tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59552669523032367202024-03-18T20:21:52.041-07:00Joe & Brooke Plus SixBrookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08212664903331938923noreply@blogger.comBlogger189125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5955266952303236720.post-71941214867755513462012-08-30T10:12:00.001-07:002012-08-30T10:12:24.012-07:00You Are Invited<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/wCBrsYxawrEuIUhMXUKSg9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-UwYgE_MEuZM/UD-eKXGLIvI/AAAAAAAADdY/j8IGMj1Ih9U/s640/baptism%2520invitationfor%2520web.jpg" height="283" width="640" /></a>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08212664903331938923noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5955266952303236720.post-8481169411722259472012-06-17T12:53:00.001-07:002012-06-19T09:06:02.024-07:00Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08212664903331938923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5955266952303236720.post-54763368618391026642012-03-12T09:20:00.002-07:002012-03-12T10:04:25.942-07:00I Think I Can, I Think I Can, I Think I CanI Think I Can, I Think I Can, I Think I Can, OK, here goes:<br /><br />Guess who had a birthday?<br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/3s3cWI0tAX93BGcu0RtcqNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-04ttXFYsLww/T1eubcIZO2I/AAAAAAAADak/ByxQUkxq_xM/s800/IMG_9700.JPG" height="600" width="800" /></a><br /><br />That's right! Jack turned three in style.<br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/opi-pJCdLNTc3sLPFqY7JdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-54gxed7WoTk/T1eucdykBbI/AAAAAAAADas/N-SqRvmP1IQ/s800/IMG_9703.JPG" height="534" width="800" /></a><br /><br />We, of course, had cupcakes.<br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Yb4-UXi7exf5jBjz6tq93tMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ytte3fexfqQ/T1eudrZQYPI/AAAAAAAADa0/CYUzlm41t6I/s800/IMG_9706.JPG" height="534" width="800" /></a><br /><br />And some other, non-traditional January food. But when you're three and you ask for corn and watermelon on your birthday, that's exactly what you get....especially when you look so cute eating it.<br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/eMvRlykc74_Bxpo7285_XNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-8IxC2EiwvNk/T1eue6i9OsI/AAAAAAAADbE/ACGznaks5bo/s800/IMG_9714.JPG" height="601" width="800" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/fJJ0hAz96xgaoiX79-rTF9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-UnF5Odp48DA/T1eufs3gaAI/AAAAAAAADbM/CJ3PDV69wAE/s800/IMG_9718.JPG" height="601" width="800" /></a><br /><br /><br />And then, a month later, we had another big birthday...big as in TEENAGER big birthday.<br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/4UeYj1fZTxKdJYfejbx4d9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-f0D5SZa1Sdc/T1euhAJAB8I/AAAAAAAADbc/mbBtNdP5oD8/s800/IMG_9768.JPG" height="534" width="800" /></a><br /><br />Here is John taking care of the wrapping paper trash and Maggie just looking cute.<br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/qBhxLFAGVIGdb6qWJ43OGdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-196NjoGn0Wk/T1euh1DcfBI/AAAAAAAADbw/mwY_I6MivW0/s800/IMG_9769.JPG" height="534" width="800" /></a><br /><br />Speaking of Maggie, she made Joe this lovely two layer cake all by herself.<br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/O4zzXPn0xDF12qBVJyAd2tMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-EGrcUgDdpP0/T1euiaDDlwI/AAAAAAAADbo/duu9UpXdhOU/s800/IMG_9777.JPG" height="534" width="800" /></a><br /><br />Well, she had a little help from her brothers:<br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/653zULLeyJq3CQL7M3_ZsdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-k5w2dFFYmxg/T1eujCo9krI/AAAAAAAADb8/ia3-Fyt4EJw/s800/IMG_9778.JPG" height="534" width="800" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/6bfauc5QEgGRYnO1KfRSUNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-cSUPY6ZiLOE/T1euj_pC1sI/AAAAAAAADb4/6fsGu9b9x1s/s800/IMG_9779.JPG" height="534" width="800" /></a><br /><br />As part of his birthday celebrations, Joe invited a couple of friends to EFY in Santa Barbara. Here he is enjoying the benefits of having a mother who buys neck ties by the dozen.<br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/tUFfBJfQwOvd70uPWA9zedMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-inlgg3BUlTE/T1eugRP6XCI/AAAAAAAADbU/oLrYCTudBt8/s800/IMG_9746.JPG" height="800" width="534" /></a><br /><br />Sadly, two days after the big birthday, my dear Grandma LaRue passed away. She was a wonderful woman who taught me so many things. I am sad that she is gone, but happy that she is no longer in pain. <br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/d_xl4gypRXdKg90Nl62lDtMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-I9x-rjbLc2Q/T14lo0Xj7xI/AAAAAAAADc8/vhr4I8jDWws/s800/larue%2520copy.jpg" height="444" width="340" /></a><br /><br />I wasn't able to attend her funeral as I had already made plans to visit my sister Chelsea who had just had her first baby. We had a lovely weekend snuggling with little Nash...such a cute baby.<br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/2p5SToqjKtThfBZVUK8yENMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-SkbBzohCa-o/T14ni5VIG-I/AAAAAAAADdE/2nWZk7Wt8pE/s640/photo.JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><br />And Friday, just three weeks after the passing of my Grandma, my Grandpa, her husband of over sixty years, passed away as well. I am so sad to have them both gone from our lives so quickly. But I am happy that they are together again.<br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/GctCoQJkdfWIz1abHcnDoEYdAXyx4pig1VyAuJ9liJs?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-F4WKmVaBzik/T14r4krUj9I/AAAAAAAADdM/9Jw-6olp2ws/s800/loren.jpg" height="399" width="273" /></a><br /><br />Tomorrow I'm taking the kids on the train, and we'll all travel together up to Oregon together for the funeral. One mom, six kids, I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.... I guess I'll let you know.Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08212664903331938923noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5955266952303236720.post-26389356016445707602011-12-31T06:43:00.000-08:002012-01-06T07:06:56.363-08:00Christmas in OregonWe spent a really lovely 10 days in Oregon with my family for Christmas. We had fun with cousins, went ice skating, saw movies, went swimming (Madras has a pretty cool indoor acquatic center), opened lots of presents, and just generally had a great time. Thanks so much to my Dad and Mom who worked hard and were so patient having us in their house. I know it must be hard to go from two to ten people in your home. It was truly a Christmas for the record books. Here are just a few of the highlights:<br /><br />Got to stay the night with Robers up in Sacramento on the way up. The kids picked up right where they left off:<br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/GhMuFuuwf7C99EuJzO25MdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-yCD_gUpGBqs/TwNtYtM48yI/AAAAAAAADUI/pF_QyB5EHtI/s800/IMG_0276.JPG" height="601" width="800" /></a><br /><br />Ice Skating:<br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ma-FLnIlD0-iqjNqylXVjNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-nE0bsQkIA-k/TwNsZiU_K5I/AAAAAAAADRY/WAb-ryqaotY/s800/IMG_9281.JPG" height="534" width="800" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/JYJ13kJtY-45aGu1gqeSz9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ZentAy6k4V8/TwNsa05PRcI/AAAAAAAADRc/LT0u339PEvM/s800/IMG_9210.JPG" height="534" width="800" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/iSBAaQ-LKoLbBNEoe4WK4NMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-fCtIcMFj3mo/TwNsb2CmgFI/AAAAAAAADRg/GldjPpnBhy8/s640/IMG_9296.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/JfZxKRr7LfJgm_blWU5EttMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-jOrDjAcckcE/TwNsc0O_hrI/AAAAAAAADRk/xCnV7kHpqRs/s800/IMG_9314.JPG" height="800" width="768" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/vrN2PhO91ziihWe51r8JK9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-E3kM1EYEpHE/TwNsd9tfo6I/AAAAAAAADRo/ED99fLLnuBY/s800/IMG_9330.JPG" height="800" width="534" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/wTWw8ts8Wpw005J6xro46dMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-JJ022iS-VSk/TwNseoETVcI/AAAAAAAADRs/qDyhXskuiV0/s800/IMG_9340.JPG" height="534" width="800" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/rI3sIAJR5iNTzSmbKAXSmtMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/--kCMMK6qeE8/TwNsfT-k86I/AAAAAAAADRw/PIssU_whQx0/s800/IMG_9341.JPG" height="534" width="800" /></a><br /><br />This isn't the greatest picture, but it illustrates the first comment the Joe IV heard everywhere we went, "Wow Joe, you're so tall". He hasn't passed me up yet, but he did pass all three of the aunts we saw over the holiday:<br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/pdGFiiL-6_GAz-djUANMSNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BUz_3IJNgGI/TwNsf5UMCZI/AAAAAAAADR0/UvVbiDm1DwU/s800/IMG_9376.JPG" height="800" width="533" /></a><br /><br />These two were fast friends:<br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/RCaz5-oRCKYik218vlgnTNMTjNZETYmyPJy0<br />liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hnjjLsOB3lY/TwNsglthn7I/AAAAAAAADR4/P9ba_13nw5g/s800/IMG_9391.JPG" height="535" width="800" /></a><br /><br /><br />As were these two, granted without the public enthusiasm as the five year olds:<br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/IiUaImV9-NEc8O3x3jmG4NMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vCKa-vh5bpI/TwNshobJutI/AAAAAAAADR8/RjfEPeaQpms/s800/IMG_9410.JPG" height="536" width="800" /></a><br /><br /><br />A little Christmas Eve wrestling...wouldn't be Christmas without it:<br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/WXT37P0HwVUTzAFLRpcKSNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-nD38pxiBnS4/TwNsi2nvb7I/AAAAAAAADSA/r_8EbGCmhgU/s640/IMG_9419.JPG" height="427" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/15rtAjLCtXb3LWzuR2Kgv9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-vc7VUeaV-JE/TwNsjqjDL3I/AAAAAAAADSE/aNtqrMft0lc/s800/IMG_9424.JPG" height="536" width="800" /></a><br /><br /><br />ANd then of course the traditional Christmas Eve present:<br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/EJ6k3iznRNMMh3UIaor5U9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-HuXn0SOqmio/TwNskX1Bo6I/AAAAAAAADSI/wDB_dnMbH7A/s800/IMG_9434.JPG" height="534" width="800" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/1hKIT-uqWPuW0D_mVrjb_tMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-d8jV4X53bYY/TwNsluU4n-I/AAAAAAAADSM/VqGYHFeFLe4/s800/IMG_9455.JPG" height="691" width="800" /></a><br /><br />Christmas morning lineup:<br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/2Wg1y_YSJy5_vzI_GdGRdNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-dA4lGsa4eOo/TwNspqxHFFI/AAAAAAAADSc/Sai4i2nvIHg/s800/IMG_9492.JPG" height="800" width="534" /></a><br /><br />Then off to church at NINE am:<br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/6bPsCPTpqyda_2Oq5_PS1tMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-JJLs740ktRk/TwNsvZmp84I/AAAAAAAADS0/LeyCFJW_-Qw/s800/IMG_9563.JPG" height="535" width="800" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/nDBdtT5vrgQWidqbj48P4NMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-w-LBlrBclvM/TwNstX_txhI/AAAAAAAADSs/hgxPDBbxkAY/s800/IMG_9541.JPG" height="535" width="800" /></a><br /><br />This boy is looking more and more like the man I met fifteen years ago:<br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/SqUAl-MZAuR8_KfLhsy6QtMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-hfOO-53CWOk/TwNsseFdfFI/AAAAAAAADSo/KMBfc9qTkOI/s800/IMG_9537.JPG" height="800" width="532" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/OMzDB1RgvTHTu7gQTbVcMdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0uI9o1iO8Vo/TwNswnfZDcI/AAAAAAAADS4/FsTZsr9opNo/s800/IMG_9572.JPG" height="534" width="800" /></a><br /><br /><br />After church it was back home and back to pajamas for present opening:<br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/CNth4hbCmP3VHb0ww8aQudMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-jUnedmAJngg/TwNsuVx3w3I/AAAAAAAADSw/l9wvh28PcKc/s800/IMG_9551.JPG" height="800" width="532" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/5CzQI_vALZtu807J85OZvNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-LbsF3JFBEFM/TwNsrhnwL9I/AAAAAAAADSk/iaycGcpHwsg/s800/IMG_9531.JPG" height="800" width="534" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/X8-tBWIixbHzBJhs2sher9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-3fUBYLLsIUM/TwNsxt-o1JI/AAAAAAAADS8/7M-qrs51aP0/s800/IMG_9584.JPG" height="800" width="533" /></a><br /><br /><br />Maggie made hats for each one of her FIVE brothers:<br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/IUIVShX1s_q_Ui2cpE9nvdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-klsVC3UrLYQ/TwNsyfdWKmI/AAAAAAAADTA/R32fdtEN2mE/s800/IMG_9599.JPG" height="535" width="800" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/uOzxqeNJ8W2ZodzIRtb2v9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-pfQt85uwKf4/TwNszDa9RTI/AAAAAAAADTE/C2bY5d_-4KI/s800/IMG_9601.JPG" height="534" width="800" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/6B3qObGtfULY7XV_EBYIW9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-16V-U3GZmBE/TwNszoDk2YI/AAAAAAAADTI/gQztOj2TT-I/s800/IMG_9611.JPG" height="800" width="534" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Maggie and I got some matching Toms - I think I was more excited than she was:<br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/2oLf5-6uwQzr7RcQddpe09MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-EyA5lLN0Wtc/TwNs0TjPDDI/AAAAAAAADTM/JXduirNL9C0/s800/IMG_9622.JPG" height="534" width="800" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/dBwQbV1fwVMrc5LfmjPSi9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-_vCtKhw6sCg/TwNs1F4WR3I/AAAAAAAADTQ/Phi0mVHQ-ZU/s800/IMG_9623.JPG" height="535" width="800" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/kEWPjO0Lbat9DwO-F7GEe9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-bzksVMoEa44/TwNs2otw9hI/AAAAAAAADTY/1LVys2ObuK0/s800/IMG_9592.JPG" height="536" width="800" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Still couldn't completely keep out the cupcakes:<br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ge-juxA12rco1kvD-XYmz9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-XtEvN7Y3r7I/TwNs2GEKshI/AAAAAAAADTU/4bnM4EjPWFE/s800/IMG_9637.JPG" height="534" width="800" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />And no trip to Oregon is complete without a trip to super cool aunt and uncle Jann and Alan's for some target practice:<br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/kakaubSqO4bpPCthqnJA_tMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-WlcZzMHIeL8/TwNs3r0ITAI/AAAAAAAADTc/oFcEtc6JgRU/s800/IMG_9644.JPG" height="534" width="800" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/VslVrqLzf55Vdt0CY9gWGNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Vj3TvcSaTno/TwNs4abD49I/AAAAAAAADTg/07SCwm9HsB4/s800/IMG_9648.JPG" height="534" width="800" /></a><br /><br /><br />Don't forget the hearing protection:<br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/r1_gFJqwnQ3U48N6MRnqUdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ldkyhZp1cFM/TwNs5PeYYQI/AAAAAAAADTk/L_wHA9m_FRg/s800/IMG_9658.JPG" height="534" width="800" /></a><br /><br />This might be my favorite picture of all....all five of my boys out playing together at my childhood home:<br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/vtvEo8Z4jf2aQxpBx0s2M9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-FkzIefCQ1Ak/TwNs6MLwl0I/AAAAAAAADTo/ZY178MhqIfI/s800/IMG_9672.JPG" height="534" width="800" /></a><br /><br />Minus the snow, our Christmas was pretty much picture perfect. One I'm sure we'll always remember.Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08212664903331938923noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5955266952303236720.post-18917000786280845852011-12-18T10:11:00.000-08:002012-01-06T06:39:14.636-08:00NineWith Harry's Birthday, we are now officially 2/3 of the way through Brundage Birthday Season. On Friday, Harry turned nine, and we celebrated. Here's the details...<br /><br />Wake up to presents...<br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/BgD6qgwlKJNHzciS3WH-TdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-faTnsqtKhFw/TwNtSyizEgI/AAAAAAAADT0/9QtkwKI4H5E/s800/IMG_0190.JPG" height="600" width="800" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/stcAU8dzP8XFs6IoCnRB2tMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-kJYpEK2ZKYc/TwNtR6rfZTI/AAAAAAAADTw/GgxvA2pktc4/s800/IMG_0184.JPG" height="600" width="800" /></a><br /><br />This kid is always so enthusiastic about presents. My other children should take note. It's more fun to give gifts to kids who get excited about what they get. Here's a little known detail about Harry.... He's never once asked for a video game system, video game, online gaming membership, ipod, or any other electronic device that would require sitting for long periods of time. He has, over the years, asked for many "odd" gifts...crutches, airbrush tattoo kit, costumes, and this year, a pipe. Yeah, a pipe. I don't know why...maybe he's been watching Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter lately. But at the top of a list was a pipe. Second on the list was dry ice to put in the pipe so it would look like he's actually smoking. I know it probably isn't politically correct parenting to give in to these whims. But I have a hard time saying no to such an imagination. So, this year he got a pipe. I did say no to the dry ice. I don't think I took a picture of it, but I wanted to write about it so I don't forget it. He also said to me, "Mom, when we go to Oregon for Christmas, I want to wake up every morning, get my pipe, sit out on the porch in a rocking chair and smoke my pipe". Because in Oregon it's cold enough to see your breath...so it would look more realistic. Again, hard to say no...although I did find it necessary to have a little chat about the Word Of Wisdom. I think we're on the same page there. I hope we're on the same page there.<br /><br />Anyway, after the morning of presents and pretend pipe smoking, it was off to school. It was a busy day there...last day of school before the break, school assembly in which Harry performed and Charlie received an award and three room parties. By lunchtime, we had had enough, and we checked Harry out and took him to a Firestone Birthday Lunch with Grandpa and Grandma:<br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/0d8Vr4yaCMq3Zja7hhiwIdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-byVD5fcm_A8/TwNtT_98JRI/AAAAAAAADT4/rWEN6FdKtQw/s800/IMG_0204.JPG" height="601" width="800" /></a><br /><br />He spent the afternoon flying his new helicopter, and then headed to the church for our Ward Christmas Party/Ward Birthday Party for Harry. Again, no pictures. I was pretty much running on fumes at this point. Remember, I still had to pack eight people up to go to Oregon for two weeks and I hadn't even started. Oh! I also had to give a talk in church on Sunday that I hadn't even started to formally write. So things were a little fuzzy for me.<br /><br />The next day started off with a bang at the Christmas Piano Recital, and rose to a chaotic crescendo as we attempted to take 12 kids, 12 and under to Alvin and the Chipmunks, Chipwrecked. And then back to Coldstone for Ice Cream Cake and a silly string fight. Harry even invited girls to this party. They didn't get anywhere near each other or speak to each other the whole day, but still, that's a pretty big step!<br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/OcQthnT0471NyIlgjE-HV9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-EP1dhZIuUoQ/TwNtU8BOg0I/AAAAAAAADT8/fYSRJoMWAq8/s800/IMG_0223.JPG" height="600" width="800" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/JbSe8_Fn2l5CVpyQDhecHtMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-7rE115B7_ek/TwNtWe0M4JI/AAAAAAAADUA/Frc5FR62xqo/s800/IMG_0224.JPG" height="600" width="800" /></a><br /><br />I think, all in all, the day/s were a success. If you consider me not completely losing my mind a success that is. <br /><br />Happy Birthday Harry. You are and always have been my little Happy Harry. We are so blessed to have you as part of our family.Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08212664903331938923noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5955266952303236720.post-64499706364012985802011-12-12T10:27:00.000-08:002011-12-12T10:50:33.691-08:00ELEVENWell the big day has come and gone. Maggie is now officially eleven. We had a fun-filled, event-filled day to celebrate. A day that left Maggie literally sick with Strep Throat for the next three days. A day that left me exhausted for the next five. But a day full of friends, family, fun, and of course, cupcakes!<br /><br />Here's the birthday girl...isn't she getting to be so pretty? That hair! I would die for it!<br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/XNE0FSjd6VaVjGCEaFAFX9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-pQ2ZIi49O7g/TuZG-nqTV4I/AAAAAAAADQY/TnkAeNS8a3M/s800/IMG_0010.JPG" height="600" width="800" /></a><br /><br />She woke up to a breakfast of amazing balls of goodness and bacon. A breakfast whose name did not escape countless jokes from her brothers throughout the morning, but her favorite none-the-less.<br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/VeQFb9pgUzBPUSoqHnB049MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-GZPZ7bH6UFQ/TuZHMbtttsI/AAAAAAAADRI/naNB2BPYA5A/s800/IMG_9084.JPG" height="485" width="800" /></a><br /><br />On to present opening....where this large package revealed a much smaller gift...after several boxes were unwrapped.<br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/VV02Kl55W3qg_xy5ptJrGdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-YX1hTxVC97Q/TuZHNczkpPI/AAAAAAAADRM/WoEXHPtKvwY/s800/IMG_9092.JPG" height="800" width="470" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/MbkX6_iDFwvWiOxPytfye9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-OZQqVQ--Kik/TuZHOal86CI/AAAAAAAADRQ/2QSsj_BUztE/s800/IMG_9098.JPG" height="800" width="771" /></a><br /><br />She picked out this print at a craft faire earlier in the week. It really does sum her up right now. <br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/XyCAJys4dOcVj2E84uB4GdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-qWzyYpyO5ac/TuZHLviFmkI/AAAAAAAADRE/rN6dPuvka8Q/s800/IMG_9083.JPG" height="800" width="533" /></a><br /><br />And then onto school and a lunch out with grandma and grandpa at CPK:<br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/iu8JxeuBIO1fgIRiPKQ6G9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Aw_Pe6Fhxhg/TuZG_9EDyBI/AAAAAAAADQc/phwNjpC5hxg/s800/IMG_0014.JPG" height="600" width="800" /></a><br /><br />And finally, over to the shoppe to set up for the big party. She had invited ten girls to a cupcake making party. This was kind of a test for me to see if such a thing was possible to add to my menu of services. The jury is still out on that one...the girls certainly had fun and walked away with a dozen of their own handmade goodies, an apron and chef hat, and a bag filled with Maggie's handmade cupcake headbands and other cupcake goodies. I'm sure I'll take some flack for these aprons I whipped up the night before the party...sometimes I just can't help myself.