2 Adults, 3 Kids, + 1...

A few weeks ago we took the kids to the fair. It was probably one of the grimiest and creepiest fairs I have ever been too. Most of the carnival workers looked like they had spent most of their life strung out on Meth!

In their most husky voices, they would shout out invitations to play "throw the dart at the balloon" or "throw the ping pong ball in the fish bowl" and then give you the best toothless grin you can imagine!

Anyway.

We decided to let the kids take a couple of shots at throwing the ping pong ball in the fish bowl. After 50 throws, one ball finally landed in the bowl and our prize was 3 Gold Fish...yippee!!

You would have thought the gold fish were actual GOLD...that's how excited the kids were. Devon and I just looked at each other, like, "oh great," now what?

We rushed our 3 fish home and dumped them in a fish bowl (thanks to Grandma).

The next morning...one fish was dead...the tears over this poor fish were excruciating!

The kids blamed us for not having any food to feed them and made us promise to buy some food at Wal-Mart (stupid fish!)

We bought some food and a air thingy for the tank.

Kids were happy, 2 fish were still alive...all was good!

The next morning...

"Mom, my fish is sleeping with only one eye open and we can't find the other fish..."

As I approached the bowl, I noticed that the fish was floating strangely in the water and realized it, too, was dead.

As I announced it was dead, tears began to flood from Taylors face..."oh, no, poor fishy."

I was extremely confused when I couldn't find the other fish, but figured I would let Devon figure that one out later.

Moments later, Luke shouts "I found the other fish...it's on the floor...and IT'S dead!"

More tears!!!

All 3 fish died. Stupid Fair. Stupid Fish!

So. Now we have a new fish. A lazy, blue, beta (named Feather) who is, 2 weeks later, still alive. Luke comments every morning how he can't believe our fish is still alive.

I can't either!

Perfection

I am far from being perfect...

I have a scar on my right cheek from having the chicken pox when I was a kid...

I eat way too much chocolate (in fact, I ate 10 Oreos yeterday...YIKES)...

I get my kicks out of watching Daytime Soaps and find myself wondering, during the day, when Jessica's stalker will strike next...ugh!...

When I'm frustrated I occasionally let a few "D" and "S" words slip out of my mouth...you know it's bad when one of your children asks you what "oh ship" means...

BUT, there are days when I experience moments of PERFECTION!!

A perfect day, like today (so far) for me is...

Starting the morning with a really hard, sweat dripping from my forehead-down my legs and arms kind of workout at 6 am...

Getting all 3 children off to school without ANY fighting...

Watching two of the three getting on the bus holding hands...so sweet...

Driving home, ALONE, and getting to listen to whatever kind of music I want...

Cleaning to my favorite tunes...

Admiring newly cleaned counter tops, loaded dishwasher, vacuumed floors, and laundry that is folded AND put away...

Quiet.....aaaaahhhhhh!

I just love it when moments of PERFECTION happen. It's not all of the time, but every now and again it happens and I LOVE IT!

The Truth About Devon...

Deception has never come easy for me...

However, this game of Truth or Lies was a piece of cake...I had most of you fooled!

So. Here is the TRUTH!

1. TRUE! Devon was seen on TV holding a "Bo Knows Ballet" sign at Angels Stadium. It was later talked about in the LA Times and Sports Illustrated.
2. TRUE! He frequently visited the Indian Reservation to play Keno. I'm sure all the change is what paid for many of our dates.
3. TRUE! He has never been to a PRO FOOTBALL Game!
4. LIE! He loves Sushi (Big SURPRISE!), but hates FRUIT!
5. TRUE! He met the man who invented Roller Blades at Tri City Park. The man was test-driving his pair around the park and Devon thought his skates looked really strange and asked him about them.
6. TRUE! To impress his friends he took his Dad's car for a Joy Ride while his parents were out of town.
   
7. LIE! He never entered the Iron County Fair, but he did have a Rabbit.
8. TRUE! While under peer pressure (so he says) he pushed the pedal to the medal on the 55 FRWY and reached 140 mph. Luckily, he didn't get caught!
9. TRUE! He has never taken a sip of alcohol...what a good boy!
10. LIE! Perfect Seminary Attendance...6am Seminary...yeah, right!
11. LIE! His first time in snow was was at age 14....not 19.
12. LIE! Devon was devastated when I suggested dating other people...that's another story...he claims "we were on a break."
13. TRUE! While riding bikes, with his mom, he crossed in front of her without looking and she went flying over her handlebars, landed on the pavement, and broke both of her arms at the same time!
14. LIE! He hates amusement rides...especially roller coasters!
15. TRUE! He really, for truly, wanted to name Blake, Diego!
16. TRUE! His ear rang for weeks after my brother, Michael, popped a pop rock in his ear.
17. TRUE! Sad, but true, his favorite song in Middle School was sung by Richard Marx.
18. LIE! His second car was a 1988 Honda Prelude. His fist car was a Buick SkyHawk.
19. LIE! He was never in Choir.
20. LIE! He thought he might die when a spider (non-poisonous) bit his foot and we rushed to Insta-Care...but it was never life-threatening.

Thanks for Playing our game of Truth and Lies and for all your Happy Birthday Wishes!

We have two winners...I thought I would spread the Birthday Love and send one to Darci (Devon's sister...she had it in the bag) and one to a non-family member...Carol! Thanks for playing girls, I'll be in touch!

