Thanks for all the prayers and well wishes for my mom and dad in law.  Last I heard, the garage is being demolished because it’s putting too much strain on the rest of the house.  Shheeeesh, what an ordeal.  

Back in 95 we lived in an apartment in Roseville, Ca that was flooded.  My husband had carpooled that day and so both vehicles were at home.  Our van had water past the windows and the other car was totally submerged.  Boy howdy was that ever an adventure.  We had to flee to the upstairs neighbor (who was none too happy to house us) and wait hours for rescue teams to come and row us out.  Coie was five or six, ryann was a baby and I was pregnant with Emmiko.  We lost everything in the house, which was no big deal because we were dirt poor back then, too, and all of our stuff was not worth much.  

I really liked getting flooded.  I liked it a lot.  We went to a neat church, and that was my second observation as a very young Christian of how a healthy church body glorifies God by providing (the first was when me and Geoff were about to get married and the pastor held us TRULY accountable and made us choose to either stop our blatant sin or stop coming to his church – we will always love him for that). Anyways, when we were flooded, we had just started going to this new church (we had just moved), and a few days later after the waters had subsided and left a muddy silt that was sludged over *everything* we owned, a whole crew of ladies from our new church showed up to clean and see what they could help salvage.  We stayed with Gramma Sharon for a month (another huge blessing) and over the next several months we were inundated with gifts – shoes, hair scrunchies, clothes, dishes, bedding, etc.  I felt guilty because I think I ended up with more stuff than what I originally lost.  I am hoping that the church my parents-in-law serve in is doing the same for them.  I am assuming they are, it always seemed like a neat place when we visited.

Anyhow, I guess what led me to this train of thought is the realization of how tragedy is needed for us to understand God and get a glimpse of what we’re looking forward to.  We say this world is not our home, but I don’t think most of us really believe that.  If all things are passing away, why do we cling to them so hard?  

The other day I was telling one of my kids that I am so thankful for the various trials that we are going thru right now.  These trials make me long for Christ; they make me long for His kingdom.  How much more satisfying heaven will be to those who suffer thru various trials now.  How incredible water tastes when you are dying for a drink!  How marvelous food tastes when you have not eaten all day!  God is so merciful, and – especially as Americans – we have so much more than we even need. I’m not sure that most of us even have a clue about REAL suffering. But I am learning the secret of being joyful in all things…  the secret is to be thankful for absolutely everything.  Yes, everything, and especially thankful for affliction and suffering because it is truly glorious to understand Hope and to know that someday we will fully feel the monumental contrast between this world and our true home.

This week we’ve been thankful because I used our butternut sqaush to make pumpkin pies. and seriously, they are totally the best not-actually-pumpkin pie my family has ever had.  I have been converted.  I will no longer begrudge butternut squash. 

August 30th, 2007 - Posted in Uncategorized | | 0 Comments

(very) Thankfully, my mom and dad in law are not hurt.  Over the weekend a tornado came for a visit and left with their roof:

Not only that, it picked up their camping trailer, tossed it into the woods and broke it in half.  It also tore thru the garage and sucked everything EVERYTHING out.  My poor mom in law lost her mother’s wedding ring, as well as an indescribable amount of sentimental and practical property that will be impossible to recover.  Me and Geoff hate to be so far away.  My husband has not been able to sleep and just keeps saying, “I need to be up there helping them”.  Ugh.  We feel utterly helpless and so we continue to pray, and I figured the next best thing I could do is ask my friends to pray.   Will you, please?

The details are still sketchy, but I guess my m-i-l was home at the time.  Could you even imagine?  They are just so dear, and I wish that me and my kids were there to pick thru the woods and help find their things.

August 27th, 2007 - Posted in Uncategorized | | 0 Comments

Yesterday I finally got tired of hearing James’ fat little legs kick against the bathroom cupboards while he struggled to get up to the sink.  So I bellowed for my ten year old and told him to go out yonder and build me a pretty little step.  I had several requirements: it had to be functional; it had to look nice; he would need to measure properly, find all of the tools required for the project and then clean up all the mess so that the area looked better than when he started.

