I hate appliances!!!!

Well it has been since May 14th that we had the microwave fixed and guess what?

It is not working again!!!

I am so frustrated and to make things worse, I am leaving for a girls weekend.

(I know are we not all just jealous that I get to leave again.?)

So here I have made so many nutritious meals that just require re-heating for my family to enjoy. "The Man" looks at me and says that it will be another PB&J weekend till I get back.

Poor guy, but they do seem to survive when I am gone.

Why are things not built to last?

Planned obsolescence really stinks!!!

The day Daddy got really scared.

Sunday is Church day.

But, Sunday I decided to take some time and pamper the "Drama Queen". She has the longest, strongest nails ever, compared to my paper thin things. She lets them grow so long and then decides that during art she is going to chop them off with those awful blunt edged scissors. Makes me crazy. So there were her hands with long glamorous nails, so we french-tipped them.

Wow!

They looked good, almost professional good.The "Drama Queen" has decided to grow out her bangs and make her hair all one long length. This has produced many dilemmas as to what to do with the bang-in-the-face problem. So I decided that since we are glam'ing the nails we will do the hair too. So I get out my 3rd degree curling iron and 50 or so bobby-pins and go to town.

We are both having the time of our lives.

Me, because she so rarely lets me do this -but at the moment she cannot escape cause her toes and fingers are wet.

"Drama Queen", because mom is actually making her look good and she likes it - very grown up.

Last bobby-pin is placed and I give her a good coating of hairspray and we are off to select just the right dress and shoes to accentuate the whole look. When she is done, I am so pleased. She looks beautiful, wholesome and so gorgeous.

"Drama Queen" descends the stairs as I rally the guys to come and witness the transformation. "The Man" is speechless, in fact he has an almost green tint to his face. He compliments "Drama Queen", telling her that she looks wonderful.

Several moments later I am getting ready for church and "the man" corners me in our room. He is shaking.
"Honey, are you alright?"

"Did you see our daughter?"

"Yeah! I kinda had to to do her hair."

"She looks so grown-up."

"She looks beautiful."

"I am not ready for her to be grown-up."

I kinda stop and look at him. I guess that I have been more aware of the change as I see the other kids in her classes maturing. Next year we deal with Maturation at school and I know that I am already wigging out about that one. But she is going to grow up. I guess he just did not see it or that he just does not want to start thinking about what that means. Regardless it was the day that Daddy really got scared. I watched him with the kids that day, he kept looking at them so strangely almost as if he had not seen them for a long time. I guess there is a time when you look at your kids and suddenly they are so grown-up. When did they change and were was I when it happened?

All I know is that I want to be there and that if I can help my kids grow-up better then I did, stronger than I was at their age and hopefully instill in them the tremendous love that I have for them, then that is the best that I can hope for.

Look what happened in ten short years:

What is that?

The "Drama Queen" asked me the other day what a rolly polly bug was.....having no response I went to my all knowing computer and Googled it.

Pillbug
Description, Elimination of Pillbugs, Roly-Polys
Pillbugs and sowbugs though similar are different bugs that fall into the pest category of occasional invaders. Sowbugs and pillbugs are crustaceans and are closely related to crayfish and shrimp, more so than to insects.
Often confused with sowbugs, one of the distinct differences of sowbugs and pillbugs is that a pillbug has the ability to roll its body up into a ball resembling a small pill; a sowbug does not roll into a ball.
Pillbugs prefer damp areas, which is why they are often found invading homes through openings close to patio doors, laundry rooms and basements. These bugs feed on decaying vegetation most often found in mulched areas around homes. The damp conditions and decaying organic debris are contributing factors for several occasional invaders such as millipedes. Elimination procedures for Pillbugs parallel those for millipedes and sowbugs.

Now we all know what it is.....
Have fun playing with the rolly polly next time you garden.

Things that make you go EEEEKKK!!!!!!

I will be the first person to admit that I HATE snakes!!

The very idea that they slither, and slide across the ground just makes me want to find a place to crawl into and hide.

I came home from work late and went to kiss my "babies" good night. "Drama Queen" was waiting for me.

"Mom!"

"What Honey?"

"We got a pet."

"Really...?"

We have no pets, in fact my efforts to talk "the man" into a dog have been for not.

"What pet would that be?"

"We found a snake! It is so cool mom, we made it a bed and took it for a ride and tomorrow I am gonna feed it."

