Puppy Pictures

I said I would post some updated pictures of the puppies - they are so much bigger in just one week!! Look at the little tails! They just push and push to get some milk.


Here is one of the girls - We haven't named them all because we cannot tell them apart. I tried to tie ribbon around the neck but only this puppy kept hers on. We named one Handsome Rob (from the Italian Job) because he is dark and the only one who is different.

Puppy piles (not that kind)! My friend and fellow wrestling watcher Sharon always describes the wrestlers as puppies because of the way they pile on each other, so when I see this I think "Look, just like wrestlers." Handsome Rob is the one in the back with the dark stripe down his back.

Isn't this a precious face?

Brenn went to another Prom with a boy we knew really well when she was a toddler. I have to say Tres looks remarkably the same just waaayyy taller.

It seems like a great time to wear another of our great dress finds!

That is my mom in the back ground - Tres was really patient with 3 Grandmas and various Aunts, Grandpas, and Parents taking pictures.

It's a good thing they were a little late picking up Brenn because I had a full day of working concessions at a wrestling tourney (what new about that?) and trying to put some sleeves on the dress - I only finished about 2 minutes before he came to the door!

I wanted to show off my daughters creativity. She designed her graduation announcements and we put them together.

Front - notice the star shaped paper clip that keeps it closed.



She is such an amazing girl (woman in 2 weeks she will be in Relief Society).

On Friday we are going to try a new biofeedback treatment for her migraines so keep her in your prayers!

"The Flirty Pole" - Are you kidding Me!!!!

I happened to see an ad on TV this morning that left me slack jawed - for an exercise video. Practice your sexy moves like you see in your favorite video...or like an EXOTIC dancer!! Are you kidding? You can even buy your own "Flirty Pole" (aka stripper pole) for your house for $19.99. Practice your chair (or lap) dance all in your own home and all while getting your body in the best shape of its life.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE!!?

All in the thinly veiled guise of getting in shape and losing weight (lets prey on our insecurities, especially teen girls).

APPALLING

Honestly, I really thought I could not be shocked by TV commercials after the extenxse ads, but here I am at breakfast with my boys (yes, we watch VH1 during breakfast) and here is this commercial. I can't decide if I am outraged or just really sad that the world has come to this.

I told my boys if they know any girls with a Flirty pole - they are grounded!!

The whole story...

So Sunday night (or Monday morning) about midnight Zara would not settle down, usually she gets a dog bone about 10:30 or so and will pace and whine at Ken until he completes this ritual and then comes in to our bedroom and sleeps under the bench at the foot of our bed. So she is whining and panting and pacing like crazy - coming to my side of the bed and bumping me with her nose - this is not normal so I try to comfort her (she is due on Wednesday) and try to go back to sleep.

Did I mention ALL of my babies pretty much slept through the night? I am not good in the wee hours.

About 12:30 am I finally gave up and got out of bed figuring she must be starting labor - we get into the pool and I try to be supportive - really, I have only been on the prego side, not the supportive side, its harder than you think - she continues to pant and whine and pace.

After a couple of hours Fritz and I are laying in the living room trying to sleep and Zara is still pacing - then like magic she goes into my bedroom and under her bench and goes to sleep. Fritz said she was just faking us out and if we went to bed she would just start up again , but I wanted my bed. It's now 2:30am and I am really tired.

Monday morning she is back to panting and pacing - I kept a really good eye on her all day but she did not seem to be progressing - I googled it you know.

Finally at about 4pm I was starting to get a little worried, I did not want her to be wore out before the really important stuff, so I called the Vet. He said to bring her in and so Ken came home and we went to find out he really couldn't tell us if it was false labor or what. But he gave us some good pointers and I felt better for having taken her.

About 9:30 pm Brenn and I are working on her Grad announcements and in comes Zara to lay at my (really, on my) feet. I look down and see some blood - We are on...she is in labor and so we mobilize to the pool and try to get her to follow. She keeps going into Grandma's room and we keep calling her. At this point Grandma (thank goodness she has really good hearing) says something is making noise in her room - sure enough Zara dropped the first puppy behind Grandma's bed! She did clean it up and he squealed like crazy! So we grabbed the puppy and put it in the pool to nurse and spread out to see if she left any some where else then watched ....and watched...and waited....

Finally about 2 hours after the first one she delivered the next one and from there it ranged from about an hour to an hour and a half between puppies. Thank Heaven there were only 6 - as it was I was up until 4 am. Then I made Ken take over watching and then he had to irrigate at 5am anyway.

Its hard to know when they are done - but she did such a good job and my kids got to see what it was like, the boys were a little grossed out when she chewed off the cord and ate everything but hey that is nature (I am glad that was not required for humans!)

