Yogaaah

Smiling while in some of these poses is just hard, unnatural, and cheesy. Well, here are some of the asanas I enjoy doing when working out.
(Thanks to my photographers Jacob and Kade. Wade is supposed to take pics of me doing poses at the beach, but that hasn't happened so far)























































Here is Kyrie with semi-curly hair. And here is how here room has looked for most of the year.

Dodger's Baseball

Here is a picture of Jacob at the game. You can go to www.dodgers.com/fanfoto to see a better view. The game was Sat. April 26th and you go to gallery #4 and click through until you find him. He had a really good time and was thrilled to see the ump get beaned in the neck/head area with a hard pitch. Knocked him out cold and the ambulance had to come take him away. You may have seen it on the news.

Memories

My dad was really into taking pictures, but unfortunately always had them developed as slides. One of our favorite things to do when we all manage to get together is to look at the said slides (well, one of my favorite things to do anyways). A few years ago I spent a small fortune for us and had a number of the slides developed into pictures and I guess John has had some put on a disk. Here are the results. You gotta love/hate those 70's styles. Ughhh!!! In the family camping trip picture I am actually there, just looking like one of the boys as my grandpa Lackey, who was a barber, would always cut my hair when he was visiting and being a barber he always gave me a boy haircut. Why mother would let him do this to me is beyond me?!?! If you look closely at Chet's eye, it is very swollen. I think he burned it or was bitten by a mosquito. Is this the same trip the boys kept stepping too close to the fire while barefoot and burned their feet on the hot rocks around the fire? You may also notice the rocking hairstyles, hehehe. I think mom used to put a bowl around the boys head and cut, then never comb their hair. The baby is actually me. wow. John posted this one on our other family blog trying to pass it off as his new arrival. Janie actually called him out on it. He only wishes his babies were so pretty JUST KIDDING!!!!

You Have Now Entered THE TWILIGHT ZONE

Remember the family on Kade's bb team that pays $14,000 a month in rent for their home in the hills? Well, I asked her today at the game, what her husband does for a living. He is a big time producer so she travels to the Cannes Film Festival and goes to premiers etc. She did mention that she really doesn't like that side of the industry and just enjoys the traveling, hanging at the hotels/spas, and getting to know the town she happens to be at. She was with a lady who was her interior decorator that she had just flown in from Paris. They are working on decorating/furnishing a condo in Montreal that she just purchased. I asked if she rents it out when she isn't there. No. She doesn't like having other people in her homes (not that I blame her). She said they had an apartment in Florida that they never rented out, just visited once or twice a year. She has a charitable foundation fund raiser to go to for lupus and she is supposed to wear all orange. She doesn't want to buy an evening gown that is orange that she will wear only once. She was dishing on some of the celebrities that she knows. It was a fun conversation. Jacob is going to the Dodgers game tonight with the Kings. They sit right behind the third base right by the Dodger's dug out. Apparently they get to interact with the players some ($400 a ticket). I don't know if the kids will sit there or if they have a box office. It should be fun for him. Larry won't be there as he is in DC and Shawn has a fund raiser to attend tonight. She is performing there (singing). So it will be Hector, the nanny, and the kids. Larry Jr. was in town for the game today. He lives in Florida and seems to be a really nice, down to earth guy. We had a a good conversation and he told me all about the gators in Florida and not to worry about them for the most part.

Kurt, Kade's head coach, is Kurt Rappaport, (google him, the results are fun to read, really nice/interesting guy) the top selling real estate self made multi-millionaire in LA. He sales to all of the celebs. He sold his last mansion that he had just totally renovated to TomKat who just finally moved in a year later because they totally re-renovated it for their needs/wants. I asked him today how low we should offer on a home from the asking price. He said to be aggressive and offer at least 20% below the listing price.

I have realized that we are probably the poorest family on the team. Not that it matters, it is just really interesting to rub shoulders with the lifestyles of the rich and famous. For them, their lives are totally normal. For me, a bit overwhelming. I feel like I have entered the Twilight Zone.

