Monday, June 29, 2009

Yesterday Lyrics

"Yesterday, All my troubles seemed so far away, Now it looks as though they're here to stay, Oh, I believe in yesterday. Suddenly, I'm not half the man I used to be, There's a shadow hanging over me, Oh, yesterday came suddenly. Why she Had to go I don't know, she wouldn't say. I said, Something wrong, now I long for yesterday. Yesterday, Love was such an easy game to play, Now I need a place to hide away, Oh, I believe in yesterday. Why she Had to go I don't know, she wouldn't say. I said, Something wrong, now I long for yesterday. Yesterday, Love was such an easy game to play, Now I need a place to hide away, Oh, I believe in yesterday. "


Do you know that I never really cared for the Beatles. I am not sure why - cuz now I LOVE them! My oldest daughter, Reagan has loved the Beatles for years. It was at her insistence I finally listened enough to begin to like them. I have learned more from my kids than they will probably ever learn from me.

Sunday, June 28, 2009

92 Degrees

It is in the 90's here today. Probably not too hot for the rest of you, but considering it was in the 60's last week - we were HOT! So, time for the kiddie pool - and yes, I was the crazy, fat neighbor lady out in the kiddie pool!! I almost didn't include this picture because of the hideously ugly trailer in the background...then I laughed and decided I would blog that story tomorrow - cuz I hate that trailer but my husband LOVES it... aaaarrrrgggghhhhh!

Anyway, I couldn't resist getting in the kiddie pool, cuz Lizzie begged me, and who could resist that little thing????

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Procrastination

I can be a BIG procrastinator...especially when it comes to house work. I can find almost anything to avoid actually cleaning. OR I just barely get by, I bribe myself - "If I get the kitchen clean, then I can go do such and such..." Yes, that was my conversation with myself.

Well, the other day, Reagan was over and she was looking in the fridge and exclaimed, "MOM - tell me those are not the chicken and dumplings from last semester!!" Well, you know what? They were one and the same!! It was a bit of a wake up call - and I did get that fridge cleaned out. It looks quite beautiful now, don't you think?

Beautiful and Bare. In fact, Lizzie came through and exclaimed, "oh no, now we have NO food!"


Monday, June 22, 2009

W and X!!

I missed last week, so I am combining W and X today - to bring you this Wonderful, X-rated picture: It is wonderful because Lizzie and Chica were lounging in the sun together...and X-rated because Chica is not being very modest!!! I should have thrown something over her nether regions, like a Kleenex maybe?

Happy A - Z Monday!!!

Thursday, June 18, 2009

busy


I have been VERY busy!! but I am missing all of you and your blogs! can't wait to get plugged back in soon!! in the meantime - here is Belle!!

Thursday, June 11, 2009

My mom is home. She came home yesterday from Missouri and brought my nephew. My kids are really excited to get some cousin time. Since Sean and I each only have one sister and Sean's sis doesn't have any kids - my kid's only have two cousins, my sister's two kids. They had not seen each other since last summer.

I am not sure what my mom thought about her new "grand"dog - as she pooped in her house TWICE in the hour and a half we were over there. Might have been the rotten egg she found and ate yesterday afternoon. Yep - the East bunny must have hidden that one a little too well, because Bell came flying out of a bush with her "prize" and there was no catching her. She does that, by the way, when she gets something she knows she shouldn't have - she runs like the devil and there is NO catching her. She does not run off or out of reach, no she is much more frustrating than that - she runs in circles around you or the bushes or just a few feet from reach. Naughty dog!!

Or she may have had a little to much roughage from the bag of Bone meal Grandma had bought for the garden. You know that bag she found in the garage and ripped open and spread all over the driveway and ate and ate and shared with her partner in crime Chica? Yea - that Bone meal. The bag says - "Contains some ingredients that may be attractive to animals but might be harmful to them".

So the vet got two calls from me yesterday... we were told what to watch for, but none of it transpired. She is fine today. Didn't faze her one bit - a 3 month old egg or the bone meal. Well, Grandma's carpet might have a different opinion...

Here she is looking all innocent. She is really not sleeping, but the flash in my phone is very bright and she now closes her eyes when she hears the camera click. She apparently loves rotten eggs but not bright lights. Go figure...

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Grandma Mary

Yesterday I read Dawn's Post about her Grandma and I have not been able to get mine off of my mind since then. Sometimes getting things out in writing is healing for me - so I am going to tell you about my Grandma Mary. Feel free to doze off and wake up at the end to comment - because this is really just for me - and probably will bore you to tears anyway.

I am the youngest of five cousins on my mom's side of the family. The first two, Stephen and Robin are a year apart, and then Janell and my sister, Phoebe, are also a year apart. Then there was me. When we were all together a couple of times a year, they would grab their partner in crime and head off on their adventures and I was usually left alone - too young to be any fun for any of them. Grandma was my playmate. I can remember Grandma putting down whatever she was cooking and coming outside and swinging with me. Or getting me started on some project that would occupy my time. I never remember her telling me she was too busy for me. Sometimes I might have to wait a few minutes for her to turn off the stove or finish washing dishes, but then we would be off on our own adventure.


My Grandma lived in Artesia, NM, a small town. All my life I can remember if she heard a fire truck she would drop whatever she was doing, grab her purse and we would jump in the car to chase the fire truck. Being married to a Fireman now - I realize that was so totally illegal - but, boy, was it ever fun!!

I am named after my Grandma - yes my first name is Mary. My Lizzie is named after her as well, as she was Mary Elizabeth. Lizzie was the youngest Great Grandkid and Grandma got a kick out of her! She would just sit in her chair and watch her and smile. I will never forget that smile. She was too old to chase firetrucks by then.

