love life

I just found out that a close friend of a close friend of mine died.
it was very unexpected.
she was young- 25ish, I think
healthy- I had seen her out jogging a few times.
she was not a member of our church,
but she came to young women's camp- back when I was in YW to help with one of our girls.
she was so sweet.
it made me think.
think about life.
and remind myself of a few things.
yell a little less.
love a bit more.
don't waste so much time.
have fun.
laugh more.
don't be bitter.
help others out.
smile.
take more pictures.
remember the fun times.

it made me glad I took maggie out yesterday to enjoy the last of the warm weather (they say today will be the last double digit day for a long time)
and glad I took my camera.
I love life.

time is up

I wrote down all the names of the people who commented on this post
put them in a fun pumpkin bucket-
because it is October, after all.
Maggie shook it up

here she is- shaking like a mad woman.then she reached in, and pulled out a namethen she showed me who it was. you can't see it? I believe it is upside down.

but it says Andrea!

yay, for Andrea. we will be in touch. think about what picture you want on your cute necklace!

I had a few commenters ask if I would share how they are made. I am sorry, but I paid a big wad of money- probably more than I should have- to learn how to make them, and I am not willing to disclose that information with others. but, I would love to make one for anyone - who is willing to pay! I will list one shortly in my Etsy shop, if you do not have an Etsy account, and are still interested, please email me at kristill@hotmail.com.

Thanks to all who commented!

kind of stinky

well, I did end up doing that craft sale today.
but it wouldn't have mattered if I didn't.
I didn't sell one thing.
but if I had a dollar for everytime someone said my stuff was cute-
well,
I wouldn't be rich,
but I would be richer than I am now.

Cory and Ben went down south to see Cory's grandpa.
he is pretty sick.
that is no good.

only 8 people want one of my cute tile neclaces?
come on people.
they are so cute.
just make a comment here,
and one could be yours.
super fabulous necklace.
one of a kind.
go for it!
make my day.

and did I miss office this week?, or was it really not on.
so sad.
please tell me it wasn't on, because I would be really sad if I missed a new one.

my 3 1/2 year old just is not getting the pooping on the potty thing.
so it really, truly is stinky.

but-
I did get my tomatoes canned.
thanks mom.
and I did get to spend the day with my sister- at the craft sale.
thanks Shelley, that was fun.
-and there were two cute ladies at the table beside us who had really cute bags, and they didn't sell many either, and they were really nice.
and I get to watch whatever show I want on tv tonight. or maybe my chick flick I have been wanting to watch.
and I think I will do that while eating chocolate and knitting.
what a great way to end a somewhat stinky day.

what a day.

1. Cory took my van to work, so I am home with his car- which is a standard, and I still don't know how to drive it. shame on me. I really need to learn.

2. but that's okay. I probably would have just gone out and spent money anyways- so now I have to stay home and clean. or not.

3. probably leaning more towards the not.

4. I made these cookies. they are really yummy, and cake like, and they have pumpkin in them. how fallish is that? and they have chocolate chips, of course.

5. this is my necklace- at Kayli's request-with a picture by Bobbi-Jo.
it looks a bit pinkish here, but not in real life. The tile is 1 inch square, and I can use any picture- kids, family, couple, scenery, pets 6. if you would like a chance to own your very own unique necklace- or maybe even have one made for a friend (think Christmas)- see the previous post! I will pick a name on Monday. fun stuff!

7. Maggie was pushing around her toy vacuum this morning, while holding a doll in one arm, and I totally had a flash back to the days when I had little babies, and sometimes they just wanted to be held, and you had stuff to do, so you did what you had to do. and I missed those days. a tiny bit.

8. then I gave her the big vacuum and put her to work.

9. just kidding about that. but someone needs to vacuum around here, soon. it will probably be me.

10. why do I have to do all the work around here? oh wait- that is my 12 year old's line. I am such a slave driver. ya, right.

11. Well, it seems like the craft sale my sister and I were going to do is kind of a bust. people are strange. so, my sister might be sharing a table with the lady who told her about it, so I am just going to send a few things- like these cute dollies and hope for the best.

