Birthday mishaps

Today is my first born sons birthday.
Quite a momentous day
since he
turned 16.
SIXTEEN??!!!

I am having a hard time
coming to terms with that.


When did this little punk grow up?

He is now legal to date?!!

GIRLS will officially be in the picture--

I use the plural since i don't want any ONE--

I would much rather have him date many
and have a good time doing it.





His father had told him that if he took out a different girl
each month he would pay for the date--
What was he thinking???
I guess time will tell if he takes his dad up on that deal.

Sixteen years old.
For the past sixteen years
I have been there for the monumentous occasions.
{as well as the not so momentous)
Like his birth.
{I was intricately involved in that one}
When he went to school.
When he was baptized.
When he had eye surgery.
When he turned 12 and was ordained a deacon
And then 14 when he was ordained a teacher
and i had planned on being there
when he was ordained a priest.
I think it is a pretty big deal--
seeing your son accept the responsibilities
of becoming a Priest,
and blessing the sacrament.
It makes me proud to see him advance in the priesthood.
To know that how he is living his life so that he is worthy to hold that honor.
And i would have loved to have seen him ordained--
YES i said "WOULD HAVE"
see my husband in his rush after church
failed to notice that HALF of the immediate family was missing.
He went ahead and proceeded without me!
His WIFE
the woman who spawned this child,
who had horrible back labor with this child.
I was missing and yet unnoticed
until it was over
and all was said and done.
I am the same mom who days ago
wouldn't even think of missing the first day of school
with this kid.
And I know that there will be more first days of school,
but he will never be ordained a priest again.
That was a once in a lifetime
and i was missing---
and my husband wondered why i was upset.......

Olympic party

Tonight was the first night of the Olympics
only we were watching what was happening tomorrow
or today in China.
It is so confusing!
is it today or tomorrow?
morning or night?
UP-DOWN
north, south--
I just don't know anymore.
Regardless of my state of confusion
we had Chinese take out
in celebration of the fact that the
Olympics were on.
Well not really
but it did seem rather festive
party like
when you say that.

We were watching it on my moms bigscreen

(thanks for the use of the cottage this summer)

and i will go on record as saying

i think the gymnists were life size.

as we watched gymnastics
We OOOOHHHED
and AWWWWWED
and GASPED
at the incredible things
that they can do with their bodies.
We enjoyed the swimming
(it's our thing--what can i say?)
I wish/hope
Michael Phelps
will get his teeth fixed when all is said and done.
And can we hear it for

41 year old mom's
who are ripped
and kick some kid butt
in the pool!!!
WHOOOOHOOOO
I know she can't hear me
or any of the athletes for that fact
but.....
GO USA!!!!

can i just say
I just love the Olympics!

Still Vanilla

I have taken that
dumb-stupid waste of time quiz again.
And i am still Vanilla.
32% of people are Vanilla.
I have had a few people take the quiz that i know
and i have a Strawberry,Rocky Road and Chocolate friend.
And just for the record
after reading what chocolate is
I am NOT chocolate
but i thought i could maybe be
Rocky Road.
Dear Hubby took it three times
and three times he was different
(I think he was fudging his answers)
First he was Mint Chocolate Chip
then Coffee
and followed up with Rocky Road.
I am beginning to lose my faith
in the highly scientific interpretation
of this test
I mean VANILLA
three times.
I guess i am going to have to rethink
my ice cream selection.

What's your flavor?

Tonight i took a personality quiz based on what flavor ice cream you are,
and this is what it came up with


You're Vanilla.

I even did it twice and changed up my answers and both times i was

VANILLA???

VANILLA???

Isn't vanilla bland,boring and predictable?

Vanilla is the ice cream that needs to be accompanied with something else

in order for me to eat it.

I never eat Vanilla unless it is blended in a shake

or accompanied with an apple dumpling or something equally as yummy.

I almost feel insulted at the thought of being called

Vanilla

Until i read this

And then i realized that if this is what Vanilla is.....