Zara is being a really good mom...I am not getting much sleep though, she really wants to sleep in our room but the pull of the puppies is pretty strong. Last night was the best so far, she spent most of the night in our room but got up to nurse the puppies when they got loud (are they ever loud) except for about 3 am, I had to get up and help her. She is really tired, she looks really tired. So do I!

The puppies have grown so much in just a few days. We have only named one "Handsome Rob" and yes we were watching the Italian Job. He is the only one who is dark, there are 2 blonde ones and 3 who look identical so Handsome Rob is the only one we can figure out for now.

I will post some pictures tomorrow.

PUPPIES!!! 4am!!

6 puppies, 4 boys, 2 girls - finished at 4am - more after I sleep!

Prom 2009

So Prom starts at our house (for Dallin and his group).

Dallin and Diane

The boys in that group came over and covered our back patio in white lights and Dallin wanted to try to get all 16 at one big table so they would not have to be split up.

Here is the table:

It turned out really pretty, we used lots of candles and beautiful roses from my neighbors yard. I used my grandmothers red glass plates on top of the silver chargers, they were really pretty. My grandmother wanted these red dishes and made sure all of her daughters knew this and one year for her birthday (Dec 9th) and Christmas she got a lot of red dishes. Luckily I inherited them and really wanted to use them but they have been used for about 25 or 30 years and had a lot of hard water build up on them. Needless to say I am sore, I spent about 10 hours scrubbing, soaking, and yes cursing trying to bring them back to a beautiful shine. They looked so nice that it was worth it!

They dined on steak, courtesy of Chef Ken, baked potato, green salad, fruit salad and rolls.

All in all a pretty easy dinner for me, 2 of the other mothers helped me serve and clean up. It was a lovely night. They danced and had a great time and then back to our house for fantastic cupcakes made by Chandlers mom, you can check them out here, and ice cream.

A lot of laughing and talking and then everyone went home for curfew.

Brenn's date Jake (yes, boy with the mice) came to get her in this:

Don't they look great?!! Tanner's family hosted a great dinner, she said it was so yummy. They danced and then went to race mini formula cars (too late for that) and watched a movie and played with puppies at Jake's (not her date the other one) house. She said she had a really great time.

One of her Laurel leaders did her hair, it was so beautiful. I wish I had taken a picture of the back.

The night before several of Brenn's friends came over so Grandma could make the boutonnieres (sp). Even tho she has forgotten a few things, flowers are like walking to her and she just whipped out about 7 of them in no time!

See how its done.

I am glad they both had fun and I love to see all of the kids dressed up. The girls were lovely and the boys handsome. I was so busy I didn't take too many other pictures but Brad did and when I get them I will post some of the lovely, modest dresses.

Now on to graduation preparations!!

YIKES!!!

Vulture's Prey

Now I haven't been going to Relief Society for to long and I am sorta rusty, yesterday we had a very short announcement period followed by a Sister who brought a beautiful song to our attention and directed a very nice discussion on the lyric and then we sang it - I had never heard of it before (#120) but it had a really nice message.

Then we had a really good lesson.

Now I must preface this with the fact I was sitting my my girlfriend Kathi Porter - who was visiting our ward from Utah so her wonderful son Nic could give a homecoming talk in the ward he left from (they moved to Utah a while ago) - Now Kathi and I worked in YW for a long time and we "get" each other. So here we are eating skittles I got in Sunday School and we start to sing the closing song, I am sure someone was trying to stretch us to learn new hymns and I do get tired of the same ole' songs (I hope whoever chose the song will not be offended) and we sang song #121 "I'm a Pilgrim, I'm a Stranger." After the first couple of lines Kathi and I were starting to crack up...

I'm a pilgrim, I'm a stranger

Cast upon the rocky shore

Not bad

Of a land where deathly danger

Surges with a sullen roar

Here is where we started to giggle - really? deathly danger? Sullen roar? Isn't this church?

2nd verse

Misty vapors rise before me.

Scarcely can I see the way.

I actually calmed down by this point because I thought it was well expressed but...

Clouds of darkest hue hang o'er me,

and I'm apt to go astray

With the many, with the many

That are now the Vulture's prey.

Nobody got through the Vulture part, the whole room was laughing- Kathi and I started up by the clouds of darkest hue - I mean it sounds so Wuthering Heights.

The rest of the song got lost - I am not sure what Hans Henry Petersen was like (he was the author of said piece) but I do wonder!

