Sing A Long

(for all you fellow Underdog fans) Where or where have my blogging friends (mom you too) gone, oh where oh where can they be????

I really liked crazymomaof6's suggestions. I too see my counter go up, but alas (insert sob here) not feelin' the love (nose horn blow into hanky here). I've been trying to be a loyal stalker, I mean blogger so....I'll think positively.

I'm hoping everyone is just out enjoying their summer or reading Harry Potter, and not - "not-commenting" because of - something my possessed computer may have typed - or well who knows - so all you peeping jane's - love to hear from you - please consider this your official invitation - (or personalized beg and plead. insert your name here ______) - and I was so sure you'd all LOVE - Mom My Ride!

However I have to still do the Academy Award thanks to my few loyal commentors (yes I know not a real word) through the dry spell - you know who you are (wink wink)

Have a great day!! Goin' to visit my old friend the beach and her BFF the ocean ....yeah - crutches and sand, not sure how they like each other - yes still on them, going on week 5 - oh well....if I'm lucky we'll pop up on Christina's blog!

Mom My Ride

My good friend Kathy sent this to me.....laughed so hard! Let me know what you think....Is your ride mommified???

Our backyard/SPT

I thought it would be fun to post some pictures of our backyard. Last year we were on the National Tour for Garden Railroads. This year we were going to be on the local tour but with my bad hip and Mike traveling we didn't have time to get our backyard ready. So I thought I'd do a little tribute for my husband....Mike is the engineer and I'm the bonsai-queen.


Our weather here has been relatively mild for end of July. Mid-80's by day, more humid than normal - but nice 60-65 by night - nice!

Anyone else finish HARRY POTTER yet????

HARRY POTTER!!!

The best part of having to stay off my feet - I got to read my whole book! 2 days, not bad for 750+ pages. I preordered my copy of Harry Potter so it arrived by mail Saturday - I could not put it down. I so so so LOVE these books. I won't put any details yet since many may be still reading, but let me know what you think?? Are you a follower?? I was so enthralled! I personally think the book has lived up to all the hype. It's so bittersweet though - I hope there are more!

Just for Fun II

Thanks Laurie - I really liked this on your blog - so here it goes....

1. How old is your blog?
4 months old - still a novice!

2. How would you categorize your blog?
Great way to journal and a way to share our goings-on with our families and friends.

3. Are the photos you post Photoshopped or otherwise altered?
Usually not because I never have time, but I have all the software to try to use it!

4. Do you lie in your blog?
No. That's just silly. I suppose people could but life is too short.

5. Are you passive-aggressive in your blog?
I don't think so.

6. Do you ever threaten to quit writing so people will tell you not to stop?
No - not sure all that many people really read it anyway! But I'm glad for the regulars!!!

7. Have you deleted any of your own posts? Why?
No - so far so good

8. Do you delete mean comments?
I was wondering if you could? Luckily none of them have been mean yet!

9. If your readers knew you in person, would they like you more or like you less?
I think I'm just being myself so I would hope they would like me!

10. How many blogs do you follow?
Lots and I keep adding more - it is so fun!

11. Which blogger do you want to meet in real life?
I would love to all my regulars - that's what's so fun - the ones you tend to read most are the ones you'd probably be friends with if you lived near each other!

12. Does your family read your blog?
I wish they read more - I think I finally got my mom & dad to follow, but they tend to still just use the computer to play games :) (Love ya mom&dad!)

13. Do you have a hit counter? How often do you check it?
Absolutely - love it!

14. Is blogging narcissistic?
Perhaps for some people but I am gonna say No for myself

15. Do you feel guilty when you don't post for a long time?
A little, because since it is still new I worry they may forget me if I don't write often!

Bonus: Do you try to look hot when you go to the grocery store just in case someone recognizes you from your blog?
Never - besides lately I've been laid up so I haven't been inside a grocery store for a month!!!

Okay, your turn!! How about your blog?!

Summer Days

Tyler pre haircut
Post haircut with our family hair stylist Caris........

