High School Tag

1. Did you date someone in high school? a few too many, only a couple seriously
2. What kind of car did you drive? a light blue Mazda 2whl drive pick-up without a stereo until I rolled it and totalled it. Then I drove my mom's red Mercur or Jason's green 79 Chevy truck
3. Did you pass your driver's license test the first time? Yes
4. Were you a party animal? Yes, but not proud of it
5. Were you considered a flirt? Yes
6. Were you in band, orchestra, or choir? Not hardly- wasn't my style
7. Were you a nerd? no
8. Were you on any varsity teams? Softball, Volleyball
9. Did you ever get suspended or expelled? No, but not for lack of trying
10. Can you still sing your fight song? No, never knew it even when I was in school
11. Who were your favorite teachers?
12. Where did you sit at lunch? In the parking lot, hall, or fast food joint
13. School mascot: Wildcats
14. School colors: Red and Blue
15. Did you go to homecoming and who with? Yes, only one year before I was even 16
16. If you could go back and do it again, would you? Yes, I would love to be care free again, but I would do a lot of thing differently
17. What do you remember most about graduation?
18. Where did you go on Senior Skip Day? didn't have a senior year so didn't do senior skip day
19. Were you in any clubs? are you kidding me?
20. Have you gained weight since then? Um, yes unfortunately. Not a ton though
21. Who was your prom date? my sweet husband who took me when he was 21 since nobody would ask me (we were actually engaged)
22. Are you planning on going to your 10 year reunion? just had it this summer- everything was still the same old high school stuff
23. Did you have a job while in high school? if cleaning my mom's beauty shop counts
24. Worst class?
25. Favorite class?

Look alike?

Recently I have been told that I resemble Reese Witherspoon and also Julia Stiles. I take either of those as a very nice compliment. What do you think?

ER and the OR

Yes, I am looking up Katera's nose. We were just hanging out waiting for bedtime when she came to me and said- "Nose. Funny. Get it out." She had been eating craisins. . . . . . . . . .

And stuck one up her nose! So after a few minutes of debating and trying to get it on our own we headed to the emergency room. It so frustrates me that we don't have an Insta care clinic for weekends- starting Thursday at noon!!! The ONLY option you have is the ER even when it really isn't an emergency! I guess that's part of living in a small town- one that I don't like.

So we dropped Sekoya off with Grandma Maridon.... she would have been more traumatized than Katera over this- she has a very tender heart for her family. Katera thought it was all fun and games until we actually got into the emergency room. She was all grins in the waiting room.......

Then she started to get a little worried when we set her on the bed. It didn't help that there was a girl next to us that was getting stitches and was crying and whimpering quite a bit. The doctor came and talked to us and told us what he was going to do. He was kind-of talking to us like we were first time parents. He told us that we could leave when they restrained her because she would freak out. Are you kidding? I was not about to leave my baby while they restrained her and let her worry that I left her. I asked him if he would rather have us leave and he hesitated and then asked what number child Katera was for us. Ha!! I reassured him that she was not the first child and that my older one had done this as well so I knew all about the restraints and freaking out. He just didn't want a mommy freaking out and causing more stress for the baby.

So he got out the tools and let Katera look at them while he prepared. She was ok when he was just looking with the little flashlight tool. Then we wrapped her up in a sheet nice and tight like a burrito. She wasn't too cool with that,but still only whined a little bit. She was even ok when he started with the tweezers. Then I think it got a little deep in her nose and might have hurt a little bit. She started screaming and crying and moving her head. He had to stop and looked again to see that it had gone farther in her nasal passage. He said we had two options- try to suck it out with a little vacuum hose or try to push it all the way through down her throat. The vacuum seemed like the least invasive for her, but their suction in the ER wasn't enough. So we loaded up and went to the OR to use the GOOD suction. I told them I just didn't want to get charged for an OR!! We wrapped her up again and stuck the suction up her nose. She was arching her back and kicking her legs. I got to put pressure on her body while Jason held her legs. Finally the suction got it and pulled it out. I told her she was all done and she immediately stopped crying. She was such a brave little girl. I asked her as we were leaving if she was going to stick things in her nose anymore and she wagged her finger at me and said No, No, No.

