Weird, Wild Weather!

The Monsoon's are here! Woohoo!
Tonight the skies started to darken and the wind started to blow! The skies started to light up with lightening! When Tony and I got out of church the rain had begun! It was such a wild, fun storm tonight! Here are some pictures of the storm I took! We were watching TV after it had been raining for about a hour and you could hear the rain just pouring. It got so loud Rachelle and Hannah ran outside to look at it! Rachelle came back inside soaking wet and told me Hannah was still outside~ Here she is! Soaked to the bone! Within a minute or less she was absolutely soaked! Can you see how hard it was raining?
The news tonight said the wind was clocked blowing 80 miles a hour~the same as a category 1 hurricane. The rain had already fallen almost 2 inches in under a hour and flights at the airport were grounded until the weather mellowed out!
FINALLY!!!! Weather in Arizona I actually LOVE! Yep, I'm a happy girl Ü


I had to take about 30 pictures just to get one of the lightining! Guess I need a camera that is faster!

Absence Makes My Heart Grow Fonder

Many years ago We took one of our children to the pediatrician. We were afraid they had ADHD.After a lengthy exam the Dr had a diagnosis for us. He sat us down and said I'm afraid I have some bad news. I know what the problem is and it's not good! We were so worried. What could it be?? Something worse than what we thought? Was is some grave illness? Well the doctor explained that although the condition is awful, it is not rare. He then leaned in and said your child suffers from...teenage buttholeitis!!!
Oh my gosh! We laughed our butts off!
Dr Lofgren told us there was nothing wrong with this child they were just being a bratty teenager!
Well over time that has been how we describe our teenagers...suffering from teenage buttholeitis!
I find myself feeling overwhelmed sometimes and I get frustrated with my kids easily. I think I fail to recognize the good in them sometimes and I focus on what is frustrating me at the moment!
About two weeks ago we had some people from church come over and extend a invitation to Zachary to attend scout camp. Zachary has refused to go to scouts for years now. He hated it! Brother Allen promised Zach if he agreed to go they could get him caught up and on track to receive his eagle scout. Cool huh? Zach was hesitant to go but eventually gave in and decided to go.
He has been gone since Monday and I find myself missing that little bugger since he has been gone! I want to make sure when he returns I let him know I appreciate who he is!
I have been thinking what a good boy he truly is! When I assign the kids their weekly jobs he may complain and give me a hard time at first but then wham~ he busts it out! He does a amazing job too! He had the kitchen before he left and I would wake up to find my kitchen sparkling! He knows I love to have my kitchen clean and so when I am having a hard day he has this little twinkle in his eye and the cutest smile after he does a amazing job and then comes to me to see how I like the job he did!
He has a compassionate side to him but he doesn't like you to point it out! He has NEVER liked attention drawn to him that way!
I have observed some of my friends kids who are a similar age and I can't help but think how lucky I am! Zachary has his teenage butthole moments, however he is a amazing kid. I think Heavenly Father has given me the kids he has as a blessing to me ! They are so good! I expect so much out of my kids and for the most part they arise to the occasion!
Anyhow, I have been thinking about my boy, wondering if he is having a good time, and have been thinking how much I love that kid! I hope he is having a good time and I am so glad he made the decision to go!
When I think about these things it encourages me to be a more patient mom. To express my love to them more, and to make sure they know how grateful we are as parents for all they do to contribute to our family!
Oh~ If he sees this post he is going to be pissed! He HATES it when I talk about him ESPECIALLY on THE BLOG!!
How do you think he is gonna like that I posted that pic of him being weird?? I just had to...It is so Zachary! He is always goofing around!

Which Superhero are you ?

Your results:
You are Superman

Superman 100% Wonder Woman 80% Supergirl 65% Spider-Man 55% Iron Man 55% Hulk 50% Green Lantern 50% Catwoman 50% The Flash 45% Robin 35% Batman 30%

You are mild-mannered, good, strong and you love to help others.

What the Crap?? Not Catwoman? Not Wonderwoman? I like a good push bra as much as the next flat chested woman..Are these results rigged?

Click here to take the "Which Superhero am I?" quiz...

Who Wants To Play?

Julie and Sherry had this fun Memories of Me on their blogs and so I decided to play along too!
Here's the rules~
1. Leave a comment on my blog of a memory you have of me or of you and I together! If you only know me through the blog, list a favorite memory of a post of mine. It doesn't matter if you've known me for years or we are new friends! All memories are fun and welcome!
2.Next re post the instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory of you! Should be fun to see the results.( I hope I am brave enough here folks..Be gentle I'm delicate!Hehehe!Just kidding go ahead and tell it like it is!)If you leave a memory of me I'll assume you're playing and I'll visit your blog and post one about you! Hey I agree with Julie...Lurkers are welcome too!
Come on~ don'tcha want to play??

