Check out my Kelly Sweet songs on my Playlist!!!

Lonely

I always feel so lonely after loved ones leave. They joke, "now you can get back to your life" with the attitude that I'll be glad their gone; that having them here was so difficult and cut into my life. I don't think anyone understands just how much I look forward to my time with my loved ones - they ARE my life!!!

My In-Laws were here for Thanksgiving. They flew in Thanksgiving morning and left Monday evening. And we had SO much fun with them. Thanksgiving turned out so Yummy! And Bret and I got to shop Black Friday (is it just me, or does the name of this day sound so naughty?). We LOVE Black Friday and have even been known to take all 4 kids with us - I have great tips for others who have insane ideas of what you'll do for a sale. This year Bret's parents watched the kids for us. HEAVEN!!! Well, heaven for me - not so much for Bret. Who doesn't enjoy the day of all sales accompanied by my sweetie, a Mt. Dew, and a breakfast burrito from McD's?!
We also went to the Swap Meet and played a bunch of games (kids and grown-ups). We had date night with Mom & Dad and generally had lots of fun.

And inevitably it was time for them to leave. And I HATE after the hugs have been given and the bags loaded in the car and Bret drives off with Mom & Dad taking them to the airport. I always look around the house and wonder where the time went. And I also think, "now how many days till they come back?!"
My life is simple and boring. I love it (most days), but it's plain. Its the perks like this weekend that give me something to live for! :) LOL

So yes, now I can get back to my life (big sigh and a little pout). Mom & Dad V. - when you guys coming?! (wink) Just kidding!

I Won, I Won, I Won...

A friend of mine has a blogspot and she'll often have little contests for different gifts. Her latest one was for everyone to post a comment with a song idea for her to do either on piano or guitar (she is amazing at both). And I posted that I thought that she should do the song "Capri" by Colbie Caillat. Well, everyone knows her song "Bubbly", but not many know "Capri"! I'm such a trendsetter - I've had it on my blog for a while (along with another one from Colbie - check it out). Anywho, Amie picked my song!!!
What did I win, you ask?!
A box of Snickers!!!
My question is:
How many Snickers come in a box? Are we talking Costco box? Am I going to share with the kids or do I need to hord it all to myself? HEY!!! Don't even think about that thought that I know you thought!!!! So what if a whole Costco box of Snickers IS enough for me to hord all to myself! :)

I've got a real random mind right now. All sorts of things are bouncing around in there. Like what you ask?!
First of all, I'm trying to think of something funny to put up on my Hubby's Avatar. No, not the Cartoon on TV. It's a Fantasy Football thing. They make these characters and they can even have a little speaking bubble where you write any smack talk you want the others to see. Well, I HATE fantasy football, SOOO to have a little fun I log into my Hubby's account and put odd things into his little bubble. Last week (or the week before) I put, "I have a man crush on Ernie. Look at me, I wanna be just like him." Ernie is my Dad. :) My little bit of fun I guess.

Second, I'm wondering if I should go grocery shopping tomorrow or clean the house. I WANT to go grocery shopping, but I think that if I let Bret live in this Demolition zone another day I might cease to be married. I know that you guys are having one of two thoughts right now (or both):
1. Make Hubby get up and clean the house if it bugs him that much.
2. You like my reference to my earlier post - Demolition. :)
Just to humor you, here is what I would say to either thought:
1. Bret really DID tell me a few minutes ago that I should go shopping and that he'd help me clean up after work tomorrow. He is a good man! :) I just had to make it seem more dramatic than it really is. I had to pretend that I actually like a clean house when I really don't care. I'm going shopping anyway and MAYBE I will get to the cleaning later. :)
2. Did you really pick up on the use of Demolition?! :)

Third, I miss my Sister. We get along so well. It didn't always used to be that way - teens! I've tried to tell her all her life how completely awesome I am and so wise and all-powerful. I'm the big sis and of course as a big sis, i was so cool and fun and exciting. I guess she has finally come to terms with that concept. So now we have so much fun talking - I wish she lived close. She has a freaky son like me and an animal daughter like me (I have 2 extra kids to throw into the mix). But the best thing about my sister is....
She loves me unconditionally! I don't have to be anything but me. I can go off about annoying issues (or people) in my life and she doesn't care. We have the same background - being born of goodly parents. And she knows my stupid quirks and doesn't care. She even thinks I'm funny! [big grin] don't tell her any different ok?!

[sigh] My silly random mind has calmed down for the night with that last thought. Jen, call me tomorrow - mabye I'll tell you what I got shopping! [hug]

Demolition Derby

Last night we went to our first ever Demolition Derby. We have some friends who drove a car in it.
The kids were SO excited to go once I explained that a Demolition Derby was a bunch of Junk cars crashing into each other. And man was it fun!!!
We watched Lawnmower Races, Rototiller Races and the Derby.
Here are some pics.

My New Fav

Sorry for all the YouTube posts, but this guy is really amazing! He is a cell phone salesman! His story is touching!

Funny for the Day

I LOVE this guy!!! My favorite is the Hedge of Protection!!!

This one's for Raphael!!!

Paige, I got your picture in the mail yesterday!!! It is VERY cool! Was that you fighting with your sword?
Livvy LOVED her puppy and kitty stickers. She was SO excited to have them and she kept staring at them and carried them around the house all evening. She even put one of the puppy stickers on her cheek! :)
Thank you for my picture Paige - I love you!
Aunt Stephanie

My Metro Boys

It's official - my two boys have gone Metrosexual! NOT to be confused with any other "sexual." Metrosexual just means a guy that makes himself "pretty." You know - the guys who gel their hair and use men's moisturizer and stuff like that.
Let me explain...

