Going, Going.....ALMOST GONE!!

If anyone has a question for free-for-all Friday, PLEASE ask it, but don't expect me to answer you until NEXT week! I'm not cancelling it, but I will be late!

This weekend is our family's annual trip to the middle of nowhere. Where we "camp" and enjoy nature (aka hunt it down for a future meal!) I'm hoping to get everything packed up and ready to go by early tomorrow evening! Until then, you can continue to enjoy my art, which, I have to admit, is GORGEOUS!! ;)

Until Tuesday!! *kiss kiss*

Art from 1985

My little brother just forwarded on some mail, that is pretty funny!!

It's a picture I drew of our other brother when I was FIVE!! (Younger than Cam!!) But for some reason I don't believe him....it's too good looking to have been drawn by me!! *snicker*

And now that I look at it, I think the circles under the verticle lines are his tears....LOL

More Drawings....

Here's my self portrait:

A picture of my younger BLOND brother:

A picture of my sister, she was only 3 months old:

A picture of our house:

Duty

I have a few jobs that I really SHOULD do on a monthly basis, but sometimes life gets in the way. No biggie, right??? Well....

Last month my visiting teacher supervisor called me to get my report. I told her that I hadn't been visiting teaching. Usually, after this admission, the supervisor will encourage me to do better next time, and be done with it. This new supervisor is DIFFERENT!!

After I said that I was a lazy-no-good-bum, she said, "Well, WHAT will the Lord say!?"

Uh......

GUILT TRIP!!

I did get it done for this month though....so no guilt for AUGUST!! LOL

Just For Laughs

Free-For-All-Friday

It's time for Free-For-All Friday!
If you want to ask me a question -- and anything goes -- here's your chance. You can ask about whatever you wish, no holds barred. I'll either answer honestly, or I'll tell you that I won't answer.

Answers

Elena Manwaring said...
I'm just wondering which kind of cereal is the worst for drying and sticking to the bowl, counter, table, floor, sides of sink, bottom of sink, etc., etc.? Fruity Pebbles, Captain Crunch, Cinnamon Life, or another variety? Right now, I am voting Fruity Pebbles but Cinnamon Life is coming in a close second.

Elena:

Um....at our house the worst for sticking to things is Coco Puffs. (And it's only because Cam is the only person here who DOESN'T eat all of his breakfast!!) I'd imagine that Fruity Pebbles are horrible though.....so small, and hard....YUCK!! (I know for me, it helps if I make Cam rinse out his bowl as soon as he's done....but it doesn't always happen!)

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One Scrappy Gal said...
I have had nightmares about the scrubbing bubbles getting me in my bathtub for as long as I can remember. I also have nightmares about the Burger King. He's so creepy. Is there anything that creeps you out?

Scrappy:

Lady, I love you, but you are STRANGE!!

I'm creeped out by very few things. The only recurring nightmares I have involve crazy people from church, who don't even really exist, chasing me around....turning into zombies and other things like that, but really, I'm not easily creeped out. (The occasional mouse, spider or snake can get to me, but if I'm a good distance away, I'm fine....but I don't dream about them....)

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Thoroughly Mormon Millie said...
Is Spongebob the best cartoon on TV? (There is a correct answer to this question, btw.)

What should I eat for breakfast?

Millie:

*singing at the TOP of my lungs*

Who lives in a pineapple under the sea??? SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS!!

Absorbent and yellow and porous is he, SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS!!!

If nautical nonsense be something you wish, SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS!!

Then flop on the deck and float like a fish, SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS!!!

Ready???

SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS....SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS.....SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS....

SPONGEBOB.......SQUAREPANTS!!!!!!! *floaty flute melody*

Was that the correct answer?? (Yes, I do admit to watching a few episodes of this hilarious cartoon!! SUE ME!) I LOVE it, and I have to say, of the current cartoons on television, it IS the best one!! I hope they never stop making new episodes!!

