I Spy With My Little Eye . . .

mandi 3 Comments


Today’s chore for me ended up being Blogtastic. The dreaded unfinished, uninsulated, unorganized playroom. We have some very important people coming to our house on Sunday and I would like them to see that we can sometimes not live like pigs in a pen. I know they’ll love me no matter what my house looks like, but still, I’d prefer my home to be on it’s best behavior.

I wish I had thought to take a ‘before’ picture and an ‘after’ picture so you could see exactly what a workout this chore was. I swear, I should have lost at least 3 pounds with all the bending and lifting and throwing I did. Alas, that was not the case. Bummer. However, I did get to have a little fun with a trunk full of Legos. No, I did not build fabulous buildings, I took them from 2 small buckets and one *HUGE* bucket and combined them into a cedar trunk. Let me tell you what a fight it was, as I was separating millions (and NO, this is not an exageration!) of tiny pieces, to *NOT* put each color Lego into it’s own container. No kidding . . .I was shaking by the time I was half way through the project! It took all the self control I could muster to keep them all together in one place. Because, face it, if I had separated them by color then I most likely would have wanted to separate them by size or shape, and that would just prove how mad I am. Where would it stop? Which is more important to the Lego builder anyway? Size? Color? Fact of the matter is: Legos drive me crazy. They hurt when I step on them. They are a choking hazard. They end up in ridicuous places. And, by darn it, there are too many flippin’ ways to organize them. And it’s not like the kids care about any of these factors. They just want to play and be creative. Use their imaginations for hours on end, the one thing I do love about these toys. And when they are done, they just want to throw them willy-nilly into a container and be done.

So, I was very proud of myself when I had the trunk full of random shapes and sizes and colors of Legos. Now my brilliantly imaginative children can put them away quickly and easily.

Not that they will.

After I was done with the project I looked down at my success with a sense of pride and had to smile a little. But as I stood there something else flew into my head, hey wait! There are body parts and other things that could be separated out too . . .but I didn’t. Instead I played a little game. I Spy. I know, a little crazy for a mom of 5 to be standing over a trunk of Legos playing a solitaire game of I Spy, still in her pajams no less at 2:00 in the afternoon. Don’t judge me. Instead, be crazy with me and play along;

I Spy: 2 fruit loops. (really? how long have they been in there? gross!) 1 treasure chest, with gold in it even, 1 best friend to a pirate, 1 can of fuel, the weapon of an axe murderer, 2 doors, Oh! That’s where the button is! No I can stop playing “Button, Button, Whose got the button?”, a headless Chewbaca, a bodiless Spiderman, and more body parts than I feel comfortable counting.

Did you find it all? 🙂 I feel very accomplished at getting the playroom more viewable. The rest of the house awaits. I wonder what other games I can come up with to entertain myself while I work . . .

(Colleen and Adam, the house may not be at it’s best, but hey, I’m trying)

To Miss Or Not To Miss?

mandi

This is what I woke up to this morning. I didn’t think it would bother me, but looking at Colleen’s phone by the charger hit me. It meant that she wasn’t here, and that she wasn’t going to be for a few days. Along with that realization came the reality that Cameron too was gone. Colleen off to Girls Camp with the girls from our church, and Cameron off to new adventures with his friends at Scout Camp. 5 days without teenagers. 5 days without the non-stop, “Mom, what if . . . .what would you do?” or “Mom, would you rather . . . . or . . . .? Why?” (Those conversations give me a headache.) 5 days without teenagers. 5 days without babysitters. 5 days of not having Cameron clean the kitchen and Colleen do the laundry. 5 days without teenagers. Do you see me trying to figure out which way I sway? My brain may work overtime on trying to figure it out. But my heart knows exactly which side of the fence it sits. I miss them. I miss how they don’t fight with each other, how they make each other giggle and smile, how reluctantly they help with the youngers, and how, in their own ways, contribute to our family. I am *not* their friend yet, I am still their parent, but I enjoy their company and how they make me feel when they hang out in the same room I’m in.

Have fun my sweet teens! Relax and enjoy yourselves to the fullest. You deserve it!

I’m Fluent in Teenage-ese

mandi 1 Comment

I love the movie “10 Things I Hate About You”. In fact, my Aunt Sara and I can put the movie on mute and pretty much recite the whole darn thing. I have many favorite parts, but lately one has been sticking out in my mind.

For those of you not familiar with the flick, shame on you. However, I will overlook it and catch you up to the quote that cracks me up. Bianca Stratford can’t date until her socially inept older sister, Kat, does. Kat doesn’t care about dating and has an interesting detest for the opposite sex in general. Binaca is starving for a social life and has convinced Kat to go out with a guy a couple times so Bianca could be her natural self, a social butterfly. So, Bianca wants to go to prom, but Kat is against the whole thing and refuses to go. Bianca pleads to her father, who is an OBGYN and never lets the girls forget it, to let her go without Kat. Now, you are caught up to the conversation that has had me giggling on the inside for the past couple of days.

