Defy Gravity

Here We Go Again!

2012-01-24T19:49:00.000-08:00

January 24, 2012

Well, I was hoping that this year would not have the medical problems that last year had, but no such luck. Our family is dealing with multiple issues, some of which are tremendously more serious, but we are somehow managing.

I am just about done with the physical therapy (I call it torture) for the herniated disk in my back. Cymbre is down with bronchitis yet again, and the allergies are terrible this year....and the other stuff, we are working on.

Yesterday, our British Grandma Bessie passed away. While we all miss her terribly, at least we know of the Savior's plan (which makes it just a smidgen easier to bear) and that we will all see her one day again. It was a blessing for her to finally be able to leave this life and return to her Heavenly Father. She was suffering with dementia, and was living in a nursing home situation for years.

We all have such tremendous memories of many happy times with Bessie. She was such a wonderful blessing in our lives at a time when we were living in a foreign country, getting used to a totally different lifestyle, and missing our families we left in America. She spent many hours with our children as Guy and I served in our very busy church leadership callings, and we really enjoyed taking her to the temple to work with us each week. She taught me to knit, and while I can make pretty rows of very straight stitches, I never developed a love for it like she had. She would sit and knit while talking to you, or watching TV and never look at her knitting....and it was always perfect! Needless to say, we all loved her very much and she became a member of our little family.

All the girls competition dances were put on Sunday for this first competition. However, the studio director and her husband took a stand, stood behind the girls, talked about civil rights and it being illegal to eliminate them, and now they are getting their money back and taking the senior team to a different competition where it won't be a problem. This is the first time a studio director stood behind us...mostly, they just say sorry...you lose the money, and leave me to deal with the competitions. I did make it a point to let her know how much we appreciated the support.

Next week in my Sunday School class we will be going outside to look for our own personal liahonas, and then figuring out how to build a ship....that should prove to be interesting. I told the kids that next week, if it was cold they should dress appropriately, bring their golden plates (scriptures) and make sure their faith was in working order. They would need to meet me in the wilderness. You should have seen the looks I got. I got their attention for this week at least!

I'm just sitting here waiting for Cooper to come home from dance...Guy has finally gone to bed....he needs the sleep! Tap class runs later on a Tuesday than I like, but when they get older, they dance later. Cymbre is already in bed too. Sounds like Cooper is coming.

Well, I am exhausted and medicine is making me sleepy...I'm trying to go to bed.

Love you,

Mom

Another Object Lesson For the Teenagers

2012-01-08T19:36:00.000-08:00

January 8, 2012

After being kicked out of my Sunday School classroom last week, I have finally sorted everything out and now we are meeting in the Relief Society room. It's much bigger than the previous room, and it has soft chairs, and my class is thrilled! Since I teach the 16-18 year olds, I kinda like to keep them happy...it keeps them participating in the lessons.

For the object lesson this week, I used a plate, a marble, and a bowl. It is in reference to Nephi obeying his father and returning to Jerusalem to get the plates of brass and relying on the Lord to provide a way.

So the plate represents life without any commandments to help us to live on the straight and narrow path and be happy. When you roll the marble, which represents us, around in a circle on the plate...it can't go very fast before it flys off the plate. Sort of hard to keep the commandments when you fly off the straight and narrow path don't you think? The bowl represents life in keeping commandments. When you make the marble go around, inside the bowl it can go very fast without flying outside the bowl. Therefore, the commandments are a support system to help us stay on the straight and narrow path which leads ultimately to happiness. I know, sort of simple....but it does prove that keeping the commandments and obeying them obviously helps us keep our lives in line with what the Savior would have us do. It was a good follow-up to C3PO last week if you ask me.

Now I just need to come up with something good for the Tree of Life lesson next week. Keeping 15 teenagers interested just may kill me this year....I'm thinking little rods of iron, and maybe going outside to visit the tree of life.....Maybe I could arrange a little fog cloud to be the mist of darkness......no, probably not! Who do I know that owns a fog machine.....

I sort of didn't do so well at physical therapy for my back this week...I spent a couple of days in lots of pain, and then I just wasn't up to going on Friday. However, I will be there in the morning bright and early.....this is going to kill me! They keep telling me that building up the muscles will eventually help to support the herniated disc and allow it to stop causing me so much pain....ok, but how long?

I am making good progress on the dance costumes this past week...got two of them almost done. I just need to make some slits in Cymbre's dress, and take up the straps in Cooper's. Then they are done. Cooper's tuxedo pants are in pieces on the ironing board ready to be put back together, and several other pieces of costumes that I had ordered are beginning to arrive. I will be rhinestoning costumes by the end of this week, and then just finish things up next week. Making the jewelry always slows me down...all that wire and beads, and rhinestones...but I do manage to pull it together in the end.

It's supposed to be rainy tomorrow, so it will be a good reason to just sit and sew after I get back from physical torture....I mean therapy!

Dad and I went to Outback for our date this past Friday....I do love to go with just Dad....but why do they always want us to sit in those little tiny booths where you can't sit next to each other? When you tell them that you want to sit next to him instead of across from him, they look at you like you are some demented crazy person. Dad just looks at them and says that he will know if I don't like him anymore because I won't want to sit by him anymore....whatever Guy!!!

Dad made the reservations for us to go to Tap University in Raleigh this weekend....guess that means I better call and get the girls registered. It won't be a problem as Mark Goodman has probably already registered them since when he was here we told him we were coming.

Well, I think that's about all for tonight...I'm tired and my somewhat middle aged bones are hurting.....I just don't understand what their problem is!

Get out there and do something for someone you don't know....remember the Savior expects you to help him out.

Love you bunches.

Mom

The Case of the Demented Tulle!

2012-01-01T19:02:00.000-08:00

January 1, 2012

There is a piece of purple tulle in the sewing room, 4 yards long by 45 inches wide that is out to get me I am SURE!!

The stuff has got to be demented! It must be a roll of people-hating tulle! I am just trying to cut a strip of it 30 inches long, by 7 1/2 inches wide, with 6 layers. And, the stuff is impossible to cut. I have used practically my ENTIRE box of pins to hold the stuff together, to keep the edges straight, and to hold the stuff still. I've pinned it to the ironing board! HOWEVER.....the stuff still manages to somehow get out of control every time I pick up the scissors to cut.

I mean, what is the deal? I feel like I need to find a 12 step program for tulle haters to help me deal with this problem I am having. I really think the stuff is demented! I've seen those little glittery eyes looking at me...I've heard the little giggles from the uneven edges...I see the little folds trying to manuever for better spots to harass me. And why oh why are there so many uneven edges. I think the tulle needs some kind of therapy.....I wonder if our insurance would cover it? I know it will cover my therapy when I finally go crazy, and the little men in white coats have to come and get me. It will be just my luck, my rubber room will have tulle curtains! Maybe my sister-in-law who likes to sew will come visit me occassionally.....She could hold my hand, and tell me that everything will be ok, and make them loosen the straight jacket! She has a son, so she hasn't had to deal with the demented tulle!

Does the tulle not know that I have a rolling cutter with a brand new shiny blade, and that I AM prepared to use it? Would it really like to spend it's entire life pinned to the ironing board instead of making a dance costume pretty, and going to the dance competition? Does it not realize that I could win yet another costume award at competition with just a microscopic ounce of cooperation? Does it not care that I am a perfectionist in my sewing? I mean, this is my form of relaxation, and who doesn't want to be perfect at relaxing?

I can see myself silently planning it's demise....I could pin it up on the railing hanging in the doorway....then tie the measuring tape tightly around it's little neck. That would cause those little glittery eyes to pop to attention....and then I could duct tape those unruly edges to the door frame, and the get out the rolling cutter and make all kinds of threats! (Ok, so now I sound slightly irritated, don't you think?) You don't think anyone would pay a ransom do you? I mean, how much can a lousy piece of multilated tulle be worth? Do they make posters and hang them in the post office for people wanted for tulle abuse? Is there a lawyer somewhere who would defend me who knows what working with tulle is like? Would the tulle be laughing in the corner of the sewing room when the men in the white coats come to my front door?

Tonight, the only thing worse than a tulle ruffle would be to have to make a pancake tutu out of netting!!!

On that note....I'm going to find the duct tape, and then keep close track of Dad. He claims he won't let anything hurt me....might need his help tonight!

Christmas Morning

2011-12-31T16:16:00.000-08:00

December 31, 2011

Here's Christmas morning, at least some of it. As usual, there was a lot of paper everywhere....although Dad makes a pretty good trash man. The girls seemed to get most of the things they wanted, and some unexpected things too. Dad got his new clothes, and mom got her blog published in a bound book...something I've wanted for years. So now, when this post is finished, Dad will make another book for 2011 to match the first one. It's a family history of sorts......

Cooper and Cymbre both got "Flanagan Robots" sweatshirts and t-shirts. They were named the Flanagan Robots for dancing so together in their duet this past year. They LOVED the shirts!

The present opening is just beginning....Britni got a purse post-it note dispenser, Cymbre a cookie skillet, and Cooper a make-up bag.

Britni finally got her Christus statue like mom's.

Cymbre got her rhino head for the wall....it has to hang where there's no chance she will bump into it and knock her eye out. (Caleb thinks she should use it as a coat rack!)

Just one of many shirts Dad got....he needed them since he's lost a bunch of weight....and mom got him some of her favorite kind...you know, the ones with the colored shirt, but white cuffs and collar. I know the kids think they are silly, but he belongs to me....

All in all we had a good Christmas. The girls finally got their kindles, and now they can just download books instead of making Mom take them to Barnes and Nobles. Mom got a new grandbabies picture frame, and is currently hunting down new pictures of those cutiepies to put in it. Dad got some church books, and a fancy measuring tape, and a finger mouse. You put it on your index finger and work it with your thumb. I think it goes well with his ninja flash drive he also got.

As far as other news....it's almost time for the girls to go back to school. That means one more semester of making school lunches for Mom. A job I really dislike....however, you know, a Mom does what a Mom has to do!

My back appears to be not hurting as much, although, when they make me do something harder like ride a bike for 10 minutes...it's ouchy again! I told the therapist my back didn't like that and he said something about endorphines taking the pain away.....ok....whatever! Still hurts! Guy has got my bike in working order again, I am supposed to ride it for a few minutes twice a week....we'll see what happens. There was a man at therapy who asked me if I had seen his drill sargent....he has a different one than I do. If I do these exercises 3 times a day like they say to, there will be no time to do anything like mom stuff.....so I split it up. They all get done at least once, and most of them twice, but the three times I just don't get done. I mean I need time to brush my teeth, do laundry, and take a bath too, you know!!

All the dance costumes are pinned for sewing, so that will start ASAP when the girls go back to school. Should only take about a week with conserted effort on the sewing machine's part.....probably a real struggle for the thing though! Although, it has been in rest mode since I finished the Christmas PJ pants.

Cooper is taking a bunch of her non-member friends to the Stake Youth Dance tonight....Guy is doing the driving. Lucky him! A van full of crazy teenagers at 11:30pm....what a thrill! As for me, I will be watching the TV for the dropping of the New Years Ball in Times Square.....then going to bed.

This has been a real trial year for us, but things are beginning to look up. Cymbre's eye is much more stable. The headache doctor is sorting out Cymbre's headaches. They are working on my back, and all the dance injuries have healed. My hands seems to be back in working order....at least most of the time. There are still some power issues, but it gets better everyday.

We are truly blessed with a lovely family, and many friends whom we truly love and appreicate. And we especially LOVE those grandbabies!

We have been able to serve others, and to see the influence that kindness brings, especially when someone thinks that no one cares. You know, it's worth the price of the value

meal for the hungry guy on the street.

Happy New Year!

Mom

All Cleaned up......FINALLY!

2011-12-28T20:48:00.000-08:00

December 28, 2011

Christmas is all taken down, cleaned up, packed up, and put away for another year. Somehow, Britni escaped this year without helping....we will get even next year! I had to get it down and put away before Dad wasn't here to help, considering all this goings on with my back therapy and a million exercises they think a mom should do three times a day. Excuse me...do you realize that a mom doesn't have enough time to do them once, let alone three times! It seems I just get done and have to start doing them again.

I told the therapist today that he was the torture chamber master.....he just laughed and said, "We'll start with all your stretching exercises, then do the biofeedback aparatus including the marching"...I just laughed at him and told him the marching was an impossible thing! However, at the end of the session during the marching stuff, I managed to keep the pressure at almost 40 pounds, which is where I'm supposed to keep it, for the entire 5 minutes....progress I suppose! Then he decided since I was getting so good at that, we needed to do some strengthening of the pelvic floor stuff....that sounds familiar from 5 pregnancies.....only this was more than that....now I have this ball thing, a belt thing, and a blood pressure cuff that I have to use.....will the torture never end??? He said that at least I was a good sport and actually did the exercises at home. I guess most people don't, and then they end up coming back and complaining that they can't do them. I think some good is coming from all this stretching and stuff....my back isn't hurting as much, but it is still sore, and last night I managed to sleep in the bed the ENTIRE night. That makes Guy happy! Guess he likes to be slept on top of all night. Probably makes him feel loved or something mushy like that.....and for those who want to know....yes, I do love that man!

I tell you what...there is this man that comes the same time I do that had carpal tunner and cubital tunnel surgery on his arm. That's what I had the beginning of the year. He is in agony when they try to bend his arm. I guess his doctor put him in a sling and he's been immobile for 6 weeks...now he has scar tissue and no range of motion. Boy am I glad I didn't use his doctor! I had full range of motion in one week, no sling, and no physical therapy! My doctor made me start moving the thing before I left the hospital....thank heavens! To watch that poor man lay there with tears running down his face and in pain just breaks my heart when I lay there knowing that it didn't have to be that way for him. The therapist said it will be about 6 months of therapy for him....and then he still has to get the other arm done. Man, I would be looking for another doctor....just saying!

Today I had the girls try on the dance costume parts that need altering....just have to shorten things, take in some things, and hem some pants, and make afrench cuff and get cuff links for Cooper's tap costume. Cymbre's is just to shorten things, add petticoats, and rhinestone fishnets. With cooperation from my back, by the end of next week I hope to have most of it done. We have to make a trip to Harwin street to look for a necklace for Cooper's Mark Goodman tap solo. And I have to figure out how to attach the silk leaves to Cooper's jazz solo so that she can be a forest creature. They have to be attached to a chiffon type of flowing material and not weigh it down. I even got a little bird with tail feathers to attach to her bun...she will be a great forest creature when I get done. I also still need to measure the tulle for Cymbre's cumberbun...and figure out how to make a decent bow for the back without it being cumbersome.....get it! Maybe one of those big gift wrap bows in a matching color just snapped into place after the cumberbun is attached would work. You know those ones in the bridal department at Hobby Lobby with the big loops and long tails....think I'll go look tomorrow. At least her headdress is simple this year....no millinary extravaganzas this year. We are just putting feathers in her hair....sort of boring if you ask me though. I mean how much imagination does that take? I just bought some of those feathers that they have that you can decorate flip flops with, and attached them to a barrette and VIOLA!! Hairpiece!

I have been working on my Sunday School lesson this week. We are doing the Book of Mormon, and Cooper has been talking, so I have to make it good. So I decided since the lesson is basically just about the title page and the witnesses testimonies that I would spice it up by using some Star Wars stuff. However, my quest for finding a C3PO hasn't been successful. I will probably have to use a picture instead of the action figure....but one is on the way, so everyone needs to say their prayers it gets here in time. I should have just had Caleb send me one of Jack's and then sent it back. Anyway, since it's just an introduction to the Book of Mormon lesson, I decided to tell the kids that they need to make their scripture study count...enter C3PO! C=commitment Make a commitment about when and where they will study their scriptures. (3P's) P=prayer Pray before you read and while reading to gain understanding of what you are reading. P=Pencil Have a pencil handy for marking scriptures and making notes. P=Ponder Ponder what you are reading and ask yourself some questions. Why was this included when Mormon abridged the book? What am I to gain? O=Obey Do the things the scriptures and the Spirit teach you to do. So, I have a C3PO picture for each of them to keep in their scriptures. I had Cymbre make stickers with the above explanation on it for the back of the pictures. I had Cooper make them a "plates of Cooper, Spencer, Cody" notebook for them to take notes in or write their impressions and understanding of the scriptures in, and I got them each a scripture marking pencil. Hopefully, this will keep about 16 teenagers busy for this week at least...heaven help me!

Who knows what I'll do next week. I am living for the week we do the Liahona. Cooper has been making individual ones for each of them, and a fancier one for a visual aid.

And I have the stuff to make a set of golden plates, and a box to keep them in. They are in the sewing room with the bag of bloody arms and swords for the Ammon story. And I'm rounding up old blankets to use to listen to King Benjamin give his speech, and trying to figure out how to deal with the burning of Abinadi, since I'm pretty sure that they won't let me light a fire in the front of the church building. There is a wonderful wall outside of the church hiding the air conditioning units that will work great for the Samuel the Lamanite story, (I need to buy some nerf arrows) and maybe we can do some barge building in the parking lot for the Brother of Jared story. I already have white stones and little sacks for the handout. I don't know exactly how to bury all the weapons with the 2000 Stripling warriors' parents. I'm pretty sure that digging a big hole in the front lawn isn't an option. And what to do about all the walls falling down in the jail with the Anti-Nephi-Lehi's is another problem deserving some thinking. Planning an earthquake at the church just at the right moment may be more than I can handle....just saying. I may have to borrow another class for some battles....but I think I could bribe the teacher of the class just younger than mine. That would give me about 40 youth, and that's a good number for a battle don't you think? I may have to retire from teaching by the end of this year....But Cymbre thinks I should stick around until her class is done with my class, and that's like 5 years from now....YIKES!! In order to do that I would have to teach the Old Testament a couple of times, and I just don't know if I'm up to that much Isaiah!

The other night Cooper asked me what I thought the Prophet would think if he came to my Sunday School class, and before I could answer Guy said he would think that Gospel Doctrine class was boring! I think he would think that a crazy woman was teaching the 16-18 year olds in our ward. This year will be interesting to say the least.

As long as the youth in the class can feel the Spirit, and learn something, and have their testimonies strengthened....that's all that matters to me. I've been known to do some crazy things, but they seem to always get the point acrossed.

And on that note, it's late, and I'm going to put these tired bones to bed....

Have a great week everyone....I'll post Christmas photos soon....Dad has to get them off the camera first.

Remember Dad and I love you all very much. Get out there and serve someone.

Mom

Is Christmas Ready Yet?

2011-12-23T12:50:00.000-08:00

December 22, 2011

So the girls are decorating gingerbread houses with their friend Shauna, Christmas music is playing in the background, and the homemade rolls for Christmas dinner are rising on the counter. Presents are getting wrapped, or getting wrapped at some point. Even the stocking stuffers are almost ready. Guess you could say Christmas is almost ready around here....WAIT!!!! The washer and dryer are BUZZING....really loudly! Well, it was a nice picture while it lasted!

Got a recipe in my email this morning for mint chocolate chip cookies....may have to add it to the Christmas cookie stash....just saying....I mean since the peanut butter ones with the candy kisses are almost gone, and it's not even Christmas yet. Of course, I could just make another batch of them, or bribe Cymbre to make them. She did the last ones.

Ok, now the girls are dying Cymbre's hair. She has to have it back to her original color in order for her fake bun to match for dance competitions this year. We'll see.....there's a lot of laughing going on.....

Just Dad's presents left to wrap, and those others that have just gotten added to bags in the closet....I am pretty sure after a rush trip to the post office on Monday morning early that everything that needed to be mailed is finally mailed. They have gotten the packages with the PJ's so I guess that's the most important box anyway.

It's nice to have Guy around for a couple of days. He's already opened jars, helped with the laundry, and replaced batteries in the swiffer this morning. I guess to relax he went running.....or maybe it's to burn off those cookies he's been eating. However, I made them with Splenda, so that's better for him and me anyway.

We still need to make the hard candy....maybe after dinner tonight. And we haven't gone to see the Christmas lights yet either....maybe we are waiting until Britni gets here...not sure.

We cleaned up the house today...or at least gave it a lick and a promise....looks ok if company comes. It will get a good cleaning when Christmas get's put away anyway.

The exercises for my back are either killing me or helping...I haven't decided yet. Some days it just plain hurts to do them, especially that third time. And then other days, it's ok. Still I think I like the warm jacuzzi bath the best.

I sent the girls to run the errands today, you know, take the paper recycling, go to the grocery store, fill up with gas, bring home lunch. While they were gone, I wrapped presents, and did my torture treatments for this morning! Can you believe that Guy just sat and read his book while I was torturing myself....I think he should have rescued me or something terribly romantic don't you? Maybe given me diamonds for my efforts? At least a kiss......Guy...Guy....guess not.

Well, enough of this foolishness for now....must go check on those rolls and the girls. I don't want the kitchen floor dyed afterall....and the dryer is buzzing AGAIN!

Get out there and find someone to serve today....you'll both feel GREAT!!

UGH!!

2011-12-21T06:17:00.000-08:00

December 22, 2011

Can I just say UGH!!!

If physical therapy is supposed to make hurting things feel better, why is it making my back hurt more?

They tell me this will make things better, but right now, I am just thinking it's like slow torture! BUT, I am under the influence of tylenol and advil......

Back for more torture at 3pm today.....

And since when does a mom have time for exercises 3 times a day for at least an hour at Christmas? Especially, when she is hardly moving as it is?

Can we just stop and rethink this?

Almost Christmas!

2011-12-19T15:58:00.000-08:00

December 19, 2011

It's Christmas week, and the cookie baking has begun. And where are those little worker elves that love to bake cookies, frost cookies, and then clean up the baking mess? I tell you, all my friends are asking for them too.....I should start a business!!

I am finished teaching the Sunday School class for the year, but have to get all the things ready for the first of the year class on the Book of Mormon. Cooper is helping get the personal liahonas and journals (plates of Cooper, Spencer, Cody...well you get the idea) ready. I have been collecting handout stuff for several lessons, got the lesson manual from the church last week, and have started thinking about fun things to do next year. With it being the Book of Mormon, these kids have already studied it in seminary, so I guess it's up to me to help it come alive for them this year. Why do I ALWAYS get the hard part??? I just hope that I can live up to the reputation I have, and that Cooper has been spreading next year.....just saying! There will be a whole herd of kids 16-18 years old.....and how they like to tease me. I know these kids because they are Cooper's friends who come to the house all the time. Although, I already have the stash of bloody arms for the Ammon tending the King's sheep story, and a King's robe and crown.

I must admit, this past year it has been a pleasure to teach these kids about the Savior. I enjoy teaching the New Testament, and I always hope that the students testimonies have grown when the year is over. It is always interesting to see them learn new things about Him, and see them put them into action in their personal lives. You can tell in their eye when the Spirit touches their hearts and the learn something new.

I found this song that I gave to them...on a CD, with a written copy of my testimony of the Savior.

Do You Have Room?

They journeyed far, a weary pair,

They sought a shelter from the cold night air.

Someplace where she could lay her head,

Where she could give her babe a quiet bed.

Was there no room, no corner there

In all the town, a spot someone could spare?

Is there no soul come to their aid?

A stable bare was where the family stayed.

Do you have room for the Savior?

And do you seek Him anew?

Have you a place for the one who lived and died for you?

Are you as humble as a shepherd boy,

Or as wise as men of old?

Would you have come that night?

Would you have sought the light?

Do you have room?

A star arose, a wonderous light

A sign from God this was the holy night.

And yet so few would go to see,

A babe who came to rescue you and me.

This child divine is now a king,

The gift of life to all the world He brings.

And all mankind is saved from doom,

But on that night for Him there was no room

Do you have room for the Savior?

And do you seek him anew?

Have you a place for the one who lived and died for you?

Are you as humble as a shepherd boy,

Or as wise of men of old?

Would you have come that night?

Would you have sought the light?

Do you have room?

Will you come tonight?

Will you seek the light?

Do you have room?

It's by Sarah Belt Edwards....

This song touched my heart and brought tears to my eyes as I thought about that night so long ago. In the year that we have once again studied the Savior, those tender feelings of His birth are very much on the surface this time of year. And I am grateful.

I finally got all the Christmas cards mailed, and Guy has wrapped most of the Christmas presents. Do you think I could get him to wrap his own with his eyes closed? Probably not....

Cymbre and I started the cookie baking today...and Splenda doesn't work in chocolate chews. Guess Dad and I won't be eating to many of those....it works in his pies though, and it shouldn't be a problem in some of the other cookies. I think it was just because you cook the chocolate chews instead of baking them. Still to be made are the chocolate chip, peanut butter, grammie lommason, spritz, and it seems like there is one more. And then the hard candy. We always make cinnamon and the house smells so good for days!

The pajama pants all are done, just the elastic in Britni's waist to finish when she gets here. Next year, I think I will make them in July, and then just do the hemming closer to Christmas.....a good intention anyway!

Cooper is spending more time not at school than at school the last few days. It's because of finals, and she gets to not take some, so she has been doing other things.

I mailed the final box today...you know the one with the lost at the back of the closet present. Well, this year it has three presents....hopefully, it will get there, but if not....Caleb, Shyla, and Eden are the lucky winners this year! There is always at least one! Actually, Eden's made it under our Christmas tree and Cymbre found it the other night pinching presents. Good thing, because Cooper spent hours making the thing, and would have been disappointed on Christmas morning to have found it still here.

I think I have once again whipped my sewing machine back into working condition. At least at the moment, it is working....SHHHHH! Don't tell it!

From the looks of the corner in the bedroom, I need some ironing fairies to show up.....don't know how the herniated disc in my back will take to ironing! It doesn't like sewing for hours at a time, or shopping, or carrying groceries.....however, I have made it suffer recently.

I go to physical therapy in the morning....we'll see what they have up their sleeve to make my back feel better....I admit, I have my doubts! However, the insurance is totally paying the bill so I will go a time or two and see if it makes a difference or not. Heat helps, and sitting in the jacuzzi, but I can't stay there all day....well, I could, but then Dad would have to help me get out because the muscles would be too relaxed!

Tomorrow is the last day of school and dance. Here comes boredom for the girls. Cookie baking will keep them busy for a day or two, and then Britni will get here late on Friday night. Saturday, we need to make pies, rolls, and cheesecake, and finish wrapping...and that bring us to Christmas. We have Sacrament meeting at 9am...so if they want new clothes for church, we have to get up early. Needless to say, Christmas dinner will be in the evening this year, not at lunch time.

Guess this about catches up things for the past few days. It's raining in Houston, a welcome sight....to bad it won't turn into a little bit of the frozen white stuff. Oh well, I guess snow and flip flops really don't mix!

On that note, get out there and do something for someone....take cookies to an older person, drop a happy meal at the corner for the homeless man, give hot chocolate to someone working outside in the cold....just do something.

Grandma needs to skype my babies....so please find some time....

Love you all bunches and bunches!

Mom

Take A Breath!

2011-12-13T19:00:00.000-08:00

December 13, 2011

It is FINALLY time to take a little breath! The mail away Christmas sewing is DONE!!! Everyone in the Utah families has a couple of homemade presents. And the sewing machine is still living. Guess that last oil job was just the ticket!

