my husband and kids went camping this weekend, and all they brought back were these lousy 6 pictures. . .

Just kidding, the pictures are gorgeous, and I'm grateful he took any at all. 

But six? 

Really?

They tried out a new spot, just did one over-nighter. 

See, Arizona can be pretty.

of course

Yesterday I really washed, detailed, windexed, armor-all'd and vacuumed out my van.

So of course it's going to rain today.

how would you spend $150, just for fun?

Don't forget, you have until Sept 11th to enter the drawing for the $150 Visa gift card over on my review blog!

What would you do with $150? And forget the practical kids-need-new-shoes-and-my-vacuum-cleaner-is-dying business. Just for fun, where would you spend the money?

Seriously in my dieting condition, I think I'd spend it all on dining out! I'd have a hard time picking between mexican food, chinese buffet, or soup/salad/breadsticks at my favorite places. Although $150 worth of dessert sounds lovely...donuts? ice cream? 300 candy bars?

*can you tell I'm a little bit hungry right now?*

Where would you spend it?

tuesday morning

For a lack of a better title, that's a favorite song of mine from the late 80s/early 90s by an obscure band called The Pogues. I bet no one has even heard of them. I loved this song for the music-I think cittern, mandalin, some other random strings being plucked in there-- and immediately learned how to play it on the piano. I'm such a nerd.

Anyway, that has nothing to do with today's post.

*smile*

In my quest to keep myself busy and happily, productively occupied, I took to backyard.

It's time to prep those Arizona gardens! The last few days, Dan has been reinforcing my above ground garden boxes after Ethan "helped" water them and sort of busted them up. Yesterday I added special composts and garden soils to my mix (along with, yes, dog food), and really worked the soils together. My nails will never be the same again. But it wasn't too hot yet and I am pleased with the result.

I'll now let them sit for about 2 weeks and then I'll plant zucchini, green onions, carrots and perhaps a few more bell peppers-you can see that those have lasted through the summer, so I'll keep those going. If I have room I'll try turnips. I hear they are a great substitute for potatoes. I'd like to try a few more things, but I really don't have the room and these were a big enough pain to create and fill. (thanks Baby, I love you bunches)

Then, I took to my front yard. While sitting on my neighbor's sidewalk last night, chatting, I noticed how raggedly my tree had gotten this past year. So I gave myself the challenge to clean it up today.

This picture is kind of worthless since I don't have any 'before' pictures, but just imagine it much more sloppy, with about 2 more feet of growth hanging down. This way it will grow "up"."

By about 10-something I was ready to pass out again. (seriously, this light-headedness thing is getting old)

So all in all, a successful day. What did you do with your Tuesday Morning?

(And PS, I've had that song on repeat the entire time I wrote this up. Totally in love with this song again. Seriously, who uses citterns in their music??)

that's a lot of carbs. . .

Is what I think when I see this pile of 72-hour kits that I worked on today.

I've been meaning to buy food and put these together for a while.  We like to have a 72-hour kit containing food for three days as well as clothing, flashlight, mini first aid kit, etc etc along the lines of being prepared.  You never know if you'll need to flee your home due to some natural disaster or event-or be stuck in your home for the same reason.  These give me a little bit of peace of mind that we'll at least be able to eat for 3 days in an emergency.

I made 5, and these ended up costing around $12 each or so, so not bad.  Next I'm on the look-out for pilot luggage bags with wheels to put everything into.  I couldn't find any at the price I wanted just yet, so I'll do some shopping around.

At least it kept my Monday busy.  : )

Anyone have any ideas for today?

what did you do this weekend?

Our weekend was made interesting by little facts such as this:

• I donated blood Saturday morning and then proceeded to nearly pass out every time I stood up--that is actually still going on I'm afraid.
• Ethan got 'saved' by the lifeguards at Wet 'n' Wild.
• We were rear-ended while driving back from said exciting excursion.

