Life is a Pitch

3 losses

2012-02-11T16:23:00.000-08:00

Bradley is back to playing church basketball and had a game this morning at 9:00. His team won. It was a blow out game. Bradley got a tiny bit of playing time, but did well while he was in. I got to run the score board. I didn't get any pictures.

Then we went over to the soccer fields. Both boys had games at 12:30. I coach Andrew's team, so I didn't get to see Bradley's game. They lost 2-1, but Bradley got an assist on his team's goal. Bradley doesn't do well losing, so on the LONG walk over to Andrew's basketball game, all I heard was complaining....not a fun walk.
Andrew's game was weird. Our team went down and scored, then scored again, reallllly quick. I didn't want the game to be a blowout, so I switched the guy who had scored both of the goals and made him our goalie. Well, I guess coach's decisions CAN determine the out come of games, because we ended up losing 5-2. We never scored again....so much for worrying about winning in a blow out game. We pretty much lost in a blow out game. And I was very frustrated because the other team had ONLY ONE good player and my guys kept kicking it to him, they couldn't keep the ball away from that kid, and that kid ran everywhere. He's the one who beat us....he scored 4 of their 5 goals. And it was frustrating because the other coach NEVER took him out even though he had subs. He didn't try to avoid a blow out....he cheered loudly every one of their goals. When Andrew left at half time to go to his basketball game, we had to play the rest of the game with 8 players and they got tired. I wish that other coach, with his two subs, would have played down to 8....but I guess by u12's the philosophy is "win at all costs".

Then, after our game was over, we went over to see the end of Andrew's basketball game. I couldn't tell from the four minutes I watched, but Melanee told me that she thought the score was 39-4. Talk about a "blow out". So, basically it was a day of losing for the Guymon family athletes. To cheer everyone up Scott took us all out to lunch at La Comida. YUMMMMM!

the nightly news

2012-02-09T22:27:00.000-08:00

Last night we watched the news....well, just the start of it and just because it came on after a show we were watching and no one found the remote or got up to turn it off or change it.

The first story was about the guy who killed his kids and blew up his house. The second story was about the teenager who killed a neighbor kid to see what killing was like and she enjoyed it. Then the newscaster guy gave the viewers a warning to turn away or turn off the tv because the next story was very disturbing.....the story was about a guy who hit a dog with a golf club. Yeah, that is disturbing....but is it really MORE disturbing than the first two stories about deaths, horrible, MURDERS of HUMANS. ?????

Kip

2012-02-07T10:54:00.001-08:00

This is Scott in 1989, doesn't he look like Kip from "Napoleon Dynamite"??????

LOST

2012-02-07T09:30:00.000-08:00

Melanee, Bradley, and Andrew have been watching the series "Lost" on Netflix. It's good for them to spend time together and when they are doing it they dont fight, so I haven't actually been encouraging hours on end of tv watching, but I havent forbidden it either, I enjoy the peace and quiet when they are watching!!!!!

more Trampoline fun

2012-02-07T09:26:00.000-08:00

This picture was also in my camera and Andrew thought it was pretty cool.....looks like a back flip!

sliver removal

2012-02-07T09:21:00.000-08:00

If you had a TINY sliver in your right hand, and couldnt remove it yourself because you're right handed and because the thumb on your left hand was injured, would you ask your husband to help you remove the sliver????
I did, and this is what he brought for me to use----

Wouldn't these have been a better tool for a microscopic sized sliver???

Fear Factor

2012-02-07T09:03:00.000-08:00

I have NEVER wanted to be on the show Fear Factor. NEVER. (The show is about people doing scary things like jumping off buildings, getting out of a locked box under water, eating disgusting things.) The height and underwater things would scare me a bit, but I think I would do them for a million dollars, but I dont think I could ever eat a roach, the insides of a snake, or maggots! EWWWWWW.

Then last night. I had one of the grossest experiences of my life. I went in the bathroom. Grabbed my toothbrush. Rinsed it off like I always do. In fact, I rinsed with hot water and for longer than I usually do because people in this house are sick and I wanted to be sure to kill any germs off my tooth brush. Then I put on the paste and proceeded to brush. I felt a chunk of food in my mouth. I do have a place in my teeth where food gets stuck, but it felt weird to brush with solid feeling stuff in my mouth, so I stopped to spit it out, thinking it was just meat from dinner......and what I spit out was NOT MEAT FROM DINNER....it was a MAGGOT. And there was another still in my mouth. AHHHHHHHHHHHHH. GROSS! I walked over to the sink, counter area and they were EVERYWHERE....hundreds of them....(or maybe 50)....still gross, nonetheless. I cleaned them up with Clorox wipes AND flushed them down the toilet. And I threw my toothbrush AWAY. My mouth will NEVER be the same! I at Rice Checks for breakfast and they seemed to have the same texture as maggots. I wish I didnt even know what maggot texture was! But I'm afraid that everything today will have maggot texture! I'm scarred (and scared) for LIFE!

I bet I could win Fear Factor now! I have EXPERIENCE!

Youth Goose Hunt

2012-02-05T18:04:00.000-08:00

Yep, Bradley shot all of those himself! He was sooooo happy. And we had a yummy goose dinner tonight! Freezer is stuffed full!

Grandparents

2012-02-04T22:13:00.000-08:00

This is my dad's dad....looks like I need to re-scan it. He loved to garden, so it's so cool that we have one photo of him and he is gardening in it!

These are my mom's parents. I didn't even know this photo existed, and I LOVE it, so had to share it on my blog. I had some really neat grandparents! My grandpa could wiggle his ears and we called my grandma a "worry wart". Loved them!

hula girl

2012-02-04T22:09:00.000-08:00

Andrew is doing a Family Tree project for his class, so my dad gave me some pictures he had in a drawer and in an old collage frame....this was one of them....me!!!! It was taken when I was 4, maybe 3, because this was the house we lived in up until I was 4. I think my parents must have went to Hawaii and brought me back this grass skirt, lei, and flower for my hair! I even remember having and wearing that grass skirt! Thanks for the Hawaiian costume, dad, and thanks for the photo.

"Let's Bounce"

2012-02-04T17:34:00.000-08:00

Andrew loves to play on the trampoline and especially likes to have someone, ANYONE, out there to jump with him....the funny thing, though is that he doesn't say, "Let's go jump on the trampoline"....he says "Let's go bounce" or "do you want to go bounce with me".

Well, he finally got me out there with him today....and Melanee came out with the camera....this picture looks like something is happening, but let me tell you, I did NOT purposely punch Andrew is the nose, it just happened while I was out of control bouncing!

4th grade basketball

2012-02-04T17:29:00.000-08:00

They call it "basketball" but 4th grade basketball is really a ery different game than the basketball they play in the NBA. Andrew loves it though, so that's all that matters! He's pretty good, too! I think the score today was 20-18, and by my count Andrew scored 10 of those points! Good Job, kid!

Sharks Dads

2012-02-04T17:25:00.000-08:00

The Sharks dads got to go on the road trip with their sons to Phoenix. They look happy to be there. I bet they REALLY hope the team wins, that would make more chance of them getting invited back next year. Aren't they cute? I think there should be a "mom trip" sometime soon!

*none of these dads even look athletic

Ashland Oregon

2012-02-01T23:02:00.001-08:00

Bradley's 6th grade class is going on a field trip in May to Ashland Oregon. They are going to see some plays, go to some museums, and go on a day long hike. They will be gone for 3 days. It sounds like it will be tons of fun. But it is expensive, so they will be having fun raisers over the next few months, so if you need your car washed, want to go to Jamba Juice, need any plants, or just want to hire Bradley to mow your lawn I'll be posting on here fundraising information. ($178 per child is what they are hoping to earn!!!!!!!!!!)

my soccer team

2012-02-01T22:55:00.000-08:00

Just in case you were wondering....i LOVE my soccer team so far this season! We have only had two practices, but I think the little guys are great. I don't have any special needs kids (had two last season....I don't have anything against special needs kids, but I had TWO....and they were not easy to coach). I don't have any parents who are actively trying to take over. I have ADORABLE kids...one tiny guy with curly hair who is FAST. Two kids who asked if practice could be longer or if we could have more practices. I have one who can not WAIT for the first game. There is a kid who comes to practice fully dressed in his uniform. One of the kid brought me NEW cones and said I can keep them! So far, it's been F U N. Andrew is even having fun. That's the important part, the kids having fun. Woo Hoo!

Melanee's new car

2012-01-31T19:30:00.000-08:00

Melanee got a new car....well a 1987 car, but it's new to her. It's a Honda civic two door hatchback. It has 125,000 miles on it. It works great....well, after it's warmed up. Only bad part is Melanee can't drive it, she doesn't have insurance and it's not registered, but Scott and I can drive it, she's so jealous...haha....you think it will make it to Texas????

Let's Dance for Kids

2012-01-31T19:26:00.001-08:00

For Family Home Evening yesterday we played wii. First we did "Let's Dance" (Kids version) then we played Mario Cart. I don't think I won any of the games. It was so fun that we played Lets Dance again tonight....this time we closed the curtains. I wasn't sore this morning from the work out, guess I should be dancing harder, haha! Lucky for YOU I didn't get any video of the FUN!

Andrew Basketball

2012-01-31T19:24:00.000-08:00

Andrew is in the blue. He's pretty tall. He usually gets the rebounds.

Remember during flag football, I tried to do a photo after each game...I just remembered to do that (it was the 5th game). But Andrew's smile is just way too fake here! Oh well, love him anyway!!!

TV

2012-01-31T19:13:00.000-08:00

As you probably know my most favorite, neeeeeeed to watch, never miss, tv time are the Sharks games. But there are a few other shows that I really enjoy; they are: Revenge, Once Upon a Time, Switched at Birth, and Pan Am. I watch them all on Hulu a few days after they are shown on tv. This way I can enjoy them alone, with ear phones on (so that I can hear better), and I can pause and go back if I ever need to. They are all pretty good shows, with good stories and good acting. Revenge is one I wouldn't watch with my kids (or Scott) around (adult themes). Once Upon a Time is just GREAT, I wish they would watch it with me, it is SO good. Switched at Birth is probably made for teenagers, but I really enjoy the twists and turns and the deaf storyline. And Pan Am is enjoyable for its travel, its 60's setting, and there is also a spy type storyline going on along with all the love drama. Maybe another reason I watch these all on Hulu is because I CANT miss the Sharks games, even for favorite tv shows.

