Friday, October 31, 2008

Oh Happy Day!

Not only is today {HALLOWEEN}, but we also got our INTERNET service back!!!

I'm so HAPPY!

I get to catch up on my BLOGGING. However, this could prevent me from finishing our MEAL for tonight...

...I've got a box full of Apples to make into Applesauce...




...Bags of Popcorn to make into Popcorn Balls...



...Honey-Mustard Bread started that needs to get to Rising...



...And a Ham-Bone to de-Ham and Add to the Split-Pea Soup...



...Luckily the Pumpkin Cobbler for my Friend was Completed while the Computer-Guy was still here...



Is it Wrong to make my Family go Hungry on Halloween all in the name of BLOGGING?!

Have a Happy Haunted Halloween Everybody!

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

An Afternoon at Sara's

A few days ago, Sara & George invited the Family to their house for BBQ Pork Sandwiches to celebrate Darbi's 10th Birthday; and to enjoy the company of Mickey & Lana who were visiting from Utah, and Steve, Natalie and their boys who were visiting from North Carolina.

For Very Good Reason Judy called the house and tried to warn us of Great Impending Party Doom due to the behavior of certain family members. However, George - being the kind of guy he is - simply laughed and hung up on her. Because he would not listen to her, things happened!

At first glance, this group looks innocent enough - sort of like they had just watched Darbi open her gifts and were now waiting for their cake & ice cream. Looks can be deceiving.

Notice Grandma on the far right hand side of the picture. Just a minute before this picture was taken she was jumping from chair to chair screaming "I want Cake! I want Cake!". Mom (Aunt Penny) had to lasso Grandma with her oxygen tubes, sit her down and tell her very firmly that that kind of behavior was not very ladylike. When Lana saw her skootching toward the edge of the couch, as if she was going to spring up and chair jump again, she sat on the other side of Grandma and threatened her with, "Don't even try it!" In the background you see Emily & Maci. They were very disappointed that Grandma had to sit down but decided to add toys between the chairs to make it more like an obstacle course ~ just in case Grandma got away from Mom and Lana. Dallin was simply wondering when it was going to be his turn to jump. George's mom kept clapping her hands and stomping her feet saying "Go Granny Go!"; so Sara had to turn to her and explain, "We don't want to encourage that kind of behavior!" And then there's sweet Darbi, who was very patient about the whole escapade, even though she just wanted to say, "But it's MY Party!".

While this was happening Inside, we were having trouble with other family members Outside.

Bart was ignoring the "Sharing" Rule and would NOT get off the kids scooter.


Cameron and Eric cornered him to remind him of the consequences of not following the Sharing Rule. It was starting to work...


But just as they were making headway with him, Natalie showed up! As you can see, she can bring out obnoxious behavior in anyone, especially Sara...


Barbie was not amused and when Natalie turned to her to make "Nicey-Nice", Barbie tried to smile back. Through gritted teeth she said, "Don't you dare mess with my Sara ~ I'll be watching you!" Then she kicked Natalie under the table.


Well, a good beating from Barbie always kept me in line ~ especially the "Spanking- with-the-Comb" kind of beating ~ and I had hope it would make a difference with Natalie. But Nat's a tough cookie. She only pretended to have learned her lesson. Don't let her fool you. Behind that "I'm a good girl" smile was the scheming mind of an experienced trouble-maker! You can see that Sara was beginning to believe Judy's warning and was quite wary of Natalie by this time.


It was really no surprise when, without any provocation, Natalie jumped from the table, pushed one of the children off a scooter and, after racing out of control around the tables, began ramming Sammy's big-wheel over and over and over again. You can see he hated this! And he could not stop crying, "Why can't Mommy be kind to me?"


I feared I was going to have to declare this Celebration a Complete Bust when Someone came to the rescue! It was Darbi - The Birthday Girl! She jumped on another scooter and gave that Natalie-Girl a chase around the patio that she deserved! And though it is too graphic to show, Darbi made sure Nat understood that THat would never be happening at one of HER Birthday party's Ever Again!!!


Finally, with Go-Go Grandma sitting peacefully, Bad Bart accepting his reprimand, and Naughty Natalie getting used to her New Understanding, all Frivolity was quickly restored.


As the day came to an end, Dallin could be heard delivering an Oath that only the Son of a Marine can deliver. It went something like this... "Father, when you are 97 years old, and you want to Chair Jump, then it will be me, Dear Ol' Dad, who will allow you to do whatsoever you wish!..."

