4 Kids, no dog, and living the American Dream!

Valentine's Day

2012-01-23T13:12:00.000-07:00

Does it seem like time is just flying by? I was just recently looking over some photographs from Hawaii, and was like wow that was a long time ago! January is almost over, we sure are well into 2012! I have been spending quite a bit of time designing or rather more like projecting with Heritage Makers--storybooker.com (my personal consultant site). Anyway I am excited to share with you some of my fun Valentine stuff I have made!! Yeah me! First I made a count down to Valentines, and I have to say I was inspired by someone else's work on Pintrest. (been trying to link it but pintrest is down--you can find me there and see it)

Made with an 11x14 print, and used personalized card to make the number hearts. Added magnets to the hearts and back of the poster and stuck it to my fridge! Originally thinking I would put it on a cookie sheet and do cute bows and such, but love using my fridge! Count down to Valentines, here we come! Sorry about the glare, the paper is UV coated and is reflecting the light from the sliding glass door.

Then inspired by the Club HM challenge of making valentines with business cards, I created these for my children to pass out at school, at church and to their neighbor friends! They turned out super cute, if I do say so myself :) Hahhah

Front and backs to double sided business cards, creating the most unique and personalized valentines!

And on a totally other note, inspired by Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead, I am doing a vegan vegetable/veggie mostly juice diet...so far so good. This morning, was a blended frozen beet, kale and grape smoothie...not too bad. Lunch I did eat an apple, followed by freshly squeezed orange, grape, apple juice. In the crockpot, freshly squeezed and pulp added back, tomato, celery, carrot, cucumber, onion, bell pepper soup. Aren't you just jealous!!! I bet you just are!! I feel the cleansing coming on!

Bee's 9!

2012-01-16T05:55:00.003-07:00

Oh Where oh Where does the time go?? Really how in the world did my baby girl turn 9...ok in reality she does have one more day as 8. But she celebrated in pajamas with her friends on Friday. They had a blast painting their nails, getting their hair done, making pizzas and decorating their own pillow cases. Though I think their favorite part was sitting in a circle watching Bee open her presents of major crafts and make-uping items. And if you can guess what this cake is (please don't let me find it on cake wrecks!) you will get a prize! Well just a great pat on the back. So start guessing!

Quick, Easy and gosh darn cute!

2012-01-16T05:43:00.000-07:00

I was trying to come up with a simple, yet inexpensive if not FREE gift to make for my niece. I looked through my craft room and my fabric scraps. When I found the fabric I had used to make my children's pajama bottoms for Christmas, the thought "make her a blankey" came to mind. Much to my chagrin, I didn't have a big enough piece of any of the flannel to make a square blanket. So instead I cut strips the same length, and various widths and sewed them together in one long piece. Then I sewed the two ends together, creating a fabric band of sorts, if that makes sense. It looked like a giant fabric bracelet. Then I took my iron and ironed the long strip/band/ bracelet into a flat "square", creating a front and back, all with the wrong sides together. Then sewed up the long sides, because the edges were already sewn (leaving a little arm room to flip). Flipped it right sides out, being sure to pull the corners out and then sewed a one inch seam around the edge holding it all together. Best part, my niece loved it!!!

Christmas Eve's Eve

2011-12-24T07:08:00.002-07:00

Many moons ago, back in Texas we joined our friends' in their tradition of Christmas Eve's Eve, and haven't stopped since. The night usually ends in the wee hours of Christmas Eve, leaving small children exhausted all day ready to sleep early so Santa can come. Though last night we didn't stay up til the wee hours, we had another fun filled Christmas Eve's Eve.

Me being the party planning, party throwing freak, when my kids begged to invite each a friend and have ~~hundreds~~ a handful of children over, I actually said "No!" and surprised myself. I love a big party, don't get me wrong. I enjoy lots of people around. But for some reason I think I have been overwhelmed with parties and lots of people around, and so decided I wanted to keep it simple. Seeing that we have lots of family around and will be gathering with all of my family on Christmas Eve, I decided what better way to spend Christmas Eve's Eve than with Eric's sister's family.

Yes they were that yummy!!!

They joined us for dinner, yummy fajitas made with some smoked beef from last week. Don't worry it had been frozen and if I were truly a cute blogger I would of had my camera out and taken pictures of the food. I must say they all were impressed when I pulled out my egg slicer and "chopped" olives. I don't know where I got the idea, it just hit me, cuz I am clever like that.

After dinner, we started our Christmas Eve's Eve, ok that is a long name lets just call it CEE, with our name calling, or rather party name giving. You see it wouldn't be a party without party names, right?! Starting with the youngest, T-Rex aka Party Pooper--his self given name, to oldest Eric aka Party Smoker, we went around the room picking our names. Though I don't remember many one stuck out and I believe gets the name of the hour Party Penguin Puking Purple....some kind of food starts in P...but ok it has not stuck that well. Anyway after receiving your name, its on to toasts for the New Year...going oldest to youngest. One toast being to more Family FUNctions!

Aren't we a good looking bunch? Ok so this is stock photography, and we used styrofoam cups and root beer and Squirt! But you won't tell anyone that this isn't us right?

Then on to the Jump of Joy! yes we stand up jump and shout Joy! Lots of fun! Again an awesome Picture here would be great!!!

How about Bee jumping for Joy on the Trampoline....it works for me!

Then dessert with yummy peppermint ice cream and hot fudge!! YUMMY! Oh and can't forget the gumdrop bread, a Norman traditon, and a good one at that!

Kids played hide and seek. Parents tried to make a puzzle. Then Eric pulled out the masa and Tamale Making began....Good one Eric, I think this was the hit of the night. The girls sure had fun making them and my neice N sure was living her Food Network dream, I believe one day we will see her on that show.

N and the Masa!!!

A stirring up some Masa

Bee spreading the Masa onto the corn husk.

We can't wait til next year!! And are so excited to get together with family tonight for Christmas Eve!! And can you believe it, tomorrow is Christmas and 2012 is just around the corner!!!!!!!!! Wow!!!!!!!!!!! Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good NIGHT!

Smiley Cat, Smiley Cat

2011-12-08T12:35:00.001-07:00

Ok so I bought these Arm & Hammer kitty litters during the summer. To be honest I totally bought them for the ad on the side FREE ID TAG! But I am so glad they offered that because this stuff rocks! (and no I am not getting paid to post this, though I should, but probably my nine readers wont make a huge difference in their marketing and selling). Anyway, I didn't read the fine print..you need your receipts :) oops...who saves all their grocery receipts, well not me! Anyway so I cut the proofs off and figured if I included a picture of the cat, the boxes maybe that will count? We shall see! But Anyway I totally love both T-Rex's and Oliver's faces. It looks too me like they are both laughing! It really is sweet! If I could zoom in for you I would~!

On the thumbnail T didn't look so much like he was in pain, he said "Merry Christmas- Happy Birthday Daddy!" today is Eric's birthday! He says he is 2 today so yes now I have 5 young children to raise :) Happy birthday Sweety!!!

A little bit of this and that....

2011-12-04T20:15:00.001-07:00

I can finally post pictures!! not sure what happened but am excited. Though I just picked some of recent. Kind of a little Photo collage update!! This below is my new to me head board that I touched up with spray paint!!

Bee did a report on her Grandma coming to the America's after WWII. SHe decided to dress her doll up and put her on a ship like she came in. I was very Impressed by her report.

Thanksgiving has come and gone, we truly had a blast, all of my siblings were in town so we actually were able after 8 years to get a total Ford Family picture! Fun to have the cousins together!

We had several of the cousins sleep over and they had a blast..like that word. I tried to get them all in the air at the same time. but truly love this one of Two, she is smiling so big!

Meet Oliver, our newest addition! He for some reason thinks the Christmas tree is his personal perch. And he often goes "hunting" for ornaments and leaves them in piles.

G getting alittle help decorating the tree!!

Two with her new glasses :) she is and all her siblings got new glasses. Yes 4 of 4 of my kids wear glasses!!

Our most recent family photo, see something missing? yeah so do I but obviously the kind gentleman that took it didn't :) This is why there is no Christmas Card this year...yeah thats my excuse :)

And last but not least my cute kids at Halloween. A ghost, a hula girl, a goblin and a fairy!

Gratitude Smatitude

2011-11-28T13:40:00.001-07:00

So yes like a lot of things in my life, well not a ton...I didn't follow through with what I had planned, however props go to me for just even writing more than once in the month! I think I decided I am ADD with a little bit of compulsive disorder, because I will hit something strong follow through and then bam...half sewn skirt sits in my sewing pile for a year!...anyway enough about me, how about my gratitude...and since today is the 28th and I did a few posts, don't really even know how many I will give you 28 things I am grateful for!
1. My husband--LOVE, LOVE him and words can't describe how grateful I am for him in my life.
2. My kids- love them much too and posted on them before!
3. My parents--Great awesome people who are so very important in my life.
4. My in-laws--Awesomely wonderful people. So glad to have them in my life.
5. Siblings, I always was proud to say I have an Older Sister, an Older Brother, a younger Sister, and a Younger Brother, not many people get to say that. I love them and love having had the opportunity to live closer to them since having grown up--though I am still growing.
6. Sibling in laws--they are awesome and I sure enjoy living near some and having them in my lives.
7. My home
8. my health, because if you know I have the ability to get sick easy it seems sometimes....
9. My sense of color--you need color matches or coordination I am your gal really I am :)
10. my sight- having had problems with seeing lately so glad that I can see.
11. My brain--yes stealing this one from my nephew :) but I am grateful for it.
12. my ability to type and AMAZE my daughter as she is watching me type this.
13. my Sense of Humor...my goodness thats what everyone is looking for in someone right? :) so I guess I am a number one pick :) haha!
14. FRIENDS--new and old! I love having friends and making friends and working on keeping them :) the later seems to be harder in older years :) but there isn't a place in the world where I can't find a friend. People are awesome and I love getting to know them.
15. Friends again, because I love how they support me and are willing to put up with some of my stupidness.
16. Cookie Dough--cheers me up!
17. Running--though because of meds (which i just took myself off of) I had to stop. Ran in the Thanksgiving Turkey trot and it felt so good!
18. Trees--they are so pretty and give us nice shade in the hot summers.
19. Snow--looks so pretty on the mountains
20 A full Fridge--because right now it is totally empty.
21. Christmas--though it feels right now it reminds me of how much I'd like to do for my kids and others and can't, I am grateful for the feeling of love all around the world, even though black friday brings out the evil in people...but then it subsides...and everyone is awesome.
22. Books--I love to read and love the library...which I need to go back to.
23. Kids that can count and tell me I have 23 and need five more to be at 28
24. computers
25. internet--love being able to connect to friends near and far
26. cars- maybe not the top of the line, or non oil leaky free..but run and get us to where we need to go.
27. sewing-the ability to make my kids gift this years makes me happy
28. Heritage Makers--I love making things and making books and taking pictures and writing stories and this has been a wonderful outlet for me! And to show you what I am doing for Christmas...and what you can do to....click on this link :) or go to http://www.storybooker.com/ to make your own!!!

or here :)

What day is it mom?? Nov. 15..I'm right! Right?

2011-11-16T10:08:00.001-07:00

My little Two is in first grade and just amazes me at times with her knowledge, and her keeping me on track with dates and all! Yeah so now it is Nov. 16th, this month can't possibly be half way through...this year truly has flown.

So today I list the six things I am grateful for:

T-Rex, even though, should I start a gratitude post out with even though...yeah why not, even though he does some crazy stuff, like dump the WHOLE FULL (raw chicken even) Kitchen garbage can on the living room floor- or think it fun to pull the wire thingy in the stapler, till it springs back no more--or take every bucket in the toy room and dump it in a pile, pile on blankets and start jumping--or pee on the front porch---or run around naked--I love him! He has a way about it that just warms my heart, maybe it's the random hugs and "mommy I love you so much" or the fact that he just likes to hang out with me and do chores with me. He and I have spent many days just sitting on my bed watching music videos on youtube, not something I normally do or ever did, but something he enjoys doing...kind of funny his favorite song is "lazy" by Bruno Mars "today I don't feel like doing anything..." because some days he and I just hang out! I so enjoy my time with him! Just if I could get him to be a little less mischievous! Love you buddy!
Two--kind of funny 2 Two....anyway that little girl is just the cuddliest, loving little girl! Sometimes I admit I am not too excited to hold her, but realize and treasure those moments because she isn't going to always want to sit in my lap. I think I have said this before I love her little, rather big smile, she just really beams ear to ear. Two likes everyone and though sometimes I see it as a down side, she is always more concerned about her friends' happiness and what they want to do than hers. Everyone once in awhile she stands up for her own, but she is always the first to apologize and always the first to do what the other wants. She loves to read, and I love that, because I too love to read, and she will read me book after book, and I get to read to her as well. Two loves school and seems to really love to learn, even if she has a hard time sitting still, I think a trait that runs deep in our family. I love you Two!!
Our little Bee is just such a wonderful asset to our family, and truly a little mini me, sometimes to her own demise. She loves to take control and make sure everyone is doing what they are suppose to, sometimes this is a big help to me, and sometimes well it causes some tension but none the less she is such a good helper and rule follower. Bee and I truly enjoy moments where we can sit and talk, and she loves hanging out with my friends and I. I think if it came down to it she'd choose to sit with the adults. I actually really enjoy having her around. The other night I did a Heritage Makers' Workshop at my house and she was so helpful and sat so quietly and just was fun to have her around. She too is taking off in reading and I love watching her read with Two and show her the ropes and teach her. She loves to teach, and wouldn't be surprised if she ended up teaching school, though she says she wants to be a Doctor. I love my little Bee!!!!
G-Man, my first born my love, my go get'em friendly guy. And though lately he seems to enjoy his new found super power of pestering his sisters, he sure is an awesome older brother. He makes sure they get home safely from school, enjoys hanging out and playing with them, and for the most part is truly loving to them. He still is ubber sensitive not just his personal feelings but towards others' feelings as well, I really hope that doesn't change. I love how he knows what I am thinking, and tries to adjust the situation to make things a little better. It has been fun watching him learn and grow, so hard to believe he will be 11 soon. He is maturing and it is awesome to watch him do so. Though some days I just wish I could hold him tight, and some days he lets me. He is a wonderful young man and we are blessed to have him in our lives-- Love you G!
It's hard to not be grateful for my kids with out being grateful for my husband. He is a wonderful dad and husband and I am so glad that our paths finally crossed and we were able to create such a wonderful family. He is smart, kind, thoughtful, sharing, giving, creative, adventuresome, talkative (some may be surprised to hear that), funny, patient, and just so wonderful!!! He is a blessing in my life, as I am in his (just a friendly reminder).
Gift of writing, I love that in some ways I have the ability to write and express my thoughts and feelings, I am not so good at the speaking part, and not saying I am close to being an amazing writer, but I admit I have a little talent of it and am grateful for it...was that like a humble gratitude brag?! Oh well, I am grateful to be able to write!!

Nov 10--Veterans

2011-11-10T20:07:00.001-07:00

I know tomorrow is officially Veterans' Day, however the third graders at my daughter's school performed a Vetrans' Day Musical...more or less. And I have to tell you, I am so grateful to those who server our country and for the country we live it. I always feel like a boob because I can't sing the National Anthem or say the Pledge of Allegiance with out tearing up, and choking up either. Also as soon as the Veterans stand and we applaud their service, my eyes begin to water and my throat wells up...not sure why but I truly love these brave young men and women, and love seeing the gray haired men proudly stand.

I love the USA! And am Proud and Grateful to be an American!

Nov 9- Creative Liberties

2011-11-10T20:01:00.001-07:00

The other day I was paid the most awkward but cool compliment "Corrine, you are the kind of person I just don't like being friends with because you are so talented and it makes me feel lame." Um...I thought, is that a compliment put down? But then I realized that no it was a total "Corrine you rock!" yeah something like that. But I have to say, I am not the most creative person on the block, but I am grateful for the creativity I have, and the ability to see something I like and copy it :) Though usually even if it is a copy, I always give it my own Corrine twist, but I think that is because I am really not usually a direction follower. And my cool red and turquoise house, is a hit and people all over are flocking to see it and copy it :) ok not really just really cool people :) HA HA! you know who you are!

But I am grateful for a decent mind that can work in a way that I can create things that are fun and different"ish".

what day is it?

2011-11-08T08:28:00.001-07:00

Oh yes day 7 and 8, might as well get them done in one post today seeing that it is technically day 8, and by golly I am going to write a gratitude post for every day this month, even if it is not written on the corresponding day.

Day 7: short and sweet grateful for my mom. It truly has been great to live near her and my dad. The kids love them, but I feel blessed to be able to hop in the car and stop by and see her, or have her swing by and pick me up and take me shopping. Love you mom you are a wonderful mom and a great friend.

Day 8: my dad is awesome too! one thing I remember most of my childhood is weeding on Saturdays or heading to the lumber store with him. And even this day, I like to throw at him all my wood related projects and he is so willing to do them, and he does an awesome job. Hey dad did I mention my trunk had a little moving accident :) Love you.

I feel extremely lucky to have ended up near my parents, and lucky as well to have been able to spend so many of our children's younger years near my in laws. Grandparents are the best, but that will be for another post!

Day 6: Grateful for poop...yeah thats right...

2011-11-06T19:04:00.000-07:00

One must wonder why in the world I would be grateful for poop, and why in the world would I actually post about it. I am asking myself that right now, but there is a story and a spiritual one none the less...Just bare with me for a moment...

Our bishop has encouraged every member of our ward (our church congregation) to read the Book of Mormon before the new year. As our family has been trying hard to finish it we have been met with some struggles....but have been doing fairly well, but with many beginner readers sometimes it is painful to get through a page, let alone a chapter or more than one chapter. And I am assuming that we aren't unlike any other family out there trying their best to read their scriptures, children get distracted, or some how begin fighting or throwing things or laughing or too tired or whatever.

