Kimberly Shell

You Are Special Today

2011-11-03T22:32:00.001-06:00

Have you ever come across a friends tradition you thought was really cool and really wanted to steal?
For example, the Greek. They have some seriously cool traditions! Incredible party people "Opa!"

Or some people go boating every summer. Or Disneyland is another.

One of the coolest families I ever got the privilege to grow up with, the Lockharts, held a ton of traditions.
One thing you need to know about the Lockharts. They're grounded on tradition and family and most of all, God.
Now I grew up with a lot less tradition, but we had some, nonetheless.

But when we received this plate as a wedding gift from the Lockhart's grandparents we got an entire inherited history that they passed on to us.
To be honest, I didn't know what the plate was or what it meant when I opened the gift. I obviously knew there was something there, but what... I had no idea. When I mentioned it to any one of the Lockharts (and trust me, there are a quite a few) they spoke with reverence and said "IT'S TRADITION!!!!"

Every birthday from here on was not meant for restaurants, but meant for having a close intimate dinner with brothers and sisters and mom and dad and the meal you thought was the best you had all year. But that wasn't the best part... you got to have the plate. The red plate that only comes out on someones birthday. The plate that reminds you... YOU ARE SPECIAL TODAY.

I must admit, the Lockharts, Del and Nina, gave us one of my favorite things. A wool blanket that saves me every year when the temperature drops below 0. The Lockharts parents {(Pop and Gram) that used to bring huge brown bags of popcorn filled with surprise candy bars for each one of us kids} ....gave us tradition.

I'm Home

2011-10-22T23:19:00.001-06:00

I just recently had a conversation with a friend about love. And we spoke about that feeling you get when you're so comfortable with someone it just feels like... you're home.
I know you know. And I just felt like bringing it up again.

For those of us who have truly, deeply, purely loved... there's no word quiet like... home.

"I may have loved, and I may have lust, but there's no one who has ever brought me home until I met you." Poetic, right?

I remember meeting Luke and okay, I'll admit. I didn't remember his name. How horrible am I?! But on our first encounter, we were pretty smitten. And I say that with twenty twenty hindsight. I don't know if this is how he remembers it, but I spent the evening fully aware of where he was and what proximity I was to him. I spent most of my time watching him (which I'm fairly certain he still doesn't know) and the rest giving my tokens to him *we were at a funplex* because I'm not a game person and have never been.
We pretty much hit it off and when he asked for my phone number I was floored. (I was not allowed to call any member of the opposite sex...my parents are old school)
I had to wait for him to call....Yep, it sucks!
But my point is not our first date, or the first thing he ever bought me, or our first kiss (which by the way has it's own story)... the point is that... he was the one and only one I could ever really be myself. I spill my guts. I let him know me inside and out and he still loved me. He loves me when I'm unlovable. And that .. to me... is Home.
So back to twilight... Christina Perri just released an amazing song called "A Thousand Years" and its on the new Breaking Dawn track list.
The new song?... um look down

Well, maybe I'm just feeling a little romantic... but whatever the reason... I do confess, I am a fan of Twilight. Yes, I agree, they're not for an intellectual read. But, it's an interesting love story.

Christina Perri - A Thousand Years (Official Lyric Video)

2011-10-22T23:17:00.000-06:00

Jack

2011-09-01T23:11:00.000-06:00

A lot of you may well know that Luke's Dad, Jack, went to Heaven on Sunday morning. He died after a few short months of being diagnosed with stage 4 bone cancer.
Now I never had long serious talks with Jack and we never had more than casual conversations which usually included blonde jokes, but this is my blog... so it's MY take on Jack.

The first time I met Jack, he tried his hardest to crack a joke. Obviously, I had been prepared for a "meet the boyfriend's parents" with a formal and awkward introduction. So I wasn't really prepared for Jack. I honestly felt like a dumb blonde. I had no idea what he was talking about and why everyone else thought it was so funny. I do believe this was probably the moment of failure because from then on, he pretty much just tried to doop me every chance he got.

My first frustration with Jack was at our wedding. Jack refused to rent a tux.(insert eye roll) We must have had at least ten tuxedos running around that day, and the father of the groom was not one of them. Stubborn to the core!!!! He also thought I should be a mountain bike rider... ummm no, he thought wrong!

I, to be honest, never really fully understood the photography that he did. And I say this as a very tragic flaw on my part. I suppose, it's because he really only showed me his favorites. Yesterday, I had the privilege of putting together a 15 minute slideshow, showcasing some of his best photos. And now, I've finally seen MY favorites. The thing I think I love the most is that it really shows me all the places he's been and the things he's seen. Some of them so breathtaking, they create a moment of awe. Watching him go through this disease, from a cane, to a walker, to bed ridden.... the places this man has seen and captured is one of the most beautiful testimonies to him that he could've left behind.

Jack taught me how to fish. Okay, let me specify. My dad (who is the coolest guy I'll ever know) taught me stop getting the lure caught in the trees. Jack taught me how to skunk my dad :D And now, my dad refuses to fish with me. (Sore loser!!!)

Jack was there last year for my first hunting trip. He spotted the deer and pretty much knew where they were for my tactical maneuvers. And yes, we got it.

Jack was the babysitter. He was the one that got down on the floor with the babies and played their games. He watched their movies. He just spent time. And that's probably one of the lessons I want to take away from him. That... time doing what others like and enjoy is the best time spent.

What I've learned...I believe there really is something special about a photographer. They have to be stealth, they have to feel their environment, they know the terrain, and they're patient to the end.

I'm not really sure I have the qualities that Jack did. Although, I learned to throw a mean comeback in his face when he decided to razz me about my hair color. His passing was graceful, and painful, and confusing, and in a lot of ways.... just Jack.

I've never actually taken a first hand grip on planning someone's funeral and let me just say...
this has been the longest week of my life.
P.S. I'll probably change this post, based on the things I remember.

The Diary of Fred and Ginger

2011-08-23T13:44:00.000-06:00

I don't know when or why I started calling Anna-Claire, Fred. It's not like she needs anymore nicknames. A C, ACE, A C KAT, Anna-Claire, Hey YOU, Monkey, and Fred. Well, she's never been that keen on it, until I told her she could either call me Ginger or Wilma (I don't need to explain this, do I?). And now that the kids are all in school, it's just her and I all morning. Until she goes to school at 12:30.
To be honest, one on one time in a house of five kids is practically impossible. So today was like a breath of fresh air. (For both of us)
We dropped the kids off, left the car at school, and walked to Main Street. We had bagels with cream cheese, Fred threw a penny in every fountain, checked out Culinary Corner, antique stores, and all the pink things we could find. You know, cause pink is (according to Fred) the best color. And when Main Street no longer held our attention, we walked (rather, Ginger walked, Fred hitched a ride on Ginger's back) to Lincoln Park.
Okay, so we did indulge and hit the McDonalds for a happy meal and said hello to our friends at Johnson's House of Flowers before it was time for school. But this was one of the best days I've ever had with my little Fred.

Quotes of the Day...

"Can we do this ever day?"

After hearing a motorcycle behind her "I did NOT fart!"

"Come on, Ginger!" "Let's go, Fred"

Hold's up an antique pink dress "I'm totally into this."

"LETS GO TO SCHOOL!"

No Throwing Rocks!!!

2011-08-03T18:32:00.000-06:00

Cody is my middle child. He's the one that makes me pray for patience or calgon (whichever comes first). And he's typically in trouble eighty-five percent of his life.

So when my daughter came in and said Cody had thrown a rock at some kid. I did what I always do. I took a deep breath and screamed "CODY!!!!"

Now, to his defense, he did tell the truth and fessed up in throwing the rock. But he tacked on what the other girls had not. The child to which he had thrown a rock at had done a bit of name calling and thrown a rock at him first... and with apparently accurate aim.
Now, no... Cody wasn't off the hook. He got his punishment in full force. But to the child who was, according to Cody, much taller and rode an orange bike, I felt the need to enforce the same lesson.
No, I don't want revenge and I don't think Cody was justified in what he did. But if there is some little prick running around name calling and throwing rocks, I fully intend to take him home to his mother and allow her to install the same set of manners that should've already been taught. Yes, I realize that if some strange woman came to my door with my child accusing them of something they had done, I would be mortified. But I do think that at some point, you need to know that your child is terrorizing the neighborhood and that it's not appreciated.

No, I didn't find the little squirt due to a terenchal downpour. But if I see him... make no mistake, I have no qualms taking him directly home.

Okay.... I'll climb off my soapbox now.

Child's Prayer

2011-06-24T21:50:00.000-06:00

Tonight, Luke and I and our five kids were chlllin' on our back patio when we heard sirens.

Anna-Claire came running up to me very upset. "Mom, did you hear that? What should we do?"

My response "You pray for them."

She bowed her head and looked at me...and with my help... she said this prayer

"Dear Jesus,

Please be with the person who might be hurt. Help the ambulance workers too. Be with the policemen who might be chasing a bad guy. And Jesus, be with the firefighters who might be putting out a fire.
Amen"

Anna-Claire gave me the biggest smile...cause she knew.... there really was something she could do...

A 5 year old's prayer :)

The 3 M's

2011-02-03T12:01:00.003-07:00

Sometimes, you just gotta let it all go.

Last night I did exactly that.
I've recently had to process a lot of information that I just don't know what to do with. (More to come on that later... but not now) So, rather than continue to teeter back and forth about what to do, I decided to cook.
Since my favorite place on earth is Maui,and I'm not going there anytime soon, I chose the next best thing. A Maui inspired dinner.
The Menu -

(1) Macadamia Nut Mahi Mahi - An A list item. I give it 5 stars.

(2) Mai Tai's - God bless the inventor of those!

(3) Michael Buble' Not exactly Maui material, but I love him... so he fits.

There is quite possibly nothing better than an exceptional dinner followed by an evening dance in the kitchen.
Yep, that was fun. Tonight -pineapple pork chops.

Grenade

2011-01-03T11:58:00.002-07:00

I'd catch a grenade for you
Throw my hand on a blade for you
I'd jump in front of a train for you
You know I'd do anything for you
I would go through all this pain
take a bullet straight through my brain
Yes I would die for you, baby

But you won't do the same

After hearing this song a couple times, my husband announced this was so true about me. And I had to think for a second, cause being accused of this sort of sounds like being called a heartless shrew.
Now granted, the verses in the song definitely depict a heartless, should be hospitalized for some serious mental problem, crazy chic. And that was NOT what my husband meant.

He was basically pointing out that I probably wouldn't run to jump in front of a flying bullet for him if I saw one in time to catch it. He was right!

But when I told him he was right, he got seriously offended.
It took me some time to think it through though. Why on earth would I, given the opportunity, not try to save my husband?

There must be an answer to this question.
Looking for clues, I thought of the Titanic. "Women and children on the boats first." Okay, so there's that. But that's not what I would consider a good excuse.

So I went with the big guns.
"Luke, tell me we where in the Bible does it say that a wife has to die for her husband?"

Luke "Ummmm..."

Me "Exactly! It doesn't. In fact the opposite. It says a husband is to love his wife the way Christ loved the church. And what did Christ do for the church? He DIED! So this means that YOU have to DIE for ME! Case in point - that song is very accurate!"

Luke "Okay, fine. Actually, it would be pretty messed up if you saved me instead of me saving you."

And now "Grenade" by Bruno Mars is my husband's ringtone on my phone.

My Guy!

2010-11-19T17:49:00.004-07:00

Where to begin....

Almost 2 years ago, Justin had a seizure. A bad one. It was one of the single most scary things I've ever witnessed. (And I've seen this child with a fishing lure dangling from his eyeball)
My child didn't know who I was, didn't know his name, didn't know where his room was, and couldn't even figure out how to put on his own clothes. He vomited several times before going and getting under a pile of laundry. When I took him to the ER they ruled it a seizure, and after several tests... which he doesn't remember... we scheduled an EEG (electroencephalography).
We met with a neurologist that basically told us we get a freebie, but if it happens again... meds!

