Baker Carnival

Since I woke up this morning at 4:57 am with a migraine and was never able to fall back to sleep, I decided to post about yesterday. (And yes, I took two migraine pills and the headache has subsided, thanks!) Last night was the school's official ribbon-cutting, along with a carnival and BBQ. The kids had a blast on the blow-up toys and ran around playing all the little carnival games.

This is Aliza and Miss Wenger, her teacher. I just really like her alot. She is so excited about teaching and really loves it. She is so nice to me and to Aliza whenever we see her. Aliza on the obstacle course. Not having fun at all! :)
Ya can't get a front shot of Parker because he didn't hold still long enough to take one. He ran off with Mateo and had so much fun, I hardly saw him all night!
Tyler and his homeroom/science teacher Mrs. Patton. She is always smiling. She is a great teacher...Tyler really likes her!
So many tickets, so little time...what to do, what to do?!
In Texas, barbeque is brisket. I'm not a big BBQ fan, it wouldn't be the first thing that I choose to eat, but for BBQ, this was really good.

So, good news. There is a cold front moving in this week. News reports say that we may even see the low 60's at night in some parts of the metro-plex. Our high will only be in the 80's, for about one day before it goes back up to the 90's again. Yeah, you laugh at us now, but we will have the last laugh this January when it 20 degrees for three weeks in a row there, and we are wearing light jackets and capris.

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Poor Sweetie

Does Sweetie look embarrassed? Disgraced? I think she does. And wouldn't you if you were reduced from a cute little Miniature Schnauzer to a rat/greyhound looking thing? Poor dog. She goes out in the back yard and rolls in the grass, which is not soft. Her beard, skirt and legs got snarled and we just had it all taken off. Someone asked me what kind of a dog she is. I said miniature schnauzer. They looked at her again and said, "oh." Last time we did this it only took a month or two for her to start looking cute again!

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Lu*iano Pav*rotti - Ave Ma*ria - Sch*ubert

Many of you don't know that Maris is a HUGE opera fan. It was a gift given to him by his dad. With the death of Lu*ciano P*avarotti, the world has lost a beautiful voice...

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Curriculum

This past week, the elementary school has had "curriculum nights" for each of the grade levels. Parker's was last Thursday and Liza's and Tyler's were last night. They are kinda like a "Back to School Night," except all the teacher's in the grade go over the expectations and curriculum for the whole grade. They run everything as a team, so you are getting the same stuff no matter what teacher you have. They do room mom's in the same manner, we contribute $10 per child to that grade's party fund and then it is evenly distributed to each class. Before a party, the room mom's for each of the classes in that grade get together and plan the party so that each class has the same thing. It makes it so that there isn't that competition that happens when one overzealous room mom decides to go overboard. Anyway, back to curriculum, I was surprised at how intense it is. Texas is very test oriented, and everything they do is to prepare for a test it seems like. Spelling is not given out as a list that they memorize, but rather,they are taught a rule and then they apply that rule for the test. This week they learned the "floss" rule, and they went over which words ended in ss, ll and ff. Liza's class did short i words. Anyway. They test them not on what they have memorized, but on whether they can think through and apply what they learned. It is different, but I can see the benefit in it. 2nd grade curriculum says that by the end of 2nd grade they will have learned how to write cursive and start learning times tables and division. There is a working science lab in the school and each grade gets to do hands on lab experiments, especially in 5th and 6th grade. Specials include Spanish, art, music and computers. We are not allowed to send treats on birthdays because it is disruptive. On the other hand, next week is Homecoming week, so there is a parade and the kids get out at noon on Friday for it. It is spirit week and each day has a different thing to do to show spirit...like crazy socks, dress in green and white, dress western to "wrangle the bulls." So, a birthday treat is disruptive, but a whole week about a football game isn't? You can also buy season tickets to the football games. We take our high school football serious here. The HS stadiums are bigger than most Jr. College stadiums in other states. The budget for Prosper's new high school will be over $100 million, because it is big, but also because it will have a huge sports complex, including a natatorium (swimming pool). They have football, separate softball and baseball fields, multiple tennis courts, gymnasiums, and huge work-out rooms. It is out of control. But on the other hand, they don't skimp on providing the kids with enough educational materials. Tyler has two sets of every textbook, one for home and one for school so that they don't have to take them back and forth. And they found out yesterday that the district will be buying "consumable" novels (6 for pre-AP, 4 for regular language arts) for each child. That means that they can mark the novels up and they are theirs to keep. I am in awe at the money the schools have access to. Our PTO was told not to do fundraisers for the school because the district provides plenty of money for what they need. OK. The teacher's are also given a generous amount of money to do extra stuff, too. Anyway, the kids are adjusting well and quickly making the transition from Darts (or Vikings, I guess) to Eagles. Maybe we'll go to the homecoming game next week and look for Deion Sanders. By the way, I need to post a picture of his house. And the football field behind it. It is huge. I'd better run....