12. no school tomorrow. yay for sleeping in!

13. the weather has been incredible here this week. so beautiful and warm. love it. too bad Sunday is supposed to cool down, and I am sure we will not see weather like this again until July. I think I will sit outside and read all afternoon and soak up some vitamin D. nice!

Because it is October.

and this is my birthday month,
and we all know birthdays mean gifts- right?
and because I have a new crafty skill,
and I want to share it with the world!
I am going to give one away!
look what I know how to make- photo tile necklaces! and since I am just starting out making these- this is one I made for my sweet sister in law Joanne,
I would love to get some more practice in.
so, in order to do that, I need to make some more.
I am wondering if any of you, my readers would like one.
I would need a picture emailed to me, one that is not the property of a photographer, but a picture that you have taken, or at least have the rights to do with it what you want to,
and I can do the rest!
make a comment- with an email, or a way to contact you,
and in a couple of days, I will pick a person who I will attempt to make a one of a kind keepsake for.

four

I was tagged by Cory's aunt

and the deal is, you go to your fourth photo file, and post the fourth picture from that file.
kind of random,
but also fun.

so this is it. the fourth picture on my fourth file.

It was taken in 2006.

Cory reading a book.

it is kind of a rare thing now a days,

because once he starts, he reads and reads until he is done.

which very often is into the wee hours of the morning.

so he restricts himself from reading too often.

so- now I am supposed to tag four people to do the same-

Andrea, Shelley, Joanne, and Taryn.

participate if you want, if you don't, I won't be offended!

fun times

we pulled out the inflatable couch, and took it down to the path.
Cory was embarrassed.
He meant to bring the pump to inflate it, but unfortunately left that just inside the door at home,
so it is kind of a saggy couch, but fun nonetheless.I think we need a bigger couch!

and of course there had to be some weird poses involved.
I like this one with Cory's floating head.

Although most of them didn't want to come, I think they all ended up having a good time.

especially when we would push the timer and all run to the couch. - okay, Cory and I would be sitting already, but the kids would run in. that was pretty funny.

then we had to pack it up and go home.

fun times, indeed

do you see what I see?

Jack was raking up the leaves on Thursday- which are still in a pile in the front yard- well, at least the ones that haven't been blown away,
and Jed and he decided it would be fun to bury Jed
and have him pop up on unsuspecting passersby.
I think they have been watching too much prank patrol.
and it never really worked anyways.
there weren't too many people passing by.
crazy boys.

the Benster

alright, it is Ben's turn to answer the questions. as with the others, his responses are in color. just so you know.

name: Benjamin Jay

name meaning: cool dude. his middle name is my dad's middle name, and his dad's first name.

age: 12

nickname: at school it is bensicles. Benny. Ben

favorite activities: eating, dodgeball, squat tag at scouts, playing the computer. I must add sleeping is high on his list.

favorite foods: BLT's, mashed potatoes, cesar salad, roast beef

least favorite foods: oatmeal, all of mom's weird new recipies, and onions.

favorite music: all kinds of rock and roll.

favorite toys: wind up chatter teeth and silly putty. what a guy.

favorite book: Roald Dahl books

favorite item of clothing: my jeans. he thinks I should say his jeans, so you know he is not meaning my jeans.

what makes him happy: candy gee, he really must be my child!

what makes him sad: no candy

maybe

so, the trip is off.
there are kids throwing up over there.
I don't want to subject my kids to further school absences,
if you know what I mean.
so, we are hanging out in Alberta.
I am thinking maybe I can pull out the couch now.
camera, couch, leaves. sounds fun to me.
to my family- maybe not so much.
maybe.

today

1. made some whole wheat zuchinni bread. good, but a bit dry. I just gave Maggie a piece and she wants more, so I guess it is all good.
2. my sister and I are doing a Farmers market sale- not sure exactly what that involves, but we are taking crafts- next weekend,
so I have been trying hard to get some cute stuff going. this is a quilt that is almost done- I just have to connect those last bits of binding, and get them sewn on. then on to the next one!

