The worst part is that I think it is my fault! A friend was going to take care of him while we were out of town so I put him in a vase for easier transportation and I think the temperature of the new water did him in. I knew about this but did it anyway. I did try to make sure that the water was as luke warm as possible. And to my credit (sort of) he had survived the transfer many a time in the past when changing his water.

It happened Saturday night after Caleb had already gone to bed so we waited until morning to tell him. I wasn't sure if he would care since he didn't pay much attention to the fist anymore. But he was very sad when he heard the news. He didn't believe Ryan at first, he thought it was a joke. But he observed the non-moving fish laying on its side at the bottom of the vase and was convinced.

Caleb was very sad but did not cry. Poor guy. We'll get him another fish after we get back from camping. Caleb says he going to pick out a red fish this time. I just wonder what he's going to name it!

Our Resident Photojournalist?

The other morning I got up and did not find Caleb watching PBS as usual.

"Hmmmm, where could he be? He isn't still sleeping is he?!", I thought to myself.

So I went on a seeking mission where I found him in his room taking pictures with our camera. Later, as I was looking at some pictures I had taken, I came across the ones he had taken that morning. Here is a little sample of what he shot that morning. I say little for he took several!




What do you think? Maybe he has a future as a photojournalist???

I Can't Believe I'm Writing This Post, Kind of Post

The other day Mae asked Ryan the question. You know, the question we all dread as parents. The question that asks more than we want to say. The question that causes blushing and avoids eye contact.

Daddy, how did the baby get in Mommy's tummy? (ominous foreboding music played here)

Yes, that question.

I can say this, I am so ever grateful that she asked Ryan and not me! Ryan did a great job (again, glad she asked him!). He used specific words including, but not limited to, 's*x' and even 'forenication'! Ryan did the best he could to explain to her that it is was created by God and is something that is to occur between married people.

This conversation occurred while we were driving so I had the advantage of not having to worry about hiding my reaction to everything. But I don't think I did so well in hiding my nervous laughter (I tried real real hard to not laugh out loud. real hard!)

I'm not sure she understood too much, but Ryan told her that maybe the next time she asked she would understand more. Hopefully that won't happen for a while. Like maybe when she's twenty five (and married!). It'll make much more sense then. For sure.

Keeping an Eye on My Kids

Last week I had to take Miss Isabel to the doctors office. While we were in the waiting room (filled with toys) waiting for Isabel to be called back into the exam room I saw a sign on the door. It read:

Unattended children
will be given an
Espresso
and a
free puppy!

Um, yes, I was watching my kids.

June Movie Log

Here's what we saw last month:

1. Casino Royale (I'm not much of Bond follower but this movie was pretty good! The movie was about Bond as he starts out as a double-0 agent, so he wasn't as suave and confident as the character typically is. It was good, I'd recommend it.)
2. The Queen (It was.....good. I wasn't blown away and I wonder why it received so much praise. Helen Mirren did a good job of portraying Queen Elizabeth and it seemed to be true to the actually events. It does help answer some questions as to why the monarchy responded the way they did to Diana's death.)
3. Deja 'Vu (Mr. Washington is at it again! The story line was, let's say, odd. I didn't know that this movie bordered on sci-fi. It doesn't seem to matter much though, Denzel is just so cool, I'd watch just about anything with him in it! So, if you like action, mystery and a dash of sci-fi then I'd reccommend this film.)
4. Stomp the Yard (the dancing was cool. The story line, not so much.)
5. Miss Potter (this was the story of Beatrix Potter, author of the Peter Rabbit stories. I enjoyed the movie very much. It was a delightful little movie of how she got her books published as well a little romance thrown into the mix. Yes, I used the word delightful to describe the movie!)
6. Bleak House (this was a BBC production and, as always, they did a great job. The movie was based on the Charles Dickens novel of the same name. And since it was 3 disks long we watched it over a 4 night period. It was fun to have something to watch for a week and it gave us something to talk about....like what exactly was going on and what we thought the outcome would be. The characters were well developed in this tragic tale, and I highly recommend it!)
7. DreamGirls (Hmm. It wasn't quite what I thought it was going to be, but it wasn't bad. Long. But not bad. And I must agree....that Jennifer Hudson was pretty good too!)
8. The Wild (our latest family movie night flick. I can sum this movie up in one word...LAME. Even for an animated kids movie it wasn't good. I don't recommend it. Lam-o.)