It Has Begun

It's official. I have started the packing. I managed 5 boxes of books (that doesn't even make a dent in the book column. I think I'll need about 10 more book boxes) and 3 medium boxes of miscellaneous stuff. Daniel has walked around sobbing. He was excited at first and even helped by packing his own box, but became quite upset when I took his "things" out and started putting other stuff in there. I had to reassure him that we will take everything and everyone with us and that we will go to Idaho and Utah and see Sarah and Paige and Kate. That was what finally settled him down. It's funny. For the past month or so he will walk around the house and say "I want to go home." I'm not sure where he associated home as being.

I woke up at 3:00am this morning to find him lying butt naked in the bed. Somehow he had taken his diaper off and laid back down, uncovered. Thankfully he didn't wet as I haven't put the the waterproof mattress cover back on after my purging of the lice.

The Wall Street Journal has published an article suggesting that Americans start stockpile food as the costs globally are going to continue to drive up the costs for the US. That and Al Gore's brilliant idea of fuels from our food source. Isn't he such a genius? Just imagine if he had won the election. Well, back to food storage. If you haven't heard already Walmart, Costco, Sams club and the like are starting to limit the amount of rice a customer can purchase per visit. I'm sure others will follow, so my suggestion, get with your ward specialist, or call my MIL as she is an expert on this subject, and get your stuff together. Don't put it off any longer. Start each shopping trip with purchasing $10 or $20 in food storage stuff and rotate your food storage so you are using it and replenishing it. Okay, enough of that lecture.

You Won't Believe It

Yep, went out to get Kade's shirt out of the dryer and low and behold, the washer had done the same thing!!!! Sigh....at least I just had to sweep all of the water out without the cleanup part. It can only get better right?

Count Your Many Blessings

This is the only thing and thought that is keeping me sane. Kade couldn't find his PE shirt today. On the way out the door to school I found it in a pile of wet, smelly clothes. So I threw the load in the wash before we left. I promised him I would bring it to school when it was done. After I dropped the boys at school I ran to Walgreens in search of tape and super glue to fix the vacuum hose. A few weeks ago I gave the boys the job of vacuuming up the front room. Jacob managed to vacuum up a sock and it was stuck in the hose. The hose is designed in such a horrible way that I couldn't even stick the broom handle down it (curved on one end, skinny on the other). I even tried a wire hanger, no luck. I resorted to cutting open a slit at the clog and pulling the sock out. I only had packing tape to tape up the hole which was working. When the boys had lice I buzzed their hair and sat there with the vacuum sucking up the hair as I went. I noticed last week that the hose wasn't sucking anything up anymore and decided that it was probably the tape. I put the vacuum on the back porch just in case it had any live critters in it and it has sat there for about 4 days now, which is a good thing, because when I got home with my tape and glue to fix it, I found the hose clogged with hair thanks to a bent straw stuck in it. I mean CLOGGED with hair. I'm sure there had to be lice in it so thank heavens it was sitting outside for the duration. As I am cleaning the hose out I get a call from Michelle in Alabama saying that the young women in our old ward who are Kyrie's friends were freaking out saying I was leaving Wade and we were getting a divorce. Not sure how that rumor came to be or what Kyrie told them to make them jump to that conclusion. Had a good laugh over that, and Michelle told me she reassured them all that I wasn't leaving Wade, just LA a few weeks before him if that. I washed the hose out and went to go throw the load of laundry into the dryer. OH NO!!!! The laundry room was flooded. This has happened to us twice before when someone has left a rag or clothes in the basin the washer drains into. This time it happened because the drain hose somehow flipped out of the basin. I spent an hour sweeping all of the water out, moving the 2 washers and 2 dryers and 3 bikes and the four drawer file cabinet back and forth to sweep under each item. Did I mention I still had some blankets and throw rugs on the floor waiting to be washed? (You're supposed to smile here. It's okay, you can even laugh) While I was grumbling under my breath to myself I had to stop and smile and laugh. You know what? It has been a really trying week for me, but I am so blessed. I have a healthy family. I have a home and food and clothes. I have the gospel in my life and a testimony of the truthfulness of it. I know I have challenges, but they pale in comparison to the many things others go through. I think this past week is God's way of reminding me of that.

