Crop 'till You Drop

These are my gals LaRee and Dianna. For the past few years we have been going to a 24 hour scrapbook crop together. The girl that puts on the event sales scrapbook supplies and twice a year she rents out a conference room in a local hotel and holds the 24 hour crop. For a small fee we get use of the crop room, food and a hotel room to crash in when needed. We were there last night and all day today. I scrapbooked our pictures from our trip with the Hobbs Family this past summer. I made 87, yes you heard me right, 87 pages in 24 hours. Here are a few of my favorites.

Flashback Friday - A Day Late And A Dollar Short

Gabe and Emily

(Sorry I am late with my Flashback. I went to an all night crop last night and it seriously took me all day yesterday to get my pictures printed for it. Everything that could conceivably go wrong did. And just when I thought I had one thing worked out, it well...didn't work.)

This picture of Gabe and Emily was taken in 2003. Kristy and Scott just graduated from BYU Idaho and everyone went to Idaho for their graduation and to help pack them up and move them to Austin.

Just Call Her Angel, Of The Morning Angel. Then Slowly Turn Away.

Oh yeah. We had another one of those mornings. My dear sweet, sweet little princess. Let's see. How did it start? Well, I have been doing laundry and so all the clean clothes are stacked up in the laundry room. So knowing that Emily would not have much to choose from in her dresser, I kindly brought an outfit up from the laundry room for her. I woke her up very sweetly (I didn't even sing or anything) and said "Emily, it's time to get up and come read your take home book." We didn't have time last night so I told her I would wake her up early this morning to read it. Apparently I was fooling myself to think that she would even consider wearing the outfit I brought her. She pitched a fit (I am from Texas and yes, that does make sense, THANK YOU! And stop trying to squeeze all the Texan out of me.) and put on something else. What she put on was very cute. Except that the capris she put on are the same ones she wore to the park last night and they had a big black spot on the booty and grass stains on the knees. I told her she couldn't wear them because they looked filthy. She started whining and crying and looking over her shoulder saying that she couldn't see any big black spot (Duh! I can't see my butt either. Well actually it is probably out there far enough I can.) and she was going to wear them any way.








At this point I am not going to bore you with the details, just know that 500 outfits and a lot of blood, sweat and tears later she finally was dressed for school. The whole changing of the clothes lasted about 45 minutes. Then she was mad because she had about 3 minutes left to eat breakfast and it was all MY fault because I wouldn't let her wear the outfit that she wanted to in the first place. I tried to explain to her that she is the one who made the choice....blah, blah, blah, blah, blah blah.....that is what it looked like she was thinking when I was talking to her. The she freaked out because it was time to leave and she couldn't find her take home book. That was also my fault. I told everyone it was time to go right now and if they wanted a jacket they better get one now. We all filed out the door and started walking and she started whining and crying again because it was freezing (it really wasn't) and she didn't have a jacket and she HATES walking to school. I reminded her I told her to get a jacket if she needed one. She says I didn't.








The whole time we were walking I got to hear about how this is the WORST day of her life and it is ALL my fault and...blah, blah,blah,blah,blah,blah,blah.....that's probably what I looked like I was thinking. Anyway, once again I found myself thinking about how much fun it will be when she is actually a teenager.








Oh, my sweet little princess. I love her so, so very much. And she's pretty darn lucky that I do.

Monday Morning Musings

I really enjoyed watching General Conference this weekend. I really needed it.

Why do they make baby pants with snaps along the inside of the legs? Let's see...I can pull the pants down, change the diaper, pull the pants back up. Or I can unsnap 5,000 little snaps, change the diaper, re-snap 5, 000 little snaps. Hard choice. I am so glad they give us the option.

Addison bit my finger on Friday afternoon. Apparently she did some major damage because the tip of my finger is still numb.

You know how I had 5 light bulbs burn out all in the same day last week? We probably have at least 5 more burned out today.

Why is my house always such a disaster on Monday morning?

It is sad that I have to ask my children to hide their candy from me. Mom has those yummy little white chocolate mints shaped like chocolate chips with the little sprinkles on the bottom. (umm hmm...you know what I'm talkin' about) She sent up home with a big bag last Sunday and I proceeded to eat them all within the next 2 days. She was going to do it again yesterday but I asked her not to. She had already promised the kids they could take some home. So I asked her to send them each with their own little bag that they could hide from me. They didn't hide them. And now they are at school. I have walked past the bag about 10 times now. But I haven't had any. Good thing 'cause once you have one........

Ok, that last musing was really sad. And embarrassing. But if you've ever had these mints, you know what I'm goin' through, right?

Living In Halo Hell

It's like this.

I grew up in a home where our door was always open. It was the hang out house. My dear sweet parents, thank you so much for making it so. I have always wanted my house to be the same way. Apparently I was not given the same kind of patience my parents have.

I say I have always wanted our home to be the hang out house but I have never done anything pro-active to make it that way. We are so busy and constantly running from this thing to that so I am bad about calling and inviting kids over.

Well now Zac's friends are old enough to just come over on their own. And come they do. Which I am glad. I really am. But sometimes I need a break.

When we first got Halo 3 and the influx of prepubescent boys began I was so excited. I thought, "Wow. We get to be the hang out house and I don't have to make any effort." I was glad Zac had friends who could come over and hang out. I was very happy to feed them all. For the first week.