However today was kind of unlike any other reading we have had before. We were all sitting on our bed, we had an extra hour this morning because of the day light savings stuff, and so we sat and read. It was going surprisingly well, when T-Rex decided he needed to use the john, and was in sitting doing his duty with the door open for all to see...and for some unknown reason, other than the fact that I think a certain being not wanting our family to read the scriptures, T-Rex decided to reach into the toilet grab out his personal gold from the toilet and began to bring it to the family, I think he mentioned something about throwing it at someone!! I of course yelled, the other children were all screeching in disgust so he dropped it on the bathroom floor. Bringing our scripture study to an abrupt stop. After cleaning it up we attempted to continue reading but the good mood had left, but we read some more.

Now you ask why am I grateful for poop? Well today it reminded me that as we continue to try to make ourselves better, poop happens but somehow we clean it up, and we can continue on and improve ourselves. I am grateful for the knowledge that we can better ourselves and despite the adversaries attempt to throw poop at us, if we continue on, do our best to move on, we will succeed.

slacking already day 4 and 5

2011-11-05T07:34:00.000-06:00

No one is perfect and that surely includes me, especially when it comes to sticking to something I set my mind to. My mind tends to...SQUIRREL....see what I mean. :) Anyway this morning I am grateful for

Family, the extended kind, not that I am not grateful for the immediate ones, but I had the opportunity to attend a cousin's wedding and just being around them just reminded me how small the world really is and how related we all are. I am grateful that no matter how many pounds you have gained or lost, or how grey your hair has become, or how rich or poor you may be, they love you and enjoy catching up and seeing you. So fun to see familiar faces and feel the love.
Laughter. I love to laugh and truly enjoy nights when I can get out with friends and just laugh. No need for much else than good company and loud heart felt laughter!

Have a great day! Hear there is snow out there, but haven't dared look!

Also if you are in the area I am doing a digital scrapbooking/art decor party my house Tuesday at 7:30 so come on out and learn more about Heritage Makers, you can also go to www.storybooker.com for more information!!! Turn your photos and stories into amazing mementos!

3 days late, but still feeling great

2011-11-03T17:37:00.000-06:00

Ok so that may sound like something totally different that what I meant to make it sound like, unless you were thinking the same thing I was, Gratitude posts for November and its November 3rd... So as I am late, but at least posting I will share with you three things I am grateful for, and as a fair warning, they may not be in order of most importance to me, but rather really what has come to my head first, which some may argue is order of importance, well any way you slice it, this is how I like it. Was that a really long run on sentence?? Um Yeah probably!

A job for my husband, or rather a salary and steady income. As its been a few years since we had that, though is it bad for me to say I sure miss my kids getting free lunch at school, I am grateful for a system, how messed up it may be, is able to help families out in times of need, and I am grateful to be able to pay back into the system.
Generous children, my children may be a lot of things, but selfish they are not. I appreciate them sharing their toys with friends, among other things, like halloween candy. Little T-Rex has given away all his candy. He now is wanting more, but he has gladly shared it.
Modern medicine, if you have read posts in the past or just know me and my family you know that the ER knows us by first name, well not really but they should! Bee had her appendix out last week, and we have had our share of stitches, Bee fell and split her knee open riding a bike, and G-Man got stung by a scorpion and well Two keeps fighting bladder infections, grateful for antibiotics...and then there is me, with massive optical migraines for the past few months, leaving me blind for awhile, and finally finally finding a medicine regimen, that this month well October I only had 3!! Last month I had over 12! And glasses I am grateful for those, as now 4 out of 4 of my kids are sporting them! as well as me!! Love modern medicine! And it helps to have insurance, though again, going back to the poor thing, it was kind of nice to pay a $5 copay for the kids...man I kind of sound like a system moocher...

And there you have it, my 3 days of gratitude, and I will be ever more grateful if I can actually pull off writing every day this month...

Well off to help my six year old who has been crying since I have been writing about me getting her dressed...seriously I guess I can only ignore for so long.

School Picture day

2011-09-23T14:12:00.000-06:00

yesterday I thought I might head to the store, pick up a few coordinating matching shirts for my children, get up early curl the girls hair, paint their nails, fix them a nice breakfast, while packing their lunches and then sending them off well fed and ready for the day. Unfortunately it didn't go that way.

T-Rex woke up at 2am with a fever, crawling into my bed, after wetting his too. Then his over hot little body, in our small queen bed, caused me to leave and hit the couch. Where of course I pulled out the lap top and began reading and figuring out the new facebook layout. An hour or two passed when I realized I probably should go back to sleep as 6 am rolls around fast.

I snooze my walking alarm and fall back to sleep, to wake at 7:10 remembering it is picture day and my kids actually need to get ready for school. Kids are flying in the shower, I am trying to find the picture order form, remember that I didn't get any shirts and my ideas of coordinating kids flew out the door. I try to negotiate to get some coordination out of the children however they have in mind what they are going to wear, and I decide there are only so many battles to fight this morning, like getting breakfast. Some want eggs, while others cereal and a certain determined one wanting pancakes, because a certain father left this morning early after making himself an omelet which for some reason made the house smell like pancakes, so I really couldn't blame the child for wanting one.

So where was I oh yeah, kids showering, me running around the house, finding the order forms, and I remember the wet sheets, which I pull off the bed and start washing, followed by deciding to "save" time and preorder the photos on the web, which only allows one student preorder---Hello we are in Utah and everyone knows every family has at least three children at a school at time..well that may be a little stereo type but anyway, so I end up ordering 3 packages for one child, and hope I put enough printed out receipts in their own envelopes to not have screwed it up too bad. All the while, I am trying to print the receipts off, Two is crying in the back ground for pan cakes, T-rex in my bed crying for his dad and my ocular migraine starts to make a prescence, and I am slowly loosing my field of vision in my left eye.

I grab some meds, and then make a pancake, and while it is ~~cooking~~ burning I atempt to dry Two's hair and wash off her lipstick I told her we would put on for picture day, I meant a lip gloss and she found the lipstick, though have to admit she didn't make too much of a clown face. As I smell the cooking pancake, I run to flip it, and then come back and pull her hair back. Run back to the kitchen, one eyed, and brush out Bee's tangled fresh washed hair, and slick it back in a head band, just hope it dried before her classes picture time.

We run around finding shoes, and oh did we sign the homework? no get that signed and in the back packs, there is only 5 minutes before school starts, where did the time go this morning? I don't have time to get those lunches made so we pull out our disney money and count out pennies and nickles to make up the lunch money, when what do I hear "we have to have it in an envelope." So off to find that, put the money in envelopes, no time to walk, hurry everyone to the car, load them up.

"mom did you pay for our pictures?" Oh yeah, printed off the receipts but forgot to put them in their envelopes, run back inside, grab the envelopes, and a pen to fill them out on the way. "Mom I heard the bell ring" Yep already late, so sit in the car to fill it out.

We pull up to school and guess who is in front of us, the family I wanted to be....girls hair perfectly dried and brushed, curled and not out of place, shirts coordinating with all four kids, yeah they were late, but you can see why, dry hair, bows and curls, gel-ed and spiked. They looked like a Pantene commercial, girls hairs all beautiful, I swear I saw one fling her long locks over her shoulders and backpack, and whisper the words "don't hate me because I am beautiful."

Out jump my kids from the van, hair wet, shoving papers in their back packs, G-Man with is white button down shirt un buttoned over the top of his black skelton skater shirt, Bee wet hair back in a headband yellow polo shirt, Two hair pulled in a rubberband with some of her bangs in and some out a red plaid jumper with white t-shirt which I had to convince her to put on, some dry hair some wet, all ready for their day.

Just can't wait for the finished product! Just love school picture day!

And summer Begins!

2011-05-26T16:23:00.000-06:00

No more pencils, no more books, no more teacher's dirty looks! When the teacher rings the bell, drop your book and run like.....well you know how it goes. Summer marks the end of another 9 months of learning and the beginning of water, sun, late nights, friends and more friends, fun, unscheduled life, and pure craziness sometimes.

Today is my Two's birthday, she is 6! So hard to believe she is six and done with kindergarten. It has flown by. She is one of the sweetest most loving little girls. After school today she had a few of her friends over. We had a great time.

With all those little girls here, and then some of G-Man's friends showing up, and then Bee's friends, it just seems like a perfect start to summer. I, most days, enjoy the kids having friends over. One, keeps them entertained and me less entertaining and two, I know where they are and feel they are safe.

With Eric's new job being in South Jordan (50 miles), and the gas prices almost $4...we will be moving, which I have mentioned before, it excites and saddens me. I know there will be plenty of children in our new neighborhood, but the kids have made some really good friends here. We all have.

I am just glad we get to spend one last summer here. I am ready to hit the lake, to go to Raging Waters, do some camping, hopefully have some cousin sleep overs, and more family fun time.

Time to set up my Tiki Torch and start the summer.

Don't forget your sunscreen!

And on another note too, I loved doing the Ogden Marathon Relay. Next year for sure I am doing the half! It is so beautiful! I am getting way excited for the half I am doing in Boise. And after watching several of the marathoners this past weekend, I look forward to just spending time with my sister...and Aly if you are reading this...I hope to be able to just have fun! And we are going to look smoking hot in our matching shirts! Though I'd like to be 20 lbs lighter doing this run, it will be great!

Cob Web Wiping Time

2011-05-18T19:31:00.000-06:00

This morning after my run- (training myself for a half marathon in June, and after a major knee injury in February its been difficult, and am doing the Ogden Marathon Relay this weekend...so nervous...anyway) I went to the store to pick up some cupcakes for Two for her kindergarten snack. I grabbed a few other groceries and headed home. I left the bags on the kitchen table and went to the other room.

I heard some bag rustling and the sounds of heavy duty plastic container being open, when I hear T-Rex say "oh Mom I just love these, love these." I assume he has dove into the cupcakes and yell to him "do not eat those." From up behind me I see him put something on the counter, and I look. He set down the cherry tomatoes I bought. I smiled and corrected myself "you can eat all you want of those." Nice to see a child make healthy choices.

And after what seems like forever, Eric has full time, paid employment, with benefits and all that jazz. He has been working for two weeks now, about 50 miles south of where we are living. Which means we will be moving this summer. Its bitter sweet. So excited to get a new house, start things anew, but so SAD to leave our friends and area.

I sure love living in Ogden, the trees, the historic homes, the people, the mountains, the trees...I think I said that before. I love my job, my co-workers and my FRIENDS. We won't be moving that far, but still its far enough to make me sad to leave them. But I am excited for a new start and the next chapter of our lives.

The Phone Voice

2011-03-13T14:15:00.000-06:00

"Stop hitting your sister, get down from that chair. Be quiet. Quit fighting. Stop now, I mean it." I yell to my children, then the phone rings. "I said STOOOOOOOOOOP!.....Hello? Oh How are you?" and the phone voice begins. Like a light being switched off, I go from mad mom voice to sweet, friendly phone voice.

Sometimes most of the time, the ones we spend the most time with, the ones we love the most, get subjected to our non phone voice, when in reality it seems they should be experiencing the phone voice more than the others on the other end of the line.

As a mom, who gets tired and frustrated easily, my phone voice seems to be forgotten, maybe its because I text and facebook more than I speak on the phone anymore. Maybe I just have forgotten how to use it. But while at church today the thought came to me of how important it is for me to use a sweeter voice and really make my home a place where everyone feels loved.

I want there to be a feeling of love and excitement like picking up the phone and hearing a voice of a friend you haven't spoken to in weeks, or months or even years.

So when getting frustrated, irritatied or upset, imagine you just got a call.

Conspiracy Theory

2011-02-17T09:14:00.000-07:00

As my left side of my body ached of nerves tingling (the damaged nerves I have don't like the cold too much) I realized that it is all on my left side! The thought occurred to me, my right side of my body doesn't care too much for my left side.

It all started in 1997 when I had my wisdom teeth pulled. I read and signed the risks involved in wisdom teeth removal, one of which was permanent nerve damage. As I initialed that one, I had the feeling that something like that would happen to me. And when all the pain meds wore off, I didn't have feeling in the bottom left quadrant of my mouth. The doctor verified the damage, and told me it might come back. I have never fully regained feeling in the left side, but have adjusted to it. Though when it gets cold, my nerves seem to start to tingle and bug me.

Fast forward to 2009. Bee was swinging a broom around in my room and knocked a large picture off the wall. I dove from my bed to catch it and push Bee out of the way, and some how the corner of it went straight through the top of my left foot. My toes went numb and I was in shock. A few stitches later and the advice to see an orthopedic surgeon to fix the nerve damage, I left the ER. Being un insured I decided I could live with a numb top of my foot. It hasn't been too bad, though again when it gets cold my foot gets all tingly.

Then in November, I slipped down some icy basement stairs and banged up my left elbow, not broken but I still can't rest it on a table top with out striking a nerve.

Then end of January I was running out side in the cold and dark and tripped in a pot hole, hurting my left knee. I rested it for a few weeks and then ran again on it on Saturday and at 1.25 miles my knee just buckled and snapped, shooting pain up and down my leg.

I am so upset that I did this to my knee because I was getting to a point where I could actually run and breath and not "die"...and I was feeling muscles I hadn't felt in forever...oh well...

Then the thought occurred to me, my right side just doesn't like my left side :)

But then I was wondering if some of the damage to my left foot, some how is related to the knee damage, maybe I can't feel as much as I think I can in my foot? I don't know. But this is a little set back that I will figure out how to over come....I have to, I actually really love running and really am missing exercising!!

Little T-Rex

2011-02-17T08:55:00.000-07:00

Normally, well back in the good ol'days when I posted daily, I had the ability to capture the true "joys" of mother hood. I guess between work and facebook, my poor blog finds itself clearing its own cobwebs.

T-Rex is also one who has an amazing ability to take care of his own needs as well. Some how my little baby boy, has turned into a robust little 3 year old. I am amazed at how energetic he is and how smart he is! And how utterly unlike any child I have had before....I guess thats because they truly come with their own personality.

Icey Hot Cream:
Need I say more? Well yes most likely I do. A few weeks ago I injured my knee, oh a story for later, and I used the Icey Hot cream and left it on my night stand. Well he found it and decided to rub it all over his body! Of course I was at work and heard the story second hand, but he yelled out to Eric, "it burns! it burns.! I don't think he will be using that cream any more!

Muscinex:
Last night we were watchign our family's favorite, "The Middle" and a muscinex commercial aired. T looks up to us and says "thats my medicine! That is my medicine!" Yes my child often yells and repeats himself.

Floaties:
While we were getting ready in the morning for preschool, T hopped in the tub while I was cleaning up around the house. He started to yell to me "Mom there's a lot of poop in the tub. It's all over! Mom lots of poo in here!" I go in to the bathroom, T laying on his back with little logs floating around him. He didn't seem in a hurry to get out.

MoHawk Shop:
T decided the other day that he wanted a haircut. And not just any hair cut he wanted to get one at the Mohawk shop...He did and he looks so cute!

Little Chef:
T has been spending a lot of time with his dad, they truly are bonding. Eric allows the little guy to help him in the kitchen all the time. He's dads little sous chef. One day they made us some yummy fancy rhodes rolls, if you want Eric's recipe, just let me know because they are buttery and cheesy and tasty and for sure low calorie :). Anyway it was a Sunday evening, T fell asleep around 6 on the couch. We figured he was out for the night, because that happens often. Well around 7 he bolts awake and says "are my rolls ready yet?" Thinking he most likely was having a dream, we said "there are no rolls T."

"yes der is."

"where?"

He hops up opens the oven door and sure enough there were six rhodes rolls totally risen. So we baked them for him. At least we know he won't starve to death. We also often find "meals" in the microwave.

There were a couple more stories I was going to write about but they have slipped my mind. But I tell you this little guy sure keeps us on our toes.

Miles to Miles

2011-01-10T16:33:00.000-07:00

Something crazy snapped in my head a few weeks ago, and I decided to sign up for a Half MARATHON! Yeah, now I am thinking maybe I should of signed up for a 5k first but nothing like shooting for larger goals! So this last week has marked the beginning of my official training.

Every morning I woke up at 6 am and worked out at home with my Active 2 personal trainer on the Wii! I love it! other than sometimes not being in line with the bar and it telling me to do more when I am sweating and just possibly can't do more. The kids often tell me to not get so mad at it...so obviously it causes some frustration at times, but I am loving it and the way I feel.

I also joined a gym with a friend. She is also training for the half with me. We have been meeting up....well twice since we joined last Thursday. I have to get some running in...I mean it is a run I have signed up for. So I enjoy having a tread mill and an elliptical machine to use for the training. Surprisingly the first day I was able to do 5 miles under an hour and did 6 miles the next day, not under an hour but did six miles. Sure beats the sitting on the couch.

The best part is I feel great. And hopefully I will see some weight shed, which for some reason just can't come fast enough for me but not focusing on that, focusing on the training.

So here's to some more miles!!!!

Talents and Goals

2011-01-01T22:44:00.000-07:00

What?! I am out of photo storage....so not helping my new goal...of making my blog, cuter, funner ( I know not a real word) and friendlier....is that possible?

I try not to compare and covet talents of others, but lately I have been looking around and seeing my friends (thanks to new social medias---blogs and facebook namely) and all their amazing talents, I have started to see myself as lacking in many areas. And being the new year, and a time of goals....well what better time to sit down and compare and contrast and sulk and mope and well jot down and sceam and come up with a plan to be better than ~~them~~ me as I am.