On to other news - we put an offer on a house in Tempe (AZ). Hopefully it will be a good idea, we thought that maybe since the house prices are down and there are soooo many repo ones that we could buy something closer to ASU for Brenn to live in and share with some PAYING girls. That way it boosts her credit and maybe will be a good investment for us. This house is not in great shape but mostly it needs labor and coincidentally my boys need a summer job! Hope to hear by the end of the month but I am not holding my breath, mortgage companies are really slow!

Have a good Day!!

Little bit of everything

We hosted Easter dinner at our house, shocking I know since I don't really like to cook but the joy of hosting is everyone brings a little something and I just had to put a ham in the oven. Even I can warm up a ham, Costco ham of course.

We hosted about 30 people and enjoyed the heck out of it! So much so that I did not take a single picture. Whoops. But here are some of the flowers - Brenn wanted to do the centerpieces on the tables and so we picked up some flowers (at Costco), but then my neighbor had me come down and pick some roses - she has the most amazing roses! I think I got probably 3 dozen roses in addition to what we bought, it was beautiful.

This is one of her roses - the were huge and so fragrant. On to my Zara - she is getting really big - she keeps trying to lay on her stomach with legs stretched out in front and back, but she can't. Only about 2 more weeks - I tried to get a count down clock for dog pregnancy and could not find one, then I tried to get just a regular one and it would not load so..



Here is the birthing center. Ken actually thinks she is going to give birth her, isn't that cute? I figure it will be under the bench in our bedroom because that is where she sleeps. But hopefully we will be able to keep the puppies in it for a few weeks, then we will move them outside.
Here is THE Prom dress - I will add some sleeves so she can still wear her undergarments. But it looks so great on Brenn and it is so her style!
These are the shoes!

Now I just have to find a Tux for Dallin. And because Jen is down in bed dinner is now at my house! Maybe we can have Costco ham.

On to TV... I will confess to loving Sci-fi. My all time fav movie is The Terminator. No I haven't matured yet. I love the sequels, although I had to wait to see T3 until if finally came on TV. So when Fox put on the Sarah Connor Chronicles I set the Tivo and watch every week! This last week was so GREAT!! I think it was the end of the show all together but what a great ride! My family thinks I am nuts. Ken patiently sat down and watched the last episode with me, I kept having to pause and explain the story up to now, but when it ended, Derek said to John Connor, " I have never heard of you." Well I was floored and loved it. Ken was just confused. I tried to explain but unless you are dedicated you must not get it. I just hope the new movie is not rated R. IF it is, I will be a good girl and wait until it comes to TV, but it will be HARD!

Now that you have lost all respect for me (except Jen because she already knows this) I am going to end my post.

Prom Date- Part II

This is how Brenn's Prom date asked her to Prom -

On my Front Porch

With this note....

and each mouse had a letter on his back so you could unscramble them and figure out the boy.

Needless to say - EEEWWW!! - and probably the fastest way to get a response from a girl (Dallin's date still hasn't answered and its be a week and a half) I made Brenn return the mice with her answer THAT night, we heard his brothers snake was hungry. For that last part of the note (the naked part) he left a bottle of Naked Juice.

In other news, it was brought to my attention by a close and frustrated friend that I do not finish or tell the result of a story, unfortunately (maybe) that is not true - my bathroom looks just the same today as it did in that post - no time to even think (or argue with Ken) about what to do with that tile. Hopefully we will get it done before summer and I promise to post a picture of the after. I also promise to post pictures of the PUPPIES!! We are so excited!

Mostly I have been enjoying the wonderful weather and trying to plant a few roses and flowers in a sad attempt to make my front yard look a little better.

I am planning Easter dinner with our families. I hope everyone has a lovely Easter and remembers our Savior and the example he set for us to follow.

CITY CHAMP

Logan is the Mesa City Champ for 98 lbs - He wrestled really tough!

We are Expecting!!

No April fools on this one!

Yep - Zara is officially Pregnant. We have been waiting and waiting, trying to decide if she is or isn't. But yesterday one of Dallin's Friends Spencer, who breeds Jack Russell Terriers, said,

"Wow, your dog is pregnant!"

That was as good as an EPT test for me. Actually we have noticed she is getting a little fatter and her nipples are getting really big so....

12-14 puppies! I am really excited for my kids to experience this.

On to another thing - Prom.

Last night Spencer was trying to figure out how to ask his date. He invited several friends to help, including Dallin and so that brings Brenn and Logan into it too.

They brainstormed for a while, much to Grandmas delight (she was laying in bed listening and laughing hysterically), here are a few of the suggestions:

Toss a cow tongue on the lawn with a poster saying:

"Go to Prom with me, and you will get a little tongue"

or

Put a cow heart (cut in half) on the porch with a poster saying:

"Don't break my heart, go to Prom with me"

Catch a chicken - write your name on a feather and let it loose in her house - she must catch said chicken and find the feather.