The funniest part about this is that Sekoya did the exact same thing with a raisin when she was about this same age. I just wish I had a blog back then and I could go back and remember exactly how old she was. I am really glad that our ER trip was just for a craisin up the nose. We have been so blessed with healthy kids that don't have a lot of accidents either.

This is the little green dragon that they gave Katera for being such a good patient.

Goofy

Moms and Muffins

I almost forgot to put this in! Thanks for reminding me with your post about lunch Heather.

Last Friday our elementary school had a Moms and Muffins day. You get to go to school with your child and spend abou 1/2 hour reading with them. Then they served muffins. We tended Preslie in the morning so Melissa could go with Hayden. Preslie is finally getting big enough to play with the kids. I am so excited for when Preslie, Aubrei, and Katera get about five years old. I think they will be such good little friends.

Anyway... back to Moms and Muffins..... I was able to go with Sekoya while Jason stayed home with Katera. She was so happy to have me there. It was some good one on one time with my big girl. Katera takes so much attention sometimes I think Sekoya feels neglected. I was very happy to be able to go with her. I was watching to make sure that all the other kids had a mom or grandma to read with. I felt bad that a couple of them didn't have anybody there. I am so blessed to be able to stay home and be the mommy for my girls. I have a great husband that works hard (if you can call his job work) to make sure he provides all the financial stability so I can do that. It was really nice not to have to worry about taking a day off of work or working around a lunch break to go share this day with Sekoya. It was fun to see who each kid belongs to since I have been working with them once a week. When it was time to go all of the kids got a little clingy and didn't want their moms to leave- including Sekoya.

We also took the girls to see Madagascar 2 Friday night. It was a cute movie, still not as good as the first. Katera actually sat through the whole thing without running around. I think that is the first time she has done that. It was fun to be able to go to the movie all together instead of one of us staying home with Katera.

Service

Sekoya's primary lesson this last Sunday was on service. Her teacher told them to do secret acts of service this week. So we keep finding little red hearts by our clean closet, perfectly made beds, etc. She has been so excited to do this too. Her primary teacher is so cute and relates to these girls so well. I am so thankful for such a great new ward. They have welcomed us with open arms. But isn't that what Latter Day Saints are all about? Making anyone feel welcome wherever they go.

Yesterday I went and got Katera a new perm. Her hair has been such a mess lately. Sekoya cut it a while back so she has several different lengths. That makes it hard to get to stay in ponytails. So, as the slacking mother I am, I just don't do it usually. I figured if she at least had curls it would look cute even when I don't do it. She was a really good girl for most of the time. She didn't like getting the curlers in because it pulled. That was the worst part. Now I have a cute little curly cue!

This was pretty much her demeanor all day long.

This was her attempt to smile and look happy.

She also got her fingernails painted so that was something to be happy about.

Jinxed!

Okay, I guess I asked for it with my last post. I stated that I wasn't going to worry too much about Sekoya and the kids at school unless I got a phone call from an upset mother. Well, I got a worse phone call....

from her TEACHER!!!

She called me yesterday and asked if there was something going on at home that would cause her to act out. I told her no, there isn't anything new or out of the ordinary going on at home. She then told me how she is spitting and pushing kids and not listening to the teacher/aides when they tell her to do something. I can't say I was surprised. Sekoya definitely dances to the beat of her own drum. I am a little frustrated with her though. GRRRRRR! Every day when she comes home I ask how school was, if she got along with all the kids, and if she got in trouble. She answers me with quick one word answers- fine, yes, no. So yesterday when she got home we had a little bit longer discussion about school. She kept trying to tell me nothing was going on and the kids are just tattling on her. I told her the teacher called me and told me she saw Sekoya push a kid. I finally broke through her wall and she sat on my lap and cried for about ten minutes. Come to find out this all stems from her friend next door not wanting to play with her much these days. She is always bringing home the girl that used to live in our house to play with her and leaving Sekoya out. I guess this happens at recess too. So Sekoya is feeling sad/mad and takes it out on everybody else. I hate to admit, but I cried too. I felt so bad for my little girl. I know how she feels and I remember how mean girls can be at times. I also know that this is just a first of many times like this. I hate being the mom! I want to just make it all better, but I can't. This is something Sekoya has to learn from and work out on her own. I hope I can help her through this and teach her how to deal with it the next time it happens. Girls are just so mean! If you have seen the movie 'Mean Girls' it is all true!!

