Tuesday, July 29, 2008

The Train to Winslow


I'll bet you just smiled when you saw him. It's instinct. What a face.


Sam thoroughly enjoyed the time he got to spend with aunts and uncles on this trip. Yes that is his fake smile though.


Sam really wanted to give his ticket to someone before we boarded, but it seems we were suppose to keep them. He was quite disappointed, but he loved the train ride.


My little brother Marc was our personal photographer for the ride. Not to mention the time he and Sally devoted to entertaining the Sam and Jack.
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Monday, July 28, 2008

A Week in the South


Sam and Joe found one of Grandmas ponds and my Uncle Thirl was kind enough to loan poles and tackle.


Princess and the boys were inseperable the entire week. Especially Jack, who, by the way, we do normally put pants on. I couldn't believe how fearless he was with her. And she was so gentle and playful with him. Now Sam wants to move to a different place so that he can get a "real puppy". I guess we've used the "we aren't allowed to have pets at this house" excuse for long enough.


We rode horses with my brothers and my dad one day. Sam was so excited. Jack, not so much. He loved petting them and looking at them, and I'm pretty sure he would have chased them around like they were puppies had we let him. He rode with me, but was a little hesitant with Uncle Luke. I decided that he might be scared of tall people. Just not accustomed to the altitude I suppose.
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The Orchard

These are pictures of my grandpa's orchard. I didn't post any of the whole orchard because it's impossible to get it all in one shot. I think he has at least 2,000 trees now. It's georgeous.
Sam in search of the perfect peach. There were too many to count...or taste.
I don't know that I ever saw either of them without a peach in hand for very long at a time.
My little farmers.
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Saturday, July 26, 2008

Vacation!

We just got back from a trip to visit my family in AR. We stayed with my grandma and spent a lot of time there. The boys loved her 2+ acre yard and exploring her place. Sam loved the cows and went fishing in one of her ponds. Sam and Joe got to ride around in her golf cart, and Joe finally go to drive a tractor. I think he wants a farm now. (Joe in overalls would be rather comical though.I'll be sure to get pictures if that ever happens.) We spent 3 days in the peach orchard. I'm hoping that we ate enough to hold us over till next year. I hadn't been back for the season since I moved out here. Oh the fuzzy memories that brought back. We had lots of fun, sweat, and relaxation. It's good to be home though.

My 100!

