Maybe I should go to bed a little earlier . . .
I love Bob!!!!!!!!
People would say that I talk way too much and have opinions on EVERYTHING!!!!
I don’t understand why people can't just be nice to each other and respectful of their differences.
When I wake up in the morning I wish I'd been able to go to bed earlier.
I lost my favorite brown purse that I used for years.
Life is full of blessings and trials – and angels in disguise of people.
My past is full of wonderful memories, unforgettable people and no regrets.
I get annoyed when the news reporters on tv don’t listen to what I’m yelling at them!
Parties are things that usually make me anxious for really no apparent reason.
I wish I had enough money for a personal cook for our family.
Dogs are loyal and protective.
Cats are indifferent.
Tomorrow I'm balancing a million different hats.
I have low tolerance for super stinky smells and changing kid’s poopy diapers. (very weak gag reflex!)
I’m totally terrified of mice and inflating my car tires. (totally irrational – I know!)
I wonder why my life has taken such a crazy unexpected path.
Never in my life have I gotten a ticket (knock on wood!!!)
High school was fun and carefree – the calm before the storm.
When I’m nervous I talk too loud and interrupt (sorry everyone!).
One time at a family gathering I threw up on an antique couch. Nice. (I was 7)
Take my advice: Drink lots of water and exercise! It feels so good!
Don’t take my advice – dark chocolate should be indulged in often! :o)
Making my bed rarely happens without Bob! (Thanks Love!)
I'm almost always having a good day.
I’m addicted to my husband and kids.
I want someone to give me a massage!

T's Eye

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Thursday I was in my end-of-the-year review with the principal. (She gave me the highest rating - Clearly Outstanding - yea!) She was just telling me how the teachers had a pretty high average absence rate at our school and we needed to watch that . . . when the secretary started pounding on the office door saying "Mary's son has been in an accident - the school is on the phone!" I picked up the phone and it was his school's secretary saying . . "I know the nurse already called - but his eye looks really bad. I would take him to the dr right away. He took the ice pack off his eye and it looks like it's drooping down."

I had no clue what she was talking about - the nurse hadn't called. I told my principal to add this to the list of absences . . . (great timing huh?!?!?! - We laughed about that later.) - and then I walked out of her office and flew over to the school.

Turns out some little punk (ok - so he's probably not . . .) had one of those hard rubber bouncy balls and was throwing it like a baseball pitcher and threw it right into T's eye. It hit his eyeball - and blurred his vision in his left eye. His eyelid was a little drooped.

I called Eric (my broinlaw who's an er doctor) to see where to go and we headed to the eye doctor. Turns out - he didn't take medical insurance - so he referred us to one who did - who then reffered us to a medical eye specialist. He spent quite a while looking at T's eye with different types of equipment and determined that his eyeball was a little swollen and bruised - but that it was a very healthy eye and he should be fine in time. He has a recheck with the specialist later this week and hopefully his vision will be clear by then.

T was a real trooper. I was so proud of him. He was really fascinated by the equipment the eye doctor used and had a lot of questions for him. Once the initial panic wore off - I really enjoyed spending the afternoon with T! :o)

Woohoo for the day!!!

May 17, 2008


Big blessings!!!!!!!! Bob's truck has been overheating for some time. It had gotten progressively worse over time - to the point that stopping at red lights got a little nail-biting at times. He took it in today - given that we're limping along with one car. Turns out - our favorite honest mechanic pointed out he was out of antifreeze - filled it up and charged us nothing!!!! Woohooo!!! That was great news!

My car is dead

Friday May 16, 2008
It's really dead. Timing belt went out. Not unusual for a regular car - but my car is no regular car. They aren't meant to go out on this kind of car. When they do - they explode all kinds of valves that aren't meant to explode. Parts must be ordered from Korea and about $1800 will fix our timing belt and valves. The one nice thing is -- it was a lovely day when it broke down on the side of I-635 on Mother's day. The weather was lovely - and we waited on the side of the road near some beautiful Texas wildflowers. Ahhhh - a day I won't soon forget!

Texas Rangers

May 13, 2008

Last night we went to the Rangers game against the Seattle Mariners. It was really fun. They played a good game and won - although we left during the 7th inning since it was getting pretty late. But we did enjoy two homeruns - back to back - and fireworks. 'Bill's' mom got the tickets for me as a thank you. The kids had a blast and it was really fun to go as a family. We're always on the go doing stuff - but this was just a treat!

