I can't wait!!!

I seriously can't wait for Turkey Day! :D

Okay...so maybe it's not the turkey I can't wait for....it's the day after sales and stuff. :P

I've got a 26.41 lb turkey defrosting in my fridge as we speak, a 24 hour salad to make tomorrow night - I was going to make rolls but that got taken away from me....(okay, MIL insisted I not stress out - so she pulled rank and is making them. LOL) and I've made all the placards for the table....I found a killer deal at Bi-Mart for sparkling apple cider - 3/$5....Cheap, huh?! I've picked up all the paper products already - at Dollar Tree....and I've already planned my centerpieces.

I've spent $13.50 TOTAL on paper products AND decorations AND the cider. I'm pretty darn pleased with myself too! :D And, I know I say it...but eventually I will post pictures. As soon as I hog-tie Curt to my computer and say "FIX, Please!" :P

But all this is the precursor to BLACK FRIDAY and all that fun stuff. Not that our budget is huge by any means, but I just like to get out there. (I say that, until I have to deal with the other drivers and shoppers....) But I know I'll get seriously annoyed within the first 20 minutes - some random shopper will do some strange thing and tick me off....or some random driver will be a crazy driver and I will be given yet another chance to prove that I can be Christ-like and hold my tongue....

The angst. The excitement. The memory block.

Oh Thursday.....when will you get here?! :D

Worth the Wait....

Yup. It was worth it. Worth the wait that is.

NEW MOON is DEFINITELY better than Twilight. :D Some great one-liner's....fast paced enough to hold your attention and even though I'm pretty sure I babysat Taylor Lautner (j/k...) the boy bulked up nicely. :P

Soooo worth the sleep deprivation. I'm still doing it again for Eclipse, and again at Breaking Dawn. Even if Mel won't go with me ;P (No worries Mel, I've got over a year to change your mind...ha, ha...!)

We got in around 2:40, and I'm pretty sure I was sleeping like a rock at 2:50. (I had to take kids to bed with me...Dad let them sleep on the couch and while I was "transferring" them to their own beds....you guessed it. They woke up!) We were all up and going by 7:40 this AM....and now I'm on my way (with helper's in tow) to go clean some houses. :P

We had a total blast at Red Robin...we missed the girl's who couldn't make it....but still...fun was had by all.

Especially Mindy. She took incriminating photos of me sleeping during the waiting part.

IN MY DEFENSE....I've cut my caffeine intake down again - to just 1 soda a week. I'd prefer to have it the "morning after" and not the "night before" ;P

She posted all incriminating photos to FB, if you're interested. LOL.

But all in all....WHAT A FUN NIGHT!!! :D

COUNTDOWN....! 3 DAYS LEFT!!!

Only 3 days left for all of the Twi-Hard's out there. (Myself most definitely included). I'm already chomping at the bit. Gonna be with my BF Melanie and some other super-duper great gal-pal's....I've even reigned in my GNO's so that I could have a hum-dinger of a night out. LOL. By hum-dinger I mean:

*We'll be going to Red Robin for dinner beforehand.
*We'll be sitting in line early - so we can get good seats, along with 100's+ of hormonal teenage girls.
*We'll all be wearing our fave Twilight Tee's & Jeans...
And last but not least...
*We'll probably be the only women in the theater that don't swoon at the sight of Jacob or Edward, or shout and scream when they do get on screen!!

Not to say we're not fans, 'cuz we are....but we're there for the story. LOL. Get the difference?

It should be fun!!! :D

Getting ready....

I'm stealing a quick moment in between loads of laundry and the like. It's days like today, that I'm not sure if I want Josh to go to pre-school yet! Although, every other day, it's all I can do to not wind the clocks faster - as if it'll help move time forward quicker - or push him out the door!

My baby is "helping" me, fold laundry, pick up toys and is singing in his little sing-song voice, about twinkle stars and bunny foo-foo's. :D Makes me smile.

I think the separation will be harder on me than on him. I've only ever been away from the boys on quick overnighter's and my (2) week long stints in the hospital. Now though, I feel as if I'm standing on the edge of a precipice and preparing to make the jump from which there is no return...!

Once the jump is made, it's official. My baby's days are over and the life of my 'little boy' begins. Actually I call him my 'little brown boy'. :) (Anyone made the connection from which book I got that nickname?! LOL - Not to leave Matt out - I call him my 'little blonde dandy' both names totally appro-po if I say so myself, and I do...)

