Last but not least...

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday dear Easton....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

Splash Pad...

My favorite aunt, Alyson, called and invited us to enjoy a leisurely Monday afternoon at my cousin Mike's condo.  His daughter, McKell, was here for the weekend and they had just got a cute new puppy.  So we were officially joining a puppy/pool party and we were glad to go. The kids had a blast playing in the water, and I was really grateful for something to do.  Alyson, Cassandra, Niki, and I hung out and enjoyed each other's company while the kids played on the splash pad.  The invitation couldn't have come at a more perfect time as the mercury showed about 96* and we were not in the mood to stay inside, yet we didn't want to cook in Utah's dry heat either.  Here are the kids waiting for the water to dump on them from the overhead buckets:

Here is a picture of the whole crew.  Sierra and Jake are in the front with Jaycie, Torey and Taylor in the middle.  Kinzie and McKell are in the back.  They play really well together and are close in age so that makes it fun.
Perhaps the high point of the entire day, and I think you will all agree, was when it was time for lunch.  Aunt Alyson had so generously provided pizza and crazy sticks and the kids ate like they hadn't been fed in weeks.
And there we were, eating and talking, talking and eating, sharing stories and laughing at funny anecdotes when all of the sudden...
I ask "What's a honey bucket?"  And then we became very aware of what exactly a "honey bucket" was.  As we were enjoying the delicate mix of tomato, basil, and oregano another flavor presented itself.  An unwelcome flavor, and yet a very distinct flavor permeated through our pavilion and melded together with the pizza to create an unforgettable dining experience.  It wasn't as if the scent, or flavor, presented itself and then wafted away on a gentle breeze.  No, this flavor camped on our table, invaded our space really, as it moved through many subtle and not so subtle scents.  It seems that the "honey bucket" was designed specifically for emptying the "honey bucket" traveling latrine.  We kept waiting for the bucket to finish it's job, but the bucketeer was obviously not in any hurry to do so, thus we were able to enjoy the scent for quite some time.  I will never look at honey quite the same way.
Regardless of this one small experience we had a fantastic time and wanted to thank Alyson and McKell for inviting us, and Mike for moving to such a great condo complex.  Your home is beautiful, can't wait to see it again at the Christmas party!!!

Sunday Dinner Fun...

Grandpa Mark is so durned creative.  Look what he made.  He repurposed an old lawn mower into the most fantastic contraption.  After removing the blades, and thank goodness he did, he installed a booster chair on the crossbar for little Easton to sit in.  Then he took a childs plastic wheelbarrow, tipped it on its front and placed an old motorcycle seat in it, creating a somewhat stable seat for Taylor to sit in.  Torey, being the youngest of the sisters and somewhat small, got to sit where the motor once was.  Who says that you can't reduce, reuse, and recycle old lawnmowers.  It's the wave of the future, I'm telling you what.

Sadly, there was no room for Jake on the ride-o-fun, so he found his fun elsewhere.  And elsewhere was a circa 1984 Big Wheel.  It doesn't get any more fun than that.
Note:  No children were harmed during the making or riding of this contraption.  In fact, a marvelous time was had by all.  We're making memories, I tell you, memories.

Summer Fun...

For the past couple of weeks we have enjoyed a rare visit from our Missouri cousins.  My mom flew out and brought them back here to Utah, and we were so excited to see them.  It did not take long before the kids were reacquainted and that's when the party started.  We have been enjoying a "summerpalooza" if you will, and I will try to recap some of the fun.  We enjoyed the Lehi Pool, Niki's pool, and Grandma Joan's pool.  The kids partied at Kung Fu Panda, Jump on It, and Taco Amigo all in the same day.  We celebrated Lehi at the Rodeo with Grandpa, and visited until we were so tired that we became grumpy and irrational, even calling our mom the "fun police."  And as the culmination of our fun we went bowling and then enjoyed an icecream at Cold Stone.

This is Niki.  Isn't she beautiful and fun.  We love her.  She didn't get an ice cream but that didn't stop her from enjoying everyone else's.
Look - mine is all gone now!
Anyway, we just wanted to thank the boys for playing with us and helping us to enjoy our summer.  We will miss you!

