Random Thought

I made a wish on a falling star.

I wished for younger looking skin.

Now I have acne.

Close to escape

Since the weather has been cooling off we have been aching to go hike the White Tanks.

Every time I visit the ocean I always think how crazy the locals are for not visiting it more often. Yet, we live very close to a beautiful dessert landscape that can be hiked, explored, biked or just visited for a picnic. And how often do we over look this great city escape?

I for one am going to try my best to take advantage to this dessert beauty and take more time to "escape".

Big shout out to Amy's Clan for escaping to the White Tanks with us!

THANKS

Our kids, just keeping it real!

My healthy dessert was a kiddie crowd pleaser. They were double, triple and quadruple dipping.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cereal Bars

Rock Hunting

Last weekend we went to the Mountains with my family and hunted for rocks. If you would like to know why we were hunting for rocks you should check out my Afterschooling blog.

Not only were we on the look out for rocks but we (meaning me) had an eye out for signs of Fall. Unfortunately the day was actually very warm for a Fall day in the mountains. However the colors were there and they were beautiful.

The kids had so much fun and Pa-Pa seemed more than happy to share his little rock jackpot with us. Everywhere you looked there were crystal shaped rocks, geodes and other beautiful rocks to be found. Plus the kids got to use a hammer, they were in "rock paradise". Tomorrow we are going to take the rocks out to the backyard and hose them down (maybe, I said maybe, do more hammering). The kids are so excited to see the rocks all cleaned up.

Here are our captured moments of rock hunters and an almost Fall day. Just so you know the one of Maggie is my favorite. I'm telling you that girl truly "ROCKS".

I can't let this post go without asking WHY?
Mom, why did you have these sunglasses in your glove box? WHY?
I mean, any normal person knows that these glasses are for wearing. Tee-Hee!

Did you know I had a crooked smile? I have always had it and I have always hated it. It's so weird, it's like who taught you how to smile? I consciously avoid smiling like that during pictures. I was laughing so hard before this picture I must have let my guard down.

Funny of the Day

Seriously if I could start my life all over again I would choose to be exactly like this girl. She is so amazing! She has the best personality and biggest loving heart. She makes me laugh, surprises me with her intelligence, loves having fun and isn't afraid to just let loose.
Here's to Miss Maggie on the day of all days........

CRAZY HAIR DAY

Now that is a girl with serious "Spirit".

I can't forget to add what a good example she is to her little sis.

Special note that everyday is crazy hair day for this one.

Matthew is a completely different story as he thought his crazy hair was "like crazy cool". He was posing like it was some kind of magazine photo shoot and I was trying to be normal about it but I had Spencer laughing in the back ground. He was saying, "Matthew is trying to be cool". How do I survive this?
Spencer stayed home again. However, I do believe that getting in my hair all day and making me crazy counts as an official crazy hair day for Spencer.

It's Official

On Thursday I became an official City of Surprise employee. How exciting!
I am going to be instructing some of their tot and preschool classes. This week I get to go in and observe the classes that I will be taking over and the following week I become Miss Christy again. I love being Miss Christy!
The two classes that I will be instructing are: Tunes For Tots and Little Learners.

This is a huge blessing for our family as we have been officially stuck on stage 2 of operation Dave Ramsey. We have been feeling like we are on a treadmill just running and running and not getting anywhere. So about two weeks ago we all pledged that we would ALL make sacrifices and up the intensity level, "GAZELLE INTENSITY". Everyone was asked the question; What are you willing to give up? It was not easy but we have all pulled together and made amazing things happen already. Two yard sales, a half dozen Craigslist posting, some serious fasting and prayers, budget readjustments and a Suburban up for sale tells all, we are SERIOUS.
As part of the plan I was also looking for a couple daycare kids. That was until I caught wind of the Surprise Recreation job. It has all come together and it has truly been a testimony of the importance of getting out of debt and being self -reliant. We have learned that the Lord plays a huge role in this process if you will just let him in, ask for his guidance and be willing to make sacrifices.

