A Short Break

Okay, my house is a mess and I use blogging as an excuse sometimes to sit down and relax, it's "my time". I'm going to force myself to give up some of "my time", like I have a lot of it to give up, and work on my house this weekend. That being said, I'm taking a short break from blogging.

Wish me luck!! Be back next week, or later, when there is less clutter and less laundry!

Tuesdays Thoughts and Tidbits

It's Tuesday and the sun is shining and it can't help but make you feel good, can it? For Tuesdays Thoughts I found this on a quote page I refer to and thought I should share "Stuff That Makes You Feel Good".

Stuff That Makes You Feel Good

Think about each one for a while before going on to the next...

• Falling in love.
• Laughing so hard your face hurts.
• A special glance.
• Getting mail.
• Taking a drive on a pretty road.
• Hearing your favorite song on the radio.
• Lying in bed listening to the rain outside.
• Hot towels fresh out of the dryer.
• Finding the sweater you want is on sale for half price.
• A chocolate milk shake. (or vanilla) (or strawberry)
• A long distance phone call.
• A bubble bath.
• Giggling.
• A good conversation.
• Finding $20 in your coat from last winter.
• Running through sprinklers.
• Laughing for no reason at all.
• Friends.
• Accidentally overhearing someone say something nice about you.
• Watching the sunrise.
• Your first kiss (either the very first or with a new partner).
• Making new friends or spending time with old ones.
• Playing with a puppy.
• Sweet dreams.
• Hot chocolate.
• Laughing at an inside joke.
• Swinging on swings.
• Going to a really good concert.
• Making chocolate chip cookies.
• Spending time with close friends.
• Holding hands with someone you care about.
• Running into an old friend and realizing that some things (good or bad) never change.
• Watching the expression on someone's face as they open a present from you.
• Getting out of bed every morning and thanking God for another beautiful day.

Eight Questions/Answers Tag

I've been tagged by a couple of my fellow bloggers so I decided that I needed to answer my questions. I actually thought of my answers yesterday, so the yesterday on this is Saturday.

8 PEOPLE I TAG:

1. Ashley
2. Kara
3. Michelle
4. Bridgett
5. Jodie
6. Janel Y.
7. Shari
8. Kristen

8 THINGS I LOOK FORWARD TO:

1. Warm Weather.
2. Planting flowers in my yard.
3. Summer.
4. The kids Summer break and NO more homework.
5. Floating the river with the kids this Summer.
6. Camping with family this Summer.
7. Our 20th Anniversary in May.
8. My 42nd Birthday in May, the higher the number has never really bothered me, maybe my 50th will?

(I'm seeing a trend here and it's all about Summer and warm weather)

8 THINGS I DID YESTERDAY:

1. Helped take tickets at my niece's high school rodeo.
2. Delivered birthday gifts.
3. Laundry -that's pretty much each and every day!
4. Dishes.
5. Cleaned house.
6. Fixed dinner.
7. Helped Harleigh read for her 100 books assignment.
8. Groceries

8 THINGS I WISH I COULD DO:

1. Do the "Bewitched" twitch of the nose and have my house clean and the laundry caught up and that it would stay that way!
2. Take our family on a vacation somewhere warm. Hawaii would be nice or a cruise to Hawaii!
3. Be debt free RIGHT NOW!
4. Take a photography class.
5. Remodel our house.
6. Fence in our yard.
7. Landscape our yard.
8. Take a LONG vacation from work, not permanent because I love my job and the people I work with, but a LONG vacation.

8 SHOWS I WATCH:

1. NCIS
2. The Unit
3. Jon and Kate Plus 8
4. Decorating Cents on HGTV
5. Extreme Makeover Home Edition
6. Whatever the kids are watching.
7. Whatever Todd is watching.
8. Whatever Todd and the kids are watching.

(I really don't watch television that much. I like a new episode of NCIS and The Unit, mostly because I watch them with Todd, but I can give or take the other shows. Jon and Kate Plus 8 is a show Harleigh, Jayce, and I enjoy watching together. )

Easter Fun ~ It's All Done!

Sorry that it has taken me all week to post about last weekend and here we are into this weekend. This is my last post about Easter, like I said now it's all done.

