Things that make me happy...

(Okay, so I kinda stole this idea from Melanie's blog...although I'm not in the middle of an anaphylactic episode like she may have been...I'm still breathing...I've got my epi-pen and haven't even come close to a fish in a shell since that fateful day...don't worry...no swollen lips, I promise...now getting onto my list of things that make me happy...)

epi-pens. clean sheets. smelly lotion. Carmex. my "blankey". home baked treats (given and received). Showers (bridal/baby/wedding/etc.). a full tank of gas. fresh produce. 70-80 degree weather. Halloween. infants. end of the week. eating out. Magazines. chips and diet pop. talking to my sisters on the phone. People.com. Ceramics/Pottery. watching the girls dance. a good movie. (some) reality tv. making somebody laugh. Dove Chocolate (dark or milk). getting a card in the mail. sounds of lawnmowers and kids in the summer time. crisp air and chilly nights in the fall. falling asleep. a good cut and color. taking care of my family. lighting the candle after closing the kitchen at night. ...I could go on and on I guess.

Go ahead and try it...what makes you happy?

Who Doesn't Love a Parade?

Avery, that's who!! We attended the annual Chelsea Parade last weekend. Becky (Ursem) Yawney and her family live in Chelsea, and they invited us to go. Avery actually had a good time, as we all did, except for the rain and the soggy candy! The floats would pass us by and toss candy directly into the mud-lined gutters. The girls picked it up anyway and had fun seeing who could be the fastest. (Afterwards, most of it went into the garbage however.) Eventually by the end of the 45 minute parade, the rain let up (of course) and the girls had a better attitude about things.

We Totally Bribe Our Kids

For the past year, Avery has struggled with the whole #2 thing. Not to gross everyone out, but she has this thing with cleaning up after the job is done, so to speak. We ask her why, and she says "it's yucky" or "she forgot". Sometimes, she even lies and says she did and then we find the evidence that she actually didn't later on in the laundry hamper. Needless to say, we've spent lots of time talking (yelling), bribing, scrubbing, and trying to figure out how to get over this hump. We teamed up with her teachers at school and devised a plan...nothing too extreme or disciplinary (because Ave does not respond to the disciplinary), and made up a chart. Avery could receive a smiley face each day she kept her panties clean and if she succeeded to fill all the boxes up by the end of about 2 months she could get anything she wanted. (Honestly, what were we thinking? We were desperate, and sick of cleaning disgusting underwear, that's what!!) So she eventually did it! Thinking we were pretty smart, but more ecstatic to not have to perform bum-checks on her, we offered her prize. "What do you want Avery?" "Um, I think I want a pet...how bout a dog?" (Not an option) "...how bout a frog?" (after some research, also not an option) "...how bout a swingset?" "Hmmm...well, okay I guess." I started looking online and we eventually settled on an inexpensive set from Wal-Mart (I know, I know I shopped at Wal-Mart!! Honestly, it's been over a year since I shopped there, but they were the only place that still had some in stock that wasn't way overpriced...although I felt really cheap afterwards.) Anyway, I was big-time hesitant when we bought it. I had read the online reviews of these sets taking hours of manual labor, and frustrated parents having to re-drill holes and buy new hardware, etc. I feared for what this may do to our home life...(flashbacks of having to replace a light fixture in Boise still haunts me). I decided to be available for help, but mostly tried to stay out of his way as he began the process of lining up holes and inserting pre-packaged screws and bolts. I didn't hear a peep. I even left to shop for awhile, and when I returned the thing was half-up and he was just working on attaching the seesaw. Needless to say, I was really impressed. The whole swingset was assembled within a few hours, and the girls were happily swinging and sliding by evening. Avery got her prize and has (almost) successfully kept her pants clean!! And hopefully we will not have to resort to such cheap bribery tactics again...

yeah, right!

A little about me...

Mark sent me one of those survey things to fill out today, and I thought I'd share my answers with everybody. If you have a minute, post one to your own blog!! It's kinda fun.

Four Places I’d Love to Visit:
1. The Czech Republic as a tourist, and not a missionary. I’d love to go back and take my time strolling through the town squares, eating at outdoor cafes, hanging out in museums and old churches, hiking through countryside, and taking naps in old trains on my way somewhere.
2. Disneyland or World…whatever, get me someplace Disney! I’m 33, and never been. Enough said.
3. New York City…a real Broadway show, Time Square, Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, Ground Zero…I want to see it all.
4. The Island of Ronensay…fictitious place outside of Edinburgh, Scotland.