Walter Stratford: Do you know what happens at proms?
Bianca: Yes, we’ll dance, we’ll kiss, we’ll come home. It’s not quite the crisis situation you imagine.
Walter Stratford: Kissing? That what you think happens? I’ve got news for you. Kissing isn’t what keeps me up to my elbows in placenta all day long.
Bianca: Can we, for two seconds, ignore the fact that you’re severely unhinged and discuss my need for a night of teenage normalcy?
Walter Stratford: What’s normal? Those darn . . . Dawson’s river kids sleeping in each other’s beds and what not?
Bianca: Daddy, that is so not . . .
Walter Stratford: I’ve got news for you. I’m down, I’ve got the 411, and you’re not going out and getting jiggy with some boy, I don’t care how dope his ride is. Momma didn’t raise no fool.

At this point Bianca is completely frsutrated with her father and storms off.

So, Walter, I too am down. I know that when I see “Spencers” written on my grocery list that I need to get bananas. I know that when my kids ask to “spover” at a friend’s, that they need to pack a toothbrush and clean clothes. I m gud @ txtin’ 2 let kids know, ‘u r l8!’ and other similar phrases. When Colleen and Cameron see a ‘big bird’ they think that Greg and I are being too affectionate. As if!

I may have become my parents in thinking that my kids’ music is ‘just noise’ and wonder how they can understand anything the artist is singing, or be repeating the same things my parents did when I was a teen;”did you brush your teeth? are you wearing deoderant? what time will you be home? who are you going to be with? will there be adults there? remember who you are! where are your manners?” etc. But I am grateful that when I am a bit confused with what is going on in my own home to the spawn I created and am raising to someday become me (ha, ha, ha!) that they are willing to catch me up. Keep me down with the 411 and whatnot. I love that they aren’t embarrassed of me and still invite friends to come over. So I can show off my sick conversing skills. 🙂

On The Shoulders of Giants

mandi 2 Comments

Typically speaking 14 year old boys don’t understand their fathers. And vice versa. Greg and Cameron are no different. They don’t have huge arguments, but Cameron tests his boundaries, and Greg puts his foot down.
Then again, in moments like this, they totally get each other.

Commercial Break

mandi

Now a message from my ‘business’ side . . .

I have been a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator for over 10 years now. My sister recruited me when she moved from the Seattle area and gave me her customers, who quickly became good friends. Most things in paper crafts are constantly changing but one thing that you can be certain of is this; the beginning of June marks a sad day in the Stampin’ Up! catalog. So many goodies are retired and are in need of a loving home. You can make this month a happy day for several stamp sets, ribbons, buttons, cardstaock, wheels, home decor (vinyl) and so much more! Grab the items you love before they’re gone. And yes, rumor is correct, there are more than 20 colors that will be leaving. Stock up! Then, after we’ve mourned any losses, we’ll all take our big girl pills, buck up a little bit, and be ready to welcome in the new sets, the new accessories, the new vinyl, *and* the new colors starting in July. They are all proving to be sassy, vibrant, and a lot of fun to play with. I can’t wait to go to convention in July to see designs and learn new things from the best of the best. Yippee! The 2010-2011 Idea Book and Catalogs will be ready the first part of July and I will be selling them to you as soon as I can get my hands on them. Reserve your copy now! Book a workshop or host a Stamp-A-Stash (e*mail me for details) to get a jump start on your wish list. I’d love to help you with your card making and scrapbooking projects. And SU! has a recruiting special right now as well. (scroll down a bit, you’ll see it) This doesn’t happen very often!

If you can’t tell, I am very excited about what is coming up as far as my hobby goes. I am no longer in denial thinking what I do is a business. Ha! I don’t make money! I do it because it feeds my soul and I get to hang out with some incredibly creative people who never cease to inspire me. Besides, it’s a lot less expensive and more fun than therapy. I don’t fool myself into thinking that I am going to recruit the world. I don’t pressure people into parties or orders or anything that they don’t want to do. I just like to let people know and see what I do and if it suits them then GREAT! I may not be as successful as some stay-at-home business women, but this is how I prefer it.

So I say, bon voyage old! Bring on the new! 🙂

Scriptures and Children (okay, and ME)

mandi

I have been looking for places to go to keep the scriptures interesting and tangible for my kids. It helps them (and me) learn more if there is some interaction. I thought I would share with you what I’ve found. This is the first one that I am excited about.
The Book of Mormon for Toddlers http://www.bomt.co.nz/
This next one even has a Scripture Reading Challenge for the summertime. Sweet!
Scriptures 4 Kids http://www.scriptures4kids.com
I’m going to keep an eye out for more, but these 2 are a great start. Do *you* have any suggestions for me?

