2 girls + 2 boys = Busy Mom

Haiden Adventures

2011-03-08T13:31:00.000-08:00

Got all the test results back for Haiden. She is officially diagnosed with PDD-NOS. It is an autism disorder, fairly mild, but she still has things she needs to work on and learn. So, she is now attending speech and occupational therapy once a week. The people are great, but it's just one more thing on my plate. We are considering homeschooling her next year. So far the school has been great working with her, but she has a lot of absences due to anxiety, so it might be better for her to do her work at home without the distractions and frustrations of a full classroom. I don't know. We will see how it all works out!

Supporting the unpopular

2011-03-08T13:09:00.001-08:00

I try to ignore politics, refrain from stating my opinion, and quietly vote my beliefs. I'm not posting this opinion on Facebook because it's too long. Sometimes we have to speak out, support the unpopular, and defend what we believe is right.

In our state, we are having this huge political uproar over education. Our superintendent of education has proposed a 3 part bill that will reform education in our state. I like this man. He supports parent choice, charter schools, and advanced technology in the classroom. They are many who don't like this man, in fact a lot of people don't like him. So I am sharing my 2 cents here.

1- getting rid of tenure and union bargaining. This is huge to me. This is so important! Tenure is defined as status granted to an employee, usually after a probationary period, indicating that the position or employment is permanent. WOW would I love to have that in any of the jobs I've held! Can you imagine, only having to try your best for the first 2-5 years of employment, then having your job secure, raises and all, regardless of how well you did your job? (that was total sarcasm.) Tenure is crap. I have been fortunate to have good teachers for all my kids, but I know there are some that are horrible, and for them to be allowed tenure so they can continue to suck at their job at the expense of my kids is ridiculous.

2- technology in education. I cannot believe people are against this! We are in an age where technology is consuming us. Everything is done by email, online, text messages, etc. You can do virtual science experiments, reinforce math skills, and allow advanced students to learn at their own pace. US History can become interactive. World events are taught as they unfold. Technology is an amazing asset to teachers and students alike. Yes, technology and online classrooms will eliminate the need for some teachers. But think, it's all the crappy teachers we can get rid of! There are benefits to the program, and they out-weigh the cons. The bottom line should be what is best for the kids, and how much are we saving/spending.

So, I love teachers. I love that they are willing to spend their days. and nights, working to educate my children. I started out my college years to become a teacher. I have nothing but the utmost respect for them. Good teachers are worth paying a lot more than they get now. Bad teachers don't deserve to be influencing any child. Cut the bad teachers, pay the good teachers more, and give our kids the opportunity to keep up in the world. And that's my 2 cents.

Life is Hard

2011-02-14T12:23:00.000-08:00

We all know that life is difficult. We all know that we have trials and challenges to help us grow. We all know that "it could be worse." And we all know that we can pray for strength to get through. I would like to cry uncle and give up now. The challenges can stop. The trials and hardship can be over for a while now please. I need a break, a time to breathe and rest, a time to recover for the next round of hardship. I feel like we have weathered a lot the last few years. Things that for some people would be no big deal. Today my challenges were added to and I am feeling buried! My darling baby went through 8 hours of cognitive, behavioral, and social testing to see where she lands on the autism scale. We got the results today. It's not as bad as it could be, but it's not what I hoped for. What I hoped to hear was this: "She's not anywhere on the autism spectrum! She's a genius and learns differently is all." What we actually heard: "She's very smart, IQ in the 97% percentile. Emotionally at a 3 year old level, needs a lot of therapy, speech, OT, and PSR, to have her functioning by the time she's 12-13 years old." This really sucks. Yes, it could be worse. Yes it's better than the alternative. But I am tired and I can only imagine how she feels. I am trying to figure out how this is going to effect everyone in the home. I am trying to figure out how to get her the best help at school. I am trying to figure out how to pay for all of it. Uhg! But we go on, and my daily mantra has become, "Life is hard, but I can do HARD things!"

Update

2011-02-14T12:19:00.000-08:00

Wow, it's been a long time since I posted anything! Here's an update:

December was great. Had a great holiday, my brother's family moved the week before Christmas to American Falls, so we get to have them closer and see them more often! Yay! The kids are doing well in school. They all had a's on their report cards, with the exception of one b each. They are so smart! Things in my Mary Kay business are moving right along! I love love love it and am so grateful for it in my life! I have huge goals and am looking forward to meeting them! January was pretty uneventful. Holden's birthday was the 31st and was wonderful! I can't believe he turned 8!! He was baptized on February 12th by his grandpa. It was a very special day and I am so grateful for all the friends and family who turned out to support him!

And that is what we have been up to!

Grateful

2010-11-28T02:30:00.000-08:00

As Thanksgiving comes and goes, I realize I have a lot to be thankful for. I am thankful my husband was laid off again this year. This may seem odd, but we have had to more closely monitor our budget and really prioritize what is important. We have learned that some things, like cable TV and online video games, are not needs, or even wants. They are just extras, and money wasters at that! We have had to be more careful with a grocery budget, planning meals, making extensive lists, and bulking up and using our food storage. Unfortunately this being the 2nd lay off we have endured, our food storage was depleted. But, I am grateful. We learned how much we need to have in storage, and made a plan to replace it. I am grateful for good friends. Because of cuts in TV and video games, I have re-learned how to have friends! Rob is my best friend in the entire world, and there isn't anyone I'd rather hang out with. But I am learning to have girlfriends. I am thankful for the opportunity to serve. Yes, I am a Webelos cub leader, but I am still trying to figure out what I'm supposed to learn from it. However, I have the opportunity to serve others at school. I LOVE reading to the second graders! I love doing the monthly class birthdays for 1st grade. I love being able to serve these kids and teachers. They are so much fun and give me great joy. I am grateful to work with the most kind and funny elderly lady. She brightens my day, and I am reminded why I love the elderly. I have a true respect for this woman and love her dearly. I am grateful for my musical talent. I have been burnt out lately, but as the Christmas season is upon us, so is the beautiful music celebrating Christ. I am grateful I can express my love of Him through song. I am grateful for my children. I confess, I have been a horrible grouch lately, and have had a difficult time being in a holiday frame of mind. My children inspire me to be kind and cheerful. I am grateful to learn patience, and be reminded of my responsibility to lead my example, and teach through patience and love. I am thankful for my husband who puts up with the many moods of me. I admit, I have been a bit demanding and unbending lately. I go to bed tense, I wake up tense, and I find myself grinding my teeth a lot. Rob is amazing for weathering the storm, being there when I need to vent, and knowing when to just hug me! I am thankful we have a home. I complain that the basement isn't done being remodeled, but I need to remember to be thankful we even have a home at all when so many are losing that security. I am thankful for the blessings we have received, both from God and our families. I am grateful for the opportunities we have had this year. Rob going to school, getting a real vacation to New York, witnessing the wedding of two special people, visiting the sacred sites Hill Cumorah, Joseph Smith farm, and Sacred Grove. I am so grateful for the blessings in my life, big and small.

Learning

2010-11-02T22:40:00.000-07:00

So, I've learned a lot of new things the last month. But I just can't remember what it was. Maybe I'll remember, when I have 5 minutes to myself.

Meloncholy

2010-10-19T23:26:00.000-07:00

I've decided that children are sent to do one of two things:
1. Make you feel young and carefree, as well as remind us of our relationship with God.
2. Suck the life out of our bodies, causing us to be older, more tired, and weepy.

I've had a lot of #2 today. I'm so tired, yet can't sleep. I'm afraid if I close my eyes, I will cry in my dreams, and then my mascara will run and I'll look like a raccoon. I guess I will try some relaxation methods and sleep. Hopefully there will be no gnashing or grinding of teeth, or flailing about hitting my poor hubby, or no kids deciding to be in my bed, and no cats deciding I need to be awake at 4 am if only to scratch his ears because he wills it.

I need another vacation...

Adventures with my Aspie

2010-10-03T20:43:00.000-07:00

Many people know that my darling youngest has Aspergers. This has been a great challenge, yet enjoyable blessing, to our family. We have been able to learn to see things a different way. We have to think "out of the box" to relate things. We have to lower our voices and be kinder. These are such great blessings for us. She is so very delightful, when she is delightful, yet gut wrenchingly and devastatingly difficult when she is difficult. We recently had one of those days.

For the most part, she has been doing really well. She has been off her meds, has a normalized routine, and has an AMAZING 1st grade teacher that is willing to understand her and her needs. Her teacher has given her the flexibility she needs while still holding her to the rules. So far it has been really good. I was starting to think that maybe Haiden was growing out of whatever her issues were. That she was starting to grasp things better, and that maybe we were wrong, she was just a late social bloomer. Then the hammer....

She's flapping. She's never done this before, not to the extent that I've ever noticed, but she's flapping. She gets excited, and she starts to flap or shake her fists. She gets really upset and she jumps and flaps. When I realized she'd done it several times this week, and more than once in a day, I cried. She is back to baby-talk and limited conversation. She won't look at me when I speak to her. I have to tell her to look at my nose. I hate this! The medication works, until it stops, then we have to find a new one. I don't want to find a new one again! So, I don't know what to do for this poor child. I just want her to struggle less. I don't want her to be normal, I don't wish for that. So maybe I just let her flap, and draw and color and sing and dance and sell rocks.

Immature

2010-09-28T20:02:00.000-07:00

I'm so immature. Seriously, just had one of those days where I just wanted to stick my fingers in my ears and say "LA LA LA! I can't hear you!!" Over and over to my children....In fact, I can't be totally sure I didn't actually do that.

Adventures in PINK

2010-09-09T07:50:00.000-07:00

Strange title, yes. I became an Independent Mary Kay Beauty Consultant over the summer. I have no idea what possessed me to do this, but strangely enough, I LOVE IT!!! I love being able to meet new people. I feel better about myself because I actually work to look good. I love helping other women look and feel better. My husband loves that I have my nails done, if only to scratch his back. :) He loves that I feel better, am more positive, and re-energized. Being a person who struggles with bouts of depression (like, years long depression) this has been a wonderful way for me to feel good about myself. So, yes, I'm the lady who calls asking if you'd like a free facial. Yes, I'm the lady out driving around the neighborhood looking for house numbers to deliver orders. Yes, I love doing this!

Full-time mom

2010-09-09T07:31:00.000-07:00

I feel blessed to be a stay at home mother. Yes, we could use the income I'd bring if I chose to work full time. Yes, I'd have more friends, more fun money, and more stimulating work. I chose to be a full time mom instead. It blesses my family in ways I probably won't fully understand until the kids are grown. Being a full time mom gives me the opportunity to serve others by volunteering. It is so fun to be able to help at the school. Not only does it help the school, it helps me. I love helping the 2nd graders read. I love teaching the jr. high kids to cook. I love accompanying the h.s. choir. And, I hope I will love serving in the PFA. (it's a charter school, so I can go to one building for all the grades!) I love serving as a cub scout leader. It is wonderful to be able to see these kids learn and grow. I have had several people make comments about how I should be paid to do these things. Yes, we need the money, but that's not why I do it. I think, finally, all those years in Young Women and all those service projects finally sunk in! I love to give service to others and volunteer!

Clyde

2010-09-09T07:25:00.001-07:00

Recently, there was a beautiful grey kitty abandoned in our neighborhood. The owners moved and didn't take him with them. This poor kitty has wandered between a few houses here on our corner for a while, and finally someone adopted him. US. The kids love him, and we strongly believe that cats should be house animals so they aren't injured, become sick, or find a new home. We have named him Clyde. He is still learning how to get along with the other kitties, not the mention the dogs. He is sweet and loving and is very much a lap cat. He's happy to sit on you for hours, and purrs to no end. He is very tolerant of the kids, letting them pack him around and completely mellow about it. Today we are going to the vet. One of his eyes is messed up, he needs shots, and we want to make sure he is healthy. We pretty much love him. :)

time flies

2010-07-29T20:25:00.000-07:00

Wow how time flies! Summer has been great. Started off with a trip to Lagoon. Then scout camp, pine basin camp, and 4th of July. Then 2 weeks of jury duty on-call, a few days for the Stake pioneer trek, and Skylar's birthday. Had the opportunity to see the Blue Angels fly, swim with friends, and embark on a new business venture. Getting ready to finish my bachelor's degree, finally, and send kids back to school. The older kids get to spend a week with their grandparents in Nevada before school starts, and then I get to have a regular schedule again! 2 weeks and 4 days before we start learning! I love having the kids home and spending time with them. I also love having them at school all day! WooHOo!

Oh, and does anyone else think the supply lists are getting seriously ridiculous? More than $200 later...sheesh!

Thought...

2010-05-31T21:29:00.000-07:00

Does anyone else think the photos of the oil spill in the Gulf look like the sea is bleeding? Consider the devastation of the animals in the sea, and the birds on the land, added to the climate change from the numerous volcanic eruptions and HUGE earthquakes we have had, and the prediction that this will be a worse hurricane year than 2005 and Katrina....

Is anyone else getting WORRIED?!?!?!?!

Okay really???

2010-05-31T20:59:00.000-07:00

I am easily annoyed. Big surprise, right? I get so frustrated when things at home don't work right. There is a person in my home who is a brilliant computer person. All he has to do is smile at a computer and it works perfectly. This is not the case for our home computers. You know the story about the plumber who fixes everyone else's pipes, but can't flush his own toilet at home? That is how our computers are. We have several computers networked throughout the house. We have a couple printers too. So you would think the most used computers would have access to the printers, right? This is not so. And it is so frustrating!!! If I want to print, I have to go use the super mini keyboard on the TV computer, which means everything is huge and I have to sit in the hallway to see it. It really makes no sense to have to email documents to myself so I can access them on the only dang computer hooked to a printer!!! Seriously, very annoyed.

Crazyness

2010-05-23T19:32:00.001-07:00

The last few weeks have been insane. Literally. Good news, we got our basement windows put in! Yay!!! They look so good and now I'm not so paranoid about a fire, but am more paranoid about burglars. I am warped and think the window well would be a great place to hide and break into a house. Just thought I'd put that out there because I'm paranoid and warped. (As I said before.) Anyway....

Things were going well after that, until everyone got sick. I had puking kids for a week, and then I got sick! On top of that, Haiden got really ill and we had to take her to the ER earlier this week and were told she had appendicitis. So, out that came. Poor girl had to spend the night at the hospital. We got her home Wednesday, she took a short nap, and then I had to chase her down and pry her off the swing set. She was obviously feeling better. It has been difficult to keep her still and resting! We were going to take her out of school and let her be done for the year, but she has one week left and is making me crazy, so off to school she goes!