Tuesday

2012-01-24T09:23:00.000-08:00

It's Tuesday morning. I'm home alone for another 30 minutes. Should I clean house. Do the things on my TO DO list. Should I take a shower. Ummmm, laundry!!!! Nah, I'm going to blog (then get to those other things.)

I still CAN NOT believe William is going to FRANCE. The past two missionaries to leave from our ward went to Washington state and New York. Two of the kids friends went to Montana. Another also went to New York. Our nephew is going to Los Angeles. There are a few kids from our stake in Mexico, central, and south America.....but NO ONE from around here gets called to FRANCE! PARIS FRANCE. And it's still so funny to me that I guessed it, that I had a feeling that's where he would be going.

When I was in high school I took French class. I did not learn A THING. When Melanee was in high school, she also took French. I remembered my experience and thought, you are never going to use this for ANYTHING, but let her take the class anyway. She did not learn A THING. In fact, when she went to SVU she had an option of testing out of foreign language or taking 2 years of foreign language....she opted for the two years....she took SPANISH! haha. When William registered for high school classes, he also took FRENCH. French, what an odd language for someone is CALIFORNIA to take??!!!???? Right? Well, I think he will be glad now that he know a little about the country, the language, the culture....because he will be living there for TWO YEARS. Two years! THAT is a long time. It's not like a vacation....two years....he will have to do everything in French...including TEACHING French people! It will not be like the Hmong missionaries here in Chico, who speak English for at least half of their dealings with people.....EVERYTHING will be done there in French---church, conferences, meetings, everyday life.

I cant wait to get his letters and hopefully pictures. I've never been to France. (I have never been out of the country, unless you count the time we walked into Mexico so Scott could try to barter to get a cheap blanket.)

This whole William going on a mission thing is something he has been getting ready for all of his life, but WOW it seems to have snuck up on me FAST. I'm glad he got to go to that semester at SVU first. It would be hard for him to just go away on his mission straight from high school, well, hard for ME, he would have done fine!

Soccer season starts tomorrow. I am coaching Andrew's team. We are the Sharks. Isn't that a cool team name!!???? haha! It's my second time coaching the Sharks, do you think the league pres KNOWS that I am a HUGE Sharks fan, yes? Andrew is still in basketball and scouts. Bradley is also playing soccer. He will have soccer, scouts, and church basketball, too. Busy kids! Busy mom!!!

The wedding planning is coming along. Melanee keeps wanting to move up the date....but it's really going to be March 24th because the invitations are printed and the temple has been reserved. Visitors are coming from all over the nation, so we really need to begin cleaning our house!!!!! Come on over with a dumpster and paint brush if you want to help!!!!

The San Jose Sharks are driving me batty. I can not understand why they cant just win EVERY game. That's not asking too much is it?

France Paris

2012-01-20T23:54:00.000-08:00

Yesterday William's roommate got his mission call. He had turned in his papers a day before William, so I guess we were thinking that since William didn't get his call yesterday, we'd have to wait until next week. This afternoon, I went out to lunch with my good friend Michelle. I wasn't home when the mail man came. But Scott and Melanee were home. They got the mail. And guess what was in it???? A BIG WHITE ENVELOPE. THE BIG WHITE ENVELOPE.

look at that SMILE! (taken after getting his call to serve)

Scott had to go back to work, I had a meeting at the school, and William wasn't home from work yet, so THEY decided to open it at 6 our time, 7 William's time. (William is in Utah working.)

If it would have been my decision, I would have skipped the meeting, Scott wouldn't have went back to work, and William would hurry home and we'd open the call THEN. But everyone else is more patient than me, so we did their plan.

Scott even hid the call from me so that I wouldn't open it and peek.

Before the 6 oclock meeting time, the bishop called. In talking to him, I invited him over for the unveiling of the mission call. William is his "first" missionary to send out as a Bishop, so he feels really involved. But when Scott got home at 6, the Bishop wasn't here and he wasn't answering his phone. William, at about 5:50, our time, texted me and said that he was going to shave....he felt he needed to for the call opening...haha...I guess.

At 6 when we tried to reach him on Skype there was no answer. By about 10 after 6, our phones all started ringing with people wanting to know where he was going. So on one phone was Scott's parents, another was Robin, our sister in law, and Mark, Scott's brother was on hold. Then the camera would video. Then the other camera wouldn't turn on. UGH...then Bradley and Andrew started getting anxious, then it was chaotic all around.

I wanted a video of the whole event, but it REALLLLLLLY did not turn out like I wanted it to. First off, in the background is our patched wall and our SHOE PILE. I planned on everyone sitting on the OTHER couch, but OH well! And then I videoed US, when I SHOULD have been taping William's reaction.....ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh I'm so mad, I didn't get to see him. But Bradley's reaction is taped and it is PRICELESS.

On the video you can hear me scream out and I REALLLLLLLY hate that part, especially because Bradley, Andrew, Melanee, and Scott have teased me about it (way too much).

A while back William made a Facebook page which asked people to predict where he was going and I picked "Paris" and I was RIGHT!. So funny. I can NOT believe it. There are SO MANY missions in the world! He could have been called anywhere. PARIS FRANCE!

WOW, amazing! Exciting.

He doesn't leave until May 30th and he will first go to the MTC for training and language lessons.

I am proud of William. He will make a great missionary. He is such a wonderful person!

It's here

2012-01-20T15:23:00.000-08:00

It's HERE....somewhere.

William's mission call arrived in the mail today.....I wasn't here to get the mail, ah man....Scott and Melanee got it....and KNEW I'D OPEN IT, so they HID it.

Scott wants to be here when it gets opened....and he had to go back to work, until 6:00....so we have to wait a few more hours to find out where in the world William will be serving the Lord! Woo Hoo. SOOOOOO EXCITING!

Fence Repair

2012-01-15T22:32:00.000-08:00

My dad lives in the first house on a street, so he has one fence that he doesn't share with a neighbor, so when it rots and blows over with a strong wind, he has to repair it himself. Scott has fence building experience and tools, so my dad, Scott, Bradley, and Andrew went to work on fixing the fence. I didn't take before and after pictures, but I took some while they were working. Way back, hidden in the backyard is this beautiful tree. It's also very fun to climb.

It was a long, hard job, but I know my dad is happy to have it finished. We found an umbrella in the dirt, under a tree, on a soft patch of dirt....odd....wonder if a homeless person once slept there, then forgot his umbrella????? I don't know, but I bet it's nice to have a repaired fence!

Sharks game

2012-01-14T22:33:00.000-08:00

It's always fun to watch the Sharks game at my dad's house. First of all, he has a large High Def television. And he has a DVR, so we can skip commercials if the game is recorded.....He also has a fridge and cupboards full of good food....but best of all is his often times witty commentary of the game (or of us watching the game).

Watching hockey is not a spectator sport, yeah, we jump up and down, high five, chest bump and all that stuff. Cheering is not optional, it's required. I don't think my dad watches the Sharks in the same way. Soooooooo, when My Favorite Player Patrick Marleau scored the GAME WINNING goal, yes, I cheered loudly. I also threw my hands in the air, by doing so I somehow hurt my wrist, so I said, "Ouch I just hurt my wrist!" My dad, said in his normal, monotone, voice, "You hurt my ears".

BYU Game

2012-01-14T22:23:00.000-08:00

William got to go to a BYU basketball game tonight. They won. Looks like he had pretty good seats---NOT!!!! Thanks Jonathan and Trish for taking him.!!!! I'm sure it was a blast. BYU played against a school (Santa Clara) where a few of William's high school friends attend. What a fun way to spend an evening in Utah! UTAH!!!!!

Basketball Week #2

2012-01-14T14:06:00.000-08:00

Bradley's team had a bye today, so there was just Andrew's game. It was also picture day. Andrew dresses himself, that's why he's wearing orange shorts, a green shirt under a blue shirt! He looked great! I dont buy the league pictures because they are $10 bucks for a 5 x 7, what a rip off when I can just snap a photo like this with my camera. I cant even blog the $10.oo ones without scanning them. For the individual photos, they had a really cool background. I asked the lady if I could take one of Andrew in front of it. NO ONE WAS around. The photographers were on their break. I wasnt using their lights, their cameras, their skills, NOTHING, but she said "no" I couldn't use it. Do you think I will EVER buy another picture from that company EVER again????? NEVER!

I didn't get a picture of it, but Andrew won the tip off to start the game. I thought it might be a good sign, but it wasn't.

His team ended up losing 35-6. THIRTY FIVE to six. Not a fun game at all, for ANYBODY! Andrew tried reallllllly really hard at the start, but got very discouraged, I felt sad for him. By the end of the game he stopped even trying. I can understand why he was not having fun, but I don't like that he stopped running or putting ANY effort into it. I think if he worked hard on defence and is able to get steals and rebounds, he could just take the ball up himself and shoot. His teammates DO NOT have any ability to pass at ALL.

Of Andrew's team's 6 points, 2 of them were made by Andrew. He also got 4 or 5 rebounds, a steal, a blocked shot, and he is now the guy who takes the ball in, because no one else can.....bad thing about that is that it never gets back to him after he passes it in.

One guy on the other team was ALL OVER Andrew on defence. Like pushing, shoving, grabbing, on top of him the whole time. It was very frustrating for Andrew. After the game, the dad of that kid came over and told me that Andrew is a REALLY good player. I am thinking that their coach told the kids to mark Andrew like that, knowing that no one else is going to be able to do anything if Andrew is tied up. I can see from their point of view that it's probably good coaching, but they are 10 year olds....it's kinda mean!

cell phone pictures

2012-01-10T14:21:00.000-08:00

Scott and Bradley hunting photos from this past Saturday--

We didn't have any rope when we got our Christmas tree, so we drove home with it like this...it did fall off, but we were just pulling into our driveway, so it was perfect, no one had to lift it off the top of the car.

Ok, Everybody probably always says this, but I really mean it---"BEST PRIMARY CLASS EVER!!!' These kids entertained me and taught me! I MISS them SO MUCH now that I have a new class! These kids were funny, smart, and I really enjoyed just being around them. So far, this year, with my new class, all I really do is try to chase them around and get them to sit down....NOT the same as teaching these wonderful kids.