Mirror, Mirror

mandi
You know how when you are about to get married you look at your fiance’s parents to kind of gauge how they will be as you grow old together? One day, sitting at my future in-law’s dinner table, Greg’s mom looked across the room at her husband then back at me. “Are you ready?” she asked, “For what?” I replied. She tipped her head in Russell’s direction, “someday he is going to behave and sound a lot like his father.”
!!!!!
Okay, yes, we become our parents. Makes sense doesn’t it? I watched Greg’s dad more closely after that. Preparation maybe? I don’t know. While I was watching Russell and measuring Greg up to the ‘timeline’ his mother went under the radar. Her crazy baking skills (which have already surfaced in Greg, just look at my waist-line) and her phenomenal gardening ability. Penny had/has a *huge* garden with everything in it. Corn, carrots, potatoes, tomoatoes, kale, strawberries, peas, and anything else you can think of. Extremely impressive. I remember chickens out there in the garden. There were chickens, weren’t there? Anywho, look what Greg has been up to since we’ve moved into our new house. Please, hold all laughter until the end.
Mirror, mirror on the wall. Greg is his mother after all . . .
From top to bottom: Greg’s ‘cloche’ with tomatoes in them. Tomoates need warmer weather than what we have so he made a greenhouse for them. He is going to do another one for peppers. Salsa is our family’s favorite. we need peppers. Then the kids’ garden with flowers etc. The front bed has lettuces, peas, carrots, beets, leeks, and a couple of other things I’m forgetting. It’s overloaded. In front of that are 72 strawberry plants our neighbor wanted to get rid of then 2 blueberry bushes and a rhubarb plant.

Okay, this one is in our front yard. This one is more me. Hostas, geraniums, iris, and pansies. But I digress, let’s get back to Greg . . .

Our peach tree. Along with 2 apple trees, 2 plum trees, a pomeranate tree, and a pear tree, we have our own mini-orchard. We also have 3 varieties of grapes.

Don’t get me wrong, I *love* the fact Greg has the energy and forsight to do all of this. It saves us money and we eat fresh produce. He says it is theraputic as well so that has to save us some money from the “shrink bank”. (the shrink bank is for the kids anyway, who knows what therapy they’ll need after we’re done with them.) He says that *this* is his Farmville (without the big bucks and opportuniy for experience points)
I raise my glass to my husband! May we reap the benefits of your labor. 🙂 And to Penny, thank you for being such a great example. Just to ease minds, Russell, I have no fear of him becoming like you either. I welcome it.

Looking Back on our Week . . .

mandi
The not so fun part of our week. Poor Griffin. Stomach Flu/dehydration is horrible! 3 bags of fluid later and he is on the mend. Whew!

We went and saw my Grandma Conlin (and Grandpa too) It was heart warming to see so many flowers throughout the cemetary. Happy Mother’s Day Grandma!

My crew at Cougar Mt. Park on Mother’s Day. I love that place. It’s where Greg proposed to me. We spent a lot of time there before we were married!

Atalie and me at the Mom & Me Breakfast that she planned with her awesome Activity Days group.
Lots of other things happened as well. We got our rock wall in the front yard done, now we just need to get plants in it. Colleen made first cut for Color Guard, last cut is this coming Wednesday. Keegan and Cameron conquered the MSP, we got to talk to our moms on Sunday and we went to visit my foster parents. The first time in many years. It was . . .well, I can’t put in to words exactly how amazing it was to be with them again.
Ain’t life good?

mandi

This is our pear tree. We planted it about a month ago. We can see it while we sit on the couch in our family room. Did you know that there is evidence that pear trees have been around since preshitoric times? Some have been cultivated in China for over 3000 years. Pears are native to countries such as China, Italy, the US, Spain, Argentina, South Korea, Turkey, Japan, South Africa, and the Netherlands. Pears will ripen faster if placed in a bowl next to bananas. Pears are excellent produers of fiber and Vitamin C. Pears are less allergenic than other fruits so are usually the first fruits introduced to infants. Pears can also be useful to treat the inflammation of mucus membranes, colitis, chronic gallbladder disorders, arthritis and gout. They are also beneficial in lowering high blood pressure and controling cholesterol levels. In ancient Greece pears were also used to treat nausea. The FDA have determined that eating an average sized pear will only cost you 100 calories and will provide you with 190 mg. of potassium, 6 g of fiber, 1 g of protein, and 2% of your daily calcium. Pear tree wood is the preferred material in making woodwind instruments and furniture.

Pear trees, in some countries, are also evergreens.

Amazing. All of this from something that started out looking like what we have in our yard.

But what has amazed me the most about our pear tree is it’s strength. It’s endurance and fight to survive. Yesterday we had gusts of wind up to 50mph. Some of the smaller cedar trees in our backyard looked like they were going to snap in the wind. Branches were flying everywhere, and my dog barked incessantly. But this pear tree stood it’s ground. The leaves were ruffled, but it stood still. Considering it’s root system is only 6-24 inches below the surface, and still building their foundation, I find this little tree to be quite inspiring. It’s roots will not go deeper than the 6-24 inches, but they will grow horizontally as far as the tree is high. Entwining with other shrub roots, roocks, and other things in the ground. It is this foundation that the tree depends on for it’s growth and success.

I am like this pear tree in one way that I can think of. I need to make sure that my roots are firm in a foundation that will help me grow and be successful too. One that will guarantee that after the ‘hail and mighty storm shall beat upon me, that it will have no power over me nor drag me down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which I have been built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if I build, I cannot fall.’ After everything is said and done, if I have built a relationship with my Father in Heaven, He will not let me snap in the wind. He will help me stand tall and firm.

How’s your root system?