Crazy or Ambitious?

I got to looking and editing my photos that I took of my kids, so cute. So HARD to get Landon to smile though, holy cow! I just need to shoot while Jeff's home, plain and simple.

As I was editing them....the thought occured to me. THREE MONTHS TIL CHRISTMAS! YAY! I LOVE CHRISTMAS!

Wait, it's only September...but who am I not to have things done early? So, with that said, ladies and whoever else reads this, read this and weep..


MY CHRISTMAS CARDS ARE ALL DONE! That's right, I borrowed the Boy Scout motto and wanted to be prepared, and prepared I am! I had a fun time on tinyprints.com and was ooing and ahhh'ing over some of the adorable templates they have, I LOVE the customization. I wanted to make my own templates and all that, but...my creativity does hit it's limits. I already made baby shower invites, my mind is on a block for a while after that.

On another note, this is the most dorkiest thing that I'm excited for. Especially now that I'm in primary, talk about barricaded off from what's going on in my own ward. But..


SUPER SATURDAY IS NEAR!

relief Society puts this on about once a year, and I was kinda "Meh", about it this year...and then I saw a sample...

I know it sounds totally goofy, but I saw this really neat table of like, Christmas ornaments and MEGA creative things the ladies at my ward had put together and were going to offer classes on how to make all these super schnazzy things with basic already-have-at-home items...um.. YAY! Sign me up! So far, I'm going to be making a clock to replace the finnicky one in my bedroom with our last name on it. (CUTE!) and will be doing some glass etching. How many people are glass etchers?! Sign me up, I would LOVE to do more of it!

I already have Jeff lined up to watch the kids and hopefully can go and catch up with some of the few ladies I do know at church who if anything, make me laugh and are fun just to socialize with in general.

On a funny note, I think I love singing time in Primary the most. It's too funny. The chorister is pregnant, and she's open about having "baby brain", I just know that I probably laugh in there more each week, just because of basic things happening, teachers being caught off guard etc. Who knew I'd have the giggles even after the fun was over? I'll sit and think about it, and snicker to myself. All that aside though, everyone in there puts forth alot of time and effort to make sure those little kiddies are listening, it's just funny because their attention span allows so much and it's our job to be as creative as we can. Ahh, little creatures!

Back to School!

AGHH!

Kids grow up too fast, Leenas first day of school today, 3rd grade and I'm slightly clueless as what to do while she's gone. Granted I have alot of laundry to do and so on...but...sheesh, this again for 9mos? I guess I should enjoy it and not wonder?

I told Leena I didn't want the generic school pictures, I can take better ones. She never smiles in her pictures so I end up paying for a a bad picture. So, after begging, pleading, whining, and bribing, she agreed that I could take then.

I'm SOOOO happy with how these come out!! It did take a litle while longer than I had anticipated because she kept giving me fake smiles, but...overall. I have some good ones, here they are!

Happy Birthday Ashlee

I haven't ever done this, but...something just kinda told me I should I guess. Her Birthday was August 5th, this is very much delayed.

Cutest baby ever, I feel bad I didn't get to spend alot of time with her, but...kids come when they come, and we all leave at our assigned times, ready or not. I have always felt a bond, even without her being here. With that said, miss love, love you, see you on the other side!!

Thank you, JFK.

After feeling slightly pounced on about my personal beliefs, I found this. And was glad I did.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CHSVC2nAl8&feature=related

Bullying, something dangerous.

I was watching a show on TV, called "If you really knew me". Which challenges people in cliques, to peel off their mask, and spill what's really under it. As it's proven that many kids do things to lift their spirits. I felt SOOO bad for these kids, I almost cried. It was horrifying to hear their stories and just all around made me depressed as a mom and a sister myself.

One girl at a high school in west virginia, has a mom is in prison, has a drug addict father, and is horribly abusive to her. Things were so bad, that her best friend and her, had made a pact on Christmas Day, to commit suicide. Right as they were about to take their own life, Dad walked in, and obviously, she's still alive to tell the story. Her Dad has told her she's crazy (as she suffers from depression and bipolar disorder) and he kicked her out, and told her she was the worst daughter there was, and only one person offered to take her in. If I was in that girls shoes, I have NO idea what I would've done. The whole story itself it just horribly sad. And the bullying started when she went to a knew school, it seemed to follow her at every school she went to.