Flashback to 1983

The arrival of the Lehi Roundup Rodeo has made me wax nostalgic and after reading Josh and Kellie's blog (see side bar) I have been inspired to post about Rodeo Days of the past.  This was the year that I was the first attendant to the Rodeo Day's prince and princess.  Here are the newspaper clippings (there were several other candidates but the scanner wouldn't grab them all.  I am telling you this because it is much more prestigious to take second when there are more candidates involved in the process):

Obviously my spelling needs some work, and we are grateful that firemen now use hoses and not hoes, but this little entry helped me gain access to the coveted royalty parade train.  It was just too bad that I was not in the lead car.  My fellow "prince" was Brandan Worthen and we got to ride directly behind the esteemed Prince Josh McCarrell and Princess Nichole Fox.   I will say that I looked ravishing in a floor length white gown with all the available lace trim that could be found at the time.  I shudder to think, however, that I was also wearing brown clogs.  Oh, the horror of not being dressed down to my shoes.   What a social faux pas.  Why my mom didn't buy me matching shoes will be forever beyond me.  I am just grateful to know that the shoes never made a showing because of the length of my gown.  On a side note it is interesting to observe that not even my baptism dress was white, but you can bet I was the best dressed girl in the parade.  Ask anybody. Oh, except for the shoes and we will never mention them again.

My mom made quite a name for herself in the local parading community and managed to win the sweepstakes award nearly every year in the miniature parade, and even went on to the Days of '47 parade in Salt Lake City.  The Lehi parade is quite possibly the best in the country, I dare anyone to refute this, and sets the tone for the other parades to follow.  Sadly, some fall quite short.  Where most parades have pick-up trucks full of cheerleaders and the occasional band, Lehi actually requires floats, go figure, and each ward has the opportunity to compete for all the marbles, or in this case the prize ribbon.  I can honestly say I have no remembrance of this float but I do remember many others.  I'm the little one with the parasol.  I defy Lehi to ever do away with this portion of the parade, because it truly is the best part.  I love the floats, the themes,  and the creativity they produce.  I will let you in on a little secret, and that is the fact that those pom-pom's do not make themselves.  There is some serious, time intensive labor that goes into each of these pieces of art and I was happy to make an appearance on several of them.
So, now that I have inspired each of you to make the trek over to Lehi you should know that the parade starts at 6 o'clock tonight and you won't be sorry.  At least I hope you won't.

This just in:  My dad wants me to give credit where credit is due.  So, in an effort to appease him I will rewrite a portion of my post.  Here goes:  "I will let you in on a little secret, and that is the fact that those pom-pom's do not make themselves.  My dad made 99.9% of those damn things, and he did a fantastic job of it." (At this point you may continue on with the previous post).  Thank you.

A Family Tradition...

Every year for as long as I can remember my family has enjoyed going to the Lehi Roundup Rodeo.   We would start counting down sometime in early June and as the anticipation built up the rodeo would slowly roll around.  Most years my parents would spring for the traditional rodeo going outfit so that we might fit in a bit better.  One year it was new boots, another year it was a lavender, tuxedo ruffled cowgirl shirt, sometimes nothing at all, but doggone we never missed Rodeo Days.  My mom would demand that we had a nap the day of the rodeo because we would be staying up especially late.  We normally went to bed at 7 p.m. but on rodeo night it was more like 11 p.m. We always sat in the same spot and we could gaze across the arena and see my Grandpa Duane in his usual spot by the gate.  Sometime during the festival he would take us and introduce us to the clowns and cowboys because he was heavily involved in the Roundup celebration.  This is probably why my sister thought that he was a professional rodeo clown her whole life.  As I grew older and started working I would attend all three nights, but those were the nights where we were mostly trolling for hot guys.  Every year held out the same hope, and every year ended the same,  a lot of trolling but no reeling.  Mom, Dad, if you are reading this you should know that I always conducted myself like a lady unlike your other daughters.  Since I have been married we have continued on with this tradition, only missing the last two years because of the All-Star tournament.  This year we are back on track.  My dad always gets us fantastic seats and we seem to sit by the same people every year.  It is like a miniature class reunion because we get to see a lot of people we don't normally see.  This year was great as usual and I will share with you some of the highlights:

