Tuesday, December 21, 2010

End of the year






Well it has been quite some time since i have posted..weird. Time just escapes and before you know it a new year is approaching. This happens the older I get the faster time goes...and that is why alot of changes has happened since the last posting.

First ..since is has come and gone I should post pictures from Halloween..cause I so wanted to post the pictures of the kids in their Costumes...I actually got that weekend off from work..and we went to Spokane to spend Halloween with the MCgees...one of our favorite families. It was such a highlight of our fall ..we carved pumpkins...spent an afternoon at Wonderland...watched Despiciple me at the Garland Theatre and trick or treated. The Mcgees always welcome us with open arms and let us invade their house..it is always a pleasure and comfortable....we don't have to worry about being messy..or breaking things....or that my kids will eat to much....they are the best Hostess'.


I started my long arm quilting business and put in notice at my job. My last day will be January 1st at the local quilt shop (LQS)...but I will be doing long arm quilting for them at least until spring. I am going to get a website up and running to get a wider audience...but so far I have been up almost everynight burning the midnight oil this Christmas season with all of the orders that have come in ...and I am so thankful to God that he is blessing me in this new adventure....it is so surreal that people are paying me for my art.....I took in almost every quilt that was offered or inquired about...had to turn a few away because I just knew I wouldn't have time..But Rob thought I still took in to many..I got sick from the lack of sleep and late nights...but I did it!
At this point I am not really making any money because I have payments to make on my industrial machine and frame....so I took a part time job at the school to compensate for the payments in case I don't get quilts in regularly.

SO my new job is a site coordinator for school tutoring..I am in charge at the middle school site and I fill in at the otehr school where needed..when I get more students I will work at the middle school full-time..but I just started the site two weeks before winter break....It is a great program funded by the federal Government..great incentives for the kids to stay in the program and keep up ontheir studies. I like that I work less than 2 hours a day M-Th and I get paid a good salary .....and I get all the same holidays off that the kids do ...and it covers my Innova Payment....so everything works out beautifully.

I finished my first semester at WSU last week....with everything that was going on..I am surprised to say..I am a B student.....but I am happy with that considering everything....I had going on..I thought I was going to collapse at one point. School starts again JAn 10th.

I am anxious to be home with the family and spend more time with them rather than running around on Autopilot getting everything accomplished.

ALl the kids are doing well......all have good grades except one..of course. ALl the birthdays went well..Carl had his 13th LIMO party. ROb got to go with them this time...and of course dinner was at the China Buffet (Carl's Favorite) and he had a good turn out. Hard for me to believe he is 13 and I was weepy all day. OF all the kids he really appreciates everything we do for him and I am so blessed to have him in my life....
Bryce turned 14 in November..and Bryce is Bryce. Need I say more? He invited two friends over for dinner and a movie...they met up with some girls at the theatre and I had to leave them there by themselves without a chaperon.....I am in counseling trying to let go of my children... and this is what I have been advised to do..I did tell my Counselor is something bad happens I fully hold him responsible..He laughed at me?? I wonder why I pay him? LOL I guess I have to let go at some point ..but it doesn't seem like they are old enough yet. All those boys did was talk about girls..hormones.

I keep telling my boys that I would like them to let me at least live in some sort of denial about some things because they insist on talking about some personal issues that I can't or should not hear...and they don't listen...so I have learned to kind of make it a serious "talk" if I possibly can with out the rolling laughter and it usually seems to work.
However, dinner time in our house is a honest real talk time and although I wouldn't trade those times..sometimes I think other people sitting at out table would think we are weird.


Anyway...as CHristmas time draws near and all of the thinsg that we are thankful start to appear more vividly.....I woudl liek to list some:

GOd, when dreams come true, therapy (for when dreams are delayed), pink, minkee...it always feels so good!, my children, My husband,my friends!, my home (even though I see all of it's flaws), the snow, laughter, apple cider, quilting, and a good book ( not a text book!). Those are just a few of course. I try to see the good thinsg in my everyday...because without those life just wouldn't be worth it! I hope you all have a fabulous new year and a Blessed Christmas!

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Sept. 21st 2010

Today is a sick day. I came home from my trip with a bit of a cold and it has progressively gotten worse. Carla called last night I told her I just haven't the energy to even quilt...She said "Now we know you are really sick!"
Yeah..I actually did other things because when you leave home for five days and Rob gets to rule the house..well I came back to filth! SO I can only stand it for so long even being sick..have to do something about it.
I need to get some homework done today and I called into work..nobody wants to catch my virus anyway...so very good.
We had a family meeting last night to once again discuss chores..I have tried teh finance plan...awards...punishments and everything in between...nothing! These kids are killing me!
SO now we are using different tactics.....I will let you know how it works.

All of my classes in Tacoma went well last week..I didn't learn as much as I had hoped....but it was a good experience none the less.
I have lots of samples I need to put together for the shop...for my classes no time!
The kids all have dentist appts coming up..we are waiting to hear the results of Rob's MRI on his back..maybe another surgery in his future and things just keep truckin along.
I feel fall in the air.....LOVE fall...but hoping that I can stp and smell the cider in these times..because time just keeps getting away from me.
Well I hope you all have a wonderful week!

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Sundays......

Today was a relaxing day....I think. Last night I was so exhausted from the anticipation of "Charisma's Corner" a class I am teaching monthy at The Fabric Patch...yesterday was my first class..it went well..and I am so happy that it did and that everyone loved it. But I was exhausted.....I have no idea why?? But I fell asleep at 8:00 pm..weird for me..adn I slept until 6:30 ish?? then got up and made breakfast for my family and started doing homework....fell asleep again..tntil just after noon..really weird!
So now I am trying to get homework done before I leave for Tacoma and get training from all the best quilters in the USA!! WOOOOHOOO!
Things for this week:
1. Jeri had her first kiss ( found out after Labor day...she kissed a boy at Rim Rock Labor day weekend)

2. Getting in the swing of homework again is hard..but I can't let go

3. My husband is teh most supportive man on earth and I am glad to have him in my life...even if I have to hear about grid kids football every day ...every hour and over and over again 6 months out of the year.

4. Sometimes we just have to deal with things....even if it is about the principle..just give in..it makes everyone's life easier..Dang Laundry!

5. Carl has decided for his thirteenth birthday he wants a LIMO party....he hasn't decided if he wants dinner at the CHina Buffet or the Golden Corral buffet..tough choices..LOL.

6. Clarissa finally decided she didn't want to lose her art supplies so she miraculously cleaned her room in one evening ...although it took her parents two weeks to realize what privledge to take away from her that would make her do it..who is the smart one here?

7. Cole and Preston won their first football game yesterday by the skin of their teeth apparently and I got the play by play from Rob..I will hear it ten more times as he tells everyone around us within the next week.

I hope you all have a great week!

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Memorial day weekend.

We had a great weekend. We took the kids to Rim Rock Meadows again...The Steppe's , Carla and Stacey met us up there as well...along with the White's and Ponozzos. We had such a nice time..relaxing and fun. We played "Catch Phrase" which is always fun and brings out lots of laughter.
The kids played boffer swording and went swimming. Jeri also had her first kiss...disturbing as that is (for her parents).....she is talking on the phone all week with her friends about it.
Clarissa got to stay an extra day with the Whites up there..so she could have a sleep over with Katie..they played so well and it is rare that Clarissa gets to have play dates or stay anywhere so I let her.
I started commission quilting last week and the blessings just keep rolling in...I think I have done 7 quilts so far..... YIPEE! I bout an INNOVA quilting machine which costs more than my car...(I know) but I get to quilt for my payements..so far this month I have had enough jobs to pay my payment ..now anything I do is extra! But Next week I will be gone to Seattle for some quilting classes all week..WOOOOHOOOO! Investments in the business.
School is going well...I was a bit stressed over the weekend....but I think I now have everything under control and I am just buzzing along..Next week will be my first test of course!
Preston and COle have their first football game this weekend in Othello. They aren't really looking forward to playing Othello becuase they say they don't take care of their feild so there is dog poop everywhere..GROSS!
Rob has an MRI on Friday for his back it is acting up again...plese pray! I am hoping there is no more surgeries..but if there has to be...I told him he had to get it done before the end of December because we have already met our deductible for this year with Cole's surgery..so I don't want to pay again.( Hey it's a logical thing..right?)
Bryce is being teased every night at the dinner table about his Beiber hair..which I happen to think is cute...and he actually traded shower times..so he could shower in the morning because he has to fix his hair??? How long has he teased Jeri about having to fix her hair?
Preston showed proof yesterday in a picture that he at least brushed his hair one day in his life...lol.
Carl.....makes fun of the beiber hair....but can't stand anything in his eyes...if his hair even starts to hang aropund his ears it bothers him and he begs for a cut..so I doubt he will ever have the long shaggy hair....he is such a sweet boy.
Clarissa has been grounded for two weeks from treats for not cleaning her room....she is so stubborn..so now I am taking away her markers and crayons and paper..I think these are the only objects that will motivate her..she doesn't have attachment to "things" but she loves her "art" supplies. SO I have to take her down with these...silly girl.
Well that is our update as of lately.....I have to get ready for work..I hope you all have a great week!

