DAY 17 - FAMILY DINNER

Suburban Utopia Success!!!

My children returned to school after a 2 1/2 week fall break.  I enjoyed a day of peace and quiet.  I lit my candles without worrying about anyone sticking their fingers in it.  Bliss!

 Then I put this in the crock pot and it became....

 PORK CARNITAS!!!

(get the recipe here)
There is nothing better than sitting down with your family at the end of the day.  We enjoyed great food and the normal boy conversation around the table.  But let's get back to the food....

 It was ridiculously good!

Two Thumbs Way, Way Up!

Smooth transition, right?!?  

Colton's Homecoming Photos!

 Colton's the third from the right.  Love this photo!

But, this one is my favorite!!!

I just have to share one little story.  Between photos, dinner and the actual dance, Colton needed to pick up Riley around 5pm.  Just before 4pm, he came to me and said "I need a tie.  Should I go to Ross?"  I wasn't sure if he really could identify "teal" on a tie so I went with him.  Living in an all boy house, I'm familiar with the lack of planning and foresight.  As I was driving him to the store I thought there is no way we will find a tie in time.  Then I had a thought "Of course he'll find a tie".  I mean, he has not planned at all and thinks that he can find a tie ONE HOUR before picking up his date.  Guarantee it will work out for him.....

and it did.

Boys!

You can start on Day 1 here or 

check out the other 31 Dayers here.

DAY 16 - FALL PLACESETTINGS & A CRAZY DAY!

After this crazy day, I came home day dreaming about falling into bed.  Reality wouldn't allow that, so I decided to play with a few dishes.  Surprisingly, it was energizing!  I really do love dishes!!!  Like these: pumpkin plate (thinking it would be a great serving plate for a cheese ball), gold casserole dish (my parents received it for their wedding), butter warmer (that I use as a caramel warmer), football salt/pepper shakers (I think I'm addicted to salt/pepper shakers)

 I love these white leaf plates, they are making their premiere this year. (picked them up on clearance last year)  Acorn salt/pepper shakers on a leaf, wire pumpkin place card holder (by the glasses), mini gravy boat on the left.

 Switching up the plate again and adding the napkin/placecard holder.

 This bread plate was from my Mita's stash.  She loved dishes too! 

 Playing with dishes was just what I needed.  Today was our last day of fall break.  I started at the dentist's office with my llama, then picked up the llama's friend and headed over to get flu shots at my husband's work.  Next stop was dropping my oldest at school for his last away game in Show Low.  Before taking him, I ran to pick him up some lunch.  We spent over 20 minutes waiting in line AFTER we ordered.  To make matters worse, a seriously crazy woman backed her car up in the drive-thru.  I'll spare you most of the details, but she did call me an ignoramus. (which is truly funny coming from a woman who just backed up in a drive-thru)  After we were able to leave, my teenagers said they were worried I was going to ram my van into her car repeatedly - you know, like Lois in Malcolm in the Middle!  I got Colton to the school and then took the boys to Chuck E. Cheese or as I call it - Mini Vegas.  I'll leave you with pumpkins on display at our dentist's office.  The football player

 A porcupine

 Angry Bird

 Barbie Witch

 McDonald's Hamburger

(my favorite)

 Bat

 Upside down llama

(Kyler took all the pumpkin photos....thanks, Ky!!!)

You can start on Day 1 here or 

check out the other 31 Dayers here.

DAY 15 - BIRTHDAY BOY!

15 Days in and I remember why I stopped doing projects around the house!  (breathe in, breathe out)  I'm OK now and I'll keep going forward with my planned projects.  (baby step through 31 days)  Only one thing matters today though.....that's my son, Asher!  He's 14.......FOURTEEN!!!!  Let's take a walk down memory lane. (cue "Memories" from Barbra Streisand)

Asher's blessing day.  He was only 2 weeks old!

 This is my all-time-favorite photo of him as a small child.

Gotta love his Elmo jacket!