<br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/bx-_pYYegVjR6WQDbnHqbNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-haHpEtt_EX4/TuZHK0oCHII/AAAAAAAADRA/_V_iuikNS6M/s800/IMG_9070.JPG" height="800" width="514" /></a><br /><br />The Batter Station:<br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/yGDPgbiP4ac-3UVRulK1H9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Xxrj6z0YMV0/TuZHCBvPu9I/AAAAAAAADQk/Fn3Of7NHuCc/s800/IMG_0017.JPG" height="800" width="783" /></a><br /><br />The Sprinkle Station:<br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/NdQKPl1yP81EhlV6Am0Mo9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hoS3Xm-DrGY/TuZHAxfXrDI/AAAAAAAADQg/APlRU0sFdF0/s800/IMG_0016.JPG" height="520" width="800" /></a><br /><br />The pans all ready to go into the oven:<br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ZArWHC93piDzQUK-7AscctMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-bhgCh6hzJqE/TuZHD-MQkjI/AAAAAAAADQs/BZvpFkOSbZM/s800/IMG_0036.JPG" height="800" width="332" /></a><br /><br />And then off to the back room for ice cream cake, gift opening, and just general silliness that can only be had by 11 ten & eleven year olds.<br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/twYnKjamKKRB1rUVIRL1Z9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-7fx7m7etpQQ/TuZHFUuu-pI/AAAAAAAADQw/Bh3DH9TLP90/s800/IMG_0045.JPG" height="800" width="714" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/NJ7Jgxx3cyUkTFbsn1t9Y9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-9o0RwK3wyYA/TuZHHAZLd-I/AAAAAAAADQ0/qtvx4eP39p8/s800/IMG_0048.JPG" height="800" width="523" /></a><br /><br />Maggie finally broke down and started the Harry Potter series...only to fall madly in love. <br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/LaKXHaj0g1WFRg3NEJylxtMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-pdZC-chRV0k/TuZHIAFyXGI/AAAAAAAADQ4/_v2T4LX3FMI/s800/IMG_0056.JPG" height="800" width="406" /></a><br /><br />This picture just makes me laugh...both girls are on even footing, but gives you an idea of Maggie's "petiteness". When buying her gifts this year, I debated long and hard between size 6X and size 7/8 in the girls department at Target. In the end,I decided to go with the 7/8 for my eleven year old, but it was a close call.<br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/BjMyooUefIwMw1g944IL29MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-gIvxktLAIZI/TuZHJQV2QtI/AAAAAAAADQ8/Lbqscxp8zy8/s800/IMG_0058.JPG" height="800" width="622" /></a><br /><br />And finally, a shot of Maggie's dear friend Jenea, who always seems to make things more interesting!<br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Y8BpQx9L-d1UNTl9F_F_ZtMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-4CFlio4YPlw/TuZHC3laGzI/AAAAAAAADQo/YleeiFOihEU/s800/IMG_0032.JPG" height="800" width="587" /></a><br /><br />We had a great day, and almost a week later we have finally almost recovered. Now, onto another party for Harry, a sacrament meeting talk to prepare, Christmas shopping for six, and packing for a trip to Oregon. Should be a piece of cake...or maybe just a cupcake!Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08212664903331938923noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5955266952303236720.post-8014672639205400052011-11-27T17:11:00.000-08:002011-11-27T19:49:51.343-08:00Well I can't just let a tarantula hijack my blog!Sorry sorry, it's just that ever since I put up that picture and video of the tarantula, it's like I can't even see the blog without shrinking away from it. So the fix? Update, right? Yeah, easier said than done for some reason.<br /><br />Anyway, I've decided to let the pictures do the talking on this blog post...they can tell it way better than I can anyway.<br /><br />So first, (actually this happened before the spider incident) we were able to take a couple of days to visit our friends the Robers who recently moved to the Sacramento area. Briggs was being baptized and it seemed like the perfect excuse to visit. The kids had fun catching up. It's funny....it seems the longer they are gone, the more we feel the loss...maybe it's just finally really sinking in, but we dearly miss our friends. (come back, come back!)<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/E_gTmLbE0yaHjHaBymreCdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-bpXjQzZu6MY/TtLe2Dsj-vI/AAAAAAAADPc/GUcOzdGrvUo/s800/IMG_8819.JPG" height="534" width="800" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/r1d7XXMGY39u7qkpAFehndMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Hikiy0bIGT0/TtLe3bPeTtI/AAAAAAAADPg/kjNvBpsfHtI/s800/IMG_8818.JPG" height="572" width="800" /></a><br /><br /><br />And then next it was Halloween....in all it's week-long glory...I mean come on! I think there were four separate events that required costumes this year. At some point I just got so tired of it all, I just let the kids fend for themselves. I don't think they did too badly...<br /><br />Jack warmed up to the idea of costumes by sleeping through the trunk or treat:<br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/FqEaAPPsSmKkvxb4kcNhbtMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gqqFkfBe82s/TtLe4c53GOI/AAAAAAAADPk/O3er0hC1duE/s800/IMG_8895.JPG" height="534" width="800" /></a><br /><br />Charlie showed his basketball skills at one event:<br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/c_hKFCRPOs5WDPg50Hl3bdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-uRIuImFSE4Q/TtLe5C6nXCI/AAAAAAAADPo/t42vsoIzDhs/s800/IMG_8897.JPG" height="800" width="373" /></a><br /><br />And Maggie and Ellie enjoyed being goddesses for an evening:<br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/9Fr2WFshoaw3xfj-z-5DE9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-FZnQyhGManU/TtLe6NZ2XcI/AAAAAAAADPs/2k9xhq4mbfw/s800/IMG_8896.JPG" height="800" width="570" /></a><br /><br />The actual night of Halloween brought us Obi-Wan-Kenobi, a Lego Brick, another Greek Goddess and her counter-part, and a delightful two year old monkey....who finally got into the Halloween act:<br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/cj1dyHOy1xlT2U0hJrMZBtMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-v09I_2yiy1Q/TtLe7DQE0CI/AAAAAAAADPw/y1prrpHpDGo/s800/IMG_8909.JPG" height="534" width="800" /></a><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/5PmzPAENLnVQqzZMF6mKO9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-22_ODlY909A/TtLe8NW_nDI/AAAAAAAADP0/pmnx__DcQpM/s800/IMG_8917.JPG" height="571" width="800" /></a><br /><br />And then of course, we had a very special day to celebrate the following day...can you believe this little boy is five?<br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/EwxHNOw3bXg9I4S8Te-BvdMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-SIUPXdoVNsM/TtLe9AW1sQI/AAAAAAAADP4/K1VhKyNdhzA/s800/IMG_8920.JPG" height="800" width="688" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/AdXVyk0D6oA-8d8Ezw_sL9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HPEe5owLnhk/TtLe9901H0I/AAAAAAAADP8/xl1a2OF7wHw/s800/IMG_8926.JPG" height="572" width="800" /></a><br /><br /><br />He had a great day at Chuck-E-Cheese with his buddies:<br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Qi-hKdjpFo5If4VfjYLIfNMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-P19fRym0R6Q/TtLe-uw08rI/AAAAAAAADQA/oeuuv2irEiU/s800/IMG_8943.JPG" height="311" width="800" /></a><br /><br />And I'm still holding out hope for these two someday...aren't they both just beautiful? Sigh:<br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/yj8zisMQLM-jxMteD0lxJtMTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-BZCpvuyqWRw/TtLe_Y1xfHI/AAAAAAAADQE/Vdc61eGRQ14/s800/IMG_8953.JPG" height="573" width="800" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/-EbduwZnScXZmZOSZyEla9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-YdaweM12i3w/TtLfApn3OXI/AAAAAAAADQI/brmx-oqDF8w/s800/IMG_8961.JPG" height="573" width="800" /></a><br /><br />And lest anyone forget we do indeed have six children...here's the visible proof that Joe still exists...at least on paper. This boy is breaking us in easy to the world of Junior High. He is truly a pleasure to have around, and is obviously thriving in the Junior High environment. <br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/fV_ju2_GLH9oi8YTSZAFq9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KxgBu2tISVc/TtLfBpfaQ3I/AAAAAAAADQM/dVKTi0rvf8o/s800/IMG_8964.JPG" height="272" width="800" /></a><br /><br />So there you have it, we are here, we are alive, and we are pushing forward, and even taking pictures from time to time. We are gearing up for two more birthdays this month and then a Christmas Holiday in Oregon. We'll talk soon!Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08212664903331938923noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5955266952303236720.post-86576473694402197752011-10-07T18:04:00.000-07:002011-10-07T18:49:15.924-07:00House GuestsHey, anybody want to come visit? Did you know that San Luis Obispo is the home to happiest people in America? Did you know that it is also the home to this? <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjotJ85yHmf7FNy55qWQlxFe6gaz9eHWj5v2zGWAen5adKiYeBI0IRE856_p3lW3tb8eY5a-w6PC-REZsgpO6cf79DgvKWUHTYNIMXHx_eczqmRBYVtWUwqkrXaIBjqPoPZLlD0ccIlUA/s1600/spider.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjotJ85yHmf7FNy55qWQlxFe6gaz9eHWj5v2zGWAen5adKiYeBI0IRE856_p3lW3tb8eY5a-w6PC-REZsgpO6cf79DgvKWUHTYNIMXHx_eczqmRBYVtWUwqkrXaIBjqPoPZLlD0ccIlUA/s400/spider.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660922848554016802" /></a><br /><br />Joe and I had just gotten home from a movie and thought the kids put a toy spider on the sliding door to scare us. It only took a small moving of the door before we realized that it was indeed very real, and was indeed very much INSIDE our house.<br /><br />Luckily for us (a family plagued by arachnophobia) a neighbor rang the door bell at just the moment we discovered this unwanted house guest,(Seriously, a tender mercy there who helped us to capture the spider in a shoe box. Then, as a family, we walked the box far far far away and released it into the wild. I sure hope it didn't follow us home. Seriously, I think I'm going to need more than an Ambien to sleep tonight.<br /><br />See the video here:<br /><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/30217327?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="400" height="300" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen allowFullScreen></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/30217327">Untitled</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1512355">Brooke Brundage</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08212664903331938923noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5955266952303236720.post-4799619937554038162011-10-04T09:30:00.000-07:002011-10-04T09:33:56.583-07:00Some Birthdays, Some Ramblings and a ConfessionSo here we go again, getting behind during birthday season...it simply cannot happen! The blog will simply not recover if I let it go at this point. And I'm not willing or ready to let over four years of family history and journaling go out the window. So, here's the bare bones of it.<br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/8cR9JX9z2ZWHzlZnnuOAcA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Z2LHWuILDtI/TnFRZPemWgI/AAAAAAAADO0/XWYvYjNy2Ck/s800/IMG_8708.JPG" height="534" width="800" /></a><br /><br />Charlie turned seven over one month ago. This child is amazing. He's fully immersed himself in the second grade. He loves math and loves to read. He is kind, he is curious, and sometimes just a little bit silly. You cannot take a bad picture of this kid. He's usually quiet and tends to blend into our family sometimes so much that we have to check, "Charlie, are you here? Did you make it into the car?" Other times he is outspoken and has strong opinions. One evening he was in the car with Joe, and, unsolicited, Charlie began a conversation with his father about his preferences for Beattles songs. <br /><br />He launches into his critique:<br /><br />Charlie: "You know what song of the Beattles I don't really like?" <br /><br />Dad: "Which one?"<br /><br />Charlie: "All You Need Is Love"<br /><br />Dad: "Oh yeah, how come?"<br /><br />Charlie: "Well, it's kind of boring...it doesn't really have very many words, and then all the words are the same, just over and over and over"<br /><br />Dad: "Well, yeah, I guess that's true...is there a song that you like more?"<br /><br />Charlie: "Yeah, Helter Skelter...there are lots of different words, and Ringo is so funny at the end when he yells about the blisters on his fingers."