tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17368453115418749762024-03-13T14:48:21.736-07:00LutopiaShawnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06361795312201726795noreply@blogger.comBlogger137125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1736845311541874976.post-14365199433466115712010-05-28T08:30:00.001-07:002010-05-28T08:32:21.791-07:00Let Summer Begin<p>Yesterday was the kids last day of school.  Actually I think “school” as we know it ended last week because all they have been doing is signing yearbooks and having parties.   I’m so glad school is out, but as much as I wanted it to be over with, I wasn’t ready for the end of year teacher gifts.  I knew that gifts require cards so I did the fun part first and made the cards.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/S__hY8ra0uI/AAAAAAAABRQ/O9G3AYlMQAE/s1600-h/05%2026%2010_2695%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="05 26 10_2695" border="0" alt="05 26 10_2695" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/S__haOQ18YI/AAAAAAAABRU/4jdD45ssaGY/05%2026%2010_2695_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="607" height="456" /></a> </p> <p>I couldn’t think of anything that was both inexpensive and fast so I did a repeat of last year (since they didn’t have any of the same teachers).  I found some nice water bottles and filled them with Crystal Light drink packets and put a little tag on them that said, Thanks for quenching my thirst for knowledge.  I knew it was kind of lame so I made the kids write their teachers thank you notes inside the cards.  I figured it would mean more coming from them.  Kyle really knocked his out of the park, I knew his teachers would really appreciate  it.  I helped Lana organize her thoughts and then made sure she used her best handwriting, luckily we have some erasable pens.   </p> <p>The past week and a half has been exhausting.  We have had promotion ceremonies, award assemblies, locker and desk clean outs, a phonics party, a lacrosse party, birthday parties, swimming parties, and did we get pictures of any of it?  NO.  I did take some video but I’m not going to share it with you out of respect for others privacy.  So I’ll show you a picture taken a month ago after my parents returned from Hawaii.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/S__ha0nAfPI/AAAAAAAABRY/JukcVcBlzQQ/s1600-h/04%2025%2010_2734%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="04 25 10_2734" border="0" alt="04 25 10_2734" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/S__hbwmq-fI/AAAAAAAABRc/-2wU1ldy5CU/04%2025%2010_2734_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="608" height="457" /></a> </p> <p>Kyle is still taller than me.  I know this isn’t going to change but it still surprises me every time I see us standing together.  </p> <p>It’s the first day of Summer Vacation and what are my kids doing?</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/S__hcjSCDGI/AAAAAAAABRg/mrO1h-c_bTo/s1600-h/05%2028%2010_2844%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="05 28 10_2844" border="0" alt="05 28 10_2844" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/S__hdWJySRI/AAAAAAAABRk/X5WsO4rCFZ8/05%2028%2010_2844_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="390" height="519" /></a>Having some much deserved couch time!  </p> Shawnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06361795312201726795noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1736845311541874976.post-69078249278099865542010-04-19T09:54:00.001-07:002010-04-19T09:54:59.118-07:00We Interrupt This Blog for This Important Message<p>Dear Mr. Jamie Oliver,</p> <p>You are so stinky adorable.  I love your fun hair.  I love your accent.  I love your trucker style hats.  I love that half the time you eat with your fingers.  I love watching your <a href="http://abc.go.com/shows/jamie-olivers-food-revolution">Food Revolution</a> program.</p> <p>BUT, can you please tell my children it’s OK to eat pizza every now and then.  Seriously!  And while your at it can you inform them that if their choice at McDonald’s is a hamburger or chicken nuggets, that chicken nuggets is the better choice.  They used to always choose chicken until your lovely chicken nugget experiment.  </p> <p>I have somehow managed to teach my children that veggies are not optional.  Not only do they eat them, they request them.  If we have spaghetti and I forgot to get the salad out there are questions.  </p> <p>What I would like you to teach them is that there isn’t dessert after every meal.  This is one thing that no matter how many times I tell them they refuse to listen.  This very morning my daughter asked “what’s for dessert” after breakfast!  They do not get dessert after every meal nor do they get it after breakfast but they still ask and it’s getting really annoying.  </p> <p>One other thing before we go…If parents are so outraged by school lunches why don’t they make their kids lunch?  I grew up brown bagging it, my kids brown bag it, and we are still alive to tell the tell.  I don’t feel it is the school’s job to feed my child, they are there to learn.  </p> <p>Thanks,</p> <p>Shawna </p> Shawnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06361795312201726795noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1736845311541874976.post-35828241109101747082010-03-24T14:43:00.001-07:002010-03-24T14:43:59.940-07:00Wasting Time<p>So I’m supposed to be packing for our spring break trip, but I’m finding myself distracted with all the little details.  We are flying on a different airline and they charge by the bag.  I’m so stressing about their guidelines as to what a carryon is.  So much so I’m about to take a little drive to the airport and see if they would measure my bags.  I have measured them  and if I squish them they are the right size…almost… We picked this airline because they saved us about $600.00 so I guess if I have to pay an extra $80 for a bag I shouldn’t stress about it.  We are also going to miss the kid’s Spring Play.  It’s more of a concert than a play, but it was going to be SOOOO cute this year.  They have a fabulous music teacher who I just adore!  She has the kids singing pop songs and they are so excited about it.  </p> <p>Lana’s class is singing New Soul by Yael Naim, such a cute song for her to sing.  Take a listen:</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; width: 425px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:c50f4126-eff0-4557-9c00-970a94290109" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/f8wpdr-YbbU&hl=en_US&fs=1&&hl=en"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/f8wpdr-YbbU&hl=en_US&fs=1&&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="355"></embed></object></div></div> <p></p> <p>Kyle’s class is singing Replay by Iyaz.  While Kyle’s class is singing the chorus Lana’s class is going to be freestyle dancing, little kids dancing always cracks me up.</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; width: 425px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:566935fd-91a3-4b5c-b2de-7c49e1d74f87" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/aQKyurxRj9A&hl=en_US&fs=1&&hl=en"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/aQKyurxRj9A&hl=en_US&fs=1&&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="355"></embed></object></div></div> <p></p> <p></p> <p>The whole school is singing Fireflies by Owl City.  </p> <p></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; width: 425px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:2782086c-5ae1-4d42-b474-94a4fc6cc439" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/dFsFZitlM7k&hl=en_US&fs=1&&hl=en"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/dFsFZitlM7k&hl=en_US&fs=1&&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="355"></embed></object></div></div> <p></p> <p>They are also singing Don’t Stop Believing the Glee version.  The older kids sing while the younger ones do the Da Da Da’s.   </p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; width: 425px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:d6bf715a-1746-4c28-9305-e8576ad71254" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5ffuCVLECpY&hl=en_US&fs=1&&hl=en"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5ffuCVLECpY&hl=en_US&fs=1&&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="355"></embed></object></div></div> <p></p> <p>Kyle’s class and the older kids are also singing Viva La Vida by Coldplay</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; width: 425px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:6c5c2334-c122-460d-be8a-93a9269ba64f" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VotSAzdu6nA&hl=en_US&fs=1&&hl=en"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VotSAzdu6nA&hl=en_US&fs=1&&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="355"></embed></object></div></div> <p></p> <p>Kyle was going to be in a group of boys singing Nine in the Afternoon by Panic at the Disco</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; width: 425px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:656c5897-533d-4715-8a35-7e0cf97c792c" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hII1qmvKmEA&hl=en_US&fs=1&&hl=en"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hII1qmvKmEA&hl=en_US&fs=1&&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="355"></embed></object></div></div> <p> </p> <p>Wouldn’t you be so bummed about missing it too?  Maybe there will be an encore performance after Spring Break.  On the bright side we are in for a week of chilling to the max.  It’s so relaxing when we go to visit Ronnie’s parents, I’m so looking forward to it.  I hope you all have a great Spring Break!</p> Shawnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06361795312201726795noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1736845311541874976.post-71486279330030015782010-03-15T19:31:00.001-07:002010-03-15T19:31:23.900-07:00I am Persistent if Nothing Else<p>So Today I was totally free.  No grocery shopping to do, no helping at the kids school, no laundry, no cooking to be done, no driving anyone to anywhere, totally free.  So I had two things I was thinking about doing, getting my eyebrows threaded or making a baby gift for a baby shower.  </p> <p>I want to get my eyebrows threaded and need to also but for some reason I keep putting it off.  </p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; width: 425px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:2c565f88-8c84-4c37-b217-281a9bb5a8fe" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2RKanON021o&hl=en_US&fs=1&&hl=en"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2RKanON021o&hl=en_US&fs=1&&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="355"></embed></object></div></div> <p> </p> <p>So today I ended up making a baby blanket.  As always something goes wrong every time I get behind the sewing machine and today was no different.  One of these days I’m gonna learn that there are some things I just can’t do well, but until then I will keep sharing my sewing mishaps with you.  </p> <p>So I get the blanket all trimmed up and thread my sewing machine and load up the bobbin with matching thread and place the blanket on the machine.  I start to sew and then this happened:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/S57tVtkGclI/AAAAAAAABQM/3ZC6tkoQXL8/s1600-h/03%2015%2010_2636%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="03 15 10_2636" border="0" alt="03 15 10_2636" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/S57tWxs7HpI/AAAAAAAABQQ/CGqRC44HZSU/03%2015%2010_2636_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="390" height="519" /></a>  That’s my sewing machine needle, broke into two pieces.  I’m so special when it come to sewing, you just have to believe me.  So I figured out that my bobbin was too full.  Who knew it could be too full?  Luckily I had extra needles so I didn’t have to run to the store.  </p> <p>I decided to make my baby blanket have rounded corner because it was something new for me.  I  left the opening on the corner because I didn’t know what I was doing.  Then after I pulled it right side out and was ironing it I realized I did not want the opening on the corner because it would be too hard to topstitch and make it look pretty.  So then I flipped it wrong side out again and sewed the corner and left a teeny tiny baby hole for me to turn it right side out through.  After pinching and pulling I finally was able to get it turned right side out and finish it.  </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/S57tXmftzBI/AAAAAAAABQU/GdmjxWqsU_A/s1600-h/03%2015%2010_2637%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="03 15 10_2637" border="0" alt="03 15 10_2637" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/S57tYlZawsI/AAAAAAAABQY/ncotpbe68E0/03%2015%2010_2637_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="420" height="558" /></a>  </p> <p></p> <p>End result:  A finished baby blanket that passed the “can I give this as a gift” test.  </p> <p>Sewing is just one of many things on my “I need to get better at this list”.  One other thing I need to get better at is bread baking.  So every Sunday is bread baking day.  Here are a few breads I’ve been baking:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/S57tZ6OTcYI/AAAAAAAABQc/hm0WYGNWPMU/s1600-h/03%2007%2010_2650%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="03 07 10_2650" border="0" alt="03 07 10_2650" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/S57taoxfRTI/AAAAAAAABQg/rz4VDlGZ3Jk/03%2007%2010_2650_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="441" height="332" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/S57tbnDV7uI/AAAAAAAABQk/Q0BNa0UkTPo/s1600-h/03%2007%2010_2651%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="03 07 10_2651" border="0" alt="03 07 10_2651" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/S57tchgCSyI/AAAAAAAABQo/FDKtCr8zheI/03%2007%2010_2651_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="288" height="383" /></a>  <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/S57tdTv0tvI/AAAAAAAABQs/OSN6S53RQIo/s1600-h/03%2007%2010_2652%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="03 07 10_2652" border="0" alt="03 07 10_2652" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/S57teHq4ejI/AAAAAAAABQw/MZWKhgv4LGA/03%2007%2010_2652_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="290" height="385" /></a></p> <p>Well, I’ve baked for 4 Sundays now but I guess I only took pictures on the Sunday when Ronnie was working so I could email him and he could see what he was missing.  I’m a nice wife like that.  The above pictured are cinnamon and dinner rolls made with potato pearls.  