Perks of being my Kid



Well, my kids have to admit that they have some pretty sweet perks when it comes to being one of our kids.  Not to toot my own horn or anything, but they get to have me as their mom.  Now, if that is not enough of a perk they also get the following benefits.  They have an endless supply of cold cereal in the food storage.  The only problem with this is they need to finish what they open in the cabinet before they can open a new one.  The humanity! You can also sit on the bathroom counter and put your feet in the sink and run the hot water over your feet until the water heater is drained.  2% of the time not a word is even said to you about the water waste. You get to choose your own bedtime.  I stopped telling my kids to go to bed ages ago.  No one ever listened to me so I figured if they were tired they would go to sleep.  This makes for always bright and sunny morning faces from the kids because they are well rested. But by far the greatest perk is be able to use these keys at the age of 16.

 



Now, I think that the keys are pretty awesome.  First off they are attached to a partial Broncos lanyard. Second off, they can be washed and they still work.  Lucky! Third they go to this awesome 1992 Honda Civic!

Isn't she a BEAUTY!  Folks you are looking at a maroon 1992 Honda Civic DX.  I know what you are thinking those are some lucky kids!  It has less than 200 dents.  I am not sure where they came from...but it just adds character.  Less that 200000 miles..it purrs like a kitten when you start it up. Peeling clear coat on the front of the car gives it a vintage look.  It comes with all 4 plastic painted silver hubcaps to make it look SIC!  It sports a Eagle emblem on the front thanks to Avery who replaced the boring H symbol. You don't have to worry about losing the electrical on the windows because this car features a window roller downer on each door.  No pesky parents can lock you out of rolling down the window on this baby.  She has had many radios....all of them being used by other people who needed a sound system more than my kids did.  The security system is top notch....you just need to manually lock every door when you get out of it.  This car does have air conditioning that works! YES!

Madi is super stoked to get her license in March...I just know it. 

Confessions of a Football Widow

I like football.....do I love it?  I would not go that far. I used to love football.  When my boys played little league...I did love it.  I loved everything about it.(except maybe the practices) I loved going to the games.  I even loved being the team mom.  I loved getting caught up in the craziness of being part of something big. It was awesome!

Now football might just be a little to much. I like football.  I support the Denver Broncos and the BYU Cougars.  Always have, always will.  I like to root against the Utah Utes just to get under Dyllon's skin.  Okay , I might love to root against them....he is just to much fun to tease about it.  But, I do not know how this happened...... I am forced to watch way to much football.  We have to watch the Thursday night game.......Why???  Unless the Broncos are playing I do not see the point.  Then we must watch football all Saturday for the college games.  Who cares about all the games.  Then on Sunday....its another three to four games. Then again on Monday Night.  Not to even mention all the pre-game shows! AUGH!  TO MUCH FOOTBALL. 

Once upon a time I was invited to play a fantasy football league with Kendall. I had the best name. IGOTCHA.  I even took second place that year.  It was awesome.  Nothing like kicking some pansies guys butts, but alas, I have never been invited back to play since.  I ask about it each year and I am denied.  I get told that the league is full and that I should start my own league...or maybe that we will start a family league.  Never happens.  It just breaks my heart each year.  Maybe this is why I think football is to much?

Anyway...all I really have to do it sit in my room and read and I can make it to all the important plays when I hear the screaming!  These guys are crazy.  I guess that this is my lot in life.  Today when the Denver game started Kendall was watching and there must have been a great play because Kendall yelled out, "Beautiful". I said, you were talking about me right?  He looked confused for a second and then said "Absolutely".  At least he is smart, but I am pretty sure that he was talking about the pass play.

Anyway....I like football.  Go Denver!  Go Cougs!

Processing Chickens

I have blocked out a lot of my childhood.  Don't ask me why....but I remember very little of it.  My siblings or parents will say remember when this happened????  Most of the time I do not remember. Perhaps it is because of these memories that I have.

 

When I was a kid....we did not go to the grocery store like normal people to buy our chicken.....NOOO...we had to raise our own chickens.  Now those chicken were cute for about 2 weeks and then they started to hate you.  You know what...it was my job to feed those suckers.  I am sure that I had to trade off with my siblings with the chore but now that I think about it I can remember it vividly.

