High School Tag

I decided it was a good time of year for a flashback/nightmare.......so here I am ready to shame myself.................
1. Did you date someone from your school? No, No, NO!
2. What kind of car did you drive? A pimptastic Mercury Cougar.....silvery blue. She sped like wind and was crashed twice, once by someone I am sure is a meth head today and once into a cop car.
3. Did you pass your drivers test on your first try? Of course I did.......I passed every test on the first try.
4. Were you a party animal? No, I can't even pretend......large social settings creep me out.
5. Were you considered a flirt? Ha Ha, no, I am pretty sure people thought I had a panic disorder when it came to the opposite sex.
6. Were you in band, orchestra or choir? No, I really wanted to be in choir but if you have ever been sitting next to me in Primary...........you know full well why I wasn't.
7. Were you a nerd? No. Pretty smart as long as it didn't take effort, drama, debate and honors classes, not a nerd and not so cool I drank myself silly in the sage brush.
8. Were you on any varsity teams? No. I had planned to try out for basketball, but church ball turned me off of competative sports pretty quickly.
9. Can you still sing the fight song? No. I had no reason to learn it in the first place.
10. Who were your favorite teachers? Mrs. Taylor and Mr. Thompson (English), Mr. Hackford (History) and Mrs. Lewellyn (volunteer time...........that really means 80 minutes of not being in high school!!!)
11. Where did you sit for lunch? Usually not at school, if I was I sat in the hall with my friends and my Pepsi.
12. What is you schools full name? Carbon High School
13. What is your schools mascot and colors? Dinosaur.......blue and white (I can remember a cheer though..........)
14. Did you go to homecoming and with who? No, did I mention my fairly strict rule about not dating from my high school, or from the same county I lived in?
15. If you could go back and do it again would you?No. Although I think I would have more fun...I know better that it wouldn't be a good idea to have that kind of fun.
16. What did you remember most about graduation? My family and the fact that I was finally free of that sewer.
17. Where did you go for senior skip day? I skipped a lot of days my senior year so I can't distinguish one from the other. I'm pretty sure though that I had college classes that didn't care about senior skip day.
18. Were you in any clubs? Yes, I was the VP of FHA..........I know, now I can't make a casserole or sew on a button to save my life.
19. Have you gained some weight since then? Well obviously I gained about 35 pounds 4 times, but I lost most of it.
20. Who was your prom date? B.J. Harmon, sweet boy, very cute......short fuse.
21. Are you planning on going to your 10 year reunion? I hope you can hear me laughing.......No. No I did not go and I probably won't go, unless I skulk around the perimeter and scout for familiar faces.
22. Did you have a job in high school? No. My parents said as long as I was in honors classes....and going to college/high school at the same time, they would rather have me concentrate on school...........so I did. Oh, wait I did have a job for a short time working at my uncle's printing company. I can colate with the best of them..........seriously I am a very good school volunteer now because I am great at the copy machine and the stapler..........

So if you also want to reveal your dirty secrets and high school shame.........if you have any.......consider yourself tagged!

Room with a View

Here are some pictures of the house. I am not adept at finding a corner and getting the whole room in a shot so most of the rooms you will only see half of them. Also............I didn't stage the rooms at all, I know, lazy. This is the back half of the formal living room. It's our little country Christmas tree with hand made ornaments and dried oranges. When the tree leaves.........the piano moves in.

The hall bath.....the color is 'mine shaft'. I really like how it turned out with the deep color and silver accents. of course you can't see the bath tub with all of the tile or the awesome door.

My laundry in use within moments of moving in. This is the color I no longer really want to paint Riley's room. I do like it though.

Okay, I had no idea how to take a picture of this room. The bed is huge but I wanted a picture of the door because I love our door. Jason worked his tail off staining, sanding and sealing all of the doors in the house.

My closet!! Yippee. You hang a left in there to get to Jason's clothes. There is also a dresser in there that you can't see. I think I have just enough room for a shopping spree.

The bath tub. I am in love. It is so big I ALMOST can't lay back and read. That would have been tragic. Tiling, gratis Jason.

Part of Jack's room. You can tell they make their own beds. I don't have military standards as long as the bed is made, so you could only bounce a coin if you threw it really hard. I haven't taught them hospital corners yet.

The girl's room which will soon be the boys room when their digs are finished in the basement. Since they will be moving AGAIN we have not decorated. The princess bed is left over from Mads, she just graduated to the big girl bed. I am hoping Max won 't notice Cinderella and sleep in the toddler bed.

The great room, the kids are kicked back after Riley's birthday party watching 'The Grinch'.

