tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77792974444433690692012-01-17T23:02:15.704-08:00CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.comBlogger1791100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-43665382580420568542012-01-16T15:22:00.000-08:002012-01-16T16:42:34.953-08:00

I have always liked Christmas Eve better than Christmas day. Even as a kid, although I was wildly excited to open presents, the sense of expectation was almost more fun. As a mom, I have generally made a big deal out of Christmas Eve but this year was a little different. It was really quiet for a change, but was really nice. It was just me and the kids and it was fun for a change to not be bound

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-42828935683172821012012-01-14T16:44:00.000-08:002012-01-14T17:33:34.180-08:00

I had great intentions of getting these pictures posted (hi kate, jeff and aunt jeane...) a little closer to Christmas. However, all my good intentions (which include cleaning the house, getting the laundry done or feeding the kids something other than chicken nuggets and fruit snacks) have all gone out the window to make way for the massive landslide of homework and being a student again after

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-85054100125899233922011-11-29T12:27:00.001-08:002011-11-29T20:57:46.366-08:00

Well, Merry Christmas! It only took me a week to get the three or four evergreen garland swags outside my house properly connected and lit up. This is still less time that it took my neighbor across the street to deck his halls in seven million lights. I and reasonably sure you can see his house from space. Every year, the outdoor lights (such as they are) make me swear I will not be doing them

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-42671084303073810192011-11-25T10:24:00.000-08:002011-11-25T22:57:23.895-08:00

We are so full! My sister and mom pull together a good feast. I asked the kids what we are particularly grateful for this Thanksgiving. There were many things, but these came to the top of the list.Junior: 'My family and that my friend Josh gets to spend the night.'Bubba: 'Dinosaur Chicken Nuggets'Sis: 'Meow'Me: That I was smart enough to stay in my comfy bed instead of getting pepper sprayed

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-24298755434656880962011-11-19T16:35:00.000-08:002011-11-23T13:37:57.395-08:00

I realized last night that next month will be a year since the final mediation to solidify the divorce decree. It has been...a really long year, and I haven't written much about it beyond kid stuff. Mostly because I just have not been able to find the words. I cannot adequately describe how devastating it feels to attend your own divorce mediation two days before Christmas and sign that paper

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-72371435249097354212011-11-06T21:12:00.000-08:002011-11-06T21:14:12.487-08:00

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-71003900169513220702011-11-03T20:53:00.000-07:002011-11-03T21:19:52.061-07:00

Several of my blogging friends have been asked to help promote a campaign for LDS Philanthropies and LDS Business College to raise money for single parents attending a 2 year program. As a single mom who is minutes away from jumping back into the school scene myself (although at a different establishment) I can personally appreciate anything that makes the process easier or less of a financial

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-12561255387480636722011-11-01T20:50:00.000-07:002011-11-02T20:37:43.392-07:00

October is my favorite month because it combines my favorite season and my favorite holiday. But it is always a busy one for us. We have our yearly traditions to check off the list, but these days they have to be scheduled on one of my weekends or days with the kids which adds to the hectic pace. But, I am proud to say that we managed it all and I think the kiddos had fun (and if they didn't,

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-45232959169239126292011-10-17T23:28:00.000-07:002011-10-17T23:31:14.305-07:00

A year or two ago, my kids and I were the recipients of a canned food drive from someone in our neighborhood. As a newly single mother coping with a tiny baby and two small boys, it was understandable that others might think that we had been left high and dry in other areas as well. Since we were fortunate enough to not be in that boat, I couldn't keep food that was meant for someone in actual

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-9874830978194930182011-10-15T22:02:00.000-07:002011-10-16T11:11:04.039-07:00

"All this time I spend slaving over a hot stove and I bet no one will eat it again...""I don't know why I even bother. It's not like anyone in this house notices what I do for them.""It is SO exhausting being the only person around here that appreciates culture and fine food and just how adorable and talented I am." "You know what? I QUIT! These peasants can eat pbj's and chicken nuggets forever.

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-23409069577310541692011-10-06T22:50:00.000-07:002011-10-06T23:42:49.621-07:00

Facebook has been wierd lately, so I liberated a few more of my old kid-centered status updates in case they all just disappear one day. Since I don't currently have these recorded anywhere else, I thought I would put them here for the blog book. It's the thousands of little things that make up my days and I know that these are things I will want to remember, even if it is just for a laugh. For

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-86578387390322352622011-09-22T21:43:00.000-07:002011-11-12T16:21:38.687-08:00

Those of you on facebook with me will already be familiar with the content of this post. About 6 months ago, I started posting some of the funny conversations Junior would have with me in the wee (wee wee) hours of the morning. He is my only early riser and for awhile did not like being the only one downstairs. So, he would climb in on my side of the bed and cuddle and chatter his awesome brand

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-54937059876136865882011-08-22T23:01:00.000-07:002011-08-22T23:21:19.630-07:00

Junior started second grade today (with definite opinions about what he would wear. The days when I could pick out his school clothes are long gone.) This is a wierd mom milestone for me because although I have snapshot memories of kindergarten and first grade, second grade is the first year that I have detailed memories of. It is strange to look at how little I still feel he his and remember

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-28226910534883748392011-08-09T22:00:00.000-07:002011-08-11T21:51:05.857-07:00

...all the little toe prints I keep having to scrub off of the doorjams all over the house...

