Just one more thing

Well, just when I started feeling good about our finances...  things go wrong.  Isn't that the way it always is? 

I will start at the beginning.  Christmas was so wonderful.  We all got too much but were so grateful for it all.  I thought I was going to just get the shirt and socks that I bought and wrapped for myself...  but I was so amazingly surprised by some Ugg boots, (which don't fit... too big, but I will exchange them.) a beautiful charm bracelet, a fuzzy and warm red robe, a temple dress, (I have not had one ever!!!) and my favorite, the iPod touch!!!!!!!  That was such an amazing surprise!  I was so excited.  I went to plug it into my ancient computer and nothing happened.  We have Macs.  That is what we have been using forever and we love them.  A few years ago, our old Mac was old and we needed a new one but we didn't have any money so we got an old, refurbished model for cheap.  We have been using that ever since and have not really had any real problems with it except that it was pretty slow.  But it served the purpose.  We had Caroline's iPod and Justin's iPod all hooked up to it...  I did not think there would be an issue...  well was I wrong.  I tried to download the latest version of iTunes and nothing happened.  Then other things started flipping out on me.  I turned off the computer and decided to let it rest overnight.  Well when I tried the next morning to turn it on...  nothing.  I lost all of my pictures that I had not backed up.  (I do have some on a small zip drive.)  I lost my syllabus that I worked on for weeks for this class I am teaching starting NEXT WEEK!  And I lost all of my Primary stuff that I had just updated for the new year.  I told Justin, I was buying a new computer.  I would use my money from teaching to pay for it.  So that day I went to his office and now today it has come.  It is even more amazing than I could have imagined!  It is like a television screen!  It is huge!!!  But not just that, the clarity is amazing and I have a wireless keyboard and mouse.  The keyboard is taking some getting used to.  I am used to the click clack sound when I type, but there is no sound when I type now. 

Anyway, so that was a huge thing I have to pay for.  And now our car is acting funny.  What is up with that?  So now that is something else I am sure we are going to have to pay for.  But I will not complain.  Things are good.  I have my new iPod and my new computer and I am right as rain.  I am just going to be thankful for what I have and not complain about what goes wrong.  Even though that is exactly what I just did.  Okay, starting on January 1st I will not complain.  How is that?

Rexburg

You know, I am so happy to be living here, in Idaho.  I love the weather.   I love the small town we live in.  Last night we went out as a family for our big Anniversary dinner.  We have been married 13 years.  We went to the fanciest place in town, Applebees.  You can't beat that with a stick, can ya'?  I didn't mind that there was nowhere fancy to go since I was just eating salad anyway.  Afterward, for our FHE activity we went to drive around and see the Christmas lights.  It was not like West Bayou Parkway...  The people don't pay thousands of dollars for other people to come decorate their house around here, but it was still fun to drive around the entire town in about 20 minutes.  On the way home we drove down Main Street.  You should see all the lights they have there right now!  It is gorgeous!  Even the courthouse is all decked out.  The kids ooh'd and aah'd almost as much as I did.  And I just sat in the car thinking how grateful I am to be where we are now.  This is our home forever and it really feels like home.  I have my great friends here, my family closer to us, and the perfect little town.  I miss all of my Louisiana friends.  We had started to get used to the idea that we might be there forever.  But this really is home.  It has always felt like home to us, even when we were students.  And now, as  I am typing this, I am looking out the window at the snow falling and I have a little skip in my heart.  I have a little tear in my eye.  Every time it snows I get excited.  It never gets old for me.  Even at the end of winter, (more like the beginning of summer!) the prospect of snow makes me want to giggle.  This place was made for me.  Rexburg is my home town and will be forever.  We have been so abundantly blessed.  I don't even know what we did to deserve it.  But I am so grateful.  I just love my little town.

I just read a horrible anonymous comment that was left for me telling me that I was dumb and need to get an education.  It kind of shook me up a bit.  It had cursing and it made me remember that not just my good friends are out there on the internet.  Isn't it a shame that people have to try to make others feel bad just so they can feel good about themselves?

I am Mommy, hear me scream

My friend had this quote on her blog today.  I really wanted to share it with all my peeps.

“It seems strange that women want to enter into professions and into work and into places in society on an equality with men, wanting to dress like men and carry on men’s work. I don’t deny the fact that women are capable of doing so, but as I read the scriptures, I find it hard to reconcile this with what the Lord has said about women—what he has said about the family, what he has said about children. It seems to me that in regard to men and women, even though they might be equal in many things, there is a differentiation between them that we fully understand. I hope the time never comes when women will be brought down to the level with men, although they seem to be making these demands in meetings held . . . all over the world” ( Teachings of Howard W. Hunter, 150).



"When women come to the point of realizing that it is more important to be superior than to be equal, they will find the real joy in living those principles that the Lord set out in his divine plan." - Howard W. Hunter

Sometimes I feel very inferior.  When my house isn't clean enough, when dinner is just hot dogs, when the laundry is sitting in baskets waiting to be put away.  I just think that maybe I need to go get a job in the world because I know my husband thinks he can do a better job at being a homemaker than I do.  But then I remember who I am.  I am the one who changes the poopy diapers, and cleans up the sick, and wipes the snotty noses.  I may not be the best at keeping the house looking like a show place, but it is me the kids want when they don't feel good.  I am the one they want when they want to cuddle.  I hope that someday I find it more important to be superior than equal.  From now on, I hope I can remember this quote whenever I feel like I need to turn the reigns over to Justin and just let him do what he feels he could do better.  I am Mommy.  And there is no substitute for that.

When Does the Magic End?

I remember when I believed in Santa Claus.  I remember living in Texas and I was probably six years old.  I got a doll for Christmas called Mary Muffin.  She was a handmade doll and she came with all kinds of clothes.  I loved this doll forever.  It was my favorite doll.  But I remember when I got her for Christmas.  She also came with matching shoes to match all of her different outfits.  But one of the shoes was missing that Christmas day.  But I remember that I wasn't disappointed.  In my little girl mind who believed in all things magic, Iexcused the missing shoe thinking that it must have fallen from Santa's sleigh when he was high above the houses.  I thought my doll shoe was somewhere in the world all by itself.  But that was okay because Santa does not make mistakes very often.  I remember so vividly believing that.  Even years later when my mom told me that the doll had been purchased by my grandmother and given to me, in my mind that shoe still was AWOL in the world having fallen from Santa's sleigh. 

The magic ended when my cousin told me there was no Santa Claus.  I was 9 years old.  We had just moved from Texas to Pennsylvania.  My cousin, Missy, thought that it was ridiculous that I still believed in Santa.  She was very worldly and knowledgable, even though she was a few months younger than me.  I still wanted to believe.  So I played along for ever.  I pretended that it was Santa who brought my gifts.  In the back of my mind I still imagined those gifts riding on Santa's sleigh headed for my home every Christmas Eve.  It was usually a doll that I wanted.  I played with dolls until I was way too old.

