Is it mean?

It happened last December on a Sunday morning. I jumped out of bed to get my older kids off to a special Sunday outing. I threw on my sweats that were laying next to my bed. I headed to the bathroom to brush my hair when I felt something on my knee. Then felt some pricks on my knee and knew right then that I was just put on the long list of people I knew that had been stung by a scorpion. My knee started to burn and I could feel the poison travel up and down my leg. I did all the tricks people told me to do and Julia brought me over some special powder than helped alot. I put ice on it which helped so much. I drove the kids to the church with ice on my knee and then went home and rested for a few hours. Then got ready and went to church in pain.

I called Thayne to tell him what had happened hoping to get some sympathy since he knows I hate bugs especially stinging ones. All I heard was, it can't be that bad.

That was the day I secretly hoped that one day he would experience the pain of a scorpion sting.

Guess What?

Saturday morning Thayne jumped out of bed to get Wyatt out the door for football. He grabbed a towel and headed for the shower. The next thing I heard was.... "owww...owwww.....owww, that little bugger".

(this is not the one that stung him)

I knew exactly what it was and just laid and bed smiling. He walked in our room and said he was just stung on the butt.

Music to my ears!

Hallelujah!

However I did not take into consideration that Thayne has a huge pain tolerance. I am not even sure if he took a Tylenol for the pain or not but I never heard him complain the rest of the day about it.

I am also sure that since it stung him in the butt that all the fat just absorbed the poison and never went into his blood stream. I like to think that because it makes me feel better about crying about my sting.

I am back to secretly hoping he gets stung on a not so fatty area so he will be able to really feel the sting.

Ballhawk - Eagles update

1st half

Wyatt was quite embarrassed when he was carried off the field for hurting his knee during the 1st half of the game.

He was probably even more embarrassed that I went down on the field to make sure he was alright.

He popped his LCL, which I have know idea what that means but he was wrapped up and and after a short break he was back out on the field.

2nd Half

This week he was added again to the game write-up on the team webpage.

If you don't want to read the whole article below is the paragraph that mentioned Wyatt. He is having a fun season with alot more playing time than last year so of course it is alot more fun for me to sit and watch.

"The Eagles defense once again asserted it’s dominance as they stuffed the Bulldogs repeated attempts to get their ground game going. I guess they were thinking “maybe we should go to the air”… they should have thought again. The Bulldogs dropped back and launched a pass toward an open receiver when Wyatt “aka. Ballhawk” Harris swooped in and plucked the ball out of the air for his interception of the season."

We won 12-0

GO EAGLES!

funny faces

I just love when I am just feeling like I am going crazy and then someone does something to make me feel less stressed. That happened to me today.

We were in the middle of our Primary program practice. I think we had almost every child there, just not all the teachers. So it was alittle bit crazy, ok it was more than alittle bit crazy. I was hopping from different sections to fill in for teachers that weren't there to send there kids up for their parts. I was starting to feel alittle, no alot overwhelmed...

(I wasn't quite to this point)

when I looked over at Julia on the other side of the stage and she made this funny face at me. I think I was to boggled to really respond but it was exactly what I needed. I love friends who know just what to do to make you feel better. Thanks Julia.

As far as the practice. It went ok, but I know on Sunday it will all work out. I just needed to remember that today the kids were in school all day and then they came straight to church to have to sit still even longer. I didn't give them the credit that they deserve and I felt like I didn't praise them for trying so hard. It is that feeling you get when you send your kids to bed and forget to tell them you love them. That is kinda how I feel right now. I guess that is just another thing on the list of things I need to learn while being primary president. It is a good thing my presidency compensates for my shortcomings.

Don't forget

Survivor starts tonight, and I couldn't be more excited!

do it your way

Don't let this cute, sweet, adorable little girl fool you.

She has the perfect little tool that can make you crazy.

Her Voice!

That doesn't sound very nice does it?

