Hoskins Happenings

'cause I was tired of looking at the other picture...

2011-10-10T21:26:00.000-07:00

Aw, how cute, you thought I was going to blog. That's precious.

She's a Pre-Madonna (yeah, I made that up)

2011-03-18T16:20:00.000-07:00

I know, it's called a "Prima Donna", I don't live under a rock. But look at what this girl is wearing for her costume party. If that ain't Pre-Madonna, I don't know what is.

Arrow of Light, 'cause he's good like that

2011-03-18T11:22:00.000-07:00

Gavin moved up to the real, bona fide Boy Scouts last month. But before he did, he received his Arrow of Light award, pretty much the highest award you can receive in Cub Scouts. I'm not saying he did it all on his own, but he did it and there were not too many fights or tears shed over it. We're really proud of him. Next stop, Eagle Scout. Wish us luck on that one.

Valentine-y Cuteness

2011-03-18T10:57:00.000-07:00

When I see something cute, my first thought is, "I must copy that and make it my own." So I did. Cute or what?

Interesting observation

2011-02-11T13:37:00.000-08:00

Cambria and Carson look so much alike. They really, really do. Our computer has facial recognition software and can identify people in pictures. It's pretty accurate, however, this is what showed up today.

Every one of those is wrong and none of them is Carson. I guess all my kids have interchangeable faces.

Sad, maybe, or maybe not...

2011-02-11T08:47:00.000-08:00

Gavin turned 11 this month. 11? No way. That just seems way off. It's not. My firstborn, my young man, my big kid is 11. My kids get a birthday party with friends every other year. At least that's how we've done it in the past. Things may start to change. Either way, this year was Gavin's year to have a friend party. He really wanted to have it at the bowling alley on base. 6 lanes, a whole room FULL of video game stations, pool tables, ping pong and air hockey. Pretty much a boy's dream location. Because I knew we'd have to transport all the guests (because we have base access and most don't), I told him he had to limit the number of guests to 6. 3 friends from church, 3 from school. He chose carefully and selected only those boys who were really HIS friends. Not my friends, not kids of my friends, but his very own friends.

As the RSVPs trickled in, (and by trickled, I mean, we got 2) I started to realize that this could be a disaster. I just started feeling like Gavin's big party year was going to be a sad disappointment. I quickly brainstormed to see who we could invite last minute, but Gavin didn't want to add more kids because these were the boys he chose. We ended up with three boys. 2 brothers from church and a friend from school. They did bowling and games and had a fabulous time. I am so grateful they came. So very grateful. It could have been sad and disappointing, but I think it was ok. Next time, I'll let him invite 10 friends. Then when 5 show up, it will be great.

cookie pizza and other things that make me fail

2011-01-31T15:27:00.000-08:00

I used to be a serious gym-aholic. I went religiously, I even taught classes, I was was pretty happy with the way my clothes fit. Then, I moved here. I slacked off and then lost my motivation entirely. My muscles vanished and my clothes were snuggish. It was sad. I was sad. I enlisted a few friends into a weight loss challenge and we are going to look famous by the time we're done. I type this here, so if you see me eating candy, milkshakes, cheeseburgers, gravy, anything like that, you can call me out on it. It's pressure, but I clearly need the pressure. Don't make me cookie pizza. I know that's kind of "my thing," but if you ever feel like you want to make one, don't. It'll be better for everyone, and by everyone, I mean me. 'Cause that way I'll win the challenge and take my friends' money. It'll be great.

Scouting: not for the apathetic

2011-01-31T12:55:00.000-08:00

Gavin is 10, he's been 10 for 364 days. In that time, he had the opportunity to earn his Webelos badge for Cub Scouts. For 300 days, he had little motivation to do so. He likes scouts, but was not motivated to really progress on his own. Clint lit a fire under him and he trudged through more than half of the requirements over Christmas Break. We're proud to report he finished it and earned his Webelos Badge at the last pack meeting. Now he'll move own to real Boy Scouts and it will be more fire-lighting for Clint and I to get him motivated. If Boy Scouts has amazing things like marble shoots and pinewood derbys, we may just be able to get him going. I guess campouts and show-shoeing will be viable alternatives. Congrats, Gav-o, we're proud of you!

Great Wolf Lodge-iness

2011-01-28T15:30:00.000-08:00

I am someone who doesn't believe in pulling my kids out of school for things. It's your birthday? You're going. There's a friend in town? You're going. We have tickets to Hawaii? You're going. You get the idea. Anywho, there's a place that is the stuff that dreams are made of right here in WA, but you'd be crazy to go on weekend. Crazy. It's like $100 cheaper to go during the week. I mean, if that's how you roll, spend on, my friend, but we're way too cheap for that. We've heard so many fantastic things about the Great Wolf Lodge and we really wanted to take the kids. They are the perfect age for amusement park type venues. Still young enough to enjoy the magic, but not too little to ride all the rides. Perfect.

We decided to take them and keep it a secret until we pulled into the parking lot. We're sneaky like that. They were totally surprised and ridiculously excited. It was fun. Really, really fun. I'd love to go back, mostly because it boosted my self image (there's always someone bigger than you in a smaller swim suit), but also because it was so much fun. And yeah, I pulled them out of school. Worth it.

The Happening Hoskins 2011

2011-01-27T16:21:00.000-08:00

Boo.

2011-01-27T11:50:00.000-08:00

Yes, I know it's January. I would just like to illustrate what happens when you take a little time off. Your kids get big. Man, I miss those little babies.

This is how we do it.

2011-01-27T11:44:00.000-08:00

Cambria played soccer for the first time last year and thought it was fabulous. I love those commercials where the kid playing soccer gets a grass stain and the doting mother pours on a little Tide to wash it right out. Puh-lease, here's what we, in the PNW, look like after soccer. Put THAT in your commercial.