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Back 2 Skool!






Well the 26th ( last thursday ) was the first day of school for the kiddos.....I never know how I will handle the first day of school until it comes. I hate sending the kids back to school every year.....just becuase I know it is one step closer to them getting older....I like having them at home and I know now on all of my days off I won't be taking them to the lake...or bowling or to the free movie. So once again back to routines and schedules. I thrive in that environment as well but there is something nice about having the kids home to distract me from everything else and spending lots of time with them.
So I got pictures.....the boys are hard to get pictures of..I get one chance and I have to be fast. The girls area bit better but not by much. Clarissa is the baby and she is in second grade now...she would not let me walk her to her class...Why can't she let me baby her on "special" days? She is so independant and she refuses to carry a back pack ..she wants a handled bag like Sissy. I have noticed this year she is matching her earings to her outfit everyday and she is fixing her own hair..she only wants me to fix her hair when she wants something specific she can't do herself. She is getting really good at making her own pony tails and that sort of a thing. I can't beleive how much she has changed recently.
JEri is a sophmore and before school started Clarissa and I made about 20 HUGE flower hair clips for all of us girls to share/wear. Jeri has worn one to school everyday and now the kids are calling her "Flower Girl" ...I think she is darling and she had me make her school bag this year..which I was only happy to do and of course I used Amy Butler fabric..only the BEST designer EVER!
The boys are ......The boys. They are happy with new tennis shoes...jeans and funny 8$ shirts. Everyday is a new day...they are at a funny age where they want to be grown up and treated so..but then they throw fits about chores....want to play video games and bionicles. BRyce is in 8th, Carl is in 7th, Cole is 6th and Preston is in 5th grade. It is hard to believe this is where we are and I am in the thick if parenting but I think we are all managing and life is GOOD!
Football starts today .....for COle and Preston. My QFL ends today and I am ready to start fall cleaning and getting better organized for our routine. I hope you all have a great week.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

One day until school..........

for me anyway.....the kids start Thursday. SO now it is back to routine time and making them go to bed early and getting organized?? HMMMM
I am nervous about school as I always get the first week or so..but I know I will get back into the groove of things and I will love it as always. I love school becuase it is challenging (most of the time) and it also gives me a sense of accomplishment which is a feeling I really love...I think I will probably be one of those life time students..not fulltime of course but one of those that will always want to take a class here and there for a refresher. For so many years I told myself I was to stupid or that I could not do it and now after a couple of years and a degree later...here we are? Funny how things turn out.
IT is also a funny twist of fate that happens.....as soon as i decide that I need to be practical and that I need to focus on a grown up job....my passion has been handed to me on a plate..ART. I am expecting a Long arm quilting machine to arrive at my house this week and I will be doing some commission work which is exciting and teh beauty of it is that I don't have to advertise for customers....so trying to balance those thinsg I think is going to be difficult...but isn't that a good difficult?
We went school supply shopping on Thursday night...225$ later and we didn't even buy back packs! School clothes shopping came Friday...a trip to Wenatchee was in order...it was CRAZINESS! There is no way to keep track of all these kids and as soon as the boys find their stuff (which doesn't take long) they are ready to go and Jeri has barely looked...so What does Rob do? Wrestle with them..egg them on and it gets worse....OH MY!
We went to dinner at Wendy's...what a great place..SHout out to Wendy's in Wenatchee WA..they played CHISTian music in the lobby/restauraunt! WOOWOOO! NOt only do they have the best CHILI ever...but they had great service..it is hard when my family walks into a place to get all the orders correct ...which they did...but they also came out to our table refilled our drinks ..they treated us very well....nice place to go!( I am going to send them a thank you note!)
We have school open houses the next couple of days...and we will be gearing towards fall...fun..fun...fun! I hope you all have a great week!

Monday, August 9, 2010

My Family


At the space needle...as you can see? We are a funny bunch! Carl was wearing a green shirt...so he is lost in digital imagery.


Things to remember:

1.DOn't make specific plans..or better yet..pack for unexpected plans...I had only packed flip flops.....my feet were killing me...Thank Goodness Cole had packed extra shoes..I wore his sandals the second half of sunday..or I would be crippled today for sure!

2. Kids like to eat in food courts...get cash...sometimes it is better so you can wait in one line..instead of 3?

3. Experiences are worth more than gold...and making a dream come true for someone is worth fortune!

4. Sometimes being flexable is key to success.

4. Don't ever eat octopus..they have a brain.....only live for three years..long enough to mate...they like to play... They change colors with their moods...they are pretty and I fell in love with Fi-Fi from the aquarium......Poor Fi-fi is being released back into the wild to mate and die..I feel so bad for her.

-she has 200 suction cups on each of her 8 arms
-she likes to sleep during the day
- she will lay 100's of eggs and only 3 babies will live

She won't even be able to see her babies grow....amd she dies for them.....I am forunate not to be an octopus.

5. I found out some sort of weird Eel fish ) can't remember the name of him)....he mates for a season or a lifetime? ISn't that much like human males?? Just making sure? *wink*

6. JImmy Hendrix -----so many facts I read about him....but the jist of the smashing guitar ....he painted symbols and poetry on the guitars he smashed as a sacrifice to his music...kind of interesting.....He also served in the military..also from Seattle.

7. There was a recording studio in the music experience..well several of them..anyway one of them tourists could go in and record a profound moment of their own personal music history they wanted to share..I didn't go in and share but I thought I would share all of this with you...When I was a freshman in high school ..Nirvana had made their "movement". I was not into grunge. I didn't know who Curt Cobain was? ...I was on the school bus and a fellow student was listing to a CD in his discman..yeah remember those? Expensive back then. I asked what he was listeing to..he told me NIrvana? I said "who"..he said "Have you ever heard Teen Spirit?"...I said "Well I have the deoderant..if that is what you mean?"..he looked at me like I was from outer space..LOL. I still don't listen to that music ..but I know who he is...although not a profound moment in music..a funny one!

8.Clarissa and I could be traveling partners...she liked all the same things I did and lingered in all the same places even if I wasn't paired with her...her favroite part of teh music experience..was the fancy costumes they displayed of the Supremes..they were gorgeous...Clarissa's favourite was called "Cotton Candy"..she didn't know the name before she decided it was her favorite..but very fitting all the same. He otehr favorite thing was the space needle...her teacher was talking about it one day in class..and Clarissa has been talking about it ever since...and she couldn't fathom leaving seattle and not going to the top of it before we left..Saturday night I tried explaining to her that we probably would not go up because we had other plans....when we changed plans her dream had come true and she was elated.

9. On the cruise we learned that Seattle is not the rainiest city in the USA??
- The Space needle is the only structure they have left from the worlds fair...and it is the most secure structure in the city.
- The only episode of Frazier that was actually filmed in Seattle was the very last episode when Frazire Crane was mugged.

10. Did you know that I had the same reaction in the sci-fi museum as Carl and ROb?..My eyes kind of glazed over and I started drooling? ALthough for two very different reasons. I didn't know anyone in there excepy "yoga" from Star wars...and E.T.. I think I saw a bit on the JEtsons...who knows?

Seattle.