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Time to start thinking about Christmas

Check out my friend Heidi's site...http://keepsakedesigns.net/...she has all of her new Holiday designs out for those darling Christmas cards that you keep meaning to order!

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My c*eleb loo*k-al*ikes

I should be doing something else besides sitting here playing on the computer, but I'm not. I was excited to see that Jamie had posted something new and had to try this one out. It is a site that does face recognition and then shows who you look like. Well, I am the photographer in our family, not the photographed, and I had to have a picture of me for it. So I quickly took a picture of myself in all my housework day glory. P.S. tomorrow I get a haircut, so today it is in a hairband. Anyway, my husband will be pleased to know that I look like Shania Twain, his fantasy girl. Man, I feel like a woman! I am a little disgruntled that I was not compared to women who were younger, I mean how old is Annette Bening? Not that she is not beautiful and I don't think I look 78% like her, but, she is older than me. I only know who four of them are (Annette, Shania, Jessica Biel, and Kate Hudson) and I am flattered to be compared to any of them. And this was very scientific, by the way. It uses computer scanning and face recognition! Anyway, click on it and go do it for yourself, because if nothing else, it was very entertaining.

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Because Nice Matters

Yesterday Morning on the Today show, Matt Lauer interviewed Bill Clinton because he has just released a new book called "Giving: How Each of us can Change the World." It's no secret that I have a general distaste for the Clintons and that I find it more than a little ironic that Bill has written a book about morals. But what is more ironic is that he is charging $24.95 to tell us, essentially, to "be nice." From what I gather he retells several stories of people, famous and not, young and old, who have done things both big and little, that have made a difference, made the world better, if you will. In each chapter he covers groundbreaking ideas, like, Giving Time, Giving skills, and Giving "gifts of reconciliation and new beginnings" (forgiveness.) Hmmm, let's see, I think that someone else has told us those are good things....oh yeah, Jesus. "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." Ephesians 4:32. I just find it ironic that Bill is acting like this being nice thing is something he made up. Save your $24.95 and read the scriptures.

I've actually been thinking a lot lately about the way we treat each other. We become so consumed with all the worldly things going on and getting ahead and being better than everyone else that we forget that people are more important than things, more important than programs. More important than meetings. I have a good friend who is a newlywed who is struggling in her new RS because she sits alone every Sunday. No one says hi or sits by her. And she is a great person, who, if someone would break out and be kind would find a great friend. We could all learn so much from each other. You young girls could learn a lot from the seasoned mothers who have been there, done that. We could learn from the young girls and get a new fresh perspective on things. And we all could learn from the generation just older than us. They have gained wisdom that has taken a lot of years and mistakes to gain. We are all different for a reason. So I guess I want to put out a challenge to step outside of your comfort zone and say hi. Sit by someone different. Write a note to someone who may need a hello. Forgive and let go of those little grudges we all carry around. Don't lay on the horn when the car in front of you doesn't give it the gas the second the light turns green. Smile at a stranger at the grocery store. Be nice. Because Nice Matters. OK, down from the soap box, have a great day!

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Works for me Wednesday

OK, so one of the little bloggies that I check in on occasionally has this weekly blog post called Works for me Wednesday. It is the "rocks in my dryer" blog. Anyway, this week the subject is name brand things that you use that you wouldn't use a generic of. I kinda laughed at her post and read a couple of the others that were posted, and then I started to notice the few things that I really strongly prefer the name brands of. Most of my preferences have to do with personal hygiene. My skin is sensitive and if I start to switch face cleaners, make-up, hair goop, etc, I get zits. I am (almost) 38. I don't want zits. And my house cleaning preferences are because of the job they do, and well, the smell. So here is my first WFMW post:

1. I love Gain's Joyful Expressions Apple Mango Tango, liquid detergent and dryer sheets. We already know I have an obsession with laundry and it's smell, and this is partly why. There is also a lime and something one, but I just love the Apple Mango Tango. And I like saying it. But mostly the smell. 'Nuff said.
2. Pine Sol. Just the original flavor. It smells so clean to me. I don't need oranges and lemons and spring smells on my floor. I just want pine. I buy it in a huge bottle at Costco or Sam's Club. I've tried other stuff, Lysol, Clorox. But I always come back to the Pine.
3. Bed Head makes this cool product called "Hook-up" and it goes into your hand like a mousse and then you rub it around and it turns into a wax. And it smells like cherries. My fine hair would be an even flatter mess without it!
4. I love Pureology. Period. (Especially Nano Glaze, Texture Twist, and the shampoos and conditioners.) And they all smell so good!
5. Redken guts 10. It is a spray-in volume mousse that goes right on your roots.
6. Johnson and Johnson Purpose. Clean face, one step. No break outs.
7. And lastly Secret Solid Powder Fresh. Not the gel, not the spray. The solid. And only the Powder Fresh. Not too strong smelling, but it smells good. Strong enough for a man, but made for a woman. I won't go into my armpits any further than that.

