Barbie Karen!

This is my sister Barbie. Not, only did Karen dress up as Barbie for Halloween she has also done a couple Birthday parties for little girls.

This is how it works, the mom tells all of the little girls, "Wouldn't it be exciting if Barbie could come to life and come to our party?"

Then the mom takes the vintage Solo Barbie and puts it outside the door. The little girls chant, "Come on Barbie, let's go party!" Three times. ... and ... Presto. In walks Karen (A.K.A Barbie) through the door.

As you can imagine the little girls at the party are enchanted. Karen hangs out with them for a while, plays Barbie BINGO, talks to them about her favorite outfits, and how she always loses her shoes, because they are so small.

Well on June 29th Karen told my brother Mike that she would come and do a Birthday party for my little niece Sarah. Jonathan was going to lunch with his dad for his Birthday at Lamb's Cafe. It was so funny when I called Jonathan on the phone and asked him what time he was going to be at lunch?

He asked me, "Why?"

When I told that I had something really special planned for his Birthday, he immediately put two and two together. Jonathan is always so easy going, so I love it when I can fluster him.

"Jenny, Do not have Karen come dressed as Barbie. That is not a good idea. My dad would hate it. Seriously Jenny. It would not be funny."

Well, Barbie did not go to Lamb's Cafe for lunch. I went with and Karen that night and we did Sarah's party. On our way home I thought that we should stop by the Young Men/Young Women BBQ, and wish Jonathan a Happy Birthday. I wish so bad that I would have had my camera.

Barbie said, "How old are you Jonathan?"

I said, "Jonathan is 40!"

Then Barbie replied, "Forty? That's old! That is older than my Dad!"

Barbie had everyone join in and we all sang Happy Birthday to Jonathan!

Happy Birthday Plumber!

Don't feel to bad for him. He had a guy in a tutu come and

sing to me when I worked at the insurance company.

A laugh for the day...

Happy Valentines Day

I know Valentines Day has past but, I only got my craft project done 2 days before Valentines Day..... So I am enjoying them now (It's still February....) Jenny and I made these cute hearts covered with scrapbook paper (they were so fun and now I am addicted to paper/wood crafting) modge podge, glitter, paint. paper..... so much fun!!!! What else could a girl ask for (maybe a little sewing?)

I forgot about this blog

Just a new post because those strawberries creep me out!!! Hopefully there will be more to come sooner or LATER!!!

Spiderberries...

Strawberries are one of my favorite foods... I LOVE them. I usually buy 2 great big flats at Costco a week....Although I am now trying to get past my fear of eating them... The other day I was cutting the tops off strawberries as I grabbed one I happened to look inside it and saw a spider... I thought euuw gross and chucked it in the sink. I then told my husband what had happened. He came to see. He picked the strawberry up an there was no spider to found... (It must have been alive, I knew I saw a spider)
Ever since then I have been a little freaked out.... Every time I have strawberries I have to cut them up, I was thinking to me self (I am so mental... what are the chances I would ever see another spider in the middle of a strawberry???) just then I cut one open and "There was a spider right in the middle and it was alive!!!"
Well, I have decided I am not a mental case.... In all three spiders were found!!! I was taking to my sister and she also had found a spider in the middle of her strawberry!!! I decided to take a picture..... So you could all see what I am taking about!!!!

I will never be able to eat another spider-berry again without cutting into it.... I guess this rules out Chocolate covered strawberries for me.... Oh, and I wonder how many spiders have been eaten with out anyone even knowing it???

If You Give Mom a Wash Rag

If you give a mom a wash rag, she will wash the counter!

Then she will see all the dirty dishes and think I better load the dishwasher.

Once she starts the dishwasher, she will think of her washing machine.

That will make her want to go switch the laundry!

As she throws in a load of darks, she will wonder if there are any dirty clothes in her kids room?

She will want to get those dirty clothes so she can wash them.

When she goes down stairs she will pas the computer, then she will think of her email...

She will want to check her email. Once she reads her email she will see that someone left a comment on her blog. That will make her want to post on her blog. Then she will want to read everyone else's blog.

Once she is done, she will see a shoe on the floor. She will want to put the shoe in the closet where it goes.

When she opens the closet she will see the vacuum, that will make her want to vacuum. When she is done vacuuming she will notice how dirty her kitchen floor is.

She will want to sweep the floor. Once the floor is clean she will want to mop it. While she is mopping the floor, she will hear the phone ring.

She will want to answer the phone. If the person on the phone is her sister she will talk for an hour! She will get tired of standing so she will sit on the couch...

All of the sudden she will ask her sister what time it is??? If her sister says "it's a quarter to four" She will say "bye, I have to go do carpool!"

She will get into her car and go pick up her kids. When her kids come home they will be hungry. She will want to make them a snack. After her kids eat their snack they will be messy.

She will need to wash them off, she will get a wash rag.... Once she gets the wash rag you know what it will make her want to do!!!!

This was my life the other day.... I had recently read "If you give Mouse a Cookie" to my kids and decided I should write a little book!!!

The only person who thought it was funny was my sister!!!!

