pat me on the back

I Just Got My Dishes Done...... And it's only 2 in the afternoon.
I can't believe it took me that long to get that done.

Oh What do you Do in the Summer Time

I couldn't for the life of me figure out why my house had gotten so messy. Then it dawned on me. I haven't been home in a week.
7 am i get up and feed the baby
8 kids get up and eat and get ready for swim lessons
9 go to said lesson
10 get home, 5 of 5 eats and naps
10:30 i run then shower
11 get kids ready for park lunch
11:30 go to lunch
12:30, get home usually with an extra kid or 2
1 pm get 2 youngest fed (4 of 5 doesn't eat well at the park)Then down for a nap.
1-3 catch up on anything i can shove into the 2 hrs, plus the kids have been working on penmanship this summer, so we get that done.
4 dad gets home
4:30 begin dinner
5 eat
then i clean up and we hang out with the kids
7"30 begin bed time routine
8 bed time.

I really thought this summer would be long and boring. Now i cant' remember where it went'


It really is true, the older you get, the faster it goes.
I miss those long ago boring long days.


Oh, we found this Caterpillar on our door step on our way to the Beehive Deacon Youth Conference.
That was also a ton of fun. We have really great youth. I am really grateful to be able to work with them.

100 random thoughts

To celebrate my 100th post...... Here are 100 random thoughts.
100) global warming is a hoax
99) Onsies on a baby are a necessity
98)I put my babies to sleep on their tummies
97)my stomach turns when i see a kid eat a booger
96)I think my kids are cuter than yours
95 I know you think yours are cuter than mine
94)that doesn't bother me
93)ask for forgiveness instead of permission, bothers me
92)I have no self control
91) i really want to be a size 8
90) I never will be
89)I'm okay with that
88)I want 7 kids
87)I think potatos are the worlds most perfect food
86)I think 2 of5 is an awesome kid
85)Time goes by way too fast
84)I am happy where i am in life
83)I'm sad when i think about my kids growing up and moving out
82 "Eternity" baffles me
81)I get vertigo when i stand in a building with a tall celling and look up
80) I am terrified of drowning
79)I am also scared of carbon monoxide
78)I don't want my kids to go near water
77)I want to be able to see my kids at all time
76)Gripe Water is a miracle
75)i wish i could have a baby for one of my friends
74)If the church changed their policy, and allowed it, i would do it
73)I love taking road trips
72)I hate I-15
71)I wish i lived in ID
70)I've been dreaming of moving to the mid-west
69)I would never tell my DH i wanted to move
68)I want to be fluent in ASL
67)I want to go back to school
66)I have never wanted to work outside the home
65)My DH made 6.10 an hour when i quit my job to stay home
64)It was good for us, we learned to do with out. We were happy
63)I recomend it
62)I would do it in a heart beat if DH wanted to go to school full time
61)I want to go to Vermont
60)I want to drive there....
59)With all the kids
58)In 15 years, i plan on running a self sufficient house hold
57)I am nervous about the world my kids are growing up in
56)How will they support families on 1 income, if people can barely do it now
55)The "R" word doesn't bother me at all
54)I think the campaign to ban the "R" word is stupid
53)I say ban the really bad "F" word
52)Oh yeah freedom of speech, duh
51)I think we have been given enough to sustain life, even if everyone had 10 kids
50)We need to treat it better
49)I would live with the Amish
48)Can we start an Amish like LDS community?
47)sign me up
46)I would trade my life now, for the life of a pioneer
45)I love Monday
44)I like my kids in school, as much as out of school
43)I am in love with my A/C
42)I dislike Summer
41)Snow makes me happy
40)Chickens stink
39)I miss Stamps
38)I forgot to write my sister on a mission, a letter last week
37)I feel guilty
36)I'm not jealous that my sister is pregnant,
35)I thought i would be
34)That's how i know i don't want another one
33)I love my calling
32)some days are better than others
31)I wish more parents were involved with what their kids were doing
30)How can i talk my DH into doing my kitchen floors next
29)Or letting me paint the room he's finishing yellow
28)I am sooo excited about my treadmill
27)I wish i still lived in the 10th ward
26)If we could have found one of the bigger houses there, we would have stayed
25)We didn't because we were meant to be here
24)I wish we had a ward boundaries like the 10th ward
23)I can't believe I'm to #25
22)I want to play piano in Primary
21)12 yr olds are weird
20)Mine won't be
19) you know ,because my kids are cuter than yours
18)I love my van
17)I used to dream of being the mom with a van full of kids
16)I do not take it for granted
15)I need more than 24 hr in a day
14)I would use it to get more sleep
13)Maybe, maybe i would just get my house clean for once
12)I can't tell if my house is clean
11)If the toys are put away, and the kitchen is straight, i feel good
10)I always wonder if people think my house is gross
9)I ran 1.5 miles today
8)I wish i could run 4
7)I miss Mikey
6)I used to think my dad was perfect
5)He is still really close
4)I would like to learn to play the ukulele
3)In my spare time
2)I hate shoes
1)Cardboard gives me the chills... i hate touching it. That's why i won't move ever again.