Ken then asked the boys,

"You don't date much do you?"

Along came Brenn and I to the rescue - we took this picture:

And made a poster that said:

"I will be your knight in shinning armour if you go to Prom with me."

Much better don't you think?

Now on to Brenn and Prom - we have a mess - when we sort it out and figure out what to do I will post the whole story, right now we are in trouble.

Wrestling Banquet

Yes, I am crazy. I was in charge (with Marilee) of the end of the year banquet for the High school wrestling team. All was planned and we had a lovely venue (King's backyard). Even coming up with tables and chairs for 130 was not so bad (for free, of course). I sent letters for money and it showed up. I ordered the food from a local BBQ place and the food was set. Marilee and I made some cute coaches gifts (t-shirts and pillowcases), got lots of pictures printed and hung on the wall. One of the Dads did an awesome job on the DVD (of which I made 25 copies, 1 copy about 15 mins, this took forever) we had a screen, player and even a sound system!

The tables were set, the decorations were great, the Coach was 45 minutes late. Well, actually I knew this was going to happen. There was a freestyle tourney that same day and about 8 of the wrestlers (Dallin included) wrestled, they did not start until after 2pm so I knew 6pm was not possible. However I figured we all would eat and socialize and it would be fine (it was).

What went wrong?! After verifying with the catering guy - I went to pick up the order. I (thinking I was smart) took some of my big coolers to put the food in to keep it hot and not spill BBQ in my truck. I get there pay my bill ($784.44) and they point to these huge pans (8 or 9) and say that's my order. The buns are on a rack I cannot have and the pans are about 30 lbs a piece and HOT. Ok - through the whole crowded restaurant, through the double door they have narrowed to one, through the Saturday crowd of snowbirds (retirees who winter in AZ), into the parking lot and down 1 store to my truck, heft the weight on the side of the truck and balance so does not fall, open door, open cooler and try to fit the huge pan in said cooler - no dice, balance weighty pan on side of truck again, haul both coolers in to bed of truck, open door, put first pan into truck, head back through the crowd at door to get next pan, repeat! At no time did any of the staff help, only when I was down to 2 pans and taking up the last available table did two guys who work for Southwest ambulance help!! Yes, I am going to call and complain today. He should at least have warned me to bring some help.

So now I am late - a little frantic and I have to drive CAREFULLY! Not my best. I speed. I know it is bad and yet.....

I arrive at the banquet and get HELP to carry all the food. We get it set up and I am filling a pitcher so I can fill the chaffing dishes - water is slow (did I mention the speed thing?) so I grab the sprayer to see if maybe it is faster, yes way faster, turn off the water, return the sprayer and get the food on, come back to the sink to wash my hands.....full in the chest I get the great sprayer! Water everywhere, what else is there to do but laugh.

I froze the rest of the night. Luckily, I brought a jacket and I was wearing 2 shirts - one light and gauzy so you really couldn't tell my undershirt, and underwear and Bra were very wet. Oh well that was the only bad thing that happened - the rest went really well. Except lots of leftovers! I bring it home to bag up and freeze (concession stand on Saturday) and go to open the 3rd pan of meat leftover and it was the BBQ sauce - we could not figure out why it wasn't included - another thing to complain about - should have told me what was what!!

I am tired! I am taking today, which is Celcee* day (my favorite) and relaxing (with 2 sick kids) and going to Jens to play.



* Celcee is my house cleaner, she comes everyother Monday with her sister Melee and her cousin and they clean from top to bottom, is it any wonder it is my favorite day?

RELEASED!!

No I did not release any captives taken over spring break. I got the release from Young Women's (this is the youth group from church, girls ages 12-18). I have not had another calling in this ward except for YW. Did I mention I have lived in this ward for 6 years? Now I have been shuffled a bit between Beehives (12-13) and Mia Maids (14-15), in and out of the presidency, but this is all I have known. I think I have been to Relief Society maybe 10 times in 6 years and I am not too sure how I feel about that. I am sad to leave the girls, most I have had in class at one time or another, and some have had me almost the whole time they have been in YW, but I was getting tired of some of the old lessons I have given about 12 times in my life (always love the choosing a vocation or Preparing for change).

So on to new stuff - they changed the RS Presidency too........

Nope - my friend I worked with in YW is the new President.

Me - I get to teach Sunday School to the 13 yr olds. Logan is in this class. I am excited. It will still let me love on some of my current YW and yet introduce me to teaching BOYS!! Do you think I still need a tablecloth? Picture of the Savior? I finally made my own YW bag about 2 months ago - to fit a framed picture of the Savior, easel, notebook, Scriptures, and assorted things need for object lessons - now what? I have a skinny manual (I use the online stuff anyway) and only my scriptures now. I guess I will figure it out.