 

I had to trudge across the field to my Grandparents house.  I had to take a trek people.  The second part of the misery was opening the barn door and getting inside without any of the chickens getting out.  It was a good thing that I was a skinny little girl.  If one ever got out you had to chase the little sucker down.  Next step, plug your nose.....Chickens smell awful. Going on to the next task you had to pour the chicken feed while 5000 chickens tried to attack you and poke your eyes out.  I remember taking the water lids and trapping the meanest chickens underneath.  After you fed them, you had to water them and give up your protective water lids.  The last task I had to perform was to gather the eggs.  The chickens never wanted to just let you have them...they would try to protect those little orbs with all their might.  Oh and last but not least you would need to get out of the barn without letting any of the chickens loose again this time with a basket of eggs that you needed to not break.

 

We had to do this during spring, summer and into the fall. But during the fall, we always had a chicken massacre.  We had to process those chickens for eating.  So not only was I forced to eat those eggs I had to gather, but I had to help butcher the suckers to eat. 

 

My Dad and Grandpa would go grab a squawking chicken by the neck and then with a ax they would cut off the head.   The chicken would then run around for a few minutes with the head cut off.  No lies... there were headless chickens running around everywhere people.  Gross.  Once they finally died, my dad would grab the chicken by the legs and move it up and down in boiling water for a little bit.  Then my dad would slap the legs on a hook on the barn and I....ME....was forced to pull the feathers off the chickens.  It smelled terrible.  I am sure that my parents were breaking all kinds of child labor laws by forcing me to do this task.  Once the feathers were off one chicken, another chicken took it's place.  I had to do this for hours. (practically forever)  I guess that I was lucky that I did not have to gut the nasties from the chickens, I was only forces to do that with fish.  Needless to say, I could not eat chicken for years... the process kind of ruined it for me.  Come to think of it....I might not have chicken for awhile.

 

Anyway, the whole reason that I remember this part of my childhood is I received a text this morning from someone out in Ohio where Avery is serving his mission.  Guess what he is doing today.  Processing Chickens!  Lucky Boy! When you are in the SERVICE of your fellow beings you are in the SERVICE of your GOD!  What an awesome missionary he is.  He is willing to serve the people of Ohio in incredible ways.  This is going above and beyond. He is a trooper!  I love this Boy!

 

 

It does not look like he had to cut any heads off and watch the chickens run around headless. He might have enjoyed that part.

 



 

Get this, they now have an electric plucker that plucks the feather clean off the chicken in 15 seconds.  Where was this device when I was a kid??

 

I see that the Chickens finally loose their heads.  It looks like he might have enjoyed this part.

Dusting off the Ol' Blog

 

Well, the time has come to dust off the old blog.  I have been thinking about doing this for the past few weeks.  It is time that we once again chronicle the adventures of my life.  No Judging!  This is real life for me.

So much has happened since August 2012.

Dyllon graduated from high school.  He completed a semester down at Dixie College.  He then served a 2 year LDS mission in the Knoxville Tennessee.  He returned home in 2014.  He has been home for a year now and is attending SLCC Community nearing completion of his Associates Degree.  He also works full-time for a company called Del-Sol.  He has been quite busy with life.  He has made a few major purchases over the last year.  A Mac Air book (he is now cooler than his parents), a PS4 (every man's dream) and a 2013 Subaru. 

Avery has had quite the past few years.  Like his brother he graduated from high school.  He then spent the fall working as a mover for a few moving companies.  He followed in his brothers footsteps and turned in his papers to serve a LDS mission.  He was called to serve in the Columbus Ohio mission.  He left in February of 2014.  He will return in 5 months.  Avery has had quite the trial out there.  His alopecia has flare up and he has lost all of his hair.  He is a trooper who looks like Mr. Clean. I will not be messing with him when he gets back.  Avery also had a bike accident in June that dislocated his Elbow.  I cannot wait for him to get home so I can hug that boy.  I sure do miss him but know that he is serving the Lord where he needs to be.

 

Aushlynn graduated from high school this last May.  She has been quite the money pit the last few years.  A few years back she was suffering from unexplained belly pains.  After months of Dr. appointments, tests (she is so funny coming out of anesthesia) and prescriptions the pains have just went away.  We still do not know what caused them but we are grateful that she is feeling better.  This past spring she was taking a weightlifting class in school and was having elbow pain.  She ended up having to have surgery on the elbow in June around the same time that Avery injured his elbow.  All is well with her know.  Aushlynn is going be leaving us in 9 weeks to serve a LDS mission to Piura Peru speaking Spanish.  We are busy getting her ready to leave.

