Smitten....

There are many things that bring feelings of happiness to me... sparkly untouched snow under a bright moon, the warm spot on the carpet where the sun has been shining, waking up to a child singing, but really the thing that makes me the happiest is my kids doing what they are supposed to do.

Yesterday was a stinky and fabulous day together. I was frustrated with one of my children and concerned about him and his choices, and my other child...well, he cleaned the entire downstairs - thoroughly, without being asked. He is helpful and cheerful and loves to spend time with me. At one point I thought almost at the same moment "What a crappy day!" and "Could this day be any better?!" Talk about an internal conflict.

Last night I went up to my son's room and sat on his bed with him. He was texting friends and I just sat and we talked just a little, about nothing really. Over about 20 minutes he mostly quit texting his friends, although I never said a thing about it. Then he started talking to me about some good things going on. Some great lessons he's learned in seminary, and a favorite talk from the Christmas Devotional. Then we started talking about some of the things that are concerning to me. We cried a little, we laughed a lot, and in the end I'm not as worried as I was.

Confession here, I told him how I really feel. I told him how deeply I love him. I explained that the words were usually used to convey a romantic love, but really, they just mean all consuming. I told him that the moment I found out I was pregnant with him I was in love with him. And that even still, I am in love with him, I am smitten, I adore him. I can't wait to see him and talk to him each day. I told him I feel the same way about his brother. That they are the very best of me, the best accomplishments I have, and the only ones that matter at all to me. They bring me the greatest joy in my life, no other joy even comes close. I told him again...I am smitten.

Smitten...he smiled at that, and got teary eyed. It is important. Now he knows.

Smitten, I tell ya....Smitten.

Originally published on Bossy!

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Christmas Morning Yum Yum

Original post over at Bossy.

What are your Christmas mornings like? Do you have a tradition? Do you just dig in and amaze yourself with the bounty? Or, do you savor it slowly, one gift at a time? Do you take time to eat, or just munch on the goodies your find in your stocking (including the orange at the bottom)?

I'm not going to go into our whole tradition, but I will boss you a little and tell you to take time to eat a good breakfast on Christmas morning. This is what we do... feel free to copy.

After we go through our stockings we take a break and head into the kitchen for a nice breakfast. We always have breakfast casserole (which turns into lunch and dinner as well) and cinnamon rolls (Thanks to Mrs. Rhoades). We wash it down with milk and/or orange juice. So yummy. We sit and talk and get excited for the rest of the day. And the best part is, I only have to get up about 10 minutes before the boys to make this happen. I just put the food in the oven first thing, then enjoy the stockings and Santa gifts until breakfast is ready. Yum Yum!


Christmas Morning Breakfast Casserole

1 lb breakfast meat cooked and drained - bite size (I like Little Smokies cut into thirds - I can do this a couple days ahead if I want)

8 slices uncrusted bread - torn into smallish pieces (about 9 pieces per slice)

8 eggs

2 Cups milk

2 Cups shredded cheese (cheddar or colby jack is best)

The night before, mix the sausage and bread, and about 1/2 the cheese in the bottom of a GREASED 9x13 pan. Mix the eggs and milk and pour over the bread and meat mixture. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top. Cover with plastic wrap and put in fridge overnight.

In the morning bake for 45 min - 1 hour at 350 degrees. ( Check center to make sure it is done and not soupy). Let cool for about 10 minutes.

This is delicious served with tomatoes, and sliced fruit. Also, you can add diced onions to the egg/milk mixture if you want --- so yummy!


Mrs. Rhoades Cinnamon Rolls

The night before Christmas put the number of rolls desired into a greased pan with some space between them (to let them rise). Cover and put in fridge. In the morning, if not raised enough put on counter top. When fully raised, bake, frost and eat!!! (Good for a late morning snack if they are not ready when the cassarole is done. This has happend to us a few times, just depends on the temperature and how quickly they raise).


Sounds simple, doesn't it. It is and it is one of the traditions we look forward to. I think it just helps us all slow down and be happy and thankful for what we have, instead of anxiously opening gifts hoping we got what we wanted.

What are your Christmas morning traditions? Please share!

Packing for My Monthly Guilt Trip

I can feel it coming on. It is the first of the month again, and that means full time work and stress. I am the account manager at a property management company and so that means that for the next two weeks I will be collecting rents, creating late charges and eviction notices, paying owners, creating statements, talking to tenants and owners and answering about 50 emails a day. I hate this time of the month and feel like a horrible mom when it comes around. It lasts for about 2 weeks. Ug.