Blogging

2012-01-10T14:08:00.000-08:00

I've asked this before, but I don't think I got any answers----does anyone STILL blog???? I have kinda stopped because it seems like everyone else has, too. (And because my life is boring and I know none of you want to hear about my speeding ticket or my eating spinach two nights in a row.)

Gina, Krisha, Ann, Allie????? Blog some more, I'm super bored of Facebook...and Twitter's 140 characters per post arent enough to keep me entertained enough!!!

Basketball is going on here, soccer is starting in a few weeks, wedding planning, mission preparations.....my blog is going to be getting really good, really soon, so...go on...do something about yours----for me!

My Hair

2012-01-10T14:04:00.001-08:00

looking at those pictures up on the blog header....lol....and I just noticed....I've had the SAME hair style for 10 years! EWWWWW. lol!

Boys Basketball

2012-01-08T16:07:00.000-08:00

Bradley and Andrew are both playing basketball this season. Andrew is playing in a 4th grade C.A.R.D league. He is the only one from his school playing so he got put on a team with kids from two other schools. They are coached by a mom of one of the players. I can tell she has played basketball before, but her practices are ALL "here's where you should stand on defense" "here's where you should stand on offense" and not much practice shooting, passing, or dribbling. He has 7 kids on his team, only 4 have any clue whatsoever about what is going on. It's ok, though, I think they are having "fun".....maybe!

Andrew did well in the game. He scored either 7 or 9 points, had 4 steals, 2 rebounds, and played really well! They lost, though!

he took a half court shot here at the end of the quarter to try to get a buzzer beater, but, ummmm, there was still 10 seconds left in the quarter...haha!

here is one of his steals

if you look hard you can see Bradley, he comes up to about this guys arm pit.

Then we went to Bradley's game. He plays in the church league. The only problem with that is that the kids are aged 12-18....and the team Bradley's team was playing against was mostly seniors in high school, while Bradley's team was made up mostly of 12 year old just out of primary puny sized kids.

look at the score in the background...yeah, Bradley's team lost, too.

More Kings pictures

2012-01-07T04:52:00.000-08:00

I had two different cameras at the game in case one ran out of batteries or didnt work for some reason or another....so I found a few more pictures to share...

We stood by the Kings warm up, hoping for an autograph, William went over, with his poster, to the Bucks side of the court...he didn't get any autographs, either!

The Kings were down 21 points at halftime. The Bucks were making EVERYTHING, but after Demarcus Cousins fouled out and when the Bucks started missing their shots, the Kings made a fantastic comeback. It was very exciting to watch. Watching and hearing the kids cheer for the Kings was fun, too.

And we got free coupons for free tacos because the Kings won!

Sacramento Kings game 1-5-12

2012-01-07T04:42:00.000-08:00

The other day we went to the Kings game. They were playing the Bucks. William really likes the Bucks because they have one of his favorite players now- Beno Udrich. He used to be on the Kings. The tickets to the game were a Christmas present from us to the kids. Scott didn't want to go.

Before the game we stood courtside, trying to get autographs during warm ups.....we didn't get any...in fact, no one did. None of the players came over to the fans at all....dissapointing!

This is the view from our seats, we sat in the very top row, as high as possible, the cheapest seats in the house.

I didn't notice till I saw this picture that we were sitting in the East Party Zone, haha!

Family Get together

2012-01-01T01:07:00.000-08:00

I know this is out of focus and I have a red (white) eye....and everyone else's eyes are CLOSED, but I wanted to post our latest family picture.....haha....yeah, we are an funny looking bunch!!!!

We had a great visit, complete with Jimmer ~~disagreement~~ discussions, septic stuff in the SHOWER, i pad games, candy eating, scrapbook perusing, baby holding, photo taking, gift giving, and all around crazy family fun!

I laugh at this picture because Sharon is W A Y back in the back, Andrew is making a creeper hand, but it just looks like Sharon's hand trying to pull herself up on Scott's shoulder, my dad and I are squishing in, but that's not really necessary, Scott is smiling BIG, and I never knew my hair was THAT long! I asked Robin to send me her copy, I'm sure it turned out better because she put her camera on a box, so the angle is much better, her flash didn't go off so bright, so we all aren't squinting, and I bet it is focused better!

Missionary Paperwork Process

2012-01-01T00:55:00.000-08:00

William leaves for Utah (to work for a few months before his mission) on Saturday, so he's been doing all the stuff to get his paperwork ready for his mission. He did his dentist appointment and his physical. The last thing he had left to do was to take a photo to accompany all the paperwork. Oh MAN that was NOT easy. First the sun was too bright, then his suit (that we bought when he was 14) was too small, then the photographer couldn't stop laughing.....it was just so hard to get even ONE snapshot. So we gave it a rest. We went to visit my dad this afternoon. My brother, sister in law, and Sharon were also there visiting. Robin, my sister in law, is really good with a camera, so we had her take some shots. We ended up liking this one the best (hope no one notices that his tie is crooked!!!???!!!!???)

What do you think??? Good choice???? I should share some of the out takes!!! lol

Andrew's 10th Birthday

2011-12-27T20:10:00.000-08:00

Andrew turned 10 years old today. Dec. 27 is not a very good birthday...it's TOO close to Christmas, but we did get a tax break the year we had him, so that's one positive about this day for a birthdate.

Andrew earlier in the day picked Olive Garden for his birthday dinner....but a lot of peer (sibling) pressure forced him to change it. (Bradley seems to think that Olive Garden is a "girl" restaurant. William had work to do tonight in an attic of a lady in our ward, so he didn't want dinner to take too long. Melanee thought Olive Garden was too expensive. And Scott doesn't like Olive Garden because they don't serve hamburgers.) So we went to a local pizza place called "Woodstocks". (I had a buy one get one coupon.)

I baked the cake and made the frosting. Andrew wanted Costco type cream cheese filling inside, but I didn't have any cream cheese, so I just made some white frosting with powdered sugar. He wanted chocolate frosting, but I didnt have cocoa powder so I melted some chocolate chips and made up some more powdered sugar type frosting and combined them....home made frosting (and filling frosting) are so much better than those little store bought tubs.

Andrew was funny opening the presents. He just ripped wildly. He actually started opening the first present before we even sang, before he even blew out the candles....a BIG no-no.

yeah, we bought him an airsoft gun. (Yeah, there are little pellet shaped dents all over our kitchen wall now.) He is a happy boy! (look at the photo, you think William and Bradley want one too???)

blog search

2011-12-25T23:09:00.001-08:00

haha...someone found my blog by searching for the words "mother of the bride is freaking out".....yeah, you came to the correct place....that's what I'm doing....someone help me!

USA shirt

2011-12-25T23:06:00.000-08:00

Mega Close Up Shot!

ok, I just had to share one of my gifts (from Scott to me, but I bought it for him to give to me)....I know I already have 2 other USA soccer shirts, but I really did need a new one, the other ones are wearing out. And this one is so cool. You cant really tell because it's all wrinkly, but it's the USA crest and you cant tell but on the back it says USA and has the number 11 (probably for the year, but I can think it's my Stuart Holden shirt, right?)

Hair Cut

2011-12-25T23:00:00.000-08:00

I used to cut William's hair all the time. I do a decent job, but since I clipper the sides and use scissors for the top, I would always leave a "line"...(I couldn't blend it)...so for a long time, while in high school, he wouldn't want me to cut his hair. Well, tonight, he asked me for a haircut....I was nervous....but I think I blended it well. I also cut Bradley and Andrew's hair tonight, so I think I saved the family at least $30 or 40 bucks!

Christmas Morning....some of it

2011-12-25T22:54:00.000-08:00

Andrew opening a Lego set.

I don't know if every blogger in the world is trying to blog their Christmas right now and blogger is blogged down or is my computer is slow...or WHAT...but I want to put up way more pictures than this, but I am not able to and after about an hour of trying....this is what you get....so enjoy! We had fun opening presents this morning!

I made Melanee a hard bound book from my visit to SVU

Our gift from the Herberts, I loved the bag AND THE CONTENTS! Thanks Michelle!!!

You know how I now have a 3rd favorite hockey player Dustin Brown??? I found his shirsey (shirt, but has the logos, name, and number just like a jersey) from the Olympics!!!! Bradley got it for Christmas!

Andrew got a hunting vest from grandma and grandpa Guymon (so did Bradley).

Andrew was so proud and happy and excited to give us this gift he made for Scott and I.

This is a Washington Capitols shirsey...it's for Bradley, Melanee is wearing it as I type!

Deacon

2011-12-25T21:34:00.000-08:00

Bradley turned 12 a few weeks back. Twelve years old is an important age in our church, because if boys who are 12 are worthy they are able to become "deacons" and are ordained with the Aaronic Priesthood. As our bishop pointed out today, Bradley actually now has more authority than the President of the United States or the Pope (priesthood authority, that is, haha). We waited for the setting apart to take place today, because William wanted to be there when it happened and he wasn't here last Sunday. It's pretty cool that Bradley got the priesthood on Christmas day. What a wonderful gift. (He didn't wear the hat to church, if you were wondering!!!!)

Christmas Morning

2011-12-25T21:06:00.000-08:00

Before the present opening began, I wanted to get a picture with the kids, the tree, and the presents...which is actually kinda hard to do....haha...I like this picture anyway---

They're Back

2011-12-25T21:03:00.000-08:00

Last Monday Bradley, Andrew, and I picked Melanee and William up at the Sacramento Airport. We hid and planned on jumping out to surprise them as they came down the escilator, but Andrew ran out first. This was the first picture I got---

They hadn't eaten all day and I told Bradley and Andrew I knew where an In and Out was in Sacramento....but I took the wrong exit and we almost didn't find it...but we did and we enjoyed our dinner. We got an employee to get a picture of us all together again---

Sunset

2011-12-25T20:56:00.000-08:00

When we went to Sacramento to pick William and Melanee up from the airport, there was this beautiful sunset---Pictures never REALLY show the same beauty that you can see with your own eyes, and these were taken by Bradley, through windows, in a moving vehicle, but they kinda show the beauty...and this second one shows a FEW of the thousands of ducks and gees who flew past, over, and all around us as we drove down the highway.

Penguins

2011-12-19T12:25:00.000-08:00

I need to have a hockey party and serve these Penguins and that watermelon shark head! Or maybe I should hold off on any parties until the wedding reception...you think the guest would appreciate these tasty treats? You think Melanee and Dax would appreciate a Hockey themed reception?