This Is Post 100!!!! and other things

I'll do something 100 ish next post, for now, my update on the "Baby face" post. We just got back from the Dr. and she has ANOTHER ear infection. It was bad enough that they just put her on Augmenton. And she has lost 1.3 lbs since her last visit which was 2 weeks ago. Poor Baby. She is now 13.3 lbs. Anyway, now to take care of a fussy baby!

Baby Face

This is what was On My Mind Monday. my baby has her first sick. Her poor nose is so red and irritated, she just screams when I wipe it. 4 of 5 used to bring me a Kleenex when she had a yucky nose. It's so sad when a simple nose wipe causes such angst. She had a fever last night, but it had broke by this morning, i hope that means we are on the mend. If i could just get 4 of 5 to keep her fingers out of the baby's mouth.... We could avoid some of this in the future. I forgot that there really is nothing worse than a sick baby.

How loud is it here?

My house.... right now.

Fantastic Find

Jen posted her find..... here's mine.
I asked for a treadmill for my birthday a few weeks ago, not realizing how much they cost. After realizing that they were going to be about 1k for a nice one, i started looking on KSL. But DH didn't want a cheap used one, so i was just about to give up, when...... lo and behold..... we found it. Some very well to do guy posted this 1800$ treadmill for 250. SCORE!. He bought it for his wife, and she never used it!
So, my new goal...... I am going back on my diabetes diet. When you do it right.... it works wonders. Although i am not going to cut out my fruit sugars. It's summer for Pete's sake. I have 20 i want to get rid of. I am going to count my grams. and exercise to make up for them. I would really like to be able to run 10 miles by Christmas. I am up to 1.5. It will take my body about a week to get used to change, but if i can make it through that, i will be fine. And i have a friend that said she would do it with me.
And this is for Stamps. Here is THE room. We finally made it to the end. All that is left is primer, paint and carpet. 2 weeks is plenty of time to get that done. Prime and paint this week, carpet next. We already have all the stuff, we just need to make time. I'm excited!

Welcome Welcome Sabbath Morning

Now we rest from every care.
That always makes me laugh. probably because it makes me want to cry.

Such a Slacker

Okay, SO here are the pictures from 1 of 5's baptism. It took me a few day to figure out how to post a picture from an email. I did it... I had one of those rare light bulb moments, and it worked out for me. That was a few days ago. I know write it down, I'll want to remember that it happened, and it may not happen again for a while.

This is 1 of 5 with her GMPA on dad's side. She asked if GMPA could Baptize her, and her dad to do the confirmation, which i thought was a really nice gesture.
This is her baptism dress. (thank you GMA)
We had all the cousins that came sing Baptism. here they are practising,
This was the other part of the weekend. We celebrated my moms birthday, and yes, that is 50 something candles (7) Sorry mom. We did fit them all on, and no, we didn't burn down the house. It's so nice that she has a sense of humor. Other wise something like that could get you killed.
And this is our family.... aaawwwweee
And on a side note... It's funny now, but it really wasn't then, after she was dunked, i went back to help her get dressed and realized that i didn't bring any dry under clothes. Okay in my defence, my first one to get baptized, and it was a crazy weekend with the 4th and kids birthdays and my moms party, and family dinner..... Poor kid. But i guess on the plus side, I'll remember those things for my other 4 kids baptisms'......

Lunch, Liberty, Water

Just a fun day. We packed up the usual crew and moved parks for lunch today. Headed up to Liberty Park and let the kids play in the water. They were so, (we were) tired by tonight, they just crashed. Which is good, because i get to spearhead the flag set up tomorrow at 6 am. The kids were all sooo good, and we came home with all of the ones we left with. Always a good thing.