Jordan sang a solo of "Maybe" from the musical Annie. She did SUCH a good job! I cried, because I'm the mom and I can do that. We also had the school concert that I have been working my rear off to play the accompaniment for. 19 Broadway songs later...it was wonderful! The kids did a great job and I think the parents really enjoyed it. It was a very fun thing, but one that I will not be volunteering for again!

I've been depressed and overwhelmed the last few months and I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel! I'm hoping to get through this last week of school and then have some breathing room!

Pictures!

2010-04-12T19:07:00.001-07:00

Here's what we have been up to:

Skylar went hunting prairie dogs on his friend's ranch. First shot, first try, first kill!
That is the ranch house they stayed at.
The kids in their soccer jerseys, funny thing, they all got number 7!
Easter egg hunt at Auntie Barbs house

Soccer Season

2010-04-11T00:21:00.000-07:00

It has begun!!! The next 8 weeks, I have no time to myself. Not that I really had a lot of time to begin with! 3 of the kids are playing soccer this year and it is very exciting for Haiden because this is her first year of team sports! I think it will be a great learning opportunity for her with sportsmanship, fairness, and being required to play with other kids. Skylar is on a team with 16 year olds. He is almost as big as they are! He is very glad to be playing this season, after having to sit out last fall due to his leg injury last year. Nothing huge, but an inconvenience for sure! Holden is excited to play also. He has only played once before, and I think this year he will do more running than standing! We love soccer season. The games are short, only about an hour, and easily worked into our schedules. Any kid can kick a ball. You don't have to be super athletic to play. And there is always the added excitement of Idaho weather! It's sure to be a great year!!!

Random thoughts

2010-04-11T00:06:00.000-07:00

This week, as I was watching conference on the internet, I was especially impressed with the talk by Elder Packer concerning mothers and daughters. WOW. So, I totally suck as a mom! Well, not really but sometimes. I love my daughters dearly, and they are wonderfully unique people. My mom is a great mom, and as much as I said I would never raise my kids the way I was raised, I do a lot of the same things. My mom is an excellent example of obedience to the Lord. I'm a whiner and complainer. I don't like getting up to go to church. I don't like interrupting my family time for mutual, or scouts, or whatever calling I have. I don't like sitting in sacrament meeting or relief society when I think I could go home and pray about the same things and get the same answers. My mom isn't like that. She set a wonderful example for my brother and I. She loves going to church, without complaint. She fulfills her callings without question. She follows the commandments without wavering. She is a wonderful example of the things I should be doing. But, I don't, because I'm a whiner. I don't want that to be my example to my daughters. I don't want them to be whiners about church. I don't want them to blow off scriptures, or prayers, or mutual, for other things. So, I have to quit being a whiner, and become a do-er. Jordan has been an enormous example to me. She goes to church almost every Sunday without complaint. She wants to be there and she loves to be there. Haiden loves to go to church, and is often upset if she doesn't get to go. (right now we are at 9 am and she likes to sleep in.) They are wonderful examples for me, their mother! I appreciate my mom teaching me about modesty and appropriate dress and actions. Because of that, I have been able to teach my daughters the same things. I am so proud of Jordan when she turns off the TV or a movie because the girls (yes, Disney channel) are dressed inappropriately. I had the opportunity to shop with her a few weeks ago, and she is very conscious of the length of shirts, shorts, and skirts, as well as if the fronts dip low or they have sleeves. She and Haiden are wonderful girls, who will eventually turn into wonderful young women. I pray they do better than me!

Too busy to sleep

2010-04-04T01:40:00.000-07:00

I don't sleep. EVER. I haven't since the day I was born. I am the equivalent of a night owl. Except....I discovered Ambien. Since my surgery I've been able to take it and sleep like the dead. I am well rested, which has never happened in my life. I am more alert, and have more energy to do the things I want to do. This is a wonderfully new thing for me. The last few months have been great. Keep in mind, this is an addictive drug and can lead to misuse. Because of that, I have been only taking a 1/2 dose the last two weeks. This is usually enough to relax me and send me off to dreamland. Not so much right now. The kids have been on spring break the last two weeks. Rob was out of town for a week. So, I don't like to take it when he's not here, and I haven't been able to go to bed at a decent hour so I can take it. Finally the last few days have been better and I have been able to get in bed by ten,, take all my meds, and drift off. Okay, that's how it's supposed to work, but it isn't. We start soccer this next week. 6 days a week. On top of lessons, choir, violin, scouts, and volunteering. I have figured out that I have no time to make dinners, no time to clean, no time to do laundry, no time to do dishes, and certainly no time to read, play the piano, or go for a walk. As I desperately try to drift off to sleep, I start thinking about tomorrows schedule. Things I need to do for the kids, for school, for scouts, for Rob, for piano lessons, for ME. It crowds my mind to the point I can't sleep! I need some sleep!

Excellent book!

2010-03-30T23:38:00.000-07:00

I just finished reading a most excellent book! It is called Leap of Faith: Confronting the origins of the Book of Mormon. I LOVE THIS BOOK!!! It makes sense. I appreciate the author examining both sides, believer and critic, to make a fair judgement of the BoM. Many critics have never read the BoM. Many believers haven't either. This book helps make sense of everything going on, not just doctrinally, but in context of timelines, societies, government, politics, migration, wars, and the like. I got it from the library, but I am going to buy it for my own bookshelf. It's a great book!

Tics, flips, coughs, and cracks

2010-03-25T22:49:00.000-07:00

The Aspie child went to the dr. today. She is doing well. We discussed the gluten free diet, I told him what I have observed and why it's working. The entire family is pretty much on it so it's not too hard right now. We are tweaking her meds a little bit to keep her from putting more holes in my walls to match the new ones she created the last 2 weeks. So, while we were in the room talking to her and discussing things about her, she began this little cough. Just a small, short, throat clearing cough. She did it yesterday and Dr. S asked me if it was a vocal tic because she was perfectly healthy that he could see. So back to today, Dr. M ask me if she's been sick. No. Any postnasal drip. No. Been sick a month ago? well, maybe 6 weeks. Dr. M was trying to decide if it was a tic or cough. She seems to do it more when she is excited, nervous, anxious, angry, irritated, etc. Mostly when she is angry, she turns into the hulk, and we don't like her when she's angry! So just one more thing in the joys of aspie parenting. But then, I have a family member who has at least 3 tics that he does constantly! He tics, cracks, and flips, but he's normal. Just ask him. :)

Spring break!

2010-03-25T11:46:00.001-07:00

I am so thankful to have my kids go to the charter school. We have 2 weeks of spring break, and it is wonderful for the kids to have that extra down time. It can be a little hard, having them all underfoot, but I am grateful for the time I get to spend with them!
This week, Skylar and Jordan went with some friends to their family ranch in Utah. They have been riding 4-wheelers, motorcycles, playing in the mud, running all over, and shooting gophers. They are having a fabulous time! It's been good for the younger 2 to have me all to themselves. The last few days they have shown more independence and played with each other much better than they usually do.
An update to the gluten free diet: it's working. It is very difficult to eliminate gluten entirely from the diet, but we are very careful about what Haiden is eating. As a family we have started to eat mostly vegetables, meats, and some fruits. It is good for us, since Rob and I both have to watch our carbs, to cut out the breads, pastas, and processed sugars. All in all, life is good!

I hate Asperger's

2010-03-15T11:26:00.000-07:00

Darling daughter is having issues. She is trantruming all the time. She is throwing things at me, putting holes in the wall, giving me bruises, clawing the other kids, and constantly fighting with everyone. I don't think her meds are working anymore, and the new ones only made it worse. So, we are venturing into the field of diet alteration. Apparently, research shows there is improvement when gluten, casein, and soy are fully eliminated from the diet. We are starting with gluten. It's a bit easier for us than the casein (milk products.) We are also eliminating all processed sugars. She did great yesterday, until we had birthday cake. Today, she is doing great. She had gluten-free hot cereal, and tuna with mayo alone. She prefers it that way anyway. I truly hope this helps her and we can stick with it!

Being prepared

2010-02-28T22:12:00.001-08:00

I have this other blog, plentifulpantry.blogspot.com , that I have been posting on to help others become better prepared in their food storage and emergency kits. I feel that I was prompted to do this. Sometimes it is difficult to follow promptings, so I am trying very hard to keep up with this one. As the weeks have gone on, I have seen the value in being prepared. Last year we were impacted personally, which lead to a desire for preparedness and food storage. This year, as I have written the blog, I have seen the need for preparedness. It has become a theme in church lessons, Ensign articles, and General Conference addresses. Skylar spoke last week on the importance of being prepared, and the speakers after him addressed issues on that topic. The economic failures, natural disasters and hardships our world has experienced recently has driven home the point of preparedness. Something that is often forgotten in our storage and planning, is that of spiritual preparedness. I firmly believe that we must be spiritually and mentally prepared to weather the disasters in our lives. Anyway, I am working on our food storage, our planning, and our family unity. I encourage all my friends and family to do the same!

Trying to keep up!

2010-02-28T22:06:00.000-08:00

This week I feel like I've been playing catch-up! Volunteering at the school is so rewarding and I love it, but is keeping me from my routines at home. I have yet to figure out a new routine that includes this volunteer time! Add to this, violin lessons, choir class, my own piano lessons, mutual, scouts, PFA, Rob's schooling, and whatever extras come up and my weeks blur together. I'm starting to feel my days get longer and longer, and often think things that happened in the morning, happened yesterday or earlier in the week! So, my goal this month is to cut something out or cut back. I have made charts and lists so the kids take a greater responsibility in our family. This last week, they did pretty good. We shall see if it continues.

Welcome to the new year...in February

2010-02-20T20:31:00.001-08:00

The last 2 months have really gotten away from me! I started teaching piano again, volunteering at the school, Rob started school, the kids have been busy, etc etc. I have no time at all for anything else! Things are being neglected at home, and I don't know what to cut out! For those who know me REALLY well, in my entire life I have not been to bed before midnight. EVER. 2 or 3 AM was my typical bedtime. Since my surgery, I have found I have tons more energy and sleep before midnight! This is amazing for me! However, because of this new-found energy, I volunteered for things. It has been wonderful, and I encourage everyone to volunteer for something, but at the same time hectic! I have no idea what I'm going to do when soccer season hits!

So, I've been the volunteer accompanist for the elementary music department at our charter school. I LOVE THIS! I started it in November. I have had so much fun with this that I contemplated returning to school, yet again, to get my teaching certificate. This last Thursday I had the opportunity to substitute teach for the music teacher while he was out sick. I had a great time with the kids, I think we learned a lot, but I also don't think I want to finish my teaching degree! lol! Trying to teach a class full of 30+ kids is trying. I really enjoy my 1-on-1 time with my piano students because it is more focused and individual. I feel like I get more accomplished than I did with those classes of students. And yes, it was all grades, 1st to 6th, all day long. I enjoy assisting the music teacher, I enjoy listening to the kids sing and have fun, and I enjoy being at school and knowing what my own kids are up to. It would be perfect if they would hire me to accompany, so I'm hoping! Yes, I want my cake and to eat it too.

Rob is doing well in school. Very stressed out. Between working full-time and taking 12 credits, he's kinda going crazy. He hides in the basement and comes out to eat. Last week he and I had the opportunity the have an entire day together! He had to run to Salt Lake, and I got to go with him for the day. It was so peaceful to be able to spend time with just him, to talk and laugh with each other. We had a nice lunch, picked up some Krispy Kremes, and came home. It was very nice to have that time together.

The kids are fine. Busy but fine. I'm hating the "Tween Years" or Toddlers: Part 2. It really is like having toddlers, but they can reason, pout better, talk back more, throw bigger tantrums, manipulate, and have extremes in emotion more. It's independence issues on steroids. I swear Sky and Jordan hit the hormones at the same time. We've had to redefine curfews, chore expectations, friend limits, etc. Both of them have been gone every weekend for the last 4 weeks. We have set our foot down and are limiting them to 2 weekends. 1 away and 1 at home with friends. AND having a boy and a girl that are only 14 months apart is difficult when it comes to sleepovers. We are having to ship one or the other off if there are sleepovers at our house. I know they need friends for proper social development, but at times I really want to lock them in the house and not let anyone in or out until they get back from missions! Anyway, this is our life. Crazy busy and stepping into the water with teens. I hope we come out the other side alive and sane!

Avatar

2009-12-31T11:19:00.000-08:00

We went and saw Avatar 3D this last week with my brother and his wife. FABULOUS MOVIE!!! The 3D was amazing, the story line was a little weak, but the visuals and the movie itself were breathtaking!

There are a few things I will change when we go again. 1) We won't be sitting in the very front row. These were the only seats left when we got there and I think it increased my motion sickness quite a bit. 2) I will fork out the money for drinks. We got one to share and I should have gotten my own. I settled my stomach. 3) I'll wear short sleeves. Getting too hot only increased me getting sick!

It was an amazing experience, even with the motion sickness. It is almost 3 hours and it doesn't feel like it. It flows so well and goes by so quickly. We loved it and will go again!

Christmas and the New year!

2009-12-31T10:55:00.000-08:00

I love Christmas. It isn't my favorite holiday, but it comes in as second. (I LOVE the 4th of July!!!) Christmas eve we have a family tradition that started with my grandparents. We gather together and gorge ourselves on chinese food. My grandfather started this tradition as a gift to my grandmother. She would always make these huge and wonderful Christmas dinners, and he didn't want her to have to cook on Christmas eve. So, every Christmas eve, they would load up the family and take them to the Bonneville downtown for chinese food. It has been a tradition ever since. My husband especially loves this tradition because he LOVES chinese food! We gathered at my parent's house this year, everyone bringing 2 of their favorite dishes to share. There were 17 of us, and we still had WAY too much food. The kids wore their new pj's over, and after dinner they all dressed up and did the Christmas story. (this is apparently a family tradition, according to my mother, but we have NEVER done it before. lol!) Once we got everyone home, all the kids went to bed and were asleep by 9pm. We were very grateful for that! Little did we know the how tired we'd still be the next day...