How many of us go through these feelings of guilt? Knowing our kids need us, knowing we have work, church, or other responsibilities which require us to choose where we are going to spend our time. For a long time I was able to be at home with my kids, but recent events in my life have left me feeling like a single mom with extra expenses and less time than ever. Just because our kids are older, doesn't mean we don't need to be there for them. It's a catch twenty-two...if I spend time with the kids, then my work and paycheck suffer (which eventually means we suffer). If I spend the time at work, I don't get to see my kids and they suffer (at least I think they might - maybe? Okay, I suffer!). Last month there were at least 3 days that I didn't get to see my teenage son till about 11:00 at night.

This is my guilt trip, and I know, that some of you have guilt trips that you take too. These are the things that will help:

1) eat right - I don't have to explain this...you know what it means.
2) sleep enough (this means more than 6 hours/night - otherwise you will cry a lot)
3) take vitamins (duh - and while you're at it, wash your hands, keyboard, mouse, and phone often)
4) get some type of daily exercise (even 10 minutes is a good start--- I'm trying to do this better!)

In other words, take care of yourself!

Also, do this:
5) tell your kids and loved ones often that you love them - they need to hear it, and you need to say it!
6) listen, be calm, and respond with love and confidence - regardless who you are dealing with
7) believe in yourself; have faith that God will help you and do your best
8) don't compare yourself to others - you will only be comparing your worst to their best
9) be realistic about what you can and can't do... prioritize and delegate or ask for help if you can't get all the necessary things done
10) laugh - find something to laugh at, it will brighten your day.

Now, I know I am bossy, but I can also learn...so if you have other great suggestions for dealing with stress and guilt, let me know!

For those of you who read my other blog over at Bossy, you'll know I just copied this...see, lazy blogger as I said last week. Oh, more guilt! Nah, just kidding, that doesn't cause me guilt, just go read my other blog...I'm more consistent there.

Lazy Blogger

I guess that right now I can only blog in one place. It's either here or on Bossy, and since I'm assigned to blog on Bossy and because my bossy sisters make me blog there, I'm just going to refer my six readers over to Bossy. I will update you here, whenever I blog over there. I will also blog here when something strikes me. But for today...check out my post on Bossy. And while you're at it, check at Robin's "SEX" post from yesterday.

Enjoy.

On a more personal note, things in life are crazy. We had the Swim Team Banquet tonight, it was great. What awesome coaches our kids have!

Rocky is in cross country. It is also awesome and he is really building up endurance.

Thanksgiving is Thursday...help me get in the mood. I just want to cry when I think about it. Pitiful, huh?

I'm being Bossy today!

Check me out at my Bossy blog today!

District Swim Finals

Austin in the 200 freestyle swim.

Austin competed in the District Swim Team competition about a week or so ago. It was a great day for him. He cut is time on the 200 freestyle by 5 seconds and his time on the 200 backstroke by 6 seconds. Huge improvements!!!

It was a great season, but I, for one am glad it is over. They had practice every weeknight for an hour and meets on Tuesdays that were about 4 hours long. This was our first introduction to swim team and it was a learning experience. I am so glad Austin did it and hope he continues swimming this year, off season, and that he tries out again next year.

Bossy!

Have I told you how amazing my sisters are? They are wonderful.

Robin is the oldest. She has an amazing family with 4 creative and intelligent kids. Her oldest is 20, and her youngest is the same age as my Rocky, 12. Robin gives the best advice. She has always been my preferred advisor whenever I have a relationship type problem, whether it is family, friend, or work relationships. She knows it all!

I am the middle child. I have a degree in Special Education and use it every day in working with stupid tenants who don't understand the concept of paying rent on time (of course, most of our tenants are great!). I am the account manager for a fast growing property management company. I have 2 teenage boys who fill my life with joy!

Melissa is the sweet one, married to David, my brother. Melissa taught school before she was a mom, and she was and is an amazing teacher. Melissa is the mom we all want to be: patient, kind, cheerful, sweet, and attentive. She is a photographer, chef, excellent party planner, and mother of 5. We are all thrilled that she loves our brother.

Sally is the career woman turned full time mom. She has an MBA and is, in my mind, the most brainy. She reads news magazines, has well informed opinions on politics and world issues, and she is extremely well traveled. She has three children under the age five, and yet she still always looks beautiful, poised, and chic.