(And as an aside, the WORST kids' show on tv now is Yo Gabba Gabba.....I think it's beating out Dora as my LEAST favorite show my son loves....)

Eat chocolate cake for breakfast.....it's good for you and your heart! (So says Dawnyel!) ;)

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Sketchy said...
Why am I no good at Free-for-all Friday? You would think this would be easy, ask anything! But I go all blank. But I like reading it!

Sketchy:

You know, if I was put under pressure to think of a question, I wouldn't be able to do it either....that's why I ASK for the questions!! :D

It's in the Air

I'm SO excited, my absolute favorite time of the year is coming!! The cool breezes blow through. The leaves slowly change from brilliant green to a greenish-yellow, eventually changing to beautiful colors. The kids all leave their parents, tears in their anxious eyes, while their parents exchange joyful smiles. School supplies fill our shopping carts. Harvesting is happening, making for some very yummy meals.

Fall is nearly here!!

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Oh, and I was going to share a funny story, but Carrie beat me to it!! Read it, and enjoy!! This lady's pretty funny!!

Update of My Trip, and Cameron's FULL School Days

So far, Cam is doing well in school. All summer he's been telling us, "Mama, I get to be in the NEW school!!" (His school has been having some MAJOR renovations, and if he was in the REGULAR 1st grade class, he would be in the new part of the school, but since he's in DACC, he's in the OLD part of the school.) He seems a little bummed, but he's doing fine! I've started a NEW thing that I will be doing every Tuesday though, I will be picking him up early EVERY Tuesday so that the kid can continue with his speech therapy. Uh....wooo hooo???

He's also doing FULL days of school now, I like it, but I don't know what I'll be doing when I'm not babysitting....Tomorrow will be the first day I'll have without ANY kids at home, I guess I'll find out what I do then!

And now to tell a little bit more about our adventure into nothing-ness:
I hadn't realized how desolate Nevada REALLY was. I found myself getting excited when we passed a trailer-house. And rest areas?? Oh, MY GOSH!! We were lucky if we found one that had an outhouse! We actually stopped at one that just had a picnic bench, pavilion, and garbage cans that had the orange fence around them!! But since we were so desperate, we peed behind the garbage cans anyway!! (Don't judge us!!)

It was VERY smoky, and it was hard to see the mountains in some places!! It was crazy!!

By the time we got to my sister's new town it was LATE! I was cramped in the back of my parents' suburban the WHOLE time, and I could feel my legs swell up! It was PAINFUL, but I did okay! We ended up at her house around 10:00 pm, and had the trailer unloaded by 11:15! It's amazing the work that can get done when you're tired, and in pain! Luckily we had BUFF men who would pull out the heavier boxes, and leave the lighter ones (that they dubbed "women's boxes") for me!!
We all pulled out our inflatable beds, TRIED to find a piece of floor, and we slept soundly!! I did giggle quite a bit, because my parents were just around the corner from where Steve, Cameron and I were sleeping, and my dad has a bit of a.....um......flatulance problem! It sounded like applause!! *snickering* Okay, so I still have the sense of humor of a 13 year old boy! WHO CARES, it was funny!!

Then we all slept in until 9:30 the next morning, and we drove another 10 and a half hours to get home. In that time we got to stop to see my in-laws to get my NEW fun toy: a NEWER washer and dryer!! THEY MATCH!! I can't believe I'm SO excited about this, but I am!! I can't wait for laundry day now!! We got home, and I put Cam to bed, then set up my new toys. I slept SO well that night!!
I have no doubt that Michelle and Jeremy will be just fine! My sister cried when we left, but I told her that it's okay. I KNOW they're going to be JUST fine!! It may take a while to adjust, but their neighbors are very nice, and it seemed like a VERY nice town!

Back to Civilization!!