He told me, “Hmmmm, this will probably take several tries seeing how I never built anything by myself before.”  So I told him, “Get to learnin’”

Before long he was happily employed with boards, a handsaw, nails and a hammer.  Soon after, Emmiko was brought into the project as Chief Painter and Decorator.  In the end, it only took them one try, and I dare say it came out far better than I anticipated.  So pleased was I, that I told them both – I’m going to show all my blogger friends what a good job you did because this is a job worthy to be blogged.  Without further ado, I present to you, “Bathroom Step, by Bo & Em Ig”

The monkey likes it:

In other news, holy moly… the butternut bread was a HUGE success. 

And lastly, I finally buckled down and figured out my homeschool plan for the year.  This had been stressing me out for a while (all summer) because Ryann is starting high school.  I don’t care how easy some people claim doing your own transcripts are – the idea of doing transcripts flat out gives me the willies and I don’t want to deal with it.  So I decided to do what I did for Coie when she started highschool, and enrolled Ryann into the CLASS program. What. A. Relief.  At the risk of sounding like an infomercial, I love this program; I don’t have to deal with transcripts, they do all the grading and give report cards, they have a free email math helpline and a free algebra tutor on hand to help(!), they help plan out the school year curriculum and box it all up and send it to me, they do the testing and evaluations, and the people over at CLASS are eager and quick to assist, they are flexible (I so need that), and they have a God honoring program.  And, no less important, I am almost positive that they are the cheapest distance learning program on the market (and that’s a big deal). They are a ministry and ‘not for profit’ – so you’re not dealing with some big commercial operation. In celebration of finally making the leap to go back to the system that worked so well with Coie, I’ve put a link to their site.  See it? I asked them to send over a banner ad and a text link to keep on my page.

And they cover all grades, so if you are about to have an academic aneurysm, that little link takes you straight to the page to get all the CLASS info sent to you for free (and they do not sell or rent your information, I know this because I’ve asked them about that before and they have a strict privacy policy).   

YAY!! I finally have a plan, an artsy bathroom step and six loaves of butternut spice bread.  This qualifies as a **very** good day.

August 24th, 2007 - Posted in Uncategorized | | 0 Comments

Guess what I did on Tuesday?  It’s something I haven’t done in over 8 years.  I went to the lake and went swimming with my kids.  That is so out of my normal recreational outing experiences.  It was *super* fun.  My friend called up and said, “Hey, let’s go to the lake” and instead of giving my first reaction, “I’d rather eat my own kneecaps”, I pondered for a minute and then actually stepped out of my fuddy duddy box and said, “You’re on, girlfriend”.

It was a perfect day, sorta shady, but Coie and I still got more sun than our normal housebound albino carcasses are generally allotted.  Can the word carcass be used to describe a living organism?  I really have no idea.  Anyways, it was a lovely day and I think I might even try it again before summer runs out.

Here is proof of our lakity day:

many fish, and even a little soft shelled turtle, was caught and tortured, er… i mean ‘examined’.

Dippy: "Come on, mama, you can do it.  Here, I’ll help you"

When I got in up to my knees, i turned around to see Coie right behind me threatening to push me in on account of the one time, when she was six, that I pushed her into Gramma Sharon’s pool.  Good grief that girl can hold a grudge.  You’ll be disappointed to hear that she actually did not push me in, but rather held my hand so I wouldn’t fall while walking over the sharp rocks.  We were all astonished to see that I still knew how to swim.  I was downright giddy.

Lastly (and this’ll be a long lastly) in the previous post, there was a pretty good question about what to do if you have an unthankful kid who always bickers, is moody and fights with their siblings.

It can be a real struggle if a child has developed an idea that they are ‘owed’ certain things. A child doesn’t get candy in the checkout line and he cries or pouts, it’s time to leave the park and the child stomps their foot, yells “no” and runs toward the swing, instead of cheerfully running towards you to help pack up and get in the car. 

