On the Cusp of Summer

Despite snow/sleet/rain all this past week
and into this weekend,
AND
despite the proclamations of a few wingnuts
that the world was going to end,

the yahoos had a mighty-fine weekend.

The Caboose managed to have a late-night with a friend,
set-up a lemonade stand
and dog-sit some neighbors' dogs.

The Boofus also had a late-night,
spent alot of time wettin' a fishin' line
at the little pond,
participated in a neighborhood boys' airsoft battle,
and riding his bike every which way,
aside from helping his dad mow the yard,
dig a trench--
in which he proclaimed was
"great father-son bonding time".

Daisie babysat afterschool
and
had a date Friday,
got her hair cut into a chin-length bob
on Saturday,
and worked on Seminary make-up after church today.

Dani and Mr. Idaho arrived safely in Baytown, Texas
yesterday,
where they've been overwhelmed by the kindness,
in true Southern style.
As well as humidity.

Diana was called to be in her ward's Relief Society presidency
as a counsellor and is thrilled with the opportunity.

Mr W and I have been waiting to hear
if our offer on the new house was accepted.
It was.
I'm grateful.

I was also asked to teach Gospel Doctrine in two weeks.
I know, right?!
Ack!
Don't tell the teacher who asked me to do this,
but as soon as she turned away,
I whispered to Mr. W's ear,
"I hope I die before then."
true story.

We've gotten alot of much-needed rain lately,
which thrills me--selfishly so,
because the new house is empty
and I want the grass to get watered!
So everytime it rains,
we all smile our biggest smiles
and think of our new yard.

It's good to have things to look forward to...
School is out at the end of this week,
and all I can think of is
SUMMER!!!

What are you looking forward to this summer?

Score!!!

How was your weekend?

Really, on a scale of 1 to 10, what's your score?

Ratings, baby. It's all about ratings.

I'd say the Royal Couple's weekend was a 9.

Barack Obama def a 10.

Osama B*n Laden a negative 200.

Navy Seals who brought down B*n Laden, definitely a 10.

Mine pales in comparison.

I'd give my weekend a solid FIVE.

I worked--even when I wasn't at the showroom,

I was working.

Recap:

Friday morning, 

I went house-hunting. (8)

The first house was a shocker--

totaly remodelled to my delight (10)

but the masterbath was the size of a phonebooth.(2)

The 2nd house, as it turned out was the home of an elderly man

who recently died--

and was the parent of a friend.

That was a unique and un-ratable experience.

Joseph voiced that it made him uncomfortable to be in a house

where someone had passed away,  

but I told him that because of that fact,

the house was a sacred place, and if it fit our needs,

we would be blessed living there.

Just as we felt the home he was born in,

is a special place to our family,

so is the other home where that good man had left this life

to return to Heavenly Father.

Later Friday,

I went shopping with a decorating client.(9!)

I love shopping with other people's money.(10!)

That's a fact.

We picked up some great things--

candlesticks,

huge clock,

large wicker basket 

some forsythia and other green florals to put in it,

and a great oval mirror to put over a sideboard.

I'm taking pics as we go

and will share them once we're finished.

The rest of the day

zoomed by and before I knew it,

it was time for dinner. (8)

Arianna was at the Denver Museum 

with the other 4th graders in her school

for an overnight experience--

which she loved!! (10)

She got to sleep in the "South Pacific" room,

where, she claims a bird stared at her all night long.

Anyway,

Daisie was also gone from the house,

so it was just Mr W, the Boofus and I for dinner

and we let Boofus choose where to go out to eat

and ended up at a place called "The Golden Corral". (7)

We hadn't been in decades--

the Boofus, never.

So it was a new exciting experience to eat at a Buffet!

There was more food than I can recall 

but I can tell what Boofus ate:

meatloaf 

sliced peaches

ice cream.

pizza.

In that order.

It was delicious and painful. (8)

We ate so much we hurt!

lol

After dinner,

I took Mr W over to look at the two homes I'd looked at earlier. (8)

Then I headed over with my realtor

to help her stage a house. (9)

We were there until 12:45am Saturday--(-3)

and up until about 11pm,

I was having a blast. really.