Every year my Brother buys us tickets to go to Wild Waves. I know that is not cheap! There is 8 in my family! So we make the trip...that is kind of our Christmas together...lots and lots of special time together..having fun. Seattle weather is unpredictable...or maybe predictable if you count on rain? YEP! it rained Saturday...but Seattle is prepared for that...so all the water rides had heated water and there were three hot tubs...yes I said 3! SO a little rain didn't stop us from FUN! We had a great time.....then had dinner at FAT BURGER! Sounds funny ..but I think they have fabulous burgers there and you special order all of them...and you can get FAT fries..yeah! We decided to stay at Robert's hotel..he got us a great discount..it was in downtown Seattle....blocks away from the Space Needle.
We were originally planning on going to Alki beach for Sunday...but walking around Saturday night we saw the Science Fiction museum...you all know my husband right? Carl and he sort of started drooling and got glazed over eyes.....we decided we should do that fist thing in the morning.....which turned into skipping the beach...buying City Passes and making a day of tourist activities...we went up the space needle twice....did a harbour cruise...pacific science center....Music experience at Sci-fi museum..and the sci-fi experience (of course)...hit the aquarium..fit in two meals...Ye Old Curiosity shoppe ...We didn't get home until Midnight......but can you imagine doing his in a group of 10...6 of them kids? My kids are troopers and the best travelers...not one problem! They are experienced....
I have to say I am a bit disappointed though because we have done all of these activities before and half of them didn't remember them....I have pictures of them..because I have scrapbooked them several times doing this same trip...but it makes me think ...Why do anything with them if they never remember? It's oK ..they will see the photos.
I love spending time with my brother ..he makes me laugh..he is good with my kids...and he understands where I come from..afterall we come from the same place...We also ate dinner at the Spaghetti factory...MY BIL paid for that...I felt kind of bad..alot of money and we didn't have a great experience there.....kind of disappointing. So If you are in D-town Seattle avoid that restaurant.
I felt bad for splurging in the moment for all of this extravagance....but in the end it is all about the experiences we have with our families.....and pretty soon it is all going to be over..school starts for all of us in just a few short weeks and we won't be able to take this sort of time...Tomorrow is my birthday..I will be 33..unbelievable. My friend Carla came with us over the weekend..she is a JEM....I just LOVE her. She spoiled me today before she left..she bought me two seasons of the "Golden Girls" DVDs...my favorite show of all time...she bought me two shirts..a memory card for my camera...took me to lunch and a movie..How fabulous is that? THANK YOU GIRLY FRIEND!
More experiences....
I just want to cry because I didn't want this time with anyone to end..but how GREAT Was this birthday? I had all of my family together...a special friend and my lovely brother?
I think this will be a great year...LOTS of BLESSINGS to come and I am ready for the ride....I hope you all fine fulfillment and blessings.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Together.

Well the boys came home on Friday..it is nice to have everyone back together again. They will all leave again next week for another spell at their Dad's house...so I am trying to make the most of our time together. I am taking another short week at work. We played Apples to Apples Saturday night and all I can say is that there are certain key words that send my kids into a fit of laughter.....Anything with Balls....nuts....wood...you get the picture. There are also a few others that seem to be innocent enough that they can turn bad....yeah ..so there was a lot of laughter playing a seemingly innocent enough game. I would like to be able to go into denial at some point in my life especially when it comes to my boys "maturing" but they don't even give me the option....I just get to know....and face it.
So yesterday we decided after a big breakfast ..that we would go to Steamboat for teh day. We had a great time..we had a picnic....swam and played. When we got to our favorite swimming nook...we saw that someone had submerged a table into the deep part of the little area and it became a novelty item for a our family. Well the boys and Rob decided to play "King of the Table" and the park rangers came over and asked where the other table was...I said " My husband and 4 boys are playing King of the table with it"...NICE. How embarassing. Good times...Good times!
Then we came home made dinner..cookies and popcorn and played more Apples to Apples.
I am trying to make the most of the time we have together and school starts for all of us at the same time and it creeps up on us fast.

Funny Clarissa line this lats week:

Clarissa: Daddy can I make eggs today?
Rob : No Not tday Clarissa ...just eat cereal.
Clarissa" Why can't I?
Rob: Because you can't do that by yourself...maybe one day when you get older you can go to school and be a chef.
Clarissa: I could be a chef today if you would let me in the kitchen!

Friday, July 23, 2010

random things...of course.

not much has been happening here since the boys left a week ago.....but they come back today for anotehr week ----HURRAY! That always lifts my spirits as I hate it when they leave and really their is no life in my house of they are gone.Carl will be so thankful when they come back..he has been bored out of his gord. He went to a friend's house the night before last and they played video games all night. I worry about all of the video games.....it is so hard to balance teh things in everyday life that could have harmful affects on your kids. Jeri has been addicted to TV since I met her and no matter how hard I try to break it...doesn't change. Clarissa is starting to get that bug after this summer too...and I refuse to battle another addicted kid...so we need to nip it in the bud.

I am part of a quilting competition and in the month of July we get double points for christmas projects....I am sewing my christmas stockings....I bought material and everything last fall and never got around to them...well we will all have fancy new stockings this year that coordinate...very nice. I am thinking in the future I may make stockings as gifts for other people ..we will see how I feel at the end of this project.

Jeri is doing well from what I can see on her lifestyle change?? But I don't watch her every moment ..but yesterday I did fairly well as well....so many veggies and fish..brown rice....it was a good day all the way around.


Clarissa has been teasing Rob and picking at him...I think he is getting a taste of his own medicine with her..she will do random things to him and say smart funny things to him and he just laughs at her because he doesn't expect it and it catches him off guard..quite cute to watch actually. She has outwitted him a few times.

I hope you all have a great weekend!

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

zuchini bread

Well yesterday when I stopped into work to give my schedule ...also had breakfast club ..Thelma had picked some zuchini from her garden to share ..so I took a bunch and Carl and Clarissa are making bread today. Clarissa and I are trying to be patient with him and he is learning but we both lose our patience and want to work around him to speed him up....but neither of us can..so she keeps walking away...and I keep trying to find other things to work on. Whenever he needs to find something I tell him which cupboard it is in and he looks for 30 seconds and then tells me it is not in there...this drives me nuts because he can't ever find anything....he looks for his shoes on the ceiling. All of this is part of his Aspbergers. So I have to be patient and walk away and let him do it his way so he can be functionable. STRESS!

Clarissa has less patience..LOL...she is young has not had to learn to tone it down some.....so she is going to make her own bread when he is done because she can't work at his pace. That was my way of letting her out easy and him as well...he will get stressed when we hover and he will just give up and be mad.

I was going to take the kids to the free movie in MOses Lake today but ROb took all the car keys with him to work..so we are stuck...UGH! SO I guess I could work on my laundry that I have been neglecting?
I have been working in the kitchen all morning ..cutting vegetables.....cooking brown rice...brown pasta and planning. Jeri had a talk with the counselor yesterday about diet and exercise and I commited to working with her to accomplish her goals. It is actually going to be harder for her becuase she does not like fruits and veggies. She also needs to cut out the sugar.....she says that will be the hardest part for her.... I say Welcome to the club!

I Actually like veggies and fruit...so doesn't bother me. Although she is upset that she can't have any of the zucchini bread that is baking......no good things come without sacrifice.

Well I am going to go do some work before Rob gets home and sees...hmmm nothing I have done? Except dinner? LOL

Monday, July 19, 2010

bits and things

I am scattered lately...school is approaching and this means life as I currently know it will be over. I keep thinking about everything I want to accomplish....this consumes my thoughts everday.....every moment of my life....everything from the big things to the little things...did I tell all of my kids that I love them?...Did I learn something?...did I get that done?..I hope one day I will just have some epiphany that wipes out that mentality because a person only has so much time here on earth and living with these unrealistic expectations is not healthy (all of the time)but old habits die hard.

I have a few friends that are having trying times in mariage and another who is going through a lengthy divorce and Rob and I are truckin along thank goodness....but I wonder if any of us feel completly whole...full and fruitful in our marriages.....and when I brought this up to my counselor (who is a Godly man) he explained to me "no"...People don't feel this way in their marriage.....why is that? Because just like any relationship on earth.....we have to struggle to have growth..be it a child/parent....husband/wife and that is why we need God to be the center of these relationships because without that grace...faith and gratefulness we can"t demonstrate those things properly. This all makes sense to me.....without pain or struggle no growth...does this mean we need to create it? Ummm No! Does this mean it is easy "no"...but as we all know nothing worth while is easy so here I keep truckin on and be grateful for all of the goodtimes because the bad things makes those good things so much richer and I am thankful for the good things...but I also have to say I am almost more grateful for the bad things because I appreciate growth. Just because there is strife in a marriage doesn't mean you can't be HAPPY in a marriage and have mutual love and respect...for those of us who are black and white people..this may be a hard concept to understand...but YAY! I got it! LOL


I also heard today that if a son has a good mother (particularly) he will show three charachteristics as he changes into manhood
1.provider
2. protector
3. reside

I just wrote that blog about Bryce and all of those things ring a bell......That warms my heart..that I am doing such a good job with him despite some of my bad judgement calls along the way and how things just seem to work themelves out if you are faithful (see growth!....everyone can learn..even if you were not taught well)...Bryce has a tendency to hang around me and he wants to be near me or know where I am at all times....who I am talking to ...and what my plans are..and just as I do with all kids I don't think about these things until they are presented to me I just adjust and give them what they need to feel stable (naturally) and that is his thing...doesn't bother me....hmmmfunny how these things come about.

