Joy is very infectious; therefore, be always full of joy.

~ Mother Teresa

Monday, September 29, 2008

Great idea!

Wow! So my little family had a wonderful Family Home Evening tonight. Jess was in charge and he came up with a great idea! I am so tickled at the turn out!

We gathered together and made a list of all the dinners we like to eat. That was fun in and of itself! LOL! Then we picked only four complete meals (as Mac & Cheese doesn't count as a real dinner in Mom's book!*wink*) Then we listed all the ingredients that are needed to make that meal complete. (fun! :) ) After that we loaded in the car... the girls with one list of 2 meals ingredients and the boys with the other 2. And off to Macey's we went...

We wrote down what the price for each item was... 6 potatoes at $ .74/lb was fun to figure out as the produce man gave us funny looks when we put them back! LOL! We then met up at the Deli and over a soft serve iceream we ran the totals. Emma and I came up with $27.86 for a favorite steak dinner, and $27.85 for Ribs and Sweet potatoes (only a penny difference was kinda cool!). Jess and the boys got $15.66 for Homemade Pizza (5 Buck is not looking so expensive!LOL!!) and $14.52 for Tacos.

Wow. Feeding 6 is not so cheap. The adverage dinner costs us about $20. The adverage lunch is likely $15ish and breakfast if we only eat cereal is likely over $5. No wonder my shopping bills have been so painful lately! And that didn't include tons of good produce or snacks! Ugh.

Anyway... he then taught them about how much each of them "spends" at dinner time... and how much $ they end up throwing away when they wont eat all of their food and whatnot. They were all amazed. Even my 6 year old was rivoted by what he heard. They seemed to REALLY *get* it!

**GOLD STAR** Jestin! That was an highly effective FHE! I always dreamed of doing fun learning ones like this when they were little... so it was AWESOME to do it now that they can truly understand! I am keeping the papers they took their notes on too for our scrapbook! Someday it may be fun to go back and see what it cost to feed us when they were kids! *Giggle*

Saturday, September 20, 2008

High School Memories

While waiting for some photos to burn to a CD at 3:30am I found this questionaire on a friend of mine's site and thought it would be fun...

1. Did you date someone from your High School? Well duh. I married him! *giggle*

2. What kind of car did you drive? Ahhh... I had access to the Ford Taurus Station Wagon...but my favorite was the '68 Rambler with 3 on the tree...that was FUN!

3. What was the most embarrassing moment of High School for you? When Jess asked me if I used vaseline to get my jeans on. I was a size 1. And it was his high school way of paying a compliment! LOL! I never wore that pair again. (I hear the skin tight all the way down look is coming back in again! tee hee)

4. Were you a party animal? Ummm... I plead the 5th

5. Were you considered a flirt?Yes. But my best friend was worse!

6. Were you in Band, Orchestra, or Choir? I loved choir! I even made Acapella my senior year...but didn't find out until I had already solidified my schedule so I didn't attend. (Besides I was too busy with Jess *grin*)

7. Were you a nerd? I wasn't.

8. Were you on any Varsity teams?Nope

9. Did you ever get suspended/expelled? Yes. I was suspended for checking out on my 17th B-day. It was not a good day and it became a not so good week! LOL

10. Can you still sing the fight song? "We are the fighting Bruins of Mountain View...something something and something else...."

11. Who were your favorite teachers?Mr. Ravelli. He was one of the only ones who truly saw what I could become. He was an Earth Science teacher and I was his Aide the last 2 years of high school. He was awesome!

12. Where did you sit during lunch? In someone's truck or car... which for most of high school was Jestin's. We never ate in the cafeteria much... we had wheels...we left!

13. What was your school's full name? Mountain View

14. School mascot? Bruins

15. Did you go to Homecoming? With whom? Not that I recall. I went to a bunch of dances...but I dont think we ever attended the Homecoming Dance...just the game and festivities

16. If you could go back and do it again, would you? Maybe... I loved dating Jess. We had good times... :)

17. What do you remember most about graduation? Hearing Jess yell my name as I walked across... he worked hard with me to help me graduate. (I was a sluffer...what can I say? I had much to make up Senior year...couldn't have done it without Jess!)

18. Where did you go Senior Skip Day? Diggin' with the gang. None of us wanted to attend Senior Day.

19. Were you in any clubs? Spirit Club Sophpmore year

20. Have you gained some weight since then?I weighed less than 100 lbs then... ummm...thanks for the salt in a wound sensation. LOL

21. Who was your Prom Date? Jestin - Senior year, A friend with the same B-day as me 10 days after we both turned 16 - Sophomoreyear ...talk about an ackward date. Prom should not be your 1st dating experience...that's for sure!

22. 10 year Reunion? Are you planning on going? Heh heh... Ummm I missed that one. Just had a baby then. 15 is on it's way up... *sniff*

23. Looking back, what advice would you give yourself? Don't be so hard on yourself. Don't let others influence your self esteem. Quit worrying and enjoy it! One day... you're gonna miss this!

(I tag YA'LL! *grin*)

Friday, September 19, 2008

I think it may be dying...

