Life in the Estrogen Ocean

Christmas Pictures!

noreply@blogger.com (Sunny) — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 21:43:00 +0000

Each year the girls help make Christmas cookies. They help with the mixing (it’s getting where I don’t have to put quotes around “help” because they are actually getting to be helpful now!). And they each have a rolling pin to roll out the dough and cut out the shapes. Our favorites are the nativity set of cookie cutters!

The usual attempt at getting them to all sit still while I take a decent picture…or ten. We are happy to get a “half-way” decent picture. :o)

Stan is running the camera this year. Can you tell? ;o)

Here is our tree!! I love it! Stan and the kids always go and pick out our tree each year. They did a wonderful job…as always!!

Jake…getting into the present-opening thing. )We always open presents on Christmas Eve, then Santa comes Christmas morning.)

Rebecca and her new jammies!

The girls are wondering who that present is for.

Stan did the Santa thing again this year…big hit! He grew his beard out and we whitened it for the occasion!

Mr. and Mrs. Claus

Santa and his little elves!

Stan got me a Kitchen Aid mixer!!!!!!!!! I love, love, love, love, love it!

Christmas Morning…

Jake got a remote control car…the Bounce Back Racer. It’s really cool! And it’s a little bit squishy so it doesn’t hurt feet or furniture.

Jessica got a baby doll that pees. Yeah, that’s what I thought too. She also got a jumbo pack of new born diapers to go with it. I thought we were out of the diaper thing since Jake is potty trained!

Rebecca got a Build-a-Bear Clydesdale horse and clothes. Yep, she’s still a horse-lovin’ girl!

Mackenzie got a crocheting kit. She’s been wanting to learn and she got some cool patterns to work on!

The girls all got a DS game…they’re absorbed!

The Little People Are Taking Over

noreply@blogger.com (Sunny) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:06:00 +0000

Oh this is sad. I just realized that I posted 118 blog posts in 2008 and so far I’ve posted a measly 21 posts in 2009. Really? Only 21 posts and it’s November? Think I can post 100 more posts in the next two months?

Me either!

Mackenzie got her braces off and she’s SO excited. But then came the retainer and the ortho said she had to leave it in 24/7 and eat with it in. Oh yes! I was worried about the whole digging through the school’s lunch trash trying to find the darn contraption.

Rebecca wants braces…and she shall get her wish soon enough. She needs them.

Now Rebecca…you know, the sweet cuddly one…asked me the other day if she could take taekwondo. And Jessica…the rambunctious wild child…asked if she could take ballet. Just when you think you’ve got them pegged…

I asked Jessica if she knew what taekwondo was, which she didn’t, and after I explained it to her she changed her mind and now wants to take “kwae-ton-do” too. It’s so cute how she says it!

And I want to know just who shoved an Eveready up Jake’s butt! No one told me boys are SO busy. I need a nap just watching him. We’re in the midst of potty training now and it’s going pretty good, thank the Lord!

But to balance out his wildness, it melts my heart when he says things like “tank you, mom” and “I soddy, mom” (that’s “I’m sorry, mom”). So sweet.

Right now he has his sweat pants string caught in the armoire and can’t get loose. Should I leave him like that? At least I’d know where he is. LOL

Well, I’ll post the Halloween pictures soon…relatively soon. Mackenzie’s b-day is next week and we’ve agreed to letting her have a couple friends over for a sleep-over. It may take me a while to recover.

Swiss Courier Blog Tour

noreply@blogger.com (Sunny) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:15:00 +0000

Welcome to the blog tour for Tricia Goyer and Mike Yorkey’s Swiss Courier! Keep reading for how to win a signed copy of the book…and some Swiss chocolate!!

About the book!
It is August 1944 and the Gestapo is mercilessly rounding up suspected enemies of the Third Reich. When Joseph Engel, a German physicist working on the atomic bomb, finds that he is actually a Jew, adopted by Christian parents, he must flee for his life to neutral Switzerland. Gabi Mueller is a young Swiss-American woman working for the newly formed American Office of Strategic Services (the forerunner to the CIA) close to Nazi Germany. When she is asked to risk her life to safely "courier" Engel out of Germany, the fate of the world rests in her hands. If she can lead him to safety, she can keep the Germans from developing nuclear capabilities. But in a time of traitors and uncertainty, whom can she trust along the way? This fast-paced, suspenseful novel takes readers along treacherous twists and turns during a fascinating--and deadly--time in history.

My thoughts:

Prepare to be transported back in time and ripped from your cozy, secure life to a place of war and uncertainty. Swiss Courier will pull you in and open your eyes to the cruel reality of life during Hitler’s reign in Nazi Germany. But it won’t leave you hopeless. Experience the selfless heroism of ordinary people who stand up and risk their lives trying to make a difference in the war. It is full of suspense, loyalties, and betrayal.

To be fair, during the first part of the book I thought that the history seemed somewhat forced into the story. The facts were interesting, but distracting the way they were presented.

By the second half of the book, though, I was thrown into the story and wondering how the characters were going to get out of each situation and hoping their missions succeeded despite unimaginable kinks thrown their way. Loved the ending! But I’m not going to spoil it for you.

Thank you, Litfuse, for providing a copy of Swiss Courier for me to review!