The dining room. This is one of the things I like best about this house.........the eating area isn't next to the kitchen and between the family room, it is behind the kitchen, bumped out the back.

Hmm, small picture but Ididn't want to start all over. The kitchen. I love it. Can you believe I thought I would hate it? I almost sold the whole house over this room. Next to the fridge is another wall of cabinets. The door to the left is the mud room which should be about 3 feet farther to the left.........but whose measuring?

Feminine Wiles

Tenderheart Maddy................she is as tender as Jack but not as sad. She cries just like a pregnant woman. Can she already be hormonal at this age? In the last few days she has cried over the fact that Gordon B. Hinkley is still dead, an Alison Kraus song, Jason didn't get Riley and Jack to school on time, and she felt angry vibes coming from me. Oh, she also cried when she watched my wedding video.
She also uses her feminine wiles to get Coppa to take her side. Madison is a sprite with the face of an angel and it gets my dad every time. She told him that she and I call Jason 'freakin' butt farm' when he is not around. So I am feeling totally shamed that anyone would think I call my beloved horrible names and so I say.........Madison tell Coppa if I really call Daddy that..........Well no, I just wanted a reason to say freakin' butt farm. She also told my mom that it was cold as hell outside, but we shouldn't say hell because it is a bad word.............she was then able to say hell twice with good excuse and look cute doing it.
She also informed me that she 'just really wants to get married!' She wants to move to Salt Lake or the middle of Provo and have a huge house with an upstairs that has lots of carpet. She wants 8 kids, all girls if possible (I find that to be a supreme wish, girls are still part of your family after they get married..........boys just wander off). Wait, wait, she just added one boy to be born right in the middle. Madison plans to be a nice mom.......not like me. She will never holler at them or freak out on them. Good gravy I am put to shame.
She has also already planned her wedding at the Manti temple. She will wear a white dress.........just like Becky's with a white sash because white is the best color and her dad will pay for the dress. She will have gluten free cake because there can be not gluten anywhere, there will also be vanilla ice cream and watermelon sorbet. Oh, this is righteous..........she also wants Chinese food because Chinese cook gluten free. She would also like a getting married movie so after a long time she can watch it. Son, who ever you are out there..........I hope you are preparing yourself this day for what lies ahead in your life with Madison. To afford the 9 kids (that equals eight weddings and the possibility of 24 proms) and gluten free food you will need to have an income the likes of Dr. Rey the plastic surgeon. She's sweet as sugar though and I guess she plans to be really nice so you'll get that in return.

Journey Through the Wilderness Comes to an End in the Promise Land

I know..........you are surprised to see that we have already put in grass and shrubs! But as we all know you should 'bloom where you are planted'. So we have tried.
Just kidding..........we don't have grass yet and I hate to admit but we actually do have an old tire in the front of our yard. At least it isn't on the roof.
All of our belongings are in our new house although we have days of unpacking ahead. I feel fairly accomplished though as I have 4 gallons of milk, dry cereal, I have slept in my bed which is completely made and I can find my underwear. To be honest that is about how I was living before.........except sometimes my bed wasn't made.
I am truly excited and grateful and I feel like I can finally breath again. Here's a shout out to everyone that helped! Thanks for all of the projects, helping us move, watching kids, bringing sustenance. I am in love with my kitchen and bathroom and I would marry them but it is illegal in many ways. I also can't get enough of my laudry room! It is a wicked awesom shade of teal. Ri wanted it for her bedroom but we did an 'experiment' in the laundry room. Our theory that the shade we chose was only for laundry rooms turned out to be scientifically proven. It is crisp and clean but not what I had imagined for the girls. It goes great with white appliances. Now lest I am caught doddering about and not unpacking.........I have to make myself useful.

Thanksgiving

The other night driving home by myself from Provo I turned off the radio (even though it was so hard to part with Dave Ramsey and his wicked hot money sense) and really pondered/prayed about what I am thankful for. I know this may come as a surprise to those of you who know me......that I am thankful for anything. I'm sure it shocks my immediate family. They think I am a thankless cantankerous old cow. Anyway, I came up with enough things to fill the hour and 10 minute drive.......except for the part that was filled up with a 911 call.......although I am thankful for 911.....so I guess I was still thankful during that part too. So just as proof that I do have a heart, here is my list.......abridged list..........be thankful you don't have to read for an hour and 10 minutes.

