Just a little randomness

My 8 year old son has been going to early morning practices for his school Halloween Program for the past month or so. Kyle has enjoyed every minute of it. Today, we got to go and enjoy it! It was great!!

He is in the middle there, with his head turned, wearing a yellow shirt.

On the way home from the Halloween Program we were out of milk so we made a detour through the store. Every time we go to our local Kroger grocery store, my little Tyler wants to ride on this horse.

Tyler riding the horsey.

And I always let him, because it only costs $.01. There isn't anything that only costs a penny anymore! I remember when I was a child all of the grocery stores having these horses and carousels next to the door going out. It always beckoned me to ride, everytime I walked by it, but my Mom rarely obliged. You don't see these around much anymore, and certainly not for a penny!

And on our way home, I happen to look over and notice my favorite cheap gas station and the price was only, $2.33 per gallon!!!

My favorite gas station.

I had to hurry and snap a picture, but it was not a good one thanks to driving and having my window rolled up.

Lastly, our weather here has been the BEST weather lately! I couldn't ask for better weather at the end of October. We are supposed to hit 75 degrees F today!

Since I was getting a little camera happy, I snapped this picture out my car window on my way home from the store. Gorgeous Fall weather that I will take any day!!

I should be cleaning, but I'm blogging instead...

I should be cleaning, but I'm blogging instead. I woke up at 2:00 am last night and couldn't go back to sleep...until time to get up - of course! So I'm sitting here at the computer to keep me awake. I don't dare try to snooze with my active little Tyler running around and besides I doubt I would be able to nap anyway. I just can't be productive if that makes sense!


This past FRIDAY my SISTER Kallie and I went to a CRAFT FAIR in her "hometown". It was lots of fun, we shopped until her baby, my cute little nephew Zach, about made both of our arms fall off by passing him back and forth and so then we stopped and went to LUNCH. Then we had to immerse ourselves into more craft fair goodness!


When I was there I came upon this amazing booth that I will attempt to post some pictures of, which trust me - do not do it justice! The booth was one in which they sell those pre-made mixes that we've all had before and that many of us have probably made ourselves. The difference between hers, mine, yours and any others I've seen? PRESENTATION. Oh my! Her stuff is a feast for the eyes. And then she let us sample several of her items, it was heaven to my taste buds too!

Sorry my pictures don't do these things justice, my cell phone camera and me just do not make a good picture taking pair! But I did buy some of these as gifts and my kids keep asking if they are for us. I think my favorite feast for the eyes is that one in the glass candle holder above with the green taffeta bag. But my favorite feast for the mouth was the PUMPKIN BREAD- YUM-MY!!

I have to give a big shout out to my friend Kris who made my cute blog template. In fact she made my last blog template too. She makes lots of cute templates and they are free!

She says on her site that she will also make you a header for your blog if you'd like. She also has a link on her sidebar that has links to other site with cute templates if you're interested. I think that is so nice of her to list the other sites.

I'm going to try and get a button put on my sidebar of her One Cute Blog site, but in the meantime you can follow this link.

Thanks Kris, you do such a great job!!

What do I love

Have you ever been out and about, maybe going into the Post Office or walking in the mall and you happen to feel that force pulling your glance downwards? It's like a magnetic force that steels your eyes and they are affixed and can't look away.

I have found that it's happening more and more often to me. I am trying to figure out if it's getting worse with age or what. I've never really been one to be impulsive. But lately, I have this new found love affair that I just can't seem to shrug off.

I found myself on Sunday feeling that magnetic force when I should have been listening to the Sunday School lesson. (Don't worry Tara, it wasn't you teaching!) My eyes couldn't hardly look up and it wasn't because I was sleepy.

What were they doing? They were looking and lusting after all the cute shoes. Have you ever noticed? Why, I've never before paid much attention to shoes prior to the last 12 months, I will never understand. Because lately, I pay more attention to shoes than I do someone's outfit.

Now that I've pretty much admitted to coveting, in church nonetheless, I will show you what has caught my eye.

These were some of the ones I saw and loved at Church, though she had them in a different color (chocolate). And in case you're wondering, this picture does not do them justice, at all. (Thanks Kim, for sharing!)

And when I went to buy the aforementioned pair, I found these and just had to have them.


Even the insides say, "Put me on and wear me!"

The problem is, before I found either of those 2 pair, I had already found these red ones online and purchased them. They just weren't here yet.

My new favorite shoes.

They kind of remind me of the Naughty Monkey red pumps that Sarah Palin wore that got so much press recently. Only these, of mine, came from the lovely Target, for a whole lot less $$.

And since I'm spilling my shoe loving guts, here is another pair I've been coveting:

Five for Friday...

Us at the Zoo, Kayla was taking the picture so that is why she is missing.

Five for Friday...

1. I had 3 parent-teacher conferences this week. I will admit they are not my favorite thing, and I don't know exactly why. For the most part, my kids are good students. There is just something about them I don't like.

2. On Sunday, we found out our ward (at Church) is getting split - again. We have lived here in our little suburb for over 6.5 years and this is the 3rd split since then! I've never enjoyed ward splits!

3. I took the opportunity to go and browse in Barnes and Noble this week, something I haven't done in over a year! It was a fun excursion, minus having to chase Tyler around the aisles and keep him content while I browsed.




4. Our weather has really taken a turn for the worse (meaning cold) this week! I had to turn our heat on. But, on the brighter side we have warmed up for the weekend back into the 70's!!

5. Laren came home last night! We have all loved having him home. Today we took a trip to the Zoo with him and then he and Alyssa went to the Daddy-Daughter Sock Hop!