About the authors:
Tricia Goyer is the author of several books, including Night Song and Dawn of a Thousand Nights, both past winners of the ACFW's Book of the Year Award for Long Historical Romance. Goyer lives with her family in Montana. To find out more visit her website: www.triciagoyer.com
Mike Yorkey is the author or coauthor of dozens of books, including the bestselling Every Man's Battle series. Married to a Swiss native, Yorkey lived in Switzerland for 18 months. He and his family currently reside in California.To find out more visit his website: www.MikeYorkey.com

CONTEST (and this includes CHOCOLATE!)
Pst...pass it on! Help Spread the word about #SwissCourier on Twitter and enter to win a signed copy & Swiss Chocolate!

Just tweet this: The Swiss Courier by @triciagoyer fast paced and suspenseful! Don't miss out! http://tr.im/Ahjs RT #swisscourier and we'll enter you into a drawing for 1 of 5 SIGNED copies of The Swiss Courier!

Can’t wait? Buy the book here

Be sure to check out the rest of the blog tour!

Pearl Girls Tour

noreply@blogger.com (Sunny) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 19:23:00 +0000

About Pearl Girls, from Margaret McSweeney:

With His love and grace, God covered the unexpected pain in my life of becoming an adult orphan and transformed this pain into a pearl. We are all Pearl Girls. Each of us has been touched by God's gift of love and grace, and it's a gift that I want to share with others. That's why I am launching Pearl Girls.

Actually, my very first gift from my parents was a pearl. The gift of my name. Margaret means "precious pearl." So perhaps this is what I was always supposed to do. My heart's prayer is that Pearl Girls will be a blessing to others - to the women who contribute their literary talent to the Pearl Girls projects; to the readers who are inspired and comforted by the life experiences shared through these projects and to the women and children who will benefit from the proceeds given by Pearl Girls to various charities. This is a win-win for everyone, and each of us has a special part in making the Pearl Girls projects "blessed sellers."

After the first Pearl Girls tea in Atlanta, I went to my brother, Claude's home to help sort through our parents' boxes in his basement. It was an emotional experience and tedious process to discover what was in each box, to decide what to do with each item and to discard those belongings which we needed to let go. After several long hours of sorting, I received an incredible hug from heaven - a confirmation that Pearl Girls is something that is meant to be. I discovered a three strand necklace of painted pearls belonging to my grandmother from the early 1900s! Isn't that amazing?

Press Release

Read an excerpt of Pearl Girls!

My Thoughts:

We all have pain and hard times in our lives that can become a pearl if we let it. It’s easy to feel alone in our pain and that no one understands and even that God has abandoned us when we needed him. Pearl Girls is full of stories of women who have felt the same way, but found the pearl through the pain. I appreciate the wide variety of experiences covered in this book that reach out to the many different aspects of life. And if you’ve ever listened to a fantastic speaker or read books from amazing authors and thought, “If only my life were so put together like that,” then you’ll be blessed to hear from just such women who have struggled with hard times and sadness and see that you’re not alone and that good really can come out of difficult situations.

Thank you, LitFuse, for providing a copy of Pearl Girls for me to review.

It’s about Connecting Hearts and Souls to Impact the World.

Margaret doesn’t keep a penny of any proceeds. 100% of the royalties go directly to two charities:

WINGS (women in need growing stronger). The proceeds will help fund a Safe House in the Chicago suburbs. It costs $50 a night to provide safe shelter for a woman and her children. During this economy, WINGS is receiving even more phone calls for a safe place to stay. Already, the Pearl Girls have provided 60 nights with the advance royalties. www.wingsprogram.com

Hands of Hope. The proceeds will help build wells in Uganda for school children. Can you imagine a child at school without a water fountain in the hallway where he or she can grab a quick sip of water in between classes on a hot day? These children have to drink from puddles and other water sources which carry diseases and parasites. It costs $12,000 to build a well in Uganda. Already, the Pearl Girls have provided funds to build ¼ of a well. www.handsofhopeonline.org

Buy Pearl Girls here!

Pearl Girls from Michael J Garvey on Vimeo.

Inspired by the many women who opened their lives and shared their stories in Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace, we have created sister site, Post-a-Pearl. A place to continue the connection and encouragement the book began. I hope you will take the opportunity to connect through the Post-a-Pearl site. Please post your own Pearl story and reach out to share your own story with others. Collaborating is an important purpose of Pearl Girls. We connect to make a difference in the world.

Want to see what others are saying about Pearl Girls? Check out the rest of the tour here!

Sickies, Motorcycles, and Fire

noreply@blogger.com (Sunny) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:42:00 +0000

I know, I know. I’ve been slacking in the blog department. The past two weeks have been filled with the sickies in this house. All four kids have been sick and so has momma. Not fun times, but we’re on the mend. Not everyone is all better yet, but we’re getting there.

I admit, I post everything to Facebook now. Somehow it’s just easier to do a quick little update there than to put together a whole post here, but I have missed being able to say more than a couple sentences at a time.

So if anyone is still out there checking out the blog…here are some pictures from recent weeks…

Stan got a new toy…and of course Jake likes it too!

The mountains behind our house have been on fire since July. It hadn’t been real bad until it blew up in September from the wind. But now that the weather has cooled and we’ve had some moisture it’s getting better.

This was at sunset one day:

It got kind of smoky around here for a while.

So that’s it for now. I’m getting over a lung infection and am ready to be all better again. At least I’m functional now and can take care of the sick kiddos. Stan wasn’t too fond of playing Mr. Mom in addition to the stresses at work, but he took good care of all of us while I was down and out.