*Family .........great parents that still take care of me. A sweet and tireless husband that will do anything to make me happy even though he thinks he never can. Screeching, malicious, delightful loves of my life......Ri, Jack, Mads, Max. Brothers, sisters extended family and in-laws that love us like their own.
*Mulitple homes in which to shelter my sorry carcass.
*A free country. With people brave enough to defend us even when we don't appreciate it. I'm going to add police and firemen here along with the soldiers.
*God and His Son and a relgion that teaches me how to work toward being the kind of person I want to be.
*Modern convenience...........washing machines, dryers, DISH WASHERS!!!!, heat, electricity. I remember watching my grandma wash her clothes in huge wash basins, rinse them in other ones and then run them through a wringer and haul them outside in all of their sopping wet weight, to hang on the lines outside. I'm sure she was grateful for the wringer and washing indoors............but I am so glad I don't have to spend my days that way.
*Books.........what else do I have to say?
*Friends
*Epidurals....I guess this could fall under modern convenience.........or maybe medical science, either way epidurals are where it's at. Maybe I'll buy stock just to be supportive..........
*Gluten Free food, despite the wreckless and extreme pricing I am glad there are companies out there making these things. If it were up to me and my stash of xanthan gum Madison would be eating grilled chicken and broccoli for the rest of her life.
*Health, mine and my family's.
*Chinese food.......thank you Chinese Nation for making the world a happier place one buffet at a time.
*Down............geese are terrifying creatures when animated but pluck them and stuff that sweet feathery goodness into a nice tight knit cotton/poly blend and I think Heaven is at hand.
*Nap time, yes, I must adjorn for now because Max says it is time for a kiss and a cuddle and freedom from coherence. A kiss and a cuddle is what makes life worth living.

To Go Private.......Or Not To Go Private.....This Is My Question?

I have pondered of late..........should I go private? I have enjoyed being found by people I haven't heard from in years............and I do LOVE to blog stalk. (Be assured I am harmless. I just like to see what is going on in other parts of the world.) But I am getting a little skittish lately. There are some things weighing on my mind, that I won't share here, but I was wondering the reasons those of you that have gone private decided to do so and the reason that some of you are staying public (ish).
Mostly this blog is my family journal and scrapbook so I guess going private isn't a bad idea because I don 't want to cut out all of my pictures and stop using my kids' names.
Let me know what you think. When I decide what to do I'll get all of your e-mails so you will be allowed into our little haven.

The Ferrible Fours

Is it just me or is the 4th year the worst? Everyone of my sweet doe eyed love monkeys has turned into a flaming beast at the age of four. I never thought Mads would follow in their unholy footsteps, but it seems she will. The age of four has been worse than any other year for us. There was never the Terrible Two's or Three's, but four makes me want to bury my head in the sand. For the protection of those that have already passed through these years I will not divulge the atrocities committed.................or at least attach a name...........one of them tried to knife me, one of them beat holes in my doors, one of them bit holes in their blinds, there have been spasms akin to epileptic seizures, Christmas decorations used as weapons of mass destruction..............the list goes on...............and makes me tired.
So far Mads has only thrown some nasty fits and flung her shoes at my head while I was driving. I sense it could get worse. She is also becoming fearful of more things, I am sure thanks to her successors. Last night she kept telling me she was afraid of "The Colt". I couldn't figure out what the heck she meant. Considering she has never had a speech impediment I knew I wasn't misunderstanding the word. I was like.........uh, you mean your are afraid of a baby horse? NO NO, the guy that turns green, she screams. Ah, enlightenment, the Incredible Hulk. In her amped up state she combined the two words...........sort of. The Incredible Hulk rocks so enormously (He was my favorite super hero when I was little. I had my very own Hulk that I carried around like my baby and I watched him everyday on T.V. with my grandma.) that I tried desperately to get her to understand that the Hulk is sweet and kind and only mean to nasty, evildoers. She still has the unnatural fear of Pickle People, she has now added other mysterious beings. I've tried every kind and decent act of assuring her that she is safe only to be rewarded with having one of the nasty little imps I raised repay me by taking her into a dark room and whispering furtively in her well shaped ears.
This morning my beautiful doll like baby attempted to slam me in the back door because I wouldn't make her a sippy cup of chocolate milk.
I think it must be that as they come to this age (the saddest age...............when they are escaping babyhood and running headlong into childhood.........when your baby is gone and you are left with the shell of something you used to love......and that loved you too) that they struggle between wanting to be big but still being too little and then wanting to be a baby when they are far too big.
Who am I kidding, four rots and then it gets worse. I wish they were all two, except for Max.......he can be two months.

The Year of a Million Dreams....................