Such peace and quiet at my house today. All kids went to school. Although at the wrap party for spring break I got an award for Best Mom. My house is a mess - the back patio is worse and the half pipe is not done yet. I guess we will see what happens this week.

Still Spring Break!!

Every day so far there has been a passel of kids at our house - it starts about noon and they have made food assignments (yesterday hot dogs, today hamburgers). Notice the foreman grill - yes, this is Spencers Christmas present and they are having a ball.

My backyard and kitchen look like heck!! My great house cleaner was here on Monday and she and her sister came today for a massage. I was embarrassed that the clean did not last! Celcee was done with her massage and then she did my dishes!!! I told her to sit and enjoy but she couldn't. She is such a great help to me. I would go with out cable before I would go without Celcee!!

Our pool is cloudy - too many bodies and not enough chlorine! It is winter you know, the water is really cold, of course it is about 88 degrees today.

I really have enjoyed having all the kids here - they are nice and polite, it makes you realize our future is in good hands.

SPRING BREAK at the Cole House!!

This is what is going on at our house this week! Lots of sun tanning with boys in speedos (why, I have no idea!!)



By the time I got home from helping my neighbor there were about 8 guys and a couple of girls in the front yard having a great time. My sweet neighbor bought them pizza and 4 pizzas were gone in about 3 minutes.

The pool is really COLD!! I told Dallin that Zara (our dog) doesn't trust me around the pool because I keep trying to get her to swim. I pushed him in - Spencer (his 'twin") was already in because I dared him.

All the while the kids were outside - they filed in one by one to get a free massage from Brenn. She has to make up hours for her class and so if you are in the neighborhood and would like a FREE massage (tips are welcome) just stop by or give us a call.

My Grandma

This is my Grandma Young. Mildred Frances Hamilton Young - Born December 9, 1919 in Sligo, Colorado. On the prairie or dry land, in the middle of a snow storm, in her parents bed.

She lives at our house. What a blessing the last 4 years have been for our family. How else do you teach 3 teenagers to serve someone.

My earliest memories of my Grandma (Gram) are of crafts, and sleeping on the floor in the living room in silky sleeping bags she made. Chicken and noodles, and Super Sugar Pops (I hated but ate because she always bought them for us as a treat). The candy dish between the lazyboys (black licorice for Grandpa - yuck) and playing cards for hours. Dean (my brother) cheating at Uno by sitting my Grandma in front of the china cabinet that had mirrors lining the back. Playing in the ditch in the back yard and building the tree house with my Grandpa. Gram always had feather pillows, and hot pink feathers for crafts - I love feathers - in my previous life I would pick out the soft fuzzy ones and with my thumb in my mouth, rub the feather up against my nose (until I was 12 and at a slumber party, talk about scarred for life.)

When I was in 4th grade my Dad retired from the military and we moved to Grand Junction, Colorado where my Grandparents lived. We even got to live with them while our house was being built. I graduated from the same high school as my Mom, and they all knew my Gram. My wrestling coach (I was the manager) was my Mom's high school boyfriend, my Grandparents practically raised him and he still comes to visit her. Because we lived so close we got to spend the night (except for Ryan who would never stay) and play in the camper, go to the dairy for ice cream, and watch movies late into the night (this was before VHS, when you watched whatever was on the 5 channels that came thru the rabbit ears.) My Gram came to my gymnastic meets in Jr high, my cheering in high school, and even the Mormon events that were important (ie: Roadshows, and talent contests.)

I am so LUCKY!!!

When I was a teenager and my sister was getting married we took my Gram to the open house at the Jordan River temple so she could see where Kelly (my sister) was getting married. I distinctly remember her telling me how disappointed she was she could not be there and how I wouldn't ever do that to her. I told her I would do that to her and the only way she could be at my wedding was to become a Mormon. Alas, she never did, but she has such a strong testimony of God and Jesus Christ and the Bible. She has been a big part of my life. Such a strong influence for good and an example on how to have fun and still meet your responsibilities. Although she did all of the flowers for my wedding and enjoyed the little program we had just for her right before the reception started.

Even now in the twilight of her life, when her memory is not so great and her ability to reason is not so good, her sense of humor is intact. She is right on, great timing and we always laugh. I think I get my irreverent humor from her. I know my body came from her!! I am shaped exactly like her.

Here are my Grandparents dressed for a Halloween party. They were such fun, my grandpa would sneak up behind you and growl on your neck. My Gram could make anything, copy, invent, whatever.

