Life According to Cassie

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Never Judge a Book by Its Cover

Every time I watch this I get all teary eyed. I am not able to pull it over here to post so here is the link.

Please take time to see my new favorite,

Susan Boyle!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Rubber Band Wars

We are putting our house on the market!

All I can say is holy cow! Thirteen years of stuff really adds up! I have found things that I forgot I had, never knew I had, and wished I didn't have.

We have been working hard cleaning and decluttering and I noticed a common theme in my findings....rubber bands. My boys (including Layne) love rubber band wars. I never really gave it much thought, till now. Now I'm thinking I don't really love rubber band wars.

They are messy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can you find the one on the piano?

The rest of these pics are of some that Josie has taken. We thought Aunt Geri would be proud of her.

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Fabulous & Forty

Happy Birthday to Becky!

I've spent the last five years pointing out that this day was coming. Now it has finally arrived and we definitely had to celebrate.

I don't think she knows I have this picture on my computer. I think she looks darling.

We had a great group of friends over for dinner, cake (a very warm cake when lit), gifts (some were pretty funny), great conversation, and lots of laughs.

I think Becky had a good time, and I know the rest of us did. This night was proof positive that Becky is loved by all!

Happy Birthday my dear friend.

You're the Best!

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Breakfast at McDonald's

Today's the Day!

~Only one of my top five days of the year~

!!!April Fools Day!!!!

This year my aim was out on the kids. Layne gets off easy this year, unless I come up with something great in the next several hours.

This morning I woke the kids up for school and asked them if they'd like to "eat breakfast at McDonald's"?

YES! Was the answer.

We pulled in and I parked. I asked them to wait for a minute and I got out and got in the back of the van. When I came back to the doors I started handing out cereal bowls & spoons, handed Todd the jug of milk, showed them their several options of cereal, and even offered everyone a banana.

The look on all of their faces was Priceless! Todd was down right mad. Mitch and Judd thought it was way cool and asked if they could still get a 'breakfast soda' (I said no), & Josie said that she was a little surprised I hadn't done anything earlier that morning and figured I must have forgotten.

(Forgotten April Fools Day?! Um, NO!)

Monday, March 23, 2009

Mother's & Daughter's

Art By: Daphne Keskinis

Friday night Josie and I went to the symphony together. We had a fabulous time. We left early so we could do a little shopping and a little eating (mac & cheese at Noodles) before the performance.

At dinner I took a good look at her and she had changed right before my eyes! What happened to the little girl with the pixie haircut? Who is this beautiful young woman that is now taller than me? When did we stop talking about Clifford, The Big Red Dog and start discussing her aggravation with an algebra teacher or 'girl friend' stuff?

This post has been in the making for several weeks now. It started with going to high school orientation. It was then the thought occurred to me (and Layne) we only have four more years with Josie living with us! I know most parents are very partial, but I do have to say...Josie is a joy to have as a daughter and Layne and I got VERY lucky to have her join our family.

I don't know how many times people told me through the years to "enjoy this time". "It all goes so fast". Ya, ya, I know...it's flying by.....as I haul bawling children out of Sacrament Meeting, or clean up a sick kid. Now reality has hit. Time doesn't stop for me to enjoy the special moments so I must take them when I can.

My sister Audrey just had her first daughter this past weekend. Congratulations to her and Lane. Just a bit of big sisterly advice, Aud. Enjoy the time. She'll be grown up before you know it.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Established 1974

As you know, I love my birthday.

What makes my birthday so special this year is that I think I'll be able to remember how old I am all year without having to quickly calculate when someone asks. The years that end in {5} or {0} seem to be easier to remember. These past two years I've had an awful time remembering how old I was.

As usual, someone was sick and puking on my birthday. This year Mitch took a turn. Oh well, I got to do what I do best.

Be the mom.

We were going to go out and eat last night and then get my cake...aka, birthday banana splits (I don't love cake). Then it turned out that we needed to stay home so when I ran to the store last night I picked up everything to make the perfect banana splits. When I got home I realized that I forgot one thing...THE ICE CREAM! You kinda need that. So that got put on hold till tonight.

A great big shout out to all my awesome friends and family. The phone calls, emails, cards, gifts, e-cards, facebook comments...all of it, I loved it all.

I'm so blessed

and yesterday was another great birthday.

The funny things kids say.....

Last night Todd was filling out a job application and asked, "Who should I put for contact incase of emergency?" Layne said, "Put your mom." Mitch said, "I'd put the police."

(November 20, 2013)

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Todd just came up from putting away some things in the basement. "Why do you still have all of those fake dolls?" No wonder Josie didn't play with dolls that often. All I bought here were the fake ones.
(August 14, 2013)
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While ordering dinner at Texas Roadhouse tonight, Justin (in all seriousness) asked the waitress, "does this corn come with salt on it?"
(March 16, 2013)
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Back story:Justin smashed his finger in the car door this past weekend.
Justin had the flu yesterday and was laying in bed and he called for me to come. I hurried in there and he looks up at me and says, "Don't you hate it when you have the flu and one of your pinkie fingers hurts?"
Yes, I do hate that.