And The Fun Continues...

Daniel has a scratch on his arm from the rose bushes in front of the house. He likes to pick the scab off and of course it bleeds. He was wiping the blood everywhere so I suggested we put a bandage on it. He wouldn't let me get it for him, insisting that he could get it. I heard him pushing the chair over to the counter and suggested that Jacob go help him. Jake runs off to help and the next thing I know CRASH, WAIL, SOBBING. I run in and scoop Dan off of the floor. I felt something damp on my cheek as I was kissing him better, but didn't even think about it. We sat on the sofa to watch Nemo and about 2 minutes later I notice the back of his head is covered in blood. My first thought was, "wait, his arm wasn't bleeding that badly" then I realized the thump was his head hitting something, not just his body. It looked like it might need a stitch or two, so we headed off to Wade's office. When we got there dad accessed the situation. We decided that since it is on the back of his head we didn't care if it scarred too badly and that it would probably heal on it's own. It was wide, but not really deep. I didn't want to have to hold him down while Wade worked on him. The ER is out of the question for this type of injury since we still have a $1000 deductible and I just paid $660 to the DR for my heart testing of which I still haven't heard the results. As of friday they didn't have them back yet, a whole week later.

He strikes again!!!

I wouldn't want any of you to think that I don't know where my kids are or what they are doing. I have a good reason for these things to be happen without me knowing. I just can't follow all four around at the same time. This time, I was in the restroom. I come out to find Daniel behind my stuffed chair, smearing his newly favorite medium for art (yes, his poop) all over the back of the chair and the wall. As I am yelling "disgusting, disgusting, disgusting" he is saying, "I'm not disgusting". How do you make a 2 year old realize that playing in their own feces is just plain nasty and gross? I put him in the tub, run back to clean up the mess, and hurry back to the tub to just narrowly advert another disaster. Daniel turned the stopper that I had left open. The tub was as full as it could possibly be without running over. Whew...one small mess avoided.

Our neurotic neighbor yelled at the boys today while they were playing in the backyard. Daniel has turned on the hose and she was yelling at them to turn it off. Yes, you can believe me when I say I will be having a discussion with her about leaving my kids the HE** alone. I have about had a nervous breakdown this weekend and have decided that as soon as Kade's baseball season is done the boys and I are leaving here. We will make a quick trip to Idaho to pick up things, then head to Alabama for a while before going to Florida. Kyrie refuses to go early with me, so I hope she and Wade can figure things out. I will pack the house up before I leave and hope they will keep it clean. Kade, Jacob and even Daniel are mad because I told them we were leaving next week. I just don't think I can get everything done I need to before then, plus I would hate for Kade to leave his ballteam hanging. He is their catcher and does a great job.

My Budding Artist

What exactly does it mean when your 2 1/2 year old likes to drop trou (diaper in this case) whenever he has pooped, and smear it or fling it like he means it? Sigh...just one more thing to add to my list of fun things to do. I'm hoping it means he will be artistic as he is by far the best wall graffiti artist I have produced out of the four. Thank heavens for magic erasers!!!

PS. Scary Spice was at the boys school yesterday and will be back today. They are filming a show having to do with a contest for the best singing teacher. Kade said he was going to get her autograph and sell it on Ebay. He's my budding entrepreneur

I'm a professional nit picker

No really. Got a form letter from school today saying there has been an outbreak of lice. Didn't even think anything about it as we got the same letter a couple of times a year in Alabama. For some reason Wade looked at Jacob and sure enough...covered in nits and eggs. I looked at Daniel and Kade, yep, both have it too. Kyrie doesn't have any and I didn't see any in Wade. He says he didn't see any on me, but seeing as how I share a bed and pillow quite frequently with Daniel and Jacob goes to sleep each night on my bed and pillow...Sigh. I've just started my first load of probably 20 for linens and towels. Shaved Jake and Kade and have been picking and picking and picking some more. Daniel had a few too and I actually got a live bug off of him after treatment. Just found a dead one on my shoulder. Did I mention how hard it is to treat with long hair?

