The Circus...came to town...

The kids came home from school with free
tickets to the circus. Since it was Steve's vacation
this week we decided to go...

Here is the happy crew.

The juggler. He juggled knives and fire and other stuff.

This lady makes my head hurt. She is suspended by her hair. Talk about split ends.


And the big show at the end...the live boxing kangaroo. He beat up the clown.

Other than the fact that it was a money making endeavor. They would get the kids worked up into a frenzy about getting their mom and dad to buy this and that...then they would have a chance at a flunky dollar store prize...it was good. Curtis had one melt down because we wouldn't get him a coloring book, Maggie was mad because I ate her melting snowcone that she left with me to watch the circus up close with the other kids. She wanted to eat the snowcone 45 min later...yeah right. It was fun for the kids as they have never been to a circus before. They didn't really know what to expect. Low expectations are sometimes good to have. :)

Latest Curtisism

Upon being told to go to bed...for the millionth time...

"Mom, I have trouble falling asleep. I fall asleep, wake up, fall asleep, wake up, fall asleep, wake up, fall asleep. My life is way more complicated than yours, you know."

I have Label Depression.....

I remember being "30 something" and going to Walmart to buy jeans...probably sometime after the birth of a child... and having to endure this label...good grief...what woman in her 30's wants to wear a label that says "faded glory" I mean really is that suppose to make you want these jeans? What advertising genius came up with this? Why don't they just say...Wow you were hot in your twenties...but now you are 30 ish...and your glory has faded...sucks for you! Then...just recently...as I have changed from shopping at the prestigious Walmart to shopping at the goodwill...and growing out of my "faded glory" and having to endure moving up a size...or two...I had to endure this label...
Now I tell you. These were the only jeans that fit in the whole good will store. Nothing like a reminder that your weight is at a cross roads. Which way are you going to go? Up or down? Time to decide appartenly when you move up to this particular size...which I am NOT telling! It is just a little reminder to me of how fat I have become...How I have let myself go...how I need to make a change. I hate that little label. I am beginning to resent these $4.00 fat jeans! And the fact that I think they are getting too tight!

Now for the kicker...I had to buy bras today. I hate to buy bras! (Sorry to all my male readers) you can skip this part! What bra fit me the best? You guessed it...the one with this tag.

Nothing more to say...I am going to crawl into bed, eat some ice cream and never come out...

The Princess Ball

I love this first picture. Right after the hot rollers came out.

Here is Maggie. She is ready to go to the princess ball with Dad! She looked so pretty. Aunt Bobbie came to help with the hair. I am really glad she did. It looked so pretty. I hope they are having fun dancing the night away.

Easter Pics...well almost

Here are some pictures of Maggie in her Easter Dress. We didn't take any pics on Easter...running late ya know...

Today is picture day at school and for the first time...not gym also, so she decided to wear her Easter dress. So I took some...not really Easter, Easter pics.

I need parenting advice....

There is a new thing emerging at our house...it is called...A TEENAGER!...My first always being an over achiever has decided to start early at the age of 12 1/2. Lucky us!

He is absolutely driving me insane with procrastination! He has had a book report assigned for at least a month. He is an avid reader...so the book has been read about 2 days after the assignment was made. That is a plus. It is the "doing" the report part that he just puts off. I made little goals for him, asked him to please get this done before spring break...it is due the day he goes back. For the sake of the family...we wouldn't have to worry about it and we could have a pleasant vacation...but NOOOOOOO! Now I get to spend my days reminding him over and over...he insists it is done...well all except ... fill in the blank...

He finally showed me his half done work. I have been trying hard to clean up my language lately ( not doing so hot) but his report is crap! I can't even read half of it...misspelled words, no puncuation, and it is barely readable. I am beyond frustrated. I offered to help by proof reading and giving assistance...he sits there and poo poo's my suggestions and then sits there and wants me to do it for him...

I have tried the nice mom...helpful...willing to help him organize himself...make baby goals so he wouldn't be overwhelmed...get him the things he needs at the store. etc. Only to be completely ignored...

So today we resorted to the more direct approach. Get it done or else. That is when he showed me his "progress" like I said earlier...crap!

We have taken away the Wii, the computer and the tv. He goes behind our backs and sneaks them. We have tried threats, yelling, persuasion, understanding, more yelling...

Nothing seems to be getting through...what do I do next?

What do I do?

Let him fail?

Strip his room down to the mattress?

Sit there with him like he is a two year old and watch him form every letter?

Today is Fri. Tomorrow we have some things to do at church...then it is Easter Sunday. Mon the report is due.

I want to tear out my hair...

I know why some animals in the wild eat their young!

Any suggestions?