• During the Grand March Jake told us that all of the beautiful queens were waving at him.  Of course they were, Bubba, of course they were.
• The flag ceremony and the singing of the "Star Spangled Banner" was amazing.  It brought tears to my eyes.  Don't tell anyone, but this is my very favorite part of the entire rodeo.  It is amazing, and the speech they prepare about "Old Glory" is always very stirring. 
• Rodeo Hamburgers - Mmmmm...... good.
• Torey told us that the horses were hesitant to leave the chutes because they had to go to the bathroom.  Makes sense.  Apparently there were a lot of horses and bulls that had to go to the bathroom because some of them were not leaving those chutes.
• Taylor went nuts during the calf roping and demanded a stop watch because she thought the cowboys were getting cheated.  After she had the stopwatch in hand she was able to relax and enjoy the rest of the rodeo.  Nobody likes to be cheated.
• The "Canadian Air Force" motorcycle duo was amazing and had the crowd going wild.  The Roundup committee likes to appeal to every demographic so they pull out all of the stops and do this for intermission, or time out, or half-time, or whatever they call it in rodeo.
• Two words - people watching.  It is a veritable melting pot of people.  You get your cowboys, your wannabes, your little girls who dress like they are big girls, the people that spent hours preparing so they could parade themselves up and down the aisles, the ones who just rolled out of bed and then showed up, and then your run of the mill family types.  Hopefully we fit in the last category.  The rodeo is no respecter of persons, they will take them all, and this year they did.
• And last, but definitely not least, the closing song - my second favorite part of the evening.  "Thank you very much, thank you very much, that's the nicest thing that anyone's ever done for me..."
  

So, I would like to say to my dad, who very generously bought our family's tickets - Thank you very much, thank you very much, that's the nicest thing that anyone's ever done for me.  We had a great time and can't wait to do it again!

Season's End....

Tonight marked the twilight of our family's baseball season.  Taylor opened the season back in March, and Jake closed it out for us tonight.  This season has flown by, due in part to the frosty weather for 2/3 of the games.  Usually we sit out and bake in the sun, but this year we froze most of the games.

Taylor's team finished the season in third place and we won't even mention the tragedy that was the tournament.  Let's just say that the base umpire was texting the whole game and they called the game 20 minutes early.  The coach almost blew his top.  There were many tears shed over it, but all in all we had a good season and Taylor proved she can hang with the big boys.
Torey had her first taste of softball and I think she enjoyed it.  She is more of a social player and made a lot of new friends.  We'll see what she decides to do next year.  If she wants to play we may have to find another league as we were not very satisfied with our current one.  There was not much instruction or competition, we were mainly there to have a good time.  She did great for her first time playing and looked cute as a button with her shirt tied in a knot behind her back.  Apparently one size does not fit all with shirts or hats!
Jake tore it up out on the T-ball field.  He had a great time and learned a little more about the game.  He did spend some time jumping around, placing the mitt on his head, and looking at the birds, but did better than most of the kids.  He has a great little stance, and his dad has high hopes for him next year - if only we can get him catching better.  Not bad for a little guys first year though.
We are going to miss many things about baseball.  We will miss the family time, the atmosphere, and the competition.  We will miss the snack shack and the bubble gum.  We will miss hearing the coaches and dad's yelling things like "The ducks are on the pond" or "Throw the dark one" or "Way to battle in there."  We will look back on the season with joyful remembrances but are looking forward to the future wondering... What does it hold for us? 

A conversation....

So, we were just having a dinnertime conversation with Torey and Taylor about wearing makeup, etc.  Reed mentioned that when Taylor gets in Junior High we are going to have to do what they do in Princess Diaries and get her a makeover - hair done, eyebrows waxed, etc.  I asked if she was going to wear makeup and Torey piped up with "I am."  Taylor said, "No, I don't need it."  (She has a point, she has great skin and a lot of confidence).  Then I ask if she is going to shave her legs and this was her reply, "Wow, you're really pushing it."  Me: (jaw open).  And then her, "Maybe I will trim them a little."  Reed and Me: (puking face).

Taylor is like the Oil of Olay commercial:  Growing old and fighting it every step of the way!

Nothing is Better....

than a finished project.  One of my biggest pet peeves is a project left unfinished and these have been haunting me for years.  This pinwheel quilt was finished last year and I just got it back from the quilter.  It is a happy little picnic quilt that I hope will serve us well.  Now all we need to do is actually go on a picnic or do something else.  We haven't done much of anything this summer.

This bug jar quilt has been waiting even longer to be finished.  I am thinking about five years.  So glad to have it done and out of my cupboard.  I just don't know what to do with it now.  I am thinking I might sell it because my kids are too big to have it.  It has lime green minky fabric on the back.  It is so soft and cuddly.
I just finished decorating my porch for my all time favorite holiday - the 4th of July.  I made two of the pillows out of vinyl so they won't fade.  Just for the record, vinyl is a bugger to sew.  
So this is quite a boring post, can you tell I don't have much to say.  What is everyone doing for the nation's birthday?  Just curious.