(Ethan was totally fine, and we were hit by a car going approximately 5 mph so there is no damage and everyone is ok. But sheesh. I'd kinda like a do-over for the whole weekend.)

You?

an aside from leapin' lizard larry

Yo. 

'Sup?

Not much here. . .just hangin' with my boy.

He rescued me when I got stuck trying to crawl underneath your back door.  I realize that could have been somewhat of a disaster, being that he was yankin' on my tail, and I was worried that. . .well, it could have just come off you know.  We lizards are crazy funky cool like dat.

'Course, I wouldn't have been trying to dart underneath your back door if the boys hadn't been chasing me all over the patio.  But you know what?  I got a glimpse of your kitchen and I have to say Mrs. H. . . the Americana theme you got going on?  Dated.  And seriously, how long has it been since you cleaned the tops of your ceiling fans?  I could see the dust from way down in the cracks of your doorframe.  And brass fixtures?  Oh dear.

And wallpaper?  Really?  Does this look like 1987?  You really must do something about that.  But hey, it's cool.  You got your pad, I got mine.  Mine's a deep dark hole out by your garden but, you know, if patriotic hearts and stars do it for ya then *shrug* who am I to judge?

I eat bugs.

My faves are those little roly polys that come around here ever so often, but the crickets provide a particular challenge.  And feast!

You have noticed you haven't had any crickets chirping around your house in a while right?  Yep.  You're welcome.

So anyway, back to these boys who chased me around the patio.  They're a bit crazy you know?  But it's cool. . . once they caught me, one of 'em immediately wanted to put me in a box and bring me into the house.  I'da been fine with that, but-hey, you don't have wallpaper everywhere in your house do you?  Cuz a guy's got taste.    I'm not sayin' my diggs are top-notch but, umm, I got standards and a rep to protect.

Ya feel me?

So, umm, can you tell the large one to let me go so I can get back to my bidness?  Stuff to do, bugs to chase, cats to tease.  You ever get rid of that 1980's kitchen and we'll talk.  Though frankly, I've seen worse.  At least you don't have that ol'  geese and duck theme going on.  *shudder*

Peace out.

the end of basketball season

And this is how I feel too. :)

and this boy becomes a man. . . or, a boy scout that is

Sean had his 'crossing over from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts' ceremony last night and it went really well! The ceremony is full of symbolism. I was so proud of him. This will be his last appearance at Pack Meeting.

Cameron also got a boatload of awards at the pack meeting, including his Wolf Badge. He did this pretty quickly, as he's only been in Scouts since March. :)

Here he's 'pinning' me. We didn't get any pictures of the front of poor Cameron. But here are a couple during their activity, working together on the egg-drop.

Congratulations to both my scouts!

about yesterday's pity party...

Umm, sorry about that. I actually feel much better now. *smile*

I wrote that Sunday when I was feeling rather discoruaged, sappy, and sentimental and had just got done watching a real tear jerker movie ("Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas" based on the book that is equally as good and sad--anyone read it? Sigh....) and I'd already been crying all afternoon so that post just came out.

I'm also in the middle of the second round of my crazy-yet-effective diet and I think the lack of carbs was getting to me! Oh pasta, how I miss you!

But I want to thank ya'll for your kind words and great suggestions of things I can do to fill my time and keep busy. Some really good ones, I appreciate it! And as someone so correctly put it, once I'm in nursing school, I'll be begging for these low-key/low-stress days. :)

Yesterday I went with Dan out to the East side as he was running some errands, and get this: I went to IKEA for the first time! Yup, I was a Swedish-Furniture-Newbie. Man, you could spend half a day in that store and still not see everything. It's pretty amazing. It'd be even more fun if I had any money! :)

So another busy week ahead of us, even with kids in school--they're doing great, liking their teachers, and so far having a successful start to the school year. They're good kids, and growing up so fast. We've settled into a really good schedule--that 7:30-8:30 hour can get pretty crazy without one, so I'm happy we have a routine to follow.