Hiatus Over

2011-01-27T09:21:00.000-08:00

Call it what you will (slacking, sabbatical, laziness, busy-ness), but I'm done. Break over. I'll blog, you'll read; it'll be like old times. And since no post is complete without a picture, here you go. Delight in this boy's crazy.

the season has ended

2010-04-23T23:23:00.000-07:00

There are only a few kinds of candy that I really like. That's not really a bad thing, but when Easter rolls around I have a real situation on my hands. I like, no, adore Cadbury Mini Eggs. Please don't misunderstand, the Cadbury Creme Eggs are vile and disgusting, I'm talking about the above photo NOT below. They are creamy chocolatey goodness inside a crispy candy shell. They are heavenly. I am blogging about them to help me get over the loss of them until next spring. I bid you adieu, my little bits of goodness, until next year.

grin

2010-04-23T23:16:00.000-07:00

Carson will be 7 in a few weeks and has had the good fortune too keep all his baby teeth firmly planted in their original location. It was causing him a great deal of distress because most of his friends had lost several and he was feeling a little left out. Finally, with much fanfare and delight, he lost a tooth. Well, not so much "lost," as had it removed by a pair of pliers, but let's not worry about the details. Point is, there's a big hole in his mouth and he couldn't be happier. A few days later, the accompanying tooth came out. He talks with a lisp and he thinks he's awesome...or maybe awethome...

bargain shmargain

2010-04-23T23:05:00.000-07:00

It's rare when Clint and I can go on a date in the middle of the day, but we got the chance and we took it. We haven't been skiing in 10 years and we thought it would be super fun. Military Day at Crystal Mountain Resort meant cut rate lift tickets and rentals. We figured we couldn't pass it up and we even thought about bringing the kids. Here's the smokin' deal we got:

Lift Tickets: Regular Price $70 Special Military Price $35

Ski Rentals: Regular Price $35 Special Military Price $25

Lunch: $24

Dinner for Babysitters: $35

Total Cost: $179

Had we brought the kids:

Ski school for Kids: $100 plus $15 for rentals (for each kid)

Lunch: more money

Total Additional Cost: $345

How is it that I forgot how much it cost to go skiing? I'm not really feeling like "Military Day" was all it was cracked up to be. Was it a sale price? Yes. Will we be doing that again? Heck no.

JOVI

2010-02-25T22:16:00.001-08:00

A few weeks ago, I was feeling jealous that my friend was going to see Bon Jovi in concert. I discovered that Seattle was their second stop on the tour and I told Clint I thought it would be fun to go. He shrugged it off and I didn't really figure it was that big of a deal anyway. A few days later he said, "Hey if you can find some cheap tickets, we should go." I set out on a mission that was very quickly squashed. Do people really pay $800 to go a concert? No, really, do they? Every website I looked at had crazy ridiculous prices and there was no way I was paying that. I even considered sitting behind the stage because that was all that was in our concert budget. We decided that would be a waste of money, so I gave up. 4 days before the concert I thought I would look again. I found some tickets in front of the stage for $45 each. That was considerably more feasible, so I bought 'em.I never said they were the BEST seats, but certainly better than the poor souls behind the stage.

Crazy looks on our faces? Yeah, I don't know why either.

FYI best concert ever.

a field trip to the grocery store

2010-02-25T22:02:00.000-08:00

Now that's my idea of a fabulous time. Truth is, I do it a few times a week. Cambria's preschool, however, had not had the pleasure of doing so. They went yesterday and, seeing as how I have no other small children at home, I chaperoned. Not because I really wanted to go to the grocery store and walk around for an hour and buy nothing, but because I really had no excuse.

The field trip was cute. They walked around to different departments and got to try samples and talked about "always foods" and "sometimes foods." I did learn who "always" feeds their kid donuts through his adamant proclamation of them being in a particular category. I had to take pictures as proof of my presence so that when Cambria is older and says, "you never went on a field trip with my class." I can bust out the pics and say, "Heck yeah I did. The best field trip you ever went on." I sincerely hope that is not the case.

more vinyl cuteness

2010-02-25T15:39:00.001-08:00

here's why

2010-02-25T15:20:00.000-08:00

You may have noticed that the blog was out of commission for a few weeks. Well, we got a new computer and were trying to transfer everything over and then figure out how to use the new computer. You see, we bought an iMac. We have been PC users for as long as there has been a PC to use. Last fall, however, we got iphones and we love them. When our computer started acting crazy, a Mac seemed like the logical thing to do. We love our new machine, but I still don't know how to find pictures...it's a process that I can't yet wrap my head around. Last year, I would have directed you to the following picture, now I am part of the crazy. Fantastic.

hawaii - twenty ten

2010-02-25T14:58:00.000-08:00

My friend, Mary, found a great deal on plane tickets to Hawaii last month and invited me to go on a little vacay with her. I am pretty sure she didn't think I actually would, but I did. Generous friends and a willing husband took care of my kids here for the week while Mary (and baby Grace) and I vacationed away. It was much needed and greatly appreciated. Being the multi-tasker that I am, I wanted to spend time with my Hawaii friend too, so we stayed with Ginny and I got to hang with TWO of my friends. It was delightful. So much to post about, but I don't feel like writing it all down, so if you really want to hear the details, go to Mary's blog. Thieving other people's thoughts and ideas? Just another service I provide.

at the PCC lu'au

Mary, Grace and I taking turns frolicking on the beach

Me and Ginny...man, I miss that girl

Thanks for the fun trip, ladies. We must do it again sometime.

a bowling afternoon

2010-02-24T07:52:00.000-08:00

Clint met us after work one day and we let the kids go bowling. Cambria has never bowled before, so it was kind of big deal for her. I would like to add that toddler bowling shoes just may be the cutest thing ever.

There's a difference.

2010-02-24T07:32:00.000-08:00

Carson frantically told us that the toilet was clogged. I asked if he used too much toilet paper and he told me he didn't go potty. I said, "Then why did you flush the toilet?" He told me that he just wanted to. I asked if something got flushed down the toilet he said, "no." Then he said, "Well, there might have been a cup in there." A cup? Great. A little 3 oz. bathroom cup (which last time I purchased, decided that plastic ones would be better for child hands) fits perfectly in the hole of the toilet; it completely seals it shut. They are also very slippery and difficult to grasp. Clint had all three of our kids put their hands in to see if they could get it out. I left for choir practice and wished them all luck. I don't know how they finally got it out, but when I got home, there were various implements on the counter. A hanger, a paper clip, a corn cob skewer, yeah, fantastic stuff.

Oh, and, by the way, if you think paper dixie cups crush too easily and so you decide to buy the plastic ones...don't. There's a difference. One will crush and leave the toilet functioning, one will render it useless. I have chosen unwisely.

pride and joy

2010-02-23T20:50:00.000-08:00

That's what we feel for the littlest Hoskins. Her preschool class decided to make a dream quilt in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. They each made a square of their dream. Some kids said their dream was to be a fireman, some said a doctor, other said they wanted to help people. Here's Cambria's dream.

That's my girl. Dream big, little sister, dream big.

The coolest gift ever!

2010-01-11T15:06:00.000-08:00

For Christmas, Clint and his parents pooled their resources and bought me a vinyl cutter. I have wanted one for about 5 years but could never really justify the cost. I certainly spend enough money ordering from everyone else that has one, so I guess it was time. I love it! I am so excited to go crazy with it. I have done lots with it so far, but my camera died, so here are two things I got pictures of.