So for me this year my goals go like this:

Run more than I do (not hard since its been since October....?) (yeah setting the goal of three times a week and just signed up for a 1/2 marathon in June...yeah that's right, nothing like setting goals with registering before I even have running shoes or a jog bra!...that's on my shopping list)
Drink more water---aka drink no more soda! Did it for a month and a half can do it for longer and better....
Eat less sugar...ok eat a lot less sugar....actually just going to add a positive goal, eat more fruit!
Take more pictures....if you saw my files of pictures you might think "more photos? Really?" but yes I'd like to take more photos more frequently....really want to improve my skills.
Write more...my journals are collecting dust on the shelves, and I really want to write with some paper and ink more, less facebook status updates and more personal journal writing....also I have a few book ideas in the back of my head, collecting dust and I'd like to get those down on paper.
Create! I saw a blog recently with monthly craft projects so that by Christmas you have a ton of homemade gifts and such, not sure I will go that far, but I'd like to take some of my existing stuff and turn it into the things that I really like....not sure if this makes sense, but I am ready to have my home and things be totally me, and not what was on sale or what I own...change nobs and paint and such...but also I'd like to be one of those "crafty" cool people...just need to find the time, but I can do it. And it would be cooler to come up with a way to create money with it too....
Sing and play the piano...yeah not sure I can be taught to sing, but as Primary Chorister, I just think if I learned to like singing more, and music more I could make this calling fit me better...and well we got a little keyboard for Christmas and maybe I can prove my piano teacher wrong...I can learn to play!
Get organized! If I could just get my house in "perfect" order, perfect for me that is, which is why I am writing in quotations....I need to find what works best for me so that I can do everything else I want to do, because let me be honest, when my house is a mess, I can't do anything else, including cleaning it....as a pile of laundry sits here on the couch with me!
Have more parties! I truly love to entertain, well maybe not entertain but have people over. I like to have everyone over...Eric even complimented me on that, how I like to invite all my friends and not certain ones and such....I want a welcoming home and want you to know you are always welcome and you can come and make new friends. I really want to find a way to have more people over and well maybe get invited over somewhere too....not going on my sad horse..but its been a long time since we have been invited over for anything...really.
Spend more time with my family....its been fun having the kids get to know more cousins, but sometimes the drive seems to get in the way of doing that. And if it means we continue to drive more, I'd like to see that happen.
Get closer to my Heavenly Father.....that's a little more personal than I want to go, but its a goal.
Laugh More...it made me feel so good at our company party, for some reason I was laughing a lot and comments were made on what an awesome contagious laugh I have...one that like I have mentioned has found a place to hide....and my kids even noticed I just need to laugh more. Today while we were swimming and I was upset about something...kids jumping and splashing people maybe...Eric encouraging them...or rather not totally discouraging them or something and G-Man says "We just need to get Mom to laugh...maybe we just need to stream America's Funniest home videos so mom will laugh all the time and be happy." Which the comment made me laugh, we have had some good laughs watching that show and well G is so right, I just need to sit back and laugh more and enjoy our time.

So here is to 2011, where we all become a little better, a little kinder, a little smarter, a little thinner, a little sweeter, a little sillier, a little more loving, and just a little more closer to the perfect us.

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-25T20:01:00.000-07:00

As I look back on the year coming quickly to an end, I realize there have been many ups and downs, and some bumps and turns, some skids, some nicks, some stitches, some laughs, some cries, some travels, some incomes, some job changes, some life changes, some lessons learned, some lessons taught, some friends made, some love returned, and some very many blessings received. Overall, its been an interesting, long, but yet fast year. So hard to believe that next year is next weekend.

For many we sent out our little Christmas Picture card, with no note attached. Never been a huge fan of the "brag" letter, but have come to see them less as bragging but more as in focusing on the blessings of the year. So I spared you a letter in the mail, but find that I need to write. Can't guarantee this will be short...it really has been a long year.

Before Christmas a year ago, I started applying for jobs in the area. Though I had been working at the restaurant 2-3 days a week, I wasn't taking home a paycheck, and it was getting impossible to for us to survive as a family, with out an income.

I was hired on in house keeping at McKay Dee hospital. Surprisingly, besides feeling looked down on by many of the staff, and never being called "corrine" only housekeeper, I enjoyed the work. It felt good to get in and clean and see things done. And I loved visiting with the patients, especially since I covered mostly the post partum floor. I worked forty plus hours a week. I left around 6 am, five days a week, when I'd hurry home to have Eric run up to the restaurant, three of those days, since I worked Monday's which the restaurant was closed. Then I worked weekends too. I went from January to May, not going to our church, first time in my life missing that much church. Fortunately for me, they held church services at the hospital which most of the time I was able to attend on my break.

Anyway in April, after women's conference I felt strongly that I needed to find other work. But didn't know what to do. Was hoping to get benefits and had worked the 3 months, but for some reason nothing happened for me there. And somehow I caught up with a gal from our Ward who had just opened a day care, and needed a director. We spoke and I mentioned my degree and that I should be able to qualify as one. Things seemed to fall into place, and I was able to give my two week notice and join Little Seed Childcare as a director.

This surely helped with the summer, the kids were able to go with me and Eric was able to be at the restaurant full time again.

In May Eric started getting calls from people in Hawaii about Hart (his previous employer) winning the bid to do the Hawaiian elections again. He passed the numbers on to Hart, and mentioned that if they needed any help, he'd be glad to help out. He didn't fit in the budget and we assumed it just wouldn't happen. Then in June he got a call saying that they really couldn't do the project with out him. So he was assigned to start working in Maui in August. He was to travel back and forth. To be able to spend some time with the family and be there at the restaurant.

Kids went back to school in August, making life a little more complicated. Seemed like life got a little busier I guess. And I didn't have any of them signed up for extra curricular activities either. Two our third child started kindergarten, and T-Rex started going to preschool three days a week. Hard to believe my little babies spend so much time away from me. They are growing up so fast. G and Bee, are in 4th and 2nd. All doing really well for the most part. Two and T-Rex are still doing some adjusting. Who am I kidding, Two has a "hard time sitting still and paying attention" and has earned her own desk to help with distractions. And T-Rex doesn't always want to go, but he is still just three and little.

Anyway In mid August, Eric's partner offered to buy his partnership out. We decided it would be best for us, and put that in motion. Everything wasn't finalized til mid September, however, sometime in there, Hart offered Eric a "promotion" moving him from Maui to Oahu again, and from manning just the Maui elections to the whole state. And not able to travel back and forth. It was such a blessing. It was kind of "funny" timing. Because it literally happened a few days after agreeing to a buyout.

Since Eric was going to be there from End of August to the End of November, we decided to take the family out in October for a two week family vacation. Even though Eric worked the whole time, we had fun, and it was the first time in over a year and a half that our family felt "normal" and that we were able to spend quality time together.

As part of his deal, I was able to go out and spend a week, well five days, with Eric on the island of Maui, oh how I fell in love, not just with Eric but with the island of Maui. If I could I think I'd pack the family up and move there. So peaceful and beautiful.

After I left, Eric finished up work there and flew home the weekend before Thanksgiving. He has been home around a month, and still searching for work. I pray that something will come soon for us.

I am grateful for my job, as it has helped with some of the bills. However, with running kids here and there, and school pick ups and drop offs, and sicknesses and injuries, I don't get to work as many hours as I could use.

Speaking of injuries and illness, all but Two have had stitches this year! Bee on Easter Sunday, while I was at work, fell on her scooter, and the handle bar went through her head, 7 stitches. T-Rex was playing on a slide at the pool, and slipped and split his chin open, he only got 5. Then G-Man two weeks ago was shutting his bedroom window, while his hand slipped through and broke the glass, another 7 stitches. He had an injury a week later, splitting his eye lid open pretty good, he decided he didn't want stitches, and with out insurance we kind of agreed, I put some sterie strips and its healed pretty good.

Speaking of eyes, Bee joined the glasses wearing group this year as well! I feel so bad that it took us so long to discover that one, as with Two who started wearing them in preschool, and G-Man in kindergarten, her being in second seemed a little late. She was really struggling with reading, I thought an educational delay of some kind. Then she started putting on Two's glasses to read and seemed to improve. Anyway finally took her to have her eyes checked and the poor girl can hardly see! Her reading as gone from just basic sight word books to chapter books in a matter of weeks. She is actually doing really well in school as well. She received a school wide award for belonging, helping others belong.

The kids have held up a little better than me this year, I think. Though it hasn't been easy on them, with me working, with Eric pretty much absent the last while, and then traveling, which with him in Hawaii they didn't notice a difference, if that says anything about how much he was around.

It has been so nice to have him around this month, the kids seem to be a bit happier, but we do seem to have to work out some kinks that life has thrown us, just getting back into a routine.

The other night we were having dinner. Something we have been able to do more of lately, and like normal, everyone was talking at once, and Two took her usual stance, standing on her chair talking, trying to get everyone's attention. It was noisy and I was going crazy. So I told them all to catch a bubble. They did including Eric. For some reason the bubble face Eric was making made T-Rex start laughing hard. Then we all started laughing. And we spun into the "my name is chubby" cheek smashed, can you smile through that chub stuff, and I started laughing so hard, I was crying. The kids were laughing, we were laughing. And G said "this is what family dinners should always be like." And I agree. I realized that it has been a long time, since I have laughed so hard with my family or with anyone. And feel like I have finally found my laugh again.

We truly have been blessed, and continue to be blessed. Just really waiting for that one special blessing of a great job, career for Eric. So if anyone knows anyone that is hiring please pass them our way!

Santa's Elves

2010-12-19T12:59:00.000-07:00

Last year at Christmas, we had been unemployed or rather unincomed for a year, this year marks basically year number 2. However we have been blessed to have some contract work recently. Anyway last year and a half has been very tough to say the least, and the out pooring of help over Christmas was overwhelmingly wonderful. Many days I'd just cry from sure joy of feeling so loved and blessed. We truly are grateful to all those who reached out to us, many of whom we don't eve know who you are.

The last four months, we have been blessed with some income, and the ability to do some stuff for other people as well as "take care" of our own. However we were just talking about how many santa's evles helped out and how blessed we were last year and that not as many santa's elves will be helping out. And just reminding the kids that their won't be the kind of gifts like we had. To which Greg said "What happened to them all this year? Did they all die or just lose their Christmas spirit?" It made me laugh. Though you got to wonder :).

I truly want to let all santa's elves from last year how much we love and appreciate you! And know you haven't died or lost your Christmas spirit, but like us are serving other families.

And in case you are wondering, this is my 550th post. Merry Christmas!

Last Nights dinner, next week's treasure!

2010-12-14T08:00:00.000-07:00

While Eric was in Hawaii the past few months, I still ended up making enough dinner for the whole family, and usually a little more. Or some nights dinner just wasn't really wanted, or I wasn't hungry. Anyway, I put left overs in the fridge and well they ended up just being thrown out. Then the idea dawned on me, I know it took 35 years....and a little help from an awesome dinner swap group....to come up with the idea to freeze the left overs.

So I started making a little more, and putting the left overs in a gallon zip lock baggie, flattening it out and freezing them. It has been a life saver.

Just a little note to self and others, write on it, or sometimes it becomes a little treasure hunt for a mystery dinner...like last night. But the kids loved dinner and all I had to do was thaw and serve.

And speaking of dinner swap, I love it. I love getting together the first Monday of the month and having a few different meals in the freezer to eat through out the month. If you live in Ogden and are interested in joining us, we'd love to add a few more to our group!

December 1...slippery, shattering, coughing--CAUTION WOUND PICTURE

2010-12-01T06:43:00.000-07:00

You know when you make a comment or say something, it can open and cause the total opposite. At least I believe so, and think I need to remember that and not say anything. Because the other day I mentioned how we have been accident and major illness free for at least 5 months.....July was the last hospital visit.

So I noticed on Saturday T was getting a little congested, and actually spent the whole night crying and kicking. Then by Monday he was so bad, Eric took him to the doctors. He has bronchitis...oh and he is hacking away right now. Poor kid. He sounds so bad.

Then yesterday, I went to go do a little visiting teaching, I know the last month, nothing like getting it in on the last day. However, my adventure was thwarted by barking jumping dogs and a thick patch of ice and cement stairs. As I stepped on the top step, heading to the basement, the dogs on the other side of the railing jumped and barked, startling me, to where I lost my footing and fell hard down and then slid a few steps. It hurt. A lot. I composed myself and knocked on her door. I was relieved that she wasn't home, and I as I headed back up the tears just flowed. I hurt. I still hurt. But surprisingly there are no bruises, just a dime size dent in my left arm.

After the kids came home, they decided to help Eric put together a shelf. I was upstairs folding laundry and trying to clean with my hand held clenched to my chest. G came running up "Mom you need to take me to the ER. NOW!" I thought maybe he put a nail through his hand but then I saw the blood coming from his fingers that were covering his arm.

"What happened?"

"T opened our bedroom window and when I went to shut it, my hand slipped and my arm went through it."

I think I was still trying to register what was going on, as I grabbed some paper towels to wrap it. He removed his hand and I almost passed out seeing his cut. Then I asked if the whole window broke.

He said he pulled his arm back out and the glass shattered everywhere. Then the poor sweet kid, who if you don't remember has broke three other windows this year, one car and two house ones, said "I really really wish I had broken the window differently."

I finished wrapping him up and he and Eric flew well didn't fly but took off to the hospital. They got in right away and were out in less than an hour. However I made it over there after getting the other kids to be tended by my friend.

I made it just in time to see him get the remainder four of his seven stitches. Funny thing. Like I mentioned my arm really hurts, and unintentionally I have/had been resting it close to my body on my chest. I walked into the ER and the security guard looks at me and says "you need to be seen? are you ok?" When I told him I was here to see my son, the nurse came out and took me to him and asked if I was ok.

So I just asked the doctor kind of what I should do. He asked me if I could extend my arm, and I showed him I could but that it wasn't comfortable. He said "if it were a fracture you'd be in a lot of pain, not be able to move it. There'd be lots of bruising and swelling. With out looking and really evaluating it, I'd take some Motrin, ice it and if it still hurts in the morning, come back and get an x ray because that is really the only way we can tell."

It still hurts this morning, but not quite as bad, my shoulder and back are worse for the wear today, but I think the pain has lessen so much in my arm that now I am able to feel the other stuff. But there still is that dent in the side of my arm. I thought maybe the contact between my arm and the icy cement just had pushed my fat in, but who knows. We will see how the day goes. But I seem to recall a couple of my kids being able to move their broken arms...and no swelling or bruising, but I think my arms ok. Just don't touch it.

Halloween...yeah a little late

2010-11-30T10:30:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow rings in the last month of the year! Holy Shamoly! I just can't seem to wrap my head around the fact that 2010 is quickly coming to an end! Some ways I truly am grateful for a new year to begin yet sad, hard to believe to see this one go.

Eric and I were just talking about this year packed in a lot! But anyway that's for another time.

Since today is the last day of November I had to throw in some fun Halloween pictures.

T-Rex had a trunk or treat at preschool. That morning he tried on every little outfit we had and finally we landed with a life guard.

Then we had all our school parties on Friday, G was a little on the Halloween bum hum bug, and didn't dress up! Turkey! The girls, however, dressed up. Bee chose to be a chef and Two was a witch (Bee's outfit from last year. T dressed up like spider man for the day care Halloween bash.

Saturday we went to our ward's trunk or treat and then hit the neighborhood with Tina, and her son and a few other boys from the hood.

The kids got way too much candy but had a blast.

I love Halloween, but not as much as Christmas. So fun to sit here in my decorated house. Thinking about leaving the tree up all year! Well probably not a little too much clutter for me.

The Rest of Maui

2010-11-23T20:15:00.000-07:00

I never got around to finishing our Maui trip. Maui was one of my favorite life experiences so far. But actually greater than that was the hug I got from G-Man when I came home, he ran to me and hugged me so tight. He was so excited to see me. And I was excited to see them. But I truly did have a blast.

So Monday morning, we kind of just lounged around for a little bit, then packed up and headed out to Hana. We stopped in a little town on the way out to get a picnic lunch. Then we headed on our way. One of the first beaches out of town is a big surfing one, and it was full of surfers. Eric and I stopped and watched the surfers for a little bit.

After that we started en route, to stop at mile marker 6 to have a private swim in some falls and natural pools Kind of funny, well not totally, I had my camera, walking across the wet slippery rocks, when Eric said to me "You are not going to take your camera out there? you will slip and get it wet." As I turned back to put it down, I fell flat on my back! It started to rain shortly after we were there so we headed on out.

The road to Hana is beautiful, windy and did I say gorgeous? Stunning. Anyway lets just say I took a lot of pictures. We stopped several times and then finally made it to our little bed and breakfast that was literally across the street from fields and a bluff to the ocean. Unfortunately there was construction going on, Mrs. Hillary Clinton awarded some federal funds to restore all the old bridges on the road to Hana.

We hung out in town and sat on the beach for awhile. Then had dinner at the only restaurant in town.

The next morning we got up early and headed to the Halelakala National Forest and hiked up to the falls. It was amazing. I had never seen anything like the bamboo forest! And then the falls that we ended at were truly awesome. We went under them, and the water was quite refreshing, maybe a little chilly. And as we stood under a rainbow literally encircled us. Majestic.

We hiked back down, and went swimming in the pools below for a bit. Then off for some roadside local bbq plates. Then home for a rest. Then out to dinner again.

Our last day we woke up and headed back out of town. We noticed a car stopped on one of the narrow strips and they had a camera out, and four other cars between them and us. I thought "seriously you are taking pictures?" Then I found out there had been a land slide. It took them about 50 minutes to clean it up. Then we started moving. Then around the next bend, I watched the truck two cars in front of us drive off the road, trying to get around little cars. He literally went over the metal guard rail, and knocked out a portion of the rock wall and was jammed between the two. Took another 50 or so minutes to get him loose. It was crazy. Especially because we were planning to have a lazy relaxed day in town.

We finally started driving and made some pretty good time leaving town. Though we did stop at one black beach. Oh it was amazing! The start were fairly good lava rocks, that turned to more rounded stones, that eventually wittled down to black grains of sand.

We even walked through a little cave to see the waves crash on another part of the beach.

Then we went down town and got a hotel room on the ocean. We were leaving that night but not until ten. So we hung on the beach for awhile. Where Eric "adopted" a baby fish. It just swam up next to his shirt and followed under his arm the whole time we were in the water. It made me giggle. Then something big snapped at my butt, and bumped eric and we ran out of the water. I guess the little fish was trying to tell us something.