Catching Up

noreply@blogger.com (Sunny) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:24:00 +0000

Yes, yes, I'm still here. I have been getting my pictures posted on facebook but not on here, but I'll work on that. But for now I wanted to share my kids' personalities (ok, namely Jessica's)...

We were driving along and the conversation went like this...

Mackenzie: "Hey! Look at that weird orange car!"

Me: "That IS a weird orange car."

Rebecca: "Yeah, that IS a weird orange car."

Jessica: "That guy is WEIRD."

It's all in perspective, I guess.

So here's a little update on what's going on in our household:

Stan is working double time right now because he is now without a boss for the second time this year. But hopefully they'll get someone who is actually qualified this time.

The girls have started back to school. Mackenzie is in 5th, Rebecca is in 2nd and Jessica is in 1st. So far so good, but it's only the second week of school. Soccer started this week, and so begins the crazy season. Mackenzie will be getting her braces off next month. Rebecca is next in line.

Jake is holding his own with his terrible three's little self. But he's so dang cute. Last night I was tucking him in bed and he smacked his lips, wanting me to give him another kiss. So I kissed him again. Then he says "one more" so I give him another one. Then he says "one more" again. After that kiss he says "last one" and wanted one more. Funny little toot.

This summer we had the distinct pleasure of replacing the entire septic system. Nice. So this past weekend we planted more grass. Hope it takes!

I got a shiny new purple laptop!!! And I love, love, love it! Stan got a rough and tough dirt bike (XR 400R for those of you who know what that means). Jake really likes it. And so does Jessica. The other girls - not so much.

So there's the Reader's Digest version of what's a goin' on lately. I'll try to be a better blogger now that things are back to ~~crazy~~ normal.

Welp - gotta go switch the laundry...

More camping and boating

noreply@blogger.com (Sunny) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:00:00 +0000

We went camping last weekend...and I remembered the camera! Aren't you proud of me?!

Once again...in no particular order:

We went to the same lake as last time but camped at a different spot. The kids liked playing on the tube at camp:

It was warmer this weekend so we could go boating and tubing more:

Jake didn't do any tubing but he likes wandering the boat and swinging from the rails:

Jake is making sure the girls don't fall off:

And getting excited about boating:

You can see our camp in the background:

Here is our campsite from further out:

Packing up to go home:

We stopped at the top of McDonald Pass and took some pics while we were there:

On the way home:

Camping and Mowing and Swimming

noreply@blogger.com (Sunny) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:38:00 +0000

We went camping a couple weeks ago and of course I forgot my camera so we stopped and got a disposable one to accommodate my brainlessness.

We went to Holter Lake, close to Helena. Here are the pictures in no particular order (because I can never seem to get them uploaded in the order I want and it's a pain to move them around after they're on here):

It was a little cool that weekend so the kids stayed in the bottom of the boat to stay warm.

This is at our campsite:

Also at our camp site...not a bad view to wake up seeing!

One of the kids took this:

Hanging out at camp:

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The girls took swim lessons earlier this month. Mackenzie is at the bottom of the picture. She was the only one in her class this time...usually there are around 5 or 6 in the class.

Rebecca and Jessica were in a class together...that is Rebecca floating on her back with the instructor helping...and Jessica is next to the instructor, watching:

Here Rebecca is helping Jessica float on her tummy:

And this is Jake who is mad that he can't swim too. I guess basketball will have to do for now.

After swim lessons. It was in the 60's and low 70's the whole two weeks they did lessons. Brrr!!

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Rebecca's turn to mow the lawn. We mow around the outside and have the girls mow the middle.

Garden Fever!

noreply@blogger.com (Sunny) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Well, the girls caught the garden fever. As I was planting more flowers this year the girls asked if they could plant some too. We had some extra pots that came with the house, so we set them up next to the bridge.

We went down to a local nursery and the girls each picked out a 4-pot of annuals to plant. I also dug up several stray violas that went crazy in the flowerbed so they could add them to their pots too.

Here's Jessica's:

And here's Mackenzie's:

And Rebecca's:

Look it! Look it!

noreply@blogger.com (Sunny) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 22:12:00 +0000

I know this is ~~extremely and unforgivably~~ a tad late...but look what I got for Mother's Day!!!

A fun bridge to go over our ~~irrigation ditch~~ seasonal creek!

And a wishing well to go over our real ~~and unsightly~~ well!!

I'm still trying to figure out what I want to do around the well. I want to make a flowerbed around it but I cant decide on the shape or size. Any ideas? I can't go too crazy because the driveway is there on the right.

And here's the flowerbed this year. We're still waiting for some things to bloom here since it's been such a cold spring.

This is the newest flowering addition! We put two rose plants in the back and I'm hoping the hostas hide the ugly concrete jutting out. The rest are all annuals. There are red, purple and yellow, even though you can only see the red ones.

These pots are my favorites for this year. It was fun picking out the flowers and arranging them.

Rebecca's Birthday!

noreply@blogger.com (Sunny) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 18:45:00 +0000

Well, our sweet little Rebecca is now a big 8 year old! Her birthday falls right at the end of school and the great thing about having a warm-weather birthday is having the party OUTSIDE and at the PARK! As opposed to trying to entertain tons of loud and crazy kids cooped up in our house.