And I can't complain. It is almost 10 years old after all. It has served us well. We have enjoyed it's perks and blessings....

My computer is dying. We have revived it twice in its lifetime... but I am affraid we may be at the end of our lollipop. It shuts down randomly...as if it were just tired. No virus. No reason. It just gets tired... And rightfully so. LOL. It is a "dinosaur" after all... so as I am typing I am burning copies of everything! in duplicate.

I am not thrilled to have to get a new computer... and get to know Windows Vista and all that it may not run that I like using. I am not so hot for change like this... nor do I feel that I have the time and/or energy for setting E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G up...again. My internet...and printers...and camera...and favorite internet sites...instant messengers and email notifications...and Quicken...and Quickbooks... and the myriad of other little things I take for granted daily. *sniff* I like my set -up... I know how to work it, I dont wanna change it and I am getting to be an old fuddy duddy!!

It shall be a sad day (or weeks) when it finally bites the dust... And I shall weep at it's passing. It was a good little computer. Bless you my little Totally Awesome Dinosaur!

Thursday, September 18, 2008

3 going on 17...

I am still quite shaken and need to "emotionally throw up". What a heart stopping experience we had today...although I guess it was technically yesterday as it is 1:30 am and I still can't sleep. Today I was affraid at one point my littlest man would be the source of an Amber Alert.

It has been a busy day today...and after going grocery shopping for the 1st time in as many weeks as I can remember... I settled into my pantry... cleaning, re-organizing and planning for the miriad of fresh fruits and veggies awaiting preservation in my garage as we speak. Jess has been home all day, and covering a large base of "honey-do"s for me. The kids were all home from school, flitting about playing with neighbors etc. Jess had gathered them together and they had all congregated at the kitchen table to do homework. I could hear them and was prompted to ask, "where's Caleb?" from the pantry. I got a mixture of answers... playing next door, in the sand box and upstairs playing. I requested that one of them go and see which was the case. And being that they are all responsible enough, then assumed that "someone" followed through. (I was after all burried behind boxes and bottles made into piles in re-arranging things)

About 15ish minutes later the prompting came again. This time with HUGE force. "where is Caleb?" I asked as I pondered that I had not heard his whine since my last request (yes...sadly we are at the terrible 3's whinner fest stage...*insert rolling eyes*)

"not sure." "I haven't seen him" and "I dont know..." abounded.

I leapt over the piles and as I did so one of the replies was "last I saw him he was playing with his buddy Sam." And I hate to admit it... but often that is that case as we both have open door policies most of the time with the older ones...and the littler ones follow suit. I grabbed the bowl that belonged to Sam's mom and headed over hoping to find him bellied up to a pile of toys at her house. She informed me she hadn't seen him recently...and she informed me that the other 2 neighbors he often congregated at were not at home...they had soccer games. I felt this horrid knot in the pit of my stomach. I could hear the prompting echoing in my ears once again... and I hadn't listened!

I ran home and looked for his big wheel bike. It was gone. I grabbed my keys and hopped in the car....as I yelled to Jess that Caleb was missing. The neighbor told me that some of the kids headed across the road that he is not suppose to cross to play and he might be that way. I drove off in that direction. Jess started walking quickly in the general direction as well.

I found his bike a block and a half away. I rang the doorbell of every neighbor close to his bike, only to find their children his age had come in long before and they hadn't seen him. I called Jess and told him I found his bike. He ran home and got his truck to follow suit and comb the neighborhood more fully. Emmalee called a few minutes later to say his "awesome bike" (his 2 wheeled one with training wheels) was missing as well. My heart sunk. He could be anywhere...

I knew how much he loves his very best friend Jesse. (we call them Kick and Sidekick they are so close) And I knew he had whined earlier that he wanted to go there. I drove there as fast as I could while still watching for him and screaming his name. A knock on the door found no sign of him...but Jesse's family loaded up and they began the search too.

I have to admit I lost it at this point. I had been looking for him for well over 10-15 minutes...and it had been almost 40+ minutes since my 1st impression...that I didn't follow through on myself. (grr. I hate it when I am so stubborn!) My little blonde angel could be anywhere with anyone. I wanted to scream. I wanted to barf. I wanted to cry until it became less of a reality. I have not been so scared in a long time. I called Jess to see if he had seen him yet... with a fruitless answer. I hung up in tears.

Does one call the police this soon? He is only 3! will they think me a horrible mother? he is only 3! where in the hell could he be?? I was running out of ideas! and my voice was cracking as I called his name over and over...

Now... I used to think growing up that my little sister was a spoiled brat. It's true. I did. It wasn't really that she got everything she wanted... but I think it was more that she was SO strong willed and stubborn and non compliant... that often they gave in to avoid the struggle. So not like me. Of course... grated she is now one of my very best friends... but as a child I was intimidated by her personality. You obey. That is how it was in my mind.... and she always wanted to know why...and if the reason was not good enough it held no water. And my Caleb is just like her...