This month my favorite movie was Bleak House. I enjoyed the character development and the mystery. Because it was a long movie it was hard to turn it off each night and not watch one more episode.

Hello Mr. Postman! **updated**

I just got a package today. I love getting packages in the mail. Well, it doesn't have to come through the post office for me to love it. I'm not predujice, I love all delivery vehicles that stop at my house! Today, however, the package did happen to be given to me by the post office. 'What is it?', you ask? Well, I'll tell you this.....it came from Hawaii!!!

I recently did a trade, a barter if you will, with Wendy. I made Wendy 20 cards for one of her poncho-style beach towels in the form of a very fun shark! Of course I took pics to document this fun event.

This is a sample of what I made for her



And this is what she made for me (well, ok, it's really for Caleb!)


Didn't Wendy do a fabulous job?? Caleb loves his new shark towel (can you tell by his very pleased grin??), and I do too! It was a very successful trade, don'tcha think?! It's a win-win if you ask me! I'm thinking the towel could make for a good Halloween costume too, hmmmm......may have to get a couple more for the girls. The only problem is that I'll have to decide which creatures to get!

Wendy makes these towels (hooded or poncho style) in different variations for sale or trade! You can go here to look at some of the other towels she makes or to contact her if your interested.

I wouldn't be opposed to doing another trade as well, if anyone is up for trading for something.

**if you can't think of anything to trade....the cards are for sale as well. A buck a card, plus a couple extra for shipping.

Dodging the Bullet

I had a startling conversation with Caleb today. It went like this:

Caleb: Sometimes you're terrible (he said with his silly grin)

Me: What?!??! (inwardly I'm grasping for some other meaning than terrible or awful 'cause he's too young to have figured me out already, right??)

Caleb: Sometimes you're terrible. And sometimes you have a tail! (as he starts to giggle)

Me: Wha..? Ok. (phew! He's just being silly and hasn't really figured me out yet!)

Get the Door.....It's My Groceries!

It's summer vacation and I have absolutely no desire to take all three kids with me to the grocery store. None. So, I recently took advantage of a one-time offer for free delivery from a local grocery store. The only catch was that I had to have an order over $50. No problem, that's too easy!

I made out a menu for the next two weeks and made my grocery list. From there I selected the items I wanted online and submitted my order. Again, too easy!

From there I chose my delivery 'window' and waited. Shortly before Ryan came home yesterday my groceries were delivered. Just in time for dinner!

When I was online submitting my order I saw what the delivery charges are. And I must say that they are not what I thought they'd be. It was actually a reasonable price! It works like this...there are two delivery 'windows' to choose from. The first is a two hour window, the other is four. The two hour window cost $9.95 and the four is $7.95.

I think this will save me embarrassment and frustration with taking three kids shopping. And considering I saved $14 with the store's club card saving, I will take advantage of grocery delivery again. For sure!

YouTube Tuesday

Too bad that Ryan and I are nearing the end of our stroller days, we'd have given these guys a call!

Suggestions Box...er, Basket

We had guests earlier this week and as I readied the house for their stay I came across this delima: what does one put in the bathroom for items or 'supplies' that a guest will need or want during their stay?

I have a small basket in the kids/guest bathroom that is perfect for putting these kinds of items in. I'm just not sure what to put in it!

Back in April when a friend of mine stayed with us for a week I happened to have on hand some small sample packages of shower gel and lotion, so I put them in the basket for her along with a bar of soap (in case she didn't want the shower gel) as well as some wash cloths.

I didn't have anymore girly things to put in the basket this time. But this time was different anyway since it was a couple that was with us. I didn't have much, so I put in an unopened bar of soap along with some lotion and body spray (and wash cloths). Ok, so I guess I did have some girly things! The problem now is that I have a almost new bar of soap in the bathroom that does not look appealing to the next guest. Who wants to use a used bar of soap when staying with someone??? Ewe.

So, I would like some ideas of what I should get for my future guests to use. Fill my little basket with your suggestions and advice!

