A chunk.

Before I was pregnant with Lacy I had a weight goal. I never quite got there, but I was close. My goal was to go down a chunk on the dreaded scale that the doctors use.

One time, quite a few years ago, long before I had any kids, a nurse went to weigh me in before an appointment. She put the bottom "chunk" on 100 and then scooted the top over until it was all the way over to the right. She looked at me, threw the top back to the left and then "chunked" it over to 150 and began scooting to the right again. She said, "Wow, I didn't think you weighed THAT much!" How do you respond to that?? Holy crap!! You SUCK at your job lady!!?

Ever since that wonderful experience, I step on the scale and immediately chunk it over to 150 for the nurse. Less drama, and less talking, is better when you are weighing me in.

Anyhow, back to my goal. I wanted to use the 100 chunk. I wanted to be in the hundreds instead of the one fifty's. I know, that's not a HUGE goal, but it would be huge for me, especially considering that the very last day of my pregnancy I was on the 200 chunk!! Good thing I had Lacy that day, because I don't think I was going to eat again until I had her. :)

I am now able to use the 100 chunk!! I wish I had one of those scales at my house, just so that I could see how it feels. :) So, in case you're not good at math, but you are wondering...since Lacy's birth date I have lost 56 pounds. Yay!!

Sometimes

Sometimes people who love each other argue. Sometimes people say hurtful things. Sometimes they mean it, and sometimes they don't. Sometimes it hurts anyway.

Sometimes we think we are together on something, only to find out the other person "hates it".

Sometimes when we feel like crying our 4 year old pitches a fit in public, and people stop to find out why a little kid is toes-up to a brick wall, while mommy is standing by the open car door, just waiting for him to be done, so that she can buckle him in and go home. Sometimes we should not have gone in the first place.

Sometimes all of the kids need baths badly, but we don't want to do it.

Sometimes we get over things easily, and sometimes we have to fall asleep on a wet pillow for a few nights.

I feel like I need to say something positive here, so that I don't end this post on a low note, but I can't think of anything right now. I know my mom hates these kind of posts, but I promised myself that I would be honest here. Everyone has bad days. Everyone gets in arguments. Everyone's kids pitch a fit in public every once in a while. Maybe my next post will be better mom.

Ann's 60th Birthday

Saturday night all of us girls got together for Ann's birthday party. Happy Birthday Ann!!Her cousin hosted the event at her house, and Ann's daughter and her husband served a FABULOUS dinner. We had such a great time spending time together at Jana's beautiful home...and man was the food good! Ann's daughter and her husband own Urban Cookies and he is a great chef (to put it mildly). We even got a reading from Jana from her new book. Bones in the Desert: The True Story of a Mother's Murder and a Daughter's Search. It's one of the two books I've read in the past 4 years that didn't start out with "Once Upon a Time..." The other one was Jana's other book The Trunk Murderess: Winnie Ruth Judd If you want to borrow either one let me know because I highly recommend them both. Here's a picture of Ann with her cousin JanaAnd one of the whole gang (minus Colleen and Jenn who both had to leave early) Why do we always wait until people are gone to get the pictures?? You'd think I would've learned by now to take them early so we can get everyone, maybe next time. Wow, I just hit the spellcheck and it said "No misspellings found"...I don't think that has EVER happened to me...by the way I had to hit it again to see how to spell misspellings. :-)

Cabaret...and Brooke

Friday night we saw Cabaret at the Arizona Broadway Theatre. We went with Joe's parents, one of my co-workers and his date. The show was GREAT! There was a lot of wonderful, talented people in the show from all over the country. One of the best was Joe's second cousin Brooke...what a great dancer!

A few months ago we met her sister, Tara, while she was passing through AZ on a road trip. In case you missed that, you can read about that here.

So, I forgot my camera because I...well I suck. Here is a picture I am stealing from Brooke's facebook page. (I hope that's OK) In this photo: Jill Tieskoetter, Kristin Donnelly, Kimberly Schafer, Molly LaJoie, Brooke Robyn Dairman, Shayla Benoit, Morgan Rudolph

We are meeting Brooke and her boyfriend for dinner tonight before she heads back home to New York and my camera is in my purse...yeah me!! So, more pictures will be posted in a few days.

Talon said

When Joe woke Talon up this morning...

Talon: Daddy did you get me a Ben Ten watch?
Joe: No.
Talon: Oh, that must have been a dream.

Then we went into the whole "ask Santa" thing, which reminded me of a conversation I had with Talon at Target the other day.

We were walking through clothes (trying my best to steer clear of the toys) and Talon saw a Sponge Bob pajama set that he wanted. I told him to ask Santa for it. Here's pretty much how that conversation went.

