Ta Da

I am home from camp,and I will post a camp update alittle later. It is good to be home but I have alot to get done here before our 4th of July party on Friday. I think this year may be a small one which I am kinda looking forward to it being small. I have been doing laundry most of the day. It is amazing how much laundry you get when everyone packs and goes different directions for a few day. Thayne left this morning for Mexico for a few days. If he has to go back and it is a nice area, I am so going back with him. Ok so this post is kinda me rambling to get back into the habit of blogging. I will get focused and write about my camp experience tomorrow. I am taking my girls to a play tonight and I am looking forward to going. I heard it was really good and I know quite a few people in the play so that always makes it more enjoyable to watch. This is a boring post I know, but it feels good to back in the world of blogging.

I am still not packed

but I decided it would be for fun at 9:30 to type one last blog for a few days. Girls camp here I come. I don't know why when I have a week to get ready I just can't find the time, but a few hours before it is time to go I can accomplish amazing things. Since Thayne was nice enough to wash all my laundry before he left for scout camp I am one step ahead in my procrastinating state of mind. I think what I dread the most about packing is knowing I am going to have to unpack it all in just a few days. So for those of you who have daughters going up to camp with me, I will be sure to take care of them for you. Julia I will see you bright and early and I am soooooo glad you are going with me. Do you think when I add the extra ooooo's to so that you really understand that I am really glad or does it just annoy you. For some strange reason I always do it but now it kinda bothers me sometimes when I do it. OH well. I hope to have some great experience to share when I get back.

Oil & Water

If you have never had the privilege (I think I can call it that) to go shopping with 2 girls that are complete opposites then you may not understand this post and should stop reading here.

We had to do some shopping for girls camp which is in 2 days. Samantha needed some pants since they cannot wear shorts and Jessika could stand a new pair also.

I found a pair I thought was cute
Sam- those are to dark I don't like dark
Jess- I like dark jeans they are so much cuter

They are both going to be in separate cabins so they need their own toothpaste right?
Sam- I want the kind that whitens my teeth
Jess- I want the cute Spongebob one that has a fruity flavor

You can't go to girls camp empty handed you need to bring each girl something small. We found cute suckers that had different shapes, sizes and colors
Sam- Skillfully with a plan in mind picked out 2 of each kind
Jess- Randomly selected without any rhyme or reason and was very content with her choices.

They need a breakfast snack to eat on the bus ride to camp. They wanted their own bag (large bag) of Hostess doughnuts.
Sam- Chose chocolate
Jess- had to have powdered

On the way home we had to drive thru Sonic because I was dying of thirst.
Sam- Cherry Limeade slush
Jess- Cranberry Limeade slush
*And just so you know, yes I broke down and had a coke. Ü

I am happy to tell you that they actually agreed on underwear and socks. Probably because nobody sees them anyways.

These 2 go from yelling and hating each other to laughing and singing and having a blast together. Alot of the times it doesn't matter which one they are doing I have to tell them to be quite because they do them both very loud.

They are definitely not 2 peas in a pod, but oil and water. They can be completely different but you give them a few good shakes and they mix together and get along for just alittle while.

Does my forehead say stupid?

It does now!

I am going to start by saying how totally thankful I am that there are no pictures to show.

Remember this?

I just want to say that this dog is totally crazy. She thinks she runs the yard. Ok, she does run the yard but we don't want her to. She escapes out of everything. Sooooo, we had no other choice but to put and electric fence up to teach her to not jump over the fence. Please do not send me hate mail this is not going to hurt her. So the first time she tried jumping the fence she figured out it was not going to work. Yippee for us she is actually going to stay in her area of the yard. She has been there all day. As smart as she is she is for sure sitting and figuring out her escape plan, but for now we have won.

Here comes the stupid part......

I saw some ants by the dog gate and decided to go out and spray them. Don't send me mail about this either, they are ants and I will spray them. While spraying the ants I saw some that were by the corner on the inside of the dog gate. Now I know to be very careful as I reached over to spray, I did not want to get zapped. Can you see where this is going? I was concentrating on getting all the ants that as I brought my arm back over I got ZAPPED! and it didn't feel good. And I learned not to ever lean over the dog fence again. The electric fence has taught many a lessons at our home today. Darn it that I had to be part of the learning.

I am glad to say that I am doing just great, and I am not writing all this to make you feel sorry for me for getting zapped.

