Drugs are bad..

Today Carsen and I were driving and he say's to me "Some people smoke in their cars."

Me: Yes, some people do smoke in their cars. But we don't smoke at all.

C: Yeah, and if someone tries to give me drugs I say No thanks, I'm already cool enough. And then I walk away and the police will come and get them.

Wow..uummm..we have not even had the drug talk with our 5 year old but it sounds like he may have it down! I really loved the "I'm already cool enough" part.

Amish Friendship Bread

So a friend of mine gave me the "starter" for this Amish Friendship bread. The deal is it comes in a ziploc "starter" that you don't know exactly what is in it as it is a "secret" but you are required to squish it around for so many day (it comes with directions) and then on day 5 or whatever you are supposed to add milk, flour, etc...and then continue to squish it around for another few days then add a whole bunch of stuff and divide it up to pass on to other friends plus bake one to eat and then start your process over so you will be baking every 10 days and passing out "starters" every 10 days....Oh and you do not refrigerate this starter stuff. Sounds fine right.

Well, apparently I was not meant to be Amish because I CANNOT do it..... I received this on Friday and have squished it around every day since only to have my gag reflex tested every single time. I finally threw it away this morning because I seriously could not face almost throwing up for the 4th day in a row. My family has found quite a bit of humor in it you know....

"Hey everyone, Mom is about to squish the white, foamy, fermented stuff again....come watch!!!It's hilarious! I bet $5.00 that she actually vomits today!!!"

WEEK in REVIEW...

Carsen got beat up at McDonalds....

Couple arguing loudly in the library tried to involve me....

4 Baseball Games, 1 soccer game, 1 cub scout meeting, book club meeting.....

Husband left for Vegas.....

It was my birthday.....

~I'm a little worn out! Hope it is not my age catching up with me!!~

19 to 2

Griffen's last baseball game was a tough one! They lost 19 to 2.....BUT fortunately he was not all that upset because one of the 2 runs that they scored was G-dog himself!! The other team had a very strong 10 year old pitcher who was striking every kid out 1-2-3....until G got up to bat and by his own choosing decided to BUNT! Well, it worked he bunted right down the 3rd baseline and made it on to first base!!! YAY... but that's not all he then decided to steal 2nd, and 3rd, and HOME!!!! He also felt the need to SLIDE into each stolen base so he not only came away with the run but he also has a huge strawberry wound up his back to show for it. We are all very proud!

IS IT JUST ME...

Are there others out there that have odd things happen to them or just me?

We went up the military ball this past weekend and a friend of mine needed a massage to relieve back spasms so we just start calling places to see who could fit her in and I figured I would get something...mani? pedi?...something!! So, we found a spa that had an hour massage for her but the only thing for me was a spray tan. Well, I figured why not..right? Thinking that this would be like a booth that you stepped into and it sprayed you down and your good to go.

Well, not so much!! I stripped down and was in nothing but disposable little paper G-String panties and a shower cap (nothing else!!) and stood in a tent thingy where the only straight dude in the whole place came in and sprayed me by hand with an airbrush gun. And, not only did I stand there naked in front of one stranger BUT there was also one of the female hairdressers in there to monitor that nothing inappropriate was going on.

I take a deep breath and think....

"OK I can do this" "I CAN do this" Breathe,,,,breathe,,,stop your hands from shaking, your going to pass out if you don't breathe but, but....if I breathe I cannot suck in my stomach as much as possible...holy crap why???WHY??? "I CAN DO THIS!!!!!

I convince myself that it will be quick and there are only 2 people who I will never see again watching me stand here NAKED being SPRAY PAINTED....

"please let this be quick, please let this be quick, please, please, please......."

Well, it was relatively quick (not quick enough) but relatively quick unfortunately, not so fast to stop yet ANOTHER PERSON FROM KNOCKING ON THE DOOR AND COMING IN THE FREAKING ROOM WHILE I STAND THERE NAKED!!!!!!!!!

It was my friends massage therapist who was finished up and wanted to know if I wanted my friend to come in with me until I was done. ARE YOU BAGGING ME??? NO!!! I don't want my friend to come in here.....I don't want you in here....I no longer want to be in here but with half of my body spray painted I must now bite the bullet and let him finish....AARRRGGG!!

I have to say...I love the results but before I return..at least to that spa....I would have to take a few shots of liquid courage!!!

So anyone else have these things happen or is it really just me??

Fairy Time?