I’ve made whole wheat butter horns twice and last Sunday were plain white rolls shaped like knots.  I like the rolls so far because they actually rise.  Unlike my many loaves of wheat bread I have tried in the past.  </p> <p>Maybe my next “free” day will be the day I finally get my eyebrows threaded.  </p> Shawnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06361795312201726795noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1736845311541874976.post-2637400624273272842010-02-05T14:43:00.001-08:002010-02-05T22:18:54.139-08:00Where is My Gold Star?<p>Yesterday I was so productive.  My house looks like it was turned upside down but I got a lot of things done that needed to be done. And I always have the kids to help clean the house up on the weekend anyways.  Isn’t that the<u> real</u> reason we have kids, free child labor?  </p> <p>So anyway, Yesterday I made Valentine bags for Lana to give to her class at school.  Kyle didn’t want anything to give to his friends, I guess it’s not cool anymore.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/S2ye4plz1fI/AAAAAAAABPY/JdQRb5gyOQM/s1600-h/02%2005%2010_2506%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="02 05 10_2506" border="0" alt="02 05 10_2506" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/S2ye5sCf6EI/AAAAAAAABPc/poO0_zRnFDU/02%2005%2010_2506_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="309" height="411" /></a> Then I made Valentine cards for Lana to pass out to her class.  I seem to have an aversion to store bought holiday cards.  I’m weird like that.  I made the Valentine cards with a stamp set called <a href="http://www.papertreyink.com/stamps_tinytreats_valentine.html">tiny treats</a> from <a href="http://www.papertreyink.com/">Papertrey Ink</a>.  I am in love with these stamps!</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/S2ye6aDZyOI/AAAAAAAABPg/v5Vu3IH832w/s1600-h/02%2005%2010_2507%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="02 05 10_2507" border="0" alt="02 05 10_2507" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/S2ye7TSsR4I/AAAAAAAABPk/0wVnqqza0wY/02%2005%2010_2507_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="515" height="387" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/S2ye8DWbrQI/AAAAAAAABPo/wPuLv7Y0bvg/s1600-h/02%2005%2010_2509%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="02 05 10_2509" border="0" alt="02 05 10_2509" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/S2ye81ojLjI/AAAAAAAABPs/go788sWYd-k/02%2005%2010_2509_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="337" height="448" /></a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Then I went grocery shopping and got a really good deal on ground beef.  So I went home and made 4 tater tot casseroles and put them in the freezer.  Then I went back and picked up some more ground beef and made some taco meat and meat to add to rice or spaghetti sauce and froze it too.  I told Ronnie how I really wished all those Ziploc bags we just bought from Sam’s were freezer bags.  Then as he saw me trying to suck all the air out of the bags and my face turning three shades of red he said why don’t you use that food saver thing we have up in the cabinet.  Oh yeah we have one of those thingys.  So after wiping the dust off and using it I was no longer mad at our Ziploc bags and all was right with the world.  I also made some Valentine Cookies, but they were gone before I thought to take a picture.  They are probably my favorite cookies and I think every time I make them if I have any left the next morning I eat no less than  3 for breakfast.  So I have to give them away before the next morning.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/S2ye9pv3DEI/AAAAAAAABPw/_L0cTt2lpWU/s1600-h/02%2005%2010_2510%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="02 05 10_2510" border="0" alt="02 05 10_2510" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/S2ye-hGZmbI/AAAAAAAABP0/bHjUjoLmOD0/02%2005%2010_2510_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="339" height="451" /></a>While I was cooking I kept looking at my super cute recipe box my sister gave me and thinking how I should really start putting recipes in there instead of just admiring it’s looks.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/S2ye_vu_RNI/AAAAAAAABP4/_2AsQJDj724/s1600-h/image%5B7%5D.png"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/S2yfBCfxQaI/AAAAAAAABP8/KBIpBGGrQ9s/image_thumb%5B3%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="336" height="411" /></a> So I made some recipe cards.  I only made two but it’s a start.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/S2yfB59FTEI/AAAAAAAABQA/FWRFv8iN9t0/s1600-h/image%5B3%5D.png"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/S2yfCxfOvmI/AAAAAAAABQE/zaXaDCvFtYM/image_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="352" height="456" /></a> Then I realized how little I actually use recipes.  Another realization I’ve had is how much my thumb looks like it belongs on a man’s hand.  Now if you sit by me at church and I don’t want to share a hymn book with you, you know it’s not you,  I’m just trying to hide my manly thumbs.   </p> <p>So now since I got so much done yesterday, I’ve just wasted away an hour today blogging.  I’m cool like that.    :) </p> Shawnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06361795312201726795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1736845311541874976.post-78389281569745908382010-01-25T15:57:00.001-08:002010-01-25T15:57:02.842-08:00Year of Photos that Make Me Smile<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/S14vx4cHv-I/AAAAAAAABPQ/fwIDAHHOurw/s1600-h/Year%20in%20Photos%5B6%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Year in Photos" border="0" alt="Year in Photos" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/S14vzb6ZrHI/AAAAAAAABPU/U6wG5I47NGY/Year%20in%20Photos_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="602" height="1066" /></a> </p> <p>I went through my photos and picked one photo each month that brought a smile to my face.  </p> Shawnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06361795312201726795noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1736845311541874976.post-81915078511531352182009-12-17T19:28:00.001-08:002009-12-17T19:28:14.766-08:00Christmas…It’s Practically Here!<p>Thanksgiving has come and gone.  It kind of lost it’s luster this year because two very important people were not here.  Ronnie’s parents could not make it out this year because of cancer treatments and such.  Ronnie’s Mom, Sue, has been my Black Friday buddy for the past few years and I so missed her this year.  I couldn’t even bring myself to go out and join the crazies without her.  Our French silk pie didn’t taste the same without Ronnie’s Dad helping to make it.  Now I’m in no way saying this  was his doing but, one year I left the pie making up to the guys while I went to take a shower.  Upon my return to the kitchen I see everyone hovered over the mixing bowl.  Apparently an eggshell dropped into the mixing bowl as it was whipping around as fast as it could.  They managed to save the pie by picking each tiny eggshell out.  There may have been a strainer used in the process, I can’t remember all the details, nevertheless the pie never tasted so good.  </p> <p>Now Christmas is right around the corner.  There are so many fun things to do this time of year but so little time. We did make it to the kids Christmas Program at school where a very nervous little kindergartener ran from the stage throwing up.  That’s a night we wont soon forget!  Lana is getting over her stage freight and can now stay up on stage without crying out DADDY, DADDY. DADDY.  Kyle can sing wonderfully and  really enjoys it but you could never tell from the look on his face.  During the whole program he had a scour look on his face because it’s no longer “cool” to smile.  I tried to get a good picture of them all dressed and ready to impress but…</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/Syr2gXKke_I/AAAAAAAABNY/bmMAiJ--1BI/s1600-h/11%2029%2009_2313%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="11 29 09_2313" border="0" alt="11 29 09_2313" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/Syr2gwiYnNI/AAAAAAAABNc/ynCH1BXLg0k/11%2029%2009_2313_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a>  <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/Syr2hUfwZUI/AAAAAAAABNg/nI75Zs-hvro/s1600-h/11%2029%2009_2315%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="11 29 09_2315" border="0" alt="11 29 09_2315" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/Syr2h57I1_I/AAAAAAAABNk/ZvreRDsI0ok/11%2029%2009_2315_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/Syr2ioZ948I/AAAAAAAABNo/3p-FLcxGSrw/s1600-h/11%2029%2009_2316%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="11 29 09_2316" border="0" alt="11 29 09_2316" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/Syr2jJKmzQI/AAAAAAAABNs/9qeyyr9HQzE/11%2029%2009_2316_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></a>  </p> <p>We have been to many places where Lana has visited with the Jolly Ol’ Man himself.  Places like Opportunity Village, Ethel M, the Church Christmas Party, and even Wal-Mart.  Each Santa she visited with she told them she wanted the same thing.  Now here is where I wish I could scream this from the rooftops because it makes me look like a good mom, she told all 4 Santa’s that she wanted a book.  A BOOK, not a video game, or bike, or the latest and greatest toy, but a BOOK.  Now here is where I tell you the truth behind this.  She has given Grandma a list of things she would like from her.  Then when my parents asked her what she wanted she couldn’t come up with anything because she knew that Grandma would get her everything on her list so she needed to think of something new for them to get her.  We were over at my parents house one day organizing craft supplies using a label maker when Lana discovered this new device.  She then asked them to give her a label maker for Christmas.  Then when we went to the 4 Santa’s she was out of gift ideas so she asked for books, because you can never have too many books.  Regardless of how this came to be, Santa will be very happy to buy her books, I’m just sure of it.</p> <p> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/Syr2jqWSekI/AAAAAAAABNw/qeuesKpXq44/s1600-h/12%2005%2009_2292%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="12 05 09_2292" border="0" alt="12 05 09_2292" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/Syr2kPdQlFI/AAAAAAAABN0/lLyY7nu8QCY/12%2005%2009_2292_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="293" height="390" /></a>   <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/Syr2k-D7GWI/AAAAAAAABN4/XsvsF00HwgI/s1600-h/12%2006%2009_2289%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="12 06 09_2289" border="0" alt="12 06 09_2289" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/Syr2lb5QhxI/AAAAAAAABN8/zLDwO1_Bh_A/12%2006%2009_2289_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="294" height="390" /></a> </p> <p>We finally got the Christmas cards in the mail and now we can eat dinner on the table without being surrounded by cardstock, tape, sticky dots, pictures…all the <strike>CRAP STUFF</strike> craft stuff it took to make them.  Ronnie actually came up with the idea this year.  We tried to mimic the It’s A Wonderful Life DVD cover.  Incase you’re wondering, yes I made Kyle squat down.  He’s about as tall as I am!</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/Syr2mqymhqI/AAAAAAAABOA/56ym09ynJHY/s1600-h/image%5B3%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/Syr2nrcLVbI/AAAAAAAABOE/9WDwuyayT7M/image_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="310" height="434" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/Syr2pTYkqmI/AAAAAAAABOM/Fz0FVmbAWcY/s1600-h/image%5B7%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/Syr2rIbgt6I/AAAAAAAABOQ/-lUmDBXG2U0/image_thumb%5B3%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="294" height="437" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>The kids made puppets one night.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/Syr2r1pYz6I/AAAAAAAABOU/-xcfu8mZlw4/s1600-h/12%2013%2009_2274%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="12 13 09_2274" border="0" alt="12 13 09_2274" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/Syr2sRu02SI/AAAAAAAABOY/D_K2OkIyjjc/12%2013%2009_2274_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="297" height="394" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/Syr2tLDac4I/AAAAAAAABOc/56pWgIh5l4o/s1600-h/12%2013%2009_2278%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="12 13 09_2278" border="0" alt="12 13 09_2278" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/Syr2tjNNG6I/AAAAAAAABOg/jtbt4YChqFI/12%2013%2009_2278_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="295" height="392" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p>They also got to play in snow.  They have a teacher at school that lives on Mt. Charleston and he drives a truck so when it snows he brings snow down for the kids to play with.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/Syr2ubGlrQI/AAAAAAAABOk/TYplBwoNprk/s1600-h/12%2014%2009_2271%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="12 14 09_2271" border="0" alt="12 14 09_2271" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/Syr2u95-T2I/AAAAAAAABOo/OTE-XESJ6Mk/12%2014%2009_2271_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="298" height="396" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/Syr2vRknUAI/AAAAAAAABOs/q2Cuo9qlKBs/s1600-h/12%2014%2009_2272%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="12 14 09_2272" border="0" alt="12 14 09_2272" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/Syr2v2_oo6I/AAAAAAAABO0/Lpqqqjpsf8M/12%2014%2009_2272_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="298" height="396" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p>And at some point Lana turned into a singing elf.