Emily is the stylish one. She rocks any outfit. She listens to the coolest music. She has, by far, the best hair. She and her husband, Joe, are going to graduate school. He is working on his PhD in writing, and she is going for her Masters in Literature. She has 2 kids who spend most of their days singing and dancing....................

Me and my very interesting sisters have started a blog called Bossy Sisters! You will love it! You will check it every day and find that it cheers you up! inspires you! makes you a better, more productive you! (this is not a guarantee)You will be so much happier and filled with a sense of purpose that you will leave lots of comments! Together we will build a supportive community of women who are real, women who support each other. Smart women! Rockin' awesome women!At least, that is what I would like to see happen. So drop by now and leave us a comment! Click here to go to the Bossy Sister Blog: Bossy!

Halloween Post procrastinated ... as usual

HALLOWEEN!

This is a picture of my front porch. This is what I did instead of organizing my office (see earlier post).

It was marvelous! A great Halloween. But really, it is a holiday guaranteed to be great, barring any wierd tragedies. I mean for kids; how much better can it be? Dress up and people will give you candy - awesome!

My sister-in-law gave out organic fruit snacks, you know, that just isn't cool. It's Halloween! C'mon!

Rocky is so cute with Pink hair!

He's not so cute here!

I did it!

I finally went through my mail basket. Just thought I should update that and let you know.

Sad, isn't it, that it took so long!

My mail is piling up.

I was talking with a friend today about getting my office organized. It must be done. It is horrid. This is my home office I am talking about. My work office - neat as a pin and always a clean desktop, organized beyond belief. It's personal with me. (See office pictures at bottom)

HOME OFFICE

Anyway, I told my friend I really need to go through my mail. I have this system. I bring my mail in, and put in in a basket, then once a month I go through the basket, pay the non-Electronic Funds Transfer or Bank Bill Pay bills, shred the garbage, and file what must be filed. Actually, no, that's a lie, I take the to-be-filed stuff and put it in a to-be-filed drawer that I go through about once every 6 months or so. Yeah, I know. It makes no sense. But it works, for me at least. I have been bitten in the butt a few times by this system, unable to find something I need, a bill slipping through the cracks, or missing a baby shower or something, but it's never been anything great enough to cause me to change my ways.

MAIL BASKET

It made me realize...I don't really sweat the small stuff. Maybe some day I will post about other "small stuff" I don't sweat - but I might not create that post for another month or so, it could take that long to organize my office.

THIS IS MY WORK OFFICE, NICE AND TIDY - heck, my desk is so clean you can see it was a slightly cloudy day when this picture was taken. :) - that doesn't happen at my home office!

UP CLOSE YOU CAN ALMOST SEE THE VIEW OUT MY OFFICE WINDOW

THIS IS MY VIEW WHEN I LEAN BACK IN MY CHAIR

Wierd body hair

Apparently there is a whole world of body and head hair styles I was completely unaware of. Hmmm. This is a picture of Kimbo Slice - (the one on the right), what is going on with that chest hair?

Hang in there.

I realize have let down all 6 of my blog readers. I apologize. I know that daily, you wait, watching anxiously for exciting new posts, and daily you go to bed, in anguish that another day has passed without a blog update. I understand the depression that comes from such prolonged disappointment. I am working on it. I feel your pain.

Hang in there. Be strong. Endure to the end. And all that stuff.

Austin is the new Sophomore Class Prez!

Rocky Mountain's new Sophomore Class President.

My kid made a teacher cry today!

Yeah, I know. Out of character right? Well, it goes something like this.

Austin is running for Sophomore class president. It is a brand new high school with kids feeding into it from 3 other high schools. He is excited to be a part of it so he decided to run for student council. Today the students had to give their speeches. Exciting huh? No! In this school they give their speeches over the loud speaker. Uhg. How dumb!

Anyways, Austin read his speech (he had it mostly memorized - but who cares, it was a loudspeaker and no one could see him). When he was done he sees Mrs. Phelps, the advisor to the student council, wiping her eyes. She told him it was the best student council speech she's ever heard! Really! I thought it was good, but I thought the one I wrote for him to give was better! Funny how he felt he should do his own. Probably wise, cause if he'd done mine she would have been in hysterics. ...Yeah, it was that good.