It is most definitely harder to combat this unwelcome character trait when it’s been fed and grown and allowed to pop up at will. And even harder if the parent has contributed by saying things like, “Oh, I know you’re disappointed; you really wanted some candy, maybe next time, I’m so sorry” or, “Oh honey, I know you love the park and we’re having to leave sooner than usual but next time we’ll stay longer”.  These types of bribing statements reinforce and validate bad behavior – what’s more, it puts the child in a position where they now feel like mom owes them an explanation when their will has been thwarted.  And God help you if you don’t have a good enough reason, because no doubt they will argue your ear off until it makes ‘sense’ to them.  You don’t want to get pretzeled into *that* habit or routine: 

  “Clean your room” “why?” “Um, because somebody might come over”  “I’ll just keep my door shut” “Um, no, they might want to play in there”  “Well I’ll just tell them they can’t” “Um, well, it might be the President and if he has a search warrant then legally we’d have to let him play in there” etc etc.  How much easier to start early and never let them argue!  “Clean your room” “why?” “I must be going deaf.  For a minute I thought I you said ‘why’ instead of ‘yes maam’ “

Honestly, if a kid is becoming defined as unthankful / moody / bickering, etc.  I guess I would suggest retraining both of you.  Start saying “no”.  Say it without giving any explanation.  Always smile when you say no and if they ask you ‘why?” say, “You’re kidding, right?  You’re actually not allowed to ask me ‘why’ if I tell you “no” or if I tell you to do something.  If I decide to give you an explanation, then I may, but you are not entitled to know why.  It is your job to learn how to obey me quickly and with a good attitude” and again, this is all said very pleasantly, not lording over, just stating as fact, cheerfully and determinedly.  Practice giving one sibling a treat and not offering the others a treat.  If questioned about it, let them know you are astonished that they expect something just because somebody else got something.  Ask them why they never ask to clean the bathroom when their sibling is given that ‘treat’.  Ask why they expect equal treatment only when they ‘get something they want’ out of the deal.  Tell them only bratty children do that and you know they don’t want to get a reputation for being a brat.

It’s not a popular method of training – I suppose most Americans have never even considered such a thing.  It’s because we were all brought up to believe we deserve the best, and that life should be ‘good’, or, even more sinister, parents fall into a mindset where they want their kids’ approval and they don’t want to cross them – basically, they live in fear of their child’s mood and will do anything to keep them pleasant.  This never works, it always harms the child, and they generally grow up to be spoiled, manipulative, demanding adults whom nobody really wants to be around.

So, that’s a long answer, but it’s an honest answer.  Say “no”, and don’t give your kids things when they ‘expect’ them.  

Let them understand why they need to value any and all gifts – big and small.  If they don’t act thankful for what you’ve given them, take it away and don’t give it back (a cookie, a Happy Meal “I don’t like this toy!”, etc).  Matter of fact, when Coie was really little (prob 5 or 6) we taught her this in one easy lesson.  She was at her gramma’s house, was given a gift, and she acted very nonchalant about it.  So when we got home, me and geoff sat her down and said, “That present was gramma’s way of saying she loves you.  When you act like you don’t care, it comes across like you don’t care about her, or the time she took to pick it out, or the money she spent to try and make you happy.  Getting a gift is not about YOU, it is about others and it is your responsibility to let them know that their time, their thoughtfulness and their generosity is valuable.  And then we took her gift away (even though she really wanted it) and we wrapped it up and gave it to some other kid (at our church, I think). 

I think all of my children have had a present taken away early on because they did not value the ‘giver’ of the gift.  And we told them, if we ever go somewhere and you are ever given something and the person does not know you are delighted, you will lose the gift.  And very soon afterwards, it no longer became ‘an act’ of thankfulness… they would finally ‘get it’ (especially when they started noticing ungrateful children at birthday parties who would tear thru the gift – which they had bought with their own money– and see her toss it over her shoulder with a shrug).  But if you don’t actually take the gift away, if you threaten but they still get it, then you end up actually strengthening the kid’s will and they will know that their ‘happiness’ will trump your desire to make them obey.

Ok, this is tons longer than I expected, but I hope that’s helpful. 

PS today I am making Butternut Spice Bread – I am substituting the butternut for pumpkin.  Brilliant, yes?  