We invited kids from her class and first we had pizza and let them go crazy on the playground:

And in case you haven't noticed...Rebecca is crazy about horses. So instead of trying to make a horse cake, I bought one, thankyouverymuch:

The little boy on the right is one of her best friends:

Of course up here, you're not guaranteed warm weather in June. We were actually really happy that the rain held off during the party. Here you can see Rebecca (on the right, pink shirt), Jessica (across from Rebecca, digging in the cake), Mackenzie (on the right, blondie in the striped shirt), and Jake (across from Mackenzie in the red shirt):

Presents are always fun!

And here's our little cutie at about a year and a half old (in the purple jacket):

And here she is now! This is the morning after her party...her actual birthday. She still had the present from us and some cards to open:

The girls have been saving up their money to by a Nintendo DS, for about a year now, and the goods inside the cards sent her over the top so she had just enough to buy the DS and a Little Pet Shop game! Thank you, grandparents!!!

And yes, we're still in our jammies (except for Rebecca...I had her get dressed and brush her hair...because I roll that way. Oh and Jake was dressed just because he needed a fresh diaper and it's just as easy to put on his clothes rather than put jammies back on.) See...

Jessica looks like she's been caught. Not surprising.

Mackenzie's wondering how much money she still needs before she can get a DS.

Summer Craft Project For Kids!

noreply@blogger.com (Sunny) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:46:00 +0000

Now that summer vacation is here moms all over the country are wondering...

What in the world am I going to do with these kids for the next three months?!

On top of the usual summertime fun activities I received an email with an idea that will get the kids involved and thinking about other children around the country and the world who are struggling through economic hardships, natural disasters or political conflicts.

Personally, my heart goes out to these children but I don't always know the best way to get my own kids involved in helping them. I want my kids' hearts to connect with these little ones in need and to feel like they really did something to help.

In addition to giving money (most younger kids don't really understand the value of it yet), they can also send a Comfort Critter with a personal message through Operation Kid-to-Kid.

Here's how it works:

First, go to the Operation Kid-to-Kid website and read more about the program. The Comfort Critters go along with a whole Crocodile Dock VBS program (and they offer other programs as well). But lets not get overwhelmed!

OK2K suggests you get two Comfort Critters for each child participating...one to give away and one to keep. When you order the "God Cares" turtle you will get 10 pairs of them, enough for 10 children to have one to give away and one to keep. The pack of 20 turtles runs $17.99. So feel free to split it with other families or use in a Sunday school class.

The kids stuff the turtles (no sewing involved) and there is a pocket on each turtle for the kids to send their own personal message to the child receiving the turtle. Then send the turtles back to the address provided and they will get distributed to the children in need. OK2K also suggests sending a Survivor Booklet ($0.79 each) along with each Critter.

Of course you can adapt the critters project and use them for local community service or outreach.

A little more FYI:

What is Operation Kid-to-Kid?

Operation Kid-to-Kid™ is a partnership of Group Publishing, Inc. and nondenominational Christian organizations dedicated to creating hands-on service projects for children in North America. Operation Kid-to-Kid™ projects have ministered to kids all over the world. Over the years, Group’s Operation Kid-to-Kid™ has become one of the largest forces mobilizing children in serving other children around the world. Millions have been impacted with gifts of comfort critters, school supplies, Bibles, hygiene kits, Christmas gifts, Bible coloring books, and socks and shoes. Operation Kid-to-Kid™ gives children a meaningful service project that will change their hearts as they help change the world.

What is a Comfort Critter and why are they effective?

Comfort Critters are adorable, easy-to-assemble crafts designed especially for kids to make and receive. This year’s special critter is a cuddly little turtle that reads “God Cares” and features a pocket so each child can include a special message to another child in need.

Children learn by doing. While activities like collecting spare change definitely serve a good purpose, it’s hard for young children, who don’t really understand the value of money yet, to understand how the money they collect will minister to other children. But all children know what it’s like to be scared or lonely. They know how a teddy bear, stuffed animal, or blankie makes them feel better. As they use their own hands to make these little turtles, they are creating personal, tangible expressions of compassion. The handy sewn in pocket gives them the opportunity to send a message from their own hearts. And because they make two turtles—one to give away and one to keep—they will have a touchable reminder that other children are struggling and in need of compassion and comfort.

In the Merry Month of May

noreply@blogger.com (Sunny) — Fri, 29 May 2009 14:06:00 +0000

Ok so I haven't posted in a month. I am SO on top of things!

So here is the month in pictures...

May seems to be a really good time for sunsets:

I love this!

Usually we can hear Jake ~~saying~~ yelling, "STOP-IT, BECCA!!!" But she's also good for snuggling up with for a movie, too.

(But it's all in turn...when Rebecca was little she would yell, "HUSH! JUST HUSH Tenzie YEN!" ...that's "Mackenzie Lynn")

Well, he's got the most important things on...the boots.

And the diaper!

This is a common scene in our house (but with pants on, or jammies)...Jake running and pushing his dump truck all around the house. He does this at least a hundred times a day.

It makes the girls run and scream because getting rammed by a speeding dump truck is painful on the ol' ankles. He's learned not to ram momma...doesn't like the consequences.

And last but not least....

Oh yes! We got a boat!! Whadda ya think?!

We took it out on it's maiden voyage (for us, anyway...it's a '99) on Memorial Day Weekend! No pressure! Just the busiest day of the year on the lake (so far) and two people who haven't driven a boat in over a decade!

Actually the dock wasn't that crowded. Except for that one guy who made us look like we were pros. I didn't dare laugh because that could have easily been me!

