I'm so excited

Ya know the song, "I'm so excited, I just can't hide it, la la la la la la la laaaa lllllaaa." Well, I am excited. Steve called me that other day from work and told me that his work his sending him to Puerto Rico. He asked if I would like to come along. I said, "Absolutely!!!" We can use this trip to celebrate the fact that I will be done with my masters..... I am way excited!!!! We will be going in August right before school is back in session.

Zane is now an 11 year old scout

Zane's Crossing Over Ceremony: Zane was shaking like a leaf thinking that he may fall off that dangerous bridge. Zane is sure happy to now be an eleven year old scout. He has a really good leader and the boys are really nice. He seems to be excited to go.
Zane's Arrow of Light Ceremony: This was so cool! These boys den leader started playing an Indian type song on his flute. They boys came in very solemn and slowly taking the whole thing very seriously. They then called Zane up and each of them spoke to him and gave him advice. It gave me the tingles. They then awarded him his Arrow of Light. The boys especially liked the animal hats that they were wearing!
After the two ceremonies, Zane left to go swimming with the 11 year old scouts and the younger scouts, Noah included, went geo-caching with Steve. They were searching for a container full of candy. They were happy to find it and pig out!!

Pinewood Derby

Noah wanted his car to look like a Hershey's chocolate bar. He and Steve cut the car in halfish lengthwise and then cut 10 small rectangle pieces. Noah then sanded them all so that they were roundish. He then glued them to the top and spray painted it all a lovely shade of brown. He then modge-podged a wrapper and foil from a king size special dark candy bar onto it. It looked really nice. Everyone at the derby loved it.
Zane wanted his car to look like a wing from the side. I should have taken a picture from that view, but didn't. He and Steve cut it to Zane's specifications and then Zane sanded it down. He then sprayed it with a stupendous shade of orange. (I really like it!) He wanted the top to be "cool" so he and Steve found this wallpaper on the computer and printed it. They then modge-podged it onto the car. Everyone loved his car too and were amazed how he got the design.
The cars closer up.
Stevie waiting patiently for cars to come down the track. We are so glad we went and enjoyed ourselves immensely. Our cars didn't win first or even second, or even third this year, but the boys just really didn't seem to mind. They had fun anyway!!! I wish I had taken a picture of the dessert we took. It was a popcorn cake. Noah found the recipe in one of the kids cookbooks that I have. He popped the 16 cups of popcorn that the recipe calls for. He then proceeded with the recipe, not thinking to take out the uncooked kernals. His popcorn cake was a landmine. You never knew when or if you were going to lose a tooth. We decided that we had probably better leave it home. Zane went into the kitchen and made another popcorn cake and learned from the former mistake and took out all the uglies. We took his cake to the derby and everyone gobbled it up. They were both yummy!!!

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger!

My men got home from the winter freeze out last night. Steve and the younger boys were exhausted. Baxter seemed just fine and probably could have gone again. I worried about them the whole time they were gone because I knew that they were hiking into their site at night and it was suppose to be snowing and also having freezing rain. I was also worried because I know that even though Steve has always loved to hike that he is getting older, is out of shape and his knees and feet bother him. I kept telling them last night that it was a character building activity. My two younger boys learned that they could do something that was really hard for them. They hopefully also learned that when they don't feel like they can go any further and that they have done their best that their load will be lightened so that they can finish. (Steve and Dan B. took part of their load) But ya'll understand what I'm alluding to. Hopefully they also realized that even though their dad knew he would be in considerable pain when he got home that he was willing to go with them because he loves them. They all probably really went for the paintballing in the mountains. Sounds like they really enjoyed that. By the time they hiked down off the mountain they were completely covered with freezing rain. (Boy am I glad I wasn't there.) All things considered I think it was a good experience all around.