I think this is at their 40th wedding anniversary. Aren't they cute?!

I am so grateful my kids have gotten to know her better. When someone lives at your house there are not many secrets. When I yell at my kids she just laughs and says she is glad shes done and now it is my turn. Sometimes when I could strangle a child its her that defused the situation.

One great story:

Dallin had longer, shaggy hair, as did my nephew who lives across the street. They were reluctant to have a haircut, so my brother Dean offered $50.00 if he could buzz their hair. Dallin, who was not as attached to his hair as Kai, thought about it for about a second and said

"Yes."

So off came the hair, he also got paid for his lawn mowing job. So in he comes waving $75.00 talking about how rich he is, and my Gram tells him to be careful with all that money or someone might take it. Dallin, being 14, and rather smart alecky replied,

"Like who?"

To which my Gram said,

"me"

and she snatched all $75.00 and put it in her 'bank' (her bra has been her bank for as long as I can remember). I wish I could have taken a picture of Dallins face. My sister in law Kirsten (and Kai's mom) was sitting there and we almost died laughing. Gram just looked at him and said,

"now what are you going do?"

It was priceless and typical Gram. She did give the money back, although Dallin was a little leery of touching it because it was, you know, in Gram's bra. I loved it and her!

What a blessing to care for someone you love and you have felt unconditional love from your whole life. I really wanted my kids and grand kids to know what a tremendous lady she is and was. How much she influenced my choices, but mostly that she was the perfect Grandma for me.

A Very Weighty Matter.

Do you shower with music or without?

Like I said, very weighty - I for one shower with, today Lynyrd Skynyrd. I have indoctrinated my children (if you ever knock on the door, no one answers, and there is music blowing off the roof we are in the shower, except Ken).




It all started in Jr high. Our science teacher let us play music during our study time, you were allowed to bring a cassette tape to play in his player. I realized everyone in the whole world played music but me (it was Jr high). Luckily, I got a clock radio for Christmas (Thanks Linda and Jerry) and I played the radio all the time (KEXO am, no fm on this radio). Pretty soon I took it to the bathroom and started to play it while I showered - a doctrine created. Yes that below is the clock radio and I still have it and it still works, unfortunately am radio around here is all Spanish music.








Of course it changed over the years, I got a portable tape player a few Christmases later and would place it next to the radio and record the songs I wanted to replay. Then I would just have the tape player in the bathroom with my "mixed" tape. As I got into High School my parents actually bought a stereo, recording became easier because the tape player was attached to the radio and my brother yelling no longer showed up during the songs. The only problem was it boosted the volume to a level (while recording) that my father hated (also made them listen to Physical by Olivia Newton-John and got it banned from my play list). But I could now buy records (black vinyl round things) and record them for my bathroom enjoyment (BeeGees were really played alot). I did learn that Kmart records are exactly like records bought at the expensive record store in the mall, but that is a story for another time.




I bought my first tape when I worked at the Fun Junction (some would call it an amusement park - we called it child labor camp) for $2.25/ hour, that tape cost me 3 hours of work, but Russ Johnson said he liked it and I was willing to do anything (with in reason) to have something in common with Russ Johnson! Styx - Paradise Theater played in my bathroom for months. No, I didn't understand the references to cocaine and drug use, I just loved to sing along (still do).


All through college my roommates either joined up or I'm sure hated it. Ken just thought it was weird. Twenty, almost, one years later it is still going on and most of the teenagers in the house do it too soo...



All mothers of little children, if you want to like your teenagers music, teach them to like yours! Brenn knows more 80's music than she does modern music. IF your children are a hard sell just buy Guitar Hero - all of our rock music and they want to know more. Dallin came home saying he heard this "new" group AC/DC and wanted to download (my Jr high self wished it had been so easy) some of their music - Ken and I obliged and introduced him to "Big Balls". They need to learn the important things at home with the correct supervision, Right?! I am sure my Grandma who sleeps next to our den was wondering why at midnight we were laughing hysterically and playing music really loud but...teaching is important.

The bonus to music in the shower and as I get ready, is I count the time I dance and move as my 30 minutes of exercise for the day! (sorry Jenny) And nobody gets to see it and make fun (Ken is usually at work, and he likes it anyway).

As I post Brenn got in the shower...with music!! Sounds like Taylor Swift.

A note to my posterity: Yes your grandma was a little nuts, but she inherited it from her grandma...more on that later...and you get some of the DNA too!

Cloudy Day

There is just something about a cloudy day. First, this is Arizona, not too many cloudy days. Second, rarely do cloudy days last all day. Well today is cloudy and I love soup for dinner, specifically potato soup. A little cheese, a little bacon, some really good bread and

YUMMY!!

