tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34303782751417425062024-03-13T01:39:26.087-06:00I'm not just a Mom...there are many other things that make me who I am!Anjie Behuninhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07200333878121491778noreply@blogger.comBlogger409125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3430378275141742506.post-67018203578439714052013-02-24T20:27:00.001-07:002013-02-24T20:27:34.379-07:00I know- I KNOW!<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So, I know I haven't been very good at keeping up on this blog. Most of my extra free time these days is spent doing not so very "free time" like things. Housekeeping, laundry, cooking, homework etc, etc, etc. A few highlights from the last 8 or so months:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Colin started 4th grade and Lilly started 1st. Since BOTH of my kids were going to be in school full time, I decided to apply for a job at the school at the end of the 2011-2012 school year. It was going to be a 2 hour a day position, something I could do while the kids were in school but still keep working out, and hanging out with my friends. BUT I got offered a job with a few more hours each week, which ended up being even a few more than that, since some of the prep time needs to be done at home. SO- my time is a little at a premium these days. I LOVE working, and LOVE being at the kid's school but there are days I miss hanging out in my yoga pants and having morning coffee dates with the girls. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Christmas was a good one this year. Not a lot of stress and lots of time with family. We got to see the play a few friends were in "A Rented Christmas" and we got to see the Utah Symphony perform with Santa. Both were great experiences and awesome Christmastime family activities. I think the symphony will become a tradition. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Colin got his Bear in scouts. He really likes the scouting program, and I am lucky to be able to help with his Den. Lilly played soccer this fall and really liked it! She had a lot of fun and hopefully she learned a little more about what it is like to be a teammate. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Seth has been working for a long time on a new game, and we recently found out what it IS and ALL of the family is WAY excited. Look for Disney Infinity out in June. He's worked long, hard hours and we can't wait for the game to be out, so we can have him back! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Parenting Colin is still tough but we are learning some new tools to help us out- and those also help with Lilly too. Hopefully as he gets older, things will get easier and Mom will stop drinking so much wine. (OK- so I don't drink a LOT of wine. I drink beer and on really bad nights, a few cocktails too)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Lilly lost 3 teeth in 1 week- 1 I pulled, 1 fell out on its own and 1 the dentist had to pull. The tooth fairy was probably sick of coming to our house so often. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Not much else has happened. We are all just trying to do the best we can with what we have. (There- I updated my blog. Maybe I'll do it again soon!)</span>Anjie Behuninhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07200333878121491778noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3430378275141742506.post-83691461650664131222012-06-20T20:46:00.003-06:002012-06-20T20:46:20.867-06:00I am now a person enjoying the summer<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">And THAT is why I haven't blogged in a while. (Can you feel a bullet point post coming on? No? Well, you should!)</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The week after Lilly turned 6, a friend of mine and I executed an almost flawless Field Day at the kids school. (The fire/earthquake drill right before hand was NOT part of the stupid plan!!)</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<li><span style="font-size: small;"> The same day was Lilly's last day as a Kindergartener. She is now a 1st grader. My how time flies. </span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The NEXT day was the last day of school for Colin. HE is now a 4th grader. I went into his classroom for the very last time and got to hang with the kids until the Flag ceremony. They had me sign their yearbooks and their t-shirts (remember doing that?) and we had a lot of fun!</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<li><span style="font-size: small;"> We had a fun 1st week of summer vacation. Nothing too serious happened. BUT we did take our first trek to the Sno-Cone Shack on the corner for our weekly Snowie fix. Check one thing off of the bucket list!</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<li><span style="font-size: small;">I got older. Quiet, relaxed, dessert filled Birthday, just the way I wanted it. </span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Colin and I went to Cub Scout Day Camp up Millcreek Canyon. We had fun, he got to shoot an arrow and a BB Gun each for the first time! He was so excited- and earned some of his belt loops while we were there. </span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Seth is playing Softball again this year. The team is getting better (since they started practicing) and I think they are all having fun. Only 1win- but that is better than last year!</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So far that is how our summer has gone! Days playing outside, swimming and using the slip-n-slide and enjoying NOT having a schedule to follow. I may post pics soon- but I may not. </span></span><br />Anjie Behuninhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07200333878121491778noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3430378275141742506.post-85429838778407988282012-03-12T11:08:00.003-06:002012-03-12T11:08:48.816-06:00I am a woman feeling accomplished!<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Just a quick post to brag a little- I made my original weight goal this morning! (Well, technically I made it some time last week, but Monday mornings are my weigh-in day) I am reveling in the accomplishment- and LOVING the "0 pounds to go" ticker over there on the right before I set a new goal. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">(Just so you know- my REAL goal is not a "pounds lost" goal, it is for me to get off my blood pressure medicine. That might be right around the corner- if I can suck it up and go in for a check-up earlier than I need to)</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3430378275141742506.post-46615410370555767772012-02-25T13:22:00.002-07:002012-02-25T13:22:53.037-07:00I'm a parent saying "What the Hell?"<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
It is time once again for a "What the Hell?" post. I've noticed that most of my "WTH?" moments are in sync (no, not <i>that </i>'N Sync) with the Utah State Legislative session (rolls eyes).</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
A bill has recently passed in the Utah State House of Representatives requiring schools to teach <a href="http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/53570545-90/abstinence-allow-bill-education.html.csp" target="_blank">Abstinence Only sex education classes or NO SEX EDUCATION AT ALL</a>. What the Hell? The man behind the bill says if his granddaughter was taught abstinence only in high school, she wouldn't have been so promiscuous. Um, REALLY? </div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