Mother of the Bride

2011-12-17T16:21:00.000-08:00

All day long I've been getting the question, "So how do you think you'll like being the mother of the bride?' Just a second ago it was asked on Twitter. Twitter gives you ONLY 140 characters to answer, so I'll write it here, then direct her her to read this, haha!

A few days ago, when I won the free Sharks tickets I was talking to Melanee and a bunch of times I HINTED, but I thought I was pretty clear what I was trying to point out, NOT TO MAKE ANY plans on April 7th ....no, not because Melanee is the one I want to take to the game, but because I didn't want her to put me in position to have to choose between my ONLY daughter, my first born, and my first child to get married's wedding and a Sharks game LIVE and IN PERSON, because I'd probably choose the Sharks game, then feelings would get hurt! SOOOOOOO, last night, when I asked her if they had picked out a date, she said, "early April" haha, WHAT!?!?!?!!!!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. But today she was talking March 20th, so that's good.

Anyway, I am freaking out a bit about the mother's dress...hoping she picks a good color, because I've seem some UGLY mother's dresses....and I hope I will find someone to do MY hair and MY make up, because I am inept at those two things!

I haven't met Dax's parents yet. I think they will be nice, though. Dax's mom just had both William and Melanee over for Thanksgiving. That was kind hearted!

Before I even THOUGHT about having Andrew, a mom of a kid from one of William's class became a mid wife, and in talking to her, and KNOWING that I wouldn't have any more kids, haha, I told her that IF I DID ever have any more babies, she could be my mid wife.....and yeah, I let her, but wish I never would have said that...lol.....now, I am stressing because I think I have told at least 3 different photographers that I have a daughter that might be getting married soon! Who to pick!!??!!???!!!! I didn't get ANY good wedding pictures from my wedding, so I DEFINITELY want a GOOD photographer for Melanee!!!!! DEFINITELY!!!!

The only other thing I worry about is ALLLLLLLLL the people who have already said, "Melanee is TOO young." I shouldn't worry about what people think, but I do. I've also told people that I didn't think this would happen THIS QUICK....but again, Melanee and Dax get to choose, not just random people I blab their business to, right!

SO, YES, I'm excited to be the mother of the bride (....if I can find a good dress (Michelle promised to help) and hey, blog readers---do I have any hair and makeup volunteers????? And maybe a 3 month weight loss consultant!!!!)

Yule Logs

2011-12-17T15:59:00.000-08:00

The "staff" Christmas parties are always fun for me because teachers and other staff have more time to ACTUALLY talk to me and it doesn't have to be about a citation I've written or something they want me to do differently. I've made closer friends at past Christmas parties than I have after years of saying, "hi" while passing in the hall. But last year the party was at a place called the "Grange Hall", instead of someone's house, they hired a live band, they charged us $15 a piece entrance, and they INVITED ALL THE PARENTS TO COME. So, do you think I went last year???? NO!!!!! I don't like any live bands because they are too loud and there is no way to visit and I don't like to dance. I didn't want to have to pay to go to a party. And I was a tad bit offended that our "Staff" party was open to all....forget visiting or getting to know anyone, right?

Well, this year, with the STRONG URGING from a co worker, and after hearing HOW WONDERFUL last year's party was AND MOST IMPORTANTLY after they decided that Staff could get in for FREE, I decided to go (by myself---Scott didn't like that alcohol would be served and he had plans to go the the refuge to try to get drawn for a duck blind. I went early to scope out the place. There were about 6 people inside when I got there. It was quiet, the band was scheduled to start at 7:30, so I knew I had a half hour to visit in virtual peace. The Grange is a former school that was built in 1902. The "auditorium" was about half the size of our school's multi purpose room, and we have an AWESOME stage, why didn't we just have the party there, would have saved a Grange Hall rental fee and there would have been more room and I would have only had to drive two blocks!

I talked to the people I knew, it was fun. There wasn't much staff there. I guess last year was a staff party where the parents were invited and this year was a parent party where the staff was invited. The band was pretty good. They rocked out to Christmas songs. I think my favorites were the song from "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" and "Douglas Mountain" (because I could picture Melanee's class sign languaging and singing to it at one of their winter performances). A lot of the other songs were familiar Christmas songs that were made unrecognizable to people with hearing loss....haha....like one of my friends was singing and dancing along to a song, so I asked her, "You KNOW this song???" and she said, "Yeah, you cant tell me you've never heard "Santa Claus is Coming to Town". Well, I've heard of it, but never sung THAT way with a drummer rocking out and a bass and guitarist going crazy. HAha.

After everyone had a few drinks the dancing took over. I stood back at the back wall. Some people called me a wall flower. Some people tried to get me to dance. Lots tried to make me tap my toes or nod my head, but I enjoyed standing back doing some people watching!

After the band finished, it was quiet again, so I was able to do some more visiting.

I had a good time! (I do hope, though, next year they go back to the staff party at someone's house. Or maybe I'll just drag Krisha along!)

Hunting

2011-12-17T15:20:00.000-08:00

Scott photo texted me these photos, so that must mean he wants them on the blog.....

Scott vs. Dax, haha

2011-12-17T09:33:00.000-08:00

I didn't take any photos while it happened because I thought Scott was being silly (dumb) and I didn't want to support his "actions" (and because the Sharks game was close, going into overtime with my favorite player scoring, and a shootout)...but Dax wanted to "talk" to Scott. Scott, ALL ALONG, has been saying that he wants to be friends with Dax and wants Dax to make an effort to want to make friends with him, but I think with all the family stories floating around about how Scott "is" have scared Dax out of his wits...maybe...but the other night, Dax Skyped us. I talked to him a bit and so did Bradley, while Scott got "ready". Scott dressed himself like a Taliban or Bin Laden or something, sat on the couch, surrounded himself with guns, knives, swords, hatchets, stuff like that, then standing side by side of him were Bradley and Andrew holding guns and all three of them just stared into the Skype camera, not smiling, for the LONGEST time!!!! I think Dax just laughed at them, but I couldn't see him from where I was sitting. After the starefest, Scott started talking and they just rambled about family stories, this and that. Scott finally took of the snuggie and put away the weapons and Bradley and Andrew sat down. I think that conversation went on for a good 45 minutes (poor Dax, haha).

That was on Thursday. Last night, I went to my work Christmas party. At one point Melanee texted me and asked if Scott was home, but I wasn't sure because he was going to go out to the wildlife refuge. I guess Dax called to Skype, but ended up just talking on the phone. Scott did grant his permission....when I asked him if he gave Dax any conditions (like my dad told Scott that he wanted me to graduate college and never get divorced), Scott said he told Dax that he wanted his grandsons to be duck hunters....lol....Dax had a good comeback to that though, he told Scott that he (Scott) could take them!

I still wish I would have been home last night, and I wish the tradition was for the man to ask the girls MOM for permission!!! haha!!!!

Melanee is ENGAGED!

2011-12-17T09:08:00.000-08:00

I went to my work Christmas party last night.....and WHILE I WAS GONE things were going on with my family....like a phone call between Dax and Scott and an important conversation a little bit later between Melanee and Dax.....In fact, I didn't even answer my phone when Melanee called because the band was TOO LOUD. (I also CAN'T keep a secret and Scott had texted me that Dax had asked him if he could marry Melanee and he (Scott) said "yes", but NOT TO TELL MELANEE. So, when I saw that it was her calling (besides the band being loud) I figured I better not answer it in case I'd have to keep a secret. When she called the second time I went outside (in the cold) and she said, "I'm engaged"! Here is one of my favorite pictures of them (from about 2 years ago)----

And this is from last year when they both graduated from ~~seminary~~ INSTITUTE. This week they both graduated from Southern Virginia University!

And this is from the Buena Vista parade. Melanee's roommate joked that they were "Mr. and Mrs. SVU" (instead of Mr and Miss, haha).

Dax took her for a walk and they talked (I wasnt informed of the details of the talk (maybe because I cant keep a secret)). Then Dax got down on one knee but then stood up again, saying, "no this isn't right" (or something like that). Then they walked a bit further....and he got down again and presented her with a ring, she said "YES", hugged him, kissed him then started jumping up and down and dancing all around! I can just picture it now.

haha, probably not, but that's the only video I had of her dancing.

Anyway, I am happy for them and wondering what the next few months will bring! I've heard wedding and reception planning are stressful. I don't even know where to begin. Gina, can I borrow the lamps! haha!!!! I know personally 4 engagement/wedding photographers.....who to pick???? So exciting though, what colors are they going to pick, which temple, have to find a dress, where to have the reception, when??????? oh my, they are saying, "How about March 20th?" MARCH 20th!!!! (I don't really have a problem with that, I just told them that they couldn't have April 7th because that's the day I am going to the Sharks game!!!!)

I will try to get more details and photos and blog more later! I'm so happy right now, it's making blogging hard, that and Andrew whining at him to make him some breakfast cuz he's STARVING.

Thoroughly Disgusted

2011-12-14T09:27:00.000-08:00

I said yesterday in a post that I would be "thoroughly disgusted" if the Sharks were to lose again. In that same post I wrote about my brother's birthday, Melanee and William at SVU, and Andrew.....the only comment I got from that "article" was--- "are you disgusted?" HAHA!

NO, I'm not "disgusted", I'm THOROUGHLY disgusted. The Sharks cant even beat the LAST PLACE team! UGH! I know the shoot out is like a coin toss, but WHY would the coach send Winchester out there to attempt a shot when he has on his bench Couture, Boyle, Marleau, OTHERS....ugh!!! But, I know, I know, I am not at practice, I know that there must be SOME reason for the coach to put a player out there who has only participated in ONE shootout in his WHOLE CAREER....I know the coach doesn't WANT to lose. And we all would have been praising him if Winchester would have scored, right??? AND I am NOT going to leave Niemi out of my WRATH. My Twitter friends seem to LOVE Niemi and will NEVER put the blame on him, but the first guy shot the puck RIGHT TO HIS GLOVE, HIS GLOVE. He needs to just stand there with the glove UP and OPEN and he would have saved that shot. Just like the goalie is the key player on the PK, he needs to be the key player in the shootout! Plain and SIMPLE.

But I am happy that Patty scored with a few seconds left to tie it and give the Sharks ONE point on this road trip! ONE point in THREE games. (He began his slump when I stopped sending Melanee her "PATTY" texts, so I don't care if she doesn't like them, I'm going to send her them again...hopefully 40 more times this season!)

