Sam's Birthday Scavengeranza

For Sam's 17th birthday he invited a bunch of friends to meet at our house for a scavenger hunt.

They took photos of the things on their list and texted them to me and

tried to be the first group back to the house to win. It was SO much fun.

Update on the Messy Desk Situation

Just to give everyone an update on the interaction between me and Matt's teacher (who I really like BTW), I sent her this email-
"I'm sorry about yesterday. I spoke with Matt about the issue. I'm sending you a photo to let you know that there's a line for the complaint department. :)
Paige"

I guess it runs in the family. . . .

I got an email last night from Matt's teacher. Apparently the rules for tidying up around the desks before leaving school were not observed by my son. She was kind enough to include "proof" in the form of a photo. You gotta love technology.

My new favorite book

I have just discovered that I DO like reading. Turns out it has a lot to do with WHAT your read and HOW you read it. Like I've decided that audio books listened to whilst my hands are busy knitting and crocheting TOTALLY counts as reading. AND reading books on my Kindle iPhone app (free btw) so that my husband can sleep counts. I have also decided that it isn't cheating if you read more than one book at a time. I used to think you must be faithful to one book while you read it or you are some kind of book-cheater-on-er. I think the latin term would be something like "libroadulterer".

So in my effort to read daily (a new unofficial resolution, added to the list because it is happening already and hey, why not give myself credit for it?) I am listening to the scriptures daily AND I am reading Percy Jackson & the Olympians The Lightning Thief so I can discuss that with Matt. I have the paperback and the Kindle edition (I can't wait for the iPad, reading on that awesome gizmo will be so satisfying) And my new favorite book purchased on the Kindle. . . . (drumroll, please)

Knitting Rules!: The Yarn Harlot's Bag of Knitting Tricks by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

I LOVE this book. I thought I was buying a knitting book with patterns I could have with me at all times (because of the kindle thing, you know) but the bonus turns out that this lady is hilarious. I apologize to my husband and friends for calling you and reading funny stuff from the book to you. As non-knitters I know you don't get it so I'm sorry for being a "pusher" of the knit. I wish I could find an excerpt to post here because, people, I'm not kidding, this lady knows the funny.

I was reading the section about what to do when someone discovers your scary amount of yarn (aka: "stash"- (knitter lingo) )when at that very moment, my sweet husband opened what he thought was his underwear drawer only to find that it had been converted to my yarn drawer. He stood there in his towel dumbfounded. I looked up from my book to see him staring at a drawerful of yummy sugar & cream cotton yarn. He turned and looked at me like (what the freak?). I smiled and redirected him to the new location of his undergarments and all was well. I'm such a lucky girl.

Merry Christmas

I've been reflecting on the past year as 2009 draws to an end. While it started out bumpy with Jeff's unemployment and my health issues: I can't help but feel so blessed by the challenges I've faced. This year was certainly a growth year for our family. Here is my list of things accomplished:
1. Got bunnies- this was good for me as a carthartic way to heal from losing my aunt and also great for the kids because I finally let them have a pet (or two)
2. I spent the summer training for a half marathon
3. I actually set a goal and completed it when I ran that half marathon
4. I learned how to crochet (still working on the knitting)
5. I got my husband through a surgery which was mentally challenging for him and consequently me.
Well now that I list it out it doesn't seem like a long list but I guess that shouldn't matter. I'm so happy and thankful for all the opportunity for growth that I was afforded this year. I am tapping this out on my phone but maybe I can figure out a way to upload some photos.
Here's to a wonderful Christmas as we remember the Savior and I look forward to a happy and prosperous 2010!

Quotes from the four year old

John quoted at church
When we (Kate & I) were holding a baby of a friend. As she passed her cute little boy over the pew
John's comments were:
"oh no not again"
"please don't bring it home"
"okay, give it back to the family"
I think I saw the bishop snort and suppress a laugh because John doesn't get that you should be quiet at church.