YouTube Tuesday

I've seen several videos on YouTube that I thought were hilarious. So, I thought I'd share them with ya'll (yes, I just said y'all) I'll try to post them on Tuesdays, 'cause, again, I'm at a loss for inspiration so I thought I'd spread it out since at this point I only have a few in mind. We'll see how long this series lasts.

This video is my most favorite YouTube video 'Ask a Ninja'. He has a whole series of videos but I'll only share the first one and let you enjoy the rest if you so choose. Without further ado, here is Mr. Ninja.

Ah Ha! So That's Why!

The problem with doing all the laundry and putting it all away is this.....I then realize that I do not have enough hangers! This is the reason that the laundry rarely gets completed in its entirety. That's my story and I'm stinkin' to it.

Brain Teaser

I received this little brain teaser/test via email and thought it would make for a good post (and because I am sorely lacking any other inspiration). I actually did not do as bad as I thought I would, I scored a 14. Let's see how well you do!

This is based on U.S. info, so use all lobes of your brain. This can be more difficult than it looks - it just shows how little most of us really see! There are 25 questions about things we see every day or have known about all our lives. How many can you get right? These little simple questions are harder than you think-- it just shows you how little we pay attention to the common place things of life.

Put your thinking caps on. No cheating! No looking around! No getting out of your chair! No using anything on or in your desk or computer!

Can you beat 12 ?? (The average is 7) Write down your answers as you go. Check answers (on the bottom), AFTER completing all the questions. REMEMBER - NO CHEATING!!! BE HONEST !!! That means no looking at your phone or anything on your desk...

Here we go!

