(Let's) GO FLY A KITE!

Here's to My (Somewhat) Sugar-Free New Year!!!

2012-01-30T07:16:00.000-08:00

Sugar is of the devil...at least for me it is. Every year I try to give up sugar for Lent which is for about 40 or so days starting with Ash Wednesday and ending sometime around Easter depending on my willpower and my ability to rationalize when Lent actually ends that year. It is getting harder every year and I have done some serious rationalizing in the past few years.

Well this year is different. Sarah and I decided to give up sugar forever. Not really, but pretty much. She sees me as a serious sugar junkie...and herself going in the same direction. I have told her it is easier to foster good habits at 16 than at well...older.

So our goal this year is to just give it up. We discussed a few rules though...I mean it can be fun to have some sweets on occasion. We decided that FHE is one of those times. It just isn't the same if we don't get a treat for FHE. So we can have a treat on that day. It isn't supposed to be a full blown sugar fest on Monday...just a treat. However the last two Mondays have been a bit excessive. I did find that the amazing brownies Sarah made last Monday were a bit sweet (to a person whose life motto is "You can never be too sweet or too rich." Unfortunately, even though my body said stop eating these wonderfully sweet, rich brownies...you are getting sick... I managed to finish my two anyway. (See it's a sickness.) We also get to have some sweets if we are on a date and the guy buys it for us... (a leftover from my college days) Sarah is more likely to get that benefit than I am. **sigh**

Hopefully in time I will find that one small sweet will be sufficient.

When it becomes hard is when Jacob makes things that look wonderful and we want some but can't have any. Yesterday, Jacob made some Belgian waffles. They smelled wonderful...but face it...they are not nearly as wonderful without some hot buttermilk syrup over them...or some kind of syrup at least. But I came up with a yummy substitute... I mashed a small amount of natural peanut butter with a banana until it was all mooshy and then spread it on the waffle. It was soooo yummy and very filling. I only ate 1/2 a waffle and made it through church. I think that extra protein makes it stick a little better. I thought it was so good, I think it will be my new favorite topping for pancakes and waffles...and who knows what else. No sugar and much better for me.

So that's my new discovery for today. YOU should try it. Only YOU are probably not reading my post...so YOU will never know. :o)

I find some of the coolest things at garage sales...

2012-01-03T19:49:00.000-08:00

...This is one of them. This is called the Vital Wear Vitalwrap system. I bought one a few weeks ago at a garage sale...because I have no insurance and I love things medical. (I know kind of weird...but whatever.) Well a couple of weeks later my mother had knee surgery on her meniscus and the doctors told her to get one. I already had one... She test drove it for me and loved it. A week later my knee, for some unknown reason, decided to swell and cause me problems. So when my kids left on New Years Day to spend 3 days with their dad, I decided to try it while laying in bed for 3 days reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. (I read it at Christmastime last year and really enjoyed it...I'm not much of a story book reader). Anyway...I love it. You fill the bucket with Ice and water and then place the wrap around the body part in pain. (They have different sizes for different body parts: neck, arm, back, ankle, wrist, etc.) Then you turn it on and cold water circulates through the wrap. The temperature can be adjusted so it is not too cold. It also becomes hot for heat therapy...You just have to put warm water in and it will heat it. It also provides compression. I love it. It keeps the cold right where it needs to be and you don't have to worry about leaks or it slipping if you doze off. They usually cost around $300-$600 to buy. (Most people's insurance pays for it) But I got it for $20 and I love it.

Oh...and by the way... HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Not that anyone reads my blog (because of my chronic neglect and inconsistency)...but you never know.

Merry Christmas!!

2011-12-24T17:02:00.001-08:00

Johnson Family Christmas 2011

Ok…get back on your seats…yes, it is a Christmas Card from the Johnson Family…and if all has gone as planned, it is even on time this year. Looking back on the year, 2011 was a good year for our family, and we can see that we have been watched over and blessed.

As a family we completed our goal of travelling to all 48 states this summer when we visited the Southern States. We really enjoyed visiting with our good friends the Corners in Georgia and the Millers in Tennessee. We saw some beautiful sights including the Great Smokey Mountains, and the Everglades. Our country is beautiful…go see it!

We also got rabbits…and found out that what they say about rabbits is true… Suddenly we found ourselves with way more than we wanted. That in itself is a crazy story, but we are now happy with the 3 we have. We discovered rabbits are great pets and love our new additions…Rylie, Chimi (changa) and IHOP.

Jacob (14): Has turned out to be quite the Jock. Well maybe not the “Jock” mentality, but he loves sports and wishes he could play all the time. He especially loves football and was first string for his school team this year. He is currently on the basketball team. He went to his first church dance this year and really enjoyed that as well. He also does very well in school. He even won a 1^st place award in the School Science Fair and will get to compete at the County Fair this spring. (He worked hard on that project and really deserved the award.)

Sarah (16): Did I mention 16? Yes! She has her driving permit, but has not had a lot of practice yet. She seems to be in no hurry to drive, which is nice because that keeps insurance rates nice and low for the time being. She and some of her friends celebrated her 16^th birthday at the beach in California. A good friend also surprised her by flying down from Washington to enjoy the privilege of taking her on her first date. She was thrilled! This year Sarah has been taking ballroom dance. She loves to dance and is quite graceful! She also loves reading and is an excellent student.

Robin (32): Still plugging away at that Bachelor’s Degree. She is planning on Graduating from Brigham Young University in the Fall of 2012. Independent Study is requiring some growth in the discipline department, but it is coming along. She also got to go to the Antiques Roadshow with her Mother this summer. Found out that the things she hoped were worth a bunch of money..were not. But had a great time re-visiting and playing tour guide to her mother in Savannah, Georgia and seeing the Magnolia Plantation in South Carolina again.

Robin’s sister Karri and her baby Starlette (Star) lived with us for most of the year. We really enjoyed having them. Having a baby around helped Robin get over all of her baby cravings. :o) They moved out in September when they bought a new home…close enough that we get to see each other often. It is fun to have a baby in the family again.

Those are the most exciting things this year. We are happy and healthy and are blessed to have all that we need and even many of our wants. We are celebrating the blessings of the past year and are looking forward to new adventures in the coming year and hope you all are as well. We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and many blessings in the new year!!

Love,

Robin, Sarah & Jacob Johnson

Oh What do you do in the Summer Time When all the World is HOT???

2010-06-20T21:42:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow we are off on the next leg of our tour of these great 50 states. When we are done, we will have been to 40.

We are flying into Omaha, Nebraska tomorrow night. My Ex-Brother in Law and nephew Colton will pick us up and will be with us on our journey. I was going to book a room on Friday night, but hesitated. Unfortunately, the $70 room on Friday night became a very difficult to get $135 room by Saturday. **Note to self** Don't forget that Monday nights in Omaha, Nebraska are very popular for hotel stays in June. **SIGH**

We will visit Winter Quarters for a short while, because the last time I was there I didn't see as much of it as I wanted to. Then we will be driving to Fargo, North Dakota. Why? Well, we haven't been to North Dakota yet, and Fargo's as good a place as any place in ND. With campgrounds like the "Great Grassy Plains" campgrounds, I just couldn't get too excited about camping. So maybe we'll see Toy Story III while in Fargo and we'll always remember we saw it in North Dakota.

From there we will be off on the REAL adventure...into Wisconsin and Michigan, camping around the Great Lakes. Not sure quite where, but we'll figure it out as we go. We'll go up and around Lake Michigan (the middle one) and down through Chicago. Maybe we'll stop and get a hotdog...see a museum and say we've done it.

Hopefully we'll have time to see Nauvoo again and spend a day or two in Moulton, IA...where Gary (bro-in-law) lives.

I am excited for the trip, however my TO-DO list is long, and my time is running short. I guess I'll go to bed and get started early tomorrow.

....Is that what you do???

A Goal Not Written is Only a Wish!!!

2010-02-17T10:22:00.000-08:00

OK...get back up on your stool...Yes, I am posting a blog. By now, there are probably no followers, but I'm going to post anyway.

Why??? Because I should be studying...and because it is the first day of LENT!!! ...and because I am setting my goal...

For years, since my college days at BYU, I have given up sugar for Lent. Well, I have tried to give up sugar for lent. More years than not, I have been sorrowfully unsuccessful...and if the truth be known, I probably ate more sugar during that time than I do when not giving up sugar. But we'll talk about my compulsive eating binges some other time.

This year I am really going to do it though. I have read online about how it is to be properly done...did you know that Sundays are not included in the Lenten Fast? Yeah...well, I'm not going for it. 46 straight days of no sugar...but that's not all...I'm doing more this year. (As if sugar isn't hard enough!)

Here is my list of foods that are off limits for the next 46 days...

All foods that contain in the first 3 ingredients: sugar or any substitutes including artificial sweeteners, honey, corn syrup, fruit juice, and my personal favorite...dehydrated cane juice (as if). I will allow myself one packet of Stevia per day or 1 TBL of Sugar Free (Fruit Only) Fruit Spread....and I can chew sugar-free gum or eat a mint. Also forbidden: white flour or any items which contain white flour in the first 3 ingredients. This will eliminate virtually all desserts including SF puddings, jellos, cookies, cakes, hot cocoa etc.

My goal is to learn to enjoy eating healthier foods...not to figure out how to eat the same foods but with chemicals instead of calories...and to help me choose complex carbohydrates over simple sugars to get my energy.

Foods I am going to eat more of: Veggies, fruits, whole grain foods, beans, brown rice, and of course lean meats.Last night was my FAT TUESDAY before embarking on my new healthier life. I ate way too much and was painfully full for hours. This only served to reinforce how miserable it is to over-indulge in that stuff. I am excited to get started today...and as my tummy is still recovering from yesterday...it is on board with me at the moment.

Also on board with me...at least sugar-wise is Paige and my daughter Sarah (little does Jacob know that he'll be participating by default).

So here's to a longer, healthier, happier life!!

General Conference....

2009-04-17T17:36:00.001-07:00

LOL Cats General Conference

Do you think it would be wrong?...

2009-03-22T09:11:00.000-07:00

Sarah posted a picture on Facebook of her at an activity with her dad and stepmother. It was titled "Awesome Things I do.". So...to amuse myself I sort of altered the picture a little...I was going to post it to Facebook saying "Fun things I do when my kids are doing 'Awesome Things.' " I was advised against it though. I am not sure I agree, but just to be safe, I thought I would post it here. What do you think?
I think...I should get ready for church.....

A Recent Favorite Garage Sale Find!!!

2009-03-17T09:34:00.000-07:00

So I was out garage sale-ing 2 weeks ago...as you would expect, and I found this really nice video camera... outfit...it had all the accessories, batteries, memory stick, carry along case, flash attachment, and other stuff I needed a new video camera because 2 Christmasses ago, while I was video taping the opening of the presents, Sarah in her excitement ran to get something, tripped on a cord and sent my video camera flying. Needless to say we didn't get to record the event.

