Ten Things I am Thankful for....

These make the list every year and some seem cliche, but I really do feel it with all my heart this season!

1. I am thankful that I love to be with my family (and Danny's family.) I am thankful that we live close to both.
2. I am thankful for healthy happy children.
3. I am thankful for a husband who totally fulfills his role as leader and provider of our family and yet serves me in so many ways at the same time.
4. I am thankful for old friends.
5. I am thankful for God's grace.
6. I am thankful for a job I love-one that I just might do even if I didn't get paid. (Don't get me wrong, I'm very thankful for the money too!!)
7. Strangely enough, I am thankful for the internet and the friends I have made through The Well Trained Mind message board and blogging. I have gained endless wisdom, info, booklists, and laughs from y'all.
8. I am thankful for our parents' health.
9. I am thankful for laughter and lots of people in my life who make me laugh.
10. I am thankful that tomorrow I am not going to think about what I eat, and I am going to end a big meal with a big piece of pecan pie with whip cream and not even think twice about it. But, the next day, it is back on the plan!!

I love my Grandma....

Ree inspired me to stop by my Grandma's today. Please go check out the absolutely gorgeous picture of her Ga-Ga!! I love the wrinkles. (That first picture actually made me cry!) This afternoon I had a couple of hours without the kids and so I stopped by the retirement home where she and her husband live. I just gave her the biggest hug and realized that it had been way too long since I just stopped by her place. We see them quite a bit at my parents' house, but it had been too long since I just dropped by. I used to do it weekly when the kids were little.

She makes me laugh. She is sharp witted, and extremely wise. When we were kids she would let me sleep by her bed and she would tell everyone we were going to sneak out and go "bowling and dancing." Those were the naughty things she could think of to do.

She leads a women's Bible study "at the home." She jokingly refers to the beautiful retirement facility where she lives as "the home." Leading this Bible study tires her out. A lot. I am so impressed that she isn't coasting through this phase of her life, but she is sharing her passion with others.

She loves to watch professional basketball on TV and she likes football too! Hmmmmm, wonder who I take after! In fact, she used to have a lifesize cutout of Michael Jordan. She joked that she might leave my Grandpa for "her Michael."

OK, so this photo isn't going to win any photo contests. In fact, she would really hate it, but it was all I had. Thanks, Ree, for the reminder of the precious gem I have in my Grandma.

Tuesday Ten

1. It is time for Tuesday Ten. You know what that means, don't you.....I've got nothing to say. But, there is only so long you can leave a post about puking at the top of your blog and expect people to return. (I lost 3 pounds, for those of you who asked! :-))

2. I'm eating my new favorite breakfast-crustless pumpkin pie. It is made with Splenda and fat-free half and half so it has almost no points (for those of you familiar with the Weight Watchers point system, that is a good thing!). I start my day with a piece of pie and coffee-guilt free!

3. I'm reading a book called Manhunt by James Swanson that is about the 12 day chase for Abraham Lincoln's killer. We are approaching the Civil War in history and it looked like an interesting choice.

4. I love this time of the year. I am so excited for Thanksgiving, which is silly in a way. We share big meals at my parents house all the time, so it is not like it is something out of the ordinary. But, I love to be with my family.

5. Did anyone catch that Seahawks win on Sunday!! Sheesh, my heart can not take one more Josh-Brown-kick-a-field-goal-in-the-last-second-of-the-game-to-win moments!!! I'm asking for a Seahawks shirt for Christmas, and after this, I want one with #3 on it!!

6. My kids are funny. We started a new grammar book and Annsley is so excited because she has a textbook. If you have ever seen the Rod & Staff text book, you will know that they are *nothing* to get excited over. They look like they were published 50 years ago and are very plain and un-ornamental. I think Annsley felt like she was old fashioned copying her lessons from her book. We were sharing the book, and Seth announced that he wanted his own text book. Go figure!!

7. One thing that I love about my job is that I get almost 3 weeks off at Christmas and almost 3 months off in the summer. That is a good gig!!

8. I have quite a bit of Christmas shopping done already. I'm not sure how it happened, but somehow, it just happened.

9. What do you want for Christmas this year?

10. Next week, I am going to go with Tuesday Six.

How to Lose Some Quick Weight (Subtitled: Food Poisoning on an Airplane)

Last night ranks as one of the top ten worst experiences of my life!! So, I'm going to share all the gritty details with y'all. (I say y'all because I have been in Plano, Texas for 3 days.) We ate a good Mexican meal for dinner. It was delicious...chips, chile con queso dip, guacamole....can you guess where I'm going, here? I felt full when we left the restaurant to head to the airport. I tend to get motion sick in cars, so I was not feeling well by the time we got to the airport, but I thought it would just go away like it usually does.

Fast forward, I'm on the airplane, and I am not feeling better. All of a sudden I figured out that I may have a bit more than motion sickness and headed for that place that under normal circumstances I avoid like the plague....the.airport.bathroom. I will spare you the gory details (and the revisiting of the Mexican food) but four visits later we landed in Denver. My apologies to all my fellow plane members for the fact that I prayed that the plane would crash. Fortunately, God did not answer that prayer.

I stumbled off the plane to the Denver airport bathroom and at this point all pride and dignity was gone so I just plopped myself right on the floor of the bathroom and sat there. Yup, right on the floor!

The next leg of the flight I had my seat changed to the seat in the back right next to the bathroom and the lady in the seat next to me changed seats as quickly as she possible could. (If I had felt better, the speed of her movement would have been comical.) This flight was on a plane with an extra small bathroom. I literally do not know how anyone larger than me could even close the door, let alone do what I needed to do! The stewardesses were so sweet and brought me gingerale. God, in His mercy, allowed me to sleep almost the whole leg of this flight and when I got off the plane I actually felt a bit better.

There is nothing like that feeling when you finally realize you might just make it in the land of the living. If you are still reading, you are very hard up for entertainment, but I couldn't help but share my misery with all of you. Today I stayed home from work and rested. I haven't eaten much today but I think I'll feel back to normal by tomorrow. However, I may not eat Mexican food for a while!

Jack-o-Lantern time....

Well, I was going to save this for tomorrow, but since Mrs. M-mv asked so nicely, here you go! Here is the before and after.

Today my baby is 8!

This is the day we brought Seth home from the hospital (Halloween). Note the Halloween jammies for the trip home!













Gotta love those 6 month smiles!!



















That is the smile that melts my heart every time!!













Too bad mom didn't comb your hair before the photo shoot!



















Somehow that cute little boy became an eight year old soccer player who can make me laugh with his voices and his imitations. (He has Danny down pat!!) He has the boundless energy of an eight year old boy, and even on the days it drives me bonkers, I wouldn't change it for anything in the world!! This is the boy who talks non-stop. He loves to tell me things. He loves to be with me. This boy is enthusiastic about learning (most days) and keeps me on my toes with his insightful questions!

Happy Birthday, Seth! You do know that you will always be my baby!!

Last soccer game....

Today we beat our nemesis. There is a team that we have played 3-4 times before and we have never beat them. (Yah, I know....we don't count score at this age....whatever!) This morning we set our for the field on a gorgeous crisp fall morning, game plan in hand. Our game plan, you ask? Not get killed! Last year we were thrilled to only lose to them by 1. Well, in the first half they scored two goals! But, in the second half Seth scored the goal to tie it up. And one of the boys (who is not one of our better players) scored the winning goal. It was *so* fun to see him get to be the hero!! We had a pizza party after the game to celebrate the last game of the fall and you would have thought we had won the world cup. Soccer has been so fun.

Early Halloween

Every year the retirement home where my grandma lives has a big neighborhood Halloween party. The residents all line up in chairs along the halls and pass out candy to the kids. There are lots of carnival games. It is a great event that allows children to get to interact with the elderly and vice-versa.

Here is my dear grandma and her husband! I love that they live so close to us now. When I was growing up she lived on her farm about an hour and a half away.


Here is the ninja and the Renaissance princess!!




















My beautiful mama, grandma and silly pirate brother eating a sucker.

I don't know this woman, but she made me smile, and for just a minute, want to be old.

Let the sorting and trading begin!! Don't you just remember the joy of coming home and doing this?

Yesterday....