Practice for the Princess Ball

I am terrible at doing hair...I especially don't know what to do with long, girl hair. I am not one of those mom's that can french braid or even get two ponytails to be the same height. Now I have to come up with some fabulous hair style to go to the princess ball...Yikes...

I watched a few you tube videos about how to do hair...they make it look so easy... well here is the first attempt. I need bobby pins that you don't see as much. Not the sparkle green ones...What do you think? Yes she has a bit of makeup on...We were just playing dress up.

I told her I need to practice almost every day to get it right. She often freaks about her hair if it isn't how she wants it to look...now you know why I don't even attempt pony tails because it could be an hour of tears and torment...she is getting to be a better "sport."

She didn't want any curly thingys hanging down and she doesn't like poofy...We decided to put it up because she made herself a necklace with the bead kit she got for Christmas about 3 years ago.

By the way mom the dress fits perfectly...we tried it on her today.

Almost all cleaned up...

Well almost...I have one more pile to do something with. Clock needs fixing, tapes to goodwill and probably the rest will go to the basement for another day...

The rest looks much better. No more piles...well no more huge piles!

Yeah me!

Did you ever????

Did you ever decide you were finally going to tackle a project...get started and wish you never thought of it at all. This is the contents of the last 3 boxes that have been sitting in the garage for almost 2 years. Lots of books and papers and "stuff"... Now I am at the point of no return and I have no idea where to put this stuff. HELP!!!! Where is my mom when I NEED her???

I love Diapers and Divinity blog....

Go read today's post on the sight Diapers and Divinity. It is wonderful! Especially if you are an LDS mom...you will feel so much better about your "mothering mission" Her link is on my side bar. Go and visit!

Homemade Bread...Yummmm

This is the 2nd time I made this 4 loaf recipe.

The kids like it and so does Steve.

4 Loaf Bread Recipe

4 Cups lukewarm water

2/3 cups dry milk powder

1/3 cup sugar

4 teaspoons of dry yeast

1 Tablespoon salt

1/3 Cup veg. oil (or melted margarine)

12 Cups of flour

Mix water, dry milk, and sugar in large bowl. Sprinkle yeast on top of mixture. Allow yeast to dissolve some ( you will notice bubbles)

Add salt, marg or oil and flour

Mix with spoon until stiff. Kneed with hands for a full ten minutes.

Put dough in oiled bowl- flip so covered with oil

Cover in warm spot...rise for 1 -2 hours

Punch down dough

Divide into 4 lumps

Roll out and shape dough...

Put into 4 well greased loaf pans. Cover.

Rise until doubled in size.

Bake 350 degrees for 40 minutes.

After baking brush with butter on top if desired.

Try not to eat it all at once. :)

Dinner Time!!!

Can you tell everyone is hungry?...and they love Steve's Mac and Cheese...

Remember the movie the Birds???

I was looking out my kitchen window after hearing the very loud chirping going on outside. "Wow!" I said to Steve "Look at all those birds!" They just kept coming and coming...I didn't get a picture of the ones lurking in the trees. We were having flashbacks of the movie The Birds...where you couldn't go outside without getting pecked to death. "What will we do ...what will we do???" "How do we know we won't get pecked to death???" We did what any good horror movie character does...convinced someone to go out there and check it out...and just like any good horror film...the eager one...the cocky one...who thinks they are invincible goes first. Douglas volunteered...he is the fastest runner you know. We watched with horror to see what the flock would do to our boy... oh the horror!!!! He must really love us to sacrifice himself for the good of his family... what a good boy.

First he tried to sneak up on them...then he ran straight at them...without a hint of fear. Face the Fear Boy...Face the Fear!

Can you believe they just flew away? Gee whiz.

Our conquering hero sauntered back to the house.

"That was fun!" he declared.

Having fun in the orchard...

Sadly we lost about 6 or so trees to fire blight. Although I think the "boys" had fun taking them out! So much fun to destroy stuff!

Happy Birthday Steve

Oh...I miss my deck!!!! :(

Here is the way I think of Steve most often. Working on a project. Today is his birthday. Who knows what the next project will be? Whatever it is I know he will work hard on it and it will be great. Happy Birthday Steve!

Maggie

Looking too grown up!

I have a condition...

Ok...I don't really know if it is a real "condition" but I think it is... I call it REVERSE Anorexia. When a person with anorexia looks in the mirror they see themselves as fat, no matter how skinny they are...I on the other hand see myself like the picture above...not what actually is in the mirror! I have recently come to this conclusion after yesterday getting the Wii Fit. You put in your height and it weighs you and tells you NOT nice things. Then it changes your Mii. A Mii is the character that you have made for yourself, to look like yourself. I went from a thin hip looking momma to oooohhhhh lets not go there! Basically it changed me into a blob and then told me to make some goals to lose weight.