We just returned from a VERY long drive to help my little sister move. I'm HAPPY to say that the trip was fairly uneventful (with the exception of two dogs on the highway, swaying trailer, and a fire on the side of the interstate...) We made it, and I can't tell you how happy I am to see houses that are PLANTED into the ground!! My sister's new house is a modular home that, when I stood in the right spots, I could feel the slight breeze blowing the house around!! Yeah, but it's cute, and with my sister's knack for decorating it will be GORGEOUS!!

I will update more later, for now I'm tired, and have more family in town....along with school starting today, it's going to be busy for a while!! Don't give up on me, I'm STILL HERE! :D

Free-For-All Friday

It's time for Free-For-All Friday!

If you want to ask me a question -- and anything goes -- here's your chance. You can ask about whatever you wish, no holds barred. I'll either answer honestly, or I'll tell you that I won't answer.

Friday Answers

One Scrappy Gal said...
Why do people always say "it was in the last place I found it?" Would anyone really keep looking for something AFTER they had found it? Does this not annoy you too?

Water filters that attach to the faucet... helpful or worthless?

Scrappy:

It ALWAYS bugs me when people say it's in the last place they looked, because of your very reasoning!! In fact, whenever someone (usually Steve) says to me that they found it in the last place they looked, I say, "Why? Did you want to keep looking AFTER you had found it!?"

So yes, it does bother me too!!

The area of the country I live in has YUMMY tasting water, so for me, a water filter is worthless, but if I lived where you do, I might just buy one of those pitcher filters. They're cheaper, and I keep my drinking water in the fridge ANYWAY, so it wouldn't be that big of a deal for me.

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Anne/kq said...
When is the last time you had an answer to prayer?

Anne:

I think the last prayers I had answered were from this weekend, actually. We went on a VERY long drive, and towed a trailer. The trailer was PACKED to the top, and made for very dangerous driving. Luckily, my dad was driving, but I was still nervous. In the back of a cramped car, I prayed that we would make it SAFELY to our destination and home. And I can say that it was answered affirmatively!! :) (There are many other times my prayers have been answered, but this was the one I could think of quickly!)

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Nikkie said...
Its not friday anymore, but I'm still asking a question! Are you Morning or night person?

Nikkie:

If it's still up, it's fair game! ;)

I'm a night person. Steve is ALSO a night owl, but we ended up with a child who is a morning person. How that happened is beyond me....

WHY?!

It didn't take much to put me back into my "why me" funk. It's been building for a while.

I've been off of my regular meds, and waiting for the mail to come containing them stinks sometimes. Because I'm off of my medications, my body has been thrown for a loop!! Currently, I'm awaiting a visit from af. Let me tell you, this cycle is HUGE!! I usually go between 28 and 35 days on my cycles, but this one is on DAY 53!!! I'm going insane!! Add to this that it seems like everywhere I go someone is either pregnant or having babies. UGH! I just want to crawl into a hole and cry!!

These last few months have been some of the best for me! I was finally feeling peace with my family. I was HAPPY that I had a son, and that if nothing more happened to my little family, I THOUGHT I would be fine, but I was wrong!!

I'm the only one of my high school group of married friends who only has one child! I've been married for nearly 8 years, and I'm feeling like a loser! Why is my body betraying me this way?? Why can't I easily conceive like so many other women/teens??

I hate feeling this way, but I WISH there was some way I could easily dismiss these depressing feelings, and get back the peace I had not that long ago. I hate to whine, but I feel like I'm going to explode!!

Time for Some Change

I'm getting tired of my same ol' same ol'...so I'm going to be changing things up.....new time of year, new look! :)

A World Free of Complaints

A LONG time ago I signed up to get these little purple bracelets for my family to help remind us not to complain. The idea is that when you complain, gossip, or say something that isn't nice that you take the bracelet and switch it to the opposite wrist. The goal is to have it on the same wrist for 21 consecutive days....in a way, making a new habit. Hard to do?? Yes, but it's possible!