What's in a name.

I have always been interested in why people give their kids certain names. Does it just come to you? Do you put thought into it? Do you like family names? I like to think my kids have a certain name already, before they come, and it's my job to figure it out.
So i thought it would be fun to do a name post. I'd like to hear why your kids have their names, too.
My first born..... Her middle name is Cassidie. Why? Because i love the Grateful dead song Cassidy. I also like the song Bertha, but i wasn't going there. And her first name sounded good with Cassidie. DH wouldn't let me use Cassidie for a first name, but i would have. We were both in to the GD, don't know what the problem was.
My #2....... His first name was his paternal great grandfathers name, and his Great great grandmothers maiden name. Although it was pronounced with a long E. I thought it sounded better with a short e. His middle name Lewis was his dad's fault, and it took me a long time to like it. It was supposed to be spelled Louis, but i wasn't told that until after the birth certificate was filled out and sent it. He was named after Louis Armstrong.
My 3rd........ it's funny, because we thought he was a girl until he was born. He was supposed to be our little 4 of 5. So the name was all picked out. Then we had to quickly find a boy name. We decided on his name, and when we told my mom she said "oh, your Grandpa always wanted one of those, but Grandma made him name his one son Richard. And he was always kind of upset that he never got another son." So, i kind of figured , now he has one. And his middle name Connor was for his paternal grandpa. His name is Conroy.
Now the 4th...... We knew she was who she was long before she was here. In fact we thought she was going to be 3rd. Her first name is My grandmothers middle name, and my great grandmothers first name. And her middle name, June, was DH grandmothers name. Her first name also was meaningful to her dad because it's his favorite Sunday school teachers name from when he was younger. Up until a few years ago, she was still making him birthday cakes.
And finally #5...... Our hardest thing has been picking names. And for some reason, this was our easiest. We both had the same name picked out before we knew she was a girl, and before we had discussed names. I picked this name because when i was try to decide if i wanted to bring up the subject of having another baby, i went to the temple and got a very strong "yes" and then ended up doing work for a person who's first name was this name. And her big sister picked out Kate for her middle name. I wanted Corrine after a great Aunt of mine. but it didn't sound quite right. So, she was named after Kissin Kate Barlow from the book 'Holes'


Anyway, I'd love to hear yours.....

Bugs

Can any one tell me what these are? They are only on my pumpkins. So far. I guess they could spread.


Still trying to get rid of a rooster and a hen........ Any takers?

Recent pictures

I love this, she's getting so close to up on hands and knees. Now if we could just master the sitting.
I don't get this. We call it the Superman.
These are our veggies. Yes, that is 2 full rows (6 plants in each row) of butter stick squash and zucchini. I will have spare. And i am looking for more good canning squash recipes.
We have 32 tomato plants, 4 rows of corn and 4 rows of beans. We had some spinach and loose greens, but it got too hot and they got bitter. We'll replant in Aug for a fall crop, with some peas.
Not in this picture, are 5 pumpkin plants that we planted. DH spread our compost from last yearand we ended up with 5 more pumpkins and 2 more zucchini. (like we needed more of those) The jury is still out on a few of the volunteers, i think they maybe a fall squash. I hope. I really don't want more pumpkins or zucchini.

Fixing 4 of 5's arm

This is the video of 4 of 5 in the hospital when she broke her arm a few months ago. I just barely found it. It was actually in with video of 5 of 5 when we first brought her home, that's a weird thing to see. We really need to get a camcorder, now that they are cheap enough that we can afford a nice one.

Poor kid has something hooked up to every appendage.

APRICOT

I have started the canning process. I LOVE getting out my canning stuff. I also LOVE putting it away at the end of the season. Canning is very therapeutic for me. It makes me feel like i am contributing to the welfare of my family, more than just the daily food, clothes, bath, shelter.... 1 of 5 even comes and helps, and in the process, learns how. My mom didn't can much that i can remember, so i picked up everything i know from Mother in law. Which is why i enjoy showing others how to can. Thank Erin for coming over and helping. We worked from about 9 this morning until the last batch went in the water bath about 1. And i still have most of the fruit on my tree. So, bring it on. I will be doing tomatoes in about 4 weeks, along with the beans, and a new recipe for squash. Then the pears and peaches. So, if anybody wants to learn how... my kitchen is your kitchen.! Or if you have any good, different, canned goods recipes.... I would LOVE to hear them and try them.!