My Wife my Friend

Here are a few things I love about my wife Lauri.

1. She is Hot!!! Like the Arizona blacktop in August.

2. She is kind and will give you the shirt of her back.

3. She is funny and she laughs at my jokes.

4. She likes bald men.

5. She sleeps with her hand on her cheek.(Face) It is so cute!!!

6.She can can make a meal out of any three ingredients as long as one is Cream of Chicken Soup.

7.She loves working with animals, like Zach, Ethan and me.

8. She can flip a u-turn, talk on the cell phone and explain the finer points of blogging at the same time,

9. She is smart, she designed this blog layout all by herself.

10. Did I say she is beautiful... that too!!!

Aren't Kids Funny?

Great laughs..My kids just keep em coming today. Just two of the gems they shared with me. Bailey~She told me she did the greatest trick today and I didn't even see it! You see she snuck outside when I wasn't looking got butt naked and went in the front yard and pooped for everyone to see! Yes we have reached a whole new level around here folks. I think our neighbors love us.
Zachary~ I took him driving to practice for his permit next week and we stopped at the Circle K. There was a skinny little guy with a tall blond girl. He kept going on and on how a guy like that could get a girl like her. When they came out of the store Zach got a good look at her face and said "Oh that explains it! She's a butter face" What?? He then decided he had to "School" me cause I am so not with it. A butter face is a girl who is smoking hot everywhere but her (butter) face! Nice..
I feel so old Ü

52 Blessings Project ~Week 27

This Week I Am Grateful For~ Books!!

Ever since I was young I have had a love of reading! When I was a freshman in high school I can remember being embarrassed as I tried to sneak checking out a juicy Harlequin Romance from the school library!

Nothing is as fabulous as losing yourself in a really wild, fun read! I love Zany characters and outrageous adventures!

One of the funnest series of books I love to read are Janet Evonovich's Stephanie Plum series.

They are a little racy, but not raunchy. The stories are crazy, and funny and a real light read. I have read all 13 of them so far!

When it comes to books I am a cheapskate. I buy them at garage sales by the bag fulls. I like the library but am always forgetting to return them on time and end up with late fees. (That reminds me, I have 4 books upstairs late and needing to be returned! Crap!!)

Well, the newest plum novel just came out last month. I have been dying to read it but there is a wait at the library for the book and me being cheep just didn't want to pay $30 for a book I'll blow through in a day or two.

Well, last night I was at target and saw the book for 30% off! I HAD to have it! I am so excited!!! So, tonight at midnight instead of blogging I am going to be tucked in my bed with my big juicy novel!!

Books~ I just love them. They are a blessing to me for sure!

Oh, Do you like to read? Love it?

Preference~Juicy? Raunchy?Romantic? Light read??

Here is a review and description of my latest book~

Bounty hunter Stephanie Plum is back, and she's as entertaining as ever. In her 14th outing, she tries to help her cop boyfriend Morelli figure out why people are breaking into his home. (Could it be because his ex-con cousin Dom Rizzi buried his bank-robbery booty there?) She helps her flirt buddy Ranger do personal security for a Dolly-like sexagenarian singer named Brenda. Then she and her ex-prostitute partner, the scene-stealing Lula, somehow end up filming a COPS-meets-The Simple Life TV special with Brenda — for Fox, naturally. In short: Fearless Fourteen is the quick and quirky book Janet Evanovich fans have come to expect. B+

See? Mindless entertainment! I love it!

4th of July Festivities!

Usually for the 4th of July we have a BBQ with friends and then head out for fireworks. This year was kind of different for us!
Tony had to work for part of the day and Rachelle and Zachary weren't going to be home so we decided to keep it low key this year!
Instead of BBQ of chicken or steak, we went to a carniceria that has the best carne asada around. They add the marinade with your meat when you buy it! They also make their tortillas right there and they are so good. We got a bunch of meat, tortillas, corn and watermelon and were set!
When Tony got home he fired up the grill and we were off! It was so good! I liked the change of pace. A good alternative to the usual!
We stayed home and swam and just hung out.
Grace was so excited to be having a "party" She sat at the table for most of the day eating cupcakes and handing out the treats to everyone. As you can see, she and Ethan loved the chocolate! I think they are wearing as much as they ate!
Ethan's fav of the day was the watermelon. That boy can eat!
We decided not to go see any fireworks. We just weren't sure where to find them and the thought of hanging out in 100 degree plus weather wasn't appealing!
All in all, it was a pretty fun, if not low key, 4th of July.
How did you spend your day?