Well, he never passed out again. Thank God... cause that was terrifying! But he just progressively got ... how to say it... not right. The thing is... looking back is so 20/20 hindsight. It's been so gradual that I didn't notice right away. But when I realized that he couldn't figure stuff out anymore, I really thought he was just being a twit. Holding a conversation became SO one sided and single tracked it was irritating. There were times that he would do everything so slowly it was like he was either a zombie, or on dope. (he's not) But it really felt that way. Other times he's really cool. He cracks good jokes, he helps out around the house, he's in all other ways a pretty normal kid. Until he has an episode. He just... isn't there anymore. Doesn't get it.

Since we began Messiah Lutheran (awesome school, amazing teachers and staff) he's been so stressed out about being with kids his own age, tests, grades, not being home... that his weird behavior became serious. So I scheduled an appointment with a pediatrician.
Yeah.... umm... one doctor is not just as good as the next.

She basically said she thought he was still having seizures and referred us back to the initial neurologist (brain doc). I HATE when they do that! "I've got no clue.... you're google is as good as mine... go see someone else!"

And so we did.
He goes... "Well, two years ago, when he had the EEG there was a lot of seizure activity..."

STOP!!!!!!!!!!

What the hell did he just say?! This is the first I've heard of it AFTER TWO YEARS..... and don't worry, I was so pissed off I called my mom and screamed at her, and then I called Luke and screamed at him until my voice was hoarse.

No wonder we've been going freaking backwards!!!!!!

My child... the one that I didn't have to worry about. My child... the one that understood everything. My child.... the genius that was reading 4th grade books at age 6. My child.... has been fading away and no one could tell me why.

Someone referred me to Dr Patrice Whistler.

We had to book this appointment in way advance (clue #1)

When we arrived, we waited for 50 minutes to see the doctor (clue #2)

When she walked in.... I handed her a printed sheet of things that I'd been noticing about Justin for a while. She took it, asked to keep it, started writing notes all over it.... and as we talked she rummaged through her computer to find his EEG report (to which she read to me)... something I'd never heard. My stomach dropped when I heard it. It was like a punch to the gut when I heard the diagnosis "epilepsy" . This had been sitting in some back archive file for two years and I'd never heard this.

All I can think is... how long has his brain been re-routing and cross firing and playing Pearl Harbor and Beaches of Normandy? It's been WWII inside there for how long?

Dr. Whistler was so awesome... she laid out a huge plan and a series of test, new sleep EEG, psych education, PTOT assessment, labs and a pediatric neurologist referral .... the works.
It finally feels good to be heading in the right direction with someone who KNOWS what they're doing.

4AM

2010-10-12T08:26:00.002-06:00

Luke "Kimberly, I need help."

Me "Okay, what did you do?"

Luke "It was stupid. Don't ask."

Me "This needs stitches. Did you pass out?"

Luke "Only a couple times."

Me "The next time Cody does something stupid for no good reason, I'm going to remind you of this."

Don't worry. I patched him up with butterfly stitches and superglue. Unfortunately, I'm not the most gracious nurse at four in the morning so some jeering was involved. Needless to say, Luke's sworn off playing with knives in the middle of the night.

In Pieces

2010-09-11T20:06:00.003-06:00

I think I should just admit it. I feel like a failure as a parent. I've homeschooled my kids for several years. Which sort of feels like confessions of civil war.
Now that all five of my kids are going to private school, I've been able to see the areas that I seriously let them down. I'm not the sharpest pencil in the box, and I have my blond moments, but I thought I was holding my own. And perhaps against the public school system I was, but not this school.
Justin is having stress seizures without blacking out. It's kinda like he's coherent one minute and the next, if you ask him what color his shirt is, he'll say " 7!"

Bethany has dyslexia. Which, to anyone who has a child like this, is one of the most frustrating things imaginable. (Spell the word "four"..... fore, for, fuor, fr, fer, orf, erof, four.

Dulcey has a smashed finger, thanks to Cody. Which looks horrific, and may need more treatment than just a bandaid. (we'll see)

Anna-Claire has a finger that is so bad, she's lost most the flesh off of the tip and half of the nail. I've made her soak it twice a day (crocodile tears), and neosporin and it still looks gruesome.

As for me, I've been in the ER, I'm in pain, and now I'm pretending it's all been just a bad dream. I'm cranky, and irritable, and I've spent half of the grocery bill on gas just to trek across town several miles to pick up and drop off one child or three or two, or whoever is suppose to be getting in my car.
I feel like a new mother again. You know that moment when you bring your first child home from the hospital and it's like 11pm and you're exhausted and the kid looks at you and you look at it and think "Well.... what now?"

I just want to cry.

PUSH IT!

2010-09-02T20:01:00.003-06:00

As you all know, Luke and I embarked on a dash that took us through an obstacle course, blood infested mud, fire and all three miles of it at a breath sucking elevation of roughly 10,000 ft elevation.
Okay, so the beginning wasn't so bad... the junkyard (jumping over cars) was kind of a joke but still fun. The hay bales weren't the hay bales I had in my head- super easy. Hell's hills were exactly that... and wow, there was just no real way to run it the entire stretch (since you can't freaking breathe!!!!) But once I hit the downhill, it was actually easy. Like skiing downhill, I just let gravity take me and coasted the whole way down. The "6ft wall" I had been so nervous about was actually a series of 3 3ft walls. (To which I slung my foot over and saddled).
Now, I'm not saying it was easy. But it very well could've been done by anyone. I could've princess pranced the whole freaking thing. There were old ladies with "titanic survivor" t-shirts that could walk this sucker. Yeah, the mud is gonna make you get down and dirty, and the walk the plank is no freakin joke (you fall, you're gonna break something- hopefully not vital), but I really thought it was gonna be more of a challenge.
Now, don't get me wrong. I was definitely sore the next couple of days. Ironically in the one and only place I don't like to workout. I like my calves. They're not firm, they're tiny, and they have a perfect curve. That said... they're completely useless. And they were screaming at me all week.

So, this week. As I've completely recovered from warrior dash, a good friend of mine. The one and only, Kathy, who convinced me to do the warrior dash in the first place.... gives me this website.
A website that makes the warrior dash, the medal I earned, the t-shirt I bought, and the photos I took, look like a freaking theme park ride as Disneyland!!!!!!!
So... of course, I'm doing the warrior dash again next August.... but....

I'm doing the TOUGH MUDDER in July! (average finish time 2.5 hrs)http://toughmudder.com/info/

The thing about it is..... it benefits wounded soldiers. Like I said in my Monday motto.... "do it even though it's hard, cause there's always someone who wishes they could" Yeah, it's gonna hurt, and take a lot of energy and I'm gonna wanna quit at some point, but I'm going to finish this... because I know I can and I've been blessed enough to have the ability.

Time to step up that 3.5 mile run, 50 burpees a day, thank you bodypump training 10 hour days, BRING ON THE PAIN!!!!!

Being Neighbors in Crime

2010-06-10T17:58:00.003-06:00

So here's the deal. For the last five years, I've gone down to the local fireworks tent. Bought over forty dollars worth of cheap sparklers, fountains, whistlers, and ground blooms.
And for the last five years, our neighbors have brought out every assorted bottle rocket, and flying whatevers that put the city park's display to shame. They've practically blown the paint off of nearby trucks and scared the *you know what* out of small children (including my own). All for a lot less dough than my lousy attempt at patriotic pride.
So this 4th of July, we're doing our neighborly duty and getting *out of state* fireworks. At this point, its practically tradition to break the law on the day the Declaration of Independence was signed. Makes perfect sense to me. And it's a whole lot cooler!

Not to worry, we keep a five gallon bucket of water and a hose ready at all times.

It's Not So Bad

2010-05-25T23:12:00.003-06:00

I've recently stepped up my workout routine. Crazy? I used to think so.
With dirty looks and cursing those who did this, I went running. Not the first time ever, but the first time with an actual goal. The first day was two miles of complete torture. I think I walked half of it. I cried half and I swore people who did this in the name of "fun" were insane.
Yet, I did it again. And again. And again. And again. Now, I find that I can't get enough.
Not only am I finally able to eat that french fry that I haven't in three years, I'm finally dropping those last ten vanity pounds without losing muscle and hair.
I know ... it sounds like total ridiculous torture to someone who doesn't run... but I swear, I never thought I could do this. Trust me, it gets easier so much faster that I thought it could.

On an important note... good running shoes, athletic insoles, and finding someone who can watch you and correct your running form is a major deal. Shin splints are no fun at all!

Now... my goal is to kick freakin arse at the warrior dash in august. Yeah... I know. I guess I've got a competitive streak that runs deep, but only seeps out when called to.

EXPOSED

2010-05-18T20:18:00.003-06:00

I'm sick of saying I'm a writer with nothing to show for it. I've currently written a 381 page novel with a sequel to come. I would lie if I didn't say I didn't love my characters more than anything else. Writers are weird like that I suppose. Well here's my query. A query, btw, is a one page report on the entire story. The most difficult thing about a book. The Pitch. The Line. The BS between whether its works or doesn't.
So here I am.
Exposed.

Genevieve Marshall, Evy, is just trying to make it through life without going crazy. She’s tormented by wild memories with strangers and major migraines that no one can seem to explain. She’s grasping at straws until one day she finds Adam, the stranger from her memories. (not to mention, the living pain killer) She follows him (well, who wouldn’t) and demands answers to once and for all put to rest these visions.

Undead, Adam Fischer, is trying to hide from the one thing he can’t, love. Love stinks at all angles! It’s only created misery and heartache. But a guy can never catch a break. He finds himself not only drawn to Evy, like a moth to a torch, but journeying through their tragic and ugly past together, yet again. The one thing he told himself he wouldn’t do, of course.

As they revisit his historic journals, Evy learns that Adam hasn’t died for over two hundred years and that she’s been coming back to him throughout the past. But she also gets the doozy of finding out that someone’s been stalking them both throughout time as well. From their first encounter with death in Germany, 1786, to a present day high speed chase through the canyons of Colorado, they find themselves racing to prevent another one of life’s delay’s, DEATH!

This novel is the perfect example of how the phrase “Death cannot stop true love, but only delay it for while” is no fun at all.

Currently, a sequel is in the works.

If It Were You...

2010-04-28T13:30:00.004-06:00

You know that "I know I'm forgetting something important" feeling?
I got home and went through everyone's schedules today. Now I know that Friday night is a disaster area and the rest of the weekend just took a steep dive.

Okay... so how do I do this?
Thursday 6pm - 8pm (Adult classes)
Thursday 7pm (leave for Delta orchestra practice... stay for who knows how long, get home late)

Friday 8am-5pm (work at JHOF)
Friday 4:30am-7:30pm (Luke's overtime)
Friday 5:30pm (leave for Delta Spring Concert, get home who knows when... be driven nuts in the car with several children)
Friday 6pm (leave for Denver)
Friday 7pm (game night)

Saturday (Denver trip to the zoo... come home )
Saturday (install a well needed patio)

Sunday 10:30-12:00 (church)
Sunday 1pm (leave for Montrose concert)

Next Friday is shaping up to be worse with a concert in Ouray.

The Denver trip is obviously out of the question. Game Night cancelled. Ditching adult classes (kinda important).
I understand the responsibility of being part of a group performance and the problems it causes when someone can't make it. I honestly wish we could get the flu so bowing out would be excusable. That sounds horrible I realize, but what can I say? I'm so not happy about any of this.

What would you do if it were your child?

Verizon

2010-04-21T22:08:00.002-06:00

Me "Luke, my phone just randomly shuts off. The battery isn't dead. It just shuts off the power."

Luke "Maybe there's a recall."

After hanging out with me for two hours and watching it do it twice Luke goes, "That ain't right."

So I go looking online. I can't find a recall or anything about it.