Christmas morning came at 5am. Haiden was in our room shouting "Santa came! Santa came!" She apparently doesn't understand the joy of sleeping in. The family rule is they don't get up before 6am, they have to look for their stockings, and they don't get us up before 7am. Santa hides the stockings, so it gives them something to do so we can sleep in! Not this year. Apparently they were all up at 3am, waiting, until Haiden couldn't stand it any longer. We finally gave in and got up at 5:30, the kids had everything opened by 6. I don't even know if we got pictures, I was so tired! We made breakfast casserole, took it to my parents, opened presents there, then went home to nap before dinner. (Yes, my kids are spoiled. Too many presents this year because I forgot about some of the stuff I had already bought!) Here is where the chaos comes in. I was dead to the world during my nap, which means I got up a little late. I had to make pies and appetizers for dinner and only had 3 hours to do it. This seems like a lot of time, but each pie had to cook at different temperatures for at least an hour. In hindsight, I should have made them on Christmas Eve, but the power went out, I was getting over a cold, and frankly I was feeling lazy. Nevertheless, we made it to family dinner at my in-laws without any problems. The pies were done, the appetizers made, and we had a wonderful time with family.

Finally, this last week, I took down the tree, boxed up the decorations, and got my house back to normal. I love the holiday, and the spirit it brings to our home. I am grateful for the blessings we have recieved this last year, as well as the trials that have brought them. I hope all my friends, family, and neighbors had a wonderful Christmas season, and wish them the best in the coming new year!

Winding down!

2009-12-17T22:58:00.000-08:00

Only a week until Christmas and the Grinch might make it to my house before Santa does! If the kids misbehave, the Grinch makes his way down our chimmney chart and when he gets to the bottom, they get a gift taken away. So far, they have been pretty good! We also have a box with a manger on it, and the family writes who has helped them that day. There are a few in there, I was hoping it would have the kids thinking about each other more, but alas, I was way too optimistic about it.

Last week was the TCPCS elementary Christmas concert. All the classes did such a wonderful job! I played the piano for each class, and I'm so glad they sang so well to cover up all my mistakes! It was a very fun and uplifting experience for me, to be able to share my talent and be with the kids each day. I'll miss them until it's time to start working on the spring concert!

Jordan had her Upbeat Choir concert tonight. It was beautiful! She sang very well and had a small speaking part where she told a joke. She is awesome and I love that she is willing to try new things and find her talents! Tomorrow is the recital for my piano students. I decided to hold it at an assisted living center this year, mainly because I know how lonely and detatched from the holidays those dear people become. I hope it all goes well! Some are ready, some are not, some can make it and some can't. So, I'm sure it will be short and sweet!

I am looking forward to Christmas, and the time spent with family. May God bless all of your families and you have a wonderful Christmas season!

New Blog

2009-12-04T12:23:00.000-08:00

Ok, I said I'd start a blog for coupons and ads in the Idaho Falls area. I've finally got it set up, and started posting the sales! It is http://plentifulpantry.blogspot.com I am a little slow at getting things posted, BUT hopefully I will get on a posting schedule to keep everyone up to date! Good luck and happy savings!

Turkey Day!

2009-12-01T00:08:00.000-08:00

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving break. The kids all had friends spend the night for many days leading up the Thanksgiving, and we were blessed to have my nephew and niece come stay with us on Friday. Of course, I forgot to take pictures. The older kids had the opportunity to spend some time with their grandparents from Nevada. It was wonderful to see them again and the kids enjoyed their time with them. Thanksgiving was at my parents house this year, and it was a quite affair with just them and our family. My brother and his family spent the day with his wife's side, and we missed having them! However, that meant there was more pie for all of us! Considering there were just the 8 of us, we made way too much food, stuffed ourselves to exploding, took naps and swore to never eat that much again. We know it's a lie and it was just practice for all the upcoming holiday feasts in December. I've been feeling a littel run down lately, and have decided to go back and keep my food journal again. I did not realize how far I fell from the wagon until I did this again. Apparently I didn't just fall, I fell, was ran over, then left behind. So, once again, back to counting carbs and portion size. Hopefully I won't gain back all the weight I've worked so hard to lose! Other than that, things here are the same. I'm still playing the piano for the school program, I'm still teaching lessons, the kids are still doing well. Everything is good!

Making a new blog, it's the middle of November, WHat?

2009-11-18T20:24:00.001-08:00

What do you mean it's the middle of November? There is no WAY next week is Thanksgiving! But, apparently it is and I have better finish my Christmas shopping soon if I don't want to be trampled by the hordes of shoppers in the coming weeks. I guess it just doesn't feel like November because there is no snow on the ground. Today I didn't even have to wear a coat, just a sweater. Oh well, time flies when you are having fun!

I am going to be creating a new blog for all my couponing and ad activities. I hope to include links to online coupons and deals once I figure out what I'm doing!

Total spent, total saved

2009-11-13T20:31:00.000-08:00

Rob and I set off this evening to put my couponing skills to work. Here's a peek at how it went:
Total Spent: $98.67
Total Saved: $127.69

It was more than the $75 OOP I was looking for, but I can blame Rob for adding a few cases of pepsi to the cart, even though he found coupons for them. By far my best purchase of the night was Popsecret microwave popcorn. Albertson's had them 10/$10, I used 5 of my $1 off 2 coupons, AND 5 .$50 off you next order coupons from my previous transaction (Fleishman's yeast, each 3pk generated a .50 cent coupon). My 10 boxes of popcorn cost me $3.10. Completely thrilled! I'm still learning how to do this, so maybe next time I will be closer to $75 than $100 but we ended up with a lot of storage and staple items for very cheap!

11 boxes cereal (Smith's and Albertson's)
9 cans Del Monte Vegetables
2 pkg duracell batteries
5 pkg Fleishmans yeast
2 Sara Lee pies
2 Breyers Ice cream
2 Valu Pak Chicken legs and thighs
10 boxes popsecret popcorn
3 cases diet pepsi
4 cans chicken broth
3 bags hershey candy
1 bag choco chips
10 assorted Pillsbury refrigerated dough (cookie, rolls, biscuits)
2 butter

I still need to go buy milk, and produce at Winco tomorrow. But I'm very excited to be able to add to my storage!

Shopping Strategy 11/13

2009-11-13T00:51:00.000-08:00

I have spent the last few HOURS trying to plan the best possible scenarios for my grocery shopping this weekend. I have poured over the sale ads, clipped and printed my coupons, organized by price and promo, and think I have my groceries to less than $75 for the week. This is a HUGE savings for us. Being a family of 6, with a growing son who seems to think he needs to eat everything in the house, we were spending almost $200 a week on food and that was with carefully planned meals! So for those out there who want to know where the deals are, here is what I have found:

**Get the Wednesday and Sunday papers for the best coupons! I was fortunate enough to collect 5 Sunday papers last weekend which adds up to many, many coupons!**

Smiths:
Select General Mills cereals, $1.50 with purchase of 4
Del Monte canned vegetables, 3/ $2.00
Super value pack fresh chicken legs and thighs, $.99/ Lb. (so good to portion and freeze!)
Duracell batteries, $1.88/ 4 pack

Albertsons:
SUPER DEAL: BUY 1 SARA LEE OVEN FRESH PIE FOR $6.39, GET 1 PIE + 2 BREYERS ICE CREAM FREE
Pillsbury refrigerated goods; buy 5 get free butter
Fleishman 3 pk yeast; $1.29, get a $.50 coupon for each package towards your next order
Crisco, Pillsbury mixes, Eagle condensed milk, smuckers jellies; spend $20 get $5 towards your next order
Rice Chex cereal; $1.50 when you buy 3
Swansons chicken broth; $.79
Pop Secret popcorn, Tony's pizzas, various other stuff; 10 for $10 mix and match

Smartsource.com and redplum.com have coupons for many of these items to print. It is well worth the time to try to save the money! Better information on how to use your coupons to their fullest can be found at thekrazycouponlady.com I'll post my savings in a few days. Wish me luck!

Independent Thinker!

2009-11-05T00:49:00.000-08:00

The elementary years are such wonderful years for children. They are the years that teach them to become independent. Sometimes this gets them into trouble. For example:

Haiden: *kicking the back of the seat in grandmas car*
Mom: Haiden, stop kicking the seat please.
Haiden: They are my feet and you can't make them stop!
Mom: I'm the mother and I can too make them stop. (see, now I just sound like an idiot.)
Haiden: *stops kicking, silent treatment for rest of car ride*

Haiden: I saw Alex in the cafeteria at school today, she was eating.
Mom: What were you doing in there?
Haiden: Payson and I were spying on people from the library
Mom:*10 seconds of silence* Where was your class?
Haiden: Outside.
Mom: Why weren't you with them?
Haiden: Because we wanted to chew gum in the Library, duh!
*much discussion regarding proper behavior at school ensued with much kicking and screaming about you are not the boss of me.*

*in the car*
Haiden: singing 5 fat turkeys
Mom: For Thanksgiving dinner we are going to have a fat turkey too!
Haiden: Eew!!! I don't want turkey!
Mom: Well, what are you going to eat then?
Haiden: A sandwich.

What I have learned from these conversations with Haiden:
1- I am not the boss of her feet, or any part of her for that matter.
2- I am the stupidest parent alive
3- I sound just like my mother
4- I don't know if I have great patience or have just given up the fight because resistance is futile.

I love my little kids, and this age is so fun! I am enjoying the tween stage of my older ones, but almost forgot how wonderful the 5-8 year old group is!

Giving Thanks

2009-11-03T16:07:00.001-08:00

I've added a little side bar to my blog. It's my Thankful list. Let me explain a little why this is important to me. Over the summer, our family put up a poster of a beehive and made little bees with the values of President Gordon B. Hinckley's "Be's." There were originally 6, 3 more were added to make 9. They are: Be smart, Be true, Be prayerful, Be grateful, Be positive, Be humble, Be clean, Be involved, Be still. The one that had the most profound effect on me, was Be grateful. It is very easy to lose sight of the blessings in our lives when everything is falling down around us. But, if we can find just one little thing to be grateful for, we are reminded of our blessings and the other be's come easily after that. The more grateful we are, the more positive we become, the more humble we become, the more prayerful we become, the more still we become, etc, etc. SO, because November is the month of Thanksgiving, I'm going to try each day to find somethng to be grateful for, even if it's something as dumb as the kids putting the cap on the toothpaste! (because really, that would be a miracle!) I hope everyone can find little things to be grateful for this month!

Halloween!

2009-11-03T15:38:00.001-08:00

Halloween was a great success. All the kids had a great time! Well, I think Skylar had a great time. He no longer gets to trick-or-treat because we have deemed him "too old." Yes, we are horrible parents, BUT I hate looking into the faces of monsters taller than me hollering trick-or-treat in deep bass tones. So, we chose not to contribute to the ever expanding pool of disordrly teens who roam the streets for hours and hours trying to see how much they can get. Back to my point...
The kids all had a great time. Sky watched a movie at his granny's house and passed out candy for her. I think he kinda enjoyed seeing all the little kids in their costumes. For Jordan's last year, we let her go with her friend through the neighborhood. She was a zombie and the uglier the better! She freaked out Holden and Haiden, as well as a few other little kids in the neighborhood. Rob and I had the luxury of strolling with our two youngest. For us, it was really weird. We only had 2 to chase instead of 4. We didn't have to keep reminding the older ones to wait for the little ones, and we didn't have to hit every single house with a light on for miles and miles. We just had to go as far as the little ones wanted to go then walk back. It was soooo nice! They were't overloaded with candy, they had just enough. Holden was a vampire, from the costume I made many years ago, and Haiden was a witch in her new costume I made this year. It was a very nice relaxed holiday!

Shopping Savings

2009-10-31T20:06:00.000-07:00

Hello fellow shoppers! As I posted before, I was going to use the Smith's ad from this week for my shopping because they had the best deals on the things I needed from my list. I do all my shopping on Saturdays, because Rob and I go together and it's a "date" thing for us. Anyway, after creating a weekly menu from items I already had, combing the shopping ad for things that were on sale, matching those things up with coupons, and finalizing my list, I spent $96.56. I SAVED $106.96. Now, most of you are thinking, "What!!! You spent almost $100 in groceries?" But, we usually spend about $140 a week for a family of 6, and that includes 2 up and coming, never full almost teenagers. So, for this week, here was the breakdown:

Smiths (Sale Good Through Nov. 3rd!!!)
Spent- $96.56
Saved- $106.96
Best purchase: FREE COOKIES! Keebler Fudge shoppe cookies- in ad $.99 sale price; used printable coupon $1.00 off 1 package; I made 1 penny.
Worst purchase: Liquid Plumer; no coupon or sale. $5.49

I forgot to get a picture of the "loot" but, there were items from every department including the kleenex, hair care, cleaning, and pharmacy. I think I did pretty good this week!

couponing and ad deals

2009-10-30T00:02:00.000-07:00

Most of the websites I go to for coupon deals and weekly ads are from the Boise area. They have pretty much the same ads that we do on this side of the state, but I'm considering creating a new blog for our area to help those who want to start doing this. However, I don't know that I want to spend that much time compiling all the ad information, creating all the links, and adding in all the internet printable for coupons. It just seems like a lot of work! Maybe I will just start mentioning ads I'm looking at and direction to the other blogs I go to for coupons. It's a start anyway!

For those of you who do not get the newspaper, get it! The ads for the grocery stores come out on Sunday and Wednesday, and sometimes on Tuesday or Friday. The Post Register offers a Sunday/Wednesday/Friday subscription. I get the daily paper, it is only $2 more, and I end up not missing any of the ads. Unlike the bigger Boise papers, they don't offer the 5 Sunday paper deal. So, if you want more coupons you have to go out and buy more papers or bum them off family members.

To start, stock up on printer paper, the cheap kind works fine, a 2-3 inch binder, some sheet protector pages, and dividers. Label the dividers with your categories and put your protector pages in. Your coupons go in here. If you want to get fancy, you can sew the pages into sections and cut through the top layer to create pockets for your coupons. You need the printer paper for all those extra coupons you will be printing from manufacture websites.

Southeast Idaho ads I'm using this weekend:

Smiths:
Great deal buy 10 mix and match deals. Large selection. See Krazycouponlady.com for details.
Fresh chicken thighs and drumsticks .99 cents a lb. GREAT STOCK UP PRICE!!!
Pepsi and Coke products $2.60 12 pack
.99 cent 1/2 gallon Chocolate Milk
.88 cent Kroger cottage cheese and sour cream
.99 cent Kroger 1/2 gallon Ice Cream

These are the best deals this week. Fred Meyer and Albertsons are pretty slow in their sale items, I expect they will be better in the coming weeks as we get closer to Thanksgiving. WinCo is usually priced lower than everyone else, and when you combine that with coupons you can get great deals there as well. Happy saving!

Just for fun!