It's just in the quiet moments like this, where I can actually hear myself think and reflect, on the life he's (Josh) had thus far, and the things still left to teach him, and how quickly the time has flown thus far and will surely continue to fly....and where I start feeling the itch to adopt another child, though it's not in the cards for us for another few years. :( This is also the part where I almost feel a primal urge to go grab my soapbox and start proclaiming to everyone out there that has the ability to have children - to not take it for granted!!! To just remember that there are those among you who'd trade your aches and pains of pregnancy and labor, for just a brief taste of that privilege!

Alas, it wasn't in the cards for me....! But I do have some mean papercuts from all the paperwork of adoption! And....! I have two of the brightest, shiniest, most wonderful 'stars' that were sent to Stann and I to raise! And this, is also where I interject (in a good-proud, happy, but not completely boastful way) that while I may not have had the ability to be a Mom spontaneously, someone out there (our wonderful kids' birthmother!) thought I could do the job better than anyone else. :D That makes me smile a little. Sorry. Probably too boastful, but I couldn't help it...!

And as for right now, I think I'll go sing with my baby - he's moved on to greener pastures, and I'm sure he'll need a back-up singer and extra hand puppet for his rendition of Itsy Bitsy Spider.

Enjoy your mothering moments, my dears! :D

Have you ever?

Have you ever just been around someone - even people you don't know very well, and been just so attuned to their emotions that you could almost tell what they were thinking?

Happened to me. Swear it did.

A little creepy though....gotta confess. They weren't thoughts I'd have wanted to pick up on. It was just a realization that somebody was totally checkin' out the hubs and appreciating him a little too much, in their thoughts.

Just wondering, if it's just me or if I'm completely alone in this. Or if I need to be checking myself in somewhere - sometime soon....

Dealing with the drama called life....

Ugh. So, I just looked, it's been almost a month to the day since I last blogged. Naughty ME! There's absolutely no defense this time though. I just didn't wanna. :P

I'm caught in an inner turmoil / dialogue with myself. I LOVE blogging. But it's been taking some of my free time away from my family. So, I've been struggling trying to justify being on the computer....aka blogging, facebook, etc....(and also justify it to Hunky Hubby - when it takes away time from him....)

I'm considering closing this blog down (after I sent it to print, of course....) and opening another one. I've not quite made up my mind. :(

It's a hard decision to make!

In the mean time, after all the hub-bub about Jake & Cami, my sister Lee....we can now add to the drama of family life - with yet another "falling out" - only this time, its between me and probably my closest sister Sarah.

I hate misunderstandings. What's worse than that of misunderstandings, is when others don't want to talk it out. (I'm guilty of this upon occassion....)

But this last time was the last straw. What started out as a misunderstanding took on a life of its own, and became an all-out "holy war" that was sparked by a seriously gross misunderstanding. That led to 3 weeks (and counting) of non-verbal communication, followed by a 4-text message, that attacked my beliefs - completely unprovoked and so far out in left-field it was a little disturbing.

I don't need to get into the particulars, only to say, after writing a 4 page letter in response to the text (which I'll never send, because I know if I do ALL lines of communication will be cut off in the future - with no hope of ever restoring....) I've just decided to take a hiatus from family relationships (minus my parents) with the sib's.

It's so wearing!!! Emotionally. Physically. Mentally. Every kind of "ally" there is. :(

And in the mean time, I'm trying to earn some "good" mommy points by throwing myself that much further into activities and such - to help the boys along....which also includes Visiting Teaching, Service, CLEANING, and all that fun stuff.

On the bright side, Josh starts Pre-School in 2 weeks. Matt just turned 4! :O I still can't download my stupid photos!!! :*(

And there are some good ones too!!!

So, now my latest debacle (everything posted above pushed aside....) is what to do with the 2 1/2 hours to myself each week?

I'm currently rearranging my iPod selections to a more suitable "running" mix....and I'm preparing to FINALLY get up off the couch, and start the marathon preps that I've been telling myself I'll do, and never actually finish. It is after all, a 3 month program to get you off the couch and into a marathon. LOL. We'll see if it works.

AND....in the meantime, I've applied for a position in the Daycare at the Gym. I'm crossing my fingers, fasting & praying that I get it - so I can go back to the gym!!!