3. of course- had my meeting with Jillian this morning. I have moved myself up to level 3. yowsa. I actually missed yesterday. shame on me. but I did walk to the church for the play group. that counts for something, right?

4. book club tonight! yay. we haven't met since may, or June. oh, I think I missed June because I was off on my trip. it seems like forever. the book this month is Life as we Knew it. I know I have talked about it before. a good kick in the bum for food storage book!

5. played a rousing round of Dora candyland, with this little cutie.
6. wow, what a messy house in the background. guess I better add cleaning, and lots of it to my list for today.

7. well, I was waiting and waiting for my tomatoes to be ripe, now I have a whole bunch in my fridge, and I am the only one who eats them!

8. and I have a big box full of green ones that I picked- it is starting to get chilly here at night- and some days- so I didn't want the frost to get them!

9. I think I am going to have to can a bunch- I know my family will eat them in chilli and spagetti sauce!

10. I am heading out with 4 of my kids to Saskatchewan tomorrow!

that is always a good time- haha- well, it is a good time, but the drive leaves much to be desired. Cory is staying home and getting lots done, and Jed has an aversion to travelling, so he is going to help Cory. yah, right!

11. it is so funny walking with Maggie now- she always points out the naked trees to me! sadly there are more and more. but I do enjoy walking through the crunchy leaves.

12. I just know that very soon, everything will be brown, and cold. then the snow will come, and it will be pretty for a while, until the snow gets all brown, and yucky. and it will be cold. very cold.

13. although I guess the cold weather means we can get the fireplace going- that is always cozy, and hot chocolate becomes a very regular thing around here. and chilli, and soup and all kinds of other cozy wintery stuff.

but not yet. I did hear that it is supposed to be 24 degrees next week. yay.

I will take it, and love it, because the cold will come, but the later, the better.

I was indulged.

after it stopped raining, and the wind slowed down a bit, my sweet, sweet family allowed me about 5 shots in the trees last night. and one of them was a crazy pose, one was our rear ends poking out- nice-
and this was one that turned out okay. I am happy they let me do this,
but this was not my big plan.
oh, no.
my plan would have been so fabulous,
but I must take what I can get, I guess.

in July, on our way home from Brooks, along the highway was an acreage, that was having a garage sale. they were moving, and just clearing out everything.
they had an inflatable couch, with a slipcover-
cool, no?
and they were asking $50. it said they paid $300.
I had $15 in my purse.
I told the guy I would buy it if I had money,
but told him what I had, and he said- sold!
so we deflated it, and stuffed it in our already full van.
fun!
so, my big plan, is to take the couch down to the path, and take pictures on the couch.
is that not the best idea?
I will see if I can swing it!

but I am not holding my breath.

fall

this was us last year. in the fall.

I wanted to go out on Saturday, and take another fall picture of my family.

but Ben was at a camp until late.

then I thought Sunday would work.

but kids had other plans, friends to play with

and Cory said we could go out for Family Home Evening.

boy,

am I wishing we had gone out yesterday.

the weather was perfect.

today,

not so much.

rain and wind.

I am just hoping when it does get nice there are still some leaves left on the trees.

because I have a great idea for a picture.

and I can't wait!

you rock dude

Cory and I did a little bit of rocking last night when we went to go help chaperone the youth dance.
wow, what a flash back that was.
even some of the same songs- always YMCA, much to my dismay-
then and now.
a lot of new songs
a lot of fun songs.
I was so tempted to just go up to one of the kids and ask- who sings that song, and what is it called.
more than once.
I kept wondering what my kids would be like at the dances.
I loved them.
I remember my friends and I separating from our group, so that it would be easier for boys to approach us- I mean really, what boy wants to walk up to a group of 3 or more girls to ask one to dance.
weren't we sweet?
things were a bit different now.
pretty much if it was a fast song, they all just kind of danced in big groups, and only divided into couples for the slow songs.
that would have been great for me back in the day.
but the funniest thing of the whole night was when I went to the bathroom, and I saw someone had scratched into the stall wall- be valiant.
love it.

a question

so,
when your washing machine says to put the clothes in first,
and then the soap
and your soap says to put the soap in first,
and then the clothes
what do you do?

these are the things I love..

or thirteen things I am loving today.