Of course I do not like to cook so my soup comes from Costco, my family would not eat well without pre-made food from Costco. But you can only find this soup at the business Costco in downtown Phoenix (27th ave. & Indian School). The soup comes frozen, if you eat soup at a restaurant most liking it is the frozen soup from Costco. Dump it in a crock pot add 2 qts water and let to cook for a few hours - what could be easier or tastier.

Now don't get me started on how fun the business Costco is...I love to wander in it. All kinds of kitchen gadgets, restaurant equipment, vending food, Gatorade in cases of just one kind (instead of having to make your kids drink the one color they don't like), and many more things. It used to be really scary to visit the business Costco because it was in the rear of a closed down shopping center, lots of pan handlers and creepy guys, but now there is the biggest Mexican grocery store and several shops have opened up, so its not so bad now.

Still Cloudy!! Maybe it will last until dinner.

Random Post

Random post today - probably not 25 things tho - that's too much pressure.





First - is it really bad to turn on your A/C in February? I know this may be hard for those of you in the colder climes but... really it was too hot to sleep (82) so I got up and flipped the switch from heat to cool - Its still THERE!! It was 87 yesterday. I love this weather - not too hot and not to cold.





Next - I found these at Costco - 120 calories for 9 crackers - I can't seem to stop at 9 but...

I have been sick to my stomach for 3 weeks - anything that sounds good I try because food is not too attractive right now - so I tried these (I am soooo tired of saltines) they are FABULOUS!!!!

If you meet me and I smell like garlic....

Next - I should comment on this blog http://snarky-belle.blogspot.com/ because she is the one that started me thinking but I am not sure I could add anything she or her commenter's haven't said and I don't want to repeat. I will just bore you and my posterity.

Headaches

are my mountain - not even my headaches (which are bad enough) but the headaches of my beloved daughter. They are squishing her. Keeping her from meeting her potential. Hurting her, hurting her Dad and I. She is the most amazing thing - she has always been that way. When she was little and people would compliment her to me I would just say "she came that way!" And she did - she was a complete "arrow" from the get go. And I can't launch her into the world because she is unable to manage it. Now on one hand, I like that she still needs me at 18 - but on the other, she is such a capable person, so together, she would do well on her own and find all the fun, painful, lessons I learned on my own. So how do we get past this "mountain"?

I don't know!

Ok - on to better thoughts!! Logan - he is an animal!! He wrestling intramurals for his Jr High, and doing the freestyle club. This means that on Mon and Tues he stays after school until 5 pm or so to practice wrestling with his Jr High team - he then rides his bike to the High school and helps teach the grade school kids wrestling. Then he has freestyle practice from 6:30 - 8:00 and then he rides home, has dinner, does homework and goes to bed. On Wed he has piano lessons and scouts. On Thursday he has intramural matches and on Saturday he has freestyle tournaments. Not to mention keeping his room clean and mowing the front yard. How is that for a 13 yr old?! He is loving every minute. Luckily intramurals only lasts a month so he should not get too tired.

Guess I should brag on Dallin a little too - We got the pictures of the wrestling team...only he was allowed to smile. His nickname is Smiley - most of the kids don't even know his name is Dallin. The parent ask who my child is - when I say "Dallin" they look at me funny, because there is another Dallin on the team and we look nothing alike (I guess) - then I say "Smiley" and they all go "OOHH!!" we love him! So he is the only one allowed to smile - every one else looks tough. Poor Dallin - Jethro is still giving him fits - but he is learning a good skill (auto mechanics). I think he is tired of it - I know I am!!

I did get an email from Dallins English teacher telling me how much she likes Dallin, how smart he is and that she enjoys him in her class. That is such a nice thing to hear, even when they are 17!!

I think that is it!! My random post. I would like to post more - I seem to have a hard time coming up with something (until I start anyway). I will get better.

Kobus and Zara sitting in a tree....

This is Zara - our Rhodesian Ridgeback

This is Kobus - her new boyfriend

Yes, they look really similar. He spent Friday night at our house romancing Zara, although unsuccessfully. He is such a nice dog and was really sweet to our Zara (not sweet enough) so tonight she is staying at his house. We thought maybe he would be more dominant at his house. We want puppies. All the stories I have heard about male dogs jumping the fence and impregnating females seems a little far fetched right now - these two have no clue what they are doing. Of course it is their first time (ours too, for that matter) so a little bit of which end is which is in order. Hopefully nature will take its course.

Brenn and I keep dreaming about puppies - we are a little excited. Ridgebacks tend to have 12-14 puppies (holy cow!!) so if you want one let us know.