Now, I did take the camera with us on the lake. Really! I DID!!! I just didn't take any pictures.

Jake was not pleased with having to sit down while the boat was going, and that he couldn't lean over the side when the boat was going, and that he couldn't help drive the boat by pushing all the buttons he could reach. Where's the love?! Not to mention that bulky life jacket that was in his way all day.

He'll learn. And he'll like it! Or else we'll strap him to the front of the boat and make him like it. (Kidding of course...don't call CPS!)

All About Jake

noreply@blogger.com (Sunny) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Well, and one of Mackenzie too. These pictures are from February, March and April. I'm trying not to confuse myself with going backwards in posting these pictures!

This was from Mackenzie's 4th grade concert (they only had to wear the hats on one song):

Here's Jake sporting his fashion sense in footwear:

...and in eye wear:

And back to footwear. He loves his boots:

He wears the boots with anything and everything:

Don't forget the hat and horse as well:

Playing it cool:

Not now, Mom. A guy needs some time to himself:

And that concludes this series on picture catch-up. Can you tell this was a desperate attempt to flood Jake with pictures in order to distract from the fact that I rarely have him on the video camera? Other than Christmas and birthdays I think the last time I have him on video is when he first learned to roll over.

Our Easter Trip

noreply@blogger.com (Sunny) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Since the girls had a 4 day weekend we took a much needed trip out of town. So we went to Idaho. Doesn't everyone go to Idaho whenever they get the chance?! No? Well I'll have you know that northern Idaho has Silverwood, the biggest theme park in the Northwest (that's really not saying much, though). But we didn't go there. It's too cold to be open yet.

And Coeur d' Alene has a nice little lake to browse around, and Pend Oreille (c'mon Idaho! let's speak some English here!) is another larger lake that should be fun in the summer (you'll still need a wetsuit to swim/ski, though).

But the main attraction in Idaho is....

CABELAS!!!!! Yes, Post Falls has a new Cabelas store. The dream destination of millions. Oh yes, we went there.

But Post Falls also has a large outlet mall. Or at least it did until the economy shut most of it down. Hmpf!

Anyway, it was fun to get away for a few days to play and shop. The highlight for Stan and Jake was, of course, Cabelas. The highlight for the girls was shoe shopping and swimming in the hotel pool. The highlight for mom was naptime. Kidding! I enjoyed everything except Jake's sleepless nights.

So here we are at Cabelas:

I didn't get a picture but they also had a fun shooting range in the store. Not real guns, of course. But for a couple of tokens you can shoot at several different objects in an outdoor-looking setting. We all enjoyed that one!

Jake was so funny. He could not get enough of it all. He was running and jumping around, so excited! It was like Christmas for him!

The dam at Post Falls:

On our way home we decided to take the scenic route and went up to where Stan's territory ends on the railroad, then followed the tracks all the way home. In the 4 years we've been here I haven't ever seen this side of his territory so it was fun to see where he works.

The tracks follow the river:

Don't you just feel sorry for him that he has to work in places like this?

Here, the tracks are behind me when I took this picture. You can see how far out from the shore is still ice and where it melts further out:

The ice is breaking up and melting:

Such horrible working conditions. No one should have to suffer through this kind of scenery while on the job. The tracks are along the right side of the river:

Half way home we stopped where Stan sometimes stays when he's out of town. We stayed in a two-story cabin next to the river with three queen beds and a full size futon, complete kitchen, and a jacuzzi tub. Now that's roughing it!

We also scoped out some camping spots for this summer!

Picture Catch-up Time!

noreply@blogger.com (Sunny) — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 17:08:00 +0000

I've been lacking in the picture category and I even realized I did not take one picture during the month of January! The horror!!! I missed cataloging one whole month of my kids' lives! Will they ever forgive me?! ;o)

Since there are quite a few pictures to share, I'll do this over the next few posts.

So here we go...hope you have broadband!

This is Easter. Actually, no it's not. It's the week after Easter because we took a little trip on Easter weekend (will be in another post) so we postponed the egg hunt for a week.

Funny how the Easter Bunny hides the eggs in a neglected wood pile. Anyone want to come split wood with us?!

Here's Rebecca gathering her stash:

Mackenzie helped to teach Jake the ins and outs of finding eggs...what a concept! (And yes, we keep our lawn mower in a cage...it tends to get kind of hyper during these festive events.)

Jessica is quite serious about finding eggs. And apparently she thinks the Easter Bunny likes climbing on wood piles just like she does. Not so. Sorry girl, the Easter Bunny is lazy and put all the eggs within arms reach.

...that is, the Easter Bunny's reach, not necessarily the kids' reach!

Jake is bummed that his bucket isn't full and his sisters deserted him in their own quest for goodies:

Ah, Rebecca to the rescue! Like our yard art?!

And finally all eggs were found and everyone is happy. Jake is still confused by the whole event.

Overwhelming Responses!

noreply@blogger.com (Sunny) — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 20:06:00 +0000

It seems we had quite the response with the new Spring Fashions!

Three! Yes three! Three people responded, thus demonstrating their interest in looking their best this season.

So today I will answer the plethora of questions from my readers:

Do you think it would be okay to wear the shorts with tights and cowboy boots? I want to be fashionable on a budget and I already have the c'boy boots...dying to know,

Slave to Fashion Trends in Oklahoma...