Anyway...at the garage sale...I was looking at this camera and it looked really nice. I asked the hostess of the Garage Sale how much. She didn't know and kind of beat around the bush and finally asked me what I would give. I told her $10...you know...to get a feel for what she was thinking. To my surprise, she accepted...which immediately made me wonder if the camera worked. She said "I think so, it's not mine." Well, for $10 I figured I'd take a chance. I got it home and tried it out.... Guess what? It didn't work... :o\ Well, it worked mostly...but the display wouldn't come on.

So I did one of my favorite things...I Googled it. And guess what??? The problem was a common problem that Canon had recalled and would repair FOR FREEEEEEEE!! NOW WHO'S THE VICTIM???

I called Canon, they sent me a UPS label to ship it to them, they fixed it I just got it back today...It works great!!! Now that's a deal!!!

To Everything There is a Season...

2009-02-21T13:15:00.000-08:00

Look!!! I am blogging again! That's because I would rather blog than write that paper I need to write. That's because I would rather blog than study anymore Chemistry Nomenclature. That's because I would rather blog than clean my house.

Well it is that time of year again...

LENT!!!!

It was very considerate of the Catholics...(or whoever is in charge of determining the Lenten Season dates) ...to take into account my 40th birthday and wait until the 25th of February for me to give up sugar.

I am ready!!! Well I will be after Tuesday. No more sugar until April 12th...Easter Sunday. If memory serves, that is when all cattle will break loose and the binging will begin. Then at the end of Easter give or take a day or two, I will swear to never eat sugar again (again)...an oath that is likely to be broken...the day after taking it.

My name is Robin...I am a Sugar Addict!!! (So who's in with me??)

On another seasonal note...I am finally working on getting a garden planted. I haven't really had a garden since Sarah was a baby. I am not actually planting the garden, Chuck is planting the garden. He and his wife live in a Condo and have no yard, so I struck up a deal with him to plant one in my back yard. So he does all the work, I water and provide supplies and we both get to enjoy the literal fruits of his labor. We both see this as a win-win situation... I think I will get just as much satisfaction out of letting someone else plant and work a garden in my yard as I would if I did it myself. I have found this to also be true of lawn mowing (now that Jacob does it) and house cleaning (when I can spare the money for a house cleaner...not often enough.)

And another thing....

My pantry...I love my pantry. I have expanded my pantry and it is huge. I found some great shelves at a garage sale and I love my shelves. I even have room in my pantry for more. More appliances...which I keep buying, more food storage...which we all need. My old pantry used to have a laundry room separated by a wall that led into my pantry. Well after the flood of May 2008, I decided to knock out that wall and make one big pantry. Then I put my laundry room hook ups in a back room addition. While I was doing that, I had the handyman set me up with hook ups for 2 washers and 2 dryers. I now have two dryers...but no washers. Once I get my washers we should never fall behind in laundry again. I have also told my kids that they will be in charge of their own laundry. (We'll see!) Don't you just love my new and improved pantry??...(It looks much large in real life.)

Here is a picture of our January 19th MiLK day celebration table. As a tradition in our family, we celebrate MiLK Day and have all kinds of MiLK. We have Chocolate MiLK, Vanilla MiLK, Strawberry MiLK...and even Vanilla Soy MiLK...so even those who are intolerant can be included in our MiLK day celebration. We had a bunch of friends over for brunch with french toast and butterMiLK syrup...we had OJ too. I found the cute, fitting...and perhaps controversial table decor at a garage sale the weekend prior

And here are some pictures I just found of our Christmas Ski trip... The kids loved their first try at skiing. Both of them took to it like fish to water. I took them back just last week for another go of it...I am hoping I can get Sarah to miss school so we can go again on Tuesday...but I'm thinking she won't want to miss school. Who would rather go to school than skiing???

Back by Popular Demand.....

2009-02-12T18:41:00.001-08:00

Ok...I'll post something. I'll do anything to get out of studying.

What to write about. My life is pretty routine. Unlike Jenny who has a constant influx of children coming and going, or Paige who whose kids make sugar cookies into animal cells. (I should make some of those and give them to my old Bio teacher...wait I already got an "A" no need to kiss up to him anymore.) I don't have a son who is freshly driving and raising my insurance rates through the roof like Melinda, nor do I have the creative ability to post any of my creations for the world to see like Amy.

That is not to say that my life is uneventful...it is very eventful. Usually it is so crammed with activities, I don't have time or energy to blog about it.

Did I mention that I took my kids skiing for Christmas? I did...they loved it. We had a fabulous Christmas.

Did I mention I got straight "A" s in school? I did. I am now and honor student with a 4.0 GPA. (sigh)...If only I had known 22 years ago the things I know today.

Sarah is 13 and according to her facebook...she is currently "in a relationship". Yeah...she has more of a social life than I do. Oh well, as busy as I am...who has time for dating?

Jacob is soon to be 12 and doing well in school. In his ELP class he and I worked on an electrical project. We had an electric motor which we made into a fan which blew a boat across a tub of water. When the boat hit the other side, it turned a light on in the house. His project was one of the two best projects in his class. The other kids were really impressed.

I am working as a tax preparer again...in my spare time. I don't work often, but I do enjoy the people I work with.

...And that's about all I can think of. Oh Yeah!!! I am turning 40 in 12 days. Some how I just can't imagine myself 40. However I have noticed that my eyesight is getting a bit weaker, but I am still in denial about that. I tried on a friends glasses the other day and was surprised to see how crisp the world really is. My knee and wrist were aching the other day...something that happens on occasion. When I thought about it, I realized that it was going to rain. My joints now respond to the weather...AKKK! However, I am still young at heart... I may be wrapping up my "Hippie Phase" in life, but I am still just a kid mentally...

That's my life. I go to school, I take care of kids, I clean house, and I sleep. Sometimes I go out with friends...but they are getting used to me telling them I have to study. But they patiently wait for me to tell them I have a small amount of time for them. What great friends.

So that's it...

I did come across this video the other day that I thought a lot of you might like. I like the part with the kids...but I thought the preacher used it as a good model for putting off the natural man with a hope for something better....

http://www.wikihow.com/Give-the-Marshmallow-Test

So, which kid are you?????

My Favorite Saturday Morning Conference Quote....

2008-10-04T10:47:00.000-07:00

"In the midst of Winter we find within us an invincible Summer...." Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf speaking on Hope.

Problem Solved!!

2008-09-19T12:11:00.001-07:00

So you know what I did? I had Kemp go over and talk to him. That worked...now I have my hose back. I think everybody should have a Kemp.

What would you do?...

2008-09-17T17:22:00.000-07:00

How is that for an opening? I have a situation...which haves a somewhat obvious solution...yet it is often easier for me to know the solution than it is to act on it.

I have this neighbor...his name is Jorge. He is from Mexico. He has lived next door for the past couple of years and has basically been a decent neighbor. Sometimes he even would mow or do small yard jobs for me...while I was away. He has had a number of people sharing the house with him, but they have always been nice enough. ....except a couple of weeks ago when the police were all around my neighborhood...on two streets. I found out that Jorge had let someone stay at his house who had molested one of the boys on the other street. Anyway...

A few days after that incident, Jorge came over to my house at 9:30 PM. I was in my pajamas and only opened the door to poke my head out. Told me he was moving in a few days and that his water had been shut off and he wanted to know if he could use my hose to wash up. I told him OK and after some small talk...which included him giving me a pile of firewood, I left him to use my hose. ...assuming that this was a one time deal or something.

Well, the next day I looked and saw that my hose was hooked up to his hose leading up to his house. I was a bit surprised and a little annoyed with that, but thought that maybe I had misunderstood him...easy to do when you don't both speak the same language. So thinking he would be leaving in a couple of days, I decided to just let it go. Well moving day came, and a bunch of his roomies moved out, but he didn't. Eight days later...he is still there, and so is my hose and water. He's been using my hose for nearly 2 weeks. This is because his water is off and he needs water. I believe his power is off too...as his house is always dark at night. Fortunately there are no extension cords going from my house to his.

So now I am getting quite frustrated with this situation. I spoke to him last week and mentioned it, he told me he was moving on Tuesday...Yesterday. Well, I don't see signs of moving.

OK...I know the answer is obvious. I could just go over when he is not home and unhook my hose from his and put it in my back yard. Or...I could go over and just talk to him assertively and suggest that he figure out how to get his water situation taken care of without using my water. It really shouldn't be that difficult, but it is for me. I HATE CONFRONTATIONS!!! Why can't people just be normal? You know? Who just uses his neighbor's water for weeks??? Perhaps that's what they do in Mexico, but we don't do that here. UGH!

So....any suggestions?...

No...really....I had a fantastic Summer!!!

2008-09-01T15:56:00.000-07:00

Well, that last blog was my sort of sarcastic, but amusing (if only to me) way of appeasing Paige's persistent request for a blog. However, today I want to reiterate what a great summer the kids and I had.

We began the summer...and I mean began the moment the kids got out of school...with a cross country road trip in my coolest Vanagon ever...the Syncro. That was because I had sold it to some guy in Connecticut, and worked out an arrangement to drive it to him...that's kind of a long, unnecessary story.

We saw a few new states on the way to Connecticut...Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas...I've always wanted to see the Ozarks, as "Where the Red Fern Grows" is an alltime favorite book of mine. It is as beautiful as I had imagined...I really want to see it in the Fall.

We went through Kentucky...which we had been to before on our first Vanagon road trip. I have decided it is one of my favorite states so far. We camped at two different places there and almost got to experience a tornado in one...we could hear the sirens, but it never came to us. We also found a brand new baby deer at another camp site. We got to pet it...and the kids were very excited. Jacob got poison ivy from that...those silly deer hiding in the poison ivy...what are they thinking?

Then we drove through West Virginia and camped there. We were practically the only people at that campsite...it was like we owned the entire mountain. As night approached and it got very dark, the kids got a little nervous thinking about the wild animals that might be out there. I was a little nervous as well, not so much thinking about the animals, but the fact I knew there were 2 other small groups of people on that mountain that I didn't know, and all the Friday 13th movies I had seen in my tender youth...before swearing off those rated "R" movies came to mind. EEEK! I didn't share my nervous imaginings with my kids. Instead we watched "The Muppet Movie"...and that did wonders to lighten our spirits. (When was the last time you watched that movie...???)

From West Virginia...we went to Virginia and saw Lisa and ClarkCordner and their fabulous family. It was so nice to see them again and they are always very gracious and kind when we come visit. Our only regret is we wished we had more time to spend with them, but we only had an evening and morning. But it was very nice to see them...they are so accomodating...we think they actually like us to visit. (We hope they do :o} )

From there we made our last leg of the journey with a transmission going out and barely making it over the border to Connecticut. It was there that the new owner...who had to be a bit disappointed, took the van, dropped us off at a NYC hotel and said good bye...as we said good bye to our fabulous Vanagon that we had originally named "Buzz" because it was the coolest toy of all...and later named Wheezy...because it didn't perform as well as we had hoped. Sigh...I need another Vanagon!!!

