Histerical

Have you ever seen the show "Just for Laughs" I cannot begin to tell you the hilarious tricks they play on people. A big box marked "zoo" with a picture of a gorilla on it. THey ask people on the street to sit on it for a minute and the box starts moving and the top starts popping up....people freak out! It is SO funny. Sorry. Had to be here rolling with me. Oh how I love 8pm T.V.

Motherhood!

Well, we have had a good week. Although there were a few things that are noteworthy.



Judah decided he would cut a circle hole in the couch. When I saw it my mouth dropped. The proud mom part of me thought "Yeah! He can cut a circle!" And the other part was like "Are you kidding me??????? Who taught him to cut a circle!?!?!?!" He was punished. He felt terrible. I asked him why he did it and he said, "I couldn't find paper anywhere, Mom!" Nice one. At least it is in a very hidable spot. I will post a picture when I charge my camera battery.



Creed asked me to sing "Tinkle Tinkle" before bed. (Twinkle Little Star) I love their little languages. He also did the funniest thing. I told him goodnight and told him I loved him all the way up to the moon and stars. He usually replies the same, but this time he responded,
"I love me-self all the way up to the moon staws and sun!" What a ham.



Jon is at the beach today with his R.A.'s. We were not allowed to go because they dont' want Jon to be distracted by us...I am fine with it, but it would have been fun. My friend Pamela came over and we tried thinking of something fun to do with the kids. Finally after wasting way too much time it was almost lunch. So we filled the sand table with water and soap and calle dit even. They had fun. I made macaroni and cheese while they watched Barney. Okay, I know. I was one of those youngins who swore I would never let my kids watch that retarded Purple Dinosour! Now I realize how niave I was! He sings nice and kind songs and teaches really good principles compared to many of the shows out there.

My Little Gift

Creed picked me a flower...

Jon is Home!

What a good feeling to have him home. We went and met him on west campus as they unloaded and then ate pizza for the first time in 11 days. It was fun. Jon came home with us after and we just hung out. He put his nasty clothes in the laundry (knowing that I would take way too many days!) and we were just a little family. The boys were beside themselves....all the high pitched "Daddy! Daddy!" 's in the house were refreshing. The whining "moooom" sound was gone. Relief. We went to dinner with his team. The students were really fun and we had a good time. Then we headed for ice cream, but the boys fell asleep on the way. I was a little bummed because I had in my mind what a relaxing evening at home would be as a family....but that was my expectation....I got over it quickly as I met all the girls and guys. They were so friendly. We had several offers for babysitting (and you all know I took them up on it!). It was a really good time. We ate a Max's Mexican Restaurant in Azusa. Yummy little hole in the wall.

Today, Jon's brother Paul comes over and we will have him in town until Tuesday. He is a barrel of fun. Unfortunatley Jon has to speak at church this week which he was unaware of. It was also assumed by another church that he would speak! So he was suppose dto be in two places on Sinday morning (popular guy, my man). So, he had to take his day off today and go into church and create a sermon. So here I am today without him. But maybe if we all pray he will be done by dinner!

Tomorrow students begin arriving and so he is on duty all day and then Sunday he is also on duty after church. Then Monday rolls around to office hours and more welcoming. It will be exciting to meet all of our students. I am looking forward to it.

More later...

A Bit of Good Advice

by H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

1. Marry the right person. This one decision will determine 90% of your happiness or misery.
2. Work at something you enjoy and that's worthy of your time and talent.
3. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
4. Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.
5. Be forgiving of yourself and others.
6. Be generous.
7. Have a grateful heart.
8. Persistence, persistence, persistence.
9. Discipline yourself to save money on even the most modest salary.
10. Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated.
11. Commit yourself to constant improvement.
12. Commit yourself to quality.
13. Understand that happiness is not based on possessions, power or prestige, but on relationships with people you love and respect.
14. Be loyal.
15. Be honest.
16. Be a self-starter.
17. Be decisive even if it means you'll sometimes be wrong.
18. Stop blaming others. Take responsibility for every area of your life.
19. Be bold and courageous. When you look back on your life, you'll regret the things you didn't do more than the ones you did.
20. Take good care of those you love.
21. Don't do anything that wouldn't make your Mom proud.

