Ode to Mashed Potato Goodness

Mashed potatoes are lovely, creamy and good
Mashed potatoes you know are very good food
I'll eat them for dinner, with gravy galore
In fact I don't even need meat anymore
Just give me a big bowl of potatoes to eat
In general I think that that would be sweet
You probably wonder why I say such things
It's just when I eat them my Norwegian heart sings
Potatoes for dinner are perfectly yummy
Potatoes for breakfast go great in my tummy
I'd even eat potatoes at noon for my lunch
or next to a quiche for a quite classy brunch
So, as you can see, potatoes are dreamy
can't you just picture a large bowl all steamy
with fluffy white goodness so perfect to eat
eating mashed potatoes just makes me complete.

(this is kind of a little inside joke from Monique's birthday party ... How'd I do Rog? )

Flashback Friday

I need this flashback today ... my kids are seriously trying to kill me or something ... it's been so loud around here. I feel like all they can do is fight.

At this point I don't know what to do ... am I doing something wrong? Am I too nice to them? Or maybe they have too many luxuries ... maybe they're too full of food or too warm from their clothes or too dry from the roof over our heads. I don't know, but I am just about to lose it today.

Do they really need to argue about every little thing? How come they don't realize that I cannot take it. You'd think they would see the murderous look on my face and feel worried or even scared into silence, but they just keep screaming at each other. Apparently I'm not scary enough.

Well, looking at these old pictures reminds me that there are more happy times than horrible. They were cute and sweet at one point. There are moments still that they are good and kind and loving.I guess they just need to get in school and start being busy again.Hopefully that will help ... otherwise I might just have a coronary ....

(apparently Brielle inherited her dramatic sense from me ... I'm sure I won't actually die ... but man I'll be tired.)

Meet and Greet was Sweet (literally)

We had a meet and greet at school last night. The girls were really excited and nervous to see their new school and meet their teachers. We got there and met Linzi's 1st grade teacher, Mrs. Reuter first ... she has the classroom at the complete end of the school, but when we walked in Linzi looked happy. All over the walls were pictures of animals and other things, and there was a fish tank which Linzi liked. Her teacher seemed super nice, and there was also a young student teacher that she'll be having .... so it seemed good to me. After dropping off her supplies, we headed in the opposite direction towards Brielle's classroom.

Well, Brielle has classroom 1, so she is at the complete other end of the school. They couldn't be further away from each other .... Brielle's 3rd grade teacher is Ms. Melican. She also seemed extremely happy and nice. Brielle really liked her. She got to put all of her supplies into her desk, and while we were in there we met another little classmate who just happens to be a little LDS girl from a different ward. (thank goodness!) I am so excited that she will have someone to be with. It just happens that this girl is cousins with one of Brielle's best friends from last year, so that is fun. Her parents seemed just as happy to have their daughter have someone from church as well ... actually, Matt knows the dad, so that's good.

Anyway .... the girls seemed pleased with the school and their teachers and I think it all worked out great. (the sweet part was the root beer floats in the cafeteria ... Tessa enjoyed that part the most)

Now we just wait until next Wednesday for school to start and our life will change completely. The girls will be gone during the day more than they're here ... how weird. It really makes a parent hope that they taught their kids well, so they can make good choices, considering that they are gone and around things you can't see more than they are home. It's so hard to let go and not worry.

I guess we all worry a little.

37 Years Young

Well today is my oldest sister's birthday. She is 37. I don't think she is a blog watcher, but I thought I would just say happy birthday to her here.

Happy happy birthday, Amber dear.

I have always felt that Amber was so much older than me, and in a completely different stage of life than me, which I suppose is true. However, she has always been such a good example of how to be a good mother, wife, and friend. I know if I ever were to call her and ask for something, she would try to help in whatever way she could. I also know that she has a strong testimony of the church .... something I have always looked up to. She is a faithful righteous woman, and that is admirable.

Amber is also the sister that loves to sing as much as I do ... I have always loved it when we have sung together, because our voices blend perfectly.

So happy 37th birthday Amber .... I hope it's a good one!!!

(this picture is a few years old ... I was the one behind her with the pregnant belly ... Tessa was in there ... I think I was 5 months along)

Exemplar Uncle

Damon is on a LDS mission in Indianapolis, IN. Every week Damon (the youngest in our family) writes a Tuesday email to us all. He is always positive and excited and seems thrilled with what he's doing. I love the fact that he is doing something that is worthwhile and good. My girls see what he's doing and see what a great example he is. They write letters and color pictures for him, they want to say a prayer for him every night.

I am just happy that Damon is doing good things, and that he has been such a great example to his nieces and nephews.

