And the Family is Back Together

It's Saturday!

You know what that means...

The fearless scouts will be home!

Yea!!!!

(I know I'm ridiculous. I just hate having half my family gone.)

And Then I Smiled

Just when my patience had just about ran out today,

I heard this...

Emma: "Knock, knock Mommy."

Me: **BIG sigh** "Who's there?"

Emma: "Deerp."

Me: "Deerp Who?"

Emma: " Hee Hee! You just said

'deer poo'!"

Thanks for making me smile sweetheart!

I needed that today.

Thank the Heavens

** WARNING- THE FOLLOWING CONTAINS A MAJORLY BAD ATTITUDE**

They're off and hopefully will be safe on their trip to Moab with the scouts.

(They meaning 3 boys and a husband.)

Thank the heavens!

They're finally gone.

I know that sounds bad but it's like hell getting them all ready.

Seriously, I thought I was going to go crazy.

I just hope they have fun and are safe.

Have I mentioned how much I don't like scouting?

Well, I don't really care for scouting.

You might say I hate it.

I mean, I'm glad my boys enjoy it but I really wish the young men could have a program a little more like the young women. But, they don't so I will support my boys in scouting until something else comes along. I am getting a little tired of supporting my husband in scouting though.

(I have to be honest.)

This marks year 9 that my husband has been gone for the yearly week long campouts as a leader.

This will be the last one as a leader, I hope.

It's really getting old.

Every time he leaves something happens.

I've had power turned off because he forgot about the bill, tire blow outs on the freeway because I was riding on bald tires, funky things coming up and I end up having to spend all my money and we have to live on rice the rest of the week (that's a little exaggerated but just a little), and last year, an idiot decided to drive by and shoot out my neighbors car window while my son was standing right by the car and thought they were aiming at him and was totally traumatized.

So yeah, I don't get too excited about these trips.

At least he has paid vacation this year. That's new.

A Little Get-Away...

Emma and I got to visit my sister, Cortney, last week.

We were supposed to go and help her so she could get some rest, but I don't know how much help I really was.

We spent most of the time playing.

It was so much fun to be able to spend some time with those cuties!

I tell you, 

I have the cutest nieces and nephews on the planet.

Sorry.  

It's true.  

Don't even try to argue with me on this one.

They are all absolutely adorable.

Every last one of them on both Lee's side and mine.

Seriously.

We had such a good time with Julia, Jack, and Adam.

Emma was in heaven, having her cousins all to herself!

It was also fun to spend lots of time with Grammy and Papa.

And the topping on the cake?

We got to meet Luke!

Thanks Cortney!

I hope you got a little rest.

Of course, I'm not sure how you can rest with this funny guy around...

One Busy Girl (Whatever.)

This conversation took place today...

Me: "Emma, it's time to get off the computer and play."

(She would stay on Nick Jr. all day if she could.)

Emma: "No Mommy. Me berry busy."

Me: "What? No, you need to get off right now. You've been on too long."

Emma: "Me having a meeting."

Me: "With who?"

Emma: "Cinderella."

Me: "Well, it's not good for four-year-olds to be on the computer so long so you need to get off and play. You can go outside if you want."

Emma, speaking into her phone with a sigh and eye roll:

"Cinderella? Me call you back, K?

My Mommy said I have to play now."

Me: "Whatever."

I'm so mean.

Elisabeth's 20!

Twenty things about my beautiful daughter

in honor of her 20th Birthday...

1. She is beautiful with her dark hair and bluer than blue eyes.

2. She is funnier than all heck with her quick wit.

3. She is a natural born teacher.

4. She knows what she wants to do with her life and is on track to complete her goals.

5. She is a great friend.

6. She loves skirts.

7. She is hilariously gullible.

8. She is talented.

9. She has an infectious laugh.

10. She keeps her brothers humble.

11. She's always happy to come home

(even when she knows it's going to be crazy.)