Tyler wanted to get her hair cut so I figured I might as well let her, at least she isn't asking for a Mohawk! Her dance teacher is going to kill her - I think they plan on the girls to look the same - with pulled back buns! But she looks so cute! By the time competitions roll around it should be long enough.

It is pretty quiet here - well not really - but it is calm. I'm getting a whole house fan installed today - it is supposed to help with pulling cool air through the house (so it wouldn't work if you live in AZ or NV!) and is supposed to save on your air conditioning bill. Quite a few of my friends have them so after 8 years of very warm summers I decided we should invest. Of course - it drizzled here yesterday so I don't anticipate having to use it in the next few days!

I brought my MIL to the airport to go back to SLC today. Our extra help is officially over. I've decided to recruit Tyler's friends to spend the night to help me with the boys at night. Mike has been working 16 hour days so we've not really seen him. This is when I wish I had family close by, but we'll survive - we'll just eat off paper plates for a while and order pizza!!!

I see the Dr. again next week - I'm hoping to get off my crutches soon - I have callouses on my hands from them - ouch! So instead of just my hip being in pain, so are my palms!

Weekend Catch Up

It seems like forever since I've been on, to be honest I've been too exhausted to do it. My hip has been very sore. I'm going on week 4 if you can believe it. It is very tiring to lay around - or when I do move around more and do stuff I'm just wiped out.

My poor MIL MaryLou has been having to do tons with the kids. Just wearing out the grandmoms.....but let me go back in time first

Last Thursday my girlfriend Laura had a very small hotel party for her daughter - and she asked me months ago to stay over with her as the second chaperon. It was fun, but some of those girlies can talk - 2 in particular would not be quiet and they were yakking away at full speed until at least 2am!! It was really fun though.

Saturday we went to the Drive-In's with Linda's family - she brought the camera so hopefully we're on her blog! We saw Ratatouille but Transformers was on the next screen over so there was some boys craining their necks looking over! It was so fun though, we got 3 spots, parked the cars and left the middle one for the chairs and the kids all piled in the two surburbans and we had a blast, it was a great night.

Sunday I didn't go to church again, I just can't sit for very long still - the reclining position is still the best. We got to have a yummy dinner at Linda's to celebrate Dallin's birthday - I can't believe he is 14! I remember when he was 3 years old!

Today my MIL took me to Costco - haven't been in a month so she helped me stock up on necessary items - it was funny - I got to ride in the Electric Cart! I also had PT if you can visualize - she has me lay down, and asks me to lift my left up straight - keeping my knee straight. I cannot lift it more than 2 inches off the bed - scary! I have other exercises too but that one is the worst!

Going to bed, I hope to have pictures soon, Hope you have all been well - can't wait to catch up on all your blogs and please do comment too - I love to read 'em!

FREEDOM!!

Well sort of - I had my Dr's appointment yesterday - he's happy with my improved mobility - I've been practicing bending my leg while in bed and flattening out my knee - basically it was hard to keep my knee straight - something you completely take for granted until you can no longer do it!

I am still on crutches and limited weight on my leg for another 2 weeks. I'm on motrin still for the swelling but no more vicodin which is nice. I'm going to start therapy this week for a month and since it's my my left leg that is injured he said I could try driving - hooray! The best part of my appointment - I got a Handicap Placard!!!! (my placard model chandler)

But I still sit for limited periods, laying back is the best - I just feel so lazy! I'm actually pretty sore today - It was a crazy day with a dermatologist & allergy appointment as well - nothing like getting 20+ pricks on your back and itching the rest of the day - Ian & I both went and we both start shots next month :(

I feel bad for my mom & MIL having to drive my tank - we almost had to remodel our house (sorry MaryLou in case you read this!) my MIL was getting all the kids in the car in the garage, we had to go, it was confusing, and she put the car into gear - looked backward about to hit the gas - and luckily I was paying attention, she was in drive!!! I yelled very calmly but forcefully, "Mom you're in Drive!!!" Glad it was Mike's mom and not mine though :)

Now my other story - so I mentioned finding cleaners - they made my house more than sparkle, but they made me feel like a total slob - they were here - and I'm not exaggerating - 11 HOURS!!!!