Anyways, I guess the other speeches were all long and braggy... "I'd be great because I'm so awesome and I did... and I am... and I, I , I, I, I....."

So there is the not so dramatic story of my kid making a teacher cry today. Sorry, I'll work on finding more drama next time. Maybe someday I'll blog about the day I slapped one of my teachers really hard across the face. But not today.

Here is his tear-inducing sophomore class president speech:

"I’m Austin French and I’m running for the sophomore class prez. First off, I want you to know that this is our school. We aren’t mustangs, warriors, or patriots anymore. I’d have to say last year, I felt like I was just borrowing a piece of Eagle. But now I’m here. I know we can make it an amazing new experience for everyone if we try. I don’t wanna make any insane promises that never come true. I want to help as best as I can. Please let me. If I was to name one main concern, it’d be unity. No-one wants to be left out. In the past, I remember not fitting into any particular crowd. I learned that cliques can hurt. And I was glad not to be in any single one. Because I had friends everywhere. In this school we have the best of the best. So I’d ask everyone today to say hi to someone even if they aren’t on your team, or in your group or club… you could make their day, and possibly a new friend. Other than that I would just like to conclude. Vote French for sophomore class prez. Thank you."

It's the least I can do

Really, what does this mean? Usually it's not true. You could do less. Like this morning when I made Austin breakfast and he said. "Thanks mom", and I thought, "It's the least I could do", but really the least I could've done, and what I really wanted to do, was to stay in bed and sleep and let him come in and kiss me goodbye. Instead I got out of bed, came downstairs, made him breakfast, had a prayer with him, asked to make sure he had lunch prepared, and kissed him goodbye. Definitely not the least I could've done.

When someone says that, do they mean, "Well, good grief, I had to do something! I had no choice! So I ran through all the options and chose the least demanding and intrusive thing I could do to meet this obligation to do something, and this was it." Cause if that's what they mean then it's no wonder they don't simply say, "You're welcome." because obviously, that's not what they mean.

If they mean, "Oh, I wish I could do more. This was simple and I'm just glad I could make you happy with such a small thing; really, it is probably the least of all the things I could've done." Then really what they mean is "You're welcome".

Makes you wonder about people's motivations, huh?

Yay..An update!

I think it has been a very long time since I've blogged. Yup, it has. I guess life has gotten in the way of cyber-journaling.

In a nutshell this is my last couple of weeks:

Austin in in HS and once we got his schedule corrected, he decided it is good. Unfortunately, the correction put him in English with his ex-email/text-girlfriend who he broke up with during the summer. It sucks because I don't want him facing that temptation everyday. She is a DARLING girl, gorgeous really, and I think fairly popular and I believe the temptation could arise. They "text-dated" for 9 months (luckily there were no "text-babies"). Ha Ha, I slay myself!



He also made the Varsity swim team and is so so happy. He loves it and is doing so much better in just 2 weeks! Wow, the difference a little coaching makes is a-maze-ing! He is a doll and I think he is so fun.

Austin probably wouldn't have done swim team if it required a "speedo", instead he wears "Jammers".

He is running for Soph. class Pres. Yay! I hope he gets elected. He would do a great job!



I love that kid! Really! A couple weeks ago I got to sit by him in church, he is usually ushering so I don't get to, but that week I sat back with him while he ushered. So anyway, we laughed at all the drama with parents and young kids in the chapel... we have an extremely entertaining ward, but I usually sit up front so I didn't realize this. Anyway, he leans over at one point and says to me, "I forgot how much fun you are to sit with , mom." Made may day. Really.



Rocky is doing the K12 virtual academy and is dual enrolled with band at the middle school. He plays the trombone and has such a terrific band teacher that I am so glad he is taking band again this year.



He quit football. Not a suprise to me, but a disappointment. He got hit in the face by a kid wearing a helmet when he wasn't. It was a bad start to a demanding sport. 2 1/2 hours a day, 5 days a week, and he was doing it for the wrong reasons (because his friends were, not because he wanted to). That's okay.



I hear people say, "I just won't let my kid quit." And I get it, I do. I feel the same, but at some point the kid really is making the decision. I told him the consequences of doing football beforehand, how demanding it is and all that. And I told him the consequences of quitting; watching from the side, not playing, not hanging out with friends after school, etc. He still made that choice and he is too big for me to drag him from his room to the car. I can't force him to put on the pads and uniform. I just have to let him choose.