Well that is because you have never been trapped in a car with her when she sings the Hamster Dance song. Samantha sounds like a chipmunk when she laughs and she sounds just like the chipmunks when she sings this song. The other night when we were driving home from football she was on a Hamster Dance kick. I just kept hearing Da De Da De Da Do Do, De Da De Da Do as she did the whole song. Just when I thought I couldn't take it anymore, it changed. She was doing something different. Same song, but different. I couldn't believe what I was hearing....

She was yodeling the Hamster Dance Song.

Try it!

It is fun to try but hard to do.

It really sounded neat for about 4 minutes and then I was back to wanting to throw her out the window. It was a good thing we were almost home.

Costco surprise

Don't you just love it when you are buying something and find out when you get the total that it is way less than you expected to pay?

I decided to send some of my pictures to Costco.com to get developed. I don't have all my photos backed up like I should so I am trying to be better about developing them. Yesterday when I uploaded my pictures to Costco it showed a big discount and my total was only .84. For that price I decided to order more. My next order I had a discount too. Did I say I just love when that happens? Well, today I went to pick up my pictures and I asked the girl behind the desk what it was for. She told me one day they were changing out their machines and since it was an inconvenience they credited everyone with a current Costco card 50 free pictures. Now I am thinking it is just for those at our Costco location. If you have a Costco card and visit the Market street location check it out. 50 free pictures developed. That will free up some space on your computer getting some of those babies off of there.

Because I didn't know I only developed pictures. If I had known and thought ahead I would have used that credit for my Christmas cards. Shucks!

If you already knew about this credit, thanks for sharing with me. NOT.
If you didn't, I am sharing with you. Enjoy!

FB correction

I am correcting the score I gave you for Wyatt's game on Sat. It was not kickbutt to nothing, it was alittle kickbutt to something.

Final score 20-6

So far so good

20 years ago this Halloween...

I sang with our group (yes we had a group) in church. A very nice lady came up and asked the group if they would like to come to her ward next and sing in their ward since they didn't have a musical number. Of course we said yes.

I can still remember ( and so can Thayne without my help) what I was wearing. I had on a light pink sweater dress that went down to my mid calf, white nylons and white high heel shoes. My hair was in a very pooooffffy pony tail with big poofy bangs.

The ward we sang in happened to be Thayne's ward, I had no idea who he was.

This is the conversation on his bench...

Thayne to his sister: who is the girl in the pink dress?

Thayne's sister: that is one of the Poppleton girls

Thayne: I bet you I will date her.

That night Thayne called me asking me on a date to Disneyland in 2 weeks.

I said yes!

A few days later because he figured he didn't want to wait 2 weeks he called and asked me out for Friday night. So we went out Friday night and ....

It was the worst date ever for both of us.

I was trying to figure out how to get out of the Disneyland date for the next week. Since my sister was doubling with us on the Disneyland date I decided to go. Thayne and I had a blast and dated for 5 month until Thayne left on his mission.

We dated for 6 weeks after his mission.

(Magic Mountain date)

We got engaged 6 weeks after he got home from his mission.

(we didn't even try to match, scary we matched that well)

We got married 5 months after that.

and 17 years later today, I couldn't be more in love with him.

Eagle update

This is for all my family who live far away and anyone else who cares for my weekly EAGLES update. Remember he is #70 black uniform.

I am glad to say Wyatt was 2 ounces under weight today. He decided to skip dinner last night and breakfast today. It sounds kinda sad but it certainly helped his game because he did fantastic. Ok I am his mom saying this, but I will be the first to say if he did crappy. Today they played him in a totally new position that he really hadn't practiced and viola it was a perfect fit for him. Don't ask me what position it was because I have no idea. He did get an awesome interception and took the ball and ran his little heart out. Again I can't tell you how far he ran with the ball, I am sure it was like 15 yards or something but it seem like alot. I will have to ask Thayne how far it was, all I know is I was proud of him for being more aggressive this. week. His coaches were high fiving him and that just made him feel really good.