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-55939056243786360152011-08-02T22:47:00.000-07:002011-08-03T21:55:54.111-07:00

I have a few recipe websites that I love and a few months ago, I came across these little guys (root beer float cupcakes.) I thought 'those would be fun for Bubba's birthday party.' After too many evenings with my mind wandering rather than focusing on work, the idea snowballed into 'how about I have a party with a soda pop theme where EVERYTHING is made with soda products.' So, that is exactly

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-33929194391786696412011-07-20T22:34:00.000-07:002011-07-23T22:15:30.156-07:00

Yesterday, as Britny and I had our usual late morning catch up chat, she mentioned that her three year old daughter had spent the morning copying her by pretending to be on the phone. I was just in the middle of laughing and saying that Sis does it all the time too, when the dame in question walked past me with her hand up to her ear (like a phone) casually chattering in her own special language.

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-54019875688627995682011-07-01T22:53:00.000-07:002011-07-01T23:18:21.102-07:00

Bubba,From the day you were arrived and your head of full, dark hair naturally waved into the cutest faux-hawk, we determined that you were just born cool. Now that you are 5, you still have cool naturally cornered and I think you always will.You have been a delightful child to mother. You are sweet and spunky and imaginative and one of my favorite things to do is listen to you play whatever

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-89669825833398714532011-06-22T23:13:00.000-07:002011-06-23T18:18:34.080-07:00

Because Sis's hair stands straight up the minute she steps on it and I never get tired of laughing at it. The boys invite her to join them in jumping just to see it do that.Because they are nicer to each other when they play on it than in any other activity.Because I get to listen to them laugh and play together through the open kitchen door every evening and it reminds me of how much I love my

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-42648984611404160112011-06-19T19:50:00.000-07:002011-06-21T22:47:49.789-07:00

We fixed a Father's Day dinner for my dad, complete with my once a year caramel pecan cheesecake, and he ended up having to stay home because the canyon between here and there was closed for an accident. So, Happy Father's Day to my dad, from whom I inherited my green eyes, sentimental streak, tendency to worry like a champ and complete inability to allow anyone to leave my house empty handed.

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-15692537281632120432011-06-16T10:25:00.000-07:002011-06-16T10:31:49.733-07:00

Sis keeps getting her hands on my makeup (and not the walmart stuff. She goes straight for the Lancome.) This is her version of putting eye shadow on. Pretty, right? She thinks so. She kept dancing and curtsying (is that a word?) after she put it on.

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-89174851585462584722011-06-13T21:13:00.000-07:002011-12-11T21:21:33.978-08:00

You've been waiting for the party post right? Those of you who know how impossible it is for me to throw a party that is non-themed and doesn't involve staying up until 2 in the morning frosting things have been on the edge of your seats just wondering what I tortured myself with this year, right?I'll admit it. I do love to plan parties and usually start gathering ideas long before I need them (

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-31612525795885349752011-06-12T21:36:00.000-07:002011-06-12T22:21:08.991-07:00

I am over a week late writing this, but better late than never (right? right?) Sis, You are two! My darling with the soft hair I can still remember the feel of under my cheek is no longer a baby. No longer measured in months, we have moved to years and you are far more ready for it than I am. It's hard to believe that you were barely walking this time last year. Parenting you has been a different

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-45349603993419611882011-05-16T21:01:00.000-07:002011-05-16T21:03:15.346-07:00

That is peanut butter on her face.Of course.

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-51385308033435571152011-04-25T22:09:00.000-07:002011-04-25T22:26:03.462-07:00

When you have children you figure out pretty quickly that in order to get pictures like this:And this:You will also be dealing with a lot of this:You also learn that you will put up with a lot of this:and this:and this:and this:just to get this:And by then you will be super grateful for it whether Sis is actually looking at the camera or not.I just love my babies :-) We had a great Easter!

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-14622780643064635872011-04-25T21:46:00.000-07:002011-04-25T22:06:33.757-07:00

Bubba woke up with the most awesome bed head I have ever seen. Happy Easter to me!Sis couldn't quite understand the egg hunting thing. Her brothers would try to help her out and would put eggs in her basket for her, but it only made her angry that they were messing with her basket and she pitched them back out.Junior was, is and hopefully always will be Junior forever and ever, amen.Bubba was

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-9209704220713622482011-04-24T21:45:00.000-07:002011-04-24T21:59:09.836-07:00

Junior brought this picture home from Church today. Yes, that is a toilet and a plunger. Below is what was drawn on the back of the paper.I'll admit that I might not be the best at making sure my children understand certain Gospel principles but I am almost certain that sharks leaping out of toilets and attacking people has never been part of any church story I've ever taught them.HAPPY EASTER!

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-74795392031894439662011-04-21T23:27:00.000-07:002011-04-21T23:33:46.615-07:00

...or bread......or jelly......or manners...That jar of peanut butter? It's hers now. But then, I suspect that was her plan all along.