Don't you think it was her PARENTS job to teach her not to be a slut? And if they weren't willing to do so, then I think the sex education teacher (or here in Utah the Health teacher) should teach her to use a condom, how to go to Planned Parenthood to get birth control pills. My kids will BOTH know the dangers of unprotected sex. Not only the dangers of becoming a parent as a teenager but the disgusting facts about STD s. My husband and I will both teach BOTH of them how to use a condom and they will know they can come to us if they have ANY questions about sex or contraception. That is my job as a parent and I would like for it to be reiterated in Health Class. If they have it coming at them from all sides, I will know I've done my job. </div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I am SO hoping our Utah State Senators are smarter than our House Representatives and they DO NOT pass this bill because I don't have a lot of confidence in our Governor to veto the bill if it lands on his desk. (and BTW- I didn't vote for our current Governor)</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3430378275141742506.post-50325550905102723912012-02-19T10:57:00.002-07:002012-02-19T10:58:59.221-07:00I'm the Mom of a 9 year old boy<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
Colin is 9 years old today! WOW! In the last year he has joined Cub Scouts (and participated in the Pinewood Derby and earned his Wolf), finished 2nd grade, started 3rd grade, gone to LEGOLAND, been in a Wax Museum and been introduced to Drama which he enjoys a lot! </div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
Colin is smart, a good student, funny in his own way and he loves kids that are younger than him (especially babies. He LOVES to make them happy). All, in all he is a kid that never ceases to amaze me, and constantly keeps me on my toes (sometimes not always in a good way but that is how kids are, right?) </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipWgEwD5lS1UvAVCimHfwLqSJSV8gt1EvQSMJbpI886cnI-SKeBSMlt4oAEtu7kU5htmdMs_-4uP5PAiiNvPXqiXyUMTO5lBnKAp6UIflJB_4q3GF5onVbkApaEUADesOOyJQTXjB9pD2q/s1600/Static+Electricity+Balloon+Game+%2835%29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipWgEwD5lS1UvAVCimHfwLqSJSV8gt1EvQSMJbpI886cnI-SKeBSMlt4oAEtu7kU5htmdMs_-4uP5PAiiNvPXqiXyUMTO5lBnKAp6UIflJB_4q3GF5onVbkApaEUADesOOyJQTXjB9pD2q/s320/Static+Electricity+Balloon+Game+%2835%29.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Happy Birthday Colin! </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3430378275141742506.post-60166500931993714722012-02-17T12:07:00.000-07:002012-02-17T12:07:01.704-07:00I'm a woman disappointed in her "getting healthy" goals<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
I know I shouldn't be.....I've lost almost 25 pounds since the end of September and I've worked out in some capacity 5 days a week almost every week since I've started. But it really sucks that I've been working SO hard, using will power that I never thought I had, dropping 1 size in pants and almost 2 sizes in shirts and my body looks the same in pictures. I can only assume I look the same in real life. </div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
I can tell a difference, my husband <i>SAYS</i> he can tell a difference but I'm pretty sure no one else can. I know it shouldn't matter if anyone else can tell or knows how much I've lost (that is part of the reason I didn't tell anyone I've made these life changes) but it still makes me wonder if it is worth it. Should I keep going if I don't look as good as I feel when the camera flashes? </div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">OK- pity party over. Go back to whatever it was you were doing. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3430378275141742506.post-5551256046685870362012-01-13T18:00:00.001-07:002012-01-13T18:00:26.619-07:00I'm BAACK- well kinda<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I have been pretty busy the last few months and haven't posted well, anything. I have been updating the sidebar with my workout info and occasionally with my dinner for that night. Blogging has been put on hold to make way for volunteering in the kids classes, being Room Mom for my daughter, working out and spending more time with my family amongst other things. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I have quite a few "What The Hell" posts in my head (even 1 WTF post too) and I DO want to share some of the things we've been up to lately.....I just need to find the time. I've even vowed to take more pictures and start participating in You Capture more often (I got a new camera lens for Christmas!) but I still can't figure out when to do that. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">For now, enjoy my new blog background, my dinner updates and my workout stats. </span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3430378275141742506.post-32475729782685802442011-09-07T16:56:00.000-06:002011-09-07T16:56:53.711-06:00Wednesdays Wonderful Recipe- ON Wednesday this time<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Sorry I didn't post last week.....and I'm saying that to no one because I'm pretty sure all of you (the 1 or 2 of you) that read my blog just read it when there is an updated title in your readers and you don't actually keep checking each day to see if I have a new post nor do you expect me to post in a timely manner. (Thank you for that!)</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This week I am sharing one of my favorite Pioneer Woman recipes: The Only Casserole Marlboro Man Will Eat aka <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2007/06/chicken_spaghet/">Chicken Spaghetti</a>. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I know some of you already make this but it is what is for dinner tonight in the Behunin house and I haven't had time to try any new recipes to share with you. The one thing I do differently than PW is to use a cut up rotisserie chicken and canned low sodium broth instead of boiling my own chicken and using the homemade broth. It is mostly because of time constraints and ease of use. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Try it one night with a loaf of crusty bread and a side of steamed broccoli and you have a meal even the pickiest of Marlboro Men will love! </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3430378275141742506.post-77127035828674488202011-08-19T15:16:00.001-06:002011-08-19T15:17:22.047-06:00Wednesday's Wonderful Recipe-on Friday<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So I'm a couple of days late in getting this post up. So what? I thought about it a few times on Wednesday and could have gotten a recipe up pretty quickly....but decided to take care of my kids instead.<br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">They both had a Frenectomy done at the dentist's office on Wednesday morning. We gave them a Kiddie Cocktail to make them relax and numbed their upper lips and the awesome dentist used a very tiny laser to cut the extra skin they had connecting their upper lip to their upper gum line. It was keeping their front teeth from growing together, causing a Letterman like gap that could have made dental life harder as they grow older.