GAZELLE INTENSITY BABY

Random Thought

Bipolar

or

Fire and Ice

She's sun and rain,she's fire and ice
A little crazy but it's nice
And when she gets mad, you best leave her alone
'Cause she'll rage just like a river
Then she'll beg you to forgive her
She's every woman that I've ever known

Still debating

Mellow Out

I was just looking through my posts so far this month and I have been quite the intense blogger. I feel I may need to loosen up a bit and post something just for the fun of it. Nothing with hidden meanings or life lessons. Not even anything crafty or creative. Just plain FUN!

So here you have it the top 10 reasons why I will not be mother of the year for 2009

1. I can't help reliving elementary school with my kids; Spell "I cup", Beans Beans the Magical fruit, I am actually debating on whether or not to teach them the diarrhea song, it's just so funny.

2. When Spencer said he played truth or dare at school and I asked him what happened. He said that a girl dared him to "lick a cows butt" I laughed (loud)

3. After winning a game of Super Mario Party 8, I pinned the boys down and sang, "I am the champion, no room for losers because I am the champion, OF THE WORLD", while they cried.

4. I sent Spencer to school with My Little Pony fruit snacks and a note written on Barbie paper telling him how much I love him. (he found it and stuck it in his pocket really fast before the kids could see it). REVENGE!

5. I sing songs for the boys at night to make them laugh. Doesn't sound bad, right? "I know a boy the stinkiest boy, stinkier than any other. Listen I'll whisper his stinky name to you. It is the name of Spencer" It just gets worse from there. I can't help it. It's what I do.

6. I found Matthew's journal entry about his secret date with his friend and I read it all the way to the end, laughed and shared the news with his friends mom, we laughed. You would laugh too, it was GREAT!

7. I use scare tactics. Example: Maggie came home from school one day and informed me that her friend Maddie was not at school today because she was sick and the teacher said that it wasn't against the law.

8. All of my kids are convinced that they need to join Weight Watchers.

9. I need to work on compassion. Maggie has been in school for 3 months and has already been to the nurse at least 4 times. Her teacher leaves me notes about her tummy hurting, girlie itches, headaches and other ailments. None of which she ever complains about at home. I guess she had a little taste of compassion and ran with it. Good for her!

10. This morning while I was putting an eclair (my Monday healthy dessert) into Spencer's lunch and he asked, "What if the kids say it looks gross?" Here it is in all of it's glory, I replied, "You just say, you mean like your face"

And that is why I will not be Mother of the Year (this year anyway)

Did somebody call "TIME OUT"?

Being an athlete (OK I used to be, that's not the point) I have really grown to love the term Time Out For Women. This was my fifth year participating in a Time Out LDS style and I love it.

So here is the picture: The score is kids 10 and mom 5 with one lifetime left to go and mom is looking a little haggard and drained. What will she do? Will she pull out of it? I think she might give up, Oh no wait what is this? Yest it looks like it, mom is calling a TIME OUT. Good for her.

It feels so good to step away from the norm even if it is just for a short time. It feels even better to feel the spirit so powerfully the entire time you are away. To laugh, to cry, to ponder and have a new strong desire to obey.

Here is a rundown of what I learned while I was on a Time Out:
Brad Wilcox

• I learned that it is OK to be happy, laugh and let my sense of humor shine. Which was a good lesson since I was getting ready to put it on a shelf and try to forget that it was there.

John Bytheway

• Confirmed, Marjerie Pay Hinkley is the most wonderful women ever. I learned that we should all be "50" for eternity. That is when she says you stop competing and just start living.
• I decided to take the Wendy Watson challenge: For 5 days pray every morning for the effort to feel the Holy Ghost within you all day. When challenges come up through the day get back down on your knees and pray for the spirit to help you through your challenge. I can't remember the list of all of the things that come from being diligent in this great challenge but it was good, Trust Me.
• I need to choose to be delightful, DUH! Seems like a no brainer.
• Back to the ball game: Only this time it is Satin vs Jesus Christ, good vs evil. We know the ending we know who wins so what Jersey are we going to wear? I think I am pretty competitive so this analogy will really help me. I CHOOSE THE WINNING TEAM, the happy ending.