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-48237137435297697952011-04-21T22:22:00.000-07:002011-04-24T00:10:03.973-07:00

I'm not a major car person. There are some I like more than others and a few that will never make my short list even if they were only $1. I do love this car though. It's a Honda Pilot and although it is not necessarily a head turner, I love how much easier it makes my life and I love what it represents to me. I bought it a year ago when it became clear that I might be pushing my luck regarding

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-28703102131511944392011-04-17T19:41:00.000-07:002011-04-18T12:38:38.709-07:00

I have read a few articles lately on the close associations between smell, memory and mood. I'm not a big perfume wearer, but I like for my house to smell good. This is why I am so very fond of my scentsy warmer. I received it as a gift from my in-laws a few years ago and although it has been dropped, tipped and had little fingers dipped into the wax, it has served me well. I have a stash of

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-47123469686540584382011-04-15T21:58:00.000-07:002011-04-15T22:28:25.077-07:00

I might be officially outing myself as a nerd, but I really love Facebook. Anything that makes the world a little smaller is good in my book. My first experience with it was a invitation from a friend I had made while living in the Netherlands and had kept up with a few times a year by email. So, I signed up and within days I had people who I never thought I would hear from again find me. Many of

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-8940302980655993472011-04-14T20:53:00.000-07:002011-04-14T21:34:44.713-07:00

When you have a post with ten pictures dedicated to something, you know it has to be pretty good. I have this couch that is more comfortable than your couch :-) Looks -wise, it's ok but not my favorite. We almost walked by it when we bought it but took a minute to sit down for a break from the strenuous job of couch hunting. I think we decided to get it before we even saw the price tag (which

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-83170024562312751882011-04-13T20:08:00.000-07:002011-04-13T20:52:33.857-07:00

I like to cook and bake. I do NOT like to mix things up by hand, but that's what I did all through college and for the first 6 years of my marriage. For at least 5 of those years, I did marketing treats for J's companies and once you have mixed your millionth batch of cookie dough at 3 in the morning, you really start wishing for a mixer. Any time I made bread, I would turn it over to J when the

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-545579316948256082011-04-12T19:39:00.000-07:002011-04-12T19:53:36.441-07:00

Maybe this is cheating because it isn't one specific thing, but for today I am picking the color pink. All pinks are nice, but it is particularly the pale, bubblegum, super girly pink that makes me smile. It's feminine and lovely and unfortunately not a hugely popular color if you are over the age of 5.To this end, it is really helpful to have a girl to dress and decorate for because there

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-23793216944660576092011-04-11T19:52:00.000-07:002011-04-11T20:23:34.707-07:00

I'm a reader and have been for as long as I can remember. I used to be certain that I was strictly a 'book with paper pages' kind of a person and turned my nose up slightly at those who needed modern gadgets to read. I felt a little sorry for anyone who didn't understand and appreciate the essence of how the weight of a book feels in your hands and the simple act of turning the pages. I have only

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-31383932272751779992011-04-11T13:27:00.000-07:002011-04-11T19:51:54.425-07:00

I have been trying to set a weekly goal for myself. Generally, it is a better payoff if the goal I set can accomplish something, like getting the closets cleaned out. But sometimes I have to be more realistic about where I am at that week (i.e. get out of my pajamas before noon or make sure I talk to at least one adult per day.) This week I am going to do something a little different and I am

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-78773705461442760252011-04-03T21:12:00.000-07:002011-04-03T23:09:42.150-07:00

When I was younger, I often heard grown-ups mention how much they loved listening to the speakers from General Conference and I privately thought they were kind of full of it. At the time, GC was only exciting because we got to stay in our jammies all day instead of getting dressed up for church. We were allowed to lounge and eat yummy food and draw or color as long as we were quiet and at least

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-48716336084125252572011-03-31T21:29:00.000-07:002011-03-31T21:57:24.074-07:00

Very few holidays go uncelebrated around here. Including (especially?) random ones like St. Patrick's Day. Every year, since Junior was old enough to care, Lucky the Leprechaun has left gold coins around the house for the kids to find and has turned all of our food green. Unfortunately, Junior is getting wise to "Lucky's" best tricks and may need to get a talk within the next year about not

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-87264823921155265492011-03-16T16:13:00.000-07:002011-03-16T16:19:54.502-07:00

I just found these pictures on my camera and they made me smile, so here you go!For the record, the third picture is my favorite Bubba smile. Is there anything that can make a little boy more joyful than being allowed to throw a snowball straight at mom's face? By the time the snowball hit, it was more in the knee region, so the camera was saved. Totally worth the risk for a shot of that smile

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-44213841848347139302011-02-28T21:12:00.000-08:002011-08-29T22:07:43.767-07:00

We hit a new milestone on Sunday afternoon. My boys became fed up with how "mean" I am and decided to run away to dad's (or as Bubba puts it "escape to dad's"). The tipping point was when I gave them a choice between riding their scooters outside in the sunshiny, inversion-free air or helping me sort out the toy room. TV watching was not on the list, which bummed them out considerably. There was