We won 3 touchdowns to 1. Actual score, I don't know because I don't think we got our extra points after one of the touchdowns. So I will go with....

Kickbutt to nothing!

Wyatt's football team has a website that they update all the time. One of the dad's runs it and reports on every game and event for the team. There are a ton of pictures (I gladly help with the photos) and videos and player bios. Anyways he wrote a great write up of yesterdays game, I say that because he mentioned Wyatt several times. Here is the link.

Christmas in September

My newest addition!

I am not sure you will need this, but you certainly will want this in your house this Christmas.

Your drooling aren't you?

I am making these HUGE Santa tags as a kit. This is what the finished product looks like. I am going to go out and find cuter ribbon for my tags.

The kit includes: 22"x 16" Unfinished sanded tag,vinyl lettering

You get to paint it and apply the vinyl yourselves. Ribbon also not included!

Now wouldn't this huge tag look amazing in your home, and even more amazing sitting next to your child's gifts from Santa on Christmas morning?

I am also doing stocking tags which are 6"x 4". I made these for Rachel last year so I am hoping she gets them out soon so I can take a picture.

KINDA CUTE HUH?

You can order the tags at my website LaserFunaddict.com
or if you live in Phoenix area email me at EtchersLaserEng@aol.com

Lemonade Slush

I figured that since I was making myself a lemonade slush to go with my lunch, I would take pictures and share my recipe with everyone else. This is the way we make them at our home. I know summer is almost over but it is not to late to try this with your kids. My kids love it.

1st step-

You will need a blender. Any kind will do.

2nd step & 3rd step

Fill your blender with ice.

All the way full.

Fill your blender with water.

All the way to the top of the ice.

(mine is only 1/2 way because I am only making enough for me)

4th step-

Put in 4 scoops of lemonade powder.

I put in 5 scoops but I like it really tart.

5th step-

Blend your slush.

Make sure you blend it long enough so the powder dissolves.

If you want it thicker add more ice, or thinner add water.

Mine always turns out just right.

Finished product

If you want to drink it on the road do what I do.

Put it in an old drink cup from the convenience store.

Enjoy!

If you are daring try other flavors. Thayne does gatorade slushes during the summer when he is working in the yard. Use your immagination.

spelling issues

I am just writing tonight to say I am so thankful for spell checker. I know my grammar is horrible and I really am ok with it. It may drive everyone else crazy but it gives you something to laugh about. I have just noticed as I blog and then do my spellchecker thingy, that I spell the same words wrong over and over again. For example, the word their. I always spell it thier and the spell checker tells me everyday that it is spelled wrong, I never learn. Also, the word friend. I always get that one wrong too. Maybe it is just an ie ei thing. You see this is something none of you knew about me because spell checker fixes it before you read it. So I am coming clean to say I am not as great of a speller as I claim to be and I have come to be ok with it.

To the person who invented the spell checker, I am forever greatful!

I have already been told the word in red is wrong.

Thank You very much!

I just did spell check and I had to fix the word grammar,

I really think there should be an er at the end!

dinner date disaster

There are those specials moments that parents have when they have kids still at home. You know those times when you get to sneak off and go out with friends and have dinner and fun adult talk. You get to leave your kids at home, and now we don't even need a babysitter we just leave. Last night was supposed to be one of those nights. While sitting at the football game with our friends Trevor and Gena we talked about going to Outback for dinner. It sounded great to me. I just love their stake salad and I have not had one in a while so I was all for it. Later in the day we finalized our plans that we would meet up at 8pm since we had to drop kids off at a stake dance.


The date!

Samantha gave us a list of people we had to take to the dance with her, 2 of them being non-member friends she had invited. We already had a late start and we were running about 10 minutes behind schedule but we figured it would still be fine. As we got to the home of the non-member girls we saw them walking out in tank tops. I rolled down my window and told them they would have to change because they would not be allowed in the dance with a tank top. Ok no biggy right? Well I think we sat there for 10 minutes waiting for the girls to go in and change. Which would be fine except we were keeping our date waiting. We got ahold of our friends and they were already seated and waiting. Ok I felt so bad because we were still about 25 minutes away. We ended up telling them to order and we would reschedule for another time I felt sooooooo bad. I am so glad they are super nice and understanding and we will be going out again soon. This meant we were on our own.

