I want to put a title but I can't think of one. So far this week I got better and then went back downhill again. Another engine showed up in my garage and now it smells like diesel. We inherited a young bunny from our neighbors because the dad is terribly allergic to it. It is a very sweet and cuddly thing. More care though. But it is darling. Spot was trying to mother it. She likes it. The cat keeps watch on it. Looks like an overgrown mouse to her I think but the bunny should be around 9-10 pounds full grown. That is bigger than Spot.

And other news, my mom may have cancer. We are not sure if it is uterine or ovarian. My mom is vague. My sister has been able to get stuff out her but my mom hasn't told me anything. She is weird like that. My brother violated his probabtion and has been going to court and may have to go to prison. It is wait and see but that hasn't helped my mom at all. I am really bothered about all that right now.

We have the big music week concert tonight. I am excited. I have always hoped to see one of my kids in the big high school orchestra and Amber is in it tonight. She gets to tune the whole orchestra to her oboe. Kylee and Autumn are where and Amber and Kelsea started years ago in the elementary honor choir. But I am always relieved after the big concert that some of those things are done. And there is a pine wood derby Sat for our ward so today I need to finish painting Fillmore from Cars-the VW van with all the graffitti on it. Kylee is suppose to have Sally but her car looks like it would be a great Lightening Mc Queen. I will be up very late painting cars tonight. But Fillmore is looking good. I will take pictures and post them probably next week.

I CAN TASTE!!

I can taste again, I can taste again, LA LA LA LALA, I can taste again. I ate real food today, It was great I say, La la -la- lala.

I think I am feeling better. HOORAY! I had Port of subs. WOO HOO.

I even scrubbed the tub, the bathroom and the kitchen cupboard fronts and scrubbed the kitchen floor on top of the usual Tuesday run around. My house is pretty clean. I exercised last night and walked while Hannah was in dance today.

I think I should go to bed now. I am a little loopy.

Feeling better--

Feeling better after something like 5 days of progressive illness leads to a disaster house. Thanks kids and hubby! Now I am ughing and sighing over the disaster today. My mouth is still sore but nothing like Saturday or yesterday. I had a sinus headache this morning to add to it but the neti pot worked its magic and I am afflicted with that no more. Who taught me English? The kids did sort through the laundry but there are still some rags, dryer sheets and laundry baskets in the family room. It is time for a crack down!
It stinking snowed flakes again today but it wasn't even that cold. It is so strange.
I think I am yet again putting off the inevitable. My house needs some love.

More yuck

I am not the only sick one. Kelsea and Hannahs mouths are full of canker sores too. That kind of explains Hannah's tiredness as well. She lost a tooth again. It was hanging there forever and the other tooth is half grown in behind it. She hit her mouth on the back of the sofa and out came that tooth finally. But I think that is how her canker sore started and it is still there. Today 3 of the girls are grumpy. One stirs up the youngest two into screaming crying frenzies.

Kelsea's team won bith games today. First game was 48-17. Kelsea scored 6 points. 2nd game got close. I think it was 28 to 24. Kelsea scored 2. That was a tough game. That was all we did besides me being ridiculous getting anything done still. I started my sheets last night. And they didn't get done. Sometime tonight I hope to have a made bed.

Get this. There is a youth fireside tomorrow morning at 8am before our stake conference at 10. Amber is playing piano for it.

Not much else to go on about. oh wait, one more thing-I had chips and salsa. I knew it was stupid. It hurt alot.

I'm tired

I don't know why but I am starting the sore mouth exhaustion thing again. Food has no flavor when my mouth is like this. Hannah has been exhausted too. I haven't felt like blogging and getting to and from the store is ridiculously tiring. I did work Mon and Tues and that tends to put me there-intothe sore mouth exhaustion thing- but my two days at the school were rather uneventful. For once! There are still little dramas but no angry parents, only 1 car ran the crosswalk light, no 911 calling fax machines or anything else. So no excuse right now except maybe some stress. But that happens every day. Who knows. But the forsythia is blooming(the time when my allergies are THE WORST) and I am breathing like a champ with minimal sneezing, sniffing and nose blowing-that is a rejoicing moment for me.

Amber is like her sister or actually sets the example for the duct tape wearing child. She wore a mustache all day for mustache day at school yesterday. She was so excited because she has a collection of mustaches and now she got to show them off. What a weirdo. I don't have any pictures of her though. I never saw her in her mustache. She won her tennis match this week. This time her last name in the newspaper was Loy. I guess we will see how many ways they can mess up her name.

We are into the big end of the year project thingys now and I have to take Kylee to the public library afterschool so she can find a biography of someone. She just got done with a project of a family immigrant. She did one on a Lay ancestor that was charged with petty theft and sent to America to be an indentured servant.

I have to go find some kids at the school that belong to me.

Bush man

We should just call Lee Joe the bush man. On Saturday he did some work that he owed our neighbor for the hot tub that is still on the sandbox. He wanted some bushes out and his water line checked before he did the real pay work on their driveway. Then he took out two more giant bushes they decided needed to go. Then he went to their neighbors yard and took out a few of his bushes. Then the neighbor across the street wanted theirs up and I finally talked him into getting rid of three in front of our house I have been wanting out for several years now. It really looks like there was a bush robber in the neighborhood.


I finally got outside and cleaned our back yard and even cleaned out one of our sheds and finally mowed for the first time. I have three trash cans filled and four giant trashbags. I was exhausted at the end of the day. But now the back yard is so nice to look at. Sort of. When you look past Lee Joe's collection of things he brings home. It is bad when the neighbors say that whenever they need to get rid of something they will ask him because he will take it off their hands. They speak the truth. I did find a home for the organ so some things are leaving.


Amber came home from her trip toasted red. She only won one match the whole time she was gone. But the kids she played were really good and she was having back problems.


YW was kind of funny today. One of the advisors and I were not sure who was teaching today. One of the leaders was on the calendar. But things got all turned around on the 5 th Sunday two weeks ago. So the other advisor called the counselor and she said we were suppose to teach. But we are not prepared. That was a half hour before church. OK. We get to church and we all see where things got turned around but we hope maybe the other advisor was prepared. She prepared a lesson. But when she was shown which lesson we were to teach-she had prepared the next weeks lesson. So really no one was prepared. So a lesson was put together. Two people gave it, but it was very spiritual in the end. So all was well.

Yucky yucky YUCKY!

There is a good reason why I don't work in an office. Sitting at the computer doing data entry is a pain in my butt. Especially when you are sitting in a worn out office chair. We are behind and I am trying to get all of Lee Joe's business junk in order to hurry up and file our taxes. I hate taxes. There is really good reason why I won't do ours. YUCKY YUCKY. I spent all afternoon and this evening and last night working on it. I worked on our personal stuff a few weeks ago. I guess it will really pay off when we can claim so many losses that we won't owe. That is about where it is at. I will have to hunt a few more things down though. Boy we are pushing it this year to get it done. It would have helped if Lee Joe tried to do any of it because it is all his stuff and he hasn't been all that busy this week. i think he leeps trying to run away from it all but I made him sit down and tonight and get his paper trail organized a little. I told him he owes me a really comfy office chair and fancy TV when the fun money comes in. He is all for it because I did what I did. We will see if it really happens though.

And life has been super quiet and manageable otherwise the last 2 days. There have been friend visits the past 2 days for 2 of the girls. I even made a REAL dinner on Thursday along with laundry. I didn't get much done today and now it looks like I didn't do a thing this week when I really did. The jet dry leaked out of its compartment and all over the inside of the dishwasher and it is so foamy that I have had to try to run the rinse cycle about 4 times now and rewash the dishes in there which means the rest of the dishes aren't getting done. I am not worried because there is nothing on the schedule tomorrow except what I put there. Can you see my Saturday happy dance?

Amber hasn't been doing very well on her tennis trip. She has played 4 matches in 2 days and lost all of them. But she pulled a muscle in her leg and that is really bothering her. And she says it is hot there.

I should sleep now but I am kind of waiting for Kelsea to get home from babysitting. Since I really am not talking to anyone really I should end this blog. Nothing like practically talking to yourself. Those who know me know how much I have to say when I am super tired.

What the heck!!

Kelsea's modified and now reversable Duct tape dress. She wore it the last half of the day today and got a ton of attention and then she walked home in it. What a goofy kid. She is in the process of making another one right now.

I forgot a cool detail

We were given a spa/hot tub from our neighbors. Lee Joe is going to do a little work in payment for it. Now we have to come up with a home for it in the backyard. It is sitting on the sandbox right now. And then a bunch of other stuff to get it all figured out since we haven't owned one before.

Prom!!

So the saga continues-- I might have told you we got wind Amber was going to be asked to prom months ago and how we bought a dress and then word got all the way back to the boys mom that we already had a dress.