Check out what other brands people love at

http://rocksinmydryer.typepad.com/shannon/2007/09/works-for-me-th.html

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Look at...

...this cute laundry room!http://jennsjungle.blogspot.com/2007/09/laundry-room-makeover.html. I want a pink laundry room!! Speaking of paint, we have been here for 2 1/2 months, and I am thinking it is high time I started changing the colors on the walls. Aliza wants two light purple walls and two light green walls...I need to start lookin'!

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coming soon...

One of my favorite things is Survivor...I wonder what new twists will happen this year to keep us guessing? I hope that there will be some people who I can root for! Nothing is worse than when you don't want anyone to get the million! Just a couple more weeks and we'll all know!

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Serenity Now!

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Labor day recreation

Have you ever wondered why they call it Labor Day? No one works. The banks are closed. You don't get mail. However, they did come this morning to the house next door and got it all ready to brick tomorrow. So those guys all had to work. Just another day in paradise. Well, we went to Gunter to Steve and Brenda's home with Clark and Missy, and Ryan and Joelle and their families. We swam, played with rockets and ate hamburgers. Yum. Brenda and Steve are so generous to share their holidays with us! Joelle's son Riley is in 2nd grade but not in Aliza's class. The kids all get along really well, so it was alot of fun! Here are some pictures from the day:

Parker, Aliza and Riley shooting the rockets.
Riley and Aliza enjoying burgers. Parker and Reid are in the back.
Parker and Riley in the pool. The blip to your left is Clark. I think they were playing shark or something, but the boys were trying to get away from him!
Aliza. What more can I say?
Tyler chillin'.
Joelle, Missy and Me in the front yard. I feel short next to them.

Other stuff.....
Yesterday, Tyler did Fast Offerings for the first time. His route consisted of 3 houses in Frisco, and then you take the envelopes back to the church. So our family was able to go with him and wait while he performed his duty. I almost started crying as I watched my little boy ring the doorbell and then stand on the porch and wait. I don't like him growing up. He is a good boy, and we are so proud of him.

Parker is (of course) making friends right and left at school. He is my most sociable child and is having fun, as always. He has found 2 boys in his class who live on our street, and another that he e-mails to alot. Aliza is so independent, she loves recess and lunch the best. At recess, she and "a bunch of boys and some girls" catch crickets. The crickets here are HUGE. Liza gives her crickets names before she lets them go. She names them Miley, Hannah, Sharpay...you get the picture. Hannah Montana and High School Musical are her favorites! Tyler is more reserved with kids, he is cautious about who he lets get really close, but you know him, once you are his friend he will do anything for you! He has found a couple of nice boys.

On Friday night, Parker and Tyler went to a "Back to School" bash at Tristan's house, and Aliza and I tagged along to hang out with Laurie and the girls. Saturday afternoon, Aliza went to a birthday party. Saturday night, Maris and I went to Dallas with Eric and Stacia and they were kind enough to introduce us to their favorite restaurant. It is a Tex-mex place called "Chuey's." Very, very very HOT salsa. HOT! But I love cilantro and fresh tomatoes. I kept taking a taste, mmmmmmm, then feelin' the burn. The food was excellent! It was fun to visit with Eric and Stacia also! It has been a long, long weekend, and I am ready for school to start up again tomorrow. I have a ton of PTO stuff I shoulda done already!

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Napoleon Dynamite - Top ten signs you're not the coolest kid

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Everything is bigger in Texas.

Lake Tawakoni State Park, Wills Point, Hunt Co., Texas, August 23, 2007 (Park Staff)
This web was first found about three weeks prior to the photo and has been spreading slowly.It's out on a point by the lake, probably less than 50 yards from the water.It continues along the park's nature trail for some 200 yards!

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Class change...

After surviving 4 days of Choir, Tyler got word today that he has been re-assigned to Art. He was starting to kinda like the Choir class, as he was learning the scales with the same hand signals that Mrs. Holman taught them, however, he prefers Art and is very HAPPY! Yay!

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You want fried latte with your cobbler on a stick?

Deep Fried Coke...830 calories.