Other Christmas stuff that is done involves the family newsletter, the Christmas cards are signed but not addressed. The dance baby presents are ready to distribute in baby dance classes, the teacher presents are ready, the church friends presents are made and ready, and the neighbor gifts are made and wrapped.

Dad has started wrapping the gifts for those who will be here, and I've been collecting the baking supplies for all the cookies yet to be baked.....and I'm still needing some little helpers....just saying!

My bedroom looks like a bomb went off, but that's because that's where everything gets piled that is moved for decorations, or needing wrapping, or just no one knows what to do with it.

We have the rest of this week and two days next week left of school....then it's back for FREEDOM! Then it will be nothing until after the holidays....no seminary, no dance, no school, hopefully, no doctors, and just doing family Christmas things.

I have Britni and Cooper's PJ pants left....then I'm done. I can't believe that I got everything done, even with a herniated disc in my back. And last night, I made 3 pairs of pants in 30 mintes....a new personal record! Do you think I can make 5 dance costumes in an afternoon? I doubt it.....

Cymbre just called from the dance studio....her glasses broke....great! A friend is bringing her home for me.....thank goodness for friends. Dad was off home teaching....

Cooper is baking some birthday treats for her friend....he made a special request for the same thing she gave him last year. He's lucky we still had a jar of the mix in the pantry. Who knows if I could have found the gift in a jar recipe again.

Cooper is busy at school building a paper roller coaster. She had all of us cutting out parts on Sunday evening, and they have used rolls of scotch tape putting the thing together. She says it stands about as tall as her. Dad thinks it is just busy work. It's for her physics class.

I have to see the spine doctor on Thursday for my back issues, and I already went to the family doctor regarding the anemia. I really think I shouldn't go to the doctor....like dad says when you go they tell you that you are sick. I'd say they found two pretty major issues this past two weeks....I have been scanned for bone density, x-rayed, MRI'd, and had more blood sucked than any person really ought to have to have sucked!

We got our temple recommends renewed....took a week longer than we planned because the Stake wasn't doing it when we went the first time. But we are back in business again. We have been trying to get some family names done, but haven't been very good lately....we will do better.

I have to figure out something to make for the kids in my Sunday School class for a Christmas treat. I would like to have something related to the Savior, but I may just end up with a fabric bag with candy....I will run out of minutes.

Cooper is busy making my individual liahonas for next year, and I have the stuff ready to make the little journals once I get the picture I want.

On that note, I am going to make lunches, take a bath, and lay on the bed and watch the news.

Get out there and find someone to help....they are everywhere this time of year. We gave lunch to a man living on the street the other day....it made his day and mine!

Remember Dad and I love you bunches and bunches. Hug those grandbabies.

Mom

Adding Another Kind of Doctor To Our List!

2011-12-06T17:03:00.000-08:00

December 6, 2011

Well, we are adding a spine doctor to our phone list. It seems that I have a disc bulge....in other words a herniated disc. WONDERFUL......can we just get rid of the pain now? Or should I just take up permanent residence in the jacuzzi in order to keep those muscles loosened up? AND, they say I am anemic....ok, no one ever told me that before. Another pill to swallow. And it means when they suck my blood, they will take another vial...great, I only have so much! I told the doctor pretty soon I can just give up eating and just take all the pills they think I need to have, and that will fill me up!!

On the plus side...the neurologist seems to have at least found a medicine that will help Cymbre and her headaches....takes about an hour, but that's better than 3 days! And it doesn't make her head feel "tight" as she says, and it doesn't make her sleepy.....thank heaven for small miracles.

Only three more weeks of teaching the New Testament, and then we go to the Book of Mormon. I get a bunch more kids, and that should make the class interesting. Cooper's group is coming in, and she is already telling them how much fun it will be. I told her she can't tell any of my secrets!

The liahonas for each kid are well underway, and I have the stuff to make a set of gold plates. I also have a king's robe and crown, and a bag of bloody arms and some swords and a machete....for acting out the story of Ammon when he was guarding the Kings sheep. Each of them will get a liahona for their bedrooms to remind them that they have to walk by faith in order to get where the Lord wants them, and they will have their own set of golden plates to write things on this year....have to remember to get the notebooks, and that picture of Moroni burying the golden plates for the front of the notebooks. I may have to borrow another class in order to do some of the battles justice, but I am sure their teacher will be happy to loan them out. If I could just get the real Nephi to show up with the sword of Laban, it would be tremendous, and maybe King Benjamin would come and stand up on the table an deliver his speech while we sit on blankets on the floor. And I can't wait for the 2000 Stripling warriors....do you think they will let me dig a big hole in the lawn at the church to bury some weapons? And I am not quite sure what to do with poor Abinadi, but we do need to at least tie him up to a tree and let him deliver his last words. There is a brick wall outside by the air conditioners that will be terrific for the Samual the Lamanite story (note to self...buy some nerf arrows to shoot). And short of King Benjamin showing up, I will have someone stand on a table to read his scriptures while the class sits on blankets. Anybody got a few extra camels lounging around that maybe I could borrow for the trip in the wilderness? What about some ideas for the Jaredite barges...I already have some pure white stones. And all of this because I have a reputation as a teacher to uphold. I should let it dwindle, but then the Spirit wouldn't always be there, and I need Him there. It is SO FUN to create those special moments when the Spirit touches their hearts and they take a lesson to heart! As long as their testimonies grow, it will be worth it all. And my own spirit so enjoys those tender moments when I feel so close to the Savior as I teach my class.

Cooper asked me the other day if I thought the Prophet would enjoy coming to my class next year....and Guy piped up that he would LOVE it! Anything is better than the Gospel Doctrine class!

At any rate, there were some rumors about moving me to another class, but I have squashed that one....I told them I didn't want to move, and that I had already started planning for next year.....I think they will leave me alone. They are all dying to see what I am going to do. Our home teacher is in the bishopric and he has seen some of the stuff I am doing. That could be a problem....he may want to bring an audience.... I think the Bishopric think I am crazy to want to stay and teach all those 16-18 year olds. I'd rather do this than be the RS president! And these are the kids that frequent my house anyway, so I know them. They think I am crazy, I'm sure! But they keep coming back....I think it's the baking Cooper does....just saying.

Well, Christmas is all up and doing it's job....too bad those grandbabies can't come play and make cookies....what I wouldn't give!!!! We could really drive Grandpa crazy! It would be SO much fun!!!! Grandpa....do you have any extra pennies? Grandpa?  Guess not....

I have officially bribed my sewing machine back into working....that thing is not a machine...it has it's own agenda.   But I'm not complaining since at the current moment, it is working on a mostly efficient basis. Half the sewing for Christmas is done, and now I have to cut out again....a job I HATE!!!

Well, I am going to sit in the tub, loosen up some muscles and break out the scissors, patterns, and pins. Who knows, if I can't sleep, there will be PJ pants in the morning. I hope I have enough elastic....and that cording stuff...I didn't check. There's always a trip to Hobby Lobby in the morning.

That's all for tonight....what have you done for someone else today.   There are plenty of people who need help this time of year.

Love you....lets those grandbabies skype Grandma.

Mom

Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T06:53:00.000-08:00

November 24, 2011

Today is Thanksgiving.....thank goodness! Now all the holiday traditions can begin for yet another year.

The rolls are made, the pies are made, the cheesecake too. Cranberry sauce is in the refrigerator....turkey is defrosted and awaiting his turn in the oven.

The Christmas spode dishes are standing at the ready on the kitchen counter....now I just have to get the regular dishes out of the cupboards and put them in the china cabinet and then put the Christmas dishes in the cupboard....who started this tradition? And why aren't they here helping put the dishes away? We still have to break out the crystal glasses from Belgium. You know those ones that have about 2 swallows of water in them.....why do we like them for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner? I still have to get the big turkey platter out, and find the dish for making stuffing....

I have even managed to find the Christmas crackers like we had in England....you know, those silly hats, and the cheap toys and the joke packed inside a tube that you pull apart. The only problem is....there will be no broadcast from the Queen today. We have to wait for Christmas to wear the silly hats and listen to the Queen.

We all survived the teenager party here last night....they had a great time and ended up playing games and doing a lot of screaming....always a fun time. At least the walls upstairs seem to be in stable condition this morning.

The age old debate was once again upon us last night.....Is dance a sport? Well, all you football players that consider it a fine art.....the definition of a sport is.....something that requires physical exertion, practice, and is performed in a competitive arena. That's what an online dictionary says. Sounds like dance to me. All you boys who think you are so great should attend dance classes for a week and let's just see who has more stamina. Your little two minute bursts of activity followed by a few minutes rest and walking around won't hold up to an hour of constant dance. And when was the last time that football practice took up 20 hours of your week? Face it boys....these girls have you hands down! All five of them! You guys lost the debate last night. Ballet class anyone????

It's time to start writing the family Christmas newsletter....that's always a challenge for mom....maybe we will try a different editor this year....what's that noise I hear....murmuring among the ranks???? Ya'll better be making your lists of accomplishment for the year....

Grandma's sewing room is piled high with little Christmas projects for the grandbabies....well, there are some for the parents too....but they aren't as fun as the ones for the babies. AND, it's almost cookie baking time. I'm just saying that I need the grandbabies to come and eat all the cookies....I really think so. Think of the fun we could have....spoiling dinners, teasing Grandpa, eating cookie dough, eating cookies.

We managed to get good reports at most of the doctor appointments this week. Cooper's tooth still needs to come in more before they can pull it....Cymbre's headache tests all came back normal....interesting for a Beast...Cooper's bug bite is healing, and Mom has to go for an MRI on my back. That big magnet better not mess up my toe! They claim it won't....guess we'll see.

The doctor is changing Cymbre's medicine for her headache. Now we have this packet of powder that we have to mix with water at the onset of her headache....sounds very "Harry Potterish" to me.....or maybe "Little House on the Prairieish." I'm not sure I want to get caught carrying that powder stuff in my purse!

Well, enough of this rambling for now....must get going on organizing the stuff still to be cooked so everything can be hot and ready to eat at the same time.

Get out there and serve someone you don't know....we dropped lunch to the homeless man on the street corner again the otherday. You might say...it made his day!

Love you bunches and bunches....Mom

Just Stuff!

2011-11-13T14:59:00.000-08:00

November 13, 2011

This past two weeks has been very busy and very trying around here. A couple of weeks ago Cymbre was just suffering constantly with terrible headaches.....almost at my wits end I said one more prayer and sat down to the computer to see what I could find regarding headaches in children and to see what information I could find out about the medicine her neurologist has perscribed. This poor child has just endured and endured thru pain to be in school. She's has priesthood blessings, her name is in several temples. Constant prayer has been my companion for many weeks as we have tried different things, and looked for doctors who could help her. When you have a migraine diagnosed in your eye and then have them in your head too....most doctors just assume that the one in the eye is the usual aura most people get before a regular migraine. It has taken me FOREVER to finally find a doctor who says he isn't concerned about the eye....she has a team of specialists dealing with that. He is just going to deal with the things going on in her head!!!! FINALLY!!! I have told them all along that what happens in her eye has only made the headaches she has had since she was 9 years old worse....they are not caused because her eye freaks out and goes black. This doctor finally was willing to listen to me when I told him I wasn't going for the usual explanation.....I live with this child...I dry the tears....I deal with the frustration. We briefly explained her eye injury....he then said he was going to leave that to the eye specialists and just deal with the headaches. I also explained to him that the previous neurologist just decided she had seizures without even examining her, wanted to drug her daily, and lots of other things that I wasn't willing to do. She doesn't have seizures....she has a rare eye injury which aggreviates a headache and makes the kid miserable. SO, we had to go for tests.....MRI (structures of her brain, MRA-blood flow in her brain, EEG-brainwave tests to rule out seizures and epilepsy.....OK. He didn't want all the extensive seizure ones the first doctor wanted. Good thing, because we weren't going to do them.

SO, this photo from her MRI shows that she does have a brain, and it doesn't have anything there that isn't supposed to be there....no tumors, no white spots...totally normal! HURRAH!!!

Thank goodness.....however, the medicine dosage he gave her doesn't do anything....he told us he would have to adjust it but we needed to do this testing before he could decide the best plan of action. SO,

In total frustration, and hoping that Heavenly Father would guide me, I sat down at the computer. I decided to google the medication he had perscribed....so I put the Zomig in the google slot.....well, up came Magnesium.....OK...I think the computer messed up....so I do it all again....AGAIN the magnesium article pops up.....AND then I get the warm tingly feeling that ALWAYS accompanies the Holy Ghost talking to me. There was no denying what was happening....Heavenly Father must have know I was literally at the end of my rope! He gave me an answer. Tears were running down my face as I read that people who have a shortage of magnesium in their bodies tend to suffer greatly from migraine headaches. OK, so after I read the article, I tried to whole process again....this time the zomig information came up....NOTHING about magnesium. Interesting....guess I only got one chance to read the thing. Since then I have tried to find that article in other ways....I cannot find it. Another testament to me that it comes from Heavenly Father. It makes perfect sense to me that He finally answered our prayers as we have been praying and praying and praying about this issue for months.

I went to the store, got some magnesium and she's been taking it daily. She has not been suffering with her headaches so much, and when she does get one....it isn't nearly as severe!

I have thought about this whole story repeatedly the last two weeks, and never do I think about it that the Spirit doesn't manifest itself with that warm tingly feeling.....

We are still going to the doctors because she will still need some type of medications to see if we can prevent the headaches altogether....but can you imagine....a simple vitamin has helped her so much.

I have known for a very long time that Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers. I've had them answered immediately when my safety was concerned. This time, however, it took much longer to get some sort of answer.....maybe we needed to find this doctor....maybe I just needed to worry to the point of desperation.....maybe I was finally willing to read what popped up on the computer...Maybe He just finally got tired of all the asking and decided to help....I don't know. I just know that it happened.....there is no denying it.

I have also finished altering two bridemaid dresses for our dance studio directors wedding next weekend. I did them as a gift to her, and the dance teachers that wear them. The wedding will be beautiful.

Cooper will be substititing in some baby classes for Ms. Traci while she gets married and goes on her honeymoon. A good solution for everyone as Cooper LOVES to teach the babies.

Guy is going on another business trip....something he seems to be doing more of lately....cross your fingers....who knows what will break while he's gone.

We had to replace the dishwasher this week. It was 6 years old and was dying a miserable death....so for our almost 33rd anniversary, we bought a new dishwasher. Isn't it the year for appliances? Guy spent all day yesterday trying to get the thing installed before he left town, but there is still some leakage issues with the drain hose, but he thinks he fixed them on a temporary basis until he can get home and the longer hose arrives. However, I do have a guy who can help me while Guy is gone if I need it.

This week will hopefully allow some time for dance costumes to be worked on.....I think I have all the parts, now I just need to do the remodeling, shortening, taking in, rhinestoning stuff to have them done. Cymbre's needs a cumberbun made out of tulle.....I just SO excited to have to deal with all that tulle again......NOT!!

We are not going to Disneyworld for Christmas because we had to replace two water heaters, so I now have Christmas shopping to attend too....left most of what was needed in Utah already, but there were still some things for the parents over there that I needed to get. Since I didn't finish it while I was over there because I was too busy playing with the babies.....my own fault, but I don't care. Playing was too much fun!

The Texas medical board is investigating that neurologist that I reported for all kinds of legal violations.....guess that will take some time, but at least maybe she will not be able to just drug someone else's kid.....she isn't getting her hands on my kid ever again.

The girls have had some issues with a girl bullying them at the dance studio because they are better than she is....the teachers think the remarks like...showoff, of course she's perfect, she doesn't need to practice said in a not so friendly way are because of jealousy....so we think since the tap teacher talked to her that we might have situation sorted out.....what a mess....why can't they just get along....I told the girls they just have to keep being friendly no matter what she says. It seems like there is always some kind of DRAMA at a studio.....I don't understand why it has to be that way. At any rate, the teachers say our girls haven't done anything wrong, and they are now watching the other girl....she may loose her spot if she keeps it up.

Well, I think that about catches things up for this week.....I need some quiet time to just be me instead of doctors, headaches, tests.....this week.

Please keep Cymbre in your prayers and her doctors too....it can't possibly hurt.

Get out there and do something fun for someone...get a candy cane and hand it to the road workers....remember, they are likely someone's daddy!

Love you bunches.

Mom

Crocheted Baby Blankets

2011-11-05T17:04:00.000-07:00

November 5, 2011

Here's some baby blankets I have crocheted since I had both the surgeries on my hands. No more numbness! I LOVE to sit by Dad at night while we watch TV and just crochet. And yes, my Grandma box is currently restocked and ready for some more Grandbabies whenever they may decide to show up!

TADA....I'm done for tonight!

Other Misc. Stuff From Recently....

2011-11-05T16:57:00.000-07:00

November 5, 2011

Here are just some misc. photos from recent months....I am lazy so they have been in the camera until Dad got around to taking them out....

Dad in the hospital waiting to find out what they were going to do about his kidney stone. We will reserve judgement on his fashion statement....just to preserve family unity!

The new washer....bought after the other one died a very messy death all over the laundry room floor....can't trust a washing machine!

The pile of strawberry jam Cymbre and I made...Cooper came home right at the last a helped a bit.

For some reason my rolls raised like little halloween ghosties....they just need wiggly eye don't you think?

So, I think this pretty much catches up things on this blog.

Next post will be photos of some of the baby blankets I have crocheted since my surgery on my hands.....can you believe it...no numbness!

Gwamma's or Gamma's Utah Trip

2011-11-05T16:38:00.000-07:00

November 5, 2011

I went to Utah in October to visit the gandbabies.....had a ball....we LOVED playing, but we didn't get enough time to go for Happy Meals or ice cream....so we MUST do that next time.

Gamma's Eden....she would go around saying" Gamma come back" when I left the room,
" Gamma get me" when she was buckled in the carseat, and she liked sitting at the table by Gamma.

This is her "cheese" smile for the camera, and yes, this Gamma is totally biased SO CUTE!!

Gamma's Britain....she liked me most days, but the day I babysat so her mom could go to an appointment...the kid didn't want ANYTHING to do with me! We are pals though because Gamma will play peek-a-boo, and she thinks it's so funny!

Gwamma's Lucy!

This is the first time I had met her, but she warmed right up. I LOVED taking her away from her dad late at night to feed her a bottle and then just holding her a little while to snuggle....Gwamma's are good for night duty....just saying!

Gwamma's Jack

We have a common LOVE for monster trucks, and did you know that he has some friendly spiders on a halloween web hanging on the cabinet in his house. He says they don't eat Gwammas! We are walking buddies...we went on a walk just us two to look at halloween decorations in Aunt Shyla's neighborhood. We had such a grand time walking together!

And yes, I am TOTALLY loving being the Grandma....I love skyping, talking on the phone to the babies, sending presents to the babies, getting pictures they color for my frig, hugging the babies, and visiting the babies. I love the parents too, but the grandbabies are so much fun!

I told Grandpa the other day....I think I need another trip already! He didn't fall for it yet....but I will keep trying!

Homecoming #2

2011-11-05T16:21:00.000-07:00

Homecoming #2

Cooper and Kooper Smith....they met each other at EFY in San Antonio this past year.

The lovely flowers Kooper bought Cooper.

Posing in Ms. Christine's backyard by the pool.

Ms. Christine trying on Cooper's heels for the dance.

Cooper's Homecoming or Cooper Times Three For Homecoming!

2011-11-05T16:16:00.000-07:00

November 5, 2011

First just let me say....Happy Guy Fawkes Day! Since we don't live in England anymore, no one threatens to burn Dad on the bonfire anymore!

NOW

On to Homecoming:

Our Cooper had a date named Kooper and they drove around in her little red mini cooper car. It was a night of confusion around here as we tried to keep everybody and everything straight, but in the end they had a great time at the dance.

The confusion lied in the fact that both "Coopers" answer to the same nicknames....we tried Coopie....two answers...we tried Cooper...two answers....we tried coopdeville...two answers. Finally, we just started calling for "The Coopers"! Cooper told us it was her Cooper Cubed night!

Cooper's homecoming group....photos taken at the seminary teacher's house.

Cooper Cubed!

The homecoming mum....no one has a clue why we do these hugh ridiculous things....the girls wear these big mums all day, and the boys wear a garter with all the ribbons too. Sort of crazy, but no one knows what the reason this tradition started is.

in the Mini Cooper....leaving for the dance.

The Legend of a Blustery Day, A Lizard, and A Toilet!

2011-10-19T14:18:00.000-07:00

October 19, 2011

The Legend of a Blustery Day, A Lizard, and a Toilet!

It all began on very blustery day in Houston, Texas. There are not to many of these kinds of days in Houston. After checking for smoke from forest fires, and seeing the allergy report, we decided to throw caution to the wind and so we opened up the house. Now, opening up the house means that we have to leave the doors open because most of the windows in our house do not open. There is just one tiny problem with opening up the doors.....in Houston, the builders who build all these big fancy, expensive homes DO NOT believe in screen doors!

Now usually when we open the doors, we post a guard near the door to watch for the little creep crawly things that like to walk in just as big as you please. I secretly think that they think an open door is an open invitation to visit! However, there are times when the guard leaves their post in order to do things like get a drink, use the restroom, eat dinner, talk to someone, or the constant change the laundry routine.

Well, at some point during our blissfull, blustery day, a creepy crawly little orange baby lizard decides to invade the territory. He went unnoticed....probably came in during a potty break for the guard! If he did come in unnoticed, he must be very good at hiding because we hadn't seen the little critter until he decided to put in an appearance in the front bathroom. And the bathroom is several steps from the front door.

Now, if I was a lizard, I am not sure I would go find the bathroom. I would probably be thinking that the bathroom was a room that would have fairly frequent visitors, and knowing how humans are usually not very friendly to lizards in houses, I would avoid that room...I'm just saying!

However, our little lizard must have been curious because he decided to go to the bathroom. Now there are all kinds of exciting things lurking in our front bathroom. There's the cabinet with the bandaids, the rolling drawers....which have also been used to roll over and KILL creepy crawly things....the pedestal sink, the toilet, and the shower stall. Since the shower stall has a big glass door, our tiny lizard must have decided that he was never going to manage to open the door. Inside the shower is the water home storage.....good place to store it right....it's been known to leak! Also in there are the vaporizors! Probably not a real good place for a lizard to explore.

Who actually knows what the little lizard found to explore in the bathroom, but somehow he got himself up on the toilet seat. BIG MISTAKE!!! This big tall human named Cymbre came into the bathroom, saw the lizard, and was prepared to scream. However, instead of screaming, she did the "old flip and flush" routine on the poor little guy. She just flipped him into the toilet and flushed! Hope he said his prayers...hope he said goodbye to his mom before he left this morning....hope he's not a very good swimmer....hope he can't swim back upstream and attack when someone is least expecting him!

Well, after a few minutes Cymbre goes back into the bathroom....and there before her very eyes is the little lizard sitting in the toilet bowl. Now she says "Another installment for the blog" and promptly flushes him again. This time he has been flushed several times! And every time she walks by, she flushes him again.....poor thing....just recovers from one wave and another one hits. Kind of like a Tsunami I would imagine!

Has he not heard that all drains lead to the ocean....does he not want to be Nemo's friend, and meet the sea turtles? Maybe he forgot his lunch.....or has to go home to finish his homework! TOO BAD little lizard.....you are learning how to swim today.....flush again.....maybe he just needed to go potty! TOO BAD...do your business outside! HAHAHAHAHAHA........

And the moral of this legend.....watch out for the "flip and flush" or humans are not friendly people, or Flanagan's HATE lizards in the bathroom....you can pick whichever moral you want! Bottom line.....now we are guarding the toilet to make sure he doesn't put in another appearance! Should have just smashed him to start with....in the future, there will be no compassion! LIZARDS be forwarned.....invasion into the Flanagan home is life threatening!

As We Speak.....

2011-10-10T16:27:00.000-07:00

October 10, 2011

As we speak Guy is in China going to some meeting....he didn't want to go, but went because someone asked him to be there. Two long plane flights later, and he lost 12 hours he is finally there. We went to church, took naps, ate two meals, and watched a movie while Dad was flying around the world!

SO, we are waiting to see what will break this week.....you know something will, it always does when Dad leaves!

I just got back from a very quick trip to see the grandbabies....we had such a fun time. Now the house seems so quiet when I am home alone. Next time, I am staying longer....I didn't get enough play time this time. I'm just saying.....a Grandma needs lots of playtime, and we didn't get to go get ice cream, and we didn't go for happy meals.....

Now that I am home, I am working on some scrub tops for an Activity that Cymbre is doing for YW, and was going to make a pirate costume for Jack, but I found the complete outfit for a cheap price, so I decided to save some sewing time and just buy it for him instead. We will have to bend the hat brim, but that should be something his dad can handle with a couple of big elastics. I made the Wendy outfit for Lucy while I was in Utah.

Cymbre has developed another floater in her eye...guess she's lost some more of her vitreal jelly. Not to panic....we all get them. So far her eye migraines have tapered off, but we are still getting an appointmnet with a child neurologist who deals with headaches. She gets migraines in her head because of the ones in her eye, so we need some course of action to relieve them.

We are back in the full dance routine, and the girls are LOVING teaching their babies. They just adore those little 3-5 year olds. I'm glad they don't cart any home with them. Dad and I just aren't so good at keeping up with the little ones these days....Dad claims it has something to do with getting old....I keep reminding him that I am not old! I am just falling apart in my youth!

It looks like the girls will be able to participate in the dance recital this year. Last year it was on a Sunday, so we didn't dance in it, but this year we got a Friday date. Yeah! Now we spend more money on costumes, but the girls LOVE it! These two should just be on stage constantly, and then they would be happy! We are grateful for all the dance teachers and choreographers that are working with them this year. They have been given so many wonderful opportunities to become better in their talents, and to gain happiness in the perfecting of their skills. So once again for recital we will have around 15 costume changes....I hope I can keep up. It's the 8 count shoe changes that kill me!

My Sunday School class continues to go well, and next year I will be teaching the Book of Mormon to the 16-18 year olds. Cooper's group will be coming in my class, and so that will mean there will be a whole herd of them. I already started buying props for some of the stories, and since it's Halloween time, I have been able to stock up on bloody arms for acting out the Ammon herding the King's sheep story. Cooper is already excited! Hope I can live up to my reputation......I need a Liahona, and some golden plates, and maybe a sword of Laban!

The dance costume making business is beginning to get busy. I have bought some premade pieces, and now I just have redo them. It's better than starting from scratch, but I'm still not sure how to make a halter style top from a men's tuxedo shirt.....I might give up! Cymbre's dress just needs shortening, a tulle cumberbun, and a tulle petticoat under it, and her headpiece which is just some feathers this year. Cooper has the tuxedo top, tuxedo pants, bowtie, and some tuxedo shirts cuffs.....OK! Cooper's jazz costume is still under a lot of consideration....it's the song Standing There by the Creatures....so they want something creatureistic.....what the heck is that? And I found her a terrific prom style dress in Utah for her tap with Mark Goodman...he wanted something girlie. It's a silvery all blinged up dress that I just don't have to do much too....maybe shorten just a bit. Maybe some gloves and tap heels. Fishnets with seams that have been rhinestoned. Their tap group and contemporary group will have costumes purchased by the studio. And the recital costumes the studio orders, so I will just have to alter them as needed.

