Wk 1 and a Few Confessions

• We survived the first week of Big Daddy's current deployment. Here are a few of the highlights. . .

Picture Credit

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  So, as you can see from the picture above, I think I might be the one who leaves the toilet paper roll empty. Sorry, Big Daddy, I have blamed you plenty in the past.


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  Miss Priss announced proudly as we were leaving the airport: "If Daddy dies, we will be fine." She was very matter of fact about it and wasn't upset at all.


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  Things that have broken this week: the master bathroom sink stopper, Big Daddy's drivers window won't go down, and the second scrubbing bubbles automatic shower sprayer (I keep killing them - not sure how but if it makes a sound like an elephant trumpeting underwater, it will stop working in less than 48 hours)


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  We have had one adult chicken die. Not sure why. . . Three of the 6 baby chicks we transfered over to the big coop also died - I'm sure that was the pecking order.


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  The roof on the house is finished! Yay!! I about went bonkers with all the pounding. Now the only thing left is to paint the rest of the vents.


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  I officially joined the gym and have had good sore muscles and I'm liking it. I still prefer my old gym but distance makes it impossible to go.


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  I've opened Big Daddy's deodorant and smelled it twice. I miss his smell. Not the Ooh, honey I just got done working out give me a big ol' hug smell but his nice clean smell.


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  Made a great recipe for dinner this past week : Mango Chicken Rice it was super yummy and a keeper recipe for our family


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  Diva got her progress report and all looks good 6 A's and a B


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  Cowgirl has a for sure contagious laugh. She starts to giggle and in no time others have joined in.


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  I've enjoyed a few solid cadbury chocolate eggs with the pastel coating on them. Thank you Walgreens for marking down the individual packs in your after Easter sale to $0.18 each. I'm praying the 5 bags I bought last a while (remember they are tiny bags). I do love chocolate!


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  On Sunday, we played a game in senior primary where we sang some opera and silly monster voices. I LOVE singing opera style and the kids love it too. My silly monster voice was a ridiculously high squeaky voice and the kids were laughing so hard. I do enjoy my calling!


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  Drama Queen was wanting to test out the Lord by asking Him multiple times the same question hoping He would change his answer for her. She has since talked to me and says she doesn't think it would be a good idea to test the Lord like Joseph did when Martin Harris wanted to take the 116 pages of translated materials. Thank goodness the girl must have thought about it on her own.


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  I've slept with all the lights out! That's a biggie for me.

Spring Family Pics

Big Daddy & Little Mama

Kissing! Love Miss Priss' face. Climbing trees makes taking pics more fun!

Family. . . isn't it about time.

A big BIG thanks to Dee Miller for being our photographer!

Let it Snow

Picture Credit

Lots happening around here. Well, it seems like a lot but it really isn't.

Monday evening, we had a cold front move into our little Patch of Heaven. We had a temperature swing of about 60 degrees. Chilly I must say! The cold front brought with it winds -- high winds. High winds lifted some of our shingles and even blew some of them off our wonderful house. Now I don't know about you guys but we often say in our prayers we are thankful for the shelter our home provides us - and yes, we are still thankful but a little bummed. We had Mr. K's (Diva's boyfriend) dad - isn't it great to have connections - come and do the temporary fix on the roof. He is thinking the whole roof will need replacing. Yikes! So, the insurance adjuster is coming today to give us his opinion. Please pray for us!!!! Having the insurance cover the necessary fixes will be a huge blessing.

And the praying continues. . . all my girls are praying for snow. The weather man hinted at it about a week ago and since then, that's all we hear about. Miss Priss informed us she needs snow boots! Yep, for the freak once every 5 years snow storm. I told her we would get her some new rain boots and that would have to work. The weather man is still predicting snow for later today. Cowgirl said she would build the biggest snowman our family has ever built. I hate to be the one to inform her we will likely only see a dusting. I hope for her we get enough to create at least a mini snowman.

There have already been some alterations to the menu for this week. We didn't do beef stroganoff last night because of the rolling black-outs. I wasn't sure if we would have power and sure enough during the time we were gone for supper, we had another outage. I'm hoping we don't have those outages all day again today. We ended up getting burgers from a super yummy burger joint up in the big city. Yes, a little bit of a drive but SO worth it last night. Oh, and tonights supper plans have changed too - it still needs to be somewhat soft since the three older girls are all getting there braces tightened this afternoon - so, we will be having beef stew and some homemade yummy bread. With the temps outside not planning on getting very warm today, I figured the stew would be super yummy.