You can feel sorry that I am really that stupid.

Saturday Morning

Thayne and Jessika both woke up this morning at 6am.

This is where I found them an hour later at 7am.

They were watching a ghost show on tv and I guess it was not scary enough to keep them awake.

mommy steps

I had a dream. Many many times. That one day I would be able to take my kids to a public congested pool (actually in my dream it wasn't congested) and not have to worry if I could see the tops of their heads every single second I was there. I would dream that I could read a book and look out without worry to find them safely swimming. I would get into the pool without little sopping wet arms mauling me to death trying to stay afloat. Yesterday that dream came true. My kids are very independent. They just took off and jumped into the pool never looking back. How could you look back when in front of you is the waterslides and lazy river and whirl pool and diving boards. They did listened to my buddy rule and they obeyed. I still found myself checking heads the whole time. It was nice and relaxing to lay with my book and well actually I got kinda bored there all by myself so I went and got in the pool. I decided to swim and spy on my kids. Only they found me and instead of rolling their eyes at me thinking I was in their space they got very excited that I was in the pool to play with them. I guess I will never be the stay on the sidelines kind of mom. Especially when it is 113 outside. I could have kept myself more entertained if I had taken my camera I saw many great photos floating away in front of me as I watched my kids swim.

I always ask my kids on the way home from activities what their favorite part was. My kids all mentioned a certain thing at the pool, but my favorite was Wyatt's friend Rhett who came with us, he said "Sister Harris I just loved the whole thing, it was all fun". I had to agree. I don't think it is my job as a mom to sit and watch from the sides all the time. Even if that is how I pictured it so long ago. It is so much more fun to keep getting my feel wet with my kids.

Adios!

That's right we sold 2 horses today. We are down to 5.

We sold them to a lady with MS. She thinks they will be good therapy for her. She can't ride them but loves horses and wants to be able to go outside and watch them. She was so excited when we dropped them off for her. I was also excited to drop them off and I am glad that they are going to someone who really likes them.

. The other horse was already in the trailer so I didn't get a goodbye picture.

Enough

I keep trying to decide if it is really safe to write a post when I am soooo tired. I tend to get grumpy and vent more when I am tired. So I will keep it short and just say that today I am officially churched out. I had a 2 1/2 hour camp meeting this morning, this afternoon I was invited to go hang out at an activity days swim party and tonight I had Relief Society and last night went to the temple with the leaders going to camp. Now each one was fun to attend. I had a great time hanging out with the kids and the leaders but I am so tired. I don't even know what my kids did today except TJ because I took him to work and Basketball camp. I only know the rest of my children are safe and home because I have asked them to go to bed 3 times and they are still playing video games. Which they never play video games and I kept telling them to play when they said they were bored and now they are doing what I told them and enjoying it. But it is late and did I mention I was tired. I love that my kids are old enough that I can just leave and not worry about them. They even know how to scrounge for scraps in the kitchen when they are hungry. I did order pizza for dinner. What a mom. I am going to go see what treasure I have tivo'd and wait for Thayne to get home from California. I have no church meetings tomorrow and it actually makes me alittle giddy to think I can just stay close to home and hang out with my kids.

Laurie and Julia thanks for being my friends during these events today,

your friendship means more than you know. Ü

I did it

I finished painting my kitchen. I will post pictures as soon as I get the refrigerator and other appliances back to their homes. I still need to update my blinds but you will get the picture without the update because those may have to wait until after girls camp next week. I spent part of my day painting and Thayne spent the whole day working on our master shower. Painting is complete, shower still has a ways to go but it is looking like a master shower finally. It is so nice getting projects completed. Ü The sad part is there is still a list a mile long of other things that need done in our home. Did I mention we have holes in our walls from my kids. Those are on the list too. So look for pictures this week I promise they are coming. Nothing super exciting but when you see what color it used to be you will understand why I am excited about the change.

all together again

We are all here. Wyatt came home today and he had such a good time. He has a bunch of stories and some I have already heard twice. He came home with some treasures.. that is not what Thayne calls them but Wyatt is thrilled with them.

Items brought home..
-a plug in globe that lights up. Wyatt tells me it is really really old. Like 20 years old or something like that. (this does not make me happy since this year is my 20 year reunion.)