Four Things I Covet:
1. People who can eat whatever they want, never exercise, and not gain a pound.
2. People who live off of trust funds or win the lottery.
3. People who make school or sports look easy.
4. People who are naturally soft-spoken and well-mannered…wish I wasn't such a spaz sometimes.

4 Goals I Have:
1. Go back to school and get a Masters degree in something…not sure what yet.
2. Take a stab at possibly owning my own business…a consignment/resale shop that offered Interior Design consulting and Community Assistance.
3. A secure retirement.
4. Making sure my “chair” isn’t empty.

4 Fads I Wish Would Pass:
1. Skinny jeans and layered t-shirts and tank tops.
2. Suicide bombers and school shootings.
3. Britney Spears.
4. Bratz Dolls.

4 Delights:
1. Diet Pepsi and Doritoes.
2. Newborn Babies.
3. Sister’s Reunions (no offense to my brothers).
4. Hearing my girls crack up.

4 Regrets:
1. Giving up.
2. Being mean/losing my temper.
3. Missing an opportunity.
4. Lack of priorities.

4 Things I Wish I Could Do More Often:
1. Garage sale!
2. Go to the movies.
3. See extended family.
4. Not have to watch the clock.

4 Things That I Never Would Have Imagined Would Happen to Me:
1. Plunging the toilet at Maverick, Summer 1994.
2. Meeting the Prophet when I was 12.
3. That I’m actually working as a Technical Writer.
4. That I can look and feel better the older I get.

(Some of) My Glory Days

So August is half over, and I'm starting to panic that the summer is almost gone, and we really haven't enjoyed it to the fullest. We decided to seize the moment last Saturday and took a drive north-east towards Port Huron. We just kind of wanted to explore, and see if maybe we could visit the camp I worked at during the summer of '94. The drive was nice...that would have been enough in itself, although Avery (in classic 4-yr. old style) kept pressing us with "are we there yet's" till we could barely stand it anymore. We finally pulled off the road past Lexington at a Dairy Queen to get cones and satiate Avery's eagerness. Back in the car and about 5 more miles up the road, we saw the great big blue sign for "Camp Stapleton". I was hesitant at first because the camp isn't too far off the road and if there were campers there, it would be a major no-no for visitors to just drop in unannounced. The place was a ghost-town. Not run-down or deserted, just empty. We spotted a car pulled up in front of one of the little cabins and inquired about the current status of camp. They were unloading for a week of rented, private family camping. (Needless to say, we have a good idea what our family vacation will be next summer... ) They were happy to let us wander around and let me recapture my youth. That we did. The cabins were just as I remembered except nicer...fresh paint, new bunks and mattresses, although everything looked smaller (as it often does as an adult going back).

We wandered, and I jabbered about camp memories to Mark and the girls, and it was a lovely afternoon. We made our way down to the beachfront of one of our "greats", and the girls could hardly resist ripping off their sandals to get in the water! We let them put suits on and wade and dig in the sand for awhile. It was the perfect way to "enjoy" our summer while it's still here. We eventually pulled ourselves away and got some dinner in Port Huron. Only Avery got a sunburn that day, and hopefully it will last long enough to remember our "summer fun".

I Love to see the Temple...

The girls had the coolest Primary activity on Saturday morning all about Temples. We arrived around 10:30 am and walked around the grounds and took some pictures (see above). After that, we gathered on the stone benches at the back of the Temple for opening exercises: hymns, prayer, and a talk by the Bishopric. Then we were invited into the waiting room of the Detroit Temple for another talk given by a member of the Presidency. After that, we went over to the Stk. Center next door and each child was given a picture of the Temple to frame for their bedrooms, built a "sugar cube" temple complete with green coconut grass, got HUGE temple sugar cookies, received a packet of temple info and pages to take home and color, and then we had a nice picnic lunch on the Stk. Center lawn to finish it off. We really had a great experience there...really memorable experience for them as well as us.

Wonky-Eyes

These pictures were taken by Mark back in October of last year (2006).