Feeling my skin begin to crawl, but ever the supportive Mom.

"That is great Honey, now go to sleep......A, um, you did wash your hands right?"

So I come down from kissing them and hearing all about the new pet to "the man" who is waiting to show me our new pet. Luckily for me it has escaped and is somewhere slithering happily far away from our home, much to my husbands disappointment. He loves to watch me WIG OUT!

Next day. I decide that it is time to mow the lawn since it is going to seed. I begin by trimming - in my bare feet. YES, I know that is really dumb, but I hate shoes!!! So I am trimming along and take one step in some really long grass and there he is.......the new pet. I let out a death-curtling-scream. This of course falls on deaf ears as my kids are over at the neighbors home. So I run/walk in my bare feet over to get my kids so they can save their whimpy Mom.

Ring-ring-knock-knock! Door slowly opens...........

"Where are my kids, I need the kids to come home and get their pet!!!"

Cute little neighbor girl. "What pet, you got a pet?"

Drama Queen really annoyed that I am there. "Mom, we don't want to come home."

"You will get home right now and get your pet out of my yard!!!"

"Snakey! Snakey is back?"

"YES!!!"

So my kids, Maddie down the street, and all my neighbors kids, 4 to be exact- come pouring out of the house to come see Snakey. Of course when they get there, no snake. He is gone and I am standing there a fool.

"Mom, are you sure that he was here?"

"YES! I will come and get you if I see him again."

Off they all go, back to play and await Snakey's next apperance which did not take too long. First time around the yard with the lawn mower, Snakey decides to make his apperance. That was it, me or the snake. Luckily for them my kids were coming in the back door or he was going to see what my mower does to stray things.

"Mom, do not mow Snakey!!!"

"Then come get him cause it is either me or the snake."

So as I mow, my kids happily play with Snakey, loving him, putting him around their necks and using the cut grass to make him a nice home in the wagon.

When it is time for Maddie to go home we let her take "Snakey" to show what fun things you get to play with at our house. Her parents were less then thrilled.

Out there, somewhere in my vast yard, there is a snake - Snakey. I am sure that he does a very good job eating bugs. I am sure that he does have a purpose other than scaring me. I know that at some point I might have to resolve my issues with him, although I am sure that he is unaware of any issues between us. But for now I would be quite content to just have him venture into anothers yard and find a safe refuge there, but that is not the way of my life. Once plagued I know that I will be visited yet again by our snakey friend.

Anyone want a snake?

Microwave Urban Legends

Parts arrived......

Man in van showed up............

$180.00 magnetron tube replaced..............on a $200.00 Microwave.

Advice dispensed.................................Priceless!

Here is the 411:

Microwave popcorn DOES NOT burn up your magnetron tube, it is the heat.

Under cupboard microwaves do not have the airflow that allows then to function as well as stand alone units. So if you want your microwave to last get a stand alone or an extended warranty so they have to replace your expensive magnetron tube.

Choo......choo.....cool

Salt Lake has a cool new commuter train system called the Front Runner.

We live close to RXR tracks and have watched as they have worked on laying the tracks for this new "traffic relief" train.

The first week that it was up and running rides were free. The lines were so long that we gave up most days. The first night being Family Home Evening night - most went down and braved the waits. It was reported that they were 2 hours behind schedule due to a child going missing. All trains had to stop and get searched till he was found. What a mess!

One afternoon, "sweet-boy" and I were driving past our station and there were no lines. So disregarding all that I needed to get done, we parked in BFE and hiked to the station. Hoping that not too many would see the break in the action. We waited for our train...20 minutes, 25 minutes and I noticed that "Sweet-boy" had that face that we all know means we are in trouble.


"Mom?"

"Yes Honey."

"I need to go real BAD."

"Are you sure?"

"I really need to GOOOOO!"

So the good mom that I am, I look around for an obliging bush, nothing, no out buildings, nothing, but a small Mom & Pop restaurant. So we start walking to this restaurant and just as we make it to the door we hear the train whistles.

Now at this point I need to explain that we had to walk down a ramp, across the tracks, thru the fenced in maze, around a parking lot and then finally to the very back of the restaurant to find the bathroom.