After the beach we swam in the hotel pool and sat in the hot tub. We ended up talking to several people, some from Texas. It was kind of funny because Eric commented on that is why he liked our little secluded places that we stayed, we never had to socialize.

Laundry, rest, dinner then the airport. That's how it ended. What an amazing adventure. And for your enjoyment some pictures.

Maui: Sun Rise, Sun Set

2010-11-10T00:15:00.000-07:00

Sunday morning we woke up early, wasn't too hard since Saturday we lay down for a nap at 3 and slept through the night. So we got up, dressed, well actually I was already dressed, since I fell asleep dressed. Anyway we drove up to Lakalahala (have no idea how it is spelled) the highest point in Maui, 10,000 feet.

It was dark and chilly, ok cold. Notice the outside temperature. We left our place and it was 65 and we showed up and it was 46. Quite chilly but very clear and beautiful out.

And here comes the sun, I took over 100 pictures of the sun coming up, and for some reason this is the one I chose....the clouds were amazing, and the black here is the dormant crater part of the volcano. It was truly gorgeous!

And here are our silhouettes with the rising sun.

That would be me, standing out in the cold wind, behind me, all the clouds and well that is maui down below the clouds...

Eric at the summit. And after we drove back down the really winding road, we got dressed for church and headed on out. It turns out it was stake conference, and the stake here includes the whole island of Maui and the neighboring islands of Lanai, and Molokai. When we arrived to the stake center we were a little late, and the place was packed full of people. One of our twelve apostles, Elder Holland was speaking. It was a great opportunity to hear him speak.

And after church we headed over to the town of Lahaina. Gorgeous little town. We had stopped to get lunch, and walked on the beach. As we walked we watched boats pull up to shore, and Eric and I looked at each other and said, "i'd love to go on one of those." so we went up and spoke to the boat cruising lady, and scheduled a ride. We had an hour and a half to kill before the ride so we strolled the town a little.

You may wonder why I took a picture of this rock? Well it has some great history.

This is a birthing rock! Can you imagine, all ready to give birth and your doctor or midwife grabs you and takes you out to sea, to welcome your child into the world among the rocks, waves and crabs, yes there were lots of crabs down there.

Beautiful town!

The American II our boat that we sailed on. It was an amazing sail. Did I mention we saw a humpback whale too? Yes we did, it was playing around in the harbor while we were waiting to get on the boat. It truly was amazing, and very sad I didn't get a picture of it.

At some point during the sailing, I literally was standing, and Eric was on the other side, sitting, getting soaked by the water, a little fear entered me, causing me to feel like the boat was going to flip but it didn't but you know its a great sailing day when the captain who has been doing these tours for 12 years, pulls out his camera and takes pictures. It was awesome.

So this is me, and if my battery weren't about to die, I'd post all the pictures I took while Eric was driving. He was pretty good about pulling over for me, but I got to the point where I just rolled down the window and shot away.

We did stop along the way and put our feet in the sand and the water, Eric wrote in the sand, "Eric loves corrine" actually I wrote it and he pretended like he did for my picture :)

Isn't it gorgeous!? Such a beautiful beach. Love the black sand.

One of the many beach pictures I took along the way. I love the water, it just fascinates me. I could sit for hours and watch the waves crash. Though interestingly enough we haven't spent much time on the beach.

Maui: Sea Life, Ocean, Mountian Side and water!

2010-11-08T10:59:00.000-07:00

If you are ever in Maui, where ever you may be staying, might I strongly recommend the Tasty Crust. Truly a local experience. And reading the reviews one might get the impression that locals only should go but I loved it. Still craving my fried rice with breakfast meats. It was delicious, and the banana pancakes exploded with flavor in my mouth. Yeah the place is a little run down, old time cafe, not been updated since its opening, but that is what gives it, its charm. Loved it!

After breakfast we headed to the harbor, not sure which one, or where, but near the island of Lanai, and not too far from the aquarium. We took a boat out to a little crater thing called Molokini. Its near another island, can't think of its name, but was used for bombing by the US army and is no longer in habitable. But anyway on our way out, the dolphins came out to play. I have to say if I were an animal, a dolphin I would be. They just amaze me, with their playful personalities, beauty and athleticism. I love to see the jump, dive, splash, flip and spin. Watching them in the water, was like watching a bunch of teenage boys playing on jet skis in the wakes. So full of energy and life!

This here is a mother spotted dolphin with her calf, they stay so close together and their movements just match each other.

There were so many of them and all over, and the captain kept circling making more wakes, I wish I was able to hold on and take more pictures, but was so happy to see I captured this one on a dive.

Here we have the back side of Molokini, where we had done some snorkeling. I love being in the water, and just watching the fish swim. I could spend hours, but we only had 1.5. So after snorkeling we got our lunch on the boat and drove around the "island".

And on our way back the sea turtles were popping up for air. Did you know they can hold their breath for up to 5 hours? Amazing.

here is my handsome guy on the boat. didn't get to many pictures of the boat or ourselves. but who wants to see a bunch of pictures of us right?

After our boating, we took a little scenic drive up to Iao Valley. Beautiful lush green mountains, where a famous Hawaiian war took place. The water from several different water falls, converged to form a pretty raging river. The beauty amazed me. I think amazed is the word of the day.

After we walked around and even picked some fresh guava, Eric hadn't had it before, and don't think he ever will, since he spit it out. It is an acquired taste, and thanks to Heather S. J at BYU-H and our hikes behind the school, I grew to like it. We headed home, to shower up and go to dinner. As we drove, we saw the most amazing full rainbow, it was a double but I don't think I got the twin in it.

We arrived home, Eric lay down for a nap and I showered, got ready to go out again, but decided to lay down too, we slept til the next day at 3 am, when we got up and headed out to watch the sun rise. I guess we were really exhausted!

Maui our first lodgings

2010-11-08T10:10:00.000-07:00

When Eric started doing contract work for Hart again, he was only going to be gone a few weeks at at time. And he negotiated with them, one trip instead of him flying home, they'd fly me here instead. Well it ended up that they changed and extended his contract, meaning he didn't get to leave at all. So as you know we ended up taking the kids out here, a few weeks ago. But my solo trip was still on the table, and I could not not come, so here I am, alone in Maui with my husband, while my parents take care of our kids! THANK YOU!!!!!!! Anyway so when Eric was prepping for our vacation, he texted me one day and asked me if I'd prefer a big over crowded resort or a quiet secluded bed and breakfast, and well you can see what I responded..........

This is our little secluded bungalow. We are at a little spa resort out in the "middle" of "nowhere" but it is gorgeous and quiet. You know it is relaxing and tranquil when you lay down for an afternoon nap and wake up the next day, right?

My son wanted me to take pictures from every angle. There aren't too many angles in a one room studio, so here you have it. When you walk in you see the bed. And night stands.

Above the front area, looking from the bed, is the painted loft area, not sure what it is used for but i love the painting.

And here you are looking from the bed, to the glassed front door, the little kitchen, dining table, and Eric :) To the right of Eric is the loo.

It is a nice little place, nestled in a scenic lush environment. We leave today to head to Hana and will be staying in a similar place set in the rain forest, and our shower is on the back porch! Bet you can't wait to see pictures, I know I can't wait to see it.

Home again!!

2010-10-27T20:44:00.000-06:00

As I was saying, we landed and it was just 30 degrees. A little bit of a shock to our systems, after being well into the 80s. We were all pretty tired too, ok I was really tired. Especially since I got about 30 minutes of sleep on the airplane. So I lay down with Two, who slept with me for awhile, she woke up and left and T-Rex took her spot and slept for quite awhile, like four hours.

I could of slept longer but I heard my son, the oldest talking about fire and matches. So I got up, and he asked if he could lite a fire since it was so cold. So I helped him, well not really, I supervised him start a fire. Lots of smoke but not too bad, though we had to open some windows which seems to defeat the purpose. But it was fun to have a fire and the kids sat at the table and colored and finished writing in their journals and some other homework.

And in case you all think I forgot, because I didn't, not totally, just took some time. But I did a drawing with all my wonderful travel blog comments, and the winner is............

Lynnette, who lucky for me lives near by, and should of found a box of chocolates on her porch door this evening. If you haven't yet, it is there :)

Thanks again for the comments, and I am glad to be home for the most part. Seeing that this morning we totally woke up late, like 8:15 and school starts at 8:20. But we all made it, a little late, but we made it.

Though I have to say, one of the hardest things to adjust now is my hunger clock, seems that we all woke up not hungry because we weren't used to "eating at this time" as G said. I am sure we will adjust. Now if I can get the kids to bed before 11 tonight.

Off to tell them to sleep for the 100th time!!!

Day 13: The final Day :(

2010-10-27T20:35:00.000-06:00

The final day came to quickly. I just really wasn't ready to go home. However Bee mentioned on Sunday that she was ready to go home and go back to school. Which getting her report card of all 95% plus I guess she really does like it!

The whole trip the kids were dying to go out on the ocean, in a kayak, so for the last day, probably not the best day to do it, since it was very windy. The cloudy was nice, but wind not so much. But we rented them, and paddled down the canal and dragged the boats over sand, to the ocean. Two, G and I were in one boat, and Eric, T-Rex and Bee, were in the other. Eric helped my crew up and out, but he and the little kids, had a hard time. He got in and the wave knocked him out and the boat over. The scary part was me watching as the boat was totally upside down. I rowed in and decided that the waves were to crazy for us to go out on shore. And the lifeguard that came to our rescue, said we probably shouldn't be doing that with our young kids. So we decided to go down the canal, to the lake. However it took some convincing to get T-Rex in. After we rowed the calm waters, we headed back to the ocean, where Eric took G out for a bit and then I took him out for a bit. It was a lot of fun. Especially riding the waves back in.

T didn't want to give his spider man life jacket back. He has even asked me today if he could go get it back.

After our time in the boats, we headed to Buzz's for some local grub.

Then back to the condo, where the kids and dad went swimming while I packed their back packs. We had a family home evening, and off to the airport. The kids were so tired. It was a little after 7 but since we had been in Hawaii they were going to bed around that time. I did everything I could to keep them awake so they would sleep the whole plane ride. And it worked. T-Rex was asleep before all the passengers were seated. The rest were there shortly after. And we were on the non stop direct flight so yeah no transfer!

We arrived and it was cold!!

day 12: running into friends

2010-10-27T20:23:00.000-06:00

I think by far the highlight of Sunday, was sitting in church and seeing the Day family walk in! It was kind of funny because Alicia had written on her blog about there first trip to Hawaii. So I commented back asking where they were. Turns out they had arrived the night before in Oahu. I told her to call me when we got done with church, because our kids were going to be in our old ward's program and that was all we had planned for the day.

You can imagine my surprise when of all the wards in Hawaii they could of gone to, they were at ours, well not ours but the same one. We chatted and made plans to meet later, to watch the sunset from a high point in town. They got a little lost, but were able to meet up and then get some frozen yogurt after. The shaved ice place we wanted to take them to was closed.

The kids woke up and made us some pancakes. They turned out pretty good.

The sun starting to set.

View of Honolulu, Waikiki and Diamond Head.

And the day wouldn't be complete with out including our friend, dad's coworker Dave. Eric has invited him a couple of times to join our family in our activities. However he hadn't been able to make it. So we were thrilled to have us join us. However I am not sure how much fun he had, because the kids seemed to drill him all night. But thanks Dave for joining us, the kids had a blast. I mean they chose to sit with you over me, during frozen yogurt, actually got up from my table and went to sit with him!

Day 12: I love to see the Temple!

2010-10-24T19:32:00.000-06:00

The Laie Temple, closed when we left in 2008 to be remodeled. And happen to open this weekend for its open house. So we took the family out to see one of the oldest modern day temples. It was truly gorgeous. After we came out, and got the cookies and water that they serve. G looks up at us and says "mmmmmmmmmm these cookies were totally worth the drive....and umm...the good feeling inside too." He later talked to us about how good he felt in side the temple. Truly an amazing spirit inside.

The view from the top of the temple down to temple beach.

After the temple open house, we drove down the street to the Polynesian Cultural Center. A few days ago, back when we went to Dukes for dinner, we ran into a senior couple missionaries. We talked with her for awhile, and turns out she is from our neck of the woods. Anyway long story short, she gave us her cell and we were able to get her employee discount to get into the PCC. It saved us a ton of money! Thank YOU!! Sister Haugen!! The first stop after calling the missionaries to meet us and get us in, was the airbrush tattoo lady. She gave us a little family discount and all the kids got a tattoo. Which through out the day they added too with temporary ones, well more temporary ones, at all the villages.

To quote G "its a one in a thousand chance I got picked the first time a few years ago, but to get picked a second time is like a 1 in a million chance, and if the next time I come I get picked again...that would be like a one in a gagillion chance right?" When we were here in 2008 our first visit to the PCC G was chosen to try the coconut juice, and once again he was chosen. This time though he drank almost all of it.

We learn to weave fish.

learning or trying to start a fire by rubbing sticks together.

the fish! the girls kept feeding them and the fish just practically jumped out of the water.

trying to catch a fish.

watching the boat parade of islanders.

G caught a fish. And two said "all this is coming back into my mind" I guess she remembered being at the PCC.

My caged babies! Two actually commented remembering taking a picture here last time, which she is right. Hopefully this will stay in their minds for a long time, because I don't know when we will be back.

We ate dinner at the buffet and then headed to the night show. I always love the night show, and they started a new one this year. Really well done and lots of fire knife show in it.

Day 11: Friday Sea Life Park

2010-10-24T19:06:00.000-06:00

Since we lived here in 2008 and I have been a fan of Fifty First Dates I have wanted to visit Sea Life Park. It never happened and I worked really hard to make it happen this time. Eric woke up early and took the kids to Sams to get some things for the warehouse, and some donuts. When they were done they picked me up and we headed to the beach park and enjoyed some early morning sun and donuts. The kids had a blast feeding the birds. Then we headed to Goodwill to find me some long sleeve shirts to cover up my rashy arms. And to get the boys some white shirts for church, since it was their primary program and they were participating in it. Then we headed to Sea Life park. If you have been to Sea World its not too big and exciting, but the dolphins were amazing, and the closeness to the sea turtles and other animals was quite remarkable.

Feeding the Sea Turtles

Some where there is an E turtle, that stands for Emily, and she is the oldest sea turtle they have at 82 years. There is also a K one that stands for Kiki, like our aunt :)

This is a whalphin, one of two a the park, and I believe the only ones in captivity....or in the world.

In the air, they were quite amazing. wish i had my longer lens on.

This little guy, loved the ball, slash buoy, he seemed to be trying to throw it to the kids.

The sea lion came right by the kids. They were in awe.

oh look a cute couple!

The kids favorite part of the day, when their parents sitting out of the splash zone, were totally splashed, as the waters flew over the splash zone and landed in their laps.

Puffy Star fish, i am sure it has a more scientific name, but it is pretty cool. When Eric and I went scuba diving a few years ago, I actually held one in the wild.

Sea Life park is truly nestled beautifully between the hills and the sea side.

After the park, we headed some where...but for some reason two days ago, was a long time ago.....asking everyone and they seem to not remember either. Two says we went to a restaurant....and we could of...that is right we headed to Shokuedo, for happy hour. The kids sat at the bar and drank Shirley Temples and had lots of Pupus....and the best honey toast. I have to find the pictures from my phone, but the honey toast was so tasty!!

Then to home we went. Where we almost all fell asleep, except for me, t-rex and two, we walked down to the beach and watched the evening fireworks and came home to bed.

Day 10: Thursday...avoiding the sun

2010-10-24T18:36:00.000-06:00

I mentioned that on Wednesday I had sun poisoning, if I didn't well I did. It is/was horrible. By Thursday morning my arms were so swollen, bumpy, itchy and oozing that I really couldn't handle one more day in the sun. So I tried to find a way to avoid it. So we went for a walk. I know not the best way to avoid the sun, but we stayed in the shade.

The kids and I headed down the street towards the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Usually we just walk through the village, heading towards the beach. Where we seemed to hang out almost everyday this week. Instead we stopped like the good tourists and took pictures as we headed towards their penguins.

Two decided to do a little hula on the bridge with the amazing statues. She was cute, and several other tourists noticed her, stopped, smiled and photographed her as well. She actually has a pretty good Tahitian hip swing thing going on.

So we noticed the natural beauty of flowers. Bee was good enough to stop and pose next to this pretty yellow hibiscus (don't know how to spell it and don't think spell check knows what I am trying to spell)

G-Man picked it, and I told him since he did he had to take a picture with it in his ear. He really wanted to bring it back home to his friends, but I told him it wouldn't make the trip. Which is why we aren't suppose to pick the flowers, so everyone can enjoy.

So while we were at it, we decided to get everyone with the flower. Isn't she too cute?

This is T-Rex's smile, I think....but some how the flower just didn't want to stay in his ear. looks kind of sad, doesn't it.

And we make it to the penguin tank, see any? We counted a total of 8. And there were 9 turtles in the water too.

There they are, see any turtles?

Our walk led us to the army museum, free and air conditioned and in doors. Minus the few retired tanks and large army weapons.

next to a large cut out.

G-Man looking at the money that was current during the war, leans over to me and says "is this the money you used as a child?"

I couldn't finish our walk off with out winding back through the Hilton village to see, as what T-Rex refers to it as "the large duck." This little goose or swan is on his own in a pond full of fish and mini lobsters. Anyway every day we walk by this guy, and so today I photographed him. G put his hand out and the goose almost bit his fingers off. They really aren't the friendliest of animals.

Well we came back for some lunch and a swim. Then Eric took off work early and came home around 2 and took the kids to the beach for the rest of the day, while I napped.

Ready for some More Hawaii?

2010-10-24T18:03:00.000-06:00

Not sure where I left off...got to go read, so in the mean time, know that any comment for any of our Hawaii posts, by tomorrow morning, will be entered to win a box of choc macs that I will be mailing off tomorrow. Soooo, comment away, and make sure I have a way to contact you, via email....