He loves gymnastics and swimming, so I think that is where we will focus our energy.

Rocky loves playing with Lulu.

Rocky is a pleasure to have around during the day. He is happy and helpful. He makes me laugh and is easy to get along with. I really like the virtual academy. I just wish I could be more involved and less "Do this, then tell me when you are done." Ug...I don't like the busy-ness life takes on sometimes.



Young Women's is good. I love the girls and always enjoy the chance to visit with them. I talked with one of them tonight for about 25 minutes and it was so fun to just visit. I think they are amazing girls and they have so much potential and are so bright and good. I really do love them!



Work is good, busy though. However, I am starting a new business as a Scentsy Consultant and I am so dang excited about it! I really am! At first I was just thinking this might bring in a few extra bucks, but now I feel like it really can go places. I did a bunch of research and I think I am getting in right on the ground floor. There is so much room for growth and the marketing plan is awesome! I really am so excited so I think it will be good. I've compared it to two other well known direct marketing plans and I can't believe how well it is doing in comparison. I am going to go back east I think and see if I can't share this opportunity with others. I know it is a great opportunity and so fun! So we'll see where it goes!

Here is my Scentsy webpage. www.scentsy.com/kfrench Feel free to log on and browse the catalogue and leave me an order. Everything is 10% off through August 31st. (The catalogue is viewed best if you switch to PDF format after you click on it). If you want to host a party or find out more about the business opportunity, just let me know!

Okay, I have more to blog about but I should save it so I have something to say later. So I will.



yeah...bye.

Pretty Things, Happy Kids, and other Sunshiney Crap

So I promised that after my pity party I would be upbeat again. So here goes.

I took my boys to registration the other day. Austin's schedule is totally messed up, but it's okay because he goes to the "prettiest" school in Idaho. Rocky Mountain High School is NEW! Brand new! New lockers, enough so students don't have to share! New books! New desks! It looks like a building on a college campus. Austin signed up for swim team and had tryouts on Monday. That deserves it's own post so stay tuned. He is also thinking of running for student council.

Checkin' out Rocky Mountain High School!

Here is one of my "Happy Kids" kicking back at RMHS.

Rocky went to register at Heritage Middle School and found he wasn't enrolled in band as had been planned. We got that straitened out and he also decided to play football. He is a linebacker. He is loving it.

Heritage Football Line Backer.

First football injury. Ow!

WARNING - PITY PARTY GOING ON HERE

I have never gone through as many trials at one time as I am now. I wish they were small ones, but in all honesty, I believe they are as big as they get next to the death of a child or beloved spouse. You know that stress index they have with the point values. They say a score of 150 puts you at a 50-50 chance of developing illness because of high stress, a score of 300 puts you at a 90% chance of developing illness. Yeah, well my score is 467. I will probably die soon, so come wish me goodbye.

I really am a basket case sometimes. I wasn't going to blog about it, but you know, it's there. It's real. And right now, it is really what I am going through and although tomorrow I will get back to blogging about pretty things and wonderful kids and sunshiney crap, today I am pissed, and tired, and feel like I can't get a freaking break anywhere!

Anyone know how to fix sprinklers? I can't do it again, I've looked them over, and I can't fix it this time. I have fixed them several times this summer, in fact I have repaired several appliances this summer too. I have taken my car to the shop too many times to count (I'm dropping it off tomorrow morning at 8:00), and I just can't do it anymore.

I can't sleep at night, I just lay there worrying or crying, and then I have to get up at 7:00 to get to work by 8:00. Okay, this is turning into a full blown pity party. I'm not going to continue this here.

Tune in tomorrow for pretty things, happy kids, and other sunshiney crap. Sorry for the reality blast!

Very Funny Blog

My completly amazing sister turned me onto this blog and I totally heart it! It is SUPER cute! It's like taking a mini vay-cay just for me. I think Tiffany/Amber/Megan/Nicole (the author of the blog) is SUPER insightful and totally fun!!!

You should totally check it out!!!

I heart you!!!

http://seriouslysoblessed.blogspot.com

Favorite You Tube

This is my all time favorite YouTube. I don't know what made me think of it today, but I did and thought I'd share it.

I couldn't figure out how to post it, so I just posted the link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVCvthr95io

Enjoy!