DALLAS, Texas (AP) -- The entries in this year's Big Tex Choice Awards could entice State Fair visitors back to the deep fryer for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
There are Deep Fried Lattes for a morning jump-start, plus fried chili pie, fried guacamole, and a range of crispy desserts including Fried Cookie Dough.
The third annual Big Tex Choice Awards contest on Labor Day tests the fair grub ingenuity of State Fair of Texas concessionaires. Past Big Tex awards have offered nonfried options, but none of this year's seven entries escaped the fryer.
"I think they're good products," said Ron Black, the fair's senior vice president of food service and novelties. "We've got experienced concessionaires, and their products all taste really good."
Michael Levy will debut his family's new Deep Fried Latte, which is a fried pastry topped with cappuccino ice cream, caramel sauce, whipped cream and instant coffee powder.
"We have gained about 10 pounds trying this. I'm not kidding," Levy said. "I've probably eaten 300 of these trying to get it right."
Concessionaire Allan Weiss is offering up Zesty Fried Guacamole Bites, a variation on the Fried Avocados he created last year. The bites are a scoop of guacamole, breaded, fried and served with ranch dressings or salsa.
"The Fried Avocado went over so well, and I think people like guacamole even more than they like avocado," Weiss said.
Gigi White invented Country Pride Peach Cobbler on a Stick, which is a peach cobbler with dumplings rolled in pastry dough and fried, and then covered in brown sugar and cinnamon and skewered. It's this year's only entry on a stick.
"I'm a food engineer," White said. "You really got to work it."
The other entries include Fernie's Fried Chili Frito Burrito, Mama's Fried Sweet Potato Pie and B.W.'s Original Fried Banana Pudding.
"I'm not sure we have another Fried Coke," Black said, referring to the smash hit of last year's State Fair. The dish has been imitated at fairs across the country.
Able Gonzales Jr., the creator of Fried Coke, conceded he may never invent an equal.
"I don't think I be able to beat that type of excitement again," said Gonzales, the chef behind this year's Fried Cookie Dough. "That was crazy."
The fair opens September 28.

Deep Fried Twinkies


K, so a few weeks ago at church, a lady was telling me about the food at the State Fair of Texas. She said not to plan on getting Navajo Tacos or ChickFila. She said that they fry everything here. I went into Herby's in downtown McKinney the other day and they had Fried Pie. I love the state fair, but maybe this year I'll be eating BEFORE we go!


Also of note, entertainment includes:
Lonestar

Bowling for Soup

and Billy Ray Cyrus.

I wonder if he'll bring Miley and sing Achy Breaky Heart?

For more information visit http://www.bigtex.com/.

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http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ref/abouttx/flagpledge.html

The pledge of allegiance to the Texas state flag is "Honor the Texas flag; I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one state under God, one and indivisible."

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Back home...

The Websters sent us some requested pictures. Parker wanted to see our mountains. They will be turning vibrant colors of red, orange and yellow soon. From what I am told, even though we have TONS of trees here, they just don't do the same thing. They kinda turn a yellow color and drop. I will miss fall.

We also forgot to get a picture of our house before we left, so we were pleasantly surprised to get this picture. I do miss my cute house, that awesome shade tree out front and Kentucky Bluegrass. Our grass is bermuda grass, which sounds lush and vacation-like, but is not. It is morning glory without the flower on it. It really grows on a vine. And it creeps into everything! Someday, I'll post a close-up of it. Or you could just come visit and see it for yourself!
Thank you Alyse, you are awesome!!

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First day of school...or second

Being so excited to get off to school yesterday, I forgot to take a "first-day-of-school" picture before they left. So here it is, the official "Second Day of School" picture. Aliza took apples and Pringles for her snack, Parker took whole wheat crackers 'n cheese and Pringles for his. They also were able to take water bottles. That was the highlight of their day!!

May school be more exciting for them than it is for this poor little girl. I guess "See Dick Run" isn't cutting it for her!

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my next read...

I can't wait...

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I pledge allegiance....

First day of school! Of note:

1. In Texas you start out the day saying the pledge to the United States as well as to Texas. Yes, "I pledge allegiance to the Texas flag..." We are indoctrinated young here! Everything is better in Texas.

2. They then have a moment of silence. Parker was appalled that some of the kids kept coloring during the moment of silence.

3. In 6th grade, you don't even get a lunch recess. In most districts, 6th grade is in the middle school. It is only in the elementary school because the middle school is too small for 6th-8th grades. By the time Parker goes to 6th grade, we will have two functioning middle schools and he will go to middle school in 6th.

4. If you bring a snack to school, you can eat it during the morning reading break. If you didn't bring a snack, I guess you just watch everyone else eat theirs.

5. Parker's lunch is not until 12:00 noon. He is in school for over 4 hours before he goes to lunch. No wonder they get a snack break.

6. School lunch is $2.00.

7. The kids say it is better, so maybe it is worth it?!

8. They are excited because we have pizza day every Tuesday and Thursday!

9. Our dress code says no athletic shorts or pants except on days you have PE. Word from the principal today was that they have PE every day, so they are fine. Tyler breathed a sigh of relief. I did too, at the thought of having to go buy Tyler and Parker all new pants because all they currently wear is basketball shorts!!

10. We love it here! We never imagined how happy we would be living in Texas. We have great neighbors, a great ward, and a great school! Yesterday we were at the Flake's home because their oldest son just got home from his mission in England. They moved from Utah, too. We were talking about Utah and she said that last time they went up, she missed the wide open sky, and the mountains felt a little claustrophobic! hmmmmm!

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New day, new look

Thank you Jamie for telling me how to change all my background colors and designs!! You know I will be experimenting the next coupl'a days!!