Corrine

Day 9: little sun poisoning

2010-10-21T02:24:00.000-06:00

After a morning and afternoon at the beach, Eric surprised us at sunset to hang with us. Since we had some friends with us, we decided to pose for a couple family shots. Not too bad!

Not too sure why G is being so clingy and sad and what Bee is looking at but still a cute little family!

All I can think of is the new Windows photo program commercial about the family picture "why is did you put an action figure in your brother's ear?" And T Rex you getting ready to shoot someone??

G-Man picks up boogie boarding, sand surfing style!

What the? She just came charging down and danced in front of us.

Two mimicking the hula dancing lady.

Running bikini clad lady joins our hula lady, while kids, well STARE.

Two reunited again with her friend, they were so silly and having such a great time. They were making themselves, sand monsters!

Coppertone Baby....

Bee would love to have her own little baby sister, she asks almost weekly, and she is wearing a head band g found for her in the ocean.

Our friends' little baby girl, too cute...two cute girls.

Clover sand castle.

working hard to build the sandcastle.

Serious boogie boarding going on here...not enough waves, so sister pulls the line. What else are sisters good for if they can't pull your line.

Pretty sure after a 9 days in the sun, my skin is revolting. Just a little. After a google search and a conversation with a physician and a nurse (even if they are our friends that we were hanging out with) pretty sure that I am having a skin allergic reaction between some sun screen and the sun. Oh well can't always be paradise can it :)?

Day 8: Friends, Fun and Kind of Done

2010-10-20T12:00:00.000-06:00

Unfortunately, I woke up this morning on the wrong side of the bed, that would be the side that told me to get out and keep the kids entertained. After making them do some homework, and a little cleaning, we headed to our beach across the street. The kids played for a little while, but seemed to be feeling the same as me, because we headed back home early. We grabbed some Subway sandwiches and picnicked by the pool. Where swimming entertained us for another half hour. Then it was inside for some quiet time. Mostly for me.

Then when Eric returned at 2, we headed northwest and met up with some old friends! We had a wonderful afternoon and evening.

We drove to our friend's home, and had a tour of their new house. And then headed out to Kololina where the kids played on the beach, and rekindled old friendships.

The kids loved having access to some beach toys to make better sand castles.

A friendship that picked up where it had left almost two years ago.

another happy reunited friendship!

Look I have friends too! So much fun chatting and hanging out with some girlfriends from times past. Sure have missed these gals!

After some yummy KFC and sand dinner, the kids decided it was time to hit the water and do a little snorkeling!

I told them to smile and G-Man said "It is kind of hard to smile with one of these in our mouths, mom!"

The sun started going down, quickly on our fun!

Chatting, chatting and more chatting!

The whole group of friends, hanging watching the sun set. Can you spy Eric?

There goes the sun! Amazing! It is so awesome to be able to see this amazing daily occurrence.

And I am offering anyone, up til Sunday at 5 CST to comment on all or any of our vacation blog posts, for a drawing for a box of choc mac nuts, so start your commenting, http://www.4kidsnodog.blogspot.com/ Have a great day! Off to play, with the new sand toys and boogie boards we purchased last night.

Emergency broadcast signal

2010-10-19T11:10:00.000-06:00

We interrupt this extremely exciting travel log, to bring to you this message, it is not a test. Corrine, the author of this blog, has been featured on another blog. Stop what you are doing, and take a little trip on over to visit. www.blakegotfat.blogspot.com Blake was a fellow mckay-dee employee with me, though he had the more glamorous job of food services, most people were happy to see him. He sure did break up the day, and he and I always offered each other a good laugh. So go on what are you waiting for...go visit him and see what I had to say www.blakegotfat.blogspot.com Bust a Move, is my post. Take a gander there for awhile, he makes me smile.

Now back to our boring over photographed travel logs....come on you know you love hearing and seeing all about our vacation. A very much needed one. It seems to have brought me out of some pit of uckiness that I have been living in (figuratively speaking).....I just have to say, I am having fun building sand castles and just grateful for the way life works out sometimes.

Day 7: Boogie Woogie Waikiki

2010-10-19T00:24:00.000-06:00

Today we hung around locally, got up early, did some homework, then walked accross the street for some beach fun. To our luck, someone was leaving the island today, and thought to ask us if we wanted a boogie board. Of coarse G-man excitingly took it. And the rest of the day was spoken for! Well not totally.

We played for several hours, and then we came home for a little lunch. T-Rex fell asleep, and Eric took the older three for a few more hours to the beach to boogie board. When T woke up we walked the mile to meet them. He had a chance to boogie board. Then off to famous Duke's for dinner and sunset. The sunset was amazing, and my ribs were tasty. T had just a thing of fries, and people commented about his huge basket of fries. The other kids were jealous that they had to have terriaki chicken, and not just fries.

T riding his first wave

my handsome boys and the free shades they scored today

Bee soaking up the sun

mango baby back ribs...YUMMMMYYY

born a beach baby!

Duke's for dinner

my little sand boy, just love this shot.

large basket of fries.

sunset

when t and i arrived at the beach, two was passed out on her dad, had been a long day in the sun!

sunset, is that the same shot?

yummy dinner, and a little burnt face

wish i was on the boat sailing off into the sunset

dukes again, that's duke in the poster behind bee

Beautiful night, fun day.

Day 6: Sunday Drive

2010-10-18T23:36:00.000-06:00

Nothing says Sunday more than a drive, well maybe church. And that is what we did this Sunday. We headed over to our "old" ward in Hawaii Kai. By the way we were greeted and treated you would of thought we had grown up there! I loved that ward, and truly feel like home there. I love the Hawaii Kai ward, and if there were a way, we would make that home. Cool thing there was a sister who turned 95 so we got some cake, well I did. And the kids, since we will be there again next week, will being joining their primary in their primary program, the annual children's program. Good practice for ours that will be on the 31st.

After church we headed home for a light lunch. then off for a circle island tour. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately for you I forgot the camera. So only mobile phone pictures, which are harder to retrieve.

We stopped off at some little look outs, and then for a bigger stop at shark's cove. The kids had a blast looking at the tide pools. We even found a few crab sheddings, is that what they are called?

Then off for some yummy dinner, and home again for bed.

Day 5: Splish Splash Slush

2010-10-17T11:42:00.000-06:00

The first morning that the kids woke up after the sun! Kind of nice to sleep in a little. After a yummy breakfast of pancakes and strawberries, we headed out to Manoa Falls. A fun little .8, muddy, up hill, in the middle of the rainforest hike. The kids all made it up walking on their own. T-Rex got tired and needed carrying down most of the way. Thank heavens for dad's shoulders! T fell asleep up there too.

Then we headed down town in search of our favorite little shaved ice place. With a little driving and Eric's amazing ability to navigate we found it. I say if you are ever in Honolulu, Waiola's is by far the best shaved ice, it is so shaved its creamy if that makes sense.

After the hike, we did a quick change at home, removing our muddy shoes and clothes, and headed to Bubba Gumps. G-Man's new favorite restaurant. I had fish and chips, really really good fired greasy fish! So much for my weight loss before coming out here!

Then we went to the beach, where we played for a little bit, I napped quite a bit of it.

We came home, did a little swimming in the pool. And kids and adults were all asleep by 7 pm.

Day 4: Friday the 15th! Wild Animals

2010-10-17T11:05:00.000-06:00

After a fun day at the beach, and a little too much sun for me, I seriously got burnt in all the weirdest spots, markings on my body kind of remind me of a giraffe, maybe that is what lead me to my idea of what to do on Friday, the Honolulu Zoo. I love the Honolulu Zoo, probably one of my favorite zoos.

Just a little background here, our parking garage is tighter than any spots I have seen. I really am afraid to park the car, because I know I will dink, dent and wreck it. So I have avoided parking it, with having Eric drop us off and pick us up. Usually we coordinate our trips with picking him up from his warehouse. Anyway, I decided I didn't want to drive him to work or worry about the car, so we decided we would walk the 1.8 miles to the zoo.

But since Eric was leaving he dropped us off half way there, and we walked some to the zoo. We were 1/2 away from the doors opening, so the kids hung across the street playing in a water feature, then in front of the zoo swinging in the trees. They have the coolest vines hanging from the trees.

Finally it was 9 and we were able to go in and visit our friendly captured Hawaiian animals. The hit is always the Gibbons, they seem to always put on a good show for us. The orangutan, brought us a smile when he shook out his blanket and put it over himself. We saw all the animals get their breakfast, and sat and stared for hours well not hours, watching the tortoises eat, kids amazed they were eating the food that was just under their bottoms.

The best of the day at the very end, we were standing at the hippos. They were up and about swimming and then dove down. We all were admiring the heads, while Two was down at the other end. She says, pointing to its bottom "Why is it burping down here?" as bubbles gurgle up to the top, followed by "brown balls". Some lady was there and she and I just started laughing.

We left the zoo after a couple of hours, then started our walk home. The kids at this point had been walking for more than 3 hours, but were pretty good troopers walking back. I did have to hoist T-Rex on to my shoulders, but Eric then called and met us towards the end of the strip and brought us home.

It was a TV afternoon for us. I started reading Hunger Games, while we waited for Eric to come home. Around 3:30 we hit the beach, and picnicked and watched the evening Fireworks. T fell asleep before the fireworks, and slept right through the loud bangs. We were only about 100 yards from where they let them off, and it was loud. But he didn't budge, we carried him home asleep and he woke, well stirred when some kids were talking in the hallway, go figure.

Day 3: Sandcastles

2010-10-15T11:37:00.000-06:00

I am having a few technical difficulties, so no pictures in this post, but believe me I am sure there are posts all over Japan with our pictures.

The kids and I, well minus T-Rex who decided to hang with his dad, in the big truck, all day, headed for Lanikai, after of course our morning 4 am beach walk. Which was interesting because there is a Hilton Union Strike. At first I feared some gang drunken fight, but when I saw the signs and the cops, knew it was ok. We stopped and talked to several of the strikers, to find out that they were promised some shares, and instead the money went to cooperate, and also there are several illegal employees...and anyway, its a peaceful strike.

Anyway so we headed out on the Pali, really we were going to go to the North Shore but traffic was bad and i opted on the Pali, and then remembered the amazing white beaches of Lanikai, so after driving around a little, two years is a long time to really remember little back roads, we found the beach. We had a blast.

The sand is so soft and molds so easily when wet. The kids started digging and building a wave wall, which kept getting knocked over, but they kept building it bigger, better and stronger. We some how created this monster hole, castle, wall thing. I am not sure if it was the cute blond kids or the big sand castle, but when the groups of Japanese tourist walked on the shore, they stopped and just clicked away at us. Two separate ladies, gave me their camera, pointed to the button for taking pictures and got on their knees with my kids. I almost said "$20" after taking the picture, like they do with the parrots on the strip, but decided they wouldn't understand my humor.

We kept building a water tunel, to allow the waves to come into our pit. Well as i was digging, something caught my finger, a tiny pinch feeling. Then I screeched, ok I screamed, as a little crab was there. He was the most transparent little thing I have seen. I say little but he was about three inches wide, including his claws. He fascinated my kids for several hours, ok minutes, maybe an hour. We watched him dig back down then we would scoop him up, poor thing.

After our sand fun, we played in the waves. Took the kids awhile to warm up to the water, but by the time i was done, ie sunburnt around my suit lines, we decided to leave, me dragging them to the car. As soon as we wiped off all the sand, we headed to our old stomping grounds of Hawaii Kai. Though the kids fell asleep pretty much as soon as we got in the car.

We drove to Kokonuts for some shaved ice. I decided to go with a dole whip, pineapple sherbet. Then off to get Eric and T-Rex.

Once we got home the kids went swimming in our pool with Eric and I fixed dinner, that turned out to be rotten pizza. So we had sandwiches instead. I fell asleep before the rest too.

Now off to another fun filled day, gonna avoid the sun I think, but G man is feeling sad I told him I didn't want to beach it today. We will see.

Day 2: After the Sun

2010-10-15T11:11:00.000-06:00

Once we came back from the morning stroll on the beach, we ate our breakfast and took Eric to work. After dropping him off we headed to the East Coast, and hiked up to the light house. First time I have done it with out a stroller, and let me tell you much easier on me. However the kids weren't totally cooperative so it took a lot longer than we had planned but that is ok.

I gave each of them a chance with the camera and they took a ton of pictures. Bee was so excited to see the cacti, and the prickly pear fruit on them. She took several pictures. G-Man decided he wanted to pick one and taste it. He spent the rest of the day pulling out the fiber glass like pricklies out of his hands and shirts. He tasted it, said it was sweet then decided it was disgusting and chucked it down the cliff!

After our little hike, we got in the car and headed back to pick up eric so he could get a moving truck. He then drove us home and went back to the office.

The kids and I hit our pool, but decided it wasn't very fun after a few minutes and went to the beach. We played on the beach for a few hours. The kids had a blast building a sand castle and G and B swam out to a boat and played on that for awhile.

We returned, had dinner and the kids all crashed before six o'clock, I fell asleep soon after at 7.

Day 2: Fun before the Sun

2010-10-14T11:34:00.000-06:00

The kids woke up bright and early at 4am so we walked over to the beach around 5 30. and played on the beach until the sun rose. the kids had a blast, and the temperature was great. We also saw a sting ray about 5 ft wing span. I have some pictures of its wings poking up but it took 30 minutes to upload these pictures :) More fun to come.

Day 1: Flying

2010-10-14T10:58:00.000-06:00

Tuesday afternooon the kids and I got in the van and headed to the airport. (with the help of a friend, thanks Jessica!). I planned plenty of time so we were able to switch our seats that had been switched on us, leaving us all in different rows. Seats fixed, one bag checked and off to the gate.

We had plenty of time to wait and watch the planes. And eat a few snacks. Though I have to add my little complaint about not being able to bring your own drinks, because they charge an arm and a leg for them in the airport. Anyway we got on the plane, everyone in their seat, all settled, buckled and ready to take off....then everything in the plane went off. G asked "did they run out of gas?" Bee "Did the plane break down?" Me "seriously? I just got them all settled!"

Soon the pilot was announcing there was a mechanical problem and we were all off. Good thing there was a plane all good to go for us, we just had to get to the other side of the airport. Well I was a little concerned about making our connection in Seatle which was just a 50 minute connection time already, I texted Eric to check on other possiblities. Then was able to find out that half the plane was on our Hawaii flight and anyway went to board the next plane, our boarding passes didn't work, because they had switched us to the next morning direct flight. So we stood there with the gate agent trying to fix it. They were still working on it, when everyone was sitting and waiting for us, that they just let us on and said they would fix our flight from Seattle. so off we went! Once we arrived to Seattle, we had no time to board, but made it just in time, to find that our seats had all been switched! Again, but we were able to get it so G and B sat next to each other and I had the little ones. Other than a few seat kicks, and several bathroom trips, the flight was unadventful, thankfully. B and G sat next to a South Korean man that spoke little to no English, but they some how communicated with him through writing on paper and he took great care of them!

They were so excited to land! I asked Two if she remembered Hawaii, as she was only three the last time we were here. She looked at me and said "No but I will not let it go out of my head this time." So cute! Eric was standing waiting for us, with leis he had made for us. Yes he made them! The kids and I were so excited to see him and he was so happy to see us.

Self Expression

2010-10-06T17:36:00.000-06:00

This is my Sweet little Two just a few days ago. When she decided to take scissors to her hair, I am guessing out of a desire to "express" herself, or just for the experience of the feel of taking scissors to her own hair and watching the hair fall by her own hands. Whatever it was, she did it. So here she is just after the cut. Not too bad, and I am not really a hair person or one that seems to ever even do my own much, but Sunday as we were leaving my parents, it dawned on me that Monday was picture day! And I felt that this hair cut wasn't exactly what expression she wanted to be making.

So I called my neighbor who happens to be a hair dresser. She had Two come right over and she just took her razor and textured up the whole thing.

She smiled the whole time she was cutting her hair. Kind of funny though, because she didn't take off any length, Two looked in the mirror when we got home and said "i look like a boy!" I told her that Christy had just added layers and that she is the one that cut her hair short. To which she replied "I guess I hadn't looked in the mirror at myself before!" It made me smile.So in my attempt to make the hair look less like a boy in her mind, we gelled it and spiked it and put a little pulmeria flower in it. She looked so cute and sassy. And now she has found what I think is the perfect hair to express her personality.

Yes that is my fridge!

Anyway her intention wasn't sassy but it has turned that way and I love it!

I can only see 4 of your eyes....

2010-09-27T20:31:00.000-06:00

Today my Bee and G-Man had some major dental work. Unfortunately they had so much, and our insurance was running out this month, that we decided to go for sedation, that way it could all get done in one fail swoop. I have to say if you are in the Davis, Weber county, Dr. Brad Dawson of Kidz Dental is awesome! Anyway, Bee went first because she had more to be done, and I figured G-Man wouldn't mind playing play station on an empty stomach. She did great. She woke up incredibly fast, and other than repetitively asking about what was wrong with her tooth (it had been capped) and an occasionally bugging out and rolling of her eyes, there wasn't anything too funny about her awakening.

However, my little G-man had me in tears from laughter. As you can see here, he is wiped out. He'd be like this and then his little head would pop up, his eyes, like those of a deer caught in head lights, and his arm would raise in a hail Hitler, a smiled crossed his face, and in his most slurred and happy voice he said "Hi mom!" Then he would crash back into this pose. Then his dad walked in, and he did the same thing but then said "hi dad." Crash. Well one point after saying hi to me, he looked at me all bugged eyed and said "mom I can only see four of your eyes!" He was shocked and saddened. I just wonder how many eyes he normally sees on me. He went on to count all my noses and then crashed. Then popped up "hi mom!" It was so sweet. It was the sweet little voice, of his really early years. Of all my kids he was always the most excited to see me in the morning, and always greeted me with a "good morning mom, so happy to see you." Times have changed a little but it was so sweet to hear it.