Santa Claus Ain't Comin' to Nobody's House!

My sister and I decorated gingerbread houses with our families on Sunday night. I just love her creative House/Pirate Ship. She is such a good mom of all Boys. We had a really fun night!

Notice the decapitated Santa swimming with the sharks.

A friend emailed this to me, and I thought I would share 

it with anyone who wants to take the time to read it.

Too many people put off something that brings them joy 

just because they haven't thought about it, don't have 

it on their schedule, didn't know it was  coming or are 

too rigid to depart from their routine.

I got to thinking one day about all those women on the 

Titanic who passed up dessert at dinner that fateful 

night in an effort to'cut back the calories'. 

From then on, I've tried to be a little more flexible!

How many women out there will eat at home because their 

husband didn't suggest going out to dinner until after 

something had been thawed? Does the word'refrigeration' 

mean nothing to you?    

How often have your kids dropped in to talk and sat in 

silence while you watched 'Who wants to be a millionaire' 

on television?   

I cannot count the times I called my sister and said, 

'How about going to  lunch in a half hour?' She would 

gas up and stammer, 'I  can't. I have clothes  on the 

line. My hair is dirty.  I wish I had known yesterday, 

I had a late   breakfast, It looks like rain.' 

And my personal favorite: 'It's Monday.' She  died a 

few years ago.  We never did have lunch together.     

Because we cram so much into our lives, we tend to even 

schedule our  headaches. We live on a  sparse diet of 

promises we make to ourselves when all the conditions 

are perfect!   We'll go back and visit the grandparents 

when we get Steve toilet-trained.  We'll entertain when 

we replace the living-room carpet. We'll go on a second  

honeymoon when we get two more kids out of college.     

Life has a way of accelerating as we get older. 

The days get shorter, and  the list of  promises to 

ourselves gets longer.. One morning, we  awaken, and  

all we have to show for our lives is a  litany of 

'I'm going to,' 'I plan on,'  and 'Someday, when things 

are settled down a bit.'    When  anyone calls my 

'seize the moment' friend, she is open to adventure  

and available for trips. She keeps an open mind on new 

ideas. Her enthusiasm  for life  is contagious. You 

talk with her for five minutes, and you're ready  

to trade your bad feet for a pair of roller blades 

and skip an elevator for a  bungee cord.    

My lips have not touched ice cream in 10 years. 

I love ice cream. It's just  that  I might as well 

apply it directly to my stomach with a spatula and  

eliminate the digestive process The other day, I 

stopped the car and bought a   triple-decker. If my 

car had hit an iceberg on the way home, I would have 

died  happy.  

Now go on and have a nice day. Do something you 

WANT to...not something on your SHOULD DO list. 

If you were going to die soon and had only one phone 

call  you could make, who would you call and what 

would you say? And why are you waiting?  

Have you ever watched  kids playing on a merry go 

round or listened to the rain lapping on the ground? 

Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight or gazed 

at the sun into  the fading night? Do you run 

through each day on the fly? When you ask 'How are you?' 

do you hear the  reply?    When the day is done, do you  

lie in your bed with the next hundred chores running 

through your head? Ever told your child, 'We'll do  

it tomorrow.' And  in your haste, not see his sorrow?  

Ever lost touch? Let a good friendship die?  

Just call to say 'Hi? 

When you worry and hurry through your day, 

it is like an unopened gift...Thrown away...

Life is not a race. Take it slower. 

Hear the music before the song is over.  

"Life may not be the party we hoped for... 

but while we are here, we  might  as well dance!"

Neglecting Blogs...

Life is crazy... If you don't stop to enjoy it every once in a while, it will pass you by...

To anyone who is still reading this blog, sorry I have seamed to neglect this poor little blog!!! I am trying to finish up a football video and then maybe I'll get back to posting... (Maybe) or who knows I might let it go another month... Just so you all know my intentions are good...

It's the thought that counts.... and believe me I have a lot of thoughts!!!

Sister Retreat

We packed our bags and headed off... Why we need so much for only two nights and one full day I have no idea.... This is only 3 peoples stuff....

We always have all sorts of yummy treats. This year we had to much.... That we didn't even get a carmel apple at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory... Maybe next time!We made fun crafts... These are the cute Christmas ornaments we painted!

We had a great time at the Sisters Retreat...

Keeping up...

Wow, it's been a while, I guess keeping up four blogs is kinda hard! I have been cleaning up a storm and getting so very organized...



Maybe next week if I feel like blogging I will post some more!!!



Really does anyone read this blog???

To Clean or not to Clean

     All the kids are back in school

     and I've become a cleaning fool

     Why do I spend so much of my time 

     Why don't I take out more time to rhyme

     When the house is way too clean 

     They come home, and I am mean

     Pick up your shoes, put your back pack away, 

     Who left out the milk, keep this clean today

     One day I will be all alone, in my very clean house

     Wishing for a hectic day with my children and spouse

     I'll step over the laundry, and walk past the dirty floors, 

     and I'll spend more time with the children outdoors.

     The little ones grow up too fast, 

     and a clean house will never last.