They did all the high ceilings (20 ft in the dining/living room I'm guessing) They moved all the beds, polished the wood on each dowel of beds/staircase, moved all the furniture, dusted my silk and real plants, hands and knees for the baseboards, did the baskets above my shelves in the laundry room no less. My white grout/tile in the kids bathroom, whiter than when I moved into the house! The first owners lived here only 8 months but thrashed our house, but we've been here now 7 years - crazy! But I guess I can't always use them as an excuse any longer.

They POLISHED the kids shelves in their bedrooms and took down all the figurines in their rooms and dusted them - and the boys have a train track on their ceiling, they dusted it.......My house looks like it should be in House & Garden or Architectural Digest! It was expensive, but SOOOOO worth it! I'm too embarrassed to take pictures of it! I didn't think my house was "that" bad - (Linda SOOO better say "your house was clean!" in the comments! ha ha) but I knew my old cleaners - who I haven't had in a month or two - were NOT doing a very good job.

Did I mention she polished my front door - inside and out??!!

This is the Place

Well Tyler finally came home and she had a really great time in Utah with her grandparents and cousins. But first I need start with the weekend.

Saturday - Linda's family and ours always go together to the A's game with Family Packs which include the seats, hot dog, chips & a drink - so it's always so fun but with me on crutches there was no way I would be able to hobble around so I got to stay home. Linda stayed home too with Lawson so she came over and she brought In & Out Burger, yum - but since I'm still on bedrest essentially I can FEEL the fat just sticking to my thighs, stomach, arms, etc... but they were still very tasty - then we watched 50 First Dates - it was so funny - I forgot how funny and cute the flick was so it was nice to have a hardy laugh. It was sooooo nice hanging out without any body, luckily Lawson is still small and didn't spoil our pseudo girls day.

With both me & Linda not going and Tyler still in Utah we had extra tickets - so I found some friends to go along - but the real story is - my mom being the trooper and fellow all-things baseball lover - went to help Mike with the boys - well she was the ONLY female with 14 boys/men!!! Now that's love!






Then when the boys came home they had swapped boys as we tend to do so Chris came back later with his special Tri Tip and we had a yummy dinner - score! So it was a really fun night - the kids were being beaten by the dad's in the backyard - they were playing dodgeball with kids and beating them viciously!

Sunday was bittersweet - Mike left to go to Hong Kong, my mom left to go home (poor thing to a messy house) - but my friend Louise came to help take care of me! She is back from Italy for the summer - we always have so much fun! My friends CeCe & Dave took the big boys to church for me and then kept them for the afternoon - AND then brought me dinner! Louise & I then watched Music & Lyrics - she hadn't seen it before - I love watching Huge Grant do the Pop Video - it's so funny! So I lucked out - 2 chick flicks in one weekend!

Today Tyler and my MIL flew in - and my RS President went to the airport to pick them up for me at the airport - I feel so taken care of I cannot even tell you. I have such great friends and family - isn't that what it is all about?

Tyler had so much fun - she did so many things - they went to This is The Place monument, Lagoon, shopping, 4th of July parades - here are some of her pix. I'm glad she is home though. I missed my girl!






Tonight we went to the neighborhood pool for Lucas' girlfriend's birthday - Callie is now officially potty trained - what about us????!!!!! Grandma got into the pool so Lucas could swim too!

With being in bed for 2 weeks my house is a little seedy - so my girl friend recommended a house cleaner to help out, she came by today and wants to come tomorrow - so poor Mary Lou has been helping me all evening getting the house ready! We did the most we could - I'm just excited for my blinds & shutters to get properly dusted! I'm now sitting watching my Tivo'd Wimbledon Final and icing my leg! Poor Mary Lou is going to bed - deservedly - she's still on Utah time!

I see the Dr. tomorrow so we'll see if I've been doing well....

Finally Friday

It's been a nice week but I'm glad the weekend is almost here - we are supposed to go to the A's game tomorrow but I think my family will be going without me. I saw the Dr. the other day and he was so shocked that I had dislocated my hip, I guess it is extremely hard to do, and even more so without breaking anything while doing it. So I've still been off it for another week and I go back next week so the internal bruising to continue to go down. So I just take a lot of Ibuprofen! My mom has been great taking care of all of us - I'm sure she is excited to go home so she can "rest"!


