Bloggidy Blog

Poetry

2010-08-25T23:43:00.000-07:00

I used to write a line or two, I used to write on paper. I know writing on paper is unheard of so I think I may start a Poetry blog. Hmm, yes I will.

All Mothers are slightly Insane - JD Salinger

2010-07-21T23:31:00.000-07:00

I was just getting into bed with my 1 year old and thinking about this quote. As I tried to sneak out of bed so Molly wouldn't hear me, I realized I am slightly insane and I don't even mind. Does that make it worse?

So when did it start? Did it start during my first pregnancy? Cravings of KFC, added weight to my butt, realizing that my body was never ever going to be the same. Or was it when my first Mothers Day rolled around and thinking, "Wow, this is a it?..." ha ha. Was it the excruciatingly, joyful childbirth? The audacity to forget the excruciating part?

Maybe it was the first time I asked my husband to watch a pot of lasagna noodles cooking and came back to a burnt, stuck, mess. Realizing that day that dinner was my responsibility and mine alone, forever. Was it the dinners made, but then skipped so I could take care of an infant, only to come back to a big mess?

Was it the time I found my 1 year old little baby eating her own poo? Was it the time I got puked on, the 2nd time, the 12th time? Was it the time I couldn't find Cliah who was 2 at the time at the Phoenix Swap Meet, only to find her hiding right next to us under a table.. or the time she got lost in a big store, again only to find her hiding.. Maybe it is the number of personal items the kids have broken over the years, jewelry, collectibles, nick nacks.. The babysitters that quit, the crayon on the walls, the stitches, the dirty diapers, the late night terrors.. the chickens, the lambs, the lawn mowing, the oil changes, the oven cleaning, the schooling, the dishes, the spouses constant requirements, the getting ready on time, the fighting in the car, the pulled hair, the cut hair,the spilled milk, the spilled popcorn, the ouchies, the band aids, the clogged toilets, the laundry, oh the laundry, the ironing, the bills, the TV, the story time, bed time, bath time, time out, Dr. appointments, play dates, the Mom, Mom, Mom, the puppies and kittens and litter boxes and realizing that you are responsible for feeding the animals also, cupcakes to make, cookies baked, Christmas time, holidays, doing the hair or nails of my little girls, pretty dresses, making crafts, princess games, castles, witches and dragons, hearing Mattie singing a beautiful song, seeing Cliah dressed up so beautiful, answering Romans 10, 000 questions, hugging my sweet huggable kids, holding newborn babies, sleeping next to a warm little infant, watching a child sleep, tickle time, watching my children grow, teaching them, listening to Roman tell people about Jesus, playing hide and seek, looking at the stars, singing songs, playing games, being silly, being crazy.. loving, being loved, seeing love in the faces of my kids..

Well if all that has made me a little insane, then I thank God for giving me these wonderful kids to make me a little insane, because without them, I think I would be pretty gosh darn boring! I wouldn't trade them for any sane life, no way!

The Sickness

2010-05-30T06:11:00.000-07:00

Well our first run of the flu hit the household this year, pretty good I would say considering the whole Pig oh sorry Swine Flu epidemic of 2010, no one in our house got a shot and we all survived. Well we got a little stomach bug, I say little because we have had far worse. Just when I thought we were all done with it, poor little Molly got it this morning. It is her first illness where she has had a fever. She is so sad looking, and it breaks my heart. She doesn't know why her tummy is doing what it's doing, and she is so very tired, and pale, and she doesn't want to be alone. My poor baby. It all started at ballet, everyone can try to deny it, but I know that is where it originated. Hey I would try to deny it to, if I were the one to bring it to class. I hate it when I get all accusatory that way, it's just hard when you have a big family and an illness is brought home and you know that every person you live with is going to get it. I have to blame somebody, someone has to be responsible for the sickness. But really it's just an illness and I shouldn't get angry at any one person for it.

Last summer we all got sick from the public pool, I know gross. I can remember looking all over the pool at all the people swimming there and thinking, it was probably him, or her, or that kid. I am so judgmental, it's absolutely ridiculous. I think that is a huge fault I have. One of many. One of the things that I am going to try to work on to be a better person. There is a woman in the homeschool group that I judge all the time, and I really shouldn't. How can you not judge someone who constantly wastes her resources and then begs for them back all the time. I just don't understand her. She is at least 45 years old and she is still a baby. Well I guess that is her sickness..

Well I have to keep this short because Molly will be whimpering for me.. and to Mom and Dad, I apologize in advance if you get our sickness, because in a moment of weakness I went to your house yesterday and probably left a sickly germ somewhere in your house.. I love you and I am sorry!

Letting go..

2010-05-26T21:33:00.000-07:00

So I pondered this week anger, worry and hate, and letting go of it.. you see I have a really nasty neighbor, she does things to try to make our life more difficult.. So I thought I should get back at her, but you know, love thy neighbor and all that, I decided to just let it go, yes she will still be mean, and I will still be me. I am not vengeful, I am not spiteful and I do not hold onto bitterness, it just is such a waste of time in my ever so busy life.

My worry comes from all of our financial trouble this past year, I worry constantly, I have tried to let go in the past, but it always comes back and I lose sleep, or I get anxiety attacks. So I am going to just let go of my worry, I am going to let God worry for me and just let him take it away. I am not going to try I am just going to stop. Amen!

Well hate, I don't really have any, well maybe for this one sheep we have, I do hate her a little, she baas constantly even right after I feed her, so God if you are listening, could you just take away my hate for that nasty sheep.. Thanks!

I am really trying to get certain things strait in my life, I feel like I have to, with 5 kids and all these animals, and the garden and the home school, I feel like I really have to start trusting in God fully and let him help me with certain areas that need work. So I am trying to get organized, trying to be healthier, trying to be more even tempered, I am even trying to quit swearing. I have been saying applesauce, witch and some other creative words.. Life can always be better, a better me, a better home, a better attitude, better!

Park Day

2010-05-20T22:09:00.000-07:00

So each Thursday is the homeschooling group park day, it's from 1 until about 4pm, at a park close by. It is something everyone at my house look forward to, including me. Today there were about 10 Moms and countless number of kids, I would say 25-30 kids, give or take. The Moms all hang out with the little babies under the shade of the ramada while the kids do a sport with Jenn or play on the playground, or just run around playing zombies or princesses, or whatever is on the agenda. It is quite a nice time all around.
I realized this week, that Moms for the most part, are really just girls at heart. We like to joke, just like when we were teenagers, we like to gross each other out, we like to talk about our significant other, we like to laugh and hug and compete and gossip, we like to have the best idea, or the best recipe, or the best weird story of the week, or the best place to buy organic produce, or the best tincture for curing baby rash. We are mostly all nice to each other, but there is always that underlying bitchiness that no woman can escape, even really old ones.

Cattiness, bitchiness, it's there at every stage of your life.

I felt it when a certain Mom at Romans preschool used to never talk to me, just in passing each other in the parking lot, she would ignore me, while saying hello to every other Mother in the school..
I felt it at Cliahs school last year, when the Moms in the cool clique would always be buddy-buddy and exclude me at all the school events.. I wasn't the only Mom who got snubbed...
I felt it from certain Mothers at the midwives office, Moms who thought they were so special because they were uber cool and wore there shirts so there bellies were showing or had dreadlocks and ignored all the regular average Mothers..
I felt it when there was gossip going around about a certain woman in a Mom group that everyone started to ignore, someone who was my friend, and I knew that if I didn't give up as a friend, I would soon join in exile. Just so you know, I did not give her up, I ended up giving up the group.. Why is that always the option to conflict? Choose sides and then give up someone.. it really is not very fair
I don't think men realize what a big bunch of girls women really are.. The only thing left would be for us to start pulling hair, or pushing our boobs up a little higher.. how about if we just claw each other like cats?