When would I squeeze in school/a job if I had one?! lol

does this ever happen to you?

I've been having pestering thoughts this past week. Well actually, I think it's been going on all month.

I told Dan jokingly (sort of) that I have no identity. I mean, the kids are back in school, and I'm not. Dan's at work, and I'm not. I get them up and ready and take care of my house and plan the meals and run my mundane errands and I think. . .what am I?

Always in the past, I've had a job, a label so-to-speak, a something to declare as myself. Even when I was just working from home and tending kids, I was a daycare provider. And even when I left that to pursue school full-time, I was a student.

Now that all my pre-reqs are done, and CNA school is finished and in the bag, I feel kind of useless or needless or something, I can't find the right word. Like I'm left wanting. This waiting for Nursing School to pick me up (I've been on the wait-list for 15 months now, am really crossing my fingers for January) is kind of torturous. I've done everything I can, and now I just wait. I'm applying for CNA jobs, but due to Dan's schedule, I can really only do part-time sub/pool positions, and there just aren't that many out there, particularly within 20 miles, or those that don't require 1-2 years of previous experience.

I know it's just a waiting game at this point, and it's not that I necessarily feel lazy or slothful, I just feel like. . .I'm doing nothing and adding very little to society. I feel like I have nothing to call my own at this point. I can't call myself anything other than Mom, which is of course the most important job in the world, I totally know and believe that. But, there's something in me that just needs to be more and be progressing.

Even my church calling has been getting me down lately, and I hate to say that too loudly, because I don't want to ask to be released from my calling as primary pianist--that's not my point. It's just, I've been in there just about 3 years now, and I miss Relief Society and being with the women. I love the kids and I love to play piano for them (really it's the easiest calling in the world, I think) but I sometimes feel that if I were to not show up to church 3 months in a row, hardly anyone would notice.

I'll be volunteering weekly for a hospital nearby, but even that is only 4 hours a week and may be the kind of work I end up doing from home, depending on what exactly they want me to do. And I will still volunteer one full day every week in my kids' classes. So I have things to keep me busy. . .I'm reading a lot and of course there's the house to run, but it all feels kind of. . .eh.

I don't really have a point to this post, just expressing a certain hollowness inside me right now. So here's me, searching for an identity.

fireflies

I had written a whole post about how my house is falling apart and the latest thing to break, but then I figured, no one wants to read about that. Let alone me. So instead, here is another song I've been loving lately. I haven't quite worked it out on the piano lately--it's a tough one--but it's a fun challenge trying.

This is "Fireflies" by Ron Pope (no, not that stupid one of the same name by Owl City that drives me bonkers--in reality, I think it's the video that annoys me so much, not so much the song). There is no official video to this that I know of, so someone set the music to scenes from "The Notebook", which is one of my favorites anyway, so here you go.

ethan's discussion of the week

After having a small arguement with his brother:

Ethan: OK, if you exist! (said in kind of snotty way)

Cameron: I do exist, see, I'm right here. (said back, in a sarcastic way)

Ethan: Wait, (a pause, then he looks at me) . . . what's the word again?

Mom: I think you mean insist. (I chuckle)

Ethan: Right (satisfied and triumphant now)... if you insist!

Another day, straight-faced and dead-pan, Ethan pipes up with:

Candy bars are just full of caffeine and sugar.

new review up and chance at $150

So deviating from the usual drivel on my blog, I should like to direct your attention over her to my review blog. I'm reviewing something new, a website this time, and you get a chance to win $150. Just make a comment over on my review blog and cross your fingers. :)

Good luck!

it's that time of year again

When I go skipping through the house singing at the top of my lungs just to hear the lovely echo bouncing off the walls in an otherwise empty house.

I mean, uhh.when my kids go back to school.  :)  Dan happened to be on shift yesterday as well, so I truly had a quiet house.  I'll admit I watched movies and checked email leisurely, even layed out in the sun to finish a book, but I did get lots of work done around the house as well.