After all, it'd be my luck that either a brother in law or some of my dearest friends might suddenly decide to go get married, and I will not be immortalized in family photos as the pretty fat girl. LOL. What a pun on words! I didn't mean it like "she's pretty fat....", but more like "she's fat, but pretty." LOL. I still get that a lot. (Not that I'm fat....just that people say I wear my weight well. Which, upon thinking about it....doesn't that just mean that I look good fat?!) lol.

Oh well. :P I'll just have to keep my swimsuit out - to entice me back to my skinny jeans.

And in the mean time....should anyone local want to join me in my couch to marathon training....just call. It'll be Tuesdays and Thursdays. :P

Happy Turkey Month! :P

Good riddance to September!!!

Ergh.

September couldn't leave fast enough!!!

You name it - it happened. It was full of angst and drama and everything else....!

Main thing on my mind:

Last weekend, Stann and I high-tailed it down to Central Oregon to pick up our nephews Jonas & Rowan. Why?

Mom & Dad were on their way back from hunting (empty handed unfortunately) and Cami & Jake had gone with them and were trailing behind. They (M&D) were about 1/4 mile ahead when Mom & Dad couldn't see Jake & Cami's car behind them. Dad pulled over. They waited. He got a bad feeling. He turned around only to go back and find that Jake & Cami had been in an accident.

SERIOUS ACCIDENT.

Still not sure on the details (?) of said accident - but it went something like this: Cami was driving, the end of the car started swerving and they ended up rolling the car three times down an 8-10' embankment.

As if that wasn't bad enough.....Cami is 5 months pregnant with baby #3. And although Rowan (their 8 month old) was with Mom & Dad in their truck, Jonas (their 2 1/2 year old) wasn't.

They were extremely blessed that they're still alive. Jake & Jonas were taken by ambulance to Prineville's Hospital. Cami was life-flighted to Bend.

Jake & Jonas suffered some superficial things - whiplash, scrapes, cuts....but they're fine.

Cami tore her ACL and is in braces until her surgery 2 weeks from now. They were going to wait (since she is prego after all) but the risks outweigh the benefits.

Stann and I and Josh P. too - hightailed it down there and got the kiddo's and brought them back home with us. My mom-in-law was a super-champ and watched our kids for us, until we were able to get back around 4AM.

Heartbreaking little tid-bit....Jonas kept having nightmares, saying "Daddy, Help me! Help me! I'm stuck!". Made me want to start crying.

I'm just super glad they're okay - and doing well. It was too close of a call and another brief reminder of our own mortality.

Side note: Also found out my older sister has cancer. :( Will be posting more on that next week - after Mom goes up there (to Washington) and talks to the doctor who will be performing the radiation treatment. It's in her lower jaw; all her bottom teeth and jaw bone have to come out. :(

So, I'm super glad to see September go. I don't want to see it for another year - and hopefully - next year it'll bring with it better news and so forth...!

The time just flew.....SEPTEMBER Updates

I've been a naughty blogger again.

I haven't been anywhere exciting.....or even doing anything fun or spectacular....

I've been hanging out at home. Going a little stir crazy....but nothing too major. I've just not ventured upstairs to do anything (aka...getting on the computer) the past few weeks....I've been going crazy getting some "games" made for the boys.

I get pretty single-minded on my tasks at hand....(I get that from my Dad) and I pretty much have tunnel vision - and see nothing else besides what I've set my mind to - until the task gets done. (With the exception of writing...{sigh}...I wish I had MORE time for that, but motherhood seems to be always interrupting with one thing or the other....!)

So here's a re-cap of the past couple of weeks....

* Still haven't fixed my computer - can't upload any of my photos yet. :(

* Matt went to school! Hip-hip, HOORAY! :D He takes the bus every Tuesday and Thursday - and I am left behind with a screaming Joshua, who wants to go too. (Who then screams and throws a fit for a 1/2 hour after Matt's left - before he'll even talk to me. He also instigates fights between himself and Matt - once Matt gets home - because he's angry brother got to go....) I sooo can't wait for November!! Momma's gonna get 2 1/2 hours to herself!!! {giggle}

* I have turned out 6 laminated folder games that teach the boys everything from ABC's, numbers & counting, colors, word of wisdom, Bible stories, transition books, prophets from the scriptures....stories, etc., you name it, I've been coloring, pasting, laminating and going thru 12 yds of sticky back velcro. Just call me Molly-Mommy. :D

* I now have 100 lbs of raspberries and strawberries that I'm getting ready to make into yummy homemade jams and jellies. :P Freezer jam for the strawberries and cooked red raspberry jam. 'Nuf said. It's gonna be gooooood!!