2009-10-29T07:55:00.000-07:00

We are all finally well from the flu. Thankfully, no complications other than an ear infection for Holden. Everyone is back at school and I am happy they are there! Parent teacher conferences were held before the fall break, and all the kids are doing fabulous! Haiden is getting along fine in her class, which is a huge relief to me! Holden is learning to be quiet and doing much better than he was at the start of the year. His teacher laughs all day long because of him, and I have to admit he is pretty dang cute. Jordan is doing wonderful, of course. She was devastated because she has and 89% in Math, and A's in everything else. She is still a very conscientious student, hell bent on going to Stanford, top of her class. Her teacher had no idea she had skipped a grade already and was pretty floored by it based on the quality of work and level of maturity Jordan has. We always say she's trying to be in her 20's! Skylar is doing fabulous as well. He had A's with B's in Math and Spanish. However, his Spanish grade was the highest in the class, no one had an A. The jr. high spanish teacher is a former BYU-I professor with a ph.d and he works those kids at about a college level so we are really proud of Skylar for the work he is doing in that class. Overall, they are wonderful students, high achievers, and had wonderful reports. I hope they continue to do well!

This past Monday we had the opportunity to go to the pumpkin patch and pick out our pumpkin. The kids had a good time. It was cold though so we didn't stay long! (I have pics, they are on my phone, I don't know how to get them off.) We also went to the Pumpkin Walk that was held in Shelley. It was this cute little event where different groups set up displays made of pumpkins, gourds, and other vegetables, painted and with backgrounds to look like scenes from different movies. It was really fun. The kids enjoyed it quite a bit. The favorite overall was the Spongebob themed display. We were very impressed with the quality and creativity of those in our community.

We are now looking forward to Halloween! We carved the pumpkin, no one puked though it was close, and we have all the costumes set and ready! Time to get this over with so I can get ready for the holidays!

Seriously though

2009-10-18T02:29:00.000-07:00

I'm sitting here aimlessly surfing the 'net and listening to the breathing of my little munchkins, hoping they sleep well and can rest. My last post may have been a bit sarcastic regarding the dreaded H1N1 "swine" flu, but it has been no laughing matter at my house. Last weekend Holden came down with a high fever after church, and before I'm tarred and feathered, he was fine before he went. Anyway, Monday he started puking and running an uncontrollable fever. Later that day and into the evening, Haiden and Skylar joined him in illness. Holden went to the dr. Monday, Haiden on Tuesday, all 3 on Thursday. Here we are, now almost a week later and they are still running fevers, Holden is being dehydrated, Haiden is still puking, she is coughing so hard she can't breathe, and Sky is getting well but trying to get as much out of it as he can. I know he's getting better because all he wants to do is eat everything then complain it isn't what he wants. Thursday we were told that Holden HAD to drink more and urinate every 12 hours or he had to have IV fluids. I personally am not opposed to that. In fact, I favor it. It is hard to get a sick kid to drink. IV's aren't that bad and he'd be fine to sit for a few hours while getting some much needed saline drip in him. But, they still sent us home with instructions to make him drink small amounts every 30 minutes, and observe his urine. I think they like to punish the parents. We were also told to return if they were running fevers after 5 days. It has now been more than 5 days, BUT they aren't open tomorrow!!! They didn't say what to do if the kids were still sick over the weekend. So I'm unsure how concerned to be. Dear Haiden is puking again, after starting to get well and that concerns me very much. I don't know if it's the coughing that is making her puke or the virus. I am afraid she is developing pneumonia, as I thought I detected a faint crackle in her lungs when I used my stethoscope on her. I guess I keep her as healthy as possible until Monday when I can call the Dr. again. I guess the blessing in all of this is that we have met our family OOP deductible so it won't add too much to our medical bills. I only hope we get well soon! I'm tired of this mess!

Also, I'm doing fantastic and recovering quite well from my little surgery. I'm up and moving and shopping and cooking and cleaning and bending and some light lifting and even drove a few times when I had no other choice. I'm sure my dr. would kill me for it, but I am feeling well. I am trying not to over do things, but it's difficult with 4 kids. You can only take off so much time when you are the mom before the family decides they can't wait to need you anymore! I am so blessed for a wonderful husband who took care of me and the kids. I am blessed with wonderful neighbors who helped with the kids and meals. I am blessed with family who have helped with the kids and driving all over town for the last few weeks running my kids all over. I am blessed with a father who holds the priesthood and could give me a blessing of health and strength. These things have made my last few weeks so much easier, and I appreciate them very much. Now to just get over this dang flu!

Swine Flu... RUN FOR YOU LIVES!!!!

2009-10-16T15:29:00.000-07:00

I've heard people say how the swine flu isn't a big deal because it's just another flu, and I've heard other people freaking out because "OMG We're all gonna die from it!!!" I'm in the middle of these two camps. I was in nursing school, I studied microbiology and the behavior of diseases in populations. I learned all about infection control, communicable disease, herd immunity, sterile vs. clean procedure, etc etc. I have come to the following conclusion regarding the swine flu: you can't avoid it! All four of my kids have now had it, each in varying degrees of severity. Rob and I have also had it. I had it over the summer, Rob is just getting over it with the kids. My sickest kids happen to be my boys. We tried to avoid it. I'm big on soap and washing hands. I'm big on wiping down light switches, door knobs, and especially my piano. But despite it all, I understand that it isn't enough because of community factors. The kids go to school, they encounter their friends. They use hand sanitizer and wash hands at school, but they use desks, door knobs, share pencils, markers, shake hands, hug, sit next to each other, trade cookies at lunch, and in general think more about being social than germs. They then bring those germs into our home where I scramble to kill them. As a family and adults, we go to work and the store, use grocery carts, touch shelves, doors, products, computer keyboards, public restrooms and the like that other people who may be carrying the disease have also touched, coughed, and breathed on. We then bring those germs home to our families and share them. It cannot be avoided if we want to live normal lives.

There really are only 2 solutions to this problem. The first is to be vigilant about washing our hands, sanitizing our work spaces, and not touching our eyes and faces unless our hands have been washed. Germs like to enter through mucous membranes and the eyes and nose are perfect for it! Go to the store, but avoid being in line behind that guy who is coughing all over the conveyor belt, or the mom with the 3 kids who look like they will puke any minute. Wash before you unload your groceries, and realize that you will probably get sick regardless of how much you try to avoid it.

The second solution is to become a hermit. Commit to homeschooling the kids, seal the windows and doors with plastic, live off your food storage, and designate one person to be the ONLY person allowed to leave the house. Probably the person with the best paying job. This person must be fully sanitized and change clothes before entering into the home so as not to bring outside germs into the clean space. Once the flu pandemic is over, remove the plastic, play outside, and enjoy the sunshine again! Because, really, there's nothing like living in a plastic bubble for 6 months to make you appreciate sunshine and fresh air. If it keeps you from getting sick though, it's all worth it!

Baby Dog and Captain Obnoxious

2009-10-11T23:57:00.000-07:00

I have 2 miniature schnauzers, both are 9 years old. We got the first just after we were married and I love him dearly. He is obnoxious, playful, full of life, intelligent, and great with the kids. It's just like having another child. We came by our other dog in a different manner. Our neighbors got her because they liked Oscar so much. Except, she would get out of their yard and come to our house everyday. She would jump at the door until I'd answer and let her in, then she would play with Oscar or sit in the chair with me until her owner would pick her up. After almost 2 years of this, they gave up and let her come live with us. We love her dearly and she is the sweetest little lap dog you could ever want. She however, doesn't much like the kids and is a bit anti-social. She is Rob's dog. Every night she jumps up on the bed and sleeps between us. She is very jealous. Rob isn't allowed to hold my hand, rub my back, or sit by me without her being on his lap and having the full attention of his other hand. She doesn't growl or get aggressive, she just makes her presence known and shoves her way in between Rob and I because he belongs to HER. Okay, so the last few weeks I've been hanging out in my bed. She's gotten used to this. This is usually her "spot", since she's not much of a morning dog. She likes to sleep until 10 or so, flattened into the covers. Lately, she has started to inch her way up to me, until now each morning I have to pet her during those waking hours or she pouts. She's become a baby dog. She wants to be cuddled and carried and held and sat with all day long. All the while this is going on, Captain Obnoxious barks at me from the side of the bed, because he's too fat to jump on it. Or he runs through the empty house barking, scratching at the back door until I get up, then won't go outside. So, I usually end up hauling his lardness up onto the bed, where he proceeds to try to sit ON the baby dog and breathe in my face. That, or he jumps all over the bed and me until I finally kick him off again or hold him down while he decides to be still. Oh he's a great dog, and we love him, he's just a very jovial and obnoxious dog who refuses to grow up. As far as the baby dog goes, I have no idea what I'm going to do when I have to actually start getting up more and doing things around the house, like tomorrow. I'm sure she's going to pout and glare at me and make me feel guilty for not giving her all the attention I'm sure she deserves. I guess she's going to have to make due with being held when daddy gets home.

Blithering Idiot

2009-10-09T13:19:00.000-07:00

I had major surgery almost 2 weeks ago, and it has turned me into a blithering idiot. I am starting to feel better, setting goals for the weekend so I can resume lessons this coming week, but through it all I've been turned into an idiot. For the last 2 weeks I have mostly stayed in my bed, in my comfy flannel sheets, watching TV, reading books, on the computer, or sleeping. There has been a lot of sleeping. My sole focus has been keeping track of the time of day I take my pain pills, what I eat, and making sure my guts are working. Seriously, I've been reduced to someone obsessed with the success of my intestinal movements. It is becoming the only thing I can think to talk about, besides my surgery, so this is why I've been reduced to a blithering idiot. Friends, forgive me. I have got to find a hobby...

I read through the General Conference talks yesterday, good stuff there. Especially liked Elder Bednar's talk. Also enjoyed the talks from the general relief society womens conference a few weeks ago. Read the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society for book club. Had a hard time getting into it, then couldn't read it fast enough. Kids are doing great, surviving while I'm recovering. Rob is a fabulous "mom" when he needs to be. Trying to think of anything else to say that isn't surgery related...but that's it.

My 2 Cents

2009-10-08T13:46:00.000-07:00

So, here I am, 10 days post-op bored out of my mind. I've read everything I checked out from the library, watched hours of tv on Hulu and Netflix, facebooked until my eyes burned, and browsed the news pages until I was sure the end of the world was tomorrow. Well, today I found an article worth blogging about. So, if I offend anyone, it's not my intent, it's just my opinion and I'm still on pain meds so I hope it makes sense.

I read and article today on Newsweek online about Autism and spectrum disorders and how they are on the rise. Apparently now 1 in 100 kids will have an autistic spectrum disorder. The scientists are trying to find out why, they are looking for what to blame, how to change it back, and thinking that maybe it's over-diagnosed now. So far, they know it has to do with a mutation in the genes, and then some environmental triggers to cement it all together. Oh, and lo an behold, a percentage of kids diagnosed "out-grew" the disorder. Science is crediting this to behavior therapy or re-diagnosis to other disorders. I give you this background because I have a child with Aspergers Syndrome. These kinds of reports kind of piss me off. Let me tell you why.

Several years ago, I was a horrible person. There was a child in one of my older kids' classes who had an autistic disorder, and this child's parents didn't seem to do anything about this child. And I was a horrible person. I used to think that if I had a child like that, I'd be a different parent, a better parent, etc etc. Well, then my sweet baby Haiden was born, and she was blessed with Aspergers. And I suck as a parent. Rob and I try everything with her and when we find something that works, we grab it and tell everyone it works. Eventually, it quits working and we have to start over. This is why she often runs through the neighborhood without shoes or jacket to play with her friends. She has clothes on so we have won. Back to my point. This child is brilliant. She is smart, and funny, and sweet, and stubborn, and very intelligent. I'm not saying that because I'm her mom. She scares the crap out of us because she get's it. She's bored in school because she knows it already. Do it once, and she's done. She can use a computer better than I can most the time. On the other hand, she has a difficult time with people. This is the Aspergers portion. Her social skills are lacking, impulse control, sensory integration and ability to deal with lights and sounds and crowds. She has a brilliant mind and is ready to learn, but cannot grasp the subtleties of socialization, friendships, sharing, etc. I watch her play and often have to interfere because she is strong willed and comes across as the bully.

Here is where I have issues with this Newsweek article and others like it: Who are THEY to say she isn't normal? She is unique. She learns in a different manner than those around her. She has surpassed the need to pander to social niceties and is able to speak honestly. It's not that she doesn't care, because she does care how her friends feel. Scientists and researchers say the greatest minds in our recent history probably had Autistic disorders. Who are these reporters and scientists to say that this is not a step in our evolution? These kids, no matter which end of the spectrum they are on, are brilliant and extremely intelligent. Why are we forcing them to fit an old mold of "normal" when we could be finding a new way of teaching, not just to open their minds, but the minds of those around them? The reporter in this article quoted a researcher who stated their genes were faulty. I truly find that offensive. If my child grows up to be a physicist, engineer, doctor, chef, or mother, how can they say her genes are faulty? I have seen, from my first to my last child, a range of abilities. They are each unique individuals with unique challenges and problems. Raising a child with a "disability" isn't easy. It's not easy when people look at you in the store, or family members try to tell you how to raise the kid, or how they do it better when said child spends time with them. It's not helpful when people treat them as less intelligent than they are, because articles like the one in Newsweek online label them as having faulty genes, and being a drain on resources.

I was just irritated by the article, as a parent of a child with Aspergers. These kids are intelligent and will someday be the engineers and doctors and computer geniuses of our society. But, don't tell that to the researchers, scientists, and reporters now. We need to find a "cure" so they can be normal little robots like everyone else, instead of the amazing and wonderful spirits Heavenly Father intended them to be. But, that's just my 2 cents. :)

Counting blessings

2009-10-02T13:03:00.000-07:00

Last week I had my 32nd birthday. Nothing special, nothing great. My kids made me great cards, my parents and in-laws took the kids for Friday and Saturday nights so Rob and I could go out both nights. I got new stretchy pants and shirts to go with my most awesome present: hysterectomy! The Monday after my birthday I had surgery for a hysterectomy and appendectomy. So far, it hasn't been too bad recovering. I was able to spend 2 days in the hospital recovering before I came home. Call me an ungrateful mother, but it was very nice to have those 2 days of quiet and TV to myself. I missed my kids and family but enjoyed the time alone being waited on. It has been very nice to come home, to know that the kids and Rob have everything under control. I am very grateful to the ward sisters and friends who have provided our family with meals to lessen the load. I am grateful to my sister in law who has taken my kids while they were out of school. It has lessened the load for my mother in law, and been a nice change for the kids. I didn't think I'd be this tired. I also didn't count on having my right side hurt more than the rest due to the appendectomy. I start piano lessons again on Monday, and hope that I am up to it. It will probably be the ONLY thing I do all day. The day after I had my surgery, my mom had surgery to repair her wrist. She is doing well. I'm grateful for the friends and neighbors she has taking care of her. I have so many blessings to be grateful for. Sometimes, in the hustle and bustle of life I get bogged down and forget to stay positive and be grateful. I am so grateful for all my blessings and the people around me who are supporting us in our time of need.

