Today I love

 The sight of the sunrise over the fields out my living room window.
The mild coolness of an early spring morning.
The first sight of a shade of green on the tree line made me break into a big smile this morning.
The anticipation of a day at home.
The desire to head outdoors on a brisk walk before starting my work inside.
The feel, sound and sight of spring during my walk.
Even the silly dog running ahead of me.
Opening every window that I could to let spring into the house.
The sound of the birds singing.
The sound of roosters crowing.
The green shoots coming up in the flower beds.
The sound of water running in the creek across the road.
Blue Sky and Sunshine.
The ability to smile.
Seeing my youngest child's report card with another row of straight A's.
Anticipation of a new "era" while totally loving my days here and now, and hating the thought lf leaving them.
That my husband found a new job he is so happy about.

LIFE.


Did I repeat myself?
 Did I mention  I. LOVE. SPRING?!

Sieze the moment. The day.

"Too bad my to-do list is still longer than my life expectancy."

I saw this today on someone's facebook comment.  It really does sum up the way I feel, however I have to admit that honestly It really is more true for me to say;

"Too bad my WANT to-do list is still longer than my life expectancy"


I don't suppose that's altogether a bad thing.  It's not like I don't have plenty on my "NEED", or "MUST"- to do list--I certainly do but I realize also that alot of those things don't matter so much whether I get them done today or tomorrow or next week.  Life happens, the dust comes back, the windows will need washed again,  There will be another year for a garden to feed my family the "real- the fresh"

Today our oldest grandchild turned 6.  In the blink of an eye.  Where did the time go?  What have I accomplished in those six years.  Not near as much as I wished, naturally or spiritually--and  it's no one's fault but my own!  Three years ago in September I started blogging.  Yesterday as I was working on exporting my Finland journal posts to their own blog I was flipping thru those 3 years of posts.  Wow!  I can say alot has happened in 3 short years--A lot of living going on.

Nope, the real issue is what I WANT to do.  I've always said that I will never be one of these "old" people, sitting all day with "nothing to do".  (I also have determined I will never be one of these "old" people who have to clean their already clean house just to keep busy--OR SOMETHING!)
*Now if any of you readers are "older" than me--please do not take offense here. Neither am I discounting a clean house! 

Don't get me wrong--I like a clean house.  I like washing my windows so the sun sparkles thru them.  I enjoy my furniture & corners dust free.  I like my dishes done & my sink shinning.  I like things in their place--I enjoy a reasonably clean house.  It makes me breathe easier, gives me space to think, to create, and to enjoy my home.

So what is on my "WANT" to-do list?
Scrapbook
Sewing
Organizing
Decorating
Creating
Baking
Cooking
Canning
Reading
Quilting
Playing with my camera.
Antique browsing/shopping
Spending time with my grandkids
Enjoying the seasons--whatever they are.


Seizing the moment.  Yeah, that's really what I need to work on the most.  Making the most of every moment, every hour, every day, week, month & year because they go so swiftly.


All right--so I really have done all of those things on my list.  Even in the middle of raising 12 children.  All of those things are on-going, and maybe a few of them won't be so appealing to spend my time at in years to come.  In the mean time-

I'm off to enjoy my day.

And the next thing on the list is cleaning the tub.


HAPPY MONDAY!  HAPPY NOVEMBER 1!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET KYRIE!

Today I remember.

Saturday, Sept 11


That famous day we all remember as 9-11.  Hard to believe it's been 9 years now.  I liked someone's post who likened it to the day in their parents generation known as "Pearl Harbor day".

There's some other distinct days I remember as well in my life time.

When the news came that President Kennedy was shot
When man first walked on the moon
When the Challenger crashed to the earth
When the "wall went down" in Germany
The bombing in OKC
The shooting at Columbine school

Maybe I missed a couple, (and I couldn't tell you the dates) but those are the outstanding ones that come to mind.
Although all those are noteworthy, I believe the difference in this one was the mass-wide spread effect it had on the US.  Partly because it was not only 1 place, but 3 different areas. Not only that, but the date "they" picked also.
We in the US have known such peace & prosperity compared to so many other countries. Regardless of some of the horrible tragedies that have occurred that we all can point to & remember, (and I don't mean to be-little any of those)....
we are a peaceful, non-violent country.