1. I love that Maggie says the tree in front of our house is almost naked. so funny. the leaves are almost all off of it. it has gorgeous red leaves, and will definitely look naked, and sad soon.

2. I love the colors that are out there right now. loving fall.

3. I love hearing the geese honking as they fly by- to warmer lands. oh that I could fly with them!

4. I love that I am going to make something for supper tonight that I really want to make- but I am sure no one in my family will like it, so they can all have leftovers. I can't wait!- just a pasta dish from the Kraft magazine- that has tomatoes and looks so good.

5. I love that I have been able to go on walks with my new stroller every night this week- except Tuesday, and I probably won't make it tonight, but we have been out, and it is good.

6. I love that it is so warm lately. I know it won't last long, so I am trying to be outside and soak up all the sun I can. store it up for cold days. oh, that I could do that.

7. I love that I got to go to my mom's again this morning to make more apple pies, and some apple crisp. I think I am going to cook some of that apple crisp up for dessert tonight. the kids probably won't like that either, but I will!

8. I love that Maggie is going to a birthday party tomorrow morning for an hour and a half, and I will have the house to myself. what shall I do?

9. I love blogs, reading blogs, the people I meet from blogs, and the ideas I get from blogs. love it.

10. I love chocolate. always have, always will

11. I love that I am reading a book that a couple of Cory's cousins wrote- they need some feed back. it is a great book, I just wish I had it in a real book, so I could lie in bed and read it. computer time is hard to come by in this house- when the kids are home anyways. just had to say that- what I have read so far, I really like!

12. I love that my mom's book club book for next month is Twilight! I wonder what she will think of it all.

13. I love that we are having a real enrichment meeting tonight at the church tonight- getting together with the ladies. always a good time!

almost ready

one tomato.
it's almost red.
I can't wait!

if you need me,

and I am not at home,
I might be here- enjoying the last of the warm weather- (probably)
and the great path system we have in our city,
and my four kids who can ride their bikes,and Maggie gets to ride in comfort in this new stroller.
lucky girl! I bought it at a garage sale for $20. what a deal.
when I came home from that garage sale I told Cory that I bought something to feed my fetish.
he said- another chair.
I said no.
he said another picture frame.
I said no.
I guess I have a few fetishes.
then I said a stroller.
he said which one are you getting rid of.
I have had a few strollers lying around at different times in my life. right now I have four.-but one is going to the dump, one is being returned to my friend, and the other is an umbrella stroller, that sometimes one needs to pack along- just in case. and now my great jogging stroller. which I use, and love.
and that is my story,
and I am sticking to it.

done

I have had this old window frame for over a year now,
the picture printed the right size for under a year, but many, many months.
I finally fixed the frame- it was a bit rickety.
cut the picture to fit,
stapled it in,
put the hangy thingies on the back
and hung it on my bedroom wall.

I love it!
(photo by Rebecca Cooper)

it's really Thursday

1. so yesterday I was on the computer, totally doing up a Thursday post, thinking hard to write thirteen things, posted it and everything, then realized- hey, it is only Wednesday, so I deleted it, because I didn't know how to save it, and publish it today instead.

2. yep, I am smart like that.
3. so on Saturday I stopped by my little local thrift store- and what did I find, but this cute little chair. it had to come home with me. really.
yes, I admit, I have a chair problem.
just ask my husband.
it isn't too big of a problem - yet. I think, anyways. he might not think the same as I do.

4. yesterday Maggie and I headed to my moms house to help make salsa. yum. and we had time to make some apple pies.

5. and we picked some of her chokecherries

6. which we added to the chokecherries we had picked the day before and made some syrup. double yum.

7. I was at extra foods, where they are kind of a mess because they are changing to a no frills, because our walmart is changing to a super walmart- are you following all this? and they kind of have a bunch of stuff not marked- hate that- and there were some cartons of whoppers, so I bought a couple- they rang in at $0.72. yep. so went back and got some more. crazyness.

8. the leaves are starting to change. fall is coming quickly.