He's been gone for almost a year and a half, and only has about a half a year left. I think it will be fun to see how different he seems when he gets back.

(in the picture Damon is on the left ... with the *thumbs up* sign. Doesn't he just look energetic?)

It's amazing to me that young people like Damon (only 20 years old) can be doing such good things with their lives ... it's such a contrast to some of the young people of the world who are a little bit lazy and immoral and don't care about others. Damon has devoted 2 years of his life to the service of others ... what a great thing.

If only more people would choose to do equally worthwhile things ... this world would be a nicer place.

Tragedy Strikes

This is a sad day for us. I guess I could partially take the blame ... I was talking on the phone when it happened ... but I didn't say the girls could use scissors. So I'm annoyed about that.

I walked into the kitchen and Tessa was standing by the garbage can holding the scissors up to ....

her beautiful curly blond long hair.

I immediately got off the phone and surveyed the damage. There were lovely locks in the garbage, some on the floor, and when I touched her hair, some fell to the ground.

Tears ensued of course, when I said to her, "Tessa, what have you done"

She started bawling and ran from the kitchen. I put the scissors up and made a little pile of the lovely locks that had been sacrificed.

So sad. I almost wanted to start crying myself. I think my heart is still in my throat. Brielle of course claims she can't even tell (what does she know, she's 8) ... I however see the real picture. Tessa's lovely curly blond hair .... garbage. (if you look up at the top of her head, you can see that she efficiently cut, leaving only an inch of hair. That is the worst part, but there are several other places where it is now not quite right.)

To quote one of my favorite books/movies .... "I'm perfectly desolated."

What did Zoo do last week?

Man, Matt had the week off last week, so it was filled with lots of things .... I didn't get on the computer at all. When I checked my email this weekend I had something like 100 messages and I realize it's been a week since I posted here.

Weird.

We did have a fun week though. We got the rest of our school shopping done. The girls needed shoes and now that is finished. (thank goodness)

We went to the Point Defiance Zoo which was nice. We went on one of the days that was cloudy and kind of "misty" so it was not crowded at all, which was perfect. The girls had a fun time. They especially liked the lemurs, prairie dogs, tiger and jelly fish. Tessa thought the "nemo" fish was cool too. Brielle and Linzi were a little amazed by the zoo person holding the tarantula. It was nice to have Matt there with us.Tuesday Aunt Karen watched the girls and Matt and I were gone the WHOLE day. Something like 12 or 13 hours. That was fun! We went to the movies (The Dark Knight) and had lunch out (Claim Jumper ... I had the BEST CA Citrus Salad), went to the temple .... it was a nice day. I told Matt that the last time we had a whole day together, not just a few hours, but a whole day .... was in Hawaii 5 years ago. Isn't that pathetic? Poor us.

Well, this is the last week before school starts. I have mixed emotions about it. I am excited to get back into the swing of things, Brielle and Linzi will be so much less bored going to school. But, I am nervous to have to get everyone out of the house and everything in time to drive the 15 minutes to school. I am sure we will quickly get used to it, but last year the drive was only 2 minutes ... so this year will be so much different.

I guess we'll just have to start going to bed earlier so we can get up earlier.

Bakery Beecher

I had a busy weekend of baking. Cookies for church (implying having a pure heart), and Barbie cake for Tessa. So the cookies I've done before ... no big deal. But the cake .... Tessa saw one and wanted it, so I had to try it. It took a long time, but turned out actually to resemble a Barbie wearing a really puffy skirted dress. (made out of frosting) The girls thought it was so cool ... so I guess it was worth it.

(okay ... sorry, I know that's quite a few pictures of a Barbie cake ... but it took me a long time, so I want her to get as much "air time" as I can.)

Now Linzi wants a pirate ship cake, and Brielle wants another Barbie cake. I guess I'm taking orders.

Tessa Rose is 3!

Today is Tessa's birthday. Man, Tessa is cute. She has been so excited for this day, and she did so well today. She was interested in opening the presents, she blew the candles out, and she even shared her new toys with her sisters. What a great 3 year old!!

We had Grandma and Papa Beecher and Grandma and Grandpa White over for dinner and cake. It was a nice time.

Three things I love about Tessa are:

1. She has the best most sweet smile you've ever seen ... it melts your heart.
2. She is full of energy and life ... just watching her makes me tired.
3. She has curly hair, I love her name, and she is really just the best.

I am so glad Tessa Rose is in our family! Life would not be the same without her, that's for sure.

Kristy's Headstone

So I went to Kristy's Memory Blog last night and there were some nice pictures of her headstone. Seeing as how most of us haven't gotten to see it, I thought you should all go look.