What's Up With That??

I just have to ask yo~ what's up with everyone saying I cheated. Y'all suck! Am I such a freakin hot mess you thought I cheated? Hmm sisters... who needs them? Ok, I do... But seriously!

My pics were all a matter of perspective. I am going to show the super, super ugly now just to show you how clever I am.. and Dani so help me if I have a Cathy Church moment over this...I KNOW WHERE TO FIND YOU!!! I think you know what I mean! I know someone somewhere will be talking smack about me over this. What the crap.

Ok, I am so bad at keeping a clean house. I have six kids folks and it is not easy. Plus I just plain stink at it. Here's how I stack up with it.

My kitchen~ It is clean most of the time..I can't stand to have it out of control. The floors usually need to be mopped but the rest of the kitchen is usually ok. It never goes more than a day without being done. dishes and all. I love to cook and my life feels out of control if my kitchen is out of control.

My Family Room~ It is a disaster about 3-4 times a day, but We pick it up every day over and over. At any given time it could be spotless or look like a bomb went off. Just depends on what time I tackled it that day.

My Bathrooms~ Hardly do them. Kids get that job. Hannah had bathrooms this past week and has not done a good job. Heck she barely did them.

My bedroom~ is usually a freaking mess, but I stayed up until 3 am the other night cleaning it and my closets. The ac went out upstairs and I won't have anyone in my house until it is clean, and the unit for the ac is in my closet. See, my closet was clean cause I had to have it so I could get my ac fixed!

Living room~ Mostly clean 98% of the time

Girls room~ Disaster daily. even a hour after I clean it

Toy room~ Disaster daily. We clean it, they dump out all toys moments later

My carpets are what get me the most. I don't even invite people over because I am too embarrassed by how sick they are. Stained and nasty, nasty. They were sick to begin with and my kids have added to the sickness! Sherri, once I work up the courage, I'll have you over for a bbq and swim Ü

I wish I were more like these women with perfect houses and perfect looking kids etc, but I don't think it is in my makeup. As hard as I try, I just can't seem to get there. My kids look like ragamuffins. They prefer the panties with boots look and who am I to argue? Tony likes that look too! Just kidding!

I do let them pick out what they want to wear and if we are not going anywhere, what do I care if they don't match or don't want to wear clothes when it's hot? I think I need to be more on the ball. I look back at my mom struggling to keep a clean house with 8 kids, and I feel bad we didn't help her out more when I was younger. Her house is perfect now, so I have high hopes one day mine will be too! I have gotten better over the years but there are just some things I am not good at!

Ok~ here is my proof I didn't cheat you boogers.

So, when taking the pic of the bathroom I stood at the door to do it. I didn't come in. Perspective, yep, perspective. What you didn't see was what I am posting today. The cleaning glove in the sink, The counters not wiped down, and the best part is next to the trash. Hannah hid everything in this corner so I wouldn't see it. clothes, dishes(umm why are there dishes in the bathroom?), toys, and yes trash. See, filthy bathroom, I just aimed my camera so you didn't see it so much. So, humiliated again... there you go!!

Oh, and just for kicks and a ego boost for some of you I'm gonna throw in a pic of the WORST room in the whole house right now. The toy room!!!! We put a mattress in there cause it is cooler in there for the girls and instead of sleeping once again they dumped all the toys!

I accept that I am a work in progress but am inpatient wanting to have a clutter free clean house.

Does anyone else out there struggle to keep their house clean?

Do you feel inferior when you are unsuccessful?

How do you stay motivated?

Do you feel a clean house is reflection of who you are?

And...why do you think for some people it comes easy? Are they born that way? Is it nature or nurture?I couldn't even begin to imagine being so on top of it!

SIGGHHH

Happy 4th Of July!

Happy 4th of July everyone! Celebrate today knowing what a blessing it is that we live in the greatest country on earth! Thank you to all the soldiers past and present who have fought so valiantly for our freedom!Have a safe and happy day!!!

The Photo Tag

Yikes!!! Julia You suck and I say that with love my friend Ü

She tagged me for this photo tag and I have accepted the challenge. I might even put a few of you to shame! Watch out folks!!

Oh yeah~ for those of you with weak stomachs, stop now, do not go any further. Walk away my friends, just walk away..



The only rules for this is that you have to post a photo of each of these things and you CANNOT clean before you take the photo! Why the hell am I doing this??? Oh yeah, I forgot it's fun...


