and placed it on my frige so everyone can see! I've given my family a whole 21 days to think about their special mom, and how she is turning 38, and how I slave so much for them, and how much I want something that I want! Let's see if they even remember! 
Do you see the similarity of these two? Who would've thought that Cousin It lived in our house!
Oh, it's Lindsey!
With a serious case of bed head!!
This is my Christ tile, and I did the other tile for someone else.
This is the plate & mug that we did at Enrichment last year, but mine just got done today! I'm a little disappointed with it, but since it's mine, it'll be okay. I'm hoping to get the others more straight. The mug says "We Believe" with a Santa hat on the other side. I should have had the "We Believe" on the other side. I'll probably do the others that way.
I am planning on going. I don't know why I go to these Super Craft Saturdays. Actually, I haven't been since moving here... okay take that back, I did go to the one in 2006, but I didn't make anything. The only reason why I go is to eat the food. I love eating good food made by someone else. So, here I am going tomorrow. I paid for 2 vinyl sayings to put on tile. Hmmmmm, will I even do them? Last year I paid for 6 vinyl Christmas sayings to put on red plates & mugs for my siblings with kids, and have YET to do them! I didn't go last year because we went to the LA State Fair instead, but I had every intentions of making them. I need to go to Home Depot tomorrow to buy the tile. I am going to make one for someone in my family, and for me. I am also going to try to see if I can get more sayings, and IF I do the tiles tomorrow, then I can make them for the rest of my family. I hate crafts and I love doing them at the same time... once I start. But sitting down and actually starting them is what I have a problem with. I think it's because I want it to be perfect, and if I don't have all the time do make sure they are perfect, I don't want to do them. And then if I make them perfect, I want the receiver to like it just as much as me, and if I don't feel they like it, then I don't want to do it anymore. Am I even making sense (LOL!)?
My goal tomorrow is to do these 2 tiles... start to finish! And if I have time, to buy at least 1 red plate & mug so that Rebecca can show me how. Maybe I will post a picture tomorrow of my stuff.
Anyway, this is my favorite brand right now, and it's sooooooo creamy! It's so much better then Blue Bell's! If you have Dryers or Edy's, you need to buy this one! It's so good! 
Apparently, Dryers Ice Cream is sold in the western half, and Edy's in the eastern half. I know our Walmart sold Dryers, but just recently started selling Edy's. It's just like the mayo:
and Best Foods sold East of the Mississippi.
I hope I got the mayo's on the right side! LOL!!I have never played Chutes & Ladders with my younger kids, and Jacob is almost 10! He was putting the board away today (classic game board from Josh's younger days... nothing else, only board), and he says, "Mom, I have never played this game..." Guess who is playing Chutes & Ladders day until she is Chutes & Ladders worn out?
And I like "Walk This Way" by Run DMC & Steve Tyler. 1987? 1988? Sooner? I know I used to watch the video on MTV & VH-1 when MTV/VH-1 actually played videos and before their channels got so bad. Whenever it comes on the radio, and I'm alone in the car (like this morning), I crank it up LOUD! I love it!!
We took the plunge... we bought into Netflix because of all the stupid late fees that I have been paying to our only small-town DVD store. I guess it's technically The Video Store, but they don't rent videos anymore (I think they may still have a few kid ones), only DVDs. Maybe I should tell them that they need to change their name! LOL!!
Anyway, so we are now associated with Netflix and we got our first 3 DVDs today. We got Cars (for the kids... they've been begging for it), Fool's Gold (which I was told today by Josh that it's full of not-so-great scenes... uh, how would he know? LOL!!) and No Reservations w/Catherine Zeta-Jones. We signed up for a bunch of movies, and with the weather being as hot as it is, and us without a pool, this would be a good thing for the afternoons since I am so not creative right now doing homeschool stuff with my kids, or anything else for the matter. Oh, well... who says I'm perfect?
Speaking of Homeschool... if I'm going to do it, I need to get crackin'! I need to get some plans going, and deciding who and who isn't going to be homeschooled. YIKES! Do I even want to do it?
I deleted the other post about Josh being bald. Well, it wasn't as bad as I thought. As I was starting to get pictures ready to post on here, I found this picture. Must of been taken with his cell phone. Josh is up front, and the floating head is Nick... Josh's friend from church who also decided to shave his head. Bunch of goofs!
Oh. My. Gosh! I love this game! And the harder it is, the better I like it, even though I go crazy 1/2 the time if I am stuck! I have to do them each day in the newspaper. Every Monday it starts off as a 1 star, and by Sunday it's a 5 star. I rather do 3 & 4 stars, and I attempt to do the 5 stars, but more often then I like, I hardly ever get them. I'm working on it though! I even found this website so I can play it whenever I get the urge!
Speaking of games, I also love Tetrus on Jacob's Gameboy(only when we have it... most of the time it's lost!). But, like Sodoku, it has to be hard. I only play the Level 9 Game 9 (highest & hardest it goes too), because if I get over 100,000, then the rocket takes off! I love it! Sounds crazy, huh? It's not like I have nothing else to do, but when I need a break from it all... I love to do these 2 games.