Bunny Baby Momma

I am just loving my bunnies. I mean really. Who would have thought that rabbits could be such rewarding pets? Yesterday the kids had the bunnies out in the living room and when I sat down on the couch, both bunnies came running over to sit on my lap. They SO love me. I love to nuzzle my face into their fluffy fur and sniff. They smell sweet, kind of like those scented pencils I used to buy with my pennies when I was a little girl. One thing I had not really thought about much was that I was going to have to be serious about grooming. That is an intense job. It can take a really long time especially if the buns are not into it. I'm also a chicken when it comes to cutting all the hair off. I nicked one of the bunnies with my sharp scissors the last time and then I couldn't bring myself to cut any more hair. Well, what I am finding out is that you can't just decided not to cut. First of all the hair falls out and because they groom themselves they have a higher risk of getting hairballs. Since rabbits can't throw up, they can't just "cough" up a hairball like a cat can (which, gross?). So anyway, I've been google-ing *is that a verb?* videos on grooming my angoras. You wouldn't believe what is out there! Check this out-

I don't have a "bunny spit" but I can see how it would be useful. The idea is you want the fur to get as long as possible before you cut it so you only shear them once every three months. Well, you know me, I don't have the patience or attention span to wait. Plus I get all freaked out that they will get a hairball or "wool block". The idea is you want them to look like this-

However, my sweeties look like this-

So you see how they need to do some hair growing? I'm just so chicken. I am absolutely terrified that my girls will be dead of heat exhaustion since angora wool is 7 times warmer than lambs wool. When knitting with angora you are supposed to mix the fiber with different types of fiber because humans can't handle pure angora, it's too hot. So anyway, in order to get more into the spirit of growing and cutting, I'm wondering about whether or not I should start spinning the wool into yarn. Is that weird? I don't think I can handle the competitive aspect of showing the girls but I do think spinning yarn is a dying art. I would love to have a spinning wheel in the corner of the room so that I can spin at night while watching t.v. with the fam. It just occurred to me that it could really change the meaning of the phrase "I'm heading to spinning class" Ha!
I think it's a cool hobby. Am I biting off more than I can chew?

BYU Ed Week

I'm staying with my friend, Jen, in Layton until we leave tonight for BYU. It has been 9 years since I have gone to ed week and boy has life changed since then. I'm really hoping to be inspired as to how to be a better mother, wife and homemaker. Because, let's face it, I've been slacking. If you don't know what BYU ed week is let me give you a brief explanation.

"Campus Education Week, begun in 1922, is a program unique to adult continuing education in the United States. For one week each August the program utilizes the campus of Brigham Young University (Provo, Utah) to present approximately 1,000 classes on education, religion, marriage, family relations, health, history, genealogy, science, youth interests, and many other areas. The program is designed primarily for adults, although anyone age 14 and over may attend. It is believed to be the largest continuing education program of its type."

I'll let you know what I learn! Woohoo!

The End of the School Year

We made it back from Hawaii and had to hit the ground running. I never did make it to the beach but it didn't matter. We had such a great time with family that I feel like all of our time was well spent. I cried as we backed out of my parents' driveway and headed down H-3 to the airport. The flight home took us about 12 hours and John was running a fever the whole time. I didn't get much sleep at all so I crashed when we got home.The older kids were not very forgiving about us being tired. As far as they were concerned we had gotten all the vacation we needed and were expected to be ready for all the activities that come with the end of the school year.

Both Kate and Matt are finishing up softball and baseball season. Matt hit a grand slam while we were gone. (Karma?)

Sam had his last concert of the year the night we got home and he was super disappointed when we didn't show up. (We had been to the last 2 concerts the week before we left) I am sure I will have to pay him back for that one. I may just write a check for his therapy.

My father-in-law just celebrated a BIG birthday this week so my sisters-in-law all flew out to surprise him and made an amazing scrapbook for him with letters from all of his children, the in-laws and the grandchildren. It was beautiful and I give many props to Diana for heading it up and Natalie for hounding me for pictures the night I got back from Hawaii.

I miss my sister a bunch and I was glad to get a phone call from her saying that she felt the same. I'm glad to be home but re-entry is always a pain. Now I must slap on a smile and get through the end of the school year. Then I am going to have to come up with a new routine for summer. Whoopie!

Hawaii

I am so lucky to have a most generous sister who flew my husband and myself out to Hawaii to see my family. Becky and I  successfully shocked our mother for her late mother's day present and our father for his 60th birthday.  Jeff and I  brought John with us and he is having a great time bonding with cousins Gabe and Evangeline.  

