Mcdreamy

Mcsteamy

Jim

Pam

Dwight

Dr. House

Just to name a few.......the joy of new episodes. I love fall TV.

Celebrities

I had said that I wasn't going to bring up anything really political on my blog since I figured who really needs to hear what I think about political things from my blog, but I can't stand it anymore. I am so sick of hearing these people in hollywood who think that if they have made a movie and have a bunch of money that they now have some sort of degree in political science, talk about the people running for office. Does Lindsay Lohan really think that the someone with any sort of brain would really listen and vote for who she thinks would be the best president? That should be a clear indicator of who you shouldn't vote for. Jada Pinkett Smith said she was voting for Michelle Obama. Really? I hadn't gotten the news flash that she was running. I am ready for this election to be over. I hate listening to idiots. When it is an election year they come out the wood works to give their two cents (it is kind of like the fair here in Bakersfield, when you go you think to yourself where have all these people who make people watching so much fun been?) While reading one of my celeb magazines the other day (yes I do read them, I just want to look at the pictures I don't really want to know what any of them have to say) there was a quote in there and I was shocked by who said it since I 110% agreed with it

“I truly believe that people like myself, entertainers in the limelight, should keep their mouth shut on politics. Because at the end of the day, let me tell you what I’m good at: I'm good at writing songs and singing. What I’m not educated in is the field of political science. And so for me to be sharing my views and influencing people of who I think they should be voting for… I think would be very irresponsible on my part.”
Kid Rock explains why he disagrees with celebrity endorsements of politicians.

So this is what this election year has come to......me on the same page as kid rock. Seriously ridiculous.

GIRLS GETAWAY 2008

Our View

So we finally had our weekend and it was the most fun I have had in a long time without my family. We went down to oxnard on Thurs. to stay and then went over to santa barbara on Sat. Our hotel sat right on the beach and had a huge hot tub which we made sure to visit. There were six of us (we were minus one who couldn't go last minute, We missed you Lisa!!) We really didn't have a set plan as to what we were going to do, so we just kind of went with the flow. We all did want to go shopping so we did lots of that. We didn't get a chance to lay out at the beach since it was a little chilly for us Bakersfield girls who are used to laying out in hot hot weather. We stayed up late talking (2 or 3 am) and got up pretty early (7 or so for jamie and I, guess we're old). On Friday we all went and got spa treatments, pedicures, facials, massages. Apparently we all talk too much since the lady giving my sister her facial said, "It is usually not this loud in here." We didn't care though as long as it was us making the noise and not kids (of which totaled 22 kids left between the six of us)

At the spa

Shopped out at the Outlets
While driving around one night we happened to drive past one of the malls and attached to the mall was the biggest target I have ever seen. It was two stories. I have never seen a target like that and it was attached to a mall no less. It is a good thing I don't live near this place or one like it. I am a sucker for target and it has become like costco for me. I can't leave that place without it costing me $100.


View from our room
Jamie getting a pedicure
Lindsay and Nicole at the spa
Lindsay after her facial

Unfortunately since there were six of us that meant there were at least 4 cameras. I am missing some pictures that we had taken of all of us together. So you will just have to blog hop to the blogs of others who went if you are really dying to see the other pictures. I came home to a house that had been picked up and laundry that had been done and was almost all put away. Jared went above and beyond what I was expecting for him being home by himself with all the kids. We had so many things going on that weekend I was surprised he made it through the weekend still standing. So a very big thank you to him and to all the other husbands for letting us girls get away for a few days. FYI though I am pretty sure we will be trying to make this a yearly thing. Thanks for a great time girls!!!

3 is better than 2....

So in order to make my blog not so long I decided to add another column to it. In my hopes to keep tabs on myself, I will be posting the answer my dreaded question of the day "What's for Dinner?" I will list my meals I have planned and if anyone would like the recipe let me know and I will post it. I will also try to post useful tips I find along my way since I am always on the look out for those. Of course I will also post any great deals I come upon because I love to shop and I sort of like to save money while doing it. If anyone has any great tips, tricks or money saving deals comment and I will post. Thanks for any input!

P.S. it was extremely easy to add the third column and it didn't mess up my background or anything like that. Go to this link if you want to have 3 instead of 2
http://www.zimbio.com/Free+Blogger+Beta+Template/articles/40/Create+three+column+Blogger+template

Labor day and the First day

Warning this will be picture overload. I know there are at least 4 of you at the the hospital right now that will enjoy all of them though. We are awaiting the arrival of our newest nephew Grant. Hopefully he will be born soon!!!!!

