Remembering Riley

May 25, 2008 to September 12, 2009

Oops, I did it again!

In the summer of 2008 we added a lab puppy to our family. He was a bit of a handful. I proclaimed that we would never have another dog after Riley was gone. Unexpectedly in September at 15 months old Riley died of cancer. Sad day.

After three months of pressure, yesterday I did it again...

And surprised my children with a new puppy.


Welcome home Fenway. (8 weeks)

What you have all been waiting for

I know that you have all been checking your computers hourly to see what I did with that "free" time on the first day of school. I have finally had a moment to make that happen for you.


I made jam! This is your picture tutorial on jam making.

Ingredients:






Mash berries and add sugar


Mix together pectin and water and boil


Combine with berry/sugar mixture and stir
She woke up soon after I wrote my last blog but was a great little helper.

When it looks like this


pour into jars


cover with lids


and voula you have jam

YUMMY!

What's that I hear!

What's that I hear! Nothing. It is quite at my house. It is the first day of school and 6 of the 7 are gone and the only one left at home is still sleeping. Ahhh.

What to do now? Do I dig in and get things done that have been pushed aside all summer or do I just sit back and enjoy the silence, decisions.

What do you think?

I was given this piece of furniture years ago. It is an old piece (obviously) so it is really well built. I have noticed this color is back in vogue and thought maybe with an update/change of hardware it could be cute. I have been searching the Internet for ideas to update it and now I am asking you.

What to do

What to do with this? at least weekly I am trying to clean this counter off. It is the catch all. I have folders to file the childrens things, I have a basket for mail, I have begged and pleaded, charged children for items I have taken that they left behind and even offered money if they keep it clean. But it never fails at the end of the week it is full of piles. (This isn't even a bad week.)

I am convinced that if I had the latest greatest organizational tool, or duster, or wrinkle cream it would eliminate the problem forever. I just need to fix it quick school is starting again and then the problem will only get worse.

CEO of what?

Today in complete frustration at my children because I don't think they ever listen I informed them that they may not enter the basement without doing their chores and practicing and then receive written permission from me.
After several hours one of my sons brought me this to sign





I stand corrected at least one of them listens.

Oh, What Do You Do in the Summertime?

This was the beginning of a song we used to sing in primary when I was a child. It continues, when all the world is green? It is very green where I am because we have had so much rain. Do you fish in a stream, or lazily dream on the banks as the clouds go by? I think (do to the rain) I might be able to fish in the stream that is created by the afformentioned rain in my back yard if it did in fact contain fish but since there isn't supposed to be a stream running through my back yard there are no fish just a lot of mud that makes it undesirable to play outside. My children may find it desirable but I find the mess of mud they drag in the house not so much fun. Lazily dream, what's that. I don't have time to be lazy. My children seem to squeeze it in but I don't believe they have the attention span to lie still and watch the clouds go by. They need action, like the kind that comes attached to a wii.

Oh, what do you do in the summertime, when all the world is green? Do you swim in a pool, to keep yourself cool, my children swim in a pool at least 5 days a week. It isn't always to keep cool, they are on a swim team. I think they mostly like it and it gets them up and moving in the morning. I however have volunteered to be the swim team parent rep which requires me (by default my children) to spend at least 2 1/2 hours at the pool Monday thru Friday not including swim meets. The best part is I am getting pretty tan and I will leave it at that. Or swing in a tree up high? I think the rain explanation above fits here with I prefer my children to stay out of the yard.

Oh, what do you do in the summertime, when all the world is green? Do you march in parades, When I was little we used to decorate our bikes with crate paper and ride in the parades. It was so much fun. Once my sister even one five dollars for being best decorated or something. I miss small town parades. We were thinking of going to the 4th of July parade but (I bet you can't guess) it was raining so we skipped it. or drink lemonades, I would love to drink lemonade all the time and so would my children but it is only on special ocassions or sometimes for no reason at all but I guess that is what makes it special. or count all the stars in the sky, By the time it gets dark I am just ready for everyone to go to bed. But next week we are going on vacation and maybe without 8am swim pratice we can take time to count all the stars in the sky.

Is that what you do? So do I.

What's for dinner? from an 11 year old girl's point of view

It's my favorite time of day. I get food that I didn't prepare, and I'm grateful for it.

1. It's 5:30, I've been thinking about this since lunch, I'm starving.!

2. Usually I do, but sometimes I don't.

3. BIG brother ate it.!

4. Little brother ate it.!

5. Forget the food storage I want pizza.

6. No comment.

7. We're even out of cheese-itz.!

8. You mean us clean the kitchen.!

9. I may have filled up on them, but I bet others haven't.!

10. For you maybe.!

New Talent (or maybe just hidden) from 11 year old boy point of view

Well, when I saw my mother doing this for no apparent reason, I'm thinking woah! This is way cool; but after she it did about a million times I started thinking I could do it in my sleep.