With his belly full of cake & ice cream, all Steve could do was utter a teary, "Hoo-Rah, My Son! Hoo-Rah!"

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

It's Halloween Time!

So it's Black Roses for Bumble Bugs Vase


And a Black Feathered Witches Hat to Cover my Face!


Happy Halloween!!!

Monday, October 13, 2008

I'm Just a Little Slow

Quite awhile ago, my cousin Jobi did a really cute post. And if I remember correctly, she tagged anyone who wanted to do it, too. So, all-be-it-late, and filled with small pictures, here is goes:

Go To Google Images and type in your own answers for the topics below. Pick your favorite image on one of the first 3 pages of results. Then post it! Have fun!

My First Name - Michelangelo...


...Minus the Jello


My Middle Name - Josephine


My Last Name - Child


My Age - 41


A Place I'd Like To Visit - Alaska


My Favorite Place - With Family


My College Degree - In Progress


My Grandma's Names
{Martha}


{Verna}


Place I Grew Up - Cal & Nev


Pet I've Owned - Doomed Chickens!


Nickname of My Best Friend - Judita


My First Job - Babysitting


My Favorite Food - Mexican


My Favorite Color - Blue


What I'm Doing Right Now - Waiting...


...And Planning...


...To Vacation!



A Bad Habit - Daydreaming


I tag anyone who has yet to do it themselves!

Can You Do The Cameron Wiggle?



Peace Dude

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Now I Have Pictures Of...

...Our Conference Trip.

Lauren & Ashley getting beat up by their hair as we drove with Bumble Bug's Top Down

and

A Sad Bethany because we put the Top Up ~ We had to Protect Lauren & Ashley from Bruising!

{Or maybe she was sad because I didn't let her drive one mile the whole trip ~ HaHa ~ It was all about Me this trip ~ I needed to bond with my new toy}

Lauren Ashley & Bethany being their real selves as they played in the Waterfall at the Conference Center

and

Ashley Bethany & Lauren in their "Let's Be Socially Acceptable" pose once they learned I was taking pictures...


Of course I had to get a picture of the Salt Lake Temple! I love to be on Temple Grounds; these Temple Grounds particularly.


This was the view from our Terrace seats inside the Conference Center. We realized that since our seats were ground level, everything below us was underground ~ Cool!

Notice how the members of the Tabernacle Choir ~ or MoTab as they are called in our house ~ Glow! It has always been said that the Angels sing with this choir

Ashley Bethany & Lauren while we waited for Conference to Start

How'd they get so CUTE?! I Heart All Three of Them So Much!

The one thing that can not be captured with a camera ~ because it can only be experienced ~ was the HUSH and complete Reverence that fell over the congregation as we stood to welcome the First Presidency as they walked into the Conference Hall. The Amazing thing about it was that this incredible Reverence lasted the WHOLE TWO HOURS until they left!

One thing I learned was that their wives sit on the stand over to the right and when the session is over, each member of the Presidency walks straight to their wives, they take their wives hands, wave to the congregation then walk out of the room! We all just sighed, "Awwww, How Cute!"

SO ~ What is the Girlie Gangs Next Great Adventure?! It involves flying through the sky in an airplane for several hours, somewhere that-a-way, just after Christmas! Yes, we will need scarves, mittens, boots and hats. With no more hints than I just gave, can you guess where?

Sunday, October 5, 2008

No Pictures of...

...our Great Time!

The girls and I enjoyed our Cramped and Quick trip to Salt Lake City. We left Thursday night around 6 p.m., got to St. George around midnight, left around 10 the next morning and got to SLC around 3. We ate at PF Changs, their FAVORITE Restaurant, hopped the Trolley to go to Gateway to do a little shopping but realized we hopped on the Trolley going the opposite direction and ended up in a very scary place downtown. So we quickly hopped back on the Trolley that would take us back to where we started, jumped back in the car and went back to the Hotel where we knew we would be SAFE! (We are such wimps!) Bethany watched that cute movie of the American Girl Kit Kitteridge but Lauren, Ashley and I went to sleep. (Not just wimps, party-poopers, too!)