My kids love this Primary activity that the presidency does each year. It's not spiritual, but does it *have* to be? In fact, are they ever spiritual? I can't remember if our ward does them that way or not. I always see in The Friend of wards/stakes that do temple things, and other church related things, but I honestly cannot think of our Primary has ever done an activity that is gospel-related. But the kids always have a fun time going, and dressing up. Kayley didn't go this year as she is not here, so the little girls used her & Lauren's hula skirts, leis and Jacob wore his big hat. I found a cute Old Navy shirt for Joey a few weeks back with hawaiian print, so he wore that and an orange lei. It was really cute of them. I will try to get pictures posted. After the party party, they fed the kids lunch and we went home.
Josh is on his way home from the Pioneer Trek in northern Oklahoma. He went a few years ago with the College Station Stake (the week after we moved here), and showed the Stake YM presidency CD about it (thanks Mari Ayn!), and it was then planned for this year for our stake. Found out that he has to do a few more things on his Eagle form, so he better hurry up! He turns 18 in just 5+ weeks! Yikes!
Lauren just returned yesterday with her cousin, Rebekah, from Young Womens Camp in the Killeen Tx Stake. Wow... it just seems like yesterday that I was the bratty YW attending camp there, and now I have a daughter that went. This was her 2nd year, and she had a great time. She goes again in a few weeks with our stake, where she will finish up her 2nd year stuff. She got sick the first night there, and by the second night she was given a priesthood blessing. I don't know if my mom was called or not but I never was even though my cell phone was on the emergency contact form. She was better after that, and had a great remaining time. Rebekah is also coming to our camp. They can't wait.
Kayley is having a great time at Mimi's & Grampa's because cousin Meghan (from KY) is down visiting. She loves hanging out with her, and seeing all her cousins. She calls me almost daily to tell me she loves me and misses me, and wants to know what we are doing. I tell her we are being bored, so enjoy the time of swimming everyday (Mimi has a pool!).
We are in Pecos, Tx tonight staying at the Motel 6. I looked for other rooms at different places, but no such luck. Kids are swimming in the pool for a few more minutes while I'm on WiFi. It's so fast and so nice that it's going to suck once I get home and have to use dial-up. I didn't get a lot of pictures as I should have, but I got some and will post later this weekend.
$750+ later we have a working car! We got it fixed yesterday in Midland, Tx. They were very nice, and were waiting for us when we finally got there at 10:30am. About noon, the dealer took us to McD's so that the kids could play (it was 100 degrees already!), and so that we could eat lunch. We stayed about an hour & a half, and then they came back to get us. We were on the road by 2pm, and because we gained an hour, we arrived in Las Cruces, NM at 6pm. We are at the Comfort Inn instead of the standard Motel 6, which I had reserved. We went to check in, and the pool at Motel 6 was broken. They allowed me to cancel, and we went across the street to Comfort Inn. Pool was great, and kids all slept good. We got 2 rooms this time.
Shawn is having the most fun I think because he loves the WiFi! We brought Josh's laptop, so it's been nice (since I am posting!). I have been making it a habit since yesterday to take pictures, so look for those next week.
First day of vacation, and we are already experiancing car problems. Just like back in February, and in April. I am so mad! I took the Suburban in to Coby's the other day, and everything checked A-OK! Tonight we were suppose to make it to Pecos, Tx. We got to Big Springs, Tx. It's about an hour and a half shy of Pecos. We ended up at a rest area for almost an hour so that we could let the car cool some. We were going to try to make it to Odessa, 50 miles away, but only got 25 miles. We will take it to the Cheverolet place in the morning.
I am glad we got here when we did. No motel rooms anywhere! Comfort Inn & Suites were nice to let us have a brand new room, fully done today. It's very nice, with 2 queen beds. So yes, we are having to share with the in-laws, but hey, at least it's a room. We got the very last room, and really it's not even "legal". No extra locks, or phone. Not even an electronic key... I have the only key for the room. At least we have free WiFi (that's how I am on here while kids swim), and a flat-screen TV. Big Springs is the place were a few months ago the Fina Refinery had a huge explosion. The man at the counter said that it blew all the windows out in the whole area. I am sure some people were killed. Maybe that's how this Comfort Inn & Suites is doing their remodeling... with the insurance claim. I think he said that 2200 people are rebuilding this place, so until it's done, the hotels/motels in the area will be booked... even in Sweetwater & Midland (please make note of that!).
So far the kids have been great, and good sports about this all. Even Joey is doing good in his carseat, except for at the end he was starting to get tired of it. We ate at Denny's by the motel, and it was horrible, but what do you except? It's Denny's! At least the waitress was very nice. Kids are finishing up their swimming, and we are headed to bed.
or even this Kirby!
But this Kirby! 