Labor Day:

We spent our day off over are Laura Skinner's parents house. Her dad was kind enough to let a whole truck load of people with more kids than we could count over to eat, swim, and play lawn bowling. Yes, the guys played lawn bowling. I thought that there was an age restriction on that game (like 65) but it seemed to be addictive especially to those who are competitive at heart. We had a great time, we wore the kids out and enjoyed what is sure to be the start of the limited number of swimming days remaining.

Ethan

This the shot of landon going in. Sorry it is blurry

This is the shot of him coming out. He pretty much landed belly flop. That didn't stop him though. He kept wanting to do it again and again.

All the boys. They decided that they wanted to taste all the popsicle's. So they took turns tasting each others. Hopefully no one gets sick.

Landon in heaven. The kids loves anything cake-like. A popsicle in one hand a brownie in the other.
Jared, Luke and Brian lawn bowling or Boccie(sp?) ball as it is also called
Yes they are using a measuring tape.

First Day:
Mackenzie started school on Tues. She was very excited and was ready to go. She got to school went right in put her backpack in her cubby and sat down in front of the doll house to play. I thought, I should go tell her I am leaving. When I said have fun she said don't leave. She didn't cry or make a big fuss, she just said it very quietly and looked at me with these sad eyes. I have never been one to get upset at leaving my kids when they go to school, or to even be bothered if when I leave them at school, or nursery and they are crying. When she said that though, I felt a little sad for her, maybe because she is my only girl or maybe because when she said it she wasn't embarrassing me by hanging on my leg while screaming bloody murder while I am trying to walk out the door. I told her I needed to go home and take care of the baby and would be back in just a little bit. Then she was fine and I was fine and we both went about the morning without a single tear shed. If I thought there was even the slightest possibility I was pregnant, I would be concerned because that would be the only other explanation for my sudden emotion to dropping my child off at school for the first time. I am usually the mom you see with the route 44 diet coke from sonic wandering aimlessly through target with the biggest smile on my face and only one child in the basket instead of four. Mackenzie had a great time at school and is looking forward to Thurs. when she can go again.




So that sums up our last week and this past holiday weekend. Our next posts will probably be about soccer and dance which are all getting started, and let not forget my girls weekend. Yes, that is right, jared is taking the kids from Thurs to Sat while I go to the beach with 5 friends. I will owe him big time since on that weekend we have back to school night, soccer practice, 2 soccer games, a birthday party and he is supposed to play the violin at a stake activity on Sat. as well. I hope he is still standing when I get back.

Fat Ash

So this is the name my bro. in law Marc has been calling him. As you can see it is extremely fitting. The kid weighed almost 15 Lbs. at his 2 month visit. Ashton is our little chunky monkey. He is starting to get really animated and show his personality more. He is heading into what is personally my favorite stage during the first year. Anywhere from about 3 months until they start becoming mobile is my favorite time. We all know once they start moving it is all downhill, at least for my kids since they never sit still once they can move.

Ashton has been a very easy baby. We can take him just about anywhere as long as we don't forget him in the car. We love him lots and hopefully he won't have any traumatic repressed memories about being left in the car.

(if your mouth is hanging open as you wonder what in the world I am referring to, please read back a few posts for the explanation)

Summer memories

When I was growing up here in good ol' bako, summer usually meant lots of swimming, sleeping out on the trampoline, a month long visit to utah to visit family and that was pretty much it. My dad is in the grape business which means from about may until november he is unavailable for vacations. Our trips as a family were always worked around "The Season" as we refer to it. There was always one trip my dad was able to make during the summer and that was the annual visit to CLOVIS LAKES. It is now called wild water adventures but to me, my sister, brothers and parents it is Clovis lakes. Every summer we went there with at least 2 or 3 other families. The Elledges were there every year. The McCalebs were there pretty often from what I remember. I know the Nichols came a few times, and there were always a few other families that joined us every so often. We spent the whole day there, it is set up like a big park with lots of trees and a waterpark in the middle of it. We brought blankets, chairs, and more food than anyone could ever eat. Diane Elledge always brought a huge tub of red vines along with many other sweet treats to satisfy her, and everyone elses sweet tooth. There were usually long lines, and tons of people but as kids I don't ever remember caring. It hasn't changed much although they have added a few new rides to the park. One year we went Mandee rode down the newest ride called the black hole. I personally was scared to death to ride it. She went down this pitch black tube and came out with the nastiest scrape on her back. I have not ridden that ride since. Not that I needed a good excuse not to.

So this year for tanner's (my nephew) birthday my sister thought it would be fun to take a trip down memory lane and head back to what was our one day summer vacation with my entire family. So off we all went, minus my brothers to clovis lakes. Marc's ( my brother in law) family joined us as well. We all had a great time, no meltdowns from kids until the very end of the day when we were getting ready to leave, and lots of good food to snack on including a big tub of red vines for old times sake.