Tell It LIke It Is!

Judah informed me out loud infront of my bother in law that, "Mom! You have fur growin gunder there!" (My armpit hair had gotten a little long...) I quicly laughed and hushed him and then told him that moms have hair in their armpits just like dads, only we shave it when we actually find time for a shower! It had been 2 days. Needless to say, I quickly found time to shower. Problem solved.

Total Hit!

For all my mom and dad friends out there, I decided to try somehting new today. I have heart and star shaped ice cube trays (from IKea, but you can get them in the dollar section at Target right now) and I filled them with Vanilla Yogurt. After Naptime, we had our normal snacktime and I just plopped the yogurt cubes into their juice and they LOVED it! Fun and refreshing for summer. I also make those homemade popcicles with vanilla yogurt....way less surgar than normal popcicles and they like them the same! Try it!

Two days left.

I am REALLY ready for Jon to be home. I miss him. The boys miss him. Life is not nearly as full, fast or funny without him!

I just have to say my boys are so fun. Creed is into maps right now. Not real ones....any piece of paper is a map right now (thanks to Dora the Explorer). He says "Mom, dis way and dis way and hew."

Judah adds an "m" to the front of so many words! I love it because it reminds me that he too, is still small. He says, 'I'm so Mecited!" or today he said, "my one hundred mecent piece" (fifty cent piece). I just thought I would blog it so I remember it.

I am so thankful for these inspiring little people that God gave to me. Thanks God.

Menu Ideas Anyone?

So I was trying to make a grocery list today and felt braindead while trying to think up new meals to make. Any ideas? I am more than willing to share ideas with people...

What are your favorite breakfasts?

Lunches?

Snacks?

Dinners?

Let me know! THANKS!

Awkward Moments

It is so bothersome to be walking down the sidewalk and catch someones eye too far away to say hello. Then, both parties look down or away and silently walk by each other. Today this happened and I tried saying hello, and it was too late at that point and the man briefly stared at me and kept going. What is wrong with our society? Why can't we just smile and keep eye contact longer than 2 seconds flat? Weird.

I was heading to bed when suddenly...

THERE WAS A SKUNK ON MY PORCH! I do not htink I have ever seen one this close before. I was nervous and thinking....."if I move, does it spray the window? Maybe I will stay still like a statue and it will find food elsewhere....okay, now it is coming closer...crap!" So I stayed very still and watched as it CLIMBED MY BACK STEPS and smelled my flowers (as if he were wondering what it would be like to smell good). He headed down again and kept walking around....the funny thing is that our neighbor spotted him on our front porch almost a week ago and Jon went out after him (mainly to get a good look) and so we must have a special scent he likes (great). I can't smell him at all. I couldn't last week either. I just pray nothing falls or moves on my porch and makes him spray! AH! At least it would be a good story....I would have taken a picture, but Jon has the camera on his hiking trip! Goodnight.

DAY 6...

Well, hopefully day 7 will be one of rest! :>) My boys are doing great. Today we decided it would be fun to go to breakfast at Burger King. We like Jack in the Box better for breakfast, but it is pricey and there is no playground! So after eating they zoomed over to the playground only to have a Burger King employee run out and inform us that it was broken. (No sign was posted!) Huge disapointment to my little guys. That was the most exciting part. SO....we went and got our car washed in one of those fun automatic kind that splat your car with colorful soap and slap it with those rubberized tassles and then blow dry it as you leave. Creed was nervous at first, but by the end he "yiked" it. It was "citing" (exciting). Unfortunately, our car is not that clean from the thing. Next time we are doing the good old hand wash. That can be just as much fun and 5 bucks cheaper.