Other than that excited news we are all SICK!!! Dallin stayed home all week, Brenn is iffy, and Ken and I have colds. I am ready to be well - its been about 2 weeks - I have stayed in so I don't spread my germs, but I am bored!!

Also my Sister in Law Lisa Cole is doing some hair at my house on the 28th if you are interested, she does great cuts and really great color, just email me and I will get you in touch with her.

Lurking

Is that a word?

Do you lurk?

I do.

I love to peek into peoples lives. See the kids of my cousins, friends and even people I don't know but have been touched by their writing. Does that make me equal to a peeping Tom?

NO! Please no!

I figure its like a year round Christmas letter, I love those.

So I confess - I am a lurker. I look at blogs everyday. I get a little frustrated when my favorites do not post for a month (of course that doesn't apply to my posting because I think maybe 3 people look at my blog and one is not even my mother!). I like pictures! Seeing how much the kids have changed/grown, what is important for the moment and I really like pictures of food. It makes it seem possible that I can continue to cook for my family for the next 30 or 40 years (YIKES!!) without going insane. Mostly I think in this day with my busy schedule, my friends busy schedules, my family's busy schedule, and the distance between us, I can keep up with what is going on without the hours on the phone, or the writing of letters (which I am really bad at, ask my brother who got maybe 2 letters on his mission).

Although I think I creeped out a lady I know when I mentioned something that she posted on her blog...she looked a little uncomfortable and then her blog went private....hmmm. On a side note, how do you ask someone to invite you to their blog? IF it is a good friend usually I get an excited email, kinda like a birth announcement, inviting me to look. But if it is someone who I know is cool, or heard about this great blog and it is private what is the etiquette of asking? When is is considered creepy to ask? Where is Emily Post when I need her?

Just a few thoughts while I have been laying in bed with the flu and had to pull my self up today to catch up on my daily blog reading!!

Here's hoping for better next week.

What kind of driver are you?

When you see this up ahead how do you feel?
Brenn and I were driving to EVIT (more about that later) and we drove thru the cones...she asked how it made me feel...I love it and usually speed up as I go thru (safely, of course) because I love the feel of having the barricades whiz by my head!!! She said it made her feel tense and she did not like it - me I love it - that is the only time I wish my truck was closer to the ground, something about the speed which they go by my peripheral vision which gives me the buzz. So which are you? Brenn made the comment that is why I love roller coaster, I think she is right.

Here is Brenn being honored at EVIT for being the east rotary student of the month, actually I am not sure I would document this here if not for what happened only moments before...

We entered an empty room at the school board meeting and sat in the back (why is that?) as the room began to fill with people and I was sitting next to Miss O'Connor (Brenn's teacher) the marketing lady for EVIT came in and came over to meet us - she looked at me and without even pausing said "Are you Brenn?"

I said, with a big smile on my face, (my 42 yr old face) "No, but Thank You!!"

Then later in the meeting as they recognized Brenn and had her say a few words, they mentioned it again - I really wanted to ask if this was going on the meeting minutes and could I get a copy, but I thought that my be pushing it a little! Of course when I got in the car I had to look in a mirror - yep still flat hair from the day and no make up - maybe the lady needs glasses.

Anywho, Brenn was honored and the Vice Chairwoman came out of the meeting and shook her hand and thanked us for letting Brenn attend EVIT. Really it is such a good program with a wide range of classes - I wonder if I would have done better earning money for college if I had some kind of training. Luckily Brenn has the opportunity to be a licensed massage therapist...so much better than selling fries!!

Winter Formal 2009

Both Brenn and Dallin went to Winter Formal. It is a girl ask guy dance. So Dallin got asked and Brenn had to do the asking. Both went with different groups (Brenn thinks it would be weird to be in a group with Dallin.)

Dallin went will a cute girl named Taylor:

She was really nice and they had a great time.

Dallin was a little nervous getting "pinned."

Looks like it turned out okay.

Brenn asked a boy named Jack, they were not in her usual group and it was kinda fun to meet some of her other friends.

Brenn and Becca - they had so much fun planning the date. Becca's dress looked like Cinderellas dress!

This is Becca's date Josh. They were really fun. After dinner (they tried escargot) they actually danced at the dance for about 2 hours, and then came to our house for a rousing game of Mad Gab....did I mention LOUD?! It was actually fun to lay in bed and hear the laughter.

Zara was helping Brenn put on her shoes!

I don't think the camera did Brenn's dress justice - it was so sparkly and such a great color on her, Lisa came and did her hair - she looked so pretty. On Sunday at church the little girl in front of us just stared at Brenn all during Sacrament meeting, I know it was the sparkles!