one might think...

If you had a sweet, cute, darling, delightful two year old daughter that usually sleeps 10 hours a night and takes a two-three hour nap each day, and said daughter missed her nap entirely and stayed up until past 1am, then you might think that she would sleep in the morning until oh lets say at least 7am.

.....you would be wrong.

decorating, dancing and babies that don't sleep.

We made it through a very busy day. Even though it was Saturday it still started at o'dark thirty, there is something wrong with that.

S had to be at the school ready to go to her drill team competition by 7 and we needed to stop at Wal mart first. So out the door we went.
After I dropped her off I went back and got H and DH and we all went and picked up Papa. The four of us headed out to the stake center so that we could decorate for the adult dance that night. We spent a couple hours stringing lights across the ceiling and setting up tables with joyismygoal and her hubby (the rest of the committee). Then the men had to go to a meeting and we finished. Z and H helped. We got done a little before noon and H and I ran to Target to buy a birthday present for her friend Naomi then we went back and got DH. We finally made it home about 1:30.

I was home for a few hours and then headed over to Grapevine to watch S dance and to bring her home early (which meant 7pm) so she could get ready for her evening. Meanwhile DH had to get the kiddos dinner and H to her slumber party.

Tonight the youth had a tri stake Harvest Ball. It was at the CR Smith Aviation History Museum. Which was really neat. It was a formal dance and a really big deal.
Last night we had to go on an emergency shopping trip when S decided she wanted a new dress after all. She's a quick shopper and luckily we found a dress in the first shop we went to and she looked so pretty. Our shopping trip was fun and a success.

Anyway, as soon as her team finished their last dance (which was such a cute pom routine) she had permission to leave and we rushed home. She hopped in the shower, I got dressed to go to my dance and gave J some instructions for the evening.

We took a few pictures and then DH, S and I left for the dances. And J got to watch G and E again.


First we took S to the museum. We walked in with her to see how everything looked and to find her friends. Everything looked very nice. The kids had the whole museum open. The imax theater, the flight simulator, the displays. They had dancing and snacks and got pictures and a tee-shirt. The girls looked so lovely in their formal gowns and it was so especially nice to see them all modestly dressed. It was festive and fun and the kids were excited! The atmosphere was wonderful. The boys also looked very handsome and happy.

After we dropped her off we went to our adult dance. The decorations turned out nicely and they had yummy food. We danced and visited with people.
When the dance was done we cleaned up.

We had a very nice evening and a very busy day. When we got home we found Lucy still awake. And in fact now, at 1am while I am waiting for S to get home and tell about her great time little miss is still sitting here refusing to sleep.



So S is happy, I am tired and J is a lot richer today than she was yesterday!

Friday randomness

I was helping Lucy clean the room she shares with H. While throwing stuff away filing things where they belong I found some pictures she drew of herself with J. They were really cute. She adores J and wants to be with her and to touch all her stuff and bug her all the time and spend quality time with her. J on the other hand doesn't always feel the same way. It's kind of sad. I am the oldest in my family and I don't know what it feels like to be younger and to want like that. I do know what it's like to have pesky younger sibs. Now that we are grown I adore them, and love to spend time with them, and miss them. When we were younger I liked them but wanted to get away from them. They could be embarrassing. So I watch. And when they are kind to each other the smile on H's face makes my heart almost burst with joy, and when they are fighting I sigh and try and step in to be a poor substitute for a "cool older sister" by offering to read a book or bake some cookies.
I hope I was a nice older sister. I feel like I was but I wonder. They don't complain now so I guess whatever meanness there was has been forgiven. "Oh I've had the oft complaint, but on the whole I've been a saint...."older sister or ______ ?(name that line.)

Speaking of younger sibs I think MSV is moving here, which I am thrilled about. I am a little nervous too. I hope she'll like it. I hope living close to family won't drive her nuts. And even though we told them we'll be sent to Maryland during flight test for a short time and then we'll be back I hope they won't feel abandoned when we leave. Utah is different than anywhere else and they love it there so I hope they will see all the nice things about here. I think it will be, from my perspective, probably 98% great. The other 2% will just be worry over if they are happy.