One other girl, at the same school....Little sister got sick one day, parents took her to the hospital. As they were under the impression it was nothing major. She didn't say get well or feel better, or, that she loved her. Little sister passed away at the age of 7, the next day. Shortly after that, her mother passed away. She says her biggest regret is not saying she loved them to EITHER of them. This girl is also picked on for liking things like hunting and fishing. What the?

It continues on and on, and it's heartbreaking! I'll admit, I was bullied in 9th grade, and I didn't tell my parents. Other people told them, because their kids had either witnessed it, or I had mentioned it to one of their children. My biggest regret is not telling my parents. My locker was broken into, clothes/shoes thrown into the toilet, food thrown at me when I was walking to class. One kid even picked me up and threw me into a mental pole, and I hit the concrete planter on the way down. I had a few bruises. I didn't tell my parents about it, it was embarassing to me, not to mention I didn't want to talk about it.

Long story short, always open up a listening ear to a teenager, I wish I had confided in someone. I finally caved and told my parents of only ONE incident, and my mom was livid and made sure that whole group of boys were suspended for a week. And I know now, that these kids seem to take a more brunt of bullying as we have things like text messaging and facebook. Mine just went on at school, I can't even fathom what would it have been like if I had such things 14 years ago. We moved that next year, and needless to say, a new school (Inglemoor) was my saving grace and I didn't get bullied at ALL. In a perfect world, we'd all be happy in our own skin and wouldn't ever wear such masks, but that's not even close to what we live in. Sad day.

And we're private...

Pat yourself on the back if you can read this. I had a few random comments from people that I had NO idea, who they are.

So, this will be private for a while. Thanks!

To My Wonderful, Amazing, Loving, Grandpa Wayne!

This is to my AWESOME Grandpa Wayne!!

Raise your hand if you know The Old Prospector Stories. Raise your hand if you have a fun, genuine, faithful and loyal grandpa just like mine!!

My Grandpa has been thrown many curve balls in the test that we live daily, called life. But he never let go of his faith, he has been a good dad to my dad, and a wonderful grandfather to me and my children.

What you should know about my Grandpa is, he has the best sense of humor. He makes good salsa, he even called me a wuss once for not trying it because I don't do good with heat. Well Grandpa guess what, I can eat it in small doses now! The wuss was an inspiration. On a side note, he's WONDERFUL about doing family history, I know sooo much more about my family than I could have ever known, he's awesome at doing it, and telling us about our heritage that we probably wouldn't have ever known.

He and my Grandma make tamales, and they'll blow any mass manufactured ones way out of the water.

I've noticed over the years, my Grandma and Grandpa, make a really good team. Seems like a good balance from observation.

I remember one time when I was a kid, and I'm sorry Mom and Dad for just now coming clean about this! We were due to go back home to San Bernardino from Tucson. I was HORRIBLY upset, the thought of leaving my grandparents made me so sad. Not to mention I was having fun with my cousins too. I had started to get a bit of a back ache, and...I'm so sorry for admitting this 20 years later! But, I kind of blew it out of the water and said it hurt more than it really did, so it would buy me more time with my grandparents. It bought me about 20 minutes while my parents convinced my to take a pain reliever. I was even in tears I didn't want to leave. I just remember, that what made me feel better, was when we were pulling away from their house, they said "We love you!!" and waived good bye. I think that was all my little 10 year old soul, needed to hear.

But Grandpa, you've taught me SO many things, to never lose faith and hope, and to always pray, and that family is IMMENSLY important, it's who we are. I've learned that laughter and stories are memories in itself, I've learned that you are really a dang good catch. I love you more than this entry could ever tell you, you're a amazing grandpa and I thank you from the bottom of my heart, I LOVE YOU!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDPA!!! 83 has never looked so good!