Some of my Twitter friends (followers, haha) are college students who should be studying for finals and writing papers right now, but one of them, instead of working on his homework, produced a chart comparing where the Sharks were last year and where they are this year when it comes to goals and the Sharks were pretty bad last year and came on strong later in the season, so not to worry, they could do that again this year. We should all be happy that they don't have as many people on the Injured list as the Penguins!

I wouldn't mind a trade. I wouldn't mind a firing. Shake them up. Wake them up. OR........just play Patty on the top line! Patty is the best, he doesn't need linemates named Handzus or McGinn. Can they get him the puck? NO.

And TORREY MITCHELL would not be on ANY other "top" line in the entire NHL, so WHY is he on ours?????!!!!!??????!!!!!! Torrey Mitchell, top line, does not make SENSE!!!! Torrey Mitchell 3rd line, 4th line, Worcester.....makes sense. Tell me, which team is the WORST in the league, (it's the Ducks...their top guys are Selanne, Perry, and Ryan...if Torrey was on the Ducks...he would NOT be on that top line, ever!) he would be on their 3rd line (or in their farm system)! Why is he on the Sharks top line???? WHY????

just killing time

2011-12-13T16:47:00.000-08:00

I am at Andrew’s basketball practice right now. The past few practices have been fairly boring for my, so this time I brought my laptop to blog. I don’t really have anything all that exciting happening in my life right now to blog about, though. Ummm, let’s see. Today is my brother David’s birthday. He has always been a good brother. He is my younger brother. I also have an older brother. I’m the only girl. David is the perfect child, you know, the one in the family who doesn’t ever do anything to get in trouble, who everyone likes, who is smart, talented, fun. Kenny and I made all the mistakes, David learned from them, so I guess you could say that we helped David to become the “perfect child”. Haha!

I talked to Melanee today. She is having a hard time packing to come home. She has been there for 4 years (just about). She has gone from here to there each time with 2 suitcases full and has come back each time with one. She has also bought stuff while there, I have sent her stuff, has been given stuff, and has just accumulated STUFF. She did, though find a UPS store in the same town as the airport she is coming home from, so hopefully she can just mail some of her stuff home.

In the times I’ve talked to both college kids this week, they have both told me that their papers and finals are going well. In fact, Melanee said that this was her best semester ever. William, I guess, too, could say the same thing since it’s his only semester of college.

William loves Buena Vista so much that he wants us to move there. He said that things are ALWAYS breaking all over the school and that Scott could be the fix it guy. He said that I could be the sports writer. I’d LOVE that. I’ve been coveting that job for a while now!!!! If we did get jobs at the school, William’s future tuitions would be taken care of!!!

Andrew has been home from school the past two days. He felt achy, runny nose, congestion, frog in his throat, sore throat, and miserable, but I told him----YOU ARE GOING BACK TO SCHOOL TOMORROW no matter what. We’ll see if that threat makes all his cold symptoms go away…..or maybe this basketball practice out in the cold will clear up the lungs, yeah right! A big percentage of the kids are school are sick, it’s better to keep HIS germs away from others and OTHERS germs away from him.

Our friends the Chelson’s moved completely today. They’ve been in Chico for about 5 years. In all the different stages of the move, Scott brought home trailer loads. We now have a scrap metal pile, a ride on lawn mower, a basketball hoop, and a large frozen turkey (among other odds and ends).

There is a Sharks game tonight. I will be thoroughly disgusted if they lose AGAIN. They are such a good team with so much talent. I want to be the coach, haha, this is what I’d do----the top line is made up of the best 3 players. WHO CARES if the “bottom lines” are NOT producing. Patrick Marleau is on the top line, plain and simple. I have more, come back later to read my other coaching ideas…Andrew’s practice is over and I have to make dinner before the game. If I were the coach, I’d have people to do that for me….and I’d be in Denver right now!

I WON

2011-12-13T09:06:00.000-08:00

Everyone always teases me about Twitter. How "you cant believe everything you read on Twitter", and how those people on Twitter are my "followers" not my "friends", and how Twitter is a waste of time. Well, I guess I cant disagree with the waste of time part, I do spend a lot of time on Twitter, but if finally paid off.....and last night I participated in a Sharks trivia contest. The question was, "Which team did Joe Pavelski score his team leading 12th goal of the season against?" The answer was Minnesota...so I answered....and about 15 minutes later I checked back and saw that I was randomly selected as the winner. There was no mention of the prize when the contest was announced, so I was thinking it would be something like a bobble head, signed poster, a puck, a t shirt, or I was hoping for a jersey (those are EXPENSIVE), but I actually won something better than ALL of those....I won TWO TICKETS TO A SHARKS GAME!!! The game is the final home game and it's Fan Appreciation night that game. And they are playing the LAKings! (I really like one of the players on the Kings, Dustin Brown!

Here is the actual random generator which picked me. Looks like only 10 people entered the contest and I was #6 and number 6 was chosen! Woo Hoo.

This is Dustin Brown. I especially like this photo because he is doing this big hit on Ott from the Stars. I hate Ott, he is so mean and gross and rude! Go Dustin! Anyway, I don't think I've blogged about my new fan-girl obsession with Dustin Brown, but I started liking him the game the Kings played the Sharks and the refs disallowed his goal. The camera stayed focused on Dustin's poor face most of the time the refs discussed the play and re watched the video, Dustin looked so sad. I've liked him since then. I also follow him on Twitter and it was funny when he showed us a clip of him taking a drink from his squirt water bottle, but it was upside down, so he didn't really get a drink. I thought it was cool that he could laugh at himself about that. Then I read that when he first came into the league, he was a young guy on a veteran team. One of the older guys would tease him about his lisp. That's so sad. I also enjoyed watching him on Price Is Right, where one of his teammates set out to make fun of Dustin, but that teammate ended up ripping his pants after getting thrown into a boat. And I think it's funny that he is missing a big percentage of his teeth! haha! He just jokes about it saying the ones he has are easy to brush!

Since its a Sharks game I thought I should include a Sharks photo into this post, but I didn't want to go looking for one, and this is all I had on my computer. It's Torrey Mitchell. I think I saved it to show how much he looks like Dax (if Dax didn't shave). Maybe I already have. I don't know, but I'm super excited to finally get to go to a Sharks game!!!

Birthday PARTY (not exactly)

2011-12-12T20:34:00.000-08:00

Today was Bradley's birthday! It was a quiet day. Andrew stayed home from school sick. He had a stomach ache, runny nose, sore throat, his right ear wouldn't pop, and a head ache. Bradley came home from school with hives all around his chest, neck, and shoulders. So I gave him Benadryl and he slept for 3 hours.
He woke up in time for dinner, cake, birthday cards, presents, and games. He had a good birthday.

I hope he grows into them before they rip!

I made the cake mix I bought for Melanee's birthday,
so it's a orange and black Halloween cake.

These were our guests, I asked them if they wanted to be on the blog....they smiled, so I guess that was a "yes". I hope they had fun. Andrew talked non stop, the basketball got dribbled in the house, the singing off key and the singing of the Hooning family birthday song, a little bickering went on about the size of the waders. I'm sure it was chaos compared to their home with just the two of them!

Sid

2011-12-12T14:03:00.000-08:00

I really want Happy Birthday Bradley to be on top, but I haven't figured out Blogger enough to order the posts the way I want them...sooooo, I just have so much to do today, but I find myself on Twitter following the Kings practice and reading about how good Jimmer is and the Penguins website which tells us that Sid will be out even longer with concussion like symptoms.....but he did go with his teammates today to a children's hospital for a visit, he's so cool like that! I really hope he is ok! He's smart to stay away from hockey with a brain injury, though, wayyyyy to many players come back too early and have permanent damage. (my poor fantasy team, though, I have THREE guys on the injured list right now)

They REALLY do not fit in these chairs!!!

Happy Birthday BRADLEY

2011-12-11T23:30:00.000-08:00

We were looking at the baby book and Bradley's head and chest measurements were equal...is that normal? But look at him, HUGE HEAD! (Or do all babies have these proportions?)

12/12 is Bradley's birthday! Wouldn't it be cool if he was turning twelve next year.....12/12/12....haha, but he is not, he is twelve this year! I love this little boy, although he no longer looks like he did in this picture...and he is no longer little.

Bradley is now 12 years old. Wow, where did those 12 years go?
Someone said this about Bradley today, "Bradley is the nicest kid ever." That is a great compliment. Bradley is nice. I'm glad people see it. Bradley is almost like a middle child (except we have 4 kids, so really no middle child). Melanee is the only girl. William is the oldest boy. Andrew is the baby of the family. Bradley is the middle child. He loves attention. He loves hugs. He is outgoing and friendly and does everything possible to fit in and have friends. He cares about how he looks and how he dresses. He wants to be like his big brother. He wants to be like his dad. He will do whatever you ask and is great to have around. We love our Bradley. He has recently "changed" his name to Brad. He does have 2 Bradley (ee)'s in his class, so that may be part of it. But he says that Bradley is a wimpy name. I try to tell him, that for as long as I can remember "Bradley" was the name I was going to name my son. I LOVE the name, but I am not too fond of the name "Brad"....oh well, guess its a sign of growing up...just like William goes by "Wil"....I will still always keep calling them Bradley and William. And I will ALWAYS call my brother "Kenny" even if I'm the ONLY one on the planet who calls him that and even though he now has a son named "Kenny".
I've already baked Bradley a cake. It's a white cake with white frosting. The scout leader has already brought over his application for REAL scouts and a Boy Scout book. And the Bishop has already interviewed him for the aaronic priesthood, although, William has asked for us to put that off for a few days so that he can be home and be a part of it. Bradley might get the Aaronic priesthood on Christmas, wouldn't that be memorable?
The school district has banned cupcakes and cookies and the such for birthday celebrations, SERIOUSLY, like they are against the rules, but Bradley wants me to bring in cookies....what are they going to do, really???
Some friends are coming over for dinner tomorrow, but Bradley doesn't even know them, so that might be weird, but it's always fun to have people over, so hopefully it will go well. They are coming over to try duck, so Bradley's birthday dinner is duck. He didn't get to pick, but luckily he likes duck.
For decorations, I may just put back up the banner Krisha got me for the World Cup! I still have it!!!
Come back later for birthday boy photos!!!!
Happy Birthday Bradley!

decoys decoys decoys

2011-12-10T23:40:00.000-08:00

Most of the big giant geese got picked up, but now the ducks are ready to be painted....I'm sure my dad would call our house the "eye sore" of the neighborhood. haha. In fact, he WAS here last week and he said, "looks like you are having a yard sale!" hahahahahahaaaaaa!