<br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Since they couldn't eat anything but soft foods for the rest of the day, they were lucky and got pudding for lunch and shakes for dinner on Wednesday but for lunch on Thursday Colin was <i>starving </i>and needed a little more than junk. He asked me to make some Egg Drop Soup like I did last summer when he had his tonsils removed. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/soups/egg-drop-soup-for-two/">Egg Drop Soup for Two-Tasty Kitchen </a></b></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I loved that he asked me to make it! It is a simple, basic recipe and totally adaptable to your family's tastes. If I have some, I add a 1/2 cup of frozen peas and carrots to the original recipe but I also double and triple the recipe since Colin loves it so much. I also 1/2 the amount of egg it calls for, since I'm not very good at streaming the eggs into the broth and I don't want to end up with <i>Scrambled</i> Egg Soup.<br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Try it next time someone is sick, or as a starter to your next Chinese food meal. Enjoy!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3430378275141742506.post-75055864661714181722011-08-10T15:51:00.000-06:002011-08-10T15:51:39.428-06:00Wednesday's Wonderful Recipe<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I know I haven't posted in a week....but we are trying to fit as much FUN into the last few weeks of summer as we can! We spent a day at my parent's having a "Grandkids Day" where all 4 of the grandkids just played in Granny's backyard. It was a lot of fun and really nice to just SIT and let the kids hang out. We spend a morning at a friends pool and we have lots of other fun stuff planned in the days to come! (I might even be able to take a few pics to share)</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">For now, I'm going to share my favorite cake recipe with you. It is my favorite because it is pretty simple to make (well, I think it is), and it is HOMEMADE FROM SCRATCH. No cake mix required. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
<br />
<a href="http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/desserts/dr-pepper-chocolate-cake/">Dr Pepper Chocolate Cake</a> </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Everyone loves how rich and moist this cake is, and it is easy to take to a potluck. A 9x13 pan and a spatula and everyone can serve themselves. OR you can always plate it at a fancy dinner party (like I have those) and garnish with a few fresh raspberries on top. Sorry I don't have any pictures, I haven't made it in a while...maybe that will be next week's LL dessert! </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">ENJOY!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3430378275141742506.post-56896446566778383842011-08-03T14:15:00.000-06:002011-08-03T14:15:58.999-06:00I'm a blogger- reviving my Wednesday's Wonderful Recipe posts!<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I haven't shared a recipe in a long, long, long time. Since Christmas, I think. I DO still cook. I DO still take a potluck item to LL once a week. AND I DO want to share a recipe with you. And I AM going to start sharing a recipe every Wednesday. Again. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">My husband's favorite dip for chips is French Onion. He loves mixing a carton of sour cream with an Onion Soup Mix packet and going to town with some potato chips (usually Pringles plain). I, on the other hand, find the soup mix to be too salty. So I did some Googling and found an onion dip recipe that I LOVE, my husband LOVES and all of my friends LOVE too. Alton Brown sure knows how to break down recipes and make things simple but delicious. <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/onion-dip-from-scratch-recipe/index.html">Alton Brown's Onion Dip From Scratch</a></span></div><ul class="kv-ingred-list1" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><li class="ingredient"><span style="font-size: x-small;">2 tablespoons olive oil (I use butter)</span></li>
<li class="ingredient"><span style="font-size: x-small;">1 1/2 cups diced onions(I do 1/2 diced, 1/2 sliced)</span></li>
<li class="ingredient"><span style="font-size: x-small;">1/4 teaspoon kosher salt </span></li>
<li class="ingredient"><span style="font-size: x-small;">1 1/2 cups <a class="crosslink" href="http://www.foodterms.com/encyclopedia/sour-cream/index.html">sour cream</a></span> </li>
<li class="ingredient"><span style="font-size: x-small;">3/4 cup <a class="crosslink" href="http://www.foodterms.com/encyclopedia/mayonnaise/index.html">mayonnaise</a></span> </li>
<li class="ingredient"><span style="font-size: x-small;">1/4 teaspoon garlic powder </span></li>
<li class="ingredient"><span style="font-size: x-small;">1/4 teaspoon ground <a class="crosslink" href="http://www.foodterms.com/encyclopedia/white-pepper/index.html">white pepper</a></span> </li>
<li class="ingredient"><span style="font-size: x-small;">1/2 teaspoon <a class="crosslink" href="http://www.foodterms.com/encyclopedia/salt/index.html">kosher salt</a></span></li>
</ul><h2 style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Directions</span></h2><div class="instructions"><div class="instruction" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> In a saute pan over medium heat add oil, heat and add onions and salt. Cook the onions until they are caramelized, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to cool. Mix the rest of the ingredients, and then add the cooled onions. Refrigerate and stir again before serving. </span></div><div class="instruction" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="instruction" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="instruction" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="instruction"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This dip is soo good with regular potato chips, Fritos and even as a dip for a sliced baguette. I have EVEN used the little bit we've had leftover as a spread for sandwiches (go ahead, try it that way....it makes a GREAT turkey sandwich). </span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3430378275141742506.post-29062753324209186692011-07-28T10:00:00.000-06:002011-07-28T10:00:50.774-06:00I'm person saying: WTH?<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I know I haven't posted in a week but things have been busy around here! I didn't have a Happiness post not because I didn't take pictures, but because I haven't had a chance to go through them all. Next week for sure. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I just came across this article on the Yahoo News! website. It seriously goes in the WTH? category. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/job-listings-unemployed-not-apply-133143362.html">Job listings say the unemployed need not apply </a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Seriously!? They only want applicants that either currently have a job or have recently been laid off? How the HELL is that possible? Our economy is bad and the number of open positions out there are scarce. How do employers think we are going to lower the unemployment numbers in this country if they don't accept applications from workers that have been unemployed for longer than a few months? If there is a job opening, let ALL qualified applicants apply. It is a start to getting our economy back on track. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">WTH people? WTH!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3430378275141742506.post-37462236267022680132011-07-20T08:37:00.001-06:002011-07-20T08:37:01.860-06:00I'm a Mom starting to do new things with my family too...<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">...things most of you wouldn't think I would do.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">First off- I'm a kind of a girly girl. I don't really enjoy being outdoors unless it includes me sitting on the back deck with <strike>bottle</strike> glass of wine and a good book or my laptop. That means a shower and a bathroom aren't very far away. If we go camping (which we haven't done since way before the kids were born) it is at an established campground or KOA. We car camp.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">SO you would assume I don't like to fish. Well, you are right...I'm kind of squirmy when it comes to baiting the hook with a live night crawler (or part of a live night crawler) and I will never, ever gut a fish, EVER. But I'm pretty good at casting, OK at waiting patiently for a fish and sitting at a fish pond or lake side isn't too bad.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We got gear together for us to go fishing while we were at Bear Lake. Due to a couple of severe sunburns, only Seth and Colin were able to go out on the raft and fish. So before our fishing licenses expired, we decided to take the kids out to a local fishing pond and teach them how to fish.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7eSpwq62KQbvPvI33zko2TWVsLToSWz1B_ExabNHG8tGQUIhVFN8bONU79Ue_maeK_YItBLY6m9_xMzos6H1Qz6txRp3ozoZuyPPSZ001_wOZG9AVIZUOOgCQbPomukfJlIDo7skowuXK/s1600/Fishing+for+the+first+time+%25288%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7eSpwq62KQbvPvI33zko2TWVsLToSWz1B_ExabNHG8tGQUIhVFN8bONU79Ue_maeK_YItBLY6m9_xMzos6H1Qz6txRp3ozoZuyPPSZ001_wOZG9AVIZUOOgCQbPomukfJlIDo7skowuXK/s320/Fishing+for+the+first+time+%25288%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhldCGqFN59BSgtLlhqN2r1_oJZ3lsXs7wkUmRPaPsyN_fAOOsiLUhPP86-lo6C8PLMJd1aJlHmUYBL4M6qv2p6aMmi7xSsMRSWsRbwMYAJUFZmDUE6PD7EDCvB8CleCzOCYrXnSyfEUkUT/s1600/Fishing+for+the+first+time+%252810%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhldCGqFN59BSgtLlhqN2r1_oJZ3lsXs7wkUmRPaPsyN_fAOOsiLUhPP86-lo6C8PLMJd1aJlHmUYBL4M6qv2p6aMmi7xSsMRSWsRbwMYAJUFZmDUE6PD7EDCvB8CleCzOCYrXnSyfEUkUT/s320/Fishing+for+the+first+time+%252810%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We didn't catch anything, and we learned a few lessons- don't fish at a place that has a playground or Lilly will complain that she doesn't get to play, make note of the wind so the line doesn't drift as you are casting, and make sure you bring a pair of sunglasses for Colin or he will complain too.</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We will go again and maybe try a new spot (one without a playground) and hopefully I'll have some fish to try new recipes on!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3430378275141742506.post-9179349348693956792011-07-19T10:04:00.000-06:002011-07-19T10:04:50.022-06:00I'm the Mom of a kid that finds Happiness in the funniest ways.<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">My oldest has a non-typical way of playing most days. He likes to do what we call "Projects". My Dad gives him plumbing parts that don't work anymore (and are not fixable) and he gets to take them apart and see how they work. Sometimes he puts them back together, sometimes he doesn't but these "projects" keep him busy for hours. And I don't mean just 1 or 2 I mean 8 or more. That translates into Happiness for the kid and Happiness for the rest of the house (meaning, we don't have to entertain him). </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbDCvo4kFmPGPpAv9WU4Fg1vovPaNEYOXxWJHKQXpBFR_5kgB51coGNFBZocBpxx75Rq79pQwFs1l6Pa0W37Bbu0NSRwQXwQyNVHUaI2t4N4TBvZMy86I2EF2PqZTp_It2hBWdcXsyOJxe/s1600/Colin%2527s+Projects+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbDCvo4kFmPGPpAv9WU4Fg1vovPaNEYOXxWJHKQXpBFR_5kgB51coGNFBZocBpxx75Rq79pQwFs1l6Pa0W37Bbu0NSRwQXwQyNVHUaI2t4N4TBvZMy86I2EF2PqZTp_It2hBWdcXsyOJxe/s320/Colin%2527s+Projects+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;">Colin and his own set of tools</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8YCfvxNbnryp2n4XWng9Bf8-DcS9hVCNvVCge1Hgk4juJwZsIGCGkHrpKEel32TAbya_sY95ggDjyKji885hh3OFuO_Kg_ejgktXmASWS_WSQfJ1pKvd0R4wwo1A05rHNZZ6U3D1bBFs/s1600/Colin%2527s+Projects+%25285%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8YCfvxNbnryp2n4XWng9Bf8-DcS9hVCNvVCge1Hgk4juJwZsIGCGkHrpKEel32TAbya_sY95ggDjyKji885hh3OFuO_Kg_ejgktXmASWS_WSQfJ1pKvd0R4wwo1A05rHNZZ6U3D1bBFs/s320/Colin%2527s+Projects+%25285%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Studying a circuit board</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I'm linking to <a href="http://leighvslaundry.blogspot.com/">Leigh vs. Laundry</a> and her <a href="http://leighvslaundry.blogspot.com/2011/07/52-weeks-of-happiness-week-20.html">52 weeks of Happiness</a>. Trying to find Happiness in my week. Sometimes it is hard and sometimes it is pretty easy. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://leighvslaundry.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i969.photobucket.com/albums/ae172/leighbug_photo/thumbnail_camera_ads-6-3.jpg" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3430378275141742506.post-77381740850906253942011-07-12T09:00:00.000-06:002011-07-12T09:00:40.273-06:00I'm a Mom that found happiness this weekend- so did my family!<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We spent the weekend at a cabin near Bear Lake, Utah. The kids had a blast playing with their cousins, fishing and riding in the boat. We had a blast doing the same thing. Here are three pics that depict the Happiness we all found while out on the boat on Friday. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWhkOtFoiHVS8xMHcD3zh9yzz0A8qzuyjSmA092nEyZXu68mq7D-ncfgmsPvJJ5ZOzN9XnxjGCFeTQ4s110ed4kKyC7NvfAZ70fYdqZA2ol7qesIqPQmgyImFp3r0R9zbgQrZNnHM9PpNi/s1600/Bear+Lake+2011+%2528238%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWhkOtFoiHVS8xMHcD3zh9yzz0A8qzuyjSmA092nEyZXu68mq7D-ncfgmsPvJJ5ZOzN9XnxjGCFeTQ4s110ed4kKyC7NvfAZ70fYdqZA2ol7qesIqPQmgyImFp3r0R9zbgQrZNnHM9PpNi/s320/Bear+Lake+2011+%2528238%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">Colin on the boat for the 1st time</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Q9a_8lVTpzsSYZttWfpYPmIDFEP1nUmhL1RgFjOoV0GvsTuYGQZwtd6SCVPF8GuIPov7dBmhQzKe62cAydjoLAmOZwvzvmir853eLCamL3zd28PxYFKfmOtjMbAD7PEJUvMz52OJMPnY/s1600/Bear+Lake+2011+%2528296%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Q9a_8lVTpzsSYZttWfpYPmIDFEP1nUmhL1RgFjOoV0GvsTuYGQZwtd6SCVPF8GuIPov7dBmhQzKe62cAydjoLAmOZwvzvmir853eLCamL3zd28PxYFKfmOtjMbAD7PEJUvMz52OJMPnY/s320/Bear+Lake+2011+%2528296%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daredevil Lilly on the tube for the 1st time</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdRZAseoaZ7635e3DT7Rlq3aSTpAiMoDkmYxiRsX9GDJlXQkLKHtM0ukLpjv8ZlORUcVV3T2u3tmwduCwrkOstsiDpieQiw9heZd6IotLaAdrCJqIwVtx0_C9lGZH0M18QKXmRutgDLjm7/s1600/Bear+Lake+2011+%2528201%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdRZAseoaZ7635e3DT7Rlq3aSTpAiMoDkmYxiRsX9GDJlXQkLKHtM0ukLpjv8ZlORUcVV3T2u3tmwduCwrkOstsiDpieQiw9heZd6IotLaAdrCJqIwVtx0_C9lGZH0M18QKXmRutgDLjm7/s320/Bear+Lake+2011+%2528201%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seth just chillin'</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We all found some Happiness this weekend, mine was found behind the camera. I'm linking to</span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://leighvslaundry.blogspot.com/2011/07/52-weeks-of-happiness-week-19.html">Leigh vs. Laundry's Happiness Project</a> this week. I'm going to try to get behind the camera more often and force myself to find the happy things in my life. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://leighvslaundry.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i969.photobucket.com/albums/ae172/leighbug_photo/thumbnail_camera_ads-6-3.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3430378275141742506.post-32160560193575231922011-07-11T10:18:00.000-06:002011-07-11T10:18:35.896-06:00I'm a slacker blogger that keeps adding to the post in her head.<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">No really, I do. I have been writing a post in my head for months now and since I never get around to actually typing it out, I just keep adding events to it. SO- I think this post is going to be a bullet point post and it will be pretty long since I'm going to cover pretty much the whole year until now. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This is what our year has been like so far:</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> <u><b>February</b></u></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><li>Colin lost a few teeth. 2 I think. He lost 2 last year and it was slow going for the Tooth Fairy.</li>
</ul><ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><li>Colin turned 8! We had a great birthday with my family going to the Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum in Provo, Utah and then having pizza at Grandpa and Grandma's. It was exactly what he wanted to do! </li>
</ul><ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><li>For Valentine's Day my sweet husband bought me a copy of The Pioneer Woman's book <u>Black Heels to Tractor Wheels</u> AND conspired a bit with my friend Katie to get me a ticket to see her (again!) and get my book signed! It was a fun night with Katie, Holly and Michelle. </li>
</ul><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><u><b>March</b></u></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </div><ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><li> Colin had his 2nd grade program: The Dinosaur Fair. It was awesomely filled with songs about dinosaurs, facts about dinosaurs and the always cool dinosaur dioramas. He had a small part which he memorized quickly and said with great enthusiasm. </li>
</ul><ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><li>At this point in the year, Lilly is just being Lilly, learning new things each week and growing up way too fast! (I couldn't leave her out!)</li>
</ul><ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><li>Colin lost 2 more teeth! The Tooth Fairy was a little busy around here the first few months of 2011. </li>
</ul><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><u><b>April</b></u></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </div><ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><li> Colin started Cub Scouts and loves it! He participated in his first Pinewood Derby AND won 4th place overall (out of 17 cars) AND his first run was the fastest run of the night! He named the car Meteor Speeder and boy was it fitting!</li>
</ul><ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><li>Lilly's Kindergarten Orientation was at the end of April. I will have both kids in school 5 days a week for a few hours each day. We are BOTH so excited for her to start school in September. </li>
</ul><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><u><b>May</b></u></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </div><ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><li>I became Colin's Cub Scout assistant Den Leader. It has been so much fun helping the boys learn more about the world around them, doing crafts and making gifts for parents. </li>
</ul><ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><li>Colin's class (and I) went on a field trip to the Thanksgiving Point Dinosaur museum. It was a lot of work for the chaperones but so much fun for the kids! </li>
</ul><ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><li>For Mother's Day I got a new laptop! I needed one really bad and it was totally time to upgrade. I love it and can't wait to get a "skin" for the top. </li>
</ul><ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><li>We helped with a yard sale to benefit the Ride For Javin Tour deCure team. It was at my parent's house and we earned quite a bit of money between the items that were donated and the goodies I made! </li>
</ul><ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><li>Lilly turned 5! We had a BBQ/Strawberry Shortcake Birthday party at my parents after the yard sale and had a lot of fun. </li>
</ul><ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><li>Lilly graduated from preschool. Her program was so cute (she is an adorable little Hula Girl) and the end of the year video made me cry. She has grown up SO MUCH this last year and learned a lot of things to help her in Kindergarten. </li>
</ul><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><u><b>June</b></u></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </div><ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><li>We had a birthday party for Lilly- a little late I know- but it was the only time we could do it. </li>
</ul><ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><li>Colin had his last day of 2nd grade! Despite some social issues and a change in meds in March he made it through! His grades and behavior improved over the previous term and we are so proud. His teacher was so good with him all year long and I am going to miss volunteering in the classroom every week. </li>
</ul><ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><li>Seth rode his first benefit bike ride the Tour deCure! 25 miles with the Ride For Javin Team and they raised over $2000 to help find a cure for diabetes. It was a fun day and a great accomplishment for Seth, he now wants to do a few other rides around the state. </li>
</ul><ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><li>I had a birthday. I am now one year older and I have quite a few more grey hairs on my head. We went to the Clark Planetarium and saw a 3-D movie about the Hubble Telescope and had 5 Guys for lunch. My friends had a birthday LL for me the following Tuesday and overall it was a great birthday. Now if only the grey hair would go away. </li>
</ul><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><u><b>July (so far)</b></u></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </div><ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><li>We had a fun 4th of July weekend. Lots of time as a family. Neighborhood/Scout breakfast and an impromptu pancake breakfast with neighbors. Fireworks with the <i>same</i> neighbors and lots of fun. It was nice to spend time at home and just relax.</li>