Luke says "Go to the nice verizon store. The eastgate one."

I go "Actually, if I dress up and look hot, they're really nice to me at the snobby store."

Luke goes "Well, use your booty. As long as it works for you, right?"

DROPS MOUTH OPEN WITH A POP!

TP Time

2010-04-16T00:29:00.003-06:00

On the phone at walmart. Friends will testify, this is not a good idea for me. I'm too blonde to shop and talk on the phone at the same time.
But it was Luke, so I answered it.
"I'm at walmart. Do you need anything?" Currently imagining the security camera personnel watching me walk in circles through the store like a pacman ghost.
Luke "No. Do we need toilet paper?"
Me "I really don't know. Where are the coloring books?"
Luke "The toy section. Maybe you should get some anyways. When in doubt..."
Me "The toy section!!! Okay. Anything else?"
Luke "Nope."

Arriving home, the kids run out to the car. As we unload the car Justin asks "Mom, why did you get more toilet paper?"
Me "Um, we could always use more."
Justin "But, there's nowhere to put it all!"
I walk in to inspect the situation in the downstairs bathroom. And wouldn't you know it, he was right. There's a ton of toilet paper stuffed under the sink. I shrug and think, "Oh well, better than running out."

Tonight I sit down in my own bathroom and lo and behold, whose out of toilet paper?

For Once In My Life...

2010-04-01T14:45:00.004-06:00

It's not every day that I get to go to a concert. Heck, I can't even remember the last concert I went to. And to be honest, if I wanted to listen to the music, the album recording is a LOT better. But I couldn't help myself last December when I found out that Michael Buble' would be in Denver.
I got online and fought for those tickets relentlessly. (followed by dancing around the kitchen when I finally got them)

As the months passed, our schedule got tighter and tighter. It began looking almost impossible to make. I was seriously contemplating giving them away or selling them on ebay. But my more childish selfish side won and we came up with an air-tight plan to get to Denver, go to the concert, and get home. (By saying air-tight, I mean could've fallen through at any second.)

After hours of running, packing, and traveling we made it. Michael Buble' was fantastic. Of course, this may all be in prejudice that I, in fact, haven't been to a concert in so long I wouldn't know a good one from a bad one. Or the fact that it was Michael freakin Buble'! Either way, I had a blast!

This kinda thing should be a "to do" on every couples list. Make plans and pull absolutely every possible string to finally follow through.

Oh, and P.S. I got a t-shirt. (Luke didn't want one.)

Where's the Do-Over Button?

2010-03-02T15:38:00.002-07:00

A little birdie whispered in my ear that the new supposedly fantastic, brilliant, amazing (pick your adjective) movie, Alice in Wonderland was releasing a soundtrack.
Like all new hyped up movies, they've begun releasing two. The pre-movie music featuring lots of artists and the post-movie music with the scores.

Of course, anyone who knows me... or a even knows me a tiny little bit, knows how much I love Alice in Wonderland. So of course, I'm gonna check it out.
Unfortunately, nothing about this album makes me wanna rip my hair out and go buy it.

It's like they grabbed a handful of popular artists, gave them a title song and said, "Yeah, just whatever. We need it by tomorrow."

*Raises hand* I'd like a do-over, please!

AHA! Moment, Now What?

2010-02-16T13:59:00.003-07:00

Today I was driving home from the gym, with my tunes blaring. Okay, so lets just say... the speakers have no chance in hell of surviving my ownership. But that's besides the point.
I had on the new Toby Mac album so you really can't blame me. I was singing with the words I knew and I thought...
"I wish there were more artists like Toby Mac. So good and so cool all at the same time."

Then it hit me...

I bet every record label, literary agent, publishing company, and advertising agency wishes this exact same thing every single day. They don't reject and refuse you because they want to. Quite the opposite. They're dying to find something amazing they can put out there.

Which makes me realize, I need to try harder. A lot harder!

It's time to step up my game, seek outside input (big ouch), and just do it.

Preview...reunion HINTS!!!!

2010-02-11T12:32:00.002-07:00

Okay.. so when I say "I'm writing a game" I get a look from people like I've just spoken in pig latin.

I was asked to host a murder mystery party for a reunion in spring of 2011. But the amount of characters didn't cooperate with amount of guests from any box, online version. Besides I've done so many of these... if I had to do one more 20's party I was gonna puke.

So I thought about a few ideas... threw it at people and let them vote.

Basically, here's what came out.

We're doing a large character party.
But coming up with a plot that everyone can follow in a group of 40 + is pretty much impossible. It's already hard enough to follow one of these with a group of 8. So I made it into a game. A life- size game. Everyone is going to have their own objectives and mingling is going to be absolutely necessary in order to complete them. You follow?

This is an extra character that didn't make the final cut. I just put him together to give you all an idea of what kinda thing you have to look forward to.

You are the Big Bad Wolf. Who’s afraid of you? Well, no one’s exactly sure. You enjoy tormenting little pigs and love to huff and puff until houses fall into a big heap. You’ve held a grudge against that Red Riding Hood girl.
(Hey, the chick made fun of your face! If you ask anyone, she’s got it comin! ) You’ve also been spotted stalking Bo Peep’s sheep. Wow, you just never will learn, huh?

INSERT STORY LINE HERE

Costume suggestions : USE MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF CREATIVITY!!!!!

I Love www.urbandictionary.com

2010-02-02T14:30:00.002-07:00

Okay, so here's what you do...you go to the site and look up your name. No I don't know why, but it's fun.

Kimberly
A sweet compassionate girl that finds the beauty in everything. She is always willing to give a helping hand. Everyone loves her as soon as they meet her. Tends to be very sexy and confident.
Going on a mission trip to Ukraine is such a Kimberly thing to do.
compassionate sweet beautiful loving selfless

2. Kimberly
The definition of amazing.
Kimberly is amazing!
kimberly is amazing kim wow

3. Kimberly
Beyond beautiful. Absolutley amazing.

Person #1: That girl in math class is so Kimberly dude...

Person #2: Yeah, I know bro.
amazing beautiful sweet cute hot sexy

4. kimberly
cute, beautiful, and intelligent. enjoys going off topic and will laugh at anything and anyone without a care. she has nice wavy hair that has nver been dyed because shes so real but then again she wears contacts but its ok vbecause she is kind of blind without them (HAHAAHA). has a nice round ass, if you've ever been at the beach with her...lucky lucky. she attracts everyone, male, female, dog, trashcan. i love kim!
kimberly likes to eat
kim kimberly weird fat amazing

5. Kimberly
The greatest most amazing gorgeous person who is loved greatly and even more by Cody Brower
Kimberly or Kim is Perfect and amazing.
kimberly kim perfect sweet gorgeous

6. Kimberly
Kimberly is a awsome person you will ever meet..... She funny and nice and you can always count on her....One day you may meet a Kimberly...Well hope one day you can!
Girl: Hey! Have you meet kimberly yet?
Boy: No why?
Girl: I have she is nice and sweet..You should meet her.
Boy: Okay I will go meet her right now!
met mean sour shouldnt later

7. Kimberly
Kimberly is an irish slang term meaning hot.
boy 1: wow look at that girl over there.

boy 2: KIMBERLY!!!

Yep, this was a total self esteem boast!

All Hail Sturdy Pink Fabric - Now Go Die!

2010-01-29T09:55:00.005-07:00

Do you have this issue at your house?

You do laundry.... piles and piles of laundry. Yet your children always seem to be wearing the same thing.

I can't get Anna-Claire out of a pink Easter dress I bought her last year. What makes this situation worse is that I bought the exact same dress for Dulcey. So not only do I have to see this dress every day until she grows out of it, I have the next size up for her to grow out of as well.
It's like the dress that wont die. I'm thinking seriously of retiring it before it's time just so I wont have to look at it EVER again.

Note to self : This year's dress is not allowed to be pink!

Maya

2010-01-10T20:32:00.004-07:00

If you could imagine the worst day of your life, what would it be?

About a month ago, maybe a little bit more a good friend of mine called me to tell me her daughter had malignant brain cancer. Maya is six years old. She told me that Maya had been sent into surgery almost immediately to remove the one of several tumors that the doctors were able to get safely.
After weeks of recovery, they sent Maya to another hospital to receive radiation therapy.
Maya is done with week 2 of six for her radiation. After that she has to go through chemotherapy.
In the meantime, my friend, has not been to work and her autistic son has been sent to live between his aunts and grandmother. Her new husband of a year has filed for divorce.
She recently informed me that she's going without food for days and is hiding her car to keep it from being repossessed.

I can't even imagine what I would do if I was in this situation. My heart just aches for my friend and Maya.

I know there are lots of posts about supporting cancer patients and families ... and wearing pink and red and yellow, and I know I don't always repost it. But this is one way to make sure that your support actually goes straight to the struggling family and patient.
I'm going to be putting a package to send to Maya and her family very soon. Those who would like to contribute... please get with me via email or FB message.
Thanks!
Kimberly

A Series of Unfortunate Events

2009-12-22T13:41:00.004-07:00

This morning started out so perfectly well too.

First thing's first... banana bread made and in the oven. Okay, if nothing else...I've at least done one thing today.

With that baking, onto the rice krispies. They came out smashing.. and didn't even stick to the pot or the dish. *kisses fingers* wah lah!

Starts the peanut brittle. What could possible go wrong. I'm on a roll!

Meanwhile... makes pumpkin bars... smells fabulous, came out beautifully *of course... I'm a regular master chef, here*

Stirs the brittle mixture on medium heat.

and stirs...

and stirs...

and stirs...

Just about there.... starting to look perfect..

My mom rings the doorbell.

So the kids let her and her little dog, Hana, in. To which they want to show of their new kitty, Alice. BIG MISTAKE!! Who knew a kitty that little would already possess demon qualities in the presence of a dog?
So now, Alice (the kitty) has scratched my mom. My mom is bleeding, the kids are screaming, and the dog could care less. Meanwhile, the peanut brittle is getting more than done.

Me to the rescue, abandons my post at the stove... and throws the kitty in the bathroom. (to which I might ad, completely unscathed)

And now that all is quiet... a big hunk of nasty, rock hard peanut brittle is in a heap in the trash.

*Big Sigh!*

Ridiculously Good Sticky Buns (aka Cinnamon Rolls)

2009-11-29T18:40:00.004-07:00

Rule #1 allow yourself enough time to make these since it's of the essence.

Dough :

1 Cup warm milk
1 pkg active dry yeast
1/2 cup brown sugar
5- 5 1/2 Cups flour
1/2 Cup butter
2 eggs
2 tbsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt

Filling :

3 tbsp brown sugar
3 tbsp granulated sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
1 Cup chopped pecans
(raisins optional)

Topping :

1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup honey
1 cup butter
1/3 rum (for adults version)
1 1/2 cup chopped pecans

About a day ahead of time prepare dough. Add warm milk, sugar, and yeast till dissolved.
Next beat eggs, butter, and flour, and rest of dough ingredients until dough is nice and soft. Kneed until smooth. Coat with butter, transfer to a large bowl, cover and refrigerate for 8 hours... (or overnight)

Next day (or several hours of PATIENTLY waiting later), prepare the filling. Once dough has been rolled out into a rectangular -ish shape. Coat with butter and spread filling over. Roll up and then cut dough cross/wise... (whatever if I hadn't seen this or done it before I never would have figured it out)
Place them in a pan, and allow TIME to rise. Only an hour and a half longer!!!

(Huge sigh! Kids nagging "are they done yet? are they done yet?" )

Finally, bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Cover with topping! and eat!! eat eat eat!!!

Oh Look! A Wall.

2009-11-27T22:45:00.005-07:00

The past few days have been very difficult. I'm beginning to think that I'm such a baby. I hate to think of myself this way, but what else can I say.

Thanksgiving Day, I woke up unable to move. Well, unable to move without an extreme amount of pain. The kind of nauseating, seeing spots, unable to keep yourself from bursting out crying pain. It felt like someone had taken a hammer to me in my sleep.