12. She makes some mean breadsticks.

13. She sets a great example for her younger brothers, sister, and cousins.

14. She takes important things very seriously and does nothing without great thought.

15. She would do anything for her family.

16. She is extremely loving and kind to her younger sister.

17. She doesn't compromise her standards.

18. She takes on challenges and overcomes them with grace.

19. She makes everyone around her feel comfortable.

20. She is the BEST daughter any mom could ask for!

I can't believe my baby is 20.

I am sad she's no longer a child

but am so incredibly pleased with the young woman she is.

I know she's accomplishing great things

and will continue to throughout her life.

I love you Beth!

Happy Birthday!!!!

Embarrassing Moment #999,987

Looking for comedy relief?

Just come to my ward when I play the organ.

Last time I played, the sound of trumpets started during 

the Sacrament hymn.

I still don't know how that happened.

Well, I was asked to play today.

I practiced all week and prayed that all would go well.

I managed to get to church early today to play prelude.

(So far, so good.)

The opening song was fine -- only missed a couple bass notes.

(Sorry basses.)

The Sacrament song was okay.

I turned the organ off before going to my seat so I wouldn't accidently play a note or two.

(Half way over.  I thought I would make it without any big blunders.)

I went down and sat with the family on the front row.

I got to actually listen to Stacy's wonderful talk because

 I told my kids the Bishop was watching them and they were very well behaved.

Then, 

the Intermediate hymn -- "Did You Think To Pray?".

(I should have thought to pray before stepping up to the organ!)

Anyway, things were going great.  

It's an easy song to play.

(One thing I must say is that I am a pianist, not an organist.

I don't know how to play the organ.

I turn the foot pedals off and play it like a piano.)

Well, for the Intermediate hymn, 

I set the organ to the preset settings and turned off the pedals.

Made it through the first verse with no problem.

During some part of the second verse, 

I was playing along and one of my knuckles accidentally pushes another of the preset settings buttons.  

When this happened, the organ had a completely different sound and all the pedals turned on.

I had my feet resting on the pedals.

Yes, there was a loud, kind of long noise.

It took a couple of seconds to register what had happened.  

The congregation continued singing and

 I about died!

I was able to fix the problem and finish the song.

I was laughing through the rest of the song and I'm sure my face was beet red!  

After the song,

I turned off the organ again and headed down to sit with my family.

I was trying really hard not to laugh so I kept my head down.

As I passed by the First Councilor, I whispered that I was "SOOOO sorry" and then made it to my family.

I couldn't help but burst out laughing (louder than I would have liked) when I saw Lee.

I looked up at the Bishopric and they were all laughing too.

Very funny but oh so embarrassing!

As Dan began his great talk, he mentioned that he had prayed that something would have happened to take away from his nervousness and proceeded to thank me for my blunder.

Even more embarrassing!

Oh well.  At least it was in front of my ward and not a bunch of strangers who would judge. 

 I was among friends who still love me, right?

I really didn't want to go back up for the closing song but of course I did.

(I did, however, pray before this time!)

While playing the postlude music, 

I was laughing more while all these people came up to me laughing as well.

I told the First Councilor that now he knows what NOT to call me to do.

So yeah, I'm not sure if I'll be playing the organ again anytime soon.

I'll just add it to my LONG list of embarrassing moments!

I'll Just Never Be Stylish

So, I got my hair cut.

I'm not really happy with it.

I asked for a chin-length, stacked, layered bob and could she please thin it out

(because honestly, I have enough hair for 4 people.)

My usual haircut -- nothing too uncommon.

Well, I didn't have her blow dry it because I was in a hurry.

(mistake)

I came home, re-washed my hair, and blow dried it.

I looked like a middle-aged, overweight Darla

from Little Rascals.

Nice.

I went back and asked the girl to thin it out some more so I could at least put it behind my ears.

After that, I could put it behind my ears but I still don't like it.

I think it looks like a 90's haircut.

To top it off,

last night one of my darlings said that my haircut looked

like Zohan's hair.

Thanks a bunch.

Why do I even bother?

Some Advice

Dear young mothers,

Please allow me to share a bit of advice...

Take care of yourself.

Yes, it's important to take care of your family but it's equally important to take care of you.

I wish I would have.