As I was lying in bed the other night I was thinking about how wonderful Christmas is.  Now that I am a parent it seems even more magical.  I get to play the part I have dreamed of.  I get to make my children's dreams come true.  When I wrap each gift, I think of the look on their faces when they open it.  When I remember the many Christmas mornings waking up to the lights of the tree, and the taste of hot chocolate, sticky buns and scrapple...  I try to make the memories for my children just as magical.

So, I guess, the magic hasn't ever really ended.  It was just put on hold for a little while until I could conjur it up again in my own heart.  The true meaning of Christmas is never lost in my heart.  I know the importance of Christ's birth.  And I know that the commerciality of Christmas has gotten out of control.  But every year at this time, even when the rest of the year might not have gone as planned.  Even when things feel so tough we will never get through it.  There is this one night and one day of the year, where magic is real for everyone.  That is what I want to think of.  The magic of the birth of Jesus Christ who was sent to this earth as a special gift to us.  The magic of families being together.  The magic of Santa Claus.  It is all important to my sanity throughout the year. 

I hope that even when my kids are grown and don't believe in Santa Claus, that the magic never ends. 

Pioneer Song

Caroline and I went to see Pioneer Song last night.  That is the play Justin has been directing for the past 3 months.  After all of the horror stories I had heard every night after rehearsals I was not really looking forward to it.  But I was pleasantly surprised.   It was not about Mormon Pioneers, as I had suspected.  Although they were mentioned.  It was the story of one woman who was going to Oregon with her three daughters.  She had had a loveless marriage and wanted her girls to have good marriages with a "song."  Her oldest married an abusive man who made her go to California for the gold rush.  Her middle daughter married a Mormon boy who took her to Salt Lake and they had a beautiful marriage.  Her third daughter dies along the trail.  This woman who was a widow takes in several other women helping them to empower themselves against abusive men, against unhappy marriages, and against difficulties of losing husbands along the trail.  It was so good.  I really loved it.  The music was not great.  It was a musical.  But the story and message were so great.  In the end her oldest daughter leaves her husband to save her baby daughter from the abuse.  And Ruth, the main character ends up marrying the leader of the wagon train after she finds him to be respectful and falls in love with him.  It ran pretty long, but I really enjoyed it.  Caroline and I sat up in the sound booth, so I had to witness this one guy texting the whole night.  So annoying!!! Even after they asked everyone NOT to do it!  Caroline thought the play was scary.  A lot of people died.  And there was one scene with an abusive man and his wife.  I am happy that Justin had the opportunity to do it.  It was written by one of the faculty here in the theater dept.  So that was quite an experience to be able to work on an original piece.  But I am mostly glad it is over.  I am glad Justin will be home in the evening to help wrangle the kids.  And I will get the opportunity to talk to him before midnight!  Gotta love the theatre!

Boots for Christmas

There were these boots I was going to ge for Caroline for Christmas.  They were just some black dress boot from Payless.  I was going to get them online and have them shipped to the store, but I thought I would just go to the store and buy them...  well, of course they didn't have them.  So I  got back on  the computer and decided to go with my original plan because I have this coupon and I want to save every bit that I can.  They are all out online now!  I was just going to buy them yesterday!  What is up with that?  So now I was scrambling looking around to buy some from somewhere else.  Of course EVERYWHERE  is sold out.  I can get some at Sears or JC Penney, but they are going to be $10 more than they would have been at Payless.  I am not happy about this at all.  Caroline has been difficult to shop for this year.  We are not getting a lot for the kids this year because we bought them one really big present.  So I can't spend too much.  Of course, being 10, all the things that Caroline wants are electronic and lots of money.   But I will find something for her.  Something.

My new job

In January I will be an adjunct instructor at BYU-I.  I am going to be teaching a dialects class in the theatre department.  While this is an exciting under-taking, it is also frightening and paralyzing.  I have not been to school in 10 years.  I haven't taught in 10 years! (And that was ESL...  so most of the students hardly understood me.)  And I have not done any theatre in 10 years.  While dialects come quite naturally to me, the teaching of dialects is a little more tricky.  I have to review the IPA or International Phonetic Alphabet.  This is what will help the students know how to pronounce things.  They have to be pretty familiar with this alphabet in order to be able to do this class.  It has been 15 years since I have studied this alphabet!!!  And it is complicated.  Not only this, but I also have to know and teach certain mouth positions.  This is going to really be difficult.  All for a 2 credit class... which means hardly any compensation.  What was I thinking?  Why did I think this would be a good idea?  But I always feel like I should be contributing to the household financially since I am the one who spends all of the money.  But I am in this now.  There is no backing out.  I can do it.  I am an intelligent woman.  I just need to be prepared.  But I would much rather be reading novels than text books.

Christmas tree

This is the first year Lorelai was able to put decorations on the tree.  She had a great time putting them all on one branch.  I had to do a little rearranging later.

 

The completed tree.  There will be quite a bit of rearranging this season, I am sure, but I don't mind.  I just really love our beautiful tree.  And now with our nice high ceiling in the corner, it is really the perfect place for it!

Thanksgiving 2009

This was the Thanksgiving spread this year.  Justin's mom came up, which we were very grateful for.  I did all of the cooking, as usual.  Which I do not mind at all.  I would much rather do the cooking than the cleaning up!  We had turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, potato stuffing, asparagas and Justin's mom made strawberry jello.  We were still recovering a little from the bug we had on Sunday and so none of us really ate a whole lot, but we sure have a lot of leftovers!

This is my good china and crystal.  A lot of people won't let their kids use their good china, but my mom always let us.  So the kids know to be very careful and we have not had a casualty yet.

Lorelai just got a haircut.  Isn't she cute???

Snow: The Day after Sick Day

This was the day after Justin and I spent the day in bed with the stomach bug.  It had snowed all day that day and the kids were itching to go outside, but it was Sunday... and we were sick...  so the next day they played and played.  Lorelai never felt the cold.  Even when she was eating the snow.

Black Friday

I went with Caroline to Wal Mart this morning.  I was glad to have someone to help me carry stuff since there weren't any carts left, but I couldn't buy anything for her! 

I was surprised at how busy it was, but the wait was only about 30 minutes compared to a couple of hours last year at Toys R Us.  There was only one thing on my list that I didn't get, so I was very pleased about that.  I did most of my shopping online this year.  That is what you have to do when you live in Idaho.

Now I am ready to put away the fall decorations and put up the Christmas tree!  And no cooking today!  We have plenty of leftovers from yesterday.  My mother-in-law and I might go to Porters a little later.  But we shall see. 

All in all a very successful morning.

