NOW YOU SEE IT......

NOW YOU DON'T!!!!!!!

Hayden finally got her boot off on Monday. She has been hobbling around with that thing for six weeks and was not sad to see it go. The doctor said she healed like she should and she can return to normal activity now and sports in two weeks. I am not exactly sure what that means for a six year old. Her normal play is like a football game with no ball. She is always running around, jumping on stuff, tackling something, etc. The doctor said she should only be limited by her pain. Meaning, if her ankle starts to hurt, she should take a rest. Somehow I think cleaning her room or doing other chores might really make her ankle hurt.

Between her broken arm a couple of years ago and her broken ankle, we have been to the orthopedic doctor more times than I would like in her 6 short years of life. When we left, I told the nurse I hope we never see them again. I hope she didn't take it the wrong way. Somehow, I think we will be back.

Happy Birthday to me!

Another birthday has come and gone. I think I am somewhere in the thirties. I spent the day the best way I know how--with my family. We spent the morning at church having a ward swap day and scavenger hunt. I am a smidge competative so I was already gunning for our family to win. When I saw that the prize included a bag of peanut M&Ms, I knew losing was not an option. Thankfully, Bryan and the girls share my competative spirit. So off we went with our list in hand and a plan in mind. We had about half of the things in the car (sad, I know) and we went home for the rest of the stuff. We each picked something to we could get in the house and knew we had to be back in the car within 5 minutes. We found everything except for a 2009 coin. Who knew that would be so hard to come by? So I went to the place that has everything---Walmart. The ladies there went through two registers to find me a shiny 2009 quarter. We raced (not exceeding the speed limit) back to the church and proudly presented our bin of treasures.We won! Nevermind that there weren't very many teams or that we didn't have any small children to tend to. We won! We had a great time. Who knew that something so simple could be so much fun for our family to do together? And a special thank you to our driver who got us there safely and even entertained us with a song or two.

We spent the afternoon just chilling at home then went out to dinner at my FAVORITE restaurant. American Cafe never disappoints. The Spinach con queso was as good as ever and the food was great, as usual. We splurged and ordered dessert. Who can pass up S'mores Sundaes? My girls and Bryan know how to make me feel special. I sure am lucky!

Back to School

It's that time again. The girls started back to school this past Monday. I was not terribly excited about it because I like having them home with me. However, I do like getting back to the routine that goes out the window during the summer time. Even though we were totally prepared for the first day of school and left the house in plenty of time, we managed to hit the dreaded first day of school traffic. The drive that normally takes us 10 minutes on a typical morning, took us 35 minutes. So, we were rushing in to school before the bell rang and I had to hurry them in to their classrooms with a quick kiss goodbye. They all seemed fine but I had a hard time holding it together. They were the most adorable kids at school that day, in my opinion. They were so excited to get started with the school year after having met their teachers the previous week. Hayden was the only one who was remotely hesitant, because she is tired of answering questions about what happened to her foot. (For the record, it is technically her ankle and she broke it on the fourth of July on a trampoline.) They all had a great first day at school. It is going to take some time to get used to not having them home. The summer was just too short.
It is hard for me to believe that Taylor is starting 4th grade. She is so excited to have so many of her friends in her class. She has come home every day for the past week just chatting it up about everything they've done and what she has learned.

Hayden starting 1st grade is the hardest for me to swallow. I guess she isn't me baby anymore. She is so much more grown up and needs me less and less. I am getting sad right now just thinking about it.

Payton was excited to start 3rd grade with her new glasses. When she came home the first day, I asked her if she enjoyed being able to see that board at school. She said it was great and that she kept checking it all day with and without her glasses to see the difference.

Besides missing my girls during the day, I have been dreading school starting for various reasons. Now we are back to ironing uniforms, packing lunches, sitting in carpool, early mornings and signing behavior reports, reading logs, homework folders, permission slips, etc.

I do love to see my girls succeed, though. So, I will keep sending them to school. One more first week of school down. Only 11 more to go. Boo Hoo!! Somebody stop time for me.

On another note--I discovered a new song I like so I added to my playlist. It is by Parachute and is called "She is Love." Enjoy.

