....to the Grand Canyon!
With Spring Break finally here, we can pull up the anchor and take off. It's a complete pain to get everything ready to go; but it is absolutely worth it once you're on the open road.
Bart is the only one who has been to the Grand Canyon before and he has wanted to take the rest of us for several years. There a few things I am really looking forward to: the skywalk on the west side, the expected gorgeous sunrise/sunsets, the animal life - to watch in their natural habitat - not to ride down to the bottom of the canyon. I just can't get past the imagined donkey stink! Can anyone tell me if they stink?!
Anyway, I'm sure it will be a great time. I hope we have enough time to stop for several hours at Valley of Fire State Park which is not too far north of Las Vegas. My dad used to take us there when we lived in Las Vegas; before it was a State Park. I distinctly remember climbing up the rocks to trace the petroglyphs. It is a beautiful, peaceful, even spiritual, place that I have fond memories of.
We'll be back in a week!
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Happy, Happy Birthday Judy Dear....
....Happy Days will come to you each year!
If I had one wish then it would be
A Happy, Happy Birthday
To you from Me!
All the Monkeys in the zoo
Send their Best Regards to YOU!
Happy Birthday, to you!
So what does it mean to be Judy?! That is quite a loaded question. But if I had to sum it up in one word, I would choose "GIVER". I say that because she gives of herself so freely to everyone. She is a lover of life, soaking up all the experiences life can offer, and then giving her interpretation of those experiences back to everyone she loves. A simple example of this characteristic is this: When we were little, if she had some candy (whether it was Halloween, Easter or from a birthday party), and if she tasted a candy that she particularly liked, she would quickly and easily share it with her siblings so we could have the same wonderful experience she had just had. A more grown-up example of how Judy shares is her blog http://girlsjustwannahvfun.blogspot.com/. Everything that she is passionate about she gives to her readers.
It would be easy to leave my explanation of what it means to be Judy with that one word "GIVER". But I can't. There are some more words that I must give to you so that you can know her a little better. She is my INSPIRATION to be all that I can be and MORE. I watch her constantly to see how I should behave myself. I follow her. Judy is my CHEERLEADER!!! But not in the simple term that you think of a cheerleader. She doesn't just cheer for me when she happens to hear about a fun thing that happened to me. She is the one who keeps our sisterhood bonded through her desire to KNOW what is happening with me. She is always communicating with me so she can know WHEN to cheer for me! She PLANS on cheering for me. And yet, because she also knows the ugly in my life, she CHEERS me on all through the ugly. She doesn't like ugly. She prefers FUN, EXCITING, CUTE, SPECTACULAR, GORGEOUS, etc., etc.
Judy often teases that I am the "INSTIGATOR" of her wild escapades. I must deny that! Vehemently! However, if I ever do instigate, it is because she is the "INCULCATOR"!
Judy, I love you! You are the bestest big sister a girl could ever be blessed with! I am the luckiest girl in the world to have you! Happy Birthday!
Now, dear bloggers, I would like to invite you to offer Judy your Happy Birthday wishes and use one word (or more) to add to my description of her. She would like that!
If I had one wish then it would be
A Happy, Happy Birthday
To you from Me!
All the Monkeys in the zoo
Send their Best Regards to YOU!
Happy Birthday, to you!
So what does it mean to be Judy?! That is quite a loaded question. But if I had to sum it up in one word, I would choose "GIVER". I say that because she gives of herself so freely to everyone. She is a lover of life, soaking up all the experiences life can offer, and then giving her interpretation of those experiences back to everyone she loves. A simple example of this characteristic is this: When we were little, if she had some candy (whether it was Halloween, Easter or from a birthday party), and if she tasted a candy that she particularly liked, she would quickly and easily share it with her siblings so we could have the same wonderful experience she had just had. A more grown-up example of how Judy shares is her blog http://girlsjustwannahvfun.blogspot.com/. Everything that she is passionate about she gives to her readers.