<br /><br />Hmmm...I had to go to itunes to test his critque, but, he's kind of right. Too bad, "All You Need Is Love" has long time been one of my favorites...now it will always be tainted by this seven year olds complaints about it. <br /><br />So, he had a lovely birthday. For obvious reasons, we're trying to be really conservative with gifts this year for birthdays. But at the last minute, I donated one of my favorite jackets to the birthday cause and turned it into a replica of Luke's jacket in the Return of the Jedi when he gets his medal. John pitched in and made a replica of the medal. By far the best gift of the day.....and I'm only a little bit sad about not being able to wear my jacket anymore. <br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/m6dBSmTpL-Q1twWj39K2gg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-iD93vhsJgWU/TnFRZ-dcdgI/AAAAAAAADO4/JSqirTSxLwc/s800/IMG_8713.JPG" height="534" width="800" /></a><br /><br /><br />Charlie and I circled back around again and decided on CPK for our shared birthday dinner. Then we ended up in the back room of Coldstone with an ice cream cake and candles. <br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/xp5Q15mxbVc80w78gxCxvQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hdsqhfCb4v8/TnFRXy7Eo4I/AAAAAAAADOw/xOFVuqe2lYo/s800/IMG_8736.JPG" height="534" width="800" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/2CDzMqA8KowlO9cnToqwEQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-lKRvCFI01EM/TnFRbp-ZKCI/AAAAAAAADPA/416dlO0YN30/s800/IMG_8740.JPG" height="534" width="800" /></a><br /><br />I left the following day for five lovely days in Oregon. I celebrated my 35th birthday by lying around all day, reading a book, and then walking with my mom to the Dairy Queen for a birthday Blizzard. You'd think I'd be such an ice cream snob by now, but there is just something about an M&M Blizzard that can't be beat. It was the best.<br /><br />And now, I'm back and trying to settle into a life that has suddenly become ours. Getting the kids off to school each day, opening the Cupcake Shoppe, helping with homework and piano, making dinners, running kids around to Scouts and Activity Days, packing lunches, dealing with drama and arguments, and basically just trying to keep up. <br /><br />And you know what? It's tough. A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of listening to President Uchtdorf talk at the General Relief Society Meeting. His talks are always right on the mark...and he really seems to "get" the LDS woman, at least from my perspective. His first point was about how women compare themselves to other women, and how we're always down on ourselves because we can never keep up. I admit, there's a certain aspect of that idea which rings true for me....but the more I thought about it, the more I realized the truth of it for me. I'm not comparing myself to other women so much as I'm comparing myself to the myself of five years ago. I try to stay positive about my health, but there are days that I really just don't get it. How am I supposed to keep up with the life I've created for myself when my body simply can't keep up? <br /><br />President Uchtdorf went on to say this, <br /><br /><em>"Everyone has strengths and weaknesses.<br /><br />It’s wonderful that you have strengths.<br /><br />And it is part of your mortal experience that you do have weaknesses.<br /><br />God wants to help us to eventually turn all of our weaknesses into strengths, but He knows that this is a long-term goal. He wants us to become perfect, and if we stay on the path of discipleship, one day we will. It’s OK that you’re not quite there yet. Keep working on it, but stop punishing yourself.<br /><br />Dear sisters, many of you are endlessly compassionate and patient with the weaknesses of others. Please remember also to be compassionate and patient with yourself.<br /><br />In the meantime, be thankful for all the small successes in your home, your family relationships, your education and livelihood, your Church participation and personal improvement. Like the forget-me-nots, these successes may seem tiny to you and they may go unnoticed by others, but God notices them and they are not small to Him. If you consider success to be only the most perfect rose or dazzling orchid, you may miss some of life’s sweetest experiences."</em><br /><br />So this is what I'm trying to do....to celebrate the small successes. Maybe it doesn't matter so much that I can't physically do all the things I used to be able to do. Maybe it's okay that much of my time with my children is spent sitting at the table doing homework, or lying on my bed on a Sunday afternoon watching a movie with all the kids. (We really had fun watching Home Alone a few weeks ago)My abilities as a mother have certainly CHANGED in the last few years, but I'm trying hard to remember that just because I'm a DIFFERENT kind of mother now, I'm not any the worse for it, and hopefully neither are my children. I'm looking for the ways to turn this weakness into a strength. And here's one thing I'm starting with...I'm going to take a break from all my craft/sewing/home improvement blogs. I'm going to erase them from my favorites. I'm no longer going to look at all the things that other mothers are able to do, and instead, I'm going to spend time focusing on the things that I CAN DO as a mother. <br /><br />I'm going to try to be a little more patient with myself. <br /><br />Anybody want to join me? What will you do to be more patient with yourself?<br /><br />And now, onto the day ahead. I'm looking forward to finding the bits of success I can today...but I can tell you one thing, it will not include a sewing machine, paint brush or a glue gun!Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08212664903331938923noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5955266952303236720.post-24658264854974653132011-08-31T15:40:00.000-07:002011-08-31T15:41:27.973-07:00Two Steps Forward, One Step Back<strong><em>Charlie's birthday is in two days, so I decided to finally actually POST this post that I wrote last week and for some reason never posted. If I start off "Birthday Season" already behind on the blog, it may be something I(or actually just the blog)will never recover from! So, this first week of school went something like this:</em></strong>
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<br />August 25, 2011
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<br />We took two steps forward yesterday and got all five school-aged children off to school on time to three different locations! It took much planning and no fewer than five alarm clocks (seriously), but we managed it.
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<br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/qZJ26ZYewxQbmMMd3W-_Yg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-0SYMtv0nlNw/Tl1LmS092pI/AAAAAAAADOo/QplDb0PYBN4/s800/IMG_8682.JPG" height="534" width="800" /></a>
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<br />Joe left for middle school (I am still refusing to call it Junior High) before we could get a picture. Needless to say, our summer {non} schedule combined with my RA symptoms make mornings tough around here. My kids asked the other day if I would ever be out of bed and make them breakfast without them having to come and get/drag me out of bed. Why aren't I like the mom's on TV? You know the ones who have breakfast waiting and ready and wake their children with a happy song every morning? (I actually kind of had a mom like that, so it made it hard for me to tell them that those kind of moms aren't real). Seriously, all my sibs out there, our mom was like that, right? Or am I mis-remembering it?
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<br />Anyway, John made it through his first day of pre-kindergarten and was home only five minutes before he had changed into his Darth Maul costume. He was home only fifteen minutes before I found him like this: This is on the landing of our stairs....I don't know what happened...it appears that he litterally fell aspleep while walking up the stairs.
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<br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/NXN6NcyouF2vGEiZLCNR-A?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-sqT_n2IFixo/Tl1Lkr2sddI/AAAAAAAADOg/d3aoQad0Ajg/s800/IMG_8684.JPG" height="534" width="800" /></a>
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<br />This morning, reality set in a bit more....no one was quite as anxious to get out the door. In fact, Charlie didn't make it there until after lunch. He was just too nervous to go - according to him. That's where the one step backwards comes in. I just had to wait him out...make it more boring at home than it could possibly at school. He finally cracked around eleven and made it in.
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<br />The novelty hadn't worn off for John though...in fact he climbed on the bus all by himself this morning without a second look back. I of course tailed the bus all the way to his elementary school (not the same one where Maggie, Harry & Charlie go, because, you know, that would just be too easy) and anxiously waited for him at the school. He looked at me like I was crazy when he saw me at the school. Is it crazy that I want my pre-kindergartner to have a cell phone and text me when he's arrived safely at school? Because I'm seriously considering it. It seems the older I get, the more anxious I become....or maybe it's because he's FOUR!
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<br />FOUR!
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<br />Who lets their four year old ride the bus to school without even an older brother or sister to help? The jury is still out on this one. I guess only time will tell. Maybe I'll just follow the bus everyday. But that seems kind of dumb.
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<br />Big sigh.
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<br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/pVjbx2OFfJ6NtCTcmoAJtQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ef6z8Jf-wiE/Tl1LlgLEzbI/AAAAAAAADOk/M14yiaV9N3A/s640/IMG_8696.JPG" height="640" width="427" /></a>
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<br />And what have I been keeping myself busy with? Yeah, you guessed it. Cupcakes. I guess I should be glad...there's just something about the everyday nature of it that wears on me. And every time I do another wedding I say to myself, "self, you should stop doing this...you don't really make any money and you just drive yourself and everybody around you crazy with your crazy anxiety". But then, I go to the venue and set everything up, and that part is fun..the energy at most weddings is pretty fun. So, again, big sigh, I guess we'll just have to wait and see on this one. After my last post about the Cold Stone corporates coming to check out the cupcakes, I feel it's only right to tell all you that they postponed their trip up to SLO (for other reasons they say). So, for any of you out there who keep going to your local Cold Stone Creamery looking for the On A Lark Cupcake Shoppe, I guess you may have to wait a little bit longer...or you may just have to make a trip to SLO - that might be more fun, and I can almost guarantee faster.
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<br />I myself am taking a little trip. Next week marks my 35th birthday.
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<br /><strong>GASP</strong>
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<br /><em>"Why does this keep happening to us?!?, I thought we had a deal!"</em>
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<br />Extra points if you know what TV show that's from and who said it. But you'd have to be almost as old as me to know it, so, you know, that's pretty old.
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<br />I'll be taking advantage of airline miles and a still unemployed husband (not complaining...seriously I don't know how I'd get the kids to school every day if he was going to work) and taking a few days up in Oregon with my parents and sisters...sans kids...at least of my own.