Today

Today...I am copying Lynne's blog post.

Today...was the last day of Tiger Ice for this school year and I was able to make it through without getting a single drop on my clothes. That might be because I was only there for third grade.

Today...I ran to Wal-mart to buy lunchables after dropping the kids off at school because they informed me that the sliced ham being served in the cafeteria was "disgusting." I bought a pound of my favorite Jennie-O Sun-dried Tomato Turkey (sliced on a #1) while I was there.

Today...I got a much needed pedicure and indulged myself in a recent copy of Us Weekly while there. When I say much needed, I am serious.

Today...was the last day of after-school choir practice for Taylor. I played bubbles with Hayden while we waited. The big High School Musical concert is on the last day of school. I can't wait.

Today...I went to 3 stores looking for the elusive perfect brown flip-flop. My old ones are RAGGED but I will wear them until I find the perfect replacement.

Today...I was lonely, just like everyday. You would think that after an entire school year, that I would be used to being alone during the day, but I am not.

Today...as usual, I cried when I read Lynne's blog.

Today...Mrs. Funk was nice enough to take Payton home with Elle and then on to soccer practice. The end of the season tournament is this weekend and their team is in second place.

Today...I am sad that the school year is almost over and that means the kids are getting older.

Today...I am excited that the school year is almost over because that means no more ironing uniforms, packing lunches, signing reading logs, etc. for 2 1/2 months.!!!!!

Today...the DVDs were returned on time to the library. That is a first in a very long time.

Today...Hayden came home and promptly changed into her pajamas. Oh wait, that happens everyday.

Today...I was not as concerned about the dog roaming the neighborhood as my neighbor was. He is way nicer about dogs than I am.

Today...I am going to my first mutual activity in a long time since I am now serving in YW after serving in RS for almost 4 years.

Today...I counted the days again until the Benhams get here. Only 10 more days. I can't wait!!!!

Run, Taylor, Run!!

Taylor decided to join her school's cross country team at the first of January. The team was formed this year in the fall. She didn't want to join then but after our family ran the Senior Bowl 5K in November she decided she wanted to. To make the team she had to run 2 miles in 26 or 28 minutes (I can't remember.) When she made the team she was very excited and committed. They had practice every Monday and Friday and meets a couple of times on Tuesdays. They also had one mandatory Port City Pacers 5K a month to run on Saturdays and several other optional races. Each of the 5K races gives awards based on age divisions. She is still in the lowest division, 0-9 girls. This is mostly 9 year old girls. A couple of times there have been younger participants (like her sisters) but not very often. Taylor's hardwork has paid off. At her most recent race, she ran her best time ever - 33:10. This is almost 7 minutes faster than her first 5K. She ran this race with her coach, Ms. Green who was encouraging her the whole way. Here they are together at the end of the year banquet. She is a great coach and sacrificed alot for this team. She ended the season with knee surgery after running a little too hard with Taylor at that last race.

It hasn't always been easy for her. She has finished a couple of races in tears after pushing herself. Hayden has been willing to help her out a few times. Knowing that there were treats and awards at the end of each race also helps.
This was after the Bunny Chase 5K where I think she placed first.

This was part of the ERD team before one of the races.

This was at the end of the year banquet. It is such a great group of kids and parents. Everyone cheers each other on and waits at the end of the race to high-five their team mates. She is excited to be on this team again next year.

These are her other 3rd grade team mates and the rising stars of ERD cross country team.

Butterfly release

Several years ago, our PTA decided to set up two outdoor classrooms, AKA the butterfly gardens. Thanks to several hardworking parents and teachers, they have gotten bigger and better each year. What started out as a couple of canopies with nets thrown over the sides, is now two full size green houses with planters, benches, stepping stones, etc. Parents also donated flowers that butterflies are attracted too and will lay their eggs on. Each year every classroom in the school is given two cups with 5-8 catterpillars in each. The children are able to watch them progress from catterpillar into caccoon in their classroom. The cups are covered with a coffee filter and this is what they attach themselves to. After they become caccoons, (or is is it a chrysallis?), they are transferred to the greenhouses. Clipping these coffee filters to the lines strung across the greenhouses is not the most fun job in the world, but it was all worth it. After a week and a half, we had hundreds of butterflies just waiting to be released. On the day of the release the students gather around the greenhouse as the sides are rolled up and the butterflies start to fly out and sometimes land on the children. Obviously, they all loved it!
I didn't get any pictures of Taylor because the two greenhouses are released at different times and her grade level was scheduled for the second release.