It's Over

It has been the best of times, and I can't bring myself to say the worst of times, but they haven't all been the best. We have had a nice relaxing break, but I must admit that I am somewhat pleased that we will be going back to school tomorrow.
PRO: I am ready to go back to school and have the children listen to me and behave without threats of hot sauce or death.
PRO: It will be nice to have my children go to bed on time and get up early again.
CON: I am however not looking forward to packing lunches every blessed morning. It wouldn't be so bad but not all of my children will eat sandwiches, mainly Ceci, so I have fallen into the trap of making her and Baxter and occasionally Noah wraps and Zane and Stevie sandwiches. I know I made my bed, but sometimes I still find it uncomfortable. Then I have to deal with remembering who likes what in regards to fruit and snacks. WHAT A PAIN!!! But I guess it is worth is when I FEEL like I am saving money.
PRO and CON: I will miss Stevie and her shiny self, but will enjoy being able to go to the bathroom without a visitor, and enjoy some alone time without 20 questions popping up all day long.
PRO: I will be able to use my computer at school without having to fight a child to get off of it.
CON: Homework will start up again. Me sending it home and my children receiving it.
PRO: I will hear the children start to practice the piano again. I really do enjoy this, I am not just saying it.
It is a good thing that we experience change in life so that we can appreciate all that we have. I love and am very grateful for my home life and I am also very grateful and love what I do at school too. It may seem like a double edged sword at times but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Slight flashback

A couple of days ago my kids started talking about movies that they really liked when they were younger. They mentioned Free Willy 1-3, Hercules, Beauty and the Beast, Independance Day, Saturday's Warriors etc... Stevie and Noah had very little if any recollection of these movies so the kids crawled under the stairs and pulled out the four or five boxes of VHS movies that have be stored under there forever. They also pulled out the VHS machine and hooked it all up. Our family room looked like a tornado had hit it. It reminding me of when Baxter used to pull out all of our videos and build with them and makes roads etc.. (I think he was around 2) Anyway, Stevie and Noah got to experience all of the movies that the older kids had been mentioning. All the kids enjoyed listening to the tapes rewind, kind of a lost sound. Now Stevie is as hooked on Free Willy as the other kids were years ago. I don't know if Steven and I can go through another Free Willy phase as the first one almost killed us but we will endure. Hopefully the videos will find their way back under the stairs before long and life will get back to normal.

Meatloaf Surprise!!!

Long, long ago when Steven and I were the only members of our family we went and visited Grandma Blake. It was around lunchtime and she asked if we had eaten yet. We innocently said, "No." She then pulled some cold meatloaf out of the fridge and made us cold meatloaf sandwiches. I loved mine. Yummy! Steve was a good sport and choked his down. At a later date I decided to make meatloaf, because what I liked was supposed to be important too, right? Well I made him Scottish meatloaf that had a whole boiled egg in the middle of each small loaf. He said he liked it and seemingly enjoyed it. I have made meatloaf maybe five more times in our sixteen years and everytime he has said, "Why don't you make that one with the egg in it, you know I liked it." Well tonight was the night since Ceci had been asking me all week when I was making meatloaf. She is like me and really likes it. I made 9 individual loaves all with a surprise boiled egg in it. The conversation around the table went as follows: Ceci, "Oh, Mom this has an egg in it. Hum." Baxter cut into his and said, "An egg, wow!" Zane noticed his too. We then had prayer. Noah started to eat his loaf. He then completely stopped, got an amazed look on his face and said, "There is a whole egg in here, and it's not even mixed in or cut up." He looked up at all of us with total surprise. He couldn't understand why we all burst into laughter. We don't know where he was but he obviously missed something. He just kept shaking his head and looking at that egg and we kept on giggling. Steve again seemingly enjoyed his and much to his joy he gets another for lunch tomorrow.

I have been enjoying Christmas break because.....

I have been enjoying my Christmas break because.....
1. I have had time to read.
2. I have had time to make a menu and go shopping for it.
3. I have had time to make meals for my family.
4. My family has been very grateful for the homemade food being placed on the table.
5. I have been able to say "NO" to each of my children as they have asked me if I had homework to do.
6. I have enjoyed Stevie helping me to plant a lily and an amarylis and she has also been helping me cook.
7. I enjoy watching my children and husband enjoy all of the Christmas toys.
8. I have not been thinking about school, well at least not much anyway.
9. I have been filling in my new calendars with all our upcoming important dates.
10. I have spent quality time with my family including G and G and the Stevens.

Bainter Menu

I thought I would post our menu for the two weeks of break and see if anyone ate the same thing or something similar.
Dinner

Chicken enchiladas (no green chilies)
Sweet-n-sour meatballs
Hawaiian Haystacks
Lemon Linguine (new and they loved it)
Aftons Blue Ribbon Chicken
Meatloaf
Cranberry Apricot Pork Roast (new, haven't made it yet)
Puna Style Ribs
Chinese (Homemade sweet-n-sour chicken, wontons, etc.)
Chicken tacos and spanish rice
Porcupine Meatballs (Jackie wouldn't eat these!!!)
Pasta Fagoli Soup
Chicken Noodle Soup

Lunch is not as planned since leftovers occur and sometimes I force my children to eat sandwiches.
Has your menu been close to the same or not? What are some of your family favorites?