1. On a standard traffic light, is the green on the top or bottom?

2. How many states are there in the USA ? (Don't laugh, some people don't know)

3. In which hand is the Statue of Liberty 's torch?

4. What six colors are on the classic Campbell 's soup label?

5. What two numbers on the telephone dial don't have letters by them?

6. When you walk does your left arm swing with your right or left leg? (Don't you dare get up to see!)

7. How many matches are in a standard pack?

8. On the Un ited States flag is the top stripe red or white?

9. What is the lowest number on the FM dial?

10. Which way does water go down the drain, counter or clockwise?

11. Which way does a "no smoking" sign's slash run?

12. How many channels on a VHF TV dial?

13 On which side of a women's blouse are the buttons?

14. Which way do fans rotate?

15 How many sides does a stop sign have?

16. Do books have even-numbered pages on the right or left side?

17 How many lug nuts are on a standard car wheel?

18. How many sides are there on a standard pencil?

19. Sleepy, Happy, Sneezy, Grumpy, Dopey, Doc. Who's missing?

20. How many hot dog buns are in a standard package?

21 On which playing card is the card maker's trademark?

22 On which side of a Venetian blind is the cord that adjusts the opening between the slats?

23. There are 12 buttons on a touch tone phone. What 2 symbols bear no digits?

24. How many curves are there in the standard paper clip?

25. Does a merry-go-round turn counter or clockwise?

******************************************************************

ANSWERS

1. On a standard traffic light, is the green on the top or bottom? BOTTOM

2. How many states are there in the USA ? (Don't laugh, some people don't know) 50

3. In which hand is the Statue of Liberty 's torch? RIGHT

4. What six colors are on the classic Campbell 's soup label? BLUE , R ED , WHITE, YELLOW, BLACK & GOLD

5. What two numbers on the telephone dial don't have letters by them? 1, 0

6. When you walk does your left arm swing with your right or left leg?
RIGHT

7. How many matches are in a standard pack? 20

8. On the United States flag is the top stripe re! d or white? RED

9. What is the lowest number on the FM dial? 88

10. Which way does water go down the drain, counter or clockwise?
CLOCKWISE (NORTH OF THE EQUATOR)

11. Which way doe! s a "no smoking" sign's slash run?
TOWARDS BOTTOM RIGHT

12. How many channels on a VHF TV dial? 12 (no #1)

13 On which side of a women's blouse are the buttons? LEFT

14. Which way do fans rotate? CLOCKWISE AS YOU LOOK AT IT

15 How many sides does a stop sign have? 8

16. Do books have even-numbered pages on the right or left side? LEFT

17 How many lug nuts are on a standard car wheel? 5

18. How many sides are there on a standard pencil? 6

1! 9. Sleepy, Happy, Sneezy, Grumpy, Dopey, Doc. Who's missing? BASHFUL

20. How many hot dog buns are in a standard package? 8

21 On which playing card is the card maker's trademark? ACE OF SPADES

22 On which side of a Venetian blind is the cord that adjusts the opening between the slats? LEFT

23. There are 12 buttons on a touch tone phone. What 2 symbols bear no digits? * , #

24. How many curves are there in the standard paper clip? 3

25. Does a merry-go-round turn counter or clockwise? COUNTER

A World of Hurt

Whoa boy am I gonna be in pain in the morning! Ryan and I played racket ball last night then did a little weight lifting. We did another round this morning too. This is where the pain comes in. We have not played racket ball since before Mae was born and neither of us are terribly active. I am already feeling sore in odd places. Who knew your bum could hurt?! Well, I'll be feeling it even more come morning when I try to get out of bed. Oh yeah, not looking forward to that.

The Newly Refurbished Window

Can anyone tell me?
Does anyone know?
How does one make
a double-wide window?

First you take out a tooth,
from the top front is best.
That’s how Mae did it,
but that’s just my guess.

Next out to come
is the tooth that’s next door,
But you’ll have to stop there
and not pull anymore.

Now the window’s complete
with an extra wide view.
Mae did it herself,
but that much I knew.

4100 Feet of Gratitude

We made it! Many thanks to all who prayed for our return trip. There was some fussiness but overall it was an easier flight than the first one. Our flight was over an hour late leaving but Isabel finally went to sleep shortly before take off and managed to stay that way for most of the flight (much to everyone's delight!).

The time spent in Modesto was a whirlwind, but we enjoyed our time with family. Let's see.....Thursday night was the graduation one of Ryan's 'little' brothers. Then Friday night was the celebration dinner. Saturday was spent lounging around a pool with my sister in law and kids while Ryan helped my dad pour concrete. Ryan did get to enjoy some swimming pool goodness later in the day. It was nice to have that bit of time with him and the kids. Then on Sunday Ryan and I left early to head to the airport where I dropped him off so he could return home and go to work the next day and not take any more vacation time. I drove back to Modesto and relaxed for a couple hours before I had to get ready for a wedding of a good friend of mine. My mother and Ryan's sister accompanied me to the wedding (thanks ladies, your company was much appreciated!). We stayed for a few hours at the wedding then had to leave so I could pick up my children at my mother in laws. Monday morning was not too rushed as we had to get our things together and go back to the airport by 11:00. We were all home by 7:00 that night. See? A whirlwind of time in Modesto. But well worth the time and effort!


The kids really enjoyed the time in the pool on Saturday. Caleb has been dying to use his new swim 'gobbles' and this was his first chance to do so. Mae got to use hers too! I am surprised that she actually held her breath and put her face underwater so she could check them out! Way to go Mae!!! And Isabel, well, she is a water maniac! She's scary actually. I stood in front of her at the bottom of the steps as she was on the second one, and she would walk off the step away from me and out into the pool as if she could swim!!! At times she would tolerate an inner tube and would have nothing to do with floaties or a baby inner tube. She's crazy, I'm tellin' ya! I'm glad that Ryan was able to join us at the pool and experience some Isabel water craziness before she grudgingly went down for a nap. It is just something that is better experienced than told about.


My friend's wedding on Sunday was beautiful! The ceremony and reception was at an old inn. The colonial brick house was built in 1863 (I think) and the grounds had huge flowing trees and beautiful flowers and bushes. The garden setting was perfect for Laura's wedding. It just seemed to suit her. Oh! And I loved the butterfly that flitted about during the ceremony. You can't pay to have that kind of ambiance. I also liked their vows. They used the book of Ruth for inspiration and said to each other 'where you go, I will go, and your people shall be my people, and your God will be my God'. I have never heard that used in a wedding before, and I like how appropriate it is for a marriage. After the delicious dinner, I was able to talk ever so briefly with my friend and get a picture taken before we had to leave. Her dress was gorgeous, of course, and she was a beautiful bride (even down to her flip flops!). I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to attend and witness her weddinge. God is good!

Now we are back home and wrapping up the school year. As of today there are 5 school days left. *sigh* How ever did I manage before Mae was in school everyday? I just don't know, but I'm about to relearn it!

