It's all about the Blood!

For New Years Eve we are opting for a quiet, relaxing atmosphere.

At the Hockey Arena!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Christmas week in review

This is the first year I have attended the kids Christmas parties at school.

I was amused to see the Dude get into the spirit of things while watching

Charlie Brown Christmas.

Miss Boo love Mrs. P, her principal.

I love that she does what the kids do!

Miss Boo had to bring her favorite "cake" for the party.

Dark chocolate fudge cupcakes with whipped cream frosting

and decorated by her brother.

It warmed my heart Christmas Eve to hear Rosey beg for the story of Jesus.

She is such a tender hearted soul when it comes to her Savior.

I love that about her.

We carry the tradition of having new pj's on Christmas Eve and

I believe it is the highlight for us all.

They were not preparing to pray in this photo. They are actually chanting, "Bring on the Moolah!". I have no idea where they got that.

Christmas morning was fun!

The Dude got "exactly" what he wanted.

Just ask him.

Miss Boo loves books and was

delighted with all her new ones.

The biggest hits were the DOGS!!!

The Dude's is a robot dog and Miss Boo's is BOLT.

And it wouldn't be complete without 3D glasses

for the new "BOB" movie.

We had a wonderful Christmas. Quiet as always! Yeah, right!

We were visited by a blizzard and I was thrilled.

I love a white Christmas.

It always seems so magical!

Mirror, Mirror

Miss Boo came running up from the bathroom out of breath and slightly panicked.

"I DON'T LOOK LIKE MYSELF TODAY"!

I had to giggle. She spends so little time looking at herself that when she has a few moments, she can really see the changes she has been going through.

She was worried no one would recognize her at church today. I assured her that the changes just made her more pretty. Just a big girl version of "little Miss Boo".

Mr. Finn just corrected me. He says for someone that spends so much time preening in front of a mirror, he is surprised that she didn't notice the changes. I reminded him that she spends a lot of time admiring her outfits and maybe she doesn't dwell on her face.

Either way, I think it is an adorable, beautiful face.

Oh, Cracker Nut!

We have a "long" tradition of visiting Crowne Center when it begins to look a lot like Christmas everywhere we go! Our children delight in the many creations of wood that they climb in, on and over as we look on, shivering all the while. It truly is a magical place for them and really is for us as well.

Year after we join the throng of hopeful parents as they lead their children to the lap of that great fat...errrrr, I mean jolly, nice old man named Santa Claus. Only to be left with a photo of...well, the big man by himself.

Can I say anything else about this photo?

We would like to introduce you to Kellin! Miss Boo named him and refers to him often. Such as, "Kellin needs a little pick me up today"! And off she goes to move his arms around and rearrange his nose.

Behold the Stork Arriveth!

My daughter gave birth to her fifth, longest, earliest, lightest and most hairless child of the bunch yesterday at 12:43 pm.

I believe Ben may get his wish and have ONE that looks like him.

Good Luck with that my dear Son in Law!

Love you!

Oh! Tooth Fairy!

Bum. Bum. Dadadabumbum!

Did you ever see that movie called "Toothless" with Kirstie Alley? Seriously the best movie EVER! This woman dies and because she was kind of a putz in this life, she gets to be the Tooth Fairy. Can you imagine that? The Tooth Fairy! Awesome!

The theme song in this movie is by Huey Lewis and the News. Priceless. I highly recommend it for viewing pleasure.

As to the reason for this post....drum roll please....

....Miss Boo, yes my little girl, has lost her first...sob...tooth.

And I use the word LOST in the very sense of it being lost...from her mouth...and apparently from us, the tooth fairy and, well, you get it.

She came up to me sobbing her little heart out that she didn't have a tooth to put under her pillow. How was she ever going to get some money for the sheer effort of losing one of her precious baby teeth, which by the way, I have spent years telling her that if she didn't brush her teeth, they were going to fall out.

Oh, the therapy bills we are going to have some day for that little white lie.

I am sad that I will not be able to sing to her at Christmas time, "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth" because fortunately/unfortunately I have an over achiever in the teeth growing department and her permanent tooth is already grown in.

Oh well, maybe the next tooth. OH WAIT! It is already coming out and the permanent tooth is right behind it almost full grown.

Pandoras Box

"It's our secret Mommy. You can't tell anyone, especially the Dude what's in my box."

It's just a miniature lunch box that her Daddy brought back from one of his business trips to Chicago, but it has become the "secret" box stashed with "treasures" she has collected and put safely out of eyesight from her little brother.

The part that gets me the most.....

.....is that she trusts me to keep her secret.

-photos taken by the Dude.

The future's so bright

The Dude went shopping for a new pair of shades.

FOUND EM!

Lunch

Evil Halloween Candy that beckons me from the cabinet. I am slowly, ever so slowly casting it out from my presence...

