They're coming. . .

Braces.

For Savannah and Charlotte.

Two kids in braces at the same time.

Sigh.

My wallet is already crying, however. . .

the orthodontist is probably already looking at a new boat!!!

But the girls are excited. 

I will post pictures when the braces are actually on.

Right now, we have spacers in, and the game is afoot!

Then and Now

Last year at this time, we received our tax refund and decided that we were going to try something new.

We dedicated some money for the purpose of stocking up on those things that we don't always purchase on our typical payday grocery shopping trips. These are items that aren't an "every two weeks" purchase, but when we do have to buy them, they seem to kill a good percentage of our allotted grocery budget. Laundry detergent alone is a nightmare!!

So, we took $1000 to Costco, and this is what we came home with:  

Comparing what we bought last year to what we still have left:

Dishwasher Soap: 9 boxes, 5 left

Bath Soap: 8 cases, 5 left

Toothpaste: 3 cases, 1 left

Cat Food: 4 bags, None left  (Hungry chubby cats!!!)

Toilet Paper: 5 cases, 1 left

Cat Litter: 4 jugs, None left  (Ick. They poop a lot!!)

Fabric Softener: 5 jugs, None left

Laundry Detergent: 9 boxes, 5 left

Paper Towels: 4 cases, 3 left

Plus some other random stuff, like shampoo and conditioner, razor blades (holy cow- they are costly!), batteries, etc.

We are going to do the same thing this year. I think it was hands-down the best thing we've ever done with tax refund money.

So now that we have had a year to see how long things last, and what we go through the most, we are going to make some changes to what we buy, and how much of it.

Clearly, we must buy more cat food. MUCH more cat food!!

I. Cannot. Wait!

Psych.

Season 7.

Only 

7

more days!!

I cannot wait!!

Dinner....

Colby made steak soft tacos for dinner.

They were absolutely delicious.

Except now my whole house smells like cilantro.

Boo.

It reminds me of Cafe Rio.

I hate that place, even the smell of that place.

But, the tacos were yummy as can be.

Thanks, Colby!!!!

And now, I am going to scream.....

I just got a recorded call from the school district.

Apparently, the school board has voted to turn Fox Hollow Elementary into a

YEAR ROUND

school.

I cannot adequately convey to you, through this digital form of media, how much

I HATE YEAR ROUND SCHOOL.

HATE it.

Grrrrr.

This is why. . .

Sometimes I really don't love scrapbooking.

Mostly because I am not good at keeping up with it, and then I wind up very, very behind.

So, let's see---three kids, three years behind on each, that makes me, oh,

nine years behind.

Yikes.

Don't always love scrapbooking.

But, this is why I do it. . .
 



 

Because the kids

LOVE

to look through them.

And that makes me happy.

Oh, the list! The list!

I just came across a note that my dear Charlotte wrote to Santa Claus.

In the note, she indicated that she was sure she was on the

"good list."

She also made it very clear what she would like him to bring her.

I'm guessing this is because she was worried he might not have known PRECISELY what she wanted.

She even mentioned the other day that we should go see Santa again, just to make sure he remembered what she had already told him.

I told her no. Come on, Santa remembers! He's magic! The guy can squeeze through skinny chimneys, and ride in a sleigh pulled by flying reindeer- he can definitely remember what she asked for.

Apparently, she wasn't convinced and felt compelled to write him another letter.

But, the best part of the note-

 

"I hope my brother and sister are on your good list."

 

Such a sweetie!!

I love my blue-eyed girl!

 

Definitely on the good list!

She is here!!!!

I have a new niece, and she is lovely!

Berkeley Keely Lance

arrived on 12-10-12 at 8:59 p.m. weighing 7 pounds, 6 ounces.

Unfortunately, I do not have a picture of her, for two reasons:

1- One of us was too busy holding the baby to take a picture,

and

2- The other was too busy being gimpy on crutches to take a picture!!!

She is soooo cute, trust me.

I will post a picture as soon as I remember to bring a camera, and when Colby can pry sweet little Berkeley out of my arms for a picture.

Congratulations, Stephie and Travis, you have a beautiful baby girl!

Happy Turkey Day!!

And now, pearls of wisdom from the Great Fat Garfield:

"Ahh, Thanksgiving.

That's the day people celebrate having food

by eating as much of it as possible.

Yes, that's the day people try to eat every turkey, pumpkin, and cranberry

on the face of the earth!"

Happy
"Stuff-yourself-until-it-hurts-but-you-still-eat-more"
Day!!