We went on a field trip to Eastern Washington University. I have a confession to make. Growing up in Spokane, I never had a very high opinion of EWU. It was an option for kids who didn't go away to WSU or U of W...or private schools. It somehow seemed lesser in my mind. But, the campus, which is about 30 minutes from Spokane is absolutely beautiful! The brick buildings and fall colors gave on a crisp sunny day seemed just perfect. We had this spunky enthusiastic student tour guide who completely sold me on Eastern. I found myself longing to go back to college and take advantage of all the great programs and student services. No cooking....no one to take care of but myself.....people planning fun activities for me to participate in.....studying......now, *that* was the life!

When I was going to college Eastern seemed WAY too close to home. Now that I am raising future college students.....Eastern sounds like a fantastic option!!

Tuesday Ten

1. Today at school we will be taking the high school students on a field trip to Eastern Washington University. We have good kids, so I'm sure it will be a fun morning.

2. My baby turns EIGHT in five days. I need to get a present for him!

3. My dad is in Russia (Archangel is in the northwest near the Arctic ocean) right now, helping to start a new institute to train pastors in that region. This is probably the 10th time he has been to different parts of Russia for this purpose.

4. Yesterday afternoon I went and stripped wallpaper with my mom. She is trying to get my dad's office redone while he is gone. There is something very satisfying about stripping wall paper. The kids helped too, and we all loved it when a BIG chunk came off at the same time.

5. I made pumpkin rolls on Monday and they are yummy!! They don't taste very pumpkin-y, but they are delicious.

6. I took homemade chicken noodle soup (and pumpkin rolls) to both my mother and my mother-in-law on Monday because they were both sick. Isn't it funny how good chicken noodle soup tastes when you are sick?

7. The tooth fairy has been to our house twice (once for each kid) this week. She managed to show up (on time) both times!! My daughter can not seem to keep a tooth in her head. She is 9, and she has lost 16 teeth. I didn't even know kids lost that many. She lost her first 2nd molar.

8. I wish I could think of something really witty to post right about now.

9. I read many of your blogs and you tell funny stories about when you were growing up. Why is it that I can not remember one interesting story about my childhood? NOT ONE! Either I have a bad memory or I had an extremely boring childhood. Odds are heavily in favor of the former.

10. Thought for the day from Our Daily Bread: There are no shortcuts to spiritual maturity. Oh, but don't you wish there were? Read Philippians 3:7-14 today.

"Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 3:13b-14)

One hundred and fifty things.

I found this from Donna at Quiet Life. The object of this list is to highlight the things that you have done. Feel free to borrow this and complete it on your blog.

01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain----not a real high one!!
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone---well, does a good book count as someone?
08. Said “I love you” and meant it---every single day!!
09. Hugged a tree-------for photo purposes only :o)
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris---summer 1990
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game (and survived the crush afterwards)---Does the Seahawks game count?
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby’s diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment---more times than I can count!
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment---almost every day!
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states---well, not yet, but we are over halfway there and have definite plans for the others!
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk
42. Had amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs----You mean some people don't???
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Played touch football
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class----for 2 weeks when Danny & I first got married, but we couldn't stop giggling through class. I don't think the teacher appreciated us so we had to quit!
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an “expert”
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Kissed on the first date
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried one/both of your parents
93. Been on a cruise ship
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
95. Performed in Rocky Horror
96. Raised children - still raising!
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Touched a stingray-my foot touched one in Mexico!! Ouch!!
110. Broken someone’s heart
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a facial part pierced other than your ears
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days----Danny & I took a canoing class in college.
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school----right now
131. Parasailed
132. Touched a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad - and the Odyssey
135. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream---almost every day!
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone’s life

Pit in my stomach....

Do you ever have that feeling in the pit of your stomach that something isn't right? I had it a little yesterday and I woke up with this feeling. I can't figure out what it is. Things are fine with Danny, the kids are fine, my parents are good. I have a lot to do, but I finished a big assignment and turned it in yesterday, which should give me a euphoric feeling.

Could it be that the Seahawks lost yesterday? If so, I desperately need to get a life!!

Life is good! Go away, weird feeling!!

Tuesday Ten

1. It has been a long time since I have been to my yoga class. Perhaps the last time I went was when I wrote this. I started up again on Sunday, and I am still so sore I can hardly stand up or sit down! Whoever uses yoga as a relaxation or meditation technique is *not* taking the same class that I am!!

2. How do football coaches not have heart attacks right there on the field? The last two minutes of the Seahawks game on Sunday nearly put *me* into cardiac arrest and I don't have a whole lot invested in the game.

3. Today I get to go out to lunch with a friend. I'm looking forward to that!

4. Why do some school days take forever and some take such a short time? The work is pretty much the same. Last Monday the kids were still working at 5:00. Yesterday, they were done by 2:30.

5. It is amazing to me how many people don't like to be with their families on holidays. I really hope my children and their spouses want to be with us when they are grown.

6. I like playing the game Clue. The kids are getting pretty good at it and it is a fun way to teach logic skills.

7. I'm not really a lotion girl, but I got a gift of some Origins Spearmint and Lemon lotion and it smells so good that I find myself smelling my hands a lot. A strange sight, I'm sure.

8. We finished Story of the World 3 and are moving into modern times this week.

9. We put up our fall decorations this weekend. Somehow the kids always think this is going to be a way more exciting event than it really is. We don't have many decorations and it takes about 5-10 minutes, but you would have thought we were going to Disneyland!

10. Conversation between Seth and I yesterday.
Seth: Mommy, what's sexual relations mean?
Mommy: sputter, cough, sputter...Er, um, it is a special love for moms and dads.
Seth: Oh.

Blast that Bible!! :-) What kind of thing is it teaching my children?!? Note to self: Don't have seven year old reading Genesis on his own.

Obnoxious mom

Really, there is nothing more obnoxious than moms who post pictures of there kids and talk about how cute they are, right? But, I mean really!! Come on, look at that kid!!!

























And that coach on the left ain't too bad either!

Reading in Bed

Mindy: So, are you really going to carry that book on the bus?

Danny: (sheepish smile) Yes?

Mindy: It sure is.....pink.

Danny: I'm secure in my manliness.

I'm not sure where Danny first heard about this book, but he put it on hold at the library and has been enjoying it thoroughly. Last night we lay in bed; Danny reading Stop Dressing your Six-Year-Old Like a Skank and Other Words of Delicate Southern Wisdom, and me reading One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexandre Solzenhitsyn. Does anyone see the ironic contrast here? It is usually me reading lighter material and Danny tackling something a bit more weighty.

Last night we were both tucked in early with our respective books, and Danny started giggling. I ignore him concentrating a little harder on the Russian gulag. He then moved to chortling. I looked at him to see if he wanted to share the joke with me. I then turned back to my book re-reading that same paragraph for the third time. Next, he was laughing so hard he was shaking the bed. He had to share a few excerpts with me. Pretty soon we were both laughing so hard that we had tears streaming down our faces. I'm not sure what was making me laugh harder, the book or Danny trying to read through his laughter. And then, I turned back to read a couple of pages of my book.

About five minutes later, we repeated the cycle. Several times.

If you are looking for a funny light read, I'd recommend the book (if you don' t mind a little colorful language.)

Happy reading in bed, everyone!

Loving fall..

I don't know about your neck of the woods, but it is officially fall here. Yesterday was a gorgeous fall day, sunny and crisp. Perfect for watching a soccer game! It just makes me happy to be out there with all those families. There are grandparents and parents and coaches holding babies. I have heard about how obnoxious youth sports parents can be, but I have seen nothing but families encouraging their kids. Perhaps it changes when they get older, but it is just wholesome good-ole'-fashion exercise and competition. Good for the body and the soul. Good to both win and lose. (Our team lost this week. :-)) But, they played well and their coach (Danny) was happy.

Today was cold, and I felt like turning on the fireplace and eating hearty soup and watching football. I did two out of three of those things. (I was upstairs so I didn't turn on the fire.) I turned in two assignments this weekend, which always feel great. Each course only has 3-4 assignments, so that is like turning in a third of the work. I'm always relieved when they are in!

Not too much to say. Just checking in. Have a great week!

Reflections on marriage....

When Danny and I got engaged a friend of mine told me that Danny would "stifle my free spirit." Those words have come back to me many times over the 15+ years that we have been married.