BBall Preseason Scrimmages

2011-12-10T22:47:00.000-08:00

Andrew is really good at rebounds, especially defensive rebounds!

he made a basket on this shot!!!

this is one happy and exhausted little boy!

B Ball Jamboree

2011-12-10T11:15:00.000-08:00

The league has a Jamboree today to kick off the basketball season. It was held at Marsh Jr High, the one with the Gators hanging from the rafters (cool). All the 3rd and 4th grade boys and girls came out to see the Butte College men's team put on a show and clinic. The kids all seemed to have fun!

Andrew did really well in the Simon Says type game, but a little girl ended up winning...they gave her a Butte College player sized pair of shorts that I doubt will EVER fit her.

Spence, one of my primary kids from 15 years ago (and he's also one of Melanee's friends) is on Butte's team, so I got a photo of Andrew with him. Andrew also got his autograph.

This was the winner of the slam dunk contest, Andrew got his autograph, too. He slammed it over Spencer and the other biggest 6 foot 9 guy.

Ear Phones

2011-12-09T23:01:00.000-08:00

OH MAN, hearing loss stinks!!!! No JOKE! But, I've been watching tv on my laptop while wearing ear phones and WOW, why haven't I thought of this before!!!! If I watch tv, I put the closed captioning on....but I think all that really does is make me READ dialogue....I'm missing all the facial expressions, background scenes, all the action, really. With ear phones, on loud, I can hear things I cant hear on regular tv. They also eliminate household noise like the kids, the husband, the refrigerator, the phone, etc.....I am really enjoying being able to HEAR.

Also, I have been listening to music with the ear phones. I never knew different things happen in each ear....like the guitar in one, the drums in the other, or on the song "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz....words in one ear, background words at the same time in the other. It's SO COOL. Music is realllllllly enjoyable when listened to in ear phones! LOVING IT!

B Ball Practice

2011-12-09T22:53:00.000-08:00

I took some pictures today at Andrew's basketball practice and I better post them now, because the season starts tomorrow and I'll be able to post actual game pictures, so enjoy these for now then come back tomorrow for hopefully good action shots, except since the games are in the gym and the lighting there is bad, I don't have much hope for many good shots!

So far, Andrew is loving basketball!!!!

Ugly Sweater day

2011-12-09T22:47:00.000-08:00

Andrew was excited for "Ugly Sweater Day". We searched the back house for the clothes William left behind when he went off to college and Andrew found a sweater to wear today....but when we got to school, Bradley noticed on the door that the Ugly Sweater Day poster said "Wednesday Dec 14" so Andrew quickly shoved his sweater into his backpack, but not before I got a picture of him....(and me, but I wish I wasn't in the picture!)

Come back next Wed, hopefully there will be more ugly sweater photos. I'll remember to be BEHIND the camera.

*The funny thing about MY ugly sweater is that I wear it, a lot. Oops!

Words With Friends

2011-12-09T22:28:00.000-08:00

Today I read on Twitter a request from Andy Williams, a soccer player from Real Salt Lake (he just retired a few weeks ago) for opponents in Words With Friends, so I sent him a challenge and he accepted. We played today. I beat him by 240 points! I tried to do the "print screen" function, but I'm not sure how to work it, to get it onto my blog, so you'll just have to believe me!

I had fun playing a "famous" person!

Twitter Conversation

2011-12-09T21:56:00.000-08:00

I just had a funny conversation with the "Sacramento Kings Media Relations Manager for the past 12 years"... well, maybe not "funny", but I was laughing. By posting this I MAY make myself look bad, but hopefully you will agree with me that "re-sign" and "resign" are two totally different words with TOTALLY different meanings. I just cut and pasted the whole Twitter conversation. I hope you can follow the conversation here----

DBlank_KingsDevin Blankenship

@OfficialMT23 talking to the media for the first time after resigning in Sacramento

DsguymonDiane Guymon

@DBlank_Kings @OfficialMT23 dont forget that re-sign and resign have two totally different meanings!!!

DBlank_KingsDevin Blankenship

@Dsguymon actually, it's a style issue in NBA circles, & combined with the fact there are only 140 Twit characters, the hyphen often loses

DsguymonDiane Guymon

@DBlank_Kings but it makes it have a totallllllllly different meaning,...I was wondering why he would resign

DBlank_KingsDevin Blankenship

@Dsguymon come on grammar police. Context. Why would the kings resign a player. That doesn't even make sense. Twitter speak applies

DsguymonDiane Guymon

@DBlank_Kings it's not grammar it's spelling...they are totally different words....and if you are a news source you must use the proper word

DBlank_KingsDevin Blankenship

@Dsguymon Lol, my apologies if you thought I meant Marcus Thornton RESIGNED. I work for the team, just trying to get info out

DBlank_KingsDevin Blankenship

@Dsguymon can you send me the AP style guide for Twitter?

DsguymonDiane Guymon

@DBlank_Kings @APStylebook

DBlank_KingsDevin Blankenship

@Dsguymon I just talked to @apstyleguide, they said I'm good, it's twitter, they don't care. Now Facebook....

DBlank_KingsDevin Blankenship

@dsguymon Ruh-roh....I didn't capitalize Twitter.

Kids say funny things

2011-12-08T23:33:00.000-08:00

Bradley and Andrew both had things come out of their mouths tonight that they probably would not like written on my blog.

Melanee applied today for a job with the Sacramento Kings. (I seriously HOPE she gets it!!!! Wouldn't that be the greatest job EVER!) I was talking to Scott and the kids about it and Bradley says, "And maybe later she can get a job with the San Antonio Sperm"....he meant to say "Spurs"...the other word just slipped out....lol....yeah, we laughed at him.

Andrew was saying something and wanted to use the word "sex", but he knew it was a bad word, I guess, because he spelled it out by saying "S" "E" "twenty fifth letter of the alphabet".....took me a sec to figure out what he was trying to say....lol....

KIDS! Don't you love em!?!?!!!

Sharks game

2011-12-08T23:27:00.000-08:00

If you are a Sharks fan, like me, you KNEW I was going to blog about this game!!!! The Sharks WON tonight! WOW, Hockey is SO MUCH better when the team you are rooting for wins!

If you read my Facebook comment earlier this is a repeat, but---- when the game started tonight, I was sitting on a different couch in the front room, I was wearing my Kings t shirt, I had a blanket on my lap....those things were different than usual. I usually have on a Sharks shirt. I usually sit on the blue couch. I dont usually sit under a blanket. Also, Andrew was baking brownies. The Sharks scored two QUICK goals and Andrew commented something like---"now you are going to have to sit there, wear that shirt, and sit under that blanket EVERY game". His next comment was even funnier---"if I'm going to have to bake brownies every game, you're going to have to buy more mix, cuz we only have one box left". Oh my, I think my superstitions have gone WILD. The other day I was with my friend Michelle and found a penny HEADS UP, and right in mid sentence of a story I was telling her I said, "Oh a penny, heads up, the Sharks are going to win tonight!" And I wont check my e mail if there are 13 of them. I wont get up if it's 7:13. I wont stop the timer on :13. Oh boy! lol.

The other funny thing was that the little Chinese neighbor came over to check on me when she heard lots of screaming. When I invited her in to watch, she had no idea what hockey was. At one point she even said, "Is this a game where one team tries to win?" Um, YEAH!

And the Sharks DID win...and I am not depressed tonight! WOo HoO!

Andrew's first basketball practice

2011-12-07T22:48:00.000-08:00

Andrew had his first practice the other day. He liked it. I stayed and watched and he had a smile on his face the entire time. It was heartwarming. I can tell that his team is AWFUL, but not everyone was there, so hopefully the absent teammates will rule the court...if not, Andrew and an extra large Shaq wanna be kid can just hopefully score some baskets. They had a scrimmage at the end of practice and Andrew was the only one to score! Woo Hoo. I know it's just practice, but I almost cheered out loud when the ball went in the hoop, lol. The coach is one of the other kid's mom. She was TERRIFIC. She KNOWS basketball. She will teach them TONS. I like her already. They have their first "game" on Saturday!!!! (after only one practice, haha)....they dont even know each other's names! oh boy. But it's "For the Love of the Game" (league motto) more than the win/loss record, right?

(Now will someone tell the Sharks that they are playing for the Stanley Cup, not just for the "Love of the Game". Someone tell them that they are not in a rec league.) (PLEASE!!!!)

Watch Out

2011-12-07T22:41:00.000-08:00

I told someone off today...well, sorta....but it felt OH SO good...

so, watch out...I think I will try it again.

I'm not the type to call someone on their behavior. I'm more the type of person to complain about that person behind their back. But I have finally decided that complaining about people behind their backs is just gossiping and it doesn't solve any problems, just creates more problems.

I cant always just tell Scott or Michelle (or whomever will listen) when someone does something I don't agree with....I'm going to start just telling them....

Good Idea?

All American Plaque

2011-12-06T14:54:00.000-08:00

Look What Melanee Got Today!!!!!!!

2011-12-06T07:38:00.000-08:00

Painting Decoys

2011-12-04T00:30:00.000-08:00

About once a year, the decoys need painting. I need to go out in the front yard with my camera tomorrow because I got these shots when they were doing the snow geese, but afterwards the honkers came out, and still there are mallards to come...haha....lots of fake fowl (or foul, if you don't like dirty decoys) in our yard.

can you tell that Andrew's facial swelling and hives are gone?

Sam, the dog, came out to watch, not help! (I'm not criticizing, I didn't help, either!)

OH NO, what did I just do!

2011-12-04T00:00:00.000-08:00

Remember that I was excited that Andrew wanted to play soccer this spring? I still am, but he will also be playing basketball this winter, which wont be over before soccer starts. Uh oh. No biggy, right? Well, Bradley didn't sign up for city league basketball because the church has a young men's basketball team. The only problem with that (wait, there are a bunch of problems) is that Young Men's basketball doesn't have a coach, no formal practices, the kids aged 12-18 play together (so how much playing time will Bradley realllllllllly get in a game???). So, if he really wants to play real BASKETBALL and improve, church basketball is not the place. He has been playing a lot of basketball at recess at school. I am a yard duty there. I see him. He is good. He needs some good coaching, some real games with kids his age, he needs to play more than just an hour a week on a carpeted court at church with a bunch of BIG teenaged kids and no organization or instruction.