Well after we came home, we actually spent some quality time as a family. Eric flew in for the weekend, and was suppose to leave at 11 this morning, but with both kids out, he changed his flight til tomorrow. The kids sat on Eric's lap and watched videos of g-man after surgery. And then Eric lay on the floor playing airplane with the kids, and G-Man looked at me and said "I wish it could be like this everyday in our family."

"what the house a mess?" because I was looking around at the huge mess, that was mostly created by our little Texan Tornado T-Rex.

"house a mess, who cares, no all of us sitting together talking and laughing and just having fun."

I do too. It saddens me that Eric will be gone now for over 50 days. He was only gone some 20 something days, and it felt like forever. Makes me wish we had chosen to go with him in the first place, however, things are going well here. Kids are loving school, and have great friends. I have work and am enjoying that. And soon enough we will all be together, hopefully having more fun moments like tonight.

12 Eyes...and Jam

2010-09-21T23:00:00.000-06:00

Bee has been struggling with reading for awhile. She mostly read by seeing the first letter and just guessing a word that begins with that letter. Then sometime in the last few weeks, she decided to put on Two's glasses to read. And amazingly she began reading better. So I decided, maybe it was time to have her vision checked. Believe you me, I felt like a horrible mother when after we left the eye doctor with a prescription that he knocked down a few levels so she wouldn't be legally blind....well not quite, being a little dramatic, but he did make a lesser prescription. Just crazy to think 3 out of my 4 are farsighted....Where did they get their eyes?

But the best part of the exam that just made me smile, maybe a proud mom moment, or a proud teacher moment but the nurse put the letters up on the wall and said, "tell me what the letters say."

Bee looks eyes all strained...and says "buh, duh, kuh, tuh, mah." I just smiled, because she told her what they say.

She is so excited to get her glasses, and I am so excited to have her be able to see.

Just makes me wonder, if you know Bee, you know her stare, if she really was staring, or if she was just trying to focus and see you....just a thought.

The kids and I picked our pears. 19 gallons of pears!

This last weekend I made, with the help of my mom, some pear jam. She gave me some plum, peach, peach-raspberry jams that she had made. Still carrying a load of pears, that the kids made, I decided to make some more jam/sauce yesterday. So I whipped up a couple batches of strawberry-pear sauce/jam. When G came in last night as I was making it, he commented on how it smelled so good, that we needed to make waffles or pancakes or crepes. I agreed it sure smelled good.

So this morning I woke up to the kids making pancakes. They had all kinds of shapes going. Then they opened up a jar of all the jams we have, including the cherry syrup our neighbors gave to us yesterday after we dropped off some pear jam. They poured the jams into their own bowls and began taste testing. Their first favorite was my moms peach raspberry then my pear-berry. It was really cute! Such cute kids.

And I am going to work on pear raspberry tomorrow, or maybe Thursday....or Saturday??? I don't know but I still have a ton of pears, and still many growing on the tree. But am so excited that I canned by myself and it wasn't as hard as I thought...though i just finished cleaning up the kitchen from my mess...but that is more out of shear laziness.

Pears anyone?

And Eric is coming home for three days this weekend, got a sitter for Friday night!!!! and ......older two are having oral surgery on Monday...I guess not really oral surgery but sedated dental work, lots and lots needs to be done, and we are going to do it all in one shot. Glad Eric will be here for it.

520....really

2010-09-20T20:45:00.000-06:00

this will be my 520th post! wowsers...I was just thinking that I should post some pictures....and then noticed 520 and thought wow pretty cool....anyway I never really posted many pictures from this summer...it sure was a busy one. So here you go...a heck of a lot of summer photos...

Sand Castles

2010-09-19T22:57:00.000-06:00

Do you remember as a child, spending hours at the beach digging in the sand? Sometimes just digging a hole, to just dig, maybe thinking you could reach China? Or building a sand castle by the waters' edge to have a wave come crash it down? Or digging a mote, around the castle, that leads to the water, and running back and forth trying to fill it fast enough that for just a moment the water stood still and the mote was filled?

Do you ever feel that life is like building sand castles? It seems that way to me lately. Spending hours on end cleaning, or working, or teaching or disciplining children, paying one bill after another sometimes not seeing an end insight. Though sometimes not just as fun is it? I guess it can be though. It all depends on how you see it. As an opportunity to try again, or an opportunity to cry and say why me and go running away.

Sometimes it seems that like the waves coming in hard, and basically wiping the slate clean and flat, life gives us opportunities to get up and try again. Maybe something totally different. Its at those moments when you got to choose your attitude and what you are going to do with it.

I'd like to say I'm the one that always sees it as an opportunity to try again, but sometimes I do sit and pout and wonder why me....but not too much. I truly believe things happen for a reason. And love being able to look back and think, well that really was a tiny castle, or not a very deep hole, this time its going to be bigger and better.

Its funny though no matter what your attitude is, it seems that sometimes in life there are people like the waves, that just like to creep up and smash your hard work and tear down your castles. And like the waves they really are unaware of what they are doing, rather they are just doing what they always do, coming in and going out. Totally set in their own motion. Truly unaware that they possibly could be making the wreckage on the shore.

So I guess the best thing to do sometimes, is to pick up your toys, and go further up the beach, out of the reach of the waves. Grab a bucket, run to the water, fill it and bring it back to the dry sand, and start building over. Its just safer that way.

Come November we will have a clean slate again, and though I am not sure what lies ahead, I know that this next little hole and sand castle is going to be an adventure and we survived the last (with out too much sand in our eyes.) Though every once in awhile a little wind gust will blow some sand from the previous castle, stinging a little....but you move on because you have a sand castle to build or a really big hole to dig! And you just don't have time to worry about the wave coming to get you.

Happy sand digging!

The Night She Said Good-Bye

2010-09-12T12:10:00.000-06:00

This morning I awoke abruptly to the sweet tender voice of my grandmother, whispering in my ear, telling me that everything was going to be okay and that everything was going to work out. Its been three years since I have heard her actual words, and unsure why this morning I felt her so near, and miss her so much.

I have a precious relationship with my grandmother. I 'd say out of her 16 grandchildren, I most likely was her favorite, or at least she made me feel that way. Though I am pretty sure she didn't have a favorite. I just like to pretend I was hers. Though unlike many of my cousins or the friends I grew up with I had the rare opportunity to live near her, attend church with her and visit weekly with her while growing up. Definitely a special relationship developed between us as we spent time together. I try to block out the memories of "sleeping" in her front room, sun still blazing, neighbor kids playing at 7:00 in the summer, as I lay watching from the window.

While in college I'd go and visit with her on the weekends, and shop in her pantry. We'd sit and hang out, and Grand-Dad would fill me in on how my high school team was doing in football.

Over the years, as I lived in Texas I spoke on the phone with her several times a week, mostly just to say hi.

Then that Friday morning, when my mom phoned to tell me I needed to fly to Utah because she most likely wasn't going to make it through the weekend. I quickly called Eric and he made arrangements for my flight that afternoon. Several of my friends chipped in and took the kids for me, so I could fly out immediately.

When I arrived I stayed the evening with my little sister Alyson. Then the next morning I went over to my parent's house to hang out with everyone. The amazing thing, my grandmother while on her last breaths, literally she had pneumonia and a hole in her lungs, couldn't stop asking me questions. I rubbed her feet as she continued to ask about the kids, and Eric and work and life. At that point we were trying to sell our house and figure out what we were doing with Hawaii and the family and Eric's work. She and I just talked. There were other people there visiting and coming in and out, but I just hung with my Grandmother.

As I was preparing to leave, I went over and hugged my grandmother, gave her a kiss. I whispered in her ear that I loved her. I wanted so very much to say to her "I will see you tomorrow." But was over whelmed by the spirit, that this was my last moment with her, and to tell her "I love you, and want you to know that you have lived an amazing life, we will all miss you, but it really is ok for you to leave this body that is causing you so much pain. I love you." She told me she loved me too. And with a heavy heart and tears I left the room.

As I went to sleep that night, I prayed that we would all be comforted, and I fell asleep. In the early hours of the morning, I dreamt my grandmother was standing in her long pale blue sheer nightgown, next to my bed, rubbing my cheek with her soft pale hands. She bent down and whispered in my ear "I love you Corrine, and want you to know everything is going to work out. I will make sure of it." She kissed me on the cheek and was gone. Not but a few seconds later my sister came to the door, I sat up and said "I know."

For the longest time I could feel her watching over me. I could see her hands in things I did. Every once in a while I'd get a whiff of her perfume. And as the ache of losing her faded so did the feeling of her closeness.

And I have to say the last year and half have been emotionally, physically, financially, spiritually trying on me. And maybe it is coincidence that last night I felt her near me, maybe its a reminder that she is still watching out for me. Or maybe she has been busy and now has realized how much I need her help and is back watching me more closely...or just giving me that little bit of encouragement I have been needing. Whatever it is or was, I am grateful for her and my relationship. And the faith that she has in me to help me succeed.

Life reaches further than the grave. Bodies are buried but spirits live on. I know this. I am grateful to know that I have some people on my team. And am even more grateful to have had the experience of knowing my Grandmother the way I did. And knowing that one day again, I will see her.

First Days

2010-08-30T10:01:00.000-06:00

Two went to kindergarten today...can't believe I have 3 school age children, time is going fast. Two woke up so excited today. She got ready and we took them all to school after yummy eggs for breakfast.

Today is also Eric's first day of work on Oahu, well not totally but he orginally was asked to do some work for the island of Maui, helping manage their elections. Due to a three alarm fire in Houston, many of the Hart employees were pulled from the Hawaii project. They called us Friday evening and asked if Eric would be willing to fill a bigger role in the project, basically doing now what he did in 2008 plus the Maui operations till they find someone to replace him. It means he won't be coming home but for about 4 days til mid-end of november and I won't be going in October like planned because he will be a lot busier.

Its is kind of funny how things work out. Two weeks ago, not quite. Greg approached Eric about buying his partnership out, basically paying us what we invested in to it. It has been bittersweet for Eric because of the amount of time and effort he put into the restaurant and business. We had fun, great employees and it was always fun to see people we knew come visit. Eric is grateful for the opportunity to help his life long friend start and establish his dream of a restaurant. Their family will be moving next door to the restaurant and I think it will make it easier for them to manage the restaurant and spend time with their family and truly make it a family business. We wish them all the best of luck and y'all know where you can get some amazing bbq in a fun beautiful setting!

But with Eric not having to worry about the business here, he can now focus his energy on the next big project that seemed to just land in his lap, shortly after the decision to disolve his part of the restaurant. Its funny how things "just happen." And with the way things have been the last year and a half, I don't think it will be as hard to have Eric in Hawaii for so long....not sure how I will do church but things seem to happen and work out for a reason. I will get back to you on that in a few days!

The bonus though is I do get a trip to Maui sometime in Novemeber....a light at the end of the tunnel.

I am grateful for the experiences we have had and for the many things I have learned.

Don't be Shocked or Anything

2010-08-29T14:02:00.000-06:00

Three posts in one month!!! Woah!! But my goodness my kids went back to school! G-Man and Bee started on Wednesday, 2nd and 4th...hard to believe their that old and Em starts on Monday!

I love that they are enjoying it so far, and seem to have really great teachers...well G proudly tells everyone that he has Bee's teacher from last year, and so far she is "awesome."

And in honor of the first day, I actually got a picture of them! But can't down load it so here is one I took this month!

You're up and you're down...

2010-08-28T10:20:00.000-06:00

You're left than you're right, it's black when it's white....oh I never can remember the lyrics but hopefully you are singing a long with me...speaking of singing along..I am the primary chorister (young kids at church) and it just makes me laugh because I have never been one to be able to remember song lyrics instead I say them wrong, and well anyway its kind of funny trying to teach young kids songs and have them remember them better than I do....oh well that was a tangent...

I just feel like that song, in some sort of way. Not that I am totally moody and argumental...well that could be left up to argue later, but it just seems that one minute things seem to be going OK and then the next, wham boom bam....

Lets just start off with the natural aspect of it all....

A few weeks ago, my son in a fit of lets call it "rage" threw a shoe across the room and it went through the front door window,,, we got it fixed and he still has about 10 hours of community service left...we assigned him that to pay it back.

Then we had the toilet up stairs, keep backing up and not flushing...after about two weeks of plunging...it just stopped working...so I snaked it, see Eric has been in Hawaii since the first of August, coming back and forth but again leaving me the single mom I have been pretty much all year. Anyway so to my amazement I fixed the toilet. It appears to be working great.

Well in the mean time, while showering T-Rex joined me and he slipped on some soap and knocked the shower faucet off, water shot out like a fire hydrant. Leaving me to rinse my hair in it bending down, and lets just say uncomfortably. Well for about a week we had a broken shower, til the plumber could finally come and fix it.

Then last Sunday the wind was so bad, it blew over a tree in our back yard, which by the way is still sitting there. Waiting for today to be chopped up and moved away. Though we don't have a trailer or a truck to haul it away in.

Then this morning I went down to start a load of laundry. There was puddling on the floor, which Bee said was because Two peed on it...it was quite a bit and all over the washer and dryer...I look up and there is a leak, a drip, a little waterfall....so I sit here once again waiting for the plumber. I just have to say there sure our some joys to living in a 1922 bungalow...really there are!

I am sure there has been more, hard to remember but all this has happened in August...and it is still August right?? Anyway last night the wind was blowing hard again, and it slammed our screen/glass door shut and the glass shattered all over the front room. So we do have another window to fix. Though I think we can claim renters insurance on that one right???

Well I better get off and get cleaning and fixing. At least Eric is home today.

Oh and don't let me get started on my kids teeth, lets just say we saw three dentists this week, and can't get any work done until October! oh the joys....got to see if I can find someone else to see the kids before the end of the month when our insurance is gone! I am ready to have "real" insurance and income to pay for some stuff done. At least we found a decent dentist that takes medicaid but he is so popular and busy we have to wait....

whole lotta lotta

2010-08-23T22:33:00.000-06:00

Whole lotta nada....is more like it. The other day while walking/jogging with some of my friends, I mentioned to them that I woke up with a personal narrator in my head...and while I was waiting for them to meet me at the track, I kept hearing the narrator speak..."as she two staired it up the bleachers, her shorts rode even higher between her legs. The awkwardness of tugging them down and jogging down the stairs, caused her to lose her balance. Sending her tumbling down the stairs, bump, thump...She lay at the bottom cement stepped, embarrassed more than injured, as the high school cheerleaders from across the field, stood laughing as they watched the poor chubby middle aged women, trip, flip and spill to the bottom of the bleachers." And on and on went my mind. Even as we walked and talked, the voice kept narrating my life, and filling in the blanks.

I had a desire that day to run home and write. To sit at the computer for hours and finally get my book going. But my computer was dead. It had been for awhile...about a month now. Well maybe only two weeks but it has felt like years.

Though it has made me realize how much I rely on my computer and sometimes take it for granted. I miss writing. I miss jotting down the funny stories of my life. It feels like its been awhile since I have been able to sit down and make note of the things going on in my life. The simple things. The funny things. The Sad things. Just things.

Tonight, laying next to me in bed are my two little ones. I tried tonight to get them to sleep in their own beds. I read them stories. I kissed them. I said prayers. I kissed them again. I tucked them in. I gave them water. I tucked them in again. I kissed them again. I threatened them with shutting the door and tuning off the hall light if they didn't go to sleep. Then I came to my room and shut my door. 20 minutes later two peeked her head in the door, with T-Rex standing behind her, "Mom, we just cant go to sleep. We tried. We just can't. Can't we just lay on your bed? How do you get us to fall asleep. It just is easier to fall asleep with you." So instead of standing firm on my "you are sleeping in your own bed" they are curled up next to me. They aren't going to want to sleep with me forever right??

Plus Eric, has been contracted out again by Hart to help with the Hawaiian elections. Oh how I wanted to pack up the whole family and go again. But because of the restaurant and Eric not wanting to be away from it too much...(though things have changed with that..another time I will talk about that) and we didn't think the kids would do well having to start and change schools again. Plus Two got into all day kindergarten and we didn't want to fore go that one. So we decided it'd be best to have Eric coming back and forth and not to disturb the kids too much.

Though I am still unsure that three and a half months in Hawaii would be too disturbing for the kids!? The funny thing is...and I kind of mentioned it before to a friend when she said that I should go with Eric, we shouldn't be apart, it hasn't felt much different with him there. And the kids haven't seemed to miss him. And that is because the last year and few months, he literally hasn't been around, other than Sundays...and well anyway, it just dawned on me how much time he spends away from the family. It humors and saddens me.

Though this past Saturday we spent as a family, more or less. I participated in some CPR training while Eric took the kids to the train museum...which they loved. Then we met for lunch. And once we returned kids went here and there to friends, and for a few moments, about an hour, Eric and I were actually home alone on a Saturday! Then we had a babysitter and Eric and I went out on a DATE! My brother turned 40 and we partied with them, you know old people style, dinner and volleyball and talking and hot tubing. It was one of the best Saturdays I have had in a long time.

Well minus the me coming home from CPR/First Aid and the house still a mess, so I decided to leave and get my hair cut and my eyebrows waxed....well that part was nice. However while getting my eyebrows waxed, the little Asian lady said "let me wax your lip. Not hurt. Two minutes. You bite your lip. Ok?" "um..no thanks last time my upper lip swelled up like a balloon and it hurts."

"it not hurt. two minutes. Okay"

"no really. I don't want my lip waxed."

"it not hurt. bite lip. just a little here and here. Okay."

"no I really really don't want to do it. its ok."

"okay then" She pulls out the Popsicle stick. Swipe on my right side, swipe on the left side. Rip. Rip. "see that not too bad. That be $15."

Ughh...she charged me for both and I wasn't in the mood to fight it. Since I had said no. Oh well, it looks better right???