Like Madison said, "Dreams really do come true." Yeah, lots of times they do, except for the one I had of Good still overcoming Evil in the last election. We were able to bury our heads in the sand for the whole day, until our return to the hotel room. Like true patriots we had taken the liberty of voting in the early poles. It seems that the U.S. population has changed like a gradual current and finally embraced socialism. Luckily we had our last hurrah..................I hope we can ever afford to do it again.
So with out further ado...............................
Breathless from our triumphant return from Dinsneyland.................the pictures you've all been waiting for. Max on his favorite ride of all time, because it had horses. He wouldn't let anyone touch him while he rode the horse and he shrieked and clawed when it was time to dismount.

Madison's birthday present, lunch with the princesses. She told Cinderella that she was Cinderella too. Cinderella was very gracious and said, "Oh, you go by that too?"

Mickey Mouse in his mouse house.

Mickey's fire engine.

Pooh Bear and his honey pots. Max loved Pooh. It was only one of the characters he liked close up. I'm not sure why it was Pooh that he liked............he doesn't watch TV so he doesn't know any of them. Also, we had to use a stand in for Jack, he doesn't like photo opportunities. We had to use Nate instead. Thanks Nate!

Final statistics:

Awesome days spent away from hum drum life....7

Thrills......................................................................... countless

Woobies lost to the sprall of Disneyland................2

Sunglasses lost to the pirates..................................1
Days of lukewarm showers.....................................6

Dead bodies................................................................1

Wrong turn.................................................................1
Vomit...........................................................................2

Can't wait to do it again!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Riles is the bloody pirate, Jack is Dr. Zombie, Max is a stunt driver, Mads is Mulan, and I am Mulan's mom. My lips make me look about 84 years old, all pinched and little, but it is my poor attempt at geisha makeup.

Pickle People

Pickle People..............I hate to tell you I don't know what they are. Madison does. Mads has never been afraid of anything in her life that I can even think of ***** until now. She came to me yesterday and she was shaking in fear. She said she was afraid of pickle people. She refused to go into her room alone and made me turn lights on even though the house was lit by sunshine. I hoped she would forget about the pickle people, but she didn't. I had a hard time not laughing even though she was clearly terrified. (I had such a hard time, that I actually did laugh uncontrollably. What a horrible mother.)
Bedtime came around and I for one had let the Pickle People slip my mind. She went to bed like she was supposed to but soon tore out of her room crying so hard it was unintelligible. Then I remembered.......The Pickle People. Daddy took her back to bed, along with his taser. He shot the taser all over the bedroom, under the bed, in the closet, even in her dresser drawers (apparently the Pickle People are about the size of squash and are easily concealed). All was going well, until Riley growled from her bed.........trying to be funny (evil little beast) and scared the willickers out of Mads. I guess tasers are nothing compared to the power of pickle. Needless to say I had a bed mate.

Madison tells me that she learned of Pickle People from a book........so much for the power of literacy. They sleep in the basement and when they wake up they say 'Boo' to scare you. I guess that could be scarey. She just saw the picture with this blog entry and confirmed that it does fit the profile of a Pickle Person. She said I should save it to show her dad so he knows what he is trying to taser next time.

Spooky Home Evening.......

Every year around Halloween we have a family Halloween dinner. We didn't get quite as wild this year, since most of our things are in storage. I started popping some pictures so I could blog about the fun event. Mostly I blog because it is like journaling to me. I don't really like journaling because I think I sound stupid......and Jason agrees.........sadly for me. So this is my journal. Anyhoo, we wanted to remember our fun tradition since we all (excluding Jason and Jack) love Halloween so much. The pictures are terrible. Jason actually told me if I continue on this way I should really take a photography class. He's right. He also said that he didn't think I even cared about Halloween dinner, I just wanted something to blog about. How rude. Pathetic picture of our Mummy hotdogs. So delicious and plump for a mummy. The hotdogs lead to a great discussion on Egyptology and mummification. So there, we learned something.

Devil's eyes. Oh..........oh, the terror.

Maggots and flies. I had to try some way to get a wee bit of nourishment into the kids. Maggots are known for their protein.

Another terrible picture.................lopped off lady fingers. Mmmmmm don't mind if I do.....

This little gem was a fiasco. It is bloody hand punch. The first bloody hand fell from it's perch in the freezer and splattered blood and gore all over the kitchen and our legs. We had to go cut off the other hand and freeze it until we were ready.

Dessert. Frankenstein heads sans gluten......because gluten is 'dead to us'. I'm trying to get Mads to tell everyone that gluten is 'out of the circle of trust'. So far she just tells everyone she meets....'I can't have wheat!! Does that have wheat in it? Do they know I can't have wheat or my stomach will explode?" So Franky is all rice, because rice 'is nice'.

Daddy's Gone a Hunting...............