The last thing bothering me lately is the fact that Jeri is struggling with her weight......I think she is beautiful no matter how much she weighs.....but it is bothering her....I don't say anything about her size becuase people who live in glass houses should not throw stones if you know what I mean? I would never judge her. But what is really bothering me is that I am not happy with myself and I am not doing anything to motivate myself..so how do I offer her advise or help her when I can not help myself? She is old enough now that I don't have to to manage her diet she needs to do that on her own.....if I do it I could damage our relationship ..so I don't unless I feel she is just harming herself on 20 hot dogs or something..you know? So how do I cross that line to say ..OK this is what WE have to do and work it out myself so I can set a good example for her? I mean she has plenty of good examples around her..The boys.....but deep down I know she is looking to me to help her and I feel inept.....guilty and worthless in this area...I need to be a good and healthy Mom....so maybe I need to pray about it and see how I can at least work on it.

Friday, July 16, 2010

He.




I keep thinking about BRyce. HE is going through changes....it is not easy on him or any one around him. HE and I have to navigate through our relationship frequently...just when I think I have it down it changes..I suppose that is natural.
I always thought 13 was the magical number that they {kids}(especially the boys) would not need me anymore...but it isn't true they need me more...I always have this unnatural fear that they are preparing to dump me...(self protection).....but it doesn't happen... I realize.

Bryce hugged me two times yesterday and came about to say he loved me several times. Not the teasing....I need attention way..but the genuine...."I am happy you are here" way. I appreciate that....it warms my heart and keeps me up until he changes with the hormone flow....I know it is normal but I do realize that it it something to cherish as it comes.

Bryce has a strong personality and sometimes it is hard to tell which traits he gets from which side because unfortunatly he has two parent with strong personalities...but he is figuring things out on his own turf and that is a good thing. He is a STRONG leader..when he wants to be.( he needs to rule with a Godly spirit and not and iron fist...)..but he really does have a soft sensitive side that appeals to people around him and he notices people...reads people and loves to be needed...and genuinely loves people in general (when he wants to)...but if you hurt him or someone he loves (especially his MOmma!) He will make you pay...hopefully the latter part will get better with age and experience.

Bryce wants to be a lawyer or a special needs teacher.....I think that fits the spectrum that is BRYCE...he is a puzzle that is complex but simple in some ways and he is a good boy who loves his MOmma and I am extremely proud of him.

This is the summer before his 8th grade year and it is sad that I can count on one hand how many summers I have left before he leaves for college on whatever path he will lead and I need to push those thoughts out and think about everything I need o teach him before my summers end and hope that I got it all in.
This summer he was a camp counselor at OMNY.....he started sewing a quilt(picture above)...his Best friend moved back home. He played in Hoopfest. cared for his sister. bought a turtle. hugged his mom.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Not feeling well

I have not been feeling well the last couple of days...I am so very tired..I think my body is trying to fight off something but I don't know. I thought maybe it was because I didn't get alot of sleep last week..maybe my body needed to catch up but after Monday....I should have been well. On MOnday I went to staff meeting and then came home and slept most of the day..until we did family activities.....and then yesterday I took the kids to a free movie in Moses Lake..had a lunch date with my dear friend Donna and then came home and stayed in bed (reading) until dinner. I read a whole book yesterday..and then went back to sleep...today I don't really fel moivated to do alo but I have to work. It has taken me an hour of talking myself out of bed...this is unlike me....not to mention I have not turned on he sewing machine in 5 days...very unusual. Especially considering I have a class tomorrow night and I am supposed to have some things done.
Anyway....Last night the book I read ended in such a great way...that I think I should use it as a scrapbooing /blogging tool myself.
This Gal ends the book with all of these key words or phrases of the lesons she learned during the process of the book..isn't that great? I am trying to think of how far back I should go...or if I should just keep a steady stream of them going each week?
Well I should get ready for work....It may take me awhiel in my current mind set..LOL.Sory body from laying around to much and tired body from sleeping to much...poor me! LOL

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

School clothes shopping

Well this year is a bit strained to say the least...you try not to rely on certain things but as time passes you realize you have.
Usually I buy all year round hitting the all the sales and stocking up for when my kids go to school...that way football fees....school supplies and odd and end things don't ruin your complete budget....and I still never have enough for school pictures..we have not bought school pictures since all the kids have been in school ..even before that I think..it is so expensive..and I always tell myself I will just take pictures of them....and I never do...we also have not had family pictures since Clarissa was 18 months old?? She is 7 now....that needs to be a priority..well this year I think I have been neglecting alot of things because I am working. I have not been shopping.....I would go to Wenatchee several times a week for school..but I wanted to get there and back..not look for kids clothes...so I have no stock pile.
Last year Bryce was entering 7th grade and clothes seemed to be a big deal to him..everyhing had to be name brand and I did buy him all the best brands..it still was not good enough so this year I talked to all of them and explained that I have to buy clothes for 6 kids ( usually only 4....but Trina does not have a job so I am thinking she can't afford it this year..time will tell) and that they each will get 100$ I know 100$ does not go far.....but between 6 kids and then school supplies..well we are looking at around 800$ and I have no idea where I am getting football money?
I don't really stress about these things...it is only money....and I think it is good for my kids to have to make sacrifices...they need to learn and it all actuality they have risen to the challenge.
We went to Tri-state outfitters last night..The Horton boys all got NIKE shoes and all together they spent 75$ with tax for three pairs of shoes! YAY!
They bought their jeans at Wal-mart....they never would have done that last year....but they are counting pennies....since they are on a budget.....now we just need shirts...socks and underwear.

Things always have a habit of working themselves out and God provides..so not worried but want my kids to learn valuable lessons.....so in these times...they get it and I am preparing them for life...which always makes me feel good.

We went to Silverwood last weekend..had a great time..weather was perfect and we got to do everything per usualy because I am the fun Nazi! At one point I stopped to smell the flowers ..Clarissa loks at me and with serious hand gestures says "MOM..FOCUS!" "We are here to FOCUS on the FUN...NOT the flowers!" Well OK then..I am focusing! Sheesh..I have no idea where she gets these things.

They have a new dunk tank now and it takes volunteers and then people pay to dunk them...everyone was discussing who would go in the tank....Bryce said he would so I paid 5$ for that....he was complaining all day....harassing people all day in his usual fashion so I thought I would give the other kids a chance to dunk him..LOL.They did! Funny thing is they had another kid in the tank heckling the crowd and no one would pay but as soon as little Bryce got in teh tank people were coming from out of the woodwork to dunk him....they must have recognized his voice in the park complaining about everything..LOL....Preston also got dunked..and Jeri.

On Sunday we stayed in town with our friends the Steppe's.. Mary made us all a big breakfast and then we played cards for a bit until lunch.We had lunch with Rob's Parents and then we all went back for fun. All of us girls went for pedicures while the boys went to play mini golf...what a great weekend..but always makes me homesick for my friends.

LAst night was a good night as we took the dogs for a walk...did a bit of school shopping and spent time together as a family. I hope you all have a great week and get plugged in with your families.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

A few things to blog about

I need to blog some things because life gets in the way and you forget things along the way that you want to remember. I have been writing alot about Clarissa because she is young and she still does cute things ...the older kids may do funny things but not so much cute things...and teh funny things they do would not probably be things I want to remember or blog about at this age...the boys are becoming hormonal and perverted and I choose to block those out 10 seconds after they do the...it is like a parental block...self defense mechanism.

Yesterday I got home and Clearly Clarissa had a blotchy face...swollen eyes and nose...she had been crying....this is the conversation:

Me: Clarissa is something wrong?
C: No any more
me: What was wrong?>
C: I can't explain it
The whole time she won't look at me.

Me: Did someone hurt you?
C: NO
Me: Did someone say something mean to you?
C: no
Me: Hmmmmmmm Did you get frustrated
C:Yes....
Me: About what
C: A math problem I could not figure it out!

Sidenote: Clarissa has not once told us that she has reading or a summer homework packet...I knew she had it..I just didn't ask her because I see her work on her reading and homework at various times.....she likes to be in control of things and work at her own pace.....so I let her. Problem is she hates asking for help she wants to figure everything out on her own and sometimes she gets very frustrated...I don't know where she gets it from? Anyway..she is almost done with everything and she is a real self starter...I never have to make her do her responsibilities.....she does them on her own..I just LOVE that about her!