And I knew he was somewhere... and being fiesty to boot! As I was fingering my phone...ready to call 911... it rang. Maria (Jesse's mom) was gulping for air through sobs on the other end. She found him!! He was 2 blocks from home... over half way to their house... playing with some kids he doesn't know in a backyard he's never been to. And he was mad. I drove straight there... I had driven by there at least 3-4 times screaming his name... and as I pulled up I could see his little body language upset with her because he was playing and he was not leaving.

I ran to him and picked him up....and the tears fell for a moment... and then I was mad too. I told him he was in BIG trouble....while trying not to raise my voice...and he looked up at me and said "I not in twouble! You in twouble Mommy!" He wanted to down and he wanted to go play. He had NO idea what had transpired! He was simply playing and we were interupting. He was THRILLED to have so much unawarded freedom and he had no intention of giving it up!

Maria called Jess and we all felt the utter horror and relief of what had happened and what could have happened. As I stood there holding him... arguing with him... and shaking like a leaf I looked over and sure enough there was his "awesome bike". How did I miss it so many times?! I had bailed out to run up to a house multiple times thinking this bike or that bike was his... ugh! And he had likely heard me screaming for him and ignored me because he was happy where he was, and playing what he was playing....

So... we took him home and I held him. And he squirmed. And I didn't care. I am still learning how to deal with such a willful little mite. I know he thinks he can do anything the other kids can, and I know, just like my baby sister, none of my explanations hold water for him... but I thank God for the Holy Ghost that prompts... even if it took me WAY too long to follow through. I thank God my free spirited little pickle is home safe in his bed.

And I am thankful to be his Mommy....my heart just breaks to think I almost lost him! Even if he "lost" himself!

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

A week later...

What fun! We all got sicker from there... and Emma ended up with pneumonia! Praises to the antibiotic and steriod inventors at our house! LOL! Cam did really well... *giggle* 'course he's only been off his steriods for a couple of weeks! It was a normal summer cold... it just really got to those of us here that have lower resistance to such things. But aside from a lingering cough or two we are all better! YIPEE!! And we are LOVING this fall air!!

BUT! The BESTEST news I have to share: Caleb is potty training himself. Yep. You read that right. All by himself! One day last week he discovered that he has Lighting McQueen undies in his drawer he can reach now(makes me wish I had rotated the kids drawers sooner! LOL). Then he was watching the news with me and they were talking about a little kangaroo that has been cheering up people in an old folks home... he asked me why it was wearing a diaper. I said, not really thinking about it "it must be because it is a baby kangaroo". He replied that *he* was not a baby and went right up and put on his new undies. (*gulp*) He has had at least one accident a day...but sometimes only one! And we ran out of Pull-ups...so we are *not* turning back!! WAHOODELEEHOO!!! For the 1st time in 11 years I have no kids in diapers!!!! ~~~heaven~~~

So...I have been waiting this morning for a lender to fax me some info for a client and "killing" time and I found this new fall background! Can I just say it is making me SOOO happy!!? I SO love fall!! I love the cooler air. I love the going back to school. I love the holidays and the smells. I love canning with my MIL, and lately my neighbor. I love harvesting and cleaning for winter. I love getting out warmer clothes and putting away summer things. I love starting to think about Christmas gift ideas and what I want to do. I love getting back into the swing of making warm meals for my family. All of it just brings me such joy!! HAPPY FALL!!!!

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

I have been a bit "clear" lately. Life has been busy. Today it has slowed down for us though...Emma, Cam, Caleb and I woke up with sore throats, runny noses and headaches. Could be allergies...could be our first fall cold. Anywho...we are medicating and taking it easy today. (I am a bit grateful for the slow down! *grin*)


School is grand! The kids love it. They love their teachers and are enjoying themselves! Aside from: Cody came home yesterday quite sad...some older boy pushed into him, almost knocking him down and said "Hey! the nerds belong over there!" :( Freakin' jerk! I held him and told him that we are all nerds if we have a brain in our heads and that that kid must not love himself very much if he has to be mean to other people. Grrr. I wish I could go kick his butt and get his parents involved! Makes me cranky. I know it would do no good...but for heaven's sakes Cody already struggles to feel like he fits in... and my mommy heart wants to tear into that kid! If only Cody knew who it was....


Jestin has been quite busy this last month...and it has been a HUGE blessing. We have still not completely recovered from turning down work to be available for big job for family in June, only to have them use someone else...it seems to have taken it's toll and taken this long to try & make up for. It's been a bummer as summer should have been our best time of year! Ah! Small business! so fun! Takes a lot of faith and following commandments to make it work that is FOR sure! Now if I could convince Jess it is time to hire someone. He is so terrified of being another family's means... and after our history with unemployment ourselves a few years back it still worries him like no other! It's just we are so busy he is turning work away! ack! I keep praying he will be brave. *grin*

I am doing better. (minus not so well today) My blood work came back that I am very low in iron. Huh. Wonder why. Not. And my new heart meds are working well. So I am on the way back up! I am thrilled! I also have some real estate stuff starting up and it is GREAT to get back in the saddle again. *grin*