And hooray for my friend Lexi, who has been an excellent teacher and font-giver. Want some vinyl? I'll totally do it for you!!

Shed it up

2010-01-11T14:50:00.000-08:00

We have a garage full of items. We decided a shed would be a wise investment. For 6 months we have been haggling with the HOA about whether or not we can have one. They came through and so now we have one. The ground slopes down 18", so Clint had to build it up and level it out by building a deck under the area where it would go. It rained the entire week, but the three days he chose to to work on it, it was sunny. Thank goodness for small miracles. The kids have incorrectly assumed that is a playhouse, but once we fill it with pitchforks and fertilizer (not the good smelling kind), we think they may choose elsewhere to play. It's our plan anyway.

Yes, it does look totally unlevel, but it's not. Oh, trust me, it's not. The 487 checks on the bubble level were not in vain. Our camera man, Carson, isn't quite skilled on the practice of taking a straight picture yet.

What sounds like shards of glass, but isn't?

2010-01-11T14:38:00.000-08:00

My MIL brought my birthday gift from my parents when she came out for Christmas. She handed it to me and said, "This is your birthday present from your parents." I thanked her for bringing it and took the gift. It sounded like shards of glass. I was certain that it had once been fragile but had been crushed into a million pieces by the airline baggage throwers. I felt bad, so I called my mom. Here's how the conversation went: ME: "Mom, is my birthday gift supposed to sound like broken glass?" MOM: "Did you shake it?" ME: "No, but when lightly jiggling it, it sounds like shards of glass tumbling about." MOM: "Yep, it supposed to sound like that." Curiosity was killing me, but my birthday was still 2 weeks away. I dutifully waited till the right day and opened it. Behold, broken glass:
Yes, I know my outfit looks amazing. That's called, "Post-Church Comfy." It's where you pair part of your church clothes with pajama pants. Don't tell me you've never done it.

Skating Frenzy

2010-01-11T09:56:00.000-08:00

We took the kids ice skating for the first time. It was a ton of work as Carson and Cambria were extremely apprehensive. Carson finally got the hang of it and Cambria...well, we mostly just had to put her scarf under her arms and hold her up with it. She only went around twice. It was fun, but will most likely NOT become a tradition.

assembly

2010-01-11T09:03:00.000-08:00

building a motorcycle takes skill and precision

The three best shots of the day

2010-01-11T08:58:00.000-08:00

I took a million pictures on Christmas, I am not sure why, but I did. I decided to just share my three favorites. Cambo in Carson's Nerf Gun glasses
waiting patiently to come downstairs to see what Santa brought

Nana and Bompa crashed out from all the morning festivities

Eve at the house

2010-01-10T11:25:00.000-08:00

We had a great Christmas Eve at our house this year complete with the new sets of jammies. With Clint's parents here, we were able to have a family night and it was really nice. We had our tradtional mish-mosh dinner of randomness. A little seafood, a little BBQ meatballs, some appetizers, and fizzy drinks. It has no rhyme or reason, but it's good nonetheless. After dinner we had our talent show. Cambria sang Away in a Manger (to my terrible accompaniment), Gavin played two songs on the piano, and Clint showed us a video about the true meaning of Christmas. Ideally we'd like to remove a lot of the toys and gifts and commercialism of the holidays, so we tried to keep Christmas Eve special. Maybe next year we'll try harder to cut back on those other things.

Christmas cookies?

2010-01-10T11:20:00.000-08:00

Of course! I have never actually done Christmas cookies with the kids. Santa usually gets a graham cracker and some carrots, 'cause we know he's watching his weight. Nana and Bompa came for Christmas this year and nana said we needed to make the cookies, so we did. Good times and messy counters, you can't beat that!

Cutie hair

2010-01-10T11:10:00.000-08:00

I like Cambria with a cute little bob haircut, but for her dance class, they had to wear it in a bun for the recital, so we grew it long. Recital's over, folks, so here's the new 'do.

The littlest dancer

2009-12-22T14:40:00.000-08:00

Cambria had her first dance recital a few weeks ago and she did a great job. She was quite a leader in her class and had to remind the girls what came next. It was really cute and she looked so sweet. I am envisioning a closet full of dance recital costumes in varying sizes that I won't know what to do with 15 years from now. For now, we love it!

The boys bought her a rose and she felt like a star!

glutton for gluttony

2009-12-22T13:56:00.000-08:00

If you follow my rants on Facebook, then you know I am slightly bitter about the holiday goodies that are destroying my waistline. I must admit though, I have contributed my share to the treats. Cambria and I made toffee 2 weeks ago for her big Christmas concert. It was delicious, but I think anything made exclusively with sugar butter and chocolate can't be anything but delicious. We'll keep eating out way through the next two weeks, but then it'll be a turbokick marathon January. I'll need to have something that fits, right??

Beautiful Seattle

2009-12-22T13:50:00.001-08:00

We headed over to Seattle a few weekends ago and had to stop at one of the points of interest that we find to be beautiful. The temple. It is a lovely building tucked back in the trees. The kids admired the fountain and were impressed that it wasn't frozen. It was a very cold day.

I was hoping to use a better picture, but Cambria decided to employ this smile for every single shot. Oh well, that's my girl.

Gingerbread houses...well, sort of.

2009-12-22T13:44:00.001-08:00

We have never believed in baking delicious gingerbread and then wasting it on houses that will get stale and then trashed. Thus and verily, we use graham crackers. Always have, always will. They work perfectly and are just the right size. A few weeks ago, for family night, we put some together with friends. This was the first year that we made the frosting from scratch. I usually just buy a tub 'cause, well, it's easy. This year, we learned that making it from scratch is also easy and WAY more effective. It worked perfectly and the kids had a great time.

Christmas Fun

2009-12-04T14:32:00.000-08:00

This month is craziness all wrapped up into 30 days. I broke away and found some time for a little Christmas fun, enjoy!

Christmas Fun #1

Christmas Fun #2

I'm calling it thrifty.

2009-11-25T21:20:00.000-08:00

Cambria got some cute new knee socks the other day and she wanted to wear them to school. I generally don't have her wear dresses to school because of modesty logistics, but she really wanted to, so we had to figure something out. Leggings would cover the socks, therefore a no go. Tights under the socks would have just been ridiculous, so that too, was a no go. I told her she needed some bike shorts, but all we have are flowery ones that would have been a crazy addition to the outfit. So what do you do when your daughter needs plain colored bike shorts to go under her skirt?

You pull out the old baby tights (6-12 months) and cut off the feet. Oh yes, I did. They stretched fantastically and worked just like I wanted them to. No, it's not white trash, it's thrifty. The real question is, why did I still have one random pair of black baby tights lingering in her drawer? I guess they knew they had a greater purpose.