Sick day

After an entire day of Justin and I taking turns worshipping the porcelain god, this is what the house looks like. On Friday, Hilton came home early from school sick. He got sick at school and then kept getting sick all afternoon and evening. He was pretty much fine on Saturday except for a fever. But the fever kept us all in on Saturday since Justin didn't have the play and I didn't have any pressing errands to run. Then I went and picked up McDonald's for dinner. At 7pm is when it hit me. It went on and on about every half and hour until 7am. Justin started at 2am. We were sick all day Sunday and Caroline took care of the entire household. She fed the baby, changed her diaper. She made us tea and gave us refills on our ginger ale. She made grilled cheese for lunch and ramen noodles for dinner. She was a great help. Since Justin and I couldn't make it out of bed. Except to the bathroom, of course. There was one point where I had to change Lorelai's poopy diaper, but I wasn't going to make poor Caroline deal with that. In the 17 years I have known Justin, he has never thrown up. He has had times he thought he would, but he never did. Yesterday was the exception. That must have been some bad bug! I am still very weak since I haven't eaten anything in a day. But the tummy ache is tamed and I am ready to go see New Moon tonight... come Hell or high water, I will go to see it tonight!

Miche Bags again

So remember when I told you about those Miche Bags? Well, I am posting a link to them again in case you might be interested in buying one or a few. If you mention my name when you order, I will get a discount! So order away my friends! Think of Christmas for yourself!

Sense of Humor

I took this picture of Lorelai because she was sitting there watching "Little Bear" on tv and cracking up! I think Duck was acting like a cat or something and she thought it was the funniest thing. I love when babies start to laugh at things on their own. When they develop a sense of humor without watching others. She is getting so big! She will be 2 1/2 next month! She has quite her own personality now. And she is very opinionated. The terrible twos have definitely arrived!

Jack O' Lanterns.

I know I am a little late... but here are the Jack o' Lanterns that we made for Halloween at FHE. The kids cleaned out the guts, and then drew what they wanted on the pumpkins, and I did the carving. I think I did a pretty good job of carving exactly what they wanted. Lorelai was upset because she didn't have a pumpkin to draw on... I guess she is getting to the age where she needs to have her own stuff. I have to buy her her own happy meal at McDonalds now. So I guess we will have to start buying all of her own stuff.

Recovering

Today I am feeling a little better. After hearing "I told you so," from so many people about my blood sugar and steroids... I am recovering. My blood sugar was crazy high, it has never been that bad in the 4 years I have had diabetes. I was nauseous, dizzy, and incredibly tired all week. I wanted to just curl up in bed and stay there. For the most part that is what I did. Saturday I had Super Saturday and I was in charge of the really big craft, so I couldn't miss it. So I stopped at McDonald's and got myself a huge Diet Coke and I nursed on that all day for some false energy. I completed most of one craft and brought home the rest to do this Friday with Emily and maybe some other friends. I bought myself an inexpensive sander so I can sand my wood. I am ready to go. I am feeling very crafty. I have some things to get done before Christmas! Today, I will work on some things too. Just so I can get ahead a little. I really enjoy it, so it will be fun and not a chore.I know you all want pictures, but I really just don't have the initiative to download pictures onto my computer. It just takes way too much effort. And I am still recovering... *cough* *ahem* *cough, cough* *sniffle*

Chillin'

So all of the poisons and toxins that I took into my body to rid itself of the nasty germs actually did the trick and I am feeling much better. Thanks to the most delicious homemade chicken noodle soup I have ever tasted, along with homemade rolls, from my dear, dear friend, Erin. She was more worried about me than I was. It was very nice to not have to cook last night and have food delivered right to the house. It seems that Justin is now getting the crud and I am hearing every little bit of his pain. I am staying home today, puttering around the house, with Dora in the background, shopping on the internet... well, mostly just looking... and I am going to read some books today. I will not do anything of real consequence, and tonight I will watch Biggest Loser and V and settle into the bed with a comfy cup of tea. I am wearing sweats and slippers and I am happy to do nothing all day. I will get some laundry done, as that always has to be done. But there will be no cleaning on my agenda. I will chill... nice day of chillin'.

Welcome to the Great White North

Right now, I would like to be in bed. I don't necessarily feel horrible, but the medication that is supposed to make me better is kicking my butt. I am soooo sleepy. But that is what the doctor wanted. He wants me in bed, asleep, taking care of myself, so I can get over all of the illness that plagues my body. After 6 weeks of coughing, 2 weeks of earaches, 1 week of a runny nose, and 1 week of not being able to catch my breath, I finally went to the doctor yesterday. The real reason I went was because of my ears. I can't hear a thing! I found out that I was a lot worse off than I ever imagined and have probably been causing the illness epidemic plaguing the country. So if you have seen me in the last couple of weeks and you are sick, I am so sorry. It is probably my fault. But in my defense, I am a mom. I am used to running on empty and feeling bad all of the time and just sucking it up and doing what needs to be done. Now on to the multiple diagnoses that I was given... The ears... yes, both infected. The cough is caused by bronchitis which has gone untreated and turned into pneumonia. And the breathing is effected because I, apparently have asthma. I have never had asthma before, but I do now. I had a fever of 101.2 when I was in the doctor. And my oxygen level was so low, the doctor did not know how I was walking around. What? I feel FINE! I can handle this! Piece of cake. Except for the fact that I am on a heavy duty antibiotic, a steroid, cough medicine, and 4 breathing treatments a day for a month. I am sleepy and really shaky from the breathing treatments. The doctor told me to not eat peas with a fork this month. (funny! that is the least of my worries) I cannot be lazing around the house. There is laundry to do, floors to clean, surfaces to dust, dishes to wash, and 3 children to take care of! Not to mention the shuttling that needs done. Caroline has gymnastics today, Hilton has a party to go to this afternoon... and of course there is Trick or Treating tomorrow night!!! And it snowed last night. Lorelai is dying to get out there and play in it! You ask where my beloved husband is during this time? He is in production of a play. That means I am a single mom until Thanksgiving. He leaves at 9 am and gets home at 11 pm. There is nothing he can do about this. He is gone all day, every day except Sunday. So he just isn't part of the equation. You poor single mom's out there. How do you do it? Can I ever do something for you? Please let me know! But you will have to wait until I am not contagious. Did I mention the girl next door just had a sweet baby girl Wed and now I don't get to hold her??? You know how I am about babies! I can't get enough! This totally sucks.

Miche Handbags

Have you seen the Miche Bags? If you are a fan of handbags and purses, this may be like meth to you... You buy the purse and then purchase the shells to go with it. You can put any shell you like on it! So you have like a million different possibilities for your purses! And at a very reasonable price! They go on by magnets. I saw them at a boutique on Saturday and wanted one (or several) so badly. But I could not justify another handbag... well... at least not to Justin...