I have come to accept what happened, but I still find it so surreal. Sometimes I can't believe it actually did happen, and when I see things like this headstone it seems so weird.

I guess that's life.

Orange You Excited For Autumn?

Fall is coming soon. I am SO excited. Fall happens to be my very favorite part of the year.

I love the cool weather and the leaves turning colors on the trees.

I also really love school starting ... it gets us back into a routine which I really prefer.

I can't wait for September so I can decorate with pumpkins. (I somehow have a pumpkin collection ... don't ask me how it started, it just sort of happened. I am not one to collect things typically, but I just sort of started buying pumpkins and it snow balled ... so now I suppose it would be considered a "collection." So in September I really love to get them all out and decorate the house with them. It's a little bit out of control, but that is the fun part.)

In general, fall is exciting with all the newness of school and the holidays approaching. Don't get me wrong, summer is nice, but I really do think fall is the loveliest season.

You Are Pumpkin

Realistic and practical, you see the world for how it is. You know what it takes to succeed in life... And you're happy to help others reach their goals.

What Color Orange Are You?

How fitting that I was the "pumpkin" orange.

Living in a Cliche World

Somehow my life seems to be full of these lately.

• Linzi is so scared of bugs that she has the perfect movie reaction every time ... screaming, running, utter abhorrence
• Brielle is the best impersonator of a teenage drama queen ... she actually stomps her foot at me when she's mad, she screams at high pitched levels, and she will stomp up the stairs with force on each step without being told ... seeing how she is just 8 right now, she'll be really good when she's actually a teenager
• Kate is the picture of cliche toddler ... she pulls everything out of everywhere, she finds things to make messes from that you didn't even know were there, and she is learning the art (no doubt from her older sisters) of throwing a really great tantrum
• Our neighbors are the perfectly cliche neighbors. They are loud, they spill their garbage in the alley and never clean it up, they throw things into our yard, and on the other side, she has 5 dogs that bark every time we breathe. The joys of living in the city. (but perfectly cliche ... I think they actually have done characters after these people in movies ... you know those neighbors you love to hate)
• If you don't have little girls then you don't know how cliche it is to LOVE everything Disney. Truly, they can't get enough of Hannah Montana aka Miley Cyrus, High School Musical, The Jonas Brothers, and anything else Disney suggests. Maybe Disney could start suggesting reading and playing outside.
• My life is a cliche ... stay at home mom, cooking and cleaning, husband who works ALL the time ... I even love to bake and sew (I don't wear aprons with heels though)

• In general, when they depict many children in a movie, it's loud, messy, and utter chaos. Oh wait ... that is actually my life.

I'd say that pretty much, art imitates life ... or is it life imitates art?

Either way, totally cliche. (I love it though, wouldn't have it any other way!!)

(And I'm really not complaining, just observing how life is so interesting. I love my kids and am happy that they have a flair for the dramatic arts. They definitely make life fun.)

Truly Sad

Brielle: "Mom, which do you love more .... books or your family?"
Me: "Books of course. Why would you even ask?"

no, just kidding ... actually

Me: "My family of course!"

Don't you think it's sad that she even asked me that? I mean really ... I do love reading. A lot!! But of course I love them (my kids) more.

*sigh*

Oh the honesty of youth. What you see is what you get with them. (and apparently lately, I've been reading more than anything. I guess I need to readjust my priorities a little)

Isn't Life Eight?

This date only comes around once in 100 years. 08-08-08. That means we will probably never see this date again ... unless we live to be way older than 100 ... I suppose it's possible. Brielle is also 8 years old on the 8th day of the 8th month in the 8th year of the century. (that made it sound like today is her birthday ... it's not. 8 is just the age she is today) If 8 is your lucky number, you should probably have a GREAT day!! The number 8 is considered lucky in the Chinese culture ... that's why they're having the Olympic starting ceremony today.

Here's a joke:

Q-What did number "0" say to number "8"?
A-"Nice Belt"

Here are some places to learn about the number 8. Funfacts.com Stalkedby8.com

Happy August 8th 2008!

That Bites

Kate has 3 new teeth this week! 2 molars and one on the top next to her middle teeth. I am glad that she's finally getting more. Maybe she'll be more interested in chewing food. One can only hope.

and ....

Yesterday the girls and I went to my mom's house. Normally it would be fun and great. But, on the way I hear Brielle screaming saying that Kate was puking purple stuff up and it was everywhere. She kind of freaked out (Brielle is very attuned to others woes) and was very upset. Kate wasn't even crying actually. We got to my mom's and cleaned up Kate (it was purple tinted and definitely she got it everywhere). Kate was acting fine though, so I am assuming that it was from the hot weather? (yesterday it was 90) Anyway, on the way home, we were all tired and Linzi and Kate were sleeping. Then I hear a puking sound again. Brielle starts screaming that Linzi was now puking. I threw a paper bag back, and luckily I did, because she did it 3 more times before we got home. Thank goodness Linzi is a little older, her puke all landed in her lap and the bag.