But that isn't why I go to park day.. I go to park day because I get to be a grown up with some other Moms and I get to get out and have a few laughs.. I just wish some of the cattiness that I witness would vanish, it's so high school, and I am 35 and just want to chillax at the park.. that being said ------ Park day rules!

So very busy..

2010-05-19T11:38:00.000-07:00

Why does this life I love keep me so busy all the time? I am not going to complain, I mean this is MY life, so love it right? I want to start writing again, it has been such a long time. I used to write short stories, poems, my blog, now I just sit and do nothing. Well if you count gardening, farming, cleaning, cooking and laundry nothing, yes nothing.

I used to have a way with words, now here I am in a big trial of my life, well not really, but things have been tough, and I find myself being pulled back to those words. So I will try, to use words to heal myself, to make myself happier again. I am happy, I am just so one dimentional, like oh, what is for dinner? Those are the kinds of words I mutter every day, oh can you please clean up the living room? Did you give the chickens water? Is Molly awake? Where is Mayleen? Is Dad home? Shouldn't you be studying?

Well I want to enhance my spoken and written words, I want to increase my vocabulary and clean up my potty mouth. These are my goals, and they start today, I am more focused, more driven, and I am going to revamp myself.

Starting this week with my cleansing, I will start with this, what should I call it? Colleens Cleanse.. this week will be verbal, spiritual, next week physical, emotional. I am doing a liver cleanse next week, yes I know, ouch. But I have heard it can do wonderful things, so I will keep you posted, literally. Got to go, the kids just found me!

Reflecting..

2009-11-24T22:52:00.001-08:00

Looking back on the last few years is interesting. Five years ago we had just moved to Prescott Valley, things were very positive. We had no idea what to expect when we moved here, but we did know we were happy to leave Phoenix. We moved from a little rental with 2 kids and a dog to a big house in the country with 5 kids (which are now homeschooled?), 4 sheep, 20 chickens, 7 turkeys, a cat, a dog and a bunny named Thumper. How can so much change in 5 years? What can I expect in the next 10?

Life is so interesting, but I am so busy with the kids and the house that I am unable to see it. We now eat a more "natural" diet, we don't buy stuff that is made of corn syrup or buttery substances that are made from soybean oil and are then bleached and scented and dyed to "look" like butter. We don't eat fast food anymore, except every great once in a while in an emergency. We now eat almost all of our own home-grown meat. We have raised lamb, pork and chicken and on occasion have traded any of those for grass fed beef. But that is just one part of our lives..

We also stopped our Satellite TV service, however we still watch the tube a lot more, we just don't see news, sports, or reality TV, but we do have our own news, sports and reality that we live every day anyhow. I am completely hooked to Facebook now. Yoville, I like, but I just go on there every few days, unlike someone else I know, who flirts and goes dancing on Yoville with her friends..

My kids have been born and have sprouted, Mattie is something of a little Miss Independant. Mayleen who wasn't even a twinkling on here is 2 and says things to me like "That is disgusting!". She can also count to 15 on her own and I didn't even teach her. Roman is still Roman, he is still short and full of life, and drives me crazy every day. Then there is Molly, she is 4 months and she is a little cutie. She is my latest addition and I am so happy to have her. Then there is Cliah, and I wonder sometimes where I would be without her. She is a fun girl and I love hanging out with her. She is AWESOME! We like the same music, mostly, the same movies, the same Taylor Lautner from Twilight Saga, and we talk about pretty much everything. I am so happy with the gift that God gave me in the form of Cliah, she loves all the kids and she is like my right hand.

So 5 years ago, we moved to Prescott Valley, and 5 years later this is my life. It is busy, chaotic, tiring, inspiring, dirty, and hard and I love it!!

Going to start updating more ... sorry!

2009-06-01T08:01:00.000-07:00

So I have been so caught up on Facebook and have completely neglected by Blog. So I vow on this day, this first day of summer vacation that I will come by and post pictures, tell interesting stories and update my wallpaper on a weekly basis! Please forgive me Bloggidy Blog, for being so neglectful!

16 days until Christmas

2008-12-09T15:58:00.000-08:00

Well Christmas pretty much snuck right up on me this year. I guess it was the big Thanksgiving that threw me off. I was sick for about a week after and couldn't get off the couch. Stomach troubles! I am finally feeling a little better, stomach isn't 100% though.

I just put up my Christmas tree yesterday, we went to the Mogollon rim and cut a beautiful white fir down. We saw a little teeny bit of snow. I haven't done the Christmas decorating that I normally do though, no lights outside yet, not holly and ivy strewn about the house, not even a twinkle light anywhere but on the tree. I guess that is what happens with 4 kids!

I have been busy with those kids, of course, Roman spent all weekend with terrible hives and I never did figure out what caused them, then Mattie is either Happy Mattie or Very Mad Mattie, and that can take up some time. I made two batches of cookies on Friday and we took them on our tree trip and they were all over the back of the truck when we got there, the container busted! So I haven't made any more, I was pretty mad! I made my own tamales today, Red chili pork tamales. I haven't tasted them yet, so...

There was about 50 people at my house on Thanksgiving. Pretty good day. It rained, but everyone was still able to go out and enjoy the animals, and some even played a round of "Buddy in the middle".I had my sister and her family stay for the whole week of Thanksgiving as well. We had a really nice time with them. My brother in-law made a door for our shed and really helped get that thing going. Now I just have to get my husband to finish it. My nephew Owen had a blast here, I think he burned every tumble weed on our property (supervised of course) and was driving around in Romans jeep a lot. Cliah and Ella were up in Cliahs room doing girly things the whole time. All the girls go to go see Saltimbanco, a Cirque de soleil show, it was really amazing! Would definately recommend it!

Other than all that, haven't been up to much..

Okay I made it... and I am here

2008-10-16T11:39:00.000-07:00

Thankfully it was only 1 migraine. I made it through the three birthdays, I made it through the stores opening, I made it here. (although I still don't have a sign up on the building :-0)

So I have four glorious days off! Hallelujah! Jason is off hunting, he just left and I don't know when he will be back, hopefully by Sunday, but his tag is for a week, so it could be longer. Hopefully not too long, it is really hard being here with all the kids alone.

I am going to spend the weekend cleaning out the office/guest room, and maybe mowing our front acre, if someone will loan me a ride on mower. There is a huge oak desk I want to get out of there, but it weighs about 150lbs, and so I am either going to throw it out the window and break it, or try somehow to get it down the stairs. Should be interesting. My sister and her family are going to be staying with us for Thanksgiving, so I am really trying to get their living area nice for their visit. I am so excited that they are going to stay with us, because they usually stay with my parents, but finally we have room for them and it's going to be so fun. Mary (my sister) was such an awesome hostess when we visited them at their Moser bay house, I mean she baked cookies like every day, and when I was sick the last two days, she made me wonderful thermos's of tea and brought them to our little cabin and let me take a nap. It was absolutely wonderful! Except for the bear that almost ate us in our little cabin.

For Cliahs birthday I did a room makeover. I love doing those. I got her a new queen size bed, and Grandma Holloway got her a new comforter set. It is pink with brown and white stripes. So I painted one wall of her room the same color pink, then I made a brown and pink stripe border on the same wall. I got her a few new things also, like a rope ladder that goes up to her loft and a new mirror and a few other things. I will post pictures later.

About every two years, she requests a room makeover for her birthday, which is fine with me, because I absolutely love doing it. Her room came out really nice. She had her two friends from school sleep over, Jill and Kayla, they are the only girls in her grade. She has a total of 7 kids in her grade. It's a really small school.

On another note she just started ADHD medication. I have been resisting it for years, but I feel like I have no other choice. She has been to the phsychologist, the neurologist, and all the teachers and experts agree. She has a serious attention problem. I just pray that this medication works, because I feel like it is my last hope at getting Cliah better.