Oh, and in exciting news, we are planning our summer vacation! Guess where we are going! No matter what happens with the roof we are going - we haven't gone on a vacay for over a year and I'm going stir crazy!

1/31 - 2/6

Monday 1/31 - Ravioli Chicken Not-sangna

Tuesday 2/1 - Corn Chowder in Bread Bowls

Wednesday 2/2 - Beef Stroganoff

Thursday 2/3 - Peanut Butter Pancakes & Eggs

Friday 2/4 - Meatball Pizza

Saturday 2/5 - Concert & Fair Food

Sunday 2/6 - Chicken & Dumplings

I'm gonna start posting more of my recipes. I'll link them up once I enter them in.

This week is a little busy but not too bad. All the girls have dental appointments today. So far, Miss Priss had a perfect check up! Yay for her! We were told by the dentist to plan on braces for her in about 2 years. Yep, I knew that would happen.

Wednesday night for Activity Days we are going to be learning how to make bread. We will supply the bread for our next sacrament meeting which will be the 13th of February since we have stake conference this next weekend. I'm really looking forward to it. I hope the girls learn something new and fun.

I'll be posting more later. . . I've gotten pretty bad at not blogging. . . guess that's what happens when life is busy. . .

Just One Good One. . .

Nana Banana was nice enough to offer to take a family portrait for us in front of the tree on Christmas Eve. It's always fun to do family pictures. We say off the wall comments just to make us smile. One of our favorites is "Daddy wears pantyhose." (don't worry Big Daddy would never do that) Another way to get us going is to do a little fanny pinching and squeezing.

One of the first shots. Notice Miss Priss is spinning around to find out WHO touched her. Cowgirl is protecting her backside. Big Daddy is checking to see if his aim is right and Little Mama is protecting her backside too.

Now it's Drama Queen's turn to mix it up and do a famous dance move trying to squirm away from fanny pinches. Miss Priss is protecting her assets. Diva is making sure she can be seen while Cowgirl obviously has her hand covering her hiney.

Great smiles in this one. Cowgirl caught her attacker! Miss Priss is tired of smiling and protecting her hind-end. Drama Queen's face is saying, "Enough Already!"

Finally, a good shot. . . for the most part!

Couldn't skip putting one if of just the girls. They are all so beautiful and full of energy. Such a delight to have kids at Christmas time.

We Made Them Look!

Don't you just love Miss Priss's slumped shoulders??

Thanksgiving Alien

Miss Priss came home from school on Monday wearing this new "hat." She quickly and proudly announced she was an "Alien." I'm sure she had rehearsed in her head several times exactly what she would say when she burst through the front door. I laughed, Big Daddy laughed and so did Miss Priss when she realized she was trying to tell us she was an Indian.

My Baby is Tri-Lingual

Yes! You heard it first here. Miss Priss is Tri-Lingual. Guess she follows in Big Daddy's footsteps.

We were sitting at the doctors office yesterday and she looks at me and says, "I know how to clap in Spanish." I smile and say, "Oh, you do?" She proceeds to hold up both her hands and shakes them twisting at the wrist - making no noise at all. She's beaming! I tell her, "That's how you clap in sign language." "Oh, then I know how to clap in Spanish too," she says. She then claps her hands. "Mom, I'm smart." "Yes, Miss Priss you are." Now, I am smiling ear to ear because this is just too funny. I couldn't pop her bubble! She was quite proud of herself.

It's TOO Quiet In There

The other day the girls and I were watching a movie. Miss Priss lost interest and wandered off to play in her room. She hadn't been gone long - maybe 15-20 minutes. I had heard her playing school or something like that. Then, I noticed the lack of noise. I went to check on her and this is what I found.She had gotten her blanket and all. So, I left her - yes, I let her sleep there. It was the weekend. First thing in the morning, Miss Priss found me and started explaining that she didn't know how she got on the floor but when she woke up in the morning, there she was right by the toy box. So, I got in my bed so no one would think I was weird. I just laughed since we had all already seen her and even got a picture of it. I adore Miss Priss - her stories are always so engaging too.

Halloween

This year Halloween was insanely crazy for me. I was incharge of the ward's trunk or treat party. We had a carnival inside - a blast. Being so busy, I failed to get real pictures of the girls in their costumes. Diva had her picture taken during homecoming week - but wore the same thing for the party. Sorry about the terrible pictures. . .

