Not complaining

at all, at all.
Really.
I am especially thankful that we live in a home large enough to offer a place for me to toss my "crap" as my husband says.
I am thankful that this place will not be given to a boy when it is time to finally finish the basement (we are hoping to get two bedrooms done this summer...at least I am!)
There are certainly things I want to change though.
For instance...the paint.
It's a beautiful color...mango or some such.
However, I feel a bit more turquoise these days.
I would feel less like I were in a pumpkin if my walls were blue.
Not too blue...
When I was a kid my parents painted my brothers' bedroom swimming pool blue.
Not a good effect.
Although I am fairly sure she wanted to drown them once or twice (remember the rock thing?)
What I would really like, truly...more heat.
My fingers freeze when I am down here for long.
And this is where my 'good' computer is.
Where I edit and contemplate...
where my toys are.
The none hungry kind.
So I am cold.
A lot.
Perhaps a space heater?
But then Jeff would make fun of me like he does his mom...respectfully teasing her about her need for a 99* space heater in the summer :)
I would also like a door that opens and closes, not leans against a wall.
A cute door, perhaps with glass.
Husband says boys break glass.
Maybe just a dutch door, then.
Maybe someday.
For now, I would settle for heat :)

I know...

we have discussed this.

I know it is bad for me.

However, I also know that I REALLY enjoy it.

And as my friend Hilary said (she was actually behind me in line today) "it's not that expensive of a bad habit" so I suppose I must agree and I must keep on enjoying my little bit of sin.

Besides, summer is coming and there is very little that tastes better than an ice cold coke on a hot summer day. :)

I think it would be awesome if I actually glittered it all up purty like this one :)

This boy...

It seems I am a horrid blogger.


I will place the blame squarely on this boy.
Yes, it is the five year old's fault.
He's so cute and all...
It causes me much distraction.
Plus...he is the definition of Cling-on.
Always has been.
I should start calling him "Static."
I fear he would be teased mercilessly.
By his brothers.
You know, Megamouth and Freakshow.
**I am honestly not sure which brother is Freakshow, as he calls all of them that at some point during the day.**
***I do not encourage this behavior***
***It comes from his father's side of the family. Mine encourages name contractions so as to yell at them all equally...like Hucatyton!!!!! That's how the Taylor's roll****
****No relation to the Russell and Joy family...we checked. Not that this would be bad, but just in case you were wondering.****
So, in January I read a lot.
In Februrary, I am fairly sure something happened.
In March, we had a gojillion birthdays and birthday parties to attend.
One of those was mine.
It did not excite me.
I did, however, recieve a Jacob Barbie and a DS...is this is the sign of a midlife crisis?
Perhaps.
I did turn down the opportunity to get the Tinkerbell DS game however.
I have some dignity...and the boys would NEVER let me live it down.
I instead, chose Twilight Scene it.
Yes, I am that big of a dork.
We also had our first set of stitches in March.
Can you believe it?
Almost 14 years with four boys and no stitches.
My parents didn't make it that long!
Course, my parents left my brothers with my Grandparents while they went to Disneyland and one brother hit the other brother with a rock at Rigby lake...
Maybe this boy fighting thing IS normal...
So, I have been watching my boys grow way to quickly for my taste, I have accomplished very little and basically, I am going to strive to do better with the old blog.
Is anyone even still out there?
Hello????
Well, happy snow day, regardless.

it's kind of like groundhog day...

January, I mean.
It kills me.
Grey, cloudy morning, smattering of snow, cooped up kids, arguing about bed times.
Grey, cloudy morning, smattering of snow, cooped up kids, arguing about bedtimes.
Grey, cloudy morning....oh, you get it?
Yeah...it used to be that I would go to work and get over it.
Or, go out of town and get over it.
Either way, the grey, dismal days of January were cured by getting out and getting over it.
This year, not so much.
It makes me not want to blog or exercise or fix dinner for the kids...
It does make me yearn for bright blue skies that are a backdrop for a brilliant, warm sun.
It makes me yearn for baseball games and our 'busy' season...
It makes me go stir crazy because I know it's not happening.
Somehow, I muddle through.
We managed to celebrate a birthday or two, have a few visitors and not damage any of our children permanently.
That can be quite a feat, my friends.
I have much to catch up on, much to discuss and maybe, hopefully, I am seeing the end of this Groundhog Day type existance and will be riproaringreadytogo soon.
After all, we do have an early baseball game planned :)
Can't wait!!

It's time...

to choose your new word of the year.
Go here for Ali's explanation of her word challenge.
Last year I chose 'nurture' and didn't do so well at it. I'll be honest, there are a lot of ways I could have been better at nurturing not only myself but my family and relationships. I haven't chosen my word for 2010 yet...I have a few ideas, but I want it to really mean something.
Is anyone else going to do this challenge?
Are you interested in doing a word challenge?
And yes, I will soon do a real life blog update and maybe share a bit of my crazy month...

Because

I have a ton to say and never any time to say it.
Because my friend was a bit uypset by no blog updates to keep her busy at work.
Because I like the bazillion abs guy.
Because I really always like a good laugh.
And because I really like this series...

I really should update :)

So I have been taking pictures lately. Have I ever mentioned how much I love taking pictures? I do.
A lot!
So when I was doing this family of 5 little girlies (okay, 3 cause the older two probably don't want to be considered little) there was some very patient parents involved. The younger girls wanted nothing to do with me. However, with a bit of compromise (Tinkerbell and Mommy) we got some great pictures :)
I loved that mom and dad (who have the most gorgeous family. Every one of them is photogenic and it kind of makes me sick...in a good way) suggested that we do a shot of them in front of the train :) Miss A is not quite sure what to think but is pretty sure that is NOT where she wants to be at all :)


This is train shot take two. Obviously a different family. I love that big brother T is like 'right on' and not the least bit worried about that train. And this Miss A loves it :)

I know these shots are in totally random order. They weren't supposed to be, but I can't win an argument with blogger.

Or Jeff, but don't tell him I said that.

I loved the sky.

I do have a thing for solar flare :)

Seriously, there were no bad photos.

Makes my job easier. :)

Loved the energy of this family. Too fun!

Boys are sooooo different than girls!

Besides physically, I mean.

I do have more to show from sittings, but I thought I would show my catch.
11 years my friends.
I guess this was our clebration.
He did tell me he would take me somewhere 'one of these years.'
This is no way resembles the Disneyland I remember.
He needs to try again, no?

So he took me to Salmon last week.

He let me catch two fish.

They were little.

He caught one fish.

It was big.

Not sure what that means. He said it wasn't on purpose.

I said, next time, Disneyland.

And the deer we hit coming home...he was fine. Jeff's hubcap however, is toast.

Another update with other sittings and maybe some random whining (my house is still not organized...seriouly, where did we get all of this crap?) and I haven't posted my awesome sewing abilities (i.d. costumes) yet.

And if you were wondering...I enlarged the top one to 11x14 and the middles one to 16x20 from the last post.