Sept 11 is my Niece's birthday.  Today she is 16.  Two more days and we will have a 16 yr. old at our house again, and once again I'm amazed at how very quickly the days and years pass by.
This is the first year the girls haven't celebrated their birthdays together.  My sister moved near by when the girls were 2, and they've grown up together.  Rebecca is in AZ this year, so any duel-celebration will have to be post-poned until she comes for a visit in Oct.

This is a beautiful sunny "fall is in the air" Saturday.  It was the first day in weeks that I enjoyed sleeping in, and although I woke at my usual early time it was luxury to be able to roll over and relax, knowing I didn't HAVE to get up.
It was also the first day in weeks that I got my morning coffee brought to me in bed also--another luxury :)

Meshayla was up early, as she wanted to post on Rebecca's facebook wall her birthday greetings.  The girls were born 2 days apart, but exactly the same time in the morning.  (How crazy is that!)
When Leon brought me my coffee he said Meshayla was heading to "the woods" and when I looked out my window I saw not just her, but all 4 of the kids in their out-door working gear, heading out of the driveway towards the woods.
(Poor dogs left behind, tied to the tree.--When I came downstairs the note that awaited me was "please untie the dogs now that we're gone")

And a long post, much rambling later, as I saw them headed off on their early morning trek what I was remembering was my sister and I, around the ages of  8 to 11 quietly sneaking out of the house early Saturday mornings on an "adventure".

Scouting the streets of our very small town for pop bottles to take in for cash.
Heading across the open pastures, down the canyons of the near-by country side.
Discovering culverts under the highway to explore. (I wonder why we always went one direction out of town and not the other?)
Walking miles of railroad tracks both directions out of town, but not being brave enough to cross the high rail-road bridge in one of the canyons.
Exploring abandon houses & old stores both in our tiny town and in the country.  (I don't ever remember seeing No Trespassing signs or some area being roped off in those days!)

I don't remember mom ever worrying about us--maybe she should of--but here we all are today, safe & sound.

I'm thankful for those little memories of freedom.
I'm thankful for the freedom that my kids now have to roam a bit more freely in the country than town.
And in spite of the small annoyances that we all can experience,
I'm thankful beyond measure that we live in a free country.

GOD BLESS AMERICA,
May we continue to be free and appreciate each & every bit of freedom we have.

Random Chaos

• Day 44 count down from 50
• I've lost 3 # (Maybe my scale is broke?)
• Yesterday I made a 4x batch of chocolate chip cookies to put in the freezer, and only ate no more than 1/4 tsp. cookie dough. WHAT AN ACCOMPLISHMENT!! (yes, both)
• I made a 4x batch of my favorite granola to last me thru Dec also. (Yes, sorry Dalayna it's chock full of nuts. UMMMM!)
• Girls are coming this afternoon to help me finish up wedding announcements. Thank goodness for friends/sisters!!
• Glitch in the bridesmaid clothes. Not a good thing.
• Keeping my suitcase packed & ready for North Dakota
• Leon & Son went off out of town for another 2 days of work.
• Relyssa went to school again after being sick most of last week. Hopefully not any more missed days. They have a fit & send home letters after 3 absents, but don't want them there if they've had a fever in the last 24 hrs. Hmmm. She missed 3 1/2 days last week alone.
• Don't let husband go to the grocery store for me without his cell phone again. Frozen whole chicken is NOT a substitute for a bag of frozen boneless chicken breasts.
• Yes, 1 bag of whole wheat flour is different from 10 # of white flour.
• There is a difference between "Shredded, and Sliced."
• It's time to get to work.
  

Thoughts, goals & frustrations

Another Monday!
They always make me stop and look at my week ahead. I usually have way too many things I want to accomplish in the week, and the week is never long enough. Unfortunately for me, there's no way to stretch time, there is only a certain amount allotted to each week and I am required to fit into it. I'm sure that one of the reasons I like Mondays is because it always looks like I have a L-O N-G week ahead to try and fit everything into. As the week goes by I start to panic more because I don't accomplish as much as I want to fit in, and there's also the realization that logically it really ISN'T going to all get done either.
Therefore I come to the conclusion that I set my exceptions too high. On the other hand if I didn't set them that high, would I really get as much done as I do?

Hmm, please excuse me for saying this all again. I'm sure I must repeat myself frequently, after all, it's my life!