It's The Final Countdown!!!

9 weeks to go before we leave LALA land

Mourning the loss of his best friend

I decided that since I am hooked up to a ECG hoster, have 7 leads and cables all over me, that I would take advantage of the situation and tell Daniel that his numms are no longer available. I showed him my chest with all of the hardware attached and told him I couldn't nurse him. We went to bed and had cried and then said something he has never said before. "I hate you." He cried some more, told me he was sad and that I was mean. He finally went to sleep, without snuggling with me no less!!! He did wake up in the middle of the night and I nursed him (more to relieve me than him) The next time he woke up I told him no and he cried for a minute then went back to sleep. He woke up again, same thing but telling me that I was mean, then again around 6:00. He continues to tell me that he is sad, and that I am mean. We have made it so far without having to nurse, but I am starting to have a little bit of fullness and pain on one side and may have to cave since I have to go teach Yoga in a few hours. That should be fun with my gear on. Dan just came over and said he wanted to see the broken numms, so I showed him again. This is definitely one reason why everyone should wean their child before they are able to communicate in full sentences!!

Loonie Bin Indeed

I feel like I am living in the land of crazazy!!! Well, of course, we know that I really am and just pretend that I'm not which could really lend to problems. LALA land is definitely a crazazy place to live. For this post though, let's talk about the craziness my children create rather than the city I live in.





I'm not sure what is up with Kade. He has been verbally mean and disrespectful to me now for about 2 weeks. Every day after school he turns into this nasty vile creature that has nothing nice to say or do to anyone. I hope this is not what puberty will do for him as he has been, for the most part, a truly polite, kind and pleasant child. I should probably consult with the in-laws to see what Wade turned into at this age. Somehow, I'm afraid of the answers I'll get if I ask as I know my share of his teenage years as it is.

Kyrie is living with her cell phone permanently attached to her ear. I finally took it away on Sunday for the afternoon and evening, so she took mine instead. She is her dramatic, overreacting self. Our conversation this morning..."Kyrie, that shirt isn't appropriate."
"Okay mom. I'll button up my sweater."
"Fine, but we know that won't be the case at school."
"Sure, cuz I'm a slut huh?"
How she jumps from me saying that her shirt isn't appropriate, to telling her we both know she won't keep her sweater buttoned up at school, to me accusing her of being a slut is beyond me. I told her she was a foolish child and that unless she is polite and kind to me I'm not doing anything for her. I've told Kade the same thing.

Jacob and Kade fight about who will sit in the front of the car every time they get into it. Last week Jacob kicked Kade in the crotch, so he was banished from the front indefinitely. It doesn't stop him from hopping in whenever he can and creating a scene with his brother. For some reason, they respond to each other with yelling, hitting, kicking, you get the idea.

I've heard about moms going on strike and it sure is tempting. However, whilst I was fully thrown into a foul mood this morning while driving Kyrie to school it hit me. I can't let them dictate my mood and make me miserable. I need to be happy and calm to keep any semblance of normalcy and non-crazaziness in the home, so I can't let them make me angry. I need to find a different way to deal with their attitudes etc. although I'm not sure what. Maybe I need to revert to what dad made us do and sit them on the sofa next to each other, no TV, no computer, no cell phones, no ipods, just sitting there next to each other until they can put up with each other and be kind to each other. Now I just need to figure out who will be my enforcer. I'm sure a lack of fatherly input has not helped the situation. I can't wait for these next few months to be done so Wade can have more time for the family and himself. Throw into the mix that I can't walk down the hallway without my heart racing and being out of breath and you can imagine how crazazy I really am. (Don't worry, I'm going to the doctor tomorrow morning. Maybe he'll institutionalize me hahahahahaha)

(photo from www.drivebypress.org)

I Believe In Christ

Trying to listen to conference, trying to get the kids to listen and pay attention. Wow, has the choir been so beautiful, the messages uplifting.