I have been deeply reflecting on my marriage the last couple of days because on Sunday I learned that a couple we know is separated. "We just grew apart. Our interests are different,"she told me. It caused me to reflect on my interests and Danny's interests. Honestly, we don't have that many of the same interests. I love football. He doesn't like to watch sports. He likes conservative politics and staying current with the news. I like reading fiction that takes me away from the real world. He likes working outside in the yard. I don't. :-) I like watching a little mindless TV once in a while. He prefers reading books in Spanish. He is pretty serious about life. I am hopelessly optimistic and happy.

Honestly, yes, there are days when I have felt (and still feel) like he is "cramping my style." But, when I reflect on those times, I realize that my "free spirit" needs a bit of stifling. That is what marriage is all about. The trick is to learn how to do that while still celebrating and honoring the other person's strengths. How does one celebrate the person that is their spouse and yet still help them to become more like Christ?

There is so much I want to say about this subject, and I have deleted about eight different paragraphs because I don't want to get boring or preachy. I guess I realized that it isn't about "common interests." It is about a mutual commitment to loving and serving each other long after the romantic feelings have turned to more realistic ones. It is about knowing exactly when to "stifle" the other person and when to celebrate them. And I think Danny does this well.

A Turning Point

Last night we went to my parent's house for a little family party. My uncle and aunt were visiting from Seattle so we got together to eat a little food, watch the WSU Cougars play football and have some great family time.

Last night Annsley took her younger cousin, Katie, downstairs to play dress-up. Pretty soon they emerged from downstairs, and Katie (3 years old) was decked out in the fanciest, prettiest outfit. But, Annsley was wearing her normal clothes. We all "oohed" and "ahhed" over Katie and they disappeared to don a new outfit. Soon, they arrived again with Katie in another fancy, sparkly outfit and Annsley still had on her own clothes. I know Annsley still likes dress-up because she enjoys playing it with her friends.

I felt a little sadness. Annsley no longer wanted to preen in the spotlight, in dazzling sequins and feathers, thinking herself a princess or a ballerina. My little girl is growing up!

I also felt a little proud. I watched her being perfectly content to usher Katie into the spotlight and step back and let her take center stage. My little girl is growing up. And she is growing into a confident, kind young lady!

Tuesday Ten

I'm going to borrow an idea from my friend, Cathy, who often lists ten random thoughts on Tuesday.

1. I think the Nyquil I took in the middle of the night last night sucked up all my brain fluid leaving not only my nasal canal dry, but also my brain as well.

2. Rats! I'm only on thought two and I'm running out of things to say. :-)

3. Seth had his first soccer game on Saturday. Everyone told me how sports can take over your lives, but no one told me how fun it is to cheer them on from the sidelines!! Seth's team won their game, and it is so fun to see the growth in the boys from last year.

4. Why can't homeschooling moms call in sick and get a sub?

5. I love a good hearty soup. I made a big pot of bean soup this weekend and I have been enjoying this for lunch. There is something about fall and soup that go so well together.

6. On Sunday the kids and I volunteered to work in the 3 year old class at church. Sometimes I forget how stinkin' cute 3 year olds are!!

7. I'm only on thought 7?

8. Last night I woke up in the middle of the night and watched an informercial. It is disturbing how at 2:30 in the morning the Slim in Six plan sounds amazingly appealing. If I ordered right then, I could have had the whole plan for 3 easy payments of $19.95. The odd thing was that in my sleep deprived state, I found myself considering it. Really, I would have received a bunch of free gifts if I had ordered right then.

9. My reading list has been heavy lately. I pick random books from 4-5 different book lists and it seems the ones I ended up with these last couple of weeks have been hard work. I'm not opposed to pushing myself in my reading (knowing my natural predisposition to fluff), but the Gulag Archipelago and Nyquil do not make for a great match! I need a good easy light read.

10. Hooray, I made it all the way to ten!!

You gotta see these pictures!!

Don't miss the last picture on Crissy's blog entry!! I about choked on my Diet Dr. Pepper. I have been so busy playing catch up, that I haven't been able to blog about anything else. More later, I promise!

Some pictures for you...

I forgot to post these. The official ones are better and there is one of Crissy and me which I love, but I don't have a digital version of it. So, these are a couple from my camera. Don't you love the green vest? The other is my poor attempt to catch the action up close. Then I gave up because I realized that I would be better off having Crissy send me pictures of the action if I need one! :-)

Reflections of the Seahawks game

My whole trip to Seattle was such a blast!! I am going to spread it out and talk about being at my cousin's wedding, my family, and staying at Patty's house tomorrow so that I don't blab on for too long today.

The game was everything I hoped it would be. It was truly exciting and it was so cool to be on the field. Here are some of my random thoughts about the big game.

• First of all, in all honest, I was closer to the Sea Gals than I was to the players. For much of the time I was about a foot in front of them. I think it was safe to assume that the whistles and catcalls were for them and not me. They had on hotpants and I had a huge plastic green "media vest." My greatest fear was that they would show a close-up of the rear ends of the Sea Gals and my rear end would be in the background. Not a pretty contrast!!
• Second of all, don't be deceived, ladies....they do have cellulite.
• I wonder why it is that the guy up in the stands feels the need to shout out "Wusey!!" to a professional football player who has just been brutally tackled by another large football player.
• It is so loud and the energy is so amazingly high down on the field I could hardly believe it!
• At one point in time I got swept up in a group of Sea Gals and camera men down in the endzone and there were fans hanging over the edge to give high fives to the Sea Gals and I reached up before I could stop myself and high fived a guy in the crowd. I then realized that it really wasn't me that they were hoping to greet, but for a moment, I was caught up in the crowd. :-)
• Crissy is just as awesome in real life as she is on the internet. (And, to all you doubters, she was not a creepy 50 year old man.) She is fun and worked like a busy beaver the whole game while I was out having fun.
• Crissy's boys are *so* cute and charming and now I claim Jeffrey more than ever for Annsley's future husband. (And, no, it has nothing to do with the fact that I would then be related to someone who could get me into the games!)
• Crissy's husband is awesome at what he does and it was almost as much fun to watch him work as it was to watch the game. He is obviously well loved by everyone from the big-whigs down to the security guards. It was fun to watch the magic!!
• Judging by the noises that are made when those players hit each other, I think it might hurt a little bit to play professional football.
• I saw the largest arms and thighs I have ever seen in my life!
• Press passes make you feel extremely important!

Thanks again, Crissy. This was an experience I'll never forget!!

I'll be gone this weekend....

First, I'll be going to my cousin's wedding, and the kids are in the wedding. I lived with their family one summer when I was in college and worked as a children's intern at their church. So, they are very special to me!! I love my family. I know, a person is supposed to dread getting together with their extended family. Danny calls them "relatives." I find that the distinction between "family" and "relatives" a huge one. I am going to see my family this weekend. And, I can't wait!! My mom has four brothers and so I have tons of cousins! Even more fun is watching our kids (second cousins) all playing together.

Then....on Sunday.....look for me on the sidelines......HERE! Can you say excited?!? I get to help Crissy's hubby and crew carry equipment. I'll probably be the one bowled over by the 260 pound linebacker. Or, you may see me sneaking over to call a few plays. I can not tell you what a nice thing it was for Crissy to give me this opportunity.

Then....after the game I get to go stay with Patty!!

A person ought not be allowed have that much fun in a weekend!

See ya on Monday!

A Halloween History....

Early to be talking about Halloween, you say? Well, I'm going to give you a little Buller family Halloween History. When my children were babies and toddlers I always made their costumes.

And they were cute. Darn cute! Dare I say, practically the cutest kids to don costumes. And I spent lots of time and energy on their little sweet outfits. The top two pictures are Annsley as a peapod on her first Halloween. The bottom two are Seth on his first Halloween (well, actually his second. His first was the day after he was born....but I digress.) Really, my crowning jewel was the lion costume. That was the year my kids were the lion and the lamb. (Come on everyone...."awwwwwe".) I made Peter Pan and Tinkerbell. I made a duck and a skunk. And I would proudly promenade them around our church's fall festival saying humbly, "Yes, I made it.....thanks."

And then, they got older. And I started homeschooling. And teaching. And they had opinions. They no longer wanted to match and be cute. They wanted to be batman and a princess. And I had no time to sew a costume that would cost me more to make than to buy.

So, I swung to the other extreme. "What do you want to be this year?" I would ask the week before Halloween. (All the "good" costumes were sold out by then.) "How about the batman in your dress-up box? Great!!" Let's face it. A seven year old batman doesn't hold a candle in terms of cuteness to a two year old skunk!!!