The Traveling Family

Whew! Yesterday was a doosie! We all were up and out of the house by 8:00 and headed to the airport. We are in good ol' Modesto for one of Ryan's brother's graduation and a wedding of a good friend of mine. This is the first time that we have flown for this kind of trip since we moved last year. Usually we drive, but we had some airline vouchers that needed to be used or lost.

This is also the last airline trip that Isabel will be a lap child. Hallelujah! I don't think I can handle another trip like this with Isabel on my lap (or with her being passed back and forth between isles to Ryan and I). Yes, she was the horrifically screaming child on the airplane. The flight was not completely full and one couple sitting in front of us got up and changed seats! Not that I blame them. I didn't want to sit near Isabel either! The one good thing was that it was a relatively short flight. She was also the child that screamed bloody murder in the terminal in San Fransisco when the milkshake was taken away. Whoa boy, never mess with her milkshake!

The other good thing was that all else went well. Our luggage all arrived as it should and the other two kids were well behaved. The tricky part will come on Monday when I have to do the return trip without Ryan! Prayer will be much appreciated.

The graduation is behind us now, it was last night. Thank you Mom and Dad for watching the kids so we didn't have to drag them to the ceremony! The graduation dinner will be tonight and the wedding will be Sunday late afternoon. It will be a whirlwind trip, but it'll be worth every moment spent with family!

Mae's Window to the World

Mae has finally lost her third tooth! This latest one once resided in the top front, but is no more. It had been loose for months now but in the last couple weeks Mae has really worked it. I thought yesterday, or last night, would be the time it would finally come out. I was wrong. Instead of Mae coming out to have us congratulate her on her latest loss, she came out crying! And this was not a whiny little fussy cry, it was a something-is-wrong cry. She had worked the tooth so much and pulled on it that it started to bleed a lot. She did complain of a bit of pain but I think she was more afraid of what she was doing. So she laid on the couch with a boo-boo bunny on her gums (it's a little bunny that is big enough to hold a non-melting ice cube) to make her feel better and to help her to calm down. I looked at the tooth and it was literally hanging by a thread! It was no longer in line with the tooth next door and the top edge of the tooth could be seen! It was not pretty, let me tell you. This morning Mae hardly ate any breakfast and barely a snack at school. She couldn't. That silly tooth got in the way! For lunch I made her a smoothie. At least she was still able to use a straw! But I did tell her that if the tooth was not out by dinner that I would pull it myself (I was not making smoothies for dinner and the girl needs to eat!). After nap I restated the ultimatum. It must have worked, for a few seconds later there she was all smiles with a gap-tooth grin! Finally!!! Yes! Praise the Lord! (I really did not want to pull it)

So, here is a self portrait of my girl with her new 'window' to the world as well as a little poem I wrote for her. I started writing her poems for her missing teeth and gave them to her along with her tooth gift under the pillow. I sorta set a precedent with the poems so I can't not do it now! It's not the best but I think she likes them.

One more tooth is out and gone

The next is coming, it won’t be long
To tell the truth I thought it’d never come
But I was wrong
And you were brave
When out that hangin’ tooth did come
Between your finger and your thumb!

7 Things Enjoyed On My Weekend Away

Ok, ok, ok! I've been waiting for a friend to email a couple pics from my weekend away, but I'm obviously not getting them (unless I harass her one more time, and I will) so I can no longer put this off. I'll post the pics later if/when I get them. For now, here is a quick little recap of all things fabulous about my weekend away.

1. After Ryan dropped me off at the airport I could not help but have a big 'ol grin on my face when I thought about what I was doing (traveling with NO KIDS!!! and visiting great friends).
   
2. Reading, uninterrupted, in the airport and airplane. Knowing that the screaming baby a few rows away or the other child being walked up and down the isle was not mine.....priceless!
   
3. Staying up late in the hotel talking with friends I've missed so much!
4. Sleeping in the next morning and no children to feed and dress (or tell to be quiet so I can get a few more minutes of sleep).
5. Shopping with friends (the two just go together so well).
6. Long car ride back to Michigan. At least it used to seem long to me before, but this time we talked all the way home.....did it really take us 2 hours?? (how fast were you driving Noelle??)
   