9. I have big plans to hibernate this winter. I had better get working on all those quilts I have started, or want to start, to keep us warm. and get the fireplace roaring. and we can hunker down, and eat salsa, and pancakes with chokecherry syrup, and whoppers all winter, and never have to go out in the cold. ohh. that sounds really, really nice.

10. I also found these little cuties at the thrift store. I love that they were part of someones salt and pepper shaker collection. on the bottom was a little sticker in writing that looked very similar to my grandma's that said Seattle, 1975. love it.

11. I am on day 10 of the 30 day shred. yep, I am sticking to it. it is a crazy hard workout- 20 minutes of torture, I say. but I do feel stronger, so that is a good thing.

12. alright, far too much time spent on this computer, lots of stuff to get done around here- oh, and we told our kids they couldn't go on the computer until their rooms are clean, and last night Cory said maybe we should have the same rule, and I agreed, but my room isn't all that clean yet.

13. I had better go clean it!

jeddybobetty

Name: Jed Michael Livingstone

Name meaning: me. I don't know- just liked it. Michael is his dad's middle name.

Age: 9

nickname: jeddybobetty, jeddy, jedster. I think that's all.

favorite activities: playing basketball, pass with a football, jumping on the pogostick. playing at friends houses. running. coloring. shooting games. (nice)

favorite foods: corn, chilli, hotdogs, chicken on a stick

least favorite foods: guacamole, salad, tomatoes, mayonaise, butter, mustard, relish, cheese.

favorite music: crazy frog, Abba

favorite toys: remote control toys, Pokemon cards, game cube, and any other game systems he can get his hands on!

favorite book: Batman chapter books, I spy books

favorite item of clothing: zip off pants

what makes him happy: guitar lessons( which he isn't in yet, and once he is and has to practice, I am sure it will not make him very happy) game systems, and friends

what makes him sad: getting punished- getting game cube and computer priviledges taken away, practicing piano (see what I mean?)

tag, she's it

the magster has been tagged by the cute Ethne, or her mom- whatever way you want to look at it, so here's the low down-

name: Maggie Rose- I am asking her these questions, and her answer is Maggie Livingstone.

name meaning: it means if you make a big mess, you clean it up. that is what she tells me. funny thing. I really don't know what it means. I like it, that is all!

Age: she says 4, but she is really only 3.

nickname: she says she just wants to be maggie. her answers are killing me! we call her Mags, magster, maggie poo, stinker, cutie, whatever we want!

Favorite Activities: play with purple playdoh, play polly pockets, play strawberry shortcakes, and train tracks, and little people. I might add she is quite fond of Treehouse tv, and treehousetv.com.

Favorite Foods: apples, grapes, barbie birthday cake( this is coming straight from her, you of course realize, right?) marshmallows, chocolate chips, cookies, pepper or salt. what a hoot. she is my best eater by far. she is the only one who eats quacamole with me. love it.

Least Favorite Foods: I don't like yucky grapes. I don't like yucky bananas. and I don't like yucky marshmallows. thats what I don't like. I don't like big marshmallows. I like little marshmallows. that is all I don't like to eat.

Favorite Music: veggie tales, I asked if she likes anything else, and she said no, just veggie tales, but sometimes in odd places she will start singing mama mia. so I think she really likes Abba too!

Favorite toys: littlest petshops, but she just went to look for them and she doesn't know where they are. funny girl.

Favorite Book: I like Dora goes to School, and Thomas. I just like two books. that's what she says. and Dora pirates. I think really, whatever is by her bed at the moment.

Favorite Item of Clothing: hmm. jeans, cupcake shirt, other jeans. that shirt with birds on it, and the apple tree.

What makes her happy: kiss makes me happy. love it!