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School Supplies

Here's something different, we have to buy our own school supplies, just like in the good old days!! I can't imagine how much $$ this saves the school district as well as the teacher's out of pocket expenses!! I bought the prepackaged kits that you can order from the district and it cost us $240 for 2nd, 4th and 6th grades. When we went to "Meet the Teacher" yesterday, their supplies were there waiting for them. This morning at breakfast as we talked about the up-coming week, the thing that they were most excited for was getting to school on Monday and opening those packs! My kids LOVE new stuff like that...pencils, erasers, paper...they can hardly wait!
http://bakerelementary.prosper-isd.net/Uploads/76/misc/supplysupplies2007-08.pdf

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"When you d*ream, d*ream big..."

It's almost a new school year. I love the new school year, it represents a new start, total renewal of spirit. It is full of so much new hope and possibilities. We visited Baker Elementary http://bakerelementary.prosper-isd.net/ and met our teachers yesterday. The kids are so excited to start school. I really liked the teachers that the kids ended up with. Aliza's teacher is Miss Wenger. She is a self-proclaimed computer and math nerd. Aliza is really good at math, but likes reading, not so much. So maybe Miss Wenger can help her to love learning math and enjoy reading. Last year, Mrs. Petersen and Mrs. Van Oene did so much for her reading. She grew by leaps and bounds. Hopefully we can build on that this year. Parker's teacher is Miss (Kim) Phillips. Those who are fellow Colts at Knowlton will see the humor is this. What are the chances? Parker was never in Miss Phillip's class at Knowlton, but just the fact that there is one here too! (P.S. I love Knowlton Miss Phillips!) Anyway...she seemed perfectly suited for my little Parker. He LOVES learning, and I think he is going to enjoy her. She was very excited about the school year, and he did a scavenger hunt around the school and earned his first "homework pass." He likes this idea, as he can use it in place of turning in a homework assignment. Tyler has many teachers. He was a little disappointed that as a new kid he was put in the Choir class instead of our requested Art class because the Art class was already full. But we turned in the form to request a change and Mrs. Morris (the principal) said if anyone dropped out, she would put him in. I told him not to hold his breath. Singing will be good for him. Mrs. Avant would be proud. :) His homeroom teacher is also his Science teacher. She was very fun to talk to and is so excited to be at our school and obviously LOVES teaching. She talked about the experiments and dissecting they would do this year, and Parker was dying of jealousy. He'll get his turn! Tyler is also taking pre-AP English, the teacher has family in Utah. They will be reading a lot of neat books this year, including The Chronicles of Narnia and The Giver. He has already read The Giver, and is excited to read the rest. In pre-AP, they go into a lot of detail with the books and I think Tyler will enjoy it. He is also trying pre-AP math, which may be a little hard for him, but he loves math and wanted to try it. They skim 6th grade concepts that they need to know and go right into the 7th grade book. I hope he does ok, because that would give him a great head start for advanced placement classes in middle school and high school. He will also attend a daily PE class, and do science and social studies on alternate days for 90 minutes and 40 minutes each on Fridays.
I am going to be the Volunteer Coordinator for our PTO. We have a fun PTO president and I really like working with her. When the registrar called Knowlton to get the kid's records, she said that they said very nice things about me. (Thanks Sharma!!) So, for now, they are fooled into thinking I'm awesome.
School starts at 8:00 am, and the kids need to be there by about 7:50. It gets out at 3:00 pm, with no early days on Friday. This may be a shocker. They will all have PE every day, and they do not have morning or afternoon recess. They have lunch for a half an hour after which they have recess. But they have to stay in the cafeteria for the whole 30 minutes for lunch, then are all excused for a 20 minute recess. No eating as fast as you can and then running out to get the longest recess possible!
So as we get ready to go to school on Monday, I hope my kids will D*ream Big....
When you cry, be sure to dry your eyes, 'Cause better days are sure to come.
And when you smile, be sure to smile wide, And don't let them know that they have won.
And when you walk, walk with pride, And don't show the hurt inside,
Because the pain sill soon be gone.
(Chorus)And when you dream, dream big, As big as the ocean, blue.
'Cause when you dream it might come true. But when you dream, dream big.
And when you laugh, be sure to laugh out loud, 'Cause it will carry all your cares away.
And when you see, see the beauty all around and in yourself,
And it will help you feel okay.
And when you pray, pray for strength to help to carry on, But when the troubles come your way.
(Chorus)And when you dream, dream big, As big as the ocean, blue.
'Cause when you dream it might come true.
But when you dream, dream big. (Dream big.)(Dream big.)
When you cry be sure to dry your eyes, cause better days are sure to come.
And when you smile be sure to smile wide, and don't let them know that they have won.
And when you laugh be sure to laugh out loud, 'Cause it will carry all your cares away.
And when you see, see the beauty allaround and in yourself, and it will help you feel okay.
And when you pray, pray for strength to help to carry on when the troubles come your way.
R*yan Shupe and the R*ubber Band http://music.aol.com/video/dream-big/ryan-shupe-and-the-rubberband/1354090

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"Redheads set for extinction"

I got two!!!