Yesterday was the day he decided to finally ask Amber. And a monkey wrench was thrown into his plan because Lee Joe picked up the car and that was where the finally was suppose to take place so here is what happened. He left roses in all of her classes starting in seminary with a note attached to each one where or what to do next. The last one though was going to be a surprise so he had to make a new plan. I got a call at 3 asking if he come put rose petals and Hersheys kisses in her room or in the house I said sure but I had to clean her room first. She had a tennis match and was stuck at the school for awhile. So I came back home after picking up the girls and frantically got her room much less embarrassing. His mom brought him over and they she helped take the roses apart he threw rose petals around her room and kisses and he made a note and had a gift. Of course her room is a new kind of mess. It was so sweet. So anyway she did get to see it before the Honor Society induction ceremony. He was going to be there too but we played like she never went home. I am terrible liar so I think I blew that somehow but I am not sure. He looked completely tortured. Amber is leaving for Kennewick WA for a tennis tournament so she wasn't going to be at school or home until late Sat. So this morning at about 4-5 am Lee Joe and Amber went over to HIS house and took our big roll of newsprint and some spray paint stuff and rolled it around the car he will drive when, if ever, he gets his divers license. On it was great big YES and another sheet of newsprint on the ground with another big YES. You would think they were going to married or something. I called his mom to find out what happened and she said he was SOO excited and so happy. They took lots of pictures he had a big thumbs up in one so it was cool.

In the meantime, I am not sure what happened yesterday because it wasn't suppose to be as busy as it got at the end of the day. It snowed yesterday morning and it was gloomy so I couldn't get moving. Hannah went to her friends house after school and she saw Horton Hears a Who with her friend. So I didn't have to do the 11 pick-up. But I didn't start cleaning house until really late. I am cleaning for the piano teacher to come over. I get ready to leave to get the kids and Amber's prom date calls me and now I am in a new state of panic because I must clean her room. I get out the door the 2nd time and Hannah is dropped off. I get her into Kelsea and then I can leave and the stop light is flagging, I am already late getting the girls so I am frustrated. We get home and the piano teacher is waiting. I am throwing things in the trash and getting another trash bag of stuff around her room to put in her closet and throw all her shoes in the closet and sweep and make her bed. Throw all her laundry in my room. I call them and tell them it is safe to come over and I have worked up a sweat. The little girls are done with piano so they are late at the church now for activity days. They get dropped off. I am still doing dishes-Amber can't do them, besides the fact she is not home but she is still recovering and Autumn is gone. The prom date comes over and we do that. Once they leave I get Amber's clothes together and go to the school. I finally get to see her play but they lost. We brought her home. (We pretend that didn't happen remember) I take Lee Joe to the church for scouts, he is carless. Amber goes to the school and I collect all the stuff I need for YW where I am not going to be. I got to calls for girls needing rides. We leave early, Get 3 girls to the church, head back to the school again for Amber. I visit. I get home and then pick up Kelsea at the church. We get home, Lee Joe made dinner! WOO HOO. Everyone is just sitting down to eat and it is 8:40. Oh but we are not done yet. Lee Joe has to go back to the church. I have to take Amber to the store. At 9:30 I am home and have to fill out several field trip forms and find money for them and I think around 10 I am completely wound up, full of anxiety and exhausted. The little girls finally get to show me these beautiful porcelain dolls they were given at activity days. I think somebody donated their personal collection to the girls. And then at 4 this morning 3 of us were up. But today is much better. I have to go now and pick up Hannah and her friend that goes to another school. And maybe I will really get something done today. UMMM..our taxes still need to get done. And laundry is filling up the bathroom again.

Don't ask...

Don't ask your child -the one that couldn't cut her own meat until she was 10, could not hold a fork correctly as a teenager, and has tremors that get worse after fighting a migraine with Exedrin migraine-to cut an onion. She might try to cut her finger off.


Don't worry, it was only a flesh wound.



She might have needed stitches but scars create character. Not really.
Needless to say she got out of cutting the onion duty. And everything else. Darn, I should try that sometime. I could get out of a lot of crap. Or just everything will become crap because I wasn't able to do it. Never mind.

I guess I am use to it now

Since school started again I have been pretty calm with all the chasing. An few moments here and there. My house isn't clean, it wasn't during spring break either. Actually it was on Monday but it didn't last long enough. We are having our last friend party for awhile on Sat for Autumn. As well as Kelsea has 2 basketball games on Sat to go with conference.

Amber has had 3 tennis matches this week. Thank goodness for her drivers license!! She lost her doubles matches on Tues and Weds but won yesterday. Made me sorry I missed it.

Kelsea had 2 basketball practices. She hurt her foot and leg on the trampoline on weds so that interfered with her participation at YW. They played soccer.

Kylee and Autumn had dance, piano choir and honor choir this week-3 more weeks of honor choir! The 3 youngest were invited to a birthday party where they got to ride horses so that was great fun for them yesterday.

Hannah is in 2 dance classes. Don't ask me why-because she can? I suppose I am indulging my last few months of a young one at home because one class is during the day. I volunteered in her class today and brought her little boy-friend home with us. They are playing the Wii.

So yesterday was interesting. After school all 5 went somewhere. Amber at her tennis match. Kelsea had to get a ride for basketball so she left early. The 3 little girls off to their party. And it was our stake temple days Thurs and Fri and I actually took myself to the temple. Lee Joe was doing asphalt until after 7. I wasn't home until 8:30 when I brought Kelsea home after the temple.

By the way, the neti pot is wonderful invention. I read last night that it also referred as a nose bidet. Anyways I had 2 days of sinus headaches 2 1/2 weeks ago, because I wasn't using it. But I got rid of them both by 4 in the afternoon. That is pretty good. I am usually seriously afflicted with allergies right now and I can breathe. I have a clear head and more energy. I think I have been fighting a long term sinus infection. I started to get a headache yesterday morning. It was milder but after a little sleep and two rounds of the neti pot it was gone by 10 am. So I am happy! How long have I been miserable with that? Way too long. I still need allergy medicine but it is way more effective. And I can be symptom free more than just somewhat relieved. So if you want one, Wal-greens carries them now.

I am a irritated about something but I need more info before I get really off on it. But Kelsea told me that her seminary teacher was curious why there are so many very athletic LDS girls that go to Fairmont and was asking them something about them to try and be much more sensitive girls and nurturing or something like it. There are some very good athlete girls in the 9th grade at their school. But it doesn't make them any less capable of being good mothers in the future. And they have plenty of time to do that in the future. Let them have fun and enjoy sports if that is what they like. It doesn't make them less capable to mother to be in competitive sports. Amber and Kelsea both need sports as their outlet. Amber has never played pretend. She likes to do physical things or play piano and it helps Kelsea expend some of her hyperactivity and it helps her focus on other things later. I am not too worried because our stake president is a father to 6 girls and the 5 oldest have been heavily into basketball and all his girls also play piano or violin or guitar. I am real happy about that. And is his fault(sort of) we are still doing basketball right now. Our last stake president was a father to 5 boys and there is a big difference.

So there is my long post for the week.

I was had!!

So I barely remembered it was April 1st. Oh by the way that is our kitty's birthday. No joke on that one. She is 5 now. Anyways, I was slow to get breakfast and Lee Joe was home. I turned on the water at about 11am and I got a shower. But I was slow to react. Sluggish nerves had me moving in slow motion. I think-I am getting sprinkled on my arm a little. I am getting sprinkled on my side, maybe I should move-as I squeal and move away from the water as it continues to spray the stove, and the wall and the papers next to the stove, far away from the sink and the door and the other wall and the floor in front of the stairs. Lee Joe laughes hysterically standing beside me but no where near the spray of water. Someone has taped the sprayer. Somewhat of a traditional April fools joke so I think I am an idiot. And then I am afraid to turn on the water again even though I have removed the tape from the sprayer. My instincts are working much better now since my side is wet. There is tape on the faucet too. We thought it was maybe Kelsea or Kylee being the guilty party. I pick up Hannah from school somewhat drier now and she tells me Autumn announced in the car that drove to them to school what SHE did. And that was our April fools day. Good thing the dead battery in the van was on Monday the 31.

I am so excited!!

Lee Joe bought a scratch ticket and we won a $100,000!!! Great timing!

pics

Amber B-day, Kylee violin solo, Kylee singing solo, Hannah Playing Guitar Hero afer dance, Kelsea b-day, Kylee 3rd on top, Autumn 1st on bottom in honor choir, Autumn's birthday.

Our new thing

Since PBS was playing the Complete Jane Austen on Masterpiece theatre that is our new thing we are saturating ourselves with. Amber and Kelsea got Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice for Easter and we have watched the PBS versions and have been renting other DVDs from Netflix. I guess now we really need to read the books.