Kids.....

Well, first it was baby powder next is sugar....

Katera got into the pantry where I had about 1/3 of a bag of sugar in there. She dumped it on the floor and proceded to lick it up. I was in my bathroom doing my hair when I came out to find her face and shirt covered in sugar. I asked her what she got into and she proudly declared- Sugar! I'll show you! There's her cute grin that squishes up her whole face. I love it! She makes me laugh sometimes.

Man, life at our house is never dull!!! I could use a dull day once in a while.

Sekoya is officially reading!! I am so proud of her. I bought some beginner readers from her book order last month. Jason sat down with her one day and she sounded out and read the entire book to him. She got through all of those and was just reciting them from memory so I bought her some more from Hooked on Phonics. She is already to book 5 in that set. The books that her teacher is sending home each week are too easy for her now. I am glad that she is doing so well with reading. I think if they can catch on to reading the rest will come. I am helping in her class every Tuesday now. She is definitely one of the smarter ones in the class. It is really fun and interesting to see the kids interact with each other. I have also learned that Sekoya is not very nice sometimes- from some tattling from the other kids. I am not worrying too much about it because I think all 5 year olds can be a little mean sometimes.... I just hope I don't get a phone call from a mother.

I am helping with our Christmas enrichment night tomorrow. I was volunteered to be on the decorating comittee without even knowing it. I don't know if that is their way of making me feel welcome, but I really wish they wouldn't. I don't mind helping-don't get me wrong, but I wish I would have been asked if I would help and not told. I was in charge of putting together a little bag with all the symbols of Christmas. It didn't take that long and they turned out cute. Then we have to decorate tomorrow. Most of the ladies on the committee don't have small kids at home so they don't understand that I can't decorate at 11:00. That is when I am getting Sekoya fed and ready to go to school. So I will just get there when I can and if I am lucky they will have it all done ;)!

When Mommy is away.......the kids make a MESS!

OK, So it has been a while since I have posted anything....well this is not exactly how I wanted to get back to posting.

Well, Ashley decide that she wanted a weekend away and headed to St. George this morning to enjoy a weekend at the Scrapbook Expo. I dont really think she went for that as she hardly scrapbooks anymore. I think she just needed a night or two away.....which is GREAT and I am glad that she can.

Sooooooo I finish up bathing the kids tonight and get them in their PJs and walk upstairs to do a few things and Sekoya comes running up screaming that Katera had just made a HUGE mess. So, being the good Dad that I am and following my wifes lead.....I grab the camera and head downstairs. :)

When I get down the stairs I see this HAZE all the way down the hallway. I walk into Kateras room and I can not even breathe as the BABY POWDER was so thick in the air. She had climbed up and emptied an entire bottle of Baby Powder in her room. IT IS EVERYWHERE! I attempted to vaccum and to clean, but it is in every crevice in the entire basement!!!!! I put Katera back in the TUB to try and get her clean. But as you can see from the pictures, she is quite proud of the mess that she has made!!!!

So, Ash............if you check the blog while you are down in St. George........I LOVE YOU......I LOVE YOU.....and I will clean this up before you get home!!!! ahahahah








How can you just not LOVE LOVE LOVE a face like this?????

A little more anonymous?

I am going to change our blog address so it does not include any part of our name. I will email everyone that I know your email address the new address. If I don't have your address please leave me a comment.