I answered "yes"

18 years ago someone asked me a question and I answered "yes". Who would have known that this one word could have started the ball rolling for the next adventures in my life. Seven children, three jobs, and eight moves later I would answer "yes" all over again.

finally the video

surprise party

How Sweet It Is

This may look like some kind of delicious candy I am making. (Like the people at the fudge factories in the mall) Oh how I wish it was me making yummy fudge that melts in your mouth, but it isn't. This was my 2 hour unplanned project today. I came home from something (can't even remember at this point)and opened the cupboard to find that someone had tipped over the container of honey. It was opened either when it tipped over or was never completely shut, who knows which. I should have taken a picture at the beginning mess, but of course didn't think of it (so you will just have to imagine). Boxes of rice, pasta and Bisquick; cans of lemonade, Crisco, Gatorade, and bread crumbs; onions and garlic, one loose and one in a bag; paper plates, cups and bowls; a bottle of cider vinegar and rice vinegar; and a bag of almonds all sitting in a 5 lb. pool of rich, thick (it was the whipped kind) gooey honey. I don't know if any of you have had the pleasure of cleaning up honey but somehow it spreads and multiplies leaving a sticky coating wherever it is or never was. I pulled out all the containers, anything cardboard had to be tossed (some contents could be saved by pouring it into Ziploc baggies) along with the onions and garlic (the little bag that you buy produce in was especially gooey filling all those folds). I proceeded to wash anything that was glass or plastic or metal and then moved on to scooping out the honey sticky spoonful after sticky spoonful. This is when I decided to take the picture. After getting most of the honey up and wiping several times and getting nowhere I decided to pull off the contact paper and replace it. I did not have any, which then necessitated a trip to Target. Of course I couldn't just buy contact paper at Target because things just find there way into my cart. But look on the bright side, see how nice it looks now.

I want to ride my bicycle

I rode my bike today. I love to ride my bike. It has been awhile since I have ridden my bike. This is due to weather, sick children, sick me, other stuff that takes priority. But today I took advantage of the beautiful spring day and took off on my bike. I love the feel of the wind in my face. I love the fresh outdoor smells. I love the time it gives me to clear my head. I love that I'm exercising and except for the occasional hill it doesn't feel like exercise. (Side bar: exercise is not something I enjoy but do only as an attempt to stay healthy.) So I burned all those calories and it doesn't even feel like a workout and what do I do? Come home and eat this

I guess it is time for another bike ride.

Random Thoughts in April

Spring is too short.

I like the rain sometimes.

Children can be noisy.

Why did I get a dog?!

I am very blessed.

I still need my mom.

I love the color of Spring.

I am not organized.

I wish I were organized.

Sometimes I wish I never had to leave my house.

Other times I wish I didn't have to go home.

New Talent (or maybe just hidden)

This is not an optical illusion, I really did this and I have witnesses.

Dabble in Deceit

Sneaky, conniving, deceitful, lying, cunning, and devious. I think that may cover the adjectives that described me this week. Don’t be alarmed, I have not fallen to the dark side. But I did pull off a surprise party for my teenager. I wish I could take credit all alone, but I took others with me (you know who you are) and I feel a little bad for dragging you to the dark side as well. Honestly, I could not have done it without your help. Let’s start with the best laid plans…I arranged the time so that all party goers would arrive at 7:30. Swim practice would end at 7:30, so when he arrived home about 7:50 all involved would have arrived. Perfect! Or not…

Obstacle #1: Wednesday afternoon I learned (from the information sign in front of the high school) he had a Tri-M talent show.

Resulting problem A: No swim practice how will I control when he arrives home?

Resulting problem B: How long would he have to be at the Tri-M talent show?

Solution to problem B: Lucky for me one of the party goers kindly informed the teacher over Tri-M that he was being thrown a surprise party. So teacher kindly changed his responsibility to the beginning of the talent show so he could arrive home without missing out on his own party.

Solution to problem A: We will take him to the Tri-M talent show so we can have control of when he arrives home thus the use of the following lie “Grandpa needs to borrow the car so you cannot drive yourself.”

Plan B is now in motion. Things begin to move forward and it is decided that he will after all be able to take the car because “Grandpa doesn’t need it anymore” but really mom found something else to fill up the time from when he leaves the talent show and when he needs to arrive home. I need him to pick up some posters from Aunt Laura. I really did not need these posters that night, but it will delay his arrival nicely.

Obstacle #2: At 7:00 I get a call from one of the moms and the track meet is running late. Is this a problem? Yes, because most of the kids coming to the party are at the meet. Let’s face it a surprise party just doesn’t pack a punch when there is nobody there to jump out and yell “SURPRISE!”

Resulting problem C: He will arrive before almost everyone else.