Look what amber did

Amber chopped her locks. We are sending her hair to locks of love. Kylee and Autumn have about an inch to go. We are waiting till the first of june anyway so we can put their hair in a bun for their dance recital.

Easter's over!

I guess the bright side is I am kind off in April from birthday parties-not really-Autumn's friend party has to happen in April. And Easter is over already. I never got the Easter decor out but I think I have only put the Happy Easter outdoor thing out for the past 3 years. We did eggs Saturday night-like close to 9 and I need to remember to do them at least on Friday because the girls go to church with dyed fingers. They enjoyed their baskets and they looked for eggs from the Easter bunny early Sunday. Church is at 9 and Amber and Kelsea were playing oboe and violin in sacrament and all of the rest of us but Hannah were singing in the choir.

We went to my mom's house after my nap and the oldest 2 played again at the senior home. My mom made a fantastic dinner for us all. We watched Enchanted.

Oh yeah, Friday was Autumn's big day. I volunteered at the school and saw Kylee get her award for the solo she did and Autumn and Kylee were recognized for being in honor choir. We went to Build a Bear after school and she picked out two outfits at the Children's Store. We took it easy until everyone came at 7 for her family party. She got a bunch of tinkerbell stuff and a really pretty dress from my mom, a game for her nintendo gameboy and a movie from my sister. She enjoyed her birthday a bunch.

And the dryer is working again. It is still kind of unknown if the dryer is tempermental or if there are fuse issues. We are taking it super easy today since it is raining and it is not necessary to over do anything anyway. I don't mind the kids being home. I like not having a tight schedule.

I did change my blog so it didn't take up so much of the page since I like to say so much when I blog. And because it was time but I am not sure if I am super happy with it yet.

Happy Birthday Autumn!

It's Autumn's birthday she is the big one ohh. 10. We are going to PAR TAY since Autumn and Kylee get out of school early.

I am screaming

SHRIEK!!! My dryer isn't working!! That amounts to mountains of laundry disaster in my home. And the dryer isn't that old. I hope it is just a fuse. We have an ancient fuse box so it is not easy to find out. Washer works though so I don't know.........

No blog from me

That was funny. I accidentally pubished the title with no blog so it was for real. Anyways, it has been more than a week since I blogged. Some sort of absent record without a trip involved. I didn't feel like blogging in my grumpy voice. But I think I am a little grumpy still.

Amber went to Lewiston last weekend. It rained a lot. But she got to play mixed doubles 3 times on Friday with a boy she doesn't know. Won 2 lost 1. She played on Sat. Won 1 lost 1. Being on varsity gets her name in the paper but they didn't spell her name right. She was Amber Lacy.

Kelsea had her birthday. She had friends over Friday night and some slept over. We had our family party Sat afternoon. She only wanted a new TV. She had my old ancient one from my teenager days and needed pliers to change the channel. I told her that TV is so retro now. She said yeah right. Everyone pitched in and she got one. And she got a DVD player too. She thought the big box was a joke and maybe had duct tape inside. But it was for real. HAHA. Lee Joe wasn't working but somehow blew it and was not home when everyone else was here for her birthday. My mom, sister her family and my brother and his daughter even showed up. We waited and hour and he wasn't even close to back so he wasn't here. I was furious and Kelsea was hurt. That doesn't help their occasionally bumpy relationship. He realizes there was no good reason for him to do that after he asked me like 10 times the plan for Saturday and was not home for anything I told him I needed him there for. There was time after her party for him to do what he did. More issues to work on. He did go to the little girls Honor Choir concert that night. He realizes he has only been to like 2 or 3 of those concerts in like 7 or 8 years of honor concerts. He came this week to the kids math night. He has helped with dinner a few times.

Kelsea has had issues with electronics lately. She had her phone stolen and I got $65 in charges reversed on my phone bill and she still has no phone. Then later Saturday-her birthday-she pulled her camera out of her backpack and the screen was shattered. So I have to send it in to get it fixed and she is taking a photography class so that is a pain. She is using one of my cameras right now but one of my cameras is tempermental(it might work it might not) and the other one is really hard to take decent pictures with.

Seminary is such a pain. We have a car pool. One of the moms is a nurse and works in the mornings and her son is not the best at letting anyone know if he is going to seminary or not. Yesterday Amber went to pick him up and she watched them pull out of the driveway when she got there. I asked him last night if his mom was driving today and he said yes. It was after 6:30am when we realized she wasn't coming. Seminary starts at 6:30. So we call the boy and he said his mom is working. So we all frantically get the cars defrosted. The rain froze on the windshield. And it froze the doors shut. I got Kelsea and our other girls to seminary really late and Lee Joe picked up the boy and Amber got him to seminary even later. They already have 11 tardies. There is construction at the intersection now and that is the most direct route from the other girls house. Then we have to get the kids to school by 7:35. With the price of gas it is pain. I am so glad spring break is next week.

The weather has been depressing and wet. Today it is finally sunny. I am glad. Amber may get to have her tennis match after school today. Kelsea has her first AAU basketball practice. And Lee Joe is working.

Autumn will be 10 tomorrow! We will probably go to Build-a -Bear after school tomorrow. The little girls get out early. We have to wait until after Spring break for her friend party.

I am SOOO looking forward to next week. If I get a ton done that would be great but just being home and not running around is a true vacation for me. HOORAY!! And Amber has a drivers license so if she gets an itch go somewhere I don't have to do it!!

Another B-day week

I am still recovering. Just full of snot now. Like you wanted to know that. I can breathe now. I had a chest pain and had hard time cimbing stairs without being seriously out of breath. The pain is gone in my chest along with the short of breath thing. It is all sinus now which has become the norm for me. I am still a little run down but able to do what I need to.

I haven't done much this week. I think I spent my whole day yesterday in the car. I have so much to do. Kelsea is having a friend party on Friday night. The girls have the activity day leaders and girls coming to visit their rooms and have snack thing today. It was great incentive for bedroom cleaning but I need to get busy on the rest of the house. There is stake YW standards night tonight and Amber is leaving tomorrow for Lewiston for a Tennis tournament.

We have had some success with guppy breeding. We have 1 full grown male and 2 full grown females. We have 2 babies that are getting bigger. We had a ton of new babies this weekend. But fewer now. Lee Joe and Autumn watched one of the females give birth and then watched her eat several of her just born babies. Who knew guppies were cannibalistic. I think we know now where some of the babies went.

I am putting off the inevitable yet again. I am all for the self cleaning house.

I just found out that Kelsea made the AAU team!! AAU stands for Amateur Athletic union. It has the potential to get Kelsea on the higher level teams at Capital. It is so competitive. More busy though. 2 practices a week and 2 games on Saturdays for about 5 weeks.

sick

Well I won't complain too much because I am no where near how Janika and her babies have been. Our prayers are with them. But I am having my turn of being sick and have done nothing for 3 days. It is slow going this morning but I may accomplish something today. Unless I don't get off the computer.

Kelsea tried out for AAU basketball on Saturday and she did pretty well. But her sick crud hit her on the 5 on 5 thing and she struggled with chest pains during it and felt real sick the rest of the day. Our Stake president is the assistant coach and wanted her to try out really bad. We will know by Weds if she made it. I think she did though. We had a conflict a couple weeks ago between her and the Young Mens pres. It has caused quite a stir. Actually the Young mens pres is really physical with many of the youth and too much so with the girls. He is really rough. Kelsea fights back but ran home from church that day in tears. He has apologized. And the bishop is involved. He is a great guy, just too touchy.

Amber is still on the varsity tennis team, she is in the top 9 girls. What is crazy is she has only played tennis since 9th grade and there are some girls she beat out that have had years of lessons. She was taught how to give a mean serve and was so excited about it. She hates playing doubles though. But her admirer is on JV so I am sure he is bummed. Kelsea is going to try tennis herself for sure now. Amber spent all day Saturday at an ACT prep class.

Kylee and Autumn are having another big choir weekend. Kelsea is going to be 15 on Saturday. The next Friday is Autumn's birthday. Why is Easter so early this year?

Hannah hurt her ankle really bad jumping off the swing yesterday. She can walk on it OK today but with quite a limp. I was afraid I was headed back to the doctor's office and the x-ray tech would get to know ANOTHER one of my kids. I got through my whole childhood without ever getting stitches or spraining or breaking anything. I never went to the ER-oh yeah once when I was 4. I fell head first down a firemens pole and chipped my tooth and hurt my forehead. The worse thing that happened was I lost my both my toenails in highschool to weird accidents. That was excruciating though. My kids are driving me nuts with this accident prone thing. Shesh.

Much better.