Coastal Cuisine

Part of Taylor's science curriculum this quarter is studying marine life. For the past couple of years at our school, the teachers have ended this unit with a Coastal Cuisine luncheon. This allows the students the chance to sample the local cuisine that includes some of the things they have learned about. The teachers put this whole thing together and the kids make decorations for the hallway. On the menu this year was gumbo, hush puppies, crawfish, bowled shrimp, and banana pudding .

Taylor willingly put everything on her plate but was not willing to try everything. She tasted the gumbo and said it was too spicy. She didn't want anything to do with the crawfish. She was willing to try the shrimp once a classmate offered to peel it for her but, when she saw the inside of eat, she changed her mind. She liked the hush puppies and banana pudding and asked for seconds. I was surprised at how many of the kids actually enjoyed the crawfish. I guess because it is not my thing, I figured kids that age wouldn't like them either. Yet, a lot of the kids were cracking those things open and sucking the heads like pros. Yuck!

Here are some gratuitous seafood pictures for the Benhams. Just a few more weeks and you can partake in your very own Coastal Cuisine.

Thanks to Maureen for being my hand model.

Confessions of a Shopaholic

I have a confession to make. I have a slight shopping addiction. I don't spend my time hunting bargains for clothes, shoes, purses, makeup, or scrapbook supplies. I am addicted to finding great bargains on groceries. I like getting the Wednesday grocery ads a little more than I should and the Target ad is the first thing I pull out of the Sunday paper. I try to keep my coupons clipped so I can make good use of them. This isn't a new found love. This has been part of me for many years. Back when I was first married and when Taylor was a baby, Lynne and I used to spend hours clipping coupons and shopping at Delchamps when they would double and triple coupons. Sometimes we would close the store down trying to stock up on tinfoil, toothbrushes, cereal, etc. for free or just a few pennies. Delchamps eventually closed and those middle of the night grocery runs were history. But my need for a good grocery bargain lives on. You don't want to get behind me in the checkout at Walmart. I love to ad match and use coupons and it usually takes awhile. I also love to get my coupons doubled (up to 50 cents) at Brunos. I have recently discovered Targets $5 gift cards with certain purchases. But the story doesn't end there. Just a few weeks ago I was getting my weekly fix from the Wednesday grocery ads when I saw it.....Brunos was tripling coupons up to 55 cents on Saturday. Oh My Gosh!! I was so excited. And if that wasn't exciting enough, it has continued every Saturday for the past month. So what is a girl to do that has a stockpile of coupons and a addiction to good grocery bargains?! Go to Brunos. My first trip a few weeks ago yielded this bounty:

Any guesses on how much 5 bags of frozen biscuits, 5 boxes of Hormel lunch meat, 6 tubs of country crock spread, 10 large jars of Ragu, 8 tubs of frosting, 2 jars of wostershire, 1 box of crunch n' munch, 10 5ct. packages of Pringles minis, 12 boxes of Ziploc bags, 1 bottle of hot sauce, 1 bottle of Hungry Jack syrup, 4 bottles of Pine-sol, 11 rolls of Bounty paper towels, 2 bottles of shampoo, 2 bottles of detangler, 16 boxes of granola bars, 16 boxes of fiber one bars, and 17 1-lb. bags of rice costs? (That is 130 items -- all of which, we use)

Drumroll please......$117.00 with a savings of $232.97.

But it doesn't stop there. Here is the receipt for the day I spent 54 cents TOTAL on 6 boxes of cereal.

This is the other day at Target when I got 8 boxes of cereal and 8 jars of peanut butter for a cool $16.43.