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/Syr2wQvhLuI/AAAAAAAABO4/rvhmhwNHX5s/s1600-h/12%2016%2009_2266%5B8%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="12 16 09_2266" border="0" alt="12 16 09_2266" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/Syr2w8jt80I/AAAAAAAABO8/SsZ3ucVRkt0/12%2016%2009_2266_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="297" height="395" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/Syr2xXkxg_I/AAAAAAAABPA/cxlmElJSD1M/s1600-h/12%2016%2009_2269%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="12 16 09_2269" border="0" alt="12 16 09_2269" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/Syr2x-oFKvI/AAAAAAAABPE/EthGMwSOjZM/12%2016%2009_2269_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="296" height="393" /></a> </p> <p>I think she was singing…All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/Syr2yuhc9nI/AAAAAAAABPI/W1r_qsyNwvI/s1600-h/12%2002%2009_2306%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="12 02 09_2306" border="0" alt="12 02 09_2306" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/Syr2zYi6inI/AAAAAAAABPM/o2eRy24RBc8/12%2002%2009_2306_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="350" height="465" /></a></p> Shawnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06361795312201726795noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1736845311541874976.post-88831368412541071562009-11-06T09:31:00.001-08:002009-11-06T10:02:01.406-08:00Halloween Happenings<p>Kyle and Lana’s last day of school was Thursday since Nevada Day is Nov. 30th (Friday).  So the Halloween parties were held that day.  Middle School kids kind of get a bum deal, they get to carve pumpkins at home then bring them in for the pumpkin carving contest and if they are lucky some parents bring in snack for them to eat.  Lana’s grade had an all out party.  With me being room-mom had to plan and organize said party.  They first had to get dressed in their costume for the Halloween Parade.  Lana was a mermaid…yes people use your imagination.  </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SvRa6-XyyfI/AAAAAAAABLo/eeyUFZWIMpg/s1600-h/10%2029%2009_2206%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="10 29 09_2206" border="0" alt="10 29 09_2206" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SvRa-tTdGeI/AAAAAAAABLs/8OI4I15L4HY/10%2029%2009_2206_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="289" height="384" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SvRbMujqokI/AAAAAAAABLw/5GBS5iuCfYU/s1600-h/10%2029%2009_2210%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="10 29 09_2210" border="0" alt="10 29 09_2210" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SvRbRGxr1_I/AAAAAAAABL0/6Q3j1p7tf20/10%2029%2009_2210_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="288" height="383" /></a> </p> <p align="left">She is a very reverent child, so much so she even folded her arms during the parade.  NOT!  It was windy and cold that day.  Then they played some games and made some crafts and ate some snacks.  </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SvRbtXIH-LI/AAAAAAAABL4/suE_vQ8Lxl8/s1600-h/10%2029%2009_2221%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="10 29 09_2221" border="0" alt="10 29 09_2221" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SvRbxpADtMI/AAAAAAAABL8/9JwLk8d8Nfc/10%2029%2009_2221_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="285" height="379" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SvRb1YhPY7I/AAAAAAAABMA/vMFJcSA3z9Y/s1600-h/10%2029%2009_2219%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="10 29 09_2219" border="0" alt="10 29 09_2219" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SvRclqRSsiI/AAAAAAAABME/vDNQuZ3ykWI/10%2029%2009_2219_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="284" height="378" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SvRcnr8n2gI/AAAAAAAABMI/V1kvWsON1-Q/s1600-h/10%2029%2009_2247%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="10 29 09_2247" border="0" alt="10 29 09_2247" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SvRcpUPWheI/AAAAAAAABMM/1S5c80Qetjs/10%2029%2009_2247_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="285" height="379" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SvRcqwtR1PI/AAAAAAAABMQ/9ec_byG57KA/s1600-h/10%2029%2009_2250%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="10 29 09_2250" border="0" alt="10 29 09_2250" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SvRctPhG1CI/AAAAAAAABMU/xea14AtHWkc/10%2029%2009_2250_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="287" height="381" /></a> </p> <p align="left">Then the glorious bell rang that ended the day.</p> <p align="left">Then wicked wind had blown all the cold air away and we woke up to a beautiful day.  Ronnie was off work, the kids were out of school, so we stayed in our PJs until noon.  Then we went to a corn maze in Glendale.  I heard that you had to pay $10 per person, but when we got there they said you can just walk through it for free.  It was kind of lame, I would have been mad if we paid $40 for this.  </p> <p align="left">Lana was our leader so we would not get lost and Kyle found a friend:</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SvRcwiQ2DnI/AAAAAAAABMY/Qpjew8GUolc/s1600-h/10%2030%2009_2236%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="10 30 09_2236" border="0" alt="10 30 09_2236" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SvRc0RfKKMI/AAAAAAAABMc/2ZN6Ou1bA8o/10%2030%2009_2236_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="294" height="391" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SvRc143SVUI/AAAAAAAABMg/Xrg2sFhno5s/s1600-h/10%2030%2009_2235%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="10 30 09_2235" border="0" alt="10 30 09_2235" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SvRc4c54cZI/AAAAAAAABMk/kcsmxIKa7nQ/10%2030%2009_2235_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="294" height="391" /></a>  </p> <p>Then we found Ron’s car from Harry Potter, we almost lost Lana to the spider:</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SvRc7t5EyUI/AAAAAAAABMo/gPA9hKdVN-c/s1600-h/10%2030%2009_2240%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="10 30 09_2240" border="0" alt="10 30 09_2240" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SvRc-EB3o_I/AAAAAAAABMs/ilHXJeoYP1I/10%2030%2009_2240_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="296" height="393" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SvRdAM1qlJI/AAAAAAAABMw/FzP6305aFVM/s1600-h/10%2030%2009_2239%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="10 30 09_2239" border="0" alt="10 30 09_2239" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SvRdEFhO_3I/AAAAAAAABM0/lZ1k7xbMYx4/10%2030%2009_2239_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="296" height="393" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Then we went home with our dusty dirty shoes.</p> <p>The next day was Halloween.  We went to the ward Trunk or Treat.  Kyle was a hobbit and we tried to make Lana’s costume look more mermaidy, but it just wasn’t happening.  </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SvRdH-DTEXI/AAAAAAAABM4/zYLvqVVUza0/s1600-h/10%2031%2009_2196%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="10 31 09_2196" border="0" alt="10 31 09_2196" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SvRdMFNbnGI/AAAAAAAABM8/Vj7G9iS_UYM/10%2031%2009_2196_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="295" height="393" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SvRdPNpIa2I/AAAAAAAABNA/wZGUxXof57Y/s1600-h/10%2031%2009_2198%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="10 31 09_2198" border="0" alt="10 31 09_2198" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SvRdQ7tD79I/AAAAAAAABNE/tnQGN3E2tyY/10%2031%2009_2198_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="297" height="395" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p>Our trunk was decorated and we were parked next to the cutest “chicken rider” I have ever seen!</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SvRdTNzUYgI/AAAAAAAABNI/-6R1fAJBs5Y/s1600-h/10%2031%2009_2200%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="10 31 09_2200" border="0" alt="10 31 09_2200" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SvRdVx0oXnI/AAAAAAAABNM/_szIgyiOUSA/10%2031%2009_2200_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="326" height="246" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SvRdYcVM6YI/AAAAAAAABNQ/7WD9xG9S73U/s1600-h/10%2031%2009_2199%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="10 31 09_2199" border="0" alt="10 31 09_2199" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SvRdbNMpdiI/AAAAAAAABNU/u_jTWo4aN_c/10%2031%2009_2199_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="272" height="361" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p>The kids came home with loads of candy, but sadly hardly any chocolate.  Jerry, I know you’ll be disappointed to hear that there wasn’t a good pile / bad pile this year.  Only once did I hear, mom my tummy hurts, so all in all it was a great Halloween.</p> Shawnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06361795312201726795noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1736845311541874976.post-11476834760694925012009-10-21T15:41:00.001-07:002009-10-21T15:53:15.227-07:00What’s Going On In There?<p>Some things that have been taking up space in my brain:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/St-OHPIGhwI/AAAAAAAABLQ/Pm7vBqzP_t8/s1600-h/image%5B14%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/St-OH6zTwLI/AAAAAAAABLU/Gmm4-kh26Eg/image_thumb%5B6%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="244" height="244" /></a>                                                                                                                          My sister had her beautiful baby boy Layton.  He was born on 09/30/09, weighing in at 8lb 8oz and 21 inches long.  He has her long fingers and toes and I’m just sure he is going to be the next great piano player.  His mom might say the next great basketball star.  Words can’t express how beautiful it is to see a young woman transform into a selfless caring mom.  She is a great mom and Layton is a very lucky boy to have her to look up to.  </p> <p></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>Sam’s Club pumpkin pies totally beat Costco pumpkin pies but Costco blueberry muffins are far superior than Sam’s Club blueberry muffins.  Why can’t all my favorites come from one place?</p> <p> </p> <p>My deadline for getting my NV driver license is coming fast.  Don’t ask why I don’t have one yet.  To make things even more fun I have to get a new Social Security card since mine was stolen along with my wallet in June.  So I have to get that before I can get my license.  </p> <p> </p> <p>The whole Boy Scout program totally mystifies me.  I know the Personal Progress program backward and forward, too bad Kyle had that darn Y chromosome thingy that made him ineligible for the Personal Progress program.</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/St-OIezeFOI/AAAAAAAABLY/0oBxSxlF980/s1600-h/10%2020%2009_2173%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="10 20 09_2173" border="0" alt="10 20 09_2173" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/St-OIpo2RFI/AAAAAAAABLc/YsSty4s4Yh8/10%2020%2009_2173_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="266" height="200" /></a>I’ve been putting together a breast cancer awareness meeting for church.  I’ve been working on it for about a month.  We found out a week ago that Ronnie’s mom was diagnosed with breast cancer.  At first they thought she had leukemia.  Then they came back after some tests and said it looks like breast cancer that has spread to a bone.  We also had a women in our Ward that was diagnosed a week or two ago.  Coincidence?  I think not.   </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>I am so loving the .39 cent tacos from Taco Bell.  They taste even better when they are that cheap.  </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/St-OJhmELZI/AAAAAAAABLg/mh9svOyCRRk/s1600-h/image%5B23%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/St-OKaxOFVI/AAAAAAAABLk/Ps5kNogFYYU/image_thumb%5B11%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="244" height="197" /></a>                                                                                                                           The Clinique’s free gift from Macy’s this year is very cute!  It could double as a teacher gift if I were a nice person and saved it for someone else.  I’m not, I opened up my stuff as soon as I got in the car and played with the new colors.   I really love the lipstick color.  </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>My most played song on my iPod right now is In The Meantime by Spacehog.  It’s best when played loud without any kids in the car so they can’t make fun of you when you are signing.  Spacehog always reminded me of David Bowie.  Take a listen if you want:</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; width: 425px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:220a2f61-613b-4cab-99d8-9c1cc3ac4685" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/39VXuviqD9w&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&hl=en"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/39VXuviqD9w&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="355"></embed></object></div></div> Shawnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06361795312201726795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1736845311541874976.post-73517596425714372762009-10-18T12:16:00.001-07:002009-10-18T12:16:22.593-07:00My New Fav<p>Each Fall we are inundated with new TV shows to hit the airwaves.  And I have a new favorite.  I haven’t even seen a commercial for it because life has taken over and I haven’t had time to watch TV very much.  But I did see this picture on <a href="http://www.hulu.com/"><font color="#00ff00">hulu</font></a> and it caught my eye.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SttpgQDXXvI/AAAAAAAABLI/A5Ayu8k3ymc/s1600-h/image%5B6%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SttphaaqCEI/AAAAAAAABLM/8kQc2MgsIYE/image_thumb%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="328" height="194" /></a>So Ronnie and I watched it.  Then we watched two more episodes that same night and it was going on 1:30am.  We were laughing so hard we woke Kyle up, but I doubt he was really asleep, probably up late reading.  We got caught up on all the episodes that night and had a wait week to see the next.  I was not even prepared for the next episode!  It was the best one yet.  It started out with this clip:</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; width: 425px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:bb47e225-0bf5-4fa3-977a-a83914c16e32" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/C2FMdOLyRcA&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&hl=en"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/C2FMdOLyRcA&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="355"></embed></object></div></div> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Then ended with this one:</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; width: 425px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:0543f792-6d5a-43a9-9e1b-575d71796175" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/YmSPeBLR678&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&hl=en"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/YmSPeBLR678&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="355"></embed></object></div></div> <p></p> <p></p> <p>So far my favorite episode.  