Spring Break Part 2

Then we headed north, back up to Dallas to meet up with friends the Kneelands and Eastmans! A trip wouldn't be complete without 3 days of camping mixed in between it all would it? We went to Lake Texoma and picked a stellar site for all three families. We hiked, played football, kickball and bocce ball until Darren ended all the fun and accidentally dropped a tree stump on Sarah's foot and fractured it. Luckily, it was a very small break and she told everyone that her dad dropped a log on her! She walked around in a boot for a couple weeks and it was all better. We had some great food too. Darren made an oven out of a cardboard box, foil, and charcoal and cooked us cinnamon rolls both mornings. Holly made some amazing dutch oven apricot chicken and rice. The kids built themselves a lean-to shelter like Survivor Man would have done. We had a freakin BLAST! Can't wait to do it again guys!

Dear bloggity blog blog:

I've neglected

I've ignored

Life's been busy

That's for sure

But I'm back

In full force

Never again to fall of this horse, named blog!

(I'm good...I know ;)

Spring Break 2009

We did a little of everything this year on Spring Break. We enjoyed some snow, some camping, some sand and sun, and some torrential rains. We could not have packed anything more into this trip if we tried!

Our trip started out on a snowy Thursday leaving from Tulsa. We ended that day back at home and me in my robe, in bed. No, I wasn't sick, I just just kind of had a break - with reality that is. I felt a little crazed and claustrophobic because we had so much stuff packed in our car our faces were smashed up against the windows and the kids had their knees to their chests. After a good night's sleep we headed out the next morning fresh and ready to go.

First, we headed to Houston and saw my sister Amy and her family who hosted our motley crew, thanks Amy! Then to Galveston to see Uncle Brandon in medical school and G-ma and

G-pa Ashton, Ashley and her hubby Kevin. It rained for 3 days straight so we went to the aquarium and played Rock Band. Then I got to hook up with a couple friends from high school which was such a treat! We had fish tacos and caught up on the last 15 years! The sun came out the last day and we got to go play at the beach.

Mom and Lauren in the shark tank

Brandon, Mom Ashton, Kevin, Ashley, Cameron and Lauren at aquarium

How do you like my flash photography despite the sign not to? Ha!

Ashley and Kevin - The newlyweds

(Part 2 Coming soon...No seriously, it really will be here soon)

A Little Praise for the Mommies

Dr. Laura was on Hannity last night and has a beautiful take on mom's who stay home with their children. It really is the hardest job on earth and she gives us a warm hug and a pat on the back! Love it!

Well...hello friend

What can I say? See, there she goes again...now you know what I've been doing...

So the motivation for this post was the snow flake layout I've had up for 3, almost 4 months now. Sad. But hey, life happens.

Here are some random pics to let you see what we've been doing...

Sledding
Sleeping

Dancing

Birthdays (Lauren's 9th)

Hannah and "My Sarah"

Sarah's friend Hannah calls her "my Sarah".  Isn't that adorable?  Isn't SHE adorable?  She is my friend Becky's little girl, the one who colors so well.  Well they had a playdate a while back and here's some cute shots of their dance party.

Dance Fever Tryouts

                                                

Home For Christmas

We got to spend some great time together for Christmas this year.  The kids were angels and didn't fight.  They just played and laughed while sugar plums danced in their heads...whatever!  I was so ready for school to start back up!  We did have fun though!  Chucky Cheese's, bowling, badminton in the back yard (thanks Santa) what's not to love?  Darren took a lot of time off and we didn't have to travel anywhere so it was relaxed and easy going.  Darren got what he's been wanting....ShamWow's and some Mighty Putty (he is a sucker for those tv ads, thanks mom) , and an atomic clock with the weather station outside.  He's officially an old man nerd!!  Ha Ha!  I actually love to see how cold it is and the big numbers are so easy to see :)  

Life's Good

Wow!  Sometimes life just gets busy and you have to put things on hold....like blogging.  We are all well.  Erin is sitting up and starting to eat real food.  For a while I thought she was going to do nothing but nurse!  She still can't get the hang of a bottle or binky but is starting to eat baby food. Yea!  That means options for the mommy...a first with her!  She is so fun lately laughing, and giggling.  It's sweet at this age because they love you so much no matter what, and mom's just need more love, don't ya think?

 

                                                                    

Asleep in the tub after throwing up...poor baby!

Chillaxin in my tub!

                                                                   
Mmmmm...applesauce

I'm still alive.  I finally downloaded some pics which I'll post later.  BTW, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.  We had a wonderful time but missed family.  It was nice not having to travel though.  Stay tuned...if you still even visit this blog.

Kory and Amber...Caramel Recipe

I emailed both of you in response to your comments but I guess those auto reply emails don't make it. So here is the recipe:

2 sticks butter
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups karo syrup
1 can Eagle Brand milk
1/4 tsp salt

Mix all in heavy duty pot. Bring to boil on med high and cook until it comes together in when dripped into ice water, or to 234 degrees. Some candy thermometers can be inaccurate so I do the ice water method. DO NOT OVERCOOK! When the color starts turning golden start checking. Pour into saran wrapped 9 x 13 pan. Cool and turn out to cut. Wrap in wax paper. They are really good with pecans added to it!

Holiday Time

Time to start the traditions in our house of poppy seed bread making and caramel wrapping. I am ready to bake, bake, bake! I love to have the Christmas tunes on and the tree lit up and bake up a storm. It also helps if it is lightly snowing outside the window. It all adds to the feeling of it all! Mmmmm...I love this time of year. Merry Christmas everyone!

Amy, post the Christmas names...I forgot to tell anyone! Hopefully you still have the paper.

Thanks to Darren and Chad for picking the names this year.