Resulting problem D: He will arrive before almost everyone else.

Solution to problem C: One phone call to one of the kids attending the party asking him to txt all involved to delay arrival until 8:00.

Solution to problem D: Stall him. This is done by asking Aunt Laura to find me a few things that I need even when we both know she doesn’t have them. Then I will send him to a friend’s house to drop off the posters and she too will hunt for something I don’t need. Then he will be sent to another friend’s home to pick up a binder I don’t need.

Plan C is in motion. This is the “stall and wild goose chase” plan. The time has come and it is all clear for him to return home. Upon arrival I need paper towels so I send him to the basement where the kids are hiding. He turns on the lights and sees the decorations and says “hmmm”. His sister is hiding under the computer to video his expression for me. He says to her “I see you”. Then he opens the door to the storage room where his friends are hiding and as they yell “SURPRISE!” he replies “Oh dear!”

Success finally! I think I will give up my dark ways because to be honest it is a bit exhausting.

Freedom

This is the picture of freedom. You might be thinking for the guy holding the keys and I suppose it is. But, I'm talking about the freedom the guy holding the keys brings to me. It is one less trip to lacrosse practice, swimming, friends house, YM night, trip to the store and even the occassional run your brother or sister to the... (How did I let life get this busy?) I think this freedom is giving me at least 1 hour daily. It's been only 8 days and I don't know how I ever lived with out it.

I never thought my baby would get this big but every milestone has its joys.

Do you remeber?

Do you remember what you did 16 years ago today? I do and I also know what Mom, Laura, Mary, Melissa, and Kirsten did (for at least part of the day). Sorry Colette I'm not sure about you?.

Runaway

Have you ever wanted to run away? I sometimes do. So one day my husband(who frequently travels to California on business) asks me to runaway to California for a long weekend. I must have forgotten my notion that I would like to runaway as I somewhat hesitantly agreed to go.(I guess with the agreement it isn't kidnapping) I'm not sure why I was hesitant. Maybe because I don't like to plan things in advance and this would require me to plan out some meals and schedules for the wonderfully gracious mother who had agreed to care for my children. Maybe it is because I really had no desire to go to California. Maybe it is because I worried the house would fall apart without me. Maybe I thought the children would miss me so much they would never recover.

The day of departure arrived and I left the house and no one was in tears at my ankles begging me to stay, not even my mother(It was 5am). I had managed to go to the grocery store and buy enough food to prepare 4 days worth of meals. Carpools were arranged and I was on my way. I boarded the plane and as luck would have it I was in first class so I sat back with a good book, ginger ale and sunchips. After my arrival we had a short drive from Sacramento to El Dorado Hills where hubby had to go work for the afternoon. What was I to do? A trip to the nail salon for a pedicure and foot massage might just do the trick. After an hour of pampering I returned to hubby's office and we then headed to San Francisco.

It is amazing what one can accomplish without children...

Day 2
We visited Alcatraz, shopped in Sausalito and on fisherman's Wharf, and road the Trolley

Alcatraz

On the ferry to or from Alcatraz with San Francisco in the background

In Sausalito looking across the bay to San Francisco

Looking out the front of the Trolley car the streets are like roller coasters

Day 3
We visited some San Francisco sights like the crookedest street then drove down the coast on Highway 1 to Monterey and Carmel by the Sea. Then we dove all the way to Nappa. I cannot believe the diverse terrain of California. That evening we went to a movie.

Lombard Street the crookedest in San Francisco

Monterey it was beautiful. The little black dots are surfers.

Day 4
We saw the vineyards of Nappa Valley had lunch at a little sandwich shop that gave samples of incredibly good cheeses. We then went to the Jelly Belly factory and learned all about how the Jelly Belly jelly bean is made. (I have no pictures of this because in all my planning I forgot to pack the extra camera battery.)

The time had come to return home. I arrived at the airport a bit to close for comfort but the plane was delayed so all was well. I flew home regular style (I guess I needed to ease back into life). I arrived at midnight and the house was still standing, the children were sleeping and the dishes were done. Monday was back to the ordinary the children appeared to have been fed and had been taken to their various activities. And although a few of them even mentioned they missed me they seemed to have survived without me. I shouldn't be surprised after all my mother did raise 8 children. I might just have to runaway again.

Sometimes I think this mom thing is too hard

Often on Sunday afternoon I try to work with the children on things like Duty to God, Gospel in Action, Personal Progress, and even some Scouts. It seems like such a good idea but it rarely ends well. Someone will always be angry at me because I won't sign something off they think should be signed off because the time has elapsed for it to be finished(no matter that maybe not all the requirements were met)or they tried really hard, etc. This got me to thinking that no matter how hard I try someone seems to be unhappy with something going on.

Laundry is done almost daily but someone still needs socks.
Food is prepared but someone is still hungry.
Toys and games are provided but someone is still bored.
Chores get done but the house is still messy.
Family home evening is done but someone still argues.