 Christmas Day 2004 - age 6

 Stitch!

 His 7th Birthday.....half a lifetime ago to him.

 Asher's best dessert!

He loves making M&M Brownies!  He made two batches for our family dinner last night.  DELISH!

 I loved this.  My boys aren't allowed to play video games on Sunday.  Notice the clock, it's three minutes after midnight.  As soon as it was Monday, they turned the games on and starting celebrating Asher's Birthday.

 To add to the fun, I bought lots of Halloween candy for the kids to enjoy.  (When they're empty, does it mean it's time to go back to school........please!)

You can start on Day 1 here or 

check out the other 31 Dayers here.

DAY 12-14 - KEEP THAT SENSE OF HUMOR, IT'S CRITICAL

Seriously, what I do without a sense of humor!  First, the story of the vehicles.  Thursday I went to the grocery store for a couple of items, when I came back to my van, it didn't start.  Then as I was walking home I realized I forgot one of the TWO items I was supposed to pick up.  After getting home, I called my husband to let him know where the van was.  He stopped by the house before going with our oldest to get the van home.  He was gone awhile.  That's because after he took the battery out of the van, he got in his car to run over to Autozone.  Problem....his car wouldn't start!  At this point I just started laughing.  I mean, I could have gone with crying, but that's not as fun.  He was able to get the car started and home.  Friday he was able to get the van started and bring that home too.  Both car batteries are fine, just little problems with the vehicles.  The part for his car was in Saturday afternoon and it only took Tony 1/2 hour to put it in.  Hopefully the van will be running again tomorrow.  I'm just thankful it's still fall break.  Kids go back to school on Wednesday. (YES!)

Second, Saturday was busy.  Colton went to a friends to work on a school project, Colton had a soccer game and Tony and I were running concessions, Kyler had an evening football game and Asher & Kyler went to various friends homes.  Doesn't sound too bad, until you figure in the no car situation!  My mom was able to lend her car to us, I just had to drive her somewhere at 6:15am and pick her up at 1:30pm.  Oh...and 5 of my nieces and nephews were spending the first half the day with us.  I didn't need to feed them a meal and I still went through 2 1/2 loaves of bread, 8 apples and a pint of buttermilk syrup!  But look how cute they are with my kids.  (yes, this was 5 years ago)

 Here they are 4 of the cousins in 2005...so cute!

Third, the Sabbath.  I needed this peaceful day.  We went to church (in our little car - thankful for it!) and was joined by my mom, a niece and a nephew.....and a friend's two year old joined us too.  Church was great and I was surrounded by six kids.  Happiness!  After church, the boys picked up the front room for a bit and then we had my brother, 5 of his kids and my mom over for a family dinner.  We were starting the early celebration for this boy.

He's going to be 14 tomorrow.....FOURTEEN!!!

Let's just go back for a minute.  Here's my 6 year old on Christmas Day.

 Here's my 6 year old - GIRL TRAPPED!!!

(that's what he used to call it)

 Here he is asleep - in the back of the van after Father's & Sons campout.

 Disneyland - Summer 2005

(the last time we went....so sad.  everyone wants to go again so bad)

 His 7th Birthday Party

 On his actual birthday, we took him to Build-A-Bear.

Happy Boy!

 This is another birthday gift, a CamelBak.  

What 7 year old asks for this?  Apparently this one!

(I love the shorts in this photo.  We couldn't find his soccer shorts, so we used red pj shorts)

It's crazy that 7 years have past since this day.  Can't wait to celebrate with him tomorrow!

Not much got done around the house, but we did get our winter lawn in.  We should have a lot of green on the lawn by next week even....can't wait!  Utopia!

You can start on Day 1 here or 

check out the other 31 Dayers here.

DAY 11 - FINALLY GETTING AROUND TO IT

On Day 3, I talked about the difference a little change can make with how you feel about your surroundings.  Sure, there are the big projects I'd like to tackle, but there are so many little ones that I could get around to if I made them a priority.  For example: EMPTY FRAMES!