Well, it happened Carsen finally lost his first tooth.....then Griffen lost one of his molars....then a 2nd molar....then tonight Carsen lost his 2nd tooth....WOW can you say frequent flyer miles for the tooth fairy??

Random Quote...

Carsen: "Look mom I didn't even catch dirty."
~After playing outside~

Baseball Season

I recently read a post from a 'blog friend' about her son's first game this year. Griffen will also be having his first game of the season next weekend. So, between her post and Griffen playing and the fact that he is no longer a Rookie but now a Minor which comes with the possibility of the much talked about "little league" issues that we have all heard. It reminded me of a poem that was printed in our newspaper last year that I cut out and have had on the fridge since. I did have to uncover it as artwork, photo's, and report cards have buried it over time but here it is..

He Is Just a Little Boy

By Chaplain Bob Fox
"The Old Bluebird"

He stands at the plate with
his heart pounding fast.
The bases are loaded, the
die has been cast.
Mom and Dad cannot help
him, he stands all alone.
A hit at this moment would
send the team home.
The ball meets the plate, he
swings and he misses.
There's a groan from the
crowd, with some boos and
some hisses.
A thoughtless voice cries,
"Strike out the bum."
Tears fill his eyes, the
game's no longer fun.
So, open your heart and
give him a break,
For it's moments like this, a
man you can make.
Please keep this in mind,
when you hear someone forget,
He is just a little boy, and
not a man yet.

Kissy Carsen

So a couple of night ago I was putting Carsen to bed. We went through the usual routine...prayer..hugs...tucking...kisses... now the last portion takes quite a bit of time because I believe he takes after 'Kissy Grandma' so picture lots and lots of kiss! Well, he had apparently decided to take it to the next level....he OPENS HIS MOUTH!!!!! and trys to give me a kiss. My immediate response was "WHOA...what are you doing????" He told me, "some people kiss like that. " I then tell him that only married people are supposed to kiss like that. He then gets a startled little look on his face and says, "oh, ok...please don't tell dad."

LATEST QUOTE

"Nice buns mom."

~Griffen

After making his sandwich on a whole wheat bun.....

Jelly Beans....

We still have jelly beans from Easter and from the Jelly Belly factory which Carsen loves...so yesterday he was enjoying the last of his Easter candy which along with the jelly beans he has some of those little chocolate filled robin's eggs. He picks one up and shows me and says...

"Hey mom, these are grown up jelly beans."

My Next Little Einstein

Yesterday morning Carsen woke up and informed me that he is done with preschool and will be starting kindergarten TODAY....to prove this he counted to 150 for me and also told me that he was not doing the alphabet any longer because he was ready to move onto words. He also told me it was time I taught him how to read. He was so serious that when we got to school he also told the kindergarten teacher that he was coming to her class. She said he could if he could tell her what sound "CH" made because that was what they were working on today he then got shy and hid behind me but his current teacher told him she had some kindergarten work for him to do. So he came home with a word list to work on.

It looks like he is headed down the love of reading path where his brother and I walk often...

Naughty Monkeys?

These are my new, not even remotely sensible shoes that I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!! They are made by naught monkey. I wonder if I am supposed to feel like a naughty monkey when I wear them?

Overtasked??

So, I am filling out my calendar for the week and this is the week that Carsen starts soccer and Griffen starts baseball and I am wondering WHY... OH... WHY... I thought this would all work out without any catches?? Listen to this...
Tuesday: 5:30 ~ 6:15 soccer practice @ one school
5:30 ~ 6:30 baseball practice @ a different school
6:30 leader meeting for scouts also at a different location
Wednesday: 5:30 baseball practice
6:00 scout meeting (again different locations)
Thursday: Sweet nothing!!!
Friday: 5:30 soccer prac.
5:30 baseball prac. (you guessed it different locations)

I am now hoping that this new wizardology book that Griff got for being the top reader in his class will give him a clue as to how to clone me so I can be in 2 places at one time!!

SPRING BREAK HIGHLIGHTS

WOW! This was one of those weeks that flys by but it also seems like Easter was a long time ago instead of just a week ago. Our week started out with Easter. It was nice enough here that the big bunny hid the eggs in the yard for the first time since 2003! Neither boy believed that the eggs were hid outside even after they each found one on the patio. They grabbed that one then ran back inside to find the rest. Once we convinced them that if one egg is hid outside then ALL the eggs are hid outside. They quickly found them all then we all were back inside for hot chocolate. It was sunny but still cold that early in the morning!