But, as I told my realtor and the homeowner,

my creative abilities go to sleep around ten pm

so I couldn't be trusted after that.

We staged for nearly 5 hours. (during daylight hours I'd give it a 9, but in the middle of the night, -4)

When I got home, it was all I could do,

to not collapse into bed,

clothes and all.

I was beyond tired.

Mr W made me breakfast in bed--

an omelet with 505 Green chile sauce on it--(10)

yum.

And then my day took off.

I worked all day Saturday at the showroom,

and once I made it through the day,

came home to a delicious dinner prepared by Mr W

and rested.

He is so good to me.(10)

I had those two houses running thru my mind

still.(3)

Had we made the right decision to pass on them?

I got up from my comfortable place

and took another peek online for any new houses to look at,

when 4 new listings popped up! 

One is in my "dream area"!

I'm gonna look at it today.

(Peri, it's in your neighborhood!!!) (9)

Another is the exact floor model of our beloved home

on Coberd*le, (10!)

which would make my life so easy,

as moving there would take the guess-work outta 

where to put people and things!

Cross your fingers and toes that my search is complete.

I'm off too look at those houses,

work with a client,

do some shopping,

and somewhere in all of that,

I want a nap. (def 10!)

So see? the weekend had it's shares of highs and lows,

but overall,

I lived to tell the tale--
Five, Definitely.

What about your weekend?

Score it!
p.s. Did I mention it snowed off and on all weekend? 

Ramblin' Away

Easter Dress Shopping:

Took the Caboose and hit the mall.
We went to our favorite go-to-store for fancy dresses-
Burlington Coat Factory.
but couldn't find one in her size.
B-T-W, I have never bought a coat there.
In fact,
their coat aisle is like 6 rows deep,
and I've never even walked down it.
Have you ever bought a coat at Burlington Coat Factory?

Then we went to JCPenneys, Dillards,
and even Sears!-- and were about to give up looking
altogether for an Easter dress--
when Ari pointed at Macy's in the parking lot.
Macys! Yes! (crossed fingers)
Thank goodness for Macy's!

It's not that the other store didn't have dresses--
they did.
But I don't want my ten year old wearing a dress
with slits up to there,
revealing necklines,
or that awful full-body rouching with glitter and bling all over it
as though she is a float in the Easter Parade.

And yes, we did have a few moments where she liked a dress
and I didn't.
Even my go-to-phrase of "I think we can do better" got old for me.
Ari said, "You keep saying that, and we haven't found anything better, Mom."
We were both tired of looking.
But like I said, thank goodness for Macy's.
We found her special dress--the one that she twirled around in front of the dressing room mirror
and her face lit up in approval.
Just what we wanted...a girl hasta have some twirling-action, ya know?
And it was 40% off, so that sealed the deal.

Then we went in search of a pair of white easter shoes.
I was thinking ballet flats or sandals.
We went to a few stores, and our night concluded at Payless--
whereupon finding out that a girls' size 5 is that same as a women's size 6
stopped our search altogether as Ari's eyes focused on
a pair of women's white, high-heeled sandals.
"I feel pretty in these, Mom. Can I have them? They fit perfect."

That was hard.
They were cute.
They did fit.

But she is ten.

I went back and forth to the girls' shoes,
offering up different styles,
but she wasn't budging.
She wanted the grown-up shoes.
Badly.
Everytime I rejected them, we both felt bad.
In the end,
I told her that she has good taste,
and those sandals are very cute and all,
but she's just ten years old
and there will be time for high heels in her future.
We agreed to keep looking,
though not without some tears on her part.

Drawing lines.
Sometimes that's a full-time job as a parent.
The stores will keep selling adult-themed/styled clothing
as long as parents buy them.
And from what I see,
alot of parents don't mind dressing their little ones
up like small adults.
Why rush youth?