Craigslist post of the week

2009-11-25T16:36:00.001-08:00

Well, this certainly looks like a good investment. I hope I beat everyone else to it.

Craigslist post of the week

2009-11-22T17:57:00.000-08:00

Well thanks a lot Costco!

2009-11-19T20:15:00.000-08:00

All I am saying is that if you feel that you actually do have "turkey neck," I don't think it's necessary for everyone who wanders by your cart or checks out your groceries to have a reason to stare. No one noticed before, but you can sure as heck bet that everyone will be checking out your neck now! You better have some high self-confidence if you're picking up a package of this.

uhhh, that's extremely delicious

2009-11-18T22:09:00.000-08:00

There are certain foods that someone concocted that are, quite possibly, perfect. I have a list, actually, if you want the truth. They include, but are not limited to: garlic bread, squirty can whipped cream, artichoke/jalapeno dip from Costco, brownies, and Nutella. I mention the last because it is a bit of heaven in a jar. If you're not Nutella savvy, get there soon, 'cause you are missing out. But I digress, the real reason I mention it is due to the magnificent grocery store I went to last week. It has an olive bar with 24 choices. 24!! That, in and of itself, is something to tear up over. However, the real gem in this store is the bulk food section. It's fantastic, and I don't use that word lightly. They have everything that you could ever want in a bulk food section. Hold on folks, the Nutella reference is coming, just relax. In said section, they have a "make your own peanut butter" machine. You pick the mix (i.e. almonds, peanuts, pistachios, etc.) and then you flip the switch and it churns them into deliciousness. I chose the chocolate chips and peanuts mix. Uhhh, dare I say, AWESOME? Well, as it was coming out of the machine it looked extremely un-awesome, however, on the end of a pretzel? Yep, super awesome. They didn't have a hazelnut/chocolate mix, but who needs it when I can just buy Nutella, right? Nevertheless, my mix is fabulous and I made my kids a Banana sandwich with that spread all over the place for lunch today. They agree, it's awesome.

He's baa-aack.

2009-11-18T21:59:00.000-08:00

After 100 days since we've lived in the same house, Clint made it home. He finished up his Engineering Duty training and hopped right into his truck and drove straight here. He arrived home before I even got back from Omaha. I wasn't thinking there would be any overlap, but he really wanted to get here. Everybody picked me up from the airport and it was great to see the whole family there after my little vacay. He goes back to work on Monday, so our lives will finally have some order to them again. That will be good, except for the "making a real dinner every night" part...yeah, I kind of enjoyed not having to do that.

While the Mom's away...

2009-11-18T21:49:00.000-08:00

So you may have wondered, "How did she go to Omaha when her husband was clearly in CA?" I shall indulge you with the details. I asked my parents if they wanted to take a trip to the lovely metropolis of Port Orchard and they obliged. They came and spent some time here with the kids while I was off galavanting around (I like that phrase, it's making a comeback). Here's a few pics of what they did while I was gone.

They played a lot of games. Lots and lots of games. That's pretty much what they do with Grammy and Grandpa everytime they see them. We now own even more games and play Dora Charades on a daily basis. Cambria is a pro and is pretty hilarious to watch as she tries to get us to guess her word. Thanks again, Mom and Dad! The kids had a great time!

Without further delay.

2009-11-18T21:44:00.000-08:00

I know, I have slacked off on my blog...ok, stopped blogging entirely...either way, I am sorry to cause such distress and turmoil. Clint finally made it home and he no longer requires the daily updates on our home life. However, I know you do, so I will try with much determination, to catch you up on the daily grind. Thanks for blogstalking, it gives me purpose!

IDK, my BFF Jenn?

2009-11-18T21:31:00.000-08:00

Jenn and I met 6 1/2 years ago and have been friends ever since. She gets me, and all my crazy (yes, in my case, crazy is a noun). She had a big birthday this month and invited me to come join the fun, so you better believe I was on the plane to Omaha. Last time I went to Omaha, our car got broken into so I was hoping to replace that memory.

We had so much fun and I have loads of great memories to keep. Birthday sushi night, CiCi's Pizza and the glory of it all, a small schnauzer flying across a coffe table. Good times, people, you just can't beat 'em. It was a quick trip, but loads of fun and I can't wait till my next go around with the ol' BFF!

Happy Veteran's Day

2009-11-11T10:55:00.000-08:00

We didn't even know that she knew it. What a patriotic girl!

The who?

2009-11-02T20:03:00.001-08:00

Carson's class had a substitute teacher today. I am not sure he's had one before, but he told me all about it when he got home. He never mentioned "the sub" only that his "visiting teacher" helped him with his math. He kept saying "visiting teacher" and I just kept chuckling. I wish my visiting teacher would help me with my work. I've got loads!

If you are not LDS, this post probably makes no sense. Sorry.

Costumes Shmostumes

2009-10-31T15:11:00.000-07:00

Last weeks costumes:

Gavin - Flint Lockwood (Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs)

Carson - bag of M&Ms

Cambria - spider princess

Last night's costumes:

Gavin - Skullzor (random costume we had in the closet)

Carson - Pirate

Cambria - cow

Tonight's costumes:

Gavin - Skullzor

Carson - Shrek (which I really dislike, due to the cheap plastic face mask, but he insists, so whatever)

Cambria - spider princess

It's a good thing I bought all those (13) costumes on clearance last year. We're mowing right through them.

Fred Meyer has lost his mind.

2009-10-31T15:01:00.000-07:00

I went to the cornucopia of shopping yesterday. I think, because I always have something to share, I will always post about my trips to Freddy's. Yes, I definitely will. That store has some sort of magnetism that I just can't deny. Yesterday I went and found this.

Freakish? Perhaps. My kids tried it. It's bizarre. Not good, not bad, just odd. What's on your list today? Watermelon pudding may be an option.

the ever impromptu costume party

2009-10-29T21:24:00.001-07:00

My two younger children love to dress up. This is how I found them today.

A fashion forward pirate and a sassy little heifer. They like to keep it interesting, you know, shake things up a bit.

Who knew I'd miss it?

2009-10-28T22:12:00.000-07:00

Growing up, my family took car trips. We drove everywhere and during every trip my mom would say some variation of the following, "Look out your windows at the scenery." That suggestion was usually scoffed at with some degree of indifference. I don't care for scenery. I don't get excited if there is a deer on the side of the road. When driving through mountain roads, I don't look at the the beauty, I just try not to puke. That has always been my take on the "scenic route." However, the other day, I saw a strikingly beautiful tree with leaves that were 4 different autumn colors and I said, "Look out your window at that tree!" I gasped, I shuddered, I even chuckled a little at the horror that I have become the opposite of me.
So, for now, I smile every time I see changing leaves and the sun glisten off the sound. I'm the mom now, I guess I must take my rightful place as the "scenic observationist." I can't concede to the mountains yet though. They still make me puke.