SOOOOOOOOOO, I signed him up for the city league. The "OH no, what did I just do!" title for this post is because now BOTH kids will be in BOTH basketball and soccer. They WILL overlap! The basketball games are played in different gyms. Practices WONT be at our school.

OH NO!!!! I always do this!!!! I NEVER learn!!!

Well, it will at least be better than sitting on the couch after school watching repeats on the Disney/Nick channels and/or playing Wii. Right???? (And Melanee and William with both be home to hopefully help if their is a location conflict....actually, I hope they will be working and not available to drivethe little kids, haha)

William on Thanksgiving

2011-12-03T23:48:00.000-08:00

Earlier I shared a picture from William and Melanee's Turkey Bowl, but I also got this picture from their Thanksgiving dinner. I told Melanee to take LOTS of pictures.....she took THREE.

William looks thrilled. And I take it they didn't get dressed up for Thanksgiving!

Hives/Infection

2011-12-03T23:45:00.000-08:00

My cell phone camera is about like 1 mega pixel....it is LOW quality, but Andrew would NOT let me take his picture when he looked his worst. I got this one while waiting in line at Longs. If it was a better picture, you would see that his face is swollen, bright pink, and completely covered in hives. The hives covered the rest of his body also. After he began his antibiotic/steroid treatment, the swelling and some of the pink went down a bit on his face, but all around his eyes were still pink. He seriously looked DIFFERENT.

He also itched, A LOT. Hives are a nuisance...but the scariest part of this whole scare was a little SCRATCH on Andrew's leg got infected. The infection got bigger and bigger each day until it took up most of his thigh.....fast moving and scary. He missed school Mon, Tues, and Wed. I couldn't send him those days because he needed to take his medication, but also because he would wake up with his eyes just about swollen shut from the hives coming back overnight each night.

Sick kids are no fun! But, luckily, modern medicine and prayers/blessings bring healing and comfort!!! He's almost all better now. It's been over a week. I noticed the "scratch" on Thanksgiving and the hives began last Saturday evening. LONG week!!!!

Sharks ...UGH!!!!

2011-12-03T23:33:00.000-08:00

(Skip this Gina, Melanee, Sharon, Michelle.....most others....)

I LOVE the Sharks. I love them more than any tv show. More than any movie. More than most actual people that I know, haha. I really enjoy their games. I especially have fun when they win. But, lately, they have been losing. It's not quite as fun to be a Sharks fan when they play lousy.

I am not a bandwagoner...I am a Sharks fan, for good or bad. I think I am pretty fair in my opinions, too, unlike some fans who think their team or favorite player can do no wrong, even if it is obvious that they really did deserve a penalty call or messed up in some way. Like today, even the tv commentators were going on and on about thinking a player didn't hit another player in the head...on the slow mo replay it was OBVIOUS that he lifted his elbow. OBVIOUS. So, here, I'm going to say....the Florida Panthers are GOOD. They are FAST. They get in the way. They pester. They try hard. They are a good team. Sure, us Sharks fans can say tonight that oh, the defense had way too many GIVEAWAYS....but if it were the other way around....we would ALL be talking about the great TAKE AWAYS. I think the Panthers played an excellent game. I think the Sharks need to improve. They need speed. They need some luck. They need to capitalize on their chances. AND they need to do what the Panthers did....they need to work hard, pester, and create some take aways. The Sharks penalty kill is LAST in the league. They take a lot of penalties, so they better improve that situation. I read that they were supposed to have a day off tomorrow, but instead, they will be having practice, one of those practices without pucks. LOL. Good! They "earned" it.

In the off season, the focus was on improving the defense....um, yeah, right about now I am missing Wallin and Huskins. I'd take EITHER of them over Boyle! Yeah, I said it! Boyle is terrible! AMAZING. He takes bad penalties, loses pucks in front of the goal, cant get out of his zone, cant shot on net, and he falls down A LOT. BENCH HIM. DO IT. Take the "A" away. Remove the cement from his skates. Do SOMETHING!

And I know William and Bradley love Greiss....but, um, I think tonight was his chance to earn the backup job over Niitimaki, who is ready to make his comeback....and how many goals went in the net he was protecting??? 5, FIVE!!!!!! That's a lot! Leave the poke checking to Vlasic!

AND I've said it before, and I'll say it again, stop with the in game line shuffling!!!

I also wish the San Jose fans at the game would NOT "boo" their team. JUST RUDE. I know you paid a lot of money, but cheer or kill them with silence, but do not "boo" your own team! SO rude, and wrong!

bring back HUSKINS!

Welcome Back?

2011-12-03T23:14:00.001-08:00

I am thinking about returning to the blogging world. What do you think?

Easiest Thanksgiving meal Ever

2011-11-24T19:56:00.000-08:00

I had Bradley make the celery and cheese....then got out my camera and told him to look like he was having fun (he wasn't) but, lol, he's a good actor.

It was just the 5 of us this year, so Bradley and Andrew got to sit at the Grown Ups Table. They loved it. They even helped set it and they picked out the giant orange/pink candles. They said they had never eaten off of China made in Japan, eaten with real silver, or had a drink out of a wine glass before. Andrew even leaned a little about table manners (no need to put your mouth on the plate and slide the corn into it) and why my dad put a table mat down before we ate (lots of spills). We had turkey, but it was just a turkey breast, not the whole bird, so it was much easier to cook. The potatoes and gravy were great. And the highlight of the meal were the rolls. (They were the Hawaiian King rolls, yum.) We had fun trying to get the salt and pepper shakers open. More than once the words, "Best Thanksgiving meal ever" were stated. I think 3 of the 4 of the people in this photo have their mouths full and my dad has the look on his face which says, "why are you taking a picture while we are trying to eat".

Greatest Thanksgiving Family Pic Ever

2011-11-24T19:41:00.000-08:00

If you have been following my blog for more than a year, you know that whenever we have a large family get together we always set the camera timer and do a snapshot of everyone there.....and even though this wasn't a "large" get together, I still wanted a picture "for the blog"!!!

Well, I couldn't figure out how to use the timer on ANY of the cameras on hand, so I picked the person with the longest arms to just hold and shoot....and this is what we got....creeper hands and all---

2011 Run For Food

2011-11-24T12:08:00.000-08:00

We woke Bradley up early to get ready for the 5k run, but he was tired and moved VERY slowly. I made him some pancakes and gave him a Gatorade. He seemed pretty eager after that. This first picture is taken at our house before we left, it was just starting to rain....but luckily it was not FREEZING cold like last year.

Scott was feeding someone's dog, so he missed out on the pancakes...so he just brought his with us to the park. People kept making comments like, "carbo loading?", "getting fueled up for the race", stuff like that, it was funny. What was also funny was that Bradley was very embarrassed that Scott was walking along eating pancakes in the rain at the race out in public.

This is the starting line....we lost Bradley in the crowd before the race even started. He's in there somewhere.

While we waited for the runners to come around, Andrew climbed trees.

Not sure if you can see him in this crowd, but we waited and watched for a runner in green shorts and the race t shirt. I even took photos of a kid in green shorts who wasn't Bradley....deleted them...haha. Then Bradley finally came along and I got a few shots of him as he ran along the swimming area. I took more than these few, but a bunch of them were right when he was behind a person or tree or garbage can.

He looks MUCH better after the race this year than he did last year after running in full sweat suit, doesn't he???

Scott took this photo with his cell phone camera. I told him to get a picture of Bradley "crossing the finish line", but I wanted a picture of HIS FACE!!! But Scott did really good to get the race clock in the photo. Bradley's time was less though, because he didn't get to the "start" line until about a minute (or 2) into the race.

He's resting now! Exhausted!!! What a great way to start Thanksgiving!

Weirdest Dream EVER

2011-11-24T11:46:00.000-08:00

I am having an impossible time trying to upload to my blog the Run For Food pictures...so while I'm waiting for my Internet to come back to life....I thought I'd try to remember the ODD details of my dream last night.

The setting was Landon Donovan/Sidney Crosby's house. (They morphed back and forth into each other.) Landon/Sidney had a sister...it was the blond girl from Pan Am. The also had a younger sister who was the girl who Max tuned into on Wizards of Waverly place. Scott and I were at Landon/Sidney's house. Scott and Sidney were talking about how Scott saved all his money from odd jobs to buy some "lawn soap" (whatever that is) as opposed to the regular soap they used last time...to put into Melanee and Dax's basement to play some practical joke. I remember thinking that Sidney should have paid for it since he is rich and Scott was using all of his odd job money. And the blond Pan Am sister was saying, "Don't waste your money of lawn soap, you should just buy them a table cloth." (And we all looked at her strangely.) Landon was sitting on the couch telling us not to wake up his mom and dad. Then we all went down to Landon/Sidney's basement which was more like a long cave with bats and bat holes on the ceiling. We walked along until there was a huge spider like from Harry Potter, on the other side of the spider was a cave man guy in a animal skin loin cloth. It was Douglas Murrary. He was trying to show us the exit, but the blond sister was afraid of the spider, but the Wizards of Waverly place sister wasnt...thats when I woke up.

Turkey Bowl

2011-11-24T10:37:00.000-08:00

William and Melanee played what looked like Mud Football today...well, from the pictures, it looks like just William played.

The big kids are having Thanksgiving in Tennessee with Dax's family. I'm so thankful they have a place to go and have fun and food!

I am Thankful for Scott

2011-11-23T17:18:00.000-08:00

Because Whitni (and/or Buck) pointed it out...and Because Scott reads the comment section on my blog, I thought I better add that I am also thankful for a great husband who provides us with everything we need.

I love you Scott, but not really your chickens or bees or other "pets".

What I am Thankful For

2011-11-23T14:46:00.000-08:00

Just look at the photos and you will know!