Me: Talon, you should ask Santa for that.
Talon: Um, Santa just brings whatever he wants.
Me: No Talon, you sit on his lap and tell him what you want...he never knows what to bring you because you're always too scared to ask him.
Talon: OHH!! I didn't know that's how it worked!!
Me: (trying not to laugh at him, because I explained it EVERY SINGLE time I tried to get him to sit on the guys lap) Yep Talon, you can sit on his lap and tell him you want those sponge bob pajamas.
Talon: Oh CRAP!

By now the lady and her teenage daughter next to us were completely cracking up. Good thing Talon didn't notice them. :-)

This morning after we told him to ask Santa for the Ben Ten watch he said, "But I thought I was going to ask him for the Sponge Bob pajamas!" Joe told him that it was OK to ask for more than one thing from Santa.

So here I am looking forward to getting one of those adorable pictures with my kids on Santa's lap AGAIN this year...maybe this will be the year...

The Biggest Loser

I don't normally post about TV shows. This is supposed to be a sort of "diary" or "scrapbook" for my family memories while my kids are still little, but I REALLY didn't like the show last night. It was 2 HOURS long...and took me much much longer with the kids.

I don't get a "happy feeling" watching the show like I should.

People are making DRAMATIC life altering changes.

We should watch and be so proud of them.

I want to punch Vicky in the throat!

I was SO happy for Amy's vote last night, but now I am afraid for her. Vicky will be out for blood. That's how she is. That is NOT what this show is supposed to be...that is SURVIVOR.

If Amy, Colleen, Michelle and Renee vote together next week they can outnumber Heba, Ed & Vicky to get Vicky out. I don't think Heba would be soooo bad without Vicky there. I hope Vicky is embarrassed when she goes home to her friends and family after they have seen who she really is. I also hope she goes home empty handed.

New Background

I felt like the last one was cute, but a little hard to read with the polka dots.

P.S. If you feel like a shopping spree at Gap or Old Navy please see the end of my Christmas List entry. There is a 30% coupon there...courtesy of Courtney.

Our weekend

I thought we had a crazy weekend until I read Laurie's blog today...nope, ours was pretty tame. :)

Friday night we went to the gym. Yep we're CRAZY on Friday nights.

Saturday morning I got up and ditched the family to go to a softball clinic at Seton. Every year we hold at least one clinic for 5th, 6th, 7th & 8th graders to earn money for the CA tournament. It was pretty successful. There were a lot more young kids there this year, who have just started playing softball.

I'm glad I coach at the high school level.

I need to start teaching my kids the basics, so people aren't afraid of throwing a ball at them when they're 9.

I only stayed until noon because...

In the meantime, Jennifer dropped her kids off at our house around 8:30. Joe had all 5 kids (4 and under) at our house...and he was sick with a cold. When I got home we took them all to McD's to burn off some energy. We got home around 2:30 and Joe took a much needed nap.

Talon (politely) woke him up about 5:15 to get ready for dinner and Daniel Tosh. We went with Donna and Branden while Jennifer was stuck at home giving bath's to 5 (nope 4, Talon is dirty) kids.

Sunday was a down day. We both felt pretty sick, but made it out of the house in the afternoon to get some food and to check out some full size mattresses to be added to our office/guest room. The frame for the bed that was in there broke, and we have decided to upgrade from twin to full. We didn't purchase anything.

Our house is very messy right now. I haven't decided if I feel up to going to the gym tonight, but right now it seems better than facing the mess at home.

I've Never...(This is now WAY too long of a post!)

I got this from Jill's blog, the ones in blue are things I've done, the maroon ones are ones I have not. Copy and paste it on your blog, it is fun. I think the most interesting part is how many of these things I've never done!

Update: Thanks to a better memory from my sister (Tina) I get to check off these two items #33 & #84 (twice). I didn't get her permission, but I'm going to post part of her email here, because I thought it was pretty funny.

"I just read your blog. Like, really read it, I have read it before, but just mostly skimmed and looked at pictures. For example, I never took time to check out your part about what you have done. I would first like to say that you have done two things that you said you did not do.

You HAVE #33: Seen Niagara Falls in person. You were very little, but you did. I know you were there because I was about 5 or 6 and I remember it very well. It was amazing. Ask mom to verify this one.The other thing is #84: Had your picture in the newspaper. Take your pick... Wallace and Ladmo show incident or 6th grade camp. Remember?

