Dining Room

Don't you wonder what would happen if we treated our Book of Mormon like we treat our Cell Phones?

What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?
What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?
What if we flipped through it several times a day?
What if we spent an hour or more using it every day?
What if we used it to receive messages from the "text"?
What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?
What if we gave it to kids as gifts?
What if we used it as we traveled?
What if we used it in case of emergency?
Oh, and a few more things-Unlike our cell phones, one Plan fits all.
Unlimited usage.
No roaming charges.
You always have reception.
No weak signals AND we don't ever have to worry about our Book of Mormon being disconnected, because our Savior already paid the bill!
-Author Unknown

I Finally meet the New Kids On The Block

So Do you see me there at the End by Jon and Joe. Maybe I will figure out how to get the entire So this is it. The moment I have been waiting for, for 20 years! The teenage dream come true. I really, really felt 16. There was an amazing collection of feelings that I felt. So here it goes......It all started on 10/9 Thurs. My day started with a trip to Costco, and an allergy shot, and other motherly duties. All of these things were taken care of in a daze. I was just focused on getting to Sacramento. My girlfriend from high school, Jennifer, came down from Redding. Holly, Jennifer, and I met up and headed to Sac--Arco Arena. We stopped for pizza, although we all had nerves and we weren't so hungry. When we were leaving the pizza place, we saw a news truck. So we drove up to it, and asked if they were here for the New Kids concert. The guy laughed and said he was doing the weather. I said "Weather....where are your priorities?". So off to the concert. We parked, free of course, Holly knew a close free spot. We headed into the arena. We stopped by the Radio Stations parked outside and tried to kiss up a little to upgrade our tickets. It didn't work--note to self, go earlier next time to get upgrades. So as we went in we saw a couple-one of the only guys at the concert, and his GF--they had just been to a 5* experience. Holly was asking them how it went, and they loved it. Holly and I were so excited and couldn't wait for the next night, when it would be our turn. On the way to our seat, I was approached by people because of my awesome huge pin. One girl said--don't even tell me you have kept that for 20 years...yep I have, along with the snap bracelet, shoe laces, bed sheets, and trading cards. There were plenty of drunk women, and by the time I added glow sticks to my hair, I had many of those women who thought I was their best friend.
I shouldn't of been surprised, I put the glow sticks in my hair to get attention--just not from the other zillion fans there. Our tickets were not the best, but not the worst. All I kept thinking about was the next night. We would be up front and center, and we will have met them. All I could think was, please don't let the world end tonight, cause I would be so bummed.
The concert itself was wonderful. We three screamed the entire time. I got goose bumps when they came out for the first time. And, oh yeah, Lady Ga Ga was there and so was Natasha Beningfield. But who cares the 5 guys were so great. After the concert we went the buses. We were going to wait it out. But it was cold and Jen is pregnant so we spent too long looking for our car. That special free spot was hard to find after 2 hours of bliss, and we hadn't drank a thing.
We read blogs later and two of the guys came out and signed autographs. We regretted not staying. You'll understand more later. Speaking of later, it's late, and I'll have to finish later.

It is so close I can almost taste it. New Kids here I come............ I bought a new top for the event. I stayed up till 3am reading about other peoples experience at a meet and greet. I am ready. Oh Yeah, Vote Yes on 8!

Not me...but

So I am so busy I feel like I am sinking in quicksand. How do I get myself in these spots? So I have a treat for you. I have no time to blog right now, but check out this blog..http://lovelylisting.blogspot.com/ ..I think you will feel entertained!

So Sorry!

I am super duper busy right now in my life. I just went to girls camp last week, I am trying to get all of CA to vote Yes on Prop 8, I am hosting a birthday party for two of my kids tomorrow, I also have a Christmas tree to stress over, three kids starting school in less than a week, potty training a todd-ler, and tons of other stuff that I am just going nuts. So I had such a great plan to stay organized and sane, but it has not worked. I am back in the crazy frenzy. Soon...I hope I can write and fill you all in on our super fast summer.

Two is always better than one...unless it is the first number for your weight?

Yeah, I get to go to the NKOTB concert on Oct 9th in Sacramento. So two full nights of NKOTB fun. I'm going to get my 1990 Tour jacket on; with all my pins, get a spiral perm, peg my pants and go party at Arco Arena in Sac, and HP Pavilion in San Jose. Watch out Boys.....I'm on my way!

2009 YM/YW Theme

The Mutual theme for 2009 is “Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in
conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12). Additional
resource material regarding this theme will be available in the Liahona and New
Era magazines at the beginning of 2009.