Soccer

Saturday was Hilton's last soccer game of the season. Aside from one day of 20 degree weather, it was a great season. Hilton's team won on Saturday, due in part to one of Hilton's great saves in the goal. He is a great goal tender and seems to prefer being there to being on the field. Last week he got hit in the face with the ball and he was not happy about that. I think he feels like he has a little more control in the goal because he can use his hands. All in all it was fun for him and I hope he wants to do it again in the summer!

Caroline is 10!

My baby girl is now 10. I cannot believe how the years have really gone by so quickly. As I put Caroline's old clothes on Lorelai, I cannot believe that it has been 8 years since Caroline has worn them. It seems like just yesterday. How cliche, right? I can't help it! Caroline is taking a babysitting class... she is almost old enough to babysit! She already does an excellent job with her baby sister. She does get annoyed when I make her play with her when Caroline would rather just be playing by herself. Caroline loves to play outside. She prefers to be outside. She likes to swing, and slide and climb and run and practice tumbling. She has just started gymnastics and really loves it. She seems to have a great natural talent for it. Caroline likes to read, but the books are a little under her age bracket. She still loves Junie B. Jones and Magic Treehouse. She is not quite ready for Nancy Drew, yet. She is starting to enjoy Beverly Cleary books as well. She has a good head on her shoulders and got an award last year for being on the honor roll or principal's list the whole year. She got one "B" the whole year and she was very disappointed because it kept her from being on the principal's list the whole year. She is learning that there are consequences to her actions and that I cannot make her work hard to get good grades. She has to do this on her own. Caroline loves clothes. Her favorite store is Justice. They have all kinds of trendy and sparkly clothes for tweens. The sparklier the better!!! She likes animal prints and florescent colors and she is totally against wearing dresses. She only likes skirts. She is just about the complete opposite of me. I really try to choose clothes that she likes rather than what I like. It is hard for me because I still want to dress her in jumpers and sweaters and cute things like that. Caroline prefers yoga pants and jeans with appliques all over them. She got a digital camera for her birthday and she has not stopped taking pictures. She is quite frustrated because it was cheap and it is not great quality. She wants to do all kinds of things with it and unfortunately it just does not have the capacity for that. She may have to get a better camera for Christmas. (Presents for kids get a lot more expensive as they get older!) The last 10 years have been difficult in some ways for Caroline. She has moved 9 times in her short life. She has been to 6 different schools. She has had to pick up and make new friends over and over again. She has tried to keep in touch with old friends, only for them to forget about her after just a few weeks. But she is strong. She makes new friends and makes her way through life. She is quite the drama queen at times, but our lives would not be the same without her. Happy Birthday, Caroline! We love you!

Grandma's sweater

This is the sweater that my mom made for Lorelai. It is really a coat, it is long and warm and beautiful! I picked out the pattern and my mom whipped it out in just a few months! I absolutely love it!!! Lorelai looks so cute in it. She will be able to wear it next year too, I am sure. Thank you, Mommy!!!

So, I did it again today! I stayed on the treadmill for 30 minutes. I sweat a lot, got my pulse up. I feel like I did well. I will keep it up! To other news, my dad has the MRSA virus. He has had it for about a month now. It has caused pneumonia as well. Mom said he sounds like he smokes a couple packs a day with his cough. Anyway, he was in the hospital for several days last month, but they let him go home and put him on a heavy duty antibiotic for 30 days. It hasn't helped. So he is now having to get 2 IV treatments a day at 2 hours each time. Hopefully this round will kill off the MRSA and get rid of the pneumonia so he can breath again. I tell you what, I really don't know how my dad is still living. He must really have some important work to do on this earth for Heavenly Father to keep him around after all that has happened to him.

I did it!

So this morning I went down to the clubhouse in our complex and I exercised. I exercised my butt off! Ok, not off... I have a long way to go for that. But I was sweating and my pulse was racing and it felt really good. I did the treadmill for about 10 minutes, then I did the bike for 30. The bike is cool because you can play Tetris while you pedal, but you have to keep pedaling in order to play. I feel like I accomplished something! I feel very proud of myself and I am really going to try to keep it up. I was by myself, so that was good. There is a tv in there but you can only watch DVD's on it. I need to get a tv series from Netflix or something so I can have something to watch so I will stay on the treadmill longer. When I was in college, I used to read a book while I was working out. So I tried that again today... yeah right. That was not gonna happen. I am about 1/100th the shape I was in back then. But maybe someday I will get back to the point where I can read while exercising. Or maybe I will just enjoy it so much that I won't need to read or watch tv or anything to keep my mind off of my screaming thighs... It is only the first day of the rest of my life. That seems really far away. But I am not going to put a time limit on myself. I am not going to set myself up for disappointment. I am just going to take it one day at a time and hope and pray that I lose weight and get healthy. Right?

I was NOT prepared!

I thought I had a little more time! I was not going to get snow boots and snow pants and coats until the next paycheck. I was going to spread it out a little. Since we have lived away from the cold for so long, the kids do not have the appropriate winter wear. We got Hilton a couple pairs of jeans this weekend. Since all he had was shorts. Caroline has 3 pairs of pants. Lorelai is in pretty good shape with her hand-me-downs from Caroline. She is still in 18 month-24 month stuff, so she is wearing Caroline's clothes from Montana. Those are great. But I sold her good snow suit on EBay last year because I did not think I would be needing one for her anytime soon. And I did not have a good winter coat for her! So we tromped off to Walmart and bought the LAST 24 month coat they had. I am not a big proponent of WalMart winter weather gear, but I would rather only spend $20 on a coat for her that she will just wear one year. The big kids will get Lands End or LLBean coats. You need them up here! I cannot believe it is already so cold! But it is supposed to warm up a little later this week and be more fall-like. I will not complain though! I would much rather be cold than turning up the air-conditioner!!!

Dew Drops

Need a great gift for a gal for Christmas? I have the PERFECT idea! These beautiful and AFFORDABLE watches from Dew Drops. These are so cute and customizable for whatever suits your mood! This is a good friend of mine who has started this business and I want her to have lots of success! So check out this website and buy some presents for your mom or mother-in-law or sister or friend... or your friendly blogger! Heehee!

Families are forever!!!