It would be easy to leave my explanation of what it means to be Judy with that one word "GIVER". But I can't. There are some more words that I must give to you so that you can know her a little better. She is my INSPIRATION to be all that I can be and MORE. I watch her constantly to see how I should behave myself. I follow her. Judy is my CHEERLEADER!!! But not in the simple term that you think of a cheerleader. She doesn't just cheer for me when she happens to hear about a fun thing that happened to me. She is the one who keeps our sisterhood bonded through her desire to KNOW what is happening with me. She is always communicating with me so she can know WHEN to cheer for me! She PLANS on cheering for me. And yet, because she also knows the ugly in my life, she CHEERS me on all through the ugly. She doesn't like ugly. She prefers FUN, EXCITING, CUTE, SPECTACULAR, GORGEOUS, etc., etc.
Judy often teases that I am the "INSTIGATOR" of her wild escapades. I must deny that! Vehemently! However, if I ever do instigate, it is because she is the "INCULCATOR"!
Judy, I love you! You are the bestest big sister a girl could ever be blessed with! I am the luckiest girl in the world to have you! Happy Birthday!
Now, dear bloggers, I would like to invite you to offer Judy your Happy Birthday wishes and use one word (or more) to add to my description of her. She would like that!
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Three Cheers for De-Banding Day!
In just 12 hours I will either have all my braces off; or, I will have heard the news that they aren't quite ready yet. Please, everyone, CROSS YOUR FINGERS for me and send your de-banding thoughts my way! I am done with these braces. Really, I am.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Tomorrow is MY HAPPY DAY!!!!
Last year, on My Happy Day, I spent most of the day by myself painting. I didn't necessarily want to be alone; but the children had to go to school and Bart had to go to work. Aside from being alone, I truly enjoyed being lost in paint, design and my imagination!
With the children in the middle of finals again at this time of year, it leaves me to wonder what I will do tomorrow. I have been wanting to complete a series of the winter bird the red cardinal! If I decided to begin this project, I could easily get lost in either my paints, or my graphite and paper. Or, I could spend time with my parents; they called today to see if they could come spend some time with me. I would like that. I would like to sketch the two of them. I wonder if they would be able to sit still for me. I believe my mom would enjoy it. But my dad is a little more reserved and may be uncomfortable.
My sister, Princess Jody, is in the middle of a nasty job she has to complete; therefore she is unavailable. Maybe I could drive out to her and we could go to lunch! We can bang our royal crowns together as we give a hoop and a holler for My Happy Day! But with her icky job, she may not be in a Hoop an Hollering mood....
As for the rest of my siblings, they are probably working, too. Steve is in Iraq, I won't drive over there to see him....sorry!
The reality is that I really have to stay at home because we are getting our kitchen redone and the workers will be here! The cabinets are in the middle of being stained and varnished. We wanted to update our kitchen, and had great plans for knocking down certain walls, etc. but we had some uninvited guests show up that stayed too long and caused some real damage....termites! So, because we were pressed for getting those out of here, and gone forever, we kept basically the same layout that we had before...all original walls still intact. Getting any kind of remodel work done in the house is very inconvenient........very. But, it will be beautiful and hospitable by human beings again soon! I'm a lucky girl, and I'm very grateful.
As an update from a long ago post, I did not do the mural painting job for my friend; for a few reasons. The main one was that I was having some mysterious physical symptoms....Diagnosis Unknown. I went through a gammet of tests, all of which returned normal. However, I question why the phlebotemist that took my blood did not make note of the fact that my blood was the color and consistency of molasses; and that it took 45 minutes almost to get enough blood into the 5 vials necessary to complete the blood screen. Is this normal to have blood the color and consistency of molasses?! I don't know. "Do I drink enough water?" they asked. Yes, I drink a ton of water, yet cannot keep hydrated. Hence the purpose of tests..... My friends have moved on to other home projects and will do the murals later I imagine.
Anyway, with my very fun job on the line, my mouth lined of cotton and My Happy Day just about here, I am going to go to bed. I wonder what I will dream about?!