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-73368896832757312122011-02-24T20:02:00.000-08:002011-02-24T20:09:19.273-08:00

Junior crawled into bed with me at the crack of dawn the other morning and said "so...I've been thinking about taking us all on a cruise."*****************************************************************Overheard between the boys:Junior: "Mom can hear everything"Bubba: "yeah, even when we whisper really quietly"Junior: "even when we only think things too.Bubba: solemnly/glumly "seriously"

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-81060710669447915352011-02-24T19:18:00.000-08:002011-02-24T19:56:03.102-08:00

Junior woke up on his 7th birthday to his breakfast of request; pink donuts, bacon, and pink milk. I like it when he chooses breakfast...While Junior spent the day in school, Bubba and I blew up 40 balloons. Bubba supplied the air and I tied the knots. Then we stuck one to Sis' hair to see how long she would leave it there. After the first few minutes, she forgot it was there and spent the next

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-68460572029818723252011-02-17T23:26:00.001-08:002011-02-17T23:33:15.784-08:00

Junior wants to be a scientist at the moment. He spends a lot of time at the bathroom sink with his goggles on mixing potions with anything I will let him use (i.e. vinegar, salt and pepper, oil, bathroom soap, toothpaste, his own spit...)He found the goggles on his own in the toy box but was using his zip up fleece as his lab coat. I broke down and gave him an old white button up shirt of mine

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-5229512380340097762011-02-10T21:34:00.000-08:002011-02-10T21:48:50.089-08:00

I was really confused the other night when the ice machine on my fridge dispensed both ice and tater tots. (note: this will happen when a bag of tater tots falls into the ice tray and then gets covered with new ice and then torn open by the dispensing wheel.)I was wondering where those went.

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-24861396942412599282011-02-04T10:44:00.001-08:002011-02-05T18:44:56.720-08:00

Junior,Seven years ago today you made me a mommy and I knew for the first time what it really meant to be willing to take a bullet/jump in front of a bus/never get a full night of sleep again for someone. On the first night in the hospital, we sent you to the nursery so we could relax and sleep knowing you were in the care of professionals. You had some reflux and would randomly gag and choke in

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-23022918700127518242011-01-30T20:04:00.000-08:002011-01-30T20:20:19.208-08:00

I get that as his mother, I am always going to think that Junior is the world's most brilliant kid. But the 'book' he gifted to me tonight right before bed made me laugh out loud. It's been awhile since The Log and The Rock days, or since he has deviated from drawing anything besides Rabbids from his favorite video game.But mama pride aside, this is funny, right?

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-48767588281527543702011-01-27T11:50:00.001-08:002011-01-27T12:15:52.485-08:00

Sis delights us all the time!There is really something to being the only sister and also being the youngest. She gets away with things that her brothers would never let each other do and she has had me wrapped around her finger since minute 1. I am starting to recognize that our little sunshine is becoming aware of her Princess position in the house and is more than willing to milk it. The

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-13497775708473368832011-01-16T16:14:00.000-08:002011-01-16T16:16:27.174-08:00

It looks like toilet paper but it is actually a stretchy ACE bandage. Home made slingshot. Sis makes a willing target...

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-63022465548766774082011-01-06T21:02:00.001-08:002011-01-06T21:03:51.368-08:00

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-58658821071511325392011-01-03T22:10:00.000-08:002011-01-04T20:05:57.884-08:00

I have good reasons for my month long hiatus. The biggest reasons involved rampant, recurrent disease among all four of us and a heart and soul crushing divorce mediation that was scheduled for the 23rd (Christmas Eve Eve.) I DARE you to get yourself into the Christmas mood after one of those. But, we did get quite a bit done, even by my holiday tradition standards. 3/4 of it took place before

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-65485443319306129172010-11-29T23:44:00.000-08:002010-12-02T18:44:40.396-08:00

For Thanksgiving this year, we ruthlessly voted down Grandpa K's desire for a traditional meal and went to Chuck-A-Rama for turkey day. I don't think I would want to do this every year, especially since I love to cook so much, but it. was. awesome! No, it didn't taste like a home cooked meal, but a home cooked meal of Thanksgiving magnitude requires so many days of prep and effort that by the

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-12268561021080741682010-11-24T21:43:00.000-08:002010-11-24T22:02:02.952-08:00

My kids have the ability most kids do of watching the same thing over and over again and never, ever getting sick of it. Ask me how many times Junior watched Nemo before he was 2? I have no clue, all I know is that I can still quote the whole show. In honor of the new Harry Potter movie that came out last week, I treated my boys to this little video that always made me snicker. They loved it (not

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-65419270247130963122010-11-23T20:23:00.000-08:002010-11-23T22:40:51.710-08:00

My life is starting to feel a little like the movie Groundhog Day, except without the love interest and a lot more antidepressants. 7:30 a.m. - Wake up with 2 boys crowding my side of the bed. Bubba generally has twisted so that his toes are in my back and Junior generally wants something complicated done or answered (such as "what is light made of?") I allow myself the snooze button twice before