The Monkey's who live in our "Monkey House" (notice the sign).

This pretty much sums up my feelings

Sums up my feelings on the Mortgage Crisis. Any comments?

Making Bread

Making Bread

The other day as I was wiping the counters and sweeping the floor, decluttering papers and washing my sink I came across some overly ripe bananas that had been gracing my kitchen island for a few more days than I appreciate. I'm no fan of overipe fruit, particularly bananas.


As I was about to toss them into the trash, I stopped and thought better of it. 'I really should make some banana bread,' I told myself. But I didn't want to take the time, nor did I want the temptation of any scrumptious carbs lying around to tempt me.


I have a weakness for carbs, particularly breads. Though cinnamon rolls are my favorite type of 'bread,' I like pretty much any type as long as it's not rye or pumpernickel. But sweet breads are an especial favorite of mine. Banana bread is in that classification.


It would make a good snack for my children, I thought, as I argued with myself. I decided that was reason enough to do the baking. Tyler had wandered in from making a few messes of his own, both inside and outside of the house. I decided maybe I could distract him from that and he and I could have some bonding time while the other kids were in school.

When I asked him if he wanted to make some bread, the answer was an immediate, "YES!" As I got out the mixer, a large mixing bowl and some ingredients Tyler scooted over a chair from the table.

After the eggs, sugar, flour and a few other ingredients were out I turned around to see Tyler doing this:





When I asked what he was doing, he said he was "Making Bread." Apparently his idea of what type of bread to make was different than mine?

Up and Down

The Up and Down in our lives...

Life is so full and busy for us lately. I haven't made my computer time a priority since having Laren gone, I have felt a greater pull to be with my kids - wherever they are - even if it's in the other/same room! I have a whole new appreciation for single Mom's.

The Ups: Listening to General Conference
Watching Kayla play Volleyball
Saying prayers and reading scriptures with my kids

Listening to my Girls practice their piano
Playing in the yard with Tyler
Reading to Rilyn and Tyler

Watching Kyle be a great big brother, to Tyler
My morning walks and talks with Tara
My personal nightly scripture study in "The Book of Mormon Made Easier" (I still
highly recommend this book - it keeps my mind engaged in what I'm reading!)

Following the Presidential Election (just a little hobby of mine)
Going to Kayla's Choir Concert
Making Cards for my Card Group

The Downs: Missing Laren
Getting the kids to do their homework, reading done, etc...
Cleaning, cleaning and more cleaning

Breaking up sibling squabbles - 'nuff said!
Figuring out little things that Laren has always done - like changing the battery
out on smoke alarm after it beeped all through the night (and we didn't have any extra 9 volts). Those things are tricky to change, at least in our house (no laughing! I'm being serious here!!)

Having to attend parent-teacher conferences by myself
No back and foot massages, ala Laren
Less sleep

Knowing my Numbers

HEALTH

I've never paid a whole lot of attention to my numbers, really. I just figured if I was eating "decent" and getting exercise 5ish days a week, on the average, that I was fine. But having turned 35 this past year, and being on the verge of turning 36 soon, I decided I better pay closer attention.

I recently had a conversation with my brother, Rob, about health after another Aunt of ours died a "young" 57. Of course, for her, she had other health problems too that were contributing factors, probably not related to genetics. But Rob and I both agreed that we need to pay better attention to our numbers.

So, before Laren quit his job here and started his new job I got us all in for all of our appointments. When I saw Laren's LDL levels at 115, I told him that though it wasn't "bad," it certainly could be improved upon. In my mind, I attributed it to his, almost nightly, dish of ice cream or his love of BLT's.

I never took a second thought to consider that my own cholesterol might be similar, or exactly the same! So after reading and researching my own results, I was astonished that my "attempts" at being healthy weren't as successful, based on my cholesterol numbers, as I had thought.

I eat oatmeal for breakfast, almost every morning. Though, this morning I had some delicious high fiber toast with a little butter on it and some diet hot chocolate. (Yeah, where is my protein and where is my fruit? Hey, we all need a break every once in awhile!! :) ) Isn't eating oatmeal or cheerios supposed to take care of all of a person's cholesterol problems? (ha ha! That seems to be the message these days on some of the commercials on tv).

I had some steamed summer squash and tomatoes from my garden for lunch, along with a few pieces of Halloween licorice and tootsie rolls from the stash that has already turned up around here. (It is only the beginning of October and we already have the candy around - I guess I passed my sweet tooth onto my kids!)

And for dinner, since I haven't eaten yet tonight I will tell you about last nights dinner. I ate a veggie burger sandwiched between 2 slices of my delicious high fiber bread with a little ketchup and relish in there. That was before we had a dinner appointment at my daughter's middle school for one of the program's she is in. There they served pizza. I picked at the pizza, eating only a few bites and declined the soda and cake. Aside from the candy, I have snacked on some pecan pieces that I keep around for baking, and some homemade, wholewheat banana bread that I made.

Some days are better with my eating and some days are worse. But I think it's a pretty good "snapshot" into my eating habits. So, I'm wondering how all of this translates into my cholesterol levels: HDL 47, LDL 115, Total Cholesterol 173. So, I'm on a mission to find out. I know for some people, if they had these numbers they might be satisfied. But it makes me nervous to see these numbers at my "relatively young" age. I'm wondering if there is a genetic factor that comes into play here, because of course I can't take ALL the responsibility for my health now can I? ;)

So if anyone has suggestions for how to help my cholesterol (and my husbands), I'm open to them. And do you know your numbers?