But, it was Thanksgiving, and while everyone else is being thankful for everything including their last pair of underwear, I was just trying not to scream with each step I took. And that sucked, because I really enjoy it when my family gets together.

But it was like I wouldn't even realize I'd let out a gasp until it was already out. The only comparison I can make would be really bad back labor, or maybe breaking your tail bone.
Well, I managed to make it through the day with a concoction of Ibuprofen, Tylenol, Rum, and Wine.
But Friday, I couldn't take it anymore. I moved just for a split second and a wave of nauseous pain ripped through me.I couldn't see anything but white and black spots.

That's when I gave up and couldn't take it anymore.

Remember when Squints Paladoras finally snaps "I can't take this no more!"

Yep, that was me.

I finally went to the Dr. They walked me to the hospital after giving me a REALLY great shot.
Turns out I had a cyst the ruptured and was leaking "God knows only what kind of horrible stuff" into my abdomen.
A week later, I'm still not feeling so great, but worlds better than last week.

A HUGE hug to anyone who has ever been through this. THESE SUCK!!!

It's What You've All Been Waiting For

2009-11-25T19:46:00.003-07:00

I know some of you have been foaming at the mouth for updates on my novel.

Well, I'm writing this to tell you all you wont have long to wait.

I'm currently beefing up a synopsis that is to die for. It's gonna give the main concepts and ideas behind the book. Where the idea came from... and details to the main characters and plot...

In case you're wondering... I wont give away any of the ending...and it's written in a sequel style so... the second and final book hasn't even been written (in complete) yet.

I just hope you enjoy my characters as much as I do...

and don't worry I love them enough not to give up on them.

One day... Adam and Evy will have their say (gasp... oops is that a give away?)

Attack of the Creepy Neighbors!

2009-11-23T14:49:00.002-07:00

Ever seen the movie "The Burbs?"

I swear, I have these neighbors. Okay, maybe not burying dead bodies in the back yard creepy, but definitely creepy.

Especially after dark. *bring on the scary movie music*

My kitchen window faces their back yard. Which means when I'm in my kitchen washing dishes, they can watch me. And they do.

Imagine stirring a pot of noodles, turning to the fridge to get some milk, setting it on the counter, and glancing out the window to see a dark shadow looming on his back porch.
It's enough to make me scream!
*Sigh* I hate creepy neighbors.
This summer I'm putting in a tree. A big one!

Lets ALL Go To The Movies!

2009-11-19T10:19:00.003-07:00

What have I gotten myself into this time?

I swore I would NEVER do this again. And here I am, doing it again!

Last year, I went to twilight with a handful of girlfriends and my sisters. We stood in a ridiculous long line in the freezing cold for hours, we sat in bad seats, and we didn't hear one freakin word. You wanna know why? Because for some reason, girls that are under the age of 21 scream when they see Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner.

*sigh*
All I can think is why? Why, oh why am I doing this to myself...again?

Well, whatever... maybe secretly I'm just a twi-freak who hates other twi-freaks. Or maybe I'm just impatient. Patience never has been a key character trait of mine.

Oh well, tonight I'm going to "New Moon."
Who's with me? DON'T LIE!

No Subject (No really!)

2009-11-17T11:51:00.002-07:00

There are few people I only ever open mail from.

One of the usual email-ers, besides my mom, is my homeschool resource consultant.
And the usual content is something about some reading group, or upcoming event, or reminder that I haven't logged my hours. They usually say "no subject."
Today, I grimaced and thought "well, more paperwork". But NO, OH NO! NO NO NO NO!

The letter said...

"We have ordered too many sheep hearts. Would you like one?"

WHAT?!

What am I suppose to say to this? "Sure, I'd love a sheep heart. And do you have any brains and maybe some courage to go along with it?"

Well, this would be one learning experience my kids will never forget. I think, I'm gonna get one.

And by the way, I will never open up another email from her without wondering what could possibly be inside. You never know.

Half Santa, Half Scrooge!

2009-11-16T11:03:00.003-07:00

Confession: I have no Christmas presents hiding in my closet.

You know what this means, right? SHOPPING! And I don't say that in a good way. I say it in a more Alfred Hitchcock, screaming and running in terror, kind of way.

At this time of year, yeah... I'm WAY behind.
Don't get me wrong. I love giving presents. I love finding that perfect gift that practically screams the person's name as I walk by it in the store. Its when I can't find it or its really expensive, that I'm frustrated and irritated and wishing I were somewhere else. Wishing Charlie Brown's Christmas were true and that we only sent Christmas Cards to people we really actually like, rather than every person we've ever met in our lives (and some we even haven't).
But the fact remains, I'm not Oprah with an endless supply of money to spend. And I'm not putting Christmas on credit. (Sorry, but THAT'S BAD!!!)

So this year, Santa Clause is not shopping at Enstoms(tear), Macy's, or the Apple store. Santa is going to the dollar store! An apple, orange, and a bag of peanuts fill a stocking up cheaper than anything else. I still get a thrill from wrapping up a two dollar box of chocolate covered cherries and hiding them under the tree(seriously, it's fun).

Well, now that I've psyched myself up for this... time to get going.

And by the way, we haven't done our Christmas Card photos yet either. *sigh*

Cutest Ever!

2009-11-11T20:07:00.003-07:00

I swear to God, I do not make up cuteness....

I was sitting in bed listening through the bedroom door to the kids.

Justin says in a high pitch voice "Give me the ruby slippers or I'll sic the monkeys on you."

Cody says "NOOOOOO!"

Justin says "Oh look! A munchkin!"

AC runs giggling though the house.

Have You Had Your Daily Dose of Depression?

2009-11-11T11:33:00.003-07:00

Raise your hand if you know who Debbie Downer is.

If you don't know, she's an SNL made-up character. The kind of person that would remind you of how many people die from malaria each year if she saw you get a mosquito bite. Or she would inform you of the average puppy death statistics if she saw a pet food commercial.

My point?

Ever notice that the news is a lot like Debbie Downer?

Two people died in a...they found more bodies...plane crash in the...SWINE FLU!!!

I'm sorry, but you know what... this information does me NO GOOD! Its gone from being informative to just gossip. The news people sit in their little cubicles thinking of ways to freak out the public, cause paranoia, and digging for the worst "shocker" story they can find.

Well, today I found a great website. FINALLY!!! Finally, we get to hear about nice things.

www.goodnewsnow.com

Don't worry, I'm well aware that its religious-based and that may tweak someone's hair. Well, I don't really care! If your too much of baby to get past the fact that something nice is being said about someone in a religious pretext... GO CRY TO DEBBIE DOWNER!

Party the Right Way!

2009-11-09T10:46:00.005-07:00

Now, I'm all for a fun birthday party. Who doesn't want to feel special on their birthday?
I have five children. (For those of you aren't observant enough to notice) But five birthdays in one year is excessive, don't ya think?
Fortunately all of my kids were born in two months (different years, of course... lets not be silly). November and May!

So...we have two parties. One in May and one in November (duh).

Obviously, gender specific parties are just irritating and dumb. It doesn't make the party any more special if you had transformers or strawberry shortcake on your party favors.
It just says "Mom was dumb enough to spend all that money on cheap crap that's going to be destroyed and thrown out the second it leaves the area."

And NO! I refuse to invite all the neighbor kids and every child mine have ever met. Relatives and cousins are good enough!

Okay! So what is important?

Pick a theme! (and no, Spiderman and Disney princesses don't count)

Need help?

*Fiesta -(mexican style fun -pinatas, margaritas(for the adults) and I YI YI YI music is totally cool...not to mention sopapillas!)

For those of you wondering, it's okay to drink at a kids party. It's just not okay for anyone to get drunk. There's a difference...but that's another story.

*Luau -(everyone wears hawaiian, get those little umbrellas for the mai tai's, leis, barbecue hot dogs if your uncool with the pig roast.. and dont forget some beach boys music or ukalele style is great. Fruit pizza on cookie dough is a great alternative to cake. BE CREATIVE!)

If creativity is just really not your thing... there are a million ideas online.

This November Party's theme was fall. Seems too obvious, right?
*Well, bobbing for apples is an endangered tradition so we did our part to bring it back.
*Bale of straw costs $7. (game appropriately named "needle in the haystack") I hid two bags of candy in all that mess. Handed each child a bag and said, "go find it."
*Who doesn't like to roast hotdogs and marshmallows over a fire?(finicky adults...but again, that's another story) Fire-pits are a wonder. I can't imagine why they weren't popular sooner.
*Follow it up with throwing the ol' pigskin around.

Yep! We had ourselves a great time!

Its All in the Head

2009-11-01T19:24:00.002-07:00

Recently, Luke to the boys hunting. This is a good thing! It's guy time! You know, when they don't have to worry about belching and farting and getting dirty and smelling like sweat, dirt, and foul boy funk.
I have visions of them running through the woods half naked and howling at the moon.

Well anyways, they managed to shoot a deer. This is a good thing! It's guy time! He's training the boys the most basic survival skills, right.

After field dressing (ick) and taking it to the meat packing plant (ick) they brought all the meat home last weekend.

I've been overly supportive. I made Burgandy Venison with Egg Noodles, Venison Tacos, Steak Au Poivre, and Chili.

Did I eat any of it... NOOOOOO!

I was raised to gag at the idea of "field fresh" meat and any kind of fish. I know I shouldn't be like this, but I can't help it.

And yeah I know.... It's all in my head.

Yay!!! I did it!

2009-09-16T11:18:00.002-06:00

I knew persistence would pay off. Actually, I think my video camera is just a pill that doesn't know how to talk to computers....
Anyways, here it is...Justin Murray playing Allegero.

You know what this means right? LOTS OF MAUI VIDEOS- COMING SOON!!!!

(HEAD BANG!)

2009-09-14T16:23:00.004-06:00

You ever tried to bang your head on a brick wall?
Most people would give up about the second time, but I'm blonde, so I figure it's bound to be something simple that I'm just not getting.
This morning, my challenge was to get out the video camera, and set it up for our vacation. (This to anyone who knows me is a major no-no)
But, seriously, people do it all the time. You all have FB videos, I could do that too... right? (HA HA HA HA HA HA)
First, shoot the mock video. Cody singing his best rendition of Pavarotti. Sure, that works.
Next, plug it in. Sounds simple right? Wrong! Thus, the head-banging begins...
Install this software... I must have installed it ten times and still couldn't get it to recognize the USB. (HEAD BANG!)
Whatever, I have a Mac, that's suppose to be a piece of cake. Moves to the "easy" computer. (HEAD BANG!)
After about five hours of this torturous head banging, I have a headache,and not only did I manage to NOT get the video uploaded, but I erased it and over-wrote it with me swearing out the entire process. (HEAD BANG!)

Dealing with Rejection

2009-09-11T20:54:00.002-06:00

All of you know how hard I'm working on my book and that I've been submitting queries like mad. I realize that rejection is just part of the biz and have come to except them as a writer's reality.
Yesterday, I picked up a magazine for writers and flipped through some amazingly helpful info. On the way, I read that getting a "personalized" rejection was almost as good as gold. It means that that person spent their precious time to write you a letter that was in no way going to profit or benefit them.
So, I figured I would share this with you. And although, it sucks to get a rejection, it was very encouraging.

Dear Kimberly,

Thank you for submitting a query to me.
Although your story sounds interesting, it isn't something I am currently looking for (I already rep a similar story).

Because I am passing on your story at this time, it in no way means you should give up pursuing your writing dream.

Again, thank you for considering our agency and I wish you the very best of luck.