We woke up to a cloudy, drizzling morning. As we walked to the conference center, it was just drizzling a little. When we left the conference center it was POURING! We were literally dripping wet by the time we got back to the car! (We had parked several blocks away) We changed into our comfy traveling clothes right there in the car in the parking structure! We cracked ourselves up!

We took off for home in the rain and the storm only got worse the farther away we got from SLC. By the time we got to the desert, it was not only pouring down rain, but it was windy and tons of lightning! There was literally two inches of water on the road. We had to slow down to about 40 mph for quite awhile because visibility was so low. But, of course, there is always light after a storm. This light that we experienced was a beautiful sunset and then a beautiful crescent moon. We arrived home last night around 11:30. Perfect! Very quick, but perfect! I couldn't have asked for better company than my 3 Cutie Patootie Girls!

And, we accomplished the purpose of getting a smaller car: Gas for the trip was $201.39. If I had taken the Yukon, it would have been 3 times as much! I will literally be able to pay the monthly payment, monthly gas bill, AND monthly insurance bill for the LESS than my monthly gas bill ALONE for the YUKON!!!! Oh Happy Day!

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Surprise! Surprise!

I have been given two Great Surprise Gifts twice in my life.

The first one was when I turned 30. Judy worked really hard at organizing a Surprise Birthday Party for me! It was the best time EVER! I really had no clue that anything was being planned. The night of the party, Bart took me out to dinner with some fun friends, Reid & DeeAnn Hansen. When we arrived back at our house, Bart was pretty antsy. He unlocked the door, opened it really wide and PUSHED me into the house! I heard "SURPRISE!" and looked around to see so many of the people I LOVE!!! How Fun! The girls were just tiny then, and all dressed in their Best Sunday Dresses. So Cute. Cameron was still just a thought and prayer. Of course I received the usual fun gifts you give to the Aged - enema's and the such. I also received a gift from Aunt Barbie, a Cookie CookBook, that I use All The Time! So Very Fun! I was very surprised and felt so LOVED! I will always remember that great night and appreciate Judy's thoughtfulness and hard work at putting the event together.

Well, I have to tell you about my 2nd Greatest Surprise!

Last night, we had an Activities Committee Meeting at my house the same time the girls had Young Womens. So, because they would be gone during my meeting, and Bart was at a clients here in town, the girls took Cameron to Bart on their way to the church. The meeting started and we accomplished much. Towards the end of the meeting, Bart and Cameron came into the house for 2.5 seconds and then took off again. I remembered Bethany said she and the girls were going to meet the Boys for dinner so I didn't have to worry about feeding them so late. So thoughtful of Bart. Everybody left from the meeting and I was alone for the first time in days. I sat in Barts chair and turned on the T.V. Just shortly after that, I heard some loud music, loud voices, and a horn honking outside. I thought it was the same people who had egged our house just two days earlier. (Another story) I sat trying to decide if I would be safer to stay inside, or go outside and confront the juveniles. Suddenly, Cameron burst in through the front door and said, "Mom! Go look outside! Your Bug is here!"

Oh! No! He! Didn't!

Shut! Up!

Oh! My! Heaven's! To! Betsy! It's! Yellow!

And...

CONVERTIBLE!!!!

Bart bought me my DREAM CAR! This is what it looks like from my Front Door Step!



And this is it's Cute BOOTY Shot!



(Notice the Big Expensive Yukon that will be put to pasture while I drive around town in My New Yellow Beetle Bug!)

Why would he buy me, a Mother of Four Humans and a Dog, a small, impractical car that only holds 3 passengers?!

WHO CARES My People!!!!!

I was so surprised last night that it was actually here! Bethany, Lauren & Ashley had come home after Young Women's to pick up Bart & Cameron, just as they had come into the house for that split second during the meeting, to not only go eat dinner but to PICK UP MY NEW CAR for me!

OH! MY! STARS!

It was my Cutie Patootie Girls in the Beetle Bug with its Black Top Down and the Music Blasting ~ Not Juvenile Delinquents! So Shocked and Surprised...

...Just in time for us to take a Really Quick Trip up to Salt Lake City for the Saturday Morning Session of Conference and be back home for the Sunday Sessions! Even though we had been talking about getting this car, I honestly did not know I would have it in My Driveway in time to take it to conference. I thought we'd be driving a rental ~ So UnFun!

Well, Cameron hasn't had a chance to take a ride yet and he's dying for a GOOD TIME! Gotta Drive!

Caio!