Anyway, as Arianna and I were heading home,
the topic of the womens' sandals was very fresh
and so were the tears...
I had drawn the line and she didn't like it.
I pulled rank and that was no fun either.
But about halfway home,
she offered an apology and to lighten-up she said,
and I quote:
"I can't help it if I'm hot. I come from a hot family."
Me: "You mean regliar hot or sexy hot?"
Ari, laughing: "Sexy hot. You know my sisters, right?"

We both laughed.
She thanked me for her dress and we agreed to look again
for the perfect shoes next time we go shopping.
Yesterday, she wore a pair of flats to church with her dress without complaint.

*****

Joseph has decided he is a "pre-teen"...
he requested "Axe" deodorant and hair gel.
He's showering everyday without a battle.
I know, right?
Could be a phase for all I know,
so I'll take it while I can.

Arianna and he were discussing her status as a "pre-teen" this morning,
and he asked me if she's a "pre-teen" like him.
Of course I said yes...taking my place on this slippery slope once more.

*****

Since the Easter bunny secret is out in the open this year,
I was thrilled to go to bed and let the kids dish out the candy,
n' hide the eggs for baby Garrett's big hunt.
I've been the resident Easter bunny for 27 years
and plan on enjoying my retirement.

Because Dani & Brad were down over the weekend,
we decided to have the big dinner on Saturday instead of Sunday.
Best Decision Ever.
Highly recommend it.
Mr W and Dani prepared it while I was at work--
which isn't why it was the B.D.E.--
nope--
it was the B.D.E. because we had leftovers yesterday
and it was easy-peasy.
We're thinking we'd like to make that a tradition.
The Easter bunny comes on Friday night,
why not have Easter dinner on Saturday
and really rest on Sunday?
****
Daisie and I went to a baptism of a co-worker's son last night.
It was held at New Life church.
Being raised a Baptist,
I was quite comfortable and familiar with the services.
For Daisie, it was a new experience altogether.
The contrasts were stark.
Whereas in the LDS faith,
baptism is a reverent, quiet experience,
at New Life it is quite a production of loud worship music,
complete with drums, guitars and synthesizers,
dancing, cheering, clapping and a lightshow.
In the LDS faith,
participants all wear special white clothing,
and at New Life it was a "come-as-you-are" deal--
jeans, shorts, bathing suits, dresses, fatigues--
very casual.
Noone asks the "baptizee" (pretty sure that's not a word, but you know who I'm referring to)
anything beyond their name,
and then they're dunked underwater and that's that.
We saw one man get baptized,
and then promptly baptize 4 family members.
It was a joyful party for everyone involved,
and I was happy to share it with my co-worker and her family.

It was a good learning experience for Daisie.
I want her to understand other faiths and how they worship,
and just as important as understanding their faith,
I want her to respect them and their traditions for what they are,
and on the flipside, be able to examine her own faith with clarity.
The experience provided the topic for some great conversation
last night with the family.

****
House-hunting.

I haven't been to a single home that's been staged yet.
Which means, I am still looking.

*****
It snowed Friday night.
April in Colorado makes me happy.

So that was my weekend.
What about yours was different, unique and happy?

And That Was Thanksgiving 2010...

It's over.
The whole shebang...
the weeks of planning,
the hours of shopping,
and cooking...
Over.

Thanksgiving needs to be like Target
during the holidays
and have Extended Hours,
right?

We had a humongous 23 pound bird
and she was delicious!
We had all the fixin's to go with,
and pie afterwards!
I passed "FULL" to "Pain-Full"
before I got to dessert.

Thanksgiving Day was super cold,
I think the High temp got up to freezing,
so we didn't even go outside.

The Golden Child wrangled his parents
and put the rest of us under his ninja spell--
is there anything more entertaining than a baby?
I'll be that his picture was taken more than 200 times
over the course of the day.
It would be an understatement to say we are "smitten"--
we are enraptured by this baby's cheeks and bright blue eyes.
He owns us.
***

After dinner,
the Black Friday ads were poured thru,
and a plan of attack was charted:
We needed a new television--
as you may recall, our great behemoth died.
That was the beginning of October.