I have worked out 3 days in a row. Yeah me! It's fun in the moment, and feels great to check it off the list after. I am sore. Yesterday I was cursing the toilet designers of the world for putting the darn things so low to the ground. Last night S and I did a video together. She's a good dancer. I move around and sweat so I guess that's fine too.

Yeah for Friday's! We have a busy weekend ahead.

It's cold. A couple other things I don't like about the cold are finding socks every day. I love sandal weather. And sitting on cold leather seats in the morning. And....

I've been doing some on-line shopping, which is a good cold weather activity. We got a catalog with really cute teen clothes that have sleeves and everything. J is baby-sitting this weekend in trade for a piece or two. I also found some really cute sandals for the littles that I will order next week (a little at a time) and a bathing suit at Old Navy that I will order now because for some dumb reason now is the time when you can find them and by April they'll be gone. Explain that to me?

turn in the weather

Survivor Fiji starts tonight. This is big news at my house! It's my 2nd favorite show ever so I am very excited. I would never want to be a contestant on Survivor but I love to watch it. I would, however, be a contestant on my #1 favorite show the Amazing Race. I don't know if we would do very well but it would be really fun.
Last week we got Dish network. It's been over 9 years since we have had satellite and we really debated whether to get it now or not. The reception is much clearer and there are lots of channels to choose from now. We don't really watch all that much TV. The littles like to have it on in the morning while we're getting ready for whatever we're doing that day. Now brother has found Danny Phantom, which he loves. It's way better than that super annoying little Caillou that I hated. Sadly Lucy likes Wonder Pets, which is really kind of mind numbing but she's two so she's entitled to like dumb shows.
Sometimes I'll watch something while folding clothes but really our only TV viewing time is at night after we have the kids to bed.
DH found a show he loves called Modern Marvels. We've been watching that. It's very educational. Last night's theme was "the history of the shovel" or something like that. Riveting.
I watch while reading/blogging/resting my eyes.
But tonight some good ol reality TV is on the menu!

Legs are a little sore today. The weather is a litte dreary so I am trying to figure out a way to get a good long walk in.

Last night was New Beginnings. It was really fun. The girls did a newscast. It was wonderfully funny and nice at the same time. I wish I brought my camera.

While we were driving home from taking the girls to school I broke the bad news that preschool was canceled today because Nikko is sick and it's her turn to teach.
E was sad.
Then he proceeded to tell me about a disagreement he and K (Nikko's son) had been having.
Brother said: K thinks infinity is the last number. He thinks he knows everything. But I told him numbers never end so infinity can't be last. Right mom?
I said: numbers never end that's right, but when people talk about the "last number" they call it infinity that means it never ends.
Brother: I don't get it.
Me: Me either.
Brother: but K doesn't know everything because the last number never comes.
Me: Right. K is really smart, so are you. But you both have lots of things to learn about.
Brother: cool. right mom?
why are four year olds arguing about infinity? Scary!

She's so helpful....

Lucy reminds me to take my vitamins...
and helps me do sit-ups.
She's so helpful :)

This morning I got up during seminary (again) and S dropped me off at Tori's house where she and Marcia and I exercised.
I don't love getting up that early, and I don't love to exercise but not withstanding those inconveniences I had a good time. Talking and working out always go well together and the time went quickly.
We did legs. I noticed I favored my previously broken but now "healed" ankle. Hopefully I won't turn out lopsided. Hopefully this will make the bad one flexible and strong.
We ran out of time and I had to do sit-ups at home. Luckily I had plenty of people willing to keep me company!

So at this rate I should be thin and lovely and ready to run in the mud run by...umm...2008? 09?

50 cheap dates

In honor of Valentines day coming up I am participating in Shalee's Fifty Cheap Dates.

We go on a date every weekend. DH is very big on this. I am looking forward to reading everyone's ideas so we can have some new things to do.

I guess cheap is a relative term. I am thinking $10 or less is cheap. Over $40 is expensive.