This morning Jake takes a bath and when he gets out he starts to experiment with his hair. I watched as he spiked the top and turned his head sideways to get a better look. And then, get this, he smiled!!! He actually smiled cause he liked how it looked. I knew from that instant on that we would be needing to "do" his hair every day.
I kissed his cheek and said, "You want me put some stuff in your hair so that it'll stay like that?"
You would have thought I asked him if he wanted to go get an ice cream at McD's. And I kindof wish that I had - he's getting so big and grown up. I'm not sure if I'm ready for him to be a big boy who gels his hair, sprays on the cologne (or Axe - the teens use this stuff) and heads out the door with my car keys in hand! :(

So today he has spikey hair!

Eli got in on the act too. Once he saw Jakes hair he asked for "stuff" in his hair too. He didn't look as good with the spikey on top. I wasn't sure what to do. And he took over.
"Mom, like this... Just spikey in the front - not on the top."
That looked real good on him. Especially since he has this little cowlick in the front that creates a flippyspikeythingy.

I'll take pictures tomorrow before school. I'm afraid that I won't be able to after school today because it will all be flat. They couldn't keep their little hands off their hair once the gel dried. It was that crunchy cool feeling.

Now, I'm going to say something else that I know I'll have to eat later but that's ok.
As my boys are getting bigger and stepping into that independant world trying to find their good-looking way in it, I will NEVER let them wear their hair in funky trendy styles. I saw one of the YM in our Ward who had a huge fro - and he wasn't of the African ethnicity either. Not that fros really look good on ANY ethnicity! And I decided then and there that my boys will never be allowed to look like a freak!!! Or my girls for that matter! NO gold shirts for them! (Don't ask)

Yes, I realize that I will eat those words later. I'll probably have them crammed down my throat even, but a Mom can have goals can't she?! :)

Well, I have dilly-dallied long enough. I have company coming tonight (wear your jammies Haylie) and although I already warned her that the house would probably be a mess, I'm still going to try to get it clean. The sad thing is that I'll clean and clean and it will still be the mess that I promised! :)

Down in the Dumps

For some odd reason, I'm down in the dumps today. I have NO motivation and I feel really weepy. On the verge of tears all day. I decided to be kind to me today. I've been taking it easy and doing things that I want to do today. I'm still trying to be productive.
This morning I got Sunday's coupons collated and stapled. I went through a few of the ads. I tied up our vines to the pergola so that they wrap around the posts. I clipped some bushes in the front yard and watered the grass (old fashioned style - sprinkler system is still down). I also worked on the kids' blocks. We have some old pieces of wood that I'm sanding down to make blocks for them to play with outside.
So, I've still been busy.
I should be taking a shower and getting ready to pick up the kids from school right now, BUT.....

Tonight is a busy night for us. Eli has Scouts, Elizabeth has a big Achievments Day activity, and I have YW. I sure hope I find the motivation to get things done that I need to for these things! :)

For My Mom

This song makes me think of you. I have it below on my music if you wanna listen to it.

In My Daughter's Eyes

In my daughter's eyes I am a hero
I am strong and wise and I know no fear
But the truth is plain to see
She was sent to rescue me
I see who I wanna be
In my daughter's eyes

In my daughter's eyes everyone is equal
Darkness turns to light and the
world is at peace
This miracle God gave to me gives me
strength when I am weak
I find reason to believe
In my daughter's eyes

And when she wraps her hand
around my finger
Oh it puts a smile in my heart
Everything becomes a little clearer
I realize what life is all about

It's hangin' on when your heart
has had enough
It's giving more when you feel like giving up
I've seen the light
It's in my daugter's eyes

In my daughter's eyes I can see the future
A reflection of who I am and what will be
Though she'll grow and someday leave
Maybe raise a family
When I'm gone I hope you see how happy
she made me
For I'll be there
In my daughter's eyes

I know that it's a mom singing about her daughter, but as it reminds me of my own daughters, I better understand you! :)
Yes, I am grown and raising a family; and you really are here - in my eyes & MY HEART!
I love you!

Recently...

I had a sad situation that really made me think about my kids. I'm not going to go into the situation, but I'd like to share my resulting thoughts.
You know those moments when you stop and wonder what your kids feel and think? I've been wondering what my kids think of how I feel about them. They know I love them, Mom's are supposed to. But do they really think that I enjoy, cherish, and value them - as people?! Yes, they are still small, but if I don't value them now will I later when they are older? Do I show them my joy in who they are? And the sad truth is, not really. Not as much as I'd like them to.
I want them to walk out the door each day and understand how much fun I have with them or how much I wish to be near them! I don't want to push them aside for my own enjoyment - my own wants. Yes, it's important to have some time for myself or my hubby or my friends, but I NEVER want them to feel pushed aside.
My babies are funny, sweet, obedient, loving, and enjoyable! And if they know that Mom thinks so then maybe, just maybe as they go through the yucky things of this world, they'll be able to hold their heads up and be content with who they are.

So, there are some of my deep thoughts. Maybe occasionally you all can remind me of my vow to my "little" ones! :)

The Gang

We went Trick-or-Treating @ my brother, Greg's, house. His 2 girls and my 4 kids always have SO much fun together. And Bret and I Love being with Greg and Jackie. I am blessed to have them semi-close to us. Queen Creek is about as far from our side of the Valley as you can get, but at least we are in the same state (unless you ask my brother who feels that driving to our house is the same as driving to LA). Anyway, here are pics from last night.

Left-Right:
Back Row: Jake (Ninja), Elizabeth (Ghost Bride), Elijah (Ninja), Ella (Pig), Shaylee (Vampire)
Front: Livvy (Jaguar)