August 23rd, 2007 - Posted in Uncategorized | | 0 Comments

Last month, when it was Emmiko’s  12^th birthday, I told my kids a story.  They love hearing tales of when their momsie was a monstrosity of bad behavior.  I think most of the time they don’t believe me even though I assure them my stories are heinous but true.  So anyways, I told them the story of when I was about 11 or 12 –  it was the morning of my birthday and things were busy and hectic.  …that right there was a real problem because *everybody* knows when it’s your birthday the world is supposed to come to a screeching halt to worship you with proper homage and due veneration.  Not only was the house too busy to properly reverence me, but my mother had the nerve to ask me, ME, Princess Jenny, to clean my room.

I told my kids that I slunk off to my room and started pacing in circles, working up a flood of emotion and then threw myself on my unmade bed and sobbed and sobbed and sobbed, getting louder and louder and louder, until FINALLY my mother heard me and rushed to my bedside. She asked the ‘what’s wrong, honey?’ question, to which I whispered in a tremulous voice, “You want me to clean my room?”  My mom said, “Yes Jenny, this is a busy day, I really need you to pick up your stuff.”  This was exactly what I was waiting for, and so on que, in the most sniveling, pathetic voice I could muster (and at this point I looked at all my children and contorted and scrunched up my face REALLY ugly), and I wailed, “but, but BUT, it’s my BIRTHDAAAAAAAAAAAY”  I put Nellie Olson to shame.

My kids laughed and laughed and laughed.  And they all said, “no way, mom, there is NO WAY you would do that”  and I told them, “Oh yes I did, and what’s more, my mother felt SORRY for me” and in shock they all doubled over and laughed their little goofy heads off.

My point?  Well, the other day I was listening to this lady (I had never met her before) who was telling this other lady about how she had been debating whether or not to reward her kids when they did their chores.  And she said that her mother told her that it would be appropriate to maybe give them a little piece of candy when they did the things they were supposed to do.  I almost came out of my chair, but I kept my mouth shut.  The lady went on to say, “And it makes sense, you know, after all my son knows that his dad gets a ‘reward’ when he goes to work, so I figure I should do the same”.  I still kept my mouth almost shut – I sweetly smiled and butted in to say, “Hmmmm, you should order the free newsletter from No Greater Joy, they have great practical parenting ideas”  

But what I *really* wanted to say was that her husband did not get ‘rewarded’ for his hard work.  Rather, he gets to eat and to feed his family, he gets to dress himself and his family, and he doesn’t have to live in a cardboard box in the parking lot of K-Mart.  Rewarded for doing what you *have* to do?  He may get a Christmas bonus, and that would be a reward for a full year of hard work, but for everyday duties that were required?  His reward is that he doesn’t get fired.

 It would be a much better lesson to have her kid make the bed and then give him breakfast.  Or even better, a sweet smile and an affirming, “Well done son, I am pleased at how quickly you obeyed me”.  But candy?  For doing what he’s supposed to do?  What if he decides he’s not in the mood for candy?  Does his bed stay unmade?  Are you not able to simply tell your child, “Make your bed, son” without him doing what he’s told?  I was scared for this mom.  This kid is a prime candidate to grow up to expect more than what he should naturally get.  We live in a fallen world and even God said that our men would have to earn their bread by hard work and the sweat of their brow.  So why instill this idea that our kids deserve ‘certain things’ without working hard?  Clothes, food, a bed, a house, birthday and Christmas toys?  Why fool them?  What a mean trick.  We need to prepare them for real life, which in turn produces a natural reaction of thankfulness.  When they no longer *expect* things, then it really means something to get an unexpected piece of candy — and they’re thankful.  But it’s our job as parents to teach them that they need to be hard workers so they can grow up take care of themselves and/or their family.  We’re training for real life here.

See? That’s what I get for eavesdropping. I’ve been thinking about that poor lady and her kid all week. 

And in other news, I found this great recipe to make Cream of Wheat.  It’s for all of us weirdsy, stereotypical homeschool momsies who grind their own wheat.  You take one cup of ground wheat and mix it with one cup of water.  And then you boil three cups of water with a dash of salt – and when it really starts to boil you dump your wheat and water mixture in there and stir it up for a few minutes.  Voila.  That’s it.  My kids have been pigging that stuff down every morning.  They can’t get enough of it.  To make it *really* good, serve it with buttered toast for dunking.  Talk about cheap and easy.  That was a great find.  