Last Saturday's haul at Bruno's yielded this result:

I got these 17 1-lb. bags of rice, 25 rolls of Bounty paper towles, 16 boxes of Betty Crocker muffin mix, 16 Betty Crocker Warm delights (for when the Benham's come), and 5 boxes of Ziploc bags for $42.41.

The only drawback is that Bruno's will only let you do 10 coupons at a time so I have to stand in line dividing up my order into groups of 10 and try to keep the correct coupons together. My bank actually called me a few weeks ago because there was "suspicious" activity on my account. Apparently multiple small transactions at the same place sets off some sort of fraud alert.

I love finding a good deal, I love seeing my cupboards full for my family, and I love knowing that I am getting my food storage in place.

Sorry about the music...

I don't ever have the sound turned up on my computer. So, I had forgotten that I had such a depressing song leading off my playlist. I am sorry about that. I have now changed my playlist and added a new song to the top. I have loved it since I first heard it a couple of months ago. Every word of it describes how I feel about Bryan. It is such a sweet little song and I can't get it out of my head. So turn your speakers up and listen to The Plain White T's singing "1234."

Easter 2009

This one's for you, Riley!

First a little background info: I haven't blogged in a while because my card reader stopped working a few months ago. I had great intentions of buying one but I just never got around to it. So, Lynne the Awesome-est sent me one so I could upload pictures and update my blog for Riley. I am guessing Lynne didn't want to waste a trip to the post office on just a card reader so she filled our flat rate box with goodies for the family. She made the girls the most adorable skirts for Easter and with the extra fabric she made me a cute apron. She also included flower clips to match (see why she is the awesome-est.) We love packages from Utah, especially when they include authentic "Utahian" goods. Lynne did not disappoint this time. She included chocolate covered cinnamon bears and a Down East tee for me. Add to that some FHE kits and a bag of Easter Candy for Bryan and you have the most awesome package we have received in a long time.

Between my new card reader and my guilt, I have been compelled to update the old blog today. So Easter pictures is what you will get. Here is our Easter recap:

Last night Hayden was worried that we didn't have any carrots to put out for the Easter Bunny so we left him the next best thing--celery with peanut butter. Rabbits eat that, right? He must have liked it because he left the girls some goodies. (Even though I told Hayden I thought she was on his bad list. Does the Easter Bunny keep a good list and a bad list?)

Hayden was excited to see that the Easter Bunny didn't eat all of the celery because she wanted some. As she was about to eat it, Taylor and Payton started freaking out at her because they didn't think it was safe to eat after the Easter Bunny. Really?!? Just when I thought they had already thought of everything in the world to argue about, they find something else. I guess they are only concerned about her safety. So I made Hayden her very own celery with PB.

The girls looked especially cute this morning with their new Easter skirts (courtesy of Lynne) and flowers in their hair. So after church, we went over to Mobile Botanical Gardens for pictures. We had only been there once, a very long time ago for a wedding, so we just went there on a whim. It is open everyday from dawn to dusk and is free. It was Beautiful. The still had azaleas blooming and bunch of walking trails with great places to take pictures. I only wish my camera skills matched the setting.

We were even able to get a half way decent picture of Bryan and I. This was the only picture, out of all the ones the girls took, that was in focus and had both of our heads in the frame.

After we got all of the pictures I wanted we went home for the long awaited egg hunt. The girls are getting passed the age when you can just throw the eggs in the grass and call it a day. Bryan and I actually had to hide them this time.

Bryan did hide some just out of their reach for our own amusement. It was fun watching them jump over and over for two little eggs. After Taylor walked off, Payton tried to strike up a deal with me. She said if I got the eggs down for her, she would let me have one of them. I did finally get them down for her because I knew she was willing to risk injury for a plastic egg. She almost face-planted on the driveway while trying fetch this little egg.I really didn't think Hayden would be able to able to reach the eggs in the top of the crape myrtles but she is no dummy. She just shook the heck out of those trees until the eggs fell.The weather was really nice today so the girls sat on the driveway and sorted goodies while Bryan and I sat on the front porch and chilled. It was such relaxing way to spend a Sunday afternoon.