 In our bedroom.

(You know you're so totally jealous of my rad stereo (circa 1987!)  Record player on the top, FM radio and DUAL CASSETTE DECKS!!!!!  Yeah, I know how lucky I am!)

 In the hallway....ok, this one technically isn't empty, the photos came with the frame.  My children and other family members harass remind me all the time on occasion that we don't know these people.

 Empty frames aren't new for me.  I hung empty frames up on the wall in our first home.  I thought it would embarrass my husband who had promised to fill the frames with art.  It didn't embarrass him and we lived with empty frames for over 3 years!  I even have photos of that wall and would love to show you.  Since the photos were pre-digital cameras, I'm pretty sure you aren't going to see them.  Today I finally ordered some prints online that were ready for pick up around noon.  I was so worried about being stranded at Costco again, so I asked my son to drive and keep the car running while I ran in to get the photos.  (Later this afternoon, I ran to the grocery store and the van wouldn't start again!  Luckily the grocery store is across the street from my home.  I walked home and Tony's working on cars tonight.  Yes, cars (plural)....I don't have the energy to tell you.....serenity now, serenity now!  

BEHOLD, CURRENT PHOTOS IN FRAMES!

 Oooooh!!!

 Aaaaaaah!!!

I know it's difficult to see a difference here.

 Much better!

The best part:  my oldest came home tonight and started to make a comment about this frame.  I heard him start to speak and then say "What.....wait......that's me.......Hey!.......these photos are of us!!!"  

You're welcome, son.  You're welcome.

You can start on Day 1 here or 

check out the other 31 Dayers here.

DAY 10 - EAVESDROPPING, STRANDED & SECRET RENDEZVOUS

Is it considered eavesdropping if we're all in the van?  I was taking this cute boy and three of his friends to football practice and team photos.  They were deep in conversation....you know, how high they can jump, what super hero they identify with, how awesome they are, little boy conversation.  All of a sudden, Kevin made the announcement "I'm famous".  He then explained that he had his photo taken at school and now they were going to take his photo at football.  He finished with restating the obvious "I'm kind of famous now."  LOVE!

Stranded.......I filled the gas tank today at Costco.  Then the van didn't start.  My teenagers rolled it to a parking spot and called Tony.  Then we shopped.  We ate a late lunch.  We waited for help.  Tony saved the day.  I came home and took a nap!  Van=no love  Nap=LOVE!!!!!

Finally.....the secret rendezvous (is it still a secret if I blog about it?)  Youngest boy is gone for the night.  Older boys will be at scouts.  Impromptu date night at home....WITH NO KIDS!   LOVE, LOVE!!!

(I was busy painting today....hopefully a project can be completed tomorrow!)

You can start on Day 1 here or 

check out the other 31 Dayers here.

DAY 9 - HALLOWEEN DECORATIONS...A BEGINNING

Pumpkin and Hazelnut.....yes, I'm persevering despite the setbacks.  Candles lit.  Halloween boxes brought in.  Let's do a little decorating.

 I used to decorate the whole house, then I started putting up fewer and fewer items.  A couple of years, Halloween decorations were omitted.  But now I'm on a mission - to reclaim what once brought me happiness.  Let's start slow.  A halloween towel on the oven. (and a dog doing yoga)

 Pumpkins on the chairs.....

 and a couple of ghosts.

 Witch's hat on our Eagle....we still need to name him.

 Kyler's having lots of fun putting things up.

 The spider is new this year.

 So is the rat.

(what would I do without dollar stores?!?)

 I love my Boo Banner!

(I have a spring banner too.  I would love to make one for fall and Christmas)

 OK....it was a two-pack of spiders.

Part of the decorations are up, candles burning - it's beginning to feel like fall.....and our high temp is only 92 degrees today!  LOVE!!!!!

You can start on Day 1 here or 

check out the other 31 Dayers here.