So some cheap ideas:

• Go to the dollar movie.
• take a walk in the botanical gardens and then stop at Chili's and share a dessert.
• go to a free concert in the park.
• get several couples together and go frisbee golf and then BBQ at the park.
• start a dinner group and rotate homes for dinner and games.
• invest in a coupon book and try out all the buy one get one free deals. They have them for movies, dinners, mini golf, bowling, lots of stuff.

Have fun!

sunny day

DH's dentist appointment went well. It turns out he had a bone fragment that was removed but he feels fine now.

When he came home from work he and the kids went out in the yard to shoot off his rocket. It flew well. Our neighbors came out to watch and visit.

It was a very visiting day. After school we went across the street and talked with our other neighbors for a while as the children played.

Millie brought in something gross today. She was in the yard and found a deer leg. Yuck! She brought it inside and I thought it was a big stick at first and told her to "drop it". When I went to throw it away I saw it was part of a leg. Our neighbor Chris told me he's seen coyotes running in the neighborhood in the mornings. We wonder if they had anything to do with that. I looked around but didn't find any other parts.

Princess Yo-Yo Loser Fatty Pants

For two weeks I did great, then for two weeks I didn't. Now I am back to the same place I started.
Well, I'm starting again. Eventually I'll be thin.

monday

Our weekend was really fun. Saturday morning was busy. S had drill team practice and H and E went to a primary activity. Mom and Dad and V&R went to look at houses. Then we met and went to lunch at Spring Creek, which is DH's favorite. We were going to go to the stockyards but M&D V&R needed to go the builders design center and look at stuff. They are thinking about living together and had a lot of details to work out. When they were done it was too late to do that and make it to the scout fund raising dinner so we did the scout thing instead.

Later that night we left the kids home and went downtown. DH and I love to go there on date. It's always fun to walk around. That night it was very freezing but we still had fun.

Yesterday we went to church and then everyone came over for superbowl food and game. J went to a friends house to watch.


Poor S is having some kind of an allergic reaction to something. It started Saturday, she has hives all over and her hands and face and ankles are swollen. She is very itchy. I've been giving her benadryl and tagamet (on my brother's advice) This morning I put a call in to the doctor and am still waiting to hear back from him. I don't really want to bring her in if I don't have to. She refuses to miss school so it's hard to fit in a visit. She started some meds about 3 weeks ago for acne and I wonder if she's having a reaction to that. I guess. Today she feels a little better but still itchy. She did go to school without taking anything because it was making her too sleepy.

V&R think they will move here. If they actually do I will be SO EXCITED!! To me it still seems a little iffy so I am not getting too exicited just yet.

DH has an appointment with the oral surgeon this afternoon. He has a weird hurting bump in the back of his mouth.

The weather is warming up!! Yeah!

new purse

pink pink pink

Today J got a suprise in the mail. A new purse from Nana. J was soo suprised and excited. Nana said since she'd dyed her clothes pink twice now she needed something to match her new pink wardrobe. Isn't that the sweetest thing ever?!

It came on a perfect day because J was very bummed since she just got grounded again. She went home after school with her friends Ciera and Sophia and again she forgot to call and tell me they were home and safe. I waitied until almost 7pm and then I called. She always forgets and that is just not acceptable. This is a safety issue as well as a courtesy issue and an obedience issue.

Also yesterday I got an e-mail from her English teacher saying she always talks in class. Not good.

I don't like to ground the kids but it's my main behavior modifier. So in light of the grounded the purse was a welcome distraction and it really is so cute!

no photo day

I day without taking a single picture? How did that happen?
Well it was because I was too busy laughing my head off all day long. The best thing about being with my sister is she is SO DANG FUNNY. I never laugh so hard as when I am with her. And after all these years of being sisters a single word can send us into fits of laughter that leaves me unable to breath and others at the table looking at us like we are lunatics.
The evil reverse side of that talent she has is with a word or phrase she can also bring back to my remembrance things that are gross enough to make me gag at the thought. . . and even when I beg her to stop she won't because she thinks that is so dang funny.
It's so bad that sometimes she cracks me up at inappropriate times and I have to try and bite my cheek or pinch myself or something in a hope that the pain with override the mirth.

Last night we tried a new restaurant "Texas Land & Cattle". We had a fun night. The kids are all looking forward to today because they get to play with us. They look forward to watching their mother crack up and laugh along like little loons.

