Ba-hum-bug!

We recently returned home from a great trip to Idaho for the Thanksgiving holiday, where everything was dusted with snow. A few days ago, Jordan was lamenting the quick passing of our trip and expressing his distaste of our mild winter climate. He is quite worried that we are headed for a brown Christmas and blurted out in great frustration, "When is it ever going to snow?!?!"

I answered, "I hope never!"

His reply? "Oh, yeah! 'Cause you're the Grinch!!"

Fun Christmas Idea

I have a sister-in-law that has a business based in Idaho selling interchangeable, beaded watches, baby bows, and such. Her watch bands are the cutest I have ever seen. I have some of her inventory at my house and she has pictures of her products and contact information on http://candybeadz.blogspot.com/ . They make great Christmas gifts if anyone is interested in taking a look. She takes custom orders, can often duplicate inventory she has already sold, and offers shipping services. There is still plenty of time before the holiday! Feel free to call or contact her or myself if you are interested in seeing what it is all about!!

Pearl Harbor - USS Arizona & USS Missouri

I've always thought of myself as a grateful person. When I turn my thoughts to the people in the military serving our country I've always been moved with some degree of gratitude for their bravery and sacrifices. While we were in Honolulu, Brett and I spent an afternoon at Pearl Harbor, and now my gratitude is forever magnified.

We first visited the USS Arizona Memorial, built over the sunken ship that serves as the tomb for many men.

Next we toured the USS Missouri -- the ship commissioned on the 1 year anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The Japanese signed the surrender documents that ended the 2nd world war on its deck.

It was hard to believe that so many men lived and worked in all the tight space of those ships. I don't think I've bumped my head that many times in that short of time before. It was very cool to see where the men slept, ate, relaxed, and worked. It was especially cool to be in the dark control room surrounded by glowing radar screens and sit in the seats of the men in charge. Holding the trigger in my hand in the gun room was also something I won't soon forget. What an amazing and humbling look into the history of our country.

A short time ago, in a galaxy far, far away . . .

Although my boys have grown enough in the last calendar year to cause me a little stress and heartache, they didn't grow enough to necessitate purchasing new Halloween costumes. Armed with blasters and treat buckets, they were more than happy to peruse the church "trunk-or-treat" in their re-run garb. And our little "troopers" "hunted" down plenty of "bounty."

As a matter of fact, Kade learned the reality of eating enough sweets to make you sick -- the hard way. So, Kade got up this morning with a head start on the day, since he took his bath sometime around midnight, and his bedroom is sporting freshly washed walls and baseboards, thoroughly scrubbed carpet, and freshly laundered sheets, quilts, pajamas, pillows, stuffed animals, and mattress pads! The middle of last night is not really the time I would have chosen to do my spring cleaning (in fact, I was trying to wish myself to a galaxy far, far away), but I'm glad that life lesson is behind us. His learning the hard way caused an awful lot of hard work for everyone else!! There is no danger of a repeat disaster this evening! He hasn't even glanced at his treat bucket today. Happy Halloween!!

the Bounty Hunter - Jango Fett

Commander "Kade" - Clone TrooperI

Halloween Grubbies!

What do you get when you compile 18 cups of milk, 24 ounces of cool whip, 3 packages of oreo cookies, 6 large boxes of chocolate pudding, a hand mixer, a food processor, an ice cream scoop, 48 plastic cups and black spoons, 48 plastic spider rings, and 96 gummi grubs? (Besides a large chunk of time spent, a really tired mixing arm, and a really big mess. . .)

48 dirt cups for 2 Elementary school Halloween parties (and 4 really stained and chocolaty shirt sleeves that will require even more of my time to get clean.) Happy Halloween Festivities!!

Jack-o-lanterns, Transform & Roll out!

When I get geared up for the Halloween holiday, I can't help but be excited about pumpkin carving. I remember carefully planning the face for my jack-o-lantern, meticulously gutting it out, and then cautiously carving a face with a disconcerting grin. Well, as a mom of two young boys, I still get to look forward to the annual carving event, but theirs are not their mother's jack-o-lanterns!! Last year, we ended up with the Rebel insignia from Star Wars, and this year . . .

Autobots and Decipticons!!

Of course! Why didn't I think of that? Dad was busy at work this week, so I got to assist the boys in these transformations without him. I've learned that an eerie face is much less time consuming and stressful than alien military insignias. And, what exactly do you call these un-traditional "jack-o-lanterns"? Squashtimus Prime? Megalamp?

Vacation from blogging

It has been a while since I made the time to post anything on my blog about our goings-on.

But, Brett and I just returned home from paradise on Earth and if you could have seen the view from our private lanai, you would understand my neglect.