I am cutting way back on the alterations for dance costumes for other people....there are just a few ladies that I will still do. Mostly just my friends. I just don't like it anymore, but it does give us some extra money.

The girls are both busy with their class presidencies in YW, and we finally don't have to work on personal progress anymore. They both have their medallions, so I told them they can be done if they want to be done. There is an honor bee they can get if they want too, but I don't have to do anything for that. I am so glad to be done with 4 YW awards, and one eagle scout, and Duty to God award. I feel like I earned them all, but have nothing to show for it.

Guy has lost a lot of weight lately, and is looking really good. Back to those days in England where he did all that walking....

Houston finally got some rain, not enough, but some.

Well, I think I finally have all the stuff for theses scrub tops so I better get busy, there are 6 to make....just a good afternoon of sewing if I just sit down to do it. And if I can get the sewing machine to cooperate!

Everyone needs to get out there and look for someone who needs some help....they are everywhere if you just look.

Have a great week. Love you bunches.

Mom

You Are In Trouble Doctor!

2011-09-20T11:03:00.000-07:00

September 20, 2011

Well, all those places that I reported the doctor we saw last week are contacting me and telling me to report her to the Texas State Medical Licensing Board.....something tells me she is going to be in trouble in the state of Texas along with the state of New York! Makes my day!!!! Sorry.....shouldn't feel that way. It took me three hours to fill out all the government forms to have her investigated.

Guy is in San Antonio for the SEG convention, so we are home alone just waiting for the trauma to arrive! I know I shouldn't plan on it, but something ALWAYS happens.

Cymbre's eye faded yesterday for several hours, but thankfully she didn't get a headache....score one for Cymbre!

I am still taking on the school district because they hire dumb monkeys to do the humans work, and then my taxes are paying them.....maybe I should run for the school board.....nah....I would have to have a heart attack at every meeting! They won't take the off campus grades in a sealed envelope from the studio. They want them faxed....however, they can't manage to provide the studio with the correct information to be able to fax them. Some schools are just taking the envelopes, but Cymbre's isn't. Her registrar is just being a real ....well, you can fill in the blank....but it isn't a very nice word. So the studio that doesn't own a fax machine is supposed to fax in the grade to a person they don't know the name of, and don't have the fax phone number of. OR, the studio director can drive for an hour to the district office and personally hand in the grades. WHAT? For 5 years we have turned in the grades in sealed envelopes, or even sometimes just the paper, and it's never been a problem. This year, because I started asking questions as to why our studio didn't have the information, it seems that the monkey at the district is trying to attempt to do a very small part of her job. (Guess she didn't like being told that for the past 5 years she hasn't done it....) So at Cymbre's school, the new registrar is being a pain, and refuses to accept her grade....at the high school for Cooper, they didn't care. So what's happened to consistancy is district policy? And, if the parents aren't supposed to be involved in getting the grades turned in, how come when there is a problem the school district lady calls and rips the parent who isn't supposed to be involved. Oh, she wants me to make the teacher call her......GIVE ME A BREAK! I told the district lady that if she was doing her job, she should be the one contacting the dance teacher....it wasn't my job to make her call her. I am not her boss, mother, husband, or clergyman. Our studio doesn't own a fax machine, and doesn't have the money to buy one. Maybe she should just go visit the teacher, email the teacher, or heaven forbid call the teacher. And that she can't expect our teacher to drive for over an hour to hand in a piece of paper, when all the other schools are taking the grades the kids bring in. You might say this district lady isn't happy with me......I could care less. I have done off campus pe for 5 years, and never once has there been any communication from the district to any studio we have worked with, or that I used to run. So this year, because I started asking when grades were due, the new lady at Cymbre's school is flipping out. If one school has to obey the policy, why aren't the rest of them having to obey the policy, and why do we have the stupid policy anyway. My tax dollars at work paying monkeys! I want a rebate!!!!!

Cooper is home sick today...sore throat, ears hurting. The doctor gave her some medicine....she'll start to feel better by tomorrow night I hope.

The girls have an ok from the dance director to enter the Hall of Fame competition in Austin, and attend the Tap2You tap convention in Dallas. She doesn't need them on those two weekends. Cooper is now working on the solo that Mark Goodman came and choreographed for her. It's hard....a challenge for her. She was thrilled to work with Mark. He is a master tap teacher who has performed on Broadway. Cooper is still finishing up a jazz solo, and another tap solo with MS. Andee too. Cymbre is doing her tap solo with Ms. Andee, and then they both have a tap group and Cooper has a Contemporary group this year. Cooper will probably do Tap Kids again this summer...it was a tremendous experience for her. They will also attend the Jump and hopefully, the Pulse dance conventions. So it will be a busy dance year for them. Guess this mom better get to work on costumes!

My Sunday School class continues to go well...at least now they believe that I can play the accordian....some of them have seen it. This week I made them pretend to be home and visiting teachers who had to take the messages that Paul wrote in letter to the saint in Corinth to their families. They had to read the scriptures, figure out the lesson to be taught, and then give me an idea as to how they would teach the family. It was an interesting experiment.....they learned some things about how the scriptures really do relate to our day. On a side note...since I will be teaching the Book of Mormon next year, I bought some bloody arms from the halloween section of the store....don't you think that will be fun when we do the Ammon story? I think I will get the Bishop to dress up as the king, and let the kids bring him the bag of arms.....should bring the story to life for them don't you think? I will get all of Cooper's group next year...rumor has it they are already looking forward to coming into my class. Guy just wants to know where we are going to store our bloody arms....

I have now finished crocheting 5 baby blankets, but Cymbre gave the last one to her YW leader who is having a baby soon. So, now I am looking for another pattern to try to start making another one. I love to crochet while I watch TV or wait for the girls.

Well, must get busy doing something constructive....guess I'll fold some clothes before I have to go get the Beastie at school.

Have a great day....get out there and do something fun to someone.

Love you.

Mom

Crazy Lunatic Doctor!

2011-09-15T22:25:00.000-07:00

September 15, 2011

So,yesterday I take Cymbre to see a child neurologist to see about her headaches. Since we know she has a retinal vasospasm ocular migraine in her eye (which causes her vision to go black, sometimes for several hours) and this typically causes a migraine inside her head. Hence the doctor visit. The eye specialist recommends we see a child neurologist to obtain some medicine to give Cymbre some relief when she actually gets the migraine in her head. The one in her eye doesn't cause her any pain, just a very sore eye, but the one in her head is an entirely different situation.

Now, this doctor was listed on our insurance list....however, she shouldn't be listed on anybody's list!

So we get there, and go inside after driving about 40 minutes. The place is a pigpen. Papers and books everywhere. The front desk is so messy, I can't even see the desktop. However, I am trying to give them the benefit of the doubt....BIG MISTAKE!!

So we are sitting there (we are the only patients in the office)....and I overhear the front desk personnel talking about the forms I have given to them already filled out. Now at the top of the form it asks for name, b-day, SEX, SSN, etc. However, the person doing the computer cannot decide if Cymbre is a boy or a girl....excuse me?.....How about reading your own dumb form? It's listed right there at the top, or there's always take a look at the patient who is dressed like a girl, with a girl hairdo and wearing make-up. So I stand up and say, excuse me, but we are sitting right here and it just so happens that the patient is a girl....I wrote it on your form, and it should be clear from seeing her that she is a girl.

Then the nurse calls us back, and while they are weighing Cymbre on the scale, there is a scotty dog standing right there at the scale. I about DIED!! Again trying to give them the benefit of the doubt, we just looked at each other, and I can tell that Cymbre is thinking maybe we should be leaving. We make it into the exam room, and the dumb dog follows us....there's a little bed in the corner for the dog....who on the way to her bed has sniffed in my purse. (I don't like dogs, and I really don't like them sniffing around in my personal belongings where I have my insulin.....I'm just saying!!!!)

So now I am thinking....what the heck is going on? Who is this doctor, and why do we have a dog in the exam room? Isn't there some health law that doesn't allow this?

There are books and papers scattered EVERYWHERE, and I am thinking that the fire marshall would certainly not be happy with this. (Note to self....see how you report something like that to some official person) I mean he wasn't happy one time at the dance studio when we had some cases of printer paper stacked up....he would probably have a heart attack immediately if he saw this place.

I am just about ready to tell Cymbre we are leaving when the doctor comes into the room. She looks like she has put her finger in a light socket...her hair appears to not have been combed in months. She is wearing either paint splattered clothes, or bleach splatter clothes...I'm not sure which. Either way, TOTALLY, not what you would expect to see on a doctor who is treating patients. She sits down, says you won't mind the dog, and immediately starts talking to Cymbre.

We tell her Cymbre's story, and she immediately tells me that Cymbre is probably having seizures, and will need a daily seizure medicine and a bunch of tests. EEG, MRI's, a longer EEG, bloodwork.....and I am thinking....Guess again lady!!! I am NOT drugging my daughter everyday if she doesn't need it! And you haven't proven to me that she needs it!

So I just tell her that I am tired of doctors who don't listen to us....the kid has never had a seizure.....she doesn't listen. Instead she focuses in on whether Cymbre is a perfectionist or not....if you are a perfectionist you match all your clothes, you don't mix things up.....Are you kidding me? Perfectionists tend to suffer from migraines.....so yes, Cymbre does match her clothes. (Could it be because I buy them in matching sets? DUH!!) And perfectionists bring stress on themselves, so we need to write a note to school to have them have someone there to read Cymbre any tests she needs to take to avoid her having stress about her eye going black....WHAT???? (If we do that, they will fill out form to classify Cymbre as a special needs child at school and it will follow her the rest of her life!) NOT happening!! This is a straight "A" student, who because of her eye may have to use a colored transparency to reduce the glare of the page, but she is capable of taking a test all on her own! Even if her eye goes out, she can still see with her left eye, and the teachers know that she may require extra time if that happens. By now, I am sure that I need another dose of my blood pressure medicine!!! I am considering hyperventilating....(Ok, mom....try to calm down....breathe.....)

Again I try to get her to focus on the headaches....NO....we have to hear about her personal medical issues....who is Cymbre's retina doctor? She has some retinal issues...She tells us she is hard of hearing..WHO CARES? I am not here to hear about your personal issues. Then she tells us that she has been dealing with being brought before the medical licensing board.....OK...RED LIGHTS flashing, red flags waving, I think I am getting a headache and it's from my blood pressure I am sure. My heart is pounding, and I can see myself in jail for killing this woman....it's time to leave. I am praying for an exit excuse......

She tells us that at our next visit she will see Cymbre alone....I am thinking, you will have to kill me first.....I know, not very Christian of me.

After a little more non-pertinent discussion, she is called to the phone.....THANK GOODNESS....Heavenly Father is listening to my prayers of what do I do now? So I tell Cymbre, let's go....we go out to the front desk....and are checking out when she comes out and says....wait....we have to order her tests. So now, I am thinking, order whatever the heck you want....I'm not taking her....however, we wait a minute and I tell them that if she needs tests, I want to have them done at my local hospital and not downtown. Are they listening....I doubt it! And while I am standing there, she asks me if I want to get the tests because of my headaches...EXCUSE ME....I am not the patient. AND No, you are not treating me or ordering a bunch of tests when I already have a headache treatment plan that works for me.

Don't you just LOVE doctors who don't listen, and then make snap judgements based on NO physical information? Excuse me, I am a medical coder, and I know that she has to have much more information in order to make an accurate diagnosis. She has to have documentation in written form...so I tell her she can't write seizures as the diagnosis on Cymbre's records or I will tell the insurance company that it not right and she is committing insurance fraud.   WE LEAVE!

We get in the car...Cymbre is telling me she doesn't want to come back....I am telling her that we aren't coming back....I am trying to decide just what I am going to do.....but we aren't going back. Maybe we should get the MRI, but nothing else, and then take the results to another doctor. I have to think, but first I have to drive home in the rush hour Houston traffic! I must get my rage under control and focus!!!! We stop at a gas station to get a big drink!

Remember that prayer for an excuse to leave....well, it is answered with an interesting sidenote....Guy's office is just right there not far from the doctor's office...just acrossed the street from where we stopped to get a drink. Heavenly Father must have known that I needed to see Guy desperately. He came out of his office parking lot just as I was passing it....we saw the van....I told Cymbre to call her Dad. As soon as I heard his voice, I could feel myself start to calm down....being able to see his vehicle made me feel like everything was going to be ok, I could do this, we could figure out what to do. It is amazing to me that he has that influence on me even from a distance. Somehow I just know that if he is there, we will somehow manage to figure out this latest little trauma from our resident black cloud. (You would think after 32 years and counting, that dumb cloud would be tired of hanging around us ALL the time!) I manage to pull in front of him at a stop light, and there is a confidence in knowing that he will follow me all the way home. Somehow, he is protecting Cymbre and me from behind us.

All the way home, I am thinking....this is just another chapter in the Soap Opera of the Flanagan Family book people say I should write.....I have to calm down first.   I have to find a competent doctor for Cymbre first.....I have to make it home and talk to Guy first. I should have made him come with me....well, maybe not....he would have lost it!

I go home and after I get the girls to bed, I sit down to see if I can find out why the doctor was disciplined by the medical board.   Well, I did.....three counts of over-perscribing controlled medications to 98% of her child patients, and perscribing controlled medications to herself. (That's a big no no!) She cannot practice in the state of New York as they took her license away...so I am thinking, does the state of Texas know this???

There is no way, I will even think about considering taking Cymbre back there. We have to find another doctor.

Fast forward to today:

Cymbre's eye goes out at school for about 30 minutes....thank goodness, it came back and she does NOT have her headache. We don't need another 4 day episode.

So today, we get a call from the doctor's office. Cooper answers it...I tell her I am not talking to them. She takes a message. They want me to call a hospital downtown to set up Cymbre's tests. I say, to bad, not doing it. So she just pretends to take a message.

A few minutes later the hospital calls me...I answered. They say that the doctor ordered all these tests, and they want to set them up. Well, number one, it's not the location that I asked them to schedule tests at, number 2 we're not doing them. I tell the lady that I am not coming for tests, and also not returning to the doctor's office. She says she needs to know why. I tell her the doctor is a lunatic. My daughter does not have seizures, and I'm not paying for a bunch of unnecessary tests, and do whatever she has to do. I'm not paying them anything. She says she will have to call the doctor. FINE! She tells me I am not the first person to tell her these things about this doctor. OK.......

Then about 5 minutes later, the doctor is on the phone....I don't answer. The machine picks it up...she is raving on the answering machine. Instead I go to the computer. I open the email from her office that had the forms to fill out. I decided to email her. I inform her that we are not returning, we are not going for the tests, her diagnosis is wrong. I am calling our insurance to tell them it is a false diagnosis on the claim (insurance fraud) Sorry that's the medical coder coming out in me. I told her that her office is a pigpen, that the dog should not be roaming all over the office even if it is a theraputic dog. I told her that I think she is very unprofessional in her dress, and I am reporting her to the medical board because she just wants to drug my kid. I told her that her office staff is incompetent....they can't even read their own forms.

In other words, I figured out how to really tick off a doctor....I don't even care!

They call again....I ignore the phone...deal with it lady, we aren't coming back.

So, again I go to the computer....I find her license disipline again. I figure out how to write a complaint. I report our entire story to them. Then I go online to her medical profile, and write a flaming review. AND, I locked the review in, so she can't remove it. Then after some thought, I looked up the Texas State Health Department. I found where I could file a complaint or ask a question.   So I filled in the form and just ask them if there should be a dog freely roaming around a doctor's office while patients are being seen? They are supposed to email me back within the next three days. IF they tell me that shouldn't happen, I am going to report her. I am also considering contacting the Fire Marshall. Something tells me that the Health Department, OSHA, HIPPA and the licensing board may be visiting her office in the near future. I'm just saying! If I have my way, she won't be listed on our insurance program either. I may contact the Office of the Insurance Ombudsman also, (they are the big wigs no one likes to deal with)....they deal with insurance fraud.   Big fines, and jail time usually result in their visit. As a medical coder, I am obligated to report cases that I have first hand knowledge regarding.

So after all of this, I guess you could say that I am a rebel with a cause.....moral of the story....Don't tick off the Mama Bear!

The rest of the day I was dealing with the school system regarding our off campus PE situation....but that's another chapter for the book.....stay tuned!

I really think I need to go find someone with worse problems than I have right now....it will take my mind off my own.

Enough Crap!

2011-09-13T08:38:00.000-07:00

September 13, 2011

I am so tired of trying to please people who really don't care, who treat me like crap, who break promises repeatedly. I'm just done!

I have made some decisions, and I am not changing my mind...I deserve some repect. I'm tired of years worth of disrepect, or people trying to just write me off, ...oh it's just mom having a fit again....just unfriend her, don't follow her, and start a new page...she's to stupid to find it.....well, I am not stupid....I know what happens.

I have decided I am doing what makes me happy from now on.....no more going out of my way to send packages, texts, be available, cowtow to whatever someone thinks mom needs to do. No more being the "Mom mat"....no more she'll get over it...no more putting up with being called immature, told to grow up, told to just get over it!

What ever happend to treating Mom like she is someone special....I mean, she just sacrifices everything to be where and when you need her.....what about what she wants sometimes? What about some respect just because she is the mom, some respect for her feelings and opinions......NO, we just like to stomp on them! We like to make fun of mom when we get the chance, to tell our friends our mom is crazy.....that she is having a midlife crises. WELL, GUESS WHAT....it's not a midlife crises.....it's the way I am treated that is pissing me off!!! What about asking her something instead of telling her what's happening?

I am no longer going where people expect me to go....or be what people expect me to be.....the only person I have to answer to is Dad, and he loves me no matter what!

I am tired of people breaking promises made, and then blaming me for it. Tired of people talking to me like I am stupid, and belong in a mental home. The doctor think I still retain all of my mental capacity for those of you who bother to think about caring.

I do some pretty wonderful things if anyone bothered to stop and take notice....I have talents and abilities besides just being the "Mom Mat".....there are qualities in me that people actually admire....not that any of those people are my family....cause you certainly wouldn't know it by how I am treated.

I am tired of my family and my extended family just assuming that I am stupid, uneducated, and not worth listening too. I am not some piece of trash you just get to throw away at your convenience.

I am not just the mom who sends presents....I have feelings too.

I am doing my best, although it is pretty obvious that's not good enough for most people...so I am just done!

And if you are feeling guilty about how you treat your own mom after reading this, maybe you should do something about that...heaven knows she's probably shed her share of tears over you!

I'M.SO. DONE!!!!!

They Are Stunned!

2011-08-29T10:08:00.000-07:00

August 28, 2011

Today I stunned my sunday school class....remember that I teach the 16-18 year olds. They aren't easily stunned!

We were talking about the Holy Ghost, and that you have to develop the ability to listen to him...kind of like you develop a talent. So I asked them if they had a talent, or something that they used to do well that they no longer really do. So of course, they all sit there with blank looks on their faces, so I have to come up with something....so I brought out the fact that I play the accordian and the organ. Total and shocked AMAZEMENT ensued....shock and disbelief...they even thought I was lying. Now why would I make up a lie about playing the accordian? So after I promised them that they could see my accordian when Cooper and Cymbre have another party....we managed to get on with the lesson. The point being, that just like you have to develop a talent with practice, you also have to develop the ability to listen and follow the Holy Ghost and his promptings with practice. And once you develop that ability, there are numerous blessings that will come your way as you just heed the promptings as soon as you receive them. We also talked about lost opportunities when you put off that impression for even just a few minutes....case in point.....there is a homeless man that lives under the bridge on one corner that I frequently drive past. Most days when I see him, he knows that I will drive around the corner and bring him something to eat....but the last time I saw him this week....I neglected to follow my impression to feed him, and then when I went back after I was finished shopping, he was no longer standing on the corner. I could just kick myself. It only takes just a few minutes to drive thru some place and get a meal and drive back around the corner and hand it to him. Now I wonder just how many blessings I don't get because of my own laziness....and if he went to bed hungry....and if he saw me drive past.....and more important, what the Savior thinks of my actions. So in my guilt-ridden state of mind, I have decided that I will go look for him everyday this week, and feed him every time I find him. We'll see what happens.....

At any rate, we managed to bring the lesson around to the point that with practice you can readily listen and heed the promptings of the Holy Ghost, thereby, influencing peoples lives for good. You also have to keep the commandments, read your scriptures, stay close to the Savior, and prepare yourself to be able to receive those promptings. Then we put it back in biblical times when Paul was teaching the saints of the early church about the Savior, His crucifixion, resurrection, and the need for baptism and the Holy Ghost. And how he taught that just being baptized was not everything that a person needs to inherit the kingdom of heaven...that's just half the plan. The more important part is actually the spiritual part...the gift of the Holy Ghost.

And now, those teenagers probably went home and told their parents that Sister Flanagan plays the accordian and the organ.....and can you imagine that? Hidden talents.....and no, not the chocolate coin kind! And just for the record, I am NOT playing the accordian for the ward talent show...they cannot bribe me enough. I just don't think "Beer Barrel Polka" is appropriate for a church setting.

Although, recently I had the opportunity to play every song that I know on the organ, and after an hour and a half.....I must admit, I felt pretty good about myself and that ability....and NO, I don't want to be the ward organist again.

Cymbre is having a lot of problems retaining her vision again....it seems that it just likes to fade away.....sort of go on vacation for several hours at a time, and then decide to function again when it feels like it. She is just sitting in her desk at school....not being bumped around or anything. SO, we are back at the eye specialists yet again this next week. Who knows what they will come up with this time. At least she isn't like the boy she knows at school this week who is getting a glass eye because he has cancer. He offered to trade her eye problems. She chose to keep the one she has....which seems like a real trial at times to us. At least she can see sometimes though. The boy getting the glass eye will only have one eye to see with permanently.

Just came home from putting Guy on an airplane to Halifax, Canada. Hold your breath.....who knows what will happen this week while he is gone. Something ALWAYS does! He will be back the end of the week, hopefully, we will survive that long without him. It's always so difficult...especially with the general lack of sleep that ensues because he is gone.

The girls have dance tonight, and I have to take them dinner at some point. Now if I just had a good idea what to make to take, it would be good. Last week I made pasta salad, but since Guy is gone, we don't want that again. Maybe Subway sandwiches tonight.

Cymbre just called, her eye has faded out again....let's hope the specialist has some ideas on Wednesday....say your prayers that it will stop. At least we know that the priesthood says that she will be ok in several blessings that she has had, so at least we have that to hang on too. However, this mom could sure use this situation to stop....it's very nerve-racking, to say the least!

The girls are both busy beginning to organize things for YW. They are both in presidencies, so we are busy at times. Cymbre has a pajama party with Mrs. Texas coming to share hair and make-up tips for the beehives, and Cooper is working on some Armour of God activity for all the kids. Sounds fun to me, and it keeps them out of trouble. Our new YW president seems to be getting her ducks in a row, so the girls are excited.

Costume designing and sewing time has arrived yet again....I know what I'm doing for some of them, but the others we are still looking for ideas. They also are in the tap group and Cooper is in the contemporary group, so there are more costumes this year. Cooper is also doing a tap solo to get ready for college auditions taught to her by a master tap teacher we are flying in, and she wants to compete it also. So everything counted, it is 7 costumes. I dread gluing down all those rhinestones!

Well, I am going to finish the row of crocheting on the baby blanket, change the laundry, and go get the errands done before I have to pick up Cymbre from school, and the homework, dinner, dance routine starts.

And I have to go look for the homeless man to see if he is hungry today too.

Get out and do something for someone you don't know....it's fun.

Love you bunches and bunches. Say your prayers for Cymbre and her doctors.

Mom

Here We Go Again....

2011-08-24T13:20:00.000-07:00

August 24, 2011

It's just the third day of school, and Cymbre has spent the most of the school day without vision in her right eye. She was just sitting in class and it faded....GREAT!! U'sually, it come back within a few minutes, but today her eye is hurting and it didn't come back for several hours. This is a concern. We almost called the retina doctor to see her. However, shortly after I picked her up she was tapping her head and it came back....now we just have the very sore eye. At this point, no migraine though, so that's a blessing.

SO,

Because of this I took her medicine to school today....tylenol, Aleve.....she uses those for both her knee pain, and her headaches. She has a perscription headache medicine, but it makes her too sleepy to stay at school....so it stays home.

Dad says he is sending Grandma to visit the grandbabies the end of September into October for a week.....HURRAH!!!! YIPPY!!! YEAH!!!! Haven't gotten to snuggle that Baby Lucy yet, and Grandpa thinks I need to go do that....so I am going. And Russell....I think you should catch up the ironing before I get there.....I'm just saying....

Cooper is loving her new laptop, and it's making the homework situation a bit easier because they don't have to fight over who gets the computer....they both have one now.

Dad is getting ready to do some traveling....Halifax, San Antonio, China....who know's where else.

There was a break in in the neighborhood night before last.....the sheriff thinks it was someone who knew the family was out of town....guess they really made a mess in the house, but didn't take anything.....interesting. Why go to the trouble to just make a mess if you're going to break into someone's home? And why would you break into the home of someone who lives across the street from a police investigator....are you dumb?

Fall dance classes have started, and so has the student teaching. Thank goodness for that teenage driver....no living at the dance studio for Dad and I this year.....can you imagine, after 13 years we don't have to go there everyday for hours? What will we ever do with ourselves?

They came and put new venting all in the attic....guess we'll see if the kitchen stays cooler now. We can hope!

Cooper's little beep beep car has started living in the driveway at night because the sprinklers are causing hard water stains on the passenger windows. OK.....whatever!

I'm collecting dance costumes parts, so I guess the costume season has started once again. I have to make a halter style tuxedo shirt....OK....shorten a prom dress for Cymbre, and do a jazz costume for Cooper and another tap costume..some sort of dress for Cooper. She has two tap solos this year....Mark Goodman is going to come and do one for her to use for her college auditions. She will need that especially next summer....expensive though.

Cymbre is busy with beehives...they are making a scripture journal this week. They are covering a composition book with bee material, and then writing some scriptures in it. Cooper isn't planning any acitivites currently, but the YW president as her for an idea for standards night.

Guess that's about all.....

Have a good day.

Mom

The Time Has Come Yet Again!

2011-08-22T07:29:00.000-07:00

August 22, 2011

Why is it that the first day of school ALWAYS comes before I want it to? I'm not done attempting to be lazy for summer yet....we haven't even had a full jammie day yet! Nevertheless...those little chickadees are out the door to supposedly learn something new and exciting, and I am home doing the everyday stuff.

So, today began at 5am....Cooper gets up and is out the door for seminary at 5:50am....her little beep beep car is wondering what happened to summer sleep in time I am sure! Cymbre is up at 6:10am and she leaves for school by 6:50am.

SO...that leaves Mom having cleaned up the kitchen, done 3 loads of laundry, restocked the sugar bucket in the home storage, cooked noodles for brain salad, folded two loads of laundry, cleaned out the dish drainer, straightened up the family room, gathered all the mislaid stuff from yesterday, taken the paper recycling, swept the kitchen floor, made the bed, restocked the frig with water bottles for dance tonight, and basically worked myself into exhaustion and it's only 9am! Sounds to me like a good time for a snickerdoodle muffin break!