Map Loco is making me loco...

So, as many of you can see, because you have eyes, I have recently added a little map to my sidebar.  This map is making me crazy because I cannot tear my eyes away from it.  I love the map.  I look at it a lot throughout the day when I should be doing things like laundry, or dishes, or preventing my daughter from drowning.  I love to see where people are checking in from and I wonder what in tarnation draws them to my blog.  Are they linking through other blogs just exploring the world wide web that Al Gore invented? Or are they inexplicably drawn to the mundane?  Who knows?  All I know is that my little map said someone from Europe is gazing at my words.  Europe must be bored out of its mind.  I have also noticed some repeat visitors and I am wondering who it is.  So, please, for the sake of my sanity, introduce yourselves.  I know we can be great friends.  I am not very high maintenance and can usually supply some level of entertainment.  Are you the friend of a friend, or are you family, or are you a stranger, or a psychopathic blog stalker intent on destroying us?  Please, let us know if it is the latter so we can prepare.  This is the end of my rambling.  Thank you and good night.  My husband is home - finally, and I think I will go talk with him.

Summer Outing and a Daring Rescue

There have been several occasions recently where I have really wished I had a fantastic camera and had it with me right this second.  There was the time we were in California and the kids were playing in the waves at the beach.  I wanted to focus in really close on their faces and capture the sheer joy they displayed.  I have wished for one during several baseball games when the action was far away, happening at great speeds, and involving my daughter.  And today, at the swimming pool, I really, really wished I had a great camera.  And because I didn't, you will have to paint yourselves a mental picture.  I will try to make it worth your while.  First, a story.  Years ago we went to Florida on a family vacation.  Torey was about five years old and very adventurous.  We were at the pool at the hotel and I started looking around for her.  I spotted her on top of the dragon water slide about to descend to her own drowning.  The first thought that came to my mind was "She can't swim."  The second thought was, "I don't know if she realizes that she can't swim."  And she didn't realize it, and luckily, I was there to save her.  Fast forward four years to June 2008.   We arrived at the swimming pool to have an afternoon of fun with my sister, her children, and my nephews who were visiting from Missouri.  I hear my little niece ask Torey if she wants to watch her jump off the diving board.  I start setting up my chair and start looking around to check on the kids.  I find Taylor.  Jake, check.  And where is Torey? I start looking around and see my niece jump from the diving board.  And then, what to my wondrous eyes did appear?  It was my daughter.  The little one.  The one who can't swim, at least not enough to save her own life.  She is more of a frolicker when it comes to water.  My Torey, my little baby, is standing on the diving board looking down, and I am looking on in amazement.  I hear my sisters in the background, laughing a panicky laugh, and I see a life guard approaching.  It was as if things started happening in slow motion.  I look at the lifeguard and tell them to get ready because that little girl can't swim.  And then I start watching her, thinking she will get scared and back off the board.  And then....SHE JUMPS!  I start to panic, running over, but in slow motion, watching for her head to surface.  It does.  Her head surfaces and she starts to paddle in the eleven foot water.  Okay, calm down.  She is okay.  But she seems to be staying in the same spot, not moving, just paddling.  And then out of nowhere I see a red and white clad teenager execute the perfect dive and swim swiftly to my daughter's aid.  He was there in mere seconds.  He towed the little jumper to the side and set her safely on the concrete.  I rush over and tell him thank you and he said she just wasn't swimming like he would have liked.  "It's all good," he says.  Yeah, it was all good because he was there, in his teenage swimming body, saving my daughter, who apparently has no idea of her own mortality.  Today, that lifeguard was my hero.  Torey wasn't even phased.  I don't even think she understands that she was rescued, she just thought that nice boy was helping her out.  Just another day at the pool.  So I ask her, "Was it fun?"  and she just nods and runs off to play.

Happy Father's Day!

Because it is Father's Day I thought I would pay a tribute to all 

of the men in my life who I love so much.  

I am going to start with my DAD first because he is part of the reason I am who I am.  Every girl in the entire world should know one thing without a shadow of a doubt, and know it deep down in her soul.  It should be a part of who she is, and she should repeat it often.  It is this: "If you hurt me, my dad will kill you."    That's right, I believe the primary reason that dad's exist is to protect their babies from anyone or anything that could hurt them.  I am a lucky girl because I knew my whole life that if someone hurt me they would meet with a grizzly fate.  I even told the doctor's this as I was slipping under the anesthesia during surgery.  

