Texas sky at night

I had a really good idea of a  poetic post to go with this picture I took last night - but I also have cute kids I am going to go play with before bedtime. 

Enjoy the Texas sky - it really does go on forever.

I know

so much to blog so little time

It was MEG'S BIRTHDAY yesterday - cheesecake (her fave) was enjoyed by all - 

Happy Birthday Sis

This is a crazy week - I am kind of avoiding the computer because when I sit here Photoshop yells at me. It tells me I have roughly 600 pictures to look at. Weddings are a lot of work.

I want to tell you all about Jon and Kate and what I thought - mostly I thought it was sad - I will visit the topic soon

there is a more detailed review in my head.

This is the last week of school which means CRAZINESS - a million this and that's to go to. 

Poor Cora had to be woke up from EVERY SINGLE NAP she tried to take yesterday.

last scout meeting before Twilight camp means thousands of swap-ems to be made.

Presenting at the Stake RS day on Saturday means lots of tweaking to the power point.

I turned on the A/C for scouts - I can do it but others might not appreciate my energy conservation as much. Our electric last month was only 113.00 (pretty good for us) and water was only 60 (also pretty good for us - we wash ALOT I mean really ALOT of clothes.

As we went to bed last night Kyle said he has been amazed at how much we are going without A/C and how great I have been cooking on a creative budget. 

boy does he know how to say the right things to this girl.

oh and thanks mom for introducing me to this: http://sporcle.com/ way too much fun for a trivia lover

Blessings of the Priesthood

Are you watching the marathon?

If you are new to Jon and Kate, but want to watch the season premiere of "Watch our lives unfold for profit" Watch this weekend they are doing a non-stop marathon

vicious cycle

I am depressed because my house is messy.

I don't feel like cleaning because I am depressed.

I see a problem here.

What do you do to get motivated?

I am going to blare some music from my itunes.  Something loud but with a soothing voice in it.

Like his or his or his or his

or maybe hers

Images From Oz

Wonder how the photography thing is going?

Well right now its great. I have been keeping very busy. 

clicking, photoshopping, more learning, clicking, photoshopping, more learning...

rinse and repeat. 

I am doing my first wedding today - wish me luck!

I am so busy that I am not good at keeping up with updating my website and online galleries, but here just a few favorites as of late:

Do not Disturb!

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Janie relax'n

Play now, rest later

Kyle and Benjamin went camping friday night.  The girls and I enjoyed a girls night with friends.

The boys came back in the rain at 3:30 am.

Kyle and I went to bed after Benjamin's birthday party at 3 on Saturday and then went out on our date at midnight.  We went to Dave and Buster's (with a coupon) and totally killed on the trivia game for a while then headed into downtown Dallas to see Tutankhamun. WE WERE SHOCKED AT THE CROWD WE SAW WAITING!!

There was a huge line, full parking lot. It was crazy. We found street parking and managed the smaller line at will call - The exhibit was FASCINATING! Just to see things that old was amazing and to learn so much and hold hands. It was awesome. We got home at 6 am.

Then today Ella and I went on her field trip for Fort Worth's Casa Manana Theater to see a Year with Frog and Toad - then lunch after at my absolute favorite: Lucilles they seriously have the worlds best Key lime Pie.

good times, good times.

You didn't stop us this time rain!

I LOVE GOING OUT

90% of the time I am an intense homebody, but the other 10% I daydream constantly of makeup, restaurants, alone time with Kyle, adult conversation etc.

I have been meaning to tell you all about my my Mother's day date. I opted out of breakfast in bed and chose a late night dinner instead. It was wonderful.

And this weekend I get to do it again!

King Tut is 16.25 per person tonight from midnight to 7:30am - I have been wanting to go badly and that price is in our budget. So we are going on a date at 2 am tonight. We will be tired at church tomorrow.  Best part is we dont have to get a babysitter because the kids will be sleeping.

I hope you didn't believe me - I was totally joking, Meg will be here. She and all her crap came back from school last night for the summer.

Happy Birthday Benjamin

My baby is nine years old today!!

He got nine dollars this morning - Ella was seething with jealousy.  It made me chuckle.

She has been up in arms since he got a bank account when he turned eight.  I like building up the tension for her. She is going to be so excited when she gets her own bank account.

We decided to give him some cold hard cash because he will open his gifts at his party on Saturday and because I am so proud of him handling his own money.  Tithing is still a little tough because he thinks he should just do that every once in while. When I asked him how much tithing you pay for nine dollars - he said "no mom I already paid tithing on the money grandma sent!"