I feel much better today. I had so much accomplished yesterday and I found the floor again in the office today and traded a desk for a table and cleaned all the dust out from my CPU. Kelsea has a place for her computer now in her room besides the floor. But I still have giant stacks of papers I have been going through continuously. It just multiplies faster than I can file anything. It has been so sunny and it is slowly warming up that the spring cleaning thing is goin on I think. WOO HOO! But I just don't even want to start on the yard yet and Lee Joe has accumulated so much junk it is starting to look like a junk yard in the back.

Hannah got her new glasses today. They look so cute on her and she likes them a lot. I need to get pictures of her in them.

UGH!

So, I am mad at so many things at the moment today that I need to change my attitude so things will go more smoothly and one thing that is making me mad is how stupid my computer is acting. There are too many things to rant about so I won't.

Kylee may get her braces off in a few months. She has not had them on for very long either so that was good news.

I worked the past 2 days and last night Kylee and Autumn had a choir concert. It was a good concert. Kylee sang her solo on Saturday. She sang "Scarbourough Fair" She did a beautiful job. The music teacher told me how proud she was of Kylee because that was the best she sang it.

Amber kind of made varsity on tennis but they put too many kids on varsity she she may get bumped down to JV but she doesn't care. Either way works for her.

I need to get my clean laundry out of the bathroom so we can walk in there again. I am starting to find the clean surfaces in my house. I need to distract my anger elsewhere before I call my cell phone company about all the charges whoever stole Kelsea's phone charged to my phone. It was about $70 in charges.

Day off!

I am so glad I don't work full time but I have had plenty to drag me down in the mud besides working. I felt like I had the flu last night and this morning. I feel better now though like I can get something done but I am not. I have been super stessed but trying to tell myself things will be OK and things did get better today. I have worked so much this month I should have a nice paycheck when birthdays hit again in March.


This week Amber started Tennis. There went my afterschool driver but that didn't matter too much because I was already at the school 2 out of 3 days. But I don't have worry about getting Amber home from practice. Kelsea is debating whether or she is playing tennis or doing track. She is practicing Tennis to see if she is going to like it but she will start in a few weeks. I kind of liked the little girl I helped. I got to help her again Weds morning. She did really well except at recess she was hitting and didn't come in until I went out and got her. I wasn't out there during recess and the kid she was hitting was my own little kindergartner. How sad. Those people that work with the special needs kids really have a tough job. It is exhausting to work with kids that are not like all the others. I count my blessings after I work with those kids. But I like so many of the kids that are in the ERR at the school has but boy can they have some super bad moments.


Hannah went back to the eye doctor. She was seeing too well through the plastic cover they put over the lens on her glassses over her good eye so they gave her one that obscures her good eye more. That eye sees exceptionally well. She is getting new glasses. They are purple. She is very excited about them. I talked to a first grade teacher and her kindergarten teacher about having Hannah tested for GATE for next year. Her kindergarten teacher thinks she should be tested so I think that could happen later in March or early April.


Kylee had a rough week with friends. She was getting excluded and she was sad about it. She has talked to her teacher and we hope things are improving for her. Kylee performed a solo on violin on Saturday and played very well. I was impressed, I didn't think she was going to do as well as she did and she sounded better than many of the other kids in her group. She has a singing solo this Sat. Autumn has her typical drama that goes on with her friends again. A couple of girls like to stir the pot and cause lots of fights and divisions between their friend group. Aren't girls fun. Ugh. Kelsea ran home from YW last night because of something that happened between her and the Ymens president. He is kind of rough physically and something happened between them and it upset Kelsea a bunch. That is not the first time that has happened. So we will probably have to address that. Amber is fine and I can't drag stuff out of her so much since she isn't captive in a car anymore with me after school. I get tiny bits and pieces about her life. According to Amber it is very uneventful. I suppose no news is good news right? She probably just forgot about it. She did have her birthday party on Friday. It was a nice party and so easy! Teenagers do a good job of taking care of themselves unless they get too loud. Which happened during Catch Phrase. And the 3 youngest all went to someone else's house and Kelsea was so tired she kept to herself and went to bed early.


The weather is holding up. Lee Joe is working more. YAY! Gets him out of the house and earning money. Oh yeah, he is healthy again too.

Working

I worked at the school again. This time I was suppose to help the new little down syndrome girl adjust to her first days at the school in the first grade. It was an interesting day. Lots of ups and downs. Today they moved me to the ERR and the little girl had rough day (But I wouldn't say her first day was breezy either). I couldn't stay all day. Maybe if I could have stayed they would have left me there. I will be there half a day tomorrow.

WHAT!!!

Ok, I had hoped or thought we were done with it but it is @#@$#^@#%@%$@&^#$*&#$ Snowing AGAIN! Big pretty fat flakes and sticking in places. I am ready for spring darn it.

Socks before and after

One of the dozens of pictures Lee Joe took on our plane ride home

Hannah's party. Her little boyfriend is standing beside her.

City Championship game. Announcing the starting line up.

Snow hill!!

Kinda weird!

So the last 3 days are full of interesting events we have witnessed and maybe observed(?) On Tuesday morning Amber and Kelsea and the seminary kids witnessed the big flash of light. It was a meteor that the whole Northwest saw. Weds night the 3 youngest watched the lunar eclipse. They thought that was pretty cool. This morning our big chimes in the family room were swinging and chiming for no reason and then we noticed the plants were swinging too. We didn't feel it but we saw the effect. Kylee has fairy in her room that hangs and she saw it swinging too. There was an earthquake in Wells Nv this morning.

Autumn was still sick today. I went to the Doctor with her and they checked her for strep. She is negative. I wanted to rule that out. So she has a virus. But we were late getting to Hannah.

Yesterday was nice. I picked up Hannah and wound up bringing Kylee home. Then we hung out. I didn't have to be anywhere. I cancelled piano. And I organized Lee Joe's mess some. His paper business stuff. And I worked on my office again. It is a never ending pile of stuff. I think it multiplies so fast. We can see the floor again. And pieces of desk and table. I did a lot but there is still so much more. I am almost caught up on laundry. I am trying to get the house ready for Amber's birthday party. I guess I better give it some more thought. It is tomorrow.

It's back!

Lee Joe and Autumn are home today sick. Kylee will probably come home early. I made her go at least the morning for orchestra. They have sore throats and colds. I guess we have sick quota to fill that we haven't filled yet.

I had a day and a half of quiet over the weekend. Amber and Kelsea decided to come home early on Sat. Saturday night we went out to Nampa to see my cousin Siena play basketball against Northwest Nazarene University. She plays for Central Washington University. Siena's team lost but it was fun watching her play. She is 5ft 3. The shortest person on both teams and she was rebounding and taking charge.

Sunday got nuts. One of those days where everything seems to show up on one day. Kylee and Autumn sang with some other girls at a retirement center. We went to my moms for an Ashlee and Grandma Lane B-day party. Then we had a convert baptism to go to. Then we went back to my moms. At least there was no school on Mon. On Monday I went visiting teaching and the 3 youngest went to my visiting teaching companion's house. Then afterwards their girls came here. We cleaned house and the yard-which hasn't been touched since fall and with a horse of a dog that can be quite disgusting. Amber took all the girls to the park. Amber and Kelsea played tennis. Kelsea and Kylee fought and Kylee Autumn and Hannah at some point played together. Kelsea tried to play dodge the tennis balls while Amber and her friends were playing tennis. But I think Kylee was the one who tagged Kelsea in the forehead with one-hence the fight.

I worked at the school yesterday. Nothing crazy but the phone ringing nonstop so it was fine. I got the car washed! That was an accomplishment. I barely got home and the school called me about Autumn so I had to go back and bring her home. Kylee came home not feeling well so all their Tuesday stuff didn't happen. But Kylee broke a string on the violin so I had to go get it fixed. Kelsea had her intro to the high school last night at the open house. So it was a very busy day. Lee Joe had also invited some of the young scouts to our house to play bowling on our Wii. He wasn't here and neither was I for very long so Amber was in charge. She did a good job with the 8 little boys and their 2 leaders.

Sorry-no pictures yet.

Valentines and a quiet house

At this moment the kids are having a 4 day weekend and only the 2 youngest are home with me right now. Really quiet and super low key. Kylee is at a friends, she stayed the night and Amber and Kelsea were off this morning for an overnight snowmobiling trip with our YW and YM.