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-88299320770431137632010-11-15T14:42:00.001-08:002010-11-15T15:28:19.176-08:00

We were bummed not to make it for our annual hayride/pumpkin field/bbq expedition this year, but between D-land and only having every other weekend to work with, we ran out of days. So, we visited a local place and the boys made me promise on the Great Pumpkin that we would not skip the usual shindig next year. Grandma and Grandpa K, Aunt Mak & Co. and Uncle Brad came over to eat chicken curry,

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-88008086658704340552010-11-09T12:46:00.000-08:002010-11-10T12:08:46.447-08:00

Junior has been waking me up in the pre-light/dawn hours to do things like look up pictures of germs on the internet and assemble the cardboard frame for his new basketball team picture. (I consider it an example of my amazing skill that I can do it lying down, with no contacts in, in the dark, while half asleep...) He has been walking home in the freezing cold and sleet with his coat wedged into

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-4286674135624839532010-11-04T19:31:00.000-07:002010-11-05T16:23:56.412-07:00

I am surfacing from my pilfered candy sugar coma (specifically mini butterfingers) to update on everything we have done since our trip to Disneyland. I have to say that my second trip driving alone with the kids was quite a bit easier than the first time around last March. This was partly because Sis can eat candy, enjoy DVD's and no longer requires me to stop and mix up formula. Bathroom breaks

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-62278694551365258792010-10-25T20:06:00.001-07:002010-10-25T21:33:19.243-07:00

The 'baby' (who happens to be 97% for height) can now reach the water and ice buttons on the fridge. If she can find a cup, she heads straight there. However, she is also not averse to just pressing it and letting the icy cold water run down her arm and soak the front of her shirt. She learned not to press the button on the ice pretty quickly.The best part? There is NO lock on either feature.

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-9183111632395142492010-10-21T21:12:00.000-07:002010-10-21T23:26:31.498-07:00

I know I owe a Disneyland post, but I have had people ask where my blog posts are lately and I am in a rare mood to write tonight. To be honest, the stuff I do write these days has been going into a file with J's name on it, only to be read someday in the hopes that I can see how far I have come. Although, that seems to be half the problem. A year later, I don't feel like I have come far enough.

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-74932895926684759822010-10-17T22:49:00.000-07:002010-10-17T22:51:13.140-07:00

Just got home from the Happiest Place on Earth! Report coming up ASAP :-)

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-19918512246944313722010-09-27T20:18:00.000-07:002010-09-27T21:09:33.540-07:00

I am not a hot weather person at all. I loathe it and generally stay inside in front of the A/C all summer long. I would have made a miserable pioneer. However, as soon as that fall tang hits the air, I want to be outside enjoying it. There are several hikes I have been planning on taking the boys on as soon as the cool weather hit and last friday, we hit the first of the three: Timpanogos Cave.

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-50424358487080386102010-09-14T21:08:00.000-07:002010-09-15T07:38:46.782-07:00

Bubba started preschool last week in what ended up being kind of a last minute decision. I was so tempted to keep him home with me for just this last year before he starts Kindergarten next year. In the end, my more practical mommy side and the constant begging on Bubba's part to go to school like Junior ultimately prevailed. The city teamed up with fate and offered a preschool opportunity in

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-35040544765974907772010-09-11T22:45:00.001-07:002010-09-13T19:37:01.982-07:00

On Labor Day, I enlisted my own personal child labor team to help me make jam. This isn't as much of a rip off as it sounds since the job involved both knives (butter knives, but still knives...) and smashing bowls of berries. Junior even stirred the pot while it cooked.Meanwhile, the mouse ran away with the cheese...The fruits of our Labor Day labors turned out delicious!

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-57061301880033777582010-09-05T19:38:00.000-07:002010-10-21T22:43:26.396-07:00

Made it. The year that felt like a million. A year ago today, I woke up horrified, terrified, hopeless and so much more devastated than I ever dreamed possible after crying for most of the night. I was truly a single mom for the first time."Please don't do this to me. To us." I said (heart blatantly on my sleeve and pride firmly in my pocket.) "I know what I should do, but I don't have the desire

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-20101024143652435432010-09-02T21:16:00.000-07:002010-09-03T23:09:17.742-07:00

Bubba starts preschool next week. It's all the way across town and as a result, he gets to have a bus pick him up (Junior is really jealous.) Today we went to meet his teacher and see his classroom. "Dad will be there too!" I told him. He turned an eager face to me and asked "Does that mean Dad is going to come back to live in our house?""No babe, remember Dad has his own house now?""Yeah" he

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-37614295288289315032010-08-30T20:16:00.000-07:002010-09-02T09:56:51.614-07:00

After Sis's recent tumble down the stairs, I decided to get down to business on teaching her to turn around and scoot down on her belly. I am sure her last fall down the stairs isn't behind her, but she is kind of a champ now. She has also learned how to push aside the gate leading up the stairs (I can't get it attached to the wall, so I have been propping and securing it with a chair. It worked

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-81943722652271979062010-08-25T20:09:00.000-07:002010-08-25T22:29:46.552-07:00