Benign

Friday, May 16, 2008

After a bad sunburn from the opening day baseball game - we noticed a little bump on Bob's forehead. I hounded him to make an appointment just to get it checked - and sure enough - when he did - it was benign cancer. The doctor froze it off and said he should be just fine - but needs to always wear a hat and sunscreen - which he's now religous about. The doctor said it was good he came in quickly - because it could have developed fast into something worse. We are so grateful and humbled. See - I really like Bob a lot. We all do! And he keeps my toes warm at night. (It's the little things!) Nothing like a fierce reality check to place things in perspective.

Snickers Cookies

Snickers Cookies
½ c. sugar
½ c. firmly packed brown sugar
½ c. butter, room temperature
½ c. creamy peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg
1 ½ c. flour
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
30 mini sized Snickers candy bars (about one bag)

In large bowl, combine sugar, brown sugar, butter, and peanut butter. Add vanilla and egg. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt and add to peanut butter mixture.

Shape dough smoothly around each candy bar, making sure the bar is completely covered, without having a lot of excess dough. Place on ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake at 350°, check at 12 minutes, and take out when they are slightly golden.

Cool a minute or so and remove from cookie sheets. Delicious served warm.

I Like Us!

Thanks for the great picture Stacie!

April Fools!!!!! 2008

I have to say - this may have been one of my finer years! I started off with the old lame I-can't-think-of-a-better-joke-then-this Hey! It snowed out! ha. ha. ha. - just to throw them off. I could see the looks of disappointment - like - that's the best she's got this year? I knew they thought I'd forgotten!!!! Muwahahahaha! Never!!!! Thus falling even further into my masterful plan! Truth is - the hoax of the year had been in planning for several days and by many people.

I know this will come as a shock - but our children are rather opinonated people - particularly on social issues and current events. So . . . what better way then force them into one of their perceived unjust situations!!!! Year. Round. School. Hahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!! Oh the hilarity!

Since I now work for the school district - it was all too easy. One of the secreatries provided the letterhead, a clerk gave me the envelope. One teacher addressed the envelope - another one signed the offical signature. They couldn't wait to hear how it went down!

The letter follows below:

To the Parents of K and R,
Congratulations! Your children have been selected to participate in a trial program set up by the district as we consider the options of year-round school. As participants in this trial period we have hand selected students to begin the year round program at various schools. We feel that by attempting this program we can reduce overall operating costs of our schools thereby saving money for crucial programs for our children. In addition, studies have shown that the retention level of students is 73% higher when they participate in the year round program. This increases test scores in the districts that participate.

With an understanding of the program we are hoping you will be willing to participate. School will begin on June 16 at your home campus. school will begin at the standard Elementary time. July 25th will be the end of the 6-week grading period and then children will be given a week off with the next grading period beginning on August 4th.

Congratulations and welcome to the new program! We are excited to have you join us on this exciting educational journey. Sincerely, The Superintendent

Muwahahahahahahahahaha!!!!! I could hardly contain myself! And for this reason - I had to enlist Bob! He opened the mail slowly - appeared puzzled when he reached this letter and then casually asked the kids "Have y'all heard anything about year round school?" The looks on their faces were priceless! They slowly asked "Whhhhhyyyyyyy???????" (heh heh heh!) My stomach was shaking I was laughing so hard inside!!!! He handed them the letter and they began to read it. Their eyes got wider and wider! I thought of all the times they had loudly proclaimed their stance on the absurdities and injustice of year round school. Hahahah It was beautiful! B was first to begin "Congratulations!???? Congratulations!!!!?????? How in the world can he say congratulations about something like year round school!?!?!?!?! Like it's a good thing!!!!" At this point I have to turn my back and look away! K then chimes in "Improve our TAKS scores?!?!?! I made a 100 on my benchmark test! Why would I need to improve my TAKS test scores!!!!" Someone said "Well - I'm not going!" Bob calmly replied - "Oh yes you will - we will support the new program. We don't have any big summer plans anyway!" (Oh the beauty of a united front!) K then started shaking her head - threw her hands in the air - and started to walk out of the room muttering "Just shake your head and walk away . . . Just shake your head and walk away!" hahahahahahahahahahah! hohohohohoho! heeheeheeheeheehee! It was utter panic and chaos. At about the same moment B said "Hey wait - why does this envelope say Kooken on it?" I new in seconds the jig would be up - my kids were too smart to pass up such a glaring mistake! I yelled "Gotcha!!! April Fool's!!!!!!!!" Hahahahahahaha! The tradition lives on! If I could have videotaped it I would have. The looks of disbelief mixed with relief were priceless! Ahhhhh! Another year of success! They admitted they were a bit disappointed at my pathetic morning joke and yet completely taken in by the letter. I did not fail them this year! We laughed about it all night. I kept telling them we could do year-round anyway since they really seemed excited about it!

