Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Progress......



These are the last of the trees I need to plant. So far we have planted over 30 trees throughout our yard....



This is our courtyard. This is the beginning stages of getting the rock laid.



This is our front yard. I think we have finally gotten all the plants,lighting and water lines done. Next step ROCKS!!!!




Tomorrow is the day for getting the rock pile done... Pray for my back:)

Monday, June 22, 2009

Keigan and Brie'el off to Europe!!!






SEVEN countries in SIXTEEN days. Keigan and Brie'el are off to Europe traveling with 325 band/choir students. The Ambassadors of Music program is amazing. Desert Ridge's band director nominated both of them and they were accepted. They will go to England, France,Switzerland,Liechtenstein,Austria, Italy, and Germany.



It as been a year long commitment. Over these economic times, we almost opted out. But with special thanks to my parents for helping financially we somehow pulled it off!!! (THANK YOU!)

I took them to the airport yesterday morning at 6am. I got a text this morning at 3:24am. They made it to London and the are touring as we speak!! I am looking forward to many stories and sharing pictures from their trip!!!

I will keep you posted....

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Veronika Decides to Die




The story centers on Veronika, a woman in her mid twenties who appears to have everything: good looks, good job and a great life ahead of her. Yet she decides to end her own life. She is unsuccessful and awakens in a mental hospital where she learns that she has five days to live. We learn that the reason that she attempted suicide was that she felt so constrained by the rules and expectations of 'normal' society that she had concluded that she had experienced all that life had to offer. However in the hospital she meets people who are only 'insane' because they don't always follow society's rules. With little left to lose, Veronika embarks on a journey on which she frees herself to experience relationships and emotions and ultimately discovers what it means to live.




I thought this book was good. It allowed me to open my mind and view things differently... I must say it is an odd book. I have read nothing like it before. If you have an open ming you will enjoy:)

Sunday, June 14, 2009

swimming....







We are having great weather here.... I am really feeling spoiled. It was 88 degrees this morning at 10 when I picked Bryce up at a friends. We are used to temperatures over 100 by this point. I am not upset by this. I really do hate such hot weather. The only problem is.... the pools are not warm enough for me....I know ...clear your throat and tell me I am a baby. Well you would be absolutely right. AND I do not care. I have lived in Arizona long enough to not have to swim in cold water....

So I wait. And trust me people, it will get hot here!!!!

Caramel rolls...














These are so good. Super easy to make... 4 ingredients.

Rhodes frozen dough balls
put in bundt pan
pour butterscotch pudding mix over the top (not instant)
mix 1/2 cup of butter and brown sugar
mix butter and sugar and pour over rolls
cover with towel
go to bed
wake up
turn on oven 350
bake for 20
eat!!!!

Enjoy!!!!

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

MOST EXCITED......

I have blisters and a sore back. BUT I am excited? let me explain. Frank and I had some trees/bushes delivered today. I am finding some delight working in the yard. I have over 20 to plant. This ground is yard!!!! Stupid Arizona dirt. But We are gaining some ground. I am so hungry from forgetting lunch, and do not have time to post pics. I will do that tomorrow!!!

I love looking at this yard knowing Frank and I did it ourselves. I only wish it would go a bit quicker.


I'll post tomorrow!!!!

Monday, June 8, 2009

Good stuff!!!

I got a lot done today. I finished my book. I organized. I did laundry. I talked on the phone. I worked in the yard. I talked with my children. I watched TV......

What more can I ask for?

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Tangrams!!!

Kelsey REALLY loves to do these.... 10 years later I will let you know how smart she has become!!!!

I bought a calendar for Keigan...... and it has one for each day of the year.











The tangram (Chinese: 七巧板; pinyin: qī qiǎo bǎn; literally "seven boards of skill") is a dissection puzzle consisting of seven flat shapes, called tans, which are put together to form shapes. The objective of the puzzle is to form a specific shape (given only in outline or silhouette) using all seven pieces, which may not overlap.

The Tangram may have roots in the yanjitu (燕几圖) furniture set of the Song Dynasty. This furniture set saw some variation during the Ming Dynasty, and later became a set of wooden blocks for playing.

While the tangram is often said to be ancient, the earliest known printed reference to tangrams appears in a Chinese book dated 1813, which was probably written during the reign of the Jiaqing Emperor.[1]


The tans are often stored as a rectangleThe tangram's existence in the West has been verified to no earlier than the early 19th century, when they were brought to America on Chinese and American ships. The earliest known example, given to the son of an American ship owner in 1802, is made of ivory and has a silk box.[citation needed]

The word tangram was first used in 1848 by Thomas Hill, later President of Harvard University, in his book Geometrical Puzzle for the Youth.

The author and mathematician Lewis Carroll reputedly was a tangram enthusiast and owned a Chinese book with tissue-thin pages containing 323 tangram designs. Napoleon is said[by whom?] to have owned a tangram set and Chinese problem and solution books during his exile on the island of St. Helena, although this has been contested by Ronald C. Read. Photos[of what?] are shown in The Tangram Book by Jerry Slocum.

Sam Loyd's 1903 spoof of tangram history, The Eighth Book Of Tan, claims that the game was invented 4,000 years ago by a god named Tan. The book included 700 shapes, some of which are impossible to solve. [2]

Friday, June 5, 2009

Leap Frog

Brenlie loves to read. Or to be read to. I bought these Leap Pad books for my older kids years ago. Over time when I see them clearanced I have bought more. These have been in the closet. I love it when I can recycle good toys from my older kids to my younger ones.

I have reading, math, phonics, and music. I really got into it a few years back and probably have over 20 books in total.

Kyler,Kelsey, and Brenlie are having a blast. I was cleaning my bedroom and Brenlie was "reading"........

She is to cute!!!!















I am so glad I kept some of the toys over the years. Sometimes I wonder if it is worth it keeping things for so long. Today I know I am!!!!

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Lets make donuts!




Brie'el and Brett made these.... Don't they look yummy? I especially like Patrick Star in the middle.

I have to say I am pretty impressed. They spent the afternoon with Carol making these donuts. And they enjoyed spending time with a MOTHER!!!!


I love seeing my kids mature over the years... Good stuff

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Better Blogger?

I am going to take the challenge of being a better blogger!!!!
This is going to be hard... These days I seem to be at a loss for words. Crazy thought I know.... I am a talker. I text and I can talk to friends and family on the phone.

BUT....

Speechless on the computer!!!!

We did celebrate my Dad's 61st birthday. The kids swam, ate and played ball in the lawn!! Here's proof....









It was nice to spend time with my Dad and Devon and watch the kids play.

Thanks Dad for another great birthday!!!!