Christine Witthohn
cwitthohn@hotmail.com

New Favorite Song

2009-09-10T18:15:00.002-06:00

I love finding a new favorite song. I live for new favorite songs and probably all of my neighbors know it as well.
Okay, so there's the slight chance that you all may have heard it, since every time I announce I have a new favorite song someone informs me that ... it's not that new. (glare at Melissa)

It's a totally happy fun song... check it out!

http://musicremedy.com/audio/index.cfm?FuseAction=ShowVideoPlayer&AudioId=37248&Quality=9

7 days and counting menu

2009-09-10T17:30:00.005-06:00

Ah, I can hear the tumbling waves already, feel the sand in between my toes, smell the salt and fish, and taste that all too fabulous Mai Tai.
Yes, it's true... there is a heaven on earth and that place is Maui!

Today was the first day I began planning meals around getting rid of the fridge food. So my menu for the weeks is:

1. Turkey Sandwiches

2. Asparagus Spagetti

3. Eggs... still not sure what I'm gonna put with it, but they gotta go.

4. Philli Cheese Steak

5. Hot Dogs (sorry, but its easy)

6. Barbecue Chicken Salad

7. who cares... I'll be on the plane!!!!

What A HYPE!!!

2009-09-03T13:34:00.004-06:00

If you've ever been to a basketball game, you know what I'm talking about.
As you walk through the door, you're immediately handed a foam finger and a sports bottle. Once you get to your seat, it's all about the nachos and beer ads that flash across the huge screen in the center of the stadium. Not to mention, the blaring music, cheerleaders, pep squad, nearest high school dance teams, and 12 different animal suited mascots. It then takes another twenty minutes to introduce the players, and boo the opponents.
Okay... so now its go time, right? Wrong! The players play for about three minutes and you get another round of cheerleaders, mascots, and miniature blimps that shoot out t-shirts.

Now, the next time you wonder how exactly the American public would actually vote for Obama. You can take this little scenario and think "What A HYPE!!!"

Shirley Ate It

2009-08-26T13:39:00.002-06:00

I am so proud of myself! First ever dinner made by...hmmm, well that might work and why not's.
So as Luke was finishing it up he asked, "Hey, can we have that again?" and then he looks at me and goes "Oh! You probably couldn't make it again if you tried, huh."
So I figure, if I write it down, maybe I'll remember what I put in it and in what order... though I'm not sure it would matter too much.

(Keep in mind I cook in mega-quantities because of my family size)
First I cooked up two packages of chicken in a LARGE pan
then
added some oregano and red wine vinaigrette dressing until the chicken was coated in it.
Opened up the fridge and wondered what to go with the chicken.
I added a forth a stick of butter and a package of fresh, chopped mushrooms, chopped zucchini, chopped onion, two large tomatoes chopped, and a package of spinach. *okay, so I went a little chop happy*
Fearing I had added a lot more veggies than spice... I threw some salt, pepper, oregano, parsley, and basil into it.
Then I let it simmer until the juices had evaporated into a nice sauce.
And wah-lah!
Who knew it would work? When in doubt.. just add whatever you got. It probably would have gone well with some rice... but I didn't think of that until now.

Ummm....

2009-06-25T11:56:00.005-06:00

Anna-Claire - "I want a kitty for my birthday, momma."
(Begins bouncing up and down and chanting "I want a kitty")

Momma - after thinking long and hard over a way to get out of this conversation says "You can't have a kitty because Emmett would eat it."

Anna-Claire -stops and thinks "Could I have a monkey?"

Murray House Pancakes

2009-06-10T09:41:00.003-06:00

I've been making these pancakes for so long, I practically do it in my sleep. They're fabulous and so worth the effort!

BOWL 1 (combine together)

2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp baking soda
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp cinnamon

BOWL 2 (combine ingredients)

2 cups milk
6 tbsp brown sugar
2 eggs
1/4 cup butter (melted)
1 tsp vanilla

Add both bowls together and pour onto a skillet. You can add blueberries or chocolate chips(birthday special), whatever you like. Makes 24 odd shapes.

Great Advice

2009-06-10T09:21:00.003-06:00

Over the past few months, I've had a lot of advice given, passed down, or pushed onto me whether I asked for it or not.
Several things were so beneficial, I figured I share with you where I am.

(Make "me time" ... no,seriously!!!)

(Don't give in to stupid moments of weakness.)

(You'll always know the right thing when it comes along.)

(Don't forget where you are with God and that He deserves time too.)

(There's no excuse for bad behavior.)

(There's always someone there for you, praying for you, and loving you...whether your aware of it or not.)

Thank you! To all the friends and family that have been such a big help, a shoulder to cry on, a phone call to lose my mind on, and the prayers that I so desperately needed.
Kimberly

Book Update

2009-01-22T17:01:00.002-07:00

Hey everyone, I'm still really busy at work, writing this book. But I figured I would give you all a idea of where I'm at.
*A typical book has about 60,000 to 70,000 words.
*My book is about halfway, more or less and I'm at 45,000 words.
I will say, I have really easy days and then days that I stare at the screen and nothing comes out.
Today was one of those squealing in delight, so thrilled I can barely contain myself, everything is coming together kind of days. I have an entire outline in my head from start to finish and it's just the tricky stuff of getting it out on paper that's going to take a little bit longer.
I'm going to compile a list of Titles and let you all vote on your favorite,(that should be fun).
Till then...

Announcement

2008-12-17T09:59:00.003-07:00

Dear Friends,
Ok, so mostly, this blog is to say sorry for the lack of attention I have given it. But, also, that I have some pretty cool news. That's probably not so important to anyone else yet as it is to me. I'm writing a book. I've always wanted to, but always lacked a proper story.
The main problem being; what do I write about?
For so long, I knew there was something that had to be cool back in the depths of my blond, sometimes dopey brain, but it never came to the front. The other night, I had the coolest beyond coolest of ideas, and had to write it down before I forgot it.
I'm not even going to hint what it's about. I'm just hoping to share it with all of you someday when it's finished. I am determined to finish it, and everyday it takes on another dimention that makes it that much bigger and better. So before I start rambling on about how much I already love it, I'll quit and get back to it.
I just wanted to let you all know that I haven't forgotten my blog or any of you.I'm trying to facebook a few minutes a day to let the cyberworld know that I haven't curled under a rock either.
But my impatience to get all of this in writing is killing me, and my spiratic notes are going to look more like a psychotic episode if I don't start putting them in some order. So for now, goodbye to the daily blog! I'll post again, when I feel the guilt. Please don't give up on me ;)
Kimberly

Blush!

2008-12-04T12:10:00.003-07:00

So, I have ALWAYS shied away from this sort of thing. It's just a difficult topic to have in the open.
Of course, this isn't the first annual, and when there was a first, I scoffed! I threw a tantrum and felt that the morality of our society had met the bottom of the barrel. There was no lower we could go when primetime TV,which was already full of sex, murder, violence, and filthy language added to the smut the 1st annual Victoria's Secret runway show. So, to be honest, I deliberately didn't watch it. With Pride!

Well, there it was again, last night, on TV. In a moment of curious weakness, and a sparked interest into adding to my lingerie wardrobe, I stopped to watch it. OK, so I still feel a little guilty, but in all honestly, I seen much worse on a French billboard.
Girls, it was fun!
Pretty wings, diamonds, butterflies, the shoes (oh my goodness), there were floating red rose petals flying in the air as these runway models passed by in amazingly gorgeous lingerie.
I felt like I was watching some girly dream in a movie or something.

..well, now I have a free pass to go wild in the VS store, woooo hooo!

P.S. If you missed it, you can see it at
http://www.cbs.com/specials/victorias_secret/video/video.php?cid=885199559&pid=kdlIgNkFD_rE6aRfWgZ7_INq_NJ2PMRv&play=true&cc=0

Nutcracker Rehearsals

2008-11-25T09:18:00.003-07:00

Last night was the first rehearsal with the live orchestra. The crammed an entire symphony orchestra and a ballet production into the ballet studio. The claustrophobia was factoring in, if I hadn't been so enthralled with the instruments and music, I would not have made it without a panic attack.
I will say this, there is something so magical when people file in single instrument at a time, and come together to make an intricate, beautifully balanced, masterpiece. It was breathtaking to watch!

Macy's!!!!Oh, I get it now!

2008-11-24T09:32:00.002-07:00

Luke and I took a super quick, un-planned trip to Denver this weekend. Saturday, after ballet, we loaded up the car and took off.
It was so much fun!
We had dinner at the White Fence Farm, which I totally recommend. They have a tree house, indoor slide, checkerboards, live (hillbilly) music, arcades, and in warm weather a petting zoo. The food was soooo good too.
Sunday, Luke's entire agenda was focused on the Bass Pro Shop. In his attempt to be a good husband and let me do my shopping, keeping one eye on the door, took me to Macy's.
I've never been there before, and I'm always intimidated when I walk into department stores unfamiliar. Well we browsed for a while, then Luke saw a dress from the back of the store being displayed. Once I tried it on, it was over, he was buying it for me no matter what it cost.
And like a good wife, I suffered through the Bass Pro Shop :)

Blur

2008-11-19T14:10:00.002-07:00

Well, I will say, I'm completely sorry for falling behind.
I'm having a lot of trouble with believing it's the middle of November.
The last few months have been a complete blur. Is that what happens when you turn 30? Everything that you thought was going fast shifts and hits warp speed.
The rest of the year is not looking promising.

Also, due to Nutcracker practice and performances, starting Sunday, the menu is going to be a barage of microwavables and fast food that I refuse to feel guilty for...two reasons, one I have no choice, and two, I wont be eating any of it.

humph!

2008-11-11T19:54:00.002-07:00

Well, this day couldn't have gone any worse. When the first thing you hear at 7am is ...."MOM!!!Dulcey just threw up all over the couch!"

Once, that was taken care of, and now the child is laying comfortable with a towel and the bucket.
I walk to the bathroom, only to find out the my cycle went and took a dive off course.
"sigh"
Yep, it's one of THOSE days!

Finished

2008-11-06T14:47:00.002-07:00

My children will have their mother back, my husband will have his wife back, and the endless loads of laundry is finally going to get done.
I finally finished the fourth book of the twilight series!

Best Series I've Ever Read!!!
My stomach is still tied in knots, I've lost 3 pounds, and a lot of sleep over this book series. It was worth it!

Impending Doom

2008-11-05T07:51:00.003-07:00

*Sigh* I was having a really good dream. When I woke up this morning trying to remember it, then my first conscience thought was "did our Country really just do this to ourselves?"
I realized all of the trauma that unfolded in last night's election. Yep, it's true, our Country is going to Hell!
I don't know about you, but I lost...on almost everything I voted for.
Now we can all cry for the innocence that will be lost over the next 4 years.
Pray for God's Mercy on our nation. Because I for one, know that He's been with us since it's birth. I cannot imagine what it would be like if He turned His back on us.

A Good Laugh!

2008-11-04T08:37:00.003-07:00

So, I was driving Bethany to ballet, where else, and we were flipping through radio stations..trying to find something worth listening to.
The CD player in my car has been jammed for 2 months, AND I JUST NOTICED!
Anyways, I gave up and just left it where it was, the next song came on and Bethany started laughing hysterically. I had to ask...
"What is so funny?"
Bethany, "It sounds like one of the chipmunks, the tall one...I forget it's name."
Mom "Huh, you mean Simon?"
Bethany, "Yeah!" and then she giggles some more

It had never dawned on me. Brittany Spears sounds like Simon the Chipmunk, ha ha ha !

Thanks Jill!

2008-10-30T11:07:00.004-06:00

Oh great! Along with all the other vices I have in my life I'm now addicted to a book. Chores, who cares..I'm reading.
Meals, who cares...this is more interesting.
Laundry, uh I don't see laundry.
Kids, what kids..I don't see any kids.
Phone calls, oh no...well if it's important they'll leave a message.

You can all thank Jill for getting me sucked into this stupid book. (that was sarcasm, wink, wink)

Actually, I'm always very grateful when someone can spark my interest with a book. The good ones are so few and far between.