Maybe I'll be a Hair Dresser?

Mom and Ceci asked me to dye their hair today. This is the before picture. Mom needed hers done since she had about an inch of regrowth. Ceci told me that she was tired of her highlights and wanted to go back to natural. So the process began.
It was Ceci's turn first. She was a little bit trepidicious. She also complained constantly about it itching. I'm not sure that she will want to try that again!
Next was mom. This is old hat for her. She loves "red".
Ceci sitting aside scratching her head with a comb.
This is the after picture. They both look great!!!! Do you think I should hang up my teaching shoes and put on beautician shoes?

Dad and Tina practicing, "The Holy City"

I'm so sorry that it is sideways, just crank your head so that you can see it better. I forgot that I haven't figured out how to turn a video yet. HUM do any of you know? I also started videoing part way through so only part of the song is here. I was also the page turner so that caused even more technical difficulties. You'll have to imagine the rest:)

"Happy" Thanksgiving

Noah is "happy" that he made a gingerbread house.
Zane is "happy" that he has a mom like me.
Justin and Chancy are really "happy" to get such a fine dinner.
Baxter and McKay are "happy" that McKay can eat with his left hand.
Stevie is "happy" that Ceci curled her hair and Ceci is "happy" that Stevie let her.
Dad and Mom sat on different sides of the table so here they are above and below.
Don't they look "happy"?
Tina and Lincoln looking "happy" too.
Steve and I look "happy" too!

I think we all enjoyed a lovely day. I didn't hear any raised voices. Everyone was helping everyone else. It was definitely a "love"ly day.

Oh those boys!!!

Oh the things I have to endure around here. Just take a gander at what my brothers are up to now.
Zane just loves squishing orange jello through his teeth while eating turkey.
Noah ate so much stuffing that it started to fall out. We tried to tell him he was stuffed, but he wouldn't listen.
I think maybe we'd better stop making orange jello and mashed potatoes. Maybe Baxter was just hiding his braces.
McKay is wondering if his mother would kill him if he tried it. HUM?????

The TRIP

My Surprise Party

Trudy's ramblings on a weird Saturday

I sit here amongst a crew of people that are driving me nuts. All of the boys are disappointed by the storm. They went out yesterday and tied stuff down and made sure that other stuff wouldn't fly away. (We have had problems with the trampoline before) They have been gazing out the windows and watching the forecasts on the TV and computers all day. They have been moping!!! Zane and Noah have gone out and got soaked three times. Stevie even ventured out once, she's been dying to use an umbrella. They wanted to stand in the eye of the storm and see how it would feel. Did they actually think that if it was really bad outside that their mother would let them go out there. I thought that it was funny that it took a downpour for them to go outside and play basketball since that basket hasn't seen any action all summer. Now I sit here in my bedroom with the door shut trying to avoid the noise of the BYU football game in the other room. I personally couldn't get emotionally attached to a football game even if someone offered me 10 new free books! I am glad that the game has seemed to take a turn for the better because the noise has lessoned somewhat. What a relief!!! My TV is turned to PollyAnna, Hallmark channel which is more my speed. Stevie is also roaming the computer chair with me combing my hair and cleaning out my ears. Am I a lucky ducky or what? I actually do enjoy being pampered and my six year old loves to pamper so I guess I am as close to heaven as I'll get during a BYU game. Hope you are all having a great day!!

Stevie's Sunflower

Once upon a time while Stevie was in Kindergarten, sometime around the end of April, she along with her fellow classmates made sunflower green houses and planted three sunflower seeds in each one. She excitedly watched them day by day and became even more excited when her sunflowers were the first to poke out their heads to greet their new world. They quickly reached toward the top of her sunflower house and started to escape from the top. She then brought the sunflower house home and the sunflowers even survived the perilous ride home on the bus. The sunflowers then took up residence on the ledge above our kitchen sink. Her mother finally when they reached about 18-20 inches planted them out in the pots on the deck. They steadily continued to grow and finally just within the last week blossomed. Stevie is so thrilled as am I since I have always feared that once the plants reached home that they all died. Well this year I know that at least three survived!!!! We are so happy!!!!! Maybe later we will even get to enjoy the seeds that we see developing as well. If we do we will share that as well. (I just love lifecycles)

On the note of lifecyles-- Can you believe that we STILL have tadpoles that have not turned into frogs. Had we left them in the pool the kids wouldn't have swam at all this summer!!! I am hoping to take them to school when it starts on the 20th an share them with my class, how exciting hum????

