So Much To Write About . . .

Sadly I have been ignoring my blog. I have so so many blog entries in my head.

here are a few quick ones:

My 12 year old entrepreneur is at it again. He cut out some squares, sewed them together into a cube and filled it with sand--a hacky sack. (This from the top of his head, no pattern or directions--he just did it cuz he was bored one day, and I was sewing). He is selling them for $1 a school. The finished seam (the one he had to sew last after he put the sand in) isn't the prettiest, but then I don't think 7th grade boys care about pretty seams. Other things he has sold over the years include pony bead keychains and duct tape wallets. There are more but I can't think of them.

It took a few years longer than we anticipated but Andy finally broke his first window. Luckily it was in our house and not the neighbors. He threw a book at it. He "didn't know it would break." My mom is starting to get used to having Andy around. The other day when we were at her house she was on her way out. Before she left she told us "Andy is in the kitchen trying to help clean up. Go in there and supervise before he breaks something." (at that moment he was banging the salt and pepper shakers together).

Cameron is running around in a Batman cape almost 24/7. He runs around saying "Baht-mahn to a wes-kuu!!" (that would be "Batman to the rescue").

Why do teenagers need hormones so early in life? Marriage doesn't come for many more years! And as a teenager, I was just weird because I didn't 'like' boys in that way. I had lots of guy friends in high school and college. It was fun, but we were friends. I know some of them liked me in 'another way', but I just didn't fall 'in love'. I really didn't fit in with the crowd, the boys crazy girls, because my hormones were so slow. So, I am at a loss as how to deal with my girl-crazy teenager. And I know that kids are counseled not to date until age 16, and then in groups. I am not letting him date. Nonetheless, Dustin has a girl-friend and he is only 15 and she is only 14. Uhhgg! At least marching band is over so they aren't spending early morning practice and football games together. I keep telling him he needs to find some friends that are boys! It really annoys me that his facebook page says "In a relationship with Sarah!" And of course there are the occasional comments on his or her page "you guys are so cute together". Gag!! So do I have power to make him take that 'relationship' thing off his facebook page?

One last food for thought: How come kids are bored and need you when you want to read a book, watch TV, take a nap, etc, but have plenty to do when it is time for them to get ready for school or dressed for church?!?

My Princess Turns 6!

It is hard to believe it has been six years since we welcomed a girl into our family. And it hasn't been quiet since...it seems like Janessa was born talking...(I guess that isn't very nice. After all, she takes after her mom!)

What is daunting is to think that I had a one-year old when she was born, (and a 6- and a 9-year old).

She had an ocean cake (her first thought was a princess cake of course but since we've done that a time or three, she thought of something else)

and a craft party (thus the glue and other misc. stuff on the table in the first photo).

I wanted to post some baby photos but maybe later. I'm having a hard time 'upzipping' the folder they are in and I didn't dig any out of the 'real' (as opposed to digital) box that contains photos that is somewhere in this house. (because she has yet to have a photo album, poor girl!)

Bedtime Bonus

I was putting Cameron's feet into his sleeper pajamas and he said it hurt. So I took his foot out and stuck my hand into the foot of his jammies and pulled out a folded up $20 bill! It must have been hibernating in there since last winter.

Lots of Photos

The snow melted and the cold winter weather (high of 34 on Thursday) turned back into beautiful fall weather for the weekend. To fill up the Saturday before the big Halloween festivities, Scott took the kids out to the Bisti badlands for some hiking and rock climbing. What that meant for me was almost 3 and 1/2 hours of a quiet house! Heaven!

Then it's home to get on costumes, talk to Grandma and Grandpa on Skype, trick or treat for a few minutes and head off the the church for dinner, a carnival, and trunk or treat.

A cowboy, clown, skeleton, and fairy princess (as opposed to just a fairy).

Dustin was putting on another sort of out outfit--his band uniform. The Farmington Scorpion Sound Regiment (the marching band) went the New Mexico State University Tournament of Bands on Friday and competed against other bands on Saturday. The following are some pictures earlier in the year. He is a percussion player and this year is part of the 'pit' so he doesn't march.

Halloween Cuisine

We had some witches fingers, ghosts, mummies, monster lips, and spiders for dinner last night. Thank you Family Fun magazine for your great ideas! And not pictured are witches hands made from chicken breasts that you cut the top part into 5 fingers which kind of crinkle up as it cooks. That idea came from my friend Niesha many years ago.




Monster mouths with apple wedges with almond slivers; string Cheese fingers with green peppers as fingernails; boiled egg ghosts; crackers, peanut butter, pretzels and raisin spiders; hot dogs wrapped in breadstick mummies; mac and cheese with plastic spiders. Delicious!


Scott did the witch fingers and I think he had way too much fun! He even dipped them in green colored water for more effect (his own idea). He also did the monster lips. Janessa did most of the ghosts. Brennen made the spider crackers. There are so many fun ideas for Halloween! I tried to stick mostly to "healthier" stuff since the sugar is sure to come, but we did frost Halloween cookies after dinner. We listened to Halloween music and played a few games. Party on!

It Looks Like I Am Back in Utah

We woke up to snow today. The kids were way excited. In fact Andy was dressed and ready before we had time to tell him to.

My kids don't know enough yet that when it snows here, you turn on the radio to see if there is a school delay--starting school two hours later due to road conditions so the buses can drive safely. Because there isn't lots of snow here usually. When I was growing up we probably had two or three snow delay days year. And I remember school being cancelled for a snow day maybe 5 times while I was in school. Those were fun days.

Anyway, no snow delay today but it continues to fall steadily. Maybe they will get an early release. (But personally, I hope not!)

The school year is already 1/4 of the way over! Wow. My kids get report cards this week. Last Friday I was invited to an end of term assembly at the elementary school and both of my little students received awards. Janessa receive a "Golden Pen Award" where on student from each class is chosen for authoring outstanding and creative stories, and Andy received a special recognition from his teacher for working hard to improve his handwriting. Very cool. I have to say I am a proud parent.

Andy wasn't very impressed with his award later when he learned that there was no tangible value to it. He came home and said "I don't get anything. It is just a piece of paper. Not even a coupon or anything!"