kiddy bench

Last time we went down to Utah, my mom showed us a bench for kids that she had been given by a neighbor. It had broken and someone had written on the cover for the seat. She was wondering if we wanted to take it home and see what we could do with it and then we could have it. Since moving my living room around to accomodate our piano, I had been looking for something to go under my window in my living room. I didn't want anything that would cover the window or that would stick out too far because it was in a high traffic area. I thought the bench would be perfect. Nathan wasn't thrilled about it, but was willing to strengthen it if I would help him recover the cushion. We did it all in one night. I LOVE how it turned out and even Nathan has commented on how he likes it much better. Before, but after we had taken it all apart.
The morning after. Our kids had seen the bench broken, but we kept telling them that they couldn't sit on it. The morning after we fixed it, Zoey was the first one to see it. She asked if she could sit on it, then proceeded to take all her favorite books and sit and read them for quite a while.

The next day. Zoey is in love with the bench. It is the perfect size for her. She calls this area "her library." I think it fits great! It's just what I was looking for.

Tag #2

I was tagged by Mimi.

Bold the items you have done:

1. Started your own blog.
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band - Middle School orchestra anyone?
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland - 2010!!!
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a Praying Mantis
10. Sang a solo - "While Strolling Through the Park One Day!" - Yes, everyone thought it was Julie, but she was just lip sync-ing my song.
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Been to the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables - That's a loose definition of the term "grown."
19. Seen the Mona Lisa at the Louvre
20. Slept on a train
21. Had a pillow fight -pillow fight, played bumper cars, did everything having to do with a pillow and fighting
22. Hitch hiked

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise - not yet. I just need to convince Nathan and I'm outta here!!
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing - do those kid's playgrounds count?
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke - girls' night in bear lake?
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted - Owen does it all the time. I'm so famous!
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie - "The Lords Sisters!"
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business - not yet. Working on it!
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason - Thanks, Babe!
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Tied a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a Bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book - "Little Girl Cried and Cried . . ."
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating - Okay I didn't actually do the killing.
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life - Indirectly, but I count it. I watch my kids so Nathan (an EMT) can go save people.
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Visited Italy

Tag #1

So, I was thinking that I had missed a tag. I looked back and I have actually missed 3 tags. Sorry, Mimi. So, to get it done, I'm going to do them quickly now. I'm not going to tag anyone, but anyone who thinks these tags look fun and wants to do them, go for it!!

The first tag was:

Here are the rules for receiving the fabulous award:

1. You have to pass it on to 5 other fabulous blogs in a post.

2. You have to list 5 of your fabulous addictions in the post.

3. You must copy and paste the rules and the instructions below in the post.

Instructions: On your post of receiving this award, make sure you include the person that gave you the award and link it back to them. When you post your five winners, make sure you link them as well. To add the award to your post, simply right-click, save image, then "add image" it in your post as a picture so your winners can save it as well. To add it to your sidebar, add the "picture" gadget. Also, don't forget to let your winners know they won an award from you by emailing them or leaving a comment on their blog.

Here are my Five Fabulous Addictions:

1. I am addicted to jeans, T-shirts, and sweatshirts. It's really all I wear. I would wear them to church if I could. I see other people wearing cute shirts and think I could handle it, so I go out and buy something new, but shortly I'm back to the good old standard. I love being comfortable more than in style.

2. I am addicted to Dawn Plus Odor Eraser splash of Lime dish soap. Yes, I know it's funny, but I really am. I used to try a new soap every time, but I can't now. It seriously works. It's gotten rid of onion smell on a wood cutting board. It's amazing!!

3. I am addicted to Caress Moroccan Oil Infusions body wash. It has a rich smell like chocolate and leaves my skin feeling great!! I really love it!! I don't want to use anything else. Unfortunately, no place in the town 10 miles away from me carries it, so I get it whenever I go to Idaho Falls.

4. I am addicted to hot chocolate. My favorites are Stephen's Irish Creme and (my new one) Stephen's Peanut Butter Cup. The only way I can have it, though, is by putting ice cream in it. It cools it down perfectly and makes it taste amazing!