Dear Slave to Fashion Trends in Oklahoma,

This outfit can certainly be adjusted to fit any region in the USA. Cowboy boots are perfect for our southern ladies. Be sure to finish it off with the cowboy hat. And throw in a bandana for nostalgia (since the northern people think you still wear them anyway). In Minnesota I recommend tall insulated snow boots, but the parka just won't do. The sacrifices we make for beauty! Of course in the Dakotas I suggest waders right now, considering the recent flooding, but once the danger is over you should really go back to galoshes. I mean really...waders cover up the tights! And in California (or Florida!) we're in the process of creating a flip-flop-slash-boot. We'll call it the flip boot (or the boot flop!). It will be all the rage...just wait!

~~~~~~~~~~~~

(apparently from Jenni at talking hairdryer)

Hahahahahah! I don't care who you are, that's funny.

Dear Talking Hairdryer person,

Larry! I told you to stay in the truck and stop hijacking peoples blogs!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm just concerned about the poor girl in the swimsuit in the pic with the m c hammer outfit. Do they not let those models go to the bathroom? What a shame!

Dear Concerned Citizen,

Ah yes, I too am deeply troubled by that poor soul in the swimsuit. Bless her heart! I don't think she was too traumatized by having her rear-end posted on the WWW for all to see. However, the Pee-Pee Dance she's doing is just too painful to watch. If you're ever caught in that situation, shuck those heels and RUN! Run, I say! To the nearest bathroom facility. Even if it is (*gasp*) a Port-a-Potty. And too bad she's in a one-piece. More wasted time. But on another note...be sure to check out her shoes. Once again, shoes make a big statement for the outfit. Shouldn't we all wear 6 inch heels to the lake/beach?! She's one smart cookie!

~~~~~~~~~~~~

So there you have it. I hope this answers your questions and when in doubt just listen to that little voice in your head that says "This will look stupid!" and ignore it. Wear it anyway.

Because it's fashion, y'all!

And "they" know fashion!

Spring Trends ~ Must-Have Fashions!

noreply@blogger.com (Sunny) — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 17:00:00 +0000

I'm not one to scope out the new season's trends, by any means. But this morning, on a whim, I actually clicked on the MSN's What To Wear This Spring link. Surely I couldn't have been that bored! At first I sat there rolling my eyes at each picture, thinking "yeah, right!" and "why haven't I clicked off this page yet?"

Then as I looked at the other people in the background it hit me. They're mocking us! They're sporting the most hideous combination of clothing and accessories to watch America run out and spend big bucks. Then they're going to sit back and laugh their heads off at how silly we look.

I always wonder if anyone ever stands back to look at those models and says, "Really? That? You've lost your mind! Whatever that designer was drinking, I'll have two."

So in honor of the new spring fashions I'd like to pay tribute to these new trends and the people who love them.

Above we have the pastels. Pastels are fun. But I would like to point out the shoes. For this spring, you must run out and find the bulkiest shoes you can find, especially if they look like casts on your feet with, of course, an air hole for the toes. We wouldn't want you to have sweaty feet. But make sure the heels are longer than your foot, like the girl on the left wearing all black.

Notice, however, the girl in black is scowling at the model in front. She was picked up for soliciting the night before and got out of jail just in time for the main event. The girl in front was the one who tipped the police off so that she could have the runway all to herself. Thought you'd like a little backstage gossip!

Moving along...

This one is the "biblike necklace."

I'll pause so that can sink in.

Biblike necklace. *sigh* Anyway, I'd like to share some tips for creating this look for a fraction of the cost. Go outside. Find whatever you can that is big, round-ish and flat (some ideas would be...a rock, a cow patty, some moss from the bottom of the lake), then fashion some rope to it and hang it around your neck. Your friends will be awed and inspired!

I'll have you know that whoever wrote the caption for this picture on the MSN site knew it was ridiculous because the whole description was trying to strongly convince the reader they really did need this. Really.

Now for the dress. Throw that iron and ironing board out of the window (please check to make sure you won't hit anyone, though...we are not liable for any injuries). Dig around in the bottom of your closet and find some clothes that ~~look like you slept in them~~ have that textured look. Voila! Instant success! (If you're in a real bind, simply don the clothes the night before and then actually sleep in them. Saves time!)

This look is called "Can't Touch This." It's so easy to replicate! You remember the 80's, so just dig deep, deep into the bottom of your closet and find those MC Hammer pants, match them with a little slinky tank top from the 70's and you have instant Y2K awesomeness! If you actually threw out those Hammer pants years ago, what were you thinking?! That's ok...just go to the local used clothing store. I'm sure they haven't sold any either.

(What is that guy doing behind her?! I think he's laughing and is about to fall down.)

Now this one. This one! Stripes and polka dots. And look at the guy on the left. Plaids and prints. Never fear when you just flat ran out of creativity. Simply concede to the opposite of common sense and throw together the outfit that clashes the worst. But be sure to color coordinate. We wouldn't want to look ridiculous now, would we?

The model above looks just fabulous. Just find some animal print material and wrap it around you like a towel. If you're feeling especially frisky, simply add a matching animal print turban.

But the main attraction in this photo is the woman on the left. I'm pretty sure she's not one of the models, but her ensemble screams...well, it just screams. Only a fashion genius would think...striped tights, cut-off denim shorts that bag a little in the rear-end, wading boots, a khaki safari shirt, and an over-the-shoulder purse/bag that hangs down to her knees.