There will be plenty of time later for blogging. Aloha!!

Left in confusion

On the way to Wal-mart today, Kade very seriously asked, "Mom, why do you hate Wal-mart so bad when it has so many useful things that you need?" Good question, buddy. But I can't answer you honestly without turning you into a claustrophobic, obsessive-compulsive germ-a-phobe. So you'll just have to keep on being baffled by my unexplained dislike.

An obligatory post

I hadn't planned on posting today, because I didn't really have anything to write about, but, my sister informed me that it was time to update my blog. When I told her to let me know when she had some time to work on that for me, thinking I could get myself out of fitting one more thing into this day, she attempted to flatter me into posting by telling me how good I am at coming up with interesting things to write about. So, I am posting, and not because of the guilt and flattery she flung at me, but because I love her.

I've spent a little bit of time brainstorming about what might be worth blogging about.
--I could write about all of the crumbs and sticky goo I cleaned out of my fridge today while Kade was at Kindergarten and how therapeutic it was . . . but I think only I could appreciate that.

--I could write about how much fun it was to catch up with a good friend on the phone while the kids were at school today . . . but then I would have to admit how lousy I am at keeping in touch.

--I could take a minute to discuss how I've gone into hiding in my little house and have begun researching the witness protection program in an effort to dodge all of the riled up parents that aren't thrilled with the schedule I came up with for cub scouts this year (since our school district made things horribly inconvenient with new ridiculous boundaries) . . . but I don't want to risk showing my weakness to my predators.

--I could solicit some dinner ideas from anyone who is reading since I have no creativity today and even less desire to torture myself at the grocery store . . . but I'm running out of time to wait for feedback.

So, luckily, a friend handed me a CD with some random pictures she'd taken of my kids throughout the summer when I snuck out of hiding to get the kids from school, so I have . . . MATERIAL! We spent several days this summer at the aquatic center here in our community. If you can get past the epidemic of blind shoppers or more-than-poorly-lit dressing rooms that must exist in our local bathing suit shops with some super dark sunglasses and a bit of anti-nausea medication, it is a pretty fun place to hang out. We loved meeting friends there to visit, play, splash, soak up sun, and eat a cold treat or two. Jordan has always loved to swim and does really great in the pool. He was finally tall enough for diving boards and big water slides this year. He was thrilled. Kade surprised us with how brave he got by the end of the summer - he was walking out into water up to his chin and even putting his head all the way in this year -- MIRACLE!!

The aquatic center closed for the season on Labor Day, so we have many months to reminisce as we watch our tans fade and to fantasize about more summer fun and sun next year. In the meantime . . . we are going to have a few fund-raisers to provide light bulbs for all of the dressing rooms in our town and all outlying shopping areas. YIKES! What do people have against fabric?!?!?

Funny things they've said . . .

Our boys keep us laughing. Here are some of the funny things they said just yesterday:

When I pulled dinner out of the oven last night, Kade approached it with his sniffer in the air to take in the aroma and then abruptly stopped, turned to me, and asked, "If I smell it, will it take some of the taste out of it?"

When Jordan and I were setting out today's clothes last night, I pulled the new T-shirt Jordan had chosen out of the closet and Kade said, "Wow! That sure is ugly! Isn't it Jordan?"

When Brett was asking Kade about his first day of Kindergarten he asked if he had any friends in his class. Kade said yes, so Brett asked who his friends were, and Kade said, "Well, all of them!" So Brett then asked what their names are, and Kade answered, "Oh, I don't remember their names."

When I was tucking them in last night, Jordan couldn't convince Kade to remove the Batman cape from the back of his pajama top to sleep. Even though Jordan tried to scare him with warnings that it wasn't safe and Kade might die in the night, Kade just said, "No I won't!!" and snuggled up with cape intact. So, when Jordan said his night-time prayer just moments later, his first plea was, "Please don't let Kade choke and die in the night." I giggled through his whole prayer! What an example of reverence. Good thing I was sitting on Kade's bed so Jordan didn't notice his mattress shaking during his heartfelt prayer.