Look at him.  Is it any wonder that I never went on a date?  He is smiling in this picture, but picture him scowling, therefore, no dates.  My dad is the best.  He was an overprotective father while I was growing up, but that is okay now, I guess.  I mean who cares that I wasn't allowed to move out, attend the U, and live in Salt Lake.  It's all water under the bridge.  Really, though, he taught me many things.  

* He taught me how to drive - that was the first time I ever heard him say the "F" word, so you can imagine how it went.  

* He always made sure my oil was changed and my tires were safe.  

* He has a really great knack for calming me down when I am upset.  

* He did all of the grocery shopping, and bought the best stuff.  He was even man enough to buy the products that no man wants to buy.  

* He taught me how to shoot and made sure I was in hunter's safety at eleven years old.  Because of him I have shot machine guns, hand guns, rifles, etc. and am quite good, if I do say so myself.  So if you are planning on robbing my house - Don't. (Oh, except for the guy who already did.)

* He can build anything.  He is quite talented with his woodworking and has cased my window, built me frames, etc., etc.  

* He will do anything for his girls.

* He is brave.  He was a Police Officer, a County Sheriff, a Firefighter, an EMT, and was the sergeant of the SWAT Team.

* He had a hand in teaching us how to cook, especially breakfast.  If the eggs weren't good, they would get sent back to the kitchen.  I make really good eggs, there was no other option.

* He always knew when we needed to cuddle and made himself available to do so.

* He always rented us really cool movies - Grease, Mannequin, Girls Just Want To Have Fun

* He watched out for Reed when he was on his mission.  If a boy showed up I got asked "What about Reed?"

* He says: "Let me just say this about that..."

* He is a great grandpa.

Now for my FATHER-IN-LAW.  When Reed and I got married I think he was under the impression that I was quite the princess, but since I have proved him wrong, we get along great.  Not that we didn't before, he was always very nice to me, just a bit worried I think.  When you fall in love with a boy you take a huge gamble on who your in-laws will be.  I hit the jackpot with mine.  He is the best father-in-law/grandpa I could have asked for.  He is fantastic with my kids.  He instituted Grandpa Day when Reed started going back to school and the kids refer to it now as a day of the week - Wednesday, Thursday, Grandpa Day, Saturday.  He is a great man with a lot of integrity.  He is a very hard worker and very honest.  He watches out for us.  When Reed went to Ground Zero he called to check on us everyday, and he still checks in when he is gone for a period of time.  If you ever needed anything, he is your man.  I am very lucky that he is my father-in-law.
This is my GRANDPA.  He is fantastic.  He is the world's last true optimist.  He is a great gardner and a fountain of knowledge in this area.  He is a great Grandpa and an even better Great Grandpa.   He is so creative and uses this creativity to build really neat things.  He can build or remake anything out of veneer.   He loves to camp, fish, and hunt and taught us how to love these things as well.
Last, but definitely not least, the FATHER of my children.  Reed is an amazing husband and father.  I could go on and on about him but since it is Father's Day I am going to let the kids talk about him.
Taylor:  He works 24/7.  He is a good coach.  He is very nice.  He helps a lot of people.  He is one of America's Heros.  He lets us do "tickle time" 3/4 of the time.

Torey:  He is one of America's Greatest Hero's.  He's nice.  He's the best dad in the world.

Jake:  He's always with you on scary things.  He gets money for the house.  He gets me my own room.  He gets me food.  I love him.
Now, I will go on and on about him.  When fatherhood presented itself Reed dove in with both feet.  He didn't even stop to test the water.  When Taylor was born I didn't get to bathe her until she was two weeks old and he left town.  I have never changed a diaper in the hospital and he always helped with the nighttime chaos.  I have been very blessed to have him by my side, helping my through parenthood's many challenges.  I could not have picked a better father for my children.  He does everything that I do and is a better playmate than I am.  He is very patient and loves his kids.  Now I will tell you about some of his "fathering" quirks, lest I make you all cry.

* He has a bit of OCD when it comes to the purity of water.  We have to add bleach to the kiddie pool.  We also can't drink out of drinking fountains at hospitals, install a fountain in our backyard, and a couple other ticky things.  It's all about our health and because he loves us.