Me: Clarissa why didn't you ask for help
C: Shoulder shrug
Me: Instead of getting worked up about something you could ask anyone for help....Did you figure it out?
C: Yes I got it all done and I figured it out.
Me: Are you sure...Do you want me to look at it?
c: NO I got it done.
Me: OK Well I guess you got it!
Tehn I just had a nice talk with her about how I think she is a great child and that she is way ahead of the game by being so self sufficient but that it is ok to ask for help and that I am really proud of her for sticking to it until she was done.

Two days ago we went to wal-mart..Clarissa needed a bike tube for her tire. I bought it got home and she came in to tell me ..while holding back the choke of tears ...I could barely understand what she was saying...She kept telling me that I had got the wrong tube because her tires would not match if we used that one? I said "why" she said "because it is black!" Tears coming out "I won't have matching tires..I will have one black and one white tire." LOL...Well I explained she would still have matching tires and that the tube goes inside the white tire...Then suddenly the world was right for her..LOL. These are important things you know?

My new sewing machine is coming next week and I am super excited to start long arming ...hopefully I can get the hang of mymchine really soon.
Well I hope you all have a great weekend!

Friday, July 2, 2010

Wolf Teen....Teen Wolf..Oh whatever

Yesterday was hilarious and this just warms my heart when my daughter is so......The way she is!

Rob got home from work....ate dinner and then goes to relax ( where?...shocking I know the tele) Turns it on to to the movie called "Teen Wolf" with Michael J. Fox.
Clarissa strolls into the room with her pink sunglasses...sparkly Eyeshadow...glossy lipstick and high heels..oh of course a dress....looks at the screen and says "Daddy is this from the olden days?" Rob says "Clariss it is from 1985" to which we hear a grown from the mini super model in front of the screen who slumps herself onto the couch next to me.
Then she starts commentary on every scene from the movie and it is just darn cute you can't help but laugh. Rob does commentary on movies he hates to watch as well.
So she starts with the guy named Chub on the basketball team...She takes one look at him and says "umm they need to give that fat guy bigger shorts..it looks likes he is wearing tidy whities" LOL. Bryce looks at her and says "Clarissa they are all wearing small shorts that is what they did WAY back then."LOL.....She says "even the fat guy?" ( she has learned from her brothers that tidy whities are for nerds and that boxers or boxer breifs are the only way to go)
Then she can't get over the hair on teen wolf...she keeps saying "Daddy this isn't even REAL...Why do you have to watch this stuff?" Then he starts doing the car surfing and she is totally disgusted by this obviously nerdy behavior and she comments about how in real life he would probably fall off and get into an accident....LOL. Then the scene between he and his Dad come on..she says "YEah the Dad is probably are wolf too!" (Does that mean it is a predictable movie if a 7 year old can get that?)
So then it is time for the spring dance and as he is getting ready putting on his Miami vice inspired suit she is just beyond herself until she sees him enter the gym with all the 1985 dresses that the girls are wearing...LOL...all she can say is "WOW....nice clothes" with a look of horror.
She was not happy until the credits started rolling and the movie was over.
I have to say she cracks me up and scares me all at the same time...because she is only SEVEN! Just start me on the meds now..I may have a heart attack when she reaches the teens.

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Blueberry Fancy

I forgot to take apicture...this is how everyone will know that I have been thinmking quilting for way to long and have not been taking pictures of my children and their actions...reactions.....and everything in between..I can't even see my scrapbooking table..but it has been calling to me lately....maybe soon.
Anyway, Clarissa is on a cooking streak right now....we have a few different kids' cookbooks and other "little" cookbooks..they have to be cute looking and little for her to go through them ( anything cute and little leaves my areas and end up in hers...ie: my embroidery scissors with a pink handle..yeah gone within hours of getting them?)
She has been trying a new recipe every couple of days...she wanted to try BLueberry Fancy from a slow cooker recipe box....it is listed under desserts ( i think it is really a breakfast recipe....but usually you don't slow cook breakfast) and so she made a list of all the ingrediants she needed at the store...we went shopping and then yesterday Rob and her started it while I was at work.

It was ready after dinner..we all were telling her what a great job she did ..it smelled really good and then we started eating it...it just tasted like french toast stuffed with blueberries and cream cheese...Rob decided he did not want to coninue eating it....he said he didn't really like it....I was so upset with him...he could have shoved it down as to not hurt Clarissa's feelings....so I gave him the look ( which by the way he didn't understand...that drives me even more crazy!)..then within two minutes Clarissa decides she doesn't like it either! Thank GOD! Then she wouldn't be crushed that her dad didn't like it. LOL. Thank God these things work themsleves out sometimes. The rest of us liked it...so I don't know?

She has also made a cake this week and also made "egg in a frame" for breakfast.

She is getting good at following directions and writing lists and remembering things...That warms my heart...

She was also at my work for several hours this week because the other kids are at OMNY....sewing and while she sews she humms...(which is adorable)...but she forgets she is with other people...so whiel she is talking to herself to work things out she sings everything..at one point she burped in between humming and singing..she sang excuse me to herself....So CUTE!

Jeri didn't make counselor this year at OMNY which was disapointing to her....it is a paid position but they coordinator thought she needed an extra year to mature and get more leadership skills. I agreed. Bryce was promoted to bike man ths year ( he fixes all the bikes) and Kathy (the coordinator) called and said she is very impressed with Both Jeri and Bryce this year...She thinks if there is an opening next year for counselors she will interview both of them...If Bryce will be going into his freshman year and that will be exciting because he will be pretty young...and Jeri will feel great that she stuck to it and made it through! Omny has been such a good experience for all of my kids. This last week Bryce played "the cat in the hood" a version of the Cat in the hat...improvised to teach the kids lessons..Bryce loves center stage and he does well with these sorts of things.

Coel and Preston are at landons this last week and next..Bryce is missing time with Landon for OMNY. Carl is a very caring older brother he comes in and picks up Clarissa everyday after OMNY to walk her home..She would rather have me drive them..Carl always wants to walk..so I try to break it up for them..so it seems fair...But I can't imagine him loving to listen to her complain the whole way home..but I think he is probably used to her whining. LOL

Well I should get something done....I hope you all have a great Sunday!

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Quilt show









Well our local quilt shop ( also where I happen to work part-time) puts ona quilt show every year. I have never entered and I was not planning on entering this year for several reasons:
1. I didn't have any really good quilts ready for the show
2. My quilting ability isn't as good as my peicing ability (yet)
3. There is to much vulnerablility with "showing" your work.

I am to fragile to show my created quilts to a bunch of people who may reject them and I am not sure I could take the critisim well... so why show them until I get confident enough in my abilities?? I know we are all harder on ourselves.....but showing your quilts to a bunch of quilters? It is way better giving a quilt with many mistakes to some one who isn't a quilter because they think it is fabulos no matter what!

SO my boss was harassing me to enter.....I kept saying "no"...I think at one point I wanted to start crying because Rob was also bugging me. So The boys were helping set up for the show and I was at work.....not any where near the quilt show and Rob and the kids each entered a quilt into the show without my knowledge.

On Thursday night before the judges arrived I went to go look at the quilts since I knew I would not have time during show and I saw my display of quilts.....I didn't have nice things to say....first of all the quilts they chose are comfortable quilts that were never meant to be peices of art..We use these quilts..and Preston didn't even wash the one he entered...it was full of dog hair (embarassing?>...Preston has a habit of always embarassing me).....They each had a typed label explaining why they had chosen each quilt...Cole chose the one hanging in our entry way because he figured if I thought it was good enough to hang on the wall it was probably good enough to hang in a show?? Good logic..he is always my logical thinker ( However it hangs there because I love the colors and it is actually a very simple quilt..not worthy of a quilt show...I couldn't crush him though).....My boss typed up a message propped up by an easel stating that my family had chosen these quilts because I was to shy and modest to enter my own quilts and if I had cooperated I would have chosen differently.....(that is the short version) and that is absolutely correct.