Who doesn't want to look better? I know I do. Especially since I will be going to Hawaii in a month! Yeah for me! Instead of Eric flying home for two days, I will be flying there to visit. With out kids! Thanks Mom and Dad, you know you will have fun too! :)

Of all our years, this definitely feels like a year that I deserve a vacation. Not that I feel like I ever deserve much. But this has been a year and a half that I really would like to forget about. Though I guess life lessons don't really work that way. Lets just say, I have learned a lot. Just wish I felt like I am a better person for it.

To be totally honest, with not only you, but myself, I feel like I am just not a better person. Really, and I hate that. I feel like I am crankier. Lot LESS patient. And a whole lot more grumpier and quick to react. And while I am at it, why don't I just throw in the fact that I have been just plain depressed. Throw in a few months of also being really sick, and you get one heck of a not a fun person. That's been a hard pill for me to swallow, seeing that I used to be the fun loving easy going person. I need to find her again.

Maybe I'm a little more mature, maybe I have developed a little more compassion? Maybe I have just become more "down to earth and realistic." Not sure but am ready to be a better improved me. Sometimes I look at myself, counting all the new greys, and lines and wrinkles, and realize how much I have aged this last year. How totally worn out I have become.

But no more. Too bad I can just donate my worn out body and mind to DI and go to Macy's and buy a new one. Though with this wearing away, I have become softer too. I guess my rough edges are getting smoother.

Speaking of smooth, I need a little transitional something....and well there really isn't anything smooth about this transition. Other than I just need to go to sleep. Gotta a full day ahead of me.

Bee and G-Man are spending the night with their Nanny and Papa, and since I worked all day at the day care center, I really want to do something fun with T-Rex and Two...even if it starts off with doing the dishes that I have put off doing tonight because I had to write, and I hate unloading the dishwasher! Isn't that why I had kids, to have them unload the dishwasher? I mean really. I miss my kids. But I really miss them helping me with that one chore. Lazy me!

Well before I start babbling all my secrets, I better go to bed. Though the only comments lately I get on my blog are those of some people from China...and well I can't read their comments, not that I don't appreciate them, just have no idea what your saying, and most likely its just some spam stuff...and if it is not...sorry I can't understand your comments I do appreciate them, because they are like a good dusting of neglected ceiling fans.

Night y'all....

Oh July....July.....

2010-07-22T23:12:00.000-06:00

how did you sneak up on me...wasn't it just May....Kids in school...me cleaning toilets at the hospital, now a director of a child care center and working more than the 20 hours I thought I'd be working......and now its July, and not just hello "happy 4th of July" People July, but holy Hannah...July is almost over July. And too busy working too really enjoy my summer home with the kids...not that lately I have been in the "I'm a nice fun mom mood..." And.... As much as I have "loved" 2010, not sure why it has to go by so miserably fast..did i say miserably? it hasn't been all miserable. Really. It hasn't. Just been long and short all at the same time.

T-Rex is THREE!!! How did that happen..my little baby is three. He is becoming such a boy, and reminds me of that often when I comment "oh I love my little baby"..and he replies "i not a baby, i a big boy!" And he is. And lately is favorite thing to say as we drive is "slug bug!", nothing like older siblings to teach the finer things in life, like slugging someone each time you see a car. But my favorite little T-Rexism is "oh no, ebrybudy, a powleece man...sit still, put seat belt on, hurry. Hurry, powleece. Gonna get you if no seat belt." Not sure I can blame the siblings on that one. But if you need a radar detector he's your man. (disclaimer my kids are always wearing their seat belts T just double checks and alerts them of possibility of the police catching them or something :)

Hope you aren't too hot this summer....we aren't doing too bad, though Bee came up with a great idea today..."We should keep our windows open all winter long so that when the summer heat comes, the house will be really cold!" If only! And maybe it would work the other way around, maybe we could bottle up some of this summer heat to keep the house warm this winter? She might be onto something.

Little blessings

2010-06-15T08:31:00.000-06:00

On my fridge I have a magnet that reminds me every day that "everything will be okay in the end, and if its not okay, its not the end!" Though I lay in my bed yesterday sicker than I have been in awhile, who am I kidding the last few months I have been sick, but it was one of the worst days, and all I could do was lay there and pray that I could just feel better. I wonder if I've reached my end.

I lay in bed listening to my children laughing, as they jumped on the tramp and chased each other through the long grass of the backyard. I smiled when Two kept coming in checking on me to see if I was ok. G-man took charge and made sure to watch his siblings. He even apologized as he cleaned up the splattered watermelon that T-Rex decided to paint with on the kitchen floor. Two came in often, just lay next to me with books in had to read. And though my head was spinning, and reading wasn't easy, I realized this moment won't last forever, and she won't be crawling in my bed to read to her.

I look around my house this morning, wondering how the house that was totally clean Sunday night, has exploded in mass nastiness, kind of like when you've eaten too much and you unzip your pants and your belly just comes falling out....Some how my house unzipped its nice clean pants and now lets her belly hang out. I don't have the energy to clean.

Maybe I need some more down time to heal, but then I wake up each day to the daily grind of motherhood. So many things as a mother I should be doing. Or maybe as a housedweller I need to do, like mop, and fold the three basket of clean laundry, find the matching socks, wash walls, and blinds.....the list goes on....But then there is the mother of me, that just wants to enjoy my little miracles, my little blessings in my life. Read a little more, laugh a little harder, and worry less about the mess....someday it will be cleaned up right??

The kids have decided that this morning they needed to take care of themselves, making bacon, frying eggs and now making chocolate banana milkshakes. Ohh yum, they just brought me one.

Together we will clean, or maybe we will hang in our pjs....I do have to go to work too...I'm lacking all kinds of energy and hope this staff infection finds its way out soon.

Life is a blessing, and today I choose to live it....even if its in bed, under the covers! :)

Amazed

2010-06-08T07:39:00.000-06:00

As I sit here, eating some smoked redpepper creamcheesed stuffed chicken breast, I am amazed at my husband's amazing ability to come up with and create awesome food. I can always look in the pantry and fridge and say "there is nothing to eat" and twenty minutes later he can whip up a five course meal...and I wonder "did he sneak off to the store?" But no he is awesome like that. Over at Texas Pride they do catering as well as the restaurant stuff, and they have a big event in August....and Eric is planning the menu...which means I get to sit here a little before seven am trying out some of his stuff....and man this stuffed chicken is awesome! He also informed me of the lime shrimp he made, that they all ate last night.... but anyway if you are looking for some tasty catering this summer give them a call! or visit http://www.texaspridebarbecue.com/

Anyway I am amazed at my children too, and how quickly they are growing and changing. Yesterday the boys and I were dying sick....well probably not dying sick but really sick. G-Man needed less mothering and we more hung out commiserating with each other. Then this morning he walked up to me, gave me a big hug and asked me if I was feeling any better today. Its nice to know that he is aware of the world around him, and especially his mom :).

Im amazed at the fact that even though the last year the restaurant has been open, we haven't brought a cent home, and any money we seem to find goes there rather than home, and some how we are surviving. I am not sure how really other than the tender mercies of our Heavenly Father watching out for us.

I just switched jobs, in hopes that I'd be able to spend more time with my children and family. And feel more scattered and busy. And discovered that my kids hours spent at the center with me will be deducted from my pay, which if you calculate, I will be paying to work. Got to figure this one out. Unemployment benefits ended this week too....but like everything in life, a door closes and another ones opens right? thats the amazing thing about life.

And I amazed at how exhausted I am at this point in life. But somehow am able to get up everyday, most days, and get things done. Yet am amazed at how much laundry my kids produce and how I find it almost impossible to keep up with, who am I kidding, I can't keep up with it....the mounds are overtaking my life.

Eric recently was contacted by his former employer to do contract work for them this fall for the elections in Maui....that's right Maui. He will be flying back and forth for three and a half months. I really want to find a way to take the whole family this time, but its not going to happen. I'd be amazed if it could work. Eric will be doing a lot of traveling and I will be doing even more of the single mom thing, but in the end it will work out best for us not to join him. Two got into all day kindergarten and I feel she really needs that, and even though it would be a few months, I just don't think my kids can handle another move and move again. Too bad the three months weren't June, July, August!

I am also amazed at how much mroe food we go throughnow that the ids aren't in school...man what are the teen years going to bring?

And I am amazed at how whiny I sound! sorry I don't like to whine.....or maybe I do? Maybe I am in denial....of my whininess.....

I am just amazed at where I woke up today in life.

Glad the sun is shining! Glad my kids are healthy! And just glad I can see out of one eye. Hopefully the other will cooperate soon.

Lots of Little things....

2010-05-31T19:44:00.000-06:00

So I have been avoiding writing, well not really avoiding but life has kept me so busy lately that I haven't really had a momentt to sit down and write. And seeing that even after my multiple posts this week, well they were all posted on one day :), but seeing there were few if any comments, no one is really reading and therefore, really who will mind another some random ranting post.

This last year, as we have been in this house, in Ogden for a year now! Its so hard to believe that its been a year and yet at the same time....wow has it not been ten??!!! The ups and downs this year have caused me to feel like I have aged 10 years.

I have learned that some I loved and trusted, and would do anything for, weren't willing to recipricate. It surprises me, it has hurt me. I took a personality test last year, and one of my biggest weakness/strengths is my compassion and that I put making others happy and relationships formost above myself. I avoid saying things or standing up for myself because I am more concerned about ruining a relationship than how I am being treated or feeling.  And unfortunately, I hate that now, me who used to be so concerned about making relationships (not talking about my marriage) work, am feeling hurt and surprised and stung, that I just don't even want to make those friendships work. And silly me, I still feel bad, and worry about how to make those relationships better, but really should I, because I am pretty much sure that those who have hurt me, are ones that are focused more on their selves and what makes them happy they really haven't thought once about what has happened between our friendship and has happened to me. And then I find myself worrying about them...oh the web I weave....oh the friendships I've had...

Leaving behind friends in Texas, then Hawaii, then Utah Valley has been a little tough. Though I have to say I have made some amazing wonderful friends here in Ogden, feel like I have more than I have had in my adult life.  And I appreciate the support they have given me, as well as the laughs and the fun!

Speaking of Fun! The first week of May I gave my two weeks notice at the hospital...and some days, I really, really miss the break from kids...I love my kids, but as Eric said, I had a taste of the sweet life :). But working weekends and literally not seeing my husband, but Sunday evening, the four months were taxing on me. I would walk in the door after a long day of work, and Eric would pass me the parenting baton, and head out the door. It has been so nice the last two weeks to actually go to church with my family, as crazy as they are there, and just hang out for one day with the family, the whole family. Though I do miss having Saturdays to hang with the family too.

Today I took the kids hiking all by myself...I am never that brave. We passed a family on the way up and the mom said to me "wow you are brave!"  To which I responded, "no just crazy!" But these holidays alone are hard. And last year we'd go hang at the restaurant as I helped out. But it just seems that its easier to not be there.

It kind of was a lonely day for me, even though the kids and I were together and had a good time, I just think I thought moving closer to more family, I'd see and do more with them. I know poor pitiful me, I could do some calling and organizing, but am so exhausted, sometimes I think its nice to get invited.

Those who know me from times past, I used to do a lot of inviting and planning! I love having people around and doing parties. I actually spent the other day cleaning up the neglected backyard so we could have some friends over, so maybe my days of reclusiveness are fading. Anyone want to come to a bbq dinner next Sunday?

Did I mention that I am now a director of a child care center? Its crazy but couldn't have come at a better time for me. I literally prayed and fasted one Sunday, mostly about my previous job, and wanted to find something else, that would lend to me being "home" more. And the next day I talked to my friend Bruna and one thing led to another and she offered me this job! Its nice to be doing something related to my degree!

Go to the light!

2010-05-29T17:03:00.000-06:00

Bee planted a seed at school and it was set in a little milk carton, that I set into a little pot on my window sill. It is behind the curtain, away from the sun. While I was washing dishes yesterday, I noticed how the poor little stem was growing and bending around the curtain to get to the sunlight!

For some reason the scene from Poltergiest jumped into my mind, "CarolAnne, don't go into the light!" "no you need to tell her to go into the light!" "But I thought you told me to tell her not to go into the light!" "That was before, she needs to go into the light!"

Anyway, I think we all need a light to grow too, a light to direct us in our lives! Sometimes I feel like I am hiding behind my curtain and not heading towards the light, more because it is comfortable in the dark, hidden?

There is a scripture that states, "let thy light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your father in heaven!"

I wonder if I am the light that my little children are growing and looking to find to be like! I see so many times their little necks peaking around the corners, trying to find me and some direction in their life....I hope I am providing enough light for them. Hope I am a bright enough light for them to continue to grow and become great people.

So don't hide behind your curtains, and don't hide your light behind curtains so others can continue to grow and learn!

Two is NOW 5!!!!

2010-05-29T16:51:00.000-06:00

Her first morning as a FIVE YEAR OLD!! Where has the time gone????

The birthday morning starts off with a little self portrait! Love her brown eyes! And she has the most perfect huge smile!!! This year has been a crazy one, and I feel for Two because her birthday always falls around the end of the school year, which is always a crazy few weeks. So instead of a party, she invited one friend, her best little girl friend to lunch! They had their own table at Chili's and had a blast. And that evening we had a family get together where we were able to wish her happy birthday!

Two...well not like you can't see her name, was so excited to blow out her candles that she blew one out before the others came to sing to her. Actually the day of her birthday my oldest niece Anna graduated from high school! I was a senior in high school when she was born!!! She was kind enough to share her evening with Two! Thanks Anna, and CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

After we sang happy birthday, she ran up to me and said "is it present time??" I felt a tinge of guilt because it wasn't her birthday party, and not that I was totally expecting her aunts and uncles to gift her, my heart hurt for her. Luckily her nanny and aunt alyson came through. She was so excited to get her movie, and pretty pink twirly skirt and pets.

We love you TWO!! Happy Happy Birthday! You are such a joy and light in our family! You make me smile everyday! Who couldn't smile with your big contagious smile!!!

Two Graduates from Preschool!

2010-05-29T16:36:00.000-06:00

Preschool class of 2010...What a cute bunch!

That's TWO in the purple dress and glasses...Singing at the top of her lungs!!

Miss Melissa giving her, her diploma...

Two proudly watching her other friends receive their diploma. I am so glad she had the experience of attending preschool and enjoying it. However I wasn't preprared for some pomp and circumstance (is that how you spell it?? and say it?) I think if I had know I would have invited grandparents, aunts and uncles, and DAD, because I was the only "single" person there! :) Congratulations TWO off to Kindergarten you go!!!

Summer Fun!

2010-05-29T16:26:00.001-06:00

We are working on ways to make summer fun and still get work done. So around here the rule is NO FUN til the chores are DONE! As incentive yesterday we bought a little swimming pool. One the kids were dying to open and set up, even though it was raining and cold. Though when we came home from the store, yesterday, I told them the basement had to be cleaned. So they ran down stairs and cleaned the basement. Well again it was cold. And we had other things to do and they were not behaving so well, it didn't get set up. So today as they were begging me to do the pool, I mentioned the back yard needed to be cleaned. So they filled three trash bags with popsicle wrappers and weeds. And Once they were done, I noticed the basement was still in need of some cleaning. With swim suits on they finished the basement! And so like I had promised I filled the pool for them. However I don't think they were expecting it to be so cold. I went inside to boil some water for them, and came out to them huddled into this little ball! Even with blue lips T-Rex was the happiest...... Hopefully we will experience some warmth soon....Soon enough I am sure!

If I've told you once...

2010-05-29T16:10:00.000-06:00

Eat all your lunch......wait is this a picture of your unfinished lunch......Do not open the oven door while something is baking!....wait you opened the door to get this picture didn't you??

And um well don't look directly in the sun or at least try to take your portrait outside.....

I have told you before....don't play with mom's camera!

especially when your hands are covered in chocolate pudding and you are aiming the camera at your mom when she is telling you to put the camera down, not such a pretty face!

(as I was posting this Two said..."oh I took that, you should see the other one I took of the spaghetti Os...too cute! love my budding photographer!)

Humblings of Motherhood

2010-05-21T15:20:00.000-06:00

As a mother, I find myself constantly getting after my kids, to not leave their shoes or their clothes in the middle of the floor, get their shoes, papers, jackets out of the car, to empty their back packs or lunch boxes (ok my kids don't use lunch boxes very often..) I wonder why they would do such things! How could they forget the things I ask them to do on a daily if not hourly basis?

But then the sun goes down, dusk fills the house, I stumble around to find a light to turn on, to only trip over a shoe...as the curses begin in my head, the rants of "how many times...", I look down to pick up the rotten shoe to discover it belongs to...................................... ME!! Most likely a kid chucked it from the basket in search for their own right???

Then I notice after tucking in all my kids, straightening up the kitchen, I quickly go to brush my teeth and strip my way to bed, leaving behind a trail of clothes, that I find the next morning.......

After a long day of work, well when I used to work, as I quit a few weeks ago, I tended to come straight into the house, many times leaving things in the car. Often times leaving things for a little while. So today, and let me just say its been about two weeks since I have worked....I pulled out my lunch box. Yes my lunch box that I thought was empty, well minus an apple and a slim fast....something that wouldn't go too bad and well it just "slipped" my mind each time we were rushing in and out of the car. Kudos today to me for taking it out.....but the smell! Oh the smell.....I unzip it...and the mold the smoosh the awful black stinky matter! What the heck was it?? A banana...a poor helpless banana sat rotting in my car for at least 3 weeks! It was steped on, it was smooshed, it was frozen and it was heated and it died a terrible death!

Maybe I still need a mother around reminding me daily to do stuff! Maybe I should be a little kinder to my kids that really aren't not listening but just following my subtle example. I am humbled. A lesson learned. I will do better.

My Family

2010-04-22T21:54:00.000-06:00

My wonderful brother Adam, took this picture ( I actually photographed it) and another picture which I can't seem to find, to make this picture.......