They're here!

There was some bad weather and later flights were cancelled but luckily MSV and R made it in on time.

I am so excited they are here.

We had a fun dinner. Afterwards we had a family "talent show". The men went to Wal-mart. V and I cleaned the kitchen. Everyone liked the chili.

So, it was a good night. I am looking forward to a nice weekend.

birthday surprises!

Little Lucy got a package today from Nana and Abba. It was a big surprise and so fun!

What's for dinner?

MSV and her sweet hubby R are arriving this afternoon for a long weekend. I am so excited. We have a lot of great plans including going to the scout spaghetti dinner fund raiser, watching the superbowl, and having a couples race through the stock yards human maze because we watched them do it on the Amazing Race and MSV and I are BIG fans & anytime you put any two boys from our family together there is automatically a competition of some kind, never mind that both these boys are imports to the family! At least we're not playing lets see who can burp the loudest, or who can make the biggest belly flop, or my favorite who can suck a noodle up their nose and out their mouths the quickest. We are nothing if not a classy bunch.

Tonight I am making dinner for everyone, which is normally so not a big deal. I cook for an army every day, and I am completely desentizied to criticism. But I wanted to make something nice. Some thing that says "move to TX, it's really the greatest place ever, and it would be so great to live by us and have the cousins grow up together" but at the same time I didn't want to run the risk of false advertising. We are boring and our food isn't always good, and our laundry room more often than not has a strange smell in it so I couldn't make something that says we are classy or fun. I ask a lot of my food, it's more than just nourishment it's also an encrypted message. Corn dogs for dinner = I have had a long day. Chocolate anything= I love you. Fish= lets be healthy and have a long life together. Apparently boiled chicken= I have no regard for your feelings. Pizza = see I am young and hip. And the list goes on. So what to make. Something warm and welcoming, but not pretencious and showy. No promises but lots of hope. What oh what to make. I literally spent several days thinking on this.

The winner: Cincinnati Chili (with just a sweet hint of chocolate and cinnamon but also a hot kick) served over spaghetti with garlic bread, salad and homemade molten chocolate cake.

Today was my day for preschool. This week, was my week actually, we studied reptiles. My house is still a post preschool disaster site and I have raw ingredient's for dinner and little time so what am I doing?
In my defense I set the timer and gave myself 10 minutes. I have one left so I will share a quick antidote. You can decide if it's amusing or not.

Tuesday we were sitting down for preschool snack.
I reminded the boys to wait for the prayer. The snack was chips and queso. As crumbs fell from their mouths and little cheese covered hands quickly folded in front of their plates K said "yeah or we will be eating cursed food."
E said "no we won't, food isn't cursed only pirates get cursed."
K "yes it does, my mom told me. My mom knows everything. "
E "no she doesn't only Heavenly Father knows everything."
K " my mom and dad know EVERYTHING"
E "ONLY HEAVENLY FATHER KNOWS EVERYTHING"
E "Right mom?"
K" Sister U does my mom know everything?"
me taking a deep breath, well guys it's important to pray over our food to show our gratitude for all our blessing (the old distract them with something else ploy...that never works)
K&E "but who knows everything?"
Me "Heavenly Father knows everything and moms and dads know a whole lot of stuff and we should always listen to them (sorry Nikko), let's pray"
Still unsatisfied they bowed their heads. Ryan prayed.
Everyone dipped into the cheese except K who said "my mom and dad know everything" and E who responded "nuh uh, only...."
Then I turned on our Primary Program CD and thankfully all the boys started singing loudly and forgot about who knows everything.

I can't always outwit but this time I outplayed!

WFMW

Our little Lucy can get into anything. It's really charming. Not.
This used to be a big problem. She would go help herself, open youghurts, drop eggs, spill milk, or just take a look and then leave the door wide open.
Then last week I found this at Wal-mart and our problems are solved (at least with the fridge).
Easy but it works for me!!

For more tips go visit Rocks in my Dryer!

OwlHaven's writing contest.

I Am
I am the first baby girl born in San Francisco, Ca to immigrant parents. The first to start life on US soil and in freedom passed down through generations.