The dinner!

After dropping the kids off at the dance we tried to find a place for us to eat. We like to try new places but really we stink at it. We have yet to have a good experience at a place we just walk in off the street. We saw a new restaurant that just opened by Costco called Arriba. We like Mexican food alot so we decided to give it a try. Well, when you are given a red flag you should just take it and walk out. We didn't.

The disaster!

The second we sat down Thayne pulled a hair out of his menu. Gross! Then when they gave us chips and salsa they serve them on a cute metal tower thing. Thayne looked at it and saw gunk on it from the people who used it before us. Second gross! Here is the kicker.. I order a chimichunga.. First off it was not that great, but when I was halfway through eating it I pulled out a big plank of wood. REALLY! 3rd gross! It was longer than a toothpick and about as thick as 4 toothpicks. It was the weirdest thing ever. That was it for us we were through. After waiting like forever for our horrible waitress to come over, we showed her the wood and she took it back to the kitchen. The manager came and tried to explain it was just a toothpick. NOPE! They didn't charge us for my meal and really now I think about it we should have gotten the whole thing free. We will never go back to Arriba's and they have now been added to the list with Vito & Nick's.

We did end our night on a good note and that is we went to 31 Flavors. We have never had a bad meal there. We went to the church parking lot 30 minutes before the dance got out and we both fell asleep.

To sum it up:
-date went wrong
-bad meal
-great dessert
-a short nap

I think it sounds like a date of a really old couple. We need to revamp our dating life alittle.

The Eagles have landed

Today was the first football game of the season. I just have to say that our team looks sharp. I am not sure about black uniforms in the heat that we have here in Arizona, but they do look so cute.

(Wyatt is #70)

Wyatt is one of the biggest or should I say tallest kids on the team. We hold our breath when he has to weigh in. He can't weigh over 79 pounds in his full uniform. Today he weighed in at 79lbs 4 oz. They still let him play, but we are going to have to cut back on his food the next few weeks. He is the skinniest thing to begin with but he has gone through a growth spurt and has gotten quite tall. He is getting more playing time this year and is having fun. I would like to see him get more aggressive on the field, he is such a softy. Thayne keeps telling him to get out there and make someone cry. I just started telling him what the coaches tell him, and that is to get out there and knock the snot out of someone. I keep telling him that I want to see snot fly! Not really but it sounds tough. I don't always get to sound tough so I try to do it when I can.

I am not sure why I never take pictures of the parents in the stands. All of our games are at 8am. You would think it was not to hot that early in the morning, but we were dying in the stands. I do not think I have sweated that much in a long time. I wish I had pictures to show you so you would believe me but I don't, but it was unbearable. Our parents team shirts are not in yet, but stupid me ordered black for my family. I can't imagine that keeping me any cooler when I get to wear it. Next week I am so sitting under the shades.

I hope next week I have pictures of snot flying.

Oh I almost forgot. ........ We lost 7-0.

The other team scored on us in the 4th quarter.

Friend status

Off the Hook!

for not telling me about my picture....

-Laurie S-

-Valeen-

-Jody-

-Gena-

Letting you all have it!

I'm just that kind of friend!

You know that kind of friend who......

*tells you when you have lipstick on your teeth

*tells you if your hair is all scaddlewhacked

*let's you know if you have gunk in your teeth

*tell you if you sat in schmuck

etc, etc, etc.

You all know what I am talking about, right?

Really all I am looking for is the same in return. That's all, I don't think it is to much to ask at all. Are you wondering where I am going with this? Let me tell you.