Lessons learned:

1. Next year enter at least one quilt so boss and husband don't harass me...never know how they will get quilts

2. The only people I need to feel vunerable to already love me no matter what!

Although that was all my first reaction.....I have to say the kids were so excited not just for the prank but because they BELIEVE in me. They were so proud of themselves because they thought I was going to win every award in the place and they kept asking when the awards were going to be handed out.....When Rob was going through all of the quilts with me ...we would be looking at a stunning peice of ART that I am not sure I would even consider using and he would be talking trash about it ...and throw in slight comments about how my quilts were better..LOL. I know he is being nice and I know he loves me and has complete faith in me...But I would never want to discount the work in another's quilt because I am in awe of some of the things other people make and I have respect for the art.
SO I am unbeleivably proud of my kids...and I know they are just returning the feelings and beliefs that I give to them..I have never gone to a football game or choir recital and told them not to have high expectations of themselves or that they are failures..yet I do that to myself and I just need to retrain myself and have the faith that they have in me...It feels good to have them all on my side and I could not wish for a better family...and it feels nice to be a part of a family that loves!....and my boss issued an award for "Most loved qult" with a ribbon and gift certificate.....(that is a made up category...but I think she realized the kids would be crushed if they thought I didn't win)..to who's quilt? Preston's of course the one filled with dog hair....and in all actuality it is the most loved quilt in our house....it has a flannel top....dream puff wool batting and teddy bear minkee on the back ( it is like fur) and it is bright pink.....I made that quilt for myself and I don't know what I was thinking..it is way to HOT for me..I just loved the feeling of all of it....So my boss obviously has a hand in this whole transaction ....she loves to pull pranks as much as Rob does and I will need to keep my eye on her......

Monday, June 14, 2010

Clarissa's 7th birthday.

Clarissa had her 7th birthdya party on Friday. She kept telling me she wanted a water party just like last year) and the weather man kept saying rain on Friday..I kept asking her what plan "b" would be..she kept telling me not to worry it would be fine......she was right! Very hot day!
The party went well she had lots of friends from school and several of our friends.
The graduation ceremony for Big Bend was friday night as well..I opted out of graduation as I think that I will still be in school come fall anyway.....so it doesn't actually feel like a graduation.
Saturday was an interesting day...The Heim's called because their motor home broke down and they needed help finding a mechanic..so theypulled in for a couple of minutes for Rob to help them...it was nice to chat for a time.
Yesterday (Sunday)..we took the kids to rimrock again.....Beautiful hot day...I was in the sun for about 5 minutes and got burned...How is that possible? I just relaxed and read by the pool while the kids swam....Rob even went swimming for a time.
Last thursday was the last day of school and that is always a bittersweet time..the kids are happy to have the break but they miss their friends and of course our house gets switched around alot because of visitation which is always an adjustment.
Well I hope you all have a great week and that you may feel blessed in your everyday lives.

Monday, May 31, 2010

Memorial Day

First of all I would like to thank all of the veterans and soldiers that are currently serving our country without all of you I would not have the life that I have and I am greatful!

Well Mary and Carla came to spend the weekend with us at Rimrock Meadows. The Ponozzos and Whites invited us....and it has become a tradition the last few years and it is relaxing and fun there because the kids are entertained and they have all of the facilities plus an dindustrial kitchen so we can have real meals and not cook over a camp fire which is always nice.

The kids swam, ate,and did sword fighting... they were exhausted! It is nice to be with a bunch of families that are like mine and hear about how they handle different things with their kids and learn.
We are actually in week two of our finance plan with the kids. I printed out check registers for all kids. I have never paid my kids allowances because I feel like we do alot of fun thinsg with our kids and if they realized how much money everything was they would get it..well since they don't manage money I am teaching them. They each get ten dollars a week...We take them shopping every thursday night and with that ten dollars they have to pay for all toiletries, laundry soap and after school snacks. They can budget however they want and buy whatever they want but this money will also include their entertainment fund......meaning I don't have to take them to the movies every month or whatever...and I get to pick and choose which things I want to pay for. They also get penalized if they don't complete chores and if they stay in the shower to long ect. SOme of them are managing their money well and others aren't but it is a learning experience and hopefully they will get it...eventually. Right now ..they think they are rich and all is fine and good until they want to go to a movie and they realize how much movie..soda and popcorn will cost them...hahahah!

We just found out this morning that Bryce's BFF is coming back home to stay and Bryce is over the moon happy about it but he is cranky becuase he is tired and I wish school were in today.LOL

Work is going well and I am trying to get through some spanish homework it is my last lesson before my final test and I will be happy just to have it done.....I HATE spanish and I am ready to have summer here so I can focus on other things. FAll will be here before I know it and much as I am excited to start at WSU I want the break.

Well I hoep you are having a blessed long weekend..have a great week!

Monday, May 10, 2010

Monday Things...

Well I got up today ..went to our staff meeting and now I am working on Spanish homework...I HATE spanish homework. This is my third quarter of spanish and I can't tell you anything about the language I may be able to pick up word here or there is I hear someone talking but ...that is not any where near where they want you to be....LOL. I have to finish this quarter to get into WSU. I am contemplating only doing half of my homework ..just so I can get a passing grade ...cause frankly at this point who cares about getting a 4.0? LOL. I can't let myself fail so I will keep trudging on!

I am working more days now because someone quit at work....which is good and bad....I like being at work....I hate being away from kids...and I like earning mroe fabric. LOL.

I went through my fabric closet on Saturday night....it is not as bad as I thought it was....I have less than I thought of randon cuts of fabric...now i have many "lines" of fabric.... good or bad? Who knows?

But I better get back to work ..so I may be able to turn this in on time!

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Happy Mother's Day

Well today I woke up and had leftover breakfast cassrole I made on friday for my kids since there was no school...and then I sewed for a bit until everyone woke up and then.... I mowed the lawn and then.... I made lunch and prepared dinner... and then Rob went to go get boys from Landon and then.... I sewed for a bit while cooking dinner and then.... we had a family dinner.....then we played tennis. I thought for sure this would be the day all the kids would beat me at tennis..it wasn't...and I am so OUT of shape!

Although, it wasn't a nice relaxing day...I didn't have any expectations that it would be so .....it was a good day. Preston had bought me a bouquet a flowers with his own money..which is super special and Rob had bought me beautiful roses yesterday and a card that sums up our house hold..humorus..of course. Clarissa made me artwork and taped a few things to her artwork to give me for a gift ...Bryce said he was making a flower box in woodshop...( I already paid for it) and Cole said he knew I didn't want anything except our family to be together...Carl and Clarissa clipped iris' from my garden to put with my roses???


In all actuality it was a perfect mother's day because I have all of my kids..they are all healthy ..we have food to eat..a roof over our heads and I am thankful to be a MOM..in so many ways..I am thankful that I get to teach them life lesons like:

Family is first!
Spending time together is important!
Gifts are nice.....especially ones from the heart.
We should be thankful every day not just the ones that are marked as a holiday!

My kids know me pretty well and I am hoping that that will always be the case! They know the perfect way in which to Celebrate! I am thankful for the chance to be a MOM and I want to celebrate most days of their lives not just one.....I hope you all have a GREAT day!





In actuality I am greatful to

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Cole's Update

Cole had surgery today...he did very well I was so proud of him..he is so serious and "Manly" about certain things and this one was one of them. The doc sent him home with pain killers and he is handling everything quite well..no complaining.
My Boss brought him a get well package containing blizzard oreos and a 5 pound bag of chocolates ( i think) and that just brightened him up even more...she is so great!

My grandma had a fall last night /this morning..she is in the ER with broken bones and getting an MRI...Please keep her in your prayers.....I am hoping an praying for a full and speedy recovery.

The kids don't have school tomorrow...Jeri had her last softball game tonight and they lost..she is happy that it is all over.

Bryce is upset with me because he wanted to go see Iron Man tonight at midnight and I won't let him go..he has been slacking on his chores and I don't want him going to a movie by himself with his friends...It is hard for me to let my kids do things by themselves and although I can see the theatre from my livingroom it makes me nervous. There is no school tomorrow ...so Rob gets to spend the day off with all of the kids...although the boys are going to Spokane tomorrow....I hope Cole does ok..I hate sending him so soon after surgery. But I think he will be fine.

I am exhausted..I have to work tomorrow and I was up so early this morning driving to Wenatchee for the surgery....stayed up to late last night..Couldn't sleep after watching "Happy Town"....not good for me to watch that stuff....Will avoid from now on....Well I hope you are all doing well....

Monday, May 3, 2010

Happenings and things...