Mayleen had her first birthday on October 4th. She is such a smart baby, she tries to say some of her abc song and can say "taint chew" (thank you) "uh-oh", "mom", "gamma" (Grandma). She is trying to catch up to Mattie who is only a year and a half older. Both Mattie and May are such sweet girls. I cannot believe that I have three daughters!

Mattie is such a little talker. I just can't believe some of the things she says to me and things she says to other kids as well. She has a friend Madeline who is 2 also, but 4 months younger, and Mattie is on the floor with her trying to teach her how to do a puzzle. You cannot even understand Madeline when she talks, and Mattie is there saying, "No, turn it around". I think being a middle child has helped her progress quicker. I just cut her hair in a bob and it is soo cute. She has such thin blonde hair, when it was long it was always tangled and Mattied. Sorry.

Roman of course is completely going nuts because Halloween is for sale in every store. Poor guy, he doesn't even know why he loves Halloween so much, and it is all because of the Wizard of Oz. He watched it when he was two and was bewitched by the Wicked Witch of the West. When he was 3 he wanted to dress like a witch and play like he was the WWOTW (wicked witch of the west). I thought there was no harm, that is until Halloween came around and he wanted to be guess what for Halloween? That's right a wicked witch. So we went to Mt. Vernon with Roman dressed like a witch, and he loved it! Oh, everyone thought that he was the cutest little witch ever! So that is how Halloween became such a fascinating holiday for little Roman. He is going as a werewolf this year, I said absolutely no more dressing like witches. Although, whenever I cannot find my broom, I know who has it.

So that is it. I am updated, I just need to post some pictures and I will post pictures later, as my camera is currently on it's way to Flagstaff Unit 5B south to take pictures of a dead cow elk (hopefully).

Love,
Colleen

How Much Can I Take?

2008-09-12T09:52:00.000-07:00

Stress that is? I had my first migraine the day before yesterday - whoo hoo!

We are trying to get this store open and everything is standing in our way, money, suppliers, deadlines, too much to do, and not enough help... How do people do it? I want to just give up!

Plus, I have my 11 year old who is really stuggling in 5th grade, and my 6 year old, he's fine, but since Halloween is approaching he is getting to be quite nuts, and then the 2 year old, and the 11 month old. So, why am I stressed?

Well at least nobody is sick and I may winde up in the nuthouse before too much longer, because frankly, I don't know how much more I can do..

My 11 year old will be 12 in three weeks and my 11 month olds birthday is in three weeks, plus we have the Holidays and the animals, and the car problems, what am I doing????

So, I am going to go do something I can at least control, I am going to re-arrange my bedroom...

Later

It has been a while!

2008-08-25T17:07:00.000-07:00

Buttercup

I know nobody like a boring blog, so I decided I had better update mine, since it has been well over a year, in fact almost two! Holy Cow!

Our Country House

So let's cover some bases, shortly after my last entry we moved to Poquito Valley, also known as Prescott Valley, AZ (North). In the country, to a country house with a country mouse (seriously - they live in my garage :-(-), and a country cow "Buttercup" (Who else?), two country pigs (which now reside tastefully in my stand up freezer- mmmm) ,about 22 country hens and three country roosters. We live in a beautiful country house with a big roomy porch and a lovely grass lawn in back. I hope I can live here forever!

It has been an adventerous year and 7 months. I had another baby Mayleen Laura in October of 2007, right here in my country bedroom! Mattie is now 2 and a big handful, Roman is now in Kindergarten and Cliah is in Mid-High. We have traveled the Globe (the US Globe) visiting dreamy Ketchikan, Alaska traveling to luxurious Marthas Vineyard, Massachusetts and even losing 2 year old Mattie in the Bronx, New York. It has been a wonderful year and a half! We have lost no loved ones (thankfully) and have had no major illnesses in our family, and yet we don't realize how blessed we are!!!!

Mayleen Laura

Our business has been keeping us very busy! We have a showroom/warehouse and are just about ready to move into the old Quality Bumper place and have an even bigger showroom and warehouse. Our business has given me many sleepless nights, but we are still here and proud of it!

I will try to keep this more updated, I have learned how to post via email. One day I would like to print my blog, as it is somewhat personal and something I hope to never lose!
Happy Mothers Day!!

Pictures!!

2007-01-26T15:26:00.000-08:00

My mom is always saying, "When are you going to put some pictures on your blog?''. It's not like she lives right down the street.

Cliah, Roman & Mattie up a tree..

Happy Mattie !

I guess she didn't like this - Unhappy Mattie!

Looks like a nice day for a walk....

2007-01-24T16:32:00.001-08:00

Well I know it has been a long, long time, but we had the holidays, and then I do have 3 kids, and I am working part time now. It seems like there isn't enough time in the day for anything. It's already 5:30 and I haven't even started dinner yet.

I had a fun time earlier chasing Mattie around. She is really fast crawler and it is fun to get down on your hands and knees and chase her. She gets so excited and goes really fast.

Two of my kids are sick this week, well Roman a little more, I don't even think Cliah is actually sick. They are both going to school tomorrow. Summer is going to be a real bi**h. Anyways, I felt it was time to update my blog, not that anyone reads it, but you never know.

Bye,
Me

FW: Some Interesting AZ Facts

2006-09-12T11:57:00.000-07:00

Bet you never knew that ..

The amount of copper on the roof of the Capitol building is equivalent to 4,800,000 pennies.

The Arizona trout is found only in the Arizona.

Wyatt Earp was neither the town marshal nor the sheriff in Tombstone, Arizona at the time of the shoot-out at the O.K. Corral. His brother Virgil was the town marshal, who had temporarily deputized Wyatt, Morgan and Doc Holliday prior to the gunfight.

In Arizona, it is against the law for donkeys to sleep in bathtubs.

Arizona leads the nation in copper production.

Petrified wood is the official state fossil. Most petrified wood comes from the Petrified Forest in northeastern Arizona.

A class 2 misdemeanor occurs if one places a mark upon a flag which is "likely to provoke physical retaliation".

The bola tie is the official state neckwear.

Arizona observes Mountain Standard Time on a year round basis. The one exception is the Navajo Nation, located in the northeast corner of the state, which observes the daylight savings time change.

In Arizona, it is unlawful to refuse a person a glass of water.

The Castilian and Burgundian flags of Spain, the Mexican flag, the Confederate flag, and the flag of the United States have all flown over the land area that has become Arizona.

In Mesa it is illegal to smoke cigarettes within 15 feet of a public place unless you have a Class 12 liquor license.

In 1926, the Southern Pacific Railroad connected Arizona with the eastern states.

The geographic center of Arizona is 55 miles (89 kilometers) southeast of Prescott.

Bisbee, located in Tombstone Canyon, is known as the Queen of the Copper Mines. During its mining history the town was the largest city between Saint Louis and San Francisco.

When being attacked by a criminal or burglar, you may only protect yourself with the same weapon that the other person possesses.

The state's most popular natural wonders include the Grand Canyon, Havasu Canyon, Grand Canyon Caves, Lake Powell/Rainbow Bridge, Petrified Forest/Painted Desert, Monument Valley, Sunset Crater, Meteor Crater, Sedona Oak Creek Canyon, Salt River Canyon, Superstition Mountains, Picacho Peak State Park, Saguaro National Park, Chiricahua National Monument, and the Colorado River.

No one is permitted to ride their horse up the stairs of the county court house in Prescott, Arizona.

Once a rowdy copper mining town, Jerome's population dwindled to as few as 50 people after the mines closed in 1953.

The capital of the Navajo Reservation is Window Rock.

Located in Fountain Hills is a fountain believed to be the tallest in the world.