Run For Food Registration

2011-11-22T17:46:00.000-08:00

Bradley has been asking if he can do the "Run For Food" again. I wasn't in a rush to sign him up because last year he just ran, unregistered. This year he wanted to be an "official" runner, but that costs money. The fees and profit made from the run goes to the Jesus Center, a homeless shelter for men, so I guess I don't feel so bad paying for Bradley to run...he also got a really cool long sleeved t shirt and an "official" number, which he was really excited about. He trained each day this week for it, lol, 2 days, but at least he's serious, haha. I knew the place was going to be crowded, so we went before opening. It was at "Fleet Feet" downtown, so parking is never available nearby. I drove by and dropped him off. I gave him his receipt. Then I went and found a parking space. He was about 4th or 5th in line when I drove ONE block. When I parked, fed the meeter, walked back to the store, I found Bradley at the END of a LONG line. I was shocked. I had only given the meter a DIME, I knew he would be QUICK, but he let everyone cut in line because he "didn't have any money"....ummmm BRADLEY, I paid ONLINE, that paper is your RECEIPT, you don't need money!!! Then he was worried what size shirt to get, that was already registered also, it was on the paper, did he look at the paper???? Well, they had tons of workers, so it only took us about 10 minutes to get all done with the wait and registration pick up process. Come back on Thanksgiving for race photos!

Rope Swing

2011-11-22T17:35:00.001-08:00

We went out to lunch with Michelle and Kolby today. On the way home we picked up Bradley's bike from a friend's house. As we were driving home, the kids pointed out the rope swing....so I stopped and they got out and played.

RaboBank

2011-11-22T17:30:00.000-08:00

Andrew pointed this out---

Why would they name a bank "RaboBank"? It sounds like "rob our bank" or if you move two letters it spells out "rob a bank".....

GOOD QUESTION Andrew!

PATTY

2011-11-22T09:18:00.000-08:00

The other day my favorite player on the Sharks Patrick Marleau scored a goal....ever since last season, maybe even the past TWO seasons, I've sent Melanee a text that says simply PATTY, in all caps, when he scores. And I thought she really enjoyed receiving them. Well, during that same game, he scored again, then AGAIN....a HAT TRICK. I sent her 3 PATTY texts. She didn't reply to any of them....so the next time I talked to her I asked if she had received the texts. She said, "yes". So I asked her if she thought they were repeats or if she knew that he scored a hat trick. That's when she told me.....wait for it......waitttttt......she t o l d me that she doesn't care about hockey or the Sharks and that she ignores the Patty texts. WHAT?????

I guess it doesn't matter if we don't share the same interests. It doesn't hurt THAT BAD. I guess.

But then today, I got the cookie photo and upon future inspection and enlarging of photos and reaffirming my discovery with Bradley, I see that she is WEARING HER SHARKS SHIRT!!!! WHAT???? That is, oh whats it called when you say something (dont care about PATTY) and do something else (wear a shirt, making it look like you like PATTY)....hypocritical (nah, that may be a little harsh, haha) ....

but, HOW could she not like the Sharks? or hockey even? lol!!!

And, doesn't she KNOW that it's WAY luckier to wear Shark shirts on GAME DAY!!!!

go USA

2011-11-22T09:00:00.000-08:00

Melanee and Dax made cookies yesterday in the shape of a soccer field. When I first saw this, before I super enlarged it like Allie Ogden recommended, I thought they did the kind of cookies where you use all the dough and make a "pan cookie". I thought they frosted it like a soccer field...but, no, look closely, they really formed their cookie dough into a soccer field. Those two really must be soccer fanatics!!!! I think I'll have Andrew (our resident baker) make me a hockey cookie for tomorrows big Sharks vs. Blackhawks game!!!

Thanks for the photo, but couldn't you guys have really shared the actual cookie???

Still playing???

2011-11-21T22:30:00.000-08:00

William, are you still addicted to this game? I thought about playing tonight....but resisted, because I didn't want to lose "just one more time" minutes of my life!

Sid the Kid

2011-11-21T22:27:00.000-08:00

Sidney Crosby, or as Andrew calls him "Sidney the Kidney", is AMAZING....I could say more, but that about sums it up!!!

Bee Sting

2011-11-21T21:53:00.000-08:00

Now, this one was taken from my phone camera and it is not as high quality as Scotts phone camera....but I got stung by a bee for the first time today! I have avoided the bees ever since Scott began this hobby. Until today! He had left a sweat shirt out in the back patio....where the washer and dryer are....and when I picked it up to throw it in the wash----I got STUNG...I was MAD!!!! And it HURT! I am not a big fan of bees!

Hunt

2011-11-21T21:50:00.000-08:00

Scott, Bradley, and Andrew went hunting on Saturday and Bradley got the only duck of the day. I like this photo, the coloring...good job phone camera!

Group Boards, E mail, Facebook. Twitter, Blogs

2011-11-19T14:37:00.000-08:00

I used to have two or three favorite places to go online when we first got Internet, they were Message Boards. I could talk (type) with people like "Mormon Moms" and "Sport Parents". It was fun for me. I also used to e mail A TON. Every time I opened my e mail there would be new emails. Then most of the message board people left and went to Facebook. For a long time, when I would get on the computer I would check my e mail first, facebook second, twitter third, then I'd blog. Now, I half the time forget to check e mail, because there is hardly anything ever there. Facebook, I like it because the "status updates" are from people I know, but it's a not always all that exciting. Now I always check Twitter first. I don't even "know" the people I "follow" on Twitter...haha....but it is fun to read about all that they are doing and their opinions on stuff.

Most everyone who reads my blog also is a friend on Facebook....so I sometimes wonder, should I write stuff on BOTH? Are blogs going the way of the old Message Boards (and MySpace, haha). Very few of my "blog friends" blog regularly. Maybe I just need new blog friends. Or, really, have people stopped Blogging? Is it a lost art? Will interest in blogs ever pick up again? Should I keep mine updated????

a trick

2011-11-17T19:24:00.000-08:00

I figured out a way to get into my blog....I go to Krisha's blog and click on her link to my blog...yeah, that works!

I don't have any pictures, but I had a pretty good day today. I've been SOOOO tired lately and my back hurts and my wrist hurts and I'm feeling down about stuff that goes on in my ward....so basically I've been feeling sad or bad...not really "depressed" but just down. I've been "tired" a lot....I could take a nap in a second if I ever close my eyes between 11:00 am and 5:00 pm, so I have started to worry that I have "Chronic fatigue syndrome".....when I saw the photo of William giving blood I remembered that I can never give blood because my iron is always too low....so today I took a vitamin and tried to eat good food all day. I think it helped.

And this evening I got to Skype with both Melanee and William together so that was fun. I don't think I have chronic fatigue syndrome, I think I just need to take better care of my health. And I need to have cheerful things happen, like talking to my favorite big kids in Virginia!

And, if the Sharks win tonight, it will have been an EXCELLENT day!

sore wrist

2011-11-17T15:59:00.000-08:00

I think it's getting better, but ever since Saturday my left wrist has been really sore. I have tried wrapping it with an ace bandage and I even borrowed a wrist brace, but the only thing that seems to make it feel better is not using it. It was getting better on Monday, but then we went and played basketball. Now, today, it's starting to feel better again. The things that hurts it the most are washing the dishes, especially cups, opening my car door, and holding or lifting things with my left hand. Pretty much, wrists are an important part of the body. I hope none of you ever injure yours!!!!

for Michelle

2011-11-17T15:56:00.000-08:00

We look NOTHING like the girls in the photo, they actually make me laugh thinking of Michelle and I dressed up like that, so really the picture doesn't fit, but the words of this quote make me instantly think of my friend Michelle! Well, she probably DOES get tired of listening to my pointless drama OVER AND OVER again, but she never shows it! I cant wait till our next lunch get together...they are the BEST! Michelle you are awesome!

Soccer Sign Ups

2011-11-16T19:26:00.000-08:00

I just signed Bradley A N D Andrew up for soccer today. Soccer starts at the end of January. Basketball starts in December. Scouts will still be going on. I am looking forward to the busy time because right now the kids aren't really in anything (except scouts). I am very, very excited that Andrew WANTED to sign up for soccer. He is a really good athlete, but has never really enjoyed soccer, so for him to WANT to sign up....maybe, hopefully, this season will be different!!!!! And Bradley will be thrilled to know that he will no longer be the youngest one on his team and that the 14 year old freshman are now too old to be on his team. I think it's going to be a great season. And if you are wondering--- no, I did not check the little box stating that I will coach!

Retreat

2011-11-16T19:21:00.000-08:00

I found another picture of Melanee from the Leadership retreat she went on a few weeks ago in West Virginia. Funny stuff!

Giving Blood

2011-11-16T19:10:00.000-08:00

William NEVER talks to me anymore on the phone, on Facebook, chat, skype, or even text....but I did get this photo text today....so that made me happy. I guess he is enjoying giving blood, look at that smile. Thanks for the picture William!!! And thanks for giving blood. Good Job!

Parachute

2011-11-16T11:05:00.001-08:00

I still get the "this blog does not exist" message, but I can sign in and post, just not see the posts or any part of the blog when I am through.....
but here is BRADLEY's class today! Yeah, they are 6th graders....playing, and having tons of fun, with the parachute. Isn't that a kindergarten thing? haha! Sorry for the poor picture quality, I took it with my phone camera....no zoom lens...and I didn't want them to see me up close taking their picture...

FHE

2011-11-15T21:38:00.000-08:00

This is for Melanee, whom I KNOW does not read the posts about the Sharks and for Scott who does not read the ones without pictures. I still get the"this blog does NOT exist" error....but if I sign in, I can make new entries, so here goes----Hooker Oak School has been vandalized MANY times since they became a K-8 instead of just K-6. So, over the summer a few years ago they added outside lighting EVERYWHERE. So now, people can got over their and play basketball at night. Bradley, Andrew, and Scott go over there just about everynight to perfect their basketball games. Bradley will be playing church basketball in a few months and Andrew is signed up for city league basketball which starts in Dec.

This is the last picture my little pink camera took before it died a horrible death. (The lens wont come out or open.) I looked on Craigslist for cameras today and there are tons. So in doing my research, you know, finding the model number and seeing customer reviews, prices, etc....I took a lot of time before deciding which one to call on. Well, in the middle of all of it....my Internet shut down....when I finally got it back up, Bradley's bike broke down and I had to go pick him up...so when I finally called the person selling the camera I picked out....it had JUST been sold. But I think for a camera, Craigslist is the way to go....no shipping costs, lots of people getting rid of them because so many phones have nice cameras now, and the cameras are local, so I wont have to wait for a shipment.