While the boys were out at the rifle hunt, the girls had another spa day. Here is our spa it's name is Eden. Our catch phrase is 'Styles for Adam, Eve and their little devils'. Yes , we do all kinds of hair and makeup.

I'm not sure why, but when the girls do makeup, it is all out grotesque. They don't even try to do pretty. These beautiful styles were made with a free compact that has about 12 different eye shadow colors in it. I wouldn't let them use my real makeup because they tend to dig at it with the little wand, creating huge holes.

Max was ashamed and somewhat bewildered at why we would do this and think it was fun. He would rather cuddle, have milk and maybe race some cars, or have a horsey ride.

My stunning evening look. My hair was masterfully put into ponytails, then artfully braided and clipped with every clippie that we own. It was utterly relaxing...........honestly. I love to have the kids play with my hair. I hate to say it, but Jack is the best at combing my hair because he is more careful than the girls. Too bad he was out hunting.

Big Buck Down on Utah Ground

BIG BUCK DOWN ON UTAH GROUND!!! I hear that is some awesome saying, if you are into hunting. At least that is what my two 19 year old hunting partners screamed when I shot this buck. So I am using the saying........therefore I am a cool hunter too.Yes, the wee ones have been indoctrinated by me. They saw the whole slaughter. Max screamed Mommy as I had to leave his side so as not to render him deaf from the 308 shot. He was pretty stoked when he saw the deer and mooed for the next 10 minutes. I don't think he could ever figure out why it didn't moo back.
I feel slight amounts of shame, as the deer is a beautiful specimen. He was useless against my sniper like ability and dropped like a brick. My guide has this on video, but he so far has been too busy hunting himself to forward the action packed sequence.
It was a gorgeous day on some private ground that I (Jason I'm sure was hoping he would be the one to draw for this, not me!) drew out for. The leaves had fallen from most of the oak brush, so everything looked gray. The deer where hard to spot unless they were moving. They would appear and disappear quickly. The above picture is my favorite because Mads is counting the points. For those who care or know what this means, the buck is almost a 30. Unfortunately I didn't use the muzzle loader, which is usually what I hunt with, or he may have made the books.
Jason's Christmas gift will be this little sweetie mounted. Shh don't tell him!! I just haven't decided where I will allow this deer to be hung. Jason wants him in the place of honor, over the stairs, but I have other ideas for that area. Maybe the garage or the basement storage room. Better yet I might build him his very own mausoleum in the backyard where he can be the guard deer for the lawn mower and weed eater. That is a heavy responsibility I would only give to the very best.

Areta S. Blake

I just wanted to quickly say something about Jason's Grandma. I never know how to say someone died because all of the 'sayings' are horrible.......she passed on (ugly), she passed (ugly), sleeping with the angels (no, she's awake, I'm pretty sure), blah blah blah, so this is an ugly way of saying it too, but she died last week. Areta and Max are awesome people. They always remind me of President Hinkley and Marjorie. The are the darn cutest little couple ever. I'm not really pumped that she's dead but I know she missed Max so much and I am sure he was missing her. Well, I'm glad they are with each other now. They are great examples to our family and we love to read their histories. Yes, they were dutiful journal keepers. I am shamed.
Just two sweet little people populated exponentially!!! They have six children and as of now over 120 great grandchildren. I hope that Jason and I can keep them at the fore front of our thoughts so that we may pattern our family after them. We want to be just like them when we grow up.

6 Unsepctacular Quirks

Tagged by Ruth to tell 6 unspectacular quirks about myself. I'm sure that I have some .........I'll have to ask Jason.

Unspectacular quirk # 1...........
When I read, or drive or watch TV, my hands must do something!! (Ruth I know this sounds like I am copying.) I pick the mascara out of my eyelashes. That one is a favorite. I will scratch my head (now I sound like a chimp) or I will feel any available skin for imperfections and then pick at them. This is so far from unspectacular that is is actually yucky. I have to do something, like have some kind of repeating body movement at almost all times. I can't just sit still.

Unspectacular quirk # 2 ...............
I must sleep with a fan on. I don't care if it is winter or summer. I must, must, must have fresh air. The lack of air moving can cause me to lose sleep.

Unspectacular quirk # 3.............
I must sleep with covers on! I only like to feel the fan air on my face, not the rest of my body. I have to sleep with some kind of weight on my body, like a sheet does not count as covers to me. I need more like a down comforter, no matter the weather or temperature. If I don't have some kind of weight on my body I feel vulnerable. I am convinced that it leaves me open to attack, massacre, murder and mayhem, and the monster under my bed.