*  If the kids fall down they have to undergo a full medical assessment before I can pick them up and hold them.  Don't even ask me about the time Taylor fell down the stairs.  Can you say PANIC?

That's all.  He only has two quirks, he is perfectly capable with the rest of fatherhood, as he is with most things he does.  We are so grateful for all he does for us:  the working, the coaching, the working, the priesthood he holds, the providing, and the working.  But most importantly, we just wanted him to know that:

WE LOVE HIM MORE THAN ANYTHING IN THE WHOLE WORLD!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

Thankful Thursday....

So, today is Thursday... again... for those of you who don't have a calendar or don't care.  I like this day because it gives me a chance to reflect on all of my blessings and also something to write about.  So, here it goes:

 

1.  I am thankful that Reed has a job.  In fact, he has many.  Sometimes I get tired of all of the work, but recently a friend was laid off and I realized I should be grateful that he is employed at all.  So, I will try to quit complaining and be grateful that we are gainfully employed.

2.  I am grateful that my kids are at the age where I can leave them alone for an hour or two to run errands or go to the dentist.  That being said, I am grateful for hydrocodone.

3.  I am grateful for my parents and the fact that they taught me to be self-sufficient.  They taught me many random things that I have used in my life and I am glad they did.

4.  I am grateful for my talents.

5.  I am grateful for my sisters.  They are the BEST!  It is fun to have sisters.  They know everything about you and still manage to love you in spite of it all.  I also have a few friends who I consider sisters for the very same reason.

6.  I love movies and their entertainment/babysitting value.

I'm not going to lie to you, I have just taken a pain pill and things are getting fuzzy.  I will think of some other things later, when the buzz wears off.  Someone, bring dinner.  Just kidding, really.  Please, no one bring me dinner.  I will be humiliating, as Jake would say.  So don't bring dinner.  Just because I thought about it doesn't mean I really mean it.  Serious.

Monday Musings.....

Can you believe this nonsense?  I mean the hubby decides to come home for once, and this is the treatment he expects.  Don't get me wrong, I gladly did it.  I was so glad he was home I would have done it for hours just to bask in the sunshine that is his presence.  I love him that much.  I kid, about the fanning, not the love.  Look at the size of those rhubarb leaves. Can you believe it?  And those very rhubarb, rhubi?, turned into rhubarb crisp.  Delicious!  Be honest, do the capris have to go?  I can take it, just lay it on me.

Copper says "hi."  This was right before the neighbor's toy poodle attacked her and she cowered between our legs like the yellow belly she is.  She let out with one big growl on the second attack, but was then embarrassed and looked to us for reassurance.  We told her, just like we tell our own kids, don't back down in a fight, especially when you are five times bigger.  I mean, really.
Just enjoying our late blooming peonies.  They are so beautiful, my very favorite flower.  Love them, love their scent, love the fact they were created for me to enjoy.  Speaking of flowers, if anyone needs a start of a daisy please contact me.  We have an overgrowth on our hands.  If you give it an inch it will take your whole yard.  It is free, in case you were wondering and will spread a smile across your face every time you look at it.  A very happy flower, and great for little girls to pick, or boys - we are an equal opportunity floral provider.
At this point I would like to send this flower to Jammie in the hopes that it will help stop the contracting which is six weeks early.  Let's hope that stops, and stops quick.  Can you imagine contracting for the next six weeks?  Let's not even think it.  Anyway, best of luck to you.  

Funny story:

Jake:  Dad, why are those snap dragon flowers your favorite?

Reed:  Those flowers are actually snow in summer.  We had them at my house when I was a boy.

Jake:  When I get my own house and become a man I will plant those at my house.  That is if I can overcome my greatest fear.

Reed:  What's your greatest fear?

Jake:  Well right now it's worms and I can't be a man until I overcome my fear of worms.

Wanted: Ideas

Many of you are aware that Reed and I teach the four year olds in Church, if you are not aware, Reed and I teach the four year olds in Church.  We were looking for cute ideas of crafts the kids could do for Father's Day.  You know - something easy, inexpensive, and yet wondrously creative.  I know, should be easy.  Anyway, if you have a great idea, or even a mediocre one please send it our way.  Thanks!

Random Thoughts...

Jammie tagged me wondering some random information about me that not everyone knew, but since my life is an open book, (obviously), and I am not afraid to say pretty much anything, (I lack that inner switch), I will share with you one priceless nugget.  Prepare yourselves to be blown away because this is probably my deepest, darkest secret.  Only Reed knows this secret, and he loves to tease me with it on the rare occasions that I let him.