Commenting for dummies

Okay, I've been told it's still too hard, so here you go:

read blog

click comment

write comment - include your name

choose anonymous (or if you have an account you can do that)

click "Publish your comment"

***Nancy, this doesn't mean you can't lurk. You don't HAVE to comment, I like knowing you read it anyway. :)

This is the place...

"This is the place." If you are Mormon, that phrase conjures up a visual image of pioneers, who have just travelled over thousands of miles of desolate plains in wagons and on foot, pulling handcarts. You see in your mind's eye them standing on a precipice, looking over the Salt Lake Valley, and rejoicing to know the journey is near it's end.

Except...if you live in the Salt Lake Valley now, I wonder, does this phrase still bring out those feelings and images? How about the acronym, CTR, most often seen in a green shield on a cheap adjustable child's ring, of course, it means "Choose the Right", and brings back fond memories of primary.

I just wonder because this past week while I was in Utah I saw a giant billboard proclaiming, "THIS IS THE PLACE" followed by "to find your next job", it was an advert for a job search site. Or, there was the "CHOOSE THE RIGHT realtor" sign. If I were a true blogger, I would have taken a picture as I zipped by on the freeway at 75 mph, but I value my safety too much.

I don't know, it just bugged me. Like, "Hey, let's capitalize on those Mormon phrases". I'd almost be tempted to boycott those companies just for the principle that you don't use your religion (if it is even their religion) for financial gain. Ick!

I got to wondering, do Salt Lake Citians still get that pioneer image, or that reminder of primary days when they hear or see those phrases, or are they callused because they've been commercialized?

Rocky is Twelve

Oh, my kids are growing up too fast! Rocky is twelve. He had his birthday this past week at scout camp. Bill was there and had a birthday cake for him and I had a gift for him to open. It was a great day I heard. Tomorrow he will be ordained a Deacon and receive the Aaronic Priesthood.


We have a family birthday tradition. Each year, on the night before my son's birthday they climb into my lap and I tell them the story of their birth, starting the day before I went into labor. This year I told Rocky his birth story the night before he left for camp. I can't believe my son is already twelve.


I love Rocky because he is so kind and genuine. I love his sensitivity and gentleness, and I love his sense of humor and his love of laughter. I love his responsibility, sometimes he gets on a cleaning roll and will vacuum, sweep, mop, clean the kitchen, wipe the counters, clean the entire bathroom and his bedroom. He is the only one of my boys who does such things. I also love his love of fun. He likes video games, but he loves to play, really play, outside, riding bikes, playing sports, swimming, snow boarding, doing adventurous things. I love this boy!!!

This is our toe-nail clipping cake. (Shredded coconut!)

Blurkers and Comments

You know how you sometimes do something that feels good, but then you don’t quite feel right about it, not that you did anything bad, per se, just that maybe you feel like you should have done something more. For example: you eat that krispy kreme donut with milk but you didn’t even get out of the car to get it, you went through the drive through …LAZY! And fattening. Or let’s say you get that massage from your husband, but then you just roll over and go to sleep; you know he expected you to rub his back too, but you were too LAZY.

Well that’s the kind of thing I’m talking about here. Maybe it’s just that you don’t know what to do, like maybe you go to the bathroom in an office building where you are having a job interview, and, perhaps using too much t.p. you clog the toilet, and it over flows. Well, you put a sign on the door, written with lipstick on a paper towel and stuck to the door with chewing gum, but you didn’t plunge the toilet or really tell anyone who could do something about it. I mean, who would you tell? How embarrassing would that be? What if it impacted your job interview? I’m speaking from experience here; you don’t want to go there. In this case, it’s not so much laziness as it is you’re not quite sure WHAT to do.

So I am here to help you! You may not know this, but I have a large readership of my blog. Really, I do. And it is international – I have readers from Canada, England, and Norway. I have ways of tracking who visits my blog, well, not who exactly, but how many different people check my blog, how often it is checked, and where they are from. Most of my readership comes from Boise/Meridian, but then I have some in California, Ohio, Maryland, Alaska, North Carolina, Tennessee, Washington, Utah, New York, Florida, Massachusetts, and Colorado. Yeah, wow, who knew!? I don’t even know people in half of those states. My goal is to have readers from every state. Actually, that’s not my goal, I just typed that because it sounds good.

I would call the majority of my readership "Blurkers". That means they are just "lurking" on my blog, and not commenting. This leaves me wondering, "Why do they read my blog?" "Do they like my blog?" "Do they agree or disagree?" "Do they find it humorous, or am I just laughing at myself, by myself?" A blurker is a blog lurker who doesn't comment. Do you really want to be a blurker? No?, I didn't think so.