After we got washed, we decided a yard sale would be fun. THe two we found were complete duds. One was all clothes and the other had mostly car parts. Judah was bummed. He loves finding a cheap toy.



Speaking of cheap toys, I bribed my children yesterday. I told them if they took a good nap that I would buy them a new toy. It worked brilliantly. They slept for about 2 hours but too late in the day! I took them to a thrift store. Judah found a back hoe loader truck and Creed picked out a guitar (after Judah talked him into wanting it). They didn't go to sleep until 10pm. Backfire.



My friend Heidi came over yesterday. That was fun it was the first time she was our new place. The kids have a blast together. Heidi's kids are on the left, Creed and Judah are in the middle and the other Judah and his brother Nathan are on the right....



So we have ants. We haven't had to worry about ants in a long time. Somehow I leave a drop of juice or an apple core in the sink for more than 2 hours and there they are. Blasted little workers.

I just picked up a flyer for some exercise classes at the community college behind us. It is free. I figure it is time to lose the middle after YEARS of no exercise. We will see if I actually do it! I am glad I took the first step....picking up the flyer! That was hard work. I can't blame my fat stomach on the boys anymore. It is those mocha's I LOVE.

Doin pretty good so far!

So, we are on day 4. It is going pretty good, although I caught a flu of some sort...achy, sore throat, cough. 3 advil every 4 hours does wonders.

I have a lot to do before Jon gets home. But I feel like I am being decently productive despite the illness. The boys are being good for me. Having Jon gone only makes me appreciate him more. It is good for me to experience that absence. I miss him.

So we were in H & M (clothing store). My friend talked me into taking the boys (stupid of me to listen!) Anyway, we were walking past the undie section and Judah exclaimed "breast bands!" Hilarious. Where did he come up with that one....not too long after Creed shouted "Nipples! Mommy....same!" as he pointed at the bra...Partly laughing and partly bashful we headed out of the store to the play area at the mall and waited for my friend. Mind you this was after explaining to Judah why it is rude to look up a girls skirt (luckily it was mine) and how he should never peek under the changing room stall doors (luckily it was my friend!) Exhausting.

THis picture would not flip for me. Sorry. But Creed looks so funny to me....this is Judah's dollar store water mask.

Well. Caliou is almost over and I need to make taquitos for my little muchkins. I will write more later. :>)

Gear Up!

Well, Jon leaves on an 11 day backpacking trip with his R.A's tomorrow at 5am. If you know Jon, starting at 5am is not the way to kick off the trip! He will probably be up until 2am packing! He is still running around collecting things like his fishing pole (he says he will use it more than 2 times....anyone want o bet with me?)

He is really enjoying his job as a Resident Director so far and I think he fits this position perfectly. Today he gave the devotion ( I was not there, but got a report) and the students LOVED him! I told them I think he is amazing and that he ALWAYS does a great job when he speaks. It was cute of them to tell me like I had never heard him before! They don't know our background yet, so they do not understand that I have consistently heard him for over 6 years now! :>) I still think he is fantastic.

I am a little anxious about being home with the boys for 11 days ALONE, but I have a lot of friends I plant o pester over that time. Jon's brother comes next week for a day and then stays longer when JOn returns (he is hanging out with a friend inbetween) so that will be fun! The boys LOVE uncle Paul...he is the only uncle that gives gifts all the time! (Who doesn't like an uncle like that?)

I would have lived for my mom to come and hang with me during this time, but she broke her foot this summer and just found out that the Dr. who did the surgery did not do it correctly and she has to do it again! THis time with a different doctor....but that means another 6-10 weeks without putting ANY pressure on it! My parents have a trip tpo HAwaii planned this fall....pray that her foot heals enough to go and enjoy their trip!

Well, I am tired and I need to go to bed bc I know Jon will need me to wake him up at 5am! He would never make the trip if I didnt kick him out of bed! Pray that this week goes smoothly....Kate