AND, a special thanks to Kris A. (Kait the Great’s mom) who mailed me a card and a butternut soup recipe that actually looks good.  It has CURRY in it.  This woman knows me well.  I’m going to make it today (don’t worry Kris P, I’ll still have plenty of squashems left over for you this Friday!) 

Lastly, as if this isn’t long enough, I’m thinking about giving Beginner Guitar lessons.  I got the idea from Jess who said she’s gonna start giving them again.  She’s given lessons in the past and made about a billion dollars a month.  And I figured if SHE can give Beginners Guitar lessons than *I* should be able to, because after all, I’m the one who taught her to play.  So I’m gonna look into that.  How much do people generally charge for a half hour of music lessons?  Any idears?

August 21st, 2007 - Posted in Uncategorized | | 0 Comments

JustGiveMeStarbucks is a real corker.  She left me a comment saying I look like Sarah Jessica Parker.  So I looked her up and found this picture egads, look at those arms.  No thanks; I prefer mine big, flabby and useless.  However, after browsing around I discovered that she and I share a similar awkwardishly large nose.  Plus, I think she married that one guy who played Ferris Buehler, and, uh, I went and saw that same guy play Ferris Buehler in the theaters.  :: crickets chirping ::   

When I was younger, I looked just like Laura from Little House on the Prairie. No kidding. We were practically twins.  Big buck teeth and all.  And then in high school I was compared all the time to Jo from the Facts of Life.  I never really appreciated that one so much, but as soon as my mullet grew out the resemblance faded. 

In other news, sometime last week I was making mashed potaties and the dish somehow slipped from my hand, and my kitchen plus several counters and especially ME got splattered up pretty good.  Man, potatoes can get *hot*. After I changed my tatered clothes I got the kitchen swiped up nice and shiney– but then I noticed that in all the splattering mayhem, a deviant glob had shot up and cemented itself to the kitchen ceiling.  It’s still up there, and every time I drink something (because naturally your head tilts upwards) there’s that yellow crusty splotch just waiting for me to do something about it.  Why am I telling you this?  I have no idea, but I just cannot seem to muster up the motivation to drag a chair in and scale up there to scrape ‘em off.  I guess I can safely say that I’m equally gross and lazy.

And with that charming visual, I bid thee a most enchanted weekend

August 17th, 2007 - Posted in Uncategorized | | 0 Comments

There’s this bird that goes off *really* early in the morning — right next to my bedroom window, and I kid you not, it sounds JUST like one of those squeaky rubber duckys.  Matter of fact, the first time I heard it, I thought James or Dip had gotten up especially early and must’ve lost their minds to play with the squeaky toys while I was still drooling on my pillow — they *know* better than that. Because in this house, honey, aint no one crazy enough to wake up the mama. I have no idea what sort of awful early bird took up residency directly outside my bedroom window, but with my luck, it’s a federally protected bathtub toy and I’ll get fined for even complaining about it.

Ok, here for your viewing pleasure is a zany zucchini pulled from my garden.  First of all, notice that it’s almost larger than Coie.  

Secondly, check this out:

It looks like a little artsy zucchini fairy came round and stitched out a golden threaded design.  It’s too big to eat, and it’s too pretty to throw out, so we’re just keeping it to stare at on the counter. 

I’m amazed that my garden has been producing like it has.  And seriously, in all seriousness, if you live anywhere near me PLEASE come and take some butternut squash off my hands.  Thanks to my funny friend, I planted two BN squash plants and I must have thirty or more that are ready to be harvested.  Supposedly they will store as long as potatoes, but I still don’t especially love them. But I did figure out that if you chop off the hard skins and boil them (not the skins, the squash) they make a great addition to mash potatoes. Those skins are HARD to cut thru, tho.  Speaking of which, the other day I nearly chopped my left index finger off.  I never saw so much blood in my life.  Anyways, the first person who shows up for the butternut squash will also win a free squeaky bird (nest included).