With the children in the middle of finals again at this time of year, it leaves me to wonder what I will do tomorrow. I have been wanting to complete a series of the winter bird the red cardinal! If I decided to begin this project, I could easily get lost in either my paints, or my graphite and paper. Or, I could spend time with my parents; they called today to see if they could come spend some time with me. I would like that. I would like to sketch the two of them. I wonder if they would be able to sit still for me. I believe my mom would enjoy it. But my dad is a little more reserved and may be uncomfortable.
My sister, Princess Jody, is in the middle of a nasty job she has to complete; therefore she is unavailable. Maybe I could drive out to her and we could go to lunch! We can bang our royal crowns together as we give a hoop and a holler for My Happy Day! But with her icky job, she may not be in a Hoop an Hollering mood....
As for the rest of my siblings, they are probably working, too. Steve is in Iraq, I won't drive over there to see him....sorry!
The reality is that I really have to stay at home because we are getting our kitchen redone and the workers will be here! The cabinets are in the middle of being stained and varnished. We wanted to update our kitchen, and had great plans for knocking down certain walls, etc. but we had some uninvited guests show up that stayed too long and caused some real damage....termites! So, because we were pressed for getting those out of here, and gone forever, we kept basically the same layout that we had before...all original walls still intact. Getting any kind of remodel work done in the house is very inconvenient........very. But, it will be beautiful and hospitable by human beings again soon! I'm a lucky girl, and I'm very grateful.
As an update from a long ago post, I did not do the mural painting job for my friend; for a few reasons. The main one was that I was having some mysterious physical symptoms....Diagnosis Unknown. I went through a gammet of tests, all of which returned normal. However, I question why the phlebotemist that took my blood did not make note of the fact that my blood was the color and consistency of molasses; and that it took 45 minutes almost to get enough blood into the 5 vials necessary to complete the blood screen. Is this normal to have blood the color and consistency of molasses?! I don't know. "Do I drink enough water?" they asked. Yes, I drink a ton of water, yet cannot keep hydrated. Hence the purpose of tests..... My friends have moved on to other home projects and will do the murals later I imagine.
Anyway, with my very fun job on the line, my mouth lined of cotton and My Happy Day just about here, I am going to go to bed. I wonder what I will dream about?!
Monday, January 7, 2008
Manic Monday
I'm sad.
So very sad.
I've had a bad day.
What a day I've had.
Go ahead; ask me why.
I won't cry.
Til the day is over
A smile I will try.
If you will just ask
About the task
Requiring me
To bask
In Sad.
So very sad.
I've had a bad day.
What a day I've had.
Go ahead; ask me why.
I won't cry.
Til the day is over
A smile I will try.
If you will just ask
About the task
Requiring me
To bask
In Sad.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
A "Bad" Word Poem can be kind of Fun....
Almost everyday for almost 17 years I have been reading to my children (and any other child that happened to be in my home). I love children's books! I have lots of favorites that I never get tired of reading. Luckily, even though my youngest is 9 1/2, he still wants me to read to him before he goes to bed.
Last night because I was working, he offered to gather the books. I was pleasantly surprised when he chose a book titled, "Poetry Speaks to Children". The book is filled with fun, silly, thoughtful, and even sad poems. Cameron read some and I read some. We had a great time. But the funnest poem we read, that gave us giggles enough to last through all the poems, was the one named "Gas".
I have to tell you that it has a word in it that in our house is considered a "bad" word. But, because of the truth that the poem speaks, and the possibility of a great giggle-fest, I'm going to share it with you.
GAS
written by C.K. Williams
for his grandchildren
There's a land called France
that has an odd law,
a law that might make you
drop your jaw,
for what it proclaims
in words very clear,
is that FARTING
IS FORBIDDEN HERE.
Did you say FARTING?
Did you say FORBIDDEN?
Yes, it's true,
there's a country called France
in which FARTING
must be HIDDEN,
BECAUSE FARTING
IN FRANCE
IS FORBIDDEN!
Though it's not so in Canada,
and not in Spain,
and not on the prairie,
and not on the plain,
and not in countries like Egypt
where camels are ridden,
in France,
on the rivers and mountains,
on the roads and in fields,
FARTING IS FORBIDDEN!
Will a policeman arrest you
in France
if you FART?
Nobody knows.
But, he might blow his whistle,
or pinch your toes.