Four Corners is noted as the spot in the United States where a person can stand in four states at the same time.

The age of a saguaro cactus is determined by its height.

Arizona, among all the states, has the largest percentage of its land set aside and designated as Indian lands.

Oraibi is the oldest Indian settlement in the United States. The Hopis Indians founded it.

Grand Canyon's Flaming Gorge got its name for its blazing red and orange colored, twelve-hundred-foot-high walls.

There are 11.2 million acres of National Forest in Arizona and one fourth of the state is forested. The largest forest is comprised of Ponderosa Pine.

It is illegal to manufacture imitation cocaine.

The largest freshwater striped bass caught in Arizona was at Bullhead City. It weighed 59 lbs. 12 oz.

Any misdemeanor committed while wearing a red mask is considered a felony.

The original London Bridge was shipped stone-by-stone and reconstructed in Lake Havasu City. When the bridge, built in the 1830s began to sink into the Thames River in the 1960s, it was replaced by a more modern concrete bridge. Then, England put the stones up for sale in 1967. A man named Robert P. McCulloch Sr. purchased the bridge on April 17, 1968, at a cost of $2,460,000. The 10,246 blocks were shipped to Arizona and reassembled over a lagoon at the edge Lake Havasu at a cost of $3 Million. The Bridge opened in 1971.

In Globe, Arizona Cards may not be played in the street with a Native American.

The famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral did NOT occur at the O.K. Corral. When the Earps and the Clantons shot it out in Tombstone, Arizona in 1881, their famous battle took place in a vacant lot between Fly�s Photograph Gallery and the Harwood house on Tombstone�s Fremont Street. The O.K. Corral was located nearby, however, and somehow its name became attached to the famous shootout.

Mattie Earp, Wyatt Earp�s second wife, who was with him in Tombstone during the O.K. Corral gunfight committed suicide with an overdose of laudanum on July 3, 1888 in Pinal, Arizona. She was despondent because Earp had left her for another woman.

Grand Canyon's Disaster Falls was named to commemorate the site of a previous explorer's wreck.

Arizona became the 48th state on February 14, 1912.

The world's largest solar telescope is located at Kitts Peak National Observatory in the city of Sells.

At one time camels were used to transport goods across Arizona.

One must be 18 years old to buy spray paint in Tempe, Arizona.

Phoenix originated in 1866 as a hay camp to supply Camp McDowell.

Tombstone, Ruby, Gillette, and Gunsight are among the ghost towns scattered throughout the state.

The Grand Canyon is 227 miles long, 1 mile deep, and has an average width of 10 miles.

Navajo Community College in Tsaile, was the first college on an Indian reservation.

There is a possible 25 years in prison for cutting down a cactus.

Arizona is roughly the size of Italy.

Arizona has more parks and national monuments than any other state, more mountains than Switzerland, and more golf courses than Scotland.

The famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral only lasted about thirty seconds.

The hottest recorded day in Phoenix was June 26, 1990, when the temperature hit 122 degrees.

The Saguaro Cactus blossom is the official state flower of Arizona. The white, funnel shaped, night blooming flowers, grow on the trunk and branches of the saguaro cactus during May and June. The red fruits of this largest American cactus are edible.

It is illegal in Tucson for women to wear pants.

In World War II, many Navajos enlisted as secret agents. Our enemies could never understand the Navajo language to learn our military secrets.

If you bother the cottontails or bullfrogs, in Hayden, Arizona, you will be fined.

The sun shines in southern Arizona 85% of the time, which is considerably more sunshine than Florida or Hawaii.

In 1876 the Chiricahua Apache chief Geronimo began ten years of raids against white settlements when the U.S. government attempted to move his tribe from their traditional home in Arizona to a reservation in New Mexico.

The Navajo Reservation, the nation's largest reservation, lies primarily in Arizona.

In Tombstone it is illegal for men and women over the age of 18 to have less than one missing tooth visible when smiling.

In Glendale, Arizona cars may not be driven in reverse.

It snowed 400.9 inches during the winter of 1972-1973 at Sunrise Mountain.

Arizona Highways has an approximately 85% circulation rate outside of the state of Arizona.

Don't believe everything you hear. Legend has it that the barrel cactus is a good source of water in the desert. Well, you can try it, but you won't like it. The pulp can be crushed to create a liquid, but the juice would peel the hide off a Gila Monster.

It is illegal to hunt camels in the State of Arizona.

Arizona once had a navy consisting of two boats on the Colorado River. They were used to prevent California from encroaching on Arizona territory.

A saguaro cactus will take between 50 and 100 years to grow an arm. The saguaro cactus flower is the official state flower of Arizona.

An ordinance prohibits the wearing of suspenders in Nogales, Arizona.

Hmm interesting!

Colleen Miele

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August Update

2006-08-17T22:40:00.000-07:00

Oh brother!

My very happy baby girl

My little litter

Sisters

Happy birthday to Jason!

Well August was an eventful month, not really, but we did travel over 3000 miles. To New York, then to Conn, and then to Mass. We celebrated Jasons 34th birthday, I celebrated what would have been Franky's 6th birthday. We had some family over, made some new friends at church, and had a lot of work come our way in the tile biz. Now we are going to go camping and school starts next week (HOORAY). Summer is coming to an end, the weather has been far too nice for words. I am looking forward to the coming season and can't wait for next year. I am finally going to get back to the gym and start another attempt at healthier living, hopefully my smokin toned up body won't get me knocked up this time, and just think only 3097 hours left until christmas. I know, it's sickening, I think I may start my Christmas shopping soon.

Giving up on 13

2006-07-14T15:27:00.000-07:00

Well I think I have officially givin up the Thursday 13. I can't think of anything, I can't remember to do it, and I just have too much other responsibility than to worry about the Thursday 13. So anyways, here is a picture of one or two or three of my responsibilities, that I am sure glad to have!

2006-06-29T11:54:00.000-07:00

Thirteen Reasons I Love Arizona..

1. Summer Monsoon Rain
2. Mild Winters, snow melts midday (usually)

3. Mild Summers (where I live)
4. Jerome, Arizona (google it)
5. Oak Creek Canyon, Arizona (google this too, so pretty)
6. The Rim Lakes (with the Monsoon - perfecto)

7. My Mom and Dad are here (the best)

8. We're not in California (but very close)

9. We're not really a hot hit for terrorism
10. Very Close to Puerto Penasco Mexico - Muy Bien!

11. A very diverse state, desert, mountains, rivers, beaches(lake beaches)!
12. Excellent selection of Mexican Cuisine

13. Did I mention the summer monsoon - my favorite!
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2006-06-22T10:34:00.000-07:00

Thirteen of my Favorite Foods1.Grilled Marinated Steak2. Shrimp Cocktail
3. Spaghetti4.Chocolate Cake
5.Pumpkin Pie
6. Baked Potato with all the fixins7. Lays Sour Cream and OnionPotato Chips (can't eat anymore - get a tummy ache)8.Grilled Chicken Breasts
9. Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
10.Lasagna11. Cheese Pizza12. Chow Mein
13. Sesame Chicken from Pong Pongs

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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
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2006-06-18T07:50:00.000-07:00

Happy Fathers Day!

Here is a picture of my father (and Mom), whom I love dearly. Happy fathers day to all the Dads out there, and thank you!

2006-06-15T09:37:00.000-07:00

Thirteen things about whatever...

1.I am putting off housework this morning. I was supposed to get it all done by the time I pick up my son and now I have only an hour left.

2.I cannot find anything interesting to read.

3.My mom is having some cyst on her eye removed today - good luck mom!

4.My sons phrase of the week is "Is it?". Example, "Mommy that cloud looks like a duck, is it?"

5.I have been reducing the amount of TV my kids watch, it seems like that is all they want to do. I am at my wits end with the TV!