I don't want to be Chocolate

(I have no idea the personality of chocolate)

But Vanilla just seems to fit me.

You're as popular and relaxing as vanilla ice cream. You go with the flow, and get along with all sorts of people. You appreciate peace and simplicity, so you sometimes find crowds and loud noises overwhelming. You are a chilled-out, calming influence on the people in your life, and your friends appreciate how supportive and flexible you are.

Simple blessings to be thankful for

I haven't had very many DEEP thoughts today
or maybe I have had deep thoughts
but they were just short in length
vs. depth.
The thought that ran through my brain today
was the simple things I am thankful for.

Friends--
(not that they are simple)
and i am so grateful for the fact
that i have been able to stay friends
with those that are living far away!

A bus with air-conditioning
(do i really need to expound on that one)
I will just say that i was the envy of work
with my sweet air-conditioned ride that i was driving

A sewing machine that works
especially when i am in
"crunch time"

RAIN--
love that wet stuff
especially this time of year
when it brings down the heat!

Some BeAuTifUl Sunsets
mostly because of the storms coming in

My Kids
and the love they show for their
little brother

When you think of life,

think first about the blessings you have.

Don't focus on misfortunes,

for they are but a faint shadow

Calculators and Cars

Remember years ago when calculators were used
to add and subtract numbers.
Simple things.
Not anymore--
I think you can now figure out quantum physics
or something equally as complicated,
right in the palm of your hand.
Not that i have ever done quantum physics,
or even have a clue as to what it is.
But i bet if i had a new calculator i could figure it out.
Now days these calculators
do more than our first computer could,
and much faster as well.

My husband just informed me
that the #1 punks new calculator
cost $80.00
WHAT????
For that price this calculator should do magic tricks.
Oh wait, it did.
We started out with $80.00 in our wallet
and it disappeared.
TA-DAH.
He told me it was a graphing calculator.
Does that make it like an etch a sketch or something?
I just want to know if it will guarantee her an "A"?
I would pay at least $80 for that.

NOW onto the CAR portion of this entry
otherwise known as

"One of these things doesn't look like the other"

sometimes i feel like i am the square peg
trying to fit in the proverbial round hole.
Today as i pulled up to my sister-in-laws house
I felt like the redneck cousin.
or maybe the redheaded step child
(but since i have a redheaded friend i won't say that)
As i was looking at the line of the other in-laws cars
(we were all there for a lunch to welcome the nephews fiance' into the family)
I was too intimidated to park my car in the same row as everyone else's.
I am not much on name brands
and when it comes to cars
i could care less about prestige
i figure as long as it gets you from
point A to point B
it really doesn't matter
the name brand on it.
That is,
unless you are trying to Valet park.
And then it is a tad embarrassing when you "have" too
and the door handles are broken on the doors
(i figure it keeps the car jackers out)
That was not the car i was driving today.
Oh how i digress.
I was driving my Chevy Astro van.
The rest of the cars were also Chevy's,
but that was where the similiarities ended.
All the rest were either
Tahoes, Yukons or Suburbans
(yes, that is plural because it was a long line of cars and more than one of each)
and then throw in the occasional Escalade.
(I kid you not--I only wish i had a camera)
So i parked my
HUMBLE,
uncool
mom-mobile
in the drive-way.
Away from the shiny
cool rimmed
gas guzzlers.
(i call them all those names but if you gave me one i would take it!)
It really doesn't matter what I drive
(right?)
cuz after all
I am the
COOL,
FUN
aunt.
And in my own words.
I am their favorite.
Even if it is not true.
I believe it!
Even if my cars NOT.

passing thoughts

I try to be positive
and not let too many things bug me--too much.

But there are a few things
that just yank my craw
(exactly where is the craw?
--never mind--
that will be a subject for another day)

Let's just say this just bugs me.....
ALOT

Now if you are one of these people that do this atrocity
I beg you
repent
change your evil ways---
and most important of all
GET OUT OF THE FAST LANE!!!