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<br />Now, time to get back to work...there are presents to be bought, and presents to be sewn (kind of in over my head on this one, but hopefully it will work out), back to school nights at three schools to attend, and a trip to get ready for. Battle on Girls, Battle on. (Triple points if you know what tv show that one comes from)Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08212664903331938923noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5955266952303236720.post-61239617059821008642011-08-08T13:00:00.000-07:002011-08-08T19:42:47.314-07:00What Does Nothing Look Like?Well, if you want to know the answer to that question, come on over to our house for a little tour.
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<br />We are currently into the long, hot, (well not too hot) dog day kind of summer. You know the kind...where the days are long but the weeks are so short....you stay up late watching shows like Toddlers and Tiaras and My Strange Addiction on TLC, and then quickly flip back to Lifetime for the new season of Project Runway. The kind of of days where, if you're a kid, you play musical beds at night, and just fall asleep in whos ever room you happen to be in when it's time for bed. The kind of mornings where you sleep in and wander into your parents room to find that they too have slept in. Maybe it's because their baby brother Jack has decided to really play up the whole "baby" angle he's got going on and stay up all night...insisting that either mom or dad stay up with him. Right now we're kind of playing tag team right now with him....counting our blessings that this little guy made it into our family, but also counting our blessings that we know when enough is enough.
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<br />Joe has a theory about how many children people should have....since I know you're dying to learn this wisdom...here it is, "you only know when you have enough children when you have one TOO MANY children...but what are you going to do about it then?" And really, I hate to admit it, but he's kind of right. I remember a very specific moment driving home from Disneyland, no less, with five children sitting happily in the back of our Chrysler Towne & Country. I looked at Joe and said, "I think we could handle another one...I mean...we just survived three days at Disneyland with five kids...and actually had a good time.....how hard could one more be?" Well,three years later, and we're still finding out, every single day with this kid!
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<br />Anyway, that's not the point of this post...but to be honest, there really is no point. Just some updates. Today is August 8, 2011. That means there are no less than 16 days left until school starts. We've started the back to school preparations...new backpacks and binders, markers and erasers. It's funny to see how some children are so excited to get back, while others are a bit more hesitant (No names will be named). Some children are excited about being upper-classmen at their school, while others are worried about starting back at the bottom of the food chain. Some have to worry about having hot lunch or packed lunch, while others are worried about finding each new class in the right amount of passing time.
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<br />We've been passing our time, and mostly, our days are pretty full. Joe finished up his transitional work at the bank, and has been home with us for over a week now. That has taken some getting used to, but then I got this email from our ColdStone Area Developers about our cupcakes. Here, I'll put in a little excerpt:
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<br /><em>"Good Morning Joe and Brooke,
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<br />Congrats on what I believe is a successful Co Branding venture. You have increased your SSS +10.6% through June and our market average during the same period of time is -.9. We have been tracking your weekly sales, since January, and you are averaging $488 per week. With these types of numbers, I think it is time to let the secret out of the bag. However, I think it is important that we all talk about how we want to proceed. There are many areas that we need to talk about so we are on the same page…operations, marketing, display requirements, equipment requirements…and the like. Please let me know the best time (s) so we can arrange a call to start the process."</em>
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<br />So, I guess that's good, but scary too....maybe look for an "On A Lark Cupcake Shoppe" in a Coldstone near you? But honestly, the thought of keeping this going in just one store is taking just about every bit of energy I've got...I can't imagine making it work in other stores...oh well...I'm sure the big guys at Coldstone know more than I do. So, with Joe home all the time, I have no excuse to not go in there and really make the cupcake thing work (although I seem to find those excuses every single day).
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<br />But, on another note, literally, having Dad home has some definite plus sides....like when you're Jack and you love Little Einsteins. Imagine the delight you have when you discover that your daddy can just play the theme song by ear on the piano for you? You look at your dad like a totally different guy after that. Or if you're six and starting second grade and know your times tables up and down but what you really want is to be able to play some Star Wars song on the piano like your older brothers can. So, one day, your dad just shows you how to do it. No book required...just your fingers and your ears (and a little tongue action) and you're set! I'm sure his piano teacher will be so happy to know that Charlie can play by ear...I'm sure that's just the preparation she hopes all her students will have. Now she'll get to spend the next few months breaking him of this lovely skill.
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<br />So yeah, for now we're running on love and faith and prayer, and also of course,on cupcakes and ice cream. So, if you're close, go on down and get some ice cream and cupcakes too...promise they'll make you feel like it's really summer...better hurry though...summer is quickly coming to a close!
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<br />And now, for your viewing pleasure, please enjoy this video of my almost seven year old playing some star wars song.....completely by ear.
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<br /><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/27454257?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="400" height="300" frameborder="0"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/27454257">Untitled</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1512355">Brooke Brundage</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08212664903331938923noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5955266952303236720.post-84497734554222522962011-07-17T06:34:00.000-07:002011-07-18T12:24:54.693-07:00My Week In Pictures (And Some Words Too It Looks Like)This was a busy week, even by my standards. It all started late last Sunday night when we were packing Joe for scout camp, and could find neither his Scout shirt or his permission slip that had been signed by a doctor. After a couple of fruitless hours of searching, I printed up new forms and had Joe and Joe run down to our ever so friendly neighbor who just so happens to be a doctor to get the new forms signed. The shirt was finally found (in the costume bin of course) and then I had to spend an half an hour sewing on some new patches. The crazy week continued the next morning when Joe IV came into our room where Joe III and I were sound asleep and said, "You Guys! It's 7:20!!" You see, we were supposed to be at the church for drop off at 7:30. And we don't live in Utah where your church is literally around the corner. It takes us a good nine to eleven minutes even at 7:20 in the morning. Luckily, we had packed everything the night before, so we threw everything in the car and sped over...made it just in time.<br /><br />So what happened, why did my alarm not go off? Because I set it for 6:30 p.m.,of course. I found that out later, at exactly 6:30 p.m. when I was sitting in a meeting about Transitional Kindergarten for John. He got in by the way! I'm super excited about this. He'll go five days a week just like Kindergarten, but the class will serve as a bridge to Kindergarten. California just recently got smart (about this at least) and changed the cut-off date for Kindergartners from December second to September first. As a result of the new law, schools are required to provide (free of charge to the parents) a transitional class for those children born between those two dates. As a November baby, John is a perfect candidate for this class. Of course, the class will be held at a different elementary school than the one my other children attend, and Joe IV will be in middle school come fall, so Joe and I will have the unique challenge of getting five children to three different places all at the same time...sounds like good times!<br /><br />So,onto the post title, my week in pictures....I had a wedding I did cupcakes for on Saturday afternoon. This was the first time I used my new "cupcake tree" to display the cupcakes, and I love how it turned out. So tidy and uniform...kind of like I wish my house were. The bride and groom were lovely...they live in Oregon actually, but she grew up in San Luis County, so they came here to enjoy some beautiful SLO weather. And the weather did not disappoint. It was perfect all weekend long.<br /><br /><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/WYTsTps1Ve" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right;margin-bottom:1em;margin-left:1em"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-q6RNuw1zX50/TiLk4VpLonI/AAAAAAAADMc/Elcg4-ug9Bg/s512/IMG_8637.JPG"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/yFs9uohD6n" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right;margin-bottom:1em;margin-left:1em"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-vqhvdQ8QQIA/TiLk5aQ4EsI/AAAAAAAADMg/93qz2X14CVM/s512/IMG_8638.JPG"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/M1ra5WstJD" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right;margin-bottom:1em;margin-left:1em"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NB0Vh5CfguQ/TiLk7APgYaI/AAAAAAAADMo/68oc3J_VjG0/s512/IMG_8641.JPG"></a><br /><br />I keep waiting for a bride to want cupcakes that all look alike (like Martha would do). I think it would be so pretty to just see rows and rows of perfectly perfect cupcakes. But I guess that kind of goes against the purpose of getting cupcakes instead of cake. You get cupcakes so you can have all those different flavors for your guests to enjoy. I suppose I just want to have my cupcake and eat it too.<br /><br /><br />On Friday night and Saturday afternoon, I was able to provide cupcakes for a local craft faire called "The Stitch Market". It is held at a woman's home 3-4 times each year and is full of homemade and handmade items made by women. It's full of pretty bags and aprons and clothing and jewelry. More importantly, it's full of creative women, who are always fun to be around. I saw a sign for sale there that said, "Creativity Takes Courage", and I thought how right that was. It takes courage to put your heart and soul and effort into something...and then to put it on display for others to critique.....to me, that is brave. But back to the cupcakes...because that's always where I go back to....I brought mini cupcakes for this event...I don't know what it is about mini-cupcakes...they're just so darn cute. <br /><br /><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/c1LIVFykrE" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right;margin-bottom:1em;margin-left:1em"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/--iMidXDSPiE/TiLkMpk7bHI/AAAAAAAADMI/Am2QdD7rlZw/s512/IMG_8625.JPG"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/MnQAXj5pHc" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right;margin-bottom:1em;margin-left:1em"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-15EwUyvyZXY/TiLkNm3SzZI/AAAAAAAADMM/wjle-eQWV54/s512/IMG_8630.JPG"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/vgt04UhgV4" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right;margin-bottom:1em;margin-left:1em"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-AfIVgtmDe-s/TiLkOSEecRI/AAAAAAAADMQ/NEkmLAOMXYA/s512/IMG_8631.JPG"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/TQZWrhoUKu" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right;margin-bottom:1em;margin-left:1em"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-GCAVPvwibMg/TiLkPQGosiI/AAAAAAAADMU/3Y9T9RxivtA/s512/IMG_8633.JPG"></a><br /><br />I found this cute little bird jewelry holder at TJ Max and turned it into a business card holder and a display for some of my cupcake toppers.<br /><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/Uqw0vkXLAr" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right;margin-bottom:1em;margin-left:1em"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-yBEolgzDlKU/TiLkQGUulzI/AAAAAAAADMY/QR_IpXiAbd4/s512/IMG_8635.JPG"></a><br /><br />And a few other things happened this week.