5. My last addiction is kind of three, but they all go together. I am addicted to Turbo Jam, sub lingual B vitamins, and grape Propel packets. I'm trying to work out more and not be so tired. These three things are helping immensely!! The B vitamins truly give me energy. So much that one time I took them before bed and had to get up and do stuff. My body would not sit still. It's not a "hyped up on caffeine" feeling, just a great energy. I LOVE Turbo Jam. I hated exercising to elevator music. Chalene has fun moves that target my abs (I never thought I could work my abs after having back surgery and not being able to do crunches and sit ups) put to fun music that you find yourself singing along to later in the day. The music also makes me work harder. I tried to take it easy one day when I was sick, but found myself working harder and harder. The Propel packets I put in my water before my workout and I find that I'm able to workout harder and longer. I can't eat before I workout or it makes me sick, but Propel does the trick.

25 Random Things About Me

I got tagged on facebook and had to write 25 random things about me. So, I thought I'd publish it here as well.

1. When I was two, I fell in the bathtub and bit through my tongue almost biting it off. I barely missed two major veins and had to have it stitched back up. My tongue was too big to fit in my mouth for quite a while.

2. I broke my arm in the sixth grade on April Fools Day. It was nerd day and I had worn one skate and one shoe. I stepped on the skate and fell.

3. I have titanium rods in my back and titanium screws in my jaw. My husband loves that I look like I have a zipper going down my back.

4. I had an awesome bike wreck going down Granada hill. I blacked out and woke up in Fitch's truck. I still have some good scars. I also blame my wreck for why I can't remember anything before about 10.

5. I've always been better friends with boys than with girls. Sometimes I think I have a male's sense of humor. And I don't like all the drama that comes from being around a group of girls. Surprising since I came from a family of six girls and one boy.

6. I had all of my children naturally because drugs sometimes react wierd in my body and I didn't want that to happen then and also, I wasn't sure I could have an epidural after my surgery and the only way to tell was to try it and find out the way was blocked. I didn't want to get to the point where I really needed one and then find out I couldn't do it, so I went into it with the attitude that I was having them naturally. Even though I was told by a doctor in my OB's office that I wouldn't be able to do it. Honestly, I don't know that I would have been able to if it hadn't been for my husband.

7. I have 27 chickens. They are just starting to lay brown and green eggs.

8. I bottle fed day old lambs this spring and had one die in my lap. But we ended up raising six to maturity and earned enough to buy a 100 year old piano.

9. We also raised two pigs this year. Our freezer is full of pork. YUM!

10. I LOVE living on my little pretend farm.

11. I've had my cosmetology license for16 years. In those years, I have turned a bald guy's head black, a different guy's hair blue, my own hair blue with fluorescent blue highlights, and cut LOTS of hair - especially on my mission. It all started with cutting my Barbie's hair. It doesn't look so cute short.

12. I have a ham radio license.

13. I went on a mission to the Arkansas Little Rock Mission.

14. I took apart a motorcycle and re-assembled it almost single handedly. (I did need help lifting the engine back into the frame.)

15. One of my favorite times of the week is when I watch a movie and eat popcorn, apples, and cheese with my family on Sunday night.

16. I like to mess around with recipes and make them my own, but I ALWAYS have to start with a recipe (much to the dismay of my food scientist hubby). Then I can change it up. This could come from necessity. The closest grocery store is 10 miles away, but most stores are 25 miles away.

17. I have had to have surgery after having my last two kids. Having babies can wreak havoc on a body!!

18. I used to have horrible panic attacks and once thought I was having a heart attack. THAT was an embarrassing trip to the ER!! I think it came from living in the city. Soon after we moved here, they stopped.

19. I love to joke around and tease and tickle. Luckily, my kids love it, too.

20. I learned to talk very young, but it didn't change for a LONG time. I finally learned to enunciate after having many retainers, braces, and headgear.

21. I "play" the cello and the piano.

22. I helped "the guys" plan our prom date in high school. I was sworn to secrecy and couldn't tell any of the other dates. They did still throw in a few surprises.

23. I love it when I feel smart. Especially when I can teach my very smart hubby things like squeezing orange peels into a candle and getting the heart out of lettuce by banging it on the edge of the sink.

24. I LOVE hearing little kids talk. I'm loving how my two year old talks right now. I love that forehead is "horefead" and everything is "la" instead of "the": "la door," "la orange," "la horefead." It's so cute!!

25. I am trying to draw up houseplans to put a salon in my basement, so I can stay at home with my kids and still do hair. We're planning on doing most of the work ourselves.

Owen's tournament

Today was Owen's first karate tournament. Here he is waiting for the tournament to start. He could NOT sit still. He did such a good job in the tournament, though, and was so proud of himself. I think it really enforced to him what karate is. Two weeks ago, he was ready to be done. Now he's ready to go again. I'm really glad that he had the opportunity to participate. I think he's going for the intimidation factor. What do you think? Is it working? Aren't you SO scared of him?Practicing his bear crawls (used to be the hardest thing for him to do, now he's doing it voluntarily) before the tournament.All the students listening to their senseis talk about rules of the tournament. You can see how well Owen listens at times.The "Little Dragons" (Shon's kids ages 4-6) getting ready to do their katas.Owen doing his kata.