Last year we did legos and macaroni in their cereal boxes and I sewed their underwear in one big long line - so when they pulled one out of their drawer they all came out. One year was plastic fruit in their lunchboxes (with real food underneath). Another time we put the couch in the kitchen and the table in the family room - just to throw them off a bit. One year I put fake notes to their teachers in their notebook saying they loved homework and really wanted more. And one year - we tried to move them around into different beds after they were asleep - but they weren't sleeping hard enough. That would have been a good one too. Anyway - my policy is - nothing mean that would cause tears. Afterall - I'm wise enough to realize there will someday be paybacks. I was worried T would be distraught about year round school - so he remained our innocent bystander this time around. He did enjoy the green food colored milk suprise in our fridge. (Always a favorite standby at our house).

Hope your April Fool's was as enjoyable as ours! :o)

Happy 6th Birthday Maggie!

April 8, 2008

April 8, 2008 - Guess what T has!?!?!?!

CHICKEN POX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes - he's had both rounds of the vaccination and it's kind of a morphed strain that's emerged from the vaccinations. He is the third confirmed case at his school and several other schools have confirmed cases as well. Poor little guy. He's got about 12 on his tummy so far - and they itch!!! Other then that he's doing ok.

March 29, 2008

B is about to start baseball practice for the season and K had her first volleyball practice. She is really good! I was so impressed! We don't have their game schedules or anything yet . . . it's still kind of early. Scouts is going well for B . He has 16 belt loops now and he's excited about Twilight camp coming up. I can't wait for his games to start. I love baseball. K is practicing for a violin solo and ensemble competition next week. I think she'll do awesome. She's playing Minuet 3. I love listening to her practice. She sure doesn't sound like an 11 year old at all. Taking private lessons has really helped her out! T is fabulous! He had career day this week and he dressed up as a cowboy. Hat, buckle, boots and all! He even made spurs out of cardstock! He is so fun! My favorite T moment of the week: I was going through his binder - looking at his papers - and there was one that said "Dear Mrs. Y (that's his friend's Mom) Can E come play next Wednesday at my house? Thank you. Love, T " I told T that he should probably check with my before he just started inviting friends over! His response . . . "ok - well then - can I?" He is such a do-er and just never gives up! Speaking of the kids . . . I hear them scurrying around the house - trying to talk in hushed tones. That's never a good sign . . . :o)

A Rarity

Saturday, March 22, 2008

It's not often: Harmonica at Carnagie Hall

A Prophet of God

March 17, 2008

With President Hinckley's passing I reflected on a personal experience years ago with him. If I remember correctly Bob and I had driven Debbie (my sister) to the airport for a flight back to BYU. This was before we were married - and back in the day when you could sit at the gate and wait - even if you weren't flying. So as we approached the gate Bob said rather loudly, "HEY! That guy over there looks just like President Hinckley!" Well - as we all looked we realized it was. So we huddled for a moment wondering if we should approach him or leave him alone. As I recall he was reading his scriptures and there were a couple of bodyguards sitting nearby. Clearly we decided that we couldn't pass up a once in a lifetime opportunity and we decided to say hello. We were still some distance away but immediately as we began to walk towards him he stood up and extended his hand - and he said with a twinkle in his eye "I wondered when you were going to come over!" We had forgotten that we all had BYU shirts on! It was a dead give-a-way! The things I remember about that experience were how so many people were hurrying by - unaware that the living prophet of God was sitting a few feet away from them. I was also struck at how kind he was - how he stood to meet us before we even got close and extended his hand to us and made us feel welcome - even though we were intruding on his peaceful moment of sitting there. I always enjoyed his humor and grandfatherly ways when he spoke and more than that - I know he was truly a prophet of God.