On that trip...we experienced every kind of weather imaginable... We began with rain at home...believe it or not turning into heavy snow (yes on May 23) as we climbed into the mountains...(that has NEVER happened in AZ on that day for as far back as weather has been recorded in AZ) Then we crossed the hot, dry plains of TX and OK. Then humidity which often turns into tornado weather with heavy rain and hail...and some very ominous clouds. It was very exciting!

We also went to see my brother in law in Iowa...and saw a new state...Nebraska when we went to Winter Quarters in Omaha.

Then we went to San Diego for a couple of days of fun at the Beach and to visit my friend Sherri...that was fun with the exception of the Sting ray...but even that makes an amusing, memorable story. Then up to Utah to spend a week Paige and family...That's always a Summer Highlight. We especially loved watching Paige in her "Seussical" Play. She was great.

Between vacations, the kids went on various vacations with their Dad and had a fabulous time.

Finally, we went camping as we usually do. We go to a place where we can play in the stream and pick blackberries, and just relax. I love camping....even without a Vanagon. School started a few days later...and then for me two weeks later...but that is another post.

So summer was very eventful, AND I WANT TO THANK ALL OF MY FRIENDS WHO MADE THE WONDERFUL SUMMER MORE ENJOYABLE FOR US. We have officially seen 35 of the 50 states...we're getting there...I guess the Deep South is next... Are any of you moving south in the near future??? I wonder if anyone in North Carolina has a Vanagon they want to sell...

That's all.... Enjoy the photos....

(Apparently this blog site won't let me put captions on the photos...or I can't figure it out...WHATEVER!)

PHOTOS IN ORDER...

(FAMILY PHOTO IN WEST VIRGINIA)

(BUTTERFLY IN THE OZARKS...)

(LOTS OF CENTIPEDES IN WEST VIRGINIA.)

(JACOB'S ATTEMPT AND SUCCESS AT PHOTOGRAPHING LIGHTNING...BEFORE THE TORNADO WARNING SIREN.)

(FAMILY PHOTO AT THE OZARKS)

(SARAH PICKING POPPIES IN KENTUCKY)

(COOL TURTLE CROSSING THE STREET IN KENTUCKY)

(ONE MORE FAMILY PHOTO...IN THE MOUNTAINS OF WEST VIRGINIA.)

Paige wants me to blog something...

2008-08-14T20:20:00.000-07:00

Alright already ...MY SUMMMER....By Robin Johnson...Age 39

My summer was fun. We did lots of stuff. We drove our Vanagon to Connecticut. It took 8 days and we had fun, but we also had car troubles... I tell my kids the things that go wrong on our trips are what make the trip more memorable.

We only had 8 days to get to Connecticut because we had to be back in time for Sarah to go to Girl's Camp. I wanted to stay on our road trip longer, but Sarah really wanted to go to Girl's Camp. It was her first time. She had fun.

When Sarah and Jacob came back, we went visit my brother-in-law, Gary...only he's not really my brother-in-law anymore...but I still love him and I think of him as a brother. We flew with my mother to St. Louis where Gary and my nephew Colton met us. We had fun. We saw the arch and ate at the Spaghetti Factory. The Mississippi River was very flooded and we even played in the Mississippi River...in the middle of the street in St. Louis.

Then we went to Nauvoo. We had fun. But at some point my mother blew a gasket and yelled not very nice things at me. Then we didn't have fun. So Sarah and I went to Minnesota to see some of our friends, while Jacob stayed in Iowa with Gary, Colton and my mom. Sarah and I had fun...but I missed Jacob. Jacob did have fun in Iowa though. I tell Sarah and Jacob that the things that go wrong on our trips are what make them more memorable. We don't want to remember that part though.

We all met up in Omaha, NE to fly out. While there we saw Winter Quarters. I thought it was interesting and wished we had more time to see more.

After we got home from that trip, Sarah and Jacob went to Texas with their Dad, so I had a lot of time on my hands. I don't remember what I did with it...but I think I did some house cleaning somewhere in there.

When Sarah and Jacob came back, we decided to go to Utah to see our friends the Ericksons. Instead of just driving straight up, we went to San Diego to stay a weekend with a friend and then drive to Utah. We had fun in San Diego. On Saturday, we went to the beach and played in the ocean. I got stung by a Stingray. That hurt a lot...!!! That was NOT fun. I tell the kids that
the things that go wrong on our trips are what make them more memorable. We'll definitely remember that! We went to the beach the next day...and we had fun.

Then we drove up to Utah and stayed with Paige and Ryan and their kids. We had fun. My kids think Paige's house is the highlight of their summer vacation. I like it a lot too. We got to see Paige in her Seussical play...she was really good. I got to eat donuts with Michelle...that was fun...! Paige and I went Garage-sale-ing...that was fun. I even hung out with Larry and saw his new house. My kids played and played with the Erickson kids...They had fun. Paige and Ryan are very nice to keep letting us come to visit them...Thanks Paige and Ryan.

We had to come back from our trip to Utah in time for Sarah to go to Girl's Camp...in her Dad's ward this time. Sarah had fun...again. Then Sarah & Jacob spent the next week-and-a-half with their Dad. I cleaned the house...but this time really cleaned it. I even painted all the walls and de-cluttered every room.

My back patio was cluttered with all the stuff I had to move out of the house when my washer overflowed, so I had to work very hard to bring all that stuff back in, find a place for it, or throw it in a garage sale box...or in the trash. Lucky for me it had rained while I was in Utah and the patio roof leaks...so a lot of it got wet...so I could throw even more away. It was a relief to clean the patio off finally, but there was the most amazing cricket infestation I had ever seen. I believe it could rival the Pioneer's Cricket Infestation of May 1848. My chickens and goose were of no help...obviously not prone to gorging and puking as those seagulls are.

When my kids came home, I took them camping at Oak Creek. Every year we go there to pick wild blackberries...so it was time. We camped two nights...and it was lovely. We picked blackberries, played in the stream and rock-hopped and Jacob spent hours with Colton trying to spear a trout with a knife on a stick. While I knew he would not likely ever get one, I was amazed at his tenacity. Very rarely does something catch Jacob's interest that long...that is not electronic.

After camping...we came home, made blackberry pies and jelly, shopped for school supplies...and a few days later...SCHOOL STARTED!!!! Whooo-hooo!!! Now we can stop all that vacationing and get back to work!!!

HOW WAS YOUR SUMMER???

I don't get it....

2008-05-02T17:30:00.001-07:00

You know, for the past 9 years I have attended...or planned on attending Women's Conference. A wholesome thing to do...right? You think that the powers that be would see that as a good and needed thing for me...right? I guess not. The afternoon before the morning I am supposed to leave, while I was doing Laundry, Sarah comes up to me an informs me that her Young Women's activity is a swimming party and she needs a new suit NOW...of course. So I quickly throw another load of wash in the washer and run up to Walmart with Sarah and Jacob to find a suit...so she can attend her church activity. We come home about 45 minutes later to find our house flooded with water. Long story short...Washing machine decided to leak all the water on my floors....you remember my floors...right? Yeah, those floors and the floors in my office and pantry as well. Well, after a call to my insurance company, within hours my beautiful new floors are torn up (and looking like the before pictures) and giant fans have been strategically placed through out my house to drive me crazy with constant, loud humming. No I guess they are really there to prevent mold from growing in all of my walls and causing horrible health conditions for me and all who enter my house.

Needless to say...and I waited as long as possible to be sure...but I had to cancel my flights to and from Utah...and say good bye to Women's Conference. I really needed, wanted, looked forward to Women's Conference this year...Whatever. So why? Why on the afternoon before I leave does this happen? So I could have a big fight with my ex-husband that ends in his calling the police on me...Yes...he did it again. So instead of being spiritually uplifted and recharged, I get a torn up house, a fight with my X and constant humming. I think that time of month is just around the corner as well...Fortunate for me, I don't have my kids so I can sit in my disaster...alone.

Sometimes, I just don't get it.

My how they grow....

2008-04-09T10:12:00.001-07:00

Well, our goose Duck-Duck is growing nicely. He/She (we still don't know) is 5 times the size he was when we got her and a lot of fun...but boy can that goose poop. I mean every 2 minutes...no exaggeration. Anyway, after about 10 days of having that cute little goose following me around (which I loved), and constantly pooping (which I didn't love), I finally decided he was big enough to mingle with the chickens. Oh by the way, we got 6 new chickens - 3 Red and 3 Black. I was excited to get them as they were 10 weeks old instead of chicks. Chicks and baby things are a lot of work. Anyway, Duck-Duck has won her way into their hearts and it seems he is accepted by them. They are still a little cliquey...they even separate often into color of hen. Usually blacks with blacks and reds with reds. Weird! But Duck-Duck tags along in the group and now instead of being a couple of feet away as was in the beginning, she is right there in the mix. The only problem...hens roost at night. So when they all fly up to their roosting spot at night (tonight was the trampoline), little Duck-Duck is left on the ground and all alone. We feel sorry for him, so we let her in the house to sleep in his box and then put her back out at night.

2008-04-09T06:59:00.000-07:00

So, one thing you need if you are going to raise a goose...and a turtle for that matter...is a pond. We have had a turtle...named Turtley-Wurtley. She is a water turtle, but doesn't seem to know it...but that's another story. Anyway, this weekend, between Saturday conference sessions, we built a pond. We had to dig a 5'x3'x1' hole...which is no easy task here in Arizona...can we say caliche soil? Yeah, and huge bolders along with that. But within two hours, we had dug our hole. Then after the second session, we finished it. The water was cloudy at first because we let too much dirt get in, so we had to drain it and fill it again. Then we got a bunch of gold fish (10 regular and 2 fancy) and a suckerfish...for cleaning. And now it is done and we love it...Duck-Duck likes it too. I pluncked him in there and she just started swimming around. Very cute. Unfortunately, Turtley-Wurtley was not impressed and wandered off to heaven knows where...I guess we will see her in a month or so. Ah well, you can't please everyone.

Duck...Duck...

2008-03-22T14:19:00.001-07:00

...............................................GOOSE!!!!.................................................

2008-03-22T14:18:00.001-07:00

Guess what we got for Easter? We were going to get baby chicks...since our chickens have decided to lay fewer and smaller eggs...and eggs are expensive...and the kids think I am the coolest when I get them baby critters... However they were all out of chicks...we will get a couple on Thursday. But this little baby gosling was all by his/herself and well...I decided Duck-Duck would be a great name for a Goose...so I got it. He/she lives in our bath tub right now. I don't know how long we will keep it...as we all know that Geese can be very ornery. I am thinking of putting a pond in our backyard...maybe it will be happy if we do. Anyway...Happy Easter!!!

It's my Birthday...

2008-02-24T06:16:00.000-08:00

Today is my Birthday. I am not telling you that for any reason except that I want to write about my birthday. I love my birthday...it is my favorite day of the year. On this one day I can do anything I want to do. Some years I have done many things...massages, pedicures, shopping, eating...or should I say binging...etc. (It is kind of like Mardi Gras...only I do make sure that confessions to my Bishop won't be necessary following my birthday celebration.) Last year I just went to the temple, took a long hot bath and laid in bed and read. Nothing exciting...but it was what I wanted to do. Some of my friends ask me if they can take me to lunch, or breakfast or whatever... On this day, I tell them that I will only do something with them if that is what I feel like doing at that time. So if they want to go to lunch they have to just wait for me to call them and say I WANT TO GO TO LUNCH WITH YOU. That is because if I schedule a lunch with someone and suddenly I decide I want to do something else like skiing or to take a hot bath or whatever, I will feel obligated to do lunch instead, and that is not what my birthday is about. It is the one and only day I can be completely self-centered.

