Wordless Wednesday

Park + Water = pure joy for boys

We chaperoned a little outing for the Swinging Singers today, a group that Micah and Mitchell have participated in since the beginning of the semester. Their music teacher is out of this world! I wish I could just keep her as the kids move up and on. Micah has also played in her audition-only Rockin' Rhythms and I am ready to cry at the thought that he can't be part of it as he moves on to junior high. I am, unfortunately, not particularly impressed with the band teacher there...

A few pictures from our adventures today...

Friday Fill-Ins #125

And...here we go!

1. Moving is a great way to get rid of all the extra "stuff" that encroaches on our lives. Not sure if I want to do it again so soon, but we have been looking at options besides the house we're renting now. We'll see. I was absolutely appalled when our little city voted down a bond to help the three public schools located here. The elementary school is a health hazard and I'm worried for Max starting kindergarten there in the fall. We could move into Walla Walla and have a few more options...

2. The current government really scares me and I think Americans are going to find they are a lot less free. The more the government intervenes in our daily lives, businesses, etc., the less freedom we enjoy.

3. My best quality is my nurturing nature. I was born to be a mom!

4. The difference between a good scrapbook page and a great one is in the details.

5. In nearly 10 years, we have lived on both coasts...and a couple places in the middle. I have attended 5 graduations for my husband. We have accumulated more school debt than a lot of people spend on their houses. I have moved away from countless friends and neighbors too many times. I have "settled" in a city close to home, but wonder sometimes if it is the right place for us. I have been sad, lonely, excited, nervous, devastated...but mostly happy and full of joy.

6. A little kick in the pants is what I need right now! Weight loss is stalled and I'm not very motivated to do much about it.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a trip to the temple with Michael, tomorrow my plans include lots of prep work for the Stake dance our ward is hosting and Sunday, I want to relax a bit since I finally have an advisor for my Laurel class!

Long time, no blog...

Life is busy. Hectic, even. Sometimes, I wish I wasn't in charge. I crave a little behind-the-scenes action where I can do my bit but not have it all rest on my shoulders.

Not going to happen in any near future I can see, so I'm just trying to go with the flow.

I did get a chance to do some creating this weekend while ALL the boys went camping with Michael. LOVE Father/Son campouts....and the fact that Michael is willing to take all five boys. McKelle and I went out for dinner, splurged on a little icecream at Dairy Queen, and thoroughly enjoyed the high school drama department's presentation of "Little Woman: the Musical." So very well done! And even more fun because a couple of my Young Women were cast members.

My weekend creative:

Friday Fill-Ins #123

1. Apples are to oranges as construction paper is to Bazzill (scrapbookers will understand!)

2. 40 is the new 20 and that's all I have to say about that.

3. I think I hear little boys who keep singing "you're forty, you're oldie..."

4. The boys and I watch for flags on the big sprinklers as we travel to the Tri-Cities. Lots of farmers have them flying on their big crop circle sprinklers.

5. Do what you want to do, but remember, there are always consequences for your actions. They may be here and now consequences or they may find you later....but they will always catch up with you.

6. Max headed for the lake and behind him was a Radio Flyer wagon; in the wagon was a bucket filled with rocks. (I sure miss our lake and all the rock throwing that went on there!)

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to spending my birthday sitting on the bleachers at McKelle's track meet, tomorrow my plans include the Walla Walla Balloon Stampede at 6:30am, clean-up of this summer's Girls' Camp site and hopefully, a belated birthday date with Michael and Sunday, I want to spend a moment with my Mom on Mother's Day for the first time in 18 years!

Wordless Wednesday

Manic Monday meme #166

Which household chore do you dislike the most?
Anyone who knows me or has peeked into my house/apartment/abode over the years will know that laundry is the bane of my existence! When I was in college (and had to trek to a laundromat!) I would buy new underwear rather than do my laundry. My mom came down to visit and I think she found 50 pairs in my bedroom!
And now, laundry for EIGHT people!! What the heck was I thinking??

What's the best museum you've ever visited?
I haven't had the privilege of going to many museums, but we definitely enjoyed the Franklin Institute in Philadephia. And the Please Touch Museum was a fabulous day out for a mom of four under five at the time!


It's Star Wars Day today. I've never seen any of the Star Wars movies. What "common" movies haven't you seen?
Pretty much anything rated R. We don't watch them - we were counseled by the Prophet of our church several years ago that movies with an R rating were not something we should see, so...we don't. The last few years, it seems like almost every movie in Oscar contention is rated R, so there are many "common" movies I have never seen.