Murder Among The Matey's

2008-10-29T12:12:00.011-06:00

You all did a great job! You looked great and I got such a wonderful response that I'm definitely planning on doing another one.

The swashbucklers and Scallywags!

Carmen Gettit who figured it all out.
Sharktooth Brandy who had the audacity to call Mad Rose a "TART"

The dirty wiggins and dirty wiggles
Along with the infamous Cap'n Redbeard (who won best dressed)

Thumbless Jackie...found to be the biggest clue to solving the murder
One eyed Wanda...a little gung hoe with tattoos, just to make herself look tough enough to commit mutiny.

Poor Uma Scarr with her lack of reading abilities needed help from an unfaithful wench.

The salty wenches

I was only trying!

2008-10-21T19:52:00.003-06:00

Well, tonight I was suppose to have some superb new recipe that was clever and amazingly brilliant. It wasn't, so I'll just spare you all from misery that befell our family dinner table.

SNAP!

2008-10-20T20:57:00.002-06:00

Fred, the mouse has gone to that happy cheese curd in the sky.

Goodbye,Fred!

Our God is Soooo Good!!!!!

2008-10-18T09:57:00.003-06:00

With the constant state of affairs being what they are in our nation. Politics are spiraling out of control, it's beginning to feel like a mixed civil war. The financial crisis in the nation is actually global. And I feel that people are so fixed on their own special interests, they can't, won't, and don't see the bigger picture.

My frustration for this country that I love is sometimes just a little overwhelming, but then God gives me this.

Isaiah 40:28

The Lord is an everlasting God, the creator of all the earth. No one can measure the depths of His understanding.

Then I remember, the last time I freaked out and panicked, God had everything under control....years in advance.

No Fear!

2008-10-16T21:50:00.004-06:00

Mom says, "Ok Dulcey, get the chicken broth from the shelf."

Dulcey says, "This one?"

*scratch, scratch, scratch*

Mom says, "yeah, that one."

*scratch, crinkle, scratch, crinkle*

Mom and Dulcey turn and stare....

*chew, chew, chew, chew*

Dulcey and Mom go into the house and declare, "We have a mouse."

The boys and Dad rush to aid, consisting of a pellet gun, a tupperware container, and a baseball bat. And after a good solid hour, Mom is going to buy traps tomorrow and remedy the situation herself.

Goodbye Summer

2008-10-13T08:50:00.002-06:00

Permit me one sentimental moment...

BOOO HOOO HOOOO HOOOO HOOOO HOOOO HOOOO! SOB! SNIFF!

Oh alright, so I begrudgingly accept fall. As I wake up this morning to hear the heater kicking on, there's just no denying it any longer. Summer is gone.

I'll put away all the shorts, tank tops and flip-flops. (wipes a tear)

A RED LETTER DAY!!!!

2008-10-09T09:07:00.004-06:00

This is one of the shining moments in my life.

ALL OF MY CHILDREN ARE OUT OF DIAPERS!!!!!

Wait, I don't think you heard me...

NO MORE DIAPERS AT THE MURRAY HOUSEHOLD!!!!!

Let me do that one more time....

I'M NOT CHANGING ONE MORE DIAPER!!!!!!

Ok, so Anna-Claire is about 85% of the way to being accident free, but there are no diapers involved.
May we all bow our heads and pay homage to an era (November 3, 1997 - October 5th, 2008.)
I'm taking my unused diapers to the church and saying "good riddins!"

shhhh!

2008-10-06T15:03:00.003-06:00

Ok, the party's on!

Now, that you all know who you are, you can start shopping for the best costume out there for your character. The only rule is, TELL NO ONE!!!!

It's so much more fun for people to keep guessing who you are and who everyone else might be until the night of the party. Every thing will be revealed in good time.

Good Old Fashioned Fun

2008-10-01T14:44:00.007-06:00

Yep, I did it. I let Luke buy me a 4 wheeler. Now, my car is currently kicked out of the garage. But I will say, it has finally enabled us to take everyone with us.
This is how we did it.

Justin drives the sand buggy which can hold him and Cody in a 5 point harness and a roll cage (Mom's not worried)
Bethany and Dulcey ride with Dad. Dulc' in the front and Bethany in the back (all with helmets)
Anna-Claire get's her own puppy helmet and straps onto Mom with her very own front seat view of Dad and the sand buggy going extra slow.

Well, it was a blast and the best "color Saturday" we've ever had.

Simple and Delicious

2008-09-30T09:55:00.002-06:00

For my birthday, I mentioned that the kids had given me a cooking magazine. Since then, I have been able to make nearly every recipe in the book. It's so fun, I'm really looking forward to next month. I just hope that it will live up to my expectations and not have any repeats.
The magazine is called, "taste of home's Simple and Delicious." So far, everything has been really easy, everyone's eaten it and asked for seconds, and my grocery bill has been a little less. (GO FIGURE!)
I've taken up the task of putting a star next to the recipe that I make. So far, these are the recipe's I've been able to fix.
*Creamy Spinach and Chicken Pasta (really good)
*Barbecued Ham Sandwiches
*Zucchini Parmesan
*Cheese and Chicken Enchiladas
*Confetti Corn Salad (side dish)
*Cranberry-Pineapple Pork Chops (really good)
*Walnut and Broccoli Rice (side dish)
*Baked Parmesan Fish
*Potatoes, Peas, and Onions (catchy name, huh!)
*Toasted PB and Banana sandwiches
*Chicken Caesar Salad
*Sausage Egg Burritos
*Veggie Lasagna
*Garden Veggie Soup (Luke thinks it needed meat)
*Turkey Salad Sandwiches
*Mushroom Corn Chowder (very good!)
*Taco Avocado Wraps (really good and took 5 minutes to make)
*creamy pumpkin-filled biscuits (beware-makes a lot and extra cans of biscuits a must)

Explaination Please?

2008-09-28T20:54:00.003-06:00

Finally, television's writer strike has come full circle and new shows are beginning to emerge. Now I find myself grading papers and watching tv, which is what I thought my high school teachers did. None of which, I aspired to be like.
Funny thing is, commercials give me the most entertainment.

Anyway, my question is why does our local stations get ads from companies that aren't
even in Grand Junction. Can anyone explain this? This evenings choice....

I haven't seen a Macy's popping up anywhere around here, have you?

What Do You Do All Day?

2008-09-25T14:14:00.002-06:00

A man came home from work and found his three children outside, still in their pajamas, playing in the mud, with empty food boxes and wrappers strewn all around the front yard.
The door of his wife's car was open, as was the front door to the house and there was no sign of the dog. Proceeding into the entry, he found an even bigger mess. A lamp had been knocked over, and the throw rug was wadded against one wall.

In the front room the TV was loudly blaring a cartoon channel, and the family room was strewn with toys and various items of clothing. In the kitchen, dishes filled the sink, breakfast food was spilled on the counter, the fridge door was open wide, dog food was spilled on the floor, a broken glass lay under the table, and a small pile of sand was spread by the back door.

He quickly headed up the stairs, stepping over toys and more piles of clothes, looking for his wife. He was worried she might be ill, or that something serious had happened.
He was met with a small trickle of water as it made its way out the bathroom door.

As he peered inside he found wet towels, scummy soap and more toys strewn over the floor. Miles of toilet paper lay in a heap and toothpaste had been
smeared over the mirror and walls.

As he rushed to the bedroom, he found his wife still curled up in the bed in her pajamas, reading a novel. She looked up at him, smiled, and asked how his day went. He looked at her bewildered and asked, 'What happened here today?'

She again smiled and answered, 'You know every day when you come home
From work and you ask me what in the world I do all day?'

'Yes,' was his incredulous reply.

She answered, 'Well, today I didn't do it.'

Send this page to another woman.

Priceless

Tickets On Sale

2008-09-23T11:04:00.002-06:00

Our First Annual "The Nutcracker" at the Avalon

November 28, 29, & 30, 2008

Tickets Available NOW!

The Institute of Dancing Arts and the Western Slope Chamber Music Series will present the first annual "The Nutcracker" at the Avalon, featuring 80 dancers and a 40-piece orchestra on Friday, Nov. 28 and Saturday, Nov. 29, 2008. This production will also be presented at the Montrose Pavilion on Sunday, Nov. 30, 2008.

Everyone's favorite holiday ballet classic "The Nutcracker", choreographed by IDA's artistic director, Diane Revie, with live music by Western Slope Sinfonia, conducted by WSCMS's Tyme Mientka, is sure to become your favorite holiday tradition to be enjoyed by the whole family.

For more information, please check out The Nutcracker page.

Buy tickets for Avalon performances online, using major credit card.
You can buy tickets for the Grand Junction Avalon Theater tickets here, using your credit card. Tickets are for general admission only.

Tickets are also available at the following ticket outlets in Grand Junction and surrounding areas.

Grand Junction: Roper Music
Fruita: Over The Edge Sports
Delta: Clubbs
Hotchkiss: Hardin's Natural Foods
Paonia: Paonia Farm & Home

The tickets for the Montrose performance can only be purchased through the Montrose Pavilion. Tickets are for reserved seating only. Prices vary by sections. For more information, please contact Montrose Pavilion (1800 Pavilion Dr. Montrose CO 81401, 970-249-7015 or 1-800-982-2518).

Oh the Shame!

2008-09-18T19:52:00.003-06:00

So we're all sitting around the dinner table having casual conversation. When my 10 year old son declares
"I counted how many times I farted in a day. I've counted 31 so far."

Mom goes, "Justin!"

Dad goes, "That's my boy!"

After taking all the plates to the sink, mom looks around the corner to hear,

"THAT'S 32!"

30!

2008-09-17T20:15:00.002-06:00

I decided to do this a little differently, because as ordinarily common as being different is..I can't help it

My First 30 Years!

These are the best of my life at 30. I only hope I can live up to the grandeur that these experiences have given me. All I can do is take it in and let my character change and be molded into something better.

The best changing moment was My Wedding (age 17)

The best moments of my life were the birth of all of my children (age 19,20,23,22,26 and 28)

The best thing I've ever seen was a total solar eclipse in Germany (age 21)

The best culture experience I've ever had was going to Paris, France (age 21)

The best family vacation was taking my children to Disney World for the first time (age 24)

The best fun at home moment I hope I never forget was watching my husband take the kids for sled rides off the back of the 4wheeler (age 25)

The best learning experience was moving to Germany and living on an Air Base as a 19 year old spouse and mom (age 19)

The best frighteningly, scary moment was getting our suburban stuck in several feet of snow completely unprepared (I now know that defrosting yourself after hypothermia can cause nausea and severe pain) (age 26)

The best car I ever owned would be the van...unfortunately unglamorous (age 29)

The best pissed off moment ever would probably include my in-laws, my children, and dogs...there's still an issue here, I'm working on it (age...um yeah)

The best fight I ever had was with Luke and now we're just happy that we were both strong enough to work through it, cause we would never have the beautiful life that we do (age 20)

The best money I ever spent is the check I send to the mortgage company every month, in hopes that one day we will own that which we call home (age 25)

The best books I've ever read were The Chronicles of Narnia and I still love reading them.

The best people in my life are my family...wow I got lucky!

The best birthday present ever was a trip to Maui (I'm still missing the ocean)

So, now what do I do with all of the things that I have backlogged in memory?

I SET NEW GOALS!!!!
(coming soon)

Completely Adorable Menu

2008-09-15T22:20:00.003-06:00

I'm always happy to know that my kids want me home after I've been away. It makes me feel needed and...maybe the day's that I completely lose it...aren't creating a permanent scar to their oh so sensitive childhood.
Well after an absolutely fabulous week of Maui, swimming in the ocean, being pampered in a way I never had been, and forgetting what it sounds like to hear children fighting in the back of the car.
My (incredibly talented, more than admirable, amazingly brilliant, exceptionally loving) mom had let my children pick out their own birthday gifts for me.
So, not only did I get home jet lagged...I came home to a fresh dinner (chicken enchilada) in the fridge, and a pile of birthday presents that my kids had picked out.