First Days of School

Well, the school year is upon us, a lot earlier than we would like, and it means a lot of new things for us. First, Jordan didn't give me a hug when I dropped him off this year. He turned around and hesitated like he might, but then gave me a macho wave and darted off. I'm proud of him for being so independent and grown up. . . . but . . . . oh, my heart!! He grew up!! Second, Kade is in Kindergarten this year. I know you can hardly believe it, but it is true. He loved his first day of school today, but he spent most of the afternoon on my lap and told me how much he missed me! (That is more like it!!) Third, I am home alone for a good chunk of time every day. I'm not sure what to do with myself. I'm a little lost and a lot sad. I got to attend the first little bit of Kade's Kindergarten day, and when the teacher sent the kids off on a building tour so she could talk to parents for a while, I asked her, "Is this when the mom's can cry?" I did get rather teary and emotional and then I got a lot of looks like I had something grotesque crawling on my face. Not everyone shared in my sentiment. Finally, our kids' school is a brand new building with brand new everything inside. It was cool to see rooms full of desks that have never been doodled, a gym floor that has never been squeaked or scuffed, and a library full of books that have never been cracked. The classroom technology is amazing. It is quite a drive for us, (I'm not sure how they get away with calling it our neighborhood school when it is on the other side of the lake and town and you have to hop on the interstate for miles to get there) but is a pretty exciting place to be. It is the only school in our town that I know of that isn't an open air school . . . there is actually indoor hallways! Yeah! The motel style buildings were really odd to me when we first moved here.

So, I'm hoping that Jordan keeps loving school, that Kade keeps loving on me when he gets home from school, and that I can "saddle up and ride" through this new phase of life. I never thought I'd have an empty nest at such a young age. Whoever wrote the phrase, "babies don't keep" probably wrote it on their child's first day of Kindergarten.

Anyone for some guacamole?

One of Kade's uncles asked us one recent evening around our dinner table set with nachos and all of the fixin's, "Do you like guacamole?" Kade confused us all with a very vigorous, "Yeah!!" I scrunched up my brow and dug through my memory bank for a time that Kade had even agreed to taste the strange green stuff. Then he clarified -- "You get this big hammer and you hit these beavers on their heads when they pop out of their holes."

When I was able to control my laughter, I explained to him that those were not "beavers," but "moles" and that you "whack" them with the hammer, so the popular kiddy-arcade game is called "Whack-a-mole," not "guacamole." At least, that is what Chuck E. Cheese will call it. But for our family, it will forever be -- "Anyone for a game of Guacamole?"

No green thumb. . . but success nonetheless!!

I was more than a little bit apprehensive and hesitant to get a garden started this year. I have never done it before. I kept waiting for one of Brett's days off where the weather was cooperating and we didn't have any other plans, and that day never came. One day Brett picked up some tomato plants on his way home, so I threw those in the ground. We had purchased a few different seeds one day at the store, but I really didn't want to be solely responsible for a major failure. However, since the spring days were gone by and the summer clock was ticking, I planted a garden one morning while Brett was at work. And then, I waited and doubted. When things didn't peek through the dirt in the number of days that the seed packages had quoted, I griped about what a waste of time it was and about how I am not cut out for such dirty work. Then, an amazing thing happened! We left on a vacation in early July for two weeks and we came back to a green miracle!! Our tomato plants were absolutely huge and out of control (as were the weeds in the unplanted areas of my little plot) and there were plants popping up all over. In spite of my late planting and little faith, we have been harvesting!

I've learned two things. (1) Home grown tomatoes are in a whole different league than the imitation tomatoes that you buy at the grocer's produce department, and (2) gardening isn't rocket science -- anyone can grow something with a little dirt and some water. It doesn't matter if the rows are straight or if you use a tape measure to plant things exactly as the instructions indicate. The plants aren't as picky as those Burpee experts think. I am going to thoroughly enjoy my giant beefsteak tomato at the table tonight and I'm not going to begrudge all of the sweat that I sacrificed in its behalf. Thanks to our long central Washington growing season, we'll be having spaghetti squash, yellow crookneck squash, and carrots night after night in the next week or two! I'll be much less timid when planting season rolls around next year.

However, my one, yes, one, sugar-snap pea pod that made it may make me modify my blend of seed choices some next year. Who knew that peas were so persnickety? -- So ironic that this was the choice to irritate a pampered princess!

Play Date

Sometimes it is hard when there are only two kids in your house and one gets invited to go somewhere with a friend. The other one is always the only one left behind. So, today when Jordan went to play with friends, and Kade's friend wasn't home to answer our call, Kade and I had a play date of our own.

We read stories, did puzzles, ate fudgesicles, practiced making and reading 3 letter words, and wrote a letter to Kade's friend that moved away. It was so fun to spend some time together. He was really giddy and full of giggles to be getting so much attention from Mom on his own. I have been pretty tied up the last few days. These are the times I cherish. I think Kade quickly forgot that he was left behind.

Who you gonna call?

Last night, our boys were tucked into their beds and Brett and I were just talking and perusing through music online. Suddenly we caught each others' eyes in a bit of confusion and panic. Something was scratching and scrambling at our front door. Anyone that knows me knows that I don't deal well with anything that comes out scratching after hours. Brett, being the brave protector that he is, tip-toed over and put his hand on the knob. He hesitated momentarily to take a peek out of the front door glass before he barreled out. He was surprised and somewhat horrified to realize that there was a skunk on our front porch. With wide eyes, he turned to me and said, "I just about let that sucker in here!! You would have been really p*##$& at me!!" Our little friend hung out for the next couple of hours and we giggled about it nervously. What happens if a skunk sprays the front of your house?