Okay, I am here to help you. You may not realize that bloggers, like myself, love comments. Comments = Chocolate! We love chocolate!!!!

Comments = love, acceptance, happiness, approval, validation, sunshine, happy songs, chocolate.

So you want to leave a comment but you don’t know how. I am here to help. First of all, it is EASY. You don’t need an account or anything.

Step 1) Read the blog. Enjoy it, laugh along, and think about how it makes you feel , or what you think about it. Do you agree with it, do you disagree? Do you have a similar tale to tell? Does it remind you of something?

Step 2) Decide to give me some chocolate – Yum Yum! This is where you have to take action. Look at the blog, at the bottom of the post about which you'd like to comment you will see this:

Click where it says "0 Comments". It might say "5 comments" or some other number, it's okay, just click there.

Step 3) Read the comments that are existing, if you want, then scroll to the bottom and type your comment in the space provided. See example:

Leave comment at first red arrow:

If you do not have an account, include your name in the comment section (see lower red arrow).

Step 3) Type in the word verification code.

Step 4) Choose your "identity". If you have a google account (a gmail account) you can use it. You can add a picture to it, which will then also appear with your comment and your name.

If you don't have a google account, you can post your comment "anonymous"-ly. You can just include your name in the actual comment (as shown by the bottom arrow in step 2).



Step 5) click the orange "PUBLISH YOUR COMMENT" button.

SEE HOW SIMPLE THAT IS?!!!!
Mmmmm....I'm so hungry! I would love some chocolate right about now!!!

P.S. You can comment on past blogs too! Wow!

New Airline Procedures

My mom, Linda (see Linda's Nook in my blog links), sent me this video.

Enjoy!

Best of the Fourth

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE FOURTH OF JULY FAMILY GATHERING AT THE CABIN

Bridge Jumping.

It was fun watching Rocky brave the 62 degree payette river, which was nothing compared to the really high bridge he jumped off to do it.

Rocky on the bridge, waiting to jump. He'd never done this before.

Rocky jumping.

A teenage girl standing near him kept saying, "I'll go if you go" and Rocky replied, "Okay, you first." So suddenly she jumped, without saying anything like, "Here I go!", so the next thing I know, Rocky jumped.

Rocky just after surfacing.

Rocky and his cousins, Hannah and Ike, who also jumped.




Rocky, Hannah, and Ike jumping from the bridge.

FAMILY.

My sister, Sally, brought her two cute curly haired boys, and her darling baby Lainey. My sister, Robin and Roland and their three teenagers, Hannah, Gabe, and Noah, and of course eleven year old Ike were around to keep us entertained. And my wonderful mom and Alan were there. We missed Joe and Emily and their cute little family and David and Melissa and their five adorable kids.

Rocky flirting with Lainey.

I LOVE Benji's smile!

Hmmm...

Rocky helping his cousin, Benji, unwrap his pinata candy.

Rocky and Ike.

Rocky was thrilled to get to spend time with Ike. He has missed him so much since they moved to Colorado.

Nate, the birthday boy, and my wonderful sister, Robin.

Three silly boys.

Roland and Robin, before Roland was almost blinded by a pool noodle.

Ike, Nate, Rocky, and Benji enjoying the big swings at the cabin.

Fourth of July Birthdays!

We elebrated my darling nephew's 6th birthday, on the Fourth. Both he and my brother David, share the Patriotic birthday - we missed celebrating it with my brother, David.

My big brother, David.

Nate, the birthday boy, beating the duct-tape reinforced transformers pinata.

The Celebration in Crouch!

Nowhere in the United States is Indepedence Day celebrated quite so uniquely. It is a blast to be in Garden Valley and the little town of Crouch for this holiday.

This is right in the center of the small town of Crouch.

Austin, Rocky, and Ike keep an eye out for projectiles.

This isn't all; the same scene is playing out directly behind where we are standing and to the right of us as well.

This is from the city's firework display. It is awesome!

I love the lighting on the faces of children as they watch fireworks.

OOOOH! AHHHHH!

After the craziness in town, we headed back to the cabin to light off our own fireworks.

This is Austin writing his name with a sparkler. He had to write backward so it would show up frontward in the picture.

This is just a slice of life in Crouch on the Fourth of July!