Why I've not been playing THIS game lately.

I have been inspired by my friend, Amy! She wrote in one of her blogs "Maybe blogging about not blogging will help me start blogging again?"



And with that let the game proceed....



1. Set-up - I would much rather write about a story when I have cute pictures of my family and friends to go along with the story. I know that the pictures are the main reason why everyone even looks at my blog to begin with. Now now... don't lie to yourselves... it is true! I know you like to read the stories but it is aways more fun with pictures. I have pictures from this summer but I only have access to the computer at work (see #2) and I keep forgetting to take the camera AND the adapter to load all of my new pictures onto the computer.



2. On your turn - I only have access to the computer at my work for the moment. I am at work and being at work I feel like I must actually do some form of work while I am there. Downloading and blogging about personal pictures does not constitute work at least in my book. So I must blog on breaks and lunch or in the unlikely case I get everything done and am just sitting around twiddling my thumbs.



3. First Player (Family) - My family has been taking a big hit on my spare time. Breanna was sick for a couple weeks. Cameron has recently gotten sick, again. Cameron's surgery, doesn't feel like summer unless someone is having some sort of surgery. Ron works a lot so I am trying to fill the nice wife roll in keeping the house clean, making dinners, tending our gardens, playing and otherwise entertaining the children.



4. Second Player (Church) - No I am not complaining about my callings... I love my calling but they do take up a lot of what used to be spare time. I got put in as YW secretary a few months ago so I am trying to get the book work together so that it will make things easier. I make up monthly handouts. I go to all of the activities. I went to Girls camp last week and loved it!!! I am also part of the Enrichment Committee and Super Saturday is coming up fast.



5. Instructions - Reading, reading and more reading. I have been reading a ton lately. This is not the usual way I spend my spare time but I have really been into books over the past year or two. I just finished Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer. I have also been reading The Chronicles of Narnia books by C. S. Lewis. Plus I have discovered the public library as I once had as a child. I discovered how everything is online now and that I can make a list of books that I want to read and even put a hold on the ones that are out (yes, I realize that this has been around since the dawn of time but hey it is better late then never to learn right?). I am currently waiting to get my hands on The Candy Shop War by Brandon Mull, Fablehaven by Brandon Mull and The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale.



6. Winning the game - I feel the most important is not to always whine while writing. I like my blog to be fun and uplifting, with just a few spots of down time to even it out. Our family has been taking a few financial hits lately and that has been weighing heavily on my mind. I hate to whine and whine and whine about my life. This is my life and I love it! I just feel like that stress is on my mind so much that it might come out in my writing as whining. Everyone everywhere seems to be hurting in this economy and I guess I am a little freaked about that. Those of you who have known me forever know what a saver and planner of the future I am. I hate not being able to put money away each month. I hate not being able to splurge on some fun stuff for our family like a computer, internet, cable, toys or something as small as eating out or going to the movies. OK now I feel like I am starting to whine so I am going to stay positive and say that it won't last forever! Things will get better!



OK well now you know why THIS game has not been proceeding as it should. Wish me luck. I will try better. NOW, LET THE GAMES BEGIN... AGAIN!

Slacking Big Time!

I feel like I have been slacking big time on my postings. I have decided that I would just slap on some random pictures of my kids and maybe Ron if I have a good one. I think I even have one of myself though not a good one. Just some of my favorites in no particular order. So without further delay...

Breanna was hanging at Grandma Cheri's for the day. This one is cute... it showes how chubby her thighs are. I love it. Plus this is one of my favorite onsies.

Cameron just being Cameron. Snapped this one with my cell phone. kind of grainy but still cute.

Burton and Me riding the Buzz Lightyear ride at Disneyland. We rode this ride more than once.

Yes another photo with me in it... I told you they weren't good but I figured that it is my blog so I better be on here somewhere. This was at my little nephew Eddie's 1st Birthday Party.

Burton at his 2nd grade school dance program.

Breanna cheesin' it up.

Burton Cheesin' it up.

Cameron hanging out watching Saturday morning catoons with Peter the spider turtle.

Ron, also cheesin' it up for the camera.

Tagged!!!

OK, So, I got tagged by my best friend (and sister) Cami, back at the first of June. (I told you Cami, it would take me a bit but that I would get it done) Oh and those of you reading this... consider yourselves officially tagged! Ha Ha Ha

Favorite Person (outside of family)? John Clark... My John John... My Sug... Yeah we have been friends for so long, about eight years. I don't get to see him very much, we are both always so busy with our lives. But when we do, it always makes me so happy. We have such a good time together. Hey man, give me a call!!!

Favorite Food? SUSHI... oh yummmmm. My mom and sis are the only ones brave enough to eat it with me.