There is not one lick a stickin one of you who told me my picture at the top of my blog was cut off. Yep, that is what we are talking about here. On my computer it looked perfectly normal. Then one day I went in and logged on to one of Thayne's old laptops and saw my blog and the picture was cut off. I though it must be the old computer, until Thayne told me it was like that on his computer too. What? Surely if it was like that my friends would have told me. Hmmmm! So I emailed my sister Rachel and asked her if it was cut off on her computer. This is what she said, "oh I have been meaning to tell you that every time I talk to you but keep forgetting". I don't think it is something you forget, it is really a phone call all by itself. You pick up the phone and say "hey just wanted to tell you that the most adorable picture of Jessika at the top of your blog looks slashed, cut off, distorted ".

It really is that easy.

We look out for each other, that's just what we do. I am going to let this one slide, but I am counting on you for the next time. If I pass any of you in the hall at church and my slip is hanging out and you don't tell me,...... we may have problems. Ü

As you can tell I have fixed it, so don't be smart and try telling me now what it looked like last week.

good news for me

Wooooooooosh!

Ok I have been informed by my friend Valeen that I only need a 2 week supply of water. That should be alot easier to do with alot less UGLY blue barrels. I feel alittle bit better.


I also want to say Hurray for Valeen for finally commenting on my blog.

Be prepared

If it is not happening in primary than I will try not to get involved.

That was my new motto for church.

That was until this month.

I am not a relief society kind of person. I have never been in RS and I kinda like it that way. I do my best to attend the activities, but that is just to hang out with my girl friends.

Our stake is having a RS service project right now. They want everyone to get a 2 month supply of water for everyone in their family. Do you know what that means?

These!

It also means a grumpy Thayne. He is not really excited about seeing these barrels sitting around our home. He keeps telling me we have a swimming pool full of water. I am getting into the do it anyways mode! I am thinking one day he will be grateful that I went ahead and filled ugly blue barrels full of water and stored them at our house.

Primary

Is there anyone else out there who is doing a primary program this month? I should really be enjoying this event but I am finding myself just wanting to get it over with. I need a new attitude knocked into me with the whole thing.

Ok Breathe!

I feel better just venting alittle.

The big 16!

How do you wake your 16 year old up on his 16th birthday?

With these....

and this!

at 5 o'clock in the morning too!

We woke up all of our kids except TJ at 5am and then quietly went into TJ's room and flashed the lights on and blew the horn and had about 20 poppers going off all around him. He just kinda looked up and smiled and the first thing he said was....

"you guys are going to clean this up, right?"

He has had a nice quiet birthday just like he wanted. He informed us after school that he ditched and went to Panda for lunch. I guess he thought he couldn't get into trouble on his birthday. I actually think Thayne told him he could when he dropped him off at school. We are taking him to dinner in just a bit and then having cake and presents at home. Not a bang of a birthday but he likes it that way. I told him I was sorry I didn't bring him balloons to school (I never do that anyways), he just laughed and said "ohhhhh I am so glad you didn't do that"! I think he would have died if we did. I am putting up a slide show tonight of him when he was younger. He is such a good kid.

When TJ was a baby he was into and out of everything. When TJ was 6months old he would climb out of his crib, crawl to the top of the stairs, slide down the stairs and crawl into our room. He stopped taking naps at 6 months old too, which was not pleasant. When TJ was a toddler Thayne was putting him to bed and he looked at Thayne and said "why do I have to sleep, it is a waste of time". I am so glad he has changed as a teenager, he now sleeps in. TJ started walking at 9 months old. He was always so active and into everything I just thought I was in for trouble for the next 18 years. I have been pleasantly surprised to see him grow into a very good boy. He is such a treat to have in our home and always tries to make good choices. He is still very active and I like that about him. There are many things that I enjoy about TJ, one of them being his relationship with his dad. Thayne and TJ are great friends and trouble together, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Now we just need to get him to get his EAGLE so he can get that drivers license so I won't have to drive as much.

I just love this kid so much!

The fun stuff

You started it!