Dad will be home in a little while....he is still trying to get the air conditioning so that the kitchen isn't the hottest part of the house, since we have a written guarantee from the company that it won't be....I guess they are talking redoing some of the venting now. We'll see. Sooner or later they will get tired of getting called back....this is time number 6, and will finally figure it out.

I am going to get a haircut...have to find a new place because I do not like the way the lady that I have gone to for years treated Cooper the last time we were in the shop. We had been there for at least a half hour when she was almost finished with my hair, and went to answer the phone. The next thing I know, the man that had called came into the shop and she passed Cooper off to another lady and did the man. I was not a happy camper, and we are not going back. He did not have an appointment set up before we got there...I heard her tell him that she had two haircuts in front of him, so why did she pass Cooper off? Her loss though, because I am not taking the girls back there either.

I also have to make a Goodwill run today, and get some gas in the car. Then home to pick up Cymbre from school....and before that I have to get this brain salad in the frig for dinner tonight. Cooper has early dance, so she needs to take her dinner with her, and Dad is helping someone move which means he will eat on the run tonight too.......ok, what's happened to family dinner? It's only the first day of school and we are already messing it up! I guess I will just have to be happy they are all eating the same thing at least, even if it is at different times. I cooked!

We dyed Cymbre's hair that reddish color again last night....she wanted it again for school. So we brightened her up.

My lesson went great again yesterday, however, this next week the Apostle Paul isn't rescued from jail by an angel, so I don't know what we will talk about for excitement purposes! And the kids loved the cookies I took them as a treat before school started. Next time they want milk too, and I asked them if I looked like a grandma to them.....guess so!

I am definitely not ready for the school year to begin again. We spent entirely too much time out of town, and not enough time just hanging out this summer. And now, there will be no rest for these dancers and two weary parents.

I have finished my third crocheted baby blanket, and am going to go get another skein of white yarn and do one more white one. Then I will be two ahead of any grandbabies that may decide to show up. It is SO NICE to not have numb hands again!

The girls both had a great time on their Utah trips, and Cooper finally got some time with her brother. She's needed it badly this year after some things that happened. She just needed to be there and have him be the protector in a sense. I think she feels better about things again now, although they still linger in the back of her mind and ours.

Cooper's camera didn't survive her trip...the screen is broken so Dad used some credit card bonus points and has ordered her a new one. It should arrive in a few days. She likes to carry it with her wherever she goes.

Well, I am off for a haircut, then back to make brain salad after the noodles cool, change laundry, and problably end up at the store because I always forget something. I may even find that homeless man and get him an Arby's for lunch today. He was at the street corner on Saturday.....hope he is still there today.

Get out there and do something for someone....even just an ice cold water bottle is a welcome thing on a hot summer day.

Grandma needs to skype all my babies again.....the house is awful quiet today.

Love you bunches.

Mom

Enough Hot Already!

2011-08-11T12:36:00.000-07:00

August 11, 2011

I am so sick of it being 102+ degress outside, and not a raindrop in sight. Everyone's lawn is dying....soon they won't even be letting us water at all. The power company wants people to not use power during the hottest parts of the day like dishwashers, washer and dryers, etc. So, I am trying to remember to run the dishwasher after 7...but I'm not doing a very good job of remembering to turn the blasted thing on that late. I should get the book out and figure out the timed start button!

Cooper is in Utah with Caleb and Shyla and the grandbabies....and where is Grandma? Not in Utah....I really must speak to Grandpa about this problem I seem to be having....

So last night, I went into the bathroom to take my bath....and there sitting big as life in the middle of the floor was this lizard. Now I have a lizard buddy that lives outside in the window trim of the garage....but this little guy was so bold as to come into my house and INVADE my bathroom. My bathroom is not near a door on my house, so I must assume the little creature was in the house for longer than just a few minutes. Normally, Dad isn't home when these situations arise, but last night I was in luck! Amazing if you ask me....so I just yelled for him to come get the lizard. Then I warned the lizard he better be saying his prayers because he made a bad decision in coming into my house....then Dad promptly did him in! One less lizard to reinvade the premises...and we won't miss him either!

Dad had the air conditioner people out again because the kitchen area of the house is always much hotter than the rest of the house, and we have a guarantee that it won't be, so he is making them live up to their own guarantee. It's taken 5 tries, but this morning it was cooler than it's been in years. Mostly our kitchen is like...don't turn anything on that will heat it up in here stage....and it's miserable in the summer. During the winter, you can actually live back there and enjoy not wearing a sweater. However, in Houston, the very hot days really outnumber the cold days.

I have finished two crocheted baby blankets, and have started a third. It is so wonderful that I can do that again while I watch TV and not have my hands numb and making me miserable! That hand surgeon is worth every penny that our insurance paid him! And my grandma box is getting restocked again. And Dad is glad that some of the yarn in the sewing room is getting used up. So, I am ready for two more grandbabies, but we can't bless them yet! I am working on that situation though too. I started a white blanket last night.

Cymbre made herself a blanket this week, and I am going to start working on some skirts for Cooper...although she was supposed to cut them out BEFORE she went to Utah....and I see no cut out material anywhere. I HATE cutting out...so I guess I will just have a endure to the end and cut out until I have no more pins day, and then I can sew to my heart's content and collect all the pins again. Where is Barbara Cragun when I need her...she used to come over and help me cut out things?

We celebrated my 52nd birthday this week....Guy got me a kindle thing for reading books....an interesting prospect since I do 98% of my reading in the bathtub....is he trying to kill me off...is my life insurance paid? I will use it at competition while we wait though, and he put the scriptures on it for me, and I have one book....the new Danielle Steel one: Happy Birthday. Appropriate for my birthday don't you think?

We have finished all the back to school shopping stuff....what a job! What a drain on the checkbook! What a pain! And today Cymbre and I went to Costco and stocked up on all the granola bars, water bottles, small cookie packs, fruit roll-ups, etc. for school lunches. And somehow a big box of popcorn snuck into my cart...I think it has legs! We'll see if it moves around in the pantry after dark tonight! (No I am not crazy yet!)

So, I have to buy a new bedspread or make a new one since the one Britni made me a million years ago is shredding. There aren't very many blue bedspreads out there, so I may end up making a new one, or the bed may be naked until I find one! Is there some law against naked beds? When I think of all those hours Britni and I spent making those praire points to go around that thing, I am wondering just who gave it permission to wear out in just 17 years? I think I need an extended warranty...I'm just saying!

AND, I was wishing that I had brought some cold water bottles with us today...there were some homeless people on the street corner that were looking so terribly hot! I could have given them one. I have done that in the past, and they are always so grateful.

Guess that's about all the news for today....must go get busy doing something useful before Dad comes home. At least I know what we are having for dinner tonight. That means I don't have to ask him and then he says he wants I DON'T KNOW. Well, I know of no store that sells something that is called I DON'T KNOW, and I wouldn't know how to cook it even if they sold it....so tonight we are having ham, mashed potatoes, corn, fruit and rolls.

On that note, get out there and make someone smile...do a little something for someone....help out an old lady.

Love you all bunches.

Mom

Excuse Me, We Need A Jammie Day!

2011-08-01T11:45:00.000-07:00

August 1, 2011

Here it is the first day of August and the girls and I haven't even had time to have a jammie day yet this summer. So since school starts on the 22, I guess we better be scheduling a jammie day real soon!

I also need to do the summer ritual of making freezer strawberry jam....usually that is done by now too.

Tap kids was a MAJOR success for Cooper....she made so many new friends, learned so many things, and had a great time. The show was wonderful, and we can hardly wait to get our DVD to show people what she did. It was a tremendous experience for her...gave her new contacts in the tap dance world, and challenged her for a week. And, the camera lost all my pictures....I AM NOT IMPRESSED!...I'm just saying. I had video of the tap jam on the ship, photos outside the theater, and lobby fun....and it's all gone....what the heck. Thank goodness, Cooper has some of the same things on her camera, but the tap jam video is lost forever. She claims that we will go again next year. I'm going to take an extra memory card, and take it out of the camera.

Cymbre has had her birthday interview with the bishop, got her new temple recommend, and is going to receive her YW medallion. She earned that thing in a year. She has worked so hard! A good example for the Beehive President to set for the girls in her class. We are SO PROUD of her. Now she is working on her honor bee. So is Cooper.

School registration starts taking place in the next few days...what a drag. Go stand in line, pay lots of money, fight with lockers, and stand in more lines. Aren't we just excited!!

Because of all this traveling the girls are doing, we are still finishing up the doctors visits that we usually take care of the beginning of the summer.....the allergist will wait until October, but we have everything else taken care of. No cavities, new glasses for Cymbre, now just to order contacts for Cooper, and finish up with Dad's stuff from his physical. And Mom needs to find a new Endocrinologist, to deal with the diabetes stuff. I am changing since at the last office, I never got to see the actual doctor....just the PA, and she messed up my medicine on a regular basis.

We have most of the house cleaned up and organized....Shyla's bedrooom left....it's a major mess because we put all kinds of stuff in there when we were getting the new carpet. But, I can do it slowly when the girls are back in school, and there aren't so many fun things to occupy our time.

The girls are starting their tap group for dance company tonight....that should be fun for them. They haven't done groups for a couple of years. Ms. Traci said she would make sure that all the parents knew that we would not practice or compete it on a Sunday. I told her I don't expect any problems in that regard. Cooper is also going to do a contemporary group this year. They both have solos in tap, and Cooper is also doing Jazz, and a tap one with Mark Goodman. They will be busy also with their student teaching classes. It's good for them.

My hands are in working order most of the time....although this past week, I have had some tingling on the backside of my hand. Interesting...we'll see. Could be nerve damage caused by the diabetes from all these years too. Isn't slowing me down much, but sometimes it's distracting.

I have managed to almost finish a crocheted baby blanket in the past two weeks. I started it in Vermont, and have worked a bit each day, and now it is ready for the edges. I guess I will soon have one for the Grandma box again. Too bad, I didn't make the thing white.

So I asked my class on Sunday if there would be a need for the Holy Ghost when the Savior comes again. He wasn't on the earth before the Savior was crucified....He told the apostles at the last supper that he would send a Comforter to them. So, because people could have ministrations of the Holy Ghost before the Gift of the Holy Ghost was given....does that mean that he won't be employed any more when the Savior returns. And, will we need the Holy Ghost in the Celestial Kingdom considering that the Savior will be there with us? And if he is no longer employed, what will he be doing? All interesting questions to which I can find no scriptural answer. It is known that people enjoyed the ministrations of the Spirit before the Gift of the Holy Ghost was given, but nowhere does it explain whether we will need that gift when the Savior returns. If they didn't need that gift when he was here the first time, why would we need it when he comes the second time? Something to think about anyway....guess I will ask them in heaven when I finally get there...if I get there!

Cymbre had a good visit with her brother and sister and the grandbabies....now it is almost time for Cooper to get her turn....still not fair that Grandma isn't the one going, I'm just saying! Maybe Grandpa will send Grandma later in the year. If not, there is always Skype!

Almost time to break out the sewing machine....well, such as it is...we'll see if I can resurrect the thing! I have to make the girls their dance costumes again. This year, I need to figure out how to make a halter style tuxedo shirt for Cooper, and revise a short prom dress for Cymbre. The group costumes, they will buy, so I just have 3 solos to do.

The girls have returned from a visit to Charming Charlies...they say there are all kinds of fun necklaces...guess we might have to make a trip there. We also need a trip to Harwin street for dance costume jewelry.

Cooper is trying to decide if she is going to pierce her ears....we could have allergy problems. So we are investigating first.

Well, that's about all the news for today....must get busy ordering contacts, and doing laundry, and gluing things back together. All these little piles of stuff that just need doing.

Get out there and make someone else's day! It won't hurt...honest.

Love you bunches,

Mom

Kidney Stones Make Everyone Crazy!

2011-07-12T10:47:00.000-07:00

July 12, 2011

For the past two weeks we have been dealing with Guy having a big kidney stone. The doctors could see it on the xrays and scans, and Guy certainly felt the pain! He suffered through the holiday weekend, but we did have an ER visit, and they decided to keep him.....doesn't make for a very fun Friday night date....I'm just saying! Side note: Cymbre and I took Cooper to San Antonio for EFY early on Monday morning, and then on Tuesday Guy and I were back at the hospital for Lithotripsy to try to break this stone up. OK....but the Dr. came and told me everything went ok, but that they only reshaped the stone as it would not totally break up. STUBBORN STONE!!! He told me it would be another 15-20 minutes and the nurses would call to let me know he was awake and ready to go. So, I sat outside in the waiting room for another 2 HOURS, and I was getting worried that maybe he didn't wake up afterall.....I mean no one came to tell me anything. Thank goodness Cymbre was staying with dear friends who just scooped her up and loved her for the day! Just as I was finally deciding that I better go find something to eat as the old insulin was kicking in, and I would pass out if I didn't eat, they paged me to bring the car around. So I go get the car, and the nurse meets me at the door asking for his underwear.....ok....well, you guys took his personal belongings bag before you told him to take it off, so he had no choice but to put it in my purse....which I could have told you if someone had come out to talk to me......I'm just saying..... So I give her the underware, and come to find out they were holding him in recovery until he could drain his bladder....ok, so why couldn't I know that? If I had known he was awake and just drinking, I would have left to go eat before I was about ready to pass out and my heart was pounding from low blood sugar. So they loaded him in the car, and we came home, and the first thing after getting him in the house and laid down was to EAT! Then I went to the pharmacy to get his medicine, which was supposed to take 15 mintues, and an hour and a half later.....give me a break!....I left the store. And Guy isn't supposed to be home alone....OK, yeah! So I go home and we get Guy propped up the way he is supposed to be so the little bits of stones don't lodge in the crevices of his kidney, and I try to rest....NOT A CHANCE! So I call them and go get Cymbre, and stay to visit for just a bit.....yes, I figured Guy was propped up and drugged...he wasn't going anywhere! Guess I'm not a very good nurse....but I did check for bruising, and made sure he did everything he was supposed to do. And now that he seems to be over this episode....I have decided that kidney stones are not just a real pain for the patient, but because they are so unpredictible, they are a real pain for everyone in the family who constantly have revise plans or activities to deal with the stone! So, yes, kidney stones....you are not welcome in our house
ANYMORE!!!! Or maybe I should say...you are not welcome in Guy's kidney anymore! We aren't kidding...

Cooper absolutely LOVED EFY....she comes home with fun stories of all their activities, and I guess her jazz solo was well received yet again.....she was one of 20 acts that made it in the variety show. We knew she would....and some kid told her that you have to have "God given" talent to make it on the stage at EFY.....guess he figured out what the rest of us already knew. It is such a good spiritual experience for the youth, and we are hoping that both these girls can get a spot next year.

Cymbre is just a few chapters away from finishing the Book of Mormon, and then she will have earned her YW award during her first year as a Beehive. A major accomplishment....she has worked and worked to get it. She told the Bishop to hang onto one of the old style medallions for her since she likes it better than the new one. Something about they don't like the way the stone in the new one blocks the temple....ok....

Cooper and I are going to Tap Kids the end of this week, and Cymbre will be going to love those grandbabies....what's wrong with this picture? Shouldn't Grandma be going where the grandbabies are? I mean, I don't tap dance as I have dumb left foot!

Cooper managed to catch the Stake President without his coin that he told her to carry with her all the time, so now he owes her a chocolate milk shake. He gave her another coin, and so now she has two different ones. These are coins he hands out to missionaries and others who need help. It has Cooper's favorite scripture on it, and the deal is....when she sees him anywhere, he is supposed to be able to show her his coin and she has to be able to show him her coin, but if neither one has theirs, then they owe a chocolate malt to the other one. And she was thrilled to catch him without his at the priest laurel fireside last Sunday. You would think he would always have one on his person since he has given them to lots of people and particularly the youth.....they are supposed to remind the owners that they can do hard things. And probably most of the people he deals with, or talks to, are really dealing with hard things. We've had to have his help recently with some things we have had to be dealing with that are extremely hard, and he has been wonderful.

I have finished adding ruffles to the skirts we bought that were too short....how come every clothes shopping trip turns into a sewing project for Mom....why can't they just make the skirts long enough to cover the stuff they need to cover in the first place? The girls are liking the ruffles, and have worn the skirts several times. Cooper took hers to EFY and really looked cute in it.

Cymbre is in charge of the YM/YW activity this Wednesday...they are doing a game night. She wanted to do a crazy road rally, but because of everyone being in and out of town, they decided to hold that activity until after school starts again. Probably a wise decision. So they are doing a game night and the kids will start at one game, and then after a bit will change to another game with another group of kids. Kind of a get to know everyone activity, because when she makes them change, they will be in other groups, and still have some fun.

It is time to start working on the solo costumes for next year....we already know basically what we need. I just need to get on it. Their first competition is in December.

Cooper is so excited to go to Tap Kids in Vermont the end of this week. We are rooming with some dear dance friends, so we are planning on having a great time. It will be a good experience for Cooper....Cymbre decided her knee probably wouldn't manage to dance for 10 hours a day for 10 days straight, or she would probably be going with us too. Ten days of master tap classes, the chance to show off her solo, and participate in a show that the general public comes to see, and to dance on a cruise on the lake as entertainment for the passengers. Cooper will be in heaven! Let's just say!! This will get her some more tap connections in the dance world. One of the master teachers she already knows, and he loves both the girls.

Guy is having Cooper start to look for colleges to apply to that have the tap programs she may be interested in. Then they are going to start writing letters for further information on their tap programs. Then we will start getting all kinds of mail, and the neighbor already thinks we get tons of mail. Because she is a junior this year....they have to start doing this stuff again. Seems like we just did this with Shyla.

Well, I must go get busy.....have to clean up the kitchen sink, vacumn and dust the family room, keep the laundry going and folded, renew some magazine subscriptions for Britni's nursing magazines, and start packing to get Cymbre and us out the door.

Guess we will skip family week around here next week as we will all be in different locations. So if you have someone with you in your family who isn't usually there, make sure to give them lots of hugs from mom and dad and you.

Get out there and make someone's day.

Love you.

Mom

Cleaning Out!

2011-06-24T17:06:00.000-07:00

June 24, 20011

The girls and I spent the morning today cleaning out the pantry. We even did the home storage buckets that live at the bottom of the pantry. Most of them were empty, and the stuff to fill them up was just sitting in the pantry taking up space. So, today was the day. Besides it was a good day to get even with the trash man who neglected to walk up the driveway and collect our trash on Tuesday! Today when he came, I met him with a bag of trash, and told him that I cleaned out the pantry on purpose just to make his life miserable for not coming to collect our trash earlier in the week. I told him that we pay for backgate service, and that means they need to walk to the back gate to make sure they get the trash even if the neighbors don't have any trash out. It just so happens that the neighbors are out of town.....I told him the trash is always out and ready for them, and that we put it where their company has told us to put it. So as I see it, there wasn't a good excuse for them not collecting it on Tuesday. The man agreed with me, and said that they wouldn't forget it again.....yeah right! So today he needed help getting all the trash down the driveway to the truck, and I just let him flounder until the other guy came to help him asking why it was taking so long....and then he had to explain that they hadn't gotten the trash on Tuesday, and I had made a big pile....and I felt good! I know....not very christian of me.....but very human of me! I think they should have sent a truck on Tuesday evening when we called to say they hadn't picked it up.

And we have finished organizing the DVD's. What a job! Now they are all in these neat little files, alphabetically on the bookshelves in the family room. And the best part is, I can find what I am looking for, and there aren't piles of movies falling on me!

I have cleaned out all the cabinets and just have one more drawer in the family room.....all the little games we haven't been playing are now in the possession of Goodwill, and the cassette tapes we haven't listened to are in the tape graveyard somewhere over the rainbow.....and all those hugh dust bunnies are history!

Tonight I have to work on my Sunday School lesson.....I need to do something fun regarding the sacrament and the last supper. Last week was the parable of the talents, and I took them chocolate coins as rewards for multiplying their pirate coins! It was a hit.....I'm just saying! Maybe something with unleavened bread........a thought at least.

The girls have been great helpers this week in getting the laundry room all cleaned out, and today the pantry. So tonight, they are having some friends over to play some games and just hang out. I think I will work on my lesson and then some ironing in the bedroom. Or I could sew.....or crochet.

Summer dance has started, so that takes the girls to the studio each evening Monday through Thursday. Cooper is going downtown one night a week for some harder classes.....so that means that I take Cymbre on Thursday. Last night while she was dancing, I went to the material store. I have to start looking at things for costumes next year, and I was hunting for a way to make a halter style tuxedo shirt for one costume for Cooper. She is dancing to a Michael Buble song, so they want a tux look with long gloves. OK...........well, we'll see what happens. Cymbre's solo is pink and purple, with just some feathers in her hair, and gloves too, but short ones, and purple.....where to find purple gloves??? We are just remodeling a prom dress for Cymbre's....but still some sewing to be done.

Cymbre and I saw the life flight helicopter take off from the middle of the highway last night. We were in the parking lot on the service road trying to attempt to get to the dance studio. We watched them run down the highway with the patient, load him in the helicopter, and then take off. It's really quite impressive.....however, we were grateful that we weren't the ones having to take that ride. That's a really expensive ambulance! Traffic was a horrendous mess, and yes, we were late to the studio. Had a good story to tell though! But we didn't take a picture!

I got out some yarn, and am thinking it's time to start to try to crochet again.....however, I am still having some very bad pains in the left hand, so we'll see how it goes. I mean, my grandma box is pretty empty at the moment.

I think we finally have all the stuff Cooper needed for EFY, and Tap Kids....what a job! Special outfits, drum sticks, hats, extra shoes....we ordered some stuff online, so that should be coming soon.

Bought Cymbre some new dance shoes...is it really that time again already?

Yesterday I was doing some cleaning in our bedroom, and there was a cockroach just sitting on the shelves by the books. How rude! Who ever heard of an educated cockroach.....and it was one of those really big ones. They are just coming in because it is so dry outside, and so hot. Everyone sprays, but they are coming in anyway this year......and we had a snake in the garage.....that thing slithered right by my foot, and just went in the garage....I called Dad and told him he was in charge of snake removal! You know, deep down, I really hate big bugs and snakes! And I don't think to kindly of the lizrards that like to help themselves to my house either! I would rather have a whole housefull of messy kids than one lizard! And thank goodness, the garage is NOT attached to the house....can you just imagine a snake in the house? Can you say MOM would FLIP OUT???

Cooper and most of the rest of the youth in the ward are all going to the San Antonio session of EFY again this year....Guy will drive her over and then go back later in the week to get her. She absolutely LOVES EFY! It's a good experience for them. They leave on July 4th.....Happy 4th of July Day!!!

The new washer seems to be working out pretty well...the only problem is that you have to practically climb in the thing to get the clothes out, and for this semi-middle aged person that is a challenge sometimes! I should be used to it because we have a really deep dryer too.

The downstairs of the house is looking really good lately....everthing has been gone through, gotten rid of, and cleaned up. Just a few more cupboards and drawers in the kitchen, and the piano music, and then we can move upstairs. That won't take as long, as there isn't as much stuff to go through up there. The scrapbook room is basically just in need of straightening, and cleaning out the closet, and the girls and Dad just did the dance studio, and the girls have been working on their rooms consistently. So that just leaves Shyla's old room, and we've already done some of that. It will be good to finally have everything we aren't using gone! And, we are loving the new carpet...now if we could just get a robot who loved to dust, things would be peachy around here!

Well, must close this for tonight....the troops are just about to descend on us. And I must finish my lesson....although I still need a good activity idea......

Get out there and help someone....smile at a stranger....tell someone they look really good today. Tell some mom how cute her baby is....just make someone's day!

Love you all bunches.

Mom

I'm Still Alive!

2011-06-14T18:40:00.000-07:00

June 14, 2011

The girls are both up at girl's camp for the week, Dad is working everyday, so that leaves me to my own devices all day everyday.....not sure I like not having anyone to talk to me all day, day in and day out! It gets a bit quiet around here, except for the dryer hum, and the washer spinning, and the vacumn running! Then there's the ceiling fans, and the air conditioner, but have you ever tried to talk to a ceiling fan? They don't even cooperate when you try to dust them, so why would they want to carry on an intelligent conversation with a person?

Dad is driving Cooper's mini to work....it gets better gas mileage than the van....I must admit, he does look a bit funny scrunched up in that little tiny car! Better him than me....I'm just saying!

I am finally beginning to feel better....ever since I came home from Tulsa two weekends ago, I have had a stomach ache....spent several days in bed not eating ANYTHING, but have progressed to eating like a bird again. This isn't a good situation for someone who takes insulin and has to eat on a schedule.....what an ordeal!

And because of the busyness of the weekend in Tulsa, I didn't even get to call my friend....she probably hates me now.....I hope not!

Cooper spent a great deal of last week in bed with a fever of 102...the doctor couldn't find flu or strep, no sore throat, no ear issues....just fever, chills, headache, and not wanting to move. So, we let her sleep, while the rest of us tried to carry on and get all her YCL things ready for camp. We made 19 super hero capes, a devotional with handouts, bed nametags, and lesson on Queen Esther, 2 sets of pillow treats in addition to trying to survive getting two girls ready for camp.....and a Mom not feeling well. We managed, but there were times I thought it would be just easier to lay down and die!

Summer is already starting the usual "busyness", and some days I just wish we could stay in our jammies all day long....never leave the house, and waste time all day. Not likely to happen around here with everything that is going on. Cooper is getting ready to go to Tap Kids back east for two weeks....mom has to tag along. Cymbre is going to Utah to visit Caleb and Shyla and the babies for the same two weeks....Cooper has EFY in San Antonio beginning the 4th of July, and then Cooper will take her turn to go see the babies in August. Cymbre would be going to EFY too except that she isn't old enough....so she will stay home with mom and dad....heaven help her! Both girls have a tap intensive the end of July here at our studio....a master teacher from California we know is coming to teach....should be fun for the girls.

I have managed to finish putting the coat closet back together today....cleaned it out before all this camp stuff started, but TODAY finally got everything back inside instead of camping out in the baby cradle. Got rid of a hugh basket of mittens, umbrellas, raincoats that were too little, etc.....yet another trip to Goodwill.

We have discovered that Cooper has an extra bone in her foot right by her arch....not usually a big problem, but for a dancer it creates big problems when it decides to hurt.....we were told she would need surgery, but thank goodness we got a second opinion....and now she is doing some exercises to stretch the tendon right there, and she shouldn't have further problems as long as she keeps doing these exercises...I think she feel the movitation.....I'm just saying!@

Cymbre is almost all back in her braces again....hopefully, when we finish this round, she will have a beautiful smile....and expensive, beautiful smile!

Both the girls are busy serving in their class presidencies....I have decided that having Cymbre being the beehive president means mom does a LOT of work.....Cooper is a counselor, so her's isn't quite so much. However, we have pulled of some tremendous activities, and the girls are both learning some great leadership skills. Cymbre even managed to get two inactive girls and their moms out to the mother's day activity she planned. Not bad for her first activity, I'd say.

Well, I am going to go fire up the jacuzzi....and read my book....I have one of those that you can't put down again...so I just keep it by the tub. I really should read my scriptures for my lesson, but I think I will read the book instead.

Everyone give those grandbabies big hugs and kisses from Grandpa and Grandma, and the Aunties.....skype soon.

Love you.

Mom

Can We Possibly Get A BREAK??