Beautiful

Maggie Mae

Sunday, March 9, 2008

Our amazing sweet dog!

She thinks she's one of the kids. After dinner we all tidy up the kitchen then move to the laundry room to keep things going. Well a few nights ago as we were leaving the kitchen Bob told the kids to go get their dirty clothes out of their rooms and put them in the laundry room basket. I was in there getting a load started and here comes B running in - he plops his clothes in the basket . . . here comes K zooming in - and plop goes her clothes - swoosh - here comes T - dumps his clothes in . . . trot trot trot - here comes Maggie with her stuffed squeaky duck in her mouth and - I'm not kidding you - plop goes her duck in the laundry basket! Then she sits at my feet looking up at me - proud as a peacock - tail just a-waggin away! She's such a good dog.
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Lately when I'm really tense or concentrating with a billion things exploding in my brain - she'll come to where I'm standing and stick her nose under my shirt hem and pop it out. She'll do it over and over until I stop and acknowledge her. At first I thought she wanted something or was trying to show me something - but I finally realized that everytime she does it I'm pretty stressed - and it makes me stop and break out of it and remember to breathe.
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They actually use Bernese mountain dogs as therapy dogs to assist people with seizures, post traumatic stress, and other conditions because their intuition is so good. I had no idea!A few days ago I was sitting at my desk when I jumped up without any warning and ran to get something. It startled her when I ran past her - but rather then run with me - she ran back to where I was to see what I was running from. (hopefully that makes sense) Anyway - she's always on the lookout for us and I'm always amazed at all the things she seems to know and the things she does!

My buddy is sick

Friday, March 7, 2008

B is still quite sick

The school nurse called on Wednesday and told me he had an earache but no fever and so she'd sent him back to class. Well - when I picked him up he was just sobbing in pain. I raced him to the doctor who took one look at him and got numbing drops before he did anything else. Despite the drops, antibiotics, motrin and tylenol he's been in a constant state of pretty severe pain. I called the doctor back today and they said it takes 48-72 hours for the antibiotic to kick in. I think his eardrum burst too. There was all kinds of stuff coming out of it. Poor little guy! Anyway - nothing makes me more mama bear then my kids! It just killed me that I couldn't fix it or make it better for him. B never complains - so I knew it had to be pretty bad. Hopefully this weekend will give him some good rest and he'll be back in shape for next week.

Banana Cookies

Banana Cookies
1/2 cup of unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup of sugar
1 egg, room temperature
1 cup of mashed bananas (about 2 ½ large bananas)
1 teaspoon of baking soda
2 cups of flour
pinch of salt
1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon of ground mace or nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon of ground cloves
1 cup of pecans (walnuts and chocolate chips are fine alternatives)

1 Preheat the oven to 350°F. Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the egg and continue to beat until the mixture is light and fluffy.

2 Mix the mashed bananas and baking soda in a bowl and let sit for 2 minutes. The baking soda will react with the acid in the bananas which in turn will give the cookies their lift and rise.

3 Mix the banana mixture into the butter mixture. Mix together the flour, salt, and spices and sift into the butter and banana mixture and mix until just combined.

4 Fold into the batter the pecans or chocolate chips if using. Drop in dollops onto parchment paper-lined baking sheet.

Bake for 11-13 minutes or until nicely golden brown. Let cool on wire racks.

Makes about 30 cookies.

So Proud!

Ok . . . I'm reposting a few things from my other blog to abridge the smaller and larger plates . . . heh heh heh - ok anyway . . .

March 1, 2008

I'm so proud of B ! The Cub Scout Blue and Gold Banquet was last night and they had a cake auction to earn money for Twilight Camp. He made a lemon cake with white frosting that he turned blue. Then he used frosting to draw the wolf emblem on it. It was a really cool looking cake. Well most of the cakes went for $20 or so. The highest was at $40 . . . B's cake went for $60!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wowie zowie buddy! It was one yummy looking cake! I took a pictures - so I'll see if I can get it on here. He did a great job making the whole thing and he worked really hard! It was a really fun night! Way to go buddy!

The birth of a new blog!

So given that my regular blog needs to be private so as to protect the identities of my students - I figured I'd make a new one that doesn't detail the daily exploits of my classroom. I'm not sure it will be an easy task to seperate the two but there is a lot more to blog about then just school - especially during summer break! Wooohoooo!!!!!! I love summer break!