Thayne got in from Quebec last night about 8pm. He came in and gave hugs and kisses to everyone and we sent the younger kids to bed. I had a headache I was trying to get rid of so Thayne came in and watched tv with me in our room for alittle bit. TJ was in the other room on the computer. It was getting close to 9 so Thayne decided he needed to go out to his truck and get his bags and bring them in. He went out and as he came back in the house I hear him say "TJ you started it". I sat and listened to see what was going on but my Mrs Kravitz skills were not working. So I got up and went out side and found toilet paper hanging from some trees.

Ha! Pay back!

You see Saturday night when I got home from the talent show, TJ asked if he and some friends could go tee pee some other friends. I told him sure just don't get caught. I guess the word got out, and they came to do pay back. Only Thayne walked out and they took off running. The first thought that came to my mind was, "who tee pee's at 9 o'clock that is so stupid. That is asking to get caught.".

As Thayne and TJ were pulling the toilet paper out of the trees I hear Thayne say. "they are stupid they used good toilet paper". The toilet paper was so strong it just pulled right out of the trees in one piece. Anyone who knows how to tee pee the right way knows you use the cheap stuff so it breaks apart and you can't get it out of the trees. The good part for me was they left so fast they left 5 good rolls still in the plastic bag. That will help me replenish my supply from what TJ took Saturday night.

As I stood outside I just thought to my self,

"now this is what life is supposed to be like when you have a teenager living in the house."

My kids rock

I kinda blew it in the video taping and picture taking department tonight.



For our ward talent show tonight, TJ did not go and did not want to participate. He is very talented but is alot like his father when it comes to getting up and showing your talents. I am still working on the both of them.



Samantha decided to play the guitar and sing a song called "Keep holding on" by Avril Levigne. She did a great job and I was very proud. When she was getting ready to start singing I realized my video camera was in my bag in the bathroom, Grrrr. I did get a picture though. As you can see she is starting a habit of performing without shoes.

Jessika, was having a hard time deciding what to do for a talent. Since she is the best cake maker in our family she decided to contribute her yummy cupcakes to the dessert table. I flaked again and forgot to take a picture. I did manage to get a cupcake for myself and they were delish.

Wyatt had so much football that he waited to the last minute to try to find something to do and decided to just go and watch since he had nothing planned. I will say I was so proud of him. He never once ran out in the hallways with the other kids. He sat on the front row and watched the whole thing and took pictures for me. So tonight his talent was being a well behaved kid. I don't know about everyone else but that has become one of my most favorite talents to enjoy.

I felt bad Thayne missed it but I am sure when he gets home tomorrow I can dress in my fancy costume and show him my dance. Samantha can sing and play the guitar for him, and Jessika can make yummy cupcakes for him. TJ and Wyatt can sit a be good for him, which would make me happy too. Since he is not a huge fan of watching talent shows this is the way he would prefer it anyways.

Fast Forward

I can still remember it well....

*Everyone had to wear black pants with a different color shirt.

*Headbands were a must!

*socks, had to have socks (of course mine had to match my outfit, no white for me)

*Big hair

*we could not forget the sweatbands on the wrist. (really, what was that?)

*a few quick practices and we were good to go.

And we rocked it!

Fast forward 20 years!

*had to have sparkle

*platform shoes a must

*feathered hair

*pink lipstick

*bell bottoms

*and we even had a few quick practices

Not so sure we rocked it but it felt like it!

But we had fun!

Dancing Queens!

Tonight was our wards talent show. Not sure if this is a talent but we had fun laughing at ourselves. Our primary presidency decided to do something fun and this is what my friend Teri came up with for us. Look at Julia in the flower costume behind me, doesn't she just look like she is having a blast. I never thought I would be doing something like this again at my age but I think I still have a little bit still in me to do it again in 10 years. Wyatt took these pictures, not bad for a 9 year old. I am sure Julia will have some fun pictures up on her blog too.

There is nothing that will make you feel more young than doing crazy things with a bunch of girlfriends.

Tonight I felt young!