I didn't know they were going to do this. Owen hadn't really practiced except for in class. He was the last Little Dragon to do his and two of the others had to have one of the senseis come and help them. The other Little Dragon wouldn't say what she needed to very loud. I was a little nervous when Owen got up, but he did excellent. He spoke loud and knew everything he was supposed to do. I was proud of him. He didn't like to do his kata when he first started and now he does so well.More kata.Shaking hands after receiving his medal for his kata.Showing off his kata medal.

After their kata, they got to watch all of the older kids and adults do their katas. Then they started the sparring.

Getting ready for sparring.

They didn't have the Little Dragons do normal sparring. It was kind of like the flag football of karate. They had "tags" on their sides that their opponent had to steal. He was able to hold his own. Nathan and I realized that, in karate, his size is actually a hindrance. The smaller kids were able to sneak in under his arm easily and steal his tags. By the end, though he had it figured out.Waiting for sparring and hitting on the chicks.Getting his tags on to spar.

Here's a video of Owen sparring. This is his first attempt before he had figured everything out.

Here is his second sparring session. He held his own in this one.

Owen actually sparred one more time, but I figure two videos is enough for one post. He did well on the last one, too. Sorry about the choppiness of the videos. Zoey was on Nathan's lap and wouldn't get down. I'm sure she thought she was "helping."

Owen showing off his two medals. One for his kata and one for his sparring. Congratulations Owen!!

Ouch!!

Someday I'll go back and post about things I haven't, but right now I'm just trying to stay caught up with today.

Today was my day to volunteer at Jo's class, so I dropped my kids off at my friend Julie's house and went to school. When I got back, Julie met me at the door and was trying not to laugh. She warned me that Owen had a sore on his chin and his hand. She told me that she had left the kids downstairs and taken her youngest up to get dressed. All of a sudden she heard a crash and Owen screaming. Then Owen telling her son not to tell or they'd get in trouble. Julie went downstairs to see what was going on and found out that her son and Owen had gotten on the treadmill and turned it on. Owen says it was going SO fast!! He wasn't expecting it and fell and got a treadmill burn on his chin and hand. After laughing at the picture that made in my mind, I went down to talk to Owen. I've tried all day to not laugh too hard at him and to have a good mixture of sympathy, but still let him know that that wasn't the smartest thing he ever tried to do.

I think the burn is taking care of the consequences. Especially after hearing him talk himself into getting his chin wet in the shower. It went something like this: "Okay, just a little wet. See, it doesn't hurt THAT bad. Ooooo. Owww. Ohhhhh. Okay, THAT one hurts bad. Oww." It was all whispered because he knew he wasn't going to get much sympathy from me. I told him he didn't have to wash it, he could just let it get infected and never get better. I know, I'm such a mean mom.

Here's a good picture of the chin.
And a better one of the hand.

Poor Owen. I am sorry that he got hurt. I don't like it when my kids are hurt, but I still can't get the picture out of my mind of him realizing what that button does on a treadmill and wondering why someone would make a button that makes the ground move out from under your feet.

FHE with kids

I've decided it's so much more fun to let the kids decide what we are going to do for FHE. Take tonight for an example. Nathan was conduct, I was in charge of songs and prayers, Jo was treats, Owen was activity, and Zoey was the lesson.

We printed off a picture about Jesus blessing the Nephite children and Zoey told us all that Jesus loves us and there were angels. All the important parts, right?

Then, for activity, Owen led us in yoga that he learned on Sesame Street. We did a "dog pose" and "rolling down the hill" (where we had to take turns because our living room isn't big enough. He told us that was all he knew, so we did the "dog pose" again and were ready to be done until Jo remembered a "cat pose" that looked suspiciously like the "dog pose" so we did that.

Jo decided to make root beer floats (a favorite in this house), but she wanted to use rainbow sherbet. I was tempted to dissuade her, but decided to run with it. They were surprisingly good. The first bite was a shocker, but after a while, it grew on you. I finally realized what they tasted like. Remember those twin pop popsicles? They had lime, orange and root beer. We used to trade with a friend, half for half. The floats tasted like after you finished your first one and took the first bite of a new flavor.

Eating our rainbow root beer floats.

Jo, so proud of her creation.