* Stann turned 32! :O Yup, Hunky Hubby has finally caught up (for the next 6 months anyways...and is now only 1 year younger, instead of 2. lol.) We had a fun birthday party for him with the Mac Fam, over here...we BBQ'd (we're still enjoying some completely un-Orygun like weather - still in the 80's and 90's....! With NO RAIN!) had some yummy treats and then for his birthday - he got $$ which he promptly decided to spend on the Beatle's Rockband. :D FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAM! We then had Curt & Aimee over for Family Night - Hunky Hubby taught a quick lesson on the blessings music brings into our lives, we let the kids run around outside while we hooked up the guitars & mike's and then sang ourselves hoarse to some of our more fave Beatle's hits. :D SIDE NOTE: I am thoroughly appalled at Curt & Aimee's lack of Beatle's knowledge. They didn't know they were the band that had sung "Twist & Shout". Seriously. We are now endeavoring to enlighten their musical knowledge. ;D

**2nd Side note about this: All our kids were running around - then when we started singing (okay more like Stann and I), they wanted to play. I then broke out the 1 toy guitar we have, toy keyboard, tamborine, and then got inventive and gave the kids' some wooden spoons and kid-size brooms. Gotta love the "play" version of the air-guitar. :P Brought back quite a few memories of me and my sista's. LOL. Usually to Barry Manilow's Copa Cabana. Gotta love the visual that brings up....

* Said "Bye" to Stann for a couple of week long intervals, while he traveled to Tonasket, WA...and I single parented it. I tip my hat to any such parent. 'Cuz those weeks STUNK!!

* Nearly had a nervous breakdown trying to track down my brother. Mom & Dad are hunting in the Ochoco - brother got two jobs - and I nearly went crazy trying to find out where he was. (He's been depressed and it scared the BEJEEBERS out of me!!) I let my imagination run wild until Sarah & I were able to track him down.....!

* Setting up playdates & having interviews, conferences, etc., about my boys' education and behavior. Also met with an Occupational Therapist who was able to give me some sound advice on exercises we can do with our boys to help calm them down. :D Am looking forward to seeing the results in a couple of weeks...!

* Am seriously feeling the urge for another baby. I know, I know, someone needs to check my brain and see if its damaged....I've got a lot on my plate, trying to deal with the boys' emotional, developmental and physical needs....and yet, I still think there's one more baby that needs to come to our home. I'm now currently praying that if there is, they'll get to us [Oh I hope it's a girl!!! I don't want to be outnumbered for the rest of my life!!!] and if not, that I'll have the courage to accept Father's will and be happy with just my boys. :D And in the meantime, if someone, somewhere, knows of a baby that needs a home.....I'm hoping they'll mention us. 'Cuz, that's seriously the way it happens, people. Word-of-mouth, goes waaaaay quicker than the agencies!!!

That's the stuff I can mention. :D Actually, that's all the stuff I can think of. My interaction with the neighbors did not go too hot. The guy that owns the house is really receptive - apologetic, the wife....not so much. Think Mama Bear being confronted about her cubs. Not pretty. :(

I'm still fasting and praying for them. A change of heart. Or living conditions. I'll take either. Just as long as no more creepy-crawlies come to my door.

Hooray for September!! :D

Almost September....!

Holy cow. It's almost September! In like....2 1/2 hours anyways.

So a couple of things....check out my friend Jodi's blog - she's having some major fun giveaways... :D - because she changed her blog name....from "Simply This That & The Other...." to "Pleasant Home" So check it out at: http://www.pleasanthome.com/

You won't be sorry you did! :P

Second.....

Just a quick...awful neighbor update....no nothing specific....just...we found a single cockroach on our front porch (like trying to ENTER) and we killed it dead. But now I'm wondering....(because I can currently see 6 bed frames and box springs in their backyard....) is it a visitor from their house and if so....??? EWWWW!

I can't do roaches. I can't. Stann has several calls into a couple of friends about pest control & solutions. It may be overkill, but the alternative is completely unacceptable and currently makes me convulse into sporadic shivers while an involuntary "EWW!" is torn from my lips simultaneously.