It's a beautiful thing

2009-10-26T20:51:00.000-07:00

Before I moved up here, everyone told me how I would probably be depressed from the gloomy weather. Never having lived here, I could neither confirm nor deny that. I am thankful that God knows just how much rain to send before he needs to call in the backup. Rainbows make everything better.

evolution of storytime

2009-10-25T19:41:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time, mommy read the stories to the freshly bathed infant. Now mommy tries to find jammies/toothbrushes/pillows so bedtime will actually happen within a 25 minute time frame. After finding said items, storytime by mommy can happen. I guess they don't feel the need to wait for the mommy. I'll take my rightful place tomorrow night. Now where is that stinkin' toothbrush?

well...at least Cambo looked cute

2009-10-24T20:36:00.000-07:00

Tonight was the church halloween bash. Everyone had a good time, but our costumes struggled. Not for lack of effort, but Carson's M&M balloon popped before he even got out of the car, he spilled water on his non-waterproofed costume ink and Gavin's entire costume (except for the lab coat I worked on feverishly into the night) fell partially apart and was strewn about the halls of the church. Cambria, the beautiful spider princess, looked cute. The boys pictures can be posted next week. Cambria is tonight's star.

When should you start making a Halloween costume?

2009-10-23T08:01:00.000-07:00

Well, less than two days before the big party is not the best answer. However, as a lifelong procrastinator, that's my current status. Thankfully, Carson and Cambria are wearing things that are already made/purchased. Wish me luck on old Gav-o's 'stume. Maybe next year I'll plan ahead, but I doubt it.

Shear Happiness

2009-10-21T21:34:00.000-07:00

I love getting my hair cut. I am not entirely loony about my hair, I have certainly never cried over it. I just totally enjoy a new look. I've been basically letting it grow for about a year and a half with a trim here and there. It got long, well, long for me, and then I realized I don't even like my hair long. I had to head to the chop shop. One thing I am crazy about is when I decide to get a hair cut, I usually must have it done immediately. Then I end up going to some lame-o $15 hair cut place and they give me a lame-o cut. I don't really care, because like I said, I'm not loony about my hair. This time, though, I thought I'd give a good stylist a go. I called the salon yesterday and they said I could come in this morning. It worked out perfectly for my neurotic immediate hair appointment mindset! I went in, I came out, it's lovely. I love having my hair short again.

(Oh, and yes, I went dark last week, I love changing my hair color too.)

Lies, lies, lies.

2009-10-20T21:29:00.000-07:00

Just for the record, it was soap, and it was a mess.

He wants to dance.

2009-10-19T20:35:00.001-07:00

Carson saw Cambria's coloring sheet for dance this morning. It had a boy and a girl on it in their ballet costumes. He said, "Boys can do ballet?" I told him that boys could do ballet if they wanted to. He said that's what he wants to do. I said, "Well, we'll have to talk about it." I sent him to school. When he came home, the first thing he said was, "Did you sign me up for ballet?" This is my son's history - should I be worried?

How did I miss this?

2009-10-18T22:15:00.000-07:00

I was looking back over my posts from June and I realized I missed a week. Well, I probably missed more than that, but Cub Scout Camp week was totally bypassed. Rude mom, I know, I just skipped it. I felt like I better include Gavin's awesome archery to make the blog right. Here it is, Cub Scout Day Camp archery:

He left that day feeling like archery was his life's calling. He hasn't mentioned it since. Well, until we went to Cabela's last week and saw the practice deer that you shoot arrows into. He said he wanted one to practice on. Cambria said she wanted one too, though I'm sure for entirely different reasons.

Woah there, I didn't say we were THAT prepared.

2009-10-17T21:10:00.001-07:00

I guess more is required for the kind of puddle jumping my son wants to do. I told him to zip his jacket all the way to the top, I'm supposing that didn't happen. But the socks? Totally dry. The boots were a success!

Bring it, Washington.

2009-10-16T20:30:00.000-07:00

The rain started this week. We were grossly under-prepared. I found one umbrella buried under some old maps and CDs in the car, so I sent the boys to the bus stop with it. They broke it after about 2 minutes. While they were at school, I went to 4 stores trying to find rain attire for them. I was entirely unsuccessful. Meanwhile, my cute belted cardigan was completely soaked and left me smelling a bit wet-doggish. My leather slip-on shoes were three sizes too big and my tediously flat ironed hair was a frizzy situation. I gave up. I came home and watched the rain as it washed away all my shopping hopes and dreams.

I tried again today. Fred Meyer, the absolute mecca of shopping (that puts me into a panic attack of gargantuan proportions), was sure to have something. They had everything. Of course, I never would've doubted that store. Really, it has everything. Shoes? Check. Clothes? Check. Groceries? Check. Furniture? Check. Tools? Heck, yeah, check. I found cutie boots for the whole crew and rain jackets for the boys. We're ready, Washington, hit us with your best shot. Or maybe just a mildly decent one.

Job training is not a requirement.

2009-10-14T21:05:00.001-07:00

Our sweet friend, Sierra, wanted to get her ears repierced this weekend. She had done it when she was about 5, but wasn't quite ready for them and they closed up on her. So, while we were at the store the other day, she saw a sign that said "Ear Piercing." She decided that she wanted it done. The lady helped her pick out earrings and we were all set to go. Her mom said, "Could you please put them right back on top of the holes she had before?" She checked out the ear lobe and said that would be fine.
Earring one? Perfect. Sierra took it like a champ and was ready for the next one.
Earring two? Well, see for yourself. Does that look like the same hole to you? What kind of ear piercer puts the new earring 1/4" away from her target? Sierra's mom was ready to fight. The piercing lady said, "Well, you can come back tomorrow and we can take it out and try again." Which, to me, sounded like, "Oh crap, you better come back when I'm not working, cause I don't want to take the fall for this one." Well, Sierra was in tears at this point because she knew she was going to have to go another round with that piercing gun. The lady was pretty much forced by my friend to get that earring out immediately and fix it. It was very disturbing and the piercing girl acted like she didn't do anything wrong. Well, at least Sierra got two for the price of one.