Redheads set for extinction

August 22, 2007 07:40pm
PETER Beattie, Nicole Kidman and Michael Voss are. So were William Shakespeare, Christopher Columbus and Queen Elizabeth the First.But the future doesn't look bright for people with ginger hair.
According to genetic scientists redheads are becoming rarer and could be extinct in 100 years.
The current National Geographic magazine reports that less than 2 per cent of the world's population has natural red hair - created by a mutation in northern Europe thousand of years ago.
Global intermingling, which broadens the availability of possible partners, has reduced the chances of redheads meeting and so producing little redheads of their own.
Although it takes only one red-haired parent to produce ginger babies, two redheads obviously creates a much stronger possibility.
Some experts warn redheads could be gone as early 2060, but others say the gene can be dormant in the reproductive system for generations before returning.
National Geographic says the gene at first had the beneficial effect of increasing the body's ability to make vitamin D from sunlight. However, today's carriers are more prone to skin cancer and have a higher sensitivity to heat and cold-related pain.

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Teenage Pop Star

Conversation with Aliza:

A: Mom, do you know what I want to be when I grow up?
M: What?
A: A teenage pop star.
M: A rock star?
A: No, a TEENAGE POP star.
M: Oh, a POP star.
pause
A: Yeah, but when I am 20, I'll have to retire.
M: Why?
A: Uh, cuz when you're 20 you're not a teenager anymore. You can't be a teenage pop star if you are 20.
M: Oh, then what are you going to do?
A: Then I'm going to be a mom like you!

awwwww!

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2008 D*mocratic Na*ional C*nvention Agenda

Nancy sent me this FUNNY e-mail and I just COULDN"T resist sharing it with everyone:


7:00 pm Opening flag burning
7:15 pm Pledge of Allegiance to the U.N.
7:20 pm Ted Kennedy proposes a toast
7:25 pm Nonreligious prayer and worship with Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton
7:45 pm Ceremonial tree hugging
7:55 pm Ted Kennedy proposes a toast
8:00 pm How I Invented the Internet - Al Gore
8:15 pm Gay Wedding - Barney Frank presiding
8:35 pm Ted Kennedy proposes a toast
8:40 pm Our Troops are War Criminals - John Kerry
9.00 pm Memorial service for Saddam and his sons - Cindy Sheehan and Susan Sarandon
10:00 pm "Answering Machine Etiquette" - Alec Baldwin
11:00 pm Ted Kennedy proposes a toast
11:05 pm Collection for the Osama Bin Laden kidney transplant fund - Barbra Streisand
11:15 pm Free the Freedom Fighters from Guantanamo Bay - Sean Penn
11:30 pm Oval Office Affairs - William Jefferson Clinton
11:45 pm Ted Kennedy proposes a toast
11:50 pm How George Bush Brought Down the World Trade Towers - Howard Dean
12:15 am "Truth in Broadcasting Award" - Presented to Dan Rather by Michael Moore
12:25 am Ted Kennedy proposes a toast
12:30 am Satellite address by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
12:45 am Nomination of Hillary Rodham Clinton by Nancy Pelosi
1:00 am Ted Kennedy proposes a toast
1:05 am Coronation of Hillary Rodham Clinton
1:30 am Ted Kennedy proposes a toast
1:35 am Bill Clinton asks Ted to drive Hillary home

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Does Forth Worth ever cross your mind?

On Tuesday, we took a little jaunt to Forth Worth. We are in the Dallas/Forth Worth Metroplex, and Dallas is usually considered the cosmopolitan area with more cultural things to do, and Forth Worth is the typical western/cowboy/Texas area. We went to the stockyards and ate lunch at the Cattleman's...mmmmmm! Great steak. Then we walked around and visited the arena where the first indoor rodeo was held, saw a long-horn stampede (well they called it a stampede, but I think it was more like some 20-year old long-horns who they walk around the block everyday at 4:00), saw the bronze statue of the old-fashioned bull-dogger, who also happened to be the first black cowboy. We went shopping at M.L. Leddy's, which is where apparently people with more money than we have go shopping for western wear, because the pair of boots I liked were thirty-nine ninety nine. That's $3,999.00. And Morgan laughed at me when I asked him if I could have them! The kids and I went with g'ma and papa, and we had a ton of fun!

Also, the NASCAR raceway is exactly 55 minutes from our house, so I hope that Tim and his family will come see us someday!

Last night Parker went to a try-out for a select team here, the NTX Eagles (NTX is North Texas), and we got an invitation for him to join the team this morning. We just need to work out the details, this is the team that the coach said we could play tournaments in the fall and practice with the team to prepare for spring, but that they are playing Sunday double-headers, so we don't want to do those. I hope that it all works out for him, he is very excited, and we really liked the coaches philosophy on coaching kids. Tyler is trying out for a team on Saturday morning, so we are hoping all goes well there, too. Send your good thoughts our way!!