Trip into D.C.

Ocean City

Cub camp and other info

Noah had cub camp this week.  He LOVED it!  He especially enjoyed the bb shooting and archery.  Looks like he also enjoyed the cub wash.  Steve was a den walker for two of the days and he dragged Zane along on the first day to be a helper.  Zane did not want to go, but once there changed his mind and then went the second day without any drama.  Stevie also went the second day and spent the day in the tot lot with one of the teachers from my school.  She really enjoyed herself too.  Baxter and Ceci have been at Scout and Girls camp all week.   Steve went to scout camp after he had finished his two days at cub camp.  I was finishing up my class for the summer, if you are wondering what I did with all that alone time.  I wasn't having fun I'll assure you.  I had 20 assignments due in 15 days.  I kid you not.  A three week graduate class is a killer.  The kids thought that the computer was completely attached to my fingers.  Yesterday, I refused to get on the computer or clean house.  My plans changed slightly when Tina called to ask if she, Halley, and Chancy could come out.  I said sure and flew into a tornado of cleaning just so that I wouldn't be too embarassed.  It wasn't too terrible, but I hadn't done much on the house for three weeks due to previously mentioned activities.  It was so nice to see Halley again and Tina and Chancy too of course.  I love it when they come to visit.

The Three Musketeers

My kids are enjoying the pool.  I am enjoying it a lot more too since I changed it over to a salt system.  The pool stays crystal clear and all I had to do was dump 110 pounds of salt into it and start the machine.  (Well actually Steve and Baxter put in the salt and connected and started the machine, but I purchased the stuff!)  The hardest part this year has been to keep destroying the birds nests under the deck so that the birds won't swoop past and poop in the pool.  Yes you read it right--poop in my crystal clear pool.  I have had to go out and scoop poop.  The kids think I am terrible to destroy nests, but I say too bad!!  We also have a resident frog living in the wall of the pool where the metal posts go around the pool at the top.  He is a hold over from when the pool was full of tadpoles or polliwogs whichever you prefer.  Steve wanted to wait to get the pool going until they had all turned into frogs, I said, "No way!"  We compromised and took some of them out and put them into a tub and a pondish thing and then let the rest drain into the grass.  The birds loved them.  I was happy to see them go, Steve wasn't so happy.  But I'll tell you what, it's been almost over a month and those little polliwogs (my preference) are still swimming around in their respective places.  Stevie told me just yesterday that she thought she saw some legs growing, I'll have to go check.  Just think, my kids would have still been waiting to swim.  HUMMMMM I'm sure glad we didn't wait.

Pool pests

Here is the evidence of those rascally polliwogs.  We had left about six inches of water in the pool over the winter so that the pool wouldn't blow away during storms.  Well the storms whipped around so much that Grandpa couldn't keep the cover on and then finally it just split and broke.  By the end of the winter season the pool was almost all the way full again and we had become a rest stop for frogs to lay their eggs.  The whole pool was just swimming with them.  WE HAD TO DO SOMETHING!!!

Our 16th Wedding Anniversary

We got married June 16th, 1992 in the Manti Temple. The only one that objected was Halley who just couldn't understand why we wanted to ruin her birthday! What a beautiful day, even with the light sprinkling rain.
Boy don't we all look young, no pun intended.

Anita, Glen, Steve, Trudy, Cecilia, and Sid at the open house in West Valley City.

Here I am feeding Steve some cake. He sure did enjoy it!!!

Trying to catch up!!

Well, my two master's classes have come to an end and my next doesn't start until this next Wednesday. I am going to try to catch ya all up to what we have been doing in our lives. Hang on, it is going to be a speedy ride!!! By the way, I sure do LOVE looking at all of your blogs, it helps me pass time when I don't want to start an assignment or I just want to get away from it all. I'm not the best at commenting though and will try to do better in that department. Trudy

Newest Project--Tree House

Steve and the boys and sometimes Stevie are engaged in building a treehouse. Not even just an ordinary one, but a huge one. Maybe the kids will move out when it's done and stay there. The treehouse will have a main treehouse and then a rope bridge crossing over to a smaller one. They are all having fun working on it together.