November:
*Not in particular order*

• Finish re-doing blog
• Weekly blogging my "52 weeks challenge"
• laundry & unpacking from our weekend trip
• Finish baby bedding that didn't get done last week
• Wedding invitations made & mailed
• A birthday party for Morgen
• Cheesecakes made for wedding
• Wedding/Reception decorations bought
• Thanksgiving at our house to prepare for
• Trip to ND right after Thanksgiving to prepare for & take.

Obviously this does not include the daily repeat chores of
meals, cleaning, laundry, schooling, and trying to keep my head firmly in place.
Can I state that I'm going to have some seriously new goals for this coming year?

Have a happy Monday everyone!

My challange

One of my blogging friends has been posting some challenges for 7 weeks now. This weeks involved the number 7 and it also involves staying off the computer. Now I can't say that my favorite number is 7 but there is something that intrigues me about this particular challenge. Maybe because I know I really do spend way too much time staring at the screen; maybe because the "stupid" bejewels game I seem to be hopelessly addicted to is finally starting to get to me....
Side note here, the reason I don't gamble is because I can't quit playing. I'd be so far in debt that if I ever did win, it would never make up for it.
Do you get the connection? No?
Back to this week's challenge I'm committing to. I'm not going to tell you what all I intend to do other than using the number 7 and limiting my computer time. I will tell you that I have a huge list of things I need and want to accomplish.
Friday I'll post how it went for my week.
Yes I am making allowances for my online tea party on Thursday, and posting this weeks "52 weeks" challenge .
If I were like my creative niece, I'm sure I would come up with some creative prize for the person who makes the most sarcastic comment about this but I'm not, so too bad. (Although If I gave away my chocolate, I wouldn't be tempted to eat it!

Lazy days of summer

• Beans from the garden to pick & freeze every couple days
• One batch of cauliflower from my garden
• LOTS of onions from my garden
• LOTS of peppers from my garden
• The tomatoes have been a bit slow, and are rather small but they are DELICIOUS!
  
• My flower gardens do overflow with weeds
• The 2nd motel installation in a month is done
• Too many things going on I haven't even got to have my grandkids here this summer
• I went from posting an average of every other day to once a week
• At least the "52 weeks" challenge kept me posting at least one x a week
• We actually got a 4 day "vacation" all together that wasn't convention
  
• I can't believe how painful a pulled/strained leg muscle is, how much it slowed me down, and how long it takes to heal
• I have never in my life taken more than 2 "Tylenol" at a time for pain killers, and I was taking 4 Motrin every day (night) and at least 2 during the day
  
• I know it's finally on the mend when it's back to my foot hurting more than my thigh.
• School starts this coming Monday. One Senior, a 9th grader, a 6th grader, a 5th grader and a 3rd grader.
• The 9th grader & 6th grader are homeschooling this year.
  
• Leon went to get a pickup load of corn this morning
• I'm going to be freezing corn all day
• My kids are going to hate me (AGAIN) because they will have to help
• Next winter they will beg for me to cook corn, because "It's SO good mom..."
• This is so boring, unproductive and I'm getting off of here right now to go clean my kitchen & get ready to make a mess
• How can such a busy life sound so boring when I try to write it out?
  

SO far behind!

Ekks! It's August already!

• We picked up Meshayla from the airport in Denver on Thursday evening.
• Her luggage didn't come in
• We went to Sidney to Lynisha & Jim's for the night
• They didn't send the luggage to Sidney like they promised
• Had to go buy her some clothes to get thru the weekend.
• We went to Ogallala camping Friday afternoon-Sunday noon
• A great day at the beach, playing, sunburns & jetskiing
• I pulled or strained a muscle really bad jetskiing--(But riding it was SO much fun!)
  
• I barely slept Sat. night, and couldn't hardly walk on Sunday
• Today is Leon's birthday (Sunday)
  
• Home again this evening.
  
• All 5 kids home again for the first time since the 2nd week in June!
• Back to work tomorrow. Another motel and 3 nursing homes in the next 8 weeks!
  
• I have to get this updated for August! PLUS I'm behind on my 52 weeks challenge since I was gone.

