Call me Old Fashioned

...but a lady for VP? Come on. And with a newborn baby (that also has Down Syndrome) to top it all off. I know it sounds ridiculous in the days of "political correctness", but she should be at home not running a country! I am all for women not being surpressed and all, but in the world of international politics I do not agree with a women in the white house, just won't get the same respect. Out of the choices of course I would go with the Rep's, but I don't really like any of my options here! Aren't they supposed to be about traditional family values? Ya I'm oppinionated about it.

Quick Trip to Prescott

This last weekend we went up to Prescott to visit Ryan and Krista's (one of the infamous dirtbags) house/town. We got up there Friday evening and had pizza and let the kids play in the square where there is grass and music on the weekends. Then we headed to an ice cream place for a treat. Then we had to try to get the kids to sleep in tents in the backyard and babies asleep inside and the adults all stayed up late to play the Loaded Questions game and, trust me, it was loaded!

On Saturday we got up and had breakfast and sat around chatting and getting ready for the day. Then we packed up lunches and headed up the nearby mountain for a picnic. The weather was perfect.

Here are the "dirtbags" minus Cameron (who knows where he is).

The "dirtbags" and their wives minus Benson's wife Kyle

(she was at home because her daughter was not feeling well).

Here are all of the kids minus the previously mentioned Sammy.

Silly faces except Macey's got a pouty face because she just got yelled at for

putting both of her hands up for a face and letting go of Claire on her lap.

Just US!

After that we all headed home to the valley. It's good to have good friends with good families that all stay in touch. Still waiting to see which of the dirtbags will end up together! We are betting on at least one match up!

Macey's Baptism Day

Yesterday was Macey's baptism day. It was a really nice day. We had 4 kids getting baptized from our ward so it was not as personal as we would have liked, but I was in charge of the musical number where the kids sang a song that my sister-in-law wrote (which I love) "Today on my Baptism Day", and it turned out really well. Macey is growing too fast into a great Young Women. She knows how to make good choices and I am happy that she has made this choice in her life.

I am really happy with the decision we made to bag the party at our house and to go to the pizza buffet at R&R Pizza instead. It really allowed us to get ready for the baptism and really focus on it instead having the house clean, food ready, etc.

We love Macey, her sweet disposition, the part she plays in our family as the oldest and the great example she is for her younger siblings. Hopefully her good choices continue throughout her life.

Olympic Fever

I love, love, love the Summer Olympics! Especially the gymnastics (I still wish I could do what they do). But come on are we supposed to be nocturnal to watch them? Really bad time for DVR to be broken (Dish Network here we come). Of course I am still up playing with my blog to keep me awake. Go USA!

Anyone Need a Pencil?

Oh we've got plenty. Now that school has started there are always pencils all over, seriously I do not know where they keep coming from. I am taking pencils out of Claire's mouth like 5 times a day. She is like dog sniffing out food, except it's pencils.

More School Please

The kids were playing today and of course they found the only "clean" room in the house and turned it into their classroom. You can see they even hung pictures and things on the wall. I guess 6-1/2 hours was not enough for today.

I Avoid Them, She Loves Them

This is where I find Claire several times a day. Making her way up the stairs. She sees me coming and just laughs and goes faster. She's gonna be trouble I can tell, but I can also tell it will be hard to get after those big blue eyes and that big smile! Too cute. It's going too fast.

House of Order

(this is not my house, but it feels like this... like there is a mess in every corner of the house...I don't even know where to begin)

Ya not here. I am feeling very overwhelmed at the impossible task of getting my house in order after the summer and really still recovering from having a baby and all of the time that takes. It is all coming to a head and it is not a happy place around here. Every time I think I am getting a handle on it the kids get home or Tate destroys the place while he is supposed to be taking nap and then it looks like a tornado (hurricane, earthquake, you name it) has torn through the whole place. I swear I am about to just bag everything up and throw it away. Arrrggghhhh! Oh, and Macey is getting baptized on Saturday and instead of killing myself trying to get it in order I am giving up and we are just going out to eat afterwards so that it will be a pleasant experience. So, that is my rant for the day. Hope you are doing better!

I guess I have procrastinated this post long enough (just because they were some jam-packed days and there is lots to post). Last week my half-brother, Rich, came into town for a few days. These are the events that took place (excuse the journal-like entry I am not in the mood for storytelling)...



Thursday, August 7, 2008:


Tara and I were in charge of "entertaining" Rich until my mom got off of work. We had a leisurely breakfast at Chick-fil-a. I know a wierd place for breakfast, but it is pretty good and they have the play area for the kids. Then we came back to my place for some Wii action and R&R. Then we decide we should probably have some sort of lunch so we called in an ordere to Red Brick Pizza, which Tara swears by, and then she ran to pick it up. I had to take Macey to a song practice for her baptism and when I returned Rich had the kids entertained with some games (you know the races and competitions that men make up). The kids really enjoyed it. Then Rich, my mom, Toby and I all went for dinner at Cravings.




