Last night:


Ella: Mom, can I shave my legs?


Me: ??!!??!!??!!WHAT??!!??!!??!!


Ellla: Can I shave my legs?


Me:??!!??!!??!!WHY??!!??!!??

Ella: Because I want to.


Me: Okay


Ella: Great! I will go ask Lucy how to do it!


Who taught Lucy?

I am the worlds laziest blogger

actually i am the worlds laziest photographer. it just seems to be so much work to get the pictures from the camera to the portable hard drive and then to load to blogger.

it is just too much work for summer.



But that is okay cause a lot of you do not know us in real life so here are some pictures of Ella's 8th Birthday. she was baptised when she turned 8.


here is a pic of Ella and Adrian. He baptised her. His glasses were those transition lenses that turn dark. They make me CRAZY. He doesn't have them any more, Thank goodness!
Here is Ella before church

and here she is after her baptism with her dog cake. she loooooves dogs.
next Thursday Ella turns 10 and we have an awesome party planned. hopefully i will get my lazy tail in gear and post some pics of that soon.



ummmmm... whose nose is in the corner of that picture??

piano recital

Ella and Rachel had a piano recital last month. It was held in the sanctuary of the Methodist Church. Isn't Ella cute with her glasses?


Here is Lucy fixing Molly's hair while Molly chats with her best buddy R.

Sewing is contagious

Ella decided that she wanted to make an apron for her teacher. She sent an e-mail to Mrs. L and asked her a bunch of favorites type of questions. Ella ended up with a list that included:

Color: Royal Blue
Animal: Dog
Collection: Boyd's Bears
Season: Fall
Hobbies: Sewing and cooking

So Ella decided that she wanted to incorporate as many of these elements into the apron as she could. At first she tried to embroider a dog, but we decided that this bear would look better. We found the bear on an online coloring sheet and then I minimized it on our scanner. Ella did an excellent job.


After she had embroidered the bear for the pocket she was ready to start sewing the apron. She picked a bear fabric that looked like some of Mrs. L's Boyd's Bears.

She decided to make a gathered half apron, since she likes the ones that I have. We used the pattern in Bend the Rules Sewing.
And she picked a blue fabric for the waistband and ties. It isn't exactly Royal Blue, kind of more of a chambray. It matches the bear fabric just perfect. Ella was very happy with the finished product.

Here is a closeup of the pocket.

Still steamed, but the other kiddos are racking up the awards

I have received many nice comments and talked to a lot of people today who said that Ella really got the shaft about the AR thing. Thank you.

Then I went to Harrison's award program today. He got 4 awards and a medal. For most AR points in his team.

And they said how many he had.


OOOOHHHHH I better complain to the school board that our privacy was invaded! Oh, and he had over 600 points. Last year he had the most in his grade and that made his friend Stephen mad so this year Stephen made sure he got more points. Over 800! See how that works, kids will push themselves harder as you raise the bar.

And to think, I don't even have an education degree.

So our delightful principal is going to have a little visit with me tomorrow and unless I am really happy when I leave our superintendent will be next.

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And know for something completely different, a man with three buttocks.

Kidding. But can you name the TV show?


Okay, so what I really want to say is that my sweet husband came tonight and taught the Young Women how to make soda can camp stoves. It was so great and they each made one to take home.

You Rock Adrian!

A random update for those of you that are obsessed with every detail of my families life. Yes, I mean you creepy stalker person....

Tonight was Ella's first fast pitch ball game. Her reaction:

"That ball comes at you fast!"

It's that natural athletic intuition that makes her such an excellent ball player.
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Sunday Adrian was released from three years of serving as Elders Quorum President.
Yes, he is going to get another calling. No, I can't tell you what it is.
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Ella and Molly received awards for reading this week. Molly had just over 100 AR points and Ella had 510. Her school used to give prizes to the kids who had the most in each grade. Ella was trying to get the most in the whole school. All they did was give her an award that said she was in the 200 point club. Excuse me? They refuse to acknowledge achievement and they reward mediocrity. They said they could not say how many points they actually had because of "privacy issues!" Privacy issues my tushie!

Sorry for my potty mouth.