Yesterday, we had a fun swim party for Parker's scout activity this month. It is so hot here right now, that I am thankful for the tropical depression Erin because it is sending up some rain and cooler air! Wednesday night, Tyler went to his first YM activity. The church is 20 minutes away, so I drive him down and we live too far away to go back home and make it back in an hour, so I guess I'll need to start taking a good book to read.I'm thinking of this one:

Today, Maris and I went to Dallas with my mom and Morgan and we went to the temple. On the way home we ate at "On the Border." http://www.ontheborder.com/ Oh my gosh! GREAT food. Everyone but me got fajitas, and they were HUGE!! Most places you can get 3 maybe 4 fajitas out of the meat they give you, but there was tons left over to bring home. I had the Borderito, or whatever it is called. I ate 1/4th of it. Also, their chips are homemade and they have great (but HOT) homemade salsa. Not many restaurants are blog-worthy, but this one definitely was!

Sorry I have no pictures to post, I took pictures in Fort Worth, but when I got home to download them, they were gone. That has never happened to me before. And I had some cute pic's!! Oh well, you win some, you lose some!

Tonight our elementary is having a Pixie Stix on the Playground activity for the kids to all go and see the playground and the school . 1 1/2 weeks and school starts!! Yoo hoo!!

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Take me out to the ballgame...

I have to start this post and probably won't get done to post today, but maybe I will. Anyway, the game was a BLAST!! Watching baseball is something we like to do alot. The traffic wasn't too bad on the way down but it does take us a good hour to Arlington. We saw Six Flags and the new Cowboys stadium that they are building right by the Ballpark. We drove right past the current Cowboys Stadium, and Maris pointed it out to the kids, who weren't nearly as impressed. Arlington would be a fun weekend trip. Six Flags also has a water park with it. http://www.sixflags.com/ It is, however WAYYYYY too hot to hang out there right now. It is open until December and then closes for a couple of months before opening again in (I think) early March. Anyway, back to the ballgame. So it was Autograph Wednesday and there were about 5 different lines throughout the park to get autographs from different players. To be completely and totally up front, the Texas Rangers have never been a team that (before now) we have followed, so we didn't really know many of them. Sammy and Michael Young weren't signing, so we just got in the shortest line and it was retired coach and a former player (Larry Handy ? and Tim Crabtree.) The current players had long lines, and since we weren't bigger fans of one over the other, the short line looked good. Then since it was dollar hot dog night also, we bought 10 hot dogs and some drinks and went to watch warm-ups.

Here is Tyler pregame with the stadium behind him.


Getting autographs.


Eating those dollar dogs.


Here is Sammy getting a strike. He went 1 for 3 or 4, I can't remember. (See boys, we all have bad days!) Michael Young, however hit a homerun. Yay! But in the end it wasn't enough. The Rangers lost the game. Ya win some ya lose some. The good news is that we stayed until the end, so by that time the stands had pretty much cleared out in the 8th and 9th innings. Fair weather fans!! It was really fun!


On Thursday, Anny came into town. The GREAT news is that the last plumber was walking out the front door as Maris and Oma walked in the garage, and I had a fully restored kitchen for the weekend! Woo Hoo!! We were so excited to have her here! We took her on a driving tour around Mckinney and Frisco and I think that she was surprised at how pretty it is down here. The trees are green, the roads are clean, the flowers are blooming. It doesn't hurt that it rained so much this spring! I felt bad that she came in at the start of this heat wave, so both her and my parents had to live through the HOT weather in Utah and Idaho, and now we are having our heat spell. (See my new accuweather linky to your right to see what it is like RIGHT NOW!!) On Friday, we took her to Stonebriar Mall http://www.shopstonebriar.com/ and looked for some nice slacks and a white shirt and a tie for Tyler to wear to church now that he is a big boy! We were unsuccessful in finding all we wanted, but decided to go to Kohl's on Saturday to finish up. Then we took Tyler to SportClips http://www.sportclips.com/ to get a haircut. He enjoyed every minute of it as he got a fine haircut and got to watch Sports Center while a guy in a referee outfit cut his hair! Saturday we went to Kohl's and Ikea. We had a great time with Oma and it was so fun to spend time with her especially since we haven't seen her for a couple of months!
My parents got here on Saturday evening, and Oma, Grandma and I went grocery shopping to get food for the next day. Sunday was a very nice day. Except Maris, Tyler and I had to speak in Sacrament meeting. I guess that it was good that our parents were here. Tyler did a great job on his first talk in front of that many people ever! They called him up and sustained him and he was ordained a deacon in quorum that afternoon. I still can't believe he is 12. I forgot to take pic's of him in his fresh white shirt, and I meant to get pic's of him with Oma before she left, but I am a loser, and I forgot. I'll take pic's on this Sunday, which will be the first day he passes the sacrament. We had 3 families from our ward come over for BBQ after church. Stacia and Eric and their kids Noah and Heber, Laurie and Jason and their kids Tristan, Clara, Rhegan and Seth, and Nancy and Mike and their son Josh. We had a great time visiting and we are so grateful for the good friends we are making here!
On Monday, with the help of my friend Stacia, we drove Anny to the airport. I now know how to go there on my own, so if ya'll want to come visit,I can pick you up. We are going to miss Oma and we are planning to come home over Christmas, so it will be a while before we see her again!:( Monday night, we drove up to Sherman to Johnny Carino's http://www.carinos.com/, Tyler's favorite restuarant of all time, and had a little birthday dinner. Yum!
Sorry this is such a huge post. I should post small daily and then I won't have monstrous ones like this!! Today we are thinking of going to Fort Worth. I'm excited because I have never been there before!! My mom and I are looking forward to a week of boutiquing and exploring. I'll try to find time in between to write!