Why am I telling you all this today? We had a little extra time this afternoon and we drove past the 50% off card shop where they have tons of costumes and accessories. And we stopped. And we bought costumes....before they sold out of the good ones!! So, this year we will be proudly sporting a cheap (they even chose ones that were on sale) ninja, with sword and a Renaissance princess. And I didn't have to make them. And I no longer have to have the Halloween costume thing hanging over my head.

But, one of the best parts was that the kids were so thankful. You would have thought I had given them a solid gold sword and crown! I love it when my kids are thankful. It made me almost want to do something really nice for them.....like sew them a costume or something.

I will remember

It still hurts.

Today, I pray!

ONE MORE DAY!!!!!

Yup, it is that time of the year again!!















Talk about fall butterflies!!

Here is a confession I must make to you all. Danny has to go to second service tomorrow because he is an usher. But.....I'm going to first service.....so I can watch the game!! We don't sit together when he is ushering because he has to stay in the very back and I really don't like sitting in the way back. So, I sheepishly asked him if I could go to first service. He rolled his eyes at me and I took that as a yes! :-)

Go Hawks!

Do you know what I love?

We got our first bag of the year today....

It gave me fall butterflies in my stomach. Does anyone else get seasonal butterflies? It is a literal physical sensation I get in my tummy. The first smell of fall in the air. Football games. Leaves turning. The first snow fall. Christmas decorations (even when they are in October). The first feeling of sunshine poking through the clouds. The first little crocus poking out his head. The first time of the year I swim. These things all give me what I have termed "seasonal butterflies."
I love Spokane *so much* because of the four distinct seasons. Every season brings with it its own special joys. Sure, you gotta put up with some blah, yucky days from Feb.-April, but it just makes that sunshine all the sweeter. The other day Danny said, "We need to go live somewhere that is *this* temperature all year long." I heartily disagreed. I wouldn't trade the colors of autumn or the snowy days for all the sunshine in San Diego.

Do you get seasonal butterflies?

So, which do you like better.....the corn or the pumpkins?

First Day of School

Every Labor Day we attend a wonderful community event. The large park that is about 5 blocks from my parent's house has an outdoor symphony performance. It is one of my favorite events of the summer. There are all kinds of people there. There are "symphony people" who come early, bring their tables and wine and sit near the front. There are families galore who bring picnic blankets and cookies. There are teenagers with piercings. There are ladies in red hats playing cards around a card table. There are people that I went to high school with. It was a beautiful night last night and following a barbecue at my parent's house, we walked over to enjoy the show. We got to see good friends (good to see you, Cath) and some people we haven't seen for a long time. It was a perfect end to the summer.

And, today we start school. I'll have to wake the kids up and get started a little earlier than we have been getting around this summer. I have a little pile of new school supplies sitting at the breakfast table, which should prove to be exciting for the kids. (Yes, I'm raising a new generation of geeks who get excited by school supplies!) The assignment notebooks are ready to go. I love fall! I'll give a report on the first day of school later.

I'm a genetic oddity

I have a confession to make.....

I think God left out a few girl genes when He created me.

I hate shopping!

I went to the mall yesterday because my mom gave me a little money for some new clothes for the kids and me. Her stipulation was that I had to use it on clothes. So, I set off to the mall with high expectations. I didn't mind shopping for the kids. I'm really too cheap to pay full price for anything, but we did end up with a couple of things on sale for each of the kids.

We then went to Barnes and Noble, a family favorite place to visit. I left to kids in the children's book section and popped next door to the Nordstrom Rack. My first feeling when I walk into the Rack is a sense of being overwhelmed. I don't really know what I need. I don't know where to look. I don't feel like trying on clothes. I don't really know what is "in" these days.

So, I start tentatively looking at the hundreds of round racks (which seem to be in no particular order). I pick a couple of things up and then realize I don't really like them and put them back. I don't even make it halfway through the clothes before I give up. I go to the racks of shoes. I must go to the back of the shoe racks where they keep the *big* shoes. All the cute footed people get to shop in the bright, cheery front of the shoe section, but I head toward the dimly lit section in the back. Shoes never look quite as cute in size 9 (or 9.5) as they do in 6. I'm not bitter. I look at 2,680 single shoes and find none that I really like (and I'm *not* willing to pay $60 for a pair of shoes.) I leave Nordstrom Rack empty handed, feeling discouraged and a bit like a shopping failure. I race back to Barnes and Noble where I feel comfortable and happy. I check on the kids who are surrounded by piles of Bernstein Bear books. Go figure, they haven't read those books for years, but they are enjoying it.

I set off again for a couple other shops, certain that I can find something to spend some money on. I walk up to The Gap. I walk in, look around, don't find one thing that I think would look cute on me. I turn around and walk out. Couple other stores. Same story. I buy something at Barnes and Noble and call it good.

Side note: Who came up with the notion of selling jeans that have carefully torn and worn (and even dirty) patches on them? Doesn't anyone else find this one of the silliest fads yet?

I do like to look cute/hip. I just don't know how to do it by myself. I don't enjoy the thrill of the hunt. I need a personal shopper.

Somehow I missed the shopping gene. (And the hair styling gene, and the make-up gene.)

But, I really like football. :-)

A New Song turns 1 today!!!

Happy Blogiversary to me!!!!!

One year ago, I fearfully and shyly made my first blog entry. I didn't want to tell anyone about it. I was afraid I would fail. I wanted to have a "good blog" (whatever that means), I wanted my blog to be more like all of your blogs.

One year later, I find I don't care nearly as much. I don't care if I write every day. If I am not as spiritually deep, or funny, or creative, or brainy, or artsy or (fill in the blanks) as the rest of you, so be it. I am who I am. I think blogging helps a person become OK with this fact. It has for me. I like the relationships that develop through the blogging world. I like peeks into your inner thoughts and I like giving you peeks into mine.

Here are a few lessons I have learned over the year.....

• Blogging makes me look for the art in things. I find myself thinking I wish I could capture that beautiful sunset so I could put it on my blog.
• I have to think in order to blog. Honestly, thinking ain't one of my strong points. I prefer to make quick decisions, quick messages, quick tasks, easy reads, and fast food. :-) Blogging forces me to slow down and think.
• Honestly, I'm out of lessons and I don't have time to think about it right now. :-) But, everyone knows you can't have just two bullets. There should be at least three, right?

Thanks for reading and commenting. Blog comments make my day!

50 things....for Laney

I got this from Laney

1. My roommate and I once: put on black outfits and nylons on our heads and went spying around our apartment complex

2. Never in my life have I: Mowed a lawn

3. The one person who can drive me nuts, but then can always manage to make me smile is: Danny

4. High school was: A long time ago (20 years, to be exact!!)

5. When I'm nervous: I get cold and my teeth chatter.

6. The last time I cried was: I choked up tonight at our church service worship, but I can't remember the last good cry.

7. If I were to get married right now, my bridesmaids would be: some of the same, and some new. (How is that for a diplomatic answer? If I started naming people, I'd have a long list!)

8. Would you rather run naked through a crowded place or have someone e-mail your deepest secret to all your friends? Hmmmmm, do I know the people in the crowded place?

9. My hair is: straight and sometimes even combed

10. When I was 5:I moved to Spokane

11. Last Christmas: was our first Christmas without Danny's sister and family and it seemed so quiet.

12: When I look left: Why would I do that right now?

13. I should be: Saying goodnight to the kids.

14. When I look down I see: My laptop on my lap.

15. The craziest recent event was: the airline losing my luggage for 3 days on my trip to Rhode Island.

16. If I were a character on "Friends": I'd be Monica. I really like order and organization.

18. My favorite aunt is: I don't have a favorite, they are all wonderful.

19. I have a hard time understanding:How parking garages work-I know I parked on the yellow floor, but my car is still hidden. I don't get it!!

20. One time at a family gathering: We sang The Twelve Days of Christmas in July (It is a family tradition when we gather at Christmas, and we haven't all been together for a long time at Christmas.)

21. You know I like you if: I laugh with you

22. If I won an award, the first person I'd thank: I'd like to thank all the little people...

23. Take my advice: Alphabetize you spices!

24. My ideal breakfast is: Lunch

25. If you visit my home town: You can swim in my parent's swimming pool (one of my top favorite places in the world to be.)