Actually, she was mucking out the stalls and realized she was about to miss the big event so she hosed her boots off and ran as fast as should to see all the anorexic ladies.

Now, I didn't post all the pictures on here, but one included the 80's big earrings and another would be inappropriate because apparently it was quite cold in that room. Ahem!

So there you go. I hope you liked the show and are inspired to ~~run screaming from the insanity~~ use creativity in your own wardrobe.

There's some really great music out there that was written (and performed) by people stoned out of their minds. It worked for them. It can work for clothing fashions too!

And for the sake of credit, I did not take these pictures. Obviously. I wouldn't waste the space on my memory disk. I took these from MSN and I'm pretty sure it said they were all taken by some guy named Mark Leibowitz. Poor disillusioned guy.

It Was Bound To Happen

noreply@blogger.com (Sunny) — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 22:45:00 +0000

Well, here we go! Another stage in life. Just started this week.

The stage of "toddler-can-climb-out-of-crib"

And boy is he proud of it! He walks in with a big toothy grin, knowing he's up to something.

I kinda liked being able to contain him and know that he can't get out.

Muah-ha-haaaa!

But I'm sure we'll get used to it...same as we did with his new freedom in crawling and again with walking.

Although he learned today what happens when he climbs out when he is supposed to be napping. He didn't like it, and neither did his hiney.

You might be wondering how he learned such a trick. Well, I'll give you three guesses but you'll only need one. It's the one he calls "D" (as opposed to the one he calls "Tsie-Tsie" or the one he calls "Ca-Ca" - and no, we're not teaching him Spanish!).

Yeah, you knew Jessica fit in this picture somehow. Doesn't she always? (If you're wondering where the "D" comes from...we sometimes call her by her initials - JD.) So yes, she climbed in and out of his crib and apparently he is a visual learner because all he needed was a demonstration.

Actually, I'm kinda surprised he hadn't learned it sooner. Surprised, but glad.

I'm sure I'll feel some nostalgia when we take down the crib for the very last time. But I'm not going there now. And I gotta do some better toddler-proofing in his room before we put him in a "big boy" bed.

And on another note, I'm not sure if it's a conspiracy but Jake has also learned to open the back door to let the dog in...any time he pleases. Like when it's muddy outside. Ugh!

Spring Break

noreply@blogger.com (Sunny) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 19:45:00 +0000

So, what did you do for Spring Break? Go anywhere fun? Travel? Soak up some sun?

Well good.

I'm just so stinkin' happy for you.

Because our Spring Break was last Friday. Yes, just Friday. Blows my mind! Last year we had 3 days of Spring Break and I assume next year it will be gone completely.

So we did what any other fun-loving family would do to make the most of that one day vacation.

We cleaned house!!! I know you're completely jealous and I'm sorry you didn't get to clean house too. It'll be ok. Maybe you can plan ahead for that on your next Spring Break. If you need any tips just let me know.

Or you can ask Mackenzie, who has a "better" way to do everything she's told to do...and will spend no less than 30 minutes explaining it to you, in great detail, instead of just going and doing it. But she does a good job once she's finished explaining it.

Or you can ask Jessica, who has a covert cleaning system of stuffing items under furniture. She works in silence, which is her most secret weapon because she goes undetected for quite some time. Then when she's caught she flashes those big ol' brown puppy dog eyes at you. Not fair.

Or you can ask Rebecca, who actually is any mom's dream because she gets her jobs done, done well, and done fast...and then asks, "what else can I do for you, Mom?" Now I really know you're jealous. For real this time! As you should be!

Or you can ask Jake, who has the strategy of sabotaging all three sisters' efforts and making them scream. They say (in their loudest, most whiny voice), "I just cleaned this and now he messed it all up again!" (be sure to add a HMPH! and a pout with that). And I think..."hmmm, I know just how you feel - times FOUR."

So, while our Spring Break was not as fun as others' it sure was nice to have a clean house...for a few hours. Not that you could tell it now. Sorry that I don't have pictures of our Spring Break to share with you.

Ok...gotta go clean house.

I'm still here! Really.

noreply@blogger.com (Sunny) — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 07:27:00 +0000

January? Has it really been that long since I posted last? Oh I'm so neglectful!

Well, let's see...

It's that time of year where my camera is still full of Halloween and Christmas pictures that I need to get off of there to make room for more. And nothing is really going on anyway that is picture-worthy. Well, there probably are but I'm too lazy to mess with it.

Nothing really exciting has happened since January. Unless you think that 2 year old Jake kung-fu-ing his 10 year old sister to the ground and making her cry is exciting. (Oh yes, I videoed it! And laughed.)

Ever since he's watched Kung Fu Panda that is his thing...he says HI-YAH! and whacks you with is foot or hand. I had to nip the hi-yahing my hiney in the bud, though...and hi-yahing the grocery store clerks. It's that fine line between a cute toddler being funny and allowing him to just kick people. Gotta fix that problem before he's bigger than me.

He also dead-legged me yesterday and it hurts like crazy. I'm not kidding. I'm such a weenie. We were tickling him and he was kicking his legs and that bony heel came down on my thigh. Boys. Having flash-backs to my brothers whooping up on me, which is probably the last time I've been dead-legged (if you don't count that rollerblading injury in college but that was self-induced from my own stupidity).

Well that is just way too exciting for me so I'll just leave it at that. Don't want to flood you with stories all at once, you know. That'd just be crazy.