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Happy Birthday Tyler!!!!!

I cannot believe that my little boy is 12 years old!! Impossible!!

So he is a happy camper...he got a cell phone. And it is red. He has spent the day calling and texting everyone he can think of. Our minutes are shared, so maybe I should lay off the phone this month to cover his excitement!!

The other thing that he wanted was to go to a Texas Rangers game. It will be the first MLB game the kids have been to. We are going on Wednesday night, and they are playing the A's. They have a dollar hot dog promo going on that night, and I think he is as excited about that as anything!

12 things about Tyler:

1. Tyler is very responsible. He not only knows the difference between right and wrong, but he is responsible enough to act on that knowledge.

2. Tyler is a good friend. When you are his friend, it is for life. He is very thoughtful of other people's feelings.

3. Tyler loves sports. He likes to play and watch. He especially loves football, basketball and baseball. He is a good sport. He understands that winning and losing are part of the game, and even thought it is hard to lose, he handles it with grace.

4. Tyler loves math. He gets that from his dad.

5. Tyler loves to read. His favorite book of all time is Eragon. He enjoys books in the fantasy genre. He is anxiously awaiting the email from the library telling us that the 2nd Ranger's Apprentice book is in. Right now he is reading Measle and the Mallokee. He also checked out Leven Thumps and has figured out how many pages he should read a day if he wants to finish both of them in the 2-week check out period!

6. Tyler likes to use his hands to create things. He likes to use Legos to build intricate castles and cities.

7. Tyler likes to play video and computer games. His favorite video game is Madden '07.

8. Tyler loves pasta. His favorite restaurant is Johnny Carrino's. A happy day was when we located one off of 75 on the way to Dallas. He can't wait for G'ma and Papa to get here so we can go for his birthday!

9. Tyler also loves rice. Italy or China would be good mission options for him!

10. Tyler loves music. He and Connor and Logan like to burn cd's and share them with each other. He likes a huge variety of music, from today's alternative rock to classic rock to 80's hits.

11. Tyler is a good brother. He is (usually) kind and thoughtful of Aliza and Parker. He is an awesome son. We feel lucky that he is ours.

12. He is very excited to be 12. He can't wait to go to Young Men's. He is excited to get the priesthood and be able to pass the sacrament.

Happy Birthday Tyler!!!

WE LOVE YOU!!!

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Alphaville Forever Young (Goldene Europa 1984)

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Home Warranty and Family Visits

My sister-in-law Laurie came to Dallas this week on business and she came up last night to see us!! She is going to have a baby in December and I haven't seen her since she started showing, so it was really fun to see her and my cute little niece to be. She brought her friend May with her. They left Dallas at about 5 pm, huge mistake! It is easily a 2 hour drive from Dallas to our house in rush hour traffic and rain!! So about an hour into the trip, they called and said they were stopping to eat and to wait for the traffic to subside. :) It was so fun to see her and it just primed us for next week when we get to have Maris' mom an my parents come. My brother Dave is coming in September. The hotel is booking up, call now for the best dates!

Thank Goodness for the home warranty. And this is the reason they have them. Apparently, the drain pipe in our kitchen got hit with something and cracked and has had a slow leak. We are guessing that when they put the nail guard over the pipe it got hit just a little hard with the hammer. This is all good news, because at the end of day yesterday, we were getting ready to schedule the jack-hammer man to come in and start in on the foundation. Thankfully the leak is above ground. The plumber is coming in tomorrow morning to fix the pipe and the warranty guy is coming tomorrow afternoon to rip out the drywall. They are being really careful not to break the silestone countertop, which is why they left the other cabinet in. After the drywall guys come next Tuesday to replace the drywall (we want it to get aired out and very dry to prevent mold growth) the cabinet guys will come in and rebuild the cabinets and pull out the other one and replace it. Then the plumber will come back and put back the dishwasher and the sink, and hopefully we will have a fully functioning kitchen by the time Oma gets here on Thursday! In the meantime, we have an "eating out" allowance from our builder since we can't cook! It could be worse!!

According to Aliza, the bad news is that we weren't able to go to the Bounce House with some friends today because we were waiting for it to all get checked out!! It's a rough life!

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