Today I tortured my sister by making her help me scan in 170 family photos from old albums that my mom has been saving in storage.  It was awesome for me.  I finally got a bunch of family history stuff together  so I am thrilled. 

 Tomorrow I am hoping to go golfing or to the beach.  I would hate to come all the way to Hawaii and not go to the beach!

Happy birthday, Daddy!  I love you!

Happy Mother's day, Mom, I love you too!

BiPolar May

I am finding myself super happy and loving the spring. I am getting lots of sun and fresh air, I am cleaning out my bunny cages more often than I clean my bathrooms. I feel so fantastic and then I crash. I feel the loom of summer coming. That means bored, bickering kids in my peaceful house. That means cleaning the mess of every meal all day long. If there is peace, I am going to have to plan for it and then seek after it. Am I the only one? Does any other mother feel excited and afraid of summer at the same time?

Happy Spring!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Lola's Poem

Just Got Back!

I was lucky enough to get to go to Pampers again, but this time I was able to meet a super cool group of bloggers. I was not able to get cards and urls from everybody but I did get a chance to chat it up (and you know how I like to do that).

I felt lucky that I had already seen most of what Pampers was showing us so that I could really invest in finding out about the other bloggers. I am not much of a reader and I am even worse at writing (which is why this is my super secret blog). Because of these traits, I felt it a bit of a challenge to find out about these folks while feigning that I already knew them. Well, one super cool lady I had already virtually met and that was Jennifer James from the Mom Blogger's Club. I felt like I met an old penpal or something.

Pampers treated us really well and what I thought was one of the nicest things they did was invite all 13 of us to Jodi Allen's home (Jodi Allen is the Sr. V.P. of Pampers North America) It felt extremely intimate for what you would assume was a corporate type event. (She even let me use her bedroom bathroom when the downstairs one was occupied)

We learned a ton about "sustainability" (this is the buzz word for "impact on the environment") Maybe you already knew that, I'll admit that I didn't. I was really amazed to learn that they have scientists examining the best ways to lower the environmental impact of Pampers. You would think the obvious answer would be to use cloth but after they did an "LCA" (life cycle analysis) on disposable vs cloth, the impact on the environment is equal. With cloth, you have to use hot water and soap to wash and if you use a diaper service, you have to take into account the transportation and the washing that the service does as an impact. It was very complicated and I learned a ton of new vocab words but over all, I felt confident that choosing cloth doesn't really mean that you care more about the environment than if you choose disposable.

The most interesting part, I thought was the walk through on how Pampers has changed the size of the diapers since the '80's and how that has made it easier for them to use fewer raw materials for production, packaging, transportation and ultimately, the user throws less away.

All I could think was, "Man! No wonder all the little kids in the '80's were walking around bowlegged, those diapers were HUGE!"

What I did this weekend. . .

Well my lil bro, Scotty, was here so we celebrated his presence. :) I did that by forcing him to stand in line with me at midnight to get my new DSI at our local gamestop.

Then I took tons of pictures with my new DSI-


Super fun little gadget.

I also finally got around to scrapbooking again. I made it my goal to finish the calendar that I promised my mother-in-law.

What's up, Tooth Fairy?

What Sam does when he should be doing HOMEWORK!

If you can't read that, it says Abraham Lincoln in a bikini.

And we are BACK!

Thanks to my very Technogeeky friend, Cat, we are back with comments and all. It is going to take me a little time to fix my sidebar stuff so don't get offended if you find that you are no longer on my blog roll. I am not sending out any passive aggressive messages by deleting you from my list of online friends.

Unfortunately my entire blog had to be deleted and recreated. It was painful but it had to be done. Now we are back on track, so comment, comment, everybody comment. Or not, whatever, I'm cool.

Creating more Problems

Okay, I am trying to figure out how to fix my comment issues. In the process I am making more of a mess. Please excuse my mess.

Where have all the Comments Gone?

It is a complete mystery to me. I have no idea where all the comments for my blog have gone and why I can no longer see any links to make a comment. I have searched all over for help with this issue and so far, nada. What the heck???