We look at each other and decide that we are up to the challenge. Breaking all "Bathroom" records we exit the building, retrace our steps in what can only be described as a frantic dead run and I HATE to run. We are just turning the corner where we have to cross the tracks when I look to see a train, a very big train and decide right there that this is worth dying for. "Sweet-boy" right on my heals, reaches out and we clasp hands and he becomes suspended in air as I am pulling/running him across the tracks in front of the train. Just at this moment the conductor decides is a good time to let me know that they have arrived and blows out my hearing with a long whistle.


Gasping for breath we stop on the ramp and watch as one of two trains stops at the station - one going to Salt Lake, the other to Ogden. We hop on the Ogden bound train and begin to press our way to the upper deck. Arriving on the upper deck we spy 1 seat and plop down. Me to say a quick prayer of thanks that we are still alive and "sweet-boy" to finally ride the train. Thank fully we are surrounded by Grandparents' that understand the excitement of a young boy and "Sweet-boy" moves to the window seat. What fun it was.

I got nothing done on my "To Do, list....." but I didn't care - I spent an afternoon making a wonderful memory with my little guy, who will not always be 6, and who will not always think that risking life and limb with mom is cool.

You can't trick it.......

YOUR AGE BY EATING OUT
Don't tell me your age; you probably would tell a falsehood anyway- but your waiter may know!
YOUR AGE BY DINER & RESTAURANT MATH
This is pretty neat

DON'T CHEAT BY SCROLLING DOWN FIRST!
It takes less than a minute. Work this out as you read .
Be sure you don't read the bottom until you've worked it out!
This is not one of those waste of time things, it's fun.
1. First of all, pick the number of times a week that you would like to go out to eat.
(more than once but less than 10)
2. Multiply this number by 2 (just to be bold)
3. Add 5
4. Multiply it by 50
5. If you have already had your birthday this year add 1758...
If you haven't, add 1757.
6. Now subtract the four digit year that you were born.
You should have a three digit number
The first digit of this was your original number. (I.e., How many times you want to go out to restaurants in a week.)
The next two numbers are

YOUR AGE ! ------ (Oh YES, it is!)

THIS IS THE ONLY YEAR (2008) IT WILL EVER WORK.

Appliance Disaster

Have you ever noticed how much we rely on modern conveniences such as the stove, the washer and dryer and say the must have for every kitchen - the microwave?

We'll my microwave, that is less than a year old, has decided that it does not want to warm things up anymore. So right before Women's Conference it broke down. While I was away being spiritually fed, my sweet hubby was without his most important "Daddy survival friend".

Side note: As the Prophet opened his remarks on Friday afternoon, he remarked, "that looking out into the audience and seeing so many wonderful women, that he could not help but wonder at the amount of PB&J that was served over the last 3 days..."

Needless to say that the microwave is still broken as we are waiting for the magnetron tube to arrive. I guess that is the "thingy" (yes such a technical term) that makes everything work in your microwave. I have since found out that the quickest way to burn out your magnetron is popcorn, bummer! I guess that I will have to get a spare cause I am not giving that up.

Anyway, without that very necessary kitchen appliance I was planning on making cookies today. So when I was done making lunch and the cook top was still warm I placed, on a plate, the butter. Thinking that it would soften faster then waiting hours to achieve the same result I carelessly forgot about it and continued on my 6 loads of laundry. Hours later when I remembered that cookies were on my "TO DO" list, this is what I found.

What a mess!

The worst is there is no cookie dough, nor fresh baked cookies for the weekend. Ah Well, there is always next week, right?

Break Time

As a mom we are never truly off the clock, there is always some task that needs our attention no matter what time of day or night that it may be.

But, in the next three days I get a break..................

I get to remember what it feels like to be called by my first name. I get to spend time with other frazzled women, especially my dear friend Nicole and laugh. I don't mean the "oh that was so funny and I have laundry to fold and dinner burning on the stove" laugh. I mean the make the jaw ache, gut wrentching, tear inducing laughter!!! The kind that you get when you are truly relaxed and among friends.

Wednesday I get to attend my once a year total girl time at Women's Conference. This my once a year totally spiritually charging treat to myself and they just announced that the concluding speaker will be our Prophet.

This is going to be good!!!

My Little Engineer

My Little Engineer boy.

There is nothing that a roll of blue tape - that I am constantly running out of - some kabob sticks and a free afternoon cannot make.

Lofty on his Bridge of Terror, making his way from the Fridge to the counter across the old scary bridge.

What fun to have such a curious, active, building mind.