The Kingdom of Loathing

Kade plays this game on line called "The Kingdom of Loathing". It is a stick figure game, and I think it is similar to Runescape without all of the animation. The title caught my attention. I am living in my own personal Kingdom of Loathing. Wade hates his work environment, and who can blame him? We all hate living in this apartment thanks to our upstairs neighbors. Kyrie likes LA and there are definitely good things about it, but all in all, I hate living in this big of a city. It is so strange for me to see the schools smack dab in the middle of a busy street, surrounded by gates and fencing. I hate that I can't send my kids outside to play without worrying about the traffic, both foot traffic and automobile. I hate not living in a neighborhood with kids around for them to play/interact with. I hate the traffic here. People are impatient and stupid to the point of being so unsafe that we have quit riding our bikes to school in the mornings, as the last time we did Jacob was almost hit twice by vehicles while he was on the sidewalk no less. I hate that gas is so expensive here. The cheapest I can find is $3.70 a gallon and that is the low grade. My dad insists that the minivan needs mid grade, which or course is almost $4.00 a gallon now. I hate that the costs of groceries are going up so much and I don't have a super Wal-Mart or Target to shop at to help control the costs. Did I mention I really loath my neighbors? I deride great perverse enjoyment from slamming my garage door loudly every morning when I go to get Kyrie from seminary, knowing that they can hear it from their bedroom. (wicked cackling laugh inserted here) Of course, I have only done that for the past two weeks since it is her vacation time and she so nicely reminded me of it with a note on the door asking us to be quiet in the mornings so she could sleep in. I think starting Monday I will try to shut it more gently.

Redhead's Blond Ambitions

So, my beautiful redheaded daughter has some very blond tendencies. When we moved into the apartment we were given two sets of keys to the house, the garage, and the laundry room. Kyrie promptly locked herself out of the house one day while I was at Universal Studios with the boys. The neighbor helped her take a screen out and climb in through her bedroom window. I promptly went to the store and had about 4 extra copies of the house key made. I gave one to Kyrie and put the other two away (I had a Marge Simpson key cut for Wade as he treats the lady who does the voices of her sister on that show.) She promptly, the very first day she had the key, lost it at school. I promptly decided she didn't need her own key and gave an extra one to the upstairs neighbor (the man, not the neurotic, crazy b****y lady).

Wade had to be at the airport by 7am this morning. He got up with Kyrie at 5:30 to pack and be able to get her to seminary by 6:10. I got a frantic call from Kyrie at 6:30 telling me she had somehow managed to take my keys to seminary with her. She was getting something out of the car, and locked the garage back up, and took the keys with her. I never made an extra set of the garage or laundry room keys. Wade was on his way to the airport and I was contemplating if I would have to break the window to get into the garage. Since I have already managed to break a window in the house whilst throwing a shoe at my redheaded beauty I decided this wouldn't be the cheapest or best way to manage the situation. I informed her she would have to find a ride home and bring me my keys. Fortunately for her the stake prez was there and was very willing to bring me my keys. For some dumb reason she didn't come home with him, so I still had to go pick her up, 10 minutes late, putting me 10 minutes behind on getting home and getting the boys up and ready for their school day. Somehow I still managed to get them there on time. I will promptly be going back to the store to have more copies of the other keys cut.

It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's a British Phone Booth

Kade and Jacob were both quite taken with the red "British" phone booth at the Hollywood Studios part of California Adventure. We all agreed it looked very much like the one used in the Harry Potter movies, and I kept trying to convince them that Super Man used to spring out of phone booths changed into his leotard/spandex costume. They weren't accommodating when I asked them to make the same change, but were more than willing to have their photos taken.