6.My poor dog Buddy bit a big hole in his tongue yesterday playing frisbee with me. He was bleeding and yet he was still begging to play more frisbee.

7.For dinner last night, we ordered Streets of New York, and had a lovely four-cheese calzone and salad..mmm. (dh was at a meeting).

8.My kids and I fell asleep watching "Swiss Family Robinson" last night. So much for the tv thing.

9.Every night my 4 year old son comes into my bedroom requesting apple juice. Then he goes to his sisters room and gets into bed with her. Poor Sister!

10.I bought an ant farm for my kids to play with, not realizing you have to order ants (which I did finally), we spent half the evening trying to catch ants, and got 1.

11.My 4 year old son, got ahold of a red Sharpie yesterday and drew witch nails all over his hands, when I came upon him it looked as though he had been playing with broken glass. At least he didn't get to the eyeshadow and lipstick part of his Sharpie makeover.

12.I have had a package in my car since Monday morning and still haven't mailed it.

13.That's it, I can't think of one other thing - goodbye!

2006-06-10T13:42:00.000-07:00

Your Inner European is Dutch!

Open minded and tolerant.
You're up for just about anything.

Who's Your Inner European?

2006-06-10T13:14:00.000-07:00

Thirteen reasons my Thursday Thirteen is almost always going to be late..
1.I just forgot!
2.I have a two month old baby
3.I have a 4 year old boy.
4.My 9 year old is home on summer vacation.
5.My computer was running too slow.
6.It was raining out and I just didn't feel like it.
7.I went online to make my blog and got sidetracked looking at Little People on ebay and then my baby girl woke up.
8. Too many things to do.
9. I was watching Harry Potter and lost track of the day.

10. I was cleaning house on the wrong day.
11. My daughter was asking me twenty billion questions and I forgot what I was doing.
12. My husband works out of the house.
13. Oh yeah - Daytime Playtime!

Sorry this is so late...

2006-06-05T09:43:00.000-07:00

Thirteen Things about camping..
1. Getting camp completely set up is a real pain!
2. I do not like biting gnats and neither does my dog!
3. I do like smores, however.
4. Campfire food is some of the best tasting.. yum!
5. Always remember to bring a broom..
6. and a fly swatter...
7. and a citronella candle.
8. My kids look like vagrants after only four hours of camping.
9. Waking up before the sunrise and brewing coffee on the campfire is definately a treat.

10. Camping right by the lake (the low, muddy lake) isn't always a good idea, but it was still pretty.
11.Breaking up camp and heading home early is a good idea!
12. Taking a hot shower after camping for two days is better than sex!
13. I sure wish my parents didn't have to sell their mountain cabin!
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2006-05-26T22:51:00.000-07:00

You Are 32% Evil

A bit of evil lurks in your heart, but you hide it well.
In some ways, you are the most dangerous kind of evil.

How Evil Are You?

My silly kids

2006-05-26T22:26:00.000-07:00

I love my kids! Here are some cute pictures that would make anyone smile! Can you believe that face - at only 6 weeks!
Such a smiles!
Happy faces!

2006-05-25T09:44:00.000-07:00

Thirteen Things I just bought online..
1….CD Badly Drawn Boy - Hour of the bewilderbeast
2. CD Mary Timony - Ex Hex
3. CD Sigur Ros - ( )
4. CD Sonic Youth - Sonic Nurse
5. Red Iridescent Gazing Ball
6. Rit Dye
7. Photo Storage Boxes
8. Le Mirador Renewal Exfoliating Cream
9. Victoria Secret Very Voluptuous Lip Plumper
10. Daffodils Hand beaded sandals sz 9
11. CD Carrie Underwood - Some Hearts
12. Birth Kit from In His Hands.com
13. Airline Tickets
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My First Thursday Thirteen

2006-05-18T15:54:00.000-07:00

Thirteen Things about Colleen1. I love rainy summer days
2. I have a 1 month old girl, and 4 yr old boy and a 9 yr old girl
3. My new baby was born at home - that's right
4. I want to have another baby... and soon
5. I love online shopping
6. I am sad my parents are selling their cabin that has been around for 40 years
7. I live in Arizona and love it
8. I would love to own my own little store, it would be called Colleens Collectibles
9. I love the following tv shows, Lost, Invasion, Alias, Survivor, and Desperate Housewives, oh and don't forget Starting Over (I will Miss)
10. I love to read, although I haven't picked up a book since Mattie was born :-(
11. I love my husband and feel very lucky to be married to such a hunk
12. I love to sit on the patio and birdwatch
13. I love my Mom, she is very important in my life and I hope I am as good a mom as her

Back Again

2006-05-12T15:23:00.000-07:00

Cliahs Art Show
In Jerome
Little Mattie
With Big Sister
Big Cowboy

Well it has been a few weeks hasn't it. We have been pretty busy, with Mattie and our two other children. It does take time to adjust, but then do you really ever or do you just change? It is already starting to get hot here - yuck! I could do without the heat for another month or so. I think it is 85 today.

Cliah and Roman are doing really good. Roman is having trouble sharing his mom with the new baby. He has been getting into lots of trouble at home and at preschool. He started calling me Mama (like baby talk), and has become really needy. Poor little guy, there just isn't enough time in the day. Cliah seems fine with the new addition. She already went through this once, so I don't think it is so bad for her. I am sure she is jealous, it's only natural, but she isn't acting out or anything. She is a really good helper, she loves to hold the baby, and is always lending me an extra pair of arms.

Mattie is really growing on all of us though. She smiles a lot and makes little noises, like she is trying to talk. She is already almost 11 pounds of fun. She is a real little cutie.

Well that's it for now, hopefully I will be back soon!

Whew!

2006-04-26T16:24:00.000-07:00

Well baby Mattie is almost 3 weeks old, and a busy 3 weeks it has been. That is why I haven't really been updating my weblog daily as I was before. She is actually sleeping very well at night but when she is awake during the day she wants to be held almost constantly. She was weighed today and is a whopping 9 lbs 3 oz. She is starting to get chunky little legs and arms, which is sooo cute.

I am sad to announce that my parents have sold their cabin. They will still own it for another month I think before it goes into escrow, and I am really going to miss the old place. But I think in the end it will be a good move for my parents as they will have options to invest in another property, maybe closer to us. We are going to go look at a 5 acre ranch today, that also has another unused 5 acres adjacent to it for sale. We'll see if it is a good deal or not, it sounds really good!

Mattie

2006-04-11T09:26:00.000-07:00

Mattie Anne

2006-04-11T08:57:00.000-07:00

She finally arrived. April 7th 2006 at 3:22am. A beautiful little baby girl. 8 pounds even and 19 1/2 inches long. Her birth was fine, 7 hours of not too bad labor, towards the end it was pretty intense. The midwife broke my water at 9 cm and the contractions became more painful. I just wanted it to be over so badly. She was a little harder to push out than Roman, and yes it hurt.
After I had her, I thought everything was fine until I started noticing a lot of blood and noticing I was getting really dizzy just lying on the bed. The midwife came to check on me and was pretty concerned. They kept saying are you doing okay? Stay awake, things like that. She gave me a shot on the thigh, and made me drink something yucky, and then I felt a little better. She kept checking my blood pressure and pulse and I guess when my blood pressure was about 60/20 they called 911. The whole time I was just completely dizzy and didn't know what was going on. The next thing I know there are all these firemen and paramedics in my room, the lights are all on, and everyone is saying Colleen stay awake. So I had to be transported to the hospital in Prescott to find out why I was hemorrhaging.
I found out several hours later that part of the placenta was still attached inside my uterus and this was where I was hemorrhaging. Not only that, but the hemorrhage was causing me to clot ridiculously and some of the clots were as big as a softball. They removed everything right there in the hospital room with nothing to numb the pain and let me tell you it was much worse pain than the whole childbirth. But it is all overwith now, and I am so glad that it is. Now I have a beautiful little baby girl and I am so grateful that she is healthy and happy and we are all safe.