7. Being able to visit the church we were a part of. The new building was so nice, too bad Ryan didn't get the chance to see it finished! It was also nice to worship with the church again. There is just something special about that group of people, and we miss them all.
8. Hanging out in Michigan with much-missed friends.
9. Spending a couple hours with relatives before heading off to the airport (thanks for the breakfast Mike and Karen, the blueberry pancakes were delicious!)
10. Seeing happy little faces (and one bigger one) in the airport back home.

Alright, so that was more than seven. Oh well. I can't be expected to list only seven things when it comes to a ladies weekend away, now can I? I didn't think so! *big grin* The only thing now is convincing my fabulous husband that I need to do this sort of thing on a quarterly basis. Any ideas how I can do that??

Totally Cool Cake!

My sister in law, Carrie, made this awesome cake for Isaac's birthday yesterday. Then my brother took a video of it and posted it on YouTube. I couldn't not post it on my blog, now could I? Absolutely not!

Here it is!



Is that a cool cake or what? This is what my brother had to say (or wrote) on YouTube about the cake; 'This is a cool birthday cake that my wife made completely from her own imagination. Inside the cake is a small jar with some water and dry ice for the smoke effect'. Carrie always seems to make creative cakes for the kids birthdays. She's just a cool mom like that. I wanna be like her when I grow up!

**In the video, Isaac (the birthday boy) is the one in the blue shirt (the one making the silly face!) and Alec is the bigger brother. Too bad Steve didn't get Haylee in the shot, but you can hear her in the very beginning.

Happy Birthday Isaac!

Today is my nephew's birthday. He is now a great big 6 year old! I mailed his gift on Tuesday and it should have arrived yesterday, but he has to wait until tonight to open it (I think). Sorry bud, I'm tellin' what it is......you're just gonna have to wait! hahaha

Happy Birthday big guy! We hope you have a fabulous birthday! See you next week!

May Movie Log

The movies for last month were:

1. Curse of the Golden Flower (Chinese film about a doomed royal family. Good movie, but odd considering it was a Chinese movie)
2. Glory Road (Oops, we've seen this one before!)
3. The Pink Panther (Predictable slap stick comedy. Entertaining, was ok.)
4. Love's Long Journey (This is book #3 in Jeanette Oke's Love Comes Softly series. I have seen the first two movies and they are ok. I like to watch movies from the books I've read. These movies don't follow the book exactly, which kind of bothers me, but it was entertaining enough for an evening without my husband.)
5. Love's Abiding Joy (book #4 in the Oke series mentioned above. was ok)
6. Newsies (family movie night! I have the cd in the truck and the kids have their favorite songs and sing along when they can, so I thought they might enjoy seeing the movie. Mae watched the whole thing and now asks or tells me what is going on when she hears the songs in the truck. Caleb followed the movie for the most part. They've watched it a couple times already, so I guess they liked it!)
7. Thr3e (I read this book too, but didn't finish the movie. It wasn't done very well, which I knew ahead of time and rented it anyway, but it turns out that I wasn't in the mood for it at the time.)
8. One Night With the King (this is the story about Queen Esther and I loved it! Esther has always been one of my favorite stories in the bible so I'm not surprised that I liked the movie so much! The first part of the movie is about how she is chosen Queen...so much better than The Bachelor! The movie was well done and I recommend it!)
9. Failure to Launch (Typical romantic comedy with too much 'stuff' for my taste. I did finish the movie, though I shouldn't have. It had it's funny moments but that's not what I remember about the movie. Too bad.)
10. Flyboys (this movie was based on a real group of men that were among the first to learn how to fly and become fighter pilots in the first world war. the movie was ok. the story line was interesting but the acting left much to be desired.)
11. World Trade Center (good movie, well done. It certainly was not a light hearted movie but they did a good job of telling the story of these men and how they survived. I'm still in awe that anyone even survived, it is a testimony of God's grace amidst the tragedy of September 11th.)
    

My favorite movie of the month was One Night with the King. I re-read the book of Esther and discovered that some it was added in to make the story more appealing, this would include the romance between King Xerxes and Esther (no surprise there really). As long as I'm on the subject, there were also a number of years between the time Esther was crowned queen and the time that Haman ordered the annihilation of the Jews in the kingdom. I enjoyed the movie regardless and still recommend it.