He never hesitates to go to the bank though. I love waiting behind him in line - it makes me proud (He really likes to go inside) - First they have lollipops - that's always cool. Then at Texans Credit Union kids get a saver card that gets punched every time they make a deposit - when its full they get a trinket. He is totally excited about his almost full card.  And then when his statements come he is thrilled (he loves getting mail). I have tried to teach him all about compound interest. On his last statement he finally earned dividends. It was only 2 cents - but I got very excited for him - telling him how cool it was that he EARNED money by doing nothing but letting his money stay in the bank. He said "Wow I am totally inspired now" I laughed out loud - he actually used the word inspired.

Nine things I love about Benjamin:

1. He is full of love - he loves his sisters very much and hugs them as much as he bugs them. He adores Cora and I rarely have to get her out of the crib because he is right there at her side in the mornings.

2. He is very smart 

3. He tells me all about his dreams and nightmares in enthusiastic details.

4. He tells me EVERYTHING I cook is the best he has ever had.

5. He has a contagious laugh - its like a deep giggle

6. He is all boy - its all about warriors, star wars, weapons, grossness, etc.

7. He still pretend "fights" with imaginary foes all over the house

8. He has a very spiritual side when he is calm enough to let it show. He asks very thoughtful questions about the Scriptures and the Plan of Salvation.

9. He still cuddles --  shhhhhhh don't tell anyone - that's so not cool when you are nine. 

Wait, wait I changed my mind

THIS ARTICLE has the best synopsis, if you have not been previously caught up in the Jon and Kate fever like me. They even make fun of her haircut too!

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train wreck

We finally cancelled cable in our money saving pursuits. I have been wanting to for a LONG time but we were locked in a contract.  The cut-off was supposed to happen two Saturday's ago but Time Warner is behind at the moment. I suppose there are a lot of people making the same decision as us.

I was actually looking forward to cable being gone - one less fight over cartoons a day will be nice. BUT... I am going to miss my addiction specifically TLC and more specific than that -- my favorite train wreck to watch comfortably from my sofa: 

Jon and Kate plus 8... aka. Crazy woman bosses people around

I CAN'T STAND THAT WOMAN - She is the epitome of everything that annoys me: controlling, germ freak, mean to her husband, snobby, obsessed with appearances, puts money above her children and family....

I think she was meant to have all these children so many women could have a perfect example of what kind of wife NOT to be.

As much as I detest her I haven't been able to stop watching from the first episode where she bossed her husband around for an over the top birthday party.  I thought then : "I see a divorce in her future..."  In the background Kyle has said many times "Man if you ever talked to me like that..."

So lately I have splurged on one of my guilty pleasures - tabloids just so I could read all the sordid details of Jon's recent affair. Here is a video of him sneaking out the girlfriend's house. And even better online is family airing the dirty laundry for them.  The word now on the street is that she has had an affair too with the security guard. hmmmmmmm - 

I thought the scandal might postpone the season re-start or even cancel the show entirely. But no, Jon and Kate will continue to exploit their children for my viewing pleasure. (I mean when they are making 50,000-75,000 per episode how can they stop?)

And in this interview they say the opening episode will devote an hour to the marriage struggles they may or may not be having.  So now I am keeping my fingers crossed that Time Warner stays behind schedule till May 25th because if my cable is gone I am coming to someone's house to watch!!  Save me a place on the sofa

PS - even though it can be said that the Duggars also exploit their family for money - I totally love them. They are on the strange side of the ultra heavy duty bible belt Christian (skirts and long hair) thing.  But, I think they are good people and I have gleamed much more useful info from watching them than Jon and Kate.

Dave Ramsey says money will make you more of what you already are. If you are good money will make you able to do more good things. If you are weak money will make you weaker. HMMMM look who's having trouble.

Oh and one more thing - what is with her horrendous haircut? Flock of seagulls look?

call me gross

Last night at FHE we had milkshakes for dessert.  After banana milkshakes had gone all around I threw in one last scoop of ice cream and added half a hamburger patty from dinner and a squirt of ketchup and dared the kids to drink my milkshake concotion. and THEY DID! Then they made me and Kyle - only Ella managed to swallow it.  

Ella told me this morning that she told everyone at school about our hamburger milkshake. You know it was funny when you have to tell everyone the next day.

Then tonight we made worm farms in cub scouts. In a few weeks all the cubs should have a bunch of rich fertilizer for their garden!  I am sure the mom's love being the new foster parents of a bunch of worms.

10 months

always makes me a little sad.  40 weeks of pregnancy lasted forever but 10 months of life has flown by!

I love this little girl so much - she has seemlessly joined our lives never once adding any stress -  - in fact she has been a stress reliever. She has distracted me from the trials of unemployment and makes me smile all day!  She entertains all and I can already tell that she has peacemaking skills.

She has been late to get teeth - but is the first to pull-up and as you can see from the pictures already trying to climb the stairs. We are family of late walkers (past 15 months for all the others) but maybe she'll break that record.