It comes on Wednesday at 9pm, usually before Kyle’s in bed.  But thanks to hulu we can watch it when we want to, after the kids are in bed.  Not a show I would watch with the whole family.</p> <p>Ronnie has hooked one of our computers up to the TV in the effort to rid ourselves of cable.  It seems to be working for us.  We get to pick what comes on our TV and when for free.  We also use Netflix watch instantly and a few other internet sites that have full episodes to TV shows.  He has even downloaded an iPhone and iPod app that turned them into a mouse for the computer.  So it’s like our remote control for the computer.  </p> Shawnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06361795312201726795noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1736845311541874976.post-73012169129680243822009-10-15T22:42:00.001-07:002009-10-15T22:42:54.880-07:00A Few Sweet Things<p>I kind of have this thing for candy corn decorations, can you tell?</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/StgHwJIzf-I/AAAAAAAABK4/_Gp2g-7l9b0/s1600-h/10%2015%2009_2167%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="" border="0" alt="" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/StgHyah2VII/AAAAAAAABK8/WJ-pfXtuCQQ/10%2015%2009_2167_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="601" height="327" /></a> </p> <p>I really can’t stand the taste of candy corns but they sure are cute to look at.  Speaking of cute take a look at these two:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/StgH0ueg0aI/AAAAAAAABLA/CcDIczonx08/s1600-h/10%2015%2009_2157%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="10 15 09_2157" border="0" alt="10 15 09_2157" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/StgH3efn85I/AAAAAAAABLE/Vh-9KXaAQfQ/10%2015%2009_2157_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="605" height="455" /></a> </p> <p>One blogger called them literary luminaries, but I call them CUTE.  I just made these tonight and they weren’t hard at all.  I saw them <a href="http://shabbyvintagechic.blogspot.com/2008/09/cottage-halloween.html">here</a> and had to make some right away.  They are old novels just folded.  I actually made one of them while making dinner.  Well I’m not Supermom, it was Hamburger Helper so I just watched it and made sure it didn’t bubble over as I folded page after page.  Hey no judging here, there were crafts waiting to be made!  I haven’t named them yet but I’m thinking the more shapely one is a girl and the other a boy.  Jack and Jill is just too predictable…hmm.  Maybe Emerson and Christie.</p> Shawnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06361795312201726795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1736845311541874976.post-21850225555542081342009-10-11T20:30:00.001-07:002009-10-12T08:01:29.421-07:00Pennsylvania Part Deuce<p align="center">Catching up again…</p> <p align="left">Ronnie and I had a great time in Altoona, PA.  I learned two things about people there, one – you can’t live there is you’re not a sports fanatic.  You have to own a Steelers shirt if you are going to live in Pennsylvania.  On our airplane ride home the captain updated us 4 times with the football score because the Steelers were playing.  They put a Steelers logo on anything that will stand still.</p> <p align="center"> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/StKicPHvdgI/AAAAAAAABJs/nA7JntmNpZY/s1600-h/image%5B3%5D.png"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/StKid3k80nI/AAAAAAAABJw/zAig4BKz_-0/image_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="294" height="390" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/StKiffIyWGI/AAAAAAAABJ0/U9z_E-TUqIE/s1600-h/09%2027%2009_2121%5B9%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="09 27 09_2121" border="0" alt="09 27 09_2121" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/StKifyIhvdI/AAAAAAAABJ4/QgwTP0PHjQc/09%2027%2009_2121_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="286" height="381" /></a> </p> <p align="center">Normal everyday products for sale have the logo</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/StKigs0t--I/AAAAAAAABJ8/OF1lBdkYqmQ/s1600-h/image%5B11%5D.png"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/StKih3QRhDI/AAAAAAAABKA/FQegS_INw3E/image_thumb%5B5%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="297" height="245" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/StKik0-gb6I/AAAAAAAABKE/KOku1Xasfgk/s1600-h/image%5B12%5D.png"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/StKimX2_bMI/AAAAAAAABKI/UJhXk4-K4uE/image_thumb%5B6%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="298" height="238" /></a> They make their pizzas Steelers Pizza              I’m sure he made his mama proud with this</p> <p align="left">Second – They are big fans of putting faces on things you eat. There’s a restaurant called Kings and they are home of the Frownie.   I introduce to you the Frownie.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/StKipvKf3oI/AAAAAAAABKM/L2X2UPw0llA/s1600-h/image%5B17%5D.png"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/StKirm7Nc7I/AAAAAAAABKQ/4ajqJKQYD7w/image_thumb%5B9%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="354" height="348" /></a>If you buy a pack to go it’s called a pity party.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/StKiuKKY8WI/AAAAAAAABKY/LLURcYxpKqg/s1600-h/image%5B21%5D.png"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/StKiwjxQFPI/AAAAAAAABKc/rl1mMR9IiEw/image_thumb%5B11%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="446" height="336" /></a> </p> <p align="center">Then they even have a dessert competition called the Angry Mob</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; width: 425px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:76e6fe4e-a6ed-404f-a42a-756ff0432cb4" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/EWfYzJsq2uE&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&hl=en"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/EWfYzJsq2uE&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="355"></embed></object></div></div> <p align="center"> </p> <p align="center">Then there’s the happier side, a restaurant called Eat ‘n Park has smiles everywhere.  </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/StKizmTMPkI/AAAAAAAABKg/ENXPg1qfJ0c/s1600-h/image%5B32%5D.png"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/StKi1nAtUOI/AAAAAAAABKk/yhvippl2urk/image_thumb%5B16%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="425" height="281" /></a>Smiley Cookies </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/StKi2UCWyjI/AAAAAAAABKo/j_4cfnGYtRA/s1600-h/09%2026%2009_2130%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="09 26 09_2130" border="0" alt="09 26 09_2130" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/StKi240ByII/AAAAAAAABKs/rbtftAIZxyE/09%2026%2009_2130_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="305" height="405" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/StKi39LyU5I/AAAAAAAABKw/CZSwWQGL7-Y/s1600-h/image%5B28%5D.png"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/StKi4VvjpNI/AAAAAAAABK0/6H7qD9kttFs/image_thumb%5B14%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="5" height="5" /></a> Smiley Waffles</p> <p align="left">They even try arrange the food you order into a smile when possible.  It did make me giggle, so I guess smiles are contagious.  </p> <p align="left">It’s not surprising that the Frownie originated near Pittsburgh, home of Carnegie Mellon University. Carnegie Mellon, if you didn’t know, is the birthplace of the emoticon, thanks to Scott Fahlman, who started the whole sideways smiling business more than 25 years ago on the University’s Computer Science community b(ulliten)-board. He invented the frowning emoticon, too. In the same message, no less. </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>There reason why we went there…</p> <p><img src="http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs227.snc1/7428_146017034900_852059900_2489874_2021512_n.jpg" /></p> <p align="center">To see these two get married…</p> <p align="center"><img src="http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs227.snc1/7428_146016199900_852059900_2489860_1641043_n.jpg" /></p> <p align="center">and start their life together.</p> Shawnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06361795312201726795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1736845311541874976.post-91880112319649250952009-09-23T22:26:00.001-07:002009-09-23T22:28:27.337-07:00What I’ve been up to…<p>The first weekend after school started I had a baby shower at my house for my sister Sadie. </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SrsCujn1p8I/AAAAAAAABIY/4ZYHpbQv17A/s1600-h/09%2015%2009_1798%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="09 15 09_1798" border="0" alt="09 15 09_1798" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SrsCu4xgG2I/AAAAAAAABIc/qnIfIBXWiaI/09%2015%2009_1798_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="243" height="362" /></a></p> <p>I was wondering around Michael’s Craft Store one day and came across a party in a box that was monkey themed and on clearance.   So it didn’t take me long to figure out a theme for the shower.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SrsCvc8l_GI/AAAAAAAABIg/lexWdT4LZpU/s1600-h/08%2029%2009_1801%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="08 29 09_1801" border="0" alt="08 29 09_1801" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SrsCv2qVwjI/AAAAAAAABIk/Umm7m_1ECAI/08%2029%2009_1801_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="570" height="381" /></a> </p> <p>We had Banana Slush Punch, Banana Pudding, Chocolate Monkey Munch (trail mix), and everyone took home some banana bread.  We also had some non monkey related food.   </p> <p> </p> <p>Then I was released from my calling in Young Women’s at church and called to Enrichment Leader a few weeks before a quarterly enrichment night.  Which I was going to be out of town for.  I still needed to help out with a few things before I left and also get things planned for the next 3 months.</p> <p>Then I signed up to be room mom for Lana’s class at school.  I help run a student store at school 3 days a week for a few hours at a time and figured room mom would be easy since I was already going to be there.  Boy was I wrong!  I needed to get everything organized for a family picnic, that was wasn’t even going to be there for, before I went out of town.  Talk about a major headache!  </p> <p>We celebrated Ronnie’s birthday on the 10th, then my sister Lacey’s birthday on the 20th, and then Lana’s birthday on the 22nd.  </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SrsCwvXP5SI/AAAAAAAABIo/zRAxBjIQTlk/s1600-h/09%2009%2009_1723%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="09 09 09_1723" border="0" alt="09 09 09_1723" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SrsCxahNNVI/AAAAAAAABIs/-iBfUgAF7mc/09%2009%2009_1723_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="597" height="449" /></a>Ronnie’s birthday was easy, it was the day after Beatles RockBand came out.  So that was a no brainer!</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SrsCy-hYFOI/AAAAAAAABI0/C9hPqUHzzVo/s1600-h/image%5B8%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SrsC0KkgEkI/AAAAAAAABI4/ZiCiwPY_ULw/image_thumb%5B4%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="284" height="424" /></a></p> <p align="center"> My Sister Lacey turned 23!</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SrsC2Xxru1I/AAAAAAAABI8/ne3nFObnQhE/s1600-h/image%5B9%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SrsC4sGDMpI/AAAAAAAABJA/X-GuPm8AzT0/image_thumb%5B5%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="584" height="390" /></a> Lana turned 6 and had a Flower birthday party.  </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SrsC5pKvIyI/AAAAAAAABJE/9dML95WCAn8/s1600-h/09%2021%2009_1728%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="09 21 09_1728" border="0" alt="09 21 09_1728" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SrsC6A4ld0I/AAAAAAAABJI/MiqbFD_oQ5U/09%2021%2009_1728_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="600" height="401" /></a> </p> <p>I wrangled my Dad and Ronnie into making a golf game for the school carnival that was supposed to be in Oct. but I think it got moved to Nov.  Well I guess we are ahead of schedule now.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SrsC6sskyAI/AAAAAAAABJM/Yph69_fqObk/s1600-h/09%2021%2009_2027%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="09 21 09_2027" border="0" alt="09 21 09_2027" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SrsC7LMSsEI/AAAAAAAABJQ/7dDBcliQGnQ/09%2021%2009_2027_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="281" height="373" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SrsC7nkRwDI/AAAAAAAABJU/cmbIM1BeF1A/s1600-h/09%2021%2009_1724%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="09 21 09_1724" border="0" alt="09 21 09_1724" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SrsC8XewpHI/AAAAAAAABJY/31gq2vQBRZs/09%2021%2009_1724_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="589" height="394" /></a> </p> <p>Now I’m in Altoona PA for a friend’s, Jerry’s, wedding.   Don’t even get me started on the roads here!  We totally got lost and ended up taking 4 hours to get to our hotel that should have only took 2 hours to get to.  Plus we didn’t get a toll ticket at one of the toll road booths and they charged us $26 for a .95 cent toll!  And to top it off they don’t take debit cards at the toll booths!  Luckily a guy that was in a hurry came up and helped us pay our $26 fee for not getting a ticket since we hardly carry any cash.  It’s nice to know there are still kind people out there!   On the up side we had beautiful scenery to enjoy while we were lost.