Words

• I've missed my blogging/journaling outlet
• It's the end of May already. School is out, it's Memorial day.
• Today I sent Kara off with my mom to spend a week at convention preps with Jana.
• Our convention starts in 2 1/2 weeks
• Tomorrow we are having visitors from Australia!
• Tomorrow I have to: Get Meshayla a photo ID, Take her to GI to the Dentist to finish up a root canal, finish up any last minute shopping for her.
• Wednesday, pack her suitcase & we'll go out to Sidney.
• Thursday we'll take her to Denver for her flight to visit Laura in Finland/Sweden for 2 months!
• Today is my nepthew Timothy's 11 birthday! Happy Birthday Tim!
• 11 years ago this month my youngest sister moved back to NE from AZ, she was all ready to go, but didn't want to leave till she got to meet her new nephew, & he did arrive in time!

Hmmm, My to do list is unfortunately still in my head instead of on paper. I think I'm rebelling about writing it down, it seems pretty overwhelming

• Dejavu'

Last week on Friday I helped my sister get ready for a garage sale. Since she got married a month ago, they've been trying to do the consolidation thing...2 households into one. In this case NOT an easy chore. On Saturday both my sisters and I left the garage sale in the hands of the guys and ran into town for a quick break & some cold drinks. As the 3 of us girls were checking out, the clerk looked at us, and then asked my younger sister and I if we were twins. I said yes, my middle sis said, no we're tripletts, and then we busted out laughing. I'm sure the poor clerk was confused. It's an on-going funny, and of course since we don't see the resemblence as much as everyone else, we think it's kind of crazy. As we were walking out of the store, my middle sis said to me: "Well, you always wanted to have twins, and never got them, but now you've grown up to be one!" Wish I could write a book on all the twin funnies we've gotten over the last 11 years since she's moved here.

As we were leaving town, my younger sis just looked at us all together, and said "Haven't we been here before"? Whew. Could write a book on that one too.

11 years ago this month, she moved here from AZ. It's a little too personal of a story to tell all, but she arrived with 5 young children & a moving van full of all her household possessions from a city home to a country run down farm house. From a huge 5 bedroom 3 bathroom spacious house to a small 3 bedroom 2 bathroom house with a basement that was unusable because of flooding. Many of the things she had would not even fit into the house. She threw away, gave away, & stored away so much. Over the years she, with help from us girls and her brother in laws, re-modeled her house, and made it into a lovely home where we've spent many enjoyable hours.

It was kind of hard on us all to do it all again, in reverse, thinking of all the happy hours we've spent working, shopping for, & maintaining her place. The memories that we've made out there. Two weddings on the place. Change is always a bit hard for me, and I have a problem giving things up. The up-side this time is that she's not moving away, but is still here, just in another place. The up-side is that she now has someone to walk along the journey with her. We're looking forward to many more memories and happy times. "The best is yet ahead".

Feeling frustrated

• Need to finish my house projects
• A. so I can get the rest of the mess out of here
• B. so I can post pictures
• Too much going on in my brain I'm trying to remember
• A. Need to make a list
• I need to change some of my blogs around
• I'm neglecting my journaling
• I'm neglecting getting back to some correspondence I want to do very badly
• We are working on some critical parent/children ABC's
• The next two weeks are going to be SO busy & full
• I have "fun" projects I want to do
• I have a work (income) project to do
• Leon's job hours are way better in some ways, and worse in others.
• A. Now I'm a single parent all after school/evening instead of weekends
• B. He doesn't have as many hours to try and get his 2nd job done, let alone any thing at home.
• It's slowly "looking" like spring, but NOT feeling like spring & I'm COLD and want more sunshine!!
  

Tell me, What do you think?

• Do you limit phone calls after a particular time at night for your teenagers?
• Do you hear; "But mom, everyone else can talk after ......, and they're busy before then."?
  
• What time is "No more talking or calling?"
• What time is bedtime for your grade school kids?
• What time is bedtime for your teenagers?
• Do you have different times on these for weekdays, weekends, or summer?

*EDIT: I'm going to give a bit of explanation here. My younger kids do not talk on the phone, unless it is briefly, so that isn't an issue with them.
My kids do not like to go to bed at night, any of them, so it is an issue with all ages.
On school nights:
My 3 younger ones, 7, 9 & 11 are SUPPOSE to go to bed at 9.
My two older ones, 14 & 17 are SUPPOSE to go to bed at 10 (Whether they go to bed/sleep after they are in their rooms, is beyond my control. They still have to get up in the morning.)
We have an on-going issue at our house of time to be off the phone & computer at night.
Currently on school nights, the phone & computer is done at 9:30 p.m. Can anyone convince me why I should allow phone calls after that time? I constantly get "but I didn't get to talk long enough earlier, I didn't get the phone until..., My friend was busy until now.....