-a big ball of yarn for macrame. What he plans on using it for I have no idea but again he thinks it is cool. It makes me think of the macrame owl my mom used to have hanging on our wall when I was little.

-a bag of rocks he bought at a store. Actually there are some really pretty ones.

-a few toy guns. I think all boys buy at least one on a vacation with grandparents.

-a large bag of laundry. I couldn't be more excited.

I guess the list could be alot worse considering what was in the basement. He did say they found an old record player and I was bummed he didn't bring that home. Wyatt said "but mom it was in a cabinet" to me that sounded even better.

I am just glad he is home in one piece.

Happy Father's Day

To my dad who taught me how to dance, to play basketball, how to cook the best taco shells ever, how to catch a baseball and hit one really hard. He taught me to love music, to not be afraid of the dark, to laugh, and he taught me to hug my children all the time. I could go on but I just want my dad to know I love him and I sure wish he lived closer.

I can't wait to see you next month so we can get some updated pictures

because these are really old but don't

we look so young. Happy Father's Day to my dad.

I love you Lots!

Love,

your favorite daughter!

The fun and the muck.

Ok yesterday was a busy day. Not because I had a ton on my schedule but because we just kept thinking of things to add to my schedule. Boy was it fun.

First things first- I had to get the primary activity out of the way and done with so I could spend the day with Thayne. I was alittle (alot) worried because I was not sure it was being planned. Really there was nothing to worry about. The activity turned out just fine and the kids had a blast. One down.

The girls and I returned home to find no Thayne or TJ. We called them and found out they were in Mesa at the MVD registering his truck. Thaynes truck not TJ's, that is wishful thinking on TJ's part. I said lets meet up for lunch. So Thayne said let's meet at Baja Fresh we haven't been there in ages. Without even thinking of it being 20 miles away and both of us in separate gas guzzlers we headed out. Taquitos here I come. I miss my Baja taquitos, or I did. What did they do to them. It has been so long since I had them. They drizzled some gross pasty sauce on them that honestly smelled like vomit. Why did they start doing that, yuk. The tomato recall did not help either. Thayne and I decided together that Baja is just not Baja without tomato's. Bummer lunch!

After searching high and low we finally found a faucet for our shower. Victory at last. I cannot wait for the shower to be done so I will not have to walk a mile to the other shower to get clean. I know it is not really a mile but after walking down the hall to shower for 2 years I have definitely walked a mile. I may actually have a nice master bedroom to sleep in soon. I would show you a before picture but really I am to embarrassed.

We also went to see Indiana Jones. Grrrrr! I thought this show would be so fun to see. I liked all the other movies. NOPE! When I heard they had been waiting for the perfect script before they would make this movie I was shocked. Here is my warning to all of you, Save your money!
Not worth it.

To finish my night on a good note, we left the movies and went to pick TJ up from the bike park. I wish I had my camera. He is so fun to watch. He likes to try all the tricks that makes my heart stop. I looked at Thayne and said I don't think my high blood pressure can take this much longer. Some boys doing crazy stuff with no helmet. Next time I am taking a brown bag to breathe into when I feel myself hyperventilating. I had to keep telling meself to breathe. I do think TJ is alittle obsessed with the whole bike thing right now, but he is such a good kid and he really is fun to watch doing his crazy stunts.

Alot of running around but I took the good with the bad and it turned out to be a great day.

If you are wondering why I am not in painting my kitchen, I am headed there right now. Really I am!

Wyatt update

So yes I miss my boy. He is the hugest mess maker in my home so I don't miss that, but I miss everything else about him. Wyatt is on a work vacation at great grandma's house and loving every minute of it so far. He is my hardest worker, which I give credit to Thayne for that. My kids do not get work ethics from me.

Anyways, the mission in Kanab is to clean out great grandma's basement. Now, picture a big basement with a little skinny path going through it. Maybe like something you might see on Oprah. Yep that is the mission. The boys (Wyatt and his cousin) were invited to have fun and to really be the young legs to run up and down the stairs for the old people (that is not nice but true and they know it). Ü

Ok so the story and my bragging rights for today is......
While cleaning the basement the older folks (let's just call them that) had a couch and a roll away bed that needed moved up the stairs. Knowing it was going to take a few more able bodies then themselves they decided to put the moving of the furniture off until tomorrow when they could get some muscle to help. Keep in mind it is a very steep stairs to the basement. After a hard days work, most of the old folks left to take great grandma to a dr visit. Papa and Wyatt and Ty (his 12 yr old cousin) stayed home. Papa went in to take a nap. What are 2 young boys to do. New area lots of fun stuff to get into. They could have all the unsupervised fun they wanted. So what did they do.....