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SrsC8v87v8I/AAAAAAAABJc/19AStCf1Owg/s1600-h/09%2023%2009_2015%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="09 23 09_2015" border="0" alt="09 23 09_2015" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SrsC9DTz3hI/AAAAAAAABJg/fpxqR_c9bzQ/09%2023%2009_2015_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="284" height="377" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SrsC9eNttoI/AAAAAAAABJk/CbTnmy0Hm8Y/s1600-h/09%2023%2009_2014%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="09 23 09_2014" border="0" alt="09 23 09_2014" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SrsC98Nul6I/AAAAAAAABJo/d390cFeFMbQ/09%2023%2009_2014_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="284" height="377" /></a> </p> <p>For those back in Vegas, those would be leaves changing on trees.  It really happens!</p> <p>And that is my month in review for the most part.  I left out some other major things because I might get around to blogging about them more in depth one day.</p> Shawnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06361795312201726795noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1736845311541874976.post-35713007257339847822009-08-29T10:02:00.001-07:002009-08-29T10:07:39.337-07:00First Day of School<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SplfGAN_KxI/AAAAAAAABH4/AGE4ErX6Iss/s1600-h/08%2023%2009_1682%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="08 23 09_1682" border="0" alt="08 23 09_1682" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SplfG9kbkWI/AAAAAAAABH8/Weg0zbQuXBA/08%2023%2009_1682_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="350" height="465" /></a> </p> <p>2009    Lana – 1st Grade   Kyle - 7th Grade</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SplfJCzyxmI/AAAAAAAABIA/Blzd6xOdDhc/s1600-h/image%5B6%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SplfLYbWEuI/AAAAAAAABIE/ZLeZbA2NSxM/image_thumb%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="440" height="333" /></a> </p> <p>2008    Kyle – 6th Grade   Lana - Kindergarten</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SplfMwlzz4I/AAAAAAAABII/EhYPtwnRiz8/s1600-h/DSCF0007%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0007" border="0" alt="DSCF0007" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SplfNfDDgVI/AAAAAAAABIM/y1xGDdclgzE/DSCF0007_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="445" height="335" /></a> </p> <p>2007   Lana - Preschool   Kyle - 5th Grade</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SplfOYuIonI/AAAAAAAABIQ/9giSy3TgGPo/s1600-h/DSCF0005%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0005" border="0" alt="DSCF0005" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SplfPDf8uxI/AAAAAAAABIU/S9rhBQ_NT9s/DSCF0005_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="449" height="338" /></a> </p> <p>2006   Kyle – 4th Grade   Lana – 3 years old</p> <p> </p> <p>Those bars on the windows that I hate come in handy for something.  They show me how much my kids have grown!  </p> <p>I am very lucky because I have kids that love school and actually like getting up early.  I know one of these days in the near future all that will change, but for now just let me revel in the ease of the first day of school.</p> Shawnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06361795312201726795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1736845311541874976.post-21909915368110638772009-08-26T19:13:00.001-07:002009-08-26T19:13:53.376-07:00The Uncamping Trip<p>School was starting and we hadn’t taken the kids camping all summer long, so what do we do?  We take the kids camping the weekend before school starts of course, because it’s not like we need to prepare for school or anything.  Okay, so it was probably all my idea and the we referenced earlier should be I and Ronnie was just along for the ride.  </p> <p>On Friday we went to Valley of Fire and set up camp around 3:00pm.  It was hot but luckily our camper has an air conditioner and the next day was supposed to be cooler.  We had to come back to Las Vegas for Kyle’s Court of Honor for Boy Scouts at 6:30pm on Friday, which I found out about after planning this trip.  We also had the kids meet and greet at school at 7:00pm that same night.  So we leave Valley of Fire and and get to Kyle’s Court of Honor.  Kyle’s Scout Master had Kyle’s scout shirt that Kyle lost at a campout and was supposed to bring it to the Court of Honor.  Well, he forgot it.  Kyle advanced 2 ranks and all I got where pictures of him in a black shirt and my eyes were closed.  Not going to be scrapbooking those.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SpXriWDrokI/AAAAAAAABHE/LBqK3q-r5jY/s1600-h/08%2021%2009_1690%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="08 21 09_1690" border="0" alt="08 21 09_1690" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SpXri5ExzNI/AAAAAAAABHI/KnXn3bxdNXA/08%2021%2009_1690_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="454" height="342" /></a></p> <p>Then we left early to make it to the meet and greet at school.  The kids have really great teachers this year and are very excited about school.  We just said hi to the teachers, grabbed their letters telling about themselves, and left. On the way back to camp I was reading the letters from the kids teachers and when I got to the part that is underlined Lana busted up laughing. </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SpXrngxjpUI/AAAAAAAABHM/2Lrro9nZ-m8/s1600-h/Top-9%5B11%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Top-9" border="0" alt="Top-9" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SpXro7qfAoI/AAAAAAAABHQ/gMlFs6uakUo/Top-9_thumb%5B7%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="609" height="834" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>She said, “I can’t believe that he said that!  Why would Kyle’s teacher say that!” She went on and on and we were just laughing so hard, her reaction was just priceless.  Of course we didn’t tell her the difference between tutor and tooter, because we’re good parents like that.  So, to this day she still thinks one of Kyle’s teachers is a “tooter”.  </p> <p>Finally we make it back to camp around 9:30pm and realized we left the camper keys in Vegas.  Luckily our camper is not very secure and we managed to get in.  The night sky was beautiful that night.  There was no moon to be seen and the stars were so bright.  We sat outside for about an hour looking at the sky until our necks started to hurt then went to bed.  That’s when the fun started, wind, and lots of it.  The kids fall asleep no problem, but Ronnie and I couldn’t fall asleep until 3:00am we kept thinking our camper was going to blow over or something.  Then of course we wake up at 7:00am and the kids are ready for a hike.  So off we go!</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SpXrrIqvD9I/AAAAAAAABHU/KE4wu1Iw-jw/s1600-h/08%2022%2009_1601%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="08 22 09_1601" border="0" alt="08 22 09_1601" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SpXrvJuhjdI/AAAAAAAABHY/3c25y_ojKwk/08%2022%2009_1601_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="281" height="373" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SpXrvhhueyI/AAAAAAAABHc/G2IUtFquJ-0/s1600-h/08%2022%2009_1607%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="08 22 09_1607" border="0" alt="08 22 09_1607" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SpXrwHRFA-I/AAAAAAAABHg/IgplY3xfTgk/08%2022%2009_1607_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="279" height="371" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SpXrw3rEUAI/AAAAAAAABHk/3w3c5Y0Gv6U/s1600-h/08%2022%2009_1597%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="08 22 09_1597" border="0" alt="08 22 09_1597" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SpXrxRu8zsI/AAAAAAAABHo/ooRopMt_CZQ/08%2022%2009_1597_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="281" height="373" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SpXryBfr-mI/AAAAAAAABHs/kkOAkMU04bo/s1600-h/08%2022%2009_1602%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="08 22 09_1602" border="0" alt="08 22 09_1602" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SpXrywsyDLI/AAAAAAAABHw/PqdtEYrxaUQ/08%2022%2009_1602_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="281" height="373" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Then it gets hot and the wind picks up again so we head back to the camper around noon.  We eat some lunch, take showers, then decided to go to St. George.  We are really campers huh?  On the way to St. George we call my Dad who is working there that week and see if he wants to meet up after work.  We make plans to have dinner together.  When we make it to St. George we have about 45 minutes before my Dad is off of work so we go visit the <a href="http://www.utah.com/mormon/brigham_young_winter_home.htm">Brigham Young House</a>.  We take the tour and then meet for dinner at Outback.  Doesn’t everyone go out for steaks when they are camping?  Then my Dad heads back to Las Vegas and we go shopping.  I love <a href="http://www.taipantrading.com/">Tai Pan</a> and wanted to pick up some Halloween decorations.  Then we hit <a href="http://www.seagullbook.com/">Seagull</a> to stock up on reading material.  Then head back to the camper and sleep.  Then Sunday morning we eat breakfast and pack up.  We made it home at 11:00am and shower and go to church.  We didn’t really do much camping, but we had fun none the less.  </p> <p>Now I’ve spent the first part of the week getting caught up on all the school preparations that should have been done before school started.  Oh well, there is always next year to be totally ready for school to start.  </p> Shawnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06361795312201726795noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1736845311541874976.post-62821137297162091052009-08-18T22:20:00.001-07:002009-08-18T22:23:20.839-07:00Bring on the Homework<p>We are gearing up for school in our house.  This year both kids are in all day school and at the same school.  There are good and bad things about it but I think the good outweighs the bad.  For example less miles put on my car, I am able to spend more time helping at school, and I don’t have to keep track of two different school schedules.  But with both kids coming home at the same time homework time is going to be tough.  Kyle is really good about doing what needs to be done, he’ll just go to his room and lock the door so Lana doesn’t bother him and spend hours doing homework.  His homework shouldn’t take hours to do so I guess he gets sidetracked a bit.  I’ve decided this year he’ll do homework at the kitchen table so I can help him stay on track.  Lana is used to having me all to herself helping with homework so that will be an adjustment. </p> <p> I was flipping through a Family Fun magazine today and saw these awesome homework stations that I wanted to make.  So after dinner the kids and I braved the Wal-Mart school supply aisle a week before school starts.  It really wasn’t that bad and we were able to find all the stuff we needed.  I went home and an hour and a half later had two homework stations with their own privacy walls ready for the new school year.  </p> <p align="center">Kyle’s Homework Station</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SouLmTI_FsI/AAAAAAAABGs/017Deq6ifFc/s1600-h/08%2018%2009_1577%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="08 18 09_1577" border="0" alt="08 18 09_1577" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SouLnSXFLuI/AAAAAAAABGw/q4TU-ajEQ-I/08%2018%2009_1577_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="602" height="452" /></a></p> <p align="center"> Lana’s Homework Station</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SouLoFSG0XI/AAAAAAAABG0/VP64QgMKjJ8/s1600-h/08%2018%2009_1571%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="08 18 09_1571" border="0" alt="08 18 09_1571" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SouLpXAfLXI/AAAAAAAABG4/ANnAd-jHntI/08%2018%2009_1571_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="608" height="457" /></a></p> <p align="center">Here is one of the all folded up.</p> <p align="left"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SouLqLciHrI/AAAAAAAABG8/coP_xjhFJ48/s1600-h/08%2018%2009_1570%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="08 18 09_1570" border="0" alt="08 18 09_1570" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SouLqz9ZgnI/AAAAAAAABHA/divsMw9yDaQ/08%2018%2009_1570_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="609" height="458" /></a> </p> <p align="left">Cardboard, hot glue, and spray paint never cease to amaze me.  There is plenty of room for us to add things we didn’t think of  later.   Here is a link to <a href="http://familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts/organizing-ideas/feature/ff0909-homework-central-workstation/">Family Fun</a> if you think you might need this at your house.   </p> <p align="left">I don’t know about you but I’m dreading the first week of school.  I sleep in longer than Kyle does and I must say I love the freedom Summer brings.  Kyle will have no problem at all getting back in the groove, he has set his alarm for 6:00am almost every morning since school was out back in June.  Many times I sent him back to bed, it’s just wrong, kids should like sleeping in.  The only ripple I see in Lana getting back in the groove is she doesn’t like to eat before 11:00am.  Any yummy breakfast recipes I can try to entice her with? </p> Shawnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06361795312201726795noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1736845311541874976.post-1450493353660861332009-08-10T10:13:00.001-07:002009-08-10T10:15:33.716-07:00Kyle’s 12th Birthday Party<p>I thought this might be Kyle’s last themed party so I had to do it up right.  He loves cooking and thinks he will open his own restaurant some day so I used that as my theme.  His invitations where printed on manly recipe cards.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBUkq7LtkI/AAAAAAAABCw/c6mc2WRb5bE/s1600-h/image%5B3%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBUlmmKpjI/AAAAAAAABC0/L446NX0pVEI/image_thumb%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="392" height="303" /></a></p> <p> We had been recording episodes of Good Eats on our DVR for about a week.  Our plan was to have that playing on TV while all the boys were coming in, but some how Rock Band took over.  Go figure, a TV, boys, and a video game, silly me, what was I thinking. </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBUmqXhP9I/AAAAAAAABC4/RXNPnnnmDnA/s1600-h/08%2008%2009_1356%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="08 08 09_1356" border="0" alt="08 08 09_1356" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBUoSUgGUI/AAAAAAAABC8/XHGnlvb-YBA/08%2008%2009_1356_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="593" height="397" /></a> </p> <p>Once everyone arrived the boys were asked to put on some aprons and make some lasagnas for lunch.