So we set our sites on two different TV's--
one was at Target
the other at Walmart.
That was the only thing we had on our Black Friday list--
a television set.
Yon Boofus raised his voice and hand volunteering
to go with Dad
in the dark morning hours
to retrieve the newest member of the household.

They got up at 3:30AM
and set out for Target first.
Mr W reports that after seeing a line of people
who'd obviously been camping out
circle the entire building
for hours before they got there,
Plan B (or Plan Walmart)
was enacted and he and his sidekick
darted across town
or over the woods and dale
to our Walmart in Monument.

It was a challenge to even find the 42" Emerson LD HDTV
Waiting Line,
and Mr W was tempted on two different occassions to toss his hat to the ground
and come home empty-handed,
but Mr. Boofus encouraged him to continue on.

Their perseverance paid off
and when they returned at 5:30 AM,
faces beaming brightly as they entered the house
with the bounty they had gone out hunting for
on their shoulders
and all was well!

Then, we went back to bed for a couple more hours.
Mr. W didn't rest long,
then he got to work assembling and putting up the TV--
just in time to watch the days' football games.
And he was happy.

The middle girls--
Nana and Daisie had stayed up past midnight,
to go get their own bounty at Walmart.
They too, did not come home empty-handed
but with a new toaster, crockpot, food processor,
and mixer...
much to Dani's delight.
Well done, Ladies! Well done!

The day started out famously...
but as it wore on,
poor Dean's anxiety got the better of him--
he knew he was returning to his home in Loveland,
and he said repeatedly he didn't want to go
and then lost it...
he struck out at Dani and myself.

The day ended sourly,
as Mr. W and I drove Dean the two hours north to his home.
Dean rode mostly silent all the way there.

He went in the house quietly,
and when I went to give him a hug goodbye,
he walked away.
I asked him if he's upset that I'm leaving him there--
"yeah" he said.
"Are you just ready for me to leave now?"
"Yeah."

His current caregiver visited with us
outside for a few moments before we left.
I think he wanted to unburden his own heart and feelings of "failure" -as he called it,
because he can't take care of Dean's needs.

He is suggesting that Dean be put in a group home--
for the structure and extra hands available.

I don't agree at all.
From everything I've read,
Group Homes are for less-functioning special needs
and there are more opportunities for
abuse and neglect in Group homes.
Since Dean's been in this man's home,
Dean has not been involved in Special Olympics,
or community programs
other than his work programs.
Dean's usually involved in The Loveland SN Orchestra
at Christmas
and the Loveland Ballet Theatre group that hosts a SN's concert/musical
at Christmas.
Dean's just been very bored.
And I think his meds are totally messed up.
So I'll report that this week to his psychologist and team
to see if they can help out.

Anyway,
my heart was heavy all the way home.
If you're inclined to pray,
would you think of my son, Dean this week,
as he moves to another host home?
I'm praying that this one will be a better fit for him,
and his heart will be comforted.
Thank you.
I love my son.

****

We got home in time to watch the
Boise State vs. Nevada game.
We're BSU fans,
having lived in Boise we know that team is
nearly worshipped,
and had great fun cheering them on while we lived there.
So when I went to sleep last night,
Boise was whipping Nevada but good~!
I was in shock this morning to read that BSU lost.
How is this possible?
*****

It's Saturday,
and I have to work.
Boo.
This is where those Extended Hours
would come in handy,
ya know?
I'm just really tired.
But then, I think--
isn't everyone I know
really tired?
So it's not just Me--
knowing that is comforting.
Everyone's just doing what they can, right?
Right.

Time to put away the Fall accessories
and bring out the Christmas stuff!
That's a mood lifter, for sure.
Boofus is really good at putting up the tree.

Happy Weekend.
December's almost here.

Reflections

It's Saturday morning.
The house is still quiet,
mostly.
Mr W. is in bed still,
with the Ninja Baby
and Boofus and The Caboose--
all whispering and occassionally giggling.

I can't tell what they're saying,
but it sounds pretty good from where
I'm sitting.

We have the Ninja baby down here
this weekend.
He is a drug for whatever ails you,
I swear.

