We haven't even had Summer weather-

but we're going back to school?!

Goodness, the Summer went FAST!

Here's to a fabulous year of:

• early, frantic mornings
• lost shoes
• bed head
• stinky, stinky lunch pails to clean out
• every bleed you dry fundraiser available
• thousands of tiny papers/projects coming home

and, drumroll please......

• six whole hours of peace and quiet

Hunting

When we went to Utah last month, the dog slept on the couch. Dog sleeping on the couch= Stephanie's late night-red eyed-never ending search on Craig's List for a replacement. We've already flipped the cushions, that's not an option anymore.

One thing I need to say about Craig's List- people's definition of, 'nice' are verrrry different.
On my hunt for the perfectly priced sofa, I have been led through all kinds of scary postings making me wonder a few things:

1. Why must every picture be taken in terrible lighting?
2. Who ever decided that forrest green was a good color for leather?
3. What makes people think 'comfortable' and 'attractive' are synonomous? If it doesn't work for shoes, it won't work for couches.

It's been a fun journey looking through other people's cast offs... but when it's time to finally buy a couch, it will be new. And then I will make the dog sleep outside.

Days like today help me understand why some species eat their young.

I am still getting the cringe worthy feelings deep in my stomach. I hate those feelings... the ones where I think of something I said or did to embarrass myself. I am sure that most people do not remember the stupid things I say or do, but I seem to hone in on the negative things that are part of a great moment. One event I did ran perfectly smooth except for the fact that one guest wanted their meat more well done. It was so embarrassing. All I could think of was that feeling when I thought of that particular event. Otherwise, the clients loved the food, raved about it and gave a hefty tip to show their gratitude. It's so hard for me to think of mistakes I've made without being super hard on myself.

Today I have been uncomfortable with those cringes. Kaitlin has a friend from preschool and swim that came over with her mom for the first time. We have been friends for over three years and I was very excited about their visit. I spent lots of time planning a great lunch and my friend brought a tie dye kit. We had a great time until it was time for them to go home. The girls went outside to play while we talked and shared some great laughs. My friend put her younger daughter in the car as I went to get the girls. They were nowhere to be found. Hmmm... I looked in the trailer behind the house and didn't see them. I looked in the backyard and couldn't find them. In fact, we couldn't find the girls anywhere. My friend was starting to get worried, so I yelled out for Kaitlin with no response. We live on 40 acres in the middle of nowhere. There is no way someone could have taken them. However, my mind wandered there sometimes in the forty minutes we spent thus far looking for them. The neighbor kids were enlisted in the search. I screamed for the girls until I was hoarse and my friend was in near hysterics. How would you feel if you visited somewhere for the first time and lost your child in an expansive wilderness?! We stopped to say a prayer. Jimmy came home to help look. It was getting to the point we were all in tears. When the searching hit 50 minutes, one of the neighbor boys saw our girls. I ran to them very concerned. They were playing hide and seek. I said to Kaitlin in a near yell, "Didn't you hear us calling for you?!" She responded with, "Yes, mom, but we were hiding."

ARGH!!!! Does this child not know when the crazy mommy voice comes out?!?! Because that is what I was using when I was calling out for the girls! Fortunately they're safe.... but I am still cringing. And good luck with my friend ever coming back to visit.

A Rose by any other name...

I have so many nick names for Kaitlin. I never really noticed how many things I called her until one of her cousins heard me call Kaitlin, "Bubba". The cousin looked perplexed and said, "Why do you call Kaitlin 'Bubba'?" Hmmm... I don't know the answer to that. I do know that is only the tip of the iceberg, though. Here are Kaitlin's many names:

Kate

Katie

Ramona

Bubba

Bub

Little Bit

Little Bean

Kidlicious

Little Miss

Sweetums

Precious

Presh

Sweetie Pie

Burrito

Baby

Baby Girl

Precious Little

Kitty

The Girl

Little Ham

The funny thing is, each one is said in a specific way/voice and some are in a specific setting. For example: Little Bean is said when I am opening the door for Kaitlin. I always say, "Hop in, Little Bean!" I don't know how it started, but I seem to say it automatically now.

What names do you use for your kids?

Submitting myself to torture...

...of the cheesy, overly dramatic type.


After a hiatus from Beverly Hills 90210, I decided to start the seasons from Netflix where I left off. I cannot get over the terrible music, hair, acting. I cringe during every single episode. Why do I continue to torture myself, you ask?! Because I wasn't allowed to watch it as a kid. The rebellion is just manifesting itself years later. Darn peer pressure...


*p.s. I am still in love with Dylan McKay, he's a stud.

Joys of Summer

Goodness, has it been awhile. I know you missed me! Our Summer has flown by faster than a jack rabbit on a date (gotta love the obscure movie quote-name that movie!). With all the many experiences and visits I have truly felt what it's like to be blessed. Enough mushy stuff... I've had a tear jerker video on the top post for ages! So, on to a fun story- one plucked from the many fun times we had this year. Our family went to Utah to attend a blessing for my newest niece. We had a great time. What a joy it was to see all the cousins together with their different personalities. All the girls loved playing together. Rebekah threw every ball in sight. Baby Gunnar was a gentle giant of a baby.

It was so fun to meet with my sister in law's family and enjoy the company. In the basement of their home, there is an awesome den with vintage board game deco and a real live Jelly Belly machine- if Kaitlin had an income, it would've all been spent one bean at a time...

As Kaitlin, Courtney and I were downstairs milking some more beans from the machine, we heard, "thump, thump, thump, CRACK!" coming down the stairs. All I could think of was how we would revive whatever child just rolled down the stairs. My first aid training came rushing back to me. I just wish it had come back in accuracy. The good news is that when I rounded the corner to see which child would suffer my lack of first aid skills, we saw a large, juicy watermelon smashed into bits. I peered up the stairs and saw Rebekah standing at the top of the stairs pointing with a sweet declaration, "ball". Once it dawned on me that there was no child in need of faulty first aid, I turned, looked at Courtney for a social queue. You see, it was her house. Was I to peal into hysterics like I wanted, even though there was sticky watermelon guts on her very beautiful carpet? Or, was I to look at dismay at a total mess? Luckily, Courtney I seemed to share the laugh at everything gene and we burst out in laughter that brought sweet tears.

Now, that's the kind of memory I like to take away from a family get together...