Unspectacular quirk # 4...............
One way I deal with stress and anxiety is to read. You can tell how stressed I am feeling many times, by the amount of novels I can cut through in a week. I love to read and I do read everyday....but when I am stressed and anxious, I read more. It is my way of tuning out whatever is bothering me. It doesn't matter what the house looks like or what pressing matter is at hand, I will read right through it. It is my form of denial I think. If you notice my other blog, you'll be able to guess that I am anxious beyond belief about multiple things right now. So I have been shooting through about a book a day.

Unspectacular quirk # 5 .................
I will not allow my OB to touch me the closer I come to labor. Period, the end. I will actually stop going to the doctor at about 34 weeks. I just tell him that we both know the baby will come out, there is no need to touch me to verify it. I'll just show up at the hospital when I am ready.

Unspectacular quirk # 6.............
I must sing all day. Am I capable of singing? No, I am not. I could not carry a tune in a well made Kate Spade hand bag. Never the less, I must sing. I actually wake up with a song in my head and I am compelled to sing it. Most of the time I make up whole songs to music I know, but I change all of the words. Here's a little ditty to "I love to see the temple".......... I love to smooch my Maxy, I'll smooch him every day. I'll smooch his arms and legs and kiss him every way.
I know, I should probably go on American Idol. But my talent remains only a blessing unto my family........

Here's the crapper.............I'm supposed to tag people. I will do it because another quirk I have is I must follow rules although it goes against another quirk I have which involves hating to pressure other people via phone, email or post....Joey, Dev, Heather W., Heather O., Amanda, Shawna, and Caren. I am so sorry that I just tagged you. I hope you are not annoyed and now hate me.

Closing Date Approaches.....and Will Pass

Doesn't that title up above just remind you of something the local newspaper would use? And then the only thing on the page would be say a barbed wire fence. Neither one having to do with the other?

Swell pic of the railing, which I love. It is one of the things that actually turned out the way it was planned. Jason and my dad stained and sealed the wood and our builder had it up in no time!

Our closing date of Oct. 1st speedily approaches. It will also pass unmarked by our move. The house is progressing quickly, but not quick enough to meet said deadline. The bank gave us a 90 day extension gratis. Thank you bank.........considering our rocky beginning and the fact that you are a puke bucket of a bank sometimes.
The front of the house.................still needs rain drains, lights, garage doors, front door stained and railing.

Here is a shot from the hallway towards the great room. Jason, my dad, and our neighbor-in-law Mike worked their bootays off for days tiling more than 1,000 square feet.

Kitchen sans cabinetry, another reason to delay closing. The cabinets were scheduled to go in yesterday. As you can see............they have not appeared.

Goody, goody, gumdrop update!! Our basement windows are in. No more flooding basement! Okay at least the flooding will be contained to near the back door and laundry room.

Right now we are (Again when I say we, I mean Jason. I lend emotional support by staying away.) painting the hall bathroom, staining the interior doors and sealing them and repainting some of the closet doors that were supposed to remain white, but put their lives at perilous risk by throwing themselves infront of the gaping closets and hinging themselves to the door frames, only to save the unsuspecting closets from a good coat of paint. Their reward for death defying action is ANOTHER coat of paint. Sometime this week, probably as Pres. Monson admonishes us to raise the bar.......... Jason will be grouting the whole house.

Despite the 90 day extension, Jason predicts that we will be in the house by the 3rd week of October. For those of you familiar with his optimistic time estimations you can just double that...which I believe would put us closer to my estimation of mid/late November.

96 As a 1930s wife, I am Very Superior Take the test!

Wow, slight discrepancy here!!! Although I am very superior he is even more very superior!!