Friday Fill-Ins #122

THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2009
#122




And...here we go!

1. The first rule of working in an office and getting along is smile (actually, I have no idea. Haven't worked in an office in almost 15 years. But the smiling works at home, so it might just do some good at the office.)

2. I will not eat clams. I did, however, work at a restaurant during college summers that sold big bowls of clams. Holy cow, those trays were heavy!

3. When I think of carnivals I think of stomach-dropping Midway rides. Love 'em!

4. Gerbera daisies are my favorite spring flower.

5. Things on my desk include my computer, keyboard and mouse. The printer, a Costco magazine, two pencil jars and the main telephone. One BHG magazine and Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred DVD, which I have yet to open.

6. Warm sunshine pouring in my windows makes me wanna find a nice hammock and take a nap. Mason was up four times last night (hurt leg, need a drink, need a stuffed animal and earache) and I am zonked!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to no longer seeing the gray in my hair, tomorrow my plans include a date with Michael...maybe the new Wolverine movie (which will make the boys sooooo jealous) and Sunday, I want to catch up on a little sleep!

Weekend Creative...just a little late, again

Friday Fill-Ins #121

(a photo of my seasonally challenged tree - everything else is flowering and greening up. Poor thing is hanging onto its dead leaves from last fall. Weird!)


1. Apparently there's some sort of Scout campout tonight. I wish I knew the actual details. Men...

2. My little boys just love a sunny day. Perfect for bubbles, bike riding, rock throwing, grass rolling, dirt digging, ant squishing, butterfly chasing...

3. 2009 is insanely busy so far so far. Being in Young Womens at church is by far the busiest calling I've ever, ever had! (And I've done both the Primary and Relief Society president thing...)

4. All I wanted to do was a couple of on-line classes, that was it. Photoshop, a little class on how to use my camera...but lately, my time is not my own and I seem to get further behind every day.

5. For too long I've been complacent about the winter weight gain. It is a constant struggle and I'm sure it always will be. Yo-yo, up and down...seems to be the story of my body's life. Perhaps the fact that my two-year old told me yesterday that my "butt was too big" will be a motivating factor, lol.

6. I am not obsessed with Facebook and blogs; I am not!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a friend's Scentsy open house, tomorrow my plans include more yard work and Sunday, I want to have a nice quiet day with my family!

Non-weekend creative

Doing laundry gives me a great excuse to scrapbook. And I got absolutely nothing done over the weekend, but was blessed to attend an absolutely fabulous Youth Conference put on by our stake. I must say that at the ripe old age of almost 40 {gasp} I am too old to be sleeping on a cot. I am definitely not looking forward to that aspect of girls' camp this summer.

I used the outstanding April Studio Calico Kit for all three of these.

Manic Monday meme #164

Describe to me your favorite lounging clothes.

My favorite pair of Adidas sweat pants, a t-shirt (summer) or warm, cozy sweatshirt (winter) and barefeet (summer) or sheepskin slippers (winter.)


If you promised to never lie again in your lifetime, in what area would it be hardest to uphold the promise?

Probably lies of omission! I don't like conflict very much, so I tend to gloss over things or just not say anything if it will avoid a big scene.


Give a one word answer to the question "why is life worth living".

Family!

Friday Fill-Ins #120

1. Join me in giving a big hand to our music teacher, Mrs. Davis. Wow, just wow!!!

2. Put a little time to create in your day!

3. Happiness is living close enough to family to get together for Easter, birthdays...or just for the heck of it.

4. My oldest two sons' conversations about War Games figurines leave me dazed and confused.

5. I'm waiting for a CTMH order and two new Cricut cartridges.

6. New paper is hard to resist.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to taking my young women to Youth Conference, tomorrow my plans include hanging out at Youth Conference and Sunday, I want to sleep because I sure won't get any at Youth Conference!

Wordless Wednesday

Rhyme time

This child is obsessed with rhyming. All day long, he asks "does tree rhyme with pea?" "Does soap rhyme with bope?" (we get lots of non-words at this point.) We did have a little trouble when he was rhyming with all the family names and he called Mitchell "Mitch." You can probably guess where that one went. I'm always a little worried when he rhymes with duck or truck. :)

Last night, he snuck downstairs long after I had put him to bed. I called him over and asked what the matter was. He replied "I hurt my head...when I fell off my bed. Hey, that rhymes!"