So far, I have yet to find an HOUR when I don't need to switch my bracelet. Am I really that negative?? When I look at it I do think that I need to make more of an effort to speak kindly, and positively. It's SO hard for me! *switching the bracelet* But I can do it?? Right??

How wonderful the WHOLE world would be if we ALL could think about being more kind with our words. Hurt feelings would NOT even exist! We wouldn't be afraid to speak our minds, and when we DID speak our minds it would be with constructive advice instead of mean words.

I dream of a time when life can be like that, until then I will work on myself....

Life Goes On.....and On.....and On.....

Things here are moving on.....and going well. This weekend I'm helping my family move my little sister to her new home in Nevada....and I'm NOT really excited about it. If there's ANYTHING that I hate, it's moving! Luckily, she's only got a few things, so it shouldn't be TOO bad, but the drive there should be....um.....fun? It's about 13 hours from here, and 10 from where she lives now.....not a fun prospect! But I love my sister and am willing to help her out!

On the "trying to conceive" front things AREN'T going so well, but when does it EVER go well?? I've been waiting since the end of last month for my prescription stuff to come in the mail, and after a month, it's here....FINALLY! Thanks to my non-med month, I'm on a SUPER long cycle which is killing me!! Poor Steve has to deal with PMS from HELL!! (He's a saint for putting up with my crap....LOVE you, honey!)

Other than that, life goes on. Cameron is THRILLED that school starts back up soon, and my cousins are HATING it....just like normal! I have a few cousins who have told me that they're pregnant, and I'm dealing with that, and trying to be supportive and loving to them! It's hard, but I can do hard things! :)

Sorrow

A great man has died, and I'm very heart-broken over it. You can read more about it here if you want to.

I always loved to hear President Faust's stories and funny jokes. His testimony was SO strong, and just listening to him you could feel it. I saw him in person a little over a year ago, and he was so frail, but his soul was strong.

He was a wonderful person, and I will sorely miss him!

Free-For-All Friday

It's time for Free-For-All Friday!
If you want to ask me a question -- and anything goes -- here's your chance. You can ask about whatever you wish, no holds barred. I'll either answer honestly, or I'll tell you that I won't answer.

Free-for-all Friday Answers

One Scrappy Gal said...
Why am I always bugging the crap out of you with my stupid questions?

Doing anything fun this weekend?

Scrappy:

BECAUSE, You love me, you REALLY love me! *gushing*

Okay, so your questions NEVER bug me....I actually LOVE to see what you come up with week after week! ;)

This weekend we're going to a LAME family reunion....it's one of those reunions that should have DIED years ago.....but it probably NEVER will! *sigh*

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Elena said...
Are you ready for the school year to begin?

p.s. I am going to Texas Roadhouse and on your suggestion, am having chicken critters with a loaded sweet potato. Just thought I'd make your mouth drool. :)
Elena:

I'm SO ready for the school year to start. Cam has been counting down the days all week long!! (That's PART of the reason I got my nifty little ticker!!) We've got the supplies, now we just need the new clothes. I can't believe how much my little boy has grown in the past year! His pants are SO high-water it's CRAZY!!

So what did you think of my favorite dish from Texas Roadhouse!? Isn't it SUPER yummy!? (Oh, and I probably should mention that when I get the baked sweet potato I also ask for an extra dish of carmel sauce.....*drool*)

Feeling the Weight....

For those of you who know me only online, I have a secret to share with you, I'm fat! Yes, I'm HUGE!! There are days I look at myself in the mirror and think, "If only I knew where the skinny lady in my head lived..." Yes, I may be fat, but in my head I'm thin and can do ANYTHING!

I know that my weight has been part of what has been holding me back baby-wise, but if someone were to point that out, I have a hard time admitting it.

A few weeks ago, that pain came out in a very awkward way.

I have a playgroup that I take Cameron to. The fun part about this "playgroup" is that it's also a fun time for me to sit and talk with other women who are struggling with the same things I'm struggling with.