The tradition in my family while I was growing up was that we could pick whatever we wanted to eat on the first day of school. With seven kids in the family, I recall choosing more uncommon luxuries like pop-tarts, steak and vanilla yogurt (my order for several years in a row). In fact, I think most of us would set off for the first morning of school with a big steak meal in our bellies. I was

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-87915496226554077132010-08-23T22:55:00.000-07:002010-10-21T22:48:32.844-07:00

Junior starts first grade in the morning and I think I am having a delayed reaction about him starting school. I was fully expecting to stress about him being ushered into the world of standardized learning and playground politics when he started Kindergarten. However, I found out about the mistress (hereafter known as The DLS. Not her initials, just a private joke. What we used to call her is

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-44655786954939729842010-08-15T21:36:00.000-07:002011-06-15T22:16:53.375-07:00

Sis fell down the stairs on Friday night. Not just two or three, but almost the whole flight of stairs. Those of you with children know how it goes.Yyou think they are right there (I was running a bath for her) and before you know it, you hear a thump (thump, thump, thump) and a wail. Or (as in this case) no wail, which was even scarier. She was sprawled at the bottom of the stairs with a

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-90161486923918697232010-08-11T21:26:00.001-07:002010-08-19T22:05:58.520-07:00

"He is close" we said as fledgling parents when thirteen month old Junior would lurch unsteadily and fall uncomplainingly. It seemed like we held our breath for several weeks waiting for our first born to take that major milestone of a first step. It happened on a day when J's brother was over getting laundry done and hanging out. J had a sandwich in his hand and Junior spied it from his spot at

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-28495409629316481002010-08-10T21:13:00.001-07:002010-08-16T22:37:11.909-07:00

Doesn't the new place look like a dollhouse? Don't even get me started on the front porch. It's like a room. The boys have spent 3/4 of every day out there hanging with the neighborhood kids. We are settling in, but I am being far more lazy about getting unpacked than I was about getting packed. Apparently I need a deadline. But I am ready to not be surrounded by chaos, so I buckled down and got

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-14322308090010396772010-08-08T20:53:00.000-07:002010-08-19T22:21:43.204-07:00

Glory Hallelujah! The move is over and I am more bone achingly tired than I have ever been in my life. I have gone through three pregnancies, so I feel like I have a reasonable point of reference when I say that. I have also gone through plenty of moves (6 during my 8 year marriage) and I know I never want to go through one like this again. Although I have always been the packer behind all of our

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-36307482673027500252010-07-26T21:47:00.000-07:002010-07-26T23:15:37.310-07:00

This week, I am finally making the move from point A to point B (literally).Between the emotional nose-dive packing up this home has me in and the post-dads weekend behavior boot camp the boys are going through (flinging full glasses of milk at each other in anger while hollering 'dad told us we needed to be good for mom' being the least of it so far) I may or may not make it to the end of the

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-23775851279524731002010-07-22T12:34:00.001-07:002010-08-19T22:24:57.163-07:00

After three respective summers of being invited and never having our schedules work out right, etc. we finally made it out on the lake with the Bradshaws! We all had so much fun that I am now adding a boat to my future dream life. Seven kids, three adults and the boys have talked about it so much that I have shamelessly asked them to invite us again sometime soon. Speeding across the lake. I

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-55817585340908357582010-07-21T12:16:00.001-07:002010-08-19T22:26:38.194-07:00

Britny and Jared live on a nice, quiet cul-de-sac and we spent an evening grilling, eating snow cones and terrorizing my 2/3 of my children with fireworks. Bubba is on the run after a smoke bomb landed right under his feet. After this, he would not uncover his ears or let his feet touch the ground. Hope he grows out of this by the time he is a teenager. Could be embarrassing.This made us a little

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-11721995128474702802010-07-20T19:57:00.000-07:002010-08-19T22:28:13.300-07:00

SUMMER BIRTHDAY PARTIESThere are so many summer birthdays on my side of the family these days that we have started holding one big family party every summer while the California crowd is in town. This summer's party was held at my place and the kids requested a Hawaiian party. We got a killer deal on a bounce house that came at 9:00 a.m. and stayed until 9 p.m. Given how many kids are generally

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-36608557531545804442010-07-20T19:39:00.001-07:002010-08-19T22:30:02.397-07:00

Bubba Turns 4!!Bubba chose Classic skating as his birthday venue again this year and wanted Iron Man as the theme. He is so much less complicated than his brother, who has been asking for a 'plunger birthday with a plunger cake' for 2 months now. I am really hoping he is onto something else by February (because, gross!!) Because Bubba's actual birthday fell on one of J's visitation days, we had

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-50857856223018946332010-07-20T19:18:00.000-07:002010-08-16T22:48:57.696-07:00

I happened to glance at the calendar today to note the date (welcome to the world baby Eli and Baby-girl-whose-name-I-haven't-heard-yet Thornal!)Despite being a reasonably organized adult, it hit me that July is almost over which means that a) I am moving in ten days and have yet to really do much about packing my house (denial, I think...) and b) I have a folder full of summer activity pictures

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-64357720669866873442010-07-18T00:21:00.000-07:002010-08-19T22:32:54.666-07:00

I have a major crush on my bed. I adore it and find myself thinking about it and wanting to spend more and more time with it. I pine for it when I am away from it because I have become such a bed/linen snob that no other bed/linen can measure up. Our bed evolved back around the time I was pregnant with Junior when we made the dual discoveries of memory foam and high thread count sheets and

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-74941736638591638302010-07-16T18:38:00.000-07:002010-08-19T22:33:46.862-07:00

This is why I would be canceling a photo shoot for the kids this week had I actually gotten around to making the appointment like I planned. And this is what happens when when you suck your lips into a Danimals Drinkable Yogurt bottle for too long. Now you know.