Ok let the games begin~



1. Your dream vacation~Playa Del Carmen Mexico. Tony and I went to Xhel-ha a ecological preserve just outside Playa Del Carmen and went snorkeling there. We then went to the ruins of Tulum. I am dying to take my kids there with me someday! They would so love it!























2. A self portrait~ I was trying for a myspace-esque type of photo! I think I look pretty hot! I am one sexy beast!!

3. what are your kids doing now?

Rachelle and her friend Maddy are in the kitchen baking cupcakes, brownies, and taking turns reading the twilight book

Bailey is eating the goods as quick as Rachelle and Maddy bake them.

Ethan is snoozing in his high chair after a big meal!

Hannah and her friend Jessica are watching TV

Zachary is hiding from me. Claims I am mental since I started blogging

Grace is being a pain in the butt and refusing to take off her swimsuit from swimming earlier today!!


Umm Tony is technically not a child, just acting like one

4. Fav shoes~ These are super comfy and hide my sick looking toes! Holy crap, how come nobody told me I was getting canckles? Sheesh. Thanks alot!

5. Fav Room~ My family room. It is the room everyone gathers. I like it when I am cooking and everyone is in the family room and kitchen and we are talking and having fun. Also love when the family sits down to watch so you think you can dance, and the three little ones dance, and we critic the dance moves. Very fun.Even bratty teenagers aren't so bratty then!

6. Bathrooms~This is where it starts to get rough folks. Pretty disgusting. Hey, at least there are no floaters in the pic! Plus I HAVE been out of town for a week. Ok, ok, it is pretty sick even when I am home. I freaking hate cleaning bathrooms. Oh my! Now you need to prepare yourself for the next pic. And if you can't say something nice...stuff it!
7. WHAM!!! The Laundry Room~

Holy freaking sickness!! I told you I was working on it. And I swear before I left for Utah you could see the floor., Just not so much now! Oh, and see all the detergent bottles? They ARE empty, just need to be thrown away. See I am doing laundry.. just not my fav thing. Don't you just find a quick trip to Target easier than having to go in THERE for clothes???
8. Ok, Now I will go a little easier on you and let you all calm down

My closet~ not so bad.. and yes those are dirty clothes in the laundry baskets, but enough with that already right?

9. The Fridge~ Bad, but not horrifying. Oh I forgot I had that diet coke in there from McD's. wonder if it's flat now or still good...hmm..
10. Last but not least The sink~ Well, Rachelle has the kitchen this week and she has done pretty good, just not great. She hasn't been washing the big pots so I gotta get on her! Oh, she has the pine sol out~~ Maybe she will mop too! She said she would. Keep your fingers crossed!!!!

So my dear friends and family.. horrified yet? Like I say, Somehow I manage to be horrifying yet delightful all at once. I guess it's a talent of mine!

Who's brave out there? Ready to take the challenge and be tagged? This is for all of my friends and family. Who's brave enough?? C'mon you know you want to share...

Family Favorites

Years ago my mother made a cookbook for all of us kids. It included all of our favorite recipes from growing up.
It has become one of my favorite cookbooks. There is something comforting about making the same rolls recipe year after year for the holidays, the same stuffing recipe, Mom's fab cheesecake recipe!
I love cooking and have added to the cookbook my kids favorite recipes now as well. As each of them leave home and get married, I plan on giving one to each of them!
Ashley has been bugging me because she is at BYU and I haven't gotten hers to her yet...it's coming I promise!!
Anyhow, one of our all time favorite recipes is this homemade french bread recipe. I made it last night and thought how much I loved it. It is so good with spaghetti or a hot bowl of soup.It is so stinking easy to make and my kids absolutely love, love it!
Thanks mom for the cookbook, it is loved and well used after all these years!
So, do you have any recipes that have been handed down to you that you love??

Wordless Wednsday

Top Ten Tuesday

I was contemplating posting on Top Ten Tuesday when I read Crazy Mama's post of her top ten favs and tagged everyone reading, so there you go.. I guess I will post after all...

Here are my Top Ten Things I Just Can't Live Without!!!