Quirks about you? Oh there are so many... I am very OCD on many things, but here are a few. I have to have all of the laundry folded a certain way. if it gets folded wrong, I have to go back and do it "right" ( I try to never correct it in front of the person, whose name(s) will remain anonymous, that folded it wrong). It also has to lay completely flat, no bumps or wrinkles. When I put the groceries away, I have to be able to see the labels (like in the store). When I walk down a sidewalk, I have to walk around the manhole covers or grates (fear of falling in I guess). Oh, I could go on and on. there are way worst ones, but I don't want you to think that I am completely nuts, if you don't already.

How would the person who loves you most describe you in ten words or less? "You are exactly my brand of heroin" LOL, can any of you tell what book I just read? Well, at least those of you who have read it will understand what I am saying. It is my favorite book(s) by the way.

Any regrets in life? Tons! But, I would not change the decisions or mistakes that I have made... they are what have made me into the person that I am today.

Favorite Charity/Cause? Schooling for our children ( I don't think there is anything not to gain by teaching children.)

Favorite Blog recently? All of them, I am still new to this. But I love to read my sisters because she is so far away. At least I can get a glimpse into her life and see how they are and what they are doing.

Something you can't get enough of? "The look" from my hubby when I am unbelievably unattractive in my mind, but not in his. The feeling I get when I accomplish something that I really wasn't sure I could do. When my kids just come and sit by me on the couch to snuggle and tell me they love me.

Worst Job you've ever had? Being a housekeeper at Hampton Inn. I hated cleaning those rooms! People can be really disgusting... I will not be discussing the horror stories but here is a good tip... take the comforter off of the bed and set it in the corner before you sit anything (including yourself) on it. Whenever I stay anywhere now I do that first. I also try to make it as easy as possible for them when they have to clean my room. I put the dirty towels in a nice pile on the floor in the bathroom and throw my used soap in the trash, oh and make sure the TV remote is on the nightstand... Those little suckers can be hard to find.

What job would you pay not to have? Plumber... obviously they have to deal with sewage but they also have to go into crawl spaces and deal with whatever is lurking in there... Neither is at all appealing to me.

If you could be a fly on the wall, where would it be? I love Cami's idea about the designers of clothing... I would also like to me on my son's shoulder to see how my boys act when their mom isn't around. Plus it would be fun to see things through their eyes again.

Favorite Bible verse right now? Psalms 18:32 "It is God that girdith me with strength, and maketh my way perfect." Well not sure if this is my favorite but I do like it. I am not as well acquainted with the scriptures as I know I should be.

Guilty Pleasure? Pedicures. Man, I love those things. I need a new one, girls day anyone? I also like to eat my treats (ice cream, chocolate, etc...) after the kids go to bed. This way I can take my time and enjoy them without being asked to share... I don't share well.

Got any confessions? Sometimes I pick my nose. Don't lie, you do it too.

If you had $1000 to spend on yourself how would you spend it? Well, if I am forced to spend it on just myself... I might get a new wardrobe with all matching shoes and purses or take a day trip to the spa or spend it on fixing up my shop.

Favorite thing about your house? I love that it has tons of storage. I have a lot of crap to stash away.

Least favorite thing about your house? It only has one tiny bathroom... and there are 3 boys that I have to share it with... I hate trying to take a nice bubble bath and they are knocking on the door so they can come use the toilet.

One thing you are bad at? I have to pick just one?... But I am bad at a lot of things... OK. I have no musical talent at all. My mom even put me in singing groups, tap and ballet, even piano lessons to try to bring out the natural gift that everyone in my family but myself seem to possess, but to no avail.

One thing you are good at? I am a very visual person and love to pick up a paint brush or a pencil just to sketch something. I have always been good at arts and crafts. My new found talent is jewelry making. I love being able to make things for other people. One of my goals in life is to create a piece of artwork that someone would actually pay money for (other then my family).

If you could change one thing about your circumstances, what would it be? Hummm... I would like to be more successful... I have heard that success is measured by how many toilets you have... I currently only have two... a porcelain one that I have worshiped often and a plastic potty training one that is finally not needing to be used at the moment.

Who would you like to meet someday? Well, someday I would hope to meet God and Jesus... That would mean that I had lived my life right, made all the correct choices, served my fellow man... Etc. OK... some of these questions are to deep, or maybe it is just my answers.

What makes you feel sexy? I found that great lip plumping lip gloss... I know funny huh? It makes my lips tingle, but strange as it sounds I feel sexier when I wear it. I also love it when my hubby compliments me on how great I look... honestly any guy for that matter, but especially him.

Who is your real life hero? Well, he has passed away but my Grandpa, Wayne! Bumpy as I affectionately called him as a child was the best, most humble, caring, hardworking, helpful, loving person I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. He was always there for me. When I came home from school, I would go out to his shop and talk with him and just spend time with him as he worked. I never remember being apart from him growing up. I love him very much!

What is the hardest part of your job? My job is relatively easy... any moron could do it. So what does that say about me?