Miss Priss was a fairy and Cowgirl was a southern belle. Man I wish I would have gotten better pics. They all looked great!

Drama Queen dressed up as a snazzy cowgirl. (confusing - Cowgirl was a southern belle and Drama Queen was a cowgirl)

Diva was nerd. Man she can rock that costume!

Christmas Wishes

They are just wishes, right?


Miss Priss's Christmas Wish List:

• Toy Puppy



• 2 front teeth or maybe some of these



• Nursery play set



• Unicorn Pillow Pet



• Zebra Zhu Zhu Pet



• Fun Keychain with keys wants to clip it to her bag



• Frisbee



• Teeter Totter - Big Daddy and I are willing to build this



• 3 Barbies



• Barbie Accessories

Drama Queen's Christmas Wish List:

• Locket



• 2 Barbies



• Charm Bracelet



• Doll House



• Lots of Play Money - some of these and these and don't forget this too



• Razor Scooter



• Mighty Beanz



• Purse



• Play Cell Phone (not that she doesn't already have several)



• Puppy Pillow Pet

Cowgirl's Christmas Wish List

• laptop computer



• One of these



• Cell phone (she has to share with Drama Queen and wants her own)



• Big Digital Camera



• Zhu Zhu Pet - Stinker



• Digital picture frame



• RC Pet



• Baby doll


• Wood Carving Kit


• Volleyball Set
  

Diva's Christmas Wish List:

• Make-up (she's only wearing lip stuff so far)


• CD's - this & this & this


• Lots of Gel and Glitter Pens


• Dangle Earrings - (if you can find sets with three earings this would be awesome since she loses only one earring regularly)


• More of these


• Oragami Paper & Book


• I-pod Green Please


• Flatscreen TV


• Wii Games she really wants this one


• Curling Iron or curlers

Big Daddy's Christmas Wish List:

• Flatscreen TV - The biggest one there is


• Blue Ray Player


• Tractor with shredder and discs


• 16-18 inch Chainsaw


• Power tools like this it's what he REALLY wants or this too


• Wii Games for the Family (4 players please) like this


• Storage Building


• One of these for the whole family


• Guarana the drink not the supplement


• Nativity - unique not ugly
  

Little Mama's Christmas Wish List:

• 20 pallets of this


• A Gator


• Laptop Computer


• One of these


• 6qt Kitchenaid Mixer - mine needs some serious repairs I've used it to death


• Peafowl


• Subscription to this, this, or this


• Cricut Machine


• Egg scale or Egg Basket size medium please


• A Gift Card Here

Monday's Potluck

On Monday, I hosted the first MMC Luncheon. That would be for any who want to be part of the Mean Mom Club. Has your kiddo ever told you you are mean. Do you feel mean when you have to say no? Do you plan on being a mean mom when you have kids? Then you too could be a member of this "club." Really we aren't "mean" we are just COURAGEOUS parents. I had a pretty good turn out for such short notice of the luncheon.

I had the younger girls, Drama Queen and Miss Priss, make sure their room was nice and tidy so that if any moms with young kiddos came, they could play in their room. When I went to check on it, this sign was posted on the closet door. They put "special" things in the closet they didn't want other kids to play with.
Practically everyone who came was from church. I did invite a friend from down the street and since she is a non-member, I also invited the Sister Missionaries, Sister Thomas and Sister Day. The kids that were visiting found these dress up items left over from seeing Disney on Ice. Don't these ladies look wonderful?

Sister Thomas is sporting the Syndrome hat and Sister Day is sporting the Dash hat (both are from the Incredibles). Notice Sister Thomas is still wearing her shades? She rarely takes them off. And Sister Day has told stories that she was one of the "blondes" back home. I told her I didn't think blonde was really her color - or at least not this shade of blonde.

Fashionista and More

Miss Priss likes to be fashionable. She's 6 and really doesn't have a clue! I cringe at times but I have to let her do it. Here's a recent example.

We ended up doing a picture of everyone because the other girls were laughing about her choice of clothing. She was aggitate so we did a big picture. That's everyone and the dogs too.

Well, today was no different. She came out wearing this. The other girls no longer laugh, they just look down and shake their heads. I'm sure they are embarrassed to get on the bus with her. I'm telling you this is a regular occurance. This is what I have decided to do. I had a friend a few years ago who said if the child likes what they are wearing, it's not going to hurt anything. So, I let her wear what makes her feel good. It's hard and I feel like it's a type of abuse to send her out the door like this. I love her sense of style - it's unique!So she wouldn't catch on, we took pictures of everyone today.