They moved the couch and bed up the stairs themselves.!!!!!!!!

Boy do I wish I had pictures of this!

Papa woke up from his nap and saw the furniture sitting at the top of the stairs and thought that Uncle Boon (real name Daniel, funny huh) and his boys had stopped by and moved the furniture for them. Right as he was thinking this he saw Wyatt and Ty coming up the stairs with the cushions to finish up the job. Papa was shocked an impressed. Wyatt was so excited to tell me about it, and Papa just raved at how proud he was of those boys. But, he still can't figure out how they did it by themselves. Wyatt did say it was really, really hard. I am sure there is something in his Bear book that he could pass off for this, right?

I told Wyatt to tell Papa it was ice cream worthy, and he said he had already taken them to get one. However Papa did say it was really worth 2 ice creams so they are going to get another one today.

I am so proud and...

What great memories he is making!

What was I thinking

In reference to my previous post....


Thanks Dianne, you did a great job! Ü

teach them young

That's right. If you don't teach your boys when they are young to be gentlemen, then they will have a hard time grasping the concept when they are older. My boys do really well but there are times when reminders are in order. When they do something of gentlemen quality, I tell them that their wives will thank me one day. I had a great eye opener today and it made me thankful that my boys have a great dad.

Thayne is coming home from Canada today and he was calling me to tell me he was driving to the airport. Only I was pumping gas so TJ answered my phone. Well Thayne was not thrilled that I was pumping gas while TJ sat in the car. So I guess he told TJ that he is to always get out and pump gas for a girl. Then when I talked to Thayne he told me that TJ was to always get out and pump gas for me. Now I know Thayne always does it when we are together, and to be honest my boys do get out alot to pump my gas for me, but not today. I think I was just touched that even from another country Thayne was teaching my son to be a gentlemen. TJ's wife will thank him one day, I just know it.

Thayne teaching TJ how to sew patches

on his uniform so I didn't have to.

What am I up to

I am trying to finish painting my kitchen!

I am alittle over halfway through. What I really need is one day without any other commitments, and it doesn't look like that will happen anytime soon. So I am doing alittle bit each day. The fact that I like the color soooo much better than what I had keeps me motivated to get it done. Hopefully I will have before and after pictures to post soon.

It will be fine

This is what Thayne tells me when I get stressed. Or "it will all work out, it always does".

So I have been hearing Thayne's voice in the back of my mind all day as I have been packing Wyatt's clothes to send him off for 5 days. Wyatt was invited to go with Mimi and Papa to Kanab to visit his great grandparents and help work alittle bit on their home. Wyatt is very excited but I really don't know if he has ever gone away like this by himself without any parents or siblings. I know he will be fine but I sure have had to do alot of last minute catch up parenting in one day. I am sure going to miss him. He is such a mamma's boy, or as Thayne calls him "mom's little prince". Does it sound like I am alittle nervous about him leaving? Good, because I am. I hope he behaves himself, I hope he doesn't get homesick, heck I hope he doesn't get sick. I hope he has alot of fun and will have fun stories when he gets home. He will be just fine I know it.

Flip my attitude

Ok I am going to post this in my most positive attitude.

My girls started a tumbling class. They just love it and they have already learned alot and they are excited about continuing in this class. I love that it is right by my house and they can walk if they have to. Saturday night was their recital. It was fun watching them perform what they have learned. I was very proud of them and I look forward to back flips very soon.

Ok I can't do it anymore, here is my poor attitude on the subject.

Do you see these costumes? Really do you see them. Take a closer look. My girls could have made them by themselves. They cost me (ok Thayne) $50 each!

Yes $50!!!!!

Now we have paid for costumes before so the cost was not a shock to me. But the costume was. These costumes were no where close to being worth $50, and they are not cute. Jessika's is already ripping at the seams.

Now this picture above is Jessika and Aly in their tumble costumes. How great are those. Love them. They look like gymnastic costumes. Cute, shiny (gotta love shiny) and easy to move around in. No complaints with those costumes.