2011-05-29T17:48:00.000-07:00

May 29, 2011

This week has been a very busy week with school winding down, Cooper getting a dance injury AGAIN, trips to the doctors, and a very quick trip to the Wimberley, TX area for a family high school graduation party, and Cymbre lost part of her wire on her bottom braces......will we every have a "normal" day....ever????

I am beginning to believe the quote I saw recently that said: Around here, normal is just a setting on the washing machine! And on my machine, it doesn't always spin right! Just par for the course around here I guess!

Now begins the "How to keep the girls entertained for summer dilemma....I mean there's only so much shopping we can do before it gets REALLY boring....and we have to clean out the girls bedrooms like we do every summer......and there are trips planned.....and we have to clean out the dance room like we do every summer, and there are parties to have......and we have to clean out the pantry like we do every summer......and lunches to go to with friends.....and mom wants to clean out the laundry room.....and we need to hang out with friends......and there is still some stuff in the garage to clean out.....and we always have to find time to skype the grandbabies!

My sewing machine is in need of a trip to the sewing machine hospital.....it's slowly dying, and I am not sure that they will be able to fix the thing.....but I think one last ditch effort may be worth it before I sell the thing to them for scrap parts......not that any of the parts are worth using on somebody else's machine! So, I will probably have to get a brand new machine! UGH!!!! Some people have said to try ebay and other such sites, but why would I want to buy someone else's used machine that I can't get parts for? We'll just have to pay for the new one, and then I will have to go to the classes to make sure I can make it do everything, and then I will still try to make it do some things it's probably not supposed to do, but will do it anyway1 That's how it was with the one I have now. At any rate, something will probably have to be done before much sewing gets done on costumes this year.

We have to get things ready for the girls to go to girl's camp with the church this week, they go on the 13th....till the 17th. Guy is driving up and staying the day, but will come home when the evening shift of men get there. Then we will hae 4 days of no kids......don't know what we will do to occupy ourselves.

My hands are no longer numb, but still are regaining the strength back from having carpal tunnel surgery. I am so thankful for that doctor.....no more numbness just because I use my hands to do normal mom things! The strength will return, it just takes time, and I have NO patience with waiting! Seems to me if they don't hurt they should be able to do everything again. That's my theory!

Next weekend I will be in Oklahoma with Britni....she is getting inducted into an honor society, so I am going up to the ceremony and to spend a day with her. It will be fun to be just her and me for a bit. I plan on eating Taco Bueno! Yes, I do!

Well, I thinks it's bathtime, so guess I will close for tonight.

Spend some time tomorrow remembering those who fight for our freedoms, and those that have paid a high price for it also.

And, get out there and do something for someone....it will make you feel good.

Love you.

Mom

Honesty Pays Off!

2011-05-20T11:10:00.000-07:00

May 20, 2011

Yesterday I was on a website called Hatch Patch that does family home evening lessons, and found a lesson about Thomas S. Monson which I paid for and downloaded.

Cymbre is putting together another Beehive activity, and decided that she would like to use the lesson that I downloaded and have each girls (there are 12) make the lesson and game and be able to share it with their families....goes under the knowledge value.

So we went online to check out the rules, and discovered that with the purchase I could only download the lesson 3 times....not near enough for the Beehive class.

So after some discussion as to whether we should just print it the rest of the 12 times, and not feeling that would be the honest thing to do, I contacted the lady who puts the lesson packets together. I explained what Cymbre wanted to do with her class, and ask if there was some arrangement we could make to be able to do this cheaply..each lesson download is $3.50 so paying full price was not an option in the YW budget.

So we got the answer that she would allow us to print the number of copies we needed for just $1.25 per lesson if I would call her and give her the credit card number. She would clear the download to do the amount of copies that Cymbre needed.

So today, I called her, and paid for the lessons, and when she sent us the email receipt, she also sent a promo code for me to use at her website for 25% anything I download, as many times as I want to use it.

So now, I don't even have to turn in the receipt to the Y"W budget because I can download more lessons and make them for us or for the grandbabies, get the discount, and get the money back that way.

And in addition, I have a real lesson in honesty that we can talk about tonight at dinner.....

I guess that $14 was really well spent today!

We Survived Wednesday!

2011-05-12T08:12:00.000-07:00

May 12, 2011

We have survived a very busy Wednesday, and both of the girls YW activities were a hugh success!

Cymbre had her mother-daughter celebration here at the house last night....blue and white color scheme, served warm browines with ice cream and toppings. Then she had a guest speaker talk about motherhood and daughters....the speaker used a conference talk, and then added some other activities. Then each beehive presented her mom with a rose telling her several reasons why she loves her mom. That made for not to many dry eyes left in the room. Then she gave out a little mother-daughter poem she found online, and presented the speaker with an apron she decorated with bees and paint to finish out the evening. A hugh success in that they managed to get two inactive girls and their mothers out! Cymbre and Sister Arzac were thrilled with that more than anything. And those girls and their moms seemed to have a really great time. The Spirit was strong, and mother-daughter bonds were strengthened. AND, Cymbre gets to count this activity as one of her value projects.

One down.....

Cooper got called late Tuesday afternoon from her laurel class president. It seems that she couldn't come up with a good activity for their class on Wednesday.....she was crying....she had a major test to study for at school....did Cooper have any ideas as to what they could do. Cooper to the rescue! We put together 13 hotpad car emergency kits, got most of the stuff to stuff them from the dollar store, and then I spent several hours finishing tablecloths for Cymbre, and making the car kits for Cooper on Tuesday night until 1am. It would not have taken so long, but my sewing machine has decided that it only likes to go half speed.....not a very satisfying experience for one busy mom making things that were needed in the morning at 1am at night!

Cooper took her stuff and the laurels had a delightful time sewing on the buttons and stuffing the kits. They made all of the kits, and will take them to the girls who weren't there on Sunday.

Two down.....

Having both the girls in their class presidencies seems to be keeping this mom pretty busy!

It looks like Dad will have to take the sewing machine back into the repair shop next week when he gets home from Alaska....there is no way I can get it out of the cabinet, load it in the car, and get it into the store....the thing weighs about 80 pounds, and my hands just don't have that kind of power at the moment. Poor machine....I think I have just worn the thing out.....wish I could figure out how many miles of thread it has sewn over the past 20 years. Well, maybe I really don't want to know...... They no longer make my sewing machine, and so they can't get new parts....so if the motor is dying.....a slow and painful death....it will be time to buy a new machine! That's traumatic for me because I LOVE this machine.....a Bernina 930. Now all the machines are computer based, and I just don't like them but may have to bite the bullet and get one anyway. This developement is like loosing a valued friend who was constantly there to help.....like being one handed forever....like having no electricity during a hurricane....a truly miserable experience in Houston during the hot humid summer!

So today, is put the house back together after the party, and pack the costumes for recital pictures this afternoon.....and rest my hands.

We have just one more day and Guy will return from Alaska....thank goodness. A neighbor says that one of our sprinklers is shooting up a geyser when we water, and I am not even going to attempt to try to fix it....so I just turned off the sprinkler system.

Cymbre and I have organized all the DVDs into file drawers, and that really cleaned up a bunch of clutter in the family room....now just to finish the last few when I can get another file box, and then on to the CDs we have. As you can tell, I am still on a clean out everything binge.

My hands are doing ok some days, and really sore others, but I just keep trying to get things done and rely on tylenol or aleve the rest of the time....still have some vicodin left for really bad days.

I have been released from the hand surgeon...he says I have no more wrists to slit and that I have full mobility and range of motion, so he is done unless I develope a problem.....let's go for no problems1

Cymbre found out that she is loosing her beloved school counselor at the end of this year. She is retiring, and Cymbre is not a happy camper. Hopefully, they will get someone else good in there. Cymbre just has one more year at the school.

The girls and I have finally got the 72 hour kit rotated and put away again....a good thing to do just before hurricane season hits again. We even went to the RS activity to make food kits....had to take the girls because my hands wouldn't carry the kits....but it made the stuffing process go really quickly. So, yes we have out 72 hour kit, and now I just have to build up the water storage a bit....and then we wait to see if there will be a need to use it this year. Let's hope not!

We have replaced the air conditioning system in the house....what a mess for the day after surgery. It made for a very hot resting place while they worked.....by 7:30 at night I was just like....OK, already......turn the thing back on!!! Mostly, I slept thru everything until the bedroom starting getting so hot when the sun was on that side of the house. However, now the house is staying nice and cool, but they still have to come and adjust a few little things to balance the temperature a bit better back in the kitchen....and I have to tell them they can't totally shut vents because I am NOT going to listen to them hiss all day!

Well, must get these costumes ready for pictures.....

Have a great day....and get out there and meet someone new and do something for that person.

Love you bunches....

Mom

Sheer Boredom!

2011-05-01T13:56:00.000-07:00

May 1, 2011

So, I decided that since there isn't much I can do with my hand yet because they just fixed it last Tuesday that I would try to do some typing for a little while. We'll see how long it lasts.......

My sewing room finally got put back together just before I had this last surgery....so now we just need the hand to heal, and then Grandma is GOING TO SEW!!!! Not sure what I will make first, but it will be something other than the pile of mending in there in that bottomless basket.

The carpal tunnel surgery on my left wrist was a lot more painful than the right wrist....maybe it's because I was just already tired. Dad had to call for a pain medication adjustment, and when the surgeon added an Aleve with my vicodin things began to feel better. He said I could take 2 vicodin, but 1 knocks me out for hours, so I didn't want to try 2. These past 8-9 weeks of dealing with the right hand and elbow have been a REAL TRIAL of my patience. I get so tired of starting to do something, and then in a little while I have to leave it and do something else because something starts hurting. So I have all these little piles of unfinished projects and stuff and papers that are just sitting around waiting to be finished. And now, I have added the other arm....although without the elbow issues, to the mix. So who knows how long it will be before I actually have a full productive day again. The hand surgeon says it will take a good 2-3 more months on the right arm, so the left will probably be sometime after that by a couple of months. Maybe by the time school starts again, I will be busy all day. At least the numbness is FINALLY mostly gone, and my hands feel so much better.

Had to go get a crown glued back on my back tooth after the surgery on Tuesday afternoon....it came off while I was eating lunch, and the dentist says it must have been knocked loose during the surgery. It was definitely not what I needed to be doing when I was still groggy from the surgery. However, everything seems to be fine now.

I must say doing things mostly one handed, and that hand only having a little power is TOTALLY FRUSTRATING! Just changing the laundry is a 5 minute job....no washing dishes in the sink until the incision is healed, no bathes....which is killing me....just killing me! Getting dressed is possible by myself, but it is painful, and not something I want to do repeatedly, so I stay in my nighty until I absolutely have to get in some clothes. So this week when I take Cymbre to school, there is a real possibility that I will still have my nighty on....a good thing in case there is a need to go to the hospital I guess.....however, more for my own comfort....and since I don't get out of the car, and my nighty looks like a housedress.....people will just have to live. Unscrewing the medicine bottles so I can keep myself alive is proving to be not an easy task....Dad has taken to making little cups of medicine for me each night....one with what I take in the morning, and one with the vitamins for the day....and he even remembered the vit D on Saturday. Then he does it all again at night after he helps with my shower. I can wash the left side of me, but the right side is a challenge with the left hand....I'll get it by the end of the week hopefully.

The van is in the shop so Dad will have to drive Cooper's mini until it gets home again....it lost all the water, so it had to go get fixed. Dad thinks they will have it back in the next day or two. There is no way I could drive the mini...well, I could, but it would have to stay in first gear....and that probably wouldn't be so good for it.

Cymbre hurt her back in dance this past week, so I am waiting to see if we need a doctor to look at her....

Dad got all Shyla's stuff out of the attic and we went through it all, so now he is going to send her some boxes and he will have more room in the attic.....there is still some stuff up in her room that belongs to her....

Cymbre is getting her braces back on the bottom teeth tomorrow....then she will FINALLY be on the road to finishing this long and drawn out expensive project. The last thing will be bonding her two little front teeth to make them the size they are supposed to be, and they will do it when the braces are coming off.

The girls both finished all the TAKS testing stuff they have to do last week, so now the rest of the year they basically don't learn anything.....and my tax dollars are still paying these teachers? What the heck??

I watched some of the royal wedding this past week, and it was a nice ceremony, however, it was totally lacking the proper authority. It felt so different from a temple wedding to me. The dress was lovely, the groom was handsome in his uniform, but the feeling just wasn't there....I guess the proper authority makes a major difference. Cooper decided some things for her wedding....and then I reminded her that they don't need those things in the temple....she was relieved. Although I think Caleb is still going to be stuck with reciting some scriptures....so I think he may need to start memorizing now. I'll still take a temple wedding over the pomp and ceremony and the chance to be queen here on earth....seems to me the eternal blessings are so much more valuable than the earthly finery. I got my prince, and he isn't leaving me behind at the grave!

My plans this week are to clean off the dining room table, which means I have to mail things to Shyla and Britni, get Easter stuff put away, dust everywhere again, and maybe work on the girl's dance resumes so we can get rid of some more stuff.

Dad sent the girls with another carload of stuff to Goodwill yesterday from the garage....we are determined to get rid of everything we aren't using....or if it belongs to the kids to organize it better so one day it can go live at their house. At this point, Shyla's elephants, scrapbooks, games, and a few other things she wanted are all boxed and ready to ship. Dad just needs the van back so he can take everything up there at once....good luck when it gets to your end Shyla! I still need to get all her violin music books out to add the the boxes.

I have just about got all the food rotated in our 72 hours emergency kit....I hate that job.....seems like I just do it and it needs it again. Have to rotate the clothes again too...those girls just seem to keep growing! I was telling Dad, there is probably more than 3 days worth of food in ours, but at least we would have something to share if the need arises. I still have to buy some more water as hurricane season is fast approaching again, but someone has to go with me to carry it right now.

Well, I probably should stop typing and let this dumb arm rest for a bit....guess I'll go see what Dad's doing.....Cooper is sleeping, and Cymbre is out with the Beehive leader visiting some less active girls.

Ya'll get out there and help someone....you never know who's had surgery and needs someone to carry something for them.....

Love you all.....Grandma needs to skype Jack and Lucy!

Mom

Mom 157, Flies 0

2011-04-15T06:13:00.000-07:00

April 15, 2011

In the latest fly wars, Mom is at 157 dead flies, and the flies are at 0 dead humans! Guy thinks maybe there were eggs in the new carpet, and they are just hatching.....hopefully, we are almost done dealing with these pesky creatures! I hate flys and I really hate them buzzing around in the windows under the blinds! However, I have my trusty "fly Swicker" as Caleb used to call it, and I think I am winning this battle!

The girls have a big competition tonight....it's the one that qualifies them to go to the National Competition. However, even if they qualify, which they always do, they won't be going this year. Cooper will be doing Tap Kids, and Cymbre will be hugging on the nieces and nephew during that time.

Today will be a busy day....I have to re-rehinestone a couple of costume parts, get a new hair flower for Cooper's tap costume....she lost her other one, and sew a new hook and eye on Cooper's duet dress. None of it will take much time, but needs doing before we can go to competition tonight.

I am making progress in the sewing room....can you imagine that I FINALLY have all the patterns filed in the pattern file. I NEVER have that! Guess you could say, it is definitely time to start sewing again. Dad carted down some more stuff for me to put away last night, so once I get the competition stuff done, I will be working on that again. Set up the sewing machines yesterday....I still think I need a little table for the serger. I have the closet pretty much done with empty drawers that I am sure will find some contents soon.

Also must work on my lesson for Sunday today.....and do the laundry. Probably need a trip to the grocery store to pick up medicine and fresh rolls and probably milk. And while I am out, I may just stop and treat myself to lunch....always a fun thought!

Must get busy....too many things to do before bedtime tonight....

Get out there and do something for someone...it will make your day!

Hug those babies for Grandpa and Grandma and the Aunties!

Another Week!

2011-04-11T07:49:00.000-07:00

April 11, 2011

This week will be yet another pretty busy week around here. I have to do all the pre-op surgery lab stuff, and we have to start getting everything organized for me to have the carpal tunnel surgery on my left hand. That will take a couple of weeks recovery they say since it doesn't involve the elbow issues this time. I hope they are right! I am so ready to be done with all of this stuff.

The girls have competition again this coming weekend, so I have to pack all those costumes again. Just twice more, and we can pack the costumes away for the year. And then start all over for next year.

Dad did a lot of yard stuff this past weekend, and Cymbre has her flowers planted....everything is looking pretty good out there again. Cymbre used her garden as a value project for YW....that kid only has 19 things left to finish and she will have earned her YW award. She is constantly working on it....she's only been a beehive since July.

My lesson went well on Sunday, but my class is not impressed that I will be gone again for a couple of weeks....we talked about priesthood keys this week. I am going to try to find a substitute myself instead of relying on the priesthood....they let me down last time. I am also looking for someone to dress up as Lazarus for the week we talk about him....thought it would be fun to have him open the door and walk in the room when we read the scripture where the Savior calls him back from the dead. Once they recover from being scared...it should create some good discussion on how people felt at the time. I think this is one of the major miracles the Savior performed....the guy had been dead for 4 days, and then he brought him back as though nothing had happened. What a lesson for those who witnessed it! Can you imagine the stories of heaven he could tell when he came back.....and then the Savior acting like it wasn't any big deal......

Guy wants to take the girls to Disney World for Christmas this year.....a shopping break for MOM!!!! Guess he is looking at different packages....wish we could afford to bring the entire family....but can't, so we will have to love those babies from afar.

I have to take Cooper's new tap shoes over to the shoe shop to get the rubber soles put on them....I just don't understand how come they don't come with the soles when you pay $100 for the shoes to begin with.....what is the deal....then another $25 for them to glue and trip the rubber soles. And two trips to the shoe shop!

Well, must get those shoes over there, and then meet my visiting teachers for lunch.....

Have a great day

Mom

Really! Are You Kidding Me?

2011-04-06T10:53:00.000-07:00

April 5, 2011
Following very strong promptings this week has made me realize that once again, my spirit is receptive to those promptings, and that my Heavenly Father will communicate with me in that manner if I am just listening. I just couldn't ignore that help earlier this week when it sure seemed like the Spirit was shouting at me......He didn't have to speak twice...let's put it that way! Thank goodness we have a Heavenly Father who prepares the way for what we need even when we don't know we need it.
I have started to put the sewing room back together, and starting refiling the patterns back in the drawer. What a job! I am finding all kinds of fun things to make for those grandbabies....now I just need the time and to find the thread to the sewing machine, and my scissors. I did find the power cord to the sewing machine, which is also a necessity.

Dad is back from Norway, and I hope is a while before he has to go anywhere again....too much trauma when he is gone.

I go back to the hand surgeon on Friday....my 8 week checkup...I'm going to talk to him about doing the other one....I need to get it done and healed before we go to Tap Kids.

The girls had a marvelous time at the Hall of Fame Dance Competition this past weekend. Cooper's solo took top solo, platinum, and showmanship...her tap, platinum and 7th overall, Cymbre's solo took high gold, and a costume award (Thank you mom), and the duet took high gold, 4th overall. They also got scholarships to partticipate in the Hall of Fame All Stars opening number in Las Vegas in June. Don't think we can fit that trip in this summer.....the girls are already pretty busy.

Mark Goodman is FINALLY bringing his master tap university classes to Houston.....I have worked for 3 years to make this happen. The girls are so excited....maybe if we can make this a success we won't have to travel to Raleigh every year....although Dad may send them there anyway.

I am working on getting the sewing room put back together, and catching up the ironing, and making a Easter garland to go on the fireplace....seems I flit from project to project depending on my mood and my arm. This dumb elbow is still swollen, and gets very irritated with me sometimes. It has to learn who is in charge though...don't you think?

I have finally given in and bought some stuff to get my recipe box organized....it's just falling all over, and crammed into a box that is way to small. I want to actually be able to find what I am looking for, and I want them to be neat. After 32 years....I think I deserve that! However, to get it that way, I have to work on it! I need a little recipe fairy to just take care of this for me.

Cymbre has the DVD's half organized in the family room....I need to get her to work on them with me some more....we could get them all done.

The dining room and the office are done, except that I need to make the curtains for the dining room. But Dad has to buy, paint, and build the rod that I want before I can do anything. I did buy the end decorations for the rod, but they are really tiger jars, and Dad has to glue to the ends of the pole....he just needs a long wooden thick dowel type pole. And some brackets to hang the thing.

Spent the time listening to conference cleaning out files in the file cabinet. Dad spent his time during the songs, and between speakers shredding papers....we make quite a team!

The bedroom is finally put back together, except Dad has to help me clean the high windows above the bed, and the ceiling fan. I got some nails out to hang some pictures up we haven't gotten to lately.

It's a good thing the new carpet looks so wonderful, because all this work has taken a lot of effort!

The guy at the Goodwill donation store asked me if there was anything left in my house when I took another load up there this week. I told him we still had half the house to clean out. He said he would line up the semi's!

Well, I must get busy...I've been on this computer all morning.

Must run.

Get out there and serve a needy person....they told you to at Conference.

Mom

How Much Stuff Do You Have To Get Rid Of Before You're Done!

2011-03-29T09:18:00.000-07:00

March 29, 2011

I have been sorting through things in cupboards, on shelves, and in drawers for several weeks now...and I am trying to decide how much stuff I have to get rid of before I am done getting rid of stuff. We have taken 4 vanloads of stuff to Goodwill, and I am still collecting stuff. Obviously I should have been cleaning stuff out of here long before now, but with running a dance studio, and sewing costumes, and everything else I like to do, I just never got around to it.

So when Dad decided to get new carpet in the entire downstairs, I have just taken the chance to clean out everything that we are not using. Some of this stuff has been hanging around since the three big kids lived here....not a good sign for my Spring Cleaning abilities over the years you could say. However, this year, the rooms are getting a good clean from top to bottom and everything in between.

The people at Goodwill now come out when I pull up to see how full I am, and then they decide whether to have me pull around to the back door.

Gone are the clothes we have outgrown, the dance stuff that is too little, some craft things that I will never use again. Stuff has been mailed to the kids that we thought they could use with their babies. Dad's tigers in his office are finally tolerating me again after I made them all get tumbled in the dryer to get the dust off them. Every baseboard in the rooms that are done have been washed, the walls dusted, all the books dusted (although I have gotten rid of a lot of the books). The old Ensigns, New Eras, and Children's Friend have found a new home in the recycle bins at the school, and the scrapbooking stuff that was cluttering my closet is now living upstairs in the scrapbook room. Makes sense to me! I even cleaned out the desk drawers here in the office. I got all those run away paperclips confined back in their little box, threw away all the overstretched rubber bands, and did away with all the broken crayons in the drawer. I now have a big collection of keys which I am afraid to get rid off since I don't know what half of them go to. Neither does Dad....so I guess when we die, the kids will have to decide what to do with them, or maybe we will know what they go to someday.

Windows have been washed, and blinds have been dusted. The only thing left in the office is to clean out the file cabinet, and get the piano tuned. I am going to work on the files when I am skyping the grandbabies because I can throw away papers and talk at the same time.

I have filled up and taken the paper recycling 4 times this week.....can you guess what I have been getting rid of? Old school papers, books we don't use anymore, all the coding books I've had all these years, and the english size paper that we never seem to use for scrap paper.

The 72 hour kit is sitting in my kitchen as I need to rotate the food, and the medicine again....and the girls clothes probably don't fit them anymore. If I leave it in the kitchen I will do it faster than if I have Dad put it away again.

I am scared to start sorting thru the sewing room, but it will be the next room to do. Our bedroom is just about done....worked on some of the last little things last night...just have to do the blinds, and wash some glass doors, and get rid of pub papers and magazines, and hang up some pictures. Then I need to clean up the shelves in Dad's closet with all my FHE lesson making books. I am going to get rid of some of them too as I don't make to many lessons anymore.

I've decided when I put the sewing patterns back in the drawer, I am getting rid of anything that I wouldn't make for the grandbabies in the smaller sizes, and keeping only stuff that I would use for costumes for the girls....that will still be a lot of patterns because in the girls sizes, I will probably save most of what I have....I use a sleeve from one and a skirt from another, and a bodice from still another.

Visiting teachers are here....I write more later.

First Night No Dance Run!

2011-03-21T20:08:00.000-07:00

March 21, 2011

Can you actually believe it? I didn't have to make the late dance run tonight.....that little mini cooper car managed to get them to the studio and home without Mom even having to take off my slippers! Dad didn't have to go either....he's on a plane to Norway. I managed to sit in the bath for a good hour and read my book....wonders will never cease! I have just a bit of a problem grasping the concept of after 13 years....13 very LONG and BORING years of sitting at that studio, I FINALLY don't have to do it anymore....what freedom! What will Dad and I do with all our extra time now? Will we have anything to talk about to fill the extra hours? Think of the sewing I may be able to get done whenever I manage to get my sewing room put back together and functioning again! Think of the time I could skype the Grandbabies! I can even sit and watch a show with Dad...but not Bones....I don't like that one. And no sports! Maybe a good chick flick! Maybe I will find some time to dust my pubs, or get the piano tuned, and clean out the frig.....or make the visual aids for my Sunday School lesson before Saturday night....or just sit on the couch and hold Dad's hand! Maybe I can finally organize the costume closet again, and catch all the dust bunnies that are floating around plotting against me somewhere....or clean the upstairs blinds, or heck....maybe I could scrapbook the Disneyland vacation from a 100 years ago! Maybe Dad and I can play Mille Bournes like we used to, but he still has to add the miles up for me...and let me win sometimes. Maybe I can get my blog published in a book, and finish catching up our family history story, and the kids baby books....I think Britni is about 10, and Cymbre is probably not even 1! I can go through all those old calendars with the baby book stuff written on, and find the info, fill up the books, and get rid of the calendars....I can organize the dance resumes for these two dancers....If I buy the Christmas cards now, I might manage to get them signed before Dad wants to mail them. I can organize all the DVDS in the little files that I bought at the Container store. Maybe I could figure out how to make my Ipod work.....or take my sewing machine in for a tune up....although that induces trauma somewhat comparable to leaving my wedding ring at the jewelers for cleaning and repairs. I don't know that my heart can stand that......I could restock my Grandma box...I have just reduced the inventory with all these new grandbabies that have shown up.....I could make the sewing room curtains, but I have to be sure they aren't the last ones needing done in the house because I don't want to move right now....getting new carpet was enough of a mess for me! I can finish putting my closet back together.....and clean up all my lesson making books in Dad's closet.....I still need to make the chokers to go with the duet costume for competition in two weeks....guess that should move to the head of this list, right after turn on the dishwasher, and do the laundry. I am going to find the time to get some extra kisses from Dad, to hang all the pictures that need hanging, and to clean out the coat closet..we don't need snow playing stuff in the closet anymore! AND TAKE A NAP!

AND find someone to do something for who needs it....there was a homeless man sitting outside the gas station we stopped at on the way home....I just wanted to bring him home and let him shower and feed him....instead I smiled at him and kept walking ....to which he said thanks for the smile....no one has smiled at me for days......guess he needed that worse than I thought! I should have given him the cold drink I had in my hand....what was I thinking?

Maybe the Savior noticed my smile and will cancel out something wrong I did....we could hope!

Get out there and do something!