Earlier this week Kylee went to the Doctor. She was diagnosed with exercised induced asthma. The x-ray tech saw me come in with Kylee and she hasn't seen Kylee. But she has seen 3 of the girls. She said she didn't recognize who I walked in with. I opened my big mouth and even said that I shouldn't say anything but she has been less accident prone than the 3 she has seen. The next day I got a call from the school nurse about Kylee. She had fallen off the highest bar that the kids flip around on. Some boys decided to shake the bar to see of she could balance. She couldn't and fell really hard. The duty wouldn't let her get up. The nurse came out with the wheelchair once they could see that she could move fine they wheeled her into the nurses office. Anyways she hit her rear really hard and her head. She had a bad headache and couldn't move real well or sit on her rear comfortably. We kept a really close eye on her. She stayed home from choir and dance on Tuesday and stayed home Weds morning. I subbed in the afternoon and the PE teacher asked how she was and several other people and they said it was really scary. She was hurt bad but mostly from the impact, mainly sore muscles.. She didn't show dangerous signs of head trauma so I didn't take her to the doctor. She went on her field trip Weds and as soon as she got back her head hurt a little worse but by evening she was much better and the next morning some pain but she was doing tremendously better.

So Amber's boy saga continues. Amber played piano for a stake fireside on Sunday. And THE boy led the music. He got to sit by her then the whole fireside. He gave her a chocolate flower on her birthday-I know I said this already- and he gave her tulips in the evening. On Weds he hid some carnations in her backpack when she took him and another girl home. And for the school fundraiser valentine thing she got a carnation with a note from him. She won't let me see what she got from her seminary valentines bag. She played tennis with some friends and him on Thursday afternoon and those two played longer than anyone else. She gave him and her 3 best friends a Symphony bar with a handmade cover. They were all the same with individual stickers for each friend. I asked her why she wasn't giving him the one with a music stand sticker on it and she said it was because the wrapper job wasn't as nice. So she gave him the nicer candy bar. He e-mailed her the sweetest and most complimentary message and the poor boy is worse off than he was before. He was going to do something else after school but his mom wouldn't let him because of all the attention he had already given her. She is like so in the middle of the road about it all. I have no idea what is going on in her head over it. There is the slightest hint of a little like back. Perhaps for Amber that is actually a tremendous showing of emotion. I like the boy that likes Amber and they are still going nowhere. They held hands for 2 seconds during a game and she gave him a brief hug for the flowers. He is supposedly going to ask her out to prom. It is in May. Amber's friend has an inability to keep secrets. We decided to shop for a dress when we had time, whether or not she gets asked but that was before we knew how far away prom really was. We found one. Modest dresses are hard to find. And we are about to get super busy again. So the friend spilled the beans on the dress back to her admirer telling him he had to ask her now. And it got to his mom and she mentioned the dress to me. Super awkward! Amber's friend learned her lesson too I think.

And as it is Valentines week the realization of being a mother of 5 girls and as we are being thrust into the world of awakening boys. Oh my. Kelsea still has a 7th grade admirer. His last name is Day. So we teased her that if she liked her last name she could marry him and only change one letter in her last name. He has liked her for a long time now in jr high terms. He was teasing Amber's admirer for liking her. Kelsea was re-enacting her own admirer's glances at her during the fireside in the most exagerated manner which had Amber and I laughing. THEN during a scout meeting(same day) that Lee Joe had, he cracked a joke and had a bunch of the other ladies there laughing and one of the ladies-she has a son that is a sophmore and another one that is a freshman and she said "no wonder my boys like your daughters so much". It is a compliment to have admired daughters but it is overwhelming. Kelsea, I think I have said has had many such admirers and she is only bothered by too much staring or when it becomes negative attention. There is a boy that Kelsea considers a friend but he seems to like her a lot. I haven't really met him yet but he made me something for valentines day. It said "to Kelsea's mommy" It was hilarious to me anyways. But the younger girls are there already too. Kylee has a boy like her for several years and Hannah had a boy ask her to be his girlfriend. He is the MOST adorable little guy. She said she would but there was no kissing-good girl.

In spite of the onslaught of school valentines-all 5 this year. It was mellow day. Lee Joe and I are probably going out tonight but he did get me a sapphire bracelet. It is very pretty.

So this blog was probably more than you ever needed to know, but the kids are home or gone and I have a messy house and a 4 day weekend. So why not procrastinate a little longer. Maybe I will even post some pics this weekend.

Guitar Hero

The girls are Guitar Hero addicted. Lee Joe and I are annoyed by most of the music. I have played it though. Amber and Kelsea could play it on and on. Amber and Kelsea woke up seriously late this morning. Kelsea had to write off seminary so she played Guitar Hero before school. Hannah can play it. She cracks us up. She actually gets to the end of the songs. She is so little it is funny to watch her play it. Autumn says it is too hard so she is the only one with no interest.

I feel like crap again today. My shoulders are going out at least once a week. I didn't use the fancy neti pot yesterday and at bedtime I had a headache. I had it all night and have had one all morning. It is all sinus. So freaking annoying, I can't stand it. So I have had to use the thing today twice and it is slowly easing up. Medicine doesn't work at all. I didn't have to be at the school today. Thank goodness. It just feels like the day is a waste. I don't have anything else I want to complain about so have great day-Hey it hasn't snowed since last Thursday. It is weird. And it above 40. That is weird too.

Whew

I am so glad it is Friday. I think this week has kicked my butt. yes another one of those weeks. I subbed 3 days just the 3 hour block and I volonteered on one of the days I was off. The only day I wasn't at school was Thursday and it was get ready for the b-day day and Of course I would get sick in the midst of it. There have been things after school. Concerts and dance and YW. Lee Joe helped get Kelsea to something at the High school last night because I was too sick to go. But I got AMber's presents wrapped and a cake made for Amber before I really hit the floor-or really the bed- and Kelsea made the 2nd cake for me and the rest of the girls stepped up and cleaned. Poor Amber had a visit from Aunt Flo so she was bedridden too. We all recovered well enough for the party. I was able to eat dinner and frost the cakes. My mom and sister and her family came over. They helped me get Amber Guitar Hero for the Wii. She got a shirt, shoes, some ear rings, Pirates wii game and covers for the front seats of the Kia that she has been driving. The boy that likes her gave her a chocolate rose in the morning and then stopped by last night and gave her a bouquet of tulips. SHE GAVE HIM A HUG! Now we should all fall on the floor now in shock. Anyways in spite of sickness and cramps we had a nice party for Amber.
Yesterday I had some sort of illness related to my sinuses again. But I am trying something to help it. Today I was surprised I didn't have any residual pain. I bought something called a neti pot. You mix a saline solution in it and it irrigates your sinuses. I think it has helped a lot. But I need to try it more consistently and see if I can kick a bunch of these headaches and other pain. It has become a chronic issue. Because I have been outside a lot it makes my problems worse.

It feels like Spring in Alaska right now. All the snow is melting and there has been tons of it so everything on the playground is chunks of ice and giant puddles full of slush. We got another 4 inches Wednesday and 1 inch on Thursday. Kylee is wearing out the snow boots we have had for several years because she needs to wear them everyday. Time for water boots.
I need to catch up on laundry now.

Happy Birthday!

Amber is 17 today! I have been so busy I need to go shopping. Plus she is hard to buy for this year. She doesn't really need anything. I can't beilieve she is 17. OK, Now I might need a tissue.

Snow

Snow SNow SNOw SNOW! I wonder where we are living because I can not recall a winter like this here. Lee Joe is removing snow again at Costco this morning. We decided to call our own snow-sick day so we are all home from church. We have had that annoying flu still. It is making rounds through us all now and lingers a long time. Hannah has a cold. She was running a fever Thurs and I kept her home on Friday too. Amber and Kelsea were home sick on Friday. I was house bound for almost 3 days. Someone else transported kids so I had some cabin fever Friday afternoon. We didn't have another snow day but the roads were much worse Thurs and Fri. Thursday was blowing snow. Later in the evening it rained and so everything was ice covered Friday morning. But the roads were fine later in the day. Today it is just snowing and snowing. It would be nice if there was something else to talk about but there isn't. I have a range of emotions with the snow. It is cool that we are having a real winter. I like watching it snow. I don't like driving in it. It makes me want to just stay in and keep cozy but Lee Joe can only do snow removal and not much else when it is snowing all the time. Monday is suppose to be partly cloudy! Woo Hoo! I have to work at the school in the afternoon so that report for me is a good one.

Yep-Snow day!

We got it! A snow day. Once Amber go the word at 5 am we all slept ridiculously late. Lee Joe worked moving snow all night and got home after Amber told me about the snow day. Autumn woke up close to 9 and asked if it was a snow day. Otherwise she overslept. Kylee and Autumn played outside for hours. Hannah was in an out with them. She is catching a cold. We have been playing the Wii. I rented a game and got the girls a movie. There is a 100% chance of snow in the morning and all day tomorrow so the potential for another snow day is pretty high depending on when it starts. Lee Joe will be moving snow again I am sure.