Friday August 8, 2008:

We headed over to the West Valley for our activities this day. First we went to the Cerreta Candy Factory for a so called "tour". We actually just stood there while a lady stood there and told us how they made each individual candy, but did not show us or anything so the kids were not really interested. They gave us some free samples though! Then we headed down the street to Cabela's, a hunter's paradise. It was funny that we were visiting a sporting shop, but it was really neat. The first thing that hit me when we walked in was that sweaty horse smell, ya gross. It must have been coming from all of the animal hides in the store. They have a lot of animals that have been stuffed, a plane, a water fall, and a pond with live fish in it. It was pretty neat to look at and I think the kids enjoyed it. We also played the shooting game that they had there where you shoot at the targets and some of them shoot water at you and stuff, pretty cool. Then we had lunch at the cafe where you can order buffalo, elk, venison, etc. like you had just hunted it yourself! I just stuck with clam chowder in a bread bowl and the kids had pizza, but my mom did try the buffalo burger and Rich had some wierd kind of hot dog. After that we went over a block or two to get a closer look at the Cardinals Stadium and then we headed home. Then we gathered that night for some pizza, chocolate fountain and the Olympic Opening Ceremonies.Caleb? Is that you?This is how I like to see Mountain Lions!

Saturday, August 9, 2008:


HaPPy BiRtHDaY ToBy!



My mom wanted Rich to meet Shannon's husband and kids so we got together for breakfast and some morning swimming at their house. After that we went home to regain some sort of composure for the next activity which was the Diamondbacks game (well, I actually went to a baby shower in between, but anyways). Rich and his wife Alex live in North Carolina and have really been missing baseball and of course that is music to my families ears so, to the game we went. We made a pit stop at Carolina's since I had never been, and let me tell you it was the best burrito I have ever had and we will definately be stopping there more often! We enjoyed ourselves with the kids at home with a babysitter, unfortunately, the game was not so good with a lot of errors, O-Dog's season ending injury and a loss, but we still had a good time (hey, atleast we got a free shirt out of it!). Then we stopped by my parents house to say our good-byes and see what Toby got for his birthday (a new rocker with surround sound for his room).

(ugggh my face has been so broken out lately! also I am not sure why this typing is being underlined???)

I was ready for some rest on Sunday (the day for that you know), but of course that doesn't really happen when church is @ noon and you are the nursery leader over 6 huge nurseries. Then of course I had to watch the ladies gymnastics Sunday night!

Finally

I had ordered Breaking Dawn from Amazon and I got it last Monday. With school starting and company in town (posts about that to follow) I have not been able to read as much as I had anticitpated. So I just finished it! I really enjoyed these books ( I will just leave my review at that since I know some of you may not have read it yet). Now I can't wait to see the movie(s?) although I am sure they will pale in comparison to the books. Aaaahhhhhhhh.

Chump Change

I hate these things. They are definately more trouble than they're worth. They guy at Wendy's did not even bother giving me my penny change from $3.99 bill (I did not mind). I am constantly finding them on the ground and I do not even want to use the energy to pick them up except they are a choking hazard with a crawling baby and they would ruin the vacuum. I think it is actually illegal (what? I don't know, I think my mom told me that once when I was little), but I have just been throwing them away because I do not want to walk them to my wallet and if I don't they just end up back on the floor. Ugggh!

7 Things You'll Never Hear Me Say.....

1. I'm going to get me some skinny pants. I mean the name describes me perfectly. They are in style and everyone should have them in their wardrobe because they look good on everyone!

2. Go ahead...leave every single light on and I will turn them off. No matter how many times a day. It is no problem, as soon as I turn them off go ahead and turn them right back on again, let's go for the record SRP bill, dad will love it.

3. We need to cut some expenses so let's turn the air conditioning up. It's no big deal if I sweat, stink and need to take 3 showers a day to cool off. It is definately worth saving $50. I would rather turn the air up than buy a little less groceries or use a little less gas or go out to eat less or not buy soda. Who am I to be comfortable in my own home? I think they actually have awards for those who can keep their air the highest on the hottest days and that is definately a notch I want on my belt. Did you know it actually makes you a better person if you sacrifice your comfort and are hot all day.

4. Oh I did not understand your English the first time you asked. Ask me over and over in a whiney voice so then I will understand you better and change my answer.

5. Whatever you do, do not flush the toilet. I will just flush it at the end of the day. It is just a small way that we can do our part to be "green" and use less water. Actually I was thinking about just replacing the toilets with a port-a-john in the backyard.

6. I am just going to rest for 15 minutes so play amongst yourselves or watch the movie I have put on for you, but I understand that you need something from me about every 2 minutes so just ask me for whatever you need, you shouldn't have to wait for what you want, ever. Mom's actually have super powers and do not need sleep, it is just a cover.