Now the Land of Denial is a place I normally like to live. I still do...but now I have seen myself in living color on my tv. Nice. I guess it is suppose to motivate me...I hope it has...because I don't think I can visit the Land of Denial any longer...

Ben Franklin

Here is Jacob's Ben Franklin puppet. We found the pattern to make it on the internet. I am amazed it came out so well. Jacob cut out all the patterns and Steve and I helped with assembly...Steve and I could totally do 6th grade again!!!

Jacob's report is done...yipee! Only 3 or so weeks of griping and 1 week of total melt downs every time we mentioned the report! He was not pleased that we made him redo everything two or three times. Hopefully we have learned a few lessons here. His Wii privilages are being reinstated today. Well... until the next report is due!!!!

Doug's Mobile

Doesn't this make you want to read the Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis. ???? He has his oral report today and has to present his mobile... This is one of my favorite books. The kids have come to love The Chronicals of Narnia...

hurry up...Hurry up...HURRY UP!!!

Perhaps I am rushing the children too much before church???Hmmm...

Derby Day!!!

Lining up the cars!

The cool cars!

Doug's First Place Ribbon!

It was so exciting. He had a great time and so did the other boys. They spent the rest of the night just racing down the track and having fun.

tou·ché

Well...it started like this...we had been to a few places this evening with people smoking outside each place of buisness...workers...

We all get in the car and Steve says, "I'm convinced that only people with low paying jobs smoke!!!"

Curtis says (without skipping a beat) "Why don't you smoke then Dad?"

tou·ché

Doug's 10!

Douglas is so much fun. He had a great birthday. He wanted an I dog...? I guess all it does is play your mp3 player out loud and dance...Oh well it was what he wanted! Douglas is often shy around a crowd but we enjoy him a lot when we are home and he can be himself. He has a very funny sense of humor. He enjoys being silly and making us laugh. He is always sweet and caring...very very rarely looses his temper. He always does what he is asked to do without much complaint.(except practice piano) He is just a really good boy. He often gets looked past because he can be quiet, and in this house...if you want attention you better be louder than the rest! We always try and find a quiet time to sit and talk about the day. Sometimes it is after "bed time" but a few minutes of one on one time is worth it to us both. I can't believe he is 10 years old already!

Guilty as Charged...

1. I have convinced my youngest that I know EVERYTHING!

2. I have been known to say, "You can't have candy for breakfast...you need to eat your sugar cereal first!"

3. Fend for Yourself...seems to be what we have for dinner when Daddy is working evenings.

4. My boys only sleep with a fitted sheets and comforters. Top Sheets are too much hassle!

5. Toys "dissapear" all the time around here!

6. Have convinced kids to use their money to take the family out to dinner!

7. Have built an entire addition on our house so I didn't have to go to the basement to do the laundry.

8. Bought the kids a real vacuum instead of the toy one that they wanted...so my floors would be cleaner.

9. When the kids were small we vacuumed enough cheerios each day to feed a third world country.

10. I make my kids use their towel more that once...GASP!

Sometimes a picture is worth more...

This is a picture I posted in both of our bathrooms...I have been soooo frustrated with saying..."Did you brush your teeth....Did you brush your teeth...Did you brush your teeth????" Each time sending them upstairs or to the bathroom to do it and each time they return and "forgot" Then the phrase....as stated below. So Therefore...I went for the more direct approach...Let's show them what happens when they don't brush. This is by far not the worst picture of teeth out there on the internet...but it was the only one that I could almost stomach at 8 am. I am saving the really gross pictures if this doesn't work! I hope I made my point...I didn't have much trouble getting them to brush last night or this morning... I love parenting with humor! P.S. Douglas was really really grossed out. It said it made him sick to look at it! I said "Good"

OOOOHHHHH Baby!

Steve's Dad found this picture of him in his wallet. The first one was when Steve was 16, in the second pic he was 21. Dad should clean out his wallet more often, seems as how Steve is going on 42. I just cracked up because Steve has always told me about his hair when he was that age but I had never seen proof...You know he must have carried a pick in his back pocket....

Too Much Computer Time????

After plugging the toliet...Curtis brought me this and said, "Mom, you need to reboot the toliet."

How to tell when dinner was a complete disaster?

Dinner tonight. Let's just say I had good intentions...And let's also come clean and tell you this isn't the only things the dog got...there was also plates and pans...

I was trying to make baked potatoes and cheese sauce and bacon for a topping. Like a cool meal at the potato bar...

Only my potatoes were kinda yucky...so I cut them up and peeled them so I could get the bad spots out...then I cooked them in the microwave...they were done but also a bit dehydrated....

NO Fear! I made cheese sauce that came out yummy...and the bacon...well it burned (only a little)

The lesson I learned...is that some children will eat virtually anything covered in cheese sauce and some won't... Oh and Lucy the dog does love my cooking!