This morning I was in a hurry to take McKelle to school and hadn't folded the boys' laundry basket yet. I grabbed two socks which didn't match and just threw them on Mason as I rushed to get out the door. When we got back home, he took off his shoes and came and presented his feet with a perplexed look on his face. "Hey Mom, my socks don't rhyme."

Manic Monday meme #163

Do you recycle? Why or why not?

Used to. In fact, we recycled so much that our family of eight never, ever filled our garbage can. But when we moved here, we discovered that there is no recycling. There is in the city, but we're in the county, so no recycling for us. Would if we could...

Would you rather be a pirate or a prince/princess?

I probably would have said princess until I saw Pirates of the Caribbean. Kinda like Kiera Knightley's pirating.

Are you into astrology? If yes, how does it affect your life?

Nope, not one bit.

Wishing...

Wishing I could take pictures like this all the time!

Friday Fill-Ins #119

1. Anonymous...something I wish I could be while dealing with the drama that occasionally pops up in Young Womens!

2. Being creative is a necessity, every day.

3. Let me embrace thee, sour adversity, and I will emerge a much stronger, more spiritual woman.

4. Popcorn popping on the apricot tree (and azaleas and cherry blossoms and forsythia and lilacs) are what I look forward to most about Spring.

5. Who needs therapy when you have a scrapbook room just waiting for you to come and play.

6. Reeses peanut butter cups MUST go into the Easter Basket!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to hearing how McKelle's sophomore class presidential candidate speech went and watching her run at the track meet , tomorrow my plans include an Easter egg hunt at Mom's with my family and Sunday, I want to contemplate my Savior's Atonement and the true meaning of Easter !

Mid-week creative

(I can scrap while doing laundry...right??)

Wordless Wednesday

Weekend Creative...just a little late

Journaling reads: {while driving} Max "Ewww! Something stinks. Mom! It smells really bad!" Mom "I think it's a skunk." Max "A skunk?" Mom "Yeah, a really stinky skunk."
Mason "Somebody better change his diaper!"

Mom "Mason, you have a booger nose." {pick} Mason "Put it back!!!"


{after a few bites of dinner that he especially likes} Mason "Mom, you ROCK!"

100 Things

Saw this on my friend Beth's blog and a couple of others. Looks like I need to do some traveling outside the US.


1. Started your own blog

2. Slept under the stars (have you met my husband??)

3. Played in a band (no, but I did play keyboard bass for our jazz choir in high school)

4. Visited Hawaii - we were going to go on our honeymoon, but we were way too poor. Maybe someday...

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you could to a charity - there is always more to give!

7. Been to Disneyland - the only time I was in California, I ended up getting sunstroke and missed the day at Disneyland

8. Climbed a mountain

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo

11. Bungee jumped - not yet!

12. Visited Paris - I wish!

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning - Chinese food in Provo

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa

20. Traveled by Train

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitchhiked - no, but Michael did! He flew into the Seattle airport and just hoped he could find a ride to the Tri-Cities to surprise me. A four hour drive! And he did it!

23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping - at girls' camp, but shhhh! Don't tell my Young Women...wouldn't want to give them any ideas.

27. Run a marathon - I let Michael do it twice to make up for me!

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29. Seen a total eclipse (solar)

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise .

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community - we spent six years in Pennsylvania!

36. Taught yourself a new language - I took French in high school and college. I can still read a bit and understand un peu, but don't ask me to say much!

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Seen Michelangelo's David

41. Sung Karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on the beach in the moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance - again, leaving that one to my sweet husband :)

47. Had your portrait painted - not painted, but we did have a pencil one done of the two of us in Vegas when we were first married

48. Gone deep sea fishing -

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud - I have 5 boys. 'nuf said...

54. Gone to a drive-in- one of our favorite dates when we were in college and couldn't afford a babysitter. We'd pick up Olive Garden to go, pack Matthew in his car seat and go to the drive-in in Springville, UT

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business - I was a Creative Memories consultant for 5 years.

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen - no but Michael and I are scheduled to next Monday.

61. Sold Girl Scout cookies

62. Gone whale watching - I was sure hoping to see some on the ferry ride to Vancouver Island this past Christmas, but all we saw were a few boats and a float plane

63. Got flowers for no reason

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma - and Michael sold plasma all through college so we could buy groceries!

65. Gone sky diving - not yet, but I will!

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check - unfortunately. Back in the days of living on student loans and never being quite sure when they were deposited.

