Mom, Come See Me!

Today was a big day for our youngest. He has learned how to ride his bike. As you may know, he is my 'on the go' kid and this will only get him there faster. He is so happy with himself. Isn't age 3 the best?!? So many new and wonderful things to learn and see.




To see the satisfaction on his face made me wonder what could I learn new? What do I want to do to say, "Mom, come look at me!". So now I want to know some of the things you would like to learn or do. I might want to add them to my new list.

(Did you notice that on his very first day of biking solo he has things out there to try to jump? That's my Juddy-Bear.)

We have a teenager!

It is official. Layne and I are proud parents of a teenager. YIKES

Today is Josie's birthday. Layne is usually out of town on her birthday. As a matter of fact, he flew home from Japan 13 years ago for a few days so he wouldn't miss her birth. Then he flew back to Japan a few days later. He is always good to call and wish her a good day. Then he asks to speak with me to see what we got her. LOL (laugh out loud)

If you notice, Justin wrapped his gift to her in Christmas paper. There was NO convincing him otherwise.

Here are a few facts about Josie that you may or may not know...

*Her favorite color is PINK.

*She LOVES mac & cheese.

*She is now exactly as tall as her MOM.

*She is starting 8th grade.

*Her FAVORITE animal is a horse.

*She plays the PIANO and the flute.

*SCIENCE is her favorite subject.

*She loves YW and loved girls camp.

*She IS an early riser.

*She always has a BIG smile on her face.

*She is A peacemaker in our home.

Cute shoes from Grandma Lucy.

Cute purse from Mom & Dad.

Her favortie Modbe shirts.

Layne and I are so blessed to have Josie as a daughter. She is fun to be with and a good example to all of us. She can't wait for school to start and I'll miss her when she goes back.

We love you Jo!!!! Now we are off to go swimming!

a snip of humility

I've been a little overly stressed about my latest hair cut. If you've been around me in since Wednesday you know that is all I've talked about, thought about, & worried about. And no. Not one compliment has changed my mind otherwise. (But thanks for them anyway.)

Here is the story. Sorry, I'm not making it a short one.

A year ago my hairdresser moved to another state. I've now decided that I'd rather have my doctor move than my hair lady. Everything hinges on how the hair looks. Am I right? So, I started the hunt for my new gal. I started right there in the same salon. She knew me already, my old girl left my card with my info, and I already had the phone number in my head.

It was all good. I was happy with her cuts and she was getting there with the colors. But I wasn't in love, so I went looking. I found someone that was amazing. I could tell her or show her what I wanted and that is exactly what I got. Her only problem was that she is an absolute psycho and I have to look for her every time I need my hair done because she moves around from salon to salon, all the time, and her phone number never stays the same.

So, it was time for a cut and I couldn't find her, again, and truth be told, I wasn't sure I could deal with her insane personality this past week. So I went back to where it was safe...or so I thought. I took in a picture (same picture that I took to the crazy hair lady last month) to show her what I had done last time so we could be on the same page.....

When I pass a mirror I am shocked at what I see, every time. I don't even look like me. My sweet husband has had a field day coming up with jokes and comments. (Now I'm thrilled he'll be at scout camp all of next week.)

I can hear you now. 'Where is the picture? What does it look like?' I tried. I really did. At this point I just can't bring myself to post one. Up till now I have successfully keep myself off of this blog and now just doesn't seem like the right time to grace the screen.

So all I want is your sympathy and condolences. And if your hair didn't do its thing today, just think to yourself, "at least I don't look like Cassie".

You Scream *** I Scream

*** We all scream for ice cream!

A couple weeks ago Layne was assigned to bring homemade ice cream to the upcoming High Priest social (next weekend). At first I thought he was just kidding, but then I realized that he wasn't and that I needed to 'get my game on'.

We only think to bring out the ol' ice cream maker once a year, maybe, so I don't have a My Favorite Ice cream Recipe section in my box. So off to the Internet I went and my goodness, there are TONS of recipes for ice cream. Some that look yummy and some that really don't.

Needless to say, we've had more ice cream in our house these past several days than we have in years. We don't usually eat a lot of ice cream. That or I just don't think to buy ice cream. It isn't on my list of things I want to eat very often. But for now, Layne and the kids are in hog heaven.

Here is what I've learned:
1 - Ice is very cold.
2 -Yes, you can put too much chocolate in Chocolate Ice Cream.
3 - I don't hate Strawberry Ice Cream like I thought I did. (Still not my favorite though...vanilla rocks!)
4 - You can put most anything in ice cream.
5 - The ice cream mix packets at the store are pretty good.
6 - There are too many ice cream recipes in the world.

So, if you have a wonderful recipe that you think we ought to try, send it my way. And if you haven't made ice cream this summer don't let not owning an ice cream maker stop you. There are recipes on line that only require plastic baggies. Happy eating!

See ya...Wouldn't want to be ya...

I feel like I ought to love it. I feel like I ought to enjoy it. I feel like I may be on the verge of treason because of my Idaho blood. TOO BAD! I don't like camping. I don't mind going up to the mountains and taking in the gorgeous views and breathing the fresh, pine air. I don't even mind if we stay for supper, but can we please go home to sleep in our beds and shower in our showers? My husband and children love camping, and so does my husband's family. So when we are in Idaho, during the summer, we usually end up in the beautiful Rocky Mountains for a couple days. While we are up in the Rocky's the kids are on cloud nine and my husband proudly brings back a string of fish to show me how manly he really is. I figure it is good for me do these things, now and then, for my kids.

Why am I talking about camping? Josie is leaving for Girls Camp tomorrow morning and she is so excited. She has been packed and ready to go for two weeks. She is going to have so much fun. I'm excited for her. The Girls Camp Program is a little different than it was 'back then', when I was in YW, and here we don't have mountains to trek into. They do have cabins, bunks, and a swimming pool to cool off in though. So maybe I ought not slam the whole camping thing till I try it the Ohio way first. Or maybe not.

I'm so happy that there are adults that love teenagers and camping and willingly accept the challenge of combining the two. Josie's leaders are a lot of fun and will make her first Girls Camp experience a wonderful one, I'm sure of it.

Have a fun time Josie! We can't wait to hear all about it when you get back.

Growing Pains

Do you remember wanting something but the fear of doing or getting it was just too much? Mine was getting my ears pierced. I wanted to get earrings so badly, and yet, the fear of pain was too much for me to do it. I remember my dad and I in the mall one night before Christmas and he was all ready to take me to get them done. I still chickened out.

Well, something similar is going on in our house right now. We have four bedrooms, but up till now only three have been used regularly. The one in the basement has always been used for a toy room/guest bedroom. Todd declared that he was sick of the messes that Mitch & Justin make in the boys room and that as soon as Grandpa & Grandma left from their visit he was moving down to that room. And he did. His dresser is down there. His PlayStation thing (and all the crap that goes with it) is down there. All his stuff is down there.

And this is how we find him each night when we check on the kids before we go to bed....

I'm sure they ask (and maybe beg) him to let them sleep down there, but I have never heard him say no or complain. I've also heard him announce that he was getting ready to go down to bed. Almost like a call to anyone interested to join him. I shouldn't get a kick out of this, but he was so 'out of there' that it makes me giggle.

I remember when Toby moved to the basement in out house when we were little. I slept down there in the bottom bunk quite a bit myself. So it is a normal concern/fear, I'm sure.

We all have fears, but we grow up, mature, and get over them. My ears have been pierced for years now and since then I've done several things that hurt MUCH worse. So, till Todd gets over this fear I think we'll just let the boys stick together. And yes, his room is always clean.