overheard...

...at the breakfast table, one 10 year old stud to another...

"You're the lucky one cause you get all the hot chicks."

Wow.

We're starting that now.

Yay.

an apple a day...

I just couldn't help myself!

Happy Fall!!

still in question??...

In Quotes

If you are still confused or in question on how to vote in November, maybe this site can help. You can see quotes from each candidate about specific issues. Go play around with it. It's kind of fun, and...hopefully helpful!

friday fashion foto(s)...

I don't even have any commentary for this one.

I think it speaks for itself.

wee bit offended...

So, in reading up on the latest on the political scene (my favorite past time. Seriously.) I've found that white, middle class women are being referred to as "Wal Mart Moms". Now before anyone tells me I'm WAY off track...I'm really not. Technically, this refers to working women in the 40-50 age range. I'm not far from that age bracket (yay) and I work. I work really hard (at home).

Still, I take offense.

How about "Target Mom" at the very least, or "Costco Mom", I'd even settle for "K Mart Mom"...at least Martha peddles her stuff there. I'm not saying I HATE Wal Mart. I shop there occasionally. Someday (if you're really lucky) I'll even share my Wal Mart philosophy with you on how great the place is for your self esteem. It's good. It's really good.

Thank you for stopping by. Have a nice day!

fun at the park...

We went to a family reunion for my side of the fam yesterday. There was a lot of good food, lots of people to catch up with, prizes, and a PARK.

The sky looked like this.

My kids could've cared less...

...there was a park!!

BUBBLES!!!

John has titled this one "Lonliest kid at the playground."
Thankfully the "lonliest kid" has a sense of humor & thought it was funny, too.

Dizzy yet??

How 'bout now??

What's up?

Weeeeeee!!

Lizzie asks to go to the park every day.

Every day.

I hope this got it out of her system for a few.

What am I going to do when it snows?????

quote of the day...

Lizzie ran out on the front porch tonight, and announced to the several neighbors who were outside...

"I'm naked everybody!!!!!!"

And she was from the waist down.

Sorry, no picture.

just chillin'...

...with a cracker.

My husband took these pics and I just found them on the camera...

and I LOVE them!!

hold on tight...

“It is important not only to embrace your children frequently but also to be the last to let go. Make a habit of holding your child (no matter how old, whether two or twenty) until he/she lets go. When she wraps herself around you, stop what you are doing and hug her right back. And don’t let go, even if you have a hundred other things to do or if you are running ten minutes late to a conference. The most important thing at that moment in time is your child’s need to feel loved and reassured. Hug her back, and hold it, and be the last to let go.”
~Hannah Keeley

I got one of those hugs the other day...from him!!!

It was the BEST!!!

I found this quote on my friend Stacy's blog (sorry, she's private!)

5K...

Our Stake theme for the year has been Health & Wellness. Yesterday was the 5K run/walk (guess what we did??) The WALK was from the Stake Center to the Temple and back.

We're ready to go!!

Trying to wake up...

Our group.

We're off...

Just keep walking...and walking...

HALFWAY!!!

This is what halfway looks like.

Sam decided he was DONE with us slow pokes & decided to run the rest of the way. And he really did!

We finished!

(Can anyone recommend a good wrinkle cream?? gheesh.)

This really was a lot of fun. We did a good job of bringing up the rear (what with all of the stopping to look at bugs & sunflowers, get a drink, take off jackets, put jackets back on..."hold your own jacket.", etc) The real challenge was getting our family there at the crack of dawn with somewhat of a smile on all of our faces, and virtually no complaining. In that respect, we won!!

they did it...

By "it" I mean that my boys walked home together...two days in a row!!!!

The history of this grand achievement:

Day 1: Matt & Zach pick up Sam from Kindergarten so they can all walk home together. On the way home, Sam passes them up...crosses the street BY HIMSELF, and arrives home a good 5 min before the big brothers even round the corner of our street.

This incurred a tongue lashing from mom about socializing after school for too long, responsibility, etc. And they had better keep little brother in their sight tomorrow, or else.

Day 2: Sam, having heard yesterdays tongue lashing, RUNS home with the sole purpose of upsetting the big brothers, and {hopefully} get them in trouble yet again, and thus diminishing the fantasy their mom had of the three boys finally attending school together, looking out for each other, brotherly love, blah, blah, blah...

Day(s) 4 & 5: They did it!! Today, Zach was even carrying Sam's backpack.

I did also hear of an incident the other day where Sam & his buddy were being bullied at recess and the big brothers came to the rescue!!

Warms my heart!!!

Seriously!!!

recipe...

Hey ladies!! Some of you requested the banana bread recipe...you can find it here.

Happy Birthday...

A- Amazing Aunt

U-Undeniably fashionable

N- Nifty

T- Timeless

I- Incredible

E- Expensive

D- Domestic (hee hee!!)

I- Incredible Sister

Happy Birthday you *%$*@ year old girl, you!!

Love you!!

happiness is...

Baking

Music (?)

Spending my afternoons with this little peanut!

We gave pics a shot...this is where she (seriously) said "No more pictures." While she thrashed around on the floor.
Four boys (my three plus a friend) that came home from school and went STRAIGHT to the table to do their Math homework. No lie. I even got the question "Can I do the rest of my homework now, too?" Apparantly...pigs do fly...

Four boys that polish off 2 1/2 (smallish) loaves of the banana bread that you made especially for them!

Life is good!!!

(oh yea...the Kleenex STAYED at school this time, but the glue sticks are back!!!!!)

oh sammy...

The Kindergartners were asked to donate two...just two...things to their class.

Kleenex

Glue Sticks

We purchased both of these things well before school started. Well, the glue sticks were sent in the backpack on the first day of school.

They came back.

So, thinking it was too hard for Sam to remember that they were in his backpack, I sent them in his hands.

They came back.

I asked him why the glue sticks kept finding their way back to our house. "I didn't need them today."

Today the Kleenex was sent...a package of three. Guess what?

They came back.

He didn't need them today, either.

(Sam walks up a VERY big hill to get home...the three pack of Kleenex is not the lightest thing for a 5 year old to carry...)

We'll try again tomorrow!

block party...

Setting up...

...a packed house...YAY!!!

I got the idea for the cookie election from Gab. It was a HIT!!

Pinata + Kids = FUN TIMES!!! & a lot of candy...

We LOVE our neighbors and had such a great time hanging out with them!!

Next September...same time...same place!!!