(Feb. 21, 2012)
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We were at Layne's cousin's mission report while in Idaho. There were lots of family we hadn't seen in years. Justin asked who one lady was. I said that is your Great Aunt Debbie.

Justin asks, What makes her so great?

7-10-11
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His list is growing...
Judd & myself were driving in the car. Out of the blue he says, "Mom, when you die I call the house."

2-10-11
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We were driving home from school today. All was quiet. No one was talking. The radio wasn't even on.

Out of the blue Justin says, "When I get married I call the wii."
I guess when you're the youngest you have to be a forward thinker or you'll end up with nothing.

(1-4-11)
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Justin & I were babysitting a new little baby. (4 weeks old) Justin came to me and said, "Mom, I can't get this baby to laugh at my jokes."

(8-25-10)
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I was throwing away a large handful of watermelon rinds and Justin yells out, "Wait! Don't throw those away. The pigs will eat them." We don't have pigs.

(5-22-10)
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Justin wanted his way on something and I wasn't giving in. Finally he comes up with his own threat.
"If you don't let me...I'll watch TV all day long."

(1-26-10)
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We were leaving for church and in the rush I didn't remember my coat. In the car I commented that it was SO cold and I forgot to put on my coat. It was quiet for a few seconds and then Mitch says, "Well, at least you smell good."

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This morning (today was a Fast Sunday) Justin came in my bedroom and asked me to get up and get him some cereal. I told him I would but that I just needed to wake up first. He laid by me for a few minutes and then said that he thougth I would have been quicker since it was FAST Sunday.

(10-11-09)
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After lunch today I asked why I am always so tired after lunch on Sunday afternoon. Justin said he was never tired after lunch. I asked him how he could not be tired. He told me, "I just blink my eyes closed and then I blink my eyes open all day and I don't get tired."

(9-19-09)
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I asked the boys what they wanted for dinner tonight. As usual, Justin yells SPAGHETTI! Everyone else yells, NO! (He'd eat spaghetti forever if we'd let him.) So Justin says, "Ok, lets just have pasta with some sauce with meat in it."

(8-13-09)
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Yesterday the boys were at the neightbor's house playing. Kelli, the mom, asked Justin how old he was. He told her he was 4. Then she asked, "When is your birthday?" Justin's responded, "When I turn 5."

(7-16-09)
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Our friend Becky P. was trying to pay Josie some money for somthing Josie didn't think she needed paid for. Becky made the comment, "You are as bad as your mother." Josie replied, "No, I'm as good as my mother."

(5-9-09)
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How old does this make you feel?

Todd was calling someone the other day and keep redialing and finally said, "Mom, there is something wrong with the phone. It keeps making this beeping noise." I went over and listened.....it was a.....busy signal. Our children live in a world of voice mail and for the first time called someone without it.

(2-18-09)
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Today Mitch had an interview with the Branch President because he'll be baptized this coming Saturday. He came out of his office and walked over to me smiling so huge and said, "Mom! I passed!"

(1-25-09)
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The other day Justin and I were in the van together and he said something not very nice. I asked him why he did didn't choose the right. He responded with, "This time I chose the left".

(1-17-09)
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The day after Halloween I noticed that Justin was gathering up all the candy from all the Trick-or-Treat buckets. I asked him what he was doing and he told me, "We've got to get this stored for winter, Mom".

(11-1-08)
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Today Josie was on the phone leaving a voice mail message to a girl in her class at church. At the end of the message she finished up with..."In the name of..."

(10-08)
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A couple nights ago our friend, Mitzi, came with her three youngest little girls. When we were getting everyone out of the car Mitch poked his head in the open door and said, pointing to the youngest, "Is that the zero-year-old"?

(9-08)
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This morning Mitch got up and told me, "I can't believe I've had all my dreams. I'm only seven." So I asked what on earth he was talking about. He said, "I already had the dream I had last night so I guess I'm just starting over."

(9-08)
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Today I was getting the two youngest boys ready to go to a friends house so I could take Todd to the doctor. My friend isn't feeling very good right now so I was telling Mitch (7) that he needed to be on his best behavior because Becky isn't feeling 100%. He looked at me and asked, "Is she at least at 90%?"

(8-08)
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We went swimming today. When Layne got home from work Justin went on about how fun the 'cat pool' was. For the life of me I couldn't figure it out. Then finally it came...I call it the 'kiddy pool' - not the 'kitty pool'. LOL

(8-08)
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Today Judd told me that it would be too dangerous to go to Heaven in a rocket so it would be easier to die first and then go there. My answer.....'okay---go play now'.

(7-08)