George Carlin's Views on Aging

Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is when we're kids? If you're less than 10 years old, you're so excited about aging that you think in fractions.
'How old are you?' 'I'm four and a half!' You're never thirty-six and a half. You're four and a half, going on five! That's the key
You get into your teens, now they can't hold you back. You jump to the next number, or even a few ahead. 'How old are you?' 'I'm gonna be 16!' You could be 13, but hey, you're gonna be 16! And then the greatest day of your life . . You become 21. Even the words sound like a ceremony . YOU BECOME 21. YESSSS!!!
But then you turn 30. Oooohh, what happened there? Makes you sound like bad milk! He TURNED; we had to throw him out. There's no fun now, you're Just a sour-dumpling. What's wrong? What's changed?
You BECOME 21, you TURN 30, then you're PUSHING 40. Whoa! Put on the brakes, it's all slipping away. Before you know it, you REACH 50 and your dreams are gone.
But wait!!! You MAKE it to 60. You didn't think you would!

So you BECOME 21, TURN 30, PUSH 40, REACH 50 and MAKE it to 60.
You've built up so much speed that you HIT 70! After that it's a day-by-day thing; you HIT Wednesday!
You get into your 80's and every day is a complete cycle; you HIT lunch; you TURN 4:30 ; you REACH bedtime. And it doesn't end there. Into the 90s, you start going backwards; 'I Was JUST 92.'
Then a strange thing happens. If you make it over 100, you become a little kid again. 'I'm 100 and a half!' May you all make it to a healthy 100 and a half!!

HOW TO STAY YOUNG

1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay 'them.'
2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.
3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. 'An idle mind is the devil's workshop.' And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.
4. Enjoy the simple things.
5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.
6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.
7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.
8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.
10.Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

Too cool for school.....

Can I just say that we have such an awsome 4th grade teacher!!!

I know that they have been secretly working on a blogg but

what fun it has been.

Here it is and some fun pictures of the Drama Queen.

http://themostimportantclass.blogspot.com/

Anyone think that face looks slightly familiar, I know I have seen

that face before but where oh where..........

Landscaping

I have known "the man" for 13 years. In fact April 15th was the anniversary of when we officially got engaged and I think that it is funny that when the nation is scrambling to get taxes done, we were madly in love and planning our future together. 13 years seems so long and some days so not enough in the forever scheme of things.

We are in the midst of revamping the yard. Since we moved into our house in June of 2007 we have been focusing our time on the inside of the house, so last summer the yard became a badly neglected mess. Trimming it for the first time this year was quite the undertaking and I might have had better luck with a machete. But our focus is now on landscaping. We have built a deck, erected a shed, cordoned off the play area and now with dirt in the driveway we are anxiously making flower beds to finish the yard. Well in order to do that we needed to rent a sod-cutter, something that just the name brings fear into me. I envision a big sharp blade on a rickety machine that is able to cut not only sod but anything else that gets in the way. So "the man" embarks to Home Depot to secure a sod-cutter.

Now this could have been a situation where tempers could flare and angry words are spoken and another in a long list of projects that we have dubbed "divorce maker #428", but I am constantly amazed at how well we work together.

After giving the sod a healthy flat-top we finally figured out how to lower the blade, then the hard work of tugging, pulling, leaning, and trying not to run into anything valuable, we managed to cut the lawn. All this done without a harsh word, or a "you big dumby didn't the guy tell you how to work this." No, it was more like, "what do you think this lever does?" - I" don't know try it". Honestly I think that is how truly connected minds and souls work, little suggestions made that help two reach the same goal.

In the end we got it all done and the machine returned in record time. Not one angry word and great satisfaction that we are almost done with the landscaping. Now we just have a big sod mess and dirt all over in the driveway and every neighborhood kid over to play in the dirt pile. But come weeks end we will have a beautiful yard.

Mortality

Another fellow blogger ( http://wickeworld.blogspot.com/2008/04/reflection-on-mortality.html ) has commented on the subject of her own mortality and that she is facing 37.

This week my family has been thrust into the subject of dealing with a parents' mortality and frankly it is scaring me. I know that I am aging, the wrinkles and crows feet have set up permanent residence, but to think that there will come a day that my parents will no longer be there when I call is just too unsettling for me to deal with. What will I do as a child when my biggest supporters and confidants will no longer be there for me? Oh how I dread that day....

So I have determined to do something that will make that passing not so difficult, I am going to take the time to put my thoughts, thanks, gratitude and love to them on paper so that I will not have to talk to a cold headstone and think about or regret all the times that I had the opportunity to talk to them, in person, and I did not take it.