Free recipe Friday 8/ and a story

An elderly man in Louisiana had owned a large farm for several years.

He had a large pond in the back. It was properly shaped for swimming, so he fixed it up nice with picnic tables, horseshoe courts, and some apple and peach trees.

One evening the old farmer decided to go down to the pond, as he hadn' t been there for a while, and look it over.

He grabbed a five-gallon bucket to bring back some fruit.

As he neared the pond, he heard voices shouting And laughing with glee.

As he came closer, he saw it was a bunch of young women> > skinny-dipping in his pond.He made the women aware of his presence and they all went to the deep end.

One of the women shouted to him, 'We're not coming out until you leave!

The old man frowned, 'I didn't come down here to watch you ladies swim naked or make you get out of the pond naked.'

Holding the bucket up he said, 'I'm here to feed the alligator.'

You may be old but that doesn't mean you can't still think fast.

Here's my recipe

Hummus

1 can garbanzo beans

1/4 cup lemon juice

1 tsp Cheyenne pepper

1/2 tsp salt

4-5 cloves garlic

blend together in food processor

add 1 cup tahini paste to bean mixture.

I like to add 1 cup shredded carrots to the bean mix also.

THURSDAY

My favorite day of the week. Why? Well, first, it is the end of the week with out being Friday with one of those pesky Saturday's coming up next. Don't get me wrong, Saturday's are alright. But not close to my favorite day of the week. I used to LOVE Saturday. Back when Saturday's were lounging and restful, and we could go do something fun with out having more stuff to do pile up while we were out playing. Back before we had a house, church callings that constantly take up our Saturdays and kids that make big messes. Saturdays are always just a big mess. I get more done during a weekday, than i do on a Sat. My Saturdays revolve around cleaning up after everyone. And my kids do chores, but getting them to do them, the right way, is a full time all consuming job too. And part of being a mom is teaching them to do them right, so yes, I'm a nag.
I love Thursday. I actually really like Mondays too. Especially with the kids out of school. Like this Monday I said "only 5 more weeks until school starts" And next Monday i will say " only 4 more weeks until school starts" See, Monday's are my 'one week down, one less to go', day.
I wish my weekends were more like the ones i had 5 years ago. Saturday, they were an actual "get ready for Sunday" day. And Sunday, oh how i miss Sundays. Sitting with my husband, sitting with my husband, sitting with my husband. Kids that actually liked to help. (they are still pretty good, now they just moan and groan while they do it) and were good at sitting still in Sacrament meeting. And coloring books kept them entertained for an hr.
I guess this post should be called "why i hate weekends" instead of "Thursday" i really did mean to talk up Thursday, not shoot down Saturday and Sunday.

survey

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? My mom and i have the same middle name

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? I think it was 5 of 5's blessing

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?Yes.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Corned Beef. I LOVE rubens

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? If that's what you want to call them/ 5

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Some days yes, some days no

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? I'm laughing becasue i just realized how slow i am. Everyone else had "never :)" on their answer. I was thinking Really? What's wrong with sarcasm..... Um, yes, i'll admit i'm slow

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS
Yes.
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Maybe once upon a time

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? I LOVE cereal. But i bet i could give up 10 lbs if i quit eating it

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? no
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Used to be. but now unless you consider carrying a 14 lb baby around 20 hrs of the day, strong, no.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Tillamook Chocolate Peanutbutter

14. WHAT DO YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? That "light"

15. RED OR PINK?
Red
16. What don't you like about yourself? Usually i feel pretty good, but i'm pretty good at sticking my foot in my mouth. And i hate getting my picture taken.
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My sisters

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? yes, especially my sister Kristy and Stamps

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Pants?

20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Homemade wheat bread

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? My baby screaming. I'm waiting for her Tylonal to kick in. teeth.

22. IF YOU WHERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? royal blue (there's no such thing as mulit colored, Sonja jk)

23. FAVORITE SMELLS? Homemade bread

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My mother in law

25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Yes

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH
Baseball. Although i couldn't tell you who was playing, i was just amazed that people were still there in the 12th inning.
27. HAIR COLOR?
brown, getting grey
28. EYE COLOR?
blue
29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
No
30. FAVORITE FOOD?I don't have a favorite, it usually just depends on my mood.
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?Scary
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
Return with Honor
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
shirt? jk green
34. SUMMER OR WINTER? WINTER
35. HUGS OR KISSES?
........
36. FAVORITE DESSERT? still, just depends.

