Monkey See Monkey Do

I believe that John is ultimately responsible for this method of getting a drink. Justice learned this from Ross & Mark. I asked Ross where he got it from, he said Trent. So this is what I think has transpired. John started getting a drink like this, Trent learned it from him, Ross & Mark learned it from Trent, and now Justice has learned it from them. Too funny.

Bruce Pulls An Uncle Reid

Ross had two of his buddies over for a sleep-over last night, Tyler & Dax. All of the kids (except Justice) slept in the living room, in sleeping bags. Bruce & I heard them in their talking when they were supposed to be going to sleep. Ross, to my amusement & dismay at the same time, was in there bragging about all of his girlfriends. He kept naming names and saying "she used to be my girlfriend, but now we're enemies." I think this just means that they were girls who he had/has crushes on, but he doesn't want his friends to know that he likes them. He kept emphasizing the "enemies" part. Man, isn't it a bit soon for him to be bragging about his girlfriends. Boys!

Anyway, they started telling scary stories. Bruce thought it would be funny to scare them. I suggested that he climb out of the window, which he did. He snuck around and started knocking on the window. They of course came to our bedroom door (which I had locked) and were all scared. Bruce, by then had come back and was standing at my window, so he could stick his head in and tell them to go back to sleep. It was funny. I eventually came out to "see what was the matter." Bruce waited until he had them all looking out of the window and snuck up from the side and yelled right in their faces. They all screamed! It was funny. Lydia didn't take it too well though, she made Chloe (our 100lb Labrador) sleep with her.

In other news, my knee has been giving me a bit of trouble, so I took a couple of weeks off of the running. Instead, I've been biking with Bruce, something I've never been into at all. As it turns out, I have a bit of a talent for biking. Bruce says that if I keep it up, I'll be better than him. He wants to train me up and spring me on his Tuesday night riding group at the end of summer and surprise everyone with my blazing speed. (Whatever!) It must be those Sever quads or something. The only problem is that, while I do enjoy it, I'm a bit afraid of riding. People crash on bikes, and get hurt. Bruce seems to think that if I don't pursue it, it would be a horrible waste! I don't know. He does love to have a protegee, doesn't he!

Eat a Buger!

That's all I ain't got much to say.

Never Mind, I Take It All Back! ;)

Ross has been asking for a mohawk since before school let out. Bruce had said "maybe after school is done." Lydia got me good with a lawyer trick. We were talking about cutting Justice's hair, and she said something like "Won't it take a long time for it to grow back?" I said "No." She then replied, "Then it won't take long for Ross's hair to grow back either, if he gets a mohawk." Anyway, just for the record, I never agreed to this. Well, I did finally say okay, but only for a week. Bruce is supposed to cut it off before church next Sunday. I wonder if that will really happen?

My Half Week At Girl's Camp

Yes, I got to go to girl's camp this year, for the first time since I was a YW myself. They called me to be the camp director! I have to say that I had a blast and was a little sorry that the week was over so fast. I was a little concerned about how my children were going to handle me not being there, especially the J-Bird. But everyone seemed to have survived just fine. Bruce took the week off of work so he could stay home. Lydia, from what I hear, put the big sister/second mother mode into high-gear, and made herself indispensable.

I've heard that there are often problems with girls and/or leaders quarrelling among themselves during girl's camp, and to some degree ruining the thing. But, I can honestly say that we had almost none of that at all. We leaders got along fabulously, and I feel like we all bonded. There was like one minor quarrel among the bee-hives, but overwhelmingly, the girls were all great! I loved it, and I really hope they ask me back!

On the home front, my Bruce & the rest of my family were amazing! Bruce threw himself into a frenzy of work as soon as I left. Actually, it started before I left. A husband who has been in scouts forever, and is a real outdoors man is a huge help when preparing for girl's camp! He basically told me everything that I would need to bring, and then proceeded to pack it all into the truck for me. He even did a shopping trip for me! He filled up half of the truck bed with fire wood for me. I'd have never gotten out the door without him! So, while I was gone he: demolished the shed out back -this is a good thing-, put up all of the trim in the living room, along with some painting, tore out all of the radiant heaters on the main floor, which got rid of the stupid pillar thing in my bathroom. He did some landscaping in the front yard, and put a door to my laundry room and a door to Ross & Mark's bedroom. He also got rid of our nasty fish tank. The children cried when they put Gill (our one fish, a bluegill that he caught at the lake a couple of years ago) back into the lake. Bruce said that Gill stayed there in the water next to them for a minute and looked up at them. I've been griping about that nasty fish tank for a while, and half asking him to get rid of it, but I didn't think that he'd really do it. Its algae covered glass was a testament, in my living room of how things don't always get done around our house. Anyway, my husband is awesome, what can I say!

Girl's camp was great, we have some supper, truly wonderful girls in our ward! I've got to run now!

Running, Running!!