Conference Weekend

I think that we are the very unusual's of the neighborhood. As Conference was starting on Saturday we were deep into "projects". We have the kids out helping and the radio blaring and we are busy fixing and building. I told "the Man" that come October I want to be able to stay inside where it is warm and watch Conference not listen cause you never know till the Ensign comes out who the speaker was that gave such great counsel.

I also want to say Hooray for the plug for mothers' from the Brethren, we do a hard job and a little "Thank you" makes it all worth it. I do really good with the occasional, "I love you Mom!"

Catalogs

I love Spring.

The weeds are blooming and my mailbox is stuffed with a budding gardeners' wish.

Yes, it is catalog time for all those seed, rose, perennial and anything else for the yard catalogs to arrive and I love it. It reminds me of being a kid and the Sear's Christmas catalog has arrived and I finally get my turn to dream.

I have the same ritual, gathering all the catalogs', getting my warm blanket and a cup of steaming wassail and I begin to dream of constructing a garden of pure beauty and delight. I mark and tag and discover the latest rose, the hardiest geranium and in the end I am determined that this be the year of great accomplishments. But then I begin to add up my wants and needs and discover that those gardens you see in the magazine's happened over time and my meager budget only will allow some minor changes. Awh......

But I get to dream of what might be rather then what I really have, dead grass, broken sprinkler heads and blooming weeds to enjoy.

Happy Gardening everyone!

Some of the "Men" in my life....

I am so lucky to have such wonderful "Men" in my life.

I have a wonderful Dad, Husband and Son that are so much alike and yet so individual.

Today my dear Dad came and "caulked" for us. He is the Professional Caulker and "The Man" was more than happy to turn that dreary job over to him. "Sweet-boy" was so happy to have Grandpa here, when he got home from school, that he had to show Grandpa the deck that he has single handedly torn down with just a big shovel and gravity.

What wonderful "men" to have in my life.

Final Remodel update

Okay the inside is finally done!!
Carpet was placed on Friday and we have finally put everything back and surveyed the damage. Even after blue-taping my corners I have touch-up to do.
Carpet guys are never nice to painted walls.
So after much ado about something here it is......

"Sweet Boy" tearing out the carpet

The whole in the wall from the piano lid - long story, much frustration.

My beautiful piano in the hall after the wall trauma.

Living Room done - it looks so good.

"Sweet Boy's" room done.

The best part is that sign finally in the yard!!

If you want to see more, check out our MLS listing at

http://www.utahrealestate.com/776067

4th Grade

Do you ever wish that you could go back in time and repeat Elementary school?

I remember Miss Reeve, my 2nd grade teacher. She was so wonderful and had the biggest Ostrich Egg on her desk. She had been everywhere and knew everything and all us girls wanted to be just like her someday. Well "the Drama Queen" has such a teacher for 4th grade. She is so fun and I volunteer in there as much as I can cause I have so much fun.

Today the kids made origami letters to people in the class.

(this is "the drama Queens' letter to me - aww!)

I helped the kids fold them and during recess Miss H censored them. We found that a certain BOY in the class got more then enough letters and who wants to be left out. So she asked me to write letters to those that had not recieved them. What a blast that was! Thank goodness I have been in there and so I know the kids so I was able to write things about them that made it personal, not just "Hey dude, you rock!" Which I am not even sure is hip anymore. But it was fun and I am sure that some have figured out that it was me, but I don't care.

The point is that the kids are having such a great time learning, that there are days that I want to put on my backpack, grab my paper sack full of PBJ with the crust cut off and go learn again, all the things that I have forgotten; but mostly to just have a day, where I am not responsible for anything more than 4th grade - what a relief that would be.

Remodel update

Fireplaces, something that I have never had in a home before became my bane in life. What to do with my bland looking fireplaces. When we bought this house it was white on white. Not to say that I do not like white; white snow, white ice cream, white base boards but white house - NO! (those of you who know me, know that I live in a very colorful world). So the first order of business was to paint walls and bring some color into this blah house. But what to do with the fireplaces. Here is what I did.

I like the finished product and it really helps to bring the house into the current decade and not the 1970's brass & glass phase of which all our lighting fixtures and closet doors were made of. Needless to say those same doors gave the kids nightmares and were quickly disposed of the first week here.