Jessica's Recap For The Day

noreply@blogger.com (Sunny) — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:41:00 +0000

Saturday we all sat around and watched the movie Phenomenon with John Travolta. If you haven't seen it (you should) I don't want to spoil it, but if you have seen it this story will make a little more sense. Or at least the initial connection to the story.

At the end of Phenomenon they are having a birthday party. As soon as it's over Jessica turns to me and says (be sure to read this like a 6 year old is telling a story...her voice would go up on the last word of each phrase)...

They had this birthday party...for a dead guy...and his last name was King, but he wasn't really a king, it was just his last name. And his first name was...John Buford...and he got shot.

It took me a second to realize who she was talking about. At first I thought she was talking about the movie, but when she said "John Buford" I realized she meant "Martin Luther" and I started cracking up.

In case you haven't noticed, she's a fake-it-til-you-make it kind of girl.

Christmas Recap and Happy New Year!

noreply@blogger.com (Sunny) — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:34:00 +0000

We had a good Christmas. We didn't get to see family, but we had a nice quiet time at home playing games and just hanging out together.

And Santa came to our house early!!! Here he is with all the kids...

Jake wasn't too sure about this guy but he warmed up to him soon enough. I couldn't believe how much Stan looked like Santa with all that white. And in case you're wondering, that's his real beard ~~that I promptly made him trim when Christmas was over~~.

And of course the presents...

Here's Mr. and Mrs. Claus...She seems to be aging better than he is. LOL

It's that time of year when everyone bundles up and walks around with clinched cheeks (and I don't mean the ones on each side of your smile!) because of the ice.

We've gotten quite a bit of snow the past few weeks. It hasn't been very cold so it melts and freezes again and again. We're actually on a flood watch today since it's in the 40's and all that snow is melting. Crazy.

This was taken (by me sticking my head out our back door since I didn't have shoes on) the first day of the new year...

Hope your new year is going great so far!

Snow 'n Stuff

noreply@blogger.com (Sunny) — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 23:22:00 +0000

Since this is "snow 'n stuff" - let's do the "stuff" part first...

Rebecca and Jessica had their school Christmas concert last week. Of course they were cute as buttons and it was fun watching all the kids. Here they are in their pretty dresses:

Mackenzie and I went to get hair cuts and they also styled hers straight and I thought it was super cute! We took off several inches, so maybe we'll have less frustration. Oh and her bangs are now officially grown out.

Alright, now for the "snow" part...

We got a few inches of snow. Don't ask me how many, I don't know. So we went sledding and then last night we got a few more inches of snow! And it's a dry snow so there will be no snowmen hanging out in the yard, but it's great for sledding (and skiing).

In the back yard we have this dug-out place and the kids like to sled down into it and...

...then it shoots them up the bank, and then back down again. (That's Mackenzie above and that's Jessica sledding in the picture below.)

Jake just liked hanging out and eating the snow.

Here's Rebecca heading down.

It's also good for snow angels! Here's Mackenzie...

and Jessica...

Rebecca was a good big sister and took the whiney 2 year old back in the house while the rest of us trekked down to the mail box. So I'll have to get Rebecca's angel pic next time we're out.

But for now I'm staying in by the cozy fire and having a cup of decaf!

Good Times!

noreply@blogger.com (Sunny) — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 22:45:00 +0000

Well I thought I'd update you on our latest and greatest happenings over here in the Estrogen Ocean. (I wrote this a few days ago, but am just now posting it...)

~ It's cold. Single digits, or less. I was really enjoying the mild weather we'd been having but I guess it's time for snap back to reality. At least we got our first snow. Finally. (update: we're back in the 20s again!! wooo hoooo!!!)

~ Jake learned how his hands feel when they get really cold and start stinging. He didn't like it. At all. Actually it made him quite mad.

~ The electricity went out (remember, single digits) and when it came back on, our TV wouldn't. And no, I promise that doesn't mean there will be any additions to our family. (Since by the 4th pregnancy people were asking us if we knew how those things happen. Yes. We do. Thankyouverymuch.)

~ I'm the worst mom ever. I saw the letter that Rebecca wrote to Santa at school. Other than the $80 stuffed animal that she won't be getting, she also asked for a new coat since hers is dirty. Doesn't that make a momma proud? I'll never be able to get a job at that school!

~ Jessica learned what happens when she sticks her tongue to a metal pole in single digit weather. She didn't like it. At all. The rest of us laughed because we're sympathetic like that. I'm pretty sure she freaked out, but by the time we headed out there she had unstuck herself and came in with her blood-tinged tongue hanging out.

~ I'm pretty sure Mackenzie planted that tongue-to-the-pole seed, but I can't prove it. Not that Jessica has ever needed prompting for anything, though.

~ In better news, our tree is still standing. (Maybe I should wait until after Christmas to report that?) And the dog hasn't peed on it. (Our dog is a girl, so I'm not too worried about that one. It just sounded so hopeful.)

Well, I ran out of colors so I'll stop there. I'm opting out of sending Christmas cards this year. That just sounds better than the previous years where I just didn't get around to it.

Sounds more proactive this way.

Not that I don't love all of you and wish you a Merry Christmas. I think you'll understand.

Jessica wouldn't be in the mood for licking envelopes anyway.

So, I'll keep you posted on any other wild and exciting times going on around here. In the meantime...

Merry Christmas!!

And that's "Christmas" -- with "Christ." Just in case you didn't know.