What makes her sad: if people hurt me.

okay, that was kind of fun, seeing what she would say. I should do this for each of my kids! if you read this and want to do it, then I tag you!

happy guy

here's my super cute newest nephew-

and his two big sisters who love him so much!
he's not really sharing tho love right then. man, that little guy gets more sqeezes, kisses, and big sister love than he can handle! Too cute!

one

with a little coaxing, I got my one little friend I have at home with me to let me take some pictures. fun. more for me than for her, of course, but I will take what I can get! sweet silly little Maggie!

things will get done now!

so, now that four out of five of my kids are at school all day, I have no excuse to get a lot done around here, right?
things like:

1. getting my house cleaned up

2. and organized
(maybe- one can hope, right?)

3. and decluttered

4. get some of those quilts I have started, and want to start done

5. make some serious playdough creatures. such as this snowman Maggie is creating. 6. work more on my seminary- maybe even daily. that would be a very good thing to do.

7. get my craft room (or better know as a closet) organized so that I can actually do crafts in there!

8.spend some one on one time with maggie doing educational things. like learning numbers and letters and that kind of good stuff kids should be learning- but then again- isn't that what sesame street is all about? heehee.

9. I am fully committed to doing the 30 day shred everyday this month- except Sundays. so far, so good.

10. maybe get some scrapbook pages done? (it has been a while)

11. make a list of all the crafts I have started, and work on finishing them.
that list could take a while.
yes, I definitely need to do this one!

12. start thinking about Christmas. it will be here sooner than you think!
especially since I love to do homemade things- so if there are any requests, now would be a good time!

13. have long hot baths, read books and eat bonbons.
(I wish)

they're back

well, Maggie is still here- she is carrying Sadies lunch, because Sadies stuff was sooo heavy!
after we got the kids situated, and I peeked in each of their classes,
Maggie and I headed out to Value Village where everything was 50% off.
we had fun.
I got another pyrex bowl. love it. I used it for supper last night, and Ben said that it looks like it is from the 70's. haha. well, it probably is.
a few cute dresses for the girls,
a bunch of books- including a Hannah Montana one- Aren't I just the best mom ever?
and some vintage sheets. I am hooked. not sure what to do with them all.
I might just make a lot of quilts.

so, last night was our first seminary- really an introduction night for all the kids, next week will be our first homestudy class. This year the early morning class has 2 teachers which are team teaching. I am jealous. they are planning lots of fun stuff, and I can't really do much with only one class a week, and a lot of information to pack into that class. not enough room for fun- but I will try my best!

on the schedule for today-
help maggie make playdough animals
make some puffed wheat squares for after school snacks
clean up my hallway
vacuum my bedroom
catch some soaps this afternoon.
just kidding on that last one.
(although sadly, in college I would plan my class schedule around a certain show, so that I could be home to watch it every day. what a life I had!)
it is actually early out today. bummer.
kids are home at 2.
far too early!

alright, off to get something done!

impatient.

so, we are still short a few supplies for the kiddos to get back to school.
do you think I can find anything anywhere?
nope.
had to go to three different stores.
still need indoor shoes for one guy.
forgot to look for those while we were there.
might have to go back.
but I really don't want to.

but I really can't wait until tomorrow.
really. can't. wait.
I think I will have a hard time falling asleep tonight!
heehee.

The last Thursday before school starts.

1. can you tell I am so excited for school? I have said it before, and I'll say it again. I can't wait!

2. I love my kids, really I do. but I love to be away from them, so I can miss them, and when they come back I can love them more.

3. on Tuesday I took all 5 of my kids, and 3 extra's I had that day to the cheap theaters to see Kung fu Panda. but we got there too late, and it was sold out- to a bunch of day care groups- so I was kind of glad we weren't in a theatre with that many kids.



4. so we divided and conquered- I took the girls and saw Kit Kittredge, and the boys went to more manly movies. good times.



5. then I had the hankering to see Mamma Mia, so I went with my sister to it that evening. when we got to the theatre, it was packed- the lobby. it was insane. really. so anyways, when it was our turn to pay, the lady said there was front row only. so we took it. why they even have seats that close is beyond me. but I loved it. and want to go back- to the sing along version, and sit in the back, so I can see the whole screen at once, and not have a sore neck at the end.



6. when we were at the movie an old lady kept walking past us, we were confused, then I heared someone talking on their cell phone in the hall, yep, it was the old lady. funny. not just teenagers, but old ladies get important calls too. really.