I lost it! (and I don't want it back!)

2009-09-23T08:07:00.000-07:00

Last winter, over the course of a few short months, I managed to gain a whole bunch of weight. I have no idea how other than it was probably related to the other health and body imbalances I was having at the time. Oh, and the fact that I made brownies and cookies a lot. At the end of May, I changed my eating habits. I'm not so good at exercise because I don't like to get up in the morning and I don't like to sweat. I am proud to say I have lost 20 pounds! I contribute this to changing my eating habits and taking control of my health. I am insulin-resistant (pre-diabetic). Diabetes runs on both sides of my family so I'm genetically predisposed for it. I decided to follow my Dr.'s advice and take the medication to control my blood sugars. I also had killer migranes, which were apparently due to severe vitamin defficiency. By balancing out my health I was then able to take control of my eating habits.

I love to cook. And I'm a great cook. My kids would rather have me cook their birthday dinners than take them out. Often times Rob and I will get ingredients for me to cook rather than go out because there isn't anything at a restaurant I can't make. (with the exception of some mexican and chinese dishes. Those still elude me.) So often times with the delicious meals come fabulous deserts. I make most things from scratch because face it, from the box just isn't as good. So most everything I make has real butter, whole milk, cream, whatever in it. These are wonderful ingredients, just not every day! I changed my eating habits to balance my health. I've included a lot more fresh vegetables. I purchase a lot of what is in season and fresh at the store as well as using what I grew in the garden. I use more lean meats in better portion sizes. I limit starches like pasta, rice, and potatoes. They are no longer fillers for a meal. I serve salad with every meal, and change it up by adding different toppings to it. (ie: green salad, caesar salad, coleslaw) I limit my carbs per meal and snack. It's individual for each person, but mine is limited to 30/meal and 15/snack with 3 meals and 2 snacks. The snacks are important because they keep me from getting hungry and eating too much or the wrong foods. I still cook, just healthier. I still use butter and cream and make desert. But not everyday. Sunday dinners I go all out, but during the week I am careful how I cook.

Rob and I have added a nightly walk to our routine and it's been nice. It's great to be able to leave the oldest in charge to get the others ready for bed. I don't know if we will walk when it snows, but for now it is a nice change and destress time for us. Anyway, I'm so excited I've lost the weight, and I can't wait to lose more!

Grocery Savings

2009-09-20T17:50:00.001-07:00

So, as I posted before, I'm trying this whole couponing thing. My Sis-in-Law does it and is very successful at it, so I decided to see if I could do as well and get my groceries for pennies. I did okay this week. Here's what it looked like:

Fred Meyer had a coupon in their weekly ad for Ball Park hotdogs, 2/$3. I combined this with an internet printable (IP) for $1 off 2 pkgs. I paid $2.18 for 2 pkgs of Ball Park hotdogs. Considering these are anywhere from $3-$4 a package, I was ECSTATIC with my first real find. Next up, Cereal...

Smiths is having their case goods sale right now, and this includes some general mills cereals. Their in-store deal was buy 4, get $6 off. Seemed like a good deal. Seemed like an even greater deal when combined with IP coupons that were anywhere from $.75 off 1 to $1 off 2. We also got some Fiber One bars, okay low carb snacks for Rob, with a coupon ended up at $3 for 2 boxes. Spent $26 at Smith's, but saved $21, and got a $2 cereal coupon back. (8 Large boxes of cereal, 2 fiber one bars, 1 case ramen noodles)

So by now I'm feeling pretty good about my couponing prowess. I made my shopping list, I selected my coupons, I scanned the ads and websites for the best deals, I made 1 FABulous deal, and 1 great deal. I'm ready for the remainder of my list at WinCo. I love shopping at Winco. Part of why I failed miserably at this couponing before was because I love Winco. Often time they have cheaper prices than their advertised competitors, so even without a coupon you are still saving money. However, they don't always carry the brands that are on sale in the other stores, in the Sunday coupon books, or in the printables online. I found this out with frozen veggies and Lean Cuisine meals this week. But, that's another issue. So, at Winco, I go through my list, checking off my items, checking my coupons, making sure to get ONLY what is on my list. Rob was with me so I had to keep an extra eye on the cart to make sure we didn't end up with Double stuff chocolate covered Oreo's or anything like that. I bought things that were on sale, (look for the green price tags, everything else has yellow) If off brands were cheaper than brand name with coupon, we bought the off brand. After all was said and done, I had a cart full of stuff, for $85, with coupon savings of......$7.75. Okay, I really thought I had more coupons, but that was it. I can't really complain because we normally spend $120-$180 a week on groceries, and this week it was significantly less. I suppose it will take a little more refining and a little more work. I'm not giving up on this couponing yet! Someday I will be like Allison, my SIL, and get $200 worth of groceries for $30.

Breakdown for those who care about the cost of my groceries...

Fred Meyer total: $6.16 Paid: $2.18 Saved: $3.98
Smiths total: $48.02 Paid: $26.81 Saved: $21.21
WinCo total: $93.15 Paid: $85.40 Saved: $7.75
Overall Total: $147.33 Paid: $114.39 Saved: $32.94

Garden Dogs

2009-09-14T13:21:00.000-07:00

My garden is quickly coming to an end. I have loved having a garden more than I thought I would. It has been a great experience for the entire family, including the dogs. For those who don't know, I have 2 adorable mini schnauzers. They are as much kids as the other 4. They love the garden. They love being in the garden. They love eating the garden. Oscar has been really good about staying out of the garden and being outside the fence even when I have the gate open. Madi on the other hand has to be in the garden ALL the time. Her favorite veggies are the peas. She will steal them off the vines and chomp the entire thing. Oscar loves them too, but he's good enough to wait for us to give them to him. They also love the carrots that Haiden has picked and fed them. More recently, we started cleaning out the garden. We removed the corn stalks, beans, peas, zucchini, etc. The dogs thought this was the greatest thing ever! They were trying to pick the tiny corn ears off the stalks (we totally messed up our corn and 1/2 of it didn't pollinate.) They were taking off with the pea plants and trying to find pods we missed. They are funny dogs. I was also picking the ripe tomatoes and Jalapenos. Madi kept picking the peppers out of the bowl and trying to eat them. She didn't like them much. Having a garden has been a wonderful thing, and we will definitley be doing it again next year!

Precious

2009-09-10T11:30:00.000-07:00

My kids are different. I have been told this by everyone. I'm not bragging, they are just different from "normal" kids. Because of this, they require a lot more energy, time, and patience than most kids. I see those families, you know who you are, whose kids obey when first asked, whose kids behave perfectly in a store, whose kids are always kind to each other, whose kids may have their moments of disrespect but for the most part do everything their parents ask. I envy those parents, until my kids do something precious.
Haiden has become an expert escape artist. She was only an amateur before this summer, but she has surpassed that to expert. A few weeks ago, she was running around outside, I was in the garden and she was supposed to be in bed. Rob, in his "I am alpha parent" role, was trying to put her back in bed for me so I could have a few moments in peace. Soon, she was back outside talking to me in the garden. Rob was no where to be seen. I called him from my phone in the garden (yes, too lazy to walk inside) and asked him where he was. He was stationed outside Haiden's door so she couldn't escape. Hmmmm.... I asked missy Haiden how she got out of her room, she responded, "I jumped out the window of course." Needless to say, I was speechless. She jumped out the window to escape her room. Wonderful. I can no longer confine her to her room as punishment because she will just leave by way of window and go play with her friends. This and the constant bike riding, and the constant running off to play with friends without telling me where she is has been going on for a few weeks now and I'm getting to the end of my rope. Everyday is exhausting, but it's hard to stay mad when she comes in, climbs up on my lap, and tells me she loves me. Yesterday we were in the car and she was singing. Oh, and the other thing, she hates seatbelts. This is a constant fight. So I was trying to get her to put on her seatbelt, and she was singing about it and actually put it on. And she kept singing and singing about everything she saw and what we were doing. I asked her if she liked to sing, and she said she did, that is makes her happy. It was the sweetest thing to hear her say. She sings about everything and it makes her happy to sing. I love all my kids so much and am so grateful to have them, different as they are. I would probably get bored with perfect children, and perfect children would be bored with me. Someday, when they are all grown and gone with kids of their own, I hope I can look back and laugh at all the difficult times and all the challenges and remember how fun it was.

Couponing

2009-09-08T11:04:00.000-07:00

My sis-in-law is a couponer. She is from Boise and she has this 3" binder that she takes shopping everywhere full of her coupons. She makes a killing on groceries with it. They were here visiting this last weekend and I browsed through her binder a bit and talked to her about her hours of couponing. I have tried using coupons before but apparently I was doing it wrong. So, I'm trying it again. I guess over in Boise you can subscribe to the newspaper with a couponers subscription and you get every day's paper plus 4 Sunday papers, so that is 4 times the coupons. The Post Register doesn't have a subscription like that, but if I start saving money I may just subscribe to extra Sundays. I don't know. Anyway, for those interested, here's how the binder works:

Choose a large 2" to 3" binder.

Get about 100 plastic page protectors

Go to http://krazycouponlady.blogspot.com/ and print the dividers from the link on the right hand side. It will say binder.

Use your sewing machine to divide your page protectors into sections. Sew up the middle, then across in 3 or 4 places to make spaces large enough to hold coupons. Make some to hold larger coupons as well. Carefully slit the top of each "square" just through the first layer to make pockets to hold your coupons. These will go in each section to hold individual coupons.

Collect coupons of things you USE, store the coupons in the binder in the proper category, and use them when you shop. Watch for sale ads for better buys and bargains. Stores are now allowing more use of internet coupons, so you can print them from places like coupons.com and other websites like that.

The blog listed above has great information about deals and getting started, yes it's for the Boise area but it's a start! I haven't found any blogs for southeast Idaho yet, so if any of you know of any, post it! I know there are tons of blogs and websites for the Utah/SLC areas. Most of the Walmart/Alberstons/Target/Walgreens deals will be the same for the region. Anyway, this is what I'm up to. If anyone else is doing it or is going to start it, good luck!

If I could do anything...

2009-09-03T22:43:00.000-07:00

A dear friend of mine had an interesting post on facebook this evening, and I had a thought, "If I could do anything, what would it be?" We all have dreams of doing something different, of what we thought our lives would be like, of what we wanted to do, of places we wanted to go, and how many of us have actually done them? Sometimes money and circumstance holds us back, or our own insecurities and fears keep us from going for what we want. I have a whole list of things I want to do before I die, it's a kind of wish list. There are many things I probably won't do, like sky diving, and some I probably will do, like finishing a quilt and family history. But, if I could do anything, if I had one HUGE dream regardless of money and circumstance, what would it be? Rob and I have talked about this a bit and we both would do the same thing.

If we could do anything, we would spend 1 year touring the world with our children. We would visit every continent except Antarctica. We would explore the seats of our family history, we would spend time learning about the great thinkers, artists, musicians, and scientists. We would learn about other cultures, religions, foods, languages, environments, customs, and histories of the people of various nations. We would visit the great ruins of Europe, Asia, Egypt, and Central America. We would be world travelers for one year, nomads exploring the world. It would be the BEST and most challenging experience of our life, but it would be us together as a family doing something great and wonderful.

Painting

2009-08-31T13:04:00.000-07:00

Last fall I painted my upstairs living spaces and kitchen this really pretty yellow called coastlight. It changes colors as the sunlight changes. Sometimes it looks white, and sometimes it's a deep yellow. This weekend, I finally got the kitchen cabinets painted! They were this nasty beige color that looked dirty no matter how much I scrubbed them. They are now a nice, bright, white. Yes, I will have to wipe them down a little more, but they make the kitchen look bigger and brighter. I may have to get some daisies or something to go in the kitchen. The yellow and white looks great with my Fiestaware dishes too! I'm hoping for a new stove if we sell our old truck! Now to get the stuff to refinish the kitchen table and chairs...

Faith and prayer

2009-08-31T12:36:00.000-07:00

I was going to write this whole long thing about how I know the power of prayer works and how Heavenly Father heals those who are sick. We have had a horrid year for medical issues this year, and it seems about right since the last 2 have been fairly mild medically for us. However, what I was going to post got really long and kinda preachy about the church. So I will just say this: priesthood blessings comfort and heal, prayer and faith have the ability to heal and comfort, and when those miracles happen, they should be recognized and thanks be given to God. I don't know why we are getting to be blessed this year. We are being hit financially, but healthwise we have had so many scares and just missed things that are so scary and bad that I know Heavenly Father has been blessing us. This whole thing was prompted by Haiden getting a concussion this last weekend. Anyway, I do have a testimony of faith and prayer and the church even if I don't share it much! :)

Random thoughts and observations

2009-08-19T16:00:00.000-07:00

Random thought 1:
So, my garden was doing so well, and I was sooo excited by it. And, I was happy to share my good fortune with all who would listen. This being my first year with a garden it was very exciting to me, but probably very boring for everyone else and probably came across as bragging. Thus Karma came in to kick me in the rear. The garden is no longer doing so well. I have no idea what is wrong. The zukes have decided to shrivel up and die, the peas produced bowlfuls then stopped, the corn is full of earwigs, and the tomatoes! The tomatoes are full of fruit that will not ripen! I have literally hundreds of green tomatoes in the garden that are NOT turning red! I want red juicy tomatoes and no ammount of prayer, pleading with the karmic gods, or magic garden voodoo seems to be working. I guess I just have to keep my mouth shut and when my blogging seems more like bragging!

Observation:
The house stays clean when there are no kids at home. Yes, this makes me sound like an ungrateful mother, but boy I am thrilled each morning when the kids go off to school and the house is quiet for a few hours. The dishes are done, the carpets are clean, the laundry is getting folded and put away, there are no toys in the living room, and best of all, I'm not having to play referee for their disagreements. I love my children dearly, but I was under the mistaken impression that once my kids got older the would help keep the house clean. (I think someone told me this lie so I'd give them more grandkids) This is not so! The bigger they get the bigger messes they make, and they are good at getting out of their chores!

Random thought:
Why do kids think the more they complain and whine about homework the less time it will take them to do it? Son has been sitting here for 2 hours now crying about doing his homework. The other kids are off playing, but he's still here, because he just won't do the last 2 lines of work! I don't get it.

