Some more snippets of joy...

1. I filled up my car for $55.00. I did the happy dance all the way home.

2. I was able to spend this past weekend with some of my favorite people, working on my family history (a.k.a. scrapbooking). Dale didn't even have to lie when he said that things went well. The house was picked up when I returned. I showed him my happy dance.

3. It is no secret that Tanner is DEATHLY afraid of dogs, so walking home from school is not a simple task for him. But he does it. This week, a neighbor saw that there was a dog roaming around and kindly warned him and offered up her home as a safe haven. That was a really nice thing to do, I think she's an angel and her name is Cecilie Ott.

4. I made a jedi robe in less than 2 hours. It is much cuter than high water Iron Man.

5. I had heard of this story and check in once in awhile to get an update. The story is heartbreaking, the family is amazing. This week I found a post that altered my perspective...
http://www.nieniedialogues.blogspot.com/ (Scroll down, the post is called Ticket City). Read the story too and grab some tissues.

6. Dale thought it was a good idea to just let the house go for a few days so that the kids would realize how much we do for them. I am embracing the idea.

7. Tomorrow is halloween and I am going to eat lots of candy.

self-confidence...

The youth put on a halloween carnival at the church last night.
I think he's pretty brave to show up in mixed company with such a sweet tan line.
He said he did it for the kids...

And the others...
I am especially fond of high-waters Iron man...
(there was no talking him out of it)

hApPY hAunTinG!!!

Non-wisdoms from the NEST...

In all my intelligence-ness, I made a comment to some friends this past weekend that went something like this...

"You have to let them fail, speaking of kids & school work, so that they will learn how to pick
themselves back up and do it on their own"

Oh, how soon my words have come back to humble me and quite frankly, bite me in the behind.
Last night, somehow we forgot about homework. It happens right? Well, it just so happened that the homework was a practice math test. As soon as Baylee frantically started it this morning, it became very obvious that it was a much needed practice math test. This morning was also early choir and the ride happened to come 10 minutes early. I'm sure all you mothers know where this is going and where it quickly went...

So, friends I apologize. Next time I spout off like I know what I am talking about just remember that I really know nothing. Saying it is one thing, practicing it is entirely different.

Warning...

Before you read the next post, please remember that sarcasm is a big part of my life...

Multitasking...

Just in case you didn't already know....I am amazing. Just today I ordered pictures, ran errands, wrapped gifts, finished a halloween costume, cleaned the bathrooms, organized my scrapbook stuff for the weekend, made several hundred calls to people who needed to be crossed off my list, wrapped some gifts, helped with spelling and a book report, finished a spotlight poster (of all the weeks!!), ironed a scout uniform and thought about making dinner, all without yelling once....I wonder if my husband knows how talented I am...I might need a raise. In any case, I'm probably going crazy if any of you would like to join me...

Challenge #2, complete...

Last week I spent two days messing around in Photoshop. I figured that was learning something new with my camera. Here are some results...

and this..

And the winner is...

One of the perks of Dale's job: free Disneyland tickets. With a schedule free weekend and a tank full of gas, we got out of Dodge, so to speak.

I have never been a huge fan of Disneyland, the crowds kill me, but if you must go, California Adventures is less crowded & a lot more fun. This is what it looked like when we went back over to Disneyland to watch the fireworks...

we took one look, ditched the stroller & ran back to our hotel room.

It was fun... for a Disney experience.

But, if you asked any of my kids where they prefer to go, they would all say....

Knott's Berry Farm!!

No lines, awesome rides (for everyone), a pirate treasure hunt for Keaton...

and ticket prices so low, we could not resist. If you are in the area, may I recommend the silver
bullet, or Baylee's favorite, the Supreme Scream...

Car conversations...

On the way home from extracurricular activities Tanner said this...

"Man, it is hard getting older. You have to think about school, you have to think about what
your doing after, you have to think about church, you have to think about cleaning your room."

Pause (I was thinking...yeah, I know)

Then he said: "Hey mom, did you preview that movie for me?"