And lastly, I have two prayer requests, one is for my little sister who caught whatever her husband had and is now sick as a dog PLUS somebody broke into their truck and wrenched it up so bad that it isn’t running.  Pray for the thieves, too. We live in a fallen world with broken people.  Also, please pray for Angie’s friend, Sarah – a mom who was just diagnosed with a brain tumor and stage four cancer. Ugh, this world can be a very hard place to live. 

And seriously last, this morning I found out that Home Ed Family Times  re-printed my toilet article. (thanks, nance,  for the heads up)  It looks like a neat website.

PS thanks for all the nice / encouraging comments on the last post; that was really nice.

August 15th, 2007 - Posted in Uncategorized | | 21 Comments

So anyways, on Saturday our air conditioner went out.  Our thermostat only registers up to 90 and the needle was pressing against it pretty hard.  I’m guessing that inside the house it got anywhere between 95 and 175 degrees that day.   

So then Geoff came home that evening and got to work trying to clean and fix the unit.  It was *really* hot in the house – and we were not your average pack of Happy-Go-Luckies.  We were more like your average pack of, “How-about-you-come-over-here-so-I-can-push-this-chop-stick-thru-your-eye”; however, since we *are* you’re average polite Japanese family we’re able to still act relatively pleasant while plotting to kill one another.  I have a point to this.   Hang on.  Ok, so when it was well past bedtime and everybody had been working hard and we were all discouraged since the air conditioner stayed broke, everybody finally slogged off to their room.  Except me. I turned off all the lights in the house and laid down on the couch so I could pray – ha ha, this is a joke.  What I was really doing was crying like a fat spoiled baby and counting up all the bad things that had happened (was happening) within the last five months. 

And then all of a sudden my uninvited ten year old came lumbering into my Dark Cave of Tantrum; this was irritating because I don’t allow them to have pity parties or feel sorry for themselves and so the last thing I wanted was for him to see me weepy, irritated and angry.  Lucky for me, tho, I had been smart enough to turn off all the lights.   

I figured that he had also slunk out to the Cave to mope.  It had been a hard day for all of us. But instead when he noticed that I was on the couch he came over and started scratching my arm and then rubbing my feet and then he said, “Hey mama, wouldn’t it be great if we had absolutely nothing? because just think, then we’d be so grateful for anything that we got after that”.  And then he patted me on the head (he’s been doing that lately) and went off to bed.  He totally wrecked my whole tantrum.   

Did I actually expect an air conditioned house? Yes.  Why?  Why should I?  Did I expect my life to be free of trouble, hardship, and suffering?  Yes, apparently that is exactly what I expected, otherwise why would I be so despondent when bad things were happening?  Frankly, it made me nervous, because as a Christian I was PROMISED that life for me would be perilous, full of suffering and hardships, persecution, toil, etc.  Read Philippians, James, 1^st Peter, Thessalonians, Acts – it spells out very clearly what the life of a Christian will look like and what to expect, but for some reason American Christians always seem to miss those parts and cling to verses like, “He’ll give me the desires of my heart”.  We think life should come with certain perks in order for us to remain joyful – nice people around us, air conditioned homes, a manageable amount of debt, a working car, enough food, a working fridge, etc. 

I don’t want to be a Christian like that.  I want to be joyful in affliction and faithful thru *anything* that God allows into my life.  Do I trust Him?   That’s the question.

Sunday after church we searched far and wide for the part we needed.  Geoff checked Home Depot, Lowes, Tractor Supply, Walmart – to no avail.  Lowes said they’d order it and we’d get it within two weeks.  And I was happy because I was going to get a second chance at having a good attitude thru something that was going to be unpleasant.  And then late Sunday night, my genius husband jimmied a breaker and monkeyed some more with the unit and WHOOOOOSH – I had a full house of chilly air.  That man is brilliant.  I’m glad I didn’t murder him earlier.

Ok, this is getting WAY too long, but here at long last is my Isagenix wrap up:  I’ve lost a total of 12 pounds and a total 22 inches (from the 14 different measuring points).  Geoff is starting his program today.  Cool, eh? 