I recently had a physical and I'm happy to say that there's nothing seriously wrong with me but there's a few really annoying things going on that had I taken care of a few years back,

they wouldn't be so annoying now.

So, please, don't let yourselves go.

If there's a little weight to lose, lose it now.  

Don't wait until you're done having children.

It's MUCH harder.

If you aren't eating right, start today.

If you need vitamins, take them.

You need to see a doctor regularly.

(Even if you think you can't afford it.)

Don't stay up until the wee hours of the morning to "get things done". 

It's not worth it in the long run.

Do what you need to do to stay healthy.

It's worth it to you and your family.

Trust me.

Much love,

Cari

And Then I Cried

Well, we blew it.

As I was driving Elisabeth to work today,

I drove by "our" new house as I always do.

Today I noticed something that made my heart fell to my stomach...

no realtor sign

NO!!!

I drove by on my way home hoping I was mistaken but the realtor's sign was gone.

I called Lee and he got a hold of the realtor and sure enough,

our house had been sold.

This house has been on the market for 2 years.

No one was serious about buying it the last time we talked to the realtor a week ago.

Lee had gone out of town for work and we were going to talk some more with the realtor this week but now it's too late.

I am sad.

This house was perfect for us.

I know that things happen for a reason so I guess I should look at it as "it's not meant to be" but it's still sad.

There are other houses (tons on the market right now) but none like this one.

It truly was one-of-a-kind.

So, it's back to house hunting for us.

You snooze--you lose! 

Lesson learned.

**********

On a MUCH happier note...

Congratulations to Cortney and Aaron!

They had a new baby son today.

I can't wait to meet adorable little Luke!

More Birthday Fun...

Since my children's birthdays rarely last just one day

(they usually stretch out to a week),

Emma had her first "friend" birthday party  Saturday.

At first we planned on having a tea party themed party

but we ultimately decided on a cooking party.

Thank heavens for the dollar store!  

We found some really cute things there for the party.

They had a package of 8 cute cookie cutters so I got those to use for the invitations.

I tied a printed invitation to a cookie cutter for each guest.

They turned out really cute.  I wish I would have taken a picture.

Also at the dollar store, I found these silicone whisks that were the cutest blue color.

They were used for party favors to be given out at the end of the party.

I wanted to give each child a chef hat and an apron but didn't want to spend a lot.  I was really happy with how these turned out.

I found really inexpensive ($1/yd) fabric at WalMart for the aprons and just serged 

the edges for quick and easy aprons.

The chef hats were made out of poster board and a plastic table cloth 

(also from the dollar store).  

I was really happy to figure this out because chef hats already made were a little pricey.

Emma was so excited and was the cutest little hostess.  When the first child rang the door bell she went running to the door saying, 

"Oh, my guests are here!"

So cute!

The little chefs at the party decorated sugar cookies after they got dressed in their chef costumes.  

(Since they were between 3 and 5 years old, I opted not to actually cook with them.  If they

 were older, we probably would have made pizzas or something.  They were happy with the cookies.)

My mom found these adorable sprinkles at Harmon's.

They are like 1/4 inch wide.  So, so cute!

The chefs enjoyed making and eating these!

After the cookie decorating,

they played "Pin the Cherry on the Sundae".

(Don't laugh at the sundae.  It was made at the last possible second!)

Then we played a version of a cake walk. They won tootsie rolls instead of cakes.

Emma HAD to play "Freeze Dance" (her favorite party game) so we did.

The children were so funny!

We then opened presents.

  She got some really cute things and was so excited!

Finally we sang Happy Birthday and she blew out the candles before we were finished singing but, hey, it was her party.

(My muffin tin was bent and I didn't realize it and all the cupcakes were totally lop-sided.  Oh well.  They still tasted good.)

Emma was flying high and had such a great time with her friends and cousins.  

What a fun party!

 I am so grateful for all the help Elisabeth and Jake were in getting everything set up and for my Mom, Cricket, and Melissa for helping at the party. 

 You are all great!

So this brings Emma's birthday week to a close.

I think she really enjoyed turning four!