Tyler has been in Utah all week with Mike's parents to visit her cousins - it's been sad because she hasn't really called home much. We even had gotten her a cell phone for 5th grade graduation and she hasn't called her mom! They went to Lagoon and have been doing 4th of July things but I miss her - we set up a blog for her but she can't get to it on grandpa bob's computer she said! But she'll be home on Monday! My MIL is available so she is taking up the role of caregiver since my mom is leaving. It's nice to have parents that can come and take care of us!

Here are pictures of 4th of July - my Grandpa John is reading to Lucas. One picture actually of me & Ty for her graduation to Middle School, and Chandler & his buddies at the event with Mario face painting!

Haley's Day

It is so hot here!! These are the days I really wished we lived on the coast - I could handle living near the beach I think. I told Mike I want to live in Monterey when I retire..... we don't live that far away from water either but with the "micro-climates" in the bay area it amazes me how just driving 30 mins away will change the temperature 30 degrees sometimes!

Yesterday was a fun HOT day. My cousin organized her annual event Haley's Run for A Reason my cousin is amazing - she puts on this event on the 4th of July in tandem with the community celebration. I was supposed to help do the whole silent auction, but with the accident I was a bit out of commission! It was very fun and Mike & Chandler did the whole family run 2 miles - I was proud of Chandler - he ran the whole way...Haley and Chandler were 2 months apart in age - she would have been 9 years old in two weeks. My cousin and I are 2 months apart so we're very close - the event is very fun because so many of our large family come and help. Our next door neighbors came this year so it was fun introducing them to all my cousins, aunties, uncles, great aunties, etc....

I had to camp out under a tree in my recliner chair but we got the auction stuff all set up so that was good. I think last year she said raised more than $45K for the SUDC. My cousin even got to be on the 5 o'clock news on the local NBC channel so here are the pictures we have of her...

The one picture of her holding her baby sister Megan is most precious to me - they were together for 17 days before Haley went to sleep and didn't wake up again. It is always heartbreaking to me - she passed away on the Monday morning after Mother's Day. But my cousin & her husband have done such a great job in keeping her memory alive. I love you guys! I'm always so thankful for the reminders to live life to the fullest and be thankful for the family and friends we have in this life. Go hug a loved one and have a great day!

Who doesn't love free stuff contest

My friend

Okay so I forgot to say - my friend Pat who is amazing all by herself - she is 68, I think her sons are older than I am!

Lazy Sunday

Well I attempted to go to church today - my good friend Michelle was blessing her new baby today. I lasted about 10 minutes in the pews. It was so hard to sit upright! My hip is doing okay, but I had a moment today where I thought I was relapsing, my hip hurt really bad so I had to make sure I came home immediately to lay down. I can't wait until Tuesday, that's when I see the doctor. So here I am watching TV and reading blogs!

There's a lot of catch up to do - the kids have been great - here are some fun pictures of the boys - they took the pictures themselves, can you tell???

Last night was Linda's husband Chris' birthday - gosh, some of those younger pictures on her blog I remember being around for!! Kinda scary.

Here are some of the very fun pictures of the BBQ at the park Linda organized - it was fun - and such great food! We had that yummy BBQ chicken salad from CPK and C&L's famous tri tip - finger lickin' good (inside joke) LOL. Our friends Rachel & Bruce came from Fremont - it was like old times, but 10 kids ago :) Between our 3 families we now have 15 children!!!! Yikes! In our pictures the two oldest boys - Dallin & Devin are gone to trek & scout stuff but we got to get the rest of the kids in a photo! I got to sit in my recliner and be the invalid that I was and of course I was cold so I was wrapped up like an old lady!






Wow, this is a long blog, but I have one more picture to share - this is my friend Pat. We met because during the Triathlon training we were pretty well matched so she was my running & swimming buddy - she always beat me in the though she is so amazing. So here is my question to you - she is older than me, but I wanted you to guess - how old you thought Pat looks, because she is totally fit! I'll tell you later how old she is.......