Well this was a good week and on Friday we celebrated Preston's 10th birthday I can't believe he is 10. YIKES! Rob picked up party kids at school and they came home for a snack. HE had pre-arranged a treasure hunt. They went all around the neighborhood (I was at work) and found clues to lead them to the next clue....one of the stops was the corner store..The clue read something like: This is where one goes for a refreshing drink after a long walk. Preston and Clarissa immediatly think.."oh the corner store" Because Rob often takes them there...Preston's friends thought it was the bar down the hill....I wonder what their parents do when they need a refresher..LOL. Rob got a tatse fo what it is like to deal with kids that are not our own....HE had to tell them not to take water bottles left on the side of the road and absolutley not drink them...not to eat discarded candy left on the street and ..then he had to coach them on how to behave in the store. What is really hilarious though is that Clarissa is younger than all of thoe boys...and she was disgusted at their lack of knowledge.....she was upset because they didn't understand some of the clues..and thought they were barbaric....Her and Preston knew all of them but Preston could be swayed by his friends and Clarissa was disgusted just telling me the story. HAHA!

Preston finished with a sleepover...I don't know why we call them sleepovers..no one gets any sleep. I had to go to work on Saturday as well..so Rob got to deal with all of that..hehe.

Sunday the boys went out to Cindi's house. I am so grateful that this family has taken an interest in my family and the boys. The boys go out there to "work" and they eat like crazy and have a ton of fun...they already feel so comfortable and safe with them ..it warms my heart. Cindi has a 16 year old son..who is the baby of their family and my boys look up to him and want to be near him...and he loves having someone look up to him.... Even when Jared came to get them he said "HEy, Where's my kids?" So sweet! SO we went there for a BBQ last night and felt right at home....what a great day!

Cole is having surgery this week...if you could all keep him in your prayers! It is a 5 hour procedure on his hand..nothing major but he is going to be under...and I hate having to do that with my kids....he wants to get it done before the pool opens and before football starts...he wants everything healed before the fun begins..and I don't blame him.




Things to remember:

My babies are not babies anymore.

Clarissa is just way to smart for her own good!

There is only 6 more weeks of school. (Jeri will be a sophmore...she has told me this three times this week alone)

Life is good!

Love is even better!

I need to update this more!

Saturday, April 24, 2010

It's been awhile....

Well the Horton boys are with Landon this weekend and Bryce was all prepared money in hand from his friends to turn in his Hoopfest paperwork. This year Bryce took it upon himself to get his local friends to team up and compete..which is better so they can practice more frequently..Landon is having to go through a background check by one of the parents since the three extra boys will be staying the weekend with him....Which I think is totally good....and I am glad there are other parents like me....SO in June Landon will have 6 kids for the weekend..wooowooo!

I am part of QFL (quilting football league) It has nothing to do with football really but has everything to do with quilting...it is a quilting cometition nationwide and we are also competing against teams in our own store..today is the meeting..totally excited..you have to show completed projects and aquire points and you get prizes..good ones too!

Rob had a wisom tooth pulled yesterday...so he is playing the "misery" card..when I had my upper two pulled...I still came home and made dinner? Sheesh!

Clarissa got a new bike on Thursday (it is an eary birthday gift) because the bike rodeo at school was on friday and due to the fact that her older brother.....Bryce..kept stealing her bike from her and skidding and doing wheelies last year..her tires and frame is no good..poor gal! When we went shopping for her bike Bryce promised he would not do that anymore.

Work is going well...Rob's work is going well..he is heading into his busy season and this year will be no overtime..which is a curse and a blessing....but he will have three days off..so the camping trips and fun activities this year will include ROb..HURRAY!

Preston's Birthdya is Sunday and we had to cancel his party for the math competition...and this is his weekend with Landon..so we are currently trying to decide which weekend would be good..we have so many things happening that it is had to squeez everything in....

Jeri is playing softball and her team isn't all that good..but she likes the team. She is struggling with everything else because it is so time consuming..but she needs to learn...she is having fun in school and she is going through the daily drama of high school girl friends..everyday it is something new...I just kind of chuckle because I remember it all so clearly for myself....but Jeri takes things to heart to much and she isn't wise to the ways of the world..so she never sees anything ahead of time.....it just kind of hits and knocks her wind out....but again she will eventually get it. Girls are mean.

Cole and Carl stop by my work everyday on the way home from school because my work is only a block or two away.....I enjoy this time...I get to hear about their day..which girls are sending them notes ( they won't talk about it otherwise others in family make fun)..and what their plans are...it is good time for the middle kids who get overlooked. I worry a bit about Cole he is such a perfectionist that I think the world is going to let him down in such a harsh way ..that he will be crushed.....but I can't borrow tomorrows worries!

Well off to work I go...I hope you all have a great week.

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Math Competition.

I am so proud! Yesterday...My Son Preston was involved in a math team competition state wide and he had to start in the morning...for the singles tests and everything..we made it for the team rounds.

They first start the awards ceremony with a t-shirt for the highest ranking kid in each individual school....Preston won at his school...then they hand out awards for the top 10 ranked single kids in the competition..Preston placed third out of everyone! HURRAY! However, then they started handing out team awards...Preston's team didn't place...DARN!

I am thankful for so many reasons.....

1. That I can provide an environment for my children where not only they can recognize their talents but also that they can relish and shine in them..I didn't come from a place like that and I am so thankful GOD has provided me that....so I can be a great Mom.

2. I am thankful that I traded Landon weekends so that he would make it to the competition..although I like to take credit for all the good things and be there for my children...I know it was important to Preston..I just hope that they are making this whole weekend a big celebration for him..because as a MOM that is what I would do...and frankly he deserves it!

3. I am thankful to Landon and Rob that I am able to have this opportunity with my children..and they make it possible for me to be a mom...I also give Landon a bit of credit for Preston's math gene..cuz he didn't get it from me.....Maybe if I have to take any other math in college..PReston could be my tutor? LOL

4.I am thankful that all of my kids could be at the competition and they all cheered their brother on..despite the fact that they fight sometimes..and they point out eachother's weakness' on a daily basis..they really all do love eachother and they could not have been more proud of him! I have really GREAT kids!

God has blessed me in my life....regardless of whether Preston won a math contest or not..it is all of the little things I may take for granted that I am most thankful for....and without the little things there could never be the big things..LIfe is good!

Thursday, February 11, 2010

boys...boyz...and boooyyys!

OK last night after my post on here..I started sewing a few things...I went to my fabric closet and heard some commotion from Bryce's room.....I let the kids read at night before bed..they each have a light next to their beds. I opened the door and there is Carl, Cole and Bryce oogling over the sports illustrated??? I said .." Hey, that is not productive reading guys!" Bryce's response "Mom I am reading the captions." I said "Guys, I did not just fall off the turnip truck...I know what is going on..SHEESH!" Cole and Carl started cracking up..Bryce got red faced and embarrassed....sure he is reading the articles...WHATEVER!
I closed the door to hear a fit of laughter on the other side...I think I may need therapy soon...anyone want to donate to the fund?
So our house is centrally located for all of BRyces's friends..they all come here in the morning to walk him to school....what was the subject of conversation as soon as all the teenagers were here?: Sports illustrated. Suddenly I feel like the perverted house on the block and that I should call all their Mom's to warn them...but I am to embarassed. Carl informed me that the cover is the worst picture (the girl's swim suit barely covers anything) and that that is his favorite one.....He is his father's child is all I can say about that. *shock*

This to shall pass is all I chant on the inside of my head!

Well moving on to bigger and better things..work went well today ..left with a handful of beautiful fabrics....I will have a new apron soon! Studying my bible everyday .....I feel good about all of that!

Today was the valentine's dance at middle school so 5 of Bryce's friends came here for cologne and rides to the dance...The cologne cloud has lingered still....I think I shoudl warn anyone with asthma to avoid my block.....Bryce was worried he was going to run out of cologne ..he wanted me to buy him a new bottle at wal-mart tonight...I bought him one for Christmas...the boys were dousing themselves before they left...and some of them had already put some on before they got here? Then when I was running a few minutes behind...Bryce told me I needed to hurry or all the good girls would be taken? I asked " what does that mean?" They would all be taken by other guys....Well last time I checked girls were only taken when they wanted to be taken.....isn't it weird to say that? Usually it is hurray or all the good tables will be taken? or seats...apparently at a junior high dance all the good girls would be taken! I learn something new everyday!

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

changes.....why is this so hard for a mom?

OK today has opened my eyes?? Are you ready for this?
Prepubecent boys...is anyone ready for this? Especially a MOM?

Today I noticed in the mail Bryce got his latest edition of Sports Illustrated...he was selling magazines for school and his Grandma ordered it for him .....apparently there was a box you could check if you didn't want the swim suit edition..but it was very small and Bryce didn't know if he had gotten that version or not?
It came today...he got the swim suit edition.
He immediatly saw it and took it to his room and started flipping through the pages...this is all you could hear from the next room ..where I happened to be... "HELLLOOOOO"...." oh and helllooooooo". All of the boys eventually migrated to that room. I am in big trouble.