I was curious, so I had to do it. Here are 100 random things about me.
1. I grew up in Arkansas, moved to UT 8 years ago. I was determined not to get married. Then I met Joe.
2. I graduated 3rd in a class of 28.
3. Science is the only thing I like to study.
4. I love to cook for people. I'm not the best. Not the worst.
5. I decorate cakes.
6.I love to run. Not the running, but the having run.
7. I use to hate my hair, now I think I got lucky. It'll pretty much do whatever I tell it too.
8. I lived in a bus for 7 month when I was 14?(I don't really know, I've tried to forget).
9. I really dislike chicken breast, but I eat it because it's healthy.
10. I love sauces on my food.
11. I eat ice cream almost daily year round.
12. I don't like raspberries.
13. I love antique stores, but not the overpriced trinket ones.
14. My relationship with Diet Coke is more like a love affair than an addiction.
15. I was home schooled for 6 years.
16. I think child molesters should be castrated then jailed for life. No exceptions.
17.I have killed, skinned, cooked, and eaten squirrel.
18. I hate spiders.
19. Mexican is my favorite food.
20.I get really grumpy when it's too hot.
21. I love the Food Network.
22. I like the smell of gasoline.
23. I love being outdoors.
24. I don't like living in town, but I do want to be fairly close to one.
25. I always thought I wanted to be a hermit in the mountains. Sometimes I still think that...I'd take the fam though.
26. Someday I want to own a place big enough that I can't see or hear anyone else.
27. I want a hound dog to sleep on the porch.
28.I'm terrified of strange dogs.
29. I'd love to be rich, but never famous.
30. My mouth has gotten me into a lot of trouble over the years.
31. When I have a garden, it will include onions, garlic, tomatoes, strawberries, bell peppers, corn, squash, purple hull peas, herbs, okra, and red potatoes.
32. I really like packing and moving, but hate the unpacking and settling in.
33.I want to take a train somewhere.
34. I want to be a judge on Iron Chef America.
35. Sunglasses make me dizzy.
36.I sold pampered chef for about 2 minutes.
37.I want my kids to be exposed to lots of cultures and religions.
38. I made my husband promise to never ride a bullet bike. I know, Evil.
39.I can't make pancakes.
40. I always burn the last batch of cookies.
41. I love old trucks and I'd love to restore one someday.
42. I am 1/16 Cherokee.
43. I take full advantage of 'fairies' ie. the "good fairy"who leaves goodies for kids that are really good all day and go to sleep really fast.
44. I didn't have a twinkie till I was 19.
45. I've never made Hamburger Helper.
46. I break out in hives when I'm nervous...and sometimes just randomly.
47. I have a tumor (benign) in my leg that caused the bone to break when I was 11.
48. I had lots of guy friends in school but VERY few girls.
49. I was Miss Mulberry High 1999
50. I grew up picking peaches and strawberries on my grandpa's farm.
51. I miss the hospitality and fall colors of the south.
52. I had a pet goat.
53. I'm much more brave and capable when my husband's not around to "save" me.
54.I am a car seat and seat belt nazi.
55. I use Supernanny's naughty step and sleep techniques and love them.
56. I have 5 brothers and 3 sisters. I'm #4.
57. As far as I know, I invented strawberry Dr. Pepper. (ask for it at Sonic)
58. I've been to England, Scotland, and Spain.
59. My hair is naturally curly, but I didn't know it till 5 years ago.
60.I am scared of old age and the pain of it.
61. I don't like being tickled. I get defensive and start punching, kicking, and biting...really, ask Joe.
62. I hiked 40 miles through the Wind Rivers the summer I moved to UT.
63. I can swim, but not very well.
64. I've never taken lessons of any kind (unless you count my cake dec. classes).
65. I'm a fainter.
66. I don't get grossed out easily.
67. I dream of owning my own business.
68. I recycle and use all CFL bulbs but I want to be 'greener'.
69. I was an active member of 4-H.
70. I don't like parades.
71.I'm always in the mood for a comedy, rarely drama or action, never horror.
72. I want to learn Spanish.
73. I love rain and a good T-Storm.
74. I'm scared of the ocean.
75. I hate James Bond.
76. I like rodeos.
77. I have a theory about pretty much everything.
78. I'm wrong a lot.
79.I like to get mail.
80. I don't get into TV drama's. They are way too cheesy.
81. When I lived in Branson MO I was roommates with one of the girls from Deal or No Deal.
82. I like to fish.
83. When I was little, I got my arm stuck in a wringer washing machine.
84. I always tip 20%.
85. I plan on getting braces.
86. When I'm angry, I clean.
87. My house is always messy.
88. I hate soured towels.
89. I started buying kids books before I had kids. Now we read 2 a day.
90. I only shower every other day unless I exercise or feel icky.
91. Misrepresentations of the gospel really bother me.
92. I created my own diet plan to lose weight.
93. I want to shake people when I hear them say mean things to/about their kids.
94. I don't do funerals.
95. I don't have any food or seasonal allergies.
96. Democrat? Republican? I go both ways...and sometimes neither.
97. I don't have a degree,but plan on it.
98.It really bugs me when people think they are better than others. But, I think everyone should think their kids are better/cuter than everyone else's. And I do.
99. I get weak at the thought of public speaking. Then come the hives.
100. I go to the store almost every day because I can't plan ahead.

Well there I am. Anything you didn't know?

Where am I?

It's been so long that I almost forgot my login. Well actually I did, but after a couple tries I got it. So, I guess we've had a lot going on. Illness: Sam got really sick for a while and after a night in the ER, complete blood work, a spinal tap (yeah, I said spinal tap), and a 105 degree fever for 5 days, they were able to tell me that he had a virus....oh, then terrible cramping and spinal headaches both from the spinal tap for the next week. Sure glad they ran those tests so that he wouldn't hurt anymore. To say the least, I am a bit frustrated with the entire medical field and I don't think I will ever trust them the way I did before....And I probably won't take my kids back for a while unless I think it's serious. I never thought I'd say that. I was the first one to tell someone to go to the Dr. if they were sick, and especially with kids because they can't tell you how they feel. But after an unnecessary (and painful, then a UTI because of it) catheter in my nine month old and a COMPLETELY unnecessary spinal tap, I'm not that big of a fan anymore.All I ask for is respect, honesty, competency, and a little sympathy from a Dr. and I'm having trouble finding that....WHY?
I have several posts today (hopefully I get them up today), so I decided to do this one first because it makes me so angry just to think about it. Cute pictures will put me back in a good mood though.