Once we finished with our Easter Egg hunt at Tyson and Courtine's the kids were able to collect their prizes. Of course I've already posted about Jayce's "crappy" prize, well actually it was the winning prize. He won $5.00 in that golden egg. We had put $1.00 bills and change in the rest of the eggs for the older kids so they could collect a total of $20.00. Jayce was the big winner with $10.00, Brodie got $3.00, Ashlie $3.00, and Colbie $1.00. Somewhere in that yard is another $3.00. I'm sure that they missed a lot of eggs that poor Tyson and Courtnie will be finding this summer.

The kids all got candy and little $1.00 store prizes. Kaydn, Brentlie, and Harleigh had fun playing with their bubbles.

And Uncle Todd got a prize, he finally got to hold his great-niece, Emma.

Until her Grandma and Grandpa had to steal her away.

HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!

Today is my Dad's 72nd birthday and my mother-in-law, Glenna's 66th birthday! We hope that both of you have a HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Thank you for all that you do for us!


I just had to post this "classic" picture of my Dad supporting his grandkids, even in the rain!

I need to get some pictures of Glenna downloaded, the only one I had handy was from my Grandma Neigh post below.

Easter Fun ~ Part Three

Sunday afternoon we went to my niece Courtnie's for Easter dinner and an Easter Egg hunt for the kids. We had a delicious dinner with ham, potatoes, salads, rolls, and strawberry shortcake. Once again, we were all SO full. We hid Easter eggs for Kaydn, Brentlie, and Harleigh on the side of the house and then all over the yard for the older kids. Kaydn really had a lot of fun at this hunt and was so fun for us to watch. I got so busy watching him and taking pictures of the three little kids that I almost forgot to take pictures of the older kids.

The older kids had a lot of area to cover to find their eggs so I don't know what I was worrying about getting pictures of them for. I had PLENTY of time!

You'll never guess where the boys decided to put all of their eggs when they found them. Although it looks a little suspicious Colbie really wasn't flipping me off he was just making a crazy peace sign.

We told the older kids that there were two golden eggs with the BIG money, okay just $5.00. Now there were two golden eggs but only one had the $5.00 bill inside and the other had a penny. Here the boys are searching even though Ashlie had already found the first golden egg, but it only had a penny inside.

The search was on for the $5.00 golden egg. What our searchers didn't know was that the hiding place was really "crappy". Courtnie and Tyson's dogs drag out dirty diapers onto the lawn so there were a couple on the lawn. Tyson thought that would be the perfect hiding place, because really what kid is going to look there. Tyson and Kim got a NEW diaper and then Kim chewed up some chocolate candy and put it inside. We then put the golden egg inside the diaper and folded it up, looking used. After they looked and looked we finally gave some clues and Ashlie knew where to look. She picked up that diaper ready to find the golden egg.

Only problem was that the chocolate candy Kim chewed up looked pretty realistic. Ashlie screamed and threw the diaper and golden egg on the ground. Fair game! Jayce grabbed that diaper right up.

Kind of reminds you of that song on the radio station "What would you do for ten bucks"!

Blogger wouldn't let me download any more pictures onto this post so you'll just have to stay tuned for the rest of our Easter fun later.

Easter Fun ~ Part Two

After our Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday morning we went to my parents house for dinner. My brother cooked up some yummy steaks on the grill. Harleigh nabbed the camera and took about 30 pictures of him. She and Blaine LOVE to tease each other. The steaks were SO GOOD! Mom made potato salad, deviled eggs, and baked beans. I don't know what it is but NO ONE can make potato salad like Mom, no matter how hard I try and I have her recipe. Needless to say we all left VERY full.

Once we got home though Jayce and Harleigh were ready to dye Easter eggs. Brodie had to work that night so Jayce, Harleigh, and I dyed the eggs. Todd has never been too thrilled about dying the eggs so it has always been me and the kids.

I told Harleigh and Jayce to give me a smile...here is the smile Jayce gave me.
He ALWAYS keeps me laughing that is for sure!!

Harleigh's smile was a little more normal.

They dyed 48 eggs. They usually fight about there not being enough eggs so I boiled a BUNCH!!

I didn't even have to hear any fighting, they were having so much fun. I love it when they actually enjoy each other's company. I don't think they realized they were enjoying each other's company that much or I am sure they would have started fighting.