Another thing that is cool on my birthday is I don't answer the phone all day...unless I want to of course. So after a day of doing anything I want to do, I check my messages...and there are a bunch of people wishing me a happy birthday. I love that part of the day! It is kind of like a surprise party at the end of the day with all my friends yelling "Happy Birthday".

One problem...my birthday is on a Sunday this year. That's not gonna work for me. So for my birthday (since I can do anything I want) I am officially declaring February 25, 2008 as my 39th birthday. I also declare that, following this declaration, I will treat this day as my normal Sunday, but am granting myself the right and privilege to do absolutely anything and everything I want to do tomorrow.

Valentine's Day...

2008-02-15T19:04:00.000-08:00

As you well know, yesterday was Valentine's Day... It was a fairly routine day for me...nothing special...which is fine... Until my Mom asked me what I got...and it dawned on me that all of my "boyfriends" have gotten married or moved on in the past year. Chuck #1 just got married about 3 weeks ago. Chuck #2 got married about 11 months ago, and I guess Kemp finally gave up on me...and I got nothing. WOW! Last year I had at least 2 bunches of flowers...now I have none.

So after that realization, I got on E-harmony. It is this dating site I have heard about where they give you this long personality test and then match you up with your soul mate. I really did it to amuse myself and see what their idea of my perfect mate would be. So after spending about 1/2 hour answering all their questions, I hit the "match me" button...guess what... Out of all their clients they had NOT ONE match for me. Ouch! I wasn't quite sure how to take that. So I figured it was because I had marked that I was LDS looking for LDS. So for fun, I took off the LDS criteria so I could see what matched. Once again there was not a single match for me. That has me hopeful...no wonder I have been single for 8 years... I don't have a soul mate!

I called Chuck #1, explained the situation and scolded him telling him that he was supposed to pine after me for many more years. He was slightly sympathetic, between peals of laughter, but had to go because he and his wife were off to dinner...and you know...they are newlyweds.

I called Chuck #2 today, explained the situation and scolded him because before him guys who dated me didn't get married. He was the one who boldly got married...out of the blue, breaking my streak...now all the other guys think they can do the same. He wasn't even slightly sympathetic. Instead he told me that I broke up with him, and then proceeded to tell me what he got from his wife and what he got his wife. Whatever!!

I called Kemp...Yeah, no sympathy there. I think he was relieved not to have to worry about what to get me this year.

Larry called me for Valentines day. He actually had called me a week before to let me know that he had given me up for Lent. Then he called me on Valentine's Day to tell me that he had still given me up for Lent, but he is only calling to wish me a happy Valentine's Day. When I called him back, he scolded me for making him break his Lent.

On a more positive note, my Visiting Teachers came over and brought me some chocolate...they like me. My mom likes me...well, not really...I guess sometimes. Hey...my kids like me!!

P.S. ...Saturday marked my anniversary of this blog...my how time flies.

Here is something worth blogging about...

2008-02-07T13:02:00.000-08:00

Today was one of the best days I have had in a long, long time. And when I add that it wasn't all that spectacular...that will help you know that it has been a very long time since I had a decent day. Boo Hoo...so anyway. I'll tell you a little bit about it.

Well, I met with our Parenting Coordinator this morning. (she is like this counselor who tries to help dysfunctional parents, like myself and my ex, make decisions regarding our children.) That was OK...but the outcome was pretty good since I got my way both times....and Glen had to pay for it.

After meeting with the PC, I decided to go to the court house to get some legal information. On the way in, this lady was walking out with a smile on her face (something you don't see walking out of the courthouse very often) and she looked and me and smiled and said "There is a God!!!". I turned to her and said "I know, thanks for reminding me." Anyway, I continued in and did what I needed to do. Then as I was driving away, down the road, I saw that same lady hitchhiking. Now I don't normally do this, but seeing that I was in such a good mood and she seemed in one as well, I thought it would be amusing to pick her up and find out what was making her so happy.

So I turned around and picked her up and gave her a ride to a nearby shelter. I asked her why there was a God today. She proceeded to tell me how she had fallen in love 10 years ago, (ugh! Some of us know how dangerous that starting line can be...) and had taken the rap for her boyfriend on something (I didn't pry into the details). It wasn't quite clear the outcome, but I guessed that she had been given community service by the court at the shelter I was taking her to. She told me that the people who are assigned community service usually are more trouble than they are worth at those projects, therefore the managers usually don't treat them very well. She told me that when she got there she decided to do a good job and soon the managers liked her. So now that she is not required to do community service any more, she still wants to help out there. I thought that was cool. It kind of reminded me of the story of Joseph...then I started thinking of Donny and started drooling and ....never mind.

So back to my story...I dropped her off at the shelter. She shook my hand, Thanked me, and told me her name was Nancy, and I told her my name was Robin. We both told each other to have a nice day...and I think my day will be nicer for it and I hope hers will be too.

I don't know...but I think that is kind of a cool story.

After that, I took my kids to Arby's for lunch...kind of a celebration of my win...but I was under strict orders not to present the results with the PC to the children as a win for me. So I told them "Your Dad and I had a discussion with Dr. Joy and we have agreed...< that I could have my way >" The kids both knew it was not their dad that agreed, but that was how I was ordered to present it. WINK WINK!

And then.........I picked up my first paycheck in a long, long time. $91.43!!! Woooooo!!

And then my kids came home from school and we played Dance Dance Revolution

And then my mom took me to dinner to celebrate.

And then I found out that today is Chinese New Year...so Happy Chinese New Year!....

And when I read about Chinese New Year...they say that if your Chinese New Year day is good, then it means the rest of your year will be good. YEAH!!!

I am going to go to bed right now...just in case.

Good night!

A tribute to all my very cold Utah friends....

2008-02-05T12:44:00.001-08:00

....and a reminder to me that the grass is not always greener in Utah...especially in the winter...

*Diary of a Snow Shoveler*

December 8: 6:00 PM. It started to snow. The first snow of the season and the wife and I took our cocktails and sat for hours by the window watching the huge soft flakes drift down from heaven. It looked like a Grandma Moses Print. So romantic we felt like newlyweds again. I love snow!

December 9: We woke to a beautiful blanket of crystal white snow covering every inch of the landscape. What a fantastic sight! Can there be a more lovely place in the Whole World? Moving here was the best idea I've ever had. Shoveled for the first time in years, felt like a boy again. I did both our driveway and the sidewalks. This afternoon the snowplow came along and covered up the sidewalks and closed in the driveway, so I got to shovel again. What a perfect life.

December 12: The sun has melted all our lovely snow. Such a disappointment. My neighbor tells me not to worry, we'll definitely have a white Christmas. No snow on Christmas would be awful! Bob says we'll have so much snow by the end of winter, that I'll never want to see snow again. I don't think that's possible. Bob is such a nice man, I'm glad he's our neighbor.

December 14: Snow, lovely snow! 8" last night. The temperature dropped to -20. The cold makes everything sparkle so. The wind took my breath away, but I warmed up by shoveling the driveway and sidewalks. This is the life! The snowplow came back this afternoon and buried everything again. I didn't realize I would have to do quite this much shoveling, but I'll certainly get back in shape this way. I wish I wouldn't huff and puff so.

December 15: 20 inches forecast. Sold my van and bought a 4x4 Blazer. Bought snow tires for the wife's car and two extra shovels. Stocked the freezer. The wife wants a wood stove in case the electricity goes out. I think that's silly. We aren't in Alaska, after all.

December 16: Ice storm this morning. Fell on my butt on the ice in the driveway putting down salt. Hurt like heck. The wife laughed for an hour, which I think was very cruel.

December 17: Still way below freezing. Roads are too icy to go anywhere. Electricity was off for five hours. I had to pile the blankets on to stay warm. Nothing to do but stare at the wife and try not to irritate her. Guess I should've bought a wood stove, but won't admit it to her. I hate it when she's right. I can't believe I'm freezing to death in my own living room.

December 20: Electricity's back on, but had another 14" of the darn stuff last night. More shoveling. Took all day. Darn snowplow came by twice. Tried to find a neighbor kid to shovel, but they said they're too busy playing hockey. I think they're lying. Called the only hardware store around to see about buying a snow blower, and they're out. Might have another shipment in March. I think they're lying. Bob says I have to shovel or the city will have it done and bill me. I think he's lying.

December 22: Bob was right about a white Christmas, because 13 more inches of the white crap fell today, and it's so cold it probably won't melt 'til August. Took me 45 minutes to get all dressed up to go out to shovel, and then I had to pee. By the time I got undressed, peed and dressed again, I was too tired to shovel! Tried to hire Bob, who has a plow on his truck, for the rest of the winter; but he says he's too busy. I think the jerk is lying.

December 23: Only 2" of snow today, and it warmed up to "0". The wife wanted me to decorate the front of the house this morning. What, is she nuts!!! Why didn't she tell me to do that a month ago? She says she did, but I think she's lying.

December 24: 6". Snow packed so hard by snowplow, I broke the shovel. Thought I was having a heart attack. If I ever catch the SOB who drives that snowplow, I'll drag him through the snow by his hair and beat him to death with my broken shovel. I know he hides around the corner and waits for me to finish shoveling and then he comes down the street at a 100 miles an hour and throws snow all over everywhere I've just been! Tonight the wife wanted me to sing Christmas carols with her and open our presents, but I was too busy watching for the darn snowplow.

December 25: Merry Christmas!!!! 20 more inches of the fricking slop tonight. Snowed in. The idea of shoveling makes my blood boil. I hate the snow! Then the snowplow driver came by asking for a donation and I hit him over the head with my shovel. The wife says I have a bad attitude. I think she's a fricking idiot. If I have to watch "It's a Wonderful Life" one more time, I'm going to stuff her into the microwave.

December 26: Still snowed in. Why the heck did I ever move here? It was all HER idea. She's really getting on my nerves.

December 27: Temperature dropped to -30, and the pipes froze. Plumber came after 14 hours of waiting for him; he only charged me $1,400 to replace all my pipes.

December 28: Warmed up to above 5. Still snowed in. SHE'S is driving me crazy!!!!!

December 29: 10 more inches. Bob says I have to shovel the roof or it could cave in. That's the silliest thing I ever heard. How dumb does he think I am?

December 30: Roof caved in. I beat up the snow plow driver. He is now suing me for a million dollars; not for only the beating I gave him, but also for trying to shove the broken snow shovel up his nose. The wife went home to her mother. 9" predicted.

December 31: I set fire to what's left of the house. No more shoveling.

January 8: Feel so good. I just love those little white pills they keep giving me. Why am I tied to the bed?

Good-bye Widdow...