Love you,

Mom

It's NOT Funny!

2011-03-04T06:10:00.000-08:00

March 4, 2011

With the oil prices going up yet again, we are AGAIN dealing with people making fun of men who work in the oil industry, and how much money they are making....GET OVER IT PEOPLE! The men who work in the oil industry pay just as much for gas and other products as you do....we don't bring home more money just because the oil price goes up....we don't want to hear about it from you, and it's not funny to hear you all laughing at men who go to work every day and work hard to support their families. It's not our fault that people in other nations are being stupid, or that all the wonderful enviornmentalists won't let us drill the oil that is here in the USA. SO STOP THE TEASING! Why don't you all try to be a little supportive of those men who work hard to provide you with the comforts of life? And maybe take a little time for some compassion for their families who spend many nights alone while those men are out of town working hard for the rest of you who just love to laugh at them...maybe instead of laughing, you could take the time to just say thanks, and that you appreciate the things their jobs provide for you. After all, oil provides your transportation, and most of the things inside your oh, so comfortable home! And maybe you should stop and consider how your laughing at those men affects their families....how the kids have to listen to people laughing at their father...how would you like for your dad to be the one being laughed about? And how would you feel if the general public were teasing you and laughing at you just because one aspect of your profession was going up in price and you absolutely had no control over it? Maybe it's time to stop and think before we all find entertainment at someone else's expense! I hardly think that the Savior would be treating the men in the oil professions this way.

Some days I just can't handle the way people treat others.....

Well.....

2011-02-28T13:53:00.000-08:00

February 28, 2011

Well....

Today has been a busy day for me, but if my hand and arm were working totally again....I would have had everything done this morning before lunch.

Went to the Container store to get some more DVD things to organize all the DVD's so that they are not falling all over the shelves in the family room.

Dad decided to buy a new couch, so that is spurring me on to organize the entire room. There really isn't that much to do, just the entertainment stuff.

Then Dad also decided to replace the carpet in the entire downstairs except the family room. So, in a week or so, they are coming to entirely tear up the downstairs. We have to move small stuff, and there is no way all the rooms will have everything moved unless we start now. I think before I put things back in the sewing room, I am going to go thru everything and purge! That will make Dad happy!

Spent yesterday afternoon trying to clip coupons. Got a bunch done, but there are still a bunch to do. I can only cut for so long.

Today, after the container store, I went to the grocery store and spent almost 2 hours! It's somewhat difficult to do everything with just one hand....I can only pick up very light things with my right hand, although it doesn't have any more bandage down by my wrist. There are still bandages on my elbow.

The hand surgeon says I can do what I want as long as it doesn't make my hand hurt.....well, that isn't very much. I can brush my teeth again, and today I managed 4 curls in the front of my hair! I can dress myself again, but, undoing hooks isn't happening yet, and getting pills out of jars is still beyond my capabilities. I can change laundry, but only a few little pieces at a time, and folding it takes FOREVER!! I am determined to try to sew something this week....we'll see! I can type, but have to use the cushions to hold my wrist in the proper position, which is ok I guess....heaven knows I don't want to do this again! I can unload the dishwasher, but have to do it one dish at a time....loading it is the same. There is no getting dressed up, writing my name legibily, or make-up....isn't possible yet. I can drive the car, but Cymbre has to start it and put it in gear...I can manage to get it back in park when I come home, but I have to use my left hand to turn the key off. Dad has to cut up my food if I need it....and they have to leave the lids loose on the peanut butter and jam. Dad pours some milk in a glass and leaves it in the frig for me for cereal. I am going to start working on my sunday school lesson now in order to have it ready in two more weeks.
I may try taking a bath tonight, but Dad will have to be here in case I can't manage to get myself out! He won't mind.....he is a good personal nurse.

And you know the worst part of all this...they want to do my left hand ASAP! It will have to wait until April because Dad is leaving town for 2 weeks in March, and it's Spring Break for the girls too. We are going to Dallas the end of Spring Break to attend a Dance Convention that Cooper has wanted to go to for several years.

We have discovered that the windshield wipers on the mini cooper don't work....so Dad will have to get that sorted out. Dad says Cooper is doing better than any of the other kids at the stick shift! That makes her day...Dad took her over to the test course and practiced parellel parking on Saturday night....says he thinks the real problem is that he taught her how to do it with just her mirrors, and they want her to look over her shoulder...so she is working on that too. Dad also has to get extra keys made at the mini cooper dealer because it is a lazer cut key....that will be expensive!

Dad has driven the mini cooper to work a couple of days....he looks funny to me in that little tiny car, but it gets great gas mileage! The problem is after he drives the cooper, then he drives the focus and uses the break like a clutch! I haven't had that problem, but I have only driven the cooper once to the dance studio and home to show it to Ms. Andee.

Cymbre got a new wire at the orthodontist today....two more months and he thinks he will be ready to put her bottom braces on again. Cooper is just in her retainers. So Cymbre will have sore teeth for a few days, but they are beginning to look much straighter on the top than they were. Hopefully, at the end of this very LONG road, she will have to beautiful smile that Cooper has now!

Cooper did really well at Star Quest dance competition....got a platinum on her jazz, and a high gold on her tap!

The girls have finished the duet, and now are just cleaning it up and rehearsing it and their solos with Ms. Andee and Ms. Traci. Before we know it they will be starting all over for next year.

Dad has the arrangements for Tap Kids taken care of, and the stuff for Cymbre to go to Utah. She is thrilled!

They have called Cymbre to be the Beehive Class President, so she is working on sorting out counselors and stuff. Now she will have to go to BYC...which messes up dinner every Fast Sunday. We lived through it with Cooper, so I imagine that we will survive for Cymbre too! I just turn the roast on a bit later, and starve until they get home.

We went to Lowes to get a new lamp, and the guy that was helping us was cutting something with one of those carton cutter knives, and slit his wrist. He was bleeding A LOT, and went running to the front of the store....thankfully, a customer who was a nurse was up there and immediately took care of him. I need to go back to see if he was ok....he cut it really deep and was dripping blood everywhere. I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't have to call an ambulance to get him to the ER quickly! We didn't get the lamp, but went to a different Lowes later and managed to find the same one.

Cymbre has started to buy some flowers for her garden again this year...she is going to use it as a value project for YW....Dad will have to help her dig right now because I can't....but soon I will be able to help her. It's something we enjoy doing together every year. She found some hot pink geraniums for the planter box too. And I found a Bougainvillia hanging basket again this year....couldn't get one last year. They have such beautiful blooms. I love the hot pink ones just outside my kitchen window on the shepherd's hook thing in the ground.

Well, my hand is getting tired, so I have to stop typing...all of you make sure to do something for someone else today.

Hugs those grandbabies, and skype Grandma!

Mom

One Hand...Are You Kidding Me?

2011-02-20T13:09:00.000-08:00

February 20, 2011

So this week I have discovered that life is so unfair and BORING when you just have one hand and one good elbow in order to function!

I had my carpal tunnel surgery, and my cubital tunnel syndrome surgery on the same arm the same day. That meant I went from numb hand to TOTALLY incapacitated in one swoop! Did you know that you can't even stand up after surgery when you are still somewhat groggy without two hands to balance? And since the nurse in holding on to your good arm to help...the situation is somewhat hopeless! And trying to get dressed is an exercise in diligence that I finally just said, "you know what...I am just going home to bed so who cares about all these clothes...just do the necessary ones to cover me up and GO GET MY HUSBAND. They never want to go get him when I want him...I always have to do all this stuff like breathe deeply, move body parts that have just been operated on, tell them my name 500 times...(For pete's sake, just write it down will you?) and wake up! Give a girl a break ok!! Then they shoot you full of painkillers and expect you to walk yourself to a wheel chair which they park clear on the other side of the stall...what the heck? You want me to walk over there when I have one slipper on, my blouse is on but not buttoned, and my pants are crooked because three people put them on me? And I still have this IV thingy in my arm, and the other one is bandaged? And I am barely coherent? And where is my husband? And can you see the pretty birdies up there in the corner??? (Not really any birdies)And that painkiller is NOT WORKING!!! And if I have to walk that mile to the wheelchair, wouldn't it be quicker to just walk to the car which is parked right outside the front door? And could I have something to drink since you people are starving me, and my bloodsugar is just a bit on the LOW side? And where is my husband? Finally they get the wheelchair closer, and take me to a room where they want me to sit in a recliner...a WHAT? Just how am I going to get out of that thing? And yes, I already moved my fingers for you just a minute ago, and the doctor moved my elbow for me because I can't! And FINALLY, Guy shows up! My guess is that they want him to think I am comfortable in a chair at home just waiting for him to come home from work instead of just having surgery while he counted the minutes out in the waiting room for over and hour and a half, and another hour in the recovery room where who knows what happened while I was asleep! I do know the surgeon kept coming over to ask me to wiggle things, but since I was INCOHERENT, he had to move them himself...guess he earned his payment on me at least!

Then after a few minutes of debating how long I was going to stay in that recliner, they decided to just let Guy give me more pain medicine after I was safely home and in bed and he went to the store and got it and came home and tried to wake me up.....OK, does anybody care that I am in PAIN around here? So the nurse disconnects the IV, which always bleeds a while, and then with Guy's help (which is better than 3 nurses)we managed to get out to the car and leave....however, they didn't buckle my seatbelt! So there I am trying to sit up, and use my bandaged arm to pull the seatbelt out enough that Guy can buckle the thing...somehow I made it home in one piece, but that bed sure felt good, and Guy propped my arm up on his pillows and left me there to sleep while he went for the pain medicine. I don't think I moved for several hours...he would just come in and wake me to take the medicine...make me eat something...and then situate me back in bed. He left to get the kids, but I don't remember it, nor do I remember them coming home. I woke up about dinner time and managed to get to the kitchen under my own power....but didn't stay long.

I made several discoveries that evening....it is impossible to go to the bathroom and use your left hand to do what you need to do....you can't brush your teeth with your left hand, you can't squeeze the toothpaste and get it on the brush, comb your hair, you can't even change into a clean nightie by yourself. And you know those child proof bottles where they like to put your medicine....those are a major obstacle course! Thank goodness Guy is here to open my medicine! Now since he is going back to work, he will put all my pills for the day in a little bowl so I can get to them. IF anybody is laughing...just wait until you have surgery!

The big obstacle for in the morning is going to be getting myself dressed, so I can take Cymbre to school, and then starting the car, and putting it in gear. I think I better practice tonight. Cymbre could help to start the car, but then she won't be here when I get home to turn it off...just a small problem when I park inside the garage, don't you think? Thank goodness it's not a manual transmission....that would only be ok if we still lived in England where everything is on the other side! Feeding myself all day will be the other problem....Guy says he will leave everything with the lids loose, and a small container of milk in the frig for me. So now who will be there to open my soda, or will I have to abuse the can until I can get it to leak into a cup? And forget about pouring juice out of that gallon jug in the frig...did you know that thing weighs at least a ton! And I can't hold the thing, pour and hold the cup all with my left hand...and curling my hair will not be happening either...guess I will just go with the natural look, or maybe I could just add some mousse and spike it! And who will spread the peanut butter on my sandwich...Just try that left handed and see the mess you make! Maybe I will just wait to eat until I get the girls from school...I just have to start the car, and drive to get Cooper, who can then drive us everywhere else.

Well, at least I can type....and my hand isn't totally numb, just the finger tips of two fingers.....but my elbow is killing me! They sliced the thing open about 3 inches just where you bend it, and then they tell you to flex it 5 times and hour every hour you are awake....ok, yeah right!!! And these hugh bruises on my arm...what the heck...I just went to sleep, and woke up and now it looks like they fought a war on my arm!

The girls took pictures, but they are still in the camera....good luck with that!

2011-02-08T11:01:00.000-08:00

February 8, 2011

So much has happened in the last month....

Today I was supposed to have surgery on my numb hand, but because of a bad case of bronchitis, we had to put it off for a week. So hopefully, they will manage to get it done next Tuesday early in the morning, and by lunch time Dad will have me home and resting. They are going to fix the carpal tunnel stuff, and also a pinched nerve in my elbow! Hopefully, they don't have to move the elbow nerve, because that makes for a much longer recovery period. All the lab work has been done, so hopefully, I passed everything this time, and there won't be any further delays. I know my blood sugar was where it is supposed to be...I checked it in the car before I went in to see the vampire.

Cymbre hurt her knee again, however, it's a new injury, and they have had her out of dance for almost a month...we see the Doctor again this week, so we are really hoping that she can start to dance again. Since it is the beginning of competition season and everything.

The girls went to the Jump Convention, and Cooper won 2 scholarships for a total of about $500.00. She was pretty excited, and she also got to dance onstage with Mike Minery...a master tap teacher. Cymbre went to observe classes since she couldn't dance, but she still learned several new things to take back to show Ms. Andee.

Cooper will be competing again this next weekend...she wants to try to go to the World Championships of Dance, so she needs to place in several competitions in order to be invited. Wish her luck, and say your prayers. Her solos are really great this year!

Dad has just spent the weekend in Utah blessing the new granddaughters....I sent the dresses, but didn't manage to make them this time because of this stupid numb hand! As soon as I am recovered I am going to make one just to have in my Grandma box, so this doesn't happen again.

Cooper had her 16th birthday, and now I am hoping that Dad will get her a car sooner rather than later....her driving would be such a help. They went for her license, but they have to go back and take a driving test even though the course Dad taught her says you don't. Her test is scheduled for the 23rd right after school. She is planning on passing the first time. She had to drive for me last night because my arm was just hurting to much to hang on to the steering wheel. Thank goodness, she can do it.

Cooper's birthday party is this Friday....that should be fun as she has invited around 30-40 people. Talk about a house full of teenagers. Hopefully, they won't play that screaming vikings game....that would really shake the house! We ordered the sandwich tray from Costco and I guess we will make some cupcakes, chips and salsa, and M&M's, that's usually what she wants. She will have 4-5 games, and they will just hang out....thank goodness this will be before the surgery.

The girls missed a day at school because of an ice storm that came our way...it was supposed to bring snow, but we didn't get that lucky! The girls would have loved it! Dad stayed home from work, and the roads were terrible, but it started to melt by the middle of the afternoon. Dance was cancelled for several days.

We got wonderful news the Aunt Anny is now cancer free...so all those prayers have been doing their jobs! Uncle Glen was thrilled when he called the other day.

Dad went with the girls to do baptism at the temple again....seems like the moms always get left at home though.

Everyone seems to think I am crazy being happy about another teenage driver in the house, but I am....I don't have to live at the dance studio all the time, and she can take herself places. And if I time it right, her and Dad will end up doing all the pumping of gas! And she can run to the store, and I won't have to haul groceries! And once she gets her car, Dad will be able to go to work early again, and that means he comes home early again. That's always a benefit to me.

Guess that's about all for now....must get some curls in my hair before I go get Cooper...we have to go to the orthodontist today.

Love you.

Mom

Again!

2011-01-11T09:49:00.000-08:00

January 11, 2011

We have started yet another year with a dance injury. Cymbre has managed to do something new to her knee, and today after the doctors pushed and pushed on it, she is in quite a bit of pain. She is hardly walking, and Dad is going to get the crutches out when he comes home. It's something about a piece that goes around the kneecap but isn't supposed to go under the kneecap. Hers is inflammed and under the kneecap. How she manages to get so lucky to always have pain in her knee is beyond me. She is a trooper though.

However, this has caused her to not be able to go to Tap University this weekend....so to appease her, Dad said he would send her to hug the grandbabies for the time in July while Cooper and I go to Tap Kids in Vermont if Cooper makes it. Cymbre has a plane ticket, so she would come even if Cooper doesn't go to tap kids, which is highly unlikely. Cymbre is already rubbing it in that she will play with the babies and Cooper won't. So, you guys in Utah need to come up with some fun things that might have wheelchairs if needed, to do with Aunt Cymbre about the middle of July for several days. I have to look up the dates, but Tap kids is for about 10 days. If Dad sends her to Utah, he doesn't have to take all that time off work, and the babies will get to see their Aunt. And Grandma is trying to figure out a way to be in two places at once!

The physical therapy for my hand seems to be doing nothing, but the new neck exercises have made it tingle more and then feel a bit better...who knows what they will say on Wednesday. I know not doing anything is REALLY BORING, and it's killing me not be to able to sew! Writing is hard, curling my hair impossible, crocheting is out of the question, cutting paper is a challenge...I can iron, but who wants to do that all day? Russell, don't get any ideas! Folding laundry makes it more numb, driving the car makes my whole arm tingle, but wearing the brace thing at night makes it somewhat possible to doze for a few minutes here and there. There is something when you try to lay down that numb hands don't like. Something about nerves connected to the spine. Give me a break...just fix me!

I guess right now, I am just the perfect Grandma to sit and hold babies all day! So where are the babies? And I can line up cars if I hold my wrist just right, and don't let it bend!

I talked to the physical therapist, and she said that since I have had problems with my hands for years, crocheting Britain's blanket was just the last straw....I told her that wasn't a good option! She said it would have happened even if I was just scrapbooking, sewing, or doing anything else that has a repetitive motion. I have overused my wrist for 51 years it seems. I guess I need to talk to someone about an extended warranty! And where would you find an extra not used wrist if you need one?

I have enjoyed teaching my sunday school class, and they enjoy it when I bring what the call "Cooper Cookies". They are just the break and bake chocolate chip cookies, but they all think that she makes them from scratch....we are just letting them think that. She enjoys the reputation she has earned by taking cookies to people she thinks need them. I teach the 16-18 year olds. There are 16 of them. And they are quickly learning that Sister Flanagan thinks they need their scriptures in class. This week I made them journals for them to write their feelings about the Savior in this year, since that's what we are studying. Even put a pen with them so they couldn't say they didn't have anything to write with. Thanks goodness Dad and the girls helped me make them. The other classes have people that want them too.

Very cold and windy here today...good day to stay home....and Cymbre is passing her time in the whirlpool tub! The hot water makes her muscles relax and eases the pain a little. Thank goodness for tylenol with codeine!

Well, must get busy...got to organize the competition costumes that are laying in the cradle, and I have just a few more pieces of ironing, and I have to curl my hair...oh joy! The costumes are a mess because I took them off the coat tree to put up Christmas decorations.

Cymbre gave me her old Ipod, but I don't know how to work it, so she is going to give me lessons....I know....bad! But I know how to work an old fashioned typewriter, and Cymbre has no clue!

Everyone get out there and do something for a stranger....they need to have a good day too!

Hug all those Grandbabies for Grandma and Grandpa and the Aunties.

Love you bunches.

Mom

Christmas Morning

2010-12-29T12:38:00.000-08:00

December 29, 2010

Here's some of Christmas morning...then I will have to do more later...it's storming outside and we have to shut down the computer.

Cymbre's new rhino...

Cooper's new lucky dog...

Cooper's new Ipod Touch.

Cymbre's new Ipod touch.

Snuggies from Mom.

Britni'a panda hat and gloves from her friend.

Christmas Preparations!

2010-12-29T12:29:00.000-08:00

December 29, 2010

So here's some of the Christmas preparations that have been going on at our house.....

I ALWAYS have to buy a couple of new snowmen...no matter what the kids say! Here's a couple that come home to live this year...

For my snowman Christmas Tree...

This one has a little tiny baby one in his pocket!

Cooper and Kandace making chocolate chip cookies.

I made these rolls for Christmas dinner. Cooper buttered the tops.

More cookies!

Our New Baby Lucy..We are so lucky!

2010-12-29T12:21:00.000-08:00

December 29, 2010

Here's our new baby Lucy.....born Dec. 26th. Caleb and Holly now have a very cute Baby Jack, and now an adorable Baby Lucy!

I think Grandma needs to make another visit...

Here's the new Dad and Lucy..

Just a few minutes old.

Isn't she just so cute...she was 8 lbs 2 ounces and 20 inches.

With Aunt Shyla....who better be giving her hugs from all the Aunties!

With her Mom, Holly

They are home from the hospital now, and we got to skype them yesterday....such fun! Everyone is doing great!

My Grandbabies!

2010-12-29T12:09:00.000-08:00

December 28, 2010

So I am a little slow getting some pictures of the grandbabies up, and now we have another one, Lucy, who was just born this week. I have to capture some photos of her, so we will just do the other ones for now.

Everyone be jealous! This Grandma had SO MUCH FUN playing, snuggling, and loving these babies when I went over for Shyla to have her baby. My little toy bag and I came home so lonely, that I decided there should be some kind of law that Grandbabies have to live close enough to Grandma to play when Grandma wants to play! Sounds good to me.

So here's my babies....

This is Baby Jack...just turned two, and we are enjoying reading some of Eden's books.

This is new Baby Britain...and she likes to snuggle Grandma!

We spent hours awake at night just playing and snuggling....we made Mommy and Daddy go to bed!

This is Baby Eden trying to learn how to be a fishy..Grandma finally got her to do it just before I left. Isn't she just the cutest?

Eden and Jack playing with Grandma and Great Aunt Issy...we made the mommies and daddies leave so we could spoil them!

Baby Britain with her eyes open....she is SO Snuggly!

Oh My Gosh!

2010-12-07T08:18:00.000-08:00

December 7, 2010

I have been home from snuggling the grandbabies for almost a week, and my progress on Christmas isn't going well. Those house is mostly decorated, but still have to do the greenry on the stairs, there are some gifts wrapped, some still to get in the mail, dance costumes are a mess from competition, a CAM baking basket needs finishing in the kitchen, and the family Christmas letter isn't even started.

Dad is out of town, so for the next few days....it's just me and the girls.

The girls have started their duet...it will be so CUTE this year.....Andee is doing such a great job with it. Cooper is still working with Ms. Traci on her jazz solo to get it perfect each Friday.

Last night Cooper bought Uncle Larry a really funny Christmas present....we have to get the other parts still. Just one more thing on the otherwise endless list for Mom to do.

We are having some issues getting some of the things we wanted for the girls for Christmas, so I need to spend some time online tonight...maybe I will have more luck that way.

The new Grandbaby, Britain Lilly came on November 21.Six pounds 8.3 ounces, and 19 incles long. She is so snuggly. She likes to be awake all night, and Grandma enjoyed just holding her.

Eden and Grandma because buddies while I was there, and she followed me around all day. I enjoyed chasing her while she tried so hard to run away from Grandma. She just laughed and laughed.

Jack and Grandma had fun lining up ALL his cars. They stretch clear across the front room and into the kitchen....then he walks down the line and messes them up. He loves his trains.

I think there should be some kind of law that grandbabies have to live close enough to grandmas that they can play whenever Grandma wants to play. Of course, I would never get anything done!

Baby Lucy will put in her appearance sometime soon.

We are so blessed as a family to have two new members.

All the pictures are still in the camera, so I will have to add that to my list too. I'll put it right after refilling Dad's tiger tissue box on his desk!

When we unpacked the Christmas decorations, we discovered two snowman cookie jars with no heads. I have the hats, but not the head.....there must be a snowman murderer who lives in my house.....NOT GOOD!

Got some snowflake material to make a new tablecloth for the dining room table. One that will actually fit the table. Don't you think it's about time since we have had this table since we came back from England about 16 years ago?

We are finally done with ear tubes...Cymbre's last one is finally out. No more ear, nose and throat doctor!

Had to turn on the heater for a few minutes this morning...used the fireplace first, but then I was told in the rest of the house....I just hate that smell that is there when you first turn on the heater. The girls have been putting their clothes in the dryer to warm them up before getting dressed....of course, they had to wait for the dryer guy to repair the element over the weekend, but we are back in business today.

Well, this is NOT GETTING anything done for Christmas, so I better go get busy. Finding a lucky dog is on the list today.

Have a good day, and get out there and help someone. There are plenty of Grandmas like me who need help loading cars!

Love you.

Mom

Homecoming, Cymbre's Eye and Ward Talent Show

2010-11-03T19:44:00.000-07:00

November 3, 2010

I am finally done with the dance competition costumes this year! Everybody do a little happy dance! It has taken me five months to get all the pieces together, altered, sewn, rhinestoned, and finished!

Had Cymbre to the eye specialist again yesterday. She has developed a floater, and he said that if she had any changes he wanted to see her....so we went.

Seems that the vitreal jelly that was detached at the back of her eye has totally detached now, and it is floating about her eye. That's good in that it is no longer creating traction on her retina, but now her retina is extremely sensitive to detachment since the jelly is no longer there to help hold everything in place. She is very lucky that it didn't detach the retina when is separated! THANK HEAVEN for small miracles. And thank goodness for priesthood promises that she will be ok. This kid is so fortunate to even have her sight when technically her eye should have shattered when the yoga band hit her!

Cooper was crowned in a tie with her friend to be the sophmore princess at the homecoming dance....she was excited. I took her to the hair dresser and got her hair done in an updo before the dance....and we bought her dress. Here's the photo of her dress, and her hairdo.

This is a picture of Cooper with President Meier and Bishop Bitter at her Game of Life Night. It was a hugh success....we still get comments about what a great job she did. Actually, it was a family effort, but we let her get all the glory.

Spent the evening tonight organizing some DVDs into a file box so that they take up less space. Got this file box at the container store and it holds 100 DVDs. I am putting the ones that I keep in the sewing room into the file. Maybe then I can find the one I want, if I can just get the girls to put them back in the little file.

Dad took the girls to YW, and they went on a scavanger hunt at the mall. They seemed to have fun. Cooper's team won again...as usual! It is her favorite activity.

Guess this will be a short entry tonight....I am going to take my bath, and take my medicine, and go to bed while I watch the news. I know, BORING!

More later....

Mom

The Pestilence Continues!

2010-10-12T13:46:00.000-07:00

October 12, 2010

Ok, so when Dad comes home again he has to go to Lowes and buy me some better pestilence fighting tools! I had to use the vacumn to catch a lizard, who then promptly figured out how to get out of the vacumn. I had to brush him out from behind the toilet tank with a wooden spoon, and he ran across the wall. So then I had to hit him off the bathroom wall with the plunger! He got flushed this time. AND, when we came home from dance, there was this hugh grasshopper on the glass part of the back door.

The only tool I had to attack him was the mop! So I hit him, and OF COURSE, he flew. The girls were screaming that he was on me, but they didn't tell me where. SO, then I was jumping around like some deranged person!

I think sanity reigns supreme at the moment, but who knows what lurks just outside the back door tonight!

It's time for Dad to come home....I'm just saying!!!!!

PS I hear you all laughing!!

Goopy Scissors! CAPTURED Lizard!!!

2010-10-10T20:03:00.000-07:00

October 10, 2010

So now I had to wash the scissors with goo gone because we used them to cut the sticky back velcro pieces to put on the file folder games for the grandbabies. That stuff makes your hands stink! And there isn't much I have found that takes away that smell on your hands, but the stuff works great at getting sticky stuff off scissors.

We have now finished several sets of the file folders games....Cymbre will be displaying them next weekend for YW in Excellence program. We still have some more to do for the value project, but she has a good start. And the best part, is the Grandbabies will have them for Christmas.

I caught a lizard in the vacumn tonight....of course, Dad is NOT here when I need to catch the dumb thing! So we got the vacumn out, and sucked him up...then I left the vacumn running for a few minutes to make sure he was good and in the canister....and now I will wait a day or so until he is dead, and then empty him into the OUTSIDE trash can. I sure hope that canister opens from the bottom instead of having to shake the stuff out from the top....that could be bad!