A few weeks ago I had mentioned my infertility problem. After I had told my whole story to these women, I was bombarded with "friendly advice." What I didn't know was that two of the women felt like they could offer me advice because they are experts. The first one is a nurse. She told me that if I lost some weight I would be able to get pregnant NO problem! Since I felt like I had opened myself up for this type of criticism, I kept my mouth shut. But in the back of my mind I KNEW that this would be the advice she would give. It's not like I live in a bubble of perfect-life....I KNOW that my weight is holding me back. After her schpeal, another woman jumped up and offered her expertise: dietitian.

This woman told me what would be good to eat, and what wouldn't. She gave some very helpful hints, but nothing that I hadn't already heard before. What I FELT like saying was, "Thanks, but NO thanks."

If losing weight was easy, do you THINK I would be in this body?? Do you think that I would purposely CHOOSE to be the way I am?? (The worst thing about their advice?? They're both SUPER skinny, like they've been thin their whole lives, excepting pregnancy, and it's just SO easy!)

I thought that after this ONE playdate that the subject had been addressed, and no more mention would be made....unfortunately I was WRONG!!

Last week the nurse said to me, once again, "If you lost the weight you could be pregnant." I just wanted to smack her. (Not that I did, but I REALLY wanted to!)

Why is it that people who know NOTHING of your situation feel the need to offer unwanted advice?? How can I approach this woman again, I KNOW she will be at the next playgroup, but I really don't want to start a fight or anything....

I'm just really feeling my weight right now....but don't tell me to lose it, because I just might cyber-smack you!

Feel Like Rubbing It In??

I can't even believe that someone would do that, but it's true.

Here's the background story:

My brother-in-law, Andrew, and his girlfriend, C, are pregnant. They had their big ultrasound on Monday. You know, the one that tells you whether it's a boy or a girl?

Now the story with Andrew is that he and C don't have ANY plans at this time to get married. We all voice our disapproval to him whenever we talk to him, but it's not like we're going to change his mind.

Andrew and C found out that they are going to have a little boy. At the beginning of next year Steve and I will have a new little nephew in our family. We are MORE than thrilled about this baby boy, but we are frustrated with his parents' choices.

My background story:

Steve and I have been trying to get pregnant for the past 5 years!! FIVE YEARS is a LONG time!! Let me tell you, I measure most of the last 5 years in negative pregnancy tests. I can tell you how heart-breaking it is to see a single pink line....60 TIMES!! I've gotten to the point where I'm literally AFRAID to pee on a stick! I will avoid it at ANY cost!! ANY COST!!

Within those last 5 years, I've had many MANY growing Spiritual experiences. I will share one with you now, but please don't think that because I'm sharing it I take it lightly, because it's VERY special to me. To show you my FULL frustration, I feel that I need to share it. During one experience I felt VERY strongly that I will have more children, and one child in particular stood out. It was a beautiful little boy, and his name is Jacob. This little boy WILL come, someday, but I have to wait. I KNOW that his name is Jacob, and I have plans (that Steve is FULLY aware of) to name our next son, Jacob.

Final piece of background information:

Steve and Andrew are the ONLY children in their family. It's just the two of them....no other siblings!

When Andrew told Steve the news about his baby, Steve asked him what they plan on naming this new little boy. Andrew told Steve that they won't tell his name until after he is born. Which is FINE! In fact, if I had Cameron's ultrasound to do over, I wouldn't have told Steve's parents the name we had chosen....because of their input we named him Cameron....NOT Matthew like we had wanted!

ANYWAY, while Steve was talking with Andrew I very loudly said, "Don't pick Jacob!" Steve asked him if he heard me, and he said he had, but then he paused and said, "Too bad!"

*rub rub*

They have been considering that name!! In fact, from the sounds of it, it was the name they WANT!!

Andrew has heard my experience with Jacob, he knows my feelings about it, but chooses to be a stubborn idiot!!