2008-01-10T18:49:00.000-08:00

Widdow is dead... Did I ever mention the Weimaraner (Mona...changed to Mona Lisa) I got for free at a garage sale a couple of weeks ago? No? Well, my sister was going to take her off my hands, but changed her mind after she destroyed her home. So I brought her back, left for two minutes...and in 2 minutes Widdow was a gonner. Note to self: Never leave a bird dog to tend the chickens. Good bye Widdow... Good news though...I sold Mona Lisa on Craigslist for $200...cha ching! Someone remind me that I don't do well with new pets...the next time I decide to pick up a freebie....

We got a new pet...

2008-01-03T16:41:00.000-08:00

This little chicken flew into my former Bishop's back yard yesterday and I was the first person they thought of calling. They didn't know what to do with her, so I told them I would take her. Meet Widdow...as in Widdow Chicken. She is about the size of a pigeon and about 1/4 the size of my other chickens and not very popular with them...the old biddies. Hopefully they will all warm up to each other...we'll see. The kids were sure excited about her when they came home this morning.

Happy New Year!!

2008-01-01T18:01:00.000-08:00

Well, another year has come and gone. Last night we did the annual Christmas Tree/Firework display...do you want to see it? Jacob video taped it with his new camera...here it is...

I must tell you it is a much more awesome sight in person. In the background you can hear the fire alarm Christmas Tree ornament that I bought...it warns you if your tree is on fire. We were amazed that it kept working long after the trees were done burning. The whole process almost makes one nervous when the fire really starts to get big...part of the excitement is the nervous fear that something could go very wrong...and the hope that it doesn't. Sounds crazy, I know...but when it was all done Jacob let me know that I am much more fun than his dad on New Years Eve...chalk another one up for me. OK that was unnecessary.... (New Year's Resolution #1.....Forgive and get over it ....blah, blah, blah!) New Year's Resolution #2 - Lose 20 lbs. New Year's Resolution #3 Be kinder and if it doesn't need to be said...don't say it. I have a lot more...but I will spare you. By this time next year...I'll be a whole different person! What are your New Year's Resolutions??

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

2007-12-25T10:27:00.001-08:00

OK...MY INTENTIONS WERE GOOD (AS THEY USUALLY ARE) THAT I WOULD ACTUALLY SEND CHRISTMAS CARDS OUT, BUT LIFE JUST NEVER SLOWED DOWN...I KNOW POOR EXCUSE, BUT IT IS MINE. ANYWAY...MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL MY FRIENDS OUT THERE!!!

I FOUND THIS ON THE INTERNET, THOUGHT YOU MIGHT ENJOY IT:

Christmas Carols for the "Disturbed"

1. Schizophrenia - "Do you hear what I hear?"

2. Multiple Personality Disorder - "We Three Kings Disoriented"

3. Dementia - "I Think I'll Be Home For Christmas"

4. Narcissistic - "Hark the Hearald Angels Sing About Me"

5. Manic - "Deck the Halls and Walls and House and Lawn and Streets"

6. Paranoid - "Santa Claus is Coming to Town to Get Me"

7. Borderline Personality Disorder - "Thoughts of Roasting on an Open Fire"

8. Personality Disorder - "You Better Watch Out, I'm Gonna Cry, I'm Gonna Pout, Maybe I'll Tell You Why"

9. Attention Deficit Dsorder - " Silent Night, Holy ooooh look at the froggy; can I have a chocolate; why is France so far away?

10. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - "Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells...

__________________

I AM CERTAIN THAT I AM IDENTIFYING WITH AT LEAST A COUPLE OF THOSE....

HAVE A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS DAY....AND NEW YEAR!!

Trans Siberian Orchestra...

2007-11-18T09:32:00.000-08:00

OK...There was this guy on Craigslist yesterday giving a ticket to TSO away for the concert last night. He said he wasn't looking for a date, but proceeded to explain that he was a "DWM, 43 and down to earth." So I don't know if a date was what he had in mind or what, but I was more interested in finding out what "TSO" was. Well...as mentioned in the title it is the "Trans Siberian Orchestra"...have you ever heard of them? I am sure you have...somehow I can be oblivious to some things... They are like this heavy metal orchestra rock band...and I think they are soooo cool. And wish with all my heart I had purchased tickets last night for me and the kids to see them...at $75 a pop for nose bleed seats mind you. Anyway...the kids and I have been listening to them this morning and having a great time. We are preparing our Thanksgiving Day feast today...(the kids are with their Dad for the actual Thanksgiving this year). So it is making us feel excited for the holidays. I have a couple for you to look at...we especially like this one and were singing it together...we're almost as good....

Christmas Canon

And this guy did quite a wonderful light show with the Wizards in Winter

Now tell me that they are not cool. I have instantly purchased 3 CDs on Ebay...I can hardly wait to get them. Oops, I am typing to the music...better go.

Girlfriends....

2007-11-13T09:09:00.000-08:00

Sarah, my wonderful daughter just turned 12. She is in the 6th grade, and (ugh!) this is the age in which some girls begin to show their true...nasty...colors. Whether it is getting upset because one girl played with someone else today, or the sulking and and game playing and saying things like "I'll forgive you, when you figure out why I am mad and apologize" (Yes, Sarah actually had a friend say that yesterday.) Do you remember Adolescence? I don't know about the rest of you, but I remember it vividly...as a horror movie. I hated my early teen years. I guess the good thing is I can coach her on how to handle it better than I did. What I really love is Sarah trusts me and actually listens and takes my advice. I hope that continues for many years to come. If I could only do those years over...ACKKKK! What am I saying...?

Anyway...that isn't exactly why I am writing today. As I had a long conversation yesterday about how awful girls can be and how Sarah can avoid the pitfalls of it all...from avoiding gossip... understanding that if one friend is talking bad about their other friend to Sarah, she probably talks badly about Sarah to the other friends, and if one girl is nicer, smarter than the other girls, they will likely not like her because she is nicer and smarter...Go figure...And how to be nice and friendly to all people yet set boundaries and not be a doormat... Ah, so much to tell and so little time.

Well as I was telling her all this stuff, I began to use some of my friends as examples...of how there are some friends who just don't do that. And I realized that I am truly blessed to have, instead of lots and lots of friends, a handful of girlfriends who are truly my friends. Who NEVER make me feel like a doormat, who don't mind if I play with my other friends, who don't play passive/aggressive head games with me, and who don't mind if I AM cuter than them (Inside joke for Paige). But really, some of you read my blog. Some I don't talk to as often as I would like, but I still love because I know you are sincere and good and not like those women I was warned about as a kid growing up. When it comes down to it women can be women's worst enemy with all the competition, gossip, and game playing that goes on. But Women can also be women's best asset when you have girlfriends like I do. So to all my girlfriends...thanks for being the kind of people I could use as an example of true friends to my daughter. Thanks for letting her see what true girlfriends are all about.

I cleaned my pantry...

2007-11-11T07:17:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite things is a clean pantry. It is one of the few areas of my house that when it gets cleaned, it will stay clean for a while...even a month or two. It is also a long process and an area I only get to about once a year...and I cleaned it early last summer. But I began to see little flying creatures and wormy things and knew that something (s) must have been infested and it was getting out of control. So I began. I did in fact find some Jiffy Corn Bread boxes and a bag of rice that became Chicken feed due to infestation. I also froze some boxes that were in question...only because I couldn't open them and look in.. (I hate it when I go to cook some mac 'n cheese and little "things" float to the top) So I figured if they are in there, at least they will be dead and not contributing to the increase of crawly things.

So here's another thing I did that was kind of cool. I took out all the stuff that I didn't want and that we were not going to eat (good stuff...not the bug infested stuff) and offered them on Craigslist. But instead of offering them for free, I decided to see if I could get someone to go to the store and bring me a couple of gallons of milk...not because I couldn't get milk, but because I didn't want to...and this kind of thing amuses me (Hey, I can't drink, Paige and I have given up sugar, and I can't have se...Never mind...Anyway, something has to amuse me.). So, believe it or not I had a gillion responses, and I got 4 gallons of milk brought to me in trade for my food that we were not ever going to eat and a bunch of expired food storage. Now that's cool!...if not a little weird... I think next time I will see if I can get a dozen eggs....

WOW! What a trip!!!

2007-10-31T13:18:00.000-07:00

So this crazy thing happened last night. What? You ask? I'll tell you.

I am coming down with a cold, so before going to bed last night I took a shot of my favorite alcoholic beverage...NyQuil...so I could rest...and went to bed. Sometime in the middle of some dream in which I am yelling at someone...or something...I don't really remember, I heard this loud screech and a crash. I jumped out of bed, immediately thinking that someone had hit one of my Vanagons...Oh the tragedy that would be. Within seconds I was at my front door opening it to see what had happened. I looked out at my neighborhood...so quiet you could hear a pin drop. All I heard was the sound of a car in the not too far distance driving down the main street nearby and then silence. Nobody else was freaking out wondering what that horrific noise was. Nobody else had bolted to their door, heart racing... In fact, it was apparent I was the only person who had heard a noise...including my kids. Well, feeling really confused...not to mention kind of silly, I sat dumbfounded on my couch and tried to sort out why I jumped out of my bed and ran to the door....I was also waiting for my heart stop racing and was wondering if going back to sleep would be a possibility. Anyway, I did go back to bed...taking note of the time (1:45)...just in case the police would need to know...in the event I actually did bolt out of bed for some reason. I went back to sleep but kept waking up paranoid that perhaps the noise I heard was someone trying to break into my house...and wondering if it was the NyQuil that was making me so paranoid. I imagine for someone who doesn't drink...it wouldn't take much to do funky things to one's head...

Anyway, this morning I couldn't get the experience out of my head...you know like those dreams that when you wake up you are glad they weren't real, but they still feel real all day...you know what I mean? That's how I felt. I told Sarah about the experience and she thought it was weird. Later I told her that I just couldn't tell if it was real or a dream. She asked me how I would ever know. I told her I guess if I drove around the block and saw a wrecked car, I would know it was real.

So on the way to school, Jacob asked me to help him find his cello music. I thought he might have left it in one of my Vanagons...so I went out to look. I got past the back of my Vanagon...and there it was. A totally smashed car. Wow! I didn't have a NyQuil induced hallucination...It was real. I called Sarah over to look and both of us were relieved that I am not crazy...or at least that experience was not evidence of it...

I talked to one of my neighbors about it later and asked if she heard it...NOPE. Nobody in my whole neighborhood heard it...go figure. I finally called the police about it at about 10:00... He was pretty amazed that nobody had called earlier, and that nobody but me had even heard it. I have posted some photos of my view from my front door...and then the car just past the end of my Vanagon. Quite a hit to move it up on the sidewalk and into the brick fence post. I imagine someone else's car isn't looking so good this morning...I bet he/she's not feeling very good either. And while I am sorry for my neighbor...who I don't believe has even seen it yet, I am so relieved it wasn't one of my Vanagons. Whew!

Talk about your trippy Halloween Story!!!! I hope you all have a wonderful time tonight!