44 years ago today, Shawn had an older brother named Michael, that died. He was only 3 days old. He had spinal menengitis (sp), and nothing could be done. Wow, how 44 years have changed! Michael was buried before my mother-in-law could even leave the hospital (back in those day in Shreveport, it was a week long stay!). I don't know the whole reasoning for that, but I do know thay my mother-in-law was upset. I don't want to make judgements, because as I said, I don't know the whole reasoning. I am just glad for the plan of salvation. We know that Michael is up there waiting for his momma & his family to one day join him.
Bowl of 2008 blackberries ready to use! These were grown in our garden.
Where I was making it... good thing you can't see the sink!
Blackberry jam starting to boil.
When I was done, I had 9 pints of Apricot Surprise Jam & 15 pints of Blackberry Jam
Are you impressed? My father-in-law was! I took off 27 Dresses. I really liked it (except for the swear words), until my friend told me the main actress was a Mormon! I mean, low cut dresses, sleeveless dresses, and oh, the swear words she says! Ok, I know it was a job, and she had to act the part, but why let your standards down? I've had a hard time liking this movie anymore, even though if I was forced to watch it again, I would. Will I ever rent it (again) or buy it? Probably not.
Am I the only one that thinks this way?
Birth order of children:
1st baby: You begin wearing maternity clothes as soon as your OB/GYN confirms your pregnancy.
2nd baby: You wear your regular clothes for as long as possible.
3rd baby: Your maternity clothes ARE your regular clothes.
As I type, I am wearing a maternity t-shirt... sad but true. Even though Lindsey is convinced that I am having a baby because I am fat, I am not.
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Preparing for the birth:
1st baby: You practice your breathing religiously.
2nd baby: You don't bother because you remember that last time breathing didn't do a thing.
3rd baby : You ask for an epidural in your eighth month.
You know it!
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The layette :
1st baby: You pre-wash newborn's clothes, color coordinate them, and fold them neatly in the baby's little bureau.
2nd baby: You check to make sure that the clothes are clean and discard only the ones with the darkest stains.
3rd baby: Boys can wear pink, can't they?
Mine don't wear pink, but Joey uses a purple towel that I had for Lindsey...
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Worries:
1st baby: At the first sign of distress--a whimper, a frown--you pick up the baby.
2nd baby: You pick the baby up when her wails threaten to wake your firstborn.
3rd baby: You teach your three-year-old how to rewind the mechanical swing.
Lindsey has learned to do a lot of things!
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Pacifier:
1st baby: If the pacifier falls on the floor, you put it away until you can go home and wash and boil it.
2nd baby: When the pacifier falls on the floor, you squirt it off with some juice from the baby's bottle.
3rd baby: You wipe it off on your shirt and pop it back in.
We have the 10 day rule at our house... most have the 10 second rule. If no mold, then it's fine!
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Diapering:
1st baby: You change your baby's diapers every hour, whether they need it or not.
2nd baby: You change their diaper every two to three hours, if needed.
3rd baby: You try to change their diaper before others start to complain about the smell or you see it sagging to their knees.
As I type, I am out of diapers. I can't go to the store until 5pm. I hope Joey doesn't have a blow-out or soak all the way through because I have none. Besides, who says you have to change a daiper 6 times a day? 2 is plenty for me! LOL!!
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Activities:
1st baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics, Baby Swing, and Baby Story Hour.
2nd baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics.
3rd baby: You take your infant to the supermarket and the dry cleaner.
Yeah, yeah, yeah... what a waste of money!
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Going out:
1st baby: The first time you leave your baby with a sitter, you call home five times.
2nd baby : Just before you walk out the door, you remember to leave a number where you can be reached.
3rd baby: You leave instructions for the sitter to call only if she sees blood.
And people have heard me say this to my children before!
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At home:
1st baby : You spend a good bit of every day just gazing at the baby.
2nd baby: You spend a bit of everyday watching to be sure your older child isn't squeezing, poking, or hitting the baby.
3rd baby: You spend a little bit of every day hiding from the children.
You know it!
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Swallowing coins:
1st child: When first child swallows a coin, you rush the child to the hospital and demand x-rays.
2nd child: When second child swallows a coin, you carefully watch for the coin to pass.
3rd child: When third child swallows a coin, you deduct it from his allowance.
LOL! Good one! I'll remember this next time!
Lauren: Mom, guess what?
Mom: What?
Lauren: Ummm, guess what?
Mom: Oh my gosh... Matt asked you out!
Lauren: {giggle} YES!
And being the fun mom I am, I had to ask the question that every Mom asks when their daughter/son gets their first boy/girl friend...
"Where are you going?"
Lauren: Oh, Mom!
So, there you have it! My first daughter was asked out by her first boyfriend from the Queen City Ward. They met last Wednesday night at a Tri-Ward Skating Party. But don't tell Lindsey though... she thinks Lauren's boyfriend is Chandler Knox (and she says it so cute!).