37. Most likely to respond? ?
38. Least likely to respond? most people
39. What book are you reading right now? Does National Geographic count?
40. What's on your mouse pad? it's green
41? What did you watch last night? news
42. favorite sound? not the baby screaming. silence
43. Rolling Stones or Beatles? Beatles hands down.
44. What is the farethest away from home you have been? Mississippi
45. special talent? piano, violin. I can flip 10 quarters off my elbow and catch them in my hand. 2 of 5 thinks it's the coolest thing ever
46. Where were you born? Provo

Newborn contact

So i have this volunteer job called newborn contact, for the udsf. I love it. It has been very theraputic for me to go out and meet new moms of kids with DS. This is my dream job (besides learning ASL well enough to interpret). I actually was offered this job about 2 months before getting called to be the YW president almost 2 years ago, and had a really hard time trying to decide if i could do both, i am so glad i did. It's kind of funny, because most of the time, it's not too busy. But when you have one baby born with DS, you have 10. They really do come in spurts. We have had 48 just in the last 20 months, and those are just the ones i know about. A lot of the time, you don't find them until the parents come looking you us and their baby is 6 months old.

The reason i bring this up.... I just sent out 5 new packets a few days ago and need to plan a trip to the east side to go visit another new mom. So, it was on my brain. did you know i can count 7 just in the little town i am in, that i know of, that are under 5? I know of at least that many more that are over 5. It's amazing to me that i never noticed kids with DS until 4 of 5 was born. I didn't realize it happened so often. Did you know that CA has the lowest rate of DS births in America? Did you know they have the highest rate of prenatal testing? One has everything to do with the other. Some actually say it's not fair to bring a disabled child into this world. I know that we choose our path before we come. I know this because that was the answer i got when i asked "why me?".......Selfish me.

Anyway, sorry to go off on an tangent.

How safe is it/this is on my mind Monday

1) How many days can the water sit in the pool before your kids will die if they drink it?
2) how many days can it sit before it become a mosquito breeding ground?
3) How old can a hot dog be, before it becomes toxic?
4) How many Tums and Pepto chalks can i take to get rid of my heart burn?
5) Can I have a diet soda if I'm going back on my diabetes diet?
6) What about a 16 oz Hershey bar?
7)How early is too early to put the kids to bed?
8) is 11 Am "too" early?
9)Can i officially start my day with turkey and cranberries for breakfast?
10) can 5 0f 5 really be breaking her first tooth at 5 month?

3

4 of 5 looked so grown up today. I just wanted to share. I think it's the jeans and t-shirt that didn't fit her before.
And, this is her constant look. She always looks like she's trying to figure something out. I don't want to say "confused" because it doesn't sound as nice as inquisitive. 2 of 5 was watering our weeds and was over spraying and getting her. Hence.... the expression.

Breakfast at my place

This morning, I'm sitting at breakfast with 4 of 5 when i notice that she is drinking her cereal and making a huge mess. I get a paper towel and throw is at her and ask her to clean it up and to drink her milk with the spoon. I continue to eat, and as I'm eating the last few bites of my Marshmallow Maties I'm thinking, do i want another bowl, these sure are good. All of the sudden, i get hit in the face with a milky wet paper towel, then it lands in my bowl. Guess that answers my question. i was done.

top list of things pulled out of my kids mouth

10)marbles

9) Legos

8)monies

7)play-doh

6)Polly Pockets

5)Barbie's shoes

4)rocks

3)paper

2)fingers

and

1)1 of 5 came up to me and said.... 4 of 5 is putting cat food in 5 of 5's mouth, and it making her cry. 5 of 5 was 3 months old.

Anyone have a good story?

coolest thing i have ever seen

I don't know what to saw about this thing, but i thought it was cool. It's a start nosed mole. Pretty close to the top of the weirdest thing on earth list.
But this, has to be one of my favorite. I heard someone in Sunday school say they were going to ask "why and what" about the platypus, when they met Him. I can see that. The only mammal that lays eggs. The only mammal qualities it has are it's hair and the way it feeds it's young. Mammal don't lay eggs. And, they are not poisonous. this one is. They also have webbed feet and a bill like a duck. So weird. And chances are, you will never see one. They are impossible to keep alive in a zoo.
Anyway, there you have it.