My Mom was here for the entire birth and just went home last night. She really helped me out, I think I would be feeling a lot worse if she hadn't been here to help me out. I am really going to miss her, in fact I cried after she left, but I am okay now. I know she will read this, so Mom, don't feel bad, you were a great help to me! Roman and Cliah are so proud to have a new little sister. Roman is sooo sweet giving her kisses and Cliah wants to help as much as she can. We are all going to have to adjust to having another member of the family, but I am sure we will do just fine.

My daughters teacher

2006-04-06T14:58:00.000-07:00

stinks! If I had the courage I would go down there and tell her what I really think. Next week is AIMS testing and in the good old state of AZ every 3rd grade student is required to take them. My question was if my daughter is absent a day next week can she do a make up test. My daughter asked her teacher and the teacher said she better not miss one day next week, that she doesn't care when I am having my baby, Cliah better not miss school, or she is going to get in trouble. So Cliah is all upset and worried that IF I have the baby during the week of next, that she will have to go to school, even if she has been up all night, even if I am in the middle of delivery when she is supposed to walk to the bus. Her teacher doesn't care about our situation, all she cares about is that the principal is on her case for whatever reason, and she doesn't want any of her students missing one day next week. Tyrant! Well what if they were involved in some mishap, and couldn't make it? Is that student going to get it? GRRR she makes me so mad! I told my daughter that Mrs. Schumacher does not make the rules of my life, and if Cliah is to stay home one day then toooooo bad Mrs. Meanie. This gave Cliah a little smile, and me too.

April 3rd and Overdue!

2006-04-03T08:44:00.000-07:00

Well I am officially over my pregnancy due date. I am so tired! I don't feel like doing much the last few days. I did go to the mall, but after two stores I was pooped! I'm trying to stay active but it is really tiring carrying around this fully grown baby all the time. I feel like the baby is taking over my body. How long is he/she going to stay in there? Does he/she need an invitation or what? I talk to the baby all the time and say "come on, come on out". I imagine the baby is just so comfortable, all warm and cozy and sleeping most of the day that it just doesn't care about coming out. Well maybe the baby is uncomfortable all squished in there, squishing my intestines and doesn't know how to get things moving. I can't wait to see how big this baby is, I think it will be the biggest yet.

Yesterday was a gorgeous day. We went to the Park and took some subs and a blanket and had a nice time. By the time I got home I had to sleep for and hour and every one of us got sunburned. That's Arizona for you. Freezing one week and sunburned the next.

Oh well, that's it for now, I am going to go call my Mom, it's been a while.

Good Morning!

2006-03-30T07:30:00.001-08:00

Well I have been sick the past two days and today I am feeling totally better. I think I had a stomach bug of some kind, but I am just glad it is gone! The rain is gone, the sun is out and all the birds are singing. I am feeling so energetic today, maybe it is being over the sickness or that Roman is at preschool right now, I don't know, but I am just so excited about the day. So I'm not going to spend too much time on my blog, becuase I've got some things I want to do. My pansys are still sitting in the flower bed in their packages, but I don't know if I can be on my knees to plant them. So have a great day!

My Baby Prediction

2006-03-27T09:38:00.000-08:00

6 Days Until the Due Date!

I am going to make a prediction about my babies birth. I am going to go into labor Thursday night and I will give birth sometime mid morning on Friday April 1st. It is going to be a girl, and I will name her Mattie - Miele. I don't have a middle name predicted yet, because I don't know what the middle name will be. I like Mattie Rose, or Mattie Elizabeth, or even Mattie Anne, but we will see. So that is my prediction, I can't wait to find out!

Ear Ache From Hell!

2006-03-24T12:09:00.000-08:00

Well my ear infection from last week has now moved to my ear canal. Whatever that means. All I know is I could not sleep last night until I took two hydrocodone, and I was standing outside the Urgent Care clinic at 7:25am. I hate ear infections, they are the worst. So I got ear drop antibiotics, which to me, when my ear is infected an plugged up, the last thing I want to do is put 10 drops of anything in there, but if it heals it (it better!), then I guess it is worth the trouble.

It was soooo nice out today, I went outside with Roman for about an hour and lay on my comfy swing. I forgot how nice it is to watch the kids from the comfort of that swing. There was a nice breeze and a little sun and Roman kept coming over and pushing me a little. I imagine myself out there watching Cliah and Roman, while nursing the newest addition. I love being out there when the weather is nice. I think tomorrow I am going to plant some flower with the help of Cliah. Everything is getting green and blossoming and I have no flowers to enjoy. I can't believe my daffodils haven't come up yet. What are they waiting for?

Well I am down to single digits now. Only a matter of time before the third little Miele is around here letting his or her presence be known. Tick tock tick tock!

10

2006-03-23T14:43:00.000-08:00

Well there is only 10 days left until my due date. Some days I feel really good about the home birth experience and other days I am just a little freaked out. Hopefully my Mom will make it up here becuase I think that she will be a big help to me. Hint. I can't believe that there will be a new baby here soon.

We had our last snow the night before last and I am going to actually miss it. Although I am really looking forward to the wonderful weather that is beginning! I've got to get some flowers planted, it is just so uncomfortable for me to garden in my current shape. I can't wait for summer, with the barbeques, and hanging outside with the kids, playing in the kiddie pool. Of course last summer the little pool barely ever got warm enough for them to be in for very long. I just love summer around here though, it's not like it was in Phoenix, the summer nights are actually cool! Last summer we went the entire season with only an evaporative cooler. We have an ac unit, but it is sooo expensive we decided to give the old evap a try. Whadya know, it worked all summer, in fact some summer nights we actually got cold, can you believe that? I guess if you are reading this and are from a really cold state, you can.

Cliah is starting softball on Monday. She really enjoyed it last year and I think she will like it even better this year. Her coach is a man, but her team is all girls.

I took the kids for a yearly physical and checkup today. They are both very healthy and happy. They got an assortment of shots, Cliah needed 4 shots and Roman needed 5. Cliah was totally cool with the shots, but Roman was a little upset. He didn't try to fight or anything, but he was crying and it made me feel pretty bad. But he seems to be over it now, except for the dark circles under his eyes and he seems a little tired. Speaking of the kids, I think it's time to go!

Sweet Sixteen

2006-03-17T08:31:00.000-08:00

Well I hope you are impressed by my beautiful 16. I downloaded all these 30 day free trials of Alien Skin, which is a plug-in filter for Adobe Photoshop. They are pretty fun, but I would never buy it, it is way too expensive. I have had an earache all week and it is finally starting to go away. Ear infections can be really annoying. Well I have to go support China today, by shopping at Wal-Mart. I had a dream one time that all the workers inside Wal-Mart were Chinese. It was pretty scary, like a nightmare. But when you want to get a bunch of different items bought in one store and you are 38 weeks pregnant, Wal-Mart is just the place to go. Wal-Mart needs some tough competition. Like a Fry's Supermall, or a Safeway All In One.

20 Days to go

2006-03-13T08:47:00.000-08:00

SNOW!

Roman in the sled

Our Iced Tree

Little Cliah

The Bradshaw Mountains

Our Japanese Honeysuckle

So it does snow here. We had a lot of snow last year, but not so much in one storm. It's all melting today but there is still a lot more hanging around than I would have thought. We went sledding a little yesterday, (not me) until the local police chased all us fun-loving families out of the sledding area.

So we went home and had hot soup and biscuits. We watched The Brothers Grimm, it was kind of scary for the kids but it was pretty funny too, and weird.