And don't get me wrong. I would still be happy to do it. If the boys who were coming over were actually his friends. But it is like the whole world now knows that we have an open door, food and Halo 3 for anyone and everyone to enjoy.

Everyday. Everyday. We have had a constant stream of boys come. And half the time we don't even know who they are. And neither does Zac. He will have one friend or someone he is "kind of" friends with come and bring their whole entourage along. There is one boy who comes over everyday. Even when we tell him he can't. And he waits for Zac everyday after school. And if we say, "Sorry, you can't come today. Zac has Taekwondo", he acts all put out. Sorry for actually having a life.

Yesterday I was trying to have a better attitude about it. I really was. And I figured since it was Friday and an early out day at school we would have a bunch of boys over so I made a big dinner and it was stuff I figured the boys would like. And I really would like to entertain Zac and his FRIENDS. But then after all my effort to be nice and hospitable, I turned mean.

I have to say I was having a very bad afternoon anyway. My nerves were pretty much shot. We were gone most of the afternoon and as soon as we pulled up in the driveway here comes a herd of boys around the corner. I don't know if they have installed a silent alarm in our driveway or what. Well it was the annoying irritating boy who really gets on my nerves. And he brought 2 friends with him that Zac didn't know. Have I mentioned that this boy is in 6th grade (Zac is in 4th) and looks like he could be in high school (Zac looks like he could be in 2nd).

Well, Addison was really getting on my nerves (kind of like she is now) because she had been grouchy all day. She really needed a nap and I really needed some time away from her. So I put her in bed and told the boys and asked them not to be too loud. Oh my. Hello. They were so loud. Addison couldn't sleep. So they were irritating me so much I finally made them leave and didn't let them eat dinner. Even though I had been planning on feeding whoever was here at dinner time.

I feel kind of bad about it but not too much. Ok, that boy. The one that irritates me. He called today to see if he could come over. Zac asked and I told him no. I heard Zac tell him no. It was not 15 minutes later he was on our front porch. I wanted to scream.

So I don't know. I feel bad for feeling the way I do. I really do. But that is how I feel.

And not only that but what makes me really mad about Halo is that whenever I try to play, everyone shoots me down before I can even figure out how to move. Even my little Aubrey. I know. I know. You don't have to say it. I am a horrible mother for letting my 4 year old daughter play such a game. I actually bought her a 12 Dancing Princesses game for the PS2 yesterday so she could stop playing Halo (she even wants to play Halo when everyone is at school and she is the only one home). Right now Emily is playing the Princess game and Zac, Steve, Aubrey and our neighbor Keven are playing Halo 3.

Ok, enough said about it. I think my nerves are just getting worn a little thin in the Halo department.

Flashback Friday - Hat Envy

Mike, Roy, Steve, Zac, Amanda, Spencer, Ed, Samantha

Steve's dad collects hats. He has hundreds of them. I have heard tales of Steve and his friends wearing a different hat every day to early morning seminary. This picture was taken 10 years ago when we were in St. Louis for Christmas. Everyone was in Roy's office playing around with the hats.

I Hope They Call Me On A Mission

It was one year ago today that we took my brother Sam to the Missionary Training Center and he became Elder Snow. It is hard to believe that that much time has gone by. He is at his halfway point. One more year and he will be back with us. But for now he serves the Lord and the people in Mexico City. Here are some pictures he has sent since he has been on his mission.

Elder Snow is able to read my blog on his preparation day which is every Monday. If you would like to leave a comment for him here he will be able to see it.

Sam, we love you and miss you and are so proud of you.

You Don't Know Jack?

I just got my vinyl Jack-O-Lantern faces in the mail from Coren. Aubrey and I were so excited we woke Addison up from her nap and ran right out to buy pumpkins for which to apply the vinyl. I love them! Thanks Coren. (And try not to notice that I put the S on upside down and the blood is dripping the wrong direction.)

A Light Bulb Moment

Do you ever wonder why all the light bulbs in your house burn out all at the same time? Seriously. Just this morning I have noticed burned out bulbs in 5 different rooms. They weren't burned out yesterday. What's up with that?

Sorry, it's a slow news day.

Monday Morning Musings

I used to get so mad at my mother because she could not put the right name with the right child. I do the same thing now. Only I am far worse at it. I cannot get my kids names straight. And sometimes I have to go through the whole list to get to the right one. Sometimes after spewing out several names I just point and say "You! Whatever your name is! Get over here!"

Emily had a major meltdown today before school. She woke up just fine but at some point this morning things took a turn for the worst. She was acting like a really angry 13 year old. Then about 10 minutes before school started it turned into an all out crying screaming "I can't go to school today" tantrum.



She went to school. I very nicely held her hand and walked her into her class about 5 minutes after the tardy bell rang. Then I felt bad so I picked her up and brought her home to eat lunch. What a nice mommy I am.

I have been feeling like I have had something in my left eye for over a year now. Then the other day I pulled out a big old long hair. It was nasty. I could feel it, as I was pulling it out of the corner of my eye, being pulled out from behind my eye ball. I told you it was nasty. (someone might want to check on Kristy and make sure she didn't pass out at her computer)

Can you believe it's October already? WOW! It is time to put up the Halloween decorations! Didn't summer just end? It's almost Christmas!

That's about all I have for ya. Things are pretty boring around here at the moment.