<br /><br />I didn't get to bed before two o'clock for four nights in a row (last night being one of them and then I woke up at 5:30 unable to go back to sleep...hence the long blog post).<br /><br />Maggie got a new bed frame with some storage drawers under it. She and her dad put it together one night while I was making cupcakes at the shoppe. We re-arranged her room a bit and de-clutterfied it. We'll have to take some pictures when it's fully done. I think Maggie is finally starting to warm up to the idea that being the only girl in a family of six is not an entirely bad thing. No one else gets their own room. Maggie also made dinner for us one night. Once, for reasons I can't recall, I made Hamburger Helper. Maggie loved it and is always asking for me to make it again. Joe IV hates it, and is always asking me never to make it again. So since he was away at scout camp, we got to have it. I was at the grocery store picking it up, and I texted Maggie asking what kind she wanted. She texted back what she wanted, and then, in a separate text, said, "Mom, remember that the meat doesn't come with the box...you have to buy it separately." I don't know why that hit me as so hilarious, but it did. I politely thanked Maggie for the tip and went over to the meat section to pick up some hamburger. What would I have done without that reminder?<br /><br />I finally tossed out my old laser printer and replaced it with a new wireless color laser printer. I do a lot of printing for Coldstone and On A Lark, so I felt justified in it. Wow, can I say how much I love wireless technology? I mean, I know this is not new technology,but wow...I can print from any computer in my house? I can print directly from my ipad or iphone? Amazing. <br /><br />Joe returned from Scout camp dirty and tired, but with a good attitude. He had not been looking forward to going...camping isn't really his style. But he apparently loved it. He received several merit badges including one he got for Wilderness Survival. To get that one, he basically had to go out into the woods with a sleeping bag and a tiny emergency kit, make a shelter, and stay the night! He got to do it with a buddy, but still...sounds pretty scary to me...especially when his friend woke him up at 5 in the morning to show him the mountain lion that was 20 feet away from their camp. Joe's friend asked him if he should throw a rock at the Lion, to which Joe furiously whispered NO!!!! Luckily, the mountain lion sauntered off before anything happened. But it was certainly a highlight (or low light) from his week at Scout Camp. <br /><br />Harry jumped off the high dive at the local pool! May not seem like much to many, but to our family, it was an event three years in the making. I have it on video on my iphone, but it looks funny because I rotated my phone halfway through to catch more of the jump, and it looks like Harry is walking straight down the high dive. Anyway, it was a big day at our house!<br /><br />Oh, and did I mention that Target opens is just six days? SIX DAYS!<br /><br />And finally, this post, and all it's contents were brought to you by the following sponsor:<br /><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/usncFpM3hU" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right;margin-bottom:1em;margin-left:1em"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-aIGMyfy_MMs/TiLk9VOoAWI/AAAAAAAADM0/tRTJlf47i90/s512/IMG_8646.JPG"></a><br /><br />It's good stuff....melts your bones apparently,but good stuff none the less.<br /><br />And now, it's time to get the children up for church and get going for the day. One thing I know for certain, there WILL BE a nap for me this afternoon. (And possibly during sacramnent meeting too....I've got the Lark headbob napping style down to a science now. :)Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08212664903331938923noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5955266952303236720.post-59836360358011648642011-07-11T23:14:00.000-07:002011-07-11T23:22:09.389-07:00All Fuzzy and DreamySee this picture I took with my iphone this evening? I was leaving Costco, and just had to snap a picture of the image across the street. Yes, it's fuzzy and kind of dreamy looking, but that's a pretty good representation of how I feel about a TARGET opening only two miles from my home! Fuzzy and dreamy...like it's not really happening. But, it is...and today I learned that it will be opening not on the 24th of July like I had originally thought, but will actually open on the 18th of July. So, today is the eleventh of July, which gives me exactly seven days to figure out how I'm going to be able to live so close to a Target and still maintain a semblance of black ink in my checkbook.<br /><br />This fall, it will have been 17 years since I moved to SLO to go to Cal Poly. I was 17 at the time....so I guess that's half my life at this point. But in all my 34 years, I've NEVER lived this close to a Target. Oh...I'm getting all fuzzy and dreamy just thinking about it now. <br /><br /><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/o28qsbbWHv" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right;margin-bottom:1em;margin-left:1em"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-eP3OnIjzp_M/ThvmDzMl-pI/AAAAAAAADLk/b2mg3tgYIHw/s512/target.JPG"></a>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08212664903331938923noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5955266952303236720.post-49955531713672561612011-07-09T21:57:00.000-07:002011-07-10T07:59:56.798-07:00A Sad GoodbyeRemember this sweet little boy? You know, the one who loves all things trucks?The one who waits with such anticipation for garbage day? The one who had a garbage truck cake for his third birthday, and then dressed up as a garbage can for Halloween?<br /><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/xPurqYIKFH" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right;margin-bottom:1em;margin-left:1em"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ObRnViyMbZE/Thkz0m5itwI/AAAAAAAADLA/GLh5nmWiWlE/s512/IMG_3396.JPG"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/96GvCVCYMw" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right;margin-bottom:1em;margin-left:1em"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-fFMgaWlX348/Thkz1pphGaI/AAAAAAAADLE/5CRWT7axhis/s512/IMG_3824.JPG"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/j4JvhjtfFu" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right;margin-bottom:1em;margin-left:1em"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-N3D-rZvC1oU/Thkz2ezA0nI/AAAAAAAADLI/Xp-bTMd5l6M/s512/IMG_3784.JPG"></a><br /><br />And then the next year was a UPS man for Halloween,<br /><br /><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/WlqoUOpGjD" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right;margin-bottom:1em;margin-left:1em"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-UQEEBoJE3bU/TMiPcgEf_sI/AAAAAAAAClQ/WoWCx4uqYRY/s512/IMG_6557.JPG"></a><br /><br />And celebrated his fourth birthday at the wrecking yard?<br /><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/jQsAupcTh3" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right;margin-bottom:1em;margin-left:1em"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-GzqNWpuRD60/TNBy0avzd6I/AAAAAAAACl0/lCvuVCWl0KU/s512/IMG_6645.JPG"></a><br /><br /><br />He's gone....lost forever to the dark side....and replaced with this scary little character:<br /><br /><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/CmAUV3Q9Lq" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right;margin-bottom:1em;margin-left:1em"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-92pfOtJoUD4/ThkwDigF2wI/AAAAAAAADKg/Q21lVEd1dG0/s512/IMG_8608.JPG"></a><br /><br />I guess it was only a matter of time with three older brothers who have of late immersed themselves fully into the world of Star Wars. I guess the pressure was just too much....but after two years of this truck obsession, I was holding out hope that George Lucas was not going to get his hands on this little guy. But alas..a youngling become he has....<br /><br />Luckily, I still have this little truck-lover to keep me happy....I'm sure it's only a matter of time for him too...but I'm sure going to enjoy him while I can!<br /><br /><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/2h4CefvbfV" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right;margin-bottom:1em;margin-left:1em"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-BPkmwZGtx4Q/TLjIRZQ45wI/AAAAAAAACkY/2wGyVyJamRA/s512/IMG_6553.JPG"></a>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08212664903331938923noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5955266952303236720.post-80532548670810034202011-07-06T15:36:00.000-07:002011-07-06T15:58:31.785-07:00The Third and a Half of JulySo we started our Independance Day celebrations a bit early this year. Last year, when July 4th fell on a Sunday, we had fun creating a red, white and blue Sunday dinner. We liked it so much, we decided to go for it again. So, the decorations:<br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/lh7Jrva7q1aV9f_Wyb4cig?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jU-jAVf-7ag/ThTirow4BDI/AAAAAAAADJQ/lp0dQYLPpW4/s800/IMG_8546.JPG" height="800" width="534" /></a><br /><br />The food:<br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Svq5W6clMnI0ALBp8Q5XZA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-BiLGNV3eG9w/ThTitOuDaRI/AAAAAAAADJU/tnMwoD4CH6w/s800/IMG_8548.JPG" height="642" width="800" /></a>(The only time in the year we EVER have Jello)<br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/gSxey3gRo2ZnM-4aCfeILg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-4gcsqovA2e0/ThTiuUgD09I/AAAAAAAADJY/ejymhIhl4e8/s800/IMG_8550.JPG" height="535" width="800" /></a>(Nature's Popsicle)<br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/HCie8BvJXCSAY_pyyNrgUQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-4CWOTzTk5z8/ThTivqM54vI/AAAAAAAADJc/dtLSnRC2ryM/s800/IMG_8551.JPG" height="534" width="800" /></a>(The red, white and blue drinks...which didn't really layer up quite right this year)<br /><br />The Booty:<br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/79WykRnJWKcRLhG5eDpbfQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/--uKN3V2LvwA/ThTixwKtuPI/AAAAAAAADJg/4AO3YzJpeDg/s800/IMG_8552.JPG" height="534" width="800" /></a>(mostly left over from last year's celebration)<br /><br />The friends and fun:<br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Ci7E9MJkMZAJb4Bd_CacmQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-2y6b1u2oErY/ThTizrq-V9I/AAAAAAAADJk/UnKyFzzL5xw/s800/IMG_8562.JPG" height="534" width="800" /></a>(the kids made ice cream by shaking up baggies of ColdStone Sweet Cream mix, packed in rock salt and ice and then put into pillow cases. The jumping on the trampoline really helped with the shaking!)<br /><br />And finally, the show:<br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/YpTWcVsW_6yK8Omj-N-Bng?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IRcAlAC6oCk/ThTi0vrI2oI/AAAAAAAADJo/-ZzYPDM_EQ8/s800/IMG_8574.JPG" height="534" width="800" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/bu0dnIkt4a_RH0FTc5pfUQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-yViTV3zE6X4/ThTi1jw2TnI/AAAAAAAADJs/rDhxSriFKQc/s800/IMG_8578.JPG" height="534" width="800" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/D1Uuof22TbVhS6bhammjTw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-kBJUuZfMGRM/ThTi3IZw-EI/AAAAAAAADJ0/CMvrZ8Avlto/s800/IMG_8581.JPG" height="535" width="800" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/DzpyerZNzv4pnqO5woVhww?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Mq0GD3mng_M/ThTi4RgKkrI/AAAAAAAADJ4/n7NsGJ4AaAM/s800/IMG_8584.JPG" height="534" width="800" /></a>(the "SAFE-ZONE"- where the kids hung out during the firework show)<br /><br />After all that partying on the third, we still decided to take advantage of Joe having the day off from the bank and took the kids up the Ravine Waterpark for the day. We packed a lunch, left the lovely 76 degree weather of San Luis, and headed up to the 105 degree weather of Paso Robles. Amazing what 40 miles can do to weather. We had a great day and shut down the park, but opted out of taking the camera on the trip. Sometimes I feel like you just need to step back from the camera and actually enjoy the day...plus I didn't want to take the chance of me being photographed in a swimsuit! :)<br /><br />After all that swimming and playing, we were hungry and ready for dinner. So we headed 30 miles southwest to Morro Bay for dinner at the kid favorite Bobs Big Boy Diner. Again, amazing what 30 miles will do for weather. We all suited up in our sweatshirts for our coastal dinner.<br /><br />And, since we had already seen a firework show a couple of nights before at the San Luis Blues Baseball game, we skipped out on havoc of finding a place to park at the beach and then finding a place to see the show at the beach, and then just basically the pain of being at the beach (have I mentioned how much I hate sand?), and headed home for an early bedtime. <br /><br />After celebrating for nearly 36 hours straight, we were ready for some sleep and relaxation. The fourth of July has quickly become one of my favorite holidays. I'm not sure exactly why. It's been so fun over the past couple of years to start and keep our own family traditions (can I say blow torch) for this special day. I think that next year, though, we'll skip the third and a half day of celebrations and just stick to the main event on the fourth!