I know this is as much of a pain as going private, so why don't I just do that? I still want friends to be able to blog surf and find me from other's links. I am hoping that I am making my blog a little more anonymous without having to go private.

Katera's two year old stats

We went to the doctor today for her two year old well check and shots. I hate shots. I hate that I have to be the mean one to hold her down and let people hurt her. She is so tough. She cried for only a few minutes and by the time we walked out of the doctor's office she was fine. I didn't get pictures because after the doctor we had to rush home and get Sekoya to dance and then fix dinner.

Weight 24.8 lbs 25%

Height 34 in 50%

She is so small compared to Sekoya. Sekoya was always in the 75-90% and still is.

Katera is so fun these days- and also really hard to deal with sometimes too. She is definitely in the "terrible two's". She can go from laughing one minute to screaming and throwing a fit the next minute. She gives the best dirty looks ever. I am told that they are a mirror image of mine. She has decided she really likes TV now. I can hardly tear her a away from Max and Ruby, Dora, or any of the Barbie movies. She is a great eater and only fusses about food after she watches Sekoya say it is yucky. She is a big tag along and follows Sekoya and her friends everywhere they will let her. She also loves our cat- Jasmine. She will go outside and call for her "Here Key, Key, Key" (kitty, kitty, kitty) She is really starting to talk. It is so funny to hear full sentences come out of her mouth. The latest one is "I told you to go to bed." It just floored me to hear her say that many words at one time. She also says - I'll show you, Mommy where are you?, I sure love you, I did it. She says a lot of single words, but those are her most used phrases. We are starting the potty training process with her this week. It is not going so well. She knows that she needs to tell me when she needs to potty, but she waits until it is too late. Any helpful suggestions would be appreciated. I guess we'll just keep working on it and cleaning up the messes. Thank goodness my house is mostly tile!
Some things I love about Katera right now are-

• when she says thank you at just the right time
• her cute grin that squishes up her whole face
• that she always worries about her sister -where she is, if she's sad
• her long luvs- closest thing to cuddling for her
• she loves to help with anything I am doing
• how her face lights up when she sees her Daddy
• she goes to sleep so easy still- for naps and bedtime
• her independence- most of the time
• when she tells me I love you before I say it to her
• she asks to go home after being out and about for a while

I love you Care Bear!!!

Voting by a 5 year old

Sekoya came home from school today with a voting sticker on her shirt.
She exclaimed-I voted for NaCain.
When I asked her why she voted for him and not the other one her reply was- Well it's almost Christmas time and NaCain sounds like candy cane.
I told her that is who I would have voted for too. She said-Yeah if only you were five. But you're LOTS older than five.

If only voting were that simple.

Time Change

It is 6:45 AM and both my girls are awake. This time change is really messing up my days. Usually I can get up at this time and have about an hour to myself to get some things done before by beautiful little angels wake up. I really dislike time changes. I don't really care which one we are on, I just wish it would stay the same all year long. Now I will have a 5 year old getting cranky around four or five o'clock tonight and my two year old ready for her nap before we've even had lunch.

Sigh.

And we have a well child Dr. appointment and dance class today.

Big sigh.

It is going to be one of those days.