Cliah is on Spring Break this week. She is going to have a friend over tonight and she is going to Disneyland with her Grandma on Thursday. Lucky girl! Sounds like a lot more fun than my spring breaks when I was a kid!

I've got to get in gear and buy all my homebirth supplies. I only have 15 days until I am going to be in complete panic. At the same time I can't wait until the day is here and I have a brand new baby in my arms.

I made a deal with my Jason (my husband) that he can buy a hot cam (whatever that is) for his dirtbike as soon as I get my mini-van. Only because he has spent around $1000.00 on dirtbike in the last two months. So what does he do? He goes online and shops for hot-cams. Um, hello did he forget my end of the deal? Sometimes I have to wonder what he is thinking. So we may go to Phoenix on Saturday and look for a new van, and I am expecting to be going home with one. I hope he realizes the seriousness of the situation. I am getting a van this week!

Well I gotta go do Cliahs hair and go to Target, bye!

25 Days & Counting Does Not Help!

2006-03-08T08:19:00.000-08:00

The days are really dragging now. I feel like I am at a stand still and just waiting for this baby. As if life is on hold until the baby comes, and I am getting restless. I don't think I experienced this with Roman or Cliah. I soooo look forward to the weekends because there is usually something to do, but this weekend it is supposed to snow, so I am going to be stuck at home I just know it. Maybe I will take the kids to the movies or something. We were supposed to have a little party for Romans birthday (a few weeks early), but with the snow I don't want to ask anyone to drive up from Phoenix, plus it was so nice out the last few weeks, I was looking forward to hanging out in the back yard and Roman playing in his new sandbox, so I think I will postpone. So now what will we do? Well if it snows a lot, maybe we will try to go out into it, or maybe I will go van shopping.

Here is a picture of Grampa and Roman checking out there catch.

.

2006-03-03T08:22:00.000-08:00

30 days and counting

Doesn't seem long to you, but to me this will be the longest 30 days of my life. I am no longer sleeping comfortable at all. I put a pillow between my knees, but that doesn't help. I am supposed to sleep on my left side, but often wake up on my back and you aren't supposed to sleep on your back. Both of my hands go numb during the night, it doesn't sound bad, but it's really uncomfortable. Not to mention I have to haul myself out of bed about every hour to pee, then when I get back to bed I feel like I could drink a gallon of water. Then when I get under the covers I start sweating all over so I get my wet washcloth from the nightstand and cool myself off. I get back aches all day and my feet hurt. I can't go hardly anywhere, I get so tired from just one store, plus you have to hope every place you go is going to have a bathroom. The heartburn, oh the heartburn!
There are good sides too, like you don't have to worry about birth control, if you are waiting for a table at Chilis some handsome gent will probably offer you a seat, the energy bursts and the afternoon naps, and the baby constantly squirming and kicking you all about. Sometimes I wonder what that baby is up to in there, it feels like he/she is trying to kick his/her way out. Pretty soon the baby will be out and then I will be wishing the baby was still inside. I need to be happy with what I have right now!

.

2006-02-25T07:00:00.000-08:00

Well I am beginning an official countdown to my due date. I have officially 36 days until I am due. I still don't think I am, what they call, mentally prepared. We don't even have a sure name picked out. Every time I say a name for example Madeline, my husband makes up a name like Madine. I told him I don't want a made up name, and he just insists. So annoying, or how about these ones he came up with.
Maline (sounds like saline)
Malea ( do I need say anything)
Zalea (*-*)
I like the name Mattie. I really, really like that name, but if I bring it up, he says nothing, nothing! We haven't even touched on boys names, they are not as fun to think up.
Anyways, another baby will be at our house before you know it, and my butt is starting to look like my moms butt, no offense. But after three kids, I mean your butt does change.

Going to NY, again!

2006-02-24T07:44:00.000-08:00

Well it's all set, we are going to Conneticut via New York this summer. American Airlines had a smashing deal for $123 each plus tax to fly round trip, what a deal! Our whole family can go for about $600.00. So we will be flying out my husband and I, my daughter, my son and an infant, oh boy! It will be interesting flying with so many little ones. I am going to have to find out about a bassinet out there, because I am not going to bring mine, it just can't happen.

The last time I was in NY was on two days before 9-11. We went to NY on Sunday the 9th and were scheduled to leave on the 12th. Regardless to say we were stuck in Conneticut for a few extra days and it was very unnerving. I remember sleeping in my father in-laws apartment in Westport and hearing those New England ambulance and firetruck sirens. I woke up to them on September 12th and thought the world was ending. To me they sounded like air raid sirens and I was very scared.

It was such a long time ago, and I haven't been back since. I kind of just reluctantly send my husband by himself because I just haven't had the interest in going. So it is going to be strange to be back there after all this time and traveling with my whole family. I hate flying, but to bring all my kids too, it's just kind of scary. But I have to just think of how many people fly every day with no problems.

Is it a Boy or a Girl?

2006-02-22T16:50:00.000-08:00

So I would like some guesses on boy or girl? Please give me a one liner comment, boy or girl? By the way I already have one of each! Can you believe a baby is living in there? Every time I imagine the baby in there, it's in computer imagery, because I can't really picture what it actually is like. I have 39 days to go :-0, and I think it's going to be another 8 1/2 pounder like my other two. Can't wait to post some newborn pics!

2006-02-21T09:35:00.000-08:00

Anyone have any good baby names they want to share. My kids current names are Cliah and Roman, so I kind of have to live up to a certain standard of originality. We don't know if it's a boy or girl so any name ideas are appreciated. I really could use some ideas, my husband and I can't agree on anything and we have less than 6 weeks until the due date. OMG!

In the meantime I am completely sick. Cough, runny nose, this is the first spurt of energy I have had since Sunday. I keep thinking I am getting better and then I get worse. I can't wait for this cold to be over! I think I will still take it easy today and stay home so I can actually get well.

It's Been a While

2006-02-18T06:05:00.000-08:00

So another baby due in 6 weeks. I'm like an actual baby making machine. My husband said he wants to get a milking cow, and I told him he'll have one in about 6 weeks. No but seriously, we are having a home birth this time and I am scared to death. Anyone out there know about home birth? I am taking a four hour class today at the midwifes office, so it should be interesting.

So this is the most snow we have had here all winter. It's been really, really dry! I can't believe that spring is almost here and it has only snowed one time, how depressing! I guess that is why some people like Arizona. Wish I was one of them. I would actually love to move to Idaho or Oregon. Somewhere wet and cold. I think I am starting to dry up like a lizard from all this dry crackly weather.

Maybe I will post some pictures soon of the birth, just kidding, I don't think anyone wants to see that.

Bratz! = Skanks in training...

2005-09-26T15:09:00.000-07:00

Okay, I am the only parent out there who thinks Bratz are little skanky? I am sorry if I am offending some parents who have purchased Bratz for their children, but I don't think it is sending a good message to your kids. My daughter has wanted a Bratz doll for about the last year, but I have told her my opionion on them. I have told her I don't think they are wholesome dolls, but she wants one, because the Mom down the street who lets her 8 year old listen to 50cent in her room has bought them for her daughter. Now I have gotten my husband thinking about Christian schools again, because some of the kids my daughter knows have no guidance or direction. What message are Bratz trying to send out? Wear a lot of make-up, super mini skirts and belly shirts with 10 in stilettos? I can't wait until these dolls are out!

Fall is in the air

2005-09-12T15:31:00.000-07:00
Well it officially feels like fall. I have purchased several pumkinish scented items, and have let my children dress up as witches just for fun. The spooky window clings are bought and stuck and even though I don't have all my Fall decor out, I am sure in chipper spirit. It has been breezy and 78 and it's absolutely perfect. Fall is definately my favorite season of the year. There are so many exciting things to look forward to. Halloween, birthdays, Thanksgiving and finally as winter approaches Christmas. I just love the warm scents, chilly nights, the fun of gaining 6 pounds, drinking warm apple cider, huffing through the snow to find the perfect tree and seeing family you don't see all year long. Well at least my mind is in a good place today, it must be the bath and body pumpkin oil I am burning. I think I might just have to make a pumpkin pie soon...

