Kids Know this Stuff?

C-man is 5 going on 16 I think. He is always saying these things that we can't believe and usually we are trying not to laugh at. (Like every child I'm sure)

The other morning Baby Brother was brushing his teeth (this is his new obsession; any dentist would be proud) and playing in the water at the sink in the bathroom. I was partially encouraging him because it gave me an extra 5 minutes to get ready, but I was saying something about how he was going to use all of the water and the fish wouldn't have any more water in the ocean. I think I even mentioned Nemo and his dad.

C-man was in the other room and I didn't even think he was listening to us when he pops in to tell me, "That couldn't really happen mom, hello, it's called the water cycle!"

I guess I was wrong!

I Wanna Go Back!

We recently returned from a week sailing around the Western Caribbean! We were pampered and spoiled, and I liked it! I wanna go back!


Our home away from home



What we wanted our room to be like




Mayan ruins in Costa Maya, Mexico


Our little family group that went, plus our new found friend from the Philippines! Thanks to him, we got lots of extra prizes from the cruise ship like flashlights, t-shirts and all of those other goodies that are great souvenirs for the kiddos!


Surprise! I got to have my birthday on the ship! ..and this is what our room really looked like, much less glamorous than the other picture.

It Works for Us

Thanks to a smart neighbor we started a new conference weekend tradition. Each October Conference for the past few years, I have found a fun and somewhat easy way to rotate the food in our 72 hour kits.

1. Remember to buy the new supplies a few days before
2. While watching Conference, everybody gets to take out the old food from their backpack (and look at all the other cool stuff in there!)
3. Put it all in a big bowl and have special goodies to eat during conference
4. Everyone packs new food into their own backpack for next year!

So far it has been kinda fun and worked out pretty good for us, plus it is an easy way to remember to rotate food.
*Bonus, it is usually case lot sale time!*

Is this going green?

One Saturday morning I opened the door and found a very large package on the front porch. I went and asked Bruce what big thing he had ordered from Kmart that I didn't know about. He looked out the door and couldn't think of anything it could be so we opened it excitedly. The kids dug through a mile of packing peanuts to find a relatively small Light Saber at the bottom!

I have to admit that I'm not always "earth-friendly." I mean don't get me wrong, I love the earth, and I recycle things that my city recycles, but other than that we only buy special products if they are cheaper than my regular choices and things like that. But I do have to admit that when I saw the shipping for the Light Saber that C-man got, I was a little surprised! I have pretty much assumed that 2 smart college kids at the shipping factory were making bets to see who could package the most ridiculous box! At least it provided us with a few days for good entertainment!

A Few of My Favorite Things

These are some of my favorite "household" items.


1. ZOUT stain remover
When I worked at ZCMI (a long time ago) in the lingerie department, women would buy this by the gallon, and we were always out of it! I had forgotten about until I saw it recently at Wal-mart! It takes out every stain I've tried! Works great on blood, ketchup and those types of stains. Last time I needed more my Wal-mart didn't have it. I found it at Walgreens though.

2. Finish Dishwasher Tablets
My dishwasher isn't that great and I have super hard water and every other kinds of regular dishwasher powder or liquid leaves my dishes kinda "filmy." These work so much better and gosh dang it they are so much more expensive too! Every once in awhile I buy another thing and try it out and I am always disappointed!
3. Lime A Way
I love to clean my glass shower door with this. It kinda fizzes or something on the hard water and soap scum!




4. Kirby Vacuum
I love my Kirby! It was expensive but worth it! After listening to a few 2 hour plus demos (this was when I was nicer and didn't pretend to be gone when the salesmen come to the door) I really wanted one, but they were selling for like $1200 or something ridiculous. So, we found a new one on e-bay for way less money!

Whoa! I better stop before people think that I have a really clean house or something! Do you have any favorites in your closet?

Lookin Good

One of Bruce's brothers got married this weekend and I couldn't stop taking pictures of my cute boys in their matching ties I made for Father's Day!

I used this tutorial and my limited sewing skills!

What more American than cornflakes?
The fourth of July and Uncle Sam?
What's more American than baseball?
I am, I am, I am!And I might add:
Backyard fireworks,
Neighbors and cousins!