Who loved to see the camels at the zoo, and Baba Katya, and reading National Geographics.

I am the child who played in the warm summer sand and weeded the garden and cried over multiplication tables.

Who loved horses and reading and drawing pictures.

Who stored a hoof pick in my treasure box in hopes of someday having a horse of my own.

Who dreamed of adventure in space and never thought she would be a mom to many young adventurers.

I am the teenager who lived for stake dances.

Who wore 501’s and a “life’s a beach” tee shirt and loved donuts and hated that darn rubix cube that I never did solve.

Who spent the morning in the surf and then the afternoon in the snow (only in CA)

Who dreamed of seeing the world and knew she would make a difference some how.

I am the woman who became a mom when I was still just a girl.

Who loves God and Family and Friends

I am the mother who loves sweet little feet and goes crazy if I have to sort socks and whose moments of perfect bliss come as I sit at the table with all of my dear ones and listen to their chatter, and laughter, and yes even their fights.

I am the mom who loves baking and avoids going to the dentist and who tries to be a good example each day.

I am the woman who is patient and kind and a little bit quiet.

I am the person who survived cancer and divorce but still can't put her face under water.

I am the woman who still loves chocolate and sandy days by the surf, but never will fit those 501’s again.

Who still longs to learn how to knit, or speak Hebrew, or bake a perfect funnel cake.

I am the person who dreams of her children’s future and a day of peace and is grateful for each breath I take, for each one is a gift from a loving Heavenly Father.
~~~~~~~~~~~

To participate click here, leave a comment and tell her that txmommy sent you. Also let me know if you are writing one of your own.

Moroccan Chicken Stew

I tried a new recipe tonight. Not everyone loved it but I thought it was really "yumm-o".
The vote went: Mom and Dad (who have dinner and FHE with us each Monday) both liked it. S thought it had too much squash. E ate some but not a lot. J liked it. DH not so much. H and G liked it well enough to share a second bowl at bedtime.

1 T oil
1 small onion chopped
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 t turmeric
1/4 t cinnamon
3 whole cloves
2 bay leaves
2 cups chicken broth
4 skinless, boneless chicken thighs
1 can whole tomatoes
1 large carrot sliced
1 can green beans
1 small summer squash, sliced
1 can chickpeas
1/2 t salt
1/3 cup golden raisins

In a large pot heat oil. Saute onion and garlic for 2-3 mintues until onion is clear. Stir in turmeric, cinnamon, cloves, and bay leaves and cook the mixture for 2-3 more minutes.
Add the chicken broth, thighs and tomatoes and bring the stew to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 25 minutes.
Stir in carrots, green beans, squash, chickpeas and salt. Cook, covered, stiring occasionally for 10 minutes.
Add the raisins. Raise heat and cook for 10 more minutes.
Ladle stew into a shallow bowl around a mound of couscous.

I had to double it.

We served it with salad, olives, sweet pickles and sliced cantalope.

things we like to play

I got a new game today. It's called Hiss and it is very fun. Brother and I played this afternoon. We also played Crazy 8's, which he loves.

While I was fixing dinner tonight the kids got in the linen closet and got almost all our blankets out and made a huge fun tent on Lucy's playset (which is still in the living room). They then played on it for a long time. There was a lot of laughing.

For FHE we played both Crazy 8's and Hiss. H added a rule that anyone who won a hand "got" to wear her jesters hat.



While we played games Lucy got to play with play-doh. She had so much fun she had to use hands and feet to fully enjoy the goo. She's a little monkey.

This picture cracks me up. They were a tangle of feet and hands and body parts like a litter of kittens.

After the littles went to bed J and DH and I played Scrabble. J just learned how to play the other night. S came home from drill team practice while we were playing and helped J out for a while. We had a fun time visitng while we played. And, for the record, I won.

guess who went to nursery today!

Lucy went to nursery. She had fun. Maybe this is the start of something good!

This morning H called Abba on the phone. Somehow Lucy got a turn, she had a wonderful time listening and nodding and smiling. She wouldn't relinquish the phone for a long time. Abba is a good sport!