Pop Quiz

2009-10-14T07:56:00.000-07:00

Cabela's is:

a) A zoological museum
b) An aquarium
c) A shooting range
d) A place for Kettle Corn and Hawaiian Ice
e) An outdoorsy store
f) A candy shop
g) all of the above

Yes, the correct answer is G

I had my first experience with the store that is "Cabela's" and it was very intriguing. Honestly, the ONLY thing in the entire store that I would actually would want was the candy. So, I bought some.

Night 3: I'm sensing a pattern.

2009-10-12T23:15:00.000-07:00

Maybe I'll just leave her there. She seems to naturally fall to the most un-natural positions. She's laying on a shoe, for heaven's sakes.

Card Marathon

2009-10-11T22:23:00.000-07:00

My friend, Kendra, and I used to live in San Diego at the same time. We became friends and spent our days playing one particular card game. We played many, many times. She's not the first friend I have sucked into this addictive game, and she will most likely not be the last. The game, however, just lends itself to being addictive. When she arrived on Friday, the cards were set up and the Crystal Light was poured. It's game time, my friends. I know my BFF, Jenn, can't wait until I visit her next month so she can get out her cards too. Anyone else want to learn? I could always use a partner that doesn't live so far away.

Dogs. Yes, plural.

2009-10-10T22:38:00.000-07:00

I am pretty sure I have mentioned my dog's issues in my blog, so I shan't continue much on that thread, but Sydney is a loner and quite happy that way. When our company arrived yesterday with their dog, it was an unpleasant disturbance to her perfect little world. She wasn't quite sure what to do with herself. She growled, she barked, she basically had to spend the evening in the closet because everything was making her go bananas. I tried to make her more comfortable with our guest dog, but it was too much. I was feeling slightly panicked about the next 4 days of their visit. Day 2 of the visit, however, has gone much better, I even got them both to sit in the same room for a picture. It could still get interesting, but for now, everyone seems to be in control...well, mostly.

that can't be comfortable

2009-10-09T22:51:00.000-07:00

Some good friends of ours came to visit this weekend. We've been friends for 6 years and each time our kids see each other, it's like no time has passed at all. The only difference now is that the oldest girl, Sierra, who is Gavin's age, has been playing more with Cambria than Gavin. It's not been a problem because Sierra is actually enjoying being a little mommy to Cambo. Tonight, when Sierra wanted to go to bed, Cambria climbed right in bed with her. I said, "No, you need to let her go to sleep." She got up and looked at me with big tears and said, "But...I wanted to sleep by my friend." It was absolutely so cute that I couldn't say no. Sierra didn't care, so Cambria hopped right in. This is where I found her 2 hours later. I think I'll move her now, that just doesn't look comfortable...at all.

I should know better.

2009-10-08T17:44:00.000-07:00

I asked the kids to clean up their rooms tonight. Pretty soon after the request, I notice I am the only one cleaning up and I don't know where everyone is. Gavin- in the closet playing with legos; balked at getting his picture taken.

Carson- in the bathroom doing his hair. (that's the face he gave me when I told him to get back to his room)

Cambria - in a different bathroom putting on everything she found in the clean up process .

Me- putting toys away. It's not right, it's just not right.

McTakeover: The unHappy Meal

2009-10-07T20:44:00.000-07:00

Tonight was the kids' school McTakeover at McDonalds. The teachers and principal helped out taking the orders and clearing the tables and such. From 6-8 pm, 40% of all proceeds went to the PTA. I figured a night out to McDonalds was in order, so we went. Arriving at 6:07 pm, there was plenty of time to eat and play before we needed to be at Cub Scouts at 7:00.

PROBLEM A: No place to park. Who knew it would be so crowded when an entire elementary school got invited to McDonalds?

PROBLEM B: Waiting in line for 23 minutes was WAY too much for 3 kids to handle.

PROBLEM C: Getting our receipt with the order number of #351, when they were on #334.

PROBLEM D: Feeding kids dinner 2 hours later than usual, and in the car, causing an absolute revolt.

PROBLEM E: Leaving as soon as we got our food, at 6:58 pm, to arrive 4 minutes late for Scouts.

Problems A-E equaled two kids in tears, one kid not speaking to me, and a giant headache.

Next year, I'm giving the school the $8 they earned from us and I'm taking my kids to Burger King.

In case you needed some...

2009-10-06T22:35:00.001-07:00

...exit 21 is obviously where you'll find it. I wish I knew that a while ago.

crazy mutt

2009-10-05T20:28:00.001-07:00

I have a dog. I am not a person who treats dogs better than people. I feed her dog food, she doesn't wear clothes, she goes for walks on a leash (not in a stroller). She is a dog. Last week we started with a dog trainer and our dog refused to lay down. She feels that laying on a cold floor is undignified. I actually think it's because it's cold, but either way. Our trainer suggested getting her a sweater so she would be less resistant to laying down on the cold floor. I will not be getting my dog a sweater. She's a dog. If I went to the zoo and saw lions and wolves in sweaters, I would quit the zoo. Today, I took her to her training session and on our way home, she decided that she needed to be in a car seat. I rolled down the window to entice the dog in her, but she remained steadfast in her placement. She has some identity issues, this dog. But, issues or not, she's still not getting a sweater.

the chocolate chip game

2009-10-04T19:41:00.000-07:00

I often employ tactics that involve sugar to get my children to do what I would like. Today we played the chocolate chip game. I made it up this morning. During General Conference, a semi-annual 2 day conference where leaders from our church share messages with us, I like my kids to listen to at least one of the four sessions. This morning, I printed out some bingo-type game cards and modified the game to suit my needs. I told the kids that every time they heard someone mention the word in the square, they should put a check mark by the picture. After the first session was over, we counted up our check marks. Just before the second session started, I popped popcorn and gave them each enough chocolate chips to match their score. They threw them in with the popcorn, sat down and ate the special treat, while I sneakily got them to sit through most of the second session too. It was a great day and the talks I heard were so amazing, I felt as though they wrote them just for me. Now I know better so I must do better.

Gavin's Score: 107

Carson's Score: 59

Cambria's Score: 22

I guess I know who can pay attention most easily.

Gooooo NAVY!

2009-10-03T19:55:00.000-07:00

We all had to wear our matchy matchy Navy shirts today. Under normal circumstances, I would object, but since we would not be seeing anyone we even knew today, I said, "Let's do it." Maybe that gave the team the extra boost of confidence they needed to beat Air Force. Well played, Navy, well played.

And, yes, Carson was feeling super cool in his shirt, you can tell by his total disregard for the "picture cheese" we tried to employ.

What?

2009-10-02T23:40:00.000-07:00

My three main concerns are as follows:

A) I don't remember watching this.

B) Why do I have 9 pictures of it on my camera?