Emily Watts

• This is good stuff, let's see if I can tell it so you can understand it. First of all it is important to know that life is not all about how we look. However, our Outward appearance is a manifestation of our inward commitments. Example: We don't wear jeans and t-shirts to church because we have an inward commitment to dressing with respect for the sacred ordinance that will be performed. Get it? SO, Don't fake a commitment by faking appearance. Just think about it.
• Analogy: Our kids are like fruit, rotten, just kidding, as they grow there are different stages of ripeness until they are ready to be eaten (yum). Fruit gets it's nourishment and continues to ripen by feeding it, watering in and then leaving the rest up to the "sun". So as mommy's we need to do what we can to raise our amazing little people but (read carefully) we can not raise "ripe fruit" without the "Son". This was huge for me, how often do I think, being a mom would be easier if I had a manual and some extra hands. Guess what? I do, I just have to have faith, do my best (or close to) and leave the rest up to the "Son". Beautiful message.

Emily Freeman

• Parable of the Loaves and Fishes

1. What do you have to offer? Determine what you have and make the most of it and you will find an abundance. We can be part of miracles in the ordinary times of our lives.

2. Give it all. The lad with the loaves and fishes gave it all. After giving it all the Lord provided a miracle and there was an abundance.

3. Learn to be content. The barley loaves and fishes were actually common food for the lower class or poor. Regardless the people didn't complain and ate until they were content. Abundance comes from even the simplest of offerings. Be content with what you have been given.

Best Part. Everything was in place for the miracle: The loaves, fishes, lad and disciples but with out Christ there would have been no miracle, no abundance. The Lord knew of this miracle before he performed it and he knows of the miracles awaiting us. We need to put everything into place so we can partake of the abundance. LOVE IT!!

Wendy Ulrich

• What stands between you and being prepared to stand before the Lord spotless? You want a list?
• Difference between Sin and Weakness Sin is the element of self deception, knowing wrong and doing it anyway. Satin is the author of sin and it lives in our agency to choose right from wrong. Sin CAN be eliminated through the atonement of Jesus Christ. Weakness is any inadequacy or limitation God gives unto man. God uses the weaknesses to help us reach our Heavenly goal. Satin tries to turn our weakness into sin. Weakness is part of being human and CAN NOT be eliminated. We need to have humility and be meek and teachable to overcome them.
• 5 p's to overcoming weakness

Ponder: is this a sin or weakness

Prioritize: what do I want to work on first

Practice: overcoming things takes time

Props: write down your efforts and success, reward system

Patience: it takes time but it is well worth it

Kim Belcher

• I didn't take many notes because I was laughing so hard. But I can tell you the lessons I learned from a women who had so much pain and reason to anguish were way beyond note taking. Find laughter in life even when things aren't on the up and up and JUST LAUGH. Choose to be happy regardless of what you are facing. Use the Saviors power to give you the will to be happy, to laugh and to love life regardless of your circumstances. Let hope replace fear and that knowledge that one day, you will sit at the right hand of God guide your life into finding light within the dark.

I have been in many games where a time out is necessary and that is why I love the analogy of a time out. The game gets intense, the coach is yelling, nothing seems to be working, everyone is tired and you and your team mates are losing hope. Time outs provided a chance to recollect, get a quick break, make a plan and reestablish your purpose. To WIN or have fun, which ever you prefer. This time out however was to reestablish my relationship with my Father in Heaven and remember what it is all for. Someday MY LB and I will sit at the right hand of God and we are going to do all we can to teach our kids what they need to do to sit there with us.