SNIFF, SNIFF...It was sooooo sweet!

The were obviously thinking hard about what I do all day. They picked out soap, chocolate covered cherries (???umm ..ok...it's the thought that counts???), and a new cookbook magazine (so cool that my entire menu is compiled of all the new recipes).
Now after that ridiculously long entro....

My new menu
Sunday - Chicken salad sandwiches...followed by pumpkin cream turnovers

Monday - pork and bean casserole (since there was left over taco meat in the fridge)

Tuesday - vegetable soup and rolls

Wednesday - creamy, chicken penne

Thursday - Breakfast (It's cheap...what can I say)

Friday - I can look through my new magazine and come up with a bunch of never seen before recipes...I love that!

Drinking Salt Water

2008-09-13T11:10:00.006-06:00

SIGH!
Maui was amazing! The water was a crystal clear, teal blue. Which made the coral easy to see.

First day, we took the road to Hana, which is the rain forest (lots of lagoons, waterfalls, flowers, and views of the ocean..along with the black sand beach).

The next day, we did a snorkeling tour out to a sunken(or risen) crater out in the middle of the ocean. There was spectacular views of coral and small fish, and sea turtles. (SOOOOO MUCH FUN!)

The day after snorkeling, we went on a zipline tour. I know, we went a little nuts with no kids. But hey, it was worth the sore muscles.

The last few days were spent lying on the beach, swimming in the ocean, and shopping.
Luke and I went bathing suit shopping, how fun is that! Trying on swimming suits for your hubby is so much fun, sans kids.

Ok, the car, when in our life are we ever going to own a mustang convertable? (like never) So, we rented one! And we acted like rock stars, and blew kisses to passers by. Not really, but it was a thought :)

Obviously, we missed the kids terribly and were completely ready to come home when it was time. But this will always be one vacation (and birthday) to remember.

Heaven on Earth!

2008-09-06T01:18:00.001-06:00

I have read that those who haven't been to Maui have reason to be jealous. But once you arrive in Maui, you realize they have so much more to be jealous of.

That statement couldn't be more true.
Luke and I rented a convertable mustang for the week.
Today we took the road to Hana, which is the rainforest here in Maui. (SIGH) I cant tell you have amazing it was. But maybe some of these photos will do little justice.

Going For Dramatic???

2008-08-31T22:05:00.002-06:00

Ok, so I have a hair appointment on Tuesday and I'm begging for ideas and suggestions.

Yeah, I know this may be my trauma cut, knowing that it's my birthday, and now I'm old.

I really want something very dramatic, but Luke wants me to grow it out, so the length has to stay, but I'm totally up to changing the style and color....

Have fun and we'll see what we get :)

3 Days To Go!

2008-08-31T21:53:00.002-06:00

I'm so excited, I can't wait.

Even though, I'm not ready. I still have laundry to do, lists to make, letters to write, last minute shopping (since the kids are staying home...food is still a necessity), packing...

The Mental Hospital Hotline

2008-08-25T10:21:00.002-06:00

Hello and thank you for calling The State Mental Hospital.

Please select from the following options menu:

If you are obsessive-compulsive, press 1 repeatedly.

If you are co-dependent, please ask someone to press 2 for you.

If you have multiple personalities, press 3, 4, 5 and 6.

If you are paranoid, we know who you are and what you want,
stay on the line so we can trace your call.

If you are delusional, press 7 and
your call will be forwarded to the Mother Ship.

If you are schizophrenic, listen carefully
and a little voice will tell You which number to press.

If you are manic-depressive, hang up.
It doesn't matter which number you press,
nothing will make you happy anyway.

If you are dyslexic, press 9-6-9-6.

If you are bipolar, please leave a message after the beep
or before the beep or after the beep.
But Please wait for the beep.

If you have short-term memory loss , press 9.

If you have short-term memory loss, press 9.

If you have short-term memory loss, press 9.

If you have low self-esteem, please hang up.
Our operators are too busy to talk with you.

If you are menopausal, put the gun down,
hang up, turn on the fan, lie down and cry.
You won't be crazy forever.

If you are blonde, don't press any buttons.
You'll just mess it up.

This coming week is
National Mental Health Care week.

You can do your part by remembering
to contact at least
one unstable person to show you care.

(Well, my job is done. Your Turn!)

I'm So Proud

2008-08-23T21:44:00.002-06:00

For about 2 years now, my Mom took on an adventure. She was asked to write an art book about painting children.

Well, I'm happy to announce, that it was finally unveiled.

She called me tonight to let me know that I could find it for pre-order on Amazon.com

I just felt like sharing this with all of you because I'm so proud of her.

First Day of School

2008-08-18T17:39:00.003-06:00

Didn't pull it off as overly exceptional, but I'll go with great.

Talley results:

8hours of school
1, 2hour meeting
20 spankings
2 broken pencil tips
3 lectures about how school at home requires the same amount of discipline as school away from home
50 times saying "get back to work"
100 hugs and kisses

I will say that at some moments they all seem to need help at the same time. But if they need me, they can wait till I'm finished helping someone else.

Going through all of the teacher resources and curriculum is still a little daunting because I'm always afraid of missing something important.

Over all, I think we had a good start.

Oh yeah, and the house was definitely quieter.

Why Do I Do This To Myself?

2008-08-12T22:47:00.006-06:00

For the past few weeks, Anna-Claire has had a lump on the side of her eyebrow.

Sorry to say, but I have really begun to dismiss these things. Out of all the children we have, if I don't have one in eminent danger, I tend to overlook the minor bruises. So I figured, it was either a bump on the head or maybe a sinus thing that would just go away. Not only did it not go away, it's getting bigger. Well I was going to make an appointment this week, but as luck would have it; she went and fell off the slide, making the other side of her face a complete wreck. (I would have photo's, but Luke took my camera to Michigan for the week) So, I thought I would stall a few more days to give the other side some time to heal.

Oh why did I do this? Every time I got a spare minute I started thinking, I should look that up. Just in case. I don't really want make a big deal about something stupid.

Well, I looked it up online....and now I'm scared to death. Everything I could find that fits...well I'm just scared to death. Now I'm calling the second the office opens in the morning to get her in.

I really should just not look things up online anymore!

Change is Good....I Think!

2008-08-10T21:35:00.004-06:00

Tomorrow, I have to let my kids go. Go to church camp for three days. Which I know will be good for them, but hard for me.

Justin and Bethany...the two oldest.

I suppose, in some sense, I'm very controlling. If I'm not in control, it's hard for me to accept the person that is...to do the right thing. So, relinquishing my kids for three days is going to be tough. But I realize that it's something they need, to be able to make decisions on their own, and to have fun...just plain fun.

Of course, I'm driving them there, I know the camp nurse, and I know who is going to be with them....every moment. (It's my job to know these things)

But I suppose my anxiety lies, with a completely ridiculous issue...

Who's going to clean the bathroom, and make the beds. while their gone?

The untitled...

2008-08-09T20:03:00.004-06:00

So, most of you know me now, but here's a glimpse into the me then

Luke left today for a week in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I never thought it would bring up all of these thoughts. The memories that I sort of wanted to remember and wanted to forget all at the same time. Memories of difficulty, pain, and change.

Luke left for Antonio, Texas on Sept 3rd, 1997. I felt like I was going to die that day. I was 7 months pregnant with our first baby. So I moved back into my parents house, and waited.....waited to hear from him.
( Every military wife will tell you this feeling. The feelings you get when they leave. First, it's everytime someone looks at you, then it gets to everytime someone talks to you, finally you get strong enough to hear someone ask "how are you?" Without feeling your lips quiver and your eyes well up with tears.)
Finally, in what seemed like forever, I got a phone call from him. All he could do was tell me his address and hang up. All I could do was cry.
I wrote dozens of letters and sent packages every week.

I didn't care if he read them or not, I just wanted to make sure that he was flooded with love letters every time mail call was given.
Once he graduated basic training and was sent to tech school he could at least call me.
The day that we will both never forget is the day our first son was born. Luke was on the phone in Texas and I was here, with our new baby boy. The first time he called he was hung up on...(my silly mom)...the second time.....

The phone rang and before a word was heard....the cries of a brand new baby wailed into the reciever of the phone.

(This photo was taken when Justin was 8 weeks old...it was Luke's first visit home.)

After the smoke clears

2008-08-09T19:39:00.002-06:00

Today was just hard...just really hard.

I went to my Grandpa's house. It's just weird going through someone's stuff, deciding what it is you should take and what you should leave. I know it's been a while since his death, but maybe that's why I've taken so long so go over there.

The point is I really didn't want anything. I mean, the memories that I have of him are enough. Most of the things in the house that I remember the most are already gone. Silly things, like a clock that chimed, or all the colorful decantar sets.

The point is, that once someone is gone, and the "things and money" are dispersed...how do you keep discretion?
I've tried to steer clear of the whole thing, does that make me look like I dont care?

NO MORE MONKEY'S RUNNIN THROUGH THE HOUSE!!!

2008-08-05T10:44:00.004-06:00

How many times have we been told . . . and have told our children NOT to run in the house? Did we always listen? Do they listen?
Not always.
Sometimes our seemingly futile efforts fail, and 'boo-boo's' happen. Here is a little feller who didn't listen, and he got his own souvenir scars. Perhaps he'll learn from his mistake. Maybe....

Doesn't look so-o bad. Perhaps he should keep this next photo handy to explain the way it happened - - - - ow ow ow own ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow OOOHHHHH!!! That's GOTTA hurt!!!!

On the Line.....

2008-08-04T20:37:00.003-06:00

I'm laying it all on the line....

Along with all the questions I hear in a day, this time of year brings up the particular question.

SO WHERE DO YOU GO TO SCHOOL?

My kids are forced to say, "we homeschool" followed by an "ooooh."

I stand with pride, and always hear what follows. A "wow!"
But it brings into question....WHY?
WHY would I homeschool my children?

Of course I think back to when I began and all the reasonings I had then.
(sorry I do everything in lists, but it's just my style)

1. Because my heart broke every time I left them at school.
2. Because we decided that the center of their universe should be their home.
3. Because my children are not something I'm not willing to take my chances on.
4. Because the Bible says " teach them in the way they should go and when they are old, they will not depart from it."
5. Because I know that a system that is in rebellion against God cannot be a positive influence on my children.
6. Because God gave these children to me to raise, not a system, and I am the one that knows what's best for each of them.
7. Because, even though I'm not the smartest person in the world, my kids will be raised with the TRUTH.
8. Because when I went on my knees with prayer, it was the one thing that God and I could be comfortable with.
9. Because I don't have to worry about who's telling my children things I don't want them to hear.
10. Because it's challenging, and I want my children to learn how to work hard.

With tears and a lot of emotions I give you a portion of my all....
There are more, but these are just a few important reasons why I homeschool.

(in no particular order)

Christmas in July

2008-08-01T08:45:00.002-06:00

Ok, every other homeschool family will tell you. It's Christmas in July, or August depending on when their books come in.
Hurray!!!
Their finally here! I'm excited, the kids are excited, and we're looking forward to the new school year.
I always take on the task of going through each book and assessing how much time, energy, effort, and pages need to be done in a day to get through it all in a year. This year is going to be very different for three reasons;

1. I did a 180, and switched curriculums from BJU to A Beka.
2. We're going to be trying out the MVV program this year.(which means...more paperwork, documenting, and testing)
3. This year I'm taking on the task of having a lesson of some kind for each child.

Time Well Spent

2008-07-29T13:05:00.004-06:00

Last week, we stopped by my parents house on the way home. It was a quick stop, you know the routine, "we're just picking something up, everyone stay in your seat belts, we'll leave the air conditioner on, Grandma and Papa will come out and say HI."
So the whole thing went as planned, we said hi, my mom brought cookies out to the car for the kids and we headed home.
Two seconds after we got home, my Dad pulls up the driveway in his truck. Just because he didn't feel like he had enough time with us. Time, that was it. He didn't need an excuse to come over, He just came. After about 30 minutes and a nice visit, he goes to get back into his truck, and Luke noticed something.
My Dad got into his truck and came to our house with NO SHOES ON!