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten caviar

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job - never fired, but I was layed off once. Within a couple of months, they had to hire two people to replace me. They had NO idea how much work I actually did there.

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person - only out the window of a plane, so it probably doesn't count

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper

85. Read the entire Bible

86. Visited the White House

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. Had chicken pox

89. Saved someone's life

90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous - I met several famous athletes during Michael's fellowship. And the 76ers worked out in the gym at PCOM, so I saw a lot of the team while walking on the treadmill.

92. Joined a book club

93. Lost a loved one

94. Had a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a lawsuit

98. Owned a cell phone

99. Been stung by a bee

100. Read an entire book in a day - many, many times

Manic Monday meme #162

How often do you change your toothbrush?

I have an electric toothbrush, but I change the head about every three months. I have one of those toothbrush sanitizers (ultraviolet light) so even when I'm sick, I don't change it more often. Too expensive!

What is your favorite item of clothing to shop for?

Probably t-shirts. I love t-shirts! I wear them all the time. I like finding really cute t-shirts that fit just right or a fun new color that is not already in my closet.

Do you use social media (Twitter, Facebook, etc.)? Which do you use most often?

I've never tweeted. I'm afraid if I did, I'd never get off the computer. I do use Facebook and love it. I have connected and reconnected with a ton of relatives and so many friends from all the different times and places of my life.

Food for thought...just a trifle

By posting this, I am allowing my domestic diva crown to slip pretty far. In fact, between this post and the housecleaners who are supposed to arrive any moment, the crown may be spinning around my ankle!

When invited to any sort of potluck or bring-your-favorite-dessert event, I always make Trifle. Chocolate goes over the best and there is never enough left to even lick the bowl. It looks impressive and tastes fabulous. My little secret? It is super easy to make!

Chocolate Heath Bar Trifle

1 box brownie mix (13x9...or family-size) plus ingredients to make the brownies
1 large container Cool Whip
1 large (or two small) boxes instant chocolate pudding and milk to make your pudding
6 large Heath bars (or one bag miniature Heath bars), frozen






Make and bake your brownies. Allow plenty of time for your brownies to cool before you need to assemble the trifle. Hot brownies and cold Cool Whip are yummy, but not a good combination in a trifle.

I use a jelly roll pan to bake my brownies. I like to cut them in little squares, but you can definitely use a regular cake pan.



Remove your Heath bars from the freezer and chop them up. I leave them in the wrappers and hit them with a rolling pin. Using six big bars is a lot easier than opening all those little miniature wrappers, but I have a hard time finding the big ones here.

Make the pudding and let set in the fridge for a few minutes. It should be slightly set.





I love the look of a trifle bowl and you can find them quite inexpensively. I picked mine up at Kohls for less than $10. But if you don't have a trifle bowl, any glass bowl will do. Actually, any bowl will do, but glass is great so you can see the pretty layers.

Start layering your trifle. Half the cut brownies go on the bottom of the bowl, followed by half of the chocolate pudding. Layer about half of the Cool Whip and sprinkle with a handful of Heath bits. Repeat the layers: brownies, pudding and Cool Whip. Top the last layer artistically with Heath bits. :)




This is a great dessert to play around with. If you don't like Heath (or can't find it) try another candy. I've done Butterfingers, Whoppers, and chopped up Hershy bars. Try a different pudding flavor - I like to mix Cheesecake Jello pudding with my chocolate for a unique taste.

And if you are looking for something a little more spring-y, try a trifle with pound cake, fruit and Cool Whip! I mixed a little cream cheese and sugar in with the Cool Whip on this one and it was divine! Grate a little chocolate on top for a pretty presentation.

Wordless Wednesday (proof that little people rule my world...)

Weekend Creative

Manic Monday meme #161

Do you enjoy brain teasers or do you find them frustrating?

I love a good brain teaser. I love logic problems, Sudokus, crossword puzzles. I love games that require more than just luck. I think I need to buy Brain Age for Mitchell's DS and sneak in a little brain exercise while he's at school.

Do you have any unusual collections?

I have a huge collection of cookbooks, but I don't consider that unusual. I also collect craft/scrapbooking/stamping supplies, but only my husband thinks that's unusual. ;)

What do people notice about you within the first hour of meeting you (other than appearance)?

I'm kind of quiet, especially if you meet me in a large group setting. But if you stick around and talk to me one-on-one, people tend to notice that I am a bit of a nurturer. I have been told I radiate a sense of empathy and am a good listener. I don't know...you be the judge!

Wordless Wednesday (because there are no words...)