His blatant refusal to leave this name for us feels like he's rubbing my face in the fact that he and his girlfriend are pregnant, but I and Steve are NOT! I just want to cry!! It FEELS like this person, who, in his own disregard for ANYONE'S feelings, has stomped on my heart!!

The thing is, even if Andrew and C name their son Jacob, I will STILL use that name for my next son! So the children on that side of the family will be Cameron, Jacob, Jacob! I don't really care!! It was my name first, and he can just go take a flying leap!!

I'm a Simpson

You can do it here....if you wanted to! ;)

Free-for-All-Weekend

It's time for Free-For-All Weekend! Yeah, I'm a bit late posting this, so it will run all weekend long! :)
If you want to ask me a question -- and anything goes -- here's your chance. You can ask about whatever you wish, no holds barred. I'll either answer honestly, or I'll tell you that I won't answer.

Weekend Answers

One Scrappy Gal said...
Why did they make a new Alvin and the Chipmunks movie? WHY!!!

Scrappy:

This is news to me. But I would ASSUME (you know what they say about that, right?) that they're making a movie because of the adults who grew up LOVING the Chipmunks, and the nostalgia factor. I mean, how many movies have come out lately that appealed to the older "kids?" Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles...TOTALLY my era, Transformers....UH...hello?

I think they're just trying to appeal more to the adults who have to take kids to the movies....now where did you hear this rumor!? ;)

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Nikkie said...
If a tree falls in the woods, does it make a noise?

I'd love to read your take on it!

And: Why are little boys so messy?

Nikkie:

WOW, girl...LONG time no see! ;)

If a tree falls in the woods, of COURSE it will make a noise, but it will reserve the noise until someone happens to walk by! Haven't you ever been walking in the woods and hear those creaking tree noises?? THAT'S what they're from! ;)

LIttle boys are messy just so that they can hear their mom's say, "I'm sorry, he's just a little boy...." Now, the million dollar question would be, HOW can we make these messy little boys CLEAN!?

Change is in the Air

I've had a few things happen lately, and I figured I OUGHT to share them here!

• My sister and her husband have found a job, and because of that job they're moving FAR FAR away. Like to the middle of nowhere Nevada. Which I think just stinks, like smelly cheese!! I don't see the girl NOW, and she only lives 2 and a half hours away, can you imagine the 10 or so hour drive NOW!? I just hope they survive and perhaps even THRIVE there!
• I bit the bullet, and got my OWN cell phone! Steve's usually had control over the ONE that we DID have, but with our contract being up, we decided that it was time that I got a phone too. I think I may mostly use it to call Steve when I need to talk to him.
• My house smells MARVELOUS again! I had a party, of sorts, for this FAB company who sells wickless candles. I bought their stuff earlier in the year, and found that I loved it, but they didn't last very long. So I had a "basket party," where I took the little tester scents around with me for a while, letting everyone I know smell the stuff....and voila! I earned TONS of free stuff, and now have about 15 different scents....and people who know me and love me asking if I could maybe start selling the stuff myself....And I'm thinking about it!
• One of my many cousins, but one of my favorite cousins, just got married a month ago, she told us that she just found out she's pregnant! I'm just SO happy for her, I can't hardly stand it!
• We took a home-buyer's class, and have decided that in the best interest of ourselves (*hee hee*) we're going to put home-shopping on the back burner until next year. Hopefully by then the market will be flooded with homes that will appeal to both of us!
• It's family reunion season. For us that means spending the moolah, to not really get much. We're supporting the reunion, but usually, we don't win any of the fun auctions, raffles, or bingo games. This year, was different. We spent a total of $17 and won: a box of Otter-type popcicles, a tv plug in game, a little LCD flashlight, and a Nintendo DS with a game and an expansion pack! We feel so lucky!! :D
• And the Harry Potter series is over. I was sad to see it go, but LOVED the final installment. I just wish there was more coming! *sigh*