1. Diet Coke~ It's my drink of choice..oh hell it's the only drink I drink ~uggg.Ok, I love the taste of it. I love the burn of it when it goes down on the first sip of the day. I like it on ice but will drink it in a can if no super big gulp is available! I Love it when I am stressed out and I space out my trips to the circle k or 7 eleven the way a smoker spaces out their cigarette breaks. I am totally 100 percent addicted to it and have been for probably a good 20 years or more! I had given it up for about 6 months once and unfortunately started up again. I love it. it is my drug/ drink of choice and I just can't live without it!
2. My family~ ok I know this should be #1 but I'm not addicted to them ... just kidding yeesh lighten up! My family as I have said before is the greatest source of joy and comfort for me! The greatest source of frustration too but I wouldn't give up either! I found myself missing them so much while I was gone. When I got home, our air conditioner upstairs had crapped out. We brought down our mattress and put it in the living room and slept there. kids on our bed, on the couches, on the floor! When I woke up, Ethan was laying on me, Grace and Bailey were on each side of me, and Tony and Hannah were squeezed on the mattress too! I had to laugh cause I was lovin it! It was fun!
I love the wicked sense of humor in Zachary, the gentleness in Rachelle, the willingness in Hannah, the affection from Bailey, the wild, crazy energy in Grace, and the joy in Ethan! I love the companionship in my husband. He is my best friend by far! I have four wonderful step children (Eric, Ashley, Anthony, and Elizabeth)who do not live with us right now and I love them tremendously! I was talking with Ashley the other day and thought what a good girls she is. Our family feels complete when they are with us! It is hard, but I do love having a big wild bunch!
My family is perfect.. perfect for me!
3.Clorox or Lysol cleaning wipes~ Love them for the kitchen counter tops, for the touch ups in the bathrooms in between cleaning days, and for cleaning up messes on the floors.
4.Air Conditioning~ Love it cold, cold here and I could not live here without it! With it not working upstairs right now, I try to not even go up there until it is fixed. Definitely couldn't live without it!
5. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints~ Being a member of the church has brought me comfort and direction throughout my life. I know who I am, where I am going, and what I should be doing! It helps me to try to be a better person. I am a work in progress and that is OK. I know that my Heavenly Father loves me wants better from me. I learned this at a early age while attending church.
It is a comfort to know my children are learning the same things at a early age!
6. Books~I love, love, love to read! It is one of my favorite things to do! I have been known to blow through a book in a day or stay up till 3 in the morning because I just couldn't put it down! It is a great escape when things are rough. I like to read just about anything entertaining and somewhat light..I don't want to have to concentrate too much. My lazy side I guess! Some of my favorite authors are James Patterson, Lee Child, Mary Higgins Clark, Sophie Kinsella, and Janet Evanovich ( she is so freaking funny!!) There are many others but those are just a few of my favs!
7. My sisters~ I grew up in a family of 8 kids! Being a part of a big family is wonderful. There are six of us girls! As a child I loved them and hated them too! Now, I just love them to death!
We are a very opinionated family. We tell it like it is. probably a flaw, but I like to think it is a blessing. What you see with us is what you get! We hold NOTHING back Ü
We are loud and shocking, and fun, and trashy. We had a sisters retreat several years ago and it was heaven! All my sisters (sisters in laws are definitely bona fide sisters now!) were there and it was a blast! We would go out to dinner and cackle and laugh hysterically raising eyebrows of others and causing a scene! We stayed up late talking, went tubing down the Provo river (maybe not such a great idea!), and had a blast! I love taking with them, sharing our lives and reminiscing! I wish we lived closer so we could all get together more regularly.
8. Chocolate~ Who doesn't love chocolate?? Especially when I am hormonal! I was having a particularly hard day a few months ago, and left the kids at home and went to Target. I found myself wandering aimlessly for over a hour. Didn't even feel like shopping! I finally found exactly what I needed. it was a Cheesecake Factory chocolate cheesecake. A WHOLE one! Yep, that's what I bought.. it was all I bought!!! Unfortunately I have to admit I ate a good portion of that sucker..Oh hell~ I ate it all!!! Maybe not a good idea to buy that when one is having a hormonal crisis! I do think it was therapeutic though! Ahhh chocolate! I love chocolate.
9. Music~ I love music so much. How about some Lincoln Park when I am pissed off, or listening to the Trisha Yearwood song my husband would sing to me when we were dating to help remind me why I fell in love with him, or the CD The Garden playing before I go to church to help make the day feel a little more peaceful and a little less hectic? I Love music like the Gap band to get my butt moving when I have no motivation. Music just moves me! Rock, Rap, Country, Hip Hop, Musicals, and some Operas. I love it all and it is a big part of my life!
10. The Beach~ Ever since I was little my family went to the beach on a regular basis. Camping there or just a fun day boogie boarding. The sound of the ocean is soothing. Nothing beats a sunset at the end of the day like one at the beach! I love the smell of the ocean and the feel of the sand on my feet. Every time we go California, we have to go to the beach. I miss it so much and love it!
Sooo there are my top ten Tuesday things. Bet you probably could have guessed some of those eh?

Oh one more thing~Here's Crazy Mama's post if you want to do it too!http://crazymamaof6.blogspot.com/2008/07/ten-things-i-cant-live-without-perfect.html