Twenty-five years ago, my Aunt Peggy and Uncle Barley and cousin, Nicole, were baptized. I was 10 years old, but I still remember it. Very vaguely, but it is still a profound memory. On Saturday, my aunt and uncle will be sealed to each other and to their daughters. It is such an amazing and wonderful event. I will be another year older on Saturday... This is the best gift that I could ever get. I know that is not their intention. I am sure they did not even realize that they were going to be sealed on my birthday. It is not an intentional birthday gift. But one that I will cherish for eternity. Now I know that that family is now part of my eternal family! This is something that I cannot express into words how incredible and awesome it is. My cousin, Nicole is what I consider one of my best friends in life. We have been buddies since she was born. We got into a lot of trouble together growing up! Even when we have been apart physically, we have always had a great connection. I love her dearly! She is a faithful woman. A woman I want to be. She is a great mother, wife, member of the church. She has unfailing faith. And I know that it is because of this faith that this day has come. She has always been such a great example to her family. And I know this is why her family is going to be eternal. My Aunt Peggy and Uncle Barley are amazing people whom I love with all of my heart. I am privileged to be a part of their family. And now we will be an eternal family.

Boys will be boys

So, I stayed home from church today. Lorelai has had tummy trouble since yesterday and I have had a lovely migraine since Thursday. I did not want to brave the crowds of Stake Conference so I opted out. I should have gone. Hilton was playing with a kid outside when the kid did something to him and Hilton pushed the kid who then fell and hurt himself. I had to deal with kid's mom who got her hackles up. This kid has been tormenting Hilton since the day we moved in. He is 2 years older and at least a head taller. Hilton usually just yells and walks away but I guess it was one too many times. So now Hilton is in his room for the rest of the week. No playing outside. I asked Justin to go talk to him and he said, "Did you talk to him?" Yes, I had, "Well then that's fine. Boys will be boys. I'll talk to him later." Sorry to disturb you... I am not ready to be dealing with angry mothers. Hilton is usually a pretty good kid. He just has a bad temper. What am I going to do about this?

I had a dream....

I dreamed last night that I had a baby girl and named her Anna-Belle Pearl. Justin insisted on the name and that we have another girl... now I KNOW it was a dream!

Autumnal Musings

Fall, fall, fall, fall... I love fall! That is all. I love fall. And not just cause my birthday is in fall and all my friends send me amazing homemade cards and gifts...

Just some getting used to

So, we are here. It has been such a horrible move. As I have said on a previous post... Things are not looking up quit yet. But we are hanging in there. I hope to make some new friends soon. And to be hanging out with old ones soon too. The kids are adjusting to school. They say that they get made fun of when they say, "yes ma'am," and I said I don't care. I do not want their 2 years of southern manners to go to waste! I am fine with not having shopping or resteraunts since we have no money to spend there anyway. I am loving the cooler weather, and the beautiful mountains. I absolutely love Idaho and we have to pinch ourselves every time we drive down a country road. I love living in such a rural area. It really is a dream come true. I miss my friends in Lafayette, terribly. I want so much to go to Coyote Blues and a movie with my girls... I don't know if I will every find a group of friends like the Lafayette ladies. Here, people are very involved in their own wards and stuff. And my ward is full of young students. We have 60 children in the nursery... that is not a typo... and 120 children in the Primary. There are only about 25 YM and YW... and there is only one person over 70 in the ward. It is crazy young and the ward is just HUGE! Like 550 members who are almost all active! It is like Stake Conference every week. So it is very difficult for people to get to know you because they have no idea who is new! Anyway. I will stop complaining and be grateful for what we do have. A beautiful home, a beautiful town with a gorgeous temple up on the hill. And Justin is at his dream job where everyone just adores him! It was a miracle that he got this job which we are realizing more everyday. One of the HR guys is in our ward and a former missionary from Justin's mission. He told us that with the hiring freeze they are not hiring anyone at the school... not even staff, let alone faculty. For the new-hire luncheon that Justin went to when we were here before, there were over 60 people there... that was 4 years ago... this time there were 6. Justin was one of only 6 people hired on the entire campus this fall. So we are grateful. We really are. We just have to adjust.

We finally have the internet. Suffice it to say, it is a miracle. More to come later.

We are here

We are in Rexburg and still don't have the internet. I am using the library computer so that everyone knows that we are alive! It has been such a harrowing experience, this move. I will not go into details right now as I have a limited amount of time on this computer and I need to get home. But I will say that I did not find that having a moving company move us did not make me feel any less stressed out. It was not any easier, what-so-ever! But I am glad to be getting settled. We have tv as of yesterday, so I will not miss the season premier of Project Runway... and for some reason, tv always makes me feel a little more grounded somehow. As soon as we get the internet I will get some pictures posted of the new house... we have had to go through quite an ordeal to get into the house we are in. (again, a post for another time.) But if you have the address that I gave you... it is wrong. I will need to get you our new, new address! But our phone number is the same as always. Email is the same too! I will do my best to get a new post up pretty soon.

Last entry for a couple of weeks

Well, today we are getting rid of the internet so we can pack the computer. Thankfully, Tanya has scared me into buying a flash drive because I am convinced something is going to happen to all of my pictures. So I will take care of that today. I have to clean the blinds, get a haircut, take the kids to Chuck E Cheese one last time to use the leftover tokens we have, pack all of my clothes, make sure all of the dishes are done and ready for the packers tomorrow, ummmm, what else? There is a lot to get done today before the packers come. Feeling a little overwhelmed... but it will get done. Even if it is at 2am...

Lafayette Ladies

Last night went to Tonya's house for a girl's night out. We were supposed to play games, but ended up just talking the night away for 3 hours. It was so much fun I could have stayed all night! I love those gals and will miss them so much. I do look forward to going back to friends in Rexburg, but we have a good little gang going here. Gang in a good way. We don't go around tagging joints with spray paint or anything. We mostly just eat and chat. Chatting mostly about reality tv and books and how we wish we were thinner. My kind of gang, right? It is so funny because such a big group you would think would be hard for everyone to get along, but we all have something in common! And the conversation is always rolling. And there is always good food involved. My friend, Jen said that she has a sister in Rexburg that she wants me to meet. I am excited but worried. What if we don't like each other? What if We don't get along like Jen and I do? It is like going to a new school. I wish this move were over so that I could be all comfy and settled... but I want to stay here and be comfy and settled like I already am. Yes, rambling... I know. But at least I am posting instead of sitting on my laurels like some other bloggers I know... I will not mention any names, you know who you are!!!!

A Strange Smell...

For 2 weeks Lorelai has complaining about her nose. I thought she was just complaining because it was running and maybe irritated from congestion. For 2 weeks it has smelled really rank and yucky and a week ago started dripping really yucky stuff. I thought, she had a yucky infection and it would go away. I had taken her to the doctor a few weeks ago because she had a freaky rash, and then a week after that for her well visit... I was not going to take her to the doctor again for him to tell me it was another virus that she would just have to let run it's course. But this morning the nose was really smelling... (pun intended,) and she had started to run a fever so I figured it was time to go in. Doctor Bruno discovered something was stuck up there! He used a snot sucker, (That is the official medical term we use in our house for bulb syringe) to try to get whatever it was out... he got a lot of blood and the big kids had to leave the room because they were traumatized but he could not get that sucker to suck enough! So he sent us to the beloved ENT... the Ear Nose and Throat specialist... another wad of cash later, Dr. David was trying her super-duper high powered vacuum to try to dislodge the offending article from Little Bug's nose... it was not happening. So while I was holding her tight, Dr. David used the teeniest, tiniest forceps in the world to extract the spongy tip of an eye shadow applicator from WAY up in Lorelai's nose. The stench that emanated from that tiny little cavity in her face was incredible! I have not smelled something that rank... in a very long time... and especially never coming from my sweet little baby. That thing has been up there for 2 weeks! Blocking up her sinuses and causing an infection. Now Little Bug is happy as a bug should be and she can breath again and took her normal almost 3 hour nap which she has not done in... well... two weeks!