I am sick to death of the elementary school here and their bizarre agenda. I fought with them two years ago when I was in charge of Book Character Day (politically correct Halloween). They wanted me to give each child in the school a ribbon that said, "I participated in Book Character Day"

Even if they didn't dress up.

Why should we give them a ribbon saying they participated when they did not? To celebrate mediocrity? To not hurt anyone's feeling? I said no, they gave out ribbons anyway. I have not helped with anything since then. Yep. I have had between 1 and 4 students at a time going to that school for 11 years now. And I have had about enough.

Why should Ella work her tail off when they don't even acknowledge it? I know, because hard work is its own reward, right? Sometimes when you are nine years old a pat on the back is needed, too!

OOOH, did you see that rant coming?

I better run and burn the 25 copies of the Powerpoint Ella and I made of her class pictures. We love to do things for Ella's teacher. She is the BEST teacher we have ever had. And we have had a whole lot of teachers in the past 11 years with our 6 kids. Guess how our fantastic principal treats the best teacher ever?

He fires her.

yep. Our principal can go suck eggs.

Wonder if he will read this. Wonder if it would make a difference? nah!

The grass is always greener around the field line!

When William was little Adrian used to let him ride the lawnmower with the blade up. Then he got big enough to mow. And for a while he was happy. He felt like a big kid. It was even, do I dare say, fun?

When Lucy and Rachel were little they didn't want to mow, they wanted to feed the baby. Problem was, I was breastfeeding.

Mom, can we nurse the baby?

No.

Please?

Umm, no. So they took baby dolls and pulled their shirts up and nursed their babies. They would just sit silently next to me while I nursed.

Then Harrison started looking longingly at the lawnmower.

Puhleeeze can I mow like William?

No.

Begging, PUHLEEEEZE?

No. And then one magic day about 3 or 4 years ago.

PUHLEEEEZE can I mow.

Yes.

Unbridled joy. It lasted about one summer and then some of the most grueling parenting known to mankind. Coordinating two boys that would rather have their toes cut off than mow, to mow. In the HOT Tennessee summer. And mowing season starts in the beginning of March and ends about the first of November. And don't even mention weed eating. Suddenly text messaging sounds like a better form of parent child communication than actually being in the same room with them when vile words like weed eating have to be mentioned.



Alas, poor disgruntled teens, salvation is in sight!







And it comes in the form of a perky 9 year old girl!

Oh yeah, look at me!

Hello, you poor people not on a mower. Oh, are you having to pick up sticks while I zoom by in 4Th gear?

Yes, I am concentrating. This half acre is going to look great, just wait till I tackle the rest of the 12 acres! (No, we do not mow all 12 with the mower. Some is in woods and we bush hog the big field. We mow maybe 2 or 3 acres, though!)

I make dirt look good. Or maybe I make John Deere lawnmowers look good.

Sometimes lawnmower is similar to the Teacup ride at Disney. Hold on tight while I swing this puppy around!

Really, there is no better way to spend an afternoon.

Look, no hands.

How long until she thinks lawn mowing is the worst thing to do on the face of the earth? The English bookies will be taking bets.

Pictures from our date

*************SCROLL DOWN FOR FUN MONDAY*********

Life in our family is just like a walk in the park. Here are the pictures to prove it. Since Blogger only lets you upload 5 at a time I decided to pick my favorite 5 and just post them today.

Here is a picture of the dam. Ella thought that it was beautiful the way you could see the reflections of the trees and sunset in the water.

Molly being a cutie patootie

Ella and Molly posing

The sun set while we were walking and I shot this of the railroad tracks as we left. I like the spooky haunted look that they have.

Date Night

Today Adrian took the boys to Gatlinburg to go skiing. Lucy and Rachel had a babysitting job. That meant I would get to spend the afternoon with Ella and Molly. What should we do? Well, if I wasn't so tired I would post the amazing pictures we took while we took a lazy walk on the Greenway along the river. We had such a fun time. We enjoyed the river and the trees and the flowers (Yes, FLOWERS!) and the wierd squirrel that we are sure actually fell out of a tree. We couldn't find him, but he actually fell!