Random thought:
I think next year we should have a neighborhood garden. Or a neighborhood garden club or something. We have lots of gardeners, and we should share our knowledge of what does and doesn't work as well as encourage other neighbors to start their own small gardens. Just a thought.

Observation:
I hate to blog. I never know what to say. No one reads the stupid thing anyway because I don't post many pictures and really, why would anyone get excited over the things I'm excited about? Maybe I'm just as socially inept as my aspie daughter and am afflicted with the same syndrome as her. I don't know.

thought:
I hate nylons. and dressing up for stuff. and sometimes clothes in general. not that I look great w/o clothes, i just wouldn't have to do laundry or worry about finding something clean to wear if I didn't have to wear anything at all. i'm a closet exhibitionist i think. :)

Back to school!

2009-08-17T07:29:00.000-07:00

The kids went back to school on the 12th, last Wednesday. It was a good day! I had met with Haiden's teacher before hand and given her a list of triggers and solutions for Haiden's behavior. It was good to be able to discuss her diagnosis and issues with an open and receptive teacher! I am grateful every day that Haiden isn't severly autistic and doesn't have to be in special education classes to survive, but at the same time it can make educating her teachers difficult. So far, Haiden has done really well in school. The first day was great, the next 2 were pretty good. She was a bit aggitated by the disruption in her routine and a complete terror at home, but I think over the next week or so she will gradually aclimate to her new surroundings.

Holden is having a hard time in first grade. He's had homework from day 1, and hasn't liked that one bit! I think he expected it to be more like Kindergarten and less like real school. He enjoys having lunch with all the big kids, and that's about it. The poor kid is so social that he's been in trouble every day for talking, but it's never his fault. Apparently if another kid is whispering to him, he has to answer back so as not to be rude and therefore shouldn't be in trouble. I appreciate his thinking, but the poor little guy will just have to learn to zip those lips!

Jordan loves her class. 6th grade is wonderful and fabulous and fun. She's thrilled to be with all her friends again and her teacher treats them more like young adults than children, which is nice for them. She's also starting to be more concerned about how she looks, thank goodness! I thought the day would never come when she would remember to brush her hair or want to do her hair and wear something more than a t-shirt and jeans! She's beautiful and smart and doing so well!

Skylar is really enjoying jr. high and it shows! He's turning into a 12 year old, which I'm not ready for. He wants more responsibility and more privileges, but also to still be a kid. This age is tough! He is doing well in school though, loves his teacher and his class. He enjoys his spanish class a lot and his other preps as well. I think this will be another great year for him!

I am loving this back to school thing. I have a few hours in the morning to myself. To be honest, I have no idea what to do with them, but they are mine! I'm trying to find something to do besides watch TV and read, but that's hard when I have so little time to do either when the kids are home! I think this is going to be a great year!

100th post, and a cat in a family of dogs.

2009-08-03T22:12:00.000-07:00

School is about to start and I'm begining to have some anxiety about sending Haiden to school. I know she did well at pre-school, but that was specifically designed for kids with learning difficulties and special needs. I am worried she won't do well, that the teachers and administrators won't understand her or her needs, that they won't try to help her. I'm worried that Haiden will freak out and beat some kid up for taking the crayon she wants. I'm worried they will have a fire drill and she will wet her pants and everyone will make fun of her. She is a sweet little girl and I know her teacher will be wonderful and I know her principal will be wonderful and I know the school will be wonderful, but because I'm the mom I get to worry. It has been said that all cats have Asperger's syndrome. If that is the case, then Haiden is a cat living in a family of dogs. She does everything different, and I love the charter school for embracing individuals but at the same time worry if she will be able to conform to the rules. I guess I will find out next week if she can handle it or not! Oh, and yay for 100th post!

Thoughtful Weekend

2009-07-26T21:44:00.000-07:00

Skylar, my oldest child, turned 12 this weekend. He had a wonderful birthday party. He and several friends camped out in the backyard, grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, dug a fire pit and roasted s'mores, and were scared to death by the Rob "monster". Apparently there is nothing better than sneaking up on a tent full of unsuspecting 12 year olds and making them scream. My poor neighbors!

Today, Sunday, Sky was confered and ordained with the aaronic priesthood and to the office of a deacon. Wow. You wouldn't think it makes a difference, but it does. I know he didn't get taller, or more mature, or more more grown up in those minutes between the start and end of the prayer, but there is a difference about him that cannot be explained other than by spiritual reason. I am so very grateful for the gospel in my life, for the opportunity to be Sky's mother. I'm grateful for the events and choices that were made to give me such an extrodinary son. I feel so old today, and know that the next years until it is time for him to serve a mission will come quickly. I pray all the time to be the mother he needs, that he will learn what he needs in our home, and I pray that his leaders will be what he needs. It's been a fun and thoughtful weekend. I always say I can't wait for them to grow up, but now, I wish I could stop them just for a minute.

Yellowstone Smiles!

2009-07-18T23:55:00.000-07:00

Needless to say, we had fun.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

My incorrigible Haiden.

2009-07-13T16:18:00.000-07:00

in-cor-ri-gi-ble [in-kawr-i-juh-buhl, -kor-]:
2. impervious to constraints or punishment; willful; unruly; uncontrollable:
3. firmly fixed; not easily changed:
4. not easily swayed or influenced:

Haiden is my incorrigible child. She is my most willful. She fails to understand boundaries and pushishements, including natural consequences. She gets something in her head and cannot be convinced otherwise save for it being proven to her in front of her face.

Haiden decided last night that she was going to ride w/o training wheels. So she did. She willed herself to do it. She got it in her head that she could, so today she took off and did. She constantly amazes me!

Starting off, trying to keep balance.

Crashing into the fence

Now she's going!

Going just as fast as her little legs can pedal her!

Summer fun

2009-07-13T16:06:00.000-07:00

We spent a fun day golfing with the cousins! So glad we had great weather for it, even though it was windy!

Holden, 1st time golfing EVER! He did so good!

Jordan on her backswing. I don't know how to turn the picture, so you'll have to turn your head. :)

Skylar teeing off. He's a power hitter!

Haiden claimed the ball washer as hers. No one was allowed to touch it but her. I guess she needed a job to do since she wasn't golfing!

Allison, Brooklyn, Logan, Jordan, and Holden. The cousins had a great time too!

How does my garden grow?

2009-07-13T15:57:00.000-07:00

I'm so very excited that my garden is growing! Here are pictures taken a few weeks ago. The plants are even larger now! I'm looking forward to the harvest in the fall and being able to eat and store what we grew as a family!

Peas

Corn

Roma Tomatoes

Zucchini

Looking at the back 1/2 of the garden

Looking at the front 1/2 of the garden

Pictures!

2009-07-13T15:44:00.001-07:00

Here are some pics of what we have been doing this summer! It's been an interesting and fun few weeks!

This is one of the first of many rainstorms that flooded us. It was really cool while it lasted! It's always fun to experience torrential downpours as long as they don't last more than a few minutes!

Our street became a river.

This is Holden at one of his T-Ball games. Apparently it's the only picture we got of him this year. :(

Jordan played girl's pitch softball this year. She played mostly 1st and 3rd base. She's working on playing catcher. She's a good little ball player!

More pictures to come!

Fun pics

2009-07-02T23:49:00.000-07:00

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

The girls were playing with Jordan's camera the other day, and they got some really cute shots together. It has been an interesting but wonderful thing for those two to have to share a room.

Life Happens, be grateful

2009-06-25T10:12:00.001-07:00

Life has a funny way of sneaking up on us, and destroying whatever plans we have made and pointing us in a different direction!

In May, we had the opportunity to replace our front door and put on a storm door. I have to say, it looks sooo much better and I am grateful there is no longer a draft through the door! Skylar finished up his soccer season and his team did very well. The grandparents from Nevada were able to come and see one of his games. We weren't sure if he was going to be able to play, he broke his finger at school, but luckily it didn't need a hard splint so he was fine to play.

The end of school was good for all the kids. They each did well this last year. I still cannot believe Skylar is old enough to be in 7th grade! Haiden, my baby, did wonderful in her developmental pre-school class, and I am a little sad that she is going to be in Kindergarten! It leaves me at loose ends with all 4 of them in school. Jordan is more than ready for 6th grade, she's been complaining that she wants to go back to school already, and it's June. Holden is excited to be a "big kid" and go to school a full day. It all goes by so fast!

Holden and Jordan have been playing t-ball and softball this summer. They have done well and really enjoyed the extra time with their friends from school! (Yes, I have pictures. I hope to post them soon.) Holden is very athletic like his brother, and Jordan is doing really well. She's really good at catching and throwing to her target. (Must be all that practice she gets at home fighting with her siblings!) She has done really well. It is difficult for the girls to work on their batting skills because the girls pitch and most of the time they end up walking the bases. But, they have all done well.

Skylar and Jordan are also doing the summer jr. golf program with the city. They love this, and I love this. It gives me time with just them. The younger 2 get left with grandma and I get to walk and be outside with the older ones. It has been good for them to have that individual attention. The last 2 weeks however, we have been unable to go. Skylar injured himself playing soccer in the yard, and we have had a series of ER visits, orthopedic dr. visits, and MRI and CT Scans. He ended up with a severe muscle spasm in his hip, causing him extreme pain and one leg to appear 1.5 inches longer than the other. Fortunately, it is just the muscles and there is no need for surgery or anything else. Kind of an expensive way of finding out his muscles are in spasm, but we are grateful it was not more severe.

In addition to all this, we have been having some challenges as well, leading to a change in our summer plans! This June has been a very wet one for our area. We had 2 severe rainstorms last week which filled our windowells and flooded our basement. We have always intended to remodel the basement of this house. The bedrooms downstairs don't have closets and it is laid out poorly and has poor use of space. This was going to be down the road a bit, like in a few years. Now that we have a basement that smells like an aquarium, we will be remodeling it this year. It means I don't get to paint my house a new color, or fix up the flower beds, paint my bedroom, or go on vacation. But, in the end it will be a blessing to have the basement done! Oh, and the same weekend we had to deal with Skylar, and the flooding, my washing machine died and my dog injured herself and had to have stitches. So, overall it's been a challenge!

I know this is getting long, so this is the last part. We had to move the kids upstairs into the 2 bedrooms and make them all share. This caused a lot of fighting and contention. So, I downloaded the poster of President Hinckley's Be's. Each week, we draw a bee out of a box and put it on the poster. We list things that we can do that week to practice that "be". Then at dinner, we discuss the things we did that day, in our way to be. This week's "bee" is Be Grateful. I am grateful for so many things this week even though we have had so many challenges. This "bee" has helped me and my family get through this with peace and calm that we may not have otherwise felt. I am grateful Skylar is okay and will heal with time. I am grateful for the rain so my garden can grow. I am grateful that Rob is now employed full time again. (as of last week!) I am grateful for family and parents who have helped us out this week. I am grateful for all the blessing Heavenly Father has given us. And, I am grateful for a husband who was willing to help administer a blessing to our son even though he is not an active member of the church. Life happens, and as I have learned this week, there is always something to be grateful for.

Getting behind!

2009-05-18T14:03:00.000-07:00

So, I'm getting behind on my blog. I've been very busy working on my garden and getting through the last month of school! I will try to catch up in a few days. :)

2009-04-25T02:25:00.000-07:00

Skylar started soccer this week, and he is such a great player! I can tell he's missed it over the winter and is so glad to be out there playing the sport. So far they have tied both their games, but they have a really good team and will go far this season! Jordan is going to be playing softball and Holden is going to be playing t-ball. They are both so excited and can't hardly stand the wait for practices to begin. It will be good to get all those mitts and bats out of storage and put them to good use! Haiden is herself. She's still having boundary issues, still having tantrum issues, and still having independence issues. I appreciate her independent fiery spirit, but sometimes being 5 and trying to be 30 doesn't work out really well.

We also planted cucumber and zucchini seeds a few weeks ago. They sprouted nicely and grew and grew in our little indoor growing tray. The little kids woudln't leave them alone though, and broke a bunch of them off, so we got to start over yesterday. Good thing they grow fast and the packages contain quite a few seeds! If the next ones die I'm giving up and buying the plants 1/2 grown.

Test results

2009-04-17T09:57:00.001-07:00

So, I got the results of my spinal tap back. I'm fine! Yay! I don't have MS, which is good, I just have migranes that are severe enough to affect an MRI. So, that is do-able. I can control those with meds, vitamins, and diet. Anyway, it's just good to know that I'm not going crazy, have aliens in my brain, or don't have my own body trying to attack itself. Thanks for all your prayers.

Are they serious?

2009-04-16T02:06:00.001-07:00

OH.MY.GOSH. Okay, I normally wouldn't expand upon my political beliefs or leanings because frankly, it's really nobody's business unless I'm running for office, which I might some day. Still thinking about that. Anyway, here I am, suffering from insomnia, stressing about my Dr. appointment on Friday, surfing the web, when I come across this article about Homeland Security and the new Domestic Intelligence report they have published. It was not supposed to get to the media, but you have to wonder how these leaks happen. This report details, and specifically lists, groups of people who are "likely" rightwing extremists and potential domestic terrorists.
The following people are allwed to read this:

(U) LAW ENFORCEMENT INFORMATION NOTICE: This product contains Law Enforcement Sensitive (LES) information. No portion of the LES information
should be released to the media, the general public, or over non-secure Internet servers. Release of this information could adversely affect or jeopardize
investigative activities.
(U) Warning: This document is UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY (U//FOUO). It contains information that may be exempt from public release under the
Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552). It is to be controlled, stored, handled, transmitted, distributed, and disposed of in accordance with DHS policy relating to
FOUO information and is not to be released to the public, the media, or other personnel who do not have a valid need-to-know without prior approval of an authorized
DHS official. State and local homeland security officials may share this document with authorized security personnel without further approval from DHS.
HA! They should have thought of that before it was release on the internet.

They have listed the following people as those most likely to be domestic terroists:
(U) Rightwing extremism in the United States can be broadly divided into those groups, movements, and
adherents that are primarily hate-oriented (based on hatred of particular religious, racial or ethnic groups),
and those that are mainly antigovernment, rejecting federal authority in favor of state or local authority, or
rejecting government authority entirely. It may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a
single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration.

WHAT??? So I get to be a terrorist for supporting state soverignty, which Idaho has passed a referendum and sent to Washington declaring, opposing abortion, and whatever else they deem rejection of government? But wait! It gets better!

Antigovernment conspiracy theories and “end times” prophecies could
motivate extremist individuals and groups to stockpile food, ammunition, and weapons.
These teachings also have been linked with the radicalization of domestic extremist
individuals and groups in the past, such as violent Christian Identity organizations and
extremist members of the militia movement.