I am always excited to find out what next years theme is. I'm not sure why, but I always wonder what process went into choosing something that will guide our Youth.

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
I love Edward. If anyone had told me I would of read a book about vampires I would of laughed in their face. I am not a big reader. I know why, I get OCD about a book and the rest of my very busy life goes to crap. But being on vacation, I thought I had the time. I read this book in two days, amid going to the water slides and other fun events. Everyone who needs to escape from their regular life into a life that reminds you of the love you have for someone, should read this book.


View all my reviews.

Money Saving Tip #1

I want you all to learn as well as be entertained by my exciting life. So I thought I would start a section called Money saving Tips. Creative Name!!!

Tip #1 Buy your magazine subscriptions on ebay. It is totally legit, at least I think it is. From what I have read on the subject, magazines need to have a certain amount of subscribers. So they let "brokers" sell the subscriptions cheep, so that they can tell their advertisers that they have how ever many thousand subscribers they need. So I have gotten Family Fun for like $3.00 a year, or even less. Real popular magazines may be harder to find. But I love Family Fun and it is by far my most favorite magazine.

Reward $100,000

My garden is no more. Raccoon's have eaten all my lettuce, carrots, and evidently I was best at growing whatever bug it is they like to eat. On-line it says they like grubs. See the picture above...that is a grub. Maybe I can harvest a grub garden and ship them over seas to the "Survivor" producers. Then my grubs would be famous. I could tell all my friends that instead of entering my award winning zucchini in this years fair, and winning a first place ribbon, I could have some super hot guy, or a mostly naked woman, and don't forget the token Mormon, eating MY Grubs!

Anyway, I am sick to death about the work and money put into this project, all just to feed some stinkin' raccoons. Currently my "garden" looks like someone took a rototiller to it. I used to have 17 cute little mounds. Well that's life.

Holiday Over-load

So last year I got really analytical about my Holiday's. I decided that I wasn't having the fun that all the Mom's in the magazines were having with their kids at Christmas--just as an example. Hmmm-maybe that's why it's called Family Fun. Anyway, I decided that it was high time I took the two busiest times of year and micromanaged them. Halloween and Christmas.
So this year I can tell you that I just bought Todd's Halloween Costume on clearance from the Disney store for $9.99. He is going to be Mr. Incredible or Dash (same costume) depending on his mood that day. Samantha has decided to be the tooth fairy, and Ella a fancy Leopard. I have Ella's costume and 12 others just like it, to sell on ebay, but that is another Post entirely. What? You say Halloween is five months away. Well, folks it will be here before you know it. I'll have you know I just planted my pumpkins, so that checks another thing off of the Halloween List! Okay so I feel that my plans for Halloween are going well. I didn't forget about Zachary, he is always a wild card.
Christmas, well, I put the Christmas Cards in the Halloween decorations box this year, so I can start addressing them in October. I have also already decided what the neighbor and friend gifts will be and have purchased most of those. In October I will freeze Pumpkin Rolls, this is what I have decided will be the "party food" that I will bring to all events we are invited to. Not the same roll silly, I will make more than one!
So as you can see I have put some thought into this. I really hate getting all stressed out and feeling like I am not having fun at the Christmas caroling events or the ward party, because I wanted to bring the best dessert I had, and I spent all day searching for ingredients and the recipe. Then only to not have the recipe turn out, or I didn't have time to put the finishing touches on what I had made, and being disappointed. This is the point when I should tell myself--LOWER YOUR EXPECTATIONS. But I don't and so ---I go on. Did I mention, I already have the ornament for the annual ornament exchange party, and I am working on making my handmade labels now.
Well, I don't tell you all of this to show off. Really, I am probably just making you think I am crazier then you first suspected. But I have had a new revelation and I will have to modify my life once more. I have now decided that the most stressful times of the year are Halloween, Christmas, and END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR!!!
Ugh, I am dieing here. I almost flipped my lid last night, when Samantha had to write a final paper in English-that she needed a ton of help with, Zachary needed a keyboard picked up for the end of the year talent show, and I needed to email preschool pictures for the preschool graduation party tomorrow. This was all after Samantha informed me I was to bring dessert for six to the Sports Awards night --in three hours (which I went to alone with four kids-because Rick had to work late), make desserts, individually wrapped, for the band bake sale the next day, and I also had to find a babysitter for my little ones so I could go to the 5th grade Bar-B-Q tomorrow. Thank goodness Todd is only 2. This just describes two days of the craziest week since Christmas. Tuesday night I fed the missionaries, got Samantha to Young Women's, went to the City Council Meeting to speak up against the Adult Bookstore going in off the freeway in town, picked up Samantha, and then went Visiting Teaching. All of this between 6-9pm. Okay, I am tired just from reading this. No wonder my colon hurts.
If I had $1 for every baked good I was to provide for the activities in the last two weeks, I could pay my therapy bill for the month. Once again you are saying to yourself--Woman-Why did you volunteer for so much. Well this is the problem with having four children. If you were to just look at what I have done for one child, it isn't that much. But add them all together and you've gone mad. I'll have you know I did buy a roll of cookie dough to make the cookies for tomorrows preschool graduation. I sent rice crispy treats to the bake sale, and I said NO to the desert for 6 at Awards Night. So I do have my limits. So Long story short.......I am going to start planning for the end of school 2009---NOW.
You laugh and mock....but in a few years I will have this down to a science. Whatever, I know that I will never get it right, however, just admitting that I know the storm is coming ads some sort of comfort to me. I guess so I can hold on tight for the ride!