C) This actually may explain why my daughter, whilst trying on a glove said, "If you like it then you shoulda put a ring on it."

butter makes it better

2009-10-02T07:41:00.001-07:00

Clint and I took Cambria on a date to Famous Dave's for lunch. We ordered some fantastic barbecue for all of us to share and got Cambria a side of Macaroni and Cheese, 'cause it's her favorite. I neglected to recall that Famous Dave's thinks it's necessary to put jalapeños or horseradish in most of their "sides." Cambria took a big fat bite of her Mac and Cheese and the fire set in. She started panicking over the heat in her mouth. Clint said, "Take a drink!" She had some lemonade, but it didn't help. I broke off a piece of the cornbread and told her to eat it. She said, rather loudly, "It has to have butter on it first!!" Apparently Nana has passed on the Butter Nazi gene. Love you, Nana!

There's a sucker born everyday...

2009-09-30T19:54:00.000-07:00

...good thing today's wasn't me. It almost was. Really, Clint and I almost did something foolish, but we didn't. We went to the car dealership to get a part and decided to go look at cars. I could probably end the story right there and you would know the rest. I will, however, continue.

A few years ago we had a perfect Ford Expedition that we loved. It was roomy and wonderful. When gas prices hit $5/gallon, we decided "wonderful" was no longer the appropriate adjective. It was killing us, sucking our bank account dry, costing us a fortune, and basically non-economical. We made the decision to trade it in for a crossover vehicle to save on gas. We bought a new car and it saved us a ton on gas. Mission accomplished. However, I don't really like my car. It's fine, but my kids fight when they sit that close, and we can't take extra people with us, so I have been rallying to get another Expedition for a year. It's silly, but it's true.

Today, there were 4 Expeditions on the lot. Our requirements were 1) Back-Up Sensors, 2)Entertainment System and 3) Leather Seats. None of the 4 on the lot had all three requirements, so we thanked our salesman and headed off. As we were walking to the car, he saw one glorious new arrival at the back of the lot. He said, "I haven't seen that one yet, but it looks like it has the back-up sensors, come with me and let's go check it out." We did. It hadn't been detailed yet, but it was perfect. 4 years old and 38,000 miles. We didn't want to spend a bunch of money because we knew we'd be selling it in a few years when we move overseas, so we went inside the office. After 2 hours of haggling, we realized we were in a sales office about to buy a car when all we went for was a part. I wanted to cry a little because, I really want a new car. The salesman was offering us a low payment, more than our trade-in was worth, and a great price on the new car. Adding 5 more years of car payments just didn't seem all that glorious. We had to steal our keys back from the car appraiser to get out of there, but we managed to do so.

So here we are, no new car, no new car payment. We're feeling ok about that...but I still really want that car, even though I don't need it.

Is that a rhetorical question?

2009-09-29T20:58:00.000-07:00

Many times, I find that you leave me a comment (which I love) in the form of a question. I don't really know how to answer you because I have my doubts that you will come back to my blog, to that specific post and see if I've replied, so here you go. Answers:

A few nights ago, I bribed ALL my kids (unsuccessfully) to go to sleep.
Clint has just a few more weeks before full-time in WA.
Yes, I have read "Eats, Shoots and Leaves." And, yes, I love it.
Earl Anthony is a professional bowler, and no, I don't actually know him.
The Academy of Dance.
The glue held Carson's head together nicely and there is barely a scar.
Yes, my brother was endorsing Spanglish.
I did not major in English, however if I decide to go back to school, that will probably be my first choice.
The Point 'N Paint is on clearance at Staples for $11 this week.
Cambria's "beat down" Sunday was not a big deal, just pretty funny that the walk to primary was so heinous.

That's all the answers I have for you. My brain is tired. Keep the comments coming, I love 'em!

Check it off the list.

2009-09-28T21:33:00.001-07:00

I know Clint loves being put right to work when he arrives, so I generally try to make him happy and just make the assignments. This week he really wanted to get the garage/workshop all set up, so he is building some shelves above the garage door. Just made a plan, bought the wood and got it done. He's what you might call a "select stud."

Bedtime compromises.

2009-09-27T21:54:00.001-07:00

My kids have been quite a struggle during the bedtime hour lately. Just getting them to stay in their rooms has been its own monster challenge. I finally told them I didn't care where they slept, just as long as it was in their own room. I guess everyone decided Carson's bed was the best option. Whatever.

Delicious, but no flippin' way is it nutritious.

2009-09-26T21:30:00.000-07:00

We picked up Clint from the airport today and went to lunch at Red Robin. I love that place. The seasoning salt for the fries is quite possibly made from actual bits of heaven. We saw a little ad on the table tent for a burger named the Mediterranean. It involved feta cheese, artichoke spinach dip, garlic mayo, tomato, lettuce and a big fat burger. A tasty situation indeed. I had to order just to see if it was any good. Well, let me tell you, it was. Each delectable bite complimented my heaven-seasoned fries like magic. I will clearly have to limit crazy calories tomorrow, but today was worth every single bite. Oh and next time, I'm trying this-

It's the new "Wise Guy Burger." Marinara, mozzarella sticks, banana peppers, tomato and pepperoni. It sounds so crazy that it might just be delicioso!

A Poem

2009-09-25T20:18:00.001-07:00

Today was filled with so much fun, I'm sure you won't believe;

Cambo went to preschool and didn't want to leave.

I had to make a quick return up to the Kitsap Mall;

I didn't buy a single thing, nothing large nor small.

I cleaned the car, I cleaned the sink, I made lunches for the kids;

I walked the dog, I changed the sheets, I promise, I really did.

Now I'm off to do laundry, my favorite chore of all;

Clothes were so much more fun to fold when my kids were small.

You see, my days are not so thrilling and are not always fun;

However, I don't mind so much, I know it's got to be done.

My husband arrives in the morning to spend a week at home;

A nice break for him and also for me, it's been hard here on my own.

So this is what I blog about when there's nothing to report;

A little of this, a little of that, random thoughts of a random sort.

Enjoy your weekend, blogstalkers, I don't know what I'll have to share;

But trust me on this, I promise to post something about which you might care.

More Pomp and Circumstance

2009-09-24T20:10:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow marks Navy graduation number 4 for Clint. Who knew you could graduate that many times after college? He's a smartypants, that husband of mine, and I'm proud of him!

OCS - Pensacola, FL

SWOS - Newport, RI

Nuclear Power School -

Goose Creek, SC

I don't have a picture for tomorrow's Postgraduate School festivities, but I imagine he'll look something like the following picture. And, yes, I plan on wearing my same outfit too. Here, at home, while I watch Oprah and eat BonBons. I love you Clint, congratulations on your graduation, wish we could be there!