Lorelai's words

Lorelai is getting really adventurous in her talking lately! She has said baby, hi, bye, and today she said Abby... clear as day. She wanted her Abby Cadabby dvd on and it was on in the dvd player and she opened the player, tapped my arm to get my attention and said, Mamma, Abby! I am starting to understand her little phrases here and there. It is taking me a while to realize she actually is trying to communicate, but we are getting there. I don't remember it being this difficult to understand the other kids. She is also very adept at saying the word NO! She mostly uses this with her brother who is constantly bothering her and making her life difficult. For drink she says, "Cumma." I really have no idea what this means. I don't understand where she got this word from. It in no way sounds like "juice" or "drink." But that is how she tells me she wants a drink. I always try to correct her and say, "drink" or "juice" or "water." She just looks at me like, whatever, just give me the drink.

3 Weeks and Counting

Could these last 3 weeks go any slower? I mean, not that I want to leave all my great friends here, but c'mon! It feels like the last two weeks have been 2 years... we are chomping at the bit to get into our new place so we can get all set up. Also, I would love to be able to send the kids outdoors for them to play without them coming to the door 5 minutes later to complain about the heat. I am cleaning out again, went through the china closet drawers today. Got rid of lots of old coupons and papers and stuff. Our dining room is starting to look like a dumping ground. There are all kinds of books and things piled on top of the buffet. There are boxes in corner. I feel a little panicky that we don't have more boxes packed, but the moving guys are doing that. It is weird. I don't know how to act! Anyway, we are on track to move and I just feel like it can't come soon enough. Mostly because I am tired of thinking of and preparing meals. I am looking forward to moving week when we will be forced to eat out... not that I necessarily am looking forward to fast food for 4 days, but if I don't have to make it and clean up after, I am happy!

Jenny's Horrible, Terrible, No Good, Very Bad week

When life gives you lemons... I need a good cry. That is usually the case. And with a sick husband in bed, I have nowhere to go to let it out. My mommy called earlier because I sent her a self-pitying email regailing her with all of the horrible things that have happened in the last week. I was on the verge of getting that good cry. You know, when you just want to cry until the sobs start. It has to be a really good one. You have to be able to let loose and let the tears flow, and the hiccups come and your face has to look all red and blotchy... oh yeah.. I love me a good cry. And I was poised and prepared... I wanted to let it flow when Mommy called just so I could get it over with and feel better! But Justin is in bed... and he keeps telling me, "just take it one day at a time. That's all we can do..." Whatever, I WANT TO CRY! Get out of my bedroom so I can cry!!! But nooooo, he has to be all sick, and unable to get out of bed and stuff. He is so selfish! Doesn't he realize that sometimes the only thing that will help is a really good cry? Now, I don't do this often. Maybe once a year, or less... only when it is absolutely necessary. Sometimes it is instigated by an argument between me and said husband, sometimes it is after my children have made me so crazy that I just want to pull my hair out. But most of the time it is because so many bad things have happened all at once that I just have to use the crying as a coping mechanism. But Justin being sick (which has contributed to the horrible things list)has really put a hitch in my plans. So how will I cope? What am I going to do to be able to get past all of the horrible things? I will not bore you with all of the details, because they will seem small and insignificant to you... and some of them are my fault and so I do not wish to embarrass myself... suffice it to say, it has been one crummy week.

Sick baby (no, not Lorelai)

Justin was still sick last night. I usually stay up pretty late. I am kind of a night owl. Justin is the one who has gotten me into this routine. So he is usually right by my side. But last night he kept coming out to the living room asking if I was coming in soon. It was only like 9:30! I was watching He's Just Not That Into You on PayPerView. I was like, leave me alone! So at 10:30, I grudgingly went to bed and I let him know I was not happy about it. He said, "I just want to be with you..." Wah... This morning when I woke up the kitchen was cleaner than when I left it. Do you realize what this means? He waited until I was asleep and came out here by himself! What a brat. I have spent 3 days waiting on him, making him whatever food he wants, getting him limitless bottles of water, changing the sheets because the others "don't feel good," and then he has the nerve to demand that I come to bed early... only to ditch me! Hmmm... I am glad he is back to work. He wasn't feeling 100%, but he did not want to miss any more. And now, the air conditioner is broken. It figures. But at least it is raining today and therefore not as hot as it has been. Yeah, I am just complaining. I think I am ready for the month to be over.

Our Weekend

On Saturday I worked in the morning and got off at 2. I walked in the door and Justin walked out with the big kids to go see Ice Age while Lorelai took a nap. It was nice to have that little bit of piece and quiet after some difficult shoppers at Michael's! When they got home, Justin said he wasn't feeling well and went right to bed. He had a fever and a headache and stayed home while I took the kids to the Waihi's for some great food!!! The kids played outside and the adults talked inside in the air conditioning. The kids were disappointed that I wouldn't take them to the fireworks, but I was not going to go by myself and Justin was still feeling bad. Justin is still sick with a fever and missed work today! That is a milestone. He NEVER calls in sick. I think he might be feeling a little better tonight. I hope so, because he is a total baby! When I was sick, he checked on me about every 24 hours or so. When he is sick he wants me to check on him every 10 minutes in case he needs something. Baby...

Tired of the move

It feels like it is at least 11am instead of 8am. I am exhausted from waking up every hour with Hilton. The child will just not sleep through the night. We took him off his Zyrtec because he doesn't need it anymore and now he doesn't sleep. I want a doughnut. (sorry, they were talking about them on tv and I thought that sounded good...) I have been really busy getting ready for the move. I cleaned out Caroline's closet yesterday and I have to clean the fridge today since someone is coming to look at it tomorrow. We are trying to sell the fridge and the washer and dryer. I feel like this is a never-ending process. When I am home all i do is prepare to move. It kinda stinks. When I am at work I can just not think about the move all evening. Tonight Vicki and I are going to a movie. That will be a nice change of pace. I can escape from this house and all the "moving stuff" for a couple of hours. Can't wait!