Well, I'm trying to accustom myself to running long distances. I ran thirteen miles last week, and today I ran "the hills." (Or tried to.) These people that I run with are tough holy honkeroos! Our normal route is six miles, but the nut jobs in "the fast group" tack on an extra five or so (I'm not sure what the actual mileage is) in the hills. This Alton people, have you seen those hills?! I've not tried it before. I always had the excuse of having to get home to get the kids up to get ready for school. And I was quite happy to have the excuse. Well today that excuse was gone. So, when they said "Do you want to do the hills?" I went. That was really really hard! They pretty much ran up Broadway till they got a mile or two away from our normal route, then they ran up and down every hilly street on the way back, then they tacked on the hills from the Challenge of the Bluffs run. I really don't think that I'm ready to hang with these guys. Will I attempt it again on Thursday? Will they ever ask me again? I proved that I am a wimp in comparison.

EELYAUHC!

1: Check out this slug that was right by my back door last night!

2: This morning I was lying in bed, and a one year old with a stinky diaper came in and hit me in the head with a wet toilet brush. Then I got a kiss that covered my face in snot.

Summer Vacation Begins

Well, the kids' summer vacation has officially begun. Yesterday they went to school long enough to pick up their report cards, then they were done for the summer. Sigh, this part is always bitter sweet for me. The beginning and end of a school year always reminds me that they are growing up. Lydia will never be a third grader again, Ross will never be a first grader again. Lydia is moving on to a new school. Sigh, sigh, sigh! I even decided that it was time that I told her about the female cycle. She listened, but didn't say much. She is such a wonderful girl! Always VERY helpful!

Anyway, I've decided to take the summer to teach some responsibility to my children. It's past time that they should be pulling their own weight. So, we are going to do some good things this summer. First off, we are signing up for the library's summer reading program. Therefore they will have to keep their reading skills sharp. We are going back on our TV control program from last summer. I've also been doing a laundry thing that's been helping out immensely! I haven't gotten stressed out over my laundry in 2 months! As that was a huge problem before, this is wonderful! It is pretty simple, everyone has their own laundry basket. I wash it, and when it comes out of the dryer, I put each person's stuff in his or her basket, and they are responsible for folding and putting away their own cloths. It's great because I don't have to hunt for half an hour every morning so we can get dressed. They have to fold their stuff at least once a week, and even if they don't. They can still find their own cloths. I'm copying Amy's bean jar idea. They have to keep their stuff cleaned up, their rooms clean, their laundry folded, stick to their TV charts, and do one household job everyday. They get beans for doing their stuff. They get to buy back their toys from me with their beans. (I have practically a whole roomful of confiscated toys that didn't get cleaned up.) Anyway, so far it's been great! (It's only been two days.) I love it when I have their help. We can get so much more done! Yesterday I cleaned one bathroom, Lydia cleaned the other, Ross did the dishes, and Mark vacuumed all at once! Do you know how much time it would have taken me to get all of that done?!!

A furniture store near us burned down yesterday. It was a HUGE fire. It happened around noon, and they were working on it into the night. In fact, there were firemen there at around 11:00 this morning when I was out. Bruce drove by there on his way home from work today and said that it is still smoldering. They had traffic diverted all day yesterday, and the neighborhood had no power until about 4:00 this morning. (The fire took out a power line.)
We had such a nice evening though last night! Its amazing how we let TV and things like that keep us from enjoying each other. I walked to Taco Bell with the kids for dinner last night. That was fun to go for a stroll. Then we came home and sat on the porch lit sparklers ate marshmallows, read the Friend by candlelight and told stories until 11:00. It was such a wonderful night. We all thoroughly enjoyed each others' company. Well, I'm getting long winded, so here are my recent pics:

Mark at his last Thursday School Graduation

Someone left the peanut butter out

The kids working together today

Justice helping Lydia make her bed

Emotions

It's amazing how many emotions one person can feel in one day. Today truly has been an up and down day. A good friend of ours lost her only child today. He was in his early twenties, and himself a dear person and friend. Words cannot express how my heart aches for Beth. I wish I could help! I can't seem to pray enough. Such Sadness.

Today was a beautiful day outside. I dropped by the hospital. The family wasn't there at the time, so I just dropped a note and a tear or two. Then I went home and blew bubbles outside with my two youngest who weren't at school. I treasured them all today with new appreciation. Such Joy.

Bruce totalled our van yesterday, and today we got the rejection letter from a company we were hoping to get hired from. Darn! I haven't figured out why, but the Lord apparently has some reason for which He keeps us just shy of complete poverty. It's a true testimony of tithing how we always manage to barely scrape by. But He hasn't failed us yet, and I have faith that He won't fail us now. We've always had just barely enough, but no extra. And that's all we really need. So, I'm okay with our new batch of financial worries. We'll be alright. (I just wish that whatever lesson I'm supposed to be learning from all of this scarcity, I'd hurry up and learn so it could be over.) There are worse things than being poor. I've been happy so far. Oh well, such is life.


This evening, Justice was squatting down in the kitchen with that look on his face that any parent would recognize as the "I'm pooping" face. I said "Are you pooping, Justice?" He continued on about his work. When he was done, he popped up, threw up his hands and sings out "Ah Duh!" Just like "All Done!" We all laughed!

Well, I have pictures to post, but I just don't feel like it. And it doesn't feel right to put up happy pictures on such a sad day. It can wait for tomorrow. Here's a hug for Beth O! We love you bunches! We'll miss you Nathan.

Playing In The Puddles

Boys will be Boys, and Dogs will be Dogs!