7. now I can't get enough of ABBA. just want to dance. out on a peir. with flippers on my feet, and a whole lot of guys. so funny. loved it.

8. while on that awesome sandbar in Saskatchewan, Cory made a maze in the sand, and the kids, and adults had a fun time wandering through it. Cory commented that he was sad not to see it on my blog. funny.
so here it is, with his brother, and a sister in law trying to figure out how to get out of it. good times.

9. oh, I long for that hot sunny day. this week has been quite chilly. I think summer is over. sad. so short. but bring on fall! and school. I am ready.

10. actually, I am not quite ready. still have some more school supplies to get. must get on that.

11. we all have dentist appointments this afternoons. now that is a fun way to spend an afternoon!

12. the kids did get turns on the computer yesterday, I must confess. I am a big softy.

13. I am going to go make myself a toasted tomato sandwich for lunch with a tomato from my neighbors garden. mine are not quite ready yet. yummo.

today.

here is where we are at today.Jack is on strike. he won't do any work until I let him on the computer.
funny, because the kids really do very little work around here. contrary to their beliefs. and as I write this, and Jack bugs me, the other boys are downstairs on the game cube.
6 more days, and counting.
I can't wait.

we are family.

and what a big family we are! we had our Livingstone family reunion last weekend! it was fun. and hot. and wonderful!
while we were waiting for Dad to empty the yucks out of the trailer I asked for volunteers to pose for me, and this cutie piped up. I am so glad she did!
while I was taking pictures of her, the other four were having a small war in the van, so the photo shoot was cut short.
rotten kids. Grandma requested a picture of her and grandpa with all the grandkids-
only one was crying, I think,
but look who was in the front row making faces-
yep, one of my own. nice.

Where we camped was right next to the South Saskatchewan River, and we went down to a sand bar- oh, it was nice!

the sand was so great, the water- cold, but not too bad. ( I don't think I would ever set foot in the north Saskatchewan river- so nasty) and it was so sunny and warm. I could have stayed there all day. or maybe all week.

it was that nice.

there was a nice pool there too, and a little mini golf place. it was free- not sure if it is alway free, or just because it is the end of the season. you just needed your own putters and balls. good times.

we thought it was funny that all this nice stuff was there - kind of out in the middle of nowhere. but it was great.

thanks Leanne! loved it.

it's our turn in 2 years. better get planning! who knows how many more kids will be added to the brood by then!

oh- not my little brood, but the group as a whole- just in case any of you might have been thinking that. nope. my brood is quite big enough, thank you very much!

we are home

we had a great time. hit the beach on every nice day there was- which was every day except 2, and those days were very rainy and chilly.
the lake there- Sylvan Lake, was very high this year, so the beach was really small- there were only a few small parts that actually had sand you could play in! but we had fun there.
We headed in to nearby Red Deer for some shopping, hit our favorite places- thrift stores, and found some pretty fun stuff.

we played a game of Settlers- I have never won that game, and vow to not play it again. no fun when you never, ever win!

the trailer was so great. love having a place to hang out with a stove, fridge and bathroom.

but it was very nice to have a shower this morning in a nice big tub with a bathroom I can actually move around in!

My washing machine has been running all day- actually it is quiet now, I guess I need to change the loads. so much fun! I pulled out the extra school supplies I had picked up when they were all on sale last year, and went through what all the kids needed. just need to pick up a few things. I can't wait till school starts!

together forever

Since this weekend we will be heading to a family reunion,
thought I would share things about my family.

1. my kids fight. a lot.

2. they love to bug each other. bug, bug, bug. what is with that?

3. sharing? what is that?

4. quiet=trouble.

5. or it means they are playing the game cube with the tv volume really low so I won't know=trouble

6. sadly my kids (each one individually) feels they do all the work around here. funny because no work is getting done.

7. Jed never wants to go anywhere- if we have to drive there- he doesn't want to go. funny. I have no idea where this came from.
but once we get where ever we are going, he is good.