This is the part of parenting that I hate. It really is not nice. Cleaning up puke is seriously a gross job, but they can't do it for themselves. And I did feel really bad for Linzi and Kate afterward. I just hate the puke.

(definitely not something I think anyone would need to see .... you should be grateful I didn't take pictures, although, I hope Matt didn't open the nicely folded paper bag in the outside garbage can this morning ... he would have gotten quite the surprise!)

Book Review: Wicked Lovely

Wicked Lovely, Melissa Marr

(Disclaimer: This book is VERY PG-13)

Aside from the disclaimer, I did find this story interesting in a way. It is about a girl named Aislinn who has the Sight. She can see Faeries. Her whole life it has been this way. In this book, faeries are invisible, some delight in tormenting humans, and they don't know she can see them. Aislinn's whole life is thrown upside down when she realizes that the faeries are following her. She meets Keenan, the fey Summer King in school ... but he doesn't know she can see his true identity. He is insistent that she is his new queen.

Anyway, there's trouble of course and then there is her mortal love interest Seth, and Keenan's faerie lost love Dorian. The evil Winter Queen Beira isn't nice to anyone. All in all, I don't know if I would even recommend it whole heartedly. It's okay I guess. I did want to know how it ended, so I read the whole book quickly, but I don't know. I am not overwhelmingly excited to recommend it to just everyone. The sequel is called Ink Exchange. If you click on the book titles, you can read more about the plot there. It is interesting, just kind of dark I guess.

Weekend in Review

Well, besides getting no sleep Friday night while reading Breaking Dawn ... we had a fun weekend. Saturday we met my long lost friend Alexis and her "peeps" for lunch and then went to the zoo. It just happened to be the busiest day I have seen ever for the zoo ... no parking spots available and long lines of people everywhere. We had a good time though, and managed to get caught up on each other's lives--which was fun. (of course, we don't have pictures because the camera was forgotten in the car ...)

After that, the Hills arrived at our house to have dinner and stay the night. The kids played and played and we talked. It was nice to see them again too. The girls were perfectly gracious at giving up their room and beds for the night (we had a discussion on hospitality before they came). All in all, I think it was a successful visit. Sunday was a wind down from our fast paced weekend ... just church and relaxing after that. It was nice to see people we don't get to see everyday.

Book Review: Breaking Dawn

Breaking Dawn, Stephenie Meyer

Okay, so I stayed up the whole night reading Friday/Saturday morning .... and just finished the last 200 pages this morning. (I was too busy Sat. and Sun. to read) ... I LOVED this final book!!! It was nothing that I could have even thought of to expect, but ended Bella's and Edward's story in the perfect way. SO good. Most of it was completely shocking actually ... I couldn't put it down.

So if you haven't gotten it, get it. Especially if you have read the other three. If you haven't read the other three ... what's taking you so long? (I can't really say anything else that won't spoil the book ... sorry. You'll just have to read it for yourself.)

So Comforting

So I went to JCP last night to get a few things ... and found, on clearance, the cutest comforter. Since Brielle has a full sized bed, and we don't have a real comforter for that bed, she was the lucky recipient. Of course, when I came home, and she saw it, she was smiling really huge and was super excited. The fact that it was mostly pink did not go unnoticed.This is the part about being a mom that is fun ... surprising your kids and making them smile. (this picture is staged of course ... Brielle thought it would look good to be in the bed and stretching)

Now, I just need to get "personality" comforters for the other girls. They were understandably a little jealous. Hopefully we can find, or make something equally perfect.

Book Review: Eclipse

Well I finished this a couple days ago, but haven't been able to post -- we're getting our house ready for company this weekend. (the Hills are staying with us, we're so excited!!) Anyway ...

This book is the best of the 3 I think. Of course, I love the first one, but I just think the love triangle in this one is hilarious and entertaining. I really enjoyed this book a lot. The only thing I don't love about it is the fact that it ended and then I had to wait so long for Breaking Dawn. I am happy to say that tonight, at midnight, I will be at Borders Books buying my copy of the book. (and no, I won't be participating in the costume part of the midnight release party ... well actually, I guess I could just say that I am dressed like a Forks towns person ...)

I am SOOOO looking forward to reading it, I just don't know when that will be ... there never are enough hours in the day. I will just have to sneak a chapter in here and there throughout the weekend.