We ate dinner at McDonald's. It cost me $6. Really. We are such unsavvy McDonalds people. The girl was tring to take our order and we didn't know what we wanted and she asked Molly, "What do you normally order?" Molly said, "We don't ever come here."

SAD! My poor kids. We have been to Mcdonald's. We just usually go through the drive thru cause we are usually on a road trip. We finally got some chicken sandwiches and apple dippers. We ate in the Playplace so they could play. Molly was thinking that they hadn't been in there since her 5th birthday. Or maybe her 4th. I think she has been in there since then with her Papa. But I don't really know. Anyway, you are getting the idea that we were trying to do something novel and different. Molly went down the slide once. Ella decided she didn't want to. We left. Another 2 years and we will be ready to go back!

Then we went and bought candy and went to the movies! As you can see from the pic we saw The Spiderwick Chronocles. It was diferent in a lot of ways from the book, but that didn't hurt it in anyway. It was very intense and exciting. We gave it 3 thumbs up. Ella liked how teh mom didn't help at all and that kids were the heroes. I liked the special effects. Nick Nolte played teh Ogre. And he is creepy. In real life. It was good casting! Molly was most amazed by how she saw kids smaller than herself looking so perky and playful after the movie ended. She and Ella were both exhausted and ready for bed. It ended at 8:50. They go to bed early! Ella slept till 10:15 this morning, so youthink she would have had more energy! It really blew her away when I pointed out the kids going in for the 9:15 show. I agree with her, I would not be able to watch a movie that late at night.

All in all a very fun date with my sweet "little" girls. They aren't really that little but will always have that moniker since it differentiates them from the "big" girls.

Okay, so what movies have you all seen that you recommend? I don't watch R rated movies and I usually find a reason to avoid PG 13 also. Though I am planning on watching Elizabeth, Umm.. I think it is Elizabeth Warrior Queen? I put it in the Netflix Queue. Has anyone seen it? I'm afraid I am a sucker for anything that is remotely related to Jane Grey and since Elizabeth was her cousin I want to give it a go.

Oh, and here is one for my British friends. I just found copies of the show 'Allo, 'Allo on Netflix. It was my fave show in 11th grade. Do you remember this show? What did you think of it?

Sunday Summary

*EDIT... I added another item, on Sunday night, and you don't want to miss this one. I put it first....

I am still recovering from Friday's Tag Team. So after taking yesterday off I am ready to start a new tradition here at the old family blog. doo doodoo (that is the sound of horns blowing)

Sunday Summary

I will give you a quick recap of the highlighter of the week before. My extended family is excited right now, thinking I will actually be posting something that will interest them. My blogging friends are thinking, great, a boring list of bragging about her kids. So here it goes:

• **EDIT**Ella got to come home from school early on Friday. She called me from school to tell me that while they were taking a walking down the hall and the boy behind her threw up all over the back of her!!!! From the middle of her back down to her ankles!! I brought her a change of clothes, but after she changed I brought her home and had her take a shower. It was funny and gross. The teachers were bragging on Ella because she just kept telling B it was okay that he threw up on her. They said she was very mature and handled it very well. Ella would never want to make someone feel uncomfortable, even someone who throws up on her!
  
  
• Harrison played his first tournament game yesterday. They lost in overtime. Again. But the highlight really is that he lost a contact on the way there and had to play with only one good eye. He missed every shot. And most passes. He kept overthrowing everything. He didn't think it was funny. And umm... neither did I. Really.

• William and Rachel went the Stake Youth Planning Committee meeting yesterday. It should be a fun year for the youth, according to Rachel. She said they were supposed to keep the details a secret. I told her that was from the youth, I was a leader and would be told the details of everything. She wouldn't budge. So I did what any good mom would do, I went to William and got him to tell me the details.

• After the meeting I took Rachel home and then came back to watch William at the dance. I mean to chaperon the dance. He danced every song with a different girl. I was really impressed. Then I found out that they challenged the members of the planning committee to dance 80% of the songs. William is a good kid. He does what he is asked to do! He also skipped his schools Homecoming game to be at the meeting and dance. I asked him several times if he was sure he wanted to miss it. So I am realizing how grateful I am for a son who picks his church responsibilities over sports! (Yes, the coach probably wouldn't have played him anyway, but he still chose to skip it!)