I have our home teachers on call this next two weeks while Dad is gone....who knows what's going to go wrong, but something ALWAYS does!

We have to take Cymbre down to the medical center in the morning early. Her eye still goes out, so the doctor wants to make sure that everything is still stable. I think he just wants some more information to share at his next medical convention where he goes to teach. Seems to me, they should pay me for her to be a case study. Who knows, maybe they will take some more of those really cool pictures of the inside of her eye.

I FINALLY have the two tap costumes done and rhinestoned. MAJOR accomplishment...now on to the jazz one. I am still waiting for some of the parts to get here, so I have been crocheting on the baby blessing blankets for the coming grandbabies. My hands are certainly letting me know how they feel about all this crocheting....I pack them in ice some nights. I really should cave in and go back to the doctor. They have hurt me for over a year since the locker incident the beginning of last school year. The physical therapist gave me the name of the best hand guy in Houston, but I think they will just tell me a steroid shot, and I am not sure that I want to peel myself off the ceiling! And those shots will really mess up the blood sugar stuff that is finally getting to be where it needs to be most of the time.

Dad is in Norway and Liverpool this week, and then home just for a day or two and off to the SEG convention for another week. I am bracing myself for no sleep, and trauma! You would think after almost 32 years, the trauma would have stopped by now, and I would have learned how to sleep when Dad is out of town. I guess it's just knowing his body is in the house that makes it so I can sleep. I even set the alarm, but still spend most of the night watching TV or sewing, or on the computer.

So, what do you think that lizard thinks about being inside the vacumn canister? Do you supposed his Mom is out there somewhere in the dark of night looking for him? Is there some sort of lizard police that she would call to help her. Do you suppose she even knows he has met his final demise? And that I don't feel bad about it either? Is she camping outside my front door waiting to run inside the very next time the door is opened? Maybe he has a little family of baby lizards waiting for their Daddy to come home, maybe bring some dinner. Maybe he has a baby girl waiting for a princess tea party, but her Dad will never show up....TOO BAD little lizard! (I know, somewhat harsh, but I don't put up with the little things in my house!) Do you suppose that he is allergic to the dust in the vacumn with him? Does he like to live in see through houses? Did he eat dinner before he was captured? (I don't care if he is starving!) I know, harsh! Maybe he was sucked through those dyson wind tunnels and lost conscienceness, and doesn't really know where he is...I don't think I have a lizard hospital in my vacumn, but this isn't the first one I have sucked up either....who knows what they may have going in the the hoses! And why do lizards like to come in my house anyway...they live OUTSIDE!!! Not in a house with carpet, air conditioning, and furniture. I mean have you every really seen a little house outside with all the comforts of home and lizards coming in an out? Come to think of it, why would you even look for a house like that outside? I have never seen them carrying brief cases, and looking like they were actually doing anything worth while either....they just like to hang around the doors and invite themselves in at the MOST INCONVENIENT times! And if you don't see them come in and catch them right away, they like to hide in the moss in my ficus tree right by the front door, and then when I am dusting the thing, they suddenly decide that it's time to come out of hiding and SCARE the CRAP out of ME!!! Do you know how hard is it to keep your wits about you and catch a fast lizard when you are scared to death because the thing just tried to walk up your arm or your leg? Speaking from experience....it's NOT EASY!!! I usually am jumping around making sure the thing is not on my person anywhere. And DAD is never here when it happens to be my protector. What is with that anyway?? Maybe we should build a little one way lizard door so that they can only get out! I have tried sweeping them out the door once or twice, but the vacumn is a more reliable form of capture. And when was the last time you saw lizard spray at Lowes? I have not seen a lizard trap by the mouse ones at the store either! So I use the only form on LONG HANDLED capture that I have at my disposal...gotta love that vacumn!

And on a more serious note: I have heard this song twice now this week, and both times I cannot sing along because I feel the Spirit so strongly.....so I want to share the words with you once again.

It's called: Lord, I Would Follow Thee

Savior, may I learn to love thee,
Walk the path that thou hast shown.
Pause to help and lift another,
Finding strength beyond my own.
Savior, may I lean to love thee--Lord, I would follow thee.

Who am I to judge another
When I walk imperfectly?
In the quiet heart is hidden
Sorrow that the eye can't see.
Who am I to judge another? Lord, I would follow thee.

I would be my brothers keeper,
I would learn the healer's art.
To the wounded and the weary,
I would show a gently heart.
I would be my brother's keeper--Lord, I would follow thee.

Savior, may I love my brother
As I know thou lovest me,
Find in thee my strength, my beacon,
For thy servant I would be.
Savior, may I love my brother--Lord, I would follow thee.

I love this song, and I think about it often as I am helping someone who needs my help. Most of the time it is a stranger I help. I cannot sing this song, at least not the whole thing because the Spirit touches my heart so deeply and I am overcome with that wonderful warm feeling I get when I am close to my Heavenly Father. I sat in the lobby the other night and heard 17 stakes of YW and some General Authorities singing this song...needless to say, the tears were filling my eyes as they are now just thinking about this experience.

Feeling the Spirit, just like at this moment, is something that comes very easily for me when I am out doing something for someone else....it has always been that way for me, and my hope is that my children might have a little glimpse of that feeling each day as they are out in the world hopefully helping someone that they see needs some help. Just this past week I was in the grocery store and saw an older lady struggling to reach a thing off the top shelf....I stopped and asked her if I could help her. With tears in her eyes, she said that no one ever asks her that. I felt the Spirit so strongly at that moment, and then I just had a thought about that scripture that goes like...."if you have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me" and my mind could picture the Savior standing there in the grocery store. Had I not stopped to help, I would never have had that experience that day. A simple act of getting something off the top shelf brought my Savior's Spirit so close to my heart. These kinds of experiences happen to me often....sharing a happy meal with a street person, giving a water bottle to some hot road construction workers, helping an older woman put her groceries in her car. I guess I learned how to do these things when I served as the RS president while we lived in England all those years ago.

So, get out there are serve someone...step out of your comfort zone. You don't have to put yourself in any danger to find someone who could use your help. In all the years I have been doing things like this, no one has every yelled at me or threatened to call the cops. Just do something today.

Love you all, especially my GRANDBABIES!!!

Mom

A Busy Week!

2010-10-01T07:53:00.000-07:00

October 1, 2010

My goodness, it's been a busy week around here.....Cymbre has been down with bronchitis, Cooper has been at dance until her knee began hurting to much....she hurt it at solo rehearsal on Saturday, and now she can't dance for a week. She did something to the tendon right by her kneecap! I still think dance will kill her one of these days! When she dances, it's all or nothing, and that is sometimes what hurts her I think.

Dad finally didn't have to put Cymbre in the car and drive her around for an hour freezing her out with the air conditioner last night. She just managaed to sit in the steam in the shower, do her medicine, and slept in the recliner. We also put vicks on her feet and socks, and never heard a cough out of the kid. THANK YOU ANITA!! We all got some rest last night!

We have gotten to skype our Baby Eden a couple of times this week, and Baby Jack was with her once....It's always VERY EXCITING to this Grandma to see those cute little babies. I am so looking forward to going to play with them when Shyla has her baby! However, I just don't think it's fair that she stays at the computer and talks to Grandpa, but crawls away to play when it's Grandma. What is the deal? We so enjoyed hearing Baby Jack sing us songs and tell us the alphabet!

They have adjusted my insulin yet again....and this time it is working, but some days now my blood sugar gets way to low! It's a fine line to balance everything, but I am feeling better most of the time.

Dance costumes are coming along, and Cymbre's tap one is finally down to just finishing up the jewelry. It's even rhinestoned. TOOK FOREVER! I am thinking about entering it in the costume contest to see if I can win again. We'll see. I am working on Cooper's now, but hers is mainly taking in a top, and hemming pants, and rhinestoning. Parts of the jazz solo are beginning to arrive, so that will be the next one. Then the duet. We have the dresses for those, and the feathers for the hair, so hopefully, that one won't take to long either. After all, I do have to take time out to go play with the GRANDBABIES!!!

Cooper is doing much better at driving, but we haven't really gone out to practice this week....Dad needs to take her this weekend.

We are glad that it is jammie church this week. We love General Conference weekends!

I must get the jacket made for Cooper for her homecoming dress....and hem the dress.

This sounds like all I do is sew! That's not true most days, but lately it is the truth!

The girls want to do their solos in the ward talent show....that should be interesting. No one at church has ever really seen them dance, so they will be a hot topic of discussion I am sure. Oh to be a fly on some peoples wall! Particularly those who love to gossip!

Cymbre's eye hasn't gone out in the last couple of weeks....guess we are doing a good job not bumping her around. THANK GOODNESS! She sees the neuro opthamologist this month. He will probably want to take some more pictures of her eye insides to show at his meetings. They talk about her all the time from what he says. Too bad they don't pay us to see her.

Well, must get busy...have to get my Halloween goodies in the mail to those lovable GRANDBABIES! Maybe this time I might put something in for their parents too....we'll see.

Everyone needs to get out there and do some service today....pick up some trash, give a worker a water bottle, buy a happy meal and share it with a homeless person, take a cookie to a teacher, but do something.

Love you all bunches and bunches.

Mom

PS.. The fire truck just pulled up in front of the house....am I on fire? Better go!

Today!

2010-09-21T14:03:00.000-07:00

September 21, 2010

So TODAY is the first day the I just pulled up in front of the school and Cymbre signed herself out! It was WONDERFUL! No parking, going in to sign her out, sitting and waiting with all the mom's who just like to complain and don't want to fix help anything, then back out to the car to leave. THANK GOODNESS! And, I don't have to go to school at 1:10 anymore to try to attempt to find a place to leave the car so I can go in to sign the kid out! I WON! Go Mom, Go Mom!!!!! I guess this proves that a well sent email to people who can solve problems works out in the end. There were some other moms who said that they were going to email the principal, but I don't think they did....she answered me within 20 minutes both times I contacted her. The other moms keep telling me that she never answered them yet. I have the problem solved, so she probably isn't going to contact them either. Probably didn't hurt that I had some suggestions on how to solve the problem in my email either. She went for Dad's solution, but they were already thinking about that solution anyway. She said that great minds think alike. Dad claims that it isn't rocket science. Of course, he would think that....

Today is also the day that I FINALLY finished sewing those silly peppermints on Cymbre's tap costume for this year! Everybody should be celebrating at this point!

Today is also the day I tried to figure out why the computer doesn't want to hook up to the right internet provider.....talk about frustration! Of course, it would help if the power didn't keep going out....I think we FINALLY have it back on the right one...but I won't let anybody sign off until Dad looks at the dumb thing!

Today is also laundry day! Now that the dryer actually dries the clothes, I am getting it done in one day! EVERYBODY CHEER!!!

Today is also a day I heard from two cousins that I had lost contact with. It's nice when someone you love finds you on facebook!

Today is the day I had to prove how old I was to buy cough medicine. Come on, anyone who is using cough medicine to get high is just stupid! Thank goodness I only needed one package because if I wanted more than that I probably would have had to hand over my blood, and my firstborn! I don't think that Britni would have been too happy with me! Maybe she would have liked living at the pharmacy, but I doubt it!

Today is the day that I decided to make another file for Dad to put on my keychain of photos of my GRANDBABIES! Cymbre made half the front of the frig with just all the photos I have printed of my babies! YEAH! Now I get to see their smiling faces ALL THE TIME! I LOVE THOSE BABIES!!! And I have decided that when I come for Shyla's baby...just the GRANDBABIES and me are going to do something together...all 4 of us. NO MOMMIES OR DADDIES! There may be ice cream involved! And Mommies and Daddies can't come home until Grandma says! And we are not promising to pick up the toys! Or take bathes!

Today is the day I finally figured out this border on this baby blanket. It has been making my CRAZY! But I got it now!

Today is the day that I spent over an hour on the phone with one of my very best friends. We both feel better now!

Today is the day that I have actually folded the clothes as they came out of the dryer....a true miracle at my house. However, I still have just as much ironing, so I'm not sure it was really worth the effort. Maybe what I really need is to not have all cotton clothes. But considering where we live, that's probably not the best option.

Today is the day I finally decided on the pattern to use for the baby blessing dress...however, I do reserve the right to change my Grandma mind!

Today is the day that I love my kids, and my GRANDBABIES!!!!!

Get out there and make today a day that someone will remember because of something you did for them.

Love you bunches and bunches. Kisses to those GRANDBABIES!

Mom

Lockdown!! What??

2010-09-14T16:05:00.000-07:00

September 14, 2010

So today was the day the Cooper FINALLY got her top braces off. She is SO EXCITED. She says they sparkle like diamonds. She texted Caleb, and then Ms. Andee! Ms. Andee told her she would wear her sunglasses tonight. I just don't know what these two would do without their Ms. Andee! She is certainly more than just a dance teacher to them. We all love her so much...

AND, I go to school to pick Cooper up for off campus PE, and no kids are coming out of school. All the parents are just parked out there waiting. We waited for a few minutes, and then a whole group of them came out together. Cooper was telling us that the school was on lockdown! Great! Another time, lockdown, and nothing is said to parents. There were sheriff cars out in front parked in the fire lane, but they always park there. I really think the school has an obligation to let parents know what is going on. I realize they can't just come out and tell everyone, but how about an email? After all, they are supposed to be keeping our kids safe, and we keep going to get our own kids, and can't get them because the school is locked down. No kids, no explanations, no nothing! I think I will start by complaining to the school superintendent's office. That will probably get me called in for some meeting somewhere....but then maybe they will at least use the key communicators that they make some parents sign up to be, aware of these types of problems at the school. Last year, the fire trucks came, news helicopters, the whole deal. NOTHING was sent out to parents. So, why when the parents are paying the taxes that pay these peoples salaries, are we not informed of security issues at the school? And for that matter, why aren't the actual kids in the school informed of the situation at least the next day? Some days I think my tax dollars are totally wasted when it comes to school! And we pay enough each year to practically finance a year of college! And don't get me started on the list of school supplies I have to send even after I pay my taxes!!!!

And the middle school is having parking issues....for two years they have told the off campus PE parents to park in the fire lane in front of the school, run in, sign the kid out, and return to your car in case you have to move. So this year, the sheriff is out there making 28 parents figure out how to park in 8 visitors spaces! You can't park where it isn't marked for parking, you can't use the handicap spaces, and they don't want you to leave your car parked in the middle of the parking lot behind cars. OK, SO WHERE DO I PARK MY CAR??? It seems to me, they need to make the front office people park on the side of the building where the teachers are supposed to park, and label some more of the spots for parents. If there is a parent coming to pick up a sick kid, they are having the same parking issues when the off campus parents are trying to get our kids. Maybe I will just park in the principles spot! Her car is never there when I need to park...she must be out to lunch. That will probably get me in trouble with the sheriff too! Come to think of it, my taxes pay him too, so why can't he come up with a place for me to park my car?

Maybe, my whole issue stems from paying so many taxes!

On a lighter note, I am almost done with Cymbre's tap costume. Just have the over skirt left! And more peppermints to sew on. Then I have to buy tights, but I am going to order them online. I think I have a coupon somewhere. And she needs tan tap shoes...which I will also order online since I know her size.

Now, I just need the UPS truck to bring the rhinestones that were supposed to be here last Friday, so I can add the bling!

The girls got their new dance company bags, hanging bags, and sweat suits last night. Hopefully, they will hold up better than some we have had in the past. Cooper still needs her jacket, but they tell her that it is coming.

Dad has gone to the high school tonight for the open house. It's a general see the teacher for 5 minutes, get the emails, get the class lowdown, and go to the next class. He will probably be home before I get the girls home from dance.

Cooper started her jazz solo, and it's HARD! If she can get it, I am sure she will win something with it. Now I just need a costume idea.

Cymbre's eye doctor wants to see her again, because since Denver when her eye went out, it has gone out several times. He wants to make sure that everything is stable. I don't really know what happens if they don't think things are "stable". At any rate, because I made a big fuss about her getting run into in the hallways with this kids who likes to run, they have given her a permanent 5 minute pass. So she leaves all her classes 5 minutes early to avoid the crowds in the halls. AND, teachers are now posted in the halls watching for the running kids. I basically told the school that if she ended up with a detached retina because they didn't stop the running, the school would be paying for surgery. They didn't like that so much. However, it says in the handbook that they make the kids sign every year that running in the halls is a NO NO! So, why are they letting them run in the halls? They found on the security tape where the kid runs into her, so figure out who he is, and issue some punishments. I realize that what she has is very rare, but she is supposed to be safe at school. Oh goodness, there's my soapbox again!!

Well, I must go take Cymbre to dance, and take Cooper her dinner.....we are warming up the mac and cheese that Cymbre made for us for dinner. I'll write again later....

Remember that Dad and I love you bunches and bunches, and get out there and do something wonderful to help someone you don't know. It will make you feel good!

Mom

Another Week Again!

2010-09-06T07:01:00.000-07:00

September 6, 2010

The girls are home from school today since it's Labor Day, but we aren't really going to do anything special. Cooper wants to go start looking at Homecoming dresses. I am not paying more for a dress than I can make it at home for....guess we will start at Dillards at the mall. I hate the mall!

Dad is here today...he's out in the garage cutting out the pieces of PVC pipe that I need to make a skeleton. I found a pattern in a magazine that I thought was really cute....then we have to glue everything together. I have to save 4 gallon mile jugs to make the hands and feet, so you better get busy drinking the milk!

So, I bought some cute baby prints flannel to make jammie pants for the babies this year....now I just have to figure out sizes....it has cute little zoo animals on it! Also have some pink plaid for all the other girls in the family, and I think I bought the dinosaur for the boys. I just think....I have to look for it. Dad claims that we have a years supply of fabric....I keep telling him I could trade some for something if the need arises. However, I have been busy lately just sewing things up that I have had cut out for a while. And I have been sewing the peppermints on Cymbre's dance costume. It is taking FOREVER! This may be a costume that I enter in the costume contest at competition.

Dance is going pretty well so far this year...the girls are liking their new teachers, and the classes seem to be ok. The only problem is how much solos are costing....and I have told them we have to work something out. I have already paid more for a solo than ever before, and we are only half done, so we have to put some sort of a cost cap on it. I'm sure Ms. Andee will think of something.

The girls are getting excited to go to Mark Goodman workshop in Phoenix. We are only there for a few hours, and then we have to come home again. He turned it into a one day thing, so we have to leave before it's over because we couldn't change our flight. He is going to work with them privately though, so I guess that's ok.

Cooper will start her Jazz solo with the master teacher, Terrill this weekend. He sent her a song to listen to, and she liked it. Don't know if that will be the song they use in the end, and they are both still looking. Maybe after they figure out the song, I can come up with the costume. I need to get these done before babies come.

Found some lace to make baby blessing dresses, but still need the pattern and the under material. Also have a crocheted blanket to the edging stage. So, Dad had to figure out how to space 119 stitches on the edge of 78 stitches evenly. He drew me a picture, so we'll see how it loooks. That's just for one edge....I haven't told him he will have to do another smaller edge. I also found another pattern for the other baby blessing blanket....why do I always like the ones with the fancy edges? And why do those edges always have stitches that really follow no sequence?

Shyla: How much money do I owe you?

Must get dressed and busy...we have dress shopping to do. And I guess I have skeleton parts that will need gluing! Remember, drink the milk!

Have a great week, and get some apple cider to share with friends!

Love you all

Mom

We Survived The First Week!

2010-08-27T16:12:00.000-07:00

August 27, 2010

We have survived the first week back at school with just a minor dance injury. Cymbre went to dance class on Monday, and strained her back! The kid just can't win. On Wednesday when it wasn't feeling better, I took her to the doctor. He put her on muscle relaxers, perscription motrin, and a numbing patch to wear at night. She did all her stretching before class, but obviously, she over stretched something.

I spent today just puttering around the house...getting rid of papers that have been left on the kitchen counter, sending wedding cards to people we got announcements for, making doctor appointments for the allergist, and then doing some mending and working on dance costumes. I still haven't figured out why the washer fills up with hot water when I set it to cold, but sometimes it fills up with cold. It isn't because the hoses are connected wrong...Dad already checked that. So today, if I wanted cold water, I just set the thing to hot! It is kind of confusing to my feeble sleep deprived mind though!

Cooper is going to be able to work with the Master Jazz teacher she wanted to work with on a jazz solo this year.....he is just as excited as Cooper is! He had her go downtown last night to his jazz class, and she had a wonderful time. Guess I have to come up with a jazz costume this year! Great!

Ms. Andee came today to work on hard tap steps upstairs. I think there was more giggling than tapping, but those girls just love her. Thankfully, she loves them back!

I got half the sewing room organized again...actually, Dad didn't do to bad getting things back where I had them....I just have to do a bit of fine tuning of things. Dad and I sorted through my elastic drawer and wound it all up in little bundles with elastics...so now, my drawer is VERY organized! We will see how long it lasts. And I found the clear elastic for making costumes that I needed! We did the velcro drawer too! (There must be a blog post in here somewhere...there are stray pieces of velcro that don't have the matching oposite side....)

The dryer is drying the clothes much better since Dad had the vent cleaned out....it was worth the money to me....I actually can get the laundry done in one day again!

I think we finally have all the school supplies bought for now....we will need more before the end of the year....I think they eat map pencils!

Cooper's Game of Life YW/YM activitiy is this next Wednesday....guess I am doing the decorating during the day as there won't be time after school with homework and dinner. We almost have everything ready...she still has to work on the program, and then I guess I will take it to Kinkos to run off. Don't know if I can do it by myself though, and Shyla was always the one who pushed the copy button!

We are skyping Baby Eden....back later.

Cooper has gone to the football game with her friend....it's not even for her school. But there will be kids she knows. It is the first football game she has gone to.

Enough for now...Eden is ignoring us, but we are talking to her anyway!

102 and No Power All Day!

2010-08-23T16:32:00.000-07:00

August 23, 2010

So today was the first day of school for the year, and the girls made it to school just fine this morning. Cooper went straight from seminary, and I took Cymbre around 7am. The middle school bus that is supposed to come at 7am came at 7:30, and I'm not sure what time the high school bus came....but I think it was just before 7am....both were really late! I'm glad the girls don't ride them. I take Cymbre because she doesn't need to be bumped around on the bus by some dumb kid messing around so she can lose her vision, and Cooper carpools from seminary!

Around 9am, there was a big POP outside, and the power went out. I was leaving to take the paper recycling, and do some errands, and couldn't get the garage door to close....then it dawned on me that the neighbors generator for their house was running. SO, I had to get out and disconnect the garage door opener and manually shut the big door. Thank goodness I had several hours of errands, but I had to keep coming home to see if the power was back on in case I needed to do something with the insulin that is kept in the refrigerator. The neighbor told me I could bring it to her if I needed to...but I just didn't open the frig, and by the time I came home for the third time around 1pm, the power was back on. The house was REALLY HOT, so I turned on every fan, and set the air conditioner lower, and left to get the girls. Also turned the frig on power cool, to make sure it was cool enough for the insulin. Then I went and got the girls, fed them, and we went to the store to buy the school supplies that we ALWAYS have to go get after the first day of school. You really SHOULD NOT be without power when it is 102 with a heat index of 113 outside! Tonight, the house is finally getting back to 76 degrees with all the fans still running! Don't you just have to hate Houston weather! I live for the colder weather in November and December when it is actually 50 outside...that's shirt sleeve weather to me. And the neighbor comes out in her winter coat and hat!

The first day of school appears to me a good day for both the girls....Cooper's one teacher thinks she's the beat thing since sliced bread, and Cymbre seems to like her teachers. Although she says being in on level math is sort of scary because all the "Goth" kids are in there. Who knows, we may have to move her to upper level, but she doesn't want the extra homework that involves.

The girls don't really know what to do with themselves tonight since we don't have to be at the dance studio until 8:15, and we will only be there for 45 minutes! They have more classes and their student assisting classes later this week, but today is the easy day. AND, we don't dance on Friday, so Dad and I will still have our date night. YIPPEE!! Ms. Andee will still come every other Friday to work on hard tap steps upstairs, but she will be gone by 4pm which is before Dad gets home. Cooper is excited to have her Friday nights free....that means she will be able to do things with friends sometimes....or they can have a party here.

Both the girls have been given some baby classes to student teach again this year....they LOVE that. Cooper is also teaching with Ms. Andee at the Jr. tap level. She will LOVE that, as she LOVES Ms. Andee.

The tap solos are going great this year, and I have the costumes well under way. I got the miniature peppermints to make earrings for Cymbre's outfit, and just need to add some mesh to Cooper's to make it cover her chest...then rhinestones.

Went shopping for some stuff to make a baby blessing outfit today....haven't found just the right lace yet....but will keep looking. I have one blanket well underway, but still don't know if I like the thing....but will finish it anyway. And I found a blanket pattern I liked, but haven't got the yarn for the other baby. The other Grandma's are doing some things, so I have to double check on that.

The longer I am up today, the more I think that I am DEFINITELY NOT a morning person! I hate this school routine...up at 6:10, off to school, pick up at 1:40pm, and then homework, dinner, dance, bed. Then get up and do it all again the next day! I can stay up half the night, and I do most of the time, since I have basically given up on sleep...BUT getting up in the morning when I am FINALLY SOUND ASLEEP is really hard.

Cooper and Dad went to a Trek fireside last night, and I am not sure she wants to go on the trek. I think she would rather go to the Pulse Dance Convention in Dallas that same week instead of going out and getting eaten by the mosquitos and getting a sunburn. Her allergies don't allow her to sleep outside, so we aren't even sure she would be able to go anyway. What's bad is that because of the trek, they won't be having girls camp this next summer....which isn't fair to the beehives that can't go on the trek. It means that since they wouldn't let Cymbre go this past summer when she was turning 12, that she won't go to camp for the first year until she is turning 14 and a Mia Maid....I think we need to do something about this. Why should several girls who will be 14 have to be with the 12 year olds just because the others are going on a trek this summer? I think we need to email the Stake President.....obviously, this hasn't really been thought out. Cymbre isn't the only one in this situation....and why are they cancelling something that's part of the YW program to do something that isn't part of the program, and the 12 years olds can't participate in anyway?

While the girls are at dance tonight, I have to go to Barnes and Nobles and get the books that Cooper needs for her english class this semester.....I just love it when the teachers send home a list and tell them they need it tomorrow.....what if the book store doesn't have it? Have they ever thought that if they actually put the books on a school supply list and put it on a website, the kids might have the book before school started? Or how about, the school actually buys a bunch of the books, and let the kids buy them from the teachers? Just what do my tax dollars pay for anyway if I have to buy all the books? Heaven knows, they don't use those dollars to pay the teachers!

I got the box I needed to get all the stuff together for Caleb, Holly, and Baby Jack. I have a baby cradle full of stuff for them. I took Shyla's stuff to Denver, but must get this other in the mail.

WE GOT TO SKYPE BABY JACK YESTERDAY!!! WE GOT TO SKYPE BABY EDEN EARLIER THIS WEEK!!! Grandma is a happy person! Now I just need Dad to put the new pictures of the Grandbabies on my keychain.....maybe I need a bribe! Actually, I just need to make a file of the pictures I want, and then tell Dad and he transfers it to his laptop and puts it on the keychain.