26. Sometime soon I plan to visit: My cousin in Seattle

27. If you spend the night at my house: You will get to hear a crazy story from Danny and you will get to experience my nighttime kid kiss routine. (It includes a butterfly kiss, an eskimo kiss, a Mexican kiss on the cheek, a kiss blown....no French kiss, however.)

28. I'd stop my wedding if: I was throwing up.

29. The world could do without: Punk rock

30. I'd rather lick the belly of a cockroach than: Jog (sorry, Laney!)

31. The most recent thing I've bought myself is: 3 cute little serving bowls when I was in Rhode Island.

32. The most recent thing someone else bought for me is: My traveling companion to Rhode Island (and co-teacher) is legaly blind and she bought me this wonderful smelling lotion as a thanks for helping her out.

33. My favorite red head is: My friend's son, Evan....he is really one of the only red heads I can think of.

34. My favorite brunette is: My mom

35. My car must have a sign on it that reads: We don't spend a lot of money on cars.

36. The last time I was drunk: Refer to question #1. (Actually, I was more just tipsy.)

37. The animals I would like to see flying besides birds: Pigs....so I could say "When pigs fly."

38. I shouldn't have been: Wasted on a husband who doesn't like to watch football.

39. I should have: Had more children

40. Last night I: Went out to dinner as a mystery shopper.

41. There's this girl I know who: has read Gone with the Wind 26 times and thinks she knows all the quotes by heart!! :-) (PS, Patty, I knew if wasn't a direct quote from the book, but I knew it was the only way people would recognize the quote. :-))

42: I don't know: html

43. A better name for me would be: Happy (or Dopey)

44. If I ever go back to school: It would be to get my masters in Distance Education....oh wait, that is what I'm doing! :-) But, if I really had my druthers I would go back and take random art, music, history, etc...classes.

45. How many days until my birthday? I can't count that high (It is in March)....Happy birthday, Laney!

46. One dead celebrity I wish I'd met is: David Hasselhoff.....oh, did you mean physically dead, or just career dead? (Don't hassel the Hoff!!!)

47. I've lived at my current address since: Jan 2000.

48. I've been told I look like: Meryl Streep and Helen Hunt.

49. If I could have any car, it would be: Um......something with a good cup holder. Did I mention we don't spend money on cars?

50. If I got a new cat tomorrow, I would name it: Considering our last cat was named....Kitty, I might try to come up with something a bit more interesting.

Frankly, my dear, I don't give a....

How did it take 38 years for me to discover this treasure!?! I loved every minute of it from cover to cover, but I especially loved the ending. It was not what I expected, but it was perfect! I really enjoy endings that surprise you. I won't tell you what the surprise was because you all need to read the book!! I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the Civil War and Reconstruction from the southern viewpoint. It is one that is not often told in the politically correct world we live in today. I don't totally buy it, but it is fascinating to read this perspective. Patty gets the Gone With the Wind award, having read the book 26 times. (That is 26,000 pages! :-)) I enjoyed reading her thoughts about the book in an email.

Now, I have to watch the movie!

My house is clean....

and when I say clean....I mean *really* clean. I mean pull out the refrigerator clean. I'm talking under the oven clean. Microwave grate taken off, soaked and scrubbed clean. Fridge drawers taken out and cleaned under clean. Every drawer and closet organized clean. Pens that don't work thrown away clean. Top of the kitchen soffet cleaned. Even garbage cans scrubbed clean. Yup, it is clean!! And I feel great!!

I'm reading two books right now that I am loving. The first is (of all things) Gone With the Wind. I have never (gasp) read the book or (double gasp) seen the movie. It is a wonderful book. For some reason, I pulled it off my booklist somewhat begrudgingly, assuming it would be a bit boring. I am 553 pages into the 1037 page book and I can not put it down.

The second book, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon, is one I had never heard of before, but I am listening to it on tape. It is great novel written from the perspective of a teen boy who has Asperger's. It is great writing and a creative perspective on life. And, the kids uses lots of math examples in the book, so...how could I not like it? His chapters are not numbered 1,2,3 but rather 2,3,5,7,11 (the prime numbers.) My favorite quote has something to do with prime numbers and life.

"The rule for working out prime numbers is really simple, but no one has ever worked out a simple formula for telling you whether a very big number is a prime number or what the next one will be.... Prime numbers are what is left when you have taken all the patterns away. I think prime numbers are like life. They are very logical, but you could never work out all the rules, even if you spent all your time thinking about them."

Math geeks....you know you love them.

Tagged by Needleroozer....

Five things in my freezer:
Peaches
Raspberries (more raspberries than any freezer has a right to hold!!)
Frozen onions and jalapenos portioned out to use for Mexican rice
Fruit pops
Homemade ice cream

Five things in my closet:
Canned peaches (at least in the pantry closet)
Clean organized shelves (just did this last week)
The white shoes that I wore in my wedding (why do I keep these?)
The black shirt that is really out of style, but Danny liked when we were dating. Why? I don't know. I'm not a saver!!
Danny coats encroaching (read: taking over) my side of the closet.

Five things in my car:
Canned peaches (that I loaded home from my mother-in-law's house)
A Wind in the Door book on tape
Chapstick (or lip crack as we who are addicted like to call it!)
Yoga mat (don't ask when I last did yoga)
Emergency kit that I put together with all kinds of random supplies

Five things in my purse:
Peaches (I wish I were kidding, but I think that there are a few pieces of peel floating around)
Lip crack
Trident gum (original)
Cell phone
Sugar Free sour candy

Five things on my mind:
Yup, you guessed it!! Peaches!!
I don't have to cook dinner tonight.
I have to go to an open house tonight.
I really need to go finish cleaning the kitchen
Getting the kids packed to spend the night with Grandma.

Canned Peaches

Today after church we canned 80-ish jars of peaches. We all (Danny, his parents, Annsley and I) have weary backs and feet. Guess what we had for dinner tonight! Peaches and ice cream.

The peaches are "put up" and now I have to figure out what to do with the last box. What a great problem, eh? I think a batch of peach crisp is definitely in order. Danny wants some fruit leather, and I'm having a hard time getting excited about that. Does anyone have any great fruit leather recipes?

All good things must come to an end

OK, I'll try to make this a very long post so that awful picture doesn't pop up on your screen anymore!

This morning, amidst tears from five kids and two moms, the cousins left to go back to California for the year. (OK, in the interest of honesty, Seth didn't cry while they were leaving, but cried about his mysterious stomach ache after they left. The boy has issues with excessive displays of affection or emotion. I hereby apologize to his future wife...I tried, really I did. And then, of course, while I was typing this, he walked by and said, "I like you, Mom." Future wife....you will also have lots to thank me for. But, I digress.)

It is so hard to watch them go, but....it is better to have loved and lost...yada, yada, yada. Seriously, it was such an unexpected gift that they got to be here for the summer that we can not complain about saying goodbye. But, it still hurts!

They spent the night last night and everyone got way too little sleep, and that was OK! But, we are all paying the price this afternoon!! Anyone want a couple of cute, tired children? Cheap!!

I am almost done with my fall cleaning project!! I just have the kitchen and dining room left. Great Expectations (Dickens) is now keeping me company while I work. I love listening to books on tape while I work. I especially feel productive when I can listen to books on my reading list while I am cleaning!! I'm loving Great Expectations!! I have never read it before.

Next week will be cooking week. I'll be canning peaches and doing some other bulk cooking to get ready for the school year.

So, do you think this post is long enough to bump the bum out of view? Let's hope so!

Traveling Woes

I'm sorry, but I just can not resist posting this picture!! This is the next step in airport security. I just got back from Rhode Island and thankfully didn't have to do the strip search! :-)

I think I had this nightmare once, only I was the lady in the aisle (which I'm afraid to say may hit a little too close to home!) and everyone else was fully clothed.

Back to the Real World

Well, we had a wonderful time in Cannon Beach. I tried blogging a couple of times while we were there, and both times I crashed when I tried to upload pictures. So, I decided to wait. We had great weather. I started each morning at 6:30 with a walk to Haystack rock with my mom. Those are very special times to me. Special enough to get me up at 6:30 on my vacation!! The speaker (Dr. Hubbard) spoke on Hebrews and he was a good teacher. I would have liked a little more personal application, but it was good learning.