Rib cage:  Aug 2   = 32’ inches  Aug 6 =30’ inches  Aug 13  = 29.5’ inches

Waist:     Aug 2  = 30’ inches   Aug 6  = 28’ inches    Aug 13  =27.5 inches

Abdomen: Aug 2  = 36’ inches    Aug 6  = 33’ inches    Aug 13  = 31 inches

Weight:    Aug 2  = 155      Aug 6  = 147      Aug 13  = 143.4   

August 13th, 2007 - Posted in Uncategorized | | 0 Comments

You may or may not have noticed that one of my posts are missing.  It included Coie, a gun, and an unnamed mythical federally protected varmint that I neither confirm nor deny had been shot and killed after it was found munching on one of our chickens.

Yep, since I was feeling compelled by conscience (thanks a lot Mr. E), I made a call and turned myself in.  And alls I gots to say is that them TWRA people sure know how to scare a girl into complete teeth chattering compliance.  

Okay…. Moving on.  

So I was lucky enough to get out of the house today and hang out with three of my favorite friends.  I am a lucky girl.  And Coie got to come along and she even got an ice cream cone.  Alas, I did not get an ice cream cone.  I did, however, get some ice and some semi-fresh air.  

On our way to Maria’s, I was talking to Coie about her job ( I had to drop her off at work after our ice cream visit) and (as always) I was going over the all important information of what to say if any worthless shmuck started hanging around her cash register. 

"Coie,” says I, “you just tell them that you got a big mean dad and he’s got a gun”.  To which Coie replied, “Mama, if any guys even look my way I’ll tell them that I’VE got a gun and I aint afraid of shootin’ things that aint allowed to be shot”  That’s my girl.  And this may or may not be a blatant reference to the unnamed federally protected mythical wildlife critter which I will neither confirm nor deny that Coie put a bullet thru.

Okay…. Moving on.

And speaking of favorite friends, THIS crazy lady plans on running an 867 mile marathon tomorrow with her ENTIRE family.  Holy Moses, now that is incredible. Good luck, Kris!  You are an inspiration.

And lastly, are you getting tired of hearing about me and my dumb cleanse?  Well, I’m almost done.  I’ll post the last round of measurements / weight on Monday.  I ended up really liking this Isagenix thing and may do the 30 day program in the future.  I cannot believe how many of you have emailed me (and / or Jess) and are planning on doing it too. I hope you have good luck like me and jess have.  And if you don’t cheat, I imagine you will do swell.  And, if it helps, I think we’re gonna start a "Team Isa-Blogger" group, so look for the links on my side bar in the next week. 

SO, If you are also doing the cleanse / program (or planning to), let me know if I can link to you, k?

Thanks, Jess, for getting me that stuff.  And fine, I will say it, “You were right, I was wrong.  I didn’t believe you or your ridiculous claims.  so FINE. You win.”  You get ten Excellent Little Sister points, which can be put towards a bag of Tofu Oreos.   

PS Jess posted the sweetest happy birthday picture post for James.  Thanks jess, I *really* liked that.  You’re good at coming up with stuff I like.  What’s next? heh heh

August 10th, 2007 - Posted in Uncategorized | | 0 Comments

I just got James’ Birthday cake and frosting.  I *love* the Dollar Tree.  I also picked up a dinosaur puzzle.  Ten minutes and three dollars and the birthday boy is covered.  

I could have sworn we just celebrated his birthday like a couple weeks ago, but this Monday he’s supposedly turning four.  I can’t believe I don’t have a baby in the house; after buying diapers continually for 13 years, I no longer have them on my shopping list. 

My big boy:

(Yep, Shay, them are Little Richard’s jammies). 

After this Monday all Igarashi birthday’s are done for the rest of the year.  They don’t start up again until Feb.  Whew. 

Ryann woke up at 5:30 this morning and has made seven loaves of zucchini bread and is almost done with crocheting a baby blanket for a family from our church who just had a little boy this week.  I tell you what, it may be sad not having a baby, but it sure is most excellently awesome when they turrn into teenagers.

Happy sigh.

Lastly, you’ll be incredulous to hear that I have been working out every single day since Friday.  I know.  I hardly believe it myself.  AND my pants fit.  My favorite pants that haven’t fit for a year and a half. 

PS Have any of you started school yet?  How come nobody told me it was already almost mid-August??  GOOD GOLLY!

August 8th, 2007 - Posted in Uncategorized | | 0 Comments