I was glad that they were so busy dying the eggs because about half way through Todd started to not feel too well. He was having chest pains and because of his past we decided we better head up to the emergency room just to be safe. Jayce just said "go ahead, I'll keep Harleigh", usually I am afraid that someone will end up dead when I leave them alone but they were SO good. They kept texting me pictures of their eggs while I was at the hospital with Todd. They even cleaned up the mess from dying eggs. When I got home the house was picked up and they were watching the movie Bolt and eating Kettle Korn. By that time Brodie had gotten home from work.

Even after our late night/early morning, the Easter Bunny still made it to our house and spoiled the kids. He left Harleigh a Webkinz bunny she named "Rainbow".

Something that everyone can use...new socks.
And new clothes, that she had to run right in and change into.
Jayce got a Lego combine. And Brodie was more interested in Jayce's combine than his own basket.
Jayce got busy putting it together.
Here is the finished combine and proud builder.

The morning was a little strange because Todd ended up having to spend the night in the hospital just so the doctor could observe him and get the results back from all of the tests they ran. Here is Harleigh calling him Easter morning.

The doctor pretty much chalked the chest pains up to angina and let him go early that afternoon. They'll run more tests this week. Luckily he was released just in time so that he could go with me and the kids to Tyson and Courtnie's for Easter dinner and an Easter Egg Hunt for the kids. I'll post pictures of their hunt later.

Tuesdays Thoughts and Tidbits

Not that I have forgotten to finish my Easter activities posting, I promise they are still coming, but today I had to take Jayce to the orthodontist. He has been having a lot of toothaches and when the dentist ruled out any cavities or any problems on his end he thought the fact that Jayce's teeth are overcrowded on the bottom could be part of the problem and recommended us getting a consultation from an orthodontist and YES now Jayce needs braces. GREAT??!! When they asked if I had any other questions I just asked "Do you take monthly payments?"

Now onto my Tuesday Thoughts, While we were waiting I started reading their office flyer and read this little quiz.

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America pageant.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulizer Prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor or actress.
6. Name the last decades' worth of World Series winners.

How did you do? If you are like me REALLY BAD!!

Now here's another quiz, see how you do on this one.

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
5. Think of five people who you enjoy spending time with.
6. Name half a dozen heroes whose stories have inspired you.

Easier?

The lesson:

The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care.

Easter Fun ~ Part One

Like most of you, we were busy all weekend celebrating Easter and spending time with family. This is the first of my posts about Easter. I decided to divide the fun up into more than one post so I'll add more Easter fun throughout the week.

Saturday we went to an Easter Egg Hunt in St. Anthony sponsored by the Fremont County Search and Rescue. My brother-in-law, Smokey, is part of the Search and Rescue so we decided to go to their hunt rather than all of the other hunts going on. They gave out some really nice prizes to the kids.

Here are a few pictures, highlighting our hunt.

And they're off....They can't use baskets, so they have to put the eggs in pockets, down their shirts, or in Harleigh's case, down her pants.

Once the hunt was finished she checked for prizes but her eggs were only filled with candy. She told me "That's okay Mom it was fun anyway!"

If she had been worried, she didn't need to for long because Brentlie won two prizes so she shared one of them with Harleigh. On the way home Harleigh said "I just love that little girl".

My niece, Courtnie's little boy Kaydn was also at the hunt. Harleigh helped him unwrap his candy.

And then she had to help him get it in his mouth. She's SO motherly!

This picture of Kaydn made me laugh. He's looking at me like "what are you doing?"

Look Who Came to Visit...

Last week this little two month old bear cub from Yellowstone Bear World came to visit us at the police department.

Almost everyone who was in the office at the time had to take a turn holding him.

He was SO tiny and two months old.

Tuesdays Thoughts and Tidbits

I can't believe that Easter is this coming Sunday. It is interesting to hear how different each family celebrates. At our house the Easter Bunny hides the baskets and then puts clues hidden in plastic eggs throughout the house sending the kids on a scavenger hunt to find their baskets. We usually have dinners with family. We have a dinner with my family the day before and then with Todd's family the day of. We've started having an Easter egg hunt the past few years with cousins and that has been a lot of fun. So what fun things do you and your family do on Easter?

Here are a few thoughts and ideas that I found.

Besides an Easter Egg Hunt here are a few "eggtra" ideas for your eggs.

Egg Rolling - Mark a starting line and a finishing line. Contestants must roll their eggs from one line to the next using a spoon or similar object to push the eggs. If a player touches their egg or breaks their egg they are out of the race. The first person to get their egg across the finish line wins. For an added twist, roll the eggs down a hill!