**************************

2007-10-31T13:16:00.001-07:00

Works for me....

2007-10-24T19:56:00.000-07:00

Paige likes to post "Works for me Wednesday" tips. Well, today I have one of my own. I am so proud of myself that I came up with this one all by myself. I even checked the internet and couldn't find anyone who had discovered this clever little trick....

Well First let me start of by telling you that Saturday was Sarah's 12th birthday. She had her party on Friday. We played the game "Curses"...which was a hilarious hit...thanks Paige... and the kids also carved watermelons...yes watermelons. It was Sarah's Idea...and was also quite a hit. She even entered her carved watermelon in the pumpkin carving contest the next evening and won most original.

Anyway...back to my tip...

Sarah wanted to have a bunch of balloons everywhere for her birthday...she loves balloons. So I bought about 150 balloons and figured I would use my air mattress pump to blow them up. Wrong...not enough pressure...bummer...now what am I going to do. I tried my air compressor...that didn't work either. So I blew one up on my own...OUCH...my ear hurts! OK there was no way I was going to do that 150 times. So I came up with this great idea....here it is...If you soak balloons in very warm water for a while they are waaaay easier to blow up. Did you know that? I blew up 50 balloons in about 10 minutes and it never hurt my ears! So in no time we had a whole bunch of balloons all around the house...we still do. OK...so there's my tip... What do you think about that...?

Warning....Failure to move head....

2007-10-21T12:34:00.001-07:00

....when opening door could be hazardous to your health. I think this warning should be posted on all car doors. I talked to my lawyer about it and asked him if I had a law suit on my hands....after he got through ROTFLHBO....he told me he would check with his associates to see if they would let him take my case. Yes, yesterday when I was out garage sale-ing, I went to get into my van, however I failed to move my head prior to opening the door. The next thing you know...I am holding my bleeding head, saying a few choice words, and thinking "was that really necessary?". Anyway...I had a DR in my ward look at it to see if stitches were needed, but it had already sealed itself closed...so no stitches...but I will have a lovely little scar...that I have happily lived 38 years without. I guess I failed for opening car doors that day...Hopefully, I'll do better...I think I have it down now...Approach Vehicle, Grab Handle, MOVE HEAD, Pull Handle, Open Door, get in, sit down...BE SURE FINGERS ARE CLEAR...just in case, close door. GOT IT!!! It doesn't look so bad when I put make up over it...Thank Heavens!!

I don't know what posesses me...

2007-10-16T20:33:00.000-07:00

The other day I saw this ad on Craigslist from a guy who had found a little 5 day old kitten abandoned in his back yard. He left it there to cry for about 30 minutes and then decided the mom was not coming back so he took it in. He bought the special milk and supplies to feed it. Then, I guess he realized that he had to work the next day, he put an ad on Craigslist to find someone who had nothing better to do than bottle feed a tiny little kitten day and night. Not only bottle feed, but help clean and potty the little thing. Did you know that mommy kitties lick their kittens because they need help going potty? I didn't...so if you take in an orphan kitty you have to use a wash cloth to simulate the mommy kitty licking them. It really is a lot of work! You have to do this every time you feed it... which is about every 2 or 3 hours or so. Also it needs to be kept at 90 degrees....which is not comfortable for most of us...anyway...here's a picture of the sweet little girl...she is only 6 days old...Isn't she sweet?

Girl's Night Out...

2007-09-30T09:31:00.000-07:00

Here's a fun thing to blog about...

I have 2 friends, that I met at a parenting support group about 10 years ago, that I get together with about once a month for dinner and talking. We take turns choosing where we are going to eat so we get to try a great variety of restaurants and kinds of food. Then we sit and talk for hours...usually about 6 or 7...about our kids/grandkids, and life and stuff. I really look forward to it. Well last time we got together, Sannea, one of the friends, indicated that she would like to learn how to make wheat meat. I have made Wheat Meat before so I suggested that this month they come to my house and we make wheat meat for dinner. So that's what we did last night...tacos were on the menu. I wish I had taken pictures...it was fun and in the end, the tacos were pretty good. You really wouldn't know you were not eating ground beef. My friends were impressed. The only problem is it took about 2 hours to make, so while we waited we ate chips and dip, and by the time the tacos were made, we were full. They were good, but would have been much yummier had any of us been hungry. I have left overs today...I wonder if I could get Sarah and Jacob to eat it. Sarah probably...but Jacob...naw! Oh well, it's worth a try.

Other exciting things...Sarah is playing Volleyball and Jacob is playing flag football. Jacob insisted that he didn't want to play numerous times, but I signed him up anyway and made him go. He wasn't happy with me and asked what he will do if there are people he doesn't like. I told him to think of the people he will like. Just as we pulled up the ONE kid (Dallin) that just torments Jacob came to view. My heart sank. As we walked up Dallin made a groaning noise and insisted Jacob would be on the Red Team...Dallin, of course was on the Blue Team. Well I got angry and got in his face and pointed my finger at him and told him "Dallin, I do not suggest you mess with my son!"...In as threatening and scary a voice as I could muster. He looked surprised and I began to walk away. Two steps later I whirled around again, gave him a very serious and threating look and said through gritted teeth, "...And I mean it, don't mess with him!". Then I took two more steps, turned around again, gave him a very threatening look and pointed my finger at him. (Can we say "Mother Bear"?) Then we walked on, fully confident that I had no idea what I would do if he did mess with Jacob, but knowing he knew I was serious about it...what ever it was. I didn't know whether or not Jacob would appreciate his mom protecting him...boys can be funny about that especially if the other boys tease him. He said "Thanks mom."...I love "Thanks mom"...it is simple, but always makes me feel really good...because I have done the right thing in my kid's eyes.

Well, Jacob played his flag football game and I even watched him run a touchdown. He really liked it and was excited to go again 2 days later. Whew...what a relief.

I have truly found it this time...

2007-08-23T06:09:00.001-07:00

I bet your leeetle seessee van can't do dees..........Syncro De Mayo...here we come!!! This is the coolest Vanagon ever! (That I can afford). Introducing the latest...the greatest...my 1987 Volkswagen Vanagon SYNCRO...with full Westfalia Package. (That's all the camping gear). There were only about 1500 of these babies sold in the US...and I have one of them...and a nice one at that. It is a 4-wheel drive with bush guard...for going through the trees on the way to the campgrounds...way out where no body can find us. It has a receiver hitch on front and back...you can see the back one in the picture. I can carry all my stuff without it falling on Sarah and Jacob when I turn. It came with a TV/VCR, microwave, potty and power inverter...as well as a generator.

When I drive down the street people turn their heads...they are sooooo Jealous. Do you know how I know that? Because I used to be jealous when I saw one of these...cause I wanted one. Now I have one and THEY are ALL so jealous. By the way...I stole it and there were about 6 back up people who were very annoyed that I got there first. This guy was one of them....yeah, go get a Jetta...you'll feel better.....NAAAAWT! (It's kind of like radio contest winning...only...first one there wins...better luck next time!)

I had to sell my kids into slavery to pay for this baby...but you know as the song goes...Vanagon Syncros can be together forever....Ahhh! True happiness!

(Kemp thinks I am a member of some secret cult... What do you think?)

True Happiness??

2007-08-21T15:54:00.000-07:00

I never did properly introduce many of you to my newer Vanagon. You all saw the photos of the really cool one with the murals and the cool head liner... Well that one is long gone and I bought another one last May. These are the pictures of that one. Some of you saw it when I drove it to Utah last month.

I thought I had found the true happiness I had been seeking. But I realize now that it was only a temporary fix. True happiness cannot be found in my 1990 Vanagon Westfalia....no matter how nice...even if it does come equipped with power everything, cruise control...even Air Conditioning isn't enough...nice, but not the source of true happiness. It made me feel happy for a short while...but it isn't true, lasting happiness... You know, when I look back at my blog about the little yellow Vanagon (Affectionately known as Midnight), I thought that was true happiness too. That is not to say that I am not happy...I am. I have just realized that my happiness can't be found in those Vanagons...I can't believe I could be so very, very wrong...

First week of school.

2007-08-17T17:12:00.001-07:00

School has begun and the kids have just finished their first week. You know, I am not like those parents who just can't wait for the kids to start school. I mean, who am I going to play with while they are gone? OK, I must admit, having lunch with friends is fun...I love that and have done it twice this week. I also must admit I get a heck of a lot more accomplished when they are gone. But I would rather be playing with them than making money...Isn't there some way I can make money playing with them? That would be nice. Anyway, I think their week went well...

On another note...I have a date tonight. His name is Mike. He and I went out on a blind date almost 2 years ago. We went to one of my favorite Italian restaurants and had a really nice time. When the date was over, I thought...What a nice guy! I hope he asks me out again. Well, he didn't...until 2 weeks ago. Two weeks ago I got a letter from him asking if I remembered him and him explaining about lost phone numbers and busy lives...blah, blah, blah... Anyway, he told me that he did enjoy our date and that he got my address on a drive by...how romantic... Anyway, he asked me out...provided I wasn't currently seeing anyone...and since I am not...we had a date. It was really nice. Good conversation, nice guy. He gave me a hug good bye...WOW...great hugs too!

So tonight Mike (AKA once a year Mike) is making me dinner. Chicken Fettucini Alfredo...he cooks too. And guess what???? HE HAS A STABLE JOB! So with all that going for him...why do I dread the whole thing? I mean...not really, but I just hate starting over. You all know I s*ck at breaking up and I just hate starting a relationship with someone knowing that if and when I need to break up, I won't be able to. Is that dumb or what‽‽‽‽ I've only had 2 dates, think he is nice, HE HAS A JOB and all the other niceties yet I am planning my break up. Is it any wonder I am still single‽‽‽‽

Mind over matter...we're going to have a great time. I am going to not think about breaking up unless I see good reason to think about it. I don't have to date someone for let's say 4 years before I break up...right? Who knows...maybe by this time next year...I'LL BE MARRIED AND PREGNANT. I wonder if he wants to have more kids...

WEDGES....

2007-08-01T11:59:00.000-07:00

Here's my random thought for the day...or month...however long it takes for me to post again... It may not be important to you...or even interesting, but it is a thought I want to write about, and this is my space to do that.

Have you all read and/or received the home teaching lesson for July? It is by Thomas S. Monson...about hidden wedges. My home teachers gave me the lesson on Sunday and it really made me think. The lesson suggests that hidden wedges are things we have not forgiven which weaken us. It teaches that unless we forgive the wedge will weaken if not destroy. OK...that's simple...Forgive...it is what we have been taught for years...right?