Week Three: Stinks

I am not doing this stupid diet any more. I have gained back 3 lbs and I have had it with not being able to comfort myself with the food that I love. I know it comes as a disappointment to most of you out there, but really... this is ridiculous. I am in the middle of a move! What was I thinking???? I will tell you what I was thinking. I was thinking I could lose all the weight that I gained while I was here so that when I got back to Rexburg all of my friends would not be shocked by my appearance. But it ain't gonna happen. So, all you Rexburg friends... prepare to be shocked. I have gained allllllll the weight back that I had lost while I was there. My piece of advice? Do not start a diet a few weeks before a big huge move... big mistake. I am very stressed out right now. I am working a lot, and most of the time I am ready to throttle my children... mix that with not eating... not a good combination. Justin will be very disappointed. But sometimes the only thing that can heal me is a chocolate chip cookie. Celery won't cut it.

Lorelai is 2

My last baby turned 2 on Sunday! She is so big now! Lorelai loves Elmo. She loves to sing and dance to Hannah Montana songs and the opening of all the Disney Channel shows that the big kids watch. She is not a fan of tv. She gets bored with it and would rather be doing something else. She loves to read books. That is probably one of her favorite activities. She loves to be outside and has discovered the fun of swimming. She doesn't want me to hold onto her anymore because she has floaties. She would prefer to float around on her own. Lorelai wants to be just like her big sister and play with her all the time. She is less of a fan of her big brother, he seems to get all up in her grill too much, but when he is being silly and jumping around, she laughs and can tolerate his presence. She loves to play ring-around-the-rosy, and to do the Conga with the big kids. They go around the house in a Conga line singing, "Cha cha cha cha cha cha!" Lorelai loves her Papa. She runs to him screaming Papa whenever he comes in the door. She loves to snuggle with him in the big recliner with her binki and her favorite Blankie and Bear. I have never had a child so attached to a blanket and stuffed animal before. She cannot sleep without them. Lorelai is not much of a talker. Early Steps came last week and tested her and said that she has the speech skills of a 14 month old, but I am not worried. She qualifies for services and maybe when we get to Idaho we will get her enrolled there. But she communicates pretty effectively with us. We know she loves us by her big hugs and kisses.

We Are Moving

In case you live under a rock and have not heard... we are moving to Idaho. Justin got a permanent position at BYU-I! We have been waiting forever for this opportunity and it is actually happening. We keep pinching ourselves. Rexburg is where we want to be. It is where we want to raise our children. It is close to Justin's mom and closer to my parents and siblings. We are so excited. It is a wonderful opportunity for Justin. So now I am trying to get cleaned out. We have some things to get rid of. I have to go through all the clothes and try to weed things out. I have to go through some boxes that we never did unpack from our last move and see if we can downsize any more. I don't know when I will get this all done. During the day I am trying to keep the kids occupied and not whining about how bored they are. And I am working most evenings. So when do I have time to go through toys and clothes and such?

Week Two: Complete

So I have completed week two. I am not impressed at all with the results. When all is said and done I have lost 6 lbs. About half what is expected. But it is better than a kick in the head, right? I don't know if the South Beach Diet is right for me. But I am going to continue to eat the same way with some adjustments... I am going to eat fruit, and some whole grains once in a while. If I eat 2 fruits a day, I think that will be ok. And if I continue to keep refined sugar and carbs out of my diet, I should do alright. And this week I need to start exercising. I really don't know how I am going to do that with the heat the way it is. It is scorching hot at 6:30am! But I will find a way. I really am thrilled with how well I have kept to this diet these last 2 weeks. I cheated only a teeny tiny bit when I went out to dinner with Vicki to Zea on Friday and I had a couple of slivers of carrots and a couple of Chinese noodles that were on my salad. I didn't eat all of them, not even a lot of them, but I did have some. I went to the doctor on Thursday. The doctor wanted to remove a very questionable mole.(I will hear back sometime next week about that.) Anyway, she had no idea why I have not had more success on this diet. She agreed that I should have lost a lot more weight... on Thurs the scales showed no weight loss. And thought that really there is no point on being on it if I don't have any success. But I really think she didn't believe that I had been sticking to it. I don't blame her. When a girl that looks like me comes in and tells her that I haven't cheated on a diet and I also haven't had any results... I don't think I would believe me either! But I am not going to worry about more tests right now. Maybe in a couple of months...

Most Improved:Hilton

This is the paper that was submitted by Mrs. Courville on why Hilton deserved Most Improved Student: "This student has shown tremendous social and academic growth. When the school year began, he seemed very apprehensive. He has grown more confident in all areas. He has become an exemplary student, one who always does his very best.

South Beach Lifestyle

So, I started the South Beach Diet last week. This week went pretty well. I am not going to reveal how much I lost yet, until after my second week. Because if I don't lose as much this week, or I gain anything back, I don't want you to know. I wasn't going to Blog about my new lifestyle change because I really don't want to be responsible to anyone. I don't want people to expect too much from me. I have failed at diets before and I have done really well before, only to fail again later. So it is hard for me to put myself out there and 1) admit I have a problem and 2) tell others that I am attempting to fix said problem. I guess I have a hard time believing that people can change, mostly because of my lack of will power. Now, I don't want a bunch of comments left about how I can do it and I have the power within myself... I know all this. I just really would like to succeed this time without getting pregnant in the middle of it! That is what has happened the last 2 times I had any dieting success! But now, I have a lot further to go than I ever have. But I have made it through the whole first week. For those of you unfamiliar with South Beach, for the first 2 weeks I can't have any carbs the first 2 weeks. That means no sugar, no fruit, no grains at all, no potatoes, no carrots, no corn. After the first 2 weeks I can gradually add in some good carbs. This is what my doctor really wants me to do. She said that it is the best diet for diabetics so I am going to go for it. I am really going to give it my best. And hey, if I have made it the first week without any cheating at all, I am doing very well for myself. So here I go. Week one... operation Remove The Gut over.

Kindergarten Grad

Hilton graduated from Kindergarten 2 weeks ago. Mrs. Courville really loved Hilton. She gave him the most improved student award. She is really impressed with how well he has done throughout the year. He is reading like a 1st grader now and he is doing math of a second grader! Maybe the bad-at-math-gene will pass him by and he will be the Doctor in the family! He also won a gym award, which is a second reason I am wondering they mixed him up at the hospital in Missoula... neither Justin nor I are very athletic. Hilton got the Running Bear award which means he ran over 41 miles this year which was over 200 laps! Caroline did not come close to getting that award... there were only 3 in his class that got that! So good Job, Hilt! We are very proud of you and look forward to 1st grade! (More than you will ever know.)