First snow day

My kids have never had a snow day. It never really snows that bad and when it has it is Christmas vacation or something. But the potential for a snow day is huge for tomorrow. It has snowed all day today. We had a two hour break and now it is starting again. We haven't done any of our Tuesday activities. But it is a nice day to stay cozy and warm at home. All this snow has meant a couple of nights of snow removal at Costco for Lee Joe which is a good thing. There is not much other work lined up and he can possibly make somewhere from $40-$100 an hour for snow removal alone. I don't remember a winter here that had so much snow. Someone told Lee Joe that the last time Boise saw this much snow was in 1963.

I subbed on Friday and of course I had cross walk that day and of course it snowed during the night. And there is construction close to the school right now. NIGHTMARE!! And then we had a little girl completely freak out over a piece of popcorn stuck in her throat. She thought she was literally going to die. The nurse wasn't there and the principal started to try and do the heimlich on her-it wasn't necessary. I had to calm her down and get her to eat some crackers and bread and she drank some juice. And her mom was called. She went home early(thank goodness) One little boy that was also in the nurses office asked if that kind of thing happened often. I told him I didn't think so.

We have had the flu too. Hannah got it Thursday night and threw-up for about 3-4 hours. On Friday 7 kids were gone in her class. Lee Joe stayed home with her so I could work. I have been fighting some other flu. It is mild but annoying. And it lasts days. Kylee and Autumn have had it too. They missed church and school on Monday.

Other than that, we are still enjoying the Wii. Lee Joe and I are guilty too. He likes his Blazing Angels game. I have been playing Mater-national.

So Snow, sick and gaming is about all there has been since Weds. Kelsea got a trophy at her team party on Saturday. The coach says that they have a defense they do called monster. He said Kelsea is the #1 monster on the team that is suppose to super guard someone while the rest of team does a zone defense. Our Stake president has a daughter on Kelsea's team. He has 6 girls but is so into the basketball he coaches and assistant coaches their AAU teams. His girls are good. He told Kelsea she should try out for AAU because she is really good. We might consider it.

Oh yeah, My sisters birthday is today but we partied for her last night. I am framing some of my dads pictures for her. She had to pick some out and I framed one. I need to get frames for the others she picked out and then I am going to have to go to her house to hang them because she doesn't know where to hang them. That also means Amber's birthday is right around the corner along with about-4 other birthdays by mid-March. By the way everyone-Easter is very early this year!! Here we go!

They WONNNN!!

They won They won They Won!! Just thought you would like to know!
THEY WON!! They are the city champs. WOO HOO! The last game was low scoring 36 to 30. Somehow, and this is the first time this season, Kelsea had 3 fouls early in the first half so she didn't play as much. But another girl on her team that subbed in for her had an awesome game last night. The night before Kelsea scored 5 or 6.

Kelsea promised her friend Kelsey on the team, that if the won on Tuesday, she would wear her duct tape dress to school. I told her to get permission from the principal first. So at lunch she went in and asked. The principal asked to see it. She showed it to all the ladies in the office. They laughed their heads off and she got permission. Some of the teachers thought is funny and great. Her coach is her teacher in one of her classes. He told her "Way to step out of the box" I don't have a picture of the dress but I need to get one and post it. I told her it was probably a good thing she didn't wear it all day. She said that it wasn't bad except once she sat down the dress kind of stuck to her chair so she couldn't move. That kid is a kick in the pants!

Winter can leave now

I liked the snow on Sunday but I think the winter blahs have set in. I am trying to enjoy the lack of yard work. But I think winter can go away now. We have had about the amount snow from the past 3 winters already. Lee Joe needs some work.

I heard that a boy that is in band with Amber was in terrible car wreck yesterday. His brother that is in Kylee's class was also hurt but has stitches in his lip and a concussion. These boys are a part of a really large family that has kids in all of the girls classes except for Hannah's. They are so poor. It is actually very sad. I guess it sounds like the boy will be in the hospital awhile. I am sure all the girls will be telling me something about it today when they get home.

I blogging to early to give results of the impending game this afternoon.

I must gush some more

So you are probably sick of the gushing on the basketball. But I must go on. Kelsea team had there first game on the city tournament. Why they set this up-the #1 team plays the #8 team-last place. They won by plenty. The score was like almost 60 to 38 or 40. But the most fun was Kelsea was a firecracker. She started and she scored the first basket and then the 3rd and a free throw. She made around 10 points in that game. She shot a few more times but missed. She didn't play a lot either compared to some games. The non starters got a lot of playing time which is great. The team they played is like the most pushing and shoving team out there. Their coach got a technical and then an intentional foul was called on another girl but that was like after she did about 3 other shove jobs before that and they were all on a girl on Kelsea's team that has bruised her ribs in one of the past games. Anyways they have a game on Tuesday. We are not sure who they are playing and then again on Weds. Then a break from sports for the first time this year.

As far as everything else. It is finals week. The girls schedule is weird. Amber is driving more. I am driving less. That is kind of nice. It is kind of boring. But you know, boring is good. I have exercised about 3 times this week. This morning I walked at the mall and got almost 8000 steps in on my pedometer. I have been playing the Wii by myself and with the girls. I went pro in bowling--I wish it was for real. That would be cool.

Fantastic!

Kelsea's basketball season is winding down and they have only lost one game this season. They beat that team yesterday! So they are in first place with only 2 games left. They are the most exciting girls basketball team I have ever watched. They just have a whole lot of talent and can do anything the coaches ask of them. I don't know what will happen next year because the high school will change things up a bunch. Kelsea has been starter all year this year and when she gets busy she is so aggressive and great on defense. So much fun!

Winter blast

I thought when we moved to Idaho we would get snow all winter long. That has never been the case. It will usually snow and by mid morning or at least by noon the roads are wet. We will maybe get a couple of significant storms that do stick around for a few days. A few years ago our snow total for the entire winter was 3 inches. This year on the news earlier yesterday they said our snow total this year is already at 11 inches. And it snowed more since that report and it is going to snow for the rest of the week. As long as I don't have far to drive, I love it. I have missed having snow in the winter. I have lived in Denver,Co, Kansas,Iowa and Alaska where winter means snow. It feels like winter this year and that usually makes it so I am ready for summer when it comes around. I need snow boots this year-and so does the whole town. I lucked out and found one of the 4 pairs left at Target was my size!! Size 11 is not east to find and Target just started carrying that size this year.

Hannah lost her first tooth last night. The tooth fairy actually made it. She is reading low level reading books. I have talked to her teacher and the librarian and they have set her up to take AR tests after she reads a book. She is the only Kindergartener to do that and the only one of my girls that is motivated to read. Now that she can take computer tests on the books she reads she wants to read more.

Kelsea was suppose to have a basketball game yesterday. It was against the only team they have lost to this season. It was not cancelled because of the snow. It was cancelled because the floor was too oily from something for them to play. They are playing today instead but I can't go unless I leave Amber here with the little girls for piano but I don't like doing that. Oh well.

My teenagers are still acting like a couple of brats. I am about ready to either run away or stick them outside with for sale signs.

Ho hum

There has not been much to blog about. The cat got her stitiches out. Some of our fish got sick and died. My favorites have died. I have had to treat both tanks. The fish are recovering well. We have guppy babies again. There is a lot of Wii play around and it keeps snowing. Which is cool if I don't have to drive in it. We have about 2-4 inches expected overnight. We have had very little snow in the winter for several years now. Hannah is 6 and has her first loose tooth. Hopefully she won't be so inclined to write and ask lengthy letters to the tooth fairy. I am trying to plan a friend party for her this coming weekend. The kids are back in school and I got more done this afternoon than I got done in a whole day of vacation. So I had a vacation too and the house is suffering some but not too bad. I was talking to Hannah's teacher and she had the same long lasting odd ailment over Christmas vacation that I had and so did Autumn's teacher. Kylee gets braces on her top teeth on Friday. She has such a high tolerance for pain. The orthodontist was in shock. He had to trim some wires that were digging into her gums from the expander she has in her mouth right now. She didn't flinch, cry out or react much when he cut the wires and one jabbed into her gums and he had to pull it out. He couldn't believe how good she was. We do watch her closely because of that. I have a pretty high tolerance for pain myself. My teenagers are SOOO acting like teenagers right now. I am so glad they are back in school. Ugh. How is that for rambling?

Lee Joe and I went on a DATE!!!! on Friday. I can hardly believe that. We went to Applebee's for dinner. Spent Lee Joe's gift card that he got at Sears on a grinder and I got a few Christmas things on clearance and we went to a movie. We saw Dan in Real Life. It was a good movie. It has Steve Carrell in it.

I have plenty of places to go tomorrow but we will see how far the snow lets me go. Otherwise there is plenty to do around here. Oh well. Ho hum.