Preston had his presentation today. He neglected to tell us that apparently the girl he has had a crush on for two years is also part of his "highly capable" group at school...she was presenting Pluto...Preston was presenting mercury. I took a picture of her she is really cute. Preston was red faced emabarrassed ..I think he was hoping none of us would notice her name "Melanie"...he has only been talking about her for 2 years. She is a very tall hispanic girl...soooo CUTE!

Can you imagine having four boys sitting next to you when the presenter for "uranus" came up?? YES! I say 4 because ROb about died after he heard the boys laughing their heads off.....then when the presenters were talking about the explorer's of uranus...it only got worse from there.....I wanted to die.

I thought girl puberty was bad.....I think these boys are going to be the death of me.

The evening was topped off with a dare for Carl to go into the girls bathroom...and he did it..Why is this so funny.....there wasn't anyone in there?....I don't know that PReston will ever want us to go and support him again?? I can't say that I want to sit with my own family again...except I heard Preston's Best friends little brother announce to everyone that his mom farts in the bathtub! I felt sorry for her.....out of the mouth of babes!

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Clarissa on the long arm.



I was in training for most of the day today learning how to use our new computer system that is hooked to the long arm machine at work. So a rep from the company had come to teach us and while on break I realized there was no one to get Clarissa from school so I went up to the school....Preston is on the Math team and just to brag about him he is also in the "highly capable student" group at school which means that he is really advanced for his age...he is basically working at a seventh grade level in alot of subjects..in math right now he and Bryce are studying the same things...(the oldest and youngest boy)Anyway..because Preston stays later at school Clarissa is not supposed to walk home from school alone and Cole forgot to go get her....anyway...she ended up walking home by herself...scared me to death...cause I couldn't find her and while taking the route she walks home I called the house and she answered the phone...." HI Mom"
I was relieved that she was home safe...but also wondering what happened on the way home..she said that the neighbor that walks by our house alot stopped to say hi to her...so we had the stranger danger talk and I happen to know that guy....so I was not worried about him but we have another neighbor I wouldn't want any where near close to her...and I mentioned that to her she said " yeah, I know Mom, I remember you told the boys not to go there to sell candy last time" THank YOu JEsus! I have a child that actually listens and remembers things! That was over a year ago and CLarissa trusts me enough to know to listen to me.....there is one other girl in this house that never listens to me.
Anyway, I took CLarissa to work with me and started working on the quilt machine...then I heard one going in the next room....Brianna was teaching Clarissa how to use the long arm...I am so impressed with her little designs she was doing hearts and stars and getting the feel for the machine.

The Human Flaw

Yesterday I had a counseling session..hadn't had one in quite some time because the kids come first...and my hectic school schedule doesn't allow me to take alot of time for myself...so going into counseling yesterday was such a breath of fresh air..I was GIDDY! Yes, Giddy! Not all people feel that way about counseling or the dentist...but I always do...weird.

Yesterday the topic of discussion was what I thought is a "CHARISMA FLAW"...why do I need to OWN everything I have no idea..moving along...DO you know what that flaw is?? I will tell you.

You know that feeling that you are inadequate?...that you are never good enough ..that you will never measure up? I feel I can share this freely because something clicked yesterday...no matter how old I get..no matter what I do in my life..I will always feel this way about SOMETHING in my life...why? Because I will never be perfect and I will never measure up or be good enough that is a HUMAN flaw..not a Charisma Flaw. Does anyone ever think they are good enough for things? NO! We all have doubts and fears and even though I have been through new things 100's of times I get that nausea...and that tape reeling in my head that says: "you are not good enough" ....it is what you do with that that makes all the difference. I could be a victim that says: "you are right...you might as well give up, you aren't good enough"...or I could say: "OK well I am going to try anyway and if I fail that is better than never having tried at all"....I would hate myself much more for not trying...and probably the odds are going to be in my favor that I will succeed because usually when I set my mind to something within reason, I can accomplish it. It is all about perspective...I keep learning that and there is so much truth about that....teh older I get the more I believe this.
I love it when I can relate to everyone and not feel alone in something. Don't you?

We are all brothers and sisters and we all share so many things and I love that God created us that way.....there is no BIG secret here.....it is so simple...we just make it harder than it truly is...how sad is that?

I also discovered some more AWESOME things about myself...things are just clicking for me and I love that! I called my Feminism instructor and told her about my new plan of action and she was so excited and told me about how this isn't just schooling it is a journey..I believe her whole heartedly and I would rather be on a journey anytime...rather than hitting my head against a brick wall..to end up in a place I don't actually care about....Life is beautiful!

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Things that are happening

Well this last week has been an experience.....I have been hitting that fork in the road feeling wondering if nursing is what I really want to do with my life....I know..I know after all of the hard work I have been through to get here ..applications being mailed out and I am in the home stretch to apply....I started to think about why I chose nursing...Well I think I chose it because I wanted to go to school..I needed the education no matter what..and I have to have a reason or a goal when I do things (that is just how I am built)....Nursing fit well in that little box becuase I worked in the medical feild, the college near me only had two programs..pilots or nursing...and working the PT the patients that I had gotten close to had told me I would make a fabulous nurse...Well to become a nurse I would not be a "nurturer" I would be a paper pusher and chart all day administer meds...I would have bad hours to begin with and I don't know that this is what I really want to do.....I think I needed to have a goal and this fit into the "box" I didn't think I could do anything outside of the technical school that was near me...Now I know I can go to the university and my options are limitless.
So after much debate, talk, and struggle within myself I have been checking out my options and talking with my school advisor, career counselor, my boss ( who is a nurse practitioner as well) and Rob. I also remembered my first orientation at school and they said that students change their major three times on average before leaving college..I thought to myself oh yeah..well that is not me.....Well I guess I get to eat crow again!
I am changing my major!
i am going to major in human development ( psychology) and minor in Women's studies (feminism) this is going to be something mroe along the lines of what I want to do! I can be a lactation specialist, be a lamaze coach, work in women's prisons and counsel, I could work with handicapped people..I could be a school counselor, I could be alot of different things that can actually nurture people and make a difference!
The other thing they tell you when you get into the nursing program is that you can't have another job....because to get through the nursing program is really hard..and although I am up for that challenge..the thing is..my family is a full-time job..I am missing out on so many things all of the time because of school now..so getting into the nursing program I might as well just see my family 5 hours a week....and my main job is to be a MOM...I hate missing out on their lives..so I need to re-direct this path so I can be home more...WSU offers my courses on-line so I can work while they are in school and be home for everything in between. So I am going to register for fall semester at WSU and I will offically be a COUGAR (not in the bad sense)!
I pretty much have to have my master's degree to get into the things I want to do..and that is fine with me because I have plenty of time to be a student..Clarissa is 6 years old and in all actuality it is less time that it was going to take me to get my masters in nursing...I will be cutting my student time off by a year! Hurray for me!
I am getting the best of both worlds..I can be a student get my education and be the wife and mother that I need to be. Hurray for me..this is so exciting...God has been giving me peace throughout this process and he is leading me to where he thinks I should be and I love that feeling!

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Clarissa and sewing







Well Clarissa was just itching to go to the shop with me today...she got her chores done and hounded her Daddy until he finally called to say : Clarissa is bugging me to come down there today...Can she come? I said " Yes....then talked to Jeri..I asked ..Does she have her apron...she said: SHe has had it on since 9 o'clock this morning. me " oh ok...sure tell Dad to bring her down."

While she was there she put bolts of fabric away ..ate snacks and then started a crayon quilt..i let her pick out 4 FQ to use and then told her she could get the rest of the fabrics out of our scrap bin....or she could buy a honey bun ( just for my sheer laziness so I wouldn't have to cut all of them up..but she picked FQ instead)...they are all pink...so she is making a PINK crayon quilt..which is fine, it is her quilt...but she is a girl who knows what she wants..so why bother trying to get her to expand? She put in one green strip from the scrap bin..that one strip must be pretty worthy to make it into the pink quilt..lol.
She is getting tired I can tell....and there are alot of little pictures she has to frame in fabric...but I think it is darling the way she tries so hard.
The boys have a friend staying the night and he is just watching her amazed that she can iron, and work the sewing machine..he keeps going in to the boys and saying...How does your sister do that?..My boys don't even look up.. they say : My Mom teaches her everything...Clarissa knows how to work everything. And that pretty much sums it up..Clarissa will weasel her way into everything so she can know the ins and outs of this house..which is good...I am proud of her!