</ul><ul style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><li>We spend a weekend at Bear Lake using a cabin that is owned by a friend of my Dad's. That is totally my idea of camping- cabin with running water and electricity, mattresses to sleep on and a shower! We had a lot of fun going out on the boat and my kids LOVED riding on the tube. Colin went the fastest without falling off and Lilly was a little daredevil. I took hundreds of pics of them on the boat, and if I get a chance I will share a few of them!</li>
</ul><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">That is our year so far! We've done so many fun things and have many fun things ahead for our family! I'm going to try to start sharing a new recipe each week and at least one WTH? post a week too. Try is the key word (as usual) since we are busy, busy, busy this summer. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3430378275141742506.post-78862860095269226322011-03-21T09:10:00.000-06:002011-03-21T09:10:26.733-06:00I'm a Mom WAY overdue for a blog update, I know!<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I have pretty much set blogging aside for, well, real life stuff. I have a blog post in mind- a quick overview of our month of February but until I have a bit of time to write and add pics and stuff this one will have to do for a bit. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Last year,I became aware of a great company here in Utah that makes quality, modest, CUTE swimsuits. Not only are they CUTE but they have a whole line of </span><a href="http://www.hapari.com/plus-size-swimwear/"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Plus Sized</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> suits that DON'T make the curvy girl look like an old lady. </span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.hapari.com/"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Hapari Swimwear</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> rocks! I got this tankini last year: </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxBVolZ02kwFqoj6iMsvmIxhNLr2mcY2MeAIFUpqlYn57-jxImE3o6ckuedwOGhOUPMmVnAm53g_nrs0bNBejAZh4utv5lx1bVrlUEZ_AEb4FuTyZAu5nR4tIHt4_skAk4R5UK40tAS8GZ/s1600/Retro+SOS+Tankini.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxBVolZ02kwFqoj6iMsvmIxhNLr2mcY2MeAIFUpqlYn57-jxImE3o6ckuedwOGhOUPMmVnAm53g_nrs0bNBejAZh4utv5lx1bVrlUEZ_AEb4FuTyZAu5nR4tIHt4_skAk4R5UK40tAS8GZ/s320/Retro+SOS+Tankini.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Pic- on the Hapari website</span><a href="http://www.hapari.com/plus-size-retro-s.o.s-tankini.html"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> here</span></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Now I don't look quite as cute in it as she does but I DO feel comfortable in it and I feel well, SECURE in it (no wardrobe malfunctions here) and I feel stylish in it! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Do you want one? Go to </span><a href="http://www.hapari.com/"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Hapari </span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">and take a look. Do you want to WIN one? Go to My Giveaway Today and see how YOU can win a gift certificate to </span><a href="http://www.hapari.com/"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Hapari</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">. Don't forget </span><a href="http://www.hapari.com/"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">HAPARI</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3430378275141742506.post-39380002554515164072011-02-08T08:46:00.000-07:002011-02-08T08:46:21.480-07:00I'm trying to find happiness every day.<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I haven't been very "happy" lately. Stress from getting calls from Colin's school, the family getting colds. the overall Utah weather and multiple other small things have kind of put the kibosh on that. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Things have been looking up- Colin is doing better in school, the family is getting better and the weather, well the weather still sucks but not much I can do about that. Colin has recently decided it would be fun to help me in the kitchen. My favorite time so far, was when he helped me make French Bread to go with an easy Chicken Alfredo meal. We both had a lot of fun and he did a GREAT job! He doesn't pose for pictures very nicely, so my picture for Leigh's Happiness Project is the first loaf of French Bread he formed. Not only does BREAD make me happy (my thighs will attest to that) but spending that time in the kitchen with him makes me happy too.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6hj6YbKBgr3xLAzGrdNx8tgxiPBGoMY7Djkcz4KBWRy-DtsuGHJ8pI-eAPxCafCWZRjz3lU-2wFrG2L9kulKHrylRiLwOaIo2iq7AM5sD_DmNcKLkiCIg1B0Sj9QBc6ZfuO0bdBIzdNA2/s1600/Colin%2527s+1st+loaf+of+french+bread.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6hj6YbKBgr3xLAzGrdNx8tgxiPBGoMY7Djkcz4KBWRy-DtsuGHJ8pI-eAPxCafCWZRjz3lU-2wFrG2L9kulKHrylRiLwOaIo2iq7AM5sD_DmNcKLkiCIg1B0Sj9QBc6ZfuO0bdBIzdNA2/s320/Colin%2527s+1st+loaf+of+french+bread.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I'm linking to <a href="http://leighvslaundry.blogspot.com/">Leigh vs. Laundry</a> and her Happiness project (check it out!). She is on week 49 of her project and well, I guess I'm starting over again. Hopefully I will start to find the happiness in every day things again.</span><br />
<br />
<div align="center"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://leighvslaundry.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i969.photobucket.com/albums/ae172/leighbug_photo/2876650690_005fb39e00-4-2.jpg" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3430378275141742506.post-84687611988184706652011-01-21T12:34:00.000-07:002011-01-21T12:34:18.529-07:00I'm also a Mom sick of my last post.<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> I'm sick of my last post being at the top of my page. I don't have a REAL post even remotely prepared but the Holidays are so far gone and I hate to be reminded of my slacker qualities each time I check my blog.</span> <br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It has been cold here, so cold that the kids haven't played outside for weeks and we haven't had enough of a snow storm since December. Hopefully we will wake up to snow tomorrow morning so I can send the kids out to play and we can get rid of this COLD. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Here are pics of the kids playing after the last snow storm. Check out how cool the "snowman" is. Seth made a fort and the kids wanted to build a snowman when he was done but he had used most of the good snow for the fort. The result of Seth making the kids happy is in the second pic below. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqlMYhfIybinGERJ_1-qqxqatQRH1s69eHbGvSXUFBiYcm5vksJJwGgS06ojSSd2CEtCapB6t00q2uMMsu-AhvuJE_jjdFdw0cLVEJXzpnmIB9an-vMSd0XwTjI3zRbVEL2Ql1ZAAotqps/s1600/Playing+in+the+snow+Dec+2010++%252824%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqlMYhfIybinGERJ_1-qqxqatQRH1s69eHbGvSXUFBiYcm5vksJJwGgS06ojSSd2CEtCapB6t00q2uMMsu-AhvuJE_jjdFdw0cLVEJXzpnmIB9an-vMSd0XwTjI3zRbVEL2Ql1ZAAotqps/s320/Playing+in+the+snow+Dec+2010++%252824%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSOaSB0bl7CjFnEZSu3dmjQw4EwffYUlwi-MRtU66oLBpI2fABD8vX-n6noQp_vdhod9Pd1ZwlyiC86GOfcxI0ycZrD1mxukJFqJhyX0hdltnWS2_2IfA3Rhj-FWc6lj5UbGlwjLf15zVN/s1600/Playing+in+the+snow+Dec+2010++%252836%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSOaSB0bl7CjFnEZSu3dmjQw4EwffYUlwi-MRtU66oLBpI2fABD8vX-n6noQp_vdhod9Pd1ZwlyiC86GOfcxI0ycZrD1mxukJFqJhyX0hdltnWS2_2IfA3Rhj-FWc6lj5UbGlwjLf15zVN/s320/Playing+in+the+snow+Dec+2010++%252836%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">WHEW! Now my "Happy Holidays" post isn't at the top of my blog. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3430378275141742506.post-44858568566141810922010-12-24T17:53:00.000-07:002010-12-24T17:53:49.436-07:00I'm a blogger saying "Happy Holidays!"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYkgN8TldVAjaXa9BM21ZjpkZcui9ADyM8ACnDyHPXIIU-pAphCI9OsOQpToX6ps5-U3cGvrsEp-zlNSy6ogbRSGQ-Wapl8eixr4OGZx_0sMCOiKGP_ykUYvRGXQUgB02CiRntUQ0Eaetk/s1600/DSC_0033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYkgN8TldVAjaXa9BM21ZjpkZcui9ADyM8ACnDyHPXIIU-pAphCI9OsOQpToX6ps5-U3cGvrsEp-zlNSy6ogbRSGQ-Wapl8eixr4OGZx_0sMCOiKGP_ykUYvRGXQUgB02CiRntUQ0Eaetk/s320/DSC_0033.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div align="center"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS; font-size: x-large;">HAPPY HOLIDAYS!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3430378275141742506.post-22185067780759902142010-12-12T12:55:00.000-07:002010-12-12T12:55:51.027-07:00I'm a homemaker having some fun making Christmas Treats!<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I like to make treats for my family and friends through the month of December to show them I care (as do most people). I have my "usuals": </span><a href="http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/easy-oreo-truffles-95085.aspx"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Oreo Truffles</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">, </span><a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Spritz-Cookies-II/Detail.aspx"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Spritz cookies</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> & Sugar Cookies and each year I do a few new things. Last year it was </span><a href="http://www.skiptomylou.org/2008/12/24/last-minute-treat-how-to-make-peppermint-bark/"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Peppermint Bark</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> (so easy to make, but I left it in the garage fridge and we forgot about it), </span><a href="http://soufflebombay.blogspot.com/2009/12/christmas-treat.html"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Vanilla Wafer Pops</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> (they didn't work out well for me...my fault entirely) and </span><a href="http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/30/Rice_Krispie_Balls59065.shtml"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Rice Krispie Balls</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> (a throwback to my childhood).</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This year I've tried TWO new recipes that aren't too bad. Through a couple of friends (Hi Katie! Hi Barbi!), I found a local (and by local I mean on the <em>WEST</em> side of the Salt Lake Valley) food blogger that shares her family friendly recipes at </span><a href="http://jamiecooksitup.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Jamie Cooks It Up</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">. LOVE her! Most of her recipes that I've tried, work! And they are ones that I can make while Colin is doing Homework and the kids will eat them! I've used my Kitchen Aid way more often since reading her blog, and I've made bread (not something I ever thought I'd do). </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I tried her </span><a href="http://jamiecooksitup.blogspot.com/2010/12/sweet-cherry-candy-cane-cookies.html"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Sweet Cherry Candy Cane</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> cookies and her </span><a href="http://jamiecooksitup.blogspot.com/2010/10/white-chocolate-popcorn.html"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">White Chocolate Popcorn</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">. YUM!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The Sweet Cherry Candy cane cookies didn't work out as candy canes (the dough was too crumby- again, my fault!) but we rolled the dough into balls and they turned out! The colors are Christmasy and Lilly loved helping me roll the cookie dough. And she loves eating them.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The White Chocolate Popcorn was SO easy to make once I figured out how many cups of popcorn are in a bag of microwave popcorn AND how much un-popped popcorn would make the same amount of air popped popcorn. (BTW- there are approx. 12 cups in a microwave bag, and 1/3 cup un-popped kernels make 12 cups air popped popcorn). I didn't add the peanuts (we don't eat nuts in our family) and to one batch I added 1/2 cup dried cranberries. It looks so pretty and is a perfect item to give as a gift. Like Jamie says, make some up, put it in a cute bag and you've got something yummy to give to a friend. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Now that I've tried the new recipes and added them to my recipe box, it is time to make my traditional treats. Oreo Truffles are up first, hopefully followed by homemade sugar cookies for the kids to decorate (gonna try </span><a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2007/12/my_fav%20orite_christmas_cookies_from_childhood_and_beyond/"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">PW's recipe</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> this year). Hope your Holiday baking is successful</span>! <br />
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3430378275141742506.post-22762918812341109322010-12-01T15:42:00.000-07:002010-12-01T15:42:21.963-07:00I'm a Mom trying to WIN- to give her kids a game filled Christmas! (Mama’s Holiday Wish List Meme)<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><a href="http://bit.ly/tmwishlist">TodaysMama</a> and <a href="http://bit.ly/gamestop10">GameStop</a> are giving away a sleighful of gifts this holiday season and to enter I’m sharing this meme with you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Mama's Holiday Wish List Meme</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">1. What is your holiday wish for your family?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">For us to all get along. Some days are filled with peace and other days are well, NOT. I'd LOVE to have 31 continuous days of all of us getting along, no fights, no yelling, no back talk from the kids. *sigh* I'm gonna try my best!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">2. What is your Christmas morning / Hanukkah Nightly tradition?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">We (the parents) check to see if Santa has come to visit. Then we all go downstairs together, check to see what he brought us and dig through the stockings first. Usually he leaves us a little bit of a cereal snack, so we don't get hungry while opening gifts. Once all the gifts are open, Mom makes breakfast while the kids play with toys. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">3. If you could ask Santa for one, completely decadent wish for yourself, what would it be? </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">A bedroom set. My husband and I have been married for 12 years and we STILL don't have matching bedroom furniture. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">4. How do you make the holidays special without spending any money?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">We try to take a drive through neighborhoods and look at the Christmas lights. The kids oooh, and ahhh over seeing the houses lit up!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">5. What games did you play with your family growing up?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I remember playing Chutes and Ladders (my Mom's from when she was a girl) and Guess Who. Usually it was just the kids playing, but man did we have a fun time!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">6. What holiday tradition have you carried on from your own childhood?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Every Christmas Eve each member of our family gets a new pair of PJ's. I know a lot of families that have that tradition, but it is one thing I remember fondly about my childhood.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">7. Where would you go for a Christmas/Hanukkah-away-from-home trip?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I would LOVE to take the kids to Disneyland or Disney World during the Holidays. To watch the kids see such a magical place dressed up in it's best would be so fun!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">8. Check out <a href="http://bit.ly/gamestop10">GameStop</a> and tell us, what are the three top items on your GameStop Wish List this year? </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The top 3 GameStop items on MY wish list this year are a Nintendo DSi in PINK, Big Brain Academy for Nintendo DS AND Call of Duty Black Ops for PC (for my husband). Hey...the question said "YOUR GameStop wish list". NOT the kids! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Go check out <a href="http://todaysmama.com/2010/11/mamas-holiday-wish-list-2010/">Today's Mama</a> for this Meme- and other ways to enter EVEN more cool items from <a href="http://www.gamestop.com/">GameStop</a>!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3430378275141742506.post-6772948622900048902010-11-18T09:06:00.000-07:002010-11-18T09:06:27.350-07:00I'm a woman STILL trying to be healthy.<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I<em> AM</em>. Even though I don't workout as much as I used to (or as much as I'd like to), I'm still trying to make better choices in my every day goings on. And I am going to reiterate that I am trying to be HEALTHY, I'm not trying to get rid of those curves I so proudly bragged about in my last post. (Yeah, yeah, I know. It has been about a month since I last posted, so sue me. Again)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Anyway....winter is a hard time to stick with healthy foods. In the summer it was so easy to grill a chicken breast, or a lean steak, pair it with a salad and call it dinner. In the winter, not so much. I want soups, and roasts and comfort food. Winter food is just designed to pack on the pounds. And it isn't so healthy. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Any suggestions for yummy comfort/winter food that is healthier than other foods? I'm at a loss, and really want to switch it up!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3430378275141742506.post-27801621791271446592010-10-22T12:27:00.000-06:002010-10-22T12:27:31.657-06:00I'm a "curvy" Mom too.<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Curvy. I like that word better than "plus-sized". I've got a belly. I've got big boobs. I've got childbearing hips. I've got an ass that sticks out. I've got "curves". </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Every time the seasons change I have a hard time finding clothes that don't make me look like I am 75 years old that actually fit me. I know I've complained about this before, but today I read a blog from <a href="http://barefootfoodie.com/"><em>Barefoot Foodie</em></a> (Brittany) that says exactly how I feel in a better way. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Go check it out: </span><a href="http://barefootfoodie.com/2010/10/22/big-fat-rant/"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><em>Big Fat Rant</em></span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">. She rocks! (AND she looks marvelous too!)</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3430378275141742506.post-47766397600058878762010-09-25T18:35:00.000-06:002010-09-25T18:35:03.375-06:00I'm a woman that just realized she is now a grown up.<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">There is an event in most people's lives that make them realize they are now "grown up." For some people it is the day they graduate from college. For a few it is the day they get married. And for most it is the day their first child is born (or soon after). For me it was the day I realized I was attending the "Room Mother's Tea" at my child's school.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Do you remember "Room Mothers"? The one Mom that ran the Holiday parties, organized the donations for the teacher's end of the year class gift, led the activities at Field Day and helped with teacher appreciation week? Well, I guess that is me this year. Along with another Mom or two (thank GOD!)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I remember my Mom helping out with my school as I was growing up. I remember her being the PTA membership person, and gathering incentives from local businesses and counting the membership money after manning the PTA booth. She spent a lot of time writing letters to get "free ice cream cone" and "free game of bowling" coupons to staple to the membership envelopes. Then throughout the year, she continued to help out, using those connections to get fun prizes for the kids. I even think she was "room mom" for each of us kids at least once during our elementary school years. Those things just seemed like things a "grown up" would do. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I don't know why being invited to the "Room Representatives Tea" made me feel "grown up" over other events in my life. I certainly don't feel "old" (and I am going to clarify, I NEVER thought my Mom was old as I was growing up. We are barely 20 years apart in age, so actually I am older than she was when her oldest-me-was in second grade.) </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Maybe it is because I don't know if I am ready for this. I am ready to help my son's class in any way I can, but I don't know if I am ready to be considered a "grown up". Hopefully I will have so much fun with this responsibility, I will not seem like such a "grown up" to my son's classmates.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">(And for those of you that really know me, just know I am still going to categorize myself as a "White Trash Mom" since I WILL be delegating AND I will probably be passing off things we will be doing as my own even if I got them from Oriental Trading.)</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1