  

The caboose, Madison is now a Sophmore at Bingham.  I am still having to carpool. Some day that will end.  She is a sassy one.  Right now she is boy CrAzy! She is a excellent student and I am looking forward to this year of not having to make sure that homework gets done. She is 15.  Her past times are texting boys and snap chatting her friends.  I am always a star of her snap chats.  I am sure that her friends enjoy seeing unflattering pictures of her mom.

Kendall still works at ADP.  In fact he has been working for the same company for 22 years.  He is super committed to them. He is awesome, in fact he still laughs at my jokes and thinks that I am funny. His only flaw that I have found in 24 years of marriage is that he refuses to keep the toothpaste tube clean.  I mean he lets that sucker get so nasty.  We cannot share a tube of toothpaste and I always know when he moves in on mine.  I guess if that is his only weakness the I scored in the husband department.

 

As for me......life is still the same.  I am stuck in a rut.  I still have my daycare and watch kids.  They keep me young...or so I think.  I might be completely gray in the hair dept.  I am not sure and I will keep coloring it so I will not finds out.  I finally completed my associated Degree.  YEAH ME!  It was a huge accomplishment.  Once my kids finish up with the missions I will go back and complete the Bachelor's just for kicks and giggles.

Well, I am sure that you missed me and the posts.  I am back!

That Was Totally Wicked!

I had the opportunity last night to go and see the Broadway Musical "Wicked" last night with my sister and her daughters Rikki and Dawni.



They arrived to pick me up at about 4:30. I quickly paid Dawni for my ticket because she never sent me an invoice in the mail and I have owed her the money since February. I consider myself lucky that she did not sell my ticket. We left about 5:00 after the B-Dog left. Rikki wanted to take him home with her cause he is such a sweetie.



We made a quick stop at Gordman's to buy emergency pants for Rikki because she was the only one of us wearing a skirt. She did not want to stand out like a sore thumb. Just a reminder to all out there that like to shop at Gordman's take your smart phone with you because you can use a online coupon for extra saving! Kari was also able to find Wes's favorite Cologne there and pick some up for his birthday!



We got in the car and made our way downtown. We were trying to find our way to the Capitol Theatre and Dawni asked what direction we were heading. I said north and then she preceded to mumble Never Eat Side Walks... Never Eat Side Walks........Well, at least that is what I thought that she said. She was saying Never Eat Soggy Waffles.......but if you think about it.....it really makes more sense to say Never Eat Side Walks.....because it would hurt your teeth.......but Never Eat Soggy Waffles......what if they were soggy because they were smothered in maple syrup??? The it would be totally delicious to eat a soggy waffle. Just saying.



We finally found a place to park and we exited the car to find some where to eat for Dawni. The poor girl had only had a cheeseburger and two rice crispy treats to eat all day long. She was practically starving and about to blow away because she is so skinny. You would think that it would be easy to find a place downtown to get a bite to eat, but we found it rather difficult. We had to walk 2 1/2 blocks just to find a Subway. Very slim pickins around the Capitol Theatre.



Subway was going to be closing in about 15 minutes so they had very few bread choice. Note, we were the only 4 in the restaurant. Kari wanted to be difficult and order a breakfast item, but the lady would not let her get a 3 inch sub, Even if I wanted a 3 inch sub too. She also could not give her the egg, ham and bacon sandwich. Only egg and ham. This was puzzling because you could clearly see the bacon in the meat section. Better luck next time Kari. Rules are Rules after all.



As we were walking to the Theater, you could see people lined up out front. I can't remember who asked why the back up, but Dawni said they were "Groping". Me and Kari would not be okay with that unless Kendall and Wes were there!



After using the restroom and buying some souvenirs, we made our way to the seats. Which were excellent by the way. Thanks Dawni! While we were buying souvenirs, I actually found out what Wicked was about. Then we sat down and waited. The lady in the isle selling water sold last chance to buy water before the show starts for about 5 minutes and then it was time for the show.



It was "Totally Wicked!" I loved it! The cast did an amazing job. Thanks for inviting me Ladies!



After the show we exited the building and made out way to the parking garage. Note to everyone. It is a bad idea to park in the lowest level parking along the back wall. If you park in said area, then you must wait for practically every other car in the garage to exit the garage before you are able to.



Thanks for the fun evening!