7. I don't actually do anything around here. There is a magical fairy that comes and does all of the numerous loads of laundry, puts your dishes in the dishwasher, feeds the kids lunch, get the kids off to school, wipes the counters table and chairs, cleans the bathrooms, mops the floors, spot cleans the carpets, cleans the couch after you spill on it, touches up the paint, changes the vacuum bags, cleans out the fridge, dusts, makes sure we have shampoo, TP, toothpaste, QTips, toothbrushes, ETC (the list goes on and on). But the fairy does not like to come unless I am here and not sick so don't you worry, as soon as I am home and better the fairy will be back and take care of everything that has been piling up. So you are right, it really is not fair that I may ask you to do something around here because I haven't done anything all day and I messed up your room and played with all of the toys so I really should clean up after myself.

I have seen several people do this so I thought I would do it, too. I must say it has been very therepeudic. Try it! I have a lot more where that came from too!

And They're Off

Off to school! Here's to a NEW year, NEW clothes, NEW shoes, and NEW hair do's. All things went smoothly this morning and the kids got off on time (they ride their bikes to school). The house is quiet and getting clean very quickly! {SWEET}.

Scott took the kids to see this...While Claire and I did this....
I know it is not what Scott was hoping I would do, but it had to be done although, it is hard for me to sleep in an oddly quiet house in the middle of the day so I just rested a little. Scott was going for a Brendan Fraser weekend since we went on a date and saw The Mummy last night. I can not stand him (Brendan Fraser that is). We may have some movie reviews for you later.

In case you are interested...

I have started a 2nd blog for my crafty side (I know like I need one more thing to keep up on). Just check it our if you are interested!

http://melsfeelingcrafty.blogspot.com/

Eight Years in the Making

Macey just turned 8 and she does think it is great! I however, have been trying to recover from her birthday party. I told the kids they only get "friend" birthday parties at 5,8,12 and then maybe 16 (we will see how they are behaving by then) because I think they are just too much expense and work to do every year (I know, I am mean). For her party we had 8 girls over for a Hannah Montana themed party and then we finished off the party with swimming. Macey was very determined what she wanted for her party...frozen cake and ice cream cupcakes from Costco, pass the package, Hannah Montana, swimming and that is what we did for 3 hours! It is always interesting to see the dynamics of little girls when you get a group of them together! All and all it went as planned and I think fun was had by all.

After the party we hurried up and went to meet the teacher (we got great teachers this year!) where Macey told everyone that said hi to her that it was her birthday and then it was off to celebrate Macey's birthday as a family. A couple of really funny things happened on the way (well, at least I thought they were funny, but it may have been due to my deliriously tired state). We were telling Macey all of the choices of places to eat in the Santan area and one of the places we narrowed it down to was Wendy's (it had to be quick at this point it was about 7pm). Emmy said "what type of food is at Wendy's". Too which Scott replied, sarcastically, burritos and cheese crisps and Emmy said totally believing him (which I think they would have learned by now) "oh, I will have a cheese crisp". I just started laughing so hard. The other thing happened just after that. Scott was saying, sarcastically again, that we were going to have to hurry so we could get back for basketball (meaning actually going to the church and playing b-ball). Too which Macey says, "Dad why can't you just DVR it". It was so funny just thinking about him DVR the live basketball instead of playing it. Like I said I was delirious. So, moving on, we ate Wendy's and then headed to Build-a-Bear. She already has a bear, which needed some repair, and then she picked out a new Hannah Montana outfit (of course) and a little backpack thing that she can carry her bear in. It was a great ending to a great day!

These are some pictures of Macey with some of her favorite presents... Hannah Montana pajamas, the doll from Grandma Phillips that is so lovely it cries and coos, and her build-a-bear.

Macey is.....

independent, responsible, her mom's helper and a lot of times without even being asked, a good reader, peacemaker, a good older sister to all of her sisters and brother, a good cleaner (especially vacuuming), and she is going into 3rd grade.

Macey enjoys.....

swimming, playing with friends, playing the Wii, and anything Hannah Montana.

Macey is the ultimate oldest child. She is my best helper and will be a great babysitter someday (although she will probably be babysitting for me most of the time). I can't even believe how fast she is growing up. I hate to be cliche, but we truly love having her in our home, she is a complete JOY!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MACEY!

Someone LOVES Licorice

I was taking the pictures off of my camera today (finally) and I forgot that I had these pictures. I gave Claire some licorice and put her in the swing to entertain her while I was getting ready to go somewhere (can't even remember where) and Scott was finishing up the yard. It entertained her for a long time, but I don't know why I did not think of the mess it would make (I don't think I really cared). I did not have time to clean up the mess, which Scott was not happy about, but I had time to snap a picture!

It looks like Claire enjoys the licorice, but evidentally Macey does not. Yesterday we had her birthday party and one of her friends gave her this big tube of licorice and Macey continued to say over and over that she does not like licorice. It was one of those moments where you never know what will come out of their mouths and I kept telling her to stop saying that. I guess I should have had the manners discussion before the party (although, I am not sure why I have to keep telling them things like that are rude!).