....by way of my stomach.

A Perfect Day

Seventeen years ago I stood on the banks of Alaska looking out over the water, watching the tide ease out towards Japan, leaving the shoreline barren for over 1/4 mile. I had never seen anything like this. I have seen other beaches with tides ebb and flow, but never one that seemed to tip towards another continent.

As I stood there enjoying the magnitude of the tide flow, I looked over to my son, Kalani, running up and down the dock. We had found a common link between us that seemed to involve water and trains. We spent the day doing both of those things.

It felt like the perfect day.

That is the memory that I carry in my heart and mind of my "little" boy. Although it has been many years since I have seen him, this is always the way I picture him. I can't seem to imagine him as anything but this joyful, smiling boy. My "sweet cheeks". He used to grin from ear to ear when I would call him that. The cheeks that he sported were certainly worthy of this term of endearment.

I knew at this time that... I was his Mother. It was a title that was not easily won or earned, but at this time on the banks of Anchorage, I knew that we had formed a bond that was definable as mother and son.

Many years later that relationship was changed forever by decisions out of my control. And on a similar day that is vivid in my mind, I watched this boy walk out of my life and I was powerless to stop him. I mourned for the loss of my child because he was my SON.

Today I received a phone call from my daughter telling me that HE died.

And...

...I didn't know what to feel.

Lullaby

It's hard to tell if the kitty is happy or not. I do know that this little girl is beside herself with joy.

Miss Boo doesn't smile hugely on camera, but she glows on the inside.

As a baby, Miss Boo required a lot of our attention...especially at bedtime. She never wanted to go to bed on her own and boy could she scream. We were told to let her cry it out. I bet this person giving the advice didn't have one like our little girl. After 3 hours, we gave up. It was too hard on us, so I started dancing with her in my arms very slowly, in a rocking motion to a CD that Johnson & Johnson included in their baby wash, titled Lullaby.

I got exercise and she got sleepy and fell asleep. It was a combination that worked for years, even when I was pregnant with The Dude. I would sit in the rocking chair and rock her to sleep with lullabies playing softly in the background.

I don't know when we stopped using the CD. Probably around the time our little boy joined the family and we were so exhausted from the duties of a newborn and did the unthinkable...we put on a movie and let her fall asleep watching it. But, true to herself, she would force those little eyelids open to watch the very end of every movie. But...we were too tired to remedy the copout on our part.

We have been able to get her to go to sleep for quite some time without a movie and without a light on. And then for some reason she began to experience a reluctance to putting herself to sleep.

As I was cleaning out her tights drawer one day I happened across the CD and thought, Hey! Why not?! It worked before, why not again. I asked her if we could play her lullaby music to help her go to sleep and like the magic it was before, it once again became her soothing balm of Gilead. After 3 tracks she is out and all is quiet...

...except for the Dude talking to himself in his room. To each his own, but he puts himself to sleep with his stories and I am OK with that.

How come the Moon is following us?

My adorable little Pooh. A neighbor kept telling

him over and over again that he had "poo" all

over him. I told him that he was only 3 and he

wasn't going to get it. Didn't keep him from

saying it 3 more times. Unbelievable. I am going

to miss putting my children in this costume. The only

thing that has topped Pooh is Piglet.

Miss Boo went as a Sea Lion Princess.

Project Runway here we come.

The costume was all her idea!

I went as myself but wore makeup to a Halloween Party.

Miss Boo's 2nd costume was knight and the Dude

kept asking why the Moon was following us.

Trick or Treat sounds so sweet from little children's lips.

The rules were given in anticipation of the nights events and the natives were in agreement. At one point Mr. Finn said it cost $2.00 to have him take them out for Halloween as a joke. Miss Boo said she wasn't giving him the money Grandma and Grandpa sent for the holiday. A short time later, The Dude walks over to his Daddy and says, "Here's your $2 dollars to take me Trick or Treating tonight. Now that's a kid that wants to get some candy.

In his case, he just wanted to see the "Creepy" stuff. For a 3 year old, he is extremely thrilled by all things Halloween and spooky. There is a house the street behind us that really decorates to win a contest. Not sure what one that is, but they out do themselves every year in their "quest". This year turned out to be the "unbelievably freaky, scary, terrifying, horror, spooky house with a real haunted house done in their 3 car garage.

Our children were terrified! In the past years, it has been a coffin with a vampire in the garage, this year it was full blown terror with jumping ghouls and screaming "whatevers". Had I known, I would never have taken my little children in there. I fear we will be paying for therapy in the years to come.

Miss Boo could hardly get control of herself. I remember when I was around 10 or so and went to a haunted house in Great Falls, Mt. It was in an old factory building and honestly was very CREEPY. I was so scared they had to take me out in the middle of it because I was screaming so much. She gets her terroritis from me. Not a bad quality I might add, but I feel so bad about exposing our children to that. Especially at such a young age.