We're getting ready for an overdue
Saturday breakfast.
Since my new job,
we haven't had a really good one
in at least a month and a half.
Being in the Working Mom class,
has cut into my life
interrupting the sweet things
and stealing away moments like
Gollum eating Frodo's crackers...
sneaky and unapologetic.

But today I'm off.
And tomorrow
n' Monday.
Three whole days to relish
"Home"--
to talk and laugh with my yahoos.
To sit on the edge of their beds
while they clean their rooms.
Did you know that just doing that one thing
gives my yahoos motivation to clean?
I don't know why,
but it works, it does.
It's like soul-therapy--
they talk while they clean
and I listen with both ears.

Which I don't always do--
listen with both ears, that is.
But today and tomorrow
I am.
I'm honing in on my yahoos voices
with my mother-heart,
and try to hear everything they're saying
and everything they're not.

This will be a weekend of healing
for this Working Mom.
It's long overdue for all of us.

I need to reconnect with these wonderful souls
I'm sharing this journey with--
to knit and weave the little blemishes
that daily life
and separation cause eruptions.

Unfinished sentences and thoughts
will be given priority--
I have nowhere else to go today.
Nothing is more important than the words
my family wants me to hear.

This is who I am.
This Mother-gig I have going,
the Nurturer of the home.
That's Me.


MMMM...I hear the crackling of bacon cooking
and the smell is wafting up to the loft.

Let the healing begin.

Like Dwight

So I started this new job.
I'm the Assistant to the Regional Manager
at the Interior Design store that's getting ready to open.

The builder just finished the build-out part
Friday...
and so now we're in the process of moving.
I think I'll take pics today so you can see the
transformation as it takes shape.



Right now,
it's a flat-out mess.
But our designer, Karen, has big plans and great taste
so I kinda feel privileged to be one of her sorry people
and get to watch it all up close and personal!

Last weekend,
we spent time as a family on the Santa Fe trail,
then we took the yahoos out and bought winter coats--
we only have to do that every couple of years
thank goodness...the total cost of the coats is as much as
a Kia.

Now I have their old winter coats that I'd like to donate
to kids that could really use them.
Gotta think about how to go about that one.

Then we went homecoming dress shopping for Daisie.
Three hours later,
she found a modest Jody dress she loves
at Dillards.
And she's willing to pay half the cost.
But I was near-pooped.
FYI- Don't go hiking in the morning before you go dress shopping
in the evening
with a young woman.
Your brain gets soggy and
you may need CPR in the parking lot
Oh my Aunt Nancy!

The *brilliant rich and talented child down the street
told Ari she isn't allowed to play with her
"for two weeks
because Ari lied about her."
Not even kidding about this.

Then the *brat showed up to play last night.
Schizophrenic child.
I think she's smarter than me--
I didn't think we'd see her until she's on
America's Most Wanted or Jerry Springer.

I'm kidding.
A little.

It's a little un-nerving though.
Like a really bad movie or a
Scooby Doo episode--
I'm half-wondering whose behind the child mask
of this short person.

So we got all the kids new coats
and guess what chicken-butt?

It's supposed to 85-freakin-degrees here today!
I wonder if that's a record?
We'd already had our first snow this time last year.
Something ain't right.
And Murphy's Law woulda kicked our bums if we
waited to buy the coats!--
we'd have 14 inches of snow today and no coats!


Oh and I also went and saw the baby whose birth I last attended
12 days ago.
He is really cute.
And I never say a baby is cute if he looks like
a squished up old man dipped in forty weight.
I compliment their clothes or blankets
or say something like,
"Dontcha just love him?!"--
if the baby looks like Gollum from LOTR.

Anywho, that baby is really cute.

Then Mr Wonderful and I attended a Stake Meeting--
we're planning a dance in October for the region's
single adults age 30 and up...
I think it's more accurate to say for 35-45 year olds
because 30 year-olds don't think they belong there
as much as 50 year-olds are way past the "dancing with strangers" age--
for the most part.
But still,
we're planning the dance and refreshments.
There will be no chocolate chip cookies or red kool-aid there.
We're having grown up food.
And candy corn...
because everyone knows
candy corn
is THE candy of Fall.
It's in the Law Book of Fall by Momza.
Look for it in Costco
in the candy section
right next to the GIANT container of Twizzlers.