I am trying to embrace that as a mom things get done and things get in order but never at the same time. I am beginning to see that maybe they hear and learn a bit more than they let on. And there is that moment when one of them will come up to you and brush the hair from your face and give you a kiss on the cheek and say "mommy I love you" and you realize that maybe this mom thing is hard but definitely worth it.

What's for dinner?

I think this phrase has to be one of my least favorite. It should be such an easy answer but it rarely is. Why?
1. I haven't had time to think about what we are having for dinner(yes, I know it is 5:30).
2. Why ask you won't like it anyway.
3. Someone ate one of the main ingredients.
4. Someone ate one of the minor ingredients.
5. I don't have time to soak the beans in my food storage
6. I haven't been to the grocery store for awhile.
7. I have been to the grocery store but nothing I bought will make a meal.
8. That would require me to clean the kitchen.
9. You filled up on snacks, won't that tide you over until breakfast?
10. It's too much work.

I'm a Mazda RX-8!

I'm sporty, yet practical, and I have a style of my own. I like to have fun, and I like to bring friends along for the ride, but when it comes time for everyday chores, I'm willing to do my part.

Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.

tag you're something?

Something I want to see: The world especially Australia.

Something that inspires me: My mom, Lisa, and general conference

Something that makes me angry: People who think they are too important to follow the plan or wait their turn.

Something that hurts a little: canker soars and paper cuts

Something I've gotten used to: Children (especially teenagers) don't have common sense(I still don't like it).

Something I collect: purses/bags and fabric(I don't collect fabric on purpose it just sorta happens because there is so much to sew and so little time.)

Something I always carry with me: This is hard because as my children have gotten older I try to not carry anything with me, maybe my cell phone.

Something I want to be: patient

Something I dread: watching my children suffer

Something that I have learned: Teenagers are just as needy as an infant just in a very different way.

Something I read: I wasn't sure if this means have read or I am currently reading or I read everyday... so I have read many things and was trying to come up with the silliest thing that I would admit I read and liked but not sure what that is maybe Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. I just finished reading A Long Way Gone Memoirs of a Boy Soldier yesterday and it was good but is about war and I just put my bookmark in The Lace Reader( I have heard it is very good. So I guess officially I am not currently reading anything. And for everyday I try to read the Book of Mormon some weeks I do better than others.

Something I want to understand: prayer

Someone I'm going to tag: Colette

My Space

At church (ward conference) today our theme was stand in holy places. A lot of good discussion went on about how to help/teach our children and how the Internet can be used for both good and bad. I don't know much about some of this stuff but with teenagers I am trying to learn. I want to share with you my idea of "my space". I do realize this is not what the teens are referring to but wouldn't it be great if it was?

This is the finished product. I store my stamp sets, large tools,paper and sewing stuff in the cabinets. I love it!

In the closet is where I put a bin for each member of the family. Here is where I store all those things that need to someday be scrapbooked(I wonder if I will ever have time for that again.) In the bottom I have the "kid's crafts" or stuff they get to use. The magazine rack was my big splurge. I love it! This is where I keep all those magazines that help the to get the creative juices flowing. You can just slightly see my sewing area, I didn't want to get a great shot of it because sewing is, well, just messy.

On the wall is a recycled piece. I was so excited to be able to use this cupboard. I have put all my loose stamps and embossing powders and other loose items. On the counter is my lazy Susan of sorts where I keep all those tools handy that are needed on a regular basis.

This is a magnet board hubby made and I painted. My girls and a good friend(Trista) made the magnets. I used this as the display for a super craft day I was running. I later added the knobs and another good friend(Diana) gave me the metals flower pots for my birthday. They are great for pens.

Here is my ribbon, ink and embellishment center. I like to have the inks out for quick and easy access. I also really like be able to see some of my ribbons and embellishments because when I see them I use them.

I love "my space" and a special thanks to Colette for helping to make it a reality or it may look like my previous blog.

Nothing to Say

Since it has been 2 weeks since I posted I am reminded why I have put off having a blog for so long. I just have nothing to say. My life pretty much consists of

this












and this

And there just isn't anything I can come up with that is creative or exciting to say about that.

If I would have...

I have really mixed feelings about the new year. It is the time when most people make resolutions and that is what I don't like. Looking back at 2008 if I would have exercised more and eaten less I may be thinner. If I would have saved more and spent less I might be richer. If I had cleaned more and played less my house might be cleaner. Well, you probably get the point. So no resolutions for me. I will just try to do a little better everyday and on the the days I do worse well it makes it that much easier to do a little better tomorrow.

All I want for Christmas

For Christmas I got some really great gifts. My daughter gave me something a bit practical...Shower gels and lotions is she trying to tell me something? Thanks J5 I love it.