So what should you say
if a policeman in France
asks, DID YOU FART?
You should answer as quickly as you can,
"THAT WASN'T ME, IT WAS MY BROTHER!"
And what should your brother
say if he's asked
DID YOU FART?
Why, he should reply,
"THAT WAS MY OTHER,
LITTLE BROTHER!"
And what about him
your baby brother,
what should he say
if someone asks him,
DID YOU FART?
Well, he won't answer,
because he can't talk,
though it's well known
that babies FART
before they can walk!
We pretend that we don't,
and cover our nose,
but it's really a pose
because everyone knows
that EVERYONE FARTS:
Fathers, and mothers,
and sisters and brothers,
grandmas and grandpas, and babies who goo.
So if one day in France
a policeman
should inquire of you,
"Excuse me, DID YOU FART?
DID YOUR BROTHERS FART, TOO?"
Without hesitation,
you and your brothers
must shout:
"IT"S NOT US WHO FARTED,
YOU SILLY PERSON,
IT WAS YOU!"
Last night because I was working, he offered to gather the books. I was pleasantly surprised when he chose a book titled, "Poetry Speaks to Children". The book is filled with fun, silly, thoughtful, and even sad poems. Cameron read some and I read some. We had a great time. But the funnest poem we read, that gave us giggles enough to last through all the poems, was the one named "Gas".
I have to tell you that it has a word in it that in our house is considered a "bad" word. But, because of the truth that the poem speaks, and the possibility of a great giggle-fest, I'm going to share it with you.
GAS
written by C.K. Williams
for his grandchildren
There's a land called France
that has an odd law,
a law that might make you
drop your jaw,
for what it proclaims
in words very clear,
is that FARTING
IS FORBIDDEN HERE.
Did you say FARTING?
Did you say FORBIDDEN?
Yes, it's true,
there's a country called France
in which FARTING
must be HIDDEN,
BECAUSE FARTING
IN FRANCE
IS FORBIDDEN!
Though it's not so in Canada,
and not in Spain,
and not on the prairie,
and not on the plain,
and not in countries like Egypt
where camels are ridden,
in France,
on the rivers and mountains,
on the roads and in fields,
FARTING IS FORBIDDEN!
Will a policeman arrest you
in France
if you FART?
Nobody knows.
But, he might blow his whistle,
or pinch your toes.
So what should you say
if a policeman in France
asks, DID YOU FART?
You should answer as quickly as you can,
"THAT WASN'T ME, IT WAS MY BROTHER!"
And what should your brother
say if he's asked
DID YOU FART?
Why, he should reply,
"THAT WAS MY OTHER,
LITTLE BROTHER!"
And what about him
your baby brother,
what should he say
if someone asks him,
DID YOU FART?
Well, he won't answer,
because he can't talk,
though it's well known
that babies FART
before they can walk!
We pretend that we don't,
and cover our nose,
but it's really a pose
because everyone knows
that EVERYONE FARTS:
Fathers, and mothers,
and sisters and brothers,
grandmas and grandpas, and babies who goo.
So if one day in France
a policeman
should inquire of you,
"Excuse me, DID YOU FART?
DID YOUR BROTHERS FART, TOO?"
Without hesitation,
you and your brothers
must shout:
"IT"S NOT US WHO FARTED,
YOU SILLY PERSON,
IT WAS YOU!"
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Of Memories and Dreams....
Happy, Happy, New Year!!!!
For several reasons I am always happy to begin a New Year!
1. I love to Reminisce.
2. I love New Beginnings.
3. I love to have Options to Consider.
4. I love it once a Decision is Made.
5. I love to Dream about the Possibilities to Come.
I want to hear from you about what you will be Reminiscing about for 2007 and all the Possibilities you Dream about for 2008!
For several reasons I am always happy to begin a New Year!
1. I love to Reminisce.
2. I love New Beginnings.
3. I love to have Options to Consider.
4. I love it once a Decision is Made.
5. I love to Dream about the Possibilities to Come.
I want to hear from you about what you will be Reminiscing about for 2007 and all the Possibilities you Dream about for 2008!
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