A beautiful day!!

What a beautiful day it is today! No matter that the calendar says the first day of spring is Friday, for me it's today! It got up to 79* today, and we have enjoyed all the windows open while working on our house project!
This morning as I looked out my kitchen window to the back yard I could see a hint of green in the grass for the first time! The bushes all of a sudden are loaded with buds. The birds are singing and pecking around the yard. It reminded me of this song! Spring has arrived. Even if we get more snow or cold weather, spring is here!!

What do you do all day?

I don't very often write down what I've done during the day.
I have to say that generally I feel like I didn't get as much done as I had either
1. thought I would,
2. Wished I could,
3. Knew I should or
4. Knew I could have if I wouldn't have done "other" things.

Most of our married life I've been a SAHM. Before we had kids (which was only a year after we were married) I babysat. During alot of years I babysat/did daycare. I also had a machine quilting business for quite a few years.
We homeschooled our kids for 14 years.
for 1 1/2 yr I also owned/worked at a tea room, and then worked for 8 years with my sister at our scrapbook store.
I garden. I preserve food. I bake. I cook 2 meals a day. I chauffeur kids home from school a couple days a week. I keep house. I do laundry. I do all the things that go along with having a husband, 6 kids at home, & Sunday a.m. gathering here in our home.
What do I do for "fun"?
Occasionally I get to scrapbook. I take long bubble baths nearly every night. (It's my sanity break, my relaxation.)I read some--not as much as I used to when I was sitting nursing babies.
I'm trying to get into sewing again--which I should be doing instead of this. OH YES, and I blog!
I'm also involved in one organization (Nebraska Friends of Midwives) that I do some volunteer work occasionally (like yesterday and today making 28 doz cookies.)

Yes, when you read all that it may sound like alot. But, I don't do ALL that EVERY day!
My house is not spotless, My laundry is not always done. But considering the fact that my kids are gone for 8 hrs. during the day, What SHOULD I be doing?
Here's what I did yesterday:

• I made 16 doz cookies
• Did several loads of laundry
• washed dishes
• picked up kids from school
• talked to my mom on the phone
• talked to my sister 2x on the phone
• Visited with my mom at her house
• washed my hair
• watched the inauguration
  

Today I

• Baked 6 loaves of bread
• Washed dishes
• Did several loads of laundry
• Picked up kids from school
• talked to my sister on the phone
• Did some sewing
• Blogged
• Made 12 doz more cookies
• Talked to 3 of my daughters on the phone
• Talked to a survey taker --invited her in while I was frantically baking cookies)
• supervised kids homework
• supervised Meshayla making supper
• went to Bible study

I have no idea why I'm telling you this! Maybe I'm defending myself? From what/who? people who think SAHM's with kids in school don't have anything to do, or I really don't do very much?
Hmmmm.........I don't know, except when I had more kids at home, & home all day, I did a whole lot more. Just different.
What do you do all day?

hmmm, what's new?

It's back to school day for the kids. This is the longest vacation they've ever had. My little ones were getting kind of bored I think. The snow is mostly gone, and there's not much to do outside with cold & no snow.
I've got some catch-up work to do that I put aside while the kids were all home, so am anxious to get working on that again, and I have a photo calendar to make before Friday when we'll all be going to Gma Jane's for our Holiday get-together. Then I'm planning to have two little grandkids here for a bit, and am anxious for that.
We have a ton of home-improvement/repairs that we need to do, so the other day we went to Menards to look at things. Doors, floor coverings & paint samples. I came home with a pile of paint samples/ideas, and am SO anxious to do some re-painting! I've been telling myself that I had to wait till the "new year" to re-do the living room....well, it's here!! I've also been planning on re-doing (or maybe I should say DOING) our bedroom for several years, so those are first on the list! Oh...woops, guess I'd better finish up that trim in the bathroom downstairs so I can put that picture on here for you all too!

2 weeks later.