The night my grandma passed away I was the only grandchild not present. I was very ill at the time and unable to travel. I still feel very sad about that. I will never forget that night though. I was lying on my bed and I suddenly felt her there. I can't describe it to you - but I knew the moment she passed away - I felt it in my soul. I tried to call my mom - no answer. I went downstairs to be near my kids and Lizzie was 3 at the time. I hadn't said a word to anyone about what I had experienced upstairs yet - Lizzie was standing in the middle of the living room, she pointed out the French doors and said - "There's Grandma Mary". Just like that. So, even though I was unable to go and say goodbye to her, she came to me. She made a pit stop on the way to her last great adventure. I feel so honored by that.

I have quite a few of my Grandma's kitchen things. I use them and I feel just a little bit closer to her. The hole in my heart right now feels just as big as it ever did - years later I still miss her terribly. I wish I could walk in her back door and smell the comfort of being in her house. I wish I could sit down with her and play cards. I can't do any of those things. I can be grateful for all that she instilled in me that is good and honorable. I can look forward to the day that I will get the chance to use her example and never be too busy for my grandkids - NOT anytime too soon though! AAAARRGGGHHH I just woke myself up to reality - NOT ready to be Grandma yet! But so glad I had the one I had.

Monday, June 8, 2009

V is for Victory!

Reagan is Victorious!! She ran the 5K Governor's cup on Saturday. She is victorious, but no she did not actually win first place, or even second - I think she was in the middle of the pack somewhere. She did improve her time from the last 5K she ran though.

Reagan is victorious because she has lost 5 clothes sizes in the past 2 1/2 yrs. She is victorious because she LOVES to run! And I believe if you are doing what you LOVE then you are successful. Mostly I say she is victorious because I am her mother - that's why!! :)

She has inspired me and I have now gone down one clothes size in 3 months!! Not too shabby - and just today when I was starving but not allowing myself to eat, she reminded me that I am losing pounds and inches and NOT starving myself, so why should I start now? She is SO smart! She said, "Mom, what you are doing is working - why change it?" Smart kid!! Also - did I mention she is Victorious because she has a 3.74 GPA and made the Dean's List at MSU?!!

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Life

Life is funny, there are ups and there are downs and there are in betweens. I think I spend more time in between than anywhere. That is not half bad though - in betweens are better than downs I tell you! I have spent my fair share of time in the downs. Do they build character? Yes, of course, and good does usually come around in the end and the downs help me be humble, and compassionate toward others and blah blah blah - but I will say it again - the downs are just plain NO fun.

The ups are good - the ups keep me going in the between and down times. The ups are what life is about and what makes life worth persevering through. But what if, and I mean a big what IF life is really about the in between times. The times when we must create our own motivation because it doesn't just flow like it does during the up times. What if the in betweens are where the real personal growth happens - like a hiatus to regroup, rethink things through and figure out where I am really heading and is it even where I desire to be going?

I am in an in between time right now. It is not as exciting as an up time, but it is a lot better than a down time - I would describe it as peaceful. Peaceful is good. I will just enjoy it for now, regroup and get my game plan going - what kind of wife do I want to me? Which kid needs what from me now as a mother? Where does work fit in? Mostly - am I doing the things on a daily, consistent basis that God is calling me to do? Because the more I do that - the more peace will be in my future - and honestly, I like peace. So, until life throws me a few ups and downs, I will enjoy my vacation time in between.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Reagan is 18

I can not believe my oldest baby turned 18 yesterday! She has been such a joy all of her life. Well, except her birth really. I should blog about that someday - it is a pretty funny story. I arrived at the hospital at 7:30 and she was born at 7:58. Yep - funny story. We had the greatest day. Reagan, Lizzie and I had lunch. Then Lizzie got dropped off at a friends and Reagan and I went for massages. Then the whole family met up at the pond and we took a walk - and found this great photo op!
Then we went to see the new Disney movie - Up. I would highly recommend it to anyone. It is a great story. A story about having dreams and then letting everyday life get in the way of those dreams and then before we know it - we didn't do what we set out to do. Then a Great recovery in the end - Go see it! You will laugh and maybe tear up a bit...

Lizzie has started a new tradition in our family. Lizzie picked out the cake - Red Velvet. I tried to persuade her otherwise, coaxed, prodded, but honestly it was the only cake with Roses - and that is what she wanted for her sister. We got it late on Tuesday night and no one was at the bakery to write on it - so Lizzie did it. She added an 18 and Reagan's name. She did better than I thought she would! NOW - all the kids want red velvet cake for their birthdays. I guess I better figure out how to make it - but honestly - I don't know if I can force myself to pour an ENTIRE bottle of red food coloring into the batter. Call me old fashioned - but that seems excessive, doesn't it? Overkill?? Well, we have a rule around here - on birthdays they get to choose their meal and usually their cake....so guess I am stuck with the red - like it or not. This year Reagan said, "surprise me" - looks like the surprise is on me!


Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Chica and Bella

Well, Chica is really starting to play with Bella. It has not been an easy process, as Chica did not even realize she was a dog before the past few weeks. She is now really starting to enjoy playing and even initiates play often, which surprises me. Sorry this photo is blurry - they were moving very fast!
The playing is over and they have curled up in between to Sean's legs to sleep.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ - this is rare to see Bella this still. She is a very active dog. This is NOT rare to see Chica this still, it is more rare to see her active! :)


and Yes, in closing, my husband is a dork - he IS totally wearing wool socks with his sandals - and flip flops to boot!!



Monday, June 1, 2009

U is for Umbrella!


From the view out my office window - we may need one today! It was in the 80's for 3 days...now it is 50 -something. That's Montana for you - if you don't like the weather just a few minutes it might change.