Now some people would look at this as odd, crazy, or a little scatter brained, but not me.
I know my Dad just didn't care that his shoes were on, he just wanted to come over and wasn't willing to take the time on himself to put them on.

In All Honesty

2008-07-27T17:29:00.003-06:00

I love my house. I mean it took an act of God to get this house to begin with. But it's funny how even though you have everything that seems to be perfect, you just want to peek over the other side to see what it might be like.
My major complaints for the neighborhood are....

*about 40% renters (which makes for lousy neighbors -most of the time)
*our house is in a direct flightline path(which you get used to and dont notice until your at someone elses house)
*our HOA dues are atsronomical - yet they cant get the guy to move his car that's been dead and parked on the wrong side of the street for two years.
*it's really a trek to drive anywhere and I typically have to plan everything around a twenty minute comute or more.
*the lot size is ridiculous and there is no RV parking whatsoever (which means everything goes in the garage...my car is slowly being pushed out)
*we're suppose to be getting annexed, and that's going to cost more (who knows how much more)

The plus side to staying here and being content with what God gave us....
*We wouldn't have to go into any more debt
*we already have three years of mortgage payments behind us
*We've already built strong memories here
*It's an absolutely beautiful house
*We would have to hire moving people, because there's just some stuff that is going to be impossible to move (and I hate moving)
*we can always remodel it if we need to
*I can always find someone living somewhere that I wouldn't want to live in a million years.

Luke and I took a drive, looking at houses that were available in the areas that we desired the most. After walking through a few, knowing one was too small, the other was ok and was nice, but was it going to be worth all the work and effort and memories lost? After pulling into the driveway of my completely comfortable, memory filled, 3% paid for house, I think we'll just stay home.

Get This!

2008-07-22T11:51:00.003-06:00

Grandma Marge stood me up!

I was prepared for everything that she could do, but didn't really expect this.
I'm still not sure what to make of it.

CRAZY GRANDMA!

I'm Determined!

2008-07-21T08:48:00.003-06:00

Well, the time has come to take up the ever tedious task of entertaining obscure relatives. My husband's grandmother and her new husband...at the age of 87...is visiting from Florida.

I'm determined not to freak out when:

1. They ask me for the one hundredth time if I'm having any more kids.

2. I see them kissing (they are newlyweds after all). Still, it's kind of...

3. They grab silverware out of the droor that didn't make it past inspection after going through the dishwasher.

4. The kids forget to flush the toilet.

5. The kids whine or ask for something they know they aren't allowed to have.

6. They decide that a restaurant is my idea of not having to work for dinner. (Like it's easy taking 5 children to a restaurant)

7. One of the kids picks their nose in front of them.

8. When Grandma decides it's important to tell me about her bathroom habits.

9. When they decide that Luke is commodity for running errands.

10. Last, but not least, If they come over and the house isn't perfectly clean.

I'll do my best, but that's all I can do...and NO MORE!

PEEEEYEEEEW!!!!

2008-07-17T21:15:00.003-06:00

The kids have been bored all summer, so today I decided to let them have a project day.
First we started with construction paper, scissors, glue, and crayons.

Then we moved onto a tea party, including a very special tea set from Germany.

Finally, we moved on to my daughters birthday present. A perfumery lab chemistry set.

After about an hour, my nasal passage just screams NO MORE. You know when you get that sick to your stomach, if I have to wiff one more thing, I'm going to hurl. So I tell Bethany, "ok, that's enough...put everything away, exactly the way it was before."

But, I had no idea the events that were about to ensue.

The next thing I know...my entire house is filled with the concentrated version of peppermint, jasmine, apple, lily of the valley, and some other smell that when used correctly smells like soap.
It smells so bad in my house right now...I have had no luck looking up ways to get it out of the house. Opening up all the windows didn't help, hours later it's still just as offensive. I need help...any suggestions????

Embarrassing Moment of the Day

2008-07-16T21:11:00.003-06:00

Ugh!
Like I don't have enough embarrassing moments just being blond.
Today, while I was doing Bethany's hair, getting ready to leave for ballet class, I hear Cody crying. "Mom, the dog ran away!"
Oh great, my big obnoxious dog has decided to run off and hit the town. I grab a bag of dog treats and go for a walk.
I turn the corner, and spot her...whistling and calling her...but she completely ignores me....grrrr!

So I have to walk straight up to her and grab her. Oh how embarrassing, but it's not the worst part. My dog decides her defiance is not over, and she lays on the ground and plays dead.
So, there I am, dragging a full grown Labrador retriever, on her back down the sidewalk. Yep, my neighbors now know me as the lady that drags her dog.
I'm so mad at her I could just spit. Stupid Dog!

41 Girl Confessions

2008-07-14T14:13:00.004-06:00

1.Is it cute when a guy kisses you on your forehead?
Completely, it shows admiration and respect

2.A big poofy dress or a short party dress?
If I have to wear a dress, it's a short party dress

3.What would you do if you received a long love letter?
Be completely shocked!

4.Group dates or single dates?
BOTH

5.Do you hate it when guys act different around their friends?
Of course

6.Are diamonds a girl’s best friend?
I really dont think so, but I love them.

7.Is your hair up or down today?
actually, it's up...can you believe it

8.Do you straighten your hair?
ha ha ha ha ha ha...my hair couldn't get any straighter if it was wet

9.Favorite mascara?
maybelline..waterproof, black

10.Do you get your nails done?
no..I dont have the time and I dont like to waste money

11.Small or large purses?
definately small

12.In your purse, what are your must haves?
hmmm..let me check....3 pens, a rubberband, stamps, rewetting drops, grocery list, keys, wallet, cellphone

13.Jeans or sweats?
in the winter...jeans, summer...shorts...almost never sweats

14.Do you wear clothes/shoes/jewelry that’s uncomfortable?
unfortunately...I can't pull off the hippi look

15.Do you text message a lot?
it cost money, no way

16.What would you do if you got pregnant?
roll my eyes and say "here we go again"

17.What’s your favorite color?
depends on my mood and the season

18.Heels or flats:
heels...I need all the height I can get, even my flip flops are on an incline

19.Did you ever cry during a romantic movie?
yes...west side story was the first

20.Would you ever leave the house without make-up on?
not often

21. Walmart or Target?
I find Target to be the lesser evil, but Walmart has more

22. Do you wear collar shirts?
sometimes

23. Do you think lip gloss is the best?
definately

24. Do you own any big sunglasses?
I try to find small ones, but they aren't popular so...yeah

25. How long does it take you to get ready in the morning?
about 10 minutes

26.Do you like to wear band-aids?
wah?

27. Do you often wish there was something you could change?
are you kidding...I'd change the color of my car if I could

28.Gold or Silver?
hmmm tough question

29. Do you like to recieve flowers?
Of course

30. Do you dress up for the holidays?
only Christmas and Easter...next year I'll make a point to dress up for presidents day

31. Do you like to wear dresses?
no

32. On a scale of 1-10 how much do men confuse you.
I'm assuming 1 is the least, 10 is the most....I'll go with a 2

33. Do you like to hold hands?
since kids, it's usually little hands that I have to hold on to

34. Would you kill for chocolate?
well obviously never, but there are days when its better just to have some and defuse the situation

35.Did you ever spend all day getting pretty for a guy?
Oh I like this question....MY WEDDING DAY!

36. On a scale from 1-10, how fun is shopping?
With kids 1, without kids 10

37. Do you freak out if you miss your favorite show?
ha ha...like I have one

38. Do you yell a lot?
"sigh" on days like today...it usually sounds like this...CODY TYLER MURRAY!

39. Do you wear sweatpants or pajamas to work?
Well I dont work, but the same rules apply...never out of the house

40. Do you have cramps?
dont we all

41. Do you think you have the bestest friends ever?

I know I do

My Patience Builder

2008-07-14T13:31:00.003-06:00

I've asked other parents...do you have "the one?"
You know "the one" child that tests your patience until the outer edges have been thoroughly tested. The one, that would make even Mother Teresa explode on occasion. The one, that has made silence in your house terrifying. It's the child that has made all of the hiding places for things like scissors, sugar, glue, cookies, knives, sharpie markers, seem like not a good enough location.
Yep, I have one too.
And today, my patience is being tested to the very fibers from which it came. After spanking him the very second I got out of bed for kicking his sister. (This is obviously not allowed) Next spanking was for sneaking the carrots upstairs and attempting to make chopped soup out of them with his sisters toys.(Yet again, not allowed) Once all of the pieces were cleaned up onto the next spanking. Sneaking cereal and cookies, just after breakfast. (not allowed)And when I think this has got to be the last time, I go upstairs after I hear the water running. Surely this could not be Cody, since he asked and I just told him no...he could not take a bath. As I approach the upstairs I see a streak of naked, wet little boy running to his room. "SIGH!"

Happy Clean Sheet Day!!!

2008-07-11T09:47:00.002-06:00

Is there nothing more comforting than going to bed after a long hard day to perfectly, fresh, clean sheets.
It's like a moment from a laundry detergent commercial. You open up your dryer and smell those perfectly bleached, crisp sheets.
I know this is completely ridiculous, but sometimes we need a little ridiculous in life. All day I go around the house saying "happy clean sheet day!" Every time you walk past the washer and dryer, hearing those sheets getting clean, "happy clean sheet day!" Then, finally you put them on your bed, straighten them, and cover them up, it like a present waiting to be opened at the end of the day. Ahhhh, at last, but honey you have to take a shower first before you come to bed.

So I pay homage to the clean sheets and celebrate "HAPPY CLEAN SHEET DAY!"

Focus!!!

2008-07-09T10:48:00.002-06:00

For the past few weeks everything and everyone has been chaos. Even though, the house is clean, the kids are dressed, food in the fridge, bills are paid, and appointments have been made on time, things just still seem to be out of sorts.
I can only think of one thing that really makes life seem this way, summer and a lack of focus.
We've been off of school now for a ridiculous amount of time. Since we started early last year, we finished early this year. Not a bad concept, just bad timing. So now, the kids have been done with school since early April. Ugh!
Enough is enough. I've decided to start some serious study time for Justin, Bethany, and Cody. We've been doing little things here or there, but nothing too strenuous.
For now, we're beginning with a page of hand written math tables, followed by a paragraph of handwriting (usually a Bible verse), then a 30 minute reading time.
Any suggestions or helpful tips?

The very first blonde GUY joke...

2008-07-08T14:46:00.001-06:00

Usually, by the time I get these, everyone else has already heard it, but I think it's funny (ok, maybe a little sick and wrong too)

An Irishman, a Mexican and a Blonde Guy were doing construction work on scaffolding on the 20th floor of a building. They were eating lunch and the Irishman said, "Corned beef and cabbage! If I get corned beef and cabbage one more time for lunch, I'm going to Jump off this building.

"
The Mexican opened his lunch box and exclaimed, "Burritos again! If I get burritos one more time I'm going to jump off, too.

"
The blond opened his lunch and said, Bologna again! If I get a bologna sandwich one more time, I'm jumping too.

"
The next day, the Irishman opened his lunch box, saw corned beef and cabbage and jumped to his death. The Mexican opened his lunch, saw a burrito, and jumped, too. The blonde guy opened his lunch, saw the bologna and jumped to his death as well.

At the funeral, the Irishman's wife was weeping.

She said, "If I'd known how really tired he was of corned beef and cabbage, I never would have given it to him again!"
The Mexican's wife also wept and said, "I could have given him tacos or enchiladas! I didn't realize he hated burritos so much.

"
Everyone turned and stared at the blonde's wife. The blonde's wife said, "Don't look at me.

He makes his own lunch