I am just amazed at not only the technology that allows this type of work, but at my brother's amazing artistic ability. He truely is very talented. If you don't believe me visit his blog. Adamscreation.blogspot.com

Anyway Thanks ADAM!!!

Speaking of my family, life is moving too fast and I seem to not have time to write down and capture our moments. Most of you may find me several times a day posting "status updates" via Facebook, and find my poor blog neglected to say the least. I was looking at my sidebar, feel free to do so, but I went from like 350 posts my first year, to 90 the second year and this year is slowly falling behind.

Not that I am sad that my commenters and followers have forgotten about me, and don't read me anymore, because well there isn't much to read, but because I am not capturing those daily funny moments that make me laugh, if they aren't making me cry!

Crying has come easy to me lately, time of year? time of life? Not sure, just a little over emotional, and no I am not pregnant, since that seems to be a common question for me lately....maybe I need a full length mirror..is my belly bulging?

Maybe my tumor is just growing....not funny really but "ITs not a tumor" actually it is but who wants to go there, not me!

How about T-Rex! Oh my goodness this little boy, if left stranded in the woods for weeks, would survive! Well if the woods had a freezer and a microwave! The other night all the other kids were asleep and I was reading ~~facebook~~ a good book, he came stomping into the front room.

"Hungry. I hungry. Need to eat."

"time for bed T!"

He walks away, grant it I was in the middle of "something important" and assumed he listened to his mother, like every good two year old, and walked himself back to bed. Well a few seconds later, I hear the microwave going, and low and behold he found one of my "tv dinners" for work and microwaved it. He brought it to the table and fed himself some "dinner." He ate most of it so he must of been hungry.

And now a story to scare my mom, maybe you should plug your ears, or just stop reading...here.....Eric had dropped Two off at preschool and came back home with T-Rex. Dad and T do their bonding stuff, I don't know watch a little tv, unload the dishwasher...then T starts playing and Eric starts applying for jobs, paying bills, looking over "dad stuff." When Eric notices our friend pull into the driveway, get out of her car and bring T to the front door. The little guy had decided that he wanted to go for a walk to G's school! I am so grateful and lucky that our friend happened to be where she was when she was! Because as much as this little guy (who is stacking cups and hanging out with me right now) can drive me gray, I just can't imagine not having him with us.

Mom you can uncover your ears (eyes), T is safe! The day after this incident I had off from my slave labor job, and it made me realize how much I really want to be home with him, with all of them! Its been so hard to be away so much, not because I don't trust them in the care of my husband (most days anyway) I just really miss being a stay at home mom! I miss pulling out my hair because they have unrolled all the toilet papter, dumped a whole bag of flour on the floor, skinned a knew, fought with a sibling, yelled at me that I am the meanest mom! I miss it all! It brings tears to my eyes everyday to walk out the door to head to work.

Working isn't hard, I actually enjoy the "break" and on my days off, being with the kids sometimes makes me look forward to going back to cleaning hospital rooms. But thats not where I want to be. Anyone who says being a stay at home mom is easy and mindless work, has never done it. It is by far the hardest thing I have done, but been the thing I have enjoyed more than anything else.

I am being faced now with the opportunity to possibly work in a different place, with the opportunity to take my kids with me, losing any benefits--that I still haven't received from IHC, and lose a few hours, but I'd be with my kids more and wouldn't have to work Sundays!

Working Sundays has been an adjustment for sure! Heck just working weekends, and working forty hours a week outside the home and then coming home to hug and kiss my husband goodbye and parent alone for the next hours, is wearing on me.

I am worn out! I think stressed is more like it. Or rather the stress is wearing me out. I feel tired! I am sore! I have lumps in places I shouldn't have lumps, I like to call them my little stress bubbles, hoping they go away with the stress that is going to leave soon I am sure.

Though one thing I know for sure, is I love my family! And appreciate the time I get to spend with them.

G-Man tonight had a square dance at school and I just loved seeing his shyish grin as he danced around in circles....shouldn't it be circle dancing? anyway, he is growing up and so big! He has a great way of making us laugh too and so protective of his siblings.

Though the other day, I got a call from Eric while I was cleaning the staff bathroom, telling me he had to take Bee to the ER because she split her head open on her scooter. I quickly put away my cart and headed to the doctors. To have G tell me what happened.

"We were riding our bikes and Bee was on the scooter. You should of seen her, she was all riding and hit a rock and she did this flip right over the top of her scooter and landed all funny and I was laughing. Then she stood up and I saw her bleeding and she was crying. I felt so bad. I ran in to tell dad she was hurt. I was so sad for her after I saw how hurt she was, but it was kind of funny to watch her flip."

And you know the story of what he told her when she was getting the stitches out.

I just really enjoy seeing them get along and interacting....even though some days they don't get along so well.

Bee is having issues though being able to "last" her sister and sharing a bed. Every night I tuck the two into their double bed they share. And almost every night Bee says "I can't last TWO anymore!" Whether it is because she is kicking her, singing, or just breathing too loud, she just doesn't want to sleep with her and really wants a bunk bed. She'd actually like a bunk room, because she'd like her brothers in her room. I'm not sure how long she would be able to "last" that! But the girls seem to "last" eachother enough to play dolls, laugh and read books together, so I'm sure its not all bad.

Then Two, oh sweet Two, its so hard to believe she will be five next month! I'm just not sure she really is that old! Every day she crawls into my bed and just hugs me and tells me how much she loves me and how she doesn't want me to leave and go to work. She doesn't want to leave my side. She makes me smile. I have a hard time leaving her..except when she has gone and hidden in a corner and comes out and says "I just did something bad, and you are going to be very mad." Is she trying me? Is she tempting me to get mad? Do kids really think that?

Today we went to a cousins birthday party, and left with little treat bags, which I gave to the kids for the hour drive home, thinking it was harmless....we were driving, not more than ten minutes into the trip when her sweet little voice calls from the back "Mom look in the mirror! Look what I did!"

I peeked through the rear view mirror and saw chocolate brownie covered hands and face! The little stinker smooshed a brownie all over herself and pants and car seat! She wanted me to pull over somewhere so she could wash them off, I guess not wanting to stay dirty, knowing she had almost an hour drive, and all I wanted to do was pullover and leave her on the side of the road...but I used self control. I told her to just wipe her hands on her pants and to lick her fingers until we got home or it was mostly off! Oh the little stinker! She loves to test my patience! And I love her!

But in the end, its just our little life moments that bring us together as a family, whether its a little bike accident or a runaway or a brownie car smearing moment, life has a way of photoshopping a family together building our own family history.

Odds and Ends!

2010-04-12T17:52:00.000-06:00

Odds and Ends of my recent life!

G-Man turned 9! Its hard to believe that not too long ago I was sitting in a hospital bed, holding a screaming bundle of boy, unsure of what lay ahead of me, yet thinking I knew all that was to come. Life is funny though it likes to throw things at you unexpectantly! But I wouldn't change much, not most of it anyway.

G-Man is our little talker, caregiver, gaurdian, (his real name means man of the watchtower--or something like that..) and he is really always watching out for others especially his siblings...and sometimes others at school, monitoring what they are doing and not always what he is doing...but he is none the less always concerned about others.

Well the other day, Bee took a head dive off of her scooter, and her forhead hit the uncovered handlebar, leaving a hole requiring seven stitches...OUCH! Major ouch when the doctor mentioned he should of done more....Anyway we were on our way to get the stitches out and G-Man, doing what he does best, tried to comfort Bee, he said "Bee dont' worry about getting your stitches. It doesn't hurt. It feels like picking a booger, that is kind of stuck and as you pull it is a little stringy."

After being a little grossed out, I realized he was so right and new exactly what he was talking about...yes admitting I've picked my nose.

But I am grateful for him and all his wisdom, and the joy he truly has brought to our home!!! Happy Birthday buddy!

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Work! I probably post a lot about work, well the fact that I am working now in houskeeping and the fact that it has been more than humbling for me. In all actuality I like it, most days! Okay maybe I don't like the work, the clean up people's toilets, crumb spills, but I enjoy the people.

I was in the nursery, grabbing their trash, and had to stop and gock (sp???? totally not the right spelling..or is it??) at a new baby and talk to one of my CNA friends. I mentioned something about the baby, and his name and how his older sister (all of 5 years as of January) who had talked to me the whole time I was cleaning, then when she saw me in the hall all surprised and excited and said "You were just in there?!"

And I was, I feel like I pop in and out of rooms all day, I guess that is what I do :)...But anyway the CNA said "you sure remember a lot!" To which I replied "I could tell you something about every single one of the patients on this side."

"You talk to the patients while you clean?"

"I do!"

I even had a patient tell me I should write a book, today. But the thought came to me, I really do like talking to people, and should be working somewhere where I can talk to people....but then it occured to me, that I get to meet new people almost every day! And I do get to talk to them....for a few minutes, if they are awake. Some are more talkative than others, but really what kind of job could I do talking to others??

Councilor...no don't want to get advice...
Social worker....no don't want to deal with problems....
Biographer....yeah that would be cool, talk to people about their stories and write it down for them....Any takers????

Anyway after that thought provoking conversation in the nursery it just made me realize how much I do like my job and the gals (I say gals because about 90% of them are) I work with.

I have made some great friends and really have laughed a lot.

Like today.   A normal patient room cleaning, typically starts with me knocking on the door, coming in, pulling trash, asking how they are doing, cleaning the bathroom, sweeping the floor, mopping the floor then asking if there is anything else I can do for them. Well I follow my normal protocol and enter a patients room. Pull the trash, wipe the front sink, ask how they are doing, enter the bathroom, and notice some toilet paper in the toilet, so I flush it so I can clean it.   Well it doesn't go down....thinking to myself, don't want to keep flushing to maybe embarrass them, I pull the trash, I don't know hoping the TP will go down itself or something...but it doesn't. So I flush again, the tp looks like it is going to make an exit, but then pops itself back up. Blasted TP. So I hold the flusher down longer, tp gone, yeah.....no....pops back up.   I look out the bathroom door at the patient on the phone and mouth "sorry.." as I begin to giggle.

Those who know me, know that once I start giggling, I kind of can't stop. So then I try again, and sure enough it pops its head back out. I apologize to the family, and mention how stubborn it is being, all the while trying to keep my laughter to a professional level. The dad says "no I should be the one excusing myself."

After that and what the sixth? flush, down it went. Man it took me a long time to get that bathroom clean!

But that isn't the only time I have laughed....at this time it was at someone else's expense...and to this day, all I have to say is "It was me!!!" cheerfully and proudly and I start to laugh.

Curoius now!?

Sometimes bathrooms get what is called "dry pipes", yes the system dries out and the solution to this is pouring water down the pipes, the symptom of this is the smell of rotten eggs mixed with other potty smells. Anyway on the 4th floor as you walk through the double locked doors, there are public bathrooms to the right.

After lunch my coworker and I walked through these doors, to bit hit by the dry pipe smell! One of the nurses happened to be there, and we started talking about how bad it smelled. We were going on about horrible it was, when my friend says "I can only smell the Scentsy candles." (the other direction from the bathrooms is a little store and the gal there always has sweet smelling Scentsys going, however this day it wasn't fixing the scents in the hallway..."

So as we went on about the smell, and how we couldn't smell the candle....when out of the store door pops the gal, and she waves her hand in the air, smiles big and says "it is me! It is me!"

Are you really claiming this smell causing us to be sick to our stomaches?? We looked at her surprisingly and asked "Are you sure you want to claim this stink??"

She quickly turned red and said "I thought you meant my candle!"

We laughed! And when she walks by we do our best Parade Princess wave and say "it was me!"

Who says it can't be fun to work...me a few weeks ago. But I do enjoy it, wish it weren't that we were depending on my hourly pay. Because it isn't much pay, and sometimes hard to be humble enough to do this job but at least I get to laugh!

One more story while I am writing. As housekeepers we are responsible to clean rooms, almost immediately after a patient leaves, and the only way we know they are gone, other than looking in the rooms and watching them leave, is receiving a page, with the room number telling us to go to that room. Each morning, we log into our pager so we can receive those pages, we log out for breaks, and log in and out of rooms, and so on. We also have 30 minutes from the time we log into a room to clean it and log back out.

The other day I had a meeting to attend, which I was suppose to logout of my pager, 15 minutes before so I could unload my cart and head to the meeting. Well I received a page five minutes before I was suppose to log out, not enough time to clean a room. So I call my supervisor, to whom I will refer to as "Micro", has nothing to do with the way he supervises (said sarcastically.)

I grab my Vocera (our walkie talkies basically) and tell it to call Micro.

"This is Micro."

"Yes, this is Corrine. I just got a page to clean room 4444 and I have a meeting at 3 that I am suppose to log out for."

As if the world depended on my logging out, he said "log out, LOG OUT! Log OUTTTTT!"

"Ok!"

I was in the chute room, throwing trash down, with one of my coworker friend, and she heard it all, because the vocera is around our necks and basically on speaker. She starts laughing, as I frantically fumble through my scrubs to find my phone to log out. Not sure what the panic was but I felt a sudden urgency to LOG OUT!!!!

Thanks for the laughs housekeeping!

To Be a Kid Again!

2010-04-03T18:41:00.000-06:00

I am writing to avoid "beating" my children! And write down the things that are driving me crazy that would one day I am sure bring laughter and smiles to my face....at least that is what they say....

Lets start with Two...

The other day, after the family movie night at school, we sat in the car waiting for G-Man and Bee to come out with their winning raffel ticket...they came out later, but no winnings. Anyway so Two and T-Rex sat in the car. Well Two didn't she rolled down the window, stood on the seat and started to wave to passer byers....Then she noticed a group of adult men playing soccer, as she waved she proudly yelled "Hello Spanish People!" I kind of nudged her and said "Two." and then she cleared her throat and said very cheerfully "Hello not Spanish people." I'm not sure if she was correcting herself to be more political correct or making sure the "non Spanish people" felt greeted.

Then today I was sitting on the computer doing my math homework...ok I don't go to school nor do I have homework, I was playing bejeweled blitz and chatting with a friend, when Two calls from the bathroom "Please come wipe my butt!" I am sure it was several times as I was actively engaged in other things and totally ignoring her. All of a sudden I notice the calls getting louder, and there standing next to me was Two with her pants around her knees, yelling at me to "come wipe my butt, please!"

And not too sure if that triggered a thought in T-Rex because all of a sudden he was pantless, holding up a dirty diaper chanting to me "Change me! Change me!" So I got a two for one moment...if you could call it that.

Then my kids as they ran around the house being robots, I quietly...ok probably not quietly, encouraged them to go outside and play. Two stayed inside, and watched them through her open bedroom window....when all of a sudden I hear a bang, like the sound of a golf ball hitting hardwood floor. I run to the room to find my older two playing golf through the bedroom window! Fun game I guess but HELLLOOO!

Now as I type they are sliding down the stairs using all the pillows in the house....and G-Man said "We put all the pillows against the wall so when we hit our heads it doesn't hurt so much and it makes it sound proof!" Oh my goodness!

They are so creative and energetic and at least they entertain themselves....but why isn't it fun to wash all the dishes in the sink???

There is more, I know it, but for some reason I am drawing a blank...I guess it is good to put it in the past and have it be forgotten, but whatkind of stories will I have to tell them.....Oh I hear crying....hurt crying??? laughing crying??? Oh my children!

Oh T-Rex striked again, and submerged my new blackberry into a pitcher of water! Thanks for the phone bath, at least it was water and twenty four hours later it was good as new. Eric thinks I go through more phones than anyone he knows, probably true...I don't think three phones since November is that many...Do you???

G-Man has kindly talked our neighbor into giving him some scrap plywood. Large pieces. Every day he builds a ramp, mostly covering the front steps. I love coming home to my front porch looking like a half pipe! Seriously he is going to break his leg soon!

Laughter! Lots of laughter from the stairs, good thing! Though usually this much laughter is followed by tears....we shall see.

So I rented and watched Precious last night. Made me feel better about my parenting, and made me think I am not doing such a bad job.....until I got home from work today and G-Man says to me "Precious isn't a kids movie."

"No its not. You didn't watch it did you."

"Yeah there was a lot of swearing in it!"

"Babysitter let you watch the whole thing?"

"Yes."

"It isn't for kids and you weren't suppose to watch it."

"I know they swore a lot in the beginning. And Bee said 'good thing mom's not like that."

So at least they confirmed that I am not that horrible of a mother but still can't believe someone let my kids watch it, but hopefully most of it went over their head....but the thing I don't get is how they would of sat through the whole thing........Maybe that is why they have so much energy right now!

Is it bed time yet?

Who is going to come and do my dishes???

Nameless

2010-03-24T18:06:00.000-06:00

Each morning I wake up, dress in my fancy scrubs and drive the quiet few darkened miles to the hospital. Gathering together first with my fellow Environmental Service employees, before heading to the 4th floor to begin my eight hours of cleaning. Its a job. One that is growing on me more and more each day.

After filling our carts with necessary supplies, we knock the doors introducing ourselves, not by name but by the infamous words "housekeeping, may I come and clean?" I never introduce myself by name. Nor do many of my other housekeeping coworkers.

The other day I knocked as I always do, propped the door open, saying "housekeeping" before popping in and finishing can I clean. I was greeted by a giggle and "come on in!" in a cheery voice. As soon as the patient saw my face she quickly apologized "I thought you were my friend jocking."

"Nope, I am really housekeeping, do you mind if I clean?"

"Of course, thank you."

Walking the halls for the last few months, I have come to know many of the nurses and learn their names. However many refer to me as "the housekeeper." Which is fine, that is my job title. Though for some reason that makes me feel nameless. Sometimes unimportant. Most of the time unimportant.

Names are so important. As a matter of fact I watch many new parents struggle to find just the right name. I was even asked this last week, which name I prefered for their daughter, and they put post it notes tallying peoples' vote. Parents take pride in finding the right name, the right spelling, the best fit for their child. Once chosen, it is shared with pride.

I take pride in my work. Although it is difficult to feel a part of a team, of an environment when you go nameless.