     So, I'll take more time to laugh and play 

     and save my cleaning for another day!

Are you still reading this???

Is anyone out there still reading this blog? If so maybe I will post more... Although I will have to change the name of the blog to "I hope I can inspire my sister to blog"

Leave me a comment if you are reading this blog!!!

Girls just wanna have fun....

We are off to Chicago for 4 days of fun!!!

My Sister...

This blog was a joint effort (with me and my sister) Although I think I am all alone in this venture... I think she likes starting NEW blogs more than keeping up on old ones!!! Jenny if you're out there in the blogging world... Please say Hi!!!

Just Be You...

Be Yourself.

No one can ever tell you

you're doing it wrong.

-James Leo Herlihy

Hold Everything Please...

I went shopping with one of my friends last night. We had so much fun!!! We hit the mall, then once it closed we went to Target and then ended up at Wal-Mart. It was so much fun talking and laughing and then laughing more.
It was around midnight and we were both really hungry so we went to the drive-thru at Wendy's. We ordered "one hamburger with everything but the bun (for her) and one hamburger with nothing but the bun (for me)" As I was ordering our food right in the middle it was so funny we both started laughing!!! The person taking out order was not amused!

I am so blessed to have such amazing girl friends. While we are so much alike in so many ways we we are defiantly different when it comes to hamburgers!!!

Its always a great time when you're with just the girls!!!

A Day at the Pool

"The only way to truly enjoy motherhood,
is to put everything aside,
and take time to play with your kids"

Everyone loved the "Hot Tub"

Today I filled up the swim pool at nine in the morning. We headed outside at noon and didn't come in till 9:00 at night. We swam the day away and had so much fun!!! It was nice to put everything aside and just have a fun day that was all about the kids!!!

'Brownie Recipe'

BROWNIE RECIPE

A father of some teenage children had a family rule that they could not attend PG-13, R or X rated movies. His three teens wanted to see a particular popular movie that was playing at local theaters. It was rated PG-13. The teens interviewed friends and even some members of their family's church to find out what was offensive in the movie. The teens made a list of pros and cons about the movie to use to convince their dad that they should be allowed to see it.


The cons were:
*It contained ONLY 3 swear words!
*The ONLY violence was a building exploding (and you see that on TV all the time they said)
*You actually did not 'see' the couple in the movie having sex, it was just implied sex, off camera.

The pros were:
*It was a popular movie,(a blockbuster).
*Everyone was seeing it.
*If the teens saw the movie then they would not feel left out when their friends discussed it.
*The movie contained a good story and plot.
*It had some great adventure and suspense in it.
*There were some fantastic special effects in this movie.
*The movie's stars were some of the most talented.
*It probably would be nominated for several awards.
*Many members of their Christian church, including the pastor, had even seen the movie and said it wasn't really 'that bad'.

Therefore, since there were more pros than cons the teens asked their father to reconsider his position on just this ONE movie and let them have permission to go see it.

The father looked at the list and thought for a few minutes. He said he could tell his children had spent some time and thought on this request. He asked if he could have a day to think about it before making his decision. The teens were thrilled, thinking, 'Now we've got him! Our argument is too good! Dad can't turn us down!' So, they happily agreed to let him have a day to think about their request.

The next evening the Father called his three teenagers, who were smiling smugly, into the living room. There on the coffee table he had a plate of brownies. The teens were puzzled. The father told his children he had thought about their request and had decided that if they would eat the brownies, then he would let them go to the movie. But, he explained, just like the movie, the brownies had pros and cons.

The pros were :
*They were made with the finest chocolate and other good ingredients.
*They had the added special effect of yummy walnuts i n them.
*The brownies were moist and fresh with wonderful chocolate frosting on top.
*He had made these fantastic brownies using an award-winning recipe.
*And best of all, the brownies had been made lovingly by the hand of their own father.

The brownies only had one con :
*He had included a little bit of a special ingredient:
The brownies contained just a small amount of dog poop. But he had mixed the dough well and they probably would not even be able to taste the dog poop and he had baked it at 350 degrees so hopefully any bacteria or germs from the dog poop had probably been destroyed. Therefore, if any of his children could stand to eat the brownies which included just a 'little bit of crap' and not be affected by it, then he knew they would also be able to see the movie with 'just a little bit of smut' and not be affected.

Of course, none of the teens would eat the brownies and the smug smiles had left their faces. Now when his teenagers ask permission to do something he KNOWS THEY SHOULDN'T BE DOING the father just asks, 'Would you like me to whip up a batch of my special brownies?'

A friend emailed this to me yesterday. This story has such a great lesson, that I think everyone can use.

Happy Sweet 86

This is my Grandma. Isn't she sassy? She will be turning 86 this month. As I look at these pictures it makes me think about how we all get older but, we still feel young inside. My sister went and visited her the other day and asked her 'if there was anything she could do for her?' she said "yes, find out how I can be 16 again." I love my Grandma so much . She is always so fun to talk to. I wish there was away that we could make her 16 again! So far we have not heard of anything, so we will be throwing her the biggest "surprise" sweet 86 birthday ever!!!