• Ella starts a new book report this week. She loves the monthly book report assignments that her wonderful teacher Mrs. Lambert gives them. She is making a pop up report. It has to be over a folk tale or a fable. She chose The Tortoise and The Hare. She finished and turned in her poetry report last week. She had to memorize a poem and decided to memorize one that she wrote herself. She wrote it in a card for me a few years ago. Here it is:

Dear Mother

Dear Mother, Dear Mother
Stop churning butter
Now go take a rest
We'll all be our best
You'll have cookies and pies
We won't tell any more lies
I know you don't like the dogs
At least they're not hogs
We won't break any more lamps with the ball
It was worth it after all

By Ella

• William and I went to a baptism yesterday. A very sweet 18 year old boy was baptised. He went to the dance last night and it was fun to see him have so much fun. There are a lot of good kids out there, but the bad ones give all teenagers a bad name!

• The girls and I went to scrap booking club Friday night. Don't think that means that I actually own a scrapbook, cause I don't. I go and talk to Michelle and Lucy scrapbooks. Rachel takes care of any babies that are toddling around and Ella and Molly visit or make crafty things with all the Stampin' Up and Creative Memories stuff that is laying around. This week I actually brought a blanket so I could continue the nap I had been taking at home but we didn't have a key to the family history library, so we met in the Young Women's room and there is no couch in there. I was so sad. I just sat on a hard chair wrapped in a blanket. I took some pics, too. I am scared to try and download pics after last weeks fiasco.

Last night Ella had an awesome game. So awesome that I have put a couple of clips on here of her. I know you will be as happy to see my child score these baskets as I am. Because we are that kind of friend. You and I .

Ella is number 5 on the yellow team. She rocks! She kept watching this video last night when we got home. Look mom, do you see where I just walk around her and steal the ball? Look mom, do you see how I drive it up and score? Look mom, Look mom... you get the idea.

Tonight is a different story. Tonight they lost in OT 13 to 14. It was heartbreaking. I don't think that even these coping skills will help!(even if I teach her to do them behind the ref's back) It is so hard to see a group of nine year old girls bawling like they were. I wish I could have made this game be like the others. Everyone has to lose sometime...

For those of you wondering, no improvement with the camera. But tomorrow is a new day!

Wordless Wednesday: Shall We Dance?

I don't stink!

Bandit, our dog, came in from outside and proceeded to sneeze several times. He does this all day long.

Molly (age6) looked at him and made the same joke we make all the time, " Bandit, you must be allergic to me!"

Ella (age 9) said to Molly, "No, he is allergic to your body odor!"

A very disturbed Molly shot back, "I don't even wear body odor!!!"

And then we all laughed at her.

William's video of Ella

William got a camcorder for Christmas and is joining the world of You Tube videos. I thought I would share his most interesting one to date.

Oh to be 9 again

Today I took Ella to the Rain Forest Cafe. Actually, her class went, but she and I drove down together. Buses are gross.

She oohed. She aahed. She thought it was the greatest thing ever that the hippo moved. She was amazed at the size of Opryland Hotel. She couldn't wait to see the giant mall.

Several times today I took a deep breathe and allowed myself to be 9 with her. To move at her pace and really enjoy EVERYTHING we saw.

We left at 8:00 this morning and did not get home until 9:15 tonight. For those 13+ hours I was not rushed. I was not cynical. I was not frustrated.

It was great. We had a great time together. I received about 100 hugs from her today. I wish I could figure out a way to let every day feel like today.


Okay, on a side note that is not sweet and touching. I did something not at all in keeping with my country life. I went to a Starbucks. It was my very first time. No, calm down people, I didn't drink coffee. Ella and I split a hot chocolate. I needed something to wash down the Excedrin so I could continue relaxing and being a happy 9 year old with her.

I paid $3 stinkin' bucks for a hot chocolate. It was my first and last time to go to Starbucks!

Oh, and I have been tagged but I am too tired tonight. I will post that tomorrow...