Here is Drama Queen sporting her new Brasil Jersey. Don't you love it Big Daddy? She says it's super comfy.Here's a picture of Cowgirl showing her leg off. If she were hitch hiking, I'd pull over and pick her up. She's been a good sport about wearing her brace even though it's hot and a bit uncomfortable. She's taking meds and taking it easy for now.And last but not least, Diva. Do you see the countdown? I think there are only 37 days left to go.

Yipee!!!!!Diva was reading to the girls before school. Yet another angle on our in house fashionista's style. Do you see the low fun bun hair do? And the socks, I do see how they match. I just shake my head.

Nothing Has Changed

When Miss Priss was a baby, she would sleep anywhere. As a toddler, she would fall asleep in the strangest positions. Well, apparently, nothing has changed.The other night Diva has a special fireside with John Bytheway as the speaker. The fireside was Friday night and about an hour and a half away. I checked Diva out from school early to help her get beautiful and dressed up and fed before having to meet the others to carpool to the fireside. So, it was a long day. Diva's fireside ended late and we picked her up at about 9:45. When we got home, Miss Priss walked through the laundry room and crashed on the floor at the first sight of carpet. She literally just fell to the floor and slept. We let her be for just a little bit, snapped some pictures and then I carried her off to bed. She a sweet little one. Nothing has changed.

Fun Day at the "Pumpkin Patch"

I've asked in the past - why do we do this? And, we smile?! I think secretly everyone knows I like them.

Obligatory picture before we went in. You know, you may never find your way out!

Our choice in maps. We took the SUPER EASY one so the kids could answer correctly. Again, secretly I was afraid of the maze, I'm not so good with directions when all I have to rely on is the sun or moon.

Picture of the girls IN the maze. Doesn't Miss Priss look thrilled? They were troopers and stayed together quite well. We did get "lost" a few times. We made it though.

Drama Queen trying her hand at the corn cannon. I didn't whip out the camera until she was the only one left to shoot. If you hit the target you got a small bag of kettle corn. Little Mama hit the target and boy was that kettle corn yummy. We wanted to get more but you had to stand in a terribly long line, place your order and then wait 30-45 minutes for more kettle corn. The poor young men and women running that booth simply couldn't keep up with all the demand. It was probably the BEST kettle corn I've had since the street markets in California.

Miss Priss's fall portrait. Yes, it was humid and hot and windy. Miss Priss was trying to smile and this was the best she could do. Right after this picture she started complaining her lips were hurting. Poor thing her lips were chapped.

Drama Queen sittin' pretty with a fall pumpkin.

All my gorgeous girls!

Drama Queen Fall Portrait

All my beautiful girls again.

Cowgirl's Fall Portrait - I love the smile on this girls face! Her whole body is smiling! Can you see it too?

The girls loved the "Cow-ch."

Diva's Fall Portrait

So, one of the biggest things we were looking forward to was the pumpkin patch. Little Mama had called in advance and spoken to someone at the farm about the pumpkin patch. She assured me that the kids would love it and get to wander around a select their choice of pumpkin. When we arrived at the field, there was little selection. We did not get a single pumpkin. We got back on the hay wagon to ride back to the main maze and saw something wonderful. More pumpkins! You see - this is apparently how pumpkins "grow" in our part of the country.

The pumpkins "grow" in these special containers. Do you see how bare the field was? Some wonderful farm hands help to distribute the "fresh grown" pumpkins for you enjoyment.

Gentle boys! These are "fresh grown."

The girls all followed the tractor around like deer follow a feed truck on the hunting ranches. It was pretty funny!

Drama Queen had found an itty bitty baby pumpkin.

Miss Priss selected her small pumpkin and was found with the chapstick out a lot. Good thing I'm a smart mama and keep one in my pocket all the time.

Drama Queen with her selection.

Diva and I saw lots of people carrying around two pumpkins at a time just like this. Didn't they know they looked ri-donk-u-lous? We think this picture is funny!

Cowgirl and her prized pumpkin.

Drama Queen on the hayride.

This is one of the pictures I took on Saturday that I really liked.

We had a blast and will probably return next year too. However, we are still searching for a REAL pumpkin patch.