So I get to be an extremeist and possible domestic terrorist for having food storage, a belief in the bible prophecies from Revelations, and having firearms and sufficient ammunition to protect my family for a year if need be? This is a 10 page document, produced by our government, the people who are supposed to protect us, instead tageting our own people for not supporting the corrupt practices being implemented in our halls of congress. This is wrong, completely wrong, and we should spead out against it. Not because we are rightwing nutjobs, but because we believe in the constitution and the rights and liberties granted to us by God through the bill of rights. I didn't have the opportunity to attend the local tea party, but you can bet I will be writing my congressman and state representative, as well as local newspaper, about this report. Label me an extremist, but there is never a good reason for turning a blind eye, supporting evil, or not standing for truth. As a young woman in mutal, I declared every single sunday and tuesday night, that I would stand for righteousness at all times, in all things and in all places. Now is the time. The rest of you should do it too. Write a letter. You can even email them now. Read the report. It will scare you.
http://www.fas.org/irp/eprint/rightwing.pdf

Easter!

2009-04-16T02:04:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful easter. We dyed eggs, slept in, went to church, and had dinner with my parents. It was a nice time! I have pictures I will post eventually!

Not what I expected

2009-04-03T09:43:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week I saw a neurologist and had an MRI done because of my migrane headaches and various other weirdness. To be perfectly honest, I was expecting to have a pituitary tumor. This, to me, was a worst case scenario but easily treated and lived with. So when it came time to go in and review my results with the Dr. I didn't think anything of it until he started asking more questions rather than saying everything is fine. What I was not expecting was to have little white dots show up, which could indicate MS. Monday I get to have the wonderful experience of a spinal tap to verify the diagnosis. I'm not really happy about this, but I'm grateful it's not a tumor or anything. My one fear, however, is that I will lose the ability to play the piano. I've noticed some clumsyness in my hands and I hope that it's just a passing flare and not permanent. Anyway, some of you knew what was going on and I figured this would be the easiest way to get it out there.

Catch-up

2009-03-30T18:02:00.000-07:00

All the goings-on for March:

Haiden turned 5 this month! She is not supposed to be this big! I was sick on her actual birthday so we ended up doing a family night the day after and Leo's, complete with pizza, cake, presents, and of course the play area. She had a blast!

Rob also had a birthday this month. He and I went out, saw a movie, had dinner, and has a wonderful day and evening without the children! We also had a family dinner this month to celebrate all the March birthdays, and I made 2 of my famous Chocolate cakes. We had very few leftovers.

I'm very glad it's turning spring, however I wish the weather would decide if it's going to keep snowing or warm up!

We got Jordan's glasses from Zennioptical.com at the first of the month. They are FABULOUS! They came within a few weeks of ordering, and look like anything I'd get at the optical shop. SO, for those of you who need to buy glasses soon, try zennioptical.com. Jordan's were only $28.90 including shipping and tax! WOW!

It was really warm last weekend, and we decided it would be a nice day to grill out. The kids had been jumping on the trampoline, when dad decided to show them how it's really done. Well, dad did a flip, dad did another flip, then dad did a flip with a twist and went through the trampoline! Luckily he was not injured, but Haiden could be heard through the neighborhood screaming out the window, "YOU BROKE IT!!! I DON'T LOVE YOU ANYMORE!!!" Needless to say, we now get to purchase a new mat.

We had the first school science fair last week! The kids did great projects! Jordan used her classmates as guinnea pigs and tested whether sleep affected brain function. Big thanks to the parents who let their children stay up all night to be in the "no sleep" test group! Skylar tested how color absorbs heat. He showed how dark colors absorb heat and warm water faster than light colors. He won honorable mention for his grade. The same day the awards were announced, Jordan was made citizen of the month for her grade. We are so proud of them both!

#7 on my list is why I blog at 3:30am. Mostly because I don't sleep well, and my mind thinks best when it's quiet! All other times of day my life is noisy with kids and students!

We are going to plant a garden this year. We are very excited and purchased seeds, pots, and made a list of tools and other supplies we will need. However, we have a dilema. We need to figure out how to keep our dogs out of it, and the neighbor dogs from attacking the fence. I think we are going to try and finish a dog run for our dogs, and try to make friends with the neighboring pitt bulls with dog treats. I'll keep you updated.

I have some friends who got me to try Facebook. (it was you Allison!) I hate facebook! I can't seem to get off it! I log on the check on things, and log off an hour or more later, and I didn't do anything other than read other people's gossip, take tests to tell me what my barbie name would be, and kidnap people to my secret hideout. Anyway, I'm there, I'm addicted. Look me up.

I had this great idea that I want to apply to be an educational assistant at the school next year. It requires an associates degree or credit equivalent. Credit equivalent is 60, and I have 59. So, I will probably have to find a little filler class worth 2 credits to get 61 so I can work at the kids' school and help out for Haiden. It's crazy I tell ya!

I accompanied a guy in my ward on an audition for a musical. He has a wonderful voice and did exceptionally well! I, however, apparently cannot play in front of people and messed up part of it. I'm glad it was him trying out and not me, and I'm glad that he just kept on singing the way we practiced! (In case you are wondering, he sang Stranger in Paradise from Kismet.)

And lastly, I have these killer migranes. I have started having some serious effects from them, like facial pain and numbness, slurred speech, etc. In my hypochondriac mind, I thought I was having mini-strokes or a brain tumor. So, I went and saw my dr. He sent me to a neurologist, who in turn ordered an MRI (which I did today) and told me it's probably just migranes. So, to treat the migranes I have new meds, a list of vitamins, lifestyle changes, and steroids that were injected at the base of my skull. Yeah, those were painful and my neck is still a bit stiff. However, I hope my MRI is clear, and that the migrane treatment we came up with will help. I'm getting tired of trying to push myself through days of explosive head pain!

And that is my list of thing I needed to blog about. I have pictures somewhere, and I may or may not post them.

Things I need to blog about when I'm not busy

2009-03-23T02:32:00.000-07:00

1. Haiden's Birthday
2. Rob's birthday
3. Spring
4. Jordan's glasses
5. Rob vs. the trampoline
6. The science fair experiments
7. Why I blog at 3:30am
8. The Garden Plot and the dog dilema
9. why I hate facebook but am addicted anyway
10. College credits and why I don't have enough
11. My stupid migranes and mental drama (ok, so maybe I won't blog about that until later.)

I have pictures to go with some of these things, so that's probably why I haven't posted anything yet.

On-the wall food storage

2009-03-02T20:21:00.000-08:00

Rob and I have been trying to spend a little time each week organizing our "stuff" and getting a small bit of food storage going. So far, we are doing pretty good and have found that picking one item each week, and buying several of that item, works really well for us. We try to pick whatever happens to be on sale that week, whether it's flour, sugar, canned goods, mac and cheese, whatever. We began to notice that we were running out of space to put all our food! Well, Rob's company manufactures and markets Pharaoh's Storehouse food storage products, and we have been saying for years how we need to get one of these systems in our own house. To be honest, I didn't really think it would save that much space, but I am very impressed with how much I can put on my wall, how durable it is, and how it can be used in every nook and cranny, no matter the size of house you have! So, here it is. Pictures and all! If you'd like some of these storage channels, use the contact info on the website: http://pharaohsstorehouse.com/ Or leave a comment and I will be happy to email you the contact numbers! If you want to come see them at my house, let me know!

These are my laundry room shelves before we put up the channels.

These are the empty channels, being installed.

These are my shelves after I've loaded the wall. I still need more! I guess I had more than I thought!

These are the stocked channels.

This is a close up of what they look like. They can be put just about anywhere. They fit behind doors, in the backs of bedroom closets, between studs in an unfinished basement, in a shallow cupboard. My in-laws have a whole wall with these built in between the studs, and then cabinet doors that cover them. It looks like a custom cabinetry job, but it hides the food storage from view.

By the way: Rob made these at work. He's so cool!

Math counts!

2009-02-22T22:54:00.000-08:00

Skylar was able to attend the regional MathCounts competition held at ISU on Saturday. He was an alternate for the school team, and was able to participate in the team round of events. They got 6th place out of 20 or so teams! Way to go Eagles! I'm so proud and amazed at this kid all the time. He is 100% dedicated to his education and motivated to do well and look toward the future and have goals. I think a lot of this has to do with where he is getting his education. I love our charter school, and encourage all parents who have the option, to look into other venues for your childs education. It is amazing the different that has come about in Sky and Jordan just from the way in which these kids are taught at their school. And it's not just them, it's all their friends. They are all upward achievers and forward thinkers, goal oriented, and community minded. They are an amazing school of kids, and I love it! I love that we can be a part of it!

Valentines Day

2009-02-18T11:00:00.000-08:00

We had a great Valentines Day weekend! It started off with Jordan going to the eye doctor on Friday. Yes she needs new glasses, but we have a great website to get them from so they are cheap! http://www.zennioptical.com Glasses as cheap as $8.00 (Thank you Cory and Allison for the website!) Saturday, we did our normal thing, shopping, cleaning, whatever, and then the kids went to granny for the night. They were excited because they got to have a sleepover (yes all 4 of them were gone overnight! JOY!) and I was excited because as much as I love them, it was quiet and no one was fighting! Rob and I went to Red Robin for dinner. It was really fun! We haven't been out for such a long time, and it was fun to go somewhere new. Then we went to Wal-mart (I know, so exciting), and then to a new ice cream place called Sub-Zero. Rob designed and helped make all the counter supports and garbage lids for them, so we had to check it out. They make the ice cream in front of you, with liquid nitrogen (I think that's what it is) so it freezes before your eyes. They start with the cream base, add flavors, mix-in's, then freeze it. It was so fun to watch. Then we went home, put on a movie, and cleaned the dreaded basement. Many of you are thinking that doesn't sound like fun, but when the kids are all gone, we can get sooo much done. We threw away toys, organzied cubbies, folded laundry, cleaned behind and under the furniture, and dusted all the surfaces. Yes, I'm weird because I was so happy to have the basement cleaned. I don't know why I can't seem to do it when the kids are here, but it got done.

Monday and Tuesday, Rob was able to spend time with his dad up in Island Park and go snowmobiling. He had a good time, and only marginally injured himself. :) His knees are sore from riding. I worried the whole time about avalanches and car wrecks but he came home safe. I'm glad he was able to have that time with his dad.

And lastly, Skylar has been working on this mathcounts class, to get on the team. Well, he didn't make the actual team, but he's the first alternate! So he is going to ISU on Saturday with the rest of the team, and they will be participating in a regional mathcounts competition. He's just excited to be part of the group! He's such a smart kid! He wants to be an orthodontist, so I'm glad he has an interest in math!

To the Doctor...again

2009-02-11T19:02:00.001-08:00

So, we took Haiden to the Dr. again, for the 3rd time in 3 weeks. You have to love modern antibiotics, they kill EVERYTHING! Good and bad! She has c. diff, also known as clostridium difficil, or diarrhea forever in my book. If the good bacteria in the intestines is killed off, then the bad bacteria aren't kept in line, and c. diff is a bad one. She gets to take a med I've never even heard of, three times a day for 10 days to hopefully kill it and get the rest in line. So happy for her, since I opted for the tablet not thinking they could be a LARGE tablet. She swallows her other pills fine, but these are a little bigger and taste really bad. Oh, LOL, and get this. The pharmacist made sure to tell me that she can't have any alcohol while she's on them. Uh, yeah, she's 4. Most OTC cold medicines for kids don't have alcohol in them anymore, but she can't have those, and she can't go out binging with her friends either. Cuz, ya know, those pre-schoolers are all the ones causing the problems with their public drunkeness...I just thought it was funny, since the pharmacist seemed to realize what she was saying as I started to laugh...

In other news, Skylar has this early morning MathCounts class that he does once a week. I didn't realize it's a national program for Mathletes... (dumb mom) Anyway, they have a competition coming up and he's been working really hard to make the 4-man team. I really do hope he makes the team! He's such a smart kid!

Asperger's meds and sick kid = unhappy family

2009-02-10T11:27:00.000-08:00

Haiden is having a difficult time again. In January her doctor began taking her off her Risperdal and replacing it with Prozac. We would slowly decrease one while increasing the other. A few weeks ago she was completely off the Risperdal and on the Prozac. This has not been a good thing. The risperdal caused her to wet a lot, which led to her feeling bad about herself, and the prozac doesn't have this effect on her. The prozac has freed all her inhibitions, made her more difficult to reason with, more hyperactive, more daring, more argumentative, and more aggressive towards her siblings. I'm at wits end with this. She can't be on the risperdal, because of the wetting and the weight gain, but she can't be on the prozac or straterra (yeah, we tried that too) because she loses control of everything. And, we can't NOT treat her, because she reverts to single word sentences, grunts, screams, and anti-social behavior.

Recently, she was ill with an ear infection and upper respiratory infection. The antibiotics were great, with the exception of the diarrhea they caused. The pharmacist, whom I love, warned that she might have some from the medication. She's had more than some. It's been 2 weeks of diarrhea after she's finished the antibiotic, her poor rear is sore, she is cranky and in pain, in addition to all the above issues from her Asperger's. I don't know what to do with this child! I pray all the time that we will find something to help her cope, but so far all my searches are turning up empty. It makes it difficult for me to teach piano lessons when she is demanding to much attention. It is difficult for the other kids when she is constantly in their things and fighting with them. It is difficult for Rob and I when she is constantly screaming at us and being defiant. I am so grateful that we have her, and that she is part of our family. She can be the sweetest, most loving child you've ever met. Those moments are few, and we work so hard for them. Anyway, I'm frustrated right now, not knowing what to do with her or how to help her. I'm tired and wore out, stressed and defeated. I need a vacation...

ABC Tag

2009-02-05T12:21:00.000-08:00

ABC Tag
A- Attached or Single: Attached
B- Best Friend: Rob
C- Cake or Pie: Cake
D- Day of Choice: Saturday
E- Essential Item: Warm socks
F-Favorite Color: yellow
G- Gummy Bears or Worms: gummi bears
H- Hometown: Idaho Falls, Idaho
I- Favorite Indulgence: chocolate, a really long, hot, bubble bath, and a really good book.
J-January or July: July
K- Kids: Four- 11,10,6,4
L- Life isn't complete without: My family
M-Marriage date: April 18th
N- Number of Brothers and Sisters: 1 brother
O- Oranges or Apples: neither
P- Phobias and Fears: fire and traumatic illness
Q-Quirk: I have to lock my doors even in the daytime
R- Reason to smile: happy kids
S- Season of Choice: Fall
T- Tag three people: Allison, Natalie, and YOU
U- Unknown Fact about me: I've always wanted to write a book
V-Vegetable: avacados
W- Worst Habit: procrastination
X- X-ray or Ultra Sound: both?
Y-Yogurt or Yo-Yo: neither. lactose intolerance does't allow me to have yogurt, and yo-yo's get tangled up for me.
Z- Zodiac Sign: Libra

Holden is 6!