Well, I think it is more than that. We all have wedges and those wedges are what make us who we are. Some have many more wedges than others. What is the sign that we have a wedge? Sensitivity...especially hypersensitivity to ANYTHING is a sign that there is a wedge or many wedges that are affecting our lives. I know that there are two people in particular that I am hypersensitive to...My mother and Glen. I think I am quite tolerant and friendly to most people and will tolerate a lot of offenses without getting bent out of shape, but when it comes to those two it doesn't take much to get me riled. That is a sign that even though I think I have forgiven their many offenses, there is a wedge (or many wedges) causing the hypersensitivity. Those wedges were planted years ago when someone did something that hurt me and I made a decision of trust or mistrust about that incident. They were planted when my needs didn't get met by someone, when someone said something unkind to me, when I made determinations about my self-worth based upon how someone treated me. They were planted when I made determinations about someone else's worth based upon how that person made me feel. In short, I have been placing wedges in my life since I was born. We learn that if someone loves us, we feel loved and valued. If someone hurts us we don't trust and we feel less valued...I am sure you all have seen this poem:

A Child Learns What He Lives
By Dorothy Law Nolte, Ph.D.

If children live with criticism,
they learn to condemn.

If children live with hostility,
they learn to fight.

If children live with ridicule,
they learn to feel shy.

If children live with shame,
they learn to feel guilty.

If children live with tolerance,
they learn patience.

If children live with praise,
they learn appreciation.

If children live with fairness,
they learn justice.

If children live with security,
they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them.

If children live with friendliness,
they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.

Well, the first 4 indicate that a child in that situation has the wedges of criticism, hostility, shame, ridicule planted in his life and the result or symptom...or self-defense of that wedge is condemning, fighting, shyness and guilt. Even the opposites of the last 5 will be wedges...if I child lives with intolerance, the child learns to be impatient and intolerant...and so forth. The child doesn't have these symptoms so much as a failure to forgive but as a natural defense or barrier to being hurt...things the child probably never even knew were forgiveness issues...they just were a part of that child's life.

We all have them...look at your life and see any area in which you are sensitive...especially hypersensitive...perhaps you have a neighbor who is bugging you, or an ex-husband who is being a jerk, or one of your kids are on your last nerve, or someone who you just can't stand to be around, or you are frustrated with the car ahead of you in traffic...etc...you get the drift. All of these are signs that there is a wedge in your life. They are all reactions to the defense that has been put up because of your life's experiences and the conclusions you have made with respect to those experiences.

So what is one to do about the perhaps hundreds of wedges in one's life. Wedges that were planted before we even knew they were being planted, wedges that have been so deeply engrained in our lives for so many years we don't even know they exist. I don't really know. Ideally we should forgive every little offense that has ever occurred. Not just what happens today...but every single past offense...even the ones we don't remember but have shaped who we have become.

I think the only way to do this is to wake up each morning with a clean slate for myself and a clean slate for every single person on the planet. If I have truly forgiven then EVERYONE has a clean slate...my mom, my ex-husband, my kids, my neighbors, etc. I can't not trust my neighbor because he did something yesterday...that would be a wedge. 70 X 7...keep trusting as if your trust has never been abused. I can't get irritated at my mother because she frequently tries to manipulate me... 70 X 7...be patient as if she has never irritated you before. I can't get mad at my son because he won't eat his food 70 X 7... OK...he's not eaten his food more than 490 times...can I just get a bit irritated about that? NO...that irritation is a sign of a wedge...no matter how many times...

Do you get my drift? We are who we are because of wedges or a lack of wedges. If you see someone who is especially negative or angry with the world, it is likely that many people or experiences have hurt that person and there are so many wedges in his life that he can hardly function. Those who are typically patient and pleasant have either mastered the art of forgiveness to the max, or they have not had many hurtful experiences to place the wedge in the first place...or they are now on mood altering medication.

I have come to realize that I have numerous...or should I say numberless little wedges in my life that are causing me great difficulty. They are what make me the person I am. They are what determine how I feel about my "neighbor"...that being all people. So I am going to make it my goal to remove as many wedges as possible, to wake up every morning with a clean slate for everybody I encounter that day. Do you think it is possible?...it sounds hard and will take time to become a habit...but that is what I think is the real meaning behind the "Parable of the Wedge".

Anyway...there's my blog. Perhaps it was not much to follow and you are not here with me to the end... If you did follow me...I would love to know your take on Wedges.

I have finally picked a major!!!

2007-07-17T20:35:00.000-07:00

It has been almost 20 years since I left my home in Scottsdale, Arizona to begin my new adventure as a BYU Co-ed. While in Provo, I had some fabulous times and met some of my very best friends. (In fact, I am at one of those best friends' house right now for summer vacation... She is the very reason I am actually blogging after so many months of silence. ) Unfortunately, while I was meeting new friends and having lots of fun, I never was able to pick a major... I mean at 18 years old I was supposed to know what I wanted to be when I grew up‽‽ So needless to say, I continued having fun, meeting new friends, and not picking a major all the way out of BYU.

Well, it has taken me 20 years, but I have finally done it!!! I have chosen my major...(Paige insisted that I blog about it.) I am going to get a bachelor's degree in Family History. Yep...that's right...Family History. I am going to be a Genealogy Specialist and people will pay me to research their family history. The way I came to this decision was quite providential and I am excited to get started. BYU is the only college in America that offers a Bachelor Degree in Family History. It is a good thing I am up here in Utah so I can go to a guidance counselor at BYU to find out what will be required. So now I have chosen a major and I don't have to think about that any more...In the words of Forrest Gump..."That's one less thing!"....

Also in the words of Forrest Gump..."That's all I've got to say about that."

Raingutter Regatta...it could go two ways!!!

2007-04-28T19:11:00.000-07:00

Today was Jacob's Cub Scout Raingutter Regatta. Our ward decided that too many boys (or their fathers) have become proficient at Pinewood Derby Cars, therefore they opted to have a Raingutter Regatta race instead. So I, not having the first clue about building a Pinewood Derby car, much less a Boat, agreed to help Jacob build his Boat. Last year Jacob built a Truck for his Pinewood Derby car. When it weighed in as too light, I suggested that we glue BBs to the bed of the truck to look like it was carrying a load in back. Well, Jacob didn't win the race, and of course that was because of MY suggestion to put BBs in. He reminded me of that recently and truly believes if it hadn't been for the BBs he would have won. Never mind all the super cool, suped up, aerodynamic, slick and greased up cars that were entered...it was MY fault he lost because I suggested BBs. Go figure.

So when I took on the Raingutter Regatta I realized it could make or break me as a worthwhile mother. I got on the internet and did a little research to find the tricks to making a winning boat. I found that the catamaran does a much better job and Jacob and I went to designing the boat. I tried to let Jacob do most of it, but helped out a bit. We came up with a pretty decent design, however, neither of us are excellent at decorating such a thing...believe it or not, I can't paint decently to save my life...not even if it is just to paint it one color. So the boat was pretty plain...silver with a Blue Foil Sail.

As we were preparing to go, Jacob was certain he was going to win as he was convinced we had a secret weapon in building a catamaran instead of the typical boat. I warned him that about 1/2 of the boys would likely have done the same as they had access to the internet as well. It came to the moment of truth...the event that would make or break me as a mother for at least another year. The first race, Jacob lost...OUCH! I could see the tears being choked back....I just knew I was going to hear it soon...all my fault! The next race...JACOB WON!!! Yea!!! There is hope. Third and Fourth races...JACOB WON!!!. That put Jacob in the final race for his Den where he had to race the boy who beat him before...twice. If he didn't win both times, he would come in 2nd. First race...JACOB WON! Second race...Jacob Lost...but only by a little bit. Not wanting the excitement to go completely south, I cheered him and told him he came in 2nd place and how great that was. Jacob hugged me and said "Thanks Mom for helping me with my Boat!!!" YES!!!!!!!!!! I am a good Mom! And that's what it's all about!!!

A little political humor....

2007-04-25T11:54:00.001-07:00

PERFORMED BY ROBERT LUND (2:23)

Click here...
Download MP3 (3.3 MB)

HERE I AM WITH PRESIDENT ROMNEY
Parody of Allan Sherman's "Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh" (itself a parody of Ponchielli's "Dance of the Hours")
Lyrics by M. Spaff Sumsion

PERFORMED BY ROBERT LUND (2:23)
Download MP3 (3.3 MB)

Featured on the Dr. Demento Show April 15, 2007
Complete this request form and harass the Doc into playing it again!

Hello Hillary, Hey Giuliani
Here I am with President Romney
How he won this was a riot
Newsweek caught you two in bathrobes at the Hyatt

Mitt says our land needs reformin'
'Cause it's not completely Mormon
So protesters must speak softly
And the War on Drugs now targets tea and coffee

For his talks with dignitaries
Mitt just sends the missionaries
And state dinners - gee, they're mellow
All the heads of state bring casserole and Jell-o

Heads on Rushmore - you would dig 'em
Mitt just sculpted Brother Brigham
And the anthem needed switchin'
So it's now "I Hope They Call Me on a Mission"

Oh my word
He got elected
Oh my gosh
How unexpected
'Cause he's quite
Distinctly male and white
Despite
His V.P. Gladys Knight

Oh my heck
The far right trounces
Mormon lives
So Mitt renounces
Plural wives
But deep down they're OK
As long as none are gay

Now I don't know where we're headin'
But it might be Armageddon
So you sinners better move it
'Cause we're in the latter days and Mitt will prove it

I must meet the Elders' Quorum
At the White House here in Orem
So I'll run now - this is awesome
We'll be swearing in Chief Justice Donny Osmond!

Easter Traditions...

2007-04-09T09:30:00.000-07:00

One tradition I started with my kids last year and continued with this year is making Peeps S'mores. I give the kids (among other things) peeps, hollow chocolate bunnies and graham crackers in their easter basket. Then in the evening just before we go to bed, we start a fire in the fireplace and roast peeps over the fire. If you do it right the sugar carmelizes nicely, they turn a beautiful golden brown. Then we use the hollow bunny and the grahams to make s'mores. The kids really look forward to this somewhat cruel practice...Here are some photos of the event...

2007-04-09T09:28:00.000-07:00

LENT IS OVER WHEN?....

Well, I made it through Lent. Actually, I was reading on the internet and it appears that there is some controversy among the Catholics about when the Lenten Fast actually ends. Some say on Palm Sunday...the Sunday before Easter. Holy Thursday....the Thursday before Easter. Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. Anyway...this year I decided it ended on Good Friday. This was more of a pending PMS/emotional decision. So for 3 days solid I ate mostly sugar beginning with a wonderful butterscotch rice crispy treat and going on to 3 Cadbury Creme Eggs...which I bought for Easter, Sugar coated almonds given to me for Valentine's day...all in just a few short hours on Friday. Saturday was ever more decadent...starting with the 4th Cadbury Creme Egg and a sleeve of Do-si-dos Girl Scout Cookies for breakfast, a 1/2 eaten bag of wonderfully stale marshmallows, another sleeve plus 4 of Girl Scout Cookies...Trefoils this time. I did eat a little spaghetti before continuing with my shameless binge. Of course Sunday I found myself surrounded with a cornucopia of sweet treats. By the end of the day, I was thoroughly disgusted not to mention nauseous....swearing I was going back to NO SUGAR on Monday. This morning I got up and ate a piece of left over stuffed French Toast with Buttermilk Syrup...OH MY GOODNESS! But that's it...I am going back to NO SUGAR...I mean it...really!!!

Rites of Passage....