She says da-da, will sometimes wave goodbye, and has fine motor skills that are impeccable. - Need anything microscopic picked up off your floor she's your man. She will eat it though!

Toneeeeeeeeeee

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

This is either brilliant or stupid

I didn't have the money to do a full garden. But dang it if a really cool person didn't inspire me despite my best wishes. So here is my topsy turvy garden experiment:

ta-mah-toes

crookneck squash

and basil in a pot being eaten by something.

** You see that's the thing about gardening to me - I think "wow a few bucks and I can have all the tomatoes, basil, etc I want" but what ends up happening is I feed the local bugs.

Here is the reason I need to grow my own groceries:

Tender Emotions

My feelings have felt like tidal waves lately.

I have been facing the struggles that come with despair. I tell you the last few weeks of Kyle's unemployment were especially difficult.  You know I have/am wrestling with the idea of returning to work.  I don't think I am going to. I have read, and re-read this: To the Mothers in Zion 

Trying to make a big decision means you think a lot. And for me I replay history. My personal history and decisions I have made - decisions I have made that were good and ones that were bad, and ones that were so right for me they had to be directly by divine intervention.

And while doing this thinking on the past, memories come that I often push down and let get drowned by the hum of my busy life.  Like I said in the title they are tender emotions that could be summed up but mean so, so much more.

I am so grateful for my mom. She has gone through hell and always fights the best fight.

I miss my Dad, he suffered from many problems that mostly originated in his own mind. He broke my heart, but before that he loved me like I will never understand and I grew up one of a privileged few who are truly worshipped by their daddy!

I miss my brother Tommy, and that is actually what I sat here to write about.

This morning I left for a few shopping errands - I went to my stomping ground, the shady side of 380 - not the best part of town but they have what I need: a thrift store, a bread store, and sams club.  As I rounded the corner by goodwill I saw a man at the bus stop looking like he was having heart attack. Literally he scared me so much I was pulled up to the stop with my window down in no time. I asked if he was ok right when I realized he was fine - he just has cerebral palsy. He said I've been here at this bus stop forever could you give me a ride? Now remember this was actually very hard for me to decipher due to his speech but I figured it out and said "of course". I moved stuff and the seat back so it was easier for him to get in and off we went after introducing ourselves. He introduced himself as Jamie. I had a moment of "I am a crazy lady - giving a guy I don't know a ride - having a disability doesn't automatically make you a nice person" but I didn't care - because he was so, so grateful. 

 Then Maiya told him he looked crazy and I got embarrassed, 

but he immediately forgave her.  

He was so much like my brother it was scary.

My brother - Tommy had severe learning disabilities and behavior problems that made life constantly interesting.  He loved to fiddle and never put up with being bored. He loved to fix things and if that meant breaking something first than so be it!

I have to admit that even though I always loved him I did wish he wasn't around a lot and I had my share of fights with him.  But despite his issues one thing he did better than anyone I have ever known or will know was forgive. As this guy immediately forgave Maiya - I felt like I was sitting next to Tommy.

One example: 

My brother got his drivers licence against every one's best interests and wishes. And despite all odds he managed to get a car - to call it a car is a stretch but it did have wheels and it moved with the help of gas. One weekend he decided he would come from Richmond to Virginia Beach to see the kids. (about a 1.5 hour drive). He had to leave late and I went to bed after giving him directions. Now Tommy could not read so all he had to go on was my verbal directions. I fell asleep and didn't wake up until 2 am when I saw that he had called fourteen + times. I have no idea to this day why the phone didn't wake me or Kyle (who is a lighter sleeper than me) up! The ringer was on and the phone what right on my nightstand. I called Tommy right away. He had just gotten back home to Richmond after driving four hours straight, lost the majority of the time with me never answering the phone. I FELT TERRIBLE. I said I was soooooo sorry over and over again. But before I even finished my first "I am sorry" he said "oh its ok, don't worry about it - maybe next weekend" And you know how you can tell from someone's voice how mad they really are. Well I could tell from his that he was not mad at all.

Since my brother died I have felt the pain of that "lost" weekend every time I think about it. Benjamin and Ella loved him like crazy and he loved them even more than that.  

That was the thing with my brother - nothing slowed him down and very little made him sad. Despite dealing with many, many more setbacks and mental limitations he always found a way to be happy.  If forgiving someone faster made you and him happy than he was the first to do it. Time was not worth wasting on being mad when there were cakes to bake and things to fix.

When he died he was living in a roadside motel managing a little thrift shop in a store they had facing the road. He was in heaven. He could tinker with people's trash and make it something valuable to someone else. Have I told you this before? He had a box that he was putting stuff in to give to the kids for Christmas. He died in July and he already had a box of toys for them. He also had a snow globe for my mom because he knew she collects them.