The play we saw this year wasn't great. That was a disappointment. Usually the plays in Cannon Beach are delightful. The actors in this two man show weren't quite funny enough to pull it off.

One highlight of the week was sharing some brie with Patty and her hubby!! (Thanks again, Patty, I could have used about three times longer to chat!!)

The kids were old enough this year to take themselves to and from the meetings this year. It was a strange feeling to give them more freedom. They would go to the rec center or take off on the beach with friends. They loved it, and I found that I missed them. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed all the reading I was able to do, but it was one of those moments where you are aware of your children growing up! The funny thing is I remember as a kid loving the extra independence we had when we were in Cannon Beach.

The children's program there is incredible. The kids come away with so many great memories.















(family walk to Haystack rock...a mile down and a mile and a half back! :-))














(The whole gang, minus Danny, the photographer)

On Wednesday I leave for Rhode Island again for another conference. 4 nights in a hotel room by myself. It sounds pretty good to me!

Ahead of the game!

Every year, late summer, when we get back from Cannon Beach, my mind shifts into high gear fall anticipation. I love summer, but I love fall too. I love the anticipation of a new school year. I love the school supply sales. (Yes, I already started buying, but that is another post.) One thing we do to get ready for the year is a MAJOR (and I mean REALLY major) house cleaning. I literally go room by room and clean everything!! Every drawer emptied and cleaned, every closet organized, every mini-blind dusted, every baseboard washed, every wall rubbed down, everything!!

A couple of days ago I got a little bee in my bonnet to clean out my "office" (read: junkroom that contains my abandoned scrapbooking supplies, homeschool materials, and anything else that has no immediate home.) This room is one that takes some considerable going through and I had the great idea, "What if I *start* with that room and get it done before I leave?" So, in a flurry of garbage bags (plural!!), wet and dry clothes, and, of course, Clorax wipes, I began. My accompaniment was The Lord of the Flies read by the author himself. He is a terrible reader. He has this disturbing little swallow. It is SO annoying. But even worse? He pauses after each chapter to add his own pompous comments about his writing. Again, another post.

Well, I finished and moved on to the school/playroom!! I enlisted the help of two willing servants. (They preferred that to math. Go figure!) They dusted the mini-blinds, baseboards, etc. Every Playmobile knight is in its place. Every lego is either vacuumed up or in its proper bin. The miscellaneous little junky toys that somehow accumulate even though we don't really ever get toys is in one of the aforementioned garbage bags.

Today, I tackled the laundry room. I even pulled out the washer and dryer to clean behind and under them. How can machines dedicated to cleaning things make such a mess? But, now, they are polished and shiny, ready to do battle with the next batch of laundry.

The week I had intended to do this was the third week of August, so I really feel like I am ahead of the game now. Somehow, once the ball gets rolling, I really enjoy the process. It feels so good to look at a room and know everything in it has been cleaned.

Now, if only it would stay this way!!

I'm gonna blog about you!

A few minutes ago Danny left the house to go pick up the cousins for an outing. He is taking his day off to take the kids to a swimming pool with a high dive (across town). After that, he is taking them on a picnic, to an old well (the civil engineer in him coming out) and to an emu farm. The kids were as excited as if they were going to Disneyland.

What a guy!! He takes *his* day off to make wonderful memories for the kids. And you wondered why I still like him so much even after 15 years?! He is a dad who never chooses to take time for himself when he could do something with the kids. He is so purposeful about how he spends his time. In the evenings, he is doing things with them from the time he gets home until the time they go to bed. During that time, they play games, practice Spanish, do science experiments, read the Bible, ride bikes, play soccer, and many other activities. Of course, he would love some down time when he gets home from work, but instead he chooses to be greeted at the door by welcoming children jumping all over him. He hugs and kisses us all and usually plays with the kids a bit before opening the mail. He knows that these days are short and he wants the kids to remember Daddy coming home as the highlight of their day. And it is!

As he was walking out the door, I said to him, "You are quite a Daddy. I'm gonna blog about you."

He smiled.

Even Barb couldn't work her magic

One of these children was not happy to be getting their picture taken. I'll let you try and figure out which child that was. We have been having Penny's portraits done by the same woman since Annsley was a baby. Barb has this amazing ability to make the kids smile and get great shots of them. We always request Barb! Barb is legendary in our family. But, Sammy was not to be consoled on this day. Even Barb couldn't make him smile. Seth did get him to stop crying when he had him on his lap. But, nary a smile was to be seen....until we got a cookie at Mrs. Fields.

We love cousins! 

This is SO my daughter!

Today we made covers for our new notebooks. The kids thought this was an extremely fun activity for some reason. I just had to post Annsley's because it is just so her. Seth is still working on his, but he had to tear one up in frustration because it didn't look good enough for him. The picture next to Spanish is the profile of a computer, in case you were wondering. They do Rosetta stone.

Our notebooks are ready to go for fall. But, they wanted to start using them now. OK, twist my arm.

I also got those really cool plastic dividers with the pockets. Well worth the extra money in cool geekiness! Very high geek factor!! The kids liked them too. :-)

18 more days

We have 18 more days until we get to go here.

My family has been going to the conference center since I was 7. Yup, for all you mathematicians that makes 31 years. It has been such a joy to add Danny and my brother's wife, Erica to this trip. It has been even more fun to add our children to the mix. They have a fantastic children's program and the kids love it (as I loved it as a child.)

One of the best things about this vacation is that there are very few choices to be made. Meals are chosen for you (and they are good.) The basic schedule is chosen for you. The biggest decisions I have to make are what books to read and which beach to choose.

• Shopping in Portland on the way down
• Taco bar on Sunday night
• Seaside on Wednesday.....don't forget the bumper cars
• The Cannon Beach Carnival on Thursday afternoon
• A play at The Coaster Theater
• Hours of digging and playing (and reading) at the beach
• Morning walks with my mom to Haystack rock (a mile down and a mile and a half back) followed by a latte
• Time for serious spiritual introspection and reflection
• Walks through the town, poking into galleries and tourist shops
• Last, but certainly not least....Bruce's Candy Kitchen. The ONE thing that has not changed one bit in 31 years!
  

Yup, counting down the days. (Can I get a witness, Diane?)

Happy Anniversary to us!

There are things that I did not know fifteen years ago that I do know now!

• I didn't know that a person might floss their teeth twice in one night (let alone once) to make sure their teeth were clean.
• I didn't know that watching your husband become a father could only increase your love and respect.
• I didn't know that one person could make you laugh and cry harder than you have ever done in your life.
• I didn't know that in order to have a well-balanced meal at dinner someone has to make it...every night (go figure!)
• I didn't know what it meant to be a grown-up.
• I didn't know that laundry doesn't put itself away. (Now the kids do it. :-))
• I didn't know that watching World Cup soccer could be so exciting. I didn't know it would be almost as exciting as watching your husband coaching your 7 year old son's team.
• I didn't know that there is nothing sweeter than seeing your husband with another girl....as long as that girl is your 9 year old daughter.
• I didn't understand how differences can be such strengths
• I didn't know how prayer works in ways that nagging never can.
• I didn't know I would never have to pick up any of my husbands dirty clothes because he always puts them away.
• I didn't know he would be such a good dad.
• I didn't realize that high expectations cause a person to achieve more than they thought they could.
• I didn't know that er....um....marital relations only get better with time.
• I didn't know that we would be teaching our kids at home.
• I didn't know that we would need two computers to avoid shoving matches in the evenings...and I'm not talking about the kids.
• I didn't know he would wipe down the sink and shower just to make it easier for me to clean.
• I didn't know that we wouldn't run out of things to talk about.
• I didn't know you would still make me laugh.
• I didn't know we would both start liking country music. (I *really* didn't know that one!)

• I didn't know what a rare treasure a happy marriage is!

I love you, Danny!

Rent

A couple of nights ago I watched the movie Rent. I have never seen the musical (although I am familiar with some of the songs) or the movie. I have debated whether or not to watch this musical, because of the controversial subject matter, but I really wanted to see it because of the amazing music. I rented it (no pun intended) on a night where I had the whole house to myself.

First, let me say, that the music is so beautiful! I wept from the beauty of it. I'm a sucker for a show tunes and pop opera!

I wept through the whole thing. I wept for the consequences of sin. I wept for hopelessness. I know the people in the musical found their hope in love, but I so longed for them to find their hope in Jesus-the author of hope and love.