2007-03-28T19:57:00.000-07:00

Right now Sarah is at her first, official, away from home (well just a block away) babysitting job. The people she is babysitting for have 5 children ranging in age from just a few months old to I think 9 or 10. That's quite a start, but she was so excited. It is surprising how nervous I am for her to babysit away from home. She is very mature and has a good head on her shoulders, but she's my baaaabyyyy.

So, while Sarah was enjoying her first babysitting job, Jacob mowed the lawn for the first time. I bought him a smallish lawnmower on Monday and told both Sarah and Jacob that they were going to learn to mow lawns and babysit. I told them of my friend Amy and her siblings who always had to earn the extra things they wanted including piano lessons and braces. I told them that they may not believe me, but working was good and made one feel confident. They moaned and groaned about the idea, but when I told them they could earn money mowing lawns and babysitting, they seemed to perk up.

Jacob can hardly wait to be proficient enough to mow other people's lawns for money. Today's job was a freebie. He's in training...training is free. Even when he's not in training...my yard gets done first and for free. He did a decent job and once the mower was warmed up, he was able to start it himself. It does take a pretty good pull to get it started...that'll toughen him up. Next we have to work on edging. He's actually excited to get to use the edger. We have a cordless edger which needs charging, otherwise he could have done that tonight as well. The battery inside sure makes them heavy though... Perhaps I'll have to get a lighter one.

I am so looking forward to the day when I won't have to pay a Lawn Boy anymore....

My babies are growing up....In some ways that's a good thing.

Giving up sugar for Lent & The Shangri La Diet

2007-03-12T21:45:00.000-07:00

So I was sitting her surfing the net...because I obviously have nothing better to do...and I Googled "giving up sugar for Lent" and came up with a whole bunch of people blogging about that very subject. I found one that was particularly amusing... In her blog she talks about the Shangri La Diet and says she lost about 9 lbs in 4 1/2 weeks drinking sugar water... Now that's my kind of diet! I think I might try it...maybe I'll do the Olive Oil while I am doing Lent though.

Lehi Days and Get over it day!!!

2007-03-10T10:23:00.000-08:00

I have been waiting for Lehi Days to come this year. It is this really cool thing where they have a rodeo and all kinds of fun kids activities like dress the goat and calf roping ...just a bunch of fun things to watch. I have been looking forward to taking my kids to it for months, but I didn't know when it was going to be...I should have checked. Well, it was last weekend...I had my kids with me, and I didn't know...so I missed it. When I heard about it I was soooo bummed. I mean REALLY bummed to the point of just ...well, you know really, really bummed... I guess there's nothing I can do about it but wait until next year and hope I know about it and my kids are interested in going, and it's my weekend to have them...arg!!!

OK so ....

Paige posted yesterday about National Get Over It Day. I have never heard of it and I didn't read her blog until today. MAN!!! I really have some stuff to get over, and if I had seen it yesterday, I would have really burned some stuff up. But NO....I didn't read it until today, and now it is too late and I am not going to be able to get over it until next year...WHATEVER!

Primary Lesson

2007-03-10T10:07:00.000-08:00

OK, so tomorrow I am supposed to do sharing time in primary and I have no idea what I am going to do. I have known about this for a couple of weeks and have thought about it, but I still can't come up with any good ideas. What I do know is that the I will be giving a lesson at 3:00 tomorrow and I will talk about something. We will sing songs, teach a lesson and attempt to make it somewhat entertaining and/or interesting. By 4:30 tomorrow I will have done that and I will be relieved. I wish I could just go forward a bit in time, watch my lesson, and then pop back here and write it up so I don't spend the day today thinking about it. Typically I am NEVER able to prepare my lesson until about 1:30 before church and I miss sacrament because the ideas won't even come before that. That's just the way my brain works. But today I am determined to have the lesson prepared today...so I won't be stressed on Sunday. I was determined to do the same last month, but sure enough I missed Sacrament while preparing my lesson...It went very well. WHY CAN'T I THINK OF ANYTHING UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE‽‽‽‽‽‽

Mid-Life Crisis...

2007-02-25T09:02:00.000-08:00

I have decided I must be going through a mid-life crisis. I just turned 38...had a lovely birthday I might add...and am considering the fact that my life hasn't gone the way I had planned...duh..
My kids are 1/2 grown and although I had hoped to remarry and have at least two more children and not raise my family as a single parent, that dream doesn't seem to be materializing. I mean, how many years will I state boldly "This time next year I will be married and pregnant"? Obviously too many as nobody believes that statement any more than they believe that I am actually going to marry or have actually broken up with Kemp. Which, I might add, may have something to do with the fact that I am not married or pregnant year after year. But I digress...Mid-life crisis... In about 10 years I will no longer have children at home. If all goes as planned...and very few things in my life ever do, but I am holding out for this one...Jacob and Sarah will both be on missions. Now we all know how fast 10 years goes by...don't we? So, when I am 48 and both Sarah and Jacob are on Missions, what am I going to do? Hopefully I will not still be selling antiques on Ebay...OK, I've been doing that for almost 10 years now and I think I have grown enough from that experience. I am grateful I have been able to do it and stay home with my kids, but a professional garage-saler/ebay specialist was not what I wanted to be when I grew up... When I was 10, I stated boldly that I was going to be the 1st woman president... When I was 12, I wanted to be an attorney...yikes! When I was 16, I wanted to be an Arby's manager. (There's ambition for you!) When I was 18 I wanted to be an architect. When I was in college, I couldn't figure out what I wanted to be. When I was 22 I wanted to be a wife and mother. When I was 30, I no longer wanted to be a wife EVER! When I was 34, I changed my mind and thought it might be nice to be a wife to a nice person. Now I am 38 and I don't know what to be...I can't go on being a hippie forever...can I? Can I? Perhaps it is time to grow up...AAKKK! I never did want to do that. But I definitely don't want to be one of those old ladies who never grew up...I am afraid they are some of the people we see walking the streets with shopping carts filled with stuff. Actually, more than that...what the heck am I supposed to do with my life‽‽ (By the way, that is called an interrobang.) (Do you think I have ADD?) Anyway...that's my blog for today...

LENT

2007-02-21T16:29:00.000-08:00

You know, I don't drink, I don't smoke, and I don't have se... never mind... You think that would be enough misery without giving up my favorite addiction...sugar. I can't think of any thing to live for any more. Not only does it coincide with my PMS as well as Paige's, but it coincides with Girl Scouts Cookies coming in and the grand opening of Neilsen's Frozen Custard. Fortunately for me my birthday is on Saturday and we always had an understanding that it was OK for me to eat sugar for my Birthday. I decided to do it big for lent and I was actually going to try to do it all in the Catholic tradition. I even wanted to go to Mass today and get ashes put on my forehead and walk around with a black cross on my head all day. I didn't get around to it, but I think I might go in on Holy Thursday and let the priest wash my feet...that might be cool. I wouldn't mind getting a palm cross on Good Friday or is that Palm Sunday. Anyway, some of the more orthodox Catholics even Fast on Wednesday & Saturdays during Lent. They also don't eat meat on Friday. It might try that. Just imagine how much weight I would lose if I fasted 2 days a week, ate no meat on Friday and no sugar for 46 days. I'll let you know how it goes. I can't imagine being any grumpier than I already am. Maybe I will wait on the fasting part until the sugar is out of my system. Sheesh!

My new song...

2007-02-20T13:23:00.000-08:00

OK...so Paige is always making up songs and goofy little poems...I came up with my own...

Here it goes...hmmmmm....

I have a Vanagon here on earth.
It is so good to me.
I want to share my life with it through all eternity.

Vanagons can be together forever.
I don't want to get hit by lightning for singing this song.

I always want to be with my own Vanagon,
and I don't want to get hit by lightning for singing this song.
I don't want to get hit by lightning for singing this song.

So what do you think? The kids and I sing this song while driving down the road in the Vanagon. We were singing the original version on Sunday in Primary, and I think I have ruined the song for at least Sarah.

VANAGON!!!!!!

2007-02-15T16:39:00.000-08:00

GUESS WHAT I BOUGHT TODAY.....

NOW I AM TRULY HAPPY! NOT THAT FLEETING KIND OF HAPPY, BUT TRUE, LASTING JOY!!!

Running...and anxiety.

2007-02-12T07:27:00.001-08:00

I used to run a lot. In fact I could run as many as 10 miles on occasion. I used to love to run. I started running because I had anxiety and running really helped with that. I would wake up in the morning with my heart pounding like crazy and I told my body if it was going to race like that, then it might just as well be running. So I started by walking around the block...a lot. Then I progressed to running and walking, then to mainly running. Eventually I could just go out and run for miles. It was so great. Believe it or not, for those of you who don't like to run, there is something that happens to your body once you get past the 1st mile. Your heart and lungs and brain all go into this Zen-like state and you feel really good. If you have never experienced it, you'll have to trust me on this one.

So anyway...somewhere between this year and last I stopped running. I don't know if it was the dating, the court case, the long hot summer, raising children, trying to make way more money than I usually need, the calling in the Primary Presidency or the care free hippie that doesn't have anxiety because she has a cool Vanagon, but I stopped running. Oh I would try to run here and there, but slowly and surely I got out of shape, and now running is painful, and my anxiety is coming back...so it is time to run again. However, I am out of shape and have to start slowly and come back.

So today, I ran a mile and it felt good...it's a start.

OK...this is weird...

2007-02-09T19:18:00.001-08:00

http://www.ifilm.com/video/2532909/collection/18519/minisite/superbowl

My blogs

2007-02-09T17:30:00.000-08:00

You know what I realized today? I can't possibly use this space for journaling. If you all read the things I would blog about...like the really meaty thoughts I have, or the things I do or experience daily, you would either be shocked, dismayed, depressed, appalled or very grateful for your own lives. But they would hardly be appropriate for sharing with the world. If I eliminate those things, you would likely be very bored. Today was one of those days that If I told you about it...you would go OH-MY-GOSH! And I might tell you about it in such a way that you would laugh hysterically and think..."Oh that Robin" or you would be shocked or probably both. I think I am going to try to see what life would be like without drama, but I don't know how. It seems that I go out looking for drama. I can't remember a time when I was without some major drama in my life. Sometimes it is fun to talk about and people are amused with the stories I have to tell, but maybe, just maybe, I would LIVE LONGER if perhaps I didn't have such a high drama/high stress life. So, how does one go about decreasing life long drama...any suggestions?

Mormons...The Correct Answer...

2007-02-08T08:25:00.000-08:00

Have you seen this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yTs0wtemvU

Or How about this? http://www.ifilm.com/video/2419143

This one reminds me of my younger years...however, I was more like the first jumper...

http://www.ifilm.com/video/2664043

And some days feel about like this... http://www.ifilm.com/video/2694402

I hope I made you smile with at least one of them. Have a great day!

Hey, I did it...I created a Blog Place for me....Yea!

2007-02-06T13:33:00.000-08:00

Today I created a place to blog because I was jealous of Paige and Melinda and Michelle. Now I can tell you all the goofy things I think and do daily. Actually, I am hoping it will help me be a little better at journaling...good luck. So there it is...my first blog.