8. Ben never knows what is going on around here. apparently we never tell him anything.

9. Sadie has picked up on spitting when she is angry. nice.

10. Maggie is pretty much potty trained- but apparently pooping on the potty is not a good thing in her book.

11. I love them all

12. school is starting soon. really soon :)

13. I am so glad we get to be together forever.
really. I am.

Boys and Girls

I have boys, and I have girls.

looking around my house it is obvious.

there are signs of boys, and signs of girls.

thought I would share a couple of scenes with you.

I will let you guess who did what.

I thought it would be fun to document a random moment in my house at this time in life.

that is what blogging is all about.

isn't it?

1994

I really should scan in a wedding picture of us. that is what we were doing on this day in 1994. getting hitched.

we were so young!

I was so skinny

and Cory had hair.

those were the days. but now we have 5 great kids.

a house- and a bit

(I'll explain that later)

life is good.

top picture by Rebecca Cooper (about 2 1/2 years ago)

bottom one by Bobbi Jo (last fall)

1. this is my hour glass quilt top. I thought I was done. I took it to show to my mom and sister, and they think I should add some borders. I am not sure how I feel about that. I do like it though!2. can school start sooner, because I am so ready.
3. okay, not really ready, as in school supplies bought, or anything like that- but so ready for most of my kids being away from me for many hours every day.
4. although we do get to go camping- finally, so that might be fun. but I will still have to be with my kids for a majority of the time- but it is at a scout camp, and the kids are actually going to have scheduled activities that they will go to without me, so that is a great thing!
5. I finally got my hands on Breaking Dawn. hoping to read it during the camping trip.

6. this is Milly. she is sweet. but I think her dress needs a couple of buttons, just for fun. I got the pattern here.

7. the weather was down right chilly at the beginning of the week. now today it is back to hot again. I wish we could just even out the weather and have pleasant warm days all the time. wouldn't that be nice?

8. I had a little meeting with the other two seminary teachers this morning- I guess it is time to start thinking about that again. I am happy to be teaching home study- just once a week in the evening, as opposed to every day, early in the morning for the other teachers. this year I am hoping to get my kids to do their home study work every day, like they are supposed to. could be interesting.

9. so, my kids have some friends who were grounded off screens for a week- no computers, tv, game cube- that kind of thing. and one of them is over here. do I make my kids turn off everything? not sure what is the right thing to do. maybe just send the kid back home!

10. my kids are just on my back, waiting for their turns on the computer, so I had better get finished with my thirteen things quick- so they will stop bugging me!

11. I did it! I got my hair cut short. it is fun, quick, and easy. love it! here is just part of it. it is tough getting a decent self portrait. someday I will have it down!

12. I don't think we have ever gone camping yet for as many days in a row as we will be this time. that is alot of food and clothes and stuff that needs packed. yikes. at least we will be close to stores- in case anything gets missed. and hopefully close to a laundromat, because I doubt we have room for enough clothes for that many days- without washing at least once.

13.alright, I had better go get some food for our trip, some laundry done, so we have clean clothes to start with at least, and maybe even a clean house, so we can come home to one. isn't that the best part of a trip- or at least I imagine it would be, since we never quite get to that point, but to walk into a nice clean house at the end of it all would be really great. here's hoping!

tonight

oh, I wish I had my camera with me.
I usually bring it along with us most places we go.
but not tonight. sadly.
I headed out to a family's farm in our ward.
they have chickens.
and they were selling some.
dead. not alive.
and I forced all the kids to come with me.
a couple against their will.
I guess it wasn't such a bad place after all.
the kids didn't want to leave.
I was driving out of the driveway with Maggie screaming because I was leaving the boys behind- because they just weren't coming.
but I ended up bringing them all home.

Jack and Jed were all over the chicken barn.
they discovered if you throw anything- even a rock into the chicken yard, they will all gather to it. it is kind of a funny thing.
and those chickens are stinky.

when we were getting our chicken, Maggie said she wanted to go see the alive chickens. I thought that was hilarious.
there was also a dog, that terrified Maggie,
and three very cute kittens.
sometimes I think I would like to live in the country.
(but with no chickens.)
and then we head home.
the long drive home.
and I like my little city home again.