I don't pretend to understand street life or the struggles these people represented. I really don't think I have an easy answer to all of life's problems, but in Rent I saw a whole culture without God. And, I so wanted Him to be there.

Did I like it? Yes! It made me think and feel compassion like I haven't in a long time! The music (even for a movie version) was breathtaking. I am still processing, actually. Even though I really liked it, I just can't recommend it. There is too much that is controversial to put my stamp of approval on it. But, if you want to be moved, hopefully to compassion, get the soundtrack...or watch the movie....but consider yourself warned!

Baby dreams

Have you ever had that baby dream? The one where you find out you are pregnant, or you have a baby? I had such a vivid one last night. I was due to have a baby any minute. I kept going to the hospital, but I wasn't in any pain...and my stomach had that cute small basketball shape that the models get. (That should have been my first clue that it was a dream! I never had that "cute" look.)

I usually awake from those dreams SO disappointed to find out that it was just a dream. I would love to have a huge family!! But, this morning, I didn't have that ache. It wasn't exactly relief, but it wasn't disappointment either.

Nothing earth shattering. I just thought I'd share. And no....I'm not pregnant. I know that FOR SURE!

I just want to recommend....

A great summer read.

The Morning After...

I heard little noises at about 6:00 this morning. At about 7:00 they all emerged in parade fashion, singing, left, left, left-right-left as they marched. They had all chosen red, white and blue outfits so they could match. I couldn't resist a couple more pictures!!

Slumber Party!

Guess what is going on at our house tonight!
It is very hot here, but that didn't seem to dampen the enthusiasm of sleeping in an un-airconditioned room in the warmest part of the house! These are five very happy children, and I am relishing every moment of this summer with them. I am not known for spontaneous (or even planned, for that matter) play dates, but this summer is dedicated to the cousins. So when they asked when they could have a slumber party, I said, "How about tonight?" They accepted the offer with squeals of joy. Of course, they will wake at the crack of dawn and continue right where they left off this evening....with those giggles I hear coming from the other room. It is music to my ears!

Learning to read...

Yesterday, we went garage saling. This has been a favorite Saturday morning activity for several years that started when my mom was looking for things for the church nursery. It saw me through baby equipment and clothing, some home furnishings, kids clothes, and of course....books. The kids think it is a great treat to come along and sometimes you find that special something that makes all the junk worth while.

Yesterday, Seth found a brand new Dover wild animals coloring book for a quarter. The VERY ONE that we had been looking for at Barnes and Noble the day before. They didn't have wild animals, so we had to settle for cats. And, there it was, buried below some books on bird watching. We were all so excited! Sure, we only saved $3.75, but it was more about the thrill of the hunt, and the victory of the find.

I saw an old reading text book that took me back to my first grade year. It was the very same reading book I had used in school. (I was in the bluebird group, you know the one that they cleverly named to protect other children's self esteem, but everyone knew it was the highest group.) I showed Annsley the book and said, "These are the books they used to teach us how to read. " She looked perplexed, laughed, and said, "Who learns to read with one book? You should use thousands of books to learn to read." That's my girl! Well indoctrinated at a young age!

This strange feeling...

Yesterday, I had this strange feeling. I seem to remember it from distant times. We woke up, ate breakfast, spent an extended time reading out loud. We progressed quickly to our modified summer school schedule. The kids finished by lunch, which is the goal. And then it hit me....I have nothing hanging over my head right now. I had just turned in two assignments for my master's classes. I had finished the development of the summer school online class I'll be teaching. I didn't have to plan lessons. I had no meetings.

It is the feeling of summer! I remember this! I could get used to this!

Where I'm From poem....

I read several of these last month and I was so moved by them. I tried to write one of my own and was frustrated by my lack of memory and poetic words to describe my true feelings. So, I deleted my attempts and promptly forgot about the task. However, Diane at A Circle of Quiet reminded me, and I thought I'd give it one more shot. I think it is a valuable exercise even if my poetry skills are not what I wish they were. Hey, that is a part of Where I'm From, right? So, for better of for worse....here you go.

I am from laughter, from music, from love.

I am from the four seasons,
from the brilliant color of fall and the excitement of a new school year,
from the smell of snow at twilight, sledding down the driveway, and making snowmen in the front yard,
from endless lazy summer days, swimming and going to the lake,
from long-awaited springs bursting with new life, and the freedom of the first bike ride of the season.

I am from a huge front door with my mom waiting on the inside.
from sizzling onions and smells of food preparation,
from sounds of the piano from the living room.

I am from roses on the table and an abundance of multi-colored flowers growing in the yard.
I am from summer spent on the Oregon coast and Christmas spent singing carols and the ability to laugh when times are hard,
from Grandma Nadine, Grandma Verna, Grandpa Tick and Grandpa Herb.

I am from "work hard" and "play hard" and confidence that occasionally crosses into pride.

From “Now we’ve had our accident for the day.” and “Always do your best work.” and “Pursue Jesus with all your heart.”
I am from my Dad’s crazy mnemonic devices and memorizing the state capitals on long car rides.

I am from baptism in the river. I am from a deep love of the Bible and what it holds for all man. I am from the battle of hymns versus choruses that often still takes place in my own heart. I am from teaching Sunday school with my mom and youth group mission trips. I am from summers working as a Bible camp counselor and work crew.
I am from forgiveness.

I'm from Washington, from comfort foods and from a little dessert after every dinner.

From summers on the farm with Grandma Verna,
from riding the combine with Grandpa Herb.
from listening to stories of childhood from Grandma Nadine,
from riding in the boat at the lake with Grandpa Tick,
from going on special dates with my dad,
from wanting to be just like my mom.

I am from Grandma Nadine’s jewelry box and the family pictures stored in her hutch, now in my living room,
from the upstairs closet at Grandma Verna’s farmhouse where there were treasures untold, but peppered with a little fear at the depth of the dark closet.

I am from comfort and blessings and riches, both earthly and spiritually.
I am from and will continue to be from deep gratitude to God for all these.

The cousins are here!!!

You may remember that Danny's sister, LaNae, and her husband and three kids moved last summer to California to attend seminary. This has been such a sad thing for our kids because they are best friends. However, they accepted a summer internship position here and arrived yesterday for an eight week stay!! The kids were counting down the days (and the minutes) until last night when they got to be together. They are staying with Danny's parents and it was so fun to all be together again last night. We are all looking forward to a summer of lots of time together. Life is good.

No more homework, no more books....

No more teacher's dirty looks. Oh, wait....I'm the teacher.

Today was our last day of classes at TEC. We still have conferences next week, but all the lesson plans are over for the year!! Woohoo!!

I told Annsley that she is now officially a 4th grader and Seth is officially a 2nd grader. They thought that was really cool. They had a year book at school this year, and the kids were so cute having people sign them. They had *me* sign their yearbooks! :-) Yesterday, they had a school variety show. Seth played the piano and Annsley and a friend did a scene from Taming of the Shrew. It was so cute. She also did a Readers Theater and played a song on the recorder with her music class. She was in her element! I just love the experiences and classes that they get at TEC. It is such a perfect fit for our family.

I don't have the total weight off my shoulders because I still have several obligations that will be following me through the summer, but at least I will have more time to do them all.

Next week our home "summer school" starts. We will be dropping a couple of subjects, reading more, and enjoying our extra two days a week.

Happy Summer, everyone (Will someone give the sun the message that school is out?)

Funny metaphors from high school essays....

You have probably seen these before. I had, but I couldn't resist posting them so you can all get a little chuckle!

Every year, English teachers from across the country can submit their collections of actual analogies and metaphors found in high school essays. These excerpts are published each year to the amusement of teachers across the country. Here are last year's winners.....