Remember this?
http://lmand12js.blogspot.com/2008/12/posted.html
Thought I'd report back on it, since I didn't have anything else exciting to post today.
So here's some answers to your questions "Does it really work" and "How's it working out so far".
First of all Let me re-assure you, that I didn't wait 30 years after having my first child to try to instill good habits. My older children will re-assure you that their mother spent hours nagging & whining & making notes & giving chores, etc. (They'll probably tell you a few more things too, but ignore them!!)
Second of all, for those of you with children, Don't wait. You can't start too soon!
Yes, I'll admit that it's taken me much too long to figure out some of the basics, like if you want your kids to hang up their coats in the closet, you'd better too! I know, sounds pretty basic, huh?
That really is the essence of it tho, and so no, you really can't start too soon!
The next thing that I'll remind you of, is that even 7 year old's (my youngest) are much easier to train than 17 or 24 year olds, (my two oldest at home) even if the older ones SHOULD know better.
Probably the biggest thing I've learned about making house-hold/kid "rules" is that you have to be consistent & stick with it, or it falls by the wayside. Which of course has been the problem here, NOT that I haven't tried, or stated the "rules" before now! Most anything works for a while.
Another thing I've learned is in posting the rules, they are in front of them all the time. No one can claim "I forgot" or "I didn't hear you" or "I didn't know you meant that"!
So in 2 weeks, how has it went?
With 6 kids at home, I've picked up dirty clothes off the bathroom floor 2x and from the living room floor 1x.
I haven't had to change the T. paper empty roll at all (and yes, it has got used!!)
I've boxed up one small box for goodwill from stuff they've left laying around that they didn't pick up, and I realized it wasn't stuff they needed or cared about either one, so "good bye, clutter!"
And, I think I've cleaned up the "hair mess" maybe 2x, no more. (now considering the 24 yr. old was the biggest offender on that one.....YEA!)
We still have a little problem with them hanging up their coats & putting back-packs away after school. Coats has always been a problem in this house, and I honestly can't figure out why. We have a coat closet 2 feet from the front door. Hangers & hooks both available, and within reach for "shorties". And, I don't leave my coat in the living room. Ever.
We did have a "woops" the other night, I was stirring up the fireplace & grabbed a couple papers off the floor & tossed them in & a little bit later Morgen asked me if I'd seen his math papers.....
It evidently was them. Sorry, I didn't mean to throw away the school work!!.... BUT, you were also told not to throw your papers all over the floor & keep your schoolbooks & papers together!
Most everything else has went very good, and the best thing....I don't have to remember what I've told them, or not told them!
*Just a note here. In case you're so inclined to write & post notes in your house, my advise is to make sure they covered in some type of clear plastic (I use page protectors) and taped securely. Otherwise my kids tend to make their own "smart comments" on it, or/and, after while the paper gets taken down & lost in the shuffle.

"Maxine is....."

So I "succumbed" to Facebook. One of those things..."everyone else was doing". Well, that's not really the reason, I'm not terribly into doing things just because everyone else is doing it, but when that's the only way to see pictures that your friends post, and you want to keep tabs on what your kids are posting, then what's a person to do? I enjoy seeing a line or two from my "friends" and it's nice being able to keep up with people a bit that way since not everyone blogs, or posts comments there either. I have to admit, I've "ignored" a few "friends" requests; kids that go to school with my kids, kids that know my kids, people that I don't know, people whom I know, but really never even visit with if I do see them. Quite frankly I don't get the point of having a "billion" people on there that I don't even care about talking to. I don't play games on there either (except for "lil green patch") Nothing against the others, but I decided one was enough, and I don't need to spend the time. I don't spend very much time on facebook in the first place, generally only if I get a message, or want to post something. I much prefer blogging.
That brings me to the point of todays title. If you're familiar with facebook, that's the first thing you see when you go visit someone's profile. Hmmm! Often gives me a chuckle. Maybe sympathy. Today my list for "Maxine is..." is quite long.
We are leaving Tues. after school is out to go up to ND to Dalayna & Wade's for Thanksgiving.
Relyssa is going with Mark out to his parents where Lynisha & Jim will also be.
Last night I took 5 kids shopping for winter clothes & shoes. Everyone's grown out of everything all at once, and the school clothes they started out the year with are summer! Pretty soon I'm going to get a call from the teachers complaining about how their dressed if I don't get some warmer ones for them (of course, I have to put away the summer ones, or they'll continue to wear them anyway. I'm not sure they really care!)
SO...