Also, I finally started a count. (Of the neighbors that is....)

There are currently 10, yes I repeat, TEN children ages 9 and under living at the house. And at last count, there were anywhere from 8 to 10 adults as well. So on any given day - there are 17 to 19 people in that house. I would take a picture of it if I could. It's bedlam! (get it? lol) My computer is still giving me fits though - and I've yet to actually remember to ask Curt to look at it...!

So, now, a very nice friend of mine is looking into the city ordinance of how many people are allowed to live in a house? Because if I had my druthers....it'd be ONLY the two people who own it. 'Cuz they're really, really nice.....Really.

Speaking of family.....

I said goodbye to my BIL 'Elder McNamee' on Sunday. (sniff, sniff) He leaves for the Brazil Campinas Mission - tomorrow - and while we're totally excited for this opportunity for him to serve - I have to say - it's sad to watch him go!! (Flashback warning...!)

It seems like only yesterday he was too scared of me to even talk to me. LOL. Seriously. I intimidated him that much. He was to scared to actually look at me, talk to me or anything else!!! If he wanted something, he would go and whisper to his Mom and ask her to ask me....

He's come a long way since then.....! I consider him like my own brother - he's everything that is good - he's straight as an arrow, kind to a fault and he will serve the people of Brazil like no other! :D

It was just so....amazing to be there for his setting apart. (Sunday night) We held the open house here at our home, I cleaned like a mad woman - seriously - the house was spotless....and it was wonderful to have our ward friends and friends from the stake, and family - be there to support David.

David's Mom & Grandma made him a quilt for his mission (they do it for all the boys that go) and had the ward members sign the back of it - wishing him well. Not that he'll actually need a quilt in Brazil...but its more of a comfort thing.

Stann wrote him a funny little poem that went something like this...

Twinkle, twinkle, little star -
From your guns - you are so far!
On your mission do your best
Or with my guns they'll join the rest....

(Stann's storing David's guns while he's gone).

Kinda funny. :P

Then the Newell's were sooooo nice to take our kids to their house so we could go support David. I have to say it - BETH & MATT were champs!! Our kids cried and screamed and they still were smiling when we picked the boys up! Josh cried so much he threw up on Beth. (SORRY BETH!) We owe you guys a date night. Seriously. Our treat. You guys definitely took one for the team that day.....!

Anyways....that's it in the land of Liz. I think I may finally get some sleep tonight....which is good. I'm canning peaches tomorrow with my Mom, LeeAndra's coming down to visit, and I get to go to Border's tomorrow night to buy "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins (the 2nd book in the Hunger Games....if you haven't read, you've GOT TO!!! It's sooooo good!) with Mel!! Hooray!!! :P

AND LAST....

If you couldn't see it - then you're blind. The current countdown for New Moon is 80 days and some-odd hours and minutes.....but if you're a nut like I am, then check out this:

http://twilight-new-moon-trailer.blogspot.com

Just don't mind all the screaming. It wasn't me. I promise. lol.

Enjoy!

In a hurry....

I'm in a hurry today. Not much going on, really....EXCEPT

On Tuesday, David, (Stann's youngest brother) leaves for Brazil. We are having his open house here at my house on Sunday - from 6:30pm -8:00. (At least that's what time I think it's supposed to be from...lol). But more posting on that later. I'll dedicate an entire post to that boy. :D LOL. Simply because he's a funny kid - whoops - excuse me - young man. And do I have some stories to tell on him! :P

(LOL. Just kidding. Kinda...)

I love entertaining. I really do. But I have a nasty habit of psyching myself out - making sure every nook, cranny and crevice - has been cleaned and polished - before I allow company into my home.

My boys are complicating the matter of cleaning though. Just yesterday they fingerpainted with yogurt and spaghetti sauce on my couch. (YUCK.) And they had accidents galore in their beds - which requires a mountain of laundry to be washed, line-dryed and beds re-made. Okay, so it's not really required. But, I require it. Purely for my sanity.

But (and I can't be the only one out there who thinks this....) there is something to be said for a house where everything is put away....in its place.....where you can sit down, relax, and watch your kids play (or play with them, for that matter...) and know as you look around you, that there aren't any pressing tasks awaiting you - because they're already done. :P

I like that feeling. Maybe it's just OCD...LOL.

So, I'm off to put my house a'rights....and get some much needed peace.

Happy Thursday!