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-16458744532459362042010-07-15T16:36:00.000-07:002010-07-16T14:28:10.946-07:00

Today Britny watched my crew while I attended my weekly tear-soaked therapy session. I came out to find the following text from her:"Our boys have spent the last hour building a trap so that their moms will trip and land on their faces in the closet and then they will lock us in...do you feel the love?"I laughed out loud and then reflected on all the late nights, the negotiating, the wrestling

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-29210348422052360642010-07-13T12:39:00.000-07:002010-07-13T13:00:40.680-07:00

Remember my little climber? This is what I found when I took 30 seconds to run out to the car for a load of groceries yesterday. She finished off the rest of my can of diet coke first and then moved on to the root beer. Smart girl!

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-82807068307804234232010-07-11T22:58:00.000-07:002010-08-16T22:52:50.135-07:00

When Sis manages to climb up on the step stool in the kitchen (every single frickin' time I forget to turn it around the other way), she instantly panics and wails in terror at being so high up on her own. My motherly duty was very clear in this instance. Laugh and then grab the camera... Someday she will laugh about this and probably tell me that it was so great of me to record it for her.Right

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-4565295246649781572010-07-04T19:46:00.000-07:002011-11-25T23:08:46.557-08:00

Wednesday morning, I got a knock on the door while I was running around getting things together for Bubba's birthday party at Classic Skating. A local teenager, who I had never seen before, wanted to mow my lawn to "pay for summer tuition." Now, he did not seem like the college type, but I felt bad for being instantly judgmental. I actually had the $20 in cash for a change and the lawn really

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-2259573477702140442010-06-30T21:56:00.000-07:002011-02-09T15:39:35.166-08:00

July 1, 2006 - 3 hours old About this time, 4 years ago, we were at the hospital awaiting the arrival of our second baby boy (very comfortably, I might add...I was in false labor two weeks early and had a shot of morphine in preparation for being sent home before a really nice nurse decided to let us "stay"). Morphine administered and epidural in place, I was having trouble with the most basic

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-54630955536880262282010-06-29T18:48:00.000-07:002010-08-19T22:40:10.871-07:00

Those who remember Raffi will be happy to know he has resurfaced from a recent hiatus under Junior's bed to be his constant companion again. Or, his BFF, as this sign he made on Sunday testifies. Where did my 6 year old learn the term 'BFF?' (best friends forever, for you old timers...) He didn't learn it from his mother. He has probably been watching iCarly behind my back.Meanwhile, fearless

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-38069515708422512642010-06-23T21:39:00.000-07:002011-06-12T01:11:31.895-07:00

Britny and I spent a few hours last night packing everything from my kitchen into boxes in preparation for the new floor and cupboards being installed over the next few days (yay!!). The kids and I are moving soon, but unfortunately, moving day is juuuust far enough away that leaving the kitchen packed up until then is unreasonable (boo!). So, we packed a few permanent boxes (decor, cookbooks,

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-24888208941456847362010-06-17T11:32:00.000-07:002010-08-19T22:44:16.596-07:00

My dad has been asking for videos of the kids and although I have six months worth on my flip video camera, I just barely figured out how to get them off and onto the computer. So, I am sharing two of my favorites. Lately when I have done my running while Sis is down for a nap, the boys often join me in the basement and swing on the swing down there or play with the lego set. The last few times,

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-22061019357922465362010-06-12T20:36:00.001-07:002011-06-12T01:15:46.253-07:00

The kids partied hard today! First thing this morning was a primary party and then a cousin birthday party immediately after. They made pirate headbands and have not taken them off. At one point, while in the car, Bubba began to cry some serious crocodile tears which I ignored as long as I could. When I finally lost my patience enough to inquire the reason for the fit, it turned out he was upset

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-75306151772404333292010-06-08T16:27:00.000-07:002010-08-19T22:47:42.096-07:00

I found 'Log" and "The Rock" on Sis's feet a few weeks ago, courtesy of Junior, who gets an enormous kick out of the artistic freedome he gets from a roll of tape. Sis didn't even notice... Speaking of not noticing, Junior also experiments with putting toys down the back of her pants just to see how big they can get before they bug her (then he forgets about them and so does she.) It's awesome!