Well, that's about all for tonight.....I'm tired!

Get out there and remember to do something for someone else today....

Love you bunches!

Mom

Only One More Week!

2010-08-16T12:14:00.001-07:00

August 16, 2010

We are finally back home from Colorado! Now we just have one more week until the school rut starts all over again! One of these days, I will think of a better way to go to school. I just get SO TIRED of the same thing EVERYDAY! And while I wait for the same thing to happen everyday, I spend my time making more dance costumes....you would think since we have a full closet of them upstairs, I wouldn't need anymore. Just what is wrong with this picture?

We had a great time in Colorado, seeing the Grandparents, Cousins, Aunties, Uncles....and the best part was the Indian Fried Bread that Aunt Issy made us two days! It has been years since we enjoyed that, and we really did enjoy it.

The girls enjoyed going to the Sweatsville Zoo with Grandpa Flanagan, and going for ice cream with Papa Petersen. We went to Chili's with the Flanagan Family, and to Country Buffet with the Petersen side of the family. Aunt Nettie got engaged to Jason (yes, we like him), and the girls tie dyed shirts and socks with the cousins. They made a cousin crest and created sweat pants with it on them. We spend time loving Shyla and Baby Eden, and teasing Uncle Larry. We all worked on Cooper's Game of Life night she is planning for YW. I got love letters from Dad almost everyday while I was gone.....and yes, I brought them home to save in my drawer! Be jealous!

Pictures will be posted soon....Dad has to get them off the camera....

While we were gone, Dad cleaned the tile grout, cleaned the carpets, and got the dryer vent cleaned out...fixed the shower leak, and washed windows and dusted blinds.....I'll let him stay home alone if he is going to do all that stuff! The house looks great, and I especially like the roses on the counter when I came home.

More later....must go take care of my blood sugar...it's getting too low!

The Countdown Is On!

2010-07-27T15:57:00.000-07:00

July 26, 2010

Well, the countdown for the Colorado Trip is FINALLY on! The girls are getting together clothes, and we are finalizing things that have to be done before we go. Dad will be here holding down the fort.

Cooper has ballet tonight....guess we will see how those ribs are doing. Then she will start her tap solo on Thursday evening.....that will be a good one this year. They are doing something totally different than they have done in the past.

Cymbre seems to be doing ok with her tap solo. She has managed to dance it for a couple of days now withouth pain in her knee! THANK GOODNESS! Just keep praying that it continues. It would be wonderful to not have to deal with that at competition.

I am trying to get the laundry done, we cleaned out the pantry last night (I HATE that job!), and Dad has been home today. Guess he took that 19/30 day....whatever that means! He has been working on scrubbing the kitchen tile grout...it needs it, but it is such a big job. He said he is going to get the downstairs carpet cleaned while we are gone. He is my angel in disguise!

I packed up some of the stuff in the sewing room that I didn't want to get messed up. Funny how protective I am of how things are piled in there....I know just where everything is, and the thought of someone messing it up makes my heart beat faster! Pretty bad I know!

Mark Goodman is being really kind, and wants to see the girls privately on Saturday when we go to Phoeniz.....thank goodness for small favors. He is a good contact to have in the dance world. The girls absolutely LOVE him! He is so kind to arrange his time to see them.

I have to go hem some jeans for Cymbre to take on the trip. We bought her some for school, but the ones that fit her waist are WAY TO LONG! OK, haven't they ever heard of different length inseams? Are we all the same height? NO!!! I mean really, would Russell really fit into Cooper's jeans? So tonight I get to break several sewing machine needles trying to hem the jeans. And since you practically have to mortgage the house to buy them, it would be GREAT if I didn't have to come home and fix them.

The girls appear to be excited about dance once again.....at least things seem to be going better than previously. Now the VERY LONG process of making friends begins again, but I think once the girls are in classes several days during the week, that will happen for them too. It's really hard to change studios. We really like Ms. Traci though, and she seems to be really trying to help the girls at this point.

Cooper went to Chili's with the senior girls for dinner last night. They wanted to get together before they all left for school....she is really going to miss her friends. Thank goodness for Facebook I guess.

Cymbre did really well at physical therapy this past week, and Jeff thinks that she won't have as much pain dancing this year.....we can always hope! I know she has been stretching like a crazy person.

Got Cymbre's x-rays on her teeth back, she has one root that isn't quite ready for full braces yet, so the orthodontist thinks it will be 2-3 months before we can start her again. So, we just have to keep this retainer thing going until then.

Cooper should be getting her top braces off shortly, and the bottom ones in not too long. They are just centering everything again. Then it's retainer's for her too!

We have finally graduated from Primary. Thank goodness! Cymbre was so ready to be done. She got her Faith in God award, but it took the primary 3 weeks to manage to get the certificate signed and too her. Ummmmm.....what?

We got to skype Baby Eden the other night....always a favorite thing for this Grandma!

The girls have been working on coloring file folder games for the babies for Christmas....I convinced them to do it as one of Cymbre's YW projects, and they are making good progress. Cymbre will get a project done, and Cooper will get some hours towards her honor bee. A win, win don't you think? And the babies will have some fun games to play as they get a bit bigger! So 3 wins I guess.

I have been working on the crocheted baby blanket for the baby blessings. Still can't decide if I like this pattern or not....maybe just a few more inches will help me decide. Pretty bad when I can't make a decision I know.

I have talked to Dad's family and let them know that we are coming, and that we want to get both families together on August 13th. It should be fun, and the girls are looking forward to seeing everyone at Grandma's house again.

There really isn't much other news....we've had a fairly quiet week for a change. FINALLY!

Remember that I love you, and that you should get out there and do some service for someone.

Love you.

Mom

Whatever! I guess....

2010-07-22T18:54:00.002-07:00

July 22, 2010

Ok, so we started Cymbre's tap solo today....everyone needs to say their prayers that her knee will allow her to compete this year. She made it through about an hour of dance today....that's the longest she has done recently. She has been stretching like a crazy person this week! That muscle better grow if it knows what's good for it! That's all I have to say....

Cymbre's solo is called Peppermint Twist....she is going to wear the red short prom dress and I will add some peppermint design material to make some swirls on the skirt. Then some kind of hat, and I will be done with one costume. well, there will have to be some rhinestones.

Cooper's ribcage is still VERY PAINFUL! Thank goodness Dr. Ermac gave us some of those lidocaine numbing patches. That's what's allowing her to breath fully. He thinks she will be able to dance again next week. Why do we always have to get some strange injury at dance class.

We spent the afternoon cleaning out cupboards and drawers in the kitchen. Got rid of all the stuff I have collected over the years, and now we don't use.....you know, things like water bottles, baby spoons, toddler spoons, broken spatulas, bent wooden spoons, mixer beaters that the mixer died years ago. We discovered that we have tons of birthday candles. Guess we have lots of birthdays around here. We found all the corn on the cob handles....they were hiding down with the brown sugar. Who knew they were friends? And did you know that you can collect a million little medicine cups over the course of a few years. Those little pests seem to multiply right before your eyes. The measuring spoons are all matched up again...now I just have to teach the girls to not take them off the little ring things....then they will stay organized. The chances of that are about ten zillion to one! Gone are the tupperware containers with no lids, and the broken rubbermaid lids. All the runaway twisty ties are in a ziplock bag, and so are the holiday goodie bags I use for treats in the girls lunches. I discovered that I had a unique collection of broken wooden spoons. I mean what good is a spoon without it's handle? And just where are the handles? And the best find ever...the lids to my slimfast cups! Now I can shake it again instead of using a spoon to mix it up!

We had to go for Cymbre's new orthodontist x-rays....we were there fifteen minutes before our appointment time, and left the place 10 minutes before our appointment time. We were finished that fast! We had to go get this so we can begin her braces treatment again....now that her permanent teeth are all coming in. Thank goodnesss, we have finished paying for Cooper just in time to start paying for Cymbre.

Cooper is working on her honor bee for Young Womens....she is helping Cymbre on a value project. They are coloring file folder games for my GRANDBABIES! Funny, I convinced them to color them for Christmas for the babies. Now I just have to cut out, laminate, and add the velcro!

Cooper had a wonderful time at EFY. She is ready to go again already. She got her first standing ovation when she performed her jazz solo....she was thrilled. But she did say that since she hasn't danced in two months, her stamina isn't what it used to be.

Well, I am going to shut this down for tonight.....have to go get my bath so I can finish my book I am reading. I want to add it to the box I need to send Britni! Sounds like a good reason to take a bath to me....

It's raining yet again this week.....don't you just love hurricane season....all these tropical storms. Nothing like about a 1,000 percent humidity!

Well, everyone get out there and do something nice for someone you don't know. Make their day, and yours will be better too! I promise. Be brave...just do it!

Remember that Dad and I love you all very much...we are proud of you!

Love,

Mom

Insoles!

2010-07-16T13:21:00.000-07:00

July 16, 2010

So today after Cymbre went to physical therapy for her knee, we decided that it was finally time to go purchase her new tap shoes and jazz shoes for this coming season. So we go to the dance store. AND, we start trying the tap shoes on. Well, things got complicated when we told the lady that she has to wear these insoles from the foot doctor in her shoes to help prevent the tendon injury she ENDURED last year. I say endured because that's exactly what both girls did! Those injuries are VERY PAINFUL! And I don't mind saying....they take FOREVER to heal! It seems that tap shoes are not like regular shoes....they look like regular shoes with taps on the bottoms. But don't let that deceive you! We tried on pair after pair, using her variety of insoles. Then we finally had to go to a bigger size in a different brand. For Cymbre, dancing without the insole is NOT an option! Now we have this brand that Cooper beat to death last year...but a more expensive shoe than Cooper had. Guess we will see what happens. We also found a jazz shoe....thank goodness without as much trouble.

With all the problems Cymbre has, it's just not worth going without the stuff the foot surgeon says she needs.

Her physical therapist is beginning to get frustrated. It seems like every week we are dealing with pain somewhere different in her knee. He thinks it's because she has grown 3 inches just this summer, and her muscles are not keeping up with the bones. Today he said she needed to go home and live with him, or he needed in install cameras in our house in order to monitor her every move to see just what's making what hurt. She thought going home with him would be the best. I think she is a bit biased though since she knows he has a new baby at his house! I mean...I'm just saying! Today they were working on her ham string and then again below her knee. I guess, in the end, we decided to just write down everytime something makes it hurt. And also what she was doing for 30 minutes before to see if we can put together some kind of pattern as to what it causing her such irritation. Some days it doesn't hurt at all, and some days she can ride her bike with Dad with no pain. Then some days, all she has to do is try to attempt to dance for a few minutes, and it sends her for ice with tears. At this point, I am living for the promises she has received in multiple priesthood blessings to finally kick in. She keeps being told that everything will be fine, and that she will be able to continue to dance. I must admit, I would rather that happen sooner than later though. I have decided that I do not handle medical issue frustration well at all. And after this past year with the girls and my own health issues, you would think that I would be better at this frustration part. And it is alright with me if Heavenly Father just decides I can't do this and doesn't make me keep trying! However, it doesn't look like that's going to happen, so we have a physical therapy appointment for Friday at 10am AGAIN! Jeff thinks we will deal with this Osgood slaughter stuff she has until she is fully grown! Wonderful! Why can't bones and muscles grown at the same speed....and why does it have to happen to kids? Cymbre is really good at ENDURANCE though...so I guess something good has come out of this experience for her when combined with her eye issues this past year. And another benefit, we are having fun with all the therapists at the place....they all come say hi to her...and they all cheer her on. She is the youngest patient they have.

Cooper received a standing ovation for her jazz solo at the EFY variety show yesterday. She was pleased since she really hadn't danced the solo since recital. That's the first standing ovation she has received, and I must admit, we were all very proud of her....I don't think that kind of pride is bad! It looks like her foot is fine....thank goodness! She hasn't tried pointe again yet, and frankly, I'm scared to let her. However, there is no holding her back....so let the dancing begin! at least I know a wonderful foot surgeon, and a terrific physical therapist!

This coming Sunday will be the last one for Cymbre in primary....she is SO READY to go to Young Womens! And we are ready to finally graduate from primary. I mean, we have been going for 27-28 years! Don't you think it's about time?

Cooper had a fantastic time at girl's camp, and now has another special friend in Brother Bennett. He came to us last Sunday and told us that he was the driver home after the river rafting trip. It was late, so he stopped and got a 44 oz Dr. Pepper to have some caffeine to keep him awake. However, he had Cooper in the front seat with him, and he has decided that if you have Cooper in the car, NO ONE needs caffeine! He said his face hurt, and his stomach muscles hurt because he laughed so much on the 2 hour ride home with her. I guess her having BFF's in the priesthood leaders, and the patriarch is not such a bad thing these days.

Cymbre and I have been working on some sewing she wanted to do lately while Cooper has been gone. She has made two blankets, one for Baby Jack, and one for Baby Eden. Currently, she is making a tote bag to use on our trip to see Grandpa and Grandma. And then we also have some summer shorts we are finishing.

The girls are more than excited to be going to Denver for a couple of weeks. They are excited about seeing their cousins, but Grandpa is the REAL DRAW! Go figure! I think Grandpa is in for at least one trip to Dairy Queen, and one trip to Country Buffet while we are there. And then there are the cousin sleep overs, and they want to go to the farm animals made from tools with Grandpa Flanagan, and then they want to go to Arby's for lunch with him too. We didn't have time to do that again last time, so we are hoping to kidnap the Grandpa's and do it this time. Maybe I'll just let the Grandpa's take the girls, and I'll go to lunch with Aunt Jean! We girls ALWAYS go to lunch with Aunt Jean!

AND....the best news this week! we are having another GRANDBABY!!!! It's a girl! And there is a second one coming in January, but we don't know what that one is yet.....can you believe it? It's SO VERY EXCITING! This Grandma has already starting shopping and planning the sewing! I have to get it done before I have to start making dance costumes again.

That's about all the news for today.....say your prayers for Cymbre's knee, and remember Aunt Anny too. And while you are at it, why don't you take a cupcake to your neighbor....it will brighten their day.

Love you bunches and bunches.....

Mom

Back To School Shopping!

2010-07-12T12:58:00.000-07:00

July 12, 2010

So Dad took Cooper to EFY in San Antonio today, and we are waiting for him to come home. While he was gone, we took the sweat mobile (green Van) to the store to do some school supply shopping.!

I like to get the shopping done before all the lunatic moms are on the aisles thinking that they are the only ones who need items, and start fights when the supplies run low! I know I end up paying more for some of the stuff, but I still have my dignity when I leave the store. AND, I don't have to fight all those little kids grabbling everything the last week before school!

The girls absolutely LOVE to go school supply shopping...they look for the really neat folders, highlighters, pencils, etc. And we have discovered that if you don't do the shopping when they first put everything out, it isn't there anymore.

I could order the supply kits from the school, but the girls don't like the brands they put in those kits. The markers are dried out, the binders break the first time you use them, and the kleenex is scratchy! Hence, we yearly shopping trip.

It's also new underware time....I think underware is built to wear out just as school finishes so you have to buy new before you can send the little darlings back! AND, you CAN'T find just a package of WHITE underware anymore. You have to have all these crazy patterns and colors. Or you can have disney characters....what teenager wants Tinkerbell underware?

I am also in the market for a bulk order of flash drives. It seems that the teachers LOVE to have things turned in to them on them, but they can't manage to GIVE THEM BACK to the kid! They all probably have big drawers full of flash drives hiding in the back room somewhere! AND, we put our name on them BEFORE we turn them in, so what's the problem? Maybe the teachers don't know that you can actually RE-USE a flash drive.....they can be erased you know! Cymbre lost like 6 of them last year....I feel like I should send the school a bill! Is it to much to ask for the flash drive to be returned like a graded assignment paper....oh wait, those don't seem to get returned either.....half the time they are lost between the turn-in basket and the grade book! AND that's always the kids fault too! What's with that when the kid put's the paper in the basket, and the teacher loose's the thing taking it home to grade, but then the kid is accused of not turning it in. OR my favorite, it must be in with some other class....it wasn't turned in on time. WELL, how did it get with another class when the kid turns it in at the beginning of their own class period? Maybe teachers need to be just a tad bit more organized? Do they consider how much time the kids spend doing the assignment that they so carelessly just loose? My son-in-law was a teacher at BYU, and he didn't seem to have issues with lost papers, or missing graded assignments! Maybe I am just a bit biased in his direction....he is married to my daughter, and the dad of my GRANDBABY! But my son was in his class and didn't have a problem too!

Well, at any rate, we have finished Cymbre's supply shopping and will have to take Cooper when she gets back from San Antonio.

Guess that's about it for right now...going to buy movie tickets!

Misc. Stuff!

2010-07-08T15:58:00.000-07:00

July 8, 2010

Today Cymbre and I enjoyed lunch with Sister Weinken....we went to Chili's and had a ball! she loves her giraffe paper towel holder Cymbre got her for her birthday.

Then we stopped at Charming Charlie's oon the way home. I have bought a couple of new outfits at the outlet mall and wanted to find some necklaces to go with them. I found a couple of things, but we have decided that when Cooper is home from EFY, we need to go down to Harwin street before school starts. We usually do that, and look for dance costume jewelry at the same time.

We also stopped at the mall, but didn't find the present we were looking for, so we will have to see if it is available online. No sooner did we get home, then Lens Crafter's called and said my new glasses were ready....give me a break...I should have checked when we were at the mall. Guess we will either go later tonight while Dad goes to the temple, or will go in the morning.

We have to go at lunch time tomorrow and pick up Cooper's suitcase from camp. She will come later after her river rafting trip. The lugguage is coming home with the ward girls, and she comes home with the Stake people. Still don't know where to pick her up or what time, so I guess they will be calling parents. she has probably gotten rained on everyday whe has been at camp...thank you tropical storms.

I bought a new candle at the Yankee Candle store at the mall....it's called Autumn Wreath! Smells really good....I know it's a bit early for that kind of smell, but I couldn't resist. I will burn the lilac one or tulip one tomorrow.

Picked up my bloodwork results from the Dr. today....will have Dad fax them to Dr. Ermac tomorrow. They wanted to stick me again last week, and I wouldn't let them when I went in for my physical. It doesn't make sense doing the same tests twice in one week! Especially since I gave up 4 vials of blood the first time. The Dr. called and told me I have to take perscription Vitamin D because I am so low....great....and calcium. So, I guess I have to do that since it is really low. They think my heart muscle and my bones need it. At least my cholesterol is fine, and so is my thyroid. I guess I should be grateful for that since we just adjusted everything. I must admit, I am feeling better.

Do you realize that the girl's summer vacation is almost half over? Not possible, we haven't really done anything fun yet! But we do have most of the doctor appointments taken care of, thank goodness!

Cooper goes to EFY in San Antonio next week....we moved her to that session when she got her staph infection. Thank goodness they found a spot for her.

I started to crochet a baby blanket for the new grandbabies that are coming.....don't really know if I like it, so I may take it out and change to a different pattern.

Mark Longacre was here last night for dinner. We enjoyed visiting with him, but I did tell him he needs to bring Maria with him next time.

Dad said he talked to Uncle Glen again, and Aunt Anny isn't doing so well. She had her first chemo treatment, and things are pretty rough right now. So, extra prayers won't hurt.

I showed off my photo keychain again today. Sister Weinken thinks I have cute grandbabies, but she thinks hers are cuter....a likely story! She doesn't have a keychain though! Nor does she have a Grandma's Brag Book! Everybody be jealous!

We skyped Baby Eden again today....she smiles when she recognizes us. I just love that smile!

Cymbre got her hair cut again yesterday...it's SO CUTE! This new style really looks great on her. We also bought another highlight kit. And I need to do my hair again...however, she cut it so short, it just spikes up at the moment, so I am going to let it grow out a bit first.

Guess that's about all the news for tonight......get out there and do some service for someone.

Love you,

Mom

Hugs to Courtney...feel better soon!

Pen, Pencil, or Crayon?

2010-07-05T22:48:00.000-07:00

July 5, 2010

We spent a couple of hours yesterday cleaning out the pencils, pens, markers, and crayons. This is a yearly job at our house....and IT ALWAYS SEEMS TO TAKE FOREVER!! I don't know how we have come up with what seems likes THOUSANDS of pencils, pens, and markers! And I am sure we have MILLIONS of crayons! It's like they multiply overnight! Do you know how many birthday pencils we have? Or Halloween ones? Christmas? And how often do you have a request for a clown pencil, or Batman? There are #2 pencils, Ticonderoga pencils, heck, there's even some of those funny ones from England in that drawer! Who knew a pencil's lifespan was over 15-17 years! How does that work? There are sharp pencils, broken point pencils, mechanical pencils, brand new pencils, red pencils, blue pencils, green pencils, yellow pencils....sort of like red fish...blue fish..well, you know! There are pencils with bright and shiny erasers, and those that have erasers that should have retired years ago. Some pencils have teeth marks....I think they belonged to Caleb at some point! Some pencils have people's names on them, and some have smiley faces drawn on them? There are long pencils, medium length pencils...but I threw away all the nubby little ones! No, there was not time to plan a funeral for the lot of them...there were too many markers to deal with! Speaking of markers....just how many half used yellow highlighters does one family need? Do they have never emptying ink wells? Who is the genie that granted that wish? Does she live with the tooth fairy? Maybe Dad could find her phone number.... Are they just so attached to us that they can't bear to give up the final drop of ink? Just when will they highlight their final word? Is there some country in Africa that is sadly lacking in yellow highlighters because they are ALL living in the drawer at our house? Maybe they need to be enrolled in some 12 step program for partially used highlighters....anyone have a recommendation? I thought about throwing the half-used ones away, but you know, just when I do and the trash man drives away....Dad will need one! And just how many black fine tipped permanent markers does one drawer need? We seem to have one for each family member...including the family members who don't live here anymore! Although, the ones that don't live here anymore get to have the ones with the not-so-sharp points if I get a say! The one that Mom uses has the best, sharpest point...I mean I have to write all those lunch notes! And I use them to send packages to those Grandbabies! And to label the pencil drawer! I have considered adoption, but that's too time consuming for a marker! They could run out of ink before they got the papers all filled out! When we got to the crayon box, there was about to be a MUTINY! It seems the pink ones...who are sadly outnumbered, were taking on the brown ones for the top positions in the box! The purple ones were cowering in the corners, and the green ones were envious of the pink ones courage! The maroon ones, and the burgundy ones were debating their true colors, and the blue ones were feeling sort of "blue"! The yellow crayons were trying to be "sunny", but the black ones were drawing thunder clouds EVERYWHERE! The orange crayons were trying to build a fire with the help of some yellow ones, but the brown ones weren't giving up any logs for the cause! It took some work, but we managed to get everything under control, and everyone settled down. We sorted through them all, separated the trouble makers...those twist down ones never really show all their colors! We threw away all the little nubbly ones. I actually think they are the ones that have lived long and useful lives and are ready to retire to the great crayon heaven beyond! Now we are left with a big box of good crayons...no broken ones! Although there are some naked ones....who knows why they have shed their wrappers. Maybe they are depressed! Maybe I should leave a color book in the crayon box, so they could scribble out their frustrations! I know I am not going to sew new clothes for them....I am NOT crazy! At any rate, for one more year, the drawers are all organized with everyone in the right drawer. Maybe we can find what we are looking for when school starts again and we have to draw those dumb maps! In the mean time, I think I will advertise for a kindergarten teacher who is willing to adopt and love some very used crayons!

And on this note....I just want to let the kids know...I have not lost my mind!

Hug those grandbabies, and skype Grandma soon!

Mom

Just A Moment To Catch Up!

2010-06-28T12:44:00.000-07:00

June 28, 2010

I decided I would take just a moment to catch up on this blog thing today. I still haven't managed to get Dad to take the solos at recital off the camera, so you will still have to keep practicing patience! May I can get him to do it tonight while I watch the Bachelorette....who knows what he has planned!

I went to the diabetes doctor today....we are FINALLY getting everything where it needs to be. It's been a VERY LONG three months. Just some minor adjustments this time. That should make changing things a bit easier. Some days I feel like I have been through the ringer lately while we adjusted everything constantly.

I clipped a bunch of coupons after church yesterday...now I just need to file them and send them to the kids. AND I have some surprises for the GRANDBABIES!!!! YEAH!!!

Cymbre has made a pair of shorts this past week....she still wants to make some more, but we have to stop and make Cooper's for camp. Since Cooper is still not up to par from her staph infection, Cymbre is going to make some for Cooper while I make others. Camp is next week.

Cooper didn't make it to EFY this week...she has been home on the couch for a week with this staph and fungus thing going on, and the medicine made her throw up constantly. Finally got the doctor to give her something to settle her stomach, and now at least she can eat a bit. She still doesn't have much energy, but the infection and fungus appear to be getting better. She has been MISERABLE!!! The EFY people are trying to get her in the San Antonio session, but we have to wait until Thursday to find out if they have a spot....everybody say your prayers. She does have some friends going to that one.

I have been busy getting the curtains done for above the front door to block some of that afternoon sun blazing in, and we got them done and up. Now I just have to paint the wooden hearts to hang down from the middle...it will look GREAT when I get everything done.

Dad is still dealing with Kristin about getting our money back....I knew she wouldn't mail the check like she said she would. Just another lie!

I fixed the elastic in the red dress for Baby Eden to borrow. Now I just have to add it to her next goodie box. Then when she outgrows it, Shyla will send it back for other grandbabies to wear. It's sort of a dress lending library we have going here.

Cymbre is starting to plan her birthday party....she has invitations written out, we just have to decide on the time. Then they will all get mailed. She is excited that she will FINALLY get out of primary with this birthday. She is anxious to be in Young Women's with Cooper. I am glad she will be leaving primary....it's just an unreverent circus in our ward.

I started cleaning out the baskets on the corner of Dad's desk. What a job! I just think people in China add papers in those things! I almost have them down to containable size again though.

We have the dance situation sorted out, and the girls are registered for the summer. Now Ms. Andee will find some time to start working on the solos, and we can get back to the dance routine in the fall. What a mess that has been! The new director seems nice and willing to work with us, so we will see. Kristin seemed nice at the beginning too.

Cymbre's knee is progressing, although when they try harder exercises for therapy, it still gives her problems. Jeff says we are in a holding pattern for a few weeks while she builds up some endurance. To help with that, Dad has been taking her running with him. She rides her bike and carries the water, and he runs. I haven't figured out who is helping who....guess it really doesn't matter though. Her therapist wants me to take her swimming. He doesn't know how much I dislike sitting at the swimming pool!

We skyped Baby Jack the other week, and IT WAS SO FUN! Talked to Eden just the other night...Shyla says she is always babbling, but we haven't heard much.....although she does smile at us now. This Grandma thinks skyping to WONDERFUL! We need to do it again....

Shyla and Russell are moving back to Utah...he's taken a new job. That will make seeing all the grandbabies easier I must admit! I wish they lived closer, but those daddy's have jobs in other states....and we are grateful for that!

I guess my moment has turned into a few minutes....so I guess I will go get busy with something else.

Remember to do something nice for someone today....the Savior will appreciate your efforts.

Love you all bunches and bunches. Give those grandbabies kisses from grandma and grandpa and the aunties.