Back to me today - 

Jamie told me during our little drive that he has worked at Old Navy for 8 years. And he volunteers at this thrift store on his days off because he "hates being bored" - He asked about me and I said I lived near 380 and Custer and I was married with four children.

He said "Wow I know that is a really nice area, and I don' t have any kids" There was a little bit of sadness in his voice It made me feel a odd to be one the other side of the tracks in a way. 

I felt like a human fortune cookie in a way - inside of me a message was being printed directly on my heart from the Spirit:

JANIE --You have everything to be grateful for!!!!!!! 

I have let my trials get too much of me lately.  As he shook my hand and got out of the car I thought here he is a guy longing to live in the "better" part of town, wishing he could drive and one day have kids. And on his day off he was going to volunteer to help other people. 

We may never have everything we want in this lifetime. In fact we won't/shouldn't have everything we want in this life. BUT we do have blessings and we can always forgive!!

I have nothing to complain about, nothing to moan and groan about. 

I know I am not good at writing so this post won't even scratch the surface of what my morning favor for Jamie did for me. But it was profound. I pulled around the corner and had a good cry before heading back to Sams club.

And back to my mom. I am so, so grateful for the example she has always been to me about random acts of kindness. She has never let fear, or pomp and circumstance stop her from helping someone.  Even adopting my brother was a challenge she opened her heart to. I know all mother's of children with disabilities face heartache. Mothers who adopt children with disabilities deserve unending respect, my mom included - she wanted for Tommy what he may have never had otherwise - love and safety.  

My mom is always the first to talk to anyone who looks like they might need help.  She says people always seem to tell her their life story, secrets, problems and concerns. I think that is because God knows she maybe the most likely to help them!

She hired many people down on their luck for odd jobs around our house. She has given rides to ladies carrying groceries in the rain. Now I am crying again. Even when she was in the most pain of her life with third degree burns from radiation she thought of others. In the waiting room of the oncology clinic deep in a medicated haze she noticed an older lady had been waiting for a long time for the Medical transport to take her home. My mom told me "Go tell her that if she is still here when I am done we will take her home"  

I love you Mom.

I am mildly obsessed

I am trying to see how long I can go without air conditioning in this here Texas.

Its obviously for money saving reasons, but also because when we had a tune-up last year we had low freon. We were told that was a sign of thing-a-ma-gig developing small cracks. A good indication that we may have to replace our system sooner rather than later.  

I thought it was a scare tactic to talk us into a major purchase. BUT

by the end of summer we needed more freon.

So I am trying to not use this puppy and use it sparingly when I have to. 

 BUT

I hate being hot!!! So I tried a new system this time around. I opened a ton of windows at night - and before you ask (no we don't have bad allergies and no I am not nervous about open windows - we have a big dog remember)

In the morning I close all windows, and blinds, and curtains - keeping in as much of that cool air as possible.  And I know it hasn't been too hot yet - but so far:

ITS WORKING.

so tell me if I have made an accomplishment  or not - have you turned your's on yet? and if not tell me when you do...

On the floor with Cora

Hey mom, can I play with your camera?

come on...

please?

give it to me!

"She pulled my tail"

no I didn't...

Things that have cracked me up lately:

Maiya's funny faces

Teaching Benjamin how to make pizza crust from scratch

and this post over at Coal Creek Farm Its exactly how I feel sometimes, its nice to have company

Anatomy of saving money at the doctors:

ring, ring...

Hello I think I might need to make an appointment for my daughter she has a UTI, in fact may I just speak to the doctor because I know she has a UTI -- I tested her at home, so he should be able to just call something in for me.

Secretary: I'll send you back to the nurse, she is standing next to the doctor now

call gets transferred and I get dropped

I call back

"Hi its me again I got disconnected."

Secretary: Yes we talked to the doctor and you need to come in

Me: "Well see this is the deal, I have insurance with a HIGH deductible so I will be paying for everything out of pocket. I already tested her at home she is positive for leucocytes and negative for nitrates."

Secretary: "We need to test her here in the office."

Me: "Why? so I can pay lab fees on top of the office visit? It was a three pack of home tests ask if I can bring a test with me to test her with that in the office so I don't have to pay lab fees."

Secretary: "Hold on I'll go ask the doctor"

wait......

Secretary: "He trusts you, he said he'd call something in, so you don't have to make an appt."

money saved: at least $200.00

It rained today

Cora checks out the sky

The girls play in the puddles

And dig up worms

and pose

Benjamin stays dry inside.

Crack N up

Ever have a friend that makes you laugh so hard that you feel like you might pee your pants?

Well Maiya is that friend to Cora.

And she does pee her pants.