That's what i said

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/SavingandDebt/SaveonaCar/WhatIfGasCost10DollarsAGallon.aspx

Happy Birthday to you

Yes, it is another one. This time it's my brother Mikey. My brother from another.... father. He's my half brother, but he's just as much my brother as my brother Matt. we spent most of our time together growing up, we did everything together. Even in school. He's the one i moved in with when i moved to UT. We lived together for 3 years before getting our own places. He introduced me to my husband, because they worked together, and Mikey got me a job with them. So, we also worked together for a few years.
We grew apart when we started living different life styles, but i still think of him on a daily basis. I miss how close we were. He's had some tough breaks. In the beginning,none of them his fault. I'm happy to call him my brother, and hope that things work out well for him. I love him, and i hope he is happy.

ME ME ME

20 years ago.

1. I was 11, that was sooooo long ago i couldn't tell you. I was busy, my mom had me in piano, ballet, tap. I was at a ballet camp most summers, and swimming lessons. Maybe playing with some friends in the Vegas heat, catching lizards in the desert. Walking to Green Valley Grocery.

10 years ago.

1. My life was a mess, i probably won't go into details.

2. DH and i were living in a rental that the landlord never came to pick up the rent and the bank foreclosed on. So we had no electricity, no water, no phone. But, with no kids... who cares.

5 years ago.

1. 3of 5 was 4 months

2. we lived in a house we couldn't afford, with 1 crappy car (that was paid off, and it fit all of us, so please don't take that as a complaint) and no family close in a snooty neighborhood. One of those keep up with the Jones places. It was kind of hard. 3 of 5 was really fussy.

3. On the plus side, we had no debt at all, which meant we were able to get a home loan and buy our first home, even though we made about 25k a year. (i was looking at our old tithing settlement from that year, yesterday. That's why i know that)

3 years ago

1. We were commuting from Magna to LDS hospital 3 times a day

2.It was a really hot summer

3. we loved our house and our neighbors. I am still amazed at how many freezer meals we had after 4 of 5 was born. 10th ward, you are the greatest.

4. my parents got remarried, to each other, after 15 yrs apart

1 year ago.

1. We were expecting 5 of 5, and i was so useless

2. we just finish one of the bdrms upstairs in this monstrosity of a project house.

3. took our kids to Disneyland.

Yesterday

1. got my kitchen cleaned

2. it was my birthday

3. my parents went home

Today

1. floors (nough said)

2. survive until 8 pm

3. park for lunch?

Tomorrow

1. survive until 8 pm

2. i don't really plan my days unless i have an appt. I just do what needs to get done each day

Next year.

1 i would like to be done with the bdrms and bthrm upstairs, then start on the kitchen and living room. We could be done with the inside of our house at that point, and be able to start on the little things like my canning kitchen and shelves in my food storage/laundry room.

2. get my yard looking like more than a weed forest. plant 2 peach trees and a cherry tree.

And, 5 of 5 has started rolling the other way. She now ends up on her back, and hates to sleep on her back, so when i put her to bed, and she starts screaming, i know she's rolled and is mad. It took an hr to get her to bed last night. I wish DH were her to help. Especially at 4 pm when it's time to start dinner. I would not be a good single mom. I don't know how people do it.

On My Mind Monday 6

I have sat down to write this about 5 times now. Every time to be interrupted by the phone. Why is it, when it rains it pours. Some days my phone doesn't ring at all, on the others, it's a constant nonstop ringing.

Anyway, what's on my mind today.

I was talking to a friend yesterday. She had just seen the movie Wall-e, and heard someone complaining about the movie depicting all the people as fat and slow. She told me she thought.... "duh" Which got me to thinking about this "recession". From my view point. My DH is pretty secure in his job, we don't make a lot, but we take care of our needs, not a lot of room for for higher utilities, gas prices, and food prices, though. So, who says this is going to be a bad thing. Did you realize how much money you would save if you turned up the temp on the thermostat by 2 degrees, got rid of a cell phone, and ate out once every 6 months instead of how ever many times it happens? Or, made your food from scratch, instead of out of a box. Have you priced the food co ops? None of these things are bad things. I think whatever it is that causes us to have to cut back a little of the excess is a good thing. Maybe we need this and it's for our own good, maybe He's up there saying, wow, these people are getting a little fat and slow. I'm feeling it. The more I gain, the slower i get, and the more tired i am. The first thing I'm getting rid of is the cell phone. Don't know why i got one in the first place. And the Internet? It's nice and all, and it would be hard to get rid of, but when it gets tight..... it's gone. One of the reasons we got chickens, and grow a garden, we want to be self sufficient. DH grandfather went into tithing settlement one year, and the Bishop said "there is no way you make it on this much money, do you need help?" And his reply was, no we don't need help, yes we make it, we do well. He had no house payment and he grew almost all of his own food. I hope someday to be able to live in the same situation.