When I was a little girl I had no idea what the word "consumer"meant.  I was a great reader and would read anything I could get my hands on, whether it be cereal boxes, shampoo bottles, the occasional book, and as it so happens, pillow tags.  One night, as I was trying to snooze I realized that my pillow tags were driving me to the very brink of insanity.  I have always loved my sleep, and these pesky tags were inhibiting my slumber.  So, I did what any young girl who valued her beauty sleep would do, and I cut them off.  This is when I realized the extent of my folly.  I noticed these tags had some printing on them, so, of course, being the reader that I am, I read them.  What I read sent chills down my spine and made me break out into a cold sweat.  I read these very disturbing words: "Under Penalty of Law This Tag Not To Be Removed Except By the Consumer."  What did that mean?  What's a consumer?  Penalty of Law!  That is huge!  My dad is a cop and I knew not to break the law.  I knew it from the top of my head to the soles of my feet that the law was to be obeyed, and obeyed to the letter.  What had I done?  I imagined the FBI showing up at my house, flashing their badges, and searching my pillows to see if the tags were still on them.  Worst case scenario, the SWAT Team breaking through my window and demanding to inspect the tags.  I knew all about the SWAT Team, those guys meant business.  Clearly, I was trapped in an overactive imagination and I was doomed to spend time at the point of the mountain for violating the law.  Would they go easy on me because I was a juvenile?  Maybe?  Maybe, if I saved the tags, and showed them to the police when they came, would they let me off with a warning?  Yes, that is what I will do.  I will save the tags for a moment just like that.  Then they will go easy on me, maybe I will just get probation.  So I did.  I stacked them together and stuffed them under the corner of my black trunk.  I added to them throughout the years and as I grew, I knew that I would be safe.  And when I moved away from home I uncovered a stack of pillow and mattress tags and I wondered....Should I take these with me?

Oh, I am also in search of the perfect pair of red high heels - black cherry not bright red, pointy toed.  Because red shoes just make you feel sassy.  And these are the random things about me for today.

It is with a Heavy Heart....

that I bid adieu to my circa 1984 TeleQuest HotLips telephone with my original home phone number still in the window.  I don't believe I received this phone in 1984 though.  I think I received it around '85 or '86, maybe not, but if so, does that mean my parents bought it on clearance? Mom, Dad, did you?  I can't believe that this phone ever saw a minute on the clearance rack because it is just too fabulous.  I can reveal, however, that I received it for Christmas, which, if I were so inclined, I could research and find the exact year and then satisfy everyones curiosity on this point.  This phone started out residing in my pink and black bedroom next to my daybed.  I would sit on this phone for hours and talk to my friends.  I even spent a good hour and a half talking to a boy who called and never gave me his name.  I still have no idea who he was, and sometimes I wonder about him.  Did he think I was one of my sisters?  Was it a wrong number?  Was he meaning to call me?  Never mind, it's not important, what's important is that we made a connection, and that connection was made via my lips phone.  This is also the phone that I used when Reed was on his mission.  He wrote me a letter and gave me his phone number and then was a little upset when I called him.  Who knew there was  an eight hour time change and that I would wake up the whole house and infuriate his companion?  Oh well, water under the bridge.  My HotLips phone would get packed up and move with me throughout my married life.  I uncovered it one day when our other phone broke, several years ago, and it was a glorious reunion.  We have been together ever since.

Mostly it would sit next to my bed, like old times, but sometimes I had to bring it out to the kitchen.  These are the times when Reed would fuss.  He has always been jealous of the bond between my phone and I.  He doesn't understand the talks we've shared, the tears we've cried, the gossip we've heard.  That phone knows more about me than most people in my life and it deserves some respect.  This is why, instead of going in the trash, it will be lovingly packed and stored in my cedar chest with the rest of my valuables.  One day, it will resurface and make another little girl very happy.  Only as a pretend phone though, because it is good and broke.  So it is with a mournful heart that I set out to find a replacement.  No phone could ever really replace it entirely, but I found a decent substitute:
Granted it is not nearly as whimsical, but it represents middle-aged me.  It is still lovely in its own right but it has a sense of maturity that the HotLips telephone lacked.  The kids already have big plans for this phone.  I hope I can get one phone call in before they get their paws on it.  That first call will be to my dear husband, who I will tell with a tear in my eye, that the HotLips phone has been retired and been replaced with something a bit more "high brow."