Birthday Truth or Lies

Since today is Devon's birthday, let's honor him with a game of Truth or Lies...

The person who guesses the most truths about Devon's life will win a Vinyl Wall Lettering decal up to 46 inches in length...you choose the phrase!

So. Let Birthday Games Begin...

Truth or Lie

1. Devon was seen on TV holding a "Bo Knows Ballet" sign at Angels Stadium.
2. He frequently visited the Indian Reservation, in High School, to play Keno.
3. He has never been to a Pro Football game.
4. His favorite meal is a California Roll (spicy) with a side of strawberries and whip cream for dessert.
5. Met the man who invented Roller Blades at Tri-City Park.
6. Took his Dad's car for a joy-ride when he was 15.
7. His Rabbit, named Carmel, won the blue ribbon at the Iron County Fair when he was 12.
8. In High School he drove 140 mph on the 55 Freeway in Orange County.
9. He has never taken a sip of alcohol.
10. He was awarded with perfect Seminary Attendance for all 4 years of High School.
11. The first time he experienced being in the snow was at age 19.
12. Devon broke up with me at the end of our Senior Year so he could date other people while I was away at College.
13. He was responsible for breaking both of his moms arms at the same time.
14. Montazuma's revenge is his favorite ride at Knotts Berry Farm
15. He wanted to name Blake, Diego
16. Michael, my brother, popped a pop rock in his ear.
17. His favorite song in Middle School was "Right here waiting for you," by Richard Marx
18. His first car was a 1988 Honda Prelude
19. He was awarded "Most Improved" in 6th grade Choir.
20. He had a near death experience when a poisonous spider bit his foot and landed him in the E.R.

You have until Friday to enter and play. Have fun and Good Luck!

Happy, Happy Birthday Devo!!!

Directions to August 8, 2009!

1. Anticipate the arrival of your baby brother, March 14, 1985.

2. Every day after....show excessive fondness and love toward this little man and dote after his every word and daily ounce of cuteness!!

3. Try not to be mad at him when he barges in on dates with boyfriends and tells you that you have bad breath. Or, when he pops a pop rock in your boyfriends ear.

4. Attend his Turtles funeral and sing a burial hymn.

5. Attend every T-Ball/Baseball Game and each Play or Chorus Recital. Watch him grow and mature...Be there when he turns 16 and starts to drive, when he turns 19 and leaves on a Mission and returns from his Mission.

6. Watch him go to College and date and wait and wait for him to find "the girl of his dreams."

7. Get excited when he starts dating a girl named Anne who makes his heart flutter and adds a skip to his step.

8. Receive a text that says "I kissed her..." and know there is definitely something different about this girl.

9. Enjoy every phone call and text, thereafter, where you hear him tell you he's "in love" and he "can't wait" to pop the question.

10. Watch him get engaged and feel totally ecstatic and in shock that your baby brother is REALLY GETTING MARRIED!

11. Fall in love with his Bride-to-Be and so excited to have a new sister

12. Watch him marry this beautiful girl and feel emotional and touched as you witness his love for her and the sweet humility in his face when he looks at her.

13. Know he is happy. Disbelief that he is all grown up. Wonder where all those years have gone...watching him ride his bike, playing with the dog in the backyard, and kissing his cute little baby cheeks...amazing!

Congratulations Michael and Anne....we are so excited for you both and look forward to the future!! The Best is Yet to Come!!

Summer "Slumber Party"

Tupperware parties are so passé. I mean, who ever said that attending a party that primarily focuses on food storage, food preparation, and serving food is exciting?

Candle parties are overdone, overpriced, and, in my opinion, over rated!

More often than not, when I receieve an invitation to a party, such as these, I turn it down or dread going.

Don't get me wrong, the interaction with friends is always fun, the food provided is always good, but I hate feeling obligated to buy something that I don't need or have an interest in owning when I go to one of these things...am I the only one?

Recently, I was invited to a party ...a "slumber party" unlike no other and my dear husband could not wait to have me attend!

Without sharing too many details, I will tell you this...it was definitely a party that focused on what women want {hee hee}.

Have you ever been to a Slumber Party? If not, and if you're ever invited...go! It is hilarious and fun! I was a little hesitant to attend, like all parties I'm invited to, but this one was definitely different and something my dear husband did not care to watch the kids for while I attended. For him, there is no dollar amount when it comes to "our marriage" and he could not wait for me to get home!! Who knew there were so many "antecdotes" to improving "your marriage."

The truth is, I desperately needed a night out with the girls away from the kids and it ended up being totally worth it! It was fun being with the girls and talking about A LOT of CrAzY things! All of the "marriage/romance" enhancing products were hilarious, entertaining, and very interesting (to say the least)!!

I laughed SO hard listening to other people share stories and watching other womens faces as they reacted to certain things that were said or passed around during the party....so funny!

I left feeling slightly rebelious. It was as if this 60's flower child was released from my inner soul and I was anxious to get home and share what I had learned with my hunny and my boy was anxious to hear it!

The night was history and the "antecdotes" were a proven success {ahem}!

Enough said. If you have the opportunity to attend one--go!

Hasn't my summer been so exciting...can't wait to hear more? Check back later with pics and news about the biggest event of the summer...my baby brother's wedding!!