<br /><br />Hope you all had a lovely holiday...no matter how you celebrated it!Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08212664903331938923noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5955266952303236720.post-6504624820945114262011-06-30T16:48:00.000-07:002011-06-30T18:12:04.526-07:00See there, it's not so bad...So, just in case everyone was worried about me going crazy the other day, I'm here to assure you that I'm fine. Although my visiting teacher did just drop by....she doesn't read my blog, does she? :)<br /><br />Anyway, here's the picture of the Strawberry Lemonade Cupcake...so far it's been pretty popular.<br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/bqPnhSRuyuKlid5V8_ZZ2A?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-xrDIWCcBA1A/Tg0KnI34xkI/AAAAAAAADIg/6EywRngWFJw/s800/strawberry%252520lemonade.jpg" height="639" width="800" /></a><br /><br />But, I think these little guys will be even more popular. People have been after me for a while about doing cake pops for the shoppe. Problem is, I don't really like cake pops...so it's hard for me to find the passion for making such tiny time consuming little things. Oreo Truffles on the other hand, now that's sometime I can really get behind. (And the size of my behind is really going to start showing my passion for these little treats). Oh well...the problems of "having" to sample all my creations!<br /><br />Anyway, these little guys go up for sale starting tonight at Farmers...If you're around, come on down for a free sample. But don't say I didn't warn you...or your behind!<br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/mY1WGg-2CIMvQQmyhPMWLw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Itbdxny6tjo/Tg0K6vEJjjI/AAAAAAAADIk/2IvjHCbF8d8/s800/IMG_8537.JPG" height="641" width="800" /></a><br />Have fun getting ready for a fun Fourth of July long weekend!Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08212664903331938923noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5955266952303236720.post-13244815258269502162011-06-28T16:07:00.001-07:002011-06-28T17:17:31.942-07:00Warning - Rant in ProgressToday has been one frickin crazy day. And, since I've recently decided to stop using the word "frickin" (there's just something about the word that doesn't mesh with the almost 35 year old mother of six image I'm going for) I'll probably owe each of my children a dollar for it's use here in this rant. At least the ones who can read will call me on it. And with the way this day is going, the ones who can read will probably tell the two who can't read that I said it, and then I'll owe everybody a dollar! Oh well...six bucks is worth it for this kind of day. I digress.<br /><br />It started out great...two boys safely off to cub scout day camp. Babysitter coming over to watch the other four so I could get some hours in with my cupcakes. Got dressed in what I thought was a cute outfit, and headed off to the store. <br /><br />I had plans for my three hours...unveiling a new cupcake...see here: <a href="http://www.onalarkcupcakes.com">www.onalarkcupcakes.com</a>, decorating the store with Fourth of July paraphernalia, delivering one cupcake order, meeting Joe at Old Navy to exchange the Father's day gifts I bought one size too big for him, and finally heading back to the shop to work on some fondant trials for an upcoming wedding. Totally doable in three hours, right? Right.<br /><br />Anywayyyyy.....got to the store and started working on the fondant cupcakes. I guess that was my first mistake...going off plan and skipping to the part that I thought was going to be fun. Yeah...fondant...not so much fun. Or good. This bride is so worried that my vanilla icing is going to melt in the six pm sun IN the tent ON the beach IN late August. So, she asked me to try and decorate them with fondant. So I did some research, watched some tutorials, bought my supplies and set to work. And, well, I don't know, I think I'd rather have cupcakes with melted DELICIOUS icing, than cupcakes with unmelted DISGUSTING frosting. I swear, you couldn't pay me to take a bite of that cupcake covered in fondant. White fondant at that, with opaque white baking cups to boot. All that white, all that fondant...it wasn't pretty. Kind of looked like a big lump of white something. I should have taken a picture...but I was too embarrassed. It was awful. I have a feeling that this is a wedding I'll not be taking part in...which honestly, is perfectly fine with me at this point.<br /><br /><br />It's now 15 minutes until my cupcake delivery is due..so I load up the boxes, program the address into my phone and take off. Drive to the appointed address, which I soon learn DOES NOT EXIST. So I call the customer, very nicely, ask if maybe we got the address wrong? does he have any further information. I mean the cupcakes have been paid for, and they're sitting in my car...the frosting might possibly be melting (I've got melting frosting on the brain now). But the customer doesn't know where the cupcakes are supposed to be delivered to. He's ordered them as a surprise for a friend..he doesn't even live here. All he can tell me is that she works at some clothing store in San Luis Obispo. He gives me the address he has again...which still does not exist. So I finally talk him into giving me the girls phone number so that I can call her and find out where she is. Kind of ruins the surprise, yes, but what were the options at this point. There are more than a few stores in this town that sell clothing.....I can't just randomly find the one where this girl works. So I call the girl, who doesn't answer, because really, nobody answers their phone when they don't recognize the incoming number. Except for maybe my husband...who somehow feels obligated to answer the phone either at home or on his cell EVERY time it rings...but that's a rant for another day. So I abandon my delivery at this point...take the cupcakes back to the store to refrigerate...because I'm still so worried about the melting frosting, and head off to Old Navy to help Joe exchange his gifts. <br /><br />We saunter around Old Navy, and I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror. From behind. Apparently the cute skirt I had chosen that morning had a slit that I didn't notice....and with EVERY STEP I TOOK, I was revealing my "g's" for the entire world to see. <br /><br />I mean GEEZ! I'm almost thirty five and I can't figure that out before I leave the house? It was just the last straw in a completely frustrating day. Or so I thought...until I got to the checkout where my GAP card was DECLINED. I quickly mumble some excuse and pull out my VISA, which luckily, was not declined. We head out of the store. I've finally figured out where my cupcakes are to be delivered to, so I head back to the shop to get them out of the cooler and deliver them. I quickly take a peek at the cupcakes out front of the shop and see that the frosting on my new Strawberry Lemonade cupcakes have completely MELTED off the cupcakes! WHAT?!? Today is just not my day for frosting. So I salvage what I can, stick them in the cooler and head off to deliver the cupcakes (which by the way, ended up being on the complete opposite end of town than the address I was originally given). I pull up to the clothing store that's tucked in between self storage units in the industrial section of town...because, you know, that's a great spot to sell clothes from. I go in, ask for the name of the girl whose birthday it is, and hand over the cupcakes. I've checked the frosting...it's holding...this part is going well. But the girl is totally confused. Her birthday was yesterday...why was I delivering them today? Who were they from? When I tell her the name of the "surpriser" I can see that this is not a completely welcome delivery. In fact, I sort of get the feeling that she's pretty creeped out by the idea of this guy buying her cupcakes...especially on the day AFTER her birthday. But at this point, I'm so beyond caring, they've been paid for...I've driven a good 25 miles all across town to get them to her, the frosting hasn't melted, she's taking these frickin cupcakes! <br /><br />But then, I'm worried about my GAP card. Why was it declined? Did I forget to pay the bill? What's going on? Stuff like that gets under my skin and bugs me until I figure it out. Well, I figured it out...last month the GAP sent me a letter saying that I could earn 50 GAP BUCKS just for using my GAP card two times during the month at gas stations. Sounded like a good idea at the time...I mean I already have to buy gas...why not earn free GAP BUCKS in the process? So I did exactly that, filled up my car TWICE this month, and in the process, maxed out my limit on my GAP Silver card. I'm either spending way too much on gas, or have terrible credit...either way, it's not making my day look much better.<br /><br />So, nothing has gone to plan, my three hour outing has turned into a very expensive four hour excursion, especially when you factor in the babysitter, (who is awesome and totally worth it, but that's beside the point. It's still hard to fork over cash when your day has been completely worthless.), and the gas I've had to buy AGAIN to deliver cupcakes to someone who didn't really want them. <br /><br />And now, as I re-read this rant, I think it doesn't sound so bad...maybe I just needed to get it out of my head and into cyberspace. Something about putting it into words always makes things a bit better. <br /><br />So, now I'm off to make dinner...but at the rate we're going, it's starting to feel like going out might be a better alternative. Too bad I'm out six frickin dollars...woops...make that twelve! Last time, I swear.<br /><br />By the way...here's a picture of my pretty pretty strawberry lemonade cupcake BEFORE the frosting melted. Nevermind...for some unknown reason, the picture won't upload...I guess that's about right.Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08212664903331938923noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5955266952303236720.post-14817637158844548532011-06-21T09:50:00.000-07:002011-06-21T10:08:18.678-07:00A Little Catch UpWell, I finally gave up and went back to my steroids....wow....what a difference! I guess I'll just worry about my melted bones sometime later in life. I'm sure there will be a period of time where I won't be quite so busy. (Insert sarcasm sign here)<br /><br />So, since last we spoke, school got out...<br />the kids thought it would be fun to do a before and after shot...<br />so here's the before...<br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ekIrkGMWVRZ4j2-nOtj6YQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-JQh8_9Ff0vM/THVAM2n459I/AAAAAAAACf8/S7Rdk4XN2qE/s800/IMG_6171.JPG" height="620" width="800" /></a><br /><br />And the after (they all wore the same clothes except for Joe who insists that he outgrew his t-shirt):<br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/XIx08LUwgOtO0VXWL_8Nwg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-X1DomZrKWJM/Tf-QpjXGPNI/AAAAAAAADGw/sCJK04xnfqw/s800/IMG_8397.JPG" height="534" width="800" /></a><br /><br />We had a great school year, for the most part. Everyone is ready for summer though. I'm sure enjoying the not packing lunches and hurrying the kids out the door at eight a.m. Of course, when the doorbell rang at 9:30 a.m. on the first day without school, revealing friends that wanted to come over and play, I remembered some of the reasons I was dreading summer. But, we're starting to figure out a schedule...Joe IV actually started working at Cold Stone yesterday. He went in for a training shift, and now is asking me about every 30 seconds when he can go back and work some more. Technically, he's obviously not old enough to work, but when your parents own the shop, some of the rules get bent a bit. He's certainly as tall as almost all the girls who work there! It was fun to look on the security camera and see him helping customers. The cupcake business is doing well and keeping me busy. I've got a great babysitter coming in a couple days a week so I can go in and keep on top of that. It's fun to have an outlet to put some energy into. Joe IV helped me to redesign my website a bit...check it out at <a href="http://www.onalarkcupcakes.com">www.onalarkcupcakes.com</a>. We've been experimenting with some new flavors...my new favorite is the Smore's cupcake....all the fun of smores without the hassle of a campfire!<br /><br />Sunday we celebrated Fathers Day with Dad and Grandpa... I made these little badges for the kids to wear to church. They were pretty cute.<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/LyJq-tjda2RudcDFdmAftQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-lUK54lteB0M/Tf-Qsb4xOqI/AAAAAAAADHA/Vq9PIF0DzFI/s800/IMG_8416.JPG" height="641" width="800" /></a><br /><br />Then we had grandpa over for dinner and dessert. It was a lovely day for everyone.<br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/uJIYWcH9eJb5-61tuoZheA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Z3rtbL0I5xA/Tf-Qqa6tKII/AAAAAAAADG0/BEOKTvDjgs0/s800/IMG_8405.JPG" height="534" width="800" /></a><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/KcBRhAy9n10Ut0Z59w8Xmg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nxSh4bjH50E/Tf-Qrkgl1nI/AAAAAAAADG8/JSdG-WABIEc/s800/IMG_8411.JPG" height="534" width="800" /></a><br /><br />We tried to get everyone in this shot, but a couple of boys couldn't be bothered to look up from the ipad:<br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/EiOInT8Z2qfUTOxQ_gYw2g?