And one more thing why are car companies ads telling up that 30 mpg is a good thing. I want at least 50, then we'll buy your car.

Oh, happy birthday to me.

Did anyone see the fire out here last night? CRAZY?! I have never been that close to a fire before. DH and kids actually saw it start from a wayward firework. DH took the kids to watch the fireworks last night, and i stayed home with 4 and 5 of 5. We didn't take 4 of 5,It really isn't nice, what happens to her when she's is up took late. She gets to where she can't stand herself, and she doesn't know what to do, so she thrashes, and tantrums, and kicks, and that really isn't her. So, i'm just not going to do that to her. Plus, i really could do with out the fireworks. Dh likes them enough for both of us.

It really was kind of scary, and it looked HUGE. We drove by it this after noon, and it really wasn't that big. Thank goodness it was a wet spring, the only thing that burned were the dry grasses. And, thank goodness for a south west wind.

The fire wasn't the worst part of it (this is why we don't stay out past 10.) there was this car accident, right in front of where we were standing, and the guy that got hit jumped out and tried attacking the other guy. So that guy peeled out (keep in mind there are hundreds of people out there watching this fire) to get away from the accident. So we now have a hit and run. Then 5 more cars took off after him. He wasn't going to get far, his car was really smashed. And i really don't understand why the guy that got hit was so irate. Relax, there are enough cops out there at this fire..... you will have someone there pretty quick. It was pretty intense. That was enough excitement for the next year.

CAMP

Girls camp is officially over. I will admit, it was a tough task. It was hard to get to that point, and all of the leaders are glad it is the 3 rd of July, not the 1 st. But, as always, girls camp is the high light of the YW program. I am truly grateful for the leaders that took time off work, donated their cabin, grocery shopped, cooked, and especially for those that went and stayed with them.

I am always amazed that these girls, with nothing in common., are willing, and able to show such compassion and love toward each other. They are friends.

Some of them, i wish i could do more for. I understand that we are given trials for a reason, and we grow and become better after enduring them. But some of the things some of these girls have to deal with, is truly unfair. I would take it from them if i could.

I love the girls in my ward, i love the women i serve with, and i love the parents that support this program, and make sure their girls know the importance of the gospel, and standing "Steadfast and Immovable"

Jinx

So, has it been long enough, that i can say this with out jinxing myself? My little 5 of 5 slept through the night Sunday night, and every night since!
Can you ask for anything better. I'm not quite sure how it happened. it wasn't like one night it was 4hrs, then 5 then 6. It was BAM, the same night i posted that she fell asleep with her thumb in her mouth, not wrapped up..... that's when it started. Even for naps, i lay her down, and she goes to sleep. Yes, i am very aware that this doesn't last forever. As soon as she realizes naps, and sleeping are not fun, it won't be as easy. But for now.... 2 nights before this happened, i tried to leave her unwrapped to sleep, and it just made her mad, but now, it's working. So, hopefully we can keep this up. It makes me happy. I feel like I'm getting back to normal, and I'm not a walking around with no clue what I'm doing. AHH, sleep, it's a GOOD thing.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY 4 of 5

It is hard for me to imagine that you have been here for 3 years. It really feels like you should be turning 1. The memory of your 1st month is still quite fresh in my mind. But it's no longer a harsh memory. It has now become one of my sweetest most cherished memories. Something that has brought me close to many, and helped me feel empathy towards others. And i truly thank you for that. Thank you for coming to this family, thank you for being my little 4 of 5. Thank you for showing me, "perfection" doesn't always come in a perfect box.
You were given your name before you got here, i knew you were coming, in a special little body before you got here. Actually, we didn't know 3 of 5 was a boy until he was born, so i thought he was going to be our girl, with something different. But, you waited a few more years.
I love you, i hope we can help you live up to your full potential. You are capable of great things. And we will do our best to help, and give you all we are capable of.