It was fun this year. A little more exhausting than I remember the previous years, but it was still a blast.

Not your ordinary Boo!

WE have a NEW Boo living with us these days. When she was born we knew it was going to be a challenge raising this little girl. And night after night of her crying, well...more like scream shouting at us from her crib, we KNEW it was a reality.

And then K1 happened. She has mellowed in a way that is sweet, charming and funny. She listens to me. That has been the biggest surprise of all. The other day I asked her to do something and immediately armed myself for the inevitable "NO", but to my unfettered delight she said; "OK Mommy".

Bless you Mrs. P. for your undaunted cheerfulness in undertaking our little girl and calling it a "pleasure". I see your influence in her demeanor. She can handle change now and it doesn't "hurt" the whole family.

When we were at parent conference, Mrs. P. suddenly in the middle of talking said quite loudly over the not so quiet din of the children playing, "Friends...One, Two, Three, Eyes on Me! To our surprise we hear in unison "One, Two, Eyes on You!" and complete silence from all the children.

WOW!

To have that effect on my children would be incredible. I tried it at home but was completely shut down by Miss Boo. According to her I am not Mrs. P. and may not use her words. How dare I have such audacity?

I love this little girl. She is funny! And she knows it. She is also good, kind, intelligent, sweet and oh, so loving. So grateful to have her.

Is all pride sin?

I feel like we have been plagued with sickness around here.

First Miss Boo, then Mr. Finn and then back to Miss Boo and to top it off, The Dude started running a fever last night. And only two weeks have gone by. I am worried about the rest of the winter if we are already on this path.

Maybe we are immune now! I can only hope.

Miss Boo has Hand Foot and Mouth Disease. Just painful so here's to hoping that the local pharmacy can get her "Magic" Mouthwash made today. Apparently they are incapable of making it without a Doctor holding their hand. Arrggghhh! My little girl had to suffer all night with a sore mouth. So frustrating as a Mother to see one of your children suffer and not be able to do nothing.

We were supposed to be on our way to Oklahoma City today with Mr. Finn, but since both kids are sick I am staying home and he is off to a meeting. The children are not going to be happy, but I can't imagine being in a hotel with two sick kids. At least at home they have space to be "sick".

Sunday

Apparently I have hit Writer's Block, which in itself is interesting as I am NOT A WRITER. (Laughter, please.)

For some reason I have felt that pulling my nails out one by one would be easier than finding something to blog about. Not that there isn't anything to talk about around here, but it all seems so exhausting lately. Kind of like trying to suck the lint out of the lint filter in your dryer. Takes lots of energy and when you think you are done you realize that it just moved down farther in the vent so your vacuum hose won't reach it.

A good note is that Miss Boo had her first Primary Program that she participated in. She has been practicing her line for over a month and NAILED it at the mike. I was so proud of her that I was bursting at the seams. If the Bishop hadn't been sitting so close I would have stood up and clapped. Well...I probably wouldn't have but it describes how happy I was for her. She has come a long way this year and is coming into her own. Darn it, but she makes me so stinking happy. I seriously thought my heart was going to pop out of my chest with Pride. That kind of pride isn't a sin...is it?

It's the Great Pumpkin!

Holy Cow! How old am I?

My trip to the street in order to retrieve my mail the other day turned into a "SAY WHAT" moment.

I pulled this flat box approximately 7"x11" out and wondered what fun thing I had been gifted in the mail. My excitement turned to curiosity and then to puzzlement with these catchy phrases on the box such as:

"Snooze through your night."

"Move through your day..."

"Move freely."

And then it hit me...DEPENDS!

How did I get into this demographic? I am not that old, am I?! And then came the laughter. I couldn't stop. I had been mislabeled! I began to think of the surveys I did and wondered if I had possible listed my age incorrectly and then I saw who the box was from.

My local pharmacy. Hmmmmm! Maybe they just...didn't...know....me...?!

I arrived at my presidency meeting with the box in hand and had a good laugh with the other women. After all, something like this must be shared. I told everyone...that is if they were a woman. I did tell Mr. Finn because that wouldn't have been fair to have something that funny around and not share it.

AND THEN...I opened the box. My fun was over! I had mislabeled the contents of this box. It was feminine hygiene for a woman my age.

BUMMER! It was so much fun the other way.

A good steward?

A couple of years ago a pretty nasty tree bug tried to kill off most of the trees in town. The tops of most of the trees died leaving them pretty scraggly looking. The next summer I pruned my tree to what my neighbor called a Q-Tip and laughed at my efforts. Rightly so, but I did what I thought would make my tree grow to it's full potential.

And this year...I got to see the fruits of my labors.

I know it is wrong to brag, but I think a little/lot of pruning didn't hurt. Just saying...