A good movie

I don't know why I am up this late. I was fixing music on my ipod because I haven't felt like doing anything else. But we went to a movie today with some Christmas money I have been holding on to. We have been wanting to see Enchanted and so today we went to the very nice expensive clean theatre to see it. My sister met us there with my neice and one of Kylee's friends came. Lee Joe suffered through it and felt it was good too. Go see it. It has some great twists and really over does the fairytale movie thing on purpose in parts. I bought the "Happy working song" and "That's how you know" from the movie. It was worth it and we had a nice family time. I am going to bed to continue to try and kick the obnoxious ailment I have that I am not helping right now by another late night. New Years night someone was firing off fireworks at almost 3 am and one landed outside our windows in the back yard. Such fun.

Happy New Year!

Here is my good, bad and the ugly report.

Ugly first-poor kitty's tummy. It looks quite funny now though when she walks.

The good. We have had lots of travel this year. We have been to 3 zoos, Disneyland, Lagoon, Sea World, Up and down the West Coast. And the sudden trip to the East Coast. Great visit with my dad and his family. Someone has a drivers license

The bad, the loss of my grandfather, but I feel his presence. Falling Christmas trees, Expensive headaches. No time and the kids are growing up too fast. Oh yeah, someone has a drivers license.

But it is nice to reflect this year and admit it has been a good one.



So I have been sick with something since Christmas. It is getting worse and very annoying right now. I am pretty miserable. I would love to get SOMETHING accomplished on this long holiday.
Hannah is 6! My baby is 6 years old. I am having a trauma over my baby growing up. She had a nice birthday. She got a Disney princess game from my mom for the Wii. And she got the Barbie Island princess stuff from us and a cabbage patch doll from my sister that wets itself.
I am about to celebrate New Years with my husband and 3 youngest daughters. My sister and her man may show up in time to celebrate with us. Then I get I to fetch Amber and a friend on the other side of town from a church dance. Too far and too many drunks and policemen to let her drive.

Devanie thought this was a funny story so I am sharing. Amber was able to drive on her date the Friday before Christmas. But it snowed while they were in the movie. Too much to let her drive someone else's kid home and herself. Lee Joe was moving a road grader to Costco for Snow removal. About the time the movie let out he was at the theatre. I gave him ahard time about driving them home in the road grader. But He did it anyway. Amber and Matthew road home in the road grader. When they pulled up in front of Matthew's house he got his brothers and parents outside to show them. A very memorable way to come home. On Friday this week he came over with Amber's other friends to play the Wii. They ended the night playing a board game called Quelf. It is this hilarious board game of just random things. They had to write haikus about armpits and other silly things. Kelsea had to play leap frog. One of the cards said that when you land on an opponent's space you had to hold hands with that opponent. Matthew rolled next AND landed on Amber's space. They held hands for the first time for a whole 3 seconds before Amber could quickly roll the dice for her turn. She was so red and it was SOO very funny. That is my continuation of the silly teenage saga.

Happy New Year!!

Christmas aftermath

We had a very nice Christmas. The girls all got things they wanted. After they opened their stuff there was some stuff in the very back of the tree for all of them. There was a Polly pocket race to the mall for the 3 youngest. Some movies and a Disney Scene it game. And then there was a Wii with games and accessories for 4 players! And a Dance dance revolution game. The girls were so excited. They didn't expect it at all. And Lee Joe had a big surprise present. It was something that started with a note in a little box and he had to find the big box. He really wanted a Lionel train set. I found one. He didn't think he would get it at all. So that was a great surprise for him. So the train set is up on the floor in the living room and the wii all over the family room. We cleaned all day today before we played the wii today. Yes, I am having fun too, and my arm and shoulder are sore. Lee Joe and I boxed tonight.

The cat is getting better and got her tubes out of her stomach yesterday. Our neighbors feel awful.

I love Christmas vacation. My car is getting a break too.

and all that-

The two oldest have babysat for the past two days. Amber is driving herself to her friend things and now on a date tonight. Kelsea was a butt to her Orchestra teacher again on Weds. While talking to a friend of hers in her class she said Kelsea is hilarious and does and says the things they all wish they could say. She won't be there next semester. I can't believe that she is my child sometimes. If she wasn't so funny it might be easier to be much harder on her. Amber and Kelsea played together Thursday in their seminary classes. Autumn got a student of the month award yesterday. I am happy the kids are out of school. But they keep wrapping things they are making and found my tape stash. Our tree is full of stuff and I not sure if it is just big boxes and gift bags filled with pictures on paper and other crafts. But it is pretty cute. We keep getting banned from bedrooms and other rooms when they are working on something. I am so behind with everything. I was up till 3am last night in my freezing cold garage with the space heater on and I found out I need to go out in the shopping mess one more time for one or two things. I also forgot to get something for Matt's girlfriend.

And the cat is recovering well so far. She has 15 stitches across her stomach. She was listless the past two days. Today she is sitting up, purred when I pet her and complained when I cleaned her stomach and is eating. I couldn't imagine my life without pets and it just makes me sad at how bad she is hurt. I love cats even though I am allergic to them. I put up with my allergies for the love of my cat. I don't mind caring for her I am just not very good at it. I am glad it is over Christmas break because I will be more likely to remember to give her all her meds. We know that our neighbor's dog did get her. They called their dog in when they heard something going on outside. We could consider her lucky she is still alive. The girls have all been concerned for her. Lee Joe said my Christmas present was getting her fixed up but that is not true because he is out shopping for me right now with the girls.

I am so excited for Christmas. I got Lee Joe something great that he has no clue about but wants. I can't wait! I feel like the kids but it is not about what I am getting it is about them. So much fun!

I don't know that anyone will be posting much here on out. But have a
Merry Christmas.

poor kitty

Amber discovered our cat this morning was badly injured. We thought it was just her leg. She couldn't walk on it. She was a mess and smelled like she was in a fight. Lee Joe took her to the vet and then discovered she had a large slice across her stomach. She had to have surgery. The vet and Lee Joe think a dog got her. She has puncture wounds on her legs and stitches and drainage tubes out her stomach. It is huge- all the stitches she has. Poor kitty. She has a cone on her head and can't walk. It is so sad. She is on two antibiotics and has pain meds. It is awful. But at least she is OK. She is one of the kitties I hand fed as a kitten. I have some pictures I will post later because Amber thinks she needs the computer at 10:30 for homework.

Can it be?

Can it be that Christmas is less than a week away today? Can it be that I am behind with everything and that somehow this week is so plugged with stuff I will be lucky to catch up? I think I am done shopping but there is still so much left to do.

Hannah went to the eye doctor today. She is going every 3 months right now. She is 20/30 out of the not so good eye with glasses. We went to build a bear today to get her an early birthday present since all of Boise will be there after Christmas with all their gift cards. She picked out a bunny with a Disney princess shirt. I need to take pictures.

I have two concerts to attend tomorrow. One at 9:15 in the morning and one in the evening. Kelsea is still a butt to her orchestra teacher and it sounds like she actually intimidates him because he won't reprimand her, he just glares at her and yells at her friend instead.

It rained and rained today. I am subbing for recesses tomorrow. I don't like the forcast. Inside recess is a pain. In December, the last week of school , all the kids are out of control. Oh well it is just 3 hours. That is the only time I will have gone in to sub this month. I have little time to bake. We will do what we can.

I am excited for Christmas, I just more TIME to get what I want to done.

My trip

This will be lengthy-More of a story than a blog.

I decided to go at the last minute. Saturday morning we bought the tickets. Lee Joe wanted to come with me and I was such a mess over the anxiety of flying and getting there and seeing my dad again I was just a mess and didn't want to go a few times even after I bought the tickets. My mom didn't want me to go and I hurt her feelings over something I said but I told her she could help me by being here for the girls while I was away. So she was good with that. Amber was thrown into her license while we were gone. She drove the girls home from church, and took them to the Stake choir thing. She drove kids to seminary in the morning and the girls home from school, to Kelsea's game and everyone to their Weds stuff. The girls were awesome and so responsible in our abscence. That is the first time we have left them together for longer than overnight.

Before we left on Sunday, Amber and Kelsea were playing together in Sacrament. Our plane was suppose to leave at 12:45 and Sacrament is at 11. We asked the bishopric if they could move their musical number earlier and they did. They played this beautiful piece. O Come Emmanueal on piano and violin and it was amazing. Kelsea's music fell on the floor and they didn't miss a beat. She picked it up and put it on the bench during a pause for her in the music, Amber slowed it a bit and no one knew the difference. After that we said goodbye to all the girls and they all fell apart except for Amber. She takes a lot to let loose of emotions in public. Kelsea and the other girls couldn't keep it together so after sacrament they went home. We left. At the airport we found out there were delays. When we got to our gate it was a 3 hour delay. We had a connecting flight in Chicago to Providence RI and it was delayed too so we hoped for the best. Everyone kept sounding like we would have to wait until Monday to leave and that was too late. We got into Chicago. What a crazy airport! We found the part of the airport where our flight was suppose to be. We asked about our flight. We were told to go to a certain gate. We got to the gate and our flight had left an hour earlier. The flight they were getting ready to board was to Boston. We asked them if they knew how close it was to Providence. They said maybe 2 hours. We asked if we could get on that flight. So with only 10 minutes till boarding time we changed our rental car location. We got out our US Atlas I brought along. I am so prepared! Anyway, Boston is only 50 miles to Providence. We figured out our driving plan on the flight and got our car once we landed and made it to our motel in Providence at about 2am their time. But we lost our checked bag with the flight change. The other great thing I did was I packed 2 carry on bags with the stuff we needed the next day. I packed like we would lose our bag. I didn't have everything I needed with the new liquid restrictions but I had the clothes I needed to wear to the funeral and Lee Joe did too. I had make-up and toothbrushes but not shower stuff and no flat iron. So that was amazing we made it.