• I'm baking the pumpkins that were our halloween decorations. Meshayla wants to bake pie, and they all want me to roast pumpkin seeds.
• I've got about 6 loads of laundry to do before I can finish packing clothes
• I have to take 5 kids shopping again tonight, because although Walmart & Target have a good selection for 7 & 9 yr. old girls, & shirts for boys, we didn't find anything for 14 & 17 yr girls, or jeans & shoes for 12 yr. boy.
• 17 yr. old has to have fabric for school clothing class project.
• I need ingredients for granola to make for SIL, because my kids ate the other, and I have to send it out to him with Mark & Relyssa when they go.
• I need to make said granola
• I have 3 tubs of sewing things/material that have to be gone thru & re-packed up & stored because they can't stay in my living room.
• I have to pay bills so we have some untilitles on when we get back home!!
• I have to pack 4 kids clothes plus 2 adults, because my kids do not have a clue (and yes, I've tried. It's more stress than it's worth. Someday they'll figure it out)
• Sleeping bags & pillows
• Turkey & corn from the freezer to take along
  
• Water my plants so they don't die before we get home
• Remember all the other "left behind" items I need to send with Relyssa to Lynisha
• Hmmm, Try to remember all the other 99 things that need done, that I haven't wrote down yet.
• YIPEE....Gas is down to $1.62 here. Hopefully we'll have similar prices along the way. It will make the trip much more affordable! I can take Jessi shopping :*)
  

So, Thank goodness it's only Monday :*) You all have a great day!

I missed it!

Like many others I have that handy blogger update thingy on my blog now, and I love the time it "saves" me! At a glance I can see who has just updated, without spending time going thru my list of favorites. However, like most things it has it's glitches. My Sister-in-law updated her blog with birthday pictures, and I just saw it today, A WHOLE DAY LATER! HAPPY BIRTHDAY KYLE! So I have problems remembering my own kids/grandkids birthdays, I fail on my son-in-laws, so without reminders, how am I suppose to remember the nieces & nephews??!
I suppose considering the huge population in the blogging world these days, how COULD the updater keep up to the hour with all of them? and when several people update at approximately the same time then obviously they all can't be at the top of the list. Another thing that happens I've noticed is that when you write a post, then don't publish it right away, it must post at the last time you saved it, not the actual post time.
Well, I got a little carried away on my thought there, because what started this was that when I read Lori's post I had this feeling of "wait a minute, WHO'S birthday?" I remember her posting pictures of his fun looking treats before! "WHOA! wait a minute, was that a YEAR ago?? That means I must have been blogging nearly a year now!
So, get on my blog and go back to my first post. I can't believe it. Sept. 15, 2007. I totally missed it! a month & half OVER a year. Here I thought maybe I'd have a blogaversary party! LOL!!
Oh well, it's been a great time. Even tho I do wish more people would leave comments, I'm thrilled with the new acquaintances I've made this way from those who have, I'm so glad that so many have "open" blogs, and it's been fun to read about others lives...sharing the same or different struggles, but walking the same path.
I'm also happy that even tho many don't leave comments, they DO tell me (or others in my family!) that they read my blog. I've really enjoyed being in better contact with extended family & friends I already knew. I LOVE being able to share via blogging with my away from home kids, (even if we do get rather crazy sometimes)And, last but not least, even tho I've tried to keep a diary/journal many times before, but never kept it up, for the first time I actually have a pretty consistent journal--with pictures no less--for over an entire year!

I'm so excited!!

I've got a surprise!!
Well, that's all you get to know for now. Sorry! Actually I'm sure it won't even mean a thing to most of you anyway, it's only excitement for our family. Well, probably only me actually! I can't tell yet because I don't want a few people to know....on the OFF CHANCE that they MIGHT read my blog (gasp!)
Anyway, I'm just SO excited!!! Never mind, I know that tomorrow when you all anxiously check in on me, you're going to say "what?" that's nothing to dance about. Nope, as I said not excitement to you, but for me it is :*)
So, I'm off to have a wonderful day...I'm cleaning, de-cluttering BIG TIME, baking bread & tonight we have another birthday party. Yup....another! My nephew Landon & friend Shelley's daughter Lynette's birthdays were both in September, so tonight's the night to get together. Good thing we have lots of kids to have birthdays, we might never see each other! LOL! We all live close, but we don't meet Sunday or Wed. night with either of my sisters or Shelley's family
ta-da....till later!!