....neighbor's trees.

I thought I would throw in some pictures of my other pruning. And just look how they have grown.

What's up Doc?

This delightful little man charms us daily. After much discussion we have come to know the villain on Monsters vs. Aliens as "Ant the Doc Roach".
When I was in Colorado I bought the grandkids these "screamer" balloons and realized that my kids would love them just as much, so bought some on the way home, breaking my "No buying on the Sabbath" policy, but we all have our moments and this seemed like as good a time as any.

They were delighted by the screaming balloons and chasing them all over the house. We have the perfect game to keep them busily happy and has become the favorite game for Family Home Evening.

Rocky Mountain High

Last weekend I was able to attend my oldest granddaughter's baptism in Colorado. I love you guys and am so glad I could come spend time on this wonderful occasion. I am proud of Konya and the things she does to help her family daily. She is a great example to her brothers and sister.

It is the first time I have been able to spend any time alone with the grandchildren and be just their "Grandmother" instead of Miss Boo's Mommy. It was a wonderful trip and afforded me the opportunity to bond with the children. It is the first time that a couple of them have actually talked to me. And once they did...it was like being home.

I am always confused when I visit Colorado. Wasn't it sung by the late, great John Denver that Colorado is mountains and trees, giving us the impression, although misguided, that it is a place of serenity cloaked in a warm blanket of mountains, towering pine trees and soft snow.

As the plane lands in Denver I find myself falling from this image of serenity to the reality of the treeless expanse that constitutes Denver and even Colorado Springs. They have certain qualities that make them unique, but I can't let go of my inner desire to see those trees and mountains closer than I do.

Falling...

...for FALL. Thank you Nick Jr. for that delightful song today by Al the Owl.

This is the time of year that I love and dislike in the same breath.

There is something about the cooler temperatures and the changing of the leaves that symbolizes the warmth of the holidays for me.

I absolutely love Halloween and oddly enough it is one of the two holidays I decorate for. It's spiders and chill in the air with yummy children dressed up in their HERO of choice. The kids have made this particular holiday easy in the costume category because they have the same thing for that past 2 years and are about to add the 3rd year of the infatuation with Buzz Lightyear and Auriel the Mermaid. Makes me super happy that I bought the costumes so big. YES! That was a big pat on the back you just heard.

We made our life size web using pumpkin orange this year. Hmmmmm! Can anyone see why this wasn't a great idea?

Last year was better(?) but I am still in search of the perfect color. Any ideas?

Catch Up!

The Dude has started swim classes. He rejected his first instructor and ended up with this one. Seth had to work to earns the Dude's trust and I was impressed with his commitment to get him to trust him. They did a lot of playing, which come to find out was more interesting to the Dude, if you can imagine that.

Also, the Dude has finally made friends. He likes to hang out with Jacob and it makes laugh to watch how they interact together. So much different from girls.

I have spent the better part of this week sick. And much to Phone's relief I am not contagious and can make my journey to Colorado tomorrow morning at the dreaded hour of 6 a.m. That means I have to get up at 4 a.m. Insane! I am sooooo not a morning person.

I will enjoy the visit to see my oldest grand daughter baptized on Saturday. I wish the whole family were going, but it is a good opportunity for me to be Nana for a change. I am always Miss Boo's Mommy, so this will be fun. Besides I get to spend time with my daughter for a whole weekend. It is going to be fun.

Mr. Finn will be staying home and watching our adorable offspring. I'm sure the weekend will be fun because he is the "FUN" parent. They are going to "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs", which the children have been reminding us since he told them a week ago.

This is my first year to get a flu shot since I was pregnant with Miss Boo. So, if I get the flu I am going to be majorly ticked off! I very rarely get the flu so I don't usually bother. But my doctor convinced me that sitting in a cylinder tube with hundreds of other people recycling the air they breathe could very well be my downfall. So steroids, antibiotics and a flu shot were administered in my brief visit to a most interesting doctor. He got me signed up online to their office, so I don't even have to come in the next time I have a sinus infection. I just log on, tell them what's up and they phone in the prescriptions to the pharmacy.

I AM IN HEAVEN! Anyone that knows me, knows I avoid the doctor unless I have to travel and I am sick.

I've added in a clip of the kids last play time on the slip n slide because it was too funny not too.

More colors of me

I have been asked to put on pictures of the painting I have done. Here are a few of my work.




Yardsale-ing is a passion of mine, but hasn't been a part of my summer up until this past weekend. It was they citywide sale. Could anything be more perfect?

I found 4 costumes/dress up clothes for Miss Boo and this one became her fast favorite.

Behind her is my office wall of shoreline blue. The picture above it is a plate rack I found at a yard sale last year. Never knew what I was going to do with it, but thought it was unique. See, you keep things long enough you will find a use for them.