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-A9vCeX_XHqg/Tf-QrIHI4VI/AAAAAAAADG4/nXSzcM0Uh68/s800/IMG_8412.JPG" height="534" width="800" /></a><br /><br />So, we're off to enjoy the summer...no vacations planned, just sticking close to home and working hard. Two days down....I don't even want to think about how many to go!Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08212664903331938923noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5955266952303236720.post-78824340300476822132011-05-15T11:27:00.000-07:002011-05-15T11:43:10.363-07:00Thumper's MotherRemember in the movie, "Bambi", when Thumper's mom said to her child, "If you can't say something nice, don't say nothing at all?" <br /><br />Yeah, that's kind of where I'm at right now with my bog. <br /><br />But, things will get better soon....having the flu twice in one month (in the same month you dcided to go cold turkey off your steroids!) hasn't helped. But really, nothing bad is happening, so much as nothing great is hapening. <br /><br />I'll be back on line soon to tell you about our lovely trip to Palm Sorings, and the touching mothers day breakfast in bed I had (suffice it to say that it included a large cup of diet coke) Man do these children know me well!<br /><br />Well see now, I did have a few nice things to say...it can only get better from here!Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08212664903331938923noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5955266952303236720.post-9784679591257844382011-04-24T22:17:00.000-07:002011-04-24T22:20:39.514-07:00Happy EasterI feel that after staying up last night until 1:30 in the morning making myself an Easter Dress and matching bow ties for my boys, a picture is certainly called for! <br /><br />My children, however, were not too happy to be dragged out to the bridge on the bike trail near our home. Can you imagine, mom made them stay in their church clothes for an entire two hours after church? The horror.<br /><br />Happy Easter to all! <br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/5hxLGLRVSm9zyB8GSrRPvA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_FaO8anYI6iE/TbUCIEXNIEI/AAAAAAAADFk/6opslX-TfBQ/s800/happy%20easter.jpg" height="641" width="800" /></a>Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08212664903331938923noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5955266952303236720.post-25740362444860258212011-04-12T05:47:00.000-07:002011-04-12T07:02:00.623-07:00Mom, Your Blog Is So Boring!Yes, my children are 100% accurate in their assessment of my recent blog posts. <br />I don't really have a response to that except to say that sometimes life is like that. <br />Sometimes, sadly, I think, my camera is full of pictures of cupcakes, not kids. <br />It's true...there are no recent pictures of my kids on my camera...lots of pics of cupcakes though. <br /><br />Anyway, I guess that's what makes my blog so boring, at least to my children. <br /><br />Maybe I could post the video (in it's entirety) that my four oldest children made last week where they sang, played guitars and drums to the music of the Beatles. But oh yeah, they would be SO mad at me if I posted THAT video. But let me just say, they were pretty good. Chuck plays some mean drums.<br /><br />Let's see, what else? One day last week Joe came home from school and told me there was a parent meeting at the junior high that night that I needed to go to. We had some discussion/argument about whether or not the school was a Junior High or a Middle School. Middle School just sounds a little less scary to me, as a parent. It took me taking a picture of the school's entrance to win that argument, but win it I did. Alas, I digress. Back to the meeting. I've always promised myself that I would be a woman who would age gracefully...I wouldn't try to dress or act or look younger than my actual age. I wouldn't mind wrinkles or double chins...I'd take those spider veins with pride. Well, that was all well and good until it all started to actually happen. And for some reason, all those things started to happen last week, right when I was supposed to go to this new parent meeting at the MIDDLE SCHOOL, or at least it seemed that way to me. My confidence was not boosted when I saw an eighth grader at the meeting wearing a sweater that I own. That was kind of a low moment...at least I wasn't actually wearing the sweater at the time! So, anyway, I don't know if it was the meeting or the new wrinkles, but last week I really started to feel my age...and it's made me re-think this whole aging gracefully thing. I don't know....is Botox that bad? :) oh well, maybe it was just a bad week. <br /><br />Actually, to be honest, last week was pretty tough. Things are not easy for our family right now. Things are not perfect. There are days that Joe and I look at each other and wonder if we'll be able to keep up with this busy crazy life we lead. We have certainly reached the limits of our capacity, and maybe that's good to know. I don't want to talk only of the negative....there are plenty of good things happening now too, and we are trying to count our blessings.... Joe still has a job, we still have health insurance, the weather is turning nice and our store is almost always busy, we have six wonderful children. Our oldest son gave his first talk in Sacrament meeting...he is truly turning into an honorable and kind young man. And while it makes me sad to see the time pass so quickly, it makes me happy in those moments when I hear him bear his testimony in church or pass the sacrament with such quiet dignity. We count our blessings and keep moving forward and working hard, its just not always exciting.....which leads, I guess, to a boring blog. <br /><br />We have spring break coming up. Our school district still thinks its a really good idea to give the children two weeks away from school right before they conduct their state testing (just saying), so we've decided to get out of town...at least for part of it. I made some reservations at a resort in Palm Springs for the week after Easter. Joe won't be able to come with us (he has to stay home so he can FaceTime me with my cupcakes...I have some people now who help me, but I'm still working on letting go of some of the control issues) Anyway, my joints are looking forward to some nice dry desert air. We've never done Palm Springs before, but we're looking forward to a short drive and some beautiful weather and basically just hanging out at a pool and doing nothing. Something tells me the "doing nothing" part will only last for so long for the kids, and then we'll be back to whining and complaining and arguing about who sits where in the car-seriously, do all kids fights about that like mine do?<br /><br />Well, whatever happens, I'll take the camera, I'll leave the cupcakes behind and take pictures of my other beautiful creations. Who knows, maybe something exciting will happen to inspire a blog post that is a little less boring. If not, there's always that Beatles video!Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08212664903331938923noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5955266952303236720.post-47278883260223940972011-03-28T21:12:00.000-07:002011-03-28T21:22:51.723-07:00Dulce De Leche<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/D75LcbEqEeSHr6B_K2UFWQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_FaO8anYI6iE/TZFdTkYlpBI/AAAAAAAADEg/1Pm5k6o-daU/s800/dulce-de-leche.jpg" height="371" width="449" /></a><br /><br />How is it that I have made it this far in my life (I mean it's been thirty-four years for heaven's sake!) without a taste of this yummy stuff? I made some from scratch tonight (well, scratch is stretching it when the only ingredients are milk, sugar, baking soda and vanilla, but still) that I plan on incorporating into a new cupcake tomorrow...mmmm...I eat cupcakes every day and I can still hardly wait to try this new one. So far I've had to sate myself with the stuff slathered on Hawaiian bread...but on a cupcake....I think I've finally met a cupcake that I'll put my OWN name on! Any suggestions for a name? How about, "The Cupcake That Pushed Brooke out of single digit clothes sizes"? Unfortunately, it will probably be appropriate.<br /><br />PS...in the interest of Internet goodwill...this is not my own photo...just one I pulled off a google search. I was too busy eating the stuff to take pictures of it.Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08212664903331938923noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5955266952303236720.post-81820417424660340652011-03-21T22:36:00.000-07:002011-03-25T10:52:46.669-07:00Do I complain about my kids enough?<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/tqQ_CdcAvX8WkpqlGL0cjg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_FaO8anYI6iE/TYzV_Rzf1iI/AAAAAAAADEM/s9p1WZFd21w/s640/KIDGRID.jpg" height="107" width="640" /></a><br /><br />I guess that's not really the question I should be asking, but rather, do I complain about my kids too much? Do I use this blog to lament about what terrible, awful, unruly, and disobedient children I have? <br /><br />Well maybe I do, maybe I don't, but right now on this evening, I have the strongest desire to shout it out on the rooftops about what great,wonderful, smart, happy, funny, and lovely children I have. <br /><br />Maybe it was the two parent teacher conferences I had today. I only had to have two because if your 4-6th graders are doing well, you don't even have to meet with their teachers. So, on this rainy morning when all I really wanted to do was to stay in bed, I had to pull myself out of bed to go and open up the cupcake shoppe.And then I had to head on over to the school to hear about how my kids are doing in school. And as I was driving over there, I thought to myself that for some parents, parent teacher conferences are something to worry about, or to not look forward to. It's exactly the opposite for me, and I know how lucky I am to feel that way. <br /><br />When I arrived at the school, my older children immediately took charge of the youngers so I could hit the classrooms in peace. Nothing better than seeing your two year old son run into the arms of your ten year old daughter. He sure loves that girl. And in between conferences, I peaked into the book fair to see her sitting and reading books to the four year old. Pure parental bliss. Not to mention all the wonderful things the teachers said about my kids. <br /><br />So, I'm taking this evening to revel in my children...in the good and the bad. I know they're not perfect, not even close, just like everyone. But tonight I want them to know how wonderful they are, and how blessed I feel to be their mother.Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08212664903331938923noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5955266952303236720.post-50622791525010081372011-03-16T21:34:00.000-07:002011-03-16T21:36:48.491-07:00Don't Get Pinched<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/S9yS7PS4Y7-wIt9Ts02XIA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_FaO8anYI6iE/TYGNrFlHngI/AAAAAAAADDA/Jl2WM2_utzo/s800/IMG_8130.JPG" height="582" width="800" /></a><br /><br />You could carry one of these around all day tomorrow to avoid being pinched. But, you might want to have a back up plan for about ten minutes into the day when you decide you simply MUST eat that cupcake!<br />Happy St. Patricks Day!Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08212664903331938923noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5955266952303236720.post-45147241980482651412011-03-15T12:29:00.000-07:002011-03-15T12:42:25.796-07:00Gimme a Break...A Cupcake Break That IsYesterday, I found myself in need of a cupcake break. I think it's a pretty well deserved one. This <a href="http://madeonmaple.blogspot.com/2011/01/bow-bag-tutorial.html">tutorial</a> has been at the top of my to-do list since my super-cool sister-in-law posted it around the first of the year, so I finally decided to turn that part of my to-do list into a to-done! It's amazing how accomplished a bit of sewing has made me feel....and it surprised me how much I've missed my little sewing machine. <br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/haw-IiKSBeDoYRnTnGEDuw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_FaO8anYI6iE/TX-9h2rYDII/AAAAAAAADCQ/k8Yrd32Fbi8/s800/IMG_8084.JPG" height="567" width="800" /></a><br /><br />Not wanting to stray too far from the inspiration bag, I pulled out my yellow-striped Ikea fabric and got to work. The only change I made was to make it a cross-body bag (since my mom introduced me to this style at Christmas I've never looked back...nothing is better for a busy mom). I also decided that this bag was the perfect place to use my stash of orange and yellow goose fabric that I'd been saving. If you look closely, you can see the bag has a pocket inside that is perfectly sized for my favorite new piece of technology. <br /><br /><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/LlvZPiNbErhMYyk2UiGCgA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_FaO8anYI6iE/TX-9iuZOZUI/AAAAAAAADCU/EFydW5hc0N4/s800/IMG_8095.JPG" height="800" width="534" /></a><br /><br />From to-do into Ta-DA!Brookehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08212664903331938923noreply@blogger.com2