Everyone remembers the MORMONADS right? Well here are some of my favorites

Original

DivineComedy.net

Original

I thought I'd keep track

So, I'm telling you. You need to enter your kids in every coloring contest you can find. Zachary and Samantha won a collage contest last night. They each got $20 gift cards, and then Samantha won from a drawing at the awards presentation a night at a Marriott Hotel. We will have to save it for Prom night--you should of gasped with disbelief when you read that. This contest was for Fair Housing month....of course, what else would we be celebrating this month???? These contests are great. The kids win almost every time. I would love to say it is because of their fabulous talent. However I'm thinking it is more because the odds are in their favor. Less entries, more prizes!

Andrea Hancock's personal blog (currently full of New Kids on the Block news!)

Just in case you are clicking over from Amber Fawson's blog to mine, I want you to know that I have a lot more to do than just dream about New Kids on the Block. I'll have you know, I vacuumed the entire house, made the beds, unloaded the dishwasher, washed two loads of laundry, watered my garden, dressed the kids, made dinner before noon, read the newspaper, sorted the mail, and this was all before the two older kids come home from school. Oh, it gets much more exciting as the day rolls on! So there! I know Amber meant well, but seriously, look at all the other things I fill my day with. So maybe my link on her page should be. Andrea's Blog--check out her most exciting adventures--you never know when she might put a dark sock in with the whites!!!!

Oct 10th--guess where I will be--San Jose--to see NKOTB!

Concert

I hope you all caught NKOTB on the Today show this morn. It was just what I needed. It helps me feel young again. They were okay...the regular sound guy must of been on vacation. Plus it was outside in NYC and raining. That's what they get for going there and not coming to sunny CA. Loyal I will be! And thank you to Holly for getting me out of bed this morning to view it. I had remembered last night, but I stayed up late sewing on Girl Scout patches, and moping the floor (or watching my Scuba...whatever you want to call it). Can you see why I like feeling young?

Faith is like a Little Seed

My life is full of irony. Last night I asked Samantha to pick out a Personal Progress goal, so that we could do it for Family Night. We have theme weeks. They go like this:

1st Mon-Pull topic from the File cabinet. Years ago I was a member of a FHE group and I have many laminated lesson plans, with felt stories, scriptures, and more.

2nd Mon- Personal Progress Night.

3rd Mon- Faith in God/Scout Night

4th Mon- Review a Conference Talk

5th Mon- Field Trip!

So Samantha chose Faith. Funny because just earlier in the day I was thinking about my Garden. "Andrea, Andrea, how does your Garden Grow?" Grow? What is that? Nothing has come up yet, and something should of popped up by now. So now I --of little faith--am stuck wondering what have I done wrong. I have narrowed it down to a few minor issues. not enough water, not enough sun, or I planted the seeds too deep. Please don't tell my husband or children about this. I have filled their minds with pictures of us growing the largest pumpkin in the state and eating fresh vegetables, while the rest of the world will be eating their food storage of wheat and apple slices (because of the food shortage--you know). My first clue that this may not go as planned should of been the black that covers my thumb. But, man o' man, I am not giving up. I have bought hoses and sprinklers and a very sophisticated set up for watering at 6 am and 6pm for 15 min. Do you think that is long enough? Oh brother. One thing I do have to admit, is my giant sunflowers have sprouted. So if the world is coming to an end, I may not have fresh veggies to keep us thriving, but never fear, I can always go to the ballpark with my sunflower seeds.

Off they go!

So the in-laws are going to Monterey Mexico East- Church Educational System Mission. Good Luck to them.