There has got to be someway to get myself on the costume committee at the dance studio. I will figure a way to get myself involved with the picking of the next costumes.

Ok I think I feel better now that I put how I feel out there. My girls really did a great job and they looked great on stage. I just wish their costumes were better.

Back Flips here we come.

Big wish

Happy Birthday Tauni!

I can't believe you are 39!

Today is my sisters birthday and I hope she is making it the best ever. I sure wish we lived closer so we could go out and celebrate! Tauni is always thinking of others and always going out of her way to do things to make people feel special. I love that about her.

right on target

Today I hadn't seen Wyatt for about an hour. His friends had all gone home and the girls were still playing with their friends. I was busy painting and just kept telling myself he had probably fallen asleep in the back room. I finally decided to go looking for him and I found him in the front yard shooting a bow and arrow. Thanks Ben.

His friend Ben gave it to him today when Wyatt was playing at his house. It is a real bow and arrow. TJ painted him a very fancy target. I don't know what you are thinking about this target but it makes me think I am running low on blue spray paint.

I just love a target with a love and peace sign at the bottom.

Doesn't that really mean "don't shoot?"

Well it has been now about and hour and a half and he is still out there practicing his shooting.

Today I am thankful for hand-me-down toys.

I know I know

but it seems the only excitement right now is dumb animal stuff. My neighbor called this morning saying they saw a coyote in their yard last night and it got alot of our other neighbors chickens and ducks. My chickens and Kayes turkey is not even locked up in a coop and luckily the coyote didn't find them. So this morning Wyatt and I were chasing chickens around the yard until we finally got them all locked up in the coop. I got a good work out so I am not going to the gym this morning. The turkey was easy he just walks slow so it takes awhile to get him to the coop. So hopefully they are all safe and sound from the big bad wolf.

I am really thinking that there is nobody else that has this much excitement in their life. I am picturing the rest of you lying by the pool or the beach, sipping a nice cold drink and maybe eating something yummy. Me, oh no! I am chasing stinking chickens trying to save their lives. Really you all have nothing, this is the life.

4 Sale

6 Horses
5 Cows
3 chickens
1 Turkey
2 Rabbits

I guess you can tell I am having a bad animal day. The cows are jumping over the fence, the turkey has some crazy ball of string stuck around its foot that I can't get off, and the horses... well they just eat to much. I will even do a buy a cow get a horse free deal, but that is only until Thayne gets home and finds out.

getting better

yes, I am still stuffy but getting better. I found a bottle of NyQuil with one dose left and I took it last night and slept great. Samantha a woke up this morning feeling great and everyone else has managed to stay healthy.
I got home from taking TJ to basketball camp and the house was all cleaned up. I knew the kids were up to something or wanted something. They did. They wanted to hang out at Rachel's house today. So they are all over at Rachel's and I am home getting a few things done. I know Rachel would love to switch places with me but let's be honest, her pool is bigger and more fun with a diving board. Luckily the kids are old enough to entertain themselves and she won't even know they are there. I hope she is taking pictures.

I am stuffy

Ok I have a cold. I am not enjoying it at all. I haven't slept good in 2 nights. I think the cold medicine is keeping my mind racing and I can't sleep. I think tonight I will treat myself to NyQuil. I sure hope we still have some.

Samantha is also sick but with a bug and she is miserable. She hasn't eaten anything since Sunday breakfast and she really can't afford to lose any weight. She turns 14 next month and weighs only 64 pounds. Her cute, funny and very strong willed personality fits her perfectly.

Jessika started with a headache a sniffles but she is ignoring the fact she might be getting sick and went swimming. I hope she doesn't regret it later.

TJ not sick but cut the the bottom of his big toe really bad. He is toughing it out by still going to basketball camp. Plus the fact that he was hit on his bike from behind by his friend on a motorcycle. TJ went flying and got scraped up really bad but no major injuries. His friend on the motorcycle spent a good part of the night in emergency and has messed his knee up really bad, possibly needing surgery. TJ always lucks out. With all the crazy things he does he never gets hurt.

Wyatt is skating by without any illness or injury. He is being such a great helper. He has been taking care of all the animals and helping with keeping the house picked up. He has not complained at all today about not being able to invite a friend over. He is such a great helper when he wants to be.

It's June 2nd and this is not how I wanted summer to begin. I just want to get this all behind us and move forward with the fun part of summer.