To which I replied: "No, I was thinking about dinner, and picking you up, and everyone's
homework, and balancing the checkbook, and getting that load of laundry in.."

Another trip, it was a very cold day, Baylee was talking about the seasons:

"There's Spring, and Fall, and Summer, and..... What's the other one mom?"

I think we have lived in the desert too long.

Challenge #2...

This one if for you Kathy, even though I had it on the list already.
Pull your camera manual out and teach yourself a new photo technique!!
Deadline (or we wouldn't do it)....October 24th.
The sky is the limit.....Have fun!!!
p.s. don't forget to post what you've learned.

Challenge #1...

Shay looks so thrilled!

It's probably a good thing that I am doing this bucket list thing. In my mind, it was going to be so much different...

One of the biggest problems about this particular challenge was carving out enough time in everyone's schedule to sit down and eat a calm, serene, formal meal. Still, after all was said and done, Dale got unavoidably delayed and missed it.

That is the first reason I need to repeat it, here is the second...

I set the table before everyone came home from school. The kids walked in and said things like, "Wow, who's coming for dinner?" and "What's going on?"

and the third...

Shortly after sitting down, someone passed gas. (I won't mention her name) This was a wake up call for me. Maybe things have gotten too casual around here. So the meal turned into a lesson on manners. Apparently, having manners to Baylee means that you are from Great Britain...she spent the rest of it talking with an English accent.

and the fourth...

I am reluctant to share this last one because it would ruin the perfect image I am trying to paint of my family (hehe) BUT, we even had to set a timer to see if the kids could go 5 minutes without criticizing each other.

In the end, all I could do was laugh, because this is life...this is the good stuff!!

It's official, 2 teenagers....

Yesterday was Tanner's 13th birthday,
here are 13 reasons to celebrate him....

1. When he was 3 he stood before 50+ relatives at a family reunion talent show and did a perfect, word for word rendition of Britney Spears "Baby, one more time". Ok, the music choice was not that great, I admit that now, but he still brought the house down. And he continues to perform today without any fear!!

2. He is enthusiastic.

3. He has a great laugh & uses it all the time.

4. He has an uncanny ability to befriend misfits.

5. He is sensitive to things around him & feels deeply for people who suffer.

6. He is smart.

7. He loves the same things that I do.

8. When he finds something that he likes to do...he practices & practices. He can pogo stick for hours and can go up and down stairs.

9. He comes home from school and shares the details of the day with me.

10. He is not embarrassed to have me help at his school.

11. We have a little tradition here where I take him to the midnight premieres of all the Harry Potter movies, not my favorite movies but watching his excitement makes it super fun.

12. His views are either black or white, no grey in sight.

13. He is full of life.

Happy Birthday Tanner!! We all love you!!!

Are you up for a challenge?

Ok bloggers & people who don't have a blog but still read them (yeah Shanda, I'm talking to you) I am getting a bit sick of the doom & gloom that the media is perpetrating lately. I know that it is reality but I don't want to take off my rose colored glasses just yet. SO.......I am going to start to spread a little joy and wondered if you wanted to come along?

This is a very round about way to get to my idea, but here goes...
A discussion came up lately about what you would do if you knew your time was short on this earth. So I thought it would be cool to make a 'bucket list' of my own. (Not that I think my time is short or anything) As I was thinking about my list, I realized that it consisted of things that scare me. I would be more apt to do those things if I had a friend to do them with. That led me to think that maybe it would be cool to get my online friends to join me....

So I will start with a challenge and you can join in if you want. If you do, make a comment on my blog, take some pictures, post them on yours and we'll see where this goes....
*if you don't have a blog, you can email me at dalejenn27@msn.com!!

1st Challenge: (inspired by April's nightly tradition)

Hold a candlelight dinner for your immediate family, complete with tablecloth & nice dishes. (I may even send out simple invitations.)

Complete the challenge by Oct. 12th..................Have fun!!