2009-02-01T23:53:00.000-08:00

Holden is 6! We had a birthday party yesterday for him with some of his friends from school. They had so much fun! They are much quieter than 10 year old girls, but they had a good time! They made pirate hats, pinned the treasure on the map, ate pizza and pop, played the wii, opened presents, and had cupcakes in ice cream cones. It was a very good time for everyone!

I'm tired, and I know there's a lesson in here somewhere...

2009-01-28T23:43:00.000-08:00

So, when it rains it pours and I really hate the rain. I kept hoping that in spite of the economic harships our country was facing, our area and Rob's company wouldn't be affected. So much for hopes! He was laid off a few weeks ago until things pick up again. I was okay with that. My parents had given us money for Christmas so we could add to our food storage, and we did. We are good. And then, we all got sick. I had to go to the Dr. twice this month, Haiden's been to the Dr. twice in the last week, and has missed 2 weeks of school, Rob passed a kidney stone and is sick with what Haiden has, and I really don't want to pay for anything else! I'm tired, and I'm sure there's a lesson in here somewhere. I'm trying to rely on the Lord to help us and lift us. I'm trying to teach our kids to be thrifty. I'm trying to learn organization and patience. But every time I turn around, someone wants money for something. Whether it be for school, or medical, or kids for parties, they all need something right this minute. I'm tired, and Rob tells me not to worry about they money or the things we need. But that's my job as the mom right? Anyway, I keep praying, and things are going to be tough and I know that. I'm just really tired of the rain.

Snow?!?

2009-01-23T12:37:00.000-08:00

We, in Eastern Idaho, have been enjoying the luxury of a very mild winter. We had a white Christmas, but that was the ONLY snow we had seen all season. As of yesterday, most of it had melted. The roads were dry, the grass was, well, brown. The sun was shining every day, and we were all running around in jackets and sweaters. My girls even sneaked their flip-flops out of the closets, for some much needed shoeless fun. However, this morning we were so rudely reminded that is it still January in Idaho. We awoke to 5 inches of white. And it's WET. It's the perfect snowman snow, the kind that packs together without even trying. The downside to this is trying to drive on the stuff. I had to go out this morning, and the roads were gleaming expanses of ice. It's wonderful to know the snow is full of water, since we will need it this summer. However, these few weeks of warmth and sunshine have been so wonderful for my spirit. Maybe I just need to move further south...

The things in our closets

2009-01-21T20:44:00.001-08:00

So, everyone has something in their personal "closet" that they don't share. I have one of these such things, and I don't share it because I think it makes me look weird or geeky. I don't know why it's embarassing to discuss, because most of my dearest friends are in this closet, and these are people that I love dearly, discuss family, religion, politics, and health problems with. That being said, I admit this:

I am a World of Warcraft addict.

Yes, it is true. I love to play video games, and this is my all-time favorite so far. Rob stood in line at midnight for each and every expansion release just so we could stay up half the night installing it and seeing the new content. I schedule my down time around raids, and guild activities. We do draw the line at playing only after the kids are put to bed, but oh how we love it when the kids go to bed. It's cheaper than going to the movies, $.50 a day play all you want! Cheaper and more entertaining than cable or satelite. We can play with our friends who have kids, without having to get a babysitter. We did get together with some of our friends for some RL (real life) games and food over Christmas, and it was a fun time for all! We have had some visit from as far away as Australia, and will soon have more of our friends coming to visit and see the great place where we live. We have a Wii, and we love playing Guitar Hero, Rock Band, and Raving Rabbids. But for me, nothing compares to playing WOW. It's socialization with adults, and stimulating conversation. I play too much, I admit that. BUT,

I am a World of Warcraft addict.

New year, same old routine

2009-01-21T20:26:00.000-08:00

I was going to write something here, but I forgot what it was.....

Skylar is in demand!

2008-12-29T16:01:00.000-08:00

December 26th, we recieved a letter in the mail addressed to the parents of Skylar Scarr. HHMMM. We have recieved these before, on the heavy stationery with an official looking seal. The one we had last spring was his nomination and acceptance into the junior national young leaders conference in Washington D.C. Unfortunately, we were just a few hundred short on him being able to take the trip. ANYWAY, we opened this new letter, and in it was an inviation from the People to People sports ambasador's program. Someone recognized his talent in soccer and nominated him for this program. WOW. Really? We know he's awesome, but it's just nice to see other people do to! Anyway, we have to attend a meeting in February to find out all the information and costs, which will probably be more than we can afford since the event is in Austria this year. Given the opportunity though, we just have to find out if there is a way to give this to him. He's such an extrordinary young man, and these opportunities can make the difference in the direction he chooses in his life! I just have to say, to whomever nominated him, thank you!!!!

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-29T15:51:00.000-08:00

We had a wonderful Christmas week! My brother and his family came over from Boise, and we have been able to spend a lot of fun time with them! Christmas eve, we did our traditional chinese take-out dinner, with all the family. I was so glad that my parents came. My dad is feeling so much better from this hip surgery than his last one, and I was really pleased that he was feeling well enough to get out and come to our house! Christmas morning was so fun! Haiden got one of those little tykes kitchen sets. Rob was cussing it the night before as he was trying to put it together. Haiden has played with it nonstop for days! The boys both got nintendo DS's. I know, more video games. However, it has been pleasant at our house because they can play together, or they play separately, and they don't FIGHT! Jordan got a digital camera and scrapbooking stuff. She has taken a TON of pictures already, so now I have 2 cameras to get pictures downloaded from. I don't know that santa thought that one through.....The little kids were very excited and coudln't hardly sleep on christmas eve. Holden woke up at 2am, came in our room, told us he heard sleigh bells, and that santa had come! We were sooooo thrilled, at 2AM. We had family dinner at my parent's house christmas day. All around, it was a great holiday for us!

Talented kid, school's out!

2008-12-19T11:00:00.001-08:00

Jordan had her Christmas recital last Saturday at her teacher's home. Her teacher has a festival of trees in her house, over 100 decorated and themed trees! They were so beautiful! Jordan played the Christmas Song (Chestnuts roasting on an open fire.) She did so well! She was pretty nervous because shs felt she didn't know it well enough, but she did great playing her piece! Last Sunday, our stake had it's Christmas Festival. Each ward had their choir come sing and it was a really wonderful performance by all. I had to play the piano for our choir, so it's the first year I've actually gone to it. It was beautiful and had a nice spirit about it.

The kids are out for school, for 4 WEEKS. I know, I'm going to go nuts. Their new school isn't quite finished so they have to wait an extra week on their break. So far, the kids have been very helpful doing their chores and keeping the house neat. I don't know if that's Christmas coming, or if it is maturity on their part! I'm hoping it's maturity and they will continue to help out! We keep getting snow and snow and more snow! It is cold, and windy, and we are grateful for the snow! Merry Christmas!

Disapointing

2008-12-12T12:02:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a very hectic day. I had events scheduled from 9am to 9pm all day long. I only missed one of them! However, I was very disappointed with the last event of the day.

*Warning! Those of you in my church ward may find the following comments offensive! Read at your own risk!*

That being said, it was our ward Christmas party last night, and it was rediculous. We moved into this ward just over 2 years ago. Many of you know that Rob isn't active in the church. This is not for lack of trying on my part and the part of family to encourage him in it, and after last night and the discussion we had afterwards, I really don't blame him. Two years ago, we attended our ward Christmas breakfast. It was an hour and a half late from the caterer and everyone was starving and kids were all over, it was not the celebration that should be expected at a religious event. Rob said then, never again would he attend a ward function, and he hasn't. It has taken me two years to get him to come back to a ward party. TWO YEARS. We arrived at the party at 6:30, which was the time everyone was instructed to be there because Santa was coming for the kids. Great, keep the kids entertained. The primary kids were also going to sing and it was supposed to be nice. So, the kids did the whole santa thing, and then dinner began. Now, I understand that ward budgets have been trimmed and things have changed from several years ago, (my dad is a bishop) but we had a soup and salad bar. That was it. My kids were hungry. They don't like clam chowder, and the enchillada soup was too spicy for my little kids. And really, how many kids willingly eat green salad, or pasta salad with green olives (even I don't like those). So, fine, we'd have a pb&j when we got home. No big deal. It was nice to have it catered even if it was different and hard for the kids. Now it's coming up to 8pm, my kids have school the next day, and the primary kids have yet to sing. Finally, a member of the bishopric stand up to the mic and Sis. Singing Lady and I are thinking this is great, the kids are going to sing, and we can be done. (oh, did I mention I was supposed to play the piano for the kids?) But NO! He announces that it is normally the cub scouts pack meeting night, so they were going to quickly hand out a few awards. WHAT?!??! This is a ward CHRISTMAS party. It's not a pack meeting, or a den meeting, or a young mens meeting, or a young womens meeting, it's a CHRISTMAS PARTY. My little kids were getting tired and cranky, my big kids were bored to tears and wanted to go, and Rob was ready to leave. He wasn't going to sit there anymore with a bunch of people he didn't know and didn't want to be with, to see the cub scouts get awards. He was there for Christmas. He was there looking for the meaning of it, to celebrate the spirit of it. Needless to say, Sis. Singing Lady is awesome, and very compassionate, and said to do what was best for my family. We left. My kids went home, had a snack, and went to bed. They didn't even fight before bed they were so tired. We will never again attend a ward activity. Rob refuses to go back. He thought it was a joke. And that makes me sad. Our wards and religion and activities shouldn't be a joke. They don't need to be perfect, but they should reflect what we believe in, and this was far from a Christ centered Christmas. To be honest, I went home and cried because it had taken two years for his attitude to change towards our ward, for him to come back and try to feel the gospel again, and he didn't get what he was seeking from the very people who are supposed to help him with it. We've been in this ward just over 2 years, we have no home teachers, we have no visiting teachers, I've been in primary this whole time and know very few people. Christmas is about Christ, and it was very disappointing to see our ward falling in with the world, rather than the spirit of the gospel.
Yeah, this is one HUGE complaint session, and I feel better for saying it. If you are offended, I apologize. I just coudln't let this one slide.

Perfection is overrated

2008-12-12T11:51:00.001-08:00

Seriously, what was I thinking when I decided to become a blogger? I have a dear friend who blogs, and has links to all these wonderful blogs, and I look at them and read them and see how great they are and feel woefully inadequate. I NEED to be a perfect blogger! Why aren't I perfect! And therein lies the problem. I have perfection issues. If I can't be perfect I shouldn't even try! This is the stupid thought that runs through my head constantly. It's there when I think about housework, it's there when I think about parenting, it's there thinking about the holidays and how to make it the BEST Christmas ever with joy and love abounding and the true spirit of Christ present and at the same time making sure that every kid has exactly what they want so that no one is disappointed. Even my christmas cookies have to be evenly shaped and styled so they could appear on the cover of a magazine at any given moment, and if they aren't I have to eat them so no one sees them. That part's not so bad! So, forgive me for trying to be perfect, and not doing because I can't do it perfect. It's an illness that will hopefully get better as I gain age and wisdom!

Pictures finally

2008-12-08T13:10:00.000-08:00

As you can see, I've finally caught up on my pictures. I found my cable, and hope to not lose it again! Enjoy!

Christmas Tree and new paint!

2008-12-08T13:04:00.000-08:00

Over the Thanksgiving Holiday we decided to take the time and paint the main living areas in our home. I really hated my house. The each wall in the living room was a differnt color and texture, and the dining room colors didn't match the kitchen area colors which did'nt match the floors or anything else in the house. (it was a hideous blue.) So, we went for a soft buttery yellow to add light on those dark winter days. It's so pretty and fresh now! I just love being in my house! It's amazing what a new coat of paint can do!

One of our holiday traditions is putting up the tree the weekend after Thanksgiving. We have a fake tree, and it's not pre-lit so we get to check strands of lights as we put them on. This year's new additions are holly berry sprigs and a new star. The holly adds a nice touch of color to the green of the tree, and I have looked for years for just the right star. I love how it shines tiny points of light from the star cuttouts onto the walls and ceiling. The kids love to turn on the tree and sit in front of it!

Skylar's black eye pics

2008-12-08T12:59:00.001-08:00

More halloween, family garage band wanna-be's

2008-12-08T12:56:00.001-08:00

Pumpkin patch photos

2008-12-08T12:49:00.001-08:00

Halloween pics

2008-12-08T12:44:00.001-08:00

Finally some pictures!

2008-12-08T12:38:00.001-08:00

Turkey Day!

2008-11-26T15:50:00.001-08:00

Happy Turkey Day to all my friends and family! I cannot believe the goreous weather we have been having (highs of 48F). It makes it difficult to get in the holiday mood! However, happy thanksgiving and hope the next few weeks are very merry as we head into Christmas!

Oh Noes! Playground woes!

2008-11-21T12:45:00.000-08:00

Today was a sad day in the life of Skylar. He was on the playground, when an errant baseball thunked him in the eye. He had to call me and go home, due to the fact that his eye swelled up and he couldn't see out of it. All his friends gathered around him, encouraging him to cry and amazed that he didn't. (He's very tough-guy around his friends.) The poor little girl who threw the ball was sobbing her eyes out and so upset that Sky got hurt. As soon as we were on our way home, he wanted to know why I couldn't just take him back to school. (Seriously? Back to school with a huge black eye when he can have a free 1/2 day?) We went home, took some Ibuprofen, and it started to swell more with the ice pack off it. He is now resting and watching movies, and thinking it is so cool he has this huge black eye.

The great grocery experiment

2008-11-05T15:42:00.000-08:00

So, my friend Barb sent out an email awhile back regarding coupons and saving money at the grocery store. At first I kind of ignored it. I'm a great shopper. I make a dinner menu each week, and sometimes it throw in breakfast, lunch, and snacks. I have a set amount of money I can spend each week, and try not to exceed it. But, in one of her emails, she linked a website that got me thinking of a different way of shopping. Rather than looking at how much I can spend, why didn't I look at how much I can save? I'd much rather save it and spend less, than try to add things in my head so I don't go over at the checkout stand. So, this week I signed up for the trial offer of the grocery game. I'll let you know how it all works out as I attempt to save more than I spend!

http://www.thegrocerygame.com/