No tricks, just tons of treats

Halloween is a crazy night. We have so many family members to see that it takes up quite a bit of our trick or treat time. Not to mention how hard it is getting the kids in and out, in and out of the car in their costumes. Sekoya was Rapunzel this year and Katera was a Care Bear. Since that is her nick name I figured it would be fun to have her be that while she is young enough not to have a say in her costume choice. Yes, Sekoya should have a long BLONDE braid for Rapunzel, but she wanted real hair and brown was what Grandma Sindy had for us to borrow. Katera was funny about her costume. She did NOT want to wear the head for her costume on her head until I took her in the bathroom to see it. I told her how cute it was and she agreed. Then she didn't want it off. Sekoya started trick or treating at 2:30 in the afternoon. She went with our neighbors and friends to Walmart and Lins to their trunk or treats. Then we got Katera ready and met them at our ward carnival. I was completely surprised at how much fun Katera had. She wanted to do all the activities-except the cake walk. She just wanted the cupcake to eat. It was really cute how they had it set up. They had a scripture name/reference for each activity-Pin the nose on Nephi, Daniel and the Lions bean bag toss, Malachi's tithing toss, and more. After the carnival we made all our family visits then back to the church for their trunk or treat. There weren't very many kids so they went through the line of cars two and three times. We could have been all done when we left there. Katera couldn't even lift her bag. But we HAD to go to the Halloween House. There is a house in town that goes all out with their decorations. I mean ALLLLL OUT. Sekoya insisted that we had to go there. I was worried about what Katera would think, but she was amazed. She didn't want to leave. She just stood and stared at all the stuff. I took Katera home and got her in the bath while Jason took Sekoya to some houses. You can't call it trick or treating unless you go ring the doorbells and wait for the door to be answered. When they got home I hurried and got Sekoya bathed and both girls to bed by 8:30. I let her sort her candy the next morning. My kids aren't really big candy eaters. Sekoya took her bag and sorted by the things she liked and things she didn't like. By the time she was done she only had about half the amount she started with. Mom and Dad get to eat all the things she doesn't like. I got up early Saturday morning and went to Walmart to get some of the costumes at a discount for dress ups and for next year.......I'm glad it only comes once a year.At the Halloween House
Ward Trunk or Treat- heavy bag

Katera dragging her full bag

Katera growling like a bear

Reward from the cake walk

Cake walk

Bean bag toss

Tithing toss

Digging for treasure

Ready to go trick or treating

Isn't she the cutest Care Bear ever?

My proclamation to the world- WARNING: may offend some people

The following is from an email that I got from a friend this week. It contains strong language and may possibly offend some people. So if you are easily offended- quit reading now. I just thought it defined me completely. With that said- I am not directing this or intending this to be for any certain person to read- just my proclamation to the world.



















BITCHOLOGY

When I stand up for myself and my beliefs, they call me a bitch.

When I stand up for those I love, they call me a bitch.

When I speak my mind, think my own thoughts or do things my own way, they call me a bitch.

Being a bitch means I won't compromise what's in my heart. It means I live my life MY way. It means I won't allow anyone to step on me.

When I refuse to tolerate injustice and speak against it, I am defined as a bitch.

The same thing happens when I take time for myself instead of being everyone's maid, or when I act a little selfish.

It means I have the courage and strength to allow myself to be who I truly am and won't become anyone else's idea of what they think I 'should' be.

I am outspoken, opinionated and determined. I want what I want and there is nothing wrong with that!

So try to stomp on me, try to douse my inner flame, try to squash every ounce of beauty I hold within me. You won't succeed. And if that makes me a bitch , so be it. I embrace the title and am proud to bear it.



B - Babe
I- In
T - Total
C - Control of
H - Herself


B= Beautiful
I= Intelligent
T= Talented
C= Charming
H= Hell of a woman

B= Beautiful
I= Individual
T= That
C= Can
H= Handle anything

My new toys

My new favorite toys are Shark steam cleaners!! The first one is the steam mop and the second one is the all purpose steam cleaner. They are so fun and make cleaning easy! For any of you who watch Good Things Utah you know all about the pluses of cleaning with steam. I was so excited when I found these. I was just about to call Sargeant Steam and have them come clean my house top to bottom. Now I can do it myself and it is so FUN!!! They weren't too expensive either.

Crazy Hair Day

This week is red ribbon/drug week at our schools. Yesterday was Red Day- they were supposed to wear red. Today was Crazy Hair Day. Sekoya requested to have pigtails that poked straight out-Pippy Longstocking-ish. So I put pipe cleaners in her ponytails to give it support. Then her friend Hadyn did the same thing. I told them to be careful and not poke anybody's eye out with their hair. Ha Ha!!