On Monday we packed up the camper and with 2 other families headed down to SIX FLAGS for the week. It was a great time. We had nice weather for the most part and even though it was spring break for Oregon and California the crowd and lines were not bad at all with the exception of one ride which all but 2 of the adults and the "too short to ride" crowd stood in line for 2 hours for only to get on and apparently in one of the first turns Griffen looks at Wes and says "I just lost my glasses!" GREAT!! First day of the trip, second ride of the day!! Unfortunately, his prescription is so much that those "one hour" shops cannot make new glasses so he had to go the rest of the time without. It was strange to see him without glasses for so long but he did not have any problems or get any headaches without them so that was good news. So off we all went to ride as many rides as much as possible for 3 days in a row. We had 5 adults and 7 kids with us ranging in ages from 6 months to 10 years. We all had a good time with the exception of a couple of hunger meltdowns, and one water from the dolphin tank incident!

First day, all the kiddo's and Pappy!

It's a Looney Tune World!

Griffen sans glasses!!

His Highlights:

He went on the BIG rides. KONG, MEDUSA, TAZMANIAN DEVIL, BOOMERANG!!!

This is a big step for him.

Carsen's Highlights and quotes:

Wes and I having a little spat (neither of us remember what it was about.) and Carsen say's to him.

"Why did you ever marry her?" (Little Harsh!)

At the Jelly Belly factory we look over and Carsen and our friends son, also blonde and blue eyed are getting their picture taken with an Asian family. When the boys came back over to us I asked why they were taking pictures with them and Carsen replies,

"They wanted us to but I couldn't understand them they speak spanish."

On this trip he also informed me during his one meltdown before bed that,

"I ruined his life and everyone elses too!" (OUCH!)

He changed his mind after a good nights sleep!

My Highlight???

At the Jelly Belly factory I got punked by the husbands! Griffen was the unknowing pawn in this little GAG! (Literally, GAG!!)

So, we all get our favorite flavor of beans and are formulating our next move while eating these beans and Griffen says hey there are some in my bag that I didn't put in there so I tell him that sometimes with that many they get a few flavors mixed up and just take them out and give them to me. Which he does and seeing the 'buttered popcorn' flavor I pop it into my mouth. Well, I quickly realize that I am not tasting buttered popcorn but 'rotton egg' yes, you read that right ROTTEN EGG!!!!!!!!!! I am able to turn around and the trash can is right there so I can spit it out and proceed to spit again a few more times, then jump around because I am about to toss my cookies right there in the visitor's center of the Jelly Belly factory on front of everyone!!! YEP....they sell those Harry Potter Beans there also...and as bad as the rotten egg tasted I am VERY glad that I did not end up with VOMIT, or BOOGER. (they have them) It was a total set~up and I still can't believe that I walked right into it with my eyes WIDE open. Gotta love livin' with BOYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A WEEK OF AARRGGGG...

OK it is only Wednesday and here is what has went down already this week....

MONDAY~ This might be TMI but don't care I am telling anyway. I finally went to in for my "girl" appointment. So, I change into my little paper gown which really there is almost no point in having it but at least it is something right? And the Dr. comes in and we are chatting and then she starts the exam you know...lay back, scooch down to the end of the table and put your feet in the nice little stirups...so she does the first part of the exam, and we are still having a conversation about kids, school, etc... and then she stop's mid exam to continue our talk...now just to paint the picture I am STILL laying on the table with my knees WIDE OPEN and my goodies fully exposed as she is standing in between my legs, rubber gloves, juuuust talkin to me....I don't even remember what she was saying at that point because all I could think was "please finish....please finish...it's getting a little breezy down there in rio...."

TUESDAY~Cub Scout day for Griffen. Most know that I am the Den leader for his group and I have heard crazy stories about parents freaking out at things but this is the first time that I have seen it first hand. It was Pinewood Derby night. (For those that don't know the boys built little cars out of a wooden block and then they race them.) So our whole pack is there and one of the dads is one of our pack leaders so he was the go to person for the derby. Well part way through the event a couple of parents questioned something and he seriously LOST HIS MIND....started yelling and cussing and generally was extremely aggitated. Well, you know me I can't be like everyone else and let him rant and rave. I have to tell him that he has no business cussing and behaving like that in front of our kids and also proceeded to inform him that he was acting like a 4 year old and throwing a fit was no way to behave like a role model for the boys....he continues to yell, cuss, throw a chair and say that he wanted to punch someones head off. I then tell him I am done with him and he needs to leave. He did leave with a few more choice words and told me that I could do everything from now on to which I replied "Fine, I will." I am not sure what I have gotten myself into but at least I know that I will NEVER behave that way in front of my kids or anyone elses at any scouting event....EVER!!!