Girl's camp

So girls camp is always fun. Even when I have the flu... I couldn't stay the whole time because I was so ill, and Justin was home sick as well, but I made it there for the first two days... Thursday night consisted of some really great skits... you see the YW dressed in their respective costumes for our Dancing With The Stars skit. They stole the show!!! And the picture of the Latrini sisters who make an appearance every year... It is the Lafayette Adult leaders and change from year to year. We dress in camo and do songs about camp to popular songs you hear on the radio. All courtesy of Jill (our YW Pres) who is so creative and writes all the words to the songs and the skits every year as well... I want to be just like her when I grow up!

Surprise party

This weekend was Vicki's birthday and her mother and sisters held a surprise party for her. It was great! She had no idea! There were several of her friends from the ward that came and all of her family was there. The food was amazing... as usual... the cake was divine... and there were games and prizes! Justin won a gift card to Casa Ole and I won a gift card to Quiznos! What a great treat!!! The best part was just being with good friends outside of church. It was pretty cool. We all just ate and talked for a couple of hours without the kids. Lately all I have been hearing is "Mamma, Mamma, Mamma!" And I was ready for a little adult conversation.

Just a Cutie

I just wanted to put some cute pictures of Lorelai on here so you don't forget what a little sweetie we have in this house! i cannot believe she is going to be 2 in just a couple of months! Less than that!

Camp stuff

Been busy working on Girl's Camp stuff. We completed the script for our skit. We are doing a Dancing With the Stars spoof. The theme this year is Keepers of the Light. So we are having the Dancing With the Stars contestants have to compete using the guidelines from the For the Strength of Youth book. The first couple is Edward and Bella. They are breaking the "Serious Dating" kind of rule thingy. They can't get enough of each other and spend way too much time single dating and need to start group dating. Our second couple is Napoleon Dynamite and Pedro. Their dancing is too suggestive and Napoleon needs to tone it down a bit. The third couple is Hannah Montana and Lola. They dance great, but their costumes are inappropriate. The final couple is Molly Mormon and Peter Priesthood. They do everything perfectly and Molly even gets to count this as a Value Project for Personal Progress! It has been great fun working with Jill and Emily on camp stuff! I cannot wait to go! I am going to be teaching a class. One of the Gospel classes on Word and Language and Charity and Spirit. I need some good ideas for an activity to do with the girls so it isn't just me talking for an hour. And we go in less than 3 weeks! Crazy!

Broken Foot

So, yesterday at about 2:30, I was bringing the garbage can from outside. For those of you unfamiliar with our door, it requires serious strength to close and open. In order to get it completely closed, it must be SLAMMED! So, the phone rings, I pick it up, it was Jill, the YW Pres... I start chatting with her and go to close (slam) the door shut and for some reason my foot was in the way. It hurt like crazy... kind of like stubbing your toe. I was brilliant on the phone. I am pretty sure Juill had no idea that anything even happened! And that was all I thought it was at first. I thought I had a little stubbed pinkie toe. I was cut a little so I put a band-aid on it. As the afternoon went on I was thinking, I definitely broke my little toe. So I called my Mom and Vicki to find there is absolutely nothing to be done with a broken toe. When Justin came home he tried to assess the situation... he barely touched it and I screamed! I have an extremely HIGH threshold for pain, so this scream surprised both of us. He told me to move my toes. I could only move 2. Then he asked me to move my foot. Wasn't happening. So this morning, went to the doctor, got a couple of x-rays, had a ride in a wheel-chair and found out that I have to wear a big air-boot for a little while. Just a minor fracture. May have to get another x-ray next week... but I will live. I wish my story were a little more exciting or even entertaining... but nope. Just a boring old door slam. And my first broken foot, ever!

What excites me?

Cookies. Chocolate chip cookies excite me. The smell. The taste. The texture. I will eat almost any chocolate chip cookie. I really will. Even like the store bought Keebler cookies. They don't have to be fresh baked, although, fresh baked excites me even more. Having diabetes kinda puts a damper on the whole cookie eating thing. My friend, Vicki likes cupcakes. No, she LOVES cupcakes. I think cupcakes are nice. I can take or leave a cupcake. But a cookie... I just can't leave it alone. I can resist sugar cookies. I can resist snickerdoodles, and gingersnaps, and oatmeal lace, and molasses, and even chocolate crinkles... but there is something about a chocolate chip cookie that I just cannot resist. If there is one in my vicinity, I cannot just let it stay there without being eaten. There is something about a chocolate chip cookie. When you take a bite into it, you have the texture of the cookie accompanied by this explosion of chocolate that can only be provided by the chip. That melt in your mouth sensation of the chocolate chip is unparalleled. My mouth smiles when I take a bite of that special combination of eggs and sugar and flour... I love cookies. Any and all cookies. I really will eat any cookie that is put in front of me... but the chocolate chip cookie is what really excites me.

When will it be over?

A week of Spring break has passed. I think I am done. I have had it with the children. There has been so much drama in this house you would think we were on a set of Days of Our Lives. Having a tweenage girl is really getting old. Of course, there are days when she is wonderful and helpful and fun! But when you put her little brother into the mix, it is just the worst of all possible scenarios. I remember when they would play so well together, making forts and playing house and school. Now it is just fight, fight, fight. I wish I knew there were an end in sight, but it doesn't seem like that will ever happen. She also is constantly complaining about not having anyone to play with. Who can we invite over? When can we invite them? Ummm, how about you be grateful I don't lock you in your room all by yourself for the entire week and go play outside with the neighborhood kids? But the neighborhood kids are brats and way too sophisticated for their own good. And not sophisticated in a good way, either. They know too much and I don't like it. Why can't my kids just play nice?

Easter

I did not have the time or patience to get pictures before church... and by the time I got the camera out, the baskets were already taken apart... But at least there are pictures of the Easter dresses for posterity. Right?

My cousin Nicole introduced me to cute artwork that is girlie and adorable! Take a look at Tollipop!

Miss Vicki should be Auntie Vicki!

Hilton wants me to go to his field trip to the zoo. I don't want to. I have had a headache since Sunday and there is no way I am going to put myself through that torture. When I shared this with him he asked if Justin would go. I told him Justin has to work. So then he asked if Miss Vicki could go with him... What? I guess that is his order of importance... Mom, Papa, Miss Vicki. I hope the Waihi's don't mind that my kids consider them as important as their parents! We love them like family. I did not know my kids felt the same way!

Hat

Hilton wanted me to knit him a hat, so he picked out the yarn and I got right to it. It took me about 2 hours. It was very simple. Now I am working on two large projects that I am afraid will take forever. I am making a dress for Lorelai and an afghan, just with some yarn I have milling around the house doing nothing. I am making the dress in a large size 3T to give me plenty of time to finish it. She is currently in a 12 month... I work on them alternately because the dress has a very tiny stitch and the afghan has a much larger stitch, but the pattern is more fun to do. I really love knitting! It also keeps me from eating! Haha!