It has been a while and mom is still huddled trying to figure out just what she will do. Wait, I think she is about ready to get back in the game. The kids look ready and all charged up too. Yes here she comes, here comes mom. She is back in the game.

GOOOOO MOM!!

I love to see the Temple

On Monday for Afterschooling we decided to visit the Temple. Afterschooling in the car is fantastic. They brought their reading books and homework to work on while we drove.

The Temple is so beautiful. Every time we round the corner and the Temple comes into our view we begin to sing, "I Love To See The Temple." It is always so emotional, a testimony of the truthfulness of the house of the Lord.

This trip was a special trip as the Monday prior we had a pretty spiritual experience during Afterschooling when we were discussing the challenges we have faced in our lives and comparing them to those of Lehi's family. We also discussed how we dealt with our difficult challenges.

Do we do as Nephi and say, "I will go and do the things that the Lord commands"? This spiritual experience we all shared as a family led to the importance of the Temple. It was amazing how we could feel the Lords hand in our lives and in the rearing of our children as we discussed how important it is for them to choose the Temple now and to let their lives reflect that very choice, "I Choose The Temple".

We have heard that phrase throughout our home this past week, "I Choose The Temple", and it has become what the kids call, our catch phrase. We bought all of the kids pictures of the Temple to write our catch phrase on and hang next to their beds.

What a blessing the Gospel has been in our lives. I can't imagine raising these four wonderful children without the guidance of a living Prophet, the teachings of The Book of Mormon, the blessings of the Temple and the knowledge of a Savior that loves each one of us.

Bye Summer, Hello Fall

As most of you know from some of my posts this summer I was a big cry baby (especially towards the end). I couldn't stand the thought of even stepping outside into the sweat provoking heat vapors. I made a big hurrah on every ones blogs that posted about beautiful weather and nondesert surroundings. And I may have done a little whining about wanting to move away from the dry heat.

You may be thinking big baby, right? Well that's OK because I found someone (something) that surely agrees with me.

Don't you see it? The signs of summer have taken a huge tole on this innocent STOP sign. Every time I look at it I think, boy that sign speaks a thousand words. You want to know what it says? No not stop, don't be smart. It says that summer is just not what it is cracked up to be.

Seriously I have looked at many more Stop signs and for some reason this is the only one that looks like this. I guess it was just made different then the rest. Not able to withstand the heat of summer. Yeah sure it still says stop and people still stop when they see it but still, it's different. I am not saying it is special or better then the rest, just different.

I love this sign that says STOP!

Last Monday we said goodbye to summer with a tasty summer treat.

Sour Cherry Soup

Today we say hello to Fall with a yummy Fall dessert.

Pumpkin Ginger Chiffon Pie

Cherry Soup 2pts

Pumpkin Pie 5pt

I have yet to make a cake or pie for less pts.

Still a bit rocky

What's worse battling the rocks of nature or stumbling over the rocks of life?

Lately my nine year old has been in a different world. When I looked into it I found out he actually purchased a ticket to La La Land about a month ago. It has been a slow steady trip but I am sure he has finally arrived at his destination.

I think I may have to buy myself a ticket so I can get their just to talk to him. I am pretty sure that if you can see someone than chances are they can hear you too. I may be wrong, he is trying to prove me wrong.

Yesterday I hit my breaking point. He just walked around like he was the only one in the world and life did not exist beyond him (La La Land). So I told him that until his behavior changed he was grounded from video games. Surprising how fast the trip back from La La Land takes.

My nine year old through a full on fit (crying, whining and screaming). He was so mad he took three deep breaths and then he said, "I hate you mom". What? Yeah right.

I sent him to his room to sleep because I am pretty sure he is not sleeping (reading or something instead).

When I went upstairs to check on him he looked up at me and said, "I love you mom". Of course I said, "I know". Crazy kid!

This morning he was back in La La Land.