So here we have 'em, Ethan as a 1st grader, Cameron as a 3rd grader, and Sean in 6th-officially junior high. 

    

Seriously, aren't they growing up, like, right before your eyes?

august's home depot project

First, just a quick look at Ethan's foot 2 days after the bike wreck.

Pretty, no? It's still a little swollen three days later, but not as sensitive as it was.

For August's Home Depot project, the kiddos made pencil holders in the shape of school buses. Sort of. Normally, this would be something I'd likely toss in a toy box and never use again, but being that Cameron is such an arts and crafts nut, and is always drawing, sketching, markering, or coloring something at all corners of the house, there are almost always floating pencils, etc to be found. So these will work great in a pinch for a quick clean-up.

I think this is my newest favorite picture of all time. : )

we just filled a week's worth of crazy into one day

Yesterday, Dan's last day off before shift, we all woke up with our to-do lists, but we had no idea it would end up being quite the Day of Disasters.

First off, just the busy stuff:

Dan weeded and mowed the backyard in the 111 degree heat.

I had to go to 4 stores just to get everything on my grocery list. I hate that.

Dan fixed a dragging undercarriage in our van-I guess the Honda Odysseys have this factory flaw. Fortunately, he WAS able to fix it.

While under the car, he went ahead and changed the oil.

He decided while filthy to go ahead and change the oil on the truck; however the dealership had changed the oil last, and as many of you know, they put the new oil filters on so stinkin' tight, that you need machinery to get it off. After working with it for about half an hour (in the 111 degree heat), his grip slipped and he cut a huge gouge into his thumb. So blood and oil started going all over the place. (Next time hon, PLEASE just spend the extra $5 to have the pros do it, it's not worth the hassle)

Cleaned up from that, we noticed water leaking in our garage. . . we thought from the freezer. Nope, ended up being from the hot water heater. Oh joys! We've had the same one since we moved in 8 years ago, so I guess it was due. Did some research, made some calls, made a $315 trip to The Home Depot, and had our friend James come over to help us replace it. Relatively straight-forward work, but awkward since the tanks are so heavy. (thanks again James, you rock!)

Next we had Meet-The-Teacher night to attend. I took Ethan alone (since he's the hardest to control out in public. . . I seriously need a leash) and then left him at home with Dad while I went back to the school with the other two.

While I was gone, Ethan and Dad went for a bike ride. Ethan wrecked pretty hard and injured the inside of his ankle bone. He was hobbling around on it ok, so we were 90% certain it wasn't broken, but it was swollen and he was definitely in a lot of pain. We went back and forth regarding if he needed an ER visit or not, and in the end we decided to wait it out. This morning, he was still pretty swollen and still wouldn't let anyone touch it, so I took him to Urgent Care. $38 and 3 xrays later (not bad, huh?, gotta love the actual Cigna Centers!) diagnosis is, just a contusion, no fractures. Whew.

It really would have stunk to have him start school in a cast!

Oh also yesterday, we were getting ready for Sean's first Boy Scout campout which happens today and tomorrow! Crazy day, right?! I am so grateful that Dan was home when all this happened-particularly the hot water heater fiasco and the bike wreck. Could have ended up much worse.

down, set, hike!

After the wild successes of our basketball season, we are gearing up for flag football for Cameron in the Fall.  {side note-Cameron has actually gotten quite good at bball. . . he made three baskets during his last game.  I was shocked.}  This will be our first experience with The Foosball, so honestly, I have NO idea what to expect.  I know it'll be hot cuz of course it's all outside, but it doesn't start until early September - - yeah yeah, I know, still hot.  And humid.  It's gonna be miserable.  All for the sake of the kiddos I guess.  And heat stroke.

So to get him in the mood, Dan started with some simple practice this past weekend.

 

Our pirate cheerleader-Arrr!

 

Lets hope we have a bit more luck with our football coaches.  :)