Tai Chi Mindset

2005-09-07T15:51:00.000-07:00

Well it's Moi. I am tired of being here, the house smells like skunk and Jason is always home late. Blah blah blah. I just wish I knew the secret to lifes happiness. I took a Tai Chi class yesterday and that was pretty cool. I wish I could be in a Tai Chi state of mind all day long!

Sick of it all

2005-09-07T15:36:00.000-07:00
"No Attack ever fed a hungry child." Bill Clinton

I am so sick of these attacks and finger pointing at Pres. Bush. All these liberal dems can get a life! Why don't they do something PRO-ACTIVE instead of REACTIVE and get off their polished white tusshies and get something done? Boy oh boy, in a time of turmoil, shouldn't we all support the Pres. and lend a helping hand? It makes me sick that all these dorks out there have nothing better to do. Well I do! This is in reference to the whole Katrina New Orleans blame games of 2005 !

Can Anyone Tell Me??

2005-09-05T18:20:00.000-07:00
How do you post a picture without signing up for Hello or Picasso or whatever it's called? I am having some technical difficulties!

I WANT TO HELP !!

2005-09-05T17:47:00.000-07:00
Well this Gulf Coast disaster obviously has me very upset. It doesn't help that I am in my first trimester and everytime I watch the news I bawl like a baby. I really just want to help and here is my situation. My husband is a tile contractor and for the last year we have not been able to find any reasonable or reliable workers.

So my thoughts were, all the people, displace and unemployed, why not house them with us, maybe a family and the Dad is a tile installer by trade, the wife and kids can hang out with me during the day. Have them live in our small house with us for a few weeks until they make enough money to get an apartment (which by the way here the rent is very low). It would be a new start for them. They could relocate to beautiful Prescott, AZ and resettle here. Anyways, that is my wish, I don't know how to find a family like that, but I really think there is someone out there that would be very good to have here.

Whaddya think?

The Doll House

2004-09-30T14:03:00.000-07:00

Well yesterday was very tiring. I assembled my daughters doll house all by myself! It is such a pretty house, I really love it. I always wanted a big doll house when I was little. I had a dollhouse that my Dad made out of two wooden apple crates. He wallpapered the inside with wallpaper samples and carpeted the floors with carpet samples. That dollhouse got used. I don't know why I want my daughter to have so much. She is just so deserving and I want her to have nice things.
Sunday is her birthday party. She is having 12 kids or so and I am renting one of those bounce contraptions. It is going to be fun. I have her cake ordered and I am not sure what snacks or drinks I am going to serve yet. Maybe some grape and cherry soda? Chips and dip and a bowl of grapes. What about some popcorn? I think that is a fine party.

SAHM's

2004-09-28T14:11:00.000-07:00
Man, I could go on about nothing for days. I don't seem to notice very many other blogs created by twenty something, stay at home moms. Maybe I should be ashamed for even wasting my precious time here. My son, however is napping, the house is clean (sort of), the laundry is in the dryer, and we are eating out at Three Margarita's for dinner. I just wrote my sister a letter, and man my handwriting is BADDDD! I felt like my hand was going to fall off, and it was a little short letter. Oh well, I should go do something.

My Political Rant

2004-09-28T11:46:00.000-07:00
Well I guess it's time for a little politics. I vote for Bush! I know "Oh My God"! But hey, we all are entitled to our own opinions right? So he lied, well so did every other president in the history of the world. Do you really think the government tells us everything? I find that hard to believe. Maybe Iraq was a little hasty, but in the end aren't we safer as a world without Sadam Hussein in power? As far as John Kerry goes, Please! He is such a loser, I cannot believe he could become President, but you know I thought the same about Clinton and look at his little run. I actually think it would be funny to watch Kerry as pres. But also I am not willing to risk my future with a President as anti-war as John Kerry. Sorry. Well I am going to go give Roman a nap, and then watch Starting Over. I Love those SO Girls! !

All About Me

2004-09-28T11:43:00.000-07:00
If this is all about me, for me, then I can write anything! That is the freedom of this web log. I can be judged by the public world and maybe some friends/family if I told them where to find this, and I am here to shout out whatever! Which isn't much sorry to say!

The "Retreat"

2004-09-27T13:23:00.000-07:00
Well I had a very uninteresting weekend. I went to a Women's "Retreat" with about 75 other women from my church. Retreat is not the word I would have used to describe this even however. More like a "Spiritual Flood". I will probably never go again, and to those who do, go right ahead. Don't get me wrong, I am a very spiritual person, I am just not THAT spiritual. I don't think it should be called a "Retreat" either. Doesn't retreat mean - the act or process of withdrawing, especially from something hazardous, formidable, or unpleasant. Well then what I went to was not a Retreat. The best part I thought, was on the drive home my mother and I made a stop at the Casino and each won about a hundred dollars. That was nice! This was the only weekend I have ever had away from my two year old son, IN MY LIFE SO FAR, and it sucked! Sorry retreaters out there, but something about the retreat needs some change. Make it fun, so people young and old will want to go. Make it relaxing, make it worth while. Oh and then there were these prayer groups, where you split up into groups of 4-6. Then you talk about your current problems, and then you have to pray OUT LOUD in front of complete strangers! No thanks!! I do any praying in private-SILENTLY! That is what prayer is to me - meditation, not a speech you give to a group of strangers. Well I have to go, I am trying to get back into some sort of work out routine, and while writing out my feeling on a web log is a great source of therapy, it is not going to keep me in shape. So see ya later!!!

BUNCO

2004-09-22T16:49:00.000-07:00
Well tonite is Bunco.. I love Bunco nite! It is my only nite out with the ladies. Okay most of them are 15 years older than me, that's okay. I don't mind. All I know is I get to go to someone elses house, have a nice home cooked meal, play a little game, have some cake and maybe win $20 bucks. Not a bad night if you ask me. The scary part is my husband will be watching our two kids. Scary right? Just wait until this weekend. I am going to be gone for the first time overnight. That is going to be tough for all of them. Well I got to go straiten my hair. It's a giant frizz ball.

Getting it

2004-09-22T14:23:00.000-07:00
I am finally getting this stuff figured out. Sure does take some time to get things done. Blogging that is. Maybe blogging is just for computer geeks, but I like just having something, something of my own! I don't even care if anyone reads it. I just like having it out there. Well I have spent far too long goofing around on this today, tomorrow I am just going to finally write!

Blech!

2004-09-21T15:39:00.000-07:00
My profile makes me sick. Thats it? A domestic engineer? AKA Housewife... What was I thinking when I wrote that! That I was being really cool? Sometimes I am such a dork. Did I mention my dilemma? I can't make homemade chicken pot pie because I just realized I am out of carrots. Hmm, what to do, what to do. Now my whole dinner is ruined. I have to leave in a few to pick up my daughter and take her to gymnastics. Wow. Maybe then, do the balance again. I think my husband bought more tile materials today, it would figure because that is his job. I got some really nice fitting jeans today. That is something to be proud of. And I did it in the company of my two year old son. It isn't easy taking a 2 year old to a department store, let me tell you. Every time I took my pants off in the dressing room he made a fart sound. Thanks son. At least no one popped in this time. That was humiliating!

My First Blog

2004-09-07T15:19:00.000-07:00
Well this is my first blog. I am not even sure what a blog is or who will look at it. Maybe it is a way to meet interesting people? Maybe I could just go out and it would have the same effect. Although then my 2 year old son and my 7 year old daughter might think I was weird.