Spoon Races - Designate a starting line and a finishing line. Every person gets an egg and a spoon (larger, soup spoons work best). All contestants line up on the starting line and put their eggs in their spoons. At the word go, everyone races to the finish line; the first person to cross wins. If your egg falls of your spoon, you must go back to the starting line and begin again. For a bit of variety, make this a relay race or make the contestants run an obstacle course! If you really want to get tricky, have the races hold the end of the spoon in their mouths.

Yard Bowling with Eggs - Place one egg in the center of a large circle. Have all players stand just outside the circle. Everyone should have one egg. Everyone takes turns rolling their egg towards the egg in the center of the circle. The object of the game is to get as close to the center egg as possible without touching it. If you touch the center egg, or break your egg, you are out!

Also this is a fun link to some Easter games, especially if you are in charge of an elementary school party.

http://holidays.kaboose.com/easter-party.html/?source=newsletter

And in honor of all that chocolate you're going to eat this weekend try this cool Chocolate Calculator:

This is pretty neat. DON'T CHEAT BY SCROLLING DOWN FIRST! It takes less than a minute. This chocolate calculator will figure your age.

Work this out as you read. Be sure you don't read the bottom until you've worked it out! This is not one of those waste of time things, it's fun.

1. First of all, pick the number of times a week that you would like to have chocolate (more than once but less than 10)

2. Multiply this number by 2 (just to be bold)

3. Add 5

4. Multiply it by 50 -- I'll wait while you get the calculator

5. If you have already had your birthday this year add 1759 ..If you haven't, add 1758.

6. Now subtract the four digit year that you were born. You should have a three digit number. The first digit of this was your original number (i.e., how many times you want to have chocolate each week).The next two numbers are YOUR AGE! (Oh YES, it is!!!!!)

THIS IS THE ONLY YEAR (2009) IT WILL EVER WORK.

And last but not least, I usually try to give my father-in-law a joke gift, here is an idea from a few years ago.

Put some chocolate eggs in a bag and attach this poem to the top:

I'm running short on eggs this year,

My chickens flew the coop,

I'd give you something better,
But here's some Bunny Poop!

I hope you have a great week and a Happy Easter with your families!

The Story Behind Grandma Neigh

Technically you would think that Todd's mom would be Grandma Glenna or Grandma Gould to our kids, NO, she has and ALWAYS will be Grandma Neigh.

When Brodie was only two years old and really starting to talk our babysitter, Sheila, gave him this cute little set of books. There was a horse book called Neigh, a pig book called Oink, and a cow book called Moo, etc. and they all came in a cute little box barn to hold them in. Brodie absolutely LOVED the books.

In 1994, when he was also two, Todd's mom was the proud grandmother to one of her colts, Jet. You see Glenna loves every one of her new little colts like they are her own grandchildren and she has always had horses behind her house in the pasture, corrals, and barn.

Well when you combine Brodie's set of books, a two year old learning to talk, and a Grandma who has a new colt you become Grandma Neigh. He started calling her Grandma Neigh and it has stuck. Brodie is now 16 and he STILL calls her Grandma Neigh. So like I said she has and ALWAYS will be Grandma Neigh.

The other day Harleigh and I were cleaning and we came across the famous NEIGH book.

I told her we needed to put it up so that nothing happened to it. She just looked at me like WHY? I then explained to her that this book was the reason that Grandma Neigh was Grandma Neigh and not Grandma Gould or Grandma Glenna. So we had to read the book.

Now you can't tell from me scanning in the pages of the book that they are pretty worn out in places. Brodie had me read that book to him over and over and over. It has been kind of funny as the kids have grown and always called their grandma Grandma Neigh, teachers, friends, friends' parents, and even their own cousins have looked strangely "Grandma Neigh?" and we've had to explain that is what the kids call their grandma. Glenna doesn't mind it too much but Todd's step-dad, Ted, tried and tried to get Brodie to call him Grandpa Ted or Grandpa Gould. He'd tell Brodie that over and over and Brodie would repeat what he said but then when Ted would ask "what's my name" Brodie would repeat "Grandpa Neigh." Brodie just kept calling him Grandpa Neigh. Jayce and Harleigh have grown up calling them that and in fact if we ever say Grandpa Gould or Grandma Gould it takes a minute to click in who we are talking about.

So now you know the story behind Grandma Neigh.

Or should I say the story book behind Grandma Neigh?