The other pictures are from Saturday. The girls were playing dress up and wanted me to take their picture. Then they wanted to be the photographer. The crazy ones are them operating the camera.

Halleluiah

I am so excited that gas is now below $3.00 a gallon. I was beginning to think it would never happen for as long as I lived. We have been pushing $4.00 all summer long. And it has been dropping steadily for a week by about 5 cents a day! Makes you wonder about the pricing of gas! Now I can fill my Yukon for under $100!!!! Yahooo!!!

Long night

Last night was the longest night I have had in a long time. Katera had a really rough night. We put her to bed around eight. Then the battles started. This has been going on for a week now... we put her down and think she is asleep when she comes crawling up the stairs. We keep putting her back to bed several times and she keeps coming up every time. I finally have to go stand right by her door and hold the doorknob so she can't get out. Last night was the worst. She not only would not go to bed, but she was crying uncontrollably for at least two hours. It was getting so bad that we thought something might be wrong with her. She kept saying her belly hurt and would cringe, then her whole body would shake. We just kept rocking her and trying to be as loving and patient as you can with a child that is up three hours beyond bed time. Then her top lip started to swell. Jason was really concerned that something was wrong so we decided to head to the emergency room at about ten. I called my mom to come over and sit with Sekoya and we jumped in the car. By the time we got to the turn for the hospital Katera was sound asleep in Jason's arms. I didn't want to wake her up let alone walk into the emergency room with a sleeping child saying that there is something hurting her. Yeah right- they would think we were paranoid idiots. So we went back home and made her a bed on the floor by our bed where she slept soundly---- for about an hour. Then the crying and stuff started again for about another two hours. She finally fell asleep in our bed only when she could be touching both Jason and I. She slept fitfully and tossed and turned all night long. She woke up this morning and has been fine all day. I have come the the conclusion that she was having some major separation anxiety for some reason and was just throwing a big honkin' fit. As for her lip swelling... I don't know what that was. It has gone away. She went to bed tonight without fighting thank goodness. I could not do another night like last night.

What time is it?

Senior year on High School Musical 3!!

I can't ever hear that line and not think of the song from HSM2. I took Sekoya to see it yesterday. Can you believe it- it was actually in Richfield on opening day!!! And there wasn't even a crowd. I was surprised. After all the hype and build up for this I was a little disappointed. I think Sekoya was too. I agree with one of my friends on this- the dresses were quite skimpy and the love story was a bit too much. Considering that little girls are obsessed with this movie you would think they would do a better job of making the "role models" a little more wholesome. They did a great job on the songs and made much more of a production out of it than the other two. I would have preferred it to just be another Disney movie on the Disney channel. It was a good excuse for me to spend some one on one time with Sekoya though. Thanks to Daddy who stayed home with Katera and pruned the yards!!

Projects

Ok, so we got the countertops done then added knobs to finish it off. Now I have been working on staining our bathroom vanities. They were unfinished so I stained them a dark walnut color. Next is to build shelves in our storage room and get our yard pruned and ready for winter. I will be glad when all my projects are over and I can just enjoy my house!! The before pictures are before we owned the house with the other people's decorations.

Before picture of the bathroom

After picture

Before of the Kitchen

After pictures

Halloween Party

What started out as a small pizza/football night ended up being quite the Halloween party. Grandma Maridon invited us all over for pizza and football. Then Melissa decided it would be fun to decorate cupcakes and carve pumpkins. I'm glad she is good at spontaneity because it turned out to be really fun. She baked the cupcakes and Mark and JaLee provided the pumpkins--we just showed up! Mark took JaLee out to dinner for her birthday--HAPPY BIRTHDAY JALEE!! Then they came back in time to carve the pumpkins. I think the adults did more of the carving than the kids did. The kids had mixed feelings about sticking their hands in the gooey pumpkins to pull out all the seeds. Some liked it and others didn't. They did a great job on their cupcakes- if you like mounds of frosting! They were really proud of them. It was a really fun night! I will post pictures as soon as Maridon email's me some since I forgot my camera.