Also, come to visit us in Germany and we can Go to France and check off:
12. Visited Paris
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

Or, we can go to Italy and check off:
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

Or, we can visit Rome and check off:
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
81. Visited the Vatican

Or, we can go to England and check off:
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

Or, go to Austria and check off:
8. Climbed a mountain

And, even if we don't leave the country we can check off:
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

Regardless of which exciting vacation you choose you may also have the opportunity to check off...
22. Hitch hiked
46. Been transported in an ambulance
75. Been fired from a job..."

That last one is the one that really made me laugh. And thanks Tina for finally "reading" my blog. :-) It looks like I'm going to need to plan a trip to visit you because I'll get to check off a LOT more stuff...as soon as I can talk Joe into coming with me...or we win the lottery. Oh, that's right, you can't win if you don't play. I guess we'll have to wait a little longer.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (Rock Band Baby!)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo (all the time...to my kids)
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables (strawberries and tomatoes...I don't think we could eat either one)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill (but my kids were)
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon (ROTFLMAO!)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors..
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job...
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100.Visited Italy

Hair and Hair Bows!

Here's a hairdo I saw on this blog A Princess & Her Hair and thanks to the video she provided for me I did on Ava for Halloween. She was an angel. I forgot to get a picture of her when I did it, so this is later that night after trick-or-treating and some rock band. Since Ava's hair is so thin I had to change it a little bit. The twists that were hanging down were almost invisible by the time we got to the ends, so I hooked them back up and then used a flat iron to curl them over. You can see that best in the third picture. She was done, so here she is running away from me.Of course, Hailey's Supergirl hairdo had to make this too. :) Just a little flat iron flip, and glow-in-the-dark earings finished off her outfit.

Last weekend we took Talon to the mall to have Jennifer cut his hair. When we got there Hailey's hair was slicked into a ponytail, so Jennifer curled it all for her and made her feel like a princess. (Yep, I made the bow in her hair...pat pat)Daddy told her to do that pose.She did this one on her own, and I LOVED it!
Here's another one I stole from that same blog. I was worried Hailey's little tiny rubberbands wouldn't hold her hair, but I think the ones I used were WAY too big. Ava liked it, so that's all that matters. Here's that "stinkin" bow I made the other day. It took me forever! I realize it's way too big for Lacy (and she's in her pajamas), but Hailey didn't want to wear it so that I could take a picture. Lacy's arms aren't strong enough to push me away, and she can't run from me yet. :-P Here's a simple one I did one time when Hailey only wanted "one pony" in her hair.

Halloween Night

Even though Dennis and Charlotte are are in China, we still went to Joe's parent's house for Halloween. We aren't the only ones that love that neighborhood. :) Courtney and Charles brought Carina and Ethan; Jill and Jason brought Kaylyn, Amanda, Payton, and Lauren and Jono was there with Gavin and Ava. Here's a shot of the whole crazy gang.And one of my kids. (Yep, Talon decided to be Spiderman this time)Hailey felt like taking pictures, so we went with it. I think I have about 20 of her. :0) .

Halloween Party & Aunt Susan's Birthday

I just downloaded the pictures from my camera, and there were 117 on there!! So, hopefully I'll be able to get caught up on my posts today. The kids are sick. I feel bad every time they get sick because I think we've contaminated everyone we know. Lacy threw up Saturday night, but then was fine all day Sunday, so I thought she just didn't like something she ate, so we went to church, to lunch, and to dinner at the Smith's. I feel so bad because Hailey started throwing up early this morning. I went to work early and Joe stayed home with the kids, so we wouldn't infect any other innocent children with whatever they have. I came home at lunchtime so that Joe could go to work today too. Lacy and Hailey are asleep and Talon is laying on the couch watching TV. So, here goes.

A couple weeks ago, after the kids went swimming (mostly in the jacuzzi) we took them all to my parent's house for Pizza and cake for Aunt Susan's birthday, and then to Freestone Park for the Halloween party.

Braden had pancakes and syrup for breakfast. He liked it.

On the way there Hailey was crying so hard I had to pull the car into a parking lot to get her to settle down. Pink gum did the trick.While I was getting it out for her, Talon asked me if he could take a nap on the way there. Before I even pulled out of the parking spot here's what he looked like.Here are Braden and Sydney (with her pre-Bindi braids)Hailey didn't want to leave Lacy out of the pictures, so I handed her the camera and this is the one she took.

Once we got there we had pizza and cake for Aunt Susan.Got a picture of my kids.One of Lacy.And one of the whole group. Thomas (Tyler), Power Ranger (Aiden), Batman (Talon), Supergirl (Hailey), Bindi (Sydney), Cow (Braden) and Batbaby (Lacy)Then we took the kids out the back gate to Freestone for the Halloween party.

Sydney and Talon waiting their turns.Sydney is a rock star/groupie.Talon is a weirdo.