WEDNESDAY~ Today is the 2nd day in a row that Griffen has gotten a RED card which means that he must call home and tell me how awful they think he is....now honestly, he has had to call 3 or 4 times this year for as far as I am concerned really trivial things. Like no kidding last year he had to call home because he was talking in the library...so yesterday the call was because he was running in the hallway....seriously....SERIOUSLY. Today he had to call home because he said the teacher was going over a problem and on the paper it had a "+" and the teacher said it was a "-" so of course Griffen being the kid that he is he corrected the teacher. Well, needless to say that did not go over well at all and he got a RED card and send off to call me and tell me yet again how horrible he is.....then he comes home with a homework assignment to answer these following questions....

1. Why should you follow directions when given to you by an adult?
2. Why is it necessary for you to always try to correct other peoples statements when others don't treat you this way?

I don't really have a problem with him having to answer these questions but, it is also time to admit that once again Griffen's teachers have reached the end of their patience and the rest of our year will most likely suck...SO GLAD it is SPRING BREAK!! Our last good year was Kindergarten. He is now in 4th grade. I just wish that the teachers he has would understand that it is just his personality. He is a bright kid who needs things to be a specific way. He sees things in a very black and white way and has no problem questioning authority when he does not understand or believes that authority to be wrong. He lives outside of the box of what the school deems normal. Anyway, tonight we are going in to talk to the teacher...should be fun!! Again, SO GLAD it is SPRING BREAK!! Six Flags here we come!!!

AMAZING....

I have been reading a blog that I stumbled upon being a blog stocker...it is an amazing story who's blog has had over 1 million hits. So, if you are in the mood to cry, laugh and be amazed I suggest reading this....
http://cfhusband.blogspot.com/

HELLO DELICIOUS....

I made this for a friend's baby shower. It is SO good. I refuse to tell you the calorie and fat content but will say make it for a large group. Now quickly...get to baking!

BUTTERMILK WHITE CAKE WITH COCONUT

Preheat oven 350

4 egg whites

2 c. flour

1 1/2 c. sugar

2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. baking soda

1 c. buttermilk

1/2 c. shortening

2 tsp. vanilla

Unsweetened coconut flakes

Buttercream frosting recipe *see below*

Let egg whites stand at room temp. for 30 minutes. Grease and flour pans, set aside. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. Add buttermilk, shortening, and vanilla. Beat on low until combined. Beat on medium 2 minutes more. Add egg whites, beat 2 more minutes. -don' worry Batter looks curdled it's not- Spread into pans and bake 25-30 minutes or until top springs back when lightly touched & wooden pick comes out clean. Cool on rack 10 minutes. Remove from pans, cool completely. Prepare frosting. Layer cake with frosting between each layer and frost rest of cake. Press coconut flakes all over top and sides.

BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

Beat 3/4 c. softened butter on medium speed until smooth. Gradually beat in 3 C. powdered sugar to combine. Beat in 1/4 C. buttermilk and 2 tsp. vanilla. Gradually beat in additional powdered sugar to make it spreading consistency.

This is the single recipe. I double both the cake and frosting recipes and turn it into a triple layer round cake with usually enough batter and frosting to make a couple cupcakes too! -you know just to have some to taste before serving.... This is a great cake. Especially, if you are not the worlds best cake decorator. It always looks pretty and finished but you don't have to go to decorating 101 to achieve the look. Throw a couple of flowers and a little ribbon on top and voila!! And that's before they taste it! Happy baking.

Condolences

I am married to a fighter pilot. Once in a while I am asked if I am bothered by the danger of his job. My reply is normally, "No, he loves what he does and he is good at it." And in all honesty I typically don't think of the 'danger'. But, there are times when we lose one of our own that forces me to think about it. Today turned into one of those times.

We are a small community of people that are spread across the world....

my tears and condolences go out to his wife and family.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,331558,00.html

More Snowcapades Pictures

UUMMM...I would have posted a picture of myself here..but she who takes the pictures does not exist in photographic memories......