Tramp Night

It started out as a joke. Me and Kendall were sitting in the living room and I blurted out the phrase, "Hey, do you want to sleep on the tramp tonight?" I was totally kidding, but to my surprise Kendall said YES! Then he said, you know that I love to go camping for Father's Day! I thought, do I really want to do this? If I do, I don't want to end up the lowest point on the trampoline and covered by kids.It was then that we started to make plans to sneak out to the backyard after the kids fell asleep.





First off, what kind of supplies were we going to need? I instantly wanted the blow up bed, Kendall said NO way. Bummer! I then settled for the egg crate mattress pad and a sleeping bag. This was for under me. I wanted my 2 pillows, sheet and 2 blankets from the bed. I like to sleep with real sleeping equipment. We need to scope out the location of the egg crate and the sleeping bag in the garage, but the kids were lurking nearby. How were we going to get the supplies with out the kids getting suspicious? Excuses were made as to why we were in the garage. I distracted the kids by the side road and Kendall ran and threw the 2 sleeping bags and the mattress over the fence to the side yard so we could access them later in the night. We are so sneaky!





Of course, no plan can ever go off with out a hitch. We had rented the movie "Gone" to watch in our room while the kids fell asleep. One of the main problems that we had is that our kids never want to go to sleep at night. They never fall asleep until at least mid-night. Now, Madison had gone to Seven Peaks earlier in the day with her friend Lana. I had sent a whole bottle of sunscreen with her.........to bad that she did not use it. She had a mild case of sun stroke and wanted to sleep on my floor with my 2 blankets. This was okay during the movie, but I needed those blankets for my camp out! Some how, we were able to get Madison in her own room after our movie. After waiting for about 15 minutes she was asleep. YES! I was pretty confident that all the other kids were slumbering in there beds.





We made a break for it. Me with 2 pillows and a sheet and a blanket in tow. Kendall with his pillow and the other blanket. He had earlier went and set the egg crate and sleeping bags up on the tramp, so all that I had to do was make the bed and get in. I had several thoughts running through my mind. 1) I should have worn socks. 2) Madison is going to wake up in the middle of the night and freak out that she can't find us. 3) I hope that I am warm enough!





It was a beautiful night. We were able to see the stars. We each named a start for each other. Kendall named a star "Beautiful" after me, and I named one "Honey Bunches of Oats" after him. Now, I am never one that can just fall asleep, I have way to many thoughts that run through my head to fall asleep. Kendall on the other hand can shut his eyes and be snoring in under a minute. It amazes me how fast he can knock out. It really is no fair. After about and hour or trying to find a comfortable position, one if which my back was not killing me, I see that Madison's bedroom light pops on. Of course, I immediately wake up Kendall to take care of the situation. He runs in the house and stays there for about 15 minutes. He comes back later and said that she must have gotten scared and turned on the light because she was asleep the whole time. He just left her light on and now I had another issue to deal with in falling asleep.





I finally knocked off to sleep. I woke up in the night and all the lights were on in the house, including my bedroom. Crap, I can just imagine Madison freaking out! I again wake up Kendall so that he can go in and take care of the problem. He goes in, and I lay there imaging the therapy that Madison is going to need after finding her parents missing from there room and nowhere to be found in the house in the middle of the night. Who knows how long the lights have been on? Kendall comes out about five minutes later. It turns out that it was Dyllon who turned on all the lights. He thought that we had been Kidnapped! He had gotten up for work at 4 am. He never comes in our room at that time, but this morning he needed sunscreen for Warp Tour! Great, I have scarred Dyllon right before he goes on his mission.





Well, anyway, it was a successful camp out. My bedding was all covered in dew and Kendall nearly froze his head. But, I can cross off camping from my list of things to do this year!

Bobby Pins

Nothing in the world can cause a bigger fight between Aushlynn and Madison than the lack of Bobby pins in our house. Last week we were down to out last five and all heck broke loose. Even though I have probably purchased at least 1000 of the little suckers in the last year, they can never find them. They leave them all over the house and then Kendall picks them up and throws them in the trash. Or they grow legs and walk off!




This last weekend I bought a can of 300 of them at Sally's Beauty Supply. I told them that I was going to make them check them out and then check them back in with me if they wanted to use them. They thought that I was kidding. I am dead serious. Madison laughed at me when I made her sign her name and the number of pins she used on a sheet of paper!






We are not going to fight over these babies anymore!