146 As a 1930s husband, I am Very Superior Take the test!

Two Things I Hate

While there are, in fact, many things I hate........enough to probably fill a blog............two of the things I hate happened today.
Mads, Max and I were doing our tri-weekly shopping in the Mother of all stores.......Walmart. Just wait, that's not the part I hate, well at least not the part I am blogging about. Mads, Jack and I have had a nasty head cold. Along with nasty head colds you often get post nasal drip, known to the lay man as snot running down the back of your throat all day. This tasteful little occurrence almost always gives me coughing fits.
We were meandering through the marketing genius called Walmart. There were end caps with eye catching things I would never buy but because of their marketing genius, now desperately need......yes even though I know I am being psychologically tricked. Also we saw many roll back prices. Even if the price only rolled back 2 cents, you guessed it, I really need it now. So there we were with our Churro's ( 78 friggin cents who can beat it?) and finger nail stickers and Strawberry Eggo's (clearanced thanks!) when suddenly I feel the coughing fit coming on. The approach is iffy. It may be a coughing fit, I may just have to cough. The thought of a coughing fit as you may well know causes enough anxiety to actually induce one. I begin a hasty retreat to the rear of the store where the public restrooms are located (thing I hate #2). I am already coughing but trying to hold it to a small cough, cough. Then I begin to tear up from the unbearable tickle in my throat. I look up and see an esteemed Wally World employee staring with concern. I now start running with the cart like I am about to jump mount a bobsled. I can hear Mads pretty gold sandals clacking after me.........Mommy wait!!
At the back of the store there are the regular restrooms and the 'family' restroom (for your pleasure). I head for the fam knowing I can shove the cart in there and hack my little heart out. Frick! It's occupied. I park Max at the door of the ladies room and tell Mads to stand there and guard him. I get in the ladies room door and finally succumb to the intense itch!! I start the kind of coughing fit where you weep, snot runs uncontrolled, you nearly become incontinent, and you basically vomit from coughing. I am frantic trying to decide do I go out and rescue the kids from certain kidnapping and torture at the hands of deranged Wally World shoppers or do I hide and pee myself in private. I dash recklessly between the door and the sinks trying to ralph at least in a container of some sort and looking out the door to guard my puppies. I am blowing my nose furiously and finally emerge long enough to get a drink from the well placed drinking fountain. Pretty soon here comes the Walmart chick-a-dee that saw me rush by. She pats me lovingly and asks if I am okay. I huskily reply................yeah, just a little throat tickle! It took about 10 minutes but I finally recovered. Mads was like..........why do you have blood in your eyes? Uh because I nearly lost them due to intra cranial pressure.
There you go two things I hate wrapped up with a bow and given as one big gift. I HATE cough attacks and I HATE public restrooms........aka the breeding ground for STDs, strange pubic hair, and other peoples pee on the toilet and on the floor. UGH!!
I hate the cough attack so much that I actually pray not to have one whilst at the temple. Yes people that is how I spend deeply spiritual time...pondering my own embarrassment.

'Short' and Silly

Here's a funny from Mid since I am too lazy (read, I REALLY should be doing laundry and dishes) to download pics of the house.
A few weeks ago the kids and I had a FHE on geneology and temple work. I likened eternal families to a chain with links that were together or broken. You have to understand that part so you know where her comment is coming from.
We were driving home from Helper and Mads says...........How many grandpa's and grandma's do we have?
Me..........name them all and count at the same time
Mads.................(names the whole bus load of viable relatives) then says.....Man we really need to put our chain back together.
Ya Mammy, we do.

Walkin and Rollin

I have done all possible to discourage Max from growing up. This includes beginning to walk. He has been most helpful by insisting that I never put him down. Lately though, he has taken to spending some of his free time (he has a lot) on the ground. This lead to climbing. He climbs to the top of the bunk beds, on top of the highchair, he can scale the table and throw bananas off, he can climb and descend stairs and climb the couch and drop off the back. Sad events have unfolded because of this new technique. He has learned to walk. This is Max after climbing onto the couch. He is happy!!

Like any child asked to do something that didn't originate from their own mind first...........this is Max shrieking because I asked him to stand up so I could take a picture.

This is Max truly heart broken over the fact that Madison and I made him stand up for a picture. Walking was out of the question. He just now walked to me and climbed on my back and made horse riding sounds while I post this. He will not however do that for a camera.

Extreme Handsomeness Part 2.........or The Fight For Genetic Dominance

Well my wee Jack finally succumbed to his faulty DNA and has glasses. Luckily for him, what was once extremely handsome is now freakishly extremely handsome. He is so friggin' adorable!! This is the first time though, that I feel guilt over my genetic culpability. I feel so bad that his poor eyesight came from me. I should feel guilty that their personalities came from me too, but I don't. Shy geniuses with a wicked sense of humor are a commodity. Just kidding......their dad is a genius too and his kind is even better because he is the stick it out kind of genius and I am the kind that gives up if I wasn't already born knowing everything.

Alas, as I have been looking at my wee bonny bairns.........they are a pile of fighting DNA. They have sweet mutt hair coloring, neither definitively mine or Jason's. Jason was a toe head when he was little and my hair has always been very dark. The nuggets vary between dark blonde (although she refuses to acknowledge her hair as ANY kind of blonde) to dead Jack rabbit fur, light brown, and rusty blonde. The windows to their souls are a marriage of brown and gold, rust and olive green. Many mistake their eyes for brown but they are an ever changing shade of hazel.

I just love trying to figure out what parts of them are more like Jason or I. That is one of the reasons I love to have kids. Everytime one of them is born it is like the best Christmas surprise ever. You kind of know what you are asking for and then you look under the tree, and by Jove you got the supreme model!!