When are you most relaxed? When I am painting or drawing. I love it! Also, I love to lay on a blanket to watch the clouds float by and pick out objects in them or watch the stars twinkle at night.

What stresses you out? I am a perfectionist, so I get really stressed out when I can't do things the way I think it should be done or it doesn't look like I think it should look. Again, my OCD coming out.

What can you not live without? This is going to be obvious but ... My hubby, my kids, family in general, friends, food, water, shelter.

Do you agree or disagree with the recent article that reported that blogs are authored by narcissists? No, most people I know with blogs hardly have any pictures of themselves on them... Take mine for example. I think now a days we use them more as a way to keep in touch and show off how cute our kids are.

Why do you blog? Weren't you paying attention?... To show everyone how cute my kids are! That and I am just following the crowd... going with the flow.

Who are you tagging? Pretty much everyone who reads this should consider themselves tagged.

Park Hopping

A couple weekends ago we decided that we would go park hopping. There are so many parks around this county that we haven't been to. So, I popped open the phone book, there is a map in there that shows all of the parks. We only went to a few of them but here are some fun pics that I got of all of us playing. Sorry no pics of me... I was busy taking pics of everyone else.

Breanna was just hanging out watching everyone. She loves to be outside and I love letting her be outside when it is as nice as it was that day. We found a nice shady spot under a tree, set out our big blue blanket, slathered sunscreen on the boys and played and played and played.
Here is a good one of Ron. He played with the boys and then came and layed with the baby so I could go get some good shots of the boys. Burton decided that he wanted to give the trees a good workout. We don't have trees in our yard so when ever he gets the chance to climb them he will.
He is a really good climber too.
Cameron and Burton being goofy!

1st place @ Pinewood Derby!!!

This was Burton's 1st pinewood derby. (and mine for that matter) Burton worked on his car with Mommy and Daddy. We went over some different ways to design it. Burton picked the design. Then they took the block down to Shane and Julie's to cut out the design. Burton sanded it and painted it. Ron did all the technical stuff with the wheels and drilled holes in the bottom to stick the weights in. I helped by getting it to weigh the right amount. I weighed it and then got out my glue gun and glued $1.75 in quarters in the bottom. It turned out great. He was very proud of it.

When we got to the church they weighed his car. I was glad my calculations were correct and that we didn't have to try to add more weight with ugly masking tape like most of the others kids. Then they let the boys test their cars out on the track. Burton was thrilled that it was fast and made it all the way to the end of the track. I think he was a bit nervous that his parents had lead him astray. They started the race! They raced the cars two at a time... This took forever! Burton's car won a few and lost a few.

They also had a few other events that they could participate in...

The first one was to push the car and get it to stop on the line. Burton's first attemp, his car stoped right on the line... he couldn't have tried any better if he had placed it there by hand. They gave each boy 3 tries. Burton only needed the one.

The next event was called "Straight as an arrow". He had to push his car and see how far he could keep it between the lines. Burton pushed his car straight and it stayed in the lines the whole way down. For a total of 15 feet.

The final event was an obstical course. He had to drive his car through the course in 30 seconds to get the points. Burton being the pro that he was... finished in 25 seconds.

Burton tied for first place. WAY TO GO BURTON!!!

Cam's 4th Birthday 5/7/08

Isn't he a cute 4 year old? It rained all day and night (actually rained doesn't do it justice... it poured) so we had a small party (just the five of us). We ordered pizza and had cake and ice cream. Cameron opened his presents....

And him and daddy played with his presents....

And then we played some of Cameron's favorite games (Hungry Hungry Hippos, Zingo, and Go fish) clear 'til bed time....

Breanna's Blessing... Finally!

Yes... we finally blessed Breanna! We have put off blessing her for 3 months due to RSV season. Everyone has been so sick that we haven't dared take her out of the house, let alone to church. She was blessed by her daddy on Sunday April 13, 2008 in our church. Ron did a great job even though he was very nervous. My "nother mother" was nice and wrote her blessing down so Breanna can have it to read when she is older. I am excited to read it because you kind of forget what was said, or atleast I do. She is the first of my children to be blessed at church. The boys were blessed at home. We decided that our family was so big and we have so many friends in our ward that we needed to have it at church so everyone could be included.

Breanna wore a sweet little white dress. Along the bottom of the dress are little jumping sheep with yellow flowers. It has yellow trim on the sleeves and neck line. It also has a border below the sheep of yellow and green. Can you tell I love the dress?

After church we all (family members) came back to our house for a little luncheon. It was such a beautifully sunny warm spring day. We took advantage of the wonderful weather and had the luncheon in our back yard. Everyone brought salads and treats. We just hung out, took pictures, and ate. It was a wonderful day!











These Pictures are from my mom (again!) I finally got my own camera just in time for Breanna's blessing but I haven't uploaded my pictures. They will be coming so check back on this post for some more pictures. I know I have a really cute one of Breanna in her dress!

Okay... Finally here are my pics....