1. Her face was a perfect oval, like a circle that had its two sides gently compressed by a Thigh Master.
2. His thoughts tumbled in his head, making and breaking alliances like underpants in a dryer without Cling Free.
3. He spoke with the wisdom that can only come from experience, like a guy who went blind because he looked at a solar eclipse without one of those boxes with a pinhole in it and now goes around the country speaking at high schools about the dangers of looking at a solar eclipse without one of those boxes with a pinhole in it.
4. She grew on him like she was a colony of E. Coli, and he was room-temperature Canadian beef.
5. She had a deep, throaty, genuine laugh, like that sound a dog makes just before it throws up.
6. Her vocabulary was as bad as, like, whatever.
7. He was as tall as a six-foot, three-inch tree.
8. The revelation that his marriage of 30 years had disintegrated because of his wife's infidelity came as a rude shock, like a surcharge at a formerly surcharge-free ATM machine.
9. The little boat gently drifted across the pond exactly the way a bowling ball wouldn't.
10. McBride fell 12 stories, hitting the pavement like a Hefty bag filled with vegetable soup.
11. From the attic came an unearthly howl. The whole scene had an eerie, surreal quality, like when you're on vacation in another city and Jeopardy comes on at 7:00 p.m. instead of 7:30.
12. Her hair glistened in the rain like a nose hair after a sneeze.
13. The hailstones leaped from the pavement, just like maggots when you fry them in hot grease.
14. Long separated by cruel fate, the star-crossed lovers raced across the grassy field toward each other like two freight trains, one having left Cleveland at 6:36 p.m. traveling at 55 mph, the other from Topeka at 4:19 p.m. at a speed of 35 mph.
15. They lived in a typical suburban neighborhood with picket fences that resembled Nancy Kerrigan's teeth.
16. John and Mary had never met. They were like two hummingbirds who had also never met.
17. He fell for her like his heart was a mob informant, and she was the East River.
18. Even in his last years, Granddad had a mind like a steel trap, only one that had been left out so long, it had rusted shut.
19. Shots rang out, as shots are wont to do.
20. The plan was simple, like my brother-in-law Phil. But unlike Phil, this plan just might work.
21. The young fighter had a hungry look, the kind you get from not eating for a while.
22. He was as lame as a duck. Not the metaphorical lame duck, either, but a real duck that was actually lame, maybe from stepping on a land mine or something.
23. The ballerina rose gracefully en Pointe and extended one slender leg behind her, like a dog at a fire hydrant.
24. It was an American tradition, like fathers chasing kids around with power tools.
25. He was deeply in love. When she spoke, he thought he heard bells, as if she were a garbage truck backing up.

Simon says...

My thoughts, exactly! Once again, Simon says it spot on!

A Blow to my Ego!!

Let me start this story by telling you that I have a nice voice. It feels weird to just say that, but, it is true. It isn't the hippest voice you have ever heard (think Twila Paris) but one of my strengths is blending with other people. I know how to make other people sound even better. I've been doing this almost every Sunday for the last 15 years!

In church yesterday the girl (she is 30) that I sing with was telling me about this trio that she was going to do with two girls (in their young 20s) from the other worship team. It is actually a Destiny's Child song but it is gospel. Somehow the conversation turned to the fact that she hadn't asked me to sing with her and this is the conversation that followed:

Her: Well, actually...oh never mind, I don't want to say. It sounds bad.
Me: Now you have to tell me.
Her(laughing and putting her arm around me): I thought it might be better for the "young girls."

Now granted, I am no Biance, but I don't think I have ever been thrown into the "old girls" category before!! So, after I recovered from my geriatric shock, she continues,

Her: Besides, I have sung with those two before and we just blend really well.
Me: (smiling graciously, in a grandmotherly way) I understand, I have two old ladies, I mean women, that I used to sing in trios with also.

It was actually not my ego that was so much bruised, I came to terms a long time ago with the fact that ego and pride have no place in singing for the Lord, but it did make me feel very lonesome for my friends that I used to sing with in our old church!!

After a few tears to Danny, I thanked God for the reminder to be humble in doing His service, and for allowing me to feel what I'm sure that I unintentionally made others feel in the past.

I'm off to go sit in my rocker now!

Summer Reading Challenge

I have decided to join in on the summer reading challenge. If you want to join me, visit here for more info! The deadline to sign up is May 31.

Here are the challenge books I want to finish this summer. They will be joined by many more light fiction, I am sure!

5 Autobiographies from The Well Educated Mind
The Confessions by Saint Augustine
The Book of Margery Kempe.
Essays by Michel De Montaigne
The Life of Saint Teresa of Avila by Teresa of Avila
Meditations by Rene Descates

5 spiritually challenging books
The Power of a Praying Woman by Stormie Omartian
Too Busy Not to Pray
3 others to be determined

All the books that are under my bed right now
The Count of Monte Cristo by Dumas
The Open Door by Mrs. J.L. Ragsdale
Condi by Antonia Felix
The Hospital by the Rinver by Dr Catherine Hamlin
A Table in the Presence by Carey Cash
1776 by David McCollough

Popping in to say hello....

There is light at the end of the tunnel! This month is still crazy, but I got some assignments turned in and I feel like I have some breathing room. My children think I have a lap-top sized growth coming out of my stomach! :-)

My American Idol thoughts. In the end, I was happy that Taylor won. I didn't ever vote for him, but after Tuesday night, I knew he deserved to win. One thing I love about AI is that it shows that America still loves nice people. The nice guy does win on this show. That makes me happy.

Speaking of nice guys, I *LOVE* that those three cowboys got to be on the show last night. I thought that those two cowboys were so sweet to have the little cowboy guy in their group. They were so supportive of him, even though he was obviously a net minus for their team. I thought it was just great that they let them come and perform in the final.

I was in hysterics over that Clay-Aiken-wanna-be-kid who was singing and then so excited to see Clay! :-)

I thought the whole finale was really well done. I loved all the singing and highlights from the show. It was much more entertaining than past years.

OK, I could always do without Prince!! What was up with that? Everyone else sort of fit into the big picture of the show. He came out of nowhere, sang, and then left. I find Prince kinda slimey.

Taking a little break....

Well, folks, it is my turn to take a little blogging break. The classes that I am taking this semester are much more work than some of my others and I need to cut back from the blog-world for a season. I'll be popping in occasionally to read yours, but I need to be spending my time elsewhere for now! But, promise you'll come back in a couple weeks??!!??

Love to all!!!

The things they miss....

Seth was reading his new devotions book and asked me, "What is a report card?" I explained it to him and told him he didn't need one since his mother already knew how he was doing in school. He said, "Well, why would I want to hide it?" I said, "Well, you might not want your mom to know if you weren't doing well in math."

He smiled at me, and said, "If I did get a report card, I'd get a good grade in math."

Will this boy really be truly adjusted if he doesn't learn how to hide his report card? How will he survive in mainstream society?

Yes, I am aware that...

I still have a blog. I just have no inspiration.

I just finished a really great book called Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks. It says on the cover, "A story of love and war." I must qualify my recommendation because it is a little heavy on both the "love" (if you know what I mean) and the war. There are very graphic scenes describing both. The scenes of war paint the horrific picture of World War I, and add to the richness of the book. However, the couple of "love" scenes I could do without! It is a haunting book that bridges the past with the present and I stayed up way too late the last couple of nights to finish it.

I am leading a bookclub at school with some of my teen students. We are reading Night by Elie Wiesel. My students are such great kids, and have beautiful insights into life and the subject of the holocaust. I am looking forward to having our discussion today.

This makes me mad!

Does this infuriate anyone else? How DARE someone taunt like that? I'm not debating whether or not Moussaoui should have received the death penalty but, oh boy, does his quote make me sick.

I didn't even know anyone personally who died in the September 11 attacks, but it still feels so raw to me when I think about it. I bawled like a baby at Ground Zero. I was upset by the fact that at the Ground Zero site there was not one mention of terrorists or even *who* it was who perpetrated the heinous acts. It bothers me that a man can be so evil that not only does he have no remorse about what happened but that he flaunts it as a victory. I know it is not politically correct to call someone evil, but anyone who could willingly participate in terrorism is evil.

I do believe that Moussaoui will someday meet and answer to a holy God, and the penalty he will get at that time will be far worse than anything the American judicial system could hand out. I also know that Moussaoui is a soul that is loved by God and that God would forgive him if he asked. Perhaps that is why God is God, and I am not. I think I'd have a hard time with that one!

My American Idol thoughts

Play That Funky Music, White Boy?!?! Taylor, what *were* you thinking?

I still have only been moved to vote once this season and that was for Mandissa when she sang that song that was a testimony of her love of God. I like all the singers that are left, but they don't seem to move me to pick up the phone. I don't even really care who wins.

I love Katherine's voice, I love how Taylor feels the music, I think Chris is sexy, Paris is cute, Elliot seems like such a nice guy, but they aren't making me pick up the phone.

Maybe next week.