Riley is very caring and helpful. She loves physical activity. She is quiet but not backward. She is able to make friends and be a good friend although she does enjoy the straightforwardness of boys more than the fickle, catty friendship of girls. She is smart and a good reader with the penmanship of a chicken. She has tender feelings and a quick temper. Her face looks more like a Peczuh but her eye shape is that of a Blake. Her hair texture is mine and her color is her father's. Her lovely skin tone is my European/Slavic coloring. She turns brown as a native in the summer. And her sweet feet are the feet of a corpse, just like Daddy.

Jack is sweet, quiet, likes to watch but not be watched. He is a very fast learner and seems to grasp things very quickly. He loves to build and create and spend time outdoors. He enjoys nature and solitude. He is a very caring, tender friend. He has a mild temper until he reaches his limits and then he is a volcano. His temper is easily tamed with hugs and kisses and time alone with Mom or Dad. He likes to be like his dad. He is an awesome brother. His body moves like his father. Many of his stances and motions are like Jason. His face on the other hand doesn't look like him..........but his Marshall hair pattern does........cowlicks galore!! He has some of the loveliest handwriting I have ever seen for a boy. He also has wonderful golden skin tones and becomes very dark in the summer. Jack does things on his own timeline and it is best to never have to push.

Madison is a FIRECRACKER!! She has darker hair and a beguiling face that is the most unlike her siblings (Houskeeper). She has eyelashes like tarantulas and teeth like fine china. She is the only person in our family blessed with a tookas........like she carries a peach around on her backside. Clearly a genetic feat of generations past. Madison is a social butterfly.......clearly not of my making. She loves engaging with people, known or unknown to her and makes friends the easiest of anyone I have ever met. She is sharp as a whip but doesn't seem to enjoy learning that is a task. She loves to do hair ( and is just now making me into Deb from Napoleon Dinamite). She loves attention and affection. She also has very dark skin tones and turns black in the summer. She is truly a little girl and loves pretty things, princesses, dresses and pretty hair. She spoke early and has a wonderful grasp of language, which she never stops! She always has one last thing to say at bed time.

Max is the blondest as of now. He has the crinkle ear but on the opposite side of mine. His hair line is more like a Blake I think. His smiles remind me of Jason's pictures when he was a baby. But facially he looks like Riley (Peczuh) and a little bit of Mads (Houskeeper). His skin is the lightest so far. His bum is nearly MIA. He is an extreme daredevil and likes to wrestle with Jack and speed about in dolly strollers pushed by his sisters or brother. He loves, loves, loves to climb beyond reason and is not detered by falling. He loves attention from his brother and sisters, parents and grandparents. He seems easily loving and trusting but a little tentative. Whoo and the boy can shake it!!!!! He also loves outside and swinging or going for walks.

Not a one of them can sing, which is unfortunately two dominant genes put together. Neither Jason or I could carry a tune if we drug a kiddie pool between us.

Aahh but I digress................Jack is extremely handsome with glasses don't you think?

Extreme Handsomeness

DISCLAIMER: Extreme Handsomeness like any other extreme thing is extreme. Be prepared to sheild your eyes if necessary.



Well it was time to break out the scissors and make Max a man/child instead of a baby. I know the pictures are shoddy but you can tell his hair was getting rather long. Something akin to the original Willy Wonka / Gene Wilder character. It made Max seem untrustworthy, like he was either going to break your heart or give you a chocolate factory. You could never quite tell which.

The handsome devil right before the first scis. He did not stop moving the WHOLE time. He sat in a little Hummer while my great, awesome, well trained friend Nancy cut his hair and thankfully not her own hand. I asked her if she learned how to cut kids hair by practicing on a bouncing ball.

Transformed by a mere haircut into one of the Cullens. Such shiny marble skin. Okay, bad flash really. Max loved the Hummer he was sitting in so much this was about the only picture out of 12 where he stopped moving long enough to be a solid object. He is so tasty it breaks my heart. Max what the heck were you thinking, looking like a little boy instead of my itty bitty?

Awkward Ever Awkward

This is an old picture of Mads. It makes me miss her as a baby. This is not, however what I am blogging about. Since yesterday after church she has been singing 'Called to Serve'. Swell song....it gets better though. When she reaches the chorus......'onward ever onward' she has been singing at the top of her lungs AWKWARD EVER AWKWARD!!!! AWKWARD EVER AWKWARD!!!! Riley and Jack want to tell her she is saying the wrong words, but I won't let them. It's way to funny and cute to pass up.