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBUp-mEyMI/AAAAAAAABDA/Qj0sLnjbzHc/s1600-h/08%2007%2009_1261%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="08 07 09_1261" border="0" alt="08 07 09_1261" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBUrd9DICI/AAAAAAAABDE/MQuI3Sbl-8A/08%2007%2009_1261_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="599" height="450" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBUsATgGgI/AAAAAAAABDI/YEhG2rbD3v0/s1600-h/08%2007%2009_1269%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="08 07 09_1269" border="0" alt="08 07 09_1269" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBUs5WQn4I/AAAAAAAABDM/4a_CT2E4h6U/08%2007%2009_1269_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="602" height="453" /></a> </p> <p>While the lasagnas were baking they went outside and played cold potato, with ice cold water balloons. </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBUtw4VflI/AAAAAAAABDQ/yDfGWhKSXUE/s1600-h/08%2007%2009_1270%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="08 07 09_1270" border="0" alt="08 07 09_1270" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBUug2HwbI/AAAAAAAABDU/v9nLpHIHpcA/08%2007%2009_1270_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="602" height="453" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>In case the ice cold water balloons weren’t enough refreshment the boys came inside and did a root beer tasting.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBUvft3kAI/AAAAAAAABDY/iz6UYSxJ3zI/s1600-h/08%2008%2009_1386%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="08 08 09_1386" border="0" alt="08 08 09_1386" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBUwFlhmzI/AAAAAAAABDc/DprSvjmIkic/08%2008%2009_1386_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="598" height="400" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBUwt3cenI/AAAAAAAABDg/R1SfGmXrP9Y/s1600-h/08%2008%2009_1191%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="08 08 09_1191" border="0" alt="08 08 09_1191" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBUx-dOSzI/AAAAAAAABDk/99XgqYLq2eQ/08%2008%2009_1191_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="597" height="449" /></a> </p> <p>They knew their root beers!  I was impressed.  The favorites were IBC and Mug.  Then they made some fruit kabobs before sitting down to eat.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBUym-2_MI/AAAAAAAABDo/rbeHScgIqls/s1600-h/08%2008%2009_1390%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="08 08 09_1390" border="0" alt="08 08 09_1390" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBUzZ63XYI/AAAAAAAABDs/WIvC7aVYnv0/08%2008%2009_1390_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="601" height="402" /></a> </p> <p>After lunch we brought out the bugs.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBU0KkLMEI/AAAAAAAABDw/7OUABBAhKuA/s1600-h/08%2008%2009_1207%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="08 08 09_1207" border="0" alt="08 08 09_1207" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBU02fdu7I/AAAAAAAABD0/GknGNMmhtFI/08%2008%2009_1207_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="601" height="452" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Followed up by the stinky cheese.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBU1rWN9sI/AAAAAAAABD4/tOzwYJZDTc0/s1600-h/08%2008%2009_1199%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="08 08 09_1199" border="0" alt="08 08 09_1199" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBU2ZwI_BI/AAAAAAAABD8/5jAdJCQiYG0/08%2008%2009_1199_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="599" height="450" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBU24GKABI/AAAAAAAABEA/PfFpd95fCh0/s1600-h/08%2008%2009_1208%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="08 08 09_1208" border="0" alt="08 08 09_1208" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBU3WEVnlI/AAAAAAAABEE/miYFNnbYvjM/08%2008%2009_1208_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="299" height="226" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBU4PLsPqI/AAAAAAAABEI/ZB2TBWzaMmA/s1600-h/08%2008%2009_1211%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="08 08 09_1211" border="0" alt="08 08 09_1211" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBU4m_v8zI/AAAAAAAABEM/TL9V-84XuGM/08%2008%2009_1211_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="301" height="227" /></a> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBU5d5LZeI/AAAAAAAABEQ/fO5LLL3RP90/s1600-h/08%2008%2009_1209%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="08 08 09_1209" border="0" alt="08 08 09_1209" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBU57_LP2I/AAAAAAAABEU/EmblVzlbph8/08%2008%2009_1209_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="226" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBU6n9KSNI/AAAAAAAABEY/G8nLgZ7ot14/s1600-h/08%2008%2009_1210%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="08 08 09_1210" border="0" alt="08 08 09_1210" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBU7WQ1TpI/AAAAAAAABEc/5-Rv_vRCWdU/08%2008%2009_1210_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="301" height="227" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>I was really surprised by how many folks tried insects and how many thought the stinky cheese tasted good.  We also had some nasty tasting jelly beans like from Harry Potter, but I didn’t get good pictures of that, see the video.  As to not leave a bad taste in their mouths, we saved the best for last.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBU8KeMLiI/AAAAAAAABEg/LUdt-68-Uz8/s1600-h/08%2007%2009_1257%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="08 07 09_1257" border="0" alt="08 07 09_1257" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBU82CXVgI/AAAAAAAABEk/oqWcJO8FfdI/08%2007%2009_1257_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="599" height="450" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBU9i_kSpI/AAAAAAAABEo/V0NwsIKmvhQ/s1600-h/08%2008%2009_1217%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="08 08 09_1217" border="0" alt="08 08 09_1217" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBU-EVU-kI/AAAAAAAABEw/E3l_6zMGK1M/08%2008%2009_1217_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="447" height="336" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBU-yR77UI/AAAAAAAABE0/ltzpdKZlp48/s1600-h/08%2008%2009_1219%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="08 08 09_1219" border="0" alt="08 08 09_1219" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBU_gjWm-I/AAAAAAAABE4/XEI8-YVtbns/08%2008%2009_1219_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="448" height="337" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBVAYQwGbI/AAAAAAAABE8/jDfec-oli7U/s1600-h/08%2008%2009_1216%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="08 08 09_1216" border="0" alt="08 08 09_1216" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBVA2edafI/AAAAAAAABFA/FnF1VFXNvq4/08%2008%2009_1216_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="450" height="338" /></a> </p> <p>Then it was back to Rock Band</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBVBjYsf1I/AAAAAAAABFE/6-IOtMi5Mfs/s1600-h/08%2008%2009_1221%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="08 08 09_1221" border="0" alt="08 08 09_1221" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBVCJJR3mI/AAAAAAAABFI/ZR8Im4BKaO0/08%2008%2009_1221_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="452" height="340" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>And who could forget presents</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBVDLFSeAI/AAAAAAAABFM/wEJ0CTSlPbU/s1600-h/08%2008%2009_1235%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="08 08 09_1235" border="0" alt="08 08 09_1235" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBVDnB-VXI/AAAAAAAABFQ/JWT2cpmoy-w/08%2008%2009_1235_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="456" height="343" /></a></p> <p>Can you tell his Grandparents did good?</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBVEs6lisI/AAAAAAAABFU/oQt-CohuDVg/s1600-h/08%2008%2009_1222%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="08 08 09_1222" border="0" alt="08 08 09_1222" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBVFLKARVI/AAAAAAAABFY/7QAecaDfqcU/08%2008%2009_1222_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="242" height="182" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBVF299BVI/AAAAAAAABFc/ZELXSL2YrV0/s1600-h/08%2008%2009_1225%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="08 08 09_1225" border="0" alt="08 08 09_1225" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBVGapTIhI/AAAAAAAABFg/vl9NB3tPVYw/08%2008%2009_1225_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="243" height="183" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBVHTwvI5I/AAAAAAAABFk/K8fwPE2Q2EI/s1600-h/08%2008%2009_1228%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="08 08 09_1228" border="0" alt="08 08 09_1228" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBVHr2xMEI/AAAAAAAABFo/8LcXsdo86Pw/08%2008%2009_1228_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBVImleJ_I/AAAAAAAABFs/eAvQ1fUonoc/s1600-h/08%2008%2009_1226%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="08 08 09_1226" border="0" alt="08 08 09_1226" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBVJIBHZyI/AAAAAAAABFw/92s00NMolXA/08%2008%2009_1226_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBVJ6X6ZbI/AAAAAAAABF0/KVDp54-utm0/s1600-h/08%2008%2009_1236%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="08 08 09_1236" border="0" alt="08 08 09_1236" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBVKb9gMVI/AAAAAAAABF4/sJ1y0V19TLc/08%2008%2009_1236_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBVLLQoqII/AAAAAAAABF8/-Mx8StUOO0U/s1600-h/08%2008%2009_1224%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="08 08 09_1224" border="0" alt="08 08 09_1224" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBVLrE0UqI/AAAAAAAABGA/ztAD497rJck/08%2008%2009_1224_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a> </p> <p>Perhaps the biggest surprise was his cousin from Logan showing up</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBVMHGKTeI/AAAAAAAABGE/0iJTQPh9nq4/s1600-h/08%2008%2009_1231%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="08 08 09_1231" border="0" alt="08 08 09_1231" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBVMiPYL3I/AAAAAAAABGI/dkqp13WrzcM/08%2008%2009_1231_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="257" height="341" /></a> As a parting gift, Kyle made some brownie mix for his friends to take home.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBVNKHxx3I/AAAAAAAABGM/jxJRJ-zWaH8/s1600-h/08%2009%2009_1568%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="08 09 09_1568" border="0" alt="08 09 09_1568" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SoBVN2wxqHI/AAAAAAAABGQ/v0P6k8EcY2A/08%2009%2009_1568_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="416" height="313" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>I don’t know about them, but I had a blast.  I’m so glad Kyle has such a good group of friends and they were able to come celebrate with us.  I’ve put together a little video or the craziness that was the party…enjoy.</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; width: 400px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:d0e9133f-e550-4336-9c4e-f9fde839dfc0" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div><object width="400" height="300"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=6028896&server=vimeo.com&show_title=0&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=00ADEF&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=6028896&server=vimeo.com&show_title=0&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=00ADEF&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="300"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/6028896">Kyle's 12th Birthday Party</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user898003">Shawna Lutes</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p></div></div> Shawnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06361795312201726795noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1736845311541874976.post-33798837050307420462009-07-28T11:00:00.001-07:002009-07-28T11:00:31.224-07:00Nobody was Kung Fu Fighting<p>I happen to live really close to the Chinatown part of Las Vegas.  I don’t really know if we call it Chinatown or Asiantown or the Asian District, but you get my drift,  a lot of pagoda shaped buildings and signs I can’t read.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/Sm88gye2BjI/AAAAAAAABCA/MKZ7KamNL98/s1600-h/image%5B6%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/Sm88jO5LgQI/AAAAAAAABCE/sf6KHEGDz08/image_thumb%5B2%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="489" height="376" /></a> </p> <p>I’ve never been into one of the stores because I was kind of scared.  I was scared because of what I might see and what people might say when they saw me, and just like when you go get pedicures you have no clue what they are saying about you.  </p> <p>And I didn’t want to walk into one of these places by mistake.  Luckily this one is labeled quite plainly.  I don’t even want to know what table shower is…</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/Sm88nHhxuxI/AAAAAAAABCI/WvDOvmI9Cg8/s1600-h/image%5B7%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/Sm88qCJj4MI/AAAAAAAABCM/612BLwrHUxw/image_thumb%5B3%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="489" height="368" /></a> </p> <p>Anyway, I had a reason to venture into Chinatown.  Kyle is turning 12 and is going to have a birthday party centered around cooking/food.  I think the kids are going to make their own mini lasagnas and do a blind taste test to see which potato chip reigns supreme and see  how many different fruit they can identify by tasting them with blindfolds on.  And because this is a boys party there has to be something gross, which brings us to the fear factor part and why I needed to go to Chinatown.  I needed to find mealworms and crickets and chocolate covered ants.  After researching what countries eat insects I found out that Thailand eats a lot of insects and luckily our Chinatown represents many Asian countries, not just China.  </p> <p>Armed with my posse, Ronnie and I thought it would be a fun field trip for the kids, we headed into Chinatown.  