This morning, I woke up the find that our friend has tucked himself in somewhere for the daylight hours . . . but where? I haven't been brave enough to open the front door yet this morning. Hopefully some unsuspecting house caller doesn't run into an unexpected adventure. About a year ago, our friend that handles nuisance animals lived here in town and I would have been calling him up pronto. But, now that he lives hundreds of miles from here, who am I going to call??

Such class

There are many differences between the town we currently live in and the beautiful city of Portland that we left behind two years ago. Quite often we see or experience something that reminds us that we "aren't in Kansas anymore, Toto!" But, this weekend, we experienced one of the most obvious and stark differences yet.

The "Bite of Oregon" vs "Pig Out in the Park"

In Portland, we attended the annual "Bite of Oregon." We would drive down to the waterfront, pay our entry fee, and then peruse the park with classy folks where "culinary creations abound featuring top Oregon Chefs." I remember enjoying a sampling of fantastic entrees, some of which were too fancy to pronounce.

In contrast, here in our new hometown we attended "Pig Out in the Park" where we also drove down the waterfront and perused the park for our dinner. But this time, we had to watch for puppy poop all along the way; were surrounded by profanity slinging, scantily clad, unbathed, smoking, beer-drinking folks; and had a large assortment of fried food choices -- curly fries, funnel cakes, foot-long corn dogs, fried Snickers, fried Twinkies, etc. We found plenty to eat, but, -- sigh --, I miss Portland.

Cousins

While we were in Utah recently, my boys had a blast playing with my sister's tiny poodles, Murphy and Dexter. The entire visit, Jordan could be found with one cradled under his left arm while he played fetch with the other with his right.

The first morning we were there, I was getting ready in the bathroom to go to the zoo, and Jordan came in with Dexter in his arms and said, "Mom, I thought you said we didn't have any cousins on this side of the family. Your nephew wants to say 'hello'."

So I guess there are cousins for my children on my side of the family, they just have a lot more hair per square inch than most.

Let boys be boys

Every once in a while, the dormant sports fanatic that lurks inside my husband just can't lie in wait anymore. Then we have to feed it. This time, we satisfied the beast by sending Brett to Denver with 5 brothers to meet his friend and go to all four games that the Atlanta Braves played against the Colorado Rockies. The Pack boys have been Braves fans since their diaper days and this is a trip that they won't stop talking about for years . . . maybe decades.

While all 6 wives and 14 (of 15) kids were safely visiting, playing, and jewelry-making back in Idaho, we received many phone calls and texts about game highlights, caught homerun balls at Braves batting practice, and lots of good food and good times. Brett's home office was the second of our rooms to get a makeover. Nicely framed posters of his childhood sports idols, newly-found sports collectibles, and souveniers from his trip have made his room truly manly. It has a slightly different feel than the rest of the house. We are so happy that Brett had such a great time with the guys, but we missed him a lot and are happy to all be back home.

For my sister . . .

As part of our recent summer vacation, my boys and I spent a couple of days in Salt Lake City with my sister. She bought a house the same week I did, just over 2 years ago, and I had yet to visit. Her town house is immaculate and very classy. She and I each have a style of our own, but her decor inspired me to add a little bit of color to a room that has been driving me crazy with drab. Before she took me to a few of her favorite places to shop, my family room was nothing but black and brown. So, in response to her patient nagging, I'm posting some pictures of my family room makeover for her to see. It may not go along with her "muted Europe" motif, but I think she can appreciate it.

(you can't even see the surround sound speakers that I'm trying to disguise on this sofa table . . . right?)

Sorry that the pictures are a little bit dark. The windows are large and plenty on that side of the house, so the right lighting for picture taking is really hard to come by.

Now, I should mention the real adventure behind this makeover. My husband left from Idaho with my van full of brothers for a guy trip to Denver, so my mom was great enough to get my boys and I down to Utah in her car. It was a lot of fun for the boys and I to ride in her bright red Volkswagen convertible bug the whole way down and back. But, we had a bit of a clown experience on the way home as we had to fit all of my art, throw pillows, vases, candle holders, and such in the tiny car with our luggage and four bodies. Have you ever seen the trunk in one of these babies? It was definitely interesting. But, we made it. I did have a few things shipped to ML from Salt Lake. I couldn't convince my mom to ride home with a vase on her head like an African woman could. What a poor sport.