Grrrrrr, traffic......

I love/hate driving on the freeway.

Love that it is sometimes a faster way to get from A to B.

HATE that the always stellar Utah driver skills (*caught the sarcasm, right...*) seem to plummet to absolute zero on the freeway, however.

Today a huge Chevy Suburban cut right in front of me, attempting to fit where even a Geo Metro would be a tight squeeze.

Always annoying, but to make things even more pleasant, it had a huge New York Yankees sticker on the back window.

And that's not all.....

it had a BYU sticker too!!

Grrrrrr.

SWEEP!!!!!!!

What a fantastic series!!

The Detroit Tigers

SWEPT

the New York Yankees.

That's right, swept. As in the Tigers beat them 4 games straight.
The Tigers starting pitchers only allowed the Yankees 2 runs in the whole entire 4 game series.
The Tigers dealt the Yankees their first sweep in the ALCS since

1980.
The Detroit Tigers rock!!!

 

Go Tigers!!!!

I cannot wait for the World Series!!!!!!!!!!!

I've got your back, Big Bird. . .

I am not super politically active, or motivated, or anything.

Generally, I tend to let politics go their own way, and I go mine.

But......

Apparently a certain President-wanna-be thinks we should stop funding PBS.

Now I'm angry. Who doesn't like Big Bird??!?

Are there really no other issues in the country bigger and more worth the time?

This is the biggest problem?

PBS?
Grrrrrr.

At least he didn't malign Oscar the Grouch.
We'd have some serious problems if he attacked my favorite Sesame Street character.
Really, Oscar is one of my very favorite characters, from any show, ever.

Boy, does she know me. . .

A small conversation I overheard this afternoon, about three minutes after I heard the school bus on my street, and before the kids even set foot in the house...

Barrett:   "Do you think Mom is home yet?"

Charlotte:   "I think so, she didn't have to go to work today."

this next one is my favorite...

Savannah:   "Of course she's home, can't you tell? Her music is WAAAAAY too loud, I can hear it from out here."

Apparently, I listen to music too loud. The thing is, though, I like it that way. Loud is good. It makes me smile.
So, what does this mean?

But I thought I was older than Savannah??!!  Hmmm, maybe I can buy Savannah some earplugs!!

(Recent) History Class. . .

 

 

Just listened to Savannah, my eleven-year-old, tell Barrett and Charlotte all about September 11, 2001.

In exceptional and accurate detail.

She even recounted things that I had forgotten, such as the third plane that crashed into the Pentagon.

And the fourth plane, that attempted to crash into the White House, but was thwarted by the bravery and heroics of the passengers on that plane; all of whom died when they managed to divert the plane and crash-land on an open field.

 

I was quite proud.

Proud of the 6th grade teachers who obviously presented a wonderful memorial and tribute, and gave a lesson that the students remembered.

Proud of Savannah for listening, and taking a very sad lesson into her heart. Proud that she became a little teary during her recitation of something that happened when she was just a 6 month old baby.

Proud of Charlotte and Barrett for listening, and for trying to understand events that transpired years before they were born.

 

As for me, I remember that day, eleven years ago. My darling sister Steph was holding  and playing with Savannah, and suddenly shouted to me to come downstairs. I could not believe my eyes. I made it to the TV just in time to see the second plane crash into the tower.

Utterly in shock and disbelief, Steph and I just sat there, holding Savannah between us, crying and trying to understand what we had just witnessed.

 

I'll never forget that morning.

It made me happy, if that can be possible, to hear the events of that day retold by my daughter, and to hear the new generation of children understand, in their own way, and on their own level, the solemn importance of such a tragedy.

 

God bless the USA.

Back to school. . .

 All ready for the new school year!! All the kids at the same school, on the same schedule.

 Barrett ready to rock first grade! When did he get so big?!? 

 In his class, with his very own desk! He was so excited! Going to be a great year!

 Charlotte, all ready to begin second grade. So cool!

 At her own desk, with her friend Ellie sitting right across from her. Yay!

 Savannah. Sixth grade. Enough said, or I am going to cry some more.

 Savannah in her class. Apparently she has hit the traditional 6th grade milestone- the "I'm not going to look at Mom for the picture, I'm too cool for that" phase. Despite her embarrassment, I continued to take pictures, even if she wouldn't look at the camera!!

 

That's it. My babies are all big and grown up enough to be in school. All day.

Just me and the cats, at home all day.

I think I might survive...

 

: ~)