Perhaps this has been bothering my more
because of my recent road trip.

Those of you who choose to travel in the passing/fast lane
without any acknowledgement of those around them--
you know those people
who are going faster than you are
those people
who want to pass you on the LEFT
which really is the proper lane to pass in--
but you are so oblivious to the fact
that there are actually other people on the road with you--
that you continue on your Sunday drive pace
in the fast lane.
If you are not going to move over--
please I beg of you--
keep your car in the right hand lane--
so those of us
who want to get somewhere--quicker
can pass you safely!

I am now finished with my tirade--
until the next time i find myself on the road with those who refuse to move over.

simply blessed

We had scriptures,
prayers,
and the house was settling down for the night
and then someone opened the door
and the rain came in.
You would think we had opened the door
to the sweepstakes awards
as excited as everyone was.
It's RAIN.
But even i came up stairs,
and watched it pouring down.
Such a simple joy
that took me many years to appreciate.
Often it is going without something
that makes it that much more precious.
I wonder how many things that i have in my life
that i just take for granted
because it has always been there
or because i have been blessed with an abundance.
I have never wanted for a roof over my head
(well except when i was in Chicago)
I have always had food on my table
I have never known hunger.
And my family has been blessed with good health.
We have our moments,
but nothing like some struggles
that i have watched others go through.
I love those times of reflection
so i can stand back
and see how truly blessed i am.
For even the most simple of pleasures
for even
the RAIN!

Let us rise up and be thankful,

for if we didn't learn a lot today,

at least we learned a little,

and if we didn't learn a little,

at least we didn't get sick,

and if we got sick,

at least we didn't die;

so, let us all be thankful.

~Buddha

first day a success

This time last year
i was miserable.
I had several children
who on the first day of school
had meltdowns.
I remember after i had dealt with one
another one started in--
and i looked at them and asked
"if they really wanted to go there?"
To which that child stopped
and waited till the next day
to schedule their melt down.
It was a horrible first few days of school
and all i can say
What a difference a year makes.
All came home happy today.
Pleased with their teachers and classes.
I realize it is a tad early
to declare the year a success--
but I feel we are on the right track.

Don't limit yourself.

Many people limit themselves to what

they think they can do.

You can go as far

as you mind lets you.

What you believe,

you can achieve.

-Mary Kay Ash

back to school photo's

Last week my work contacted me
to see if i could come in and help out with a route
in the mornings.
Specifically
the first day of school.
Since they are short drivers
they were in dire need
and for a brief moment--
a very brief moment--
i actually considered it?!

What was i thinking?

I am not normally a guilt ridden mom
and i am not super nostalgic
(although i do have my moments)
But the thought of missing the first day of school,
missing the back to school pictures?

NOWAY
was i going to be party to that!

So i let them down easy
and told them I would come in on Tuesday,
but Monday was NOT going to happen.
I couldn't live with the guilt
if i had missed this event.

So the dreaded first day came
whether i wanted it to or not
I tried to cover my head and ignore
the fact that it was here.
But those that were headed off
needed me to take their pictures
and imagine my surprise when i went outside
and it was on the cool side?
What a nice change!


So here they are
those pictures i couldn't live without
these two are the first ones out the door. This year the bus stop is right in front of our house.

They are also the children in uniforms.
Today they wore the wilder side of the colors that they are allowed--
purple
and
gold


The next one out was my sophmore

sporting brace free teeth this year

he better get going on his liscense,
since his ride is a senior
and won't be around much longer


then my little one waited for the bus to come

and how cute is the Elmo back pack

he was busy letting the dog know how much he was going to miss her. I don't think she felt the same because when the bus came she was barking for joy and didn't stop until it had pulled away.

and the last one out the door was my senior. She gets to sleep in a bit this year since she has no first hour.













And as the last one pulled away
i realized i was all alone
back to my routine
(whatever that is)
and a smile crept up on my face
and i did a small happy dance.