Another Cameron Funny

A while ago Darren had a conversation in the car with the kids. We had just seen a guy holding a sign on a street corner, begging for money. So he told the kids that if they didn't want to beg on a street corner for money or be a garbage man, or a construction worker out in the hot or cold weather (no disrespect) they should never quit school and go to college. Last Saturday evening my parents took our family out to eat at their favorite seafood restaurant. Cameron was sitting across from me and after looking around the place and seeing all the wait staff he says to me, "So...Mom, all these people quit school?"

The Puppy and The Lost Tooth

Cameron lost his first tooth tonight. He and Sarah were playing, and he was the puppy. The puppy was chewing on some clothes and she yanked it out of his mouth really hard and out flew the tooth. Forget about the fact that it wasn't even loose to start with or that it was bleeding, he thought it was the coolest thing that had ever happened to him! He wants to show it to all his friends at school and his teacher! It took him a half hour to find it after it was flung across the room. I guess that means the tooth fairy has to come tonight...crap!

Once when Lauren lost a tooth she got a pack of juicy fruit and 69 cents. Yep, that's what was in the coin tray of the car. Then I told her about the tooth fairy. So the next tooth she lost I kept forgetting and by the 4th night as I put her to bed, she handed me her tooth and said with a sweet look in her eye, "Just take it, Mom."

I looked at his mouth close to make sure all was fine and told him to not lose any more teeth because it made him look too old and I didn't want him to grow up too fast. He said he wanted to live fast and die so that he could be with Jesus. Uuuuhhh...what? This isn't the first time he has talked like this. I said, "Why? What is it going to be like?" He said, "Warm and cozy." I think he is right. Times like this I think I need to hug and kiss and love more often and not "cry over spilled milk" so much. We never know what will happen in life! But I'm sure Cameron will be here for lots of years to come giving me grief and helping me realize I need to chill out!

Team Becky

Today was the funeral service for Duane Scott Summers. It was a beautiful service that was very well attended. I was glad I could be there. Becky and I met when we moved here 5 years ago. She is a saintly mother and a great friend. She has such great common sense and looks at life with great perspective. We have carpooled kids, served in primary together, and are visiting teaching partners. This weekend there will be a benefit for their family at our ward building. We will be selling baked goods and having a bi-ward parking lot sale and all the the proceeds will go to the Summers family. There has also been a fund set up if anyone wishes to donate. Please click on the team Becky button to do so. Read about their family here.

As her friends and brothers and sisters in the gospel we will ever be by her side to listen, support and love our dear Becky and her 7 "little monkeys".

As a side note, I thought it was so sweet at the viewing last evening, beneath the casket lined up in a row were 7 little stuffed monkey's, representing each of their 7 extraordinary children.

To my Dear Friend Becky,

I just heard of Duane's passing. Oh, how I wish the world could stop for a moment in sweet remembrance of your dear husband. All the demands of life are so pale in comparison to your sweetheart leaving this life. I pray your heart will be able to bear what emotions will come...what you have already been enduring. Please know of my love for you and my prayers on your behalf. I and many others will still be here long after the funeral is over and life returns to normal for so many others. Know you have friends who love and care for you and your sweet children. We won't ever grow tired of you talking about your sweet husband, your Superman, Duane.

With love,
Lindsay

Picture of The Day

The thought of doing this scares the living daylights out of me!

Ismari, while this may bring a smile to you and your sweet hubby's face it puts absolute fear and panic on mine!! Aaaahhhhhh!

Erin's Ab workout and Dog Hating

Because the items in this post were unrelated I was going to call it odds and ends, but then, all I could think of was nuts and butts, and rears and queers which is a punch line to a joke my dad tells and so I just couldn't do it. A select few know that joke...thanks dad!

Lately, Erin will lay with her head up, trying her darnedest to try to do a full on sit-up, like if she tries it just one more time.... she'll be able to do it. One and two and hold and again...

Lauren created some fine artwork this afternoon I thought I would share with you all. She hasn't been influenced at all by my dislike for the canine species. Our neighbor's have 4 little dogs and one chased her the other day so she did some journaling to work through her fear. I laughed so hard when I saw the flower drooping because of the smelly poop! Maybe I'll have her enter it in our school's Reflections contest. Think it would win...the theme is "WOW", which isn't what I'm thinking when I see their dog's poop in our yard. I'm thinking, "Where is that pellet gun?"

My Birfday and more Halloween

I woke up filthy, stinkin, rich on my birthday this year! Darren was expecting some extra $ this month from some trainings he had done. Now, we all know that we spend what we make, but after the baby we are still trying to pay off a few bills. I said, "Whenever you finally do get this money, can I just roll around on the bed with it for a while before it vanishes?" So I woke up to

100 dollar bills on my bed to "roll around in". Heck, the bills can wait, I'm going shopping! He made me breakfast too and we got to spend the day together driving to OKC and back. It was a great day! Thanks for all the birthday wishes from so many of you! Enjoy the pics below...

Money, money, money, money........Moooonnneeeeyyyy!

Trick or treating

Sometimes I think I would never have anything to write about if I didn't have Cameron. That kid has some great material for blogging. He takes the cake again with this one...As he walked away from a house while trick-or-treating he yells back to me, "Mom..... that lady smokes!" And I mean the kind of yell that he would use to tell me the house is on fire! The lady is behind her truck smoking a cigarette, talking on her cell phone, and handing out candy to kids. Talk about multi-tasking! I just moved on quietly and hoped she hadn't seen which mom he screamed it to. So I guess we need to have the talk about why we don't publically humiliate people for smoking just because we don't do it.

Happy Halloween

80's aerobic queens

Hanz and Franz

Strike a pose, there's nothin' to it...Vogue!

The Witch, the Batman and the Eeyore

Bunny Love

Camera Happy