Summertime

Wanna hear the NKOTB new song? Click HERE! I think it is a great sound. I hear Jordan! Oh boy.....isn't this exciting!

Happy Mother's Day

I soooo know what I want for Mother's Day. NKOTB comes out with their new Album on May 13th-----Are you not soooo excited. Okay, I'm sure you're now sick of my blog and taking it off your bookmark list. But this is so great. I have remained a faithful fan for 20 years. It is about time they payed me back for my devotion.

Dwight:First rule in roadside beet sales,put the most attractive beets on top. The ones that make you pull the car over and go “wow, I need this beet"

"Those are the Money Beets!"


So stay tuned to see the ever growing garden. Well, I hope it is growing. Nothing green has come up yet. Just a lot of waterin' and the fragrant smell of fresh compost.
I feel like I'm pregnant..well not quite, but I am excited for 15-20 days (not weeks). That is when these little guys should be popping up. It is therapeutic to water each day. I like to think about when I will get the wicker basket (from a thrift store, of course) lined with a linen napkin (not from a thrift store, of course), put my Zucchini Squash and some Zucchini bread in and deliver this care package to the neighbors. Maybe then they will talk to me? Right now, I am just the crazy Mormon Lady, who has those missionaries over and gave birth to a truck load of kids--they are probably just holding their breath to see if I will have four more? Well, they will come with their tongues a waggin' when they want more of my bread. Anyone have a recipe I can use?
You may be wondering why beets, well I am following the Farmers Almanac--of course, and the moon cycle is very important. You all knew that though. So a friend of mine, Danny, is helping me with this "great idea" of mine. And--I watch Martha Stewart every day. So I figure it is just a matter of time before I am making Pesto, Salad, and Corn on the Cob, all from the pickin's that day. I will plant more this Thursday. And, if Dwight can do it, why can't I?

My Favorite Things

I love that I can go pick up Strawberries at a corner farm. They taste wonderful!
I LOVE my Scuba Robot. I put a little water and vinegar in him, and away he goes. Like magic, he mops while I eat Bon-Bon's and watch soap operas.

Okay, I need help. I have a REAL bug in my computer. I reprimanded the kids for touching the screen, etc. Until the next day when he moved. I can kinda see his little antenna. What do I do?

Girls Night Out...I Mean Prom!

Modest LDS Prom 2008

Last Night, Eileen, LaRinda, Holly and I went to Santa Rosa for Prom Night. Four Stakes in Northern CA, gather their Priests and Laurels for a Modest LDS Prom Night. See the slide show for pictures. The theme was Enchanted Neverland. It was decorated great, right down to the live fish in the bathrooms. We then all went to Occidental, CA and had a girls night at a great Italian Restaurant, the Union Hotel. It was fun. I was quite green --car illness-- by the time we got there, but the food hit the spot. Many Thanks to Holly for providing me with Excedrin--the headache medicine, and one more carrot cake down for Eileen. So aside from my lousy lack of travel skills, we made it to this quaint town. I thought for sure Rick would be so impressed that I made it to such an out of the way place. He hadn't even heard of it, How could he of not know about it, I mean there are 1200 people there.
After eating we headed back to the Prom. Saw the kids dancing and thought it would great fun for our youth in the Vacaville Stake. We shall see. For now, this year the Mormon Prom will be held in Vacaville at the Chrysler Dealership on May 9th! Buy your tickets now.

I love my Samantha. She is wonderful. But the Hula Dancer. Well, that is what happens when 1) You leave things logged in, with no need for a password. 2) Your child knows how to do more on the computer than you do. So I love her, BUT, my cell phone picture, radio stations, and now computer have all been taken over.

Me as a Hula Shaker

Winner!

Today we got a call from the local Garbage company. Samantha won another coloring contest. This photo is the last years contest for loop the lagoon.

Not on the Test

In honor of STAR testing that is starting next week!

The Begining

So last night before bed, I noticed something ironic in my home, and I decided it is TIME. I have been reading my sister in law, Amber's blog for months now. I can no longer handle it anymore. I have guilt because I think I should be keeping a better journal for my family, and I am always depressed after reading her blog because I feel like I have done nothing in my week, month, year. So, NO MORE! I am now a blogger. Watch out World! Here I Come. So are you wondering what was that ironic moment. Well, I will attach a picture and you tell me, can you tell? Maybe not, but I felt this picture described a lot of my feelings. Think deep, and not so deep. I hope that I can look back at this blog someday, and see that I did do something in my life, not just laundry.