And that's my weekend/week so far.
Oh and I have a sprained wrist that is tightly wrapped in an
ACE bandage...which needs to be looked at by a trained professional
but I have no time to go because
you guessed it--
I'm Late! and the ATTRM cannot be late.

Where We Went N' What We Did--Rocky Mountain National Park, 2.0

 bag o' omelets for breakfast--always a hit!

 scramblin' around on rocks in her pajamas!

 cuttin' firewood...nevermind that it's already been cut.  that's no reason not to cut it again!

 Blue blue skies

 Spotless bathrooms!  Running Water!  No cobwebs even!  loved. that.

The kids know these trails--

they've been coming since they were babes in backpacks.

They never tire of going.

We're all grateful we live in a beautiful place.

What about you?

What do you love about the place you live?

Where We Went N/ What We Did

Rocky Mountain National Park

Trying out my new camera's panoramic feature.

lots to learn 

still.

Some of my peeps.

Watching the Elk...

who were keeping it all on the 

d/l....

Two thumbs Up!
Way Up!

more to come soon.

right after

I shower the dirt off

and

sleep in my own bed.

We're Going and Doing

Much to tell,

no time to tell it in.

The birth was wonderful.

The Designer is fun.

The kids are snot-free.

My livingroom looks like this:

Because we are headed up there:

To watch the Elk bugle.
(Rocky Mountain National Park--thanks for asking Tauna!)

Which, in my life,

is awesome!

Have a happy weekend!

Where We Went N' What We Did--Elitches Amusement Park

In honor of the Fifteenth Anniversary of

The Family: A Proclamation to the World:

"Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when 

founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles

 of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, 

and wholesome recreational activities." 

Quiz:

How many times will a Momza ride

the water-ride

in a row because

her littlest yahoos ask her to?

 Once?

Twice?

 Five times?

Ten?  Did you say TEN?

Is that your final answer?

Ding! Ding! Ding!

But what about when the Momza has had enough--

how many times would the yahoos ride it alone??

Fifteen times!

 Cold, wet and happy!

The Caboose and Me...soakin' wet to the bone. 

Yahoos keep me young--

and help me to see there's still magic!

If you'd like to join in the Celebration, go over to Chocolate on My Cranium's and she'll get ya started!

Weekend Whatevs

Had a busy weekend.
Took the yahoos to Elitches on Saturday.
Lots of pics--but I can't find my camera.
So if'n I do...

Was told I am "fascinating"
by a sister in church yesterday that
I had no idea she even knew me.
So of course, I'm totally milking that for all I can
around the house.

Asked the Caboose if she thinks I'm
fascinating--
"YES!" was the reply.
Do you know what fascinating means, I asked.
Yes, you're like realistic fiction.

Hmmmm. Sounds about right.

Reading a book called
"The boy who came back from heaven"--
it makes me feel small and humble.
true story.
Yes, I'd recommend it.  But have some tissue nearby.
and an open mind.  I had to pry mine open thru the first couple
of chapters
and since then, it's been all good.

Both of my sons had bdays last week.
I could write entire posts about my love for them
but they already know that.
So I won't.

I had a rough week last week--
then I saw Heavenly Father's hand in my life
and remembered I am not alone.


Dean is moving from his host-home this week--
I'd love to blab all the reasons why,
but it really comes down to the fact that
we found a better place for his needs.
And we're grateful for that.

I was sitting in Church yesterday,
thinking about being invisible in our new ward
and what I can do about it--
then the word "serve" came to my mind.
And I asked the question:
Whom shall I serve?
And a name came to my mind.
So I am.
And it feels really good.

I'm heading out to lunch with some girlies today.
I wonder if they know I'm
fascinating?
Maybe I should tell them so they'll pay closer attention.
Wouldn't want them to miss out, ya know?

We're Singin' In the Rain...