Oh no she didn't!

2009-09-23T20:35:00.000-07:00

Yes...I did. Turns out I am one of those moms.

Tonight was the Raingutter Regatta for Cub Scouts. Gavin and I worked hard on making his boat cool and sea-worthy. He got a chance to race his boat 5 times and he won every time. That's right, our boat...I mean, his boat was undefeated. Applaud for us, we need the recognition. Flash forward to awards.

I knew that Gavin's boat was undefeated so I was holding the camera steady for his First Place ribbon. He got Second. Wait, what? Second? How can you get Second Place without losing? I don't know what kind of elimination the judges used, but it clearly wasn't the right kind, because Gavin never raced the first place winner. I kept my cool, because frankly, there is no need to make a scene (a large one, anyway). Although, being that I am from competitive genes, I had to make things right. I piped up, "Gavin why don't you go race your boat against the first place winner, you never raced him." Not obnoxious, but loud enough that the "judges" could hear me. Those boys raced and my boy won. Thank you very much. I will be heading over to the Scout shop in the morning to get my kid his first place ribbon.

I'm on it.

2009-09-22T22:12:00.000-07:00

Cambria asked me for a napkin today, so I handed her one. I watched what she was doing with it because she had no food or drink, nor did she have a runny nose. She walked over to the door, bent down, and smooshed a spider. Highly impressed, I asked, "Did you just kill a spider?" She said, "Yeah, I got it." She's a girly girl, but she can certainly hang with the boys!

Did the dew

2009-09-21T19:48:00.000-07:00

Mom: Carson, what happened to your elbow?

Carson: I was ridin' the mountain dew and I fell.

Mom: Where?

Carson: [indignantly] At. The. Mountain. Dew.

Mom: Oh, um, ok, just checking.

Another spray paint opportunity; or maybe a crow bar.

2009-09-20T21:13:00.000-07:00

What I now want to know is this: Who is Floor and what is her inc? Perhaps I should go inside that establishment and I will find the answers.

Move over, Earl Anthony

2009-09-19T20:04:00.000-07:00

That's right, my friends, it's bowling season! The boys are all signed up on their league to perfect their bowling prowess. Today was just practice, but watch out next week, they will school you if you come their way!

experimenting without direction

2009-09-18T20:09:00.000-07:00

Cambria needed a little bag to put her dance stuff in. I didn't want to buy one because I am feeling very crafty this week, so I decided to make one. I went to the fabric store to scope out a cute pattern to make my inexpensive bag. I then discovered that said pattern would be $14.95. Hello, how is that an inexpensive route to go? I scrapped that idea and just went to buy fabric and decided to wing it, sans pattern. It worked out swimmingly and the bag was so cute, I made another one today! Love it!

It's Cambria week

2009-09-17T20:48:00.000-07:00

This week has been all about Cambria. I guess it's because the boys are gone all day and I have nothing else to take pictures of. I promise there will be more pictures and such about the boys soon. But these are too sweet to pass up. I learned how to make a crazy fluffy tutu this week and had to give it a try. I adore it.

creepy little things

2009-09-16T20:56:00.000-07:00

These little fellas are everywhere in our yard. Tiniest frogs I've ever seen and they just seem to hippity hop wherever they please. I have included the following picture as a reference for their actual size. That's my finger, just in case you didn't know.

Cambria's favorite pasttime is collecting them in water bottles, or bubble bottles, or her hands, or in her pockets...well, you get the idea. It's not my favorite thing at all. Thanks Aunt Katie, she's totally your niece.

our little dancer

2009-09-15T19:14:00.000-07:00

Finally!

2009-09-15T08:44:00.000-07:00

Cambria had a great first day of school. She wanted to strike a pose for her special first day picture.

worst headache ever

2009-09-14T20:45:00.001-07:00

I'll blog tomorrow.

sunshine day, everybody's smilin'

2009-09-13T22:35:00.000-07:00

Today was absolutely glorious as we drove home from church. We'll take whatever sun we can get over here. I said, "Why don't we pack up a lunch and have a picnic somewhere?" The kids thought that sounded great and began rattling off all the parks we could go to. Since they all involved some sort of swim attire and/or purchase of meals, we opted to just go across the street to the little park. We had a nice impromptu picnic and basked in the radiance of the sun. Lovely!

It hurts my feelings...

2009-09-12T21:12:00.000-07:00

...not because the shop owner couldn't spell. Not because they hung it up. But because someone, who obviously works for a reputable sign printing company, let this catastrophe go out the door. I may have to get out my can of red spray paint tonight. Do you think I would get arrested for taking charge of this situation? I, as a self-proclaimed grammar policeman, don't think they would arrest a fellow officer of the law.

I am proud.

2009-09-11T22:22:00.000-07:00

September 11, 2001

I am proud of everyone who stood up for something that horrible day.

I am proud of those who flew their flags at their homes, work, on a pin, on their desktop, everywhere, in support.

I am proud of everyone who wasn't trying to be a hero that day, but just did their jobs and became a hero anyway.

I am proud of those who weren't "just doing their jobs," but stood up to be heros.

I am proud to be an American and I am proud of those who fight for our freedoms.

But wait, there's more...

2009-09-11T21:48:00.000-07:00

Clint and I have never bought into the whole "as seen on TV" circuit. That is, until Billy Mays and Anthony Sullivan got their own show on the Discovery channel. Once we actually got sucked in and saw the testing they do for products, we figured, "Hey, maybe that isn't a complete piece of junk." Before we moved out here, I saw a product at Kohl's called the Point 'n Paint. It looked like a great idea, but I wasn't sure it would really work. Since I knew I was going to be painting this house like a crazy person, I decided to purchase the item (secretly of course, because I didn't want to admit that I bought ASOTV stuff). After a complete mess in the first room, I discovered its secret and decided it is amazing. It requires you to do no taping, no masking off, no cutting in. It's phenomenal and I love it. I haven't painted anything since we've had the furniture in, but I really wanted more paint on the walls, so I dragged it out again today. Still amazing. This is how well it does against the baseboards. We're talkin' no tape here at all.

Yep, I love it. I also love my Hot Chocolate wall. I think I see more walls this color coming in the near future, it's lovely.

Preschool

2009-09-10T22:26:00.000-07:00

Cambria got to meet her new preschool teachers tonight when we dropped off the huge amount of school supplies at Open House. The kids made a placemat for snack time and just played around for a bit. She is excited to start on Monday, but we'll see if that changes when Monday actually arrives. Don't call me on Monday, I'll be having a morning of peace and I don't need to be woken u....er, I mean, any interruptions.