Some information from my past. I have seen my grandparents a few times over the years. They came to see me about 3 times. My dad saw me last when I was 4 and then I went to Connecticut 3-4 years ago and saw him for the first time in 32 years. I met my two half brothers for the first time. They were 18 and 15 then. And my step mother. I met 3 of my Aunts and their families. One of my cousins is my age and I spent a lot of time with him before I left when I was 4. I loved my grandfather. I still remember him playing the banjo and the juice harp and other instruments for us and he played with me a lot. I have always loved the hammer dulcimer because he had one and I played it and he played it. My grandma says she has only seen him cry once in all the years she has known him. And that was the day that I left with my mom and sister. When I went to Connecticut a few years ago they had put him in the home because he was so difficult with his Alzheimers. He could only remember me as a little girl at that time and I was glad he could remember me but was broken hearted at waiting too long to come because he was not himself. My grandparents and my aunts all made sure that Melissa and I were never forgotten after all those years. So I had to go to the funeral.


The next day we got it together and found our way to the viewing. We got there. I found my Aunt Kathy and my brother Duncan was close by. He gave me hug and said hi. I said hi to some more relatives. I saw my dad and Alane. They saw me and came over to me. He was all smiles. He looked surprised I made it. I thought my Aunt Kathy had told him I was coming but she didn't. He was surprised. My Aunt Amy offered to let me stay with her right away if I needed to. My dad, after I talked to him for a few minutes asked where I was staying and immediately offered his place. His own sisters were not sure he would offer. The viewing was interesting because it wasn't somber. There was laughter. Grandma said he was probably dancing around in heaven playing a harp and playing it well. They all said that even though he loved instruments, he struggled to play them. She was sad yet looked for the relief he has now at being himself since he hasn't been for so long. My aunts cried as they said goodbye to Grandpa before we left for the service at the church. I saw my first Catholic funeral. When my Aunt Amy shared her memories of my Grandfather one of her recollections included me and my cousin John sitting on his feet while he clomped around pretending we were a pair of boots he was going to kick into the closet. And then we went to the grave site and there was a little service there. Then there was dinner at a restaurant for the family. There were pictures of grandpa. One set had pictures of him when he was young and one had pictures of him with his children and grandchildren. I was in one of the pictures with him that was on display.

Back at my grandma's house we all crammed in her small place. I was in the kitchen and dining area with my cousins and they talked about memories of grandpa and him pulling out instruments from behind and under the recliner for them to play. I remembered the banjo. I said I remembered the juice harp and when Snoopy would play one I would say "my grandpa can play that!" My cousin Brian said he had one. One of the kids found the dancing wooden man grandpa would make dance for us. I had told Lee Joe about it earlier. So I was able to show him what I was talking about. Even though I was gone for so long I was not a stranger at all. The remarkable thing there is I always have felt comfortable and connected to all of them. I discovered things that I carry that are Kennedy traits. All of the Kennedys get warm easily. I do that. All the aunts babies and my dad's sons were large. Beyond 8 pounds. All my girls were. My dad is a picky eater and my sister and I are too. Melissa more than me. We went to the Olive Garden Tuesday night. My favorite place. And he always orders the same thing. I usually do. But when I told Melissa what my dad ordered she laughed because she always gets what he has-spaghetti and meatballs. She left there when she was a baby and doesn't know him. When my dad watches TV he pulls his shirt up over his nose sometimes. Weird habit but I do that! My dad teases his wife a lot. I tease my girls, nieces and nephews the same way. My dad talked a lot this time. He shared so much and let me pick any of his pictures I wanted. He has done photography for years and has had shows and won things. I told Lee Joe on the flight home that it felt so good to have had that time with my dad. And that I could say Dad to someone who really was my dad and see him happy to be around me and when we left I could still hear his voice in my head. I have wanted that my whole life. I have never cried happy tears but I have and can do that now. I feel my grandpa healing us in his passing doing what he couldn't do in life. The divorce of my parents devasted my dad's entire family. His parents, his sisters, his aunts. They all loved my mom so much. And things have never been right since. There is so much that I can't explain because this blog would go on like a book. But because I have worked so hard at being accepting of any relationship I could have with my dad this -well I am speechless with how overwhelmed I am. Something that so many people take for granted I now have and I hope to get for my sister too. I am grateful for how this trip turned out. I suppose if that was the only Christmas present I got this year it would be the best and the best ever.

I'm back!!

I went to Connecticut. It was a trip like no other. Miracles happened. remarkable incredible awesomness even with the funeral. I think my grandfather really had a hand in getting me there and since I had 3 hours of sleep last night and it took a ridicuous amount of time to get home today-but we missed all the bad weather- the full update will have to wait until I am rested.

Congrats for Amber

Amber is an official licensed driver today!! She passed the driving test yesterday and today she did the written and has a fancy card with her picture on it now!

Kelsea's team lost their first game last week to last year's city champs. She is starting and playing almost the entire game this year. She was suppose to guard this girl that was almost 6 ft tall and did a better job guarding her than anyone else on the team. She had about 20 jump balls that game too. The game before that one she made 11 points and one was a 3 point shot!! I didn't know she could make those and neither did she.

I am still undecided on whether I am leaving for Connecticut this weekend but if I do I will leave on Sunday. My own dad hasn't called me so I don't know what to think about that. It was my Aunt that called. My grandma is not taking it very well. My mom is trying to convince me I shouldn't go. Lee Joe says I need to, but I am trying to make my own decision.

Some sad news

I am sad but if I had time to have shared with my grandparents more I would be more of an impact but my Grandfather in Connecticut passed away. He has had Alzheimers for years and the last time I saw him when Hannah was 18 months he could only remember me as a little girl. But I treasure them because they took more time to see me growing up than my father ever did and from what my grandma tells me is that the only time she has ever seen him cry was the day we left Connecticut because she says he just adored me. I didn't have that great of a relationship with my other grandparents that I grew up with after that. It was a good relationship but I knew I couldn't compete with my sister. He was a special grandpa that loved music so much that he collected instruments from all over the world. He could play some of them but he claimed not very well and those are the things I remember about him. And amazingly I can remember being in Connecticut even though we left when I was that young. Maybe I am sadder than I thought. So I am trying to figure out if I am going to the funeral that is on Monday.

The tree fiasco

We always get a real tree but I have been looking at artificial trees for a few years now but haven't bought one. This year I wish I had. I sent Lee Joe on Monday with the three youngest in search of the annual tree. The past few years they have been really small so we were looking for a taller one. He got a nice tall and fat one. We didn't get it up in time to decorate it Monday so last night was the night we could do it but it was just me and the 3 little girls. It had been up all night and all day. We were putting lights on the tree and Kylee was handing them to me and all of a sudden the tree fell over on Kylee and the tree stand ran up the front of my shin. Kylee was fine but my shin was not. Huge raised bruised bump up the front of it. So we tightened the tree stand up and we were able to decorate the rest of the tree. At 4am the tree dumped over again with some disasterous results. I happened to hear it. We have a few glass ball ornaments that the girls have made and one was a gift to Kelsea that shattered. We have a tradition of the girls getting an ornament every year so when they get their first tree when they leave home they will have ornanments from their childhood. Five of those broke. 4 were repaired with super glue that Lee Joe got for me around 5am and one was not repairable. There was water all over the tree skirt and my doll nativity. I had considered putting my nice set under there this year. I am glad I didn't. The good news this morning was I found a replacement that almost matched the unrepairable ornament at Target. I may find the humor in this and do a picture for my Christmas cards with the girls in it reinacting a falling tree. So later today when Lee Joe and I are both home at the same time we need to adjust the tree, attach it to a wall and put bricks on the back side of the stand and then we will have to decorate the tree all over again. It was very pretty.

And TOMORROW!!! Amber will be doing her drivers test!!!!! And might-I say might-have a license at the end of tomorrow. I am afraid, but I don't have to take her. She is a little freaked out too. Her permit expires in January so it is good timing.