Just today

*I'm making bread

*I have more grapes on simmering for jelly

*I have a table covered with pears that need canned

*The workers are here for 2 days~~one being our daughter Jana because her co-worker went on
to another conv. This is the first time J. has been in her "home field" (even tho it's just for a couple weeks)

*Middle school & grade school kids are out of school tomorrow & Friday for parent/teacher conferences, but not the HS. WHY can't they schedule all the schools in the district the same days off so families could go/do something TOGETHER?

*We're having beautiful fall days. Could we just please have them until AT LEAST the end of Oct? The end of Nov. would be even better! I love fall. It's my favorite time of year except for the fact that winter comes after it.

*My sister G.K. is going to be at BW Missouri. Conv. If you see her there, tell her hi :*)....she doesn't read my blog unless she HAS to!! :*) However, she's addicted to P.W.'s. blog & reads it all the time. You can see how I rate. I can't help it I don't have as exciting a life as P.W....or am not as good a writer!!

*My "little" sister is heading to LV/ NV for the weekend to see her kids/grandaughter. So if you see her, Ditto to the above except she's not addicted to P.W.'s blog :*) It's her birthday on the 30th this month, so tell her happy early birthday too!

*My older boys & Relyssa plan to go to B.C. KS conv. this weekend, you can tell them hi if you're there & see them....It's good for them to know you read my blog & check up on them too! LOL!
(The boys don't read my blog either, but Lyss does some....mostly to see if I have any pictures or videos she can "steal" for her facebook page!!)

*This blog/writer has been such an inspiration & encouragement besides beautiful photography. However I was afraid the news wasn't going to be good, so cried when I read the up-dates last
night.

*I need to post my photo results for this project

*Thinking of all you who are heading to conventions today.

*I must get to work before the fruit flies take over my house :*(

*OH YES! I love, LOVE the new blog links that let you know when people's blogs are updated! I don't spend near as much time "hopping" to see if anyone has posted something new!!

Cake-- Part 1

I have been increasing intrigued with the cake making thing. Now all my dear family, I can hear you snickering behind my back already! For the rest of you, yes I confess, I've never "liked" to make birthday cakes. I really have never even liked to EAT cake. And frosting, yuck for the most part. Yes, under stress, and I do mean STRESS, I've made my kids birthday cakes. Some even were pretty cute if I do say so. Usually I take anyone's offer to make one for me, or I buy one. Stress-FREE, right?
Well, I've spent the last several years being terrifically impressed with Lynisha's cakes she's made, here, here, here, here and my favorite, both in creativity & taste! So after "helping" (I know, it was only watching, tasting frosting, which by the way was so good I couldn't stay out of it..., and then spreading frosting on cakes) Lynisha on Jeanne & Floyd's cakes, I decided I had to try it for myself.
So, drum roll here please......I'm making a birthday cake for Rebecca & Meshayla's brithday party tomorrow. I'm using Lynisha's cake, filling & frosting recipes/instruction, so surely that means it will work, RIGHT?
All right, so a little more background here. Another reason I hesitate on this one, is that I can't stand a mess while I'm cooking. When I was growing up, the way I learned to do things in the Kitchen was get all of the ingredients out ahead of time, make the stuff, then deal with the huge mess. put all the stuff away, clean up the counters & deal with the mound of dirty dishes you made. I can't stand that, so the idea of making a cake, filling & frosting then decorating was/is a little intimidating to me to say the least. The last thing I want is the kitchen wrecked "just for a cake"
But, I did decide that surely If I've learned to cook large meals, & bake bread without ending up with total chaos, then somehow I can do the same things with a cake right?
So #1. Start with a clean kitchen! Check, did that.
The last months I've tried to quit doing quite so much multi-tasking. It stresses my brain. However for this operation it's a necessity if you don't want to spend time cleaning up afterwards. It's a no-brainer. Clean as you go.
I just took the cakes out of the oven, they look great, the filling is in the fridge cooling, my counters & stove are clean, dishes done & sink shined. So far so good.
Now, Do you suppose I can figure out how to do that while I'm making jelly?????
Stay tuned for Part 2.........