Our first store was very busy and the smell of fish filled the whole store.  I found the snack aisle but there were no mealworms in it.  At our second store I was much more relaxed and wondered around the produce section for a bit.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/Sm88qyvyYBI/AAAAAAAABCQ/8bCwr5zSmmk/s1600-h/07%2026%2009_1125%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="07 26 09_1125" border="0" alt="07 26 09_1125" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/Sm88ri1yvEI/AAAAAAAABCU/sL1kIJBelaE/07%2026%2009_1125_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="301" height="399" /></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/Sm88sR8b90I/AAAAAAAABCY/Az0qHrdz9Eo/s1600-h/07%2026%2009_1126%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="07 26 09_1126" border="0" alt="07 26 09_1126" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/Sm88tHhLZQI/AAAAAAAABCc/52oyTdDxh58/07%2026%2009_1126_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="302" height="400" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p>We saw a Durian, king fruit, the smell from this fruit evokes reactions from deep appreciation to intense disgust. The odor has led to the fruit's banishment from certain hotels and public transportation in southeast Asia, I’m REALLY glad Lana did not drop it.  The other picture is of Asian Okra.  It is used in stir fries and curried dishes.  Other varieties are used to make loofahs or luffas.</p> <p>Then we headed down the snack aisle and saw lots of dried fish in bags.  I’ve never seen anyone munching on a dried flounder filet, but I guess they sell them since the whole aisle was packed with dried fish. Here’s a bad picture of dried anchovies.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/Sm88thoRKLI/AAAAAAAABCg/k-m0KkR2hwY/s1600-h/07%2026%2009_1124%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="07 26 09_1124" border="0" alt="07 26 09_1124" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/Sm88uZqnTfI/AAAAAAAABCk/1EosqHi81qk/07%2026%2009_1124_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="401" height="533" /></a>  </p> <p>The fish smell was not as strong at our second store so we looked around the fish market part.  They had live fish swimming in tanks.  As soon as you told the fish guys what you wanted it was off with their heads and they were in your cart in the blink of an eye.  They also had live crabs and oysters in some shallow tanks where you get to pick your own with tongs.  We saw some boys playing with them, trying to get them to pinch the other boy.  It was a fun store to visit, but we left without any worms or crickets or ants.  </p> <p>The next day my parents asked me if I went to the place outside of Chinatown called the International Marketplace, which I didn’t.  They had been there once when they were looking for buckwheat.  This store was my favorite.  They had European stuff on the right and Asian on the left with freezers and a fish counter in the middle.  I got really brave and ventured into the meats, and really wished I hadn’t.  I took a picture of this and emailed it to Ronnie, who was working, with Dinner in the subject line.  I know, I’m so wrong!</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/Sm88u0E-jfI/AAAAAAAABCo/2or9UDyR8Jk/s1600-h/07%2027%2009_1117%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="07 27 09_1117" border="0" alt="07 27 09_1117" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/Sm88vge13mI/AAAAAAAABCs/j2U1gqq771A/07%2027%2009_1117_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="403" height="536" /></a> </p> <p>No insects, but I did leave with a knowledge of how much we waste in our country.  I  saw things like acorn starch, dried jellyfish, and well the above pictured, pork uterus and had a new appreciation for how resourceful people can be.  </p> <p>I went home and ordered my insects over the internet, the old boring way to find something.  I also had to pay $30 to have them shipped to me so the chocolate wouldn’t melt.  Oh well a boy only turns 12 once in his life I guess.  </p> Shawnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06361795312201726795noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1736845311541874976.post-902166540142321882009-07-10T11:17:00.001-07:002009-07-10T11:17:02.868-07:00What’s That Smell???<p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SleFmdMrcuI/AAAAAAAABAI/Ni1oT0MyHm0/s1600-h/07%2009%2009_0995%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="07 09 09_0995" border="0" alt="07 09 09_0995" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SleFnQArJQI/AAAAAAAABAM/Qx1CeXcPiYI/07%2009%2009_0995_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="577" height="433" /></a></p> <p>After three months the carnival fish passed.   But no fear, the kids have plans of buying new fish.</p> <p>It was really weird that they both died at the same time.  I walked in from the store one evening and looked at Ronnie and Kyle and said what’s that smell?  Kyle said, it wasn’t me!  Ronnie said, what smell?  And I was left to find it on my own.  Soon I found them both belly up and stinking up my living room to high heaven.  I know they were still alive that morning, man they sure can bring a stink into a room when they die!  Since Ronnie couldn’t smell he got the honors of disposing of the bodies.  And so ends the life of Fish Norris and Goldie, they will be missed (just no by me).</p> Shawnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06361795312201726795noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1736845311541874976.post-46347700088693437042009-06-29T10:00:00.001-07:002009-06-29T10:00:26.337-07:00Our Summer Started Out With a Flop<p>The last week of school the kids schedule was jammed packed.  Lana had a promotion ceremony the day before school was out and then a half day on the last day of school.  Then Kyle had a promotion ceremony one evening, a pool party the next day and an awards ceremony the last day of school.  Kyle told me he wasn’t feeling well at the beginning of the week and I told him to buck up, this is the last week of school.  The morning of his pool party he said he really didn’t feel well and I told him if your not going to school then your not going to the pool party, then he got dressed for school.  Then last day of school he said in a whinny sick voice, Mom it’s the last day of school and I don’t feel well do I have to go?  To which I answered in an enthusiastic voice, Your right, it’s the last day of school Kyle then you have the whole summer to stay home and be sick.   Now I didn’t think for one minute that Kyle was sick, I just thought was wasn’t as sick as he thought he was. </p> <p> On the last day of school we try to do something fun for the kids to kind of signal the start of summer.  In past years we would go to Chucky Cheese, but Kyle has out grown that place thank goodness!   So we took them to see the movie UP, which is one of the cutest movies I have seen in a long time.  The next day is when I discovered someone broke into my car and stole my wallet and both Kyle’s and mine cameras.  I had so much on my plate already that day and that was the straw that broke the camel’s back.  We had decided the day before to send Lana to the same school as Kyle.  Which meant I needed to gather up paperwork from Lana’s school then sort through uniforms from Kyle’s school.  I also had to teach the combined lesson in YW which I hadn't started because of all the end of year stuff with the kids schools.   Now I needed time to grieve over the lost pictures and videos from the kids year end activities.  And then I needed to call all the appropriate companies and tell them my wallet was stolen.  And finally take care of Kyle who had gotten much worse overnight.  After I had a good cry because I’m the only parent ever to not have a picture of her child graduating Kindergarten, I tried calling a few credit card companies to report my card as stolen.  Which was a problem because apparently being a co on a credit card does nothing for you, they only want to speak to the primary.  So then I had to bug Ronnie at work and telling him how my day was going and see if he could call these people whenever he got a chance.  A few minutes later he called to say he was on his way home from work.  My knight in shining armor was saving me again and I could breath easy and get everything accomplished.  </p> <p>Here’s a few pictures of Lana that I took with my phone…not all is lost.  After her promotion from kindergarten we let her pick where she wanted to go for breakfast and she picked <a href="http://www.wafflescafe.com/" target="_blank">WaffleS Cafe</a> where she got a banana split sundae waffle and a honeydew smoothie.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/Skjy7-6VGtI/AAAAAAAAA-8/kDhUxmA42F0/s1600-h/06%2003%2009_0852%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="06 03 09_0852" border="0" alt="06 03 09_0852" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/Skjy-TMGCWI/AAAAAAAAA_A/GJDtWj1rWSE/06%2003%2009_0852_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="301" height="399" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SkjzAKbm0vI/AAAAAAAAA_E/xjHs9Y9b3JU/s1600-h/06%2003%2009_0853%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="06 03 09_0853" border="0" alt="06 03 09_0853" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SkjzCht2x-I/AAAAAAAAA_I/6n876RcpB9A/06%2003%2009_0853_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" height="398" /></a> </p> <p>Here is Lana trying on her new uniform</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SkjzFJ8cWVI/AAAAAAAAA_M/jOaoxKVXpBw/s1600-h/06%2004%2009_0848%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="06 04 09_0848" border="0" alt="06 04 09_0848" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SkjzHeK9sCI/AAAAAAAAA_Q/Yv-5CssbC1s/06%2004%2009_0848_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="301" height="400" /></a> </p> <p>Sadly the only picture I took of Kyle with my phone was when he was coming down the slide at his pool party, all you can see is a head and you wouldn’t know it was him before I told ya.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SkjzILRhzLI/AAAAAAAAA_U/D-hEpCstXuA/s1600-h/06%2004%2009_0844%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="06 04 09_0844" border="0" alt="06 04 09_0844" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SkjzJ5KlcgI/AAAAAAAAA_Y/M9ZXB8XxnWI/06%2004%2009_0844_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="299" height="397" /></a> </p> <p>A few days later Lana got sick then a few days after that I got sick then a few days after that Ronnie got sick.  But I’m glad to say we are all finialy feeling better and ready to hit summer head on.  Now if someone could just do something about the heat thing…that’s kind of annoying.  </p> Shawnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06361795312201726795noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1736845311541874976.post-49976188224889481252009-06-24T08:40:00.001-07:002009-06-24T08:59:59.545-07:00How Did This Happen??<p> Kyle’s school had a carnival at the first of May.  I really didn’t want to go.  Our Ward was going camping that same night and well we couldn’t go camping because Ronnie had to work the next morning.  So we went to the carnival and  the kids had a great time.  Kyle ran off with his friends and Lana went from booth to booth getting prizes.  Ronnie took Lana around because I was helping out in the karaoke room.  Next year I will suggest ear plugs for the helpers!  Ronnie and Lana would stop in and show me their prizes and Ronnie said that we also have a ticket for goldfish, I don’t know what that means.  I thought well surely they are just giving the kids goldfish crackers, right?   </p> <p>Soon enough my time in the karaoke room was over and I went out to watch the kids play carnival games.  </p> <p>      Lana fished                                                                             And got her face painted</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SkJI36qEOzI/AAAAAAAAA98/QoFf39Ts7Dk/s1600-h/054%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="054" border="0" alt="054" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SkJI4U8BxGI/AAAAAAAAA-A/lHZQ9oPXnfI/054_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="270" height="358" /></a>            <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SkJI4xlb4PI/AAAAAAAAA-E/4EsaNDbx_Z4/s1600-h/059%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="059" border="0" alt="059" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SkJI5eYUD6I/AAAAAAAAA-I/JlD4ukSlaE4/059_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="270" height="359" /></a> </p> <p align="left">     She tossed ping pong balls in bowls                             And did the ring toss</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SkJI6O4Dx9I/AAAAAAAAA-M/wbznPStcGWc/s1600-h/056%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="056" border="0" alt="056" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SkJI6rbqRWI/AAAAAAAAA-Q/AofA34vlFug/056_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="269" height="357" /></a>            <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SkJI7mEF_tI/AAAAAAAAA-U/AR0F3r5xrd0/s1600-h/05%2008%2009_0899%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="05 08 09_0899" border="0" alt="05 08 09_0899" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SkJI8RejJkI/AAAAAAAAA-Y/2vIHr-hCRIA/05%2008%2009_0899_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="270" height="358" /></a> </p> <p align="left">   Kyle held a snake (but I didn’t get a picture)              And volunteered for the sponge toss</p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SkJI9GIK7ZI/AAAAAAAAA-c/o6tuIz3Ozl8/s1600-h/058%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="058" border="0" alt="058" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SkJI9s6H3qI/AAAAAAAAA-g/50FcqzJd1aY/058_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="272" height="361" /></a>             <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SkJI-GfYDOI/AAAAAAAAA-k/LJ1xdvlIVuI/s1600-h/05%2008%2009_0901%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="05 08 09_0901" border="0" alt="05 08 09_0901" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SkJI-qF6m3I/AAAAAAAAA-o/I-DPzlPegAE/05%2008%2009_0901_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="272" height="361" /></a> </p> <p align="left">He spent most of the evening at the dunk tank where they could dunk the teachers.   I felt for the teachers and couldn’t bare take a picture of them getting dunked.  