Second Day of Summer - aka "A Sad, Sad Day"

Summer is not looking good for the cherubic children of mine.  We had our six month check at the dentist and it only went well for one kid.  Oddly, it is the kid who eats candy non-stop throughout the day.  She is so cavalier with her teeth that I thought for sure she would be in false teeth at the end of last year.  But, ridiculously, she keeps defying fate and once again came out with a perfect record.  Dear Torey:  Thank you for having healthy teeth.

Dear Jake:  Good luck with those two cavities.  I told the dentist that you were vain and wanted white fillings but he insists on silver because they are cheaper and your teeth are not permanent.  I am going with the doc on this one.  Sorry.  I am also sorry that your perfect teeth record was broken, you have been devastated by this and I know how you feel.  My record was perfect once, too.  Sadly, we have succumbed to the evil plaque monster and now we are both dealing with the consequences.  I feel your pain.

Dear Taylor:  I am so sorry.  Having five teeth pulled in one sitting can't be good.  When you cried I was crying with you.  Maybe I wasn't gasping and sobbing like you were, but I was panicking on the inside.  I know you think I should have stopped the carnage, but at least I demanded that he give you some gas, because he wasn't going to give you a shot.  Even though pulling teeth makes me throw up, I pulled up my big girl pants and I held your hand, and you snorted, trying to get under control.  Who knew that the anticipation would be worse than the actual event.  Teeth were flying everywhere.  I am glad you found the one that got lost.  It was on your shirt.  Can you imagine the horror of the next patient if they found it?  Anyway, you hurt for awhile but now you are jumping on the neighbors trampoline.  I wonder if you will pay for that later.  Just think, now those permanent teeth will have a place to live.  I know your baby teeth were holding on for dear life, but come on, they had to go. Let's hope that tomorrow is a better day.  It can't get much worse, can it?

Love, (your majorly scarred) Mom

First Day of Summer - Review

The first day of summer holds a myriad of expectations for children everywhere.  They dream of starting a vacation, beginning swimming lessons, or doing something else of a noteworthy nature.  My children began their summer with the same expectations.  I asked them Sunday night what their expectations for this summer were:

Taylor:  Go to a New York Yankees game.

Torey:  Go to an opera.

Jake:  Go to the mall and get a hot pretzel.

Is it any wonder that he is my favorite?  Done and done!  And so we woke on Monday morning with anticipation hanging heavy in the air.  And then that anticipation was doused with cold, hard reality.  We did some chores, cleaned some rooms, and laid around the house while I paid the bills.  We made dentist appointments, cried about dentist appointments, and then made eye doctor appointments.  We are just trying to get the business end of summer out of the way right off the bat I tell them.  Speaking of bats, we did enjoy a baseball game.  Here are some pictures:

Jake does not have any confidence in our ability to support him so he tried to get a job as the field prep guy.  The chalk dispenser was heavy, the chalk was stubborn, and the job was not at all what it was advertised.
When field prep didn't work out he tried the snack stand.  He brought me some popcorn.  I hope he paid for it because I didn't.  Do not worry, he and Torey both empty their piggy banks before every game and have recently been limited to a $1 spending limit, due to the $8 someone spent on treats last year in one game.  I won't mention names, we all know who it was.
Here is Taylor right before she hit the ball into deep left/center and managed to make a double of it.  I won't lie to you, there was a lot of "woohooing" from the sideline and maybe one tear was shed.  It was amazing and just what she needed.  It fell about six feet from the fence and was the best hit of the night from our team.  Go Taylor!!  Reed and the asst. coach have been working with her and they may have it figured out because she hit every time she got up last night.   She later said it didn't matter anyways because they left her stranded on base.  She is way too hard on herself.

Some will notice that Torey is not in any of these pictures and that is because she views baseball games as a purely social experience and runs off with various friends the second we arrive.  I do not see her until the game is over.  I should be more diligent in keeping track of her, but that would be like trying to trap a hummingbird.

And that, my friends, was our first day.  The second day doesn't hold a lot of promise either.  We are visiting our good friends  at the dentist, going to the bank, the quilt store, and to buy a new phone because my "hot lips" phone has finally given up the ghost.  I will not mourn because that phone has been good to me.  It has been with me since I was nine or ten and has served me well.  Reed never liked that phone.  He is secretly glad it is broken, I know he is.  I'll show him glad when he sees what my new "corded" phone will be.