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-42001559071493674502010-06-07T21:31:00.001-07:002010-08-19T22:51:01.347-07:00

On top of being a sentimental junkie, I have a crazy head for details, particularly dates. I can tell you that I flew to Europe on the 7th of January, 1999 and flew home on the 20th of May. I can tell you that J and I unofficially decided we wanted to be married on April 10 and that he got down on one knee on the 20th of July. I know that Junior was admitted to the hospital with a broken arm as a

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-5794904042670679882010-06-07T12:50:00.000-07:002010-08-19T22:51:57.913-07:00

Since it isn't everyday (or every year) that your only daughter turns 1, I went all out for Sis's birthday. Planning it was both a fun and a nice distraction from less awesome year marks :-) I decided to have a strawberry theme and everything from the menu to the bows in her hair matched. My good friend Amy who runs the business Flowerz In Her Hair did Sis's blessing hair band and also created

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-60936964245716895412010-06-01T21:56:00.000-07:002010-08-16T23:02:35.282-07:00

A year ago today, we were sitting in Star Trek (me very uncomfortably) as we squeezed in one last movie date before we would check in at the hospital the next morning to become parents of three. So began what feels like both the longest and shortest year of my life. I can't believe my baby girl is one already! She is a joy. The boys and I call her 'sunshine' or 'sunny' because she is such a

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-17148730615572506782010-05-26T21:54:00.000-07:002010-05-26T23:15:26.705-07:00

This blog has really evolved since I started it last October. Originally, it was a continuation of our family blog and also served the dual purpose of therapeutic journaling and offering proof to family members that I was both getting out of bed and processing my grief instead of drinking it away :-) I never anticipated or expected than anyone beyond the few friends and family that kept up with

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-11998051427619269362010-05-16T19:46:00.001-07:002010-08-16T23:03:43.116-07:00

I was thinking about movies tonight as I cleaned the kitchen (most specifically how I have only been able to bring myself to go to 2 since last summer) and my mind strayed to the plot of the movie 'You've Got Mail.' I remember seeing this movie and enjoying it at the time, but it has long since occurred to me that I view the world very differently than I did a year ago.In case you were living

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-24962997993016726492010-05-10T21:44:00.000-07:002010-08-19T22:56:05.201-07:00

J took the kids shopping for my birthday and let them pick out the presents themselves. Junior got me a Pear-Vanilla candle ("because you love pear, mom") and Bubba was very excited to present me with "steak" (beef jerky).Today I turned 32, and I have been dreading it. I didn't stress out when I made the big switch from my 20's to my 30's. In fact, I remember welcoming it because I was so very

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-26198627574517292382010-04-26T13:01:00.000-07:002010-08-19T22:57:09.521-07:00

As I was doing yard work today, I noticed that the Bubba and Junior (who were running around with a toy sword and a plunger, respectively) were playing a game that required a lot of running, hiding and silly voices.Me: Are you guys having fun out here?Junior: yeahMe: What are you playing?Junior: We're saving the queen. We're pretending that someone took her and she is making us do things and we

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-37305988800827926852010-04-22T17:24:00.000-07:002010-08-19T22:57:36.072-07:00

Junior did some work around the house and earned a few dollars. Last night was the big trip to the dollar store to get rid of the cash burning a hole in his pocket. The evening's main purchase?A plunger.As in, toilet plunger. I have banned him from touching any of the regular household plungers for obvious reasons, but his little heart has been pining after one. We wrote his name on it, he took

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-2001072849902125382010-04-18T22:02:00.000-07:002010-08-19T22:58:38.499-07:00

Everyone in a crisis needs a good friend. I have had many willing ears and shoulders, but I have found that I am only comfortable expressing myself to a few people. One of those people is my friend Britny. If anyone reading this is ever unfortunate to go through my situation, I sincerely hope you are fortunate enough to have a Britny as well. We realized at her 30th birthday party the other

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-37688542233962831172010-04-17T22:10:00.000-07:002010-08-19T23:01:55.161-07:00

By Wednesday, we were saying good-bye to the Binghams and their picturesque 100 year old house that I have fallen in love with. I love the Bingham home. I have lived with them for six summers of my life (different homes) and the smell and feel of it is always familiar and welcoming to me no matter where they are. The Binghams themselves couldn't be more awesome and supportive. They are a great

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-66018087980302112772010-04-16T20:50:00.001-07:002010-08-19T23:03:14.048-07:00

We were glad to see some sun before we had to leave Santa Cruz. We never did make it to the boardwalk but we got to get sandy at the beach. Bubba was genuinely terrified of the little sand flies hopping around and wouldn't get down. Having a three and a half year old hanging around your neck in terror sort of makes looking at tidepools harder, but I happen to be amazingly skilled! Junior

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779297444443369069.post-40727105132883913332010-04-15T21:58:00.000-07:002010-08-19T23:05:29.129-07:00

Day 2 in Santa Cruz dawned a lot less cloudy but still a little chilly. We ate our breakfast on the deck as we watched pelicans soar by at eye level. Then we threw the rest of the cookies from the night before down to the beach below for the seagulls until they got wise to where the cookies were coming from and attempted to intercept them at the source. We left Santa Cruz for the day and

CKWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18273235385644099954noreply@blogger.com5