Then it was time for us to go and Ronnie said what about this ticket for goldfish.  So we went over to where we were to redeem the ticket and they were real goldfish!  Once Lana saw them she was so excited and ran to tell Kyle who in turn had to go play the game until he too got a ticket.  We came home with 2 goldfish, oh boy!  I was not excited because we have a horrible time with pets or fish in general.  Lana always does something to ruin the whole tank and I have to spend a day cleaning and trying to save the fish.  </p> <p align="left">So on the way home the kids named the fish.  Kyle named his Fish Norris after none other than Chuck Norris and Lana named hers Goldie.  Much like she names her balloons, balloonie and her squid, squidie and  well just take anything and add an ie to the end.  So we get our fish home and have to put them in something and I found some ice cream glasses.  </p> <p align="left"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SkJI_Gp_tSI/AAAAAAAAA-s/9hQSNOdGWOQ/s1600-h/05%2008%2009_0903%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="05 08 09_0903" border="0" alt="05 08 09_0903" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SkJI_-JGnhI/AAAAAAAAA-w/apGAht3Euq0/05%2008%2009_0903_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="508" height="382" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>I really didn’t think that they would live very long so I didn’t want to commit to a real fish bowl just yet.  One week went by and they were still swimming, then two weeks went by and I really wanted my kitchen counter space back so I broke down and got a fish bowl.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SkJJAdoJiFI/AAAAAAAAA-0/EWfT8_As9u4/s1600-h/06%2024%2009_0986%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="06 24 09_0986" border="0" alt="06 24 09_0986" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SkJJBHGY4zI/AAAAAAAAA-4/UsNEMh9f5c4/06%2024%2009_0986_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="314" height="418" /></a> </p> <p>Here it is almost two months later and they are still swimming.  I guess I should invest in a plant or something to decorate their fish bowl.   I’m just really hoping we don’t have baby fish in our future.  </p> <p>And that my friends is how we came to have more fish in our house.  I knew we shouldn’t have gone to that carnival!  </p> Shawnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06361795312201726795noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1736845311541874976.post-82023602421231060412009-06-11T19:45:00.001-07:002009-06-11T19:45:00.423-07:00Chef Lutes is at it Again<p>Kyle loves to watch <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/good-eats/index.html" target="_blank">Good Eats</a> on the Food Network with me.  One day we were watching and Alton was making something called <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/pork-wellington-recipe/index.html" target="_blank">Pork Wellington</a>.  Kyle looked at me and said, I want to make that!  So we planed to let him cook it for Sunday dinner. </p> <p> He and Ronnie went shopping for everything on Saturday.  He was so excited that he watched the episode 3 times before he started to cook.  When I would try to help him I got the, that’s not how <a href="http://www.altonbrown.com/" target="_blank">Alton</a> did it mom, so I backed off and let him do it Alton’s way.  He did a fabulous job!  We had invited my mom and dad and sisters over for dinner  and he wanted to take some down to his piano teacher and her husband also so he made 2.  We got a call the next day from the piano teacher and she said  thank you so much for the meal is was very good.  Then Ronnie told her it was made by Kyle she was just amazed.  She said it was a gourmet meal.  I think Alton would be pleased.  I know I am very pleased to have a son who like cooking as much as Kyle does.  </p> <p align="center">Here is Kyle doing his interpretation of Alton.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SjHBI8VrMEI/AAAAAAAAA9s/qSlP41lnq38/s1600-h/05%2031%2009_0865%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="05 31 09_0865" border="0" alt="05 31 09_0865" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SjHBJhN3lZI/AAAAAAAAA9w/hu9Ia3Y_p8Q/05%2031%2009_0865_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="405" height="539" /></a></p> <p align="center">Here is a picture of  the shirt he modified before cooking for us.  In case you can’t see, he crossed out Pedro and wrote Kyle.  What can I say, he’s cool like that.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SjHBKF5mQ0I/AAAAAAAAA90/0co2n21zUE4/s1600-h/05%2031%2009_0864%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="05 31 09_0864" border="0" alt="05 31 09_0864" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SjHBKi__H7I/AAAAAAAAA94/IQjFwlmJyII/05%2031%2009_0864_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="405" height="538" /></a>We had more pictures but sadly our car was broken into while we were at the movies on the last day of school and both mine and Kyle’s cameras were stolen.  Along with all the photos I had taken for the past month.  I’ve been very “Be Calm and Carry On” about the whole thing, but I’m sad about all the memories that we lost. </p> Shawnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06361795312201726795noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1736845311541874976.post-74008008888763408822009-05-16T15:27:00.001-07:002009-05-16T16:26:15.193-07:00An Edible Front Yard<p>After my Earth Day rant I’m sure no one would expect to hear me talking about this, but it just makes since, an edible front lawn.  I’m not apposed to living healthy and making the world a better place to live, I was just tired of hearing all the “green” talk and yes some of it seems to be nonsense.  But, then I stumbled across this article on <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/13/garden/13lawn.html?_r=1" target="_blank">Edible Estates</a> and it just makes sense.  The concept is to replace the manicured front lawn with a vegetable garden.  If your going to waste water on the front lawn to look pretty why not have it grow vegetables to feed your family and friends.  Vegetable gardens can be pretty and productive. </p> <p> In Las Vegas I love having a yard where my kids can play barefoot and not burn their feet on the hot concrete.  I love to be able to have a spontaneous picnic whenever I please on our lawn.  I do however see the kids spending less and less time on the grass as they get older.  </p> <p>In Las Vegas it takes a lot of water to have a front lawn.  I am aware that I live in a desert and I should conserve water. I do try, I have a toilet that has two flush options, half or whole flush.  There is always a conversation about the toilet whenever we have company over and our son likes to tell us if he is going to have to use the whole flush before is goes to the bathroom.  We have the low flow showerheads and I would love to have a new water saving washing machine but our old one still works.  The lawn is one thing I thought I couldn’t give up until I heard about the edible front lawn.  I’m not saying I’m digging up my lawn tomorrow, but it does make a lot of sense.  Maybe one of these days whenever I figure out gardening in Las Vegas I’ll be more serious about it.  In the meantime I’ve been browsing some cool layouts.  Here is my favorite, it’s called the pizza garden:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/Sg89sxHlzHI/AAAAAAAAA9k/9MGti4PYD-I/s1600-h/image%5B5%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/Sg89u9rObMI/AAAAAAAAA9o/VgvEPXJ_FRQ/image_thumb%5B3%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="411" height="411" /></a></p> Shawnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06361795312201726795noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1736845311541874976.post-6136295685867998242009-05-13T15:58:00.001-07:002009-05-13T16:07:01.795-07:00Wake Up Already!<p>Last night I was watching TV in bed.  Ronnie had been up since 2:30am and was fast asleep.  As I was channel surfing I stumbled upon this show called Cupid.  It had music and  mole sauce in it so of course it grabbed my attention.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SgtQj-ddfhI/AAAAAAAAA9U/1Ux73PYhJ-w/s1600-h/image%5B10%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SgtQknY6LmI/AAAAAAAAA9Y/Glovprp_GxA/image_thumb%5B6%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="258" height="256" /></a> Then a funny thing happened.  The show mentioned one of my favorite bands…Uncle Tupelo!  I was shocked to hear Uncle Tupelo mentioned on TV!  I had to tell someone, but my someone that totally gets me was asleep and I didn’t want to wake him.  So I waited, and turned the volume up on the TV and pulled the covers off him and made the bed move, but all my subtle little ways to wake him up weren’t working.  So I had to bring out the elbow.  I did think twice before I jabbed my elbow in his side since he had been up since 2:30.  He woke up and I started to tell him what I just saw on TV and then he started snoring.  I had to wake him up again and decided to get straight to the point of my story without any background and then when I was finished he said OK and went back to sleep.  Then today when I asked him about it he didn’t have a clue what I was talking about.  Lesson learned…never tell Ronnie anything important past 9:00pm.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SgtQlRmU3bI/AAAAAAAAA9c/viHwT5Gucuo/s1600-h/image%5B11%5D.png"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/SgtQmoENn9I/AAAAAAAAA9g/27P-Dna20-A/image_thumb%5B7%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="225" height="326" /></a> A similar thing happened to my friend a while back.  She was at a Britney Spears concert. Let me just stop right there and explain…she was at the concert for her little brother who is 22 and autistic and just loves Britney, she was not at the concert because she really wanted to be there.  Anyway here she was and she looks over and sees Pauly Shore in the audience and immediately wants to call me.  There was no one else she could think of that would share in her excitement about seeing Pauly Shore, but she didn’t want to call because it was kind of late.  She had more restraint then me.  Yes, I know I’m a big nerd, but I was sure I was gonna marry Pauly Shore when I was younger.  There I said it, and I even wanted customized license plates that said WEEZEL and I may have wrote Shawna Shore a few hundred times.  Could you imagine our kids hair…that is a crime itself.  </p> <p> </p> <p>Both instances left me thinking,  who do you call when you just have to share something with someone?  You husband, sister, brother, good friend?  And what do you do when you can’t reach them?  </p> Shawnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06361795312201726795noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1736845311541874976.post-47696121182369738062009-04-22T12:22:00.001-07:002009-04-22T12:22:38.856-07:00Nothing in Particular<p> </p> <p>Well it getting harder and harder to blog lately.  For some reason I feel like I have to blog about holidays and major family events and anytime you feel like you have to do something it just sucks the fun out of it.  So instead of blogging about Easter, I’m gonna throw caution to the wind and blog about nothing.  Well not nothing, but nothing really significant.  </p> <p>So yesterday Ronnie had to go out of town for work and he was supposed to be picked up by a coworker.  The coworker picked Ronnie up at around 10am and then I get a call from Ronnie at 10:10AM saying they had almost had an accident, but instead they were able to swerve out of the way and ran up onto the median and now have two flat tires.  I didn’t even have time to really freakout and they were back at our house pilling all their stuff into Ronnie’s truck and I was left standing with the coworkers keys in my hand.  I got to wait around for the tow truck. </p> <p> Yesterday afternoon was defiantly all about Kyle as I picked him up from school and dropped him off at lacrosse and then picked up up from scouts.  I had been warned a few day ago that he was going on a campout this weekend for scouts but it hadn’t really sunk in yet, so when I picked him up and he told me, mom I have to bring cheese, I kind of flip out at his scout leader guy.  Poor guy, he kind of got the brunt of my day, luckily he has thick skin.  </p> <p>I was glad to go to bed early last night, although I was expecting to be woke up by a a good night phone call from Ronnie, but I wasn’t.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/Se9uetNi8uI/AAAAAAAAA9M/4zkhhHq-VmY/s1600-h/031%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="031" border="0" alt="031" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_2D8eTlMVN50/Se9ufQ37auI/AAAAAAAAA9Q/rrlwNexv75I/031_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="397" height="528" /></a> </p> <p>So this morning I awoke to the sound of a jackhammer right outside my window.   After I sent Kyle out of get a picture, we had to wait for them to move their truck so we could back out our driveway.  I dropped Kyle off at school and then I drove to Lana’s school.  We have a few extra minutes before Lana’s school starts so we read books.  Then I went to open the door for her to get out and I saw Kyle’s lunch, the sac lunch he had to have today since he is going on a field trip.  So I RAN her up to her class and took off back to Kyle’s school.  They were supposed to leave at 9am and it was 8:55.  Luckily there were no police on Oakey today so I made it on time.  </p> <p>Now Lana is home from school and telling me all about Earth Day.  I’m trying to go along with it and act happy, but really I’m not amused by Earth Day this year.  Maybe because of all the hype I’ve had to listen to on the radio and TV.   I even rebelled this year and didn’t wear green, I’m wearing brown.  Still a very earthy color, but not the ever so popular green.  Why?  Why be rebellious about Earth Day?   I don’t know, I’ve just heard enough from the whole “Green” movement.  Why does being green cost so much?  When the hippies were all into loving the earth and well pretty much loving everything, they didn’t have loads of money to buy “earth friendly” products.  They just did what they could.  That’s my approach, do what I can.  I’m leery of  “earth friendly” products until I investigate them, sometimes recycling things produce more waste and use more energy and blah blah blah, sorry I’ll get off my soapbox.  Happy Earth Day.</p> Shawnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06361795312201726795noreply@blogger.com4